Where's my newsfilter

March 3, 2005 8:05 PM

The silence on the blue is deafening. Do you suppose if MeFi had existed when Lindbergh crossed the Atlantic solo, or man landed on the moon there would have been such fear about being accused of NewsFilter with a FPP? Even No. 1 posts in the grey about it. Is this how it must be?
posted by spock to MetaFilter-Related at 8:05 PM (76 comments total)

We can only hope.
posted by puke & cry at 8:08 PM on March 3, 2005

Yes.
posted by Ethereal Bligh at 8:10 PM on March 3, 2005

Well, okay then!
posted by spock at 8:12 PM on March 3, 2005

How's about in the gray?

Is this a callout for lack of newsfilter. Wuh?
posted by Arch Stanton at 8:14 PM on March 3, 2005

Maybe no one gives a shit.
posted by monkeyman at 8:17 PM on March 3, 2005

MetaTalk/MetaFilter: Maybe no one gives a shit. We can only hope.
posted by spock at 8:24 PM on March 3, 2005

Uh, why didn't you just post it instead of coming here?
posted by CunningLinguist at 8:27 PM on March 3, 2005

It's not the silence that's deafening so much as the yammering. Pipe down in there!
posted by soyjoy at 8:37 PM on March 3, 2005

I'd rather see a post about Lebanon than one about how a rich guy made yet another solo flight around the world.

... btw, did I miss the Lebanon post?
posted by sbutler at 8:38 PM on March 3, 2005

What CunningLinguist said.
posted by lazy-ville at 9:00 PM on March 3, 2005

ditto the cunninglinguist.
posted by shmegegge at 9:11 PM on March 3, 2005

I'm aware of the existence of cnn.com, news.bbc.co.uk, nytimes.com, and even foxnews.com should I feel the need to see stories such as this.
posted by DevilsAdvocate at 9:19 PM on March 3, 2005

I think MeFi could benefit from increased nudity on the front page. /boyzone
posted by keswick at 9:31 PM on March 3, 2005

No, we need to rehash the same old arguments with each other, guys. Again and again, for their pleasure! Endlessly circling and circling in the same straw-covered dugout, like immortal roosters at a rhetorical cock fight.
posted by Hildago at 10:12 PM on March 3, 2005

What's a rhetorical cock?
posted by Ethereal Bligh at 10:14 PM on March 3, 2005

It's a cock which is mainly used for effect, rather than to engender a reply. Like a penis at a freaky lesbian make-out party, or some such.
posted by mmcg at 10:27 PM on March 3, 2005

Waitaminute...a guy flew a plane around the world..That's it? Of course nobody's posted: most people probably don't give a damn, and a few people probably are mistaking this silence as "avoidance of newsfilter".
posted by Bugbread at 10:28 PM on March 3, 2005

Actually, scratch that. It's more like the sample from the Beastie Boys song ""B-Boys Making With the Freak Freak," from Ill Communication: "Well, if it's gonna be that kind of party, I'm gonna stick my dick in the mashed potatoes!"
posted by mmcg at 10:32 PM on March 3, 2005

I hate to say it, but yeah: it ain't a newsfilter-avoidance problem. Around the world without refueling in a jet is less interesting than around the world in a balloon, Branson or no Branson.

I am a certified ariplane geek, and this has sort of vaguely interested me but not enough to really follow it, probably becasue I do not find jet-propelled aircraft compelling. Having slept through long, long jet flights since I was a child may have something to do with this.
posted by mwhybark at 10:38 PM on March 3, 2005

mwhybark writes "probably becasue I do not find jet-propelled aircraft compelling"

That must make air travel a real bitch.
posted by Ethereal Bligh at 10:44 PM on March 3, 2005

Wait. So that means I am either a lesbian or a penis? Huh. Wait till my husband hears about this!
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 11:01 PM on March 3, 2005

And how come no one has posted that Martha is out of prison?
posted by evoo at 11:03 PM on March 3, 2005

Martha's a lesbian?
posted by taz at 11:25 PM on March 3, 2005

You're comparing some rich guy flying his plane around the world to the moon landing?

Also, what CunningLinguist said.
posted by vacapinta at 11:40 PM on March 3, 2005

wait, secret life of gravy, what? I don't follow.

also, that mashed potatos line is my absolute favorite BB sample ever. I should AskMe about where that comes from, now that I think about it.

