November 1
Where/how to pass the time with jet lag in Lisbon
I'm flying into Lisbon next week with my partner and arriving at 10am. The ultimate destination is a small rural town 1.5 hour drive away, where we won't be able to check into our lodging until 3pm. What should we do for 3-4 hours near the Lisbon airport as people whose bodies think it's 3am? [more inside]
Is it possible to make email manageable? Or at least slightly more so?
I'm determined to make sending and receiving emails a less overwhelming part of my job. What techniques do you use to improve how you handle incoming messages, both technologically (through settings and sorting features in an email app) and also behaviorially (in how frequently you check and deal with messages and how you prevent things from building up)? [more inside]
Really old Mac, how do I wipe it?
Just started a new systems analyst's job and I've inherited the the old manager's iMac collection (2005).
I'd like to e-waste them but the good IT policy person inside me says I should do a multiple HDD wipe pass just to make sure any personal data is gone. The problem is they're OLD and my modern iMac knowledge is failing me. [more inside]
What is up with butter these days?
Am I the only one finding that butter at room temperature stays harder than it ever did before? Why is that, and what can I do about it? [more inside]
Went to San Diego, saw art, forgot art.
Went to the San Diego Museum of Art in Jan 2021 and saw a painting by a Korean or Korean-American woman that I'd like to see again. What painting am I thinking of? [more inside]
Where is this image from?
Can you help me figure out the source of this image? When I try to do an image search online I get a bunch of sites selling prints of the image, but I haven't been able to find a source. This link goes to a site selling prints of the image in question. [more inside]
Great examples of print newsletters?
My library sends an annual newsletter out to local residents. I'd like to update its look a bit, and am searching for examples of great, brief PRINT newsletters. If you have suggestions for a library-related name for the newsletter, please drop them here. [more inside]
Experienced teen parents - how to make the most of teen years?
My kid (who I’ve posted about before) is doing GREAT. I just love him to bits and think tween boys are hilarious, kind and funny. I want to make sure I make the most of the unthinkably few more years I have him at home, both to enjoy him and launch him successfully into young adulthood. [more inside]
What are some mental tricks to endure an unpleasant event?
Because of circumstances, I will be attending an NFL football game this Sunday. This event promises to be a perfect storm of unpleasantness, combining many things that I find bothersome. [more inside]
Why is taking care of people so hard for me?
If I have to give someone any sort of special care or attention because they’re sick, incapacitated, had a bad day, whatever - it makes me angry and drained, like my soul is being sucked out of my body. I have no related trauma… what gives? [more inside]
I can smell...just one thing...help me smell more..
This was me.... I am two months post surgery. I can smell. Just one smell. I smell it most of the time in the air when I inhale. Sometimes I can sort of taste it. There are slightly different versions of it. I think I actually smell something. So I have some sense of smell. How do I get more? [more inside]
Annoying beeping noise in apartment I can't localize
I'm a bit grouchy here because I've had a four-note beeping in my apartment since about 5 AM today. I can't localize it at all, and it's keeping me from sleeping - and simply driving me crazy. I have work this morning! It seems to be coming from the wall. It just changed pitch a few minutes ago...and now it stopped. Hopefully it won't come back. What is it? More details inside. [more inside]
October 31
Can I eat it: Chicken broth in a jar whose lid didn't pop?
Making a soup and using two jars of store-bought chicken broth (Epic brand). One jar had a lid that made a popping sound, opened right up, all is normal. The other jar had a lid that didn't pop and went round and round, not opening, until it was finally accessed by stabbing the lid with scissors and shaking it out into the pot. Now, even though the soup is going at a good boil for 10+ minutes, I'm second guessing whether it will be safe to eat. [more inside]
Books of short stories where all the stories feature the same character
Any recommendations for books of short stories where all of the stories feature the same protagonist (and/or group of recurring characters)? I love fantasy and science fiction, and am open to non-sf/f fiction recs, but don't really like mysteries unless they have a supernatural element. [more inside]
Things to bring an American tween from northern Italy
I’m going to northern Italy without my fourth grader. What should I bring back for her? [more inside]
How to track physical manifestation of stress and anxiety?
I've noticed recently that my stress response seems to be more pronounced than it used to be, which is getting in the way of getting things done and enjoying them. I'd like to be able to better track that response so I understand it better and maybe can address it somehow. [more inside]
Identify a mystery green herb in Chinese wontons
What's a strong-tasting green herb that might be chopped into pork filling for wontons in NYC Chinatown? [more inside]
I hate my condo. Now what?
In spring of 2022, I bought my first home (a condo). I hate it, I hate home ownership, and I want out. What are my options? [more inside]
Preview for an event vs. a Press Release - help!
Short version: I have to write a preview for an event. I have the official press release. Any tips? [more inside]
Advice on a garbage man Trump Halloween costume.
