With his strained attempts to find deeper underlying meaning in the pathetic Super Bowl ads, Mr. Mahoney has inadvertently conjured the perfect metaphor for mankind's struggle to glean substance from the shallow sea of popular culture.


Sorry. Couldn't resist. Actually, I liked the piece. I think the lameness of the ads boils down to a current fear of risk on the part of the companies, coupled with our high expectations, as pointed out by johnson &... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by gimli at 11:16 AM on January 27, 2003

I was cringing along with the rest of you whenever McKay tried to chime in. I'm a fan of what he did in the past, but it was painful last night. As for the torch ceremony, where was Eric Heiden, the Mark Spitz of speed skating and perhaps our greatest winter Olympian?
posted to MetaFilter by gimli at 11:54 AM on February 9, 2002

gimli: I heard on the radio that Heiden was asked to be a torch bearer, but declined to participate when his request to be the final bearer/torch-lighter was denied.

This came up at a party my wife and I attended last night. My best friend's mom summed it up best: "What an ass." And I don't think she meant it in an evaniser/verdezza sort of way :)
posted to MetaFilter by gimli at 8:58 AM on February 10, 2002

Heisenberg's uncertainty principle would have come into play here. I think I recall that in The Physics of Star Trek they refer to a "Heisenberg Compensator", or some such nonsense, which alleviates the problem.
posted to MetaFilter by gimli at 7:32 AM on February 7, 2002

I was just thinking about that story, starvingartist. I might rather be turned into a fleshlump than meet the fate of the little kid in "The Jaunt."
posted to MetaFilter by gimli at 8:28 AM on February 7, 2002

For those who haven't read "The Jaunt" and want the synopsis, highlight text below:


This is how I remember it:
A teleportation technology has recently been invented. During testing of the system they find that animals sent through keep coming out insane on the other end. It turns out that the mind perceives the the instant of teleportation as an eternity spent in pitch-black isolation. To overcome the problem, people are required to take... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by gimli at 9:09 AM on February 7, 2002

And if I just posted it normally, you probably would have been the one to say, "Way to spoil the story for people, asshole."
posted to MetaFilter by gimli at 9:22 AM on February 7, 2002

My apologies, rushmc. It's been a snarkfest around here lately, and I was overly defensive. I'm gonna put the rose-colored glasses back on and quit assuming people are being sarcastic.
posted to MetaFilter by gimli at 1:38 PM on February 8, 2002

Great article. After reading this, I'm encouraged by the advances that have been made. However, it is sobering to note that our need for increased computational power and bandwidth continues to outpace our ability to produce it, and probably always will. This is the perfect illustration of the old concept that for every question we answer, we create a staggering number of new ones. As for collaboration, I hope that the grid helps to open things up for more interdisciplinary research rather than... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by gimli at 8:07 AM on February 5, 2002

Alter-Natives, F-Word, Butterglove, Breadwinner (w/ Bobby Donne from Labradford on bass) were all part of the local music scene in Richmond, Va. in the late '80s. I remember the term "math rock" being used back then, but I always thought of it as a pejorative term. The customer reviews for the Breadwinner cd have a couple of people claiming to have coined the term "math rock", but I don't buy it. The Alter-Natives releases on SST are out of print now, apparently.... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by gimli at 9:48 AM on February 1, 2002

Got it right away, but I think it's because I've been doing word puzzles lately.
posted to MetaFilter by gimli at 1:11 PM on January 31, 2002

humbucker minnow (3,439,800,000)
posted to MetaFilter by gimli at 8:36 AM on January 25, 2002

dayglow enemas

I vote that you should get extra points if you come up with a patentable product or a cool band name.
posted to MetaFilter by gimli at 9:33 AM on January 25, 2002

I tend to worry about it. IMO, the potential for devastating unintended consequences outweighs the benefits. More on the subject.
posted to MetaFilter by gimli at 8:05 AM on January 25, 2002

If I get hit by a car as I walk down the street, the accident doesn't self-replicate indefinitely. It is hard to overstate the possibilty for "potentially disastrous" outcomes in this field, though I agree that the piece is rather alarmist. I know I'm just dreaming here, but I would like to see the general public (or at least our policymakers) become as familiar with this old-hat "failure of the central dogma" stuff as the protein scientists are. I approve of careful,... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by gimli at 9:13 AM on January 25, 2002

Two good things may come out of it, but we need a third thing more than either of those: campaign finance reform (as the article points out). This case screams for it. Maybe in our lifetime?
posted to MetaFilter by gimli at 5:27 PM on January 23, 2002

Good point. It's sort of like negotiating disarmament. What steams me in the Enron case is not so much the endgame, but the way they were able to play the system (both parties, imo) to thwart regulation at every turn.
posted to MetaFilter by gimli at 6:23 PM on January 23, 2002

My favorite comment:

It doesn't give dyno readings in horsepower but in gauss!

