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.
Mashable » Israel Intensifies Massive Bombing Campaign, Killing 15 Palestinians
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — The Israeli military launched a major offensive in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip on Tuesday, striking more than 100 sites and mobilizing troops for a possible ground invasion in what Israel says is an operation aimed at stopping a heavy barrage of rocket attacks from the Palestinian territory. At least 15 Palestinians, including three children, were killed … [Link]
ProgrammableWeb.com » Today in APIs: Cognitive Networks Lands Patent for Smart Client Technology
Cognitive Networks lands patent for Smart TV. New Russian data law has potentially far-reaching international consequences. Plus: Microsoft opens Xbox Music to App Makers, and Evernote focuses on African developers.
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ProgrammableWeb.com » Offline Maps, Reviews and More Now Featured in TripAdvisor Smartphone App
TripAdvisor has announced the addition of offline functionality to the TripAdvisor smartphone app, making it possible for users to download and save maps, reviews, photos and more so that they can be accessed at locations where no data connection is available. Over 300 worldwide city maps are included in the offline feature, and they are powered by the Scout Maps … [Link]
Slashdot » Another Dementia Test Oversold
An anonymous reader writes: Many prominent news organizations, including the BBC, are reporting on a study (PDF) that claims a new blood test is 87% accurate in predicting which patients will develop cognitive impairment. It's hailed as a major step forward in efforts to fight dementia and Alzheimer's disease. Unfortunately, reality isn't quite so impressive. An article at MedPage Today … [Link]
Mashable » Global-Warming Skeptics Seek Documentary, 8 Years After 'Inconvenient Truth'
Eight years after Al Gore's Academy Award-winning climate-science documentary, An Inconvenient Truth, a prominent climate-skeptic group announced a crowdfunding initiative on Tuesday to produce a documentary that will provide their perspective on the issue Of course, nearly the entire climate-science community disagrees with this perspective. See also: In Commencement Speech, Obama Unloads on Climate Change 'Deniers' The Committee for a Constructive … [Link]
Mashable » Washington Opens Legal Weed Stores — Here's the Dope on Other States
The first stores to legally sell pot in Washington state opened their doors on Tuesday, drawing long lines. Officials issued 24 retail licenses to sell marijuana, making it the second state after Colorado to allow recreational marijuana to be bought more or less freely See also: 22 Victorious Accomplishments in Stoner Engineering People began lining up before 8 a.m. at Bellingham's … [Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » The Science of BBQ [Video]
The science of BBQ, the most delicious science there is! [It's OK To Be Smart] [Link]
Mashable » 20 World Cup Memes to Help Brazil Laugh Away the Pain
At least Germany's having a good day Brazil got crushed in Tuesday's semi-final World Cup match against the Germans — and crushed is putting it mildly See also: The Miserable Agony of Being a Brazil Fan Today Germany scored a record-breaking seven goals, giving Brazil its worst loss in history. For a period in the first half, Germany was scoring faster … [Link]
Slashdot » BlackBerry's Innovation: Square-Screened Smartphones
EthanV2 sends word that BlackBerry, having finally caught up to a world dominated by smartphones, is now trying to push the envelope by developing a smartphone with a square screen. The BlackBerry Passport has a 4.5-inch screen with a resolution of 1440×1440. The phone has a physical keyboard as well. In a blog post about the new phone, they show … [Link]
Mashable » 18 Things More Likely Than Brazil Winning the World Cup
No one expected the Brazil-Germany World Cup match to end up like this — least of all, Twitter. Shocked fans around the world tweeted their frustration and amusement with Tuesday's match, using the hashtag #ThingMoreLikelyThanBrazilWinningTh~ This somewhat unwieldy and typo'd tweet infused pop culture with the lopsided match score in an absurd way that matched the game itself. It also provided … [Link]
Mashable » Symmetrical Photos Give a Breathtaking Bird's-Eye View of NYC
Looking up at towering skyscrapers is a common sight for many city dwellers, but few get the chance to glance straight down at the bustling streets below. Architectural photographer Donna Dotan's stunning personal photography series "Reflections From Above" captures the beauty of New York City from a bird's-eye view See also: Distorted Landscapes Put a New Spin on How You See … [Link]
Mashable » Five Records Set in Germany's 7-1 Demolishing of Brazil
Germany’s win over Brazil in the World Cup semifinal was one for the record books, which will now need to be reissued due to numerous new marks set by Germany … and one by Brazil. Most goals scored by a player in World Cup history World cup: Miroslav Klose scores second goal for Germany to become World Cup's record scorer with … [Link]
Mashable » Samsung, Dell and Intel to Create New 'Internet of Things' Standard
Major manufactures such as Samsung, Dell and Intel are joining forces to create an industry standard for the way smart home gadgets like thermostats and refrigerators communicate with each other, as a part of the so-called Internet of Things. Called the Open Interconnect Consortium, it will go head to head with the AllSeen Alliance, an existing initiative backed by 51 consumer-electronics … [Link]
Mashable » The Fight for Tech Interns Now Starts in High School
Facebook Inc. rolled out the red carpet for Michael Sayman when the social network hired him for a job that started last month, including flying him out to meet Chief Executive Officer Mark Zuckerberg. Sayman, 17, brought his mom along on the trip. The position Facebook recruited him for: summer intern. “When I got the e-mail saying — oh my god — … [Link]
Mashable » Ohio Brewery Honors State's 25 Astronauts With New Beer
The oldest microbrewery in Ohio is tapping into the state's connection to space history to offer a "bold yet balanced" tribute to the Buckeye astronauts. Great Lakes Brewing Company (GLBC) last week launched its new seasonal, "Spacewalker American Belgo," a Belgian-style ale. "Perhaps one of space's great mysteries is why so many of its explorers hail from Ohio," the Cleveland beer-maker … [Link]
Mashable » WTF Just Happened? Processing Brazil's World Cup Humiliation
Germany struck first. Then they struck second. Then they struck third, fourth and fifth before their much-anticipated World Cup semifinal match against host Brazil was half an hour old By halftime, many Brazil fans were sobbing. Some were doing the unthinkable by leaving Belo Horizonte's Estádio Mineirão early. It was a World Cup bloodbath of historic proportions, leaving players, fans and … [Link]
Slashdot » Tired of Playing Cyber Cop, Microsoft Looks For Partners In Crime Fighting
chicksdaddy writes: When it comes to fighting cybercrime, few companies can claim to have done as much as Redmond, Washington-based Microsoft, which spent the last five years as the Internet's Dirty Harry: using its size, legal muscle and wealth to single-handedly take down cyber criminal networks from Citadel, to Zeus to the recent seizure of servers belonging to the (shady) … [Link]
The Joy of Tech » JoT #2019: Facebook experiments!
