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I love to start the day by reading in bed and end it by watching something in bed. My neck and back don't enjoy it. Right now, I sit propped up with a husband pillow, but this seems to round my neck and spine and cause pain. I don't know how to read ergonomically at all, because looking down is apparently bad and I'd be exhausted if I tried to hold a book or tablet at eye level! [more inside]
posted by wheatlets to Health & Fitness at 8:25 AM - 2 answers

Mom (80 y.o., white, US citizen) flew to Amsterdam earlier this week to embark on a river cruise with her 75 y.o. bestie. At customs, she was questioned by the agent more than others in line ahead of her. This isn't the first time it's happened with recent international travel and she's mystified as to why. [more inside]
posted by Sweetie Darling to Travel & Transportation at 8:16 AM - 4 answers

I am not a techy person. Puzzling through buttons and menus does not come naturally to me. I don’t hunger for new devices and when forced to use new devices I often get anxious and irritated. But if something is genuinely useful and labor saving and not too hard to learn, I will get the hang of it and then wonder how I ever lived without it. [more inside]
posted by Jenny'sCricket to Technology at 7:09 AM - 16 answers

What power supply should I use to revive one of these? The manual is very vague, and it’s an antique…
posted by pompomtom to Computers & Internet at 4:35 AM - 5 answers

You or a loved one have experienced mysterious gut issues in the last few years. You found good information somewhere, acted on it, and now said gut issues are largely a thing of the past. What did you learn and how did you act on it? [more inside]
posted by rabia.elizabeth to Health & Fitness at 12:27 AM - 18 answers

I'll be in Tokyo this summer (in Shinjuku) with my partner, elementary school kid and older parents. I'm feeling stuck on lunch and dinner spots to go to. [more inside]
posted by inevitability to Travel & Transportation at 7:37 PM - 5 answers

Has there ever been a convention for a Cartesian-style plane read right-to-left? [more inside]
posted by Fiasco da Gama to Science & Nature at 5:37 PM - 5 answers

I'm looking for recommendations about the most sensory friendly sweaters and sweatshirts that will be oh so soft and gentle on my very sensitive skin. Example of at least one I like is within. Thank you! [more inside]
posted by fairlynearlyready to Clothing, Beauty, & Fashion at 4:04 PM - 9 answers

Do you know of any contract IT providers in Chicago that are great? [more inside]
posted by wowenthusiast to Computers & Internet at 3:38 PM - 2 answers

As I understand it in a criminal trial there are some alternate jurors who hear the case but are not involved in rendering the final verdict. What happens if the defendant, just before deliberations begin, threatens to beat up all the jurors who vote to convict? If there are not 12 alternate jurors to replace the ones now fearing for their lives what is the outcome? And anyway, the alternate jurors will also be intimidated by the threat. Would you have to start the trial over? Will there be a default ruling of guilty by the judge?
posted by SweetLiesOfBokonon to Law & Government at 2:48 PM - 6 answers

Is it just me or are more and more people using the word "absolutely" as a standard affirmative response (in the place of "sure" or "no problem")? This feels especially noticeable in podcasts, but I also hear the word frequently in bricks and mortar retail and coffee shops etc. Is this a podcast thing? A 2020s thing? [more inside]
posted by spamandkimchi to Writing & Language at 2:45 PM - 14 answers

I work for a company that designs household electronics. Recently, management added a large photo mural to the wall of the corridor that I work on, with 20 head shots of female models using some of the hair products which are one of the wide range of products that the company makes. It's the sort of thing that would be in magazines: there's not a freckle, wrinkle, stray hair or blemish in sight. Everyone has perfect, smooth skin and is thin and young and beautiful. Looking at this mural every day upsets me. [more inside]
posted by iplaytheviol to Work & Money at 2:04 PM - 13 answers

We're taking a family trip to Quebec Province, what novels should I read? [more inside]
posted by vunder to Writing & Language at 12:34 PM - 16 answers

A friend's celebration of their 23rd anniversary includes a quiet movie night at home. They have some favorite standbys they've already seen, but I wondered if the hive mind might have any great suggestions. [more inside]
posted by kristi to Media & Arts at 10:32 AM - 26 answers

We have a pretty small kitchen and then a little area for the dining table. The existing cabinets of the kitchen are already filled with pots and pans, dishes, cups, etc. [more inside]
posted by Forty-eight to Home & Garden at 10:30 AM - 12 answers

