https://ask.metafilter.com/ The past 24 hours of questions at Ask MetaFilter Fri, 22 May 2026 03:14:13 GMT Fri, 22 May 2026 03:14:13 GMT en-us http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss 60
I have a collection of inherited and acquired scarves I love but never wear. I like to have a smallish purse when I go out, but I can't have just a clutch or else I will worry about losing it all night. I also like to have very colorful but coordinated outfits. I am usually a little bit fancier than most people, though I would say I'm more dressed up bog witch than lady who lunches. Purses are kind of a sticking point, as I'm very picky about hardware and functionality and all kinds of stuff but also the fashion goblin in me wants to match and be shiny and such.

I was perusing bags due to a recent askme, and noticed those clear stadium bags that are so common now, and some are actually quite nicely constructed. But I despise the idea of random people seeing my hoard of hair ties and maxi pads and whatever else, and I will never be at a stadium event except maybe by gunpoint so I haven't gotten one.

But this got me thinking. I could just tuck a scarf in a clear bag and put my stuff in that and have a super changeable bag and maybe people would enjoy my scarf collection. Except! The scarf would need to be secured so it doesn't bunch down, and I don't want it getting snagged on my keys or other things. And I've made plenty of furoshiki tied scarf and fabric bags but there's the same problem inside with the snagging plus then my unwashable delicate sometimes antique scarves would be exposed to the elements and even, ew, theater floors.

I'm imagining a purse that basically has a snappable outer casing, that I could lay the scarf onto, maybe fold down some magnetic clips to hold it in place, and then snap back around the interior of the purse. Top handles or crossbody would both be fine. I am not looking for ways to sew a scarf into a bag, the whole idea would be to be able to change them out and not alter my scarves besides folding larger ones to fit and maaaaaaybe temporarily pinning them.

I was thinking there might be some variation on an ita-bag that is like this, though I definitely want a purse and not backpack, waist bag, or sling. I'd probably wear it most often to the opera or symphony, so no worries about something plasticy not being formal enough, but I would love some real leather handles or other metal or wood accents to provide cohesion and so it wouldn't look like I'd laminated a scarf and made a bindle out of it.

Unfortunately the trend of scarf wrapped handles makes searching for this impossible. I am very crafty and even have access to 3d printers and leather working tools and shop space so this might be a long term project, but if I can just buy something that already exists I would love to. Ideally my budget would be less than $200 but I'd be flexible for something perfect.]]> https://ask.metafilter.com/389790/Does-this-exist-and-if-not-how-could-I-make-it tag:ask.metafilter.com,2026:site.389790 Fri, 22 May 2026 03:14:13 GMT Mizu bags fashion Purses https://ask.metafilter.com/389790/Does-this-exist-and-if-not-how-could-I-make-it/rss
The garage is used for a sound insulated recording/rehearsal studio and the sealed up garage door coming apart is a surprise. I'm hoping to clean up the dry rot and seal it up correctly, so I don't have to worry about it for a while.

The end goal is a fully sealed up garage door that is appropriate to withstand the elements in perpetuity like the other normal walls. The hollow garage door part (which is sealed up and blocked by an internal wall and insulation) is simply rotting away. I'd like to do this right and I'd like to do this cheap, so I know it won't be fast! Just not sure where to start on figuring out the project. What type of plywood to use for the external facing side, whether I need to frame it, should I paint it or stain it to extend life etc.]]> https://ask.metafilter.com/389789/Repair-Garage-Door tag:ask.metafilter.com,2026:site.389789 Fri, 22 May 2026 02:25:38 GMT kittensofthenight diy door garage home repair https://ask.metafilter.com/389789/Repair-Garage-Door/rss
I know there's related questions, but here I'm trying to attack my issues at its roots.

Right now I cycling through MeFi, Facebook, Reddit, three message boards, YouTube, four group chats, and instagram. And then there's texts. At lightening speed. And it weren't for age verification laws in my state, I would be on Pornhub. I'm not a minor, but I do not want a porno site having my ID info. Anyway...

My screen addiction is getting in the way of my wellbeing at this point. I neglect certain chores and duties. I stay up too late scrolling, losing sleep. I scroll during traffic and long stoplights on my really bad days.

I.just.can't.stop.

Whenever do happen to find myself without my devices, I feel dead inside. And then engage in other activities that aren't healthy. I wasn't always like this. It got this bad since 2024? I had an internet addiction in my early 20's, but it went away when I started grad school to focus on my academics, got involved in campus activities, and eventually an office job. Had a lot of things going on in my late 20s and all my 30s also, to keep me away from the screens.

But things have settled down lately. I'm trying to find exciting activities to substitute fucking around on my phone and computer. I have not been successful. It's like I have withdrawals. My anxiety and restlessness shoots up. And that's what I want to take care of, I want to get rid of those feelings. Taking away my devices, well...just takes way my devices, not my feelings.

