2208 MetaFilter comments by Steven Den Beste (displaying 1 through 50)

This is the single best entry I have ever read, written by anyone, anywhere, on any blog.
comment posted at 1:03 PM on Jan-25-02
comment posted at 5:21 PM on Jan-25-02
comment posted at 5:47 PM on Jan-25-02

"I have the cost of a really nice Mercedes on my chest," she said. It helps that all of Kleevage's breast-related expenses are tax deductible.
comment posted at 1:02 PM on Jan-25-02

Taleban faction ditches Kandahar, reneges on surrender agreement. My only question is, why were these people not disarmed, or was this some sort of "Munich Pact" surrender agreement?
comment posted at 10:00 PM on Jan-24-02

Did you know about the "African-American Slavery Reparations" tax credit? (Neither did I.)
comment posted at 1:05 PM on Jan-24-02

The real culprit behind the 9/11 attack.
comment posted at 7:58 AM on Jan-23-02

6 degrees of email. A project is going on to test the 6 degrees theory. And it occured to me that something like this could be done on the web. Is it possible to go from any web site to any other in 6 links? (More inside)
comment posted at 7:30 AM on Jan-23-02
comment posted at 7:34 AM on Jan-23-02

Jennifer Connelly Happy With Nude Scenes Hey, if she's happy, I'm happier. Actually, this is the happiest headline I have seen in a while.
comment posted at 9:09 PM on Jan-22-02

FBI investigating Enron shredding Some recent postings of commentary seem to feel that Enron wea merely the fault of public not paying attention to stock pics, or the failure of a company that is a risk of the open market....why, then, the FBI being called to find out why key documents destroyed? And whn does it become time for a special prosecutor? This is much bigger than Whitewater. Example: some 1.3 billion lost in pension money for firemen, police and teachers
comment posted at 4:49 PM on Jan-22-02

Compulsory military training is not just for Switzerland and Israel anymore. The Universal Military Training and Service Act of 2001 seeks "To require the induction into the Armed Forces of young men registered under the Military Selective Service Act, and to authorize young women to volunteer, to receive basic military training and education for a period of up to one year." (more inside)
comment posted at 9:49 AM on Jan-22-02

Prison camp photos spark protests Protests about conditions valid? Overdone? Or: who cares.
comment posted at 6:08 PM on Jan-20-02
comment posted at 6:13 AM on Jan-21-02
comment posted at 10:48 AM on Jan-21-02

"Any sufficiently advanced form of technology is indistinguishable from magic." -- Arthur C. Clarke
Apparently we've reached that point in the US.
comment posted at 9:59 AM on Jan-19-02
comment posted at 1:47 PM on Jan-19-02

Satan Doesn't Wear Sweaty Socks. Matthew Parris of The Times weighs in on the War on Terrorism, painting the U.S. as the 900-lb. gorilla of world affairs and offering the observation that maybe Al-Qaeda isn't as scary as the Bush and Blair administrations say it is.
comment posted at 8:35 PM on Jan-18-02
comment posted at 11:06 PM on Jan-18-02
comment posted at 7:22 AM on Jan-19-02
comment posted at 7:26 AM on Jan-19-02
comment posted at 10:04 AM on Jan-19-02

An "enthusiastic amateur astrologer" lays out the case for teaching astrology, a "hard science", in the public schools. Judging from the article, he doesn't quite understand the difference between "astronomy" and "astrology".
comment posted at 8:37 PM on Jan-18-02

37 year old self-appointed detective fools potential pedophiles with usernames like "dadanddaughtersex." Not only is there no victim, there cannot not be a crime because of the woman's true age, and the method of 'baiting' pedophile suspects looks like a violation of one's civil rights. On top of that her pedophile website is quite the money-maker, churning $1,000 a month in advertising revenue. Illegal entrapment or civic minded vigilante? Obviously this is a touchy subject, but I can't see the different between this and a plain-clothed police officer asking everyone on the street if they want to buy illegal drugs or guns just for a quick bust.
comment posted at 7:13 AM on Jan-18-02

