Ask MetaFilter

It's not dandruff, it's definitely psoriasis. I have plaque psoriasis elsewhere that responds to one of the two creams my Dr has prescribed. But now it's climbing up my hairline and creams make my hair greasy. So should I shave (get someone else to) my head so I can properly apply some cream? I've shaved my head for fun before and won't be embarrasses. Thanks in advance. Also, should I ask a hairdresser to do it, or will a friend do a neat enough job?
posted by b33j at 11:07 PM PST - 20 comments

What it says on the tin. I know where I want things put and what generally speaking I would need purchased for organizational supplies. Basically, I need a person I can tell what to do while I stay still in my house. But the process of finding that person is beyond me at the moment. How do I do this, on a step by step basis? [more inside]
posted by lookoutbelow at 2:55 PM PST - 9 comments

My neighbors have a new outdoor cat. She is happy and healthy for the time being, but they're definitely the type that don't provide much care - and I doubt this is going to change when it starts getting colder. She's probably not even safe inside their house, as they have several poorly trained, aggressive dogs. I'd like to provide her somewhere warm to stay over cold winter nights. Difficulty explained inside. [more inside]
posted by Kutsuwamushi at 2:54 PM PST - 25 comments

Any recs for a dog treat pouch? Ideally something that could double as a small pouch for nails, screwdrivers etc. I'd prefer non-tactical and without a visible logo but don't worry too much about that.
posted by kittensofthenight at 2:09 PM PST - 7 comments

I will be travelling to San Juan, Puerto Rico for the first time for a week in mid-October. I'd appreciate advice about side trips, food, and sites in San Juan. [more inside]
posted by reren at 2:06 PM PST - 4 comments

I've built a rough cut in iMovie out of many clips of stock footage that I'm sending to an editor to make a smoother cut in Final Cut. Is there a way to find the exact time codes from the clips I'm using so that he'll be able to copy the same pieces / timing of each clip without having to sit and watch my cut scene by scene to match the action? It looks like iMovie shows the range of the clip that's used, and how long the shot is in the cut, but I can't find a time code anywhere. Is there a way to find it?
posted by Mchelly at 2:06 PM PST - 1 comment

I need a financial advisor. This seems like exactly the kind of service for which I should not be restricted to my rural area. Part of the reason I need one is because I have a lot of financial anxiety, which is massively set off by trying to wade through the results of searching "online financial advisor." Do you have experience with online financial advisors? What is the simplest way to find someone good?
posted by HotToddy at 2:03 PM PST - 14 comments

My favorite shampoo and conditioner (Bvlgari Au Thé Blanc) was discontinued a few years ago, and I haven't yet found a good replacement. I'm looking for something with woody and spice notes but that isn't overpoweringly scented or cologne-like. Bonus points if the products are likely to be on the market for a while. [more inside]
posted by jedicus at 1:56 PM PST - 14 comments

I have a friend who was born in the US, but has lived in Europe for the past 12 years or so. He has struggled to find an English-language therapist where he lives and would prefer one with a similar background (American) to him. It occurred to me that he might be able to work via video sessions with a NYC therapist, if the time shift could be worked out. [more inside]
posted by diabolik at 1:50 PM PST - 8 comments

I'm helping my mom with her '21 tax return. (Yes, we requested an extension already.) Dad died in April '22 before filing. We are filing a paper form via post, not e-filing. -The IRS's instructions state "Write the word "Deceased," the decedent's name and the date of death across the top of the final tax return. If filing a joint return, write the name and address of the decedent and the surviving spouse in the name and address fields" [more inside]
posted by Larry David Syndrome at 1:46 PM PST - 4 comments

An all female group. The video to the song was shot on an English village-green. There were Morris-dancers, a maypole; maybe some hobby-horses. What's the name of the song? [more inside]
posted by popcassady at 1:45 PM PST - 4 comments

A good friend has a teenager with long COVID; yes, unusual, but they are making the best of the bad situation on a day-to-day basis. The bout includes the usual suspects of fatigue and fog, and with the world returning to life, the teen is feeling not just a shadow of their former self but a sense of missing out on what should be great (or at least normal) daily/social experiences. Do you have any recommendations for sources of community, solace, or entertainment? Any tips appreciated.
posted by Arch1 at 1:26 PM PST - 4 comments

This! All traditions, all liturgies welcomed. I see references to Buddhist prayers ("May all beings have happiness and the causes of happiness, May all be free from sorrow and the causes of sorrow") but cannot find references to where - or if - they are part of a daily / weekly liturgical cycle. The Jewish Kaddish has one line (which could be interpreted as tradition-specific) - "He who makes peace in his high holy places, may he bring peace upon us, and upon all Israel." I have found many Christian liturgical prayers that focus on forgive/prevent us from sin, but so far nothing that is directed out toward all people to be happy or be at peace, which is tonally different than 'deliver us from sin' or 'deliver us from sorrow.' Do any extant Christian liturgies include these tonally-positive prayers? (*nudgeEmpressCallipygosnnudge*?). I am interested in any tradition; even a single line, that is part of a daily/weekly liturgical cycle. Thanks in advance!
posted by Silvery Fish at 12:34 PM PST - 10 comments

I will be doing 40+ hours of interviews over the next several months, often in large chunks of time. The transcripts are essential here: They are the entire purpose of the project. Ideally, they would be accessible during the interview, and downloadable to my computer afterward. The end result need not be word-perfect. On that basis, can you recommend an (ideally free) transcription or conferencing-with-transcription service that I can use a desktop or my iphone? [more inside]
posted by Violet Blue at 12:14 PM PST - 17 comments

I need some new "wet food" cat dishes. And because Reasons, I'd like to order something off Amazon ASAP. I was using these, which are fine, but I'd like something that has a higher side (so less food gets pushed out) but also I know about whisker fatigue so I'd like to avoid that as well. Suggestions?
posted by BlahLaLa at 12:11 PM PST - 19 comments

We need to pay for online R processing time. What's the state of the art for this?
posted by signal at 11:50 AM PST - 2 comments

Adding an M1 MBP to my network has caused nothing but problems. Should I move to a cloud solution? [more inside]
posted by pmaxwell at 11:16 AM PST - 2 comments

To MeFites with current Macbooks that don't have USB-A ports, is there a docking station or hub you're using that you like? And is there one you recommend that has a lot of USB-A ports? [more inside]
posted by pelvicsorcery at 10:29 AM PST - 17 comments

Due to pure boredom with my profession, I am considering a side hustle of teaching people how to be a "home bartender" during a class in their own home. If you're someone who would consider taking a class on how to make drinks for your friends, self, or dinner parties, what would you expect out of such a class? My concept inside, where I welcome your thoughts. [more inside]
posted by dobbs at 10:19 AM PST - 22 comments

I saw a random discussion of the Fisher Wallace device and it seems intriguing. Do you have one, or a more affordable tDCS device? How do you like it? Does it help with insomnia and all the other things they say? I also saw randomly that there can be side effects including death. So, really unsure where to go with this and too overwhelmed to do my usual research. Hoping hive mind has some info. Especially interested to hear from neurodivergent individuals.
posted by crunchy potato at 9:55 AM PST - 4 comments

Is there a Google Alerts type service for internet discussion forums or Twitter? [more inside]
posted by jacobean at 9:07 AM PST - 3 comments

Looking for suggestions for the podcast equivalent of a page-turner to listen to on a very long drive. A few podcasts that I personally have considered to be so good I couldn't "put 'em down": Bear Brook, S-Town, Serial, the Dropout. [more inside]
posted by forkisbetter at 8:38 AM PST - 23 comments

Twenty-plus years ago I read a novel -- a mystery or spy thriller -- where the resolution hinged on the protagonists figuring out that a massive model train set in a missing person's house was actually a sort of computer, with the cars serving as words or digits. Turning it on and running a pre-set arrangement of switches moved the cars into positions that produced a solution of some sort. [more inside]
posted by martin q blank at 8:21 AM PST - 15 comments

Towards the start of the pandemic, I watched the Phantom of the Opera while it was available online to watch for free, and loved it so much that I bought the DVD. I watch it a lot. What else do you recommend? [more inside]
posted by karasu at 7:09 AM PST - 35 comments

MS Edge is the default browser at work. I have accepted this. What I do NOT want to accept is that there's a widget that keeps me updated with stock info throughout the day. How do I turn THAT ONE THING off? [more inside]
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 6:42 AM PST - 15 comments

I'll be spending a week in Iceland in mid-October and would love some recommendations! [more inside]
posted by orchidee at 5:19 AM PST - 12 comments

If you are answering this question, you have been able to keep your covid caution level (or at the very least, until the past week or so) approximately similar to or more cautious than my own.** [more inside]
posted by aniola at 12:51 AM PST - 42 comments

...but I don't feel "numb" or "disinterested," I feel instead a deep, persistent, aching sadness. Does anyone else's mood disorder present like this? And if so, what treatments have worked? (TW below) [more inside]
posted by CancerSucks at 12:08 AM PST - 9 comments

I am having a sync problem with my Apple Watch and the Nike Run Club app... [more inside]
posted by zardoz at 12:00 AM PST - 3 comments

Commercial "lip plumper" products - do any of them actually swell lips? What if you applied it to one of your toes? Or is it just another marketing term for "glossy?" [more inside]
posted by porpoise at 10:17 PM PST - 14 comments

See previously, in case it helps. Basic description: - young child with symptoms [below], has started pre-k and everything seems to have regressed & compounded - parents not sleeping - younger sibling who also has poor sleep made worse by brother's condition - in prek, so not eligible to be evaluated by public for ASD spectrum, etc - mrs EDH thinks he has SPD ...how do we get out of this spiral of trauma (for everyone) and lack of sleep? [more inside]
posted by Reasonably Everything Happens at 9:01 PM PST - 20 comments

I would like to find a way to water my plants without human intervention -- for about 2.5 weeks. I am currently trying out the method of using a wicking material placed in a container of water and then into the soil to slowly water them (as per google), but it doesn't seem to be working. Anyone have a method that worked that they could share?
posted by nanook at 7:06 PM PST - 14 comments

my bff's favorite 510 thread vape battery has been discontinued, the late great Aris Tick and we are in the market for a new model. can you help? [more inside]
posted by wowenthusiast at 6:13 PM PST - 4 comments

I have a vague memory of a 2000s/2010s sibling trio with a name like Billy, Ella, and Louis. [more inside]
posted by pxe2000 at 5:24 PM PST - 1 comment

Asking for a friend: "I need help troubleshooting why my Acurite 5-in-1 Weather station model 06086 is not relaying/pushing data to Weather Underground." [more inside]
posted by MonkeyToes at 2:50 PM PST - 2 comments

I found a badge pin bearing the cryptic inscription "Would you believe ... WYOOS YOOB" and would like to know what it means. [more inside]
posted by Dr. Wu at 2:34 PM PST - 12 comments

My wife wants to improve her English. She currently has a middle level—she can read and hold a conversation but not fluently and she makes grammar mistakes. She has a thirty minute commute each way and would like to use this time to improve. Looking for language apps that you don't have to interact with too much (because driving) or maybe some sort of podcast/show/youtube channel.
posted by signal at 1:49 PM PST - 10 comments

I get to pick a new work computer soon, but from a ... limited palette. I have two brands of PC to choose from and then Mac. Can you help me pick? Usage cases and options available inside. [more inside]
posted by Iteki at 12:46 PM PST - 18 comments

Today is National Coffee Day (amongst others). I only know this because I heard it on the radio. I know there are websites dedicated to this sort of thing but I'd like a Google or iCal calendar I can subscribe to so it's right on my watch, phone, and computer without having to remember to go to such sites. Do you know of any?
posted by brokeaspoke at 12:21 PM PST - 1 comment

Suddenly, Google Sheets has been SUPER sluggish on my MacBook Pro. All other websites work fine, other programs including PhotoShop with huge files loaded run normally. I've restarted my laptop, cleared my cache, made sure Chrome is up to date. Even tried different Google docs. This isn't restricted to particular documents/sheets... even starting a brand new sheet takes a while to load. On other computers and devices loading is fine. Any suggestions?
posted by Unsomnambulist at 11:53 AM PST - 7 comments

Where can I sell a print on demand calendar that contains R-rated images (nudity)? [more inside]
posted by davidstandaford at 11:42 AM PST - 0 comments

I'm looking for a song to use for a YouTube video, similar to the way that LonerBox uses Dies Irae only with a very different mood. Specifically, I want it to also be classical song with a choir but to evoke cosmic wonder, a sense of awe and beauty about the universe. Here's another example of the level of drama I'm looking for. Also open to suggestions of any music that might fit.
posted by overglow at 11:29 AM PST - 16 comments

I've been having issues with my internet. I have an important Microsoft Teams meeting tomorrow and I absolutely cannot have crappy internet. Nor can I have this meeting in a public place like a library. I want to buy extra data for my phone so I can tether to my phone for the meeting. How much data do I need to make sure I have? The meeting should be 30 minutes, so I want to make sure I have maybe 45 minutes worth of data.
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 10:35 AM PST - 4 comments

A friend in Burlington VT is has to stop using his beloved 1995 Volvo because his present garage has changed hands and the new owner will not work on the older cars. Who in this part of Vermont still works on them?
posted by Raybun at 10:25 AM PST - 6 comments

My (29F) mother (59F) is in a mental hospital right now. She is on disability for her mental health and takes care of her intellectually disabled brother. I am her emergency contact and the hospital called me to take my uncle. I have been caring for him all week. I am stressed and also don't know what to do long term with my uncle and mom. It seems to be up to my sister and I. [more inside]
posted by anon1129 at 10:19 AM PST - 39 comments

I am looking for a VR tool that functions like an in-VR movie studio with virtual cameras, etc. I am not looking for ways to make "VR films" with 360 cameras and the like. I am also not looking for VR view capture like for streamers. Suggestions?
posted by cmoj at 10:18 AM PST - 5 comments

I'll be travelling to Florence for work next week - I'm looking for recommendations for things to see, places to eat, best coffee/gelato, local markets or shops etc. [more inside]
posted by piyushnz at 10:10 AM PST - 20 comments

I have multiple emails and two calendars, accessed using Thunderbird (v. 91.11.0 on a laptop running Ubuntu 20.04.5 LTS and desktop running CentOS 7). This question is about the calendars: a Google calendar and an Outlook calendar. The former suddenly behaves badly, the latter has never fully functioned. I can't diagnose the Google problem; I could use suggestions about the Outlook; I ask about both together in case there's a more general solution to my calendar problems. (I've googled a fair bit and looked at prior AskMes but haven't figured it out.) [more inside]
posted by busted_crayons at 7:52 AM PST - 1 comment

Having knee pain. Nothing excruciating, just run of the mill, middle aged pain around one knee. If I don't get regular aerobic exercise, bad things happen to my mental health, so the idea of resting it does not seem good to me. What are the current evidence based strategies for reducing this common kind of joint pain? Knee brace, ice, heat, NSAIDs, elevating, rest, stretching... what do we have some data to support here?
posted by latkes at 7:48 AM PST - 20 comments

One of my favourite purchases when I visited NY a couple of years ago was a 100-pack of Staples 6x9" clasp envelopes. I live in Sweden, so the dimensions, material and general aesthetics of everyday objects are different from what I can find here. Stationary exoticism, as it were.

Is there a blog, subreddit or tumblr of stationary, envelopes, and bureaucratic aesthetics which lists this kind of stuff and maybe even arranges for exchanges? I'm sure that if I had some Malaysian envelopes I'd probably send more letters by post…
posted by monocultured at 7:27 AM PST - 8 comments

I have been ready to move out of NY for some time, and I have been stuck in a long, deep, frustrating rut of my own making. Long story short: comfortable, affordable apartment that is convenient to my current job and hobbies, close to transit; me, terrible at initiating change and overthinks everything. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 6:59 AM PST - 10 comments

After 17 years in a library job, academic downsizing has finally caught up to me. I need to figure out if it's realistic for me to even look for new positions (I'm 50) and, if so, if there is a way I can use my coming unemployed time to improve my resume and chances. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 6:55 AM PST - 7 comments

Near the end of the Gogol Bordello song Through the Roof And Undergound there's a single phrase that's not in English. Google translate of online lyrics says it's Russian, translated as "Silver hares lead a dance!". Is there some specific Russian/Ukranian - GB frontman Eugene Hütz is Ukrainian - context to the dancing silver hares or did they just like the image?
posted by each day we work at 6:50 AM PST - 3 comments

Toodling around listening to the radio yesterday and heard a badass cover of "Sledgehammer" by Shinyribs. Yoooooooo. Do you have a favorite cover of a Talking Heads song? A Peter Gabriel cover is also TOTALLY in scope - thanks!
posted by ersatzkat at 5:44 AM PST - 58 comments

I need a witness for my partnership support form INZ1178. Please would you recommend a solicitor/notary that will charge a sensible amount? A notary in SE1 quoted £100! I live in SW, work in SE1. Thank you!
posted by Carravanquelo at 3:10 AM PST - 9 comments

I want to be able to impress my niece by telling her what this says. Also, if this is not Japanese, please don't laugh at me. [more inside]
posted by SamanthaK at 3:00 PM PST - 6 comments

I bought a bunch of freeze dried cherries towards the beginning of the pandemic. Dry, sealed portions in vacuum sealed packages with a humidity absorber packet in each one. They...aren't dry, tell me what's going on. [more inside]
posted by Rufous-headed Towhee heehee at 1:26 PM PST - 11 comments

Looking to get a wedding dress professionally dyed - any places to recommend, ideally in or near NYC? Thanks!
posted by whitelily at 12:12 PM PST - 3 comments

How to make a beeswax salve that is mostly beeswax? [more inside]
posted by Mesaverdian at 11:34 AM PST - 13 comments

I need your recipes/ideas for discard. [more inside]
posted by atomicstone at 11:06 AM PST - 29 comments

My cat hates music. I am not kidding - she comes right in and shuts that down if I start playing music. So I haven't listened to music except with headphones on my laptop in a long time and.... [more inside]
posted by Frowner at 10:54 AM PST - 12 comments

Ideas for playing Minecraft when you can’t actually play Minecraft! [more inside]
posted by smorgasbord at 10:19 AM PST - 9 comments

I’m trying to record a working project with my android phone(google pixel to be specific) to send it to someone but don‘t want any outside sounds to be recorded in the video. There is an option for camera shut off sound to be switched off but I don’t see anything to switch off the microphone. Is it possible to do that? If not, what are my options to send the recorded video without the audio? Thanks everyone.
posted by SunPower at 8:53 AM PST - 4 comments

Thanks to the pandemic and remote work, I'm not used to moving around. I would like to change this, despite the protests of my arms, legs, neck...you get the idea. [more inside]
posted by xenization at 8:07 AM PST - 27 comments

Can you show me an iOS app that provides hourly forecasts of things like humidity, dew point and cloud cover? [more inside]
posted by lokta at 6:19 AM PST - 13 comments

Mr. brilliantine is looking for a belt to wear hiking and I would love to hear about your favorites. [more inside]
posted by brilliantine at 5:53 AM PST - 12 comments

I (an American) need to buy Eurostar tickets for a trip a few months away. Is there any reason I shouldn't take advantage of the weak pound and buy the tickets in GBP instead of USD? My credit card has no foreign transaction fees, so it seems like this will save us ~20% compared to the dollar. Are there any pitfalls I'm not considering?
posted by uncleozzy at 4:36 AM PST - 11 comments

The kid came home yesterday with about a kilo of freshly picked walnuts. Yeah! But how do we best keep them for later? It was very rainy here yesterday, so they are wet, even though they have dried on a towel over night. [more inside]
posted by mumimor at 3:11 AM PST - 10 comments

This is the perfect time for planting junipers and boxwoods, and i've set aside the next two days to do just that. This involves borrowing my neighbor's pickup, which probably costs about $75 to fill, for a couple 5-mile trips to the nursery. Can I just get him a 12-pack a good beer instead, or would that be too declasse?
posted by BadgerDoctor at 2:32 AM PST - 40 comments

What is the relationship (if any) between the intolerance of A1 beta-casein (a protein) and lactose (a sugar)? [more inside]
posted by amusebuche at 1:15 AM PST - 4 comments

I've recently started submitting a few short stories for publication in online journals. I am finding the submissions process pretty challenging to figure out. Mefites who do this regularly, can you share your systems with me? I am very, very new to this stuff. [more inside]
posted by unicorn chaser at 11:34 PM PST - 7 comments

I have really bad teeth, and I'd kind of like to have not-so-bad teeth. I have dental insurance, but it only covers like $2000 a year. The last time I saw a dentist, like ten years ago, I got a referral to an oral surgeon, who quoted me like $3000 just to extract my wisdom teeth. I need a lot more than that now. How? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 10:10 PM PST - 20 comments

I love the shirt pictured here (you may have to swipe through the product photos to see it on the model). It’s a white ribbed top (or dress) with an asymmetrical, organic-looking neckline. Anyone have any idea where it’s from, or how to search for similar necklines? [more inside]
posted by stoneandstar at 7:39 PM PST - 5 comments

Should I upgrade from Windows 10 to 11? Laptop specs follow: Processor 11th Gen Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-1135G7 @ 2.40GHz 2.42 GHz Installed RAM 8.00 GB (7.80 GB usable) 512 GB HD with 324 free Graphics 1x Intel® Iris® Xe Graphics [more inside]
posted by kathrynm at 6:18 PM PST - 12 comments

Is it a normal thing for home buyers (who are not new to the area) to directly contact the seller (after obtaining seller’s cell # from their new neighbors) after the closing with questions about recommendations for repair people, questions about which appliances do & don’t work (when that info was clearly spelled out in the contract), & requesting other information? Especially when the buyers & sellers have never met, all details were handled by respective realtors, & the seller didn’t specifically invite questions? Is this strange, or is this actually expected, acceptable behavior from home buyers?
posted by bookmammal at 3:41 PM PST - 54 comments

I need to make a table of contents for a poetry manuscript. I have not had success with Word, either in Manual or the automatic method with headings. I can upload the text anywhere; I just need a final pdf. What non-word options are there? Any other ideas? I’d hire help if I could. Thanks, all!
posted by mermaidcafe at 3:25 PM PST - 9 comments

I'm looking for a light pair of rain pants that are similar to a lightweight rain jacket for water resistance. Is there anything like this? Thanks!
posted by jtothes at 2:39 PM PST - 11 comments

I'm looking for a SIMPLE device that sits between an HDMI output and a monitor or tv screen that has but ONE function - a button that pauses the output. That is, pushing the button should pause the live output so that the captured frame is now a still on the screen. Pushing the button again should toggle it back to a live view. I don't want to save the image or use a computer to do a screen grab. I just need to pause the live output in hi-def and restart the live feed again with a single push of a button on a hardware device that sits between an HDMI cord and the monitor.
posted by whatisish at 2:03 PM PST - 7 comments

I've had it for a while. My PH based on blood gases is always high - it's now 7.55. I've been having heart arrhytymias and major gastro problems along with deteriorating eGFR (it's now 58). In the last few years have been so sick. [more inside]
posted by watercarrier at 1:53 PM PST - 19 comments

What are some easy indoor house pants for plant hangers and other textural details? [more inside]
posted by Crystalinne at 1:40 PM PST - 12 comments

A friend bought airline tickets through CheapO Air then had to cancel a leg. Assured a refund was possible, but afraid that we've walked into a scam. [more inside]
posted by Rash at 12:48 PM PST - 5 comments

I saw a rare rock once when I was a kid. Never seen anything like it since, not sure how to google it. What is it? [more inside]
posted by aniola at 12:30 PM PST - 2 comments

How do I tab through paste options in ditto using keyboard shortcuts? I am able to do this with jumpcut on my mac, but I cannot figure out how to do it for ditto on Windows. [more inside]
posted by andoatnp at 12:17 PM PST - 7 comments

My mother uses the Telegram app on her iPad. I'm using the Telegram app on an Android phone. In her app, the entire chat with me since we started chatting on telegram (several years) disappeared from one day to the next. It's just gone. On my phone, I still have all messages of the chat with her. She's desperate to recover it on her end (lots of photos I sent her while traveling). Is it possible to recover it? What else can be done? [more inside]
posted by bitteschoen at 12:04 PM PST - 3 comments

I spend half of my time on the road for work. And when I don't have any big projects I work remotely in different foreign countries to see the sights. I usually buy a policy for each trip but I hear you can buy one policy to rule them all for a year. Is that true? If so, what do I look for?
posted by rileyray3000 at 11:38 AM PST - 6 comments

I have the week after Presidents' Day off. I am going through a divorce and have never really traveled on my own before. Where should I go? [more inside]
posted by bookworm4125 at 11:37 AM PST - 10 comments

I live in Vermont and am a Justice of the Peace. I perform weddings. People love getting married here in the Autumn. I very often write the ceremonies myself or make suggestions to the couple. I am looking for more fall-themed wedding-appropriate poems for my collection and would love to know what poems you like along these lines. [more inside]
posted by jessamyn at 11:26 AM PST - 9 comments

What it says on the tin. I have an older Chromebook, and "page unresponsive" errors are killing me in spite of clearing cache, disabling extensions, etc. The Chrome Automatic Updates have expired, but this was going on long before that happened. [more inside]
posted by cyndigo at 10:55 AM PST - 7 comments

My partner's sister is dealing with simultaneous health and job issues and is generally having a bit of a rough time. We want to do something nice for her and her husband, and were thinking that paying in advance for an event happening a year or so from now would hit the right note -- something that conveys "all this will pass, and we're willing to bet on that." So: what's happening in a year that we can buy tickets for now? [more inside]
posted by neroli at 10:42 AM PST - 6 comments

My father passed away a bit over a year ago, as a result of which, my brother and I each essentially inherited a house. Both houses had small existing loans active on them that are still active. What's the best course of action for dealing with those loans, especially for tax purposes? [more inside]
posted by LionIndex at 8:44 AM PST - 6 comments

I am a software engineer based in the US. After decades as a W2 employee, I want to become a contract worker. Please tell me what I need to know so that I cover all the necessary bases. Also I'm hoping you can give me advice on how not to get ripped off. [more inside]
posted by panama joe at 8:41 AM PST - 5 comments

Let’s assume you’re standing on the surface of Mars between longitude 162°E - 202°E, and latitude 35°N and 41°N (any of the locations marked with a yellow or red star on Fig. 1 on this page. What sky-based events would be meaningful for a human on Mars and also visible with the naked eye? [more inside]
posted by cocoagirl at 8:38 AM PST - 3 comments

This is a family based private limited company and from what I can tell the company is sitting on land in a small city, selling off parcels for development as offers are made. [more inside]
posted by elkevelvet at 8:37 AM PST - 4 comments

