I don't agree with the liquid polish suggestion. There's no quick way to a shine that's any good for decent shoes. The only way to get a good shine and keep one, is to clean and polish them every single time you wear them. Get shoe trees, get a good paste wax, get a decent brushes, and polish by hand. In the long run, you'll be able to shine them much better than the pics show in less than five minutes. If you have crap shoes, then get s quick shine sponge and get on with your life...... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by Dean_Paxton at 5:58 AM on April 6, 2005

rorycberger speaks wisely. Rotation of shoes is vital... it helps keep your feet healthy, it helps keep your shoes lasting a long time... it's great advice. Always rotate.

As for mink oil, I'd stay away from it as it makes it more difficult to maintain a level of wax and a quality of shine. Mink oil was intended for boots and work shoes that are prone to dry rot and only really need to be clean and not shined. Saddle soap and silicone treatments for work boots/work... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by Dean_Paxton at 9:32 PM on April 6, 2005

This is not good. I was prepared to jump in and defend Matt and hoped this was done without his knowledge but, that's clearly not the case. Good for Andy for writing a level-headed article and begging for calm but, I don't think there will be much of that either. We all respect him quite a lot and I'm confident that there will be an answer and an apology forthcoming. We all know what it's like to starve for a living too... but, there are other ways to raise money.... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by Dean_Paxton at 12:41 PM on March 31, 2005

For posterity. His second response is posted:

The articles hosted content thing was just a short-term experiment, an interesting idea (original and relevant Wikipedia-type content on the site) that was badly implemented. As an experiment it could have been conducted much better than it was. The content should have been more topical to WP issue, I should have kept up with the content that was going up, the links should have never had the overflow CSS, and I... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by Dean_Paxton at 9:46 AM on April 2, 2005

Boy, we sounded like a bunch of jerks back then... myself included.
posted to MetaFilter by Dean_Paxton at 5:34 AM on February 16, 2005

I found this to be irritatingly quaint and really rather offensive. It's utterly useless because of the vast number of subjective conditions. Geography, ethnicity, education level, etc... that's just the big stuff. Get into the most mundane of details and it falls apart completely.

The omission of prep. times is a thinly veiled excuse for saying, "Oh those are just details... they don't really matter much because I'm a fabulous cook with 20 years of experience... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by Dean_Paxton at 9:39 AM on January 4, 2005

Okay, let's go down this path then, I don't think it's a derail either.

Poverty (in the US) is a multifaceted problem that simply cannot be solved by a single or a couple of solutions. It's just that simple. There is no "workfare" or, "welfare to work" or, other form of forced manual labor that will help anything but some governors re-election campaign.

Being poor is not always a result of being uneducated, it's not always... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by Dean_Paxton at 11:06 AM on January 4, 2005

Gwint if that's the only thing you could pull out of what I had to say on the topic, I respectfully invite you to pound sand...
posted to MetaFilter by Dean_Paxton at 2:20 PM on January 4, 2005

SpecialK, while I agree with you for the most part, I don't buy into the "paying people enough money to live on will make us all broke" agrument. It's been used for a thousand years. What you are essentially saying is that when you pay the many more, the few who already have more will have less. Pure and simple. They said remarkably similar things in 30's when workers fought for fair wages in coal mines, auto plants and farms...
posted to MetaFilter by Dean_Paxton at 2:31 PM on January 4, 2005

Alison, that's more like it. I have a bunch of them too. Let's put together about 300 more and give it away for free... Actual recipes with real ingredients they can find in their crap stores. I know, I live like that everyday. I feed anywhere between 6 to 10 people every single day on about $120 a week. I promise we don't eat rice and beans every day, either.
posted to MetaFilter by Dean_Paxton at 5:05 PM on January 4, 2005

I can personally attest that some of these signs have now been placed in several locations in a particularly large automaker's office building. This was a nice bit of friday joy.
posted to MetaFilter by Dean_Paxton at 1:23 PM on November 12, 2004

I have forgotten this... I drew strength from it once. Thank you for bringing it back to me.
posted to MetaFilter by Dean_Paxton at 7:35 AM on November 3, 2004

PinkStainlessTail, if you're ever around Flint, you can get a pretty damned good one at King Arthur's (map). They've been making them for years and are pretty damned easy to come by.
posted to MetaFilter by Dean_Paxton at 9:57 PM on October 18, 2004

Well, the company that wrote the software and built the machines has had a pretty hard time recently. So none of this is beyond belief at all.... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by Dean_Paxton at 8:12 PM on July 27, 2004

Facts On Farts:

"...Emperor Claudius even passed a law legalizing farting at banquets out of concern for people's health..."

That line alone redeems everything. There is balance in the world.
posted to MetaFilter by Dean_Paxton at 10:48 AM on April 22, 2004

From the article:

"Do you know that this is serious?" she asked him, according to Carl.

"No," he replied.

Then she asked how he did it, and he showed her

Someone should suspend her for being unqualified to teach a technology class.
posted to MetaFilter by Dean_Paxton at 2:40 PM on January 9, 2004

On a New Years eve in 1986 here in Flint, we heard this popping sound near or, inside the house. I figured it was someone outside tossing firecrackers against the house. It was an old farm-type house in the hood...

