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I'm a 5'2" AFAB person who is exploring my masculine side and considering what transition would mean to me. I've just started shopping in the men's section, which is like being a kid in a candy store, but alas, usually ends in sadness as I realize I hardly fit into anything there! What stores and tricks am I missing? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 11:11 PM PST - 18 comments

I've been asked to dip into a project and promote it at no cost to myself, but helping Person A lower on the career ladder. Thing is, Person X is also collaborating with Person B with whom I have had bad dealings. How can I reject the proposal politely when I'm known for mentoring and helping out young talent? Details below. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 11:11 PM PST - 7 comments

I have a lot of facial hair, and have darker skin. I consulted with both a well-regarded laser clinic and electrolysis one, and went with electrolysis. But now I have concerns. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 11:10 PM PST - 4 comments

A case of mistaken identity has turned into a Kafka hell (more inside) [more inside]
posted by eusebis_w_adorno at 10:31 PM PST - 12 comments

I am planning to go on 6 month-or-so road trip in a teardrop trailer, with long pauses visiting various friends and family and scuba diving in various places. I've gotten ahold of a used Hiker Trailer that suits my purposes, and now I need something to tow it across the country with. [more inside]
posted by octopodiatrist at 9:58 PM PST - 12 comments

I have recently been given financial power of attorney by an elderly friend whose expenditure on in-home nursing is now considerably greater than her income. Her only substantial asset is her home, and she's asked me to arrange a reverse mortgage. Which Australian providers should I be talking to first? Possibly more importantly, which providers should I not be talking to under any circumstances?
posted by flabdablet at 9:00 PM PST - 11 comments

So, recently, to humor a friend, I did an escape room with her, and, well, genuinely enjoyed it! (Shows me, I guess.) But it was in another city, and she'd like to do another one on her next visit here, so... [more inside]
posted by praemunire at 8:46 PM PST - 3 comments

I recently went caving (spelunking) for the first time and it was so fucking cool. Where are some places in the US that offer caving tours/trips? [more inside]
posted by unannihilated at 8:07 PM PST - 15 comments

I have two "cube shelves" you can find easily at Target (not my exact model anymore but they're similar enough). I need a closed/sealable container that will ideally fit as close to snugly as possible in the cubes. The cubes are about 15" deep and just under 13.5" wide. [more inside]
posted by caitcadieux at 6:36 PM PST - 4 comments

I tried to plug in my blender and MY POWER STRIP EXPLODED and everything flew in the air and now nothing that is plugged into it has power. There is no fire or smoke. The outlet still has power so the refridgerator is still running. I can't reach my landlord and have no idea how to work the fuse panel. What in the unholy hell do I do?? [more inside]
posted by Amy93 at 5:05 PM PST - 28 comments

I'm a 37 year old woman. I need new makeup, specifically foundation. I haven't been wearing any in a while. (And even when I did I was never really satisfied with how it looked.) I've only ever worn drugstore makeup, but decided I needed more help because I obviously don't know what I'm doing. I've read the previous questions about this but am still frustrated. [more inside]
posted by Green Eyed Monster at 3:34 PM PST - 38 comments

We didn’t put a lot of effort into styling our bedroom when we moved into our rental place...nine years ago. It’s time. But I don’t have a decorator’s bone in my body, and I’m working with a tight space. Help? [more inside]
posted by Liesl at 3:26 PM PST - 13 comments

What are some movies where the primary storyline is about a romance between two people on opposite sides of a widespread war, and the fact that they have divided allegiances is what creates the primary conflict of the film? [more inside]
posted by egeanin at 3:06 PM PST - 12 comments

We may have to be buying a new television soon, and if my last horrific experience at Best Buy is any indication, I know nothing of what a "television" is now. Please to educate me, oh involuntary Luddite that I've become, what to look for in a quality new television in the late capitalist 21st century.
posted by Lipstick Thespian at 2:30 PM PST - 22 comments

Asking for a friend (no, seriously). My friend has an Galaxy S9 and her son has an i-Phone. When she calls his number, it goes directly to his voicemail. When he tries to text her, it won't even let him send the text. (I think she says it turns red). [more inside]
posted by robverb at 2:20 PM PST - 2 comments

I find large lumps of lead when metal detecting and now I have quite a bit collected. How hazardous is it to handle? [more inside]
posted by amicamentis at 2:08 PM PST - 8 comments

I want to buy, online, a striped scarf like this but made of wool (or at least mainly of wool) . I think in a lot places it might be called a "soccer fan scarf". I also want to know that it was made by people who were treated decently. More inside ... [more inside]
posted by southof40 at 1:57 PM PST - 3 comments

I'm having a problem with a Google Sheets spreadsheet that's being edited by multiple people. About 98% of the time it's fine. But some of the edits are randomly disappearing, and this is causing big problems. [more inside]
posted by akk2014 at 1:10 PM PST - 11 comments

Back in Philadelphia for Year 2 of PAX Unplugged. What restaurants would you recommend we try out in town? [more inside]
posted by isauteikisa at 1:00 PM PST - 8 comments

I'm looking for examples of annual memberships that I can give as gifts that support a cause or interest, do not require travelling to a place (so not like a museum), give recipients access to related items or information (like a magazine), and that can be arranged online and shipped to/available in Canada. [more inside]
posted by onoclea at 12:05 PM PST - 13 comments

I want to be able to pay tolls electronically in Georgia and the northeast, perhaps in a rental car - how can I do that? Is a North Carolina Quick Pass the best solution? [more inside]
posted by madcaptenor at 11:40 AM PST - 11 comments

I read a short review of Skeletons on the Zahara once. The review excerpted a scene in which a British man/men was riding a camel, with a muzzle loading rifle, and was surrounded by an angry local tribe. The tribe picked up rocks and threw them at the men. The men fired their rifles, killing some of the tribe members. Then, as the British reloaded, the tribesmen threw more rocks, killing them all. I've even purchased the book and can't find this. Did this happen in some other book about British adventurers trekking across the desert?
posted by mecran01 at 10:44 AM PST - 3 comments

Mr. BlahLaLa is turning 65 shortly. Where can we get unbiased factual information about what he needs to do about signing up for Medicare? [more inside]
posted by BlahLaLa at 10:39 AM PST - 9 comments

My dentist has prescribed me 5000mg fluoride toothpaste but I have a problem - they all contain spearmint which makes me sick. Does anyone know of a super high strength toothpaste that is either peppermint or (preferably) mint free? Preferably in the UK but I'm happy trying to source from overseas.
posted by sodium lights the horizon at 9:54 AM PST - 10 comments

Water company has issued a boil-water notice for my area, which reads, in part: Water samples taken on November 29, 2018 had turbidity levels of 1.7 ntu, which is above the regulatory standard. Because of these high levels of turbidity, there is an increased chance that the water might contain disease-causing organisms. Some quick research shows that European standards allow turbidity up to 4, so do I need to boil everything?
posted by qldaddy at 9:10 AM PST - 5 comments

We have 7 nieces and nephews and starting this year we are scaling back the amount of $$ we spend on Christmas gifts. They are 12, 10, 6, 6, 4, 4 and 1. I gave myself a $20 limit on each gift and managed to staywithin that limit but I want to fluff it out a little bit. Do you have any suggestions for incredibly cheap add-ons? Like, less than $5 each.
posted by pintapicasso at 9:01 AM PST - 33 comments

Where does the money to pay for the operation and management of replacement Medicare plans come from? I was told by doctors at two hospitals that companies like AARP, Humana, United Healthcare and Aetna skim money off the federal benefit to fund their operation and make a profit. [more inside]
posted by CollectiveMind at 8:41 AM PST - 9 comments

I'm looking for reusable items that I can buy once to replace things I have to buy repeatedly and thereby save money (and reduce waste). Bonus points if they also save time and/or would make good holiday gifts. [more inside]
posted by quiet coyote at 8:22 AM PST - 36 comments

I'm making braised short ribs for a dinner party on Sunday. I'm stumped for ideas for a "bright"/acidic vegetable side to go along. The other side will be polenta. Any ideas?
posted by sarajane at 7:21 AM PST - 32 comments

I am building several training PPTs which involve explanatory text appearing on the screen. I am using the "wipe" animation, appearing from left to right - it gives it a nice feel of the text as if it's being typed right onto the screen. The default direction comes in from the bottom and moves upward. I can change it manually, but is there a way to change the default? MS says no, but I hope maybe some here knows more. . . [more inside]
posted by RevRob330 at 6:57 AM PST - 2 comments

I've bought and started using way more herbs in my cooking, to salubrious results. Yay! Unlike spices, where I have a sort of instinct for which spice flavors go together and with which foods, I cannot keep parsley sage rosemary and thyme (etc) straight in my head. I have no concept of which ones are appropriate where and how to combine. Is there something that can teach me/give me a run down? [more inside]
posted by Cozybee at 4:16 AM PST - 16 comments

I am in the early stages of dating a great guy however I I feel stuck not knowing where the relationship is headed. Am I overthinking this situation or do I move on?thank you so much for taking the time out of your day to read and respond to this. [more inside]
posted by Reetz30 at 2:43 AM PST - 17 comments

To this non-grammarian, 'that' is often an unnecessary word. For example, 'I believe that it's broken'. In that sentence, what part of speech is 'that'? I think I can identify the rest: I (subject) believe (verb) that (?) it's (indefinite pronoun) broken (adjective)?
posted by Homer42 at 11:21 PM PST - 7 comments

For the first time, I'm going to have my own Christmas tree! I've got a few childhood ornaments but not enough to cover a tree, so I'd like to make a bunch for this year. I'm searching for ideas and supplies to make some nice homey ornaments. [more inside]
posted by punchtothehead at 8:17 PM PST - 29 comments

I will be in Cincinnati for approximately 24 hours next month as part of a larger effort to show my mom different Midwestern cities that she might like. What should I show her? [more inside]
posted by julen at 8:09 PM PST - 12 comments

In high school I remember a friend reading aloud the intro to a book about a professor who built a computer that started channeling the devil and chatting with him. [more inside]
posted by mark k at 7:33 PM PST - 5 comments

My husband and I have managed, I think, to set ourselves up well in terms of basic personal finance. Now we are at the stage where we are talking about what to do with our money after covering all the basics. I am still clueless about money, and I don't really know how to have a knowledgeable conversation about it. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 7:28 PM PST - 19 comments

I love my Instant Pot and I want to take full advantage of its ability to cook frozen foods. What recipes could I make ahead of time, freeze, and then cook in its frozen state? [more inside]
posted by christinetheslp at 7:28 PM PST - 4 comments

I'm looking to expand my advent playlist beyond specifically holiday songs. [more inside]
posted by the primroses were over at 5:12 PM PST - 26 comments

BookFilter: An older children's chapter book about cats/pets in different historical situations, with pretty illustrations. [more inside]
posted by rachaelfaith at 4:47 PM PST - 10 comments

For pie crust I use 50% lard, 50% butter. I just cut in what I thought was lard, but I realized it was really soft. Checked the package and it's backfat. Oops! All my fat is now cut into my flour - is it going to be bacon-y? Can I just roll it out carefully and make it anyway? This is for a pumpkin pie - definitely dessert. [more inside]
posted by Emmy Rae at 3:59 PM PST - 24 comments

I feel extremely resentful and bitter towards my ex best friend/coworker and it is distracting me at work and keeping me in an angry, negative place. How do I navigate my feelings and this situation appropriately and in an emotionally healthy way that keeps me sane? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 3:47 PM PST - 23 comments

Help transliterate or translate this handwritten, one-page German letter from 1792? [more inside]
posted by brainwane at 3:08 PM PST - 9 comments

My niece wants an all-in-one type of pot to do EVERYTHING in. [more inside]
posted by fantasticness at 1:13 PM PST - 37 comments

I'm setting a new challenge for myself to try to meet someone without the usage of apps like Grindr / Tinder and websites like OkCupid. [more inside]
posted by audio at 1:04 PM PST - 17 comments

I’ve been cleaning my closet and discovered that I have a bunch of thin, semi see-through shirts that I haven’t worn for a number of years. I must have felt comfortable with them at one time because I did purchase and wear them but I guess now in my more… mature age, I just haven’t been wearing them, leaving them to languish in my closet. [more inside]
posted by madonna of the unloved at 12:45 PM PST - 18 comments

My wife is due any day now, and one thing that I'm freaking out about is seeing her in pain during labor. I've heard from a couple of other people that this is something that they/their partner really struggled with. What can I do to not be overwhelmed by this and stay strong for my wife while she's laboring? Thanks!
posted by Fister Roboto at 11:16 AM PST - 31 comments

I am an organizer for a union, and have been interfacing with the NLRB. I need to get up to speed within the next several months on certain intricate details. What is the best way to learn? Any inexpensive online or correspondence courses? Helpful guides? Books? [more inside]
posted by corb at 11:13 AM PST - 10 comments

I have medium cat allergies. I am considering getting a hairless cat. Let me know your experiences with them! Specific questions inside. [more inside]
posted by hepta at 11:12 AM PST - 14 comments

Every year we send our clients/partners gifts. This year I'm having a really hard time figuring out what to send. We generally send two types of gifts - Good Gifts ($15-$35) and Really Good Gifts ($50-$100) depending on seniority of client partner. Help? [more inside]
posted by bitdamaged at 10:42 AM PST - 7 comments

Is there a word in any language for feeling peer-pressured into productivity by the busily working people around you, when you'd actually rather be relaxing? [more inside]
posted by fast ein Maedchen at 10:32 AM PST - 10 comments

How do I get information about someone arrested in Paris near the Eiffel Tower? What police station would they be taken to? Is there a way to search for records online? A number to call? Somewhere to go in person? Any other tips?
posted by davidstandaford at 10:03 AM PST - 4 comments

I'm going on a trip with family and want to bring along some games that won't take up too much space. Ideally they'd be good for about 4 people give or take, and fun/novel to play. I'm thinking of buying Fluxx, for example. Our favorite games of recent years have been Pandemic and Codenames, but those are both a little bigger than would be ideal for this trip. Ideas? Thank you!
posted by malhouse at 8:59 AM PST - 56 comments

My sister and I are obsessed with the Great British Bake-Off show, so for a Christmas gift I thought it would be fun to get her a cookbook that includes actual step-by-step recipes for some of the challenges from the show. However, I looked up the cookbooks related to the show, and there are soooo many different ones to choose from - see link: https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=british+baking+show+book For anyone familiar with this show and these books, can you recommend the best one for beginner bakers who want to try some of the baking challenges from the show? I'm looking for step-by-step easy instructions, and I'm not sure how each of these books differ.
posted by koolaidnovel at 8:18 AM PST - 8 comments

What are some examples of surprising/strange/weird/subversive/powerful use cases of public APIs? Especially interested in ways that an API may be used in a way the facilitators of the API would not have anticipated, and/or just exceptionally clever uses. [more inside]
posted by elephantsvanish at 8:08 AM PST - 9 comments

A friend is planning a mini film fest at his place featuring films that all take place in a single night between dusk and sunrise. It's okay if it starts or ends in daytime, but he's shooting for films that are like 80% in the middle of the night. Ideas? [more inside]
posted by DirtyOldTown at 8:03 AM PST - 82 comments

Can you suggest holiday songs that express the themes of joy or gratitude but are not primarily about Jesus (e.g., no "Joy to the World")? [more inside]
posted by timestep at 7:48 AM PST - 21 comments

Hi everyone; I am looking for an app (android) that will send an alarm to me to remind me of my credit card due dates (repeated). I know there are plenty out there- I have seen them, but does anyone know of an app that will allow me to mark "PAID" on the bill when I paid it? Don't want one that has to connect to the bank. Thanks all :-)
posted by LOOKING at 7:07 AM PST - 9 comments

I strongly believe that copyright terms should be shorter, and I want to do something to encourage a return to the more reasonable copyright terms of the past. However, given that copyright terms are largely dictated by international trade agreements, activism on this problem seems futile. What can I do that won't be just a waste of time and/or money? [more inside]
posted by Kilter at 6:25 AM PST - 4 comments

Let's say I have, annually, $6,000 dollars available that I can either A) Put into my IRA account for retirement, or 2) Pay towards my mortgage. What I'm looking for is some kind of way to assess which is the better move for me, or whether it makes much difference which I do. [more inside]
posted by JanetLand at 5:59 AM PST - 12 comments

I am looking for resources on stereotypical beauty norms / body image [more inside]
posted by Crookshanks_Meow at 5:26 AM PST - 15 comments

I checked the archives, and I can't believe this hasn't been asked before! Are there any good alternatives to Amazon for buying toys for Christmas online in the United States? [more inside]
posted by lollymccatburglar at 3:25 AM PST - 7 comments

What do you think is an ideal itinerary for nine days in Norway for a Nordic newbie? [more inside]
posted by mollywas at 12:22 AM PST - 10 comments

I just bought some rose-scented frankincense from the Middle East but the rose scent dissipates quickly leaving only the frankincense scent. [more inside]
posted by whitelotus at 11:53 PM PST - 9 comments

I seem to be having more problems recently with people getting aggressive on me in the subway. Stuff like, shoving me aside for seats, stepping on me, hitting me with bags and umbrellas and strollers. The difficulty comes when these are women, often small and white, sometimes quite old. I am not these things, and am concerned that responses which would be only appropriately confrontational with men might be seen as excessive. Could the hive mind help me calibrate my response? Or better yet, avoid this stuff in the first place? [more inside]
posted by meaty shoe puppet at 11:22 PM PST - 77 comments

How can I pick an "anti-charity" to motivate me that won't actually destroy the planet? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 10:59 PM PST - 9 comments

What's a good habit (act of courtesy or kindness) that you picked up from someone else? [more inside]
posted by pleasebekind at 10:59 PM PST - 89 comments

I was cleaning the house and found cannabis I somehow forgot about. Besides the fact that I have learned my lesson to not forget about these things - Is it still good? Details below. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 10:21 PM PST - 5 comments

I’m seeing my PCP on Friday to discuss the recurrence of chronic symptoms that had previously been greatly improved by TRT (via topical gel), but are no longer -- after only a few weeks of positive response to the TRT, I'm now back to where I was before I'd started. I’ve reason to suspect my PCP has had very little experience with TRT, so I’m trying to become better informed before I go in there. Hoping some MeFites with experience in this area might be able to share their experiences, recommendations, etc. [more inside]
posted by armoir from antproof case at 10:17 PM PST - 6 comments

Like many this time of year, it seems, I'm at a point where I want to tell my spouse that I want to leave. Problem: When to do it. Specifics below the fold. [more inside]
posted by o_O at 10:10 PM PST - 24 comments

I would like a bound (like not spiral bound or a binder or such) photobook that I can add pages to later. I would like a photobook, not a photo album. Does this exist? What's it called? How do I order it? [more inside]
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 8:43 PM PST - 8 comments

I live in one country and my parents live another. Neither of these is the US. My mother wants to sign up for the "Readeo" service so she can read a story to my daughter over a video chat, where half the screen is the book in question and half the person. It seems, however, to be a US-only service. Are there any international versions? [more inside]
posted by modernnomad at 8:36 PM PST - 3 comments

I know the general wisdom on Mefi is that graphing calculators on the whole are overpriced and easily replaced by smartphone apps, but I was just reminded of a fancy talking TI84 I have from my school days, and I wondered what kinds of cool things it might be able to do. [more inside]
posted by Alensin at 6:49 PM PST - 2 comments

Assuming I am buying fruit from my local grocery store (HyVee) in season (ie nearly ripe pears in the fall, ripe peaches in the middle of summer, crisp apples in the fall, oranges in the winter, etc, etc) , can I really expect the fruit from Harry and David to taste significantly better? On the one hand I feel it must because otherwise what justifies the exorbitant pricing? But on the other hand perfectly ripened in season fruit is so good that I can't imagine what could be done to it to make it taste even better. Thoughts?
posted by TestamentToGrace at 6:36 PM PST - 24 comments

I want to make a mini site (or even a one-pager) that resembles an unholy mashup of a MySpace/Geocities profile. (If it's hosted on Neocities/Angelfire/Tripod/etc even better). I can come up with the content, but am not sure how to code the layout. Are there easily available templates I can use to approximate the look and feel of an old-school MySpace profile? (I think MySpace itself still exists, but it seems slick now and I want to make it look super janky)
posted by divabat at 5:04 PM PST - 10 comments

A tiny old Japanese charm or pendant, but I can't figure out what it's meant to be. [more inside]
posted by antiquated at 4:03 PM PST - 5 comments

I remember seeing a quote on Twitter or somewhere; the original phrase/quote was in Spanish or Italian or something of that region, and in the original language it was a special phrase in some way-- it was a palindrome, or a rhyme, or used every letter, or in some way was a clever word-play. [more inside]
posted by Pastor of Muppets at 3:55 PM PST - 6 comments

I live in community with about 60 houses, there are main roads and artery roads and capillary roads (to borrow an analogy). We need to pave the roads and am looking for a simple way to calculate the $ contribution of each household. [more inside]
posted by lapsang at 3:53 PM PST - 31 comments

How can I programmatically generate Excel spreadsheets? I know about generating a CSV and importing it, but I need the resulting spreadsheet to use Excel-only features not available in CSV. [more inside]
posted by nebulawindphone at 3:07 PM PST - 10 comments

One site says soak/wash them, one site says lay them out to dry them, one site says, place them in a fireproof container and throw away with the rest of your garbage. [more inside]
posted by intrepid_simpleton at 1:46 PM PST - 8 comments

A question for the female-bodied of Metafilter who have showers with fixed heads: how do you get your bits properly clean? [more inside]
posted by Athanassiel at 12:53 PM PST - 31 comments

I need a decent pepper mill. I've had two in my life and they've both been terrible at grinding pepper. I was thinking I would just give up on freshly ground pepper but then realized a sample size of two is probably not comprehensive. Do you have a really good pepper mill? Tell me which one it is.
posted by something something at 12:12 PM PST - 44 comments

Hello all, my 3.5 year old son has autistic traits and is in early intervention. I am getting help. But maybe the hive mind can help too? His tantrums REALLY REALLY suck and complicating factors are: I also have a 2.5 year old and a husband who interferes with me when I am trying to deal with it. How can I better handle the tantrums? Oh, and also, how do I not completely let this stress tear me to bits? I'm so sad. [more inside]
posted by catspajammies at 12:02 PM PST - 24 comments

My current gaming PC (over 5 years old with an i5 4670 and a GTX760 in a full-size tower) is getting a little long in the tooth, and I'm considering replacing it rather than updating components. What sort of fun and or useful things can I do with the older PC to continue to get use out of it? Bonus points for links to howto guides for any relevant projects.
posted by monju_bosatsu at 11:43 AM PST - 12 comments

I've made a few pots of, to me anyway, passable miso soup using some basic, I think, ingredients. Can you provide tips/tricks/ideas/mistakes to avoid that will make good into great with minimal addition of marginal effort? I'm fine with things that defy traditional. [more inside]
posted by RolandOfEld at 11:36 AM PST - 17 comments

This is a two-parter! 1. Do you have a Boston-area pet sitter recommendation? 2. How about suggestions for entertaining said cat when there are no humans around to throw things? [more inside]
posted by prewar lemonade at 11:32 AM PST - 10 comments

Help me find colored lights for our tree that aren't blue. [more inside]
posted by lydhre at 11:01 AM PST - 19 comments

Please help me come up with some ideas for baskets for a fundraiser. More details within. [more inside]
posted by cheapskatebay at 10:31 AM PST - 16 comments

I've been listening to Emahoy Maryam Guebrou's CDs while I work lately, and am looking for more solo piano recordings in this vein. [more inside]
posted by ryanshepard at 10:29 AM PST - 14 comments

What are examples of uses of tear gas by US law enforcement or other governmental agencies from the last ten years? I’m referring to canisters, not hand held pepper spray. Links to articles appreciated, but I can google if you think you know about something.
posted by andoatnp at 10:28 AM PST - 19 comments

I'll be spending the New Year in Buenos Aires this year. I assume that with all the rockers in Argentina there should be some good guitar stores? Where would this be? [more inside]
posted by signal at 10:19 AM PST - 1 comment

So, yesterday evening I walked into the living room and saw that ~15 flies were all gathered on a standing lamp, and I have no idea why or where they came from. Today they are gone. [more inside]
posted by taz at 10:17 AM PST - 6 comments

I saw these lights last year while flying from Hong Kong to Colombo -- the photo was taken from around 30,000 feet. I'm pretty sure I shot the photo flying above the Moscos Islands off Dawei, Myanmar.
posted by JamesBay at 10:03 AM PST - 3 comments

I want to boycott this administration and as many people connected to it as possible. I figure changing my spending/saving/investing habits is one way I can put my money where my mouth is. How to do it? [more inside]
posted by emkelley at 9:54 AM PST - 8 comments

You live in the continental U.S. You regularly (or semi-regularly) hear an outdoor warning/emergency system test. Where are you? [more inside]
posted by mykescipark at 9:20 AM PST - 101 comments

I'm looking for a holiday-giftable way to let my 3.5-year old listen to music with minimal intervention by me. [more inside]
posted by juliapangolin at 9:04 AM PST - 12 comments

I learned a bit about Meditation and Buddhism in Coursera’s Buddhism and Modern Psychology. It was both revelatory and intuitively correct. One piece of the puzzle that does not fit well yet, is ambition. Second Noble Truth, roughly speaking is “yearning for things is the cause of suffering”. Ambition to me, is yearning for success, ergo suffering. Yet the lack of ambition is stasis and stagnation. Where do you go from here?
posted by aeighty at 8:56 AM PST - 12 comments

My book is out in February and has a listing on the Previews website -- great! Now how do I get comic shops to actually order it? The last time I researched this was years ago, and I've never actually DONE it. [more inside]
posted by Narrative Priorities at 8:22 AM PST - 9 comments

Somewhere in the whirlwind, I signed up to spend a week at a scientific workshop in Israel. And that week is next week - yikes! I'm a pretty experienced international traveler, but I've never been to Israel and I've had no time to do my usual research. What should I know? If you've visited, what took you by surprise, and what did you wish you'd brought or looked up or done beforehand? [more inside]
posted by RedOrGreen at 8:16 AM PST - 12 comments

My mom was diagnosed with breast cancer a week ago. It was caught very early and prognosis is very good but she will almost certainly be having a full double mastectomy, with a determination about radiation/chemotherapy after we know more. I offered to knit her a shawl to wear in the hospital and during recovery and she gratefully agreed, but my brain is overwhelmed right now and I am freezing on picking a pattern and yarn. What shawl should I knit, and with what yarn? [more inside]
posted by SeedStitch at 8:12 AM PST - 9 comments

Can you recommend any books or websites with basic to intermediate woodworking projects? [more inside]
posted by saladin at 8:12 AM PST - 11 comments

I just found this awesome store full of amazing Edward Gorey merch, which is run by and benefits the Edward Gorey House museum. I know plenty of people weird enough to want presents from this store. Woo hoo! Share w/ me your favorite cause-benefitting stores, full of artsy oddities and gifts! [more inside]
posted by nosila at 7:38 AM PST - 9 comments

