MetaFilter

From a Buddhist perspective, karma "balancing" is not favored. You want to escape karma by becoming enlightened. You don't escape it, it is inevitable.
posted to Ask MetaFilter by Ironmouth at 10:00 AM on April 9, 2009

There was a young man, a Tibetan living in the US as a citizen, that was drafted into the army to fight in Vietnam. While there, he was pretty certain, though not positive, that he had killed another human being. When he returned, he asked a lama, "What I should do?" They were living near a farm at the time and the lama told him to adopt a few of the young sheep and take care of them. Of course, sheep live a pretty long time. So, the young man ended up taking care of these sheep for... [more]
posted to Ask MetaFilter by milarepa at 9:58 AM on April 9, 2009 marked best answer

I'm speechless. Not to get all outragey, but does anybody else think this is absolutely appalling? It is just bad, wrong on so many levels. Including what it inspires here. I just don't see how, ugh, just ick.
posted to MetaFilter by iamkimiam at 9:02 PM on April 8, 2009

This thing, unfortunately, read like propaganda against taxes. I'd love to see a pro-taxes version to counterbalance this:

$XXX goes to Interstates ----> It takes 4 hours to drive from Boston to New York ---> It took 2 days by horse and carriage

$XXX goes to scientific/military research ---> GPS, the Internet, and nuclear power were developed via military research ---> Civilian GPS sales generated $XX million in taxes last year, and... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by explosion at 12:47 PM on April 8, 2009

Really, how hard could this be?

CHASE: House, we need to cure this patient. He is very sick.
HOUSE: Did you try the medicine drug?
CHASE: I did try the medicine drug.
HOUSE: Only stupid people try the medicine drug. You are stupid.
PATIENT: I would rather not be sick.
HOUSE: You are stupid too. Did you take stupid drug?
FOREMAN: I gave patient stupid drug.
HOUSE: You are a black man.... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by robocop is bleeding at 7:24 AM on November 2, 2007

Hi anon,

I swear this isn't meant to be flippant, but perhaps it would help if you framed the question as: How do I assess my role and responsibility for taking care of myself when I am surrounded by people who have needs.

Because it seems like you are assessing and prioritizing "what is best" based on prioritizing someone else's well being. Perhaps because they seem more vulnerable than you. Perhaps because you value helping others.... [more]
posted to Ask MetaFilter by anitanita at 9:03 PM on April 7, 2009

"If you can't enjoy it without the raw shock of a plot twist, it probably isn't the show for you."

Um. That's the thing. I *do* enjoy the show and its plot twists. I prefer enjoying them without them being spoiled, as do many, many others, which is why there is a courtesy standard for them here at mefi.

I just tend to believe that people should be reminded of such courtesy standards in the text they see before they... [more]
posted to MetaTalk by markkraft at 3:20 PM on April 7, 2009

Sorry I missed that thread, desjardins, I would have loved to offer some advice. Believe it or not, my sleep apnea is even worse than yours. I stopped breathing 88 times an hour, for up to 2 minutes at a time! (Obviously not 2 minutes every time. I only bend space/time when I'm awake.) One of the things I've discovered since going on CPAP is that my lifelong battle with depression was largely the result of chronic deep sleep deprivation. I promise you that this will change your life. On the... [more]
posted to MetaTalk by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 10:50 AM on April 7, 2009

We don't think our way to right action. We act our way to right thinking.
posted to Ask MetaFilter by You Should See the Other Guy at 4:13 PM on April 3, 2009

Communism is a red herring.

And monkey's brains, while popular in Cantonese cuisine, are not often to be found in Washington D.C.
posted to MetaFilter by hippybear at 9:51 PM on April 3, 2009

The probability of a post living through it's first hour or two or through the first-visit-of-the-morning admin sweep is altered by a lot of different things that we take into account about post quality and community reaction.

Time: 7am

SYSTEM STATUS: Sleeping

Beginning Boot Process...

Loading: Bullshit detector extension

Loading: Snark Module plugin...... [more]
posted to MetaTalk by Brandon Blatcher at 8:13 AM on April 4, 2009

Here's the thing. Yes, she's an adult, and she should be responsible for her own feelings and what-not. So if you say "Hey, let's have no-strings sex," she should be grown-up enough to understand that you mean what you say and not turn the whole thing into a huge fucking dramabomb, right?

Here's the other thing. THE CHANCES OF YOU GETTING SEX WITHOUT THE WHOLE THING TURNING INTO A HUGE FUCKING DRAMABOMB ARE APPROXIMATELY ZERO. Yes, she should be more mature... [more]
posted to Ask MetaFilter by Sidhedevil at 12:41 PM on April 3, 2009

this whole idea of "not moving forward" until he knows your credit status

I wouldn't move forward with anyone unless I knew our shared future was going to be secure. That doesn't just include credit, but also career paths, shared desires, etc.

