Best Of MetaFilter

Your weekly Free Thread is here; the annual MST Club Christmas Video Marathon is go; it's (still) the season to be linkin'; the current Gift Swap thank you thread is here.

Best Windows + Lovecraft mashup actual question and answer about cloning the C drive. Tell Me No Lies seeks the truth. gregr calls on the elder Gods to answer.

Screenshot from Stewart Hickman video

Come for the McMansion-enabling truss connector plates, stay for the malt liquor, beer cans, and blunts.

Ever wondered what a moderator shift looks like? Then take a gander at these TikTok videos that are fresh out of the oven! There's a bit verbose (at 20 minutes total), but give you a general feel of things are. Enjoy! Part 1 and Part 2

Photo by Saad Akhtar via Flickr (https://www.flickr.com/photos/saad/)

You like mangos? Great, just be aware that the mango you're enjoying may not be a mango, but it doesn't matter, it's still delicious! Community member agentofselection created a fantastic and fascinating post about this "controversy".

Hey, did you know about that time when the Idaho Fish and Game program relocated 76 beavers by flying them to central Idaho and then parachuting them to the ground? No? Then let community member sawdustbear tell you all about it via folk musical puppet documentary done with stop motion animation.

The recent news events with UnitedHealthcare CEO has inspired a lot commentary. But what about a song? Well, limeonaire wrote one, a folk song titled “The New Folk Hero”. Come stop by for a listen, the lyrics and the chords!

Photo by Eli Christman, via Flickr (https://www.flickr.com/photos/gammaman/)

I really need something to cheer myself up tonight. What can I watch?

image via pixabay.com

Answerers are offering some very interesting ideas about different ways to think about accomplishing personal objectives in aeighty's Ask Me thread about creating a plan for achieving goals.

It's a new MetaFilter tradition, the airing of manifesti!. This holiday season, some beautiful sparkling rants to decorate your curmudgeon dungeon. Thanks, Wordshore! (HT to nickmark for the title)

Peter Waddell, Tiber Creek: The Bathers, oil on canvas, via The White House Historical Association, whitehousehistory.org

Down down we went past the gym, past the print shop, down below the law library where there was a quiet study room that was hardly ever used ... a rather amazing little story from The 10th Regiment of Foot in HumanComplex's very interesting post on Ghost Rivers. This feels like the beginning of a Rivers of London-esque cozy supernatural mystery!

Photo by Book Catalog, via Flickr (https://www.flickr.com/photos/bookcatalog/)

Lois1950's grandson would like a book of poetry. He's 13 and a avid reader, what would you recommend?

For all you lovers of design, retro products, and, oh yeah ESPRESSO, you should check out this post by chavenet. It's a link to an absolutely beautiful site that showcases antique espresso coffee machines. Go away decaf, we're busy (and in love)!

Banana peel for scale

Slipping on a Banana Peel | Manifesting a Dr. Who Scarf | Glare Rage | eBikery | Bad Service | ChatGPT Gaslighting

We earlier mentioned mephron's great link to advice about fighting back on US healthcare denials. Now adrienneleigh has added some more very helpful info: ProPublica also has a tool that will help you write a letter to ask for this information.