I think it is sweet when you septics occasionally remember your puritan roots.

I like how Ozzies, Kiwis, and Brits trot out the "Puritan" line anytime an American takes offense. It's the least original thing they have to say about American culture and one of the least relevant.

If the world were ruled by Languagehat and Jessamyn I would get a hell of a lot less email from people saying, "Well, if... [more]
posted to MetaTalk by Mo Nickels at 2:01 PM on July 10, 2008

Read the rest of his stuff. Hysterical. He writes like a girl. :)
posted to MetaTalk by Mo Nickels at 2:57 AM on April 11, 2007

Oh, and I meant to link to Skot's Metafilter profile. Just for those who don't recognize his old-skooledness. See, he's inside the tent pissing out, so we're fine with him.
posted to MetaTalk by Mo Nickels at 2:59 AM on April 11, 2007

Nobody's stomping me for "writes like a girl" because they got my lame joke. Let me make it lamer by explaining it.

"Hysterical" means "very funny." Hysterical also means "suffering from hysteria." Hysteria and hysterics were originally considered female conditions: "hysteric" comes from the Greek "husterikos" meaning "of the womb" via the Latin "hystericus." Thus, saying "Skot is... [more]
posted to MetaTalk by Mo Nickels at 4:05 PM on April 11, 2007

Matt, same problem exists with this feed, a dodgy character in a post. I both feeds at the same time and thought it was NetNewsWire-specific rather than feed-specific.

Scott, in general, the problem is exactly as describe: it simply did not work. No more description required, as I can see by the responses that were actually helpful. Don't teach me to suck eggs.... [more]
posted to MetaTalk by Mo Nickels at 1:06 PM on July 26, 2006

It's over, but.

I was surprised to see that Matt closed the thread. I'm more 80-20 in favor of hoax, though. The comments left by the suspected party did not, in fact, add anything to the information that was missing. No location, no names, no log files, no screen dump, no license plate, no war-spammers' house picture, no war-spammers' street address, no further evidence at all.

Why can't we know where it happened? It would be completely legal... [more]
posted to MetaTalk by Mo Nickels at 6:55 AM on June 24, 2006

sometime in 1999

I'll tell you what happened.

It was the early days of blogging. Sure, there'd been some experimenting, some fooling around, but the ball really was rolling now. There was inertia—and intrigue.

I was a new kid—new to blogging, anyway, but not to the Internet—when a velvety purple invite was slipped under my door. "Hand-coded RDF file?" it read in spidery... [more]
posted to MetaTalk by Mo Nickels at 4:24 PM on January 23, 2006

Brad, Brad, when will you learn: I'm married to the Internet.
posted to MetaTalk by Mo Nickels at 4:41 PM on January 24, 2006

if mo nickels ACTUALLY thinks this is a "peach of a dilemma" he's a douchebag too.

What's the correct response to that? "I am what I eat." "That means I'm more into pussy than you are." "I'm for the pink and you're for the stink." I dunno.

"Peach of a dilemma" means that by defining the rules as she has, she's set herself up with no-win predicament. It doesn't mean it's going to... [more]
posted to MetaTalk by Mo Nickels at 11:53 AM on December 13, 2005

Uh, reporting him for not revealing he was arrested and convicted when hired, which he lied about on his application.
posted to MetaTalk by Mo Nickels at 2:29 PM on December 13, 2005

Technically and quibblingly, it's a double comment, not a double post. The post is that initial submission which starts the thread. Submissions attached to it are comments. The post and the comments together are a thread.

I do recognize that there is some overlapping use of posts, comments, submissions, etc., but I try to keep them distinct.
posted to MetaTalk by Mo Nickels at 8:53 PM on September 14, 2005

I am Spartacus.
posted to MetaTalk by Mo Nickels at 9:28 AM on September 12, 2005

It's worth pointing out that boy beater is making headway as an alternate name.
posted to MetaTalk by Mo Nickels at 7:38 AM on August 9, 2005

Thanks, Matt. Additional offers of help from others are still welcome. I'm working on a little dictionary due out next year from McGraw-Hill and I just want to run a few entries by some folks to make sure I have them right.
posted to MetaTalk by Mo Nickels at 1:09 PM on August 6, 2005

Ah, good idea.
posted to MetaTalk by Mo Nickels at 4:27 PM on August 6, 2005

Until I saw the faces of the dead, I couldn't picture anyone in that part of the world in my mind but Clarke. That was quickly resolved. The bodies at the bottom of dusty mass graves in Sri Lanka now blend seamlessly with the Thai families sleeping outdoors, arm in arm, in colorful sleeping bags.
posted to MetaTalk by Mo Nickels at 3:21 PM on December 27, 2004

a bit surprised by what they used.

