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 » The Hollywood Film Awards are finally on TV but they're still a total sham
LOS ANGELES — To the casual observer, the Hollywood Film Awards could easily be mistaken for a legitimate enterprise: the words “Hollywood,” “film” and “awards” are in the title, there will be bona fide movie stars on the red carpet, and this year, for the first time, the event will appear live on broadcast television. But don’t let the Friday night … [Link]
Mashable » Jennifer Lawrence won't have a cameo in 'Dumb and Dumber To'
It was in late September of last year when reports surfaced that the production of Dumb and Dumber To was adding one of the most popular and talented actresses in the world to its cast. With The Hunger Games: Mockingjay filming at the same time and in the same area, it was reported that Jennifer Lawrence would be making an appearance … [Link]
Slashdot » FCC Says Net Neutrality Decision Delay Is About Courts, Not Politics
blottsie writes with this news from The Daily Dot: "The Federal Communications Commission's seemingly suspicious timing in delaying its net neutrality decision has absolutely nothing to do with recent politics, according to an FCC official. Instead, it's a matter of some people in the agency insisting they be more prepared before going to court to defend their eventual plan. In … [Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » A Kind and Wise Creator [Comic]
[Source: Neil Kohney's The Other End | Like "The Other End" on Facebook | Follow "The Other End" on Twitter] [Link]
Slashdot » FreeBSD 10.1 Released
An anonymous reader writes Version 10.1 of the venerable FreeBSD operating system has been released. The new version of FreeBSD offers support for booting from UEFI, automated generation of OpenSSH keys, ZFS performance improvements, updated (and more secure) versions of OpenSSH and OpenSSL and hypervisor enhancements. FreeBSD 10.1 is an extended support release and will be supported through until January … [Link]
Mashable » Owner of Polygraph.com indicted for 'training customers to lie' on polygraph tests
The owner of a website that instructs people how to beat polygraph tests was indicted by a federal grand jury on Friday for allegedly doing just that — "training customers to lie and conceal crimes during polygraph examinations," the FBI announced. Doug Williams, a former Oklahoma City police officer and owner of Polygraph.com, who's been teaching people how to pass polygraph … [Link]
Mashable » The hot streak continues: Earth just had its warmest October on record
Fueled by record warm ocean temperatures, October was Earth's warmest such month on record, according to new data from three independent sources Coming after the warmest September on record and the warmest June through August period, the year is virtually certain to set a milestone for the warmest year See also: World's Oceans Set All-Time Heat Record for Third Time This … [Link]
Slashdot » How To Mathematically Predict Lightning Strikes
rossgneumann writes Soon, it's very possible that when you say something like "you have better odds of being struck by lightning," that won't necessarily mean it's all that rare. And there's a good chance that you'll be able to tell that person (roughly) what the odds of that happening are. Research published this week in Nature provides an equation that … [Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » This Choreographed Fighting Routine Between Two Woman Will Blow Your Mind [Video]
Darn, that fight looks like something we’d see in one of The Matrix movies! This video was filmed during the 10th World Wushu Championships in Toronto, Canada back in 2009. Wushu is both an exhibition and a full-contact sport derived from traditional Chinese martial arts.It was developed in China after 1949, in an effort to standardize the practice of traditional … [Link]
Mashable » Facebook is cracking down on 'overly promotional' posts from brands
Facebook announced that it intends to crack down on "promotional content" from brands, citing feedback on Friday from users who complained about too much hucksterism in their News Feeds. Such content was showing up in the form of status updates from brands that consumers had Liked at one time or another. Starting in January, updates with a promotional bent won't show … [Link]
Slashdot » Ask Slashdot: Is Non-USB Flash Direct From China Safe?