Are there any other mechanical keyboards available for purchase that use Kalih Prestige Silent switches? I know that Varmilo sells them (see this example) but I am not a big fan of the the color schemes. Bonus if they are less expensive than the Varmilo keyboards. I am looking for a tenkeyless (no number pad) model.
posted by dhens to Computers & Internet at 8:39 AM - 8 answers

I was attacked by a dog and among my other injuries was a puncture right on the nail bed of my fingernail—like, right exactly on the cuticle. Is the nail going to grow normally after this?
posted by HotToddy to Health & Fitness at 8:31 AM - 16 answers

So Institution X screwed-up and some of my personal info got loose, including my full name, SSN, and possibly my driver's license number. To compensate, Institution X is offering free "Experian IdentityWorks Credit 3B" for 24 months ... [more inside]
posted by ZenMasterThis to Work & Money at 8:16 AM - 7 answers

My sister’s organization has a domain name that was registered by a now vanished member. The registrar is properly suspicious of this claim and I am gathering information before we go to the next step. [more inside]
posted by Tell Me No Lies to Technology at 7:41 AM - 5 answers

I have a strange issue with Facebook events lately. I like to browse Facebook events in cities nearby occasionally. But lately I can't find any events in Philadelphia, PA. I can type in pretty much any other city in the "Location" box on FB Events. I can't find a setting related to this anywhere. This used to work as of maybe a week ago? It's a little difficult to google.
posted by cozenedindigo to Computers & Internet at 7:35 AM - 2 answers

I am looking for Stanley Whitney prints available online (or in the Toronto area). [more inside]
posted by hepta to Shopping at 6:10 AM - 1 answer

Help with a story I'm writing. How would you password protect a folder of material you don't want other people to see, in the mid 2010s, if you're only averagely computer-savvy? [more inside]
posted by unicorn chaser to Computers & Internet at 3:21 AM - 25 answers

I am cleaning up my office, and found two LaCie harddiscs with back-ups from my old work computer. This is good. The first thing I thought is that now I can recover my old photos, not least 600 photos from Japan. But for some reason, I cannot import the pictures from the external disc. [more inside]
posted by mumimor to Computers & Internet at 2:58 AM - 2 answers

If you work from home and have a heavy workload with long hours, how do you find time to exercise? [more inside]
posted by whitelotus to Health & Fitness at 2:45 AM - 22 answers

Does anyone have any recommendations for a process server/private investigator who might be willing (and who is worth paying extra) to head that way? [more inside]
posted by SarekTu to Law & Government at 11:44 PM - 0 answers

I have been (perhaps overly) conservative regarding system updates on my 2017 Intel Core5 iMac with a 1TB onboard SSD and 8GB of RAM, but am now finding some issues cropping up such as Safari not functioning entirely properly. I am currently running Catalina 10.15.7 and am considering updating to the current system Sonoma 14. Are there any potential issues or advice I should be aware of before I proceed? [more inside]
posted by fairmettle to Computers & Internet at 8:45 PM - 4 answers

I have a bread maker. I don't have an oven to use. I do have an air fryer. The recipes I see for focaccia bread only uses the bread maker to make the dough while doing the shaping and baking separately. With the understanding that I might not be making focaccia bread per se, can I just use a typical recipe but for the entire bread making cycle in the machine? What adjustments should I make? Otherwise, how should I interpret the recipes so I'll just make a proven dough that I can portion out to bake in the air fryer?
posted by cendawanita to Food & Drink at 7:06 PM - 4 answers

I know light colored suede is fated to eventually stain or get dirty, but I fell in love with a pair of espadrilles, and I'd like to give them the best chance this summer. Which of the many sprays out there can I trust to protect the light colored suede and not to stain it when I apply the spray? [more inside]
posted by gigimakka to Clothing, Beauty, & Fashion at 6:09 PM - 4 answers

My wife and I recently flew on Frontier from Denver to Orlando. We were supposed to be back in Denver for one day, after which I would fly to San Antonio on United for a high school reunion and to see the eclipse. tl;dr: Because of problems on both Frontier flights, we have more than $1000 in out-of-pocket expenses. Frontier is offering only a $100 voucher for future flights. How can we get reimbursed? [more inside]
posted by lukemeister to Travel & Transportation at 5:44 PM - 5 answers

