First pictures from last night's London shindig are now on the MeFi London Flickr group, including this group photo.
posted to MetaTalk by randomination at 5:20 AM on January 13, 2007 (48 comments)

London meetup update:
Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese -- very slight change in plan. The Johnson Annexe is available from 6.30 only and contrary to what I was told, it will set 15 people for eating. ("But we managed to get 20 in at Xmas".) [more inside]
posted to MetaTalk by i_cola at 5:48 AM on January 12, 2007 (28 comments)

The idea of treating everyday, ambient noise as music is not terribly new, but Noah Vawter's device turns ambient sounds into music (in a somewhat more traditional sense of the word):

Ambient Addition is a Walkman with binaural microphones. A tiny Digital Signal Processing (DSP) chip analyzes the microphone's sound and superimposes a layer of harmony and rhythm on top of the listener's world.

posted to MetaFilter by 2or3whiskeysodas at 7:43 PM on December 18, 2006 (32 comments)

Warnock's Dilemma is the situation you face when people don't comment on your postings. The problem with no response is that there are five possible interpretations:

1. The post is correct, well-written information that needs no follow-up commentary. There's nothing more to say except "Yeah, what he said."
2. The post is complete and utter nonsense, and no one wants to waste the energy or bandwidth to even point this out.
3. No one read the post, for whatever reason.
4. No one understood the post, but won't ask for clarification, for whatever reason.
5. No one cares about the post, for whatever reason.

This perfectly captures my thoughts when I see an amazing post with only 2 or 3 comments (of course, I believe everyone else is thinking point 1 as well). This probably explains why we can't equate lots of comments nor low comments with the quality of a post, since it could be good or bad in five different ways, as described here.
posted to MetaTalk by mathowie at 2:39 PM on April 24, 2005 (41 comments)

First post!
posted to MetaFilter by goodnewsfortheinsane at 9:41 AM on January 5, 2007 (58 comments)

London, UK meetup. Attempt at organising a venue and activities thread. hugsnkisses proposed and it looks like Friday 12th January is go (that's a week today). So the food and drink...what & where?
posted to MetaTalk by i_cola at 12:13 AM on January 5, 2007 (50 comments)

I read too many online articles and not enough books. Help me.
posted to Ask MetaFilter by davebush at 7:41 AM on January 4, 2007 (9 comments)

Newspaper reporter tells readers not to email him, because "I don't want to talk to you". Nice long rant by frustrated reporter. Sounds like MeFites should drop him a line.
posted to MetaFilter by Argyle at 8:41 AM on January 2, 2007 (132 comments)

I have a giant blank wall in my new rented bedroom and I'd like to do something awesome with it, but nothing permanent so I lose my security deposit. What should I do?
posted to Ask MetaFilter by adrober at 12:46 PM on October 31, 2006 (21 comments)

Do you worry about how clean your home is when people visit? Do you notice imperfect cleaning at others' homes?
posted to Ask MetaFilter by TochterAusElysium at 2:59 PM on December 29, 2006 (54 comments)

Got some free time over the New Year's long weekend? Well, here's every episode (or damn near it) of Aqua Teen Hunger Force, Boondocks, Clone High, Metalocalypse, Moral Orel, Robot Chicken, South Park (alt), Venture Brothers, Futurama. Or over here, there's all those and more. But wait my friends, there's more, yes, even more: for the same low price, I'll include the Ultimate Motherlode of Music Video (11,500 of them, or your money back!), alphabetized for your viewing pleasure. Just free up some bandwidth, and step inside ...
posted to MetaFilter by stavrosthewonderchicken at 3:30 AM on December 29, 2006 (155 comments)

Meetup in merry old London town?
posted to MetaTalk by hugsnkisses at 7:27 AM on December 28, 2006 (39 comments)

A Step Closer to In Vitro Meat Production
A group of scientists are proposing techniques in the Tissue Engineering journal (4pg .pdf) that may allow industrial production of meat sans animals. They have established a non-profit organization "to support the development of meat substitutes, with the long-term goal of delivering economically competitve alternatives to conventional meat production".
[New Scientist 2002 & /. discussion] [meat-mefi] [vegan-mefi]
posted to MetaFilter by peacay at 11:32 AM on July 8, 2005 (44 comments)

FDA approves meat and milk from cloned animals, no labels necessary.
posted to MetaFilter by knave at 7:48 PM on December 27, 2006 (81 comments)

Soup has a history. Enjoy this comprehensive history of the humble (and sometimes not so humble) dish. A widely stated "fun fact" is that the earliest soup was made with hippopotamus bones, but fortunately today you have much tastier options. One favorite, chicken soup, is easy to make and really is good for you [pdf] .
posted to MetaFilter by Deathalicious at 8:12 AM on December 26, 2006 (25 comments)

Threads (Google Video, 1hr 50min). Classic Reagan/Thatcher era nuclear war film that scared the bejeezus out of everyone in 1984 (including my 14-year-old self). [good background previously]
posted to MetaFilter by schoolgirl report at 6:59 PM on December 21, 2006 (91 comments)

