April 23
Identify movie or show on TV in 1970s or 1980s about orphaned boy
TV show or movie on TV, US, late 70s, early 80s. Camper goes off cliff, parents killed, boy is orphaned, boy is helped by gruff older man in wilderness. [more inside]
AI for writing articles using notes
Is there a current AI platform that I can input something like a 1000 notes that I've collected, and then have it output an article on a topic using the ideas from those notes? [more inside]
Typepad blog post image insertion
Hello everyone.
For months I have had trouble inserting images into my Typepad blog posts.
I size them down so they're not too big.
It's only after 5 or 6 attempts that they insert.
Is anyone having similar problems?
Typepad always promptly replies that it's a known issue; that they're working on it.
Still ...
Then, just now, I published a post. Same issue with images. Additionally, it published but doesn't show up on the home page. I'm waiting to hear back on this issue.
Thank you.
how long did you experience eye floaters? (also known as PVS or PVD)
Luckily I do NOT have retinal tears (I just had comprehensive eye exams with dilation, done by 2 different ophthalmologists) but I do have "posterior vitreous separation," which causes eye floaters and came on suddenly. [more inside]
I think this veers heavily into Chatfileter, but... The US NPS
Post on the blue about Musk taking over the NPS.
Our US National parks are just so great. I am going to have to think about figuring out what my top 10 would be, other than:
#1: Yellowstone
What National Parks, Monuments, Battlefields, Historical P arks have awed you?
What National Parks, Monuments, Battlefields, Historical P arks have awed you?
Hot sauce recommendation for classic Texas chili con carne
I’m thinking about making J. Kenji Lopez-Alt’s recipe for classic Texas chili con carne for a group of diners with widely varying heat tolerances. So I figured I could use mild chilis in the dish and let the fire-eaters rely on bottled hot sauce to get their freak on. Of the hot sauces commonly available in supermarkets or Mexican markets, which brand would best complement the dish?
Looking for information on the Casio Loopy printer
The Casio Loopy was a 1990s console sold in Japan and marketed to female gamers. It had a built-in printer that let users print stickers of screenshots. I'm trying to find out what type of printing technology the console used. [more inside]
$400 scam
I've noticed many of the scam emails I receive lately, telling me I purchased something and to contact them if it's in error or that I owe them some amount, tend to set the amount around $400. Where does this number come from? [more inside]
Help me find this perfect utility (?) knife!
This and this are screen grabs from a video by a guy in the UK. I'm in the US. I want this knife, or one very similar, for ultra fine plant cutting. It looks like a utility knife, but not like any here in the US. Help please, Metasleuths? [more inside]
How to love/be okay being alone?
I don't have much of a community or close friends so I find myself alone most days and evenings. I have a few social hobbies a few times a week, but it's not enough to keep me consistently busy and occupied. How can I stave off depression? [more inside]
So, what are you doing?
One of the things we're learning about living in times of sociopolitical and environmental upheaval is how hard it is to know what to do. Terrible things are happening so fast on so many fronts, and everything feels so chaotic and overwhelming that it's difficult not to freeze up in helplessness and despair like a deer in headlights. So, what are you doing? What things, little or big, are you doing to help that you think are effective and would be even more so if more people would do them? [more inside]
Attention MeFi shoppers...
My go-to office supply retailer has closed. I'm looking to purchase some recording equipment from a Canadian source. Help me find a new supplier. [more inside]
Why do companies ask if I've been employed by the government?
I've been applying for (private sector) jobs recently and have noticed a fair number of screening questionnaires include a question on whether or not I've been employed by the government or a government contractor in the last N (typically 5) years. These jobs don't involve any interaction with any governmental bodies. Why do companies ask this? Bonus question inside. [more inside]
K drama fans, what’s your best uplifting K dramas in Netflix?
I’m looking for recommendation on k dramas that are inspiring, uplifting, strong female leads with heart warming stories.
