The Seventh Victim - bit before your span (1943), but it’s pretty much the precursor for a lot of film noir camera work. Often overlooked.
You might want to use that as a guide however, follow the films that were influenced by it to keep a clean path of really noirish film noir.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Smedleyman at 2:14 PM on January 24, 2008

I have to agree with davejay - you have to consider if what you are doing is ethical, not if whatever field you’re connected to is ethical. That’s really too huge for you to be responsible for.
And gauge your commitment. If you’d rather be in the streets with a bowl, so be it.
But do you want to be Christ or Buddha? Then yes, advertising is designed to enflame desire and it is (as Hicks said) a blight upon the world and evil.
Does that mean you are evil if... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Smedleyman at 2:35 PM on December 11, 2007

Why is it called a building instead of a built?

How does Kevin Costner keep getting work?
posted to Ask Metafilter by Smedleyman at 12:47 AM on June 27, 2007

AAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!


Oh, wait, sorry, that wasn't in the form of a question.


AAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!???
posted to Ask Metafilter by Smedleyman at 12:51 AM on June 27, 2007

cool thanks everyone!
posted to Ask Metafilter by Smedleyman at 11:38 AM on April 25, 2007

Old chiche: That’s why officers carry sidearms.
Actually, that’s partly true. But in most cases where higher brass would wind up in the line of fire it would be close quarters since they’re typically in buildings and such.
No, you wouldn’t shoot someone for cowardice unless that act directly threatened other men’s lives. Nor would you make an enlisted man choose between getting shot by you or by the enemy. In terms of officer training more emphasis is put on command... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Smedleyman at 11:38 AM on April 25, 2007

The VA has a ptsd site -
http://www.ncptsd.va.gov/ncmain/index.jsp

and a list of veterans service organizations sanctioned to work with veterans:
http://www1.va.gov/vso/index.cfm?template=view&SortCategory=4

The DAV is probably my favorite of those and can help with most anything VA related.
http://www.dav.org

There is also the national veterans foundation
http://www.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Smedleyman at 1:05 PM on March 5, 2007

also tangentially - PTSD is a political invention? WTF.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Smedleyman at 9:17 PM on February 3, 2007

Well, how long can the average person hold their breath while exerting themselves either running or crawling?
I'd agree with 913 - and add about 4- 10 seconds after they draw a breath while running, better odds of getting a cleaner breath while crawling. Not smart to stay put.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Smedleyman at 9:12 PM on February 3, 2007

I've been thinking by ship. But maybe Shriver's pilot....hmmm..
posted to Ask Metafilter by Smedleyman at 9:06 PM on February 3, 2007

Because they only drink white wine.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Smedleyman at 2:43 PM on January 29, 2007

My advice: Don’t.

Given how you’ve framed your ethical dilemma I suspect - and I’m not sure how to say this, because I mean no insult - you wish to prove something in the thick of the situation you’re concerned with. Sounds to me like you want to be in the lions den (to borrow a metaphor closer to your field) - rather than, for example, looking for some kind of legitimacy to your cause in service (which would be a huge mistake).
Many people go off to war to... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Smedleyman at 4:38 PM on January 8, 2007 marked best answer

I should clarify - boring in terms of military boring. Regimented ‘hurry up and wait’ kind of boring.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Smedleyman at 4:44 PM on January 8, 2007

Fingerless leather gloves are pretty good for fighting (they protect your knuckles but allow you to grab) which might be part of why they may have been popularized as hobo gloves (as opposed to them in reality being worn out)
posted to Ask Metafilter by Smedleyman at 6:21 PM on December 11, 2006

Y'know, that's one of the reasons I so rarely answer questions, people like russilwvong beat me to it. Seconded.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Smedleyman at 8:54 PM on December 8, 2006

Doctors without borders is always looking for help. You’ll meet a lot of people and get lots of language practice as a translator.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Smedleyman at 10:13 AM on December 7, 2006

Sorry, assumed since you were headed for a PhD...
posted to Ask Metafilter by Smedleyman at 12:44 PM on December 7, 2006

