Ask MetaFilter

A company I work with would like to do a thorough and anonymous audit of the staff's self-identification around race, disability, gender, and other demographics. What's the best way to do this? [more inside]
posted by nouvelle-personne at 10:15 PM PST - 10 comments

I was prescribed Trintellix ( a newer SSRI) for anxiety and depression, particularly depression that worsens the week before my period. I am weirdly reluctant to try a new SSRI, and am wondering if others have experience with this drug and/or my particular depression situation. [more inside]
posted by ThreeSocksToTheWind at 9:23 PM PST - 13 comments

I'm sure I read about this on here some time ago but no combination of searches will find it for me. I'm looking for the name of an interaction 'strategy' where you disrupt the flow of the situation by responding in a completely unexpected way. It can help in situations of conflict, e.g. where you might suddenly use humour, surrealism, or distraction, but it also could involve something like going up to and hugging someone who is behaving angrily. It's introducing an unexpected curve ball into an interaction that completely changes the anticipated outcome of the situation. Any ideas?
posted by rrose selavy at 7:33 PM PST - 9 comments

Give me your amazing, would serve it at a dinner party, would have it as your last meal, favourite comfort food pasta recipes. Bonus points (but not essential) if it is dairy free.
posted by Jubey at 7:06 PM PST - 17 comments

We're spending some time in Boston in mid-July. I'd love to guide us to some excellent italian food in Boston's North End. Let's say $30/entree on the higher end, but more comfortable at about $20. Where would be a good place to go? [more inside]
posted by mcstayinskool at 5:25 PM PST - 5 comments

Much positive chatter on AskMeFi lately about this guy's approach and video, and I like it too! My problem: I feel like I'd stick to this most if I could do it in my apartment, but my apartment just isn't set up for it. Help! [more inside]
posted by kensington314 at 5:18 PM PST - 8 comments

It has been years since i had proper development setup with two large monitors. I have the largest MacBook Pro and spend most of my time pre-Covid in airport lounges, client conference rooms and wherever I could fit. Things are beginning to spin back up again and I'll probably need to be 25% in some sort of office where I'm only guaranteed power and a desk. Will iPad Pro plus stand work well as a second monitor or is it just too small and distracting? Is there a less expensive but equally as slim/high resolution as iPad Pro? [more inside]
posted by geoff. at 4:37 PM PST - 6 comments

Two of my friends got married last year but were unable to host the party they had planned. The party has finally been greenlighted for next month (restrictions are lifting in our area)! I gave them something last year, but should I get them something for the "real" party? [more inside]
posted by invokeuse at 4:35 PM PST - 9 comments

I have a recipe for Italian Cinnamon Pear-Tart, but the instructions seem to be leaving something out. Or, maybe not? However, I am not sure how to proceed. I want to get something edible out of my efforts, rather than a burnt, crumbling mess leaking pear juice.... [more inside]
posted by Crystal Fox at 3:51 PM PST - 11 comments

I have a kid who is starting to be image conscious and also wears glasses and wants to try a lot of sports. I don’t play sports or wear glasses. I have noticed athletes wear goggles or safety glasses sometimes. Do kids wear those? Will she feel bad? Can you help? [more inside]
posted by areaperson at 3:04 PM PST - 26 comments

We need to find a kitchen floor cleaner that works but doesn't smell horrible. [more inside]
posted by metonym at 2:16 PM PST - 33 comments

I'm at a bit of a loss. I need to promote an industry' association's research journal on social media and increase the journal's followers from essentially zero to some positive number (double digits would be great, triple digits would be fabulous). Due to complicating factors, I'm unsure of the best approach. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 1:44 PM PST - 6 comments

I'm looking for a device that plugs into a 3.5mm audio port, and records the audio going through it to a SD card while also passing it through (so that one can listen to it in headphones/etc). Where can I get such a thing?
posted by wesleyac at 1:38 PM PST - 11 comments

I was knocked sideways by a Edward Weston photo of Ella Young I found on a website I would like to order a low cost print of this photo any way I can. A friend suggested I research the Library of Congress and see if I can purchase one via tiff file format. Average cost for prints in this format is around $50.00. I found other prints of her though not this one. Are there any other options out there
posted by goalyeehah at 1:37 PM PST - 4 comments

This would have been probably mid-70's, possibly early '70s to allow some time for it to make into my local library. [more inside]
posted by biersquirrel at 1:10 PM PST - 4 comments

I have a vague impression from a scene where the two people involved in an affair have a confrontation and one person says something like "are you going to leave her/him?" "No." [more inside]
posted by monologish at 10:49 AM PST - 2 comments

I am waitlisted for my first choice law school (CUNY) and I am trying to figure out what to do with all the other schools where I have been accepted or waitlisted. I'm considering waiting on CUNY, and effectively declining other opportunities, and re-applying next year if necessary. What might I be missing? [more inside]
posted by davidstandaford at 10:13 AM PST - 26 comments

With the current heat wave scorching the PNW and Western Canada, I've found myself moving my WFH setup to various locations in my house and even outside to manage comfort levels. I'm pretty portable with my laptop and finding work surfaces, but the seating situation is proving problematic. I cant move my giant Aeron chair around easily, and my dining, living, bedroom and outdoor patio seating options are not sustainable for more than an hour or so of working. I need a new solution... [more inside]
posted by cgg at 9:33 AM PST - 6 comments

When working remotely became all the rage for some reason last spring, my work gave me an Iphone for work calls. After working fine for about a year, it now does this weird thing every 24 hours or so: the home screen exponentially magnifies to the point that I can't use the touch screen easily, and I have to restart it (with some trouble). What is happening? [more inside]
posted by RajahKing at 9:29 AM PST - 3 comments

I am looking for a vanilla cookie recipe to help me show off 4 different kinds of homemade vanilla. Assume I am a competent baker and have all the regular ingredients and tools. What should I bake?
posted by Ms Vegetable at 8:57 AM PST - 12 comments

I would like to make it easier for clients to change text in a JSON file. They are not programmers. Is there an online tool that lets someone edit and share JSON without having to know it (or how not to break it)? [more inside]
posted by johngoren at 8:39 AM PST - 5 comments

Visiting NYC in July, and I'm curious what my options are for stuff to do during this bizarre historical moment. [more inside]
posted by xenization at 8:03 AM PST - 14 comments

Ok, so let's say you got on the slingshot ride at the carnival, but all the safety harnesses were removed. And then they launched you. Based on publicly available information about the velocity and height of these rides, how far do you think the riders would be launched into the air before they started falling?
posted by Alex Goldman at 7:25 AM PST - 12 comments

I hope I can explain this properly. I have a family friend who has always had stomach problems. I don't know the details, but I know he has a very bloated stomach and just generally a lot of stomach problems... [more inside]
posted by MarnieSrpings at 6:50 AM PST - 14 comments

Hi mefites, I had a lower wisdom tooth extracted six weeks ago, and the wound has still not healed. I've seen the dentist weekly and he said this can happen sometimes so he isn't worried, he took new x-rays and checks it each week. For the pain question, the hole where the tooth was is sometimes tender, but I am getting sharp pains in my jaw/cheekbone meeting point quite frequently. What has anyone done to relieve this? [more inside]
posted by ellieBOA at 5:41 AM PST - 19 comments

As of mid-June, the MHRA in the UK had approved Pfizer for 12-15 year-olds. But there are no plans to offer vaccines to under-18s at present. How can a parent get a willing 12yo vaccinated in the UK? [more inside]
posted by rum-soaked space hobo at 5:18 AM PST - 12 comments

About to drive Miami -> Atlanta -> Nashville -> Chicago, please save me from boring road trip food! I eat everything and am looking for recommendations ranging from unique local holes-in-the-wall to decent chains that are regional to the areas I'm passing through (if I was asking about the West coast, I'm thinking things like In-n-Out or Burgerville).
posted by kanuck at 10:38 PM PST - 16 comments

I'm a 40yo cis woman who has been exploring adult autistic diagnoses for a while and that feeling of "this makes so many things clearer" is becoming harder to ignore. I'd love to hear your Fem and NB experiences in and learn from you! [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 10:16 PM PST - 6 comments

Hi. A decade+ ago I did sysadmin work, but now do largely non-technical consulting. However, I have a big job coming up in a couple of months that will hammer my shared server into oblivion and I need some insight into how I might/might not do this on cloud servers. Technical specifics below re: linux php mysql and traffic burst loads. [more inside]
posted by cgk at 9:13 PM PST - 5 comments

My eyes are bothering me, so I think I'll try a podcast for the first time. I'm interested in something stand-alone and not too heavy or dramatic, but not comedy and not an interview. Maybe some type of story, or an exploration relating to music, movies, science, history or culture ...
posted by NotLost at 8:30 PM PST - 27 comments

My cat was just diagnosed with CKD, and I would like to start taking her to a cat specialist. Does anyone have any recommendations of someone in the Portland, OR area?
posted by nanook at 6:34 PM PST - 7 comments

Looking to get a DSLR present for my favorite photo taker. She takes family photos by day. At night she takes high fem pinup selfies for Instagram. She's had a dslr before but it broke. She mainly uses her decent android phone now. She has a ring light and tripod. She's requested the gift and the budget I'm looking at is $500 - $600.
posted by akabobo at 6:25 PM PST - 7 comments

My older son - aged 3 - has started pointing out my large belly and calling me fat and humongous. It's entirely descriptive and not meant to be pejorative in any way - he just likes being silly and describing things in ways he thinks of as silly. I'm curious as to how others have responded in this situation! More details below... [more inside]
posted by slide at 5:44 PM PST - 22 comments

My anniversary at work is coming up and I have a choice between various awards. Two of them are bikes that retail for $200-$350. Should I select one of them? [more inside]
posted by soelo at 4:30 PM PST - 21 comments

Can anyone identify the logo on this hat? I am guessing it is construction-related. The logo is three triangles--the top one is light blue, the bottom left is red, and the bottom right is yellow. Pictures are here.
posted by Slinga at 2:38 PM PST - 7 comments

Please share your tips for organizing an apartment kitchen, bedroom closet, walk-in storage room, and more! [more inside]
posted by smorgasbord at 2:06 PM PST - 13 comments

Need recommendations for sci-fi/horror novels similar to Annihilation.. Please recommend anything you've read that is well written, in the sci-fi or horror genre, and is an easy read while still being a great story. Preferably under 300 pages but that's not a strict rule if it's really compelling. Lovecraftian Cosmic horror/ body horror/ alien life form themes are a plus, but also not a requirement. Just looking for a few compelling hopefully mind-blowing reads for the rest of summer. [more inside]
posted by WhenInGnome at 1:27 PM PST - 30 comments

Whose phone is the source of sound cutting out? [more inside]
posted by SageTrail at 1:26 PM PST - 6 comments

I don't like AC, mostly, but it's going to keep getting warm, Maine is humid, and I'd like to be more comfortable. My house is small, heats up quickly, cools down slowly. The oak tree will provide shade in 10 years or so. Would a more powerful fan, exhausting air from the 2nd floor, which is mostly eaves, help make it comfortable? [more inside]
posted by theora55 at 12:45 PM PST - 25 comments

I've really gotten into watching mini-series (or limited series) lately. I'm not sure which ones I should watch next, any recommendations? [more inside]
posted by VirginiaPlain at 12:09 PM PST - 47 comments

I bought a Roomba, new, from Amazon for $512, sales tax included, and have a copy of the invoice. I am driving to Toronto from the US to deliver the Roomba as a gift to my Canadian son. I have not been able to make my way through the Canadian Border Service web pages to figure out what it will cost me in terms of duty and additional taxes. Can anyone help me? [more inside]
posted by ubiquity at 11:21 AM PST - 10 comments

I want to visualize how different arrangements of my art would look on the wall. My ideal workflow would be to take a picture of the wall, set the dimensions (e.g. this distance is 6'), and then be able to import other images of my art and scale them automatically (e.g. this image is 21" x 12"). [more inside]
posted by vegetableagony at 11:04 AM PST - 5 comments

Found this shower in a hotel in California and cannot figure out why it was designed this way. Features: very deep tub (I stubbed my toe getting in at least once) A triangular column with little apparent function on the open side of the shower. Shower head in a weirdly recessed narrow nook. Please someone explain this shower design to me. It looks so deliberate but I cannot figure out what seems to be its specific purpose. [more inside]
posted by zippy at 9:52 AM PST - 26 comments

I buy basil to make caprese salads and margarita pizzas. There's always too much basil left over. I don't want to store it (freeze it), I don't want to make pesto - what low-fat things can I do with it? [more inside]
posted by kristi at 9:44 AM PST - 36 comments

When I make pasta sauce it tends to turn out pretty well but all my pasta sauces tend inexorably toward the same flavor profile. I want new and exciting sauces, mostly vegetarian. [more inside]
posted by Frowner at 9:15 AM PST - 38 comments

I’m flying into BWI from Tampa on Friday (by way of Atlanta). Tampa and Atlanta don’t require proof of vaccine, but BWI does. Do I need to carry my paper vaccine card with me, or will a photo on my phone be sufficient? The links provided by Delta Airlines are vague on this. Thanks all for your help.
posted by toodleydoodley at 8:52 AM PST - 6 comments

I received a message while in Adobe Premiere Rush to exit the app, since my project 'hadn't saved in a while.' I listened to the program, and now I can't get back into my project. [more inside]
posted by knownassociate at 7:09 AM PST - 2 comments

I am an USA school librarian. The school doesn't have a large budget for the library, so we regularly solicit and receive donations of children's books. A disproportionate number are British imprints (not American editions). Where are they coming from? [more inside]
posted by bad grammar at 6:53 AM PST - 6 comments

We are looking for more places like the City Museum in St. Louis for family vacations. [more inside]
posted by limagringo at 6:36 AM PST - 8 comments

I have been in touch with an ABA therapist in my area. Where I live ABA is not popular or normally available but I am aware of it. Normally I’m happy going with the flow with what’s available here but there is one issue that is disrupting our life. Noise. And lots of it. And I have chronic migraine. Could doing some ABA help? I also wear ear plugs, that helps, but it’s hard for my older son when he’s like to concentrate on something for example. [more inside]
posted by pairofshades at 5:06 AM PST - 26 comments

I am pretty terrible at maths, nonetheless I enjoy D&D and have work tasks that involve discounts, conversions, etc. I am especially interested in percentage tricks and also calculator workflows. [more inside]
posted by J.R. Hartley at 3:07 AM PST - 14 comments

There's a million to one chance this will work, but I am trying to figure out which Swedish novel I read around 2007. I think the book was older (not recently published) and was set sometime between the 1950s and 1980s. I read it in the original Swedish, and I have no idea if it was ever translated into English or another language. [more inside]
posted by whitewall at 11:34 PM PST - 6 comments

I'm going to a game at Citi Field next week and I'm staying over in Queens afterwards, so I'll need to bring a bag of clothes etc with me. Will the bag I'm planning to bring be acceptable? [more inside]
posted by silverstatue at 5:01 PM PST - 8 comments

I find chocolate very effective at lifting very sour moods that come on me from things like significant stresses, joint injury, or eating something that doesn't agree with me (so, I assume it has something to do with counteracting cortisol.) Problem is I'm extremely sensitive to caffeine and don't like the jitters it gives me (even white chocolate gives me a strong caffeine buzz.) Any suggestions appreciated. [more inside]
posted by Jon44 at 4:51 PM PST - 32 comments

I consider myself a fairly accomplished home cook. I've always loved food, and love to cook. I've been complimented on my cooking by friends and partners. I have no problems modifying recipes or cooking without a recipe. The thing is, I feel like my skills have plateaued, and I really want to take it to the next level. How do I get there? [more inside]
posted by wander at 4:10 PM PST - 30 comments

So, I am kind of stumped: How can I be honest about emotions that are (or appear to be?) signs of neediness? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 3:10 PM PST - 18 comments

My eyeglasses are plastic with metal earpieces, and the earpiece has snapped off, right next to the hinge. Two years old, so no longer under warranty. The plastic part and the hinge itself look fine; only the metal earpiece itself is broken. Unfortunately, the optician I bought it from has been bought out by a big corporation, and they say that they can no longer order parts. They can't fix it for me, and they can't even order the frames again to put my lenses into. [more inside]
posted by metonym at 2:19 PM PST - 7 comments

Have you moved beyond resentment and disappointment in a marriage? My spouse and I are going back and forth about having a second child. I want another one, spouse doesn’t. I am concerned this will develop into resentment that will be the demise of our marriage. Details below. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 2:12 PM PST - 35 comments

When composing a new mail in the Android Gmail app, it only shows the first 2 lines of any text entered, even if I type more of it. The Gmail app and the OS is up to date. This is on a budget Android phone (Le Eco X525), but I've had my share of cheap Chinese smartphones and this is the first time I've had such a problem. Where do I even start troubleshooting?
posted by gakiko at 1:56 PM PST - 3 comments

Google maps and open street map are wonderful if I want to see the addresses,street view,or satellite photos of a location. But lately I've been wishing they could highlight a river watershed, or show the elevation differences, or display the biom type. Is there a tool that let's me find that information around the globe? I tried a few geography apps and they seem to focus on country borders or elevation only.
posted by rebent at 1:43 PM PST - 6 comments

My granite kitchen work surface is fine. Nothing amazing. But fine. Above it sits a very strange painted wooden countertop that overhangs one side to act as a bar-height dining surface (follow the green arrow in this image). The wooden tier is awful--we both hate it. [more inside]
posted by yellowcandy at 1:08 PM PST - 15 comments

How long do we need to keep old proof of address documents? [more inside]
posted by sibilatorix at 1:02 PM PST - 10 comments

This question is specifically for those very familiar with Philadelphia - I am trying to choose a place to live - which is safer? South St. and Broad St. area or 21st-24th St. & Lombard St area? [more inside]
posted by dubhemerak3000 at 12:15 PM PST - 10 comments

As you might know, Ebay changed it's rules for selling last year when they parted with Paypal. Now they ask you to connect your bank account to receive payments from sales directly to your account. And for this they ask for you last 4 social security number digits and banking info (as afar as I understand) . [more inside]
posted by Liquidwolf at 12:07 PM PST - 12 comments

Husband purchased a new vehicle from the dealer with additional insurance to top up the payout from our government insurance corporation in the event of a total loss. Now the providers of the total loss insurance are saying they can only pay out the funds to the dealer and not to my husband, even though my husband paid for and is the sole beneficiary of the policy. What can we argue here, if at all? [more inside]
posted by keep it under cover at 12:00 PM PST - 11 comments

Where can one get that "extended family" feel that can fill the gaps? Churches are the first to come to mind but for non-believers they don't fit. Snowflakes ahead. [more inside]
posted by Coffeetyme at 11:48 AM PST - 16 comments

I'm sure this has been asked a million ways before but Metafilter has always been very helpful for me so I'll give it a shot. Briefly: late 20s, very varied history of short-term jobs, I'm competent and a hard worker but am also struggling with anxiety and some identity crises. I want to start building a financially healthy, stable life while also doing work I'm passionate about, but have no idea where to start or how to find those jobs. [more inside]
posted by Cpt. The Mango at 11:35 AM PST - 10 comments

Are you a person who could only orgasm in one specific way? Did that change for you? What helped? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 11:18 AM PST - 7 comments

Asking for a dear friend, who made a few mistakes post-divorce. She is looking for a sharp lawyer who can help her navigate some real estate questions related to the terms of an older divorce agreement. Said lawyer should be in the vicinity of Middlebury (Waterbury) CT. [more inside]
posted by lakersfan1222 at 10:39 AM PST - 0 comments

I own a middle-unit townhome, which is one of three units on the lot. As part of this, I have an assigned, off-street parking spot at the end of the lot. I want to explore installing a car charger in my spot but don't really know where to begin. [more inside]
posted by carpyful at 10:10 AM PST - 8 comments

For those of you with an Apple Watch, does it really work to keep you focused on fitness? How might you use it for ADHD? [more inside]
posted by glaucon at 9:49 AM PST - 5 comments

There are so many sites like city-data, Best Places etc. but I don’t know which ones have the most up-to-date, reliable data. [more inside]
posted by Gusaroo at 9:40 AM PST - 4 comments

I am looking for an Android app that has the following features: 1. Time stamps tasks 2. Can tally multiple instances of the same task in one day 3. Can set various intervals for due dates (daily, weekly, every 10 days) 4. Home screen widget 5. Free or 1 time fee (not subscription based) [more inside]
posted by deadcrow at 9:19 AM PST - 0 comments

We live in DC and are interested in putting together a list of train/transit accessible vacation spots in the region. [more inside]
posted by ryanshepard at 8:49 AM PST - 13 comments

I'm seeking 2 movie titles for people who only vaguely remember the content. The first one involves hiding carousel horses from wartime authorities so they don't get melted down, and the second one involves an actress who dates a man with a split personality, making his other personality jealous. Details below! [more inside]
posted by theatro at 7:27 AM PST - 10 comments

I have been tired of the politics and lack of growth in my current job for some time, so I went on the market. I now have three offers, all of which are tempting, but have very different tradeoffs. I could also stay in my current job. My conundrum is about the importance of WLB, given I am the mother of a toddler, but also career-motivated. Looking for perspectives from the hive. [more inside]
posted by redlines at 7:21 AM PST - 17 comments

Is there a function / tool in Photopea (online photo editor) for history brush and / or erase to history? [more inside]
posted by taz at 5:25 AM PST - 3 comments

I've been working in my current role for a couple of months, and am feeling unfulfilled by it at best (bored at worst). Now a new opportunity has come up… but I feel guilty about the idea of accepting it. [more inside]
posted by six sided sock at 5:11 AM PST - 17 comments

I have enough clothes and not enough storage space, and my bedroom feels really cluttered. I am looking for hacks to store and organise clothes in separate categories: (1) freshly washed/drying (2) worn once or twice but still clean. Can Mefites help me brainstorm a solution? [more inside]
posted by unicorn chaser at 4:08 AM PST - 22 comments

Are there reputable financial/life coach/services out there to help the recently divorced make sound financial decisions going forward? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 3:34 AM PST - 3 comments

I love "Alone in Kyoto" by Air. What really draws me in is how it's minimalist and steady but then has the small embellishments. I like working to music like that. What are some similar songs?
posted by mermaidcafe at 8:38 PM PST - 21 comments

Are there any good counts of mesopelagic fish biomass by species or family? [more inside]
posted by Paragon at 8:33 PM PST - 4 comments

I own the slim version of this simplehuman sink caddy. It's great, except that the bottom is rubber with tiny drainage holes and is extremely prone to mold and hard to clean. Does anyone know of a sink caddy that's similar but less mold-prone. Ideally it would just have a couple metal rods at the bottom or similar.
posted by matildatakesovertheworld at 7:21 PM PST - 6 comments

Gratitude by way of text messages, emails, and sticky notes are the norm for my profession. Last week, however, I received a hand-written thank you note on personalized stationery from a graduate student whom I had helped get an internship at the NIH Clinical Center. The message itself was nothing special, but the high quality paper (pearl white with a navy blue border) elevated the overall impression to old world, charming, classy heights. [more inside]
posted by BadgerDoctor at 3:52 PM PST - 28 comments

I have a guest room that turned into an office during Covid and now that things are opening up again, but we show no signs of going back to the office, now needs to become an office/guest room. There's enough room for a queen size mattress and my desk but only if the bed has it's long side against the wall, which rules out our current sofabed and the standard sofa bed format. Alternative options welcome! More details inside. [more inside]
posted by platypus of the universe at 3:32 PM PST - 17 comments

I’m looking for the tch-tch sound an intercom makes when it’s shut off after someone makes an announcement. I associate this sound with the PA system on Amtrak trains. I’ve listened to a bunch of YouTube videos of ambient train noise and have not been able to locate it. Does this sound have a name? If so, what is it and where can I find a recording of it?
posted by pxe2000 at 3:05 PM PST - 3 comments

Has anyone here used Silverbills or anything like it for assistance with paying a parent's bills? [more inside]
posted by veggieboy at 2:27 PM PST - 6 comments

I've got a hat I'd like to keep for sentimental reasons. So it needs a new brim. IS there a way to get that replaced or mended? Or is this the end of the line for ol' Cap?
posted by rileyray3000 at 2:12 PM PST - 2 comments

I can get most of them, but on the part in Almost Famous where William’s sister leaves him the records and he flips through them - does anyone recognize all the album covers? Thank you.
posted by jitterbug perfume at 1:07 PM PST - 6 comments

