April 25

XL Twin Mattress on a regular Twin Bed?

We would like to swap a 5 inch longer mattress (XL Twin 38 X 80) onto a shorter bed/box spring (Regular Twin 38 X 75). Is this do-able, or a bad idea? [more inside]
posted by ovvl to Home & Garden at 5:45 PM - 0 answers

Veering off to a new job dimension

It's time for me to get out of early childhood ed. I got fired last week for various stupid reasons. Here's the thing. I've been in ECE for the past 7 years. Before that, I was unemployed. Before that, I was an ESL teacher. [more inside]
posted by kathrynm to Work & Money at 1:38 PM - 8 answers

Looking for lab-created gems in Canada

Where might I find a variety of lab-created gems at a fair price in Canada? [more inside]
posted by Acari to Shopping at 11:29 AM - 4 answers

Help finding a recent reel on social media?

I saw, and did not bookmark or otherwise do something smart about it, a short video on social media comprising two guys having a conversation with one guy satirizing RFK and the other satirizing Elon. [more inside]
posted by janey47 to Society & Culture at 11:05 AM - 2 answers

Installing multiple versions of ImageMagick on Windows

I have ImageMagick 7.0.6-9 installed (if relevant my system is a windows 10 home edition) and I have several scripts and tools that depend on that version. I want to add ability to convert .heic files and afaict this is only handled by later versions. What I want to know is it possible to install multiple versions of ImageMagick on Windows? [more inside]
posted by unearthed to Computers & Internet at 10:26 AM - 3 answers

Teeny Weeny Dog Nip

I got a VERY small nip from a neighbor's dog this morning; I didn't even think it had broken the skin until I got home later and took a closer look. What are MY next steps? [more inside]
posted by EmpressCallipygos to Health & Fitness at 10:12 AM - 21 answers

What to expect from Rick Simpson Oil (RSO)

My dispensary has a sale on RSO gummies and tablets this week. I had literally never heard of the stuff before now. I’m just a recreational user, so it doesn’t have to alleviate cancer symptoms; it just needs to get me high. Should I expect more of a body effect than regular THC gummies?
posted by Lemkin to Shopping at 10:05 AM - 3 answers

Housewife getting credit card - household income not acceptable?

I'm having trouble in my application for a particular credit card. I'm a housewife with no income, and the credit union will apparently only look at individual income, not household income. Any recourse? Also, joint versus individual credit card? [more inside]
posted by anonymous to Work & Money at 9:20 AM - 3 answers

Bay Area museum requiring a background check?

There's a museum in the Bay Area that requires a background check to visit. I think it's tied to the defense industry. My memory is that it's a private company museum rather than run by the government, but I could be wrong. I believe it's located in the Mountain View/San Jose area. It's also possible that it never reopened after COVID and this why I can't find it. Anybody know what I'm thinking of?
posted by matildatakesovertheworld to Travel & Transportation at 8:44 AM - 1 answer

What is this chord on my handwritten guitar chart?

The song is “It’s All Your Fault.” Asleep at the Wheel version. The key is C. I am learning swing chords. There is one chord that is smudgy and I don’t think I’ve played it before. [more inside]
posted by Ollie to Sports, Hobbies, & Recreation at 8:32 AM - 5 answers

What “personalities” do different sign languages have?

People often say that French sounds romantic, German sounds harsh and so on. In the same kind of vein, what kind of vibe does say, BSL give off to an ASL speaker?
posted by sefsl to Writing & Language at 8:22 AM - 0 answers

April 24

Healthy ways to better after very recent failure?

What concrete things have helped you deal in the short term after failing acutely? I'd be interested in hearing anything reasonably healthy that made you feel better in similar situations. [more inside]
posted by hejrat to Health & Fitness at 11:32 PM - 23 answers

Culinary quote identification

A Zen-nish cookbook, in its section on kitchen prep, said something like “Being good friends with the knives, we keep them sharp. Being good friends with the sink, we keep the drain clear”. I believe it’s a cookbook reviewed in The Next Whole Earth Catalog.
posted by Lemkin to Food & Drink at 7:03 PM - 4 answers

Getting into hosting gear when I'm used to being a hermit?