You know this cat gets all the ladies.
posted to MetaFilter by gimli at 5:46 PM on January 23, 2002

It was cool. Couldn't resist converting a kitten pic for the mrs. Funny, the two thoughts going through my head as it rendered were: "This server is probably toast within 10 - 15 minutes." and "I hope people don't crash the MeFi server with a bunch of these."
posted to MetaFilter by gimli at 2:05 PM on January 23, 2002

Don't forget Diane Sawyer, who has a hard-hitting exclusive whenever someone OD's on fertility drugs and has a "miraculous" multiple birth. I think you have to have nine now if you want your 15 minutes.
posted to MetaFilter by gimli at 12:48 PM on January 23, 2002

Amazon showed improvement over the previous year, which is great. However, prospective investors need to educate themselves about the potential implications of the company's long-term debt, much of which is in the form of convertible bonds. Also, pro forma earnings can vary wildly from earnings calculated using "generally accepted accounting principles." I'm not slamming the company, but as raysmj points out, these are times when a bit of skepticism can save your ass.
posted to MetaFilter by gimli at 9:50 AM on January 22, 2002

Hey, amazon ain't all bad. I hope they do survive, as I've saved quite a bit of money and gotten books & music that would have been very hard to find in my town. I hope a few of their competitors survive as well, of course.
posted to MetaFilter by gimli at 11:02 AM on January 22, 2002

MattD hits the nail on the head. The potential for the dilution of the stock via restructuring is a handicap, imo. The company will have to continue to increase its profitability to survive. I think it has a chance, but the going will be tough.
posted to MetaFilter by gimli at 11:43 AM on January 22, 2002

As for his appearance at the Golden Globes, I think Ford was just uncomfortable receiving that type of award. I'd compare it to Dean Smith having the arena named after him while he was still coaching at UNC. It's an honor for lifetime achievement, but they're not done with their achievements.

Our youth-obsessed society can benefit from images of older people acting heroically, even if it is just a movie. Maybe Indy loses a step or two, but that doesn't mean he has to... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by gimli at 8:23 AM on January 22, 2002

Chunk Berry's Hail! Hail! Rocky Road
posted to MetaFilter by gimli at 1:48 PM on January 20, 2002

I'm a lifelong Raider fan, but after cooling off I grudgingly agree that it was the correct application of a bad rule. Was the replay evidence conclusive enough to overturn the call on the field? No, but I'm biased. The Raiders let themselves get into a situation where one play could prove so costly, much as they did in each of their close losses down the stretch. Championship-caliber teams find a way to win games like this. They just didn't seem to have the same knack for pulling out close... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by gimli at 9:48 AM on January 20, 2002

There's no way that someone who doesn't speak English accidentally typed in "Ray" instead of "Jones." What a lame excuse. At best, it was an honest mistake by someone familiar with both names. At worst, it was intentional. My guess is that it was the former, but the problem is only compounded by the pathetic excuse.
posted to MetaFilter by gimli at 6:54 AM on January 16, 2002

Damn, centrs! Now when I'm watching the film, I'll just be thinking, "Gere sucks! Walken would have really killed in that chapstick scene!"
posted to MetaFilter by gimli at 6:53 PM on January 14, 2002

He's a war-weary amnesiac waffle chef on his last day on the job. She's a strong-willed gypsy snake charmer who inherited a spooky stately manor from her late maiden aunt. They fight crime!

I think Harry Crews' secret is out.
posted to MetaFilter by gimli at 6:13 PM on January 14, 2002

...he does interesting stuff and what else really matters?


Exactly. Separate the work from the press. After reading crasspastor's post above, I did a little mental exercise. How many of my favorite writers, musicians, directors, actors, etc. would I want to hang out with? Very few, but all I have to go on are interviews and press snippets. I can only imagine how big an ass I'd make of myself if I were put on the spot and asked to defend my... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by gimli at 8:38 AM on October 29, 2001

Besides being a genius of the bass, Charles Mingus was also one the foremost authorities on the toilet-training of cats.
posted to MetaFilter by gimli at 10:33 AM on September 29, 2001

I guess if the hijackers claim to have a bomb (standard procedure), you just take the gamble that they're bluffing. At some point, some fool is going to try an old-fashioned, non-suicide hijacking, and people are going to die in the ensuing panic.
posted to MetaFilter by gimli at 7:33 AM on September 21, 2001

Add me to the list of Samuel Smith fans, especially the Winter Welcome. Lately, I've been trying different Belgian beers and ales. Trappist ales aren't cheap, but you owe it to yourself.
posted to MetaFilter by gimli at 5:27 PM on September 20, 2001

