Loveletter From Space 💫
March 13, 2023 4:15 AM   Subscribe

As the planet has apparently managed to progress another eleven million+ miles along its celestial transit since last we met, for us that means it's once again Monday and time for another free thread. To celebrate, this week I'd like to bring you back to an era when we didn't rely on AI, replika lovers, or dating site algorithms to find romance. We knew that true love could only be found in one place: Space.

And for our (sexy, sexy) purposes, specifically, space as navigated by Europop dance bands. Observe: The Free — Loveletter from Space, demonstrating that ardor, intensity, persistence and the right sort of car can take you all the way. And failing our "free" theme, but winning at hair, The Kelly Family — Fell in Love with an Alien.

Please enjoy your free thread, and all the sweet, cosmic 90s hormones. ❤️🚀
posted by taz (62 comments total) 4 users marked this as a favorite
 
(by the way, if you read the Kelly Family bio, it could basically be transcribed as a summary for a sprawling multi-generation John Irving novel)
posted by taz at 4:27 AM on March 13, 2023


I find myself thinking about last impressions this week.

I've known the people here a long time but the last impression most of them will have of me is disappointment as I either fail to finish whatever they ask me to do or decline to start because I know I'm going to fail to finish whatever it is. I'm not trying to coast to a finish and I'd like to get these last few things done but so much is going to be left undone and that always would have been true whenever I left.
posted by The Monster at the End of this Thread at 4:46 AM on March 13, 2023 [5 favorites]




Delighted by the Oscars results, TBH.
posted by seanmpuckett at 5:02 AM on March 13, 2023 [5 favorites]


In the late 80s Star Trek: The Next Generation began airing. I had been a solitary fan of the original series but now CompuServe allowed me to bond with fellow fans across the country. My husband was starting a new business, my kid was young, I was in grad school, I struggled to pay the CompuServe bill let alone our food bills, and everything was awful and scary but I had a community—and even a subset of Patrick Stewart fans. It was a lifesaver. I thought connectivity would save humanity. Ah well, at least it got me through that period!
posted by Peach at 5:04 AM on March 13, 2023 [4 favorites]


“Space is big. You just won't believe how vastly, hugely, mind-bogglingly big it is. I mean, you may think it's a long way down the road to the chemist's, but that's just peanuts to space.”

― Douglas Adams, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
posted by lalochezia at 6:34 AM on March 13, 2023 [3 favorites]


Delighted by the Oscars results, TBH.

All morning my co-workers have been asking how I'm doing. I've been telling them that "I was at an Oscar party last night, so I'm very tired but in a fantastic mood."
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 6:34 AM on March 13, 2023 [4 favorites]


Monster, do you mean from your job? I remember you talking about potentially leaving in another thread. I've had any number of coworkers leave without finishing things up and I always remember non-work stuff about them: the funny joke they made or the way they always said some particular colloquialism or the food they brought in to potlucks or whathaveyou. Probably it'll be the same.
posted by joannemerriam at 6:37 AM on March 13, 2023 [8 favorites]


Here's your loveletter from space
posted by chavenet at 6:38 AM on March 13, 2023 [1 favorite]




Delighted by the Oscars results, TBH.

As I mentioned in the relevant Fanfare thread, I am delighted that all four acting winners made their marks in action, horror, and bonehead comedy. I notice that in 1992, one of Ke Huy Quan’s last onscreen appearances for a while was with a supporting role in Encino Man, which starred Brendan Fraser.

With my time machine, I may go let my younger self know that the cast has two future surprise Oscar winners and watch the horror creep over my younger self’s face at the prospect that Pauly Shore is a future Hollywood statesman.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 7:12 AM on March 13, 2023 [5 favorites]


I'm still getting over the time change.
posted by RonButNotStupid at 7:21 AM on March 13, 2023 [10 favorites]


There was a big blowup over the changes to the workflow for some volunteer work I am involved in doing and the lead person quit, leaving me holding the bag for a lot of extra work that I don't have the time or mental capacity to handle, but feel like I should do so the organization does not think I am a bad person. On top of that, there is a lot of ideation going on right now that will lead to improvements in the workflow, but it feels like the majority of the research is being left to me to find technical solutions.

I've attempted to reset expectations - crickets.

So I've become increasingly agitated and upset over the past two weeks, especially in light of the fact that I am the only person still involved that is also employed full-time. Spouse reminded me last night that I am allowed to set a hard boundary (which I do frequently at work and have no issues there) and make him the bad guy.
posted by theBigRedKittyPurrs at 7:25 AM on March 13, 2023 [4 favorites]


Messages from the stars.