Pitchfork has unveiled their Top 50 Albums of 2006 (don't also miss their Top 100 Tracks of 2006). Rolling Stone's Top 50. Prefix's Top 50. Stylus's Top 50. For those who love these lists, the deluge has only begun...
posted to MetaFilter by Mach3avelli at 1:40 AM on December 20, 2006 (176 comments)

go elf yourself.
posted to MetaFilter by quonsar at 3:58 PM on December 17, 2006 (72 comments)

Regret the Error's '06 roundup of the year's best corrections range from proper nomenclature when describing decanter aficianados to how many eggs Queen Elizabeth lays. All the mistakes fit to print.
posted to MetaFilter by Bromius at 7:10 PM on December 14, 2006 (12 comments)

Another batch of pics from the London Meetup on Friday added to the pool and Illy document for make-your-own-meetup-sign fun.
posted to MetaTalk by armoured-ant at 3:52 AM on December 11, 2006 (27 comments)

India's Outsourcing Problems One of the most controversial aspects of the global economy has been the newfound freedom of companies from physical location and the subsequent spread of outsourcing jobs. No country had embraced tech outsourcing with the passion of India. Of late, problems there are beginning to rise: engineers start a project, get a few months' experience, and then bolt for greener pastures, bringing a level of attrition that replaces entire staffs within the course of a year. Combine that with salaries in Bangalore that are rising at 12% to 14% per year and it is no surprise that companies are leaving India for a slew of emerging hot spots for IT outsourcing such as the old Soviet Bloc, China, and Vietnam. This comes as companies such as Microsoft continue to laud outsourcing and proudly proclaim that it is here to stay, and it looks as if Ho Chi Minh City will be the next Bangalore.
posted to MetaFilter by PreacherTom at 4:31 AM on December 11, 2006 (19 comments)

Suddenly, you feel like you've been dipped in molten lava. According to Wired, the Active Denial System has been certified for use in Iraq.
posted to MetaFilter by alms at 5:20 PM on December 8, 2006 (95 comments)

With the Christmas season upon us, I think it's time to call attention to PinkStainlessTail's classic—which will live forever—Jingle Rock Bell.
posted to MetaTalk by interrobang at 1:27 PM on December 3, 2006 (38 comments)

Photos from tonight's London meetup at the Bricklayer's Arms, taken by a variety of participants. It was a fantastic night.
posted to MetaTalk by sueinnyc at 8:07 PM on December 8, 2006 (51 comments)

Connoisseurs of Cunnilingus: What does it taste like to you?
posted to Ask MetaFilter by Ambrosia Voyeur at 7:54 PM on December 1, 2006 (86 comments)

Metafilter: We Love Taglines!
posted to MetaTalk by Mach5 at 5:54 PM on December 1, 2006 (64 comments)

Is it possible to just be too damn awesome?
posted to Ask MetaFilter by Anonymous at 7:25 AM on November 26, 2006 (65 comments)

The BBC attaches cameras to the genitals of a man and woman. Sex ensues. NSFW Google video.
posted to MetaFilter by four panels at 7:21 PM on November 25, 2006 (153 comments)

What the hell is wrong with me? Why do I tend to fill my spare time with brainless crap? There's
posted to Ask MetaFilter by richmondparker at 4:44 PM on November 12, 2006 (23 comments)

The Secret To Great Bread, according to Jim Lahey of the Sullivan Street Bakery, is time. If you have 20 hours to spare, you can make a spectacular, no-knead loaf with the simplest of ingredients. Here's his recipe, and here's another. Of course, there are those who would decry the Staff of Life anyway you slice it, but even they can enjoy some hot gluten on yeast bread porn. via the monkies
posted to MetaFilter by maryh at 9:57 PM on November 12, 2006 (47 comments)

Sid Davis : April 1, 1916 - October 16, 2006.
posted to MetaFilter by Tuwa at 10:18 PM on November 8, 2006 (28 comments)

London Meet Up?: I'm (back) in London for a week in December and was wondering if anyone fancied a meet up. I'm around from the 7th-11th and could probably manage a night out on either the 8th or the 9th. North/Central London preferred. Camden/Kentish Town/Tuffnell Park/Archway would be ideal - but I can get pretty much anywhere zones 1-3 (now getting home, that's another matter)...

