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After many years of hearing my cat cry at her water bowl at various points during the day regardless of the weather, I've finally discovered the cause: she doesn't like cool or cold water. In fact, she wants it very, very warm. Is there a safe way to provide this on the daily in addition to me refilling her bowl and plopping her in front of it periodically?
posted by The Adventure Begins to Pets & Animals at 5:17 AM - 4 answers

Yay, I bought a new cargo ebike! Boo, they seem to have discontinued the panniers. What panniers are compatible with this bike? [more inside]
posted by latkes to Shopping at 9:53 PM - 3 answers

I am confounded. We - husband and I - migrated to the US in 1993, with our two British-born sons. My husband is a UK citizen. I am a citizen of NZ. We both have US residency status. And we got married in the UK in 1987. If we understand what we have been told - we are suddenly required to remarry in the US. This appears to be an offshoot of the Trump administration enforcement of various immigration requirements. We will, of course, remarry, if necessary. But what are the grounds for this crazy requirement? It feels Orwellian and coercive and intrusive.
posted by anonymous to Law & Government at 7:49 PM - 4 answers

My grocery store sells frozen rolls of thin sliced pork and beef intended for hot pot. What other dishes would be good with this meat? [more inside]
posted by vunder to Food & Drink at 7:01 PM - 11 answers

I need to ship a box approximately the size of 4 shoeboxes, with non-fragile contents, to my daughter’s apt in Montréal. I can’t quite figure out if Canada Post’s strike is actually over, and it seems like they had very mixed reviews for shipping from the US. I would very much appreciate any experience and/or advice about using FedEx, UPS, etc for packages from the US to Canada. Montréal-specific anecdotes even better! (Daughter just moved for university, has no network to ask around for advice yet.)
posted by chr1sb0y to Shopping at 1:54 PM - 3 answers

The ceiling light in my apartment is ugly and I'm trying to find something to make it less of an eyesore. I'm failing at google. Can you help me find this very specific thing? [more inside]
posted by Space Kitty to Shopping at 12:17 PM - 11 answers

I have a denim jacket that is due for a wash. On the back I have a rather inexpertly hand-embroidered patch (I know, try to contain your jealousy). Is there any way the embroidery can survive a trip through the washing machine, or is it curtains for Snorlax? Please assume I won't be doing any hand washing.
posted by btfreek to Clothing, Beauty, & Fashion at 12:07 PM - 9 answers

Of course, on a Saturday, after Christmas, one of my teeth falls out (next to one that had been extracted). I didn't spend all my money on presents, but on the mortgage. I think because the gap felt wider when I touched it (with clean hands!) and the taste on my tongue was different, not like a healed extraction. [more inside]
posted by Rumi'sLeftSock to Health & Fitness at 9:05 AM - 13 answers

If you were around during Gen X' heyday: What novels, would you say, feel extremely Gen X, and why? (Apart from "Generation X" itself.) [more inside]
posted by Omnomnom to Grab Bag at 7:43 AM - 43 answers

This is my cat’s favorite “toy,” and I stepped on it and crushed it a bit. It was shaped kind of like a jack before I squashed it. I want to get more if possible.
posted by octaviabutlerfan to Science & Nature at 7:36 AM - 6 answers

I foolishly bought a phone with a curved screen a few months ago, and tempered glass screen protectors don't work well with it, the last one didn't quite stick to one of the curves, and it's recently smashed anyway. I'm going to try a "hydrogel" screen, but what magic search terms should I use to find something that works? [more inside]
posted by DancingYear to Technology at 6:04 AM - 4 answers

Minced chicken meat which was bought on the 23rd of December and is labelled best before today (27th). Got it out of the fridge and realized that there is a small tear in the plastic. Unfortunately not sure when this tear occurred (before we bought it, or after). Safe or not safe? [more inside]
posted by kinddieserzeit to Food & Drink at 9:03 PM - 9 answers

A very specific part of the Sweet song Fox on the Run is pinging off my brain and reminding me very specifically of some other piece of music that I can't place. Do you know what I'm thinking of?? It could honestly be any genre, but I think I'm hitting on both the melody and the synthyness of it. [more inside]
posted by phunniemee to Grab Bag at 7:48 PM - 29 answers

I’d like party guests to scan a QR code and use their phones to do a fun multiple choice quiz about the birthday boy. But I don’t want to have to administrate the quiz during the party to declare a winner. Is there a website for this? [more inside]
posted by vanilla.extract to Computers & Internet at 7:25 PM - 3 answers

I'm searching for a special item to commemorate a big thing my kid did. This big thing earned my kid a decent sum of money, and they'd like to spend up to $600 on something special. What do they want, you ask? Well. That's where it gets tricky. [more inside]
posted by lizifer to Shopping at 7:12 PM - 24 answers