I’d pretty much echo filmgeek. I tore my rotator in a parachute accident and my shoulder, while healed, hasn’t been the same. I’d work on the small and tight motions (as from filmgeeks links) but give yourself plenty of time to heal. Sounds to me like you hadn’t been paying attention to the small muscles in the first place. Best way to get yourself hurt.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Smedleyman at 12:43 PM on December 7, 2006

Lobster Thermador. And a 9 v.
And yeah, varies as to diet, et.al. Strange that in some cultures there’s a taboo (machismo).
For me, bit hard to jump back in after the wife’s given birth, you do tend to regard it as the “holiest of holys” (to paraphrase Jules) but no real difference in taste after that either. Also it seems to change in taste as you go on. Tends to clarify - although that could be because of the saliva as well as new secretion. And if a woman is a... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Smedleyman at 8:52 AM on December 7, 2006

Ah, and the tang is also similar in intensity to Red Bull.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Smedleyman at 8:53 AM on December 7, 2006

“If you had a kilometer-wide pool of water on Earth, the far side would be about 8 centimeters lower than it should be if it were precisely flat.”

How did you calculate that? And what is the affect of surface tension on that?
posted to Ask Metafilter by Smedleyman at 2:51 PM on October 11, 2006

"...spherical gravitational field and a hyperbolic rotation curve can combine to create a perfectly flat surface?"

Kinda where I was headed but my brain started smoking.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Smedleyman at 3:58 PM on October 11, 2006

Tavern on Rush isn't bad.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Smedleyman at 8:34 PM on September 22, 2006

/also - Green Dolphin Street
posted to Ask Metafilter by Smedleyman at 8:39 PM on September 22, 2006

Make sure it’s not a symptom of something bigger. I hit the gym when I had mono (caffene, it’s a wonder drug). Big, big mistake. And take your time and stretch extra.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Smedleyman at 6:47 PM on September 18, 2006

/nifty all - thanks
posted to Ask Metafilter by Smedleyman at 4:14 PM on September 15, 2006

“That's not abuse. "He hit her" does not equal abuse. It might make him an asshole, and it might be cause for divorce; but, "He lost his temper this one time" does not constitute abuse.”

I myself am a very violent person and I’ve paid for it more than a few times. I won’t get into how bad it’s been, but it’s been very bad. Yet I cannot imagine a situation where I would hit my wife. I see it as a possibility (I could develop a mental illness for... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Smedleyman at 2:29 PM on September 12, 2006

Have children? What do you think I am, a pedophile?
or
When I stop being hassled by social conformists.
or
Well, I don’t have any children - that I know of.
(works well ‘cause you’re a woman)
posted to Ask Metafilter by Smedleyman at 10:07 AM on September 12, 2006

You should stop the chaffing before it starts. I myself used to go indian, but compression shorts (the bike shorts) work fairly well. They come in lycra spandex. Under armor makes some good ones. Zyflex is good too. If he’s an athletic large thighed guy those work pretty well. (Or tell him to lay off the squats).
posted to Ask Metafilter by Smedleyman at 12:53 PM on July 27, 2006

Kengo wasn't bad.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Smedleyman at 2:16 PM on July 17, 2006

Ever tried flying? Lots of local airports with general aviation facilities have flight tours, bit pricey, but very memorable.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Smedleyman at 1:16 AM on July 4, 2006

Get one of those overhead “rain” kind of showerheads with an extention bar. Then the water doesn’t come down at you and doesn’t come out too fast to be harsh.
I still take boot camp showers: face, pits, crotch, (“You got Five...Four...Thr - you’re done! lets go!”). I do soak in the jacuzzi tho.
Baths are nice. Japanese baths, very nice.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Smedleyman at 3:49 PM on June 27, 2006

Demerol did that for me, yeah.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Smedleyman at 12:24 PM on June 7, 2006

29P 760- 830-6313

1) Normal for a bachelor who had a mom who took care of all that stuff for him, yes.

2) Whoa yeah. Switch from passive to active. Dirt bad. Mold very bad. But don’t get pissed (see #3).