Feeling a little caged up lately? If you enjoyed the comic, please retweet, Like, squeak in your seat, or share the URL! [Link]
Mashable » The Miserable Agony of Being a Brazil Fan Today
Never has the phrase "can't even" been more applicable In the first half of the semifinals of the World Cup match on Tuesday, Brazil got absolutely obliterated by Germany, who scored five — yes, five — goals in less than 30 minutes See also: 18 Things More Likely Than Brazil Winning the World Cup Before long, a roaring stadium of Brazil's … [Link]
Mashable » Michigan Mud Day Is Pretty Much Every Kid's Dream
Summer heat can be unbearable, but one Michigan county has a creative way to battle the weather. Mud Day, which has been a Wayne County tradition for the past 26 years, began on Tuesday at 11 a.m. and lasted for two hours. In 81-degree weather, kids under the age of 12 competed in games and relay races in a giant mud … [Link]
Slashdot » All Web Developers Should Have Access to a Device Lab (Video)
This interview with Googler Pete LePage took place at Google I/O 2014, where Pete and coworker Matt Gaunt set up a Device Lab with 46 different devices on their display wall. The point wasn't to show off Google's coolness as much as it was to let developers see how their websites displayed on as wide a range of mobile devices … [Link]
Mashable » Thieves Pull Off Multi-Million-Dollar Heist at Brazil Samsung Factory
SÃO PAULO, BRAZIL — Police in Brazil are searching for at least 11 men suspected of orchestrating a daring and meticulously-planned raid on a Samsung factory located in the city of Campinas, 50 miles northwest of São Paulo. Some 40,000 electronic devices, including cellphones, tablets and notebooks, were taken in the late hours of Sunday into the early hours of Monday. … [Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » 10 Actors Who Were On The X-Files Before They Were Famous [Video]
That’s it, now you have an excuse to watch the X-Files all over again! 🙂 [Buzzfeed] [Link]
Mashable » Move Over Artoo: New Star Wars Droid's First Day on the Job
Meet the new droid — most definitely not the same as the old droid. When the highly-anticipated new Star Wars TV show, Star Wars Rebels, starts screening this fall, we'll all get to know the name of Chopper a lot better. The droid is the R2-D2 of Rebels — indeed, he's based on early production sketches of Artoo. But Chopper's … [Link]
Mashable » Scientists Uncover Fossil of Largest Flying Bird, Twice the Size of Albatross
Scientists have discovered the fossil remains of a flying bird that puts all other birds to shame With a wingspan of about 21 feet or more, Pelagornis sandersi graced the skies 25 million years ago. Researchers say it is the largest flying bird ever found — twice as big as any flying bird today, including the wandering albatross, which has … [Link]
Mashable » Brazil 1, Germany 7: It's a Blowout
A stunning performance from Germany and a disgracefully amateur turn from Brazil led to a historic result in the first World Cup semifinal Tuesday afternoon from Belo Horizonte See also: The Miserable Agony of Being a Brazil Fan Today The hard-to-believe scoreline: 7-1, the greatest loss in Brazilian history. World Cup records are tumbling. Germany's Miroslav Klose just became the top … [Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » How to Make a Hit Pop Song – Part II #Pinocchio [Video]
After the success of Part 1, Brett returns with another quick guide to making a hit pop song. Featuring Brett’s own song, ‘Pinocchio’ (inspired by Iggy Azalea.) [Brett Domino] [Link]
Slashdot » Python Bumps Off Java As Top Learning Language
itwbennett writes: Python has surpassed Java as the top language used to introduce U.S. students to programming and computer science, according to a recent survey posted by the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM). Eight of the top 10 computer science departments now use Python to teach coding, as well as 27 of the top 39 schools, indicating that it is … [Link]
Slashdot » Wireless Contraception
Kittenman writes: The BBC is carrying information on a type of contraception (funded in part by Bill Gates) that takes the form of a microchip, inserted under the skin. The chip releases contraceptive hormones to the body until wirelessly advised not to do so. This device has several interesting applications and issues associated with it. The researchers are already working … [Link]
Mashable » Amazon Wants to Bury Hachette by Offering 100% of E-Book Sales to Authors
Amazon has thrown down the Hachette. The online retailer has offered to give authors 100% of the sales price of all Hachette e-books sold until its standoff with the publisher is resolved, according to a source who confirmed the authenticity of a letter sent to authors. See also: 12 YA Books for Your 2014 Summer Reading List The proposal, from David … [Link]
Mashable » Get Ready: World's Tallest Water Slide Has a New Opening Day
The long-anticipated opening of the world's tallest water slide is now set for Thursday. After three delays, Schlitterbahn water park officials announced the Kansas City, Kansas, attraction would be open to the public this week. See also: A Sneak Peek at the World's Tallest and Fastest Water Slide The ride was originally scheduled to open on May 23, when the water … [Link]
Slashdot » Radical Dual Tilting Blade Helicopter Design Targets Speeds of Over 270mph
Zothecula writes: As one of the contenders in the race to win a $100 billion contract from the U.S. government for the next generation of attack helicopter in the Army's Joint Multi-Role Technology Demonstrator (JMR-TD) program, AVX Aircraft Company has conceived a futuristic machine kitted out with coaxial rotors, ducted fans and a retractable undercarriage that could hit speeds of … [Link]
Mashable » Japan Braces for Typhoon Neoguri: 3 Things You Need to Know
This story was last updated at 4:40 p.m. ET on July 8, 2014. Typhoon Neoguri is finally releasing its grip on the Okinawa and Miyako Islands of Japan, after delivering a long-lasting, wind and wave-whipped lashing from Monday into Tuesday U.S. time. The storm, which has killed one, knocked out power to tens of thousands and forced many to evacuate their … [Link]
Mashable » The Pentagon Funded Study of Lady Gaga's Tweets
