John Gordon Ross

A Man for All Reasons

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Geekish

Anyone who works as a freelancer these days has to be at least a bit familiar with techie things. But it isn’t just that. When I was a kid and those vaguely SF puppet shows were on the television and all the other kids wanted to be Greg Gogetem or Steve Savetheuniverse, I wanted to be the guy in a white coat and glasses called Doc or Brains. Here are some technology-related feeds I find useful and/or entertaining.

Slashdot » Planet Mercury Has Shrunk More Than Thought

Sunday 16 March 23:59:00 UTC 2014

sciencehabit writes "Measuring just 4880 kilometers across, Mercury is a small world. The planet became slightly smaller as its interior cooled, which caused Mercury to shrink, buckling its surface and creating numerous cliffs and ridges. Now, after studying 5934 of these features, researchers report online today in Nature Geoscience that Mercury's contraction was much greater than previously thought: During the … [Link]

Mashable » Petition Demands Dartmouth 'Take Action' Against Sexual Violence

Sunday 16 March 23:52:50 UTC 2014

DartmouthFeed-tw Feed-fbA petition to compel Dartmouth College to enforce more serious repercussions on students who commit acts of sexual violence has topped 50,000 signatures. The petition, which was launched Monday by women's rights organization Ultra Violet, began after a Dartmouth student was sexually assaulted after her name was mentioned in a "rape guide" posted on a website frequented by students at the … [Link]

Geeks are Sexy Technology News » An All New Updated Stages of Sleep Chart! [Fake Science!]

Sunday 16 March 23:00:14 UTC 2014

I thought there was just 5 stages of sleep, but thanks to Fake Science, I now know better! Now if you’ll excuse me, it’s time for me to hit the “Drinking coffee sleeping” stage (It’s 8 AM right now as I’m writing this.) Yaaaawwwwnnnnnnnnn. [Source: Fake Science] [Link]

Slashdot » Alibaba Confirms Plans To Offer IPO In US

Sunday 16 March 22:54:00 UTC 2014

hackingbear writes "China e-commerce giant Alibaba Group confirmed early Sunday that it plans to become a public company in the US. The proposed US IPO, which is expected to raise more than $15 billion, is a bid winning over Hong Kong stock exchange, which had been competing for the offering with US stock exchanges but objected to some of Alibaba's … [Link]

Mashable » Rapper Tyler, the Creator, Charged With Inciting SXSW Riot

Sunday 16 March 22:49:25 UTC 2014

Tyler-the-creator-sxsw-arrestFeed-tw Feed-fbAUSTIN, Texas — Rapper Tyler, the Creator, of the hip-hop collective Odd Future was arrested this weekend at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport for a misdemeanor charge of inciting a riot earlier in the week during a South by Southwest concert The Austin Police Department took the 23-year-old artist, born Tyler Gregory Okonma, into custody Saturday and released him on a $25,000 bond. … [Link]

Mashable » Under the Gun, Crimea Votes Overwhelmingly to Secede From Ukraine

Sunday 16 March 22:20:09 UTC 2014

Crimea-referendum-fireworkFeed-tw Feed-fbKIEV, Ukraine — Crimean voters gave overwhelming support Sunday to joining Russia and breaking away from Ukraine, the region's top referendum official announced. With over 50% of the ballots counted shortly after polls closed, Mikhail Malishev, the head of the Crimea referendum committee, reported more than 95% of voters had chosen that the Black Sea peninsula secede from Ukraine and join … [Link]

Slashdot » UK Government Wants "Unsavory" Web Content To Be Removed

Sunday 16 March 21:50:00 UTC 2014

An anonymous reader writes "The UK minister for immigration and security, James Brokenshire has called for the government to do more to deal with 'unsavoury', rather than illegal, material online. 'Terrorist propaganda online has a direct impact on the radicalisation of individuals and we work closely with the internet industry to remove terrorist material hosted in the UK or overseas,' … [Link]

Mashable » Ukrainian Hackers Shut Down NATO Websites

Sunday 16 March 21:26:54 UTC 2014

Crimea1Feed-tw Feed-fbPro-Russia Ukrainian hackers took down NATO websites on Saturday and Sunday in what is believed to be a response to the alliance's stance against Russian activity in the Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea. The activists used a distributed denial of service (DDoS) attack, which blasts chosen websites with so many requests that the site either crashes or moves too slowly to function. … [Link]

Geek Culture » Forum Tidbits!

