Best Of MetaFilter

It’s been a rough stretch out there, both globally and locally, when it comes to politics. But this comment by brainwane about what she did after the November 2024 US election is a reminder that even amid the chaos, there are reasons to keep going. You don’t have to solve everything, or even anything, to do something meaningful.

In a recent thread about the US bombing Iran, zirconium_encrusted shares an somber thought about war,its portrayal by politicians, and a harsh reminder of how the ruling class uses national conflicts for its own means.

MetaFilter has a lot of interesting people with a lot of different experiences that they're willing to share. Here's a couple of examples:

🌌 Cosmic Dawn: NASA's James Webb Space Telescope NASA just dropped a new documentary, Cosmic Dawn, about the James Webb Space Telescope, and it’s all kinds of gorgeous. A member of the team that built its NIRCam (the primary imager on the telescope) stopped by to share some of their experience with creating one of humanity's best telescopes.

🍻 Chinese Beer: The Real Deal Turns out Chinese beer is a lot more than Tsingtao and karaoke nights. This post takes a quick dive into regional breweries and lesser-known brands you probably won’t find at your local store. Then a MeFite that actually worked in the scene for several years dropped in to offer their ground level take on what's really be happening in the Chinese beer scene.

Just another day of learning something new via MetaFilter!

Marie Curie left her mark on the world by being the first woman to win a Nobel Prize, the first person to win a Nobel Prize twice, and the only person to win a Nobel Prize in two scientific fields.

She also literally left her mark, by working with radiation with her bare hands. The traces of where she lived and work can still be detected over a hundred years later, as detailed in this link from the BBC You can find other interesting links everyday on the front page of Metafilter.

✨ So I’ll do the one thing I can 🔗 The link of the day is about poet and bus driver That Mack, a.k.a. That Mc Allen and his poem "Run One Seven Four". It's about love, community, and finding happiness in a role he never expected and how all that affects him when a gun is sighted

Take a minute and check it out! It's the kind of post that sticks with you.

Looking for that slow scroll feeling? The kind of site or podcast that makes you feel like you're quietly gliding through a gallery with soft lighting and zero pressure?

Then check out this Ask MetaFilter question: What blogs, websites, or podcasts feel like visiting an art museum?

People chime with recommendations of (web) places that feel like slow walks through thoughtful spaces. Think quiet blogs, visual essays, and audio that makes you exhale. It's the inspiration serotonin you didn't know you need.

🔗 Visit the front page of MetaFilter for additional links that people are sharing!

Here’s what’s been popular on MetaFilter lately:

🎼 Emahoy’s lost works found If you don’t know Emahoy Tsegué-Maryam Guèbrou, you're missing out on one of the most beautiful stories in music. A new release is unearthing her early bluesy, freewheeling waltzes, which had been feared lost. Bonus: great links to listen while you read.

🧠 🤖 “My factual analysis of genAI is hopelessly negatively biased” A bit of a spicy thread title, yeah. But AI is has been impacting our lives for a short while now and the reactions to this thoughtful essay span the gamut of emotions and reason. MetaFilter is proud of its skepticism (and occasional crankiness) of AI, but its use is being showing up in remarkable places and on a range of personal levels.

🎤 An interview with Van Morrison A new interview shows him being sympathetic, in-depth, and even non-grumpy! There's a bit of in-thread debate on whether he's still worth paying attention to, but the insights into his early influences, how he got started, where inspiration comes from, and more is worth checking out!

Real People Still Run This Place If you liked the above links, then check out the MetaFilter front page. Posts produced by people, no bots here!🧡

Tired of reading advice that sounds like it was stitched together by a toaster with a thesaurus? We hear ya. That’s why MetaFilter still hits different. It’s full of actual people sharing their smarts, experiences, and sometimes glorious petty victories.

Two recent threads over on Ask MetaFilter are especially worth a look:

🗣 How to Shut Someone Down Ever been in situation where a stranger really wants to talk to you, but you're in no mood for that nonsense? Yeah, been there. One female Mefite asked how to shut down a stranger in an such a situation. The answers? They're a range of practical, diplomatic, and occasionally just the right amount of salty.

✔️ To Do or Not To Do Sadly life isn't black and white, there are shades of grey (but hopefully not 50). So what morally grey life tips have you heard of? Or are you looking for some of those types of tips yourself? It's ok, we won't tell!

💬 Why MetaFilter? Because every post is created by an actual human being. That's it, that's the pitch, just real people posting interesting links. Check out the front page for more!

Two links today that highlight the real life experience of members of MetaFilter:

🥀 Unions Won't Protect You From AI Long time member Jilder breaks down why unionizing isn’t a universal fix for AI, how global gig work defies national protections, and why good writing matters even when it’s “invisible.” It’s a masterclass in articulating what’s at stake when we replace craft by people with cheap AI. Also: you will never think about cereal box copy the same way again.

Seriously, read the whole thing. It’s angry, funny, and eye openingly scary.

🛠️ 3D Printing and the Realities of Sci-Fi Prop Work Meanwhile, in a completely different kind of creative labor, another MetaFilter member, "many-things", gives a behind-the-scenes look at the practical magic of sci-fi prop building. The comment digs into how 3D printing fits into a toolkit that also includes MDF, fiberglass, welding, sanding, and... a lot of budget stress.

