I understand that not all organic cotton is equal. Which brand(s) do you trust for their procurement and ethical practices?
posted to Ask MetaFilter by splitpeasoup at 3:26 PM on May 4, 2024 (5 comments)

People who care about internet monoculture and control are often told they’re nostalgists harkening back to a pioneer era. It’s fiendishly hard to regenerate an open and competitive infrastructure for younger generations who’ve been raised to assume that two or three platforms, two app stores, two operating systems, two browsers, one cloud/mega-store and a single search engine for the world comprise the internet. (Noema sl)
posted to MetaFilter by Kitteh at 5:19 AM on May 2, 2024 (51 comments)

I would like to print, frame and hang some digital photos that I have taken (DSLR and iPhone). I would like to have 5 photos printed larger than 8"x10" and 5-10 photos printed between 4"x6" and 8"x10". What are the best practices for preparing and printing digital photos (cost effectively)?
posted to Ask MetaFilter by bruinfan at 9:20 AM on May 2, 2024 (6 comments)

I'm trying to improve my morning routine.(Which right now consists of coffee and doomscrolling...) I'd like to incorporate a 10-20 minute meditation, guided or otherwise, but I keep striking out. Largely, I think, because I struggle with anything that focuses on breath and with certain kinds of visualization. I'd really appreciate ideas.
posted to Ask MetaFilter by jeszac at 9:01 AM on April 29, 2024 (20 comments)

My laptop crashed and, with it, my entire RSS reader's links directory, which I had been lovingly cultivating for 10 years. As I rebuild it from scratch, I figured I'd ask this community for some recos.
posted to Ask MetaFilter by missjenny at 5:56 AM on April 29, 2024 (14 comments)

I "studied" piano in college and played the flute prior to that complete with music theory classes. I want to get back into playing piano as it by far my favorite instrument but I have questions. If you picked up piano (or any instrument) later as an adult, I'd love your advice.
posted to Ask MetaFilter by tafetta, darling! at 12:18 PM on April 28, 2024 (11 comments)

Life After Running Athletes are often defined by their physical strength. Who are they when they lose it?

It is not a replacement for running, but to live with a chronic condition is to become an expert at negotiating between one’s wants and one’s capacities. It means constantly hacking away at the richness of one’s life—there is nothing casual about it.

posted to MetaFilter by hydropsyche at 3:57 AM on April 24, 2024 (48 comments)

A while ago, and I think this was on metafilter, someone linked an invective filled and thorough explanation of how color and perception worked especially with regard to computer displays and graphics, including all the different color models and spaces that had been invented over the years. It was very informative and now I can't for the life of me find it.
posted to Ask MetaFilter by Zalzidrax at 12:50 AM on April 24, 2024 (4 comments)

I'm looking for dishes where the taste, appearance or "wow factor" is much more than the effort, time or money put into the dish. For the purposes of this question, there are no other restrictions.
posted to Ask MetaFilter by NotLost at 4:18 PM on April 23, 2024 (55 comments)

I've been reading a lot of literary fiction recently and need a break. Could you recommend some entertaining, relatively recently published genre fiction for me to read this summer? Any "genre" genre is welcome - science fiction, fantasy, mystery, romance, horror, thriller, etc. and respective sub-genres are all great. Of course, I have snowflakes:
posted to Ask MetaFilter by cimton at 3:01 PM on June 8, 2018 (33 comments)

I bought this Uniqlo polyester fleece in November. It's already thoroughly squidged in pressure areas. Is there any way of re-fluffing it, or is it a goner? A clothes brush doesn't penetrate.
posted to Ask MetaFilter by Klipspringer at 3:07 AM on April 23, 2024 (7 comments)

I have three months full time in the pottery studio coming soon, and I welcome your help in developing a syllabus (as it were) of goals/projects to take my pottery game to a more advanced level!
posted to Ask MetaFilter by LittleFuzzy at 11:52 AM on April 30, 2019 (9 comments)

This seems like a silly question but I am looking to start putting my hair up more. I have never done this; I've always air dried it and worn it loose. Any tips for someone quite new to this?
posted to Ask MetaFilter by unicorn chaser at 2:54 AM on April 10, 2024 (6 comments)

I have literally never worn white clothes before. I’m starting to. The reason I’ve never worn whites is because I’m a messy puppy. I want and need to keep my whites nice, bright, unstained, and crisp. Please share your LIFESTYLE and LAUNDRY tips for maintaining pristine whites.
posted to Ask MetaFilter by Balthamos at 8:50 AM on April 20, 2024 (15 comments)

The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows: Uncommonly Lovely Invented Words for What We Feel but Cannot Name A review by Maria Popova on her blog The Marginalian.
posted to MetaFilter by Ten Cold Hot Dogs at 4:41 AM on April 14, 2024 (8 comments)

Are there blogs like Smart Bitches Trashy Books, but for other genres?
posted to Ask MetaFilter by 168 at 2:07 PM on April 13, 2024 (8 comments)