It’s not just Facebook who's interested in studying your status updates. The Pentagon, it turns out, has been studying social media use with a series of research projects reminiscent of Facebook's controversial emotion manipulation study for years. Some of these programs, described in a Guardian report on Tuesday, were funded by the Pentagon's cutting-edge research arm, the Defense Advanced Research Projects … [Link]
Mashable » How the U.S. Border Became a Humanitarian Crisis
In recent weeks, the southern U.S. border has developed into a front line of sorts. Almost daily, strident demonstrators protesting the arrival of thousands of undocumented immigrant children pick verbal fights with their opponents — who answer in kind. At issue: the influx of tens of thousands of unaccompanied minors from Central America On Tuesday, President Barack Obama requested $3.7 billion … [Link]
Mashable » Uber to Limit Surge Pricing During Emergencies in New York
Uber’s much-criticized surge pricing is about to get a little better. New York's attorney general announced Tuesday that Uber has agreed to put a cap on prices during “abnormal disruptions of the market,” meaning natural disasters and emergencies to comply with the state's price gouging regulations. See also: 10 Startups to Watch in 2014 “It provides consumers with critical protections to … [Link]
Mashable » Isis App Has Nothing to Do With That Iraq Terror Group
Most startups will agree that there's no such thing as bad publicity when it comes to your app. But what do you do when your app happens to share a name with a violent terror group that's on a rampage in Iraq and threatening the entire Middle East? That's the problem facing Isis, a mobile payments company whose digital wallet app … [Link]
Mashable » Vine Star Nash Grier Apologizes for Homophobic Slur
Nash Grier, the most followed person on Vine with 8.7 million followers, has apologized for a Vine video he posted in April that shows him yelling a homophobic slur In the Vine video, 16-year-old Grier screams "fag!", following footage of a TV commercial for oral HIV test OraQuick. Grier deleted the video shortly after posting, but it was re-uploaded by Vine … [Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » ‘Amalgamated’ Art Series Transforms Pencils Into Vases [VIDEO + PICS]
studio markunpoika has created a new series entitled “Amalgamated,” and it involves sculpting vases…out of pencils. According to This Is Colossal: “Amalgamated” is a collection which explores the relationship of a mass produced ‘tool’ and its individual purpose. The beauty of the pencil as an object seems to go unnoticed if utilised only for their primary purpose. “Amalgamated” is a … [Link]
Mashable » Lyft Hits the Road in (Parts of) New York City
Lyft is headed to New York City. The San Francisco-based ride-sharing company that connects passengers with available drivers through a mobile app is set to launch in New York for the first time on Friday See also: Conan, Ice Cube and Kevin Hart Take a Lift with Lyft The Uber competitor will launch in the boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens; it … [Link]
New Scientist – News » We must prepare for superintelligent computers
One day we will create artificial intelligences far superior to us. Designing them wisely is the greatest challenge we face, says philosopher Nick Bostrom (full text available to subscribers) 
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Slashdot » Here Comes the Panopticon: Insurance Companies
New submitter jbmartin6 writes: The Panopticon may be coming, but perhaps not how we think. Instead of a massive government surveillance program, we might end up subjected to ubiquitous monitoring to save on our insurance premiums. The "internet of things (you can't get away from)" makes this more and more possible. Here a company saved money on its health insurance … [Link]
Mashable » Brazil vs. Germany: Last-Minute Tidbits Before the World Cup Semifinal
It’s finally upon us: Brazil vs. Germany in the first of two World Cup semifinals. The stakes, the backstories, the two iconic sides and the eternal glory that lies just over the horizon all make this a truly epic matchup to be played out before the eyes of the world. (It kicks off at 4 p.m. ET, if you didn't know.) … [Link]
Mashable » Graphic Designer Maps 13 Legendary World Cup Moments
Love watching the World Cup but have no idea what's going on? Maybe this will help. Graphic designer Rick Hincks created minimalist posters of some of the World Cup's greatest moments. See also: The 10 Types of World Cup Fans Everyone Knows The posters, available for purchase on Etsy or Hincks' personal site, break down some of the most iconic moments … [Link]
Mashable » 60-Year-Old Smallpox Vials Found in Unused FDA Storage Room
This must be the scariest lost and found ever. Officials are investigating how a handful of decades-old vials of smallpox made their way to an unused portion of a storage room at an FDA laboratory in Bethesda, Maryland. See also: Bill Gates: Satellites and GPS Are Fighting Polio The vials, which the CDC says appear to date from the 1950s, were … [Link]
Slashdot » Mapping a Monster Volcano
bmahersciwriter (2955569) writes In one of the biggest-ever seismology deployments at an active volcano, researchers are peppering Mount St Helens in Washington state with equipment to study the intricate system of chambers and pipes that fed the most devastating eruption in U.S. history. This month, they plan to set off 24 explosions — each equivalent to a magnitude-2 earthquake — … [Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » Geektastic Japanese Sword Fight Video: Bladed Minds
A badass Japanese sword fight featuring the lovely Céline Tran (@Katsuni) and Kefi Abrikh. You guys have to watch the end of the video, after going through the whole thing, it really made me laugh! [Kefi Abrikh – (Samuel) | Via Céline Tran (@Katsuni)] [Link]
New Scientist – News » Curiosity piqued: The minds behind the Mars missions
In Curiosity, Rod Pyle enthusiastically shows what it takes to build a Mars rover and places us close to the action during the famous "7 minutes of terror"
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ProgrammableWeb.com » Review: Track:js Eases Front-end Error Detection
Track:js is an intuitive tool that can be used to track client-side JavaScript errors in production, as well as during development. While there are other products that provide functionality along the same lines, the Track:js tool stands apart in many (good) ways.
