MetaFilter posts tagged with lists

They sure don't make nostalgia like they used to anymore.

goodnewsfortheinsane — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 11:42:39 -0800

Punctuality, privacy, dead time, concentration: all dead or dying at the hands of the Internet, according to this list in the Daily Telegraph.

Only at festivals with no Wi-Fi signals can the gullible be tricked into believing that David Hasslehoff [sic] has passed away. Insta-spoiler – the full list, with UK-centric or possibly obscure references linkified: 1) The art of polite disagreement 2) Fear that you are the only person unmoved by a celebrity's death 3) Listening to an album all the way through 4) Sarah Palin 5) Punctuality 6) Ceefax/Teletext 7) Adolescent nerves at first porn purchase 8) Telephone directories 9) The myth of cat intelligence 10) Watches 11) Music stores 12) Letter writing/pen pals 13) Memory 14) Dead time 15) Photo albums and slide shows 16) Hoaxes and conspiracy theories 17) Watching television together 18) Authoritative reference works 19) The Innovations catalogue 20) Order forms in the back pages of books 21) Delayed knowledge of sporting results 22) Enforceable copyright 23) Reading telegrams at weddings 24) Dogging [possibly NSFW] 25) Aren't they dead? Aren't they gay? 26) Holiday news ignorance 27) Knowing telephone numbers off by heart 28) Respect for doctors and other professionals 29) The mystery of foreign languages 30) Geographical knowledge 31) Privacy 32) Chuck Norris's reputation 33) Pencil cricket 34) Mainstream media 35) Concentration 36) Mr Alifi's dignity 37) Personal reinvention 38) Viktor Yanukovych 39) The insurance ring-round 40) Undiscovered artists 41) The usefulness of reference pages at the front of diaries 42) The nervous thrill of the reunion 43) Solitaire 44) Trust in Nigerian businessmen and princes 45) Prostitute calling cards [possibly NSFW]/ kerb crawling 46) Staggered product/film releases 47) Footnotes 48) Grand National trips to the bookmaker 49) Fanzines 50) Your lunchbreak

The 10 Best Top Ten Food Lists

CunningLinguist — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 07:29:25 -0800

The 10 Best Top Ten Food Lists: the most erotic food scenes in movies, the creepiest fast food mascots, Tony Bourdain's nastiest snipes at fellow TV chefs, and more. via

if only college were more like the movies

needled — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 16:59:35 -0800

20 movies which make you wish you'd gone to college from UK flim critic Jo Berry. While Berry is based in the UK, 15 of the 20 films take place in U.S. colleges, and of the remaining five one is A Yank at Oxford. (Berry is a former reviews editor at Empire magazine, who has written about film for publications such as The Guardian, as well as writing The Essential Guide to TV on DVD: Over 700 Of The Best, Worst And Weirdest Shows and Chick Flicks: A Girl's Guide to the Movies: A Girl's Guide to the Movies Women Love.)

1,000 Songs Your Must Hear

rongorongo — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 05:07:55 -0800

Those of Love(+), those of Sex(+), those of Hearbreak(+), those of People and Places (+), those of Politics and Protest (+). The Guardian's journalists purloin you with "1,000 Songs You Must Hear". The plus links lead to people's outraged suggestions of those that are missing from each category. Perfect for when 10, 100, 500 or 3,000 are just the wrong numbers.

Top Three Thousand Songs and Albums

not_on_display — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 14:00:02 -0800

Acclaimed Music: The 3000 most recommended albums and songs of all time. From the Q&A section of the site: Which lists have been included for the compilation of the Acclaimed Music lists? Almost all critics lists I have got my hand on, including best-of-year lists, best-of-all-times lists etc., from critics, artists and music industry people all over the world . . . How have the lists been compiled? This is really not simple to explain. Please do not despair if you do not fully understand... I have written a program which computes the lists. The basic idea is that I match all records against each other in pairs. In a match, each critics list is weighted depending on * the number of lists I have from different parts of world (USA, UK or the rest of the world) ** when the list was presented (newer lists are weighted more heavily) *** how many matches the list is a part of (a list which only embraces a few years is not part of many matches and is therefore weighted heavily in the matches where it is included).

A vote for "The Indefatigable Frog" is a vote for posterity.

