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I'm trying to recall a children's book I read in the 80s. It's about a magical subway of some sort. I think it's set in either New York or London, and it's about a child (children?) finding an abandoned but still functional - likely magical - subway line. [more inside]
posted by chuntered inelegantly from a sedentary position at 8:54 PM PST - 5 comments

Some time an unknown number of years ago, I likely emergency-bought some Ace-bandage-like elastic bandages (either in New England or the Bay Area, probably). They have disappeared in the wind the way these things do, and I cannot find them again. No idea what brand or anything they were, but they had 2 features (a soft foam-ish lining, and a separate velcro-ish closure) that I am unable to find. [more inside]
posted by brainmouse at 8:39 PM PST - 3 comments

Onions make my mouth itch (yes, even in soups). I’d like to make a casserole, but most of them have cream-based soups as an ingredient. I haven’t found a cream soup that doesn’t have onions in the ingredients. What can I use as a substitute? [more inside]
posted by pxe2000 at 6:17 PM PST - 14 comments

Is there a site or series of sites about addressing traditional home economic concerns like budgeting, organizing, cleaning and scheduling with the assistance of technology that the average person would have on hand? [more inside]
posted by Selena777 at 5:51 PM PST - 4 comments

I feed my forever cat, Arthur, and his foster girlfriend, Tina, the highest quality grain-free dry food I can afford, and some cheap and nasty (although not the worst) wet food sachets at night as part of the dinner routine. I am tried of the waste and general grossness of the sachets, and was thinking that I could supplement the dry food with some homemade dinner. What should I feed them? [more inside]
posted by Youremyworld at 4:38 PM PST - 6 comments

A friend of mine has this animal alphabet puzzle for her toddler. What on earth are the animals for U and X supposed to be? [more inside]
posted by Johnny Assay at 4:24 PM PST - 9 comments

During my 2.75-hour run today, I apparently thought of a brilliant song to add to my run playlist, but the only note I made to remind myself is inscrutable in hindsight. Can you help me figure out what I meant? [more inside]
posted by armeowda at 3:43 PM PST - 18 comments

We bought a college chair from an estate sale, and it has this building on the seat back. The most obvious candidates (Nassau Hall in Princeton; the Baker Bell Tower in Dartmouth) don't quite fit because the main building isn't as tall. It must be iconic to alumni, though. Any idea where it is?
posted by holgate at 3:33 PM PST - 8 comments

Where can I find more music like this? "Epic bluegrass," maybe, for lack of a better term? Or perhaps there's a better name for this stuff. Other sound-alikes: some of the original music from Firefly (the long-mourned TV show) and this cue from the Annihilation film soundtrack.
posted by killdevil at 2:43 PM PST - 15 comments

I am mostly a pen person, but occasionally find myself in need of a pencil. I prefer a mechanical one, but would like to upgrade from the disposable BICs I have previously used. [more inside]
posted by darchildre at 2:29 PM PST - 30 comments

My top floor apartment has central heating and cooling through floor air vents. Unfortunately, my neighbors are chain smokers and there's a regular supply of cigarette smoke coming into my apartment and I don't want to die of secondhand smoke. [more inside]
posted by kinoeye at 2:26 PM PST - 8 comments

What books / articles / media can help me to understand the big picture of the economics of big data? [more inside]
posted by dragonfruit at 1:52 PM PST - 1 comment

Does anyone have a recommended online source for virtual consults and refills for doxycycline for rosacea acne? I see plenty of legit-appearing dermatologist or just general US Doc approved refills for chronic conditions, but I can't tell which is a good one. [more inside]
posted by MonsieurBon at 1:39 PM PST - 5 comments

YANMD, etc., but what’s going on with my finger? I get really random bouts of sharp/throbbing/sore pain on my index finger below the top knuckle. Feels worse if I bend it, sort of like it’s been stung by a bee. [more inside]
posted by stillmoving at 12:44 PM PST - 11 comments

One Lane Bridge I watched the series and liked it for the most part [possible spoiler: there is a horrible homophobia sub-plot], I especially enjoyed the amazing locations - New Zealand is breathtakingly beautiful. But there seem to be quite a few missing pieces and I am not sure about the ending. If you watched it, what is your take?
posted by racersix6 at 12:28 PM PST - 1 comment

I realized yesterday that the reason I've always hated and avoided clothes-shopping is probably related to my autistic sensory sensitivities. How can I hack the experience to make my clothes-shopping more bearable and effective (once the pandemic is over)? [more inside]
posted by heatherlogan at 11:44 AM PST - 33 comments

I'm looking for men's crew dress socks that are: (1) as thin as possible, with no extra padding anywhere, (2) black or gray with minimal decoration, (3) sized for wide and moderately large feet with a very wide toe box, and (4) can be washed and tumble-dried without shrinking. Any specific recommendations? [more inside]
posted by eotvos at 11:29 AM PST - 9 comments

Because Albertson's is terrible, I have 2 packages of thawed veggie patties. The package does say keep frozen ultil ready to use but can I refreeze or would it better to cook them all now and refrigerate or freeze the cooked product? There's no way to eat all of these today, of course.
posted by jojo and the benjamins at 11:17 AM PST - 7 comments

We purchased our first home six months ago. It had nice landscaping when we arrived, and we were given the bad advice that it didn’t need much support from us, other than infrequent watering. Now, six months later, it’s starting to look a little rough. There are large boxwood hedges that I’ve learned are really hard to trim on my own because they’re about 11 feet tall. There are roses, bougainvillea, agapanthus, pampas grass and a white oleander tree. Truly lovely six months ago. Now everything is less green and has less flowers than it did before. The boxwood hedges filled up with dead leaves in the center of them, which doesn’t seem good. The pampas grass shriveled and looks dead, but I think can be revived. The oleander has no flowers and the leaves are looking a sickly yellow. I obviously don’t know what I’m doing, and I want to get some help with this before I ruin all of it. I’ve had some people come out and give me quotes of around $500-700 just to trim back the hedges. And most of these people have given me the impression that they might not know much more than I do about how to make the plants happy and healthy. These prices seem completely insane to me. Is this normal? How do I care for all of the plants on my property before they all die without going broke? How much should I expect to pay to get help with this? I both need someone who can trim the hedges and someone who has good knowledge of what stuff needs to grow and be happy.
posted by buddylove at 10:42 AM PST - 17 comments

This is a question for I guess planetologists or geologists? I am not asking "how to change it", but rather what would a slight change either + or - in Earth's axial tilt do to the planet, in broad strokes? [more inside]
posted by Meatbomb at 10:00 AM PST - 10 comments

I work with a committee that does political endorsements and I'd like to introduce an online platform of some kind to strengthen this process. Participants have a wide-range of skills and comfort with computers. [more inside]
posted by latkes at 8:44 AM PST - 3 comments

Like is say on the tin. Is MyTrueIdentity.com a legit service for signing-up for credit monitoring? Details inside ---> [more inside]
posted by Thorzdad at 8:27 AM PST - 3 comments

Hello! We (a family with kids) have been approved for a shelter cat and are really excited. Before we pull the trigger, as a new cat owner I have some questions . . . [more inside]
posted by heavenknows at 2:21 AM PST - 33 comments

I’m in San Francisco and I want to get delivery of some food that looks like this lady’s blog. Can you help me? [more inside]
posted by stoneandstar at 11:34 PM PST - 5 comments

Hi all, The good news is that I'm in contract to purchase a house, but between years of different RSU and ESPP plans, I have zero idea how to best handle my stock selling scenario. Does anyone have a good recommendation to help me figure out which batches to sell? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 10:53 PM PST - 4 comments

Fifteen years ago, under the social, familial, and self pressures to be employed (and not understanding the ways in which my then-undiagnosed disability sometimes made me susceptible to such pressure), I accepted a job that paid me cash under-the-table. How do I successfully address this in the here-and-now with the IRS? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 10:53 PM PST - 19 comments

Looking for your best examples of unabashedly commercial novels that have managed to create a multilayered, rich world, populated by characters whose inner journeys don't just parallel the plot but actually drive it. Examples that come to mind include Tana French's In the Woods, Miriam Keyes's The Grownups, and Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty. [more inside]
posted by rpfields at 9:27 PM PST - 4 comments

Our 11 year old would really love to play DND with his buddies, but we just don’t have the skills or bandwidth to DM for him and his friends right now. What are some good options for him to find a group of kids his age to play with? [more inside]
posted by purenitrous at 8:35 PM PST - 9 comments

Initially, we thought "tooth" however it doesn't really have roots like a tooth. So, maybe it is a claw? [more inside]
posted by amanda at 6:54 PM PST - 14 comments

As a gift, I want to send someone a framed or matted print of a particular photo by a professional photographer. The photographer just died and doesn't seem to have an official web site. What's the best way to do this, making sure his estate gets the proper royalties? [more inside]
posted by Sockpuppet Liberation Front at 6:37 PM PST - 5 comments

I’m three episodes into Peaky Blinders and it’s good but borderline too gory for me. I need to know whether there will be violence involving animals because if so I’ll bail now. Thanks.
posted by HotToddy at 6:12 PM PST - 2 comments

Help me think up silly scenarios for my kid? [more inside]
posted by kalapierson at 5:53 PM PST - 18 comments

I have a two-week break coming up and it occurred to me that there might be some gifts from the kitchen that are relatively easy to make, but need to be aged several months. I could prepare them in my break, put them away to age/ferment/sit and have a lot of Christmas presents prepared 11 months early. I've been thinking of homemade vanilla extract, but what else would work? I'm not thinking of gifts that take a long time to make, but gifts that take better part of the year to age or mature.
posted by angiep at 5:02 PM PST - 19 comments

Dear Ask Mefi movie buffs - I'm looking for examples of movies or documentaries involving actual corporations, entities or products that fit each of the seven known plots. See below the fold for the ones I could think of right away. [more inside]
posted by rw at 4:51 PM PST - 15 comments

I'm house-hunting. I saw a place last weekend which was perfect for me, technically, and yet, something about it felt off to me. I just couldn't put my finger on it as to what. It made me curious. Why do certain places not feel 'right' to you, and should you trust that feeling? [more inside]
posted by unicorn chaser at 4:28 PM PST - 30 comments

Is there any way I can disable or block those horrible liked/laughed/emphasized etc txt messages from my friends who are iphone users? [more inside]
posted by silverstatue at 4:13 PM PST - 9 comments

TL;DR -- I'm looking for the singer/band and name of the song being used in the montage that begins at the 57:54 mark in QuizzleMania XV. [more inside]
posted by The Pluto Gangsta at 3:21 PM PST - 3 comments

I've noticed a few grey hairs on my head recently (less than 10 total). They seem to be thinner and frizzier than my other hairs. Are there any changes I need to make to my haircare routine to care for them properly? Difficulty: allergies and skin irritations mean any products with artificial fragrances are out, and "don't use shampoo" is not an option. [more inside]
posted by SockISalmon at 2:05 PM PST - 6 comments

Where can I find or buy access to real estate data? I'm thinking of something that I could run queries on like "Show me all forms of real estate that have sold in county X in the last month, grouped first by zip code, and then ordered by price desc" or "Show me the average assessed or sale home price by county in state Y for each of the last 5 years" or "Compute the ratio of homes to empty lots in municipality Z." [more inside]
posted by wildblueyonder at 1:17 PM PST - 3 comments

I’d like to attend a virtual dance party. Music- popular edm, club music, reggaeton. Preferably one of those where you can go on video and see other people on video dancing. Is this still happening in 2021. Looking for 8-10pm ish eastern us time.
posted by sandmanwv at 12:54 PM PST - 3 comments

We have to drive from Cleveland to the Asheville, NC area on Monday. We are trying to avoid the enclosed, potentially aerosol-virus-laden environment of public restrooms. They might be unavoidable for two adults and a 9yo girl, but I’m hoping that you will have some good tips about less-traveled options, places with great ventilation or some other ideas. We’ve never made the trip before and, you know, pandemic. It is not, unfortunately, optional, so any “don’t travel” advice is not going to be helpful.
posted by chesty_a_arthur at 12:09 PM PST - 18 comments

So there used to be a simple bookmarklet for Blogger. You could highlight text on a web page, hit the bookmarklet, and the linked text would show up in a fresh blog entry. I realize I am the last person on earth using Blogger, but is there still a way to easily put content into blogger in this manner? Or am I asking the wrong question?
posted by craniac at 11:11 AM PST - 2 comments

I have a consistently scheduled weekly hour video chat session (“tutoring” light) with my 6 year old nephew. We talk, I help with any homework I can, and then we fill the rest of the hour with games or activities, but I’m running out of ideas! We both really enjoy our weekly time, and I want to make sure that continues for both of us! What activities could we do together? [more inside]
posted by worstname at 11:01 AM PST - 10 comments

I've had my couch for about five years and vacuum it from time to time. After years of heavy use it's starting to gross me out a bit. According to the manufacturer's website the upholstery is rated "S", so apparently I can only use dry cleaning solvents. Are there any that are safe to use around young children and indoors? [more inside]
posted by poppyseed at 10:57 AM PST - 6 comments

Our 12 y/o has saved about $1600 and wants to buy a gaming laptop. He primarily plays Minecraft, Among Us, and Portal. There are a million gaming laptops. What are some good ones in this price range? [more inside]
posted by DirtyOldTown at 10:06 AM PST - 19 comments

A minor home repair has pushed me to finally an old power drill that was never all that great to begin with and that I seem to have lost in a recent move. I'm seeking advice on getting a regular drill/driver, impact driver, hammer drill, or what. [more inside]
posted by slidell at 9:40 AM PST - 30 comments

I could really use a recommendation for a therapist in Portland who has experience in helping people work through trauma/ptsd. [more inside]
posted by iamabot at 9:20 AM PST - 2 comments

I have a valid address in Portugal and I enter it in Stamps.com, then ... [more inside]
posted by falsedmitri at 8:57 AM PST - 6 comments

I'm part of a small, mostly volunteer arts organization with big aspirations. We try to operate fairly non-hierarchically. Two members, who are engaged in a complex project with lots of details and lots of liaising with outside volunteers/professionals, are having communication issues with each other. They've asked other members to help them resolve these issues - and hopefully set up some precedent for future internal conflict. Before I wade in with gut feelings and tea - are there readings/articles/step-by-step guidelines you can point me to?
posted by stray at 8:52 AM PST - 7 comments

Help me find online meetups, live classes, or other live activities that are fun, that involve interacting or doing something as opposed to just watching, and that are free (or very cheap). [more inside]
posted by daisyace at 7:50 AM PST - 17 comments

I live on Plague Island (aka Britain) and we're in our third national lockdown with no end in sight. I am working from home in a tiny one bedroom flat with my partner - and it's at the point where work and life have blurred completely. Do you have any strategies for helping my sanity stay in check? [more inside]
posted by socky_puppy at 5:47 AM PST - 23 comments

I probably missed a bunch of quote-tweets made around past tweets of mine. Is there a way to display all (or all recent) QTs of my tweets in one place for reading (separate from notifications > all, which includes RTs and likes)? [more inside]
posted by rollcredits at 5:26 AM PST - 3 comments

In my attempt to understand PC-laptop options (from within a Mac household, I've found the previous advice here very convincing) for a sub-$1000 college-grade non-Chrome machine, there's one use-case scenario and one future perspective I'm having trouble evaluating. [more inside]
posted by progosk at 12:37 AM PST - 12 comments

I just finished a month split between working on a COVID ICU and pretty soul crushing exploitation on a different hospital service. I’m burnt out. Thankfully, as of today, I’m on vacation for the month! If I didn’t regularly work 80 hours a week, I would have a dog. But since I do have time this month, maybe I could hang out with a dog? I’m in NYC. Help me figure out how.
posted by ocherdraco at 11:52 PM PST - 18 comments

Seeking litter box strategies for cats who aim high and are extremely particular. (Gross details inside.) [more inside]
posted by doift at 9:13 PM PST - 14 comments

I have to somehow get through my annual performance review and I am really at a loss. In need of advice and useful scripts to do an end run around my full-scale burnout and rage. [more inside]
posted by We put our faith in Blast Hardcheese at 8:34 PM PST - 26 comments

Is there a source for items which are discounted because the lettering or design is a mistake? Like mugs that say "World's Bast Teacher" or a Tshirt that says "Superman" and it's a picture of The Hulk? [more inside]
posted by The otter lady at 8:07 PM PST - 10 comments

Please suggest your best upbeat media audio and visual media which fits with the spirit of "beat the shit!" [more inside]
posted by knapah at 4:31 PM PST - 15 comments

I don't have any particularly creative hobbies. With my free time while I'm completely alone in quarantine, I would like to explore and hopefully pick up a new hobby. I'm especially interested in a hobby which lends itself well to nice sentimental gifts. [more inside]
posted by unid41 at 3:35 PM PST - 37 comments

I had two bags of shelled edamame in my freezer from last March's initial pre-lockdown panic shopping trip. I assumed this would be gross by now so I thawed both bags, intending to then throw it away. However, it's all perfectly fine, and now I have 2 pounds of thawed shelled edamame. Besides randomly snacking on it as I pass through the kitchen, what can I do with it?
posted by something something at 3:22 PM PST - 19 comments

It's my partner's birthday soon and he asked for a rice cooker. What other rice themed things can I get to go with it? [more inside]
posted by Lluvia at 3:07 PM PST - 30 comments

I looking into a vehicle purchase and would like suggestions. My minimal requirements are a vehicle that has four-wheel drive with good handling on icy and dirt roads, can fit two kid car seats, and allows 1-2 adults to sleep in the back (without removing the car seats). [more inside]
posted by medusa at 1:16 PM PST - 19 comments

I have pretty messed up eyes and primarily wear contacts. However, I would like to have a couple pairs of glasses handy for emergencies/times when I just can’t deal with contacts (I’m having a baby this summer and I’m guessing there will be days I will want to nap without shoving things in and out of my eyes every time). Since glasses are not my primary mode of vision correction, I don’t want to spend a lot. I would also like to be able to get 2-3 pairs to keep in various places. [more inside]
posted by tan_coul at 12:51 PM PST - 11 comments

I ordered an item that was shipped from Ireland. It has my correct address and ZIP code but during the international routing process, the "CA" in my address was misread as Canada instead of California, and it was routed to Canada for sorting. Is there any likelihood that Canada Post will re-route it to me? [more inside]
posted by phoenixy at 11:49 AM PST - 13 comments

Are there any places where people don't generally wear makeup?
posted by matkline at 11:34 AM PST - 13 comments

I have applied to MSW programs. One prerequisite is that I am to complete a Statistics class. I was last in a classroom setting in 1987. The course begins mid-February. What options are available to me to prepare for the class in advance and get face-to-face (post Covid) or on-line support? The community college does offer tutoring. I would like to to see what other options are available to me.
posted by goalyeehah at 11:02 AM PST - 8 comments

I have a cute metal desk frame with an 18x36 laminated particle board top. Unfortunately, the top has some water damage, so I'd like to replace it. Where can I find a cool and creative solution that costs around $50? [more inside]
posted by redsparkler at 10:42 AM PST - 17 comments

Hi ALl, I ported my cell number over from a previous carrier the other day, and things seem to be going well, apart from one issue. I don't get SMS-based 2FA codes, at least not from Paypal. Other people can seemingly text me just fine, and I can text them as well. What gives? [more inside]
posted by Alensin at 10:26 AM PST - 7 comments

Asking for a friend: A couple years ago I read this super creepy sci fi horror story (might have been a short story or novella) that involved a creepy pool that brought dead things back to life, but kind of wrong somehow. It was split into three parts, one set in a sort of old west past, one set in the vague present, and the last one in a techno-dystopian future. [more inside]
posted by goodbyewaffles at 9:49 AM PST - 2 comments

We have a very old thermostat and are looking to replace it. The Nest is [more inside]
posted by notned at 9:37 AM PST - 23 comments

This question will garner a lot of responses. Coming from the NYC market, so I can't imagine it would be worse but I got the point in NYC where I would know someone who would know someone that would get me an apartment below market rate, I don't know how common that was. Is Boston the same way? I'd prefer something studio or one-bedroom as close to $2k as possible, could push to $2,500k. My office is in the "Back Bay" and I'd like a commute under 45 minutes. Less would be better, I'm not afraid of non-gentrified neighborhoods. More inside! [more inside]
posted by geoff. at 9:35 AM PST - 35 comments

We have and use cloth masks for most encounters and excursions, but I'd like to purchase a few masks for our household specifically for the occasional unavoidable trip or encounter that feels higher risk. Where can I go and have a good chance of not buying counterfeits? [more inside]
posted by Number Used Once at 9:02 AM PST - 23 comments

What are your favorite recipes that use ground beef? [more inside]
posted by jacobian at 8:53 AM PST - 45 comments

Can someone explain a specific part of the GameStop thing to me? [more inside]
posted by pdb at 8:23 AM PST - 11 comments

I subscribe to the New Yorker online. Lately, when I click any aritcle in the email feed the page is blank, solid white, when it opens in Firefox. If I switch to my wife's account on the same computer, the content of the page is visible. This also happens in Ebay but in no other website. How can I fix this? I've contacted the New Yorker but they can't help. I'm running MacOS Catalina 10.15.7 on a MacBook Pro.
posted by partner at 8:09 AM PST - 5 comments

I had a terrible breakup about 3.5 years ago. I still carry a lot of pain and anger about it, and I'd like to let those feelings go so that I can move on with my life. But how? [more inside]
posted by woodvine at 8:00 AM PST - 12 comments

I seem to have developed Recurrent Vestibulopathy, and I'm miserable. I just had my second episode--2 and a half weeks after the first--which lasted over 24 hours, during which I had vertigo, general dizziness, shaking, weakness, and exhaustion. It seems to be over, but today I am still exhausted, weak, and not great mentally. I need help dealing with this. [more inside]
posted by primate moon at 7:14 AM PST - 4 comments

I really would like to make growth mindset theory work for me in the realm of music practice. Problem: over 50, breathed fixed mindset like air for decades, and highly allergic to the tiniest failures. [more inside]
posted by Sheydem-tants at 5:41 AM PST - 30 comments

In my quest to find more fiction books to read that don't make me quit ten pages in, I've realised that there's a quality to literature I enjoy that could be described as engaging with morality, ethics, goodness, right living, those sort of things. And doing so deliberately and as the most important part of the book. As opposed to those things being kind of subservient to plot and character, etc. Some examples inside. I'd like to find more books like this, if you could offer any suggestions. [more inside]
posted by Balthamos at 4:38 AM PST - 81 comments

Hello all, A scare with my work laptop has prompted me to buy a new personal laptop. After a bad experience helping to set up my partner's new Dell XPS, I need advice on how to get rid of bloatware and keep things running smoothly. Last question I can see is from 2015 so new advice wanted for Windows 10 and the recent issues with ccleaner. [more inside]
posted by sedimentary_deer at 2:57 AM PST - 7 comments

Ms Jabo and I have just bought our first propane grill after using charcoal forever. [more inside]
posted by jabo at 11:02 PM PST - 8 comments

After ignoring it until last week, I got sucked into the series last week--and was enjoying it until I hit two brutal torture episodes. Can I just skip ahead? Or should I drop it? (CW for descriptions of torture and assault below the fold, and spoiler warning for Outlander Season 1) [more inside]
posted by mark k at 10:50 PM PST - 14 comments

I have been feeding my 11lb, one year old cat daily (upon my vet's instructions) 1/3 a cup of dry cat food and one 3oz can of wet food. Before, this was PLENTY and he wouldn't even clean his plate right away. But for the last couple months, he vacuums it all up immediately and begs loudly for more, and seems pretty pissed off at us in general as if we're underfeeding him. What's going on? [more inside]
posted by egeanin at 8:58 PM PST - 20 comments

Has more data derived from the mass vaccination effort been published? [more inside]
posted by rdr at 8:27 PM PST - 7 comments

I'm in Chicago and am in search of a particular brandy. Area liquor retailers don't carry it, so I'm looking into online sellers. But apparently there are restrictions on selling/shipping alcohol to individual buyers in Illinois (among other states). So I need some tips on online sellers who might carry hard-to-find liquors and that will ship to me in Illinois, please! [more inside]
posted by Mechitar at 7:24 PM PST - 8 comments

We are setting up a charitable remainder trust for a relative. After about 20-40 years any money left in the trust will be donated to a charity we specify. How can we find the best charity to benefit, that will still exist in 20-40 years? [more inside]
posted by flug at 5:21 PM PST - 8 comments

A job candidate's application materials prominently include a thinly-veiled passage from the Bible. Am I supposed to pretend that I didn't see it? Is this a potential professionalism red flag? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 3:53 PM PST - 51 comments

How do I search Google Drive for a bank account number when I only know the last four digits? [more inside]
posted by orsonet at 3:35 PM PST - 5 comments

I suddenly got a new job. It's good, but my first day of teaching is on Wednesday, it is remote teaching, and I am 500 km from my personal library and the university library. There are many things I will need to read up on, and maybe I will post additional questions, but right now I am worried about a specific aspect of the course. The course description says this is an introduction to theory of science. Where can I find recourses online to teach this to college level engineering students? [more inside]
posted by mumimor at 2:56 PM PST - 7 comments

My long-term partner revealed that she actually doesn’t believe in making a commitment for hard times. Difficulty level: I have an unpredictable and potentially disabling disease. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 2:48 PM PST - 31 comments

I have a serious job and my coworkers are serious people who deal with heavy things. I have had anxiety and depression as a child and am actively getting treatment for it. I really enjoy humor, including stand up comedy. Maybe humor is a coping mechanism for me. [more inside]
posted by thesockpuppet at 2:22 PM PST - 10 comments

Why are spam emails, which Gmail filtered out as spam, suddenly being downloaded to Mail.app. Details inside... [more inside]
posted by Thorzdad at 1:57 PM PST - 3 comments

I posted a question a few days ago where I was worried about my kitten being beaten up by my other kitten. Since then, timid kitten has really declined in health. I'm SUPER anxious about the kitten, and sad and worried she might die, and also super stressed about the money and time off work I've taken and will take to sort this (I'm freelance). Please help me with positive stories of your sick kittens pulling through, or ways to handle the next 24 hours - is it okay to sleep? [more inside]
posted by flimflamflop at 1:54 PM PST - 22 comments