(CW: the 80's wasn't all musical genius)
posted by From Bklyn at 7:43 AM on March 13, 2023


Clouds Across the Moon

sorry, this is the one I meant to link to. It maybe isn't really any better.
posted by From Bklyn at 7:46 AM on March 13, 2023


no... no... pretty sure pushing is the answer.
posted by seanmpuckett at 7:50 AM on March 13, 2023 [2 favorites]


Do you have money to burn? Bet on WWE matches!

Note: This is not The Onion.
posted by tommasz at 7:52 AM on March 13, 2023 [2 favorites]


Do you have money to burn? Bet on WWE matches!

Note: This is not The Onion.


I’m hoping this expands beyond wrestling. I have a feeling that Wile E. Coyote is due for a win one of these days.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 8:09 AM on March 13, 2023 [1 favorite]


Can we bet on the Washington Generals?
posted by JoeZydeco at 8:12 AM on March 13, 2023 [1 favorite]


Today is the 20th anniversary of one of my favorite Final Fantasy games (honestly!), Final Fantasy X-2. Do not ask me how piles of dust can type; I can't explain it either, but I'm managing.

In other gaming news, I'm hoping to beat Pokemon Violet this week. It's going near the bottom of my personal ranking of mainline Pokemon games (for the most part, open world games and I do not get along), but it has had its moments.

The new, MeFi-approved, washing machine has been working out great, by the way!

Wishing everyone a good week, whatever that means to you.
posted by May Kasahara at 8:33 AM on March 13, 2023 [2 favorites]


I wish I had something like The Kelly Band tying my family together. Currently the only thing that brings my kids home is a need for money, assistance with internship applications, or the promise of a meal that includes protein.
posted by mecran01 at 9:11 AM on March 13, 2023 [2 favorites]


The house issues continue apace, with the roof now definitely being declared in need of replacing. I thought the mortgage to finance the foundation rebuild - and the roof and god knows what all else - was all set and done but nooooo, the powers that be have decided the house must be appraised. So on Wednesday someone will appear to poke and pry through the entire house, taking pictures and measurements. They do not seem to get that I'm not buying the damn house, I already own it, more fool me. Anyway I am not looking forward to the appraisal; I have never been a great housekeeper at the best of times and six people and a dog in a small house isn't those.

Because an ill wind blows no good, I need four new tires; that appointment is also on Wednesday and! On Wednesday, the structural engineer is coming to do the thorough examination that will tell me if the house can even be saved or if it's all too far gone. I had already scheduled a day off on Friday and I was looking forward to my three day weekend but, oh well, I will be taking Wednesday off instead.
posted by mygothlaundry at 9:26 AM on March 13, 2023 [3 favorites]


Can we bet on the Washington Generals?

TIL that, quoth Wikipedia:
In 2015, the Harlem Globetrotters management chose to end contractual relations with the Generals organization, resulting in the Generals ceasing operations. The Generals played their last game against the Globetrotters on August 1, 2015, in Wildwood, New Jersey.
Huh. I assumed it was an eternal relationship. (They have been since revived.)
posted by ricochet biscuit at 9:35 AM on March 13, 2023 [3 favorites]


I'm still getting over the time change.

I won't get over it until November 5th.
posted by Greg_Ace at 9:40 AM on March 13, 2023 [6 favorites]


I tell ya, you can tell that the days are getting longer (Northern hemisphere only). Sunset last night seemed like it was an hour later that it had been a week ago.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 10:00 AM on March 13, 2023 [6 favorites]


the explosion in sports betting feels very weird to me

I don't see how this can go well
posted by elkevelvet at 10:09 AM on March 13, 2023 [2 favorites]


Yeah. Sports betting also just feels so unnecessary and dumb the same way crypto feels unnecessary and dumb.

It's just a license for the bookmakers to print tons of cash. At least the state lottery nominally pumps money back into state coffers, even if it is a horribly regressive tax on those who can least afford it.
posted by RonButNotStupid at 10:14 AM on March 13, 2023 [2 favorites]


We went to an 80s hair metal tribute band concert this weekend and had a blast. The band sounds more like (Motley Crue, Poison, Warrant, Bon Jovi, etc.) these days than any of the original bands do.
posted by COD at 10:17 AM on March 13, 2023 [2 favorites]


Charlie Mackesy getting an Oscar feels so surreal. He's been on the periphery of my acquaintances for years, and I've talked to him a couple of times. I've talked to an Oscar winner!
posted by 43rdAnd9th at 10:20 AM on March 13, 2023 [2 favorites]


Sports betting throws money back into state coffers too. In NYS, it is 50% of the profits. Many states it is less but it is there.