Metafilter: It's gonna be that kind of party.
posted by shmegegge at 12:06 AM on March 4, 2005

*provides the mashed potatoes*
posted by dabitch at 12:34 AM on March 4, 2005

spock, forget about it, it's boring as hell, so are all news posts.
posted by mokey at 12:36 AM on March 4, 2005

So you did it all for Metafilter, Fossett?
posted by ontic at 1:17 AM on March 4, 2005

muffled yelp; walking uncomfortably, places dabitch's mashed potatoes outside to cool
posted by andrew cooke at 2:23 AM on March 4, 2005

Daaaamn! That's why you gotta put some butter on it.
posted by loquacious at 3:01 AM on March 4, 2005

how do you know when you've got mefi in your fridge?
posted by andrew cooke at 3:22 AM on March 4, 2005

It wouldn't be accepted unless you loaded the post with links to random sites about planes, New York, Paris, solo, and possible kidnapping targets. Perhaps you could start it like this:

I've been thinking about Charles Lindburgh lately....

rhetorical cock fight
Damn, I wish I could change my user name.
posted by Slack-a-gogo at 4:53 AM on March 4, 2005

What's a rhetorical cock?

it's like the one in your... oh, never mind.
posted by quonsar at 5:03 AM on March 4, 2005

I'm kinda interested why at least two people think that because Fosset is rich, that that somehow negates what he's done...
posted by benzo8 at 5:25 AM on March 4, 2005

Because rich guys spending gazillions of dollars to gratify their egos by being the first to do some stunt - around the world in a balloon or whatever - and expecting everyone to hail them as the new Lindbergh is becoming very tiresome.
posted by CunningLinguist at 5:31 AM on March 4, 2005

what CunningL said. also, Lindbergh was a Nazi. we've de-Nazified the front page, spock. almost.
posted by matteo at 5:41 AM on March 4, 2005

matteo writes " Lindbergh was a Nazi. "


Yeah, but he was still an amazing aviator.

Hey, Metafilthy works! (Though I think best used only for when you are responding to someone way upthread.)
posted by CunningLinguist at 5:47 AM on March 4, 2005

I a previous dick/mashed potatoes themed discussion, "the biscuit man" writes:

The line "If this is gonna be that kinda party I'm gonna stick my dick in the mashed potatoes" is by Red Foxx. I'm not sure which album it was on.

If anyone cares, email me and I should be able to tell you in a few days. I think I have the album somewhere.
posted by the biscuit man at 12:18 AM EST on April 14

Certainly he's found it by now.
posted by Otis at 6:01 AM on March 4, 2005

If you wanted to post a link about this, you could certainly do so, but make sure you do your homework. Find some interesting angle about the story and provide some supporting links, i.e., the history of record-breaking pilots, information about the plane technology, or even the techiques the guy uses to stay awake. The whole point of this site is for us to create a smorgasbord of the best the web has to offer, so put some effort into your offering and make it something better than what we could find by scanning the headlines of our local paper. You know what will happen if all you do is crack open a bag of regular ruffled chips and throw it on the table - so take the time to at least put the chips in a bowl and make an interesting dip for it.
posted by orange swan at 6:16 AM on March 4, 2005

Y'know, "Fossett," dosen't lend itself to a dance as well as "Lindy."

Maybe that's the problem.
posted by jonmc at 6:32 AM on March 4, 2005

he was still an amazing aviator.

I understand Leonardo Di Caprio is one, too
posted by matteo at 7:01 AM on March 4, 2005

richard pryor, right?
posted by nequalsone at 7:01 AM on March 4, 2005

No, Richard Pryor is not an aviator. I think you're confusing physical flight with spectacular drugs.
posted by soyjoy at 7:12 AM on March 4, 2005

That happens sometimes.
posted by orange swan at 7:15 AM on March 4, 2005

What's a rhetorical cock?

I think that question is rhetorical. Did I get the subtle humor, or am I nuts?

*worried; absentmindedly eats some mashed potatoes*
posted by sciurus at 7:27 AM on March 4, 2005

andrew cooke, there's footprints in the butter and the milk has been deleted.
posted by dabitch at 8:38 AM on March 4, 2005

Is this a callout for lack of newsfilter. Wuh?

It's certainly true to say a very good post could have been made about this. A single link to a news item would not be it, though.
posted by nthdegx at 8:56 AM on March 4, 2005

Erm, apologies for the non sequitur.
posted by nthdegx at 9:02 AM on March 4, 2005

Pssst. I'll let you in a little secret: My rhetorical cock is an aviator who flies by the mashed potatoes in his pants. He cracks up a lot.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 9:03 AM on March 4, 2005

Farrah Fawcett flew to Branson to become a worldly virgin?
posted by badger_flammable at 9:06 AM on March 4, 2005

See, if he had stopped by the prison, to dump penis flavored mashed potatoes on Martha Stewart...thus creating Potatoes of Mass Destruction...then, my friends, then it would be postworthy.
posted by dejah420 at 9:16 AM on March 4, 2005

It's certainly true to say a very good post could have been made about this.

That's absolutely true. The number of different directions that the post could've been apparoached is limitless. I'm just amused that for once in MeTa, something gets pointed out for not happening. It's kind of refreshing actually, like eating a bowl of penis-flavored mashed potatoes.
posted by Arch Stanton at 9:38 AM on March 4, 2005

Penis flavored mashed potatoes: start with a bucket o' cocks. Beat until stiff.

Well, there was more but reading Gourmet makes me feel so bourgeois.
posted by stupidsexyFlanders at 10:18 AM on March 4, 2005

Given the fashion for scientific gastronomy that utilises test-tubes and such, I think artificially-inseminated penis-flavored mashed potatoes might be the way to go. Or exploding penis-flavored ravioli.
posted by liam at 10:37 AM on March 4, 2005

...and expecting everyone to hail them as the new Lindbergh is becoming very tiresome.

