If the Tiber rises so high it floods the walls, or the Nile so low it doesn't flood the fields, if the earth opens, or the heavens don't, if there is famine, if there is plague, instantly the howl goes up, "The Christians to the lion!" What, all of them? To a single lion? So wrote Tertullian. In the huge intellectual project that was the foundation of the Christian Church he was the great wit, most powerful rhetor and finest writer. Starting out as a pagan delighting in adultery and gladiator combat he became a great champion of martyrdom, defender of Christianity against its malefactors and heretics. His most famous contribution to our culture is undoubtedly the doctrine of the trinity. Towards the end of his life he threw his lot with a small group of hardcore ascetics called Montanists and was denounced as a heretic. Ending his life among the defeated of ecclesiastical history he was forgotten for a millennium until rediscovered during the Renaissance. The Tertullian Project collects all his extant writing and information about his lost texts as well as biographical information, selected quotations and much more.
posted to MetaFilter by Kattullus at 9:58 PM on July 15, 2008 (15 comments)

It's that time of year again...it's getting cold and I'm craving soup more and more. The only problem is I'm sick of canned soup and I'd rather make most of it homemade. Lay your best soup recipes on me, ingredients/prep the works! Any type of soup accepted! Hot, cold, lukewarm! Chicken, cream-based, potato leek, broth-based etc. I want to start a good collection of new recipes to try!
posted to Ask Metafilter by PetiePal at 9:46 AM on October 25, 2006 (49 comments)

2 July 1863, second day of Gettysburg. Sickles has pulled his III Corps -- without orders -- off of Cemetery Ridge and positioned it a half mile in front of the rest of the Union lines. Longstreet smashes the hapless III Corps and its men are in full flight. Hancock rides back and forth inside the gaping hole left by Sickles. Below him, almost 2000 men of Wilcox's brigade are charging up the slope. They will gain a foothold on the ridge and be reinforced by Lee. As Longstreet pins down the Union left, Lee will roll up the center and right of the Northern army and chase them from the field. He will then march on and take Washington before turning north along the eastern seaboard. Lee will capture and burn Philadelphia and Boston in his March Along the Sea, chasing the Northern government from city to city until Lincoln finally sues for peace and the union is no more. Suddenly, a line of blue-coated soldiers comes into Hancock's view. "My God, is this all the men here? Who are you?" "1st Minnesota, sir." "See those colors?", says Hancock, pointing at the flags of the oncoming Confederates, "Take them."
posted to MetaFilter by forrest at 5:45 AM on July 2, 2008 (82 comments)

I live in a gastronomic black hole . There is nowhere within a hours drive to buy decent cooking supplies, please reveal to me your secret sources of cooking supplies! I've googled and hunted and found some, but I want ones that you've had experience with, and know that I will be buying quality stuff from
posted to Ask Metafilter by Jonsnews at 3:39 PM on June 9, 2008 (15 comments)

To the Indian MeFites - and the non-indian chefs as well - what are your favorite family Indian recipes and what are some tricks in the preparation to give the food that authentic Indian taste. You know, rich, delicious, mouth-watering, and savoury to the point that eating becomes a spiritual experiece in itself.
posted to Ask Metafilter by ageispolis at 10:19 PM on May 25, 2008 (17 comments)

Why bother? "That really is the big question facing us as individuals hoping to do something about climate change," by Michael Pollan.
posted to MetaFilter by stbalbach at 7:48 PM on April 19, 2008 (71 comments)

I love risotto. I really do. But my recipe which is a chicken + spinach risotto is getting boring. I'd love to experiment a bit more.
posted to Ask Metafilter by ysabet at 6:00 PM on April 15, 2008 (29 comments)

What is the iconic (or just "your favorite") dead-tree product catalog (listing of merchandise for mail-order sale) for your hobby, industry, or trade?
posted to Ask Metafilter by cadastral at 9:23 AM on April 1, 2008 (73 comments)

In 1958, Ezra Pound, after being released from a mental hospital, became a foreign correspondent for the Richmond News Leader. All but one of his dispatches were deemed unprintable by the editor and the one that was printed ran as a letter to the editor. The Virginia Quarterly Review has put scans of the dispatches up on their site.
posted to MetaFilter by Kattullus at 9:45 AM on April 11, 2008 (44 comments)