I'm looking for movies/shows/books that center around a protagonist who has superpowers but still lives a relatively normal life (no fighting supervillains, etc, superpowers used mainly for the hassles of everyday life). Particularly looking for psychics/people with telepathy because that tends to not be a great power for fighting evil, anyway. Also partial to workplace comedies because of how regular/normal they tend to be. [more inside]
posted by mnc at 12:35 PM PST - 38 comments

CDC says, "We are still learning how well vaccines prevent you from spreading the virus." What does this mean, exactly? [more inside]
posted by SageTrail at 11:32 AM PST - 6 comments

If so please tell me about them! [more inside]
posted by wowenthusiast at 11:31 AM PST - 9 comments

Please help me with a video conferencing setup for a group that meets both face to face and online. There is a therapy group of 15-20 people that used to have weekly meetings in a room. Since COVID-19 the group holds the weekly meeting on Zoom, which proved to be a very successful experience for the participants. As the lockdown is being lifted (the group is based in the UK) there is a possibility to resume face to face meetings, but some group members are unable to meet face to face due to health reasons and want to continue joining online. [more inside]
posted by slimeline at 11:18 AM PST - 5 comments

Hello - I know that Detroit is experiencing some heavy flooding this week, but I am planning travel in the next many weeks there, and reading about hours-long waits to pick up and or return rental cars to other destinations is making me a little anxious about how it is there (under non-flooding conditions.) Has anyone been there recently and picked up a rental car at the airport?
posted by 41swans at 11:00 AM PST - 4 comments

My 6-year-old is interested in how language develops, specifically in babies. I'd love to get him a couple books on it that hit his age level, do these books exist? [more inside]
posted by Toddles at 9:22 AM PST - 4 comments

My corded upright vacuum is on permaloan to my daughter, so recently bought a cordless stick vacuum, thinking it would be a good enough for my situation (~1200 sq ft of living space, mostly hardwoods, 1 very low pile area rug) and its light weight, easier access, and ease of moving from room to room would make me more likely to actually use it. Except I think I don't like it, and I don't know if it's the particular model or the fact that a sub-$200 cordless stick vac is not the right tool for my needs. [more inside]
posted by drlith at 9:18 AM PST - 11 comments

So, I'm finally arriving into Canada on August 8th. Fortunately, the government has announced that if you're fully vaccinated you don't have to do quarantine. However, it's not that simple and it is the border officer that will determine this based on whether you meet certain requirements. [more inside]
posted by Tarsonis10 at 6:17 AM PST - 12 comments

My credit card has been compromised two or three times in around that many years. I don't feel like I do anything particularly risky with it, so I'm a bit baffled about why this keeps happening. Can you help me try to prevent it from happening again, or at least make it less of a hassle if it does? [more inside]
posted by kinddieserzeit at 9:31 PM PST - 26 comments

My brain, once a steel-trap, is now a sieve. Thanks, parenthood. Looking for an app that will simply push notifications to my phone without my having to set timers/dates/etc. [more inside]
posted by stray at 9:22 PM PST - 9 comments

I drank some water out of a 32 oz hydroflask, but with some water still left in it. I then misplaced it, found it but continued to ignore it for over half a year at work. I’ve now brought it home and dumped out the water. My question is, can I use this bottle again, and if so, how should I clean it so I don’t die?
posted by Aranquis at 8:02 PM PST - 22 comments

I'm a first time home-buyer, with closing scheduled on the house for Monday. The closing attorney has asked for the wire transfer (not ACH) of closing funds to be completed by Sunday. Today, trying to initiate the wire from my online bank, I learned that my online bank containing my closing funds refuses to do wire transfers, only ACH transfers. In a panic, I did an ACH transfer of the closing amount from the online bank to my local bank, which can do a wire transfer. I've now realized that there's almost zero chance this money is going to be available in my local account to complete that wire transfer on Monday before closing. How badly have I screwed this up? [more inside]
posted by WhollyMatrimony at 6:18 PM PST - 14 comments

What's the current best equivalent of the Apple Watch in the Android ecosystem, with a focus on fitness/activity tracking? [more inside]
posted by Alterscape at 6:14 PM PST - 7 comments

I built a 16" x 10" hobby vacuum former and so far it's working great except for one problem. The plastic is being overheated & thinned in the center. [more inside]
posted by i_mean_come_on_now at 3:48 PM PST - 6 comments

This one is probably a longshot, but... I read a book a few years ago that was the first in its series. My memory of the details is somewhat fuzzy but I want to find it again so I can read the sequels! [more inside]
posted by zug at 3:11 PM PST - 5 comments

Does anyone here have any experience with Apollo Neuro wearable? It sounds like it’s a biofeedback device for things like stress reduction, but the language on it seems to be a little vague.
posted by answergrape at 3:04 PM PST - 3 comments

I find it nice to have a video game where I can solve interesting problems that don't actually matter as a way to relax, but I don't have one right now so I'm looking for more. [more inside]
posted by unus sum at 2:14 PM PST - 49 comments

I'd like to find some more art to hang on my bare, bare walls. I gravitate toward water scenes and landscapes; works on the abstract or impressionistic side; and luminous colors. Can you recommend any artists whose work I should look at? [more inside]
posted by nautical twilight at 2:06 PM PST - 7 comments

Based on what I'm seeing in stores, I fear my standard women's-bizcaz template (skinny/ tapered slacks + loose print shell or T + solid knit blazer or cardigan) may be entering its twilight years. I sort of get the new '20s silhouettes, but don't quite understand how to translate them onto non-model, non-teen bodies in middlebrow-suburban-professional cultural settings. Little help here? [more inside]
posted by Bardolph at 1:46 PM PST - 11 comments

We have an old car that hasn’t been driven in months. What is the best way to get rid of it? [more inside]
posted by cali59 at 1:02 PM PST - 14 comments

How, how do you wear those ubiquitous sneakers with ankle socks without the socks slipping down your heels as you walk?? Are my feet that different from everyone else's?
posted by Omnomnom at 12:58 PM PST - 23 comments

I’m dreaming of a trip to Singapore when travel is permitted. I’m not a petite gal, and know that shopping when I get there is probably out of the question. I love to plan and be prepared! What should my capsule wardrobe include for my trip to Singapore? North American size 14/16 and almost 6’0” tall (180cm). Size 12 feet.
posted by Juniper Toast at 12:50 PM PST - 7 comments

How can I set my expectations for recovery from major depression involving hospitalization? Are there milestones that might help me feel a sense of progress? [more inside]
posted by wherestheeraser at 11:57 AM PST - 7 comments

Can I make a shrub with just juice (no actual fruit)? A few details inside. [more inside]
posted by WalkerWestridge at 11:41 AM PST - 5 comments

At least 10 years ago, I read about a novel home building method that was developed as part of a hands-on college course. I think this was at a southern U.S. college, I don't recall a lot about it, but I remember the course instructor saying that many building inspectors were unfamiliar with the construction methods, and that they needed to be explained in a way that made sense. [more inside]
posted by 4midori at 10:49 AM PST - 9 comments

We are in town with three tweens for a Lacrosse tournament. We have all day Sunday ( June 27 ) to do whatever we want. Our team hotel is in DTC and I have a rental car. I will drive an hour or more if it lets us do something awesome. Anything is on the table as long as it doesn’t involve long lines or logistical headaches. Give us some awesome things to do while in Denver for one day.
posted by jasondigitized at 10:41 AM PST - 8 comments

CW: Animal sad stuff. A couple days ago I was "attacked" by dogs that escaped through their open front door as I was strolling the neighborhood. The one dog that sunk his teeth into me must have a history of aggression because authorities are putting him down. Is there anything I can do to save him from this fate? [more inside]
posted by shocks connery at 10:07 AM PST - 15 comments

I am feeling the urge to transform my life. However, I am still living home-bound pandemic life and feel like I’m lacking momentum/opportunity/capacity for measurable change. I would love to hear stories about small changes that snowballed into bigger, sustainable, long-term life changes. Interested in anything from health/fitness, home improvement, life-long learning, volunteering/career, to things I haven’t even considered before. Bonus points if you were parenting young children or caregiving for others at the time. [more inside]
posted by Maarika at 9:12 AM PST - 13 comments

Meeting friends at the NYBG tomorrow, and I'm wondering if folks here could recommend a good place to stop for some light refreshment around there? Preferably not too expensive. One of us is a teetotaller.
posted by maggiemaggie at 8:19 AM PST - 5 comments

Due to a number of decades of living plus a year of weight loss, I have lots of clothes and shoes I no longer want to keep. For the sort of average-condition or more basic items I have started a box for Goodwill, but I have probably a dozen pairs of nice jeans and pants (some never worn omg*), and a lot of size 11 women's leather shoes worn only a few times or once, or never, because I have had some terrible shopping habits. I would like to maybe sell these. [more inside]
posted by Glinn at 7:23 AM PST - 9 comments

I noticed last night that our lights were flickering faintly every minute or so. I believe it is related to one of our AC units, which is also emitting a regular noise, that sounds similar to the "AC startup sound," just a short pulse. It happens the whole time the AC is running, seemingly pretty regularly. [more inside]
posted by jschu at 7:13 AM PST - 10 comments

So following the advice from an earlier question about how to use Instagram to promote my book without anyone from my work finding out about it, I bought a brand new phone, signed up for a separate data plan, created a new email address, and tried to create a new Instagram account. It immediately banned the account for violating the terms of service without any explanation of what terms I have violated. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 5:12 AM PST - 4 comments

Please share your favorite online longform journalism about scams, frauds, shady businesses, failed businesses, and the like. Preferably with minimal violence, though.
posted by moonmilk at 9:52 PM PST - 38 comments

So yeah, everyone's experienced the decision fatigue of having too many streaming choices. And many people might be like me, having started many shows, maybe even movies, and not finished them. Simple question at first glance: what's a good method to figure out what to watch, either something new or continuing watching something you have? [more inside]
posted by Apocryphon at 9:34 PM PST - 18 comments

Give me your recommendations for posters or photos of amazing feats of humanity. [more inside]
posted by gt2 at 8:12 PM PST - 6 comments

If you have blocked arteries in your heart and you don't want to have bypass surgery what medications do they give you?
posted by cda at 4:20 PM PST - 9 comments

What meaningful things can you do with a quarter of a million dollars besides the usual? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 2:03 PM PST - 53 comments

Adult can't live on their own; I can't care for them. Help [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 2:03 PM PST - 22 comments

These dark moss(?) spots appeared on the outside of my house one day. I want to clean them, but I don't know what they actually are! And I don't want to make it worse somehow. Here's a picture. What are they and how do I clean it?
posted by cmcmcm at 1:56 PM PST - 8 comments

Am I a tiny tiny tiny bit warmer, now because his house absorbs more heat? Or am I a tiny tiny tiny bit cooler because his house reflects less light? (Yes, I know, for all practical purposes, neither--our two houses are pretty close together, but I'm sure the difference is too small to be detectable either way. I just want to know which way.) [more inside]
posted by Don Pepino at 11:49 AM PST - 15 comments

I've been recruited for a prestigious volunteer opportunity. I have no idea why I was recruited for it. I am interested in the subject but have no qualifications to do the actual work. It would be a great development opportunity, I'm just worried I'd be crap at it. How do I navigate this? [more inside]
posted by unicorn chaser at 11:34 AM PST - 10 comments

My grandmother died and my family is very dysfunctional , so i don't know how to properly mourn [more inside]
posted by winterportage at 10:46 AM PST - 10 comments

For the last couple of years I've been experiencing a higher level of fatigue than was normal for me previously. I've had a bunch of investigations done, my bloodwork is stubbornly normal, I don't have sleep apnoea, and the GPs I have access to are at the "maybe it's chronic fatigue or mental health but we're not going to do any more investigation for potential physical causes" stage. What else, if anything, can I do? [more inside]
posted by terretu at 9:57 AM PST - 22 comments

We are about to move into a high-rise apartment for the first time (high enough that we'll probably never use the stairs). I'm considering a collapsible wheeled cart along these lines so as to minimize back-and-forth elevator trips to the car. Those of you with experience: are there better options? or similar types of shopping-/stuff-hauling-related lifehacks we should be aware of? [more inside]
posted by CheesesOfBrazil at 9:09 AM PST - 35 comments

So I am wondering if anyone has gone through vision therapy for convergence insufficiency and other related eye problems and if has it improved their reading. If you or your child did it, how many in-therapy sessions or how many months? Were you pretty happy with the results? How often did you do the home work? 30 minutes daily or longer? Or less? Anything we should look for, anecdotally, to make the experience a positive and productive one? [more inside]
posted by The_Vegetables at 8:56 AM PST - 6 comments

I bought a package of whole nutmegs because I needed two for a project. Project is now complete and I have more than two dozen whole nutmegs left over. What can I use them for, and how? [more inside]
posted by heatherlogan at 6:51 AM PST - 34 comments

So I am in the throes of an unexpected local move (LONG story short - old landlord sold the building, new landlord is a bastard). I found a new space and I'm in the where-to-put-stuff pre-move planning stages - but the new space has a weird feature I'm trying to figure out how to work with. Help? [more inside]
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 6:18 AM PST - 11 comments

I'm looking for more information on a piece of work by artist Hannah Höch. It is the image here on the left *only*. [more inside]
posted by 0bvious at 5:21 AM PST - 2 comments

As an ESL speaker, I'm not very familiar with African American Vernacular English beyond what little I've seen in movies, and I'd like to broaden my familiarity with it to the point of at least being able to recognise the basic structures of it. Recommend me American Black books written at least partly in AAVE, especially in narration? Genre fiction preferred, because gods know I don't often have the focus for very literary stuff and memoirs just don't click with me.
posted by I claim sanctuary at 12:44 AM PST - 14 comments

I'm working in the life sciences and infrequently have to engage with statistics, like ANOVA, ttests and general data analysis of High Throughput data. But due to the infrequency I always forget a lot of this stuff and have to relearn it. I once had a really great statistics workbook, it was among some 20 books I just grabbed from the statistics shelf from my library to see what works best for me. It was quite short on the explanatory text, but had some outstanding problems to work on, the kind that makes you really think about the stuff you just learned, and not just mechanically apply the same formula with different numbers. These questions were very well designed and the answers to them were lengthy, so that you really understood the solution. For me this is the best method for truly understanding something. I want to find such a book again, can you help me out?
posted by SweetLiesOfBokonon at 12:12 AM PST - 7 comments

So I'm in CS. I've been doing software engineering for 3 years now since I graduated. I have a chance to go into data science and switch out my career. Headed to grad school in Canada for that purpose. I want focus on math long term and shift away from software. I want to then move into something like quant finance. However, I also want to open a business one day. [more inside]
posted by Tarsonis10 at 10:16 PM PST - 11 comments

I am thinking of making more salads this summer. What are your favorite recipes for salads or dressings? [more inside]
posted by NotLost at 9:18 PM PST - 37 comments

I want to buy rubies, grape agate, Celestite, (and other stones if there’s a place with a selection) and am wondering a trustworthy online source. I would like the option to buy raw or human-made into shapes. Mostly raw. Bonus question: how do the different handmade shapes of crystals (angel, heart, sphere, point, etc) affect the energy? Not sure if this is the wrong place to ask this but it’s becoming much more mainstream.
posted by jitterbug perfume at 7:19 PM PST - 8 comments

I have 12 developed reels of my dad's Super 8s spanning from 1965-1978. My mom would like them preserved, I want them in a digital format. I'm a bit overwhelmed by the number of places out there that can do both. Who should we pick? [more inside]
posted by space_cookie at 7:19 PM PST - 8 comments

Starting this weekend, we are going to have what, for us, is a pretty freaking extreme heatwave. At least 6 days of temperatures around/above 30 degrees celsius and possibly getting up to 38 (99 degrees fahrenheit). It's a dry heat. The sun will be beating down, no clouds. Help me save my plants please. [more inside]
posted by kitcat at 4:55 PM PST - 12 comments

How do you reconcile the advice to have a "hell yes" passion filled relationship with the other advice that relationships are hard work and takes effort? [more inside]
posted by monologish at 4:45 PM PST - 17 comments

Are there any benefits to doing a graduate minor compared to say, a Coursera certificate? Coursera is significantly cheaper and the options are more directly relevant to the skills I want, but do the certs carry any weight on job applications? Do graduate minors? [more inside]
posted by shesdeadimalive at 4:16 PM PST - 6 comments

What could possibly explain why the name of my partner's most recent ex is linked to our current and past addresses on data broker websites? [more inside]
posted by Gray Skies at 3:12 PM PST - 17 comments

How can I get Google Backup to recognize the pictures in my Photos.app library (on an external HD) and upload them? [more inside]
posted by wenestvedt at 2:57 PM PST - 3 comments

I have $400 worth of Ikea gift cards (apparently that's how Ikea does refunds, sigh). I have no use for them, I suspect none of my friends do either, and would prefer to have cash. Supposedly "resale is prohibited" and there are a lot of gift card scams out there, so I imagine a stranger would be leery about just buying them off me; I therefore hesitate to post them on Facebook Marketplace or whatever. How have you, MeFites, dealt with similar situations?
posted by branca at 2:54 PM PST - 4 comments

I would like to start a podcast that focuses on interviewing and discussing Canadian writers' works spanning from literature, biography, and non-fiction. I am not sure if YouTube is the best medium for starting a podcast on books? [more inside]
posted by RearWindow at 2:49 PM PST - 6 comments

Can anyone recommend a good housecleaning service or way to find a housecleaner in the Seattle area, specifically on the east side? [more inside]
posted by real sockpuppets of king county at 2:37 PM PST - 2 comments

I recently applied for a job at Shopify as a support person (this job but not the overnight version). The main qualities they're looking for are customer service experience and being tech savvy, which I have in spades. I was denied a first interview. Tips for 2nd application? [more inside]
posted by dobbs at 1:10 PM PST - 16 comments

I am going to be working in West Hartford for at least a year starting in 2022. [more inside]
posted by 8603 at 1:10 PM PST - 5 comments

Inspired by this question, I wanted to ask the differences if you are immunocompromised. (more details inside) [more inside]
posted by eleanna at 12:59 PM PST - 14 comments

I need to format an external HDD to transfer files from Ubuntu Linux (20.10) to Mac OSX Big Sur. I plugged in a preformatted external drive (NTFS) and seem to have been able to copy the files from the Linux machine, but when I try to copy to the Mac, Finder aborts when it encounters files with the same name in different directories. What filesystem can I use that will play well with both Mac and Linux? [more inside]
posted by fogovonslack at 11:42 AM PST - 27 comments

I'm interested in possibly living in New York City in the future, which is something I've always wanted to do. I've lived in very dense walkable parts of Philadelphia and Boston and loved it, and am trying to get a sense of how NYC would compare, both in terms of the experience and the cost. [more inside]
posted by ClaireBear at 10:50 AM PST - 27 comments

I love the podcast "Strong Songs" and in his episode about "I Will Always Love You" he spends more time than usual talking about Whitney Houston's singing in her version of the song. I'm so interested in this topic and I would love to hear someone with expert knowledge break down performances by amazing vocalists. The "Aria Code" podcast does this a little bit, but I'd like WAY more detail, and not just opera. It doesn't HAVE to be a podcast but I'd prefer that to a video. [more inside]
posted by exceptinsects at 10:25 AM PST - 7 comments

I have NoScript running to prevent a lot of ads, anti-adblock, and general tracking processes. I'm also looking for work. The thought occurred to me that blocking my Google Analytics and Google Tag Manager might somehow interfere with workings of Applicant Tracking Systems and Candidate Management Systems for applications I've put in over web forums. Is this something I should worry about?
posted by Jon_Evil at 10:17 AM PST - 4 comments

I could use a script for how to tell my colleague that I'm going to apply for the job she's doing currently please? My workplace sometimes appoints people on temporary promotion for a year before looking to fill the position permanently. My nice, friendly, competent colleague is in this situation and is intending to apply for the job when it comes out in the fall. [more inside]
posted by hazyjane at 9:56 AM PST - 19 comments

I'm following an American recipe that calls for half a can of tomato paste (for curry). I never really see tomato paste in British shops -- would this be equivalent to half a tube of tomato purée? A tin of tomatoes? Or something else?
posted by iamsuper at 9:53 AM PST - 13 comments

I'm an artist, and I've been posting some of my work on social media just to see if people like it, and they do! A friend wants to pay me to use one of my works for a project, but there's a catch. [more inside]
posted by Beethoven's Sith at 9:40 AM PST - 3 comments

I have little sideburn hairs that I keep long, so that I can tuck them behind my ears, for daily wear and wig-wearing. But I’m having a hard time finding a hair gel that will keep them tucked back there for the entire day. [more inside]
posted by BostonTerrier at 9:16 AM PST - 7 comments

How did servants (or anyone, really) walk upstairs in long skirts with a tray or two buckets or anything that left them without a hand free to hold said skirt out of the way? [more inside]
posted by cilantro at 7:21 AM PST - 23 comments

I need to make a single podcast that will be used in both North America and Europe. I planned to use my Iphone. (I do not want to spend a lot on tech and prefer to use what I have, which is iphone/macbook air, though can supplement). What is the best way to do this? Thanks in advance.
posted by nantucket at 7:14 AM PST - 10 comments

Preventing covid is the community's job, but please help me protect myself because I'm kind of on my own here. [more inside]
posted by Former Congressional Representative Lenny Lemming at 3:13 AM PST - 29 comments

What important things do I need to do right so that I don't make major blunders in having a new custom house built? [more inside]
posted by Dansaman at 1:50 AM PST - 21 comments

I need a period tracker app that preserves my privacy, does not bother me about fertility, and that notifies me a few days before my period is likely to start. [more inside]
posted by twelve cent archie at 11:10 PM PST - 10 comments

A recruiter wanted to talk to me about a software job (I'm not looking but I don't mind talking occasionally) and before our call they sent an NDA for me to sign, about a dozen long paragraphs of legalese. It all seemed a bit much, but one paragraph in particular stood out to me (read it below the fold). To me it seems literally impossible to comply with, since I had zero knowledge of the company, but I wonder what other people think. I did not sign, btw. [more inside]
posted by mpark at 7:55 PM PST - 31 comments

Unexpectedly found myself with a week off of work and would like to take a road trip with my dog to make the most of it. Complication: this is the first week (Monday-Friday) of July and most well known places seem booked out or only with non-consecutive dates. Anything off the beaten path that welcomes dogs and might empty out during the week? [more inside]
posted by JaneTheGood at 7:43 PM PST - 4 comments

After WWII, a guy gets roped into a mission to locate a former Nazi officer. After many misadventures, he locates the man, who, incidentally, had shot an another Nazi officer during the War. We learn at the end that the man he shot was the agent's father. The agent wasn't the inept sort we took him for. He wanted to locate the target so he could shoot him as pay back. [more inside]
posted by governale at 7:43 PM PST - 8 comments

I may want to break my lease to move in with my partner. My landlord would probably be happy I left, so they can renovate my apartment and increase the rent. Since we both want it, can I avoid paying a penalty for lease breaking? Long version inside. [more inside]
posted by ejs at 7:28 PM PST - 17 comments

A backhoe dug up some blooming yellow calla lilies. They laid out in 70 degree sun all day then were put in a vase in water bulbs and all. Are they salvageable? Next steps, please.
posted by maggieb at 7:07 PM PST - 3 comments

I want to compose a text message once, send it to multiple contacts, and not have them see the other recipients like in a group text. Is this possible on iPhone using any apps? How about jailbreak apps or tweaks?
posted by gzimmer at 5:01 PM PST - 7 comments

Person in mid level occupation (nanny) interested in working part time in Canada. Offered position. How obtainable are these right now? [more inside]
posted by firstdaffodils at 4:15 PM PST - 11 comments

I need to make a small change to the coax wiring situation for/outside my house so I can use a MoCA (Multimedia over Coax) adapter in one room, which has a wall coax thing that’s currently not connected to the live coax line. This will require a short (1 foot?) coax cable that is suitable for use outside, and potentially also a 1 input, 2 output splitter that is suitable for use outside and is compatible with MoCA use. I’m confused about options, can someone point me to appropriately weatherproof choices either at Lowes/Home Depot or on Amazon? [more inside]
posted by needs more cowbell at 3:28 PM PST - 10 comments

I want a beanbag chair-type thing for flexible seating and lounging. But I want it to be the most mature, adult, elegant, sophisticated grown-up-looking beanbag possible. Not like, executive leather, but well-made from nice materials, won't look too out-of-place among expensive furniture. Does such a thing exist?
posted by rhiannonstone at 12:47 PM PST - 16 comments

