MetaFilter

I was one of those who had comments removed because Faze's comment and the one he was responding too were so opaque in meaning and point that I was totally befuddled.
Seriously? I'm the "New Zealander" in question who Faze was responding to, and I'm only just checking in now, but I thought my post was pretty straightforward. Oh well. But yeah. I'm disappointed (but not surprised really) about the deletion, because this is what MeFi has become since the overmodding started... [more]
posted to MetaTalk by Sonny Jim at 11:04 AM on November 6, 2010

Faze, I fucking love you. I disagree with almost everything that you write, and I disagree with the manner in which you write it, but those two things aside there's no arguing that you're anything but a master of the inflamed invective.

You're only allowed to be over the top in your arguments if you're trying to out-favourite the other good MeFites in your attempt to agree the strongest. Faze is great because he articulates unpopular views in a reasoned but... [more]
posted to MetaTalk by Rory Marinich at 11:06 AM on November 6, 2010

> Wait a second, three million hits? That wasn't even cute! If those had been kittens, the cute meter would have been spinning off the dial. As it was, you sit waiting for the cute to happen and it never does.

You... um. I, er, um...

no.

Sorry, dude, you're wrong.

You are catastrophically wrong. Philosophically wrong. Cosmologically wrong. Semantically wrong. You are wrong in... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by ardgedee at 6:16 PM on November 4, 2010

Mote, meet beam: Particle or wave?
posted to MetaFilter by eegphalanges at 6:10 AM on November 4, 2010

I feel about this kinda the same way I felt about the clips of Jeremiah Wright's sermons that were circulating during the Obama campaign two years ago. There's not much context here, and it's a message that comes from within a certain tradition that outsiders are going to have a hard time putting in context.

Ed Young comes out of a fundamentalist Baptist tradition that teaches that the Old Testament tithe (giving 10% of your yield of crops or livestock to the support... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by Pater Aletheias at 6:01 AM on November 4, 2010

That's a cynical but weirdly fascinating rhetorical technique: 'Do you want to be a leader? Then do exactly as I instruct you.' This summer, I watched street magicians go through their patter in repeated performances for hours and hours, and their spiel for securing donations at the end wasn't a million miles from this - make it clear that you expect a certain minimum amount, and that you'll be annoyed if you don't get it, break rising uncomfortableness with some humour,... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by RokkitNite at 5:49 AM on November 4, 2010

I found that hilarious. Also, someone figured out a way to remove the effects, and the result is a video of a (what appears to be) a lunatic. Or really high
posted to MetaFilter by delmoi at 4:00 PM on November 3, 2010

Just because one showers less, doesn't mean their general opinion consists of: "I don't care if my BO offends every olfactory organ within a 15 block radius! - Let them bask in my musky scent for it is natural and appealing to them deep in their lizard brains"

But the one who showers every day or more tends to say: "I don't care if my artificially manufactured scent stings every eye on this subway car! Let them bask in my scientifically engineered chemical... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by empatterson at 11:58 AM on November 3, 2010

Okay, here's the straight dope I got from a leading dermatologist: Deodorant and anti-perspirants are a hoax. Sweat has no smell. Except for flop sweat. It has its own glands and is excreted briefly as part of our fight-or-flight response under conditions of high stress. Anti-perspirant and deodorant are powerless against flop sweat. The good news is that if you are in the kind of high-stress situation that produces flop sweat, how you smell to others is usualy the least of your... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by zarq at 12:24 PM on November 3, 2010

There's a fantastic book called Hanging Henry Gambrill: The Violent Career of Baltimore's Plug Uglies that has a bunch of contemporary accounts of the sheer amount of violence that surrounded elections in Baltimore.

This article gives you the general shape of thingsElection rallies were massive provocations, mixing theatrical spectacle with guerrilla warfare, Fourth of July pageantry with thuggery. The American clubs regularly held torchlight processions or grand... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by electroboy at 1:37 PM on November 2, 2010

Ever since I learned about the Taiping Rebellion and its 20 (pinky to lips) million dead (and which was started by Jesus' younger brother), happening at the same time as the Civil War, I can't help but see the Civil War as anything but a scholarly debate.
posted to MetaFilter by mullingitover at 2:30 PM on November 2, 2010

I need to take this opportunity to express my general disdain for use of the term "suspect" to describe people in the act of committing a crime. A "suspect" is someone who might have done it -- if you find a guy who looks like the guy in the video, he's a suspect. A "perpetrator" is a guy actually doing the alleged crime in question.