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Mashable » 'Sharknado' Is Now Also a Video Game
When the people ask for more Sharknado, you give the people what they want. SyFy commissioned a video game version of its over-the-top disaster hit to coincide with the release of Sharknado 2 later this month. Sharknado: The Video Game is coming to iOS. The endless runner pits players against a series of shark-infested tornadoes threatening New York City. See also: … [Link]
Mashable » OnePlus One Equals the Best Smartphone You Can Buy for $400
You'd be forgiven for scratching your head at the mention of the OnePlus One. Even once you've gotten past the admittedly confusing name, there's the not-inconsequential fact that OnePlus itself has only existed since December of last year — a grand total of six months, or the average lifespan of your garden-variety cricket (the insect, not the wireless carrier). Even … [Link]
New Scientist – News » Skin's ability to 'smell' seems to help it heal itself
Skin receptors have been discovered dotted all over our skin. Rather than telling us what our skin is smelling, they seem to help us heal 
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Slashdot » Foxconn Replacing Workers With Robots
redletterdave (2493036) writes The largest private employer in all of China and one of the biggest supply chain manufacturers in the world, Foxconn announced it will soon start using robots to help assemble devices at its several sprawling factories across China. Apple, one of Foxconn's biggest partners to help assemble its iPhones, iPads, will be the first company to use … [Link]
Mashable » 16 Crucial Things J.K. Rowling Reveals in New Harry Potter Story
J.K. Rowling published a new Harry Potter story on Tuesday morning, which briefly crashed her Pottermore website. But once it was up and running again, muggles were treated to a Daily Prophet column from tabloid diva Rita Skeeter The fictional news story is set at the Quidditch World Cup, but more importantly, it hints at more Harry Potter stories (and scandals) … [Link]
Mashable » U.S. Arrests Suspected Hacker; Russia Calls It 'Kidnapping'
The U.S. Secret Service has arrested a Russian man for allegedly hacking into retailers throughout the United States between October 2009 and February 2011, the Department of Homeland Security says. Russia is outraged and accuses the U.S. of "kidnapping" one of their citizens, the country's foreign ministry says. Roman Valerevich Seleznev, 30, was detained over the July 4 weekend in Guam. … [Link]
Mashable » 'Borderlands' Creators Announce Their New Project, 'Battleborn'
The creators of the popular first-person shooter franchise Borderlands 2 announced its newest game franchise, Battleborn, a hybrid first-person shooter and multi-player online battle arena. Battleborn, which was announced via GameInformer, is described by developer Gearbox Software as a "hero-shooter experience" that is "an ambitious fusion of genres." Users will be able to play online co-op or competitive games on … [Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » How Santa Deals with the Naughty in 2014 [Comic]
[Source: For Lack of a Better Comic] [Link]
New Scientist – News » Master plan hatched as African Ebola deaths pass 500
African nations have hatched a strategy to halt the world's worst outbreak of Ebola and doctors are demanding greater use of technology in the fight 
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Mashable » Cuba May Have Schemed a Major Sex Scandal About a U.S. Senator
The story surrounding accusations that a senator visited prostitutes in Dominican Republic has somehow become more interesting. Robert Menendez, a Democratic U.S. senator for New Jersey, has asked that the Justice Department look into evidence that the Cuban government schemed up a 2012 story in the Daily Caller that nearly derailed his reelection campaign. The article centered around an interview with … [Link]
Slashdot » Indie Game Developers Talk About Why They Struck Out On Their Own
Nerval's Lobster (2598977) writes Technology writer Jon Brodkin sat down with a group of indie game developers (as well as a professor at the University of Southern California's game-design program) to talk about why they decided to launch their own small studios rather than stick with comfortable (albeit stressful) jobs at major firms like Disney or Zynga. The answer, as … [Link]
Mashable » Captivating 2-Minute Time-Lapse of Barcelona Took 363 Hours to Make
Your average time-lapse video needs to bow down. Set in the bustling and beautiful city of Barcelona, Rob Whitworth's "flow-motion" video takes you on an extraordinary tour of the Spanish seaside city. It's difficult to describe the experience that this short film takes you on. Long, accelerated time-lapse zooms reveal new locations, a stop-motion view follows a woman through the cobblestone … [Link]
Mashable » 7 DIY Tips for Better Photography on a Shoestring Budget
You don't need fancy equipment to take fancy-looking photos. Online magazine The Cooperative of Photography teamed up with photographer Markus Berger to share some DIY photography tips using ordinary household objects. See also: 7 Simple Photography Hacks to Help You Snap Like a Pro Now, beer koozies, wall mirrors and your grandma's knick-knacks are all unique tools to help you … [Link]
New Scientist – News » Today on New Scientist
All the latest on newscientist.com: wonder solar cell material, biggest ever flying bird, why the US lost interest in space, Alzheimer's test and more 
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Mashable » As Potato Salad Kickstarter Nears $40,000, Copycats Emerge
Kickstarter is being overrun with amateurs trying to make side dishes. A man named Zack Danger Brown made headlines Monday after his Kickstarter campaign to raise a modest $10 to make potato salad brought in thousands in pledges. By midday Tuesday, it had raised nearly $40,000. Now the potato salad clones are coming. See also: 'Reading Rainbow' Kickstarter Ends With $5.4 … [Link]
Mashable » Jennifer Lawrence Facepalms Emma Watson. Enjoy.