What I liked so far are
1) Crash Landing on You 2) king of the land 3) Something in the rain 4) Chocolate ( little sad but overall good) 5) Thirty nine 6) One spring night 7) Love to hate ( liked the female lead) 8) Romance is a Bonus book. Any suggestions? Thanks
Trying to re-find a photographer of human optical illusions
I'm trying to find a photographer that photographed human models in poses that created optical illusions. [more inside]
clearing google's "people also search for" section
I changed my name, but Google has a section in the search results called "people also searched for," which persistently displays my old name. I would rather not have my names associated with each other. I did not consent to this, so does anyone know how I could have this cleared? Alternatively, does anyone know how Google comes up with the "people also searched for" results, so I can try to clear it myself?
Looking for early autistic snark
I'm looking for an essay, probably some 15 years old which pathologizes neurotypicality the way autism is usually pathologized. The website was something like isn't-autistic. It included "Tragically, some 975 people out of a thousand suffer from neurotypicality", though possibly it used a word other than "neurotypicality". It mentioned compulsive lying as part of neurotypicality. [more inside]
What is this tiny flying insect?
I am too scared to look at insect identification sites myself, so if someone knowledgeable could take a peek (link to Imgur inside) and just let me know what it is, I’d appreciate it. Also, bonus q: do this electric bug zappers work? [more inside]
April 22
Cross + exclamation mark symbol
What's the deal with the cross with the dot like an exclamation mark underneath? I keep seeing this symbol lately, but I don't know the origin or meaning. (I've seen it in the context of a Trump thing but don't want to jump to conclusions.) It's a white on blue, kind of a sans serif geometric style like Futura, but I can't find an image online just from the description.
Scar
I have a really ugly scar on my leg due to surgery. Should I do something about it? [more inside]
My computer was making this noise. Please advise.
I have a dell laptop with an SSD. It was making this noise earlier today. On and off over about 5-10 minutes. I booted up the computer and it immediately started making that noise. I freaked out and did not touch it. did not even enter my pin to log into windows. It stopped. Then it started again. It did this a few times over the course of 5-10 minutes. The last time it the noises lasted about 2 seconds and then there was a sound like a record scratching (like an old vinyl music record) and it just stopped. It has not made the noise since. I am backing up everything. Is it over? If so, in which sense? [more inside]
Ideas for a special (fictional) dish
In the story I'm writing, a teenage boy, almost 17, wants to make his grandmother's favorite dish. At the moment it's paella, but I'm not sure I want to stick with that. I want it to be a dish that feels special but something that a budding foodie/cook could put together in a few hours. Just fishing for some other ideas.
The Realest of Reality TV
I really enjoy reality shows that showcase...well, reality. I love it when I get a sense of genuine slice of life. What are some reality shows (not feature length documentaries) that you consider to be "the realest"? [more inside]
Marked Deck for Beginning Magician
I am an amateur card magician. Up to now, I have only done self working card tricks. I think I would like to move on to tricks that involve a marked deck. But, there is enormous amounts of conflicting information about marked decks on the web. Can you recommend a specific marked deck for a beginning magician, preferably with some beginner tricks to learn?
Can you help me find a storage piece thing I don't have to assemble?
I am getting rid of this desk because it serves no purpose for us (by the way, this desk is in the East Village, NYC, and if you want to come and get it for FREE before Housing Works gets it, send me a message!). And then I want to put some kind of nice-looking piece of furniture I can store things in --- LOTS of things. The space can hold a piece that is no more than around 52" wide, 24" deep, and around 52" tall. In other words, it is a BIG space! [more inside]
What's the labor share of national income...for 1 company?
I was re-reading this kottke.org post and the related McKinsey report and news articles about the declining labor share of national income, as calculated by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. GDP is in the denominator. What would be the equivalent measurement be for an individual company? [more inside]
Song find "A las 7:35 de la matina"
About 20 years ago there was an internet video for a Spanish language song with (close enough) the above words in its chorus, which might also have been its title. I was reminded of it by the news of the Pope's death. It was (I think) filmed in black and white, in a cafe, and I think it had a slight narrative set in the cafe, which may also have been portrayed in the video (but that's hazy). The song was performed in a brisk swing style, and it wasn't any of the songs that cropped up when I searched a las siete treinte cinco. It was a rather fun song and I want to hear it again. Is it by any chance stuck in anyone else's memory?
Y'all, should I keep this money?
