New York’s currently: factoring wind chills

 After two years of tinkering, the U.S. missile defense system is tested, and fails again.

 Guantanamo Bay detainees receive letters notifying them of their rights, six months after they were supposed to be sent.

 With no explosives and no ransom, Albanian hijackers release bus hostages in Athens.

 Major League Baseball rejects D.C. stadium proposal, putting future of the relocated team in doubt.

 Immigrants to the U.S. show up skinny, then blend in with weight.

 Ex-military lawyers want to block Gonzales’s cabinet nomination, citing his involvement in the torture memos.

 Why TiVo wanted to get tough on grammar.

 New government rules allow publishers to work with authors in sanctioned nations.

 A stroll through patio life from the 1960s. (With recipes!)

 “Everyone used to think Santa had to be fat. But you can always put a pillow under your suit.” How a mall Santa stays in shape.

 Merry Christmas: U.S. takes money for kids’ vaccinations and spends it on experimental flu vaccines for adults.

 Two galleries of booksellers’ plates.

 Catch up on your obituaries at the Blog of Death.

 Great photo of Dwight Eisenhower’s ranch. [via things]

 Video: Squarepusher and Kraftwerk.

 Why everything tastes like chicken.

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