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.
Geek Culture » Rocket goes up, rocket comes down…
Video of SpaceX's Falcon 9 Reusable rocket taking its first test flight. Footage was shot using a drone and HD camera. Whoa. [Link]
Slashdot » Man Builds DIY Cellphone Using Raspberry Pi
Photographer and software engineer Dave Hunt has posted an article about his most recent project: a DIY cellphone based on a Raspberry Pi (he calls it a PiPhone). It has a touchscreen dialing interface for making calls, and it's built with off-the-shelf components. The total bill of materials clocks in at about $158: $40 for the rPi, $35 for the … [Link]
Mashable » Study: Ginseng Extract Could Help Fight Off the Flu
Ginseng, the root of the plant Panax ginseng, is one of the most commonly used herbal medicines and is often sold as an over-the-counter remedy for fatigue. Although it has been used by humans for thousands of years, more recent research has begun to investigate therapeutic and pharmacological uses including anti-allergy and anti-inflammatory properties. It is also known to act on … [Link]
Mashable » Foursquare CEO Admits to Wife's Boston Marathon Fraud
UPDATE, April 25, 7:40 p.m. ET: After Friday's blowback, Crowley posted these thoughts to Medium, writing: "It’s clear that both Chelsa and I lost perspective on how our actions could be hurtful to others. What we did was wrong and we’re sorry." — Controversy enveloped this year's Boston Marathon — the first since last year's deadly bomb attack — when it … [Link]
Slashdot » Why Speed-Reading Apps Don't Work
sciencehabit writes: "Does reading faster mean reading better? That's what speed-reading apps claim, promising to boost not just the number of words you read per minute, but also how well you understand a text. There's just one problem: The same thing that speeds up reading actually gets in the way of comprehension, according to a new study (abstract). Apps like … [Link]
Slashdot » Hulu Blocks VPN Users
New submitter electronic convict writes: "Hulu, apparently worried that too many non-U.S. residents are using cheap VPN services to watch its U.S. programming, has started blocking IP address ranges belonging to known VPN services. Hulu didn't announce the ban, but users of the affected VPNs are getting this message: 'Based on your IP-address, we noticed that you are trying to … [Link]
Mashable » Unearthing E.T.: A Legendary Atari Mystery Finally Gets Closure
Are millions of E.T. game cartridges for the Atari 2600 really buried in a New Mexico landfill? That question will finally be answered on Saturday, as film and excavation crews gather to dig up one of the greatest video game stories of all time. The story dates back to 1983, when Atari dumped millions of unsold game cartridges and other Atari … [Link]
Mashable » Star Wars Rewrites History: Books, Comics No Longer Official
If you felt a great disturbance in the Force this Friday, that's because there are major changes afoot in the Star Wars universe. Lucasfilm has announced that all of the books and comics that filled the empty space in the Skywalker story after Return of the Jedi in 1983, hundreds of titles collectively known as the Expanded Universe, will no longer … [Link]
Slashdot » Algorithm Distinguishes Memes From Ordinary Information
KentuckyFC writes: "Memes are the cultural equivalent of genes: units that transfer ideas or practices from one human to another by means of imitation. In recent years, network scientists have become increasingly interested in how memes spread, work that has led to important insights into the nature of news cycles, into information avalanches on social networks and so on. But … [Link]
Mashable » 'The Knick' Teaser Gives Bloody Glimpse at Cinemax Medical Drama
Though director Steven Soderbergh — the mastermind behind Behind the Candelabra, Erin Brockovich, Traffic and Ocean's Eleven — is taking a break from film-making, he's been busy getting his hands dirty on a medical miniseries for Cinemax. The 10-episode drama, The Knick, will premiere this summer with Soderbergh at the helm and Clive Owen as its lead character. The story will … [Link]
Mashable » The End of the Car Wash? Nissan Develops 'Self-Cleaning' Vehicle
Nissan unveiled a new prototype on Thursday that could potentially do away with car washes. The carmaker is experimenting with a special super-hydrophobic paint called Ultra-Ever Dry that it's billing as "self-cleaning" for cars. It has been specially engineered to be extremely water- and oil-resistant by UltraTech International. See also: The 12 Most Expensive Cars at the New York Auto Show … [Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » Nerds Today, Bosses Tomorrow: Bullied Nerds Sing “I Will Survive” [Video]
An anti-bullying PSA by Del Campo Saatchi & Saatchi for VH-1. Don’t bully. [delcamponazcasaatchi | Via LS] [Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » Redneck Space Program [Video]
Warning: Do NOT do this at home, or anywhere for that matter. Yep, that’s quite… something. [littlefightergsi | Via TA] [Link]
Slashdot » Gary Kildall, Father of the PC OS, Finally Gets His Due
theodp writes: "GeekWire reports that Gary Kildall, the creator of the landmark personal computer operating system CP/M, will be recognized posthumously by the IEEE for that contribution, in addition to his invention of BIOS, with a rare IEEE Milestone plaque. Kildall, who passed away in 1994 at the age of 52, has been called the man who could have been … [Link]
Mashable » Nike Ad Induces World Cup Fever Without Mentioning the Tourney Once
Nike released a new World Cup ad on Friday, and predictably enough, it's freaking excellent Let's take a deeper dive See also: Proof That Brazil Is World Cup Soccer's True Home Starring Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar Jr., Wayne Rooney, Andres Iniesta and other soccer demigods, the four-minute "Winner Stays" spot (above) also features cameos from folks you wouldn't expect — the … [Link]
Slashdot » Verizon's Plan To Snoop On Its Customers
