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What was that creepy indie Windows game from several years back that started out as a sort of generic Super Mario style side-scroller but got weirder and more unhinged the further you got? [more inside]
posted by glonous keming to Computers & Internet at 8:22 PM - 4 answers

Am I crazy? Weird UPS snafu edition. [more inside]
posted by nayantara to Shopping at 7:33 PM - 4 answers

Say you wanted to successfully age a mass-produced cheese in the back of a refrigerator. For like a decade or two. What would you look for in a cheese? How would you do it? [more inside]
posted by aniola to Grab Bag at 6:55 PM - 4 answers

Here is a picture of me with my mother in 1964. Here is a close-up of the book behind my head. I want to know what I was reading when I was six months old. What is this book? Thanks!<
posted by Joan Rivers of Babylon to Media & Arts at 6:27 PM - 3 answers

I'm in New York this week, willing to travel ~20 mins from Chelsea on foot, and will probably hit the Union Square holiday market Thurs. My work holiday party is on Friday back in Denver. I would like to bring back the most coveted white elephant gift, in terms of uniqueness and/or deliciousness. $10 limit w/o tax. Perishable items okay if they can survive travel and still be tasty 30-some hours later. Hit me with your ideas.
posted by deludingmyself to Shopping at 5:31 PM - 8 answers

I don't understand what leftovers should go in the fridge, and what can be left on the counter. North America, heated house, no dogs, no particular health concerns. Please advise. [more inside]
posted by The corpse in the library to Food & Drink at 4:49 PM - 16 answers

How dangerous is it to receive a COVID booster only a few weeks after a previous dose of the same kind? [more inside]
posted by rouftop to Health & Fitness at 4:25 PM - 5 answers

I am looking for a keypad door lock that can be installed on a space that multiple people need access to. The people will change somewhat over time. I know nothing about keyless entry and I'm overwhelmed by the options. Help point me in the right direction. [more inside]
posted by geegollygosh to Home & Garden at 4:23 PM - 6 answers

A lovely person who was installing my new water heater caught my fiber optic cable with his truck and now I have no internet all week. What do I demand and from whom? [more inside]
posted by centrifugal to Grab Bag at 3:39 PM - 5 answers

Please help me, an atheist who was literally never indoctrinated to any religion, compile a holiday playlist for the time that my Catholic in laws will be in my home. [more inside]
posted by bilabial to Media & Arts at 3:34 PM - 22 answers

My home is exhibiting signs of a plugged vent. I really don't want to go up onto our steep roof in the winter to mess with it. Can I do this from below? [more inside]
posted by Acari to Home & Garden at 3:29 PM - 2 answers

I am looking for books about dealing with the effects of childhood neglect in adulthood. [more inside]
posted by brook horse to Media & Arts at 2:53 PM - 4 answers

I am getting married soon (5 months from today, eeek!) and my reception venue has a LOT of extra interior space. What are some neat, fun, or creative things we can do to use it? Things like a bridal lounge, groom lounge, kids room, and dance floor are already covered. The space is wide open and has hardwood floors, windows, all brick walls, and is well-lit. [more inside]
posted by Sparky Buttons to Grab Bag at 2:00 PM - 9 answers

I turn 40 in eighteen months. What are some things I should do between now and then? [more inside]
posted by backseatpilot to Grab Bag at 1:40 PM - 19 answers

I saw this image on Instagram earlier today (direct link if insta is being screwy) and now I'm curious what WOULD actually happen? [more inside]
posted by phunniemee to Science & Nature at 1:38 PM - 4 answers

I'm currently under Kaiser (HMO). My employer is offering quite a swath of health insurance plans, with a mix of HMO's and PPO's. I'm very overwhelmed. I've never used a PPO before, but might want to for 2023, as I might want to do an advanced operation that I'd feel more comfortable with, using a PPO with. Kaiser wouldn't cover it as they're a HMO and it's out of network. [more inside]
posted by dubious_dude to Health & Fitness at 1:36 PM - 6 answers

Could someone tell me what the likelihood of fatality (or, conversely, survival) from a double bypass operation in the United States would be in 1987? Generically would be fine, although specifics: patient would have been a 50-year-old white male in suburban Illinois, chest was 'cracked'. Please note that the operation has greatly increased in safety as time's gone on, so I am looking specifically for this time period, either 1987 or at least late '80s.
posted by MollyRealized to Health & Fitness at 12:12 PM - 5 answers