My favorite sublime pizza restaurant has an open kitchen and uses imported Parmesan wheels, which they grate for all their Parmesan needs. I'm a regular and after a casual request for extra rinds, the staff now bags up and gifts at least a quart of rinds at every visit. Which is pretty often since my grandkids request eating there every time I see them. I now have about a gallon of rinds, and a seemingly endless future supply. I'm looking for expanded ideas about how to use them to punch up the deliciousness of stocks, sauces, and soups, risotto, etc. [more inside]
posted by citygirl at 12:00 PM PST - 17 comments

A friend of mine is into building N gauge model trains. I want to buy him something like this open freight car and fill it with appropriately sized toy pups and other critters. What size puppy is right? I am a stranger to this stuff. Also a stranger to math so here we are.
posted by Bella Donna at 11:42 AM PST - 7 comments

I am looking for novels in which the protagonist experiences a profound loss of meaning and somehow comes out the other side. Think existential crisis, depersonalization, or nervous breakdown. We should follow the protagonist through the process of loss and (hopefully) reconstruction. Ideally something written in the last twenty years, though I'm open to older stuff, too. [more inside]
posted by Winnie the Proust at 10:12 AM PST - 49 comments

I have a recliner sofa that was purchased, inexpensively, some years ago. The seat stuffing is completely compressed at my kid's favorite end of the sofa, but the sofa is otherwise sound and I'd like to restuff the cushion to make it civilized. All the cushions are firmly sewed in and I don't see any zippers. How do people who do not own couch-moving trucks deal with this? [more inside]
posted by fingersandtoes at 10:06 AM PST - 7 comments

Sorry if this is a dumb question but I'm a bit of a Luddite. I bought a Nokia 105 recently. This is a new version of the phone we all used to have in the early 2000s and play Snake on. I got it so I could go off grid every so often and to break my addiction to my smartphone. I've put a Three (U.K network) Pay As You Go SIM in it, but I don't know my own number. I need this to log into the app and top up my phone. Would anyone know how I could go about finding my own number? Any help would be much appreciated.
posted by Sunflower88 at 9:37 AM PST - 7 comments

Me: has a large breed and a giant breed dog. Both are elderly and need frequent outside bathroom breaks. You: Have some reason to have an opinion (anecdotal evidence is great too) on the likelihood of the dog door being used as a way to break into our house. And/or you have advice gleaned from experience about types of dog doors that will better prevent people breaking in. Details after the jump. [more inside]
posted by WalkerWestridge at 9:08 AM PST - 22 comments

I'm vaccinated and dreaming of post-mask socializing. What are some universally flattering lip stains, glosses, sticks? If it matters, I have medium brown & grey hair, blue eyes and - I think - neutral undertones to my skin (can't tell if I look better in silver or gold). Also, I'm lazy AF and would prefer to not need primers, liners, etc.
posted by ChodenKal at 8:56 AM PST - 22 comments

(Asking on behalf of a friend.) I'm in the process of moving to a different team at work. It's a new role, and I'm being asked for input as to what my new job title should be. [more inside]
posted by snarfois at 8:54 AM PST - 6 comments

Please ID this weird tape from my youth...the adhesive kind, not the cassette kind. [more inside]
posted by phunniemee at 8:04 AM PST - 9 comments

I work for a person who is very high-profile and influential in our fairly small, competitive, sometimes dysfunctional field. I like my job and boss a lot, but I'd like to start exploring new opportunities for a variety of reasons. I'm concerned that others n my field (including folks involved in the hiring process at other organizations) may warn him I'm looking for a new job in order to curry favor. I've heard rumors that this has happened before. How should I manage my job hunt with that in mind? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 4:19 AM PST - 17 comments

I'm trying to upload my manuscript to KDP's system - the paperback edition rather than the e-book - using Microsoft Word on a Mac. But it keeps on getting rejected as "failed manuscript upload". I've checked all the formatting as carefully as I can against KDP's instructions, and the only issue that I'm still unsure about is the page margins. The book's intended as US paperback size (6" x 9") and comes in at about 180 pages. I've selected the correct page size accordingly, but I find KDP's instructions of which margins to choose very confusing. Could anyone out there who's successfully published a 6" x 9" paperback via KDP tell me what inside, outside and gutter margins they used, please? If these should turn out to be the same as mine, then that's one more issue I can rule out. Many thanks. [more inside]
posted by Paul Slade at 12:19 AM PST - 3 comments

My boyfriend has developed Hashimoto’s, alongside hypothyroidism - looking for non-woo resources (online or a book is ok) and reasonably well supported treatment guidelines. [more inside]
posted by cotton dress sock at 9:16 PM PST - 17 comments

American citizen living overseas for over six years would like to move home in a couple years. I tried and failed to get a copy of my credit report. How do I view and revive my credit standing at home while living thousands of miles away? [more inside]
posted by jacquilinala at 9:02 PM PST - 5 comments

I've been working on de-cluttering and organizing my mother's kitchen. There are all kinds of bakeware, utensils and other accessories to sort through that's been acquired over the last 40+ years. What is the rule of thumb when it comes to keeping and tossing this type of stuff? [more inside]
posted by VirginiaPlain at 7:27 PM PST - 17 comments

Tech wizards of Mefi, Mr. Bluesky is at his wit's end. He did the following (see inside) to a Dell laptop running WIndows 10 and now he can no longer login to his machine. We have googled and googled, many people seem to have had this problem but all the solutions we found assume you can log into windows (he can't) and other attempts outlined below have been similarly stymied. Any recommendations would be most welcome! Details below. [more inside]
posted by bluesky43 at 7:14 PM PST - 12 comments

35 year old always heavy but currently fat ciswoman here, looking for perspective and probably also some permission to cut my visit to my parents wayyyyy short after my father staged an intervention over my weight. [more inside]
posted by nancynickerson at 5:52 PM PST - 63 comments

Like many recent humanities PhDs, I find myself overwhelmed at how ill-qualified I am for jobs outside academia, yet there are very few jobs within academia. What skills should I try to build over the next couple of years? General career ideas also welcome. (Many more details below the fold) [more inside]
posted by coffeecat at 5:49 PM PST - 22 comments

The goal is to create a free short, interactive training course that graduate students could complete asynchronously online or on a mobile phone in areas with limited or low bandwidth. However, the EdTech world is enormous! I'm not quite sure what resources are commonly used for self-authoring interactive, short online courses. [more inside]
posted by forkisbetter at 5:05 PM PST - 4 comments

I'm fully vaccinated. I spent a hell of a long day in airports Sunday. I woke up Monday with a fever, chills, relatively severe soreness in every muscle and joint and all of my skin. I feel completely back to normal, happy and healthy today. I'm going to get tested tomorrow, but is there any chance it will actually show positive if in fact I did have a lil 24-hour bout with COVID? [more inside]
posted by so fucking future at 4:34 PM PST - 11 comments

I quit working out and got into bad habits at the start of COVID. Now, practically every part of my body is stiff and painful. What medical professional(s) do I need to see, and can I go back to high-intensity exercise eventually? [more inside]
posted by scruffy-looking nerfherder at 4:03 PM PST - 13 comments

Is there a good unbiased clearinghouse/site to answer all my home solar questions? [more inside]
posted by Thorzdad at 2:20 PM PST - 10 comments

I need to have 2 pairs of headphones playing from my android pixel 3a phone at the same time. The phone only allows for 1 pair to connect. How do we make this work? [more inside]
posted by markblasco at 12:58 PM PST - 8 comments

The potassium in a banana includes potassium-40, and 11% of the time potassium-40 decays, it emits gamma radiation. Does that mean I could create an x-ray image using unexposed film and a bunch of bananas? How many would I need?
posted by paul_smatatoes at 10:54 AM PST - 12 comments

Along with many other now-vaccinated stir crazy US families, we are traveling this summer - and the prices for rental cars are wildly expensive. I know there are various pandemic-related reasons for the cost, but does anyone have an estimate as to when the prices may subside, or what indicators there might be for prices dropping closer to pre-pandemic prices? [more inside]
posted by RajahKing at 10:44 AM PST - 19 comments

We're in the process of building a new home office and having an electrician come in to wire up a bunch of new outlets. This is a new space in the home with new walls, so there were no outlets before. What do I want in terms of outlet types and anything else electrical that might be a little extra nice or convenient? [more inside]
posted by msbrauer at 10:42 AM PST - 20 comments

Can you point me to an article on term limits? This was a US political reform trend of the 90s I guess and I know I've read the outcome of these term limit laws has been somewhat bad, but I'd like to read specific analysis of why and what the specific impact of these laws has been.
posted by latkes at 10:23 AM PST - 4 comments

Somewhere around 1994-1998, I frequently ate a jarred cilantro chutney that I would LOVE to purchase again or perhaps figure out a recipe for. Can you help me find the jarred stuff (preferred) or recommend a recipe? Details inside. [more inside]
posted by CiaoMela at 10:05 AM PST - 7 comments

I'm looking to photograph a NYC (Manhattan) march on Sunday from above. Here is the route. Any ideas of places I could photograph from along this path? This could include open parking garages, rooftop restaurants, sky bridges, or any other elevated open or window areas.
posted by andoatnp at 8:58 AM PST - 3 comments

How do I decline a birthday party? I don't think people believe me when I say I don't want a party. I've said things like "lets have a group celebration for all the parties we missed" or "I really don't want to do anything special". How do you politely say "thanks, but no thanks" without sounding ungrateful when someone is insisting that you MUST CELEBRATE and thinks I'm just being shy or modest about not wanting a party. [more inside]
posted by nevertoolate at 7:40 AM PST - 34 comments

Many years of therapy, but relatively recent diagnosis (and treatment) for Bipolar II. Love my therapist but he's not experienced in structured treatment of BPII. He is not the droid I am looking for. Do have a psychiatrist already, love him, but need BPII therapist. *Yes, I will ask him also*. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 7:15 AM PST - 0 comments

I have about 50 audio files that I'd like to load into Pocket Casts as if they were a podcast (i.e., a single feed but each file is a episode). This is only for me, I don't need it published publicly. I could learn the format of a podcast RSS feed and hand-roll it, but is there software that will just do this for me (e.g., put all the files in a directory and it generates a feed pointing to all those files) ? [more inside]
posted by Tehhund at 5:45 AM PST - 12 comments

I need to make a cake for a friend. I'm looking for interesting/historical/non-American cake recipes. Some preferences below. [more inside]
posted by aielen at 5:39 AM PST - 24 comments

I have passed my probation period. My supervisor would like to have a chat with me about KPIs, and I'd like the conversation to be productive and constructive. I also need some advice on managing work-related anxieties, mainly catastrophising whenever a mistake is made. [more inside]
posted by antihistameme at 4:55 AM PST - 10 comments

I'm looking for stylishly directed scenes of extreme competence. [more inside]
posted by Just this guy, y'know at 3:09 AM PST - 54 comments

There's so many projectors out there; my dad has asked me to find him one that will fit his requirements, and I'm having a hard time of it. The one he has is fading fast, and it wasn't a particularly good one anyway, so we're hoping to find something better. I've spent hours going through projector specs to no avail, and my time is really short right now. It's got to fit onto a neat little shelf that he's built for the purpose, which is above and to the right of the center of the screen, so ideally we'd want one with horizontal and vertical lens shift. [more inside]
posted by 5_13_23_42_69_666 at 2:56 AM PST - 3 comments

from 1993-96 I lived in Portland, Oregon, attending graduate school at PSU. During that period poet Mark Strand did a reading at some small venue downtown. During that reading he read something playful that may or may not have been his work, that had lines that were sort of like: Let us run with the big dogs Let us let the big dogs off the porch [more inside]
posted by mecran01 at 9:43 PM PST - 4 comments

You are not my insurance agent. I was quietly minding my business this afternoon at an about-to-turn red light at a four way, when a large truck hit my compact/small car from behind. We both pulled over, exchanged info. For some reason (local festival?) the police had stopped responding to calls. I went home and called my insurance co., and got into the doc's last appointment of the day -- just in case. [more inside]
posted by Rumi'sLeftSock at 9:05 PM PST - 18 comments

Mr. Millipede, our almost two and a half year old twins, and I are taking the LIRR to Montauk from NYC this weekend. Our train arrives at 4:45pm. I am an imbecile and I do stupid things sometimes, so here we go. I made dinner reservations at 5pm at what looked like a very close restaurant, but in reality requires an extremely strange roundabout route to get there from the LIRR station, one that would take 30 minutes walking (5 minutes driving). I need some advice. [more inside]
posted by millipede at 6:25 PM PST - 17 comments

I'm looking to acquire some large-scale artwork for my home (at least 44x60") and boy, the framing costs are insane! Is there any affordable DIY method or do I just need to save up $800 per piece for framing? [more inside]
posted by serelliya at 4:18 PM PST - 12 comments

Gmail has a feature called dynamic email. As I understand it, this means an email's content can be updated every time I open the email. How can I trust my email record? For example, if I think I ordered a package of 2 throw pillows, but my receipt says it was a single pillow, how can I know whether my memory is wrong or the retailer updated the listing after I placed the order?
posted by henuani at 3:52 PM PST - 2 comments

You know how some people's palates are offended by new flavors? It's like that but with reading. [more inside]
posted by fingersandtoes at 3:44 PM PST - 38 comments

My wife and I were watching The Wicker Man (1973, the 'Final Cut' released in the 2000s) for the summer solstice, and neither having seen it for decades, had forgotten quite a few of the details -- including the fact that the landlord in Summersisle can only be described as tremendously camp. It's great to see queerness in cinema, but we're wondering what the narrative point is. [more inside]
posted by Shepherd at 2:59 PM PST - 8 comments

I'm reluctantly trying/being forced into Whole 30 with a friend. I will probably just lie to said friend this month, but I did buy some cashew-milk yogurt and it is super-gross--the texture, the taste (really artificial). Immediately thrown out. For people who know about these things: what is your favorite brand/type of non-dairy yogurt? I need it to be unsweetened. (And note I love regular plain whole milk yogurt.) Thank you!
posted by namemeansgazelle at 12:19 PM PST - 26 comments

My 8yo has a collection of fire alarm pull stations. I recently purchased one for him from Ebay without reading the description carefully enough, and it came without a key. How can we obtain a key for this? [more inside]
posted by LKWorking at 11:43 AM PST - 11 comments

You know the type...been around for eleventy billion years....All the fish is caught fresh that day by some dude named Hank and cooked up right then for you. We are staying in Kissimmee and then meeting someone in Daytona (midway-is between our place and Jacksonville) and then traveling south along the coast. Anywhere in those locations would be swell. Have suggestions? [more inside]
posted by Wink Ricketts at 11:33 AM PST - 7 comments

I have a 2006 Toyota Highlander Hybrid with a small exhaust leak. Dealership doesn't do welding repairs. Car repair shop won't disconnect hybrid battery, which is apparently necessary before doing welding on the exhaust system. Is this true? Options? [more inside]
posted by Chuck Carroll at 11:25 AM PST - 12 comments

Recently heard an old favorite song from my Seattle days - Press Gang by the Murder City Devils - and today I have a huge jones to hear more fun stuff like it. Bands you should also consider for this thread: Zeke, Speedealer, Revolution Mother, The Bronx, Fury, etc. I need it fast, loud and scary as hell.
posted by Lipstick Thespian at 10:47 AM PST - 5 comments

I have an old EchoShow, and I rather enjoy using Alexa to turn lights on/off, fans on/off, and that sort of thing. But I rent, and I don't want to mess with the existing light switches. So I was thinking... is there some sort of a mechanism I can control via wifi that can turn on/off the regular light switch? That I basically snap/stick onto an existing light switch? [more inside]
posted by kschang at 10:37 AM PST - 16 comments

Flexible on time, so want to enjoy the trip. What towns, roadside attractions, events, etc. should I try to incorporate into this? Fully vaccinated, will be driving a private car back.
posted by OneSmartMonkey at 10:09 AM PST - 8 comments

You: a person who goes out and does things, just because. Things like hiking, going to the farmer's market, casual day trips to nearby places, checking out local events, etc. Nothing in particular really, just things outside the house. What does your thought process and mindset look like? How do you decide when to go out and what things to do? How do you keep track of what events are going on in your locale so you remember to go to them? How do you trick yourself into going places when you are feeling ho-hum about it? [more inside]
posted by helloimjennsco at 9:35 AM PST - 43 comments

Despite the crazy, crazy real-estate market, we are looking for a new home. I love walkable neighborhoods. I love browsing real estate on Zillow, and am pleased that they include a home's WalkScore on every listing. I am not not pleased, however that this score is at the bottom of every page. Is there a site (or easy method) for browsing real-estate listings by walkability? [more inside]
posted by jdroth at 9:29 AM PST - 6 comments

How do we remodel our only bathroom and still live in our home? [more inside]
posted by backseatpilot at 9:27 AM PST - 11 comments

Or, alternately, what are good non-discord, non-reddit (non-metafilter, I guess!) "nerdy" communities? [more inside]
posted by wooh at 8:04 AM PST - 11 comments

Our favorite pizza place near us closed due to the pandemic. :( We're looking for a new option on the Upper East Side in Manhattan. Would love to hear about your faves!
posted by Conrad Cornelius o'Donald o'Dell at 7:42 AM PST - 4 comments

So I had this one photo from my camera, that seems to have disappeared. I downloaded one app for data recovery and it's not there. Google didn't have permissions so that's not an option. I really need this photo as it is a copy of a document that can't be replaced. What can be done? Is it lost forever? Does Samsung keep a record of all my camera photos?
posted by watercarrier at 7:17 AM PST - 8 comments

Hi - I'd like to make an iOS app that would just be for my own use - no interest in anything commercial. It would be pretty simple and not require updating. I am willing to pay someone to build it - where should I start? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 3:25 AM PST - 16 comments

I'd like to get an accurate decibel reading of my kid's white noise machine to make sure it's not too loud, but I downloaded a few apps on my Android and they were not consistent with each other. Is it worth it to get a professional decibel reader, and any suggestions for one? Thanks.
posted by madonna of the unloved at 2:36 AM PST - 10 comments

The standard recommendation for chronically single people is to learn how to be happy alone, and to not wait for a partner to do things you want to do. But I already do the things I want to do, and never enjoy myself nearly as much as when I’m doing those things with a partner. In fact, when I’m single, the frequency/magnitude of my day-to-day life enjoyment is dramatically lower than when I’m partnered. So what do I need to do to have an enjoyable life? [more inside]
posted by deus ex machina at 10:03 PM PST - 37 comments

I love them so much…….until they INEVITABLY stop working. I have gone through so many. I love how I can put it on the can, push the button, then go about whatever else I need to do in a recipe while it opens my can. I know…it would be more mindful to open the can manually and reliably even if ( or maybe because) that prohibits me from recipe multi tasking…..but I am who I am. [more inside]
posted by Lylo at 8:40 PM PST - 2 comments

I have an absolutely ancient Kindle -- the Kindle Touch 4th gen as seen here -- that is on its last legs. I don't mind shelling out for a new one but how do I get all the data off the old one onto the new one? I have a ton of books + documents of my own. [more inside]
posted by BlahLaLa at 7:19 PM PST - 10 comments

The library at University of Portland has vertical wooden slats on the walls. I'm told they're to help keep it quiet and minimize echoes. I'd like to make a panel of similar slats for my parents, whose house is new and very echo-prone. Does spacing of the slats matter? Can they be horizontal instead of vertical? Are there other design considerations I should take into account?
posted by sibilatorix at 6:46 PM PST - 13 comments

Are you someone who does not have or minimally uses TV subscriptions? How do you unwind after long days if so? [more inside]
posted by knownfossils at 6:04 PM PST - 26 comments

I planted an entire balcony garden. Then my neighbors restarted their balcony metal sanding project today and now my plants and planters are covered in a fine layer of paint dust. The dust has multiple times tested negative for lead—I previously tested chips of all the paint colors with LeadCheck, and today tested the dust—but I don't know what else is in it. Is there any chance I'll be able to eat any of this? [more inside]
posted by limeonaire at 2:28 PM PST - 18 comments

For the task of mastering audio on a video game, I'd like my headphones to more closely represent what a typical computer speaker sounds like. Do you have any advice for this? [more inside]
posted by ErikH2000 at 1:30 PM PST - 15 comments

How do you phrase things to allow flexibility without being over accommodating or making the other person do all of the work? [more inside]
posted by robertthebruce at 11:59 AM PST - 25 comments

L'Occitane used to carry a cherry (not cherry blossom) scented perfume, which has long since been discontinued. I would love to find something similar. [more inside]
posted by eponym at 11:33 AM PST - 6 comments

I was out hiking yesterday and found a cool feather. I'm really curious about what bird it might have come from. [more inside]
posted by firemonkey at 8:58 AM PST - 11 comments

Snowflake Beans inside. [more inside]
posted by pyro979 at 8:28 AM PST - 5 comments

My dad's 60th birthday is coming up soon, and I'm hoping to think of a low-ish budget way to still make it a unique/memorable birthday. [more inside]
posted by unid41 at 7:57 AM PST - 10 comments

A mentally disturbed man has been harassing me for 10+ years now. He contacted me again recently and I'm getting worried. He has many paranoid beliefs, plus also very likely abuses drugs - does anyone know how to deal with such a person? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 7:37 AM PST - 37 comments

Rewatched The Maltese Falcon for the 200th time, spoiler alert if you haven't seen it. [more inside]
posted by dirtdirt at 6:45 AM PST - 9 comments

It has come to my attention that my ex is taking the low road and I need to figure out what steps I should be taking to secure my online and real life privacy. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 10:02 PM PST - 20 comments

In a music video, I saw a hi-hat cymbal with a black circular stripe around the middle of the top. I feel like I’ve seen this before. Google yields no results. Anyone? [more inside]
posted by jitterbug perfume at 7:23 PM PST - 4 comments

I'm having an odd smell/sensory experience with my apartment. Every time I enter, there's this really strong, somewhat overpowering odor, that's chemically in nature (closest match for the smell I can think of is Windex-like). After I'm inside the apartment for a few minutes, the smell disappears, and the entryway does not have the odor at all. It's only when entering the apartment that I smell it. [more inside]
posted by dubious_dude at 4:50 PM PST - 27 comments

How can I record audio from Zoom calls on my Mac to my iPad, while also using headphones? I've tried a splitter... [more inside]
posted by daisyace at 2:46 PM PST - 22 comments

I've used the same accountant for my income taxes for years. This year, they changed their pricing from a one time annual fee for income tax prep, to a monthly fee and increasing the total amount charged. What are my options? [more inside]
posted by clockworkjoe at 1:52 PM PST - 11 comments

This one is for my mom. She has a retinal tear that reopened and will probably require laser surgery, unless it's detached. This same eye had a tear two months ago, and the surgeon did not use adequate pain control. So, I'm looking for a, eye surgeon who is great about pain control and who's also good with recurring tears. Anyone have any recommendations? Blue Cross/Blue Shield is the insurance, and she's in western Massachusetts but willing to drive to cities like Boston, Hartford, Worcester for a better patient experience.
posted by Alex Haist at 12:05 PM PST - 4 comments

What is the decibel level of "fun" in your personal experience? [more inside]
posted by aniola at 11:29 AM PST - 58 comments

When Covid first started and my gigs fell through, my landlady gave me a month's rent off. I have now moved out and it would be at this point which I ask for my deposit back. Should I bother, or just call it "even"? [more inside]
posted by critzer at 11:04 AM PST - 13 comments

I have a friend that has been battling mental health issues, which have resulted in physical health issues over the years. I am offering a lot of advice, guidance, and encouraging my friend to seek professional therapy as well as reaching out to her doctor/nurse for mental health support. This friend is also frustrating their family and other friends that I know as well. [more inside]
posted by RearWindow at 10:08 AM PST - 15 comments

I am a socially awkward lady, was invited to a wedding I feel obligated to go to and am just dreading because I don’t know how to be a single woman at a wedding. [more inside]
posted by [insert clever name here] at 9:01 AM PST - 28 comments

We just bought our first hot tub - yay! But now we have to figure out exactly what kind of slab to put it on top of. Advice appreciated, and more details inside! [more inside]
posted by egeanin at 8:53 AM PST - 6 comments

I am making baked mac and cheese. I created the roux, THEN added cheese. Then i added milk. Do I need to dump this and get the cheese and milk again? What can I use this 8 cups of milk and 4 cups of cheese for if not?
posted by sandmanwv at 7:51 AM PST - 15 comments

I posted recently about my concerns about starting meds for anxiety/depression during a very stressful time. The responses were incredibly helpful!! I’m back, looking for (more) help making choices around these meds. The biggest concern: As a recently-divorced 53-year-old man hoping to start dating after many years of marriage, I’m very concerned about side effects like weight gain and sexual dysfunction. I’m hoping for any thoughts/suggestion/ideas on how to handle these concerns. [more inside]
posted by LambSock at 6:24 AM PST - 22 comments

