"This is where the "less regulations for the little guy" argument falls down. Safety is safety is safety, regardless of the size of the operation. We can argue all up and down about what exactly is safe vs. what isn't, but the scale of the operation is irrelevant."

This is addressed in great detail in the Omnivore's Dilemma. The short answer is that a lot of what the inspections are there is protect you from are caused... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by thirteen at 3:42 PM on August 30, 2007

How large do the numbers have to be? There are millions of pounds of meat recalled every year, and people do get sick from it. I don't argue that it is not nice to have an agency to coordinate the recalls and try to prevent it from happening, but they are there to deal with facilities that process filthy, medicated and diseased animals. Salatin's animals are more likely to become tainted by being processed in a slaughterhouse than by the method he uses. With so much bad meat out there, what... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by thirteen at 5:10 PM on August 30, 2007

Troy McClure.
posted to MetaFilter by thirteen at 3:10 PM on August 30, 2007

Everytime this comes up I get all pissed off. I don't use pseudoephedrine myself, since some Nyquil gave me the jitters that lasted a solid week, but my wife gets great relief from the stuff when the inevitable cold comes around. The new stuff is junk, and the last time I tried to buy the real product, I got the last box behind the counter, and they said they were not going to carry it anymore. Someone is getting what they wanted out of this slow march, but it was not the majority of people who... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by thirteen at 1:04 PM on July 19, 2007

I think it is really funny that the ad displayed when you are not logged in is for farmed gold.

I stopped playing awhile back, and am enjoying my freetime. If I were playing on a PVP server I would feel no guilt taking the farmers down.
posted to MetaFilter by thirteen at 8:51 AM on June 20, 2007

They are not real jobs because they are fundamentally in conflict with the terms of service. It is a criminal, if fairly harmless, enterprise.
posted to MetaFilter by thirteen at 1:38 PM on June 20, 2007

The TOS is the law within WoW, and violation of that in this manner is what I was referring to. Harvesting within the game for profit is against the rules. Forming a gang to do it with or for you is the enterprise.

The other examples you gave are less serious in how they affect game play, so I am guessing they are weighted differently in their enforcement by moderators. LordBen will probably be asked to change his name at worst. The farmers are gonna get booted.... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by thirteen at 5:14 PM on June 20, 2007

A buddy of mine pointed out that 3rd party people are encouraged by Blizzard to create add ons for the game, so I take back the part about the only legitimate income from the game comes from the company.

Some of you don't like the outlaw talk regarding the farmers. They are stealing the rightful game experience from the people who pay their own money to play. Call them what you want, it does not matter, they still suck. I cannot think of any other area of everyday life... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by thirteen at 7:36 AM on June 21, 2007

V: I called it an enterprise as well. If you don't see the problem with someone harvesting the resources and interfering with a game that people are paying to play, I don't see how I am going to convince you otherwise. I had a killer analogy about an all you can eat fish fry, but I no longer feel like typing it out.


EB: I think we are hung up on the definition of what constitutes a job. Would you consider meth cooker a job? I don't use the word for... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by thirteen at 2:46 PM on June 21, 2007

Sort of like a regular job, except someone other than your boss can fire you. Prevent you from entering the workplace even. Life is hard for the professional jerk.
posted to MetaFilter by thirteen at 8:55 AM on June 26, 2007

Love her or hate her, Courtney Love has a brain, and when she uses it, it's impressive.

She lifted the whole thing for the Albini/Baffler piece that was published 7 years prior. I have never seen her piece mentioned without someone mentioning the obvious plagiarism, and I guess I get the honor this time around. Maybe she can be impressive, but this is not evidence of it.
posted to MetaFilter by thirteen at 10:23 PM on February 4, 2007

This kid: had consensual sex

That is not what she is saying. He can say that, the jury might think that, but it does not explain why the first thing she did when she woke up was to call her mother and tell her that she thought she had been raped.

I don't think consentual is the right word to be using here.
posted to MetaFilter by thirteen at 1:55 PM on January 25, 2007

Way to RTFA, FW.

Well aren't you charming. I did to read the article. I apologize for confusing the events of the evening.
posted to MetaFilter by thirteen at 3:02 PM on January 25, 2007

The best plan I heard for getting out of this was pressing his uniform, and putting him back in power before we evacuate. I don't care that he is dead, but it is incredibly stupid to have done this while we occupy the country. No one will believe this was legitimate, or that the US was not pulling the strings. The 21st century should not suck this much.
posted to MetaFilter by thirteen at 11:45 PM on December 29, 2006

This is interesting, not for the content, but rather to see how far Karl can push moderator patience before they ban him.

Go for it Karl, don't let the man keep you down. Post this stuff every day.

I don't even care if the links work, cause I can find music on my own.
posted to MetaFilter by thirteen at 1:39 PM on December 21, 2006

My wife and I are associated with some unschooling organizations, as well as like minded parents in our area. Our daughter is two and a half at this point, and we are excited that we are able to give her the opportunity to guide her own education.