Dishwasha (125561) writes I recently purchased a couple 128GB MicroSDXC card from a Chinese supplier via Alibaba at 1/5th the price of what is available in the US. I will be putting one in my phone and another in my laptop. A few days after purchased, it occurred to me there may be a potential risk with non-USB flash devices … [Link]
Slashdot » Maker Joe is a 'Maker' Sculptor (Video)
Joe Gilmore was showing some of his work at Maker Faire Atlanta when Timothy Lord pointed his camera at him. Joe may never create a Mars colony or build the tallest skyscraper in North America, but what he does is fun to the point of whimsy, and seems to bring smiles to a lot of faces. (Alternate Video Link) 
Read … [Link]
Mashable » This cook stove can cleanly burn plastic and charge a phone
It’s no secret that the smoke spewing from open fires and from indoor coal-fired cook stoves is a silent killer in the developing world and a contributor to climate change. More than 4 million people die each year from health problems related to inhaling carbon monoxide or particulate matter released from stoves that burn wood, biomass or coal, according to the … [Link]
Mashable » The dangers of having all-Ivy League Supreme Court
Under Chief Justice John Roberts, the Supreme Court has emerged as one of the most ideologically aggressive in decades, and its rightward trajectory is usually attributed to this simple fact: a majority of the justices are very conservative. Today’s Court contains, according to one study, four of the five most conservative justices to sit on the bench since FDR; Anthony Kennedy, … [Link]
Mashable » 9 game-changing career tips for women, from women
The communications industry is changing every day. Technologies come and go, social networks rise and fall, and trends are here and gone in the blink of an eye. In a field still in the process of defining itself, the need for strong female leadership is something New York Women in Communications strives toward. By providing education and promoting professional growth, the … [Link]
Slashdot » An Applied Investigation Into Graphics Card Coil Whine
jones_supa writes We all are aware of various chirping and whining sounds that electronics can produce. Modern graphics cards often suffer from these kind of problems in form of coil whine. But how widespread is it really? Hardware Canucks put 50 new graphics cards side-by-side to compare them solely from the perspective of subjective acoustic disturbance. NVIDIA's reference platforms tended … [Link]
ProgrammableWeb.com » Android 5.0 Lollipop Introduces Native Screen Recording
Google's new version of the Android operating system, Android 5.0 Lollipop, now makes it possible for users to screen record natively (as introduced in Android 4.4 Kit Kat) and without the need to root in order to use the app. This is great news for those who are interested in using this functionality but don't have rooted Android devices, or … [Link]
Mashable » Cord cutting accelerates as 150,000 cancel TV service
Cord cutting is accelerating as more people in the U.S. turn to Internet services such as Netflix, Hulu and YouTube to watch their favorite programs. About 150,000 pay-TV customers canceled video service in the three months that ended June 30, according to estimates published on Friday by Leichtman Research Group. See also: Sony hopes you'll ditch cable for its Internet TV … [Link]
Slashdot » Facebook Testing Lithium-Ion Batteries For Backup Power
itwbennett writes Facebook has just started testing lithium-ion batteries as the backup power source for its server racks and plans to roll them out widely next year. Lithium-ion has been too expensive until now, says Matt Corddry, Facebook's director of hardware engineering, but its use in electric cars has changed the economics. It's now more cost effective than the bulky, … [Link]
Mashable » 7 new speakers announced for the 2014 Media Summit
We’re excited to announce our second round of speakers for the Mashable Media Summit on Dec. 5. These speakers will join previously announced media thought leaders like Mashable CEO Pete Cashmore, President of Sony Music's Legacy Recordings Adam Block and Director of Special Initiatives at Imgur Tim Hwang. 