I'm curious about this marble bust. [more inside]
posted by Joan Rivers of Babylon at 1:10 PM PST - 4 comments

I have a Toshiba Fire TV and a 2019 Macbook Air. I want to watch DVDs that I borrow from my local (NYC) public library, primarily on the TV -- what is the best (and preferably cheap) way to accomplish this? [more inside]
posted by andrewesque at 12:59 PM PST - 9 comments

So it's come to my attention that I have no understanding of the stock market, hedge funds, short selling, etc. beyond a very basic few days in economics class a few years ago and watching The Big Short once. I have no interest in buying/selling stocks, but I would like to understand what the consequences of financial markets are for The Real World. What books/podcasts/articles/etc. would you recommend for someone who is not looking to Get Rich Quick but would like to understand financial markets?
posted by ChuraChura at 12:32 PM PST - 13 comments

My job requires me to be anonymous. I've just been given the task of interviewing someone famous at an upcoming, on-camera Zoom event, and I need to hear your suggestions for the best way(s) to keep viewers from seeing my face. (Keeping my camera off isn't an option.) [more inside]
posted by yellowcandy at 11:39 AM PST - 43 comments

What are the best free or cheap ways to transfer money between people in the United States in 2021? Google Pay now charges 1.5% - there must be better ways. Looking to pay small amounts and large (rent). Thanks for any suggestions!
posted by pH Indicating Socks at 11:21 AM PST - 23 comments

I’ve been following some cryptocurrencies on a well-known and popular exchange. There are some trading pairs (eg DOT/AUS) that don’t have a lot of activity - perhaps trades happening only every 20 minutes or so. However the order book is fluctuating constantly with the market depth indicators varying basically all the time. The order book is an indication of people who have placed a limit order, either buy or sell, correct? So who and why are they changing quite as frequently as I’m seeing if the trading activity is so slow. I understand there is a lot of automation (bots) in the market these days but is that really the cause of the constant activity in seldomly traded pairs? And if so, based on what factors? I must be missing or misunderstanding something. Any insight gratefully received - thanks.
posted by Xhris at 11:13 AM PST - 2 comments

What are some resources--articles and books--that will help me learn more about the Puritans in North America, in the context of their time, their legacy, popular conceptions of their culture, etc? [more inside]
posted by kensington314 at 11:13 AM PST - 8 comments

Previously, I was put in charge of a twitter feed for work, scheduling tweets in advance using Tweetdeck. My tweets are required to include images. I add alt text to images for tweets I schedule, but is there a way for me to check whether images in upcoming tweets scheduled by others actually include alt text? [more inside]
posted by theatro at 10:23 AM PST - 2 comments

My sister's old cat tree has given up. She wants one with a few requirements, some of which are easy to look for and some of which are more difficult. Can you help us find one that is tall, narrow, and good for chonky cats? [more inside]
posted by jessamyn at 10:05 AM PST - 17 comments

I am very indecisive, and it's having serious consequences in my life (relationship, home, and career). I agonize over decisions, and then once I've made the decision, I agonize over whether or not it was the right one. This is something that I'll be digging into in therapy, but because I also love reading: can you recommend a great nonfiction book on how to better make decisions? I'm interested in reading about this as it relates to: anxiety, self-doubt, and/or tools to better make decisions and make peace with them.
posted by sugarbomb at 9:39 AM PST - 13 comments

Looking for advice on (1) how to be okay with being a second rate citizen of academia as a teaching-track instructor and (2) how to find emotional safety as a perennially single person. [more inside]
posted by thecampushippo at 8:59 AM PST - 6 comments

I'm new to fabrics. I'm helping a relative of mine sell a large stash (150 pre-cut) pieces because she is giving up sewing. I've located a local Facebook sewing group whose members would likely be interested. [more inside]
posted by storybored at 8:40 AM PST - 12 comments

I moved from Austin TX to Winston Salem NC over this last summer, and went from owning and living in houses with a slab foundation to a hundred year-old house with a partially finished basement crawlspace. Since moving in and especially lately the floor is developing some unevenness and there are cracks in some walls and both of those seem to be progressing. [more inside]
posted by The Vice Admiral of the Narrow Seas at 8:31 AM PST - 2 comments

I've been changing clothes and showering whenever I come home from the cancer center, but I have to go twice tomorrow, and I'm wondering if this is still considered necessary. On the CDC site, it says to wash your hands when you get home. but nothing about showering or changing clothes. I'm not finding anything else that strikes me as definitive. If it matters, I'm not a health care worker. I'm going in the morning for a blood draw and then later in the day for an injection.
posted by FencingGal at 7:18 AM PST - 8 comments

Post-Covid travel: Lazy Caribbean style. Need your recommendations! [more inside]
posted by greta simone at 7:06 AM PST - 5 comments

If you attended an event to celebrate Black History Month and heard a white person performing something created by a black person, what would be your reaction? [more inside]
posted by crunchy potato at 7:00 AM PST - 15 comments

I'm trying to figure out what this T-shirt says. Do you know? [more inside]
posted by taz at 6:44 AM PST - 13 comments

Yet another Covid mask question - I have a reusable non-cloth mask with filters and I’m wondering if it is good enough to meet the new recommendations that everyone should be wearing N95s or equivalent. [more inside]
posted by john_snow at 6:37 AM PST - 8 comments

I ordered three types of bulbs in September, and never planted them. I assume it's too late, although some of them have little sprouts coming out of them. is there any way to save them? [more inside]
posted by needlegrrl at 6:09 AM PST - 3 comments

I have a style that I love, have explored, but cannot for the life of me seem to find where to buy or exactly how to make regular things cool in the way I want. Shopping sites? Inspo? DIY? [more inside]
posted by Crystalinne at 4:19 AM PST - 8 comments

Hi all; I getting bored of the websites I keep in my favorites. I need some new ones--have any you want to share? Science stuff,vintage true crime,vintage photography, whatever you want to share. Not into gaming though. Thank you :-)
posted by LOOKING at 3:47 AM PST - 22 comments

I don't have the words for this (in German or English), which makes the question awkward, but: Is there a thing in German newspapers or magazines where they give you a run down of which people changed jobs / got promoted to important positions this week? [more inside]
posted by Omnomnom at 2:02 AM PST - 6 comments

I know I've posted a lot about noises and sleep here... but bear with me, this is a new situation. I recently moved into a new place, a studio apartment, on a sublease. I saw this place via photos and video and asked lots of questions before deciding this was the place I wanted to move to. But once I moved in I noticed - there's a constant electrical noise coming from a box on the side of the adjacent building. I have been here almost a full week and it has not stopped for a second. [more inside]
posted by LSK at 12:50 AM PST - 19 comments

This is probably a longshot. My SO has been talking about a childhood book called Hobby Horse Cottage by Ms. Read. There appears to be 1 copy of this book available anywhere at any time. We are looking for a digital version or better yet a gently read audio version of the book. Can you please help?
posted by parmanparman at 12:48 AM PST - 4 comments

I'm looking for songs from around the world about food. [more inside]
posted by aws17576 at 11:03 PM PST - 28 comments

I have two medium sized bins of old AC adapters that I'd like to get rid of. I don't know what most of them belong to. I'd like to know whether it's probably safe to get rid of them or whether I ought to hold onto them. [more inside]
posted by NoneOfTheAbove at 10:28 PM PST - 8 comments

I want to purchase a camera for a child who is always interested in using my phone to take pictures with. The vast majority of ones I can find on amazon seem to include games, which I do not want. I don't care if it comes with an SD card or not so long as I can add my own, and I don't really care about video either. So basically looking for a robust, kids-size digital camera that just takes photos.
posted by modernnomad at 9:47 PM PST - 14 comments

My movers took 5.5 hours and charged $1k to move *only the furniture* from my small 1-bedroom apartment, and didn't wear masks despite multiple requests to put them back on. This amount was reduced from $1100 after I made 4 complaint calls. I'm exhausted and so so stressed and need help deciding what more is worth doing at this point. [more inside]
posted by quiet coyote at 8:31 PM PST - 28 comments

I am moving from Texas to California (~1500 miles) in late February. I can't figure out, based on current information, which is least-bad: flying or driving. I have a few pros and cons for each and I'm genuinely torn. Can you provide any insight on which is safer? [more inside]
posted by librarylis at 7:30 PM PST - 20 comments

So, first I'm a man and this is something that has been bothering me. There are certain behaviors that a lot of men I know seem to engage in. I always seem to feel uncomfortable with the way they behave when it comes to women. However, I don't really know whether I'm exaggerating or not. [more inside]
posted by Tarsonis10 at 7:28 PM PST - 27 comments

Daughter loves to play Minecraft but has no friends who will reliably play with her on consistent basis. Being in 100% virtual school this year means she can’t meet new people. I know there are a million other kids playing MC -how can she hook up with some? She is 14 but various ages ok. She has her own realm Looking for kind, playing for fun, gamers only. Help!?!
posted by ChristineSings at 6:23 PM PST - 5 comments

Despite writing quite a lot, I feel like I have never become great at writing transitional sentences in essays. My writing can thus seem choppy. If you have mastered transitions, how did you do it? Is there a great writing manual that helped you? Did you study the transitional sentences of a specific writer? Did you discover a magical formula? Any tips would be most appreciated.
posted by mortaddams at 4:06 PM PST - 7 comments

Due to an ongoing personal issue, among other things, I have an extremely hard time focusing at work. I haven't been employed recently due to COVID and other reasons, but everything just becomes amplified when I am working. Life is infinitely easier when I'm not working. What are some tips, advice, etc. to manage this? Should I even be working? Realistically I need to make it at this job until August, but that seems like such an impossible task right now. [more inside]
posted by signondiego at 3:26 PM PST - 13 comments

Curious if any neuroscience people might know why I process material aurally better when I'm doing some mindless activity. [more inside]
posted by coffeecat at 3:17 PM PST - 18 comments

This is a stressful situation. Please help if you can, and otherwise don't ask. A family member accidentally baked their iPhone in an oven. It contains irreplaceable photos that don't seem to be backed up in iCloud. Is there any hope? [more inside]
posted by telepanda at 3:08 PM PST - 10 comments

My student is using a stopgap chromebook we have on hand for emergencies while their macbook is in the shop. Suddenly chromebooks don't work properly with zoom anymore? [more inside]
posted by nantucket at 2:02 PM PST - 9 comments

How have you improved your handwriting, aside calligraphy? Are you familiar with worksheets for architectural handwriting or script, online or in hardcopy? [more inside]
posted by firstdaffodils at 1:48 PM PST - 12 comments

In any category...whether it's a book or movie, habit or piece of advice, product, whatever, the thing you tell people about whenever you get a chance because it has improved your life so much. [more inside]
posted by lgyre at 1:44 PM PST - 124 comments

Have you moved to a Zoom town? Have you heard of interesting , pandemic-savvy scenic towns, orbiting large cities? Thank you! [more inside]
posted by firstdaffodils at 12:38 PM PST - 21 comments

Coconut oil users and food scientists of the world, am I poisoning myself? (More than usual?) [more inside]
posted by XMLicious at 12:30 PM PST - 7 comments

Our landlords showed up at our house yesterday, told us not to pay rent in February and to be out on March 1. We are tenants-at-will, but this is out of nowhere. A Sheriff showed up today to serve me. The letter indicates "If you fail to so vacate, I shall employee the due course of law to evict you." I have a few questions. I thought evictions were on a stay in MA due to COVID until March. Not that I want to stay, but I might need to. There's no properties to rent near us, and less to buy. You are not my realty lawyer, but you might have understanding of the current law. Any thoughts? Thanks in advance.
posted by Draccy at 12:20 PM PST - 7 comments

I want to have a set of FRS walkie-talkies, for use in an emergency. Which ones should I get? [more inside]
posted by The corpse in the library at 11:22 AM PST - 9 comments

Hi, AskMe. :) I'm switching to a new phone provider today, though porting my old number. I'm realizing I know very little about the way cell phones operate, and I got curious. I remember seeing a previous AskMe post mentioning text messages, but I'd love a broader perspective. [more inside]
posted by Alensin at 11:19 AM PST - 2 comments

I work for a legit author and I am looking to get their self-published book listed in brick & mortar locations, not just Amazon. What distribution networks are there for self-published books to get into bookstores, libraries, etc? Details inside. [more inside]
posted by miltthetank at 10:42 AM PST - 5 comments

I just found out about Airwaves gum which is primarily sold in the UK and parts of Asia. Apparently it is so powerful that it is almost uncomfortable to use. What are your powerful, minty, affordable recommendations that will wake me up and open my sinuses? [more inside]
posted by mecran01 at 10:38 AM PST - 18 comments

I have a problem I don't know how to start solving, and the problem is this: Over the last few months our electricity bill has shot up from ~$200 to ~$400 to ALMOST SEVEN HUNDRED DOLLARS. The electricity company's website suggests that our highest energy utilization is heating, but if we were using as much heating as they're saying our house would have exploded. [more inside]
posted by bleep at 10:29 AM PST - 40 comments

I have two Twitter accounts, and want to change the handle of the less popular one to the more popular one. details below the fold [more inside]
posted by cyndigo at 10:01 AM PST - 4 comments

I need a multi-functional shoulder bag/tote (maybe that converts to a backpack) that looks professional but not boring. I need a laptop sleeve and multiple dividers that would allow me to keep various projects separate. I commute by car or walking and I'd like it to sit upright on the floor...so structured, not floppy. Budget ideally under $200. [more inside]
posted by victoriab at 9:39 AM PST - 9 comments

My brother passed away a couple of months ago. I'm the executor of his estate. I have his Android phone in my possession. I would like to give it to his daughter to use. Of course, she would re-activate it for herself. She would not be using his account or phone number. [more inside]
posted by SheIsMighty at 9:29 AM PST - 6 comments

I have a gmail account with my moderately common last name and first initial which results in me sometimes getting emails intended for other folks. I just got one asking for verification on an unemployment claim and since I don't want a person in need to go without, I'd like to see if I can track down the intended recipient or get the sender to follow up in another way. [more inside]
posted by Cogito at 9:25 AM PST - 12 comments

I have been thinking about getting a tattoo for a long time. I've thought about it so long that my original plan would no longer work, sadly. Snowflakes within. [more inside]
posted by Nieshka at 9:20 AM PST - 5 comments

One of my new years resolutions is to inject a little joy into the word and support small business by sending friends little unexpected care packages. If possible, I'd like to send yummy or nice-quality things that will also serve some greater mission (like this coffee company that hires incarcerated people or this stroopwafel one that hires refugees). Do you have a company like this that you like?
posted by AgentRocket at 8:52 AM PST - 14 comments

There's a certain type of cuisine I've been thinking about recently. It's generally pretty unpopular with foodie types, but it has a nostalgic pull over me. I'd like to be able to make some dishes at home, but there's just not a lot of information to be found. I am talking about American casual dining. [more inside]
posted by kevinbelt at 7:27 AM PST - 23 comments

I do not have room for an official office chair, but my kitchen chairs are slightly too short for me to type comfortably at the table. Looking for some kind of seat cushion/device that will give me a little more height without being too intrusive. Any recommendations? [more inside]
posted by We put our faith in Blast Hardcheese at 7:05 AM PST - 8 comments

I ventured into simple investing using the Stash app starting last May. It was easy and only cost me $1 per month. Last week I tried to change my linked checking account from Chase bank to Chime bank in the app, but Stash was unable to make the change. It has been almost two weeks now that I have been dealing with them over email and the phone. [more inside]
posted by ponibrown at 6:56 AM PST - 5 comments

So I had some success since my previous ask and I was invited to join an online D&D group. Our first game is Sunday. I've never played with strangers before, my previous group were people I knew outside of the game. The only thing I know about this new group is that several of them are women! What are some not-so-obvious things I can do to get off on the right foot? [more inside]
posted by Zumbador at 6:06 AM PST - 7 comments

I'm writing a science fiction story about Soviet exploration of Venus. Could anyone recommend some reading I could do to get a better feel for what regular Soviet life was like in the 70s and 80s? [more inside]
posted by Salvor Hardin at 6:04 AM PST - 13 comments

Is it offensive or unacceptable to joke about White, Industrialized, Educated, Rich & Developed (W.I.E.R.D.) nationality stereotypes? Comments about the French being rude, British food is bland, Germans are too serious, Italians talk loud with their hands, the Spanish still take a siesta, & closer to home, Canadians are too damn polite off-limits in general? At work? I ask out of curiosity & because of recent experiences. Example 1, I called some coworkers “Brits”. Example 2, I made a comment in a job interview about an Argentine stereotype. *facepalm* [more inside]
posted by Che boludo! at 2:49 AM PST - 48 comments

I have no qualifications and live in the UK. My job now requires a Level 3 qualification. What's the easiest and cheapest UK Level 3 qualification I can get? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 11:20 PM PST - 13 comments

We don't expect to be eligible for the vaccine for months, but a family member implied that we may be able to get one through their workplace. We won't pursue it, but if it's offered directly, should we take it? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 11:20 PM PST - 32 comments

I inquired a few weeks ago about a particular sock that had gone out of production, contacted the manufacturer but they had no replacement. It's the old underarmour allseasongear crew sock. The material composition was 80% cotton, 16% polyester, 3% nylon, 1% spandex. Does anyone have good recommendations for a similar white, good thickness, crew sock? Thank you. [lots more in extended] [more inside]
posted by eliluong at 8:35 PM PST - 11 comments

Zoom is a massive data hog. My recent experience trying to do zoom meetings on a throttled network went just fine. I'd like to throttle zoom and google meets always to 1) save data when I'm on limited networks 2) to make it so that when all members of the family are on online class/work meetings things go better. How do I do this? [more inside]
posted by lab.beetle at 7:38 PM PST - 5 comments

I have an ancient OnePlus One that I've limped along with for maybe 5 years now. Although the battery life is shit and the interface annoys me, I have avoided buying a new one because I didn't want to spend the money, But now I *must* buy a new phone because my carrier, T-mobile (and, I gather, other carriers) will not support it after the end of this month. [more inside]
posted by Flock of Cynthiabirds at 5:39 PM PST - 12 comments

I am in Oregon, supervising caregivers who fall into the 1a category for covid vaccinations; that is, the vaccine is available to them and they are encouraged to sign up to receive it. These are caregivers who work with a vulnerable population who are generally at a much higher risk for covid complications, but a surprising majority of caregivers are reluctant to obtain the vaccine. Any (preferably) videos you can point me to that might convince them to give it a go? [more inside]
posted by shocks connery at 3:26 PM PST - 13 comments

We are trying to remember an event which may have really happened, or might just be an urban workplace legend. Some manual workers, maybe in the 19th century, are offered a cash prize for doing the most work in a day. (Shoveling coal? Chopping trees?) They work hard to win the prize and... [more inside]
posted by johngoren at 2:53 PM PST - 12 comments

I have a lot of dried/canned pantry staples that I have hoarded happened to accumulate, and now it's time to cook with them. But finding recipes is flummoxing me...plus bonus lentil-hater who wants to cook lentils question. [more inside]
posted by medusa at 2:37 PM PST - 20 comments

Trying to put together a really bespoke birthday present for someone. What local video rental store or regional chain (not a Blockbuster) would he have gone to in the suburbs of Salt Lake City (Layton or Taylorsville) in the 80s or 90s?
posted by Ideal Impulse at 2:25 PM PST - 8 comments

I just finished writing a musical based on a previously self published book about that I talked about in Mefi Projects. Now, I am trying to get it out into the world. It has been copyrighted and submitted to Writers Guild of America. And yes, I know that is not all I need to do to protect them. That's just background. [more inside]
posted by CollectiveMind at 2:17 PM PST - 11 comments

Years ago a co-worker related a narrative to me that I think she said she had heard on the radio, told by a man about his wife's efforts to host a Martha Stewart Christmas for their family. I've always wanted to track it down and find out how it ended. Can you help identify it? [more inside]
posted by orange swan at 1:27 PM PST - 5 comments

After an attempted break-in at my home earlier this winter + crime rates of all kinds skyrocketing + reduced police force in my area (Minneapolis) this past year, I'm feeling like I should maybe finally look into getting some kind of augmented home security. But I have all kind of Big Feelings about this, plus there are so many options that I am having an incredibly difficult time deciding what I actually need and why it matters. Can you help me sort through my options? [more inside]
posted by anderjen at 12:56 PM PST - 18 comments

Does anyone have recommendations on where I can learn more about how vector files work when making 3D printing directions (specifically in Inkscape because I don't know enough to take directions for Illustrator and convert them to steps in Inkscape)? [more inside]
posted by brilliantine at 12:13 PM PST - 6 comments

I use the New York App on my phone quite a bit. I can't seem to read all the things I want to and am wondering of there is an app or utility that will read select stories to me while driving. [more inside]
posted by citybuddha at 10:58 AM PST - 8 comments

Please recommend web designers (visual designers) with strong experience in, and appreciation of, accessibility guidelines. Drupal experience a strong plus. [more inside]
posted by kristi at 10:51 AM PST - 5 comments

How can I ensure maximum safety while travelling on transit, shopping at grocery stores and pharmacies, and visiting a vulnerable family member for 6 hours at a time? Step by step if possible. [more inside]
posted by cotton dress sock at 10:43 AM PST - 14 comments

Over the last few years one of my productivity tools has been Hearthstone. I can start a game while doing busywork and alternate between the two, because of two qualities it has: one, there's no narrative or overarching need to pay attention, and two, you're obligated to wait between your turns because you can't do anything on your opponent's turn. So it's very nice as a fidget - I can do a few busywork things, play my turn, and jump back to busywork. Are there any other games like this?
posted by LSK at 10:24 AM PST - 12 comments

I am trying to send a gift of navel oranges and there are numerous options. Have you ordered / received a shipment from one that was top quality? If so, what was the company / grove name? All suggestions welcome, thank you!
posted by racersix6 at 10:23 AM PST - 10 comments

My friend is a Thai citizen who is interested in coming to the United States for an extended period. I suggested that the best way for him to do this might be an academic program for learning English. Can anyone recommend something like this?
posted by matkline at 9:04 AM PST - 8 comments

Grain of salt for armchair diagnostician bullshit. I do not have an ADD diagnosis but I have a lifetime of history that suggests it. (Stupid irony: Kaiser makes you fill out a 40 page packet to even start the process of getting diagnosed. Guess whether I finished it.) Anyway I am thinking about pursuing this again esp after reading an article saying "lots of people get convinced they don't/didn't have ADHD because they did well in school." Blah blah tldr; I would like to spend some portion of my life not feeling 100% unable, many days, to do simple components of my job. I am curious about meds. [more inside]
posted by less of course at 7:06 AM PST - 28 comments

I have notes on many things spread out amongst many applications, because Chaos is the only god, I guess, but I do not like it. Also some of those apps have been rendered unusable because they don't care about accessibility and I can't stare at BRIGHT WHITE for very long. (Freaking Basecamp.) I keep seeing Org Mode for Emacs heralded as the solution to all things, but then from what I can tell, there isn't an Emacs for Big Sur (Mac OS 11.1). Is this...right? Why? Please help me. [more inside]
posted by schadenfrau at 5:58 AM PST - 9 comments

I was a confident making games in Flash, but I've never been able to get into phone app development. The things I liked most about CS3 were dragging things around a visual 'screen' to see what they would look like, and the 'just works' aspect - I could just write code, output it to swf, and have a thing that worked on a web page exactly liked it worked on my computer - there wasn't any fuss with virtualenvs or anything like that. (I'm a hobbyist, not a professional developer). Is there anything out there with these features?
posted by wattle at 4:49 AM PST - 5 comments

So I accidentally installed my blackout curtain too low and there is a lot of light seepage from the top. Is there any way to somehow block some of that light coming in without having to redo the curtain? The room is not currently dark enough.
posted by massofintuition at 3:59 AM PST - 10 comments

I have been saving a short vm on my iphone from a family member who passed away a few months ago. [more inside]
posted by nantucket at 2:36 AM PST - 5 comments

I'm looking for anime that's like Today's Menu for the Emiya Family and After School Dice Club. [more inside]
posted by some little punk in a rocket at 12:22 AM PST - 21 comments

I've been in therapy for about 3 years. The therapist I've had for most of that time had to abruptly take a leave due to a very serious family medical issue, so I'm being paired with someone else at the practice, for an indeterminate period of time (it could be a few months to forever). How do I best go about this? I've had a very eventful last few years that I'm still dealing with the fall-out from. How much of that do I need to cover, vs how much will be in the notes? [more inside]
posted by Sparky Buttons at 7:50 PM PST - 7 comments

There is exactly one recipe that I use lentils for, but I'd like to add some more recipes that use lentils to my repertoire! [more inside]
posted by VirginiaPlain at 7:09 PM PST - 44 comments

I am a HUGE fan of old-school pop and bubblegum music (think early Sonny & Cher, The Cowsills, The Archies, Hermans Hermits, Dave Clark Five, etc.) and power pop (Sweet, New Pornographers, etc.) What music is out now that scratches this itch? Or any other rec's for GREAT 60-70's pop?
posted by Lipstick Thespian at 6:14 PM PST - 50 comments

What simple roast veggies could I fill a tortilla with and have it be delicious? [more inside]
posted by southern_sky at 6:07 PM PST - 23 comments

Is there anything you've purchased, any classes or hobbies you've started, or practices you've adopted that have seriously upgraded your life during this pandemic? [more inside]
posted by everydayanewday at 6:02 PM PST - 57 comments

Asking on behalf of my niece, aged 13, who will be reading the replies. She is currently on day 47 of a constant and heavy period, which is having a big effect on her quality of life. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 5:01 PM PST - 43 comments

I'm trying to think of a 1950's tv show about a man that involved still cartoon drawings. His name may have been something like "Winslow"
posted by mcbeitz at 3:31 PM PST - 6 comments

I need to purchase a new pair of workout sneakers online, and my current faves have been discontinued. Help me find the ones that'll suit me? [more inside]
posted by BlahLaLa at 2:39 PM PST - 6 comments

I have a partially finished basement and, while moving out, I've discovered some horrifying blackness. The blackness is on the carpet and on the boxes of some collectible items. When I go into the basement my eyes burn and start to swell in a matter of minutes. I have very bad allergies to mold, mildew and pollen. I don't know my mildews from my molds, or how bad to treat the damaged items. Repair is preferable to replace... Photos and more info inside... Thanks in advance for any help. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 1:59 PM PST - 4 comments