That's how it always is, isn't it? I've been quoted in the New York Times in three articles now, and each time, it seems they took only my B material, leaving the A material never to appear in the permanent record.
posted to MetaTalk by Mo Nickels at 1:11 PM on August 7, 2004

Of course, nobody has to contribute if they don't want. But, still, it makes me a bit, I dunno, nervous.
posted to MetaTalk by Mo Nickels at 10:08 AM on July 9, 2004

Quonsy, baby, you are outta yer frickin mind. Big laffs, tho.
posted to MetaTalk by Mo Nickels at 4:16 AM on May 26, 2004

The thing about a MeFi post isn't so much the MeFi traffic, but that it's a hellmouth for link-spreading. A good link on MeFi will be picked up for weeks, and spread outward like a nuclear blast.

I always say this, because it's worth noting, but three years ago the most traffic I ever got on a site of mine was from a mention by David Pogue on the Martha Stewart Living television show. It was heavier than a Slashdotting at the time. I've since had a Slashdotting send... [more]
posted to MetaTalk by Mo Nickels at 5:03 AM on April 17, 2004

New York City checking in. Here are some proposals. Jon, Vidiot: please weigh in early so we can get a consensus. It'd be great if we could get some of the old-time bloggers in NYC to come, people like Anil, Jason, and Cam (although I imagine, Matt, you might be seeing these fellows elsewhere).

Date: May 1
Time: 8 p.m.

Possible locations:

Enid's, on the edge of Williamsburg and Greenpoint in Brooklyn,... [more]
posted to MetaTalk by Mo Nickels at 4:55 AM on April 17, 2004

*Rummages for change to help start the buy Skot a sense of humor fund*

~Wonders if Zarah has even *read* IzzlePfaff...~

When I've read Skot's site, I've broken teeth because I had to bite formica to keep from laughing out loud in the library-like cube farm where I work. The man has humor down Stone Cold Steven Austin Texas Tornado Fencing.
posted to MetaTalk by Mo Nickels at 8:02 PM on March 10, 2004

(Anyone hoping to see the term "American Taliban" disappear is going to be waiting a while. It already has a strong foothold, appearing in mainstream media as far back as early 1997. The meaning took a while to settle, though a 1999 reference in the New Republic uses the term in exactly the way which seems to upset so many here: "Put it all together, and the post-Newt GOP seems determined to reinvent itself as a kind of American Taliban." Writer Dana Milbank went on to add,... [more]
posted to MetaTalk by Mo Nickels at 7:56 PM on March 10, 2004

If you're using Safari for OS X, the Saft plugin will allow pop-ups or exterior links which call a new window to open in tabs instead.
posted to MetaTalk by Mo Nickels at 4:11 PM on February 28, 2004

Bah, we need a cranky old-timer, like myself, to sort out the knobs and newbs who want to join our l33t team. I was writing "I've about had enough of you young punks" posts when you all were still on Speak and Spells. Except for Matt. And jonmc, who is only an old-timer via a wormhole accident.

I would require a form be filled out, which then goes to an acceptance committee, then to a sub-commitee which spins it out for security clearance and checking of... [more]
posted to MetaTalk by Mo Nickels at 6:53 PM on November 26, 2003

If you people dithered anymore this would turn into a conversation about pointilism.

Sorry, but even though the New York Metro review says Half King is good for groups, it isn't. But I'll include it in the nominations anyway. Event to be held at whichever of the following receives the most votes, Friday June 6, 8 p.m. starting time. Voting closes noon EDT June 1.