I would like sharp cheddar. The best sharp cheddar recommendations you've got. Complex, subtle cheddars are great, but I'm also feenin' for cheddar that is sharp beyond belief. So if you don't have the cheddar equivalent of a 25-year old Bowmore, a perfectly acceptable alternative is the cheddar equivalent of a ziploc bag full of Everclear. Let the cheese strike my taste buds, hard.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Greg Nog at 2:21 PM on April 3, 2008 (46 comments)

What is your favourite blog?
posted to Ask Metafilter by feelinglistless at 1:21 PM on March 30, 2008 (53 comments)

I'm looking for a good read about bicycle randonneuring, in English or French.
posted to Ask Metafilter by everichon at 9:33 AM on February 22, 2008 (12 comments)

I'm a scientist. My ex is a scientist. We study similar things, and their name is starting to turn up in my literature searches. What to do?
posted to Ask Metafilter by Anonymous at 7:09 PM on February 16, 2008 (28 comments)

I'm starting to learn German, and I love it- I find everything about the language fascinating, and making my flashcards and doing my speech exercises about how Jan liebt Sara and how das Madchen ist glucklach is the funnest part of my day. I'd like to get good at it. Really, really good. Can you help me?
posted to Ask Metafilter by foxy_hedgehog at 9:37 AM on February 11, 2008 (31 comments)

Kilimanjaro-filter. I want to climb it. I don't want to pay $3k pp. Help, please.
posted to Ask Metafilter by allkindsoftime at 6:59 AM on January 17, 2008 (6 comments)

Israeli designer Oded Ezer produces stunning works of experimental typography. He has been lauded for creating [PDF link]"...Hebrew characters that melt," but it is his more unconventional work that is truly breathtaking - made up of letters with vivacity and personality. He calls his gorgeously abstracted work "typo art," existing wholly neither in the space of art or typography, with hope that it might transcend language altogether. See his flickr stream for more sketches, works, and arresting typescapes.
posted to MetaFilter by youarenothere at 1:19 PM on January 9, 2008 (21 comments)

*M*I*R*R*O*R* *W*O*R*L*D* Photographs Of Unknown Origin [NSFW]
posted to MetaFilter by tellurian at 5:46 PM on October 12, 2007 (86 comments)

Shoegazer 101 Shoegazing (also known as shoegaze or shoegazer; practitioners referred to as shoegazers) is a genre of alternative rock that emerged from the United Kingdom in the late 1980s. It lasted until the mid 1990s, peaking circa 1990 to 1991. The British music press (notably NME and Melody Maker) called this genre "shoegazing" because the musicians in these bands often maintained a motionless performing style, standing on stage and staring at the floor while playing their instruments; hence, the idea that they were gazing at their shoes. The shoegazing sound featured extensive use of guitar effects, and indistinguishable vocal melodies that blended into the creative noise of the guitars. Some notable bands are Ride, Lush, Swervedriver, Slowdive, Curve, and American bands Lilys and the Swirlies.
posted to MetaFilter by psmealey at 7:41 AM on October 3, 2007 (113 comments)

What are the best free online resources for bicycle maintenance?
posted to Ask Metafilter by kingtaj at 11:11 AM on August 22, 2007 (7 comments)

Aerial Archaeology in Northern France
posted to MetaFilter by anastasiav at 9:53 AM on August 17, 2007 (13 comments)

I've bought a domain with Godaddy. I would like the http://mydomain.net (with no 'www') to go to my site, except it doesn't, it goes to a parked page. How can I change it so it goes to the same place as typing http://www.mydomain.net? (I'm not an idiot, but for these purposes, I might need it spelled out).
posted to Ask Metafilter by minifig at 5:06 AM on August 8, 2007 (11 comments)

A Field Guide to Chess Tactics. Chess tactics explained in plain English, with hundreds of examples. A great site for beginning to mid-level players. Includes a large library of positional problems, organized thematically, with the solutions explained and discussed. For example, learn about knight forks, then quiz yourself on the same topic.
posted to MetaFilter by Rumple at 9:53 PM on June 19, 2007 (76 comments)

mr. kerning accidentally dropped an aleve tablet in the floor vent of our gas furnace. he's worried that it will burn and release toxic fumes that will kill us in our sleep. is there anything to be worried about?
posted to Ask Metafilter by kerning at 5:08 PM on April 22, 2007 (16 comments)