Please recommend Novels/stories with stories of realistic in-canon rebellions against hegemonic powers, written from multiple perspectives.... microscale : revolutionary cell action, to sweeping macroscale history. Can be sci-fi, fantasy, historical fiction or even history. The rebellion can be violent, or sabotage-based, or politics-based as long as it effectively sticks it to the hegemon and is from an underdog and is somewhat covert. [more inside]
posted by lalochezia to Writing & Language at 5:01 PM - 13 answers

I love a humorous round up of the past year's events. Any recommendations for 2025?
posted by shocks connery to Media & Arts at 4:37 PM - 5 answers

I received from my tinkerer dad what is to me a delightful gift--a slightly old but highly functional 2021 MacBook Pro with a 15 inch screen to replace my 13 inch 2015 MacBook. I'm looking for recommendations of older games that would take advantage of the strengths of this computer and entertain me for my winter break. [more inside]
posted by hydropsyche to Sports, Hobbies, & Recreation at 1:47 PM - 16 answers

I make a garlic oregano dressing that has an olive oil base with other ingredients added. As I don't use it fast, it tends to sit out on my counter after I make it. Putting it in the fridge results in the consistency being "off" once warmed back up to room temp, so I don't like to do that. My question is, how long can I let this this sit at room temp and be safe to eat? [more inside]
posted by Saucywench to Food & Drink at 1:01 PM - 9 answers

I am in dire need of a new playlist for my cardio. Specific needs: -Immediately starts with a strong, fast beat that doesn't let up throughout the song (needs to be at least 102 BPM--White Riot by The Clash up to infinity BPM--Pay to Cum by Bad Brains) -Classic punk and punk-adjacent is most welcome. I will entertain other genres, but this is my favorite. Women singers would be a bonus -Good lyrics are a secondary concern [more inside]
posted by sugarbomb to Grab Bag at 12:33 PM - 10 answers

So we're looking at buying Heat Traks for sidewalk and front steps. They LOOK amazing online, but I don't know anyone who has actually used them and has personal experience or reviews. We don't get a TON of snow here (Central NJ) and I might consider rolling them up and keeping them in the garage and only setting them up when we have storm in the forecast. I'd love to hear gripes or otherwise about how they work for you. THANKS!
posted by mmf to Home & Garden at 12:29 PM - 5 answers

I'm looking for new games to play while on the bus when I forget my book. Because I'm on a bus, they can't require either sound or an internet connection. I can't keep playing Sonic Jump forever. Any ideas?
posted by one for the books to Sports, Hobbies, & Recreation at 11:19 AM - 18 answers

YANMD: On three occasions in the last month, I've had a swallowing issue while eating. It's hard to describe, but it's as if the food is not making it all the way down my esophagus. It starts with the hiccups and a tightness in my chest, and in all cases I had to excuse myself because I was starting to burp and some food came up. [more inside]
posted by Ike_Arumba to Health & Fitness at 8:15 AM - 16 answers

I will be traveling to Chicago from Los Angeles in late January. I am bringing a large winter coat, some heavy duty boots, and various other cold-weather accoutrements that I do not want to wear on a plane for 5 hours. Should I plan to use my carry on and personal item as a container for these items and check a bigger bag? Theoretically I'd change into and out of winter gear at the airport. It'll be a bummer to deal with three bags, though.
posted by The Adventure Begins to Travel & Transportation at 7:17 AM - 15 answers

Diabetes II here. I have a medication that I like but it causes my normal 4am trough to drop into hypoglycemia (60 mg/dL) for about a half hour every night. I only know this because of my CGM, but I'm wondering if 30 minutes a day of low blood sugar is going to add up?
posted by Tell Me No Lies to Health & Fitness at 9:07 PM - 9 answers

Earlier this year, I bought a GE ClearView 8,300 BTU air conditioner (window unit). It cost a bit less than $500. I recently received an email message offering me an extended service plan through Assurant. Is this a good deal? [more inside]
posted by alex1965 to Home & Garden at 12:16 PM - 18 answers

I'm in Illinois, and I've had Cigna health insurance on the Marketplace for years. This year, I was informed by the Marketplace that Cigna would no longer be available in Illinois. And then the comedy of errors began. [more inside]
posted by tzikeh to Grab Bag at 11:55 AM - 11 answers

How historically accurate are the claims about the nature of 5th Century Greek democracy that are made in CLR James' Every Cook Can Govern?
posted by latkes to Society & Culture at 4:54 PM - 7 answers

Should I use a small one person show financial advisor or someone at Fidelity? [more inside]
posted by ljs30 to Work & Money at 2:09 PM - 16 answers

