"Boston, I'm very, very sorry...THAT YOU'RE SO STUPID! Oh burn."
posted to MetaTalk by DU at 11:49 AM on September 22, 2008

Been there. Married that, because I couldn't face the prospect of breaking up, because at that point the dysfunctional relationship had pushed everything else out of my life and breaking up seemed impossible. So I witnessed the suicide attempts. Watched the near-death experience and its aftermath. Visited her in intensive care. Finally she did start taking better care of herself, at which point she decided she didn't need me anymore, and left. Two weeks after the divorce she called me in... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by jon1270 at 1:51 AM on September 22, 2008

I agree with everyone that it's probably just coincidence. I used to get all sorts as a regular hitchhiker in a different country years ago.
You may be comforted by my best anecdote. One car-load of lads did the oh-so-hilarious pretending to stop trick, then drove off shouting abuse and giving me the finger. They were so busy doing this they hit the metal reservation barrier on the side of the motorway slip-road, totalling the front end of their crappy car. I hung around long enough... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Abiezer at 12:29 AM on June 21, 2007

Media: for crying out loud, ignore these edicts and go on in. Stop lining up at the I-45 blockade. Stop hanging out near the FEMA hut. Go take a rubber dinghy across West Bay in middle of the night. Get in there and get some Pulitzer material. It's good practice for learning to be resourceful and adventurous in more prestigious assignments overseas.
posted to MetaFilter by crapmatic at 10:48 AM on September 19, 2008

Now having read the Kenyon address, I'm actually kind of confused. How could a guy who wrote that address, which so perfectly captures the ideas of the Bigger Picture and seeing outside yourself and thinking differently about the people and situations around you, have committed suicide? Someone earlier said that suicide is a personal act, well... it's also kind of a selfish one, if you're not thinking about the consequences of your actions.

Perhaps he forgot to remind... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by fungible at 9:04 PM on September 13, 2008

Ok, I thought that was a fun piece of music and was sure it was authentic. Curiosity got the better of me, looked up the lead singer on WhitePages and gave him a call. Sal Polichetti, a lovely guy. Told him there was a controversy about whether Sonseed existed or not, about this post. He was totally friendly and likable. Turns out he works in NYC, a couple of blocks from where I live.

I asked him if I could take notes as we spoke and said ok. This is what he... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by nickyskye at 12:42 PM on September 12, 2008

Sadly, the only one who knows what's really going on in your guy's head is him. All that the men of metafilter can do is guess - and you'll get any number of competing ideas.

In the end, none of that matters. He broke up with you, for reasons even he may not be able to articulate to himself yet, he's not willing to reconsider, and you want to know how to go forward.

My advice is this.

First, stop being his friend. Be... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by canine epigram at 9:23 AM on August 5, 2008 marked best answer

He emails me a dozen times a day. If I'm late to reply he sends "where are you? are you okay? messages."

Oh helllllll no. He broke up with you, he doesn't now get to dictate when you two speak. Now that you've broken up, you need to not talk to each other so you can both move on. For your sake and his, cut the cord- let him know that you'll be "needing some space" from speaking to him, and you'll be in touch when you feel like... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by ThePinkSuperhero at 9:41 AM on August 5, 2008

This sculpture scares me, yet, at the same time, I feel a giggle welling up from my stomach. Is it nervous laughter or laughter laughter?

There's something about the bluntness of this one that's almost too much, like a tangy citrus fruit that's almost painful to taste.

This one frustrates me, because it's unresolved. It's like a scrap of paper ruining an otherwise immaculate desk. I know that I could fix everything by throwing away the paper;... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by grumblebee at 9:27 PM on September 11, 2008

Though I've not really read up on Koons, I love what I've seen of his work.

Incidentally, my bachelor's degree is in art. I've found that this makes me no more or less qualified to define, analyze, or create art than a commodities trader.

About thirty percent of that degree came from the endless cyclical discussion of What Art Is, in which people argued over the artistic merits of overpriced ceramics in various fine-art galleries, Anne Geddes,... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Metroid Baby at 2:48 PM on September 12, 2008

Bacitracin Advisory: do not load that page if your crazy goddamn cat is sitting on your lap.
posted to MetaFilter by jamaro at 1:30 PM on September 12, 2008

Today I am going to censor something. Anything.
I have had enough of being ignored and today
I am going to play God.
posted to MetaFilter by Shepherd at 9:28 AM on September 12, 2008

OP doesn't know what modern art is about.

