Written and recorded for the serpentine challenge now underway. My buddy Ken Kawashima brought in the North Mississippi blues riff and yours truly did the rest. Apologies to animal rights advocates, but some snakes were severed during the recording of this song. Had to be done. [lyrics inside]
posted to MeFi Music by flapjax at midnite at 1:49 AM on July 17, 2007 (8 comments)

australianscreen launched today. You can view clips from Australian feature films, documentaries, TV programs, shorts, home movies, newsreels, advertisements, other historical footage, and sponsored films produced over the last 100 years, with curators’ notes and other information about each title. [via Margaret and David]
posted to MetaFilter by tellurian at 8:17 AM on July 18, 2007 (8 comments)

I have a big, bushy, fragrant, delightful Sweet Basil plant... and nothing to do with the astounding amount of basil it's producing.
posted to Ask MetaFilter by SpecialK at 10:36 PM on July 18, 2007 (35 comments)

What's the link between:
1) the quickly-growing number of American homeowners becoming unable to pay their mortgages after their ARM's reset (a trend nicknamed "ARMageddon" -- applicable in the UK too), which is translating into soaring foreclosure rates, and in turn forcing at least 60 US semi-shady mortgage brokers to go belly-up in the past year (i.e. the "subprime meltdown"), and...
2) the recent implosion and impending financial bailout -- which may become the biggest since the Long Term Capital Management fiasco of 1998 -- of two Bear Stearns hedge funds which dealt in mortgage securities? [more inside]
posted to MetaFilter by Asparagirl at 5:13 PM on July 11, 2007 (122 comments)

I'm thinking of traveling across Canada by rail. I have never been to Canada, ridden on a train, or traveled alone before, so advice requested. Also, Amtrak?
posted to Ask MetaFilter by lychee at 6:32 AM on July 16, 2007 (24 comments)

Investing to benefit from Peak Oil while entering retirement.
posted to Ask MetaFilter by rmhsinc at 7:06 PM on July 15, 2007 (30 comments)

How can I make a living in the rural countryside?
posted to Ask MetaFilter by oilygoily at 7:46 PM on July 13, 2007 (10 comments)

This is a slightly older song, released in '06, but I thought it fit the challenge. I wrote it shortly after moving to L.A. when I was awakened by a thunderstorm, and fell back asleep to some strange dreams... -Leland
posted to MeFi Music by danandleland at 8:30 PM on July 1, 2007 (7 comments)

What is some of the best financial advice you have ever received?
posted to Ask MetaFilter by elisynn at 12:15 AM on July 2, 2007 (53 comments)

There are about 250,000 centenarians alive today, including several hundred "supercentarians" aged 110+ years. Jerry Friedman, founder of Earth's Elders Foundation, has spent the past four years on a landmark project to introduce the world to the oldest people on earth. And in a similar endeavor, photographer Mark Story has been capturing portraits and stories of people from around the globe who are Living in Three Centuries.
posted to MetaFilter by madamjujujive at 6:43 AM on December 4, 2006 (16 comments)

Best book for "learning" English grammar?
posted to Ask MetaFilter by the luke parker fiasco at 7:19 AM on June 28, 2007 (26 comments)

Educate me about life insurance.
posted to Ask MetaFilter by anastasiav at 1:16 PM on June 25, 2007 (11 comments)

Need to take a language next year; Japanese or Mandarin?
posted to Ask MetaFilter by pwally at 2:36 PM on June 26, 2007 (37 comments)

What is the most interesting* thing you can buy for $30-$50? *(By my definition: non-consumable, long-lasting, functional.)
posted to Ask MetaFilter by archagon at 9:26 AM on May 18, 2007 (63 comments)

James Burke does Youtube. A very conscientious fan has begun creating a wonderful collection of two of James Burke's shows on youtube. There are many episodes up and more to come of both Connections and The Day The Universe Changed. Catch them while you can.
posted to MetaFilter by YoBananaBoy at 12:29 AM on June 11, 2007 (45 comments)

What is the *best* book you can recommend that covers diet and nutrition for a healthy pregnancy?
posted to Ask MetaFilter by tpl1212 at 5:18 AM on January 20, 2006 (11 comments)

Affordable, but cool places to live as a career/lifestyle choice: If your work/career/next life project is portable, could you find a place where a two-bedroom apartment is $300 a month? Houses for under $50 grand? Cultural opportunities a resonable drive away? Would you do it this way? Why or why not? [more inside]
posted to Ask MetaFilter by weston at 8:50 AM on December 8, 2004 (45 comments)