digitalPhant0m writes: "A story at the L.A. Times details how Verizon Wireless has started pushing the envelope (or downright abusing it) when it comes to tracking users without their knowledge. The company said, 'In addition to the customer information that's currently part of the program, we will soon use an anonymous, unique identifier we create when you register on our … [Link]
ProgrammableWeb.com » Today in APIs: Google Calendar API Updates, and 8 new APIs
The Google Calendar API Team has announced updates that will save developers on API quota, network bandwidth, and smart phone battery usage. Tradier lands funding to further develop its API driven platform for building financial services apps. Plus, Yodlee partners with new incubators and accelerators, and 8 new APIs. Google Calendar API Team Announces Updates The Google Calendar API Team has … [Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » Gmail Tips and Tricks That Will Save Your Inbox
5 Gmails tips that should vastly improve your experience with Google’s free email service. [Buzzfeed] [Link]
Mashable » Having High-Tech Gadgets Is a Career-Booster, Says Study
Always using the latest high-tech gadget is one way to boost your image at work, new research suggests. Indeed, business professionals who want to be perceived as leaders should be investing in the latest technology breakthroughs, according to a study published recently in The Journal of Product Innovation Management. "Familiarity with and usage of new high-tech products appears to be a … [Link]
Mashable » Microsoft Shouldn't Count on Surface Mini to Reverse Its Tablet Slide
Microsoft Surface sales were way down last quarter, according to the company's earnings report. That's no reason to panic — the previous quarter was the holiday, after all — but the drop is so large that there may be more behind it than seasonal hiccups. Revenue from the Surface was nearly cut in half, Microsoft reported, declining from $893 million to … [Link]
New Scientist – News » Aliens versus predators: The toxic toad invasion
The cane toad is spreading fast across Australia, killing anything that eats it. Yet the feared wildlife catastrophe hasn't happened, finds Michael Slezak (full text available to subscribers) 
[Link]
Mashable » Nike President on Fuelband News: We're Excited for a Future With Apple
Nike President and CEO Mark Parker has added fuel to rumors on Friday that the company's Fuelband software could end up in the Apple iWatch. In an interview with CNBC, the executive stressed the importance of its existing relationship with Apple and is "excited about where that relationship will go forward." SEE ALSO: Nike Is Positioning Fuelband Software for Wearables Like … [Link]
Mashable » Apps Promise Luxury By Eliminating Talking to People
When I power on my phone upon landing at LAX, a text message is already waiting for me: "Hi Ian, Silvercar here! We have your res at 1:00pm today. Let's roll!" Silvercar rents a fleet of silver Audi A4s at airports in Austin, Dallas, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. A slogan speaks plainly on the company's behalf: "car rental that doesn't … [Link]
Mashable » Watch 12 Years of a Life Unfold in First Trailer for Richard Linklater's 'Boyhood'
The trick of Dazed and Confused director Richard Linklater's latest coming-of-age movie Boyhood is a real-life coming-of-age, in that his unique project was shot over a 12-year period to capture the actors as they grew up in real time. Linklater cast Ellar Coltrane at age 6, shooting the family saga intermittently with co-stars Ethan Hawke and Patricia Arquette until Coltrane … [Link]
Slashdot » SpaceX Files Suit Against US Air Force
Today Elon Musk announced that SpaceX has decided to challenge the U.S. Air Force's restrictions on rocket launches related to national security. Such launches are done with a Russian rocket right now, and that contract is not up for competition with other rocket makers, like SpaceX. Musk says the company has exhausted other options to become part of the bidding … [Link]
Mashable » How to Take a $250,000 Selfie
Last week, Jared Frank uploaded the ultimate selfie video to YouTube. While on vacation in Peru, Frank decided to take a video of himself in front of a passing train, only to get a swift kick in the head by the conductor. The Internet, in all of its schadenfreudian glory, made the video a viral sensation with more than 27 … [Link]
New Scientist – News » Spark of life: Metabolism appears in lab without cells
Complex processes that support all life have been serendipitously spotted with no cells needed, hinting that life could have started spontaneously in early oceans 
[Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » Fantastic Zero Suit Samus Aran Cosplay by Lara Lunardi [Pics]
A fantastic interpretation of Zero Suit Samus Aran by California-based cosplayer and artist Lara Lunardi. Be sure to check her out over at her Facebook page as well as on Instagram right here! Model and Costume: Lara Lunardi Photography: Craig’s Cosplay Corral 
[Lara Lunardi] [Link]
Mashable » South Korea Confirms It Sent Wrong Bodies to Families of Ferry Victims
The South Korean government admitted that it sent the wrong bodies to families of those who died in the recent Sewol ferry accident that killed at least 183 and left 119 missing but believed dead, according to several reports. On occasion, families discovered the bodies had been misidentified only after they saw the ferry victims at a funeral home See also: … [Link]
ProgrammableWeb.com » Microsoft’s Nokia Acquisition Means More Opportunities For Developers
Microsoft finalized its acquisition of Nokia’s mobile phone and software businesses today. The deal, valued at $7.2 billion, was first announced last September and significantly alters the mobile landscape. Rather than simply develop the Windows Phone operating system, Microsoft will now also make smartphones with the OS on board. It changes the Apple-Google-Microsoft dynamic in a new and interesting way that … [Link]
Mashable » Solar Flare Disrupts Communications on Earth