Yesterday I learned that there is a nonstop flight from Whitehorse, YT to Frankfurt. The one in Germany. I think this is the wildest thing! And it made me wonder -- what are other extremely unexpected nonstop flights? [more inside]
posted by goodbyewaffles at 1:31 PM PST - 41 comments

If you introduce two kittens and it doesn't work well (ie one attacking and overpowering the other till they both have to separated), is there any way to re-set? I'm worried they're never going to get along after such a bad start! [more inside]
posted by flimflamflop at 1:30 PM PST - 6 comments

Someone has stolen my mother's Facebook account and set it up as an alternative profile. How can I help from a distance. [more inside]
posted by meinvt at 1:09 PM PST - 6 comments

Hello, I have an itch to scratch. I would like to read Twin Peaks-y books that are also funny, preferably laugh-out-loud funny. [more inside]
posted by maddieD at 1:00 PM PST - 4 comments

There is only one fork that we own that my wife likes. I would like to buy a set of cutlery matching it. This may not be possible. Can you find this exact fork and a place I can buy it. [more inside]
posted by Just this guy, y'know at 12:38 PM PST - 16 comments

9 year old is a bit of a ham and she finds youtube videos of kids performing unusual, funny talents enthralling and inspiring. (She practices when she sees things she likes.) Looking for different kinds of skills to introduce her to (see below). [more inside]
posted by Omnomnom at 12:34 PM PST - 3 comments

I have been trying to sell a microphone that I bought used a few years ago. I've had two offers to buy it, and both of them have asked if they can return it if it doesn't work. This seems really scammy to me, and it's something I've never had happen when I've previously sold things on Craigslist. Is this normal?
posted by pxe2000 at 12:22 PM PST - 16 comments

I love Tik Tok right now--such a fun diversion! However, I follow too many food accounts and not enough fun/funny/informative/dance accounts. Can you give me some recommendations for those?
posted by bookworm4125 at 12:15 PM PST - 5 comments

The one year anniversary of my mother’s suicide is approaching, and I’m grappling with what we could have done differently. [more inside]
posted by unstrungharp at 12:00 PM PST - 23 comments

Now that I have heard "Soul Cargo (Fade Away Suite)," I realllly want to find a lot more music by Popcorn. What do I want to be looking for, and where? Or were they like a one-hit wonder? [more inside]
posted by wenestvedt at 11:41 AM PST - 2 comments

My partner and I recently made an offer on a newly built home and it was accepted. We were so excited to find something that checked all the boxes after searching for almost two years. Everything finally seemed to be falling into place. Thank god our offer was subject to inspection because, well... the inspection is not going well. Are these normal issues that will be fixed easily, or do we need to cut and run? [more inside]
posted by keep it under cover at 11:10 AM PST - 49 comments

Looking for a long quote by someone famous, about how one of the best things a person can do for themselves is learn to let go of people who don't love them, in order to avoid getting bogged down in anger and make room for those who will. It was by someone famous, perhaps an actor, perhaps Michael Caine, and might have appeared in Portuguese in an FB meme... but none of these clues have led me anywhere... please help!
posted by rpfields at 10:50 AM PST - 3 comments

Friend X is getting married. I will give them a gift, and because Reasons, I want to spend quite a bit to purchase something big from their registry. Friend A also wants to give them a gift, and suggested going in on one together. Friend A is a senior and on a very limited income and will not be able to spend that much money. How to navigate this politely and without hurting Friend A's feelings? [more inside]
posted by BlahLaLa at 9:23 AM PST - 16 comments

My partner has Covid, and I am freaking out. Please help me deal. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 9:12 AM PST - 16 comments

I need an endoscopy - do I get it done at a specialty clinic in a month or at a hospital in a week? (Toronto edition) [more inside]
posted by facehugger at 9:06 AM PST - 4 comments

Caucasian male, mid-fifties. Shaving takes forever. Growing a beard creates other problems. More inside. [more inside]
posted by mecran01 at 9:05 AM PST - 18 comments

My wife and I share an Amazon card for personal and family purchases on Amazon.com. We use Mint to keep track of all our expenses but it doesn't have any visibility into the Amazon purchases. Any ideas on how to manage this better? [more inside]
posted by cgs at 8:08 AM PST - 14 comments

I'm looking for suggestions for gifts for my wife, an experienced sewist who is getting into weaving. [more inside]
posted by rustcellar at 7:00 AM PST - 10 comments

I'm looking for good literary descriptions of the terror / hopelessness one can feel when something bad is happening and it's ineviteable. Do you know of an author who's described this well, or is there a specific word in English or other languages which fit the bill? [more inside]
posted by monocultured at 6:51 AM PST - 25 comments

I have several time periods set up on my work calendar (Outlook) as "out of office" so nobody schedules meetings during those periods. I also sync my work calendar as one of many calendars on my iphone (iCal) and want to ONLY see work meeting that are actual meetings when on my phone. [more inside]
posted by DoubleLune at 6:49 AM PST - 3 comments

A otherwise fairly fact-constrained Washington Post columnist wrote a weird article about spotting evil clones. Is there a joke I'm not getting? [more inside]
posted by jackbishop at 6:41 AM PST - 12 comments

Should I repair or replace my 17-year-old Yamaha CLP-170 Clavinova? I LOVE it, but it's really showing its age. I'd be happy to buy a replacement but I'm worried about the quality of a new one. [more inside]
posted by zibra at 6:26 AM PST - 3 comments

Not long ago a quote floated through my social media sphere, pointing out that amazing female musicians in the 1970s like Charo and Dolly Parton were sold as much as sex symbols as musicians, and that amazing male musicians like Bob Dylan didn't have to put up with boob jokes. Today my google-fu is failing. Can someone help me find that quote?
posted by Sublimity at 5:43 AM PST - 3 comments

I'm not sure how to take care of my own mental health during this time. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 12:33 AM PST - 23 comments

Is there a polite way to refer to someone in the third person when I know only their birth name, not their preferred name? I’m writing to friends about a distant friend's now-grown child. I don't want to offend anyone by using the child's dead name, but I've forgotten their preferred name. There must be something better than "formerly known as" or awkwardly trying to write around the problem with generic pronouns.
posted by kgander at 9:47 PM PST - 17 comments

Can you help my statewide activist group integrate functions such as membership administration, dues payment, and a newsletter? [more inside]
posted by furtheryet at 5:29 PM PST - 3 comments

My very much loved 31 year old daughter died on January 2nd. Her dad wrote a lovely tribute to her a few days later, which of course has been buried by multiple posts over the past couple of weeks not related to Jordan or her death. [more inside]
posted by she's not there at 5:13 PM PST - 10 comments

I want to do something for people that are providing vaccine. What should that be? [more inside]
posted by pdb at 4:48 PM PST - 8 comments

We got our cat from the Humane Society on Dec. 21. We named her “Maxine”, but she doesn’t recognize her name or any words yet. Are there any tricks to helping a cat learn her name? Or do you have an estimate on how long it might take? [more inside]
posted by furtheryet at 3:44 PM PST - 24 comments

I've noticed a specific taste/texture that I really like in chicken thighs prepared in restaurants - but I don't know what this quality might be called or how to make that magic happen in my own kitchen. [more inside]
posted by snerson at 3:24 PM PST - 17 comments

I’m looking for advice and resources about being in hospital (in this case, for a planned surgical admission) with PTSD. This is basically impossible to google, because all l get is information about hospital inpatient treatment *for* PTSD, or people developing PTSD after a traumatic hospitalisation. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 3:04 PM PST - 10 comments

I live in Redmond, WA, and right before the the US election, a LOT of the shared blue mailboxes around town were taken away. How can we get them back? [more inside]
posted by evilmonk at 1:59 PM PST - 3 comments

My friend recently graduated college and his girlfriend of 6 months is 15 weeks pregnant and plans on keeping the baby regardless of his involvement. He does not want a baby and is unsure whether he even wants to stay in the relationship. Assuming she has the baby and putting aside the financial support, what are resources for thinking through the options of what this will look like? In terms of his responsibilities to her, his new child, and himself and keeping his sanity. [more inside]
posted by aaabbbccc at 11:25 AM PST - 32 comments

My cat is old (not totally sure how old). She doesn't have any painful maladies but howls a lot and seems uncomfortable. I could use some insights from other cat people who have made end-of-life calls for their pets. Details within... [more inside]
posted by dry white toast at 10:28 AM PST - 21 comments

In 2020 Trump said something disparaging about Nate Silver and his polling site (FiveThirtyEight, as in 538 electoral votes). Trump got the number wrong, like 406 or something. What did he say, and what was that wrong number?
posted by Monochrome at 10:24 AM PST - 1 comment

I'd like to build an app for my town with bike routes that connect cool homes. I've got routes already, plus home descriptions and pictures. I've always had an amateur interest in GIS stuff, and would like to build an app as a way of learning more about current work in that area and to showcase something fun to do in our town. [more inside]
posted by atchafalaya at 9:54 AM PST - 7 comments

There are two people in my community (USA) that seem to have crossed a line. They didn’t literally storm the capital but they have the ideology and the means to do it elsewhere and/or inspire others to do so. They have large followings in secret groups that I have access to. Reporting to my local police seems like a terrible idea since the police here are populated by plenty of that type. The FBI site says to contact local law enforcement. Where do I report someone, and not compromise my own safety? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 9:32 AM PST - 15 comments

Our 4 year old is close to being kicked out of preschool due to rage and yelling fits. Nothing has changed at home lately (no family drama). We don't have a lot of free time due to work and just want to get her back on track so this doesn't get worse. Anger issues were also noted at a previous preschool, but at the previous place it was a bit smaller and the staff could give her a bit more personal attention. Our assumption is that she got a lack of respect for authority from one parent and a short fuse from the other parent, we guess this is part of her character and not due to some recent trauma. If you know of a good child psychologist in the East Bay that deals with rage issues for kids I would welcome all recommendations.
posted by anonymous at 9:24 AM PST - 11 comments

I yearn for the vibes in this incredibly adorable drawing of Animal Crossing characters preparing for dinner. Do you know other artists who consistently create cute, cartoonish images of people gathering to eat with warm tones like this? Bonus points if they're on social media, and if they're on Tumblr or Twitter!
posted by facehugger at 8:42 AM PST - 5 comments

My relative is very very old and recently returned from the hospital after suffering several mini strokes. He also has parkinsons and hasn't walked since these strokes. According to his wife the hospital initially was going to send him home with oxygen but then changed their minds. [more inside]
posted by elgee at 8:34 AM PST - 7 comments

I've started eating in a low carb way, not particularly aiming for ketosis or counting macronutrients, just avoiding bread, potatoes, rice and pasta (these are usually a fairly big part of my diet). The goal is weight loss - I'm in good general health, no diabetes or high blood pressure, but carrying 20kg more than I would like. My diet over the past two weeks has consisted mainly of meats of various kinds, full-fat yogurt, fruits and vegetables. I've noticed a few effects, and I'm not sure if these are temporary effects of the adjustment in diet, or potential deal-breakers. [more inside]
posted by altolinguistic at 6:44 AM PST - 22 comments

I'm looking for sandboxy, non-actiony, single-player games that will run on a mid-2015 iMac. [more inside]
posted by escape from the potato planet at 4:27 AM PST - 13 comments

We have a tradition of eating the takeout leftovers from the night before as breakfast the next day (chilaquiles, cheesecake-stuffed waffles, spaghetti fritatta, etc.) However when we get pizza we always end up eating it straight as warmed up pizza for brunch. Anyone have any actually tested treatments for pizza in the morning? (Putting it on a bagel has been considered.) (Just slapping an egg on it isn’t beneath of us but that’s just about the only other idea I’ve had.)
posted by stoneandstar at 2:19 AM PST - 18 comments

After several years as a stay at home parent, I've found myself in need of what this site often refers to as a "survival job." I've accepted that my next job will probably be in retail or food service working beside teenagers or college students. My question is how, as a middle-aged person who hasn't worked in years and whose last job required a college degree, do I make myself more likely to get one of those jobs? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 10:06 PM PST - 44 comments

1. Is it possible that our regular arguments are in some way influenced by my wife's cycle, or is that just misogynistic and wrong mindset? 2. and details below the fold [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 10:06 PM PST - 67 comments

My parents are gone now, so I can't ask them, but when I was very young I was taken to a Disney park and I have a faint memory of one attraction that I would like to identify. [more inside]
posted by LastOfHisKind at 8:37 PM PST - 12 comments

A close friend I will be talking to tomorrow had things go slightly sideways at work at the end of last week. There's nothing to be done until Monday, but they can't stop thinking about it. Level of difficulty: They have a diagnosed anxiety disorder. [more inside]
posted by JawnBigboote at 6:34 PM PST - 12 comments

Looking for a virtual writing group specifically for humanities or social sci doctoral students trying to finish their dissertations, more details inside. [more inside]
posted by CancerSucks at 5:27 PM PST - 4 comments

I need to have my birth certificate Apostilled. The Secretary of State’s office is closed due to Covid—indefinitely according to their voicemail. They are not taking phone calls or emails. I see that third party apostille services exist for hefty fees—are they legitimate? [more inside]
posted by stillmoving at 3:21 PM PST - 2 comments

I have a client site utilizing the Wordpress platform where spam is starting to appear in the actual text of pre-existing blog posts. I am familiar with comment spam. But this actually putting spam into the post itself is a new one on me. [more inside]
posted by jammy at 3:14 PM PST - 15 comments

There are a lot of feelings, sensations, and observations that I don't have much vocabulary for! Can you please suggest vocabulary to describe how you feel, when you feel things that are kind of unique? [more inside]
posted by rebent at 2:20 PM PST - 15 comments

Like everyone approaching the one year anniversary of staying home, our 8 year old is BORED. He likes trivia. Is there a cool trivia app that he would enjoy playing either alone or with others? Doesn’t have to be kid focused. He thinks he’s ready for all things grown up.
posted by Xalf at 1:33 PM PST - 5 comments

Friend's boyfriend's dog regularly licks her feet. She doesn't like it. [more inside]
posted by SageTrail at 12:03 PM PST - 24 comments

I just watched The King on Netflix, a movie about King Henry V, and have a question about Henry's younger brother Thomas. I don't normally fact check historical dramas but I was curious about one point, Googled it, and found a discrepancy that is driving me crazy to the point I can't let go. Question inside in case it might be spoilery. [more inside]
posted by daikon at 11:19 AM PST - 7 comments

My coffee grinder's grounds catch cup has a crack that is threatening to turn into a full break. I'd like to repair it before that happens, and I'm trying to decide on the best adhesive -- and mostly whether I really need a food-grade glue for this. [more inside]
posted by egregious theorem at 10:34 AM PST - 15 comments

I’ve basically been living in yoga pants since the shelter-in-place started and I’m now in need of new yoga pants. Where do you get your fav basic ones? [more inside]
posted by machine at 10:22 AM PST - 5 comments

YANMV, but does my dog need to get his teeth deep cleaned every year? (deep clean = full dental cleaning, x rays, possible extractions, while under anaesthesia). He's had it this the last 2 years in a row (the second year they had to pull two teeth), and our vet brought up doing it again this year. 5 year old dog, no underlying health problems besides allergies, no mouth pain. This year the vet said he had "moderate plaque buildup." Could we skip this year, actually start brushing his teeth, and get this done every 2 - 3 years or so? [more inside]
posted by Geameade at 8:28 AM PST - 19 comments

I bought the IKEA SIMRISHAMN pendant lamp, and it's great. But I haven't been able to find LED bulbs that are warm enough for it, and the instructions don't offer an incandescent equivalent — it asks for a 7W E12 LED bulb, and doesn't list an incandescent equivalent. Is that because incandescent bulbs aren't safe in enclosed fixtures like this one, or can I just buy a sufficiently low-wattage bulb?
posted by alycoop at 8:26 AM PST - 9 comments

Does anyone know what the books on the bookshelf in the Oval Office are? [more inside]
posted by Tamanna at 7:19 AM PST - 10 comments

Can anyone suggest balanced, rigorous and un-moralising sources of information on what recreational drugs do to the developing teenage brain, presented in a way that is appropriate for a teenager?
posted by Grinder at 7:04 AM PST - 4 comments

My mom is having problems with streaming Amazon and Netflix in her apartment. She has AT&T internet in her apartment building (not sure if fiber), and watches on a ~6yo Samsung smart TV. The symptom she’s seeing is that both Amazon and Netflix will freeze partway through a show and the show can’t be restarted. [more inside]
posted by chesty_a_arthur at 6:39 AM PST - 11 comments

Long story really short, the basement is full of rats. It has been unoccupied by people and just by animals for 30-60 days. I just gained access. I need help. [more inside]
posted by AlexiaSky at 10:50 PM PST - 27 comments

Help a biologist trying to do math and in over their head. I'm trying to do some modeling and would like to find the inverse of the equation f(x) = ln(|x|)/u - (ln(|vx-p|))/kv + C when 0<x<p/v. Is this possible? Can anyone point me to a solution or a resource where people good at math answer these types of questions? Stuck and really not sure who to ask. Thanks!
posted by 12%juicepulp at 10:22 PM PST - 10 comments

Is there anything approximating an all-in-one liquid cooler setup for the MSI RTX 3090 Gaming X Trio? [more inside]
posted by FatherDagon at 10:14 PM PST - 1 comment

Do you know of any prescribers in NYC who write prescriptions for Strattera/Atomoxetine to pregnant people? Alternatively, do you know of any studies that exist for pregnant people taking atomoxetine to provide data for future people who depend on this medication to maintain and control my focus? [more inside]
posted by bilabial at 6:55 PM PST - 7 comments

My family and I are moving to Portland, Oregon, from out of state and we're wondering how and when we enroll in public schools. Added difficulty, we'd like to enroll in the Spanish immersion program. [more inside]
posted by HE Amb. T. S. L. DuVal at 4:07 PM PST - 7 comments

I was due to go to the dentist back in July and cancelled the appointment due to the pandemic. Now I'm wondering how I should assess the exposure risk involved in going to the dentist vs the overall health risk of not going to the dentist. I'm interested primarily in where you would go for information to make this decision, rather than you telling me what you would do or what I should do. [more inside]
posted by hoyland at 3:33 PM PST - 26 comments

So, I got an amazing Brother black and white multipurpose laser printer, and as predicted, am so very happy with it! Except for one problem: I had some letterhead printed my local copy-print shop on decent quality paper, and when I run it through my printer, somehow the printer is lifting the ink of the logo and "repeating" the pattern twice more on down the page. Have you ever encountered this? [more inside]
posted by dreamphone at 1:57 PM PST - 14 comments

Got a doorbell cam, works great mostly. The only problem is that it faces east, so when a person is at the door during the day, the back light of the sun tends to darken their actual face, so it's hard to see the person's features, especially if they have darker skin. [more inside]
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 1:49 PM PST - 5 comments

I know two kids who are special to me - not siblings - who are far across the country, who are each twelve years old. They are turning thirteen in a few weeks, and I just got the bright idea to send them thirteen of....something to make them smile, for their birthday. But what! [more inside]
posted by 41swans at 1:16 PM PST - 15 comments

I'm finally able to garden again! Hooray! But most of the companies I'm familiar with are US ones and I'm in Canada now. Where can I order plants and gardening supplies? [more inside]
posted by congen at 1:06 PM PST - 11 comments

With the Democrats sweeping Georgia, they now the control the "legislative agenda" in the Senate. What exactly does that mean/entail? [more inside]
posted by BadgerDoctor at 12:45 PM PST - 7 comments

A couple days ago, I went to Youtube and a message popped up that my "channel" had been removed for violations of their terms of service. Channel is obviously their term for a user account, but... I don't really have a channel. The only reason I have a Youtube login at all is because it's part of the Googleverse, and I have a Google login that persists across Google properties. I don't actually *do* anything on Youtube except watch videos. I don't upload any videos, I don't comment, I don't even up or downvote. I haven't lost any real functionality, so it doesn't really bother me, but I'm just really confused. What could I have done? [more inside]
posted by kevinbelt at 12:08 PM PST - 14 comments

So we need a poster made and the designer asked us to show him three posters that are in the spirit of what we want. Well I - and other team members - pulled down 20 or so from the internet and now I need put them all in one place and have people vote for three they like the most. What's the easiest way to do this?
posted by rileyray3000 at 12:00 PM PST - 4 comments

I just got a robocall (UGH HELLO FIRST CLUE WHERE IS MY BRAIN TODAY) about "suspicious activity" on my Amazon account. They asked me to press 1 to talk to customer service. I did, because sometimes you just aren't thinking. How much trouble am I in? [more inside]
posted by tzikeh at 11:44 AM PST - 14 comments

Does where you live have a driving style, dominant driving culture, or set of unspoken rules for drivers? Are all big city drivers more likely to be aggressive? Of course, not all freeway drivers in LA are hellaciously aggressive, but on balance, there's more 90mph swerving in and out of lanes. I noticed that "Drive Friendly the Texas Way" did seem to mean that drivers were more likely to make room for others to merge in traffic. In Arizona, though, it seemed like the majority of drivers passed on the right even when there was ample room to pass on the left. [more inside]
posted by spamandkimchi at 10:28 AM PST - 82 comments

My dad's birthday is coming up (in three days!) and he also just officially retired, a goal he's been dreaming about for years. I wanted to do something uniquely special for this occasion, but for a few reasons I'm struggling to come with good ideas! [more inside]
posted by caitcadieux at 10:13 AM PST - 12 comments

Are you happy with your online purchases of durable thin frames with *progressive* lenses? From which seller? Searching MF asks and posts doesn't speak to my questions; the most recent ask for online retailer suggestions was for progressives was 2015. [more inside]
posted by conscious matter at 9:34 AM PST - 12 comments

We live in a pretty white area and some parents at our preschool have volunteered to help build some curriculum that can bring anti-racist teaching into the school. What works for ages 3-4-5, especially if the kids are mostly of a white/homogeneous background? [more inside]
posted by yearly at 9:15 AM PST - 3 comments

I am shortly going over to stay with a friend who is deeply upset. Social services were called to talk to her young children at preschool. The children are still meeting with the social services people and have not yet come home. After they come home, what should I do or say or definitely not do and not say to help them after a challenging day? [more inside]
posted by Bella Donna at 8:06 AM PST - 12 comments

Please help me find this bird video. [more inside]
posted by essexjan at 7:53 AM PST - 1 comment

Hi. I am gathering possessions from my mother's home after she recently passed away. She has windchimes that have a Chinese symbol and I was able to determine that the Ji symbol (good luck) is on it, but it's upside down! Factory error or deliberate. Should I dismantle and turn around or keep it the way it is? Thanks so much in advance.
posted by Jandoe at 7:49 AM PST - 7 comments

Frequent critical internet (zoom/browsing) failures with 2012 Macbook Pro on Mojave…… but other machines on network work fine. Temporarily fixed by rebooting router and cable modem, but always returns. WTF? [more inside]
posted by lalochezia at 7:16 AM PST - 18 comments

US Americans working in finance-related jobs, what career options are available for someone who has experience working at a UK firm? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 7:13 AM PST - 4 comments

I very much need advice on both halves of this question: how do you slowly withdraw or distance from toxic family without a dramatic departure, and how do you find new "family by choice" when you're a mid-40s never-partnered male bad at finding new friends? Slight bit more after fold. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 7:11 AM PST - 4 comments

My partner has a small art studio where she does some painting and other crafty things. I'd like to get her a gift (or gifts) that will add some joy to the room. [more inside]
posted by backwards guitar at 5:26 AM PST - 8 comments

I have a $200 gift certificate for the US Amazon site (amazon.com). The problem is, I live in an EU country and I would prefer to avoid possible shipping delays or border taxes. So I am looking for third party sellers on amazon.com who are based in the EU, and ship from an EU country. [more inside]
posted by exquisite_deluxe at 4:40 AM PST - 6 comments

One of my relatives entered their birth date and SSN on a scam site, and I'm wondering if I've suggested all the steps they can take. [more inside]
posted by zeek321 at 7:03 PM PST - 4 comments

Tell me about zoning shipping containers [more inside]
posted by geegollygosh at 6:44 PM PST - 12 comments

one of my favorite non-fiction books of the past few years is "salt: a world history." recommend to me books in that vein that i will love just as much!
posted by megan_magnolia at 5:54 PM PST - 43 comments

I used to be able to click on a multi-photo Tweet in Tweetdeck and use the arrow keys to flip through the images. I got a new computer, and now that isn’t working. Is there a way to turn that back on? I’m on a MacBook Air, but the previous computer was a MacBook Air, too, and as far as I can tell all my other preferences made the transfer.
posted by Charity Garfein at 5:37 PM PST - 4 comments

I'm currently pretty unhappy at my job at a small company due to some management issues (CEO is micromanaging my team and directly contradicting priorities set by my manager). Morale on my team is very low, priorities are unclear, the company is not doing very well and I have no room for growth here. In short, it's past time for me to leave. [more inside]
posted by mekily at 4:55 PM PST - 5 comments

My shower is no longer working (water only drips out), but the bathtub faucet still works and has good water pressure. I’d like to attach some kind of shower head to the faucet. [more inside]
posted by dianeF at 3:33 PM PST - 27 comments

Looking for stress relief during Covid, but the MUSHes I frequented ten years or so ago are all closed. Does anyone know any that are still ongoing and - dare I hope - populated? [more inside]
posted by corb at 3:04 PM PST - 5 comments

Someone mentioned this song in one of the threads related to the sea shanty trend. I love it dearly and fondly remember one of my Russian teachers in St. Petersburg teaching us to sing it while he played the guitar. All I can find on youtube is grandiose versions (ie. Red Army Choir) but I'd love some versions with just a person singing along with a guitar or piano. And some casual (but spirited of course) versions of people singing in a group with great harmonies. Please set me on the right track? [more inside]
posted by kitcat at 1:08 PM PST - 4 comments

I have a clear memory of a book I read as a child where the protagonist's family was the first one in the town to get an indoor toilet. Everyone marveled at it because it was an "indoor toilet that doesn't stink." I believe this book was part of a series. More details inside... [more inside]
posted by Betelgeuse at 12:43 PM PST - 8 comments

We've acquired a cat and he doesn't seem quite right. [more inside]
posted by Joan Rivers of Babylon at 12:33 PM PST - 17 comments