Here's the crux of the question: how do I get myself into the mode where it's not a challenge to not just stare at them blankly instead of making conversation? [more inside]
posted by Eyelash to Human Relations at 6:21 PM - 11 answers

A history of consent, broadly

I don't know where to start with this question, but I am curious how consent came to be so broadly applied in our society as a concept? Is this new? Is there a historic precedence? Are there many different ideas of consent in many different cultures across time? (I mean, the answer is yes, I just don't know those answers.) [more inside]
posted by burntbook to Society & Culture at 6:16 PM - 7 answers

Sci-fi story referring to cosmonaut Tereshkova?

I have a dim memory of having read, a number of years ago, a sci-fi story, likely in the cyberpunk subgenre, that featured a character who idolized cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova, treating her, as I recall, like a patron saint of space flight. The character may have been in space, either on a vessel or a station. Does this sound familiar to anyone?
posted by the sobsister to Media & Arts at 12:40 PM - 5 answers

Best Wildlife/Birdfeeder Camera

My wife has seriously gotten into watching the birdfeeders, and our backyard (which the feeders overlook) gets local critters (bears, turkeys, and the occasional coyote for sure, as well as racooons and possums, but who knows what else?) I'd love to get a wildlife camera for her birthday - what's the best one to get? [more inside]
posted by restless_nomad to Home & Garden at 12:06 PM - 6 answers

Non-smart GPS watch?

Can you recommend a non-smart GPS watch? [more inside]
posted by the_shrike to Health & Fitness at 9:52 AM - 11 answers

Gas Company Shut Off Heat for Entire 2024 Winter With No Notice

My elderly widowed mom's gas company, National Grid, has not provided her with heat from August 2024 - April 2025. What recourse do we have? Has anyone else experienced this? Should I escalate this somewhere? Snowflakes below: [more inside]
posted by ichimunki to Home & Garden at 8:30 AM - 25 answers

Where to begin with Byung-Chul Han?

I've just learned of the existence of a philosopher called Byung-Chul Han. He writes about modern topics, like burnout, ADHD, depression, the Internet, power, social media, and a ton of other things. He's apparently very well-regarded. I've been reading over reviews and book blurbs, and I have two questions: [more inside]
posted by Cobalt to Society & Culture at 5:58 AM - 5 answers

Wealthy in Red Habaneros

My chili plants are producing heavily. Besides freezing the chilis, what to do with all the Habanero chilis nature has provided? [more inside]
posted by jadepearl to Food & Drink at 4:12 AM - 19 answers

April 23

looking for advice on how to preserve+frame a signed poster

I am still in a daze, I just found out I won a poster signed by my favorite band. I'm not sure what the best way is to preserve it long term, though, so that's where you come in [more inside]
posted by wooh to Society & Culture at 7:30 PM - 9 answers

Identify movie or show on TV in 1970s or 1980s about orphaned boy

TV show or movie on TV, US, late 70s, early 80s. Camper goes off cliff, parents killed, boy is orphaned, boy is helped by gruff older man in wilderness. [more inside]
posted by kiblinger to Media & Arts at 5:40 PM - 4 answers

AI for writing articles using notes

Is there a current AI platform that I can input something like a 1000 notes that I've collected, and then have it output an article on a topic using the ideas from those notes? [more inside]
posted by roaring beast to Technology at 4:44 PM - 8 answers

Typepad blog post image insertion

Hello everyone. For months I have had trouble inserting images into my Typepad blog posts. I size them down so they're not too big. It's only after 5 or 6 attempts that they insert. Is anyone having similar problems? Typepad always promptly replies that it's a known issue; that they're working on it. Still ... Then, just now, I published a post. Same issue with images. Additionally, it published but doesn't show up on the home page. I'm waiting to hear back on this issue. Thank you.
posted by holdenjordahl to Technology at 3:10 PM - 2 answers

how long did you experience eye floaters? (also known as PVS or PVD)

Luckily I do NOT have retinal tears (I just had comprehensive eye exams with dilation, done by 2 different ophthalmologists) but I do have "posterior vitreous separation," which causes eye floaters and came on suddenly. [more inside]
posted by CancerSucks to Health & Fitness at 3:01 PM - 14 answers