Breaking News: There was a tremendous crash, and I rushed in my adult son's room to see this (another angle). What do we do? Our landlord has not been responsive in the past. There is no emergency number for him. Wtf??? [more inside]
posted by pH Indicating Socks at 7:33 AM PST - 17 comments

If you have a favorite poem about life transitions (birth, marriage, death, divorce, new beginnings, etc.), will you post it here? Thanks!
posted by Twicketface at 7:19 AM PST - 23 comments

I think I made a break up ambiguous without intending to and need help to stop over-thinking. [more inside]
posted by radiantsquirrel at 7:19 AM PST - 23 comments

We know it’s extremely expensive and densely populated, and we know about the supply/demand dynamic. But are there other things we should know that will help us find an apartment? Advice on strategies, best listings, viewings/showings, applications, ways to get ahead, etc., would be appreciated. What do you wish you had known? [more inside]
posted by jroybal at 7:12 AM PST - 7 comments

So when I first started going to the gym, I sought out music that made me feel alienated and mechanical. But now I only want music that is melancholy with certain characteristics. And yet it also has to be, you know, work-out music. Examples inside. [more inside]
posted by Frowner at 6:30 AM PST - 13 comments

I have a minor muscular injury to my back (right side, lower back near the spine) and it's causing my whole back to lock up when doing tasks . I saw my doctor, but need to figure out how to take care of babysky, my 16lbs bundle of joy. [more inside]
posted by AlexiaSky at 6:26 AM PST - 11 comments

I remember seeing an unsettling poem literally about snow* but metaphorically about withdrawing into safe detachment and isolation, perhaps an allegory for dissociation or depression. It might not have been about snow, but I'm pretty sure it was.
posted by ikea_femme at 6:06 AM PST - 6 comments

My 77-year-old mother has bank and brokerage accounts at a few different institutions. I’d like to help her find a basic MacOS or web personal finance dashboard for her to see at a glance how she’s doing. [more inside]
posted by Admiral Haddock at 5:35 AM PST - 7 comments

Can you please recommend some good political or news subreddits for me to read? I'm looking for ones that are at least somewhat (or very) progressive/left wing and don't have lots of racist/sexist/homophobic/transphobic comments.
posted by mosessis at 5:19 AM PST - 6 comments

I'm cooking crappie (fish) for dinner tonight. I want to do something different with it than I usually do. I'm out of brain cells. Do you have a crappie recipe that you really love? Please share. [more inside]
posted by bilabial at 5:19 AM PST - 5 comments

My father's cardiologist told him he needs to meditate in order to bring his blood pressure down. What youtube meditations for pain and/or anxiety would you consider accessible for a guy in his early 60s? Something to catch his attention and draw him in. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 4:44 AM PST - 6 comments

Help me better parent my 16 year old: experience with autism and ADD helpful [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 4:44 AM PST - 8 comments

Help me find a gift for a young boy who is undergoing treatment for leukemia. [more inside]
posted by jabo at 9:39 PM PST - 9 comments

Due to severe health issues I spiraled into a depression. One day I just left my apartment in NYC. Just packed my necessities and left. I’m better now ~4 years later but I’m sure I was evicted as I just stopped paying rent. I’m making very good money now (150k+) and would like this taken care of. What recourse do I have? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 7:36 PM PST - 9 comments

I like to experiment with marshmallow cereal treats for an annual potluck. I’ve done all kinds of cereal, and bits & bites last year for a wonderful gooey salty spicy sweet thing. What are some odd, unexpected, or classic-but-delicious things to use in place of Rice Krispies?
posted by yellowbinder at 6:45 PM PST - 27 comments

Can you recommend tech/clothes/brands etc that work well for someone with Raynaud's syndrome? [more inside]
posted by dhruva at 6:38 PM PST - 11 comments

I've been medically treating low-grade but chronic depression for just about a decade, and I've noticed in the past few years that my memory and attention-span aren't as sharp as they used to be. What sort of things should I be doing? [more inside]
posted by lesser weasel at 6:20 PM PST - 8 comments

Recently, when I email a photo of a check or a receipt to my branch's office manager, I've been including a dumb joke. I need more jokes. Specifics within. [more inside]
posted by Anticipation Of A New Lover's Arrival, The at 5:55 PM PST - 45 comments

I would like to know when the grocery store F.G. Lebbing, Prinsengracht 807, Amsterdam, was founded and when it went out of business. Prinsengracht 807 is the address appearing on an old (private) label used by this establishment. Thanks.
posted by kirsti at 5:29 PM PST - 11 comments

So I was on Goodreads looking for books to read when I came across The Language Hoax by John H. McWhorter. One of the negative reviews mentioned that the author wasn't a great writer because of sentences like this: "However, what they demonstrate is cultural traits that language reflects, like Thai words for you, not linguistic traits magically shaping the culture." I can see why he pointed this out, but is this really wrong? I think it's fine as it is, but now that I've looked at the sentence for a long time, I am confused. [more inside]
posted by dostoevskygirl at 5:01 PM PST - 27 comments

The dating/gaming activities mentioned in this post sound like SO much fun! Where can I find more? What are your favorites spins on old classics? [more inside]
posted by cmcmcm at 4:08 PM PST - 9 comments

the question might be very mildly offensive or very mildy NSFW (i mean like pg-13) so i put it after the break. [more inside]
posted by chasles at 3:31 PM PST - 6 comments

I have recently separated from my husband. My therapist (I'm in therapy weekly) said "Now is a great time to work on yourself, and figure out who you are." Sounds great in theory! In practice, I have a completely blank canvas in front of me for how my life is going to proceed, and it freaks me out. Do you have any good worksheets, books, websites, etc to help me figure out who I am, and what I want? NB: I am 100% happy in my career, and do not want to change that. Most of what I'm finding revolves around the assumption that your job is making you miserable. That is not the case here. [more inside]
posted by Fig at 3:15 PM PST - 18 comments

Unwisely let a couple of friends move into my spare room back in January "temporarily". I finally gave them two weeks notice over a month ago, and THEY moved out - but left some stuff not really worth any value. They've not responded to contact attempts for two weeks. Can I legally toss it? [more inside]
posted by mrbill at 2:32 PM PST - 17 comments

I'm interviewing for a job at a large, well-known media company that's had several instances of harassment publicly reported. Though I've heard things have improved, I want to ask about this in my interview and I want to hear how this aspect of company culture is being addressed. What's the best way to approach this? [more inside]
posted by theory at 2:10 PM PST - 7 comments

I've lived in Chicago for 28 years, and I've never gone to see a genre movie that had an audience who had these kinds of reactions. Which are the right Chicago movie theaters for opening-night YELLING AND CLAPPING for genre films (especially Marvel)? [more inside]
posted by tzikeh at 1:53 PM PST - 7 comments

It's been a month and a half since they initially told me they'd let me know. When do I call it and know I didn't get the job, and should I send another follow-up? [more inside]
posted by c'mon sea legs at 1:04 PM PST - 17 comments

What type of wood is this? It has the color of redwood and looks very much like some kind of burl. But there’s no such thing as a burl plank. It’s very soft wood; you can easily scratch it with a thumbnail. The board is 3/4×12×80.
posted by not_the_water at 11:59 AM PST - 4 comments

We're thinking about moving from California to Texas, two states with vastly different tax regimes. What I'm trying to find is a rough paycheck "simulator" where I could input my salary, maybe a few variables and then see what my actual take-home amount would be. I know it won't be fully comprehensive, but it'll help ballpark what to ask for salary wise.
posted by GilloD at 11:57 AM PST - 10 comments

A loved one has glaucoma, with severe dry eye caused by the medications. She also has psoriasis, which worsens with baths, sock pressure, too much dishwashing, et cetera. She is followed closely by her doctors, and you are not one of them. But maybe you know someone with one or both of these conditions and are aware of a product that has improved their life? [more inside]
posted by telepanda at 11:48 AM PST - 7 comments

How should an exterminator deal with a mouse in the house? We recently called an established company to come out and deal with a mouse problem in our house. I want to know if the approach they took was standard operating procedure for rodent control. [more inside]
posted by blackjack514 at 11:37 AM PST - 9 comments

Struggling with my mental health due to stress at work and need help determining what my options are and how to best take care of myself without ruining my career or my finances. Live in California. [more inside]
posted by efsrous at 11:14 AM PST - 10 comments

My 17yo is looking for a good book to read on the history of intelligence testing. Recommendations? [more inside]
posted by Orlop at 10:44 AM PST - 7 comments

I'm a straight guy in my forties with limited sexual experience. I've always had some anxiety around sex, which can manifest in physiological issues (ED, PE). I'd like to work with a surrogate partner, but for complicated reasons that hasn't worked out. How do I find a sex worker who will play a similar role, letting me practice sex in a low-pressure setting? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 10:40 AM PST - 8 comments

How can I browse, skim, and search professional fiction book reviews for free, to find the fiction I want to read? [more inside]
posted by kristi at 10:36 AM PST - 4 comments

What are some good puzzle games I could buy for my kindergartner? [more inside]
posted by noneuclidean at 9:55 AM PST - 8 comments

I am really stuck. I rescued this cat off the street, and she is kind of a hyperactive terror, but my older cat is totally Here. For. It. They're playing non-stop and having the time of their lives. But she's been living with us for a month and I am no closer to naming this tiny cat! [more inside]
posted by thegreatfleecircus at 9:53 AM PST - 106 comments

When knitting in the round, is it possible to change the starting point of the round mid-project? [more inside]
posted by HonoriaGlossop at 9:21 AM PST - 5 comments

I'm focusing on my health for the month of December. I'd like to collect tips and tricks to help me stay on track. [more inside]
posted by ohsnapdragon at 9:08 AM PST - 18 comments

About a year ago, my mum's friend sent her a Taishanese video on WeChat, it was a simple recording of a woman's voice listing a whole bunch of "good luck" blessings. Onscreen was the transliteration of what she was saying - captions in solid red traditional Chinese characters. I haven't been able to find it on youtube, but maybe I've been searching for it wrong. Anyone seen it and knows where I can get it? The video is pretty funny when the woman gets into it, and she talks faster and faster towards the end.
posted by storybored at 8:33 AM PST - 0 comments

What is it like to breastfeed beyond one year? Are people going to look at me weird? How to minimize potential awkwardness? [more inside]
posted by Tarumba at 8:15 AM PST - 41 comments

DOT Jr. goes to magnet school. He's a certified smarty pants, with assessments at genius level, consistently high/honor roll grades, multiple student of the month awards, etc. His magnet program teacher (the same teacher he had last year as well) took around 10 weeks off for maternity leave (and had a happy, healthy baby! yay!) Last week, we got his report card for the first trimester of this year. In it, his extended-run substitute teacher praised him as a terrific student who does good work... and gave him a C and two F's. [more inside]
posted by DirtyOldTown at 8:10 AM PST - 30 comments

I bought a candle holder that has an extra layer of glass around the candle well, with dried berries and such sandwiched in it as decoration. Turns out the substance the deco is in is a gel, not a resin. Is there any way to top it? I've thought of some kind of ribbon (it would have to stand the heat), but would a layer of powder do? Specifically, of ground cinnamon or nutmeg? [more inside]
posted by likeso at 7:38 AM PST - 10 comments

I'm looking for memoirs and autobiographies of people who knew John Lennon in the 70s that are sympathetic to Yoko Ono. [more inside]
posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 7:20 AM PST - 9 comments

My wife -- who, blessedly, doesn't read MeFi -- has expressed a desire for an enamel cast iron dutch oven for Christmas. [more inside]
posted by uberchet at 7:03 AM PST - 46 comments

I've been using AdyClock for years across multiple Android devices, but lately, it's gone completely unreliable on me. I suppose that the stock clock app from LG could fill that gap, but I'll miss some of AdyClock's features. [more inside]
posted by radwolf76 at 7:00 AM PST - 2 comments

Give me your bittersweet love poems. [more inside]
posted by quadrilaterals at 6:58 AM PST - 25 comments

Looking for gift ideas for an anesthesiologist resident. [more inside]
posted by SheIsMighty at 6:49 AM PST - 6 comments

We exchange stockings every year and I need to help my grandmother this year with her stocking gifts. [more inside]
posted by hollygoheavy at 6:10 AM PST - 11 comments

I need to upgrade my ipad for work and am thinking about giving my six-year-old iPad Mini to my toddler. Tips, tweaks, app suggestions? Should I? [more inside]
posted by ficbot at 5:55 AM PST - 9 comments

We want to equitably split the night for newborn nighttime feedings, which currently take place at approximately 9:30pm, 11:30pm, 2:00am, and 5:00am. One of us has to get up at 7:30 to get up with toddler and get him off to school. We try go to bed at 8:30pm — which is right after we put said toddler to sleep. We have two bedrooms to work with, and are very sleep-deprived so cannot figure this out. Help us, Mefi: What's the best way to split the night that ensures that two parents get maximum amount of sleep. (Assume overnight food supply is not a concern here, baby eats equally well from both parents, and both of us are off right now.) [more inside]
posted by melodykramer at 5:32 AM PST - 11 comments

This recipe was super tasty but the rice didn’t cook. How to make it cook? (With rice cooker and white rice) [more inside]
posted by sacchan at 2:50 AM PST - 14 comments

I'm not quite sure how to ask this question, so bear with me. I'm single, in my 40s, in Portland OR, and I find dating to be relatively easy here [details inside]. I'm wondering if I've been in Portland so long that I don't realize it isn't that easy in other cities. Is dating harder in Chicago? What about Cleveland? St Paul MN? St Louis? How do I figure that out while researching other cities? [more inside]
posted by Mr Ected at 1:32 AM PST - 33 comments

I want to pursue a criminal case against a years long harasser. A cursory conversation with a police phone operator led to them saying it was a civil issue. I'm all for pursuing this civilly but I want to explore the possibility of pursuing it criminally as well. I am willing to travel anywhere in the UK. Money is not an object. Time is of the essence, as the more this individual posts the more likely it is to severely damage my reputation.
posted by anonymous at 12:54 AM PST - 5 comments

My mom was recently diagnosed with cancer. My parents live across the country and my dad has been by her side non-stop, but is falling apart. I'm on the phone with them around the clock, and am flying in to spend a week and a half helping, but nothing feels like enough. I don't know how to make any of this letter, and it's killing me to see them both in so much pain. What can i do? How do I cope? It feels like everything is falling apart. [more inside]
posted by nightdoctress at 11:49 PM PST - 11 comments

When I ice my arm to help my tendinitis, my hurt tendon feels so tight that it seems like it could snap. What's happening? [more inside]
posted by greermahoney at 10:18 PM PST - 2 comments

I'm in the market for a used MacBook Pro, and have found one for sale that includes AppleCare coverage for another 13 months. Apple implies that a transfer involving original receipts should happen, or that said receipts could be required during repairs/service. Will that actually ever matter? [more inside]
posted by Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug at 8:59 PM PST - 7 comments

An art professor I had in college taught from the most amazing, out-of-print book on how to draw, though it could have been on how to paint. I remember random details about it. Can you help me find it again? [more inside]
posted by naturalnumbers at 7:38 PM PST - 10 comments

What is the objectively best de-icing agent for a high activity area wherein eaves drip down and freeze and little puppy paws have to traffic? [more inside]
posted by Cold Lurkey at 7:04 PM PST - 13 comments

I need to change/clarify my middle name on Important Documents and I want to do it correctly and not fuck up my life. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 6:53 PM PST - 4 comments

As I understand it, white grapefruit should be in season from roughly November to February, but in several years, I haven't been able to find it here in Seattle. Does anyone know of a reliable (or even occasional) source for the fruit in or near the city? A number of tiki drink recipes call for it specifically, and I'd like to recreate the original flavor of the libations.
posted by mboszko at 5:25 PM PST - 10 comments

I am very good at taking a poem or song and re-writing it to be about something else. I am also generally good at writing humorous poems in a set form (sonnets, limericks, etc.) People over the years have told me, "You should do this for a living!" So, uh... is this a thing I could do for a living? If so, how? Etsy shop for custom poems? Advertising? Jingle writer? [more inside]
posted by coppermoss at 4:09 PM PST - 15 comments

I know I can Google this, but I'd prefer to have real-world answers from real people (as well as the generic answers I can get from Google). What are some salaries for people you know in this field? Please specify the level of experience the person has, if you know it. Thanks!
posted by Jennifer S. at 2:52 PM PST - 7 comments

I really, really, really want a die-cut machine to facilitate hobbies that aren't staring at my phone, angrily reading uspolitics threads. Is it even a good idea? Please help me not get Crafter's Regret. [more inside]
posted by joyceanmachine at 1:57 PM PST - 13 comments

Can I make something (telescope, microscope, whatever) from the two 4-1/2" x 9" planoconvex lenses in this old Q4M spotlight? [more inside]
posted by wenestvedt at 1:27 PM PST - 6 comments

I am interested in lap swimming for fitness, but I am scared of rhythmic breathing. [more inside]
posted by retrofitted at 1:10 PM PST - 22 comments

Hey MeFi! Can you recommend things I can do to get started in literary publishing, in terms of publishing, pitching, making friends and getting involved in the literary community both IRL and online? Assume I've got a good writing routine down and am producing consistently, so don't need hacks regarding the writing process itself. Also, if you want to be writing buds, hit me up! [more inside]
posted by zestful at 12:35 PM PST - 3 comments

After 20 years of faithful service, our microwave just dramatically died while I was attempting to heat up some leftovers. It was very exciting! It was a wedding gift, and the microwave I owned previously to that was also a gift, which means I have never in my life bought a microwave by myself, and I am wondering if buying a combination microwave is a good idea, or should I just stick to a basic model? Requirements/use case inside. [more inside]
posted by skybluepink at 12:31 PM PST - 16 comments

What did people use, before electronics? I do have some hard-of-hearing people to communicate with, and hearing aids aren't always in working order, and a bullhorn would be a bit much. (This question falls somewhere between idle curiosity and low priority.) [more inside]
posted by Baeria at 12:02 PM PST - 13 comments

We have twice monthly housecleaners who do most things, including mop our floors. Our upstairs hallway has, in the past, been a bit slippery after they've mopped, and last Wednesday, I had quite a bad fall that left me very bruised. I'm pregnant and worried about slipping and hurting myself or baby. The housecleaners... aren't cooperating. [more inside]
posted by ancient star at 11:54 AM PST - 31 comments

Just interviewed for my dream job. Help me not to gnaw my own face off. [more inside]
posted by coffeeand at 11:49 AM PST - 6 comments

Last year, I asked how to snowbird. Now I need suggestions for where. [more inside]
posted by DrGail at 11:36 AM PST - 5 comments

The description of this Dylan Twin bunk bed set says "Box spring not required". Does that mean this 6" spring mattress can be placed directly on the slats, or does it need to have a bunkie board (not included)?
posted by Pig Tail Orchestra at 11:13 AM PST - 5 comments

I'm *what the medical community chalks up to being* depressed and anxious. I am nearly 29 years old and have tried everything: therapy, hypnosis, supplements, blood and imaging studies, exercise, every antidepressant, ketamine infusions, self-help books, motivational videos and speakers, travel, every anti-procrastination technique imaginable ( Pomodoros, lists, cbt-style tricks) etc etc etc etc. Nothing works. [more inside]
posted by marsbar77 at 10:52 AM PST - 25 comments

I'm looking to buy (or possibly assemble) a bunch of wireless buttons that I can click and have the click be received by a computer, which will subsequently execute custom code in response. Does such a thing exist? [more inside]
posted by Salvor Hardin at 10:37 AM PST - 10 comments

I am traveling to France. I don't do a ton of traveling. What do I need to know/consider/do to prepare? My main concerns are wifi - being able to access e-mail, use apple maps, apple music and podcasts etc money what else do i need to know?
posted by kbbbo at 10:34 AM PST - 22 comments

We signed two copies of the lease at the broker’s office. One copy was supposed to be sent back to us signed by the landlord. It wasn’t. We emailed. They emailed us a PDF of a xerox with our signatures nominally on it that did not match the lease we signed. [more inside]
posted by schadenfrau at 10:29 AM PST - 14 comments

I've gotten off on the wrong foot with my new boss. Details of the situation below. In such a situation would you stick around and try to make the best of it? And if so how? Or are these signs that I should be dusting off my resume and starting looking for a new job? [more inside]
posted by Ziggy500 at 10:23 AM PST - 14 comments

I’m dependent on chap stick to keep my lips from disintigrating during the colder months. I’m currently using chapstick original, but after a few hours my lips are chapped again. Any suggestions? My one request is that it’s as scentless/tasteless as possible (aka Burt’s Bees works well, but I can’t stand the smell).
posted by thankyoumuchly at 9:38 AM PST - 41 comments

I am very private and uptight about bodily functions and bathroom stuff. How can I chill out and be a normal person? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 9:17 AM PST - 22 comments

So I learned recently that kangaroos are one of those species with indeterminate growth; they keep growing, slowly, their entire lives. Obviously there must be some kind of body/mass/energy ratio calculation that will eventually mean they are too big to survive. How big could a kangaroo get before this happens? [more inside]
posted by The otter lady at 9:15 AM PST - 7 comments

I'm going on a week-long trip for Christmas, and I would really like to bring a smaller suitcase, but I always end up wanting to take too much stuff. Previous questions on this seem to be oriented toward people with kids. If you have a system, please share. [more inside]
posted by FencingGal at 9:07 AM PST - 49 comments

We're going to Havana in February and would like to spend the long weekend in a casa particular. We're looking for two bedrooms in Old Havana or Centro (for two couples) that kinda guarantees lots of interaction with the family or people living at the address. Any recommendations or thoughts? [more inside]
posted by sandmanwv at 9:02 AM PST - 2 comments

2008 Ford Ranger tire size 225/70R15. I can get some 225/60R16 snow tires. Can they be safely mounted and driven? The savings would be significant. thanks.
posted by theora55 at 8:52 AM PST - 4 comments

Ended up in a LDR. Is it too late for me to let my heart lead the way, too risky? [more inside]
posted by Nnennoo at 8:49 AM PST - 6 comments

The side button (aka "on/off" button) on my iPhone 7 was working only sporadically (which meant lots of pocket dialing because I couldn't lock phone, and taking screen shots was torture). I just updated from iOs 10 to 12.1, and button works all the time. This is seriously weird. Any theories?
posted by Quisp Lover at 8:18 AM PST - 3 comments

I will have a 5-hour layover in Shanghai Pudong airport just before Christmas. The layover is between two very long flights. Are there any nice cafés/restaurants/areas to hang out in? Perhaps even shower facilities? [more inside]
posted by iamsuper at 7:09 AM PST - 7 comments

I'm about to graduate with a PhD in history, but I've been producing artwork (mostly physical objects, a few images) along the way. I'd really like to develop this work, and even do so professionally (I'm not looking for an academic job), but I am intimidated by what feels like the arbitrariness of what sells in the art world. It seems like there are no rules. Where do I start?
posted by Dr and Mrs Eaves at 6:45 AM PST - 7 comments

I'd like to buy some wireless speakers that I can use with an old-school receiver. Does this exist? [more inside]
posted by eirias at 6:33 AM PST - 12 comments

Please help me force myself to do job hunting, even though I don't want the jobs I somewhat qualify for and can't seem to transfer my skills into anything else either. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 6:18 AM PST - 7 comments

I'm a 30-year-old man, and I have a best friend who's a woman. We've known each other for 10 years, and our friendship is unusually close. When we met in college, our relationship was flirty and couple-y at first, but we drew clear boundaries over time and there are no romantic feelings between us anymore. There is a lot of love, however—true, unconditional love—and we make sure to show each other this love often. She has shown me *so* much support and affection over the years, and I've become a better person from having known her. I can't stress enough how much this friend means to me. In turn, she often tells me that she'd be completely lost without me. I feel physical pain at the thought of not having her around. Well: my friend is starting to date a new boyfriend, and my spidey sense tell me that he might be The One. Suddenly, I'm finding myself in crisis mode. I mean, complete and utter despair, to the point of being unable to function, that I might actually be alone for the rest of my life. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 6:18 AM PST - 31 comments

I'm tired of intrusive ads on my iPhone. I'd like to start using software that blocks the bad ones, allows me to whitelist sites (like this one) that I trust and care about so that I see the ads that help support them, and doesn't further compromise my privacy or security. There are a lot of apps out there, but it's hard to sort through them for the features I want, let alone to establish trust in their makers. Can you recommend apps that you use? [more inside]
posted by Songdog at 6:09 AM PST - 7 comments

What are some solid toys for the six- to twelve-month-old set? We need some ideas to advise eager grandparents! [more inside]
posted by Mrs. Rattery at 5:50 AM PST - 19 comments

New to Maine and want to plan a winter vacation for the family. Criteria are, sun, warmth, family easy, but quiet and no need for resort type functionality. Bonus for snorkeling! Of course cost is a huge issue! [more inside]
posted by silsurf at 5:25 AM PST - 3 comments

I'm looking for a good-quality, reasonably-priced food processor that's available in the UK. The budget is £150-£200. The Cuisinart Custom processor that Wirecutter recommends is not available in the UK (and the Cuisinart processor that is on sale here isn't of the same quality it seems). The UK processor that I've seen recommended in a few places (the KitchenAid 3.1L) has a lot of bad customer reviews.
posted by EndsOfInvention at 5:23 AM PST - 10 comments

Please give me your ideas for art/craft projects that children ages 5-11 can make in a relatively short amount of time. Anything with science-y elements would be especially appreciated, but not required. These will be for an arts event with several creation stations that the kids can circulate among, so it’s not expected that they’d spend more than 15 minutes or so at any particular project. These could be collaborative, but should also be possible to do individually.
posted by theory at 9:53 PM PST - 11 comments

Recently clothes going through my electric dryer have been coming out cold and damp. I cleaned out the ducts--no change. I replaced the heating element, which worked at first, but now the dryer's back to the status quo. What am I missing? Details after the jump. [more inside]
posted by Cash4Lead at 8:41 PM PST - 14 comments

I’ve had guys literally run away from me, but I don’t know what I’m doing wrong! Please help! Snowflakes inside… [more inside]
posted by lawgirl at 6:37 PM PST - 15 comments

For a few years I've been noticing weird things on the right side of my vision. They'll leave me alone for months but become frequent at times. They'll appear for a second, usually related to movement of my head but sometimes just movement of my eyes. I got a thorough exam in May by UCLA ophthalmologists and they didn't find anything. This weekend I've been suddenly seeing the shapes much more, but some of that may just be random reflections I'm focusing on due to anxiety. I've made a diagram so you can see it. Questions below the fold. [more inside]
posted by Ursula Hitler at 4:51 PM PST - 22 comments

I was a DVD author for 12 years, a practice very similar to workflow building, which is what I've been doing for the past few years: you discuss requirements with the client, map out the process, do the programming, test extensively, deploy. Do these two job types fall under a single umbrella/ discipline/ category, and are there other similar job types I'm unaware of that I could/ should be applying for? [more inside]
posted by 7 Minutes of Madness at 4:33 PM PST - 4 comments

