October 17
I think there's a name for this jacket style?
I'd like to get a new version of a jacket I had when I was younger: a heavy-ish windbreaker with a knitted collar, cuffs and waistband. Sort of like a baseball jacket but the collar came about halfway down the chest and it was buttoned.
Halloween Skeletons - Male or Female?
Are the Halloween skeletons identifiable as male or female skeletons or are they so fake you can't tell? [more inside]
Potluck/Tailgate pork shoulder emergency
Pork shoulder emergency! I’m attending a potluck tailgate tomorrow. I was going to make my Famous Salt-and-Pepper Pulled Pork, which I cook on a smoker overnight, but I just realized I’m out of charcoal. I’m not going to buy more charcoal tonight and I don’t have time to make pulled pork in the morning…help me figure out what to make! [more inside]
Why would office building not use cheaper, greener energy?
I'm renting a small office in Alameda County, California, in a city where residents and businesses have to actively opt out of the local Community Choice Aggregator. I asked my landlord which of the plans - 100% renewable or just cleaner and cheaper than PG&E - the building is signed up for, and they told me they're just with PG&E. My question: what reasons - good ones, or somewhat reasonable bad ones - would a business not sign up for a Community Choice Aggregator? [more inside]
Experiences with the Vivos Method
I'm a lady in my late 40s who grinds my teeth at night. Over the years dentists have addressed this with a custom nightguard (which I wear religiously), fillings, and more recently, crowns. I just had an intake appointment with a new-to-me dentist who wants me to get a series of CT scans to look for misaligned bones and fit me for a new device, which I understand is known as the Vivos Method. She says that this will eliminate the need for more crowns and root canals. [more inside]
I don't have to run the gas engine but should I?
I just bought a hybrid Volvo XC60. It's a mid-sized SUV that gets about 40 miles on a full charge. Because most of my driving is local and less than 10 miles per day, I could easily go for months at a time not using the gas engine. But would that be bad for the engine? Does it need a certain amount of regular usage to keep it running optimally?
I've looked through the owner's manual but I couldn't find anything about this. Lots of information on charging it, deciding which mode to drive in (pure electric vs. hybrid vs. pure gas) but there's nothing that addresses whether running indefinitely on pure electric is ok.
If you don't have an answer 'for sure', I'm ok with an opinion based on solid mechanical knowledge.
MeRT safety?
My son is 4 years old and has been in various kinds of therapies for 2 solid years, as well as attending preschool with an aide. He is still nonverbal and has made noticeable but minimal progress in most areas (communication, toileting, engaging with peers, etc.) I have recently heard of MeRT and gotten interested in it, and there's a clinic in my city... [more inside]
Good roaming SIM in Europe
We’re in Europe, got Vodafone SIM cards in Spain, supposedly 100GB data for 30 days. However, the 100 GB is only in Spain, it’s 8 GB if you’re out of Spain (they don't tell you this up front), so we ran out of data already in a few days. Can anybody suggest a better company that will let us use a decent amount of data in Germany, Turkey, Balkans, Italy and France? [more inside]
Canva mavens, please halp!
At wits end editing Canva audio track for presentation tomorrow morning! [more inside]
Load shedding why?
I feel silly asking this, but how and why does load-shedding work? [more inside]
How do I create a 3D tour?
I need to create a 3D tour of a rental property. How? [more inside]
Reasons for and against early voting?
What are the strategic reasons for and against early voting? Am I helping or hurting my party if I vote as early as I can? [more inside]
Removing Search Results and Photos from Google in 2024
Somehow a relative's dinky but long-lived family website has overtaken all the top results when you search for my name on Google. These results include pictures of me from my childhood that job recruiters and fellow professionals in my industry do not need to see. What steps do I need to take to get at least some of these things removed? I also need to figure out why my website, which used to be the first result when you searched for me, has been completely scrubbed from Google.
Filmmaking Non-Profit, Good Idea or Not?
Looking for information on starting up a non-profit for the purpose of filmmaking, as a fact-finding mission to see if this is biting off more than we can chew. [more inside]
What desktop app, phone app, or website do you wish existed?
What desktop app, phone app, or website do you wish existed? [more inside]
Boston, tell me about your favorite cocktail bars!
Heading to Boston for a weekend trip later this year and would love to check out the city's cocktail scene. Please let me know about your favorite spots! Thank you!
White LED light strip. That twinkles. Does this exist?
I need a dense, bright warm-white LED light strip that comes with twinkle patterns, like the ones commonly found in LED light strings. Ideally USB plug or otherwise connectable to a 12V or 5V battery pack. Does this exist without some sort of elaborate Arduino diy? [more inside]
What's the difference between these two sentences?
From "Wuthering Heights". The narrator says, 'No wonder the grass grows up between the flags, '. If he says, 'No wonder the grass grows up among the flags.', what's the difference between them? Thank you for helping my English.
Checklist for use in an organisation prior to running a fiddly task
In my organisation we frequently have to run fiddly batches which are fraught with potential errors - one step forgotten and it's a world of trouble.