How would I write this expression in numbers, and why? The difference of two subtracted from eight divided by one third. [more inside]
posted by archimago at 11:47 AM PST - 27 comments

In the past month, I've read an article (I think in the New Yorker) that referenced a piece of sociological research from the Seventies. But where did I read this? [more inside]
posted by MinPin at 11:26 AM PST - 4 comments

I recently got a job offer for a desk (non-retail) job. I have been working a part-time retail job since late 2019. I'm seriously complementing keeping the part-time job, but am also struggling with some aspects. [more inside]
posted by thoughtful_analyst at 10:29 AM PST - 24 comments

I'm a dual US-Canadian citizen looking into changing my last name, but not reverting to my maiden name. What are my considerations on the US side? [more inside]
posted by mireille at 9:59 AM PST - 0 comments

Due to pain, pressure, and problems swallowing I asked my doctor to get me an ultra sound on my known nodules... continued inside [more inside]
posted by beccaj at 9:58 AM PST - 5 comments

Our cat litter needs an upgrade! Can you recommend a good product for a senior, long haired cat? [more inside]
posted by Space Kitty at 8:42 AM PST - 15 comments

I need a new, or possibly new-to-me laptop, and I know next to nothing about what to buy or how much I could reasonably expect to pay for it. Help? [more inside]
posted by orange swan at 8:42 AM PST - 24 comments

Is "signal" used to mean 'notable' or 'prominent' commonly paired with any words beside achievement, accomplishment or failure? [more inside]
posted by Sockdown at 7:31 AM PST - 17 comments

Trader Joe's sells these delicious sesame honey almonds and sesame honey cashews that are great for snacking. At the end of the bag, there are significant residual sesame seeds leftover, along with some broken nuts. We're talking at least a quarter cup. What can I do with these sesame seeds so they don't go to waste? [more inside]
posted by stripesandplaid at 6:21 AM PST - 20 comments

My pre-teen wants to arm-knit a blanket as a gift, but the suggested yarn is too expensive for her budget ($9.99/skein, and she needs five to eight). Are there cheaper alternatives, or a better place to find it? [more inside]
posted by wenestvedt at 5:33 AM PST - 12 comments

How do I stop replying to things in real time? [more inside]
posted by unicorn chaser at 5:12 AM PST - 13 comments

By a "Magnitsky-type law" I refer to legislation that imposes sanction on individuals for their roles in oppressive regimes. (Named after Sergei Magnitsky, previouslies on MeFi). My questions is this: Is there evidence that Magnitsky laws actually work? [more inside]
posted by runcifex at 1:15 AM PST - 11 comments

I'm looking for blogs, Youtube channels, Instagram, any other media that shares home decor inspiration, how-tos, DIY, where-to-buy, how-to-shop-for, and any other advice. Bonus points for affordable, massive bonus points for Canadian. [more inside]
posted by keep it under cover at 11:55 PM PST - 12 comments

I have a new iPad and I want a case for it. I am looking for an iPad case that has an image by Magritte (first choice The Blank Signature), Escher, or Dominique Appia on it. For the life of me o can’t figure out where to find one for the current generation iPad. Help?
posted by bq at 9:37 PM PST - 4 comments

I am mildly curious about poetry that is organic to sign language (that is, not interpreted from an oral language). I am curious about what is visually analogous to rhythm, rhyme and alliteration, and any other related info. [more inside]
posted by NotLost at 8:03 PM PST - 6 comments

I would like to eventually pursue a PhD/DPhil after my master's (hopefully at McGill or University of Toronto for an MA in Political Science. I am wondering as a Canadian, is it better to stay and pursue a PhD in Canada rather than England? [more inside]
posted by RearWindow at 6:05 PM PST - 12 comments

I have a half box of left over engineered floorboards. Is it worth keeping them for a possible floor repair or can I get rid of them? [more inside]
posted by AnnaRat at 5:38 PM PST - 16 comments

There was what I assume is a baby snake outside when I got home. It's still there. Any idea what kind it might be? Picture here I wouldn't think it was the time of year for baby snakes (January in Virginia).
posted by one4themoment at 3:25 PM PST - 8 comments

Does anyone have a recommendation for a company or individual to consult regarding my resume for a law school application. Everything else in my application is done, but I have only every used my resume for work, and I would like to review it with a professional before I submit it.
posted by davidstandaford at 2:48 PM PST - 5 comments

Are there any tips for finding a therapist who is ready for a more "advanced" patient who doesn't want to talk about the importance of drinking tea when sad? Or do you have any direct recommendations now that geography doesn't seem to matter anymore? [more inside]
posted by bleep at 1:59 PM PST - 19 comments

What is the best book that provides an overview of the nineties? [more inside]
posted by cursed at 1:05 PM PST - 2 comments

I made a substantial loan to a family member several years ago. Both of us are US-ian. Though we have a signed loan agreement etc., we didn’t go through a conventional lender or anything else - I just sent her the money. I plan to forgive the debt. Is there any annual limitation on the amount that I can forgive per year, or may I simply send her an message notifying her I’ve forgiven the debt in total? (She knows I now plan to forgive the debt, there is no family drama - this question is just about the legal elements)
posted by anonymous at 10:12 AM PST - 8 comments

Help me find more jazz/hip-hop fusion-ish songs to play in the waiting/downtime before zoom meetings? [more inside]
posted by BlueBlueElectricBlue at 9:45 AM PST - 23 comments

I'm contemplating a movie or book idea where the genre would fall somewhere between Thriller and Horror with the lead being a pair of African American twin females. I've seen "Ma" as an example but no other movies come to mind. Could this premise even exist elsewhere? Could it work?
posted by The_imp_inimpossible at 9:35 AM PST - 15 comments

How do I print out a series of text messages (all in one conversation with one person), for use in a police report? I have a Samsung droid phone. [more inside]
posted by silverstatue at 6:29 AM PST - 11 comments

My D&D group didn't survive the move to lockdown remote play. I'd like to join another game, but while I can theoretically see how to find a group to join, I'm not sure how to find a group that would work for me? Would have to be online only, of course. No gathering around a table around here for quite a long time yet. [more inside]
posted by Zumbador at 6:19 AM PST - 11 comments

I have enough income and funds to buy a small condo in a face-meltingtly expensive area. But I'm single. How does owning a recently-purchased home affect dating? [more inside]
posted by Hollywood Upstairs Medical College at 12:24 AM PST - 32 comments

I want low quality videoconferencing experience. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 10:13 PM PST - 28 comments

I just found out that my financial planner allegedly stole money from one of his clients. Other than carefully reviewing my accounts, is there anything else I should be doing? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 10:13 PM PST - 7 comments

I work as a contractor for a large corporation. The contractor benefits (I've been hired through a second company) are unusually generous - 3 months PAID paternity leave, on a 6 month contract that just got renewed. My wife is currently pregnant (YAY!), and she's at the start of her second trimester. If this was a forever job, I'd imagine I'd let the company know when we started letting the world know, so they could make appropriate accommodations for my absence. Because it's a contract position, I think it makes sense to play things much closer to the chest, but obviously I can't wait until a week before I take off for three months to tell them. There's nothing in my contract about when to tell either company.
posted by anonymous at 10:13 PM PST - 4 comments

I want to try a cefaly. The web site says "Have implanted metallic or electronic devices in the head". I have titanium (i.e. non-magnetic metal, poor conductor) in my jaw. Not the migraine-y part of my head. Can I try this? [more inside]
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 8:39 PM PST - 2 comments

I feel silly for using a question on this, but can you recommend an alternative to Bare Minerals/Bare Escentuals foundation? I'm looking for something less prone to caking or flaking anytime my skin isn't perfect. [more inside]
posted by exutima at 6:35 PM PST - 16 comments

First-time dog owner seeking advice from the more experienced on whether a vet visit's in order [more inside]
posted by troywestfield at 6:15 PM PST - 14 comments

Is hiring a lawyer to help with a legal name change worth it? They would charge $1200, and I can afford it. - No unusual circumstances like a criminal record.
posted by ChodenKal at 5:31 PM PST - 16 comments

My partner and I finally are off the waiting list at our community garden and are really excited to have our own little plot. Thing is we've never done much gardening before, certainly not vegetables or herbs, and are looking for good resources for planning and what weekly maintenance might look like for our hardiness zone 10a. [more inside]
posted by Carillon at 5:12 PM PST - 20 comments

Despite being reasonably far along in age (late 50’s) and career (UX design director), I struggle with being comfortable and confident in my role as a “leader.” I want to change this so I can grow as a leader, a manager, a mentor, and man. My desire to be a leader is not motivated by a narcissistic desire for rank and status but rather a logical step in my professional, personal and spiritual development. [more inside]
posted by nandaro at 2:06 PM PST - 13 comments

I'm looking for recommendations for a place to take some old disposable cameras for developing. I'd like to find someone with a focus on or experience with damaged film, that will be mindful of preserving the images within. [more inside]
posted by ApathyGirl at 1:27 PM PST - 6 comments

A friend will be moving from NYC to Tucson soon and I'd like to get him a nice going-away present. He's never been to Arizona before (neither have I for that matter) so I was thinking some kind of insider's guide or similar book. I'm looking for recommendations from Arizona MeFites!
posted by orrnyereg at 12:37 PM PST - 6 comments

Single parent died in Oregon. At this time and most likely forever only probatable assets are a rental house in NY State and a Citi checking account of approximately $1000. I asked local NY lawyer about ancillary probate and they said that I should just probate in NY State as a checking account has no particular locus. Also heirs are my sibling and me 50/50 no drama, no outstanding bills, will be a tax refund Fed and State on her last tax returns 2020. [more inside]
posted by Pembquist at 12:28 PM PST - 1 comment

I feel like I'm at a crossroads with my career - Java developer (client and server-side). It's probably time to get a new workplace. But I'm also interested in figuring out my endgame. I'm 40. I love to learn. There's so much to choose from. What could be a good lateral jump that would pay well and ring my bells? [more inside]
posted by kitcat at 12:00 PM PST - 9 comments

I’m looking for hydraulic fluid that is usable at 335,000 psi, -31°f to 190°f. I have not been able to find any rated higher than 150,000 psi.
posted by pjbw at 11:15 AM PST - 4 comments

I'm working on designing a unit for high school students on how to write suspenseful narratives and scenes (not just in the genre of suspense). Can anyone recommend a good article which describes methods of creating suspense in writing? I'm looking for something in list format, most likely. Thanks!
posted by chaiminda at 9:40 AM PST - 7 comments

I'm intriqued by infrared saunas, either the blanket style or the little freestanding kind. Does anyone have experience with them, advice, tips, or recommendations to help me decide whether to get one and, if so, which type?
posted by DrGail at 8:45 AM PST - 7 comments

It's going to be super small..5 people...and after the inauguration in the evening. I want to celebrate Trump going out of office and Biden coming in. Got ideas? I'm crafty and can make party favors too.
posted by DixieBaby at 8:21 AM PST - 14 comments

Is it possible to send mail to a DPO address from outside the US? [more inside]
posted by gursky at 7:53 AM PST - 5 comments

I have a job interview scheduled this Friday. I was very surprised to find that it will be conducted in-person. This seems already like a yellow (red??) flag. Can you all provide me with a reality check on the situation? [more inside]
posted by shocks connery at 7:31 AM PST - 18 comments

For a craft project, I'm trying to think up animals that could represent "East" and "West". (For context, "North" and "South" are going to be polar bears and penguins). I would need to find fabric with these animals, so nothing super specific please. Any ideas?
posted by ReadNTravel at 7:28 AM PST - 32 comments

I want to use the Exquisite Corpse drawing game as part of an online activity for children aged 8+ that I work with, but I'm having a hard time coming up with a less-scary sounding alternative name for it, and Google isn't turning up much in terms of alternatives. [more inside]
posted by Chairboy at 7:21 AM PST - 15 comments

Is there any substance which will neither crystallized nor vitrify nor boil at all of the following temperature and pressure regimes, and which is neither extremely toxic nor highly corrosive to metals? 80kPa @ 277K, 100kPa @ 238K - 310K, 700MPa @ 238K - 330K, 2.3GPa @ 330K - 360K [more inside]
posted by pjbw at 7:02 AM PST - 4 comments

I write poems (often presented as spoken word) that are comprised of lyrics from 90's songs. Right now I'm working on one based off the worst songs. I've read a lot of listicles, but it's usually the same ones over and over. (Listed those below the fold.) What other songs are worthy of inclusion, either according to you or a site you link to? [more inside]
posted by mermaidcafe at 5:39 AM PST - 90 comments

What's your favorite Jazz / Blues documentary? ++ if narrated with gravelly quotes with lots of jazz slang!! [more inside]
posted by bbqturtle at 5:19 AM PST - 3 comments

In the TV show Wellington Paranormal, the police wear a badge with a coat of arms. I presume the animal on the right is a moa, but what's the dragonish thing on the left?
posted by pompomtom at 2:59 AM PST - 13 comments

I want to build my own tiny natural history museum. In this fantasy, my living room has a display case filled with coins and trinkets from antiquity, fossils, minerals, crystals, petrified wood, arrowheads, etc. [more inside]
posted by qxntpqbbbqxl at 11:38 PM PST - 19 comments

Is this a job for an ophthalmologist or dermatologist? For the last two days my eyelid has felt a little sore along the lash line. I just took a close look and I seem to have a line of three very small growths, kind of warty I guess, like the beginning of skin tags. Possibly relevant: I live in a small town so there’s not a lot of specialization available.
posted by HotToddy at 8:49 PM PST - 17 comments

Renouncing citizenship aside, what would an American need to do to live overseas? And does the US government, as well as foreign governments provide instructions to follow or criteria to meet to do so? [more inside]
posted by CollectiveMind at 8:37 PM PST - 18 comments

I am looking for an iOS app that is essentially the digital version of a "chore jar" where, upon request, it will give me a random item from lists that I have pre-defined, like pulling a card out of a jar. BUT I want to be able to tag each item with multiple tags and use those as parameters when I get my item. [more inside]
posted by oblique red at 8:25 PM PST - 4 comments

I have several packages of shelf stable Almond Milk (some are Almond Breeze and some are Kirkland Brand) that have a best before date of June 2019. I thought I remembered reading that some foods can be consumed long after their best before date, but I'm not sure if that mean 18 months after. Are these safe to drink? Or should I toss them? In case it matters, most of the cartons were in my basement but I think a few were in the garage.
posted by NoneOfTheAbove at 8:05 PM PST - 6 comments

I'm thinking about buying a new raincoat but I don't like the velcro on the placket / storm flap. What are my options? [more inside]
posted by junques at 6:42 PM PST - 8 comments

We're bringing a shelter dog home tomorrow. I'm so excited! We're planning on crate-training, but I feel like I'm coming across conflicting advice. What would you do? [more inside]
posted by Merricat Blackwood at 6:28 PM PST - 14 comments

We are moving into a rental house. How detailed/nit-picky do we actually need to be on the move in inspection form and in photographic documentation? Any tips & tricks? Anything that's commonly overlooked? [more inside]
posted by ellerhodes at 6:04 PM PST - 11 comments

At work, everytime someone pings me or I get an email with a request, I get a heightened sense of agitation-- I need to respond immediately, or I just feel... bad that they are asking the question? Then I wonder what I could have done not to have the person ask the question (i.e be proactive, etc)? Help me be more chill about this.
posted by sandmanwv at 6:01 PM PST - 12 comments

I am trying to drink more water. I would like some of it to taste good. Please give me your suggestions. Snowflakes inside. [more inside]
posted by hepta at 5:49 PM PST - 33 comments

I want to buy a foreclosure home in Lubbock Texas. Tax sale or bank foreclosure both are ok. I have looked but can't find a reliable source, where can I find these listings?
posted by maxexam at 5:08 PM PST - 3 comments

Oops. I added dried lupini beans to soup instead of other beans. Is it possible to boil the soup to the point of edibility or should I toss the whole thing and start over? [more inside]
posted by rmless at 3:44 PM PST - 7 comments

Trying to add more movement + cardio into my life, so I'm looking into dance workouts on YouTube. I am super-uncoordinated though, so I'm looking for some good entry-level videos that help break down moves/sequences. Who are your favorites to learn from? [more inside]
posted by actionpact at 3:34 PM PST - 5 comments

One side of my freezer is frosting up. Is air getting in? Is something mechanically wrong? Who should I call to fix it? Pictures inside. [more inside]
posted by indyjones at 3:09 PM PST - 4 comments

What action/adventure/heist/fast paced/exciting movies can I watch to keep me going while working out on my home rowing machine? Within the extreme constraints of these genres, I'm looking to maximize feminist, anti-racist, anti-capitalist messaging and minimize torture, misogyny and xenophobia. Basically, I want something exciting and distracting but I don't want to watch Rambo. Ideally streaming on Netflix, Hulu or (lol) Criterion. Open to non-Hollywood/international movies. (Expanding my previous ask for feminist action movies.)
posted by latkes at 2:44 PM PST - 18 comments

I feel I was subtly tricked by my boss. This could be due to my lack of experience, and perhaps I'm not even evaluating the situation correctly. Nevertheless, I think that during my career I surely will encounter other attempts either by him or by other managers. I'd like to avoid those. Short story and my evaluation below the fold. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 1:55 PM PST - 12 comments

I'm considering seeing a physical therapist to diagnose what's wrong with my leg/hip -- IT band, glute, sciatic nerve pain. Is this possible via computer? [more inside]
posted by mr_bovis at 1:50 PM PST - 7 comments

I am making a pinwheel blanket that begins with casting on 5 stitches on double pointed needles, then joining them in the round. I would love some help. [more inside]
posted by bookworm4125 at 1:45 PM PST - 8 comments

Have you painted hardwood floors, especially in your kitchen? We are trying to stretch the life of our current kitchen floors for a few years until we're able to afford a full redesign, and we're looking for the best way to go about this. [more inside]
posted by thecaddy at 1:32 PM PST - 9 comments

Has anyone had experience becoming a supplier for Costco? Can you share what the negotiation process was like? [more inside]
posted by typography at 12:45 PM PST - 1 comment

My favorite jokes are elephant jokes. I especially like the ones where elephants talk ("Look buddy, I'm not the same elephant") and the ones with bad puns (what's grey and has a trunk and sings jazz?). This has been a lousy year and a lousy first month of 2021 and I would like to hear more funny elephant jokes. [more inside]
posted by Mchelly at 12:44 PM PST - 50 comments

I applied for a job with a company outside of the USA that does front-end web/app development with the business model that they can develop the product for about 60% the cost of using Americans. I would be approaching CTOs. I wanted to ask advice first, I know that I am only providing vague details, but does this seem like a good plan? What do I need to know about working in sales/biz development in this industry? [more inside]
posted by Che boludo! at 12:42 PM PST - 9 comments

I'm having some issues with my roommates and I'm stuck here because of Covid and unemployment. I need coping strategies! [more inside]
posted by christiehawk at 12:17 PM PST - 17 comments

I mistakenly ordered 2 lbs of feta with my groceries this past week. What should I do with this abundance?
posted by sarajane at 12:16 PM PST - 26 comments

I have De Quervain's tenosynovitis. Some places on the internet recommend stretches and strength training. Should I splint and hope for the best, or do some exercises? [more inside]
posted by anotherpanacea at 12:07 PM PST - 7 comments

Can a USB modem be used on a laptop that had a board level internet access failure? [more inside]
posted by Raybun at 11:58 AM PST - 11 comments

Help me compile a list on quality books with protagonists named after each month of the year. Last year I enjoyed reading The Ten Thousand Doors of January , which stars a girl named January. I also recently picked up The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making, starring a girl named September. The question is: can I find a (good) book for every month of the year...? [more inside]
posted by puffyn at 11:02 AM PST - 24 comments

As of the day before yesterday, there's what appears to be a teeny-tiny notch, indentation, or divot in my left eye's low eyelid, on the waterline. Dr. Google tells me it's cancer (of course), meibomian gland dysfunction, or nothing/it'll clear up on its own. It's weirding me out and I'm not sure what to do. [more inside]
posted by kutsushita nyanko at 10:07 AM PST - 9 comments

Do you have a flavored popcorn recipe you like? Will you share it with me? I'm especially interested in lower-calories snacks, but I'm open to any of your favorites! I make it on the stovetop, in case that makes any difference.
posted by NotLost at 9:41 AM PST - 39 comments

Specifically in the Bronx [more inside]
posted by fantasticness at 9:15 AM PST - 5 comments

I love the Mediterranean climate. What other climates might I enjoy and why? [more inside]
posted by aniola at 8:39 AM PST - 16 comments

What kind of guitar should I buy? I'm a semi-beginner who just likes to play around, and occasionally make some crunchy noises. [more inside]
posted by Bucket o' Heads at 8:03 AM PST - 17 comments

I just received my retirement account statement from TIAA-CREF from 2020. It looks like the performance was through the roof. Better performance in 2020 than in years. I am really confused: I thought we were in the middle of a depression? [more inside]
posted by yet.another.boston.question at 7:38 AM PST - 26 comments

For the last few years I have been deep in a fandom. But, now it is all over quite suddenly, due to horrible real-life news that makes it impossible to be a fan anymore. How do I move on from this? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 4:53 AM PST - 12 comments

I want to read more books from the French/Spanish-language literary canons, but I don't have the stamina to read something like Les Misérables. Which books are on the shorter side? 300 pages-ish or less?
posted by iamsuper at 11:24 PM PST - 18 comments

My province has switched school to online learning. I've noticed my kindergartener son is especially interested in the science experiments he watched his teachers do. Whether it's a vinegar and backing soda volcano or testing whether a column with a square, triangle circular base can support more weight. I'm wondering if anyone can recommend a book of experiments that I can do at home with my son. He's four years old in junior kindergarten.
posted by NoneOfTheAbove at 9:42 PM PST - 10 comments

I'm clothes-shopping for a woman with not-always-covered-by-stores dimensions (5'1", 32F/30G bust), and I'm at a loss as to how to go looking for things. She typically shops vintage (and loves more classic aesthetics), but I'd love to find modern designers/outlets that have things that fit her and look good. My question is simple: how can I find nice and not insanely high-end clothing for her, whether it's via specific designers/stores or some kind of searching mechanism?
posted by rorgy at 7:26 PM PST - 10 comments

I'm currently going back and listening to the Slow Burn season about the Clinton impeachment, and it's scratching an itch I've had occasionally. I'd like to find some other media that scratches that itch. [more inside]
posted by kevinbelt at 7:12 PM PST - 16 comments

We’ve got 3 cats, and 2 of them are in relentless violent conflict. We’ve tried so many solutions (including recommendations from a consult with a cat behavioralist), and we’re at the end of our rope. We also have a baby coming in about 4 months, and can’t imagine continuing on this way with a newborn. Something needs to change — what is it? [more inside]
posted by pants at 6:40 PM PST - 21 comments

Help me find a cartoon showing a wealthy couple in a convertible carrying home their newly-purchased art: a large hammer & sickle. 15+ years ago. New Yorker-type irony, but I can’t find it there or anywhere.
posted by LonnieK at 4:10 PM PST - 0 comments

This stupid year, December 48th 2020 edition. My mom died on Christmas, a victim of corona. We buried her on 12/31. As you can imagine, times are grim on a micro level as well as the macro. Give me your ideas on celebrating something during the "yo, the holidays are over, man" period of the bleakest winter days. [more inside]
posted by Gyre,Gimble,Wabe, Esq. at 3:43 PM PST - 29 comments

I finally decided to get a light therapy lamp (the Wirecutter-recommended Boxelite) for my Seasonal Affective Disorder for years. I feel like it just ... doesn't do anything. Am I doing something wrong? Should I try another model? Is there any hope for me? [more inside]
posted by radioamy at 3:37 PM PST - 16 comments

FIL is giving his bereaved nephew a hard time with his anxiety...any advice for my husband? [more inside]
posted by Omnomnom at 1:29 PM PST - 16 comments

My creative writing process has been pretty derailed by screen burnout during Covidtimes. I want to shift gears and write it out longhand but am having a bit of trouble imagining a good set-up for doing so. I'd like to have some kind of system for organizing both the actual draft and things like outlines, character notes, worldbuilding notes and am looking for examples and suggestions of both physical things (like maybe some sweet Trapper Keeper kinda deal) as well as organizational systems that other novelists use (like maybe bullet journal style tools and frameworks for writing novels long hand). Open to blog posts, videos, essays, books, etc.
posted by overglow at 12:39 PM PST - 5 comments

My iPhone 5S is dying - or rather, the (second) battery is, and the OS can't be updated to the newest version. I want to replace it. My job will get me a new phone (that I'll be able to keep), but I don't want a new iPhone. What kind of (Android?) phone should I ask for? Priorities are: Audio jack, small screen, safety, ease of use, and long battery life. [more inside]
posted by ErisLordFreedom at 12:30 PM PST - 11 comments

Specifically any differences versus hooking echo dots to stereo speakers by aux cable? [more inside]
posted by mkuhnell at 11:43 AM PST - 14 comments

I’ve got a 10 yr old detached garage that was built on a driveway pad. I’d like to convert it into shop with an insulated floor. I’m trying to figure out the best way to level the existing concrete - as the structure was built on a pad, there’s about 5” slope across the existing floor. I’ve assumed self-leveling concrete is the answer, but 5” is a lot to concrete to add, and it will “climb” the wall in that lowest corner (not sure how else to describe it). What do ya’ll recommend? [more inside]
posted by chuntered inelegantly from a sedentary position at 11:10 AM PST - 13 comments

My husband gets a full body massage every five weeks. He is a pianist, so there’s some emphasis on his back and shoulders, where he tends to “hunch.” Upon returning from the massage, he always takes a long nap. That evening and through the night, he’ll be beset with chills such that the whole bed shakes. The chills taper off by late the next morning, but he’s still pretty wiped out the next day. [more inside]
posted by BostonTerrier at 10:51 AM PST - 22 comments

Business owners, entrepreneurs and professionals who solicit professional design and branding services: What are some of the things that designers do that could use less mystery and more transparency? [more inside]
posted by omar.a at 10:18 AM PST - 8 comments

I'm getting my first vaccine dose in a week, how do I be preemptively less stressed about it? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 10:13 AM PST - 14 comments