The worst offenders here are the police reality shows with over-excited narrators working... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by 0xFCAF at 1:30 AM on November 2, 2010

I knew violet crime was on the rise.
posted to MetaFilter by mr_crash_davis mark II: Jazz Odyssey at 8:56 PM on November 1, 2010

This is very misleading framing. I have worked in alcohol and other drug NGOs and have spoken here on on mefi many times about the huge - unacknowledged - cost that alcohol exacts on society. But you are doing a three dimensional argument no favours by framing it in such a one-dimensional fashion.

That said, I am staunchly behind moves that highlight and attmept to address the damage that alcohol does in Australia and the UK particularly.
posted to MetaFilter by smoke at 3:59 AM on November 1, 2010

GenjiandProust, a little reality doesn't have to spoil a good fantasy. James MacArthur — shown here in SFR (1960) and in a 2005 play he co-directed — carved a pretty decent career and life out of Fantasy Land.

Microwave some popcorn, close the curtains, turn out the lights, cue up the DVD on the old 42" LCD boob tube, and enjoy yourself.... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by cenoxo at 11:07 AM on October 31, 2010

The two funniest/most interesting things I heard about the rally;

1. the two biggest gatherings on the mall this season have been orchestrated not by politicians, but by infotainers.

2. A commentator said, in all seriousness, "They are making a mockery of the political system"
posted to MetaFilter by edgeways at 12:03 PM on October 31, 2010

Please stop encouraging the 'ghost' idiocy that seems to be taking over American TV. Thanks.
posted to MetaFilter by Huck500 at 12:41 PM on October 31, 2010

People want to work, and they want others to work. A person who appears to be okay with others not working doesn't appear to share their values. Democrats love to talk about how much they do for the unemployed and jobless, but the fact of the matter is all that talk betrays that they just. don't. get it. Unemployment benefits are not something you brag about. People don't like being reminded about weak and helpless times in their lives. It's a remarkable form of tone-deafness and responsible for... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by thesmophoron at 10:55 AM on October 27, 2010

Maybe if the creator of this video had done a PhD in the humanities, they'd be able to write something coherent on the topic, instead of making another dull, lazy text-to-video piece of crap.
posted to MetaFilter by ssg at 6:06 PM on October 26, 2010

> but that is so total apologist BS

Then you misunderstand me. I am far from being an apologist for the Roman Catholic Church having never been a member and being agnostic.

But I do see it as a female religion, one that appeals more to women than men. It has a father figure as god who gives his charismatic son to the world, its clergy call themselves father and papa (the pope) and it promotes sexual monogamy within marriage.
posted to MetaFilter by Pranksome Quaine at 3:50 AM on October 26, 2010

So basically, what we've got here is one of the leaders of the liberal wing of the Episcopal Church making a public declaration that he isn't even going to talk to the other side. The Episcopal Church is coming apart at the seams, and now he won't even talk about it anymore.

Yeah, that sounds productive.

'course, the flip side is that Spong isn't someone that most theologically conservative Episcopalians, i.e. the... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by valkyryn at 3:44 AM on October 26, 2010

Michael Roberts: I've said it before and I'll say it again: where were these deficit hawks when Cheney & Co. were borrowing hand over fist to take over Iraq and Afghanistan - and failing? They were just fine. But spend money on the health of our own citizens so they can go to work and make stuff? What are you, some kind of tax-and-spend liberal?

This is something that just drives me freaking insane... there were a bunch of us jumping up and down... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by Malor at 6:07 PM on October 25, 2010

What's even more incredible is the zebra standing there the entire time.

Be honest: How many of you even noticed the gorilla that walks through.
posted to MetaFilter by shakespeherian at 12:10 PM on October 25, 2010

So no one lives anywhere in central St. Louis, and the population hasn't grown in 40 years, since the growth and decline dots seem roughly equal.

