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I've recently been introduced to the idea that inflation existed before the big bang. I guess I'm having trouble understanding how we can have inflation before t=0. Is there any articles or overviews that would help me understand?
posted by Carillon at 10:28 PM PST - 5 comments

My beloved 15-year-old cat, Charlie (cat tax), has suffered from chronic constipation for the past 2+ years (and periodic bouts of constipation his whole life). We've been managing it medically with laxatives and fluids with varying degrees of success, but it does seem to be getting worse. I'm quite confident he has been suffering from megacolon, and I'm considering asking his vet about surgical options. If you have experience with colectomy surgery in cats, I'd be grateful to hear about it. [more inside]
posted by biogeo at 9:55 PM PST - 6 comments

What studies were conducted during the pandemic lockdowns that couldn't have been conducted in regular times? [more inside]
posted by Leontine at 8:56 PM PST - 4 comments

So the plan to roam (some part of, now,) the US and look for somewhere to settle down commences in 20 days. What do we need to plan to do to keep ourselves safe? [more inside]
posted by Lyn Never at 8:33 PM PST - 11 comments

I don't need sad endings necessarily, definitely not tragic, but maybe more realistic or complicated endings. Spoilers within. [more inside]
posted by monologish at 5:55 PM PST - 61 comments

Our cat is very very shiny, it is one of her main skills. We are curious about how her albedo rating might be estimated. Of course we have provided a picture. [more inside]
posted by Vatnesine at 5:23 PM PST - 5 comments

Is there a way to peek in on another city and observe people walking around and just doing their thing - either in real time, or within a few days of when I'm looking? I want to know what they're wearing. [more inside]
posted by nkknkk at 5:10 PM PST - 9 comments

Cal Fire and other agencies will typically report that a wildfire is "X% contained", e.g. at the time of writing the McKinney Fire is 0% contained and the Oak Fire is 64% contained. What does that actually mean? What are the numerator and the denominator? Is it the ratio of two areas? Two rates of change? Something else? Or is it a subjective scale like the Mercalli scale for earthquakes? And in particular, what do 0% and 100% (which I assume are the limits of the scale?) mean? Is "100% contained" the same thing as "completely extinguished" or just "no change"?
posted by caek at 4:49 PM PST - 7 comments

Upcoming transoceanic (early September) travel requires me to route through LHR (on BA), DUB (on AerLingus), or YYZ (on Air Canada). Given the ongoing travel apocalypses in LHR & YYZ, which should I choose? [more inside]
posted by aramaic at 4:25 PM PST - 12 comments

Talk to me about the transition from Montessori school to non-Montessori school, either from your experience or from research. Also welcome are thoughts on when is the right time to do this. [more inside]
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 4:22 PM PST - 17 comments

I'm looking for a new motherboard to put in a place with cheap bandwidth and very expensive power. Peak use must stay below 30 watts, including 2 2.5 SSDs. I also need 16+ G of ram, serial console, and want to stay below $US 400. This used to be easy, but now seems impossible. [more inside]
posted by unknown knowns at 3:42 PM PST - 2 comments

I'll be in London first week of Sept. and can easily get to Bath. Looking for any good Jane Austen tourism recommendations. Walking tours? I'm not only interested in factual experiences, but if there are places she may have often been that are relatively unchanged where I can go and breathe in the atmosphere, that would be lovely too. Thank you!
posted by moonmoth at 3:30 PM PST - 5 comments

looking for "PG-13" rated shows/attractions that I can feel comfortable watching or attending as a solo queer woman - details inside! [more inside]
posted by CancerSucks at 3:15 PM PST - 7 comments

Looking for wakame in 'thread' form ... [more inside]
posted by allelopath at 2:19 PM PST - 10 comments

My son likes to make his little toy people play baseball games while he calls the game like an announcer. Recently he called "Here's the pitch...and it's a ground rule double!!" and I was about to explain that's not how it works, but then I wondered...what if a wild pitch leaves the field (maybe rolls down into the dugout) before the catcher can retrieve it? [more inside]
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 2:08 PM PST - 7 comments

I've got a moderately sunny yard but a fairly dark house - I'm looking for experienced recommendations for grow lights (+ any additional paraphernalia you've found essential - e.g. heat mats) for seed starting. Bonus points for affordability and durability.
posted by ryanshepard at 1:29 PM PST - 7 comments

I'm looking for a window shade solution that will attractively mask a very ugly building next door, while letting in plenty of light. The window is right above a bed, so it's a focal point and I want it to look nice. Can't do curtains because it's an angled ceiling and it will look awkward. Privacy is not a huge concern. What kind of fabric or design should I consider?
posted by acidic at 1:10 PM PST - 14 comments

Whenever I use hand sanitizer in a store or that somebody offers to me my hands smell unpleasantly like fragrance for many hours afterwards. I would like to start carrying my own instead. Is there an unscented hand sanitizer that you would recommend to me?
posted by unus sum at 12:31 PM PST - 6 comments

I need to find a way to dispose of an old bottle metal cap collection. What's the smartest way to do this, in terms of making any money and/or recycling them properly? [more inside]
posted by leftover_scrabble_rack at 12:18 PM PST - 5 comments

I want to run Ethernet from my router/switch to some WiFi access points and computers in my house. I've never done this before, but I have a broad idea of what's involved. Normally at this point I would spend a bunch of research time deciding on the approach/supplies, but right now that honestly sounds tiring rather than fun and I'd appreciate any help MeFi can provide to get me most of the way there on a pretty good solution with less of an energy investment. [more inside]
posted by unus sum at 12:13 PM PST - 12 comments

For reasons, I need to know the amount that it rained in Orange County, CA each year from 1980 to the present. Southern California or even statewide data are acceptable alternatives if more I can't get it at the county levels. Where can I get this information?
posted by BuddhaInABucket at 11:07 AM PST - 3 comments

After a routine blood test came back with various issues (high A/G, high LDL cholesterol), my doctor has asked me to follow a "low LDL cholesterol Mediterranean diet" for two weeks and return for another blood test, as a way of ruling out diet to see if anything else is going on. Upon googling, I found a shitload of time-intensive recipes that I ABSOLUTELY DO NOT HAVE TIME FOR over the next week. What is the absolute simplest way to do this? [more inside]
posted by showbiz_liz at 10:25 AM PST - 19 comments

Is there a term for this? I am specifically NOT seeking hoaxes. I'd like to read more about natural anomalies that look super weird (done by aliens, etc) but have been explained by science. Things like the sailing stones in Death Valley and the face on Mars. Physical sciences more so than life sciences (I'm satisfied on cryptids for now). [more inside]
posted by phunniemee at 10:20 AM PST - 20 comments

On my doctor's orders, I am isolating at home alone to avoid catching COVID while my city has a massive COVID surge. I'd like ideas on: a) how to feel less isolated while isolating; and b) how to feel less bored while isolating. [more inside]
posted by carriage pulled by cassowaries at 10:04 AM PST - 18 comments

I have several laptops ranging from ancient (20 years old?) to fairly current. All are broken past the point of utility, and all have stuff on them I am resistant to losing forever (pictures, correspondence, etc.). I've been hauling them around with me this long because while I don't want to lose what's on them, I have no idea how to access and store it (or even if I can), and thinking about it makes me anxious. Just throwing them away might be liberating in a way, but I have privacy/security concerns. Is there a place where I can just take these to get them cleaned off (hopefully in a way where I can retrieve and store what's on them) and disposed of?
posted by Otis the Lion at 9:42 AM PST - 13 comments

How do I manage a tricky situation involving post-concussive syndrome and a vacation with my husband's family? [more inside]
posted by bookgirl18 at 8:45 AM PST - 37 comments

My 5 year old son has this soccer book. He's asked for a similar book about baseball. I assume that would be easy to find, but I can't find anything like that. The kids baseball books I see are basically giant blocks of text (e.g. everything kids baseball book). I want little chunks of text both because it's what he's asking for (a similar book) and because in small chunks like that it's less intimidating so he will practice his reading. Can be about MLB or the sport in general. If MLB, bonus points for lots of Blue Jays content, but it doesn't look like I have enough options to be picky.
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 6:15 AM PST - 2 comments

I have a 2020 Ipad Air that has stopped recognizing when it's plugged in. According to the people at my local Apple affiliated store the port connector has become corroded and would need to be replaced. What will Apple actually do if I send it to them for repair? [more inside]
posted by sevenless at 11:28 PM PST - 7 comments

I can't believe I can't do this simple calculation. I also can't believe I can't even word the question properly to get a relevant answer from Google. Four teams play each other once. No ties are possible. What is the number of possible outcomes. [more inside]
posted by little eiffel at 10:47 PM PST - 13 comments

Is there a way to find out information about why Google Chrome says my password has been associated with a data breach? [more inside]
posted by NoneOfTheAbove at 9:35 PM PST - 6 comments

It looks like Crabtree & Evelyn have departed the market for men's shaving cream. Can anyone suggest replacements for their Myhrr, Sienna, or other shaving creams? And if not, what are the names of the scents so I can go hunting?
posted by wenestvedt at 6:51 PM PST - 5 comments

I would like to learn about home maintenance/improvement, landscaping/gardening, and camping/being outdoors. Please recommend good resources for learning about any of these.
posted by kinddieserzeit at 6:33 PM PST - 6 comments

Well, the Linux file server I built in 2011 and have fixed over the years appears to have lost its "magic smoke". I was working on a spreadsheet on a Network drive and went to do an interim save and noticed that all network drives were disconnected. [more inside]
posted by forthright at 6:07 PM PST - 21 comments

I have an old HP 1012 printer that will successfully print one page, but even if I set it to print only a single page, a second one gets jammed. I have removed and cleaned the pickup roller and it worked for two pages then went back to jamming. Next possibilities are to replace the pickup roller or the toner cartridge. Would you try those or just buy a new one? I don't have money to waste on this.
posted by HotToddy at 3:22 PM PST - 8 comments

Something is causing my MacBook Air M1 (running Monterey 12.5) to rapidly drop drive space. I can go from 90GB free to 70GB without warning, then back again after a restart, and I cannot for the life of me figure out how to troubleshoot. The last time this happened it was because Adobe CC was trying to update in the background and had been writing tens of thousands of semi empty files to a hidden part of my drive, but I don't have Adobe on this laptop. What should I be looking for and where?
posted by The Adventure Begins at 2:47 PM PST - 10 comments

Hello! Any recommendations for outdoor activities/food/drinks/museums/etc in Boulder [Aug 3-6] and Denver [Aug 7-10]? Difficulty level- no car but open to any public transport, rideshare, etc. Veggie friendly restaurants preferred. We already have the hotels booked and plan to go to the rockies game on Aug 9. We're looking for a combination of active and lazy! Thanks in advance!
posted by the twistinside at 2:40 PM PST - 4 comments

I need a collection of 5-10 spice mixes that I LOVE and want to put on everything. [more inside]
posted by aniola at 1:37 PM PST - 17 comments

Because Reasons, I need to do a long drive tomorrow, won't be able to pre-shop, and need to eat high-fiber foods on the way. What are some things I can find at super typical gas stations, generic fast food places and the like? I'm not gonna be able to deviate my route so "find a supermarket on the way" isn't going to work. I need the stuff I can find at generic off-ramps on a US highway.
posted by BlahLaLa at 12:54 PM PST - 26 comments

An intense romantic relationship I was in recently ended and I’m feeling pretty crushed. I’d like to immerse myself in a novel or short stories to get out of my own head. The book should not be about a romantic relationship. [more inside]
posted by southern_sky at 12:40 PM PST - 26 comments

In playing real estate scavenger hunt with my sister, we came across something that has us stumped. Can anyone tell us what is next to the cabinet in this laundry room picture?
posted by DrGail at 12:24 PM PST - 14 comments

An Amazon delivery worker stole my (foolishly) unlocked bike from the building lobby about 12 days ago. I have him dead to rights on security footage. I also know who in the building picked up the package he dropped off, though we've only said hi in passing. I'd like not to involve the police because I'm anti-carceral, so I'd like to hear suggestions for what I can do next to ideally recover the bike and less-than-ideally penalize the thief in some way, to prevent or discourage further thefts (like from other delivery sites). [more inside]
posted by coolname at 12:21 PM PST - 17 comments

There doesn't seem to be a way to try out a rollaway bed before buying. I'd like to have one very soon -- within the next couple of days. Can you recommend a comfortable, reasonably priced model that I can get in North Carolina? [more inside]
posted by amtho at 11:57 AM PST - 2 comments

Have you had a loved one fall catastrophically or even terminally ill and been a caretaker for them? What is the one thing you figured out along the way that you'd wished you'd know before it happened? Can be dealing with hospitals, insurance, the patient, self-care, you name it. Can be huge like "here's how I got the doctors to figure out what was really wrong" or small like "wow, I really should have noted their mobile phone password down." [more inside]
posted by rednikki at 11:12 AM PST - 27 comments

📬 Hello again! 📩 Just a reminder that the self-nominations for the inaugural Metafilter Steering Committee (SC) close on August 7th! The purpose of said committee will be to develop and implement site policy, code updates, and ensure the financial health of the site, i.e. help guide the direction of the overall site and act as the voice of the community. Interested? Come over to Metatalk to view details and learn how to apply by August 7th!
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 9:16 AM PST - 0 comments

I have a backyard garden with vegetables in a raised bed. Right now the raised bed is full of soilless mix. I would like to mix in some topsoil, but where do I find topsoil that I can trust for growing edible plants, in or near New York City? [more inside]
posted by goingonit at 8:35 AM PST - 6 comments

Occassionally, my (indoor/outdoor) cat will not tolerate being left alone for more than 10 minutes and come into the room I'm working and demand company. (My other cat, who is a feline empath, will stay with him, which I take to mean she's picking up on whatever's going on with him.) In past, I've taken him to vet when this happened and there's been nothing amiss, and it's happening now and he's eating and drinking normally. Can cats just get blue and wonder what's the point of it all?
posted by Jon44 at 8:07 AM PST - 18 comments

A long way away, but where on the continent (not UK/Ireland) would be great to spend Christmas? You can define "great" however you like (weather, markets, etc.) Amazing pro would be a restaurant open on Christmas Day -- though that may be asking too much. Thanks!
posted by heavenknows at 7:42 AM PST - 16 comments

I’ve accepted that Overdrive is being replaced with Libby. Libby doesn’t seem to support one of my critical features - searching for audio books read by the same narrator. At least, I can’t figure out how to do it. I’m hoping it’s there, just in an unintuitive way. I’ve listed the steps I use below the fold. Please tell me where I’m going wrong! [more inside]
posted by Bottlecap at 12:28 AM PST - 5 comments

I'm involved in ongoing family disputes over eldercare. I've only now realised that a huge part of what drives my anger and frustration is that I have a deep seated belief that the reason people disagree with me, is because they don't *really* understand the situation, and if I could only get them to listen then they would go "oh, of course, zumbador! You're right! We should do it your way!" Which is just not how people work. How can I catch and curb this tendency in myself? [more inside]
posted by Zumbador at 11:27 PM PST - 24 comments

If a child looks just like their grandma Jean and grandma Jean has something genetic like the breast cancer gene, is the child likely to also have the breast cancer gene?
posted by cda at 9:53 PM PST - 8 comments

What are the best one-man/one-woman shows that I can see recordings of? [more inside]
posted by wenestvedt at 8:07 PM PST - 15 comments

I have a subjective feeling (corroborated in conversation with a friend today, which means it's 100% accurate) that what was once a ready standby in film and TV of cars stalling out while e.g. at a traffic light has fallen by the wayside in the last...bunch of years? Does this feel like a thing, and does it correspond fairly directly to changes in automotive technology over the years? [more inside]
posted by cortex at 7:19 PM PST - 22 comments

Asking for a friend. Can you identify what game these dice came from? They feel quite heavy, like they're possibly metal.
posted by xedrik at 5:24 PM PST - 6 comments

I'm driving myself crazy trying to find a half-remembered song with the chorus "I'm coming home." Does this description ring a (door)bell for anyone? [more inside]
posted by Ms. Toad at 5:12 PM PST - 31 comments

Facts: I plan to share my house (123 Road) with a housemate, who would prefer his own physical mailbox. I check with the local post office about getting a second mailbox and labelling it 123B, and everyone there says fine. Then the city emails me to say that the p.o. supervisor has, as is their practice, reported this to the city as a possible zoning violation (no second dwelling unit in one house). [more inside]
posted by mmiddle at 4:09 PM PST - 21 comments

I would like to record small sections of movies and other videos and then stream them to my website for commentary. What is the best and simplest way to do this? [more inside]
posted by jammy at 4:05 PM PST - 2 comments

Poison ivy keeps spreading and nothing helps! What should my next move be? [more inside]
posted by silverstatue at 3:21 PM PST - 19 comments

Back in November 2021, I purchased some made-to-order armchairs from a then-local-to-me California furniture store. It took until May 2021 for the pieces to be delivered, directly onto our moving truck... 1000 miles later, we discovered that the chairs are completely the wrong style (not what we ordered) and I hate them. Please help, what do I do now? [more inside]
posted by serelliya at 3:16 PM PST - 13 comments

My relative went without home insurance for months due to a mixup with payment. Now the insurance company refuses to insure it again because their inspector found a 100 amp circuit breaker box and a separate fuse box, which they say is not safe. [more inside]
posted by SandiBeech at 2:58 PM PST - 14 comments

Event can be well-known or obscure (the more obscure the better) but lasts no more than two or three days. Multi-day fairs or festivals do not count.
posted by John Borrowman at 1:37 PM PST - 7 comments

If you're a writer of fiction, how important is explicit structure to you? [more inside]
posted by signal at 12:41 PM PST - 11 comments

Details inside. [more inside]
posted by rhonzo at 12:41 PM PST - 18 comments

My brand new laptop has a touch screen. What can I do with it? [more inside]
posted by meese at 11:57 AM PST - 11 comments

I am interested in reading about historical and modern nomadic cultures. I'm especially interested in the concrete logistics of movement, but happy to read more general accounts as well. [more inside]
posted by wesleyac at 11:35 AM PST - 10 comments

This door latch assembly is bent, and I can't get it removed so that I can replace. Picture in link! Any suggestions?
posted by eggman at 11:27 AM PST - 6 comments

I've been writing a book for a few years. My protagonist has slowly turned into a tragic figure as the plot has gotten bleaker, and now the good-ish ending I had planned for her feels hard to realistically justify, even though I still want to write it. Is there any way I can salvage her mostly-decent ending, or should I rethink it? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 11:03 AM PST - 30 comments

I’m short (5'1) and plus sized (16/18ish) and do get some of my clothes altered. But blazers are hard (and expensive) to alter. I’d love a new blazer for fall and figured now would be good time to start looking. [more inside]
posted by Lescha at 11:01 AM PST - 11 comments

Looking for advice on building a shed. Private residence, building behind the house to hold equipment (lawn mower, snow blower, rakes, shovels, bikes, kayaks, etc) to get stuff out of the garage. Max size before building permit is 10x14'. [more inside]
posted by GernBlandston at 10:29 AM PST - 10 comments

So it appears that my secondary computer monitor is dying. How do I choose a new one? [more inside]
posted by hydra77 at 10:07 AM PST - 9 comments

I have continued to run 10.9.5 Mavericks on my 2013 macbook pro, mainly to avoid interfering with programs I don't want to replace (Adobe CS6 Suit and Microsoft Office 2011). Unfortunately it's gotten to the point where available web browsers cannot handle websites that I need to use. What is the best way of preserving use of the programs I have installed but also getting a later version of OSX that can run updated web browsers? [more inside]
posted by 12%juicepulp at 9:46 AM PST - 7 comments

Our condo door doesn't open properly, and we've identified what is causing the problem, but we don't know the root cause of that problem or whether it can be fixed. [more inside]
posted by jacquilynne at 9:23 AM PST - 10 comments

Sometime ago I posted this question: how to stop worrying about my family. Well, my family are now beset by various crises and I am in the thick of sorting things out for them. My anxiety is extreme. I simply do not know how I can go back to regular life. I really need help to reframe this and future crises in a calmer manner. [more inside]
posted by unicorn chaser at 9:11 AM PST - 15 comments

I need recommendations for a good exterminator/pest control person in Brooklyn, suggestions for what more I can do, how to deal with the landlord, and how to cope with the stress. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 8:55 AM PST - 8 comments

I am a 35-year-old migraineur with now, apparently, high blood pressure. This is a nightmare, as I depend on daily (no placebo) combination birth control pills. Other than never going to the doctor again and just lying on online forms to renew my HBC indefinitely, what options do I have to make sure I continue not having a period? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 8:55 AM PST - 20 comments

A couple of doctors told me I need 30 grams of fiber per day. However, these same doctors told me it's almost impossible to get this much fiber on a normal diet. How is it possible my body needs something a normal diet can't provide? And if this is the case, what is the best way to get all this lovely fiber into my body? [more inside]
posted by Sloop John B at 8:54 AM PST - 33 comments

I need to walk back something stupid I did. Help me figure out how please? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 8:49 AM PST - 8 comments

We are staying in Grand Lake in August and have obtained requisite passes for RMNP. Our group of 6 adults and two teens has 1 non hiker, a dog, and so many questions. We do know the no-dog policy for RMNP, and have passes. RMNP is huge, is there One Entrance in Grand Lake and One Entrance in Estes Park? We plan to experience both areas, and are staying near Columbine Lake. Way more below the fold, including ideas for short side trips, a birthday dinner ideas (The View?). Please help! [more inside]
posted by childofTethys at 8:45 AM PST - 6 comments

Is the shawl collar 'dressing gown' from Cleaver Greene's wardrobe in the recent AU version of Rake as much of an oddity as searches suggest? [more inside]
posted by snuffleupagus at 8:22 AM PST - 12 comments

Can I wash this platter in the dishwasher like an ordinary dish, wash it with special care (such as, must be on top, must be on bottom, must be alone, etc.), or should I wash it by hand? Also, is the platter valuable? [more inside]
posted by ubiquity at 8:02 AM PST - 9 comments

I chopped off a hunk o' my thumb. YANMD, but I don't think I need one. How best to heal this? [more inside]
posted by archimago at 7:39 AM PST - 11 comments

My question is basically a re-ask of this question from JiffyQ (2014). What's the best way to provide and format links to digital sources for a print book's end notes? [more inside]
posted by cocoagirl at 7:37 AM PST - 2 comments

I've recently realized I enjoy spice blend herbal teas and I'm planning to stock up for winter. What vendors/brands do you recommend? I'm looking for loose teas and also tea bags for work.
posted by Constance Mirabella at 6:48 AM PST - 20 comments

I need some TLC via 90s tv shows and films. I already have the first three seasons of Friends on in the background while I sort out life issues. I recently rewatched One Fine Day and, yes, I need something exactly like that. I don't what it is about the warm lighting or the sound quality that makes me feel peaceful. Help this 90s kid. [more inside]
posted by bigyellowtaxi at 6:45 AM PST - 23 comments

I'm trying to publish extensive research (hundreds of pages) with lots of images and videos and such and I want to be able to use the margins for a lot of this. Something like this. Know of any platforms or themes that would support such an endeavor?
posted by 10ch at 6:45 AM PST - 2 comments

How realistic is my dream of a test, similar to a COVID Rapid Antigen Test, to tell you if you're sick or not? [more inside]
posted by freethefeet at 5:12 AM PST - 10 comments

A bit of song lyric is stuck in my head and it's making my brain itch that I can't remember or find reference to it online. The line I remember is something like "They went off to the east, at least I think that's what they did." I think it was one of those 90s songs that Tells A Story and is more of a chant than a song for at least part of it? It could be older though. Anyone know what I'm talking about?
posted by rhiannonstone at 10:15 PM PST - 2 comments

I am a single 37 year old man and I am 80% sure I don't want kids. I'm not having any luck with dating apps, even though I am in a big enough city (DC) and I have decent pictures, many of them professional quality. I swipe 'no' on anyone who says they want kids in their options, should I be doing that? [more inside]
posted by catquas at 7:29 PM PST - 34 comments

you know how you can drag a route on google maps to adjust it? How can i make the blue dot on google maps follow that specified route of my choosing when i am driving on my road trip? is there a non-google maps map that i should be using? [more inside]
posted by wowenthusiast at 6:40 PM PST - 4 comments

The city I’m in sits on 3 feet of topsoil on top of a mile thick limestone pancake (a karst landscape). I’m thinking of adding a pool and filling it with groundwater. I already use well water for landscaping but I’m not ready to swim in it yet. [more inside]
posted by Tell Me No Lies at 4:52 PM PST - 10 comments

I am interested in making my own D&D campaign journal that I can have printed and bound. What would be a suitable program for me to do this in? I have access to InDesign and Pages but I will gladly use something proprietary if goes with a good printing service and more than a beginner's level of design capabilities. Any recommendations?
posted by The Adventure Begins at 4:35 PM PST - 12 comments

I need to catch a 6am Saturday train from Penn Station, NYC, to Babylon, Long Island. It's going to be so damn early that there's no room for error. Penn Station is a maze and at least two railroads use it. So, please tell me where I should enter the station FROM THE STREET at 5:30am Saturday, to be near enough to the LIRR tracks (Babylon Branch if it matters) that I won't get lost and miss my train.
posted by JimN2TAW at 3:50 PM PST - 6 comments

A female friend is looking for a way to ensure that she doesn’t get a male driver when she requests a cab/rideshare. She’s in Seattle. We've looked into a bunch of options but we're coming up short. Any ideas? [more inside]
posted by quiet coyote at 3:38 PM PST - 15 comments

We just moved into a new place a month ago, and already these jerks have chewed through the cords on our cheap old corded Home Depot blinds. For reasons, I have to replace them with the exact same blinds ... which have been discontinued, of course. Further complications below the fold. [more inside]
posted by mykescipark at 2:24 PM PST - 17 comments

I have a 93k+ word google doc. I'd like to highlight, for example, every pronoun in it, without having to search each one individually. Honestly I don't even need the replace function, I just want to read through it with what I want highlighted and decide to change it or not as I read. I just need to search more complex conditions than a specific word. How can I make this happen? Do I need to use a different word processor? Is there a... macro (I don't really know what that is :P) to run? I'm on windows. [more inside]
posted by wellifyouinsist at 2:11 PM PST - 7 comments

I am a caregiver for a family member with cancer. This is unexpected and new. I am struggling to balance this with work. I know that self-care and help are necessary but I don't know how to manage that. Snowflake details inside. Any advice? [more inside]
posted by rednikki at 1:44 PM PST - 16 comments

An "escort" is required for my upcoming upper endoscopy in about two weeks (to give me a ride home or accompany me on public transportation), but I don't know anyone who will be available. It'd be mid-day during the week, and I really don't want to ask a friend to take time off from work. The facility also would be right next to public transportation. [more inside]
posted by dubious_dude at 1:23 PM PST - 53 comments

We moved, yay! New place is supposed to have central air, it is broken, may take weeks to fix and there is a heatwave scheduled PLUS for extra fun the windows are non-openable, boo. Any hope? [more inside]
posted by prewar lemonade at 12:49 PM PST - 15 comments

I remember reading a nice quote expressing the point that there are uncountable geniuses that don't get to contribute their potential to the world because of things like poverty, discrimination, etc. I'm not too concerned about finding whatever it was I originally read, but I'd like to read words on this topic from people more eloquent than me.
posted by BuddhaInABucket at 12:22 PM PST - 11 comments

I cooked some chicken drumsticks in my instant pot (12 minutes on high on the rack with 1 cup of water below them, not keeping warm after) and then forgot about it and left it overnight. I did not open it again until I put them in the fridge in the morning. Did the chicken get sterilized in the instant pot and so is okay, or are there too many bacteria in the chicken that would survive that cooking? [more inside]
posted by lab.beetle at 11:47 AM PST - 15 comments