3) What you’re going to have to do is ask him to integrate that stuff into his life.
I had a real problem with this myself.
I was/am a slob. Even in the military. But my weapon et.al was always... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Smedleyman at 6:25 PM on June 6, 2006 marked best answer

/ignore that first bit. Hazards of cut and paste. Argh! I even hit preview, dumbass.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Smedleyman at 6:27 PM on June 6, 2006

Got money? What you want is a rigid diving suit. They’re called Atmospheric Diving Suits, like a newtsuit or a hardsuit.
It’d be 1/2 the coolness I’d think showing up in one. Plus if you have people to help you get out of it the only real issue is cost.
Not sure where you could rent one tho.

Da links:
here, here and here.

Otherwise I’d go with most of the other folks on the drysuit. Get the fold up flippers,... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Smedleyman at 12:10 PM on April 4, 2006

Obviously there’s a psychological attraction/ revulsion component (as others laid out in detail).

I think you are just feeling guilty for liking violence.

Much as I hate to slighly disagree with tkchrist - while he might be right regarding you - I try to fight seriously (that is - a strong opponent) at least once a week (that is, in training, not going out and clobbering someone in the street).
And I absolutely love it. Did I... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Smedleyman at 7:03 PM on March 21, 2006

Have you called them? 312- 814-3000. They can mail you the forms. Takes a bit. But it gets the mediation process started. And you've got paper to back you up, which is what most of Illinois is still used to dealing with.
If that doesn't go anywhere, email me and I can probably help you out more.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Smedleyman at 1:11 PM on March 14, 2006

Yeah, that’s kinda what I was thinking COBRA!
(No problem with the ‘reading a shitload of comics’ part)
Really, I just want to tell stories.

So you’d get some DIY stuff - from there maybe pitch to one of the smaller companies?

I’m about as brilliant in drawing as, say, Harvey Pekar. Pretty much the box/stick figure thing. I’d mostly write.

Are conventions a decent way to meet artists?
posted to Ask Metafilter by Smedleyman at 12:17 PM on February 2, 2006

cool. Thanks all.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Smedleyman at 10:43 AM on February 3, 2006

One of the best ways to empty your mind is to use your body. Do some long term strenuous cardiovascular exercise: swimming, biking, running - something that will take at least a half hour or more. You can find your own balance between how hard you go and how long you go to really wear yourself out. (Not before bedtime though)
Once you are very tired from exercise, clean up do whatever - then begin meditation practice. Focus on your breathing.
Exercise is a good way to... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Smedleyman at 10:40 AM on February 3, 2006

“carbonation saps the nutriets right out of your bones”

/slight derail - does that include stuff like seltzer?
posted to Ask Metafilter by Smedleyman at 11:38 AM on February 2, 2006

meh. Dogpile.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Smedleyman at 5:50 PM on January 30, 2006

Dogpile I mean.
*kicks computer*
posted to Ask Metafilter by Smedleyman at 5:51 PM on January 30, 2006

He's probably a Kabbalist.
If you want to screw with him - provided you know it's him, take the note, spit * on it three times in front of him and throw some salt on the ground in front of him. Draw a line and say "With the consent of God and with the consent of the Torah and of Israel who guard it may it be forbidden to any demon, male or female, to invade this place from this time forth and forever."
Then make the sign of the fig at him (bend your thumb... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Smedleyman at 7:18 PM on December 9, 2005

Btw - it could be agitprop. Lots of Jews spitting at priests rumors going on around now.
Which is odd considering the history of spit, not the geopolitical situation.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Smedleyman at 7:19 PM on December 9, 2005

The link I mean. Sorry, thinking 1/2 speed lately. Rough day.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Smedleyman at 8:10 PM on December 9, 2005

I actually have drowned. Had to restart my heart. Waterboarding is worse. Probably because you know the ocean is what it is.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Smedleyman at 11:36 PM on December 2, 2005

What is 'the past'?
posted to Ask Metafilter by Smedleyman at 5:09 PM on November 21, 2005

What sucks is a cracked rib will heal, but if you tore cartilage away from them it will never patch itself. If that is what happened - you should have seen a doctor by now - than I'd wait until it heals and really focus on doing abdominal work.
I've done both. Cracked ribs in fights (street and against a thai boxer - probably same way cuban did), and parachuting and separated the cartilage playing rugby.
On the whole, I'd rather break them.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Smedleyman at 11:01 AM on November 1, 2005