I know that some of us are bored by news about "The War", but isn't this going just a little overboard?
posted to MetaTalk by starvingartist at 8:08 AM on November 13, 2001 (47 comments)

Canadian Citizenship Practice Test. Who were the United Empire Loyalists? Why is the British North America Act important in Canadian history? List four rights Canadian citizens have. Which province is the only officially bilingual province? On what date did Nunavut become a territory? What do you call the Queen’s representative in the provinces? And more.
posted to MetaFilter by three blind mice at 2:12 AM on May 25, 2007 (44 comments)

I'm working on a book of international curses and insults and I'm supposed to write a section on the U.S. and Canada. Now, I have no problem finding examples of invective by Yanks, but (like a typical Yank) I'm completely at a loss when it comes to the Great White North. I'd appreciate any pointers to good use of wicked language by Canadians (doesn't have to be obscene; cf. Twain's "Harte is a liar, a thief, a swindler, a snob, a sot, a sponge, a coward..."), old or new, online or off. Thanks!
posted to Ask MetaFilter by languagehat at 8:52 AM on May 21, 2007 (43 comments)

So I will be making x dollars gross in Ontario, that translates to...
posted to Ask MetaFilter by the dief at 7:25 AM on May 18, 2007 (4 comments)

I have become interested in finance. After lots of reading, I understand the mechanics of how most financial instruments work. Now I want to understand how they are used in the marketplace, specifically analysis or description of transactions and their outcomes. What should I read?
posted to Ask MetaFilter by procrastination at 8:29 AM on May 18, 2007 (12 comments)

What's the best way to deal with a terrible disease called IBS? ( Irritable bowel syndrome)
posted to Ask MetaFilter by Anonymous at 8:43 AM on May 18, 2007 (31 comments)

I'll soon be in Vancouver, BC for about 2 weeks, and it would be helpful for me to have a cell phone while I'm out there - but only while I'm out there. Would a prepaid cell phone be my best bet? If so, any suggestions as to where to pick one up? If not, what else might work?
posted to Ask MetaFilter by zeph at 1:45 PM on May 17, 2007 (15 comments)

Sounds from the Vietnam War. Battle sounds, RTO chatter, speeches, briefings, LZ dustoffs, dogfights, and pirate radio. What war sounded like, in country and back the U.S.
posted to MetaFilter by John of Michigan at 11:25 AM on May 12, 2007 (12 comments)

12 Byzantine Rulers is a podcast lecture series about The Byzantine Empire by Lars Brownworth, a history teacher at The Stony Brook School on Long Island, New York. 1123 years of awesomeness ready to go onto your iPod! [iTunes link]
posted to MetaFilter by Kattullus at 7:52 PM on May 11, 2007 (19 comments)

I'm 26 years old and already making a good living. Should I consider going to grad school for international relations or international affairs?
posted to Ask MetaFilter by Anonymous at 9:27 PM on May 7, 2007 (19 comments)

I'm about to start a job where I will be expected to live on 5 hours (or less) sleep per night on weekdays. I'm looking for tips on staying alive physically. Types of food, drinks, shakes, vitamins, exercise tips, sleep hacks, etc. -- anything that will aid my body physically during this period of my life.
posted to Ask MetaFilter by JPowers at 9:50 PM on April 26, 2007 (29 comments)

Total user revolt at Digg over HDDVD key 'censorship'. Every single front page post at Digg is currently a post about the HD DVD processing key, which the MPAA seems to have forced Digg to censor. A web 2.0 riot in progress, and a fascinating insight into the impossibility of censorship in a medium which routes around damage.
posted to MetaFilter by unSane at 8:35 PM on May 1, 2007 (247 comments)

Why is economic growth necessary?
posted to Ask MetaFilter by bluefrog at 10:00 AM on April 18, 2007 (32 comments)

I liked cortex's song so much I had my band record a backing track for it.
posted to MeFi Music by mexican at 3:50 AM on March 5, 2007 (29 comments)

Fascist America in 10 Easy Steps: a good read from The Guardian.
posted to MetaFilter by byronimation at 11:18 AM on April 24, 2007 (133 comments)

Listening to words allows you to find, listen to and discuss free lectures from around the web. [via mefi projects] [mi]
posted to MetaFilter by Terminal Verbosity at 11:08 AM on April 17, 2007 (11 comments)

