Does California need the high-speed rail project? The New York Times published six opinion pieces debating the merits of the $90 billion high-speed rail plan that would connect Los Angeles to San Francisco. Streetsblog has a summary of the six opinions.
posted to MetaFilter by 2bucksplus at 10:41 AM on January 27, 2012 (122 comments)

I discovered Crystal deodorant a few months ago. I had tried literally every other unscented deodorant on the market and could not find one that held up all day. It turns out that the damned rock you rub on your pits is the greatest deodorant ever, and it had been on the shelf the whole time. What other miracle products are sitting on the shelves at the market, unnoticed as I pass them by in favor of products that are more well known or have bigger advertising budgets?
posted to Ask MetaFilter by Balonious Assault at 5:12 PM on January 26, 2012 (68 comments)

What is the word (not necessarily in English) for feeling acute embarrassment for another person? And in a particular kind of situation...
posted to Ask MetaFilter by zardoz at 4:51 PM on January 18, 2012 (14 comments)

We are putting up a black interstitial about SOPA/PIPA for the next 24hrs or so. If you click away from it, you'll get a cookie stored so you won't see it again in the same browser, but what follows is my reasons for doing it.
posted to MetaTalk by mathowie at 9:06 PM on January 17, 2012 (560 comments)

I'm looking for parenting books that blew. your. mind.
posted to Ask MetaFilter by zoomorphic at 11:03 AM on January 10, 2012 (27 comments)

Minute Physics is a YouTube Channel full of short, simple explanations of physics. Learn why there are tides, what neutrinos are and how to find them, why there is no pink light, and why Galloping Gertie didn't collapse due to resonance. Minute Physics is also on New Scientist's website, but slightly re-titled and with links to related New Scientist articles. If you have another 41 minutes, you can learn more about Minute Physics from it's creator, Henry Reich.
posted to MetaFilter by filthy light thief at 10:44 AM on January 10, 2012 (73 comments)

From 1981 - 1993, documentary producer Christopher Sykes created three films about Dr. Richard Feynman. All are now available in their entirety on YouTube: Richard Feynman: No Ordinary Genius, The Pleasure of Finding Things Out and Last Journey of a Genius (previously).
posted to MetaFilter by zarq at 11:31 AM on January 5, 2012 (14 comments)

How the Dutch got their cycle paths (Youtube). How Paris decided to become a bicycle friendly city. How Copenhagen became a cycling city (PDF). How San Francisco became a cycling city. How London tried (and failed) to become a cycling city. How Sevilla, Spain is becoming a world-class bicycling city (more: Seville's lesson and Seville's remarkable transformation). How Ciclovia came to Bogotá (Streetfilms). How Portland plans to become the first world-class bike city in America; how expanding Portland's inexpensive bicycle network led to an exponentially expanding amount of bicycling (Streetfilms). How Janette Sadik-Khan is transforming New York City streets (Streetfilms).
posted to MetaFilter by flug at 10:55 AM on January 5, 2012 (33 comments)

Is it fair that I ask my 2.5 year old daughter to play independently? She wants me around to do *everything* with her and I feel like she should at least be able to occupy herself alone for a few minutes at a time. I need guidance and suggestions.
posted to Ask MetaFilter by Anonymous at 7:27 AM on March 7, 2011 (46 comments)

I have a messy desk. Please help with suggestions/ideas on how to make a better arrangement.
posted to Ask MetaFilter by Argyle at 8:24 AM on December 30, 2011 (12 comments)

The Fat Trap (NYT pop review): Overweight individuals in Western nations (and, increasingly, beyond) face interpersonal and institutional stigma for their bodies*. Oftentimes, these stigmas are predicated on the belief that being overweight is a moral failure, that being overweight is usually a result of laziness, decadence, and/or characterlogical poor impulse control. However, an emerging consensus among obesity researchers points toward strong, common physiological and individual genetic factors as causative for heightened BMIs in the modern world and the general failure of dieting to produce BMI outcomes. A recent study in the New England Journal of Medicine (paywalled) adds to this body of evidence, suggesting that chemical messengers held to contribute to altered "efficient" metabolism and increased hunger in the wake of low-calorie dieting are (on average) significantly elevated up to a full year (if not longer) following a substantial drop in weight from dieting.
posted to MetaFilter by Keter at 9:41 PM on December 28, 2011 (173 comments)

