Favorites from Kwine
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Songs about being in love for a long time
What are your favorite songs about long-term relationships? Can be about people going through it (Can We Hang On) or unrepentant fluff (Ten Years), but should NOT be about people who remain together through sheer force of loathing (No Children etc.)
Como se dice "Podcast"?
It's a bit aspirational for me to learn another language, but I think podcasts could help
What to ask your elderly parents about what's next
In a previous question I mentioned needing to talk to my elderly parents about longterm planning and user basalganglia said it was "probably a whole 'nother question in itself". So this is that whole 'nother question. What questions should I be asking my aging parents about their next steps? Assume I know absolutely nothing about aging, retirement, long-term care, and so on.
Struggling with learning a language
Really struggling with learning a language - how can I make it easier/more enjoyable? Currently it's a few hours of my week where I just feel stupid and wish it were over. I'm wondering whether it's even worth persevering and that my brain is just not wired to learn a new language.
If you're good at organizing, organize me!
My house is always too cluttered for my own taste. Most of it is not even decorative clutter, but just things we leave around because they don't have a home or need to be used soon and should not be forgotten about. It's really affecting my mental health, though. Can you help me find a better system?
Gentle sci-fi set on space- stations or ships?
Looking for examples of gentle sci-fi set mainly or exclusively on space stations/spaceships, but where the focus is about human relationships rather than grand sci-fi plots.
First steps for adding BDSM and Fetish play to sex life?
Wife and I have long wanted to expand our horizons to include more "exotic" types of gratification. After years of mentioning them in passing, this year our New Year's resolution is to stop talking and start doing. Problem is, there's no "Kinky Sex for Dummies" books, and we have no idea where to begin. Light bondage, latex or leather fetish wear--the list of non-traditional sexual practices goes on and on. What would you do first if you were us?
Cozy history
What are your favorite pop-history books on everyday life?
Toddler lunch daycare strategies
In around a month, we will have to make 5x lunches a week for our 2 year old son to bring to daycare. No food restrictions, there's a microwave but we're thinking cold food easier. Trip is about 20 minutes on public transit, 30 walking. It can get hot. What are your tips and containers to make this as painless, effective and not wasteful as possible?
I only study German for the articles
A friend is interested in learning German. What are some apps or programs that encourage learning nouns together with their gender? For example, it's my understanding that Duolingo does not do this very well.
Any recommendation for language between Babbel or Rosetta Stone?
I'm considering the lifetime/all languages packages from Rosetta Stone for $179 or Babbel for $349 for learning Spanish. Any strong recommendations either way? Or some third option? Might use it for other languages in the future, but Spanish for now.
Ladies of Andor: A SAG-AFTRA interview
For all the Andor lovers
a great interview with Adria Arjona, Denise Gough, Genevieve O'Reilly and Fiona Shaw by Erik Davis.
Your media of 2022
What did you play this year? What did you watch? What did you read? None of it has to be the greatest ever, or even anything that came out in 2022, I'd just like to hear about what you spent time with and what it meant to you.
Mastodon is having its moment in the sun
Mastodon's popularity is soaring,
and it's all due to the chaotic actions of one man. As people explore what else is on offer for social media, Mastodon has emerged as a viable open-source alternative, with no ads. Reuters has an explainer, as does CNN, New York Times, and the Guardian.
What's the latest in cheap cell service?
What are we using for cheap cell service these days? I specifically need a service that will TELL me via text when I have exceeded my data limit and will be charged extra. I just discovered that I have been accidentally leaving my phone with wifi turned off and racking up insane bills with Spectrum and had no idea because they don't text me. So upset.
Less a river of news than a reservoir
Fraidycat (Mac/Windows/Linux/Chrome/Firefox) is a "feedspeeder" for following blogs, Twitter accounts, Twitch streams, and more. Unlike RSS readers or social media news feeds, heavily active follows are given equal weight with less active follows, letting you scan several follows quickly. You can also tag your follows and organize them by how frequently you want to check up on them. (h/t Robin Sloan)
The Show with the Mouse
Die Sendung mit der Maus
(German link) is the oldest kids' show on German TV - it first aired in 1971. Its main charm was its unhurried, affirming and positive approach to children's stories and children's questions. Despite multiple makeovers, the basic format remains the same: each episode has animated shorts (Lachgeschichten) and documentaries about everyday things (Sachgeschichten). But most of all, we children loved the Maus Spots that separated the individual blocks from each other: charming, wordless adventures of a very big, orange mouse and a very small, purple elephant. The best thing is: It's all available online and if your kids are like mine, they will love Mouse and Elephant, too.
What is the VERY BEST book of Christmas sheet music for piano?