I'm looking for a cookie that is: -free of refined sugar (e .g. honey is ok) -no xylitol or stevia (they just don't taste good to me) -has dark chocolate in some form (refined sugar in dark chocolate is minimal, i can live with that) -wheat and dairy preferred (bring on the gluten) [more inside]
posted by allelopath at 11:36 AM PST - 3 comments

What is Hunterspoint Avenue station like on the LIRR? Is there a place to wait for the train? Are there a lot of stairs? Does the neighborhood have anywhere to get a cup of coffee within a few walking minutes of the station?
posted by nantucket at 9:06 AM PST - 12 comments

Every one - Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, and now Columbus Day. Which means I have not been able to plan any summer travel with family, because we are a two person department and I can’t plan on an extended 4 or 5 day weekend to do things with them. Everywhere else I’ve worked, we’ve divvied these up among the Team, so people could plan vacations around them. Is there anything to be done? Can HR help with this? Or should I start with my boss’s boss…?
posted by Silvery Fish at 8:59 AM PST - 26 comments

Images of black holes (whether actual photos or simulated renditions) show a black middle surrounded by a glowing circle. But shouldn't the whole thing be glowing because of Hawking radiation? [more inside]
posted by splitpeasoup at 8:50 AM PST - 9 comments

Commercial chocolate milk powder (eg. Nesquick) will dissolve in cold milk (or iced coffee) …with some vigorous stirring with a spoon, but without needing a blender. Plain old cocoa powder or homemade cocoa powder and sugar mixes don’t mix into cold liquids as easily - recipes online recommend mixing with a tablespoon of warm water first to dissolve, or using an electric blender. What is it about the commercial mix that helps it dissolve in cold liquids more easily? (And can I replicate that easily at home?)
posted by eviemath at 8:48 AM PST - 29 comments

For an IRL work project- can people suggest a couple of good online stores that sell used lab equipment of various types, that will let me search by manufacturer name and model number? [more inside]
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 8:23 AM PST - 16 comments

For whatever reason, I find it boring to discuss books and movies even if I enjoyed the book or movie in question. I know someone that derives a lot of pleasure from this type of conversation. I'm looking for ways to either find this type of conversation less boring or find ancillary topics to talk about. [more inside]
posted by crunchy potato at 6:55 AM PST - 22 comments

I need to time-track. I don't need timers or such. I just want to at the end of the day enter A) How much I worked on each project. B) What kind of work it was from a set list (e.g. admin tasks, meeting, writing). The lists might vary by project. C) A place to briefly say what was done as free-entry text. e.g. "finalized spreadsheets." I want to be able to then format this in a table with each of those things (and the date for each entry) being a column, so I can paste into excel.
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 6:33 AM PST - 9 comments

I’m looking for movies where there is no shootout, nobody dies, and there is no infidelity and preferably minimal dating/romance and no one is suicidal. [more inside]
posted by OrangeVelour at 6:11 AM PST - 84 comments

Inspired by a recent Ask question, I'm wondering if my doctor jumped the gun on an endoscopy [more inside]
posted by newpotato at 5:21 AM PST - 7 comments

Small backyard garden. 5-6 small tomato plants in a row a bit above knee high. The one in the middle just had the top totally chewed off. Carefully nibbled down to the stem. What does that? Just the top 3-4 inches. The plants right next are fine, although, huge sigh, I'll probably have an update in a few days.
posted by sammyo at 4:20 AM PST - 11 comments

I habitually make myself afraid of the consequences of not doing the things as my only strategy to do the things. I don't have many if any other working strategies to do the things. As a result, I'm too afraid of the things to even start and continue and finish the things and the longer they go on the worse they get. This is a horribly destructive cycle I feel stuck in and want to know if anyone has any thoughts on how to do so. [more inside]
posted by lookoutbelow at 10:18 PM PST - 15 comments

In the history of landline phones, were there particular models known for having especially clear sound?
posted by fake at 7:48 PM PST - 17 comments

Last Thursday I had a lower right molar extracted and a dental implant post placed, apparently with some bone graft material (not taken from me) tucked in there to help it grab on. There was no infection in the tooth or bone at the time. Everything still hurts. A lot. What to do? [more inside]
posted by invincible summer at 7:20 PM PST - 13 comments

i am intrigued by bidets but have one of those very small old fashioned toilets and i am superfat. i am also a renter so can’t replace the toilet. given tiny toilet and much larger than average butt, is a bidet likely to clean me sufficiently? (i am a cis female.)
posted by misanthropicsarah at 6:14 PM PST - 15 comments

2022 just keeps going! So I found out from my doctor today that I have scabies, and now I'm faced with the daunting task of having to do a deep clean of my room, when I'm already taxed and exhausted beyond belief from other health issues + really tight work deadlines. Help me not freak out since I have ADHD + neurodivergence + chronic illness [more inside]
posted by yueliang at 5:29 PM PST - 17 comments

Do you take or have taken Flonase? Have you ever gotten little white heads in your nose? Might they be related? [more inside]
posted by kathrynm at 4:49 PM PST - 9 comments

The win-loss percentage is the main measure of mlb teams' records. And of course it's what's used for post-season qualification so it matters. BUT it's not actually that useful for comparing team "quality" because teams play teams in their own divisions more than in other divisions. If you're in an easier division you'll have a better win percentage. Is there a statistic that attempts to correct for this?
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 1:47 PM PST - 7 comments

I pre-ordered a Steam Deck and finally got notice that I can purchase one. Now I'm getting cold feet...is it worth it? [more inside]
posted by Eddie Mars at 1:27 PM PST - 8 comments

I’m making a favorite bean recipe, but it needs to be vegetarian. Can you help? [more inside]
posted by Knowyournuts at 1:11 PM PST - 22 comments

I just bought a custom bracelet charm, and have a hard time finding a bracelet for it online, mostly because I don't know which words to search for. [more inside]
posted by LoonyLovegood at 12:11 PM PST - 6 comments

Ok, so my completely sedentary 30-something ass decided to start running but did not read the instruction manual, as I literally thought "just run, bro!" was basically all I had to do. I am wondering if I permanently hurt my knees, or if at what point I need to see a doctor or physical therapist. [more inside]
posted by windbox at 12:11 PM PST - 25 comments

You are not my financial advisor. Apart from that imagine I were to do this: Wait until I have enough equity in my house and the interest rates are more favorable, do a cash-out refinance of my mortgage and use the cash to pay off my ~70k in student loans. What could go wrong? Is this somehow illegal? [more inside]
posted by dis_integration at 12:09 PM PST - 15 comments

My kid is getting married and she just shared with me the cute card she's made that will have all the hashtags for her wedding vendors, so guests can tag them in the social media postings. Granted, I am a million years old and she can of course do whatever she wants, but is this a thing people do now? I understand the couple creating a hashtag, but sharing the vendor info?
posted by yes I said yes I will Yes at 11:55 AM PST - 20 comments

Do you know of and recommend book / workshop / website that provides a set plan for writers to follow in order to write a book? [more inside]
posted by jacquilynne at 11:50 AM PST - 8 comments

I just got an ipad mini. i'm about to be doing a lot of travelling, and i want some fun, distracting games. i have an apple arcade subscription, but i'm also willing to pay for good games. i really really do not want "free" games that are full of ads and trackers, or freemium games. also, needs to work without an internet connection if possible. i'm open to pretty much anything but stuff like visual novels and really text-heavy games aren't what i'm looking for right now. thank you!!
posted by capnsue at 11:48 AM PST - 13 comments

I’m going to a memorial service next week for my next-of-kin. It’s been a long time since I’ve been at one of these and I have questions. [more inside]
posted by eirias at 10:55 AM PST - 21 comments

So I've got this 12,000 btu unit that's been sitting in my basement for well over a decade, thinking of hauling it upstairs and installing it in a small back bedroom. It's gonna be a pretty big project, involving a ladder, and probably quite a bit of aggravation, and I am a lazy, yet frugal, man. [more inside]
posted by Bron at 10:17 AM PST - 14 comments

We’re driving to Cape Cod from the west (via the Pike), on a Saturday, in August. What time windows should we aim for to not hit the worst traffic? And do we want to aim for the Bourne bridge and 495, or the Sagamore and 93 to 3? [more inside]
posted by john_snow at 8:36 AM PST - 8 comments

It's time to plan my one year old's small birthday party. The guests will be several four year olds. What should we do? [more inside]
posted by spraypaint at 8:14 AM PST - 21 comments

I paid for a six month subscription to a set of exercise videos hosted on a private site. It is now about a week until the subscription ends. I did not use the exercise videos once (*shocked face*) [more inside]
posted by Adifferentbear at 12:18 AM PST - 14 comments

Daydreaming a bit here, but what electric micro mobility vehicles could be used as practical transportation in an urban environment? Said vehicles should be street legal, but don't need to be highway legal. Moreover, they should be available now for purchase and use in the United States. [more inside]
posted by oceano at 11:45 PM PST - 14 comments

I've got a small bedroom and I'd like to put a full or queen-sized bed up on a loft to make the most of the space. I also want to be able to have sex in the aforementioned loft without worrying about making it collapse. Are there loft kits that make this possible? Anything in particular I should look for when buying one?
posted by flexible-footwear figurine at 9:56 PM PST - 13 comments

I've been invited to a party that requires everyone to have STI tests beforehand. (Good party!! Yay!!) But I have been remiss in keeping my tests up-to-date (Bad LambSock! Boo!!). What's the fastest way I could get tested and get results? I'm in Toronto. [more inside]
posted by LambSock at 8:01 PM PST - 3 comments

If I block someone on Facebook, and then I post in a group where we are both members, will they see the post? (Google is turning up both "yes" and "no" answers to this question.)
posted by slidell at 7:36 PM PST - 8 comments

I am taking the family from New England to visit Quebec City for five days. Should I get some Canadian money here and bring it with? How much? [more inside]
posted by wenestvedt at 6:49 PM PST - 24 comments

What languages (if any) grammatically require subjects in commands? [more inside]
posted by Bugbread at 6:19 PM PST - 9 comments

I tried different book-specific search engines and keywords with no luck, so figured AskMe would be a good place to ask to help locate those childhood favorite books of mine! [more inside]
posted by dubious_dude at 6:06 PM PST - 5 comments

I find myself the brand-new possessor of a Second Bathroom for the first time in my life. Apart from the basics -- soap, toilet paper-- what do I keep in it?! [more inside]
posted by We put our faith in Blast Hardcheese at 5:45 PM PST - 40 comments

MegaMillions is up to ~$830 million, the fourth highest jackpot in US history. I know the odds that I will win are vanishingly small, but what are the odds that someone will win?
posted by QuakerMel at 4:53 PM PST - 12 comments

Have you taken spironolactone for female pattern hair loss? Have you had side effects and did they go away when you stopped the medication? [more inside]
posted by Naanwhal at 4:30 PM PST - 15 comments

Can I punch a hole in a corner of a Visa gift card, so that it can be worn around the neck on a lanyard and spent? [more inside]
posted by joyceanmachine at 4:22 PM PST - 8 comments

I'm a self-diagnosed autistic who is wondering about the pros and cons of getting a formal autism diagnosis as an adult. Difficulty level: AFAB queer trans person of color Concerned: anticipating abusive bureaucracy/world chaos [more inside]
posted by yueliang at 4:12 PM PST - 17 comments

Let's say you have a unique opportunity to go anywhere in the entire world on Dec 1 for three weeks. Your travel budget is not extravagant, but it's not minimal either. Oh, yes and you like to sketch and paint, so you'd like to be near a place where the natural environs are beautiful but there are also urban sketching opportunities. Where to?
posted by jeremias at 3:40 PM PST - 21 comments

What’s the best way for a small business to have one phone number that can be passed among 3 people/devices for coverage. [more inside]
posted by Uncle at 2:31 PM PST - 8 comments

This is driving me crazy. I download a file via Chrome on my Macbook Air, to the designated Downloads file. However, unless I first open the file, it is not visible. Sometimes, even after opening it, it's not visible. [more inside]
posted by dobbs at 2:02 PM PST - 10 comments

Should I, a single woman, drive across countries in the EU? [more inside]
posted by treetop89 at 1:41 PM PST - 11 comments

Doing some house repainting. Is there any good reason to keep unused telephone and speaker wires that are mounted to the exterior of the house? [more inside]
posted by inflatablekiwi at 1:16 PM PST - 11 comments

How am I supposed to pass my time post wrist surgery? [more inside]
posted by donut_princess at 12:33 PM PST - 11 comments

My band is playing a festival in Morecambe, UK which is near Manchester and Blackpool. Does anyone know a good venue in that area that we could play? The band plays garage rock/psych. Big enough to have a opening slot in an underground festival but not big enough to have any substantial draw.
posted by kittensofthenight at 11:29 AM PST - 4 comments

Is there a website or YouTube channel that does apples-to-apples comparisons of productivity tools/sites? What I’m envisioning would go so far as to create a persona/profile/project list/scenario and use it to “playtest” various sites/tools/apps and grade them on things like start up difficulty, daily ease of use, quality of integrations, etc [more inside]
posted by itesser at 11:20 AM PST - 1 comment

I need some breathable, cool, comfy, grippy sneakers. In a women’s 6. [more inside]
posted by Crystalinne at 11:17 AM PST - 14 comments

I'm looking for a specific kind of motorised mobile phone mount, of the rotating kind. [more inside]
posted by srednivashtar at 11:10 AM PST - 4 comments

My current webhost (GoDaddy) has moved to Microsoft 365 on the backend, which has rendered my catchall email address and forwarding system useless. I spent an hour with their tech support team trying to create a dynamic distribution list that would do the same thing, but it does not work properly. I need to find a new webhost that will allow me to create a few email addresses on a domain I own, one of these being a catchall email that will allow *@domain.com to bounce to me. What webhost should I use? Cheaper is better, naturally. [more inside]
posted by yellowcandy at 10:40 AM PST - 8 comments

Is it legal for non-professionals to buy boric acid powder for insect extermination in Canada, and (if so) where can we get some? (Either online or in Toronto). [more inside]
posted by jb at 10:14 AM PST - 10 comments

Covid has hit our household twice in a row. Questions about infectiousness within. [more inside]
posted by sucre at 9:15 AM PST - 11 comments

I like to dance to music, alone, in my room. But I don't have any moves. Can you recommend online resources that can teach me some dance moves? Ideally it would be some sort of structured instruction video but I am open to suggestions. [more inside]
posted by stillnocturnal at 9:15 AM PST - 13 comments

I'm trying to gain some insight into why I find a particular interaction with my parents so disturbing and enraging. It involves rumours, and them taking the side of a neighbour over me. [more inside]
posted by chiorlemas at 9:05 AM PST - 53 comments

Forgot to wear sunscreen. D'oh! Now I have a badly sunburned nose that is peeling (and occasionally bleeding, if I scrub with a washcloth). What is the best skincare product for healing quickly and avoiding a permanent scar or mark? [more inside]
posted by panama joe at 8:54 AM PST - 12 comments

I have created an audiobook. How do I sell it on Audible/other large audiobook platform? [more inside]
posted by popcassady at 7:23 AM PST - 2 comments

I watched The Comey Rule this week and realized that I need--psychically need--movies and miniseries in the vein of Game Change focused around the previous administration and the resulting fallout. What has come out so far that I've missed, and what's coming down the pike that I can make sure to watch for?
posted by phunniemee at 7:13 AM PST - 8 comments

I have an idea for a piece of software that requires a 3D user interface component. I don't know anything about 3D programming. How do I learn? I use Macs at home, but I would like this software (an audio plugin) to be cross-platform.
posted by mkb at 6:10 AM PST - 6 comments

I'm a home cook with decent knife skills looking to expand my hobby by learning how to sharpen quality knives using whetstones. Looking for resources about both whetstone sharpening and purchasing and using quality knives. I'm thinking YouTube channels, websites of kitchen knife enthusiasts, books, etc. [more inside]
posted by crLLC at 5:36 AM PST - 10 comments

How do you deal with a person with dementia who needs constant reassurance about things? [more inside]
posted by unicorn chaser at 12:28 AM PST - 18 comments

My family were practically teetotalers. I never saw them drink, maybe a beer at a Mexican restaurant once. They really looked down on people who drank, not for religious reasons. I, however, could really put one on and drank 4-5 beers after work each day. I realized it wasn't healthy, began to feel the effects of hangovers and seeing it might be creating problems and stopped. They won't stop giving me grief over my previous drinking. I have told them directly I knew I had a problem, got help and stopped. You bringing up my previous drinking is not helping in my sobriety. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 10:35 PM PST - 19 comments

I just set up a Go Fund Me for a personal project and now my government name is on the main page. Help? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 10:10 PM PST - 1 comment

Mr. tuesday and I currently use the cozi app, which also has a web interface, to manage a shared calendar. With Cozi we can also create shared lists and we use that for groceries, trip preparation, home repair projects, etc. But (you knew there was a but), Cozi does not accept .ics calendar invites. They recently changed the web interface and made it more annoying and complicated. So we are looking for a new calendar/list/task app. What do you use? Do you recommend it? [more inside]
posted by tuesdayschild at 9:45 PM PST - 5 comments

Hot water comes out of the taps in our house, even when they're turned to cold. If we run the water for long enough, it eventually gets cold...but we live in a drought, and I hate wasting water. Sometimes the water is so hot it hurts our hands. Why is this happening and how do we fix it? [more inside]
posted by equipoise at 8:38 PM PST - 20 comments

A friend recalls seeing a billboard in downtown Tomball, Texas, possibly off Main Street or Tomball Parkway, in 2004/2005 which consisted of the word “Computer” in quotes, with zero or minimal other content. What’s up with that?
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 7:33 PM PST - 1 comment

I have been reading a lot on this topic, but still don't have a good sense of how to think about it practically. Let's say I was interested in buying a not-very-expensive house in upstate NY specifically with the goal of having it (or down the road my child having it) as a place that was a safe haven from impending climate disasters -- that I could also use as a nice summertime place to get out of the city in the here and now? [more inside]
posted by virve at 7:25 PM PST - 5 comments

Imagine that you fell off an arctic fishing vessel and have been frozen in an ice block since 2016. Imagine that the kind, frost-bearded Norwegians who have discovered you and painstakenly chipped you from your icy doom have returned you to your home, where the coffee is boiling hot but still never hot enough to warm the enduring cold in the very marrow of your bones. You brush the dust off of your Early 2015 Macbook Pro and shake your head as you realize you have to go back to work now and every bit of office technology you own is now almost hilariously vintage, you don't have any of the cords you seem to need, and buying new is out of the question. How do you make your vintage equipment work together when the world has moved on? [more inside]
posted by mochapickle at 7:15 PM PST - 11 comments

We just signed up for a plan that charges 110% of our prior kWh rate for usage between 6am-11pm, and 60% of our prior rate for 11pm-6am. Other than the obvious, are there other ways to optimize our time of use? [more inside]
posted by redondo77 at 6:24 PM PST - 17 comments

My cousin is visiting this weekend and we love to watch horror movies together! What are some good old ones we may have missed? [more inside]
posted by silverstatue at 6:19 PM PST - 43 comments

Petite Size 16 Capri Pants are surprisingly hard to find. Can you help me on this quest? [more inside]
posted by Champagne Supernova at 5:20 PM PST - 12 comments

My PCP is short staffed, along with their whole network it seems, and I've been getting the runaround. I want to know what might cause these symptoms, so my partner and I can determine if it's safe to kiss. I understand You Are Not My Doctor. [more inside]
posted by gray17 at 4:11 PM PST - 10 comments

I am 5'7" and weight 115lbs, I need a suit for my August outdoor wedding... in 3 weeks. I like seersucker, linen, and fun colors and will spend up to $250. [more inside]
posted by Summers at 3:41 PM PST - 11 comments

And it's not Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, but I do love that as well! The book is illustrated with black and white pencil drawings (one per story) that are as "realistic" as they can be given the subject matter. [more inside]
posted by Asbestos McPinto at 3:06 PM PST - 2 comments

Is there an Oh My Rockness/Brooklyn Vegan equivalent site for smaller venue rock/indie/hiphop shows for London and/or Edinburgh? [more inside]
posted by greta simone at 12:48 PM PST - 7 comments

📬 Hello there! 📩
The Metafilter Transition Team (TT) is pleased to announce that self nominations are open for the inaugural Steering Committee! The purpose of the MetaFilter Steering Committee (SC) will be to develop and implement site policy, code updates, and ensure the financial health of the site. The SC works with the site staff and site owner to ensure that there is not a single failure point for site decisions or actions, and that there are an adequate number of people available to respond to community needs. Long story short this will be a committee of Metafilter members who help guide the site and act as the voice of the members at large. Interested? Come on over to MetaTalk and read all the details!
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 12:29 PM PST - 6 comments

A family member is looking for a divorce lawyer in Cobb County, Georgia / the metro Atlanta area. Do you have any recommendations or at least criteria she can use to evaluate options? [more inside]
posted by rustcellar at 12:24 PM PST - 3 comments

I’m in the hospital for some thing that is in no way related to my lungs. Why do doctors always check my lungs when they make rounds? I’m just curious.
posted by manageyourexpectations at 11:04 AM PST - 15 comments

Dua Lipa's Love Again and White Town's Your Woman share an immediately recognizable sample of Lew Stone & the Monseigneur Band's My Woman, both to great effect. Can you name other songs that share a very uncommon sample for which the source is not necessarily recognizable, but the shared use is immediately plain (i.e., not buried in the mix, or sliced and diced to bits)? [more inside]
posted by Admiral Haddock at 9:02 AM PST - 24 comments

My almost-three year old granddaughter has a new baby sister, and needs a little extra attention. As a grandpa, I'm privileged to let her get a little special iPad screen time. I'd like to entertain and maybe educate a little with up-to-date iPad apps, but I'm not plugged into the parental software scene. [more inside]
posted by cameradv at 8:37 AM PST - 17 comments

I am taking a last-minute month-long sabbatical. In my mind, I spend the month in a flat in a little village where I can walk to a bookshop that sells wine, and take a bike ride to a pasture where there are goats. For practical purposes, it needs to be reachable by train from Poland and not somewhere I will die from the heat wave. How do I find this place? [more inside]
posted by Pwoink at 8:29 AM PST - 8 comments

I know the James Webb Space Telescope has made many more galaxies and stars visible to us. What I don't know is: has what we've seen so far changed the estimate of the number of stars in the universe? In other words, do scientists now think there are actually more stars out there than previously anticipated?
posted by overglow at 7:41 AM PST - 5 comments

One of my kids is very interested in fashion, costumes, unconventional clothing. They loved the costumes in Everything Everywhere All at Once, for example, have amazing skills at thrifting, and have made costumes from scratch for a con. What are some interesting places we could visit in the Seattle area? Museum exhibits, unusual fabric stores, etc.
posted by The corpse in the library at 7:07 AM PST - 9 comments

I spent a lot money on an attorney and received very poor representation. I discovered that they did not read any of the background information relevant to the case. The attorney does not represent me anymore (the case is ongoing). How should I ask for my money back? [more inside]
posted by tiburon at 6:50 AM PST - 3 comments

How do you relax at home after a long day without the involvement of screens and cheap dopamine? [more inside]
posted by luminary at 6:06 AM PST - 41 comments

Is there an open source tool, similar to what I think Wikipedia may use, where I can input the URL of a publication -- and it will output some simple publication info? For example, I'd be able to enter the URL to a Business Insider piece and the tool would produce the periodical title, maybe the date, some stuff like that?
posted by johngoren at 4:39 AM PST - 7 comments

How tired is it okay to be? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 3:18 AM PST - 26 comments

I generally understand the concept of quarterly estimated payments for my non W-2 income but I've never quite figured out how to DO the thing. [more inside]
posted by less-of-course at 10:52 PM PST - 9 comments

I'm pretty sure that I'm autistic, but still puzzling it out. I keep finding that things from my past that never made sense to me before, fit perfectly into patterns of being neurodivergent. One thing I've often wondered about is whether other people can easily remember how they felt about things that happened when they were a child? [more inside]
posted by Zumbador at 9:53 PM PST - 37 comments

I have a wooden door in our laundry room that’s gotten quietly unsightly over the years. I am looking for a non-shiny sealant to protect it from moisture and hopefully that brings out the warmth of the wood. [more inside]
posted by blueberry at 9:07 PM PST - 7 comments

In the last few years I've enjoyed some smaller press writers who are doing experimental or unique work, but are still accessible. I've randomly come across recommendations for these books, but don't know how to find more of these authors because they're not quite 'big' enough to get a ton of coverage..... So my question is: What small-press authors are doing compelling work that is unique in terms of form and style, yet still utilize plot, characters, and other elements that keep the book 'readable', and who might be flying under my radar. A few authors I've liked lately listed below: [more inside]
posted by latkes at 6:39 PM PST - 16 comments

So I've had a car for a little over a year. It has just over 8K kilometers on it. I've never done an oil change, but yesterday the car started asking for one. The thing is, I just can't work it in right now, maybe not til the weekend. I need to drive my son to camp about 13km each way and then home each day. Because it's so far, I won't be coming home in between but will stay and work nearby during the day. I need to make another trip that is 12km each way. Am I risking...something...if I wait until the weekend?
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 6:38 PM PST - 20 comments

There's an injured crow that's been sitting on our back walk-way for most of the afternoon (I don't think it's fully matured, there's been a family of crows "living" in the backyard). When I went close to it, the crow tried to walk/fly away but couldn't... and kind of fell over. Something his wrong with it's little leg! There is a local wildlife rescue, but because it's Sunday they're closed. What should I do about this poor little crow? [more inside]
posted by VirginiaPlain at 5:35 PM PST - 2 comments

Angry optimism. The "never give up" frog. Harm Reduction. Octavia Butler. Stalemate. Etc. Examples within. Please add to my collection. [more inside]
posted by aniola at 5:27 PM PST - 21 comments

Why does most luggage available through regular retail have a "texture"? [more inside]
posted by gimonca at 5:16 PM PST - 6 comments

Learning Cross Rhythm with Voice and Guitar ... [more inside]
posted by falsedmitri at 4:20 PM PST - 2 comments

An acquaintance establishing a (non-computer) technical startup believes that the road to success requires technical excellence (fine) and rule-breaking, whip-cracking ruthlessness (oh no). Elon is an inspiration. Can you help me with positive examples of how to be a strong but conscientious and humane innovator? [more inside]
posted by Chef Flamboyardee at 4:00 PM PST - 21 comments

I was reading the recent posts about making money quickly, and got this message when I tried to log in. [more inside]
posted by Rumi'sLeftSock at 3:54 PM PST - 4 comments

My year old pup's favorite thing in the whole wide world is laying in the grass chewing on a stick. Unfortunately, she also eats the stick, which obviously isn't great. Please help me find something less dangerous she will love chewing as much as her sticks! [more inside]
posted by cgg at 2:58 PM PST - 17 comments

I realize this is an enviable position. Received a job offer with a salary that is way more than what I anticipated. I’ve been away from this industry for almost 10 years, but meet/exceed all of the minimum requirements, and 4 out of 5 of the preferred qualifications in the job posting. The job posting lists a salary range of $68K - $126K. The salary offered, $100K, is about $30K more than what I was previously earning when I left the industry nearly a decade ago for higher education, and more than double what I am currently making. Based on my market research, I was expecting an offer between $80 – 90K, so I am pretty happy with the initial offer. I’m looking to early retire in 10 – 12 years. [more inside]
posted by socrateaser at 2:31 PM PST - 19 comments

I've asked this question before, for the same reason. Next month I will be working an event with participants from all around the world. I have a Spotify playlist of international pop music that I would like to expand and update. Any suggestions? [more inside]
posted by Lokheed at 1:32 PM PST - 14 comments

Anyone know of fiction or nonfiction about what it's like to be a personal shopper at a fancy department store? Recent is best, but any era is ok.
posted by nebulawindphone at 1:03 PM PST - 7 comments

How do you talk yourself into relaxing when you’re angry? [more inside]
posted by qxntpqbbbqxl at 11:51 AM PST - 21 comments