I teach an undergrad seminar on the politics of hope, especially re: the climate crisis, and am seeking articles exploring the notion of "contemptuous despair" (which I could assign to my students) [more inside]
posted by eagle-bear at 9:10 AM PST - 3 comments

Where can I find an ebook that contains the Frederick Pohl story "Wapshot's Demon?" It's a story I read as a child and I want to give it another read.
posted by drezdn at 8:37 AM PST - 5 comments

We tried to clean out a slow drain with a pink heavy duty drain cleaner (the bottle of which is now out in the garbage and irretrievable but it was a clear bottle with text printed directly on the palstic). Unfortunately it left a faint yellow stain on the white ikea sink. Anyone got any tips or tricks to clean or repair?
posted by platypus of the universe at 8:20 AM PST - 9 comments

Gave my cat to my daughter, well it was her cat originally, am feeling sad and guilty...will the cat be okay? [more inside]
posted by irish01 at 8:10 AM PST - 10 comments

Recommend me Mad Scientist stories you have read. More details inside: [more inside]
posted by vacapinta at 5:59 AM PST - 8 comments

Drawing changed the way I see the world, making everything beautiful based on the lines/play of light and shadow/transitions of color etc. What else is like that? (more examples of what I mean inside) [more inside]
posted by Cozybee at 5:34 AM PST - 44 comments

My father (not internet savvy, no smartphone, etc.) in the US needs to make some large payments in Europe over the following year or so, and I would like to help him figure out an easy way to set up economical transfers. [more inside]
posted by melamakarona at 3:54 AM PST - 15 comments

Our home is dogless for the first time in 16 years. I think we have to get a puppy for safety reasons as we have a toddler. [more inside]
posted by disaster77 at 9:57 PM PST - 22 comments

Is there an online consignment store that I can just mail my stuff to, like thredUP, and have them take care of all of the details - difficulty level: Canada? [more inside]
posted by eviemath at 9:44 PM PST - 1 comment

I used to get ecodent toothbrushes, the ones with the replaceable bristles. But they seem to have been discontinued. What's the next-best thing? [more inside]
posted by aniola at 6:56 PM PST - 4 comments

What are your favorite absorbing and family-friendly documentaries (movies or series) of the last few years? [more inside]
posted by wenestvedt at 6:21 PM PST - 37 comments

Toms's of Maine Baking Soda Peppermint Toothpaste. I love it. I can't find it. [more inside]
posted by soylent00FF00 at 5:57 PM PST - 9 comments

After some deliberation, last week I ordered the fitbit sense. I wanted a device that had heart monitoring features and it seems the ECG feature will soon be available in Canada. I also like the fact that it has a 6 day battery. However, I have just learned that fitbit has been acquired by google. Given this acquisition, I am wondering if Google are going force Wear OS on me or even stop sales or support of existing devices in the near future. Then there is also the issue of privacy - not sure I can trust google to keep my data private. Should I return this device and get something else? I have a 45 day return window. My other option is the Apple Watch but I know the short battery life is not going to work for me. In Canada FWIW.
posted by piyushnz at 4:48 PM PST - 13 comments

I have a folder of .jpg's that I want to be able to change into circles (circles of content with a 100% transparent surround) - and want to maintain image quality. The .jpg's are a mix of squares and various aspect rectangles and I want the circle to have a diameter equal to the shortest dimension of the rectangle (to get as much content as possible). [more inside]
posted by unearthed at 3:58 PM PST - 7 comments

I love white tees. Ringer tees especially. I look good in them. And within five wearings of each one, I get a permanent stain that makes them into gym shirts. And by seven, I add enough more that they turn into dishrags. What white tee is the MOST stain resistant out there? I don't care what it costs. It's gotta be cheaper than replacing them.
posted by rileyray3000 at 3:51 PM PST - 9 comments

What can I cook with 1 pound quantities of ground beef or ground pork that doesn’t use tomato sauce or hot/spicy ingredients and isn’t “heavy?” [more inside]
posted by Bunglegirl at 3:03 PM PST - 35 comments

I have a wood tabletop (IKEA Gerton) that I'm going to use as a work surface. After sanding from 120 to 180 grit and applying a preliminary coat of water-based polyurethane (Minwax brand clear satin wipe-on) several large light spots appeared on the wood surface. What may have caused this, and can it be fixed? [more inside]
posted by One Thousand and One at 1:48 PM PST - 3 comments

Would I be wrong to walk away? [more inside]
posted by unstrungharp at 1:15 PM PST - 30 comments

I'm in the middle-management/early-executive career band with a skill set defined by flexible generalist soft skills. Where can I find legit career coaching and high-end job search collateral creation help? [more inside]
posted by amycup at 11:18 AM PST - 2 comments

There's Mastodon, Scuttlebutt, Briar, and various others that seem like they might be up-and-coming. Have you tried some of them? What's your impression? [more inside]
posted by sibilatorix at 11:12 AM PST - 5 comments

My parents are looking to adopt a cat, ideally yesterday. Their much loved and extremely senior cat passed a month ago, and there's a huge cat-shaped hole in their hearts. My mom has never ever not had at at least one cat her entire life. They are really good, loving cat owners! But they cannot find a cat! Looking for ideas or avenues to chase down. [more inside]
posted by cgg at 11:11 AM PST - 16 comments

Looking for non-dramatic movies for sensitive 8-11 yr olds. [more inside]
posted by sol at 10:58 AM PST - 40 comments

Can someone who did not apply for or receive the $1200 original stimulus check get added to the list, or is the recovery rebate credit the only option? [more inside]
posted by hworth at 10:51 AM PST - 4 comments

Asking for a friend. The speaker on her macbook doesn't work. She has a macbook, an iphone and an ipad. Only the macbook and iphone talk to each other. So when she has a Zoom meeting, she has to use her phone but would rather use her ipad. Is there a setting that would enable this? I can answer any questions. They all use the same AppleID
posted by lakersfan1222 at 10:17 AM PST - 9 comments

I have a gastroenterologist. You are not him. But I hope someone can shed some light on unusual changes that have occurred recently with my gastrointestinal tract. Content warning: Some gross descriptions of my GI function. [more inside]
posted by alex1965 at 9:09 AM PST - 14 comments

I have previously posted here about my endeavor to taper off of 40mg/day of Viibryd (vilazadone) while experiencing extremely severe discontinuation symptoms. I’m seeing a new and very helpful psychiatrist who suggested I take a small dose of Prozac during this process. [more inside]
posted by vocativecase at 9:08 AM PST - 11 comments

You love house plants. I'm looking for your favorite websites/ books/ vendors/shows etc. about house plants. Information on caring for house plants, house plant porn, information about types, basically anything house plant. [more inside]
posted by WalkerWestridge at 9:08 AM PST - 13 comments

In summer my cat nibbles on grass. For some reason I haven't had much luck growing oatgrass for my cat this winter so she's taken to nibbling on houseplants best left alone. The food delivery service I use offers some growing microgreens. Which one do I get for kitty? [more inside]
posted by zadcat at 7:47 AM PST - 9 comments

I only have this fragment. Would love to know what it is!
posted by DMelanogaster at 7:36 AM PST - 3 comments

The fireplace in our 1961 ranch gets a little bit of water in it during very heavy rains, but only heavy, gusting, sideways rain. We had a cap put on this summer, and while they were assessing for the cap they said that we'd have to waterproof and address the flashing at some point in the next five years, but that it wasn't a huge problem. Today it's raining sideways and there's a slow drip. How worried should I be? Snowflake inside. [more inside]
posted by The Librarian at 7:08 AM PST - 11 comments

Is it a bad idea to get a SAD lamp for my desk? Should exposure to them be limited? [more inside]
posted by Flitcraft at 5:59 AM PST - 14 comments

Is there a name for the style of architecture (1980s-1990s) that features lots of glass (or transparent plastic pretending to be glass), curved or circular lines (especially semi-circles), with strips of plastic or metal in between the glass that are more likely to be white or primary colours than black/metallic in colour? Examples inside. [more inside]
posted by terretu at 4:42 AM PST - 9 comments

I froze a big tub of Greek yoghurt because I was going out of town for a few weeks. I've now defrosted it in the fridge and it's gone from thick and creamy to a watery soup. Can I put it to good use? Perhaps in baking or in a curry or something... Or should I just throw it away?
posted by iamsuper at 4:13 AM PST - 14 comments

Looking for creative ways to hide information online and in the real world. [more inside]
posted by multivalent at 2:52 AM PST - 6 comments

I'm out of work and narrowly losing job offers because I can't disguise my resentment over my past workplaces and disappointment with the state of work in general. I need coping strategies and mental hacks to reframe this when I interview. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 12:02 AM PST - 16 comments

I have a question about offering to sell a domain name to a business. [more inside]
posted by Ruki at 9:48 PM PST - 2 comments

A few years back I was lured in by a deal on My Pillows at Costco and came away with a couple. Shortly after I started using them I learned about the fascism. Are there near-identical replacements for this product? [more inside]
posted by Mizu at 9:02 PM PST - 17 comments

The cleaning service I use sent a text to all customers about COVID-related measures, including a bit about asking people not to leave cash tips for their cleaners. Since the pandemic started, I have been leaving a cash tip (15-25% of the overall cleaning cost) for the cleaners each time they come. What should I do? [more inside]
posted by joyceanmachine at 6:30 PM PST - 23 comments

I have a 1920s lithograph poster I would like to have linen-backed and ~possibly~ restored. The most obvious NYC business doing this (posterfix) has very sketchy reviews so I would like some recommendations (or anti-recommendations) from people who have used other services.
posted by beerbajay at 5:09 PM PST - 4 comments

My High School senior is part of a three year-old school, and a member of the first-ever graduating class. The school is part of a well-known California university, sort of a "public" private school. Given this is the first class, we're thinking of ideas to give something back, and to start a new tradition. Given this is a class in COVID-19, we're wondering what we could do that would capture the spirit of this distributed, school-at-home moment. [more inside]
posted by carlodio at 2:39 PM PST - 9 comments

I am self employed and in Spring 2020 I applied for PUA unemployment (in NJ) due to reduced work from Covid. I was approved, although only was paid for 2 weeks when my income dipped below the threshold to allow me to receive benefits that week. I kept the claim open and have been reporting hours should I fall below the threshold and qualify for more weeks. [more inside]
posted by ridogi at 2:08 PM PST - 4 comments

I love books and shows where a minor mystery leads to a major mystery - especially if the major mystery turns out to be far deeper, weirder and more sinister. Help me find more! [more inside]
posted by BlackLeotardFront at 1:49 PM PST - 56 comments

My apartment lease states that the apartment was built after 1978, and thus my landlord didn't need to provide a lead based paint disclosure, however, after signing the lease I've found old photographs of the building from the 1950s. [more inside]
posted by ataxia at 1:19 PM PST - 14 comments

Good examples include (a) The Gentlewoman magazine (b) The Cherry Bombe Cookbook (c) Reformation Clothing. At the risk of revealing my own opinion of it, I would characterize it as "Boring bold sans-serif typefaces used where they shouldn't be, mixed with a color palette that's somehow both garish and muted at the same time, plus photos that looks like they're lit by Terry Richardson." Bonus question: how and why did this style become so pervasive, dare I say popular? [more inside]
posted by rjacobs at 11:43 AM PST - 13 comments

(Subtitle: TAKE ME BACK, NERD WORLD! Forgive me, and I swear I'll never stray again!) Can I reinvent myself and return to engineering at the tender age of 58? After years of doing “mostly business stuff” for a few decades, can I convince someone in a company I’ve never worked for to take me on as an electrical engineer/system architect/technologist? Special snowflake details inside ... [more inside]
posted by ZenMasterThis at 11:02 AM PST - 9 comments

I had an idea for a project, but I'm not sure what platform would work best as its home. [more inside]
posted by kevinbelt at 10:48 AM PST - 9 comments

Both Criminal and civil court - especially in NY. [more inside]
posted by fantasticness at 10:06 AM PST - 2 comments

What happens if my microwave doesn't have the manufacturer's recommended clearances on each side? Will I burn down the house and die horribly? [more inside]
posted by phoenixy at 9:25 AM PST - 5 comments

Am I being unreasonable by choosing my mom over my ex to be there with me when I deliver my son? [more inside]
posted by CosmicSeeker42 at 9:23 AM PST - 56 comments

My wife and I are struggling to find a way to divide up the to-do list in a way that is both fair and maintainable. Added difficulty: I'm like 90% at fault, in part because my lack of executive function makes me terrible at doing chores. Do you have (or are you) an ADHD partner, and did you find a way to divide up the list of stuff to do in a way that felt fair to both of you, and then find a way to keep it working? [more inside]
posted by Mayor West at 9:08 AM PST - 42 comments

We bake a lot and end up with a lot of stale bread. I've been thinking I'd like to use some of it to make croutons. What are your best recipes, tips, and advice for crunchy and delicious croutons? And how do you use them?
posted by Stanczyk at 8:58 AM PST - 15 comments

Looking for recommendations for an almost-12 year old. We'll ask the local library, but any & all recommendations are welcome. Paraphrasing her: "Fiction or non-fiction. Not fantasy or sci-fi, ok to have magical elements in it but it should be based in our world. 1st person or 3rd person are both fine, focused on people, ok if it's from one person's perspective or there are chapters or sections from different people. Things I liked: All the Answers, 11 before 12 series, Graphic Novels like Roller Girl and Raina Telgemeier's books."
posted by true at 8:52 AM PST - 18 comments

What is the best cookbook for Mexican food? I order a lot of take-out from the local taco trucks and I would like to start making some of this stuff at home. [more inside]
posted by miltthetank at 8:51 AM PST - 13 comments

I have an idea for a very light hearted software project, based on a pun on "Geronimo". Do you think this is appropriate? [more inside]
posted by Cannon Fodder at 8:43 AM PST - 13 comments

I want to build a few apps (or websites, where applicable) that are databases that can be queried and then filtered. The filtered part is the key. Like Zappos: you search "snow boots", it returns you 2000 results, and then you click "blue" and it reloads only the blue snow boots, and then you click "size 8" and you get only the blue size 8 snowboots. What system do I need to learn to make this? [more inside]
posted by xo at 7:15 AM PST - 17 comments

I'm selling my old 2005 model Ford Mondeo. It's got a slow leak in the front passenger's side tyre which is annoying and a battery which doesn't hold much charge. [more inside]
posted by dance at 5:12 AM PST - 13 comments

I broke the cardinal "two weeks notice" rule for an adjunct position before the start of the semester, after the department head notified me of a paycut. AITA? [more inside]
posted by Sock Meets Body at 8:44 PM PST - 30 comments

I enjoy public art. I'd love to hear more about public art, and public art like pranks (think the MIT Hack gallery). Another similar thing is: http://www.spril.com/StealthForceBeta/ from New Mexico Tech in the 1990s which I think I found on here. [more inside]
posted by azalea_chant at 8:03 PM PST - 9 comments

I have a high schooler who wants to find a good book on ancient Greek history in the years between Alexander the Great and Cleopatra. He has expressed interest in details on the Syrian Wars and Mithridatic Wars (although a book doesn't need to focused on those). Any suggestions?
posted by ShooBoo at 4:51 PM PST - 3 comments

[colectomy filter] A friend is having his colon removed next week. I can look up dietary recommendations and recipes online, but if this was you, what kind of snacks or meals would you want in the fridge? What would be a special treat? [more inside]
posted by AnOrigamiLife at 4:37 PM PST - 14 comments

I'm trying to locate a poem. The author picks coconuts (or possibly bananas/something else) and plays up his background like his family has a long history and tricks of the trade for picking the coconuts, but it is really done in jest for white people who seem to expect such things. It uses some "Caribbean speak" to help play it up while indicating he actually speaks perfect English. Does this sound familiar to anyone?
posted by cokelessrome at 4:30 PM PST - 6 comments

ones that you happen to know staff (or have in the past staffed) higher ed administrative positions. And what was your experience there (from either the hiring or job seeking side) like/how have you heard of them..
posted by elgee at 2:39 PM PST - 2 comments

I bought smoked duck breast about 6 weeks ago. It has been in the fridge the whole time. Can I eat it? [more inside]
posted by Waiting for Pierce Inverarity at 2:30 PM PST - 9 comments

About two hours ago, my shopper started shopping for food, then delivered it about ten minutes ago. I'm uncertain of the condition of some cold foods, including meat. Doesn't help that I'm a newbie at cooking. What are your thoughts? [more inside]
posted by dubious_dude at 1:40 PM PST - 20 comments

Calling all educators! And everyone else with ideas on how to provide opportunities for high school students to get their voices heard. What have you done with your students to empower them to engage politically? What ideas do you have for how I might help my own students do so? [more inside]
posted by nancynickerson at 12:42 PM PST - 12 comments

A friend's partner's employer is refusing to let his employees work from home during the pandemic. What options do my friend and her partner have? [more inside]
posted by orange swan at 12:31 PM PST - 9 comments

I recently started doing work as a virtual personal assistant. So far I've been receiving payments via Venmo, but I'm worried that my account will get flagged, payments frozen, etc. I would of course like to avoid paying the 3% Paypal merchant fee. What are my options? [more inside]
posted by Questolicious at 12:31 PM PST - 6 comments

Where is my friend on the vaccine priority list? Type 1 diabetes, works at a college, in New York. [more inside]
posted by greta simone at 11:52 AM PST - 11 comments

My wife and I are first-time home buyers, and were interested in getting a USDA rural development loan. I applied to one mortgage lender I found on the USDA site, and was approved, but then discovered that the loan officer and I had misunderstood each other -- she assumed I wanted a FHA loan, since the company had recently stopped offering USDA loans, so that was what she approved me for. She said she would find out if they could still do the USDA loan, but I never heard back from her, so I assumed not. [more inside]
posted by Ser Dirtnap at 10:50 AM PST - 3 comments

Some people are saying you can't impeach and disqualify an ex-president. But others say that if that was the case, the law enabling it wouldn't make sense, because anybody could avoid disqualification by simply resigning 30 seconds before they were disqualified. So therefore we interpret the law in a way that makes it sensical because we assume legislators are smart. Without getting into the merits necessarily, is there a term for this doctrine? YANML/YAN45'SL. Thank you!
posted by ftm at 10:45 AM PST - 9 comments

I feel like I have a lot of difficulty with people in positions of authority who feel like they can comment on me or my life. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 8:43 AM PST - 22 comments

I just read this article this morning saying we should be wearing better masks to protect from covid-19 and the newer variants. [more inside]
posted by toastyk at 8:36 AM PST - 18 comments

What is causing the majority of Covid vaccine doses "distributed" to not be administered? Depending on what numbers I see 50-75% have not been given. [more inside]
posted by wnissen at 7:47 AM PST - 21 comments

My 13yo loved The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet but they're sort of meh on A Closed and Common Orbit. Also loved The Last Human (by Zack Jordan) and the Not Your Sidekick series. What should they read now? [more inside]
posted by signal at 7:13 AM PST - 23 comments

We bought a house, against our better judgment. It was a big mistake. Our brains keep screaming at us, "This was a mistake! You have ruined your life!" What can we do in the meantime to stay functional and un-f**k our lives? [more inside]
posted by chara at 7:12 AM PST - 35 comments

I have read many articles on the interwebs about lowering blood pressure but I want to hear from real people. Have you lowered your blood pressure without medication? What did you do? What did you stop doing? How much did you lower your blood pressure, and how long did it take? [more inside]
posted by Bella Donna at 6:46 AM PST - 24 comments

Last night I found a few bugs on a sock somewhere in my daughter's room. Can anyone identify this bug? How do I best check for more and how do I get rid of them? (The coin in the image is a Euro, for size, my guess is the bug is about 3.5 mm/0.14 inch?)
posted by Ms. Next at 3:30 AM PST - 7 comments

I'm looking for an app that's like budgeting, but for stuff - so I can track what's coming into my house and what's being sold/donated/thrown out. Does this exist? [more inside]
posted by mippy at 2:06 AM PST - 4 comments

I have to take my car in for an engine coil. I can't put it off. My guys are great, but the owner is a Trumpster, more of a conspiracy theorist really, so I'm guessing the crew will not have masks. (I once told him I would find another mechanic if he insisted on continuing to talk politics with me. He stopped immediately.) He is also a great guy (once gifted me with a $100 part because he knew I was broke). He's been my mechanic for 20 years. [more inside]
posted by Rumi'sLeftSock at 8:46 PM PST - 15 comments

I have completed a script. I want to submit it for copyright, and don't foresee any major changes to it, either in terms of its ultimate message or specific wording or structural layout. BUT, if I do have to make changes after it has been copyrighted, how much change can I make to it before I must apply for a new copyright?
posted by CollectiveMind at 8:23 PM PST - 9 comments

On a recommendation from Joyce Carol Oates on Twitter, I want to read Stavrogin's Confession from Dostoyevsky's The Possessed. What translation should I get? [more inside]
posted by Winnie the Proust at 8:18 PM PST - 2 comments

i work in a vet clinic with a diverse clientele. i have a SUPER basic knowledge of spanish, and no clue about chinese and vietnamese. [more inside]
posted by megan_magnolia at 5:12 PM PST - 14 comments

I hate Sodastream for various reasons, but I love fizzy water for all the regular reasons, so I'm thinking of making my own home carbonation rig. If I get a tank of CO2 from a welder's supply store or any other industrial source, will it be safe for consumption? [more inside]
posted by kensington314 at 2:34 PM PST - 13 comments

I am trying to do some estate planning for my sister. Her lawyer tells me her will cannot be finalized without naming a guardian. There in lies the problem... [more inside]
posted by pmaxwell at 1:54 PM PST - 18 comments

With the threats from the rioters/coup attempters/fascists/far-right/etc. crowd to "protest" at each state capital, including DC, how should the average person prepare for this? [more inside]
posted by knownassociate at 1:13 PM PST - 25 comments

I am helping someone with ADHD (late life dx, medicated) get used to this software/app. The amount of features makes it overwhelming for me to suggest a structure that will work well for this person as I don't have time to do a deep dive into it. Seeking examples of how others with ADHD have set it up. [more inside]
posted by crunchy potato at 12:45 PM PST - 3 comments

Inspired by this twitter thread on how even innocent after hours 'free' work can spiral/support crunching, my new years resolution is to put a halt to mine. Im looking for an app that will help me be more mindful, with v quick entry by project (4). There are hundreds of apps out there and this is not exactly time management but more mindfulness of time spent. Perhaps a goal setting app would work? any iphone app suggestions? [more inside]
posted by iiniisfree at 12:00 PM PST - 6 comments

I'm trying to understand a joke from a popular TV commercial that's currently being shown in the US. [more inside]
posted by JD Sockinger at 11:59 AM PST - 15 comments

Struggling and self isolating right now with personal issues amplified by Covid/Politics and am looking for low-cost, non-faith based, mental health assistance for men in the Los Angeles area. Organizations that sponsors men's support groups will also work. And if anyone knows of any inspirational on-line videos or podcasts, that would be appreciated.
posted by goalyeehah at 11:56 AM PST - 2 comments

I have a ton of negatives from the pre-digital era that I'm sending off to be scanned professionally. How do you recommend I organize them? [more inside]
posted by wnissen at 11:30 AM PST - 6 comments

I replaced my secondary monitor on a dual monitor setup on my elderly Assis AIO computer. While trying to set up the new monitor as part of an extended screen under SYSTEM/DISPLAY, the two monitor indicators vanished and were replaced with a single screen labeled 1|2. I cannot get the new monitor to represent itself as a separate unit any more. ?????????????????? HELP!
posted by Raybun at 11:22 AM PST - 3 comments

I mostly use Instagram to follow body positive or explicitly fat positive accounts, especially those who post revealing (and beautiful) pictures of themselves. This adds great joy to my life and helps me continue to recover from my eating disorder! I have noticed, however, that there's not a lot of age diversity among these models. Do you know of any IG models, ideally scantily clad, who are older than 40? (Influencer/hobby/small-time types - I don't want to follow older supermodels like Christie Brinkley.) If they're fat AND old, that's even better!
posted by missrachael at 9:56 AM PST - 10 comments

I'm planning a low-fat, moderate-FODMAP, gluten-free diet, due to gallstones and other abdominal pain, and I'm struggling to figure out how to meet my daily nutritional requirements. Hopefully this would last only until March or April, when it becomes safer for me to get medical attention in person. [more inside]
posted by facehugger at 9:54 AM PST - 9 comments

In a few days time I will get the second shot. I plan to wait another week+ for "full" effect (pfizer, if it makes a difference) I hope that I am not being a special snowflake about this, but I am getting conflicting information about my perceived risk of activities. [more inside]
posted by lizjohn at 9:06 AM PST - 12 comments

I use my can opener mainly to open tins of tuna. This means the cutting wheel gets fish juice on it - and if it were any other kitchen implement I would always clean it thoroughly after use - but it's fiddly and hard to properly clean and if I soak it the cogs rust, so I haven't yet worked out the best approach. How often do folks clean their can opener, and how?
posted by my log does not judge at 8:51 AM PST - 34 comments

I'm in my attic trying to drill down through the top plate of a wall so I can pull cables, and I'm hitting something metal. I tried a few different spots and it seems to run the full length of the plate. Any idea what this is and how/if I can drill through it? [more inside]
posted by willnot at 8:27 AM PST - 7 comments

I have a preteen who wants to do hip hop beats but needs to use a parent's computer to access Midis. Is there an affordable midi-controller slash drum machine that they could hook up to a computer and stick a toe in the DAWs but also use independently when there isn't a computer available for them? [more inside]
posted by history is a weapon at 8:14 AM PST - 14 comments

I started eating a frozen dinner the other day (Amy's "country cheddar" bowl), and had a potato in my mouth when I realized that it tasted terrible- rotten, maybe? I spit it out and examined the rest of the dish. Some of it seemed fine, but some of the other potato chunks also smelled bad. [more inside]
posted by pinochiette at 8:02 AM PST - 7 comments

I moved from Arizona to Wisconsin about a year ago. How do I, a life-long desert-dweller, navigate these winter roads? Literal snowflakes inside. [more inside]
posted by NewShoo at 7:44 AM PST - 25 comments