Sunday 16 March 21:18:17 UTC 2014

The MoMan wonders What happened to MH370?, notices we're in the crosshairs again and says Make mine blueberry, … xxolah writes a random dark story, and ponders magic and science, … and maxomai says poor goto! [Link]

Slashdot » Eric Schmidt On Why College Is Still Worth It

Sunday 16 March 20:46:00 UTC 2014

An anonymous reader writes "The wisdom of getting a college degree and saddling yourself with a huge amount of debt has been called into question recently, but not by Eric Schmidt. The Google Chairman says it's still worth it, noting that: 'The economic return to higher education over a lifetime produces significant compound greater earnings.' From the article: 'When asked … [Link]

Mashable » No, 'Newman' From 'Seinfeld' Is Not Dead

Sunday 16 March 20:42:24 UTC 2014

NewsmanFeed-tw Feed-fbHoaxsters set up fake US Weekly and TMZ websites to fool half the Internet on Sunday with reports that Seinfeld actor Wayne Knight was killed in a tractor-trailer accident "Actor Wayne Knight, better known to most for playing one of the most indelible roles on NBC's 'Seinfeld' as the charater 'Newman' is dead and two other passengers are critically injured after … [Link]

Mashable » 95% of Crimeans Vote to Join Russia, Authorities Say

Sunday 16 March 19:55:40 UTC 2014

Img_8410Feed-tw Feed-fbIn a result that surprised few, 95% of voters in Crimea agreed that the peninsula should become a part of Russia, according to exit polls cited by officials and quoted by Russian state media. That number later jumped to 95% once half of the ballots were counted, according to Mikhail Malishev, head of the referendum committee. Crimea, an autonomous republic currently … [Link]

Slashdot » Jack A. Kinzler, Savior of the Skylab Mission, Dies At 94

Sunday 16 March 19:44:00 UTC 2014

puddingebola writes "From his New York Times Obituary, 'Had Jack A. Kinzler not built model planes as a boy, had he not visited the post office as a youth and had he not, as a grown man, purchased four fishing rods at $12.95 apiece, Skylab — the United States' $2.5 billion space station — would very likely have been forfeit.' … [Link]

Geeks are Sexy Technology News » Let it Go as Sung by Disney & Pixar Characters [Video]

Sunday 16 March 19:21:05 UTC 2014

/center> That guy is good! With so many covers of Let it Go coming out, people may forget the original Disney magic that this song has, so what better way to preserve that magic with other Disney and Pixar characters singing the song! So enjoy this Disney and Pixar Mashup! [Brian Hull] [Link]

Geeks are Sexy Technology News » Car Voice Recognition Fail [Video]

Sunday 16 March 19:20:02 UTC 2014

I’ve used an Audi before and never had that kind of problem with the voice recognition feature, so the issue is probably related to the guy’s accent. Still a funny video though. [Markus Johansen | Via] [Link]

Geeks are Sexy Technology News » When Do Memes Stop Being Funny?

Sunday 16 March 19:19:25 UTC 2014

From the PBS Idea Channel: Old meme is old. But why is this such a bad thing? Once the height of internetiness, the sight of a LOLCat now is unforgivable. Memes become passé crazy fast: after just months or even WEEKS of a new meme, we tire of the once hugely popular. Why does this happen, and happen so QUICKLY? … [Link]

Geeks are Sexy Technology News » The Ultimate Close Call Compilation [Video]

Sunday 16 March 19:00:39 UTC 2014

Warning: This will get your heart racing on more than a few occasions. [Uniformedia] [Link]

