MetaFilter

I like the kind of fingerless gloves that have light compression -- it keeps the finger tubes from rubbing together and bunching up. I think they are mostly made for arthritis pain.

But overall I prefer a heated desk pad, like this one, so that my fingers can fly free: https://www.amazon.... [more]
posted to Ask MetaFilter by OrangeDisk at 10:27 AM on November 20, 2023

And this is one sandwich that my wife loved.

NY Times (archive):
Gloria Pépin died in December of 2020. “I am by myself, so I use small pots now,” Mr. Pépin said quietly, nodding at the gleaming, copper-bottomed cookware hanging on a wall in the kitchen. “I cook every day. But this is what I miss most: sharing a bottle of wine, which we did for half a century, and eating together, which we did for half a century.... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by pracowity at 9:54 AM on November 21, 2023

In a recent interview, composer Hildur Guðnadóttir, who composed the score for the HBO miniseries ‘Chernobyl’, revealed how the score came together. Namely: every sound in the score is recorded from sounds from inside a nuclear power plant.
posted to FanFare by orrnyereg at 11:04 AM on May 29, 2019

This episode was extremely raw, and I'm not sure I'm in a place to tease out all the parallels.

You must limit your exposure. The longer you spend in the invisible poison of radiation, the more it turns your body to corruption. The longer you spend in a brutalizing system, the more it erodes your soul - or forces you to gird up the most vulnerable parts of yourself in lead armour. Shcherbina and Bacho having moments of caring too much. Pavel, who cried, becoming resigned... [more]
posted to FanFare by jurymast at 12:47 PM on May 28, 2019

A little subtlety I loved: Scherbina and Legasov transitioning to first names as they find themselves facing the reality of the situation together. Boris and Valery - and then Valera, the diminutive, as Scherbina tries to rally him - and then back to Comrades Legasov and Scherbina during times when they butt heads, and find the gulf of party strictures and hierarchy yawning between them.

GoT Watch: Jeor Mormont in amongst the miners!
posted to FanFare by jurymast at 10:25 AM on May 22, 2019

Lyudmila's actions made sense to me in the context of a world where information was routinely withheld or misrepresented in the service of the state and you had to bribe professionals in order to get anything done. Knowing what any citizen knew at that time, why should she have automatically believed them about how dangerous his condition is?
posted to FanFare by Countess Elena at 8:14 AM on May 21, 2019

And given that they were basically leaving him to die in agony alone, I can see how she'd think that it was just neglect, rather than danger, that was the problem. I mean, she gets yelled at by a nurse but there's nobody around to actually enforce whether you go behind the plastic or not.
posted to FanFare by TwoStride at 8:32 AM on May 21, 2019

Lyudmilla is not an idiot. She is very young, she doesn't know much about radiation, she's trusting the officials who are LETTING HER IN THE ROOM. They are newlyweds and Vasily is the love of her life. She is a real person and has suffered a great deal and it's shitty to call her an idiot. This stuff actually happened.

I didn't like this episode as much as the first two but I still liked it. The coal miners were awesome.

The music continues to... [more]
posted to FanFare by Aquifer at 6:21 AM on May 21, 2019

Very excited about this. Two big thoughts:

1. This is not a show about Chernobyl. This is a show about the beginning of the implosion and total collapse of the Soviet Bloc and the bizarre chaos and terror of uncertainty that it would bring down upon it's people. The point here is that the state fell under the internal forces of incompetence and ideology trumping logic. And on a yet deeper level it's about humans playing God and being punished for it.... [more]
posted to FanFare by mit5urugi at 8:28 AM on May 12, 2019

I also felt like maybe he was in denial because he could tell that he had radiation sickness and didn't want to admit it?

This dude got sick in the meeting, but I would have bet if he were well enough, he would have taken a look at the blown up reactor himself, and then still reported back it was just a hydrogen explosion.

As someone who has been in room where the situation being discussed was rated **EXTREMELY FUCKED!**,... [more]
posted to FanFare by sideshow at 1:30 PM on May 9, 2019

Whatever you think of American gun culture, you can see the appeal there. It's like any other gearhead/tinkerer hobby.