I've got a few ideas for t-shirt designs, and I'd like your recommendations for a print/ship fulfillment house where I can earn a commission on sales. [more inside]
posted by seanmpuckett at 3:07 PM PST - 5 comments

Before the deals are over, wondering if anyone has any positive experiences w/ routers (be they recent models or older ones) to share? [more inside]
posted by elgee at 2:30 PM PST - 5 comments

Please help me find a suitable radio-controlled car for a 4 year old. [more inside]
posted by howfar at 1:52 PM PST - 6 comments

Excel 2010 on a 64-bit Dell Latitude 7390 2 in 1 is crashing when I do the following on ~260,000 rows of data: Highlight duplicate values (single column) and sorting by color to view those dupes. Hangs and then crashes every time. Suggestions for workarounds?
posted by eggman at 1:30 PM PST - 21 comments

I have been using the same hairbrush for decades. Literally the same brush, not just the same brand. Help me find a replacement that works in my very thick and wiry hair before my beloved old brush deteriorates completely! [more inside]
posted by Kriesa at 12:12 PM PST - 15 comments

New laptop needed, budget £500 or less, for teaching work and some video viewing - but certainly not heavy gaming! Strangely, there seems to be a bit of a gap in the market for compact machines with a screen smaller than 15 inch between the really cheap netbooks (too unreliable in my experience) and the better-specced machines which only start upwards of £750. [more inside]
posted by kairab at 11:51 AM PST - 15 comments

I'm a tech-producer/project manager from Europe, and decided I'd like to move to the Bay Area and get a job in tech. What are my odds as someone without a visa? I have a bunch of friends there, but all are born in the US, so don't generally know much about visas. [more inside]
posted by Thisandthat at 11:46 AM PST - 10 comments

Have you ever been pregnant while living in Denver? Know or love someone who has? What local spots were your fave or had awesome benefits for the gestationally inclined? [more inside]
posted by this-apoptosis at 11:29 AM PST - 2 comments

I am looking for a heavy-duty Pyrex (or similar sturdy borosilicate) straight-walled beaker, so that I can use it with my hand blender for making mayonnaise and aioli. For this purpose, the beaker needs to be just barely larger than the head of the hand blender, which is 3" in diameter. All of the specs I see list the outer diameter, but I don't know how thick the walls are, or if that counts the beaded rim. Can any of you scientists help me out?
posted by mboszko at 11:21 AM PST - 9 comments

Every year I give my mother, my aunt, my mother-in-law, and my father-in-law Christmas stockings with a wide variety of gifts inside. I try to give them a good balance of actually useful stuff (mini flashlight that fits on keyring, reusable shopping bag that collapses down to a little pouch, etc) and unusual stuff (tiny collectable Japanese cat toys, bizarre finger puppets, etc). I have thoroughly plundered the prior AskMe questions for previous years' stockings. Please give me any new suggestions you have!
posted by bookish at 11:07 AM PST - 23 comments

I am a straight, single woman in my early thirties, and am looking for a partner. What can I do, most effectively, to find love? I have tried dating apps exhaustively, am very active in my community, and have asked friends to set me up. That has led to a lot of dates over the past seven months -- maybe fifty? -- but I still haven't found love. What habits can I cultivate and what venues should I look into that will make the odds as good as possible that I'll find it (and soon)? [more inside]
posted by static sock at 10:17 AM PST - 42 comments

I'm a light sleeper. For the next year I'll be living across the street from a fire hall (sirens) and a strip club (drunk yelling). Please help. [more inside]
posted by Beardman at 10:16 AM PST - 15 comments

I just found out that my sister-in-law's school district in Pennsylvania gives students the day off tomorrow for the first day of hunting season. I had never heard of that before! So it got me wondering what kinds of other hyper-local quirky holidays schools give off around the country. I know Brooklyn/Queens day in NYC, and Patriot's Day in Massachusetts but can't really think of any others. I'd love to hear what else is out there!
posted by Neely O'Hara at 10:06 AM PST - 66 comments

I would like to create and sell images online for T-shirts, cards, and whatnot. I have some questions mainly about copyright on stock images and fonts, but any suggestions for the most hands-off platforms for this sort of thing would also be appreciated. [more inside]
posted by whistle pig at 9:58 AM PST - 2 comments

I want a Yubikey Nano, but I don't want it to live on my keychain or in my device. I need your help in making a third option: a necklace or bracelet! [more inside]
posted by metarkest at 9:50 AM PST - 4 comments

TMI alert; I'm having some trouble keeping my throat clear when running and I'll put the details below the fold. [more inside]
posted by ftm at 9:43 AM PST - 4 comments

I use pens to make drawings of stuff I'm thinking of building. I like to use multiple colours, and I'm often immediately drawing one part over top of another. The cheap ballpoints I've used are good because they don't smudge, but they often skip, drawing only part of the line. The cheap gel pens I've used are good because they make bold lines and don't skip, but my immediate overwriting results in smudges on the page and dirty hands. Are there pen models which can give me the best of all these worlds - multiple colours, no skipping, no smudging - that are widely available for a moderate price?
posted by clawsoon at 9:38 AM PST - 17 comments

I've got a date with somebody, and it's totally not a big deal. Really. It's just a date. [more inside]
posted by Sterros at 9:23 AM PST - 4 comments

Here are three recent examples of how I've successfully adopted a new habit after failing at it for years, by discovering the existence of a slightly different thing that eliminates/reduces my avoidance. I'd like to extend the pattern! [more inside]
posted by heyforfour at 7:57 AM PST - 32 comments

I went to the supermarket to buy cheddar cheese, it was on sale, the 2% version looks nearly identical to the full-fat version. I bought two packages. I came home and was distraught, wanting all the fat I am entitled to, so I went back to the supermarket, and bought eight more ounces. Of a 2% version. [more inside]
posted by A Terrible Llama at 7:22 AM PST - 12 comments

Hello. I'm a 40 year-old adult who makes a reasonable income doing steady freelance gigs. I pay my bills, I get to travel, and my savings are a joke. I know the standard advice here is to get a fee-based financial adviser, but the thought of doing so stresses me out because I feel so financially illiterate. So I've decided it's time to read up on personal finance to educate myself. Any books you can recommend, MetaFilter? Website and articles are okay too, but I think having a book would be the most help.
posted by anonymous at 4:53 AM PST - 15 comments

Hi, I could use some recommendations for positive real or fictional role models for the kind of person I am--female, middle-aged, feminist, and fannish--because I kind of hate that person. And so do many other people. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 4:53 AM PST - 22 comments

An ex crossed the line professionally a couple of weeks ago. Then 2 days ago, he texted hello and suggested hanging out, perhaps out of politeness. So it appears that he thinks everything is fine. However, I was upset and uncomfortable by the incident. Should I bring it up? How do I bring it up? Since we work in the same field, some friends mentioned that his response could make things worse so I shouldn't say anything. That's not surprising. My field is full of people smiling when they don't mean it. Any advice or personal stories? [more inside]
posted by tofukiller007 at 2:32 AM PST - 12 comments

Did you retrain and make a career change in later life? Tell me about it [more inside]
posted by raw sugar at 12:10 AM PST - 13 comments

I have a splintery but sturdy wooden garden gate which I'd like to replace with a metal gate. The metal gate is heavy wrought iron. Overall size is identical, and the new gate is already pre-hung. Current wood gate is anchored by wood posts sunk in concrete holes. Sturdy, but could be removed. Do I need to remove and replace the concrete to install the metal gate, or can I somehow use the existing infrastructure?
posted by arnicae at 10:55 PM PST - 4 comments

I'm going to come back from a week out of town and then later the same day leave again for a potluck in another state. Can the hive mind suggest a dessert which can be prepared, stored for a week, then transported for six hours at room temperature and served without a kitchen? Preferably finger food, preferably can be pre-portioned. Savory is fine. Cheap is good. [more inside]
posted by meaty shoe puppet at 10:40 PM PST - 22 comments

The band was named House of Leaves, an electronic band from the Pacific Northwest. They had a Myspace about 10 years ago that we contacted them through to ask if we could buy their music anywhere and the response was "nope". Most of the songs had no lyrics, the music was very keyboard-heavy. [more inside]
posted by nogoodverybad at 7:56 PM PST - 4 comments

I have an undercut that I'd like to turn into a deathhawk, but not sure how to go about it or if it's a good idea. Pics inside. [more inside]
posted by picklenickle at 7:07 PM PST - 6 comments

My partner and I are going back to Puerto Angel, on the Oaxacan coast, for a week to celebrate our anniversary in the beginning of December. In light of recent events and tensions, how concerned for safety should we be? We are respectful, polite travelers, one of us is fluent and the other tries real hard. [more inside]
posted by TheRedArmy at 7:01 PM PST - 2 comments

I temporarily dry fitted these carbon fiber handlebars into this stem, without tightening or assembly paste. The sharp corners of the face plate and stem dug into the clamp area as I was moving the bars around while building the rest of the bike. Can I still use these bars safely? [more inside]
posted by tigrrrlily at 6:24 PM PST - 1 comment

We are gearing up for our annual festive meal with friends and need to produce a starter this year and AskMeFi is bound to have some Thoughts and Suggestions. There are, of course, complications ... [more inside]
posted by Martha My Dear Prudence at 6:23 PM PST - 10 comments

So traditionally I bake granola and caramel corn to give out to people as gifts since I hate buying adults presents. But I feel like I've been doing that for ages and I'd like to try something new. I've also done biscotti in the past that went over well. Any other suggestions? Item should be tasty and relatively long-lasting.
posted by selfnoise at 6:18 PM PST - 19 comments

My main squeeze and I planning a 4-day river trip through Boquillas Canyon on the Rio Grande in Big Bend Nat'l park. The trip will be bookended with a day or two to explore. Where should we go? Camping, hiking, cool stuff to see, etc. We like water and dramatic sights and stunning hikes of any intensity. [more inside]
posted by Grandysaur at 5:37 PM PST - 3 comments

I bought a no name wireless IP camera system. The monitor connected to the wireless receiver works great. But the app the company suggests I use to see them on my phone is terrible. [more inside]
posted by CollectiveMind at 5:05 PM PST - 5 comments

Scientists of Metafilter: Please explain to me how molecular mass affects gas behavior. Do heavier gases pool in low-lying areas at ambient pressure, and do lighter gases rise higher, or is this a myth? What about inside canisters, at higher pressures? Why do they or don't they? [more inside]
posted by cnidaria at 4:28 PM PST - 8 comments

My English Bulldog Daisy (obligatory picture and picture takes 100 mg Gabapentin to help her sleep at night and avoid the sundowner effects of canine dementia. The pills got wet. Can I still give them to her? [more inside]
posted by seasparrow at 4:13 PM PST - 7 comments

I am producing a TED-like event on Buckminster Fuller in Spring, 2019. The theme is "The Confluencing Influence of Buckminster Fuller." I am now in the process of looking Bucky-oriented speakers for this event. Who else could I invite? Speakers contacted so far listed inside: [more inside]
posted by goalyeehah at 4:05 PM PST - 6 comments

Part-way through most weekdays, usually after meetings that require a lot of thoughtful social interaction, I suddenly hit a wall. I feel entirely depleted of energy and spoons. Sometimes I feel sleepy, but usually I just feel out of gas, out of energy, done. All of the good intentions I started out the morning with go out the window. Everything on my to-do list that doesn’t have a firm deadline gets pushed off to another day. [more inside]
posted by thepokylittlesockpuppy at 2:47 PM PST - 21 comments

I'm trying to buy a smartphone without having to spend two weeks getting up to speed on the latest deals and features. Advice? Want to tell me what to buy? [more inside]
posted by slidell at 2:42 PM PST - 18 comments

Is there like- duck lard or goose lard or something? [more inside]
posted by fantasticness at 2:19 PM PST - 19 comments

My fiancée is interested in opening an Etsy shoppe (or similar) for selling her photos online, and I'm looking into the best options for photo-printing for her. The ideal online-printing service would ship the prints directly to the consumer without too much hassle about that (i.e. we'd rather not be a middleman for shipping purposes.) [more inside]
posted by Navelgazer at 2:19 PM PST - 3 comments

Me and the potential Mrs. FalseDmitri are seeking to rent a cabin on the Maine coast over New Year's. What can you suggest?
posted by falsedmitri at 1:32 PM PST - 7 comments

My daughter's cat has chewed himself a hole in the nylon miniblinds that are by her window. He's done this before, to the old set of blinds, but this time he is really going to town with the chewing. We'd like to dissuade him so that he doesn't accidentally swallow any little bits of them. [more inside]
posted by cats are weird at 1:28 PM PST - 9 comments

A recent AskMeFi had me interested in finding first hand (true, not fictional) accounts of people who went through mid-life crises and how they interpret it years later. [more inside]
posted by Toddles at 1:05 PM PST - 6 comments

This is a long shot: I'm looking to buy someone a yerba mate drinking straw (bombilla) in Toronto for Christmas. [more inside]
posted by ersatzhuman at 11:29 AM PST - 2 comments

I want to remove an SD card from an old NookColor to then use the card in a Samsung Note 3 phone. What’s the best and easiest way to do this so that it’s ready for installation in the phone? [more inside]
posted by elphaba at 11:04 AM PST - 5 comments

I work for a non-profit with an annual op budget under $1million and we hate our accounting software with the fire of a thousand burning suns (Sage 50). For assorted reasons, we don't want Quickbooks. I'm looking for recommendations for accounting software that meets just a couple of needs (after the jump): [more inside]
posted by macadamiaranch at 10:37 AM PST - 3 comments

The title pretty much says it all. I've looked over the internet, but can't seem to find a straight answer. I want to wirelessly stream my screens to my LG 1080p non-smart TV, but I'd like to avoid spending so much money on Apple TV if possible. [more inside]
posted by ggp88 at 10:04 AM PST - 10 comments

We are a collective of people - 4 adults, a baby, a tween, and 2 dogs - and we want to do something driving distance from Seattle and Portland the weekend before Christmas up to Christmas Day. What should we be looking at? [more inside]
posted by k8t at 8:59 AM PST - 6 comments

My daughter's boyfriend has asked me to Photoshop him and my daughter into a Magic card (I love this guy) -- but I can't think of or find any cards with two humanoid creatures on them. Can you help?
posted by pH Indicating Socks at 7:49 AM PST - 11 comments

My five year old is still pronouncing her „s“ as a „th“. Her tongue‘s in the wrong place but I‘m having problems communicating where she should be placing it. She seems genuinely puzzled by my explanations.Before we try speech therapy, are there any easily understandable instructions / playful excercises that I can do with her that‘ll help her find her „s“?
posted by Omnomnom at 4:49 AM PST - 19 comments

The deal: I am 40 and have been married for 5 years and together 9. We have a 6 month old baby and mortgage. I have felt that the relationship is not what I want for 2.5 years. [more inside]
posted by calibrator at 9:05 PM PST - 156 comments

On my mother’s 90th she wanted to give me one of her expensive necklaces and I refused it because I wouldn’t use it, Now I realize I might have hurt her feelings. I was visiting for the holidays and am wondering if I should see her before she leaves and tell her I changed my mind. Is it too late?
posted by TDIpod at 8:49 PM PST - 14 comments

I want start my days right even if I have to pay someone to do it for me. [more inside]
posted by jander03 at 8:21 PM PST - 12 comments

I'm working from memory here. These thin, crispy homemade cookies were packed in a cookie tin and given as a Christmas gift in Boston, MA about 5 to 6 years ago. I don't know who made the cookies and have no way of finding out. [more inside]
posted by Majorita at 7:17 PM PST - 12 comments

My wife wants to get her dad a drone for Christmas but all the ones she's looked at require a smart phone and app to fly. That's not really ideal since my in-laws don't have smart devices. Anybody have suggestions and/or experience for drones (with cameras) that can be flown without a smart phone (ideally with display included on the control pad) in the under $200 range? (CDN not USD though I'm told this is a "soft" limit so a bit more is probably okay if it's good quality.) [more inside]
posted by Mister_Sleight_of_Hand at 7:16 PM PST - 5 comments

For years my goal was go to grad school for [field] get job in [field]. And now I've done that, and moved out of my parents' house and now I'm finding I have more time but less money. I'd sort of like some kind of free/cheap hobbies to grow/develop or other goals a late 20s person should be working on. What are of goals/hobbies that I haven't listed below that meet this criteria? Is there a cheaper/free way to do some of the goals I've listed below? [more inside]
posted by azalea_chant at 6:59 PM PST - 18 comments

I'd like to set up a new Echo skill, so that I can ask my living-room Echo, "Alexa, deck the halls", whereby it would turn on the switch that lights the tree (easy!) and then play a Christmas music stream on the "Porch Echo". [more inside]
posted by newfers at 6:10 PM PST - 2 comments

I haven't played a ton of video games, but I've noticed that the ones I've really loved feature different worlds or 'countries' -- like in Super Mario Odyssey, where you go to a desert world, a city world, a snow world, etc. Two other games I've liked a lot -- Little Big Planet and Double Fine's The Cave -- have a similar feature. Looking for recs for more games like this for the Switch or PS4! Also, is there a term for this kind of game that would help me when searching for something new? [more inside]
posted by imalaowai at 5:06 PM PST - 20 comments

So, I like to give my sister gifts that elicit a reaction. Most of the time I shoot for delight, but sometimes, I go for the laugh. I have a colorful nested set of 12 boxes that I'm going to wrap and gift to her. After she finally and frustratingly reaches the center, I want her to be completely underwhelmed, but also find whatever it is hilarious. What should I put inside??? [more inside]
posted by pdxhiker at 5:01 PM PST - 64 comments

My mother had to submit a tax adjustment to the Canada Revenue Agency to fix a pretty huge mistake the accountant who initially did her taxes made. The CRA sent her a letter requesting one of several tax forms and several receipts from the bank. My mother has already called the bank and will get the receipts, but... we have *no idea* where to get the forms the CRA wants. What do we do now? [more inside]
posted by VirginiaPlain at 4:44 PM PST - 8 comments

One of my cats heretofore not known for his brilliance, Allan, has figured out how to turn on the faucet so he can enjoy that sweet running water. For obvious reasons (starting with his disinclination to turn off the faucet...), I am not altogether thrilled by this development... [more inside]
posted by thomas j wise at 4:05 PM PST - 11 comments

We just moved to the hills around UC Berkeley and want to plant some olive trees, but are concerned because deer seem to eat everything else we've planted. Besides deer-proofing the entire yard, what are our options? [more inside]
posted by Hermanos at 3:43 PM PST - 7 comments

Inspired by but only partially related to this AskMe question, what are some positive stories of people who live alone? [more inside]
posted by Ender's Friend at 2:54 PM PST - 22 comments

Can I unravel decent/good quality cashmere sweaters and reuse the yarn while still keeping my relatively good disposition and sanity? If so, specific instructions appreciated. [more inside]
posted by she's not there at 2:25 PM PST - 7 comments

Years ago I suffered a series of concussions in quick succession in a domestic violence situation. Now, my PTSD is well in hand, and I'm struggling with finding out what my limits are. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 1:52 PM PST - 7 comments

Our family get together have alexa playing music in the background. Invariably the mix will turn very, very dull. Part of the issue is that we have a mix across generations, religions, and political sensibilities. Can you please recommend some magic phrases that start with"alexa, play... " that will keep the mood upbeat an include a good variety of genres and artists?
posted by rebent at 1:51 PM PST - 9 comments

I'm struggling to come up with wording in my will that clearly and understandably accomplishes what I'm after. Lets say that I have dollars that I want to distribute in various percentages to beneficiaries b1, b2, b3, b4, b5, with respective percentages p1, p2, p3, p4, p5. If one of the beneficiaries predeceases me then I want the percentages restated in a way that preserves the original weightings. [more inside]
posted by Kevin S at 1:16 PM PST - 14 comments

I yelled at my Thanksgiving dinner guest for letting the cat eat turkey right off of the serving platter. She shouldn't have done that but was I too mean in my reaction? [more inside]
posted by Neely O'Hara at 1:15 PM PST - 91 comments

For reasons, it is a moderate burden to remove the default guest account on my out-of-warranty but still functional Linksys router that I just dusted off and set up due to a switch of internet providers. Do I need to worry about it? I tried connecting to it myself, and while I didn't get a password prompt, it also didn't have internet connection. [more inside]
posted by vegartanipla at 1:14 PM PST - 1 comment

My mother passed recently & as I'm in another country and all her recipes have ended up god knows where. In among those recipes was her famous "diabetic" fruit cake recipe , At least that's what she called it but it was full of so many dried fruits it was more a no added sugar recipe than diabetic friendly in any way. I'd love some help tracking this half remembered recipe from my childhood down. [more inside]
posted by wwax at 1:05 PM PST - 3 comments

On Wednesday, I checked out equipment, and went through an instructional session, for a home sleep study. This requires authorization from my insurance company, which I have. However, I am currently on a drug regimen (started on Tuesday) which is only for a short time and which is designed to reduce inflammation drastically, so I'm worried the sleep study will show that I'm breathing better than I usually do. [more inside]
posted by amtho at 12:56 PM PST - 7 comments

An ice storm just split our magnolia tree branch. We cut off the broken branch, but are left with a split section about 20 inches in length on a main trunk. The trunk is about 16" around. What is the best route to handle this to save the tree? Would it be some sort of glue and wrap, or cut off the split portion and seal with something, or something completely different? Thanks for any ideas on how to best handle our favorite tree! Picture here
posted by Mikey51 at 12:55 PM PST - 3 comments

I set up dropbox a long time ago for a family member, and now I have to find a file.... It's not in dropbox's "deleted files" because I think it wasn't synced. But it's no longer in the dropbox folder on a Win7 machine, either. [more inside]
posted by mhh5 at 12:46 PM PST - 2 comments

My husband's dream is for me to knit him an intricate Icelandic wool sweater. I... have never knitted a sweater before. I would like to make his dream come true but will obviously need lots of practice with making more basic sweaters and learning to gauge size with much more simple sweater patterns. Does anyone have specific examples of sweater patterns I should start with? Current level of knitting knowledge inside. [more inside]
posted by joan_holloway at 11:39 AM PST - 14 comments

In the past year I moved into a condo that has hardwired security system keypads (specifically: Brinks model BHS 3000), but the security system itself is defunct, and I don't plan to start it up again (at least, not the same kind of system). I want to remove one or two of the keypads by myself, but they are designed to be hard to remove by a non-specialist. Which is to say, I don't know how to do it. Advice? [more inside]
posted by Get-Go at 11:32 AM PST - 6 comments

I would love to be able to do a few things with the new shortcut app everyone is raving about in iOS 12. I can't seem to find the actions I need though and they're hard to google. Please help. [more inside]
posted by J.R. Hartley at 11:14 AM PST - 1 comment

For cooking black mustard seeds as part of a tadka, I've read wildly contradictory advice online. If you use this technique in your own cooking and are happy with the results, how do you recognize the moment when they've been cooked enough? Are there signs besides popping you use to check whether you've done it right (color, smell, taste)? [more inside]
posted by nebulawindphone at 10:55 AM PST - 3 comments

Hello, A family member, a well-respected doctor, gave me their former Medicaid ID, as a form of inspiration and encouragement. I would like to frame/display the card on my desk at work. Any creative ideas? Maybe framing it with a quote underneath? I imagine Pinterest might have some neat ideas, but I would not know where to start with a search. Thank you!
posted by Boyd at 10:53 AM PST - 0 comments

Greetings, All I am looking for a Mental Health Therapist in Columbus, Ohio, specializing in PTSD, Stress, and Trauma, and/or CBT. I am looking for a female therapist. I prefer a younger therapist if possible, close to my age,20-30s. Any advance is appreciated. [more inside]
posted by TRUELOTUS at 10:45 AM PST - 2 comments

In this story, the children are left in a neglected, overgrown garden, and decide to clean it up. They discover the remains of beautiful architectural features, such as colourful mosaic tiles under the weeds. I don't think it was one of her more famous series like Famous Five or Secret Seven, but I could be wrong.
posted by snarfois at 8:40 AM PST - 15 comments

It's not that I have any particular issue with him; the excerpts that I've read seem taking enough that I'd probably read one of the books if I happened to have a copy. It's just that whenever people - as in this post on the blue - talk about what they're reading instead, that sounds so much more interesting. [more inside]
posted by Frowner at 8:18 AM PST - 7 comments

Can you recommend an Android phone that works on Verizon for hiking and backpacking use? [more inside]
posted by medusa at 7:40 AM PST - 15 comments

What are possibly responses to family teasing? I'm seeking both adult responses and responses on behalf of a child. [more inside]
posted by k8t at 7:32 AM PST - 44 comments

What's the right way to buy my own Fios Quantum Gateway Modem? [more inside]
posted by griphus at 7:25 AM PST - 3 comments

I've just gotten off the phone with someone - two someones in fact - who spoke abominably to me. This happens to me a lot even though I am in a respected position! What can I *do* to encourage people to speak to me respectfully? [more inside]
posted by Mistress at 7:16 AM PST - 20 comments

I had a lumbar puncture on Monday (11/19), and my recovery has been . . . not great. Headaches, nausea, weakness and fatigue, clumsiness and foggy thinking, and just generally wanting to lay in bed forever. When does this end? [more inside]
posted by backwards compatible at 7:04 AM PST - 10 comments

Help me develop the concept for an AD-FREE podcast where people talk about what it's like to grow older ... physically, mentally, emotionally. [more inside]
posted by Sheydem-tants at 6:27 AM PST - 24 comments

No matter what I watch on YouTube, "I Can't Go For That" is always the "up next" video! Why? I mean, I love Hall and Oates as much as the next guy, and the video certainly inspires some blazer/shoulder pad longing, but I haven't watched it a zillion times or anything. I'm finding this hilarious and wondering why YouTube/Google/The Internet has decided that this song is the nexus of my internet experience. Any thoughts?
posted by stillmoving at 5:33 AM PST - 6 comments

I like perfume samples. I want to buy samplers that showcase specific notes. Who will curate and send these to me? [more inside]
posted by fingersandtoes at 9:12 PM PST - 5 comments

After under a year of being on Implanon, it turns out that it really doesn't work for me so I'm getting it removed. What can I expect (especially moodwise) afterwards? [more inside]
posted by divabat at 8:04 PM PST - 6 comments

I'm interested in barkbox but I'm finding it hard to find non-sponsored reviews. If you've tried it, I'd like to know why it did or didn't work for you. I'm aware of review sites for subscription boxes, but I'm looking for additional opinions.
posted by Aranquis at 7:42 PM PST - 14 comments

So this guy (30) and I (25F) had known each other at work at Uni (he's staff and I was postgrad student) for over a year but never really properly talked to each other, until at some event at Uni ( I don't work there anymore as I finished a year ago) we were talking for quite a bit. And I could tell there was a mutual attraction between us. A few days later I friended him on FB and we started texting daily. The texting was a bit intense with him sending all the lengthy messages and asking all the questions, and I mirrored him doing the same. He even bought me 16 big blocks of chocolates after I joked about it... [more inside]
posted by yellowpurplered at 5:19 PM PST - 23 comments