It seems destiny has afforded young adult readers a moment of sheer bliss: Two of the most badass chicks, Katniss Everdeen and Hermoine Granger, goofing off together Actresses Jennifer Lawrence and Emma Watson ran into one another at a Christian Dior fashion show in Paris on Monday, and while a simple selfie of them would have been enough, J.Law facepalmed Emma … [Link]
Slashdot » Thousands of Leaked KGB Files Are Now Open To the Public
schwit1 (797399) writes "Over 20 years after being smuggled out of Russia, a trove of KGB documents are being opened up to the public for the first time. The leaked documents include thousands of files and represent what the FBI is said to view as "the most complete and extensive intelligence ever received from any source." The documents include KGB … [Link]
Mashable » CBS Unveils Comic-Con 2014 Panel Plans (Good News, 'Reign' Fans!)
Brainy misfits, good-looking royals and some Dome escapees are going to anchor CBS Television Studios' line-up at Comic-Con 2014 in San Diego Mashable has learned that summer hit Under the Dome, new drama Scorpion and fan favorite Reign will take over Ballroom 20 on July 24, starting at 11:15 a.m. PT for back-to-back panels See also: A Lot of TV Shows … [Link]
New Scientist – News » Next generation of space cowboys get ready to fly
Texas aerospace firm FireFly Space Systems announced the FireFly Alpha, a shiny new launch vehicle designed to carry lightweight satellites at low cost 
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Mashable » Virgin Atlantic Pays Passengers for 26-Hour Delay, 2 Years Later
Airlines can be stingy with compensation for delayed or cancelled flights, and a new settlement from Virgin Atlantic is no exception. It took almost two years for Virgin Atlantic to compensate the 101 passengers who were delayed for 26 hours on a flight from Orlando, Florida, to London Gatwick in October 2012. The airline is now paying a total of 60,000 … [Link]
Slashdot » Coddled, Surveilled, and Monetized: How Modern Houses Can Watch You
Presto Vivace (882157) links to a critical look in Time Magazine at the creepy side of connected household technology. An excerpt: A modern surveillance state isn't so much being forced on us, as it is sold to us device by device, with the idea that it is for our benefit. … … Nest sucks up data on how warm your … [Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » Electronic Contraceptive Implant Has Remote Control
A new firm of birth control could allow women to switch contraception on and off with a remote control. It could also be adapted for other drugs. The device is 20mm x 20mm x 7mm and includes a battery and a 1.5-cm wide microchip. At scheduled intervals, the chip releases an electric charge that melts a seal surrounding a controlled … [Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » Take a Look at This Art for a WWE Game That Was Never Released [PICS]
Approximately 3 years ago, a WWE-themed video game was slated for release, but for various reasons, that never came to fruition. But take a look at this awesome concept art for it by artist Rich Lyons! 
(Left) Rey Mysterio, Jr., (Middle) Hulk Hogan, (Right) Diva Kelly Kelly. 
Stone Cold Steve Austin. 
Million Dollar Man Ted DiBiase. 
Big Show. 
John Cena. 
Vince McMahon…in a cyber-y suit. [via … [Link]
Mashable » 'The Wall Street Journal' Turns 125: Here's What the First Issue Looked Like
Those picking up the print issue of The Wall Street Journal on Tuesday morning were greeted by a paper from another era. "The bull market of 1885 began July 2, with the average price of 12 active stocks 61.49," reads the first sentence of the top story on the front page. "The rise culminated May 18, 1887, with the same twelve … [Link]
Mashable » Even a Knife Can't Scratch This 'iPhone 6' Display
A video purporting to show Apple's upcoming 4.7-inch iPhone 6's new display demonstrates how even a sharp knife can't scratch its surface. YouTube user Marques Brownlee says he has gotten his hands on the super-durable sapphire crystal display and demonstrated just how much of a beating it can take. In addition to a knife, he scrapes keys on the glass … [Link]
Mashable » Air New Zealand Pulls 'Sexist' Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Flight Safety Video
Air New Zealand is known for its attention-worthy safety videos, but its Sports Illustrated swimsuit model safety video attracted attention that was less than positive. The Safety in Paradise video, featuring Swimsuit Edition models like Christie Brinkley, Hannah Davis, Jessica Gomes, Ariel Meredith and Chrissy Teigen, was released in February of this year. See also: Virgin America Just Launched the … [Link]
Slashdot » The World's Best Living Programmers
itwbennett (1594911) writes "How do you measure success? If it's by Stack Overflow reputation, Google engineer Jon Skeet is the world's best programmer. If it's winning programming competitions, Gennady Korotkevich or Petr Mitrechev might be your pick. But what about Linus Torvalds? Or Richard Stallman? Or Donald Knuth? ITworld's Phil Johnson has rounded up a list of what just might … [Link]
Mashable » 10 High-Tech Twists for Your Summer Cookout
It’s time to spice up your summer grilling sessions with a few gadgets that will make your cookout a lot easier, tastier and more entertaining. If you're hosting a barbecue, then the onus is on you to ensure your guests have the time of their lives. Ditch all preconceived notions of cookouts past, and welcome high-tech twists to your summer season … [Link]
Mashable » Amateur Drone Pilots Arrested for Flying Too Close to NYPD Chopper
Two amateur drone pilots have been arrested for flying drones too close to a New York police chopper on Monday. Wilkins Mendoza, 23, and Remy Castro, 34, were flying two drones near the George Washington Bridge in New York City when they came within 800 feet of a New York Police Department helicopter. The helicopter was forced to change course to … [Link]
Mashable » Jimmy Fallon Gets 'Fancy' in Neil Young Cover With Crosby, Stills & Nash
First things first, this is the realest Jimmy Fallon donned his Neil Young finest on Monday's Tonight Show to cover the hit Iggy Azalea song "Fancy." See also: 21 Completely Unconventional Cover Songs Fallon proved he was in the "murda bizness" killing his impersonation of Young's version of a hip-hop track, with harmonic vocals from the folk singer's former group … [Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » Amazon Deal of the Day: 50% Off Sid Meier’s Civilization V: The Complete Edition – $24.99