I have vague recollections of a book from my childhood. I think my kid might like the book, but I can't remember enough about it to search for it usefully. It might have had "America" or "Americana" or "Almanac" in the title; "Kid's America" sounds like the right title to me but of course searching that is useless. It definitely contained a guide to hobo signs. Maybe you had the same book? [more inside]
posted by jordemort at 6:10 AM PST - 10 comments

I'm part of an online writing group. Our website fell victim to technical issues, and then our (largely absent) founder abandoned the helm and will not respond to messages. We want to continue writing in the universe that the founder (and others) created. Can we? How? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 4:19 AM PST - 7 comments

After being raised in a conservative religious household, I'm finally starting to get comfortable with viewing adult material online, but I don't know where to find stuff I would actually enjoy, and also I'd like to do it from a financially ethical position where the creators are being paid something. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 4:19 AM PST - 15 comments

I think an inpatient alcohol addiction treatment could help me because I won't have access to alcohol but the treatment itself seems frightening (boring, not helpful). What options are there for someone who doesn't want an AA-oriented program? What are the most successful places in the USA? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 4:19 AM PST - 7 comments

I'm searching for a song with a general sound or theme. Something that sounds like Southern Rock, and upbeat with whimsy. But also with some reminiscence and something that speaks in some allegorical ways. Any ideas?
posted by CollectiveMind at 1:45 AM PST - 8 comments

My father-in-law is transcribing old letters inherited from a family member. He came across this musical notation with the caption “You know!” in a letter from 1919. Can anyone identify the tune? [more inside]
posted by greycap at 12:39 AM PST - 10 comments

My Moto G4(?) is accumulating sufficient defects after five years that it's time to look into new phones. I want another phone that I can keep for a while and not contribute as much to e-waste. I had to switch to the Moto G after my previous phone no longer worked with new (at the time) cell ranges and protocols, so maybe one with 5G would be a good investment? What are my options? [more inside]
posted by eviemath at 11:23 PM PST - 28 comments

I deal with WFH but pottering away from my laptop by setting iPhone alarms so I can arrive at, wrap up, and end my meetings (3-8 nonrecurring meetings/day, 1-4 alarms per meeting to help me facilitate others + protect my time, custom text reminding me alarm's pupose). I need something lighter than my phone + easier to setup. Is there a smartwatch (or other gadget: I only want this one feature and dislike having surveillance/text/calls/web/apps) that can do this for me? [more inside]
posted by rollcredits at 9:19 PM PST - 2 comments

I want to bring a piece of software to market: Something that I can do in a single line of Regex code in GDocs - essentially a simple transform. But I need guidance/advice. [more inside]
posted by filmgeek at 7:23 PM PST - 8 comments

Mid-50s woman looking for advice for peeing without leaving the cat locked alone in the car (obviously bad) during 8-10 hour long driving days. How can this be accomplished besides desperate behind-the-car-door stealth pees? Are there non-gimmicky devices that actually work for ladies? Bring a side-of-the-road bucket? What's worked for you? [more inside]
posted by quarterframer at 7:22 PM PST - 26 comments

Is that even the right thing to do here? [more inside]
posted by Amy93 at 7:02 PM PST - 18 comments

Yeah it's pretty much as stated above. Friend's mother. Major colon surgery. Now has a bag that's been an ordeal getting used to. Normally I'd sent a food gift basket but now...eh? For those who have or know people with one, what's something you'd wish you'd been given to use or deal with this situation?
posted by rileyray3000 at 6:37 PM PST - 9 comments

My BFF has an interview next week for a position at Heap Looking for insight on this company as a place to work and on their stability. Thanks!
posted by purenitrous at 5:24 PM PST - 2 comments

I have a linux laptop with a touch screen. I use it to remotely connect to a PC with a fancy old keyboard that gives me access to F13-F24, to which I've been attaching assorted macros. Is there an app for Linux that will put a bar across the bottom the screen with direct access to F13-F24? [more inside]
posted by krisjohn at 4:30 PM PST - 8 comments

I mistakenly put the wrong gpa on a job application and now I've unexpectedly advanced in the process and need to correct this. [more inside]
posted by Kicky at 3:01 PM PST - 10 comments

I'm looking for a specific type of doorstop, and I don't know what it's called or how to search for it. [more inside]
posted by pdb at 2:19 PM PST - 5 comments

Due to various kinds of repression, I'm not comfortable talking to casual sex partners about sex. I do fine with the abstract discussions and oblique flirting, but when it comes to being specific about what I want--especially in the moment--I get tongue tied and clam up. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 2:00 PM PST - 10 comments

The Germans probably have a word for this. It's a sunny Friday afternoon and I have a few hours of work left. Things are fine and things are sad. There's fun plans in the near future but the awful times of the near past still feel very vivid. Everyone I love is "fine" and nobody I love is fine. The world is coming back but I miss everyone and everything all the time, anyway. What songs should I listen to for the rest of the day?
posted by We put our faith in Blast Hardcheese at 1:33 PM PST - 29 comments

We're having some repairs done on the exterior of the house - our HVAC was damaged by a worker, and the cost to fix could be $expensive$....need input. [more inside]
posted by kilohertz at 1:19 PM PST - 6 comments

I need an expensive procedure that has me seriously considering getting dental insurance for the first time. Help! [more inside]
posted by gottabefunky at 12:30 PM PST - 18 comments

You are talking to someone, and mention a pattern, a repeated action of the other. In a kinda nice way.....saying well, "you do that a lot". Not really accusing, but carefully pointing out, bringing to attention, a behavior. Not trying to start an argument, but maybe begin a look at a behavior. [more inside]
posted by ebesan at 12:16 PM PST - 18 comments

I'm enjoying branching out with my baking. I've got a repertoire of standards (chocolate chip, roll cookie, etc.). I've recently enjoyed making more interesting recipes, like rugelach, alfajores, and kolaczki. Can you recommend some other cookies/biscuits/bars with interesting textures and flavor profiles? [more inside]
posted by stillmoving at 11:50 AM PST - 23 comments

I am going to be going to see a new physical therapist soon. When I called their office and asked if everyone there was vaccinated, the receptionist said she didn't think so. Should I even go here or not? I am fully vaccinated. [more inside]
posted by Rufous-headed Towhee heehee at 11:41 AM PST - 10 comments

I developed a crush on a guy in my grad school programme last year and it was fantastic during the whole lockdown period. I admit I got very emotionally invested, and I read up on limerence – I’m trying my best to move on (through exercise, focusing on my PhD) but my mind keeps going back to him. I find myself wasting hours everyday thinking about him, our texts. It’s silly but I just want my mind back. Is cutting contact the solution? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 11:28 AM PST - 9 comments

Is there actually a difference in quality if you buy, say, a plumbing fixture (faucet, showerhead, etc.) through a specialty showroom instead of a Home Depot or Lowe's? Even if it's supposedly the same, i.e. "Kohler "Venice" kitchen faucet in brushed nickel" at both? [more inside]
posted by castlebravo at 9:15 AM PST - 17 comments

Life got really stressful. Then I got anxious and depressed. I am doing pretty much all the non-medication stuff (psychotherapy, exercise, avoid alcohol/caffeine, etc). I’m now considering trying meds (not sure if I want to, nervous about it). The hard thing for me is: My understanding is that starting on psych meds, you might get a little out-of-commission for a while. I feel like I have too many stressors/responsibilities to be able to afford that. Looking for ideas, advice, etc. [more inside]
posted by LambSock at 8:39 AM PST - 30 comments

Hello, I am compiling a list of blogs, online information sources like magazines, etc for a team of developers/coders who work in the website world. They are writing somewhat bog standard php for wordpress, but they also have to produce work in React/JavaScript, MySQL, Next.js, Java/Kotlin for Android and Obj-C/Swift for iOS, etc. What blogs, newsletter subscriptions, websites, etc should the team absolutely be aware of? Thanks!
posted by archivist at 8:20 AM PST - 7 comments

I had a new furnace installed and the installer changed the wiring to the thermostat in an unhelpful way. The green wire, which used to be "fan," is now "common." I don't really want that. Is there an easy fix? [more inside]
posted by Mid at 7:01 AM PST - 16 comments

Is it ever legal for employers to not pay independent contractors for trainings which are during the work day, related to work procedures, and mandatory? As far as my research indicates, no, but maybe I am missing something? [more inside]
posted by bearette at 6:17 AM PST - 13 comments

Give me your happy, hippy-dippy, light as air, love-is-all-you-need festy music - but from local/regional bands from the late 80s-early 90s. [more inside]
posted by headnsouth at 6:15 AM PST - 36 comments

I have spoken word audio and background tracks which I have license to. Some music and some are like beach noise. I want to mix the spoken word and the background tracks. I have an older Mac and audacity but I would happily pay for an automated service that could do quick and dirty versions of mixing these. I don’t have budget for a producer or studio. Suggestions? Thank you!
posted by The Last Sockpuppet at 3:53 AM PST - 5 comments

Our Molly has been an indoor cat for as long as we had her - up until recently. We lived in a flat with her for over 5 years and she was kept indoors with some outings to the backyard on a leash. However, we recently moved and it is proving to be almost impossible to keep her as an indoor cat anymore (much to our anxiety and stress!) and would like some guidance on how we can transition to her being an outdoor cat as we have no experience with this. [more inside]
posted by like_neon at 2:22 AM PST - 26 comments

How do I handle salary requirement requests and screening if I’m potentially open to a much lower than desired salary? This all depends on the opportunity and how anxious I get in the coming months being unemployed. I’m talking about a $20-30,000 difference. I’m currently asking for close to six figures. One job is with a Nobel laureate. I’ll take that pay cut. I don’t want to short myself otherwise if a company's salary budget is in my ideal range. [more inside]
posted by Che boludo! at 1:05 AM PST - 6 comments

I have been looking without success for an enamel pin of beloved character actor Richard Kind. Can you find one, or recommend a source for custom pins to capture his likeness?
posted by doift at 11:13 PM PST - 3 comments

I need to ship a 400 lb package to Laredo, Texas to be held for up to a week so someone can pick it up for me. Are there companies that specialize in this kind of thing? I could ship it to some friends in Texas and have them drive it down on the day but I would prefer to skip the complication.
posted by Tell Me No Lies at 9:04 PM PST - 9 comments

I want to know the grammatical reasoning behind this: a) Each cat has a collar b) Each cat must have a collar Why does adding must change the subject-verb agreement? This is next to impossible to google an answer for as I'm not sure what grammatical rule/exception I'm looking for, and it is slowly driving me mad not knowing why.
posted by dorothyisunderwood at 9:00 PM PST - 13 comments

Trying to figure out what expectations are reasonable for someone whose symptoms keep returning despite 18 years of weekly therapy. Should my mental health have gotten better by now, or is something else going on? (discusses suicidal ideation) [more inside]
posted by CancerSucks at 8:32 PM PST - 7 comments

I'm trying to get my apartment to require the residents to wear masks in the shared spaces (stairwells, corridors, laundry rooms). Please help me make a persuasive argument to the management company. [more inside]
posted by Cogito at 4:20 PM PST - 18 comments

My partner has been named as a defendant in an Ohio estate lawsuit being brought by two of his aunts against one of their sisters, the deceased's caretaker. Partner is being pressured by the plaintiffs to sign paperwork to join their side. It is becoming a stressful situation for him and we could use some guidance about ramifications of any actions taken (or not taken). [more inside]
posted by table of malcontents at 3:33 PM PST - 18 comments

Please recommend me sci-fi novels that are also in some way fun crime novels, in the vein of Elmore Leonard, Patricia Highsmith, or some other good-at-crime-writing person.
posted by Sticherbeast at 3:09 PM PST - 23 comments

Do you have a small regional food magazine in your area that you like? In St. Louis, we have Feast and Sauce which offer up a lot of local chef recipes. What other local hole in the wall local food publications are out there that don't get a lot of attention outside your zip code?
posted by zsh2v1 at 1:57 PM PST - 6 comments

Just starting using this, and I'm perplexed. [more inside]
posted by Ftsqg at 1:34 PM PST - 6 comments

I have a special event coming up in 50 days. I'm looking for a fitness challenge lasting approximately that long. Ideally it would get me moving without requiring any kind of special equipment. My goal is not to lose weight, but I am also not averse to the idea of losing some. My goal to feel more vigorous and confident 50 days from now -- and look more toned and "fit" while I'm at it. [more inside]
posted by artisthatithaca at 1:32 PM PST - 13 comments

Well, it's happening. The sneaky puberty-related tween girl things. Please help me handle them. [more inside]
posted by kitcat at 12:31 PM PST - 51 comments

My cat Strider has taken to chewing on these metal cabinet knobs. I'm concerned he will break a tooth doing this. These are cabinets built into the wall, and the knobs are 1" across. I'm open to replacing them with something he can't chew on, or child proofing them in some way. [more inside]
posted by ridogi at 12:16 PM PST - 11 comments

I am a week into taking lisinopril for high blood pressure, and I am experiencing what seems to be common side effects. For the last two days I have had a dry cough, and kind of an itchy, wheezy feeling in my lungs. My nose is also stuffy. I can handle the stuffy nose, but the coughing and wheeziness are getting old. [more inside]
posted by nanook at 12:10 PM PST - 18 comments

I'm currently using Mint Mobile and I love it -- I pay $15 a month for 4 gigs of data and unlimited talk and text. However, I'm about to have to renew the plan for another year, and with the Canadian border about to open again I'm hesitating... [more inside]
posted by cnidaria at 11:46 AM PST - 8 comments

Who would I talk to about getting what appears to be a Henry Miller inscription in one of his books authenticated? [more inside]
posted by Cash4Lead at 11:09 AM PST - 6 comments

At the age of 50 I have been diagnosed with eczema. It's new, not a lifelong issue or a childhood problem that is now suddenly recurring. I've had skin tests for allergies and recent tests didn't turn up anything new. My primary allergens are dust mite proteins and cat dander. Would allergy shots help me enough to be worth the inconvenience of crossing town to get them? [more inside]
posted by fedward at 10:43 AM PST - 4 comments

I'm part of a large volunteer team (several hundred) who have been working to help people get their vaccinations in London. We're having a summer thank-you picnic (lockdown permitting) at one of the sites, and the staff are wondering what sort of appreciative presents they can give to volunteers at the party. I offered to do some research into volunteer-type gift swag, and I'm coming up short. [more inside]
posted by Orkney Vole at 10:04 AM PST - 27 comments

My husband and I are fairly thin. Our 7 year old daughter is currently fat. We very much do not give a shit about her weight. This is NOT a question about weight loss or health. We are aware that her weight may change but for *reasons* we think that is unlikely. She is strong and curious and awesome and seemingly without hangups about her body. But we expect this to get more complicated as she gets older and we want to have her back. I'd love to hear from people who grew up fat about what their parents did that was helpful and good and what their parents did that was...not so good as well as any advice you might have for me. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 9:16 AM PST - 64 comments

Book storage question! Okay, beyond donating, storing in offices, and mailing home millions of books, we've also started storing endless books in boxes in closets at home and in a basement storage space. I'm wondering if people have also ended up doing this and settled on a particular system or had particular tips? [more inside]
posted by johnasdf at 8:22 AM PST - 11 comments

Little Llama is a talented artist and in need of new experiences. I'd like to find a good overnight arts camp for her for *next* summer. Does anyone have enthusiastic recommendations? Specs below. [more inside]
posted by A Terrible Llama at 7:45 AM PST - 13 comments

I have a loved one who is vaccine hesitant. They had COVID in March 2020 and believe they have enough natural immunity to be protected, and having read anti-vax literature don't think it's worth the risk to become vaccinated. I'd like to know their risks with the new Delta variant. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 6:08 AM PST - 10 comments

Our lease runs out in May next year. After 4 years of living with him, I think I prefer living alone. I have 11 months to get this idea across to him, without hurting his feelings. What to do? [more inside]
posted by b33j at 5:50 AM PST - 33 comments

My job situation isn't satisfactory. I need a new job. But if there is such a thing as 'work depression', I have it. It's impossible to care about work, let alone muster up the energy and motivation to find new jobs, apply for them, wow my interviewers, and then begin a new job. Looking for advice/perspective. [more inside]
posted by unicorn chaser at 5:00 AM PST - 10 comments

My work uses a lot of web-services, I tend to have a lot of tabs active, so suddenly my email is really hard to find. What sort of workflows are good to use in these cases? Am on a PC. [more inside]
posted by J.R. Hartley at 4:14 AM PST - 19 comments

Our cat had some health problems, and we put a few extra litterboxes around the house to help her cope. These problems seem to be getting better, and we'd like to try removing some of the boxes, with minimal stress for her or us. [more inside]
posted by penguinicity at 2:52 AM PST - 4 comments

I'm wanting to spend roughly £100 / $140 on a few mesh devices. I WAS going to go for the TP Link Deco M3 devices until I read these are actually incompatible with smart home devices on 2.4Ghz of which I have more than a few. I also read that they're not true mesh networking devices and instead glorified wifi repeaters... [more inside]
posted by dance at 1:50 AM PST - 5 comments

I am a fool, who woke up this morning to find I'd left the door of my freshly stocked refrigerator ajar overnight. [more inside]
posted by FifteenShocks at 1:25 AM PST - 7 comments

I live alone, but whenever I go on a day, weekend or other trip, my father expects me to phone and let him know that I got home safe afterwards. How common is this for fully adult children, and how can I most effectively draw boundaries? [more inside]
posted by jlibera at 8:56 PM PST - 54 comments

I get there there are few, but why are there any at all? [more inside]
posted by Toddles at 8:51 PM PST - 5 comments

I've been having a bunch of weird minor mental reactions and body symptoms during the pandemic. Not sure what they add up to. Depression, anxiety, bourgeois malaise... or just the pandemic? Worth seeking extra help for? [more inside]
posted by icosahedron at 8:28 PM PST - 22 comments

I am looking for the cheapest way to get an iPhone and be able to use it as my phone. [more inside]
posted by blueberry at 8:26 PM PST - 18 comments

In the past we've had a cable subscription and Tivo. This let us record the Olympic events we were interested in and watch them, skipping the commercials. The last part is key, I'm willing to pay to not watch commercials. We have an Apple TV and Playstation now and no cable subscription. We could sign up for cable again and use a DVR, but it seems like there should be some way to stream the events we want while still skipping commercials. [more inside]
posted by cosmac at 7:45 PM PST - 8 comments

So in my youth I inherited a frugal shopping habit from my parents. Our family culture values the bargoon! Saving even a few bucks here and there is seen not only as a financial win but a moral win as well. This habit has yielded great benefits over time and was instrumental in setting a road to financial independence. However. Now that I'm older it's clear that time is much more important than money. [more inside]
posted by storybored at 7:41 PM PST - 15 comments

I was offered a new job today, the position is quite a substantial step up from my current position. I'm excited and relieved that I was able to find a new job, but with the step up... oh man, I'm just afraid of the responsibility that comes with it (I'm a manager now!!)? How do I just... embrace it and go forward and stop being so terrified? Basically, I'm afraid of being awful in the new role and fucking this up! [more inside]
posted by VirginiaPlain at 7:28 PM PST - 19 comments

I've connected a DV camera to my PC through a Firewire card. Besides the camera, a Sony Mini DV player is also connected to the PC via the card. The output of both is viewable through installed Adobe Premier software. [more inside]
posted by CollectiveMind at 6:44 PM PST - 2 comments

My 21-inch eBags Motherlode carryon has suffered catastrophic failure (ok, a rip). I'm looking for something lightweight and four-wheeled that's lightweight and easy to maneuver into overhead bins (I am short and not especially dexterous). Bonus points if it's colorful!
posted by kingdead at 5:14 PM PST - 7 comments

What are your best tips/gadgets/purchases for preventing things in your household from needing to be cleaned/maintained as much or as often? I don't mean how to make the cleaning easier or faster, but how to reduce the amount of cleaning that has to be done in the first place. [more inside]
posted by wintersweet at 2:46 PM PST - 32 comments

Is there a curriculum that teaches music theory starting with something like serialism or the 12 tone scale, then goes back to classical Western music as a special case? I want to learn assuming that dividing an octave into 12 frequencies is the basis of Western music and then treats things like scales and keys as special cases. [more inside]
posted by Nelson at 11:50 AM PST - 31 comments

I'm craving genre fiction with a plot centered around machinations, manipulations, diplomacy, maneuvering, campaigning [more inside]
posted by Cozybee at 11:46 AM PST - 45 comments

We have a mini-Aussie, he's 8-months-old. He's got a lot of predatory instincts. He caches food/treats by burying them. He does that kill-shake move with toys. And he's actually caught and killed four things in the yard so far: a mouse, a rabbit, and two wild birds. He's currently obsessed with our flock of chickens. [more inside]
posted by 10ch at 11:17 AM PST - 11 comments

I’ve been tracking my running with a Garmin watch for the last year or so, and have found it very useful. This week, though, I’ve been staying with a friend who tracks his with an Apple Watch, and on two runs together, we have significant differences in elapsed time, distance, and speed when we were running right next to each other for exactly the same time and route. [more inside]
posted by LizardBreath at 10:44 AM PST - 12 comments

Call instead of email? Single issue per call? What are the best practices these days, and will they change again as offices re-open? [more inside]
posted by kristi at 10:10 AM PST - 4 comments

I need to demagnetize a section of my aluminum door and frame. Does a product exist to help with this? [more inside]
posted by bluloo at 9:45 AM PST - 9 comments

found a perfectly sized whiteboard on the street- pictures inside! [more inside]
posted by wowenthusiast at 9:29 AM PST - 10 comments

As a follow up to this question, what are the best resources for becoming proficient with MS SQL Server as thoroughly as possible? [more inside]
posted by an octopus IRL at 9:11 AM PST - 5 comments

I recently got a Fitbit - the Inspire 2 to be exact. One of my favorite features is how it reminds you to get up and move every hour while you're working. Except this feature (and notifications in general) will randomly stop working for me as often daily. [more inside]
posted by Jess the Mess at 9:11 AM PST - 4 comments

I hate cooking, but I’d like to hate it less. Help. [more inside]
posted by xenization at 8:11 AM PST - 41 comments

I'm considering an audio project that covers my own experience in a subject, from a first-person perspective, and I'm seeking recommendations of existing podcasts that do the same. [more inside]
posted by xingcat at 7:49 AM PST - 7 comments

How do i rip my audible files to mp3 (or whatever) before i bail from the service? thx!
posted by j_curiouser at 6:56 AM PST - 7 comments

I find penetration psychologically erotic, but basically don't find it physically pleasurable at all unless my clitoris is involved. I'm not even talking about trying to orgasm - I know most women can't without clitoral stimulation - but I really don't find the act of penetration physically enjoyable. Do other women have this? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 4:09 AM PST - 37 comments

I have an html5 date field in an angularjs application which I'm trying to send to a php script to save but what the field is coming back with is not something I can use. eg. Thu Jul 01 2021 00:00:00 GMT+0100 (British Summer Time) [more inside]
posted by missmagenta at 3:42 AM PST - 4 comments

I feel completely incapable of organizing my kitchen. How can I get a handle on this? [more inside]
posted by stoneandstar at 12:12 AM PST - 21 comments

As of this evening, I am fostering this little kitty. He's four weeks old (weaned) and has "a kitty cold" for which I'll be giving him an antibiotic. I've never fostered before, or cared for a kitten at all, but I have had adult cats. I'm reading everything I can, but I would love your advice on caring for and socializing a little bitty kitty, and being the best foster mom possible. Thanks!
posted by pH Indicating Socks at 10:59 PM PST - 17 comments

I have a set of Kirk Stieff sterling (not silverplate) flatware, 8 place settings plus a few serving pieces, in virtually unused condition. If it matters, the pattern is Old Maryland Engraved and the pieces are unmonogrammed. What is my best option for turning this into money? Replacements.com? Ebay? Bulk silver buyer? Something else?
posted by HotToddy at 8:08 PM PST - 7 comments

Is this a conversation I can/should have with my boss? [more inside]
posted by ambulanceambiance at 6:28 PM PST - 60 comments

I'm looking for a few podcasts that are similar to Ideas, is there anything you'd suggest. The CBC describes Ideas as "deep-dive into contemporary thought and intellectual history. Anchored in a powerful legacy and expansive archive spanning over five decades, its topics are boundless. The nature of consciousness. The history of toilets. The roots and rise of authoritarianism. Near death experiences. No idea is off-limits." [more inside]
posted by VirginiaPlain at 6:24 PM PST - 17 comments