I had a bunch of clothes that I stored with a dry cleaner over the summer and they came back with a weird chemical odor that doesn't go away with airing out. (They cleaned a second time and odor is still there--must just be their process). I've used ozone generators in the past to clean odors from walls and wondered if anyone had experience using this method to remove odor from wool (which seems notoriously hard to rid).
posted by Jon44 at 5:19 PM PST - 2 comments

I have a favorite Dickies brand shirt (just like the one in the link) that is embroidered with my name and a logo. I love this shirt, but its too stiff to wear comfortably. Is there a quick way to soften this shirt without damaging the embroidered parts? Any ideas appreciated. Thanks!
posted by WalkerWestridge at 2:43 PM PST - 5 comments

At the start of Brexit, some commentators pointed out that at any point during the two year transition period, the UK could simply walk away from Brexit, and the UK would stay in Europe. What happened to this idea - is it still legally (if not politically) viable?
posted by bergnotburg at 1:42 PM PST - 11 comments

My family is doing the trot-trot rhyme with my neice at our Thanksgiving party, the one that starts, "Trot-trot to Boston, trot-trot to Lynn…" Do people not from Massachusetts do this? If so, do you trot-trot to other towns? [more inside]
posted by Anticipation Of A New Lover's Arrival, The at 1:27 PM PST - 59 comments

I received a wonderful amish popcorn kernel variety pack. [more inside]
posted by fantasticness at 12:58 PM PST - 3 comments

My mother isn't abusive anymore now that she has little power to wield, but used to be emotionally abusive. She's staying with me for over a week to visit my child. I'm doing well coping with multiple areas of my life and don't want to lose my progress. Tips for compartmentalizing and such appreciated! [more inside]
posted by crunchy potato at 12:51 PM PST - 11 comments

What is a good replacement for the TV episode recaps on AV Club? I still try to read AV Club but the continued degradation of the website makes it really hard. [more inside]
posted by kittensofthenight at 12:43 PM PST - 5 comments

I am currently living a committedly celibate and chaste lifestyle. In retaliation, my body has begun subjecting me to extraordinarily sexual and sensual dreams. This needs to stop. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 10:09 AM PST - 23 comments

I recently attempted to casually date someone, but kept pumping the brakes because of what seemed like boundary-pushing, as well as significant asymmetries in interest levels, values, and lifestyles. Then we slept together and it blew my mind, but I didn’t accede to his request for another date right away because he still seemed too keen. Now he appears to have stomped off in frustration, and I feel sad and doubtful. Am I thinking with my privates and romanticizing a loose cannon with whom I had extremely limited compatibility, or did I mess up because I’m an anxious spoilsport? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 10:09 AM PST - 38 comments

Friend's mom has a sweatshirt she loves. Sweatshirt is old and kind of falling apart. We're looking for a replacement. [more inside]
posted by curious nu at 9:53 AM PST - 0 comments

Keep f*ing up candied pecans... help me [more inside]
posted by St. Peepsburg at 8:47 AM PST - 11 comments

I received a letter from ICE “Enforcement & Removal Operation” addressed to someone I don’t know at my new apartment. (I just moved.) I have not opened it because it’s not addressed to me. [more inside]
posted by schadenfrau at 8:28 AM PST - 13 comments

My flight from BWI to SFO was delayed 24 hrs due to mechanical difficulties. I am near BWI and looking for stuff to do today. [more inside]
posted by Space Kitty at 8:08 AM PST - 5 comments

I had pneumonia for a while. I think not too bad as pneumonia goes. I seem to be recovering. I’ve heard stories about people having weeks, or months, of fatigue after this illness, and needing tons of rest. I’m not sure if that’ll happen to me, but it worries me. I’ve been advised (by online sources, and my doctor) to not push too hard. But I’m not sure what that means. I’m curious what I might expect, and what I should do, as I recover, and how to ease back into regular life. [more inside]
posted by ManInSuit at 7:56 AM PST - 3 comments

The office where I work has been remodeled into an open office plan. They've taken away our physical telephones so we have to use softphones, run through our computers. I have a headset for conference calls. Can I get a real phone and connect it to my computer to use as a softphone for regular calls? [more inside]
posted by Huffy Puffy at 7:54 AM PST - 6 comments

I'm looking for a PS1 fantasy game. It was part of a series (I played the third entry). It was a fantasy game that involved setting traps, then admitting enemies in order for them to be defeated by the traps. I wish I could remember more than that.
posted by One Hand Slowclapping at 6:50 AM PST - 3 comments

Since my dad died, I have been given responsibility for handling a lot of family financial and other administrative affairs, and I am feeling overwhelmed with having to balance my responsibilities to my family with my responsibilities to my work. I'm sure other people manage this - how do you, without letting it all get to you? [more inside]
posted by Ziggy500 at 5:22 AM PST - 11 comments

I'm a green card holder with a job in the US. I've been overseas on sabbatical for the last five months and am now planning my return trip. Originally I intended to re-enter the US on the 180th day after I left, to avoid having to 'apply for re-admission' (i.e. be interviewed at the border and potentially get my passport endorsed).* Now I see on the internet that some people already get hit with this at 5 months 28 days or so. Does anyone have any experience of this? [more inside]
posted by ogorki at 4:19 AM PST - 11 comments

I'm dipping my toes into the idea of selling hand-drawn things at markets and am wondering where would be best source for canvas shoes of varying sizes and hats for as cheap as possible without being hideously ugly? I'm based in Australia.
posted by h00py at 3:55 AM PST - 2 comments

I'm hoping to have a child soon, and expect to need to wake up during the night to care for it. Unfortunately, I can sleep through just about any noise. I have slept through parties, my alarm clock for an hour until it gave up and turned itself off, a fire alarm, and a trumpeter playing reveille at the foot of my bed. If you are similarly dead to the world, how were you able to learn to notice an infant crying? [more inside]
posted by meaty shoe puppet at 8:32 PM PST - 31 comments

A family member killed someone last weekend. Drugs were almost certainly involved, and it sounds like it happened during a fight, so I’m not sure what the charges will end up being. It still is horrifying. If you have resources for family members who have been in this situation, I would really appreciate them, particularly free or very low-cost and low-barrier resources. Even like a website or online group would be useful. Thanks.
posted by anonymous at 8:14 PM PST - 13 comments

What kind of dancing is this in Pharrell Williams's "Happiness" music video starting at 2:32? (only 4 seconds) It looks cool. How do I learn how to dance like that?!
posted by storybored at 7:02 PM PST - 2 comments

Say you were having a party where there were plenty of introverts, some kids (over the age of 8), and creative people who maybe wanted a break from standing around talking. There was some kind of really interesting three dimensional thing(s) being built by people of varying skill levels in the corner of the room, that functioned in some humorous/cool way when "activated." There are not many rules or tough instructions. What is this thing?
posted by oxisos at 5:52 PM PST - 8 comments

I drew my dad for our Christmas gift exchange. Help??? [more inside]
posted by beepbeepboopboop at 4:48 PM PST - 21 comments

Be it holidays or birthdays or other event, I love getting cards and need a better way to display them. They stay up forever in my abode, but the bulletin board is....boring. [more inside]
posted by mightshould at 4:44 PM PST - 19 comments

I'm looking for something that seems like it would be easy to find: a pair of cotton athletic socks in a variety of solid colors. American Apparel sold a nice pair about a decade ago, but no longer. And nobody else does, either, it would seem. [more inside]
posted by kevinbelt at 4:29 PM PST - 3 comments

My neighbor has outdoor speakers and television....it’s so loud and driving me crazy. Parties every weekend, shouting and yelling. It’s like living next to a frat house at times. Please see extended explanation..... [more inside]
posted by FloridaLife4345 at 3:31 PM PST - 43 comments

Tomorrow I am roasting a turkey for only the second time in my life. It is a whole Swedish turkey that is only 8.26 pounds. That is the perfect size for my family, but all the recipes I have found online seem to be for turkeys that are twice as large. How do I make this edible? [more inside]
posted by Bella Donna at 1:02 PM PST - 15 comments

I will be receiving money transfers online, and I want to keep my identity a secret. What payment services allow me to remain anonymous from funders? Also, will providing an Amazon wishlist to them be securely anonymous? Bonus: what options let me be anonymous from the payment processor itself?
posted by davidstandaford at 12:47 PM PST - 5 comments

I'm settling into being single for the long haul and mostly pretty comfortable about it but some things seem to be a lot harder solo. Any tips and good advice for building a sweet life on Crone Island? [more inside]
posted by bighappyhairydog at 12:46 PM PST - 20 comments

I'm an American citizen nearing the end of a several-months-long stay in Switzerland. For reasons too peculiar yet banal to go into, I have about $5000 worth of Swiss francs in cash. I don't have a bank account in Switzerland (it's complicated for Americans, so functionally isn't an option), and I don't anticipate coming back in the near future. What's the best way to take my pile of francs and turn it into USD, prioritizing exchange rate over speed? [more inside]
posted by tapir-whorf at 11:44 AM PST - 11 comments

I would like to obtain 32 cases for a moto e4 (USA version). This is the 5 inch screen, not the 5.5. Finding this on Amazon was harder than anticipated. Requirements: -ideally all the same -ideally an unpopular color like yellow or gross green or something -ideally cheap, like less than $4 per case. Any resources would be appreciated.
posted by Wretch729 at 11:35 AM PST - 3 comments

I was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma two years ago, and so far my treatment has gone well, but now that the immediacy of treatment and recovery have passed, I am a little lost about how to structure my life to deal with the uncertainty of the years that I have left. I am 49, which is young for this type of cancer. I am also single, with part-time custody of two grade-school children, and no other family support. There is a good chance I'll live another ten years or more but there is also a chance I'll relapse much sooner, and I feel like I have to prepare both for my death and a radically different life at the same time. I want to find a professional resource that I can sit down with and discuss my situation and help me make plans for the future. [more inside]
posted by abigailKim at 11:22 AM PST - 9 comments

Looking to host a pub night with karaoke somewhere in the downtown Toronto area. Hope me please. [more inside]
posted by yawper at 11:16 AM PST - 2 comments

I'd like to start a Sunday afternoon streaming movie tradition to get me through this cold winter, and I'm looking for recommendations that can be streamed on Netflix, Hulu, or Amazon Prime. But they must be fun, feel-good films or at least have happy endings. [more inside]
posted by possibilityleft at 11:13 AM PST - 16 comments

Hi, AskMe. As per this previous question, I'm being considered for a role at a managed service company. I had a panel interview Wednesday, which I apparently passed with flying colors, at least according to the recruiter. I was told to expect feedback from the client's senior management by early next week. Is it horrible etiquette to follow up at this point in hopes of a definite answer before the holiday? [more inside]
posted by Alensin at 10:46 AM PST - 10 comments

I love beer. But seems I cannot drink it! My system cannot take carbonation. (irritable B.D.) I am wondering if there might be a way around this. Not likely?
posted by ebesan at 10:32 AM PST - 14 comments

Given the following countries, is it easier for individuals to send parcels between any particular combination of them? The countries are UK, US, Australia, and Canada. An example of the kind of info I'm looking for is something like "It's much easier to ship between __ and __ because they are both in the Commonwealth" or "It's easier to ship from the __ to anywhere else because (reason I'm not aware of)" or "Don't make people ship between __ and __ because it will basically never happen". Thank you! [more inside]
posted by bleep at 10:31 AM PST - 14 comments

I've put ads up for some used items. There's a lot of interest in a few of them. How do I manage replies? [more inside]
posted by cotton dress sock at 10:14 AM PST - 6 comments

I’m looking for the title of a comic that probably came out about 1993-1996. It was a noir satire (?) in which the main character was a private detective, but also a robot. I think it was called some combination of The [colour] [flower], like “The White Dahlia” or “The Black Lily”. [more inside]
posted by chappell, ambrose at 10:02 AM PST - 5 comments

I want to get my friend a cross stitch for her bathroom that lets guests know you flush up for poo and down for pee. She wants something that maybe rhymes or sounds cuter than that. Any ideas for how i should phrase it ?
posted by LaunchBox at 10:00 AM PST - 13 comments

I want to keep this short and sweet because there is way too much to explain but the point is hoping to solicit advice. A little background - I'm in my mid-30s and my husband passed away in April this year after seven months of battling cancer. We had not even been married a year when he got his diagnosis and in total we had three wonderful years together. I have a really amazing network of people who have helped me through everything from listening to me to taking me to do things to helping with the Estate and never did seek counseling. Question to anyone out there that has been through this or can offer some advice, questions below the fold. [more inside]
posted by hillabeans at 9:56 AM PST - 12 comments

I recently used CoveredCA, apparently the official California ACA Healthcare Exchange, to try to get insurance. I've not given my number to anyone else. I now get 20+ calls a day from various insurance brokers. Neither CoveredCA nor the Healthcare Commissioner's office says they can do anything about this. Has anyone else had issues like this trying to use the ACA? Who should I contact to complain, even if I can't make it stop? [more inside]
posted by es_de_bah at 9:29 AM PST - 7 comments

Want to trace pictures from my iPad, but touchscreen moves around... [more inside]
posted by DMelanogaster at 9:26 AM PST - 11 comments

I wash my hair every other day. On the second day, I always, always wake up with a "dent" in my hair (like a part gone wrong) on the back of the crown of my head, which is odd because I sleep on my side, but whatever. The only thing that cures it is to entirely wash and dry my hair again. Simply wetting and drying that portion never works. But maybe you know something I don't? How can I either prevent this or fix it? Would a silk pillowcase help?
posted by HotToddy at 7:51 AM PST - 20 comments

I bought a framed Escher drawing a few weeks ago at a thrift store for $5 as a decoration for my hallway. After taking another look at it over the weekend, I'm sort of curious if it has any monetary value and its origins. What should I do next and can you confirm my cynicism that it's just worth the paper it was printing on? [more inside]
posted by fizzix at 7:26 AM PST - 4 comments

In Georgette Heyer's The Toll-Gate (1954), someone very beat-up is referred to as looking "like a strained hair in a can." I think I understand the meaning from context, but I'd also like to understand the reference. [more inside]
posted by mixedmetaphors at 7:26 AM PST - 8 comments

I'm looking to buy a 55-65 inch TV, and I have some specific things I'm interested in that don't seem to be easily searchable. [more inside]
posted by tocts at 5:27 AM PST - 17 comments

I'm looking for examples of compelling, engaging stories (including films, novels, television shows, video games, etc.) featuring completely unsympathetic protagonists -- individuals who are loathsome, annoying, disgusting. This excludes people who at first glance might be bad but who you end up actually rooting for, like Dexter, but rather main characters who are totally repulsive and yet at the center of an engrossing story. Thanks in advance! :)
posted by mrmanvir at 3:04 AM PST - 95 comments

I’m applying for a job which will require my German language skills and if I get an interview it may be in German. I haven’t practiced much German for the last 10 years so I need to start brushing up now. Any ideas how I can do this? Recommendations for books music films or TV shows that could help? Bonus points if you can tell me how to learn the kind of jargon I’ll need to sell myself in an interview!!
posted by EatMyHat at 3:00 AM PST - 10 comments

I'm in the market for a task manager app. I've tried paper solutions (bullet journaling), and it doesn't suit me for task managing. I'm currently using Google Tasks because it was readily available, but it is simplistic to the point of uselessness, for me. I've googled around, but there are way too many choices! Snowflake details inside. [more inside]
posted by snakeling at 2:44 AM PST - 7 comments

I am in my mid 50s. My parents have been dead since the 1990s. I was recently told by someone I love and trust that one of my parents molested them as a small child for a period spanning many years. I believe them. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 2:07 AM PST - 18 comments

My 2 favorite pairs of earrings recently broke, and I feel naked without them. I'll be in Portland for a few days, and figure it's a good place to shop for cool jewelry. Any recommendations? I tend to prefer silver or mixed-metal earrings that are simple but interesting. More funky and industrial than gothy or fancy. My previous favorites were from an art gallery in Berkeley that sold local jewelers' work, is there something like that here?
posted by rhiannonstone at 1:20 AM PST - 14 comments

What are some films that use the narrative device of a story within a story -- plus one more level -- WITHIN a story? Verbalized accounts where we don't actually watch the story play out, do not count. Extended flashbacks or dramatized stories are fine. Examples below. [more inside]
posted by egeanin at 11:06 PM PST - 30 comments

I'm a paralegal at a large law firm in Chicago. I've been with the same firm for over ten years and I would like to find paralegal work that doesn't require me to keep track of billable hours. [more inside]
posted by Constance Mirabella at 10:17 PM PST - 7 comments

I find myself in a long, slow (but steady) descent into drinking too much, eating too much, avoiding exercise, and being pretty depressed much of the time. I think there are many reasons this began, but I think my work schedule (ten hour shifts, mostly nights), my long term house guest, and financial problems are making it harder than usual for me to pull myself together. I'm looking for books/articles/resources/suggestions/tips/etc. to help me move in the direction I want to go (less drinking, less sadness, more health). [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 10:12 PM PST - 20 comments

Hanukkah etiquette for gentiles [more inside]
posted by Triumphant Muzak at 9:52 PM PST - 17 comments

His Epson ES-400 scanner (scans multiple pages) works on his Windows 7 computer but will not work on his new Windows 10 Dell computer. Now I tried it on my Windows 10 computer and it works! ?!? [more inside]
posted by cda at 8:56 PM PST - 8 comments

Despite past history of aggression, domestic violence, and manipulation, a borderline narcissist sibling (let's call him Zee) managed to convince me to work with him to try to sell the estate of a deceased parent several years ago. After finally telling him I don't want to be involved anymore, Zee tells me that to get me off the negotiations, he'll need my state ID. Oh, and, he and I might still be sued if the sale of the house doesn't go through. I'm in my twenties, several states away, with a full-time job, student loan debt, and a medical illness. I have no idea what to do and I'm scared. If you have any advice, I need it. Bad. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 6:36 PM PST - 17 comments

What are your secrets to embracing life and living fully in the short time we have? [more inside]
posted by inatizzy at 5:51 PM PST - 23 comments

Tonight I seem to have lost my iphone on a public trail within the last few hours. It rings so it's still on, but I have retraced my steps entirely and can't find it. I don't think I turned "Find my iPhone" on. What can I do? More inside. [more inside]
posted by permiechickie at 5:40 PM PST - 5 comments

I was intrigued by the "Great Slate" tech effort to raise money for candidates the DCCC didn't fund. But only 1 of the 13 candidates on the slate won their elections. As 2020 approaches, I'm trying to figure out how to invest my political resources, both dollars and hours. Has there been any expert analysis/critique of why the "Great Slate" failed? Conversely, is there evidence that Sister District, another grassroots group pairing blue-staters with purple enclaves, was more effective? [more inside]
posted by rogerrogerwhatsyourrvectorvicto at 5:29 PM PST - 18 comments

The Christmocalypse is approaching and, due to some last minute shit, I am Not Dealing At All. My usual antidote to this sort of mood is to bury myself in a game and I'd like some suggestions as to what I should escape into next. [more inside]
posted by ninazer0 at 5:22 PM PST - 20 comments

So, I'm playing around trying to make a logo for a new business. [more inside]
posted by funfunfun at 5:07 PM PST - 7 comments

YANML, however: My girlfriend's roommate made felony criminal threats against her. He's in jail right now. He's also in her parking spot - should she have his car towed? [more inside]
posted by kensington314 at 4:28 PM PST - 21 comments

What can you tell me about this door? [more inside]
posted by NotMyselfRightNow at 2:37 PM PST - 15 comments

What's the best online Yoga learning tool? I'm not against paying money for a class or a series of courses, but a quick google brings up eleven thousand options and I'm looking for a vouch! More deets inside. [more inside]
posted by GilloD at 2:05 PM PST - 7 comments

I'm in love with the "womp womp" sounds starting at :31 in this remix. Is there a genre that encompasses this song? Any other specific songs y'all would recommend if that's my favorite part of this song? [more inside]
posted by purple_bird at 1:55 PM PST - 15 comments

I am researching a genealogical dead end in my family and recently found a death record with the names of the parents of the person I'm stuck at. Exciting! ... But I can't read the names. [more inside]
posted by pixiecrinkle at 12:25 PM PST - 18 comments

I'm looking to give a battery heated vest as a gift this holiday season, but finding it difficult to locate the perfect match. Ideal product would be a women's fit extra small with a not-too-bulky battery and layer well with other clothing. [more inside]
posted by meinvt at 11:53 AM PST - 3 comments

A local merchant had been selling my art and gifts in her shop on commission. Then she suddenly moved and downsized without telling me. I've been having a really hard time getting my merch back, and now she's blocked my number. How should I proceed to get my things back or be compensated for them? [more inside]
posted by mermaidcafe at 11:22 AM PST - 22 comments

Have you worked within an international team in a business sense? Did you feel emotionally close and friendly with them? Tell me how you made that happen. [more inside]
posted by rachaelfaith at 11:00 AM PST - 13 comments

My 8-year-old loves Greek and Norse mythology, and contemporary fiction based on them. What books might she like that engage with non-Western mythologies? [more inside]
posted by dr. boludo at 10:52 AM PST - 11 comments

Our accounting department always expects to get a W-9 for any new vendor and gets very bristly if this is not provided. This causes a lot of delays when the vendor is an automated web site (e.g. providing a software license key) and there are almost no humans involved (or contact emails are scarce). What is the modern way to purchase things quickly in an IRS-compliant way from nearly virtual companies without weeklong delays? (This is for a US-based business, some of the purchases could be international.) [more inside]
posted by benzenedream at 10:35 AM PST - 7 comments

For years and years I have kept work notes on pads of lined paper. These are supplied to me by the office, I don't purchase them myself. The past few months, something has changed with the quality of the...adhesive isn't quite the right word, but the rubbery stuff at the top that holds the papers together. Now, when I fold pages back to get to the next page, the used pages fall off after a few days. This never used to happen. I've tried both office provided options available to me yellow pads and white pads (all from a big box stationary / office supply place), and they both have this fault. [more inside]
posted by walkinginsunshine at 10:19 AM PST - 9 comments

Evaporated milk adds so much to coffee, esp coffee with chicory. I had a hot cup ready to go 12 hours ago, set it down "over there" and over there it sat. I threw it down the drain a few minutes ago; I wanted to drink it but didn't, and won't, not without The Official MetaFilter Seal Of Should I Drink It Or Not approval. [more inside]
posted by dancestoblue at 9:55 AM PST - 18 comments

I love wonky and political podcasts that have experts come on to analyze current social/political events and trends from the perspective of their expertise. And every time I find myself running a little dry of new episodes like that to listen to, I get tipped off to another fascinating podcast by you find folks on the Blue. So would you please do me a favor and turn this thread into a treasure trove of cool things for me to listen to over Thanksgiving? [more inside]
posted by rue72 at 9:43 AM PST - 23 comments

My teen-age son wants to buy an XBox. What does it really cost (console + games + subscriptions +??)? And what do I need to know about it, as a parent? We don't own any consoles now, besides the RetroPi I put together. [more inside]
posted by wenestvedt at 9:42 AM PST - 12 comments

I would like to buy a new iphone 8 or maybe XR or pixel 3, but I am not on a major carrier and do not wish to be on one. All the black Friday specials appear to be for new or renewed activation on one of the four major carriers (in the U.S.). Am I missing anything? [more inside]
posted by skewed at 9:03 AM PST - 8 comments

I am writing something which requires a bit of information about the digital newsletter platform, TinyLetter. I'm really after fairly basic stuff: who made it and when, when it was bought by MailChimp, perhaps a couple of sources/citations which help me understand when it became popular. [more inside]
posted by churlishmeg at 8:42 AM PST - 3 comments

Who or what do you link to rather than bothering to respond to something wrong on the internet yourself? Please recommend compelling online commentators. [more inside]
posted by ServSci at 7:39 AM PST - 9 comments

After the success of this question, I'm turning to the green to look for veggie-centered low carb dishes that can be made and eaten as leftovers for a few days. [more inside]
posted by mercredi at 7:22 AM PST - 15 comments

I hung out with a guy from a dating app a couple of times over the past week. He was kind of hot and cold. Almost immediately after we hooked up for a second time he said he thought we should just be friends because of a recent break up has left him all over the place. At first I was okay with how things went but upon reflection I'm kind of upset and feel a bit used. Is this reasonable? Should I give him the benefit of the doubt? More inside. [more inside]
posted by blackzinfandel at 7:11 AM PST - 33 comments

I'm replacing all 4 of my Michelin Defender tires (215/55R17 94T) on a 2007 Lexus ES350 sedan. I've had the tires several years (also probably didn't rotate them often enough) so they're due for a change out. At about $150 a tire, I can replace them with the same model. I live in Atlanta, so I'm only dealing with rain and maybe ice on occasion. I drive about 5-8k miles a year in this car. Should I stick with these same tires or is there a better alternative in this price range? Thanks!
posted by arm426 at 7:10 AM PST - 18 comments

I used to go to twitter hit parade,Favstar for daily laughs. It's gone and I miss it. Any hivers here know of a similar site that's replaced it?
posted by citybuddha at 7:04 AM PST - 1 comment

I would like to visit Philadelphia. But I have no plan; help me make one! Difficulty level: Thanksgiving-adjacent. [more inside]
posted by cellar door at 6:44 AM PST - 19 comments

I have a refrigerator that I don't need to use right now. It's only about 2 years old so I would like to keep it for when I move out of this rental. Right now it is in an unheated and uninsulated storage shed attached to my carport. I live in Maine. Is it going to survive the winter? [more inside]
posted by apricot at 5:50 AM PST - 11 comments

I have 3 of this earring, and I want to find a place to buy more pairs of it. I got it in Forever 21 in 2010. The main part of the star is plastic faceted like a gem. There's metal on the back that makes it reflect like and look all sparkly. [more inside]
posted by starlybri at 4:43 AM PST - 4 comments

Fletcher's bacon from Costco, been in the fridge since we bought it, never frozen. Two weeks or so past it's use by / freeze by date. Looks fine, smells fine, fwiw and I know that's not definitive. What say you, Metafilter, bake it up today or toss it? (I tend to eat stuff like this which is why I felt I'd better ask what others thought.)
posted by Rufous-headed Towhee heehee at 2:25 AM PST - 17 comments

How do I get my employer(s) to stop promoting people to management because they aren’t very good at individual contribution? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 1:02 AM PST - 8 comments

With the best of intentions I reverse-engineered a cloud service's API and found it extraordinarily poorly secured. I would like to do the ethical thing and, if possible, not end up prosecuted. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 1:01 AM PST - 4 comments

I am working in a butcher shop and am looking for protective and warm covers/mittens for forearms and hands. First thought were cycling gloves. Fingers need to remain open. Any suggestion upper Midwestern MeFites?
posted by goalyeehah at 11:22 PM PST - 6 comments

