MetaFilter

For apology, read "Ahhh, we just realized that we took down a major part of US critical national infrastructure by mistake, and that elevates us from being wanted by the FBI to being hunted by the CIA, not to mention all the other country's agencies who would like to know how we did it, and we'd very very very much like to back out of that situation as fast as humanly possible and just go back to robbing people. Is that cool? Please say that's cool."

The moment... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by DangerIsMyMiddleName at 4:34 AM on May 11, 2021

I found the comments interesting - discussing how the ransom groups often have very good customer service, because if word gets out that they don't unlock when paid, people will stop paying.

There was a subsequent suggestion that someone just needs to set up a few ransomware groups that don't unlock when they are paid, to make everyone doubt that paying is worth it and taint the reputations of all the groups.
posted to MetaFilter by Stark at 4:31 AM on May 11, 2021

The post title is brilliant.
posted to MetaFilter by njohnson23 at 6:55 PM on May 10, 2021

as someone who lives in portland and just spent an entire day picking daisies and helping with a friend’s art project i sincerely doubt the entire premise of this question but whatever keeps the rent down i guess
posted to Ask MetaFilter by Gymnopedist at 1:15 AM on May 8, 2021

As a Maricopa county voter, I have plenty of fury. I just don’t seem to have a useful place to direct it.

Fellow AZ resident here. I agree that this is terrifying and no one person has any power over what craziness may happen. But what is somewhat reassuring in the short term is:

* Top elections official is Katie Hobbs (D) who is awesome and trying her hardest to fight this thing. Obviously she can't stop it, but she does... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by notswedish at 6:42 PM on May 7, 2021

> It’s like I’m watching my country dissolve

It's not like that. It is that.
posted to MetaFilter by glonous keming at 1:57 PM on May 7, 2021

(please don't add other bad things Fresh Air has done)
posted to MetaFilter by General Malaise at 1:53 PM on May 5, 2021

I didn't know that I could be mad at Fresh Air.
posted to MetaFilter by General Malaise at 1:53 PM on May 5, 2021

Cyclist here. Not only is this victim blaming, but it doesn’t actually work. No amount of high-viz clothing will save you from a distracted driver.

It's not victim blaming to say that high vis wear decreases accidents.

The study: The effect of a yellow bicycle jacket on cyclist accidents

Highlights
• A randomised controlled trial with 6793 cyclists shows a reduced accident risk due to a... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by tclark at 4:55 PM on May 3, 2021

Please, joggers and walkers and cyclists, WEAR VISIBLE CLOTHES.

Cyclist here. Not only is this victim blaming, but it doesn’t actually work. No amount of high-viz clothing will save you from a distracted driver.
posted to MetaFilter by mhoye at 3:59 PM on May 3, 2021

Okay, so. The author quoted DSM-5 diagnosis codes, so I am going to talk about this in the DSM-5 context. Functional neurological disorder = conversion disorder. The historical understanding of conversion disorder is "mental stress gets converted into physical symptoms," though there have been enough cases without an identifiable stressor that we've removed the requirement for a stressor to be present. Conversion disorder is diagnosed when there are motor and sensory symptoms present... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by brook horse at 3:50 PM on April 30, 2021

I find myself thinking about this all day, can nothing be done? Do we all have to suffer every day of our short lives, for no natural reason except other people's bad decisions?

Short answer: Yes.
Longer answer: you'd need a lot of cooperation out of other people--and them not making bad decisions--and if you don't have any leverage/control/way to get better results out of them, then....yes.
posted to MetaFilter by jenfullmoon at 3:03 PM on April 30, 2021

Isn't that the exact opposite of what you should do for a stroke?

My Grandma always said "Starve a stroke, but feed an aneurysm"
posted to MetaFilter by thelonius at 1:20 PM on April 30, 2021

I would not mess with whatever supervillain emerges from that vehicle.
posted to MetaFilter by gwint at 11:27 AM on April 30, 2021

I have bought and sold a retail business. The broker who sold it was marginally competent, his greatest skill was making sure he got paid. A broker contacted me about selling it when I was already considering it, they were seriously incompetent. So I sold it on my own. The value of a business is in inventory, customer loyalty, equipment like racks and register, name recognition, and especially in having established accounts with many vendors, including the lease, as well as being a running... [more]
posted to Ask MetaFilter by theora55 at 6:40 AM on April 29, 2021 marked best answer

Dimon added that despite being anonymous on Instagram, he was amazed by how many people in his network had popped up as follow suggestions.

"A lot of the lists of people I should friend are people that I have relations with," he said. "It annoys me how they got that."