Contemplating leaving Toronto for another Canadian city. Taking recommendations. [more inside]
posted by cotton dress sock to Home & Garden at 2:35 PM - 9 answers

I had access to Adobe Pro which ended when my contract ended with the owner of the account. Now I can't get a PDF to open at all. [more inside]
posted by tafetta, darling! to Technology at 1:55 PM - 13 answers

Two adults who never been to Europe will be traveling from Orlando, Florida to London in early September of 2024. Tips and suggestions for finding flight deals requested, details inside! [more inside]
posted by Brandon Blatcher to Travel & Transportation at 12:01 PM - 5 answers

Any way to buy or get the audio of Jorgen Dahl Moe's devestatingly great cover of Dancing in Dark without the Voice's judges' commentary?
posted by dobbs to Media & Arts at 11:42 AM - 4 answers

I've just gotten an email from my home insurance provider telling me I'm going to have to do a self assessment and I don't know what to expect. More than a little bit nervous. [more inside]
posted by ivanthenotsoterrible to Work & Money at 11:34 AM - 3 answers

My wife and I are looking for an iOS app to keep track of our discretionary spending. All the budget apps that we’ve found so far are too feature-heavy and complex for our needs. We don’t need something that automatically tracks electronic purchases, categorizes them, makes suggestions or anything like that. Just something where when we spend money, we can quickly open up an app and be prompted to enter the amount and brief description and it’ll auto-add the date. [more inside]
posted by saturday_morning to Computers & Internet at 10:42 AM - 7 answers

I loved Aritzia TNAChill leggings. I am not a fan of their new cotton legging, the Hold It - they added more spandex, which makes it tighter and less breathable. The Chill were perfect for, well, chilling. Other specifications below: [more inside]
posted by wheatlets to Clothing, Beauty, & Fashion at 10:13 AM - 3 answers

I'm going to be spending a few days in the UK likely in the late fall or winter and these cities are my options: Bristol, Durham, Rugby and Glasgow. Which should I visit? [more inside]
posted by lizard2590 to Travel & Transportation at 9:18 AM - 10 answers

I admin a private Telegram group where the same questions get asked over and over. A perfect solution would be an AI Help chat bot that uses trusted posts as info sources to answer these repetitive questions. Does this exist? [more inside]
posted by queue_strategy to Technology at 8:42 AM - 2 answers

I've just started looking into hot tubs again. I've discovered that one can get 110 or 220v (In US) and that one can get refurbished tubs. What is your experience/opinion on these?
posted by falsedmitri to Home & Garden at 8:24 AM - 3 answers

A lot of productivity advice recommends figuring out what the most impactful tasks you have are, and focusing more of your energy on these. This is good advice, but how do I know what those tasks are? (Aside from asking my boss.) I do a variety of things: is it most important that I do them quickly, or that I do them well, or that I am pleasant to the people requesting them? How do I determine what my focus should be? Please recommend an exercise to help me figure out what the values are in my workplace so that I can strive for excellence. I really want to do well in this job.
posted by epanalepsis to Work & Money at 7:25 AM - 18 answers

My spouse and I are traveling and staying in a few different lodgings. I have developed symptoms of bedbug bites, starting 3 or 4 days ago. He hasn't developed any symptoms. [more inside]
posted by happy_cat to Health & Fitness at 4:43 AM - 17 answers

Please give me advice about getting a Cecil Bruner cutting cross country. [more inside]
posted by atomicstone to Home & Garden at 2:48 AM - 4 answers

Did you change or discontinue a bad habit partly or wholly by replacing it with an innocuous other activity? Please tell me more! [more inside]
posted by humbug to Grab Bag at 5:26 PM - 20 answers

What brand of scarf is this? Came across this scarf at a thrift store. Can not read the name on the logo. Google image search is failing me. Any ideas?
posted by Ike_Arumba to Clothing, Beauty, & Fashion at 4:20 PM - 3 answers

My 16 year old daughter has asked to see a therapist. Thing is, I'm currently unemployed and uninsured -- so this will be entirely out of pocket, and I'm looking for affordable options. Online is fine. Even preferred. [more inside]
posted by nandaro to Health & Fitness at 3:31 PM - 14 answers

Yet another "please help me find an email client for a senior" question! [more inside]
posted by pdb to Technology at 2:04 PM - 9 answers