What is the best content on audible that is included with a standard subscription? So far, for example, I have found the complete Sherlock Holmes read by Stephen Fry, and a handful of shorts set in METAtropolis by some of my favorite authors, a couple Scalzis, the first Murderbot. What else should I look at (har har). Outstanding reader and outstanding content both welcome.
posted to Ask MetaFilter by bq at 6:47 PM on April 13, 2024 (15 comments)

Looking for a comprehensive, continually updated list of celebrity book clubs with ALL of their monthly picks. I know how to find info on individual book clubs. I'm looking for a list (ideally printable) that has all this info in one place. Does this exit? If so, where?
posted to Ask MetaFilter by WithWildAbandon at 5:19 AM on April 14, 2024 (2 comments)

I have looked and looked and cannot find a solution to our problem. We have a foundation with a footprint that is smaller than the house on two sides (cantilevered). The landscaping around the house comes up higher than the cantilevered sections, leaving trapped crawlspaces under each. Because of this, we get pest problems from time to time. Is there a service that will blow pest-proof filler into these areas?
posted to Ask MetaFilter by Don_K at 7:33 AM on April 1, 2024 (6 comments)

My therapist advised me to do something that physically feels good every day. Baths feel nice to me, but I'm struggling to come up with other ideas, probably because my brain has been dulled by burnout. Any ideas?
posted to Ask MetaFilter by toucan at 12:43 PM on March 31, 2024 (43 comments)

Based on the 1972 BBC series and comprised of 7 essays, 3 of which are entirely pictoral, Ways of Seeing by John Berger is a seminal work which examines how we view art.
posted to MetaFilter by chavenet at 12:43 AM on March 31, 2024 (11 comments)

Please recommend books, videos, free courses, podcasts, and such that will help me learn two things: 1. How music works. From “what is a scale” on up. 2. “Our Musical Heritage”, as the course was titled, back in my undergrad days.
posted to Ask MetaFilter by Caxton1476 at 4:20 PM on March 27, 2024 (14 comments)

I realized a few days ago that I've been dealing with anhedonia for the last decade and it's only gotten worse. Today when I woke up, I decided that I'm finally done feeling this way and I'm ready to help my body and mind regain their capacity for pleasure. I'm so tired of feeling like a husk of my former self. Open to tips, but also hoping to assemble a list of small, everyday actions that I can do to help me reestablish my identity and passions.
posted to Ask MetaFilter by nightrecordings at 9:10 AM on March 25, 2024 (20 comments)

Where would you purchase an especially nice kaleidoscope and/or sun catcher? Brands, stores, or specific products appreciated.
posted to Ask MetaFilter by umwelt at 2:16 PM on March 20, 2024 (11 comments)

I find it a constant struggle to get everything I need to get done done. I am always behind on multiple important things because there simply isn't enough time in the day. However, I see people managing many more responsibilities than I have, so I thought it would be helpful for me to see how other people organize their days.
posted to Ask MetaFilter by wheatlets at 3:19 PM on March 19, 2024 (30 comments)

I would like to buy a key fob for my 2008 Gen 2 Toyota Prius, and I'd like to do it online if possible. I can't figure out what is legit and what isn't online.
posted to Ask MetaFilter by kensington314 at 11:32 AM on March 18, 2024 (1 comment)

Using only aluminum foil, vinegar and a brayer, oh, and a printing press you too can become a lithographer. This is quite fun. I've actually done this. The kids will enjoy this too. Make your own greeting cards, etc.
posted to MetaFilter by Czjewel at 3:33 AM on March 19, 2024 (13 comments)

I have an iPhone X and would love to be able to use it as a baby monitor showing on my iPhone. Is that possible?
posted to Ask MetaFilter by Uncle at 3:16 PM on March 18, 2024 (7 comments)

I wake up with a sense of... if not anxiety then dread. During the day I'm okayish, and can get on with work and be reasonably productive. But everything just feels wrong somehow.
posted to Ask MetaFilter by osmond_nash at 3:33 PM on March 18, 2024 (20 comments)

"Revisiting Greek Automata: Clockwork Robots from the Ancient World" is a video from @fraserbuilds, in which John Fraser makes one of 1st century Greco-Roman engineer Hero of Alexandria's self-driving cars self-propelled automata, with some help from a hand made blow-torch powered by olive oil and pit fired pottery.
posted to MetaFilter by gwint at 2:05 PM on March 17, 2024 (3 comments)

Looking for legit ways to buy/order Onitsuka Tigers in the US
posted to Ask MetaFilter by zara at 3:12 PM on March 15, 2024 (8 comments)

Pop quiz, hotshot. You own a house. There's not really a yard to speak of. No one else has a veto. You can do anything you like with it. You don't care if the house is later listed on sites where people gawk at real estate listings and wonder what on earth the owner was thinking. In fact you want to make it weird, like that one video about the tiny house with fold-away furniture. What do you do?
posted to Ask MetaFilter by Number Used Once at 10:38 AM on March 15, 2024 (64 comments)

I'm looking to buy a small UV flashlight to observe fluorescence in some mineral samples, but after hearing about the party where the NFT bros suffered eye damage from the wrong type of UV lights, I'm concerned about just picking a random one off Amazon. What should I be looking for, and is there a reputable supplier out there? (Difficulty: must ship to EU, would prefer to spend <€20.)
posted to Ask MetaFilter by nanny's striped stocking at 6:27 AM on March 15, 2024 (8 comments)

