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You go to work (ideally remotely). You have tasks, and you do them, and maybe you go to some meetings here or there but mostly you are left alone to do your tasks. You are, critically, not management of any kind. You make decent middle-class money. What is your job? [more inside]
posted by We put our faith in Blast Hardcheese to Work & Money at 11:07 AM on Dec 3, 2024 - 54 answers [47 favorites]

Let's generate a list of all of the possible experience gifts in the world. I'll start: [more inside]
posted by xo to Sports, Hobbies, & Recreation at 6:28 AM on Dec 17, 2024 - 42 answers [45 favorites]

I'm forced to participate in a cookie party at work and need to bake 4 dozen cookies. What is a very tasty, perhaps could be fancy, but extremely low effort cookie to make? [more inside]
posted by inevitability to Food & Drink at 5:13 PM on Dec 2, 2024 - 43 answers [44 favorites]

While I've been largely avoiding the news since November 5th, I can't bury my head in the sand indefinitely. What are your strategies for digesting news without being constantly nauseated by the latest Trump awfulness? [more inside]
posted by brookeb to Law & Government at 10:13 AM on Dec 13, 2024 - 34 answers [41 favorites]

So while reading this post about reading, I was struck by the widespread need for lots of free but also good but also fun ebooks. What do you like from Project Gutenberg? [more inside]
posted by Frowner to Media & Arts at 11:57 AM on Dec 15, 2024 - 30 answers [39 favorites]

I'd like to take some time over the holidays and come up with a set of goals for next year. And then create a plan for achieving these goals. Is there a template, a process I can follow?
posted by aeighty to Grab Bag at 9:16 AM on Dec 12, 2024 - 12 answers [37 favorites]

I really need some page turners to me get through the next couple of weeks. Reading is the only things that can take my mind off of everything. [more inside]
posted by kitcat to Media & Arts at 12:14 PM on Dec 17, 2024 - 37 answers [36 favorites]

What are your favourite obscure and quirky London museums for someone who likes history but has been to all the major sites? [more inside]
posted by thecjm to Travel & Transportation at 8:53 AM on Dec 9, 2024 - 38 answers [33 favorites]

Are you retired? How did you mentally handle the last 5-ish years of working? I feel like I am slowly dying of ennui and apathy but need to hold on a little longer. [more inside]
posted by archimago to Work & Money at 7:30 AM on Dec 18, 2024 - 27 answers [32 favorites]

I have spent large chunks of my life sincerely believing that nothing really mattered. I can swiftly and easily discount any accomplishments that could be added to my name. Many people think my job is meaningful - I don’t think it’s enough. Many people think the church I attend is a pillar of the community - I think the minister is pseudo-intellectual and rarely says anything risky or meaningful. [more inside]
posted by bunderful to Health at 2:08 PM on Dec 18, 2024 - 35 answers [31 favorites]

#giftideasfilter - What are some things that represent the best quality of their category, but in a small enough quantity that the price still comes in under $50(-ish)? [more inside]
posted by serelliya to Shopping at 11:53 AM on Nov 20, 2024 - 22 answers [67 favorites (30 in the past 30 days)]

After months of deliberation, we have joined the culinary revolution and have acquired an air fryer (one of the two-drawer types). Now I just need ideas about what to cook in it! No dietary restrictions apply, so meat, veggies, fish - it's all good. I'm particularly interested in the types of recipes which are good for family mealtimes, rather than fancy things to impress guests. Air fryer owners, what are your best recipes? Thank you!
posted by damsel with a dulcimer to Food & Drink at 4:28 AM on Dec 4, 2024 - 15 answers [30 favorites]

I've had a rough few months and, because of this, plan to spend the 21st reflecting and doing activities with a solstice theme. It may just be me and the cat or a couple of people may drop in. Looking for ideas of crafts, activities, rituals, music, other listening, food. I'd also like suggestions of where online others will be marking the day so that I can watch or listen to celebrations. [more inside]
posted by paduasoy to Grab Bag at 1:49 AM on Dec 15, 2024 - 13 answers [28 favorites]

I want to get a little crafting gift for a college student, and I'm looking for a full kit that includes everything. I love Subversive Cross Stitch, but none of her messages are right for this giftee. Who sells a cute, modern kit that might fit my needs? Doesn't need to be cross stitch; could be another type of stitching, but overall needs to be something you can do by hand in a dorm room.
posted by BlahLaLa to Shopping at 12:33 PM on Nov 21, 2024 - 19 answers [26 favorites]

I am looking for books, films, or essays to enjoy which wrestle with the problem of making meaning in post-industrial life. Most days, I feel like I work to pay rent and I pay rent so I can go to work. Life contains little else. I need some inspiration to find meaning in life and develop some goals/ambitions. [more inside]
posted by gunwalefunnel to Writing & Language at 1:42 PM on Nov 24, 2024 - 11 answers [26 favorites]

In late March/early April, I was diagnosed with an extremely rare cancer that, while not yet terminal, will definately take my life within the next 5 years. What can I do to come to terms with this? [more inside]
posted by pleasant_confusion to Human Relations at 6:18 PM on Dec 1, 2024 - 10 answers [26 favorites]

I just finished Slow Horses and am in mourning because I loved it so much and there were four seasons! What thriller/spy/mystery shows would I like? [more inside]
posted by Ollie to Media & Arts at 2:01 PM on Nov 23, 2024 - 26 answers [24 favorites]

I love these two gift guides - quirky, unique, not gendered. - Room Escape Artist 2024 - Trivium Games 2024 Can you please recommend me more gift guides, from this year and past years? Preferably UK based.
posted by Braeburn to Shopping at 9:59 AM on Nov 30, 2024 - 5 answers [22 favorites]

Mrs. Fedora has found a number of drop shippers online selling these sorts of retractable rechargeable string lights, sometimes with solar panels, sometimes without. They all look extremely "drop-shipped from AliExpress" in a way that made me wonder if there's a sort of "real" version of the product that they're all kind of the ripoff version of, or if it's just kind of a product that falls into the "seemed obvious enough as a thing to create" category. Anyone have any idea where to find a reliably good-quality version of this sort of thing?
posted by DoctorFedora to Shopping at 10:43 PM on Dec 4, 2024 - 6 answers [22 favorites]

I am grateful for every day. As long as I remember to remind myself to be grateful! What are your practices for remembering, marking, creating, and celebrating gratitude, thankfulness, and hope? [more inside]
posted by skookumsaurus rex to Religion & Philosophy at 10:24 PM on Dec 17, 2024 - 17 answers [22 favorites]