"The Photographer Ralph Eugene Meatyard (May 15, 1925 - May 7, 1972) suffered a fate common to artists who are very much of but also very far ahead of their time. Everything about his life and his art ran counter to the usual and expected patterns. He was an optician, happily married, a father of three, president of the Parent-Teacher Association, and coach of a boy's baseball team." "His images had nothing to do with the gritty "street photography" of the east coast or the romantic view camera realism of the west coast. His best known images were populated with dolls and masks, with family, friends and neighbors pictured in abandoned buildings or in ordinary suburban backyards." His most well known and last photography series "The Family Album of Lucybelle Crater" (1972) was based on the short story by Flannery O'Connor, "The Life You Save May Be Your Own."
posted to MetaFilter by Del Far at 9:26 AM on May 28, 2008 (13 comments)

I know what you're thinking: "What if I attached a faucet to a watermelon and filled it with spiked watermelon juice so party guests could serve themselves right from the melon?"
posted to MetaFilter by mr_crash_davis at 3:33 PM on May 28, 2008 (65 comments)

What are your favorite tofu recipes?
posted to Ask Metafilter by barrakuda at 2:14 PM on May 27, 2008 (31 comments)

So, I've seen Sagan's Cosmos. I've seen The Universe. I've listened to Feynman's lectures on physics. What's next?
posted to Ask Metafilter by Optamystic at 6:39 PM on April 19, 2008 (12 comments)

American Icons from Public Radio International's Studio 360 is host/author Kurt Andersen's "...survey into the books, movies, art, and architecture that have come to represent American culture and character."^* For example, in the episode on 'Moby-Dick,' listen to Ray Bradbury, Tony Kushner and Frank Stella talk about Melville and his literary masterpiece. Listen to Laurie Anderson compare 'Moby Dick' to 'Star Trek.' In a segment on 'The Great Gatsby,' listen to the only known recording of F. Scott Fitzgerald. Then witness Salman Rushdie as he credits 'The Wizard of Oz' as his first literary influence while Bobby McFerrin performs snippets from his eight-minute medley condensing the entire movie.^*
posted to MetaFilter by ericb at 3:48 PM on December 10, 2007 (10 comments)

Artslynx's theatre resources section is a goldmine of links to research and support sites for every aspect of theatrical production and dramaturgy. Especially useful are the Artslynx timelines. Need to know when cling wrap came into usage? Check out the prop timeline. Lots of additional links to outside timelines and history sites for anyone with a thirst for obscure sociological information, a love of craptacularly designed scrolling pages, and generally and too much time on their hands. For example: food, fashion, ephemera, and people who have died onstage
posted to MetaFilter by stagewhisper at 11:59 AM on December 7, 2007 (3 comments)

Should I buy a new Mac Pro or wait for the Penryn version? Complications below the fold.
posted to Ask Metafilter by unSane at 8:27 PM on November 5, 2007 (21 comments)

I'm interested in learning more about graphic design for the web. I figure reading some blogs and maybe forums would be the best way to do this. Can you guys reccomend a few of the best ones?
posted to Ask Metafilter by GregX3 at 10:18 PM on July 17, 2007 (9 comments)

In 1965, Peter Watkins produced a fictional documentary called The War Game in which the aftermath of thermo-nuclear attacks in Britain was depicted. The BBC declared that it was "too horrifying for the medium of broadcasting" and was not aired until 1985. Watch it here (warning: graphic depictions of effects of radiation). Related, When the Wind Blows (parts 1 , 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8), a sober animated tale of a British couple who try and survive nuclear holocaust based on the civil defense manual "Protect and Survive." (Previously).
posted to MetaFilter by champthom at 10:32 PM on June 14, 2007 (74 comments)

James Burke does Youtube. A very conscientious fan has begun creating a wonderful collection of two of James Burke's shows on youtube. There are many episodes up and more to come of both Connections and The Day The Universe Changed. Catch them while you can.
posted to MetaFilter by YoBananaBoy at 12:29 AM on June 11, 2007 (45 comments)

