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I'm hosting a small Thanksgiving next week and because everything is a goddamned nightmare all the time, this is legit the first moment I'm thinking about it. So if you had exactly one week to prepare for one overnight (two nights) guest and a small dinner gathering, where would you start and what would you do? I feel a bit stuck and am thinking a little checklist might help me get moving! [more inside]
posted by We put our faith in Blast Hardcheese to Grab Bag at 1:57 PM - 0 answers

We put up a small greenhouse in our backyard as a COVID project but didn't end up getting serious about it till this year. This year we're making a real effort to overwinter some plants and he's really gotten into it with a heating system and remote monitoring. I'd like to make a sign for the greenhouse as a Christmas present for my spouse, who's doing most of the work, but I need a name for it! Amusing is a must. Puns are welcome.
posted by The Elusive Architeuthis to Home & Garden at 12:58 PM - 5 answers

I am trying to answer some tough questions for the young people in my life, and myself, and guide them to where the information can be found. [more inside]
posted by racersix6 to Law & Government at 12:27 PM - 13 answers

#giftideasfilter - What are some things that represent the best quality of their category, but in a small enough quantity that the price still comes in under $50(-ish)? [more inside]
posted by serelliya to Shopping at 11:53 AM - 10 answers

Does anyone know of a good NYC chiropractor (or other specialist) who could be effective in treating a pinched nerve. [more inside]
posted by Liquidwolf to Health & Fitness at 9:44 AM - 4 answers

This seems silly, because doesn't one just....make a leafy green salad? But I'm making one for a crowd and my salad preferences are not universal. [more inside]
posted by Frowner to Food & Drink at 8:47 AM - 29 answers

Found in the depths of my closet is this Strand bookstore shoulder bag purchased 14 years ago. I want to make it my main bag for everyday, but I need a lil help making it less uncomfortable to use. [more inside]
posted by Kitteh to Clothing, Beauty, & Fashion at 8:17 AM - 9 answers

I’ve recently been told by different people that for careers as diverse and seemingly not… self-promotey as ESL teacher and dietitian, in order to be competitive and succeed you need an “online presence” and a “personal brand “. Please tell me this isn’t true. [more inside]
posted by wheatlets to Work & Money at 8:03 AM - 15 answers

I have recently lost a chunk of weight, and my engagement and wedding rings are now too large. I'm terrified of losing them (this question promoted by them falling off as I was folding laundry!) but I also really want to be able to continue wearing them daily, preferably still as rings. How do I that, without getting them resized? [more inside]
posted by In Your Shell Like to Clothing, Beauty, & Fashion at 7:31 AM - 10 answers

Every time I see a character using the scary shiny glasses trope, I spend a while wracking my brain for where I first saw it. When I was a kid (so probably between ~1997-2005 somewhere), I remember reading a 1-2 page comic in the back of some sort of magazine - either something we subscribed to, or something that was omnipresent in dentist waiting rooms and that sort of thing. Hoping someone can help me remember what it was! [more inside]
posted by sagc to Media & Arts at 6:53 AM - 3 answers

What are good businesses to support, for reasons beyond their products or services, such as for good practices in: [more inside]
posted by NotLost to Shopping at 6:10 AM - 18 answers

Hello, looking for Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee, whole beans, FAIR TRADE or similar ethical certification. Not a subscription. Where do you recommend probably online in the UK please?
posted by runincircles to Food & Drink at 2:13 AM - 3 answers

I've come into possession of quite a lot of tinned, smoked, skinless, boneless trout fillets. Now what do I do with them? [more inside]
posted by Dr. Wu to Food & Drink at 9:49 PM - 19 answers

So I was reading a book about Marines in Vietnam, and how on some missions dogs were sent out with the Marines to warn of other people, even approximately how many other people. Silence was imperative. Well, these were German Shepards, a pretty basic breed, smart as hell yes but common. Maybe my question is not if dogs can be trained for silence but how.
posted by dancestoblue to Pets & Animals at 8:08 PM - 12 answers

