Displaying comments 1 to 50 of 675
MeFi post:
Next time around, I'm going to stay in bed!
That was really nice.
I arrived at work this morning to stare at the chart of 92 year old man whose wife died 3 weeks ago. He was here yesterday and his mind had clearly slipped since then. It was probably the distraction of grief but his Folstein Mini Mental Status Exam score has fallen 8 points and I couldn't in good conscience send him home in the car he drove here with. I put on my professional compassion face as I called his son to come pick him up and filed the... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by Slarty Bartfast
at 8:14 AM on July 24, 2008
MeFi post:
I sense you want to plead the 5th
No, the best part is how the convicted must have had great legal representation to question the validity of this entirely new technology that put them away forever.
There simply had to be more to their convictions than this, right? The lack of detail in the news article is chilling.
posted to MetaFilter by Slarty Bartfast
at 7:42 AM on July 21, 2008
The scary thing is that this is India. I could understand an American court pulling this shit, but they supposedly understand and care about science there.
At the risk of overgeneralizing the "mind set" of the most stratified and polycultural society on Earth, I would propose that the problem is that Indians put too much faith in science. Yes, their educational system places heavy emphasis on science and math, but the... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by Slarty Bartfast
at 9:46 AM on July 21, 2008
MeFi post:
we heart electric bikes
I made the switch to nearly all bicycle transportation 6 months ago. The one exception is back and forth the nine miles to work (though I did switch to a four day work week) and I would totally ride that too if there was simply a good, direct bike route there. Even in a place with crappy weather 9 months of the year and lots of hills, I am amazed at how easy it has been to do this. All you need is a little planning, fenders on the bike and some big waterproof panniers. All on a bike that cost... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by Slarty Bartfast
at 7:47 AM on July 20, 2008
MeFi post:
The amazing comic book adventure of Brent Rinehart
10 years old. The drawing, the spelling, the logical content is that of a 10 year old. Anyone older than that who would create something like this then release it to the public, at least here in Seattle, would be considered retarded.
Please, Brent, the state has resources to help you.
posted to MetaFilter by Slarty Bartfast
at 7:15 AM on July 19, 2008
MeFi post:
how I'll dream fast asleep
I have a feeling I am going to see this list posted in every indie coffee shop in Seattle (Shout out to Irwins! South Wallingford represent!)
I can't believe they only closed one in DC. When I lived there in the 90s, there was this one corner in Dupont where you could see 8 different Starbucks from the same spot.
posted to MetaFilter by Slarty Bartfast
at 5:39 PM on July 18, 2008
MeFi post:
A Divorce Portrait
Man, if I had married the person I was dating at 18, we would have been hard pressed to make it work. If I had married the person I was dating at 18, then she went away and had an extreme life changing experience, then came back and the whole world was watching us try to make it work...man, that is one shitty hand of cards to be dealt.
I don't fault anyone for anything here except the fuckers that started this war.... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by Slarty Bartfast
at 5:45 PM on July 15, 2008
MeFi post:
Salman Rushdie wins all-time best of Booker Prize
I have never been past page 5 of Midnight's Children, despite several attempts and despite enjoying several other Rushdie books. It's hands down my wife's favorite book, too. Do I just lack the intellectual capacity? Well, yes, probably.
posted to MetaFilter by Slarty Bartfast
at 1:39 PM on July 10, 2008
MeFi post:
Former United States Senator Jesse Helms, 1921 - 2008.
Grave dancing is fun, definitely. And I agree that much of it is born from an ugly place in the human soul, the "I'm better than you" place.