And I'm open to other things besides activities. What has worked for you? Medication? Other substances (legal of course)? Therapy? Having a baby lol?

If you need clarification, please ask me questions. Because I feel like I might have an atypical presentation of screen addiction.]]> https://ask.metafilter.com/389788/How-can-I-yeet-my-screen-addiction tag:ask.metafilter.com,2026:site.389788 Fri, 22 May 2026 01:26:51 GMT anoldfriend6 addiction chasingdopamine internet Phone https://ask.metafilter.com/389788/How-can-I-yeet-my-screen-addiction/rss
I did this for about three years and stopped, a little because I'd fucked up my wrist some (as someone pointed out to me, if you do the same motion 10,000 times in a row, you're going to injure yourself) but mostly because I moved to Texas where it's usually not a great temperature for sitting outside sawing/carving/sanding vigorously.

I'd like to set up a space inside but I actually care about the apartment I live in now, and I bought a tarp, but I still have visions of sawdust everywhere. My floors are mostly laminate with rugs down. Is there a good way I'm not thinking of to carve wood indoors and not live in a pile of wood chips? (My apartment is also somewhat small so it's not like there's a garage or a "mud room" whatever that is or anything.)]]> https://ask.metafilter.com/389787/Could-I-set-up-a-wood-carving-space-inside-and-not-ruin-my-apartment tag:ask.metafilter.com,2026:site.389787 Fri, 22 May 2026 01:26:02 GMT less-of-course woodcarving https://ask.metafilter.com/389787/Could-I-set-up-a-wood-carving-space-inside-and-not-ruin-my-apartment/rss
I know that's a very specific ask, but I'll add this slightly less specific one: Anyone (from anywhere, but preferably in a Chicago-like climate) who has had experience with no-mow or microclover lawns: How do you like it? How does it hold up to foot traffic, autumn leaves (removal etc.), dog pee, etc.?]]> https://ask.metafilter.com/389786/No-mow-or-microclover-lawn-areas-Chicago-examples tag:ask.metafilter.com,2026:site.389786 Thu, 21 May 2026 23:56:34 GMT Mechitar lawns microclover no-mow https://ask.metafilter.com/389786/No-mow-or-microclover-lawn-areas-Chicago-examples/rss
https://ibb.co/GfNrFjCj
https://ibb.co/TxQ5WTzv

This is in the San Francisco Bay Area.

They're extremely tiny, so much so that my phone camera can barely pick them up. They don't have the bulging eyes of a fly species, nor do they look like gnats to me.

They hang around in front of my front door, so whenever I step outside or greet someone, in they fly and have a party on my windows. They also like the upper part of my living room windows. I have not seen them hanging around any fruits or veggies. There are no rotting vegetation near my front door, and the soil nearby is dry.

Yesterday I bought a liquid fly trap to try to mitigate the situation (the kind that smells like an old grocery store), but they're not falling for it. I also got a zapper racket, and while hearing them pop on the electrified grid is quite satisfying, they're so tiny they either can fly through the grid or get whiffed away when I swing at them.

What the heck are they, so I can get the proper pest control?]]> https://ask.metafilter.com/389785/Stop-bugging-me tag:ask.metafilter.com,2026:site.389785 Thu, 21 May 2026 21:44:12 GMT curagea Pests https://ask.metafilter.com/389785/Stop-bugging-me/rss https://ask.metafilter.com/389784/Noise-cancelling-headphones-recommendations-please tag:ask.metafilter.com,2026:site.389784 Thu, 21 May 2026 20:53:17 GMT sugarbomb NoiseCancellingHeadphones https://ask.metafilter.com/389784/Noise-cancelling-headphones-recommendations-please/rss
Do you believe in luck? Can luck be bent your way? How do you court grace and chance ?

For example if I'm ever thinking to buy a lottery ticket, I always make sure to buy it from a divey convenience store while I'm on the way to somewhere else. Because winning tickets are always sold at cruddy little corner gas station right? Not in some swanky grocery store, and especially not close to me.

What lucky little rituals do you have ?

Yes this is kind of chat filter. But I need some luck right now !]]> https://ask.metafilter.com/389783/Up-all-night-to-be-lucky tag:ask.metafilter.com,2026:site.389783 Thu, 21 May 2026 17:24:24 GMT St. Peepsburg Luck https://ask.metafilter.com/389783/Up-all-night-to-be-lucky/rss https://ask.metafilter.com/389782/How-do-you-stay-motivated-for-a-long-term-tedious-project tag:ask.metafilter.com,2026:site.389782 Thu, 21 May 2026 16:20:05 GMT chariot pulled by cassowaries Housework MountainOfDoom PileOfDoom https://ask.metafilter.com/389782/How-do-you-stay-motivated-for-a-long-term-tedious-project/rss
I do solo holidays also. I deliberately go to places where they don't speak English. Last year, the night before my flight home there was English speakers at the airport hotel bar after closing and I just gravitated towards them. The were welcoming but the following morning I just felt like a stray dog approaching people randomly like that.