I'm writing an essay to submit to https://aftertheart.com. I'm writing about a Mvnch painting, paired with my own recent diagnosis of keratoconus, a cornea disease. However, the editors also want "a text" (can be any kind). I haven't found one that works. [more inside]
posted by mermaidcafe to Media & Arts at 10:52 AM - 7 answers

I am a relatively new supervisor in my organization, and someone on my team has had a very difficult year outside of work, with 2023 looking equally hard. I'm struggling with whether to say anything about this in a holiday card to them. [more inside]
posted by gauche to Work & Money at 10:39 AM - 13 answers

Is pet insurance worth it? I adopted Dice this weekend. The vet says she thinks he's 1-2. We had a $670 pet visit (some of it was flea/tick meds and some dental chews) but we did a urinalysis for like $400. I don't really expect to have many more medical issues with him, but if he has urinary issues, maybe I will. If you have pet insurance you like, what is it?
posted by bookworm4125 to Pets & Animals at 9:59 AM - 12 answers

Can you point me to religious podcasts or reading material that focus on virtues, doing good deeds, and living a good or moral life? [more inside]
posted by loveandhappiness to Religion & Philosophy at 9:51 AM - 14 answers

I have three books with seasonal titles sitting in a pile: Autumn Light by Pico Iyer, Wintering by Katherine May, and Summer on the Lakes by Margaret Fuller. I'm looking for a non-fiction book with the word "Spring" in the title that is similarly slow and contemplative. [more inside]
posted by laze to Media & Arts at 8:19 AM - 5 answers

My very bright daughter is struggling with the transition from kindergarten to first grade. I think? We struggle to have her do homework, she doesn't seem to retain what she has studied, and I sense that her reading and math acquisition is slower than it should be. I don't have many data points so I'm hoping for some perspective. [more inside]
posted by ohio to Education at 7:54 AM - 37 answers

I work for a government organization. Windows 10. Our IT people seem to think constantly adding icons to the desktop is helpful. I hate it. I am seeking some method of hiding SOME (but not ALL) desktop icons. Help? [more inside]
posted by caution live frogs to Computers & Internet at 6:51 AM - 5 answers

So I want to make a fantasy rail system for Iceland. I'm not an engineer. A very rough estimate of feasibility. And not just lines over a map, but rough calculations of feasibility. Like, where you'd need a tunnel, how much you need to build under the tracks to have an acceptable low inclination. That sort of thing. [more inside]
posted by svenni to Technology at 6:22 AM - 6 answers

I ordered a mechanical keyboard from a US distributor at the beginning of November. It arrived at UK customs on November 17. As far as I can tell, it's been sitting there ever since. Is there anything I can do to find out if there's a step I'm supposed to take to release it? Or do I just wait? [more inside]
posted by late afternoon dreaming hotel to Shopping at 6:00 AM - 6 answers

My friends and I (eight women between ages 30-50) are planning a couple of weeks in Europe - we definitely want to see Paris and do a bit of Switzerland, but we're a bit fuzzy on the details/how to structure the trip. We might like to add in Amsterdam as well. Half of us like museums and pottering around the streets, while the other half is snazzier (and may want to shop?). What is a nice probable itinerary that has the hits as well a few offbeat things we can include? Bonus question below the fold. [more inside]
posted by Nieshka to Travel & Transportation at 3:48 AM - 31 answers

I would love to find a fabulous and original gift for a special little boy. I would like to spend $50.00. I am not sure what he already has so I don’t want the most popular toy of 2022(which he may already have). It should be safe, something he absolutely loves, and something that can be returned. Help me be original! If you are a parent, what is your little boy’s favorite posession from this age (the one thing that makes his eyes light up). Thanks in advance!
posted by Lylo to Shopping at 9:38 PM - 33 answers

I have been trying to identify a perfume I own whose label has rubbed off. Is there somewhere/someone I can send the nearly-empty bottle, who has a more knowledgeable nose than I do? [more inside]
posted by wintersonata9 to Clothing, Beauty, & Fashion at 7:37 PM - 10 answers