I’m 10 days post-tonsillectomy, and am generally recovering well. However, my uvula is still pretty swollen, and I’m not sure if I should be concerned. [more inside]
posted by bluloo at 9:29 PM PST - 5 comments

So I’ve gone from “all my friends are out of town I’ll do nothing “ to “oh hey cooking all day will keep me distracted!” So whose got thanksgiving for two recipes? We’re thinking turkey breast, stuffing, one appetizer, one side. Fussy and or distraction providing recipes a plus. Novel approaches like a turkey curry encouraged. Less prep work the better, all day-of. Minor condition, he doesn’t like stuffing with bread in it.
posted by The Whelk at 9:24 PM PST - 17 comments

My boyfriend of 8 years seems to be hinting at marriage. Should I wait in the next couple of months to bring up the topic of marriage again? [more inside]
posted by Asian_Hunnie at 8:41 PM PST - 17 comments

I want sci fi or fantasy novels that are like a big, warm hug. Ideas? [more inside]
posted by bananacabana at 8:41 PM PST - 34 comments

I'm applying for jobs teaching CS, want to broaden my search to include EU countries, not sure if I'm going about it right. [more inside]
posted by Reclusive Novelist Thomas Pynchon at 7:47 PM PST - 5 comments

We have a relatively new single zone Mitsubishi heat pump. It has the normal wall mounted wireless thermostat. I just bought and connected a wireless controller. I know it's connected because a change on either controller is reflected on the other. According to the manual, I should be able to choose to use either controller's thermostat but this option is not available on the remote. Does anyone know why this might be? Or where I could even go to ask this question?
posted by ethidda at 6:49 PM PST - 1 comment

Looking for a small purse/wallet with a long adjustable strap. Must be big enough for a normal sized phone and a set of keys, maybe 7” wide? Bonus if it has a clear ID slot. This is for my tween daughter so nothing too pricey. Thanks!
posted by gryphonlover at 6:19 PM PST - 8 comments

I’m in a newish relationship. My partner admitted I’m not the best lover they’ve had. I am having some feelings. How do I deal? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 6:05 PM PST - 22 comments

You're really, really looking forward to something. Is there a single word (any language) or phase you'd use to communicate this?
posted by curious nu at 5:47 PM PST - 23 comments

A friend is struggling with feeling she's fat, is doing some extreme dieting things and has a history of binging and purging. I'm looking for some tips for dealing [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 5:46 PM PST - 5 comments

I'm interested in encouraging regular playing with my family. Here's the rundown: my 4th grader is learning flute but struggling. Wife grew up playing piano but hasn't for many years. I played trumpet thru high school & college, but haven't picked it up for a loooong time. I also made a stab at acoustic guitar but didn't stick with it. I think we'd all be more motivated if we were working together on pieces. Musical MeFites, help me with ideas on what (music/instruments/iOS technology) could get us up and enjoying playing together fast.
posted by sapere aude at 4:55 PM PST - 17 comments

My favorite pair of shoes can’t handle the amount of walking I do, and the tread on the soles wear out super quick. Instead of buying a new pair of shoes (the top of the shoes are still in perfect condition), I’m Looking for a way to rebuild the tread. There has to be an industrial glue/caulk/construction adhesive/boat anti-slip paint I can apply to the bottom of the worn out sole/tread to give me another few weeks/months of walking, right? I’m thinking something that chemically bonds to the existing sole. Doesn’t have to be pretty, I can use some chopsticks to make a few horizontal lines to serve as treads :-) Any thoughts?
posted by thankyoumuchly at 4:40 PM PST - 9 comments

Mosquito A bites you and injects a nasty virus into your system. After the acute infectious period subsides, you are left with antigens which (hooray!) confer immunity upon you for that particular virus in the future. Is this the end of the matter? [more inside]
posted by alonsoquijano at 4:39 PM PST - 7 comments

How do you talk to recruiters when you have a job you like, but want to keep your options open? [more inside]
posted by mireille at 4:38 PM PST - 3 comments

What are some feminist action/adventure/heist/exciting movies for me to watch at the gym? Minimal torture preferred. Streaming somewhere a plus. [more inside]
posted by latkes at 3:44 PM PST - 20 comments

My son is in high school and beginning to look for a summer internship loosely related to the environment or doing work in the woods. The location needs to be in the Boston metropolitan region (and outskirts) and he's struggling to figure out where to start. Is there any central location (i.e. website) to help track down these sort of internships? Again, geography is an issue: looking for something in about a 20 mile radius of the Boston area. [more inside]
posted by jeremias at 3:27 PM PST - 3 comments

How do I save water-damaged journals? [more inside]
posted by j_curiouser at 2:17 PM PST - 2 comments

What are your favorite desserts to make in the IP? I'm looking for tried and true recipes, otherwise I'd just Google it. Thank you!!
posted by onecircleaday at 1:32 PM PST - 3 comments

My 10yo boy has long hair (mid back, has had it for two years). He is very comfortable as a boy, he just likes long hair. Recently, he's been asking to wear a face balaclava, and when pressed, he broke down and cried and said it's because he's tired of people commenting on his hair all the time. How do I help him deal with other people? [more inside]
posted by alathia at 1:06 PM PST - 32 comments

Two thirtysomething women will be in Santa Fe for New Year's Eve. What should we do to ring in 2019? We'll be in town for three nights, including New Year's Eve. Our other plans for the trip include a lot of eating, a little drinking, walking around, art, Meow Wolf, and on the way home, Ojo Caliente. Any and all recommendations are welcome, but specifically, I'm trying to figure out where we should spend the evening of New Year's Eve. [more inside]
posted by TrixieRamble at 1:06 PM PST - 3 comments

We'd like to drive from Toronto to LA and back as early as reasonably possible next year. To LA through Canada and back to Toronto via Arizona (Grand Canyon), Utah, Colorado, Nebraska, etc. But we don't want to die on a lonely Colorado mountain in a snow storm. What's the earliest time of year we could reasonably expect to be snow-free on each of these routes? [more inside]
posted by feelinggood at 12:59 PM PST - 9 comments

Hello. I have an electrical device, the power connector of which I’m trying to identify. [more inside]
posted by mhz at 11:12 AM PST - 7 comments

After being happy with Gmail for a long time, the forced switch to “new Gmail” hasn't gone well. In short: it sucks and it’s full of bugs. It loads slowly, it reloads on its own for no reason while I’m in the middle of doing something and it keeps having me send attachments back to people who just sent them to me when I reply, which is embarrassing. On Twitter, people are asking to revert to old “classic” Gmail but Gmail’s response is that a switch isn’t possible. Well, I’m making my own switch... [more inside]
posted by AppleTurnover at 9:33 AM PST - 16 comments

Hello! I have a couple thousand in an old 401k at a company I no longer work at. I'd like to roll it into....something, where I can keep track of it, and be able to add additional amounts from my paychecks. My current employers do not offer retirement benefits, but I'm finally making enough that I can and should be saving for retirement. [more inside]
posted by Juliet Banana at 9:32 AM PST - 8 comments

This seems like a simple thing but I can't find the answer online, so I'm relying on the collective wisdom of y'all. Please help - should be a simple one! My macmail keeps sending emails as if they are coming from one account when I wanted to send them from another account. In the macmail app it looks like it's been sent by the correct account, but in people's inboxes it's a different story. This is really messing with my conversational threads and bad for client management. More detail inside... [more inside]
posted by starstarstar at 9:15 AM PST - 1 comment

There's been much discussion of personal air purifiers on a cancer support board I participate in. I'd really love some insight and links from MeFites. The most recent related discussion I found on AskMe was in 2015, and it seems like things may have changed since then - apologies if I've missed something. [more inside]
posted by FencingGal at 9:07 AM PST - 9 comments

Can you help me find a good, all-inclusive hotel + flight package so I can enjoy the Northern Lights for the holidays this year? [more inside]
posted by chatongriffes at 8:55 AM PST - 7 comments

I've got a new job that requires travel every week. I need a laptop purse/bag that can be my home office on the road. I typically travel M-Th every week and need to carry everything with me at the end of every day. It needs to be durable for flights, remote office travel, and my general abuse. [more inside]
posted by frizz at 8:50 AM PST - 14 comments

In an attempt to be cautious, I’m turning to Metafilter to assess the credibility of this retailer based in Australia. Please, only answer if you have experience in this area. Thank you very much.
posted by captainsohler at 8:38 AM PST - 11 comments

When I was a kid (late 80s/early 90s), we made a cookie from a book called something like "Cookies" that I would love to recreate. The finished cookies were decorated to look like peaches even though they did not contain peaches nor have any peach flavor. Help me indulge my cookie nostalgia? [more inside]
posted by CiaoMela at 8:14 AM PST - 7 comments

My spouse and I have been pretty close friends with a couple for the last 6 years. We have kids the same age. They are constantly, constantly trying to convince us to do what they do, travel where they travel, buy what they buy. I have been trying to figure out this behavior for as long as I've known them and I need to get closer to understanding it or my head will explode. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 7:44 AM PST - 37 comments

Is there a way to get a feed of the most retweeted tweets from a public list over a specific timeframe? [more inside]
posted by gwint at 7:34 AM PST - 1 comment

My 11 year old daughter is currently participating in an art class at our local museum, and the parents were invited for an open house for the first semester this weekend. They were working on their projects, and had their notebooks with them. On one of the pages of her notebook was a list of personal characteristics that she created, and none of them were terribly positive, and one is still bothering me today. [more inside]
posted by dforemsky at 7:19 AM PST - 18 comments

Well, I'll be finishing the grad program I'm in a bit earlier than expected due to some departmental changes. I should be excited, but finishing the program earlier than I had planned is making me quite nervous because I'll have to be job searching earlier than expected. I'm going to be looking for work in a pretty competitive/difficult field (libraries) and I anticipate that my job search will take a bit of time. How can I approach my upcoming job search? Should I even tell him? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 6:27 AM PST - 10 comments

Recommend me a novel in which the stakes are low. [more inside]
posted by gauche at 6:19 AM PST - 37 comments

My overall decent relationship with SIL is souring through a few grudges. Trying to decide if worth bringing them up to clear air, or just continue swallowing resentment and moving on. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 11:35 PM PST - 19 comments

I got dinked on my essay on the technicality that it assumed too much background knowledge, making my argument too complex to follow. I had 1500 words to argue whether a thought experiment went one way or another, and I went one way, heavily citing as I did, with the logical extensions and ideas we'd been studying to go oh hey, this definition extended becomes dependent on that so blah blah - it was dense and logical. [more inside]
posted by dorothyisunderwood at 10:29 PM PST - 19 comments

I lost my coat and want to invest in a long-term, quality, replacement. If the two qualities are not inherently contradictory, I want it to be both very warm and truly waterproof. [more inside]
posted by Cozybee at 9:46 PM PST - 23 comments

What is the most affordable yet reliable way to get a box (or 2) of random things from Virginia USA to Melbourne Australia? [more inside]
posted by divabat at 9:17 PM PST - 7 comments

Two-part question: 1) Would it be beneficial to see a therapist with my mother in attempt to rebuild our relationship? I stopped speaking to her over a year ago and have been much happier since, but my other family members won't stop arguing with me over the decision. 2) What things should I look for in a therapist in this situation? [more inside]
posted by prism4tic at 9:00 PM PST - 25 comments

Where, other than thinkgeek, could I find non obvious non crappy sci-fi clothing? For example this cool nostromo hoodie. [more inside]
posted by UMDirector at 7:53 PM PST - 15 comments

After a bit of a perfect storm of physical health events happening at the same time I was weaning off an SNRI after 20+ years (see previous question), I'm in the middle of a bit of a relapse of a moderate-to-severe anxiety disorder and looking to augment my current coping and healing strategies with some audiobooks, specifically around accepting and releasing worrying thoughts and sensations that create spirals of anxiety over days and weeks. Whatcha got? [more inside]
posted by sxtrumpeto at 5:05 PM PST - 6 comments

We're traveling to India in a few weeks. We're splitting time on the trip between big cities and then hopefully something different. We don't want to spend a vacation on a beach. Is Kerala a good destination? If not, where should we consider? [more inside]
posted by msbrauer at 3:34 PM PST - 12 comments

I have loved The Flamingos - I Only Have Eyes For You for as long as I can remember. Tonight listening to WFMU I heard Anyone Who Knows What Love Is (Will Understand) by Irma Thomas. I had no idea that there was more than one song with the feel of I Only Have Eyes For You. There are two! Are there more? Is this a sub-genre that I've somehow managed to remain criminally unaware of? What old spooky, dreamy, delicious soul/doowop songs similar to these have you all been keeping from me?
posted by merocet at 3:14 PM PST - 38 comments

Hi, A couple of weeks ago my 7.8 yo black lab died 20 hours after a benign ( results received and confirmed ) mass was removed with his spleen. The vets were not sure how he died. I’ll expalin timeline below. [more inside]
posted by burb122 at 2:14 PM PST - 8 comments

I am allergic to all nuts, as well as peanuts. I am allergic to sesame seeds and fish. (I am not allergic to shellfish). I am NOT allergic to their smell or even minimal contact, but I must not ingest these foods. I carry 2 epipens with me at all times, but obviously I don’t want to deal with super-high stress at every meal. Can I travel in Malaysia easily, and without feeling every single meal is problematic? I can get a card describing my allergies in Malay. Thanks
posted by uans at 1:07 PM PST - 18 comments

I’ve never had to store fresh brussels sprouts for longer than a day before... [more inside]
posted by Thorzdad at 12:59 PM PST - 10 comments

I have a largish amount of green plum syrup left over from making maesil-ju (Korean plum liqueur) and I’m wondering if I can ferment it into something like mead? [more inside]
posted by exceptinsects at 12:43 PM PST - 9 comments

Parents of Metafilter: how do you give your teenager money when they're going out with friends? I know there's some way to have a limited credit card or debit card situation, so I'm not always scrambling for cash. I'm talking small amounts -- $20 or $30 max, frequently less. Something that I can load/reload when I want to, but that has some sort of controls so teen doesn't go wild. [more inside]
posted by BlahLaLa at 12:21 PM PST - 31 comments

A colleague and I are taking some students to Hong Kong over our university's December break, and some of the group is interested in organizing a hike. Our schedule is pretty full and I'm not sure everyone is up for a long, strenuous, or technical hike, so I'm reaching out for recommendations that are (1) friendly for casual hikers, and (2) relatively easy access from the MTR. [more inside]
posted by brozek at 11:44 AM PST - 6 comments

Wise metafites - My father is visiting from back east and I'm trying to get the Steelers game (on CBS) on our TV for him. We have a relatively new (2 yrs old) smart TV, but no TV services beyond netflix and prime. Can someone help me figure out how to do this? [more inside]
posted by snowymorninblues at 10:54 AM PST - 10 comments

Asking for a friend, who is looking for scholarly articles about how the US media covers anti-Semitism as a broad issue and/or any individual anti-Semitic incidents. [more inside]
posted by Sublimity at 10:50 AM PST - 2 comments

I'll be in Puerto Rico just after Thanksgiving and have slacked on planning. I'm looking for activity and food recommendations. Can you help? [more inside]
posted by thatquietgirl at 9:57 AM PST - 6 comments

I am going to a Thanksgiving potluck dinner. I have just been informed that said potluck is nasi lemak-themed. (Nasi lemak = coconut rice.) I have also been asked to bring a vegetable dish. What vegetable dish can I bring that goes well with coconut rice? [more inside]
posted by aielen at 9:27 AM PST - 7 comments

Our family (two parents, one nearly-2-year-old) wants to plan a relaxing week-long Miami vacation in late January or early February. We're looking for recommendations of low-key baby-friendly hotels or resorts to stay at, where we can have a decent trip just hanging near the hotel with our kid. [more inside]
posted by teditrix at 9:24 AM PST - 4 comments

So I committed to buy an item on eBay, went to pay, and it says the seller doesn’t accept PayPal. Additionally, a pop up window says they will be allowed to set it up next year. Two questions: 1.) How do I cancel, as I don’t want set something different up for a $8 item. 2.) Curiosity. What is this about. It seems so odd.
posted by MountainDaisy at 9:05 AM PST - 5 comments

I'm a senior medical student interested in working with underserved populations. In my current city, I've been able to do that almost entirely in English. Where I am likely to move next year for residency training, this will be almost impossible to do without speaking Spanish. How can I best use the next seven months to improve my speaking and comprehension? [more inside]
posted by telegraph at 8:15 AM PST - 10 comments

I've always been very impressed by breakdowns of stories in various media, and how different philosophical views are explored in them by way of characters and plot. How can I integrate such depth of thought into my own fiction writing? [more inside]
posted by Senza Volto at 7:31 AM PST - 5 comments

Lots of snowflake details within, but the long and short is that in 2020 (!) I'd like to go to Japan twice, 1-2 months in the winter, 2-4 months in the summer, with the main goal of improving my spoken Japanese. I'm looking for advice for various aspects of this. [more inside]
posted by wooh at 6:45 AM PST - 6 comments

Hi! I'm looking for recent documentaries exploring the interactions between humans and 'new' or 'disruptive' technologies. [more inside]
posted by jpziller at 4:30 AM PST - 2 comments

Looking for more Detective mysteries like Ian Rutledge and Bess Crawford or Leaphorn and Chee. [more inside]
posted by mightshould at 3:39 AM PST - 13 comments

There is a recurring theme in some of my interactions at work that I am looking for ways to improve. [more inside]
posted by Former Congressional Representative Lenny Lemming at 2:48 AM PST - 34 comments

I recently had to add some air to my tires due to cold weather. Afterwards, I had to "reset" the TPMS, and then drive around for a while while a progress bar ticked from 0 to 99 percent. In as much detail as possible, what was my car (and its computer) actually doing during this time? [more inside]
posted by vogon_poet at 9:33 PM PST - 15 comments

I play piano, and am trying to learn guitar. When playing even for a few minutes, I have wrist and tendon pain in my left (fretting) hand. What should I do? [more inside]
posted by 4midori at 9:03 PM PST - 12 comments

I want to shut down my Facebook account, but I have a lot of photos and memories from the past 10+ years in there. Is there a company that would let me download the data and turn it into a journal-like book?
posted by Toddles at 8:28 PM PST - 3 comments

I recall coming across a Perl coding example perhaps 15-25 years ago in one of the O'Reilly Perl books, and 'm hoping a graybeard or book collector can help. [more inside]
posted by zaixfeep at 7:32 PM PST - 14 comments

We had a leak that flooded the carpet in one bedroom. Landlord sent someone to vacuum up the water after the plumber repaired the leak. Then someone to repair the drywall and paint. The latter person used a moisture meter to check for mold. The carpet has not been replaced and was not pulled up to check underneath it when this happened, but the individual doing that work seemed to be knowledgeable. I have questions. [more inside]
posted by crunchy potato at 5:15 PM PST - 8 comments

I have made a map with four points on it, and I can't find how to save it. I can preview the directions, but when I click out of that, the map has disappeared. I make it all over again, and when I click out, it's gone. This is on an iPhone. [more inside]
posted by tzikeh at 2:42 PM PST - 5 comments

Would you look at my webpage layouts, and tell me what's wrong with my eye -- and how to fix it? That is, why is most of my design work shitty, and how do I get good? [more inside]
posted by pH Indicating Socks at 2:28 PM PST - 15 comments

I'm looking for things to read on the concept of home -- what makes for feeling that one is at home, how people identify places as their homes, psychology behind it, what meaning people ascribe to it, how people feel at home in transient situations, etc. Non-fiction, books, articles, fiction -- anything!
posted by aaanastasia at 1:50 PM PST - 19 comments

I will be taking a pretty short notice solo trip to Bermuda to celebrate landing (and keeping) my new job. [more inside]
posted by mephisjo at 1:50 PM PST - 5 comments

I know you are not my optometrist. Pretty much my question- is it safe ( the manufacturer says 6nights 7 days is ok) my optometrist office says take them out nightly. I really hate looking for my glasses to go pee at night or reading with them before going to sleep. Thanks in advance p.
posted by prk60091 at 1:10 PM PST - 16 comments

I want to understand some acoustic theory to design solutions for outdoor noise (or at least communicate better with acoustic engineers). I know of software for this but want to know just enough of the nuts and bolts. There's lots of info available but I don't want all of it and don't know where to start. [more inside]
posted by unearthed at 12:20 PM PST - 7 comments

Hi Folks, I'm looking for some free video editing software apps for high school students. They will be creating an interview-style news report and will need to stitch together the questions and answers they create. I need something compatible with both Android and IOS. All of the students have smart phones. One may be using a laptop. I saw some previous questions, but they were over 4 years old. Many thanks on behalf of a colleague!
posted by KleenexMakesaVeryGoodHat at 11:41 AM PST - 4 comments

How do I know when I'm ready to "settle down"? Can a single person "settle down"? This question is specifically about getting a dog and furniture, and more existentially about a person's reasons for and ability to make long-term plans. [more inside]
posted by Penguin48 at 11:28 AM PST - 20 comments

For over a decade I have been using Lucida Sans Typewriter (LST) as the terminal font in Mac OS X and now all other fonts look weird to me. I recently upgraded to High Sierra and when I try to change the terminal font, LST looks entirely messed up. It has additional spaces between each character and the characters don't seem to be LST, but perhaps Monaco? I'm at a loss as to how to get it to work. Any suggestions? [more inside]
posted by procrastination at 11:24 AM PST - 8 comments

I’m looking for recommendations for science podcasts that are not wildly inappropriate for a 10-year-old. She especially requests paleontology, geology, biology, archaeology, and the 13-year-old wonders about forensic anthropology.
posted by leahwrenn at 11:19 AM PST - 13 comments

Point me to websites for custom frames for odd-sized artwork. [more inside]
posted by cooker girl at 11:16 AM PST - 9 comments

Hi guys, I own a windows PC and got inspired by temporary trying out the Adobe software. I learned how to handle it on a basic level and would like to continue doing so, yet, honestly...600 dollars a year sounds like a lot of money. Since I have a non-related full time job, would you consider it worth it investing into Apple and their equivalents on the long run or paying for the Adobe subscription? Thank you a lot for being helpful!
posted by Salicornia at 10:34 AM PST - 13 comments

So I've been buying and wearing Nunn Bush Men's Eddy Oxfords for years because they hit the sweet spot between looking reasonably businessy and comfortable but in recent years they've changed quality and the last two that I've bought have been garbage. What should I replace them with? I just want a simple black pair of oxfords that won't hurt my feet and will last more than six months.
posted by octothorpe at 10:17 AM PST - 19 comments

It seems to me there are two kinds of pecan pie. I like one and not the other, and I'm looking for recipes. [more inside]
posted by Smearcase at 9:59 AM PST - 5 comments

The difficulty level here is, I seem to have zero circulation in my hands and feet. I need gloves, socks, slippers and PJs that will keep me warm. Most gloves and socks seem to operate on the assumption that they can use heat trapped from your hands and feet to keep you warm. But since my fingers and toes don't generate heat of their own, ever, none of those gloves and socks will work for me. Help me find some? [more inside]
posted by invincible summer at 8:31 AM PST - 37 comments

I have the opportunity to take some time off from work between 12/14-1/2, which amounts to 19 consecutive days off. This will be the longest “staycation” I think I have ever taken. I live in Southern California, so it’s likely the weather will be fine (probably high 60s during the day). Aside from a couple of day or quick overnight trips, I don’t want to travel. How can I make the most of this time, by being productive, but also allowing myself to feel refreshed and ready to work in January (I’ve been feeling a bit burned out lately). [more inside]
posted by parkerposey at 8:22 AM PST - 9 comments

I need to get myself a few more sets of long johns, but I'm having trouble finding a quality set that's in my price range. Any recommendations? [more inside]
posted by Anticipation Of A New Lover's Arrival, The at 8:00 AM PST - 13 comments

Sing to me, o muses of MeFi, tales of a vacuum cleaner than can handle kid debris and multiple family members with long hair - and not crap out. [more inside]
posted by ryanshepard at 7:10 AM PST - 28 comments

I'm traveling to Oakland to see family over Thanksgiving. I want to either bring or ship N99 face masks to distribute because the smoke is so bad. [more inside]
posted by Space Kitty at 6:58 AM PST - 16 comments

I'm looking for words or phrases that convey the same or similar meaning to "princessy," in the sense of an adult who acts like they are too delicate or special to have to do drudge work and thinks others should do it for them, that is not gendered.
posted by lazuli at 6:19 AM PST - 65 comments

This is me. My husband is cheating on me. I'm isolated, financially dependent upon him, and have no idea what to do next. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 5:55 AM PST - 48 comments

Have things changed about when/how/whether to teach children how to hold a fork? [more inside]
posted by slkinsey at 5:24 AM PST - 26 comments

I was chatting with a friend tonight and brought up a story I had seen online. It was a snapshot of a time traveler online community with them discussing online what they were doing and what was going on. [more inside]
posted by Samizdata at 11:01 PM PST - 3 comments

So my mom and I will be spending next week in Munich. What do we want to do? I've browsed helpful earlier questions, but there are some specifics of our interests below the fold. [more inside]
posted by huimangm at 10:14 PM PST - 8 comments

I planned on shipping an inexpensive, out-of-print book to New Zealand, but a $4 book would cost $40 USD to send from the US to NZ. Is there a better way? [more inside]
posted by filthy light thief at 7:35 PM PST - 12 comments

I just bought a new Macbook Pro, and have spent the day setting it up. I just started charging it, and have noticed a weird, tingly sensation when I brush my fingers across the top of the lid and on the metal surrounding the keyboard. Sort of like static electricity? [more inside]
posted by nanook at 5:20 PM PST - 16 comments

What current or near future apple product (laptop or iMac) is a good choice to get for someone into graphic design? I'm looking for something near professional level, and definitely something where the screen is a good size and you can see what you're working on. I'd love to hear from anyone, and extra points if you do professional graphic design work (and feel free to link to your work). Thank you.
posted by cashman at 5:12 PM PST - 7 comments

Every city I visit seems to have a lot of commercials from a single law firm. Should I assume that the attorneys that can afford to air a lot of commercials get the biggest settlements or take the most cases? Contacting the Bar Association can seem hit or miss since they don't toot any one firm's' horn. If someone brags on themselves with a lot of ads, are they necessarily more successful?
posted by CollectiveMind at 4:47 PM PST - 9 comments

I feel like I'm being abandoned for Thanksgiving and I need help coping. [more inside]
posted by Weeping_angel at 3:22 PM PST - 75 comments

Every year I treat myself to a book about Christmas, as a hat-tip to a tradition one of my aunts had. What are some good lesser-known ones you've seen? (Assume that the Grinch/Polar Express/T'was-The-Night-before-Christmas/Rudolph stories are covered.) [more inside]
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 2:57 PM PST - 40 comments

I'm finding it hard to weigh up the pros and cons of staying where I am now or making a move. Opinions appreciated! [more inside]
posted by Willow251 at 2:14 PM PST - 3 comments

