If your readers/listeners/viewers need background information to understand your story, there are lots of ways to give it to them: characters speaking exposition, environmental clues, overly-detailed maps, omniscient narrator references, sequels, etc. I'm looking for radical approaches: interactive quiz before the story; infographics; author-to-reader messages; reader selection -- these are me brainstorming, but has anyone tried nontraditional approaches in this vein?
posted to Ask MetaFilter by amtho at 9:55 AM on May 6, 2024 (38 comments)

A couple of months ago, I was poking around on AskMetafilter for productivity things. I found my way, via a comment on an oldish-post, to an organization system for computer files that I got excited about, started to implement without even reading the whole thing, and have found very helpful. Now I'd like to read more about the system and I can't find the link again.
posted to MetaTalk by Well I never at 10:50 PM on May 3, 2024 (3 comments)

If a person were to be instantly transported in a way that only the parts of their body that were actually them were to come through, but all the other organisms that live in/on us -- all their intestinal bacteria and eyelash mites and whatnot -- were left behind, how quickly would that kill them, what would be the symptoms, and would it be possible to save them with probiotics or a fecal bacteria transplant or something like that? Also is there a distinction that makes sense so that a virus could still ride along even when all the bacteria we depend on to survive could not? Prefer a sci-fi explanation to a magical one. Thanks!
posted to Ask MetaFilter by Jacqueline at 8:58 PM on April 28, 2024 (13 comments)

Someone told me if you are late to a meeting, say “Thanks for your patience”. I liked that and use it often. A Mefi whose name escapes me, when put in the spot. suggested saying “I don’t want to give you my first answer, I want to give you the right answer, let me get back to you”. I also liked that and use it often. What are the phrases you use at work that help better communicate / frame / set expectations / lead / work with your colleagues?
posted to Ask MetaFilter by jasondigitized at 6:00 AM on April 16, 2024 (53 comments)

They pooled their money to buy an ugly hill. Twenty years later, they're calling it paradise. A group of friends, dismayed about climate change, bought the most degraded piece of farmland they could find. Not to live on, or to make money from, but to transform into the bushland it once was.
posted to MetaFilter by chariot pulled by cassowaries at 8:03 AM on April 5, 2024 (14 comments)

I'll shortly be in London & Copenhagen -- do you have recommendations for fun drugstore finds? Feels like people are always saying "They have better toothpaste!" or "You have to try this moisturizing cream!" or "Try XYZ, it's not available in the US!" or the like. Give me your recs!
posted to Ask MetaFilter by BlahLaLa at 9:09 AM on April 3, 2024 (11 comments)

Our goal is to put durable labels on a high-quality plastic teaching skeleton to help anatomy/physiology students. How best to go about it?
posted to Ask MetaFilter by blnkfrnk at 1:02 PM on April 1, 2024 (17 comments)

Hey there! Please hit me with your favorite vegan-friendly restaurant recommendations in NYC. Note that they do not have to be strictly vegan or even vegetarian—just as long as there are good options for a vegan. Thanks!
posted to Ask MetaFilter by DavidNYC at 8:54 AM on March 21, 2024 (14 comments)

I don't know if the name Erma Bombeck means anything these days. For decades she epitomized a middle America observational kind of humor that was present in a lot of magazines about suburban life. While most of her material was written, she did put out one comedy album: The Family That Plays Together (Gets On Each Other's Nerves) [YT playlist, 1977]. I don't know if we have any equivalent voice in America today and maybe not all the humor works today, but this is a historical document that I got on vinyl from the Columbia House Record Club, and I'm happy to share it here today.
posted to MetaFilter by hippybear at 4:01 PM on March 19, 2024 (34 comments)

What are some restaurants with tasty vegetarian options in Manhattan? Looking especially for places south of 31st, and ideally north of Houston. We'll be there in April, so if it's closing on March 31 don't tell us! We love Xi'an food but aren't sure Xi'an Famous Foods has anything vegetarian. We also love Malaysian food and can't get any Malaysian vegetarian options where we are. Outdoor dining is a plus.
posted to Ask MetaFilter by rednikki at 7:36 AM on March 15, 2024 (13 comments)

What is your favourite inspirational story about a person who made the world a better place or did something extraordinary to help humanity?
posted to Ask MetaFilter by matthew.alexander at 2:51 PM on March 13, 2024 (16 comments)

Hell Gate writer Esther Wang shares a Slack discussion “as a public service, so that no cis man will ever clown you for assuming, as I did, that they don't want to get piss on themselves when they pee.”
posted to MetaFilter by Going To Maine at 9:55 AM on March 8, 2024 (195 comments)