What's the best way to lighten the color of boxed hair dye before application? [more inside]
posted by ohcanireally at 6:47 AM PST - 4 comments

There are some hygiene tasks I don’t like doing. How can I make them more fun? [more inside]
posted by nouvelle-personne at 6:12 AM PST - 45 comments

In the past, I have enjoyed getting tipsy and was a happy drinker. I can not imbibe, and I have good reason to believe I can’t tolerate other substances, either. I would very much enjoy being able to get into that spacy dreamy place again, and from anecdotes along the years I suspect that’s possible through breathing techniques or meditation or chanting or … something. Just to be hyper extremely extra clear: I can not imbibe in ANYTHING. I’m interested in music or other experiences or practices that have helped you get to an altered state without putting anything into your body or fasting. I would like to spend some happy time in the clouds without creating any clouds.
posted by Bottlecap at 1:38 AM PST - 58 comments

I'm on Zoely, a single dose contraceptive pill that contains natural estrogen and a progestogen. I use it to suppress my hormone cycle, as that seems to help my anxiety. Is it possible that I'm still experiencing hormonal fluctuations produced by my ovaries? [more inside]
posted by Zumbador at 10:16 PM PST - 4 comments

We have two sets of very steep, polished wooden stairs in our house. Every one of us has taken a tumble down the stairs at some point since moving in. As winter arrives and I like to wear warm wool socks, I know this will get slipperier. What kind of non-ugly, unobtrusive solution can I apply to the stairs to avoid going ass over teakettle? No, I will not be putting rubber treads on my handknit socks, it’s got to be the stairs.
posted by Liesl at 7:05 PM PST - 14 comments

My friend sent me a voice memo of a poem she liked: Cusp, by Kim Shuck. But she can't find the text and it was in a church bulletin, so she doesn't know what book or magazine it was published in. Please help me find this poem in print! [more inside]
posted by cnidaria at 7:02 PM PST - 1 comment

Our backyard garden has yielded a small harvest of some pencil peppers & banana peppers. Usually we just leave them in a bowl or in a paper bag to dry out and then use them as needed, but we've also started to notice some problems with mould. On the internets, people do various things: oven baking, freezing, refridgerating, etc. What do you do? Small quantities here.
posted by ovvl at 6:37 PM PST - 9 comments

Hi all. I’m compiling an Excel spreadsheet which tracks the publication date of certain documents. I’m not particularly skilled at using Excel but can usually Google myself out of any issues, or into solutions. However, I’m having some trouble executing conditional formatting on the date of publication and I’d love some help to figure out how to make it work a little more elegantly. [more inside]
posted by BeeJiddy at 5:46 PM PST - 3 comments

Someone I work with tried to download RecordAnyVid but instead ended up downloading a totally different program. What happened, and should they be worried? [more inside]
posted by quiet coyote at 5:13 PM PST - 3 comments

I have four old raised garden beds made out of wooden 4x4s. I never stained or sealed them or did anything to them (except garden in them). Now I want to pay some attention to them. Is it too late? What can I do? [more inside]
posted by southern_sky at 4:07 PM PST - 5 comments

We are looking for a GPS/tracker solution for a 50 lb dog. My dad is the customer and he is not interested in a lot of features, just a real simple way to find the dog if she runs off (which is rare). They live in a rural area (USA, New England) with fair cell coverage. Is there a type of tracker that is small, inexpensive, has a long battery life, a good app, and low monthly fees? Or, what have you? The available options are over the top for his needs. [more inside]
posted by lakersfan1222 at 4:06 PM PST - 8 comments

Long story short... I think I'm being affected by sounds that are *just* outside of my hearing range... maybe Is there an app that can tell me the levels of the noises I shouldn't be able to hear? (more explanation inside... but that's the main question) [more inside]
posted by one4themoment at 3:34 PM PST - 10 comments

For years, I've kept a diary where I see multiple years on the same page (this one, among others). I've decided I would enjoy going through my older ones and typing them into some sort of document. How should I do this? I'd like to keep the one day / multiple years format. [more inside]
posted by The corpse in the library at 3:32 PM PST - 8 comments

I'm finishing up Ian Kershaw's "The End: The Defiance and Destruction of Hitler's Germany, 1944-1945." I realized that I have a limited knowledge of early East Germany. Specifications within.... [more inside]
posted by kuanes at 2:40 PM PST - 4 comments

Age old story, my friend clicked on and filled out a "CVS survey" before realizing it was a scam. What can she do to protect herself from the aftermath? [more inside]
posted by gtrwolf at 2:10 PM PST - 2 comments

Please help me find preferably a documentary on the whole concept, purpose, practice of an older woman being given charge over young children, and the attendant sexual proclivities or perversions that sometimes resulted. [more inside]
posted by noelpratt2nd at 2:09 PM PST - 13 comments

I have bought just about every kind of flour and bran and germ and meal and gum to make keto bread in a bread machine. I've measured ingredients like a chemist. I've experimented with quantities and water temperature and recipes that promise happiness. What I get are hard, misshapen lumps at the bottom of the pan. [more inside]
posted by CollectiveMind at 1:42 PM PST - 2 comments

We have an older model (pre-2015) Cuisinart ice cream maker and are wondering what coolant is inside the mixing bowl? [more inside]
posted by ragtimepiano at 1:00 PM PST - 7 comments

We'll be in the NW of Arkansas for a week in October and would like to take at least one cave tour. There are so many options, so which are the best? [more inside]
posted by soelo at 11:31 AM PST - 1 comment

There is a song in which Snoop Dogg rhymed punani* with salami in an epic work of lyrical art that will never be equaled. Tragically I cannot remember which song, and Google has almost no results. Can you name that tune? [more inside]
posted by DarlingBri at 10:58 AM PST - 10 comments

I had an interview today for a job that would bring me back into the tech world. Two of the people I interviewed with were great; the third exhibited a few of the 'tech bro' behaviors that moved me out of the space in the first place: namely (1) talking over the end of my thoughts with a different topic/question, and (2) saying something like, "huh, you said that you experienced X, when here I've only seen Y", and then plowing into yet another topic before his statement could be addressed. Yes, I know both tactics are ways to exert control or diminish the other person's comments/experience. I really need this job -- what are some ways you, my tech compatriots, you have successfully addressed these behaviors? Specific wordings are helpful as well as general strategies. I am a female, roughly 15 years older than him.
posted by Silvery Fish at 10:44 AM PST - 18 comments

Right now I'm really tired and somewhat spent, emotionally. I really need something to cheer myself up tonight. What can I watch? I am looking for something fluffy and comforting. NOT anything dramatic or thrilling or sad. NOT nostalgic and no suspense, not spooky (I'm a wimp), no injustice, no war. Nothing that requires empathy if it makes sense. Does anything come to mind? I'm not in the US but have HBO and Netflix. [more inside]
posted by M. at 10:17 AM PST - 54 comments

What towel brand is absorbent, slightly scratchy, and cotton? [more inside]
posted by Elsie at 10:04 AM PST - 5 comments

YANMD. Why did a very gentle post-injury massage leave me bruised? I'm recovering from a broken ankle and just started physical therapy. As part of my first session, the PT gave my foot/ankle the world's lightest massage while gently exploring my (very limited) range of motion. I was in zero pain. The next morning I woke up heavily bruised. I'm curious about why that happened. [more inside]
posted by BlahLaLa at 7:39 AM PST - 5 comments

Is there a way to find art pieces that were very recently stolen from a home? Are there art detectives/services that do this? [more inside]
posted by mmiddle at 7:23 AM PST - 7 comments

Fall is here, and it's time to break out the sweaters. Problem is, I've gained some COVID weight and I'm finding that it's impossible to find sweaters that fit me properly. I'm a 5' 7" cis guy, and every sweater I try on that fits comfortably around the torso is way too long, both in the sleeves and at the waist. Any ideas where I can find sweaters that fit? (I'm in Ontario, Canada, for what it's worth, but willing to order things online if there's a decent return policy.)
posted by greatgefilte at 7:04 AM PST - 7 comments

I've been buying fresh (refrigerated) Perdue chicken nuggets. The use-by date is always pretty far in the future - like a month or two - but it says to use within 5 days after opening. Looking for food safety advice. [more inside]
posted by beyond_pink at 6:12 AM PST - 8 comments

I’m working on becoming more assertive and am looking to hear experiences from people who made the change from people pleaser to assertive. How do people react when someone that is usually a pushover starts to become assertive? Is a normal level of assertiveness seen as aggressive when it comes from somebody that’s known for being a pushover? Would love to hear your experiences!
posted by iamsuper at 6:05 AM PST - 18 comments

Where do you buy household and hardware items online these days? Things like a carpet sweeper, wastebasket, or garden clippers? In addition to being horrible for all mankind, Amazon is also rife with counterfeit garbage.
posted by MetaFilter World Peace at 6:02 AM PST - 17 comments

I dislike the phrase 'good luck' and I would like to replace it. What are your 'good luck' alternatives? [more inside]
posted by iamkimiam at 5:42 AM PST - 48 comments

I need to fax a document. It seems like someone should have set up a service where you email or upload the document and a computer faxes. I feel like this used to exist way back in the 1990s, though it was complicated back then. Surely it exists and is simple now. Would pay a reasonable fee. In this day and age it's crazy if I have to walk to the UPS store and stand in their covid line in the cold. (I mean obviously in this day and age they need a covid line in the cold, but I'd rather stay home).
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 4:46 AM PST - 10 comments

Do you like your electric blanket/throw? Why or why not, and what brand is it? Especially curious about cheaper brands but interested in all.
posted by needs more cowbell at 3:42 AM PST - 10 comments

help me make my hair look the way it did at the barber shop [more inside]
posted by waffleriot at 7:57 PM PST - 10 comments

In my mind, this piece is associated with the Olympics, really dignified music playing over superb athletic feets. The melody repeats. But each time something is added and it builds up to the end. And then maybe it kind of fades. IIRC, it starts with strings, adds flutes, adds horns, in that order. Help me out, please. [more inside]
posted by Stuka at 7:55 PM PST - 12 comments

I recently read Susan Juby's delightful novel, Mindful of Murder, which is a murder mystery, whose main character, Helen, is a former Buddhist nun who has just graduated from a school for butlers when the story begins. (I know, that sounds preposterous.) I love Helen, her equanimity, her openheartedness, her interactions with other wonderfully drawn characters in the course of the story. So I am interested in finding more fiction with specifically Buddhist characters like Helen. Can you help? Preferably fairly light reading, such as mystery or other genres.
posted by metonym at 6:29 PM PST - 9 comments

I have been experiencing on and off trauma/anxiety from this pandemic and finding it difficult to stay cheerful at times. The pandemic happened all so fast so the experience is very jarring and exhausting as it’s been with us a long time - still difficult processing all of it. [more inside]
posted by RearWindow at 3:59 PM PST - 8 comments

Lately, I've noticed a major uptick of smokers (cigarette, vaping, and weed), both at my apartment community (which happens to be right next to a Metro station) and everywhere in the city, including in forbidden areas (ie, the train). It's really getting to me, and I'm very concerned about all the secondhand exposure. My grandma, who I was very close with, passed away from lung cancer a few years ago (former smoker), so that might explain some of my bias. [more inside]
posted by dubious_dude at 3:38 PM PST - 25 comments

It's a tale as old as time - my parents' health and their ability to mange their house is starting to overwhelm them and me, their only child. I'm getting a wrangle on medical and legal stuff, but the care of their house it outside of all of our expertise. Please help me shape my ideas of what should and can be done. [more inside]
posted by theweasel at 1:22 PM PST - 30 comments

We have a 1-2 inch gap between the concrete sidewalk on the side of our house and the house itself. I would like to fill it with something like a self-leveling sealant. What specific product/method do you recommend? Other questions inside. [more inside]
posted by Mid at 1:21 PM PST - 11 comments

A member of our household fell and injured themselves while at a neighbors house. The accident was no big deal, but involved a trip to the emergency room and some follow up care. Now our health insurance is asking for detailed info about the accident -- including where it took place -- in order to determine if anyone else was at fault. My neighbor did nothing wrong, but I'm worried my health insurance will go after them, which would be a bummer and I think unfair. Anyone have experience with this kind of thing? Should I be worried about this? And is there anything I can - legally - do to protect my neighbor?
posted by anonymous at 1:07 PM PST - 8 comments

Usually, the very sciencey xkcd comics will go over my head because I'm kinda dim, and I have no hope of understanding the ones that are based on math. But it almost feels like maybe this one could be understandable if I had some pertinent details; however, I cannot put it together. I feel incredibly stupid asking this, but can you help me?
posted by kitten kaboodle at 12:25 PM PST - 13 comments

I have to record interviews for work, and after my old computer died, I've realized that the new computer (MacBook Pro M2) doesn't support the old program that I used to record calls. It was Ecamm's Call Recorder for Skype. I liked the fact that it automatically started recording whenever I made a call, and then the recorded files were easy to find. I saw an older related question, but does anyone have any recent recommendations? [more inside]
posted by pinochiette at 12:22 PM PST - 3 comments

Novavax is authorized in the US as a primary series but not as a booster. It is, however, authorized in the EU and Australia as a booster, following any other brand primary series. What I need to know, and can't find, is whether the booster shot differs in volume or in any other way from the primary, i.e., will I be able to get a Novavax booster by presenting myself as a first-time vaccine recipient and getting the primary dosage?
posted by HotToddy at 12:11 PM PST - 4 comments

I made a bet for fun it says "Total Wager" for $100 and then "Won on FanDuel as $160.61" (Settled) ... when I go to withdraw I only can withdraw $60.61. I've bet on sports before and this is not what I am used to, why would it say $160.61 when I can only withdraw $60.61? I just did a simple spread bet on a college football game. Am I missing something?
posted by geoff. at 11:40 AM PST - 6 comments

Hiya, I'm sure there is a way to do this that's known but there is such a plethora of discord plugins and bots that I'm having a hard time finding it. Basically I want to have a shared Google Drive folder where people can post photos, then something watches that and automatically posts links to new uploads there to a certain discord server/channel (preferably with a specific formatting before the ID portion of the drive URL). Thanks in advance!
posted by Dext at 10:17 AM PST - 2 comments

I need something to act as a heart rate monitor while I ride my peloton, and counts laps when I swim. [more inside]
posted by BuddhaInABucket at 9:30 AM PST - 7 comments

In real life couples tend to share in jokes, slang, neologisms, tones of voice etc that they use privately and not with other people. I'm looking for examples of this kind of couple talk in novels and short stories. [more inside]
posted by Ballad of Peckham Rye at 7:37 AM PST - 12 comments

In the last year or so I read a novel or short story about a terminally ill woman who goes on a trip to India with her friends. It ends with an assisted suicide in the US. I cannot remember the author and cannot find it in my library history or purchase history.
posted by InkaLomax at 7:12 AM PST - 6 comments

There's an e-waste drop off this afternoon and I'd like to get rid of an old macbook. It's white plastic, so really old. I've deleted everything. It still has my login name, which I don't really care about. But no emails or documents. Is this good enough? Do I have to do some official "wipe"? If so, how do I do that? I went to disk utilities, and there's an erase option there, but the buttons were grayed out. [more inside]
posted by gigondas at 6:57 AM PST - 17 comments

I bought some small bent-plywood chairs and would like to try decorating a couple of them. I really like the look of colorful images heat-pressed onto plywood skateboards and am hoping to acheive something similar. [more inside]
posted by blueberry at 10:06 PM PST - 3 comments

Should I try for the third time to get my personal laptop fixed, or just get a new one? [more inside]
posted by NotLost at 8:29 PM PST - 9 comments

I manage a growing team of web developers. Due to Covid and a new appetite for remote hiring, I want to come up with low-stakes, low-structure social "things", especially for "Welcome, new team mate" 1-hour meetings, where the goal is nebulous but basically "See? You're working with Friendly Humans". [more inside]
posted by worstname at 7:43 PM PST - 13 comments

I’d say I’m a medium adventurous eater by US standards; I was a very picky eater as a kid, but once I went to college, I started eating a lot more things. These days, I love trying new cuisines, and I’m good with spicy, sour, bitter, etc. The most adventurous things I’ve tried (‘adventurous’ for me, hah) are chapulines in Mexico, which were good! However, I have a few types of foods I’m a bit squeamish about... [more inside]
posted by catcafe at 7:41 PM PST - 17 comments

I'm not sure why this is so complicated but I really struggle with pumping my bike tubes. Help? [more inside]
posted by Paper rabies at 5:03 PM PST - 15 comments

I've got a constructed world that is moving through the modern era. One difference from Earth is that it has much less oil. Picture oil running out in the 1950s rather than the 2050s. My question is, how would they fight a modern war? How can they use tanks, aircraft, and warships? All those slurp up oil, and aren't conducive to electric power. [more inside]
posted by zompist at 4:32 PM PST - 35 comments

I roasted a chicken. I cut into the chicken breast, and there's a section where the texture is off. I'm guessing I know the answer, but... can I eat it? [more inside]
posted by meese at 4:31 PM PST - 12 comments

I've been telling myself all my life that it's an anomaly to live your whole life without getting up close to war/genocide/major acts of terror. Whether that be being in a country where conscription for an overseas war occurs on mass (even if you are not conscripted), or being in a country that is invaded, or where a genocide occurs, or that gets bombed. I have lived my life accordingly, but - is it actually true? [more inside]
posted by Chrysalis at 4:24 PM PST - 12 comments

I want the most comfortable reading/watching TV in bed setup possible, by any means. what is yours? [more inside]
posted by slow graffiti at 3:16 PM PST - 7 comments

I am very lactose-intolerant and - even worse - entirely unable to have caffeine. When I say entirely I mean 1 mg is enough to trigger a migraine cycle (even when I don't know it's present!) This means I can't have coffee, tea, or chocolate. I want a Hot Winter Beverage that is delicious like coffee, tea, or especially chocolate, and most importantly, that can be made as deliciously creamy as hot chocolate. Go!
posted by dmd at 2:14 PM PST - 53 comments

All the courses I see about social media focus on how to use social media to market something. I'm curious about how the sites themselves are designed and architected, and how those decisions interact with how their users use the sites. Where is my book or online course? [more inside]
posted by amtho at 11:47 AM PST - 2 comments

For a friend: How to prevent a cat from bolting out front door when it is open? Complications abound. [more inside]
posted by unicorn chaser at 11:26 AM PST - 25 comments

I am in Stow-on-the-Wold and need to get to Moreton-in-Marsh tomorrow morning by 8:30. None of the taxis I have contacted are available. Any public transit options I’m missing? Buses seem not to run on Sundays. Eep.
posted by delight at 11:16 AM PST - 7 comments

I've got a used, refurbished Macbook Pro from 2011 and I'm curious if it's possible to update it, and if it is possible, if I should. I saw some similar asks from about ten years ago, and it's 2022 now so I figure it's okay to ask again. [more inside]
posted by pelvicsorcery at 11:13 AM PST - 14 comments

A person running for political office in Canada took part in a debate. He closed his remarks with "keep 'em high and tight." What dog whistle was he trying to send? [more inside]
posted by sardonyx at 10:35 AM PST - 15 comments

Does it matter, with respect to finances, whether: - solar panels are installed while I rent it or while I live in it? - solar panels are installed now (in 2023) or in 4 years? [more inside]
posted by falsedmitri at 9:02 AM PST - 4 comments

I've been assigned to teach an introductory 1 hour class about Google Workspace. It will be a group of 8 adults (most at a very basic tech level), all will have laptops, and I'll be sharing my screen. I have little experience with Google Workspace --what are the most important/helpful things I should cover to give participants the basics?
posted by bookmammal at 4:33 AM PST - 10 comments

Eagggh. I was sent quite a long form in MS Word to fill out, which I've opened in Google Docs. All the blanks to be filled in are formatted as a bunch of underline, so if I type on them, the underline moves until it overflows onto the next line. Is there some way in Docs (or even Word if it's simpler) to get around this?
posted by less-of-course at 11:21 PM PST - 8 comments

[CW: medical assistance in dying] My beloved aunt, who has been a second mother to me, is planning to end her life under our state's Medical Assistance in Dying Act (MAiD) in the next several days. I am not supposed to know this. I respect and support her decision 100%, including her wish to keep this a secret. But I am struggling with the ethics of knowing the date and time of a loved one's death in advance yet not acknowledging it to them in any way. I am afraid I am making the wrong choice. If anyone has experience with physician-assisted suicide--either as a family member, a professional, a patient, whathaveyou--I'd be profoundly grateful for any thoughts you'd care to share. Thank you so much in advance. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 10:19 PM PST - 26 comments

Just found out my friends "step" grandfather was jazz saxophonist Buddy Baker. There is very little music of his available. There are some channels on Spotify that are slim pickings. Are there any resources out there I can contact to find more of his recorded work?
posted by goalyeehah at 9:47 PM PST - 5 comments

I have a junk cart I want to use for gardening, and I want to change out the tires. Of course, it's not that simple. [more inside]
posted by Marky at 5:13 PM PST - 6 comments

My favorite jacket recently gave up the ghost. Can you direct me to one that fits a slim A5 notebook in its pocket? [more inside]
posted by crossswords at 1:57 PM PST - 11 comments

Want your suggestions on where to end my year of urban bike adventures. So far this year I have bike adventured in Portland, Minneapolis, New Orleans, New York City, Westchester County and Seattle. Looking for suggestions anywhere in the world. My requirements are : moderate to good bike infrastructure including trails, and non-freezing temps above 32 degrees F, as I will be going in December. Places currently high on my list are Kyoto and Vancouver. [more inside]
posted by Xurando at 1:10 PM PST - 12 comments

I use Gmail for my work email and want to stop, but there are a few features it has that I really like. What email client would you recommend if I want to be able to: very quickly paste in a template for a reply (it looks like Outlook requires several clicks for this?), filter unread emails by date so I can focus on the current day's inbox, and use lots of shortcuts (e.g. in Gmail I use ⌘ + return to send)? Also want decent search. My emails come to Outlook now, but I forward to Gmail. I'm on a Mac.
posted by pinochiette at 12:17 PM PST - 11 comments

There's a guy where I swim who struck me as very lonely and eager to talk, so I indulged him a few times (he talks about himself, I listen). Then, he started mixing in insulting comments (how slow I swim lately, how beat up my car looks, etc.) into his patter. How and where do people draw the line in situations like this? [more inside]
posted by Jon44 at 11:56 AM PST - 42 comments

We are a family of 4 with 2 young boys, ages 2 and 4, and we have 2 weeks over the Xmas/New Years time period for a vacation. Flying and getting the necessary stuff for kids seem more stressful than if we just drive once we factor is the cost of flights, travel time, waiting in line at the airport, car rental, car seats, etc. This is particularly the case since one of the kids has some sensitivity issues and being flexible is not a strong trait at the moment. The problem is that we are in Austin and everything is an obscene distance from us. We are loosely considering Destin/Pensacola area since we can break up the travel into a few days and still have a nice chunk to spend at the beach. I have two questions: 1.) Do you have specific hotel or airbnb that would work for us or for families in general. We are open to family resorts or airbnb. 2.) Is there another location (and related link for lodging) that is within driving distance from Austin?
posted by allthingsconsidered at 11:45 AM PST - 6 comments

My spouse and I were chatting about this last night. We live in a neighbourhood in our city that used to be a very eclectic, multicultural neighbourhood. It still is to a large degree — but now it’s become increasingly trendy. While it’s somewhat nice to have new shops and restaurants — it’s quite unpleasant too with all the chains moving in, and the old places we love getting squeezed out year after year. That’s not the issue I am asking about though — it just sets the scene of where we live. [more inside]
posted by Lescha at 10:52 AM PST - 10 comments

I am looking for a replacement over-the-ear bluetooth headset that will work with Microsoft Teams and my Android Phone. I have a Sennheiser MB660 but it's having a lot of issues. More details inside [more inside]
posted by jazon at 9:55 AM PST - 7 comments

Does anyone have a recipe for real ice cream that I can make using this here container of generic peanut powder? [more inside]
posted by wenestvedt at 9:36 AM PST - 8 comments

Is there a way for a person in Toronto to follow the Blue Jays either via video or radio that is not an avalanche of gambling ads? I'm very uncomfortable with these ads being shown/read to etc. small children. It's bad enough they're on every bus shelter. I would be pay for a service but my understanding is that if you pay for mlb.com you don't get your teams games. [more inside]
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 9:28 AM PST - 18 comments

Suppose you apply for a job and your potential employer has you do a drug screen. The screen indicates positive for cannabis. Now suppose cannabis is legal in your state for medical and recreational use ... [more inside]
posted by ZenMasterThis at 9:11 AM PST - 21 comments

I would like to listen to the actual radio on Alexa or Google Home (preferably Alexa). Is there a device I can buy that will allow me to do that? I assume i would rather have a digital tuner with some option to designate favourite stations? Bonus points for ability to voice control or to have Alexa control it (like to set some sort of sleep timer, for example).
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 9:09 AM PST - 14 comments

I read a lot of books and watch a lot of movies, and one of the things I've realized is that I've developed a decent layperson's understanding of "what makes this movie work, shot-to-shot," but I don't have that for books. I'll read two fairly similar genre books, for example, and one of them will absolutely click for me and the other won't, but I don't feel like I have a vocabulary for describing what it is that makes the writing in one of them "better" than the other. I would like to read some books that will help me develop a better ear for prose, give me tools for talking about what I like and don't like, and help me feel like I can appreciate what a writer is doing in more detail. I'd be up for education through other media as well, but it feels right to read about reading.
posted by Four String Riot at 8:22 AM PST - 11 comments

I need to make precise cuts in Kydex. A wide kerf is ok as long as I can control its location. Scroll saws — the customary tool — are loud and violent. They fling particles everywhere. I'm trying to avoid collateral annoyance. [more inside]
posted by trevor_case at 7:33 AM PST - 8 comments

Looking for books on the history/culture of the tribes of the SW.
posted by ebesan at 6:25 AM PST - 8 comments

Our daycare likes to have the kids help out with baking periodically, but it's getting to be too many desserts. What else can the kids help bake or cook? [more inside]
posted by msbrauer at 6:24 AM PST - 35 comments

I get terrible seasonal affective disorder every year and have been considering buying a light lightbox. However, I also take my dog outside every single morning, and am wondering if the natural daylight is as effective as if not more so than a pricey lightbox. [more inside]
posted by whistle pig at 6:07 AM PST - 15 comments

What songs should I sing to my dog on our boring walk? [more inside]
posted by the primroses were over at 5:06 AM PST - 23 comments

I have a stubborn post-Covid cough. I also have a first date coming up. How can I eliminate it so that my first impression is not that of a plaguebearer? Bonus points if I can do so in an imperceptible way that does not require me to keep taking things throughout the date. [more inside]
posted by sockmeamadeus at 3:40 AM PST - 27 comments