I'm trying to identify the name of an American mail order catalog from the 1990s that sold primarily tchotchkes, personalized clothing, and as-seen-on-TV items. [more inside]
posted by fizzix to Shopping at 6:55 PM - 11 answers

I remember reading a story in an anthology for children (maybe middle schoolers?) and it has bugged me for decades. No, it's not about the one day a year the sun comes out. It's something about how all students have to be equal, and that means smarter students have to wear headphones playing loud noises; there are similar impediments for children with good eyesight, I think, and other abilities. [more inside]
posted by The corpse in the library to Education at 6:17 PM - 9 answers

Need a recommendation for a practical book on how to divorce one's life from the internet and be more "of the world". [more inside]
posted by RoseyPosey to Computers & Internet at 5:03 PM - 9 answers

Have you personally found wheelchair gloves that aren't a sensory nightmare? Looking for recommendations. [more inside]
posted by moira to Health & Fitness at 2:39 PM - 4 answers

Can you help me build a weekly shopping list of food that tastes good but is also good for me, i.e. not too high in carbs or sodium? I'm not looking for recipes, but for ingredients that I can combine OR that taste good on their own. [more inside]
posted by unicorn chaser to Food & Drink at 11:24 AM - 22 answers

Trying to remember a book where cats teach a girl to walk through walls-- it is NOT "The Cat Who Walked Through Walls" but of course that's all that comes up when I query about books with cats walking through walls. Help? [more inside]
posted by The otter lady to Writing & Language at 10:37 AM - 2 answers

It's time to move on from my current job, but I am 61, and after 30 years in IT support I need to find something else to do. Flat-out retirement has to wait a few more years. I don't really have good idea of what I might like to do, or what I might reasonably be qualified to do, or what employers will even consider from someone like me. My wife's job is the better-paid one with excellent benefits, and we aren't up to our ears in debt, so there's not too much pressure to find something to match my current salary. I just want to do something I might actually enjoy and won't invite a lot of stress and can make last for the next five years or so. Help me brainstorm this.
posted by briank to Work & Money at 8:37 AM - 14 answers

I feel like all of my past job searches have been dependent on necessity and almost always during an economic crisis or pending hiring downturn. How does one switch from looking haphazardly and taking the first job to having a career built on experience and expertise? [more inside]
posted by Skwirl to Work & Money at 8:33 AM - 4 answers

I have a 50ft run of THWN wiring that I want to check for continuity while it's still in an unpowered state; can I do this given the usual selection of batteries and a multimeter? [more inside]
posted by aramaic to Home & Garden at 8:31 AM - 9 answers

A few years ago, I asked for the best way to summarize everything that happened in baseball the last night and got a great answer. But for other sports I follow—primarily soccer and basketball—I want more video highlights so I can see cool plays breakout without watching 15 minute summaries of each game or seeking them out one-by-one. Is anyone still doing 20-30 minute highlight shows that cover the action of a whole league or sport? [more inside]
posted by thecaddy to Sports, Hobbies, & Recreation at 7:03 AM - 3 answers

My father and his large cat have recently moved in with me my wife and our 12 pound dog. Luckily his cat and our dog get along but we haven't figured out a solution to allow the cat to have free range of the house while not allowing my dog into my dad's bedroom where the cat's food and litter are. The cat is a grazer and the dog will vacuum up the food at any chance. Anybody have any tried and true suggestions? [more inside]
posted by lips to Pets & Animals at 6:52 AM - 25 answers

I'm new to taking an SNRI and I'm feeling great, but I also feel like I need to get over the final "hump" of taking better care of myself. Do I need to consider increasing my dosage or am I actually just a bit lazy? [more inside]
posted by anonymous to Health & Fitness at 4:12 AM - 18 answers

I'm looking for a nonfiction biography or history book that covers the life of Gracia Mendes Nasi, also known as Beatriz or Beatrice de Luna Miques, a Portuguese Jewish philanthropist and businesswoman in the sixteenth century. [more inside]
posted by gentlyepigrams to Society & Culture at 10:44 PM - 2 answers

Looking for cookbooks/recipies that Michael Pollan would approve of for someone who absolutely hates cooking and has no time. [more inside]
posted by LongDrive to Food & Drink at 10:19 PM - 28 answers

