Incidentally, this piece by Matt Taibbi about Sarah Palin is fun.
posted to MetaFilter by Sticherbeast at 4:21 PM on October 1, 2008

By the way, who would've thought going into this election that the Republicans would be brought low by a Murderer's Row of Larry King, Campbell Brown, the women on The View, and Katie Couric?

This election will be decided by women, and the ladies seem to be crushing on Obama.

All he needs to do is run this picture 24/7.
posted to MetaFilter by kirkaracha at 7:12 PM on October 1, 2008

I'm sorry. It happened to me a couple of years ago with my mom, and it's rough. I'm assuming that it's up to you to handle everything, as it was for me. When mom died, it was me & my much younger sister left behind, it meant I had to be responsible for handling things. Everything below works on that assumption.

Fair warning - this is not a feel-good post. This post is very much about nuts-and-bolts details, and hard-won experience. Losing a parent sucks, and... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by swngnmonk at 10:15 PM on October 1, 2008 marked best answer

I really really hate it when people take something innocent from my childhood and pervert it, or destroy it. Please stop doing that.

There was never anything innocent about the muppets.
posted to MetaFilter by Astro Zombie at 12:50 PM on October 1, 2008

*cough*movies*cough*
posted to MetaFilter by Item at 10:53 AM on September 30, 2008

E.G. Smith tights are awesome, and they're matte by virtue of being cotton. Looks like the black ones are out of stock, but I bet you can get them elsewhere online. (Sock Dreams, however, is also awesome.)
posted to Ask Metafilter by clavicle at 11:03 AM on October 10, 2007

He talks a lot about having hope and visualizing and creating a better tomorrow without actually specifying his vision of what a better tomorrow would look like, or the steps required to achieve that.

Yeah, he should really provide some specifics. Maybe he could provide a 33-page Blueprint for Change [PDF]. Maybe he could set up web pages and downloadable PDFs on issues like Civil Rights, Defense, Disabilities, Economy, Education, Energy, Ethics,... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by kirkaracha at 11:52 AM on September 26, 2008

Watch this. (Youtube)

Bill Maher's "new rules" segment from last night. Utterly brilliant Swiftian reversal of the usual racist spin. The best New Rules segment evah.
posted to MetaFilter by fourcheesemac at 7:38 AM on September 27, 2008

Ah, and I thought I was the only one who came up with something to do besides seethe at the TV. Here are my rules:

Words or terms - Sips

- Debate Rhetoric-
Change - 1
War - 1
100 year war - 2
War: what is it good for? - 3
Economic meltdown - 2
Fundamentals are strong - 3
Whiners - CHUG
Terrorism - 1
Bin Laden -... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by seldom seen cid at 1:21 PM on September 26, 2008

I wonder about this all the time. Both my parents do this, not about things as serious as sexual abuse, but not about totally minor things either. I think the thing that's so jarring to me is the basic assumption I make that if they say they don't remember something -- in that way that implies strongly that they think it didn't happen -- it must mean that *I* am misremembering it, and I resent the hell out of that.

My mother often stays away from disturbing books or... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by jessamyn at 6:11 PM on September 22, 2008

I'm guessing that he just doesn't "get it" - he has no clue that from your point of view, this issue is personal - it's about your ability to marry the person you love. For him, it is probably a more abstract religious/political issue. You might want to sit down in person and talk to him about what the issue means to you, personally, and ask him if he thinks you, personally, should not be allowed to marry. You might also want to explore his own experience of prejudice as being a Mormon... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by metahawk at 6:15 PM on September 21, 2008

ml98tu: I'm not ignorant about the world, but I think you may not be too aware of how lots of young men live. There is very little interaction with the young peoples world. I live alone without family in a big city. My friends are other guys and some gals. There is not some family thing going on here where people would introduce me to children, and I'm not going to go to the park and start talking to 5 year old girls.

Not buying it. Sorry. I live... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by ml98tu at 3:18 PM on September 19, 2008

(Only there's no real Doctor to stop it. Ever.)

Yes there is. His name is Oliver Rackham.

I don't like the LEDs. I mean, it's not like I think it's ugly, but I'd prefer it entirely without electrical parts.

Even that is secretly cooler than it looks. Check out this video.... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by jb at 10:14 AM on September 19, 2008

Republicans begin efforts to suppress the vote in Florida and California, via "We have you registered as a republican" mailers with "Do Not Forward" stamped on them. Election officials criticize the efforts.The piece, paid for by the Republican National Committee and authorized by McCain, tells voters it is seeking to double-check their "unconfirmed" party affiliations while asking for money. A letter signed by McCain tells the Democrats: "We have you... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by cashman at 5:35 AM on September 17, 2008

I certainly know from observation his supporters do.

Which supporters? What have you observed? All supporters, or just a subset? Please give evidence for "Obama's supporters disdain people from small towns." I currently live in a small town. I'm a supporter.