New Scientist – News » Astrophile: Wrinkles reveal Mercury's rapid slimming

Sunday 16 March 19:00:00 UTC 2014

The tiny world went on a serious diet in its youth, shedding about 11 kilometres of its original width as it cooled [Link]

New Scientist – News » Alzheimer's molecules may have powered early life

Sunday 16 March 19:00:00 UTC 2014

Amyloid plaques, a hallmark of diseases like Alzheimer's, may have catalysed life's metabolic reactions billions of years ago, long before enzymes appeared [Link]

New Scientist – News » 'Iron Man' plants are supercharged by nanotech power

Sunday 16 March 19:00:00 UTC 2014

Biologists claim to have used nanomaterials to enhance plants' ability to harness sunshine. It could lead to a new class of bionic materials [Link]

Slashdot » Sons of Anarchy Creator On Google Copyright Anarchy

Sunday 16 March 18:42:00 UTC 2014

theodp writes "Over at Slate, Sons of Anarchy creator Kurt Sutter argues that Google's anti-copyright stance is just a way to devalue content, which is bad for artists and bad for consumers. The screed is Sutter's response to an earlier anti-copyright rant in Slate penned by a lawyer who represents Google and is a Fellow at the New America Foundation, … [Link]

Mashable » 20 Gold Medal Winners From the Sochi Paralympics

Sunday 16 March 18:30:28 UTC 2014

ParawinnersthumbFeed-tw Feed-fbSunday brought the closing ceremony of the 2014 Paralympics, which began in Sochi on March 7. The Paralympics are always an inspiring affair, even if they only receive about 1% of the global attention the Olympics do But something about seeing top athletes from around the world competing at the highest level after overcoming a range of impairments is truly special … [Link]

Mashable » Study: Greenland Melting is More Pervasive, Adding to Sea Level Fears

Sunday 16 March 18:00:34 UTC 2014

3_16_14_andrew_apgreenlandiceFeed-tw Feed-fbThree glaciers holding back a vast ice stream in northeast Greenland, a region thought to be the last bastion of stability in that rapidly warming region, are now thinning and moving more rapidly into the sea, a new study found The study overturns longstanding assumptions that the northeastern corner of Greenland, which is one of the coldest and driest parts of … [Link]

Geeks are Sexy Technology News » 5 Iconic Buildings Built with LEGO Bricks

Sunday 16 March 18:00:22 UTC 2014

When fans are ready to explore the wide world of advanced building, they usually look to iconic buildings for inspiration. They are highly recognizable and often a challenge to recreate. It all comes down to detail. You can make an enormous building with tons of detail or small models that simulate the major features of a building like the LEGO … [Link]

Slashdot » US Navy Strategists Have a Long History of Finding the Lost

Sunday 16 March 17:40:00 UTC 2014

Hugh Pickens DOT Com writes "Benedict Carey reports at the NYT that the uncertainties surrounding Malaysia Airlines Flight 370's disappearance are enormous, but naval strategists have been unraveling lost-at-sea mysteries as far back as the U-boat battles of World War II, and perhaps most dramatically in 1968, when an intelligence team found the submarine Scorpion, which sank in the North … [Link]

ProgrammableWeb.com » 30 New APIs: Beats Music, HollyStock Celebrity, and Postcard

Sunday 16 March 17:30:43 UTC 2014

This week, we had 30 new APIs added to our API directory including a social media tool for real estate agents, a mobile advertising platform, and an in-application purchasing platform. We also covered devices, data, and developers at SXSW 2014. A3 UltimateA3 Ultimate API: A3 Ultimate is an online platform from which A3 players can perform in-game tasks. A3 – short for Art, … [Link]

O'Reilly News and Commentary » Crowdsourcing Feature discovery

Sunday 16 March 17:19:10 UTC 2014

Data scientists were among the earliest and most enthusiastic users of crowdsourcing services. Lukas Biewald noted in a recent talk that one of the reasons he started CrowdFlower was that as a data scientist he got frustrated with having to … [Link]

