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Decision paralysis on bathroom flooring

Published: March 17, 2026 20:46

My bathroom floor suffered water damage recently, and because of the marble tiling, it won't completely dry out without removing the tiles. That means I'll need a new floor, but what material would be the best balance of money, cat-proofing, and…

My Apartment Is Warming and I Have a Cat

Published: March 17, 2026 18:30

I am wanting to leave my apartment door open for long periods during the summer, for airflow. Can you recommend a solution to keep my cat indoors? I have no AC and the Southern California summer has basically already arrived. My apartments windows are all…

What is life like in Dublin, Ireland?

Published: March 17, 2026 16:55

We're thinking of moving there. What is it actually like living there, especially if you're a middle-class US ex-pat who has moved there in the last year or two? We very suddenly have the opportunity to move to Dublin. Honestly, I'm pretty overwhelmed and…

Oil or electric heating for refurb of old house?

Published: March 17, 2026 15:48

I am considering my options for upgrading the heating in an old house (1890s, stone and mortar walls) and would like to get the benefit of your collective experience. The house is in a moderate climate area (the West of Ireland). As a result, it is not…

Help me learn from my mistakes

Published: March 17, 2026 14:24

I've just gone through a difficult breakup, which was worse than it needed to be because of my actions. I don't much like the person I have been in the relationship, and I would like to make sure I don't do this again. I'd like advice on how. I am the…

Recommendations for independent news aggregators?

Published: March 17, 2026 13:33

I need a source for news that isn't cluckbait headlines and regurgitation of the same small handful of sources. Various easily-accessible need feeds are all algorithmically pandering to my bias, also full of ads and lifestyle stories I'm not interested in.…

How can I get my clothing to smell fresh?

Published: March 17, 2026 12:21

A lot of clothing I store in both my dresser outside of my closet and inside my closet smells less-than-fresh. Can you advise? I live in a hundred year old building. I have an awesome walk-in closet where I store lots of clothes. I have a dresser that is…

Help me with ideas for a birthday basket

Published: March 17, 2026 00:59

Someone close to me, female, about to be an empty nester, is turning 50 in April and I would like to send a "Gen X woman survival kit." (Please trust me that we have established she is Gen X by virtue of being in the same generation.) What would you put in…

Vacation recommendations in New England and New York

Published: March 16, 2026 21:52

I (M, 52) am going to the Eastern USA on vacation from the UK for the second 2 weeks of July with my 15yo daughter and 17yo son. We are flying into Boston, staying for 4 days, then a road trip of some description for 4 days then finishing off with 5 days…

Should I report this medical practice?

Published: March 16, 2026 17:05

I am trying to decide if the issues with this practice rise to the level of filing a complaint with my state's Board of Medical Examiners. Last year, a routine breast ultrasound showed a growth. Long story short, I ended up at a breast surgeon who ordered…

How to file back taxes after death?

Published: March 16, 2026 17:05

My mom passed away in November 2025 and I've been trying to help my dad, her surviving spouse, file state (MA) and federal tax returns for 2025. Turns out, he's been dragging his feet because he never filed their joint returns for 2023 and 2024. We sat…

Surprise your loved one with legumes!

Published: March 16, 2026 16:49

I read a nutrition study in which people ate one cup of beans EVERY SINGLE DAY and I thought, "I like beans! Beans are affordable! I should eat more beans!" Bean plates sought! I am looking for bean-forward dishes (so not that big of a surprise, I guess).…

Embarking on a hole-y new baking quest

Published: March 16, 2026 13:27

I found a practically new perforated baking sheet by the side of the road. What should I bake to test it out and decide whether it earns space in my kitchen cabinets? Savory or sweet ideas and recipes welcome! Does not have to be wheat- based; I'm open to…

Music for my father's last days

Published: March 16, 2026 04:36

My father is reaching the end of his life. I need some suggestions for calm music familiar to him. He struggles to speak so I can't ask him. I'm not familiar enough with his music collection to be able to pick from it, would love some guidance on likely…

Get me ready for the Gorillaz

Published: March 16, 2026 00:03

Our 10-year-old son has gotten into the Gorillaz pretty big time, and as a surprise gift for his birthday we got tickets to a show when they'll be in town in October. Awesome! The only albums of theirs we've listened to are the first (self-titled) one, and…

Making a decision around dog custody

Published: March 15, 2026 23:41

Since separating from my husband, we have been passing back and forth the dog whom we got together as a puppy a few years ago. I would prefer not to do this and have her all to myself, but I feel extremely guilty about this. Help me come to a decision. To…

Where to go to mass on Easter Sunday in Paris?