Recently added speakers include: Chris Wiggins, Chief Data Scientist, The New York Times Kyle Lierman, Associate Director and … [Link]
Mashable » Jimmy Kimmel ruins your childhood with foul-mouthed 'Sesame Street'
Big Bird is putting the "fowl" in "foul-mouthed." In honor of Sesame Street's 45th anniversary, Jimmy Kimmel paid tribute to the kid's show with an "Unnecessary Censorship" segment. The tribute involved ruining the childhood classic by strategically bleeping and blurring the squeaky-clean dialogue Finally, the true colors of your favorite muppets have been revealed. Jim Carrey ruined people's lives with … [Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » This Geek is Going to Scrabble Heaven in the Afterlife [Pic]
Since Paul G. Lind of Portland, Oregon, loved to play Scrabble so much, his family decided to have this Scrabble-themed tombstone made just for him when he died in 2005. Last year, after the tombstone got vandalized, local Scrabble players held a tournament and asked for donations to restore the memorial. [Photo Source: The Stone Saver | Via Neatorama] [Link]
Mashable » Can you handle the new 'Fifty Shades of Grey' trailer?
Can we turn the air on in here? The new trailer for Fifty Shades of Grey dropped Thursday night, and it's dripping with two-and-a-half minutes of — what else? — sexual tension. The trailer, which shows us new characters, as well as a few more glimpses at the Red Room of Pain, is set to a Beyonce song, of course … [Link]
Mashable » Hoop dreams: Adorable baby otter is back with more sports heroism
The abandoned baby otter that stole our hearts last week is back, and reducing us to a blubbering mess of feelings-based incoherence. This time, she's playing basketball with her tiny little hands while floating on her back, and she's getting all grown up, but still so freaking adorable that we can barely express ourselves because it's hard to remember how … [Link]
Slashdot » Cameron Says People Radicalized By Free Speech; UK ISPs Agree To Censor Button
An anonymous reader writes with this excerpt from Techdirt: A few years ago, we mocked then Senator Joe Lieberman's request that internet companies put "report this content as terrorist content" buttons on various types of online content. The plan went nowhere, because it's a really bad idea, prone to massive abuse. Yet, over in the UK, some apparently think it's … [Link]
Mashable » 'Sesame Street' is 45, so Ernie got a colonoscopy
Sesame Street turned 45 this week, and with age comes responsibility. In that spirit, Ernie is taking control of his health and stopped by Conan to get his first colonoscopy. Although heavily sedated, the Muppet chatted with Conan O'Brien throughout the procedure and explained that, with his family history, it's important for him to visit his gastroenterologist regularly. Maybe next … [Link]
Mashable » 'Real World/Road Rules Challenge' star Diem Brown dies after cancer battle
Diem Brown, a former Real World/Road Rules challenge competitor turned prolific blogger, has died following a battle with cancer. She was 32 Three weeks before debuting on MTV's Real World/Road Rules Challenge in 2006, Brown was diagnosed with ovarian cancer, but kept her diagnosis a secret until the first competition. She went on to place fourth that season After completing treatment … [Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » Neil deGrasse Tyson’s Very Important Advice to a First-Grader [Video]
After a six-year-old girl asked him how a first-grader could help the Earth, Astrophysicist Neil Degrasse Tyson answered: Neil deGrasse Tyson: You know what I think? Okay, so when I was in first grade I was curious about a lot of things. So heres what I want you to do… I think, when you go home, and you start poking … [Link]
Slashdot » 81% of Tor Users Can Be De-anonymized By Analysing Router Information
An anonymous reader writes A former researcher at Columbia University's Network Security Lab has conducted research since 2008 indicating that traffic flow software included in network routers, notably Cisco's 'Netflow' package, can be exploited to deanonymize 81.4% of Tor clients. Professor Sambuddho Chakravarty, currently researching Network Anonymity and Privacy at the Indraprastha Institute of Information Technology, uses a technique which … [Link]
Mashable » Drogba can't escape Messi's massive shadow in clever Turkish Airlines ad
Soccer demigod Lionel Messi is short in stature, but he casts a massive shadow over the beautiful game — so large that it often eclipses fellow soccer superstars like Didier Drogba That's the premise of Turkish Airlines' latest clever ad, which hit YouTube on Friday and will likely be yet another viral success featuring Messi for the company. See also: … [Link]
Mashable » Microsoft to launch web version of Skype
Users will soon be able to use Skype from a browser — without having to download anything. Microsoft announced on Friday that it will soon launch a web-based version of the video-conferencing platform. See also: Skype Launches Standalone App for Disappearing Video Messages The new version of Skype, which is still in beta, allows users to log in to their existing … [Link]
Mashable » Brutal mob assault in Kenya sparks #MyDressMyChoice
Video of a Kenyan woman being stripped by a mob of men on a Nairobi street last week has ignited outrage and debate across the country The shocking assault in broad daylight at a city bus stop, which took place on Nov. 7, was allegedly carried out by men who felt she was dressed improperly. See also: How Paul Allen's $7 … [Link]
ProgrammableWeb.com » Vidyo Provides WebRTC Connection via JavaScript API
Videoconferencing has clearly become a much more popular Web application in recent years, but developers have yet to embed videoconferencing inside their applications. To that end, Vidyo this week announced it has created a VidyoWorks JavaScript API that allows developers to connect WebRTC clients to Vidyo’s videoconferencing application.
