Thought For a new PolyFilter I've noticed a need to discuss politics here, yet also that the topic itself is, understandably, very touchy these days. I like the crowd here on Monkeyfilter and that, most especially that they are more civilized and thoughtful than on sites like 'Fark, 'Metafilter', etc. What I would like to do is put together a site where *civil* discourse is encouraged and welcomed and negative discussion is discouraged. This from someone who has, admitedly, engaged in some negative conversations in the past. My problem is that my html skills are kind of rusty and I would need some help. Anyone interested or do they have any suggestions? I would like to hear from any and all interested parties. My intent is to create something like 'The Boston Commons' for the internet.

Half-baked ideas. Tattoo eaters. Reverse organizational hierarchy (start new employees as the CEO, and demote them). Dress-up hood ornaments for your car. Hooker stamps (like food stamps, except for... you know). And much, much more.

a pilot's panic call to Flight Service ..., as he believes he is about to crash... ... and how the Flight Service Controllers managed to help him right his plane to save him from crashing. more inside

My God, no one could blame me -- no one! -- if I went off the edge and just lost it completely one day. I couldn't get through the day as it is without the Prozac and Jack Daniels I keep on the shelf, behind my Tops-20 JSYS manuals. I start getting the shakes real bad around 10am, right before my advisor meetings. A 10 oz. Jack 'n Zac helps me get through the meetings without one of my students winding up with his severed head in a bowling-ball bag. They look at me funny; they think I twitch a lot. I'm not twitching. I'm controlling my impulse to snag my 9mm Sig-Sauer out from my day-pack and make a few strong points about the quality of undergraduate education in Amerika. [via Idiolect]

Political Refugee Marriages... This site is a satirical site, but there are quite a few profiles of people who seem to be taking it at least semi-seriously. Do you think this is something that may actually gain momentum? I'm thinking that US/Canadian relations will get even wonkier if it does. Would you do a politically-motivated citizenship marriage? They are actually pretty damn difficult to set up - I had a "proposal" from an American when Clinton lost, years back, so I looked into it a bit.

The Periodic Table Table - What, how and most importantly why. more inside

Frost flowers "occur when still-living green plant tissue freezes and the sap is extruded in long, unbroken strands...No one knows why the plant responds this way to freezing temperatures (my guess is it’s just a happy coincidence of climate and the plant’s biochemistry) but the results can be spectacular." more inside

Why it's a bad idea to race down offfice hallways We've all raced down hallways in office chairs on slow days at the office. Here's what happens when it goes wrong . . .

java applet chess game that depicts piece range and possible move outcomes. this is very cool in a chess club/ai/geeky sort of way. more inside

Jeremiah- a virtual face Richard Bowden has created a virtual human face that can "see" and interect with people and its environment. more inside

THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE SHAT: It is our aim through recruiting, coercing, hypnotism and blackmail, to encourage members of the public such as your good selves here, to join with us and celebrate the delights and mysticism of entertainment legend William Shatner. For he is recognised as the One True Shatner-Being. He is more than just a fabulous actor… he’s more than just a great singer… he’s more than just an award winning novelist… He is a way of being. He is an incarnation of pure spiritual energy. He is the personification of perfection. He is irresistible to women - and for this, we worship him so! He is the Shatner-Lord. Praise be the Acting Deity! Oh perchance to gaze at his Rotund Hairless Belly! "SHAT-ELLULAH!"

This makes me proud to be an American. Where else can you enjoy your civil liberty of flipping everyone off.... ahhh... America! more inside

Curious George: MoFi CD Swap playlists? As someone who wanted to participate in the CD swap, but didn't have the chance/means to, and also someone who wants to know about new music/what other monkeys are listening to, I was wondering if the people that did participate could post the tracklists here. Reviews of tracks optional, but welcome. more inside

America Apologizes

Preserving the Inuit language. Now Inuit speakers can create websites, make online payments, and manage documents online in their native language.

Curious George: Detriot Metro Area Meetup? I've noticed that there are a number of people in the Detroit/Ann Arbor area. Meetup anyone? more inside

What is killing Arafat? The Jerusalem NewsWire claims that Arafat is dying from AIDS, due to his blotchy skin, weight loss, immune system troubles and mental troubles. The cause, unsurprisingly, is "perverted encounters" of the homosexual kind (provided by his former Romanian communist allies). (via towleroad.)

themakeupgallery is "the best photo-gallery on the Web featuring actresses in character and prosthetic makeups by some of the best makeup artists."

Composer, typographer, flash programmer.

coke get's rid of pests Well, at least the pesticides in Coke and Pepsi are good for something. What pests would you use these fizzy drinks to get rid of?