I'm not claiming small town people are any better than big city people. The latter are certainly more...polished.... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by Miko at 12:50 PM on September 18, 2008

The Boy In The Striped Pajamas, was the most glurgeful YA novel I think I've ever read. The main character was an insipidly stupid child with a lisp whose father is an SS officer and moves the family to "Authwithz", where our young protaganist is immediately jealous of the boy he befriends who gets to wear striped pajamas all the time.

The book itself holds no historical value or information, just the fairytale-like story of Bruno and his consistently... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by redsparkler at 11:57 AM on September 12, 2008

"Already has" for nouns: "x already has a great deal of experience".
"Has already" for verbs: "x has already accrued a great deal of experience".
posted to Ask Metafilter by Bodd at 9:01 AM on September 11, 2008 marked best answer

"Surely not everyone who is in publishing or working as a literary agent began faxing and photocopying for $25,000 per year."

Oh my, that's funny. Yes, yes they did. At least in editorial. and actually often for much much much less than that.

For what it's worth, I'm an editor at a NYC publishing house, and have been in publishing in editorial for 11 years. It's an apprenticeship-style industry--you learn from... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by kumquatmay at 8:52 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

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

It's nice that she didn't abort her pregnancy even after finding out the fetus had Down's Syndrome. Good for her, happy happy.

You know what's even nicer? That she CHOSE not to abort. That not aborting wasn't simply mandated. Anyone who thinks that anti-abortion leanings give you the right to get all up in others' vaginas needs an attitude adjustment.
posted to MetaFilter by Dipsomaniac at 1:49 PM on August 29, 2008

I personally don't care that a fetus could become a human being. I am ALREADY a human being, with legally given rights.

I am very afraid right now that they are going to make the entire election about abortion. And that if McCain is made President, well, I can kiss my reproductive rights (as well as many of those pesky Constitutional rights) out the window.

I'm not engaging in hyperbole - I am honestly, deeply, truly afraid.
posted to MetaFilter by agregoli at 4:15 PM on August 29, 2008

onlyconnect, it was a relief to read your excellent comment. You were able to articulate things that had only vaguely rattled around in the back of my thoughts. Thank you. Since the planet is divided fairly equally between the genders, it's always been so disheartening and bewildering to see, experience, the still rampant misogyny.

I never did like Hillary Clinton especially but I would have voted for her, reluctantly. However, I do think it was expected for her to be... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by nickyskye at 4:04 PM on August 29, 2008

"She asked the library how she could go about banning book"

Oh yeah, now it's on!
posted to MetaFilter by jessamyn at 7:49 AM on September 2, 2008

The Sarah Palin Digest -- "ThinkProgress has put together a document compiling what we know about Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin (R), Sen. John McCain’s (R-AZ) vice presidential running mate."
posted to MetaFilter by ericb at 12:54 PM on September 3, 2008

Dr. Horrible guitar tabs/chords with lyrics.
posted to MetaFilter by YoBananaBoy at 11:05 AM on August 31, 2008

Would you call this comment about how she played fast and loose with the safety of her unborn child, which unless I am TOTALLY mistaken was the one who we now know has Downs Syndrome, "misogynistic"? I call it one of the scariest things I have ever heard about a politician of either party.

Wendell, my honest answer to this question is that I wouldn't necessarily call it misogynistic, but the comment itself bothers me a lot. I think it's... [more]
posted to MetaTalk by iminurmefi at 2:17 PM on August 29, 2008

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

Also: Fruit Stripe Gum. Best gum to look at, best gum to taste, but only for about fifteen seconds, then all flavor mysteriously vanished and it was like chewing rubber bands.
posted to MetaFilter by contessa at 11:04 AM on August 26, 2008

Incidentally, and to drag us all right back to hot dogs where no one really wants to be any more, a proper hot dog should be bright red, should extand past the bun about 1.5 inches on either end, and the bun should have no crusts on the sides and be steamed.

Serve that up with a slice of brown bread, and mind yuh napkin, ayuh.
posted to MetaFilter by rusty at 6:05 PM on August 26, 2008

That's the stupidest thing I have ever said.
posted to MetaFilter by Astro Zombie at 12:30 PM on August 26, 2008

"Sorry, I'm ineligible to donate."
posted to Ask Metafilter by bunji at 12:23 AM on August 26, 2008

My analysis is that we're likely to see a minority president first. The reason is that, while the mind of the typical American voter is not entirely unclouded by racist and sexist stereotypes/prejudice, it is easier for a ethnic-minority candidate to largely neutralize those stereotypes.

Looking at the stereotyped view of blacks and hispanics, they are seen as poorly educated, violent, criminal, and as burdens on society by virtue of their chronic underemployment.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by kickingtheground at 10:16 PM on July 28, 2004

FWIW, here's what I wrote when I had an abortion at 19.
posted to MetaFilter by tits mcgee at 10:05 PM on August 22, 2008

All I see is some kid, like so many today, unable to live up to the responsibilities of her actions.