I have magnifiers for closeup works and prescription glasses for driving but there's a sort of “donut hole” distance where I'm not getting much visual information. [more inside]
posted by brachiopod at 11:43 AM PST - 10 comments

Are there any decent over-the-ear style headphones like the Motorola S305 anymore? [more inside]
posted by redondo77 at 11:38 AM PST - 8 comments

I'll be in London in September 2022 and would love to catch some shows. What's good for plays, musicals, and opera? [more inside]
posted by forkisbetter at 11:03 AM PST - 3 comments

As above! I’d like to know, if you suffered sustained trauma (or someone you know did, and you’ve detailed info): —how long did it take for your generosity of spirit to come back —in detail, what helped move this process along? Anecdotes and data points eagerly preferred! Thank you, this site is an absolute grace.
posted by The Last Sockpuppet at 10:54 AM PST - 8 comments

I'm hunting for an existing industry term for the following concept: There are a group of employees in an organization whose job performance is evaluated in some way. And that evaluation is a key input into how they will be compensated. But rather than setting the compensation directly from the evaluation, there is an adjustment to either the individual evaluations or compensations such that collectively the group compensation fits certain targets, e.g. the overall compensation doesn't exceed a departmental budget or the top 10% performers get a bonus. [more inside]
posted by ErikH2000 at 10:14 AM PST - 7 comments

I want to put a hot tub in but I'm not even sure where to start. I have tried starting with Google six or seven times over but there's so much garbage out there that I am not finding it helpful. What do you wish you had known before you installed your hot tub? [more inside]
posted by amandabee at 9:15 AM PST - 14 comments

A couple weeks ago I sent a book proposal to an academic press where I kinda know the EIC. Since then I haven't heard anything but I saw the acquiring editor is now following me on Twitter (scary!) and perhaps visiting my site. (Visitor stats aren't totally clear.) Is that a typical thing? A good sign? And how can I still use Twitter without being so anxious about him seeing all?
posted by anonymous at 9:05 AM PST - 4 comments

I’ve been reading a lot about LSD-assisted therapy treatments in the 50s and 60s. I would really like to try something similar. Is there anywhere I can go and have this experience legally? I live in Canada but would be willing to travel for this. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 9:04 AM PST - 15 comments

I'd like to work on anxiety related to uncertainty and feeling regret frequently about big decisions. Please tell me about therapists that'll work with someone around the Boston metro area that you've had a good experience with.
posted by anonymous at 9:04 AM PST - 4 comments

I'm on staycation in a week and want to spend a good part of my time in my backyard, off the internet and social media, with my nose jammed into a book that I can't put down. Y'all have steered me right before and now I'm asking you to do it again. [more inside]
posted by rpfields at 8:49 AM PST - 27 comments

What is a polite way to tell people I'm entering my Emily Dickinson era? [more inside]
posted by Merricat Blackwood at 8:15 AM PST - 32 comments

What's the cheapest and most effective way to mimic a wall outlet while car camping? [more inside]
posted by soonertbone at 7:49 AM PST - 15 comments

Amazon is purchasing One Medical. I will not use a healthcare provider owned by Amazon, so I need to switch. All the things I love about One Medical and want to find elsewhere inside. [more inside]
posted by (Over) Thinking at 7:37 AM PST - 5 comments

We (spouse and I) will be visiting Chicago in late September to see Pavement at the Chicago Theatre. We rarely travel, and haven't been on a plane or anywhere out of our home state since pre-pandemic. This is a big deal for us, and we are excited to see our favorite band one more time! I've visited Chicago once, but it's been more than ten years ago. Can anyone recommend a nice hotel in the Loop? [more inside]
posted by little mouth at 7:35 AM PST - 7 comments

Does this exist? I have a desk in this sort of style but bigger. Currently placed so when I sit in the chair my back is to a wall and I'm facing out toward the room. I'm thinking i'd like to have a walking desk again and I'm wondering if I can somehow rig something up to have a monitor and keyboard sometimes face the BACK of the desk. How would I set that up? [more inside]
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 7:17 AM PST - 10 comments

My mother is coming to stay at my wife and I's house next weekend in NYC. She is in good health for someone who is almost 80. But she s flying half-way across the country to visit. (For a variety of reasons we can't fly to see her.) My wife and I have been extraordinary cautious during COVID. We have not gone anywhere indoors except doctors, and always with a mask. So introducing someone else into the household is something we haven't done in a while. My mother will be taking all reasonable precautions when she travels (masks) but I know we are all taking a risk for her to visit. But if not now, when? Covid is not going away. Is this a terrible idea?
posted by captainscared at 7:17 AM PST - 21 comments

I'm on a Mac. I have an mp4 file with an accompanying srt (subtitle) file. I can open the video in VLC and add the subtitles to view it with captions on that way, but I can't figure out how to save (burn in) the subtitles so that I can play the video file on my TV with subtitles showing. Things I've already tried are inside: [more inside]
posted by tzikeh at 8:49 PM PST - 8 comments

Can anyone share insights about what kind of results ancestry DNA tests yield for non-European people? Is there enough data to get interesting answers? [more inside]
posted by nouvelle-personne at 8:03 PM PST - 14 comments

I'm 32F. I hear the eternal footman and I still haven't done anything to prepare for the rest of my life. There are some things that I really wish to have and I know some things about myself now. Can anyone suggest to me a skill that will be useful and profitable to have? [more inside]
posted by Didnt_do_enough at 8:00 PM PST - 17 comments

A debit card from Spendwell in my spouse's name arrived in the mail today. The problem is, we never requested one. Is this part of a new or known scam? Or should we fear identity theft and go on high alert?
posted by StrawberryPie at 5:02 PM PST - 12 comments

What do we actually know about how COVID affects newborns? It seems like theres a lot of nebulous and conflicting information out there, I'd like some help parsing that to make a travel decision for my family. [more inside]
posted by justalisteningman at 12:03 PM PST - 13 comments

Morning glories are taking over my garden and encroaching on my lawn. Can my garden - and my mind - be saved? [more inside]
posted by misskaz at 11:59 AM PST - 22 comments

YANMD - I have been battling a chronic, productive cough for 4-5 years. I am an otherwise healthy 48-year old man with well-controlled asthma and a severe allergy to both dogs and cats (that I've learned to live with). We have 3 cats in my home. After many pulmonology visits, CT scans, X-rays, etc., the general consensus was that it was the cats causing the cough. A few months ago, my cough disappeared after a short course of antibiotics. How? [more inside]
posted by eggman at 11:47 AM PST - 10 comments

I have a couple of Toshiba FlashAirs lying around my house, and was just cleaning up my office. For a laugh I wanted to know what the going rate was these days, expecting pennies. And was shocked to see 16GB SD cards selling on ebay for over £100. And here is the Amazon listing. Anyone know what gives? Do they have an alternate use?
posted by socky_puppy at 10:46 AM PST - 3 comments

I am constantly identifying ways in which I am a hypocrite, and it's unsettling. [more inside]
posted by Anonymouse1618 at 10:43 AM PST - 22 comments

I recently "inherited" a failing co-op/collective/school that has existed in crisis since its inception roughly a century ago. I believe it has everything it physically needs to thrive and grow into something amazing. Some folks claim this is "impossible" (with good reason) - but there is a sense among the whole that we can pull this off. Can you provide me with some examples of similar organizations/movements/businesses/schools/etc. that have found phoenix-like success after such a history? [more inside]
posted by Baby_Balrog at 9:36 AM PST - 14 comments

I work in humanities academia, which entails semesters of intense, highly-structured teaching alternating with long periods of solitary, unstructured time. Those periods are one of my favorite things about the job, but they often lead to bouts of severe depression. Is there anything I can do? [more inside]
posted by derrinyet at 9:05 AM PST - 14 comments

A newly out trans relative of mine will be in the Bay Area on vacation and he is looking for activities that he can connect with as a trans person. Suggestions? [more inside]
posted by Toddles at 8:38 AM PST - 8 comments

I realized that I have to read "idea-heavy" material two or three times before I can remember some of the key points that interested me on first reading. How abnormal is that? [more inside]
posted by Jon44 at 8:09 AM PST - 5 comments

How do I get my phone to consistently automatically join my home wifi network when I return home (like it’s supposed to per the setting)? [more inside]
posted by smokyjoe at 6:18 AM PST - 16 comments

Yesterday my wife took our tortoise Jeri to a local park (Washington Square in Philadelphia) to let her explore a new place. Once Jeri got sufficiently far away from my wife and other people, a large flock of birds landed on the ground and start following her. [more inside]
posted by nolnacs at 4:27 AM PST - 10 comments

We're going to be renting a car in Assisi and driving up to Venice over the course of a week in early October, but otherwise have no itinerary for this stage of the trip. What small towns/sites/ experiences are (relatively) on the way North to Venice, and can't be missed? [more inside]
posted by egeanin at 9:57 PM PST - 9 comments

I know I'm missing something perfectly obvious to gamers, but my whole life I have played games exclusively on my PC/Mac, except for one time with Wii which we found meh. We recently bought a Samsung Frame and two of my kids are hardcore desktop gamers, and the others enjoy casual games. I want to be able to play games in the living room, either one person playing while we watch, or multi-player games. What equipment do I need? How does a TV screen handle game framerates? We use Steam - what other software do I need?
posted by dorothyisunderwood at 9:20 PM PST - 21 comments

In the novel (NOT the movie) Ordinary People, Conrad is sent to a psychiatric facility for 8 months. Two questions about that. [more inside]
posted by Armed Only With Hubris at 5:43 PM PST - 10 comments

Am looking for advice about how to organize and display my books. [more inside]
posted by rhonzo at 3:59 PM PST - 23 comments

I am 2+ decades into an environmental/urban planning career, and hold advanced degrees (Masters and PhD) from long long ago. There is increasing need in my sphere to be knowledgeable about Greenhouse Gas Accounting, Environmental Social Governance report development, Carbon Disclosure reporting, Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures reporting, etc. What are the best and most affordable certification programs to help me bone up on this stuff without requiring that I go back to Uni?
posted by tidecat at 2:58 PM PST - 2 comments

I am beginning a second career and getting a masters in Psychology in the state of California. I will complete the program in Spring, 2024. At that time I will be 61 years old. [more inside]
posted by goalyeehah at 2:43 PM PST - 16 comments

I've been doing video interviews for jobs from my studio apartment. The lighting isn't great, but I can do a blank wall for a background so it's serviceable. I know someone who did a remote interview (different office/line of work) in their office at work and so I'm wondering if I want to do this too. What are your thoughts as an employee or hiring employer? I feel like subconsciously it would help if the interviewers saw me in an office and not just at home. But I didn't know if the interviewers might think it an inappropriate use of the office. For context, I'll be interviewing for a government law position from another government law position. My current office knows I've been job searching and absolutely wouldn't care if I took the interview in my office. The only real downside on my part is that while I don't think people outside my office can hear me, I would definitely be worrying about that.
posted by TheLinenLenin at 2:33 PM PST - 11 comments

We (myself, husband, 14 year old daughter) made a last minute decision to go to Paris at the start of August. Looking for recommendations on food and activities and a few other specifics inside. [more inside]
posted by gaspode at 2:01 PM PST - 22 comments

I don't know if we are sitting on a goldmine, but some wrought-iron patio furniture we inherited seems to be going for a lot of money on eBay, etc. Who should we talk to about getting it appraised? [more inside]
posted by emelenjr at 12:27 PM PST - 8 comments

What kind of non-medical well-being services have you sought for yourself or a loved one who needs a little help to be less isolated or lonely? What did you have difficulty finding? What were your experiences and what problems did you encounter getting that help? (of course, deets inside...) [more inside]
posted by cross_impact at 11:53 AM PST - 20 comments

I was looking at inexpensive ultrasonic cleaners for eyeglasses on Amazon, but also saw a note from NYTimes Wirecutter that warned that ultrasonic cleaners may damage / scratch glasses. Do you use one? Which won? Any problems?
posted by GernBlandston at 11:21 AM PST - 8 comments

I have extra time, extra bills, and experience with medical freelance writing, mostly for consumer publications. Where should I go to pick up some gigs? Upwork not preferred unless it's either super easy or super well paid (don't like the idea of the middle man taking my wages). I'm also open to writing in different areas that use the same skills.
posted by kingdead at 11:17 AM PST - 2 comments

I have a spreadsheet with 30k rows. I want to delete any row that isn't blank in column G. I'm using Excel 365 on a Mac. How?
posted by BuddhaInABucket at 11:06 AM PST - 8 comments

After living in my new apartment a couple months, I’m pretty sure that the prior tenants were smokers. The smell was barely noticeable at first (and mitigated by fresh paint and new carpet), but I just got back from a week away without the AC running, and now all my clothes smell like stale cigarette smoke. Is an air purifier enough to deal with this? Or since it’s not active smoking from somewhere do I need something more?
posted by ocherdraco at 10:45 AM PST - 9 comments

We are moving out in about a month and are going to be nomading indefinitely, so really only super sentimental and important things are going into storage and everything else must go. [more inside]
posted by Lyn Never at 10:41 AM PST - 21 comments

What are some books that evoke the innocence of, and ideally a little bit of the intrigue or magic of, 1993's Matinee? Looking for fiction set in the Cold War era if possible. Pulp or literature both fine.
posted by circular at 9:53 AM PST - 1 comment

I find that I really enjoy reading online content: articles, tweets, what-have-yous, by whip-smart witty women with their finger on the pulse of current events. Without any purposeful planning, I have naturally curated my podcast, social media and newsletter feeds to be dominated folks identifying as females such as Heather Cox Richardson, Emily Nussbaum, Anne Helen Peterson, Roxane Gay, and Sarah Marshall, among others. Oh, and Jessamyn, natch! I want to find more like this! Who else should I follow, subscribe to, or stan?
posted by BeBoth at 9:44 AM PST - 15 comments

My manager died suddenly two days ago. Please give me your tried and effective methods for staying focused. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 9:30 AM PST - 11 comments

Hello! I'm a 43 year old cismale with an awkward question. For as long as I've been sexually active i tend to both masturbate and edge without much by way of lube. sometimes I'll go for several hours (not like... full force, but not ignoring it either. Because of this, I'm experiencing two issues I'm trying to address. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 9:30 AM PST - 6 comments

I came down with symptoms yesterday. When recently sick with pneumonia, I went off Vyvanse on the theory that stimulants would be harder on the body and counterproductive as far as resting - for example raising heart rate. However, my brain sucked and mental health suffered significantly. Do you know of any information about this and whether and how ADHD meds affect recovering from illness? YANMD, I can talk to my doctor but that takes time and I'm trying to decide for today based on whatever reliable information is available.
posted by lookoutbelow at 9:27 AM PST - 9 comments

This fall little REH will be going to school for the first time. My wife and I have been successful in avoiding Covid so far, but we're worried to the point of almost being fatalistic about it. [more inside]
posted by Reasonably Everything Happens at 9:02 AM PST - 36 comments

We will take this trip at a cooler time, between going into the Grand Canyon, then onto Santa Fe. We can meander, this does not need to be a straight line. We especially like small towns, pueblos that may be reopening, the amazing skies, forms and colors. We cannot do much actual hiking. There is of course Canyon de Chelly, the Navajo and Hopi nations, fans of Tony Hillerman, Chimayo, Abiquiu.
posted by ebesan at 7:03 AM PST - 8 comments

I need to make a vegetable salad for a picnic and I think that something that doesn't center around leafy greens will be easier to eat. What should I make? [more inside]
posted by Frowner at 7:01 AM PST - 41 comments

I've been assigned a new job at the place I've been working 10+ years and because of the title and the department people are assuming it is a promotion. But it isn't. Or is it? [more inside]
posted by Pineapplicious at 6:29 AM PST - 15 comments

I am torn between two therapists working with a psychodynamic approach and I need advice. [more inside]
posted by confusedconfused at 5:29 AM PST - 15 comments

I am looking for festivals (around the scale and vibe of a small regional burn, ideally) that are put on without the use of any motor vehicles. [more inside]
posted by wesleyac at 1:50 AM PST - 7 comments

I've had a very painful sore throat for a few weeks. Tested negative for covid, no other symptoms, my dr agrees it's from my window a/c and living room fan and cpap. I have a humidifier going and I drink lots of water. I have lozenges and a lidocaine rinse and numbing spray. How can I really soothe it/ make it go away? YANMD but maybe you have tips.
posted by mermaidcafe at 10:49 PM PST - 13 comments

My in-laws have a shirt that says "KREMS" on it in colourful embroidery, and an embroidered image of a wine glass and grapes spilling out of it. They have no idea where they could have gotten this. Help us, AskMeFi sleuths! [more inside]
posted by tinydancer at 8:54 PM PST - 11 comments

To the people who have read The Moon and Six Pence. "When Strickland suggested that in her surrender to him therew was a sense of triumph over Dirk Stroeve, because HE had come to her help in her extremity, he opened the door to many a dark conjecture." My question is who HE is. And why do you think so? For me, the reason why you came to think of it is important. Thank you for helping my English.
posted by mizukko at 8:21 PM PST - 8 comments

"Live honorably. Never do in secret what you wouldn't do in private. Do the right thing for the right reasons. That’s a translation, but I just quoted the Iliad to you." This is a paraphrase. What is the original, from a good English translation? [more inside]
posted by kristi at 7:35 PM PST - 13 comments

Mom wants to buy a home with only 650k in her nest egg, but homes she wants are 500k where she lives. [more inside]
posted by mtphoto at 6:53 PM PST - 29 comments

I'm looking for a good quality headset (headphones and a microphone) suitable for use with a computer (e.g., for video conferencing) that's wired with a detachable cable that connects to a standard 3.5 mm TRRS jack in the headset. Headsets with fixed cables are typically rendered useless once the cable breaks and I'd like to avoid the associated waste by purchasing a headset where failure of the cable doesn't force me to purchase an entirely new headset. [more inside]
posted by CahootsMalone at 4:42 PM PST - 12 comments

My sister's dad estranged died and left her some properties...that she knows about. But he was a homeless millionaire type and bought stuff all over. Is there a way to globally search a state for any deeds in his name?
posted by rileyray3000 at 2:34 PM PST - 7 comments

My combination smoke alarm and CO detector has a very sensitive smoke alarm, possibly because it uses both ionization and photoelectric sensors. The vacuum cleaner sets it off sometimes. The window air conditioner sets it off. The contractor sawing stuff in the backyard sets it off if the door is open. It seems to be related to fine dust. I see references online to adjusting sensitivity of smoke alarms, but no current products seem to have this feature. Help me find a smoke/CO alarm that lets me live in safety and peace. [more inside]
posted by momus_window at 2:13 PM PST - 7 comments

What are some of the most climate change-resilient places I could consider moving to, both in the US and abroad? [more inside]
posted by Dansaman at 1:00 PM PST - 28 comments

I’m in the middle of an argument with a conservative family member, and (almost?) surprised by how few stats I can find about gay/trans marriage. Or maybe im just too angry to research it well. I’m curious about things like chores, gender divisions, general satisfaction— basically whether non-hetero marriages are ‘happier’ by any metric? [more inside]
posted by asimplemouse at 12:24 PM PST - 13 comments

How to best signal that our group is not for men? [more inside]
posted by joeyjoejoejr at 11:54 AM PST - 36 comments

I had COVID, June 30th was day 0, and I would describe my symptoms as mild-medium miserable. I was prescribed and took the Paxlovid treatment. I have only a lingering light dry cough, and have been fever-free for 9 days. I'm still testing positive on the home rapid antigen tests (I've tried 3 different manufacturers product) and I'm still mostly isolating because there's no guidance that I can find online about what happens after day 10. Am I still spewing plague or what? [more inside]
posted by ApathyGirl at 11:14 AM PST - 11 comments

I am recovering from COVID (day 6 since positive test) and I feel a bit lightheaded and short of breath. But my pulse ox and heart rate are normal. Why is this and is there anything I can do? [more inside]
posted by mai at 11:11 AM PST - 12 comments

Is there a website that recommends combinations of just a few ingredients, without actually using recipes? Something between the Flavor Bible book and Mark Bittman's How to Cook Everything? [more inside]
posted by kristi at 9:51 AM PST - 8 comments

I have been asked by a bride-to-be to think of some extra entertainment for the guests for her upcoming wedding in August. The music is sorted so we are thinking about things to do at other times of the day - ceremony is at 11.00am followed by refreshments in the afternoon then a chill period before the reception party kicks off at around 7pm. [more inside]
posted by jallypeeno at 7:01 AM PST - 27 comments

I'm a fortysomething man who recently met someone with whom I have a lot in common, but she is anxious about a possible relationship. I really like her, but I want to respect her feelings and not put any pressure on her. How should I proceed? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 6:58 AM PST - 22 comments

Car is suddenly making weird sounds. We have an appointment tomorrow afternoon with a mechanic, but I’m wondering how much (if any) in-town driving might be safe/advised. You are not my car doctor! Details below. [more inside]
posted by catoclock at 6:27 AM PST - 17 comments

I have a memory foam bean bag chair I will periodically work from during the day, or use for playing video games in our attic space. But sometimes I need to store it and it's large and unwieldy. How can I smoosh it up so I can easily carry and store it? [more inside]
posted by glaucon at 6:06 AM PST - 7 comments

I am coordinating and presenting in several sessions at the office tomorrow, in person. I'm also in charge of our outside BBQ lunch (catered). I've just been tasked with adding music to lunch. I am out of mental bandwidth. What is your go-to reco for a Spotify playlist which will appeal to a mostly 30-55 year old group of business folk, as they eat and catch up? [more inside]
posted by walkinginsunshine at 5:41 AM PST - 9 comments

Some years ago, I read a quote to the effect of "Up to age 30 or so, all men believe that if they worked really hard and devoted themselves 100%, they could compete in the Olympics." I am pretty confident that it was part of the narration in a novel. Google is not helpful, or at least I am not able to word the query well. Many thanks in advance for anyone who can help.
posted by nanny's striped stocking at 4:57 AM PST - 18 comments

Yesterday I got weirdly sick, but it only lasted for a day, but I have no idea what was going on. Any guesses on what was happening, based the description below? [more inside]
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 4:53 AM PST - 12 comments

I've wanted to learn the piano since I was young but my impoverished, lower-class background made it impossible. [more inside]
posted by whitelotus at 2:46 AM PST - 65 comments

This melody is stuck in my head, and I can't remember for the life of me what it is. I'm 99% sure it's either a black metal or doom metal song, but I don't know if the whole tune goes like this or if it's just a slow intro to a faster song.
posted by Bugbread at 11:45 PM PST - 2 comments

I have a question about animal attacks - more below the fold. CW: animal and people death [more inside]
posted by Toddles at 9:26 PM PST - 7 comments

I want to beat the winter blues by planning a hiking/camping trip somewhere sunny in Feb 2023. What are your top suggestions? [more inside]
posted by raccoon409 at 8:23 PM PST - 5 comments

My mom yelled at me for a micro-second today, which in general context, might not be that big of a deal. However, it triggered something very deeply dark and traumatic in me, to the point where I do not feel safe. This is one situation of a few that has been building up. How do I salvage the rest of my vacation, or should I cut the vacation short? [more inside]
posted by dubious_dude at 7:19 PM PST - 25 comments

I was stepping into the shower and I slipped. I hurt my knee. Twisted it or something. It initially hurt so much I couldn't breath. Now I can breathe and I can even walk on it with pain, but my sense is that this will get worse, instead of better overnight and tomorrow I will wake up significantly disabled. How do I prevent this? [more inside]
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 6:03 PM PST - 40 comments

I got a produce box from the local library today with more food than I can eat (they're for everyone, but sized for families). I have ideas for some stuff, but not others. [more inside]
posted by kathrynm at 4:54 PM PST - 32 comments

I just returned from dropping off this poor kitty at Austin Animal Shelter. Last week, on the phone, I was told they'd evaluate her for fostering or adoption. When I dropped her off the (somewhat rude) lady said they'd most likely return her, if they find she's "thriving as a community cat". How likely am I to see this cat again? [more inside]
posted by MuChao at 4:46 PM PST - 13 comments

Short & sweet: those of you who have used both the Oxo tea infuser basket (rigid mesh) and the Finum brewing basket (flexible mesh), which one do you find easier to clean? Which one did you like better, and why? [more inside]
posted by MagnificentVacuum at 4:26 PM PST - 8 comments

In a couple weeks, I'm having surgery on my face again, and this will add another big, visible scar to my growing collection. I will be asking about the options for minimizing the scarring, but I know from experience they don't have a lot of extra time to talk built in to these appointments, so I would like to go in slightly prepared to talk about laser resurfacing treatments or chemical peels. Have you used either one of these as a method for treating things like scars or other skin issues, preferably on your face? [more inside]
posted by kitten kaboodle at 4:22 PM PST - 7 comments

When I was a kid on the US East Coast, stores stocked lots of hard candies. Now I see five varieties of hard candy and scores of gummies — worms, bears, burgers, sharks, flowers etc. (I care because gummies stick to the teeth in my dry mouth.) Why the shift? Is it down to Big Gelatin? Are there better rebates for the retailers?
posted by Jesse the K at 3:46 PM PST - 29 comments

I started getting an organic fruit and vegetable box delivered for the first time last year. I was all prepared for dirt in the produce, caterpillars in the lettuce, things like that. But! Every couple of weeks, there are maggots in the fruit. To me, that crosses the line from organic to gross. What do people here think? Am I being oversensitive---or have I tolerated wormy fruit too long? In California, if that makes any difference to veg box norms.
posted by ectopus at 3:07 PM PST - 14 comments

I'm being targeted by text scammers that might or might not be related. They generally try to start a conversation by pretending to have the wrong number. Then they say I was so gracious and really we ought to be friends. Today, I got a message saying simply "Hello" and seemingly headed down that path. I challenged the person to say their name and mine or I'd block. They promptly sent me a screenshot from my phone from Friday night. Two things: how did they do that, and how do I lock this thing down and make sure I'm not hacked? [more inside]
posted by DirtyOldTown at 1:22 PM PST - 9 comments

Need Idea for an Anniversary Cocktail [more inside]
posted by plinth at 11:48 AM PST - 18 comments

My pulmonologist has done many tests, but respiratory function seems normal. I still have constant trouble getting a deep breath. I have a pretty good idea of what the problem may be and have shared it with the doctor despite my embarrassment about it. I suspect I did it to myself, and I have no idea what can be done. More detail is needed to explain, but here’s the relevant link. [more inside]
posted by deeplyflawed at 11:45 AM PST - 23 comments

I'm trying to start an influencer marketing campaign for a fundraiser, and I want to identify my most-followed followers. When I search for a platform or plugin that can do this, I'm... barraged by SEO garbage that I can't parse. Is there a simple way to do this? I need to sort through 25k followers.
posted by BuddhaInABucket at 10:55 AM PST - 4 comments

So I'm 1/4 of the way through breaking in a first pair of selvedge denim jeans. Everything is great except the pockets. Which are tight. What's the best way to stretch them out?
posted by rileyray3000 at 10:33 AM PST - 2 comments

We watch a lot of Korean TV (with subtitles) and there's a very infrequently used sound that's like a glottal raspy thing (like KKKKKKKKKKKKKKK, really prolonged and fairly harsh) but I haven't been able to find out more about it. What can you tell me?
posted by seanmpuckett at 9:25 AM PST - 7 comments

What are the dads doing? I'm a new dad living in an extremely liberal urban area and it just seems like a little bit of 50s? Dads are much less likely at the playgrounds with the kids, they're rarely chatting in neighborhood parent whatsapp groups or parent facebook groups, they are never trying to meet up with other dads or kids. Their wives even join whatsapp and facebook groups on BEHALF of their husbands to get them to engage. Is this normal in your area? I'm just a bit surprised. [more inside]
posted by sandmanwv at 9:00 AM PST - 39 comments

