134: Stuff and Things

November 1, 2017 12:14 PM

Hey, it's me and Jessamyn chattering about MetaFilter and Halloween and more MetaFilter and large burdensome televisions and even more MetaFilter. This episode covers the month of October and runs about an hour and a half.

• play
• pause
• stop
• min volume
• max volume

Helpful Links

Podcast Feed
Subscribe with iTunes
Direct mp3 download

Misc
- traditional and maybe sorta poorly labeled HALLOWEEN COSTUME THREAD by clavdivs
- bondcliff's signature chocolate or clams offer
- Jessamyn West, quarter sorter


Jobs
- Need an illustrator to express my ideas for a children's book by mrtony60
- Expert Adobe Illustrator tutor needed (online) by pH Indicating Socks
- Feedback on my application for library assistant in an academic library by paduasoy
- Recycle an ancient and enormous TV by janell


Projects
- Portland (OR, USA) Resistance Calendar by vjpdx
- Play Payba¢k by missjenny
- Incredible Doom by churl (MeFi Post)
- Wrestling Social - The Independent, Progressive, Pro Wrestling Community by zerolives
- Clips for Hiking Poles with Hinge and Clasp by OverlappingElvis
- MuckTweet: a browser extension for tracking your Twitter (abuse) reports by waninggibbon


MetaFilter
- Shack by stinkfoot
- Give the drummers some by not_on_display
- it's like Vine for old-school console games by cortex
- The delay doubled every time a wrong PIN was entered. by bondcliff
- A post of a good sort by Gyan
- A-ha - Take On Me by severiina
- The body broker industry by mandolin conspiracy
- Googly Eyes by chavenet
- The Suffix That Tells the Story of Modern Science by blue_beetle
- Marmaduke is no longer a suspect by Atom Eyes
- Play as an AI who makes paperclips by juv3nal
- “Hooray for people being allowed to enjoy a game in a different way...” by Fizz
- YADKCOLSPAC by kenko


Ask MeFi
- Which textual message would you have tattooed on your body? by koenie
- Blog or blog post? by ramenopres
- Lend me your delightfully tedious hobbies by pintapicasso
- Visualizing Cleverness by .kobayashi.
- What are the most common phrases you type on your smart phone? by Winnie the Proust
- I'm tiling a kitchen backsplash. I need pattern ideas! by Pig Tail Orchestra
- i have to stop eating cold tablets by quadrilaterals
- Parallels to the Catalan referendum crackdown? by clawsoon (c.f. I only saw the ocelot smile once, the day it escaped by Sys Rq)
- Examples of rural tech communes? by Karmacane


MeFi Music
Featured in this episode:
- Keep My Love in Amber by not_on_display
- Summer Follows Redux by limeonaire
- Be a light by Bluebird Wine
- Get Rid of the NRA by flapjax at midnite
- Theme from the television series Star Fleet/X-Bomber/Ｘボンバー by Television Name
- A Memory of Pittsburgh Bells by odinsdream


MetaTalk
-The Mighty, Mighty Mastodon Thread by Major Matt Mason Dixon
- Things are getting better! by tedious
- October Showers bring November Flowers by hippybear
- secret quonsar 2017: Signups are Open! by julen
- Get your MetaFilter sticker pack! by cortex
- Looking back on ten years of FPPs by Rhaomi
- US Politics threads are getting a little... out there by dbx


FanFare
Lately people have been chattering a bunch about:
- The Good Place
- Star Trek: Discovery
- Stranger Things
- Blade Runner 2049

posted by cortex (staff) to MeFi Podcast at 12:14 PM (37 comments total)

I claimed I was gonna get this posted "this very morning", earlier, and here it is fourteen minutes into the afternoon.

Or fifteen minutes, if you index from zero?