Do you have any role-playing Actual Play podcast recommendations? I'm specifically looking for AP shows that have audio-only formats available. More details inside. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 6:24 PM PST - 19 comments

I am teaching an online high school class for ELLs, and tomorrow's topic is "teamwork." As a "mind's on" sort of activity, I wanted to give the students a quick, light exercise where they would work collaboratively on something in Google Meet. [more inside]
posted by to recite so charmingly at 6:19 PM PST - 2 comments

My almost 13 year old, recently made an objectively bad choice with numerous health/safety risks to them and others. I need help coping. [more inside]
posted by walkinginsunshine at 3:51 PM PST - 42 comments

A few days ago, I scooped up some frog eggs. Now I have at least 239 Cope's gray tree frog tadpoles. [more inside]
posted by amtho at 2:57 PM PST - 14 comments

i have a firestick that i've been using on my TV... the problem is i have run out of storage... Yet, i haven't downloaded hardly any apps... & it tells me critically low on storage, 175mbs left of 5.25 gb... The handful of apps that are on there apparently are permanently there..& it won't let me delete anything. The only apps i've downloaded are my cable/tv app (Dan's Cable cutter) & another app that uses dan's to put the channels in a nice guide... (tivi)... but that's it. i tried to clear all the data & cache for all those existing apps (under the manage applications).... but it's not doing anything. I bought the cable the goes in between the power source & the firestick that allows you to add an external usb storage device... but it's not plug & play... Everything i read says d/l a app to allow the firestick to see/read the USB device... But how do i d/l the app without having space to do it?? Please help & all questions will be answered...
posted by foodybat at 1:31 PM PST - 7 comments

I still have hair on my head (winning!) but it is thinning (boing) as I age. Asking the hive for their favorites for a shampoo that's most likely not a 'major commercial brand' (or maybe it is) with no scent or if it is scented it's derived from natural oils or whatever, as long as it's not overpowering. Something light and pleasant is fine, but nothing that would blow out my olfactory system. [more inside]
posted by zenpop at 1:09 PM PST - 25 comments

I am about to drive 14 hours from VA to FL and need podcast and audiobook recommendations! I like mysteries, true crime, and absolutely hate podcasts that consist of hosts chatting a ton (think My Favorite Murder). More details on what I’ve liked in the past inside. [more inside]
posted by nancynickerson at 10:51 AM PST - 26 comments

I need to stop and rest whenever my heart rate gets over ~110 bpm. I'm looking for an app on the Apple Watch that can help me do this. It should - continuously monitor heart rate - allow me to set a heart rate threshold at which point it - has a very obvious notification [more inside]
posted by congen at 10:32 AM PST - 9 comments

I was wondering if there's such a thing as meal-kit or meal-tray delivery service that I could cope with as someone who doesn't have unlimited-volume trash pickup? [more inside]
posted by bleep at 10:20 AM PST - 12 comments

Tell me about professional displays in lieu of TVs for home use. [more inside]
posted by phunniemee at 10:17 AM PST - 18 comments

My partner and I are looking for two area rugs, one for our living room and one for our bedroom. Inspired by this question I thought I'd come here for some recommendations. Photos of both rooms here. [more inside]
posted by rabbitbookworm at 10:13 AM PST - 13 comments

A Scandinavian brunch place near me offers, as part of their brunch board, a "runny egg with spinach cream." It's a soft-boiled egg in a puddle of green liquid and the spinach cream is so good I lick the container. It's a homogeneous liquid (sometimes a bit of the fat separates out) that tastes like the essence of spinach and butterfat. I'd like to try to recreate it but searching for "spinach cream" brings up nothing but creamed spinach and spinach cream sauces. Are you familiar with this and can help me find a recipe?
posted by rhiannonstone at 10:10 AM PST - 14 comments

Does anyone else get a taste in their mouth just before (like hours) their period and at the beginning? I've always described it as "tasting as though my saliva is stale." I'm looking for anyone else who gets a taste and can describe it and holy-grail...any idea what exactly causes it?
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 9:06 AM PST - 6 comments

What are your favorite travelogues, books, stories, magazine articles, anthologies, blogs, whatever, about people having a bad time travelling? (Preferably with an emphasis on bad things of a more humorous nature rather than tragedies or disasters -- think "embarrassing cultural misunderstanding / crummy food / getting lost" rather than "plane crash" maybe?) Also, I prefer 'hapless' to 'smug' but I'll take whatever you got! I love travelling and since I haven't been able to do it lately, I want some stories of people being annoyed or flummoxed so I can be vicariously vexed. Thanks!!
posted by capnsue at 9:03 AM PST - 41 comments

I am interviewing Friday to teach a Theatre Arts class in high school. Job interviews at this school always involve a 10-minute demonstration lesson using the interviewers as students. What engaging and meaningful 10-minute acting lesson can I demonstrate with 5–7 non-actors who may prioritize keeping their composure? [more inside]
posted by argybarg at 7:11 AM PST - 4 comments

I have the BEST DAD EVER and want to get him an awesome Father's Day present. He's a total Bridge dork. I know nothing about Bridge other than it involves doing math in your head for an extended period of time, which sounds awful. I'd love some suggestions for presents.
posted by jumanjinight at 6:58 AM PST - 8 comments

What’s the coolest luggage or every day carry you have found (or any other bag or storage or organization for that matter.)? [more inside]
posted by jitterbug perfume at 3:58 AM PST - 13 comments

Can someone point me in the direction of the type of fixture I want to buy? [more inside]
posted by The Architect at 9:46 PM PST - 8 comments

What are the odds a senior with vascular dementia and chronic bladder outlet obstruction (high PVR) would *randomly* show *significant* improvements in cognition on days 3-5 of an antibiotic for a UTI? [more inside]
posted by cotton dress sock at 9:40 PM PST - 15 comments

Do you have a daily or semi-regular gratitude practice you follow? [more inside]
posted by Captain Chesapeake at 9:01 PM PST - 12 comments

Truly a critical post: I just noticed a buzz article for dated fashions, skinny jeans were among those listed. I personal think black skinnies are timeless and I'm possibly going to wear them until my late 40s. Other insight to burgeoning fashions considered 'dated'? Particularly for 'millenials'?
posted by firstdaffodils at 8:31 PM PST - 23 comments

Our kid is 8 and plays with a 7 year old neighbor who swears. A lot. How should we approach the mom? [more inside]
posted by jdl at 7:29 PM PST - 26 comments

My computer didn't start this weekend. It's OK now, but what's is my next step. [more inside]
posted by Marky at 7:07 PM PST - 10 comments

Do you have a tool you use to track planned expenses and wishlist items? I've been using Pinterest and the Notes app on my phone, but I'm hoping to enhance the experience somehow. Thanks!
posted by Juniper Toast at 3:53 PM PST - 6 comments

I am a newly minted psychiatrist in a major city with a large market for cash-pay mental health services. I can't figure out how to set my fees for private practice and actually go through with it because market rate seems so exorbitant. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 2:02 PM PST - 26 comments

Let's say I and Mrs J0 want to do a weeklong walking trip in the continental USA. We would carry our clothes and necessities and just stay in hotels or bnbs each night. This would not be a hiking trip - we would not carry tents, extended days' food and water, etc. Where could you recommend we do this? [more inside]
posted by J0 at 1:53 PM PST - 26 comments

What have you paid a lifetime/one-time fee for that was worth it? (Previously, but now pretty old.) [more inside]
posted by wenestvedt at 1:39 PM PST - 30 comments

How do you bug them to better represent you??? [more inside]
posted by Lawn Beaver at 1:29 PM PST - 7 comments

I have ~30 uninterrupted feet of 3/4 inch velcro that can't be returned. What are some useful/creative/fun things I might do with it?
posted by 10ch at 1:05 PM PST - 12 comments

We (MrR and I) have recently begun the search for a new car. We will be buying a new car, because I want to keep it for at least a decade. We'd prefer something predominantly US-built (I know this includes some foreign nameplates). We'd like a hybrid (pure EVs are not an option - I don't want the 600mile trip to see my mother turn into an epic 24hour charge station-to-charge station quest). What are we looking for? [more inside]
posted by jlkr at 1:02 PM PST - 20 comments

What are some tactful, kind scripts for ending a long-standing tutoring relationship, when the reason is that you're switching to the same service with someone else? [more inside]
posted by Bardolph at 12:25 PM PST - 8 comments

I'm looking for a men's chino that is similar to the J Crew 770 but fits me slightly better. It's very difficult to find a full stock of anything to try on in a retail store these days so I'm curious what folks thoughts are. [more inside]
posted by kensington314 at 12:09 PM PST - 8 comments

I need some help with unexplained female hair loss. 30s, no known contributing health issues, suddenly losing a ton of hair all over the head. It stopped for several moths and is back with a vengeance this week. Does anyone know of any good physicians in the NYC/NJ area who specialize in female hair loss? Ideally someone who is not trying to sell me on a transplant/wig as seems to the case with a lot of these specialized women's hair clinics. I went to one random dermatologist who was terrible and extremely dismissive. Would be particularly great to find someone who takes Optum health insurance. Thanks!
posted by shaademaan at 12:06 PM PST - 8 comments

My 4.5-year-old loves fossils. Can you recommend any sites for fossil hunting within a 1-2 hours' drive from NYC or Philly? He's been to Big Brook in NJ but interested in finding other sites, too. Thanks!
posted by CiaoMela at 11:57 AM PST - 5 comments

I am preoccupied with finding a partner whose family of origin compliments my own. This is a difficult task as my parents are a little unusual. Have you navigated this before? [more inside]
posted by Hermione Granger at 11:53 AM PST - 41 comments

I just came across an extension that is going to change my everyday browsing for the better. What browser extensions are rocking your world?
posted by mecran01 at 11:27 AM PST - 38 comments

Seeking feminist book recommendations for my niece! She is 13 and a good reader. I would like to introduce her, in an age-appropriate way, to feminist ideas, but also to race, gender/sexuality and social justice issues. [more inside]
posted by dazedandconfused at 10:34 AM PST - 7 comments

Ok. Picture the scene: conversation between two people in a dating/friendship that has just blossomed over two months time. They have three dates and four phone conversations and on the fourth date (more to follow) [more inside]
posted by The_imp_inimpossible at 10:30 AM PST - 11 comments

Seeking help about making a job change inside the same company. [more inside]
posted by I_Love_Bananas at 10:21 AM PST - 7 comments

My dad's birthday is coming up. He recently got himself a 3D printer, and I was wondering if there are any accessories or maybe subscriptions that would give him access to cooler projects than he can find for free? I don't know what his specific printer is yet, I'm just looking for general ideas about what a new hobbyist might like.
posted by Kriesa at 9:35 AM PST - 11 comments

this is one of those basic home ownership things I am apparently very bad at. [more inside]
posted by fingersandtoes at 9:00 AM PST - 27 comments

Please hope us suss-out this odd SIM card/iMessage problem on my wife's iPhone... [more inside]
posted by Thorzdad at 8:19 AM PST - 6 comments

How do career changers get letters of recommendation for grad school? [more inside]
posted by xo at 7:59 AM PST - 12 comments

Last year, a canvasser from Children International got me on one of my good days and signed me up to sponsor a child in Colombia for $30/month. I didn't realize this came with hand written letters from the kid that's required by the org twice a year. [more inside]
posted by monologish at 7:36 AM PST - 7 comments

I love the Cornell bird app. Is there an equivalent for trees and wildflowers? The ones I'm finding don't work the same way. Please don't answer this question unless you're willing to read what I don't like about the ones I'm finding. [more inside]
posted by FencingGal at 6:46 AM PST - 17 comments

When I have to have a difficult or potentially difficult conversation I pre-play it, rehearse it in my head, and I think this is helpful. But sometimes I can't stop, I repeatedly go over it, and if my mind wanders the first thing it does is go to this particular imagined conversation to pre-play it again. How do I stop? [more inside]
posted by AFII at 6:38 AM PST - 9 comments

I need ear plugs for sleeping. What can you recommend? [more inside]
posted by falsedmitri at 6:29 AM PST - 20 comments

Friends and I are watching Dune (1984) before Dune (2021) comes out. I have never seen the movie, only read the book, and without a reread I'm drawing a blank on themed snacks for movie night. Any suggestions of food and/or drink for reasonably adventurous adults with no food allergies?
posted by House of Leaves of Grass at 5:39 AM PST - 30 comments

My four year old son wants soccer cards. He knows all about all the players. I know nothing. He likes La Liga, and also the English teams, I think (I've definitely heard him talking about teams from English cities), and is following the European thing happening now and is excited about Copa America. I just want to get him a bunch of cards he'll like. What do I buy? [more inside]
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 9:47 PM PST - 8 comments

How can I find out where and when this NYC political event is happening? (I’m interested in this specific event, but also other upcoming events in the Mayor’s race, and how to find them.)
posted by andoatnp at 7:58 PM PST - 1 comment

What kind of professional do I need to help me rent out an apartment? And how do I find such a person? I am in NYC. [more inside]
posted by dragonfruit at 7:31 PM PST - 3 comments

I am pretty comfortable DIYing my own investments and money management, but I do want someone to give me some impartial advice on anything I should consider doing differently, and maybe push me to take a little bit more risk, as I tend to be extremely risk-averse. [more inside]
posted by primethyme at 6:14 PM PST - 11 comments

Seeking cold shoulder strategies [more inside]
posted by SageTrail at 5:32 PM PST - 36 comments

I have a weird inflamed gland (I think?) and am not sure what to do. [more inside]
posted by sir jective at 5:14 PM PST - 14 comments

I find myself ruminating over something sad and difficult. I'm looking for activities that are "sticky", have low barriers to entry, and will engage me and give me a break from my thoughts. Thank you!
posted by bunderful at 3:52 PM PST - 32 comments

I suspect my elderly dog may have a tooth abscess. I’m reading about the treatment (extraction or root canal) and wondering what to do. [more inside]
posted by robertthebruce at 3:29 PM PST - 2 comments

Over the past year, I’ve established a small freelancing career. One of my friends scouted me for the content mill where he works, and while the work there is good (I’m writing promo material for ebooks), it’s not especially consistent. I would love to find more content mill-adjacent writing gigs. Where should I be looking? (FWIW I’ve had bad luck with Fiver and Upwork, but I’ve been able to place a lot of stories on sites where I can directly pitch the editors.)
posted by pxe2000 at 1:50 PM PST - 4 comments

I am intrigued by this plate of a teen on the telephone from a scene from Hairspray. It looks like a Ponytail plate, but I'm no expert and can't find an example of it on etsy, eBay, or on pinterest. Can you?
posted by 41swans at 1:42 PM PST - 4 comments

I have a heap of items going to the thrift store. Should I document them before sending them off for a deduction on my taxes (in the US)? Or would this just be rolled into the standard deduction? I can't remember, and google is failing me.
posted by nanook at 12:13 PM PST - 10 comments

I’m interested in reading more mysteries that deviate from the standard structure/genre tropes etc. Can be fantasy or science fiction, literary, whatever. I’m just looking for stuff that’s slightly different. [more inside]
posted by azalea_chant at 12:04 PM PST - 38 comments

Years ago, I asked you about a plant. You helped. Now I ask about the same plant, with a new issue. [more inside]
posted by millipede at 11:18 AM PST - 4 comments

I am looking for a suit that is machine washable, comfortable, and preferably not extremely expensive. Ministry of Supply makes some blazers, pants, and shirts that supposedly do not get wrinkled and are at the same time very comfortable and breathable. I want something like that (maybe MOS if it is worth it) but preferably less expensive.
posted by metatuesday at 10:39 AM PST - 3 comments

Many years ago (probably more than 20), I read a non-fiction travel story by someone non-Russian speaking traveling on the Trans-Siberian Express. He and the matron of train car did not get along and she purposefully misled him about how long the train was stopping at a station, and when he got off to stretch his legs, the train left without him. He managed to find someone to drive him to the next station on the route, and he surreptitiously reboarded the train as if nothing happened. Does anyone know where I might have read that? [more inside]
posted by ShooBoo at 7:38 AM PST - 7 comments

Do you have a recommendation for or against a particular sleeper chair? It should be comfortable both as a chair and as a bed.
posted by NotLost at 5:59 AM PST - 2 comments

I've recently realised that I've been subtly misunderstanding the meaning of "prurient" my entire life. Based on contextual usage, I'd taken it to mean "overly interested in another person's business, potentially in a way that comes across as intrusive", rather than the dictionary meaning of "overly interested in another person's sexual business". Is there another word in English that captures the idea of being overly interested in someone else, possibly to the point of the behaviour seeming intrusive, but without the interest being explicitly about sexual behaviour? [more inside]
posted by terretu at 4:21 AM PST - 24 comments

My 7yo child is into chemistry. As an experiment we tried to clean a tarnished UK pound coin by soaking it in vinegar. The colour changed from gold to copper. Can someone explain the chemistry of this in terms suitable for a 7 year old?
posted by TheophileEscargot at 2:24 AM PST - 7 comments

My good friend is a professional wedding planner. She has volunteered herself to do the day-of-coordination for my wedding and will not allow me to pay her for her time. I want to give her a thank you gift, but what would be adequate? [more inside]
posted by keep it under cover at 11:37 PM PST - 18 comments

My son’s iPhone (an 11 I think) won’t sound an alarm under certain conditions. [more inside]
posted by Biblio at 9:18 PM PST - 4 comments

My four-year-old frequently claims to see things in his room in the nighttime. I am curious as to what the psychology behind this is. Does he actually understand on some level that it isn’t real? Or does he really think that there is a ‘baboon man who comes to watch me in my bed when Mommy leaves’? [more inside]
posted by ficbot at 6:50 PM PST - 30 comments

I would love to plan a getaway to somewhere quiet, scenic, and at least slightly wild. I'm not super picky about exactly where. Many of the less visited national parks are very appealing to me. However, I do not drive and have no plans to get a license, so even renting a car at a destination is a no-go. It seems like most of the national park facilities require visitors to drive in, even if the park proper is carless. Does anyone have suggestions for off the beaten path vacation spots for people who do not drive? [more inside]
posted by easy, lucky, free at 6:38 PM PST - 19 comments

I'm seeking footage from NBC's coverage of the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea. [more inside]
posted by cursed at 6:03 PM PST - 2 comments

I'll be visiting a hospital (Sloan Kettering in NYC) frequently over the coming months and need childcare for a two-year-old during visiting hours. While searching, I thought about the short-term childcare services many gyms (like this) provide while parents work out. Sloan Kettering doesn't seem to offer something like this, so I'm wondering: Do any hospitals offer short-term childcare services for visitors who have family members receiving treatment? If not, why not? What barriers might be preventing hospitals from creating something like this?
posted by saltypup at 4:06 PM PST - 11 comments

Any recommendations for a system that will help me keep track of when I've done something (ie: bought coffee or cleaned the stove) and it will tell me when I might want to do it in the future? [more inside]
posted by BasalGuilder at 3:45 PM PST - 6 comments

For a project, my bosses want to have a series of video products consisting of slideshows of colour photos + music with spoken words read over them. Each product should be under 50mb. Is this even possible, and if so, what’s best practice for making it happen?
posted by The Last Sockpuppet at 3:28 PM PST - 9 comments

We've been watching competitions in the run up to the Olympics and women's gymnastics and some of the swimming competitions, the goal seems to be for second place due to Simone Biles and Katie Ledecky, respectively. Which other sports currently have someone that dominant in them? [more inside]
posted by Hactar at 9:47 AM PST - 31 comments

I buy my sunglasses at the thrift store and I would prefer polarized ones. I often try to look up the model # but not all sunglasses have the model # on them. I found guides online to look at shiny objects or a computer screen to determine polarization but it didn't help. I have some scrap pieces of polarized car window tint, could that help me? Is there a reliable way I can prepare to go in and determine which sunglasses are polarized? Thanks
posted by maxexam at 8:47 AM PST - 11 comments

What might cause a signal from a wireless router to vary in strength during the day? [more inside]
posted by LonnieK at 8:44 AM PST - 6 comments

I don't really get croissants. How do cultures that are more croissant-based incorporate them into everyday life? [more inside]
posted by bbqturtle at 7:59 AM PST - 57 comments

I am talking about in when interacting with another woman socially. Would this be disrespectful to his wife? Would this bother you?
posted by mintchip at 5:29 AM PST - 45 comments

I have a viscose shirt that I absolutely adore...for the first two hours that I'm wearing it. Over time it stretches lenghtwise. By the end of the day the hem is two inches lower than when I began. (Under_petticoat_rule has confirmed this.) This wouldn't be a deal-breaker except that the V-neck is also two inches lower and exposes the entire center of my bra. Are there any options to keep it from stretching, or should I resign myself to wearing it two hours a day and no longer?
posted by rednikki at 1:13 AM PST - 2 comments

I have been hearing people, occasionally over the years, make little hissing noises at cats in an effort to attract them. Does this work? How do you know? [more inside]
posted by amtho at 12:54 AM PST - 19 comments

NFT art has been in the news lately. I understand the underlying eco-crime aspect of it and want to leave that aside. Can anybody provide a basic how-to on the sales side? Let's say I got art and want to NFTize and sell it. How?
posted by Meatbomb at 12:06 AM PST - 8 comments

I bought a new car. The dealer, having sold it to me, revealed to me that they'd misplaced the second key and the manual. Several months later, and I am still down one key and manual. What next? [more inside]
posted by How much is that froggie in the window at 10:53 PM PST - 27 comments

I'd like to have a cheap little laptop to play some of my favorite Windows 2000/XP games on. In the past I've run things through an emulator on Windows 8 and 10, but with certain games the frame rate becomes bizarrely fast and I can't adjust it. Can you recommend a modern laptop that can run Windows XP on it? Is that even possible anymore? I assume I will need to ensure that I never go on the internet with it for safety reasons.
posted by Hermione Granger at 9:44 PM PST - 12 comments

My body shaped changed after having a baby in the past year and I've gone from hourglass to "bottom hourglass" and I need help figuring out what to wear and how to feel good about my new shape. [more inside]
posted by donut_princess at 4:49 PM PST - 10 comments

About ten years ago I read a book about teens taking part in some sort of study in which researchers came and asked them a ton of questions, and then they got to take part in a virtual reality simulation of their own futures (a reunion party 10 years later I believe). The twist is they realize that one of their group isn't there and find out that he's dead in the simulated future--I think because the computer was going to kill him. They have to figure out how to save him. [more inside]
posted by brook horse at 4:47 PM PST - 4 comments

A fluorescent bulb for a freezer case is now discontinued. How can I either find it still being sold somewhere or choose the correct alternative? [more inside]
posted by Comet Bug at 3:56 PM PST - 13 comments

My skin is naturally oily. I alternately use simple Cetaphil cleanser and/or Retina-A and my acne is gone, but the shininess remains. Ugh. Is there some other product I can add to get rid of the shine?
posted by critzer at 3:26 PM PST - 12 comments

I have a six year old window unit air conditioner which produces a single pronounced thump at intervals. Why? [more inside]
posted by Frowner at 2:53 PM PST - 7 comments

For quality of life reasons (related to physical and political climate, amongst other factors) my partner and I are determined to move from our town of residence to another, more suitable location - ideally in the next year or two. I am investigating work in the other town, but my current job is secure, interesting, and well-paid. When is the best time to discuss the possibility of full-time remote work with my boss? (Plot twist: Promotion!) [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 2:45 PM PST - 11 comments

I wound up walking for a mile in pouring rain yesterday, and now, 24 hours later, my sneakers are still soaked. What's the best way to get them to dry faster? Oven at lowest possible temperature? Is the lowest (175 or 200 F) low enough? Dryer on delicate? Seems hard on the dryer. Something else? It's still raining, so "put them out in the sun" is not an option.
posted by ubiquity at 1:26 PM PST - 24 comments

I bought a cute bed that didn't work out for me, mostly cause it was a headache to find muscle to move things. Five people have said they will show up (for safety, I asked everyone who was interested to text me and I would text them the address rather than place it on the FB Marketplace post.) [more inside]
posted by Rumi'sLeftSock at 1:24 PM PST - 20 comments

We don’t have a TV and our toddler hasn’t really been exposed to much screen time. How do you introduce your kid to TV/screen time? [more inside]
posted by stillmoving at 1:18 PM PST - 12 comments

Hello, I recently ended a not-good contract with a not-terribly-together agency. For my final week of work, I submitted my timecard at the end of the day on Friday, as usual. Boss did not approve it - which they normally had. I assumed that the agency would follow up, since they'd also be out money. However, they didn't follow up. Today I had to email Boss and Their Boss and say "Hey, I submitted my timecard for approval a week ago, why didn't you approve it?" [more inside]
posted by Tailkinker to-Ennien at 12:54 PM PST - 3 comments