I always love reading these asks, so I'd love your opinions on my own. I'll be wearing this dress in dark purple for my stepson's wedding. The neckline will be a bit higher. I'm thinking either a large bracelet or a giant ring, but even that's up for grabs. Looking for literally all accessory ideas. [more inside]
posted by Mchelly at 7:38 AM PST - 17 comments

I want stories about people who are choosing to stay in the U.S., especially if they could leave and especially if they are parents. I have my own numerous reasons I am staying, but in my social group, there is so much casual conversation about leaving and its framed in an awful way. I would love stories others have shared about why they are choosing to stay and how they are grounding their lives here.
posted by neematoad at 7:20 AM PST - 42 comments

I have a problem my friends are tired of hearing about, but that is still weighing on me heavily and I want to talk to people about. Is there any place on the internet where people who want to chat about things realtime can pair up with other people they do not already know who want to talk about actual things other than pairing up? [more inside]
posted by corb at 6:14 AM PST - 11 comments

Daughter would like to know what this is. (She described it as looking "like a potato".) Couldn't find a caterpillar that looked like it. I didn't have any better luck searching. Everything seems too fuzzy or the wrong pattern. (Or, in the case of the unicorn caterpillar, it's lacking the shape and the weird green section, though the color is closer...) Photo taken in Portland metro area, Oregon, during the late evening hours on 7/19/22. High temp today around 90. Not sure what kind of flower it's eating.
posted by stormyteal at 2:05 AM PST - 4 comments

I think I’ve pinched a nerve in my upper back, and I need to fix it quickly. Can anyone recommend best-practice treatment pathways, please? [more inside]
posted by Salamander at 11:46 PM PST - 10 comments

What gorgeous, entry-level hikes do you know of that are close to, even perhaps in view of, charming cities or towns? Anywhere in the world is fine! I would love to build out a list for dream vacations with my partner. [more inside]
posted by rrrrrrrrrt at 9:55 PM PST - 57 comments

I'm looking for examples of the roles and boundaries that have proven helpful (or that you recommend avoiding) in your relationship with your elderly parent. [more inside]
posted by Superilla at 9:50 PM PST - 8 comments

How can I learn to write wittier dialogue? [more inside]
posted by unicorn chaser at 9:32 PM PST - 9 comments

I have surgery scheduled in two weeks in another city. Two weeks ago I used my bank's bill pay to mail a check for tens of thousands of dollars to cover the cost. (Don't yell at me, the surgeon doesn't accept credit or debit cards and I didn't know what else to do.) They still insist it hasn't arrived. What should I do at this point? I've never lost a bill-pay check, or lost a check this large. Do I need to drive down there myself with a new check? Please help me plan and not panic.
posted by nebulawindphone at 7:33 PM PST - 14 comments

Had my abdominal surgery last Thursday.Surgery went well.I’m taking strong pain killers as prescribed and I’m not in pain since yesterday.I’m tired most of the time.I’m eating good .As advised by doc ,I’m walking slowing frequently.I’m getting better every day physically but emotionally not. [more inside]
posted by SunPower at 6:50 PM PST - 16 comments

Have any of you had a rough metamour relationship get really good with work? Or read a story where that happens? I feel like I've heard that sort of story hundreds of times for romantic partners, but it would do me some good right now to hear the metamour version. [more inside]
posted by flexible-footwear figurine at 6:50 PM PST - 5 comments

My husband and I will be moving across the country to Philadelphia this fall and are looking to rent an apartment while we figure out what neighborhood we want to buy a house in. But we own our current house, and the last time we were apartment hunting, people used newspaper classifieds. What do we need to know? [more inside]
posted by emilyanemone at 4:42 PM PST - 5 comments

My gastritis is getting worse (despite stopping all alcohol use for a month now), and I need to see a gastroenterologist again. But I want one that will try everything else possible before doing a procedure requiring general anesthesia (such as an upper endoscopy). [more inside]
posted by commander_fancypants at 3:48 PM PST - 12 comments

I'm a person with a severe physical disability who relies on a very specific type of adaptive switch to access my PC and other devices. Unfortunately, the company that provided these switches no longer makes them and I'm down to my last couple replacement switches. I'm a little worried about what to do if they break, so I'm looking for help to build replacements. [more inside]
posted by wintermute2_0 at 3:28 PM PST - 12 comments

Is there a good way to make a shiny black surface less shiny? [more inside]
posted by pdb at 3:11 PM PST - 13 comments

For the last few weeks I've been getting a lot of messages via Outlook that say "Your message wasn't delivered because the recipient's email provider rejected it," but they're all about emails that other people are sending *me,* from many different organizations. If the sender was French, I'll get the message in French. I'm not sure whether the actual senders are getting these messages. My IT department hasn't been able to solve this. Has this happened to anyone else?
posted by pinochiette at 1:49 PM PST - 4 comments

There are many timer apps for Android. I want the simplest one - ideally for say a 6 minute timer I could hit just two buttons - 6 then start. If I could somehow set timers without unlocking my phone that would be even better. Any suggestions?
posted by muddgirl at 1:38 PM PST - 7 comments

I am writing a script that combines excerpts from various .txt files that were obtained via Project Gutenberg, into a compilation .txt file. There's some kind of a problem...sometimes I see a lot of what I think are Unicode control characters in an excerpt. Like PAD, OSC, SGCI, etc. Is there a quick way or a Linux command line tool to filter these somehow? Im using abs-lang.org for scripting. [more inside]
posted by circular at 11:21 AM PST - 26 comments

I'm in my 40s , a cis woman, and have dated men almost exclusively. I want to start dating women. Please help. [more inside]
posted by woolsocks at 11:17 AM PST - 6 comments

I’ve been looking to buy a bike to commute around the city and someone on FB marketplace is selling a gorgeous vintage women’s bike - specifically the Evans Colson Admiral bike. [more inside]
posted by cruel summer at 10:35 AM PST - 20 comments

Our 4-year-old has to take two trips every weekday to/from school - one hour each way. It's non-negotiable, so please don't comment on that. He is getting bored. We'd prefer to avoid screen time, what would you recommend? [more inside]
posted by Toddles at 10:22 AM PST - 31 comments

My friend gave me a copy of Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk by David Sedaris, with a nice note inside. Within the cover of which other volume of humorous American short stories should I hide my reply? [more inside]
posted by rd45 at 10:15 AM PST - 13 comments

My wife got hoodwinked into installing the game Forest on her phone which she thought would be a calming diversion for our 6-year-old. Unfortunately, Forest is actually designed to be addictive and exploitative rather than calming, and even the pro version dangles in-app purchases. My kiddo is hooked on it, resentful that we won't allow the in-app purchases, and demands to play it all times of day. Should I buy him an (original) Tamagotchi as an alternative? [more inside]
posted by splitpeasoup at 10:01 AM PST - 17 comments

I have a solid software background and usually have a team of designers and UX experts provide final assets to me. I do not have that and need to present a mobile app design to a team to get further funding. I do not have static assets and would need to rely on something akin to Material UI (or really any pre-built assets) to build out the graphics. Hover states, animations and anything fancy isn't really needed as this is a static app but if the effort is low to add some of those in it might help. What tool would be a good fit to wireframe/prototype this quickly? Also any advice on what presents well or a good workflow would be great. Again, I'm used to working with larger teams that can do some sophisticated mockups so I'm a bit out of my element. Adobe XD on paper looks robust, but there's a lot to choose from. Most likely if funding is approved it'd be scrapped and a proper design team would flesh it out so no need to export assets to CSS/etc. Any other recommendations would be helpful!
posted by geoff. at 9:59 AM PST - 5 comments

I need to make a human-sized tollbooth out of foamcore. What method of construction will make the gate rotate up and down? [more inside]
posted by Bunglegirl at 9:44 AM PST - 2 comments

My bank offers a fraction of what seem like standard rates for a certificate of deposit, comparable to a high-yield savings account. Why? [more inside]
posted by babelfish at 8:53 AM PST - 13 comments

... that have nothing to do with cycling. A Lexus commercial, and a recurring montage of the US-based cyclists in the Tour. [more inside]
posted by JimN2TAW at 8:11 AM PST - 6 comments

I've started to collect stickers during my travels, and now the question becomes, what to do with them? [more inside]
posted by kevinbelt at 7:36 AM PST - 19 comments

I'm looking for books, articles, blogs or anything (including woo) that can shed light on food intolerance (but not about food allergies) [more inside]
posted by mirileh at 7:32 AM PST - 12 comments

Looking for restaurant recommendations in London near the Knightsbridge tube stop and Harrod's. [more inside]
posted by mcstayinskool at 6:15 AM PST - 7 comments

I have been asked to find a diabetic meal delivery service in the town near Boston where my aunt resides. My question is not about what to do about the fact that my mother is calling on me to fix this problem when my aunt and uncle have adult children of their own, but rather to ask if anyone can help ascertain if services exist that could make my aunt and uncle’s lives easier, as my uncle is in what will likely be his final illness. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 3:23 AM PST - 9 comments

There's been a big spam trend lately to start email subject lines with "_". I am relatively new to procmail, and I think my regex skills are too weak to figure this out, but I'd like to auto-delete any email whose subject line starts with "_". Is there a way to set that up? [more inside]
posted by Shepherd at 2:44 AM PST - 6 comments

I’m interested in both personal recommendations and links to resources on how to be a good, inclusive manager to an autistic person. [more inside]
posted by bluloo at 11:31 PM PST - 11 comments

I was just broken up with by a woman who was in my primary circle of friends, then an extremely close one-on-one friend, then a girlfriend. I (also a woman) would like to figure out how I can be friends with her again. Have you navigated friendship after a breakup? How did you do so? How can I continue to be friends with this person? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 11:02 PM PST - 12 comments

OK, I realize this is the holy grail, but my thing that makes is possibly possible is that it doesn't have to pay much. Minimum wage is fine. Less than minimum wage...not really. I have a job. I work from home. I don't work nearly as much as they think I do. I could use some extra money. Is there work I could do in that downtime from my main job? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 11:02 PM PST - 10 comments

Why do cooked nettles/lentils smell so very similar to earl grey tea? [more inside]
posted by aniola at 9:26 PM PST - 2 comments

Going on an Alaskan Cruise. Help us plan all our time OFF the boat? Also, Vancouver BC. [more inside]
posted by latkes at 9:11 PM PST - 17 comments

We're trying to identify where the image on this pin / badge comes from? We both feel it might be from a video game or video game company from perhaps the 1980s or 1990s but we're not sure
posted by TimHare at 8:11 PM PST - 5 comments

I am a compulsive snacker and my snack of choice is anything pickled or lacto-fermented. What are some foods I can order online (NE US) or ferment at home that would scratch the itch? The ideal is something that I can get and consume in bulk quantities (e.g. olives). [more inside]
posted by derrinyet at 7:26 PM PST - 26 comments

Does anyone here use Backblaze as a backup for movies, music, files etc. that are usually stored on an external hard drive? [more inside]
posted by The Pluto Gangsta at 6:32 PM PST - 11 comments

For a while now--probably since starting Wellbutrin--I've been having annoying very short naps/ dreams before falling asleep for real. I tried to nap and not only was having those dreams but kept going back to them (something about eating on a boat?) and looping. Anybody else get these? What''s helped you? YANMD.
posted by mermaidcafe at 5:39 PM PST - 12 comments

My husband and I are driving from Cincinnati home to NYC in early August and would love to find a nice place to stay about midpoint between the two. We never get to hang outside, so our dream is to find a cabin with an outdoor hot tub, fire pit, and grill. [more inside]
posted by Neely O'Hara at 5:24 PM PST - 5 comments

I have a Fire TV stick but I'm limited. I'd like to cast from my Apple devices to my TV and I'd like to have a Spectrum TV app. [more inside]
posted by Triumphant Muzak at 4:57 PM PST - 4 comments

Without arguing about the pronoun issue directly, my personal belief is that the pronouns thing is regressive. Other people feel differently. If I don't want to get into it with someone, but, at the same time, don't want to participate in something I believe is toxic, would it be reasonable to respond to someone who is invested in the idea of introducing pronouns at a meeting with "whatever you feel comfortable with" as a response to the question "what's your pronouns"?
posted by Jon44 at 4:56 PM PST - 27 comments

Can I repackage store-bought mayonnaise into small portions and eat it a few days later, unrefrigerated, without dying? [more inside]
posted by soylent00FF00 at 4:39 PM PST - 22 comments

As we seem to move into a stage of the pandemic where COVID is just with us forever, what choices are you thinking about as we navigate what appears to in fact finally be that "new normal." [more inside]
posted by donut_princess at 4:32 PM PST - 39 comments

I'd like to buy a gift certificate for the best ice cream parlor with the best, most delicious ice cream, in all of Morristown, NJ! [more inside]
posted by silverstatue at 3:25 PM PST - 2 comments

How do I find and communicate with an order fulfillment company that meets some specific needs? [more inside]
posted by sibilatorix at 2:34 PM PST - 1 comment

Hello! I've asked a question before about Canadian Immigration and I've (U.S.) decided to immigrate there (To Canada)! Yay. We're moving next year, but he wants to stay in the U.S. with me until that happens, a.k.a. over 6 months (His work is remote)... Is there a way a Canadian can stay in the U.S. for a year and not lose his provincial healthcare? [more inside]
posted by Kestrelxo at 2:29 PM PST - 5 comments

Spy thrillers are grabbing me these days. Recommend me some! [more inside]
posted by quadrilaterals at 2:08 PM PST - 12 comments

I am getting married, yay! And need to figure out the makeup piece. I do not wear it, and yet I would like to wear *some* for my wedding. (I also have little confidence in how to apply makeup and have given up that that is something I can learn.) I had a trial with a makeup artist and it just ... looked like I was wearing a lot of makeup. (I do think she tried to tone it down--she seemed skillful at her job, it just wasn't my vibe.) I also got major eye irritation 2 hours later and had to wash it all off. [more inside]
posted by namemeansgazelle at 1:58 PM PST - 27 comments

I just finished Michael Coren's The Rebel Christ and would like to engage further in the ideas presented in the book. [more inside]
posted by narcissus_and_ambrosia at 1:34 PM PST - 4 comments

It’s performance review season (in corporate US big tech)! I have historically been very good at working the system and puffing myself up on my self-evaluations, but this has been a pretty rough year, in terms of health and other personal issues that have left me feeling bad about being such a flaky coworker. How do I approach this process in a way that is honest, but still puts myself in the best possible light? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 1:00 PM PST - 10 comments

I purchased myself a recumbent trike with e-assist, to use primarily for commuting. The trike has a pannier rack over the rear wheel. I need to add a pannier that can carry my laptop plus some other daily essentials. There are lots of sites reviewing panniers, but I'd like recommendations from real people! [more inside]
posted by Alterscape at 12:46 PM PST - 8 comments

[USA-health-care-filter] I keep getting partial refunds on medical bills that I paid in full. Who's to blame, the insurance company, medical provider, both? Should I be paying my medical bills differently? [more inside]
posted by meowzilla at 12:46 PM PST - 7 comments

I have a Chromebook and use DocHub to sign contracts. My resume needs a little tweaking (adding a few magazine credits, mostly). Is there a non-Adobe pdf editor (paid or free) that will let me do this myself, or should I pay someone? And if I do pay someone, recommendations? (Had a bad experience with Upwork where a guy did a terrible job and then emailed me a tirade of sexist abuse for days.) Thanks!
posted by cyndigo at 12:45 PM PST - 6 comments

Having now wiggled out of my lease thanks to you kind people, I've now got to face actually moving house. I've not done it in a long time with a removal company—20 years or more—but our last move finally proved to me that I'm not up to the task of doing it by myself with a few mates any more. Plus we need it done and dusted in a day. So first off: do you have any recommendation for removal (moving) companies in London, UK? [more inside]
posted by Ten Cold Hot Dogs at 12:23 PM PST - 8 comments

Sometimes I have days where I can't concentrate worth a damn (and today is one of them). I mean like a 5-minute pomodoro timebox is pushing it, I'm zoning out after writing half a line in an email, definitely can't remember one thing while doing another, even zoning out in the middle of writing a to-do list. And yet, there are things that must get done. Give me your best strategies. [more inside]
posted by danceswithlight at 12:19 PM PST - 12 comments

I need to gain a little weight! But everything I can think of to do this feels unhealthy. How can I gain weight in a (reasonably) healthy way? [more inside]
posted by euphoria066 at 11:48 AM PST - 18 comments

What electric shaver really works well for shaving legs? Is it still possible to buy one that isn't cordless? [more inside]
posted by Redstart at 11:21 AM PST - 5 comments

Looking for a kitchen timer (or similar) that is mechanical, durable, reliable, lightweight, and portable. Which of the million options do you recommend? [more inside]
posted by sibilatorix at 10:57 AM PST - 5 comments

Hit me with your luggage recommendations! I'm suspicious of review sites and would rather hear from actual users. [more inside]
posted by nkknkk at 10:51 AM PST - 15 comments

In week 2 of a kitchen reno and we are sick of eating takeout. I can access my fridge and I have a toaster oven but I don’t want to be washing messy dishes in my bathroom sink. What are some easy meals I can make for a five-year-old and myself for the next few days? [more inside]
posted by ficbot at 10:35 AM PST - 20 comments

During a Mad Men re-watch, I saw this tree in an elevator lobby set and want it for my MCM foyer atrium. Can anyone tell what the species is? [more inside]
posted by hwyengr at 10:20 AM PST - 10 comments

I work from home two days a week. When I work in the office, I need to bring a lot of stuff. I am tired of bringing 3 or 4 separate bags. I would like a backpack that does it all. [more inside]
posted by Frenchy67 at 10:01 AM PST - 8 comments

I have many nice cottons that I want to preserve as long as possible. I put dryer-appropriate clothes in at a medium setting (never any hotter) only until the clothes are dry; less than 30 minutes, but some of my t-shirts are developing tiny holes. Drying for a longer period at a lower heat isn’t optimal, energy use-wise. [more inside]
posted by BostonTerrier at 9:50 AM PST - 16 comments

I live in an Apple Universe. Apple iPad, Apple iPhone, Apple MacBook Pro, Apple Mac mini (and many other Apple things, but those are the only ones relevant to this question). All are less than 3 years old. Nothing I've tried - and I've tried so, so many things! - syncs my Mac mini bookmarks/reading list with the ones on my other devices. They all stay in sync with each other; Mac mini refuses to pick them up. Help? [more inside]
posted by invincible summer at 8:38 AM PST - 3 comments

I've never tried anything like this before, and I'm also barely above featherweight. Where to even begin? [more inside]
posted by queen anne's remorse at 7:26 AM PST - 8 comments

In the 1990s (1996? 1997? 1998?) Cooking Light had a summer, pizza grilling article with a recipe for dough. The dough recipe may have had baking powder along with yeast. It was a small, maybe single serving pizza that was rolled out with a rolling pin and could be grilled (cook on one side, flip, toppings, finish). The pizza doughs could be rolled out and frozen in layers with was paper between. It was dare-I-say foolproof. Does anyone have this recipe? [more inside]
posted by RoadScholar at 6:06 AM PST - 3 comments

I stumbled into info about airsculpt as an alternative to a tummy tuck or other plastic surgery that had big complication risks. It sort of seems too good to be true. Have you had an airsculpt procedure? Tell me all about it, good bad and ugly. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 2:53 AM PST - 4 comments

My spouse's grandmother died a couple of years ago in Canada, bequeathing to us a beloved 150yr old antique piano with real elephant ivory and ebony- veneered keys. Before we were able to figure out how to transport the piano, it fell completely apart. My grandfather-in-law, who is extremely stubborn, saved the keys to give to us with the notion of turning them into a keepsake. We live in the US. We have talked him out of trying to smuggle them across the border to us from Canada, but we're planning a visit to him in the next year and the odds are high that he will surprise us with them as a gift as Grandma would have wanted. If this happens, what should we do legally? The keys are at least 150yrs old but definitely, definitely elephant ivory. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 2:53 AM PST - 11 comments

Prospective first-time homebuyer here (in Canada). How should I think about mortgages, affordability, and risk if I have a high income and a lot of cash available now (enough for >30% down payment, plus many months of payments in case I lose my job or am unable to work for a while), but am expecting my cash flow to go down, maybe quite sharply, in the future? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 2:53 AM PST - 22 comments

As the title says... does anyone have any Adult level Two Dots Scavenger Hunt Game like Recommendations? Very willing to pay for the right game. The main problem I have is that Two Dots don't offer the gameplay up rarely. Assume I have tried all the top Scavenger hunt games on Google but only briefly... I am android or independent only. [more inside]
posted by Lesium at 1:49 AM PST - 7 comments

I remember interacting with a web-based tool where you could submit an HTML link and it would go through the page, look at all the links, follow them and examine the links on those pages, and meanwhile give a dynamic graphic representation of the connections it was finding between sites. It looked like circles with lines between them that would be constantly branching out as it crawled the edges of the network. Does anyone know the tool I mean? Does anything like it still exist?
posted by sindark at 11:37 PM PST - 3 comments

My city has recently created a 'musical parklet' with a nice little walking path around a holding pond which has been created to look natural. They added some outdoor instruments, primarily percussion type things: marimba-ish, or xylophone-ish, or in one case tubular bells. Assuming we would want to make some music there and record it, what equipment would we want to use? Lower cost options would be best.
posted by TimHare at 9:20 PM PST - 5 comments

How can I know if I'm nonbinary, or just kidding myself? [more inside]
posted by SPrintF at 8:10 PM PST - 45 comments

I've finished a draft of a middle-grade novel about a normal kid in the normal world who finds a magic/lucky coin. I've started writing my query letter to agents, but I'm not sure what genre best describes my story. [more inside]
posted by imelcapitan at 8:04 PM PST - 5 comments

Short story, quite possibly but not necessarily by Ray Bradbury. The light that humans saw as the star of Bethlehem turns out to have been generated by an incident (probably a star exploding or similar) that caused the death of a non-human population. I would most likely have read this in the 1980s. What was this story?
posted by 2 cats in the yard at 6:14 PM PST - 3 comments

My apartment has a GE-branded through-wall air conditioner with mechanical switches. It plugs into a wall outlet and appears to be 220v with a different style plug than I'm used to. I would like to get a smart plug that I can use to turn it on and off remotely or, at minimum, put it on a timer or schedule. Apple HomeKit compatibility is a massive plus. [more inside]
posted by tubedogg at 2:43 PM PST - 18 comments

My mother has this Lucid rollaway folding guest bed with a fitted-sheet-style waterproof mattress protector and a Lucid slip-over storage cover. Before storing the bed in the basement, what can be done to deter mice or other interested parties from getting in via the open end of the cover? Mom wants to preserve 'rollability' if possible. Thanks.
posted by Iris Gambol at 2:33 PM PST - 5 comments

I may have an opportunity as part of a space-changing initiative at work to propose a small screening room as a part of an overall office space. What would you recommend for something that's elegant, effective, and budget-conscious? [more inside]
posted by Shepherd at 1:15 PM PST - 1 comment

In the market for a very specific thing. Maybe you know what I need! [more inside]
posted by prewar lemonade at 12:32 PM PST - 18 comments

In a sci-fi story, a person finds out via a DNA test that a man is his father. However, we find out that this man is actually his son, who time travelled. Would DNA be able to show the direction of a parent/child relationship? If the answer is “sometimes”, under what circumstances? Any particular genetic quirk? Does sex at birth matter? Assume here that due to (waves hands) timey-wimey magic both people are the same age. [more inside]
posted by Valancy Rachel at 11:50 AM PST - 14 comments

Are there death/funeral rituals in your U.S. regional or group culture that have reached the level of custom (vs. just "something unusual my family did when someone died")? [more inside]
posted by cocoagirl at 11:50 AM PST - 27 comments

How to curb herding, dominating behavior in our new dog? [more inside]
posted by ragtimepiano at 11:50 AM PST - 11 comments

Please help me script a message to my neighbours about our shared raccoon problem which difficult to clean and is caused by things on their property. [more inside]
posted by nouvelle-personne at 11:16 AM PST - 18 comments

I have two large, handsome, matching framed prints that I would like to hang by my desk. The space/height situation is such that I will be hanging them with smaller things and I am not sure the best way to arrange them. [more inside]
posted by Frowner at 10:23 AM PST - 9 comments

If you had a week to explore the Picos de Europa in Spain: which two or three places would you visit? Difficulty level +2: you do not have a car of your own. [more inside]
posted by Sheydem-tants at 10:12 AM PST - 3 comments

I regularly shop at my local large Korean supermarket and (as a not Korean person) am continually learning about the Korean specific foods on offer. Can anyone give me, the main cook in a lacto-ovo vegetarian household, advice on the gorgeous bags multigrain rice I see. [more inside]
posted by atomicstone at 9:35 AM PST - 2 comments

I’m interested in hosting parties, maybe in some sort of regular way (monthly?), as a way to socialize, and meet new people. I’m interested in ways to to this are as low-effort as possible. Have you done this? I welcome any tips, suggestions, resources, etc, both on how to make this fun and how to make it easy. [more inside]
posted by ManInSuit at 9:08 AM PST - 10 comments

How to find help for a friend who's in trouble far away? [more inside]
posted by jindc at 8:53 AM PST - 3 comments

Do you have a go-to meal that you can eat multiple days in a row? What is it? [more inside]
posted by HonoriaGlossop at 8:06 AM PST - 17 comments

Seeking recommendations for more tranquil, bucolic YouTube channels from countrysides around the world, like this one from Azerbaijan Country Life Vlog. In other words: often recorded outdoors, unnarrated (no humans speaking), features good sound recording and editing (pleasant ASMR vibes); and documents traditions of cooking, homesteading, and folkways. [more inside]
posted by nightrecordings at 7:15 AM PST - 6 comments

Please give me your favourite salad recipes. I’m after ones that can be a full meal in itself so will likely include a meat or protein of some sort. I’m not a fan of lentils but anything else goes! If it’s a great restaurant copycat, a takeaway Buddha bowl or just something you created yourself and you love it, I want to know all about it. The more recipes the better. Extra points if it’s keto but not mandatory.
posted by Jubey at 6:44 AM PST - 23 comments

My skin is extremely sensitive and somewhat uncomfortable on my inner upper arm, and it might be spreading to my back. Could it be shingles? Should I see a doc now or wait to see if I get a rash? [more inside]
posted by maleficent at 5:23 AM PST - 17 comments

My dear friend passed away recently. Their family wants to get access to the iCloud account, Google account, and iPhone. I was my friend’s iCloud recovery contact, but not their iCloud legacy contact. Will I be able to help them? [more inside]
posted by infinitewindow at 12:56 AM PST - 2 comments

I'm working on a musical, and need Final Draft b/c it's called the industry standard for the theatrical industry. Final Draft's website warns cost conscious buyers to not buy "gently used" versions of their script writing software b/c they may be pirated copies. I found a version of FD9 from 2016 (the latest version is FD12) that the owner says was installed once, and then sat on a shelf. [more inside]
posted by CollectiveMind at 11:19 PM PST - 7 comments

I have two vulnerable family members with complex and challenging issues. They are no longer able to function reliably. I think I need to move back to take care of them. This is breaking my heart. Mefites who have had to take care of relatives with bipolar disease or particularly challenging considerations: how did you cope? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 10:42 PM PST - 12 comments

Please recommend your favorite cookbook that has nutritional information with each recipe (calories, sodium, carbs, fiber, etc.). Bonus points for a photo showing the results of each dish. The gold standard for me is Better Homes and Gardens New Dieters Cookbook, but I'm open to any and every style of cooking, including wackadoo fad diets.
posted by Carlo at 10:37 PM PST - 7 comments

I'm stuck in a rumination spiral about being a 26 year old living with two housemates who are 40. Do you have any stories of friendships/cohabitation with people older than you that you can share to help me feel like less of a freak? [more inside]
posted by fantasticbotanical at 9:25 PM PST - 30 comments

