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I am part of a trivia team (nominally the captain) and I feel a sad lack in my knowledge of geography (among other things). Despite looking at maps and (children's) atlases and writing country names on preprinted maps, nothing is sticking. Online quizzes don't help because I don't know what country is in between Swaziland and Nigeria. How do I become a geographic hero?
posted by b33j to Grab Bag at 4:55 AM on Aug 15, 2018 - 26 answers [26 favorites (25 in the past 24 hours)]

looking for well-written, compelling books about historical women [more inside]
posted by Cozybee to Writing & Language at 12:04 PM on Aug 14, 2018 - 40 answers [68 favorites (16 in the past 24 hours)]

Seeking women's soft fitted T-shirts, but I am picky. Details below. [more inside]
posted by Crystal Fox to Clothing, Beauty, & Fashion at 7:32 PM on Aug 14, 2018 - 18 answers [28 favorites (16 in the past 24 hours)]

I've had a few minor conflicts in the past couple of months with my bf of 2 years -- "minor" meaning someone said something that hurt the other's feelings or did something that unintentionally hurt the other person. Conversations were had; apologies were made. But whether I'm on the doing or receiving end of the conflict, I've been having lingering feelings of unsettledness afterward. What do you do after a conflict with a loved one to feel like it's truly "over"?
posted by orangesky4 to Human Relations at 10:11 AM on Aug 15, 2018 - 14 answers [12 favorites]

I booked inexpensive impulse tickets to Paris for 10 days next May. It turns out we don't really like big city vacations that much. Instead of staying in Paris, I would like to spend our vacation in a smallish European town where we can walk, ride bikes, go to the same cafe every morning for breakfast, look at beautiful things/scenery, etc. What small town/home base within a day's train ride of Paris do you recommend? [more inside]
posted by stellaluna to Travel & Transportation at 2:55 PM on Aug 14, 2018 - 36 answers [23 favorites (9 in the past 24 hours)]

I want to do some traveling around the world. Do you have tips ? [more inside]
posted by Pogo_Fuzzybutt to Travel & Transportation at 6:26 AM on Aug 15, 2018 - 27 answers [8 favorites]

Which online therapy sites have you used and was it successful? I am interested in finding something for a college student with depression and anxiety because moving between home and school has made it too challenging to do traditional therapy. [more inside]
posted by maxg94 to Health at 6:55 AM on Aug 15, 2018 - 6 answers [8 favorites]

I got a freelance gig with a very prestigious consultancy, and will need to give a presentation with an approx. 20-slide deck. This is embarrassing, but somehow I've gotten through life with having used PowerPoint exactly once in the most elemental way. I don't know how to make the most out of PowerPoint or Keynote- I would say I barely even have basic proficiency- and I have no sense of how to really put together a dynamo presentation (this is a design consultancy, so they'll be used to really slick visuals). [more inside]
posted by foxy_hedgehog to Computers & Internet at 9:41 AM on Aug 14, 2018 - 42 answers [44 favorites (7 in the past 24 hours)]

What does a low-key, queer, non-drinking centric, geeky, single people + family friendly NYC life look like? Hypothetical move day-dream snowflakes within. [more inside]
posted by elephantsvanish to Travel & Transportation at 5:12 PM on Aug 15, 2018 - 6 answers [7 favorites]

I feel like the music video had a high point in the '90s and then I stopped paying attention. Please recommend me 2 or 3 videos from the last while that are must-see, be it for artistry, originality, infamy, whatever. Context would be appreciated. I have seen This Is America.
posted by cult_url_bias to Media & Arts at 9:56 PM on Aug 13, 2018 - 47 answers [60 favorites (6 in the past 24 hours)]

I read the Wee Free Men for the first time, and I‘m delighted! Now I want a soundtrack to go with the wee scunners. What songs remind you of the Feegles? [more inside]
posted by Omnomnom to Media & Arts at 1:41 PM on Aug 14, 2018 - 19 answers [9 favorites (6 in the past 24 hours)]

I would like to read books set in lake houses. Have you read any that are especially good? Genre isn't terribly important; limitations inside. [more inside]
posted by SeedStitch to Media & Arts at 9:16 AM on Aug 15, 2018 - 13 answers [5 favorites]

Did you struggle for years with a particular problem, only to suddenly find a solution that made the problem essentially go away? Tell me about it! [more inside]
posted by peacheater to Grab Bag at 9:37 AM on Aug 13, 2018 - 35 answers [51 favorites (4 in the past 24 hours)]

I just got a positive home pregnancy test. What tests do high-octane fertility clinics do upon a positive pregnancy test to ensure the pregnancy is proceeding? What sort of support do they provide? (TW: mild mention of MC) [more inside]
posted by ruff to Health at 10:14 AM on Aug 15, 2018 - 15 answers [4 favorites]

I’d like to add more structure to my life and I’m looking for ideas for little rituals or small structured practices I can start doing. Specifically I am looking for rituals related to introspection, self-care, mental health, stress reduction, relationships and new experiences. So: tell me your rituals, routines, habits and practices related to those things. [more inside]
posted by aka burlap to Grab Bag at 7:07 AM on Aug 13, 2018 - 29 answers [75 favorites (3 in the past 24 hours)]

I am on maternity leave with a 7 week old and by the time dinner rolls around I am spent. But tonight I became an alchemist and mixed a packet of harissa skillet sauce by Saffron road with ground turkey. OMG it was so easy and delicious. I want to rely more on the formula of ground turkey + sauce packet. I am far from inexperienced with prepared foods but I haven’t ever cooked with those packets before. Do you have any specific recommendations?
posted by pintapicasso to Food & Drink at 6:40 PM on Aug 13, 2018 - 16 answers [33 favorites (3 in the past 24 hours)]

All the owners of apartments in the block I live in are about to be up for a lot of money due to the fault of others. Music is my stress relief but there are only so many times I can listen to Killing In the Name or the song I won't name from Aenima. I have a broad library of music, apparently it's a little shallow in this area. Hook me up, tinnitus be damned. I listen to any and every genre and have a good sound system that'll do justice to anything at 100db.
posted by deadwax to Media & Arts at 12:59 AM on Aug 14, 2018 - 77 answers [28 favorites (3 in the past 24 hours)]

Hello MeFites, I'm enrolled in a paralegal program, which puts me back in schools for the first time in over two decades. I'm getting excellent information on the latest brain science for learning, but I'm not sure how to manage two courses. [more inside]
posted by KleenexMakesaVeryGoodHat to Education at 5:02 PM on Aug 14, 2018 - 2 answers [6 favorites (3 in the past 24 hours)]

Due to a mistaken ID of the plant, someone sauteed an entire mandrake plant ( Mandragora autumnalis) with garlic and oil and consumed - landing them in the ER. They survived. Now there are questions - for example - would the heat, oil and garlic alter or lessen the alkaloids and thereby the over-all effect on that person? Are there any studies done on heating the plant and ingesting?
posted by watercarrier to Science & Nature at 7:07 AM on Aug 14, 2018 - 11 answers [4 favorites (3 in the past 24 hours)]

How do I get through a photoshoot when I don’t like having my photo taken? [more inside]
posted by Champagne Supernova to Sports, Hobbies, & Recreation at 6:54 PM on Aug 14, 2018 - 10 answers [4 favorites (3 in the past 24 hours)]