Published: March 15, 2026 20:31

I'll be in Paris on Easter Sunday with someone who has suggested we go to mass on Easter Sunday at Notre Dame. This sounds nightmarishly crowded to me. Can you suggest another church -- a beautiful and historic church, but one that might not be mobbed on…

Is a 'freak' book valuable?

Published: March 15, 2026 12:56

Misprinted stamps are considered valuable. Does anyone get excited about misprinted books? I have a Dover softcover with an unusual mistake. The cover is Elements Of Mathematical Biology by Alfred J. Lotka. The interior is Last and First Men & Star Maker -…

Seasonal lakes?

Published: March 15, 2026 10:15

So, Australia has seasonal lakes that fill occasionally, and might be completely-dry for months or years at a time between heavy rains (Lake Eyre being the most famous example.) [Think: sticky mud with no visible surface water; cracked baked dry clay; dry…

Financial advisor for around $100k?

Published: March 15, 2026 01:40

A friend of mine who has very little money is about to receive $100k in a legal settlement. They have zero knowledge of what to do with it and I'm not particularly qualified to assist. Where can they find a fiduciary to advise them, taking into account…

How to wear shoes without mangling the foot

Published: March 14, 2026 16:42

It seems like 95% of new non-athletic shoes I try end up giving me awful blisters and foot pain. I know most shoes aren't really built for a healthy human foot, but assuming I wear sneakers and other "good" shoes most of the time, what are your tips for…

Make your own map app

Published: March 14, 2026 15:21

My almost 12 year old daughter has a sudden interest in treasure hunting, exploring strange places, haunted areas, etc. As I'm all about exploration I want to give her neat tools to assist in this new hobby! We downloaded the atlas obscura app that has…

What kind of hard flooring should I get?

Published: March 13, 2026 23:13

I'm going to remove the gross, ancient carpet in my little house and replace it with hard flooring as a very lovely but sheddy dog will be coming to live here. Can you tell me what has held up for you and what you regret? Hardwood, engineered timber,…

Trust(ee) issues

Published: March 13, 2026 13:40

Is there a better option than a law firm for independent trustee for our trust for our son? Thanks to previous answerers of a similarish question, but taking a crack at some new answers. My wife and I have one child, about to turn 21. We had an attorney…

We love you but...

Published: March 13, 2026 13:20

When someone says "We love you but..." (or similar) before making a request, would you say their intention is to soften the request or to put a harder edge on it? Is it a regional thing? I've only had it said to me once, and it was so many years ago now…

Urgent Warnings in Spanish

Published: March 12, 2026 22:03

Today during a windstorm I realized I didn't know what to shout in Spanish if there was imminent danger like, e.g., a tree falling on where we were working. I asked my coworkers, but didn't get a good answer. In English I might shout, "Look out!" or "Get…

Help Me Organize My Book Lust

Published: March 12, 2026 19:43

I have seveal lists online of books I want to read. These lists (Goodreads and tagged on Libby) have hundreds of books on them each. Neither Goodreads nor Libby will allow me to sort them other than by date added (Goodreads) or availability (Libby). I'm…

suggest more tubes for this boob

Published: March 12, 2026 16:24

I have noticed that my YouTube rotation has become rather stagnant: the same creators on the homepage, repetitive suggestions in the sidebar, same old same old. Can you suggest channels to follow that will reinvigorate my algo and bring me weirdness from…

Healthy replacement for diet soda - not water.

Published: March 12, 2026 16:21

What are your healthy beverages of choice that do not contain artificial sweetener? Picky details inside. I drink way too much diet soda and want to cut it out, and don't want to replace it with another drink that contains artificial sweeteners or much…

streamer not streamer

Published: March 11, 2026 22:51

Today I replaced my old modem/router with a new one because the old one being several years old was starting to drop connections. And then the trouble started..... I installed a new Netgear cable router/modem. Xfinity activated it and all was good. I can…

Seeking best practices to "see" faded ink on letters

Published: March 11, 2026 20:16

I am about to scan some old letters (1940s) and I have a handle what is needed to make a good scan (Tiff, 300-600 DPI, color). But I am looking for guidance on how best "recover" faded ink. Is there a filter to scan with that would provide better results,…

Have you ever purchased bifocals online?

