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I used to have a friend who read all the current sci-fi and then excitedly recommended the ones I might like. I miss that! Can you recommend new sci fi novels (published in the last two years or so) you are excited about? Books I have enjoyed below the fold. [more inside]
posted by Omnomnom to Media & Arts at 7:14 AM on Sep 28, 2024 - 32 answers [89 favorites]

I'm looking for "Delightfully Odd" vibes. Please no: - Horror - Gore - Dystopian - 'Cringe' Comedy (The Office or Parks & Rec where characters being laughed AT / Pathetic is the main joke) - Miyazaki or Studio Ghibli (I've seen most of them) - Any Matt Groening or Dan Harmon or Zack Synder productions - Any Wes Anderson or Taika Waititi (I've seen most of their work) - Centaurworld / Tucca a& Berti / Bojack Horseman or similar [more inside]
posted by Faintdreams to Media & Arts at 5:05 AM on Sep 21, 2024 - 95 answers [70 favorites]

The tragedy in the southeast is heartbreaking and motivates me to be more prepared for an escape in case of emergency. I’m looking for advice on the best practices for assembling a bug-out bag. [more inside]
posted by nandaro to Home & Garden at 9:31 AM on Oct 6, 2024 - 19 answers [50 favorites]

What is the book equivalent to "An Immense World" but for plants? Space? Mushrooms? Deserts? Microbes? Anything else? [more inside]
posted by dede to Science & Nature at 2:52 PM on Sep 22, 2024 - 18 answers [49 favorites]

How have you incorporated more fruits and vegetables into your diet? I have been adding baby spinach and blueberries to my post workout smoothie and throwing baby spinach into my omelettes. This is super easy and quick to do. Easy and quick stuff is what usually works for building habits into my life. What things are you doing to incorporate more fruits and vegetables into your diet?
posted by jasondigitized to Health at 9:55 AM on Oct 2, 2024 - 32 answers [40 favorites]

I am looking to learn Python! What are the best (ideally free or cheap) online resources for this? My schedule is not very flexible but I do best with structure and hands-on learning so self-paced but easy to access courses with lots of exercises and chances to try things would be much appreciated. [more inside]
posted by an octopus IRL to Computers & Internet at 4:54 PM on Sep 24, 2024 - 16 answers [38 favorites]

I’m looking for more rich worlds, especially books written in the last 5 years. [more inside]
posted by azalea_chant to Media & Arts at 10:18 PM on Oct 3, 2024 - 23 answers [34 favorites]

Looking for memoirs of non-famous people partly because I like writing memoir-ish stuff and want inspiration (and am resoundingly un-famous.) [more inside]
posted by less-of-course to Media & Arts at 7:32 AM on Sep 10, 2024 - 36 answers [32 favorites]

My makeout playlist needs a refresh. [more inside]
posted by Sauce Trough to Media & Arts at 4:14 PM on Sep 27, 2024 - 28 answers [31 favorites]

Looking at my all time favorite "fun" shows, I notice most of them fall into a clear archetype: SF/F where a group of friends have an epic adventure. The friends are relatable and mostly likable. See inside for examples. [more inside]
posted by justkevin to Media & Arts at 12:16 PM on Oct 7, 2024 - 38 answers [31 favorites]

What are good cooking shortcuts? On the other hand, when is good to do things the long way, or hard way? Are some shortcuts best reserved for certain circumstances? [more inside]
posted by NotLost to Food & Drink at 9:26 PM on Sep 26, 2024 - 42 answers [30 favorites]

After 3.5 years of saving my $$$$$$ and living in studio apartments with my young son, I bought a house for us (!!!!) and I close on Friday. It's 900 sq feet, on <0.25 acres, and in great shape. BUT I don't know what I don't know. Can you tell me what I don't know? [more inside]
posted by pintapicasso to Home & Garden at 4:03 PM on Sep 30, 2024 - 38 answers [30 favorites]

I've become a recent fan of puff pastry and the "season" for the all-butter French-made puff pastry at Trader Joe's has just started. Besides using it for slab apple pie and spinach pie, what else can I make with it? I saw this question and printed a few recipes, but I'm really interested in main dishes (with protein) and maybe some desserts. We're adventurous eaters and have access to ethnic grocery stores. What can you recommend?
posted by DrGail to Food & Drink at 3:33 PM on Sep 13, 2024 - 23 answers [29 favorites]

I am (re-)reading Gretchen Rubin's The Happiness Project, and I love the structure of a memoir that reflects a methodical and intentional approach to life change. I want more. What other books are like this? [more inside]
posted by moosetracks to Media & Arts at 3:25 PM on Oct 7, 2024 - 12 answers [28 favorites]

Having recently been diagnosed "officially", at age 59, as on the autism spectrum (following an earlier diagnosis in 2022 not accepted by my insurance), i would very much appreciate your book recommendations. [more inside]
posted by 15L06 to Grab Bag at 8:32 AM on Oct 7, 2024 - 9 answers [27 favorites]

I'm about to start looking for a job for the first time in 7 years. I updated my accounts on Indeed (where I found my last job), LinkedIn, and my local state's jobsite. Before I start submitting applications, I'm wondering if these sites are still effective for finding legit postings, or if there's now too much misleading information (kind of like dating sites!)? Ideally I'd like to avoid optimistically plugging away, not knowing that I'm actually going nowhere fast. If these sites are no longer the best route, what is now? [more inside]
posted by 7 Minutes of Madness to Work & Money at 6:48 AM on Oct 2, 2024 - 14 answers [25 favorites]

Looking for fiction that feels like a movie in terms of pacing, intrigue, and plot. Can be action/crime or thriller (but not horror). I like political conspiracies though not too woo-woo - just your usual trope of uncovering something. [more inside]
posted by benimaru to Media & Arts at 5:15 PM on Sep 10, 2024 - 33 answers [24 favorites]

Mrs. Tomorrowful loves cute stuff, and we both cook a lot. I'd like to find more cute stuff for our kitchen - but also make sure it's highly functional. [more inside]
posted by Tomorrowful to Home & Garden at 8:46 AM on Oct 8, 2024 - 23 answers [24 favorites]

Back when I was younger and poorer, I greatly enjoyed the Tightwad Gazette books for ideas and information on thrift/frugality. Are there any similar resources out there that are more aimed at poor Millennials? [more inside]
posted by Serene Empress Dork to Work & Money at 10:25 AM on Sep 29, 2024 - 11 answers [22 favorites]

I often find myself grabbing text off a website and pasting it in a spreadsheet to do quick-and-dirty analysis - for example, making my own table of grants made by a foundation, using pdf annual reports or webpage graphics. I imagine that this need is relevant for tons of professionals - people who do actual research for a living, for sure, but also novelists and lawyers and entrepreneurs. Are there any non-shady*, privacy-oriented, and no-code-necessary tools that folks find useful for this kind of work? [more inside]
posted by rrrrrrrrrt to Technology at 3:38 PM on Sep 18, 2024 - 12 answers [21 favorites]