Silly drama inside [more inside]
posted by winterportage at 1:22 PM PST - 51 comments

Our sweet 9 year old girl Tootie has, in the year-plus we've had her, developed significant tear-staining. It's pretty obvious on white fur. I am absolutely flummoxed about how to stop this. Halp? [more inside]
posted by DrGail at 1:14 PM PST - 4 comments

What is the tall, white thing in the corner of this room?
posted by salt grass at 12:32 PM PST - 6 comments

How do you spachcock a big-ass turkey in a regular-ass oven? [more inside]
posted by bondcliff at 12:31 PM PST - 12 comments

I'm the owner of an old-fashioned, independent movie theater -- much loved, but financially struggling. We're launching a membership campaign, and I'm looking for effective taglines. [more inside]
posted by JD Sockinger at 11:55 AM PST - 9 comments

My birthday is coming up and my in-laws are asking what I want. I don't really want anything but they have to send something. What would you want to get in the 5000 yen range? [more inside]
posted by any portmanteau in a storm at 11:39 AM PST - 9 comments

I'll be heading with a friend to Chicago on 12/1 for a concert. I'd like to go someplace fun and unique for dinner before the show. I would rather not spend more than about $100 for the two of us. [more inside]
posted by bigdamnnerd at 11:22 AM PST - 10 comments

Looking at the various online contact lens shops, prices vary widely. I, of course, would like to pay less. If I'm buying my prescribed brand of corrective lenses, and not some halloween cat eye thing, how worried should I be about counterfeit or other dangerous/unapproved products? Can I order from the cheapest place, and if not, how do I determine which vendors are selling legit lenses?
posted by OrangeVelour at 10:33 AM PST - 8 comments

I'm working out a tentative road trip to travel around the perimeter of Lake Superior for hiking and car camping this June. What are your favorite places specifically between Sault Ste Marie and Duluth via 17 and 61? I am also very open to places I can get to by ferry.
posted by fluttering hellfire at 10:27 AM PST - 16 comments

After graduating from college in 2017 I ended up living in Taipei for a year. It's been great, but now I'm just about ready to return to the US and find somewhere to settle down. I would like to do this in a swing state. More details inside! [more inside]
posted by storytam at 10:23 AM PST - 21 comments

Is it possible, in the world of online pharmacies, for me to get my cat's Prednisolone without a vet's prescription? [more inside]
posted by BlahLaLa at 10:20 AM PST - 6 comments

For the past 12 months, I've been entering daily blood glucose numbers into an iPhone app, but I need to find a new one. What are the best options if I have a preference for paid apps vs free-with-ads or subscription-based ones? [more inside]
posted by FallibleHuman at 10:18 AM PST - 3 comments

My kitchen is currently under construction and as some sort of demented coping mechanism, I am watching copious amounts of cooking videos on YouTube. Specifically right now Chinese cooking videos. I would like to branch out. [more inside]
posted by soren_lorensen at 10:12 AM PST - 11 comments

I like catalog shopping, especially museum stores with arty gifts and cool jewelry. And the sort of catalogs whose list you get on because you're a PBS donor. I know about Novica, Metropolitan, Art Inst. Chicago, Smithsonian, Wireless, Signals, MuseumStore, others, but maybe you have some cool favorites.
posted by theora55 at 8:47 AM PST - 19 comments

We are interviewing firms to design our home extension/remodel and backyard cottage. We have narrowed our short list down to two - a design/build firm and a traditional architect that makes plans to be bid out by contractors. How to decide between the two? [more inside]
posted by matildaben at 8:40 AM PST - 9 comments

I'm doing a Turkey Trot in Coney Island this weekend with some friends. The race is on the boardwalk, and last time we did it we had lunch at some diner right there, I think maybe it was Tom's. Where else could we go around there for lunch this time of year? It needs to be walking distance (the race starts right around the Parachute Jump if that helps). We are pretty adventurous eaters, though a couple of us are vegetarians. Some good Russian food maybe? Thanks!
posted by cakelite at 7:25 AM PST - 3 comments

A few years back, you nice people helped me get quickly up to speed on information security concepts. It worked and I totally got the job. Now I'm ready to move on to another job, but it will require additional research. This time, I need to get a quick overview of managed services/SaaS in the context of sales. What resources can you recommend?
posted by DirtyOldTown at 7:19 AM PST - 1 comment

I struggle with insomnia, and am seeking advice. [more inside]
posted by whistle pig at 6:52 AM PST - 38 comments

Looking for Xmas presents for my two kids and hoping to find something they will find cool and will surprise them. [more inside]
posted by low_horrible_immoral at 4:56 AM PST - 12 comments

My partner and I have taken on responsibility for arranging the funeral of a family friend. We have some questions about some of the practical considerations of handling this and about the deceased’s personal possessions. UK advice sought, England & Wales specifically. YANAL, TINLA etc understood – I have been given a very small bit of free advice by a solicitor but am unable to pay for legal advice. N.b. I have used the term probate where I believe that letters of administration might sometimes be the correct legal term, please assume I am referring to one or both. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 3:12 AM PST - 8 comments

I'm in a long-distance relationship and I'm uneasy about mixing my dirty chats, videos, pictures, etc with my "everyday" Google account, where so much of my identifiable life already lives. I'm looking for well-designed Mac and/or Android apps I can use to silo this sort of sensitive data. Should be encryptable and require a separate password (or, ideally, fingerprint authentication) to open the app itself. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 3:11 AM PST - 8 comments

Chocolate-covered cherries have been a winter holiday time tradition in my family, but I've become too much of a chocolate snob to be able to enjoy the ones from the drugstore. What are the very best chocolate-covered cherries I can buy online? Can be cordials (with a syrupy liquid) or not, but must involve whole cherries (not dried).
posted by rhiannonstone at 12:10 AM PST - 17 comments

Partner and I just decided we'd like to spend Thanksgiving at the Oregon coast. We have two midsize dogs. Where should we stay? Airbnb pickins are reasonable but I'm curious about other/interesting options. Some details and bonus wishes under the cut. [more inside]
posted by adastra at 12:00 AM PST - 3 comments

So I dry-rubbed and seasoned two pork tenderloins (about 1 lb each), and roasted them for dinner. My intention was to eat one tonight and save the other for tomorrow. Unfortunately I overcooked them a bit. They came out around 160 degrees, which isn't horrible, but not ideal. What can I do with the 2nd tenderloin for dinner tomorrow? Hope me! [more inside]
posted by hydra77 at 10:38 PM PST - 11 comments

I'm planning to take short term disability leave at work to help manage some mental illness and need help with how to inform my boss and understanding how it will impact a possible future job offer. [more inside]
posted by NoneOfTheAbove at 9:14 PM PST - 6 comments

I read "Be Obsessed or Be Average" by Grant Cardone a few months ago...and re-read it and re-read. I'm eager to dig into the subject. Does anyone have any other books (preferred), articles, or any other materials they would recommend that delve into the idea of obsessing about a goal to accomplish it? [more inside]
posted by adelaide at 8:28 PM PST - 11 comments

Recently the incline mechanism on our 13-year-old Pacemaster ProElite treadmill broke, so we put the front on 25lb. weights. It is now at a 5% grade. Is that safe? [more inside]
posted by Luminiferous Ether at 6:55 PM PST - 5 comments

I have a 4th grader so we can go to US National Parks for free this year. Where to go? [more inside]
posted by k8t at 5:57 PM PST - 21 comments

This crack has turned up in our ceiling. I don't think it's water damage. I think it's probably a combination of the ceiling originally being installed by dodgy DIYers who didn't know what they were doing (judging from the rest of the house), and extreme heat maybe causing warping. It is upstairs, a room that gets full sun in summer, and it easily gets past 40 C most days in there. What tradesperson do I need who will not only fix the problem, but maybe advise on whether there's a bigger underlying issue and what to do about it? This is in Australia. [more inside]
posted by lollusc at 5:28 PM PST - 15 comments

Things are awkward between me and my coworker- and I don't know what to do. A few special snowflake details inside. [more inside]
posted by Kobayashi Maru at 5:16 PM PST - 32 comments

I recently sent an age ham to my sister-in-law to wish her good luck as she starts college. What other unique, quirky little things can I send friends and family to let them know I'm thinking of them, for $5 or under? [more inside]
posted by brook horse at 4:35 PM PST - 10 comments

Formally or informally, is there any handicapping or odds-making going on about the likelihood of a second referendum? By formally I mean are Ladbrokes, William Hill etc doing any “Brexit bookmaking” and taking bets? (FWIW, I’m not interested in betting per se, rather the degree to which betting odds may reflect national sentiment). And by informally, is any consensus emerging from tabloids, broadsheets, the BBC, conversations around the watercooler or down at the pub?
posted by BadgerDoctor at 3:01 PM PST - 12 comments

I need new vegan sauce ideas and recipes to go with the relatively blank canvas of veggies, proteins, and grains. Help me make dinner easy and delicious. [more inside]
posted by kendrak at 2:29 PM PST - 30 comments

I'm a Windoze and Android user and would like to pick up an older iPad for a few apps that are only available in iOS and mostly to explore iOS apps. Mostly this is for Garageband with use of a MIDI controller, and my needs are very minimal- i'm just playing around to learn a bit about DAWs on tablets rather than really making serious music. What's the oldest sorta-acceptable iPad generation you'd recommend in my case? [more inside]
posted by twoplussix at 1:57 PM PST - 8 comments

I've just been offered 2 job promotions at my current place of work and i've also been given the opportunity to go for another one. I don't know how to make the right decision. [more inside]
posted by ihaveyourfoot at 1:42 PM PST - 16 comments

I would like to procure certificates for my cat, to show his qualifications, skills and interests in many areas. What can you suggest? Upper limit is probably about £15-£20. [more inside]
posted by paduasoy at 12:59 PM PST - 8 comments

From 2010 to 2016, I took one Benadry a night to help me sleep. Then I got freaked out by the report that stated that Benadryl, and other drugs, might contribute to a greater chance of Alzheimers. I stopped taking Benadryl. And now I can't sleep. Let's discuss a few things, shall we? [more inside]
posted by Major Matt Mason Dixon at 11:44 AM PST - 43 comments

I'm a UX researcher and I love what I do. However, I don't particularly enjoy building software experiences, especially for capitalist purposes. What sorts of careers or roles might I like that put my skills to good use for a worthy cause, and don't primarily involve designing for screens? [more inside]
posted by iamkimiam at 11:18 AM PST - 8 comments

For the "need 50 callers by the end of the hour to unlock this $5,000 dollar challenge" type of fundraisers, what happens to the gift if not enough callers call in by the deadline? Does the donor typically keep the money and donate it to another cause? Donate it to the radio station anyways?
posted by msittig at 11:00 AM PST - 5 comments

I have two little shed-monsters, a medium-haired and a short-haired cat. Should I get two Furminators for the two hair lengths, or will one work for both? If one, which one? I can easily afford to get two if that's the best option. Thank you!
posted by sugarbomb at 10:55 AM PST - 7 comments

Will a new furnace be quiter then a 30 year old furnace? [more inside]
posted by ljs30 at 10:11 AM PST - 15 comments

I am ditching my Facebook this weekend, and because of Associated Evil(c) with Instagram, am looking to ditch that too. However, I love Instagram! I like seeing my friends and family posting photos, and I enjoy sharing my own, and while I use real cameras often, posting a quick photo on the street from my phone is fun. I want to keep doing that. [more inside]
posted by agregoli at 9:35 AM PST - 23 comments

Seeking recommendations on products that will help take care of my skin, especially on my face and collarbone area. [more inside]
posted by Crystal Fox at 9:24 AM PST - 32 comments

My wife has recently gotten back into sewing her own clothes in a big way, making shirts, sweatshirts, skirts and the like. They're pretty amazing. She's got a very nice Bernina machine, and I expect her scissors and other basic accessories are good. I'd like to get her something(s) that will help her keep at it and get even better, make some interesting things, and so on. [more inside]
posted by schoolgirl report at 9:23 AM PST - 25 comments

I've been interviewed and am moving through the hiring process for a "managed service," IT company. They seem to have fingers in a lot of pies, cloud computing, eCommerce, QA, which is my department, etc. Can anybody with more experience tell me what it's like working for an org like this? [more inside]
posted by Alensin at 9:09 AM PST - 4 comments

I booked third-party movers through the U-Haul website to load/unload my moving truck this coming Saturday. They were supposed to call to confirm/provide more details within 24 hours: they haven't. I haven't been able to get in touch with them at all since I booked. Is it panic time? Looking for advice on next steps and much needed perspective, because it's starting to feel like panic time. [more inside]
posted by helloimjennsco at 8:15 AM PST - 9 comments

I'm considering switching to Oscar Center for primary care, but I'm worried that they're an unviable experiment (like their predecessor, Freelancers Medical, which I really liked until they cancelled) and will be shut down soon. Is there any way to tell how dedicated Oscar Insurance is to keeping them going?
posted by moonmilk at 7:57 AM PST - 2 comments

I just switched from Gmail's webapp to Spark as a desktop email client but it appears to be impossible to customize the smart inbox view as much as I want to. Are there other alternatives that do this better on a Mac? [more inside]
posted by quiet coyote at 7:50 AM PST - 0 comments

I recently made the switch from iOS to Android, and I've been generally happy with it so far, but there is one important bit of my workflow that I can't seem to replicate. On iOS I used Bento Cam to take photos of a weekly work event that would 1) not get intermingled with all the other photos in my Camera Roll and 2) magically sync with a designated Dropbox folder. Bento Cam is not available on Android (and no longer in development), and I can't seem to find a suitable replacement. Any ideas? [more inside]
posted by Rock Steady at 6:36 AM PST - 3 comments

I really want to make confession but don't have a regular church anymore. Where can I drop in and not feel uncomfortable? In NYC. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 4:27 AM PST - 6 comments

Say you work in an organization that provides a vital service and for that or some other reason really can't outright ban problem clients/customers/patients. What does your organization do when people are wildly abusive and inappropriate towards staff or each other? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 4:26 AM PST - 8 comments

What is the overall success of people who have gone to "On Your Side" or consumer "Troubleshooter" type investigative news units within TV stations? Do those with situations the station considers legitimate enough to broadcast get resolution? [more inside]
posted by CollectiveMind at 10:09 PM PST - 1 comment

Looking for TV show recommendations that are either really engaging right off the bat or really short (think either mini-serial or only has 1-2 seasons released to date). Something I can binge watch. I like drama, period drama, true-crime series, thrillers, Nordic noir, and also comedy and comedy-drama. But I do not have the time or inclination or attention span to watch something that requires a lot of time or attention investment, so nothing where I have to catch up on more than 3 seasons (i.e. Orange is the New Black, Wentworth) or that requires a lot of time to build up the story arc or jokes (i.e. Arrested Development). So really, I'm looking for something I can binge watch in a weekend, like a mini-series or a one to two season drama. [more inside]
posted by spicytunaroll at 9:14 PM PST - 54 comments

I used to love reading, and pre-family, read over a hundred books a year. In the past three years I’ve read mostly non-fiction, much of it regarding pregnancy, babies etc. I want to read novels again and don’t know where to start. [more inside]
posted by ficbot at 7:23 PM PST - 47 comments

On a recent flight from Phoenix to Detroit, I saw an unusual phenomenon on the ground. Can the sleuths of Metafilter tell me what it was? [more inside]
posted by Preserver at 6:46 PM PST - 8 comments

I'm on the hunt for a mid-weight hoodie or sweatshirt that will make me feel like I am wrapped in warm, fuzzy clouds made of fluffy kittens this winter. Fussy requirements below the cut! [more inside]
posted by forkisbetter at 6:24 PM PST - 16 comments

It looks like my husband and I are going to be moving from Albuquerque, New Mexico to San Francisco in a little less than a couple months. Neither of us have ever really moved. (Our only move was from a small apartment shortly after college to the house we own now, and that was ten years ago.) How does moving work? [more inside]
posted by jroybal at 6:18 PM PST - 16 comments

My boss wanted to give me the maximum. Upper management basically wouldn't allow it, so the compromise is "satisfactory." I'm a high performer and I'm taking this harder than I should. [more inside]
posted by crunchy potato at 6:13 PM PST - 15 comments

I'm looking for an image that was burned into my memory, but I can't find it. I think it may have been a Life magazine cover, or photo accompanying an article about the experiment. This was likely decades ago, maybe as far back as the 60s. There is a chimpanzee (I think not a monkey) looking directly into the camera. [more inside]
posted by sugarbx19 at 5:24 PM PST - 6 comments

New job, day 2, strange (?) team/boss behavior that made me feel uncomfortable. [more inside]
posted by buttonedup at 5:20 PM PST - 27 comments

I have an old David White level transit labeled as a Meridian LT6-900 (although the manual that comes with it says it is a Meridian 8830, which is what the level looks like). The focus knob suddenly will not turn. [more inside]
posted by Jackson at 4:30 PM PST - 2 comments

Hi - My son loves this recipe for hot fudge pudding cake. However, he (and I) would like just a little more pudding. What should I tweak to achieve that? More of the brown sugar/water ratios? More butter? (although the butter just goes in the batter and not the pour over ingredients) Thanks in advance for your help!!
posted by Gyre,Gimble,Wabe, Esq. at 4:14 PM PST - 5 comments

I will be moving from the mid-Atlantic US to Buenos Aires in June/July 2019. I'd love to hear your advice, both general and specific! [more inside]
posted by smorgasbord at 3:01 PM PST - 3 comments

Certainly not a new question on the Green, but perhaps one worth revisiting for 2018—my office just drew our Secret Santas, and I got the SVP who has, and has done, everything their heart desires. We have an unenforced $25 cap, and a rule that all gifts should be used up by the end of the next year (i.e., no 'stuff'.) I'm interested in your ideas for this Secret Santa, as well as all similar gift exchanges.
posted by matrixclown at 2:54 PM PST - 27 comments

I have developed a taste for getting up early, but I need a nudge or two to stick with it. How can I make sleeping early and waking up early more luxurious? [more inside]
posted by stoneandstar at 2:51 PM PST - 25 comments

I don't strictly need a shower first thing in the morning since I work from home, but I want to so I'm not feeling gross and desperate for one at 3pm. Solution: I love having new products and everyday luxuries to look forward to. Help suggest more products that I can buy this winter to give me a little consumerist thrill to propel me into taking a shower when I wake up. [more inside]
posted by the thorn bushes have roses at 2:45 PM PST - 23 comments

I bought a brand new suitcase for 600 bucks. Aluminum. Because I had important stuff in it that I didn't want crushed. On the inaugural flight to Sweden the airline lost it for a week. Good news? My stuff is fine. Bad? They crunched the wheel and handle. So I need to send it back from Sweden to Davis CA for repair. (nope, nowhere closer) So if I don't care how long it takes, what's the cheapest way to do it?
posted by rileyray3000 at 2:09 PM PST - 10 comments

How do I become more productive in the mornings? [more inside]
posted by zinon at 2:05 PM PST - 7 comments

My other brother wants a cast iron cook book. The best cast iron cookbook. Emphasis on versatility, technique, and convenience. I'm picturing a cookbook that tells you how to sear a perfect steak rather than something that has one recipe for steak au poivre in mushroom cream sauce that takes 10 specialized ingredients and takes 3 hours to complete. Great pictures is a bonus.
posted by Grandysaur at 1:32 PM PST - 5 comments

Are you receiving an extraordinary volume of catalogs in the run-up to the holiday season? We seem to be. [more inside]
posted by John Borrowman at 1:02 PM PST - 9 comments

Can anyone recommend a portable and reliable beard trimmer? [more inside]
posted by special-k at 12:33 PM PST - 9 comments

Can any of you provide examples of a policy for standard response time to telephone calls? [more inside]
posted by unannihilated at 12:25 PM PST - 5 comments

Since the green gave me some fantastic flavor combinations in a similar previous question, I am now requesting suggestions on flavors for eclairs to serve at Thanksgiving. [more inside]
posted by Everydayville at 11:51 AM PST - 17 comments

I’m interested in Contoura Topography Guided Lasik. I went for a consult and was told my eyes are better off with regular Lasik because of the thickness of my corneas, that Contoura removes more tissue than regular Lasik, & they only use Contoura for iris registration. The tech insinuated they're not too experienced w/Contoura and have had mixed results. Does Contoura Topography Guided Lasik really remove more corneal tissue than regular Lasik or was that perhaps an excuse? I am not able to find anywhere online that says that. [more inside]
posted by Gmbee at 11:40 AM PST - 2 comments

My cat is old and sick and she really likes eating chicken paté blended up until smooth. Only thing is this comes out of the fridge like pudding and she doesn't like that as much. Do you think there's anyway of making and storing this in advance that will keep it liquid, or is it just what it is? [more inside]
posted by bleep at 10:47 AM PST - 11 comments

I want to create a diorama that portrays a mystery scene that can be solved with some intro information given and by examining the evidence provided in the diorama. [more inside]
posted by LKWorking at 10:18 AM PST - 9 comments

I have an iPad that I’ve resisted updating (iOS 10) because I don’t want to lose some 32-bit apps that no longer exist in the App Store. I also have an iPhone that is fully updated (iOS 12). After updating the phone, I have found that the two have iCloud communication issues (on the tablet I get “locked” out of certain documents, can’t see tabs open on the phone, etc.). What can I do to resolve this situation? [more inside]
posted by Sakura3210 at 10:08 AM PST - 10 comments

Dr. Advicepig, like most physicians, brings a lot of work home with her and I'd love to create an awesome setup for working from the couch with a second display. Typically, she is seated with her feet on the couch and back against the arm of the couch with one to three cats on her legs and a laptop computer perched on the back of the couch. (cat tax, actually my legs). What can I do to make a super awesome setup as a gift?
posted by advicepig at 9:48 AM PST - 6 comments

I want to see, in detail, the http requests an Android app makes and, ideally, the responses. [more inside]
posted by Busy Old Fool at 9:38 AM PST - 11 comments

Acne-prone makeup-wearing people of Metafilter: What product can I buy that 1) won't break me out, 2) is extremely sheer and will help even out dry middle-aged skin without making it look even more haggard and unevenly textured like basically everything I've ever tried, and 3) is available at Ulta, Wal-Mart, Rite Aid, or Walgreens?
posted by HotToddy at 8:59 AM PST - 16 comments

I have a friend in Germany who is a big fan of New York City, and who has been there many times. I'd like to get her an "experience" present that she can use next time she's there. See inside for the main complication, and the fallback idea ... [more inside]
posted by intermod at 8:24 AM PST - 15 comments

I'm having trouble with my feelings towards my parents and am wondering how to proceed. My relationship with them is very strained. [more inside]
posted by AlexandriaParis at 8:18 AM PST - 12 comments

Normally, I mail my grandkids their Christmas presents before I fly in, but this year, we're all meeting in a city where none of us live. Consequently, I'm looking for small, light Christmas presents I can stick in my suitcase. Snowflakes below the fold. [more inside]
posted by FencingGal at 8:01 AM PST - 22 comments

I ordered an item from an online store that I've bought from before. I entered my shipping address as my box at a local UPS store, where I get all of my packages delivered, and I entered the address correctly. The online store mailed the package through USPS with tracking. On October 22nd it was marked as "Delivered to Agent" and then on October 24th it was changed to"Return to Sender Processed" and still has that status. I have contacted the store I bought this from twice via email but haven't gotten any response. I'm not really sure what my next steps should be. [more inside]
posted by radiomayonnaise at 7:56 AM PST - 7 comments

Is there an open, decent conveyor belt sushi restaurant in NYC? [more inside]
posted by griphus at 7:22 AM PST - 3 comments

For the past three years, a man in navy blue service clothes has set off my security cameras every few months in order to conduct (what I assume is) water quality testing at my house. My home has been broken into before, so these unannounced (but probably perfectly legitimate) visits ramp up my anxiety and distract me while I'm at work. I'd like to require the water company to pre-warn me about these visits for my own sanity. Is this asking too much? [more inside]
posted by tealcoffeecup at 7:18 AM PST - 23 comments

How can I prevent a new relationship from being stillborn when grad school gets in the way? [more inside]
posted by radiantsquirrel at 7:14 AM PST - 13 comments

I feel there are some areas of my life where my learned modes of behaviour, ways of thought etc are holding me back from achieving what I would like. What's the best way to go about seeking help for this sort of thing? Self-help books? Therapy (and if so, what sort)? Life coaching? More details below the fold. [more inside]
posted by Ziggy500 at 7:05 AM PST - 5 comments

Please recommend me a photo printer that isn't a frustrating hunk of ink-sucking plastic garbage. [more inside]
posted by Anticipation Of A New Lover's Arrival, The at 5:40 AM PST - 17 comments

I am currently applying for disability due to intractable, years-long depression which has more or less cost me my previous two jobs. I am currently employed for one hour per week, most likely due to perceived incompetence; makes sense to me, since I am seemingly unable to keep myself together for more than a few months at a time before falling apart and descending into a spiral of self-loathing. I do not want to quit the job since at least it is padding my resume while I adjust my meds and try to figure things out. How do I navigate the questions related to my job on the disability application? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 4:45 AM PST - 6 comments

What dish should I bring to my daughter's school's Thanksgiving potluck for the teachers? [more inside]
posted by saladin at 4:33 AM PST - 21 comments

I wish to articulate my apparent random availability as a chronically disabled person in a professional way. [more inside]
posted by Evilspork at 3:04 AM PST - 15 comments

There is presumably a "medieval European legend of how Christ was chased by his enemies. In that story, Jesus blessed the animals who helped him and cursed those who hindered him as he fled from his persecutors." I think that, from his helping and cursing, those animals came to have some of their defining characteristics. Does anyone know of this legend???
posted by mrmanvir at 1:33 AM PST - 3 comments

I do not have a Facebook account and I'm not going to get one. Is there a way to get rid of the giant block of screen space at the bottom of other people's public Facebook pages that takes up a third of the height, the block that says "See more of (person) on Facebook" and two buttons saying "login" or "create new account"? Really makes the pages obnoxious especially when they are for businesses. Ghostery and it's adblock, and Adblock plus, don't block it.
posted by Rufous-headed Towhee heehee at 11:48 PM PST - 7 comments

It sounds stupid and counter-intuitive but I'm wondering—for a friend—whether there might just be high-quality courses in writing (in English!) in non-English speaking countries in South America or Europe (France or Spain for example).
posted by miaow at 9:38 PM PST - 3 comments

Seems like this should be easy to google up but it isn't. What's the recommended dose of...I think it's D3? Is it D3? for seasonal affective disorder? [more inside]
posted by Smearcase at 9:11 PM PST - 20 comments

Ever since I was kid, I've been very easily irritated by the physical habits of other people I'm close to and whom I actually love very much - my mom eating with her mouth open, my dad making a mess in the bathroom, my partner not washing his hands before he prepares a meal, my brother sneezing into his hand, my best friend clearing her throat because she has a cold. [more inside]
posted by Brain Sturgeon at 8:36 PM PST - 24 comments