Published: March 11, 2026 18:14

That's it, that's the question. Have you purchased bifocals online, what was your experience like, where did you get them? I have gotten such crappy glasses at such expense from a variety of flesh and blood stores, chain and non-. Glasses that smudge…

Party video games suitable for kids?

Published: March 11, 2026 11:44

I'm looking for more games I can play with my kids similar to Sackboy. That is: all characters on one screen (or splitscreen), co-operative play, 4 players, and either easy enough that a 5 year old can play or with options to give individual players boosts…

Tell me about some great science communicators.

Published: March 11, 2026 02:28

We are on a science communicator appreciation kick in our house. So far we are appreciating Veritasium, Mythbusters, Map Men and Randall Munroe. Who else do we need to be appreciating? We like the humor combined with a fearlessness about getting into…

A frivolous question about jeans

Published: March 10, 2026 19:18

This season in London, I've been seeing so many people wearing stylishly decorated black jeans. Usually wide leg or barrel cut, with all sorts of interesting seam designs, panelling, appliqué, etc. Where are people getting these, and do they come in plus…

What is the evolutionary advantage of a stompy cat

Published: March 10, 2026 16:19

Based on a quick search of previous posts, the stompy cat is familiar to a lot of MeFites. Is stompiness of any benefit outside of domesticated situations? Current cat and previous cat have been notable stompers. They exhibit all the stereotypical stealth…

Grieving many things after a breakup, how do I manage?

Published: March 9, 2026 22:44

So I broke up with the boyfriend of 6 years who you all yelled at me to break up with, for 6 years. It's been 2 months now and it's been a strange process. I'm only just now starting to experience proper grief, but it's bringing up many painful thoughts…

I have to move parent difficulty level complex

Published: March 9, 2026 22:04

I need to move my mom about 900 miles. I'm currently with her after a successful surgery. Difficulties include: mom is on oxygen. There are two properties in her town, recent spinal injury, this will be entirely done in my debt. Help me organize my…

Immigration Terror '26

Published: March 9, 2026 17:17

In an insanely scary situation, my friends have to go to an Immigration office in Los Angeles. I'm terrified and they are too. They have to report in...but also we're all aware that sometimes ICE just straight-up arrests people who are here legally (!)…

Bear groom fairy tale with nettles?

Published: March 9, 2026 11:50

There's a story that I half remember, but can't find. The plot is a woman who lives by some ruins that are covered by nettles, and she starts clearing them off, and a bear comes, and she makes a coat for him, probably from the nettles, and he's a prince…

Can you get used to moral injury?

Published: March 9, 2026 06:39

I might have to put my dad into long-term care (in Ontario). Will try to avoid if possible, but I might not be able to. I don't think I'll be able to deal if I do. Objectively the homes are terrible and I love my dad. How does one adjust to this? Currently…

How did you adjust to progressive lenses?

Published: March 9, 2026 03:22

I just got progressive lenses and its not working out. The upper part of the lens on my new glasses is a very small prescription but it is enough that everything looks weird. Sort of too 3D and very crisp, which I guess since things have been blurry for so…

Dealing with a bad Colonoscopy experience

Published: March 8, 2026 23:21

Did I just have a bad experience or are colonoscopies just terrible? I recently had my 1st colonoscopy. Doc said it was recommended for my age. At first I was hesitant but with the recent death of James Van Der Beek and the rising statistics of young…

Songs about Pets!

Published: March 8, 2026 08:50

I'm tired of listening to songs about (human) relationships, please send me your favorite songs about pets and/or animals. I'm in the middle of a bad endo flare and watching the final of Melodifestivalen yesterday was a great distraction, but there were…

I'm practically Jason Bourne!

Published: March 8, 2026 07:53

What are the pros and cons of me working to get a second EU citizenship (Currently Swedish, optional Czech) that I am eligible for? I was born in Canada, and 10 years ago moved to Sweden and have obtained Swedish citizenship. So I am an EU citizen now. My…

En suite bath vs hall bath in one-bedroom apartment?

Published: March 8, 2026 02:15

Designing basically a stand-alone 1-bed unit (ADU), and am trying to decide between having the bathroom en suite to the bedroom, or having it accessed from the hall instead. What should I bear in mind and what would you prefer? I'm designing this for my…

Guided tours of museums and sights in Paris?