[Link]
Mashable » Project Tango tablet appears on Google Play, but it's not for sale — yet
Google’s Project Tango tablet — the one with 3D sensors and a rumored $1,000 price tag — is now up for viewing on Google Play. Curiously, though, it's not up for purchase. See also: Google's Project Tango: Old Ideas, New Packaging The tablet that's listed on Google Play right now is geared at developers to build apps on the technology. So … [Link]
Slashdot » Researchers Develop $60 Sonar Watch To Aid the Visually Impaired
Taffykay writes Biology and computer science students and professors at Wake Forest University have teamed up to develop a device to assist the visually impaired. Following the principles of echolocation used by bats and moths, the interdisciplinary team has developed a watch-like unit that allows the wearer to navigate their environment using sonar. To make the project even more remarkable, … [Link]
Mashable » Need a vacation? Two travel experts make the case for a day trip
Daniel Houghton and Bruce Poon Tip really know how to rack up the miles. Last year, Houghton traveled almost 300,000 miles, including a three-week stint circling the globe … twice (in different directions!). And thanks in part to a book tour, Poon Tip journeyed 150,000 miles by April of this year. Although both men are clearly well-traveled jetsetters, they recognize the … [Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » Assassins Creed: Unity To Get A String Of Patches
Ubisoft is continuing to patch Assassins Creed: Unity after players complained about some frankly ludicrous bugs. The problems of drawn more attention to controversy over the publisher’s unusual review policy for the game. The game suffers from three main categories of problems. The first is difficulty getting connected to game servers for multiplay, something that plagued both GTA V and … [Link]
New Scientist – News » Habitable exomoons born in cosmic collisions
Simulations suggest that moons that can hang on to an atmosphere only form in certain types of cosmic collisions 
[Link]
Mashable » 33 European languages in danger of extinction
LONDON — 33 languages across Europe are close to dying out, according to a new list of at-risk dialects. Four languages spoken in British territories are among the endangered lingos featured in a report from language expert, which uses data from the UNESCO Languages in Danger project. See also: Google Fights to Save 3,054 Languages Christopher Moseley at the UCL School … [Link]
New Scientist – News » Frigid matter powers first quantum circuits
A cloud of super-chilled atoms guided by lasers could form the circuits of the future, opening the door to applications like quantum navigation systems 
[Link]
Mashable » Amazon and Hachette: Bad for everyone but consumers
The can has been kicked Amazon and Hachette have resolved a months-long conflict that had been closely watched as a dispute that would indicate the future of the publishing industry The core of the disagreement reportedly centered on e-book pricing. Amazon wanted $9.99. Hachette (and other publishers) thinks that undervalues e-books See also: How Amazon Brought Publishing to Its Knees — … [Link]
New Scientist – News » Today on New Scientist
All the latest on newscientist.com: Palaeolithic pop revival, cells made like analogue tape recorders, Philae's last night? Ebola drugs and more 
[Link]
Mashable » Cat obsessively flicking paper totally understands your boredom at work
This cat is all of us. YouTube user Lorie Geee uploaded a video of her cat obsessively flicking the corner of a piece of paper. One look into this feline's glazed-over eyes and you'll immediately recognize the expression as the one you make as you toil away in your cubicle. Guys, it's Friday — we'll all be okay. Jimmy Kimmel … [Link]