As for space, it is my life's goal to, before I die, and I do not have more than 3 decades left, to fly in outer space. I would love to do an extravehicular "walk" wearing a jet pack, but will settle for a simple flight. I am having doubts whether it iwll be available to the general public at a reasonable cost before I die. My kids think I am insane to want to do that. They'll see. They will go into space in their lifetime.
posted by JohnnyGunn at 10:22 AM on March 13, 2023 [2 favorites]




This is the final day of a 10 day vacation. I went skiing last Monday then my wife, dog, and I drove a few hours to visit friends for 3 days on the coast. We hadn't stayed with anyone since before Covid. Then we went and stayed 2 nights with some other friends. It was cold and rainy but we did short hikes along the coast every day. My dog likes hiking more than anybody plus he got to meet a cow.

Today I gotta go pick up the cats then do homework. Tonight begins a course I'm taking through the ski patrol in Mountain Travel & Rescue. We have 3 evening classes, a day in the snow, then a weekend in the snow with an overnight search & rescue exercise.

My body will be scrutinized this week. I get blood drawn tomorrow, see the sleep doctor on Wednesday, and on Friday I have a treadmill test to confirm that my heart irregularity is no big deal.
posted by neuron at 10:44 AM on March 13, 2023 [2 favorites]


(by the way, if you read the Kelly Family bio, it could basically be transcribed as a summary for a sprawling multi-generation John Irving novel)

That's not really how I read it...
posted by Naberius at 10:51 AM on March 13, 2023 [1 favorite]


Oh hey. My local bank just sent out an all-customers email reminding everyone that they're safe, reliable, and both FDIC and DIF insured.

I wonder what brought that on?
posted by RonButNotStupid at 12:43 PM on March 13, 2023 [3 favorites]


I've been away for a bit for mental health reasons but used to contribute some music recommendations to these threads (one, two, three times). Here's three from recently (All links to Bandcamp):

Loner Deluxe - Hinterlands The best artist in a small Irish indie collective, Loner Deluxe will be a treat for any 90s/00s indie fans. Indeed, they seem to freely take and reuse riffs, vibes and techniques from artists like Yo La Tengo and Stereolab (who, of course, themselves were not averse to reusing bits from their musical heroes). So part of the fun is spotting the steals and pastiche but they have good musical chops and carry it off to great effect.

Gliders - Maria's Hunt. "Maximal minimal rock and roll" per their own description. Stripped back rock & great fun.

Yves Malone - A Hello to a Goodbye. I've been a fan of Malone's virtuoso cheap synths and drum machines aesthetic and the excellent boutique label Castles in Space for a while & this Malone album on the label may be his best work and the label's best release. Somehow getting real emotional depth out of his instruments and love for 80s action and budget horror soundtracks, this is an early but strong contender for my Album of the Year. Very much recommended.
posted by deeker at 12:46 PM on March 13, 2023 [3 favorites]


(CW: the 80's wasn't all musical genius)

Hey now. RAH Band is definitely something of a classic these days. It's not profound, but it's silly and catchy and kitschy, and most days in Hellscape Timeline that's more than enough.
posted by mykescipark at 12:46 PM on March 13, 2023 [2 favorites]


... plus the RAH band brought us this space-rock classic in '77: The Crunch
posted by scruss at 1:33 PM on March 13, 2023


Update! I had already scheduled a day off on Friday and I was looking forward to my three day weekend but, oh well, I will be taking Wednesday off instead.
I'm taking Wednesday AND Friday off. I told my boss what was happening on Wednesday and that I needed both days and he said he would be the worst supervisor ever if he told me to come in on Friday. I said, yeah, pretty much, but I wanted to give you the latitude to explore your evil side.
posted by mygothlaundry at 2:09 PM on March 13, 2023 [4 favorites]


I've been bad at talking with people this week. Whether it's saying the wrong thing at the wrong time or just wording myself poorly, I've been putting my foot in my mouth a lot lately. Sometimes I wish I had a card that read, "I'm sorry, ignore me, my brain isn't working right now."
posted by lock robster at 2:33 PM on March 13, 2023 [5 favorites]


I've been reading a lot about Danish polymath Piet Hein, so I've been designing 3d-printed versions some of his puzzles and games. First up was the Hex Game, and I'm currently working on a Soma cube. The cube I'm printing now is rather huge (90 mm) and I've still got a good 7 hours printing to go.