Gerhard Richter is my father. But, whatever you believe to be true must be true.
posted to MetaTalk by plexi at 8:03 PM on September 11, 2008

For girls: Ultra low rise flared jeans with flabby tummies and/or ass cracks spilling out the top. For boys: Huge size jeans that sit halfway down their hips, with the crotch hanging down at their knees, so the only way they stay up is for the guy to walk with a wide stance like he's just poo'd in his pants.

At least that's what the kids on my lawn are wearing.
posted to Ask Metafilter by tula at 2:05 PM on September 11, 2008

"Is the baby breathing."

If I heard that question, I would have replied: "God damn it, of course its breathing! I already told you I found a baby on my doorstep. Otherwise I would have said I found a dead baby on my doorstep!"
posted to MetaFilter by ericb at 11:17 AM on September 11, 2008

What an interesting surprise. The things people post about here. Thanks for your informative and interesting post merelyglib.

It happens my grandfather, Wessel Smitter, wrote a readable novel in 1938 on the Matanuska experiment topic, Another Morning, based on the experiences of Matanuska colonists. It's one of the few novels about this.

He dedicated his book to Dr. Carl Earl Albrecht, a "frontier physician" and health administrator at... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by nickyskye at 8:59 AM on September 10, 2008

Your boss and the tech guy probably REALLY think "oh well." They may stop thinking that if you keep laptop-dropping. Don't worry about it. It was an accident. Shit happens. Don't offer to buy a new one. And look on the bright side—you dropped it when you didn't have a whole bunch of irreplaceable data on it yet. The work you do and data you produce on the laptop is probably worth a lot more than the value of the laptop itself. Laptops are just things that are replaceable; work is far... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by zsazsa at 11:11 AM on September 9, 2008

Your father is old enough to deal with the consequences of his actions. Familial obligations only mean something if you let them mean something.

Stay with your husband, and build a build a better life for yourself. Don't get involved with a business that is going down the pan. It'll just drag you down with it.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Solomon at 2:46 AM on September 9, 2008

So, Harry Potter, huh? Was the first book even published at the time?

That just shows how devious she is! She bans books YEARS BEFORE THEY'RE WRITTEN!
posted to MetaFilter by martinrebas at 4:32 AM on September 8, 2008

I have a very specialised blog, the content of which I've only seen on literally a handful of other blogs. I blog because I love to. It's a passion for me. Anything less is a waste of my time, as far as I'm concerned. If there's no passion to share experiences/knowledge with other people, there's no point reading.

Always remember your commentators. Blogging can be a very lonely experience when you get no feedback. I swear by giving my commentators an easy ride when... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Solomon at 11:21 AM on September 7, 2008 marked best answer

I see visions of us geographically gathering together post-apocalypse and being the only functioning society on the planet ...

You saw the woman on the porch too? Colorado meetup!
posted to MetaTalk by carsonb at 8:47 AM on September 5, 2008

Is there a difference between "discover your passion" and "discover what you want to do"?

I ask because I hear people talk about their Passion (with a capital P), as if everyone has one whether they know it or not. As it it's a special glowing ball inside each of us. Yet I see no evidence that this ball necessarily exists.

To me, it's more likely that we have things we like and things we dislike. A like becomes a passion when... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by grumblebee at 12:22 PM on September 4, 2008

Your son's inner convictions are no match for a randy young co-ed offering up her body

Ick ick ick ick ick ick.

You don't know this poster's son, and neither do I.

Also, "randy young co-ed offering up her body?" How are you getting Internet access from 1928?
posted to Ask Metafilter by Sidhedevil at 12:16 PM on September 4, 2008

Very calmly and coldly say, Oh really? I happen to think very highly of Mr. X. The burn of your disapproval will hurt far worse than any playground insult ever could.
posted to Ask Metafilter by ThePinkSuperhero at 9:36 PM on September 3, 2008

Is there anything I can do or say or give to mark the occasion appropriately?


No. If you broke up, you are broken up and that's that. Now, if you want to a) get back together or b) mess with her emotions, possibly ruining her birthday, then go ahead and do something. Otherwise, do nothing, and make yourself scarce on that day. Seriously.
posted to Ask Metafilter by The World Famous at 7:55 PM on September 1, 2008

If she doesn't want to accept, she won't cash the check.