Beach vacation in January wanted. I want to go to the beach in early January with my family- two adults, three kids (6, 4, 1 year old). I have a particular vision and I need advice on where to find it and whether my idea is actually going to be relaxing. [more inside]
posted by sulaine at 7:58 PM PST - 13 comments

Please Show me any weird tennis paraphernalia you know of on the internet, like this.
posted by falsedmitri at 7:35 PM PST - 4 comments

I use a 2018 MacBook Pro and a two-year-old Android phone, both of which have USB-C ports. I’d like to buy a rather short (about 1ft / 30cm) cable that will allow the phone to charge rapidly when connected to the MacBook and also to transfer files and tether (the HoRNDIS driver installed on the MacBook allows tethering to Android). I’ve tried a few different USB-C cables to connect the two and have gotten different results, none of which is exactly what I’m looking for. [more inside]
posted by theory at 6:29 PM PST - 1 comment

I have a friend i don't really feel comfortable spending time with much anymore. Is this worth trying to "fix" or should I just let the friendship go? [more inside]
posted by bearette at 6:08 PM PST - 11 comments

I want to pay and get a simple web host that doesn't run ads so doesn't need to track visitors. [more inside]
posted by ASCII Costanza head at 5:51 PM PST - 5 comments

My partner asked me if I had any ideas about best practices/resources in direct consumer research (surveys) and I was all ... create a questionnaire on SurveyMonkey? Surely there must better and more robust solutions for pros with a (limited) budget? Where do marketing people go when they want to survey their customers? [more inside]
posted by notyou at 5:49 PM PST - 6 comments

This is a long shot, but on CBC Radio One's C'est Formidable! show last Saturday night, there was a great song by a band from Cote d'Ivoire (90% sure it was Magic System). I missed hearing the title. Anyone else here happen to hear it? Alternately, is there a way to hear archived broadcasts? I saw nothing promising on the CBC site. [more inside]
posted by ricochet biscuit at 5:45 PM PST - 3 comments

I'm chair of the board of a non-profit that is going through a lot of change. We need a strategy that will address the needs of both staff and volunteers, but most of the resources I can find seem to be very corporate focussed. We're probably going to end up hiring a consultant to guide us through the process, but in the meantime, please point me towards any articles/websites etc that you have found useful. Tips/things to watch out for based on personal experience also most welcome.
posted by rpfields at 5:05 PM PST - 8 comments

My daughter just put a bath crayon down the bath drain. What should I do? [more inside]
posted by Phredward at 4:31 PM PST - 15 comments

I have a friend who is an outstanding house cleaner. She works for an agency who pay her pitifully but she knows she can do better because her clients tell her what they are paying the agency to have her clean their homes. Her problem is she can’t manage a business on her own. I am looking for a service who can manage the invoicing, billing, and business support for a sole practitioner in Oregon. Not software! Any leads? Thanks in advance.
posted by parmanparman at 3:59 PM PST - 2 comments

Why did the three legged goth go for a swim? [more inside]
posted by Just this guy, y'know at 3:33 PM PST - 23 comments

I am back 5 years later with another relationship question. I had an OB/GYN appointment today where they found what may be ovarian cancer. The doc can't be sure whether this is accurate or not without running a blood test (results should be available tomorrow). I am waffling back and forth about whether to tell my husband about what news I got. I don't want to create a cancer scare when it may turn out that I just need to have surgery to remove an ovary. (I get that this isn't like getting stitches either [more inside]
posted by it's always too late at 3:32 PM PST - 25 comments

Some scenes from the television show Homeland were filmed where I work. I have never seen the show, but would like to see this particular episode, so I need your help. [more inside]
posted by 4ster at 3:29 PM PST - 6 comments

It looks like I am going to be visiting family in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area sometime in the next few months, and I want to make sure my hosts don't have to figure out all entertainment/experiences on their own. What should I do/see in the Twin Cities in winter? I'll check out some guide books, but I'd love some personal recommendations. And if there's something I should definitely skip, I'd like to hear about that as well. [more inside]
posted by Archipelago at 3:09 PM PST - 13 comments

Have a work situation where the customer is ANGRY; what is your best humorous and or kind ways to de-escalate? Working with a tough crowd here: community college freshman [more inside]
posted by angrycat at 2:42 PM PST - 24 comments

I am running my team meeting next week, and I need to come up with a group/team-building exercise related to Brene Brown's BRAVING concept. Recently, my all-female team has been discussing how women tend to apologize too much, so I'd love to come up with an activity related to exploring and changing that dynamic. Any ideas? [more inside]
posted by GoldenEel at 1:54 PM PST - 3 comments

I give money to a tiny local charity. They used to be able to set up recurring donations on PayPal, but somehow have forgotten how to do so, and now I have to give manually each month, which causes logistical problems for me. I know that recurring PayPal donations are still technically possible because I see new initiatives from other nonprofits that have them. Do you know how I can make this happen for my tiny local charity?
posted by hungrytiger at 1:38 PM PST - 5 comments

I've taken on the shipping master role within my company. What resources can I find to get better at this? [more inside]
posted by diode at 12:13 PM PST - 3 comments

I'm in the Bay Area, where the smoke from wildfires may continue to make the air outside unhealthy for an indefinite amount of time. I live in a tiny studio apartment that was recently built (a freestanding cottage) and is extremely airtight, which is good for keeping smoke out, but I'm wondering about fresh air. [more inside]
posted by pinochiette at 12:12 PM PST - 3 comments

I'd like to get a stack of 50 thin, "cahier" style notebooks cut to size. I've seen this done with a hydraulic machine, but I have no idea where to look for such a service in brooklyn/ nyc! [more inside]
posted by redwaterman at 11:04 AM PST - 7 comments

I used to watch a live-action Japanese detective show subtitled in English, and I've been unable to find out what it was. [more inside]
posted by unreason at 10:17 AM PST - 6 comments

I am trying to improve my body and my relationship with it by running three times a week, and I'd also like to be strong. What is a good strength routine/workout I can do at home to compliment running that won't make me feel so badly about myself that I stop doing it? I'd be especially interested in weightlifting but I don't want to join a gym so that might be out. [more inside]
posted by Mrs. Pterodactyl at 9:26 AM PST - 32 comments

A couple of years ago I saw a video that a young artist had made. It was of his (I think the artist was a he) friends partying in a park or the bush, at night, and then hiding and running from the police when they came. I’m pretty sure the artist was from the USA, possibly Texas, and was very young (late teens or early 20s). I think I saw the video at the National Gallery in Ottawa, but it is possible I’m mistaken on that. I remember reading that the artist is mostly known for videos of his friends. Does anyone have any idea who this could be?
posted by Cuke at 8:23 AM PST - 3 comments

I am interested in obtaining an E-Ink e-reader. I currently do my e-reading on an iPad Mini, upon which I have the Kindle app and Books. People tell me that e-Ink is the way to go, but it's hard to find the information I want. Everything is all "do this online! use the cloud!", but I don't want to. I want to read books offline. I want to transfer books onto the device offline. [more inside]
posted by jlkr at 7:59 AM PST - 30 comments

I think stats like this are compelling: "3 years after the last cigarette: The risk of heart attack and stroke approaches that of someone who has never smoked." (Link). But I can't find similar statements for things like weight loss or reducing alcohol intake. Are those kind of stats out there? [more inside]
posted by Tehhund at 7:40 AM PST - 13 comments

My mixed-breed Laika has gotten over her separation anxiety and now I can leave her alone at the house. However, sometimes a dog nanny or a friend comes while I'm at work to take her out if I'm staying longer. She does not tolerate this and barks and howls from the moment the dog nanny leaves until I'm back. How to cope? [more inside]
posted by mesija at 7:27 AM PST - 7 comments

I must have badly mangled the information I thought I heard on NY npr yesterday when someone - I had the impression it was a regular music host - was raving about this debut artist and his brilliant track. It was played once & it was magnificent - a solo male singer, the song was about begging a child not to grow up too fast? Does this ring any bells?
posted by Jody Tresidder at 6:45 AM PST - 5 comments

I’m considering ordering a cargo bike from a vendor in Amsterdam and having it shipped to the US, but I’m at a loss for which company to contract for the shipping. Anyone have any experience with a shipping service they like? [more inside]
posted by jacob at 6:35 AM PST - 17 comments

I will be going to New Zealand in January and will be visiting Auckland, Whangarei, Bay of Islands and the area around Rotorua. Recommend me things to see/do? [more inside]
posted by iamsuper at 4:17 AM PST - 14 comments

Where are good sources to learn about smoke, that aren't just ads for masks? Do you have any opinions to share about types of masks, or indoor air filters? How similar is smog (say, in Beijing) and smoke from a forest fire? [more inside]
posted by kestralwing at 11:30 PM PST - 8 comments

I lost my iPhone earbuds (older phone, with a headset jack). Hoping for an Amazon replacement under $25. I mostly use it for talking on the phone while walking. I need a good microphone that doesn't make scratchy noises, and simple design that I can scrunch into my pocket. I don't need great music quality, or fancy bluetooth type features. What should I buy? Thanks!
posted by pseudostrabismus at 9:52 PM PST - 5 comments

The only book on potty training I'm familiar with is Jamie Glowacki's "Oh Crap! Potty Training". Are there other books/resources I should read? [more inside]
posted by splitpeasoup at 9:33 PM PST - 6 comments

Female fans of the show: I'm in the middle of season one, and it touched a raw nerve. Suddenly it's not funny anymore. Will it get better? [more inside]
posted by unannihilated at 7:25 PM PST - 31 comments

I started a new job over six months ago and I really like it! So much in fact that I actually somewhat look forward to going to it, as much as one can look forward to going to work in the morning. I've been doing really well, receiving good feedback and feeling confident in my abilities, until I received a negative email from management outlining complaints from others and it has been causing me distress and I don't know how to deal with it. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 6:53 PM PST - 19 comments

I am a gay man in NYC, and I would like to begin selling my used underwear to other men to make some extra money. What are the best places/ways to do this? [more inside]
posted by crocodiletsunami at 5:52 PM PST - 4 comments

This is probably ragingly simple, but I lost Microsoft/Office 365 when my job was eliminated. [more inside]
posted by intrepid_simpleton at 5:34 PM PST - 17 comments

My husband and I are done with buying physical holiday gifts for our large families, and are actively opting out of it, their judgment be damned. We would like to make donations in their names to some awesome charities, but this will probably go over better if we can somehow format this into a letter or gift packet, or something else they can touch. Please suggest charities that already do this, or ways I can do this myself without too much emotional/physical labor! [more inside]
posted by erratic meatsack at 4:50 PM PST - 15 comments

The venue we've been doing summer camp at forever is suddenly closing so we need a new venue. Outside of American Camp Association and The Camp Channel, where should we be looking? Details inside. [more inside]
posted by nixon's meatloaf at 4:31 PM PST - 4 comments

My father responded to my request to end our communication with a pithy, sweet response. I don't think he's going to do the difficult work of an apology ever, despite his benign acknowledgment. How do I deal with this? [more inside]
posted by Sock Meets Body at 3:05 PM PST - 23 comments

I'm thinking of giving a loved one a Candle of the Month subscription as a birthday gift. Have any of you tried one of these candle subscriptions? Were/Are they good? [more inside]
posted by bananana at 1:35 PM PST - 3 comments

My husband and I are heading to Ecuador for the holidays this year, and want to explore the Amazon rainforest in an adventurous/physical activity-centric manner. We want to do it for 2-4 days, without much luxury and without 'extras' like "learn to use a blowgun" type of activities. Can you help? [more inside]
posted by knownassociate at 11:05 AM PST - 3 comments

I'm looking for a good book gift for an orthodox Bat Mizvah girl that will open up her world a little bit without incurring the wrath of her parents. [more inside]
posted by foxy_hedgehog at 11:02 AM PST - 27 comments

I have some nice woolen jumpers, and some needle felted dolls I made. The jumpers keep getting infested with moths, and now I've seen suspicious signs on the dolls. Cedar blocks have done absolutely nothing to help this. I also have a cat whom I love to absolute bits. His name is Levinas and if anything happened to him I'd never get over it. Almost all things that actually kill moths seem to be highly toxic to cats. What can I do? [more inside]
posted by Acheman at 11:01 AM PST - 18 comments

I'm looking for a curly hair stylist near the Seaport district (Fort Point) in Boston or in Newburyport, MA. I used to go to Judy Jetson in Cambridge, but I moved and it's a pain to get to Cambridge these days. My hair's between a 2b and 2c.
posted by marfa, texas at 10:47 AM PST - 1 comment

My wife, two teen daughters and our dog are escaping Seattle this Christmas to (hopefully) enjoy some sunshine and short sleeve weather. We enjoy walking neighborhoods and hiking and hope to spend lots of time outside. I know the National Parks restrict dogs on trails- where can we go where Fido won’t be a problem? [more inside]
posted by carterk at 10:35 AM PST - 7 comments

What are some ideas for day trips near Frankfurt I could take? Will things be open on Dec. 23? It is also a Sunday. More details below. [more inside]
posted by dubhemerak3000 at 10:35 AM PST - 7 comments

I'm taking all of December off, and one of the things I'd like to do is travel a bit. After some deliberation I think I'm interested in a trip to Buenos Aires. I'm looking for any specific recommendations for reputable and enjoyable tour groups/companies. I'm 40, non-spanish speaking, and would be travelling alone.
posted by dmd at 9:41 AM PST - 3 comments

Good news! After a year of daily exercise I've lost 30 pounds. Bad news! None of my clothes fit anymore. Worse news: I don't know what size I even am, because of the scourge of vanity sizing. Help? I need new chinos, and I am a unique snowflake, just like everyone else. [more inside]
posted by fedward at 9:18 AM PST - 16 comments

I know I can pay someone to do an assessment. What I'm wondering is, can anyone on here look at the details of my house and give me a reliable ballpark figure for a total rebuild? [more inside]
posted by MelanieMichelle at 9:06 AM PST - 16 comments

Help! I just do not know or understand how to socialise to an acceptable level. I need tips and advice on to how to begin to get better at doing this. [more inside]
posted by frenchfryfrenzy at 8:15 AM PST - 14 comments

I need some help checking in on something that just happened at the gym in the locker room. [more inside]
posted by nikaspark at 8:09 AM PST - 22 comments

I would love to get some suggestions for memorable experiences I could arrange for my wife for a couple of hundred bucks in or near Minneapolis this winter. [more inside]
posted by the phlegmatic king at 8:02 AM PST - 12 comments

I'm reading (pirated? on Youtube anyway) audiobooks in Russian, and came upon an American story (translated into Russian) which I can't seem to find with a Google search. I'd like to find it in English. Author is William Powers and they title the story something like "Nothing To Breathe". [more inside]
posted by twoplussix at 7:52 AM PST - 7 comments

Can I adjust how often my heat pump goes into defrost mode? [more inside]
posted by Thorzdad at 7:27 AM PST - 4 comments

I'm looking for a way to maintain an online holiday wish list for my kid to share with family. We used to use Amazon, but the only way to add products from non-Amazon websites is to install the invasive Amazon Assistant plugin which I don't want to do, so I'm looking for other options. [more inside]
posted by radiomayonnaise at 7:08 AM PST - 10 comments

I'm looking for breakfast food/snack that is flour-based, with apples (I have a lot of apples to use up), easy to prepare in advance (the night before) that would be less crumbly than muffins. More like pancakes or bread in texture. [more inside]
posted by gakiko at 6:13 AM PST - 12 comments

Three friends have been arguing this out, to no firm conclusion. The strongest argument against is that a cinnamon roll is (usually) baked and a donut is (usually) fried. But there are exceptions, as well as crossover versions [1][2][3]. To complicate, cinnamon rolls can be made from donut dough. Can they be the same, or not (either logically, or using empirical evidence)? Assume donut (US) = doughnut (UK).
posted by Wordshore at 5:32 AM PST - 34 comments

Can anyone recommend pinpoint accurate, touchscreen friendly winter gloves? The current pair I have from Northface are too “bulky” and can end up registering my finger/touch anywhere within the half inch of surface area under my finger tip (makes typing impossible). Also, looking for something that will keep my hands warm in the cold air but not make them sweat. Any recommendations that have worked well for you?
posted by thankyoumuchly at 3:37 AM PST - 7 comments

When to tell our teenage kids about an impending divorce? As soon as possible, even though the practical arrangements for moving apart might still take several months? Or should we wait until we have a concrete plan and a clear timeline? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 1:36 AM PST - 19 comments

A few months ago in Seattle I saw a travel television show ( probably on KCTS). I'd like to watch it again but my google skills are not good enough for me to identify it. The host was a man, perhaps in his mid 30's. Part of the show involved a train journey to Amritsar, India. In Amritsar, he visited the Golden Temple among other sites. Can anyone tell me what show this was? Thanks.
posted by metadave at 11:41 PM PST - 5 comments

Been seeing a new boy who has treated me like a queen but is suddenly withdrawing? Is he shy or avoiding me? How do I proceed with this? [more inside]
posted by bebebardot at 11:33 PM PST - 12 comments

My wife and I have a dog, a 90 lb Labrador named Miles. He is a good boy. Sometimes he gets sore, and I want to understand why, and how I can help. [more inside]
posted by counterfeitfake at 9:53 PM PST - 14 comments

What is there to know about beans, chickpeas, lentils, etc., sprouting, and food safety? Ever since I read about how pinto beans contain a toxin that only breaks down if you cook them at high enough temps, I've been wondering if there's more I'm missing and kinda paranoid about beans. In particular, can I eat these chickpeas that sprouted while soaking them, even if I'm pregnant? [more inside]
posted by slidell at 8:12 PM PST - 6 comments

I am hoping to commission a poster in the style of Kellar the Magician posters (like these!) for my ex-magician non-ex-boyfriend. (Feel free to leave your magician jokes in the comments). The problem is that I don't know any artists, and my Googling is failing me! Do you know anyone who would be able to handle this? [more inside]
posted by suncages at 7:54 PM PST - 3 comments

Can the FHA be used to stop a re-zoning effort? As I read it, It has two main goals: "Ending housing discrimination", and "Promoting diverse, inclusive communities" Can these ends, or any others in the Act, leverage against efforts to rezone a poor neighborhood?
posted by ebesan at 7:07 PM PST - 2 comments

This weekend I watched Frozen and Tangled with my two kids. Mrs Naib explained to me the fan theory that Elsa and Rapunzel are cousins, which I can accept, but the thing that struck me as really joining the two movies are these green lanterns everyone has. [more inside]
posted by Naib at 5:23 PM PST - 7 comments

I work at a smallish (~50 people) manufacturing facility in a professional level job. (In the South in the US.) I’ve been here for almost 10 years and this was my first job out of college so I don’t really have much to compare it to. I’m trying to figure out if the work expectations are normal or unusual. Due to them, plus a few other factors, I’m looking for another job, and I am concerned about jumping from the frying pan into the fire. [more inside]
posted by ReadNTravel at 5:04 PM PST - 25 comments

My boss is encouraging me to get a master’s degree. I am drawn to something data-oriented. The options I am considering are geography, statistics, or epidemiology. I expect to talk this over with my boss, but I welcome your insight. Wall of text inside. [more inside]
posted by maurreen at 4:24 PM PST - 11 comments

I want to make a big curtain that glides smoothly and easily. What hooks/rings/rods/tracks/other hardware will let me achieve that with a heavy curtain? I can mount it on the wall or the ceiling. [more inside]
posted by wryly at 3:52 PM PST - 5 comments

Are there any other "experimental colleges" similar to UC Santa Barbara's College of Creative Studies, where undergrads pursue a self-directed, accelerated course of study, work closely with faculty, and do original research? Alternatively, are there any post-bacc or master's programs that would be similar in culture?
posted by octopodiatrist at 3:47 PM PST - 18 comments

I'm going on an international trip in April, for a period of 1-3 months, depending on how much money I can save by then. I'm from the US and going to South Korea and Japan. I plan to travel around these countries by myself and stay in hostels. I'm a 20 something woman. I live in a big city already, so I've developed street smarts. But my grandma's very anxious about me travelling and I don't know how to make her feel less worried. [more inside]
posted by starlybri at 3:36 PM PST - 13 comments

Do you clip your fingernails or bite them or tear them? Where? Would you consider it weird to e.g. clip off a hangnail at work? [more inside]
posted by aspersioncast at 2:11 PM PST - 39 comments

How do artists get their art published for articles and such? [more inside]
posted by morning_television at 2:04 PM PST - 2 comments

I know this isn't Swedishly correct, but how wrong is it? Or how weird to use this word this way? [more inside]
posted by cristalina at 1:52 PM PST - 10 comments

Reaching out to Mefi for support and advice - my wife is becoming increasingly disabled from neck pain (struggles to walk, dress herself, drive, still sort of works but barely, is spaced out from three different painkillers) and this is taking a massive toll on her obviously but I am struggling too. Words of wisdom are appreciated! [more inside]
posted by coffee_monster at 1:19 PM PST - 16 comments

This is a small problem, but I've run into it every time I log in to any system at work for the past 18 months, and at this point it threatens to last for all eternity. When the Okta login screen appears, the username field is pre-populated with an incorrect email. How do I fix or remove the pre-populated value outline in red on the screencap? Worth noting Chrome does have the correct autofill value saved (with associated password.)
posted by boghead at 12:59 PM PST - 7 comments

Looking for ideas for how busy parents can feed a toddler (and themselves). Difficulty level: allergies. [more inside]
posted by parudox at 12:22 PM PST - 5 comments

I live in San Francisco. What else can this asthmatic do with unhealthy air quality from the Camp Fire? [more inside]
posted by so much modern time at 11:35 AM PST - 12 comments

Trying to remember the name of a children's book I read in elementary school. It's in the category of Danny Dunn and Encyclopedia Brown. It's about a group of boys, one of whom, Oliver, is an inventor. He's come up with an energy source he calls DAVY power, which is used to power numerous devices and inventions, large and small. More details below. [more inside]
posted by Techmudslinger_ at 11:05 AM PST - 4 comments

We need a new water heater, and are considering a switch from natural gas to electric. What do we need to know? [more inside]
posted by medusa at 9:59 AM PST - 12 comments

I'm looking for a small device that I can use exclusively for writing (paired with a bluetooth keyboard). I know someone selling a brand new, sealed Google Nexus 7 (2nd Gen), a device with a form factor I love (used to have one). Will this older device (running Android 6, I believe), experience lag or any other issues when paired with a bluetooth keyboard? Both have Bluetooth 4.
posted by dobbs at 9:22 AM PST - 9 comments

Do any of you know about good articles and books about the decline of US brick and mortar fashion retailers in what appears to be an otherwise thriving economic landscape? I periodically see the "what" in the news, but I want more information about what economists and industry people think about the "how" and the "why" of it. If anyone has any information about the decline of the suburban mall that addresses closure of the stores therein and not just a shift in presentation to open air markets, that would be good too.
posted by Selena777 at 9:05 AM PST - 15 comments

I have been smoking nightly and would like to taper down or quit, for numerous reasons and I have some questions [more inside]
posted by kbbbo at 9:00 AM PST - 11 comments

I'm in NYC. I would like my children to learn Mandarin, but my wife does not speak it at all and I speak it only poorly. We don't regularly socialize with people who speak Mandarin except my family. What are the minimal lifestyle changes we need to make in order to give our kids a good shot at learning Mandarin? Complications inside. [more inside]
posted by meaty shoe puppet at 8:39 AM PST - 17 comments

I will be visiting Milan in December for work. I'll be pretty busy during the days, but should have my evenings free. This will be my first time in Milan -- help me make the most of it! [more inside]
posted by quantum at 7:51 AM PST - 1 comment

I'm managing a duplex in Massachusetts. I'm not affiliated with any sort of property management company, just doing this as a favor. The tenants one apartment are elderly and disabled. We installed railings for them, they're in contact with their grandkids, and they have aides and probably nurses who regularly come to their home. The problem is, one of them has started screaming and crying during the night. The other tenants had to move their bedroom, and they can still hear the sound clearly in the bathroom. I asked if the elderly tenants could address the disturbance issue, and it's improved a little, but it's still going on. The owners and I are working together on how to best resolve this. What do we do? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 7:10 AM PST - 38 comments

I have what's probably an ovarian cyst and it's pretty darn unpleasant. I'll be scheduling follow-ups with my OB-GYN, but in the meantime, I'd appreciate help puzzling out my latest symptoms. [more inside]
posted by toastedcheese at 7:06 AM PST - 4 comments

In peeling a butternut squash, I found this pattern right under the skin. This is cool - it looks a lot like the lines on delicata that show on the exterior. Are these lines related? What are they for? Why are they under the skin on butternut and show through the skin on delicata?
posted by plinth at 5:12 AM PST - 5 comments

My wife is planning on entering a residential program for alcohol recovery in January. It turns out that finding the right facility is a nontrivial task. We found two locations that may work; are you familiar with The Haven at Pismo or Chapters Capistrano? Can you give us other recommendations or general advice? More info is inside. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 11:17 PM PST - 5 comments

What are the outstanding audiobooks for kids that you’ve read? My guys are 6 and 8 and really dig the stuff with multiple cast members. I’m looking either for the modern humor stuff like Origami Yoda or excellent renditions of the classics. Not stuff that’s too snarky. Not podcasts.
posted by bq at 10:46 PM PST - 10 comments

Bilingual families, how do you ensure that both languages are getting a fair shake in your house? [more inside]
posted by Toddles at 9:53 PM PST - 11 comments

We are buying a home and want to replace roughly 800-1,000 sf of carpet with hardwood. One kid, no pets. REALLY prefer real wood. Do you have any recommended products or tips? [more inside]
posted by St. Hubbins at 8:50 PM PST - 19 comments

I am a massive fan of this kind of retro-pop goodness. Not so big on the rest of the Elephant 6 crew (except for early Of Montreal), and I've already been down the Belle & Sebastian road. Let me know what else I'm missing out on! [more inside]
posted by Lipstick Thespian at 8:13 PM PST - 15 comments

My New Years Resolution for 2018 involves the idea of "unlearning" a lot of harmful paradigms, traditions, dynamics, etc, that I was exposed to while growing up in WASP-y, middle class, capitalist, patriarchal America. I'm looking for any recommendations of books, articles, movies, shows, and any other material that might help challenge my perspectives or introduce me to new and better ways of thinking/being in this world. Have you ever come across something that totally changed your perspective or made you rethink everything you've known about a specific domain? Send it my way! [more inside]
posted by carlypennylane at 7:17 PM PST - 40 comments

I have a very important interview coming up and need to read, and retain, a lot of dull corporate-speak and buzzwords before it. What’s the best way to do this? [more inside]
posted by ficbot at 6:11 PM PST - 6 comments

With a piece of Javascript like this: form.vals({"prizePot":"830"}); How would I write it if I wanted to replace 830 with a variable named newPrizePot?
posted by willnot at 3:35 PM PST - 5 comments