Any takers?
posted to MetaTalk by davehat at 8:52 AM on November 5, 2006 (22 comments)

"Not today, sir, probably not tomorrow": Alternatively titled "Me and My Shadow, Part I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX"; the long, touching, interesting, hilarious, disturbing story of how 'Jay' kicked his drug habit, written by 'Silent Bob', aka Kevin Smith.
posted to MetaFilter by docgonzo at 1:46 PM on July 20, 2006 (101 comments)

I'm looking for examples of stripped-down bluegrass songs with the kind of eerie/sad sound that gives you goosebumps and makes your heart ache.
posted to Ask MetaFilter by empyrean at 2:25 AM on October 28, 2006 (40 comments)

Daddy-daughter advice, or what can you tell me that you've learned?
posted to Ask MetaFilter by fijiwriter at 7:54 AM on October 19, 2006 (73 comments)

It's that time of year again...it's getting cold and I'm craving soup more and more. The only problem is I'm sick of canned soup and I'd rather make most of it homemade. Lay your best soup recipes on me, ingredients/prep the works! Any type of soup accepted! Hot, cold, lukewarm! Chicken, cream-based, potato leek, broth-based etc. I want to start a good collection of new recipes to try!
posted to Ask MetaFilter by PetiePal at 9:46 AM on October 25, 2006 (49 comments)

RelationshipFilter, for a female friend who's writing about this sort of thing: What annoying things do women do in relationships?
posted to Ask MetaFilter by ibmcginty at 5:16 PM on October 22, 2006 (82 comments)

This is what the end of the world looks like. Photos of ballistic missiles, especially reentry vehicle tests. (Sound on last link.)
posted to MetaFilter by TheOnlyCoolTim at 2:09 PM on October 21, 2006 (69 comments)

I've been estranged from my family for 3+ years. How can I explain this to a girl that I'm dating without seeming like a nutcase or weirdo?
posted to Ask MetaFilter by Jake Apathy at 8:46 AM on October 21, 2006 (32 comments)

how does it feel to have your period?
posted to Ask MetaFilter by krautland at 12:44 PM on October 19, 2006 (96 comments)

Umm how do I put this? When I was younger, the trouser trumpet used to sound and feel crisp and fast but now that Im older its become more like a tuba - sort of full and airy and slow. What's happening back there? Should I be worried? (FYI it's only ever handled the usual one-way traffic.)
posted to Ask MetaFilter by zaebiz at 2:37 AM on October 18, 2006 (17 comments)

Bob "Mad Dog" Lassiter, dead at 61. Bob was one of the most notorious and entertaining "confrontational radio" hosts to ever sit behind a microphone. WFMU's The Professor wrote , "every other talk host I’ve ever heard usually gets off on like-minded callers, but not Bob. In fact, he was often quite impatient with callers who agreed with him." Bob was an absolute master of baiting the listening audience, ensnaring many callers who thought that they were clever enough to outwit him. Of course, none of them were. He once played "dead air chicken" with a belligerent caller for 11 minutes straight, saying absolutely nothing until the caller finally gave up and hung up his phone. Tapes of these broadcasts have been prized by aircheck collectors for years, many of which are now available as mp3 downloads at BobLassiterAirchecks.com. Bob knew he was dying, yet he actively resisted any measures that would improve his health. He blogged nearly every moment of his last days, often in graphic detail. His last written words were posted yesterday.
posted to MetaFilter by melorama at 5:42 AM on October 17, 2006 (24 comments)

How can I get my hands on a Vienna phonebook from circa 1938? I will be spending a weekend in Vienna next month, and I would love to see the apartment where my late grandfather lived before fleeing the Nazis. Unfortunately, nobody in the family knows the address, and there aren't any letters or other documents to provide it. Things are also complicated by the fact that I won't be visiting on a weekday, so any archives that might have this information will presumably be closed. Plus, I don't speak German. Am I out of luck, or is there any way to track this information down in the next few weeks?
posted to Ask MetaFilter by yankeefog at 7:22 AM on October 18, 2005 (38 comments)

The Guardian today published a list of names used around the world for the @ symbol. [reproduced inside]. Can any native speakers let me know if they take advantage to these to make intrestering/humorous/offensive email address?
posted to Ask MetaFilter by handybitesize at 8:05 AM on October 16, 2006 (25 comments)

Why do stock exchanges still close? It's nice for the traders to get some time off, but in this modern age where you no longer have to stand on the floor shouting at people, is it still necessary? Does it have some economic function?
posted to Ask MetaFilter by fvw at 9:19 AM on October 16, 2006 (17 comments)

[LondonCurryFilter] What's the best curry house in Brick Lane?
posted to Ask MetaFilter by kenchie at 7:59 AM on October 15, 2006 (11 comments)

Polyoramas (or myrioramas) are illustrated cards that fit together in any order, forming an endless landscape. This is my attempt at making them. I will be adding to this Flickr set all month long (and possibly longer), and soon, they'll be for sale as high-quality mini-cards printed by moo.
posted to MetaFilter Projects by interrobang at 5:04 PM on October 10, 2006

Since the whole bashing-on-head/dragging-back-to-cave routine is a bit passe, how do I go about getting the guy?
posted to Ask MetaFilter by katemonster at 2:27 AM on October 13, 2006 (59 comments)

What do you do when you're stuck in a persistive state of misanthropy?
posted to Ask MetaFilter by keswick at 4:50 PM on March 6, 2006 (44 comments)

Make like a knight and generate your own simple heraldic shield. The venerable Pimbley's Dictionary of Heraldry can define the archaic blazoning terms that the Generator uses. If you'd prefer a more modern, more casual emblem, try the Official Seal Generator.
posted to MetaFilter by Iridic at 9:09 AM on October 7, 2006 (11 comments)