I think I speak for a lot of us when I say there's no valid reason for there to be law-abiding combat weapon owners. If someone can't enjoy their hobby without there being a massive body count, fuck their hobby. They can get into archery, or airsoft, or machining, or rocketry, or any other of the thousands of other hobbies that,... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by phooky at 8:53 AM on November 16, 2023

I feel like there's two lines of thinking that get mushed together in these threads. One of them is an argument about what people could do/what we think they ought to do - vote blue no matter who, stay and fight, etc. There are strategic arguments to have here and there are practical arguments to have here - what can voting do? What is likely to happen to, eg, trans people if Trump is elected?

The other is... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by Frowner at 8:04 AM on November 16, 2023

There's no way I'm not voting for Biden in 2024.

But I'm confused? angry? frustrated? that after everything that has happened, this is once again coming down to an election. Trump literally stole nuclear secrets and hid them in his bathroom. He conspired to interrupt the peaceful transfer of power. He unleashed an armed insurrection against the Capitol. And he gets a do-over?

Lecturing me about how the Constitution doesn't actually preclude... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by RonButNotStupid at 1:20 PM on November 15, 2023

Trump is almost as old and "functions" (well not well but "better" in terms of normal day to day appearances of fitness).

You have got to be fucking kidding.
posted to MetaFilter by soundguy99 at 10:51 AM on November 15, 2023

"Captain Pike has an illusion, and you have reality; may you find your way as pleasant."
posted to MetaFilter by clavdivs at 8:28 PM on November 14, 2023

Just take a look at American movies and media:

During the Cold War, the commies are the bad guys.

Then the Cold War ends. We start getting X-Files and Men in Black and Independence Day with aliens as the bad guys.

Then 9/11 happens, and scary Muslims become the bad guys.

Now the War on Terror has fizzled out, and suddenly we're getting aliens in the media again.

It's just... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by AlSweigart at 2:19 PM on November 14, 2023

More fodder to prove that those of us "working from home" should be suspect! Untrustworthy! Only those willing to be observed IN PERSON can be trusted! Managers BEWARE this ALL NEW THREAT to the corporate trust!

This is a re-hash of another article from mid-pandemic - same Corporate overlord shit different day.
posted to MetaFilter by djseafood at 7:18 PM on November 13, 2023

he's done playing Loki

And somewhere, deep in the swamps of the multiverse, Alligator Loki stirs.
posted to FanFare by SPrintF at 4:21 PM on November 11, 2023

I hope someone can explain the ending because I’m entirely at sea.
posted to FanFare by orrnyereg at 11:01 PM on November 9, 2023

I agree with the chorus of “no” above.

Is there a service similar to Borrow My Doggy near you? In my area this is a popular way for non-dog-owners to build up a relationship with a local dog when being a dog owner is not possible. You or another responsible adult could support your child to get involved, as a possible alternative?
posted to Ask MetaFilter by Erinaceus europaeus at 2:30 PM on November 8, 2023

There is not enough information here to answer your question.
posted to Ask MetaFilter by avocet at 7:09 PM on November 7, 2023

I think it is important to properly situate this article & book in the context of an enormous anti-social PR campaign spearheaded by McKinsey and other consultancies working on behalf of business interests who simply do not care if people die. Don't kid yourself that this campaign has stopped with the lack of concern about our current pandemic either. The PR firms are currently laying the groundwork for preventing any future public health measures that may constrain the extractive profits of... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by srboisvert at 2:58 PM on November 6, 2023

What else could the federal government have (legally) done? Pay people to quit their jobs?

Nah, they decided to put a trillion dollars of "loans" in the pockets of employers and then forgive the loans.
posted to MetaFilter by tclark at 12:43 PM on November 6, 2023

The big fail was Trump.

During a national emergency, I remember how that vainglorious asshole would go on television every night to talk about what a great job he was doing. It still boils my blood to remember how he'd just make shit up on the spot and give himself credit and no one in the fucking room would stand up to him, even when he was suggesting that people drink fucking bleach. The whole fucking country seemed to be falling apart. States were being told that they... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by RonButNotStupid at 12:31 PM on November 6, 2023

$600 a week. Factoring in conversion, the U.S. benefit was almost twice as good.

hahaha that's if you could actually get it. most people I know spent the better part of an entire year trying to get the unemployment office and every other agency to actually send out payments. Constant republican gutting of every support system in governance meant that even if the funds were "available", actually engaging with the bureaucracy and getting... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by FatherDagon at 12:24 PM on November 6, 2023

Total deaths from all causes, per million people, from the start of Covid to now, from Our World in Data:

New Zealand - 70
Canada - 180
UK - 371
USA - 404

Americans have been five times as likely to die from the pandemic than Kiwis. The number of deaths follows directly from the acceptance of public health measures.