The OP has already admitted to having bad credit in the past. It's only natural that the SO would want to know how bad or how hard it is going to be to fix.... [more]
posted to Ask MetaFilter by wfrgms at 10:25 AM on April 3, 2009

Thank heavens. A corruption scandal that doesn't involve anyone from Illinois.
posted to MetaFilter by nax at 6:42 AM on April 3, 2009

My mother last year (I'm thirty) took a NAMI course for family members of persons with mental illness. It has changed our relationship, for the better. You might consider this.

Depression, as others have said, is very different from what people outside think it to be. It is very unfortunate. The person might say "I'm sad" or "I'm depressed", which for a normally-functioning person might indicate that her dog died, that she's stressed at work, that... [more]
posted to Ask MetaFilter by quarantine at 9:05 PM on April 2, 2009

If your sib is clinically depressed--and, given the treatment you mentioned (talk therapy and meds), that seems likely--s/he simply is not capable of "DOING SOMETHING" about it. If s/he had cancer, would you say, "GET BETTER" and expect it to happen? Depression is an illness--it cannot be wished away. I understand your frustration, but try to understand that your sibling's sadness is not a choice. Be thankful s/he is taking positive steps--and apparently efficacious ones--to... [more]
posted to Ask MetaFilter by shallowcenter at 7:09 PM on April 2, 2009

3x2 + 5x - 6 = 0

Let's assume we're looking at integers before we bust out the quadratic equation. The quadratic equation is no fun. Let's try a simple grind of trying out potential integers.

First, you must find the set of two integers which, when multiplied together, give -6:
(-1, 6)
(1, -6)
(2, -3)
(-2, 3)
(6, -1)
(-6, 1)
(-3, 2)
(3, -2)... [more]
posted to MetaTalk by adipocere at 2:11 PM on April 2, 2009

http://www.math.com/students/calculators/source/quadratic.htm says 0.8081429669660173

My work:
first I typed in "quadra" into the google search box,
then I selected the suggestion for "quadratic equation solver"
I entered 3, 5, and -6,
then hit the button marked "--solve ->"
posted to MetaTalk by nomisxid at 1:36 PM on April 2, 2009

Actually, I think you should keep the green color for AskMe. The cost of dye is passed on to the reader who prints out the pages, and doesn't affect the LLC. Plus green is the color of money for many MeFites, so that's a good association for attracting a more, shall we say, solvent userbase. And for those users who don't think green=$, it's got the warm fuzzies from the ecological connotations. (Of course, these users should probably stop printing out all the AskMe threads,... [more]
posted to MetaTalk by Quietgal at 9:06 AM on April 1, 2009

GODDAMN WHITE MAN, ALWAYS STEALING MY VOWELS AND SHIT!
posted to MetaTalk by Brandon Blatcher at 8:06 AM on April 1, 2009

Since it's about the thrill of the chase for him I would try to not focus on the lack of sex so much. He may be picking up on your disatisfaction which might make him feel like a failure. You said you've tried not mentioning it. For how long? Think about it all you'd like, just don't mention it to him for a while.

I generally dislike those dating rules books but you can create more desire by having a life of your own. I think one of those books mentions that... [more]
posted to Ask MetaFilter by Fairchild at 4:44 PM on March 31, 2009 marked best answer

I'd like to suggest another way to approach this.

The issue is that you're going to Afghanistan, your mother worries a lot, and she has medical issues that are complicated by stress.

Your mother worries because she cares. She probably watches all the news about it so she can feel like she is helping in some small way, because she has no control over whether or not you get hurt, and that probably drives her crazy and scares the hell out of her. So... [more]
posted to Ask MetaFilter by heatherann at 8:22 AM on March 31, 2009 marked best answer

Can we have white shirts for those of us who go with the plain background pages?
posted to MetaTalk by Astro Zombie at 10:16 AM on March 29, 2009

1) They're not always puppies, but here's another real link to a cute animal webcam. Looks like it's bunnies today!

2) Hey, guys, look around. This has been a really well thought-out, informative, and nice MeTa thread. And I think cranberrymonger has done a really good job with the original post and follow-ups. Today, everyone deserves a hug!
posted to MetaTalk by Ms. Saint at 4:01 PM on March 30, 2009

Desjardin: ask and ye shall receive.
posted to MetaTalk by CunningLinguist at 3:57 PM on March 30, 2009

This reminds me of a delightfully mischievous little game called Cheer Up the ChatBot, by rrrrthats5rs.com.