The conversation thus far covers all the stuff that always comes up. People tend to have the same fears and biases, and that is fine. No thoughtful rebuttal by me is going to change anyones mind. Either the idea appeals to you... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by thirteen at 10:38 PM on November 25, 2006

the homeschooler is always a first-time teacher of whatever new lesson comes up, whereas the schoolteacher has seen what works and what doesn't, and knows the material deeply.

You aren't really addressing the idea of unschooling here. It does not matter if the parent does not know a subject very well. It is probably more exciting if they do not, so long as they are willing to help find the answer. The idea is to figure things out, and let the child... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by thirteen at 1:52 PM on November 26, 2006

You are not arguing well, Navelgazer. You are not even discussing the same form of education as the people you are debating. I appreciate that you are a guy with a opinion, but you do not seem to be well informed beyond your gut feelings on the subject. (And as an aside, your numbers make no sense. If education were as well funded as the military, our economy would have to grow ENORMOUSLY , even if most other spending were eliminated). What are you bringing to the table other than you are a guy... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by thirteen at 7:14 AM on November 27, 2006

This has been depressing and pointless.
posted to MetaFilter by thirteen at 2:54 PM on November 29, 2006

ending the draft

a terrible idea, by the way.

I am rather glad it is not your decision then.
posted to MetaFilter by thirteen at 5:31 PM on November 16, 2006

I apologize immediately. As I was previewing, I saw this was a triple post, and stupidly hit post instead of closing the window.
posted to MetaFilter by thirteen at 11:37 AM on October 11, 2006

I thought you'd been killed.

Not until 2017.
posted to MetaFilter by thirteen at 12:01 PM on October 11, 2006

How much aid does Israel get from US?

Almost all of it.
posted to MetaFilter by thirteen at 2:25 PM on August 29, 2006

Den Beste appears to be a sock-puppet, whose only purpose in these threads is to establish certain talking points, and to thereby frame the debate for or against - there is no need for any follow up as long as the "yes it is - no it isn't" dynamic dominates the conversation.

I have no response to the part about his motivations, but I don't think a credible argument can be made that the account is a mask. The man has been around a long time,... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by thirteen at 8:55 AM on July 23, 2006

I mean it is the very root of what government is supposed to do.

The idea of government is so flexible and nebulous, that it seems weird to me that someone could say so definitely what government is supposed to do. Is there some Platonian font of government that this policy is drifting from? This situation does not sound like something our framers would have considered, or been concerned about addressing, which suggests to me that this sort of rescue... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by thirteen at 10:25 PM on July 17, 2006

Just so I am not misunderstood, I am not opposed to the airlift, and am nonplussed about the charge. I would not blink an eye if I heard the rescue was free either. It is just a small thing floating around the hazy edge of much more important issues.

I would be very pleased indeed if they debit the Israel slush fund for the cost. If that were the case, I would think a million per American repatriated would be a fair price. They could even drop them off at their front... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by thirteen at 10:40 PM on July 17, 2006

Also, nonplussed.

Hmm. That is embarrassing. Even worse, I can't think of a proper word to replace it. "Unconcerned" might do it. Thanks for the lesson.
posted to MetaFilter by thirteen at 12:23 AM on July 18, 2006

Perhaps homeschool advocates could tell me why parents who want to homeschool should not be licensed by the state the same way public educators are? Surely parents so clever and talented with natural gifts for educating children would have no trouble with the state/national teaching exams.

I am going to guess that is because those tests are in place to prove that the educators are worthy of teaching the child in place of the parent. It is... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by thirteen at 6:05 PM on July 5, 2006

My state has almost no regulations regarding homeschooling. I have not memorized them, but it was not much more than letting the district know the child exists.

I have not meet many religious homeschoolers, but I know they are out there. Perhaps you want their kids in school, and their parents focused on bringing Intelligent Design to your child's classroom instead. I don't want anything to do with these people, and their existence should not cast a shadow over me.... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by thirteen at 12:03 PM on July 6, 2006

But it does become entirely defeatist the only alternatives given are individual-level solutions: send your kids to private schools if you can afford it, 'unschool', or homeschool them. That's all I am hearing in this thread, not any suggestions for or references to proposals for reforms and changes within the existing public system.

What you are not getting, is that most of the people who choose the alternate routes feel... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by thirteen at 9:32 AM on July 7, 2006

I get what you are saying, but I did not notice anyone (for various reasons) looking for a political solution, so it should come as no surprise that people that they are not trying to engineer one.

The people who are interested in that sort of thing exist. It is not at all uncommon for some districts to have extremely high property taxes with the intention of funneling a lot of money into the local schools. The amount spent per student is luxurious, and they they have... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by thirteen at 11:38 AM on July 7, 2006

I cannot imagine a situation (that could be afted by mankind's actions) where all of humanity is wiped out within 100 years.
posted to MetaFilter by thirteen at 11:05 AM on July 7, 2006

that the US has a year of manditory civil service.