Ha! If I were in her shoes, you better believe I'd cash that fucking check, so you better be careful. Like others say, I think it's best for you to leave her alone.
posted to Ask Metafilter by ThePinkSuperhero at 9:37 PM on September 1, 2008

I appreciate you covering for me, man.
posted to MetaTalk by Philippe Tyr at 6:49 PM on August 30, 2008

Generally, in a household of three housemates, if one housemate wants to move his girlfriend into his room and therefore add an extra tenant, he has to first seek the consent of the other two housemates. Whether this is contractually required or merely good form depends on the lease. In some situations it may also be necessary to seek permission from the landlord.

If even one housemate is unhappy with adding an additional tenant, then the housemate with the girlfriend... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by hot soup girl at 7:55 AM on August 31, 2008

If Rob really wanted to break up with Emma he would have done it already.

When I was 17 I had this friend that had a controlling mother and being my 17-year-old self I would agree with my friend how horrible her mother was and encourage my friend to move out. My friend wasn't looking for advice to move out or break away. She was looking for a shoulder to cry on. I cringe at my behavior and advice. Advice wasn't needed. Empathy was.

Rob is... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Fairchild at 7:59 AM on August 30, 2008

Rob is being a complete and total asshole. He's being an asshole, apparently, because he doesn't seem to be able to parse the difference between "being nice" and "being kind." Being nice means stroking somebody, feeding them candy, smiling and uttering warm, fuzzy, meaningless phrases. Rob is being nice. Being kind means having someone's best interest in mind and acting in a way that serves that interest, even if it's tough. I've seen people shoot horses out of kindness; it... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by koeselitz at 8:14 AM on August 30, 2008

In my late twenties, my best friend at the time was in Rob's position. He was bored, he wanted out, and he couldn't bring himself to be straight with his Emma about it. He could certainly make it clear to everyone else, though, which was none too comfortable. I tried a bunch of things: I supported him; I admonished him with advice like the advice that Fairchild mentions; I washed my hands of it and refused to let him whine about it at me until he did something. The only thing that I saw that... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by sculpin at 10:44 AM on August 30, 2008

I'm sorry you're going through this.

You seem to be doing very well--maintaining your values while still trying to make the other person happy.

But, your husband doesn't want that. He wants you to believe in X. Why he needs you to believe in X is irrelevant.

The reason why his reasons for insisting on this are irrelevant is: He will not accept compromise, and it would be immoral for you to compromise anymore than you... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by flibbertigibbet at 6:36 PM on August 28, 2008

It's also interesting to me that everyone seemed to buy in to the whole Myanmar thing, and then seemingly switched it off and started calling it Burma again. It's a neat little "fuck you" to the gang in charge.

Both names "Burma" and "Myanmar" are derived from ethnic groupings - the Bamar and Myanma people. Myanmar has been used since the 13thC as the name for various regions within what we know and call Burma (or Myanmar)... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by Kerasia at 4:14 AM on August 21, 2008

Don't kid yourself into thinking that anyone is clean.And don't patronize me, or anyone else who's had it up to our fucking eyeballs with bullshit like "what the Clintons did was just as bad".

The only incident in our nation's history that remotely compares to the transfer of governmental funds to private individuals under George W. Bush is World War II, which lasted five years, involved a massive, global war on two fronts,... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by scrump at 4:31 PM on August 28, 2008

Ok - the SSL/Cookies thing for dummies:

(full disclosure, former intern at Google, doing a PhD in computer security. None of this violates my NDA.)

First off, you need to know that when you are using a public wireless network (coffee shops, your university, etc), your Internet browsing can be eavesdropped upon by anyone else nearby. They can see which web pages you visit, which IMs you send, and which *ahem* adult image you are looking at.... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by genome4hire at 11:17 AM on August 28, 2008

I think it probably helps if you were born in the 70s and grew up in the 80s on this one.

Right now I'm experiencing the most unsettling combination of feelings. Shoulder pads and permed hair for girls (and guys!) was... normal. Sexy, even. I was maturing sexually during all of this... madness.

The reasons why I should be unsettled by this flashback should be pretty obvious. I'm feeling a very weird combination of retrospective lust and... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by loquacious at 6:01 PM on August 26, 2008

Mean-spirited bullshit.