I always hear this, and it always sounds like this to me:

She had sex. Now she doesn't want to take her punishment.
posted to MetaFilter by Astro Zombie at 11:19 PM on August 22, 2008

Applemeat, English major, sums up 19th century literature for you:

A guy's upset because his sister's not a virgin anymore; somebody gets run over by a buggy; everybody is coughing, and nobody has any money.
posted to MetaFilter by applemeat at 11:34 AM on July 28, 2008

Oy. I agree with InspectorGadget.

A few other things:

- If you're gonna hit on your friend's GF ( which: don't, just don't), you have to be prepared for rejection.
- Maybe it's just me, but you seem to have sort of an old-fashioned perspective on women, wondering why Martha is getting dressed up when her fellow is out of town, referring to her "slutty" dress, etc. If you really want to be friends with women, you might want to adjust that perspective.
posted to Ask Metafilter by lunasol at 5:53 PM on August 18, 2008

Another thing to consider-- women are not all in continuous, perfect control of their levels of flirtiness. Some of people (of both genders) aren't able to calibrate their flirtatiousness much at all-- and I believe that the percentage of folks who haven't figured our how to work the flirt-control nob increases as age decreases. It may well be that she was leaning in the doorway like Liz Taylor in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, and that she said something smokey and come-hither to you. It's also... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by palmcorder_yajna at 7:29 PM on August 18, 2008

AskMe appears to routinely reinforce the notion that misandry is fine, that men are by and large misogynists and that their feelings in relationships matter little to not at all when compared to those of their women.

No, no, and no. You have taken several comments about specific relationships and deduced a pattern that simply does not exist. Read the definition that you linked to: "Misandry (IPA [mɪ.ˈsæn.dri]) is hatred (or contempt) of men or... [more]
posted to MetaTalk by googly at 6:28 AM on August 6, 2008

If they didn't have the registry everyone would be asking where the registry was.

Believe me, I tried to get married without one and it did not work.
posted to Ask Metafilter by sondrialiac at 4:59 AM on August 5, 2008

i didn't read all the comments here because i really don't want to get pissed at how many people truly, truly hate fat people.


but, there seems to be some confusion between the "health at any size" movement and the "fat acceptance" movement, which do obviously overlap a lot.

health at any size believes that even fat people can be healthy, that just because you weigh 180 or 280 or 380 doesn't mean you automatically... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by misanthropicsarah at 10:20 AM on July 18, 2008

And I guess my other question about viewing the nature/nurture discussion as some sort of sticking point is: if being gay is not a bad thing in itself, then why on earth does it matter how a person ends up having gay relationships?

The "gay is unnatural" idea was never based in science anyway - it was always a back-formed justification for why it's all right to dislike gay people. So any findings that support the idea that homosexuality does, in fact, occur in... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by Miko at 8:05 AM on July 14, 2008

Search on the Car Talk site (department of Automusicology). You will find many songs about cars by woman artists.
posted to Ask Metafilter by found missing at 9:36 AM on July 12, 2008 marked best answer

maybe you could compromise and do the tapes more quietly? like, instead of sneakers on the floor try barefoot on a pilates (thicker than a yoga) mat? If you want a silent workout and like cycling, I have this and highly recommend it. It has a small footprint when I tuck it in the corner, and it is very quiet during use so it's perfect for watching movies or listing to the radio.
posted to Ask Metafilter by moxiedoll at 8:27 PM on July 11, 2008

Oddly, no, I didn't.
posted to MetaFilter by boo_radley at 12:39 PM on July 11, 2008

Yes, MeFi is often quite sexist. The post in question didn't trigger any outrage in me. But I may have outrage fatigue. This thread, however, is pretty annoying. Lots of "Oh, feminism, how tiresome".
posted to MetaTalk by theora55 at 2:57 PM on July 10, 2008

I think it's the endless, repetitive discussion of whether or not there's a sexist atmosphere at MetaFilter that folk are finding tiresome.

Yeah, if only those damn women would shut up and let the real people talk in whatever way comes naturally.
posted to MetaTalk by languagehat at 3:28 PM on July 10, 2008

I don't understand why this is an issue. "Dick" and "Asshole" are acceptable on TV now. Since "Twat" refers to female anatomy it is somehow automatically offensive?

I think it's a mistake to try and look at the chargedness of these words in terms of strict logic.
posted to MetaTalk by cortex at 1:01 PM on July 9, 2008

It's a word, and not one that any history I'm aware of invests it with the same power as "nigger."

Really? You don't know that there's a history of vaginas being associated with oppression, violence and slavery? There is. A long one.
posted to MetaTalk by Ambrosia Voyeur at 1:28 PM on July 9, 2008

Uh, AV... A cunt is a small, usually hidden part of a person. N-----s and k---s are entire persons. There is a difference.

Defining a person in terms of your exploitation of that small part as, essentially, the whole of their net worth is one of the connotations of the charged use that people object to. Part of the difficulty with talking about 'cunt' is that it can't be treated, in a cross-cultural discussion, solely in terms of... [more]
posted to MetaTalk by cortex at 1:38 PM on July 9, 2008