Ask MetaFilter

Is a recorder like a Zoom H1 or H2 or Tascam DR05 an improvement over a smartphone using the Smart Recorder app? The app records in wav and you can set gain. Will a dedicated recorder in the 100 to 200 dollar range offer a significant improvement? Or are they obsolete for amateur musicians? This would be for recording instrumental and voice tracks for mixing on a computer. Thanks for your experience, Metafilter musicians!
posted by starfishprime at 11:54 AM - 8 answers

My dad and I loved doing Eric Berlin's Social Distancing Puzzles. Where can we find more collaborative word games to play together? [more inside]
posted by juliapangolin at 6:59 AM - 4 answers

My mom has a pretty decent sized collection of elephant figures and assorted objects from the 50s-00s. In preparation for when she passes, I need to start thinking of how to donate/sell this thing... [more inside]
posted by symbioid at 2:11 PM - 16 answers

I am a huge fan of the Buff neckwear products. I have maybe 4-5 of various Buff neckwear items and use them daily (for walks, activities). I love them and find them so versatile. [more inside]
posted by dbirchum at 4:38 AM - 4 answers

I've been watching The Queen's Gambit and it made me want to try chess again. I know how all the pieces move, castling/en passant, etc, but I lack any strategic understanding, openings/closings, etc. Where do I go from here? Online/digital sources preferred, but books are cool too.
posted by miltthetank at 9:04 AM - 13 answers

I want to enjoy watching sports, because it seems like a fun and social way to escape from the world for an hour or two at a time. But I can't seem to enjoy it. What's a good way into sports fandom? [more inside]
posted by rue72 at 1:40 PM - 34 answers

None of my real-life friends play Animal Crossing: New Horizons. My spouse and I have tricked out our islands (her more than me) and we're looking to expand our, er, horizons. [more inside]
posted by a complicated history at 8:56 AM - 6 answers

Just purchased a 2020 keep grand cherokee, and added on their extended 7 yr bumper to bumper plus gap insurance ($4000 total for 7 yr loan warranty, and 800 for gap). Was this a good idea? Know there's more information probably needed, but it's through Fidelity Warranty services. Purchased vehicle on Monday, so I think I have through tomorrow to try to cancel, and I'm reading reviews of it not being with it? Anyone with experience?
posted by MamaBee223 at 8:30 AM - 6 answers

This is a very similar question as this previous question, just 15 years more recent. I'm looking to cut the interior pages in a book. [more inside]
posted by wile e at 3:00 AM - 13 answers

I just found out that my son is leaving in one week for a vacation on Oahu. He would very much like to learn how to (board) surf while he's in Hawaii. [more inside]
posted by Transl3y at 1:14 PM - 9 answers

I need a new super simple, uncomplicated iPhone game that I can basically just play with my brain on idle. Just something to keep my hands busy while watching tv or listening to a podcast. Some progression like progressively more difficult challenges is a plus. Previous faves in this vein: Solitaire, Dots (not Two Dots), Sling Drift, Alto’s Adventure/Odyssey, Doodle Jump, Desert Golf, Temple Runner. Paid or paying to remove ads is fine.
posted by supercres at 7:55 PM - 32 answers

I just bought an AEE Sparrow 2 QC. I also have a small Syma X20W. And I have two phones, a OnePlusOne and an ATT Calypso I. The OPO is out of the box and hosted by Consumer Cellular. The Calypso is just connected to the Internet through home wifi. [more inside]
posted by CollectiveMind at 11:00 AM - 1 answers

Looking for solo sea-going kayaks, I keep seeing "Recommended for up to 250 pounds". Are there any kayaks that accept people up to 350 pounds? Looking for someone close to me, this is their dream. [more inside]
posted by corb at 1:07 PM - 13 answers

There was a sci-fi novel I read around 1997. I don't remember the title, but it involved empaths, climate change, orbital stations, and blind navigators. Also had an Israel-related plot arc. [more inside]
posted by jibberish at 8:09 AM - 5 answers

So, before the past two months I was doing a lot. I was programming, learning math, learning French and working out. However, after August things really started slowing down. I've been stuck applying to grad school and it really hasn't gone as well as I would like. [more inside]
posted by Tarsonis10 at 5:55 PM - 9 answers

My HOA has added pickleball nets to our neighborhood tennis courts. I’ve played enough to know my whole family will love to play. How much should I plan to spend on paddles? My girls are young teens and I assume could share with me. Husband is a tall guy. This would just be for recreational play in our family. Any recommended brand/style/material of construction, etc? Thank you.
posted by gryphonlover at 11:31 AM - 2 answers

It's starting to get cold now and I need to figure out what to wear so that I can keep biking to work. I'm looking for everything from hats/earwarmers I can wear with my helmet down to socks. [more inside]
posted by any portmanteau in a storm at 11:40 AM - 25 answers

I used to have a Garmin Forerunner 405. It was great (except that the bezel input thing was dumb), but all I really need is start, stop, and real time distance and pace. [more inside]
posted by atomicstone at 11:04 AM - 6 answers

I have access to a large lake that is usually used by people with their powerboats and pontoon boats and jet skis. I would like to get on the water more often and am looking to buy something that suits my needs that meets my snowflake requirements. [more inside]
posted by Karaage at 8:16 AM - 11 answers

Hello! I have a miniature toy chair that smells horribly of manufacturing chemicals. I have experienced this in the past, and usually just setting it aside in a well-ventilated area and forgetting about it for a while (after a quick alcohol wipedown) has been enough to cause the smell molecules to disperse. Not this time. [more inside]
posted by 41swans at 8:09 AM - 4 answers