For today’s edition of Deal of the Day, Amazon has Sid Meier’s Civilization V: The Complete Edition (Windows) for just $24.99. That’s 50% off on the game’s regular list price of $49.99. Complete Edition Contents Include: Sid Meier’s Civilization V Sid Meier’s Civilization V: Gods & Kings Sid Meier’s Civilization V: Brave New World Civilization Pack: Babylon (Nebuchadnezzar II) Civilization … [Link]
Slashdot » Rob Pardo Says Farewell To Blizzard
motang (1266566) writes Rob Pardo, Blizzard employee of 17 years who has worked on Warcraft and Diablo is leaving the company. "I'm looking forward to new challenges in my career, but I will always cherish the time I spent with you all and the amazing and collaborative teams at Blizzard," Pardo said. "It was both satisfying and humbling, and it … [Link]
Slashdot » Microsoft Kills Off MapPoint and Streets and Trips In Favor of Bing Maps
DroidJason1 (3589319) writes Microsoft has killed off two of its mapping products, MapPoint and Streets & Trips. Both of these services have received their last update and will soon be retired in favor of Microsoft's premier mapping product, Bing Maps. The company has yet to go public with a press release announcing the retirement of these two mapping services, but … [Link]
Mashable » Tom Hanks Brings the Old School Back Dancing to 'This Is How We Do It'
Justin Bieber, Tom Hanks and a rabbi walk into a wedding… That's not the start of the best joke of the week, but the scene in Bieber's latest Instagram video. Hanks jams out to Montell Jordan's hit song "This Is How We Do It." Of course, like any camera-wielding human with eyes would do, Bieber captured the moves for posterity See … [Link]
Slashdot » US Arrests Son of Russian MP In Maldives For Hacking
First time accepted submitter ugen (93902) writes "The son of a Russian lawmaker has been arrested by the U.S. on charges of selling credit card information he stole by hacking into the computers of American retailers. Roman Seleznev, 30, was arrested overseas by the U.S. Secret Service on July 5 and was ordered detained today during a hearing in federal … [Link]
Mashable » Why Are So Many People Searching for Toilet Paper on GrubHub?
It’s 9 p.m., and you're starving. You've exhausted your pantry, there was nothing there but your creepy roommate's unfrosted Pop-Tarts. You need delivery, and you need it now. Everyone knows that hunger makes us do strange things. We lash out at friends, make strange noises — and sometimes, apparently, we beg our favorite food delivery place to bring us batteries. See … [Link]
Mashable » How to Maintain Your USA Soccer Fandom in 3 Easy Steps
It’s been a week since Belgium ejected the USA from the World Cup in heartbreaking fashion in the first round of the tournament's knockout stage. But by now your tears have dried, dear bandwagon USMNT supporter Hopefully, however, your interest in the team has not See also: 32 Outstanding World Cup Names (and How to Pronounce Them) The United States saw … [Link]
Mashable » Why the MPAA Should Abolish the PG-13 Rating
On July 2, Sylvester Stallone finally made good on his threat to release an Expendables movie with a PG-13 rating. Fans threw their hands up in protest, but too late is too late: You're just going to have to wait for an "unrated" DVD to rip you off later in the search for more headshots and curses. Of course, the fact … [Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » Doctor Who TARDIS Bookends
Interested? Pre-order it today! Availability: July 2014. Travel through time and space with Doctor Who and these TARDIS Bookends! Looking for a place to keep your 500 Year Diary, River Song’s Journal and copy of Summer Falls? Then look no further! These TARDIS bookends are just the thing! Made of resin and featuring a TARDIS vworping through time and space, … [Link]
Mashable » J.K. Rowling Publishes New Harry Potter Story, Crashing Pottermore
UPDATE, 9:54 a.m. ET The Pottermore site recovered by 9:30 a.m. ET and Rowling's Rita Skeeter post should be viewable by most site visitors. You may, however, need a free account to read the Daily Prophet article. As noted below, Skeeter, who is supposed to be reporting on the Quidditch finals, devotes this article to the arrival of Dumbledore's Army's original … [Link]
Mashable » Kim Jong-Un Has a Limp in Latest Video From North Korea
North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un was filmed walking across the stage with what appears to be a limp during a ceremony marking the 20th anniversary of his grandfather Kim Il-sung's death. State-run media released footage of the event on Tuesday, and international news outlets soon picked up on the purported limp. See also: North Korea's Marathon: A Rare Chance to Tour … [Link]
Slashdot » Australian Police Use Telcos For Cell "Tower Dump" of All Connected Users' Data
AHuxley (892839) writes The Sydney Morning Herald is reporting that Australian federal and state police are using a no warrant cell phone tower metadata access technique called a "tower dump". A "tower dump" provides the identity, activity and location of all cell phones that connect a cellphone tower(s) over time (an hour or two). The metadata from thousands of phones … [Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » New Extended Trailer for “Guardians of the Galaxy” [Video]
I can’t wait for this one to come out! 🙂 In the far reaches of space, an American pilot named Peter Quill finds himself the object of a manhunt after stealing an orb coveted by the villainous Ronan. Director: James Gunn Writers: James Gunn (screenplay), Nicole Perlman (screenplay) Stars: Chris Pratt, Bradley Cooper, Vin Diesel In theaters: August 1, 2014 … [Link]
O'Reilly News and Commentary » New approaches to anomaly detection
As new tools for distributed storage and analysis of big data are becoming more stable and widely known, there is a growing need for discovering best practices for analytics at this scale. One of the areas of widespread interest that … [Link]
Mashable » The Entire 'Lord of the Rings' Trilogy in 90 Seconds
The Lord of the Rings films, while providing some of the most epic battles, speeches and landscapes in the history of cinema, can be quite a pill to swallow, time-wise. Clocking in at 726 minutes, the extended Blu-ray editions (the only editions a true fan should be watching) are going to take up your whole day, and who wants that? … [Link]
Slashdot » Blue Shield Leaks 18,000 Doctors' Social Security Numbers
itwbennett (1594911) writes "The Social Security numbers of roughly 18,000 California physicians and health-care providers were inadvertently made public after a slip-up at health insurance provider Blue Shield of California, the organization said Monday. The numbers were included in monthly filings on medical providers that Blue Shield is required to make to the state's Department of Managed Health Care (DMHC). … [Link]