Hi, I'm an intermediate piano player* who would like to learn to play Christmas music on the piano. I'm looking for fairly straightforward, but beautiful, versions of the classics, and would like to buy a single book rather than finding versions of each song individually. I'd particularly like to learn "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas". What book would you recommend?
Fess Up About Your Favorite YouTube Channels
I've found lots of good channels over the years from posts on the Blue...but that surely is only the icing on a delicious, curated cake. Share your favorite youtube channels!
Let's start from the beginning
I want to learn more about the history of Europe, with a particular focus on Germany. I'm not interested in the 20th century yet, I feel like that's starting at the end of the story. Do you have book, documentary, series recommendations for me?
Easiest way to learn German?
What is the easiest and most constructive way to learn German? Would it be best to start with the prononucitations first, since they seem the most difficult to grapple with? Should one learn how to spell it first or speak it first? Is a tutor worth the financial investment and time? How long does it usually take to learn casual German? Thanks.
Probable move to Germany and I have SO MANY QUESTIONS
It's looking like there's a very good possibility that I will be transferring to my company's home office in Munich, Germany by the end of the year. We would be there for 3-4 years. I have never been out of the US for more than 1 day. I have a bazillion questions inside!
Spanish videos like Sachgeschichten?
I'm learning Spanish and something which I found really helpful when learning German was Sachgeschichten - short educational videos about diverse topics aimed at children. Is there any equivalent in Spanish?
Good ways to cram German
I’m applying for a job which will require my German language skills and if I get an interview it may be in German. I haven’t practiced much German for the last 10 years so I need to start brushing up now. Any ideas how I can do this? Recommendations for books music films or TV shows that could help? Bonus points if you can tell me how to learn the kind of jargon I’ll need to sell myself in an interview!!
“Anyways, it winds up bein’ some aliens...”
“I had this idea for a video game.”
Soft spoken YouTuber The CrafsMan describes the plot of his conceptual Aliens vs. Shovels video game No-Dig Bill.
Soft spoken YouTuber The CrafsMan describes the plot of his conceptual Aliens vs. Shovels video game No-Dig Bill.
Nonreligious quote for a holiday card when the world is terrible
I'm hoping you can help me find a short, nice quote for our holiday card that acknowledges the horribleness of 2020 without being too hokey or depressing.
Best gifts for a family of 3-6 month old
My brother and his wife had a baby in early September. I’m visiting in November and plan on using my skills as a chef to stock their freezer and treat them to one restaurant caliber meal at their home. that makes up for not getting them a baby shower gift. What do I get them for Christmas? They like food, skiing, have very particular aesthetic tastes, and are both normal and practical.
object based image editor?
i'm not even sure how to word this but does Photoshop or some other image editor have a concept of objects? on windows... right now i used a program called bluebeam to approximate what i want but what I am looking for is approximately: a photo editor that lets you work with an object after you create it. so i draw a rectangle then 10 minutes and 50 edits later i realized i want to change the color of that rectangle or resize it. i DONT want to use a stretch tool or recolor, i want to grab little grips on the side of the rectangle and then drag it to the new size or somehow edit its properties (or god forbid change text i added). paint.net and paint 3D both assume once you are done with that thing that is now PERMANENTLY part of that layer and you can never revise the element. the key challenge of why I am doing this in a photo editor is i need a pixel accurate canvas size and objects need to be pixel accurate so bluebeam (or haha using word or ppt which both get me appx there) fail at the pixel accurate canvas size with an image file output...
hack. slash. loot. lather. rinse. repeat.
Minecraft Dungeons [YouTube][Launch Trailer]
“Minecraft Dungeons, out May 26 on Xbox One, PS4, Switch, and PC (where I’ve been playing it), takes Minecraft’s characters and blocky aesthetic and maps it onto an isometric dungeon crawler where you mash cooldown abilities while running through mob-infested forests, swamps, and volcanic caves. The story sees you save a village from malevolent forces, but really the goal is to kill lots of stuff, get stronger loot, and then kill even more stuff.” [via: Kotaku]
Low Budget Broadway
Actress Mary Neely decided to lip sync her favourite moments from Broadway musicals. The results are glorious.
What Armenians should know about life in America
What Armenians should know about life in America.
The US has always done an excellent job of marketing itself as the promised land, and the global reach of its mass-cultural and media exports to support that narrative is unrivaled. So, I don’t really need to tell you what is potentially good about it. Instead, I’ll speak to the more ambiguous notes.
What should an executive director of a small non-profit know?
There is a chance that I will become the executive director of the small non-profit where I work (15 employees, few funders, annual budget under $3 million). If I don't become the executive director, I will likely take on several related duties. So: specifically what are books and other resources that I can take in to help me figure out this new role?