I am looking for a web app or (likely) Microsoft desktop software that we could use to create template checklists for common processes/tasks that we 'tick off' (like a pre flight checklist) prior to running the (for example) batch.
These should be easily sharable and updatable by the whole team if possible and we should ideally be able to re-use them time after time [more inside]
How to beat the winter blues- when it’s not really that wintery?
I’m not a big fan of winter, but my usual winter escape is no longer available. How can I embrace winter when I live in NC and it’s not that wintery? [more inside]
What is a hasp lock, in England?
I'm reading an English locked-room mystery and a character said that "The hasp... ripped through the frame of the door.” This door is locked with a key and can be locked / unlocked from either side of the door. In England, does that make sense? [more inside]
Being photographed while autistic
Anyone else, especially other autistic people got any tips for handling being photographed in everyday situations and managing to present well? [more inside]
Tips on structuring emotionally rich book/film discussions
I sometimes end up leading discussions on fiction in a classroom-adjacent context. I often feel my natural approach (analytic, thinky) doesn't mesh well with what participants would find satisfying, but I don't quite understand how an alternative approach would work. If you've been in great book discussions, explain what kinds of questions/topics they contain? [more inside]
October 16
Ideas on dividing your life between cities
I live in one city (Toronto) and am increasingly starting to suspect that a lot of the things I want, professionally and personally, are way more abundantly found in other cities (NYC and the Bay Area). I don’t think I’m in a position to move, for a number of reasons, most notably that I have 50% custody of a great kid. I’m interested in hearing of ways people have had integrated “second city” in their life. I welcome personal anecdotes, things to read or look at, or anything else that could be helpful. [more inside]
Protecting quilt fabric
How can I protect white quilting fabric as I sew? [more inside]
Waranty language question hot water heater failure
My hot water heater failed within the 1 year period where labor is supposedly covered. The company only wants to cover $100 for removal and re-installation which seems ridiculous. I need help understanding if the language in the warranty should indeed cover the full labor costs and if yes how to pursue this with minimal headache? Language under the fold: [more inside]
Never arrive empty handed...
Can you give me the specific location(s) of a place to grab fresh flowers inside Midway airport? Ideally, on the way to the Rideshare pickup spot?
Tell me about using a kneeling chair all day
Do you (or did you) use a kneeling chair several hours a day for work? What's good and bad about it for you? What changes (technical or habitual) did you have to make for it to be a workable solution? [more inside]
DIY traffic calming for residential streets? (Bad driver mitigation)
In my Pacific Northwest (USA) residential neighborhood, there is all kinds of bad driver behavior. Managing this falls to traffic enforcement (Police) + street design (Dept of Transportation), but both are short staffed. Meanwhile, we have yahoos going 40 in a 20MPH zone, running stop signs, etc. What kind of traffic calming measures have folks employed successfully? [more inside]
Home Insurance Company Recommendations?
I just received my new home insurance policy documents for the coming year, and the total annual cost was increased by 41% over last year even though I haven't had a claim in years. I'm now shopping for a new insurance company. Can you recommend a good insurance company for someone who lives in Toronto, Ontario? [more inside]
Trying to find out what happened to my website.
My website is down. I am not technically savvy. I have relied in years past on my website developer. I believe he has Alzheimer's based on recent repeated chats and how he keeps asking questions I just finished answering. I've given up on trying to get through to him. [more inside]
But is it really bats?
My mom lives in New Mexico where her house has a big outdoor covered porch in the backyard that is quite high with wood beams. At certain times of year she started noticing staining and droppings under the porch and a wildlife guy said it was from bats. She has never actually seen the bats and it seems like they are roosting there at night, not during the day. [more inside]
This-to-That Filter
I have posterboard circles and I want to glue stuff to the back. I've done it before but I forget what glue I used. [more inside]
Object to an Open Records Request for grant application materials?
I'm a theater/performance maker, and I applied for a grant from my city. I did not receive the grant (which is fine), but I received a notification that someone requested all of the information available from the city relating to the grant (i.e. not just my application materials, but all the records the city has that relate to this grant). What's the best course of action here? Do I need to take any action? [more inside]
Why would I get a hold mail form for someone I don't know?
USPS hold mail form appeared in my mailbox with someone else's name on it. Should I be concerned? Should I let it be filed? [more inside]
Seeking geriatric specialists in CT for immobile patient
So our 92 year old mom is completely bedridden, confined to a second floor bedroom. She has 24-hour in home LPN care and an RN who comes by every 10 days or so.
Her longtime PCP retired last year and the new doctor in the practice has stated that she must come to the office for her annual physical so she can be examined in person. [more inside]
Is This Residual Shock?
I posted a question (link below the cut) last month regarding a THC overdose and a resulting trip to the ER. Since then, I've had difficulty connecting with people anymore, and sometimes feeling like things aren't real. Is this lingering shock? [more inside]
Smart, funny podcasts I can listen to while working
I'm looking for entertainment while I work from home. [more inside]
Do you always respond to after-purchase or after-service surveys?