Does anyone know anything about Charles's kitchen floor in Only Murders in the Building? (Links: 1, 2) Is it available for purchase anywhere?
posted by Blue Jello Elf at 9:02 PM PST - 4 comments

In April 2022, my mom's roof suffered severe damage due to a snowstorm. She has made an insurance claim but refuses to discuss moving forward with it. [more inside]
posted by 8LeggedFriend at 9:00 PM PST - 8 comments

I want super soft, dreamy cotton muslin bedding for my new bedroom. The muslin bedding space seems to be overflowing with trendy, expensive web-based companies right now. I don't mind splurging on this, but it's hard to tell which products are really extraordinary and which are just well-hyped. [more inside]
posted by TrixieRamble at 8:54 PM PST - 6 comments

I’m looking for recommendations on what types/classes of bike I should look at when I go to stores (and what I can rule out). [more inside]
posted by jonathanhughes at 8:53 PM PST - 8 comments

I am helping to organise a Taskmaster-themed birthday party. What tasks should we set? [more inside]
posted by Paragon at 6:55 PM PST - 11 comments

I just knocked on my upstairs neighbor's door for several minutes, increasingly louder knocks, until finally she turned the (extremely loud, bass-y) music down and said through the door, who is it? I said, it's your downstairs neighbor. And then she turned the music back up and said to her friend, it's nobody important, it's just my downstairs neighbor. [more inside]
posted by Glinn at 6:13 PM PST - 17 comments

Twenty years ago, I bought an extremely lightweight/thin cotton screen-print t-shirt at a national park in Greece (Samaria Gorge on Crete, I think, which is absolutely gorgeous). It was great, but of course being extremely lightweight/thin, wore out long ago. I've never found anything similar, and now I'd like to! [more inside]
posted by Alterscape at 5:42 PM PST - 4 comments

My brother is looking for a short cartoon/animation of a bumblebee that would've aired on cable, somewhere in the late 80s/early-mid 90s. It featured a bumblebee flying around while humming very cheerfully (no dialogue). It was simple in style, limited colors: black and white and maybe yellow? Does this ring any bells for people? [more inside]
posted by lysimache at 5:18 PM PST - 6 comments

My mother and I have been on-and-off estranged (my choice) for the past few years, which I have been fine with. My grandmother's death in late 2020 forced us back onto speaking terms, and now she wants more. [more inside]
posted by Summers at 5:14 PM PST - 9 comments

I've never had access to Apple TV before, but recently started a free trial to watch Severance, which was excellent. Now I'm looking for what shows exclusive to Apple to watch next. Personal preferences below the fold. [more inside]
posted by coffeecat at 4:56 PM PST - 23 comments

A relative has been living in his car and smoking meth for some time. He was admitted to a facility this week, but his car is in my driveway now. His upholstery and laundry (from the car) has a strong acrid chemical smell. If anybody is familiar, is there a recommended way to clean the seats/car? [more inside]
posted by Megafly at 4:42 PM PST - 15 comments

What are some effective and practical ways to find statistics to use as citations in business and tech articles? [more inside]
posted by ErikH2000 at 4:28 PM PST - 3 comments

My bike has has an Orp for 6 years and it's saved my ass many times. I recently bought a Beeline Velo 2 and love it. My bike also has a Freitag Knight Rider frame bag and a Plume, neither of which are made any more and both of which are great! What are your favorite bike-related gizmos, accessories, etc? [more inside]
posted by dobbs at 3:40 PM PST - 15 comments

Is there a dishwasher safe pitcher that will work for my needs? How does one fit a pitcher in dishwasher? [more inside]
posted by Crystalinne at 1:40 PM PST - 17 comments

You can buy energy drinks with caffeine and some taurine to cut the jitters. Athletes and high-performers drink often drink caffeine as a preworkout. The same group also takes painkillers for recovery or even for the event itself. And you can buy painkiller tablets, to drink with whatever liquid you want. Manufacturers also sell NSAID gels that you can rub on your body. So: Why don't they make drinks containing painkillers like ibuprofen? Or do they, somewhere, even with a tiny bit like < 10mg? Has this been tried in the past? [more inside]
posted by circular at 1:38 PM PST - 18 comments

I just found a pile of sawdust at the base of a raised planting bed made of railroad ties in our backyard. Help me identify the pests and what to do now. [more inside]
posted by Special Agent Dale Cooper at 1:24 PM PST - 4 comments

In view of the likely worsening natural gas prices, what should we be doing now to prepare ourselves for the upcoming winter? What is cheaper to buy now to prepare? [more inside]
posted by unid41 at 12:23 PM PST - 23 comments

I'm seeing lots of articles online about how to re-brighten previously white sheets but not as many on how to confidently change a deeply colored sheet to white, and then perhaps to a different color from there. Is this project likely to work? [more inside]
posted by rockyraccoon at 9:18 AM PST - 7 comments

My mom made a delicious herb and olive oil sauce and sent it home with me frozen last Saturday. I forgot to put it in the freezer and it's been in my fridge since then. [more inside]
posted by pumpkinlatte at 8:22 AM PST - 8 comments

My wife's birthday is coming up soon and she's been a huge Harry Potter fan forever. We're not fans of the author—for what I hope are obvious reasons—but my wife still really loves the world of HP and I don't want her to lose that. She jokes every year that she, "still hasn't gotten her Hogwarts letter." Well this year I'm going to give her one, along with some other small HP themed gifts, and I'd love for her to wake up to it having been delivered by owl... [more inside]
posted by Mister_Sleight_of_Hand at 8:08 AM PST - 30 comments

Or is it already too old? Also ipad. [more inside]
posted by Thug at 6:42 AM PST - 11 comments

Why don't tiktokers (of "random acts of kindness" style) need to get release or consent forms from their subjects? [more inside]
posted by freethefeet at 3:43 AM PST - 8 comments

I enjoy British mystery/detective books, particularly if in an ongoing series. There are obviously many options in this area. What should I read next? Details of what I have read and liked inside! [more inside]
posted by cpatterson at 2:31 AM PST - 24 comments

Late-thirties cis female. Semi-recently, a few minutes after using a vibrator I get pain in my abdomen that is only relieved after using the toilet. Is this something anyone else has experienced, and/or how worried should I be? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 2:22 AM PST - 7 comments

My wife is turning 50! I would love your special gift ideas. Anon cuz she sometimes cruises my metafilter history. Her awesome details below: [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 10:09 PM PST - 11 comments

So it took me two weeks to call my doctor about a probable UTI. I guess I thought it would clear up. I haven't had one in many years. Anyway, when my doctor's office got the message they said I need to make an appointment or go to an urgent care center. Which alarmed me. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 10:09 PM PST - 14 comments

Looking for strategies on how to handle work situations where people ask intrusive questions after significant weight loss that happened for health reasons. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 9:19 PM PST - 24 comments

My new health insurance is denying medical necessity for Adderall XR, even though the generic formulation causes anxiety and “rough”/drugged feelings that the brand didn’t. What can I do, if anything? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 9:19 PM PST - 5 comments

I have an alcoholic sibling who often leaves creepy, threatening calls late at night to a variety of people, including both me and my spouse. We have blocked their calls. However, while our (different) phone services allow us to completely block incoming calls from their number, they will mask their caller id with *67, and that will result in their calls blocked from ringing but going to voicemail on both of our carriers, resulting in creepy voicemail messages waiting for us in the morning. Given that we have different carriers, it seems unlikely that there's much we can do. Is there a service that will allow us to not only block *67 calls but also keep those *67 calls from going to voicemail?
posted by anonymous at 9:19 PM PST - 8 comments

I am making a career change and haven't been getting many nibbles to applications so I'm looking for somebody to review my resume and identify shortcomings from the perspective of a recruiter. There's a broad proliferation of firms that advertise this service, but I have doubts on their ability to deliver - after all, they're getting paid upfront and it's not clear what, if any, success they've had in getting their clients interviews. Indeed, a number of sites provide a free scan by an Applicant Tracking System then try to upsell you - the overwhelming vibe I often get is they're amplifying and preying upon jobseeker's insecurities. Any suggestions for somebody who does this type of work, except they get paid upon success or otherwise have their interest aligned with yours (e.g. staffing agency gets a commission only upon placement)?
posted by ndr at 9:02 PM PST - 4 comments

Please share helpful techniques to teach a sense of urgency to employees in environment that requires hustle, efficinecy and a sense of urgency, in both movements and multitasking. I have found a sense of urgency one of the hardest things to teach- folks either have it or they don't. I'm looking for anything from personal anecdotes to Course on Management and beyond. Think saving seconds and minutes, not meeting deadlines a month away. [more inside]
posted by Grandysaur at 8:58 PM PST - 28 comments

How to time Alaska cruise for least risk of covid-19? [more inside]
posted by NotLost at 8:42 PM PST - 10 comments

What commercially available products, or even things occuring in nature, have a characteristic that is both its best quality and one of its worst qualities? [more inside]
posted by happy_cat at 7:06 PM PST - 29 comments

I'm trying to find a relatively inexpensive way to get an item from the IKEA in Renton, WA, to me in Portland, OR, and I'm wondering if anyone knows of any sort of service where people already traveling from one place to another can be booked to grab a package and bring it with them? [more inside]
posted by bixfrankonis at 6:50 PM PST - 12 comments

At work, I deal with bureaucracy, and I get frustrated. Please suggest playful things I can do on my own to lift my mood. [more inside]
posted by cheesecake at 3:05 PM PST - 26 comments

I'm married with two kids. Both my partner and I are somewhat disabled in ways that are hard to prove, but we both work part-time. We were very low income for a long time and lucky to receive various social services that made that workable enough. Now, though (thanks in part to previous assistance on ask.metafilter) I have more employable skills and a much better part-time job, and this year for the first time I'm worried about making too much money. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 2:53 PM PST - 9 comments

I'm being completely obliterated by paperwork, intake appointments, and scheduling for mental health treatment. I don't know how to streamline this, or work 'smarter' towards finding appropriate treatments, and I can't cope with the logistics of finding care. How can this be done? [more inside]
posted by furnace.heart at 2:23 PM PST - 7 comments

I enjoy flamenco, and a few other not-intrinsically related musical styles (non-american "folk," largely rhythmic, dance-oriented, or plaintive), but I can't stand sterile modern production and self-imposed stylistic limitations. Looking for key artists, labels, collections, and possibly forums and discussions to have a starting point for research. [more inside]
posted by Jack Karaoke at 2:14 PM PST - 11 comments

An acquaintance of mine named Rick is developmentally challenged. He's a very nice, salt of the earth guy who just happens to be unable to take care of himself. He's high-functioning inasmuch as he makes a bit of money doing odd jobs like mowing lawns during the warm months and clearing driveways in the winter. But his mobility is limited by the fact that his condition prohibits him from obtaining a driver's license, and when you talk to him for just a few minutes it's obvious that he's not someone who could handle living alone and staying on top of the responsibilities that implies. [more inside]
posted by DavidfromBA at 1:53 PM PST - 29 comments

We were friends in early college, I was always very envious of her, I was a bad friend and destroyed our friendship, we have not spoken in over a year. She may be moving to the city that I’m living in now this fall with her partner to start law school and I’m consumed by so much jealousy that I would actually consider moving out of this city ASAP to get as far from her as I can. [more inside]
posted by cruel summer at 12:16 PM PST - 33 comments

I completely forgot my partner's birthday last week and didn't figure it out until yesterday. What now? [more inside]
posted by Gyre,Gimble,Wabe, Esq. at 11:28 AM PST - 17 comments

I am planning a move to a new condo where I will need to replace two old 12,000 btu thru the wall air conditioners. Does anyone have a preference for a particular manufacturer (Keystone, Frigidaire, etc.)? [more inside]
posted by Rad_Boy at 10:44 AM PST - 6 comments

I can choose between Novavax, Pfizer or Moderna for my second booster, no difference in access. I will also, probably, be able to access whatever variant specific vaccine in the fall or early winter. [more inside]
posted by stray at 10:42 AM PST - 4 comments

I am thinking of taking a mattress my friend is getting rid of (mentioned in this question). A few months ago she sprayed pretty close to it with ant spray, which may have gotten on it. I don't know what kind of ant spray, but let's assume the more toxic kind. The mattress did have the sheets on though. Is this a risk at all? If so can I get rid of the risk by using a mattress protector? Any certain kind of protector?
posted by catquas at 9:36 AM PST - 3 comments

I just got tenure in the humanities, but instead of feeling energized and free, I feel anxious and unproductive. How do I rethink my attitude to work for the coming years? [more inside]
posted by derrinyet at 9:04 AM PST - 21 comments

My first-degree relative has been diagnosed with Marfan syndrome. They have a genetic diagnosis (mutation in the FBN1 gene). My own GP has referred me onto several specialists to follow this up, but the wait to be seen is very long. I'd like to throw money at this and quickly get my FBN1 gene sequenced privately. Where can I have this done in the UK?
posted by abecedarium radiolarium at 9:01 AM PST - 3 comments

Is there a way to set up the Facebook page for my non-profit without having it linked to an individual's account? It does not seem so but I am hoping there might be some trick/hack out there. [more inside]
posted by rpfields at 7:43 AM PST - 6 comments

Are there any lightweight MP3 players that play well with a subscription service like spotify/apple music/ etc? I'm looking for a device that can play music offline. Since I don't care about owning albums, I'm hoping to be able to just use the offline option to temporarily download audio files to listen to on a device, but I know DRM makes this difficult.
posted by Think_Long at 7:35 AM PST - 11 comments

I am a total newbie with an Iphone, having been an Android user for years. I have noticed a bothersome feature. [more inside]
posted by jtexman1 at 7:00 AM PST - 7 comments

Kiddo is toilet trained but doesn't get how to wipe his bum. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 6:56 AM PST - 7 comments

Getting back into doing simple strength training, I noticed a striking improvement in alertness, focus and mood directly after lifting. I read from a Russian strength guru that Russian sports science considered lifting heavy weights to be a "tonic" for the nervous system. In (maybe) contrast, people usually ascribe "runner's high" to hormones (which I understand are closely tied to CNS). Does anyone really understand this complex aspect of our biology? [more inside]
posted by Jon44 at 5:30 AM PST - 4 comments

I have a Braun electric shaver (Series 3) that I bought in the US. It can't be operated on AC power, but it plugs into the wall in order to charge. You have to unplug it to actually use it, meaning it runs off the now-charged battery. Given the text on my razor's cable plug, can I charge my razor in Portugal with only a plug adapter and NOT a voltage converter? [more inside]
posted by edlundart at 5:19 AM PST - 7 comments

I'm on a Mac and mainly surf the web, software development and frankly am addicted to iMessage on my Mac, Most my work is cloud based so I usually use VSCode and JetBrains and SSH to debug and things, With very few exceptions I'll use an Azure VDI for Windows development. I use Linux daily, but headless and definitely not a daily driver. I toyed with an iPad but it really just works as a daily reader, I figure with the emergence of SSH IDEs I can debug remotely or at worst just run a VM, I have two Windows 10 Enterprise laptops from work and while once you eventually manage to login the UI is great but they've progressively have been to well enterprise and subscription.based. I might as well just use a VM or an Azure VDI and turn it off. My question is this when I tried Linux KDE in the early 2000s my experience was frankly horrible, Windows and Mac are smooth, knock on wood I don't have weird drivers die or other oddities. It also wasn't polished. The graphics looked a bit amateur, it felt like a gaggle of people with no clear vision (for better or worse Jobs for example had a clear vision), and even things like fonts looked second rate. This seems silly but I know no Linux GUI users to ask, Questions inside. [more inside]
posted by geoff. at 3:57 AM PST - 23 comments

I'm on a team proposing a new way to handle our internal comms via email. We need the equivalent of a Mailchimp for our intranet, but looking at the obvious (Staffbase, ContactMonkey, Workshop), there's a huge drawback. The system I work on is locked down hard, and I can't get a third-party program approved without sacrificing a firstborn. [more inside]
posted by dorothyisunderwood at 3:44 AM PST - 3 comments

I’m looking to institute an internal wiki for my employer, a small but growing company. We have finally landed between Docsie and Helpjuice. Has anyone used either service? Trying to decide which is more intuitive on the backend. We will eventually make a client-facing FAQ, and also need to be mindful of scalability.
posted by soleilMia at 3:05 AM PST - 1 comment

Howdy, hive! I was planning to travel to the US to deal with a Covid-delayed memorial to my dad and to have his ashes interred. Now I am getting cold feet. Details below. [more inside]
posted by Bella Donna at 2:04 AM PST - 24 comments

I was started on Lithium yesterday. I have some questions about weight gain and exercise. [more inside]
posted by Cat Pie Hurts at 12:59 AM PST - 5 comments

I have always known that something is going on with my gender identity, but until recently I didn't have any idea how to articulate it. Where can I find safe online spaces or resources to learn more? [more inside]
posted by Zumbador at 10:45 PM PST - 11 comments

I'm going to see a friend in Montreal next week and am struggling to find some interesting activity to suggest. Some place quiet where you can talk for hours would be ideal, unless it's a performance. The weirder the better. Complications: no unmasking indoors, non-strict vegetarians who don't drink, after 6pm on a weekday, combined French vocabulary of <200 words. [more inside]
posted by eotvos at 10:24 PM PST - 9 comments

One of my coworkers has found a feral kitty in need of rescuing. Coworker reports that Kitty appears to be about 2-3 years old, very malnourished, and pretty tired. My goal is to come get her this Saturday, and then take her to my vet on Tuesday (appointment tentatively booked.) Please let me know what you think of my plan (details inside) and help fill in the gaps for the things I can and should do while we wait for a vet visit. Possibly Hard Mode: I have a cat already, and my bathroom doesn't have a window. [more inside]
posted by The Adventure Begins at 8:24 PM PST - 22 comments

We're considering adding about ~9,000 mWh/year of rooftop solar in the California Bay Area (PG&E). Is it worth our time to look into what we can do with the Renewable Energy Certificates we would generate? [more inside]
posted by unus sum at 7:01 PM PST - 8 comments

The NYT's recipe thing, which I subscribe to and really like, had a recipe from Eric Kim for sheet pan kimchi fried rice. I won't link it because paywalled but it's terrific. I'm wanting to do something similar but am not sure quite how to go about it. [more inside]
posted by less-of-course at 5:58 PM PST - 11 comments

Can a Canoscan 8400F meant to operate with Windows XP be used with W10? I have a pile of family photographs that need to be scanned and shared with family. This is a one-time project that is not worth the cost of a W10 capable scanner equivalent to the 8400F. I have read that the Canoscan Windows 7 driver will let this scanner be used with W10? Have any of you done this?
posted by Raybun at 5:00 PM PST - 9 comments

2/3 of my day job is good. 1/3, which was added after the other 2/3, is giving me panic attacks (my most recent panic attack before this was over 20 years ago). I've told my boss I'm not suited for this part of my job. He encourages me to buck up and soldier on. After five months, I'm sick of it. I'm applying for other work of course, but how do I survive the now? Snowflakes inside. [more inside]
posted by HeroZero at 4:56 PM PST - 9 comments

My 76 year old parent, diagnosed with dementia a couple of years ago, no debt, but bad financial decision-making history, doesn't like to plan. New twist: settlement money coming her way in a couple of weeks. Help! [more inside]
posted by foxhat10 at 4:13 PM PST - 15 comments

A colleague was transferred into my department due to performance issues, and given leadership of a project. I was supposed to provide some technical guidance and be a team player, but the colleague has not stepped up as a leader (they are almost completely silent in all meetings) and so I've been filling the vacuum and pushing the project along (with great results). The colleague is close friends with my boss, who doesn't seem to care about what's happening. I feel exhausted, hurt and used. But I don't know what will make me feel better. What should I do? [more inside]
posted by acidic at 3:15 PM PST - 23 comments

If I want to sit on a dumb rowing machine and either gamify it or add some imaginary scenery to row through or whatever is that possible? I have android devices and a fitbit. [more inside]
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 2:42 PM PST - 13 comments

I witnessed a terrible crime a long time ago. It gave me PTSD. Last year it become public knowledge that I witnessed this crime. (I am also a victim of the same crime, by the same perpetrators.) I am being intimidated. What can I do? [more inside]
posted by tiburon at 2:39 PM PST - 7 comments

There is a backstory see below. I have a new co-worker that is inserting herself into a big project I was assigned to lead. She is emailing my boss without discussing it with me and telling me that she wants to lead the project. I am a quiet leader. I do not like conflict and I am an introvert. However, I am passionate about my work. To me, this is social justice work. I am an interesting environment, to say the least, I have been here a while and I know the process. She is trying to negate the process and me. What do I do? I know I need to speak with her. But, what are the words? I tried to work with her and then she did some things that were a red flag. I know I am getting the work done, and I have been promoted twice. I really do not want this to become toxic. [more inside]
posted by Boyd at 2:25 PM PST - 5 comments

I have a few different USB audio devices connected to my computer: a headset, a mixer. Is there a physical device, preferably USB, that lets me switch where audio output is routed by pushing a button? I'd like something extremely simple.
posted by 4midori at 2:21 PM PST - 5 comments

We recently did a DYI kitchen renovation. We have had some problems with soap scum, or mold, or something. I think it may have something to do with the install? Not sure. [more inside]
posted by uncannyslacks at 2:16 PM PST - 2 comments

Can anyone identify what this is? Pic here. I found it in a pile of wood scraps. It is a solid piece of wood with a round hole running top to bottom and slotted holes around the edges. Amongst the other wood scraps were lots of barrel staves, and it is barrel shaped, but that may be coincidental.
posted by juggler at 1:30 PM PST - 6 comments

I haven't traveled internationally in a while, certainly not since before covid and the current air travel morass. I'm planning a work trip in the fall, and I want to know what kind of minimum layover I should be looking for. I'm a US citizen traveling to/from the EU. [more inside]
posted by juliapangolin at 1:10 PM PST - 21 comments

Please recommend to me all of your favorite places to enjoy tacos in the East Bay, from food truck to hole-in-the-wall to sit-down to schmancy. Thank you!
posted by DavidNYC at 12:34 PM PST - 20 comments

I’m going to a couple weddings this summer and I have no idea how to style my hair in a “fancy” way that is not an updo . I have straight hair in a shoulder length shaggy layered cut with parted bangs. I am very “wash and go” normally and don’t know anything about styling hair, but I don’t think my regular look is “done” enough. What styles should I try? [more inside]
posted by vanitas at 11:38 AM PST - 15 comments

I run a small business in California. I have two doors and one window. Looking for a simple, cheap alarm system for the premises. Any recommendations?
posted by fake at 11:25 AM PST - 5 comments

I love to stay at hotels attached to the airport (even better if behind security) when traveling. What are your favorite in-airport hotels where you can stroll straight up to security (or your gate) for an early flight? No shuttles, no "nearby," any country. Thanks!
posted by cyndigo at 11:18 AM PST - 35 comments

Does it work [more inside]
posted by Caxton1476 at 11:16 AM PST - 9 comments

My kid often asks for help naming characters in her writing. In general she's looking for names that have a hint of meaning, but not too on the nose. What reference book can I get her? Online resources also ok. [more inside]
posted by fingersandtoes at 10:57 AM PST - 10 comments

I've asked a few questions about pools and pool heating in the past, but this one is specifically about the guts of a pool heater and what goes on in there. Details inside. [more inside]
posted by invincible summer at 10:52 AM PST - 4 comments

My father passed away earlier this year and left behind an extensive library of books pertaining to the American Civil War. I would like to donate these books to a historical library or museum for lending and/or reference, with bookplates in them that bear his name. My local library isn't interested. Where do I go from here?
posted by Beethoven's Sith at 10:31 AM PST - 6 comments

Our neighborhood is in the process of redesigning its street name signs, and we are exploring ways of making the signs more useful. Having only the name of the street seems like a missed opportunity. [more inside]
posted by edmz at 10:24 AM PST - 15 comments

The vibe I'm going for is the scene from Ozark where Ruth is screaming at Wendy and Marty. I get chills and love it. I'm blanking but some songs I can think of are: Kelis - I hate you so much right now Beyonce - Ring the Alarm
posted by mokeydraws at 10:07 AM PST - 35 comments

I’m having trouble making sense of the latest news in real estate. If a person doesn’t want to move and can afford their payments, is there anything to worry about right now? [more inside]
posted by ficbot at 9:27 AM PST - 11 comments

I have a trademark in the EU for my company name, and I want to expand it to the USA. I've already done this procedure through the EU trademark office. The application was rejected by the US trademark office because of silly formatting issues. I need a US trademark lawyer to resubmit a corrected application. Do you have one that you like? [more inside]
posted by PardonMyFrench at 9:20 AM PST - 2 comments

I'm coming up with a list of famous movie romantic clichés - specific ones like the boombox over the head shot from Say Anything and the "Girl standing in front of a boy" with the Chagall painting from "Notting Hill," and nonspecific tropes like sharing a rowboat on a lake or running through a meadow of flowers toward each other. Are there any that take place walking down the street? [more inside]
posted by Mchelly at 9:06 AM PST - 24 comments

I was looking in my apache access logs and I noticed that we're getting hundreds of requests on one of the subdomains for update.php, which in itself is mildly bothersome but what's weird is the originating IP is my own server's IP. [more inside]
posted by missmagenta at 8:50 AM PST - 6 comments

I would like to have the tools for more detailed insight on how to compare the relative cost of different items and services from years ago. [more inside]
posted by nantucket at 8:49 AM PST - 6 comments

I have made this malted milk caramel layer cake recipe twice now. Both times it gone pretty badly - the cake sank and has a gummy texture inside. What am I doing wrong, or is this recipe a dud? [more inside]
posted by fanlight at 8:49 AM PST - 12 comments

How would you spend your time in a meaningful way if you didn't have to/couldn't work? There's a 75% chance I will be in this position in the near future, and I am kind of at a blank! [more inside]
posted by socky_puppy at 8:49 AM PST - 14 comments

My house has central air through a gas-fired furnace. It doesn’t function when the power is out. What is the simplest/cheapest way to use a generator to supply the necessary electricity for the AC to work? I’m aware of the high end solutions and know that an electrician/new wiring is probably involved. I’m trying to ascertain the range of possibilities that won’t damage anything. Thanks!
posted by carterk at 8:47 AM PST - 9 comments

I have been not working for over two years due to health issues and am at a point where I can go back into employment. I have no idea how to explain this to recruiters and future employers, I still have the health issues which I don't want to disclose immediately, but I don't know how to explain such a long absence. I am not in the US and am in a European country where time off for health is normal, but not this long.
posted by anonymous at 8:40 AM PST - 6 comments

I must attend an indoor wedding this week with my family in NYC. I haven’t left my house for more than getting the kids to school, Target pickup or visiting relatives since COVID started. Scared of the idea of being maskless eating for the rehearsal dinner and reception. Scared thinking about my family having COVID despite us all being appropriately vaxed. I have a therapist, I’m on meds, but no idea how to handle getting myself out there. out there I must be to support my spouse and children who want to attend. Am I doomed to panic attack and fear? How did you overcome this?
posted by Geckwoistmeinauto at 8:36 AM PST - 28 comments

It's a 4x4 grid of squares - 12 of which are blank, while the other four have a number filled in. Each row and column (and the two diagonals) are supposed to add up to a certain number (provided next to each row/column). I have no idea how to solve these - and apparently there's many multiple solutions to the puzzles... [more inside]
posted by destinyland at 7:52 AM PST - 2 comments

A friend died recently. He was beloved by many many people, and many of the people would like to give money to his widow. We do not want to set up a go fund me or anything public, but would like some kind of account that can accept incoming money easily and that she can have access to. What's the best way to do this? [more inside]
posted by dpx.mfx at 6:11 AM PST - 15 comments