There are simply too many podcasts these days and not enough time in the day. I would like to create a curated playlist of single podcast episodes. Please share with me what you consider to be your favorites. Any genre will do. Any emotion arising after listening will do. All that matters is that I optimize the little time I have and fill my ears with amazing single podcast episodes.
posted by jasondigitized at 6:27 AM PST - 34 comments

Metafilter loves therapy. Help me understand why. [more inside]
posted by unstrungharp at 6:06 AM PST - 40 comments

My early-70s dad is currently recovering from heart surgery in another state. My sister has been staying with him. When running down a list of what could be the most help for her right now (short of taking a shift with Dad; not safe in our high-COVID area until he gets his second vaccine dose), she suggested some zero-prep meals -- i.e. frozen foods or meal kits with no prep. Any suggestions of kits or meal delivery services that are (1) zero-prep; (2) heart healthy; and (3) available in rural New England? [more inside]
posted by chiefthe at 5:50 AM PST - 16 comments

So I have a huge water heating urn dispenser with one copper heating element and 2 which seem to be stainless. I have a question about whether the copper one is safe or toxic. I keep hearing mixed reports about copper being toxic and it can accumulate in the body. Can someone please cite research of its safety or alternately of its toxicity? The urn isn't being used for this reason. Would like to settle this once and for all? TIA
posted by watercarrier at 5:31 AM PST - 14 comments

I use gmail. I frequently receive one particular type of email from a very trusted source that contains links to download documents. I’d like to automate retrieving and saving these documents. [more inside]
posted by DB Cooper at 11:41 PM PST - 3 comments

When I am disrespected or alpha-male'd as an adult (US Midwest, 46, SWM), especially by a fellow man, I become absolutely furious very quickly. I suspect part of this is due to bad childhood physical peer abuse. What I am looking for is how to basically pour one of those helicopter-buckets of water upon the fire. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 10:35 PM PST - 20 comments

Here’s me and my BFF Dart. He’s a senior cat, hyperthyroid but on medicine, and having some early kidney disease markers. All numbers are good. I really want him to put on weight. My vet said to experiment with carbs; mashed potato has worked a little. Anyone have ideas for giving a cat carbs? Or other ways to help him gain a little more? [more inside]
posted by mermaidcafe at 8:45 PM PST - 8 comments

I roughly fit the description of "a worker who [doesn't] qualify" from this article--I'm an employee of a medical center who does not directly interact with COVID-19 patients. I recieved my first dose of the Pfizer vaccine in late December, after patient-facing staff had all been vaccinated. Should I have declined the first dose? If my employer doesn't take the initiative and withdraw the offer of a second dose, is it unethical for me to accept it (scheduled in a few days)? Additionally, if you feel strongly that the answers to these questions are "yes," what other actions do you think it would be appropriate to take now to make amends for jumping the queue?
posted by pullayup at 8:18 PM PST - 31 comments

I'm removing an Ikea bed and wondering if there's anything creative/interesting to be done with the bedslats? They're 28 pieces of slightly curving laminated wood, 27" or so long. Quite pretty in my opinion, structurally solid and I don't want to toss them. But what to make? Something for 6- or 8-year-old users would be nice but not required. Assume half-decent woodworking skills but limited time.
posted by RandlePatrickMcMurphy at 7:25 PM PST - 7 comments

I've realized that the biggest obstacle to being the person I really want to be is that I don't hold myself accountable, or I do for a brief time but don't persist. I want to change this. [more inside]
posted by angiep at 6:24 PM PST - 11 comments

It seems, from feedback and knowing more about myself, that I have high(er) emotional intelligence. What I'm not good at though are the things that are valued more in workplaces--math, data, or "harder" skill things. How can I see my soft skills as useful while I try (I'm hoping it's possible) to become better at these hard skills? [more inside]
posted by socky bottoms at 6:21 PM PST - 15 comments

While I was able to find out some useful info from searching the archives, most questions/answers were geared towards either expert hikers or people on the other end of the spectrum. My partner and I are somewhere in the middle though. [more inside]
posted by coffeecat at 5:37 PM PST - 17 comments

I’d like to find some high-quality Spanish translations of the poems from Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass. At minimum I’d like to get my hands on Jabberwocky, The Lobster Quadrille and The Walrus and the Carpenter. Something like this German translation of Jabberwocky is what I have in mind. (That site has several Spanish translations but I don’t know how to judge them.)
posted by Tell Me No Lies at 4:46 PM PST - 2 comments

I'm just curious: For those of you who have romantically signed your initials and a loved one's in a public place (e.g., not your backyard or your own driveway), where did you do it and are you still with your co-signer? [more inside]
posted by ubiquity at 4:26 PM PST - 12 comments

I have a Logitech MK540 keyboard and mouse combo at my office. I liked it well enough that I just got one to use at home. The new mouse doesn't scroll as smoothly as the one at the office, so a co-worker dropped off the work mouse. I thought it would connect automatically with the unifying receiver, but no dice. [more inside]
posted by XtineHutch at 3:26 PM PST - 3 comments

Help. I am stuck in an airport with my ex-husband and my extremely active 2.5 year old who missed his nap. Our flight is delayed 4 hours. Can you recommend a game I can download on our tablet for him ? [more inside]
posted by pintapicasso at 1:45 PM PST - 13 comments

I have a 2015 Honda Fit LX, very base model. I noticed a few weeks ago that the remote key fob only locks/unlocks the driver side rear door and the hatch. I can still lock/unlock manually so this isn't the end of the world, but how can I troubleshoot this? [more inside]
posted by assenav at 1:29 PM PST - 13 comments

I would like my energetic and playful new cat to be nice to my sweet senior cat. How do I foster this? [more inside]
posted by *s at 1:15 PM PST - 9 comments

I am having a problem with Zoom - when I try to start a call and the screen often (but not always) completely black. The obvious fixes don't work (see inside for what I tried) If I reboot my computer it works, at least for a while and then it doesn't. This never happens with other conferencing programs. I'm considering using zoom as my primary conference software if I can just solve this problem or at least predict when I'm going to need to reboot. [more inside]
posted by metahawk at 12:14 PM PST - 8 comments

Help an ignorant car owner out! Are the service recommendations from an oil change place I was just at for an oil change bullshit or necessary? [more inside]
posted by VirginiaPlain at 12:04 PM PST - 30 comments

Metafilter introduced me to two of my favorite websites of all time: Louis v. Rick and Animals Talking in All Caps. What other talking animals would make me laugh? Twitter accounts, Instagram follows are welcome plus sites that update. [more inside]
posted by gladly at 11:36 AM PST - 5 comments

As I watch my mayor force teachers back into the classroom against their will under threat of dismissal I find myself wondering at their power to do something that will clearly lead to increased spread of covid-19 and will certainly lead to more excess deaths. Is there any possible law or consequence for civic leaders in this kind of scenario that isn't covered by the general sovereign/crown immunity? Can the leaders distribute metaphorical plague blankets and get away with it?
posted by srboisvert at 10:51 AM PST - 21 comments

Hi! I'd love to hear about your favorite Instagram accounts that post quality cocktail recipes. Big bonus if the account posts actual recipes directly in their posts (as opposed to "link in bio"). Thanks!
posted by Conrad Cornelius o'Donald o'Dell at 9:54 AM PST - 7 comments

For the last few months, we have had an infestation of what I assumed were fruit flies. These little guys have been around for a few months now, and I'm sick of it. But I also don't have any idea what i am doing *wrong* to get rid of them... maybe you can help. [more inside]
posted by RajahKing at 9:12 AM PST - 24 comments

I just finished "Frozen In Time: The Fate of the Franklin Expedition" and would like to read more about (Ant)Arctic exploration. Any suggestions? [more inside]
posted by so fucking future at 9:06 AM PST - 29 comments

Is it possible to modify the link to a Google Form to include values that will autofill some of the form fields? I do not own the form, I just have to fill it out every day. [more inside]
posted by Winnie the Proust at 8:54 AM PST - 7 comments

I'm getting rid of an old sofa and I'd like to not just throw it away and have it end up in landfill. It's about 20 years old and is pretty dirty after 10 years of living with a dog. It's structurally sound and is very comfortable, and if someone wanted to throw blankets or throws over it, it would be fine. But it's not nice enough that most Good Will-type places will take it. I live in Brooklyn and I've listed it with Free Cycle. Are there any other options?
posted by swheatie at 8:17 AM PST - 21 comments

Two-part question on keeping my feet warm: please recommend specific indoor booties, and let me know how your Heat Holders socks hold up. [more inside]
posted by kristi at 8:12 AM PST - 7 comments

This song, YT: "Hands Down (Trentemoller's Blissed Out Mix)" is strongly reminding me of another song a lot like it. I find myself desperately trying to remember what it was. Please help! Clues and unreliable memories within. [more inside]
posted by wobh at 7:34 AM PST - 7 comments

The rise of SeaShantyTok has reminded me that something that I love and haven't had enough of in recent years is men's choral music. Open to pretty much any genre, from Gregorian chant to modern A Cappella. Where should I go to hear deep booming voices blended in perfect harmony?
posted by firechicago at 7:00 AM PST - 20 comments

Inspired by this comment on the blue, I plan to do a little research of potential insurrectionists. Maybe you have advice. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 6:54 AM PST - 4 comments

Our 2018 Macbook Air doesn't want to charge, except when it is shut off. Help? [more inside]
posted by Mid at 6:54 AM PST - 13 comments

Should I jump on this opportunity now, even if I don't really want it? [more inside]
posted by winterportage at 6:14 AM PST - 17 comments

I've been at my well-paying, comfortable, but unfulfilling corporate job for about 2.5 years now. An opportunity to switch to something more in line with my personal values and goals has come up. I've never thought of myself as someone who strongly values money/prestige, but I'm having a lot more feelings than I expected about losing some of the material benefits my current job affords me. How do I work through this to decide if I should stay or go? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 5:03 AM PST - 20 comments

When I was a kid in the '80s I was horrified/fascinated by this panel from the Usborne Book of the Future. It suggested we might travel virtually to faraway planets by building temporary copies of ourselves from vats. Who did the authors get this idea from? Were there sci-fi authors around that time who were popularizing this concept?
posted by johngoren at 2:39 AM PST - 10 comments

I have an advanced degree in an applied social psychology, work psychology. I have training in research methods/design and statistical analysis using R and SPSS, relevant subjects such as attitude, knowledge and learning theory, and some consumer behavior theory as well as real-life marketing experience. (marketing and consumer behavior seem like it might be pretty generalizable to understanding the epistemic crisis we are in). I'd like to help in any way I can and it sounds very interesting. [more inside]
posted by Che boludo! at 2:30 AM PST - 5 comments

YANMD or anyone else's. To the best of your knowledge/insights/anecdata/guessing, what is the safest way to get groceries in the age of COVID? [more inside]
posted by queen anne's remorse at 8:41 PM PST - 37 comments

Pretty straightforward, I think? Who can sign as witness on a 74O Renunciation of Probate or Administration with the Will Annexed form and complete the 74T.1 Affidavit of Execution of Renunciation in the Province of Manitoba? Anyone? Anyone not named as a beneficiary? Some other determinant? [more inside]
posted by joelhunt at 7:40 PM PST - 1 comment

Over the last few weeks I've been receiving receipts for transactions from PagSeguro, a Brazilian payment platform. These are not my transactions, and I have verified that they are not actually affecting my financial accounts, so it appears that someone has just erroneously entered my email address as theirs and this is probably not a scam. What can/should I do about this? [more inside]
posted by majorsteel at 6:24 PM PST - 6 comments

The term does not seem to be used on Metafilter in the way that Urban Dictionary defines it: "A very sensitive person. Someone who is easily hurt or offended by the statements or actions of others."
posted by mortaddams at 6:10 PM PST - 16 comments

My friend wants to use the .ninja domain extension. Is this cultural appropriation? [more inside]
posted by blnkfrnk at 5:15 PM PST - 13 comments

I want to make a table pad out of thick plastic, like this. But clear PINK, not just clear-clear. Plenty of vinyl gauges come in clear hot pink, but maybe not 80? I’d go down to 1.5mm, but I don’t really think thinner than that is going to serve my needs. I would be willing to piece together smaller pieces if it doesn’t come by the yard.... Please hope me!
posted by Charity Garfein at 4:56 PM PST - 4 comments

I bought a shotgun and would like to familiarize myself with its usage. Where can I practice shooting it for free in Texas? I am willing to drive anywhere in Texas, but the closer the better. Thanks!
posted by maxexam at 4:40 PM PST - 10 comments

I am looking for good reception, good camera, and no more than $400! Moto G Power, E5 Plus? Decent reviews. My plan is T Mobile, where else can I buy from? Should I? Will they accept it?
posted by ebesan at 4:13 PM PST - 14 comments

Ages ago, there was a ramen place in town where our group of friends often had a late meal. I was never a fan of ramen, but they also had a fishy rice dish. It was served in a portion-sized donabe, and when you opened it, bonito flakes that were sprinkled on the top danced a little dance in the steam. [more inside]
posted by mumimor at 2:44 PM PST - 6 comments

I’m devastated. This morning my 12 year old daughter left a note on my desk telling me that more than once she unwittingly saw porn on my iPad, and this has damaged our relationship. Damaging our relationship is the last thing in the world I would ever want to do — I love her more than anything in the world. How can we recover from this? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 2:11 PM PST - 55 comments

I would like to convert the data store for a small personal project of mine from flat csv files to a relational database. I need help designing the DB for optimal performance. [more inside]
posted by no regrets, coyote at 1:02 PM PST - 10 comments

All the news articles about the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine say that we still need to wear masks, keep distance, etc., because we don't know yet whether being vaccinated stops transmission of the virus. Well, when are we likely to know the answer to this?
posted by medusa at 12:34 PM PST - 6 comments

I'm very curious about how people in the UK have experienced Guy Fawkes Night and particularly how it's been taught in schools in the 20th and 21st centuries. Please share. [more inside]
posted by FencingGal at 11:20 AM PST - 28 comments

I love to journal, but I'm having trouble finding that one oh so snowflakey perfect notebook that suits my stationery junky needs. They just don't seem to make them like I need anymore. I just want a hard cover, large lined journal with nice paper. I want to use it to brain dump and journal in with some decorating a little with photos, washi tape & colored pens. More snowflake details below. [more inside]
posted by wwax at 10:59 AM PST - 10 comments

I'm new to gaming and trying to figure out how to use my Nintendo Switch. I'm having a problem getting past the screen that says, "Press A to begin". [more inside]
posted by akk2014 at 10:58 AM PST - 8 comments

For a work newsletter, I am looking for links to media that focus on Black history and culture in California. I'm seeking longform journalism, photojournalism, films, tv, podcasts (series or single episodes), literature, music compilations, virtual art or museum shows, etc, focusing on Black life with a substantive intersection with California. These can be historical or current topics, including history, politics and activism, but also things like food, fashion, business, sports, religious life, etc. The media does not need to be free but should be relatively easy for a person to consume via web or streaming music or TV services. Thanks in advance!
posted by vunder at 10:19 AM PST - 11 comments

I want to give a high-quality Union Jack pillow to a friend, but don't want to spend $150. This is surely within my limited needlepoint skills (I'll pay someone to put in a zipper and do the piping), but the only things I've found are a hideous boxy pillow on Makezine, a floral (?) design that's $50 for the pattern alone, and some dinky key fobs, etc. Point me in the right direction, please? Bonus gratitude for suggesting the perfect thread colors (available in US). Thanks!
posted by cyndigo at 10:05 AM PST - 7 comments

I'm looking for thoughts from avid RSS consumers on the best RSS readers for Windows with accompanying synced Android app. [more inside]
posted by cmaxmagee at 10:00 AM PST - 11 comments

We moved to a 1950s-era house that has a not-very-steep roof, deep eaves, no gutters. There's ice buildup on the roof in a spot where two parts of the house intersect, a v-shaped area that gets little sun. Should we try to remove that ice (with one of those socks or something) or is it okay to leave it there so long as the eaves below that spot are clear? [more inside]
posted by zenzenobia at 9:38 AM PST - 5 comments

Zenni anti-reflective coatings: are the premium ("super hydrophobic" and "oleophobic") ones better than the basic one? [more inside]
posted by needs more cowbell at 9:37 AM PST - 13 comments

I (28F) just realized that my girlfriend of 3 years seems to be more in the "maybe no" camp than "maybe yes", while I've been clear from the beginning that I want kids, and am now panicking about breaking up with her. [more inside]
posted by Anon4689 at 8:01 AM PST - 25 comments

I am looking for recommendations on quality, relevant historical/political books for what the US is going through right now, and in particular, looking to the future. I am primarily looking to learn from history on how we may be able to deal with the aftermath of the Trump administration and last Wednesday's events. How do we survive this, what do we need to watch out for, where might we go from here? Details inside. [more inside]
posted by sillysally at 7:56 AM PST - 6 comments

Is anyone tracking in great detail and publishing regularly on how quickly the USA is vaccinating people? I would like to see regular updates on details like how many people were vaccinated each day, whether we are vaccinating more people per day or about the same number per day, how many doses are available and how many more are being manufactured, how many people have gotten their second dose, etc. I have only found snapshots, nothing looking at change over time. [more inside]
posted by Tehhund at 7:29 AM PST - 4 comments

I am at my wit's end trying to find a good litter box solution for my 2 cats. My current problem is primarily scatter - no matter what I try, I end up with litter all over my house and I'm over it. Help! [more inside]
posted by tryniti at 6:44 AM PST - 21 comments

Starting yesterday, Facebook has been giving me periodic timestamped notifications that I have logged in to TikTok (← screenshot of one). I have never used TikTok. What's going on? How do I stop it? [more inside]
posted by msbrauer at 6:39 AM PST - 4 comments

I work for a company of around 70 people. The CEO has mentioned that he'd like to have one-on-one meetings with employees beyond his direct reports. The CEO has told me directly he thinks it'd be good if he and I did this. My manager has said, independently, that she thinks it'd be good if the CEO and I did this. I don't have anything to talk about right now, how do I do this? [more inside]
posted by Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug at 6:39 AM PST - 13 comments

I have three nephews/nieces (to two siblings) on the other side of the world, all under 5, and I'd like to have a meaningful relationship with them as they grow older. If you had an excellent aunt/uncle who lived far away, what did they do that helped build that relationship? Or if you that relationship with a newphew/niece, what tips do you have? [more inside]
posted by twirlypen at 12:48 AM PST - 9 comments

What are some fun games to play over Zoom for a party night of 8-10 people? [more inside]
posted by Christ, what an asshole at 12:02 AM PST - 9 comments

Help me not freak out. Gargled with possibly contaminated water bottle while having bleeding gums - how likely will I get a tooth infection? [more inside]
posted by facehugger at 10:02 PM PST - 8 comments

How socialist would America be if the composition of the Senate more-or-less reflected the national popular vote?
posted by clawsoon at 9:49 PM PST - 11 comments

So a few days ago I asked why my vintage flatware was suddenly tarnished and it turned out the answer was something like "you need to polish it, and it didn't tarnish all at once, it's just that you finally noticed it." So I polished it and all was well. But then... [more inside]
posted by BlahLaLa at 6:34 PM PST - 12 comments

I will be moving into a new apartment soon for a new job. I qualify for an Emotional Support Animal. Should I mention it to the landlord before moving in? I don't have the pet yet and am still looking at places. [more inside]
posted by smorgasbord at 6:28 PM PST - 12 comments

Can you recommend an adventurous science fiction book series for early teens? Something space related would be nice but not required. Preferably not too much violence or depressing/dystopian themes. Series preferred over individual books.
posted by roaring beast at 6:23 PM PST - 26 comments

Unexpectedly got a new kitten, and I'm looking for strategies for introductions to our two adult cats and two adult dogs now that her isolation/quarantine is coming to an end. Are there any websites out there with a good step by step protocol for both cats and dogs? Complications and pet tax inside. [more inside]
posted by misskaz at 5:00 PM PST - 8 comments

What should I expect as an experienced software engineer/lead going into a "big 4 agency" who has only worked with creative agencies and developed technical client strategies that weren't necessarily heavy IT operational space. They were either custom development or those fun lets do a VR tech demo for an opening of a big client shop? I was engineering lead, developed solutions and generally saw projects to success with the client while maintaining a development background. I had a lot of an autonomy, writing scopes, picking projects deciding a lot of large leadership decisions. Will this translate to the big four? Or how do I adjust? [more inside]
posted by geoff. at 4:50 PM PST - 5 comments

I am trying to make a playlist of modern (post 1955) non-children’s songs that feature vocals by children, such as “Aeroplane” by the Red Hot Chili Peppers and “Afraid” by Nelly Furtado. The children’s vocal would need to be more than just a word or two!
posted by juniperesque at 4:12 PM PST - 52 comments

Whence the suffix "-man" when referring to a sailing ship? [more inside]
posted by pipeski at 3:47 PM PST - 8 comments

I'm looking for resources (articles or books ideally rather than videos or audio presentations) about what makes workplace training successful, and / or about how to evaluate whether training has had sustained benefits, whether staff have learnt from it, whether any intended behaviour changes have been sustained long-term. I'm sure there must be some recent research or key texts about these things and would be grateful for any pointers. Thanks.
posted by paduasoy at 3:34 PM PST - 3 comments

People keep having difficulties hearing me on phone calls when I use headphones or Bluetooth. No problems when putting the phone to my ear or using speakerphone. No problems hearing other people. I had this problem with my Galaxy S5 and now with my Moto G Power phone. I’ve tried both a Plantronics Voyager Legend Standard Bluetooth and a pair of Bose QuietComfort 20 earbuds with both phones. [more inside]
posted by catquas at 2:48 PM PST - 3 comments

Is it ok to use NIMH 7.2 V 3000mAh battery to replace NIMH 7.2V 1500mAHh battery? [more inside]
posted by ragtimepiano at 2:46 PM PST - 4 comments

I'm a longtime user of DevonThink as a personal information manager on my Macintosh. I am looking at transitioning to Windows and need a replacement PIM. Specific details inside. [more inside]
posted by philosophygeek at 2:31 PM PST - 2 comments

We like reading comics series like Tintin to our toddler but we need help finding something books that are (a) more modern and comprehensible; and (b) appropriately kid-friendly and low stakes. (He's not ready yet for classics like Bone or Amulet.) [more inside]
posted by Marquis at 1:18 PM PST - 14 comments

Okay, look, god knows I love you, but please don't tell me not to use shampoo. I would like a shampoo and conditioner that are good for dry hair. [more inside]
posted by Frowner at 12:16 PM PST - 32 comments

Not that I'm complaining but more out of curiosity, and because all of the advice I can google starts and ends at things that haven't worked, for a few weeks (I actually have no idea how long, what is time) when I log into facebook on my computer I can't see comments, make comments or post anything. I tried clearing cookies & restarting. It all works fine on my phone. It seems like a problem with no solution. Am I wrong? [more inside]
posted by bleep at 12:13 PM PST - 6 comments

I've become fascinated with the medieval illuminations of Très Riches Heures du Duc de Berry from 15th century France. Where can I get a 2021 calendar featuring these paintings?
posted by Rash at 12:09 PM PST - 5 comments

My fine, curly (3a) hair gets SO TANGLED ALL THE TIME now that it's long. When I'm home in Toronto I use L.U.S. products, which are expensive but worth it, mostly because the conditioner effectively detangles my hair no matter how bad it's gotten. I'm in the UK now, I didn't bring enough L.U.S. conditioner, and nothing I can get at grocery stores seems designed to **actually detangle** the knots in my hair. [more inside]
posted by cabbage raccoon at 11:20 AM PST - 9 comments

I like lawyer shows. I have watched a LOT of them, but not all of them. What is the BEST lawyer show? [more inside]
posted by phunniemee at 10:54 AM PST - 30 comments

What are your favorite resources for sewing projects and techniques, but for making things other than clothing? [more inside]
posted by Lyn Never at 9:57 AM PST - 8 comments

My wedding ring was feeling too tight on my ring finger so, three hours ago, I switched it to my little finger. OOPS. It's gone. It's too big for the cats or baby to swallow and I haven't left the apartment, so it's here SOMEWHERE. Suggestions? HELP!
posted by LingeringMoon at 9:23 AM PST - 29 comments

My Google-fu is failing me. A few weeks ago, I stumbled upon a fascinating blog about self-experimentation / personal science / N=1 interventions. I didn't bookmark the site, and now I can't find it. [more inside]
posted by JD Sockinger at 9:23 AM PST - 4 comments

How much does an average person gamble? If the multi state lottery spikes above a certain amount it tends to produce more sales, bringing in those that play that frequently, but limited for only a large prize pool. Maybe if they have an annual trip for Vegas or are drawn to Vegas for conventions they may gamble some as they don't visit a local casino. This would also include any that have a set objection. Say, for instance, they refuse to gambling as it brings no stimulating reward and they expected to lose anyways, so they don't. With the increase in casino building or changing of betting laws, has this changed the average person that was a non gambler to someone who does? More for a curiosity of how to guess at whether an amount is measured by dollars or people.
posted by brent at 9:15 AM PST - 10 comments

I recently got my first pair of Doc Martens 1460 boots in over a decade. The length and width are perfect, but there’s a noticeable amount of space in the heel area. Is there anything I can do to fill out the heel area a bit?
posted by pxe2000 at 7:26 AM PST - 2 comments

Can you point me to resources that help me understand the backstory and ongoing situation related to the raid on the US Capitol? I am up to speed on what did happen, but I feel like most articles describe the symptoms and not the cause or processes. [more inside]
posted by slidell at 7:39 PM PST - 18 comments

The phone was discarded, not the sim card. [more inside]
posted by fantasticness at 6:43 PM PST - 5 comments

Give me your favorite off-the-box recipes - the kind you find on the side of a package of flour, oatmeal, sugar, etc. Recipes that you tried on a lark but which really surprised you because they were so good. Does not *have* to be off of a product, but that is the general idea. [more inside]
posted by Crystal Fox at 6:07 PM PST - 48 comments

I'm trying to ease out of how tense I've been after the coup attempt this week, but I can't do anything but scroll Twitter. I'd like to at *least* switch my attention to fictional politics, a movie/TV show where political wrongdoing is found out and the "bad guys" get their comeuppance - more All The President's Men than Veep or House of Cards. Any recommendations?
posted by rogerroger at 5:35 PM PST - 32 comments