"-x" is becoming more common in Spanish as a gender-neutral suffix (e.g. in "Latinx," typically pronounced in Enligsh as "Latin-ecks"), but today I saw it in the book title "Nosotrxs." I was talking about the book with a coworker (one of the item records attached to the bib record was acting oddly) and realized I didn't know how to pronounce it. [more inside]
posted by johnofjack at 6:30 PM PST - 22 comments

What's the latest and greatest in non‐fiction books about queer identity and life for queer young adults who lack community/information? Online community referrals welcome too. Should be bi-positive and Latinx competent. Thanks!
posted by latkes at 6:04 PM PST - 5 comments

I am fat and am having trouble navigating/understanding my covid risk with unclear government guidance. I live in San Diego and would love to find a local fat-friendly/Health At Every Size general practitioner who could provide medical advice to me specific to my needs about what mitigation I need to use, when I can safely travel, etc. But I have had a very hard time finding someone local, so I am also very open to telehealth! Are there doctors who provide this kind of medical advice (and general advice) via telehealth? [more inside]
posted by pupstocks at 5:39 PM PST - 3 comments

I would like your favorite homemade granola recipes. Preferences: not too sweet, vegan, high protein. [more inside]
posted by medusa at 4:21 PM PST - 9 comments

I have two halves of fresh pomegranate that I would like to preserve for sentimental reasons. What are my options? [more inside]
posted by Glier's Goetta at 4:02 PM PST - 8 comments

I feel like I should know this already, but - I've got a personal site; it's been in hand-coded HTML and CSS for as long as I've had it. For networking/business reasons, I need to make it look better. I want to use a website builder, but all the builders I'm familiar with are designed to be used with either their own hosting, or with a back-end (e.g. Wordpress). I just want simple HTML/CSS pages I can edit on my desktop. What's good for this?
posted by LSK at 3:50 PM PST - 3 comments

I have a loud snoring spouse, and a light sleeping child. At home it's fine as the rooms are pretty far apart. But hotels? We'd been booking 1 bedrooms pre-pandemic and during the pandemic for the few trips we took. Now prices are out of control so that's becoming out of our price range. Any clever solution to a situation like this? [more inside]
posted by Mushroom12345 at 3:29 PM PST - 21 comments

Due to a set of very crappy circumstances my son and I were in a pickle and a very nice couple who are family friends of my brother in law let us stay in their condo for a night while they are away. I lost the key. I have spent hours tearing this place apart and it’s not anywhere. What do I do to make this situation as right as it can be? [more inside]
posted by pintapicasso at 2:34 PM PST - 47 comments

Can anyone identify the piano piece played by Tom in this Tom & Jerry cartoon? One of my mom's piano students wants to learn it but we have no idea what it's called. Or is it even a known piece or written just for the cartoon?
posted by downtohisturtles at 2:14 PM PST - 3 comments

I went in to get my eyeglasses adjusted earlier, and the person doing the adjustments at the office was in close proximity to me (near my face, etc) to do the adjustments. He reeked of cigarette smoke. Hours later, I still smell remnants of the smoke, even though I was only with him for ~15-20 minutes. How do I "reset" my smell sense to get rid of this smell? [more inside]
posted by dubious_dude at 1:57 PM PST - 13 comments

I'm in a mid-career malaise and am considering pursuing an MPH with an Industrial Hygiene focus/traineeship. I am curious: do you or someone you know have an IH background, and what are you, or they, doing with it? Would you recommend the field? [more inside]
posted by kensington314 at 12:03 PM PST - 7 comments

For whatever reason, I am suddenly flirting with the idea to get a cute flannel dress to wear in fall with leggings and boots (you know, you've seen the kind). The only problem: thanks to some extensive abdominal surgery years ago AND thanks to middle age, I've got a belly and have a hard time finding something that makes me not look pregnant. Please link me to a SPECIFIC dress? (preferred details inside) [more inside]
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 11:59 AM PST - 22 comments

For health reasons, I only want to date non-smokers, which for me means not using cigarettes, cigars, vape pens, or cannabis, but I'm having trouble making that clear in my dating profiles. It looks like vaping and cannabis use fall outside the definition of smoking right now. How do I more effectively communicate this in my profile so I don't have to confirm after I match with someone?
posted by The Adventure Begins at 11:14 AM PST - 22 comments

For a story I’m working on, I need a bird with some kind of behavior that would be seen as not very nice by an external observer, ideally a species you’d spot while hiking somewhere in the northeastern US. Maybe it fights a bunch. Maybe it uses deception in its feeding habits. Maybe it steals somehow. Something like that. Any ideas for what birds would make good candidates and why?
posted by xenization at 10:21 AM PST - 42 comments

Looking for good webcams and condenser microphones for about $40-60 each. Any recommendations?
posted by goalyeehah at 10:02 AM PST - 10 comments

Does anyone have a favorite Inn, or Bed and Breakfast, or AirBNB, or Hotel that they like near Provincetown, Massachusetts? I am trying to narrow down my focus!
posted by yet.another.boston.question at 9:06 AM PST - 5 comments

A few years ago (maybe 2019) I opened a savings account with Capital One 360 when interest rates were good, maybe 1-2%. Eventually the rates fell, and I was getting 0.3%. Now it seems rates are back up, but my savings account rate never changed. What am I missing? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 8:58 AM PST - 13 comments

I spent half my life running my own business. How do I convince someone to hire me to bag groceries? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 8:58 AM PST - 28 comments

I don't want to be insensitive to my partner, but he's not good at talking about this stuff. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 8:57 AM PST - 32 comments

I'm curious how you or others have managed the social aspect of moving from a high-pressure/always-on job to a very low-pressure environment with less connection? How do you fill your social cup from Monday-Friday, 9-5? [more inside]
posted by socky_puppy at 8:31 AM PST - 9 comments

Thunderbird is not able to connect to IMAP servers. Keep getting weird messages - *too many connections opened* - changed from 5 to 1 - still doesn't work. Then if I try to send a message to myself this is what I get *connection to IMAP.gmail.com timed out*. Tried uninstalling and reinstalling. What could be the issue? Please help - this just happened out of the blue - didn't change anything. Thank you so much.
posted by watercarrier at 8:06 AM PST - 8 comments

Can you recommend a restaurant in/near Uptown Saint John that's likely to be open on Thanksgiving? I'm taking a little New Brunswick vacation and, inconveniently, I'll be entering Canada from the US on Canadian Thanksgiving. I have a hotel booked in Saint John that night but I'm not sure to what extent restaurants and supermarkets will be open. Maybe I'm unnecessarily concerned and there will be plenty of places open? [more inside]
posted by mskyle at 7:01 AM PST - 4 comments

My partner and I are moving to Portland, Oregon, next year and we would like to start growing roots in the nature / native plants / eco / environmental / nature center / parks / gardening / wildlife / tree planting / sustainability space. We are both eager to land jobs of any sort at great organizations who do good work and are good to work for. Can you please suggest orgs that we might be interested in?
posted by rebent at 6:54 AM PST - 11 comments

What is your writing routine? I'm trying to figure out how to implement some serious writing in my days and learning of others' routines would be helpful. I would love to know: [more inside]
posted by Sassyfras at 5:39 AM PST - 13 comments

For ethical and climate concern reasons, I have limited myself to only eating meat once a week, and only locally raised and 100% grass fed. Subsequent to that decision, I’ve discovered that I am allergic to milk and eggs - which is about 80% of my diet. I’m doing lots of rice and lentils and beans; have added oatmeal to my breakfast smoothies, eat until my stomach hurts during dinner (which just makes me fall asleep), but I am hungry ALL THE TIME. What am I doing wrong? Should I be adding more fats? Are there recipes you can share that will give me a sense of a better way to combine foods for satiation? (Extra difficulty level - soy-based is problematic right now because it kicks off all the miserable menopause symptoms.) Any guidance is appreciated.
posted by Silvery Fish at 5:34 AM PST - 30 comments

Where can I find pawpaws in NYC ? I’ve always wanted to try one, and according to the New Yorker apparently now they’re all the rage here. So of course it must be true 🙄. Is there anyplace I can buy one / some between now and Rosh Hashana (Sunday night), ideally in Manhattan but that’s not a dealbreaker? [more inside]
posted by Mchelly at 4:25 AM PST - 14 comments

Looking for autobiographies or memoirs written by crafters or visual artists, and published in the last twenty years. In English and not in comic or graphic format. I already know about autobiographies by Grayson Perry, Keith Brymer Jones, Tracey Emin, Ai Weiwei, Emma Reyes, Marina Abramović, Celia Paul, Marion Coutts and Esme Young. Thank you.
posted by paduasoy at 3:44 AM PST - 13 comments

For reasons, I need a writing tool that has both an Android app and access from Windows - with extra software or a browser version - and displays a word count the entire time in both versions. This is surprisingly hard to find, because for example Word does it well on Windows in the status bar, but the Android app only displays it in print view when you move the screen, and in mobile view not at all. [more inside]
posted by I claim sanctuary at 3:39 AM PST - 4 comments

I would like to bake oatmeal cookies tonight. I had a recipe picked out, but it needs dates and I forgot to buy those. Hoping for something delicious, filling, with a good texture for a toddler. I will put the ingredients I do have below. [more inside]
posted by kinddieserzeit at 1:30 AM PST - 6 comments

I saw an anime, probably from the 90s, but maybe earlier, about these sports stars who have superhuman DNA but then start exploding/dying? [more inside]
posted by Literaryhero at 1:21 AM PST - 5 comments

I am trying to find an episode of a documentary series that focused on American Football injuries. I thought it was part of the “30 For 30” series but none of the episode descriptions seem to match. It touched on professional, collage, high school and middle school, but it seemed to focus on how increased competition at lower ages was leading to more serious injuries as the kids were developing. [more inside]
posted by Short End Of A Wishbone at 9:24 PM PST - 3 comments

My SO started Zoloft a few days ago - how much fatigue and discomfort is normal (vs doctor-worthy) at this point? [more inside]
posted by cotton dress sock at 8:52 PM PST - 13 comments

This must be the randomest question ever but I need help. I keep stubbing my toes against things. A LOT of context below the fold. [more inside]
posted by unicorn chaser at 8:49 PM PST - 26 comments

I often drink a cup of plain green tea in the mornings. Up till now that's always been bagged green tea from the grocery store, but after hearing KatherineOfSky saying how much she likes the tea from Art of Tea I'm interested in giving a fancy loose leaf tea a try. They have several kinds of green tea, does anybody have any recommendations for a good tea to start with? [more inside]
posted by unus sum at 8:44 PM PST - 17 comments

I have no idea what 'Can o' Beer' is. Please help me read 'The Moon and six pence'. It's in the chapter 47, Captain Nichols, for his part, couldn't do without tobacco and he took to hunting the 'Can o' Beer' for cigarette-ends...I only found a picture of the canned beer. Thank you for helping my English.
posted by mizukko at 8:10 PM PST - 7 comments

I need advice regarding how to make a deal with a dealership that will be most advantageous to me...but it's complicated. [more inside]
posted by Molasses808 at 6:25 PM PST - 6 comments

What can I use to keep my hands busy during meetings at work? [more inside]
posted by Mr Yak at 6:19 PM PST - 27 comments

In the often mentioned real estate scavenger hunt, I've come across these things that I can't identify. (You can see other views of them in pictures #36 and #44.) It has no real bearing on the game, but now I can't rest until I know what they are. Help?
posted by DrGail at 5:03 PM PST - 8 comments

I just tried to log into my bank account at 5th 3rd bank, and my saved credentials did not work. Then I tried to enter relevant information to get access, and it told me my relevant information was not correct. It included my last name, social security number, zip code and bank account number. I tried them twice and they did not work. [more inside]
posted by Glinn at 4:17 PM PST - 14 comments

Can anyone point me to writing about English suburbs? How they developed, cultural history, etc. [more inside]
posted by kittensofthenight at 2:56 PM PST - 7 comments

So, last year, this happened. [more inside]
posted by Rumi'sLeftSock at 2:53 PM PST - 11 comments

I had my 4th Moderna shot (2nd booster) in July and have been pondering the timing of getting the Omicron booster. I've heard some people wanting to wait until the holidays, like November, in time for family gatherings and such, but then I heard some official on TV urging people to get their boosters by Halloween so they have full protection for the winter surge. So, when are folks planning to get it? Or have you already?
posted by thelasttango at 2:39 PM PST - 20 comments

I'm currently trying to find a new therapist. I've had a few sessions with three different therapists, and each time have come away feeling that they weren't a good fit, and haven't continued with them. I have a session with a new therapist on Friday, and I'd like to try and make sure that I'm doing everything I can to see if they're right for me. [more inside]
posted by six sided sock at 2:39 PM PST - 5 comments

Is there a way to transfer music from my ipod to my new Macbook? I can't do a computer to computer transfer for reasons that I don't think are really relevant but I guess if you need them to help answer the question, ask away. Thank you. [more inside]
posted by ferret branca at 2:21 PM PST - 8 comments

I have an ID 208BT smartwatch. It runs on the VeryFit app. The watch is amazing for what I paid for it, but I'm confused by what the app says it can do vs what the watch is capable of. [more inside]
posted by CollectiveMind at 1:56 PM PST - 2 comments

I need to move to get my son into a decent middle and high school this year, and I'm having trouble balancing all the factors, and am curious to hear how other parents (or kids!) viewed their decisions in retrospect. Here are the trade-offs as I see them currently: [more inside]
posted by haptic_avenger at 1:21 PM PST - 15 comments

Is it a bad idea to all of a sudden pull the plug on certain jobs because I am finding the process of completing them absolutely unbearable? [more inside]
posted by ljs30 at 12:52 PM PST - 6 comments

My new Punkt MP02 mobile arrived locked. My carrier (Consumer Cellular) says it doesn't have the APN code to open it. Can someone out there provide that code to me? Also, is this code unique to the carrier? Any other info about this is appreciated so I can use this phone.
posted by partner at 11:48 AM PST - 14 comments

My 7 year old cousin has decided that she wants to hang out with me and I am thrilled. It was initially supposed to be me teaching her how to crochet. That has not gone very well. It's turned into random crafts or "playing school". She is down south and I am up north. [more inside]
posted by mokeydraws at 11:43 AM PST - 5 comments

My 12 year old son's grandparents are visiting from out of the country. They dropped off Chik-fil-a at the front desk of his school for him to eat as a surprise lunch. His lunch went missing. Video cameras captured the female perpetrator of the Great Chicken Nugget Caper. As a parent, how should I handle this? [more inside]
posted by jasondigitized at 11:21 AM PST - 46 comments

Is there an off the shelf part that I can slide into this metal bracket, that I can affix to a piece of wood/ metal backing that two 12" wide stamped metal label dispensers are affixed to? [more inside]
posted by porpoise at 10:18 AM PST - 10 comments

Seeking entertaining, thought-provoking essays about or related to mall culture, primarily in the 1980s, 1990s, and early '00s. [more inside]
posted by babelfish at 9:40 AM PST - 13 comments

My husband and I are planning to move cross-country (to Seattle), but I'm struggling with the job application process in a city where I have no contacts. How have you made this work, long-distance? [more inside]
posted by soonertbone at 9:35 AM PST - 9 comments

If you've gotten your gutters repaired in the Boston metro area and liked the work that was done, please tell me who did the work! We have a break in a gutter, and we also have a downspout that I suspect is largely filled with dirt.
posted by ignignokt at 9:34 AM PST - 0 comments

My best friend of several years cut off contact with me and with it, contact with most of my social circle and my child's social circle. I am dealing with my feelings of hurt and rejection, but my main concern is how to support my child, who I can tell is hurting too. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 9:27 AM PST - 8 comments

My father in the Alaska bush has no internet connection, no computer, no interest in traditional TV (or cable or streaming tv), but does have USB sticks with video content he'd like to watch on a large screen. [more inside]
posted by QuakerMel at 8:52 AM PST - 11 comments

Anyone have any recommendations? I'm open to either, will be for about a week in Nov and maybe Dec. I am in the suburbs west of town. My cat doesn't handle travel well though he's young and healthy.
posted by emjaybee at 8:40 AM PST - 6 comments

I've moved cross-country and a lot of my close friends are now thousands of miles away. What are some creative ways you stay close to loved ones who live far away? [more inside]
posted by actionpact at 8:12 AM PST - 10 comments

I have been struggling with intense anxiety for almost a year. I have had very bad experiences in the past with medication like SSRI and I am extremely reluctant to go on them again. I don’t know what other options I have left though at this point as therapy isn’t helping either. Details after the jump [more inside]
posted by Riverside at 7:15 AM PST - 28 comments

Traveling for the first time in 2 1/2 years, and heading to the Bay Area for the first time in 3 1/2 years. I'll have most of a weekend solo to sightsee, relax, and be pampered. Since it's been so long since I've been, what are the things that are on your can't miss list? [more inside]
posted by hijinx at 7:13 AM PST - 12 comments

Ok... so I'm looking at a candidate for a job position and I notice on his resume the following: Between his mobile number and my mobile number (10 digit, US format) there are 9 numbers in common, 5 of which are in the right position. [more inside]
posted by Nanukthedog at 5:09 AM PST - 12 comments

I’m at a restaurant with a friend. At the end of the meal, he pulls out his wallet and says, "It's on me." If I argue, I feel rude for rejecting a gift. If I don’t argue, I feel rude for freeloading. What am I supposed to do? [more inside]
posted by yankeefog at 4:00 AM PST - 33 comments

I have realized, somewhat to my surprise (as a generally friendly, chatty person who's nice to people), that I have very few friends, even fewer local friends, and seem to have entirely forgotten the knack of making friends. Not friendly work acquaintances, not social media banter. Actual friends who I look forward to catching up with and share stuff with. If you've managed to do this in your mid-thirties, tell me how. [more inside]
posted by Nieshka at 3:30 AM PST - 17 comments

I'm interesting in science fiction (novels) that explore what plausible extremely large scale civilization(s)/empire(s) would look like. more details within? [more inside]
posted by wooh at 2:44 AM PST - 16 comments

I've written here before and regarding challenges with changing careers and too much job experience for entry-level roles and not enough for the mid-level. I have a specific hiring manager message to have a response to in the future & a related "feeder" job example I'd like advice on. Also, I have new personal insight. Help me get ahead of the assumptions about experience and interest in a job. [more inside]
posted by Che boludo! at 1:09 AM PST - 2 comments

I’m a cishet neurodivergent single man around 40yrs old. After a long period of being single and pretty okay with it, I had a short but wonderful relationship this summer which has rekindled my desire to find a life partner. So I’m dipping my toe back into online dating, and wondering if any other men here can give some advice on how to take care of my emotions in the seemingly-horrific online dating landscape? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 11:35 PM PST - 10 comments

I'm pretty sure this was from the CBS years, but I suppose it could be Late Night. In my memory it's the Late Show set. Tom Hanks is a guest, and he goes off on a rant about how much he hates musicals. [more inside]
posted by chazlarson at 9:19 PM PST - 2 comments

My phone carrier is like $9/month. Total. I want to keep them. They require that I use a 4g phone. Can you find me a used phone that doesn't cost the moon? [more inside]
posted by aniola at 8:05 PM PST - 21 comments

My son (in eighth grade) and I are planning to read a book on American history together over the school year. Would love to get some ideas from you. [more inside]
posted by justlooking at 6:42 PM PST - 25 comments

Looking for help with describing symptoms to my doc in a way that is most likely to result in effective treatment. [more inside]
posted by bunderful at 5:21 PM PST - 19 comments

Difficulty: Windows 11, and long distance [more inside]
posted by China Grover at 4:40 PM PST - 8 comments

My wife and I are shopping for an inflatable tandem kayak. A good number of them have a 400 lb. weight limit. We just happen to weigh exactly 400 lbs when you put us together. So, just how hard and fast are those weight limits? We don't want to sink in the middle of a lake, but there are some really nice kayaks out there with 400 lb weight limits.
posted by furtheryet at 2:49 PM PST - 14 comments

I recently read this article about “fearful and controlling parents.” The same author links this upbringing to complex trauma or C-PTSD. Is “fearful and controlling” a term of art, and is there more research / writing on this topic? [more inside]
posted by stoneandstar at 2:04 PM PST - 3 comments

I want to hire someone to clean my home. A friend. recommended a service she uses and really likes. I went on their web site and got an estimate and can book. THe thing is that they are estimating my place gets clean in 5 person hours. But they bill based on actual time. That's fair, of course, but I don't want to be surprised when I get the bill. Has anyone use a cleaning service that does estimates and then bills based on time spent? Are the estimates usually accurate? 5 hours seems low, but maybe professionals are just more efficient then I am? [more inside]
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 1:59 PM PST - 19 comments

Did anyone here happen to ever read about... the reasons why is Friday associated with the planet Venus, etc? Why is Monday named after the moon? I've already read all of the relevant wiki articles and they all kind of stop at "Friday is associated with Venus" without delving into what human needs were humans serving when they started saying these things to each other. Does anyone know?
posted by bleep at 1:54 PM PST - 8 comments

I'm fascinating by individuals who leave their group, usually at great personal cost. I imagine this is a genre, but I don't know what it is. I'd love to read stories about these people. Here are examples in different categories. [more inside]
posted by daniel.poynter at 1:16 PM PST - 37 comments

We're a small company; I have a colleague whose Gmail side panel has vanished and I'm trying to help. It's not the new one (from the recent Gmail update) on the left but the one on the right where one's integrations (Calendar, Zoom, etc) appear. It's collapsible (as is the case in the image). Confirmed that my user's panel is not collapsed; it's just not there. (The image above is my screen). Searching (ironically, Google) provided nothing useful.
posted by eggman at 12:08 PM PST - 6 comments

I’ve had a bit of a nightmare summer mental health-wise. Would appreciate some advice, perspective, and how to move forward. [more inside]
posted by osmond_nash at 11:32 AM PST - 11 comments

What are your favorite vegan cookbooks these days? [more inside]
posted by latkes at 11:29 AM PST - 19 comments

Who pioneered the now routine spectacle of a tennis champion climbing into the stands to share a moment with the members of their camp? [more inside]
posted by Stuka at 11:00 AM PST - 4 comments

When I was a kid hanging out at a friend's house I heard an album that was a mix of music and NASA communications from the Apollo program (launch status checks, go/no-go polling before stage separations, etc). It was on vinyl and would’ve been made in the 70s or 80s. The music was kind of drone-y and ambient, definitely with no singing. Any idea what this could've been? It’s also possible I’m mis-remembering there being any music at all, and it may have only been mission recordings packaged in album form. [more inside]
posted by theory at 10:51 AM PST - 12 comments

A guy buys some land, but the land is a lake, and the guy that owns the land all around it is a real dick? And the original guy is nice and everyone loves him and he builds his house on the lake and maybe drains part of the lake later and beavers show up and everyone is happy? Probably. [more inside]
posted by J0 at 10:40 AM PST - 2 comments

A once upon time diehard horror fiction fan is out of the game. What current spooky creepy fiction is chilling your bones these days? Details within. [more inside]
posted by Kitteh at 10:22 AM PST - 22 comments

Running a "Craft" station for a bunch of 15-17 yr old teenage boys for Halloween... what isn't "lame"? [more inside]
posted by niteHawk at 10:14 AM PST - 14 comments

Now that it's cool enough to feel like using the oven, I'm looking for a certain kind of quick bread to make for breakfast; baking it is a fun weekend ritual for me. I love a piece of loaf cake for breakfast, but it needs to be a good breakfast food with whole grains and staying power. Do you have recipes like this? [more inside]
posted by Countess Elena at 9:40 AM PST - 17 comments

I've been having acid reflux and my GI scheduled an endoscopy. I'd like to have the test to put my mind at ease. But apparently there's no way to tell what the cost will be. I have a really high deductible and so basically the first $5000 is on me. If it's 2K, that's fine, but I don't want to pay much more than for a test that may not be essential. I'm in NYC. Any idea what it might cost at an NYU outpatient center?
posted by swheatie at 8:50 AM PST - 19 comments

I am 32 now. When I was a child, I was fortunate enough to have braces done by a wonderful private dentist. The work was beautiful and the braces came off when I was 16. I had a retainer. I lost the retainer when I was 18 for a stupid reason, and I only found them 9 months later, and they no longer fit. I'm considering going to a dentist to get the braces redone. I'm wondering if it is worthwhile because I do not have much money at all, but every time I feel my teeth or look at them, I wonder why I was so stupid and did not just go and get a new pair made when I lost the retainer. [more inside]
posted by Didnt_do_enough at 8:27 AM PST - 18 comments

I am entering surgical menopause because of cancer at 26 years old. [more inside]
posted by antihistameme at 8:16 AM PST - 14 comments

Dryer Extended Warranty from Home Depot - is it worth $170 (on a $750 dryer)? Have you ever made a claim on a Home Depot appliance warranty, and if so, how did it go? [more inside]
posted by nouvelle-personne at 8:00 AM PST - 13 comments

I would like to take my elderly parents to Italy in October (either Florence or Rome.). How can I make this fun for us all? [more inside]
posted by heavenknows at 6:41 AM PST - 13 comments

I want to negotiate with a potential employer for a title that will look good on my CV. The job posting was for "Technical Project Manager", but I'd be basically the only person between the CTO and multiple teams of developers. I want something that shows some kind of progression? upwards mobility? from my current title of "Project Manager" and my previous title, also "Project Manager". I feel I could do something flashier than "X Project Manager".
posted by gakiko at 4:29 AM PST - 18 comments

You know how you have protective cases for your phone? Is there something similar but for a laptop? I have an ASUS 2021 Flagship TUF A15 Gaming 15 Laptop 15.6". I'm looking for something water, dirt, and impact resistant. In the same vein, is there a screen protector you'd recommend? [more inside]
posted by ggp88 at 12:53 AM PST - 12 comments

The warmshowers.org website started as "bicycle diplomacy" - matching welcoming hosts with touring cyclists from all over the world. Last week, I ended up with guests who wouldn't leave. I managed to get them out, which was a nervewracking ordeal. I feel compelled to warn others, but how can I do it without backlash and retaliation? [more inside]
posted by dum spiro spero at 12:10 AM PST - 12 comments

(I know this is a super odd one to be anonymous but it involves a possible breakup.) I have two cats (8 , 9) who hate anything new or strange and I may have to move them across the country. Argh. Help? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 10:02 PM PST - 24 comments

Do you know of a comprehensive reference for British sweets? The Wikipedia category on British confectionery is missing several things I'm curious about. [more inside]
posted by kristi at 6:56 PM PST - 21 comments