Where in New York City can I get a high visibility safety vest like Trump wore here. What shade of bronzer do you think this is? What iconic Trump lines should I use for my garbage man Trump Halloween costume?
My public / external IP was briefly changed to that of other countries
I am in the USA, with fiber internet through Century Link. (It's pretty stable.) For reasons, I checked my external IP on my laptop. I clicked on the first site that came up and it gave me an IP from another country. [more inside]
Can a nonprofit org award a scholarships to a board member's child?
I am on the executive board (Treasurer, unpaid) of a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that provides community programs, including limited annual scholarships to local high school seniors. A large portion of our working budget comes from donations, while some comes from investment returns. A child of a parent on the advisory board submitted their application for our scholarship 2 years ago. As an award committee member, I got a bad feeling about awarding a scholarship to this child based their parent's role in the org and am wondering if it goes against IRS rules to permit an award to this child. And there is more.... [more inside]
Eco adventure books for teens
I know two pre-teen girls (11 and 13) who are into eco adventure books. They live overseas and don’t have access to many English books. They aren’t into romance or horror. I don’t even know where to start! Thank you.
October 30
Best online credit card consolidation loan company?
My sister wants to consolidate a couple credit cards into a lower interest personal loan. What is the best non-scammy online company for this? [more inside]
Not showering in ~3 days — any negative consequences?
Lately, I've noticed that I don't take a shower in ~3 days, only if I don't have any social plans. I work from home full-time, and most of the time, stay at home all day, sometimes going out to quickly grab food to go. Other than that, no social interactions. Is this okay in the long run? I don't want to develop a permanent bad BO, for example. [more inside]
Things to do in Chicago (weekday early morning edition)
My family is visiting Chicago for the day tomorrow and we just realized a lot of what we want to do won't be open before 10 or 11. I'm sure we could easily find some ways to kill time, but it would be better if we could find something nicer than walking around Target :) [more inside]
Giving a friend their chemo buzzcut
How do I make my friend's buzzcut before chemo a little less horrible? [more inside]
Looking for Low Cost Interpretation of IRS Form in Los Angeles Area
Several years previous I found out that i was general partner of my family's farm and have been for 38 years. I was informed that as a GP, I was entitled to % of profits. My mother passed a way early '23. This has forced the issue and I am assuming the farm has to get their books in order. [more inside]
What's the deal with pot fillers?
So, fancy kitchens these days have an additional faucet located directly above the cooktop. The alleged purpose is that a stockpot full of water is very heavy, and it sucks to carry that stockpot to the stove. That sounds handy!
But. [more inside]
Birds minus birds minus birds
Can this project be found anywhere on the internet anymore?? Halp me.
Green screen: How can I make sure my image is large enough?
I'm looking at green screen backgrounds now, using iMovie for iOS, and I'm seeing that some of the backgrounds take up the whole screen, whereas others are too small --- they have a black border around them. [more inside]
Ideas for very involved baking projects?
Looking for suggestions for bigger baking projects such as croquembouches, princess tortas (spelling?), or Paris-Brest. [more inside]
Linguists and Polyglot Mefites: How does grammer affect poems & lyrics?
Does the grammer fluidity of a language have an obvious affect on poetry and culture? English is famously fluid in its sentence structure, being a bit of a mutt. But being clever in verse is revered universally. Do certain languages present special challenges, and how does that shape art and culture? [more inside]
Book Recommendations: Teen Boy Edition
My 13-year-old nephew, a reluctant reader, is looking for "books about teenage boys including romance, coming of age, etc. Ideally contemporary and with florid language (swears and sex)." What titles/authors might he like?
Is a gas heating stove as bad as a gas cooktop?
I live in a very small house primarily heated by this gas stove, which runs on natural gas (not propane). Is this is as bad for my health as a gas cookstove? It's vented directly to the outdoors. If I should be worried, is there a reasonable way to test for pollutants? I've always assumed it's probably no worse than a gas furnace but now I'm a little concerned.
October 29
Sinking feeling
Should I stop parking my car in a garage with a sinking foundation? [more inside]
Fellow Cooks of Metafilter, Enlighten Me!
I'm looking to expand my horizons, so: What recipe sites do you follow? The ones where every recipe you've tried has been at least very good and most you've tried have made it into the regular rotation? The ones that absolutely nail the deliciousness-to-effort ratio? The ones that expose you to dishes you never knew about, or never thought you could make at home? [more inside]
Who are the online political experts in each US state?
In each US state, who are the people with blogs, columns, or other web presence that report on politics from a position of deep and/or longstanding expertise? (State or Federal level politics coverage are equally appreciated.) [more inside]
Paranoia, extended famliy edition
Do you have experience with a relative who sank into a paranoid delusion or a conspiracy theory to the point that it impacted their life severely? What do you wish you had done differently? What are you glad you did? What would you recommend as general next steps? [more inside]
Desire Paths?