Published: March 7, 2026 20:53

I'll be in Paris for a week with my family of five, including two teen/tween boys. When I was younger and traveled with friends, I always enjoyed traveling with my art historian pal, because she was able to tell me stories about the artists and the time…

The Slinky to Poofy Continuum

Published: March 7, 2026 17:42

What's the happy medium between a slinky slip and a poofy petticoat? I like to wear midi skirts, and I want something I can wear underneath them to give them a bit more body. What I find when I search for slips are super thin, and what I find when I search…

US citizens using a passport card instead of book?

Published: March 7, 2026 17:14

US citizens can supposedly use a passport card for land and sea travel between the US, Canada and the Caribbean. I'd be keen to use this instead of a passport book as it'd be easier to travel with, but am concerned that I'd run into border agents who…

Concentrating on work

Published: March 7, 2026 15:46

I've just started working again after a few months of having no work. I'm finding it really difficult to focus on work, and there's one particular website I can't keep off. Do you have any suggestions to help me? I'm self-employed and work with a colleague…

how have you helped aging parents from a distance

Published: March 7, 2026 04:45

Looking for any tips on how people have helped their aging parents from a distance. My elderly parents have finally started to slow down a bit and are starting to have memory issues. Would love ideas on how to support them from a distance other than…

Stories we tell about concussions

Published: March 6, 2026 20:30

I'm almost done reading Sarah Polley's book Run Towards the Danger. It's a remarkable book, and I have questions about concussion treatment and generally the intersection of chronic health and emotional trauma. I've known a few people with multiple…

How to Keep an Area Rug in Place?

Published: March 6, 2026 20:20

On my bedroom's parquet floor, there is a 4 x 6 area rug that lies on a slightly smaller underlayer, which in turn lies on a smaller grip mat. The rug sandwich stays in place well enough that it's not a slip or trip hazard, but I have to keep making little…

Selling a House - Offers

Published: March 6, 2026 18:04

When my realtor hopefully brings me an offer for a house what do I need to pay attention to? So my house went on the market this week and there's been a request for a pre-inspection on sunday before the open house. My realtor told me that's a good sign…

Healthier alternative to Honeycomb cereal?

Published: March 6, 2026 17:37

My special needs child really loves Honeycomb cereal and the rest of his diet is pretty good but I would love to find an alternative to it that has a similar taste but a better nutritional profile. (I understand the improvement may be marginal given the…

Hide that MeFite?

Published: March 6, 2026 17:13

I've seen people mention browser extensions, or possibly scripts, that hide comments from particular MetaFilter people. But my search skills are not up to finding this. Is there such a thing? Where can I find it?

Touch screen gloves

Published: March 6, 2026 17:13

Why do the index fingers only of my brand new touch screen gloves not work? I run outside all year and wear touch screen gloves when it's cold. I had a pair of running gloves that used to work until gradually the index finger stopped working. Upon…

I want to say one word to you. Just one word. Plastics.

Published: March 6, 2026 16:30

I'm seeking a lidded bathroom trash can where exactly 0% of the bag is accessible to cats. Color, style, etc. are unimportant. I do not want an option where I have to do yoga with the bag to pull it tight here and jam it in there and push it through there,…

Me&Pee

Published: March 6, 2026 03:53

Let's say I was building-out a bathroom and I wanted to include the world's smallest urinal. A personal pee place where I dont need to worry about toilet seats or overspray during my many nightly visits. Something like this which doesn't really seem to…

Silent film era poets

Published: March 6, 2026 00:20

Were there any poets in the early 20th century who wrote poetry that was inspired by silent era Hollywood? I'm specifically interested in poets who were writing/publishing in 1928 or before (using the release of The Jazz Singer as the end point for the…

A very specific metro Tokyo hotel question

Published: March 5, 2026 19:21

The 50th birthday trip is entering its final planning stages, but oddly the hotel situation is harder than we anticipated! Shepherd and I have narrowed down what we'd like to see specifically in the city. It appears that a good chunk of our list is centred…

Future for a neurodiverse & dyslexic child

Published: March 5, 2026 17:27

Hello MeFites, My 7-year-old child has just been diagnosed with autism, dyslexia, gneralized anxiety, and inattentive adhd. She is such a fabulous person and has many strengths. She is creative, artistic, has an eye for fashion, and is naturally gifted…

Getting Through to a Politician

Published: March 4, 2026 23:59

The conservative government in Nova Scotia has just announced a budget that includes massive cuts to arts and culture funding. I'm protesting against these cuts. I have a meeting with my representative booked for this weekend. What's the best way to use…

Fix my stupid scaly toilet

Published: March 4, 2026 22:56

My toilet has mineral buildup inside the two holes (the jet hole and the poop hole). It clogs every single day. Halp Toilet is only 2 years old and gets cleaned a couple times a week, but it has a visible ring of light brown buildup inside both holes. …

Old Photo Scanning (200+ photos)

Published: March 4, 2026 21:13

I recently found an old photo album with a couple hundred photos from a high school trip to China. I am covered on preserving the photos (my wife is a trained archivist) but I'd also like to scan them in so I can look at them easily. I have thought about…

Clever girl...

