The archilogism listing shows the many fascinating, or even poignant and moving, ways that English usage has changed.

Thanks for sharing this site, peacay!
posted to MetaFilter by Stoatfarm at 1:41 PM on March 12, 2008

I rely on Eng.
posted to MetaFilter by Stoatfarm at 7:15 AM on September 22, 2005

While the homebrew a/c is interesting, Mirrordot is really interesting. A little websearching even led to a "Business Week" story that features our own mathowie. Neato.

Thanks, KevinSkomsvold!
posted to MetaFilter by Stoatfarm at 7:31 AM on June 15, 2005

"Mortality: Androgenic alopecia (per capita)" surely is just due to data error. Right?
posted to MetaFilter by Stoatfarm at 2:14 PM on June 14, 2005

Tio Esperanton, cu gi estas vibris?

To the acutal Esparantists (Gesperantistoj?), apologies if I got that wrong!
posted to MetaFilter by Stoatfarm at 7:42 PM on December 15, 2004

If you were looking for the naughty words in Esperanto, try The Alternative Esperanto Dictionary [NSFW]
[or, perhaps in honor of the holiday, MSEK for "malsekuro en kontoro"?]
posted to MetaFilter by Stoatfarm at 7:52 PM on December 15, 2004

But why would regular people volunteer to turn their daily interactions into marketing moments?

Don't people already pay money to wear t-shirts advertising sports teams, bands, theme parks, and brands of clothes?
posted to MetaFilter by Stoatfarm at 11:22 AM on December 5, 2004

Fractional jet ownership sounds like something to look at for those of us who are shopping around for this sort of thing.

In the interest of honesty, when I say "those of us", unfortunately I do not include myself! :)
posted to MetaFilter by Stoatfarm at 7:35 AM on October 15, 2004

Whether you're thinking of filming a sci-fi picture, or looking for a truly fabulous food court to have a snack, visit the The Reagan Building in downtown Washington DC.
posted to MetaFilter by Stoatfarm at 7:18 AM on September 28, 2004

"I Found Some of Your Sandwich" I am going to eat a slice each day. I will also save the rest for breakfast as if I were you. Maybe you will come here and reclaim this piece of your life.

...oddly enough, also an Ufez post
posted to MetaFilter by Stoatfarm at 4:19 PM on September 23, 2004

Although this is an attractively-designed site and reminded me a bit of the "Hip Hotels" books from Thames & Hudson... some of the phrases on the regional pages really distracted and puzzled me: "[T]he harshness of a city like Seattle", or the suggestion that the "South atlantic states" of the U.S. like Florida are "protected by the imposing presence" of the Appalachians. Huh?!?!
posted to MetaFilter by Stoatfarm at 12:17 PM on September 18, 2004

deanc-- You missed a rule: If you can't give it a catchy watercooler-friendly name, it ain't gonna happen.

Now, pardon me while I resume my cocooning.
posted to MetaFilter by Stoatfarm at 7:29 AM on August 19, 2004

A little history might be in order.
posted to MetaFilter by Stoatfarm at 7:20 AM on July 30, 2004

Miami's Fairchild Tropical Garden has a great A. titanum site. Scroll way down for links to the garden's other documented inflorescences from 1998 and on.
posted to MetaFilter by Stoatfarm at 7:07 PM on July 7, 2004

To some of us Ruby fans, we don't just code with it, we just can't stop watching and even dining on it.
posted to MetaFilter by Stoatfarm at 7:32 AM on July 7, 2004

I would hope we could agree that t-shirts reading "Do the Jew" are both tasteless and offensive.

Then again, some people have a whole different idea of what's fun to wear on a t-shirt.
posted to MetaFilter by Stoatfarm at 12:17 PM on July 5, 2004

I think they may still need time to build their database.

But think of the size of the as-yet unannounced and unplanned Election Night MeFi Meetup In Ypsilanti!
posted to MetaFilter by Stoatfarm at 12:10 PM on July 5, 2004

I can't wait until these are available at a substantially lower price at Ikea.
posted to MetaFilter by Stoatfarm at 9:26 AM on July 5, 2004

maybe a prophecy?