I just bought a house and my mortgage rate is 7.25%. Until I can refinance, should I aggressively overpay my mortgage, or put that money towards house maintenance, repairs, and eventual renovations? [more inside]
posted by leftover_scrabble_rack to Work & Money at 7:31 PM - 21 answers

The federal requirement seems to be that we're all entitled to 8 Covid test kits a month, covered by insurance. I tried to obtain some today when I got a booster, but the pharmacist said she couldn't get it to go through my insurance. I know there's a reasonable chance this is specific to my insurance, but does anyone have guidance or suggestions?
posted by lapis to Health & Fitness at 7:26 PM - 16 answers

I did a terrible job explaining myself in the last question. Revamping. I have these images. I would like to make Christmas cards from them, but I can't find any digital backdrops that work with the photography angles etc. So I'm looking for design ideas about how to make these either without a backdrop or with some kind of alternative backdrop, or what do you suggest? [more inside]
posted by If only I had a penguin... to Media & Arts at 7:08 PM - 6 answers

What is going on when white supremacists ally with individuals who are members of minorities whom they would normally hate, and vice versa? [more inside]
posted by Leontine to Society & Culture at 6:33 PM - 21 answers

Are there reputable sources like betterhelp.com for an experienced provider to extend online care to people seeking bereavement counseling or spiritual direction—without the credentials that site requires? [more inside]
posted by AnOrigamiLife to Work & Money at 6:13 PM - 2 answers

There are two types of holiday songs I like; traditional religious/winter carols as outlined in capricorn’s recent ask, and songs that are extended immature sex jokes. Please help me find more songs in the latter category to make my Christmas playlist of extremely jarring tonal shifts complete. [more inside]
posted by ActionPopulated to Media & Arts at 5:44 PM - 29 answers

We're thinking about spending a month in Europe with our toddler in the spring (he'll be 2.5). Looking for location suggestions for a small city to make our home base, probably in France or Italy. [more inside]
posted by imalaowai to Travel & Transportation at 5:16 PM - 8 answers

Somebody was giving away some boba pearls recently, and we decided to try making our own boba. Our favorite boba flavors are peach and passion fruit. What should we use to make boba using those flavors? [more inside]
posted by unus sum to Food & Drink at 5:12 PM - 2 answers

When testing an audio system what music tracks, audio files or albums would you use to test the system? [more inside]
posted by jadepearl to Shopping at 5:02 PM - 20 answers

I would like to have my own website where I can post short links to interesting articles I’ve read online, interesting podcast episodes, and so on. I should be able to add new links very quickly from the iOS share menu on iPad or iPhone, and they should be taggable (or somehow organisable) by topic (e.g. ‘movie’, ‘society’, ‘internet culture’, ‘cooking’). I’m not happy with any options I’ve found so far and wonder what else is possible? [more inside]
posted by d288478 to Computers & Internet at 3:52 PM - 9 answers

I want to click a heart on any image displayed in my browser and save it online and locally [more inside]
posted by Sterros to Computers & Internet at 2:49 PM - 2 answers

I would like to see examples of Christmas cards (ideally) or other photography design things, in which images are "cropped" (is that even the word?) around the shape of the person. That is, there is no background. I took my son's xmas portraits and I got some nice ones, but now I can't find backdrops that fit the angle/size etc. etc. Considering my options. Alternatively, what do I google to find such designs?
posted by If only I had a penguin... to Media & Arts at 2:32 PM - 10 answers

Present for my partner. They can not see what the image is supposed to be. Their guess is WAY, WAY different than what I see. (They love the bag regardless.) So... what is it? Bonus points for anyone who has corroborating evidence. [more inside]
posted by a non mouse, a cow herd to Grab Bag at 2:10 PM - 46 answers

In (I think) April I posted a question about when I should quit my county job that I hate to be a therapist full-time. I didn't have the courage of my convictions just then but I'm taking the leap soon. I need some advice about getting health insurance through a system that isn't THAT complicated but is the kind of thing I find daunting. So, questions: [more inside]
posted by less-of-course to Work & Money at 1:37 PM - 4 answers

So I finally logged in to buy Elements 2022, which I saw just a few weeks ago for $99, and today it appears I have to buy Elements 2023 for $149. DAMMIT. [more inside]
posted by Glinn to Computers & Internet at 1:36 PM - 2 answers

