Most Favorited Questions in the Past 24 Hours (7 days, 30 days, 12 months, all time)
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Who was the physically strongest POTUS?
Who was the physically strongest President of the United States of America, and would he be stronger than Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson? [more inside]
Backing up Macs to a Sinology NAS
I'm looking for simple reliable software that will backup several Macs to a Synology NAS in my home. Does such a thing exist? [more inside]
Baseball books
My parents always bought each other books for Christmas/birthdays, and after several years of mom buying dad a book about baseball (could be about its history, a collection of newspaper columns, etc) it turned into a running joke where dad would open each present asking “Is this my baseball book?” Mom died a few years ago so I’m reviving the tradition. What are some of the best books that have been written about baseball in the last five years?
Affordable, portable, high quality, self-adjusting projectors are real??
That's an open question! I met with a fancy client company this week, and the meeting involved use of an LG Cinebeam projector. It amazed me—I didn't realize the technology had come this far—and I'm curious if there's something more affordable that comes close on some of this model's features. [more inside]
How do I scale up this oven baked brisket recipe?
Ok, so this crazy simple brisket recipe is both the easiest and tastiest I've ever made. But now I need to do it for an 8lb brisket instead of 3lb and I'm not sure what the proper timing should be. [more inside]
How to *think*
If I really want to think about stuff, my modus is, I go to a bar that is 5 minutes away, there usually is a seat at the counter, I sit there, stare at the bottles, drink a beer or three and ponder whatever is troubling me at the moment. There is music, it's lively, and I just let my mind do its thing. I can not do this at home, if I just sit down on the kitchen table, or on the couch I just can't get in the mindset and I feel kind of stupid, you know, just sitting there and staring in the void. I can do it when I am lying down before sleep, but if it's 20:00 this also feels strange. Listening to music does not make it better. I think it is the stimulus rich environment that is conductive to the process. I can think of other venues to do this but they are not dependably available, or near, when the need arises (usually after kid and wife are in bed or otherwise occupied). I guess most people do some mindless task or art or something, but I find I get easily absorbed in such activities . I don't know if walking around would work. So where and how do you *think*?
A week in Yorkshire for walking...which town?
Hello, Yorkshire people! Can anyone recommend a small market town for me (68F New Englander) as a base for walking the heathery moors in late July? [more inside]
Neti Alternative?
Seeking some sort of alternative to a neti pot. Is there such a thing?
Details inside... [more inside]
Montreal for a long weekend
We (2 NYers in late 30s) are planning on driving up to Montreal for a long weekend the second weekend in May. What should we do/see/eat and more specific questions [more inside]
Weird dynamic I always find myself in. How to stop?
I’m working as part of a group, or have been asked to help a group of people with something. Everyone else seems to know what to do and springs into action. I’m not sure, so I ask someone how I can help, and people seem annoyed that I’m asking and tell me that my help isn’t needed. Then, the authority figure who assigned the work stops by and gets mad at me for slacking. [more inside]
New music for Olds - technology question
Okay, explain this to me in tiny baby steps, like really "first plug in the cord"-level steps. I...need headphones for when I am doing chores. [more inside]
How to pay in advance for a decade or more of webhosting?
So I have a budget for a project that will include a fairly uncomplicated website. The trick is that the state government appropriation for the project only runs another year, and I would like the website to be available for much longer. My idea is to use the project funds I have now to pay for at least a decade of hosting, maybe more. Where can I do that?
NYC folks: quiet cafe in mid-Village?
Nice, relaxed place to have tea and conversation (that is, not noisy) in the Village (Greenwich V., NYC)? Preferred around University Place --- Sixth Avenue, above Washington Square. Tables outside preferred (even more preferred would be heat lamps).
Women literary/intellectual figures
I was just reading an article about Susan Sontag, and was somewhat surprised to realize I've never read any of her writing. I also just recently read Joan Didion for the first time. What other significant women literary figures or public intellectuals have I missed out on? From any era. I'm not asking about women writers generally, but the kind of writers who create "culture" (in the old fashioned use of the term), about whom magazine profiles are written, and who are asked to comment on the zeitgeist. Anne Fadiman is probably another example.
What makes the US legal system so vulnerable to people like Donald Trump
As a non-American, I have a hard time understanding how Trump and his lawyers, usually presented as incompetent idiots, are able to run circles around the US legal sytem. This is not question about Trump, but about the functioning of American justice. [more inside]
Good Books
I find it easy to find mysteries (though I do ask a lot of questions about them here heh), romances, fantasy/sf books in lists on the internet. I find it harder to find books that are really good stories but NOT genre. I'm interested in Good Books from any era as long as the older ones hold up relatively well re: racism, sexism etc. What other books would you recommend? [more inside]
I regret not seeing the total eclipse, how do I get over it?
I live within 200 miles of the path of totality, but for various logistical reasons I won't be able to travel. My home is in the 94% band, but I know there is a big difference between 94% and 100%. I will probably never have another chance to see a total eclipse, and I'm feeling very sad that I'm missing this opportunity. How can I experience this without regret?
The slow fade didn’t work.
How do I politely say, “now that I have a kid, my friendship with you is not a priority?” [more inside]
Questions for the writers...
This is mainly for creative, non-professional, non-deadline writers, maybe? You decide!
1) What external triggers do you use, when you sit down to write, that help to signal to your brain 'you are in writer mode now.'
2) How do you balance/schedule/manage projects in different genres & tone? [more inside]
Please help me write a cover letter
I'm applying for a job with an environmentally friendly cleaning company. They say that no experience is required, but I do have a small amount of cleaning experience from other jobs that weren't primarily about cleaning. Here's what's tripping me up: they want my cover letter to describe a recent challenge or obstacle I've faced, and I can't think of any that make me look good in a workplace setting. [more inside]