Geeks are Sexy Technology News » Dorkly Comic: The 7 Most Annoying People To Watch TV With

Sunday 16 March 17:00:45 UTC 2014

The 7 Most Annoying People To Watch TV With by Julia Lepetit and Andrew Bridgman from Dorkly. [Source: Dorkly] [Link]

Mashable » Job Openings in Journalism, Communications and More

Sunday 16 March 17:00:41 UTC 2014

13082847254_0f3c318c23_k_finalFeed-tw Feed-fbAre you searching for your next great career opportunity in the digital space? The Mashable Job Board is here to serve you as the leading destination for digital talent. Since its launch five years ago, the Mashable Job Board has been a hiring hub for more than 3,000 employers. We have showcased career opportunities from companies such as Google, Edelman, Viacom, … [Link]

Mashable » Map Shows 634 Runways in Range for Missing Malaysia Airlines Plane

Sunday 16 March 16:57:37 UTC 2014

MalaysiaairlinesmapFeed-tw Feed-fb Officials searching for the missing Malaysia Airlines plane are fairly certain it was intentionally flown off course for an extended period of time. They are basing that theory on a series of satellite “pings” the plane sent as it soared off toward India and the Middle East — or maybe out into the expanse of the Indian Ocean. Flying on … [Link]

Slashdot » Transhumanist Children's Book Argues, "Death Is Wrong"

Sunday 16 March 16:35:00 UTC 2014

destinyland writes "Hoping to inspire life-extending medical research, science fiction author Gennady Stolyarov has launched a campaign to give away 1,000 free copies of his transhumanist picture book for children, Death is Wrong. 'My greatest fear about the future is not of technology running out of control or posing existential risks to humankind,' he explains. 'Rather, my greatest fear is … [Link]

Mashable » Children's Book Teaches Kids 'Death Is Wrong'

Sunday 16 March 16:25:56 UTC 2014

Death-childrens-book2Feed-tw Feed-fbWhen Gennady Stolyarov II was five years old, living in Belarus as the Soviet Union teetered on the brink of collapse, he asked his mother what happens to people when they grow up "They go to school," she answered. And then? "They work and get married." And then? And then? Eventually, his mother ran out of answers. "And then they die," … [Link]

Geeks are Sexy Technology News » The International Sounds of Eating and Drinking [Comics]

Sunday 16 March 16:00:46 UTC 2014

After illustrating the International Sounds of Sneezing, James Chapman is back with The International Sounds of Eating and Drinking. [Source: Pictures by James Chapman] [Link]

Mashable » Crimea Votes: The Day in Pictures

Sunday 16 March 15:46:23 UTC 2014

Crimea-referendum-celebrateFeed-tw Feed-fbIn a quickly-called referendum, Crimea voters went to the polls on Sunday to choose whether to secede from Ukraine and join Russia. With Crimea's electorate composed mostly of ethnic Russians, the referendum was widely expected to support a split from Ukraine. While the Kiev government called the vote illegitimate and other countries saying they won't recognize the outcome, exit polls cited … [Link]

Slashdot » Harsh Wireless Conditions? Send In the Drone Hot Spot

Sunday 16 March 15:33:00 UTC 2014

coondoggie writes "The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has moved along a project it says would use hot-spot enabled drones to bring wireless communications to even the most distant and harsh environments. The project known as Fixed Wireless at a Distance is designed specifically to overcome the challenge inherent with cell communication in remote areas and this week the … [Link]

Mashable » 'Lowcost Cosplay' Is Your Hilarious Guide to Costume Inspiration

Sunday 16 March 15:05:20 UTC 2014

Queen1Feed-tw Feed-fbThe wigs, capes and makeup required for killer cosplay can hit the wallet hard. Well, unless you're the guys behind the budget-friendly project Lowcost Cosplay. The project documents one man's creative and absurd attempts at costumes made from pillows, sheets and other everyday items. See also: 'My Half Assed Cosplay Ideas' Celebrates Thrifty Geeks queen Image: Lowcost CosplayLowcost Cosplay is the brainchild … [Link]

