MiniFilter

September 3, 2023 4:23 PM

Thankfully, there are still off-the-beaten-path pockets of astonishment out there and I thought it might be nice to gather some of them together. So, here is a selection of online things I love, and that other people I asked love – old and new stuff that is fascinating, beautiful, edifying and, above all, fun. Maybe one or two of them might give you a bit of internet joy back, too. from Fish doorbells! Historic sandwiches! 50 of the weirdest, most wonderful corners of the web – picked by an expert [Grauniad; ungated] CW: sadly, lacks all MetaFilter]
posted by chavenet (22 comments total)

"Here in Berlin the first snows have been and gone, the first Advent candle is lit and the kitchen smells like Plätzchen. Into this wholesome scene strides a familiar hoofed figure, laden with a sack of books specially selected to appeal to a Strange Flowers sensibility … Satan and his little imps have been extra busy this year; leave a glass of absinthe out and hope you get at least one of these titles under your sickly spruce."

Highly recommend Strange Flowers.
posted by clavdivs at 4:34 PM on September 3, 2023 [1 favorite]

Incidentally, "pockets of astonishment" is my new sockpuppet name.
posted by Greg_Ace at 4:35 PM on September 3, 2023 [4 favorites]

Sandwiches of History is my jam.
posted by brand-gnu at 6:17 PM on September 3, 2023 [2 favorites]

CW: sadly, lacks all MetaFilter

We have Metafilter at home.
posted by mhoye at 6:40 PM on September 3, 2023 [22 favorites]

I don't think that the how many people are in space website is accurate. It is contradicted by the individual astronaut bios on Wikipedia, and a few other websites
posted by surlyben at 6:53 PM on September 3, 2023 [1 favorite]

At this point, I feel like Greg_Ace is trying to corner the market on sockpuppets. Can we at least turn this into a fundraising opportunity?
posted by mollweide at 6:53 PM on September 3, 2023 [3 favorites]

I'd consider it a lifetime win if my dumbass crap comments somehow ended up completely funding Metafilter.

(as long as I'm not the one to cough up the dough, because if that's the case we're screwed)
posted by Greg_Ace at 7:21 PM on September 3, 2023 [4 favorites]

[Grauniad; ungated]

The guardian doesn't have a paywall, does it?
posted by Sebmojo at 8:25 PM on September 3, 2023 [1 favorite]

I'd consider it a lifetime win if my dumbass crap comments somehow ended up completely funding Metafilter.
(as long as I'm not the one to cough up the dough, because if that's the case we're screwed)

You and me both, my friend.
posted by mollweide at 8:50 PM on September 3, 2023 [1 favorite]

I was just thinking about Kingdom of Loathing the other week. I checked it out to see if it was still alive, and... somehow remembered my login and password. From nearly twenty years ago. It was uncanny.

Anyway, thanks for the link. It was like having a single-serving memepool for a moment there.
posted by phooky at 9:09 PM on September 3, 2023 [5 favorites]

I don't think that the how many people are in space website is accurate.

Aren't we all in space, though?
posted by Literaryhero at 9:50 PM on September 3, 2023 [11 favorites]

Whoa...dude.
posted by Greg_Ace at 9:52 PM on September 3, 2023 [6 favorites]

the listen to the clouds tokyo edition is exactly my jam
posted by lescour at 11:45 PM on September 3, 2023 [1 favorite]

The guardian doesn't have a paywall, does it?

You pay with the lives and comfort of your trans friends.
posted by Dysk at 12:27 AM on September 4, 2023 [6 favorites]

came for messy nessy chic, was not disappointed. old-web survives - in bits and pieces.
posted by j_curiouser at 4:47 AM on September 4, 2023 [1 favorite]

crescentshay is an excellent follow!
posted by ellieBOA at 5:27 AM on September 4, 2023 [1 favorite]

I was disappointed with this. Of the 50 links, nine of them are to Instagram, TikTok or Twitter - hardly 'remote corners of the web'. It would have been better as a top 40.
posted by Cardinal Fang at 5:31 AM on September 4, 2023 [1 favorite]

If you're looking for older internet nostalgia, there is the 90s tech TV playlist: a warning from history. One of the "music" videos includes metafilter: We didn't start the weblogs. Most of the older websites are seen through the wayback machine; the mefi screenshot from 17 Sept 2001.
posted by autopilot at 8:06 AM on September 4, 2023 [1 favorite]

I am becoming a heavier RSS user every day, so I appreciate being suggested new follows, like Strange Flowers.
posted by tofu_crouton at 8:23 AM on September 4, 2023 [2 favorites]

You pay with the lives and comfort of your trans friends.

What a nonsensical thing to say lol

I still read dubious quality (http://dubiousquality.blogspot.com/) as my hit of old school web, but it's a sad thing how much harder it is to find these days.
posted by Sebmojo at 2:34 PM on September 4, 2023 [1 favorite]

You pay with the lives and comfort of your trans friends.

What a nonsensical thing to say lol

A factual thing to say given how transphobic parts of the Guardian can be.
posted by ellieBOA at 2:45 PM on September 4, 2023 [8 favorites]

Mod note: Please be considerate and respectful when someone says that something is problematic. No comments have been removed at this time, so let's please get back to looking at the post and sharing interesting stuff, thanks!
posted by Brandon Blatcher (staff) at 7:59 AM on September 5, 2023 [2 favorites]