Hi - we (40s parents plus active 9 and 7 yr old boys) are going to visit the Four corners area (NM,AZ,UT,CO) in the second part of August this year. We are flying into Albuquerque and renting a truck and trailer style camper. Out trip is ten days and the only definite is seeing the Grand Canyon. What advice do you have? [more inside]
posted by cgs at 5:28 PM PST - 11 comments

Is there a relief fund or somewhere I can donate to support the janitorial and facilities staff at the Capitol in the aftermath of Wednesday's insurrection? [more inside]
posted by easy, lucky, free at 5:14 PM PST - 3 comments

Looking for the absolute best guide to furniture/wood refinishing. I have some experience and some success but I'm looking for more in-depth than what your standard home handyman blog post can offer. Theory, practical steps, special tools, etc. Book form would be best, unless there is a consistently excellent web or magazine source. Thanks!
posted by hafehd at 5:09 PM PST - 4 comments

We bought a house that came with a dog and several outdoor-only cats (long story, but the house just came with pets). One of the outdoor cats has recently become an indoor cat. I am concerned. [more inside]
posted by schadenfrau at 4:48 PM PST - 10 comments

I'm looking for examples of true two-hander films where the two main characters have a professional helper/helpee dynamic. For example: lawyer/client, psychiatrist/patient, social worker/child. But the film needs to be BOTH their stories, as equally as possible. [more inside]
posted by egeanin at 4:24 PM PST - 8 comments

A student of mine came out as transgender at the beginning of the school year. All of the staff as well as the students called them by their new name and gender preferences without much to-do. The parents are pushing back, and so now the principal and assistant principal are pushing back as well. How do I support my student? [more inside]
posted by Blissful at 3:03 PM PST - 18 comments

Feral neighborhood cat appears to be injured, what to do? Additional details below the fold. [more inside]
posted by photo guy at 2:43 PM PST - 12 comments

We bought a house last year that's been great, all things considered. It's about half an acre of land. However, our house and garage are surrounded by a massive gravel driveway, fit for a hundred cars! But we just have the one. How can we best pare it down and make our beautiful backyard and surrounds feel more accessible? [more inside]
posted by ancient star at 12:49 PM PST - 9 comments

Over the past several days I've gotten telephone calls from several different places. In each case they are responding to a web form filled out with my phone number requesting assistance. It's gone beyond someone just using a wrong number. But if this is a scam or harassment it's the lamest attempt I've ever seen, so I have no idea what's going on. More under the fold... [more inside]
posted by arniec at 11:22 AM PST - 11 comments

Sorry for asking yet another mask question, but I have some specific requirements: (1) available locally in Chicago, (2) avoid glasses-fogging, (3) as protective as possible. [more inside]
posted by unid41 at 10:52 AM PST - 8 comments

In this article by Dr. William Haseltine, "The Moderna Vaccine’s Antibodies May Not Last As Long As We Hoped" [more inside]
posted by DMelanogaster at 9:01 AM PST - 5 comments

What are the best pre-'80s 20th century restaurants in your city that were contemporary when they opened but haven't been extensively renovated or updated? The kind that act as a sort of unintentional, possibly grimy time machine, whether it be an original '70s McDonalds, '60s supper club or '50s drive-in? [more inside]
posted by eschatfische at 8:58 AM PST - 51 comments

I have two horrible couches. I want to have one L-shaped sectional (the long part you can put your feet up on), overstuffed, fabric, comfy, with no extra features. I have no experience buying furniture (other couches were gifts), and of course I want to spend as little as possible because I ain't rich. Where would you recommend I look for a new couch matching this description in the Chicago area? Bonus points for a place where they offer an in-store credit card so I don't have to pay this all at once.
posted by tiny frying pan at 8:22 AM PST - 13 comments

Due to antiquated mailboxes, some with non-functioning locks, some residents (including my mother) in a HUD subsidized senior housing apartment building can't get their mail reliably. Can anyone help me figure out how to get this situation resolved? [more inside]
posted by happy_cat at 8:09 AM PST - 9 comments

I'm looking for a fairly minimal laptop that my kids can use for watching videos and some light gaming -- think Jackbox and Minecraft, rather than Cyberpunk 2077. I've read reviews of current laptops but I'm wondering if my best bang-for-the-buck might be a used older model. [more inside]
posted by yankeefog at 7:44 AM PST - 5 comments

I want to build a D&D character that is actually fun to play. Tips? [more inside]
posted by geegollygosh at 7:33 AM PST - 18 comments

Can you name me more movies like the original The Wicker Man and the more recent The Love Witch? (Also worth mentioning, Kate Bush's The Red Shoes.) I love to rewatch these but I'd like some new ones. Give me your campy, witchy best! [more inside]
posted by fiercecupcake at 7:29 AM PST - 13 comments

There are two questions from the book" The moon and sixpence". About chapter 6.One morning Mrs Strickland sent me round a note to say that she was giving a dinner-party that evening, and one of her guests had failed her. She asked me to stop the gap. She wrote. It's only decent to warn you that you will be bored to extinction. It was a thoroughly dull party from the beginning, but if you will come I shall be uncommonly grateful... My question is why she used "was" although the party doesn't open yet? Is it a kind of subjunctive way? And the second question is from the chapter 8. the Colonel said "I'm just coming. If you're walking up Victoria Street, I'll come along with you." "All right", I said. "Come on." The author is very young and the Colonel is his superior. Are "All right." and "Come on." not rude expression to the Colonel here ?Thank you for helping my reading English.
posted by mizukko at 5:56 AM PST - 14 comments

This is in NYC. A new job I just accepted is hourly exempt and I will be expected to work 40-45 hours. I spent a bit Googling this but it made my head hurt as it didn't seem like I met the requirements for exempt as outlined by the FSLA. Is there somewhere that clearly explains the rules for hourly exempt? Because I couldn't find it. Everything I found related to jobs being paid salary. I'm guessing that if I am exempt, then I am being paid for anything over 40 but just not the overtime pay? Thank you.
posted by signondiego at 5:53 AM PST - 12 comments

Speakers of Hindi (I think?): what's going on in this video of a disruption at a stand-up comedy performance in Madhya Pradesh, India? [more inside]
posted by Rykey at 5:47 AM PST - 2 comments

Does anyone know of an app that will limit the system/application volume on OS X to a schedule that's either freeware or open source (OR failing that sub $7/£5 to buy?!) I've seen Element26 do one but it's just a bit steep for what it is. Thank you!
posted by dance at 5:45 AM PST - 4 comments

due to the events of this week in the us and their effects on my mental health, I am considering checking myself into an institution with inpatient emergency mental health services. I currently live in the us, I have existing issues with depression and anxiety and this week is too much for me to cope with. I am not suicidal, just terrified/overwhelmed/not taking care of myself and the pets well. What should I know going into this? What should I look for in picking an institution? Anything is helpful. Thank you. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 7:34 PM PST - 17 comments

This question is for my 18 year old son. He is building and managing a website using Lorekeeper, based on the Laravel PHP framework. He has outgrown the edits he can make using the editing tools and wants to work with the PHP directly, but is having trouble finding PHP learning resources for a true programming novice - most courses, tutorials or articles assume some programming experience in another language. He does know HTML/CSS and is generally very tech-savvy, but not any object-oriented programming languages. [more inside]
posted by jeoc at 7:01 PM PST - 7 comments

In the 80s, in Western Canada, there was a brand of wine gum sold in cellophane-wrapped tubes (each piece being round), predominately red/yellow coloring on the package and QUITE firm texture... [more inside]
posted by aramaic at 6:50 PM PST - 12 comments

Thinking of setting up an iphone for the grandaughter. What apps would you recommend for an almost three year old? Perhaps a game or two, but mostly music oriented apps for tiny human. What say you? It's an old iphone 6s, so nothing too fancy.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 6:36 PM PST - 9 comments

I'm single, mid 30s, modest income, with strong ties (vocational and personal) to Los Angeles. I expected to be renting indefinitely, until I realized this week that a) I might be WFH long term and b) I'd really enjoy living in a small house in the mountains (trees! solitude! hiking!). What can I do in the next couple months to make the long term goal (homeownership) more likely, and what can I do in the middle term to stay on track? [more inside]
posted by itesser at 4:34 PM PST - 19 comments

I have one bathroom renovation and one addition in my future, and I have been researching toilets and washlets until I'm blue in face. I want two features that, from my research so far, seem to be mutually exclusive. [more inside]
posted by kate4914 at 4:30 PM PST - 7 comments

I need a good motto [more inside]
posted by aetg at 3:57 PM PST - 25 comments

Please recommend some graphic novels that are painted, not drawn. Watercolors, oils, acrylics--all good. Just not the traditional pencil, ink and color. I'm familiar with Alex Ross, but that's it.
posted by zanni at 2:47 PM PST - 19 comments

I am looking for affordable invoicing software with (1) multiple payment options, including direct deposit and (2) automatic reminders for late payments (that don't go off if there is a direct deposit) [more inside]
posted by jander03 at 11:50 AM PST - 3 comments

See below for the full question. [more inside]
posted by Mechitar at 11:45 AM PST - 11 comments

This is one of those "help me find the thing" questions, your help extremely appreciated. [more inside]
posted by fingersandtoes at 9:52 AM PST - 13 comments

I'm planning to create an explainer video series about a subject that's close to me. The subject is well-known but widely misunderstood. I want to familiarize myself with the best of the explainer genre before I get started. Please share with me your favorite explainer videos to help me out. [more inside]
posted by cursed at 8:25 AM PST - 22 comments

When I wake up in the night and cannot go back to sleep, my preference is to rest quietly in bed if it's before 4am, or get up and start my day if it's after 4am. So, in a nutshell, I need to know whether it's before or after 4am, without knowing anything else about the time. [more inside]
posted by zibra at 7:56 AM PST - 16 comments

My extended family (12 adults and 5 children, ages 2-13) would like to get a vacation rental for Thanksgiving week this year. Our priorities are a GREAT house that's not a huge pain to get to, near a few appealing things to do. Details below the fold. [more inside]
posted by juliapangolin at 7:08 AM PST - 20 comments

My husband is on WhatsApp but not on Facebook. (He shares pictures of our kids with the grandparents.) I use both extensively. He would like to know what possible problems could arise for him now that Facebook will have access to his Whatsapp data. "But what could they do with my data?"
posted by Omnomnom at 4:01 AM PST - 7 comments

I recently bought an 11 inch iPad Pro, and aside from realizing that maybe I don't need something this powerful, I realize that I'm stuck with it, and wondering what's out there that I should be using it for, or what apps are the super awesome must have apps. [more inside]
posted by Ghidorah at 9:41 PM PST - 26 comments

Asking for a friend who is actively job searching but hasn’t had luck so far. How do you stay motivated when you work for a narcissistic asshole (who runs hot and cold)? [more inside]
posted by stoneandstar at 8:55 PM PST - 10 comments

Watching "Des" on Sundance and distracted by how the 1980s characters, especially the police officers, constantly call each other "guv." [more inside]
posted by nantucket at 7:56 PM PST - 13 comments

How do I diplomatically tell my cousin that, no, she can't borrow grandma's (my) piano that I inherited and I have in storage? Even if you are willing to pay to move it to your house yourself and "back again" later. No. We all know once it's in her house that it's never coming back. [more inside]
posted by Che boludo! at 3:51 PM PST - 46 comments

Could I get recommendations on a good single-volume survey of Japanese history? I'm looking for a general overall history, not a focus on any one period. [more inside]
posted by star gentle uterus at 3:42 PM PST - 4 comments

Since the wave of protests that began after the murder of George Floyd, have the police shot any BLM protesters with real live ammunition? I’m not counting people shot by rubber bullets, tear gas canisters, or other less than lethal munitions. Thanks!
posted by andoatnp at 3:36 PM PST - 4 comments

Our property tax is higher than surrounding houses, even though our home is smaller/older/worse. Please help! [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 3:20 PM PST - 14 comments

I am teaching a short 5 week course on storytelling in different mediums and am using Adaptations as the tool. I've been having a lot of trouble finding graphic novels I can assign my kids to read within an hour or so. I originally was going to do "Road to Perdition" but found that I was already showing a movie with Tom Hanks in it and it just seems like I really love Tom Hanks and I wanna show something different, but still good. What are some short and/or single volume graphic novels that are good and also have a decent movie adaptation? That a 14-18 year old could read in a couple hours? I'm only looking for movie adaptations because I don't have time to show an entire TV show. Thank you!
posted by midnightyen at 2:37 PM PST - 19 comments

I'm looking to make my own homemade hot chocolate mix, what ingredients and proportions should I use for best results? [more inside]
posted by VirginiaPlain at 1:47 PM PST - 24 comments

Do these even exist and if so, how do I search for them? I'm looking for tights/leggings that have no crotch area. Details inside. [more inside]
posted by WalkerWestridge at 1:46 PM PST - 15 comments

Mrs. Example recently decided to get (back) into screen printing, and bought this machine...it's an exposure unit (possibly UV-based) for treating the screens. As near as we can tell, it's a Protolight Mk 2 BT manufactured by Protokote Ltd. However, there weren't any instructions included, and judicious googling hasn't revealed any kind of manual or really anyone who's had experience with the thing. So hope us, MetaFilter. Has anyone seen one of these and know how to use it, or where we could find a manual? [more inside]
posted by Mr. Bad Example at 1:41 PM PST - 3 comments

All of my tax stuff is direct deposit and has been so for years. My April stimulus was deposited directly into my bank account. When I hadn't seen a direct deposit for a few days this time, I checked Get My Payment. The site tells me that my second stimulus is an actual paper check, and was put in the mail yesterday. [more inside]
posted by tzikeh at 12:54 PM PST - 11 comments

I'm looking for things that for one reason or another surge to your memory occasionally and every time you think of them, you laugh -- out loud, or at least in your mind. It could be a joke or a comic or an incident. [more inside]
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 10:43 AM PST - 125 comments

We have chickens, and a shed where we keep their food. My husband didn't realize how secure the chicken feed needed to be if it was going to be kept outdoors, so now we have rats. I want them gone asap, and am wondering if the community has any suggestions for how. [more inside]
posted by lagreen at 6:51 AM PST - 18 comments

Nursing and formerly-nursing MeFites, I need your recommendations. Babe 2 will make her grand entrance in 3-5 weeks and this time around I want to be better prepped for life as a nursing mom with a small but good quality selection of nursing friendly tops lined up. [more inside]
posted by The Librarian at 3:26 AM PST - 15 comments

I just fell extremely hard onto pavement and took the brunt of the fall with my knees. I've never had an injury like this before. What do I need to look out for and do over the next couple days? [more inside]
posted by We put our faith in Blast Hardcheese at 7:19 PM PST - 29 comments

Specifically, Battlestar Galactica/Blindsight/The Expanse/Alien(s)-esque spaceship science fiction uhhh...science. [more inside]
posted by turbid dahlia at 7:16 PM PST - 9 comments

My image-conscious boss does not like confrontation ... so I am doing all of his 'confronting' for him. [more inside]
posted by ihaveyourfoot at 2:35 PM PST - 26 comments

So my household has used a combination of non-matching vintage flatware + nonfancy nonvintage flatware forever. After years of this stuff holding up super well, in a short burst all of our vintage stuff became mottled and somewhat gross-looking. The contemporary pieces are fine. What happened? Can I reverse it? [more inside]
posted by BlahLaLa at 2:34 PM PST - 20 comments

In a conversation recently the role of precedent came up in criminal proceedings. To what degree is precedent a factor in criminal proceedings? [more inside]
posted by Phyltre at 1:05 PM PST - 9 comments

I am looking for games, puzzles or fidgets to keep my hands busy while watching TV. Details inside [more inside]
posted by Alvin80 at 9:53 AM PST - 31 comments

I have five (5!) email accounts that I need to check regularly: 3 Gmail-based + 2 Outlook-based. I need a free Mac-based email client that can handle them all, with a few further stipulations ... [more inside]
posted by Dr. Wu at 9:42 AM PST - 16 comments

I've been walking a lot but not going anywhere (so say we all), so I'm looking for some podcast recommendations to listen to while I walk. Important caveat: I hate most podcasts. I did like "Extremities" and "Nice White Parents" and I have lingering affection for "Wiretap" (RIP; not really a podcast I guess but you know what I mean). More picky details below. [more inside]
posted by goodbyewaffles at 9:28 AM PST - 44 comments

Recommend me some short stories (ideally with some unsettling or creepy elements) that will work for a high school speech competition. [more inside]
posted by castlebravo at 8:58 AM PST - 13 comments

I decided that I can't let the pandemic end without furthering some artistic pursuits. I've managed to make good progress on my stained glass work, but I would love to start playing the violin again after giving it up in 9th grade! So, I'm reaching out to you fine folks to help me with a few things. [more inside]
posted by Don_K at 8:54 AM PST - 8 comments

Hi, folks. Like the title says, I'm looking for good writing on science -- not scholarly journals, but stuff aimed at curious and moderately intelligent mainstream reader. I'm defining science as physics, biology, chemistry, computer science, and not so much medicine/health/coronavirus. [more inside]
posted by martin q blank at 7:52 AM PST - 22 comments

My 7th grader is going through an existential crisis and we can't find her a counselor at this time. Looking for books that might help her particular circumstance. [more inside]
posted by A Terrible Llama at 5:42 AM PST - 31 comments

Someone I know is interested in a late-career change to becoming a developer. She's hooked by Skillcrush's aesthetics and the delivery of their instruction, but questions the cost and isn't sure of the value that the portfolio plus career advice brings compared to alternatives. Snowflakes inside. [more inside]
posted by chappell, ambrose at 3:43 AM PST - 6 comments

I've been doing some work on tracing my family tree and need this postcard translated from german to english. [more inside]
posted by MT at 3:13 AM PST - 10 comments

I want to quit using sponges and switch to dish clothes, so I'm looking for ones that are thick and will hold/retain a lot of dish soap while I use them. [more inside]
posted by skycrashesdown at 9:44 PM PST - 13 comments

My health insurance is offering participants free enrollment in a weight-loss program called "Naturally Slim." I'm having problems googling it because of the generic title. Does anybody have experience with this program? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 9:22 PM PST - 6 comments

I am trying to learn more about Quebec and I am curious to know if there are any ongoing social issues and social policy issues that are being faced in Quebec? [more inside]
posted by RearWindow at 7:10 PM PST - 5 comments

TL;DR: I am in San Antonio and cannot go to LA. My brother in LA is drinking himself to death. I can't find any local resources to help break the cycle he's in and I'm getting desperate. [more inside]
posted by sotonohito at 6:21 PM PST - 13 comments

My father is taking my brother on an expensive fly fishing trip next year, and while I was invited, we decided the cost would be wasted on my much lower level of fly fishing interests/abilities. But my dad wants to make things fair and so he's sent me a check for the same amount of money that he says I could put toward student loans, or whatever I'd like. "OR," he says, "maybe WE could take a trip?" I want to do a once-in-a-lifetime sort of thing, on the order of fly fishing in Alaska. But what should we do? [more inside]
posted by adiabat at 4:25 PM PST - 31 comments

This tweet has me on a mission. Is there such thing as a smart smoke detector that will let me tell it to be quiet, there has been a false alarm? Asking for a dog who gets very scared. [more inside]
posted by DirtyOldTown at 3:34 PM PST - 10 comments

My googling's done me no good, and I don't think mine fit right. Help me understand what I feel should be obvious but to me apparently isn't. [more inside]
posted by bixfrankonis at 3:27 PM PST - 7 comments

I want to own a hardcopy chemistry textbook. I'm not going to become a formal chemist but need a firmer grip on some specific areas, [more inside]
posted by unearthed at 3:08 PM PST - 7 comments

I teach kids in grades 7-8 (over Zoom, these days). In order to get them to read their agenda on our asynchronous days, I have just started inserting silly, short videos as Easter eggs. Help me find things that will delight them. [more inside]
posted by charmedimsure at 2:53 PM PST - 20 comments

I want to transform my bedroom ceiling into a beautiful night sky. I'm envisioning some sort of concoction of string lights and fabric. Sewing the lights on the fabric and then stapling the fabric onto the ceiling, maybe? Have you ever done anything like this, and do you have any thoughts or tips on the best way to make this happen? I'm going for fluffy, frothy, calming sky and stars, in a way that will not catch things on fire or become a terrible dust trap. (I don't have any light fixtures or anything else on the ceiling.)
posted by firei at 2:44 PM PST - 15 comments

Ok, a friend of mine grew up in the 1960s in the UK. He remembers as a child being freaked out by the opening sequence of a TV show. This would have been between maybe 1964 and 1968. The sequence opened the show every week. [more inside]
posted by storybored at 2:31 PM PST - 4 comments

I'm being asked to investigate serverless (AWS Lambda, Azure Functions), my only previous experience with it was using it like a bash script that kicks off simple jobs without needing to setup containers are K8s. I'm seeing people doing some pretty crazy applications that would seem to have been done . Am I being old or is this just a fad? It seems really like pub/sub or event sourcing with all the K8s and containerization abstracted from you. These things can be incredibly hard to track down problems when things go wrong. [more inside]
posted by geoff. at 2:13 PM PST - 16 comments

My wife and I live in the UK and are big fans of Jeopardy! We typically download recent episodes using a private BitTorrent tracker of which I am a member but sometimes new episodes don't appear on the tracker for days and sometimes they don't appear at all. How can I make sure I don't miss any of Alex Trebek's final week of shows? [more inside]
posted by chudmonkey at 1:37 PM PST - 4 comments

My husband's sister, who I am close to, rounded up the amount I owed her and that makes me feel bad. Am I just being petty? [more inside]
posted by Blissful at 1:12 PM PST - 34 comments

What are your make-ahead lunches that I can eat while working from home with minimal prep (a quick zap in the microwave), with varied TEXTURE? Leftovers seem to get soggy/soft/mushy immediately and I'm already doing overnight oats in the a.m., which is all of the mush I can take in a day. No green leafy salads please. [more inside]
posted by rogerroger at 1:10 PM PST - 18 comments

I have a 10+ year old Fujitsu Aviamo 50" plasma TV that I'd like to donate somewhere in the Greater Boston area. It works perfectly but it came with the house and it's time to upgrade. I can't envision selling it as the shipping costs would be greater than its value. I'm happy to drop it off somewhere. [more inside]
posted by Farce_First at 12:25 PM PST - 7 comments

Is there a way to override vibrate-only notifications in Android for one specific event? [more inside]
posted by pdb at 11:15 AM PST - 4 comments

What are the best explainers out there that go in to detail about what will actually be required to pull off the Green New Deal's call for 100% renewable energy in the U.S. in the very near future? [more inside]
posted by saladin at 10:38 AM PST - 10 comments

Difficulty re-upping my Duolingo Plus subscription due to no longer being able to get into Apple Pay and card expired [more inside]
posted by Ideal Impulse at 10:27 AM PST - 2 comments

Our vinyl siding and decks tend to need a good cleaning every few years, we get both black and green mold. Previously I had been doing this myself with a pressure washer I would pre treat the decks with a bleach water mix but use only water on the siding. It was hard work and took me a few days to do it by myself. A couple of years ago I won an exterior house from a Facebook contest from from a local company to clean my siding. The guy walked around the house once with a low pressure hose spraying on some kind of cleaner. Then walked around a second time with a low pressure hose with a water rinse. To me it looked like magic because in the past I was using back breaking brute force to get the mold off. It took this guy less than 20 minutes to do the siding and another 20 or 30 mins to do the deck. House is in need of another cleaning this year and I'd like to do it myself. What was the magical cleaner concoction that he used that only had to sit on the siding for 10 minutes or so before it melted all the mold away and cleaned off with a quick water rinse?
posted by jmsta at 7:13 AM PST - 11 comments

I've been using a preferred name for the 6 months I've held my current position. Boss has told me to begin the legal name change process or they're switching my email address over to my legal name. YANML; what are my rights? [more inside]
posted by shocks connery at 6:12 AM PST - 22 comments

I have a vague memory that in the old days of computer games ('87-'90), you might get home with your newly purchased computer game, excited about a feature advertised on the back of the box. But then you would find an errata card saying that the manual was incorrect, that this exciting feature was not actually in the game after all, possibly because it was too buggy to ship. Can someone help me identify a specific game where this might have happened?
posted by johngoren at 3:33 AM PST - 5 comments

So I've now interacted with most of the animals on my bucket list: kangaroo, quokka, koala, otter, sugar glider, penguin. All the cute ones and pretty much all at animal sanctuaries. Last one on the list? WOMBAT. So where can I pet, scritch or tummy rub a wombat in a supportive environment?
posted by rileyray3000 at 11:17 PM PST - 10 comments

I'm going to be selling stock from my company's employee stock program in a couple of months, and will have to pay taxes on the gains. What is the procedure for paying these taxes (US, Oregon)? [more inside]
posted by Mister Fabulous at 10:20 PM PST - 11 comments

I'm creating a script. Right now, I'm using Celtx. I want the script to be in the format that will be most acceptable to professionals and from what I read, that's Final Draft. But when I look to buy it on eBay or Amazon, there is a downloadable Version 11 for about $35, which I assume must be a subscription. And, there are old Version 7 and 8 packages. These cost $40, $150 and almost $300, respectively. I'm guessing the difference in price means something regarding functionality, but I can't tell what. [more inside]
posted by CollectiveMind at 8:45 PM PST - 4 comments

I'm a divorced 58 year old, with two adult children. I have a term life insurance policy that I have (thankfully) outlived with a 20 year lock in price that is coming to an end. [more inside]
posted by jennstra at 7:14 PM PST - 14 comments

I'm about to have to take a course based on the Crucial Accountability book, which I understand many here like. I've been warned that the course does have some issues wrt power imbalances. Can you help me understand these better before I dive deep into the course? [more inside]
posted by lab.beetle at 7:13 PM PST - 2 comments

I am looking for recommendations for a virtual event producer or production team for an award ceremony. I'd like to step it up from just Zoom for a live streamed event with participants in multiple countries. [more inside]
posted by cessair at 6:39 PM PST - 6 comments

I recently started watching "The Expanse" and I have a question. Spoilers inside for Season One, Episode 2: "The Big Empty". [more inside]
posted by cozenedindigo at 5:07 PM PST - 4 comments