1. Half King. 505 West 23rd at 10th Avenue. Irish art bar and resto in the far... [more]
posted to MetaTalk by Mo Nickels at 4:50 AM on May 28, 2003

Let's see. [RUMMAGES THROUGH FILES].

Ah, here we are. “Fantasies and Fetishes of the Swedish-Australian girlfriend”. [TO HIMSELF] Hmm, thick file. [READS ALOUD] A, G, N, here were are. W and Watching. Watching abalone mate. Watching boyfriend watching girlfriend. Watching boyfriend watching Osmonds mate. Watching boyfriend rollerskate. Hmm, how about that. No "Watching boyfriend make out with art gallerist cigarrette fiend."... [more]
posted to MetaTalk by Mo Nickels at 5:45 AM on May 28, 2003

Voting is closed, and Siberia wins by a landslide, despite Anil's threat, which, coming from a teetotalling PR shill, carried little weight.


Start the phone trees! Begin the letter-writing campaigns! Fire up the open relays!
The Next MefiNYC circle-jerk is at Siberia, 356 West 40th at Ninth Avenue, Friday, June 6 at 8 p.m.
Bring yer own rat traps and antimacassars.
Besides sending email to your Metafilter Amigos to... [more]
posted to MetaTalk by Mo Nickels at 7:15 AM on June 2, 2003

No cover. It's a bar.
posted to MetaTalk by Mo Nickels at 12:11 PM on May 15, 2003

The couple of times I've posted links to French sources, I've been pleased that the other Francophones on the list noticed, commented, and read the link. The languages are another nice overlay on the larger Metafilter community, which can be sliced an infinite number of ways.

I say, go for it. But make a valiant effort to find similar or supplemental content in English, or do a little bit of translating so others are completely excluded
posted to MetaTalk by Mo Nickels at 12:57 PM on April 28, 2003

What am I doing wrong?

You're not reading Metafilter regularly. It's up to you to play catch up: at least scan all the posts made since you last visited, if not read them. That'll go a long way to resolving the problem.

Unfortunately, this method is usually ignored because people think to themselves, "Wow! I haven't seen this before. Surely I'm the first. I'm so in touch. I'm ahead of the curve. I'm a trend-beater."
posted to MetaTalk by Mo Nickels at 1:24 PM on April 25, 2003

I'd like to encourage ID3 tags. I've got a bunch of MP3s on my desktop now and I don't know whose they are. Now I have to go back through and manually edit them... Free time slipping away... Enjoyment decreasing... Holsteins rebelling...
posted to MetaTalk by Mo Nickels at 12:20 PM on April 18, 2003

[clears throat]

Love lifted us up where we belong!
Where the eagles fly!
On the mountain heights!
Whoa ohh ohh oh ohhhh!
posted to MetaTalk by Mo Nickels at 6:48 AM on March 7, 2003

So the night ended as they all end: former strangers walking off into the darkness, as couples or alone, in the biting snow.

We are, some of us, reclusive. We withdraw into a corner and observe. Not Jonmc nor his woman: outgoing, engaging, the grout in the evening. No, we are observers: standers-aside, chroniclers, journalers, voyeurs with pretentions of anthropological distance. On the edge you could see clearly:

Digital cameras, the new curse,... [more]
posted to MetaTalk by Mo Nickels at 3:50 PM on January 11, 2003

I mean witchstone. That's the ass. I swear, I had nothing to drink.

Oh yeah: cowboy sally was there. Very cheery.
posted to MetaTalk by Mo Nickels at 3:55 PM on January 11, 2003

(Thanks, y2karl: you seem to be the only one who picked up my intent—to make something of nothing.)
posted to MetaTalk by Mo Nickels at 10:42 AM on January 12, 2003

I think we should have a dimsum brunch or dinner, as suggested by crunchland. Anyone else like this kind of thing? And if you need to drink, you can drink beforehand.

We'd like 43 separate checks, please.
posted to MetaTalk by Mo Nickels at 4:54 PM on December 21, 2002

Jesus bloody Christ, how long are you all gonna dither on this? I came back looking for a date, time and place, and find even the *date* hasn't been settled yet.