I think this veers heavily into Chatfileter, but... The US NPS

Post on the blue about Musk taking over the NPS. Our US National parks are just so great. I am going to have to think about figuring out what my top 10 would be, other than: #1: Yellowstone

What National Parks, Monuments, Battlefields, Historical P arks have awed you?
posted by Windopaene to Science & Nature at 1:30 PM - 46 answers

Hot sauce recommendation for classic Texas chili con carne

I’m thinking about making J. Kenji Lopez-Alt’s recipe for classic Texas chili con carne for a group of diners with widely varying heat tolerances. So I figured I could use mild chilis in the dish and let the fire-eaters rely on bottled hot sauce to get their freak on. Of the hot sauces commonly available in supermarkets or Mexican markets, which brand would best complement the dish?
posted by Lemkin to Food & Drink at 12:44 PM - 15 answers

Looking for information on the Casio Loopy printer

The Casio Loopy was a 1990s console sold in Japan and marketed to female gamers. It had a built-in printer that let users print stickers of screenshots. I'm trying to find out what type of printing technology the console used. [more inside]
posted by Elle_Dee to Technology at 12:37 PM - 7 answers

$400 scam

I've noticed many of the scam emails I receive lately, telling me I purchased something and to contact them if it's in error or that I owe them some amount, tend to set the amount around $400. Where does this number come from? [more inside]
posted by signal to Computers & Internet at 12:11 PM - 4 answers

Help me find this perfect utility (?) knife!

This and this are screen grabs from a video by a guy in the UK. I'm in the US. I want this knife, or one very similar, for ultra fine plant cutting. It looks like a utility knife, but not like any here in the US. Help please, Metasleuths? [more inside]
posted by bluesky78987 to Home & Garden at 10:12 AM - 8 answers

How to love/be okay being alone?

I don't have much of a community or close friends so I find myself alone most days and evenings. I have a few social hobbies a few times a week, but it's not enough to keep me consistently busy and occupied. How can I stave off depression? [more inside]
posted by anonymous to Human Relations at 9:56 AM - 27 answers

So, what are you doing?

One of the things we're learning about living in times of sociopolitical and environmental upheaval is how hard it is to know what to do. Terrible things are happening so fast on so many fronts, and everything feels so chaotic and overwhelming that it's difficult not to freeze up in helplessness and despair like a deer in headlights. So, what are you doing? What things, little or big, are you doing to help that you think are effective and would be even more so if more people would do them? [more inside]
posted by orange swan to Grab Bag at 9:33 AM - 12 answers

Attention MeFi shoppers...

My go-to office supply retailer has closed. I'm looking to purchase some recording equipment from a Canadian source. Help me find a new supplier. [more inside]
posted by sardonyx to Shopping at 9:31 AM - 2 answers

Why do companies ask if I've been employed by the government?

I've been applying for (private sector) jobs recently and have noticed a fair number of screening questionnaires include a question on whether or not I've been employed by the government or a government contractor in the last N (typically 5) years. These jobs don't involve any interaction with any governmental bodies. Why do companies ask this? Bonus question inside. [more inside]
posted by btfreek to Work & Money at 9:24 AM - 4 answers

K drama fans, what’s your best uplifting K dramas in Netflix?

I’m looking for recommendation on k dramas that are inspiring, uplifting, strong female leads with heart warming stories. What I liked so far are 1) Crash Landing on You 2) king of the land 3) Something in the rain 4) Chocolate ( little sad but overall good) 5) Thirty nine 6) One spring night 7) Love to hate ( liked the female lead) 8) Romance is a Bonus book. Any suggestions? Thanks
posted by SunPower to Media & Arts at 9:17 AM - 14 answers

Trying to re-find a photographer of human optical illusions

I'm trying to find a photographer that photographed human models in poses that created optical illusions. [more inside]
posted by snarfois to Media & Arts at 8:30 AM - 2 answers

clearing google's "people also search for" section

I changed my name, but Google has a section in the search results called "people also searched for," which persistently displays my old name. I would rather not have my names associated with each other. I did not consent to this, so does anyone know how I could have this cleared? Alternatively, does anyone know how Google comes up with the "people also searched for" results, so I can try to clear it myself?
posted by anonymous to Computers & Internet at 8:03 AM - 6 answers