I'm looking for good readings on Middle Childhood, inspired by this New York Times article and my 5.5 year old son.
posted to Ask MetaFilter by alms at 7:36 PM on December 26, 2011 (4 comments)

Free cabin porn! Inspiration for your quiet place somewhere.
posted to MetaFilter by middleclasstool at 9:20 PM on December 22, 2011 (56 comments)

My mother still lives in the dark ages with 56k modem. Please help me find the best YouTube videos to put on a cd and put in her stocking at Christmas.
posted to Ask MetaFilter by summit at 3:12 PM on December 9, 2011 (27 comments)

Intermittent fasting can affect insulin sensitivity. And a new eating style has developed around this idea. Skip breakfast and enjoy big meals late in the day instead of what Martin Berkhan (fitness trainer with attitude bigger than his muscles - be warned) called kindergarten meals 6 times a day.
posted to MetaFilter by Listener at 4:44 PM on December 9, 2011 (83 comments)

Right now, our 3-and-a-half-year old has her own room, and our one-year-old sleeps in Mommy & Daddy's bedroom. Next week, we're moving the baby into the toddler's room. What can we do to make the transition as painless as possible? How can we make this necessity into a positive experience for our kids? Are we crazy for even considering this? If your children share a bedroom (or if you shared a bedroom as a child), I'd love to hear your advice, warnings, opinions, and anything else you think I should hear.
posted to Ask MetaFilter by yankeefog at 12:51 PM on December 9, 2011 (22 comments)

Looking for Happy kid Movies with little or no scary scenes for my oft-scared almost 3 y/o daughter? (bonus if they are on netflix) Details below:
posted to Ask MetaFilter by fozzie33 at 8:30 AM on December 9, 2011 (24 comments)

Hi. Here's Stephen Colbert (out of character) and astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson having an 85 minute conversation about science, physics, and the universe.
posted to MetaFilter by lazaruslong at 7:09 PM on November 28, 2011 (44 comments)

In the last Roderick on the Line, John says that he always gets a houseguest a glass of water, before they ask - because 9 times out of 10, someone always loves a glass of water. I love this idea. What are some low-key courtesies you extend or have had extended to you by friends, romantic partners, suitors, etc. that show someone you're thinking about their needs and general comfort?
posted to Ask MetaFilter by Apropos of Something at 12:46 PM on November 28, 2011 (55 comments)

Please design a personal grooming schedule for me.
posted to Ask MetaFilter by a robot made out of meat at 12:27 PM on November 25, 2011 (15 comments)

"...I'm here to present to you - not lectures that are part of some curriculum; but in fact, I've combed the universe for my favorite subjects, and I'm going to spend twelve lectures bringing those favorite subjects to you." Renowned astrophysicist and television host Neil deGrasse Tyson discusses the various aspects of our universe in twelve separate half-hour long lectures (MLYT).
posted to MetaFilter by Evernix at 10:26 PM on November 26, 2011 (40 comments)

Between August and October this year the crew of the ISS used a special low-light HD camera to visually capture the earth as it passed beneath them. The result, edited together by Michael König and set to music, is jaw-droppingly spectacular.