Husband loves history and geography. Also loves gadgets that make life better. [more inside]
posted by St. Peepsburg to Shopping at 9:44 PM - 13 answers

How do I keep my room cool overnight when it is cold out? I need my room 64-66 degrees Fahrenheit to sleep. I use a in/out air exchanging window fan to cool my bedroom before going to bed, but I can’t keep it in overnight because the streetlights shine in too much. We have central heat on to 65 (thermostat downstairs), but I have the vent closed with a towel in it. [more inside]
posted by catquas to Home & Garden at 6:22 PM - 17 answers

If I buy an unlocked Samsung Galaxy S24 in Canada as a gift for someone in eastern Europe, will they have difficulty with SIM cards and/or carriers there? I have read that this is sometimes an issue with Samsung Galaxy, as there is some kind of regionality to them - though this may apply to older models only. [more inside]
posted by walkinginsunshine to Technology at 5:11 PM - 4 answers

E.g. “clown”, “chump”. TIA
posted by cotton dress sock to Writing & Language at 5:05 PM - 48 answers

I remember this old paperback c. 1990 in my old used bookstore where Greek or Roman voyagers end up in America and meet the Mayans. It was some type of old DAW paperback from the 1970s, or something like that. Does this ring any bells? [more inside]
posted by suburbanbeatnik to Writing & Language at 5:03 PM - 3 answers

I have to pack / discard stuff ready for the movers in 3 weeks. I don't know where to start and what to pack first, what to leave till last. Does anyone have a home-packing strategy for moves? I'm after a 'do this first, then this, then that, then 4 days out do this' kind of plan. I have the movers, cleaners and rental agent all organized. I'm the weakest link. Can you help me get my head around it? [more inside]
posted by Thella to Home & Garden at 4:48 PM - 7 answers

My house came with a well water pump connected to outside spigot. It worked well for a few years, but now does not turn on after I use the water. However, after I use the water that does come out of the hose until it is gone and then wait about 30 minutes, the pump then kicks on until it stops by itself (when it is full?). What could be causing this? (Online research says possibly a bad switch?)
posted by roaring beast to Home & Garden at 1:54 PM - 7 answers

My parent's are aging in place in their home. We turned a back room into their bedroom so that they can live on one floor. There is a door in the bedroom that opens onto a backyard deck. Looking for ideas on having a ramp built [more inside]
posted by Sophont to Home & Garden at 12:48 PM - 14 answers

I have a patch of wall in my condo where I'd like to have some closed storage, about the size of a medicine cabinet. However, this spot also contains a pocket door, so I can't put anything in the wall that sticks too far into the drywall - small, short plastic drywall anchors are fine, but anything longer/sturdier will block the door from sliding into the cavity in the wall. Of course there is no stud in the vicinity either. What kind of lightweight storage can I put in that can hold some small items, and has a closed front? [more inside]
posted by btfreek to Home & Garden at 12:38 PM - 3 answers

I would like recommendations for your favourite film comedies! [more inside]
posted by Ashwagandha to Media & Arts at 12:30 PM - 65 answers

my best friend sent everyone an unexpected bill after her husband's birthday party she planned. Everyone hates it. [more inside]
posted by euphoria066 to Human Relations at 12:28 PM - 35 answers

I am aware of the idea of "experience" gifts but I also need to give multiple children in the 7 to 9 age range physical gifts. [more inside]
posted by vunder to Shopping at 11:54 AM - 15 answers

Know of anyone (company, individual) who assembles and installs IKEA cabinetry/countertops in Seattle (other than thru IKEA)? Leads appreciated, thanks!
posted by tristeza to Home & Garden at 11:37 AM - 4 answers

Several years ago, on a long-borked laptop, I downloaded a wonderful Edwardian ghost story collection by a woman writer...who was she? What was this collection? Also seeking obscure ghost story collection recommendations, with caveats. [more inside]
posted by Frowner to Media & Arts at 11:35 AM - 10 answers

i realized that i have big gaps in my political education/understanding of systems or histories or revolutionary/radical ideology. i prefer narrative to theory. what should i read/listen to/watch to get a better sense of political systems now and through history? [more inside]
posted by lightgray to Education at 11:19 AM - 9 answers

