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Calling all non-USAans: Can you give me some examples of tiny, weird things you discovered about the United States only when you got here? [more inside]
posted by Diablevert to Society & Culture at 10:06 PM on Nov 5, 2011 - 291 answers [236 favorites]

What is your favorite legendary, hilarious clip? [more inside]
posted by sallybrown to Media & Arts at 2:30 PM on Sep 22, 2012 - 80 answers [236 favorites]

I've noticed that a few professions seem to have a semi-common veiled insult specific to their field. These tend to be used in the same way that many southerners say "bless your heart" in lieu of calling someone stupid. For example, certain academics will say that a colleague is a gadfly (like Socrates...in an annoying way), and I've known nurses to say that another nurse "really should have been a doctor" when they think that colleague is full of it. What are some others?
posted by lemonadeheretic to Work & Money at 1:38 PM on Feb 4, 2013 - 200 answers [236 favorites]

I crave a great novel that's as addictive as a popcorn movie. Please recommend me some literary page-turners. [more inside]
posted by Beardman to Media & Arts at 11:25 AM on Jun 5, 2009 - 103 answers [235 favorites]

What literature from 2014 would you consider to be the best? I'm looking for page turners that tempt you to stay up late at night and exceed your expectations to a great degree. Fiction, non-fiction, short stories, space opera, graphic novel, anything goes. I'd like the best of the year to enjoy over break, and I'd like the recommendations to come from other like-minded mefites.
posted by SpacemanStix to Media & Arts at 9:07 PM on Dec 24, 2014 - 44 answers [235 favorites]

Best internet forums? [more inside]
posted by SouthCNorthNY to Computers & Internet at 3:50 PM on Jan 12, 2010 - 87 answers [234 favorites]

I'm a good cook, but one thing I've never even really bothered with are sauces. What are your favorite sauces that can be made at home, and so good that you would consider eating a turd if the divine sauce was poured on top.
posted by ducktape to Food & Drink at 2:56 PM on May 2, 2011 - 40 answers [234 favorites]

How were your parents awesome? [more inside]
posted by woodvine to Human Relations at 5:22 PM on Jun 5, 2012 - 72 answers [234 favorites]

My partner and I want to fill a hat with as many questions as possible, so that we can pull a couple of questions out of it each time we're together. We chat a lot but we both think it'd be great to have something else to spark conversations. I think it'll work best if neither of us know what most of the questions are. Hence why I'd like your lists of deep, funny, stupid or random questions to ask that will spark a conversation. [more inside]
posted by Ranting Prophet of DOOM! to Human Relations at 5:28 PM on Sep 6, 2013 - 41 answers [233 favorites]

What is the most unfathomably good stew-like dish you've ever had, specifically during cold weather? [more inside]
posted by Phyltre to Food & Drink at 1:57 PM on Dec 27, 2010 - 59 answers [232 favorites]

You've done the research; what's the best? [more inside]
posted by sportbucket to Shopping at 1:24 PM on Nov 8, 2012 - 46 answers [232 favorites]

I'm looking for more movies like Amélie. Specifically: cute, quirky, hopeful, and romantic movies that leave you sighing happily at the end and aren't corny. Any recommendations? [more inside]
posted by katillathehun to Media & Arts at 8:22 PM on Aug 23, 2011 - 107 answers [231 favorites]

Help me make the finest popsicles available to humanity. [more inside]
posted by stuck on an island to Food & Drink at 9:33 AM on Jun 5, 2010 - 43 answers [230 favorites]

What's the greatest experience in life I'm missing out on? [more inside]
posted by Kippersoft to Society & Culture at 9:00 PM on Mar 4, 2012 - 118 answers [230 favorites]

I'm looking for a book that is so wonderful it will renew my joy for reading. Books that don't make you want to sit in a library and luxuriate in the ability to absorb impossibly lovely stories need not apply. [more inside]
posted by goosechasing to Media & Arts at 8:11 PM on May 28, 2012 - 73 answers [230 favorites]

Wee Thumbscrew, aged nine, is a weird, morbid, hilarious child. Lately, at bedtime, we've been reading "weird Wikipedia" articles together, and they have been a HUGE hit. Please provide us with some of YOUR favorite utterly deranged Wiki pages. Spooky/gory/X-Files-y stuff is a-okay, real-life serial killers or smutty stuff is not. Here are some entries we've enjoyed: [more inside]
posted by julthumbscrew to Grab Bag at 7:25 AM on Nov 5, 2014 - 52 answers [230 favorites]

What is the most useful book you own? [more inside]
posted by shotgunbooty to Education at 10:01 AM on Feb 16, 2008 - 101 answers [229 favorites]

Did I get forwarded a letter from eastern Europe, or is this the most beautiful gotcha ever? [more inside]
posted by timsteil to Grab Bag at 10:49 AM on Dec 14, 2010 - 65 answers [229 favorites]

People always talk a lot of shit about Ted Talks, but there must be some that are fantastic. What are they? What are the Ted Talks that are outstanding?
posted by josher71 to Education at 4:18 PM on Mar 15, 2015 - 31 answers [229 favorites]

What are the best questions you've ever been asked / asked someone to get to know them better, build closer friendships/bonds, find out secrets and interesting tidbits about their lives and worldviews? I'm rather introverted (but working on being more sociable). I really relish meeting and interacting different people with different views but too often conversations aren't very interesting so I'm really not engaged or connecting with them. I'm trying to get a lot better at chatting, learning about people and building bonds with people, but I need more ammo for interesting questions to unlock that higher level of discourse with the people that surround me. [more inside]
posted by jkl345 to Society & Culture at 2:03 PM on Aug 5, 2007 - 46 answers [228 favorites]