Minus215Cee — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 03:07:06 -0800

"Do you like fiction and mathematics? Are you interested in what our society thinks about mathematicians?" Paraphrased: "Of the many works of fiction that are published or filmed, very few involve mathematics or mathematicians. However, people who like mathematics (or are mathematicians ourselves) may especially enjoy reading/seeing those few that do. Moreover, mathematicians should be interested in these works of "mathematical fiction" even if we do not enjoy them because they both affect and reflect the non-mathematician's view of this subject." (previously, previously (5th link), previously, previously)

1000 novels worth reading [about] from the Guardian

stbalbach — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 13:57:09 -0800

1000 novels worth reading [about], from the Guardian. Part of its ongoing 1000 series: 1000 albums, 1000 films, 1000 artworks. More than a list, it includes sub-articles and paragraph long write-ups of each.

We're going to need a bigger Netflix plan

Horace Rumpole — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 10:31:31 -0800

In a time of top 10 lists, there are those who aim higher: They Shoot Pictures, Don't They? maintains an annually updated list of the 1,000 greatest films ever made, as well as the 250 greatest of the 21st century. Kevin B. Lee wants to see them all. How many have you seen? (via)

Top Top Top Ten 2008

twoleftfeet — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 04:06:58 -0800

The Top Ten Top Ten Top Ten of 2008; NY Times blog, Social Citizens, Swan Fungus, lifehacker, PC World, Tynan, Something Else, The Exploding Barrel, Technorati, Google, Toptentopten.

Fimoculous's List of Lists 2008

stavrosthewonderchicken — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 23:54:15 -0800

It's that meta-time again: Metafilter's own rex's still-growing Fimoculous List of Lists for 2008. Previously on Metafilter: 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003.

2666 reasons to find your library card.

zoomorphic — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 13:34:49 -0800

With the advent of December comes the annual ranking of the book industry's over-saturated market. Along with the garden variety Best Books of 2008 lists, niche critics weigh in on the best cookbooks (baking and regular), most trustworthy business publications, best children's book illustrations, safest bets for literary holiday gifts, and, of course, the prettiest book covers.

The Economist: The World in 2009

goodnewsfortheinsane — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 19:00:30 -0800

In 2009, a remarkably gifted politician, confronting a remarkably difficult set of challenges, will have to learn to say "No we can't", Guantánamo will prove a moral minefield, economic recovery will be invisible to the naked eye, governments must prepare for the day they stop financial guarantees, we will judge our commitment to sustainability, scientists should research the causes of religion, we will all be potential online paparazzi, English will have more words than any other language (but it's meaningless), Afghanistan will see a surge of Western (read: American) troops, Iran will continue its nuclear quest while diplomacy lies in shambles, the sea floor is the new frontier, we should rethink aging, (non-)voters will continue to thwart the European project -- but cheap travel will continue to buoy it -- though it has some unfinished business to attend to, and a Nordic defence bond will blossom.

The Economist: The World in 2009. Previously: 2008, 2007. How did we do last time around? And what will we probably be wrong about this time? Guest contributions: President of Brazil Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva seeks greater international cooperation and sees a growing global role for the larger emerging economies. Queen of Jordan Rania calls for education reform. Prime Minister of Australia Kevin Rudd calls upon mid-size powers to be creative and effective with their influence. Prime Minister of Spain José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero emphasizes the importance of transparency and solidarity in Europe. Prime Minister of Ukraine Yulia Tymoshenko, wedged between Russia and the EU, cites historical precedent. Former Secretary of State of the United States, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Henry Kissinger argues America will be less powerful, but will still be the essential nation in creating a new world order. Mayor Boris Johnson of London argues against over-regulation. Elections to watch: Brazil, Chile, European Parliament, Germany, Indonesia, Israel, Japan. Also: Russia will enter its first real difficult years under Putin, Brown might not make it, we won't ban nukes but we can pretend, Ontario will receive economic help from other provinces, Australians will grow ever more thirsty, and Britain needs to make stuff again. World in 2009 blog.

It's 1 AM, do you know where your enemies are?