I want to figure out ways to feed myself where I can eat very healthy meals, in a way that is very, very convenient. Convenient for me means: Around zero to five minutes of active prep. Healthy for me means: lots of veg, fruit, fibre, etc, low on processed foods, sugars, bad fats, etc. It also means being able to have a reasonably good handle on how many calories I am consuming. I’m in Toronto, Canada. [more inside]
posted by ManInSuit at 4:00 PM PST - 36 comments

I'm in my mid-50s and have dyed my hair red for many years. I love the red! But is it time to change the red out for what lurks below? [more inside]
posted by mcbeth at 3:19 PM PST - 30 comments

How should my wife and I address religious issues with our children resulting from years of indoctrination by a narcissistic grandparent? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 2:23 PM PST - 55 comments

I got a 20 pound CO2 cylinder and retrofitted my SodaStream to use it. It was amazing (lasted 11.5 months! cost <$20 to fill!). I think the valve was damaged on the way to refill it, however, as it has now essentially emptied in a matter of days. [more inside]
posted by profanon at 2:20 PM PST - 8 comments

I bought a Magic Chef 2.6 portable dryer(MCSDRY1S) to go along with the Silk Lux small washer referenced in one of my previous answers. I need to mount the dryer on the wall above the washer. The dryer came with an instruction booklet and the parts to hang this dryer on the wall. Unfortunately, I cannot figure it out from the booklet. I need to see a video of someone actually mounting the dryer on the wall using the provided hardware. But all the videos I find are of reviews, or other mounting methods, or both. Can someone with better google sense find me the elusive video of wall mounting using the hardware provided?
posted by KayQuestions at 1:31 PM PST - 6 comments

I have been calorie counting for a while and would like to add an exercise routine to my life. I am a forty year old female who currently weighs about 170 lbs (down from 210). I still have some knee and foot problems so I am looking for something that will be easy on the joints. I thought about swimming, but with the covid situation I don't feel comfortable going to the pool. My main goal is to improve/maintain my flexibility and build some stamina so I don't feel so winded going up and down the stairs or chasing my cats around the house.
posted by MaryVictoria at 12:53 PM PST - 16 comments

I am trying come up with a concise list of things I could do right now to make things easier for my family if something were to happen to me. I have 3 siblings (48, 50 and 52) and 2 living parents (79 and 86). If I get hit by a bus today and live (but can no longer make decisions) or die what information should I have thought about, put together and disseminated to them to make things as non-stressful as possible for them? I'm thinking of Disability Insurance, Life Insurance, Living Will, Final Will, etc. [more inside]
posted by dgeiser13 at 12:51 PM PST - 10 comments

My mother needs a hip replacement in the next year. She lives alone in the midwest, my husband and I live on the east coast. I would like her to get surgery out here so she can live with us for a bit post-op. I am wondering if you have navigated this, particularly the insurance piece with Medicare. [more inside]
posted by Bebo at 12:45 PM PST - 4 comments

I love, love, love Universal Standard's overalls, but wish they came in more colors than blue and black. Do you know of any places to get cute plus-size overalls in fun colors? My size falls in the 16-20 range depending on cut (photo for scale).
posted by PussKillian at 12:31 PM PST - 7 comments

Long and short of it, I watched "The Social Dilemma" and am getting the hell out. As of this time, I am moving to Substack to keep others informed and establishing a website where I can keep a business/personal presence. What other options are there for social media and emailing. Is SubStack a wise choice or is there better? What is available to protect the website? What am I missing?
posted by goalyeehah at 12:30 PM PST - 10 comments

What is your preferred peanut butter for making peanut butter blossoms (those pb cookies with Hershey kisses on top), and why? If you have a fave recipe send that along too, but only if you include the brand/type of peanut butter that gives you the tastiest results.
posted by misanthropicsarah at 12:28 PM PST - 12 comments

I'm working on a project to help identify microaggressions in my workplace, in the hopes that at least some of them are due to ignorance rather than malice, and that awareness of them might help well-meaning people avoid them. But to do that, we need a categorized list of many examples of microaggressions, so that people can recognize their behaviors and correct them. Does such a list already exist somewhere? The closest thing I've been able to find was this, which breaks them down into categories and shows a few examples. But it's far from comprehensive. [more inside]
posted by crookedgrin at 11:41 AM PST - 9 comments

For reasons, I no longer have a television signal. I do not have cable. If I would like to watch this week's episodes of Jeopardy!, are there streaming or other reasonable options available to watch those episodes, at or around the time they are broadcast, without getting my hands on an antenna or signing up for cable?
posted by They sucked his brains out! at 10:57 AM PST - 13 comments

While out on a hike yesterday in the Angeles National Forest, I saw the abbreviation "LARFCP" stamped in the base of a concrete cistern. Nobody on the Internet seems to know what it stands for. Do you? [more inside]
posted by mykescipark at 10:19 AM PST - 16 comments

I saw the acronym(?) "FPP" recently. It seems to be a MetaFilter exclusive term that's old enough that no one bothers to spell it out and I can't figure it out from context. What does it stand for?
posted by Nec_variat_lux_fracta_colorem at 10:08 AM PST - 16 comments

Last week, I purchased a 2017 Nissan Rogue. Thursday, when I was idling the car over lunch and reading the manual the low oil pressure light came on. I turned the vehicle off as instructed. Turned it back on to be sure the warning came back on. It did, so I shut it off. I found underneath the car an alarming oil slick. It was towed back to CarMax and they took a look at it and determined the engine was not damaged. They found that the oil filter had a bad seal. I have driven quite a bit over the last three days, including a two-hour Sunday drive yesterday. I have not seen any issues with the vehicle. Can I assume that if there was engine damage due to the oil leak that it would have been obvious by now?
posted by zzazazz at 9:08 AM PST - 12 comments

So the hard drive (a SATA Seagate Barracuda 7200RPM with 1TB) on my somewhat old desktop died over the holidays. I'm looking to replace the drive, rather than the whole computer, but want to make sure I get the right piece of equipment. Details inside. [more inside]
posted by nubs at 8:36 AM PST - 12 comments

Hi! I recently moved into a 125 year old house. Previous owners were family who are still in the area, so we know all the work done on it in the last 15 years. This morning there was a brief leak coming from the ceiling on the first floor. The weird part is that it didn't last long -- just long enough for me to figure out what that rhythmic sound was (it was hitting some stuff I'd left on the floor and making that THWACK sound), get nailed by a few drops, and visually confirm one beading along an apparent crack in the ceiling before it stopped. Maybe like 20-30 drops total? Now I can't even identify where it was coming from. There's no visual discoloration or obvious dampness or anything. It's not directly below the bathroom. How worried do I need to be? [more inside]
posted by schadenfrau at 8:13 AM PST - 13 comments

Help me find Spanish podcasts that I can listen to repeatedly without feeling like the world's a terrible place. [more inside]
posted by penguin pie at 7:01 AM PST - 6 comments

I want a cloud storage service AND an Android app that will allow me to shuffle play music from several folders via my phone. Why is this so hard? [more inside]
posted by Sheydem-tants at 5:58 AM PST - 3 comments

There's a lot of different kinds of tofu here in Germany, that I never saw back home in the US. From lots of flavored tofus (NOT marinated) to firm, shelf-stable tofu. How do they do it? Does anyone have any insight into the German tofu industry? [more inside]
posted by Cat Pie Hurts at 4:22 AM PST - 10 comments

Can you recommend me your favourite memoirs or other personal accounts of the 1918 influenza pandemic, either online or in print?
posted by Glier's Goetta at 3:38 AM PST - 7 comments

My puppy is a 7 month old mixed breed dog with probably some German Shepard in her - think big, strong and smart! I'm looking for ways to keep her busy and out of trouble- preferably without spending too much money or overfeeding her. I play with her a lot and taken her for walks but this is for when she needs to keep herself occupied. Please help? [more inside]
posted by hazyjane at 3:29 AM PST - 19 comments

My partner loves Jarvis/Vision from the MCU movies so I bought her the Vision comic anthology by Tom King for Christmas and she's loving it. I don't know much about comics but would love to get some recommendations about what other works might be great for her if she's interested in more such works in the future. [more inside]
posted by Carillon at 2:15 AM PST - 6 comments

It's an Fujitsu i3-210 3.3Ghz with 4GB RAM running 64 bit Win 7 Professional. It's super sluggish despite the fact it's not asked to do much. [more inside]
posted by dance at 12:41 AM PST - 12 comments

I want to plant a fruit tree in my lawn in zone 6b. I am not much of a gardener, and I don't have tons of spare time, so I would prefer for it to be easy to care for. I have a slight preference for a peach tree, but would be happy to switch to apple if they are easier. Gardeners of Metafilter, please weigh in on the following: [more inside]
posted by MFZ at 11:35 PM PST - 13 comments

YANMD, nothing said here is medical advice, etc. I believe I have inattentive ADD. Tell me about how you realized you had it, and how learning you have it and what you did to change it improved your life. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 6:03 PM PST - 11 comments

I need some recommendations for books that are easy to get through but are satisfying to read for me: lyrical prose, non cliched plots, allusions, experimental techniques, etc. [more inside]
posted by redlines at 5:42 PM PST - 31 comments

I have raised a saver, who saves all their money. They have $15,000 in the bank currently. What should they do with it? [more inside]
posted by momochan at 5:41 PM PST - 23 comments

I bought this t-shirt at a thrift store in Burien, WA a while back because I liked the logo, and was going to cut it up for another project that never happened. Now I might want to wear it, but realized that I should try to find out what it means before I wear it in public. Does anyone have an idea of what SBR or BSR is? [more inside]
posted by oxisos at 5:35 PM PST - 9 comments

I want to buy some smaller Chicago screws, but I can only find them with 10mm heads. Can anyone suggest a source for smaller ones -- say, 7mm? I am trying to assemble small items made of rather thin leather (e.g. three layers about 1-2mm thick each). [more inside]
posted by wenestvedt at 4:36 PM PST - 7 comments

In the animated movie In This Corner of the World, set in WW2 Japan, some of the characters in a subsistence, rural household are depicted -- in the context of kitchen chores -- of repeatedly tamping a stick into a narrow necked glass bottle with something in it. [more inside]
posted by seanmpuckett at 4:20 PM PST - 1 comment

I have this ~2016 iPad mini with a Lightning connector. I’d like to connect it to this ~2010 27" Cinema Display. I’ve not succeeded at connecting it via this pair of adapters: USB Type C to Female Mini DisplayPort and USB C Adapter, Type C (Female) to iOS (Male) Adapter. The monitor works from a USB-C Macbook via the USB/DisplayPort adapter and it does not work from any other iOS device with Lightning connectors. Do I need to buy a different USB/Lightning adapter (maybe this one) or is this monitor is too large for iOS to drive?
posted by migurski at 3:10 PM PST - 3 comments

I took a boneless pork roast out of the refrigerator to rest an hour before cooking, then got busy and forgot about it. It sat for about three hours. Can I eat this? [more inside]
posted by marguerite at 2:49 PM PST - 15 comments

Some good friends recently contracted Covid. Both were pretty sick and the husband was intubated. They want to visit in March. Is there a safe way to do this? [more inside]
posted by mecran01 at 2:29 PM PST - 23 comments

Can I use my computer as a terminal for... itself, processing elsewhere? [more inside]
posted by Sterros at 2:20 PM PST - 7 comments

Can you help me find resources for students on AI, machine learning, big data and the social implications of future computing? [more inside]
posted by argybarg at 1:39 PM PST - 8 comments

Recommended winter walking footwear for cold feet and plantar fasciitis? [more inside]
posted by cycleback at 1:04 PM PST - 8 comments

When I was in middle school (around 2001) there was a web-based video game that was popular among my classmates that we called "Jewish Mario". [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 10:40 AM PST - 4 comments

Here's what I want to do: (1) dole out screen time in 15-60 minute increments that apply to all apps (e.g., I type in the password and they can use it for a certain amount of time, then the phone locks up again), (2) have screen time unavailable during the lunch hour and after 5:30 except to parents. How? [more inside]
posted by slidell at 10:33 AM PST - 10 comments

I tried to google what would actually happen if a majority of the House and Senate would vote against certifing the electors in some states, but only get articles saying that this time it is certain to fail, which is true. But what about next time when Republicans hold the Senate and House and loose an election, can they really just choose not to certify electors from states they lost and annoint their candidate? I mean, this would likely result in a civil war, but would this somehow be legal?
posted by SweetLiesOfBokonon at 10:03 AM PST - 10 comments

I'm looking for inspiration from artists or photographers who have efficient social media. For example, an artist who produces a painting and then has a system of selling it on Etsy, then step two, post the Etsy link on Twitter, step 3 post the Twitter link on Pinterest, step 4 post the Etsy link on their Facebook page. The artist would also have a great system to have a main link on their Instagram, etc., that I could click to go to a page that shows newest paintings for sale. All their usernames would be cohesive. [more inside]
posted by cda at 9:51 AM PST - 3 comments

I take my career seriously. A lot of my friends do too. Now my brother is getting married to a woman who is nice, but is clearly not interested in pursuing a career. And I’m ashamed to say that I feel like he’s settling. How can I be less judgmental? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 9:37 AM PST - 36 comments

I just finished watching season 4 of Fargo. I know it's not a true story, but I'd like to find and enjoy good non-fiction media (books, documentaries, whatever) that could be a tie-in of sorts - like something about organized crime from the 1950s (or a broader range - maybe anything up to 1970) that's also about personal lives and told masterfully/like a story, not just dumping dry facts.
posted by needs more cowbell at 9:36 AM PST - 2 comments

Movies about musicians to watch with my 13 year old after watching Soul. [more inside]
posted by signal at 9:15 AM PST - 32 comments

I have a stereo amp, connected to it are a turntable, TV, and two sound inputs from two computers. The turntable sound is perfect, as is the TV. But when I switch over to one of the computers, I get a hum in one channel and distorted sound. I ran sounds tests and one channel is defiantly not working right on both computers. However, this does not happen with computer speakers. [more inside]
posted by james33 at 8:50 AM PST - 7 comments

(Some of the) big numbers in the Old Testament: 1 Chronicles 21:5. 2 Samuel 24:9. Jesus and his squad had that background. So I've been thinking lately that Matthew 18:21-22 has not been preached well. [more inside]
posted by phrits at 8:33 AM PST - 17 comments

What are some learning materials created only by people from within Korean cultures/background that share this perspective of events? [more inside]
posted by xarnop at 8:23 AM PST - 3 comments

I'm in the market for a new laptop, and the major sites that review laptops point to a particular make/model. I mentioned this to someone, and they said that "of course they do" as those reviews are all "pay to play" and the manufacturers are paying the review sites for favorable/featured reviews. Does anyone know whether this is true or the extent to which this is true? Also, I need a good Windows laptop, so hit me with your recommendations on that. [more inside]
posted by jeoc at 8:05 AM PST - 10 comments

I recently bought a 4K monitor for my Windows 10 PC. Streaming videos look a bit choppy when played at 4K, probably because my CPU is doing all the work to decode them. [more inside]
posted by alex1965 at 7:49 AM PST - 15 comments

My 60+ parents came down with COVID-19 in the hard-hit and ICU bed-deprived LA area. They both have underlying conditions but so far (day 3) their symptoms are moderate. I live in DC and my brother lives in SF. How can we help (remotely or otherwise)? Any and all ideas welcome. Struggling to think clearly. Thanks in advance.
posted by lecorbeau at 6:38 AM PST - 17 comments

Looking for good fiction with LGBT characters that aren't necessarily the main character, and being gay isn't the main scope. [more inside]
posted by christiehawk at 11:06 PM PST - 27 comments

I'm recently unemployed. I'm not eligible for Medicaid in my state because I'm not a senior, a parent, or disabled. I applied for (and purchased) a plan on Healthcare.gov with an estimate based on my income in recent years. The amount was just enough to qualify me for a subsidy and keep me out of the coverage gap. But what if I don't actually make enough? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 7:35 PM PST - 5 comments

How can I best arrange my affairs for the end of my life? [more inside]
posted by SPrintF at 6:50 PM PST - 20 comments

I have a friend (no romantic interest in either direction as we are both hetero cis women) who calls me "baby" by written message on a regular basis. It makes my skin crawl. This is not an inside joke between us and is a forced intimacy, as we are no longer close. At the same time because we are not close I feel like saying voicing an objection would damage the existing relationship. [more inside]
posted by jello at 5:34 PM PST - 23 comments

Are you someone who started writing after years of wanting to but never actually doing it? What got you started? [more inside]
posted by synecdoche at 5:02 PM PST - 10 comments

I read that ukulele-sized guitars exist. I would like to purchase one. Does anyone know what they’re called/who makes them?
posted by jitterbug perfume at 4:45 PM PST - 14 comments

I'm about to add this West Elm Harmony couch to my cart. I tried it out at the store and it felt comfortable and deep. [more inside]
posted by mokeydraws at 4:00 PM PST - 8 comments

I've been unhappy with the fingerless gloves I've tried so far - mainly because they leave some of my fingers inadequately covered. I'm looking for suggestions for better ones. [more inside]
posted by Greg_Ace at 3:01 PM PST - 10 comments

How do we (almost) always know that a photo of even the most well-scaled, intricately detailed and well-proportioned miniature room is not a ‘real’ room? For example, rooms in a dollhouse or other miniature rooms? What is it about these rooms that is somehow a little bit off? (Or have you come across examples that are impossible to distinguish from the real thing?)
posted by The Patron Saint of Spices at 2:43 PM PST - 22 comments

MeFites with ADHD: what strategies have you found to manage during the plague time? [more inside]
posted by cosmic owl at 2:17 PM PST - 13 comments

I have dark undereye circles (NOT a function of hydration, sleep, etc., anything solvable, please believe me and DON'T jump in with that.) I want to hear your tricks or best resources for actually hiding these. [more inside]
posted by fingersandtoes at 12:07 PM PST - 31 comments

Can I seal off the holes in my interior door jambs while still allowing the door to properly latch? [more inside]
posted by leeloo minai at 11:43 AM PST - 5 comments

Hi ALl, I'm tearing my hair out a bit here, not literally but close enough. :) I got a PS4 for Christmas, thanks to my brother, and ever since have been struggling to buy games for it. I'd appreciate any help. [more inside]
posted by Alensin at 10:56 AM PST - 7 comments

The mRNA vaccines cause our bodies to produce a spike protein which triggers the production of antibodies that wipe out both the spike protein and COVID. My question is: Could this mechanism deplete a natural reservoir of protein-building machinery that our bodies might rely on later in life? Do we even know, given that there is no data on the long-term effects of mRNA vaccines? [more inside]
posted by jtothes at 10:14 AM PST - 12 comments

Please help me! This morning, I apparently accidentally deleted my entire iMessage history with my mother on my iPhone (I was trying to delete only a very large document she texted to me that was eating data to download). More details inside. I'm desperate, please help! [more inside]
posted by ClaireBear at 9:59 AM PST - 3 comments

My partner is at his wit's end with poorly fitting facemasks. I've obtained different styles that work for me, but not so much for him and his slight facial asymmetry. Can you recommend a tapered/shaped mask that could work for someone with glasses AND one eye socket about 1/4" lower than the other? [more inside]
posted by luftmensch at 9:52 AM PST - 8 comments

Trying to settle an argument. Bob says it's perfectly fine to answer the simple questions that do the rounds on Facebook sometimes (the one in question is "Do you personally know anyone who has tested positive or died due to the corona virus?", posted by someone Bob doesn't know). Alice argues vociferously that no you shouldn't answer these, there is some kind of data mining going on and someone's looking for potential targets for future misinformation. [more inside]
posted by altolinguistic at 9:05 AM PST - 13 comments

I currently live alone in a 3-floor townhome (the whole unit is furnished). Had a roommate for a short time previously, had no issues at all, but they moved out in late November. I've been alone since then, and don't think I want to have a roommate again. How would you recommend I negotiate this with my landlords? More details inside. [more inside]
posted by dubious_dude at 8:30 AM PST - 17 comments

2020 has ruined my ability to enjoy TV that is anything other than gentle and kind. I’ve watched all the great British baking show that Netflix has to offer, same with Queer Eye and Schitt’s Creek. I’m looking for more shows in the same vein - ones that leave me with a smile on my face after watching. Any suggestions? [more inside]
posted by House of Leaves of Grass at 6:45 AM PST - 77 comments

A Standardgraph technical lettering stencil that used to belong to my dad is designated as 201/3. (Image here). I'm pretty sure the 3 is for 3mm. What does the 201 mean?
posted by bardophile at 4:35 AM PST - 2 comments

I put candlesticks in wine bottles. Thendrip poetically. THEN (the horror,) the drips pull away from the bottle, like a skirt in the wind, and a) look silly and b) break off. Physics, please tell me why that happens. Also is there any way I can prevent it, because AMBIANCE. I just want bottles ensconced in wax drips, is that too much to ask?
posted by Grandysaur at 11:28 PM PST - 8 comments

How do you find what you're actually looking for in a sea of SEO garbage? [more inside]
posted by bluloo at 10:13 PM PST - 24 comments

I'm looking into refinancing and the first hit our broker got us was a great deal, but I researched the company and they are just terrible. But, I am wondering if I'm going to find any mortgage company that isn't terrible? [more inside]
posted by Toddles at 9:37 PM PST - 8 comments

Help me find my absolutely perfect leggings with my personal set of criteria! [more inside]
posted by brainmouse at 9:13 PM PST - 13 comments

Man, I sure would love to look at a fish tank now that I'm working from home every day. Only problem is, I'm lazy and I get bored of things easily. Is there a way I can set up a small aquarium that would require a very little in the way of maintenance after the first couple months? [more inside]
posted by bondcliff at 7:25 PM PST - 25 comments

I have just had a really compelling gaming experience, and I'm looking for games with similar elements! [more inside]
posted by Black Cordelia at 7:16 PM PST - 13 comments

I'd like to read about and do some some recreational math. Like puzzles and stuff like that. I enjoyed the Euclid game very much. I'm leaving this pretty broad, but basically I'd mostly like to DO, but it's ok if there's some reading/learning stuff in between the doing. But I'm not looking for a primarily reading book. [more inside]
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 7:10 PM PST - 8 comments

Anybody here familiar with that old school technology of making presentations (usually for pre-school children) using a cloth backdrop (maybe felt) and sticking cut out objects on and off of it, for storytelling? I need to rig up something like that for online teaching of kids. Pretty sure it doesn’t use Velcro (what they call “magic tape” here in Japan) because the objects affixed to the background come off very easily, and quietly. Anyone who knows about exactly what it is that they use for this, please inform! Thanks.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 6:52 PM PST - 10 comments

Occasionally, I have days in which I experience deja vu a LOT. Sometimes as frequently as every 5 minutes or so. Should I be worried? [more inside]
posted by zardoz at 6:27 PM PST - 8 comments

Details inside [more inside]
posted by atm at 5:49 PM PST - 11 comments

I have a crack in one of my teeth. My dentist wants to perform a root canal and put a crown on the tooth, in order to save the tooth. My insurance is denying this. Can you help me with my appeal to the insurance company? [more inside]
posted by andoatnp at 5:45 PM PST - 8 comments

Help recommend me some new running shoes? [more inside]
posted by qxntpqbbbqxl at 1:43 PM PST - 30 comments

How to I learn how to play the Wii Rock Band 3 guitar? I am a moderately skilled amateur percussionist and all I want to do is chuck this piece of crap straight through the TV. [more inside]
posted by wnissen at 1:25 PM PST - 2 comments

My husband and I are seeking advice on a difficult family/custody/caretaking issue involving a single father who can't currently be a full-time parent and international borders. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 1:16 PM PST - 8 comments

Filling out my healthcare application for 2021 at the last minute and I am terrified to discover that I am automatically being shunted into Medicaid due to extremely low income last year. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 11:40 AM PST - 22 comments

I'm wondering if there are any statistics on whether or not the "Book of Mormon" musical resulted in any new or renewed interest in Mormonism. I've heard from several people who said they heard that Mormons were gently discouraged from seeing the show. But I can't believe many didn't go to check it out. Reading interviews with Trey Parker, he said many Mormons came up to him and essentially told him he "nailed" it. [more inside]
posted by CollectiveMind at 10:28 AM PST - 9 comments

I have heard things about secret communities for people fleeing organized crime or violent partners. Do these actually exist, particularly in North America? [more inside]
posted by unstrungharp at 10:27 AM PST - 13 comments

Today I checked and the Onefinity CNC I ordered months ago is scheduled to arrive sooner than expected... like, gulp, next week. Little help? [more inside]
posted by carmicha at 10:24 AM PST - 5 comments

My Girl Scout troop is doing a craft-along via video call for our next meeting. Each of the Girl Scouts will have as bag of random craft supplies on-hand; I'll pop the photo up on our call, and then they'll have an hour or so to recreate it. It's for fun and not a serious competition or anything; we did a similar meeting with cake decorating. What's a good image for them to recreate? [more inside]
posted by The corpse in the library at 9:39 AM PST - 19 comments

I would like to get some fans to circulate air around my radiators to facilitate heat transfer and distribution. Can you help me find something like this I can order online? [more inside]
posted by SaltySalticid at 8:44 AM PST - 5 comments

Looking for songs that scratch the same itch as "(Don't Fear) The Reaper" & "Veteran of the Psychic Wars" by Blue Oyster Cult, "Don't Pay The Ferryman" by Chris de Burgh, "Space Oddity" by David Bowie, and "Major Tom (Coming Home)" by Peter Schilling. [more inside]
posted by jzb at 8:23 AM PST - 35 comments

I am trying to cut a file with my Cricut Maker but the svg I created doesn’t look right. [more inside]
posted by Biblio at 8:04 AM PST - 9 comments

I've been eating two Brazil nuts per day to get a specific health benefit (because selenium supplements taste awful). I started off with these chili-lime ones, and they taste great, but the powder is messy (one more time I have to wash my hands) and I don't think my digestion loves chili powder first thing every morning. For some reason, I'm having trouble finding sweet flavored alternatives. Can you recommend a good source of candied or honey-roasted Brazil nuts?
posted by limeonaire at 8:01 AM PST - 5 comments

Around 2 months ago, I agreed to teach a weeklong virtual seminar (scheduled for approximately 2 weeks from now). Circumstances have changed, and I think it would be a bad idea for me to proceed. How do I gracefully bow out? [more inside]
posted by matkline at 3:38 AM PST - 15 comments