Sure, just as predicted in this noted work.
posted to MetaFilter by Stoatfarm at 12:58 PM on July 1, 2004

Tired: Sony's ATRAC
Wired: Dr. Who's Adric
posted to MetaFilter by Stoatfarm at 8:41 AM on July 1, 2004

FPP or a
deja vu? Like cranes passing
gas as their comment.
posted to MetaFilter by Stoatfarm at 1:12 PM on June 29, 2004

Sounds like it might be coming to the U.S. soon too.
posted to MetaFilter by Stoatfarm at 8:07 AM on June 28, 2004

With an "opt-out" system, what happens if someone wants to opt out but doesn't have their driver's license with them when they show up at the hostpital?
posted to MetaFilter by Stoatfarm at 8:57 AM on June 28, 2004

Talk to your next(s) of kin. Have an advance directive.

So, those with no immediate family, family overseas (or just on vacation), those with unmarried or same-sex partners whose wishes are frequently not honored, the homeless, the mentally-ill, people who can't afford lawyers: What happens to all of these people under an "opt-out" system?
posted to MetaFilter by Stoatfarm at 10:28 AM on June 28, 2004

Now I have to wonder if the name of one character from HBO's 'Oz' (possibly NSFW) was a reference back to this important family.
posted to MetaFilter by Stoatfarm at 7:14 AM on June 25, 2004

Soma
posted to MetaFilter by Stoatfarm at 12:24 PM on June 18, 2004

sex hormone chewing gum (kinda sorta)
posted to MetaFilter by Stoatfarm at 12:43 PM on June 18, 2004

I do not believe in the originally-posted prediction. My interest is in whether based on probability, prediction there will be a large meteor sighting is actually a pretty safe bet somewhat akin to predicting "that scandal-loving pop star will be at it again next Wednesday" or "the price of gas may surprise you".
posted to MetaFilter by Stoatfarm at 7:42 AM on June 18, 2004

This article is worthless.
I put very little credence in it myself, but the earlier lively discussion of the prediction makes me wonder 2 things. First, as I posted above, was the originally-posted prediction a nearly sure-bet? Second, did that prediction lead to increased credulousness among observers? So I'd love to know from any Australian posters whether the prediction got much local attention.
posted to MetaFilter by Stoatfarm at 7:57 AM on June 18, 2004

Just send your life to the first 3 people on the list, and in just 10 days, you'll have as many as 5,280 lives in the mail plus valuable spam. Ms. Lee-Anne Manfrengensen of Middlevale, Brazil, a professional pilot, didn't send her life to the recipient list and 2 days later, she found that her pet viper had run away. She sent it last week and now lives in a new houseboat in an exclusive Dallas suburb.
posted to MetaFilter by Stoatfarm at 7:37 AM on June 16, 2004

The thread simply isn't about them.

So the next time there's a thread about, say, male domestic abuse victims or men's health issues, we should expect silence on any relevant women's issues? Is that the kind of forum we want?
posted to MetaFilter by Stoatfarm at 9:25 AM on June 9, 2004

No, no one wants that, Stoatfarm.

Can't tell that by the tone of the posts on this thread of this supposed "boy zone".
posted to MetaFilter by Stoatfarm at 2:38 PM on June 9, 2004

I'm not a huge fan of the late Pres. Reagan. In fact, I think he was a pretty poor president to say the least. And I personally don't think his image belongs on the dime or Mt. Rushmore...but the way to voice disagreement with those who seem to want Reagan all but canonized should not be this grim attempt at humor, especially as his family and supporters mourn. This kind of demonization will, I'm afraid, lead to a redoubling on the other side, and before you know it,... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by Stoatfarm at 2:34 PM on June 9, 2004

Does anyone else remember a commercial variation from the 1970's called, I believe, an "Inverflex"? I bought one from a science museum, it was covered with pictures of outer space, and looked a bit like a cross between a flexagon, a Hoberman sphere, and a doughnut. I've looked on the web and found bubkes.
posted to MetaFilter by Stoatfarm at 7:10 AM on June 7, 2004

So, it turns a full colon into a semi-colon?
posted to MetaFilter by Stoatfarm at 3:42 PM on June 2, 2004

The apology formally died when "I'm sorry" got replaced by "I'm sorry you feel that way" (trans.: "I'm not the least bit sorry at all. You, however, have some sort of problem.")