This really isn't rocket science. We know what makes public health work.... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by happyinmotion at 11:58 AM on November 6, 2023

Again, when another virus surfaces--and believe me, it will at some point--we are so so so fucked.

If we are willing to rewrite history, uninterested in coming up with more comprehensive and less drastic response for the next nasty down the pike, continually placing the interests of businesses and corporations before people, we probably deserve what we get.

No one liked life being put on pause for so long. No one. But we didn't know what we... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by Kitteh at 11:58 AM on November 6, 2023

from the article...

But it’s time to be clear about the fact that lockdowns for any purpose other than keeping hospitals from being overrun in the short-term were a mistake that should not be repeated.

...were there lockdowns for any other purpose?

In many blue states, however, that rationale was forgotten over time, and many people remained confined to their homes or apartments not just... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by entropone at 11:44 AM on November 6, 2023

What else could the federal government have (legally) done? Pay people to quit their jobs?

UBI test run. /s
posted to MetaFilter by Selena777 at 11:42 AM on November 6, 2023

Admittedly I skimmed this, but I don't see anything about paying people to stay home. The US's unwillingness to help people actually lock down has to have made a difference. I don't see how you can talk about the success or failure of lockdown and only look at what rules we had on paper, not the social conditions surrounding those rules. I mean Canada has about 1/8 the population of the US and had about 1/25 as many deaths, and a big part of that has to have been that they paid people to stay... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by joannemerriam at 11:18 AM on November 6, 2023

Seeing history being rewritten while the pandemic is still ongoing explains a lot about the 1918 flu pandemic.
posted to MetaFilter by Yowser at 11:07 AM on November 6, 2023

One of the things that really worked for me about the first season is that it managed to use its goofy time travel multiverse story to tell a character driven tale about humbling a man full of ego. In season 1 Loki was driven, and felt dangerous and interesting. Then his encounter with Sylvie changed him, and made him become someone different.

But the problem with this season is that from there the show doesn't seem to know, or care, what drives Loki now. I mean... He... [more]
posted to FanFare by Cannon Fodder at 3:23 PM on November 4, 2023

God there was just so much I loved here. Having Shannon Fill back as Sito Jaxa was very moving to me, as was Boims being Acting Captain for the ramming-maneuver, but really this was just wall-to-wall fun surprises. B'Eth! Migleemo! T'Lyn solving problems via Twaining! "THIS GUY SUCKS!" The Ferengi paywalled Genesis Device!

So much to love here. Hope Tendi gets out of Mistress of the Winter Constellations duty fast, though, because she and T'Lyn really do need... [more]
posted to FanFare by Navelgazer at 8:50 PM on November 3, 2023

The ship that Mariner appropriated is named after Fabio Passaro, a Trek artist who passed away from cancer last year.
posted to FanFare by Marticus at 10:17 PM on November 2, 2023

I have no idea why I lost it at "What up, Bynars?", but I absolutely did. WHAT UP, BYNARS.

Also, Shax's face when Tendi requests barter by combat. So good.
posted to FanFare by phooky at 9:39 PM on November 2, 2023

He looks just like Tom Paris.

I don’t see it.
posted to FanFare by wittgenstein at 1:59 PM on November 2, 2023

And now when I go back and rewatch season 1 - because who am I kidding this is going to happen - the 'Harrassed Single Dad trying to corral a wayward child' energy radiating from Mobius in *every interaction with Loki* is going to be even more evident.
posted to FanFare by Faintdreams at 7:22 AM on November 3, 2023

Tom Hiddleston's physical acting was fantastic in this episode; he is SO committed to the bit. What a champ.

Did anyone catch B-15's real name?

So maybe it turns out that Loki is the real He Who Remains? Strange that the Loki variants were untouched by all the timey-wimey stuff. Maybe he can repair the Loom because he's a Jotun and the radiation doesn't affect him the way it does humans?