Let Slip the Blogs of War For a while I didn't think I was gonna make it, but around 1800 hours I laid down a barrage of trenchant observations and we finally broke through...star studded article by tim cavanaugh.
comment posted at 5:45 PM on Jan-17-02
comment posted at 6:00 PM on Jan-17-02
comment posted at 10:22 PM on Jan-17-02
comment posted at 7:21 AM on Jan-18-02
comment posted at 5:06 PM on Jan-18-02

David Duchovny why won't you love me? "The X-Files," the Emmy-winning sci-fi drama that thrust two federal agents into spooky paranormal situations, will end its nine-season run on the Fox television network in May. It is still uncertain whether Duchovny, who is no longer involved with the show, will make an appearance in the finale.
comment posted at 12:46 PM on Jan-17-02

How willing are you to whore yourself? City buses have been doing it for years. Now an ad company is willing to give you a free car for two years if you're willing to drive a mobile billboard for them. Ideal candidates live in busy urban and suburban areas, park on the street, and get stuck in traffic all the time. You pay for insurance and gas, and they take care of the rest (including maintenance). Or have your current car wrapped with advertisements and get up to $400 a month. The company will also entice you with free concert tickets if you'll drive the vehicle to the show.

Through a long application process, they try to match ideal candidates with advertisers. They even let you suggest 5 companies you'd be willing to whore yourself for. But if you do decide to sign up, be aware: Not only are there 70,000 + applications ahead of you, and no guarantee that you'll be selected, according to the privacy policy, the ad company will use your detailed profile to sell more stuff to you.
comment posted at 10:43 PM on Jan-15-02

Genetic engineering leaves mice impervious to pain. By removing a protein called "DREAM", scientists were able to create rodents that didn't mind extreme heat, pressure and inflammation. This could provide hope for those suffering, or a strange removal from the experience of living, and classic human traits like bravery, strength, volition, and empathy, depending on your view.
comment posted at 9:01 PM on Jan-15-02
comment posted at 9:53 PM on Jan-15-02

If Steve Jobs designed automobiles, then this is what they'd be like: Unique. Innovative. Unprecedented.
comment posted at 11:29 PM on Jan-14-02
comment posted at 12:09 AM on Jan-15-02

Mark Twain: A Film Directed by Ken Burns started on PBS tonite, on my local station. I know we have discussed Mark Twain's writting before, but I found this as I was looking for other sources about Twain. What do you think? Was he racist or was he trying to expose racist thinking? Or just weaving a good story?
comment posted at 8:23 PM on Jan-14-02

Although he's been discussed in the past, I'm surprised that nobody's posted Alton Brown's home page.
comment posted at 7:46 PM on Jan-12-02
comment posted at 10:08 PM on Jan-12-02
comment posted at 11:13 PM on Jan-12-02

Maya Angelou rises to the challenge of writing for Hallmark. Angelou finds it "challenging and daring" to craft two-sentence sentiments. And when the Maya Angelou Life Mosaic Collection hits stores this month, you'll be able to read the hard-won sentiments of America's favorite inaugural poet on pillows, wall hangings and banquet bowls.
comment posted at 10:38 PM on Jan-12-02

Convicted Hockey Dad Killer to get only 3- 5 years? i know he only threw a few punches, but he was 275 lbs and his victim was 165 lbs. I'm sorry, but killing a guy nearly half your size in front of children - in front of both of their children even - is reason enough for throwing the book at this thug. 20 years = 10 years if he stays cool in the pokie - a pittance if you're the victims kids. Hopefully the Mass judge will make an example out of this totally unneccessary tragedy.
comment posted at 5:53 PM on Jan-11-02

Is historical revisionism acceptable in the name of "inclusiveness" (or "political correctness" to be less polite)? (More inside)
comment posted at 1:19 PM on Jan-11-02
comment posted at 6:01 PM on Jan-11-02
comment posted at 8:53 PM on Jan-11-02
comment posted at 7:39 AM on Jan-12-02
comment posted at 9:07 AM on Jan-12-02
comment posted at 10:52 AM on Jan-12-02
comment posted at 7:25 PM on Jan-12-02
comment posted at 9:00 PM on Jan-13-02
comment posted at 11:01 PM on Jan-13-02

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