Today is the centenary of W.H. Auden, one of the greatest poets of the twentieth century. Why not commemorate it by attending one of the many events honoring the man and marking the day? Auden wrote about anything and everything; his poems addressed such topics as the advent of World War II ("September 1, 1939", which gained new resonance after 9/11), grief ("Funeral Blues", used to great effect in Four Weddings and a Funeral), physics ("After Reading a Child's Guide to Modern Physics"), commencement addresses ("Under Which Lyre: A Reactionary Tract for the Times") unrequited love ("The More Loving One"), and the way life goes on ("Musée des Beaux Arts"). [more inside]
posted to MetaFilter by Vidiot at 10:57 PM on February 20, 2007 (37 comments)

Beautiful early Zionist propaganda posters, courtesy of the Swann Galleries. The first 73 items in this large batch of vintage posters up for auction are related to Israel, Jews or anti-Semitism. [via Paperholic]
posted to MetaFilter by mediareport at 5:36 AM on February 6, 2007 (8 comments)

Last night, I attended a concert featuring Lyle Lovett, John Hiatt, Joe Ely, and Guy Clark. It was just the four of them and their guitars. It was awsome, and now I'm looking for recommendations.
posted to Ask Metafilter by dpx.mfx at 5:24 PM on January 14, 2007 (23 comments)

Five Blind Boys Of Alabama - Too Close
Supreme Angels - Hush Hush
Soul Stirrers - Listen To The Angels Sing
King Louis Narcisse - This Little Light Of Mine
Goldia Hayes with the Harmonizing Four - Beams of Heaven
Sister Rosetta Tharpe & Choir - Up Above My Head
Hall Johnson Choir - Little Black Sheep
Norfleet Brothers - I Am A Pilgrim And A Stranger
Caravans - No Coward Soldier
Soul Stirrers - I'm A Soldier In The Army Of The Lord
Gospel Paraders - Have You Got Good Religion
Pilgrim Jubilee Singers - Testify
Imperial Gospel Singers - The Lord Will see You Through
Lucy Rodgers Singers - Hold To God's Unchanging Hand

YouTube in the Holy Spirit--mostly old school black gospel...
posted to MetaFilter by y2karl at 12:19 AM on December 4, 2006 (53 comments)

What Mac applications would make me love a Mac?
posted to Ask Metafilter by randomthoughts at 8:31 AM on November 16, 2006 (37 comments)

What are the "tricks of the trade" when it comes to getting the cheapest airfare possible?
posted to Ask Metafilter by mi6op at 9:34 PM on November 1, 2006 (10 comments)

I'm looking for examples of stripped-down bluegrass songs with the kind of eerie/sad sound that gives you goosebumps and makes your heart ache.
posted to Ask Metafilter by empyrean at 2:25 AM on October 28, 2006 (40 comments)

“The leader of the jury looked at his papers and said in the first round: ‘I know a disabled person is coming. I want the jury to close their eyes. I don’t want them to be touched in any way.’ ”
As if, of course, one needed to know about Thomas Quasthoff's Thalidomide-related severe physical handicaps to be moved by the sound of his voice. He goes seamlessly from pianissimo to fortissimo, in his recitals a single Lied becomes "a major, stunning drama playing out in a few minutes". He sang jazz to support himself in university and it remains a passion (he likes to sing Paul Robeson or even Frank Sinatra encores), but he's famously leery of crossover artists like Andrea Bocelli. Just don't cough during his recitals -- "because I love this music so much". He doesn't like to talk much about his nightmarish childhood and teenage years, plagued by surgeries and body casts -- "I have in my past time had very difficult years, very difficult years" is all he'll usually say -- so please try not to consider him a victim, because he doesn't see himself as such: "I don't think people are moved because I am disabled. I think it's because I have something to say." More inside.
posted to MetaFilter by matteo at 8:17 AM on October 2, 2006 (21 comments)

Bikely makes use of the Google Maps API to make it easy to learn new bicycle paths. Select any path (example) and export its GPX path into your GPS tracker (e.g., cell phone or Palm) — or share your own favorite bike rides.
posted to MetaFilter by Blazecock Pileon at 9:59 PM on August 5, 2006 (15 comments)