This episode and last have really... [more]
posted to FanFare by orrnyereg at 5:57 AM on November 3, 2023

Vegas to San Diego will take all day and by the end you’ll be knackered.
In Theory it’s short but by the time you hit traffic you’ll wish you’d never been born. You could overnight outside of SD like in Oceanside.
posted to Ask MetaFilter by St. Peepsburg at 7:38 AM on November 3, 2023

Yes, we got our 3 year old both flu and COVID boosters. I'm not sure I can talk about decision-making because it wasn't a question for us. I don't consider myself to be particularly cautious about COVID anymore but the booster is strongly recommended by my local medical authorities. To me it's like, they tell me car seats are the safest place for my three year old, so I'm not out there becoming an expert in car crash physics. And I'm not becoming an expert immunologist either. The vaccines are... [more]
posted to Ask MetaFilter by muddgirl at 11:19 AM on November 3, 2023

COVID is the 8th leading cause of death among children in the United States.

And this is almost burying the lede. It's

fifth in disease-related causes of deaths (excluding unintentional injuries, assault, and suicide), and first in deaths caused by infectious or respiratory diseases [...] it caused substantially more deaths in CYP (children and young people) annually than any vaccine-preventable disease historically in the... [more]
posted to Ask MetaFilter by pullayup at 11:08 AM on November 3, 2023

Vaccines and boosters work, and despite the defunding and downplaying of COVID, it’s still a threat to both my children (3 and 1) as well as anyone they come into contact with who are immunocompromised. They are both boosted and will continue to get boosters (along with flu and other recommended boosts) as long as they are available. To me, there is no downside.
posted to Ask MetaFilter by knownassociate at 10:35 AM on November 3, 2023

Now someone do this for staffing services/employment help. (I am still trying to find a FRICKIN' JOB and I've been searching since July)
posted to MetaTalk by EmpressCallipygos at 8:36 PM on November 1, 2023

I also have a major fear of my life/reality actually being a hallucination and that I'm actually on a hospital bed having a psychotic episode this whole time

From my experience as somebody who has been simultaneously chemically and physically restrained in a hospital bed while a psychotic episode peaks, I don't think that's likely to be what you're doing.

The single most prominent feature of my psychosis was the feeling of... [more]
posted to Ask MetaFilter by flabdablet at 1:44 AM on November 3, 2023 marked best answer

Theft is exactly what this is.

I've had this so hard across my life - career, community, creative, so on and so forth. Constant firefighting even when it's not your job - and for what? I'm glad someone has named this.
posted to MetaFilter by creatrixtiara at 1:16 AM on November 2, 2023

This seems very much adjacent to previous discussions here about emotional labor.

The corporate EFT example is interesting. I've long suspected bureaucracies make it deliberately frustrating to interact with them as a cost-cutting measure. Some share of people (often myself included) will just give up in the face of seemingly unlimited layers of tedious bullshit.
posted to MetaFilter by qxntpqbbbqxl at 11:45 PM on November 1, 2023

Biggest issue for me is that I enjoy the movies, individually, and some of the shows, individually, but I can do so without needing every single show and movie to be intertwined and so connected that missing one episode of a minor third-tier character arc on streaming network X means half the new movie makes no sense to me.

Try standalone stories. Standalone characters. Not everything needs to be a 15 movie arc.
posted to MetaFilter by caution live frogs at 12:09 PM on November 2, 2023

Hey so I'm the original poster and here are some thoughts to help this discussion not go terribly:

First off, the author of the piece, David Forbes, is a trans woman so please do use "she" to refer to her.

It would be great if we could center the perspectives of trans people, queer people, Black and brown people, domestic violence survivors, unhoused people, neurodivergent people, and people from other groups whose... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by brainwane at 11:37 AM on November 2, 2023

I'm in DC and my landlord is one of the 14. Really eager to see where this goes.
posted to MetaFilter by capricorn at 11:47 AM on November 2, 2023

The thing that surprised me was the belt. In my house the snapping of the belt wasn't a warning, just a prelude. Between that and the social humiliation at school, they did a really good job of turning me anxious about ever showing enthusiasm about anything. I still have the enthusiasm, but damned if I can talk about it coherently to anyone for fear of getting The Look. Anyway, this was a really good and sad essay, and I hope the kid grew up to find someone who would touch... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by mittens at 5:47 AM on November 2, 2023