I hate the new interface. It's harder to read, it takes more time to read, there is less actual content, the content isn't as varied (news, sports, entertainment, business, etc.). What's the best alternative that doesn't require me to log in or set up an account (which I also refuse to do with Google) and includes at least some Canadian news in the overall roundup? I don't want to limit myself to just one source (i.e. one news channel or one newspaper) as I like having a diversity of sources presented.
posted by sardonyx to Media & Arts at 12:51 PM - 4 answers

Am I struggling with cognitive speed and if yes, can I improve it? [more inside]
posted by any_name_in_a_storm to Sports, Hobbies, & Recreation at 12:10 PM - 13 answers

I want to construct a birthday adventure for a creative kid. [more inside]
posted by goodsearch to Sports, Hobbies, & Recreation at 11:31 AM - 9 answers

If you have been through the mediation process, how did you prepare? And in retrospect, what do you wish you'd known and/or pushed harder for? [more inside]
posted by anonymous to Human Relations at 11:10 AM - 11 answers

How do you change a default setting on a USB input device without controlling software? [more inside]
posted by wile e to Computers & Internet at 9:42 AM - 3 answers

Any suggestions for high-quality Stollen available to purchase online? (I'm located in U.S.) I can't tell from google searches what are decent options and what are mass-produced "factory" options. Don't have time/skills to make from scratch this year, unfortunately. TIA!
posted by carlypennylane to Food & Drink at 9:33 AM - 8 answers

I have a Samsung S22+. I can take a picture. I can make a video and while making a video take a still. I can also take the video and then in Google Photos export stills from the video. Are these equivalent resolution and quality or are they different? How do they compare? [more inside]
posted by If only I had a penguin... to Technology at 8:36 AM - 4 answers

If you consider the total US equity market capitalization, what fraction is in each of the 6 asset categories; large cap growth, large cap value, mid cap growth, mid cap value, small cap growth, small cap value?
posted by grahahw to Work & Money at 7:23 AM - 5 answers

There is a very good chance I will need to fly from Massachusetts to Florida in the next few days for a funeral. I haven't flown in almost ten years. What is the current thinking on the best way to get plane tickets on short notice, without breaking the bank? [more inside]
posted by cellar door to Travel & Transportation at 5:34 AM - 10 answers

To put some stuff into context. I've been working non stop for almost 5-6 years. I set out to accomplish a great deal of things back in 2018. I made plans to move to Canada, get my master's degree, learn French, machine learning and settle there permanently. [more inside]
posted by Tarsonis10 to Health & Fitness at 4:24 AM - 12 answers

Inspired by this question. Looking for books on sex, sexual relationships, consent, self-knowledge and consent for teenage girl. Doesn't have to be 100% about sex and sex alone. Looking for something direct and funny and not finger-waggly but that talks to the reader respectfully, intelligently, and in detail. [more inside]
posted by A Terrible Llama to Human Relations at 3:56 AM - 14 answers

A 2-year-old has asked for a ball to play with and I'd like to get them a couple as a gift this season. What types of ball would a 2 year old most appreciate? [more inside]
posted by arcolz to Sports, Hobbies, & Recreation at 9:08 PM - 10 answers

My beloved retro Vellux blanket has died. I can't replace it with another Vellux blanket because the ones they make these days are poor quality. What reasonably budget-friendly blanket might be a doable replacement? [more inside]
posted by SageTrail to Home & Garden at 8:52 PM - 5 answers

If I really like this song (Grace Kelly by Mika), what other songs am I likely to like?
posted by chariot pulled by cassowaries to Media & Arts at 8:38 PM - 10 answers

I am looking for free or low-cost media with which to practice my neophyte skill in Spanish. I have been doing a 15-minute DuoLingo lesson most days for about half a year. I am a native English speaker in Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA. [more inside]
posted by NotLost to Media & Arts at 8:33 PM - 12 answers

I recently discovered some covers by a band named Brasstracks that were like nothing I'd ever heard before. There's this Mariah Carey classic cover of Always Be My Baby, Drake's In My Feelings redone and what I think is an original song, XO Tour Llif3. Is this a genre that exists, or just this amazing band? [more inside]
posted by rogerroger to Media & Arts at 7:40 PM - 8 answers