I toured an old mine recently and now I want to learn more about how they operate. [more inside]
posted by aeighty to Science & Nature at 9:48 AM - 11 answers

So when I react with a gif to a text, the recipient is getting something like "Reaccionó con [emoji] a [text message]" I cannot for the life of me figure out why. [more inside]
posted by rhymedirective to Technology at 9:09 AM - 7 answers

I want to cancel my Onward Together donation, but when I click on the "Manage Donation" link at the bottom of the page, I get this error message: Sorry, the page you are trying to access is not accepting submissions at this time. Powered by EveryAction [more inside]
posted by agatha_magatha to Computers & Internet at 8:52 AM - 4 answers

Pretty much what it says on the tin; details below. [more inside]
posted by kyraU2 to Health & Fitness at 8:49 AM - 2 answers

Asking for a friend: "My partner grew up with a "country place" in his family -- a cabin with some land in the mountains that their family would go to relax. We were looking for a place like this and instead found a very unique property. We're wondering if it's a good idea to buy it." [more inside]
posted by 3491again to Home & Garden at 8:25 AM - 26 answers

I just received an offer for a federal government job. When I applied for the position months ago it seemed like an ideal job for me and I was very excited about the opportunity but now I'm scared and concerned about working for the federal government during what feels like apocalyptic times. If you had a federal job during the first TFG administration, what was it like and how did you survive? [more inside]
posted by anonymous to Work & Money at 6:30 AM - 24 answers

I live in the US, a family member put $ in my name in their country many years ago and I have not been reporting it on taxes and I'm terrified. Looking for advice about next steps to stop avoiding this. [more inside]
posted by anonymous to Work & Money at 12:03 AM - 18 answers

A few years ago I asked Mefites if I should join Twitter and was talked out of joining (many thanks for keeping me out of that cesspit, Y'all). Now I am wondering if joining Bluesky would be worthwhile? [more inside]
posted by a humble nudibranch to Computers & Internet at 11:01 PM - 23 answers

My niece, 12, loved Warrior Cats but is maybe a bit past them now. Are there other big fantasy series that she might like? [more inside]
posted by jacquilynne to Writing & Language at 6:42 PM - 18 answers

Our group uses google calendar with jotform to submit a new event. Is it possible to cancel an event? [more inside]
posted by falsedmitri to Technology at 5:42 PM - 1 answer

What are your favorite fun bra brands? [more inside]
posted by Bunglegirl to Clothing, Beauty, & Fashion at 2:11 PM - 12 answers

A ground fire burnt through a forest floor of dead leaves near us. [more inside]
posted by ebesan to Science & Nature at 12:12 PM - 8 answers

I guess this is true? I want to record myself playing music in iMovie (iOS), export just audio to GarageBand (iOS) to add virtual instruments, then put back into iMovie, but--- no way --- RIGHT? Have to record video/audio in iMovie AND record just audio with another device to get an audio track into GB? ugh
posted by DMelanogaster to Media & Arts at 11:37 AM - 5 answers

Will my husband be able to use his round trip ticket in early January? [more inside]
posted by ragtimepiano to Travel & Transportation at 11:12 AM - 1 answer

For financial reasons I'm considering changing our (two adults) March vacation destination from southern beaches to somewhere more local (Eastern Canada). But I don't want it to feel like a downgrade. Help me come up with ideas? [more inside]
posted by platypus of the universe to Travel & Transportation at 10:58 AM - 2 answers

My impression is that people read or at least open their emails, but don't reply anymore. How to increase reply rates? [more inside]
posted by maloqueiro to Human Relations at 10:41 AM - 34 answers

My eleven year old loved "Because of Winn-Dixie" by Kate DiCamillo. Can you recommend sensitive, smart books about girls and their special animals? (NOT horses, please). That treat their readers seriously and don't talk down to them? Thanks!
posted by Omnomnom to Media & Arts at 10:27 AM - 2 answers