I also built a very silly PDP-8 emulator. The core runs a little fast to really get the feeling of blinkenlights, but it's a very pretty kit and works well.
posted by scruss at 2:51 PM on March 13, 2023 [4 favorites]


People are easily offended these days, that doesn't help either.
posted by jenfullmoon at 2:52 PM on March 13, 2023


The wheel continues to present a formidable gastronomic challenge.
posted by Wordshore at 3:02 PM on March 13, 2023 [5 favorites]


People are easily offended these days, that doesn't help either.

how dare you
posted by elkevelvet at 3:46 PM on March 13, 2023 [10 favorites]


I've been exploring my Hungryroot box. Got some health news that was like yes you NEED vegetables, and my food diary agrees. I love veggies, I just hate to prep veggies, and my husband will only eat broccoli & corn & potatoes as veggies. So I got my first box Saturday, and I like it so far. Making a blackened pork loin roast with multicolor carrots, and I added in broccoli and quartered yellow potatoes. Will be making pea snaps when the pork loin comes out to rest as well. I'll be doing more vegetarian meals, and chicken in future boxes, but they are portion controlled and ready to cook! That's the important part to me. I can cook two meals at once if needed, if one is ready to season and throw in the pan.

I'm also planning some meal prep for a future surgery, so I can actually rest. My daughter & husband can do simple dishes, if they are like chicken & sauce + rice or American goulash with noodles. Husband is also good on the grill, so prepping meats for the grill is also in the plans, especially if the surgery is in the summer (gall bladder coming out).
posted by tlwright at 4:39 PM on March 13, 2023


People are easily offended these days, that doesn't help either.

how dare you

I... I wasn't offended? If that helps?
posted by flamewise at 4:41 PM on March 13, 2023


I've been exploring my Hungryroot box.

I bet you have, I bet you have, nudge nudge
posted by Greg_Ace at 4:52 PM on March 13, 2023 [1 favorite]


Greg_Ace
Snrt. I've demolished the snacks in it already and also some fruit I got in my Misfits Market box.
posted by tlwright at 5:08 PM on March 13, 2023


I... I wasn't offended? If that helps?

I think elkevelet was kidding.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 5:51 PM on March 13, 2023 [2 favorites]


Bobby Fingers--the sculptor of the Mel Gibson and Steve Segal dioramas and accompanying amazing videos--has, according to Patreon, a new vid coming out on publicly Friday, subject unknown. So that's something to look forward to.
posted by maxwelton at 2:02 AM on March 14, 2023


joannemerriam, I know you're right, but it still feels bad not to "finish" everything, whatever that means. It never would have been possible, but it still feels like failure.
posted by The Monster at the End of this Thread at 4:04 AM on March 14, 2023 [1 favorite]


I'm dating a new guy and I really like him but he is a morning person and alarmingly healthy and well-adjusted. Not my norm at all. But then my norm didn't work out too well, so we'll see how this goes.
posted by emjaybee at 7:27 AM on March 14, 2023 [9 favorites]


but it still feels bad not to "finish" everything

I've been thinking about your comment since yesterday, Monster

when my dad found out the cancer was kicking into late stage and his life would transition from (mostly) doing what he always did, to facing the final weeks, I will never forget coming back to my apt, he was in the bedroom, and asking about the latest visit to the clinic, and he told me the news and said "there's so much I still need to do"

there's nothing wrong with wanting to finish things, and I think there's nothing wrong with being the sort of person who will never finish things because you're a busy person. I'm a third type of person, I think I start and lose interest in things too often then spin my mental wheels feeling bad over it, wasted energy I'm sure
posted by elkevelvet at 9:23 AM on March 14, 2023 [3 favorites]


RE: The Kelly Family, "Fell In Love With An Alien"

Watching that video made me want to see the movie in which an Amish family visits a civilization on another planet.

Also this: Klaatu

And I added another mixtape to Mixcloud. Got a general notice about them incorporating some sort of copyright sniffing stuff, so my mixes there may not survive. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
posted by mmrtnt at 2:35 PM on March 14, 2023


And I added another mixtape to Mixcloud. Got a general notice about them incorporating some sort of copyright sniffing stuff, so my mixes there may not survive.