Evan M. O'Dorney, a 13-year-old speller from Danville, Calif., won the 2007 Scripps National Spelling Bee, with the final word "serrefine". Here is an interesting interview with the winner. Did you say my name wrong?
posted to MetaFilter by exlotuseater at 10:01 PM on June 7, 2007 (113 comments)

The wild risks, unexpected niches, and day-in-day-out grind behind making a dollar in New York...for everyone from a drug dealer to Goldman Sachs. The Profit Calculator, New York Magazine article.
posted to MetaFilter by nickyskye at 9:09 PM on June 7, 2007 (14 comments)

Know any performing arts-related youth mentorship programs, where artists can teach kids & teens, in the NYC area?
posted to Ask Metafilter by twistofrhyme at 9:52 AM on May 20, 2007 (5 comments)

How to conduct a job interview. 5 steps to conducting good job interviews and finding the right candidates. Contains answers to the infamous why is a manhole cover round question. Also, 10 common mistakes managers should avoid when conducting same. On the flispide, here are some tips for interview preparation, the 25 most difficult questions an interviewee can prepare for and some things to avoid saying in interviews.
posted to MetaFilter by psmealey at 6:04 AM on April 30, 2007 (56 comments)

FSI Language Courses
posted to MetaFilter by anjamu at 1:35 AM on August 17, 2006 (36 comments)

What other styles are there for silly/affectionate note-writing?
posted to Ask Metafilter by angryjellybean at 7:12 AM on March 8, 2007 (25 comments)

I really love the works of low-budget auteurs like Hal Hartley, Gregg Araki, and Jim Jarmusch (also, although they don't fit so much in the low-budget category, Richard Linklater and War-Kong Wei). Are there any other auteurs out there whose movies I should watch? To refine your suggestions, I'm not looking for classic directors like Godard or Bergman, or big names like Wenders or Greenaway or Tarantino or Von Trier. I'm interested in learning about directors who are not big names. Basically, I'm looking for interesting young directors whose films are available on DVD but have not emerged into the national spotlight.
posted to Ask Metafilter by jayder at 6:52 PM on December 30, 2006 (25 comments)

Got some free time over the New Year's long weekend? Well, here's every episode (or damn near it) of Aqua Teen Hunger Force, Boondocks, Clone High, Metalocalypse, Moral Orel, Robot Chicken, South Park (alt), Venture Brothers, Futurama. Or over here, there's all those and more. But wait my friends, there's more, yes, even more: for the same low price, I'll include the Ultimate Motherlode of Music Video (11,500 of them, or your money back!), alphabetized for your viewing pleasure. Just free up some bandwidth, and step inside ...
posted to MetaFilter by stavrosthewonderchicken at 3:30 AM on December 29, 2006 (158 comments)

da funk is all.
posted to MeFi Music by quonsar at 4:22 AM on June 30, 2006 (14 comments)

I have a tall-person slouch. What exercises and stretches will help me improve my posture?
posted to Ask Metafilter by I Am Not a Lobster at 4:13 PM on November 3, 2006 (10 comments)

I'm looking for a small, arts/music oriented web design firm to design a webpage for a retail shop with web sales (preference for firms located in NYC). Any recommendations? I don't need/want any crazy flash animations, just simple, classy, musical, yet somewhat hip, if that makes any sense. Just for reference, I very much enjoy the look and feel of the Enja Records website.
posted to Ask Metafilter by mfherman at 11:54 AM on October 18, 2006 (4 comments)

Need a good printer for some business cards--preferably not one of those quicky jobs that looks like color photocopies on cardstock. A) anywhere online that ships is fine; 2) Bonus pts if it's in Toronto. 3) A generic "printing question" about resolution inside.
posted to Ask Metafilter by dobbs at 7:26 AM on October 11, 2006 (15 comments)