Ask MetaFilter

This is a question I’ve long wondered but haven’t found a good answer to. If the US govt spends approximately $2t more than it takes in, and the total US GDP is about $25t, then I think you can say that +/-7% of GDP is just debt creation? [more inside]
posted by karst at 9:01 AM - 9 answers

For a teaching job application, is it normal for a potential employer to request to do a lesson obervation for your potential job AT the job you are leaving? How would you respond? [more inside]
posted by transient at 6:44 AM - 18 answers

99% of books I look at on management seem like garbage. I am looking for resources (books, articles, etc.) specifically on how to identify talent within an organization and promote those people or find better roles for them. [more inside]
posted by skycrashesdown at 9:38 AM - 8 answers

I live in Canada I am a Canadian citizen. I have lived in the US and have a US SSN. I am looking to move into freelance/consulting/contract work. While I am happy to work for contracting organizations located anywhere, I know there is a lot more work available in the U.S.. I am planning to incorporate. Should I incorporate in the U.S.? Instead of in Canada or also in Canada? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 2:22 AM - 4 answers

At a crossroads with my career. Opportunity to move in-house, but in the cryptocurrency industry. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 10:32 PM - 23 answers

I transferred a fairly expensive ticket to a friend-of-a-friend and am not sure how/if/when to ask them for the cost of it without being a jerk. Advice? [more inside]
posted by We put our faith in Blast Hardcheese at 8:23 AM - 30 answers

My husband and I had a chapter 7 bankruptcy in 2020 (discharged over three, but less than four years ago). We own our home outright, and I'd like to get a home equity loan or line of credit. I know banks differ on their exact policies about this kind of thing, but I'm wondering if anyone is aware of lending institutions with shorter timelines or more lenient policies...the bankruptcy was a direct result of Covid lockdown closing our business, so if there's any exception for extenuating circumstances, I think we would have a good chance.
posted by lgyre at 11:44 AM - 5 answers

As a non-accounting person, I'm vaguely aware that accounting can be complicated. Since starting in my ED role about two months ago, though, I'm not sure that our operation is complicated enough to warrant what we spend for a large external accounting firm. This is not related to auditing, which is done separately. Many more details about our specific circumstances inside. [more inside]
posted by Shepherd at 1:30 PM - 5 answers

Today, quite out of the blue, my grandboss strongly implied that he didn't like my personality. I have to work in close proximity with this dude on the regular. How to proceed? [more inside]
posted by RoseyPosey at 1:23 PM - 19 answers

Continuing the job hunt and received a job interview invite for a job I'd be excited about, but I realized how bad of a commute it would be. Should I go through with the interview or give it up? What would make a long commute worth it to you? [more inside]
posted by socky bottoms at 11:59 AM - 33 answers

My S/O is facing an inflection point in her career and considering her options. I'd like to find some well-regarded outside advice that might resonate with her. [more inside]
posted by Inspector.Gadget at 7:56 AM - 2 answers

I'm a university professor, currently at a very mediocre school that doesn't even feature into the top 300 world rankings. I had an interview last week for a top school (think Harvard) in one of the world's only dedicated research centres in my field. I didn't get it, I think I self-sabotaged and now I feel that I might never get over it. [more inside]
posted by surely sorley at 11:52 PM - 25 answers

Previously I have a pretty nice co worker, and today I began telling her about that person in link. [more inside]
posted by Rumi'sLeftSock at 8:30 PM - 20 answers

I will be laid off from my job in 90 days. This job has been utterly exhausting and demoralizing and I am thrilled that the end is near. I would like to use the next 90 days to start the burnout healing process and maximize getting all my affairs in order before hitting the job market again. What tips do y'all have? [more inside]
posted by forkisbetter at 11:44 AM - 11 answers

I work for a company that designs household electronics. Recently, management added a large photo mural to the wall of the corridor that I work on, with 20 head shots of female models using some of the hair products which are one of the wide range of products that the company makes. It's the sort of thing that would be in magazines: there's not a freckle, wrinkle, stray hair or blemish in sight. Everyone has perfect, smooth skin and is thin and young and beautiful. Looking at this mural every day upsets me. [more inside]
posted by iplaytheviol at 2:04 PM - 16 answers

So Institution X screwed-up and some of my personal info got loose, including my full name, SSN, and possibly my driver's license number. To compensate, Institution X is offering free "Experian IdentityWorks Credit 3B" for 24 months ... [more inside]
posted by ZenMasterThis at 8:16 AM - 7 answers

I've just gotten an email from my home insurance provider telling me I'm going to have to do a self assessment and I don't know what to expect. More than a little bit nervous. [more inside]
posted by ivanthenotsoterrible at 11:34 AM - 3 answers

A lot of productivity advice recommends figuring out what the most impactful tasks you have are, and focusing more of your energy on these. This is good advice, but how do I know what those tasks are? (Aside from asking my boss.) I do a variety of things: is it most important that I do them quickly, or that I do them well, or that I am pleasant to the people requesting them? How do I determine what my focus should be? Please recommend an exercise to help me figure out what the values are in my workplace so that I can strive for excellence. I really want to do well in this job.
posted by epanalepsis at 7:25 AM - 18 answers

YANML but I find this area of law to be a confusing maze. And my pregnancy brain has lost some of its processing power. What laws do I need to be aware of that offer me some protection in the workplace while I’m pregnant in NYC? [more inside]
posted by Riverside at 1:15 PM - 4 answers

For anyone with financial modeling experience I'm wondering how you handle a situation where you need to combine a range of possible cost values into a single number for further analysis. See inside for more details. [more inside]
posted by 12%juicepulp at 10:11 AM - 7 answers