It poses as a simple chatbot program in which you have to (duh) cheer up the machine. The trick is, after a short time your connection to the chatbot is replaced by a connection to someone else playing the game at the same time. This happens randomly as long as you play -- you never know who or what you're talking to, or when the swap occurs. This makes for a... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by Rhaomi at 2:07 PM on March 30, 2009

Yep, absolutely. I recall an askme where an employee thought she saw something on her boss's screen when she came in and he minimized a window hurriedly, then she made sure to pass by later to try to catch him again, then went in her boss's office when he wasn't there and rummaged through the boss's computer to find a browsing history which included porn sites. She felt harassed by this.

You're comparing pornographic apples and oranges. (Or, if you... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by mudpuppie at 10:04 AM on March 30, 2009

As attempts to put an upstart in their place, I don't see a lot of difference between male pilots leaving porn in a female pilot's workspace and white pilots leaving Confederate flags in a black pilot's workspace. The judge certainy seems to have felt that Capt. Stout had a legitimate enough beef to take up a jury's time with it.

If Stout is pissed off enough at her former employer to want to make them pay for a life of leisure, I'm not sure I blame her.
posted to MetaFilter by Joe Beese at 9:28 AM on March 30, 2009

On the one hand you say, "should I stay or should I go? Is it wrong to leave a mostly-ok 10-year relationship because you've found someone new that you're passionate about?"

Then ten lines below that you say, "I, obviously, very much want to start taking the steps to make this new relationship happen. How can I do this while minimizing the collateral damage?"

Those are two very, very different scenarios. I think writing this... [more]
posted to Ask MetaFilter by barnone at 11:18 AM on March 28, 2009

From the article: "Once during this phase, he beat me. A neighbor heard me screaming and called 911. But I blamed this on the drugs." and this: "I went into his room, took some clothes from the closet, handed them to him. And hinting at what he was about to do only with a small sigh, as if to say, "I've had enough," my son picked me up and threw me across the room.

I had three broken ribs and a bit of damage to my liver that made my doctor fret.... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by Brandon Blatcher at 5:12 PM on March 27, 2009

Oh, Jesus. No -- children -- legalizing pot is not why we contributed to, volunteered and voted for Obama. No, it is not anywhere near being the most important issue "on the public's mind". Only stupid potheads with nothing better to do than spam Change.gov think it is.

We need jobs, financial reform, economic security. We're still fighting two wars. Decent healthcare -- which is much more than just easy access to medical marijuana -- is... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by orthogonality at 9:24 AM on March 27, 2009

Add NiceTranslator to the list, it covers 34 languages in a similar AJAXy manner.
posted to MetaFilter by geekyguy at 11:05 AM on March 26, 2009

I am already really, really, really following too many languages as it is -- but I decided to add Japanese after reading Khatzumoto's blog (aka: ajatt on Twitter). His primary "first step" advice is to dive into about 3000+ Kanji (using Heisig's "Remember the Kanji") via some spaced repetition system (SRS) of your choice (like ANKI (which comes with a set of Heisig flashcards pre-installed). Several support groups and a popular webpage (Reviewing the Kanji) have sparked... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by RavinDave at 11:07 AM on March 26, 2009

Jesus Christ, I have to stop reading these types of questions.
posted to Ask MetaFilter by spikeleemajortomdickandharryconnickjrmints at 10:14 PM on March 25, 2009

Sometimes I feel the urge to smash things, but I don't do it. Why? Because it's not cool to do. At the same time, it's a manifestation of how pissed off I am and it tells me that yeah, I'm pretty pissed - I need to take time to cool down.

You sound like you're actively trying to hide these problems. Share them. Tell your SO what's wrong. And if he can't at least provide emotional support, tell him, out-and-out, that there is actual scientific evidence that he is... [more]
posted to Ask MetaFilter by kldickson at 4:11 PM on March 24, 2009

sixcolors, the problem is that your version of "not tak[ing] shit from people" seems to involve ignoring everything anyone tells you, including us mods' repeated attempts to convey why your behavior is problematic.

I don't know that we've ever gotten anything even resembling a serious acknowledgment from you on the several occasions when we've tried to lay this stuff out for you; you just keep doing whatever the hell occurs to you to do that day and either... [more]
posted to MetaTalk by cortex at 2:03 PM on March 24, 2009

(IANAD) You have lymph nodes in your neck and throat region (300 of them, according to Wikipedia). My guess is that whenever you get sick, your lymph nodes are swollen from fighting off the infection, which leaves you feeling like there is something in your throat.
posted to Ask MetaFilter by geeky at 11:16 AM on March 24, 2009

The Zen master sat at the top of the mountain and was approached by a supplicant.