I lost my favorite piece of jewelry yesterday. It was a large rhinestone choker necklace likely from the 1950s or 1960s. Silvertone. What made it unique is that each rhinestone was very large, perhaps nearly half an inch per rhinestone, and they were all the same size, making a very elegant choker like a strand of large pearls, but with rhinestones instead. Each rhinestone had a teardrop shape. I've never seen anything else like it anywhere, but it's also kind of hard to search. Can you help me find one anywhere to maybe replace it? It belonged to my mother, who was a very glam model in the 60s.
posted by shadygrove to Clothing, Beauty, & Fashion at 1:45 PM - 15 answers

Trying to shop for a non-physical gift for a friend who likes things that are cute/pretty, with favored themes including ballerinas, witches, and Disney princesses. Can anyone recommend thematically-appropriate small independent artists/crafters that offer gift cards for their work? Or maybe digital artists? [more inside]
posted by sibilatorix to Media & Arts at 12:50 PM - 3 answers

I like to do reading challenges, and this coming year I decided to read 12 books in translation into English. Any year, but preferably from the 20th or 21st Century. I typically limit myself to 2 books over 700 pages a year, so if you have a recommendation that's long, I'd like to know why it should be one of the 2 long books I read next year. Ideal books would be less than 500 pages. [more inside]
posted by fiercekitten to Writing & Language at 12:16 PM - 31 answers

I am using a Lenovo T15 laptop with Google Chrome, fully updated. Windows 11 Pro. Chrome was working fine up until two days ago or so. I used to be able to have a tab open, type in "meta" and then the metafilter.com address would come up as a suggestion. I could middle-click on that and it would open it in a new tab. Now that feature is not working at all. [more inside]
posted by Slinga to Computers & Internet at 11:36 AM - 4 answers

In the same theme as: Emperor's New Groove, Pacific Rim, Fifth Element, The Mummy (Brendan Fraser), Die Hard, and Big Trouble in Little China -- what else should we be watching? Post your favourite big fun escapist movies.
posted by seanmpuckett to Media & Arts at 10:18 AM - 21 answers

What are the best *experiences* in NYC that are factory tours, behind-the-scenes tours, facility tours, brewery or food production tours, etc. I'm not looking for classes or making things. An example, the tour of the Met Opera was amazing.
posted by andoatnp to Society & Culture at 9:28 AM - 14 answers

I've started getting blocked from a lot of web sites and don't know why. What can I do to troubleshoot? [more inside]
posted by EmpressCallipygos to Computers & Internet at 5:06 AM - 23 answers

I need to get specific tourist souvenirs requested by my children but about to catch flight out of Rome airport. Is there a place in Rome airport that I can get tourist trinkets? [more inside]
posted by jadepearl to Shopping at 2:08 AM - 5 answers

In the last week my relatively new PC has suddenly become unresponsive when I realize the Plex server it hosts is unavailable from my TV. When I check the PC I see that my keyboard lights are no longer lit, the mouse does not wake it, and switching to the HDMI input on my monitor for it does nothing and instead toggles right back to my work laptop which uses the monitor's displayport input. A reboot via the tower itself gets me back up and running but I'm not sure how to a. diagnose the cause and b. fix it. [more inside]
posted by rbf1138 to Computers & Internet at 6:14 PM - 9 answers

The past few years I’ve really enjoyed the New Yorker puzzle issue. I’m looking for a way to scratch that itch more often throughout the year. [more inside]
posted by imalaowai to Sports, Hobbies, & Recreation at 4:52 PM - 5 answers

I'm cooking a bunch of different kinds of chili for a party and want to have alts for folks who don't like classic chili. Thus I'm looking for your most trusted, truly excellent spin-off and chili-adjacent recipes. Give me your pork/green chili stews and your chicken white bean whatevers! Bonus points for slowcooker or instant pot variations. [more inside]
posted by egeanin to Food & Drink at 4:18 PM - 17 answers

I would ask this directly of the CRPO but there's no way to do it anonymously. I abruptly ended 9 years of weekly therapy when my psychiatrist revealed a rock-solid belief in an anti-Semitic 9/11 conspiracy theory. I'd like to discuss my feelings with a new doctor but not have to worry about ending the career of my previous one. Would a new doctor be compelled to raise this type of issue with the CRPO? [more inside]
posted by anonymous to Health & Fitness at 3:02 PM - 8 answers

I have this wild idea of creating printable booklets on certain topics for schools. I have a background in education but no background in graphic design etc. Where do I start? I was thinking of possibly creating them on Canva.
posted by anonymous to Work & Money at 3:02 PM - 5 answers