SF Me-fites - send me your recommendations for an upscale vegetarian friendly restaurant in San Francisco. We have a client dinner arranged for tomorrow night, and just found out that one of the client attendees is vegetarian. We of course want to make sure that we provide them a great experience! Original options were for Waterbar, Boulevard or Harborview. Our office is in the financial district, so we would like to stay close, but are happy to go a 10 to 15 minute Lyft ride if there is a great option in a nearby neighborhood. Thanks!
posted by susiswimmer at 6:33 PM PST - 12 comments

The last Amsterdam question was in 2019 so .. what do I need to know before I go (from the US) this fall? This is a family trip that includes a teenager who loves to walk around on her own - which neighborhoods should we stay in? Which should we avoid? Any specific visitor tips or recs? Assume we have the basic sightseeing stuff covered. Bedankt!
posted by nkknkk at 6:27 PM PST - 18 comments

Our mother passed away this morning, and had asked us to donate her things wherever possible. We are in the far northern suburbs of Chicago, and looking for organizations to contact. [more inside]
posted by Ghidorah at 5:20 PM PST - 5 comments

How does one go from being a Notary Public at the UPS store to being self employed? [more inside]
posted by snsranch at 5:18 PM PST - 10 comments

I am the proud owner of a bouncing baby apap. I got it working and all, but I find myself with a lot of questions relating to how other folks handle it. you are cordially invited to tell me everything! [more inside]
posted by snerson at 4:18 PM PST - 26 comments

Several years ago, I don't think more than 5 or 6, I read a funny blog post about someone whose roommate/relative had a figurine of ET in a wig and dress and who would put it around the house, even though the poster hated it and repeatedly threw it away. ET would be dragged out of the trash and left somewhere random to surprise the poster... [more inside]
posted by kittensyay at 3:54 PM PST - 2 comments

So, I recently had surgery, and was prescribed painkillers; they did nothing. This isn’t the first time this has happened; I’ll explain more inside. When I attempt to search Google, all the results are about managing pain or addiction or things completely unrelated to my question. [more inside]
posted by sara is disenchanted at 3:04 PM PST - 33 comments

After carefully planning a November trip to Portugal - guess what, it's going to be London instead! Going to stay in 2 different hotels (because I like to get a flavor of 2 different places) and I'm looking for which 2 neighborhoods I should stay in. Thinking very close to some good pubs or restaurants as it will be dark quite early and after museums will head back to neighborhood for food and drinks. I'd love to hear of two different but awesome areas to stay that are near the subway. I'll be there during the Lord Mayor's show, which I guess I'll find out what that is when I get there? Nov 6 to 14 are my dates. Hoping for any recommendations for great food in interesting settings, historic places and homes, theatre, and castle-y stuff and are up for any day trips to a quaint village or pretty nature. Any advice very welcome so I have a direction to start my planning! Assume I know mostly nothing about London.
posted by beccaj at 2:56 PM PST - 11 comments

I’m 60-year-old unmarried woman and I’m worry about my underfunded retirement. I started the year as a W2 contractor and contributed to my traditional IRA instead of participating in my agency’s 401(k). They didn’t match and it was a temporary job. I’ve contributed $4,000 so far this year. My plan was to contribute the maximum of $7,000. [more inside]
posted by shoesietart at 2:00 PM PST - 9 comments

I have some new Docs, which are very stiff, and I have some Glovolium Glove Butter. Am I going to regret using Glovolium on my boots? The outside? The inside?
posted by The corpse in the library at 1:06 PM PST - 3 comments

Says on tin: Where can I find 2020 data at a granular level (zip? census tract, block or block group?) either of the following: number of people of a certain race and split by age and/or race of householders by # of families with children? What table/data set provides this? Census site is confusing.
posted by sandmanwv at 11:57 AM PST - 5 comments

If you are an artist, how do you store your works? How do you decide what to keep? I'm more interested in the hobbyist/amateur, but would love data-points from any artist on how they manage a growing hoard. [more inside]
posted by hilaritas at 11:45 AM PST - 5 comments

I want to use a heavy duty Swingline stapler #800 to tack new cotton velvet fabric onto wooden seats of dining chairs. What staples should I buy?
posted by DMelanogaster at 11:19 AM PST - 5 comments

THIS IS NOT A TATTOO AFTERCARE QUESTION. I got a new tattoo a couple weeks ago and the artist warned me not to use vaseline or aquaphor or similar because petroleum jelly "fades tattoos." I have been getting tattoos for 24 years and am heavily covered and have never heard such a thing. So I googled and I found statements saying similar things (no sources referenced of course), but not saying WHY vaseline would fade a tattoo. Does anyone know the mechanism of action on that?
posted by misanthropicsarah at 11:06 AM PST - 10 comments

A coworker tested positive for Covid on Sunday. He also says he developed symptoms on Sunday. He was in his office with several unmasked people (including himself) for 30 minutes on Thursday, three days before he tested positive or got symptoms. Do the others that were in his office need to get tested? And if so, can anyone send me the CDC guideline(s) that says so? My boss won't take your word for it, but they will hopefully take the CDC's word.
posted by Furnace of Doubt at 10:58 AM PST - 8 comments

A friend of mine used to own SallySmith.net (with her name, of course). She changed the kind of work she was doing, so she let the domain expire and canceled her hosting. Now someone has bought her old domain and is pretending to be her by putting up fake, SEO-driving articles as well as old photos of her (scavenged from archive.org, we think). She's getting a runaround from everyone potentially responsible. [more inside]
posted by yellowcandy at 10:49 AM PST - 7 comments

My dog, a black lab/Louisiana Catahoula, gets very anxious when he's riding in the car. More car rides aren't helping him get used to is. Do you have any recommendations on how to get him less stressed out in the care?
posted by GernBlandston at 10:12 AM PST - 7 comments

For college football fans, the Sun Belt conference has been the story of the season so far. I have some theories why, but I don't actually know any alumni of the Sun Belt schools, so I can't talk to anyone to validate or refute my hypotheses. So I'm turning to you. If you went to Marshall, Old Dominion, James Madison, Appalachian State, Coastal Carolina, Georgia State, Georgia Southern, Troy, South Alabama, Southern Mississippi, Louisiana-Lafayette, Louisiana-Monroe, Arkansas State, or Texas State, come talk to me. [more inside]
posted by kevinbelt at 10:12 AM PST - 4 comments

Do I have any recourse when my employer offers to fix their problem that I found by taking my money? [more inside]
posted by emelenjr at 9:46 AM PST - 9 comments

I just bought this book after wanting it for a long, long time. I have two questions - the main one being: which recipes should I try, besides the obvious tomato sauce? [more inside]
posted by kitcat at 9:07 AM PST - 13 comments

Any chance my mom can bring homemade Mexican food with her when she travels from California to the Netherlands - direct flight - next year? [more inside]
posted by vacapinta at 9:00 AM PST - 6 comments

I had a lovely trailing plant on a finished wooden bookcase for many years. The plant has died—and I’ve discovered that it was leaking sap onto the bookcase. Some of it is dried, some is still tacky. How do I remove the sap without damaging the finish?
posted by bookmammal at 8:58 AM PST - 8 comments

Who doesn't love a trip to the ER? Did I do this to myself with eating chia seeds and lifting a lot of 40 lb bags? [more inside]
posted by yes I said yes I will Yes at 7:19 AM PST - 7 comments

iOS 16 has a surprisingly fun new feature that lets you easily crop the subject of a photo out from the background, which you can paste into messages or notes and can be saved as a transparent background .png. How can I have even more fun with this? [more inside]
posted by misskaz at 7:02 AM PST - 2 comments

I'm shopping for a sunrise alarm clock and I've looked through wirecutter etc., but I'm having a hard time figuring out which ones are completely dark at night. No lit-up clock, no glowing power button (why do so many devices have these??), no weird ambient glow. No light at night!! [more inside]
posted by goodbyewaffles at 6:01 AM PST - 9 comments

My family and I have been playing "Wingspan" online for a while now, and while it's fun, it might be time to branch out. What asynchronous online games would you suggest as a substitute? More background and criteria inside. [more inside]
posted by Johnny Assay at 4:58 AM PST - 6 comments

Where can we camp on the beach in the NJ/NY/CT area? [more inside]
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 4:46 AM PST - 6 comments

On an Iphone - can I send sms messages, edit contacts and see my phone log - through my (Windows) computer? [more inside]
posted by mirileh at 4:22 AM PST - 7 comments

I've been wearing a uniform of skinny jeans, tee, sweater/cardigan, and black boots for decades. I'm ready for a change and could use advice! [more inside]
posted by jebs at 4:16 AM PST - 35 comments

If you had the below ingredients, and no others, what meals would you make? [more inside]
posted by Adifferentbear at 12:32 AM PST - 16 comments

I've recently received a promotion. Yay! I'm looking for some general advice about how to make a successful psychological transition from "person who is subject to the rules" to "person who bears some responsibility for the rules." The kinds of transitions I have in mind: moving from labor into management in the same workplace, becoming an officer in your professional society, getting elected to city government. I'm looking for personal stories, sanitized as much as necessary for this forum, and also for reading recommendations. Difficulty level: member of an underrepresented group, looking for ways to carry my stories (we all have them) into the room with me, without letting them get in the way of promoting positive change. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 11:23 PM PST - 10 comments

My laptop fans are noisy even when the laptop is not doing any work at all, like when I'm reading a web page. If I unplug it, it's wonderfully silent, but the battery life is very short. I understand that the CPU is throttled down on battery, which is fine for simple tasks - can I do the same thing when I'm running on mains power? [more inside]
posted by Termite at 10:15 PM PST - 14 comments

I've noticed that a lot of keyboardists on concert stages have laptops with them. Rarely do I see other musicians on stage with laptops (sometimes a tablet or phone, I assume for setlist, lyrics, or sheet music). What are these laptops used for? [more inside]
posted by primethyme at 8:53 PM PST - 9 comments

Mr Corpse has requested a drum set for his birthday. I have no idea what to get. Please advise. [more inside]
posted by The corpse in the library at 6:52 PM PST - 6 comments

Older heterosexual American male in their 50s, recently widowed, seeks advice with dating apps after being out of the dating game for 25 years. [more inside]
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 6:45 PM PST - 9 comments

I bought the latest version of Final Draft to put my script into a musicals format. Recently too, I realized that I have to cut at least half of the dialogue to make room for and let the story be told by the 20+ songs the composer has created for the show. So I'm a little overwhelmed. But other than how FD is the industry standard, I can't seem to understand the advantage of it over, say, Celtx, which I used to create the script. [more inside]
posted by CollectiveMind at 6:00 PM PST - 5 comments

I just read both Olga Dies Dreaming by Xochitl Gonzalez and All Adults Here by Emma Straub. Both had modern characters figuring out their lives and multiple view point characters and were centered around families. I really liked the deep dives into multiple characters. I especially appreciated that Olga is Latine, so other Latine books would be appreciated but in general I'm looking for literary/just plain fiction books that go deep into a set of characters. [more inside]
posted by azalea_chant at 5:33 PM PST - 14 comments

When I was growing up, when one of us sneezed my dad would say “Gesundheit!” instead of “Bless you.” He (and I) grew up on the west coast of Canada. I am curious how common this usage is/was in non-German speaking countries. If you didn’t grow up in Germany, do you remember people saying Gesundheit after someone sneezed? Where did you grow up, and do you have German connections in your family? (My dad’s grandmother was German and I’m sure this is where he first heard it and why his mother, my grandmother, said it.)
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 3:49 PM PST - 59 comments

I have a project I've kinda putzed with as proof of concept in Python/Numpy. It requires plotting waveforms (realtime would be nice, but for now, not necessary). But not a fan of python for this or numpy (what little I have used) general. I can use game libraries, but I'd rather this be more like a proper Windows Application. I picture a canvas that lets me plot multiple sine waves and layer over each other. and some sliders/number inputs to modify the waves. [more inside]
posted by symbioid at 3:20 PM PST - 6 comments

This may be one of those things you think sounds fun and never do, but I have done all kind of musical this and that in my life, am not prodigiously musically talented, but am reasonably proficient, and I want to be in a band. Maybe you did this at an appropriate life stage, like college. Help me daydream about how to work toward this. [more inside]
posted by less-of-course at 3:17 PM PST - 27 comments

I want to buy a MacBook for extremely basic use with the sole priority being ongoing tech support from apple. I would also like to save money by being a refurbished model. I see some reasonably priced MacBooks online that would undoubtedly perform most of the web-based office stuff I need, but I am wary of buying an older model that Apple will stop supporting soon. How long does Apple support this type of thing? What’s the oldest model year I can buy that will continue to be supported for 3-4 years?
posted by bq at 2:03 PM PST - 15 comments

I'm looking for individual episodes of TV shows that are wonderfully warm without awkwardness, tragedy or cruelty. Think the very best episodes of Call the Midwife or Brooklyn 99 or MASH. Silly or sincere are both fine. I just want to be beaming or laughing or crying happy tears at the end. I don't care if I need to pick it up from the middle or if I'm missing some context. Thanks!
posted by jeszac at 1:57 PM PST - 30 comments

We’re a family of four (two parents, two early-teenaged daughters) looking to spend four nights in Paris next year in mid-June 2023, but are having no luck finding a hotel that can accommodate all of us. [more inside]
posted by Yo Soy La Morsa at 1:23 PM PST - 7 comments

Someone asked me to photograph a painting for them, since I have a "good" camera. I used a Canon 80D with a Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L lens, set to f11 with a shutter speed of 125. All focus points lit up when I auto-focused on the canvas. I also took a snapshot with my iPhone 12 mini, using whatever the camera settings decided. The iPhone image is clearly sharper and shows more detail in the texture of the paint and the canvas. [more inside]
posted by xo at 12:48 PM PST - 10 comments

So my dad likes to watch Youtube Shorts on my tv via the Roku app. But a couple of days ago, no more Shorts? What happened? I noticed on my PC account, that shorts are still available. How do i get my Shorts back?
posted by storybored at 12:28 PM PST - 0 comments

I signed up for Ziply wifi and need to set up this new tp-link router. Unfortunately I know almost nothing; my ex-husband used to take care of this. What I do know: I have an Apple Time capsule, a modem, and a cable coming out of the wall that goes to the modem. I don’t really know where the time capsule fits into all of this other than it automatically backs up my laptop. Am I giving this up now? What about the cable from the wall?
posted by HotToddy at 11:18 AM PST - 4 comments

I have a software/hardware product that doesn't really need capital but needs support from other large vendors, for the sake of the question we will say Salesforce. I'm having a very hard time getting conversations going or being taken seriously. My question is twofold, how important is having a serious investor and how do you go about finding these investors if not through close friends? [more inside]
posted by geoff. at 11:06 AM PST - 8 comments

Me, my spouse, and our kiddo, all Chicagoland-based, will be spending the Thanksgiving break in Toronto visiting our favorite cousins and their bouncing preschooler. We will have some chances to peel off and do things solo and we may all go out together a few times as well. Difficulty level: we've been there four or five times already, so a lot of the classic Toronto tourist stuff is long-since checked off our list. Outside of our regular trip to St. Laurence Market, the goal is to see new stuff. [more inside]
posted by DirtyOldTown at 10:01 AM PST - 16 comments

If I got a first Covid booster in October 2021 (all three Pfizer) but have not had a second booster, what is my current level of protection? I'm 50+. I'm not asking whether I should get the second booster, just what my actual current level of protection is.
posted by HotToddy at 9:02 AM PST - 12 comments

I'm seeing more and more "news" stories that are about the Internet. Not in-depth interesting stories but lazy things that are essentially copy pastes from r/AITA or descriptions of TikTok posts with no research into whether they are even true, who is involved, etc. They used to have headlines implying action where there was none, describing statements as "blasts" for instance, but now they pretend that the aggregate of internet opinions are some kind of polling data, beginning with "internet sides with____". Where can I find an article about these articles, like an article I read about the rise of the chumbox?
posted by Selena777 at 8:37 AM PST - 8 comments

After years of nursing an idle fantasy of being the Kind of Person Who Has a Dehydrator, I find myself in rather sudden possession of an actual dehydrator. I've done apples a few times now (delicious) and feel a bit like the dog that caught the car -- turns out I have no idea what else to do with this thing! Please give me all your recipes and ideas, snowflakes inside... [more inside]
posted by cabbage raccoon at 4:35 AM PST - 36 comments

I am looking for an insight into a getting an ex-demo iPhone SE (2nd Addition) for my dad to replace his current Android phone. He has struggled over the past few years with phones as he has been buying various cheap ($100AU to $150Au) brands of phones with the Android operating system and they need replacing in a year or so and it's new learning curve every time. Thinking of getting him a into iPhones as they might be bit more future proof and easier for him to use. [more inside]
posted by Lesium at 1:40 AM PST - 26 comments

I have a question about lead belay related to a now awkward social situation. More inside. [more inside]
posted by knownfossils at 1:23 AM PST - 15 comments

My wife recovered from Covid about 6 weeks ago. Last week she started having respiratory issues and her doctor said it’s very possibly long Covid. Advice needed [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 10:44 PM PST - 16 comments

(CW abuse). My new bf is recently separated from a longtime girlfriend with whom he has two kids that he adores. He moved away to escape her (emotional) abuse, but she still regularly abuses him through texting and he can't disentangle from her because he still wants to be in his kids' lives. I've never been around someone who's suffering through this kind of behaviour that they can't just get away from. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 10:42 PM PST - 14 comments

I'm beginning to look for another job. My wife suggests putting my full formatted CV, or at least my resume, on my personal public website. I'm worried about doing that; it feels somehow unsafe, but when pressed, I must admit I can't point out exactly why that would be. So it is safe? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 10:41 PM PST - 8 comments

Should I have stepped up as the step-parent in this situation? (+COVID complexity) [more inside]
posted by pinkacademic at 9:35 PM PST - 67 comments

A very generous friend moving overseas has blessed me with her barely-used Ankarsrum Assistent Original, since she knows my otherwise beloved Kitchen Aid can’t handle my bagel dough. Do you have an Ankarsrum? What does it do best? Is there any kind of a basic beginner’s guide that you know of? [more inside]
posted by charmedimsure at 8:23 PM PST - 3 comments

We noticed an open cut/sore on our cat's scruff a couple of days ago. Here is the scab. Cute cat tax inside. [more inside]
posted by never.was.and.never.will.be. at 7:59 PM PST - 8 comments

Trying to remember the name of a community that was either in England or in the eastern US, where there were primarily blocks of row-houses dating to the Industrial Revolution that were mostly lying vacant and decaying. There were still, though, a certain number of people trying to continue living there, and they were assisted by an architecture firm recently to re-use many of the vacant structures either as semi-outdoor spaces, or as semi-indoor spaces. So, all the derelict properties, which were mainly constructed in brick, were capable either of functioning as something like 'garden walls' or they were still strong enough that collapsed roofs could be inexpensively given coverings that allowed more use of the space (though it wasn't heated, etc.). [more inside]
posted by cmp4Meta at 6:44 PM PST - 2 comments

Lesbian romance (novels) me please! What are the best books in the genre? [more inside]
posted by Jacen at 6:23 PM PST - 19 comments

I used to have a Graze snack box subscription. I really liked that it rotated through a variety of savory or lightly sweet snacks in individually-packaged portions. Graze is no longer available in the US--is there anything similar? Most everything I've found is candy-heavy, focused on international treats, or unappealing-to-me "healthy" snacks--I don't want any of that. I do know about searching CrateJoy, I'm looking for specific subscription box recommendations here.
posted by rhiannonstone at 5:03 PM PST - 2 comments

Thanks in advance. Very quickly, a friend would qualify under current income for the student loan forgiveness. However, he got married this year and their combined income is too high. Can he still get any relief? Should they file as married filing separately?
posted by skepticallypleased at 4:53 PM PST - 1 comment

On the IMDB page for director Neil LaBute (In the Company of Men, The Wicker Man, etc), we see he's apparently directed a movie called "Oh! Squints" plus two sequels. There's no ratings, no trailer, no screen grabs. Only one review which states "None of these movies exist. I've looked into this and the other sequels and I'm not convinced this movie was ever filmed or exists." Google fails to turn anything up, and the only evidence is the end credits on YouTube, uploaded over a number of years for movie 1, movie 2, movie 3, each of which has tens of thousands of views. What is going on here? [more inside]
posted by iivix at 3:33 PM PST - 7 comments

Some teachers I've had have attached silly or large objects to the bathroom pass to make sure they don't get lost or just to be funny. I've seen rulers, mixing spoons, and even an entire toilet seat. I'm curious what other objects you've encountered being used by teachers as bathroom passes.
posted by ErWenn at 1:09 PM PST - 37 comments

I've used Bath and Body Works "luxe" soap, which is very creamy and feels amazing on my hands (while keeping them moist; my hands dry easily!). Sadly, BBW has since then discontinued their "luxe"sub-brand, and the rest of their hand soaps aren't as moisturizing. Ideal replacements? [more inside]
posted by dubious_dude at 10:34 AM PST - 10 comments

I'm about to make a copy of an Egyptian chair with lions paw feet. This detail from the paintings in Rekhmire's tomb shows a craftsman (seated figure, top middle) finishing up one such leg. [more inside]
posted by brachiopod at 10:22 AM PST - 3 comments

Should I ask a childhood acquaintance whether he witnessed sexual abuse in my family? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 10:06 AM PST - 5 comments

I have a nice desk and a fairly comfy chair, but I still always want to sit on the sofa. How do you make your home workspace more comfortable and inviting? Alternate question, how do you make working on the sofa more productive? Please share product recommendations, tips, and mindset hacks. Thanks! [more inside]
posted by nouvelle-personne at 9:58 AM PST - 14 comments

As part of an attempt to address weaknesses in my (fiction) writing, I'm gathering examples of "good" writing in various categories that I can dissect, or at least use to better understand where I may be going wrong. In that vein: what are your best examples of well-written/realistic child characters, be it in short story form, novels, films, etc? [more inside]
posted by boisterousBluebird at 9:56 AM PST - 26 comments

I'm still in a competitive scavenger hunt that takes me across Boston, to be the first to find a small token. They are placed in the last few days and just released. It's fun, but I'm in a competition where we are supposed to "use all of our resources". Askmi is a resource, right? [more inside]
posted by bbqturtle at 8:47 AM PST - 3 comments

I received a phone call from someone claiming to a broker for car insurance companies. [more inside]
posted by sheepishchiffon at 7:11 AM PST - 5 comments

Can I still consume Nordic Naturals fish oil that I left out for a day? (Maybe 16 hours?) [more inside]
posted by bquarters at 5:52 AM PST - 4 comments

I need some help getting past the Jeffrey Epstein thing. [more inside]
posted by starcrust at 3:03 AM PST - 29 comments

Have you managed to heal your trauma without spending much (or preferably any) money? What did you do? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 10:08 PM PST - 10 comments

I work as healthcare admin. We are understaffed and overstretched and management is somewhat AWOL. I've worked at the same job for over 5 years and have a good reputation despite constantly working to deal with the effects of what I think is untreated/undiagnosed adhd (I'm on a wait list for this). The only other full time experienced member of the team is leaving and I Cannot Deal. Help me cope until I find a new job. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 10:08 PM PST - 7 comments

Due to personal mental health that makes it hard for me to hold boundaries, I can't be friends with people who suffer from Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). I am in therapy, and I hope that will change at some point and I am very clear that this is an issue with the way MY brain works, not with how other people's brains work. How should I navigate this? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 10:07 PM PST - 16 comments

I'm considering getting a "phone jail" device to lock my phone into - something to prevent me using it for chosen durations. Any suggestions or advice? [more inside]
posted by nouvelle-personne at 9:28 PM PST - 6 comments

For reasons (so many reasons), I'm deleting my 10+ year old Facebook account at the end of this month. I have questions... [more inside]
posted by Toddles at 8:50 PM PST - 10 comments

Someone filed a 2020 US tax return with my social security number. Should / How should I contact the Social Security Administration? [more inside]
posted by amtho at 8:33 PM PST - 10 comments

I want to get into this fabulous little (44 rooms) fancy hotel in a smaller Midwestern city for an art expo next month. Difficulty level: Two night minimum and it's supposedly sold out. [more inside]
posted by Rumi'sLeftSock at 8:28 PM PST - 7 comments

imagine you have an object that is 18,000,000 metric tons. I want to know how much propulsion would be necessary to get it to escape earth's gravitational pull. I'm not sure how difficult this is to calculate, but my guess is that for someone who knows, there are probably simplified equations? [more inside]
posted by damedeshou at 7:39 PM PST - 12 comments

If you were going to spend 2-3 days driving between Sydney and Melbourne on the Hume Highway, where would you stop? Please help me spice up this notoriously dull drive. [more inside]
posted by happyfrog at 4:40 PM PST - 7 comments

How out of place would I be/feel wearing tourist jeans and clean but casual shirt for Friday dinner or Saturday lunch at Cafe du Parc in The Willard Hotel?
posted by John Borrowman at 3:56 PM PST - 5 comments

Trying to get married near Harrisonburg, VA. Need venue suggestions that are affordable and can fit a guest list of 100+. [more inside]
posted by mr_bovis at 2:35 PM PST - 6 comments

What socks do you love to wear, that don’t cause you to overheat, and come in interesting color ways or designs? [more inside]
posted by Bunglegirl at 1:50 PM PST - 21 comments

I bought a new mattress, and this dead-ass little dude was squashed on the front of it. What is he? [more inside]
posted by ceramicspaniel at 1:25 PM PST - 12 comments

We're planning a cross-country move (NC to TX) at the end of this year. Seeking your best advice about some of the logistics! Help us move a houseful of stuff, two adults, two cars and a toddler with as little headache as possible. [more inside]
posted by aka burlap at 12:08 PM PST - 12 comments

We're sleeping really hot, especially with a new memory foam mattress. Googling reveals a voluminous industry dedicated to cooling bedding products. I've come across fabrics like tencel, bamboo, and linen, and some kind of fancy phase-change cooling material (Outlast). Which of these work and are durable? My husband doesn't like the texture of linen, and my skin can't handle pilling. Help?
posted by ClaireBear at 11:37 AM PST - 13 comments

What it says on the tin. I may be moving to contract work for a while, and have heard vague references to paying less in taxes if I set up an LLC and have wages go there rather than doing a 1099. Consider me a complete noob -- any and all directions, considerations, pros/cons welcomed.
posted by Silvery Fish at 9:19 AM PST - 13 comments

I'd like a short course in The Meters, please. Bring me your favorites, and where you think I should start. [more inside]
posted by MonkeyToes at 8:42 AM PST - 15 comments

