Ask MetaFilter

During the pandemic, my sister and I have been mailing little packages to each other. Her birthday is at the end of August and I'm trying to make it especially nice. Since shipping can be quite delayed, I'm looking around now. What are your favorite online shops for special well-crafted items? Or if you have specific item recommendations, I'd take those too! [more inside]
posted by pdxhiker to Shopping at 1:16 PM on Jul 11, 2020 - 9 answers [17 favorites]

9 year old is constantly correcting her family. 6 year old sister is very frustrated about it. Help me tone this down to something we can all live with. [more inside]
posted by Omnomnom to Human Relations at 8:46 AM on Jul 11, 2020 - 23 answers [13 favorites]

What can I be doing now to ensure that I can stay warm, sane, and active this winter if things are about the same in the USA? Help me throw money at my desire to stay warm and (as) happy (as possible) being outside this winter. [more inside]
posted by kinsey to Health at 9:01 AM on Jul 10, 2020 - 30 answers [42 favorites (11 in the past 24 hours)]

For the Seattle Public Library's book bingo, I need to read a book by a trans on non-binary author. Because of *gestures widely* I have the attention span of a flea and the book needs to be in English, fiction, entertaining, and a page-turner, and ideally have some humor. I like mysteries and don't like reading about children in peril or people making bad decisions. Suggestions? [more inside]
posted by The corpse in the library to Media & Arts at 10:33 AM on Jul 10, 2020 - 33 answers [35 favorites (9 in the past 24 hours)]

Looking for a journaling/self-help guide for my partner, something that maybe gives journaling prompts or ideas for men to "get to know themselves better." [more inside]
posted by Autumn Willow to Education at 1:56 PM on Jul 11, 2020 - 7 answers [8 favorites]

A couple guides to taking blood pressure at home say your elbow should be at the same height as your heart (one specifically said right atrium as if I know exactly where mine is but that's beside the point). But in the doctor's office they just flop your arm down on the table regardless of how tall the table is compared to you. So which is it — arm position really matters, or barely matters? [more inside]
posted by Tehhund to Health at 10:58 AM on Jul 11, 2020 - 5 answers [7 favorites]

I'm a multiracial, queer, cisgender, single, female American with a tenure-track teaching position in English composition at a community college. While I love my job, I need to leave the U.S. as it has become a shithole country under Drump. [more inside]
posted by anonymous to Work & Money at 4:38 AM on Jul 11, 2020 - 5 answers [6 favorites]

How are you, a parent, keeping the spark going in your relationship during the pandemic? [more inside]
posted by robertthebruce to Human Relations at 11:54 AM on Jul 11, 2020 - 14 answers [6 favorites]

The comments in this post made me realise that I know very little about the extent of the oceanic explorations made by Polynesians across the pacific. I'm looking for book recommendations (preferably non-fiction, but fiction is also ok). Academic accounts are also fine but must be readable to a non specialist. The only one I've read is The Last Navigator by Steve Thomas
posted by dhruva to Grab Bag at 1:32 PM on Jul 11, 2020 - 7 answers [6 favorites]

Discovering the Catskills. I am looking for trails moderate +. I do not like crowds. Just a decent climb, or hike, without a lot of people. Do you know of any that fit this bill? If I see a bunch of cars at a trailhead I keep on driving. (PS a swimming hole is a plus) If you don't want to make it public, MeMail me. (Added plus - a good meal, outside)
posted by ebesan to Health at 3:45 PM on Jul 10, 2020 - 9 answers [7 favorites (5 in the past 24 hours)]

Best vegan nacho cheese recipe? [more inside]
posted by oflinkey to Food & Drink at 7:39 PM on Jul 11, 2020 - 4 answers [5 favorites]

I could use some assistance trying to figure out something fun to do in my spare time that fits my many snowflake criteria below. [more inside]
posted by forza to Sports, Hobbies, & Recreation at 10:10 PM on Jul 4, 2020 - 43 answers [38 favorites (4 in the past 24 hours)]

I'm starting to read more books about the American West, and would like to find some that are specifically by and about Native peoples. Fiction, non-fiction, historical or modern are all welcome! [more inside]
posted by kalimac to Writing & Language at 8:43 AM on Jul 10, 2020 - 16 answers [21 favorites (4 in the past 24 hours)]

I am looking for women's lounge/yoga/sweat pants with a loose waist that aren't full-on pajamas. [more inside]
posted by skycrashesdown to Clothing, Beauty, & Fashion at 7:54 PM on Jul 10, 2020 - 9 answers [9 favorites (4 in the past 24 hours)]

I have a milestone birthday coming up. Due to lockdown restrictions in my city, my original plans are no longer an option. What should I do to celebrate instead? [more inside]
posted by goodnight to Grab Bag at 6:51 AM on Jul 11, 2020 - 13 answers [4 favorites]

A company ships a product. Hidden deep in supporting material for the product is a link to a functioning forum. Company ships game, time passes, everyone kind of forgets about game but the forum keeps ticking along. Years later, someone involved with the initial game discovers that the forum has hosted a robust (rp'ing?) community for many years. [more inside]
posted by jeb to Computers & Internet at 1:34 PM on Jul 11, 2020 - 3 answers [4 favorites]

I had a program over 20 years ago which let you choose different colors of noise, oscillation speeds?, and a bunch of "wave pattern" visualizations. Help me find it or something very like it? Mac compatible preferred, but I'll figure it out if that's impossible. [more inside]
posted by zinful to Computers & Internet at 3:36 PM on Jul 11, 2020 - 5 answers [4 favorites]

When I was pregnant and/or had infants, BabyCenter's boards were a lifesaver. Now that my kids are older, I'm trying to find a current version for parents of adolescents. Is Reddit a cesspool for this? I'm particularly interested in boards that have a diverse group of users and that are not on Facebook.
posted by tafetta, darling! to Grab Bag at 6:21 PM on Jul 9, 2020 - 4 answers [8 favorites (3 in the past 24 hours)]

I have dandruff. I would finally like to make at least a low effort at mamaging. What has been your experience with dandruff shampoos? I have medium long, curly, black person hair.
posted by Aranquis to Health at 6:00 PM on Jul 10, 2020 - 17 answers [7 favorites (3 in the past 24 hours)]

Pedagogy for many decades has emphasized active learning, using lots of teaching aids, hands-on tools, and art materials to undertake projects and complete labs in a highly social environment that often involves small groups of students close together. It seems difficult to accomplish anything comparable with everyone 6-feet apart and wearing masks. What kind of active learning can reasonably happen in the era of COVID-19? Have any good guidelines been published yet? I am very unclear about what the in-person classroom experience will and should be like this year.
posted by mortaddams to Education at 1:58 PM on Jul 10, 2020 - 8 answers [4 favorites (3 in the past 24 hours)]