Within the first couple of hours after the attack, some of the radio reports I heard (either NPR or CBS) made reference to the fact that one of the men convicted in the '93 bombing had talked about this type of attack. It shocked me to hear this, but how receptive do you think Americans would have been to the heightened security at airports without a concrete demonstration? The airlines and the tourist industry sure wouldn't have been very happy. When people say, "our world has changed," one of... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by gimli at 5:09 PM on September 18, 2001

Another Baltimore band that I would recommend is All Mighty Senators. I first saw them about 8 or 10 years ago, and they've gotten better & better. Just a blast live, and they've started touring all over. Check 'em out if they come to your town.
posted to MetaFilter by gimli at 12:10 PM on September 9, 2001

Trevor Baylis has been working on a piezoelectric shoe sole, which may be able to charge your cell phone or PDA. There has been research in this area at the MIT Media Lab as well.
posted to MetaFilter by gimli at 7:33 AM on September 7, 2001

I'm going with Connery. It was a tossup between him and Jackie Stewart, but Darby O'Gill and the Little People give him the edge.
posted to MetaFilter by gimli at 4:58 PM on September 5, 2001

At the end of the program, they went into his security clearance being revoked due to his homosexuality, and his subsequent suicide. An incredible waste.

I'm sure Postroad was joking, btw. I always picture him typing really fast. Spellcheck? Who has time?
posted to MetaFilter by gimli at 4:41 PM on September 5, 2001

My first impulse was to say something snide. But the guy is dead, and it serves as a reminder that wealth and success in one's career are no guarantee of happiness. I'm glad no one was at home.
posted to MetaFilter by gimli at 7:54 AM on August 30, 2001

VA, MD, DE, NC, SC, NJ, NY, PA, CT, RI, VT, ME, MA, MO, NH, WV, KY, TN, OH, IL, IN, NE, SD, IA, GA, FL, AL, CO

28 states + DC, and a good bit of eastern Canada, but I'm over 30. I need to get out West. Of the states I've visited, the one that took me most by surprise was Kentucky. Beautiful! Everyone should see Mammoth Cave at least once. Friggin' huge!
posted to MetaFilter by gimli at 4:39 PM on August 29, 2001

I wouldn't be surprised if Stile tipped off PETA in the first place.
posted to MetaFilter by gimli at 1:26 PM on August 29, 2001

Here is a description of the ending of the European pilot. Basically, they had to wrap it all up to make it a stand-alone piece. It leaves dozens of loose ends, obviously. Then again, as davehat points out, so did the full series. There are tons of bizarre Twin Peaks fan sites out there, but this one managed to creep me out for for some reason.
posted to MetaFilter by gimli at 7:06 AM on August 29, 2001

Crap! Some of the links seem to be dead, so the maze is screwed up. Sorry. If you're a Lynch fan with time to kill, check out the user reviews for Lost Highway at the IMDb. There are 180, and at times it reads like Lynchfilter. People either love or hate it, and the reviews often seem to say more about the author than the film. It's incredible how much some people read into his work.
posted to MetaFilter by gimli at 8:00 AM on August 29, 2001

Thanks for the great link. It's amazing how a talented writer can not only bring you into his world, but help you make sense of your own as well. We went through a chillingly similar experience with my mother last winter. Three weeks on a respirator in CCU, two months total in the hospital, and a miraculous recovery. After the initial shock and intense emotion, things drag on to the point that numbness sets in and it all becomes a blur. Reading this story has helped cut through some of the haze,... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by gimli at 5:02 PM on August 28, 2001

I'm holding out for boneless. Maybe slug genes would do the trick. How about adding chloroplasts so we don't have to feed them. Green leather would be icing on the cake.
posted to MetaFilter by gimli at 7:17 AM on August 22, 2001

Better yet, why not modify ourselves so we can eat plastic and breathe car exhaust. We're probably slowly evolving in that direction already.
posted to MetaFilter by gimli at 7:56 AM on August 22, 2001

I'm pulling for him. Hopefully, he'll gain enough strength to receive a transplant. It is sad that he felt the need to dispel rumors that he is being used as a guinea pig since he is black. Distrust of the medical establishment runs deep in many segments of the African-American community, and hesitancy to seek out preventive care contributes to higher rates of illness and lower life expectancy.
posted to MetaFilter by gimli at 7:50 AM on August 22, 2001

In IE 5.5 it crashed pretty quickly for me. Might try again, but probably won't. I think you're onto something, MrB.
posted to MetaFilter by gimli at 1:40 PM on August 21, 2001

She may be dead, but WTF. Edith Massey gets my vote.
posted to MetaFilter by gimli at 11:48 AM on August 1, 2001

oops, sorry hotdoughnutsnow! My skimming skills aren't what they used to be.
posted to MetaFilter by gimli at 10:08 AM on August 1, 2001