The sun erupted with a massive solar flare late on April 24, triggering a temporary communications blackout on some parts of Earth. The powerful flare peaked at 8:27 p.m. EDT, April 24, and ranked as an X1.3-class solar storm, one of the strongest types of flares the sun can experience, according to a report from the U.S. Space Weather Prediction Center. … [Link]
Slashdot » Microsoft/Nokia Deal Closes
Last September Microsoft announced it would be purchasing Nokia's Devices and Services business. The terms have been worked out, the shareholders gave approval, and the regulatory issues were hurdled. As of today, it's official: Nokia's phone business is now Microsoft Mobile. The final price is around $7.5 billion, and 30,000 employees are transferring to Microsoft. "The purchase of the unprofitable … [Link]
Mashable » Coming to Your Twitter Feed: Ads That Preview Company Websites
Twitter is making good on its promise to surface new types of ads this year On Friday Twitter announced Website Cards, a new ad-unit that highlights a small photo, a line of text, and a URL to an advertiser's webpage. Twitter believes this combo of an image and a call to action will help drive more traffic for advertisers than a … [Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » Boomer the Amazing Baby T-REX Toy [Video]
From Boomer’s creator: It’s actually going to be better than this. This isn’t an early prototype. This is going into production in a couple of weeks. Everything will be in the production version, except it will be a lot quieter, somewhat more responsive, and will have a more elaborate AI program. Boomer will apparently be available next fall and will … [Link]
Mashable » Penguins Demonstrate 11 Types of People You See at Happy Hour
Nothing tops happy hour drinks at the end of a long, hard work week — unless the bar patrons around you don't know how to act like normal humans. This isn't Cabo — please stop screaming body shots. If you think those barflies get a little wobbly in the legs after a few pints, just be glad there aren't any penguins … [Link]
Lifehacker » The Always Up-to-Date Guide to Streaming Blocked Content Overseas
Regardless of which end of whatever pond you're on, region blocked content is annoying. Whether you're an ex-pat looking to watch reruns of The Wonder Years, or you're hankering for a dose of Dr. Who, here's the best (and easiest) way to get that content.Read more… [Link]
New Scientist – News » Canada uses satellite to scold Russia over Ukraine
The Canadian government has blocked the planned launch of a satellite aboard a Russian Soyuz rocket – a step up from NASA's Russia boycott 
[Link]
Mashable » Congressman Sean Duffy: 'But First, Let Me Take a Selfie.'
Congressman Sean Duffy (R.-Wis.), who also starred in MTV's Real World Boston, has recreated the viral music video "#Selfie" with selfies he took with constituents, his family and unsuspecting familiar faces on Capitol Hill. "I'm jumping on a trend to try to engage my younger constituents," Duffy told Mashable on what inspired him to create the video. "They need to … [Link]
ProgrammableWeb.com » Prince Partners with Essence Festival to Launch Event’s First Hackathon
In July, the Essence Festival will celebrate its 20th anniversary. In addition to its traditional lineup of incredible music, Prince (the headliner) has partnered with Essence to launch the event’s first hackathon: #YesWeCode. #YesWeCode is an initiative born out of the Rebuild the Dream Innovation Fund. The program targets low-opportunity youth and provides them with the tools to become world-class programmers. … [Link]
Mashable » SpaceX Successfully Soft-Landed Booster Rocket in the Atlantic
Telsa CEO Elon Musk announced a major breakthrough in spaceflight on Friday: the successful soft landing of Falcon 9's reusable rocket booster stage in the Atlantic Ocean "I'm happy to confirm that we were able to do a soft landing in the Atlantic and all the data received back is that it made a soft landing and was in a healthy … [Link]
Slashdot » Anonymous's Latest Target: Boston Children's Hospital
Brandon Butler writes: "Supporters of the faceless collective known as Anonymous have taken up the cause of a young girl, after the State of Massachusetts removed her from her parents earlier this year. However, the methods used to show support may have unintended consequences, which could impact patient care. On Thursday, the Boston Children's Hospital confirmed that they were subjected … [Link]
Mashable » Mariah Carey Plans Unconventional Album Release Similar to Beyonce's
Vocal powerhouse Mariah Carey is gearing up to release her 14th studio album, her first in nearly half a decade, exclusively online through digital services. Carey also plans to skip some traditional promotional marketing tactics — opting to unleash the album, cover art, track listing and title in one fell swoop instead of in individual doses typically employed to build buzz … [Link]
Mashable » Love and Medicine Save Runt of a Kitten Litter
Meet Stuart Little, the runt of the litter that shouldn't even be alive right now. When a litter of kittens in poor health was dropped off at nonprofit cat rescue organization Fabulous Felines Rescue NWA, there was little hope for Stuart. In fact, workers for the organization based in Bentonville, Ark. thought he might have already been dead when the box … [Link]
Geek Culture » Hopefully this won't ruin your day at the beach…
[Link]
Mashable » B.J. Novak Discusses Writing and Comedy in the Digital Age
Social media sites like Facebook and Twitter often bear the blame for ruining the minds of a generation. But not everyone sees it that way. Author and comedian B.J. Novak, for one, thinks that social media could be responsible for the best generation of writers our society has ever seen See also: 8 Books to Add to Your Summer Reading … [Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » ‘Brave’ Gets Annie Leibovitz’s ‘Disney Dream’ Treatment [Pics + Video]
Esteemed photographer Annie Leibovitz has teamed up with Disney since 2007 for the Disney Dream photo series. The series takes famous actors and musicians and transforms them into classic Disney characters. The latest movie to get the Leibovitz-Disney treatment is Brave, with Golden Globe-winning actress Jessica Chastain as Merida. 