Mashable » 3 Phrases That Actually Make You Feel More Overwhelmed
The power of words is never more evident to me than when I’m working with a client or team and the language turns negative: The boss is difficult. The workloads are unmanageable. The policies are dumb. Immediately, I see the negative effect that kind of language has on the situation. You see, when you say the boss is difficult or the work … [Link]
Mashable » 600,000 Told to Evacuate as Powerful Typhoon Slams Japan's Okinawa Islands
TOKYO — A powerful typhoon pummeled the southern Japanese islands of Okinawa on Tuesday, paralyzing transport and prompting U.S. forces based there to cancel all outdoor activity. See also: Map Shows Hurricane Arthur's Fury Through the Lens of Instagram The Okinawan government said 10 people were injured, one seriously. Separately, a man was reported missing from a fishing boat in rough … [Link]
Mashable » World Cup Preview: Brazil, Down Two Stars, Takes on Germany
Almost a month of World Cup soccer action later, and we have a final four: Germany, Brazil, the Netherlands and Argentina. With the July 13 final only days away, Germany and Brazil will take the pitch on Tuesday to find out who will live on, and make a last run for the famous cup. (Argentina and the Netherlands face off on … [Link]
Mashable » Don't Waste Flat Beer
Don’t trash old beer. Use it to wash your hair instead Elliott Morgan explores this and other reasons why you should hold onto your flat beer. Yesterday, Elliott explains why you should never bring home a moose. Ever. Read more…More about Beer, Social Media, and Youtube
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Mashable » World Cup Cuisine Mashups Tastier Than an Italian Defender
Forget defense — which World Cup competitors have the best local grub? From French baguettes and crepes to German bratwurst, it's nearly impossible to pin down which team boasts the tastiest food back home. Artist George Zisaidis' latest project highlights foods from each team's home country in a whimsical photo series he calls "World Cup Cuisines." But instead of pitting two … [Link]
New Scientist – News » ButtonMasher: Photorealism takes gaming deeper
A new wave of games uses thousands of photos to recreate every detail of the real world and heighten our sense of immersion 
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Mashable » 4 Groundbreaking Ways Cities Are Reducing Traffic
Dealing with traffic is a lot like watching a really bad improv show you can't leave: Everyone's trapped, no one is having fun and any attempts to make it better in the moment end up making it a lot worse. That said, solving some of the world's most immovable bumper-to-bumper logjams might be easier said than done. From expanded public transportation … [Link]
Mashable » 6 Tips For Running a Successful Internship Program
Each summer, a new group of fresh-faced, eager and energetic interns take over company cubicles and break rooms. While this new summer staff can give your startup an extra set of hands and a lot of energy, figuring out the right way to put them to work for your business while giving them a positive experience can be tricky Here are six … [Link]
New Scientist – News » The common crane and its violin cry
This preening bird has an extraordinary adaptation – its windpipe is three times as long as you'd expect for a bird this size. Hence its unique call 
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Mashable » Survey: Job Skills Matter More Than Degrees
While graduating college is important, the majority of employees say it takes more than a diploma to land a job and advance a career, new research shows. Even though 82% of U.S. college graduates say their level of education has helped their careers, more than 70% say specialized training to acquire specific skills is more valuable in the workplace than a degree, according … [Link]
O'Reilly News and Commentary » Four short links: 8 July 2014
Virtual Economies — new book from MIT Press on economics in games. The book will enable developers and designers to create and maintain successful virtual economies, introduce social scientists and policy makers to the power of virtual economies, and provide … [Link]
Mashable » Luxury Phone Meets Bentley For Vertu's Newest, Ritzy Phone
One of the world's most expensive car brands is partnering with the creator of the world's most expensive phones to create a custom smartphone for the wealthy. Luxury phone retailer Vertu announced Monday that it signed a five-year contract with British luxury car manufacturer Bentley to produce five high-end smartphones. See also: The 12 Most Expensive Cars at the New York … [Link]
Slashdot » CentOS Linux Version 7 Released On x86_64
An anonymous reader writes "Today, CentOS project unveiled CentOS Linux 7 for 64 bit x86 compatible machines. CentOS conforms fully with Red Hat's redistribution policy and aims to have full functional compatibility with the upstream product released in last month. The new version includes systemd, firewalld, GRUB2, LXC, docker, xfs instead of ext4 filesystem by default. The Linux kernel updated … [Link]
Mashable » Raju the Elephant Cries After Being Rescued From Captivity
Since he was a baby, 50-year-old elephant named Raju was chained, abused, and resold from one cruel owner to another. Then, on July 2, India's animal rescue organization Wildlife SOS rescued Raju, freeing his legs from spiked shackles for the first time, The Mirror reports The rescue operation in the Uttar Pradesh region of India was not simple, as the elephant's … [Link]
New Scientist – News » Stem cell treatment causes nasal growth in woman's back
A woman in the US has developed a tumour-like growth near her spine eight years after a failed stem cell treatment to cure her paralysis 
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Mashable » 'Gossiping' Fashion Bosses Fight in Leaked Email
SYDNEY — Roxy Jacenko is an Australian socialite, businesswoman and reality TV contestant – and someone who is no stranger to controversial headlines or public cat fights. In 2010, an ex-employee leaked a vile email to media organizations outlining her thoughts about working for the public relations' queen. This year, her two-year-old daughter was banned from Instagram, after it was revealed she had … [Link]
Slashdot » Rob Pardo Says Farewell To Blizzad
motang (1266566) writes Rob Pardo, Blizzard employee of 17 years who has worked on WarCraft and Diablo is leaving the company. "I'm looking forward to new challenges in my career, but I will always cherish the time I spent with you all and the amazing and collaborative teams at Blizzard," Pardo said. "It was both satisfying and humbling, and it … [Link]