But this is a case where a man proudly and effectively spent his entire lifetime causing real, measurable, tangible harm and suffering to many, many good, honest, hard working patriotic people whom I love very much, including my dark-skinned wife, my gay sister, and many of my close friends. To reflect upon his life and... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by Slarty Bartfast
at 11:30 AM on July 4, 2008
Sen. Helms was a lighthouse keeper singing a beautiful song of liberty, equality, and justice while he worked through the night to guide us past these rocky shores and shoals of immoral, silvery fish. His light, now sadly extinguished, leaves us all racing dangerously towards unknown cliffs and sandbars that will strand us and leave us desperate for salvation. Now we are left with nary a Coleman lantern to guide us through these strange waters, and the world is worse off for it.... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by Slarty Bartfast
at 11:50 AM on July 4, 2008
I thought cmonkey's first quote was serious when I first read it. That's all
posted to MetaFilter by Slarty Bartfast
at 11:57 AM on July 4, 2008
I thought cmonkey's first quote was serious when I first read it. That's all
And it was meant as a compliment.
posted to MetaFilter by Slarty Bartfast
at 12:01 PM on July 4, 2008
MeFi post:
The Prognosis, Doc?
I can tell you, though, that waiting times are going to get horrendous.
To expand upon docpops' point, there is some evidence that Massachusetts doesn't have enough doctors to see all those people who suddenly have access.
Remember that doctor shortage everyone was talking about 15 years ago? Kinda funny how we forgot all about that once people stopped being able to afford health care.
Assuming we... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by Slarty Bartfast
at 10:36 PM on July 2, 2008
Dear Canadian physicians,
You may have noticed that we put in that single-payer thing a few months ago, so there's no more dealing with a bunch of nasty insurance companies. But we find we're a bit short on docs.
Wanna come down here for a bit? We'll send up some people to give you our standard licensing exam, which you shouldn't have any problem with. When you pass, we'll hand you a green card and... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by Slarty Bartfast
at 1:44 PM on July 3, 2008
MeFi post:
A History of Techno
Boy that second link is pretty weird. Revolver? Duran Duran? What genre are we talking about where the best 100 includes Tangerine Dream and De La Soul?
But really I came in here to say: William Orbit, Strange Cargoes. What the hell is wrong with all of you people that you missed this?
posted to MetaFilter by Slarty Bartfast
at 2:47 PM on June 29, 2008
MeFi post:
Mogadishu Madness
Glad to see we're talking about gun control in the U.S. That was exactly the message these guys were trying to get across.
I actually just popped in to say I think Current TV does a hell of a lot of cool stuff.
posted to MetaFilter by Slarty Bartfast
at 1:38 PM on June 26, 2008
MeFi post:
George Carlin Dead at 71
I'm only like 100 comments in to this thread, but I had to pop out and say something (and I apologize if it was said previously).
This is why we have obit threads. I know George Carlin's work. I could recite "Icebox Man" from heart at age 14. But I had never considered George Carlin. What a remarkable life! And he was a bit of a loon towards the end, and that's also part of what made him interesting. There's probably... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by Slarty Bartfast
at 7:39 AM on June 23, 2008
I remember hearing his routines on KSFO's Comedy Hour in the 1970s. My husband & I quote from "Ice Box Man" when we find mystery items in the fridge: "It has absolutely no smell whatsoever!" "It's good! Put it back! Somebody is saving it. It'll turn up in something."
That's what frightens me. That someone will consider it a challenge and use it, just because it's in there.... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by Slarty Bartfast
at 3:44 PM on June 23, 2008
MeFi post:
I will try not to sing on a Kia
Yep, this was the best one. Many of these, particularly the Bollywood ones are pretty lazy about their "translation" but this one was completely spot on. I really believe this is what Joe Cocker intended to sing.
Additionally, every time I see this clip I am astounded at the size of the balls Cocker had to have had to put on this performance. Drugs or not, intelligible or not, that is a man who did *not* hold back that day.... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by Slarty Bartfast
at 10:16 AM on June 21, 2008
heh, balls...Cocker....
posted to MetaFilter by Slarty Bartfast
at 10:18 AM on June 21, 2008
MeFi post:
Your favorite band ...
It's my parents' crappy record collection, taking a stand against big media.
Actually, I'm going to send them this. It 's a great introduction to the wonderful world of internet radio without all that annoying... unfamiliar music.
posted to MetaFilter by Slarty Bartfast
at 10:41 AM on June 19, 2008
Ok, 10 minutes. That was all I could take before I wanted to hop in the Fleetwood and go search out the early bird special.
posted to MetaFilter by Slarty Bartfast
at 10:42 AM on June 19, 2008
Hey Ber, you know none of us kids are listening to the White Stripes anymore, right? Maybe it's time you shuffle your walker down to the dining hall, they're serving tapioca today.