Turns out that printing everything in 3D isn’t always the best choice, especially when you’re balancing strength, weight, and the reality that a hero prop might only get three seconds of screen time before an actor accidentally snaps it in half.

🎯 Why MetaFilter? MetaFilter isn’t just a place where people post interesting links (though it does do that). It’s where real people still show up to share experiences, passions, and knowledge. No bots. No ghostwritten threads. Just actual people sharing what they care about or what interests them

If that sounds like something you need more of then come check out the front page of MetaFilter!

No AI summaries, no corporate clickbait. Just real people sharing what they find interesting, weird, or wonderful.

Here are two recent posts worth a click:

⚙️ Historical Tech Tree Ever wish real-world history had a tidy “tech tree” like in Civilization or Age of Empires? This post dives into an incredible visual project that lays out human technological progress like a strategy game, from stone tools to semiconductors.

🕸️ Ukraine’s “Operation Spiderweb” Targets Russian Airfield and Succeeds Big moves on the geopolitical chessboard: Ukraine’s Operation Spiderweb launched a major strike against several Russian airbases. This isn’t just a breaking news post, it's a launch point for a deeper discussion about drone warfare, air power, and the shape of modern (and future) conflict.

💬 Why MetaFilter? Because every post is created by an actual human being. That's it, that's the pitch. Real people posting interesting links that they want to share with other people. Check out the front page for more!

Need a breather from al the AI generated stuff online? Then here are three posts, made by real live people, to check out:

🌳 Spend a Minute in a Park (Without Leaving Your Screen) This short, peaceful video is exactly what it says on the tin: a quiet, green, leafy pause in the middle of whatever chaos you’re currently navigating. No narration, no agenda—just birdsong, rustling trees, and someone quietly filming a moment of calm. Don't like that particular park? No problem, just choose another!

🏳️‍🌈 The LGBTQIA+ News Thread: Pride 2025 Edition It’s June, which means MetaFilter’s LGBTQIA+ roundup is here to collect stories, headlines, and perspectives that matter—posted and discussed by real people and allies.

It’s not all rainbows and celebrations, there is also serious stuff here. We're just keeping track it all, the good and the bad.

🛹 Corgi. On a Skateboard. That’s it. That’s the post. Corgi. On a skateboard. And it rules. No, it's not so much about people in this post, just corgis, but that's ok.

🧠 Real People Still Run This Place If you liked the above links, then check out the MetaFilter front page. All people, all the time.

There's a lot going on about the future of the governance of MetaFilter, here's a quick checklist of threads discussing the issues:

🗣 Discussion about the current and future bylaws

💬 Talk about how to run an election for new board members

📣 Introducing the MetaFilter Moderation Oversight Committee!

📢 A thread to announce candidates for the board

No bots here, just real people collecting and sharing interesting links from around the web, aka MetaFilter. Come check out today's highlights, a duo of cultural throwbacks.

🎶 Prince, Unplugged and Underrated Yes, that Prince. The Purple One. But this time, no vocals, no chart-toppers, just pure instrumental jazz-funk vibes straight from 1977. In Prince Jazz Funk Sessions, This is an incredible youtube playlist showcasing rare tracks that feel like an intimate jam session in a smoky studio at 2am. 🎧 Listen in & get funky

📺 Local Weather on the 8s, Forever in Our Hearts Before smartphones, before smart assistants, there was The Weather Channel. And if you remember "Local on the 8s," that synth-heavy, oddly comforting forecast that ran like clockwork, you're not alone.
This post is a love letter to a forgotten media ritual. It links to a lovingly curated archive of old weather segments, complete with smooth jazz, lo-fi animations, and the kind of analog charm that makes you nostalgic for simpler, non-AI times 📡 Check out the weather, retro style

Cathedral-sized caves, WWI cyclist soldiers, and the kind of commentary you only get when actual people are doing the writing.

🕳️⛏️ Caves the Size of Cathedrals... Hidden in Plain Sight Tim Nichols and Dan Sandford love discovering and exploring caves. But it's their recent discovery of over 10 km (or miles as the Americans keep insisting) of previously unseen underground wonders that really highlight this extraordinary find. Come for the gorgeous photos, stay for the personal story in the comments of what's it's like to discover a cave.

Explore the underground story!

🚴‍♂️⚔️ War Is Hell (on Two Wheels) War is hell: bicycle edition highlights the forgotten tale of Canada’s Cyclist Battalion in World War I. Yes, bikes. In the mud. In war. So check out this fascinating post about the history, covering how soldiers used bicycles for recon, message delivery, and rapid deployment. Spoiler: they weren't as practical as hoped, but the stories? Absolutely wild.

Ride into history!

🔥🚛 The Logistics of Road War in the Wasteland We're driving straight into Mad Max territory with a deep (and weirdly practical) look at the fuel math, supply chains, and maintenance madness of running a war rig across a post-apocalyptic hellscape. Or you know, maybe America in a few years.

📰🌈 LGBTQIA News: In the Shadow of Madness – May 25 Edition This thread brings together real news, human voices, and community insight at a time when staying informed is more important (and more exhausting) than ever.

🦉🛁 Owls. In. Towels. We saved the fluffiest for last: Owls in Towels does exactly what it says on the tin. A serotonin-rich post filled with towel-wrapped birds of prey who look very unamused. Come see the floof!