"Master, they say that you can provide the secret to escape from Samsara."

"I can."

"Please, master. Free me."

"Free yourself. Two cookies await you."
posted to MetaFilter by Meatbomb at 12:24 AM on March 22, 2009

I can't tell you what to do about your relationship, but I would bet good money this is not the first time he has abused the dog. You just happened to walk in the door at the moment he is randomly kicking the dog for the first time? That seems unlikely to me.
posted to Ask MetaFilter by gnutron at 9:14 PM on March 18, 2009

I am wondering if someone really can just be overcome by a fit of anger that will never happen again

Someone can make a decision to change their behavior and do whatever it takes to make sure this never happens again.

But it doesn't just magically go away on its own. If a physiological disorder or a reaction to medication is causing some kind of radical behavioral change, your husband needs to get that taken care of. If he... [more]
posted to Ask MetaFilter by Sidhedevil at 7:11 PM on March 18, 2009

god, I hate these "am I overreacting" questions. It's completely understandable that people want to ask things like that, but they're really really unfortunate questions. there is no "overreacting" to situations like those. There's just how you feel and how you want to deal with it. If all of metafilter told her "shit yeah, you're overreacting," would that make her feel better? would she all of a sudden slap her forehead and go "oh shit! i better stop... [more]
posted to MetaTalk by shmegegge at 9:21 AM on March 18, 2009

Nature's Miracle odor remover really is pretty miraculous. Blot it down as much as possible, spray some of that stuff, then blot it down some more.

Also? You share a bed with your S.O. He has a right to know, and to stick you with that side of the bed until the new one comes, if he so chooses. It's not unheard of and unless it starts happening regularly isn't a cause for concern, but it's also not a good reason to lie by omission to someone you care about.... [more]
posted to Ask MetaFilter by booknerd at 12:24 PM on March 18, 2009

hahahahah... it doesn't work on Firefox? Didn't you even test it in Firefox? You do realize that your website breaks on more than 40% of peoples computers?

Here is a tip. When you are developing the site, use Firefox exclusively. IE does not follow the standards, so if you design for it, it won't work in any other browsers. If you design for Firefox (or any other browser except IE), it will work in all the browsers, with perhaps minimal problems in IE6.... [more]
posted to Ask MetaFilter by brenton at 4:32 PM on March 17, 2009

Are you applying through USA Jobs? If not, you are probably wasting your time. That is the official federal job portal for most federal jobs. If you apply in the manner specified, you should get a letter in response. In fact, I'm pretty sure it's required. But if you are not using USA Jobs, then you are indeed tossing it into a black hole. And don't trust what any local employment agencies may tell you. They are clueless when it come to federal employment. (I once had one tell me I had to join... [more]
posted to Ask MetaFilter by Fuzzy Skinner at 5:14 AM on March 15, 2009

Meanwhile, Geocommons Maker has been launched. You can create interactive maps displaying your uploaded data, and you can choose different visualizations and styles. Quite nice.
posted to Ask MetaFilter by Henrik at 6:08 AM on March 15, 2009

“So how can the state prosecute a parent for failing to do something the state itself is essentially interfering with?”

I should clarify – actively interfering with. By what it prioritizes. The state puts out the little ‘food pyramid’ b.s. and mandates certain guidelines for school lunch and so forth, but laws on healthy eating?
So this is akin to that.
I’m not arguing the state should get into telling people what they can and can’t do in their... [more]
posted to MetaTalk by Smedleyman at 5:43 PM on March 10, 2009

Here's a whistling puppy.

Here's a snoring duck.

Baby ducks in a bathtub for some reason!
posted to MetaTalk by dirigibleman at 7:58 PM on March 9, 2009

To further explain, the tax parcel databases I have seen (for parts of Oregon) contained a set of geographic coordinates to define the shape of each parcel and some zoning and other information attached to the parcel. GIS software can easily compute the area of each parcel, provided that you know how to use it (able to choose the appropriate projection, etc).

I think ESRI's online databases (www.geographynetwork.com) would be the place to start looking for this data,... [more]
posted to Ask MetaFilter by Derive the Hamiltonian of... at 4:06 PM on March 7, 2009 marked best answer

Heh, guy on Metafilter who's about to post without reading the article.

I know who you are. I'm you a reasonable amount of times myself.

Stop. Go read the article. Or don't post.

I'm serious. STOP. GO. READ.
posted to MetaFilter by effugas at 3:03 PM on March 7, 2009

Does Shambhala Sun have a message board? That or Tricycle.
posted to Ask MetaFilter by parmanparman at 10:03 AM on March 7, 2009