In the Korean Netflix movie Love and Leashes, a kinky young guy buys a black leather collar for himself with MIHO written on it in Roman letters. Miho isn't his name. The English subtitled dialog suggests it's SOME kind of name, and he bumblingly tries to pass it off as the name of a dog when a coworker sees it, but its real significance is never explained. What would its connotations be to a Korean audience?
posted by nebulawindphone at 6:19 AM PST - 5 comments

Asking for a friend as they’ve already tried what I would suggest. Whilst using laptop plugged in the screen suddenly turned off. Also getting no display when plugged into tv with hdmi. More [more inside]
posted by Iteki at 3:56 AM PST - 6 comments

I'd like to learn to weld, for hobbyist purposes (i.e. I'm not looking for a new job), and am in Sydney, NSW. How do I go about that? Who runs a good welding-basics course?
posted by Fiasco da Gama at 11:54 PM PST - 2 comments

I’ve lately gotten quite a few Teams or text messages or quick emails at work that are just plain crummy, with tone, attitude, and content that I wouldn’t put up with from my spouse or a friend, but I find myself at a loss about what to do in the professional setting. [more inside]
posted by Tandem Affinity at 9:35 PM PST - 24 comments

I have inherited a large house with white ceramic tile flooring throughout. The vacuuming and mopping is driving me crazy. I am willing to spend money to make this as easy as possible. The previous questions are all slightly older so I'm hoping that technology has improved. Help me. [more inside]
posted by ninazer0 at 9:07 PM PST - 18 comments

I am looking for resources about any cities reducing crime. [more inside]
posted by NotLost at 8:32 PM PST - 13 comments

I decided to leave a highly visible job at a startup and am going to communicate that to the world (I mean, my professional network on LinkedIn). What is the nest way to go about it? [more inside]
posted by longjump at 6:59 PM PST - 10 comments

What apps or other technology can we add to an android phone so that my uncle can listen to music or books even though he cannot control his body and speech is difficult/not distinct? [more inside]
posted by mutt.cyberspace at 6:57 PM PST - 6 comments

This is just to say, I have received a bunch of Italian prune plums in my local produce delivery, and I would like to use them for something savory. They are neither cold nor particularly sweet. [more inside]
posted by Mizu at 6:42 PM PST - 14 comments

I have been tasked with developing a system whereby we can keep office manual type information on an intranet but also have a nicely organized printable document of the same information. I have certain requirements I would like to accomplish, hopefully with either current software we have or free things. Can you suggest how we might use the software we have or what else we might be able to do? [more inside]
posted by lookoutbelow at 6:06 PM PST - 16 comments

So my dog has developed a fibrosarcoma in her jaw. The options are: surgery to remove her entire lower jaw, plus chemo etc, and hope for a couple extra years, vs no surgery, pallative care, and we'll probably be at departure time in a year. The pictures etc I've seen of dogs without jaws makes me think this is not a good quality of life option for a dog who is very active and cares about keeping her place as "top dog" of the pack. Just wondering if any Mefites have had a dog who had a jaw removed and how it went. [more inside]
posted by The otter lady at 5:12 PM PST - 26 comments

I'm shopping for my dad, who lives in a small town in Alaska and needs boots that fit his very particular needs. What brands am I looking for or what websites should I be looking at? [more inside]
posted by QuakerMel at 4:53 PM PST - 5 comments

What's an equivalent of a popcorn machine or a cotton candy machine that meets those same targets of: creates a spectacle, is edible, and is very easy to use in a one-and-done kind of way, but is neither a popcorn machine nor a cotton candy machine? [more inside]
posted by phunniemee at 2:54 PM PST - 49 comments

My 19 year old daughter has canker sores 2/3 of the time. I'm not exaggerating. That's based on a period of a little less than 2 months when we marked on a calendar every day she had at at least one. (I'm talking about aphthous ulcers, not cold sores. Please only answer if you're sure you know the difference - thanks!) She brought this up with her doctor, who was fairly dismissive, so I guess I'm going to have to take the lead on trying to help her. [more inside]
posted by Redstart at 2:50 PM PST - 62 comments

Born before 1983 in the US to a Scottish father who was at that time a British citizen. I have a UK birth certificate and a few years ago I finally got myself a UK passport. It suddenly occurs to me to ask: Can I vote in the UK? In Scotland in particular? How??
posted by latkes at 1:11 PM PST - 7 comments

I'm getting ready to make chicken tacos and I have some vacuum packed chicken thighs that I bought on Sept 7. Today is the 15th so that's 8 days ago. They have a Sell By Date of Sept 18th. I am really confused about the guidelines for raw chicken in the fridge- usually it is supposed to be 1 to 2 days. [more inside]
posted by catrae at 12:49 PM PST - 6 comments

We're thinking about visiting NYC next year, and need help on where to start. [more inside]
posted by cozenedindigo at 12:29 PM PST - 7 comments

How is "talking about something other than a man" usually defined when applying the Bechdel test? [more inside]
posted by dusty potato at 11:36 AM PST - 25 comments

I'm a 40ish cis het white man who has always felt somewhat left out of the economy/ies of dating and romance. As I keep aging (wtf) and feeling less and less Part of That World I'm finding that I really want to understand the social politics of desire and dating in a broader sense (and beyond my specific experience). I'm looking for folks who have thought and written on it. [more inside]
posted by wemayfreeze at 11:28 AM PST - 9 comments

I'd like to go back on Paxil and waits for primary care appointments are super long right now. Are any of the online services legit/worthwhile? Anything to watch out for? Thank you in advance!
posted by ftm at 11:09 AM PST - 11 comments

Can people recommend addiction recovery resources that don't require acknowledging a "Higher Power." [more inside]
posted by Abehammerb Lincoln at 9:57 AM PST - 15 comments

Should it be possible to breath through one's mouth while wearing an OTC thermoplastic mouth guard? Or do you have to keep your mouth closed to hold it in place? [more inside]
posted by Winnie the Proust at 9:42 AM PST - 14 comments

We are two Americans who happen to be in London Monday during the Queen's funeral and want to potentially see the procession to Westminster Abbey before the funeral service. Best options? [more inside]
posted by greta simone at 9:16 AM PST - 4 comments

How badly have I managed this relationship? Do I need to end it? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 8:58 AM PST - 28 comments

A combination of stimulant medication and work stress on weekdays makes things move through my digestive tract verrry quickly. I usually don't go at all on weekends. This cycle happens like clockwork. I know this isn't ideal from a health standpoint, but this question isn't about that. What I want to know is this: when is the best point in the week for me to eat healthy or unhealthy food to optimize for the most benefit?
posted by anonymous at 8:56 AM PST - 8 comments

My partner will be out of town for a few days soon and I’d like to treat myself. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 8:55 AM PST - 11 comments

My laptop is 90% fine, but I want to give it new life. Are there any hardware upgrades I can do? Should I do the "reset this PC" option, that keeps all my files? Should I wipe all my files and do a clean wipe and new install of windows? If so How do I do that? Thanks in advance!
posted by maxexam at 8:28 AM PST - 12 comments

One of my favorite necklaces has a secret compartment that I've never known what to do with it. It's pretty enough as-is, but I've always thought I should use it for something fun too. But what? [more inside]
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 7:05 AM PST - 38 comments

I've been having hot flashes on and off for a few years, sometimes manageable with behavioral strategies, and sometimes -- like lately -- not. I've read up a little on HRT, gabapentin, and SSRIs, but each has drawbacks that might be deal-killers. I'd love to hear about some real-life experiences. [more inside]
posted by daisyace at 4:09 AM PST - 25 comments

I (M, 40s) just broke up with my long term (8y) and long distance girlfriend (F,30s), and I feel like I am stuck trying to understand what happened in the last few months of our relationship and unable to start the healing process. Special snowflake details inside. [more inside]
posted by Roe99 at 1:30 AM PST - 18 comments

Would Hieronymus Bosch paintings have been displayed at a SoHo gallery in the 1960s? (Specifics inside) [more inside]
posted by Literaryhero at 11:39 PM PST - 4 comments

I moved to Denver a few months ago and I tried an online cookie recipe that said it was good for high altitudes, but...it did not go well. Do any of you have recommendations or recipes that work for you to share? [more inside]
posted by emjaybee at 9:03 PM PST - 14 comments

I have some chicken breast that may be undercooked but I want to salvage if I can... [more inside]
posted by zardoz at 7:40 PM PST - 5 comments

Generally speaking how do the Scottish people feel about England and being part of the United Kingdom? Do the Scottish (again generally speaking) consider themselves part of the UK or think of themselves as sort of separate, even though they are a country within the UK? For what it's worth, I'm American born and raised, so may be missing some crucial context. [more inside]
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 7:19 PM PST - 23 comments

I'm going away tomorrow for four days and I've just discovered that it seems that my fridge and freezer are not working. Everything in the freezer is soft and the fridge isn't that cold either. There was no frost on the freezer, so I don't think it was open. I don't think the vents were blocked or it was overstuffed, but I tried to clear them a little anyway. It's making a normal fridge-working noise, I think. What do I do? Can I reboot it? Should I start distributing my frozen food among my neighbours? It's about 12 years old.
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 6:24 PM PST - 17 comments

My girlfriend just learned that her favorite boots were created by a Nazi. I knew this already, but I'm curious: did the company ever address this, post-WW2? [more inside]
posted by pelvicsorcery at 4:46 PM PST - 7 comments

So I'm the head start teacher for a group of 3-5 year olds. I'm tasked with coming up with special activities each week. I like cooking, though assembling food is closer to what I'm going to do. [more inside]
posted by kathrynm at 4:40 PM PST - 25 comments

When I'm in bed at night I usually have one eye that feels "sleepier" and if that side isn't against the pillow I can't fall asleep. Is this a thing? [more inside]
posted by Babytown Frolics at 4:28 PM PST - 9 comments

I've got ringworm and I'd like to figure out how to wash my clothes (almost all cotton, wool, linen) without shrinking them, while still killing the spores. <t [more inside]
posted by constantinescharity at 3:56 PM PST - 18 comments

Do you have an amaretti recipe that works consistently? I'm looking for semi-soft, mostly-crisp amaretti cookies that don't spread out but do stay as little mounds. [more inside]
posted by blnkfrnk at 2:56 PM PST - 3 comments

My friend Rachel is one of the most truly kind, empathetic people I've known. The only problem is that she frequently will take weeks, even over a month, to reply to texts. She says she knows it's a problem and she's working on it, but it only seems to get worse. What should I do? [more inside]
posted by mermaidcafe at 1:11 PM PST - 67 comments

What sort of questions or advice should I ask my school's academic affairs/student life department regarding my physical disability? [more inside]
posted by davidstandaford at 12:33 PM PST - 7 comments

I have a 2TB Media HD that houses my iTunes/Apple Music media library, Lightroom photo library, and lots of other files, all neatly organized. I'm replacing it with a new 4TB drive. Can you confirm that my process is correct? [more inside]
posted by 2oh1 at 12:29 PM PST - 3 comments

How do I have good boundaries with myself, and especially on social media, to help me not spin out and feel infatuated with people I date? [more inside]
posted by switcheroo at 10:48 AM PST - 5 comments

I'm scheduled for "a quick chat" with a prospective employer. I strongly suspect they are going to say they want me, but not at the salary I've stated. Arm me! [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 10:21 AM PST - 16 comments

These noodles. In Toronto or shipped to Toronto. Where? My dealer says she can no longer get them. Thanks!
posted by dobbs at 10:09 AM PST - 12 comments

I've been seeing someone. But lately some major challenges have come up with the relationship. [more inside]
posted by treetop89 at 9:25 AM PST - 48 comments

I’m drawing pictures in the Paper (by WeTransfer) app (which I love) on my iPad Pro. But sometimes I like to type text and put it into one of my drawings. [more inside]
posted by DMelanogaster at 9:10 AM PST - 5 comments

This is a more a question on how to spend and value splurge purchases. I would like to see The Killers in DC in mid October. Randomly, they have two shows- one at the huge Cap One Arena, where get in price is around $75 (For nosebleeds), and one at the Anthem- a much more intimate venue that I haven't yet been-where it is $175 (these are all secondary market prices). I'm not going to both --how would you make a decision on something like this? [more inside]
posted by sandmanwv at 8:24 AM PST - 20 comments

You're making a little jar of homemade mayo for a friend for their birthday. Your goal: the absolute most delicious, decadent mayonnaise your friend has ever tasted. What is your exact recipe? [more inside]
posted by saladin at 6:27 AM PST - 22 comments

Relative to a typical update, that is. [more inside]
posted by Bloxworth Snout at 2:54 AM PST - 7 comments

Is it worth to buy tests from independent organizations like Råd & Rön, are they testing many current models or only very few like the German equivalent Stiftung Warentest? [more inside]
posted by Lynx at 12:55 AM PST - 3 comments

I have a question about blood that drains from sebaceous cysts. It's NSFL (not safe for lunch) though. So if you're squeamish, don't read the [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 12:36 AM PST - 5 comments

I am a queer, Autistic woman trying to find a therapist/surrogate/something adjacent in NYC, who could maybe help me with some sensory-related sexual issues that are causing major problems in my life. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 12:36 AM PST - 4 comments

After years of of struggling with constant low grade UTI pain and irritation, I stumbled on an activity that provides immediate, glorious relief from the pain. But, like all gifts from the universe, I'm wondering if there's a catch. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 12:35 AM PST - 13 comments

So today while transferring groceries to my refrigerator/freezer I took another epic fall. The back of my head smashed into one of the open refrigerator/freezer doors and I hit the hardwood floor. I spent the next three hours and 20 minutes attempting to MacGyver my way to a standing position and failed miserably. My cell phone unfortunately remained atop the kitchen counter completely out of reach. I have MS and had triple bypass surgery. Also Ménière's /labyrinthitis. This may have caused the fall? [more inside]
posted by alwayson_slightlyoff at 10:42 PM PST - 32 comments

Does anyone remember Current tv from 2005 to 2010ish maybe. I remember they used to have user created shorts that aired. I don't really remember any specific episodes but I do remember it being really inspiring and feeling like it was something really special. Kind of like pre youtube youtube. Does anyone know if these exist anywhere now? I would love to check them out again.
posted by poorchanticleer at 6:17 PM PST - 5 comments

My son thinks I may be mysophobic. Am I? [more inside]
posted by SageTrail at 5:50 PM PST - 78 comments

Kiddo (who likes horror nearly as much as I do) is studying and very much enjoying the writings of Edgar Allan Poe. What are your favorite TV and film adaptations? Non-english is okay. Episodes of anthology series are also fine. We're looking for actual adaptations, not stuff that riffs on the stories.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 5:02 PM PST - 10 comments

I'm several decades out of knowing anything about stereo equipment, but now find myself with a small amount of space where I could set some up and get some LPs and CDs out of storage. I need some help in knowing what to buy. [more inside]
posted by ryanshepard at 3:39 PM PST - 7 comments

I want an app or a web page (or even a newsletter!) where I can select a variety of topics/places I'd like to see the top three headlines about (ideally from non-crap news sources), and only those things. It'd be nice if it also showed me weather in selected cities. [more inside]
posted by Eyebrows McGee at 3:20 PM PST - 3 comments

How do I transfer a refund from Master Card (Bank of America) to Discover card funds to apply to a Discover card bill? [more inside]
posted by ragtimepiano at 3:05 PM PST - 11 comments

I have a galley kitchen in my new place which I mostly like. However, in the two corners at the far end (which you can see in this photo and this photo) there are two lazy susan cabinets which I can't stand. I am looking for options. [more inside]
posted by jessamyn at 2:46 PM PST - 21 comments

I have an iPhone 13 and I purchased a jack adapter so that I can call people but it does not work with my headphones. Is there a setting in the iPhone I have to go to? Or do only apple ear phones work? Or is there a specific jack adapter that will work?
posted by RearWindow at 2:42 PM PST - 13 comments

Is there a way to send a message to a group of people either via text or Instagram without all the people in the group seeing each other's info? Basically BCC but for text or IG. [more inside]
posted by greta simone at 2:15 PM PST - 5 comments

A close friend of mine is getting married this Friday (I am one of her bridesmaids!). I am caught up in a bit of a family emergency at the moment that the bride is aware of I am not entirely sure I can make the dinner on Thursday anymore. I need help figuring out how to navigate this in the best way possible. [more inside]
posted by bigyellowtaxi at 1:30 PM PST - 13 comments

We asked electricians to put in can lighting. They suggested we put in wafer lights instead because they're easier to install. After reading up on wafer lights, we decided we didn't want them and still want can lights. The electricians mentioned that can lights were tricky because if they find a floor joist where a can is supposed to go, they have to put it elsewhere. But wafer lights are a new thing, so people must have had to deal with the floor joist issue before. How did they do so? [more inside]
posted by ignignokt at 1:29 PM PST - 20 comments

I would love to know your favorite instant pot recipes that are as simple as humanly possible -- so, minimum prep, and only one step (close the pot). [more inside]
posted by virve at 1:10 PM PST - 17 comments

I reside in the US and have long covid. My FMLA and short term disability has been exhausted; now I'm eligible for long term disability. At my recent follow up, my doctor said they don't do LTD paperwork. My insurance company needs the paperwork to authorize my LTD. My claims manager said they understand doctors don't do this, but has no options for me. I have never dealt with any of this before and I'm at a complete loss. If insurance knows doctors won't do the paperwork, but require insureds to have it, is there not an option where this works out? This has already drained us financially. If I'm eligible for this benefit, how can I get it, if my doctor won't fill out paperwork? Any suggestions are greatly appreciated! To clarify, I fully empathize and understand our medical community is understaffed and overworked, I'm not blaming doctors, or anyone, for this. I'm just trying to figure out how I get benefits I'm eligible for, and paid for, using a system like this. Thanks everyone.
posted by racersix6 at 1:01 PM PST - 10 comments

I have come to the conclusion that I am addicted/compulsive about viewing certain web sites. I need an industrial strength web blocker for my Mac, iPhone, and iPad. I am very savvy with a computer so I'd prefer something password protected that I could use to keep myself locked out for an extended period of time, say a week or a month at a time. Something without a backdoor where I could turn the protection off myself. I have tried will power but I am helpless against this behavior. Suggestions welcomed.
posted by captainscared at 12:46 PM PST - 7 comments

My mental health sucks and my husband is upsetting me a lot several times a day. We have small children so leaving/taking a break at this second is not an option. How do I mentally disengage NOW? [more inside]
posted by flink at 12:35 PM PST - 10 comments

I'm reading Next Level by Stacy T. Sims, and recommend it for older female athletes. There's one section on hydration that has me wondering, though. I have no science background; can anyone who does explain this to me? [more inside]
posted by The corpse in the library at 12:30 PM PST - 17 comments

An older couple I know struggled with fertility for their whole marriage. One of their family members told me it was due to their blood types, but their reproductive story doesn't match what I understand about blood types. Can anyone explain? [more inside]
posted by nouvelle-personne at 12:04 PM PST - 5 comments

Due to circumstances, I am currently in contact with my 90%-estranged mother, who has Borderline Personality Disorder. I am really struggling to be a part of these conversations while clinging to a sense of self-respect. What are some strategies I can employ? [more inside]
posted by kensington314 at 11:55 AM PST - 11 comments

I need to transport a large circular coffee table, a small lawnmower and a wooden desk 100 miles in a cargo van. How do I keep them from being damaged in transit? Do I need furniture pads? Rope to tie things down? Rachet straps? Do the furniture pads need to be taped onto the furniture, and should the table and desk be right-side-up or up-side-down? What would be your strategy for transporting these three items together?
posted by serathen at 11:29 AM PST - 5 comments

In the first paragraph of a book review for the LRB (Deluxe: How Luxury Lost Its Lustre) Jenny Diski summarises a short story by an author she can't remember. A journalist discovers a family of mountain folk in the Appalachians who are "the actual source of fashion, the single place from which all new trends spring and stream out to couturiers, glossy magazines and eventually the city streets." I'm intrigued. Does anyone know this short story?
posted by jamhil at 10:58 AM PST - 7 comments

I’m going to Fiji at the end of the month and will be staying at a resort on Nadi near Port Denarau. What should I do while I’m there?
posted by Juniper Toast at 10:58 AM PST - 1 comment

Kudzu famously grows up to a foot a day. Why doesn’t it grow a foot an hour, or a foot a second? I’m guessing some kind of nutrient limits it before it becomes a risk of bursting into flame from waste heat, but I don’t know. Biologists with a mad science streak: what kind of mutation or environment would make kudzu grow even faster?
posted by BeeDo at 9:58 AM PST - 4 comments

I'm looking for an elusive tool: a hand stapler that creates box corners, using special staples. It's a very cool look, and makes the finished box very recyclable for us since it uses no glue. [more inside]
posted by PardonMyFrench at 9:57 AM PST - 12 comments

Someone has asked for help identifying a film or TV show. Most details of the description seem to match the 1970 made-for-TV movie "Sole Survivor"--but, they insist that this movie or TV show was in black and white! Can you help brainstorm more possibilities? [more inside]
posted by theatro at 9:05 AM PST - 9 comments

How can I even google account? I set up my domain, example.com a long time ago to use free google workspace, which is going away. [more inside]
posted by tilde at 8:31 AM PST - 7 comments

I don't like black beans. I finally made it through the Rancho Gordo bean club waiting list. My box has black beans in it. [more inside]
posted by FencingGal at 8:03 AM PST - 27 comments

We are about to head out on a trip to the northern Adriatic. Yeah, I know. Bummer, eh? I think we have most of the highlights covered, but I'm having trouble finding local music. We would love to go to bars or restaurants in Trieste and Ljubljana where there is live music, preferable local folk music. In Istria, we will be in Buje and Rovijn for couple nights each, as well. Please let us know about the cool places we could go. Also, if there are some must-sees of any type in these cities, we would welcome the suggestions!
posted by Don_K at 7:48 AM PST - 1 comment

I've done my banking with a credit union for decades. My one complaint about ours is excessive overdraft fees; in fact, a couple of years ago we got a tiny, tiny payout on a class action against our CU for this very issue. I'm tired of it. Do you have a no-overdraft bank that you're happy with? Please advise. [more inside]
posted by Well I never at 7:37 AM PST - 9 comments

My partner has between one and three glasses of wine per night, every night. It took me a long time to wonder if something might be wrong because I didn't grow up around alcohol or drink at university. What should I do now? [more inside]
posted by zeek321 at 7:35 AM PST - 24 comments

Short version: Someone I was in a romantic relationship with gifted me a piece of jewelry that is a source of distress now, and I don't know what to do with it. [more inside]
posted by virve at 7:31 AM PST - 47 comments

I am looking for recommendations on books about beavers. I would like to learn more about beavers, and I'm hoping someone out there has encountered some fantastic books that will inform and also be a pleasure to read. [more inside]
posted by elkevelvet at 7:03 AM PST - 10 comments

Your favorite vegetarian recipes with no onions or garlic that transport well, please. [more inside]
posted by latkes at 6:43 AM PST - 8 comments

I suck at normal, healthy adult communication. I want to raise something with my roommate (something on the same level as "would you mind not using all the dishes and not washing them for a week" sort of thing). And I just can't do it. How can I reframe this in my mind? [more inside]
posted by iamsuper at 5:33 AM PST - 11 comments

One would think that this would be relatively straight forward, but I am in charge of researching and booking a trip to Jamaica for a diverse group of people. Details below. [more inside]
posted by something_witty at 1:53 AM PST - 3 comments

I am not managing to get very much done and need to find a way to get myself doing more. Can you suggest strategies that have worked for you or people you know? Factors include anxiety, depression and ADHD. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 10:16 PM PST - 15 comments

How do I learn to laugh at myself and let go? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 10:16 PM PST - 9 comments

I have signed up to bring dinner for my son's high school football team this Thursday, the night before their next game. All together, there are 40 people between teens and coaching staff. I have a 45 minute drive to get there and no kitchen access once there, so I need to pick up take-out from the local area ready to serve, or with minimal prep needed. I'd like to keep the total around $400. The location is a mid-sized town in the San Francisco Bay Area with all the usual chain restaurants, grocery stores, Costco. [more inside]
posted by ms_rasclark at 9:48 PM PST - 19 comments

Should I attend the wake of a good friend's father this Saturday? I would normally go without question, however, I just tested positive for COVID on Friday. [more inside]
posted by Shadow Boxer at 9:15 PM PST - 15 comments

MRI in uhhh nine hours. Was told to wear 100% cotton undergarments but oops, I listened to a podcast and now all I have are MeUndies. Can I wear them? [more inside]
posted by goodbyewaffles at 8:56 PM PST - 10 comments

Before the pandemic, my father -- 75M, ~275lbs. -- had pain in his knees that was attributable to a lack of cartilage around the kneecap. The phrase "bone grinding on bone" was used. One knee was replaced surgically, but the pandemic delayed the other. Now someone has recommended Platelet-Rich Fibrin/Platelet-Rich Plasma as an alternative, and I want to know whether this is horsehit or not. [more inside]
posted by The Pluto Gangsta at 7:43 PM PST - 7 comments

I recently resurrected an old Kindle Fire 8 (8th generation)(from 2019?) and noticed that the Downloads folder now has a three or four instances of a blank icon “queued” and then a file named “gvChildrensTabletAssetsv3[dot]zip” and “Download failed”. [more inside]
posted by TWinbrook8 at 6:20 PM PST - 0 comments

I want to read all the song lyrics you can think of about things love does. Any era, any genre. *Can either say "love does x and y" or give an action "love will tear us apart" *Cannot be "love is" *Love must be doing the actions--i.e. it's Rick Astley who's never gonna give you up, not love (This is for a story about a witch, but no witchiness required in lyrics.) Looking forward!
posted by mermaidcafe at 3:27 PM PST - 44 comments

I am allergic to cats. I’m looking to buy a house. Many houses have had cats in them! How can I clean and prepare a house where cats have been to make it safe for me? [more inside]
posted by stillmoving at 3:10 PM PST - 10 comments

There's a name in my family that I have always liked, but that is pronounced in an unexpected way based on the spelling. Looking for other words or names that have a similar pronunciation. [more inside]
posted by cristalina at 2:46 PM PST - 7 comments

What plants smell good? I noticed my neighbors' marijuana plant is surrounded by the scent of weed while it grows. What other plants emit scent? I want to fill my window with wonderful smelling plants!
posted by spindrifter at 2:29 PM PST - 33 comments

I've always been a low-energy person. I would like to feel more energetic. I'm looking for practical ideas for for how to manage this transition. More details about myself inside, but I'd also be happy to have general suggestions. [more inside]
posted by artisthatithaca at 1:30 PM PST - 16 comments

There is a school in my area which has an integrated program which is 50% typically developing students and 50% students with special needs. This is different from how it is in many places, where there are separate classes for gifted/talented and special needs kids. Can anyone summarize the research on how this arrangement affects each group of students? And are these effects different depending on the age of the kids? Evidence-based answers only, please.
posted by epanalepsis at 1:00 PM PST - 6 comments

