Here's one for the label-haters. Great post, though, it's full of excellent work.
posted to MetaFilter by echo target at 11:41 AM on October 7, 2008

I know I'm not the only one who wants a camera with Canon's old logo on it. That's pretty edgy right there.
posted to MetaFilter by echo target at 10:57 AM on October 7, 2008

Just another step on the path to Peak Melody, as Mandal linked yesterday.
posted to MetaFilter by echo target at 6:36 AM on October 7, 2008

Transcript?
posted to MetaFilter by echo target at 6:13 PM on October 6, 2008

Girl is missing! White? Check. Pretty? Check. YOU MAY PROCEED.
posted to MetaFilter by echo target at 1:03 PM on October 3, 2008

Not a bad idea, but this struck me as one blog post that really really needs a bunch of photo examples. Without that it's basically just "You know, you can buy paintings on Ebay!"
posted to MetaFilter by echo target at 3:27 PM on October 1, 2008

I haven't been in an actual stampede, but I have been in some crowds rough enough to pick me up off my feet. All you can really do is concentrate on not falling and keeping the person in front of you from falling - if they go down, you probably will too.

If crushing or suffocation is a worry, make a box with your arms in front of you - each hand in the inner elbow of the opposite arm. Hold this out perpendicular to your chest, and you'll keep some breathing space for yourself.
posted to Ask Metafilter by echo target at 1:00 PM on October 1, 2008

My god, I think I hate that man.

No disrespect to either the termites or the Burj Dubai.
posted to MetaFilter by echo target at 12:11 PM on September 30, 2008

They can probably save a fair bit if they regularly buy books, movies, or music online. A lot of the savings are intangible, though. I can check to see if the library has a particular book in before I go there. Saves some times, saves a bit of gas (or pedaling), but it's hard to quantify. There's lots and lots of little benefits like that.

If it's something you really think you need to talk them into, you might have better luck finding something that would be worth... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by echo target at 3:49 PM on September 24, 2008

Wow, I wish the D90 movie showed more of the movie-mode. The Canon movie was obviously made to showcase that feature. It's hard to compare the two. I will say that they look absolutely kickass, especially at that price. You could buy two or three of them (for the cooldown periods) for a lot less than a comparable fullsize HD camera. And that DOF!
posted to MetaFilter by echo target at 3:02 PM on September 23, 2008

I thought the whole thing was with the 5D II...where'd you see something about a standard camera?
posted to MetaFilter by echo target at 3:11 PM on September 23, 2008

For further real-life reading, look into the political organization of Spain, which has several groups seeking various levels of independence, most famously the Basques. It's an ongoing issue there.

I'm going to agree with the others here and say that I can't see any state seceding as completely as you're thinking without military involvement. At some point, one or another branch of the federal government is going to say, "No, you're staying. We're sending the... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by echo target at 1:35 PM on September 23, 2008

I should certainly hope the lenses are good. Take a look at this here 50mm f/0.95. For $11,000, that bastard had better be out taking award-winning photos while I sleep.

I joined photography after digital had become the standard, so Leica is mostly a prestige brand to me. There's a saying I've heard: "A Leica is a camera that you buy to have in your hand during the publicity shoot after you win an award for a photo you took with your Canon." Swap in Nikon... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by echo target at 7:22 PM on September 22, 2008

See, this is HDR done right. That? Love the subject matter, but they all just look so flat. Half of those have huge screaming halos around everything.
posted to MetaFilter by echo target at 2:54 PM on September 22, 2008

Eekacat: okay, I'll bite. What's wrong with that one? There's no accounting for taste and all, but it avoids all the pitfalls of HDR (lack of contract, garish color, glowing halos, overall 'flat' image) while using the strengths (revealing shadow detail). In that particular shot, the details in the shadows are made visible, but the balance between shadows and highlights is retained. You can see what's in that dark corner, but it still looks like a really dark corner.... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by echo target at 3:43 PM on September 22, 2008

"You ever press the wrong button?"

"Usually."
posted to MetaFilter by echo target at 4:52 PM on September 20, 2008

O ye gods that looks disgusting.
posted to MetaFilter by echo target at 3:20 PM on September 18, 2008

Wow, these are bad. But what's the orange x green one? Do I not get it, or is it not funny?

Yes, I'm aware that both might be the case.
posted to MetaFilter by echo target at 8:33 AM on September 18, 2008

Wow, that is a great photo. And what a story.