Am I being a healthier manager of my digital world by ruthlessly deleting unsolicited messages or am I hurting the career track of some workers by refusing to answer survey questions about their performance? [more inside]
October 15
Online source for pre-WWII Japan patents?
While https://www.j-platpat.inpit.go.jp is a well organized database for recent Japan patents, I am searching for several patents from the 1930's. This article details a method to determine the year from a patent number, but then falls back to snail-mail enquiries for more info. Does anyone know of a more recent online resource for older Japan patents?
Do I want to move to Calgary, Canada?
I’m interviewing for a job in Calgary but I’ve lived on the East Coast of the US all of my life. In theory this would be a career-defining role, but I’m worried about quality of life changes. [more inside]
Best way to campaign for Harris in Pittsburgh
I’m new to Pittsburgh and have already registered here to vote. I want to campaign for Harris but my disability and lack of vehicle prohibit canvassing. As well as local opportunities, I’d like to see links to info about what kinds of campaigning tend to be most helpful.
Good ways to save online articles?
A project I worked on is getting some online press. What's the best way to save it? [more inside]
Japanese candy translation
Can anyone translate the writing on these Japanese candy wrappers? The first three lines are the same, and I believe the bottom line on each would identify the flavor. [more inside]
Identify a chef’s knife?
I have a chef’s knife I’d like to know more about. So far my searching and translating attempts have failed.
Imgur link
Is there a fast way to turn an android phone into an mp3 player?
My son has asked for a music player for his 8th birthday. I've bought him what is essentially a cheap android that has no sim or camera. Is there a fast way to disable everything but an mp3 app and maybe spotify? [more inside]
recommendation for ENT doctor in Berkeley, Oakland, SF?
Anyone have a recommendation for a great ENT doctor in Berkeley, Oakland, SF, or nearby? [more inside]
how to clear the cache for a specific site on Chrome (macbook pro)
Pretty much the title. My workplace changed to a different instance of our platform, and Chrome keeps opening the old one and I can't access student records. I don't want to clear ALL of my cache - just the work stuff. 2023 Macbook Pro M2. [more inside]
Issues in my apartment - asking for assistance.
I have two issues in my apartment that I was hoping I could ask for assistance here first, to see if those two issues are something I can resolve myself before putting in a maintenance ticket. [more inside]
Grass Permeable Parking
I have a 9' x 30' area that I want to use as a parking spot for a car. Right now its just dirt. I want to use some sort of grass permeable system. What have you done? [more inside]
Folks who love their therapist: How did you find/choose them?
How did you know they were right for you? Did it take time or did you immediately now? Where did you first hear about them? How did you do your evaluation to land on this person? [more inside]
Health insurance paperwork helper?
Is there someone I can pay to help file out-of-network claims with my health insurance company for me? [more inside]
How to Best Manage the LinkedIn Security Settings Maze?
I've recently started looking for a job and have updated my LinkedIn profile. Whereas my facebook and IG accounts are set to private, anyone on LinkedIn - e.g. potential employers - can see my profile and access a significant amount of information about me. How do I manage the LinkedIn settings maze to - admittedly counterintuitively - best protect myself while sharing personal information at the same time? [more inside]
What does the "Smell the roses! SPICY!" video mean?
There is a very weird Instagram video making the rounds. I can't figure it out, and this bothers me. [more inside]
October 14
How to pretend among (emotional) vampires
How do you handle vampires you can’t stand because your spawn have taken a shine to each other?
And how do I make this not weird for the spawn? [more inside]
Missing: Two adorable little ambitious RAPPING robot invaders.
Attention Susan!
Attention Humans!
I remember two little rapping robots that were “by the bench!”
THE BENCH BY THE FOUNTAIN! [more inside]
Car shaking and nothing seems to fix it
2016 Honda Fit, 4 new tires Sept 2022. 1 tire had a slow leak and needed to be replaced in summer 2024. Drive about 4000 miles a year, mostly city driving on not great roads. [more inside]
Resources for elderly parent getting scammed
See my previous question about my elderly mom being scammed online. The situation has not improved, and she has now lost a few thousand dollars to this scam. She refuses to believe that her 'boyfriend' is fake, and I'm at my wits end. I've done a lot to try to report this, but nothing has happened. Are there any resources to help with this kind of thing that maybe I haven't tried? [more inside]
Tell me everything I need to know about hiring a car in the UK
I’m British, but I’ve never hired a car before. I might need to do it for the first time, at a time of fair personal stress when I don’t have much extra bandwidth for learning new processes. I’ve read the RAC guide to car hire but I don’t know what else I don’t know. [more inside]
Latchkey Parenting Data
I'm looking for data (not info on the impacts or causes) on the prevalence of US or even western society young children (grade school) being more supervised and having less ability to be independent than over time. Looking to see if there's some data (even if it's survey data) .