I am trying to find out, or confirm my memory about, a previous occasion when newly built boats were stuck up river because a historic bridge could not be dismantled to let them through. It is currently happening to Jeff Bezos - but I recall reading about some navy patrol boats built in Italy, and then stuck because the town refused to allow a historic bridge to be dismantled to let them through. It was in a book called Return of Heroic Failures, which I had a very long time ago. https://www.dmarge.com/jeff-bezos-superyacht
posted by grazer at 11:44 PM PST - 5 comments

One of my best friends lives about 500 miles away and is incredibly sick with hyperemesis gravidarum. Normal long-distance supports like sending food/chocolate/delivery, flowers, phone calls, etc. don't make sense right now for various reasons. I asked gently if calls would be nice or no, and it's no, and I can't just go over to her place and help out with tasks. [more inside]
posted by iadacanavon at 8:59 PM PST - 21 comments

I’m having a party this weekend at my house. I’ve invited all my friend groups and am even renting a bouncy castle! Can I serve this gelato? [more inside]
posted by bendy at 8:14 PM PST - 19 comments

I want to make a heavy tallish shelf that can be tilted back and rolled like a hand truck (it will be holding very heavy items that will be fastened in place). The wheels part is stumping me, since I've only ever worked with casters and I think I need wheels more like a wheelbarrow/hand cart/hand truck. Like this -- two wheels connected by an axle. Where do people get these things, especially the axle and whatever attaches the wheels to it? [more inside]
posted by amtho at 7:17 PM PST - 27 comments

My frenchie is turning 11 and I was wondering about throwing her a dog birthday party with a bounce house rental. But then I thought what if she pees from excitement. But then I thought, well kids must pee from excitement all the time. Anyway CAN you rent one of these in Los Angeles or is it breaking a bounce house law?
posted by rileyray3000 at 5:39 PM PST - 25 comments

I'd like to DIY a bouncy castle in a park for my kiddo's birthday party. How can I power the fan? [more inside]
posted by nouvelle-personne at 5:18 PM PST - 11 comments

Trying to find something enjoyable that will be available at my local library. The last book I really enjoyed was by T Kingfisher/Ursula Vernon, but all of her books are checked out - which is awesome, but. [more inside]
posted by bunderful at 5:17 PM PST - 14 comments

What can I do to maximize the chances that a provisional credit on my checking account for several large fraudulent transactions while traveling abroad will remain permanent? [more inside]
posted by fenwaydirtdog at 2:41 PM PST - 9 comments

[Gestures broadly at everything] is making me into a misanthrope and I don't like it. I hate people. Not specific people, or even specific kinds of people. PEOPLE. Persons are fine. Introduce me to your mom and she'll find me personable and friendly. But people as a collective and non-specific people out in the world are just the worst. I need to be able to like and enjoy humanity again, so that I can be happier, perform better at work, set a better example for my kid, and not miss out on the good from other people. [more inside]
posted by DirtyOldTown at 1:55 PM PST - 55 comments

These Tevas immediately stretched out. Can they be saved? Thanks! https://imgur.com/gallery/mSpGH5E
posted by 2soxy4mypuppet at 12:07 PM PST - 3 comments

A lot of my gamer friends tell me my original music would be a good fit for gaming. I'm looking less for musician's advice and more for freelance/career/networking advice and strategies. [more inside]
posted by KneeHiSocks at 12:01 PM PST - 7 comments

I know someone who will be visiting Ontario. She has three doses of (I think) Sinovac, but maybe a Russian vaccine. Can I help her access an MRNA vaccine while she is in Ontario? She will be here 6 weeks. She is elderly, if relevant. She is not a citizen or resident.
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 11:22 AM PST - 4 comments

How feasible / annoying is it to store a 3d Printer away when not in use? [more inside]
posted by carpyful at 11:15 AM PST - 7 comments

I have mediocre to poor credit, but also own a house. I will however need to rent an apartment in another location, without selling the house. Will the fact that I have very good collateral (and they could lien my property if I didn't pay) make landlords more willing to take me? If not are there other things I could do in the short term? [more inside]
posted by sockmeamadeus at 10:18 AM PST - 8 comments

I recently found a playlist of surprising and interesting covers of famous Bob Dylan songs. I really enjoyed it and am on the hunt for more. What are your favorite not-widely-known versions of songs that are themselves widely known? (In whatever circle you inhabit.) Thanks!
posted by jeszac at 9:34 AM PST - 150 comments

I own lots of music that I like. I buy CDs because I am old. I rip the CDs because I'm not THAT old. I want to hear my music around my condo. Is that so much to ask? It's prime day. Can echo do this? Can I voice control it? I use media monkey on a windows computer, if that matters. My computer has bluetooth. I have wifi. I have a google home mini, but it does not do this. I am in Canada.
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 9:18 AM PST - 14 comments

I love the phone-with-a-keyboard thing on my Cosmo Communicator, but it doesn't work as a phone. What should I do instead? [more inside]
posted by medusa at 8:49 AM PST - 7 comments

The plot involved people who start seeing angels near them. One person's angel looked like Kurt Cobain. Some kind of group or cult that formed from people who had these visions. The main character believed this was a gift and eventually conspired to give it to the entire world by having affected people secretly donate blood to pass it on. Spoiler: It turned out to be some kind of brain disease, maybe a prion, and the orchestrator of this plot went to jail. [more inside]
posted by julthumbscrew at 7:54 AM PST - 12 comments

So what's the deal with hydroxyapatite toothpaste anyway? I use fluoride toothpaste and have no problem with it but just wondering if hydroxyapatite is really better, if it actually does remineralize teeth, etc. Has anyone used it? What effects have you noticed?
posted by thelasttango at 7:45 AM PST - 7 comments

I lost the dog I wrote about in my previous post in early May. Since then, things felt really empty. I thought that getting a puppy might help, but it's a lot. Do you have any tips for getting through this? [more inside]
posted by Krop Tor at 5:34 AM PST - 10 comments

Watching Succession a few months back really helped me see how f'ing awful my family really were and process some things. Any similar 'emotionally abusive family representation' out there? [more inside]
posted by litleozy at 5:16 AM PST - 33 comments

What's a good window-mount bird feeder that is big enough for cardinals, but NOT for mourning doves and pigeons? (Or, how else can I keep the pigeons away from the feeder?) [more inside]
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 4:19 AM PST - 11 comments

I'd like to explore options for low-key family beach vacations in Mexico, Belize, Costa Rica and/or the Caribbean. Budget is limited, though, and I don't feel as confident about mapping the intersection of "nice, safe, consumer-friendly experience" and "good bargain" in these countries, as I do in US or western EU. Specific suggestions are also welcome, but in general, what's the best process here-- as in, where do I start looking for destinations and services? How do I vet what's trustworthy? What are best practices for locating something affordable but not sketch? [more inside]
posted by Bardolph at 4:15 AM PST - 4 comments

Partner and I (triple vaxxed) share a home with my in-laws (just had 4th booster this week). My partner and I tested positive (first time ever for both of us) for COVID last week. Partner and I then started wearing masks inside and isolated ourselves. It's been over a week and now my father-in-law appears to be symptomatic (dry cough, sore/scratchy throat), but so far testing negative. Need to determine next steps to prevent further spread in our home, as well as re-infection given BA.5's documented propensity for re-infections. Details under the fold. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 3:31 AM PST - 7 comments

I have Autism and have terrible problems with filling out forms online, especially complicated serious ones like FAFSA etc. That's what I'm trying to do now. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 3:31 AM PST - 6 comments

I've been experiencing recurring stomach pain for about a few months. Had a x-ray, an ultrasound, a MRI taken with no abnormal results, and an upcoming upper edonscopy exam in August. Ended up going to Urgent Care about 3 weeks ago because I was having sharp pains. Was given medicine. Took it briefly, stopped because the pain went away. Having a bad flare-up now, I got vacation plans literally today. What to do? [more inside]
posted by dubious_dude at 2:43 AM PST - 18 comments

I often need to specify whether the context of an interaction or situation happend online, or not. Many people seem to use "real life" to refer to "not online". I really don't like that. Even if people don't really mean that face to face interaction is more valid than, say, a conversation on a forum, language is powerful and I don't like the assumptions and implications around framing it as "online" vs "real life". [more inside]
posted by Zumbador at 11:58 PM PST - 17 comments

Perhaps it is due to my own advancing years, but I have enjoyed a few books and films where "age and treachery" win the day or at least make a good show against youth and impudence, and would like some more. Examples inside. [more inside]
posted by BlackLeotardFront at 7:43 PM PST - 37 comments

Looking for mindset help and concrete resources, and please bear with me as I'm sure I am going to flub some of this discussion. My son is turning into a control freak and I am losing my patience with him more than I'd like. [more inside]
posted by crunchy potato at 5:52 PM PST - 31 comments

I have a Baume & Mercier watch that I'd like to sell as painlessly as possible. It's probably worth about $1-2K. I'd like to simply walk into a store and get cash for it (I'm in New York City), or utilize a similar service online. I do not wish to put up my own listing, ad, auction, Craiglist's post, or the like. I know this will mean less money in my pocket, but the tradeoff is worth it to me. Thanks for your advice!
posted by Conrad Cornelius o'Donald o'Dell at 5:51 PM PST - 4 comments

I am especially interested in finding thoughtful subreddits where people discuss things similarly in tone to what happens here. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
posted by mortaddams at 4:11 PM PST - 15 comments

This question is a big vague but I had a stroke and was prescribed Phenobarbital. I don't drink anymore and to be honest I feel fine on it but people tell me I come off as drinking. I've been a bit of a shut in since taking because I'm tired of being labeled a drunk. I don't feel drunk but obviously relaxed, I'm beginning to think this is impacting my professional life with jokes about having "one too many for lunch." I take it as prescribed but besides the drunken appearance it helped where other drugs don't. I'm think skinned but in professional environments I don't feel the need to given a long talk which frankly seems defensive. Any advice?
posted by geoff. at 3:32 PM PST - 13 comments

Have you traveled through Peru by bus? I'm looking to visit Lima, Arequipa, Cusco and beyond next June and July. Please share your advice and anecdotes! [more inside]
posted by smorgasbord at 2:25 PM PST - 5 comments

Bath towels have been the bane of my existence. I've gravitated toward soft, thick towels and have spent a fortune buying expensive and not-so-expensive towels. Within a year they all end up stiff, rough, or unsightly because the bands shrink. I've tried various laundry methods to avoid these problems, but am now Fed Up. I learned about peshtemal towels here on Ask Metafilter, and I'm wondering how they function as ordinary bath towels. Those of you who have used them, what say you? Is there anything in particular I should look for in buying them?
posted by DrGail at 2:24 PM PST - 15 comments

Do you have naturally dark hair that is going/went grey? Have you ever had “grey blending” (highlights) done at a salon? Here are some examples of what I mean. What did you ask for in order to get what you wanted? Were you happy with the results? What was it like in terms of growing out and maintenance? [more inside]
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 2:21 PM PST - 7 comments

I'd like to read books/watch movies in which a person living at a precarious point in history (correctly) predicts doom/chaos/upheaval and meets heavy resistance socially. A Jewish man is living in 1932 Berlin and his family has had it with him saying they may all be killed. A young engineering student living in Tehran in 1977 is ostracized by her classmates because she turns every conversation into "I think a revolution is coming and it will be bad." I want to see people try to balance relationships and the mundanity of day-to-day life even as they're convinced the world is about to turn upside down. [more inside]
posted by DirtyOldTown at 1:45 PM PST - 6 comments

We're interested in buying a battery-powered lawn mower, and the thing that gives us pause is that the batteries are too expensive to have to replace often. Lots of reviews say the batteries go bad quickly, but we've read this is because people don't know that they can't leave them plugged in once they're fully charged. If we're good about doing that, will the batteries last many years? [more inside]
posted by daisyace at 1:42 PM PST - 21 comments

Dump or not dump? [more inside]
posted by pando11 at 1:29 PM PST - 7 comments

What's the best product for rapidly inflating four stand-up paddleboards? [more inside]
posted by rouftop at 12:53 PM PST - 9 comments

I was on an improv team (that lasted for about 6 weeks) named The Dunning Kruger Effect. That is how I came to own the domain name dkeffect.net. It's expiring in about a week, and I would like to give it away to someone who will use it well (and not just for insulting the ignorant :). Who? [more inside]
posted by amtho at 11:03 AM PST - 9 comments

I got some sea asparagus in my produce box. I just popped a piece into my mouth as I was making a salad. So salty! Relatively firm. It was immediately obvious that these should be dehydrated and turned into the Hickory Sticks of the sea. And yet google doesn't seem to know about this. What spices should I put on my sea asparagus to make an awesomely healthy yet delicious chip-adjacent snack food? [more inside]
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 10:48 AM PST - 9 comments

I'm writing about St. Therese of Lisieux (aka Little Flower). A lot of the veneration seems to come from her dying young, pretty and innocent--a deathbed photo of her serene face is especially revered. I'm sure many women have been fetishized for dying young, pretty, and innocent, and I'd like to know who comes to mind for you. Can be historical figures from any era, saints, women mentioned in myth/folklore. Trying to steer clear of more recent celebrity deaths.
posted by mermaidcafe at 10:38 AM PST - 32 comments

Hi guys, I’m thinking of upgrading from a Samsung Galaxy S7 to the Galaxy SA13, S20, S22, S22+ or S22 Ultra. Are there significant differences between them? [more inside]
posted by dianeF at 10:29 AM PST - 11 comments

I've been asked by a family member to look into what sort of antivirus protection or firewall they should be using for a windows laptop and I'm not sure what is current best practice. [more inside]
posted by Caz721 at 10:18 AM PST - 6 comments

A simple question: I have some short video clips I would like to share on Zoom. I can share them either by downloading them and sharing from my laptop, or, I could share them by streaming directly from the website. (The website is Netflix, if that matters). My inclination is that streaming from a website would be more reliable? [more inside]
posted by nanook at 10:13 AM PST - 9 comments

I think I'm going crazy. Is there a version of "Institutionalized" by Suicidal Tendencies where the gang chorus sings the title word institutionalized instead of just institution? [more inside]
posted by Boxenmacher at 9:55 AM PST - 19 comments

Okay, so I live in Oregon. Four years ago (maybe three) I went through the first step of doing a legal name change and have the paperwork from the court certifying that. However, I haven't done any of the follow up steps (that is, showing that paperwork to my credit union, getting a new driver's license and social security card, etc). Can I still use that years old court paperwork and do the follow up steps now? Or do I need to start the process over? TIA!
posted by overglow at 9:12 AM PST - 3 comments

I'd like to commission an American Girl photographer/stop motion animator to make a photo for the cover of my next single. [more inside]
posted by pxe2000 at 8:58 AM PST - 5 comments

I'm trying to get evaluated for an attention deficit disorder, and the psychologist I saw for intake is refusing to schedule me because of my disability. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 7:22 AM PST - 13 comments

I grew up recycling metal, paper, and many plastics. Increasingly in the last several years, I have been seeing articles posted on MetaFilter and elsewhere that have made me seriously doubt the value of recycling. I have tried to find a good answer to the question of whether recycling is worth the effort, and finding an answer has proven difficult. Do you have good books, articles, or websites to recommend that discuss this question holistically and in depth? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 7:03 AM PST - 37 comments

Let's say I wanted to buy a house/property in a rural area somewhere in the United States within a 2 hour drive of a medical group/hospital/whatever with specialist doctors. No other criteria. Where am I buying?
posted by rhymedirective at 6:50 AM PST - 36 comments

I’m in the market for a new kitchen scale that I need to be both precise and accurate to about 1/10 of a gram for cooking and some yarn stuff. I don’t need it to be pretty. Please recommend me a scale that you use and like. [more inside]
posted by bilabial at 5:10 AM PST - 9 comments

Hi! When we move out of Boston, we are considering renting out our house. I'm having trouble finding advice/considerations with regards to this. Specific questions: [more inside]
posted by bbqturtle at 3:30 AM PST - 24 comments

Our new-to-us dog (8 year old, 65 lb standard poodle mix) is lovely when he's hanging out at home with my husband and me. But he is bullying his canine "cousin" (a submissive 25 lb dog) and he gets fearful/aggressive at human visitors. I don't think we have the energy and vigilance to keep everyone safe (especially the little dog) while we try to correct this behavior. Is a board and train facility the solution we need? Any experiences good or bad? [more inside]
posted by metahawk at 10:28 PM PST - 15 comments

I think it was a likely an oddball comedian/magician contestant. Something unusual but funny, and funny in an unusual way. The judges, aside from Howie Mandel, did not care for the act at all. Someone perhaps even buzzed them/chose to send them home directly? [more inside]
posted by radiosilents at 8:04 PM PST - 4 comments

So this afternoon I spilled gas on my car. I just thought to google it now and apparently I really should have washed it off. I didn't. Now I can't until tomorrow. The car is parked indoors. I probably did get it on the tire. What is going to happen to me/my car?
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 7:05 PM PST - 10 comments

This illustration of the concept for an electric, pedal-assisted train concept hangs at the delightfully quirky Madsonian Museum of Industrial Design in Waitsfield, Vermont. It's a concept for an "electric, pedal-assisted train," apparently part of a scheme called Transit Lite. I can find absolutely no other information about this anywhere, and my curiosity is piqued. The illustration looks like it dates to the 80s. "STJ+LC" is written on the side, a reference to Vermont's St. Johnsbury and Lamoille County Railroad, but may have been a later addition to the illustration. Anyone know anything more?
posted by bassomatic at 6:02 PM PST - 6 comments

I farm squash and I always end the season with a huge amount. So I cook and scrape out the seeds of many, many squash. I want a large spoon that is slight sharp to scrape the seeds out. [more inside]
posted by Emmy Rae at 5:25 PM PST - 15 comments

I am doing an artist in residence at a veterinary school, and I utilized their mosquito ovipositioning paper used to hatch mosquito eggs for epidemiology research as a substrate for a mosquito painting. It turns out this paper is repurposed 15x10" tan seed germination crepe paper, and it has broken aqua lines. I'm really curious - why the lines, and why the line placements? Are they an artifact of the production process, or are they added for germination aid of some sort? [more inside]
posted by vegartanipla at 5:20 PM PST - 4 comments

I want to rehab a 2011 Giant Seek 2. It needs tubes, tires, brakes. What are some good solutions to those that are...easy? I want to replace the stock Tektro Novela Cable Actuated Disc brakes which have always screeched super loud and are worn down. I'd also like to fit typical hybrid tires, but ideally with some protection against punctures. Part & convenience-tool suggestions appreciated. [more inside]
posted by circular at 5:18 PM PST - 9 comments

I ordered one of those rolled-up, expandable mattresses (queen) from Amazon, and in its still rolled-up state, it measures 40" wide. Amazon verified that the product sent was a queen size (60"): would you expect that, once unrolled and expanded, it would become 60" wide? If I open and expand it, and it's still too narrow, I will not be able to send it back (cost-prohibitive at best).
posted by mmiddle at 5:16 PM PST - 10 comments

Looking for book recommendations in which either or both modern Edinburgh and Skye themselves are 'characters' in a way. Visiting those areas in the fall and want to get a feel for them from the page. [more inside]
posted by greta simone at 2:55 PM PST - 13 comments

A friend is looking for a barely-remembered book: "It was a book about people living underground with vines that could talk after some sort of war. It was set under Salina, Kansas." [more inside]
posted by DarlingBri at 1:40 PM PST - 4 comments

Mr Jane and I would like to swap our iPhones. X and SE. Is it as simple as just swapping the SIMs? We share a phone plan.
posted by sarajane at 1:36 PM PST - 8 comments

I have a new mini-split. It's working great in one room but in our room, It's having two issues: 1) It seems to get way colder than the setpoint eventually at night running normally 2) The humidity is pretty high (mid 60s) when it runs. Dehumid works amazing but gets incredibly cold (~10 degrees colder than setpoint). Have you dealt with these issues? how did you fix them? It' seems like I probably have a too large sized Mini split, to be honest-- but i'm not sure how I can get that swapped out...
posted by sandmanwv at 12:47 PM PST - 6 comments

I am traveling to the Myrtle Beach area for a short time this month despite knowing pretty much nothing at all about it. What is the area like in the mid-summer? What should I be packing to wear and have? [more inside]
posted by We put our faith in Blast Hardcheese at 12:44 PM PST - 21 comments

So (sew), this huge, magnetic, unknown force pulled me from Boston all the way to the New York City garment district. Not only that, but this same force pulled my wallet out of my purse. And it pulled the credit card out of the wallet!! There are just some things beyond my control. The credit card bought a couple yards each of fake fur in black, grey, pink, and white. What should I make with it? Am an intermediate to advanced sewer. Any and all possibilities (garments, bags, etc.) welcome! Thank you!
posted by Melismata at 12:18 PM PST - 20 comments

I might want to expand my house - quite a lot. How do I do that? What are the steps before we get to the actual construction? This is in Oregon. [more inside]
posted by mygothlaundry at 11:53 AM PST - 18 comments

My family is traveling for a couple of weeks this summer and I'd like to take some pictures, of course. But I don't want to use my Iphone 7, its not good enough. What's the best simple, compact camera to use for such a trip? [more inside]
posted by RajahKing at 11:32 AM PST - 9 comments

My friend's sister died, and he's traveling cross-country to deal with her house and stuff. Please help me help him. Details below the fold. [more inside]
posted by cyndigo at 10:49 AM PST - 8 comments

Brief background: new company, first annual review, and so far it's been weird. Like, an hour-long mandatory all-company meeting where HR said things like, "...crying is not appropriate during your review..." My Manager returned from vacation today; let me know that my annual review is tomorrow, and that "she's only supposed to release my written performance review one hour before we meet." Which seems odd. Last company I worked for released it days in advance so we had time to reflect and prepare comments. Have the HR winds changed drastically in the last 8 years?? What's the current zeitgeist? What REALLY should I be expecting??
posted by Silvery Fish at 10:14 AM PST - 19 comments

We bought a couple of prints while in Mexico, and I'd love to know who the artist is or if they have a social media handle I can follow.
posted by BuddhaInABucket at 9:32 AM PST - 6 comments

How can I attach an ordinary, fabric zipper to Kraft-Tex, besides machine-sewing it? And if I cannot, what are good alternative closures? [more inside]
posted by wenestvedt at 9:23 AM PST - 6 comments

We recently got back from a week's vacation, arriving home at midnight to a dead air conditioner. In July. In Texas. Many tears were shed. We had a recommended repair company come out the next morning, and he fixed it. All was well! Except... not. [more inside]
posted by Torosaurus at 9:11 AM PST - 9 comments

On our street, many lawns have dead grass both on the lawns and the treelawns. There are dozens I counted today. Is this a potential gas leak? What could be the cause? [more inside]
posted by glaucon at 9:05 AM PST - 12 comments

Ten years ago, I ordered a custom house numbers plaque that looks like this. I paid £10 + £6 shipping from someone in Birmingham that doesn't seem to be around anymore. It's painted plaster, but I always really liked it. It's about six inches wide. [more inside]
posted by andrewzipp at 8:08 AM PST - 4 comments

My family recently moved. We have two young children (ages 1 and 3) who share a bathroom upstairs. The bathroom just has a very nice dual shower - no bathtub. Plenty of room for one though. The kids are too young for showers, and our main bathroom downstairs is inconvenient for multiple reasons. We would like to get some kind of portable, semi-temporary, standalone tub for bath-time, but there are so many options and it is hard to tell what you are getting online. [more inside]
posted by seed at 7:44 AM PST - 14 comments

Will be getting one of those new M2 Macbook Pros next week. My current computer is a Mid-2012 Macbook Pro, running 10.12.6. under the Sierra version. Am I looking at any sort of problems transferring from such an old Mac (10 years baby!) to a spanking brand new Mac?
posted by clocksock at 5:23 AM PST - 22 comments

Ideas, suggestions, or just flat-out solutions: I have a spinet piano in very good condition which I'd like to donate to a good cause/organization/whatever—and I'd like the receiver to carefully pick it up and take it away—e.g. not just some guy and his brother-in-law—but by big people with vehicles and equipment meant for the job of moving delicate heavy machines like pianos. Usually it costs $300–$400 to move this with me each time I change residences. I do not use it enough to warrant this. Help me DTMFPA [more inside]
posted by not_on_display at 12:07 AM PST - 28 comments

Testosterone (4 years now) has made me run much, much, much hotter than normal and most particularly my crotch. I thought I'd adjust, but the misery has gotten worse, partially because I have the world's keenest sense of smell. [more inside]
posted by liminal_shadows at 10:06 PM PST - 36 comments

I want to put a nice finish on a shaped oak handle for an exercise club. It already has a thin coat of Osmo wax stain. [more inside]
posted by clew at 9:35 PM PST - 6 comments

Should I buy hot chocolate mix in a plastic canister or in a box of paper packets? (Don't tell me to make it from scratch; that's not going to happen.) The plastic canister says it is about 33 servings but I actually get about 25 servings out of it. The paper packets come 30 to a box, one serving each.
posted by NotLost at 6:01 PM PST - 11 comments

Is there a name for the feeling that you have concepts in your mind that you fully understand and can think about with no problem, but there's like a portal into the space where you articulate things for others, and these concepts just don't fit through it? [more inside]
posted by bleep at 4:27 PM PST - 28 comments

When you had a broken rib, how much did it limit your activity? I fell four days ago and have all the symptoms of a broken rib--can't take a deep breath; hurts to laugh, cough, sneeze, etc.; have to sleep propped up; hurts to bend over. Internet says don't waste money on an x-ray because it doesn't change the treatment. But despite the pain, I am able to function okay. I can do basic stretching, household chores, walk the dog, etc. It's not comfortable but it's fine. Does that mean it's likely not broken? Or is that normal for a broken rib?
posted by HotToddy at 4:04 PM PST - 14 comments

So I am dissatisfied with my lawyer job in government and I want to get another lawyer job. The problem is that I feel like I don't have the skills that other lawyer jobs are looking for. Is there someone who can help me match the skills I do have with available jobs? [more inside]
posted by tafetta, darling! at 2:58 PM PST - 11 comments

My dad’s behaviour is beyond the pale and my mom is fed up. Advice needed. [more inside]
posted by beabop at 1:26 PM PST - 43 comments

What’s the source of the phrase “the [noun] of it all?” [more inside]
posted by bluloo at 11:57 AM PST - 10 comments

I’m a vegetarian and just graduated college and starting to learn how to cook for myself for the first time w/o parents or a dining hall to lean on. I’m doing fine for myself right now, but I’m primarily eating for convenience as opposed to nutrition or flavor. I’d like progressions on the recipes that I’m familiar with at the moment as well as new recipes! [more inside]
posted by cruel summer at 11:27 AM PST - 24 comments

After 5 days parked in an outdoor long-term parking lot, some kind of (not tree) gunk accumulated evenly on our entire car. We suspect it's accumulated jet fuel vapor. It mostly did not come off at the car wash. What do I do? Am I completely screwed? Does the airport have any liability? Is there some specific product that will get it off?
posted by BuddhaInABucket at 11:11 AM PST - 16 comments

My mom's been dx'd w/ stage 4 mesothelioma colon cancer. What is the genesis/outlook of this disease? [more inside]
posted by erattacorrige at 11:02 AM PST - 12 comments

My car rolled into a house while it was parked. No one was hurt. I've never had to deal with any insurance claim and since it's not clear who is at fault, I want to make sure I do it properly. I'm looking for advice about dealing with ICBC and if there are pitfalls to watch out for. [more inside]
posted by raeka at 10:10 AM PST - 5 comments

I have been using an outside storage unit for the past five years. Items have been undisturbed… by humans. As I start to clear out the unit, how should I clean off dust and possible rodent droppings from the outside surfaces of cardboard boxes and from unboxed items? [more inside]
posted by calgirl at 9:38 AM PST - 9 comments

I was invited to a birthday party at a friends home and after the party asked to pay 30 dollars for the food provided. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 9:30 AM PST - 83 comments

I'm dealing with a will that has a trust set up for someone, and I want to ignore that part of the will. Can I do this? Will anyone care? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 9:29 AM PST - 11 comments