Least evil Canadian bank?
posted to Ask MetaFilter by the dief at 3:01 PM on April 19, 2007 (35 comments)

Where can I find a lot of easily browsable pictures of both the inside and outside of houses?
posted to Ask MetaFilter by CrazyLemonade at 10:36 AM on April 17, 2007 (11 comments)

I am 36 years old. My wife is 33 years old. We got married recently. Are we too old to have kids ? I feel age is not on our side. We are doing healthwise and finanically good.
posted to Ask MetaFilter by tom123 at 1:16 PM on April 17, 2007 (70 comments)

A question about languages.
posted to Ask MetaFilter by TiredStarling at 10:38 AM on April 16, 2007 (58 comments)

TV in Japan. A hyper representation of what airs, or has aired on Japanese TV. Ranging from action packed to truly awesome (and from monkeys to ninjas), set your eyes to "dazzled" and brain to "frazzled".
posted to MetaFilter by myopicman at 12:12 AM on April 13, 2007 (7 comments)

Music nerds! All these indie rock bands are starting to bore me. I want something different... something unique, unconventional, magical, soulful, challenging, uncategorizable, fun, heartbreaking, bizarre, and all or none of the above.
posted to Ask MetaFilter by Robot Johnny at 5:38 PM on April 10, 2007 (114 comments)

"This is the shit JFK was getting jacked in his ass during the Cuban missile crisis. I shouldn't even be calling this shit 'shit,' because it's disrespectful." Following 72 hours in the lives of some high-roller meth addicts.
posted to MetaFilter by chunking express at 2:55 PM on April 9, 2007 (103 comments)

See here and here and here. I'm posting this to music because Cortex insisted.
posted to MeFi Music by buriednexttoyou at 11:49 AM on April 9, 2007 (31 comments)

Considering opening a computer repair store. Input desperately needed.
posted to Ask MetaFilter by Phyltre at 1:13 PM on April 5, 2007 (19 comments)

BubbleFilter: Real Estate Roller Coaster. [via] US Home prices adjusted for inflation plotted as a first-person ride on a roller coaster. Keep your eye on the bottom right-hand corner for the corresponding year. Don't worry about the dramatic ending. I mean really, how bad could bad get?
posted to MetaFilter by afx114 at 9:48 AM on April 3, 2007 (97 comments)

Can I take expired Claritin RediTabs? Will they work?
posted to Ask MetaFilter by crinklebat at 11:11 AM on April 2, 2007 (10 comments)

A Mandelbrot zoom that is much larger than our known universe.
Previously mentioned here, but it deserves its own mention. Via.
posted to MetaFilter by the Real Dan at 1:27 PM on April 2, 2007 (130 comments)

Stripe Generator 2.0 - The Ultimate Tool for Web 2.0 Designers. (via)
posted to MetaFilter by blue_beetle at 7:49 AM on March 30, 2007 (52 comments)

Comedy duo, Ramenz (ラーメンズ), aka Kobayashi Kentaro and Katagiri Jin, also known as the Japanese versions of Mac and PC, have recently done a number of shorts collectively called "The Japanese Tradition." Apparently, these tongue-in-cheek pseudo-instructional vids about famous aspects of Japanese culture (Tea, Chopsticks, Sushi, Origami, Apology, Onigiri, and Relationships) have been fooling a lot of non-natives into thinking they are actual guides. (YouTube, each approx 4-6 min).
posted to MetaFilter by ikahime at 9:30 AM on March 29, 2007 (35 comments)

What are some good resources out there such that I can bring myself up to speed quickly on Search Engine Optimization?
posted to Ask MetaFilter by ScreechingEyeballStupidShitboxClownshoes at 10:04 AM on March 27, 2007 (13 comments)

I would like to visit Thailand, Cambodia, Bali, and Singapore during a month I have off this summer. Can anyone recommend an efficient, possibly inexpensive way to get to all the places inbetween here?
posted to Ask MetaFilter by skepticallypleased at 11:13 AM on March 27, 2007 (19 comments)

Cockeyed Absurdist - jonmc's 300 most favorite songs and why, including Iron Maiden, The Exciters, Neil Young (as a greaser), Captain Beefheart, Hanson, and of course, The Dictators.
posted to MetaFilter by hellbient at 8:47 AM on March 23, 2007 (134 comments)