It may be redundant to tell you to set Vimeo to full-screen mode before playing, but do so - you won't regret it. Post intended as something of a sequel to this. Some related channels on Vimeo: The World In HD, HDTime, Slow Motion & Timelapse Theatre.
posted to MetaFilter by Bora Horza Gobuchul at 10:41 AM on November 13, 2011 (74 comments)

Why do snowstorms last so long? We live in the Denver area and it snowed for 18 hours, from 9 PM last night to 3 PM this afternoon. My wife asked me why it never rains for that length of time. I muttered something about convection in the summer, then stopped when I realized I didn't know what I was talking about.
posted to Ask MetaFilter by lukemeister at 3:26 PM on October 26, 2011 (11 comments)

I think MeFi needs more hugs. You can join me if you want.
posted to MetaTalk by flex at 5:38 PM on October 24, 2011 (179 comments)

How did you instill confidence in your children? How did your parents help you become a confident child and adult?
posted to Ask MetaFilter by Nickel Pickle at 4:04 PM on October 19, 2011 (37 comments)

I have a little niece, just over a year old. Recommend some storybooks with feminist themes, or just generally strong female characters!
posted to Ask MetaFilter by torisaur at 1:30 PM on October 10, 2011 (24 comments)

"We believe the kraken may have killed them and drawn its potrait with their bones."
posted to MetaFilter by Diablevert at 11:52 AM on October 10, 2011 (58 comments)

CareerSwitchFilter: I'm a miserable lawyer, with a bunch of hobbies and skills, but no other kind of professional experience. What career(s)/job(s) should I consider switching to?
posted to Ask MetaFilter by Anonymous at 7:02 AM on October 3, 2011 (22 comments)

"Miss average college girl (1941) tells the maximum and minimum size of her wardrobe." The New York Library scanned a page from the September 1941 issue of Design for Living: The Magazine for Young Moderns to compare the highest and lowest numbers of a given item in women's wardrobes by college.
posted to MetaFilter by emilyd22222 at 6:25 PM on January 31, 2010 (50 comments)

Legalfilter: What are some cool/interesting things you can do with a law degree if you don't want to practice law.
posted to Ask MetaFilter by Dr_Octavius at 7:59 PM on April 25, 2006 (28 comments)

We need inventive ideas and strategies to help eliminate a seemingly invisible bear from our son's room (Slightly <3 yrs old).
posted to Ask MetaFilter by Nanukthedog at 7:25 PM on August 21, 2011 (58 comments)

Tofu recipes sought. All sorts. Tasty ones. That is all. Thank you.
posted to Ask MetaFilter by beshtya at 7:45 AM on August 15, 2011 (30 comments)

MeFi parents - give me your potty training advice!
posted to Ask MetaFilter by k8t at 7:54 PM on July 27, 2011 (16 comments)

Where can I find some good research literature on the effectiveness of corporal punishment as a means to discipline children?
posted to Ask MetaFilter by keep it under cover at 5:08 PM on November 9, 2010 (24 comments)

The talks between President Obama and House Speaker John Boehner "collapsed" Friday with little more than a week to go before the United States may effectively default on its debt. The two parties have been in ongoing negotiations for months over GOP refusal to raise the legal limit on national debt unless tied to a significant package of spending cuts - with some members and activists opposed to any increase whatsoever
posted to MetaFilter by crayz at 6:58 AM on July 24, 2011 (3183 comments)

"I accept that sometimes American phrases have a vigour and vivacity. A relative of mine told me recently he went to a business meeting chaired by a Californian woman who wanted everyone to speak frankly. It was 'open kimono'. How's that for a vivid expression?" The BBC explores Americanisms, but they're not the first: The Telegraph, Daily Mail, and the Economist have also weighed in on the debate. (Somewhat previously.)
posted to MetaFilter by reductiondesign at 12:09 PM on July 13, 2011 (219 comments)

What do you do with ricotta cheese?
posted to Ask MetaFilter by cp311 at 11:34 AM on July 8, 2011 (40 comments)

You spin me right round baby.
posted to MetaFilter by flapjax at midnite at 6:24 PM on June 18, 2011 (66 comments)

What follows is a D.I.Y. cooking starter kit: small kitchen projects that any cook can tackle. What they all have in common is that they are simple, season-less and a clear improvement on the store-bought version. Includes: Chinese Chili-Scallion Oil, Chocolate-Hazelnut Paste, Corn Muffin Mix, Crème Fraîche, Cultured Butter, Fresh Cheese, Horseradish Beer, Mustard, Kimchi ,Maple Vinegar, Preserved Lemons, Tesa (Cold-Cured Pork Belly), Tomato Chili Jam, Vin d'Orange
posted to MetaFilter by AceRock at 12:31 PM on May 25, 2011 (43 comments)

