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I'm seeking footage from NBC's coverage of the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea. [more inside]
posted by cursed at 6:03 PM - 2 answers

About ten years ago I read a book about teens taking part in some sort of study in which researchers came and asked them a ton of questions, and then they got to take part in a virtual reality simulation of their own futures (a reunion party 10 years later I believe). The twist is they realize that one of their group isn't there and find out that he's dead in the simulated future--I think because the computer was going to kill him. They have to figure out how to save him. [more inside]
posted by brook horse at 4:47 PM - 4 answers

I am an adult, intermediate piano player, purely for my own enjoyment. My teacher is retiring. I'm in Brooklyn, NY and looking for recommendations but the teacher could be anywhere as I want to do lessons virtually. I'm interested in 1) specific recommendations for teachers or 2) websites where I might find reputable instructors. I play a bit of everything from pop to classical but want to learn more about basic improv, if that's the right word. Thanks.
posted by captainscared at 11:38 AM - 1 answers

Well-known publication asked me to expand a humor piece, then rejected it. Now what?... Looking for English language publications / sites that exclusively feature or include humor pieces [more inside]
posted by cotesdurhone at 3:51 PM - 6 answers

I'm looking for feel-good movies that have families that are very healthy and functional and open about their feelings in an idealistic way. The family doesn't really have to be the main part of the film, but should be significant - I'm thinking kind of like Easy A or perhaps something like the family in PBS's Arthur, although I'm not really looking for a TV show. It's okay if there's an ensemble cast with a dysfunctional portion as long as at least one family chunk is very healthy. [more inside]
posted by mnc at 3:05 PM - 35 answers

Where can I find a copy of Cats (2019) in its original, pre-VFX-update version? [more inside]
posted by wesleyac at 12:59 PM - 2 answers

I saw this recently: a website that given some text as input would play parts of movies / tv shows that said those words for you. I can't remember where I saw it... metafilter? some random site in my RSS reader? Anyway, I'd like to find it again. [more inside]
posted by jeffamaphone at 3:23 PM - 9 answers

I listen mostly to current indie-rock, with a bias towards front-women. What's the hip-hop equivalent I might enjoy listening to? [more inside]
posted by signal at 10:17 AM - 19 answers

Remember how, in the 90s, it was cool to end a song by hitting the last chord and sustaining it until the guitar started feeding back? Yeah me too, but apparently not as specifically as I thought. Looking for examples. [more inside]
posted by kevinbelt at 8:21 AM - 27 answers

Hi, Back in 1997 we watched a film in school that had a sci Fi feel and I remember really loving. All I really remember about it is that there was a large white ball that was possibly threatening or menacing? Or maybe benign...but seemed to be possibly conscious? I'm very fuzzy on the details and tbh am not even certain if this was a film or a piece of writing. Due to my scant details, Google searches have been unsuccessful. Anyone have ideas of what this might have been? I've been wondering and wanting to rewatch/reread for years.
posted by EarnestDeer at 11:17 AM - 17 answers

A friend recently retired. She played clarinet as a kid and is considering taking it up again. She's gotten as far as acquiring an instrument and not yet playing it. Her birthday approaches. What can I get her to encourage this path?
posted by falsedmitri at 3:10 PM - 13 answers

Is there a commonly-accepted trope name for a viewpoint character hearing a generally-negative sound (screaming, groaning, whimpering, etc) and then realizing it's themself making that sound? [more inside]
posted by Drastic at 7:49 AM - 5 answers

I need some design inspiration for the cover of a book I'm working on. The book is a cozy fantasy, light, escapist, but not a children's book. Can you think of any book covers that signal this? I was thinking of the design of many of Diana Wynne Jones's books, as they are great for the "cozy fantasy" look, but many of them look very much like children's or young teen books, so that won't work. [more inside]
posted by Zumbador at 12:53 AM - 8 answers

In Feb 2009 I went with a group of friends to see Mamma Mia on Broadway. I was surprised at the time that Christine Baranski appeared onstage for her role. Today someone asked me if I’d ever seen the movie version and I said no. I explained I’d only seen it on Broadway with Christine and the rest of the cast. They told me I must be confused because she was in the movie and not the stage show but I know I saw her. I told them they were mansplaining and I know what I saw. Then I looked it up and I can find no mention of her being in the stage show ever. So maybe it was some kind of a one night special performance? I am on a mission now to find evidence of this. Googling has turned up nothing. Can anyone help me track down whether she was actually in the show in Feb of 2009? It was the first weekend in Feb for the Sat night performance.
posted by TestamentToGrace at 11:50 AM - 7 answers

There’s a song my mother used to sing around the house, going back to my earliest childhood memories. [more inside]
posted by The Underpants Monster at 8:17 PM - 12 answers

I was out in the neighborhood, and I walked past an outdoor gathering near my house. There was a beautiful song playing, and I was hoping someone could help me ID it. [more inside]
posted by alex1965 at 4:33 PM - 6 answers

I'm a guitarist playing bass on much of the record I'm making with friends. What would I know to do if I had more playing/recording experience? [more inside]
posted by troywestfield at 3:18 PM - 7 answers

This week's New Yorker cover is a painting by Kenton Nelson, "Works in Progress," inspired by the WPA mural style of the New Deal. The writeup does not say specifically what one calls that style. Does anyone have a name for it?
posted by nothing.especially.clever at 1:56 PM - 8 answers

I want to read books with unhappy endings, angst and drama, body horror, miserable relationships, etc. Absolutely no redemption! If the writing is experimental, all the better. [more inside]
posted by kingdead at 7:14 AM - 82 answers

In “A Night at the Opera”, at the end of the contract scene, Groucho says to Chico “You win the white carnation.” What’s that mean? [more inside]
posted by chrchr at 8:07 PM - 2 answers