Celebrating a landmark birthday with a friend with a trip to the Canary Islands. We will be flying to the islands from Madrid in January. The goal is to have a relaxing time hiking, seeing stars, and gazing at lovely landscapes. Definitely going to stay in La Palma for at least 5 days. [more inside]
posted by forkisbetter to Travel & Transportation at 2:11 PM - 5 answers

That's it, that's the post. You read a SFF novel that was new to you even if not actually newly published and it was the best SFF novel (or even the only SFF novel as long as you thought it was pretty good) that you read in 2025. [more inside]
posted by Frowner to Media & Arts at 1:40 PM - 43 answers

In my continuing quest to collect more reading recommendations from AskMe than I will ever be able to get through, I would like to follow up on this comment in a recent thread on the blue for suggestions on books/stories/media that are not “the wrong SFF”. [more inside]
posted by Grinder to Media & Arts at 10:01 AM - 15 answers

I've been planning to start studying a martial art soon (like in the next few weeks). I also learned of this excellent deal on piercings in the town where I'm "home for the holidays." [more inside]
posted by overglow to Health & Fitness at 8:44 AM - 13 answers

Super specific question: if you or anyone you know saw the Fellowship of the Ring in London in 2001, where did you see it? SUB question: did anyone camp out for tickets/entrance? [more inside]
posted by pepper bird to Media & Arts at 8:16 PM - 5 answers

Help me figure out what to do with venison. [more inside]
posted by karasu to Food & Drink at 4:31 PM - 20 answers

This is something that I would have used craigslist for, in the past, but I feel like craigslist is not once it once was, and I avoid using Meta products, which is where I suspect some of the craigslist users migrated. [more inside]
posted by Whale Oil to Education at 3:27 PM - 11 answers

Every Christmas my father would get the Christmas tree home, size it up for its sparser and denser parts. Then he would cut branches out of the dense parts, drill holes in the more sparse areas, and plug the branches in to the holes to fill the tree out. Was this part of your holiday tradition? Where does this practice come from? [more inside]
posted by kensington314 to Home & Garden at 10:49 AM - 42 answers

I have a collection of quad/5.1 albums in WAV and FLAC format that I want to put on my Plex server, so I don't have to connect my Macbook to my receiver each time I want to listen. Plex doesn't seem to support multi-channel music, so I thought I'd "trick" it by making a mp4 or mkv movie that just contains the audio and an image of the album cover. How can I do this? I have both a Windows and Mac systems I can use to accomplish this. [more inside]
posted by kaisemic to Technology at 10:24 AM - 10 answers

I saw this similar program in Everett, Washington: https://www.everettwa.gov/3212/Wandering-Rover

Is there something like this in the Bay Area? I live in the east bay.
posted by vocativecase to Pets & Animals at 9:01 AM - 8 answers

My Mercedes gla is having acceleration issues. [more inside]
posted by bookworm4125 to Travel & Transportation at 7:31 AM - 13 answers

I have developed an addiction to Küng's bilderrätsel but I cannot afford to travel to Switzerland every month for the latest issues! How can I get them in NYC? [more inside]
posted by Admiral Viceroy to Media & Arts at 6:44 AM - 8 answers

I recently read the book Invisible Women: Exposing Data Bias in a World Designed for Men, and it has inspired me to reconsider my charitable giving. Specifically, I am interested in charities, especially international, that work at a structural level to address the unequal status of women or girls.
posted by NotLost to Society & Culture at 7:27 PM - 15 answers

I will be taking two cats through the airport by myself and was wondering if you all had any tips for doing this? [more inside]
posted by Art_Pot to Pets & Animals at 4:40 PM - 14 answers

I am looking to learn more about the planet Mars. Particularly current research being done about the planet; the search for evidence of life there; what we have learned from sending rovers; what work is being done to try in support of sending people there; what some of the current big questions are. I've been digging through the NASA website, but I would love to watch a good documentary about the topic. Any suggestions?
posted by keeo to Science & Nature at 3:53 PM - 5 answers

I've had three days of bad flu symptoms following my flu vaccine. Does the rapid test positive result I got mean that I have real flu, or just antibodies from the vaccine? [more inside]
posted by dr. boludo to Health & Fitness at 12:02 PM - 12 answers

My partner and I were given less than 24 hours notice of a Christmas gathering, and that was only after he called his family. I'm pissed but trying to be rational. Help? [more inside]
posted by Saucywench to Human Relations at 9:06 AM - 37 answers

I have a Roland FP-10, which as audio out has only headphone level sound. I want to listen to videos from my computer as I play my piano for lessons. [more inside]
posted by nothing.especially.clever to Technology at 8:39 AM - 2 answers