Mashable » You're Looking at It Wrong — Why the Web Demands Vertical Screens

Sunday 16 March 14:56:25 UTC 2014

Vertical-monitor1Feed-tw Feed-fbThe first person to twist apart an Oreo, or sit backwards in a chair, or pretend a tennis racket was a guitar — visionaries who recognized that everyday objects used by the masses have higher callings. I’ve joined them by turning my widescreen monitor vertically. HP_Monitor-1 Special appearance in the background by Mashable's real-time news editor Brian RiesImage: Christina Ascani/MashableTo be clear, … [Link]

Mashable » 10 YouTube Videos That Prove Science Is Magic

Sunday 16 March 14:30:03 UTC 2014

MagicFeed-tw Feed-fbIt’s not magic, it's science! For the science-minded YouTube viewer, those boring old magic trick videos lack intellectual rigor. Some magic tricks can be cheesy, and pulling rabbits out of a hat or shouting "Abracadabra!" is for little kids. Being the more mature, discerning adult that you are, you demand more from your party tricks. It turns out, the world of … [Link]

Slashdot » Federal Student Aid Requirements At For-Profit Colleges Overhauled

Sunday 16 March 14:29:00 UTC 2014

An anonymous reader writes "The U.S. Department of Education has released a proposal for new regulations that would hold colleges that receive federal student aid accountable for the employment success of their graduates. The overhaul is prompted by the fact that students from for-profit colleges account for nearly 50% of all loan defaults yet only account for about 13% of … [Link]

Slashdot » Friendly Fungus Protects Our Mouths From Invaders

Sunday 16 March 13:26:00 UTC 2014

sciencehabit writes "When we talk about the human microbiome, bacteria usually get all the press. But microscopic fungi live in and on us, too. New research shows that a little-known fungus called Pichia lives in healthy mouths and may play an important role in protecting us from an infection caused by the harmful fungus Candida. The friendly fungus makes a … [Link]

Mashable » The Most Certain Ways to Battle Uncertainty

Sunday 16 March 13:18:24 UTC 2014

Meditation-grand-canyonFeed-tw Feed-fbYou might be all too familiar with the feeling of uncertainty. As traditional, linear career paths become a thing of the past, and structured, hierarchical organizations give way to flat and collaborative workplaces, there’s more and more responsibility on you to chart your own course. Especially when these situations have a lot of unknowns and their consequences are unpredictable, uncertainty looms … [Link]

Mashable » Crimea Election Official Says 95 Percent of Voters Chose to Join Russia

Sunday 16 March 12:34:54 UTC 2014

Vtngcrm67969Feed-tw Feed-fbUPDATE, 4:45 P.M. ET – Mikhail Malishev, head of the Crimean referendum committee, said 95 percent of voters approved splitting from Ukraine and joining Russia, according to the Associated Press. Malishev announced that number Sunday night after more than 50 percent of the ballots had been counted. His announcement came shortly after the United States condemned the referendum, calling it unlawful. … [Link]

Mashable » 10 Most Popular St. Patrick’s Day Dishes

Sunday 16 March 12:30:11 UTC 2014

CupcakeFeed-tw Feed-fbFor St. Patrick's Day, you want shepherd's pie — and corned beef, shamrock shakes and cabbage rolls According to Yahoo, searches for Irish food recipes soar as St. Patrick's Day approaches. The phrase "Irish food" alone received an 820% boost, while recipes for corned beef and cabbage jumped 685% See also: 25 Animals Ready to Shamrock for St. Paddy's Day Get … [Link]

Slashdot » The Billionaires Privatizing American Science

Sunday 16 March 12:25:00 UTC 2014

An anonymous reader writes "Government-funded science is struggling in the United States. With the unstable economy over the past decade and the growing hostility to science in popular rhetoric, basic research money is getting hard to find. Part of the gap is being filled by billionaire philanthropists. Steven Edwards of the American Association for the Advancement of Science says, 'For … [Link]