I think part of it, at least for me, is that guys like Lindbergh and Armstrong were breaking psychological barriers as well as technical ones in the sense of "just look at what man is now capable of achieving. You didnt think it could be done. Amazing, huh?"

Fossett's achievement just doesn't do the same for me. Not when your favorite airline will also take you around the world. Sure, they have to stop and refuel but, well it not like it has to land in the middle of a jungle and have its fuel shipped from civilization via a caravan of camels. Instead, it will take, what, half an hour?
posted by vacapinta at 10:41 AM on March 4, 2005

"Remind me again why I should pay any attention to Senator Byrd (D-WV) Charles Lindbergh, a former soon-to-be Ku Klux Klan member Nazi sympathizer."
("A number of recent contentious discussions have quickly devolv[ed] into attacks on the past history of the individuals under discussion...")
posted by orthogonality at 10:48 AM on March 4, 2005

Or exploding penis-flavored ravioli.

Also known as testosteroni.
posted by jonmc at 11:11 AM on March 4, 2005

Orange Swan: "...at least put the chips in a bowl and make an interesting dip for it."

An "interesting dip" is perhaps not the best metaphor after a couple of posts about dicks in mashed potatoes. . .
posted by Termite at 11:18 AM on March 4, 2005

Well, this has certainly been educational! Glad I posted it here.
: )
posted by spock at 11:25 AM on March 4, 2005

I love all of you.
posted by Ethereal Bligh at 11:50 AM on March 4, 2005

Have some dip dear. :)
posted by dabitch at 11:58 AM on March 4, 2005

What should I do with this potato salad?
posted by wendell at 12:07 PM on March 4, 2005

I hate you all.
posted by eyeballkid at 12:17 PM on March 4, 2005

*buys EB a beer*
posted by eyeballkid at 12:18 PM on March 4, 2005

Or exploding penis-flavored ravioli.

Also known as testosteroni.

Excuse me, I have to go register a couple of sockpuppet accounts...
posted by PinkStainlessTail at 12:38 PM on March 4, 2005

I just don't know.
posted by cortex at 12:44 PM on March 4, 2005

You know if instead of penis-flavored foo you could develop foo-flavored penis, you'd really have something.
posted by anapestic at 12:51 PM on March 4, 2005

You know if instead of penis-flavored foo you could develop foo-flavored penis, you'd really have something.

On some thread a year or two ago I had the idea of coming up with a chemical that makes semen taste like really expensive chocolate. I'd be a multi-billionaire if I could figure it out.
posted by PinkStainlessTail at 1:04 PM on March 4, 2005

Or exploding penis-flavored ravioli.
Also known as testosteroni. posted by jonmc

Oh lord, that's funny!

On some thread a year or two ago I had the idea of coming up with a chemical that makes semen taste like really expensive chocolate. I'd be a multi-billionaire if I could figure it out. posted by PinkStainlessTail

Yes...yes you would. :)
posted by dejah420 at 2:12 PM on March 4, 2005

Sure, they have to stop and refuel but, well it not like it has to land in the middle of a jungle and have its fuel shipped from civilization via a caravan of camels.

You've never flown on Southwest.
posted by dirigibleman at 4:38 PM on March 4, 2005

That must make air travel a real bitch.

nope, just kinda boring, with some mild discomfort thrown in there for good measure.
posted by mwhybark at 5:36 PM on March 4, 2005

vacapinta writes " I think part of it, at least for me, is that guys like Lindbergh and Armstrong were breaking psychological barriers as well as technical ones in the sense of 'just look at what man is now capable of achieving. You didnt think it could be done. Amazing, huh?'

"Fossett's achievement just doesn't do the same for me. Not when your favorite airline will also take you around the world. Sure, they have to stop and refuel but, well it not like it has to land in the middle of a jungle and have its fuel shipped from civilization via a caravan of camels. Instead, it will take, what, half an hour?"

I think vacapinta nails it here. Personally, it didn't come off as interesting to me, because I just assumed it had already been done. So finding out "It hadn't actually been done yet, as of yesterday, but as of today, it has!" just doesn't strike up the passions.

There can't be much of a psychological impact if what you're doing is something people are assuming was done years ago.
posted by Bugbread at 6:33 PM on March 4, 2005

Yesterday, I accidently ate two loaves of bread faster than anyone else ever had. 35 seconds. I didn't even realize it was a record, at the time. I was just hungry.
posted by graventy at 9:44 PM on March 4, 2005

all you have to do is take off the uniform
posted by clavdivs at 10:05 AM on March 5, 2005

NOTHING IS DAMNING THAN SILENCE!
posted by koeselitz at 3:27 PM on March 5, 2005

An "interesting dip" is perhaps not the best metaphor after a couple of posts about dicks in mashed potatoes. .

The dip is for the chips. The mashed potatoes with the dick bits gets a sauce [huffs].

And that better not be roast swan on the other end of the buffet table.
posted by orange swan at 7:13 AM on March 6, 2005