In 2013, Leibovitz photographed Jennifer Hudson as Tiana from The Princess … [Link]
New Scientist – News » Brazil's internet gets groundbreaking bill of rights
Brazil's president has vowed to uphold strong internet freedoms for its people and businesses. Can the Marco Civil da Internet be a beacon for net rights? 
[Link]
Slashdot » How Japan Plans To Build Orbital Solar Power Stations
the_newsbeagle (2532562) writes "Solar power stations in orbit aren't exactly a new idea — Asimov set one of his stories on such a space station back in 1941. Everyone thinks it's a cool idea to collect solar power 24 hours a day and beam it down to Earth. But what with the expense and difficulty of rocketing up the parts … [Link]
New Scientist – News » Multifaith bid to save River Jordan may inspire peace
The river has watered civilisations for 10,000 years and is sacred to half of humanity but now needs help. Could this cause help to mend the Middle East? 
[Link]
New Scientist – News » Warhol's digital soup cans discovered on old floppies
Andy Warhol's Amiga art was lost to the world on obsolete floppy discs – until a computer club came to the rescue 
[Link]
Mashable » 25 Cats Killed, Found Hanging From Trees In NYC Suburb
Well, this is a terrible way to start a Friday. Dozens of dead cats found hanging from trees in a suburb of New York City on Friday, were murdered, officials say, in a case the authorities are calling "heinous." At least 25 cats, some of which were badly decomposed and hanging from tree limbs in black bags, were found by public … [Link]
O'Reilly News and Commentary » Measuring culture
By Lydia Laurenson Digital media influences culture — and it’s influenced by culture in turn. Culture matters in business: Facebook just spent an astonishing $19 billion to acquire WhatsApp because of WhatsApp’s international presence. Culture also matters politically: Turkey’s leader … [Link]
Mashable » Samsung Galaxy S5 Takes on the iPhone in New Ad
Samsung launched its first TV campaign for its recently-launched Galaxy S5 smartphone on Friday, emphasizing a new ultra HD camera and pitting it against the iPhone 5S. The 60-second ad plays more like a product explainer than a typical commercial, but aims to show consumers how the device could be used to make "everyday moments better." SEE ALSO: Samsung Galaxy … [Link]
Mashable » Noor Siddiqui: A Remedy for Better Medical Decision Making
Blaring ambulance sirens may be jarring; they’d hardly be effective if they weren’t. While such a wail can make the hair on the back of your neck stand up, a siren is actually the sound of hope. It means that EMTs are responding to a call, ready to spring into action; or that someone is being treated in the midst of … [Link]
Mashable » Seth Meyers Will Host the Emmys This Year
It’s been a good week for Seth Meyers Just hours after being named as one of Time's "100 Most Influential People," NBC announced Meyers as the host for this year's Emmys See also: Behind the Curtain of the Emmys Selection Process Meyers took over Late Night two months ago, following in the footsteps of actor Neil Patrick Harris, who hosted last … [Link]
Slashdot » Siphons Work Due To Gravity, Not Atmospheric Pressure: Now With Peer Review
knwny (2940129) writes "Peeved by the widespread misconception that siphons work because of atmospheric pressure, physics lecturer Dr. Stephen Hughes, [in 2010] wrote a mail to the prestigious Oxford English Dictionary(OED) pointing out the error. To back his claim, Dr.Hughes tested a siphon inside a hypobaric chamber to check if changes in atmospheric pressure had any effect on the siphon … [Link]
Mashable » Alibaba's IPO Could Be the Biggest Ever, Report Says
Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba is considering offering more shares in its IPO, a move that could make its initial public offering the largest ever, according to a report. The Wall Street Journal says no final deal has been made, but new shares could push the amount of the offering beyond the Agricultural Bank of China's record $22.1 billion in Shanghai and … [Link]
Mashable » Watch a 20-Mile Long Iceberg Drift Into the Southern Ocean
Ever since a massive crack was discovered in Antarctica's Pine Island Glacier in 2011, NASA researchers and other scientists have kept a close watch on this area. The crack cleaved off an iceberg, now known as "Ice Island B31," which broke off from the glacier in November 2013, and has since been drifting across Pine Island Bay, a basin of the … [Link]
Mashable » 7 Facts You Need to Know About World Malaria Day
Friday marks World Malaria Day, an annual awareness campaign to shed light on the preventable and curable disease that still kills hundreds of thousands every year. This year's World Malaria Day continues the theme "Invest in the future, defeat malaria," calling attention to the many efforts to end all malaria-related deaths by 2015. See also: 20 Important African Startups to Watch … [Link]
Mashable » Avoid Counterfeit Olive Oil By Verifying Its DNA Nanoparticles
Today we learned that olive oil counterfeiting is a real thing, and not the plot of some future Wes Anderson movie. We also learned that olive oil counterfeiters' days might be numbered thanks to some tiny DNA particles that could allow the oil to be verified as authentic. Way to tackle the big issues, science. According to authorities, food counterfeiting is … [Link]
New Scientist – News » Congo's fragile forests watched over with online map
Online map Moabi shows how land is used to strike a balance between preserving the forest and responsible logging in the Democratic Republic of the Congo 
[Link]
Mashable » The Sweet Moment a Dad Finds Out He's Going to Be a Grandfather
Get your tissues out, because this one is a tearjerker There's nothing more heartwarming than watching a proud parent find out he's going to be a grandparent — and this YouTube video captures one man's unforgettable reaction. See also: Runners Stopping Mid-Race to Thank a WWII Vet Will Leave Tears in Your Eyes Jessica Hickey revealed the good news to … [Link]
Slashdot » Google's Business Plan For Nest: Selling Your Data To Utility Companies
jfruh (300774) writes "Google spent $3.2 billion on Nest. How is it going to make its money back selling high-end electronic thermostats at $250 a pop? Well, keep in mind that Google is a company that makes its money off information, not hardware. In fact, Nest is developing a healthy revenue stream in which it sells aggregated user information to … [Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » Star Wars: A New Hope with Terrible Sound Effects [Video]
Star Wars: A New Hope as you’ve never seen it before: with really terrible sound effects dubbed in. [Hudson Hongo] [Link]
Mashable » Where There's Google Fiber, Google Wi-Fi Will Soon Follow
Google is reportedly interested in offering its own Wi-Fi networks in regions where it already has its Google Fiber Internet and TV service, a new report suggests. According to PC World, Google has been circulating a document that discusses the possibility of a wireless service to 34 cities that are due to receive Google Fiber service in 2015. SEE ALSO: 10 … [Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » Inside Homer’s Body: This Week’s Couch Gag from The Simpsons is REALLY Weird [Video]
One of the weirdest couch gag from The Simpsons I’ve seen! Directed by Michal Socha. [ADHD] [Link]
Mashable » Amazon Shares Plunge After Lukewarm Earnings Report
Amazon shares are getting slammed amid heavy trading volume on Friday after the ecommerce retailer reported lukewarm earnings. It has been a brutal 2014 for the company's stock. Investors sent shares 9% lower in the first hour of trading on Friday, extending 2014 losses to 22.8%. 