I’m looking for super soft and comfortable men’s button down collared long sleeve shirts that I can wear without an undershirt. I work in a semi casual office (some folks wear dress pants with their long sleeve button down shirts, some wear jeans, I can do either). Thank you in advance!
posted by thankyoumuchly at 3:33 PM PST - 7 comments

I want a particular brand of air fryer. I anticipate that this thing will go on some site's Black Friday sale. Maybe more than one site. I want to be notified as soon as the sale price gets announced, on any site. I already use Honey to get notified of price drops on Amazon. I want a service that will keep me apprised of whenever this thing goes on sale anywhere else. Is there a site/service that does this?
posted by fingersandtoes at 3:01 PM PST - 5 comments

I love following along to power yoga videos but don't see a way forward without being able to do poses that involve any degree of inversion. [more inside]
posted by ionnin at 2:14 PM PST - 2 comments

I have the opportunity to be a snowbird this winter for a few months, as I'll be working remotely. I'm looking for cities that are reasonably warm in the United States with a low cost of living where I can reside for a few months. [more inside]
posted by sockermom at 1:43 PM PST - 16 comments

I'm spoiled by living in Seattle where I can recycle or compost a lot of stuff, but every so often I come up with an item that stumps me. I have a lot of old pinback buttons (campaign buttons). A lot. And while the city says to just throw them in the garbage, I would really like to find an alternative. I'm happy to mail them to a facility that accepts them, but I can't find one. Does anyone if there is a company or organization that will take them and recycle them? I'm also happy to donate to a place that would upcycle them.
posted by brookeb at 1:00 PM PST - 13 comments

Where can I buy medium priced solid colored keyboards? [more inside]
posted by ian1977 at 12:58 PM PST - 3 comments

Preoccupied with sex and crushes and wanting to be attractive to others. How to move on? [more inside]
posted by loveandhappiness at 12:37 PM PST - 16 comments

Work has been busy/more chaotic than usual, and I'm having trouble disconnecting/relaxing on the weekends. What are your tips for having a good weekend, especially one where you feel like you've had a chance to decompress and feel rejuvenated entering into the new week? [more inside]
posted by ellerhodes at 12:20 PM PST - 8 comments

Looking to beef up my RSS feed with good stuff about sex and sexuality. What are the best, most reliable sources of content out there? [more inside]
posted by 2or3whiskeysodas at 9:05 AM PST - 10 comments

Looking for an extremely lightweight shared budget app. [more inside]
posted by peacheater at 8:16 AM PST - 9 comments

When I receive phone calls to my Google Voice number via Google Hangouts, I cannot hear the caller, nor can they hear me. I have no problems with outbound calls. Help? [more inside]
posted by chara at 7:37 AM PST - 1 comment

Location to stage an Space STEAM Day event for middle-grade students in Atlanta in March? [more inside]
posted by Mike Mongo at 7:28 AM PST - 4 comments

I’m supposed to leave tomorrow for a five-day conference in San Diego. Should I be concerned about the Camp Fire spreading that far? I’ve found information about elevated fire risk generally due to weather conditions, and can’t decide whether to cancel.
posted by marguerite at 5:54 AM PST - 10 comments

Upcoming changes mean I will likely be able to work from home 1-2 days per week. I need to set up an office space here, and have basically nothing. I know I will need a desk, chair at least 2 monitors, a laptop dock (for my work computer), and keyboard/mouse etc. What am I forgetting?
posted by I_Love_Bananas at 5:19 AM PST - 20 comments

Later today, I'm doing a reading/performance for the first time in years. What's the best way to record it? [more inside]
posted by Orlop at 5:15 AM PST - 2 comments

I use Google calendar and would like to have certain things (like "work out") on my calendar every day, so that each day I can just change the time to when I'm going to do them rather than create a new event every day. But I want these items to only show a week in advance so I don't look at my long range calendar it doesn't look filled up. I'm pretty sure there's no way to do this within Google Calendar itself, but I imagine there must be some hack or third-party solution (like IFTTT) that I could use. [more inside]
posted by robverb at 5:14 AM PST - 2 comments

I have never bought a TV before. Now I want to buy a TV for less than £350, hopefully taking advantage of the sales. I'm in the UK. Cheaper is better, but not vital. Sound quality is important. I would like something with Wi-Fi and the best possible "smart" features I can get, both in terms of interface and services. Screen dimensions are not particularly important. I'm getting very confused between brands and reviews, so your guidance would be greatly appreciated.
posted by howfar at 1:11 AM PST - 9 comments

Pretty sure I'm getting fired in early December. I don't have any savings, and just got a job offer for something I'm not super excited about, but will definitely pay the bills and allow me to save while I live at home. MeFites, what's the play here? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 1:00 AM PST - 22 comments

I have a list of 13 books. I want to buy them in the cheapest manner possible. Hence, Amazon. But the cheapest prices are with 12 different shippers, about half of which charge shipping. Is there an easy way to find the cheapest prices at the same sellers to save on shipping? Or does it have to be painstaking cross-checking between multiple browser windows?
posted by The Almighty Mommy Goddess at 8:08 PM PST - 11 comments

that's better than "National Association of Parliamentarians"? [more inside]
posted by Ms Vegetable at 6:51 PM PST - 34 comments

I will have the opportunity to be in the eastern Mediterranean region of Europe in early January and am looking for recommendations for some of the best places to spend a very low-key holiday during the winter season. Details inside. [more inside]
posted by elected_potato at 6:30 PM PST - 7 comments

I work in a small agency. Several people I work with have a habit I've never known how to deal with: social laughter, and I really need to know how to cope. Examples within: [more inside]
posted by zadcat at 4:45 PM PST - 31 comments

We just adopted a dog! Hooray! We adore her. However, she has separation anxiety. Have you successfully treated your dog's separation anxiety? I'd love to hear your story. Details within. [more inside]
posted by cleverevans at 4:22 PM PST - 21 comments

Some friends and I are getting away from various stresses by making dinner and watching something together tonight. We need something funny to watch that's available right now on Netflix or Hulu. My mind is blank because I have gloomier taste in media. Help? [more inside]
posted by centrifugal at 3:49 PM PST - 30 comments

Having lately discovered the joys of Marmite, I became interested in trying that other seminally British condiment, Branston Pickle. I have obtained a jar. Now what do I do with it? [more inside]
posted by catatethebird at 3:47 PM PST - 27 comments

Looking for people-focused documentaries made within the last five to ten years or so, available on streaming video--ideally inspiring, uplifting, or (non-violently) mysterious, please! [more inside]
posted by stellaluna at 2:03 PM PST - 27 comments

If Trump did release his taxes, or if they got leaked: do we have any reason to think there's incriminating information on them, other than that he's not already releasing them? Why wouldn't his tax forms be bullcrap? Surely his accountants have ways to make him look squeaky clean, especially if they're not hindered by the truth?
posted by The corpse in the library at 1:22 PM PST - 15 comments

Ordering a cappuccino on the east coast of the US often results in delivery of a large mug with a small/medium-sized latte with a thin layer of foam on the top. What I really want is a double shot of espresso, with the same amount of hot milk on top, and some foam on top of that; and that's what I often ask for. For some reason, when I explain this, people can get upset, and give me the medium-sized latte. What am I doing wrong? How can I ask for a cappuccino and get what I want? Cheers!
posted by carter at 1:02 PM PST - 23 comments

We got this gift of balsamic vinegar sent from Italy. What should we do with it? Any suggestions simple or involved are appreciated!
posted by Pig Tail Orchestra at 12:33 PM PST - 20 comments

My relatively new MacBook Air is super-slow when I'm operating ... the way I usually operate. What's the best next step? Add RAM (if that's a possibility), upgrade my OS, buy a more powerful laptop? [more inside]
posted by lunasol at 12:13 PM PST - 16 comments

My Logitech Touchpad T650 will eventually die. It has been EOL'd, and I've been unable to find a similar replacement. Help! [more inside]
posted by Kyol at 12:04 PM PST - 6 comments

I have a Nikon 10-24mm f/3.5-4.5G that I bought back in 2012 that has come apart after some rough handling in a backpack. Any recommendations for a good place to get this assessed/repaired in or around Boston?
posted by Cogito at 11:42 AM PST - 5 comments

I read this article in the Washington Post and want to try to find some of this guy's videos for my 10 yo son who loves Simone Giertz and went to a chinese immersion school for five years but is now home-schooling. I tried googling, downloading Kwai and searching in english, and emailing the author of the piece, but so far no luck. Please help me help my son avoid becoming another monolingual American (like me...). Thanks!
posted by ElizaMain at 11:06 AM PST - 3 comments

I've been asked to play a synth in an indie pop band. I grew up playing classical piano and am still competent with a keyboard, but I don't know how it works with being a keyboard player in a band (composed of guitar, bass, drums). I need ... a book or website? examples of bands I could listen to? Some kind of instruction or guidance. [more inside]
posted by something something at 10:48 AM PST - 20 comments

My parents visited Glacier National Park when they were dating in 1977, and my dad took a picture of the Continental Divide sign in Logan Pass. This past summer, they went back, and he took another picture of the same sign. In the intervening 41 years, the elevation listed on the sign decreased by 8 meters. Is there an explanation for this change?
posted by Plutor at 10:38 AM PST - 10 comments

The brake warning light on my car comes on when I go round left hand corners and I have no idea why. Difficulty : It's a 90s Toyota with ABS and OBD1. Yes, one. [more inside]
posted by sodium lights the horizon at 10:22 AM PST - 8 comments

I remember hearing the story that, on hearing a rumour that the Queen Mother wore a colostomy bag legend Lee Scratch Perry was moved to record a song called "The Queen Can't Shit". Not only can I not find that mythical track, but only one website I can find mentions the tale. Is there any truth in this wonderful story? And if so, where can I hear the track?
posted by 0bvious at 9:44 AM PST - 1 comment

How to interview for a job when you know it's probably not the right fit? [more inside]
posted by greta simone at 9:20 AM PST - 11 comments

My coworker stumped me so I'm asking you. Why is the phrase always "Red, white, and blue"? If you say it in any other order, it sounds bizarre. Why is that? Is there an original source that went viral back in the olden days and now we're just used to it? Or is it a lovely little old rectangular green French silver whittling knife situation, and if so, what is the name of the rule in play?
posted by blnkfrnk at 8:51 AM PST - 22 comments

I have a massive ebook collection from multiple platforms (3000+). I currently use Calibre to store them, but it's impossible to sort through unless I know the exact title. How do you people organize efficiently? [more inside]
posted by crankytalking at 8:46 AM PST - 8 comments

I'm considering making a day trip to New York to see a matinee the day before Thanksgiving. How crowded will the NJ Transit northeast corridor line to/from Hamilton NJ be? Will I be able to find a seat? I will of course do my best to avoid rush hour, but I've been worried it might be super busy leaving New York in the evening if everybody is trying to go visit their families in NJ.
posted by interplanetjanet at 8:22 AM PST - 10 comments

I have a 2007 Toyota Prius. Is it still financially worthwhile for me to have comprehensive insurance for it? [more inside]
posted by meese at 7:52 AM PST - 11 comments

I need a new fall jacket, and I can't seem to find one. This is for DC weather, so think damp 40 to 50 degrees, with windy days on occasion. I work in a formal office, so I want one that can go with dresses and skirts (a trench, maybe?). Must be petite. [more inside]
posted by backwards compatible at 6:56 AM PST - 13 comments

What was the relationship (if any) between the “WPA style” used to promote the US’s National Parks in the 1940s, and other artistic movements like shin-hanga in Japan? Was there any influence - in either direction - between the posters and Yoshida Hiroshi’s work, especially his own prints of National Parks?
posted by chappell, ambrose at 6:12 AM PST - 2 comments

I'm considering trying CrossFit but I'm not sure the actual programming is my thing. But I'm really drawn to what I've heard about the community aspect of CrossFit. Supposing I decide not to go to CrossFit, what other hobbies/clubs/venues/etc. should I try to find that camaraderie? [more inside]
posted by bellebethcooper at 2:31 AM PST - 37 comments

What can I do tonight (ie in the next few hours) with up to 6 eggs, two flour tortillas, green onions, and unspecified other ingredients purchasable at the supermarket? [more inside]
posted by huimangm at 12:32 AM PST - 12 comments

I plan to take an introductory statistics course in the spring. But first I need to take a placement test, and my math is rusty. [more inside]
posted by maurreen at 7:37 PM PST - 14 comments

I read an article in a magazine about bullying or about hostile work environments a couple months ago. The magazine may have been Psychology Today. It talked about how when the hostility comes from the top of an organization, it makes its way down to the lowest level and causes the people on this level to 'fight' amongst themselves, calling it lateral or horizontal hostility or something like that. Do you happen to know the article I'm talking about? [more inside]
posted by falsedmitri at 7:30 PM PST - 3 comments

I live in the suburbs. I have a large yard where previous owners had a chicken coop but they tore it down when selling the house. We live in a climate where it gets very hot in the summer and very cold in the winter. I am interested in having chickens for the eggs, and to help show my young son where his food comes from. [more inside]
posted by amy.g.dala at 7:21 PM PST - 24 comments

I know it's not much, but I can cook pasta, grill chicken breast, make scrambled eggs, etc. I'd like to start cooking at home more often and eating a bit healthier to save on money and get in better shape. Is there a good place in Denver to take not too expensive cooking classes for a single middle aged guy that would help me go from beginner to intermediate level skills? Thanks!
posted by Gosha_Dog at 7:15 PM PST - 14 comments

I work in a residential facility for women, and we get a lot of donated food. Our most recent haul includes a 17.5 pound whole, boneless beef sirloin. It's just a huge slab of cow - it retailed for $116, for crying out loud. How on earth do we cook this thing? [more inside]
posted by SamanthaK at 6:20 PM PST - 13 comments

The future Ms. Ubiquity and I will be vacationing in London from Boxing Day through New Year's Day. We both know the city well, and would be happy to spend the time revisiting the British Museum, the V&A, the Tates, Westminster, the Palace and the Parks, etc., by day and the theatres by night. But what is there new or unusual that we might not have seen? [more inside]
posted by ubiquity at 4:45 PM PST - 20 comments

Mr. Armeowda and I are flying into New York for a wedding in mid-December. His obligations the day before will not allow for an early departure, ergo: red-eye! We’ll leave late the night before, and touch down at JFK around 6 AM the day of the wedding. We’ll need to reach Metuchen by high noon. Complication: somewhere in there, we want a chance to shower, primp, and change clothes. Is this doable? [more inside]
posted by armeowda at 3:51 PM PST - 13 comments

My union negotiated a contract that requires some employees - not all - to be required or potentially be required to work for free. The union says since it's the contract there's nothing to be done. I say it's a violation of Federal law, which trumps the contract. Who's right, or is there an additional factor I'm overlooking? [more inside]
posted by Lt. Bunny Wigglesworth at 3:40 PM PST - 18 comments

I'm trying to find a particular quote about environmental justice (or even better, the original video), only I can't remember who said it and what the precise quote was. [more inside]
posted by eagle-bear at 2:44 PM PST - 2 comments

My cat has stopped pooping on my roommate's stuff! But my roommate is still understandably angry. Is there anything more I can do? [more inside]
posted by MarianHalcombe at 2:23 PM PST - 23 comments

What bells and whistles can I add to a standard Pub Quiz format to encourage the players to spend more money? [more inside]
posted by chudmonkey at 11:48 AM PST - 21 comments

I want to replace my old 5th gen Kindle, but I'm pretty meh on the new Paperwhite. I really like the look of the Kobo Clara HD but am hesitating because the software side seems clunkier. If you have a Kobo, tell me about how you get your books to your device! [more inside]
posted by yeahlikethat at 11:22 AM PST - 14 comments

My husband and I want to start a tradition between ourselves of creative gift-giving for Christmas. We like the idea of having a theme or prompt to adhere to, and changing it every year, so I want to compile a list we can draw from randomly, and I am looking for ideas! [more inside]
posted by lovableiago at 10:47 AM PST - 10 comments

I keep draining the battery on my car (2015 Subaru Forester) because my daughter or me leave the interior lights on at the end of the day. How can I make this stop? I never notice they are on and never think to check. I can't be the only absentminded, unobservant person to have this problem. Help me. [more inside]
posted by kitcat at 10:10 AM PST - 35 comments

I am in search of socks - regular and fuzzy - for people with non-toothpick calves. I have tried a bunch of brands and they all eat into my legs like nobody's business. Especially the ones with bands around the top - I find them unwearable. The three main categories I am interested are: plain black trouser socks for work; fun socks; and soft fuzzy slipper socks. I am 100% certain that I do not have the largest or the most delicate calves on metafilter, so fellow calf-having people, WTF do you put on your feet??? [more inside]
posted by telepanda at 9:46 AM PST - 10 comments

You have a 12 year old boy who is in public school and doesn't do sports. Can you tell me what his day looks like from the time school lets out until bedtime? [more inside]
posted by anastasiav at 9:41 AM PST - 35 comments

Please translate this from the Irish. We believe it's my grandfather's service record from the Irish armed forces after WWII. It'd be nice to know the actual wording. [more inside]
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 9:35 AM PST - 3 comments

Hive mind take me away! I need a 2-3 day retreat within 3 hours drive of Western Mass that I can go to in the upcoming weeks. Requirements/details below the fold. [more inside]
posted by a22lamia at 8:35 AM PST - 6 comments

My father is seeing a neurologist in Toronto for botox injections for dystonia. The specialist was highly recommended by his doctor and we've seen him 3 times so far and he's been consistently over an hour late every time for all the people waiting for him. [more inside]
posted by vespertinism at 7:44 AM PST - 29 comments

I'm 90% sure I'm adopting this little dandelion head tomorrow. He is going to need a name. My other dog is named Rooney and as you can see they are long lost cousins. Looking forward to your ideas!
posted by ohsnapdragon at 7:43 AM PST - 42 comments

Here's a link to an article talking about how people expect emotional labor from women and femmes. The article isn't important in itself, it's just illustrating the usage, which I've seen off and on over the past two? three? years, but which I haven't seen a precise definition for. Specifically, who are 'femmes' as distinct from women? My theory is that it's everyone whose gender identity is somewhere on the feminine side of the spectrum but who doesn't identify as a woman, but I've asked a bunch of people I know who are generally up on this sort of language, and I haven't found anyone who's sure about how it's being used.
posted by LizardBreath at 7:38 AM PST - 15 comments

Where should I go to fix a zipper on a heavy-duty winter coat? [more inside]
posted by chainsofreedom at 7:30 AM PST - 9 comments

My right knee has been feeling weird for the last week or so and I don't know what my first port of call for doing something about it should be. [more inside]
posted by terretu at 5:56 AM PST - 10 comments

I bought some expensive smoked salmon, opened it on Saturday, and it's been in the fridge since then. Also some goats cheese. [more inside]
posted by hazyjane at 2:38 AM PST - 8 comments

I woke up this morning with a small patch of tiny raised colourless bumps on the back of one wrist. It's very localised, there's no redness, and it's itchy but not terribly so. The bumps look like they could be tiny blisters, about the size of a pinhead, but I'm not sure if they're fluid-filled or not. What does that sound like? Dr Google hasn't been very helpful. [more inside]
posted by BlueNorther at 12:51 AM PST - 10 comments

I love VBA macros, and am deeply frustrated by the lack of a macro recorder in PowerPoint. This is primarily because, even though it can still run macros, I often don't know the names of the commands or objects I want to manipulate, and I've found it much easier (in Excel, for example) to record it and see what it does as opposed to digging through piles of documentation. Are there any add-ins which replicate the functionality, or alternate solutions?
posted by solarion at 9:40 PM PST - 5 comments

My boss has asked me to find out (as best I can) how many times a particular page on a website (3 separate sites) has been linked to, tweeted or shared. [more inside]
posted by b33j at 8:36 PM PST - 4 comments

We just found out that my wife is pregnant! Yay! The tricky part: She has a work trip to Rio coming up next week (the trip has been scheduled for awhile now). We’re not sure if she should cancel (which would cause a non-trivial amount of issues for her company) or forge ahead and be careful to avoid mosquito bites! Any advice? [more inside]
posted by JPowers at 5:34 PM PST - 28 comments

I am trying to cope with a personal situation that cannot be changed any time soon (possibly never?) and find myself getting really angry about other things in my life. It's like having a very very short fuse -- things that I would normally laugh or roll my eyes at, now make me want to punch a wall. I think this is a reaction to my feeling so powerless about the personal situation. Mindfulness/meditation isn't helping. What will? [more inside]
posted by basalganglia at 5:07 PM PST - 30 comments

I want to purchase a Mac for Christmas but have zero familiarity with the lineup beyond pure hardware specs. Advice please! [more inside]
posted by turbid dahlia at 2:44 PM PST - 22 comments

Monday, working at a warehouse, I did a new job and sweated a lot. I drank a good bit of water- at least 6 32 oz, maybe up to10. It probably wasn't enough, I felt thirsty a few times throughout the day. Now, Tuesday and Wednesday I've felt moderately nauseated, very headachy, thirsty, tired. Am I dying? [more inside]
posted by Jacen at 2:31 PM PST - 17 comments

What's the best order to change my identity documents and gender marker? (Difficulty level: I live in Oregon where changing legal name/gender and state ID is super easy, but my birth certificate is from a state where I need to have gender affirmation surgery first. Details inside.) [more inside]
posted by The demon that lives in the air at 2:15 PM PST - 5 comments

So my husband and I want to move to Jersey City from one of the boroughs of New York City. The last time I was in JC was, oh, 1991 or so. We have no idea where to look. Halp please. [more inside]
posted by O Sock My Sock at 1:58 PM PST - 8 comments

Weed is legal in Canada! And I have so many questions. Stoners of AskMe, help me out with the basics here. [more inside]
posted by Kitteh at 1:28 PM PST - 32 comments

Since this 2016 post, what are some of the best ways to contribute to fight voter suppression in purple districts with significant populations of people of color? [more inside]
posted by matildaben at 1:06 PM PST - 2 comments

I love reading and listening to blogs and podcasts but I'm only familiar with the big ones. Are there aggregators I can use to specifically sort by size/reach to find the little blogs and podcasts that deserve some love? [more inside]
posted by hotchocolate at 12:47 PM PST - 3 comments

go with a matchy-matchy color and texture? one or both different? [more inside]
posted by lescour at 12:41 PM PST - 6 comments

What are some fun conversation starters that you've had with your very good friends who you know very well? [more inside]
posted by JenThePro at 11:55 AM PST - 31 comments

My boyfriend is condescending and egotistical and things he says and does makes me cringe... yet, he loves me and treats me well and makes me, for the most part, happy. Is it me that has the issue, other people, or him? I'm embarrassed of him at times, but other times, he makes things so much better. What is wrong here? [more inside]
posted by jspierre at 11:53 AM PST - 67 comments

I'm a graphic designer working on a cookbook/activity book with a client/friend that I've worked with several times before, and I'm trying to figure out how copyright law may affect this project and what the best style of attribution may be. [more inside]
posted by sometimes_a_pony at 10:31 AM PST - 10 comments

I am trying to reduce my plastic usage but realised that my family goes through a lot of single-use plastic bottles and containers for food, cleaners, etc. I know many places where I can get peanut butter and other food in bulk, but is there somewhere in Toronto that sells household cleaners in bulk or reduced packaging? [more inside]
posted by jb at 9:55 AM PST - 13 comments

I'm in the market for a basic, battery powered drill/impact driver combo but it seems that every manufacturer has their own battery system. I have a 20 year old Makita drill that functionally fine, but the batteries no longer hold the charge. I also have a battery powered Hoover vacuum. I already have 2 chargers, and I'm reluctant to introduce another battery system (like DeWalt, maybe). Is anyone making adapters or something or should I just bite the bullet and deal with 5 chargers?
posted by aeighty at 9:54 AM PST - 9 comments

What is the history of this phrase? I noticed it first on crime dramas. It is an efficient way for professionals to say something with condolences without being overly invested in victim grief. But I've noticed many people in the insurance, rehab, funeral and medical community using it. [more inside]
posted by CollectiveMind at 9:48 AM PST - 18 comments

Someone has offered us their (amazing looking) swing set. We need to dissemble said swing set, load it into a truck, get it home, and reassemble it. How? [more inside]
posted by jaksemas at 9:17 AM PST - 11 comments

Anyone know how to close this vintage laundry bag? [more inside]
posted by mirileh at 8:38 AM PST - 8 comments

Democrats picked up several congressional seats in Texas, making the next congressional delegation from Texas noticeably bluer than the current one. When was the last time Texas sent this many Democrats to the House of Representatives? (Secondary question: is there an easy way to figure this out?)
posted by Pater Aletheias at 8:35 AM PST - 6 comments

Is there an action somewhere to verify that Ted Cruz really won? [more inside]
posted by nantucket at 8:26 AM PST - 7 comments

I am looking for an affordable laptop (around $1000 CAD). I normally work with Chrome and Firefox running with 5-10 tabs each, using online platforms that play video and let me add text etc. [more inside]
posted by TheGoodBlood at 8:13 AM PST - 5 comments

I am a 60+ female who takes Ritalin for ADHD. As part of that, I see a nurse periodically to answer questions and get my blood pressure taken. Today I asked if the nurse would mind taking my blood pressure in both arms because I had read in the Harvard medical newsletter that potential problems can show up by a difference in the arms. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 7:50 AM PST - 6 comments

Recently, a very close relative of mine passed away after a lengthy illness. Lots of family and friends showed up to the wake and funeral, and my relative was known for being very generous to family, friends, and charities alike. The vast majority of people there were respectful and understanding of what we were going through. I was very sad, to say the least, but I was able to stay calm through the wake. But there was one relative... [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 7:50 AM PST - 19 comments

How do I handle this salary discussion situation? Have you been in this situation? How did it go? Based on some market research, I'm probably around underpaid around 25%. At the same time, I've been asked to get in a role which is not my first choice, but is still pretty good. I just got told by the client that without me in the role they are not sure what they will do. I'd like to use this as leverage to get to the market rate. Some details insde: [more inside]
posted by sandmanwv at 7:43 AM PST - 7 comments

What was starting a PhD in your 30s like for you? Were there things you considered in preparation that proved to be especially useful for getting through it, especially in the time leading up to starting? [more inside]
posted by dubhemerak3000 at 7:22 AM PST - 22 comments

I'm planning a quick "tour" of New York City where I'd play five shows in the five boroughs over a five-day period. I would like to do a quick, hyperlocal tour in the Boston area that has a similar approach. What would be an equivalent tour in the Greater Boston area? Things I'm thinking about:

• Seven Hills of Somerville
• Thirteen villages of Newton

Things I've already done: - MBTourA (playing all 56 MBTA stations over a year-long period)
posted by pxe2000 at 6:29 AM PST - 25 comments

I would like to buy a switch for industrial applications which, when pressed, sends a radio signal to a receiver up to 50' away. This switch would be a small button, no larger than an inch or two in any dimension. I would attach it to a torch head of a TIG welder. The dimensions of the receiver would be less important. I'll explain more inside. [more inside]
posted by jwhite1979 at 6:26 AM PST - 15 comments