Do you have a backpack style cat carrier that is comfortable to wear as a chest/front pack rather than a backpack? Or a pet sling that has a more structured base? [more inside]
posted by eviemath at 12:37 PM PST - 3 comments

Found out new lover is suicidal. Help me figure out my ethics of care, and what is realistic to expect in a situation that seems very touch-and-go? [more inside]
posted by icosahedron at 12:22 PM PST - 18 comments

My excellent swimming timer broke and is no longer made. While I’m working out, my vision is poor and my short-term memory is absent. My minimal critical specifications:

• alert for at least 30 seconds, very loudly
• display time via big digits at least 4 cm/1.5 in high (ideally, LEDs for legibility)
• remember at least one duration

[more inside]
posted by Jesse the K at 11:23 AM PST - 10 comments

We have a house cleaner who visits every other week for about two hours, for the past three years. Over this time, we've learned that there are certain tasks which she'll agree to do but not complete. Do I need to change my expectations? [more inside]
posted by cgs at 11:03 AM PST - 15 comments

So we have an Ikea Besta with glass doors that hails from the year 2014 in which we store liquor cabinet things. I wish to have something nicer in which to store said things. The size factor of the Besta (47.25" Long, 16.5" Deep, 25.25" Tall) is particularly good for our space - longer by 33-50% would be fine but a deeper option is not workable. Thoughts / ideas / help finding something cool to replace it? [more inside]
posted by Medieval Maven at 10:12 AM PST - 4 comments

The period app I've used for years is closing down. What can I use instead? [more inside]
posted by silverstatue at 9:53 AM PST - 11 comments

We adopted a couple of senior cats from a rescue in April. They've never liked each other, but they seemed to be cohabitating fine. About 5 weeks ago the younger, larger one attacked the older, smaller one. Reacclimation has failed. We decided to rehome the younger one - she'd be a more attractive pet for someone than the older one. We're giving her up in a week, and I get consumed by grief when I interact with her or think about her. I have too much free brain space to ruminate and I have to stop. How? [more inside]
posted by under_petticoat_rule at 9:32 AM PST - 11 comments

Hi. Looking for advice on a Citi Bike issue that's dragged on for over a week. Citi Bike charged me $272.19 for a bike they claim I "lost" last week, but I have video/photo evidence clearly showing that said Citi Bike is securely docked to one of their stations. [more inside]
posted by matticulate at 8:50 AM PST - 10 comments

Califia Farms cold brew black coffee says keep refrigerated, why? and is it safe to drink if I haven't (hasn't been opened)? I drink unrefrigerated canned and glass bottled coffee all the time, why is this any different? Separately, any recc's on shelf stable room temp bottled black coffee are welcome.
posted by Rufous-headed Towhee heehee at 8:12 AM PST - 4 comments

The only previously I found was posted over 10 years ago and the MeFite was looking for advice on transporting their cat to the vet. [more inside]
posted by elkevelvet at 7:29 AM PST - 7 comments

My household has a pair of Ikea Kallax 2x4 cube shelves, and we're looking for an upgrade. [more inside]
posted by entropone at 6:34 AM PST - 10 comments

I live in a two-family house, one on top of the other, and we've been getting periodic kitchen sink back-ups. It seems to happen when the upstairs unit uses their washing machine. What is happening and how do we fix it? [more inside]
posted by msbrauer at 6:18 AM PST - 12 comments

Another member of my community died by suicide last week, and I never processed another loss of a friend from 5 years ago. All three of us were marginalized in the same identities. I am looking for resources to self-care as I finish out my grad degree, as I navigate a tumultuous next three months. [more inside]
posted by yueliang at 5:05 AM PST - 13 comments

I'm looking for a time-tracking/productivity app that I used in the past (probably 2019-ish). It ran as a Windows 10 desktop app, and the icon was a ring graph with a red and a green segment. It was not Time Doctor or RescueTime. It created a down-to-the-second report of how much time individual windows were active, and could distinguish between different Word instances and Chrome tabs. [more inside]
posted by nanny's striped stocking at 1:38 AM PST - 2 comments

I’m financially stable enough to live alone, but I’m wondering what I would be giving up if I were to choose to live alone. I live with a roommate now but I find myself getting antsy and wanting more space.
posted by sheepishchiffon at 9:05 PM PST - 33 comments

I'm looking for TWO new camping mattresses - a lightweight, compact one for when I go kayak camping, and a larger, heavier one for when I go car camping. [more inside]
posted by silverstatue at 8:57 PM PST - 18 comments

In July, I was yelled at by my mother in a borderline abusive manner. It really hurt, deeply, but I was too "shocked" at the time to say anything, and given how anxious I felt, did not want to confront her about it. Unfortunately, long after I returned back home across the country, the situation has still been bothering me. [more inside]
posted by dubious_dude at 7:46 PM PST - 19 comments

I have an online therapy session 1-2x/week on my lunch hour. For the last year, I have had my sessions seated in my car in the parking lot, but I have some returning neck and back pain that makes sitting in the car for long times very uncomfortable. I would like to start taking my sessions in my office, but I'm concerned my coworkers will hear what I am saying through the walls or maybe under the door. I can sometimes hear my coworkers next door having conversations, so I assume they can hear mine too. [more inside]
posted by allison00 at 7:42 PM PST - 13 comments

What other movies are like Master and Commander in that they almost entirely revolve around period, on-ocean, ship combat? I'm excluding moves like Battleship, but I guess feel free to suggest wacky things that might not quite hit the mark.
posted by so fucking future at 7:26 PM PST - 17 comments

As far as I know, I haven’t had Covid yet. No positive tests and no symptoms. This seems really unlikely, though, since at minimum 70% of the US population has been infected, according to CDC data from July. So if I’ve actually had a recent asymptomatic case, how should that inform my timing for getting the updated booster — wouldn’t it be best to wait 2-3 months as is recommended for anyone who’s had a symptomatic case? Should asymptomatic people try to determine whether they have, in fact, had a recent infection before getting a booster? [more inside]
posted by theory at 6:40 PM PST - 5 comments

I saw a documentary on CBC or CTV in the early 2000s about a young female singer and I can't figure out who it was. [more inside]
posted by jonathanhughes at 6:26 PM PST - 15 comments

Sorry for the very specific question, but I have a CB2 mirror with no hardware provided. The website says it’s a cleat mount but I didn’t get a cleat. Customer service has been of little help. If you have this mirror, can you describe the cleat dimensions and so on for me?
posted by redlines at 6:07 PM PST - 3 comments

I just roasted about 8 Hatch chiles, they’re steaming in a plastic container, and am going to peel them in a bit. I’m not interested in freezing them, I’m just gonna put them in eggs and stuff over the next couple weeks. How should I preserve them? Salt? Olive oil? Nothing?
posted by skewed at 5:42 PM PST - 6 comments

Right now, in my community, what percentage of people are infectious with COVID? I'd like to use that number to get an answer to the question: "In a given classroom with N students, what number C is currently infected with COVID and is contagious" I would like this for my own knowlege (I'm a teacher, and my students no longer have a masking requirement). I may also use this in a lecture, both to show students how to reason about uncertainty, and also to give uncertain students some data for deciding "mask or don't mask". [more inside]
posted by soylent00FF00 at 4:47 PM PST - 10 comments

I've never been on any kind of paid retreat, but am considering it on the advice of a therapist. Can you help me figure out which kind of retreat would work for me: someone who very much wants to reconnect with other humans and my own body? [more inside]
posted by critzer at 4:36 PM PST - 10 comments

Looking for a variety of sauce recipes for grain bowl dinners! [more inside]
posted by hilaryjade at 4:33 PM PST - 17 comments

I mean, "serious" dance, dance-company stuff, can be amazingly virtuoso but there's still little content- just the same naive expressionism. Synchronized. [more inside]
posted by Rich Smorgasbord at 3:55 PM PST - 31 comments

We just started fostering pending adoption of a giant Golden Retriever and it's been almost 10 years since we had a dog. I am having a very hard time managing my anxiety about inserting this guy into our house/routine. [more inside]
posted by tafetta, darling! at 2:02 PM PST - 8 comments

I loved Alison Bechdel's memoirs (like, who didn't)? and I loved The Arab of the Future (both volumes). What else would I love? What other graphic memoirs would I like?
posted by DMelanogaster at 1:38 PM PST - 22 comments

Is there a place one could submit a pic of a crochet stitch/pattern and have someone ID it? [more inside]
posted by Thorzdad at 12:28 PM PST - 3 comments

My velvety black poodle is a ninja who disappears when I walk her off leash at night. She's @ 50lbs, not really big but def. standard size. I did get her a black Bad To The Bone tshirt because it's true, and will keep her topknot long enough for a mohawk, potentially with glitter/ glow-in-the dark gel. But it would be fun to do something that presents a little more of an effect. A black motorcycle-type jacket won't show up. Dog owners in my neighborhood are doing a costumed pet walk. [more inside]
posted by theora55 at 10:28 AM PST - 26 comments

What are the minimums and best practices for making a shelter over a gas generator while it's running outdoors? [more inside]
posted by wenestvedt at 10:05 AM PST - 7 comments

I oversee someone who I believe was mislead about their opportunities where I work. This was before I came in, and I was unaware about a lot of backstory until recently. I feel bad and I'd like to apologize to them that they were not treated well, but is that helpful? Would you find that helpful? [more inside]
posted by Toddles at 9:20 AM PST - 19 comments

Do you have a dentist you like in Western Mass? What do you like about them? [more inside]
posted by needs more cowbell at 8:48 AM PST - 6 comments

I am looking to dye individual silver hairs, for professional reasons. However, I only have about twenty of them currently on my head - not worth, in my view, dying my whole head of hair. How do other people deal with this situation? [more inside]
posted by corb at 8:41 AM PST - 31 comments

I am looking for music to listen to while I stretch, breathe, and meditate. There are plenty of Spotify playlists for Yoga /Meditation but a large majority of the songs are melancholy and / or in a minor key. I want uplifting and happy music. What artists / playlists / streams do you recommend?
posted by jasondigitized at 8:11 AM PST - 3 comments

I need to find some short scenes for two people to work on in acting class and I wondered if mefites had any favourites. Especially scenes that might not crop up as the standard examples in collections of such things. [more inside]
posted by fabius at 5:28 AM PST - 12 comments

I was reading this article and I as an Aussie agreed with alot of it but this statement jumped out at me "(Have you ever confused a shepherd’s pie and a chicken pot pie in front of a white person? You should. It turns into a whole thing.)" How can you confuse them? [more inside]
posted by Lesium at 4:14 AM PST - 16 comments

Everywhere I look on the internet, ethnonyms and nationalities (Turk, Serb, Pole, etc) are considered proper nouns. Same for members of a religious group (Jew, Christian, etc). This doesn't seem to fit with the definition of a proper noun. Why is this? [more inside]
posted by wesleyac at 1:08 AM PST - 36 comments

I have very bad feet and it is difficult to find shoes I like that I can wear to an upcoming wedding. I found the perfect pair (blessedly comfortable and very cute) but the problem is, despite the upper portion being very sparkly and dressy, the wedge heel is made incongruously of wrapped jute (a very casual look). Can I have the jute part painted or dyed gold by a shoe maker (or do it myself?). I REALLY want these shoes to work!
posted by Lylo at 10:51 PM PST - 14 comments

I got vacuum sealed refrigerated salmon from Trader Joe’s on Wednesday. The best by date on the package is tomorrow, but it smelled pretty strongly fishy when I opened it a bit ago and the Internet says that’s bad. Can I eat it? [more inside]
posted by deus ex machina at 7:34 PM PST - 10 comments

I'm looking for a video-recording of the racquetball match. It's the latest one of the world championship held in Mexico. I want to watch the US vs. Argentina game, singles for men. I'm not sure each player's name, though. Maybe R.Carson and D. Garcia? Please tell me the link for the game. Thank you.
posted by mizukko at 6:13 PM PST - 1 comment

We give out between 800-1500 pieces of candy each year. I’m hoping to find the cheapest way to get “substantial” candy (the giver-otters all feel bad about giving someone, like, one now-and-later or something, so end up giving 2-3 now and laters/Starbucks/whatever). Can folks make suggestions? Open to all sorts of ideas.
posted by arnicae at 4:37 PM PST - 22 comments

Podcast recs please [more inside]
posted by klugarsh at 4:25 PM PST - 33 comments

I recently moved to an area a bit north of Seattle (Everett/Marysville/Lake Stevens area) and I'd like to get some good sources of local and state news, preferably as an email digest to my inbox. I'm willing to pay for a subscription. Any suggestions? [more inside]
posted by Aleyn at 4:21 PM PST - 2 comments

Do you use raised cat dishes? If so, how is that going for you? And which ones do you recommend? [more inside]
posted by Frowner at 3:24 PM PST - 21 comments

Are there any organizations, activities, conferences, trips, journals, campaigns, etc. for law students interested in supporting Palestinians? What are ways that students in law school can get involved in supporting Palestinian liberation?
posted by crocodiletsunami at 3:12 PM PST - 1 comment

A new apartment block is being built a few blocks from my home. The sidewalk/curbs were poured significantly below the level of the existing street pavement. Why might the new curb be installed this way? [more inside]
posted by Alterscape at 2:26 PM PST - 11 comments

My father died and it's time for me to kick into gear as his executrix. But I dunno how you do that, though. Does anyone know where is that AskMe thread where everybody provided death checklists? [more inside]
posted by Don Pepino at 1:05 PM PST - 16 comments

Can you recommend an engaging youtube video that I could watch with my 11 year old, where someone explains why social media, gaming apps etc. are so intentionally addictive, about dopamine rushes and how apps are designed to grab your eyeballs and never let them go again? I think she would be fascinated and it would help her make sense of things.
posted by Omnomnom at 12:37 PM PST - 8 comments

Looking for a power lift recliner for a family member who is ill. This is the sort of chair that both reclines and tilts forward a bit to help the person stand up. They will want the foot and back to be adjustable separately. The user is short and in the US women's size 18-20 range. If it has heat and massage functions that is definitely a bonus. Any recommendations?
posted by rednikki at 12:27 PM PST - 5 comments

Mid-autumn festival is upon us, and a loved one wants to get some mooncakes...in Copenhagen. She is near Vestergade 7, 1456 København. She has no car, so it needs to be nearby or easily accessible via train. Any ideas, geniuses of AskMe?
posted by BlahLaLa at 11:59 AM PST - 2 comments

I’m looking for a nice place in or near Aptos (Capitola or Santa Cruz work) to have dinner for my wedding anniversary. We’ll have our 7 year old with us, so while I’d like something good and very pleasant and I don’t necessarily need a kids menu, I’m not after super high concept. No food restrictions and would be nice if there are cocktails, though that’s not a requirement.
posted by vunder at 11:59 AM PST - 6 comments

What's the most informative, elucidating, English-language single video (i.e. not a series) out there that demonstrates how a good editor can affect a film? Written articles are also ok if they contain illustrative video clips.
posted by paperback version at 11:05 AM PST - 4 comments

tldr: I have a zucchini in my garden. It is huge. I'm afraid to harvest it because I don't know exactly what to do with it. I need gardening advice &/or recipes for things I can preserve / freeze / otherwise store. All suggestions welcome. [more inside]
posted by tractorfeed at 10:44 AM PST - 23 comments

Our bedroom does not cool when windows are open. Last night, at bed it was 24C in our room. We had 3 windows open. 2 on the north side, one on the south side. One north wimdow faces the south window dead on. The other north window is in the ensuite bath. Bathroom door open. [more inside]
posted by Ftsqg at 9:31 AM PST - 17 comments

I'm still in a competitive scavenger hunt that takes me across Boston, to be the first to find a small token. They are placed in the last few days and just released. It's fun, but I'm in a competition where we are supposed to "use all of our resources". Askmi is a resource, right? [more inside]
posted by bbqturtle at 8:57 AM PST - 5 comments

I found a gift in my Toronto window well yesterday morning. The link shows a close-up -- it really does look like a heap of wild blueberries -- and a wide shot. Who or what could have placed this here? [more inside]
posted by maudlin at 8:28 AM PST - 6 comments

I'm nearly finished with a goal I've been working to finish for more than four years, and so I'm looking for song recommendations about victory or triumphing over adversity.
posted by drezdn at 8:01 AM PST - 15 comments

My reusable water bottle has a small silicone washer in the top of the lid. It grows black mould quickly and is tough to clean thoroughly due to its size and design. Looking for suggestions. [more inside]
posted by terretu at 6:49 AM PST - 7 comments

My son and I woke up sick. Me with a very sore throat, him with a runny nose (started yesterday morning) and vomiting. The obvious concern is covid and we cancelled our visit to Grandma for today. But I just did a home test, including a very thorough throat swab (and brain swab). It seems like whatever virus I have is very obviously in my throat, right? If that is negative am I fairly certain it's not covid? Also, are we still going camping on thursday? Yay or Nay? [more inside]
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 6:37 AM PST - 20 comments

I’m traveling in England from the US, with an iphone SE, and can’t get internet service. Everything works fine with wifi, but every attempt to get any service with has failed. I’ve restarted, turned airplane, wifi, roaming off and on, and everything else I can think of. I’m new to iphones, but I was told I wouldn’t need to do any special preparations. I have Verizon. I’ve tried several of the trouble shooting suggestions google has led me to, and no luck. Please help! I’m hoping it’s something I overlooked.
posted by librosegretti at 2:23 AM PST - 13 comments

I'm a fat lady in my early forties, in search of a new haircut. I have straight, fine, not very voluminous hair. It's currently a bit past my shoulders and well overdue for a trim and recolour, but I'm feeling uninspired, and a colleague's recent transformation with a short haircut makes me wonder if that is what I'm seeking. Can you help? [more inside]
posted by Cheese Monster at 12:16 AM PST - 9 comments

I don't know how exactly to google this question or even how to ask it. But what I'd like to understand is why generally the self, consciousness, and the voice in our heads is, well, perceived as being in our heads? [more inside]
posted by [insert clever name here] at 9:58 PM PST - 16 comments

I would like to buy a new dishwasher. The one I want is on sale at a nearby retailer, but it’s on clearance so the sale would be final. Is there a risk to this I’m missing? [more inside]
posted by rodneyaug at 9:13 PM PST - 11 comments

I'd like to get a very simple and reliable sewing machine that will be used only for hemming trousers and cutting down the bottoms of men's collared shirts. It'll only be used on non-stretchy, single layer, non-synthetic fabrics. Any recommendations? [more inside]
posted by eotvos at 8:58 PM PST - 16 comments

I ordered a couch from Target, and today Fedex delivered two boxes: In one box was half of my new couch. In the other box [labeled 'carton 3 of 3'] is part of someone else's bedframe/bookcase. It has the intended recipient's full name and address on the package and definitely isn't mine. [more inside]
posted by Space Kitty at 8:40 PM PST - 10 comments

I am sitting on my porch in eastern Massachusetts on a September evening and the crickets are very loud. There are a lot of them. Approximately how many are in a hundred yard radius of where I am? [more inside]
posted by bondcliff at 6:34 PM PST - 39 comments

Specifically, early stage foreign language edition. What helped you learn to better parse the spoken word in the early days of language learning when EVERYTHING is unfamiliar? [more inside]
posted by exutima at 4:16 PM PST - 19 comments

I'm searching for the title/artist of an audio 'montage' that I heard in a mormon church in the 80s in Southern California. It features a (classical violin?) that starts peaceful and isolated... as it continues on... you hear all sorts of louder noises like explosions and newscasts on top of it... nearly drowning the violin out, but not entirely. I think it was supposed to teach a lesson about how God is always there behind the chaos.... or something. Anyone recognize this? Thank you.
posted by mrmarley at 2:46 PM PST - 2 comments

My little town's councilpeople will be voting next week to support the America250 Commission. I had not heard of this project till now, and it remains to be seen whether they intend financial as well as moral support (but the website offers many clickboxes for donating). I have never heard of a single one of the many individuals listed under "Leadership" and the language describing the project is pretty vague. Random glances at some of the bios sugggests that it might not be as inclusive as described. Are any of you familiar with it?
posted by mmiddle at 1:08 PM PST - 11 comments

Please share with me your favorite Palestinian recipes, cookbooks, and online ingredient sources (available in US). Thanks!
posted by ohneat at 12:26 PM PST - 11 comments

People keep talking about how protests are no good. But I have experienced a nationwide general strike (I was 20 and didn't really have any context for it). I know they can work. I'd like to learn more about nationwide (or larger, if any) general strikes from everywhere in the world. The kind where the streets are full of people and bustling one day and completely empty the next. [more inside]
posted by aniola at 12:08 PM PST - 15 comments

I have a disease that makes me achy, brain-fog-y and deeply exhausted when I am in a flare. Many of the things I used to do to feel better are no longer possible. For example, taking a walk, reading a book, even calling a friend. I'm looking for things I can do to make myself feel good and cared for on really bad days, but they need to require almost no effort physically or mentally which seems...impossible? Perhaps you can help! [more inside]
posted by jeszac at 11:39 AM PST - 47 comments

Can someone mess with me through a Roku I returned to Amazon and did not log out of? [more inside]
posted by archimago at 10:40 AM PST - 4 comments

I’m close to scheduling partial knee replacement #1 in January. I’m trying to get a handle on what recovery might look like in terms of how much and what kind of help I’ll need, and what I might be able to do when. [more inside]
posted by gottabefunky at 10:07 AM PST - 10 comments

Can someone who knows about fishing go on amazon.ca and find a prime-eligible comes in a couple of days decent but not crazy expensive fishing rod for a 5 year old? I've never fished. I'm looking at these and I'm thinking they all come with a million pieces of plastic-crap accessories. That's not a good sign, right? What is a good sign?Fishing would be in a lake from shore or from a canoe.
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 10:07 AM PST - 6 comments

The heat's been off for months, why are the radiators leaking? [more inside]
posted by Iris Gambol at 10:03 AM PST - 9 comments

I've got an upcoming week off work dedicated to just relaxing and resetting after having a non-stop year. How do I make sure I don't stress myself out about destressing? [more inside]
posted by Gin and Broadband at 9:31 AM PST - 14 comments

Where can I get an evaluation for ADHD in the Boston area? I do have insurance that covers behavioral health, but I have a deductible that I have to hit first, so cost is a factor here, but not the biggest one. I have one quote so far for $2000 from a psychologist that I think is reputable (but honestly, other than looking at credentials, I don't know how to size them up).
posted by anonymous at 9:00 AM PST - 4 comments

I took SSRIs for seven years for anxiety. I tapered off over 6 months. 3 months after my last dose, I’m an emotionally unstable mess and I’m questioning every aspect of my life. I’m really struggling to figure out what’s withdrawal, what’s the real me, and who the hell I can go to for help now. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 8:59 AM PST - 20 comments

My wife and I have mutually agreed to separate. There are no kids, little shared property (she owns our home - I will be moving out), and no shared debt. We love each other, but don't see a future together. We have had a lot of therapy. We want to move through separation with respect and care. Have you seen or done this? What advice can you offer? We are in California.
posted by anonymous at 8:58 AM PST - 17 comments

My Comcast/Xfinity internet service is delivered via coaxial cable ethernet. If my router & PC are plugged into a backup power supply will I still have internet access during power outages? Or does your typical home power outage also shut off coax-supplied internet service?
posted by mono blanco at 8:13 AM PST - 12 comments

We visited some older relatives recently, and they were watching this show. I remember seeing reruns when I was growing up and always thought it looked like a period piece set in some mythical recent past. [more inside]
posted by Eddie Mars at 7:58 AM PST - 9 comments

i'm looking for opinions on the best way to proceed..... details below... [more inside]
posted by foodybat at 6:49 AM PST - 10 comments

I'm looking for a video style that I can't find on YouTube. It may not even exist. Can the hive mind help me? [more inside]
posted by uncannyslacks at 5:41 AM PST - 5 comments

I am interested interested in different types of chains (e.g. for necklaces) and was wondering if anyone could recommend sources they've personally used and liked? [more inside]
posted by A Terrible Llama at 4:57 AM PST - 7 comments

May I travel on a cruise that begins and ends at an American port, as I have no intention to leave the ship at the foreign port, without interference to my visa status and application? [more inside]
posted by sandra_s at 3:01 AM PST - 13 comments

I just bought this bubble machine and it came with a big warning that it can't be used by someone with a pace maker or who recently had a heart attack. Why? [more inside]
posted by Toddles at 11:16 PM PST - 7 comments

I need to go another step up for home sewing. What do you like? [more inside]
posted by Crystalinne at 6:31 PM PST - 14 comments

Is Softonic safe and secure? Is it fine to download software from there? (They're the only place I could find with Powerpoint for Mac standalone as opposed to in some big Microsoft bundle.)
posted by andoatnp at 6:09 PM PST - 6 comments

My skin changes from splotchy, yellow, bloated, and hyperpigmented to looking super fresh with even coloring the day I wash my hair (which is about twice a week). No one else I know self-reports this level of difference, and everyone who has lived with me, including casual roommates, have commented on the change. What’s going on? [more inside]
posted by redlines at 6:07 PM PST - 12 comments

Having a cleaner come once every week or two is great. But there have been times where, due to various circumstances, I've temporarily been able to have someone come three or even five times a week. It's really great!!! Saves much more time than weekly cleaning (because they can fold laundry, tidy stuff, dishes, etc...). I'm not sure how to find someone to do this. Most cleaning services are not based on this model. My assumption is I'd want to find someone who lives very close to me. Anyone have experiences/suggestions? I'm in Toronto.
posted by ManInSuit at 6:06 PM PST - 7 comments

I’m getting the flu and new COVID booster together tomorrow. Should I get them in the same arm or different? [more inside]
posted by inevitability at 5:55 PM PST - 16 comments

I am looking for a replacement outdoor motion sensor similar to this one, except that I want it to have a mode that bypasses the detector completely (light turns on and off based only on light switch position). All of the ones I've found so far with manual overrides only have a temporary mode that turns on at dusk and off at dawn and then resets to auto. [more inside]
posted by unus sum at 4:23 PM PST - 4 comments

I’d like to read stories about navigating adult parent-child relationships. Coming out stories, migration stories, anything where some tension is introduced by the child or their circumstances being something other than what the parents had in mind, and everyone has to figure out how to relate to each other in a changed world. [more inside]
posted by eirias at 3:57 PM PST - 9 comments

Looking for perspectives and experiences to help me (F, early 40s, cisgender) deal with hurtful romantic rejection, which keeps happening, and which I seem unable to brush off. Hoping this with similar experiences can share their stories, how they dealt with it, perhaps some happy endings. More behind the link [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 12:40 PM PST - 29 comments