Mashable » This Machine Is Like a 3D Printer for Crafters

Sunday 16 March 12:08:39 UTC 2014

DressesFeed-tw Feed-fbDesign technology company Cricut (pronounced "cricket") recently released Cricut Explore, a machine that can cut designs from a range of crafting materials, including paper, chipboard, iron-ons, vinyl, felt and even leather. Now, even the least nimble-fingered hobbyists can produce precision-cut DIY marvels. "We are driven by the philosophy: How do we get from creation to inspiration?" says Cricut CEO Ashish Arora. … [Link]

Geeks are Sexy Technology News » Amazon Deal of the Day: Up to 65% Off on Star Trek TNG Seasons on Blu-Ray

Sunday 16 March 11:04:24 UTC 2014

For today’s edition of Deal of the Day, Amazon has the first season of Star Trek: TNG on blu-ray for just $31.49 (59% Off) and season 2 to 5 for just $45.99 each (65% Off.) I’ve been wanting these box sets forever, so I’m glad the price has finally gone down on them. [Up to 65% Off on Star Trek … [Link]

Geeks are Sexy Technology News » Nightwing: The Series Teaser [Video]

Sunday 16 March 11:03:20 UTC 2014

Wow, that fan-made Nightwing web series looks beyond awesome. I know the teaser is really short, but if the full series is as top notch as this trailer, we’re all in for a heck of a treat! Synopsis: “Nightwing: The Series” centers around Batman’s first sidekick, Dick Grayson aka Robin. After a falling out with his mentor, Dick disappears from … [Link]

Geeks are Sexy Technology News » How to Make Magic Mud – From a Potato!

Sunday 16 March 11:02:01 UTC 2014

From The King of Random: It’s mind-blowing to think this stuff is in our food! Here’s how to make a glowing “magical mud” from ordinary potatoes. WARNING: This substance can make quite a mess, so make it in an area that will be easy to clean up. It’s non-toxic, and perfectly ok to eat in small quantities, however, use of … [Link]

Geeks are Sexy Technology News » Can You Guess The Character? [Comic]

Sunday 16 March 11:01:53 UTC 2014

Yep. That adds up perfectly! [Source: Dinosaur Comics | Via] [Link]

Slashdot » Measuring the Xbox One Against PCs With Titanfall

Sunday 16 March 9:35:14 UTC 2014

An anonymous reader writes "Earlier this week, Respawn Entertainment launched Titanfall, a futuristic first-person shooter with mechs that has been held up as the poster child for the Xbox One. The Digital Foundry blog took the opportunity to compare how the game plays on the Xbox One to its performance on a well-appointed PC. Naturally, the PC version outperforms, but … [Link]

Slashdot » Solar-Powered Toilet Torches Waste For Public Health

Sunday 16 March 6:46:00 UTC 2014

Daniel_Stuckey writes "With funding from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation's Reinvent the Toilet challenge, [a] team has developed a toilet that uses concentrated solar power to scorch and disinfect human waste, turning feces into a useful byproduct called biochar … a sanitary charcoal material that is good for soils and agriculture. By converting solid waste to biochar (liquid waste … [Link]

Slashdot » The Era of Facebook Is an Anomaly

Sunday 16 March 3:36:00 UTC 2014

An anonymous reader writes "Speaking to The Verge, author and Microsoft Researcher Danah Boyd put words to a feeling I've had about Facebook and other social networking sites for a while, now: 'The era of Facebook is an anomaly.' She continues, 'The idea of everybody going to one site is just weird. Give me one other part of history where … [Link]

Slashdot » Firefox Was the Most Attacked & Exploited Browser At Pwn2own 2014

Sunday 16 March 0:31:00 UTC 2014

darthcamaro writes "Though IE, Chrome and Safari were all attacked and all were exploited, no single web browser was exploited at this year's Pwn2own hacking challenge as Mozilla Firefox. A fully patched version of Firefox was exploited four different times by attackers, each revealing new zero-day vulnerabilities in the open-source web browser. When asked why Mozilla was attacked so much … [Link]

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