I have “online” library cards at three different Maryland libraries, and I have them set up in Libby. But when I search for a title in Libby, it searches “Maryland’s Digital Library” regardless of which card I have set to “Active.” Are different ebooks available in Libby via the different libraries, or are they all accessing the same collection? If they are different collections, how do I search them separately?
posted by 2 cats in the yard at 8:32 AM PST - 8 comments

At an estate sale yesterday, I bought this piece of Chinese art. While I'd love help identifying the artwork and its artist, I realize that's probably impossible. (It may be a corporate mass-produced thing. Who knows?) But I'd be happy if somebody who reads Chinese could translate this text from one corner of the piece. It'd be fun to know what this says. Does anyone here read Chinese?
posted by jdroth at 8:15 AM PST - 3 comments

The Pomodoro method doesn't really work for me. What else can I try? [more inside]
posted by iamsuper at 6:17 AM PST - 20 comments

My current FFP2 masks aren't comfortable to wear for more than about two hours because they will chafe my rather prominent nose bridge raw. I have a couple of long-haul flights with airport transfers coming up and I'll be masking the whole time so I'd like to find a mask that better suits my face shape. Must be available for purchase in Ireland or from a vendor that will ship here from within the EU. Many previous mask recommendation threads are US-centric hence this region-specific question.
posted by 4rtemis at 1:54 AM PST - 10 comments

Asking for a friend -- does anyone have a recommendation for a good EMDR center or therapist in LA (preferably west side?) Bonus points if you know whether they accept Anthem Blue Cross. Thanks!
posted by egeanin at 11:10 PM PST - 1 comment

I'm looking for a book on Greek mythology with the best retellings, the best cultural/historical info, and -- most importantly -- the best art. I mean Classical relics, Renaissance paintings, maps, everything. Not just Edith Hamilton with some line drawings. Classical Myth from this question looks pretty good, but is there anything else?
posted by Flying Saucer at 7:36 PM PST - 4 comments

Inspired by this article on The Undeclared War, I've interested in watching drama/thriller tv shows that do a deep dive, well-researched and accurate, into a particular niche topic. I prefer shows about contemporary, relevant issues. Recommend me shows from any service or country, I'll find a way to watch it ;) [more inside]
posted by loonietrillium at 7:03 PM PST - 15 comments

Myself, my wife and our nine year old son will be visiting NYC in August for a few days. It will be our wedding anniversary while we're out there, and we're hoping to find a mid/upscale restaurant to enjoy. My wife and I usually would splurge on a multi-course meal someplace really nice, and while our son is pretty adventurous when it comes to food (most recently he enjoyed stealing some sweetbreads off my plate), you know, he's still a kid. [more inside]
posted by noneuclidean at 5:43 PM PST - 8 comments

I want to meet up with far-flung friends in August since it’s been years and one of the friends is visiting from abroad. We’ll all have car access, but in addition to the added complication of kids (aged 1.5 to 8 years old), we… have no idea where to meet! Do you know a lot about destinations in PA, western NY, or northern OH? Please help us choose! [more inside]
posted by cluebucket at 5:31 PM PST - 10 comments

There's a non-zero chance we may end up moving to Winnipeg in the fall. What is living there like? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 4:41 PM PST - 9 comments

What is the Royal Road chord progression (IV△7–V7–iii7–vi) in E minor? I’m having a hard time finding the correct chords.
posted by pxe2000 at 4:14 PM PST - 1 comment

So I cannot drive a stick-shift, but I think I want to learn. I like to learn at my own pace and my own way. I'm thinking about buying a cheap used car ($3k-5k) to learn on, with the understanding that the process of learning will probably damage the car somewhat, and accepting this. Good idea? Bad idea?
posted by The otter lady at 3:59 PM PST - 51 comments

I'm looking for helpful tips for traveling internationally (outside the US) for a family from the US with a young child with a disability. Specifics below the fold. [more inside]
posted by Toddles at 3:52 PM PST - 5 comments

I’m a 33yr old male, recently unemployed after being let go from my entry level job. Despite my education, I feel underqualified and embarrassed about the state of my life. How do I change my perspective and turn things around? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 3:46 PM PST - 13 comments

In 1993 my family took a train trip in Tuscany, either from Florence to/from San Gimignano or Florence to/from Venice. My father, speaking no Italian accidentally bought two tickets for small animals on the trip instead of his two children. Can you help me figure out if he overpaid or underpaid? [more inside]
posted by Carillon at 3:01 PM PST - 3 comments

We just completed a full basement renovation, part of which included a new media room with wall outlets for a TV (we are planning to buy a new TV). The contractor ran 2 HDMI cables from the wall outlet to a utility closet. The utility closet has the Verizon box (FiOS) and our modem. But I'm not 100% sure what to do with the HDMI cables? And how to best set this up so we can access a variety of media on whatever TV we get. [more inside]
posted by DiscourseMarker at 2:51 PM PST - 8 comments

I went through a break up around 5 or 6 months again. I’m sufficiently over the guy now, but still, when I’m around him, I can’t help but compare myself to him constantly. While I plan to keep my distance, I want to stop comparing myself to him. [more inside]
posted by cruel summer at 2:24 PM PST - 19 comments

You are not my doctor. I have a doctor but she is out until august. Help me safely manage my kidney stone pain just over this weekend. [more inside]
posted by Mizu at 1:43 PM PST - 8 comments

Library people and clean people, it’s your time to shine. Being a family of former librarians, one of whom can’t reach shit, we thought it would be cool to get a Kik-Step step stool. It’s great but the top is dirty as hell. It’s made of sticky rubber for grip, with lots of concentric rings for grip. So it’s gripping a ton of dirt. Crumbs, dog hair, whatnot. How do I get it clean? [more inside]
posted by chesty_a_arthur at 1:32 PM PST - 6 comments

I'd like to know if there's an easy way to pre-make pizza dough and freeze it for later use. [more inside]
posted by NoneOfTheAbove at 1:20 PM PST - 9 comments

My mother's apartment building in California is such that only Cox offers voice/phone and internet service, and only in the form of a VoIP solution. We had to rent their modem, a Panoramic Wifi Gateway model CGM4140COM. I'd like to buy my own and stop paying a rental fee to Cox. Can it be done? [more inside]
posted by StrawberryPie at 12:34 PM PST - 3 comments

I watched The Grand Budapest Hotel last night, and today I'm thinking about all the allusions. Considering how many there are, and the kinds of people who like Wes Anderson movies, I was wondering if there were any sites that systematically broke down everything, like paulsboutique.info does for the album of that name. [more inside]
posted by kevinbelt at 12:16 PM PST - 5 comments

Need a sanity check if this is a red flag I’m not seeing due to early stage dating color blindness. More details after the jump [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 9:20 AM PST - 25 comments

I have three grandchildren. My adult child appears to have a not-great relationship with food and eating. I have recently been struggling with at least one food issue recently. Details below. Please skip if this might be triggering. [more inside]
posted by Bella Donna at 8:47 AM PST - 25 comments

In the Before Times, my late husband and I had a photobooth setup that we managed to use for a grand total of, I think, three events (one office party, one charity event, and our own wedding). It's been unused and sitting in the basement since we moved to my current home four years ago. I'd like to revive it - probably starting with some local outdoor neighborhood events but maybe hiring myself out for weddings, etc., in the future if I find I'm having fun with it. So what makes a photobooth awesome? [more inside]
posted by mskyle at 6:18 AM PST - 5 comments

My 15 year old son loves to 3D print things and has access to great equipment and materials. His grandparents’ joint, 75 bday celebration is coming up and we need ideas for a gift. What is something that he could make that they would find useful/neat/fun? They are active and have recently moved into independent living. All ideas appreciated.
posted by pearlybob at 5:56 AM PST - 5 comments

I’m looking for ideas for summer meals or components that can be made in a batch and eaten over the course of the week for easy dinners with no or minimal cooking in the moment. Things like: a big salad that holds up over days, potato or egg salads, a batch of deviled eggs, cold soups … what recipes do you love for this? Bonus points for deliciousness, ease, use of summer ingredients of New England, minimal cooking.
posted by spindrifter at 5:01 AM PST - 23 comments

I'm American, and I live in the UK and have indefinite leave to remain (like a green card.) I can very easily now apply for UK citizenship. I'd like to vote, so I'm inclined to do so. I would keep my US passport/citizenship. Any downsides I'm not seeing?
posted by heavenknows at 3:01 AM PST - 19 comments

My partner and I recently split after 15 years. It's messy and confusing and I'm finding myself having a lot of trouble processing it all. Could use advice and support. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 10:46 PM PST - 34 comments

I'm in a major US city, and my dog has giardia (symptoms started Tues) and started meds today. I have some mild GI symptoms this week that haven't been improving and am leaving the country Monday. What would you do? [more inside]
posted by deludingmyself at 9:49 PM PST - 10 comments

I just saw the first few minutes of this movie on Netflix tonight. About four or five priests live in a house together and they're having dinner. All but one go out to see the move "Miracle on 34th Street." The priest left behind lets in a young man who says his car broke down. The young man ends up killing multiple priests. That's just the beginning, and all we saw. But we don't know the title.
posted by NotLost at 9:30 PM PST - 3 comments

I want to get glasses that are basically bifocal readers: a value at top of the lens and different value at the bottom of the lens. The online shops that I've looked at only let me order bifocals using full prescription numbers. How do I correctly convert a reader strength like +0.75 to prescription-style SPH/CYL/etc. numbers? [more inside]
posted by StrawberryPie at 9:24 PM PST - 4 comments

I'm trying to find the font used on the cover of "Tuesdays With Morrie". [more inside]
posted by TimHare at 9:23 PM PST - 4 comments

No clue how to understand what just happened in the "situationship breakup" I went through with someone who is both a lover and a collaborator. Help me understand if I was being the asshole, or if not, how I should interpret what just happened? And help me understand what is fair to do in the aftermath of our creative collaboration? [more inside]
posted by icosahedron at 7:24 PM PST - 17 comments

How worried do I need to be about this dog bite? [more inside]
posted by Sabby at 6:47 PM PST - 15 comments

How can I make my daily morning walks in my grim, urban neighborhood less boring? [more inside]
posted by whitelotus at 6:11 PM PST - 25 comments

Can I eat it? Olive edition. [more inside]
posted by vernondalhart at 6:06 PM PST - 4 comments

I'm a non-diabetic who wears a CGM that aspires to fully embrace the Mediterranean Diet. That said, whenever I eat according to this diet, my CGM says that my metabolic health is terrible (due to carbohydrate-induced spike). I'm so confused. [more inside]
posted by JPowers at 5:45 PM PST - 12 comments

I'm not used to seeing my parents like this, and I feel myself freezing/freaking out inside, on top of being in a highly anxious place already in my personal life. I don't know how to deal. [more inside]
posted by monologish at 5:20 PM PST - 3 comments

I recently bought a Holga 135BC film camera for shits and giggles. I honestly don't know that I've ever used any film camera other than a disposable, so I was worried that I was doing things wrong: not loading the film correctly, not winding it, etc. Turns out, I had reason to worry. I just got my first roll back from Walgreens, and there were no exposures. Any idea why? [more inside]
posted by kevinbelt at 3:36 PM PST - 15 comments

The recent internet outage here in the Great White North has made me think of an old comic/pamphlet I remember from maybe 20 years ago. Society collapses and workers in an office revert to savagery (for lack of a better word). It was done in a vaguely in the style of airline safety pamphlets. Help me track it down ...
posted by doublesix at 1:47 PM PST - 3 comments

I'm redoing our home backup solution to increase reliability of our local backups and to increase the number of computers backed up remotely to two Macs and one Windows computer (likely less than 1TB data in total, certainly less than 2 TB). Would a Synology DiskStation DS220+ for local and Arq Premium for remote be a good approach? [more inside]
posted by unus sum at 1:19 PM PST - 6 comments

What's the best DIY fix for a gross undersink cabinet? We have a cockroach problem, and the undersink kitchen cabinet is harboring them (gross!). The pipes are sealed well, but the problem is that the previous owner slapped on a plywood layer on the bottom that created gaps, which were then suffed with steel wool to stop mice, which then became ideal roach living quarters. The old plywood is also stained and seems somewhat damp. We are likely selling the house in a year and the new owners will probably want to gut and redo the kitchen, so I don't want to do anything too extensive, and prefer to DIY it.
posted by haptic_avenger at 12:14 PM PST - 5 comments

I need to move several states over on a very short deadline. I was expecting to have more time and money to do this with and there are additional complicating factors. What are things I need to do but might be forgetting, and what are things I might be overcomplicating that I can do easier? [more inside]
posted by sockmeamadeus at 12:02 PM PST - 12 comments

My older brother asked for my advice on a WiFi extender/router. I recommended he go with the Asus Zen mesh system, which Wirecutter recommends. He bought one. His question now is, what does he need in terms of modem to connect to the coax handoff from Xfinity/Comcast? Since the Asus Zen will be doing most of the work, all he really needs is a clean pass through with no loss of speed. Is there one he can order online that is cheap/fast/simple that will do the trick? Or, to keep it simple for him, should I just tell him to lease whatever Comcast offers so they can talk him through setting up the passthrough to the Zen?
posted by DirtyOldTown at 11:34 AM PST - 3 comments

How good are doggy DNA tests at identifying purebred dogs? [more inside]
posted by rouftop at 11:28 AM PST - 11 comments

After the excellent responses and resources from this question I am hoping for further advice, tips, and tricks for learning how to use my new power wheelchair. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 11:07 AM PST - 2 comments

I am trying to learn what local cities and counties are doing in response to the Dobbs decision. I would like to have a landscape of what mayors and electeds are pursuing or considering to help women. I am interested in policy options, as well as how cities and counties are working with community partners, and private donors. I am in Ohio. I am interested in what we can create and lift up where I live. Thank you!
posted by Boyd at 10:27 AM PST - 5 comments

We're about to be traveling and staying in unfamiliar areas in the US, and we would like to spend more time exploring them on foot. [more inside]
posted by Lyn Never at 10:25 AM PST - 13 comments

I think I have a hoarding problem. About five years ago I realized I could go to the local library surplus sale and pick up books for my own "use" and take the ones I didn't necessarily want over to the local independent bookstore for credit. I would then scour the shelves at the bookstore for something interesting. I now have tons of unread books and have run out of room. Getting rid of them feels bad, but I know I need to. How can I get rid of them? Former book hoarders, how did you break the cycle? [more inside]
posted by mecran01 at 10:21 AM PST - 42 comments

What is the font used for the author name and title on Vintage Contemporaries covers?
posted by pxe2000 at 10:03 AM PST - 4 comments

I'm trying to help someone get over the hurdle of filing 15 years of unfiled taxes, and just trying to figure out where to start, literally chronologically. [more inside]
posted by kensington314 at 9:53 AM PST - 14 comments

Were you living in the U.S. in the 1980s with a large family (at least 6 people)? Were the parents/caregivers in the home from Ireland? Can you tell me what your evening meal was like? [more inside]
posted by corey flood at 8:56 AM PST - 20 comments

George Foreman has 5 sons named George. Deerhoof has 3 songs called "Flower". Mathematicians use the word "normal" for more than 20 unrelated concepts. What are some other examples of the same person/community assigning the same name to several things which one would expect to be uniquely identified by their names? [more inside]
posted by aws17576 at 8:39 AM PST - 27 comments

come up with an USB momentary switch that could function/substitute for a mouse click on a screen. This would be used with a book scanner where some odd 200 pages have to be copied and reformatted. This is 200 some odd swings back and forth in an office chair going between the mouse and the scanner.
posted by Raybun at 7:26 AM PST - 20 comments

We are getting a masonry stove installed (this one) and it has a small firebox (10x12). I'm guessing I can ask the local suppliers of firewood for small cuts, but I'm also interested in doing some of this work myself. If you heat your home with wood, what's your setup? What do you recommend? [more inside]
posted by 10ch at 7:08 AM PST - 13 comments

Do you have advice, ideas, or examples of how to live a meaningful life without participation in local, regional, national, or international public life? Do you have favorite historical analogues for this, societies where public life was wildly constrained or people (unfree, enslaved, or otherwise constrained) were forced to develop their own alternative to public life that was not limited solely to domestic life? What are the best routes forward for this in 2022? [more inside]
posted by cupcakeninja at 5:16 AM PST - 15 comments

We've got a mystery pest, we think in our ceiling. Things started out a little puzzling, and then they got really weird. Can you name that pest? And is there anything else we can do before calling another pest controller? [more inside]
posted by daisyace at 5:09 AM PST - 9 comments

I got a big tax refund this year and splurged on a fancy new high-tech ice cream maker. I have a few recipe books, but am in search of even more of the most lavish, outrageous, decadent ice cream recipes out there. [more inside]
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 4:49 AM PST - 31 comments

How can I split a group of geographic points into n regions containing equal number of points. (Using R) [more inside]
posted by Just this guy, y'know at 3:07 AM PST - 19 comments

I am having trouble finding this through searching so decided to ask here. I'm trying to find out how early into the October term the Supreme Court can start making decisions.
posted by defmute at 8:23 PM PST - 3 comments

Just a thought I had recently. I can only think of two. [more inside]
posted by Flying Saucer at 6:33 PM PST - 161 comments

I have lobbied for several years for my annual girlfriend's weekend to go to Albany and the stars finally aligned. I need recommendations for hotels, restaurants and attractions! [more inside]
posted by tafetta, darling! at 6:08 PM PST - 11 comments

My kids are trying to secure an apartment near a university and it's not easy. I need advice on finances and how apartment leasing works and what to do to secure a place. [more inside]
posted by loveandhappiness at 4:47 PM PST - 21 comments

Hot water heater died at our vacation rental. What’s next? [more inside]
posted by markslack at 4:38 PM PST - 10 comments

A few years back I read a short story about the "inverse" of the Island of Dr. Moreau - where the animal/human hybrids were reversed. I'd love to read it again. [more inside]
posted by House of Leaves of Grass at 4:27 PM PST - 2 comments

It's been six years since this was last asked I reckon, so it's time to go round the houses again: what are your favourite Spotify playlists that get updated regularly? Something like the WFMU's heavily played records playlist, a constantly evolving repository of great sounds that are mostly new to me. [more inside]
posted by Ten Cold Hot Dogs at 3:20 PM PST - 8 comments

I have a million recurring payments I need to cancel, and also I have the debit card number memorized and use it to buy things I shouldn't. So I'd like to cancel the card and start over. Can I just say this to the card issuer, or do I have to say it is lost or stolen?
posted by hungrytiger at 2:54 PM PST - 28 comments

I’m an almost 63 year old woman who works for a large public entity. I’ve been a remote worker for 1 ½ years, always being told that my position would remain remote. Until yesterday, when I was informed by my superiors that I would need to be in the office 3 days per week. Is it time to move on? [more inside]
posted by furtheryet at 2:12 PM PST - 13 comments

How do I best pamper my poor bottom during colonoscopy prep? Any favorite TP brands? Creams? How often and when did you apply it? The doctor's instructions coyly suggest "Use the good stuff!" (meaning soft toilet paper), but not much else. [more inside]
posted by wenestvedt at 1:50 PM PST - 27 comments

I'm wondering if such a no-code platform exists: Self-hosted, FOSS, with simple hosting options available for playing around at <= $15 USD / mo. Ideally I'd run it on a domain I control. Looking to avoid anything enterprise in host or app, like AWS, long toolchains full of white collar devs making changes on behalf of enterprises, etc. Thanks for any suggestions! I know zilch about the no-code world overall. [more inside]
posted by circular at 1:23 PM PST - 3 comments

I need a little sports in my true crime podcast feed [more inside]
posted by mezzanayne at 1:02 PM PST - 9 comments

I'm dubious of "sharing economy" platforms like Airbnb, because they tend to "damag[e] communities and push[] vulnerable individuals to take on unsustainable risk" and dodge taxes and regulations (as Tom Slee writes). If I want to book a house, cottage, cabin, or similar lodging in the US (especially in New England), what platforms are more friendly to my values? [more inside]
posted by brainwane at 12:57 PM PST - 9 comments

I live in the UK and have been working from home since the first lockdown in March 2020. My employer is now trying to get everyone back onsite, but I have asked to continue to work from home as a 'reasonable adjustment' and need some advice. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 11:15 AM PST - 14 comments

We own our $700,000 home (purchased for $300k) outright. We would like to remodel and get some overdue maintenance done. I understand they're different solutions, but considering current inflation and our timeline, what makes the most sense? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 11:14 AM PST - 10 comments

Bad ridiculous messy details below fold. (CW: cheating) [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 11:14 AM PST - 70 comments

I have a compounded medication that keeps coming out of solution; the solids settle on the bottom and will _not_ mix back up without about a half hour of pounding, warming, and/or sticking some kind of stick in there to mix everything up the hard way. What can I put in there to help the mixing action, and where can I get it? Lowe's doesn't seem to have ball bearings in stock. [more inside]
posted by amtho at 10:28 AM PST - 29 comments

I'm looking for an app to help us plan and manage our conference and events. [more inside]
posted by cursed at 10:20 AM PST - 5 comments

Millions of cherries, cherries for me? [more inside]
posted by Slinga at 10:05 AM PST - 16 comments

There are a few sturdy posts with multiple thick eyehooks for clotheslines in an apartment backyard. The lines are gone but the posts and eyehooks (aligned parallel to the ground so the holes face up/down) are doing great. What knot would you use to string new cotton clothesline between the eyehooks? I'm not a knot person, sadly, so any links to instructions or videos would be great. Thanks!
posted by mediareport at 9:47 AM PST - 10 comments

Are current versions of Covid causing a bad cough? I have an event next week that I have been looking forward to for months and I just cracked a rib yesterday. I'm not willing to accept a risk of getting a cough with this rib situation. I guess that means I'm not going anyway but I would still like to know for purposes of deciding whether I need to put myself in lockdown until it doesn't hurt so much to breathe, cough, laugh, exist, etc.
posted by HotToddy at 9:08 AM PST - 18 comments

I just quit smoking and am thinking about quitting drinking, but I am worried about the impact this will have on my life. Help me think through some of these anxieties so I can quit without looking back. [more inside]
posted by derrinyet at 9:07 AM PST - 23 comments

Are there any consequences for using a work credit card for a defunct business to charge expenses for another business? [more inside]
posted by allthethings at 8:56 AM PST - 4 comments

Does the Freakybuttrue Peculiarium in Portland, Oregon still post the confessions box submissions online anywhere? All I can find are submissions from multiple years ago.
posted by capricorn at 8:31 AM PST - 0 comments

After watching "Everything, Everywhere, All at Once," I'm looking for more movies that deal explicitly with the topic of finding the meaning of life, particularly in a way that engages in philosophical debate rather than just leaving you with "life lessons." Any recommendations?
posted by roaring beast at 8:26 AM PST - 32 comments

I'm a single person in my 30s and I manage several people at my job. Between my work and having to manage everything in my personal life on my own, I'm mentally exhausted. How do I deal? [more inside]
posted by anotheraccount at 8:01 AM PST - 17 comments

Took some hardback fiction to a local used bookstore yesterday (arguably the best one in my mid-size town) and was told they weren't interested in "library copies" or "book club copies." Is my FLUBS (Friendly Local Used Bookstore) weird, or is it just me as usual? [more inside]
posted by cidrab at 7:55 AM PST - 19 comments

I'm looking for guides, articles, anecdotes, etc. on best practices for an adjunct professor who is totally new to academia. Personal experience can be as a professor yourself or as a student - and can be something very small that you found great, or broader tips for what makes an engaging classroom experience. [more inside]
posted by NorthCoastRiver at 6:55 AM PST - 15 comments

I have decided to create a website for my art portfolio. What am I supposed to put on it? [more inside]
posted by backseatpilot at 6:34 AM PST - 8 comments

A simple request! I love the SLIBB laundry basket from Ikea--the dimensions are ideal for my purposes--but they are out of stock. Is there another company that makes the same size and shape? I love the pink and teal of the SLIBB but would be happy with any color.
posted by stillmoving at 5:22 AM PST - 7 comments

I'm considering undergoing assessment for being Autistic. The place that was recommended to me apparently use the DISCO assessment instrument. (I'm in South Africa). I have read that some assessment methods are more likely to pick up on autistic traits in adult, female people than others. Is DISCO one of these? [more inside]
posted by Zumbador at 3:56 AM PST - 12 comments

My kid is struggling with maths and needs individual tuition. She hates in-person classes and is very reluctant to ask at school. She's now in an online group tuition that is torture getting her to complete the worksheets and then sit through a 1.5 hour class at a fixed time. She doesn't like gamification or Khan Academy videos (we'll try again if that's the best currently). I'll pay for good online maths that's no frills, explains concepts clearly, and allows lots of practice so she can do sprints at her own pace.
posted by dorothyisunderwood at 2:46 AM PST - 8 comments

I recently read and enjoyed The History of Bhutan by Karma Phuntso. I’m looking for similar books that delve into the history and culture of smaller countries/regions. Any part of the world works for me! [more inside]
posted by bigyellowtaxi at 1:20 AM PST - 9 comments

A friend and I e-mail back and forth a lot. Tonight, we're both getting a notification from Gmail asking if we want to mark the other as spam. [more inside]
posted by bryon at 9:52 PM PST - 14 comments

But this time, not about the dog exactly! But some strange things coming up with the organization we foster with that I am not feeling ethically great about. [more inside]
posted by socky bottoms at 8:05 PM PST - 13 comments

I'm eligible for a 2nd booster (4th dose) of vaccine for COVID-19. Should I take it now, or wait (for an omicron-specific vaccine? or a time when I will need it more?) Despite the characteristically mild Australian winter, snowflakes follow... [more inside]
posted by Cheese Monster at 7:49 PM PST - 19 comments

After another traumatic 4th of July weekend of ear-splitting fireworks with my terrified, shaking, panting dogs, I've decided to be proactive and get input while it's still fresh on everyone's mind. [more inside]
posted by mulcahy at 6:22 PM PST - 11 comments

Both Nashville (Altman, 1975) and Dazed and Confused (Linklater, 1993) are movies with meandering plotlines that take place during the American bicentennial in 1975 and loosely refer to it throughout. Are there other bicentennial-based movies that are light on the plot and heavy on the vibes?
posted by twelve cent archie at 4:29 PM PST - 15 comments

Well, I know I can freeze anything, but can I freeze creamy pasta sauces and they not suck after being defrosted? [more inside]
posted by Saucywench at 3:32 PM PST - 4 comments

We bought a car on Carvana and now have a undriveable/un-titled car. I want to go HAM on them to get them to do fix this? what is the easiest up to-non-lawyer-way to get this done? I've tried twitter, facebook, phone call and submitted a BBB and state attorney general complaint. I've heard of "strongly worded letter." How does that work? What else can I do outside of paying a lawyer? [more inside]
posted by sandmanwv at 1:35 PM PST - 14 comments

My iPhone is theoretically waterproof (iPhone 13 Pro), but please recommend me some kind of secure, reliably waterproof bag or phone pouch with a strap that I can wear while going down a water slide or chasing my kid in the waves at the beach? [more inside]
posted by joyceanmachine at 12:14 PM PST - 8 comments

When weather conditions are ripe for wildfires in the US, the National Weather Service issues a Red Flag Warning. All other types of hazardous weather forecasts are more descriptive (e.g. Tornado Watch, Urban and Small Stream Flood Advisory, etc.), Why does a warning for fire weather have this more obscure name, especially in light of the fact that the less imminent ‘watch’ forecast is called a ‘Fire Weather Watch’? Why isn’t the ‘warning’ level called a Fire Weather Warning instead of Red Flag Warning, so the average uninformed person knows what it means?
posted by theory at 12:11 PM PST - 6 comments