I am an adult, intermediate piano player, purely for my own enjoyment. My teacher is retiring. I'm in Brooklyn, NY and looking for recommendations but the teacher could be anywhere as I want to do lessons virtually. I'm interested in 1) specific recommendations for teachers or 2) websites where I might find reputable instructors. I play a bit of everything from pop to classical but want to learn more about basic improv, if that's the right word. Thanks.
posted by captainscared at 11:38 AM PST - 1 comment

I have the fencing glove that is the fourth item on this page. It is very dirty. I'm confused by what I'm finding about cleaning leather online. [more inside]
posted by FencingGal at 10:42 AM PST - 7 comments

The pages icon on my ipad was black and said waiting. I pressed it and waited and selected restore previous version. Now I have the titles to each doc but they are empty, no text. I had assumed this was a safe place to keep important information but appearantly not. I cant upgrade to the lastest version of pages because it says a newest version of ipad is required. Any suggestions?
posted by mcbeitz at 10:22 AM PST - 2 comments

Having trouble finding pants that fit: Tall, no slim/skinny fit, lightweight cotton, neat but not formal, and also not gratuitously rugged. [more inside]
posted by melamakarona at 10:09 AM PST - 12 comments

Has anyone ever used a 2-person electric scooter like this one? I'm browsing electric scooters for my husband, and I saw this 2-seater which looks like heaven to me (he needs to be sitting and I don't have the strength to push a wheelchair. If I could be sitting as well that would be simply wonderful). But I thought, if we were tooting down a crowded boardwalk, paved wilderness park trail, or touristy shopping plaza type place, would people consider this inappropriate or give us a hard time about it? [more inside]
posted by bleep at 9:47 AM PST - 25 comments

What it says on the tin. Details below. [more inside]
posted by Armed Only With Hubris at 9:31 AM PST - 14 comments

We'll be hanging out in some national parks with a kettle and a small cooler, but no camp stove/microwave/other cooking implement. We will also have a little cutting board and knife. I am a vegetarian. What should we eat? [more inside]
posted by goodbyewaffles at 9:04 AM PST - 17 comments

Has anybody lost their sense of smell and/or taste from taking propranolol or another beta blocker on a temporary basis? If so, how long did it take you to regain it? [more inside]
posted by Countess Elena at 8:17 AM PST - 6 comments

I have early tomato blight. It struck fast and took down both cherry tomatoes. I know it's early blight - that same bed was affected late last year. It's starting to affect my big healthy tomato plants in another bed. I need the DEFINITIVE way to solve this problem before all my tomatoes die. [more inside]
posted by kitcat at 7:08 AM PST - 13 comments

I'm looking for recommendations for a medical health professional familiar with evaluating adult women for autism spectrum disorders. Ideally somewhere in the greater Philadelphia area They're trickier to find than docs who evaluate kids, so personal experiences and recommendations are extremely welcome and appreciated!
posted by julthumbscrew at 6:59 AM PST - 1 comment

I'd love my 9 year old kid to go to sleepaway camp next summer and I've heard good ones often book up fast. Besides word of mouth, is there a good place to research? What should I be looking out for? Is there one that you're particularly fond of, esp. if it's a girls camp on the US East Coast? Thank you!
posted by heavenknows at 6:33 AM PST - 14 comments

I'm very bad at answering what I do for my job. Usually it confuses people and shows people I don't really know what I do. I like to provide a better answer with the caveat that I hate this question so much but need to be able answer for two reasons. I would like to get better, as someone who doesn't identify as the job--- any tips? I want to walk the fine line of looking confident, answering the question but somewhat leaving at that.. [more inside]
posted by sandmanwv at 5:49 AM PST - 29 comments

I'm planning a Shortcuts Fest for my team, where we share our fave little workarounds - like SHIFT + F3 for changing case, CTRL + L to go to the Chrome address bar. With 2020 being 2020, I've learned a few basic tricks in Teams but would love to hear what MeFites use on the reg. (We are generally stuck with MS programs but also use Google's suite of products quite a bit, and live in Chrome).
posted by Gin and Broadband at 2:40 AM PST - 46 comments

I would like to find at least the front face of the kind of TV I grew up with, with one dial of VHF and one dial of UHF. This is for a personal art project. The TV does not need to work. [more inside]
posted by erst at 11:25 PM PST - 15 comments

Has anyone had an experience with applying for unemployment after a grant-funded job ends? I accepted a two-year research assistant position with a large university, but when I signed, it was represented to me that the fixed-term nature was solely due to funding concerns: my position would be funded by a two-year grant, so although there was no *guarantee* there would funding after those two years, if another grant could be found to support me, I would be kept on/re-signed. Unfortunately, another grant couldn't be found, so I had to leave, despite the fact that both I and my boss wanted me to stay on. However, I recently learned that the university marked my departure as "voluntary," which may cause some problems re: unemployment, etc. [more inside]
posted by Meow Face at 9:17 PM PST - 5 comments

Two artists doing a collaboration. Help me figure out taxes! [more inside]
posted by sucre at 7:05 PM PST - 3 comments

I just saw a really lovely apartment in Brooklyn: good location, lots of light, balcony, roof access, beautiful view, nice closet space, great amenities, and in my price range. It seems great! However, there are a couple of things that I'm feeling unsure about. Am I just worried about change or are these red flags? [more inside]
posted by wiskunde at 4:54 PM PST - 19 comments

Debating a shorter, cheaper program or a longer one. [more inside]
posted by nakedmolerats at 4:27 PM PST - 21 comments

I received this as a gift. What do I… use them for? Riding motorcycles? Skiing? I’m confused.
posted by jitterbug perfume at 4:02 PM PST - 17 comments

Well-known publication asked me to expand a humor piece, then rejected it. Now what?... Looking for English language publications / sites that exclusively feature or include humor pieces [more inside]
posted by cotesdurhone at 3:51 PM PST - 6 comments

Hey, so I make adult comic books.... and not adult comics sense that, say, Chris Ware or Daniel Clowes make comics for adults. I'm using adult in the more euphemistic sense. Porn. I make porn. And like a lot of porn artists, I've been having a lot of problems recently with porn pirates! [more inside]
posted by ThisIsAThrowaway at 3:40 PM PST - 21 comments

I'm looking for feel-good movies that have families that are very healthy and functional and open about their feelings in an idealistic way. The family doesn't really have to be the main part of the film, but should be significant - I'm thinking kind of like Easy A or perhaps something like the family in PBS's Arthur, although I'm not really looking for a TV show. It's okay if there's an ensemble cast with a dysfunctional portion as long as at least one family chunk is very healthy. [more inside]
posted by mnc at 3:05 PM PST - 35 comments

Are there any guides or resources out there for university administrators and leadership on how to deal with campus conservatives, both individuals and groups, trolling and trying to provoke first amendment controversies?
posted by srboisvert at 2:09 PM PST - 4 comments

My mow is nn 90, ina wheelchair and cannot walk on her own whatsoever. We were thinking of trying stem cell therapy based on an ad we saw, She has extreme arthritis and it can be painful. We are in the NJ-NYC area so if anyone has info it is greatly aprreciated. Thank you
posted by Seekerofsplendor at 2:09 PM PST - 7 comments

I need a new water heater for my single-family home in Houston, Texas (US) (ZIP 77083). At present, I'm strongly favoring a heat pump electric model. Recommend a good plumber who can do this if you know one who is local. Else, educate me on how to find the right person / company for the job. [more inside]
posted by sourcequench at 2:07 PM PST - 2 comments

I went to the dentist today expecting to have 2 fillings done. When I went to pay at the front desk, they told me they did an extra filling on one of the teeth that was already scheduled to get a filling, and presented me with a bill for 3 fillings "because you were already numbed up and we were working in the area." But I never consented to the extra filling, and it's quite a lot of money (1.5 times an already-steep bill) and an unpleasant surprise. [more inside]
posted by Questolicious at 1:04 PM PST - 22 comments

Where can I find a copy of Cats (2019) in its original, pre-VFX-update version? [more inside]
posted by wesleyac at 12:59 PM PST - 2 comments

I teach college classes. My school typically expects the use of titles when students address faculty. My approach has always been to encourage informality as much as possible and use first names. Colleagues who have to struggle more for respect than me have suggested that doing so (in general) makes their lives a little bit harder. I'm happy to change. But, if you insist on being called "professor," how then do you refer to students? My plan is to use their full name with no title for everything. But, that also feels a bit weird. Any other suggestions? [more inside]
posted by eotvos at 12:00 PM PST - 47 comments

How do you round a difference in excel? [more inside]
posted by SageTrail at 11:06 AM PST - 12 comments

I’m going back to university for a Master’s degree (basically an MLIS); how do I set myself up to do this right? [more inside]
posted by quizzical at 10:20 AM PST - 12 comments

Should I consolidate my federal student loans, which will end up costing me more in the long run, but which will give me a better chance of receiving Federal student debt relief, if it happens? [more inside]
posted by greta simone at 10:17 AM PST - 5 comments

I would like to hear what worked/didn't work in your program if it was online. Specific camp recommendations/not recommendations are very welcome.
posted by OnTheLastCastle at 8:58 AM PST - 1 comment

I'm newly involved with a 501c3 that has their assets with an asset management company that's charging them 1.25%, while their needs are very basic. They're open to having me present lower-cost alternatives at the next meeting. I had/have some alternatives in mind, but would love help finding better ones -- or suggestions for other places to post this question (but not Bogleheads). [more inside]
posted by daisyace at 8:23 AM PST - 12 comments

A friend is trying to convert an Australian recipe that calls for a "net" of strawberries. What would be the equivalent quantity in any standard metric or imperial unit of weight or volume?
posted by jon1270 at 8:12 AM PST - 9 comments

YANMD, or veterinarian. Family cat is exhibiting odd symptoms. Family cat has been taken to the vet recently for treatment/diagnosis. Family cat is dying all the same. Amateur speculation welcome. [more inside]
posted by queen anne's remorse at 6:56 AM PST - 19 comments

Basically I'm trying to update some records in our EPOS database because the transactions relate to last month but they've been input for this month. There's about 25 of them so I thought rather than manually doing them one by one in SQL Workbench and possibly making mistakes I'd try to learn how to do it more automatically. THANK YOU [more inside]
posted by dance at 6:29 AM PST - 12 comments

Have you done this? Bad childhood (in my case)=harsh and critical home environment, widespread bullying by peers [more inside]
posted by ThreeSocksToTheWind at 6:23 AM PST - 26 comments

Trying to learn about storing my small engines. I have read that it is best to store engines with the valves closed, ie, at tdc. And this seems best, but... is it possible to determine tdc when pulling the starter rope? I mean, doesn’t the compression release open a valve while pulling the rope, so that feeling tdc is impossible? Thanks in advance.
posted by atm at 6:18 AM PST - 7 comments

Shockingly, it's my 10th wedding anniversary soon and I need some kind of activity relating to tin or aluminium to do near-ish London at the end of June. [more inside]
posted by Just this guy, y'know at 2:31 AM PST - 18 comments

I've been using nonstick pans my whole life but am trying to switch over to ceramic pans since there's supposedly less harmful chemicals. Is GreenPan a good brand? I've been eyeing this this set but not sure if it's any good. If not, any suggestions for other brands? Thanks!
posted by thelasttango at 1:10 AM PST - 14 comments

Surely this kind of thing exists, but I have had no luck in finding it. I am really awful at making artful arrangements of things - piles of books, groups of vases, collections of paintings, etc. Some people are just naturally wonderful. Is there a site where I can submit a photo of my terribly-arranged decorations and people can weigh in on how to better arrange them?
posted by sonofsnark at 9:58 PM PST - 9 comments

My cat is so old, the vet is refusing to vaccinate her. Is this ok? [more inside]
posted by Toddles at 8:37 PM PST - 15 comments

I recently moved to a new town. A section of one of my upper molars fell out last week. I went to the first dentist that had an appointment the next day. They took a cast, and we made an appointment to have an inlay fitted a few weeks from now. In the meantime, they put in a temporary filling. A few hours later, the temporary filling fell out. I went back the next day and a different dentist put a new one in. Flash forward a week, and the second temporary filling just fell out. [more inside]
posted by ectopus at 7:35 PM PST - 6 comments

I saw this recently: a website that given some text as input would play parts of movies / tv shows that said those words for you. I can't remember where I saw it... metafilter? some random site in my RSS reader? Anyway, I'd like to find it again. [more inside]
posted by jeffamaphone at 3:23 PM PST - 11 comments

For the past few years Uniqlo's Beauty Light (apparently now "3D Hold") bras have been my go-to: lightweight, no underwire, but enough of a contour/shape to be more flattering on me than something like a bralette. What I don't like is that they seem to fall apart after only a year or so of wear (glued seams come apart, exposing bare elastic underneath). I machine wash in a delicates bag and line dry and don't see myself hand washing my everyday bras, ever. Do you have recommendations for similar minimal bras with better build quality?
posted by btfreek at 3:11 PM PST - 8 comments

I just moved to a new house and this morning I woke up to find a giant hornet -- about 1.5 inches long -- in my room. [more inside]
posted by Chenko at 2:40 PM PST - 6 comments

On Grey's Anatomy, there's a scene where they do brain surgery with the lights dimmed low and use head lamps/glow sticks attached to their heads. Is that an actual thing or does it just look cool for tv?
posted by starfishprime at 12:44 PM PST - 8 comments

I first learned about Minecraft on Metafilter, in the early days. I've played it on and off over the years, and now my 9 year old nephew would like to play with me. I've only ever played the Java version, he's only ever played Bedrock on a Switch and on phones. [more inside]
posted by heathkit at 12:41 PM PST - 3 comments

I'm in a small private group with people from all over the world. One member has confided in us that they need help - professional, help. I'm in the USA, without international calling. I don't know what to do. [more inside]
posted by bbqturtle at 12:20 PM PST - 9 comments

I have a job interview tomorrow and I'd say that I hit most of the requirements for their "knowledge and skills," but not all. The position I'm interviewing for asks for a 1 year minimum of supervisory experience, which I don't quite have. How do I address this "deficiency" during my interview? How do I spin this? [more inside]
posted by VirginiaPlain at 12:14 PM PST - 15 comments

Hi. I'm rereading some works by Debeauvoir and other fun work people usually get into, early in college. Does anyone have text references for ethical ambiguity and it's uses in culture or history? When it may look as though someone is doing something "wrong," but the situation is far more complex? More within. [more inside]
posted by firstdaffodils at 12:07 PM PST - 13 comments

With the release of high resolution lossless on Apple Music (and no home internet data cap) I want to integrate it into my main stereo. I have an older Mac Mini, an external USB-based DAC, and an old iPhone. Can I run all of this headlessly, and conveniently, in my living room somehow?
posted by hwyengr at 11:38 AM PST - 7 comments

Mr Joleta and I are returning to Portland, Maine on July 10 from an American Cruise Lines cruise. All passengers need to be off the ship by 8:30am, but our plane doesn't leave until 2pm. [more inside]
posted by Joleta at 11:35 AM PST - 5 comments

I believe I read somewhere that, similar to common usage in Chile of the Quechua word "k'allampa" both for mushrooms and for "dick" (or Uyghur "يەر مەدىكى / yer mediki", meaning "earth dick") the Japanese -take that many mushroom names are composed with, taken by itself can be a slang word for penis, or was an arcaic or dialect word for it. [more inside]
posted by progosk at 10:26 AM PST - 10 comments

Yes I contacted my podiatrist just now, but coming here for additional ideas/help. I got an aircast boot yesterday after breaking my ankle and whenever I prop it up or lay horizontal to sleep after a few hours I get incredible heal pain. My suspicion is that when laying horizontally all the weight contacts directly at the heal. That single focused hard contact point affects the nerves, etc. It feels like that spot is going numb and hurts. [more inside]
posted by Mr. Papagiorgio at 10:22 AM PST - 5 comments

I listen mostly to current indie-rock, with a bias towards front-women. What's the hip-hop equivalent I might enjoy listening to? [more inside]
posted by signal at 10:17 AM PST - 19 comments

I was diagnosed with a disability a few years ago but I was able to continue working. Now to keep my current job I'm going to need an accommodation. What's the best way to approach this? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 10:10 AM PST - 6 comments

So I installed Virtualbox on my Windows 10 machine and it immediately broke all mouse support in Windows. Obviously this is a big problem. How do I fix it? [more inside]
posted by neckro23 at 10:08 AM PST - 12 comments

I have a peperomia ginny plant. The underside of at least half of the leaves have the exact same looking spots as in this photo. (note, this is not my photo) [more inside]
posted by fourpotatoes at 9:52 AM PST - 3 comments

If you've been to any of the Chicago offices or closer suburban offices in the last few weeks or days, how are the lines? Would a 2pm arrival be quicker than 8am? This must be in-person so online is not feasible.
posted by jojo and the benjamins at 9:12 AM PST - 7 comments

I'm currently dealing with a situation that will go slowly, and forcing the pace would actively make matters worse. I know this. Yet, I am feeling impatient and tetchy and frustrated. This keeps happening over and over, probably fueled in part by anxiety (in therapy for it) and a stressful life that doesn't have a lot of free time, so go-go-go seems to be my default option. If you were someone like me and you've actively learned to be patient, or least not be accepting that everything can be on your schedule...tell me how, please.
posted by Nieshka at 8:40 AM PST - 24 comments

Remember how, in the 90s, it was cool to end a song by hitting the last chord and sustaining it until the guitar started feeding back? Yeah me too, but apparently not as specifically as I thought. Looking for examples. [more inside]
posted by kevinbelt at 8:21 AM PST - 27 comments

I keep making mistakes at work - stupid ones, ones I should have noticed. I'm beating myself up over them, but more importantly, I'm really worried about losing my job. What can I do? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 7:52 AM PST - 19 comments

Looking for opportunities for someone who is autistic and can find large social settings very depleting, tiring or overwhelming, but is seeking ways to meet people IRL in the SF Bay Area. Young adult who is queer, enjoys nerdy pursuits, politically left, empathetic. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 7:50 AM PST - 3 comments

I’ve got a double whammy of heat rash where my bra band lies and shaving irritation in my pubic area. I know what to do to get both irritations to go away eventually, but I would appreciate suggestions for the best ways to soothe them in the meantime. What makes your skin feel better when it’s irritated and angry?
posted by ocherdraco at 7:18 AM PST - 23 comments

I'm moving within NYC a few days before the primary election - do I have a grace period to vote using my old address? [more inside]
posted by limnerent at 7:15 AM PST - 3 comments

When I was a kid I always called adults Mrs Lastname / Mr Lastname. That seemed pretty standard. A few of my peers would say Mrs Firstname / Mr Firstname but that always felt too familiar. Now we've got two young kids and it seems like most people go with Mrs/Mr Firstname. I just want to teach my kids to do whatever most people do, so is that the new standard? We're in Missouri if it's regional. [more inside]
posted by Tehhund at 7:09 AM PST - 45 comments

What should I print on waterproof paper? I bought a bunch of it, and have a color laser printer. [more inside]
posted by wenestvedt at 7:05 AM PST - 7 comments

I realize this will be a series of courses, or a program, as opposed to a singular course. But, my company provides $5,250/year for continuing education, and I'd like to bolster my skills in JavaScript and SQL (for my job) and Python (kinda for my job...but mostly for fun). The only stipulation is that course be "taken at an accredited institution through a nationally-recognized professional training organization, executive education" institution. Any suggestions on courses and/or programs?
posted by po822000 at 6:30 AM PST - 2 comments

I recently applied to our local Volunteer Rescue Squad. This has always been an interest of mine, and the time felt right given my career status and family situation. I have several certifications including Wilderness First Responder, a clean record, and sterling references. My facebook profile is private and I don't have other social media presence. Yet my application was just denied. [more inside]
posted by natteringnabob at 5:27 AM PST - 9 comments

So, after spending my money on a major surgery I need to save up money for a deposit on an apartment, and my family situation has fallen through. Instead of looking at it as being homeless for the summer I am trying to reframe this as a fun adventure, and a way to get away from people and recharge my batteries. But...I need some advice about details. [more inside]
posted by liminal_shadows at 2:20 AM PST - 13 comments

My friend and I are starting a small production company and I thought it would be fun(!) to build our website myself. Even though the site is meant to be just a portfolio of our previous work that we can point prospective clients to, we should definitely have our business contact info on it. Is there an effective way to hinder spambots from harvesting mailto: links on our site? What about social media links? Is it pointless to even bother with this? [more inside]
posted by theory at 1:31 AM PST - 13 comments

I am trying to find a therapist to help me work on some anxiety issues. I am a WOC and would like to find someone who is familiar with concepts like microaggressions, implicit bias, structural bias etc. Are there any common phrases in the therapy industry that describe this? Anything that I should ask / explain right off the bat to help figure this out? [more inside]
posted by SockISalmon at 9:22 PM PST - 10 comments

I've been to five different dentists in the last several years. The first three practices I left for what I thought were valid reasons (always running super late, messed up a crown and couldn't fix it, etc) I'm wondering about the other two, though. [more inside]
posted by whistle pig at 8:09 PM PST - 11 comments

I feel exhausted, a lot, lately and I'm wondering if there's a medical reason or if this is just normal for someone with my age and lifestyle. [more inside]
posted by koolaidnovel at 7:57 PM PST - 21 comments

I didn't negotiate well for my first job and I've learned that my coworkers make much more than I do for the same work. Is there any way to address this without it seeming like a wild money grab? [more inside]
posted by fern at 5:44 PM PST - 15 comments

I'm planning a road trip with two of our large adult children (aged 24 and 21), which will include a segment from Chicago to Denver. We're not likely to do lots of Roadside America stuff en route but we'd like to stop overnight somewhere that would have potential for decent food and maybe a craft cider. Is that Des Moines, Omaha, Lincoln? We're all fully vaxxed.
posted by sockshaveholes at 4:54 PM PST - 6 comments

Why do the recommendations on when to give an EpiPen seem to differ so much between Australia and the US? [more inside]
posted by kinddieserzeit at 4:36 PM PST - 6 comments

My mother lives in NB, Canada and I live in ON. She's suggesting she add me to her bank account and home ownership as she believes this will ease any transfer after she passes. I think it will affect my taxes. What's the best move? [more inside]
posted by dobbs at 2:06 PM PST - 17 comments

There are so many gaming laptops! Help! Looking for something quiet but that has a lot of memory, good screen quality, can be used to run and design games with [more inside]
posted by xarnop at 1:57 PM PST - 7 comments

I’m looking for a Logitech mouse that has extra keys for macros but still uses the unifying receiver since I’ll be using it on a laptop and want to minimize my number of dongles. Thanks!
posted by gzimmer at 1:14 PM PST - 7 comments

Hi! With summer upon us and the city reopening, I'm interested in email newsletters about fun things to do in NYC—restaurants, museums, outdoor film screenings, concerts, random free events, you name it. Have any favorites? I'd be grateful if you could let me know. Thanks!
posted by DavidNYC at 12:31 PM PST - 6 comments

I get a lot of critters roaming around in the night. Coyotes, foxes, possums, probably an occasional Bigfoot, that sort of thing. I would like to automatically capture quality nighttime video and photos of these critters. I would like to do this with a minimum of fuss. What't the best way? [more inside]
posted by bondcliff at 11:34 AM PST - 12 comments

I have recently started using a USB hub thingy (this) so I can attach a wired mouse & external keyboard to my MacBook Air when I'm using it on a stand. Do I need to eject it when I'm done using it? The reason I'm asking is twofold: I don't know if I need to; but also I don't see it appear on my desktop like, say, an external drive would, so I don't know how to eject it. Talk to me like I'm your ancient granny, please.
posted by BlahLaLa at 11:22 AM PST - 8 comments

Hi, Back in 1997 we watched a film in school that had a sci Fi feel and I remember really loving. All I really remember about it is that there was a large white ball that was possibly threatening or menacing? Or maybe benign...but seemed to be possibly conscious? I'm very fuzzy on the details and tbh am not even certain if this was a film or a piece of writing. Due to my scant details, Google searches have been unsuccessful. Anyone have ideas of what this might have been? I've been wondering and wanting to rewatch/reread for years.
posted by EarnestDeer at 11:17 AM PST - 18 comments

I solved the June 4 crossword in the Washington Post, but I don't understand the themed clues and their answers. The puzzle is syndicated, so I think it was also in the Los Angeles Times and other papers. Clues and answers below. [more inside]
posted by hydrophonic at 10:49 AM PST - 9 comments