This guy runs a big bank?! In 2021?! I guess he missed the cluetrain...
posted to MetaFilter by chavenet at 3:11 PM on April 28, 2021

I've through this process. I've had really good results with a CPAP for moderate sleep apnea that was causing elevated blood pressure and general loss of good REM sleep. In addition to being a key component in bringing my blood pressure under control, it ensures that I no longer wake up with headaches and a sore, dry throat. It's been great. I use it every night, all night almost without fail. On the odd time I've dozed off without it, I've noticed that I feel terrible when... [more]
posted to Ask MetaFilter by mandolin conspiracy at 6:13 PM on April 26, 2021

It's almost like cops don't even try to really solve crimes or serve any useful purpose.
posted to MetaFilter by bleep at 12:36 PM on April 23, 2021

"I'd like to return this lipstick please, it tastes funny."
posted to MetaFilter by chococat at 7:26 AM on April 23, 2021

Guardian: Will the Derek Chauvin guilty verdict change policing in America?

Now there's some Betteridge's Law bait if I've ever seen any..
posted to MetaFilter by Nerd of the North at 10:34 PM on April 20, 2021

Oh and also they stripped out all the immunity, stress response functions, ability to shift to utilize alternate nutrient sources, etc. It would never survive in nature.

It’s like the todo app in a tutorial for a new JavaScript framework.
posted to MetaFilter by condour75 at 7:20 AM on April 20, 2021

Lenna?
posted to Ask MetaFilter by rhapsodie at 9:10 PM on April 19, 2021

Hey, this is good news, Americans sorely need policies that help the working class. Finally they can meet us on wages and healthcare and maternity and ...

Oh, what's that? They don't have policies that favor the working class? Their strategy is ... checks notes .... calling Cardi B a slut. Right. They must think Americans are pretty racist and misogynist if they think that'll work ... checks notes ... well, fuck.
posted to MetaFilter by adept256 at 7:06 AM on April 14, 2021