Desire paths are where people make a more convenient route than the one that has been made by town planners etc.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desire_path
I am familiar with this concept but I am absolutely sure there is another name for them but I can't remember it!
Can anyone please help with this one?
No Earned Income = 6 Month Prepaid Lease?
The last time I rented an apartment, I didn't have a job but could show I had reasonable savings, which my landlord was fine with. This time around, two places so far have said I'd need a prepaid lease: 6 months rent up front. On one hand I'm ultimately going to pay that anyway, but on the other, it's a decent whack to cough up in one go. Is this a normal request for renters without jobs, or maybe I should I hold out for another landlord like my last one?
Could my husband's paranoid anxiety improve?
My husband’s (trauma-based?) anxiety runs to paranoia, and he occasionally makes angry and hurtful accusations at me. None of the accusations are true and are not really based in reality. Could this get better? [more inside]
Should I pay for a car accident out of pocket?
My kid had a minor fender bender. Should I pay for the other car damage out of pocket or have it go through insurance? [more inside]
October 28
in a toxic relationship with a novel, i need a new one to read
I'm re-reading a book hoping for a different ending, but I'm pretty sure that's not how novels work, so I need a new fantasy queer romance with a wholly satisfying happy ending (pun not intended, but there it is.) [more inside]
Creative monitor extension ideas
I live and work in a tiny house with a laptop + portable monitor. Employer just replaced my 15" pc with a 13", which is great for travel but less great for daily use. Need more screen. What do you know about the portable screen extenders out there? [more inside]
Logistics for road-tripping solo from ATL to L.A.
Please help me think through the whats and hows and whens of a 15-ish day solo cross-country drive from Atlanta to L.A. arriving around February 21. Please tell me about your experiences of similar drives, including places I should not miss for exploring and dining, and places and practices to avoid. Snowflakes inside. [more inside]
Is my thermostat broken, or something else?
We have a ZONE950AC52ZA thermostat and a DHMC100ACV4VA...system. We bought this house 1.5 years ago and haven't had an issue until recently when the thermostat went black. As soon as I can afford to I will contact a professional, but for now, I'm hoping to at least exhaust things a semi-handy person can do themselves. Here are the steps I have taken so far. [more inside]
How do I get notice of opening argument for a NYC trial (Daniel Penny)?
How do I find out when the opening arguments will be in the Daniel Penny trial? Ideally, I would like to know at least the day in advance, but the more notice the better. (Also, how do I find out what day closing arguments will be?)
What's a good job to have during nursing school?
I'm in an ASN program right now and looking for a job I can hold during school (so part-time or per diem). My #1 priority is finding a job that will help me get a real RN job once I graduate. What are your recommendations? [more inside]
Post-Election Day Unrest?
I don't like having to ask this question, but here we are. Does anyone have any reliable sources or information about preparations for post-election unrest? Backstory inside, but that's the jist. [more inside]
Wireless earbuds for the sauna?
Do you have a recommendation for wireless earbuds that can be used when exposed to the heat of a sauna for 15 min? [more inside]
Did Picasso say this?
Is there evidence that Picasso ever actually said or wrote 'If there were only one truth, you couldn't paint a hundred canvases on the same theme' (in Spanish, I presume)? My searches so far have mostly just turned up those awful quote sites. If it's not documented, do you know of any sayings with a similar sentiment that are?
glasses recommendation
I am brand new to the world of glasses and I would love help finding (somewhat) indestructible ones! [more inside]
Classic Drunkard
Please recommend to me books about drinking. [more inside]
Recommendations for Office Furniture
I am looking for recommendations for office furniture, mainly a desk and file cabinet or printer stand. [more inside]
Shopping for direct-shipped pronoun pins
My company is interested in ordering pronoun pins for employees for Transgender Awareness Week. Most people work remotely, so we'd like to ship each person the pin of their choices to their home. Is it possible to make this affordable? [more inside]
Books about suicide
What books grapple seriously with the subject of suicide? I’m probably looking for non-fiction but fiction might work if suicide is thoroughly explored and isn’t just a plot point.
Simple whiteboard questions for embedded systems students
I’m doing practice interviews for a bunch of of junior and senior college Embedded Systems majors. I’ve got the non-visual questions covered, but I’m looking for a collection of whiteboard exercises where they draw me a system. [more inside]
Pet insurance yanked away after 17 years
We just got notified that our pet insurance is being discontinued in December. Our adored cat is 17, and while they cite their terms & conditions, it seems hugely unfair. Is there anything you’d do? [more inside]
October 27
How to (mount? set?) deceased cat's tuft of fur?
My beloved cat Heidi died recently and I'd like to make a keepsake from her fur that I can touch. Does anybody have experience with trying to set or mount a tuft of fur to something (something adhesive? poked through something?) so that it can be touched and still remain in place? [more inside]