My dad has stomach cancer. We're not sure what stage yet. He's Japanese and strongly prefers Japanese food. Does anyone know of a dietitian or nutritionist who specializes in food for people with stomach / gastric cancer, especially with Japanese food? [more inside]
posted by saltypup at 9:30 AM PST - 8 comments

I'm flying in July and I am brining a couple experimental hearing aid devices with me. They look like this. Is this going to cause me any issues? [more inside]
posted by Lutoslawski at 9:26 AM PST - 9 comments

I’m flying to my BFF in Phoenix next week and we will be taking three days or so to drive back to Eugene. It’s her birthday next Friday, so we’d like to do something fun that day. She wants to make it to the coast-so I’m thinking Phoenix to LA then up the coast? How would you break this trip out, assuming three nights (maybe leave Weds afternoon and arrive in Eugene Saturday afternoon)? Your favorite places to stop? We will be doing hotels and love wine and great food-which doesn’t need to be fancy. Your favorite roadside diner is awesome, too. Both fully vaxed.
posted by purenitrous at 9:09 AM PST - 7 comments

Is it possible to disregard a college year in new college applications? [more inside]
posted by rtimmel at 8:27 AM PST - 16 comments

Anyone know anything about convention planning? Specifically medical convention planning? [more inside]
posted by lpsguy at 8:23 AM PST - 4 comments

5 fully vaxxed adults staying in Palm Springs, CA for a week in late February. What should we definitely do? [more inside]
posted by archimago at 8:11 AM PST - 18 comments

Teen alms is making some last minute summer plans. Among the options are CTY remote classes and quantum computing with Qubit x Qubit. Do you have experience with these programs? Are they good? [more inside]
posted by alms at 7:48 AM PST - 3 comments

We have started using Tawk and it's great. It has a webhook option to let you know if you've got waiting messages etc. [more inside]
posted by dance at 7:11 AM PST - 3 comments

In chapter 18 of The Moon and Sixpence, Maugham writes " The master of the box of chocolates." I'd like to know the source of this phrase if it's a kind of idiomatic expression. And why does he say"la (boite) " here? I only know "la" means "the" and "une" means "a" though .Thank you for helping my English and now, French!
posted by mizukko at 5:57 AM PST - 14 comments

Paging Dr. House, is it lupus? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 5:42 AM PST - 6 comments

What exactly is the purview of a homeowner's association? [more inside]
posted by nantucket at 7:30 PM PST - 12 comments

A friend recently retired. She played clarinet as a kid and is considering taking it up again. She's gotten as far as acquiring an instrument and not yet playing it. Her birthday approaches. What can I get her to encourage this path?
posted by falsedmitri at 3:10 PM PST - 13 comments

I've been thinking about getting Botox to minimize a furrow that's developing between my brows, and possibly exploring undereye filler as a way to reduce my lifelong dark circles. I'm having trouble figuring out the basics/logistics of how to find a provider. Could you help me understand the basics? I'm mostly curious about the general process, but I'm also open to Chicago-area provider recommendations. [more inside]
posted by cimton at 3:06 PM PST - 15 comments

I have an idea for a series of YouTube videos that I believe would get a pretty significant number of views. I'd like to create a new YouTube account/channel to post these, and ideally monetize them through ads if they get enough traffic. [more inside]
posted by NorthCoastRiver at 12:45 PM PST - 6 comments

I saw a new doctor this week, and googled them afterwards. They have no social media, but their husband does, and he uses it to post truly vile missives against trans and queer people. I have no way of knowing if his wife agrees with him; is there anything for me to do here? [more inside]
posted by nancynickerson at 11:53 AM PST - 55 comments

My friend is trying to track down a short story he read many years ago—He says this was a sci-fi short story, probably from some Best Sci Fi of the Year Anthology, probably pre 1980s. In it, a British explorer finds a heavy silver ball inside a giant anthill in a desolate area of Africa. He is thereafter followed by a mass of insects.
posted by exceptinsects at 10:56 AM PST - 9 comments

It's come to my attention that I'm writing Powershell as though I'm a java programmer (which I am). And this is not what the team requires. I need help to learn how to write Powershell like a Powershell scripting expert. [more inside]
posted by kitcat at 10:09 AM PST - 8 comments

My wife and I currently live in the mountains of the Front Range of Colorado. We've had our share of fire scares in past years, but last year really frightened us (we were evacuated, but got lucky). Climate change will only make things worse: drier, higher winds, lowering water tables, etc. On top of that, we feel that change is good and invigorating. So, it's time to go! After looking around the country at many candidates, and figuring in proximity to loved ones, we've decided to put our effort into finding a new home in a rural area somewhere between Northern Wisconsin and Northern Minnesota. But where in that region? [more inside]
posted by Don_K at 9:54 AM PST - 21 comments

Doesn't seem like this would warrant an AskMe, but here we are. I prefer crew-neck, tag-less, short-sleeve* tee shirts (size L, black or gray, fwiw). Any recs? [more inside]
posted by 5Q7 at 7:57 AM PST - 39 comments

One of the reasons we moved to where we live is to be closer to my mother-in-law, so she could help with the kids, but recently she got a dog. The problem is, my daughter is terrified of dogs? I need some help figuring out how I feel. [more inside]
posted by kevinbelt at 7:52 AM PST - 72 comments

Is there a commonly-accepted trope name for a viewpoint character hearing a generally-negative sound (screaming, groaning, whimpering, etc) and then realizing it's themself making that sound? [more inside]
posted by Drastic at 7:49 AM PST - 5 comments

Mrs Logophiliac and I are talking about moving north. Ayr (Scotland) looks interesting. How is life in Ayr? Do you have better suggestions? [more inside]
posted by Logophiliac at 7:21 AM PST - 10 comments

I bought a second hand bike from an eBay seller. The bike was delivered today and the box had a twelve inch rip down the side, plus rips at both ends and looked to have been crushed. What to do? [more inside]
posted by doornoise at 7:15 AM PST - 9 comments

There is a linguistic phenomenon where people add the word “the” in front of words where it is unnecessary. Examples “the Google”, “the Facebook”, not exclusively proper nouns. I can’t find an explanation on the Google because “the” is too common. [more inside]
posted by [insert clever name here] at 6:24 AM PST - 40 comments

What is the best nectarine-based dessert, and how do I make it? [more inside]
posted by saladin at 5:53 AM PST - 11 comments

Can anyone recommend a hand-held vacuum for super furry stairs? [more inside]
posted by A Terrible Llama at 5:07 AM PST - 13 comments

I'd like to be able to view a visual summary of open tabs in Google Chrome that's similar to the thumbnail views that Safari offers, shown here
posted by lometogo at 5:07 AM PST - 2 comments

I have 5 liters (34 fl oz) of medical-grade 70% ethanol coming in tomorrow. I have to prepare some sort of container for it. What do I keep it in? Are standard plastic PVC bottles ok? What about plastic water canisters for camping? This will be for long-term storage (eg. 1 to 5 years). I'm a bit worried about stuff leaching from the plastic into the alcohol, but glass will be much harder to get so quickly, and harder to store due to risk of breaking.
posted by gakiko at 2:10 AM PST - 15 comments

I need some design inspiration for the cover of a book I'm working on. The book is a cozy fantasy, light, escapist, but not a children's book. Can you think of any book covers that signal this? I was thinking of the design of many of Diana Wynne Jones's books, as they are great for the "cozy fantasy" look, but many of them look very much like children's or young teen books, so that won't work. [more inside]
posted by Zumbador at 12:53 AM PST - 8 comments

Our twelve year old takes enormous risks online. She discloses her real name, age, and school, and has multiple accounts across many different apps. I believe she’s likely being groomed. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 10:24 PM PST - 39 comments

I remember laughing at my US friends (even when I lived in the US) 30 years ago about the very IDEA of this! Now it has come to my country and my latest grocery delivery substituted this… this… Satan’s snuffbox for my regular order. Son opened it before I realized, so there’s no turning back. Anyone have an idea for using this evil substance? I don’t want to throw it out (I DO want to throw it out, but…)
posted by Samarium at 8:18 PM PST - 26 comments

I am freshly divorced, only 5 months out. A couple of weeks ago I asked a guy out and we had a great time. Today he told me that he had been seeing someone when I asked him out and felt like he should see it through. I feel like I’ve been punched in the gut. [more inside]
posted by pintapicasso at 7:57 PM PST - 21 comments

Mr. Darling has his master's thesis in paper form sitting in our closet and I would like to get it bound for him for Father's Day. All of the places I am seeing online have joined the 21st century and ask me to upload a PDF .... which I don't have. Are there any services that can bind the old school paper version?
posted by tafetta, darling! at 7:17 PM PST - 9 comments

My son is desperate to learn about combat robotics and RC motors. I want to teach him. I know nothing. Please direct me to resources that will explain it to me from the top down assuming that I have absolutely no mechanical knowledge. [more inside]
posted by christinetheslp at 6:34 PM PST - 3 comments

After searching other AskMe questions this sounds very similar to what's happening to me. I think I've fallen into the trap and want to know what, if anything, I can do since I've given the "buyer" personal information including my address. [more inside]
posted by bendy at 5:22 PM PST - 11 comments

Mrs Raybun canned some pears. One jar showed the pears covered with bubbles. Without bothering to add another item to the “Can I Eat This” thread. I ate one. It was like solid champagne. Imagine pear with the champagne fizz.I ate more to no ill effect. The following day they tasted like flat champagne. I should have eaten all of them. Can this be done deliberately? Is there a recipe? If so, what is it called?
posted by Raybun at 5:01 PM PST - 19 comments

My dog has just started on 20 mg of fluoxetine (prozac). I would like to know others' experiences with this medication (in dogs). [more inside]
posted by Aranquis at 12:49 PM PST - 6 comments

My bedroom is partly a garage conversion (so, cement under the laminate floor, I think, but seemingly well insulated walls) and stays fairly cool even when it's hot outside--it's currently 93 degrees out at 3:30pm but only 73 in my room. However, it gets pretty humid--currently 75% but the other day it was 88%. [more inside]
posted by needs more cowbell at 12:36 PM PST - 17 comments

Now in a Catch-22 Situation? [more inside]
posted by ragtimepiano at 11:56 AM PST - 7 comments

In Feb 2009 I went with a group of friends to see Mamma Mia on Broadway. I was surprised at the time that Christine Baranski appeared onstage for her role. Today someone asked me if I’d ever seen the movie version and I said no. I explained I’d only seen it on Broadway with Christine and the rest of the cast. They told me I must be confused because she was in the movie and not the stage show but I know I saw her. I told them they were mansplaining and I know what I saw. Then I looked it up and I can find no mention of her being in the stage show ever. So maybe it was some kind of a one night special performance? I am on a mission now to find evidence of this. Googling has turned up nothing. Can anyone help me track down whether she was actually in the show in Feb of 2009? It was the first weekend in Feb for the Sat night performance.
posted by TestamentToGrace at 11:50 AM PST - 7 comments

What do I do with a never-ending stream of garlic? [more inside]
posted by pdb at 10:34 AM PST - 29 comments

Our little one recently told us she was "touched" (translate to molested) by a person who live in her daycare (it's an in home childcare). While the official inquiry is ongoing, I need help to keep the family together. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 10:14 AM PST - 7 comments

We found a can of hazy IPA and a Truly in my fiancé’s trunk. They have been there probably a year. We aren’t going to drink them, but what biological processes happened to them from extreme winter and summer temps?
posted by OnTheLastCastle at 10:05 AM PST - 12 comments

I’m looking for ios app recommendations for my 4 yr old who’s obsessed with numbers. [more inside]
posted by dhruva at 9:39 AM PST - 4 comments

A few weeks ago I read a short article in which the (presumably young) author expressed disdain for trends sparked by social media and influencers. Not just dumb stuff like eating Tide pods but also things like fashion, makeup, decor, food, entertainment etc. And she seemed to think that people in the past were less trendy than today, which I found funny because if you look at pictures from the past, you can almost always tell approximately when they were from by the clothing, hairstyles and decor. [more inside]
posted by Serene Empress Dork at 9:32 AM PST - 48 comments

I have a few old ZIP disks, tapes, and hard drives (with very old connector formats) that I'd like to recover any contents from. I don't have the means to read any of these myself, so I'm looking for recommendations for a service that can recover any data for me. Thanks!
posted by Conrad Cornelius o'Donald o'Dell at 8:40 AM PST - 6 comments

My mother's garage needs a new entry door (not a new garage door), but a door TO the garage. I think it also needs a new door frame, as well. Who do we hire to install this? [more inside]
posted by VirginiaPlain at 8:29 AM PST - 10 comments

I am studying (very reluctantly) for my ACCA accounting qualifications in the U.K. I'm really struggling to focus. I haven't really studied properly since 18 and suffer from some mental health issues. I am in treatment for those and am trying to eat healthy and exercise. When I sit down to study, I feel overwhelmed and don't know where to start. Does anyone have any specific studying strategy tips that might help me or any resources (books, articles) etc that have been useful to them? Studying at school was effortless, feel like I've forgotten how to do it and am floundering a bit. Any advice/help above "just sit down and do it" would be much appreciated.
posted by Sunflower88 at 7:35 AM PST - 10 comments

I would like to find a service or app where I pick meals and get a grocery list and instructions for prepping the meals on the weekend, so I can cook them very easily during the week. I'd ideally love it if this were connected to a bigger network or program related to health, nutrition, or weight loss. But if it's just one meal plan app, that's helpful too. [more inside]
posted by slidell at 7:25 AM PST - 5 comments

I would like to be able to turn on “the radio” and have it play whatever on-line stream I have assigned it to play in that time slot. Essentially, I am imagining something that might utilize TuneIn or something else but where I can curate a schedule of streams. [more inside]
posted by spibeldrokkit at 4:11 AM PST - 6 comments

I've been trying to transfer data from my Dell laptop (Windows 10) to new MacBook Air (I think Big Sur is the OS--whatever's newest) for over a week now, and I'm not having any luck with Migration Assistant, Ethernet, or USB. I prefer Ethernet, but I think Ethernet connectivity is the main obstacle. I have tried many many things, and I'll try to remember them below the fold. Thanks for any insight you can give. [more inside]
posted by mermaidcafe at 8:22 PM PST - 17 comments

There’s a song my mother used to sing around the house, going back to my earliest childhood memories. [more inside]
posted by The Underpants Monster at 8:17 PM PST - 12 comments

I’m coaching a 14/15a team and have a tournament with the “9 man rule”. I’ve only coached with the continuous batting rule. Can anyone point me to any resources to help me better understand the 9 man rule (with DH) and how to manage my line ups and position placements?
posted by agog at 8:01 PM PST - 2 comments

Are grippy socks what I want? Indoor winter foot wear question. [more inside]
posted by freethefeet at 7:30 PM PST - 27 comments

My left-wing, socially-conscious best friend is suddenly terrified of the COVID-19 vaccine and is refusing to get it. She has been extremely careful and has followed all the guidelines during the pandemic, and is not an anti-masker nor part of right-wing circles. I assumed she was totally fine with COVID vaccination until today, so this is out of the blue. I've tried having a calm conversation with her about the facts and her fears, but I'm not going to change her mind any time soon. How do I emotionally and morally cope with this without cutting her off? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 7:08 PM PST - 27 comments

I live in Canada and I cannot seem to find any organic (non-toxic chemicals) shampoos that do not make my hair oily and greasy after a day or two. I have tried so many plant-based organic shampoos and they have all failed to keep my hair greasy/oily-free. [more inside]
posted by RearWindow at 5:36 PM PST - 6 comments

A friend got me cannabis capsules that are way too strong. I had asked for edibles, but due to poor communication got a vial of 50 mg RSO capsules. Google says this is “Rick Simpson Oil”, which appears to be primarily for medicinal purposes. My interest is recreational and my first experiment opening and ingesting about 1/4 of the contents of a capsule tells me these are way too potent. [more inside]
posted by wigner3j at 5:06 PM PST - 10 comments

I was given 2 shares of McDonalds stock in 1993 as a gift. I have a "certificate of ownership" but it's not a stock certificate. Can I ever claim this stock? [more inside]
posted by zvs at 3:27 PM PST - 8 comments

Based on this: no one ever addressed the skateboard strap element in their answer. Barring someone knowing of a better suggestion for that, what’s the best way for me to add or attach skateboard straps or bungee paracord things? I ended up getting a backpack and it has some places for attachments and stuff. How would I go about doing this?
posted by jitterbug perfume at 2:12 PM PST - 6 comments

I have a friend on disability who is soon to be kicked out of their current residence. [more inside]
posted by PHINC at 1:48 PM PST - 10 comments

My preschool-aged child is the only person in our extended family who has not yet received a vaccination. I am having trouble understanding the level of risk for things I might do with him. [more inside]
posted by ficbot at 1:27 PM PST - 9 comments

I'm trying to find a good replacement for this men's dress shirt that is getting worn out. Photos and description inside. [more inside]
posted by Garm at 12:52 PM PST - 1 comment

Looking for recommendations for an ordinary blood pressure monitor. I go to the drug store, and there doesn't seem to be a reason to choose one over another. Is there? Or are all the common brands good enough? Are there features you especially like?
posted by Nancy Lebovitz at 12:37 PM PST - 13 comments

I have almost 100 recipes from various sources. How do I make them all neat, standardized, and usable for cooks who prefer American and non-American measurements? [more inside]
posted by themadthinker at 12:21 PM PST - 7 comments

I'm trying to get a feel for what a "reasonable" time spent cleaning every week is. A few snowflakes inside. [more inside]
posted by FencingGal at 11:55 AM PST - 30 comments

Think of this as a body scan with actionables - I am looking for tiny mindful, healthy habits that have personally worked for you - this could either be for mental or physical health. My specific context is that I'm a woman in early thirties, who is looking to lose weight, become stronger, better able to handle stress, and less anxious. Some examples of the kind of things I'm looking for, below the fold. [more inside]
posted by Nieshka at 11:45 AM PST - 15 comments

Our new home is currently under construction, and one of the next door neighbors has already proven to be prickly. What should we do to keep everyone happy? [more inside]
posted by keep it under cover at 10:23 AM PST - 41 comments

Why is my optometrist recommending a different contact lens than my prescription? After a break of about nine years, I want to start wearing contact lenses again. Both eyes require progressive lenses when I wear glasses and my right eye has astigmatism. Even though contact lenses exist that are both progressive and for astigmatism, my optometrist is not giving me that contact lens for the eye that needs it. Instead, he is giving me a progressive contact for my left eye and a contact for my right eye that is for astigmatism but is not progressive. [more inside]
posted by Aville at 9:20 AM PST - 11 comments

Hi friends! My husband and I have one toddler, one baby, and not much of a sense of what toddler behavior is normal. That makes it hard for us to know how to react when our toddler behaves in ways that worry us. So we thought we would poll this brain trust. How worried should we be that our toddler lies on the couch for hours sucking her thumb? [more inside]
posted by prefpara at 9:14 AM PST - 9 comments

What would the simplest way be to set up an Android tablet to, upon startup, run a script to connect by default to a Raspberry Pi's WiFi access point, and open up a browser window set to a simple webpage URL served off the RPi? This way, the user would just have to turn on RPi, turn on the tablet, and after booting, the tablet would automatically connect to and act as an interface for the wirelessly-connected RPi. [more inside]
posted by junebug at 8:40 AM PST - 3 comments

Family friend, age 65, exhibiting strange behavior. Could it indicate the onset of some sort of dementia? [more inside]
posted by SageTrail at 7:14 AM PST - 14 comments

I’ve been interviewing for new jobs in tech (as an engineer) after some years at my current place, and it’s striking that all my interviewers, who will also be my teammates, are much younger than me. Should I rethink my career path? [more inside]
posted by redlines at 6:51 AM PST - 14 comments

Interview the interviewer! I wrote 2 weeks ago about a strange interview for a talent management & OD consulting role and my typing speed. MICROMANAGEMENT fear! I’m now in the third interview and final round and will have to travel. I like the company and people, but we may disagree on certain methods. As they recommend, I want to ask them a few tough questions to establish whether this is a fit and avoid wasting anybody’s time or money. I want to throw out a question about their use of PSYCHOMETRIC ASSESSMENTS – personality & cognitive ability. [more inside]
posted by Che boludo! at 12:54 AM PST - 18 comments

As the title says, I'm looking for suggestions for alternative news sites to The Guardian. I'm in the UK, politically left, and am happy to pay for an online subscription. For context, I've cancelled my Guardian sub due to their trans rights coverage.
posted by Faff at 12:49 AM PST - 19 comments

Living in Austin during the summer is rough. I am looking to add some hats to help with the sun. I came across a Uniqlo hat and I liked the shape. However, it seems to be out of stock. See: UV Protection Collection, Adjustable Capeline Hat. Are you aware of a similar hat? Can you recommend hats that work well for sunny, brutally hot areas? Also looking for visors or styles that allow me to keep my hair in a bun/pony tail. I use a baseball cap already.
posted by allthingsconsidered at 8:18 PM PST - 13 comments

I am in possession of about a pound of very mediocre but beautiful supermarket cherries. They taste vaguely sweet but don’t have much flavor. If you were me, what would you do with them?
posted by rogerroger at 5:57 PM PST - 14 comments

My former roommate didn’t pay rent for months after I left the house we lived in together, then abandoned the property altogether. For months, I’ve been trying to pretend that this whole..situation doesn’t exist and gone about my life being a model tenant in my new house. Now I’m taking steps toward buying a home. What do I have to disclose, and is this whole mess going to come back to haunt me? [more inside]
posted by I am a Sock, I am an Island at 5:23 PM PST - 17 comments

I have a Kodak PixPro SP3604K. Two of them, actually. How do I make the video that they produce (which is a 1:1 ratio MP4, kind of like an extreme fisheye - a distorted circle with the horizon around the edge) into something that is useable in, say, Premiere? [more inside]
posted by dirtdirt at 3:27 PM PST - 2 comments

I have a novel length reference document nearing completion. It's end purpose is to be used both in a web app and also in print form. What format is best to keep a source of truth for the text itself with minimal effort converting from one form to the other? Are there text managent tools for this? [more inside]
posted by cirrostratus at 2:49 PM PST - 5 comments

Lots of famous people have sadly died in helicopter and general aviation/private plane crashes but has any notable celebrity ever died in commercial aviation?
posted by ftm at 2:18 PM PST - 27 comments

We just bought a house with a high wood ceiling that's been painted white - we want to remove the paint and bring it back to a natural wood look. Who does this kind of work (painters?) and would the wood need to be sealed once exposed? [more inside]
posted by wuzandfuzz at 2:00 PM PST - 20 comments

I have been searching to buy a Honda Certified Civic and just discovered that there are brand new Civics at price points that are slightly higher. It may be too soon to tell, but does anyone know how reliable cars made during Covid are? [more inside]
posted by Aville at 1:58 PM PST - 13 comments

Please give me tips/information/anecdotes about applying to jobs through the MassCareers portal for state-level jobs in Massachusetts. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 1:12 PM PST - 0 comments

None of these payment apps seem to have a way to decline payments (whether an honest mistake or part of a scam). A stranger paid me by accident on paypal and I couldn't figure out a way to return the money without being charged a fee. I've also heard about chargeback scams on venmo (you return the money in a separate transaction and then they also do a chargeback on the credit card). Is there any way to be safe on these apps? Should I cancel my accounts? [more inside]
posted by Gravel at 1:02 PM PST - 9 comments

What do you wish your manager knew about ADHD? If you are a manager, what questions do you have about ADHD? What do you wish you'd known sooner? What have you implemented that has improved your ability to work with neurotypical managers or neurodivergent employees? [more inside]
posted by cosmic owl at 12:31 PM PST - 10 comments

I’m processing a very recent breakup and I'm feeling very pessimistic about my prospects for finding someone else. This is partly because things are so fresh, but I've felt like this for a while, because I’ve had really limited success in dating even though I think I have a lot going for me. I would appreciate some perspective and maybe some hope. [more inside]
posted by deus ex machina at 11:45 AM PST - 25 comments

I've recently taken an interest in the intersection between brewing/fermenting and historical medicinals (such as Bald's Leechbook or traditional bitters). Are there English-language texts or academic papers that review and compile some of these old recipes?
posted by Silvery Fish at 11:39 AM PST - 9 comments

There are a handful of companies I'd be very interested in working for. The don't often list job openings, and I could probably qualify for a variety of positions at some of them. How do I write a resume and cover letter that says "I want to work for you, in whatever capacity you need me"? [more inside]
posted by sibilatorix at 11:38 AM PST - 7 comments