Image: Google FinanceThe company reported earnings Thursday afternoon that met investor expectations. Revenue continues to … [Link]
Slashdot » Identity Dominance: the US Military's Biometric War In Afghanistan
Advocatus Diaboli (1627651) writes "For years the U.S. military has been waging a biometric war in Afghanistan, working to unravel the insurgent networks operating throughout the country by collecting the personal identifiers of large portions of the population. A restricted U.S. Army guide on the use of biometrics in Afghanistan obtained by Public Intelligence provides an inside look at this … [Link]
Mashable » 10 Serene Summer Destinations for Avoiding the World Cup Crowds
This June, the World Cup will draw thousands of soccer fans to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. For soccer fans, the host city is the ultimate summer destination. For the rest of us, however, this is an excellent time not to go to Rio. A trip to the Brazilian capital city for the World Cup from June 14-21, including roundtrip airfare from … [Link]
New Scientist – News » US has lighter touch on e-cigarette regulation than EU
New legislation proposed yesterday by the US regulator is seen as more pragmatic – and scientific – than stricter European Union rules 
[Link]
Slashdot » Blood of World's Oldest Woman Hints At Limits of Life
porkchop_d_clown (39923) writes "When Hendrikje van Andel-Schipper died in 2005, she was the oldest woman in the world. [New Scientist reported Wednesday] that, at the end of her life, most of her white blood cells had been produced by just two stem cells — implying the rest of her blood stem cells had already died, and hinting at a possible … [Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » Google May Get Into Wi-Fi And Cellphone Services
Google may be expanding its provision of public Wi-Fi according to planning documents for its high-speed broadband service. There’s even speculation it could get into cellphone services. The revelation comes in a planning document sent to officials in 34 cities which have shown an interest in getting Google Fiber. That’s a program in which Google builds a local network marketed … [Link]
Mashable » George W. Bush's Artwork Now Graces All Sorts of Random Merchandise
American art enthusiasts, pull out your wallets Earlier this month, George W. Bush revealed his art exhibit, "The Art of Leadership: A President's Personal Diplomacy," filled with portraits of world leaders, including Vladimir Putin. Until now, though, we could only look longingly from afar at Bush's interpretations of Vladimir Putin and Tony Blair. See also: The American Painter George W. Bush … [Link]
Mashable » FTC Calls Ban on Tesla Direct Sales 'Bad Policy'
The Federal Trade Commission called various states' bans on direct sales for automakers like Tesla "bad policy" that stifles competition The FTC weighed in with a blog post on Thursday that argued that while technology has transformed the way we buy other goods, the auto category has remained stubbornly resistant to change. See also: It's Not Just Tesla: Why Dealers Are … [Link]
Mashable » IBM 3D Prints World's Smallest Magazine Cover
At the intersection of nano technology and 3D printing lies IBM's Microscopic 3D Printer, which now holds the distinction of printing the smallest magazine cover in the world. IBM and National Geographic Kids unveiled the cover, which is small enough to fit on a single grain of salt 2,000 times, at the USA Science and Engineering Festival in Washington, D.C., … [Link]
New Scientist – News » Captive lions risk brain damage from deformed skulls
Many lions in captivity die young, often because of malformed skulls that cause damage to their brains. Is the condition triggered by their environment? 
[Link]
Slashdot » Google Mulling Wi-Fi For Cities With Google Fiber
alphadogg (971356) writes "Google is considering deploying Wi-Fi networks in towns and cities covered by its Google Fiber high-speed Internet service. The disclosure is made in a document Google is circulating to 34 cities that are the next candidates to receive Google Fiber in 2015. Specific details of the Wi-Fi plan are not included in the document, which was seen … [Link]
New Scientist – News » How ailing bodies hasten the progress of Alzheimer's
Bodily infections and chronic diseases create inflammation that can spill over into the brain and hasten the development of Alzheimer's disease 
[Link]
Mashable » California Rejects 'Kill Switch' Bill for Smartphones
California lawmakers have rejected a bill that would mandate “kill switches” on smartphones sold in the state. Under the proposal, all smartphones in California were to be sold with software that could render a phone unusable in the event of theft. However, California’s state senate shot down the bill with a 19-17 vote. It required 21 votes to pass. See … [Link]
Mashable » 60+ Events in Digital Media, Tech and More
The Mashable Events Board is a great place to find leading conferences in your industry, whether it's advertising, technology, media or public relations. This week, we're highlighting five events that we think can help move your career forward, from those in Seattle to New York. If you don't find something that's right for you, check out more than 60 events featured … [Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » Amazon Deal of the Day: 39% Off PNY Turbo High Performance USB 3.0 128GB Pen Drive – $42.99 + FREE Shipping
For today’s edition of Deal of the Day, Amazon has the PNY Turbo High Performance USB 3.0 128GB Pen Drive for just $42.99 plus free shipping. That’s 39% off on the drive’s regular list price of $69.99. -PNY Turbo High Performance USB 3.0 128GB Pen Drive – $69.99 $42.99 (39% Off) [Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » “Frozen” Characters Perform the “Thriller” Dance [Video]