You want to know what's some seriously mean spirited bullshit? AQUA NET and ACID WASH JEANS. I speak from experience.
posted to MetaFilter by loquacious at 6:47 PM on August 26, 2008

My best friend recently bought a house in the established "village" area of the island here. His neighbors pretty well run the gamut: he's a wastewater engineer with blue collar roots, one neighbor runs the local coffee shop, another is an elderly woman. Across the street is a young couple of "limited income" and their two kids, who are actually living in a house owned by the local affordable housing group (who have done precious little to make it more energy efficient or... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by rusty at 1:42 PM on August 26, 2008

20 years in the moving industry and I still say "The moving industry is its own worst enemy." Stick to your guns, DO NOT pay them the difference, the money is the leverage. If they have it you have to get it from them, and good luck. Threaten to sue and then follow through. Don't plead your case on the phone with them, put everything in writing and send it certified. Companies like these operate with the attitude that you will just pay to get it over with, stick it to em! In the end... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by pianomover at 11:20 PM on August 27, 2008 marked best answer

The people who bought the condo I used to own ran into something like this when they moved in. The movers were total scumbags who, among other things, refused to unload the furnishings until they were paid double what had been agreed upon. The new owners paid the amount, and were later told by the cops, "That was illegal. You should have called us and we would have made them unload the stuff."

If the laws are the same where you're going to be living, you might... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by orange swan at 12:26 AM on August 28, 2008 marked best answer

The Consumerist suggests calling your state department of Weights and Measures.

Some guy who is a public information officer for the Dept of W&M says:
Here in AZ we get involved with interstate moving complaints quite a bit. Basically if there's a dispute we'll show up and give a moving company three options:

1. Deliver for the original price, not the inflated one.
2. We take the truck to a certified commercial scale... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Comrade_robot at 4:45 AM on August 28, 2008 marked best answer

Jesus, guys, knock it off with this idle chit-chat, we're on a fucking deadline here.

krautland, I need two extra pars on the LOLcat insurgency, quick. Blazecock, can you do nibs for the Latest Snarks box?

Fuck, I need to call my wife and tell her I'll be home late. Again.
posted to MetaTalk by flashboy at 1:39 AM on August 27, 2008

Russia had no option but to crush the attack to save lives.
Body count is up to what umber by now?

This was not a war of our choice. We have no designs on Georgian territory.
Sure, if you don't consider territory that lies within the boundaries of Georgia as being Georgian territory.

Our troops entered Georgia to destroy bases from which the attack was launched and then left.... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by piratebowling at 7:34 AM on August 27, 2008

That was possibly unduly harsh of me.
posted to MetaFilter by atrazine at 8:21 AM on August 27, 2008

It would be foolish not to assume this is another play in a gigantic dick-waving contest. But Medvedev raises some very important points the US would do well to address.

On August 7th, Sakaashvilli used artillery fire to raze Tskinvali to the ground and moved the Georgian Army into South Ossetia, killing both Russian citizens and Russian peackekeepers, who were there under the auspices of an internationally-brokered agreement which stopped the fighting that dated back... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by adricv at 8:21 AM on August 27, 2008

What gyusan and tybeet said. Seriously, giving away your TV was putting a band-aid on your addiction issue. Now you're contemplating impairing your wife's ability to do work efficiently at home?

Get help. Get help from a cognitive behavioral therapist.

Removing things from the path of an addiction is not treating the addiction.

Please notice that all of the "solutions" you propose have HER changing her... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Sidhedevil at 1:05 PM on August 26, 2008

This is a pretty simple thing to do, but it takes some finesse to apply: Don't buy shit you don't need. Obvious enough, sure, but it takes a little thinking to find all the stuff you buy that you shouldn't. After housing, food should be your primary expense. If it isn't, you're probably buying something you don't need.

I'm going to stick to the more-or-less ethical end of the spectrum. There's plenty of unethical crap you can do, but if you need me to tell you what... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by majick at 1:41 PM on August 19, 2008

Everybody knows that "watching a movie" alone in a dude's room is a dog whistle for casual sex.

In college, my roommate that was asked that and she was expecting casual sex, but the guy made her watch Star Wars IV instead because he was appalled she had never seen it before. She didn't enjoy it but the guy and I have remained friends ever since.
posted to Ask Metafilter by spec80 at 3:34 PM on August 25, 2008

This sounds like they did something to their own lawn that has affected yours, and probably something they thought would be beneficial to their lawn. They could've burned their own lawn with any number of fertilizers and treatments, and you're getting an overspray effect.

Because of the way the chain links are, it's really hard to cut the grass closely along the fence, so there's a few blades that wouldn't get cut.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Cool Papa Bell at 3:33 PM on August 25, 2008

I go read books by the river or in a big windy clutch of trees. Just the non-human noise and getting totally engrossed in a good story outdoors presses my reset button.
posted to Ask Metafilter by jessamyn at 7:49 PM on August 24, 2008