What were the steps you took to get yourself mentally ready for permanent weight loss? What made you decide to change your eating and exercise habits in the long run?
posted to Ask MetaFilter by cranberrymonger at 6:08 PM on March 7, 2011 (39 comments)

What is causing the tiny holes on the bottom front of all my shirts? (this was asked in 2006, but maybe new info has become available on holey shirts).
posted to Ask MetaFilter by cherrybounce at 8:56 PM on April 8, 2011 (40 comments)

Jokes. We all know one, maybe even two or three, and there's a good chance they're slightly or completely off-color. But let's say you need to entertain a room of five- to eight-year-olds, and they're expecting a non-stop barrage of hilarity. Anyone have any favorite kids' jokes they'd like to share?
posted to Ask MetaFilter by vverse23 at 12:24 PM on April 8, 2011 (65 comments)

What are the ways in which you use Evernote (or AwesomeNote, or whatever your poison) to make your life better, easier, happier, more organized, more awesome, etc? I'm not doing too bad a job of it myself, but I suspect I am just scratching the surface.
posted to Ask MetaFilter by segatakai at 4:02 AM on April 4, 2011 (22 comments)

My daughter wrote a note to the Tooth Fairy tonight asking her what she did with all of the teeth she collected. What should the Tooth Fairy tell her in response?
posted to Ask MetaFilter by ColdChef at 7:58 PM on March 15, 2011 (76 comments)

A Very Special Episode: On July 20, 1985, ABC aired a "Too Close For Comfort" episode titled: "For Every Man, There's Two Women" in which Monroe Ficus (played by "unabashed gay icon" Jim J. Bullock) is kidnapped and raped by two bikers (possibly in a bathtub of jello). In recent years, stories have surfaced of individuals traumatized by the repressed memories of this mysterious episode. This is one of those stories. A film by Ethan Duff. (via The Retroist)
posted to MetaFilter by mrgrimm at 11:50 AM on March 16, 2011 (275 comments)

Vegetables for breakfast? How is it done? How do you have breakfast this is not focused on meats, dairy and grains? Please share your ideas and recipes.
posted to Ask MetaFilter by Cool Papa Bell at 8:59 AM on February 24, 2011 (61 comments)

How to Hack the Dictatorship. "Gene Sharp is an American intellectual whose ideas can be fatal to the world's despots. For decades, Mr. Sharp's practical writings on nonviolent revolution — most notably “From Dictatorship to Democracy,” a 93-page guide to toppling autocrats, available for download in 24 languages — have inspired dissidents around the world, including in Burma, Bosnia, Estonia and Zimbabwe, and now Tunisia and Egypt." His fame is spreading.
posted to MetaFilter by storybored at 7:11 PM on February 17, 2011 (21 comments)

Childproofing hacks for traveling? I'll be traveling in Mexico with my 2yo and 5.5yo, staying in a variety of places (rental houses, condos, B&Bs, and hotels). Given my experience with hotels in general, I think I'll need to childproof on the spot without knowing in advance what the trouble spots are and without having access to lots of supplies. Will the traveling parents of MeFi lend me their hacks?
posted to Ask MetaFilter by Yoshimi Battles at 6:28 PM on February 17, 2011 (6 comments)

Protests have erupted in Madison, Wisconsin where the Republican-controlled state legislature seems poised to pass a bill championed by the newly elected Governor Scott Walker that would strip collective bargaining rights (that is, unions) from public employees in order to combat the state's 137 million dollar budget deficit.
posted to MetaFilter by GameDesignerBen at 9:30 AM on February 17, 2011 (792 comments)

What are the best television series that are available on Netflix Watch Instantly?
posted to Ask MetaFilter by crapples at 7:44 AM on February 17, 2011 (84 comments)