;)
posted to MetaFilter by Slarty Bartfast
at 1:20 PM on June 19, 2008
MeFi post:
Who says Republicans don't have class?
psst...Hey guys, these fucktards actually think Obama's a terrorist. Isn't that hysterical?
Actually, I am quite enjoying this. What if this was the last time this kind of political "viewpoint" was given any kind of legitimacy? I mean, these people are going to wake up on November 5 and realize their total ignorance may have permanently disenfranchised them from the process. What if a competent black man was elected president, the sky didn't fall, he turned out... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by Slarty Bartfast
at 3:24 PM on June 17, 2008
That's some strong linkage there, Bookhouse, bravo.
posted to MetaFilter by Slarty Bartfast
at 5:54 PM on June 17, 2008
MeFi post:
Go OKC!
I just hope Seattle gets to keep the name Sonics. Coolest fucking professional sports team name anywhere. The Oklahoma City SuperSonics? That's as dumb as the Utah Jazz.
Actually, most people here couldn't seem to give a shit. And that people, is why I live in Seattle and not Oklahoma City.
posted to MetaFilter by Slarty Bartfast
at 9:11 PM on June 12, 2008
Update
:D That's totally brilliant. Make them stay for two years and make them *give* the tickets away. Oh, if only...
posted to MetaFilter by Slarty Bartfast
at 10:05 AM on June 16, 2008
MeFi post:
all the things you once tried so hard to forget…
Their choices seem too obvious. I mean, is anyone surprised that a kid might get traumatized seeing Poltergeist? I was hoping to see a discussion of all the things I was supposed to enjoy that freaked my shit out. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory comes immediately to mind.
posted to MetaFilter by Slarty Bartfast
at 3:47 PM on June 12, 2008
Seconding Black Hole, blender death through a book even, holy crap Disney.
Oh yeah, and how about when they took the mask off one of those freaky robot dudes in the robes and it was like this crazy walking undead person?
posted to MetaFilter by Slarty Bartfast
at 4:59 PM on June 12, 2008
MeFi post:
An Affair to Remember
It's easy for me to envision a situation with two demented people where one isn't consenting but is also not refusing strongly enough to prevent an assault or to catch the attention of a caregiver. That person needs protection.
posted to MetaFilter by Slarty Bartfast
at 10:21 AM on June 11, 2008
You know the other thing, besides the consent issue, is that dementia is often marked by disinhibition. Many guys think about sex all the time and want to bang everything with hips but our frontal cortex tells us that's a bad idea to act upon. But a disinhibited 90 year old horn-dog? Just because he thinks of sex all the time, is it fair that he involve other people with all of his sexual impulses?
I am *not* saying all demented people shouldn't be sexually active, just... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by Slarty Bartfast
at 10:43 AM on June 11, 2008
We don't get to choose much about the ends of our lives, but we still ought to be allowed to be human beings. Treating elderly people as if they were retarded or as if they were very young children just stinks.
Protecting someone against molestation is also treating them like human beings.
posted to MetaFilter by Slarty Bartfast
at 10:45 AM on June 11, 2008
I just did a PubMed search and I am really surprised at how little medical research there has been done on consensual sexual relationships and dementia. Everything is about treating "inappropriate sexual expression" with medications and other interventions. I have to say, in my practice, I see a lot of older people coupling up and it's awesome. I don't know what's going to happen when we start seeing more and more aging baby boomers who perhaps have judgment that isn't quite normal who... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by Slarty Bartfast
at 11:24 AM on June 11, 2008
MeFi post:
The English Disease
I'm not really competent to comment on raising a kid from years 2-12 on a strictly vegan diet. I suspect it could be done with thought and B12 and Vitamin D supplements, and careful attention to calcium and protein. But from ages 0-2 you're either breast feeding *a lot* or you're giving milk, there's simply no way around it, otherwise you can cause significant developmental delay.
The thing about this that strikes me most is that these parents went out of their way doing... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by Slarty Bartfast
at 3:59 PM on June 10, 2008
