MetaFilter

European Space Agency's Huygens Probe Ready for Spectacular Mission to Titan
Mission managers for the European Space Agency's Huygens probe said the spacecraft is on course for its descent to Saturn's mysterious moon Titan on Friday, Jan. 14. The probe, which detached from NASA's Cassini orbiter last month, will be the first object to explore on-site the unique environment of Titan, whose chemistry is thought to be very similar to that of early Earth, before life formed. The data gathered during the probe's 2 1/2 hour descent through Titan's atmosphere will be transmitted from the probe to the Cassini orbiter and then back to Earth.
Make sure to stay tuned in this morning for updates.
posted by garethspor at 10:37 PM PST - 69 comments

R.I.P. LawGuy1975 (Realvideo interview)
posted by euphorb at 9:25 PM PST - 12 comments

Pentagon's bizarre sex bomb. Cue the Pat Benatar.
posted by theonetruebix at 8:46 PM PST - 56 comments

Live Ween • Tabulature • Videos
posted by dhoyt at 8:13 PM PST - 24 comments

Creative Commons and Wired have launched CC Mixter; a commons pool for music samples and remixes. Mix artists can now browse, download, remix, other artist's samples and tracks, then upload their own work for the same purpose. To celebrate, a bunch artists have donated music, and a couple of competitions have sprung up. Listen here.
posted by armoured-ant at 7:57 PM PST - 3 comments

Considering buying a tank from Amazon? Meet the JL421 Badonkadonk, a "a completely unique, extremely rare land vehicle and battle tank" from NAO Design that sells for $20,000. Yes, its real (and comes with a free T-shirt). Of course, its not on sale, unlike the mysterious $23,000 Gulbransen Bottle Organ - now 21% off!
posted by blahblahblah at 7:57 PM PST - 22 comments

Blinked is Malcom Gladwell's latest short, concept driven book about how instant judgements are often correct, but equally often dangerous. Two reviews on S****.com and S****.com [ad thingie to watch] make for great reading themselves. Gladwell's long been a favorite of mine, and I don't think I'm alone here. Previously cited works include one of the best essays I've ever read, about the ultimate pitchman.
posted by allan at 6:55 PM PST - 33 comments

Thinking of buying a PSP anytime soon? Before spending up to $400 for an imported unit, check this out: Engadget, among others, reports that the new PlayStation Portable will eject the currently-playing disc if the device is twisted a certain way. And if you don't believe it, see it for yourself (avi & mpeg, last link NSFNintendoDS).
posted by armage at 5:58 PM PST - 30 comments

Philosophical Powers! The greatest minds of all time now have great bodies to match! Philosophy's (and theology's) greatest superheroes now in action figure form! Thrill to Arrogant Aristotle, Angry Anselm, Dangerous Descartes, Nefarious Nietzsche and more!
posted by The Thnikkaman at 3:46 PM PST - 40 comments

Dr. Jay's Street Style is a site where the hip-hop fashion-minded critique each other's outfits. It's supremely entertaining because these guys pose tough — and then "holla" catty comments about mismatched colors and outdated brands. Be sure to check out the Hall of Style for the best and worst of the site. [via]
posted by arielmeadow at 3:20 PM PST - 79 comments

Six Degrees of Snapper Carr. Addictive if you've read lots of comics; nonsensical if you haven't. As a special bonus, read up on Snapper's shocking origin.
posted by COBRA! at 2:29 PM PST - 6 comments

The folks at Threadless have launched a new collaborative contest type way to make shirts at OMG Clothing. You sign up, submit a slogan, and everyone votes on them, with the best scores getting made into shirts. Threadless has always done graphical submissions, but I suspect more people can come up with a funny phrase than a crazy cool vector art graphic.
posted by mathowie at 2:08 PM PST - 12 comments

Got hay? The USDA helps you sell hay in Tennessee and buy hay in Minnesota.
posted by NickDouglas at 1:50 PM PST - 22 comments

Sony explains the PlayStationPortable's launch delay. The bestselling PDF, now available on Amazon for $750.
posted by DrJohnEvans at 1:29 PM PST - 32 comments

Play with her Curiously clever.
posted by Voyageman at 1:24 PM PST - 40 comments

"Larry, we're going down, Larry," "I know it." This day twenty-two years ago, Air Florida Flight 90 took off from DC National Airport, in heavy snow, with insufficiently de-iced wings. A minute after takeoff, the plane crashed into the packed 14th Street Bridge, crushing several cars before falling into the Potomac River and sinking into the icy water. [More inside.]
posted by brownpau at 1:02 PM PST - 31 comments