Hearthis.at remains the glorious wild west for this kind of thing.
posted by mykescipark at 5:34 PM on March 14, 2023


mykescipark

Thanks!
posted by mmrtnt at 7:12 PM on March 14, 2023


It feels too horrible to post this in the thread about The Crow, but it seems I can’t even see that title without thinking about Catherine O’Hara in her crow costume from Schitt’s Creek and sniggering uncontrollably.
posted by mubba at 7:15 PM on March 14, 2023


I learned something today. Medicare cuts people off at 75 for some forms of care. The Gastroenterologist I saw gave me the option to not have a followup colonoscopy, but that it will be my last one and I opted for it, to know I did what I should do for me. Whatever I think I need done I should have it done, because there won't be a later.

Still raining in Socal, but, so springy. Did you ever have a simple conversation which means everything? I had one of those today.

The clouds were dark and loaded at sunset, bands coming over, spreading and breaking apart. In this town, water users grow incensed if they see water in the Kern River, beyond a certain point. The powers that be are publicly explaining the water in the river is from side streams, it is not coming from your allotment. While other voices, just city dwellers, want their river back.That movement is on, but when they tear out orchards because of lack of water, it is hard to look at it as a bad investment on someone's part. Meanwhile big oil has plenty of money to badmouth agricultural use of water, it is a vigorous discussion.
posted by Oyéah at 8:11 PM on March 14, 2023 [2 favorites]


Oh oh oh they are going to have to let the river go, oh yes. The once drying reservoir above lower Kern Canyon is filling at such an astonishing rate, the regulators are just realizing there is disaster on the way.
posted by Oyéah at 4:29 PM on March 15, 2023 [1 favorite]


Let the river run!
posted by hippybear at 7:44 PM on March 15, 2023 [1 favorite]


Let the river run!
posted by elkevelvet at 9:38 AM on March 16, 2023


In an effort to Officially Get My Health Shit Together, I have just purchased a brand new Fitbit thingy, which can measure steps taken, heart rate, and all that fancy jazz. The heart rate was particularly important to me, since my doctor has noticed that my blood pressure is a little on the high side and I've also occasionally had moments where it felt like my heart rate was a little high, so I wanted to keep tabs on that.

Ironically, the time my heart rate got highest today was when I was on chat support with Fitbit's team trying to sort out why in the holy blue hell the app wasn't letting me finish signing up for the "AFib alert notification system". (The support agent finally got stumped and is asking her boss.) I'm still in the shiny-and-new phase with things where I'm eager to see what my walk home from work and a cardio routine on Youtube is going to do to my stats; in a couple weeks I'll probably be all annoyed with it.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 11:45 AM on March 16, 2023 [1 favorite]


ob1quixote: “‘The ‘can my parents use this thing right now’ test,’ Ryan Broderick, Garbage Day, 15 March 2023”
It's a small matter, but I just realized that this was my 5,000th comment on MetaFilter. I know compared to some that's a low number, but I felt like it was a milestone.

Which I guess is as good a time as any to answer MetaFilter's Most Infrequently Asked Question: Why does ob1quixote format their links like that?

First and foremost, I must acknowledge homunculus, whom I greatly admire and very often posts links without comment or editorial. I took my habit of adding links without a comment from them.

I use the format I do, which isn't any of the accepted bibliographic formats for practical reasons. Most bibliographic formats put the author first, but in a context like MeFi what's most important is the title, so that's what I start with.

I include the author next because I want to know who wrote a thing. Especially if they're a controversial figure, maybe people won't want to get surprised by the author after clicking.

Next, I include the name of the publication, usually treating websites as periodicals for formatting purposes. Sometimes where something was published is just as informative as when or by whom.

Last is the date, because it's important to know when the linked page was published. Sometimes because it is recent, sometimes because it isn't. Here I do the opposite and treat periodicals as websites, just using a date. For a link, nobody really cares about volumes and numbers.

I use Latin abbreviations often, but very inconsistently. Lately I'm using Id. instead of ibid. for repeated sources. I don't have a good reason.

So that's why. I don't have any tools I use. Every one of those typographic quotation marks, including converting doubles to singles, etc., is artisanal and typed by hand. Sometimes using HTML entities because I am on a keyboard where I can't use ALT codes.

Here's to both me and MeFi being around long enough for me to get to 10,000 comments.
posted by ob1quixote at 12:49 PM on March 19, 2023 [1 favorite]


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