Can you share your favorite blogs/websites for style inspiration for size 6-10 women?
posted to Ask MetaFilter by shortyJBot at 7:45 AM on March 2, 2024 (2 comments)

I recently became interested in watching anime (mostly after stumbling upon Studio Ghibli films for the first time in my life and thinking they're kind of the best things I've ever seen). Would love some suggestions! More info in the description.
posted to Ask MetaFilter by lizard2590 at 4:03 PM on March 5, 2024 (34 comments)

I would love to be able to draw, but I have zero artistic talent. Truly, zero. Is there any hope for me?
posted to Ask MetaFilter by holborne at 8:21 AM on February 26, 2024 (35 comments)

I have an anxiety disorder that presents with a lot of arm and leg tremors. My therapist today asked me if I could touch my toes and I have never been able to touch my toes and he suggested that maybe I could find release from some of the tension I'm carrying in my body if I can find good stretching exercises. He offered no recommendations so I'm coming to you, dear hive mind! Do you know of stretching/flexibility exercises for someone with zero ability to do any of this that might release stored PTSD tension? Videos, classes/programs, reading... I'll take anything!
posted to Ask MetaFilter by hippybear at 4:03 PM on January 31, 2024 (31 comments)

I would like to stretch my book-reviewing and writing muscles — do you have any tips or guidance on how to do that in the year 2024?
posted to Ask MetaFilter by socky_puppy at 12:06 AM on January 30, 2024 (3 comments)

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.
posted to Ask MetaFilter by unicorn chaser at 4:56 AM on January 30, 2024 (23 comments)

Meditation is challenging for my busy brain, but I discovered that repeating the Hail Mary provided a focus for my brain and a good guidance for my breath that wasn't about counting or heartbeats. The problem is that I have complicated feelings around the Catholic church and thus that prayer. I'd like to try replacing it with something less weighted, but I don't know poetry. Can you recommend short poems/passages of text I could memorize?
posted to Ask MetaFilter by platypus of the universe at 6:06 PM on January 15, 2024 (39 comments)

I'm a Software Engineer who's been working for a couple of decades. Not quite a greybeard, but greying. I've been watching the Artificial Intelligence (AI) craze unfold for a while and so far haven't dug much into it out of skepticism. Well, my company just decided to go big on this tech and while I'm not completely sold, I'm on board. How can I get up to speed?
posted to Ask MetaFilter by sl00 at 5:03 PM on January 12, 2024 (11 comments)

The team at Dreaming Spanish use Comprehensible Input to help learners acquire Spanish the way most children learn their first language - by listening to real native speakers.
posted to MetaFilter by sleepy psychonaut at 1:47 PM on January 11, 2024 (36 comments)

Last year I gained 30 lbs and cut my waist length hair off. My slim waist and lovely hair were apparently the main things that made other people think I was pretty, and now that those things have changed, my self image has tanked. I want to feel beautiful again. Hell, I'd like to feel sexy, too. What should I try in order to see myself now as being just as "good" as I was before?
posted to Ask MetaFilter by Hermione Granger at 1:11 AM on June 18, 2018 (18 comments)

I want to look more put together and polished for work, but I don't have a lot of interest or time for beauty/fashion/etc. What are your tips/tricks/hacks for looking put together and polished with minimal fuss?
posted to Ask MetaFilter by pennypiper at 11:52 AM on April 3, 2014 (39 comments)

What are some ways I can get over worrying about how I look or how attractive I appear?
posted to Ask MetaFilter by loveandhappiness at 1:47 PM on May 21, 2021 (15 comments)

Looking for personal opinions about your experience rather than links to articles!
posted to Ask MetaFilter by Eyelash at 7:43 PM on January 5, 2024 (50 comments)

We had our hardwood kitchen and dining room floors refinished in July. They looked *awesome* for about 4 months, and when the dry weather of winter hit we started seeing fairly large gaps that are accumulating gunk, catch on socks and don't look great. Help?
posted to Ask MetaFilter by charmedimsure at 1:46 PM on January 5, 2024 (11 comments)

Quanta Magazine revisits The Year In Math ... Computer Science ... Physics ... Biology
posted to MetaFilter by chavenet at 12:54 AM on January 5, 2024 (4 comments)

What are great things about living in a small house? What are cozy reads about the nice things about living in small places? What did you like about growing up in a small space? What were things that were hard about living in small spaces that you made better, even marginally?
posted to Ask MetaFilter by sewellcm at 2:11 PM on January 4, 2024 (20 comments)

Learning To Play Piano When There Is No Recital. There are lots of reasons to continue or start a hobby even if you cannot become good enough to make it your full-time job. But even as I write that, I don’t really believe it deep down. I believe it for you. I think it’s a great idea for everyone else to do things that bring them joy and have no other benefits. But not for me.
posted to MetaFilter by simmering octagon at 7:57 AM on January 4, 2024 (51 comments)