My sister wants my mom to come live with her due to her Alzheimer's; I am asking for a little time to find out what our options are re: assisted living. Is that a big ask? [more inside]
posted by Kitteh to Human Relations at 1:24 PM - 30 answers

YANML but I find this area of law to be a confusing maze. And my pregnancy brain has lost some of its processing power. What laws do I need to be aware of that offer me some protection in the workplace while I’m pregnant in NYC? [more inside]
posted by Riverside to Work & Money at 1:15 PM - 4 answers

I am looking for non-screen activities to do with a parent and a 12 year old kid. [more inside]
posted by Number Used Once to Sports, Hobbies, & Recreation at 12:35 PM - 4 answers

I am going to make some hats like these for plastic animals for a birthday cake [If you don't want to bother clicking, they're just little paper birthday hats). I was thinking it sure would be convenient to hot glue the hats onto the animals. If I do, will I be able to just peel/pull the glue off afterwards without damaging the animals?
posted by If only I had a penguin... to Grab Bag at 12:07 PM - 9 answers

I learned from someone on here to put a damp paper towel over a frozen burrito when microwaving, and, voila, no more rock hard tortillas! However ... sometimes the paper towel sticks to the burrito. Plus, I'm sure there is advanced technology for this! Any other tips?
posted by bluesky78987 to Food & Drink at 11:54 AM - 16 answers

I'm going to be dog sitting in Los Angeles for two and a half weeks. I'll be in Eagle Rock, and will be working and looking after said dog (who's old and has needs), so this isn't exactly a vacation, but I will have some time to go do stuff. I have a short list right now, mostly museums. Do you have suggestions for anything particular I should see or do -- or eat? I lived there briefly in the early 90s and haven't been there since.
posted by swheatie to Society & Culture at 11:31 AM - 20 answers

I've had cats my whole life, but had never seen this behavior before. Our Older Cat (4) is beloved by our newer, younger cat (2). Younger Cat ADORES Older Cat and seems to get jealous/FOMO whenever we pet the Older Cat -- but not for herself. If she sees us petting him, she will immediately run over to wherever we are and start grooming Older Cat herself. Almost as if to say "that's MY job." What's up with that? [more inside]
posted by egeanin to Pets & Animals at 11:14 AM - 4 answers

My wife and I are planning a vacation from the U.S. to Australia and New Zealand in December, flying business class, which will be an expensive flight. Is there any particular way of knowing when in the next eight months the price is likely to be the lowest? Is there any advantage to buying through an aggregator site vs. the home site of the airline we choose? [more inside]
posted by Horace Rumpole to Travel & Transportation at 10:47 AM - 13 answers

I forgot to add garlic with the onion at the beginning of my vegetable soup. Normally I would have fried the garlic separately and added it, but I felt too lazy and just threw some raw chopped cloves into the soup after the water had been added. Will it make a huge difference? Should I fish the cloves out of the soup now that I have the chance?
posted by iamsuper to Food & Drink at 10:41 AM - 9 answers

For anyone with financial modeling experience I'm wondering how you handle a situation where you need to combine a range of possible cost values into a single number for further analysis. See inside for more details. [more inside]
posted by 12%juicepulp to Work & Money at 10:11 AM - 7 answers

I'm planning a remodel and I'd like to scan a few rooms in my home using an app on my phone. [more inside]
posted by cleverevans to Technology at 9:36 AM - 4 answers

My neighbors, who share a wall of my house, smoke weed. This is fine! What is not fine is my house smelling like weed all the time. Is there a weed-odor-eliminating candle that is NOT weed-branded? [more inside]
posted by sevensnowflakes to Home & Garden at 9:34 AM - 10 answers

I'm currently working as interim CTO at a technology company. I'm a contractor, and I'm considering whether or not to apply for the role on a FTE basis, but I'm worried about just adding yet another middle-aged white male C-suite member to the world. [more inside]
posted by gmb to Work & Money at 7:33 AM - 15 answers

Let's say I have booked a flight from Paris to Chicago via New York. But I have decided I want to stay in New York for a couple of days before flying on to Chicago. Is there any problem with just not showing up for the connecting flight and booking a separate NY to Chicago flight for later? I will have to get my luggage in New York anyway so that's not an issue. I just want to check if there is any negative consequence to being a "no show" on a flight I have checked in to. (Bear in mind that I will have a flight back to Paris a couple of weeks later with the same airline).
posted by rouleur to Travel & Transportation at 7:13 AM - 17 answers