There are vast tracts of St. Louis that are basically empty now. This was a city of almost 900,000 that's now flirting with 300,000. When 2/3rds of the people leave, it's not just white flight.

It's flight. But really, the issue was that St. Louis is, for all intents, a failed Chicago.... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by eriko at 9:02 PM on October 23, 2010

Scene: After a Magnetic Fields concert in mid-to-late '90s

Me: Hi. Could you sign this?
SM: (turning the piece of paper over in his hand, slowly examining it. Puzzled look on his face.) You seem to have stolen my set list.
Me: (sheepishly) uh, yeah. Is that ok?
SM: (rolls eyes)
Me: Maybe make it out to my S.O. who couldn't make it. [it was a 4hr drive each way]
SM: (rolls eyes)
Me: (uncomfortably... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by shoepal at 1:31 AM on October 23, 2010

You don't want to go to lawschool. One might think they want to, people even do attend and pay for lawschool, but statistically few of them last more than a few years before they are done, saddled with huge debts and starting over. Get an MFA instead there's more likelihood you'll do something interesting and you'll be just as broke. Heck maybe you'd even land a gig as an actor as a lawyer on tv.
posted to MetaFilter by humanfont at 9:19 AM on October 20, 2010

I like gams. Preferably shapely ones.
posted to MetaFilter by Faint of Butt at 2:32 PM on October 19, 2010

This is the most interesting discussion on the direction our world is heading I've seen. Lots of great insights here, all around.

I can't help but notice this environment was made possible because mathowie charged us each $5 to join.
posted to MetaFilter by JHarris at 12:18 PM on October 19, 2010

We will never ever live in a post-scarcity world for the very simple reason that time will always be limited.

We, each and every one of us individually, will always have just a few fleeting years to create, to live, to hone our skills in something which we value. To really contribute to the society in which we live in.

I feel very strongly that instead of post-scarcity we are fast moving away from the utopia that seemed to be in our grasp; we do... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by hoskala at 11:46 AM on October 19, 2010

...deny anthropomorphic climate change...

I think you mean anthropogenic! Regardless, the whole point of the article isn't "we are living in the post-scarcity future" ... it's "a number of things that were once scarce no longer are (unless artificial scarcity is imposed on them)."

Physically speaking, raw materials will always be scarce, though how scarce will vary. But information is... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by The Winsome Parker Lewis at 11:17 AM on October 19, 2010

Were list formats invented to provide an arbitrary scarcity of reasons to appeal to my actual scarcity of attention?
posted to MetaFilter by BrotherCaine at 10:59 AM on October 19, 2010

The Finns are an amazing people. With a population of around 5 million, less than most major cities, they have had a disproportionate influence on western history and culture. They seem to excel at almost everything they’re interested in... from beating the Russian army to F1 racing.
posted to MetaFilter by Huplescat at 5:48 PM on October 14, 2010

I know I'm not the only one here who grew up poor, right? My mom was college-educated, but couldn't keep a job, partly because of physical and mental illness and partly because she had two kids in the years long before FMLA. Her maladies practically guaranteed that no employer would want to take a chance on her.

We lived on foodstamps, which always ran out before the end of the month. I was in 5th or 6th grade when I figured out that if we didn't buy a bunch of Coke and... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by S'Tella Fabula at 1:13 PM on October 14, 2010

This all sounds like it was written by laymen and directed at a certain personality type. What I would call "Leftist MefiCrack" sprinkle a little gay/fringe/rape culture in there and you got a hit! First instead of these sweeping grand statements, bites of edifying info about the topic would be far better.

I don't believe the inequality bit at all. Mostly because of dynamic Industry rendering the "classes" porous unlike any other country. USA... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by Student of Man at 4:40 AM on October 14, 2010

I'd like to mention a couple of things. First, an alternate, Greek-derived word for Millennialism is Chiliasm, which really, really sounds like it should mean something else altogether.