We are meeting up with friends next weekend now that we are all vaccinated, roughly halfway between us by car, and we decided on Flagstaff as the meeting point just because it's there and the weather is likely to be nice and none of us have ever been there. [more inside]
posted by Lyn Never at 11:32 AM PST - 7 comments

I'd like to live in Japan for a while. I don't want to be an English teacher. I should be able to do this if I enroll at a language school and get a 1 or 2 year student visa, but my initial desire to take this route has become conflicted with an increasing concern that I won't be able to hack it, and so my planning has ground to a halt. I need some help: has anyone done anything like this and can offer advice? [more inside]
posted by my log does not judge at 11:19 AM PST - 12 comments

My dad owns an undeveloped plot in the Bahamas. He wants to give it to me. How do I find a lawyer to help facilitate this transaction? [more inside]
posted by KevCed at 10:54 AM PST - 1 comment

After a clinical for school, my preceptor said, "You step up like a baller." I have no idea what that means.
posted by jumanjinight at 10:50 AM PST - 10 comments

Four of us (all fully vaccinated) are taking a road trip from Seattle to Eugene and would like to stop for lunch somewhere in Portland. COVID and general upheaval have changed the restaurant landscape and many of my previous favorites have closed. Looking for a place that may be a unicorn. Sub-questions below the fold. [more inside]
posted by creepygirl at 10:23 AM PST - 10 comments

Must haves: good schools, walkability, reasonable commutes to UPenn (by public transit) and Mt. Airy/Chestnut Hill (by car). [more inside]
posted by rabbitrabbit at 9:49 AM PST - 7 comments

I cannot seem to get a clear answer on the following: We are scheduled to close on the cash purchase of a 3-year old home on almost 3 acres of land in Georgia, U.S. The closing firm is pushing a land survey, which I've never dealt with. I spoke with my realtor and learned that they push a survey on ALL purchases. [more inside]
posted by manageyourexpectations at 9:14 AM PST - 7 comments

A few weeks ago, I saw (maybe on Ask) a company that is selling metal shoe racks and storage bins powder-coated in interesting colors. Of course, now that I’m moved and I’m ready to buy some furniture like this, I can’t find it again. [more inside]
posted by Alterscape at 9:08 AM PST - 5 comments

Some countries have decided that a mixed-dose strategy is appropriate, safe, and considered a full vaccination, and Canada just got on board. My province just laid out their second-dose strategy. I had the AZ (technically Covishield) for my first and am allowed to choose AZ, Pfizer, or Moderna for the second - what do I need to think about for traveling to the US? [more inside]
posted by mireille at 8:35 AM PST - 11 comments

I've purchased some Killex weed killer to apply to my lawn. I've never applied weed killer before and just wanted to know if there's anything I should know about applying it. [more inside]
posted by NoneOfTheAbove at 8:09 AM PST - 10 comments

My house is ugly and I'd like to make it attractive. I am considering replacing the roof and siding to give the whole thing a facelift. I am getting stuck with the design. I have talked with several contractors who do quality work, but all of them have acknowledged to me their talents are installation, not design. Can AskMe help design my house, or point me to someone who can? (Photo and details inside) [more inside]
posted by TurkishGolds at 7:54 AM PST - 36 comments

Why, when a flashlight will not turn on, does shaking or hitting it sometimes cause it to work?
posted by Hobgoblin at 6:58 AM PST - 16 comments

I manage two Carbonite accounts for computers that don’t get much use anymore, but there’s a lot of historic data in the two accounts that I don’t want to lose. What’s the easiest way to get the following end result: Backup of each of those accounts onto two separate external hard drives, which could plug into new computers as needed for access to files. [more inside]
posted by juniperesque at 6:03 AM PST - 5 comments

Please help reassure me I'm not making a massive mistake with a house purchase...and share if you've also second guessed your decision! [more inside]
posted by starstarstar at 3:38 AM PST - 21 comments

This article, posted to the blue is prompting to me ask something I have been meaning to for a while. Should I be concerned at how little it takes for me to feel hung over? [more inside]
posted by vernondalhart at 1:26 AM PST - 30 comments

I'm buried by garbage callers / texters. I'm seeking an app that will push calls / texts msgs into a junk folder. I know it can be done by dumping all calls and/or text msgs that are not in contacts, by using Do Not disturb, but I'd like to see -- on my schedule, when I want -- I'd want to see if it's valid, actually aimed at me. [more inside]
posted by dancestoblue at 11:52 PM PST - 4 comments

Title says it all. School wants me to use Blackboard to teach summer class, but I really don't like using it. The admin interface gives me hives, and there is no easy way to add content and preview it, etc. I used Edmodo before and liked it better, but it lacks a "wiki" element for evergreen content, and the way assignments are submitted is confusing to students. Is there web-based platform like Edmodo that is slightly more feature rich but is as easy to use? (and easy on the eyes? Blackboard even looks boring and uninspiring.) Thanks!
posted by archivist at 8:12 PM PST - 13 comments

My recently adult kid has informed me she wants to go to Las Vegas. Why not? Feeling vaxed and ready for new experiences. We're a queer, quirky, nerdy family with no interest in gambling and a high capacity for kitch. What should we do in Vegas over, say, a 4 day weekend? [more inside]
posted by latkes at 6:01 PM PST - 25 comments

My doctors don't want to do it without general anesthesia - experiences please [more inside]
posted by Sterros at 6:00 PM PST - 34 comments

A friend of ours lives in Chicago and has a 12 y/o who has just let her know he is bisexual. He needs someone else to talk to. I half recall a group called something like Equality Institute of Chicago telling me they sponsored therapy for LGBT youth in the city. My Google skills are failing me. Is that a thing? Do you remember what I don't? (Or something equivalent?) [more inside]
posted by Comrade Doll at 5:15 PM PST - 6 comments

I'm bringing an elliptical trainer into a very humid (think Southern Florida) area and am trying to decide about placing it. Choice one is inside the house in a room that gets about 4 hours of air conditioning a day. Choice two is outside in a very well sheltered patio. I'm worried that choice two will create a much greater maintenance issue than choice one. I didn't grow up in a humid area so I have no instinct for this. Help?
posted by Tell Me No Lies at 4:36 PM PST - 6 comments

I was out in the neighborhood, and I walked past an outdoor gathering near my house. There was a beautiful song playing, and I was hoping someone could help me ID it. [more inside]
posted by alex1965 at 4:33 PM PST - 6 comments

Early in the pandemic, the question of how to tip was relatively easy - we tipped more than usual. Now that the pandemic is not over but certainly better (at least in the US) it feels less clear what is expected. [more inside]
posted by coffeecat at 4:05 PM PST - 29 comments

Fireplace previously painted a horrible scab maroon color, (as pictured) I would like it to be a color recalling the original brickwork. but matching paint to some of the many colors of the brick has had weird/off/strange results. Turns out brick colors only look good on actual bricks. My boyfriend is colorblind. Help. [more inside]
posted by genmonster at 3:50 PM PST - 18 comments

I'm a guitarist playing bass on much of the record I'm making with friends. What would I know to do if I had more playing/recording experience? [more inside]
posted by troywestfield at 3:18 PM PST - 7 comments

I'll be teaching an online, asynchronous three-week intensive course later this summer to a mix of undergrads and community members. I'd like to pre-record a few dozen mini-lectures on video, probably no more than five minutes each. What are the best tools with the lowest learning curve to use for this? (Bonus: point me toward great examples of videos like this, in any field!) [more inside]
posted by knucklebones at 2:33 PM PST - 3 comments

This week's New Yorker cover is a painting by Kenton Nelson, "Works in Progress," inspired by the WPA mural style of the New Deal. The writeup does not say specifically what one calls that style. Does anyone have a name for it?
posted by nothing.especially.clever at 1:56 PM PST - 8 comments

My son has three guitar hooks to hang, but I don't trust those little plastic anchors they included. What kind of boards and screws do I need to mount a plank across studs and put the hangers on it? (This thread put the fear of God into me!) [more inside]
posted by wenestvedt at 1:31 PM PST - 6 comments

I'm at a new, very large company. I haven't met my manager yet and he has no link whatsoever to the actual project I'm on. This project does not 'interact' with the rest of the company. I do not interact with the rest of the company. But I have to set SMART goals for manager to evaluate in September. Help me come up with something, anything! [more inside]
posted by kitcat at 1:29 PM PST - 12 comments

I noticed VSCode will sometimes install settings/extensions globally, sometimes in the workspace. I think there's even a setting that might overwrite this, This doesn't seem normal to me as I'd like all projects to be "self contained" ... is there a way without using VSCode Portable to enforce projects to be self-contained? [more inside]
posted by geoff. at 1:04 PM PST - 5 comments

How can I prevent my bathroom sink faucet from splashing widely when turned on? [more inside]
posted by critzer at 1:01 PM PST - 6 comments

What is this rock my friend found in the woods? A fossil? [more inside]
posted by komara at 12:58 PM PST - 4 comments

So I got a speeding ticket in Wyoming (not my state of residence - which is Utah). The court my ticket will be heard in doesn't seem to do the "Driving school instead of a ticket or reporting program", and I can't see an obvious way to stop notification to car insurance, or is there? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 11:29 AM PST - 8 comments

As we all know, the GOP has been attacking voting rights in individual states across the country, even trying to allow judges to overturn election results in Texas. Beyond calling our senators, I'm curious if people can suggest concrete actions we can do as individual citizens to fight this, particularly if we don't live in the states affected. Happy to learn about potential places to donate, though hopefully there are other things in addition to that!
posted by johnasdf at 10:42 AM PST - 4 comments

After a year apart, my wife's brother would like us to come visit this weekend. There are, however, covidy complications... [more inside]
posted by Thorzdad at 9:08 AM PST - 27 comments

About two years ago, I watched some kind of DIY YouTube video and the creator had ingested over-the-counter pills available at his local gas station. What was he repairing, and how can I find him again? [more inside]
posted by knile at 7:46 AM PST - 8 comments

I want to read books with unhappy endings, angst and drama, body horror, miserable relationships, etc. Absolutely no redemption! If the writing is experimental, all the better. [more inside]
posted by kingdead at 7:14 AM PST - 82 comments

There is a concept I’ve come across a couple of times, very likely in articles posted to the Blue, that I’m trying to remember. The gist is, it's not the role of the justice system / legal system / government to protect your business model from competition, or from someone who invents a better way of doing things. Something like that. What am I thinking of?
posted by dywypi at 6:32 AM PST - 6 comments

Oysters are one thing — Rocky Mountain Oysters are quite another. What other foods are there where adding a toponym materially and radically changes the dish (generally for the worse)? [more inside]
posted by dmd at 6:19 AM PST - 57 comments

As a science outreach project, my colleagues and I designed a board game to illustrate some general principles of genome evolution. What's the easiest way to turn this into a browser-based online game? [more inside]
posted by texasrulz at 4:55 AM PST - 8 comments

Hi AskMe! I have a long-term goal: to be in a position to have a dog after 3 years. What are the things I need to line up and have in place? I've started to make a checklist below the fold plus some questions I'm chewing over. What am I missing? [more inside]
posted by sockandawe at 4:44 AM PST - 13 comments

I've been hearing a lot about Moldovan wines lately, and I was curious about how big Moldova is, so I tried to look it up. Much to my surprise, there appears to be a fair amount of disagreement, with a huge range of different answers depending on where you look. [more inside]
posted by Umami Dearest at 2:12 AM PST - 3 comments

I've had forms of depression, anxiety, possible OCD for a long time and have often wondered whether I would benefit from taking something like Zoloft. Considering asking my doctor, but also nervous to actually take the leap. [more inside]
posted by kinddieserzeit at 12:50 AM PST - 18 comments

I had a social interaction with a colleague the other day that seems to have turned out badly and I'm not sure why. I'd love for someone to try to help me figure out where (or if) I went wrong. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 12:03 AM PST - 26 comments

Have you taken topamax for an extended period? How were your first months/year until you got to the right dose? Did your headaches go away gradually? Suddenly? [more inside]
posted by pairofshades at 11:07 PM PST - 12 comments

My wife is constantly looking for something soft and simple to wear around our tiled house, and we picked up some $2 slides or sandals at the thrift store recently that absolutely hit the spot. (They're even her favorite shade of pink.) Can you identify them so I can buy a case full? [more inside]
posted by Polycarp at 10:01 PM PST - 9 comments

I currently use Zeiss pre-moistened wipes, and have done so for about 8 years. I've noticed the quality had gone downhill, though; most wipes aren't as moist anymore, so my eyeglasses lens don't get a proper, good quality cleaning for the most part, on the first try. Recommendations would be appreciated! [more inside]
posted by dubious_dude at 8:09 PM PST - 11 comments

In “A Night at the Opera”, at the end of the contract scene, Groucho says to Chico “You win the white carnation.” What’s that mean? [more inside]
posted by chrchr at 8:07 PM PST - 2 comments

I’ve got achy feet and am looking for a pair of those nubbly flip flops to wear around the house.. [more inside]
posted by onebyone at 7:45 PM PST - 4 comments

Should I start the cat on this antibiotic prescription today? Gross pet content within. [more inside]
posted by doift at 7:43 PM PST - 4 comments

Due to getting new contacts, it’s come to my attention that while I wake up to the sight of my girlfriend’s immaculate and smooth face, she wakes up to seeing my pores everywhere. Are there a few simple routines or products (male or neutral as far as scents) I can do to help the situation?
posted by ftm at 6:51 PM PST - 17 comments

How can I test an ant to see whether it and it's family will bite or sting? Other than to get it to bite or sting me, I mean. [more inside]
posted by amtho at 5:49 PM PST - 5 comments

I have a metal box and a piece of land, can I somehow put these together to have a place for me to live? [more inside]
posted by Rev. Irreverent Revenant at 5:36 PM PST - 20 comments

I would like to start an at-home boxing routine (not going to the gym). Looking for youtube channels or workout guides for doing so. Details inside. [more inside]
posted by forza at 5:25 PM PST - 2 comments

Should we include a whole-house water softener in our plumbing replacement plans? [more inside]
posted by DSime at 4:50 PM PST - 9 comments

A friend wants to get a new desktop computer to meet her needs now and for the next several years. What specs is she looking for in a computer? Details inside. [more inside]
posted by QuakerMel at 4:02 PM PST - 9 comments

...for me? Will Fluconazole that's recorded as having given rashes, Steven-Johnson syndrome, etc. affect me negatively? [more inside]
posted by Rumi'sLeftSock at 3:08 PM PST - 6 comments

this is a multi-part question about downsizing a home's worth of interesting stuff, including books, objets d'art, "stuff" etc. [more inside]
posted by fingersandtoes at 12:59 PM PST - 29 comments

I'm trying to recall an EDM track that was released maybe 8-10 years ago. It wasn't that obscure - I think it was by a fairly well-known producer. The music video featured a lot of wide open rural/wilderness-y landscapes, interspersed with scenes of solitary humans. (possible tw in "more inside" - suicide scene) [more inside]
posted by aielen at 12:31 PM PST - 4 comments

I am off to Columbus for a few days this summer without a car, staying in the downtown area - what should I do? [more inside]
posted by gemutlichkeit at 11:58 AM PST - 6 comments

my relative needs to hire someone who can do a few different kinds of tasks, and none of us have ever hired such a person before. [more inside]
posted by fingersandtoes at 11:47 AM PST - 12 comments

So, up until yesterday I was 100% convinced that Pete Davidson from SNL used to be in a mid-2000s pop-punk / emo band. But I looked him up yesterday and found out that's definitely not true -- and the timeline doesn't even work out, since he was only a preteen in the 2000s. So, who do I have him confused with? [more inside]
posted by mekily at 9:54 AM PST - 19 comments

Is it worth it to buy solar panels for my house? [more inside]
posted by ljs30 at 9:07 AM PST - 22 comments

I've gotten cards from Sierra Club and Farm Sanctuary? Who else sells them? [more inside]
posted by FencingGal at 8:53 AM PST - 10 comments

Please recommend all your well-written, likeable characters. Humor appreciated. Plot optional. [more inside]
posted by kristi at 8:02 AM PST - 48 comments

What was this SF novel about the nature of reality changing as peoples' understanding of science advanced? [more inside]
posted by EndsOfInvention at 6:09 AM PST - 11 comments

Can some fitness-savvy MeFites please evaluate my workout routine? [more inside]
posted by escape from the potato planet at 4:42 AM PST - 12 comments

I'd like to be able to whitelist cookies, especially login cookies, on certain websites, so they won't expire. Can I? How? Can't I? Why? [more inside]
posted by svenni at 3:23 AM PST - 11 comments

I'm a US citizen and live in the UK. I don't have a US bank account, and I'm headed to the US for a family emergency where it would help if I did. My stress-addled brain can't handle the google advice, which is all for US residents who aren't citizens. Could you suggest a bank in San Diego where I could walk in and open an account with a US passport, UK residency card and license, and a cash deposit?
posted by jebs at 3:10 AM PST - 5 comments

Looking for input and experience regarding writing wills for blended families. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 1:28 AM PST - 14 comments

The friend in question and I have been close friends since we were 10 (we're 29 now, and also both female just for context). We've had major arguments before but this most recent one has just made me feeling like I really just don't want her in my life anymore. It's been such a significant friendship that ending it feels pretty fraught, and I've been struggling to figure out how to end it respectfully but still definitively, and also struggling to get over it. [more inside]
posted by toska at 1:20 AM PST - 26 comments

my aging hands have intermittent osteoarthritic pain. Left thumb gets very stiff (can’t text!!). but it is only intermittent. Can Valtaren gel be useful if applied only as needed? Directions say to apply it 4 x per day for 2 weeks—I Would rather not, given my arthritic episodes only last a few days with no treatment. I know YRNMD but i love the wisdom of this hive.
posted by Lylo at 11:12 PM PST - 7 comments

Someone I'm in a new relationship with expressed needing more time alone and asked if we could meet just twice a week. That combined with some previous patterns has me spiraling into doubt about their suitability as a partner. Hive perspectives much appreciated. [more inside]
posted by miaow at 8:33 PM PST - 24 comments

I just started taking Lexapro. A week in, it kinda sucks. I should stick with it though...right? [more inside]
posted by daisystomper at 8:19 PM PST - 22 comments

I need to get a pin prick blood sample to participate in a research study. They sent me two one-time use lancets. I used both. The pricked. I felt it. I saw a hole. I didn't bleed. Like not even a little. I just tried pricking myself with a sewing needle, got past the part where it hurts and felt the flesh "give" and the needle sink in. But no blood came out. I squeezed my finger. No blood came out. I've tried three different fingers on two hands. How do I bleed for science? [more inside]
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 7:16 PM PST - 23 comments

Please share your stories of love life post divorce. Good, bad, ugly and in between. I need to recalibrate my beliefs based on what others have actually experienced. It can also be the experience of someone you know, provided you know the situation well enough to confirm that it actually happened and isn't incredibly exaggerated somehow. [more inside]
posted by crunchy potato at 6:27 PM PST - 21 comments

I’m looking for ethical jeans (not made with slave labor, made in a somewhat environmentally friendly fashion) that are affordable AND come in a midrise. Everlane discontinued theirs. Does anyone else sell them? [more inside]
posted by john_snow at 6:19 PM PST - 11 comments

My friend has a garmin gps that gives him really nice map pictures showing the speed along the route as red-orange-yellow-green. I would like the same effect on my iPhone for free. TIA!
posted by Iteki at 2:41 PM PST - 8 comments

I just got dumped out of the blue by someone who very consistently acted like he liked me, and said he really liked me, who I also really liked. I’m completely devastated. I’m having a really hard time making sense of what happened and am questioning my gut, and I could use an outside perspective. [more inside]
posted by deus ex machina at 2:35 PM PST - 33 comments

I have always wanted to travel more, to see places that were new-to-me, especially in other countries and I recently came to the realization that I'd like to do that through work. I have traveled domestically for work and I realize work travel is not the same as personal travel but I love experiencing places I wouldn't otherwise go on a work trip. [more inside]
posted by azalea_chant at 1:48 PM PST - 9 comments

I am looking for the Swiss army knife of bags. Things I like or need: a laptop sleeve, lots of places to attach carabiners, organizational pockets with places for all kinds of little things, pencil and pen sleeves and space for other small things like that, wet/dry compartment for wetsuits or whatever, skateboard bungee cables, water bottle holder, and lots of pockets.
posted by jitterbug perfume at 1:43 PM PST - 17 comments

I want to find a genuinely soft (smushy) down or feather (or blend of the two) pillow for (side) sleeping. But where? [more inside]
posted by zenpop at 1:14 PM PST - 9 comments

I use my AC in the summer more to control humidity than temperature. Does a home Heat/AC controller exist with a humidistat that prioritizes humidity and the temperature setting just sets high and low limits?
posted by Raybun at 1:14 PM PST - 8 comments

My parents are getting the the point where we need to figure out what to do when they can no longer live at home safely. Do you know of any assisted living and memory care facilities in the Boston area that have Chinese speaking staff and maybe even Chinese meals? [more inside]
posted by advicepig at 12:48 PM PST - 6 comments

I am curious to know what are PhD Historians doing now with their degree? Are you working in academia? Museum? Government? Non-profit? Do you regret your Humanities PhD in History? Does your current job have anything to do with History/Research? Have any of you gone into law or editorial work afterwards?
posted by RearWindow at 12:02 PM PST - 14 comments

We're leaving out jobs and the US and have questions about health insurance coverage - how to find the best option in our very unusual circumstance? [more inside]
posted by Exceptional_Hubris at 11:59 AM PST - 3 comments

I had two surgeries for the same issue - one in 2008, and one in 2016. I may need another. I now need to track down the medical records for both. But I cannot remember where I had the 2008 procedure done. [more inside]
posted by heigh-hothederryo at 11:57 AM PST - 8 comments

My dad has a big birthday coming up, and I want to make him a puzzle box like those subscription mystery/escape room things. But I've never actually subscribed to one. Have you? What puzzles were good? What should I know? [more inside]
posted by babelfish at 11:55 AM PST - 7 comments

IKYNMD - but am out of resources, emotionally and physically. I have no other alternative but to ask for some advice from the hive mind on what this looks like. After a few years feeling really bad on every level with random and seemingly unconnected symptoms, this week I once again landed in the ER with a severe bout of abdominal pain, nausea and radiating pain towards my left breast, near the rib. [more inside]
posted by watercarrier at 10:57 AM PST - 16 comments

I have a TON of dried beans (mostly white/navy beans, but some others too). We stocked up last fall so we could go to the store less often, and I cook a lot with beans in the winter -- soups, stews, etc. And then I was very ill and my husband took over cooking for basically the whole winter, and he does not even know how to soak beans. I'd like to make some summer bean dishes! But I don't know any. HOPE ME. [more inside]
posted by Eyebrows McGee at 9:09 AM PST - 41 comments

How do you sort out your thoughts/process your feelings/get feedback, without dumping too much on your support network? Waiting list for therapy is currently 3 months long, minimum. [more inside]
posted by unicorn chaser at 8:46 AM PST - 18 comments

I have some oldish cheap cookware (hand-me-downs handed down again once at least) and I've noticed recently that the circular etching on the bottom has been patchily smoothed out. I haven't noticed any differences in cooking or anything, but I'm sure the tread served a function. Is it time to get new pans, or can I get a few more years' use out of them? Thanks!
posted by snerson at 7:48 AM PST - 5 comments

How do you stop your cat from waking you at 3am? She is 15 years old and the 3am wake-up is a daily occurrence. She does not want to play, she just wants to be pet and cuddled. The vet says this behavior is attention seeking so we should play with her more—in fact, we do play and cuddle with her daily but too much never seems like enough. I do not want to lock her out of the bedroom because I worry that she is too old for such a lonely change. Have you ever dealt with this effectively?
posted by Jason and Laszlo at 6:33 AM PST - 24 comments

I've deferred moving my 16-year Lightroom catalogue to Lightroom CC, but my Lightroom 6 isn't working right after updating to Big Sur. Do you have any tips for making this transition? [more inside]
posted by Admiral Haddock at 5:35 AM PST - 3 comments

I have an Ikea Hesseng pocket sprung mattress (802.587.36). How do I remove the fabric cover to clean it? If the cover doesn't come off, how can I clean it? [more inside]
posted by richb at 4:55 AM PST - 3 comments

I sleep sitting up in bed leaning against a wedge pillow with a travel pillow for my neck but the current one isn't working so well anymore - any suggestions? [more inside]
posted by Flitcraft at 4:32 AM PST - 5 comments

Looking for advice on how to deal with a potentially violent stalker in the state of Georgia, in the USA. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 4:12 AM PST - 6 comments