Although is it really the afternoon at 12:00 p.m.? Is "afternoon" the period that comes after noon, that is after it is no longer noon, at 12:01 p.m.? Or is it the period after the moment noon has first occurred, so everything after that infinitesimal temporal slice where 11:59:59 a.m. transitions to 12:00:00 p.m.?
posted by cortex (staff) at 12:17 PM on November 1, 2017 [2 favorites]

Maybe you should ease up on the Halloween candy, cortex.
posted by janell at 12:45 PM on November 1, 2017 [7 favorites]

You both just made my work afternoon a bit more pleasant by posting this. I always forget that this comes up at the start of each month and it's always a nice surprise. :)
posted by Fizz at 1:08 PM on November 1, 2017 [1 favorite]

Greek/Roman History intro: Cartoon History of the Universe! Volume 1 goes from the Big Bang to the Greeks. Volume 2 goes “From the Springtime of China to the Fall of Rome” (and a good bit about India too).

Also, the History of Rome podcast series, which is complete. There are a lot of episodes, especially because of all the later emperors, but by episode 24 they’ve beaten Hannibal, and by episode 52 Augustus has taken over.

All the planets are named after the Roman gods, so if you’re ever in doubt as to who’s who, that can help.
posted by Huffy Puffy at 2:01 PM on November 1, 2017 [2 favorites]

Haha "clavdivs." Also "raw children" and "him have people hands," if I heard that correctly.

"I know what numbers are." I'm only halfway through so far, but just laughing.
posted by limeonaire at 2:08 PM on November 1, 2017 [3 favorites]

Yeah, also super pleased to have my collab with cicadaverse included. Definitely glad you liked it!
posted by limeonaire at 2:13 PM on November 1, 2017 [1 favorite]

Hey hey looks like Frauenfelder is really MeFi's own: "I freely admit I'm an idiot".
posted by jessamyn (temp) at 2:26 PM on November 1, 2017 [3 favorites]

TRIVIA PEOPLE: Possibly derailing because I haven’t listened to the whole podcast yet, but you have like ONE OR TWO DAYS to sign up for the MeFi private rundle on LearnedLeague. MeMail me if you want info.
posted by Huffy Puffy at 2:27 PM on November 1, 2017 [1 favorite]

Mary Beard's SPQR is pretty good.

You could read (or watch) I, Claudius.
posted by Chrysostom at 4:59 PM on November 1, 2017 [1 favorite]

So, the plot synopsis given is rather light, but Head of the Class season 5, episode 7 "Billy's Big One" has the plot keywords "leprosy, fake heart attack, children's vitamins"
posted by ckape at 5:12 PM on November 1, 2017 [2 favorites]

Also, the reason why October is the 10th month despite having a name that clearly means 8th month (and similarly September, November, and December are also off by two) is because originally the Roman year started in March (because of course they'd start with the month named after their god of war), but then it got moved earlier for administrative reasons or somesuch.
posted by ckape at 5:20 PM on November 1, 2017

It's sort of more complicated than that - early Roman calendars were a huge mess - but it got fixed as Jan 1 as part of the Julian calendar reforms.
posted by Chrysostom at 5:27 PM on November 1, 2017

I know why but fuck 'em anyhow; I get confused every year. I don't know why I don't have this issue with December.
posted by jessamyn (temp) at 5:59 PM on November 1, 2017 [3 favorites]

Or September.
posted by Chrysostom at 6:05 PM on November 1, 2017

Hey, Josh - GET BACK TO LARPTREK.

Thank you for your time.
posted by Chrysostom at 6:06 PM on November 1, 2017 [2 favorites]

Fair enough. It's just something I mentioned because for the longest time I was sure of the answer, except I was wrong (I had thought it was because of adding July and August, but it turns out those just renamed other months and it was messed up well before that).
posted by ckape at 6:15 PM on November 1, 2017 [1 favorite]

The Julii always play the long game.
posted by clavdivs at 6:50 PM on November 1, 2017

Sadly the tv-on-cargo bike experiment failed before it started. The TV was reluctant to leave the basement so we never got to the fun part.