Around 2:00 AM, my (then) wife woke me up yelping about the ceiling in my oldest daughters room coming down. I found a .762 round in the middle of the plaster debris about 2-3 feet from her head. I remembered hearing the automatic weapon rapid fire sound... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by Dean_Paxton at 3:43 PM on November 24, 2003

I've discovered, over the years, that photoshop's print engine does not always yield the best results. For windows people, take a hard look at Vueprint Pro and compare it's results with Photoshop or, whatever you use. You'll be suprised.
posted to MetaFilter by Dean_Paxton at 6:44 PM on November 2, 2003

"Balls" don't simply "fall off."

Yep, they do. In the old days a wet leather strap used. As it dries, it constricts... well you get the idea.
posted to MetaFilter by Dean_Paxton at 10:19 PM on July 26, 2003

i happen to love Soju. Anyone else?

Yes, I love it... Enjoyed quite a bit of it... was always worried about the possible formaldehyde content it was supposed to have. Heard all manner of GI folklore about guys going blind and such. But, from what I could gather it wasn't true of the better brands. Mixed with just about anything sweet, it is nearly undetectable.
posted to MetaFilter by Dean_Paxton at 10:41 PM on July 7, 2003

I just opened a bottle (box, actually) of that this past weekend. It was sold in the sake aisle at the big new Asian grocery here (DC and environs). I was expecting sake, so I was a bit shocked at the milkiness, which increased when I shook the box as directed. Must be an acquired taste--I tossed the box after a few sips.

You guys are right, you're talking about (dong-dong-ju) or, makkoli, which is a rice wine.... not like Saki at all, which is far... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by Dean_Paxton at 9:34 PM on July 8, 2003

I think it is the most important, even if I despise the band, the song, and thank god there will be no more:

1). I believe that Nirvana simultaneously killed both metal and punk rock, single-handedly, with that song. Music changed forever afterward. Not even Metallica could save metal, not to mention themselves.

2). Consider the last 25 years, which means 1978. Not 1968 or, 1958... Like someone said earlier, it's post... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by Dean_Paxton at 9:24 PM on June 10, 2003

This would be a good project for the "rust belt" here in the US. In many cities in the mid-west that I've lived in and been to, the manhole covers were at least this ornate. Some in parts of Flint and Detroit are even more ornate than these. They took their ironworks very seriously in those days (1880-1940).
posted to MetaFilter by Dean_Paxton at 8:39 AM on June 9, 2003

I hate mowing, it is the most useless and pointless activity I can imagine. I especially can't imagine that they diverted an entire river so that LA could have green grass where it wasn't supposed to grow?

Men, machines, sweat, chemicals and a multi-billion dollar industry. Bah. Some ancient plain dweller memories that forces us to cultivate lawns... count me out.

I know that it's spring because I get the annual TruChem, or GreenLawn (or,... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by Dean_Paxton at 11:40 PM on April 28, 2003

This was mine which is a less cooler version of the one that Poagao linked to.

My father bought me this watch and it was a prized possession for many years. I still have it, it still works, maybe I'll dig it up now and stick a battery in it.

Nice post. Thanks.
posted to MetaFilter by Dean_Paxton at 9:02 PM on April 16, 2003

Although it's not quite as "gee whiz" as these yet, my uncle has a joint venture with GMC that is planning some outrageous SUV's. This is the first model.
posted to MetaFilter by Dean_Paxton at 4:57 PM on April 15, 2003

Sounds like a man after Kimball's heart. Meet the new hustle, same as the old...
posted to MetaFilter by Dean_Paxton at 4:15 PM on April 14, 2003

Wow, that's ugly... I was completely clueless. I knew something was going on last night because the site was vitrually overwhelmed with traffic. At first glance I thought this was a matter of attribution. Which, of course, we've discussed at length. If I remember, it was determined that it was the right thing to do but, not the law of the land. Now, I realize that there really isn't much to discuss. It was copyrighted, paid access content (no matter what the quality is) that he did not... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by Dean_Paxton at 7:02 AM on April 2, 2003

All better, it would seem. I, for one, am very pleased.
posted to MetaFilter by Dean_Paxton at 1:53 PM on April 2, 2003

An interesting if not optimistic viewpoint.
posted to MetaFilter by Dean_Paxton at 9:45 AM on April 1, 2003

Superb, thank you.
posted to MetaFilter by Dean_Paxton at 4:09 PM on March 31, 2003

Dave Elfving at greasyskillet.org was the first person I've ever seen to use audio in a weblog for daily entries. He used QT and they were not just audio versions of his text entries, they were unique. That was back in early 2000, perhaps even late 1999.

I'm not sure whether it was lack of time, bandwidth, or interest that made him stop but, IMHO if there are dibs on "being first" then, credit should go to him.
posted to MetaFilter by Dean_Paxton at 11:07 PM on February 27, 2003

What has occurred to me is that Google has been indexing the web, almost in it's entirety, for quite some time now. That is, until the bloggers started showing up in more frequency and updating extremely regularly.