I'm trying to remember where I heard a weird version of Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring. As I recall, it was a piano version that would switch from the usual harmonies to very odd chords, then switch back and forth. I think it was played over the ending credits of a movie(?), maybe on Prime/Netflix/Hulu(?) Does this ring any bells?
posted to Ask MetaFilter by mpark at 8:39 AM on March 8, 2024 (8 comments)

I bought 50 little cards so I can make playlists for my desk/shower/morning coffee and automatically prompt a grocery list when I’m next to the fridge. What other fun and unusual things can I do with NFC cards?
posted to Ask MetaFilter by dorothyisunderwood at 9:48 PM on March 7, 2024 (6 comments)

For the first time, I see clearly that the common denominator of almost all of my problems in life has been that I don't trust my own perception. I know what I think and feel and want, but convince myself that I'm hormonal, or have unrealistic expectations, or am imprudent, etc., ad infinitum. Needless to say, I'm a woman. This feels like a knot hole in the fence through which I can see a whole other version of my life. What can you recommend on this topic? Novels, self-help, movies, your own experiences, whatever. I'm hungry for more perspective.
posted to Ask MetaFilter by HotToddy at 8:35 AM on March 1, 2024 (11 comments)

Going to be in the Chelsea area overnight to see Sleep No More. Looking for recently verified outdoor places where two people can eat in Manhattan, hopefully within a 30 minute walk/walk+transit from 10th Ave and W 27th. Heating is preferable but we will do without if needed. Definitely need someplace for an early dinner; a place for breakfast would also be good. Ideally someplace that serves food suitable for vegetarians.
posted to Ask MetaFilter by rednikki at 6:52 AM on March 1, 2024 (3 comments)

I would love to find the equivalents of the "ask a manager" column or videos or podcasts geared toward running all-volunteer community service and social organizations. I know that some of the management and organizing strategies from workplaces transfer, but in an all-volunteer space I also feel like different strategies may be useful. Any suggestions would be most appreciated!
posted to Ask MetaFilter by mortaddams at 11:47 AM on February 25, 2024 (2 comments)

Looking for recs to either individual teachers, studios or directories for livestreamed classes that you have to register and preferably pay for. Not on-demand because I will never demand a fitness class when the sofa is right there, please. I've searched Mindbody, google and reddit, and while I can find this for yoga, HITT, etc, what I really want is functional fitness or something low-key and not 'yay I lost ten pounds, look at my massive muscles, no pain no gain' sort of ethos.
posted to Ask MetaFilter by dorothyisunderwood at 5:32 PM on February 22, 2024 (12 comments)

This article had nice tables with specific examples of what the learner and the coach should ask each other. The tables were blue. The paper followed some type of model for mentorship of a learner. There are so many articles on coaching in academic medicine. I cannot find the specific one that I read. The key thing is finding a paper where there are very specific examples with verbiage supplied instructing readers on exactly what to say
posted to Ask MetaFilter by Lucubrator at 2:56 AM on February 12, 2024 (3 comments)

Yes -- just that. Want to have lunch in a nice spot, sitting outside near a HEAT LAMP! This appears hard to search for!
posted to Ask MetaFilter by DMelanogaster at 4:54 PM on February 7, 2024 (5 comments)

I'm in the US and want to buy something in the UK that does not ship here. Can you recommend a parcel forwarding service that you can vouch for? Many of these services get mixed reviews. So even if you had a good experience I guess that's no guarantee, but it would still be helpful to hear. Also, were you able to get a price quote in advance so you had some idea of cost before committing?
posted to Ask MetaFilter by swheatie at 12:48 PM on January 27, 2024 (4 comments)

Just thinking it might be nice to have an NYC Meetup, sometime after the busy holiday party season... Perhaps Thursday, January 11? Sunday January 14?
posted to MeFi IRL by wowenthusiast at 3:58 PM on November 1, 2023

Most of us will experience the death of a parent. That experience is unique for everyone, yet there is so much we can learn from each other. Sumana Harihareswara has created an extraordinary collection of resources about Eldercare, Family Caretaking, and End-of-life Logistics: Stuff I Learned. It is full of detailed advice, good sense, and compassion. (created by brainwane, found at MeFi Projects)
posted to MetaFilter by kristi at 11:11 AM on December 7, 2023 (20 comments)

I need a pair of waterproof/water-resistant women's shoes/boots that don't make me look like I'm about to go hiking.
posted to Ask MetaFilter by skycrashesdown at 8:42 PM on December 5, 2023 (16 comments)

I'm sure a bunch of us have seen the XKCD "dependency" cartoon. I'm wondering if there is a rule of thumb for the minimum critical mass to keep a project (open-source software or anything else) afloat if one super-committed contributor stops contributing.
posted to Ask MetaFilter by adamrice at 2:59 PM on November 7, 2023 (5 comments)

