Mein Retromuseum by Andrea & Stefan (cc by)
On the occasion of the Commodore 64 turning 30 years old this week, a post on MetaFilter elicited memories of a bygone era from many members including sonascope's tales of family using them today and Ivan Fyodorovich's memories of a VIC-20 and pining for the c64. 1541 FTW!
Los Angeles at Night from the Griffith Observatory by @andrewghayes (cc by)
MeFi member nickrussell breaks down the history of Los Angeles (including San Francisco, and the West) in detail, going back over a century:
It's very easy to forget that London has had 1,000 years to develop. New York has had 300. San Francisco has had 175 or so. Yet Los Angeles is barely even 100 years in. And it grew so quickly, like a metropolitan puppy with big paws. It stumbled and fell all over them, before finally finding it's stride and grade.
Manuscript by Muffet (cc by)
An amazing thread on Ask MetaFilter has a simple premise: What are some current-sounding phrases that go back further than you would think--used the way we use them today? The thread is filled with gems like this jawdropper:
"Newfangled" appears in Chaucer's works, circa 1390
swiss re art by phogel (cc by)
In a thread about the odd new Swiss/US dual-citizenship of Michele Bachmann, MeFi member The 10th Regiment of Foot tells the tale of being "a 12 year old Alabama dirt child" given French lessons from a former Swiss spy.
There she would have some sort of cultural lesson, usually centering around her incredible collection of antique goods pilfered from war-torn Europe (and why not turnabout is fair play, non?). She'd have laid out on her horsehair divan a spectacular tapestry, ceramic, or other artwork and we'd discuss its provenance and the story behind the person depicted.
Books by shutterhacks (cc by)
Every few months there is an amazing book thread on Ask MetaFilter. This time it's books about History that are also fun to read. I agree with a few recommendations listed, especially Bill Bryson and Sarah Vowell's many books.
US Capital Bathtubs by brianp8592
Recently the 99% invisible design podcast covered the baths found in the basement of congress, dating back to before the widespread use of plumbing. User Atreides describes exactly how you find them, and how to ask nicely to get in to see this once-secret place.
At my desk by chrismear (cc by)
Long time user holgate paints a lovely picture of the weird spot MetaFilter existed in at its start, why it was different, and how it's different now:
the MeFi of 2000 was populated by people who gave a shit about the web as a distinct thing in itself, while the MeFi of 2012 quite rightly treats the web as something as pervasive and enveloping as the air we breathe.
MetaFilter started as a community weblog in 1999, later added question and answers, then music by members, jobs, projects by members, a podcast, and finally an area dedicated to meetups.