BeReasonable — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 22:36:44 -0800

I often find myself asking, "Who wants to kill me and how can I avoid them?"
It seems that the list is pretty long. There are a whole batch of international threats out to get me. There also appear to be a number of street gangs, happy to do the deed as well. What's worse is that they are spreading. However, since I don't travel abroad and I don't live in a fancy-dancy city like Los Angeles, Chicago or Fargo, I'm probably safe right? Nope, sadly it seems hate groups are everywhere -- in my backyard and probably yours. I think this year I'm having Thanksgiving in the bunker.

All Your List Are Belong To Us

netbros — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 13:43:45 -0800

It’s been said that if you can’t find what you’re looking for, make it yourself. In searching for a list of lists, these guys noticed a lack of sites that aggregate lists, so Listropolis was born. For example, The 10 Worst Places to Get Caught Having Sex. Some of their lists are a little more useful like 20 Essential Sources for Free HD Videos, or the aptly named 7 Big-Ass Holes in the Earth.

Wreckers of civilization

debord — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 21:44:30 -0800

Who's wrecked Britain? A three part list from the Daily Mail. Here's the whole 50 in full if you don't want to plough through... Jeffrey Archer ("scandal-flecked clown") Richard Beeching ("short-termist dunderhead") Howard Schultz ("king of the caramel macchiatos") James Callaghan ("sly and matey, bespectacled yet glinty of eye") Diana, Princess of Wales ("false harbinger of egalitarianism") Greg Dyke ("the man who invented Roland Rat") Charles Saatchi ("responsible for a demoralising infection of our national aesthetic") Graham Kelly ("gormless and inadequate") Anthony Crosland ("driven by a vindictive hatred of elitism") John McEnroe ("helped spread bad sportmanship") Stpehen Marks ("encouraged a generation of Britons to think lightly about foul language") John Prescott ("gormless and ineloquent") Frank Blackmore ("mini roundabouts are the very opposite of democratic") Sir Jimmy Savile ("epitomised a breed of shallow show-offs") Edward Heath ("yielded to the sorry creed of multi-culturalism") Janet Street-Porter ("ageing non-revolutionary") Margaret Thatcher ("her radicalism had an ugly, vengeful side") Alan Titchmarsh ("that chirpy smile, those practised Yorkshire vowels") Topsy and Tim ("lead lives of blameless, centre-Left orthodoxy") Tim Westwood ("an emblem of cultural defeatism") Tony Blair ("a selfish w*****") Richard Brunstrom ("swivel-eyed evangelist") Paul Burrell ("soapy-mannered little podge") Sir Alex Ferguson ("bloated egotist") Kenneth Baker ("ill-considered changes to our law") The Very Rev. Ronald Jasper ("bloody fool") Sir Denys Lasdun ("popular ideas of beauty were treated with contempt") Helen Willetts ("pushy moderniser", "northern-accented show-off", "geeky-smiled creature") Dame Suzi Leather ("hard-boiled state meddler") Richard Dawkins ("merciless demander of provable fact") Geoffrey Rippon ("responsible for handing over our fishing rights to the EEC") Julia Smith ("EastEnders bastes Britain in the juices of misery, violence and nostalgia") 'Webonymous' ("content to hurl vitriol and hide from proper argument") Michael Martin ("as thick as cold custard") Harold Wilson ("Thanks, Harold. Thanks a bunch.") John Birt ("plodding windbag") Ed Balls ("an insufferable and dangerous menace") John Scarlett ("his conduct left open questions about his impartiality") Graham Kendrick ("pre-eminent churner-outer of evangelical bilge") Gordon Brown ("Prime Minister? Prime culprit, more like.") Tony Greig ("feels driven to infect others with his rage and itchy anxiety") Maurice 'Maus' Gatsonides ("invented the speed camera") David Blunkett ("Immigration, law enforcement, education. In a rare triple whammy, Blunkett helped cock them all up") Peter Bazalgette ("in it for the money") Alastair Campbell ("a deeply unBritish character") Harold Walker ("grandfather of the Health And Safety At Work Act") Rupert Murdoch ("crushed the elegance of the letters page") Nicholas Ridley ("We will live with his mistakes until the weeds of Doomsday lift their tendrils and bring man's uugly brickwork cascading back down to earth") Rhodes Boyson ("take him down") Alun Michael ("miserable, mangy, weak")

What's in a game?