My hair is falling out. :( [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 12:40 PM PST - 8 comments

Friend of mine wants to start teaching dance and wonders--you know, the roll out mats that have dance steps on them? Like this. Arthur Murray used to send them out by mail order. Is this kind of instructional tool owned by anyone, or can anyone make or paint or have printed their own diagrams to use for classes?
posted by Gymnopedist at 12:23 PM PST - 5 comments

I've never gotten a HELOC before but I have quite a bit of equity in my home and I'd like to take some out for home improvements and also to just have some cash on hand in this uncertain economy. There seem to be a number of lenders out there and just wondering if anyone has had positive personal experiences with any? And what is considered a good rate these days? I'm in California, if it matters.
posted by madonna of the unloved at 12:00 PM PST - 4 comments

Looking for the most painless ways to fall asleep/wake up earlier and "reset" my sleep cycle. [more inside]
posted by CancerSucks at 11:29 AM PST - 22 comments

A friend has been accused by a local grocery store chain of intentionally not scanning some items in self-checkout lanes. The police phoned my friend and told them only vague details so far, but they said the store has video of this happening at multiple locations around their city (in the US) over a period of time. My friend told the police to give their contact info to the store, in hopes of settling matters directly with them. I didn't ask my friend if they actually did this or not, but they seem pretty rattled and they're looking for advice going forward, based on the hope they can just pay for whatever wasn't scanned. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 10:05 AM PST - 30 comments

I need to take some pictures and cut out a shape from them, put a name on them and then stick them in a word document to print. [more inside]
posted by kathrynm at 9:51 AM PST - 8 comments

What is the best way to control playtime of Minecraft Java Edition running on a Macintosh? It does not appear to be subject to Apple Screen Time limitations, nor to Microsoft Family Safety settings. Is there really nothing better than a chron job that kills Java? [more inside]
posted by Winnie the Proust at 9:25 AM PST - 3 comments

My wife is going on the academic job market for the first time this year. I am currently an assistant professor a little over halfway to tenure, which I will likely get. We are both, very generally, in the same area of academia - we'd be in the same department, but wouldn't necessarily collaborate. One of the job posts we found advertises two assistant professor positions (running through the same search committee) - one position is for someone with my qualifications and the other is more open, although my wife's research would fit well within the department. The university/department itself is pretty middling - it's neither a hyper-desirable ivy or a 4/4 teaching load situation. On our own, we'd both be reasonable candidates. Does it make sense to submit applications to the positions that specifically identify us as a couple trying to solve the two-body problem? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 9:07 AM PST - 18 comments

Is there a tool to aid with cross-fiber friction massage? I'm dealing with tendonitis on the top of my foot (anterior tibial tendonitis). Doing cross-fiber friction massage tires my hands very quickly. Is there a tool I can use to assist with the massage?
posted by La Gata at 6:30 AM PST - 2 comments

I got first two vaccines (Moderna.) I got one booster. Really need to update next booster but if possible would prefer latest/greatest booster which also addresses OMICRON. Any idea when it will be easily available? (Austin Texas if that matters.)
posted by dancestoblue at 6:15 AM PST - 20 comments

Do you look young for your age? How have you navigated this as you got older? [more inside]
posted by stillmoving at 3:56 AM PST - 24 comments

My eight-year-old son has asked for my help making more friends in school. Can you please help me give him concrete ideas / actions he can take? [more inside]
posted by ohio at 12:30 AM PST - 23 comments

There's a line from the (American) movie Gilda (1946) I've never understood. Our Antihero has just cleaned up cheating at a fancy illegal casino in South America. On his way out, he's accosted by two toughs who say, "The boss wants a word with you." He responds, "Is Brooklyn across the river here, too?" [more inside]
posted by praemunire at 9:42 PM PST - 10 comments

I like this transcription of Billie Holiday's Easy Living. It was featured in the movie "Carol". It has a repeat sign at the end and I was wondering what kind of flourishes or variations I can add on the second time through. I'm an intermediate piano player so something that doesn't require virtuosic piano skills would be great!
posted by storybored at 8:15 PM PST - 4 comments

Help! I'm not stopping the medication so I need some mitigation advice for my formerly long, amazing fingernails. [more inside]
posted by atomicstone at 6:18 PM PST - 12 comments

Do people with uteruses smell worse as they get older? Sorry this is gross. I've noticed lately my armpit area smells stronger than it did even just a year ago. I'm not more active than before, no major diet changes or environment changes. Could it be the result of hitting 40? What can I do about it? [more inside]
posted by crunchy potato at 5:35 PM PST - 24 comments

My lease renewal in a HCOL city went up about 9% for a 12-month lease, which would expire in late October 2023. After asking for a break, they offered to knock $15/month off the 12-month renewal. BUT nothing off the 13-month lease ... which would push my renewal into late November. I know this is an algorithm, and that rents decrease in late fall and winter. Should I spend an extra $325 this year to push my lease an extra month into late November? Thank you!
posted by 2soxy4mypuppet at 4:51 PM PST - 7 comments

How many Level 4 Vital Articles would a gender-balanced Wikipedia have? [more inside]
posted by aniola at 4:02 PM PST - 8 comments

I'm looking to get the "acquired" taste for coffee. I've always loved the smell of coffee; it makes my mouth water. It's the taste that seems to be incongruent. I've tried a few times before to get into it. I have been told by a specific embarrassing type of doctor that it would be a positive alternative to coke zero. It would also be advantageous when drank moderately. What are your thoughts on how to move forward. Bonus points for specificly what to order for Dunkin Donuts, or even Starbucks, though Dunks is more available. Thank you in advance
posted by I_count_crows at 3:27 PM PST - 58 comments

This may have even been posted to Metafilter in the early to mid 2000s. It was a well-written list of all the ways various suicide methods could fail, created at least partially as a suicide prevention measure. It wasn't Dorothy Parker's poem. I recall reading it sometime between 2004 and 2007. Sound familiar?
posted by juniper at 2:27 PM PST - 3 comments

Is there an Outlook plugin which uses some smarts to suggest folders into which I may want to sort the current email into, based on how current email is sorted [more inside]
posted by defcom1 at 1:34 PM PST - 5 comments

Please keep your snarky comments to yourselves re: my choice of TV shows....I'd seen this episode of Family Affair yeeears ago and still remembered it mainly because of Uncle Bill's ability to solve any problem by opening his wallet. Anyway, at approximately 13:00 the "coolness" coach has Cissy utter some phrase that "all the teenagers are saying in Paris." I took a few years of French in high school, but I don't recognize a single word in this phrase. (again, fast forward to about 13:00). Anyone able to translate?
posted by Oriole Adams at 1:12 PM PST - 7 comments

I am travelling to Chicago soon. I am intrigued by Jeppson's Malört. I cannot drink any alcohol at all, though, for medical reasons. Not even a little bit of booze - it has horrific side effects with a medication I'm on. However, this article piqued my curiosity on the liquer: 10 Top New York Sommeliers Try Malört. What is the closest realistic non-alcoholic item I can try, either food or drink, that approximates the taste of this infamous concoction? (I don't have a pile of burning garbage next tme, unfortunately, so I can't use that....)
posted by spinifex23 at 12:28 PM PST - 9 comments

I want to be able to let people check out books, equipment, etc. I am thinking I can pop a little RFID sticker on everything, and register it, and then they can go ahead with it. I have hosting, is there a free (as in beer, also preferably as in speech) solution I can install? I would also like to have items be able to be reserved or booked for certain periods of time. So you can check out a DVD or book a meeting room in the same system. What am I looking for? [more inside]
posted by Iteki at 12:02 PM PST - 5 comments

I rely on the password manager in Chrome browser on two computers (work & home) and also my iPhone. None of them are syncing with passwords.google.com. Are they supposed to? If so, how do I make it work? [more inside]
posted by wutangclan at 11:54 AM PST - 4 comments

If you wanted to quickly start a blog that is going to be very casual and small-audience, where would you do it in 2022? [more inside]
posted by Well I never at 11:44 AM PST - 14 comments

Hi. I am mature female student entering my last year at university. And I developed feelings for my female professor and I cannot seem to move on for some reason and it is causing me some mental health issues. [more inside]
posted by RearWindow at 10:52 AM PST - 12 comments

As part of a Halloween costume, I'm looking to make gloves with LEDs that "move" along the fingers and then down the hand, for a sort of cyberpunk look. How do I tackle this? [more inside]
posted by LSK at 10:41 AM PST - 7 comments

My poor dog had liquid diarrhea on my brand-new rug and I can’t get the smell out. Things I have tried: multiple rug shampooings although with unscented BioKleen shampoo (I can’t take strong scents); soaking it in Bac-Out enzyme stuff and letting it dry; soaking it in white vinegar and then shampooing. I need your UNSCENTED top tips for eradicating poop smell, please. (Surprisingly I found nothing here on Metafilter so you all must already know the secret, right?)
posted by HotToddy at 8:33 AM PST - 18 comments

Our initial 3-year fixed-rate loan is up, and now we're unsure if we should lock in a fixed rate again or let it stay variable. Reading online suggests that variable rates are historically cheaper over the long run, so we should go with that, right? (We have a relatively cheap house so could afford a jump in payments if it happens). But it also seems like we're about to get higher and higher interest rates, so we should lock it in now while it's low, right? Both choices seem simultaneously sensible and foolish. [more inside]
posted by twirlypen at 8:16 AM PST - 14 comments

So, Canada's central bank just raised interest rates a huge amount again, in order to fight inflation. But as someone who doesn't really understand the economic mechanisms of that, it seems to me like making money more expensive would just make everything more expensive. But that's obviously not the case, so what am I missing? [more inside]
posted by jacquilynne at 7:40 AM PST - 21 comments

I've taken 4+ BinaxNow Covid tests over the last few days due to contact with someone who is testing positive. Each time, the test's control lines have been present, but more faint or splotchy than I would expect. I believe I am following the test directions correctly, but is this an indication that either I'm doing something wrong or the tests are bad? Can I trust the negative results? [more inside]
posted by arcolz at 7:17 AM PST - 8 comments

... Ocam’s Razor, Russell's Teapot. I’m looking for other principles, models, ideas, etc. that follow this format: Name-Tangible Object.
posted by probablysteve at 7:15 AM PST - 38 comments

Can you recommend the best resources, e.g. books, podcasts, courses, for diagnosing narcissism in ourselves and for managing or curing this? All of the resources I see on Google seemed aimed at dealing with other people's narcissism, whereas there seem to be fewer resources for people prepared to do the work on themselves. I'm not sure that I'm a narcissist, but I'd certainly like to investigate and try to be better. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 6:55 AM PST - 19 comments

What ways have you found to use social media to actually build deeper connections with your friends? [more inside]
posted by donut_princess at 6:54 AM PST - 10 comments

Where can I watch nightly news broadcasts from around the world? [more inside]
posted by anotheraccount at 5:19 AM PST - 4 comments

I’m friendly with a mom only because our kids are best friends (otherwise I don’t really enjoy her company). The last 4 times our families have hung out she has been visibly wasted. Slurred speech, can’t stand up well, says ridiculous dumb things, even her kid seems frustrated by all this. I noticed at one backyard event she had 6 drinks, and she has always seemed like a high functioning alcoholic to me, drinking a lot but keeping her shit together. But more recently the slurred speech started happening, eyes are bloodshot, can’t stand up, saying repetitive things, etc. I bet she is mixing the alcohol with weed or pills. I sat her down and asked her if she had been drinking and she said yes just one drink. I told her all the things I noticed that make it seem like she’s had more, and she denied it. The sad/scary thing is she drives her daughter like this. (I never let my kid in the car with her.) I see this turning into a disaster unless there is some change. She is divorced and the ex husband is an even bigger mess, so no help there. Her own parents are out of the picture. Her other friends live over an hour away and I don’t know them or have ways to contact them. I feel like it’s up to me to make an intervention for her child’s safety. Should I call the police on her since she is presumably drunk driving? I doubt she would willingly go into rehab right now since she won’t even admit to a problem. I’m not sure what to do.
posted by Jason and Laszlo at 5:16 AM PST - 20 comments

I have a pair of Sennheiser headphones that have a 10- or 12-foot long cord. I don’t plan on replacing the headphones anytime soon, but I struggle with the length of the cord. When I exclusively used the headphones at my desk, I used a cable tie to shorten the cord, but it was always getting twisted. I’m now standing to practice guitar and bass, and the untied cord is always under foot (and under the wheels of my chair when I sit back down). Is there a better way to deal with this?
posted by Admiral Haddock at 4:35 AM PST - 14 comments

I have an old (original!) iPad Air (A1474) from late 2013/early 2014. Do I need to upgrade for security reasons? [more inside]
posted by konaStFr at 4:25 AM PST - 9 comments

What are some board/dice/card/any other analog games for a group of six to eight people including five to seven adults and a seven-year-old which are playable without frustration by the seven-year-old but still genuinely fun and engaging for the adults? [more inside]
posted by cilantro at 2:25 AM PST - 21 comments

If you dig a hole at the bottom of the sea, will the soil at the bottom be dry or wet? [more inside]
posted by Literaryhero at 1:40 AM PST - 6 comments

I'm very confident using flashcards for language learning. I use Anki, and I'm very happy with. However, I'm interested in how 'tough' I should be grading myself when it comes to recognition, and any learning theory there might be on the subject. When I test myself on production, I only accept 100% correct answers. Some examples and my current method below the fold. [more inside]
posted by Braeburn at 12:42 AM PST - 4 comments

This commercial. The sweet one where the guy meets his new grandbaby and they have a nap together. Shazam is failing me; maybe it’s not a long enough sample. [more inside]
posted by armeowda at 9:37 PM PST - 4 comments

There's got to be an easier way than going country by country, flag by flag isn't there? This is ridiculous. Is there an app? Or a website? Or something that does this for you?
posted by rileyray3000 at 8:05 PM PST - 4 comments

After a long process and a lot of deep work, my brother just completed the process of converting to Judaism. I know this was a meaningful and important experience for him, and since I live far away and am unable to mark the occasion in person, I would like to send him a small gift to recognize what has been a very transformative time in his life. [more inside]
posted by Dorinda at 7:35 PM PST - 20 comments

I'm trying to go from freelance to a large company and I'm having issues dealing with working with a large company. Mostly I'm used to justifying every hour of my day with having done actual work and also constantly selling myself. Has anyone made the transition? I tried this before and burnt myself out and don't want to repeat it. [more inside]
posted by geoff. at 6:58 PM PST - 10 comments

Basically what it says. If so, where, when? Or YouTube sites I can call up on my tv that compile the more amazing images in high quality for the lay person?
posted by cocoagirl at 4:17 PM PST - 4 comments

During Mass, right before the Gospel, the priest and the congregation make a small sign of the cross over their forehead, mouth, and heart. My father always refused to do this--any idea why? [more inside]
posted by kensington314 at 3:50 PM PST - 13 comments

What should a visitor check out in Montreal? (And what else should I know?) [more inside]
posted by escape from the potato planet at 3:25 PM PST - 14 comments

The marvelous website archive.org is now marking more and more files "unavailable?" Why? [more inside]
posted by ragtimepiano at 2:56 PM PST - 3 comments

intermittent problem with no codes being displayed. Sometimes it doesn't happen when driving, other times it can occur several times in a drive. Behavior: While driving the doors unlock and lock and car goes into neutral for a couple of seconds. The engine revs super high. A second or two later it recovers and drives normally. Ideas? Thank you!!
posted by bleucube at 1:40 PM PST - 10 comments

I'm the treasurer for a small non-profit. I look after reimbursing expenses for staff and the Board. I use e-transfer for reimbursements. It'd be nice to have two people authorize those transfers rather than just having me do it, but our bank account does not provide the capability. The banking account package that does is too expensive for us. What would be the fallback best practice to keep the Treasurer function open and accountable? [more inside]
posted by storybored at 1:27 PM PST - 11 comments

Is it better to begin getting a pension now or do I wait? I'm currently 58 and could retire with a monthly pension of $400 or wait another 7 years and receive a monthly pension of $640. What's the better option? [more inside]
posted by yes I said yes I will Yes at 1:27 PM PST - 19 comments

I am five months into a new job. I'm coming from the ER and now I'm a school nurse. In the ER I didn't need to keep track of things from one day to the next. At any moment I had a short list of tasks that was constantly evolving. I could keep it all in my head. In the school I have TONS of tiny tasks in various categories and I don't have a good system for keeping it all together. [more inside]
posted by pintapicasso at 12:33 PM PST - 15 comments

There used to be a variety of sites that were good at reporting on the latest gadgets, gizmos, neat Kickstarter projects, fun apps, etc. Now they all seem to have declined in quality (Gizmodo) or become full of boring spam (Product Hunt). Where do geeks go to find new consumer-facing products that are cool or interesting?
posted by blahblahblah at 11:39 AM PST - 5 comments

I've decided I want more artwork on the walls of my home and my office. I know really very little about art. Help me figure this out? [more inside]
posted by gauche at 11:32 AM PST - 22 comments

How do I handle a large medical bill, which seems to come down to a physical therapist being considered out of network because I was serviced at location A instead of Location B? [more inside]
posted by clocksock at 11:05 AM PST - 6 comments

I'll be in Denali for 3 nights, then spending Saturday afternoon/evening and all day Sunday in Anchorage before flying back out Monday morning, September 18. The tourism people may be trundling me around, but I'd still like to explore on my own. Looking over previous questions, it seems there's a good historic ghost tour Sunday evenings and a pirate pub crawl Saturday. Other recommendations? Any locals going to the pub crawl? I'm especially interested in consuming my body weight in crab, and love dive bars. Thanks!
posted by cyndigo at 10:55 AM PST - 2 comments

My 8yo daughter and I just finished playing the really great Agent A spy/escape room/puzzle game on iOS. Can you recommend any other games that might scratch the same itch? [more inside]
posted by Admiral Haddock at 10:09 AM PST - 4 comments

You have a concrete floor and a rear outlet/wall outlet plumbing situation. You put a new 66” long cast iron bathtub in the bathroom without digging out part of the floor for the drain. What bathtub did you get? [more inside]
posted by bilabial at 9:32 AM PST - 5 comments

I have been using learntarot.com to look up meanings of tarot cards. It occurs to me, though, that there may be other better resources out there. What do you recommend? [more inside]
posted by wesleyac at 6:34 AM PST - 15 comments

Does anyone have tips for managing cigarette smoke when staying with family members who are smokers? [more inside]
posted by JuliaKM at 6:06 AM PST - 17 comments

What tools do you use to capture and track your goals, and periodically review them? [more inside]
posted by osmond_nash at 3:37 AM PST - 3 comments

Hey! In her essay "Semantic drift" Lionel Shriver writes: "I long ago developed the habit of mentally correcting other people’s grammatical errors, and sometimes these chiding reproofs escape my lips (“You mean ‘Ask us Democrats’ ”). Marking up casual conversation with a red pencil doesn’t make me popular, and I should learn to control myself." I can't think of what the original error would have been, can anyone help? (Best guess is "Ask we, Democrats", but I'm pretty sure that's not a mistake many people would make...)
posted by Skyanth at 1:37 AM PST - 17 comments

That's the question, can you help? This would be for emergencies or perhaps just for travel. [more inside]
posted by alwayson_slightlyoff at 10:36 PM PST - 24 comments

I believe that the seven notes played by the violins at 2:08 in this recording are quoting a "stock" piece of Russian music that would have been known by a radio audience in the 1920s or 30s. But I don't know what piece it is and I can't find it! Can you help? [more inside]
posted by goingonit at 5:48 PM PST - 9 comments

I'm looking for songs that satisfy the specific criteria of having a slowed-down and therefore lower-pitch vocal from another pop song incorporated into the song. (I am *not* looking for slowed down versions of entire songs.) [more inside]
posted by Noisy Pink Bubbles at 4:31 PM PST - 13 comments

Apple specifies device battery capacity in watt-hours. Power bank capacity is usually specified in milliamp hours. To convert between the two requires voltage, which I don't know. How can I tell approximately how many recharges I will get on an Apple device from a given power bank? [more inside]
posted by Winnie the Proust at 4:25 PM PST - 7 comments

Someone mentioned this show on MeFi or AskMe a while back -- what was it? It was a procedural drama about a team of left activists (or maybe they were not left per se but some sort of generic social disruptors) who infiltrated corporations. Or something like that. Or maybe they were rogue consultants? Sorry, I don't have any more detail to add, but if you can think of any show that resembles this description, it's, uh, probably the right one.
posted by dusty potato at 3:45 PM PST - 6 comments

I've got a pump and well that I'm trying to revive and could use some tips. [more inside]
posted by diode at 3:30 PM PST - 2 comments

I signed up for that postcards to swing states thing and it turns out I'm very fast at them. Are there other causes I could write postcards for? [more inside]
posted by Mizu at 3:09 PM PST - 7 comments

Whenever I create a Word Doc in Microsoft One Drive (image) it defaults to Calibri 11. I would like each new document to be Times New Roman 12. How do I make that happen?
posted by andoatnp at 3:03 PM PST - 6 comments

I get mysef very worked up when engaging in conversations with people who are very confident about things they (from my point of view) don't understand. I'd like to get to the bottom of why I get so angry about it, and how to keep my peace (and my friendships) [more inside]
posted by jander03 at 2:52 PM PST - 26 comments

I've gotten pretty good at making acquaintances but anxiety makes developing and sustaining friendships a constant struggle. What can I do differently? [more inside]
posted by fox problems at 2:35 PM PST - 7 comments

A lot of romantic comedies focus on the story of the person who got their heart broken by someone and to some extent make a villain out of the one who did the heartbreaking. This story is stuck in my psyche and making me feel like a villain for having a history of hurting guys I liked aspects of but didn’t feel were right for me. Are there any movies that turn this narrative around a little? Where the person who did the heartbreaking was redeemed at the end, or found his or her way? I’d love some examples to counter the narrative in my head. [more inside]
posted by ygmiaa at 1:47 PM PST - 19 comments

Promopted by this question. We're in Chicago and we're trying to find contractors to install a heat pump. It's been weird even for the current weird contractor environment (we've also had work done by plumbers and electricians in the past 12 months, so we have a bit of a baseline) and we'd like to solicit opinions on whether we're approaching this the wrong way. [more inside]
posted by pullayup at 1:16 PM PST - 8 comments

What's the best Caribbean island(s?) for a mid-30s couple who are not really all-inclusive resort people? [more inside]
posted by goodbyewaffles at 12:21 PM PST - 12 comments

Do you have a low-profile over-the-range microwave? Which one? Do you like it? [more inside]
posted by saladin at 11:26 AM PST - 5 comments

This is someone who goes to art museums, returns and gives an analysis, history, name-drops. I try to get in a simple 'is there something you liked?' I am not interested in an analysis, 'well, WHY did you like it?' A lot of us can have difficulty answering that kind of question. It is unfair and can make people feel on the spot. But reflection, query, exasperation, joy? [more inside]
posted by ebesan at 11:04 AM PST - 26 comments

Who do you follow on YouTube who is making interesting videos, perhaps educational, for the joy of it, not shaping their behavior in order to serve the ruthless YouTube/clickbait algorithm? [more inside]
posted by mecran01 at 8:22 AM PST - 29 comments

Sister is considering adding minisplit units to 1900 era two-family home she owns in Medford, NW of Boston. She's done the Mass Save energy audit and recommended work. Wanting to keep boiler system for emergency heat, even though the planned equipment would provide heat to -10F, so understands that Mass Save rebate would be based on tonnage of installed systems, rather than straight $10K. She has questions about expected cost - at least one estimate has been pushing $60K?! - and timing of install to take advantage of newly-enacted federal incentives. [more inside]
posted by bullatony at 8:17 AM PST - 16 comments

I am looking for socks that are like Darn Tough's boot socks except much looser in the ankle/calves. Suggestions? Thanks! [more inside]
posted by Jacqueline at 7:44 AM PST - 10 comments

We have a bunch of friends on Facebook, and we keep in touch using our own FB page and also Messenger. However, we have a good friend who has only WhatsApp. Is there a way to bring him in without an FB account? If not, what would be a good least-effort way to bring him into our circle?
posted by storybored at 7:30 AM PST - 12 comments

If you loved Derry Girls, what else on Netflix or Amazon Prime did you especially enjoy? We're looking for something kind of fun and quirky to watch, especially in a limited series of 10 or fewer episodes. [more inside]
posted by taz at 3:14 AM PST - 39 comments

Okay, I think I am handling this badly, but I don't know how to handle it well. [more inside]
posted by PinkMoose at 12:28 AM PST - 42 comments

I know that this is going to be different for different people, but I'm curious about people's experiences with changing from one psych medication to another. I'm changing from an SSRI to an SNRI. [more inside]
posted by Zumbador at 10:15 PM PST - 3 comments

I saw a wedding guest with the most lovely dress & I didn’t get a chance to ask her about it. Can you help me find it? The details: floor/ankle length, dark sage field with dark dusty orangish floral pattern in velvet, backless, with a tie strap on one side and what looked like a spaghetti strap on the other. Low (but not below the breast) cowl neckline. Not looking for “here’s something you might like instead!” answers, I just want This Dress. [more inside]
posted by Grandysaur at 7:37 PM PST - 9 comments

How and who to set up international call forwarding to handle all the pesky two factor authentication messages [more inside]
posted by jadepearl at 4:51 PM PST - 5 comments

I’m moving from Calgary to Montreal and I have a sentimental attachment to a handful of houseplants. Some aloes, a couple pothos, and a geranium. I won’t be driving myself. I’ll be hiring a moving company, and flying myself. Is there any reasonable way these house plants make it to Montreal alive? Help?
posted by sixswitch at 4:23 PM PST - 10 comments

guys, how would you feel about a woman just cold approaching you in public and asking you out or giving you her phone number? and if this has happened to you, what happened? [more inside]
posted by violetk at 3:50 PM PST - 45 comments

I'm in the market for a new iPhone (will likely be getting the iPhone 14 when it drops) and I'm trying to decide whether to change carriers. I figured this was a good question for the hive mind. [more inside]
posted by holborne at 2:32 PM PST - 15 comments

I got a VeryFit smartwatch (that became VeryFitPro) that after an update, started showing blood pressure on the app but no function on the watch. Otherwise, it was good b/c it gave me SPo2, pulse and something I really liked: a stress monitor. Not an Apple or Samsung, but it did offer features those high end watched didnt. I was surprised. [more inside]
posted by CollectiveMind at 2:12 PM PST - 1 comment