Now, not only can they directly access blog data and include it in the index but, they will also get access to the statistics, as well. Thus, freeing up the crawlers to do work elsewhere. I saw this coming since the release of the API, I just never... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by Dean_Paxton at 12:37 AM on February 16, 2003

You guys must've croaked the server, it's pretty catch as catch can now. I never got the complete page to load and gave up after a bit.
posted to MetaFilter by Dean_Paxton at 3:24 PM on February 10, 2003

But it seems like the author chose to be part of the problem that day, instead of being part of the solution.

There is no solution to this problem. When I read this last night, I googled up about 12 more accounts of abuse at the hands of police and airport security. I'm surprised there aren't more of these.

The sad thing is, we asked for this. We demanded more and better security at airports. The contract agencies were... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by Dean_Paxton at 10:37 AM on December 22, 2002

Utah baby names has some gems as well... in case you missed the other 2437 times it's been around the block.
posted to MetaFilter by Dean_Paxton at 11:12 AM on December 11, 2002

Look into the Smithsonian site for a pic of the magnificent stove. Made right here in Detroit. Of course, there have been more impressive ones.

She is a true American hero.
posted to MetaFilter by Dean_Paxton at 5:15 PM on August 15, 2002

I remember first seeing the Twiddler in the early 90's (1992?). I bought one. My geek friends were interested but, thought it was lot more fun to tease me about it. I never got the hang of it and it found it's way to the graveyard. I still have it here somewhere.

The only reason they teased me about it was because of the "Thumbelina" mouse I ordered. A friend of mine was managing a RadioShack at the time, he overheard me talking about it and wanting one... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by Dean_Paxton at 7:48 PM on August 12, 2002

I didn't wait for the rush, long before it was fashionable to be a penniless IT worker, I quit. Back in Feb. 2001, I left a job that paid more money than I care to mention. This was because I'd moved so far away from the things that I love, I could hardly tolerate my life anymore.

Things that I love such as my family, a normal life, and yes technology. I was tired of being forced into non-technical roles or, specializing in specific areas that meant high billing rates... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by Dean_Paxton at 9:59 PM on August 11, 2002

8. AOL customer support representatives
9. Microsoft customer support representatives
10. Ameritech/SBC network engineers
.
.
.
99. Comcast internet installation contractors
posted to MetaFilter by Dean_Paxton at 10:48 AM on August 12, 2002

It was good to see DocOzone making a nice come back. He has always done the most amazing things.
posted to MetaFilter by Dean_Paxton at 9:27 PM on August 8, 2002

Long before this, real hobos used symbols to communicate with each other, as a means of helping each other survive.

(of course, please forgive me if that was redundant)
posted to MetaFilter by Dean_Paxton at 9:37 PM on August 1, 2002

If you have kids to haul, get a minivan.

No one has complained about my van yet. I'm confident that it is larger and less fuel efficient than any SUV. Fully loaded, with all 8 paxtonlanders and their junk, I doubt seriously I get 10 MPG. But, then again, what else could we possibly use to haul us all around with. Any minivan is just too small.

In reality, it's not the conspicuous consumption aspect of these things that... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by Dean_Paxton at 5:34 PM on July 31, 2002

I'm somewhat speechless

I was too, while speaking on the phone with a sheriff's deputy. Who would not tell me if she were alive or dead.

So, I drove the 63 miles to the hospital where she was, in my Buick LeSabre, in about 30 minutes. I doubt I got 26 MPG on that trip.

I'll protect my family and leave the protection of the environment to other, more qualified people.
posted to MetaFilter by Dean_Paxton at 11:32 AM on August 1, 2002

So, you and your family live on the Mars space station

I'm not sure I understand what you are trying to relay here.

If you are saying that insulating myself and my family from some of the most aggressive and reckless drivers in the country, armed with the largest and most powerful production vehicles made... if you feel that's a bad thing, I'm sorry you feel that way. We'll have to agree to disagree.... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by Dean_Paxton at 3:21 PM on August 1, 2002

Oh sure, that's what we have. I guess that little word up there didn't really stand out. It's kind of like this one.

Personally, I couldn't drive/own an SUV. I was just trying to say earlier that the full-sized van is probably the least economical vehicle of them all. But, no one has really jumped my case about it being a hog So, you are right, they aren't really all that cool... they love to tease us about it.... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by Dean_Paxton at 6:16 PM on August 1, 2002

Dreama rested my case.

Hey, I don't know about your family Dreama, but I just about have to file an environmental impact statement each time we cross the state line.

Talk about conspicuous consumption...

Look at the bright side, we've created our own microeconomies.
posted to MetaFilter by Dean_Paxton at 9:32 PM on August 1, 2002

Thanks for the update.
posted to MetaFilter by Dean_Paxton at 7:14 PM on July 29, 2002

As a permanent resident of climate control... my thanks go to him forever.
posted to MetaFilter by Dean_Paxton at 8:17 PM on July 16, 2002

More political anti-terror nonsense.

They've been trying to do this for years and years.

The mindless hoarde chasing mosters with torches.
posted to MetaFilter by Dean_Paxton at 5:46 AM on July 16, 2002