ersatz — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 16:38:32 -0800

What can one learn from the design choices of past games? John Harris discusses different game aspects, 20 games at a time, at Game Design Essentials. You can read on 20 Open World Games (where generally the player is left to his own devices to explore a large world), see your destroyed controllers in a new light with 20 Difficult Games or check out 20 Mysterious Games (that rely on algorithmically-generated content or emphasize secret-hunting), 20 Unusual Control Schemes and 20 Atari Games. What about roguelikes, you say? Harris also maintains a column called @Play at GameSetWatch, discussing old and new roguelikes. And if that wets your appetite for some Nethack, but you prefer having graphics and mouse control in your games, the most recent post might help. On the other hand, if you don't care about such novelties, an interview with the developer of Dwarf Fortress (previously) may be of interest. The games are chosen for their instructive qualities and general interest, not to compare them using a meaningless yardstick. They're here because I could illustrate something important using them as examples. Older games tend to have more elemental designs, presenting their mechanics strongly rather than submersing them between a sea of what a game is "supposed to be." This is particularly useful for explaining and highlighting design conventions.

The worst colleges in America?

longsleeves — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 23:53:52 -0800

Radar Magazine Online's Worst Colleges in America including honors for The Most Degenerate Student Body, the Biggest Rip-off, and Most Intolerant.

80 Things That Make Men Cry

SportsFan — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 07:19:23 -0800

No option to see how many of these you can guess in five minutes, but that's the only thing missing from this list of 80 things that make men cry (includes a link back to the original list of the top 10). No mention of Field of Dreams, strangely.

The Music Lists

carsonb — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 16:35:53 -0800

The Greatest Frontmen of Rock
The Greatest Acoustic Guitar Albums
The Greatest Punk Rock Songs
The Greatest Britpop Artists
The Greatest 'Live' Blues Albums
The Top 10 Songs by the Greatest Jazz Artists
The 50 Greatest Classical Tone Poems
The Greatest Glam/Hair Metal Songs
The Greatest Country Love Songs
The Top 100 Songs of 1967
The Greatest Underrated Rock Artists
The Greatest Girl-Group Songs
The Greatest Rap/Hip-Hop Lyricists/Emcees

More: The Music Lists

The World's Fifty Best Works of Art?

paduasoy — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 04:20:33 -0800

The World's 50 Best Works of Art (and how to see them) in the opinion of critic Martin Gayford. This sort of list is pretty personal, of course (no work by artists known to be women at all? Really? What about Kauffman, Valadon, Gentileschi, Kollwitz?), but is a good starting point for travel and armchair explorations.

The Best Sandwiches in America

jonson — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 16:21:21 -0800

The Best Sandwiches in America Esquire magazine lists the very best examples of many very delicious sandwiches nationwide.

What? No "Muskrat Love"?

amyms — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 23:07:24 -0800

The 25 Greatest Duets Of All Time (with embedded YouTube videos of each) from retroCRUSH. Duets, by nature, are a corny type of song. Sure, there's a handful that we recognize here that are also some of best tunes ever recorded, but there's something inherently cheesy and fun about duets that make them a fun guilty pleasure for millions to enjoy.

spanning the world: beautiful bridges

madamjujujive — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 09:55:00 -0800

18 stunning bridges from around the world. (via Mira y Calla) Two other "best of" nominations: the world's most breathtaking bridges and best bridges of the new millennium.

International payphone pictures and phone numbers.

Effigy2000 — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 05:17:46 -0800

Photos of payphones from around the world. More international payphone photos. Stylized payphones from Brazil. Seen enough photos? Then perhaps you'd like to start calling some of them? Also; yet more photos and phone numbers still, plus news and stories! Although it had featured previously on Metafilter.

"it gives so many talented people a chance to express themselves and makes it so much easier for the government to know who to arrest first in case of a national emergency."

amberglow — Fri, 28 Dec 2007 21:20:29 -0800

Jon Swift asked everyone on his blogroll to pick what they considered their best post of 07-- ...There are posts on politics by liberals, conservatives and moderates, posts on movies, music, television, books, economics, health care, science, sports, religion and history, personal stories and slices of life, poetry, prose, pictures and video. Some are very funny, some are quite serious, some will make you angry and some will make you say "Huh?" ...