And the Pioneer Bar's been done already. Like, two meetings ago.

So, here are two proposals:

A. January 10
7 o'clock in the evening
The Edge
95 East Third Street at First Avenue
My mini-review: darts, pool,... [more]
posted to MetaTalk by Mo Nickels at 9:22 AM on January 2, 2003

Oh yeah: Vote for one. Voting Ends January 5 at midnight Eastern Daylight Savings Time.
posted to MetaTalk by Mo Nickels at 9:25 AM on January 2, 2003

I hereby bequeath all glory and proceeds of the pending Metafilter rendezvous to the everlasting Evanizer, to be accrued and held by him, his heirs or his estate, in perpetuity.

Evan, my son, this one's for you.
posted to MetaTalk by Mo Nickels at 5:56 AM on January 3, 2003

Dark Messiah, you are rubbish. A real waste of space and air. Suitable only for a landfill. At the moment of your death you will have the sole second of clarity in your whole pathetic life, a moment when you will realize that your entire existence has been fruitless and unoteworthy and that you might as well have killed yourself and saved everyone the decades of ignoring you or trying to forget you exist. In that one moment you will for once recognize your own ignorance. Your days are marked by... [more]
posted to MetaTalk by Mo Nickels at 9:31 PM on October 3, 2002

Where are the technical details? What software running on what system?
posted to MetaTalk by Mo Nickels at 4:21 PM on September 21, 2002

I think it's pretty simple: some folks are so helplessly immersed in corporate commercial culture, all they talk about is television, what they watch on television, things advertised on television and crap they just paid for because they saw it advertised on television. You don't have to be a viral marketer to lead a pathetic life like that.
posted to MetaTalk by Mo Nickels at 4:30 AM on September 19, 2002

My friends, there is an answer:

Metafilter XML: http://markpasc.org/stapler/mefi.xml

Metatalk XML: http://markpasc.org/stapler/metatalk.xml
posted to MetaTalk by Mo Nickels at 7:35 AM on September 17, 2002

I wish everyone would just shut up about September 11. Most of what I'm seeing and hearing is devoid of any real content. Little but useless, pointless dreck. Blech.
posted to MetaTalk by Mo Nickels at 2:53 AM on September 10, 2002

I think there's a money-making opportunity here, though probably not a new one. A trusted escrow service which holds your passwords and vital info. It sends you an email once a week. If you do not respond, the service calls your key phone numbers. If you do not respond to those calls, or they are told of your passing, then they roll out your emergency plans: a mailing list is activated to notify your Internet-only friends, your estate is notified that digital power of attorney has passed to the... [more]
posted to MetaTalk by Mo Nickels at 9:01 AM on September 5, 2002

When will folks tire of making such statements without having first done some actual web searching first, or maybe reading a few newspapers? Daypop, Google, Blogdex, headline collators, something. Get with it: if you're not reading lots of news online all the time, then you're not qualified to make such statements.

As far as I'm concerned, if it's published on a big-time news site in another country, it's as good as published in the US. I'm told that more Americans and... [more]
posted to MetaTalk by Mo Nickels at 5:24 AM on July 30, 2002

PrinceValium: An online link to the AP feed is their way of saying "this issue is not important to us." Sorry, but you're wrong. There's a *huge* flood of news that travels across the AP wire every day. Picking one story out *is* a way of saying "this is important." In addition, foreign news desks are understaffed and underbudgeted. You may only ever get the wire story, because that's all they can afford. If an editor feels a wire story is of sufficient... [more]
posted to MetaTalk by Mo Nickels at 9:06 AM on July 30, 2002

Do you all still hold? Any updates? Thanks.

I'm not sure what you're asking, but if you mean to ask if I have anything to add, I would only include these two obvious choices:

Google News and Yahoo News. Also, I'd recommend going to VersionTracker, picking your favorite platform, searching for "headline" and downloading yourself a good headline collator. I switch back and forth betwen MacReporter and Slashdock for Mac... [more]
posted to MetaTalk by Mo Nickels at 4:04 PM on July 30, 2002

A MeFi British Museum? What?
posted to MetaTalk by Mo Nickels at 7:39 PM on July 28, 2002