Because reasons… [NostalgicFangirl | Via] [Link]
Slashdot » HP Server Killer Firmware Update On the Loose
OffTheLip (636691) writes "According to a Customer Advisory released by HP and reported on by the Channel Register website, a recently released firmware update for the ubiquitous HP Proliant server line could disable the network capability of affected systems. Broadcom NICs in G2-G7 servers are identified as potentially vulnerable. The release date for the firmware was April 18 so expect … [Link]
Mashable » Why Mobile Ads Are Seen as a Boon to Facebook, But a Plague to Google
Analysts gave Facebook a big thumbs-up this week for its transition to mobile. As the company reported on Wednesday, mobile ads now represent 59% of its overall ad revenues, up from 30% in Q1 2013. Brian Wieser, an analyst with Pivotal Research, called it a "monster quarter" for Facebook that was driven largely by growth in mobile. The situation at Google … [Link]
Mashable » 6 Things You Didn't Know You Could Do With Your Graphing Calculator
Graphing calculators just want to have fun. The tool used for advanced math can do more than just calculate. Gone are the days when the only creative thing you could do with a calculator was type "HELLO" (or the ever-popular, giggle-inducing "BOOBS"). Modern calculators are sophisticated, with apps and smart designs that enable you to download games, upload pictures and … [Link]
Slashdot » Facebook Data Miner Will Shock You
MojoKid (1002251) writes "A new website sponsored by Ubisoft as part of its advertising campaign for the upcoming hacking-themed game Watch Dogs isn't just a plug for the title — it's a chilling example of exactly how easy it is for companies to mine your data. While most folks are normally averse to giving any application or service access to … [Link]
Mashable » Microsoft Now Officially Owns Nokia's Phone Business
Microsoft’s acquisition of Nokia's Devices and Services business is now complete, both companies have announced The $7.2 billion deal, originally announced in September 2013, was approved by Nokia shareholders one month later, and has now been approved by governmental regulatory agencies around the world. See also: 5 Futuristic Nokia Patents Microsoft Should Make “Today we welcome the Nokia Devices and Services … [Link]
Mashable » 'Mario Golf: World Tour' — Best Enjoyed With Your Friends
Golf: it's not exactly a young person's game, and yet Nintendo launched another generation of a game where Mario holds the clubs — and Mario Golf: World Tour makes golf simple enough for anyone, especially those who want to play a round with friends. The 3DS-only entry to the golf franchise combines what's great about the inviting-ness to the Mario sports games for … [Link]
Mashable » Ukraine Prime Minister: 'Russia Wants to Start World War III'
Ukraine continues its anti-terror operation in eastern Ukraine on Friday, one day after a violent day at checkpoints surrounding Sloviansk. We are tracking the latest from the region throughout the day. Read more… More about Russia, Us World, World, and Ukraine [Link]
Mashable » 11 Tips for Breaking Up With Someone on Social Media
Social media is a powerful tool that allows human tools to break free of all relationship commitments from the comfort of a screen. Although using services like Instagram to, say, break up with your girlfriend using a hashtag is arguably thinking outside of the box, the least you could do is end things #nofilter. See also: An Unofficial Guide for #ThrowbackThursday … [Link]
Mashable » Play This: Gorgeous Platformer 'Leo's Fortune' Brings Striking Gameplay to iOS
Leo’s gold has been stolen, and it's your job to get it back. This sounds like the line from many a cliche video game, as coin-collecting has been around as long as controllers themselves. Yet Leo's Fortune for iOS puts a darker twist on what that gold does to those who possess it. Leo's Fortune follows Leo — a rolling monster … [Link]
New Scientist – News » Sun 'smoke rings' give clue to solar wind mystery
The most detailed photographs taken of solar eclipses reveal strange patterns in the sun's atmosphere – they may help us better understand the solar wind 
[Link]
Mashable » 17 Purr-Worthy Photos From Inside the New York Cat Cafe
America's first cat cafe has opened in New York City this week with furry kitties so adorable, you'll want to lap them up. We don't recommend that, but the cat-achinos are delish. The pop-up cafe, brought stateside by Purina One, is filled with soft, playful cats available for adoption from April 24-28. The goal is to educate and show the … [Link]
Mashable » Everest Tragedy Leaves Climbers With a Painful Choice
The fallout from a devastating avalanche on Mount Everest that ended the lives of 16 Nepalese guides on April 18 has caused expedition teams to cancel their summit attempt, ending or suspending the dreams of many who had hoped to reach the world's highest point. An emotional hangover, safety concerns and a business climate that is suddenly unstable have all weighed … [Link]
Slashdot » Master of Analytics Program Admission Rates Falling To Single Digits
dcblogs (1096431) writes "The 75 students in the 2014 Master of Science in Analytics class at North Carolina State University received, in total, 246 job offers from 55 employers, valued at $22.5 million in salaries and bonuses, which is 24% higher than last year's combined offers. But the problem ahead is admissions. There may not be enough master's programs in … [Link]
New Scientist – News » Gas attack alleged in Syria as refugees starve
With the bulk of Syria's chemical weapons removed or destroyed, who could be behind the alleged dropping of toxic gas on a village north of Damascus? 