When your doctor gives you cash for submitting billing forms on his behalf...but you only submitted them, you didn't do the actual legwork. [more inside]
How typical is this behavior for American mom culture?
One of my in-laws behaves in a way that makes me feel taken for granted. I'm wondering if there's a cultural difference at play, since she's a white mom and I'm a non-white childfree woman. [more inside]
Can you help me eat?
Eating has become a serious problem for me. I can't eat more than a little bit at a time. I mostly eat stuff I'd classify as unhealthy (it's nine pm and today I ate, nothing for breakfast, plain pasta and a chocolate bun for lunch, a handful of chips since). I randomly feel nausea at the thought of foods I usually like just fine. [more inside]
My custom orthotics are uncomfortable. Is that normal?
I've been suffering from plantar fasciitis for a year now. I reluctantly invested $420 in custom orthotics, but I don't like them. Should I just try to get used to them? [more inside]
Caulking tape for bathroom
I want to use some kind of tape to reinforce some caulk in my shower. Have you ever used any of this silicone-replacement tape? Do you have recommendations? [more inside]
Safe Magnesium supplements for kids?
I’ve read that magnesium supplements can be helpful for people with ADHD, and anecdotally, I find that taking some in the morning seems to help me focus. I’d like to try a low, safe dose of magnesium for a 7yo who likely has ADHD, but Google is now so useless that it’s hard to search. Any suggestions on a reputable brand?
Uploading files from Sharepoint to a web interface
For a work task, I have to upload CSV files to an online government database. The files are accessed through Sharepoint, but it is not possible to upload directly from there to the internet. I therefore have to download each file from Sharepoint, then upload it to the web interface for the database. Is there a workaround to upload directly from Sharepoint to the internet? [more inside]
Recommendations for gift basket to send diabetic
I am looking to order a gift basket for a diabetic relative. She loves receiving them but is diabetic and won't eat sweets, crackers, or much fruit and has to give that part away. She loves fancy nuts and summer sausage.
I'd welcome suggestions for sending a lovely basket that she can fully enjoy. [more inside]
What do we do now?
I asked this previous question: https://ask.metafilter.com/379568/My-mothers-neighbor-has-stopped-feeding-the-stray-cat [more inside]
April 21
Looking for a good quality unpowered / push mower
I have about 1000 sq ft. of yard that I only have to mow parts of - I'm looking for a good quality, durable non-powered / push mower to do this. A few additional requirements inside. [more inside]
The Best Personal Bank Accounts And Credit Card Plans In All Of Canada
Seeking recommendations for Canadian personal banking options and credit card plans that include but are not limited to low fees, actually useful reward points, incentives, conditions for eligibility/balance requirements, etc. [more inside]
Fun stuff for kids around downtown Toronto
My wife and I were all set to take a sans-kids trip to Toronto for a concert this week, staying two nights. Our childcare fell through, so now we are bringing the kids with us instead. What to do with them? [more inside]
Scamazon? Walk in interview
Someone I know was told by a friend about an opportunity to interview at Amazon. It's a "walk-in interview". [more inside]
Real-world AI electricity use number
I told ChatGPT 4o to make a Van Gogh painting of my cat. The dingus took two minutes to finish. How much electricity did ChatGPT consume in doing this? (As expressed in, say, how long that electricity would power a modern refrigerator - or whatever units would most usefully illustrate the matter.)
How should I handle my niece?
I don’t know what to make of my niece’s reactions to me. She used to be open to me, like her sister and brother are. This suddenly changed around the time her mother decided to leave my brother. [more inside]
How to learn of ICE abduction ASAP
Have seen the advice about having an immigration lawyer engaged and carrying/assembling all paperwork. But if someone gets snatched, how can their loved ones know as soon as possible? [more inside]
Give me a raise
What are your tips and techniques for negotiating a raise? I work as a Principal Product Manager at a very profitable startup. My equity is laughably low. I have shipped a ton of stuff. I had zero direct reports, now I have four. The founders have said I am one of their MVPs. Help me negotiate a 20% raise. [more inside]
April 20
Is there any all-purpose *professional* color 35mm film still available?
{ excluding Portra and Ektar, which are basically specialty films } [more inside]
Sponsoring an immigrant—what do I need to know?