Mashable » Hands On With Rotimatic: the World’s First Robot Roti Maker
Making roti, a traditional staple food for millions of people worldwide, is equal parts art and science. To achieve the unleavened Indian bread’s signature look, feel and taste, you need the right mix of ingredients (flower, water and oil), the perfect kneading and flattening method, and on-point heat and cook times Or, you can just have a robot do it. Rotimatic … [Link]
Slashdot » Microsoft Kills Off MapPoint and Streets and Trips In Favor of Bing Maps
DroidJason1 (3589319) writes Microsoft has killed off two of its mapping products, MapPoint and Streets & Trips. Both of these services have received their last update and will soon be retired in favor of Microsoft's premier mapping product, Bing Maps. The company has yet to go public with a press release announcing the retirement of these two mapping services, but … [Link]
Mashable » Crumbs Bake Shop Is Closing Down All of Its Stores
This story was updated most recently at 9:40 a.m. ET on July 8. Crumbs Bake Shop closed all of its stores at the end of the business day on Monday night, according to a spokesperson for the New York-based bakery chain. "Regrettably, Crumbs has been forced to cease operations and is immediately attending to the dislocation of its devoted employees while … [Link]
Mashable » 25 People Rescued From Magic Mountain 'Ninja' Roller Coaster
About 25 people were trapped for more than two hours Monday night on the Ninja roller coaster at Magic Mountain in Valencia, California, and were eventually rescued by specialized crews who retrieved them from the ride suspended more than 40 feet above ground. The coaster hit a tree branch around 6 p.m., leaving at least four people with minor injuries, the … [Link]
Mashable » Kinect Distances Itself Further From Xbox With New Windows Version
Microsoft is releasing the new version of Kinect for Windows on July 15. Both the sensor and its corresponding software development kit will be available next week, according to a statement from the Redmond, Washington, tech giant The sensor is priced at $199 and became available for developers to preorder on June 5. The Kinect for Windows software development kit (SDK) … [Link]
ProgrammableWeb.com » Apigee Initiates Global API Challenge
As a lead-up to Apigee’s I Love APIs Conference, Apigee has launched a Global API Challenge. The challenge is set up to test contestants’ API knowledge through a two-level process. Of the contestants who successfully complete both levels, five will be selected to battle it out, live, at the conference in September.
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Mashable » Snap Refreshing Shots to Beat the Heat for Our Photo Challenge
This week's Mashable Photo Challenge will provide you with some thirst-quenching, sweat-cooling images to help you relax. Now that the sticky days of summer are upon us, the intense heat and humidity make it almost impossible to sit comfortably Luckily, summer is also filled with fun ways to stay cool. Whether it's a refreshing drink, icy-cool scoops of sorbet, a large … [Link]
Slashdot » Foxconn Beings Replacing Workers With Robots
redletterdave (2493036) writes The largest private employer in all of China and one of the biggest supply chain manufacturers in the world, Foxconn announced it will soon start using robots to help assemble devices at its several sprawling factories across China. Apple, one of Foxconn's biggest partners to help assemble its iPhones, iPads, will be the first company to use … [Link]
Mashable » Scientists Create 'Dictionary' of Chimp Gestures to Decode Secret Meanings
Humankind’s closest relative — the chimpanzee — just got a little bit easier to understand. A new study by a team of Scottish scientists revealed how chimpanzees communicate using hand and body movements. While it has long been known that certain chimpanzee gestures had corresponding meanings and intentions behind them, no one had been able to demystify the communication of chimps … [Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » Geeks are Sexy: The Lady on Top Needs to Go (Help Needed!)
Ok guys, she’s been there for too long, the lady on top needs to go. That picture was originally included by the template designer a few years ago and I kept her there mostly because: 1- I became “blind” to her and don’t even see her anymore 2- I’m already overworked and while I’m a little of an artist myself, … [Link]
Mashable » Atari Teams Up With Denny's to Remix Classic Video Games
Atari has teamed up with Denny's to combine two things many gamers love — video games and fast food — in order to create remixes of three classic game titles Now you can play food-themed versions of Centipede (Centipup), Asteroids (Hashteroids) and Breakout (Take-Out) on your iOS or Android smartphone See also: Legend Confirmed: Atari 2600 'E.T.' Game Discovered at New … [Link]
Mashable » Self-Serve Beer Stations Designed for All-Stars
Anyone headed to Minnesota's Target Field for next week's MLB All-Star festivities can expect a hoppy new addition: two self-serve beer stations. The DraftServ machines, which are a collaboration from Delaware North and Anheuser-Busch, will be located on the main concourse. The self-serve stations will offer fans the option of four beers: Bud and Bud Light for $0.38 per ounce and … [Link]
Mashable » Android Wear Bug Is Preventing Users From Installing Paid Apps
It’s only been a few days since the first Android Wear apps hit Google Play, but some users have already encountered a major bug preventing them from downloading paid apps. The problem, first reported by Android Police, seems to be caused by Google's app encryption See also: Android Wear First Look: Samsung and LG Put Alerts on Your Wrist The way … [Link]
Slashdot » Intelligent Thimble Could Replace the Mouse In 3D Virtual Reality Worlds
New submitter anguyen8 (3736553) writes with news of an interesting experimental spatial input device. From the article: "The mouse is a hugely useful device but it is also a two-dimensional one. But what of the three-dimensional world and the long-standing, but growing, promise of virtual reality. What kind of device will take the place of the mouse when we begin … [Link]
Mashable » Facebook: Here's Why We Deleted Cheerleader's Hunting Pics
Facebook came under fire from hunting advocates and gun-rights supporters this weekend when it removed a series of pictures from the account of Kendall Jones, a Texas cheerleader. Jones' pictures showed her posing with a variety of animals she had shot earlier this month on safari in Zimbabwe, such as the leopard, above It was widely assumed that the pictures were … [Link]
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