Looking for early autistic snark

I'm looking for an essay, probably some 15 years old which pathologizes neurotypicality the way autism is usually pathologized. The website was something like isn't-autistic. It included "Tragically, some 975 people out of a thousand suffer from neurotypicality", though possibly it used a word other than "neurotypicality". It mentioned compulsive lying as part of neurotypicality. [more inside]
posted by Nancy Lebovitz to Society & Culture at 3:08 AM - 3 answers

What is this tiny flying insect?

I am too scared to look at insect identification sites myself, so if someone knowledgeable could take a peek (link to Imgur inside) and just let me know what it is, I’d appreciate it. Also, bonus q: do this electric bug zappers work? [more inside]
posted by SomethinsWrong to Home & Garden at 2:51 AM - 14 answers

April 22

Cross + exclamation mark symbol

What's the deal with the cross with the dot like an exclamation mark underneath? I keep seeing this symbol lately, but I don't know the origin or meaning. (I've seen it in the context of a Trump thing but don't want to jump to conclusions.) It's a white on blue, kind of a sans serif geometric style like Futura, but I can't find an image online just from the description.
posted by Soliloquy to Religion & Philosophy at 10:04 PM - 7 answers

Scar

I have a really ugly scar on my leg due to surgery. Should I do something about it? [more inside]
posted by hankmajor to Health & Fitness at 7:38 PM - 26 answers

My computer was making this noise. Please advise.

I have a dell laptop with an SSD. It was making this noise earlier today. On and off over about 5-10 minutes. I booted up the computer and it immediately started making that noise. I freaked out and did not touch it. did not even enter my pin to log into windows. It stopped. Then it started again. It did this a few times over the course of 5-10 minutes. The last time it the noises lasted about 2 seconds and then there was a sound like a record scratching (like an old vinyl music record) and it just stopped. It has not made the noise since. I am backing up everything. Is it over? If so, in which sense? [more inside]
posted by If only I had a penguin... to Computers & Internet at 7:18 PM - 13 answers

Ideas for a special (fictional) dish

In the story I'm writing, a teenage boy, almost 17, wants to make his grandmother's favorite dish. At the moment it's paella, but I'm not sure I want to stick with that. I want it to be a dish that feels special but something that a budding foodie/cook could put together in a few hours. Just fishing for some other ideas.
posted by gigondas to Food & Drink at 4:16 PM - 33 answers

The Realest of Reality TV

I really enjoy reality shows that showcase...well, reality. I love it when I get a sense of genuine slice of life. What are some reality shows (not feature length documentaries) that you consider to be "the realest"? [more inside]
posted by forkisbetter to Media & Arts at 3:21 PM - 24 answers

Marked Deck for Beginning Magician

I am an amateur card magician. Up to now, I have only done self working card tricks. I think I would like to move on to tricks that involve a marked deck. But, there is enormous amounts of conflicting information about marked decks on the web. Can you recommend a specific marked deck for a beginning magician, preferably with some beginner tricks to learn?
posted by wittgenstein to Sports, Hobbies, & Recreation at 3:04 PM - 5 answers

Can you help me find a storage piece thing I don't have to assemble?

I am getting rid of this desk because it serves no purpose for us (by the way, this desk is in the East Village, NYC, and if you want to come and get it for FREE before Housing Works gets it, send me a message!). And then I want to put some kind of nice-looking piece of furniture I can store things in --- LOTS of things. The space can hold a piece that is no more than around 52" wide, 24" deep, and around 52" tall. In other words, it is a BIG space! [more inside]
posted by DMelanogaster to Home & Garden at 2:50 PM - 3 answers

What's the labor share of national income...for 1 company?