Second, I like Martin Luther's preface to his translation of the Revelation:About this Book of the Revelation of John, I leave everyone free to hold his own opinions. I would not have anyone bound to my opinion or judgment. I say what I feel. I miss more than one... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by jedicus at 7:20 AM on October 12, 2010

Truth be told, this is probably what Jared Hess et al. should have done immediately after the movie anyhow. Nacho Libre and Gentlemen Broncos were only just good enough to remind you of how good they weren't.
posted to MetaFilter by Sticherbeast at 10:29 AM on October 12, 2010

I'm expecting Matt Smith to be replaced by Benedict Cumberbatch. Decidedly unfeminine, that one.

God, I hope you're wrong. I want Matt to be the Doctor for as long as possible, and I want Benedict to be Sherlock for as long as possible.
posted to MetaFilter by jbickers at 5:54 AM on October 12, 2010

Oh god, Rose. Rose, Rose, Rose. Weep weep weep for Rose.

(c) Any RTD script 2005-2009
posted to MetaFilter by Artw at 5:43 AM on October 12, 2010

Hmm. TBH the prospect of he whole show stopping to become Gender Identity Who makes it sound like a terrible idea to me - stick to Who being a slightly distant weirdo who fights aliens via the power of finding out what they want, being willing to push for compromise and then finding sneaky ways to exterminate them when it doesn't quite work out.
posted to MetaFilter by Artw at 5:21 AM on October 12, 2010

Unfortunately Michael Grade's well documented hatred of Doctor Who and his willingness to destroy the franchise prevailed.

Or fortunately. I love New Who, and I think it needed those sixteen years in the wilderness to come back as good as it did.
posted to MetaFilter by seanyboy at 4:31 AM on October 12, 2010

Mr Obama is ending the war.
posted to MetaFilter by humanfont at 2:43 AM on October 11, 2010

I'm firmly convinced that the political system in the US is now impotent to make this kind of change. Politicians are all captive to "the powers that be"... and until that beast is brought out into the light and destroyed, efforts like this will prove to be futile.

I really, REALLY want to be wrong about this. The war isn't about Al-Queda, which was a list of people we created when we wanted to get the Soviets out of Afghanistan.

It's... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by MikeWarot at 9:50 PM on October 10, 2010

Faze, your soundtrack for the day.
posted to MetaFilter by timsteil at 10:03 AM on October 10, 2010

Thanks for these links! I was a huge Benchley fan when I was a kid...read everything he wrote. Even have one of his 16mm shorts. The life he wrote about took place in the time my father grew up, so the zeitgeist he wrote about was so distant from my own...I was gobsmacked when one of my 16 year old students turned out to be a Benchley fanatic, too. I like to think he was not unaware of the Surrealist movement.

Then I grew up and turned into an S.J. Perelman fan.... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by kozad at 8:46 AM on October 10, 2010

Dancing or dancing?
posted to MetaFilter by The Lady is a designer at 12:54 AM on October 10, 2010

Of course, Mera Naam Chin Chin Choo is also far from Geeta Dutt's finest hour as a singer. But this post was about the dancing. :)
posted to MetaFilter by bardophile at 12:48 AM on October 10, 2010

he was not only confident in the quality of his product, but confident in people's willingness to pay for a quality product

This is exactly it.

What the music industry fails to understand is that people want to own good music and they don't at all mind paying for it. I work in a record store and the question I get asked most every working day is, "What are you playing?" followed by "How much is it?" and... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by You Should See the Other Guy at 5:16 PM on October 8, 2010

This Andrew O'Hehir seems to be the Secretariat of backpedaling. Hey-o!
posted to MetaFilter by millions at 9:12 PM on October 8, 2010

I like O'Hehir's review, for its style if nothing else, but he fails to acknowledge that "Meet Me in St. Louis" idealized 1904 Missouri; "A Beautiful Mind" idealized John Nash and 1947 Princeton; "A Color Purple" idealized Georgia in the 1930s; "The English Patient" idealizes an Italian villa during World War II; "A Streetcar Named Desire" idealized "a two-story building of a street in New Orleans which is named Elysian Fields and runs... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by blucevalo at 8:44 PM on October 8, 2010

"Hello I'm Alec Bladwin. I am taking 3 minutes to do a bit that would have been more effective if I'd kept it to 15 seconds. Oh well - that's NPR for you."
posted to MetaFilter by awfurby at 8:48 PM on October 6, 2010