We are trying to get a tabletop that's approximately 36 inches wide and 70+ inches long to use as a both a dining table and a cutting table for sewing and doors fit that description. We have a set of height adjustable legs that attach with screws that we'd like to use with it. One idea we are considering is getting a solid door. Is that a workable idea and how do we find the right kind of door? [more inside]
posted by jacquilynne at 10:55 AM PST - 30 comments

During Covid our house was like a train station with many home school teachers, nannies, therapists etc. So we installed wall mounted paper towel dispensers in the bathrooms used by guests so that people were more comfortable washing and drying their hands. Kind of scary just how many rolls we have been through and the paper waste involved - we still have a bust house with many guests - so have people found a better alternative they (and their household guests) are comfortable with? [more inside]
posted by inflatablekiwi at 10:54 AM PST - 20 comments

We are trying to develop a better process to provide closed captions, but the clients we work with tend to be highly iterative and tend to make frequent updates to existing files. Captioning experts - I'm hoping there are some ways we could streamline caption editing that doesn't require starting from scratch! [more inside]
posted by verity kindle at 10:38 AM PST - 5 comments

I have 1 kg of this unsweetened sieved passionfruit puree. Please help me invent/make a fabulous dessert. [more inside]
posted by cyndigo at 10:18 AM PST - 14 comments

Since May 2020, I've been wearing homemade cloth masks. I know I should upgrade to an N95, but I can't afford either a set of reusable N95 masks or the ongoing expense of purchasing disposable ones (and in the latter case, I also hate the idea of the waste it will entail). I'm wondering if I could compromise by inserting some sort of filter into my double layer cloth masks to upgrade them to something approaching N95 levels of protection. Is this possible, and if so, what sort of filter should I use?
posted by orange swan at 9:50 AM PST - 22 comments

I was rear-ended yesterday. Damage appears minor. Other driver admitted fault, I have her insurance information but she wants to avoid dealing with her agent if possible. What do I need to know? [more inside]
posted by mark k at 9:10 AM PST - 20 comments

Is it worth calling a repairman for a freezer that won't cool? [more inside]
posted by NoneOfTheAbove at 8:44 AM PST - 14 comments

I was at a nail salon today that had 3 Pomeranians running around. They belonged to the staff. My question: is this legal in PA?
posted by cozenedindigo at 8:23 AM PST - 7 comments

What are the best sites for buying prescription eyeglasses online and what is the process like? [more inside]
posted by msbrauer at 6:11 AM PST - 36 comments

Video on my entry-level Logitech webcam is just ugly: flat, desaturated, harsh, painfully detailed, way too wide-angle for my space, grey-dim or else glaring and blown-out even with my best efforts at textbook lighting. Meanwhile, minor YouTubers seem to post footage that's rich, glow-y and flattering, even to their ordinary looks and surroundings. This feels like a lens, sensor and/or internal image processing issue, and more expensive webcams don't discuss those features much. Nonetheless, is it possible a better camera might fix this? If so, which one? [more inside]
posted by Bardolph at 4:35 AM PST - 16 comments

IRS claims I owe upwards of $10,000. What now? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 4:29 AM PST - 16 comments

I overthink everything and doubt every little decision. I end up invariably playing it safe, saying no, and then regretting it. The result of this is that over the past 5 years I have made no real 'progress' with anything in my life. I think there are advantages to thinking things through, doing your research etc. But I'm seeking advice about how to not blow everything up into a big deal, taking a few risks, biting the bullet etc. How do you just go ahead and do the thing? [more inside]
posted by unicorn chaser at 3:30 AM PST - 19 comments

How do I assert myself in my workplace, given the following circumstances? [more inside]
posted by Armed Only With Hubris at 1:53 AM PST - 13 comments

I've been spending a lot of emotional energy concerned about a few friends who are having a much harder time than I am and who want/need things from me. But I am also having a hard time and I am a natural pleaser and trying to figure out where to draw boundaries and could use some additional perspective. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 1:29 AM PST - 8 comments

I'm at an age when doctors ask me how old my mother was at the onset of menopause, but I have no answer. Mom never menstruated while I was growing up, due to whatever happened after my sister was born. But...what was that, and why did it have that effect? Details of what she told me inside. [more inside]
posted by LadyOscar at 9:12 PM PST - 17 comments

So, I've done a lot of stuff, the road to getting there has been somewhat rocky and there are days when I wonder if my approach to doing things is the best or if I'm not screwing myself over in some way. I also think about my age, and whether I should be further ahead or not, whether I did things the right way or not. [more inside]
posted by Tarsonis10 at 6:48 PM PST - 6 comments

I know someone who is keeping a healthy and relatively unstressed wild young bunny -- in actually pretty good conditions for that, but still inside and possibly illegally. Looking for rhetorical strategies to help her decide whether to give the rabbit to a wildlife rehabber for release. Hoping to avoid being personally lectured or yelled at -- I'm doing my best here. [more inside]
posted by amtho at 6:24 PM PST - 32 comments

At a recent eye test, I was told I had age-related macular degeneration, (AMD), and referred to a specialist eye hospital, but owing to the pandemic backlog I won't get to see them until mid-August. I already had AMD in one eye, but now I apparently have it in both, which changes the situation somewhat. A careful online search found a useful pdf from the RNIB (Royal National Institute for the Blind - I'm in the UK) according to which it's a progressive condition with no real treatment available. Since I don't know anyone else with AMD, my question here is does anyone have personal experience of dealing with it, in themselves or others? Thanks in advance!
posted by Fuchsoid at 5:34 PM PST - 5 comments

Looks like Overdrive is really gone now as a way to get library audiobooks from my laptop onto my very old iPod, from multiple library sites. What works easiest?
posted by answergrape at 4:30 PM PST - 6 comments

We are putting forth a mighty effort to comply with our municipality's rules and regulations as we put in our triflingly modest little pool. The newest ask seems to be that the gates on the chain link fence that surrounds our backyard should be "self-closing and latching." One of our gates is a fairly standard single panel one. The other is a double gate that meets at a drop rod. How do we do this?
posted by DirtyOldTown at 3:26 PM PST - 7 comments

A friend and I got looped into a contract for webinar production services for a single event at the end of this month. We both have experience doing work like this for a non-profit as volunteers and adjacent work experience, but neither of us have done this in a more commercial setting, and we have been asked to provide an estimated cost. [more inside]
posted by nanook at 3:14 PM PST - 1 comment

My espresso machine is clogged after 2 years of good use. It’s my first machine and I feel a bit out of my depth Googling for answers. I scrub the basket and portafilter regularly but it’s still intermittently clogged — sometimes the shot will pull but increasingly it will just fill the basket with water and nothing will come out. What’s the best way to clean the basket or portafilter in this situation?
posted by vanitas at 2:32 PM PST - 10 comments

I have my TransUnion report, but it does not show the score. Their site gives my score, but there is no name attached, it could belong to anybody. For renting, don't I need BOTH on 1 piece of paper and still need to keep privacy?
posted by ebesan at 1:37 PM PST - 8 comments

College students and college instructors: what have been your favorite, most engaging, most effective online SYNCHRONOUS teaching class methods and activities in your Zoom classes? [more inside]
posted by nantucket at 12:58 PM PST - 10 comments

Thinking of using antioxidant facial serum--will it harm our new dog if he licks my face? ("Health and fitness" category, also "science and nature") [more inside]
posted by ragtimepiano at 12:46 PM PST - 7 comments

So, last night, I came across a young woman outside a local convenience store, clearly in some distress, and I was a bit at sea on what to do. Not drugs or alcohol, but definitely having a Very Bad Day. I kept some physical distance and bought her some food from inside the store (sealed packaging items only). Tried to listen to her a bit until I was pretty sure I couldn’t help her without it turning … wierd. I’m not the best person to go to for that sort of crisis, mostly because I actually do care, but also because of my age and appearance, it could easily be inferred in a creepy way. [more inside]
posted by JustSayNoDawg at 12:35 PM PST - 9 comments

You know the trope: the rebel shows up (begrudgingly) for high school gym class sporting a bastardized gym uniform and Chuck Ts. If you can recall a film or TV show with such a scene I want to hear about it! Any era/genre will work. No scene too short. Thank you!
posted by i_mean_come_on_now at 12:18 PM PST - 10 comments

Have you had a gum graft or other treatment for receding gums? Please share your experiences, so I can decide whether it's worth meeting with a specialist. [more inside]
posted by kinddieserzeit at 12:08 PM PST - 10 comments

Frances Haugen exposed how FaceBook’s engagement algorithms have had horrible outcomes for humanity, ranging from worsening teen girls’ self-esteem to throwing elections. The same happens with YouTube and probably Google. Have there been any serious attempts to legislate or otherwise constrain these algorithms? Is there anything a private citizen can do?
posted by cotton dress sock at 11:24 AM PST - 4 comments

I have to get a hysteroscopy in the near future. I don't have a family doctor and have been dealing with virtual walk-in clinics, who have a tendency to refer me to not so great clinics and specialists. I am absolutely terrified of medical professionals, and will need to see a gynecologist who is trauma informed, compassionate, and will be willing to sedate me for this procedure. Anybody able to recommend someone like that? Thank you.
posted by Stoof at 11:15 AM PST - 6 comments

I would like to use an effective unscented deodorant. I don't care about antiperspirant qualities, I don't have particularly sensitive skin, and I'd prefer for it not to hurt my shirts but that's not super important. What should I try? [more inside]
posted by yomimono at 10:32 AM PST - 30 comments

It's been years since I've been in Montreal due to the pandemic, and I've spent that time learning French. It's not great but I finished everything Duolingo has. I'd love to spend some time in Montreal for my return and put this language to work. Do you have any suggestions? [more inside]
posted by Borborygmus at 8:54 AM PST - 6 comments

I often answer the questions that Google maps asks about local businesses, but one that kind of confounds me is "Does this place have multiple business on site?" I get the general gist, but what, exactly, does Google mean by that? [more inside]
posted by jacquilynne at 8:22 AM PST - 13 comments

I need: clear glass vessel, approximately 2 quarts, fits in refrigerator door, can handle boiling hot water, has lid. What do you know?
posted by allelopath at 8:08 AM PST - 12 comments

We've recently started getting mail addressed to someone who not only doesn't live at this address, but we are fairly confident has never lived here and does not live at an adjacent address. Should we be concerned? [more inside]
posted by primethyme at 6:51 AM PST - 11 comments

I am having Abdominal sacrocolpopexy next Thursday. I can’t believe it went from stage1 to stage3 in 2 months. My doctor is great and answered all my questions. I’m preparing myself mentally(which is most important now)to get through the surgery and recovery. Last 6/7 months have been really overwhelming. Had a facial mass removed,then had a breast biopsy(thank god it was benign), physical therapy sessions,son having stomach issues and then I started bleeding(had hysterectomy before )……….. now this surgery………….. [more inside]
posted by SunPower at 6:34 AM PST - 2 comments

My brain is so disorganized right now that everything is falling apart. Like - job in jeopardy bad. I am working to create a morning ritual of meditation and yoga, and I want one single soundtrack to help establish that space. Trying to find something has been an added bit of 'overwhelming' for me. CD-only recommendations, please. Part of what I know I need is to be physically present, so no screens, not even to start a playlist. Huge thanks in advance.
posted by Silvery Fish at 5:51 AM PST - 6 comments

My urine is cloudy. Whenever I get a urinalysis they don’t find anything concerning, they just note that my pee is cloudy. My kidneys are doing good. My liver is good. My pancreas is good. I don’t have a UTI or ketones. But it really weirds me out that my urine is cloudy and that the doctors seem to run a very standard panel and then not follow up about it. I’m worried there’s something brewing that we should be on top of. What questions should I ask? Is there a urine test I should ask for? Do some people just have cloudy pee? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 12:08 AM PST - 7 comments

If you have been in a LTR where one party is significantly older, the relationship started when the other party was young and sheltered, and the younger person is now starting to resent that they didn't get the chance to experience the world and have more relationship experience and find out who they are, how did you deal with it? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 10:18 PM PST - 25 comments

I once read a book about a family who adopted a beaver. It was probably published between 1970-1990 and had candid family photos of the beaver swimming in their bathtub. What was it? [more inside]
posted by nouvelle-personne at 9:58 PM PST - 8 comments

So much of the self-help industry is incredibly individualistic (my guess is because it’s deeply linked with capitalism). As a non-religious person, where do I turn to for wisdom that is *not* individualistic? [more inside]
posted by cruel summer at 9:42 PM PST - 15 comments

So, the conservative extremists are doing everything they can to subvert U.S. elections and democracy. What are the most efficient and effective ways for an individual to help fight against this? [more inside]
posted by NotLost at 9:34 PM PST - 7 comments

Is there a text editor or IDE that can keep a stack of various different servers + their folders in the sidebar? Ideally FOSS but open to any recommendation. [more inside]
posted by circular at 8:40 PM PST - 7 comments

looking for books, movies, tv shows, etc that can help me feel seen [more inside]
posted by cruel summer at 8:11 PM PST - 15 comments

Recently, and all at the same time, several situations have arisen in my work and personal life that are requiring me to set and enforce strong boundaries. This is good and important and necessary growth for me, because I've always had a hard time asserting myself, and I know I'll come out stronger on the other side of this. But in the meantime, I'm miserable and full of anxiety. I need suggestions for ways to release stress so I can get through this! [more inside]
posted by mekily at 8:01 PM PST - 7 comments

I can't cook anything without both getting completely out of sync and dirtying every dish and kitchen thing I own. Please do one of the following A) Diagnose what I am doing wrong and B) Give me your best tips for the prep part of cooking (assembling and preparing ingredients etc.) [more inside]
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 6:18 PM PST - 45 comments

I'm wondering if there are any written accounts of people's first encounters with fireflies. Surely the Vikings, landing in Vinland, or the wave of colonials who washed up on the east shores of the Americas, must have suddenly discovered bugs that light up, unlike anything in England or Iceland. Did they view them as magic, as forces of evil or good, or just "huh, bug is weird?" I would like old historical accounts of people encountering fireflies for the first time, if you can suggest any. Thank you.
posted by The otter lady at 5:30 PM PST - 4 comments

Can you please listen to Boyfriends by Harry Styles* and tell me which Simon and Garfunkel** song the little guitar twiddle*** is from because it’s driving me mad. Thanks. *no judgement **I’m pretty sure ***technical term
posted by socksually active at 4:09 PM PST - 2 comments

A number of past AskMeFi questions have focused on what it's like to live without kids. I'd like to ask a different but related question: what are, in hindsight, the most important recommendations and tips from people who reached old age without kids? [more inside]
posted by StrawberryPie at 3:43 PM PST - 12 comments

I've been irresponsible with my beloved Aerogarden, and now I have more dill than I know how to use. I've been using it in salads, but I can't possibly eat all of the dill I currently have that way. Can you recommend some dill recipes, preferably ones that will help us use up our stash fast? We cook vegetarian dishes at home, so we can't use meat-based meal ideas, but fish-based is just fine. Thank you!
posted by Transmissions From Vrillon at 3:31 PM PST - 24 comments

Looking for best-guess pronunciation of the various forms of *ḱóymos/*ḱóymeh. Is there some software I can drop this into and get something generated? Hidden youtube somewhere of someone reciting these? Or can you share something phonetic that I can relate it to?
posted by curious nu at 3:03 PM PST - 3 comments

I love this lemon bar recipe, but it's hard to cut in an attractive way. The top is lemon curd with added gelatin, and it sets to a soft but jello-like texture. The bottom is shortbread. It's very hard to cut in straight looking lines in it with a knife, because the top blorbles around and sort of tears rather than cutting cleanly, and the bottom takes some force to cut through. Clever ideas? [more inside]
posted by nebulawindphone at 1:23 PM PST - 18 comments

I am about to begin a masters in psychology program. All of my classes will be online. The program will be on a quarter systems. [more inside]
posted by goalyeehah at 12:37 PM PST - 6 comments

Hi! What are some of the "good seats" at Exploria Stadium in Orlando? [more inside]
posted by pdb at 11:45 AM PST - 1 comment

Which beach do you recommend near Lisbon ? Criteria inside [more inside]
posted by walkinginsunshine at 10:32 AM PST - 1 comment

I'm US based, and I rely on routines in my Google Home app daily to turn on/off lights for convenience and security. When I travel, it's helpful to have lights so it looks like I'm home. But when I went to Europe recently, my neighbor reported (and I verified) that the lights were often on during the day; off in the evening. I could manually flip them in the Home app, but I had to do it every day. [more inside]
posted by rdauphin at 9:41 AM PST - 3 comments

I bit my nails for decades and at middle age they are now very soft and bendable. The bending drives me nuts and makes me want to bite them. Are there vitamins or supplements that would help with this? I'm reluctant to regularly use a polish of any sort.
posted by quiet wanderer at 9:19 AM PST - 21 comments

What are your proven tips and tricks in keeping, maintaining, and nurturing a little kitchen and pantry? [more inside]
posted by pleasebekind at 6:06 AM PST - 39 comments

Looking for advice on discouraging a new cat behavior in which they bring live prey to bed while humans are unconscious. [more inside]
posted by edbles at 4:58 AM PST - 13 comments

Our house is leaking once again, after significant leaks occurred in March (and were fixed, or so we thought). What can we do to to minimise the damage until the leak specialist can assist, sometime next week? [more inside]
posted by Cheese Monster at 4:39 AM PST - 9 comments

I want to read a memoir from the perspective of a convent schoolgirl. I don't mind the time period. UK and Ireland preferred but not essential. Any recommendations? [more inside]
posted by Ballad of Peckham Rye at 3:46 AM PST - 17 comments

What can I do with the tough and slightly bitter leafy greens my garden produces? I'm an inexperienced gardener and can't tell if I'm gardening wrong or cooking them wrong. Kale, cabbage, salad leaves, rucola and spinach are all so much tougher and more bitter than the produce I am used to - I'm not sure how I can eat them. Vegetables and berries are tasty and juicy, so it probably isn't the soil. Thanks!
posted by luminary at 3:40 AM PST - 13 comments

How do new Metaverse platforms such as the Sandbox differ Second Life? [more inside]
posted by inbetweener at 3:11 AM PST - 5 comments

My parents have asked for recommendations on which areas of Thailand (or nearby SEA countries) might suit them for a holiday. They are in their early 60s, probably not going to go clubbing but love the sun and beach. They are not foodies but enjoy eating out. Where would you suggest for them? [more inside]
posted by socky_puppy at 2:18 AM PST - 5 comments

I make a lot of bad-but-original puns. Found myself writing a wonderful(ly awful) speech for the White House turkey pardon. I’d like to send it to White House writers or other communication folks but haven’t found any email addresses yet. Who would be my best bet to contact, and what is their email (or WH format). Please help me leave the legacy of my dreams!
posted by mermaidcafe at 11:19 PM PST - 4 comments

I can’t see out of my stronger eye right now and potentially for at least the next few weeks - this means I can’t read text or look at a screen for more than a few minutes without severe eye strain. I’ve been trying audiobooks but kind of hate the format and have been unable to finish any. What I kind of am looking for is a sort of upbeat tone / topic with a narrator with a pleasant voice and would prefer that the audiobook not be too long. [more inside]
posted by mnc at 8:51 PM PST - 25 comments

Do any of the good librarians on the green have any recommendations for professional development opportunities regarding Makerspace? I would like to bulk up my knowledge of Makerspace for future job opportunities and I am not having much luck googling or looking on my institution's professional development pages. [more inside]
posted by DEiBnL13 at 7:26 PM PST - 7 comments

Do you use a lotion/cream on your hands to reduce wrinkles and creases? I’m not looking for a miracle here, just wondering if there’s anything that will make my hands look a bit younger. I do not have age spots—just your average almost sixty year old hands.
posted by bookmammal at 4:44 PM PST - 14 comments

My father in law, formerly reasonably active and mobile for an 87 year old, has fairly suddenly developed health issues that will likely leave him disabled to at least some degree, if not completely bed and wheelchair bound. His home is absolutely not ready for his changing needs, starting with basic furniture. My wife and I are trying to rapidly figure out what we need to know to help him acquire what he needs, but we have little experience with researching things like motorized beds and comfy chairs for someone in these circumstances. We need advice. [more inside]
posted by Hairy Lobster at 3:24 PM PST - 16 comments

I want to grill for the Fourth tomorrow-and invite some family and friends to drop by. We do this frequently-but wow, hard to celebrate America for me and most my friends this year-especially after 30 or so years of pro choice activism. I’d love to have something folks can do for the cause while we are eating ribs and drinking all the drinks. We live in Oregon-so not sure best bang for our buck is writing to our senators and reps. Other campaigns we can engage in? Postcards? Other ideas?
posted by purenitrous at 3:03 PM PST - 6 comments

I contributed to a Roth January-July 2021, and I want to withdraw those *contributions* now (none of the earnings), long before I file my 2021 return. How to document this, to show the IRS no tax is owed on it? [more inside]
posted by Former Congressional Representative Lenny Lemming at 2:34 PM PST - 9 comments

I would like to stop giving money to some of the worst-offending banks that continue to fund the climate crisis. (Bank of America, Chase) Because I've banked with them for so long, I have terrible inertia when it comes to moving funds out. Please help me decide on a bank in the U.S. that will be the least evil, but also has many of the personal banking features that I have grown used to. [more inside]
posted by oxisos at 2:21 PM PST - 12 comments

Help! I am broken hearted, studying in school, and have an international holiday that my ex-partner was supposed to be planning and did not and then broke up with me. I am now going solo on this trip to Switzerland & Austria, but I do not have the time/energy/bandwidth to plan. It's in 3 weeks. Details below... [more inside]
posted by vividvoltage at 2:06 PM PST - 14 comments

I've been gifted a 3D printer, and think it would be fun to get some servos and make novelty robots / animatronics. I've found some tutorials, and it would be easy to just follow those, but I would love ideas for projects, because beyond this impulse I don't actually know what I want to make. What would you make with a 3D printer and servos that would be fun to have around or show off? The more useless or silly the robot, the better.
posted by LSK at 12:15 PM PST - 4 comments

I'm a woman in my mid-thirties, struggling to process the grief of (maybe) losing my closest friend in a very slow, and unfortunately, very visible way. So far my coping mechanism has been to avoid thinking about it, but this can't continue forever. I know all the words - holding space for my feelings, seeking out other friends, being open to the possibility that isn't really about me...but I can't seem to translate that into practical actions. Help me please? Wall of text below the fold. [more inside]
posted by Nieshka at 11:44 AM PST - 15 comments

How bad is it to get vaccinated for other diseases like yellow fever after a Covid exposure? I'll share a detailed timeline and am hoping you can help me weigh the risks on each side. [more inside]
posted by estlin at 10:22 AM PST - 5 comments

I'm a cishet man; my partner, a cishet woman, both in our 30s. Before we met, I had a lively and varied sex life, with many people, a lot of kink, a lot of experimentation. I know what I like, I know what I'm game for, I know what I don't like - and often from extensive firsthand experience. My current partner has much more limited experience, and also limited knowledge of what "options" exist. We're trying to make our sex life more varied and expand our repertoire of acts beyond PIV intercourse, for a variety of reasons. She wants to learn more about sex - kinks, acts, positions, toys. Where can I point her? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 10:02 AM PST - 19 comments

In July I am going to be flying into Tampa for a wedding and then treating myself to a road trip down to Miami (staying overnight) and Key West for a few days. What should I see or stop for along the drive? [more inside]
posted by forkisbetter at 9:42 AM PST - 7 comments

I bought a $60 weighted blanket off Amazon in 2019. It's served me well for the price but in the last year the beads have all fallen to the sides, making it effectively no longer a weighted blanket. I have the budget for high-quality weighted blanket but am having trouble sorting through all the cruft and marketing hype. [more inside]
posted by brook horse at 8:30 AM PST - 9 comments

I have realized too late that I am extremely anxious about holiday boom noises. Where in nyc can I go acquire edibles today that might help me with this? [more inside]
posted by bilabial at 7:58 AM PST - 4 comments

I recently rediscovered my old stainless steel French press at the back of the kitchen sideboard and decided to start using it again. However, there are some.. issues. [more inside]
posted by fight or flight at 7:25 AM PST - 10 comments

How do you cook the other parts of the vegetable? If you buy beets with greens, what do you do with the tops? Fresh young green garlic with soft stems? Kohlrabi leaves? I'm looking for tasty ways to use up the parts of the vegetables I have less experience with from my farm share/CSA/farmer's market/garden. [more inside]
posted by carrioncomfort at 7:20 AM PST - 21 comments

I don't sweat. I have anhidrosis / hypohidrosis. Is there a liquid I could put inside my sweat-alternative water bottle that would work better than water? [more inside]
posted by bbqturtle at 5:19 AM PST - 13 comments

My cat is obsessed with TV and screens in general. She spends hours sitting in front of the TV even if it's off, and when we watch something she jumps up right in front of it. It's annoying and worrying. [more inside]
posted by signal at 6:02 PM PST - 12 comments

Twitter is blocked for me suddenly today, how do I read people's tweets without an account. Details inside. [more inside]
posted by Rufous-headed Towhee heehee at 5:57 PM PST - 5 comments

I've been waiting and fantasizing for this for years...when I'll finally let myself start the 'buy new stuff' part of my wardrobe makeover! Please help :-) [more inside]
posted by cacao at 2:41 PM PST - 20 comments

So I want to stay in Toronto from December 23rd to January 1st. The cheapest I've found is about $900 CAD. I can afford it but I would prefer to pay less. I really don't want to stay in Kingston (where I live) this Christmas. I did it last year and it was quite frankly depressing. [more inside]
posted by Tarsonis10 at 2:34 PM PST - 6 comments

I have to take a very early morning flight which (due partially to current airport situations in Europe) will require me to get up around 3AM and travel ~18 hours). I will take a similarly poorly-timed returning flight less than a week later as well. I had COVID a few months ago, and since then have caught other viruses rather easily, and these viruses have had much stronger impacts than I would typically experience. I'm looking for any tips to try and support my health / immune system when operating on little sleep (more below). [more inside]
posted by unid41 at 1:43 PM PST - 10 comments

I live on the Kansas side of the, Kansas/Missouri border and got a DUI - I'd like to lend my car to my aunt (on the Missouri side) for a year while my driving privileges are severely limited. Should I keep the car insured in my name or should she take out her own policy on the car? Also, any idea when the costs for my insurance are going to rocket? [more inside]
posted by BeatriceB at 1:00 PM PST - 5 comments

I would like to start keeping my diary using a hybrid model. I dictate into Microsoft Word and print out the results, deleting the file. I don't want a digital copy, but a print copy that takes the place of a written diary. [more inside]
posted by 4midori at 12:46 PM PST - 5 comments

I'm a new plant dad; got two snake plants a few months ago. I've been trying to water them sparingly, but noticed the soil dries up fast. Want some tips on best maintenance to-dos. [more inside]
posted by dubious_dude at 12:25 PM PST - 19 comments

I have VERY vague memories of a book I read as a tween or young adolescent in the early 70s. It referenced the Five Points, the notorious area of NY city. There may have been time-travel from the time contemporary to the book back to the 1800s in the Five Points area of NY. A character in the book referenced a quote from the Emily Dickenson poem: I'm nobody, who are you? Are you nobody, too?" I would have read it some time between 1971 and 1978. I'm quite certain it was a YA book, aimed at teens. Anybody have any idea what the book is?
posted by primate moon at 11:49 AM PST - 4 comments

I have a distinct memory of reading a book in school. I must have been about 8 at the time. Some of this might be me me misremembering things, but it seemed like some sort of rip-off of The Wizard of Oz, but set in a futuristic Australia, or an outer space version of Australia. [more inside]
posted by iamsuper at 11:26 AM PST - 3 comments

Did you used to have square crossbars, and then switched to round or aero? Was the noise reduction significant or not worth the price? I currently have square bars and at highway speeds it's annoying, and I don't know whether to swap them out for aeros or put a spoiler on or what.
posted by curious nu at 10:26 AM PST - 2 comments