It's a 232? 235? pound behemoth measuring 50x54x29 inches. It mostly gets what it wants (which is why it has been lurking in my basement all these years). I think the next plan is a Friday night, a six pack, a screwdriver, a Sawsall, and a small sledgehammer. If anyone wants harvested components or to play along, don't be shy.
posted by janell at 7:30 PM on November 1, 2017 [1 favorite]

If it's a tube TV just learn how to discharge a flyback transformer before you take it apart. They can hold a charge for a long time, even when unplugged.

Glad you liked the chocolate vs. clams choice, Jessamyn. Sadly, we only got one group of three kids all night and they were a bit too young to get the joke. When I tried to really sell the clams one of the kids said "Nobody wants the clams!" and that was that.

I was happy with how that bitcoin thread worked out. Only a couple people were like "THIS GUY IS AN IDIOT!" and he even showed up in the thread and admitted it. I think, if he was an idiot, then we're all capable of being idiots.

And I may have said it before but one of my favorite things in the podcast is when Cortex makes a dumb joke and Jess just sort of ignores it and moves on. My wife does that to me at least once a day.
posted by bondcliff at 7:42 PM on November 1, 2017 [2 favorites]

I enjoyed the conversation about letting certain projects go. I need to do this.

Also, I didn't realize the bitcoin post was such a dramatic thing! Off to read that.
posted by curious nu at 7:54 PM on November 1, 2017

Jessamyn! Roman Stuff!

Mary Beard! Mary Beard, Mary Beard Mary Beard!


First the docs, then SPQR if they grab you, I think.

Sorry for jumping up and down. But trust me, she's right up your alley.
posted by Diablevert at 7:56 PM on November 1, 2017 [5 favorites]

I've got no patience for videos but I like her generally (she can sometimes be a bit flip for my tastes but that lady can write and explain like no one's business) so I'll pick up the book. Thank you.

All the planets are named after the Roman gods

I have it on good authority that Uranus is irregular in this regard. But thank you, that is helpful.
posted by jessamyn (temp) at 8:53 PM on November 1, 2017 [1 favorite]

The folks I showed up to haul the TV up the stairs with are both convinced that the TV is bigger than the gap in the stairs, and there was no way we were going to disassemble that thing before the e-waste folks closed for the evening. But we had a great time hanging out on janell's porch!

I mostly just showed up to say that this is the same trailer we would have used to haul the monster television. At this point I literally can't count the number of times someone has said to us "you must bring a truck" and we show up on bikes and they get briefly confused and then we haul the thing off and for us it's just another day in the good life.

Heavy/bulky things we've hauled on Bikes at Work trailers, off the top of my head
- windows
- paver sand
- mattresses
- framed awning
- drywall
- plywood
- lumber
- hundreds of bike tires
- I forget how many bikes you can cram on at once, but it's a lot
- couches
- bricks
- solar hot water heater system
- steel chicken coop
posted by aniola at 9:25 PM on November 1, 2017

I have it on good authority that Uranus is irregular

HOW AM I THE ONE WHO ALWAYS GETS IN TROUBLE FOR JOKES
posted by cortex (staff) at 10:31 PM on November 1, 2017 [13 favorites]

You own this place now cortex so everything’s your fault. By the way do you have a HR department?
posted by wheelieman at 10:38 PM on November 1, 2017 [2 favorites]

It was I Love Lucy, right? All those takes selling Vitameatavegemin?

But really, I must know.
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 11:44 PM on November 1, 2017

I've got no patience for videos but I like her generally

Ah, that's fair. The reason I linked to those docs it's that they're more nitty gritty people's history, and had some really fun interesting stuff about Roman culture and mores. (Polyamory! Child labour! Hideously tacky-but-informative mausoleums! Syrian immigration to Britain!) I like SPQR a lot, but it's a little more abstract, centered around Rome's conception of itself and what it meant to be a Roman citizen. Lot of good stuff in there too though.
posted by Diablevert at 2:35 AM on November 2, 2017 [1 favorite]

Oh thank you jessamyn I am not alone about the "good to go" thing.
I was beginning to question my sanity.
posted by Mister Moofoo at 5:52 AM on November 2, 2017 [1 favorite]

Apparently I am the finder of the secret buttons.