They were one of the death knells of actual "service" in the service economy, as in: "Oh, you're upset over getting lousy service? Well, I'm very sorry you feel that way. Have a nice day!"
posted to MetaFilter by Stoatfarm at 10:39 AM on May 23, 2004

<NOT a quote>We rented a mall as a studio as well as some realistic prop weapons. We had experts on hand to make plastic wounds and blood and then did some screaming scenes.</NOT a quote>

Rather than arguing about whether this film or other recent sexually-explicit films are or are not porn -- what is "porn", after all...? I hope that this film leads to a lively discussion of why in some countries there is relative acceptance... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by Stoatfarm at 7:40 AM on May 20, 2004

y6y6y6 > 111
posted to MetaFilter by Stoatfarm at 12:04 PM on May 14, 2004

It would be nice if this issue were dealt with and this problem was ended and was not just standard fodder for cheap, clueless comedy routines.

Stop Prison Rape is a good resource, some pages have some text which is NSFW.
posted to MetaFilter by Stoatfarm at 11:20 AM on May 10, 2004

Why do sci-fi fans feel the need to dress up/go to conventions/make apartments like this? Is it a form of escapism that draws sci-fi fans to a different reality?

I am a huge science fiction fan, and I also live in a Star Trek themed house. To save some money, however, I decorated using the theme of "Holodeck Drama -- Moriarty and Countess Regina Bartholomew Go Mad At Ikea's Spring Sale"
posted to MetaFilter by Stoatfarm at 3:49 PM on May 6, 2004

Perhaps the name "FairTax" itself is the most telling part. If I established a new car manufacturing company and named it the "We Won't Rip You Off, Honest We Won't Motor Company", what would you know to expect when you met a salesperson at my showroom? :)
posted to MetaFilter by Stoatfarm at 10:17 AM on May 1, 2004

I'm not an economist, but in Norway we have a 23% sales tax on everything except books (tax free) and food (half tax) and we still need income tax
Jill asked a very good question near the top of this thread, and it deserved to be answered. Just like with other issues we in the U.S. sometimes ignore the experience of other countries... Anyone remember the issue of gays in the military and how everyone here ignored the experience of, say, Australia or Israel?... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by Stoatfarm at 10:36 AM on May 1, 2004

The reality show I want to see would be called "Dear Lord Please Grant Us Some Imagination And The Wisdom To Hire Back our Writers" and would show network execs trying to figure out how to generate interest in their nearly totally reality-show lineup. The show would be only 37 minutes per scheduled hour to allow for promos for "Joey".
posted to MetaFilter by Stoatfarm at 10:26 AM on May 1, 2004

It's not the program that's so disturbing for most people, it's those darn system upgrades.
posted to MetaFilter by Stoatfarm at 10:20 AM on May 1, 2004

Sadly, Goldblum just doesn't stack up against Bea Arthur in the posse department.
posted to MetaFilter by Stoatfarm at 7:28 AM on April 29, 2004

What about "Mmmm Bop" by Hanson?


<homer_simpson_impression>"Jimmy Crack corn, and I don't care, Jimmy Crack Corn, and I wasn't there, We built this city on rock and roooollll..... Something Something Day..."</homer_simpson_impression>
posted to MetaFilter by Stoatfarm at 1:53 PM on April 23, 2004

Worst song that also happens to be a list
posted to MetaFilter by Stoatfarm at 2:01 PM on April 23, 2004

You are thinking from a totalitarian POV.

Not at all! I'm thinking from the point of view of current U.S. law and professional practice, which are hardly totalitarian. I suspect you are thinking from a point of view that reflects neither what is legal or moral. The examples you bring up only show that someone is "free" to do things that are, and should be, illegal.

Your argument has branched off into rumor, which I doubt... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by Stoatfarm at 11:19 AM on April 23, 2004

common folk could be forced to hire only gays, mexicans or whatever
Do you think that gays or Mexicans can also be described as "common folk"? Give me a break. Again, no one is ever forced to hire "only" from some certain group. This discussion is about doctors being given a green light to discriminate. Not every slope is a slippery one.
From the POV of the patient, I think he should take into account that he'll be better... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by Stoatfarm at 1:01 PM on April 23, 2004

I think one of the best statements on the subject was by the JFK: "I do not speak for my church on public matters, and the church does not speak for me."


This quote was taken from an excellent editorial on the issue by Ellen Goodman.
posted to MetaFilter by Stoatfarm at 10:36 AM on April 23, 2004