[Link]
Mashable » Samsung's Galaxy Beam 2 Smartphone Has a Built-In Projector
Remember Samsung Galaxy Beam? It was one of the first smartphones on the market that included a built-in projector — a trend that never caught on in the global market There seems to be some demand for such a gadget in China, as Samsung just launched the successor to the Beam in that market: the Samsung Galaxy Beam 2 See also: … [Link]
Slashdot » FTC Approves Tesla's Direct Sales Model
cartechboy (2660665) writes "We've all read about Tesla and the ongoing battles its having with different dealer associations. Basically, dealer associations aren't too pleased about the Silicon Valley startup's direct sales model. Today the FTC has had made a statement on the matter and it's actually in favor of Tesla's direct sales model. 'In this case and others, many state … [Link]
Mashable » Lonely Pup Portraits Explore Human Perceptions of Furry Companions
Famous pets, like Grumpy Cat and her seemingly sour disposition, have one ancient concept to thank for their stardom — anthropomorphism, or the personification of anything other than a human being Helsinki-based photographer Maija Astikainen explores anthropomorphism through One-Dog Policy, an ongoing portrait series of seemingly lonely dogs in their owner's homes. More specifically, the series considers the human-like personality traits … [Link]
Mashable » Pinterest Adds Smarter Search Tool
Pinterest is adding new search features to help users better navigate the 30 billion pins on the site. The company just announced Guided Search, a new product that lets users filter their search by adding specific filters relevant to the original search term See also: How To Plan Your Summer Vacation on Pinterest For example, searching for "hairstyles" will now provide … [Link]
Slashdot » Former US Test Site Sues Nuclear Nations For Disarmament Failure
mdsolar (1045926) writes "The tiny Pacific republic of the Marshall Islands, scene of massive U.S. nuclear tests in the 1950s, sued the United States and eight other nuclear-armed countries on Thursday, accusing them of failing in their obligation to negotiate nuclear disarmament. The Pacific country accused all nine nuclear-armed states of 'flagrant violation of international law' for failing to pursue … [Link]
Mashable » Never Suffer Second-Hand Smells Again With Poo-Pourri
Those second hand bathroom smells are the worst, amirite ladies? Luckily, Poo-pourri is back with video number two to help you get rid of the dreaded bathroom stink. The bathroom product's last video, "Girls Don't Poop", went viral last September. It has 26.5 million YouTube views at time of writing. See also: YouTube's 10 Most-Shared Ads in September This time, … [Link]
Mashable » Porn Service Sues Amazon Over 'FireTV' Name
A pornography service is suing Amazon over FireTV, the set top box the company unveiled earlier this month. Florida-based WREAL is a video streaming company that owns and operates FyreTV.com, a service that enables users to download and watch porn videos. (Naturally, the site is extremely NSFW.) The company also sells a set-top box of its own, also branded FyreTV. See … [Link]
Mashable » How Much Is the Average Facebook User Worth?
Facebook released its first quarter 2014 earnings report on Wednesday, beating Wall Street's estimates with posted revenues of $2.5 billion. The average revenue per user (ARPU) around the world increased over the past year as well, according to the report. Worldwide ARPU (measured by payments and advertising) reached $2 in the first quarter — up from $1.35 in Q1 2013, but … [Link]
Mashable » This Could Be the Smartest Coffee Mug in Your Kitchen
This smart coffee mug has a surprise with every cup To jazz up your morning routine, the mug comes equipped with an e-Ink display, which shows a new photo every time you fill it with a hot liquid. The image can then be uploaded to social media, be it an inspirational quote or a sweet picture. Users control the cup with … [Link]
Slashdot » Group Wants To Recover 36-Year-Old Historic Spacecraft From Deep Space
An anonymous reader writes "A band of space hackers and engineers are trying to do something never done before — recover a 36 year old NASA spacecraft from the grips of deep space and time. With old NASA documents and Rockethub crowdfunding, a team led by Dennis Wingo and Keith Cowing is attempting to steer ISEE-3, later rechristened ICE, the … [Link]
Mashable » An Artist's Attempt to Plot Out All Drones Using Satellite Images
Drones — known for their stealthiness and secret operations — are becoming exposed photo by photo by one artist. James Bridle, 33, is using open-source satellite imagery to show the location of drones around the world to increase overall visibility. He consults news articles, Wikipedia pages, Google Maps, Google Earth and other publicly available satellite maps to locate the drones … [Link]
The Joy of Tech » JoT #1991: What it's really like to be around Neil deGrasse Tyson!
For a bunch of starstuff, he's the right stuff! If you enjoyed the comic, please retweet, Like, share the URL! [Link]
Mashable » Google+ Isn't Dead, It's Just Overexposed
Sometimes — less frequently these days, thankfully — Google+ still gets compared to a ghost town. It's a metaphor from the early days of the social service, and if it was ever accurate, it has not been appropriate for years. We don't know just how inaccurate, because Google won't reveal helpful user numbers, but we'll get to that The ghost town … [Link]
Mashable » Satya Nadella Outlines His Vision For Microsoft
Microsoft’s new CEO Satya Nadella participated in his very first earnings call with analysts Thursday as chief executive. The software maker reported strong Q3 2014 financials, buoyed by strong growth in its cloud services division. Although Nadella was happy to talk about the most recent results, investors and analysts were even more eager to hear more about his plans for Microsoft's … [Link]
Mashable » Here's What Happens When Justin Bieber Follows You On Twitter
Justin Bieber followed me on Twitter yesterday. Yes, we're talking about the real Justin Bieber, complete with the shiny blue verification mark. The reason I need to specify Bieber's authenticity, you see, is that there a lot of fake Bieber accounts out there on Twitter. And many of them are now following me, too. See also: A-List Investors, 1 Million Downloads: … [Link]
Slashdot » Apple, Google Agree To Settle Lawsuit Alleging Hiring Conspiracy
An anonymous reader writes "A group of tech companies including Google and Apple have agreed to settle an antitrust lawsuit over no-hire agreements in Silicon Valley. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. From the article: 'Tech workers filed a class action lawsuit against Apple Inc, Google Inc, Intel Inc and Adobe Systems Inc in 2011, alleging they conspired to … [Link]
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