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I have been frustrated, but also perplexed, while trying to shop Canadian, by how common it is that the U.S.-owned name-brand makes its product in Canada, while the store brand is made in the U.S. Kraft Dinner: Made in Canada. PC Mac and Cheese: Made in U.S.A, Lays Chips: Made in Canada, PC/No Name/ Selections: Not labelled so at this point; assuming made in U.S. Why? This is frustrating for those of us trying to keep both workers and profits in Canada. [more inside]
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 5:25 PM - 0 answers

Saw the post about setting work boundaries on the blue. Am trying to figure out where I went, for four weekends in a row to a hospital in the Champaign area in the mid 90's. they had a bunch of hospitals in the IL area. The town also was big on Auto Parts warehouses. And I assume those hospitals all got bought out and renamed by the new owners. Does this ring any bells? [more inside]
posted by Windopaene at 4:20 PM - 10 answers

My newly licensed teenager got in an accident on her second solo outing in my car last week. All involved are fine except for our poor vehicle. I'm trying to figure out the best plan of action. [more inside]
posted by gottabefunky at 11:43 AM - 24 answers

What colors are “in” for home decor for babies and thirty-something moms? Help me yarn shop! [more inside]
posted by Mizu at 10:26 PM - 17 answers

I am now the owner of an old newspaper box, something like this. Help me turn it into something fun! [more inside]
posted by MonkeyToes at 2:17 PM - 8 answers

I just started an intense mental health programme (daily therapies and lots of structured downtime, considerable emotional drain from being with other depressed people). I'm highly motivated to follow the recommendations I receive there, one of which is to improve my time management with schedules. Today is my first day "off". What do I do with it? [more inside]
posted by toucan at 2:49 AM - 10 answers

I was one of those kids who always felt like the first day of the school year was a fresh start. New outfits, new school supplies, new backpack, new me! Admittedly, I had varying levels of success, but it was good to start out feeling optimistic. In a few weeks I will be starting a new position at work and I want to make it as fresh as possible and capture that same vibe as an adult. Any suggestions, advice, or ideas? [more inside]
posted by glorybe at 10:04 AM - 17 answers

What are websites, newsletters, IG accounts, etc which highlight current eBay listings that are a good deal or interesting or awesome? [more inside]
posted by kensington314 at 10:16 AM - 4 answers

I'm looking for spooky and/or scary story books for a six year old. [more inside]
posted by kitcat at 11:07 AM - 22 answers

He's in his early twenties, and the death was unexpected. I feel so angry and sad for him. I lost a friend at that age, and that was so hard. I can't imagine losing a parent when you're that young. [more inside]
posted by toucan at 5:40 PM - 14 answers

My husband is turning 42 soon, and as a birthday celebration, he wants to celebrate his 21st anniversary of turning 21. For various reasons his birthday has gotten overshadowed the last few years (and birthdays are a big deal in his culture), so I would like to make this a fun, memorable event. I have the basic idea of what we want to do, but could use some creative help for the extra things. [more inside]
posted by Sparky Buttons at 9:56 AM - 11 answers

The next hurdle in my parenting journey is potty training. I’ve got a road trip coming up. What should we listen to? [more inside]
posted by Uncle at 4:08 PM - 3 answers

...or how to Buy Beer in the Bad Place. I like to drink my Preferred Beer, and would like to buy it in the least environmentally harmful container. It comes in bottles and cans, for roughly the same price per oz. It is better for the environment to buy glass or aluminum? I imagine glass, because sand is probably way easier to extract from the earth than mining, refining and smelting aluminum? But I also have heard that recycling glass is more expensive (and maybe takes more energy?) than making new glass? [more inside]
posted by Grandysaur at 8:40 AM - 17 answers

I started sewing a couple months ago, I've made a few things and I like it, and now I want to accessorize. If you are a sewer (um ew, is it sewist??), what are your favorite/must-have tools? [more inside]
posted by phunniemee at 11:02 AM - 52 answers

I am a high school art teacher, and I’ve recently moved to an inner-city school. I’m stationed in a ceramics classroom that has not been properly cleaned in many, many years. How do I get and keep this space cleaned? [more inside]
posted by figaro at 5:35 AM - 11 answers

I got this Mabu automatic umbrella in Japan, which opens when you press the button on the handle, and collapses when you press it again. But recently it's started collapsing on it's own when in use, and it's also collapsing with increasing frequency - although it stays open when I leave it open indoors to dry. Can this be fixed/ can I fix it? I don't have an umbrella repair service nearby.
posted by 7 Minutes of Madness at 9:34 AM - 1 answers

I've been enjoying books in the genre of "okay fine just leave me alone and let me be weird." I'm looking for more fiction like Sakaya Murata's Convenience Store Woman or (less cozy) Earthlings, Dolores Reyes' Cometierra, and Han Kang's The Vegetarian. Thank you. [more inside]
posted by phunniemee at 7:49 AM - 43 answers

Going to turn 39 in less than two weeks and been thinking about it awhile. It's not yet 40, but I'm almost there. I'm not sure if this really matters in as much as turning another year older matters. But I'm curious - if you're at this age or around it - what has been some life lessons that you've found valuable? [more inside]
posted by benimaru at 6:50 PM - 22 answers

It's time to update my will, and I'm looking for a worthy organisation to leave an endowment to. [more inside]
posted by HiroProtagonist at 5:14 PM - 17 answers

Last year on my birthday I realized that what I wanted was to just not exist for a few hours, so I tried doing a sensory deprivation float tank. It didn't do the trick. What should I try this year? [more inside]
posted by babelfish at 3:16 PM - 33 answers