Seeking information on if this is a thing: a mentor (or classroom) type of relationship with the goal of teaching skills such as facial expressions, conveying emotions, confidence in public speaking, identifying body language tics that you may not be aware of.
posted to Ask MetaFilter by xxx9038709992203 at 11:09 PM on October 27, 2023 (5 comments)

I ride my bicycle through suburban streets at night and want to get cameras to put on my bike that will be able to clearly capture the licence plates of cars that are close to me. Any recommendations?
posted to Ask MetaFilter by any portmanteau in a storm at 7:18 PM on August 29, 2023 (2 comments)

I'd like to mend this hole in my vest, so that down doesn't come out and it looks nicer. I think the shell is nylon but there's no tag. I guess it could also be polyester? It's probably 25+ years old. In theory I could darn it but that seems fiddly and I don't know if that's even the right thing. I'm wondering if there's an easier way, perhaps a drop of some sort of flexible adhesive? Thanks!
posted to Ask MetaFilter by SaltySalticid at 8:57 AM on October 11, 2023 (7 comments)

There is plenty of rhetoric out there that might encourage a parent to question their child in this moment that’s designed to scare them into inaction or, worse, outright rejection. There is less guidance for those who choose to believe their children. This is a handbook for the trans-affirming family; it presumes you love your child and want what’s best for them. And while it’s their journey alone, you have the opportunity, and obligation, to help them to become who they are.
posted to MetaFilter by latkes at 8:55 AM on October 11, 2023 (49 comments)

What are some vegan or vegetarian foods that satisfy similar cravings to hard sausages and summer sausages? (For purposes of this question, I'm not referring to breakfast sausages or the hotdog / kielbasa expanded universe.) They don't have to claim to be sausages themselves as long as they satisfy most of these criteria: savory, chewy, lots of fat and protein, salt and umami, and lactic acid tang (or equivalent). Commercial products widely available in the US, or recipes.
posted to Ask MetaFilter by moonmilk at 2:56 PM on September 12, 2023 (21 comments)

Short form: For years I've used a prescription drug (not a controlled substance) which was recently discontinued by its manufacturer. There is no substitute. Local compounding pharmacies tell me they can't get the active ingredient to make up the medication for me. But I really don't want to stop using it. There is no generic available in the U.S.; however, there are foreign generics. How do I do this?
posted to Ask MetaFilter by praemunire at 11:04 AM on May 11, 2023 (11 comments)

Planning a weekend meetup with friends where we can all meet at a location that is roughly equidistant from our respective homes (everyone's driving). This means roughly Pittsburgh, but could be within an hour or two radius of there. The goal of the weekend is just to chill and catch up, sit by the pool/lake, swim, maybe do a little sightseeing or catch a movie, although chilling is the top priority. :)
posted to Ask MetaFilter by leticia at 9:38 AM on August 22, 2023 (10 comments)

Instead I was cast as the villain whose feminism betrayed the integrity of the show
posted to MetaFilter by Etrigan at 6:33 AM on August 19, 2023 (31 comments)

Even now, shame and stigma surrounding incontinence has caused severe damage to my self-worth and interpersonal relationships. "I know I’m not the only person who must feel this way. 25 percent of young women and 44 to 57 percent of middle-aged women (“women” is presumably used here to mean “people assigned female at birth”) also experience “some involuntary urine loss,” according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists journal, Practice Bulletin. And doctors can’t be prepared to offer long-term solutions to incontinence if they’re not even prepared to even talk to their patients about it. 50 to 70 percent of people who experience incontinence don’t seek treatment for it, likely due to the same stigma I’ve experienced for most of my life, which can lead to greater health risks."
posted to MetaFilter by Bottlecap at 4:29 AM on July 11, 2023 (20 comments)

The human voice has to be one of the most powerful conveyors of our personalities ever. There seems to be tons of books written on body language, conversation, social etiquette and social skills. However, most of these seem to gloss over the aspect of ourselves which is much more visceral - the human voice.
posted to Ask MetaFilter by jacobean at 4:44 AM on July 11, 2023 (9 comments)

I've received a variety of emails relating to claim settlements for class action lawsuits (recently: facebook, safeway, zoom). How do I know these are real and not an elaborate spam/phishing attempt?
posted to Ask MetaFilter by hydra77 at 10:13 AM on June 23, 2023 (4 comments)

Henry Hobson runs a successful bootmaker's shop in nineteenth-century Salford. A widower with a weakness for the pub opposite, he tries forcefully to run the lives of his three unruly ...
posted to FanFare by latkes at 7:43 AM on July 6, 2015 (7 comments)