Thanks for the shoutout!
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 10:01 AM on November 2, 2017 [1 favorite]

Metafilter: People who give a shit about mouthfeel.
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 11:01 AM on November 2, 2017

HOW AM I THE ONE WHO ALWAYS GETS IN TROUBLE FOR JOKES

Quality over quantity, grasshopper.
posted by jessamyn (temp) at 11:48 AM on November 2, 2017 [8 favorites]

Glad the FPP from Fizz made it into the podcast as it's a good one, and also because he's on an epic roll of contributions to MetaFilter - 26 FPPs, most of them interesting game ones, in October alone.

Be the Fizz you want to see in the MetaFilter/world.
posted by Wordshore at 5:07 AM on November 3, 2017 [2 favorites]

I enjoy these podcasts a lot. This one particularly gave me that warm, comfortable feeling of being a kid sibling allowed to hang out in the room with the cool older kids as long as I didn't say anything while they riffed on a bunch of fun/interesting stuff. (which is funny since I believe I'm am older than both of you--but that is the Internet for you: you can be whatever age you feel...).
posted by agatha_magatha at 11:53 AM on November 3, 2017 [2 favorites]

The "noon" hour starts at 1200, so afternoon isn't until 1300. Everyone knows that.

Thank you for playing retro-rationalized excuses on demand. Please come again.
posted by ctmf at 7:56 PM on November 3, 2017 [1 favorite]

ALICE: Hey, what time is it?
BOB: *looks at watch*
WATCH: 12:59:59
BOB: It's noon.
BOB: Oh wait a sec.
posted by cortex (staff) at 8:38 AM on November 4, 2017 [2 favorites]

I think this may be the first time that a podcast episode has featured four women in the MeFi Music selections (at least, in recent memory). So, hooray! Always great to hear more women participating on MeMu, and everyone posting anew / returning / continuing to share.

Also "raw children"

Yes, that definitely was a "Did I hear that right??" sort of laughter-inducing moment for me. I actually listened again to make sure. I guess it could have been "Rah! Children!" but in context I think it really is "raw children"?

Another similiar moment was cortex's analogy of quitting Cookie Clicker with being a lapsed Catholic... (?!)

Got stuck on one of the wingsuit challenges on Alto's Adventure; haven't had a chance to get back to it so I've stayed with zen mode to help de-stress a few times recently. Btw - the soundtrack is available on iTunes / Apple Music or Amazon Digital (two tracks, one with the zen mode music!).

I had a small collection of root beer / ginger beer / other soda bottle caps but chucked them all out a few years ago in an effort to de-clutter. I don't drink as much soda now but I've been keeping some of the bottle caps again, with the intent of making them into fridge magnets someday, if I ever have the time.

Speaking of things that are calming / comforting, I also liked this AskMe from castlebravo who's "in search of books about simple living and appreciating the little things."

Thanks for another lovely episode; always reassuring to listen to you both catching up on the site and in general. (Yay stickers!)
posted by rangefinder 1.4 at 12:08 AM on November 6, 2017 [1 favorite]

I also enjoyed the conversation about letting projects go! I have really had to deal with not being able to do things in the last few years. I don't quite have the strength to just say, I'll never do this; it's dead like Jessamyn does, but I how try to view projects as a quantum cloud out of which some things may materialize sometimes. It kinda helps?

I'm also slowly trying to write about projects I've done that I'm not going to go back to so it's not like they've never existed.

Third also: Listening to this while doing household tasks and playing some early music is a really peaceful combo!
posted by ignignokt at 9:55 AM on December 3, 2017 [1 favorite]