"Researchers have discovered the hidden laboratory used by Leonardo da Vinci for studies of flight and other pioneering scientific work in previously sealed rooms at a monastery next to the Basilica of the Santissima Annunziata, in the heart of Florence."
posted by ScottUltra at 12:56 PM PST - 28 comments

While looking for photos of Sacramento, CA I came across The World City Photo Archive. Find your favorite city from around the world (organized by country) or check out photos of landmarks.
posted by Bag Man at 12:49 PM PST - 11 comments

Borat strikes again. Sacha Baron Cohen, star of HBO's Ali G Show, hits another unsuspecting American audience, this time as Borat Sagdiyev, Kazakhstan's sixth most famous man. "And may George W. Bush drink the blood of every man, woman and child in Iraq." Kazahkstanians say the darndest things!
posted by ludwig_van at 12:19 PM PST - 53 comments

The US Government pronounces the Food Pyramid dead. More information from the USDA. Hail the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2005! The guidelines won't be released for a couple months yet, but some graphics on Food Groups, being On The Go and Physical Activity are being circulated as teasers.
posted by FlamingBore at 12:12 PM PST - 18 comments

Nippaz with Attitude! The Sex Pistols, Ramones, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Nirvana, and AC/DC ...for babies.
posted by Robot Johnny at 11:41 AM PST - 20 comments

Evolutionary Stickers Struck-down. (login req'd)
"In a ruling issued today, U.S. District Judge Clarence Cooper said the stickers, which call evolution 'a theory, not a fact,' violate the Establishment Clause of the U.S. Constitution."
(A pseudo-follow-up to a post from November 2004)
posted by grabbingsand at 11:38 AM PST - 37 comments

I LOVE YOU I WANNA LOVE YOU TENDER. You could be my only sweet surrender. I would never bring you any kind of sorrow. (38 Mb QT)
posted by Peter H at 11:29 AM PST - 23 comments

"Do you like this, the greedy scrabbling in greasy boxes, the whole herd determinedly chomping and chewing and slurping . . . don't you feel even a little bit as if you're in the pig barn, at exactly the moment the big trough full of ground intestines slops over for all to rush towards and snuffle in?"

Why movie going sucks by Russell Smith of the Globe and Mail.
posted by Quartermass at 11:11 AM PST - 85 comments

A World of Invisibilia. "The pictures are simple enough: the people in the photos have been digitally removed and replaced with drawings. Yeah, I know... anyone can trace a drawing. But so what? I am doing it, and you're not. You're sitting at home doing nothing." I like the effect, and I'm sure it's been done before but I can't place it.
posted by gsb at 10:42 AM PST - 34 comments

Tip and Shout: 2'' Tape: "But last Friday, [Jeff] Tweedy hit a snag as he prepared for a session in Wilco's Chicago studio space: Nobody could find any of the professional-grade audio tape the band is accustomed to using."
posted by pfafflin at 10:31 AM PST - 37 comments

The journal of an American soldier. Although it's typically my policy not to reveal the identity of people I know in Iraq, I am making an exception in this case. The journal above belongs to Michael Smith, a LiveJournal friend of mine who died in Iraq on Tuesday when an RPG hit his Humvee. Mike was 24 years old and leaves behind family, friends, and a newlywed wife, who he married in Korea shortly before he deployed to Iraq. As is tradition on LiveJournal, his last journal entry has become a memorial of sorts.
posted by insomnia_lj at 9:36 AM PST - 75 comments

Blue Anus A small, mysterious neon sign in a window on the fourth floor.
posted by growabrain at 8:52 AM PST - 64 comments

Mysterious, high-energy celestial particles slam into Earth.
Zooming past our galaxy’s stellar graveyard?
Information sent via teleportation as aging stars turn to Martini bar.
posted by mcgraw at 8:19 AM PST - 4 comments

The 5th Dentist :: a photoblog
posted by anastasiav at 8:15 AM PST - 11 comments

Iraqi Rebels Taunt
Departing from fiery Islamic slogans, Iraqi guerrillas have launched a propaganda campaign with an English-language video urging U.S. troops to lay down their weapons and seek refuge in mosques and homes. The video, narrated in fluent English by what sounded like an Iraqi educated in the United States or Britain, also mocked the U.S. president's challenge to rebels in the early days of the insurgency to 'bring it on'. "George W. Bush; you have asked us to 'bring it on'. And so help me, (we will) like you never expected. Do you have another challenge?," asked the narrator before the video showed explosions around a U.S. military Humvee vehicle.

I do wish I could find a link to the video and "bring it on."
posted by nofundy at 6:44 AM PST - 39 comments

Beware, Hiccups. (CGI, .mov)
posted by page404 at 3:20 AM PST - 8 comments

BOG LEECH! Game sprite horrors! Lovecraftian nightmares!
posted by jimmy at 2:18 AM PST - 5 comments