Published: March 4, 2026 18:23

We're driving a truck with a moving trailer across the country over a multi-day drive with my two cats, one of whom has figured out how to open levered door handles. We're staying in pet-friendly motels but if we want to go out for dinner, what portable…

Trivia with kid

Published: March 4, 2026 16:46

I have a middle school aged kid that is smart and wants to learn trivia (especially history). I'm looking for suggestions on some way that we can interact and the kid interacts with people that can behave. I've never really done pub trivia, but don't…

April in Nikko

Published: March 4, 2026 06:42

We're visiting family in Japan in early-mid April, and Nikko is on the itinerary. We could take three or four days. Have any current tips for hotels/onsen to make our home base, handling the major sights, restaurants/eateries, and other things to try?…

19th century lullabies about Texas

Published: March 4, 2026 02:31

TLDR: I'm scoring the Charlie Chaplin movie The Pilgrim, which is set in Texas, and I'm playing instrumental versions of folk songs about Texas. I need a lullaby for a scene at night. Please recommend to me a public domain (pre-1930) lullaby about Texas.…

Recommend some podcasts

Published: March 4, 2026 01:35

Given the podcasts I listen to, what other ones would I enjoy? I'm in need of some new podcasts to listen to on my commute to work. Given the 3 below, what others would I like listening to? No requirements on length or content, really; my one caveat is…

How safe is FreeTaxUSA and its competitors?

Published: March 3, 2026 23:30

Easy enough question. I've used TurboTax and H&R Block software in the past. Both were fine and seemed pretty secure. I'm filing solo this year again and am interested in knowing if FreeTaxUSA is safe (in terms of privacy and data retention) and compliant…

Please help me understand this Apple Music thing

Published: March 3, 2026 20:21

My iPhone has become almost unusable because there's no memory left, and it turns out the reason is that I have somehow imported or downloaded music to my phone, via Apple Music, while switching over from Spotify. I didn't want to do that. More details…

Where should I go?

Published: March 3, 2026 17:10

I am celebrating a big birthday in autumn. In November it will be dark and gloomy in Sweden, where I live. I plan to fly to meet a buddy in Washington, D.C. and then together we are going to fly to a different city to enjoy ourselves for four days or so.…

Reality Bites!

Published: March 3, 2026 08:59

How do you make boring lifestuff with deadlines and consequences land easier for you? How do you keep from feeling overwhelmed or consumed by things like doing taxes on time, meeting deadlines for important things like enrolling your child in school (or…

Midwest honeymoon locations

Published: March 3, 2026 00:21

For our honeymoon we'd like to do something lowkey and not too far, which for us means in the midwestern US. Pitch us a city, or a small town, or a specific activity! Not requirements, but things that would be nice to have: * Decent public transportation…

How to recover from Concussion and Burnout

Published: March 2, 2026 22:18

Through virtually all of my adult life, I've been pretty fit physically and cognitively. But over the last two and a half years, I've lost so much of that that. I started suffering from burnout around 2 1/2 years ago, and then a major concussion a year…

How to find a part time Nanny

Published: March 2, 2026 19:58

I've been tasked with the research for a newly bereaved friend who needs support for after school child care, meal prep, and light housekeeping in Toronto for approx 3 hours 4 nights a week. I'm not in Toronto and have no network to ask there. So does…

This is for the astrology people of MetaFilter

Published: March 2, 2026 17:13

It's Pisces season, and I'm a Pisces born in the Year of the Tiger. If you enjoy synthesising Western + Chinese astrology, I'd love to hear your take: What themes tend to show up for Pisces during their own season? Does the Tiger year add any particular…

Two paths diverge

Published: March 2, 2026 14:27

Help me decide whether to put myself out there or stay private. I've always been a very private person. Fame is my worst nightmare. However, I do like the idea of making a name for myself in a small community that nobody else knows or cares about - think…