I'd like to buy my 6yo a digital camera. It's first big use will be an upcoming roadtrip/camping trip/music festival. Ideally I would love it to be waterproof. I don't want any games on it (why is that even a thing?). Bonus if it has wifi or bluetooth and can auto-upload to an android app. Also, decent picture quality would be nice. I wouldn't want to spend more than 100-150 CAD. Based on the reviews I was sold on the Olympus Tough TG-6, but that's like $600 which is way too much.
posted to Ask MetaFilter by If only I had a penguin... at 5:19 AM on June 30, 2023 (5 comments)

Have there been any innovations or improvements to pandemic face masks in the last year or so—especially as relates to comfort, fit, seal, durability?
posted to Ask MetaFilter by rollcredits at 4:38 PM on June 29, 2023 (15 comments)

I'm in the planning phase of a project that will involve receiving short-ish (say, 30sec-3min) video submissions from members of the public. I'd like to make this as easy as possible for people to do. What are good, affordable solutions for something like this?
posted to Ask MetaFilter by gauche at 9:21 AM on June 29, 2023 (3 comments)

I have not rented a car in a long time and it always makes me anxious -- what insurance do I need? What does my (Bank of America) credit card cover? Am I being tricked into a car I don't want? Why is this so expensive?
posted to Ask MetaFilter by caoimhe at 2:02 AM on June 26, 2023 (18 comments)

I've got regular culinary sage and pineapple sage growing in excessive profusion, and I have to cut them both back regularly, so I'm harvesting large amounts of both. The Internet is happy to provide me with many listicles asserting that consuming infusions of these leaves MIGHT have all kinds of great effects! Also rinsing my hair with them MIGHT be terrific too. Verily, all kinds of things might happen. Have you ever experienced any such thing actually happening?
posted to Ask MetaFilter by fingersandtoes at 10:51 PM on June 25, 2023 (15 comments)

A friend who strongly prefers quiet restaurants is coming to NYC. Not my area of expertise. I'm looking for a place for a weekday night dinner that is most of all quiet and conducive to conversation, but ideally also tasty and likely to be available around 6 pm on a Wednesday next week. Looking for a place near Penn Station (midtown west/chelsea generally fine) or near Union Square. Price not an object, but not looking for true fine dining (no Per Se or Eleven Madison Park). Thanks in advance!
posted to Ask MetaFilter by slide at 6:15 PM on June 20, 2023 (6 comments)

What it says on the tin. Snowflake details inside!
posted to Ask MetaFilter by wooh at 11:01 PM on March 14, 2022 (14 comments)

People in the US waiting for passports often have to call the passport info line as their travel date approaches to move things along, but that number is swamped and on many tries plays a long recorded apology before hanging up. This iPhone/iOS shortcut lets you redial the moment that apology starts, so you can immediately try again, with a minimum of effort.
posted to MetaFilter Projects by zippy at 5:51 AM on May 24, 2023

I am a 1-year-old Irish setter who really, really wants to go on vacation with my two humans this July. But if you know any setters my age, you know that I require one of three things out of every day: to chase other dogs with great abandon around a large, happy enclosure, to run free in the woods, or to drive my humans crazy.
posted to Ask MetaFilter by baseballpajamas at 11:14 AM on June 2, 2023 (5 comments)

I quite often have a beard, and I prefer a longer one. However I am aware that beards reduce the effectiveness of masks worn to lower the risk of contracting COVID. So I have been either clean shaven or keeping my beard length to <= 5mm for the last couple of years. What are my best options in terms of mask shape/brand/type and beard length? My goal is to have the longest possible beard that is consistent with still having some protection against airborne virus.
posted to Ask MetaFilter by i_am_joe's_spleen at 8:22 PM on June 1, 2023 (4 comments)

My doctor has given me two options to help lower my A1C, and I'm wondering what experience people have had with metformin and Trulicity. I'm currently using metformin, and my doctor said I should either increase my dose or switch to Trulicity, and I'm curious how other people may have made a decision about these options.
posted to Ask MetaFilter by davidstandaford at 12:16 PM on September 14, 2021 (10 comments)

I like having over the air tv, and would like to add it to my laptop, esp. for road trips. Looking for a compact tv tuner, hoping there's a sweet spot for performance, price, ease of use, compact size. Would be pleasant to be able to add an antenna.
posted to Ask MetaFilter by theora55 at 9:24 AM on May 6, 2023 (3 comments)

Looking for a driving simulator game that simulates actual North American driving, in all its dullness and terror, for Switch, iOS, or PC. I would like to brush up.
posted to Ask MetaFilter by Countess Elena at 9:27 AM on May 6, 2023 (8 comments)