I have an idea for a printed art project that I think many people would find fun, but because it would have lots of detail it would work best as wall art instead of, say, a t-shirt. I found these print on demand services, and they print anything from mugs to high-end framed prints. But do the kids still hang posters on their bedroom walls? I'm not sure, are there "poster shops" in tourist areas like there used to be?
posted by bitslayer at 2:11 PM PST - 10 comments

My cat and I don't have the same litter preference, and I'm trying to find something that will work for both of us. [more inside]
posted by bunderful at 1:22 PM PST - 16 comments

I have a handful of old laptops (~5-15 years old), a second-generation Kindle, and some equally ancient old cell phones and external hard drives. What are the current best practices for recycling these? Is there any substantive difference between taking them to, say, Best Buy vs a more specialized business? [more inside]
posted by TwoStride at 12:17 PM PST - 6 comments

Yesterday I had a lush potted basil plant in my backyard as big as a shrub. Today it's a sadly deforested pot of stems. What the hell eats basil? I have an urban small backyard, fenced but permeable by climbing or flying animals, with birds, squirrels, outside mice, the occasional raccoon or opossum, a couple of neighbors' outdoor cats. None has ever shown the slightest interest in any of my potted kitchen herbs. It's like a fire went through overnight, leaving only tree-trunks. Any ideas?
posted by citygirl at 11:28 AM PST - 16 comments

I have an apartment with light grey epoxy floors. The floors are very smooth (and i think very beautiful). Every speck of dust or hair is visible, though. I'm in the market for a robot floor cleaner. Do you love yours for smooth floors? Which model do you have? [more inside]
posted by PardonMyFrench at 11:26 AM PST - 3 comments

I realize traffic might be a mess tomorrow, but when would be the best time to drive from Bed Stuy, Brooklyn to Morristown, New Jersey? (And when would be the worst times to attempt this?)
posted by andoatnp at 10:17 AM PST - 4 comments

A few years ago, I checked a book out from interlibrary loan. There were recommendations in the back of the book. I can't find the book with these recommendations in it. [more inside]
posted by aniola at 10:03 AM PST - 11 comments

I've reached the limits of my knowledge for deciding on a new MacBook Air. I'm reading and listening to reviews and opinions, but a couple snowflake questions persist! Can Mac Mefites help me think this through? [more inside]
posted by tamarack at 8:25 AM PST - 15 comments

Where to spend 50th birthday? [more inside]
posted by orangemacky at 7:30 AM PST - 11 comments

I have no reason to be unhappy. I have a great partner, a decent social life, my job isn't glamorous but it is fine, and I am going to start an academic programme I am really looking forward to. I also exercise regularly and eat healthy (most days). Despite all this, I find myself spending hours looking up random things that make me upset. How do I disconnect and live in the present - and make the most of every day? [more inside]
posted by bigyellowtaxi at 7:20 AM PST - 15 comments

Can you help me find a pair of sneakers that meets all the following criteria: (1) completely or almost completely white, (2) upper made of leather, (3) mid or high top, (4) laces up (no straps), (5) toe cap (if any) is stitched not glued to the upper, (6) relatively simple design, (7) any branding on the upper is as unobtrusive as possible, (8) unisex or male? The closest I can find is this, but it fails (5).
posted by Panthalassa at 6:40 AM PST - 10 comments

I made up some blackberry whisky 2 or 3 years ago, and never got around to draining the fruit from it it. Is it safe to drink? [more inside]
posted by penguin pie at 6:10 AM PST - 11 comments

My daughter is visiting Stockholm for a week and just realized she has taken an empty medical prescription package with her. She really needs a replacement today. Where to go, what to do? Help? She's tried the 1177 phone line but it connects to a menu only in Swedish. [more inside]
posted by muuratsaari at 2:15 AM PST - 12 comments

Hello: What are some bands I may not know of that just did hardcore Beatles worship? [more inside]
posted by kensington314 at 1:15 AM PST - 45 comments

I love my Birkenstocks dearly but the tread is at least 50% gone on each and I’m starting to lose traction on smooth surfaces. It would cost about half the cost of a new pair at an authorized repair store. I’ve never had a shoe re-soled, but am interested to knowing your experiences, or whether you just decided to buy a new pair instead.
posted by Aranquis at 12:58 AM PST - 10 comments

A few months ago I had an accident and injured myself while engaging in a somewhat risky physical sport. I’ve made a nearly full recovery physically, but lately I’ve been a little freaked out about how easily that accident could have been life-altering, or even life-ending. How do I deal with these feelings in a healthy way? [more inside]
posted by btfreek at 12:02 AM PST - 7 comments

My pup has an owie on her left rear paw. She walks on it just fine, but when she wants to run she refuses to use it and limps on 3 legs instead. Is this a vet thing? Pics inside. [more inside]
posted by rouftop at 11:16 PM PST - 7 comments

I am considering going in on a real estate deal with family. This is money I would give them as a gift, no strings attached if needed, and we have done deals together in the past so the emotional component is not my main concern. Learning the very basics and what to consider / what to offer as a fair deal is my priority. [more inside]
posted by stoneandstar at 9:05 PM PST - 7 comments

I'm going to be visiting NYC in a week and I'm stuck in an indecision loop regarding hotel selection, vis-à-vis bedbugs. My forefront goal is to minimize my chances of finding bedbugs in my hotel room as much as possible. How do I choose where to stay? [more inside]
posted by archagon at 9:02 PM PST - 6 comments

Am I supposed to tip the tech at Guitar Center? [more inside]
posted by smashface at 8:37 PM PST - 3 comments

What foods helped you after you stopped drinking. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 8:33 PM PST - 13 comments

Lately I’ve been experiencing a lot of intrusive thoughts and memories during sex. I’m currently in therapy but I was wondering if anyone has any strategies/resources they use to stay present and reduce flashbacks/triggers after experiencing SA? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 8:33 PM PST - 5 comments

Over the years, my family has made a great friend in Ghana. He's about to graduate college, and we've been collecting items to send in a care package to him. Is there anything we can do to ensure the package gets there intact without any items stolen by Customs? It's my greatest fear.
posted by ferdinandcc at 8:09 PM PST - 12 comments

We just had a bat in the house. We trapped it in a box and the box is now outside with the bat in it. The cats chased it. They are up to date on their rabies shots. Is it ok to release the bat or do we need it to have it tested? What else do we need to do, and how long can we wait to do it -- e.g., until morning? Until Monday?
posted by daisyace at 7:56 PM PST - 6 comments

In trying to hack my future dinner party planning, I've discovered the joys of sous vide for marinated pork, but now want to try it on nice fish like Mahi Mahi. Only problem: I want to marinate the fish first, freeze it, and then sous vide it the day of the party. But all the fish has been previously frozen where I live in rural NM. Is this plan sanitary/wise? [more inside]
posted by egeanin at 6:34 PM PST - 12 comments

I can’t believe I’m not able to answer this on my own, but what Radiohead / Thom Yorke / Atoms for Peace song is the opening guitar riff of the Bad Sisters theme song (Leonard Cohen by way of PJ Harvey) reminding me of? [more inside]
posted by supercres at 3:46 PM PST - 5 comments

I like this dress but not the color. Help me find others like it? [more inside]
posted by fingersandtoes at 2:46 PM PST - 13 comments

Origin of the (maybe Baltimore-specific) phrase "have a taste" to mean getting a drink/alcohol? [more inside]
posted by Ndwright at 2:31 PM PST - 6 comments

Some friends of mine are Going Through It. We'd like to send a Anger And Venting care package. [more inside]
posted by Lyn Never at 1:37 PM PST - 17 comments

Is there a way to quickly get rid of bad tan line on face/bald head? [more inside]
posted by ljs30 at 1:21 PM PST - 8 comments

Looking for suggestions to buy games (board, card, etc) that would be ideal for 2 people to play. [more inside]
posted by dbirchum at 12:54 PM PST - 28 comments

This model ship has sat in various attics for 20 years since a relative died. I'd like to actually finish it - but first I need some help working out what it is! If anyone can give me a steer, that would be super-helpful!
posted by prentiz at 12:43 PM PST - 6 comments

I have one of these great Mad Mats, like this one, but it's too wide. Will I ruin it if I cut it and tape the edges? if not, what sort of tape should I use, or is there Another Way? Alternately, is there a mat that's around 36" wide and 8 ft long that's as nice and cleanable as this one? (most are hideous, I find. I'm not into hideous.)
posted by DMelanogaster at 11:44 AM PST - 3 comments

While on the cycling path in front of Ontario Place, I can head west and get all the way to Oakville. Heading east, I can go about 5 minutes. How can I go further east and further west? [more inside]
posted by dobbs at 10:11 AM PST - 4 comments

Some outerwear, like hunting smocks for example, doesn’t have a zip up the middle like a rain jacket and instead pulls on over your head like a sweater. These garments often have a big rectangular pouch on the front. What do you put in the pouch? [more inside]
posted by d288478 at 9:38 AM PST - 22 comments

I have a chronic medical condition [not cancer] that causes chemotherapy-level physical exhaustion. I am looking for additional practical things that I can do to conserve my physical energy. For an example of the sort of things that I am looking for, I shower sitting down in a shower chair instead of standing up; I have a table on wheels that goes over my bed so I can use my laptop in bed; I have a Roomba vacuum and a dishwasher. [more inside]
posted by carriage pulled by cassowaries at 9:35 AM PST - 40 comments

I want to compile a list of people who have experienced egregious harms within the United States because of reproductive injustice, especially the criminalization of abortion. [more inside]
posted by meese at 9:18 AM PST - 5 comments

I'm still in a competitive scavenger hunt that takes me across Boston, to be the first to find a small token. They are placed in the last few days and just released. It's fun, but I'm in a competition where we are supposed to "use all of our resources". Askmi is a resource, right? [more inside]
posted by bbqturtle at 8:49 AM PST - 17 comments

I have a questions about breast biopsies and calcifications. More inside. [more inside]
posted by bquarters at 8:25 AM PST - 4 comments

I’m not going to buy a new PC / console but I do like to play the odd singleplayer FPS when the mood takes me. However, I only own a new M1 Mac. Are there any games of this type available? It’s hard to search Steam / GoG stores because they don’t let you combine specific filters as far as I can tell; and because lots of games won’t run on 64-bit Macs (often not clear from the system reqs)
posted by chappell, ambrose at 8:21 AM PST - 6 comments

1. [USA and Canada] I know there is one school in the U S but I have forgotten the name. Are there more? 1a. Schools that are open to all students but have scholarships specifically for Black students. [more inside]
posted by cda at 6:11 AM PST - 5 comments

I'm on vacation in a private owned condo. The hot water went out late last night. Does this warrant a call to their emergency number or do I wait 2 more hours until their regular office is open? [more inside]
posted by Saucywench at 6:08 AM PST - 14 comments

Sometimes, when I'm writing music, I'll come up with words and maybe a melody, but then I get stuck and rarely finish songs that I start this way. I'm looking for tips and tricks for finishing music when you came up with the lyrics first.
posted by drezdn at 5:50 AM PST - 5 comments

Older Mefites enjoying a happy, healthy older age, please share your secrets with me. [more inside]
posted by unicorn chaser at 12:33 AM PST - 26 comments

[CW: self-harm] I used to self harm, a long, long time ago (in my early teens; I'm now in my early thirties). It's left a few scars that I don't like. What should I do about them? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 10:16 PM PST - 17 comments

I'm going to be doing a test for a job on Wednesday. The test will involve doing statistics for randomized controlled trials. I do other kinds of statistics, but I haven't done so much as a problem set like this in 35 years. Please point me to some primers to refresh my memory on how to do them and how to interpret outputs. I assume I want t-tests, means comparisons, ANOVA etc. SPSS, Stata, or R. And maybe excel. Do people use excel? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 10:16 PM PST - 4 comments

There are tons of examples of fiction and essays imagining future archaeologists looking back at relics of the 20th-21st centuries and misinterpreting them. The intention is usually humorous or satirical, either to cast present culture in a bad light or to mock the people of the future for their ignorance. Can you think of examples where it's played straight, and the future interpretation of the present is thoughtful and interesting and not funny or cynical? It doesn't have to be the main focus of the piece, even just background detail, as long as it's striking.
posted by moonmilk at 5:38 PM PST - 27 comments

I'm a college teacher, we've started the semester masking due to the local BA.5 surge, but plans are to drop masking requirements soon. What would you do in this situation? [more inside]
posted by soylent00FF00 at 3:28 PM PST - 25 comments

I have a small home office/guest room, and it's time to upgrade my desk chair. Looking for ergonomic (adjustable arm rests a must), available in Canada, under $400 would be nice but not a hard limit, and something outside of the Black Office Chair aesthetic. [more inside]
posted by platypus of the universe at 2:31 PM PST - 12 comments

I found this fascinating little book at an antique store. The person who sold it to me did not know anything about it. Maybe you have some idea? [more inside]
posted by prewar lemonade at 2:20 PM PST - 2 comments

In playing Real Estate Scavenger Hunt, we've come across yet another item we have no clue about. There are more in the butler's pantry. Any ideas?
posted by DrGail at 1:48 PM PST - 15 comments

I have a gallon of snap peas to use up and I'm sick of eating them, having already eaten a gallon. (Literally. It's been a good year for peas.) Can I hot-water-bath vinegar pickle them like dilly beans?
posted by blnkfrnk at 1:24 PM PST - 9 comments

So this knitted zip-up hoodie (Amazon link, one of dozens selling the same thing) looks like something I've been searching for for years now. But the largest size any of these sellers make is still a bit too small, like it was designed -- as in that photo -- to ride up and show your stomach. Anyone know where I can get something similar in normal full-length hoodie/cardigan sizes? [more inside]
posted by nobody at 1:03 PM PST - 9 comments

I'm looking for a new computer keyboard now that I am playing guitar and building calluses on my finger tips. It's harder to type on my laptop's keyboard, because I can't feel the keys as well. I type all day long for work. I'm not a gamer. [more inside]
posted by GernBlandston at 12:28 PM PST - 10 comments

My partner has asked for one thing for their birthday: Trivia! Difficulty: They're *really* good at it. [more inside]
posted by Ookseer at 12:16 PM PST - 15 comments

I know Venice has struggled to remain a real city under the crush of tourism. I loved visiting and would like to go again, if it's possible to do so in a way that's good for Venitians. [more inside]
posted by sepviva at 12:11 PM PST - 4 comments

I didn't realize I had to manually remove Bootcamp from my Intel iMac before erasing the drive for the purposes of trading it in. I also forgot to reinstall Mac OS. Now when I go to reset the NVRAM, the system is trying to boot into a corrupted Windows 8 installation. I'm going to try to reinstall Mojave (?) since that's my only OS option, then see if Bootcamp Assistant is accessible. What else can/should I do to triage? currently giving the finger to incomplete apple support articles
posted by The Adventure Begins at 11:45 AM PST - 5 comments

Please tell me how to kill these gross gross gross bromilead worms!? [more inside]
posted by atomicstone at 11:13 AM PST - 15 comments

What artist might the prompt have been for the third image here [more inside]
posted by ASCII Costanza head at 10:48 AM PST - 11 comments

My normally not especially food-motivated dog is an absolute lunatic for greenies. I feel like she maybe shouldn't get too many. Is there a good substitute? [more inside]
posted by babelfish at 10:45 AM PST - 14 comments

If an agency has a two week assignment for you (creative position) and they're authorized for two weeks of your rate, do you invoice for the whole two weeks even if they don't have anything for you to do some of the days? Or do you just invoice for time worked? [more inside]
posted by under_petticoat_rule at 9:15 AM PST - 11 comments

How many pounds of end-of-life motor vehicles aren't recycled, by year?
posted by aniola at 9:06 AM PST - 3 comments

I have a TCL TV that can 4K, but an older blu ray player that can't. There is an Amazon sale on 4K versions of the Lord of the Rings and Hobbit trilogies today. My kiddo is currently obsessed with Lord of the Rings. Two related questions: Are 4K movies worthwhile in general, and are the transfers of the LOTR and Hobbit movies worthwhile in 4K? Specific version of the set here.
posted by Admiral Haddock at 7:11 AM PST - 6 comments

Sometimes it is on the list page and sometimes within the mail itself [more inside]
posted by shaarog at 7:02 AM PST - 3 comments

I don’t sweat a lot but recently the one I use seems like it is not that great anymore. I take exercise classes everyday in a small group and run a few times a week if that makes a difference.
posted by Tziv at 6:56 AM PST - 13 comments

I live on about 4 acres of land, 2ish of which is fenced off to allow my dog to have free access. We have a dog door so that he can come and go as he pleases, and it has been this way since I got him (about 5 years ago). The problem is that he loves eating mushrooms, and there are a ton in my yard right now… and I’m not sure which ones are edible vs not. How can I kill the mushrooms without harming the rest of the plants in my yard, so that he doesn’t kill himself or end up tripping? [more inside]
posted by boisterousBluebird at 6:55 AM PST - 8 comments

I hate cooking most meat because I usually ruin it. So here are the criteria: 1. Can be meatless. or 2. Can use ground meat, or already prepared meat such as hot dogs and other deli meats, rotisserie chicken pieces, canned meat, pates. Prechopped meat (like sold in packages for stew) would be ok as long as the cooking involved is just boiling or putting it in some liquid in a dutch oven. I will probably screw up anything that involves browning the pieces. [more inside]
posted by WeekendJen at 6:40 AM PST - 21 comments

How can I solve some Harry Potter themed anagrams I created from my kids' names many years ago? [more inside]
posted by MiraK at 5:57 AM PST - 4 comments

I live on my iPhone, it’s the most comfortable device for me to do most of my written work. For the sake of argument, let’s say it’s been compromised. How do I change the passwords on everything - appleID, a zillion gmail addresses, loads of apps… in a way that minimises risk of threat actors getting the new passwords?
posted by The Last Sockpuppet at 4:33 AM PST - 2 comments

I was listening to an interview with the pianist Roslyn Tureck. At one point she mentions experiencing something just before her 17th birthday that profoundly altered the way she played Bach, but frustratingly she does not describe the experience, saying only that it's been written about in many books. Well, if anyone here has read those books, please fill me in! Link to the relevant point in the interview: https://youtu.be/EQ5aYxlAobo?t=128
posted by mpark at 10:19 PM PST - 4 comments

The PA Dutch bakery at Reading Terminal Market used to carry flavored angel food cakes. I'd like to recreate one of them if I can. A formerly-Amish coworker said the secret flavor ingredient was Jell-O. The internet is full of recipes for angel food cake IN Jell-O (odd....) but not Jell-O as an ingredient.
posted by sepviva at 7:30 PM PST - 11 comments

I'm struggling with a long legacy of social anxiety/isolation and in trying to get myself out there more I keep feeling like I'm stuck between wanting connection and being intimidated by social situations. It's hurting me a lot and I would appreciate hearing other people's experiences in this realm. [more inside]
posted by fantasticbotanical at 5:53 PM PST - 20 comments

My kid and I are looking for a videogame to play together, or at least for one of us to stream while the other kibbitzes. Do you have any suggestions? Full parameters inside. [more inside]
posted by Janta at 5:32 PM PST - 33 comments

I'm looking for casual women's leather mid-calf boots that are waterproof and also have a removable insole. Ankle boots always feel wobbly on me, and I find tall boots annoying. I don't need full-on rainboots, but something like my trusty old UGG Lornas that I can wear in the rain with skinny jeans tucked in. Finding any shoes with removable insoles (so I can use my orthotics) is a real challenge! Would appreciate any recommendations.
posted by radioamy at 5:10 PM PST - 4 comments

My ears have been blocked up since Sunday night. I’m on prednisone and Flonase and it feels like it’s taking forever to get better. How long could/should it take to get back to normal? [more inside]
posted by jdl at 5:03 PM PST - 11 comments

When I make milk kefir it takes me a couple days to drink it. I know I can use a fewer number of grains and make a smaller amount, but I find it most convenient to make about a pint or pint and a half at a time, every other day or so. What is the best way to store kefir grains in between batches? [more inside]
posted by Rufous-headed Towhee heehee at 4:42 PM PST - 2 comments

Please recommend to me cotton leggings or fitted joggers with a gusseted crotch. I go sans undies in these and my vulva is completely done with synthetic fabrics and scratchy seams that go right where nobody would want a seam to go. Googling these obvious search terms yields lots of plastic leggings with non-gusseted crotch seams so I turn to you.
posted by HotToddy at 4:42 PM PST - 4 comments

I'm working on a chalkboard sign in photoshop. It has various font effects and colours, presumably (honestly, I don't remember...I made it last year). Anyway every time I make the tiniest change it goes unresponsive for 10-30 minutes. Sometimes a little progress bar comes up saying it's rendering text. This is ridiculous. I'm editing very little and yet it's taken me all day. Can I set the display on "look just give me an idea of the layout and when I want to see it full-on perfect I'll let you know"? [more inside]
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 4:29 PM PST - 6 comments

I’ll be tagging along with my partners on a business trip to Austin 9/18-9/20. Tell me all the things I can cram into 2 nights and 2 days! We’re queer, we love to eat, drink fancy coffee, and would love to see some live music while we’re there. We will probably have a car. I’ve already got Barton Springs on my list. I’ve only ever driven through Texas so I would also be down to do touristy Texas things. Thanks y’all!
posted by tatiana wishbone at 3:13 PM PST - 5 comments

The previous tenants keep having packages delivered to us. The only ones we can't figure out what to do with are the FedEx packages. We've contacted FedEx twice about them, both times they said they'd arrange a pickup in the next day or two and then never did. What now? [more inside]
posted by Ookseer at 3:02 PM PST - 8 comments

In the past year, I've noticed three local grocery chains have gone from about 90% of their non-dairy milk products being soy based, to about 90% being not-soy based. [more inside]
posted by soylent00FF00 at 2:25 PM PST - 21 comments

Forgive me if my terminology is wrong but I want to give out hardware devices to friends, which is Raspberry Pi but that can change, and also have it update if I add new features. All my experience has been with backend server development and not consumer devices. What's the best way achieve this so I can just hand them a box and also push out updates to the box when needed? My initial instinct is to setup a K3S cluster like this and then use Kubernetes to rollout updates. I'm sure consumer devices like Alexa or cable television boxes have all kinds of crazy custom ways of doing this, but am I on the right track? Some more details inside. [more inside]
posted by geoff. at 2:11 PM PST - 12 comments

I would rather not work in person in healthcare admin anymore, but I have admin experience out the yahoo. Would this be an option worth exploring? Deets within! [more inside]
posted by Kitteh at 2:00 PM PST - 6 comments

I use a wheelchair and am diagnosed with chronic diseases. I keep encountering an intersection of sexism, ableism, and ageism - I find the ageism the hardest to deal with, but understand all three are linked. I would like ideas on how to respond and ideally safely pushback against this stereotyping and discrimination. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 12:11 PM PST - 20 comments

I am trying to improve a yard that has been neglected for decades, and is full of invasive plants. I have some questions for anyone who has successfully tackled a project like this. [more inside]
posted by ryanshepard at 11:23 AM PST - 24 comments

My husband does a 45 minute power walk every morning. He is fast. I am looking for walking poles you have used or know are sturdy, durable, adjustable length, have traps and long lasting. If you can add why you like them, that will be great
posted by Tziv at 10:23 AM PST - 5 comments

Please give me your recommendations for excellent novels written in the first-person point of view. Any genre or publication date welcome. Works in English, French, or in translation welcome. Bonus points if they are also in the present tense.
posted by rpfields at 9:35 AM PST - 32 comments

I am trying to buy a condo for the first time (aaaa), starting to look seriously and get mortgage preapproval stuff sorted now. How long should I budget for the whole process to take? Should I sign a 6-month sublease now (for October-March)? Is that too much time? Too little? [more inside]
posted by btfreek at 9:30 AM PST - 12 comments

Looking for my personal holy grail of N95/KN95/similar protection masks: 1) foam bit over the nose 2) fits petite faces 3) comes in colors/patterns. [more inside]
posted by skycrashesdown at 9:00 AM PST - 8 comments

There's a kind of data I have seen and would like to see more examples of, but I don't know how to search for it because I don't know what it's called, assuming it is called anything. Basically, it is a way of determining the most popular distinctive thing in a given place/population. [more inside]
posted by jacquilynne at 8:20 AM PST - 9 comments

There are a lot! They all look the same including layout when you do the free trial. What’s the best one and is it also cheapest? I don’t want to pay subscription but can imagine paying for image download credits. I mainly want to fix not quite in focus images and scale them for printing.
posted by Iteki at 7:43 AM PST - 2 comments

I'm setting up various service accounts for our small non-profit. (e.g. webhosting, bookkeeping, banking). What are some best practices for naming these accounts? I note for example that google doesn't allow me to set up a admin.ournonprofit@gmail.com (because it's too phishy?). Also passwords.... [more inside]
posted by storybored at 7:21 AM PST - 5 comments

My broader neighborhood is becoming increasingly violent, with a lot of shootings and carjackings. I understand that there are certain apartment buildings that are being fought over by crews, which is the source of drive-bys. Last night an apartment across from the school was targeted with a drive-by. It's not acceptable to me to have gun violence or a drug dealing nexus next to our school. Are there any evidence-based practices we can advocate for to calm down the dispute? I believe it is a privately owned building likely taking Section 8, so maybe push the landlord to increase security in the building?
posted by haptic_avenger at 6:23 AM PST - 9 comments

I love clips where actors are trying hard to stay in character, but the hilarity of the scene makes them break down and laugh. One of my favorites is Jimmy Fallon losing it in More Cowbell. Please delight me by sharing your favorites!
posted by sickinthehead at 5:47 AM PST - 41 comments

Our house needs painting, though the window for getting the work done this year is starting to close. In the event we don’t the whole house painted, should I be repainting the patches that have peeled to bare wood? Siding is cedar shingles, and house is in Massachusetts. If yes, any tips for spot patching the paint? Thanks!
posted by Admiral Haddock at 4:50 AM PST - 2 comments

I am traveling to Minneapolis for work in early October. My flight just changed and now arrives at 7:50am on a Friday morning; I don't have anywhere to be until 1pm. What do I do? [more inside]
posted by basalganglia at 4:35 AM PST - 12 comments

After a few years, my nice all-weather down coat now has virtually no down in the shoulders, just an empty fabric pouch (the inner waterproofing layers actually squeak together when I walk). Can I somehow re-fill that area of the coat with fresh down? Are there other options? [more inside]
posted by Bardolph at 4:14 AM PST - 9 comments

Was reading an article about the UK chicken joints, and how their prices have increased. We were talking 4 pounds for a chicken burger, wings fries and drinks. These are McDonalds prices, or cheaper than! In urban carry-outs I've been in US, probably would be double the price for these things. I don't remember food being that cheap in the UK-- are these places that relatively cheap compared to other options?
posted by sandmanwv at 3:58 AM PST - 6 comments