Advice and Books for First Time Managers?
I recently got a promotion (yay!) and I will be managing direct reports for the first time. I'm really looking forward to this and I want to do a good job of it. I know there are tons of great leaders here on Metafilter and I'd love to hear from you. What advice would you give a first time manager, especially a woman? Are there any books you found especially interesting or helpful?
I’m the Type of Person Who Posts This on Metafilter
Dan Brooks on the culture of Types, the difference between being things and doing them, and the freedom to become something other than what you are now.
Values and Goals
What are your favorite exercises for working through your values? And what tools do you use to set and keep track of your goals? I'm trying to figure out what I value and use that to come up with some goals for myself.
German language resources
Looking to revise my rusty German language skills as I will need them for work. Can you recommend me resources like books, podcasts, movies etc that I could immerse myself in? I studied German for many years before letting it slide so assume I know the grammar and can understand material intended for native speakers with a bit of effort. Bonus: anything using international/European relations vocabulary.
Haunt me
I used to read every horror novel I could get my hands on, but for the past several years I've been reading in other genres. I miss curling up with a good scary book, and today's dark, rainy weather reminded me that I have a lovely 10 days of stayacation ahead of me. What should I read?
:siren: calling all ice cream making mefites :siren:
I make a lot of ice cream, but I've never made just plain vanilla ice cream, which is what I've been charged with for an upcoming celebration. What's the best vanilla ice cream you've ever made? Please share your secrets!
honest, narrative, and straightforward
I am almost done with Normal People and I want more.
Leadership porn, a subset of competence porn
Some books I've read have featured characters who are really good at delegating tasks to the right people, figuring out what makes people tick in such a way as to best encourage/empower them, having honor/integrity as a leader in a way that inspires people to follow them, etc. Being really competent at leading/managing.
Turns out I love this and want more!
Cozy, satisfying historical fiction for Fall
As Fall begins in the Northern Hemisphere, I am hoping to curl up with some historical fiction that could be described as cozy. For example, scenes in firelit rooms while it rains outside; passing long, chilly nights; comfy interiors; hearty meals.
Pregnancy books for a feminist dad-to-be
My partner is unexpectedly pregnant. We're both early 30s and contemplating keeping the pregnancy. It's the first time for both of us. I - a standard-issue cis white guy - want to read books for expectant partners, as distinct from other kinds of pregnancy books, but my god does that genre contain a lot of crap. Can anyone recommend books with good politics for partners-of-pregnant-people?
Campfire songs with a baseline
I love singalong campfire songs where the groups sing different parts. Can you give examples, with links?
Demonstrating leadership skills
How would you demonstrate leadership skills, in the context of applying for jobs, if you have never managed a team or been someone’s supervisor, and are not really the sort of person who takes charge in a group setting?
Where can I find business case studies?
I got hooked on reading business case studies (they're like a weird cousin of longform magazine articles -- I just like 'em), and I've run out of my supplies. The Harvard Business Review books don't appear to be case studies, but mostly articles (and I generally don't enjoy HBR articles). I'm happy to pay for them, but buying case studies from HBR one at a time is prohibitively expensive. I've found a few released by consulting firms in the wild, but I would love a stable source of them. Thanks!
Advice for an American wanting to expatriate permanently?
I'm 44 and single, and I live a reasonably decent life in Manhattan, but the values of my country (insofar as Manhattan reflects the U.S.) don't suit me anymore. I've been considering restarting in Europe or Canada.
Radical protest music
I read this article with Tom Morello and he says “Don’t wait around for Rage Against The Machine. Form your own band and get it done". I'm struggling to think of any bands that are doing their kind of protest rock today. Any suggestions?
Recommend a fantasy novel?
Becoming a bit bored with all the sci-fi - can someone recommend a fantasy novel? (Specific interests inside)
The Social Justice Toolbox: a resource for educators & facilitators
Created by Meg Bolger, the Social Justice Toolbox has lesson plans/activity guides for educators and facilitators who want to introduce issues of diversity and inclusion in their classes and workshops. Activities range from low to high trust requirements and topics cover a range of social justice issues including race and racism; what it means (and how to be) an ally; privilege; intersectionality; respectful pronoun use.
YouTubers to subscribe to
Looking for recommendations for underrated YouTubers. I currently subscribe to a few illustrators/animation artists, Ask A Mortician, some Let's Players, and generally enjoy highly skilled people demonstrating or explaining what they do best. But for the purposes of this question let's assume non genre specific. Please recommend me anyone who is producing regular high quality content that isn't already super famous. Thanks!