A friendly acquaintance has desperately been looking for a co-sponsor for her mother to acquire her green card and have asked if I would consider. I would like to help if I could. What do I need to know to make a decision? [more inside]
How to make arrival at seatac as painless as possible?
Please give me all your ideas and suggestions for helping my limited-mobility parents navigate their upcoming arrival in Seattle: checked bags, rental car, stabbing pain & anxiety! [more inside]
Defining "Capital Account"
This is in the context of the TV show "Your Friends & Neighbors". [more inside]
Play sound when I receive a Google Chat message in any Chrome tab
When somebody sends me a message in Google Chat, a sound plays if mail.google.com/mail/ is the focused tab (in Chrome on Windows 10/11), but not if it is an unfocused tab. Other websites do not work this way, they play sounds even when not the focused tab. How do I get the sound to ALWAYS play when somebody sends me a message? (This is a work context, I am familiar with arguments to otherwise avoid Chrome.)
I have just a few hours to take care of my rosebushes. How?
I moved and acquired a new backyard with twenty rosebushes, some big and old. I have no idea what to do with them. I like them, I want to help them be their best selves, but I'm really busy right now and can't afford to spend much time on them. Especially not on learning the right method. I don't want the best way to care for them, I just want to know I'm helping them survive until I can learn more about them. [more inside]
Was asking a professor to be a professional reference a faux pas?
I asked a professor if they would serve as a professional reference, and also if they would write a recommendation for my LinkedIn page, but they’ve responded with radio silence. Have I committed a faux pas? What should I do? [more inside]
Lifetime risk vs rest of lifetime risk
Breast cancer statistics for English majors: If a 59yo woman has a 43% lifetime risk of breast cancer but has never had it, what is her risk of getting it in the next 20 years? Does the risk change the longer she goes without it?
April 19
Best Way to Learn European Portuguese
We are considering moving out of the US in the next few years once we retire. Portugal is currently our top choice. I would like to learn some Portuguese - at first just enough to function as tourist when we visit Portugal to check it out and then later enough to function as a resident. For now, I want something on-line that I can do at my own pace that will start at the very beginning. Suggestions?
Visual Studio that can still build for Windows XP
As far as I can tell, no version of Visual Studio past Visual Studio 2019 version 16.7 can build C++ projects (in my case, a DLL using Standard Windows Libraries) that run on Windows XP, even if the Platform Toolset is v141_xp. I would like to download a Community 16.7 installer, but all the installers I can find, even on webpages that say they're for earlier versions, seem to install 16.11.46 instead. [more inside]
How dangerous is sleeping without the APAP device for people with apnoe?
I know untreated apnoea comes with an increased risk of heart events, etc. But does that go for individual nights? [more inside]
I was arrested in the US as a student, can I go back?
I am 40.
The case was one involving public disorder and property damage in the US when I was a student. I paid the restitution even though it wasn’t me. I was the guy who got arrested. The case was dismissed with no admissions of guilt or liability.
I have the documentation of the dismissal of the case. Does anyone have advice in the current climate about someone I can talk to in order to work this out?
I previously got a visa to travel (in Obama days) but it seems the world has changed. This worries me as a now middle aged man haunted by this. I want to travel to participate in an academic conference about social impacts of AI.
Ricin?
Ricin is listed as an ingredient in my hair product (leave-in conditioner). I use about a tablespoon a week, and I don't rinse it out, meaning a small amount of it is always on my skin & my pillow. Is that... bad? Or is it just a translation error for the nontoxic part of castor oil (a common ingredient in cosmetics and hair products).
A Toronto Will Lawyer for Simple People
Some family members and I really need to get proper wills. We are not rich. We have the real estate we live in, some underwhelming bank accounts, and maybe a car. I have a son. Do you know a lawyer who specializes in wills who is appropriate for simple folk like us? [more inside]
Dermalogical Domination
Dermatologist recently recommended taking Heliocare daily supplement (for skin damage repair/prevention). What is your experience with this? [more inside]
Insect nest in my patio door, what to do?
So I opened my patio door a little bit ago for the first time in a while, and there is some sort of small insect nest in between the glass door and the screen door. Pic inside. [more inside]