I was re-reading this kottke.org post and the related McKinsey report and news articles about the declining labor share of national income, as calculated by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. GDP is in the denominator. What would be the equivalent measurement be for an individual company? [more inside]
posted by AbelMelveny to Work & Money at 1:34 PM - 5 answers

Song find "A las 7:35 de la matina"

About 20 years ago there was an internet video for a Spanish language song with (close enough) the above words in its chorus, which might also have been its title. I was reminded of it by the news of the Pope's death. It was (I think) filmed in black and white, in a cafe, and I think it had a slight narrative set in the cafe, which may also have been portrayed in the video (but that's hazy). The song was performed in a brisk swing style, and it wasn't any of the songs that cropped up when I searched a las siete treinte cinco. It was a rather fun song and I want to hear it again. Is it by any chance stuck in anyone else's memory?
posted by BCMagee to Society & Culture at 12:41 PM - 8 answers

Y'all, should I keep this money?

When your doctor gives you cash for submitting billing forms on his behalf...but you only submitted them, you didn't do the actual legwork. [more inside]
posted by Kitteh to Work & Money at 12:29 PM - 18 answers

How typical is this behavior for American mom culture?

One of my in-laws behaves in a way that makes me feel taken for granted. I'm wondering if there's a cultural difference at play, since she's a white mom and I'm a non-white childfree woman. [more inside]
posted by roastbeef to Human Relations at 11:56 AM - 33 answers

Can you help me eat?

Eating has become a serious problem for me. I can't eat more than a little bit at a time. I mostly eat stuff I'd classify as unhealthy (it's nine pm and today I ate, nothing for breakfast, plain pasta and a chocolate bun for lunch, a handful of chips since). I randomly feel nausea at the thought of foods I usually like just fine. [more inside]
posted by toucan to Grab Bag at 11:23 AM - 29 answers

My custom orthotics are uncomfortable. Is that normal?

I've been suffering from plantar fasciitis for a year now. I reluctantly invested $420 in custom orthotics, but I don't like them. Should I just try to get used to them? [more inside]
posted by alex1965 to Health & Fitness at 9:40 AM - 12 answers

Caulking tape for bathroom

I want to use some kind of tape to reinforce some caulk in my shower. Have you ever used any of this silicone-replacement tape? Do you have recommendations? [more inside]
posted by dianeF to Home & Garden at 8:44 AM - 6 answers

Safe Magnesium supplements for kids?

I’ve read that magnesium supplements can be helpful for people with ADHD, and anecdotally, I find that taking some in the morning seems to help me focus. I’d like to try a low, safe dose of magnesium for a 7yo who likely has ADHD, but Google is now so useless that it’s hard to search. Any suggestions on a reputable brand?
posted by vanilla.extract to Health & Fitness at 8:06 AM - 13 answers

Uploading files from Sharepoint to a web interface

For a work task, I have to upload CSV files to an online government database. The files are accessed through Sharepoint, but it is not possible to upload directly from there to the internet. I therefore have to download each file from Sharepoint, then upload it to the web interface for the database. Is there a workaround to upload directly from Sharepoint to the internet? [more inside]
posted by paduasoy to Computers & Internet at 8:03 AM - 7 answers

Recommendations for gift basket to send diabetic

I am looking to order a gift basket for a diabetic relative. She loves receiving them but is diabetic and won't eat sweets, crackers, or much fruit and has to give that part away. She loves fancy nuts and summer sausage. I'd welcome suggestions for sending a lovely basket that she can fully enjoy. [more inside]
posted by fies to Food & Drink at 7:51 AM - 13 answers

What do we do now?

I asked this previous question: https://ask.metafilter.com/379568/My-mothers-neighbor-has-stopped-feeding-the-stray-cat [more inside]
posted by anonymous to Pets & Animals at 5:21 AM - 9 answers

April 21

Looking for a good quality unpowered / push mower

I have about 1000 sq ft. of yard that I only have to mow parts of - I'm looking for a good quality, durable non-powered / push mower to do this. A few additional requirements inside. [more inside]
posted by reedbird_hill to Home & Garden at 6:24 PM - 7 answers

The Best Personal Bank Accounts And Credit Card Plans In All Of Canada

Seeking recommendations for Canadian personal banking options and credit card plans that include but are not limited to low fees, actually useful reward points, incentives, conditions for eligibility/balance requirements, etc. [more inside]
posted by Alvy Ampersand to Work & Money at 3:25 PM - 10 answers