When it comes to foreign policy, Hillary Clinton says she has a clear mentor. The former secretary of state, Henry Kissinger. "Kissinger is a friend, and I relied on his counsel when I served as secretary of state. He checked in with me regularly, sharing astute observations about foreign leaders and sending me written reports on his travels."
~~~ Hillary Rodham Clinton

"I am proud to say that Henry Kissinger is... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by dancestoblue at 2:54 AM on April 14, 2021

One of the darker jokes I've seen on twitter this past year was basically "Quarantine has taught me that you don't need fun to have alcohol."
posted to MetaFilter by DoctorFedora at 8:43 PM on April 12, 2021

It appears hapless and utterly confused at all times, never passably imitating a human driver.

Sounds like a passable imitation to me.
posted to MetaFilter by Faint of Butt at 7:43 AM on March 28, 2021

I worked at the Strand in the mid-80s, when Nancy Bass had just begun dipping her toe into the unfamiliar waters of her dad and granddad's business. In that entirely different city, for a certain kind of person, the Strand served as a sort of Ellis Island. Pretty much anyone could get a job there, as long as you could pass the literature test (very easy, in my opinion). The city still had SRO hotels and squats, and eccentricity and creativity. Fred Bass didn't ask much of the employees except... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by scratch at 3:40 PM on March 20, 2021

Running an entirely separate Facebook account for the pseudonymous identity should deal with that. Which is, of course, the whole general principle. You want no sharing of online accounts across identities.

You can get away with sharing physical devices across identities if and only if the device you're sharing is a computer and you're rigorous about using your high-security identity on it only after booting... [more]
posted to Ask MetaFilter by flabdablet at 4:50 AM on March 7, 2021

Three strikes for unmasked customers? One and done, yo. What's this three strikes nonsense?
posted to MetaFilter by ocschwar at 3:06 PM on March 1, 2021

I’m reminded of Eisenhower’s quote:

“If a political party does not have its foundation in the determination to advance a cause that is right and that is moral, then it is not a political party; it is merely a conspiracy to seize power.”
posted to MetaFilter by darkstar at 10:21 AM on February 28, 2021

I favorited Bardolph's answer because I think the #1 best thing she can be doing right now is finding out what the practice of family law is actually like. Will she enjoy having every single weekend interrupted by somebody having a conflict over visitation? Will she like spending half the day talking with emotionally overwrought clients and the other half banging out briefs? Will she be heartsick over not being able to fully protect children from a shitty parent? Because becoming a family lawyer... [more]
posted to Ask MetaFilter by HotToddy at 8:32 AM on February 23, 2021

if you (as in you, personally) do not follow the rules of Bayesian inference, then we (or perhaps I) could design a betting game that you would think is fair, and that we would inevitably win.

Quite possibly the most succinct account of capitalism I've ever seen.
posted to MetaFilter by flabdablet at 6:52 AM on February 22, 2021

Do you want Freddy Krueger? Because that's how you get Freddy Krueger.
posted to MetaFilter by Glegrinof the Pig-Man at 1:30 PM on February 19, 2021

I only say good things about the dead.

He's dead?
Good.
posted to MetaFilter by miguelcervantes at 10:39 AM on February 17, 2021

“I have never killed any one, but I have read some obituary notices with great satisfaction.” - Clarence Darrow
posted to MetaFilter by Pendragon at 10:32 AM on February 17, 2021

WHAT YOU SAY
posted to MetaFilter by Fiasco da Gama at 10:54 AM on February 16, 2021

We're first time home buyers. We have been looking for homes for about 2 months, have already made an offer on another house that wasn't accepted, and are ready to be done with the search.

This is somewhat dependent on the market you’re in but it can take a lot longer than two months to find the right property, at the right price and it may take a lot more than two offers as well. So perhaps consider how realistic your expectations are here. Barring... [more]
posted to Ask MetaFilter by koahiatamadl at 5:47 PM on February 14, 2021

elkevelvet: oh my, applause.

I would applaud too, but my arms have been stuck in the raised position for some time.
posted to MetaFilter by dr_dank at 8:56 AM on February 10, 2021

Well the big hedge fund shorts just closed out their bets. So this roller coaster hit its latest peak

Top posts on /r/WSB claim the data doesn't back this up, it's just Melvin going on CNBC and saying as much.
posted to MetaFilter by JoeZydeco at 7:02 AM on January 27, 2021

But you can use something like a blade or credit card

The leeches I had on me as a kid didn't really squick me out (I was more fascinated than anything), but the adults around were insistent on breaking out the salt shaker as the first-line treatment.

But I'd not considered threatening them or bribing them until now.
posted to MetaFilter by mandolin conspiracy at 5:55 PM on January 19, 2021

Bare minimum, if you can afford tactical gear, handguns, ammo, and a trip to DC including hotel accommodations, you're probably not poor.
posted to MetaFilter by SansPoint at 6:00 PM on January 16, 2021

I can almost see the cartilage health meter dropping with every 15 ft drop. But I'm already old 'n busted.
posted to MetaFilter by benzenedream at 4:40 PM on January 11, 2021

You really think someone would do that, just go on the internet and tell lies?
posted to MetaFilter by deadaluspark at 10:40 AM on January 11, 2021

Just getting a battery replaced in an iPhone or Mac Laptop is crazy. And wrong.

It's really frustrating because Apple used to be somewhat well known for being easy to repair off and on since the Apple II days and touting things like tool-free cases and hardware. Some of the pro G3s and G4s had neat tricks like origami-inspired cases that would open right up and unfold into a wide open chassis for easy component upgrades. Even the early to mid 2000s... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by loquacious at 6:15 PM on January 9, 2021

“Impeachment would not help unify this country,” a person close to Biden said...

I called my dad yesterday. He kept talking about how he grew up in the 1950s and 60s, when Eisenhower was president and politics was civil and people got along. He didn't understand why this was happening, who all these people invading the Capitol were, what the hell they were so angry about. He sounded confused and sad. I think Biden thinks this way too. I don't think... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by theodolite at 4:14 PM on January 7, 2021

My favorite weird part of this:

We also find that inserting the phrase “professional high quality” before “illustration” and “emoji” sometimes improves the quality and consistency of the results.

I'm very excited about being able to improve software performance by just specifying that I want it to do a good job this time.
posted to MetaFilter by theodolite at 11:04 AM on January 6, 2021

It's really galling being repeatedly told that the lesson of this attempted coup is "Democracy held up!" when, rather transparently, the lesson is "With even a slightly different hand of cards, they will get away with it next time."
posted to MetaFilter by DirtyOldTown at 5:59 AM on January 4, 2021

I think you should do the seminar. You knew months in advance what you were signing up for. Next time, don’t sign up for things like this.
posted to Ask MetaFilter by oceanjesse at 7:26 AM on January 1, 2021

Victory is mine! The story spacewrench referenced seems to be Zapatos by Filencio Salmon, translated by T. Coraghessan Boyle, from the October 1988 issue.
posted to Ask MetaFilter by reenum at 1:01 PM on October 14, 2010

“We’re not going to see an effective [coronavirus] vaccine proven safe until well into 2021, if then”

probably true for values of "we" broader than congress and the tip of healthcare providers and values of "see" that include see first-hand, or attain access to.
posted to MetaFilter by 20 year lurk at 10:58 AM on December 29, 2020