I must nitpick, though: two trains (of equivalent weight) hitting each other head on at 45 mph is not equivalent to hitting a stationary object at 90, despite what the first link claims. It's the same as hitting a stationary object at 45.
posted to MetaFilter by echo target at 5:37 PM on September 17, 2008

Okay, consider this: you're driving at 45 and hit an oncoming car of the same size going at the same speed in the opposite direction. You both come to a complete stop. The other car has just exerted a certain amount of force on yours: the amount needed to bring you to a full stop from 45mph.

Now consider driving into a stationary, immovable object: the same thing happens. The same amount of energy has been exerted upon you and your car: the amount needed to bring you... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by echo target at 5:52 PM on September 17, 2008

We do have monster truck rallies now, to be fair.
posted to MetaFilter by echo target at 6:07 PM on September 17, 2008

Hmm. This is a derail (ha!), but I'm curious about the 50 & 25 rear-end collision. At first I thought they would split the difference and both end up going 37.5 mph, but I think what would actually happen (not counting friction, brakes, crumple zones, differing masses, etc) is that the front car, originally travelling 25mph, would be accelerated to 50, while the other car would slow to 25. They trade velocities.

This sounds weird, but it's what pool balls would do... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by echo target at 7:01 PM on September 17, 2008

I think styrofoam by itself would be too weak and would likely snap in half before the night is over. I'm having trouble thinking of anything else that would be similarly lightweight and easy to work with but stronger. Balsa wood, maybe? You'd have to glue up a bunch of different blocks to get the right size, and it would take a while.

You might be able to make the styrofoam work if you reinforce it. Cut a big groove down the back side, from head to base, and glue in... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by echo target at 11:23 AM on September 17, 2008

Oh yeah, and any sort of gloss paint will do the trick. You'll need at least a couple of coats, and if you want a mirror-smooth look you'll want to sand in between coats with some very fine sandpaper.
posted to Ask Metafilter by echo target at 11:24 AM on September 17, 2008

Not bad. I finished in 195 commands total, which is probably a lot worse than what a real programmer can do.
posted to MetaFilter by echo target at 10:20 AM on September 17, 2008

It's actually better without the translation, I suspect.

I like his contented little smile throughout.
posted to MetaFilter by echo target at 10:58 AM on September 16, 2008

I'm not surprised that the data would be online - I mean, this is a gigantic international undertaking, and folks across the world are going to want in on the data. But is the control system really online? The article didn't seem clear to me.

I'm not sure why you think this'll be deleted. The third post on LHC this month, maybe, but it's certainly new news.
posted to MetaFilter by echo target at 5:16 PM on September 13, 2008

I don't have a Nikon, so I don't have specific lens recommendations, but for settings you'll want the aperture wide open and a focal length (equivalent) in the 70-100mm range.
posted to Ask Metafilter by echo target at 1:50 PM on September 12, 2008

Maybe one or two shotgun mics on stands? If you have a spot marked where they'll stand, you can have it pointed in the correct direction ahead of time.

Whatever kind you use, be sure to put a windscreen on it if you're going to be outdoors.
posted to Ask Metafilter by echo target at 2:00 PM on September 11, 2008

Does anyone have examples of actual vote fraud done with false names or addresses? Recently, I mean. Maybe at some point in the past it made sense to fill up the rolls with names from the local cemetery, but if you really wanted to defraud a vote in the modern era, wouldn't you go for the vote-counting machines or some other technological weakness?
posted to MetaFilter by echo target at 1:48 PM on September 11, 2008

You'll be thrilled to hear that the most expensive car on Craigslist is an 89 Civic.
posted to MetaFilter by echo target at 9:40 AM on September 11, 2008

You know, being faster than your opponent may not matter much if he holds a stronger position. This is perhaps something that sets air combat apart from ground combat: there are no fortified positions, so movement is the greatest strength. Conversely, an army can hold a strong point and be safe there, even if their opponent circles endlessly.

To extend the metaphor, as we're doing, being able to politically outmaneuver your opponent may not matter if his positions are... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by echo target at 7:47 AM on September 11, 2008

Yeah, I guess the political field is less like solid ground with sure high points than a floating raft on the high seas, where the surface pitches and rolls and shifts and the high points change. Political combat is probably more like a cross between land and aerial combat. If you stick to one place forever, you're likely to be undermined, but a series of clever-in-the-short-term moves can put you in a bad position in the long run.