That sounds like it would be ridiculously unpopular.
posted to MetaFilter by thirteen at 9:41 AM on July 7, 2006

How much do they want for it?
posted to MetaFilter by thirteen at 7:36 PM on April 12, 2006

I had to wait in line, sign my name and driver's licence number down to buy 4 oz. of Children's Dimetapp last week. I was ever so pissed.

I would love to break this law.
posted to MetaFilter by thirteen at 8:32 PM on February 16, 2006

If they don't want the boys to be in porn, they should not turn them into Twinks.
posted to MetaFilter by thirteen at 3:32 PM on January 30, 2006

Am I the only one who finds these incessant attempts to translate our greatest president into modern parlance (depressed, in the closet, and so on) an affront to his dignity

Probably not the only one, but I don't even agree that he is great. I think it is pretty interesting to delve into why he was so messed up.
posted to MetaFilter by thirteen at 10:34 AM on January 29, 2006

Faze was bombastic, but there is a lot of historical truth in there. None of us would enjoy living under his rule.
posted to MetaFilter by thirteen at 11:00 AM on January 29, 2006

You people are not getting how brilliant this is.
posted to MetaFilter by thirteen at 10:45 AM on January 23, 2006

and again, theres no way that if he really raped her that she or her family would have let him wiggle off the hook.

See, that sounds insane to me. You don't believe there is anyway a woman who has been raped, would choose to give up on a case that was being played out in public, with lots of people making judgements about her personal life, and implying that she is a lying whore.

I read all the Smoking Gun stuff.... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by thirteen at 12:19 AM on January 23, 2006

What do you mean "forced"? Did he use extra legal means? Gulags? What?

He made owning more than $100 worth of gold illegal, and punishable with a 10K fine, and up to 10 years in prison.
posted to MetaFilter by thirteen at 5:20 PM on January 19, 2006

Currently nine U.S. generals stationed in Afghanistan are reportedly wearing Pinnacle Dragon Skin body armor, according to company spokesman Paul Chopra.

"Cause the General's sip bacardi, while the privates feel the pain."
posted to MetaFilter by thirteen at 8:15 PM on January 17, 2006

I hope this never happens where I live. I don't cooperate with the census, and I am supposed to let them scan my freaking eyes, or keep my prints on file?

It used to be only criminals lost that sort of freedom.
posted to MetaFilter by thirteen at 9:09 AM on January 16, 2006

The traffic moves, and they get pissed if you get in their way, but they don't pull stunts like accelerating just to keep you from merging in front of them.

Maybe I cannot picture what you are saying, but if someone can thwart your merge by accelerating, you probably should not be merging. No one ever leaves enough stopping distance anymore.
posted to MetaFilter by thirteen at 1:45 PM on January 13, 2006

Oy the sweaters

They are fairly distinctive, I wonder where they were made.

I lived on the Grand and Nobel and Grand and Ogden corners for a long time. The whole are is swimming in crime history, and still works what is left of the mob within city limits. Mostly gambling machines these days from what I can tell. It is changing rapidly now, to much legitimate money to be made these days.
posted to MetaFilter by thirteen at 3:30 PM on January 12, 2006

but sir , although it is true that he was a bounty hunter as you say , was he not employed by the dark side ?

Are you asking if he was evil, or a criminal? He was employed by the law, that happened to be evil. I am sure after the second Death Star was blown up, and the Ewoks stopped dancing, the former rebels went Nuremberg on his ass. (assuming you accept the text that has him escape from the Sarlacc pit).
posted to MetaFilter by thirteen at 11:49 PM on January 7, 2006

Not to mention how one whole half of the human race considers the concept, we are more than balls. To have one's brains in one's balls is a pejorative. And no one has ever spoken speaks of one's hearts being in one's balls.

You are being intentionally blind to the poster's meaning. Is the thread not contentious enough for you?
posted to MetaFilter by thirteen at 12:16 PM on January 7, 2006

Since my own worst 10 list would be wildly unpopular, and spin this thread out to 300 something, I will just say, that this has been one of the most depressing things I have ever read here for some reason.

We are all pretty similar people here. If not American, of similar education. Why can't we get along? I know my disagreements are not partisan, but they might as well be. I actually do not mind that we disagree, so much as the hostility that honest differences bring... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by thirteen at 8:44 PM on December 31, 2005

I think they are counting on people collecting these and taking them out of circulation. I have read that the quarters have been a decent money maker for the government.
posted to MetaFilter by thirteen at 1:14 PM on December 23, 2005

We will have to agree to disagree on this one becuae a discussion based on such a divergent misreading of historical facts will not be productive.

Your opinion of my position is uncharitable, but this is a good point to stop. For my part, I have been interested in WWII since I was a child, and have read several books a year regarding it for the last 25 years at least. I know what lead up to the war. We disagree in interpretation honestly,... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by thirteen at 6:31 PM on December 11, 2005