So my question, for somebody who spends a lot of time alone, how do I avoid my brain going into some sort of over-compensatory social rebound at social events?]]> https://ask.metafilter.com/389781/How-do-I-deal-with-my-brain-going-into-social-rebound-mode tag:ask.metafilter.com,2026:site.389781 Thu, 21 May 2026 15:46:46 GMT jacobean events social https://ask.metafilter.com/389781/How-do-I-deal-with-my-brain-going-into-social-rebound-mode/rss
... that is, I am still technically eligible for COBRA coverage, and the qualifying event is when the COBRA clock runs out at 18 months, not when I stop paying for it. (I'd just have to pay $2500 a month for COBRA once the subsidy ends, which I am obviously not going to do.) So it's sign up for the new plan now or not until the end of the year, which would leave us without medical coverage for three months after the COBRA subsidy ends.The insurance through my old employer is better than the new insurance, and furthermore my wife has already hit the out-of-pocket maximum on that plan. So I'd like to keep using it even though I'll also have coverage through my new employer. Even paying for new coverage I'd come out ahead.I would think that my new employer's plan would be happy to be paid for someone who won't use it for a few months, and the COBRA plan should be happy because they're still being paid. But is it actually feasible to keep using the old plan even though I'm paying for another one?]]> https://ask.metafilter.com/389780/Can-I-keep-using-my-COBRA-insurance-after-starting-new-job tag:ask.metafilter.com,2026:site.389780 Thu, 21 May 2026 15:15:57 GMT kindall benefits COBRA HealthInsurance MedicalCoverage https://ask.metafilter.com/389780/Can-I-keep-using-my-COBRA-insurance-after-starting-new-job/rss

This is a six year old car, well maintained. The climate is southern, no snow, no road salt, but near the ocean.

Growing up, I remember helping my aunt wash her car. But it was not something I saw people doing.

When I met my husband, he treated car washing like an oil change, a part of how you maintain a car. I enjoy car washes quite a bit.

But now I am poorer and kind of see it as a luxury. I have a hand held vac that I can use on my own to clean the interior. I guess I could wash it in my driveway?

So, how often do you wash your car and do you ever do it at home?

thanks!]]> https://ask.metafilter.com/389779/How-often-do-you-wash-your-car tag:ask.metafilter.com,2026:site.389779 Thu, 21 May 2026 15:12:50 GMT rhonzo car https://ask.metafilter.com/389779/How-often-do-you-wash-your-car/rss
Before I bought it, my house used to be a business, and as such it has a signpost in the front yard. Also, my small-ish town has one of the area's more popular July 4th parades, which goes right past the front of the house. I've occasionally painted signs to put out there. The area is more or less split 50/50 politically.

What would be a good message for this year that expresses my pretty lefty opinions but won't get my house vandalized? Last year, I made a US flag background with "Of - By - For The People" over it. That's the sort of tone I'm aiming for. Any ideas for a good one for the 250th in the current climate?]]> https://ask.metafilter.com/389778/Neutral-not-neutral-J4-250-sign-ideas tag:ask.metafilter.com,2026:site.389778 Thu, 21 May 2026 13:23:49 GMT transient july4 protestsigns uspolitics https://ask.metafilter.com/389778/Neutral-not-neutral-J4-250-sign-ideas/rss one-click solution that will both Block Sender on a spam message and delete the message?

I get a LOT of spam, and these people don't deserve two of my clicks.

Thanks!]]> https://ask.metafilter.com/389777/One-click-Block-Sender-and-Delete-in-Apple-Mail tag:ask.metafilter.com,2026:site.389777 Thu, 21 May 2026 12:57:33 GMT wenestvedt AppleMail Mailapp productivity spam https://ask.metafilter.com/389777/One-click-Block-Sender-and-Delete-in-Apple-Mail/rss
I'm on my first day of low residue colonoscopy prep & I realized I didn't buy cows' milk to go with the corn flakes from the allowed list. I figured it's the first day so I indulged in some oat milk.

[first day of 4 low residue, then 1 liquid, then evening before & early morning-of prep solution]

It has me wondering about the distinction between low fiber and low residue. Even corn flakes have some fiber. Does the processing that oats go through to make milk affect their efficacy as a fiber supplement and does it reduce the residue in the colon vs. rolled and steel cut oats?]]> https://ask.metafilter.com/389776/How-does-ground-insoluble-fiber-work tag:ask.metafilter.com,2026:site.389776 Thu, 21 May 2026 10:19:30 GMT ASCII Costanza head colonoscopy colonoscopyprep lowfiber lowresidue oatmilk https://ask.metafilter.com/389776/How-does-ground-insoluble-fiber-work/rss