McCain's VP selection gains him an... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by echo target at 8:20 AM on September 11, 2008

It really depends on whether you're focusing more on photo editing or the graphic design aspect. For the photo editing, you'll want everyone to be able to open a photo, level the horizon, fix the exposure, fix the color, clean up the noise, crop it and save it. And they should be able to do that all quickly and efficiently. For more advanced lessons you can get into removing redeye, swapping heads & bodies, changing colors, etc.

If you're into the graphic design... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by echo target at 12:05 PM on September 10, 2008

Pappy's marketing whizzes
Really? Their marketing department consists of buckets of urine? No wonder they can't attract a more high-class clientele.
posted to MetaFilter by echo target at 9:31 AM on September 9, 2008

There's a lot of good band names here. My new ska/reggae band will be called Muskrat Tamer.
posted to MetaFilter by echo target at 8:10 AM on September 9, 2008

Don't miss the link at the end to the Hammer Quiz.
posted to MetaFilter by echo target at 8:14 AM on September 9, 2008

I think it's easier to develop a 'relationship' with a grocery store than a bank, because food is part of a whole set of social rituals. You only really notice your bank when something goes wrong. I like my bank just fine, mostly because I never have to think about it when I don't want to, and because there's lots of branches. I don't use a terribly large variety of banking services, though, so maybe others have other opinions. Business owners especially.
posted to Ask Metafilter by echo target at 7:16 AM on September 9, 2008

Flash is better than continuous light for portraits, because you can keep the light out people's faces and avoid them squinting, but for inanimate objects and macro work you'd be better off with continuous lights. Positioning everything so that the reflections on the packaging don't cover up the contents is probably something you're used to doing a lot, and it's much much easier if the lights are always on while you're doing that. As an added bonus, the autoexposure should work just fine with... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by echo target at 12:40 PM on September 8, 2008

The wise men at Penny Arcade, certainly no promoters of software piracy, have pointed out that DRM only affects you if you legitimately paid for the the product. Making your DRM scheme especially strict and/or complicated just increases the relative value of the pirated version.
posted to MetaFilter by echo target at 12:12 PM on September 8, 2008

Yes, you need the above converter. Don't use the DV tape deck, it will probably lose a lot of quality in the downsampling.
posted to Ask Metafilter by echo target at 9:49 AM on September 3, 2008

We had a post on the blue about this a while back. No personal experience, but I can't imagine you'd be able to borrow money for a long, long time.
posted to Ask Metafilter by echo target at 1:19 PM on September 2, 2008

How do you know when the drum riser is level?

The drummer drools out of both sides of his mouth.
posted to MetaFilter by echo target at 9:02 AM on September 2, 2008

She's caucasian, and her hair's quite thick.
posted to Ask Metafilter by echo target at 8:27 AM on September 2, 2008

I like where he talks about 'one of the most vilely cold days I can remember' and the river isn't at all frozen. That ain't even chilly.

Seriously, though, great photos. Did he take them knowing (or hoping) they'd have historic value, or was that just luck?
posted to MetaFilter by echo target at 9:43 AM on August 26, 2008

oddman: wanna go halfsies?
posted to MetaFilter by echo target at 11:28 AM on August 25, 2008

The proofing box would probably do the trick. You could also put it in the oven with a big pot of hot water. Don't turn the oven on - the insulation will hold in the heat released by the water. That would probably do the trick when it's 60. I don't know about when it's 40. Maybe if you used a really big pot of almost-boiling water?
posted to Ask Metafilter by echo target at 10:40 AM on August 25, 2008

I'm going to side with the crowd here and say that it's entirely CG. You could do some of the same bits with time lapse, but to then composite in the sky and the color stains on the ground would be more trouble than it's worth. All-CG would the obvious way to go to achieve it.

If you want to make a lo-fi version yourself, as has been said, take a long walk with a camera on a low-slung pole. Or you could cook up a bicycle mount.

If you want to... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by echo target at 1:35 PM on August 22, 2008

I think the real news here is that Architectural Digest is just as enamored of shitty, overcooked HDR as the Flickr pools are.
posted to MetaFilter by echo target at 1:11 PM on August 22, 2008

A man's dwelling should smell as a man does - of diesel fuel, fresh steak, sweat, leather, dust, and smoke. Anything less is just being a metrosexual.
posted to Ask Metafilter by echo target at 7:46 AM on August 22, 2008