Slashdot » Boeing Readies For First Ever Conjoined Satellite Launch
Zothecula writes Boeing has successfully joined two of its 702SP satellites in a stacked configuration in preparation for a launch scheduled for early 2015. Aside from being the first involving conjoined satellites, the launch will also put the first satellites to enter service boasting an all-electric propulsion system into orbit. "Designed by Boeing Network & Space Systems and its defense … [Link]
Mashable » Thanksgiving dinner, as prepared by Van Gogh, Picasso and Pollock
Turkey, stuffing and a side of Vincent van Gogh — sounds like a deliciously artsy Thanksgiving Painter and illustrator Hannah Rothstein brings a serving of classic art to Turkey Day dinner with her newest project. The photo series masterfully organizes (and disorganizes) Thanksgiving plate entrees to replicate the signature styles of 10 artists See also: Knitted Food Photography Looks Good Enough … [Link]
Mashable » The ramen doughnut is the food hybrid to end food hybrids
Warning: Take an antacid before reading In the world of food hybrids, there are cronuts, ramen burgers, pizza cakes, cragels and now this: the ramen doughnut, affectionately nicknamed the "ramnut." This creation comes to us from Josh Scherer of Culinary Bro-Down, whose cooking blog is known for creations such as the Flamin' Hot Cheetos burger and the spicy tuna corn dog … [Link]
Mashable » Jim Carrey ruined people's lives with 'Dumb and Dumber' haircuts
Today in terrible life decisions: letting Jim Carrey cut your hair into a Dumb and Dumber-inspired bowlcut The actor, who was a guest on Jimmy Kimmel Live Thursday, stood on Hollywood Boulevard offering haircuts to innocent passersby. The lucky winners took home the prize of looking absolutely ridiculous Let's hope they at least got a selfie out of it. Jimmy … [Link]
Slashdot » Mathematics Great Alexander Grothendieck Dies At 86
An anonymous reader writes Alexander Grothendieck, one of the great eccentric geniuses of 20th century mathematics, has died in France at the age of 86. Grothendieck was leading mind behind algebraic geometry. He was awarded the Fields Medal in 1966. He reached the very pinnacle of his profession before abandoning the discipline, taking up anti-war activism, retreating into the life … [Link]
Mashable » Zuck made a sweet anniversary video for his wife and put it on Facebook, naturally
You know what they say: The one-year anniversary is the paper anniversary, 10 years is the aluminum, 11 years is the Facebook tribute video Mark Zuckerberg, king of the romantics and Facebook CEO, wished his wife Priscilla Chan a happy 11-year anniversary on Thursday, marking the day they met. The one-minute video highlights the couple's pictures together and ends with the … [Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » Star Trek: TNG Chief of Security Worf Costume Hoodie
From Thinkgeek: Worf. Klingon. Starfleet officer. Friend. Lover. Warrior. Worf is all these things rolled into one; an unusual circumstance breaking molds left and right. So, we thought it was only right to celebrate all that is Worf and give you the hoodie of a true and honorable warrior. This is the Star Trek: The Next Generation Worf Costume Hoodie! … [Link]
Mashable » Let's talk about Robot Butler…
Over the past week, we've seen some pretty hefty claims from new contenders in the smart home category. However, none are louder or more intriguing than tech startup Robot Butler Inc Their flagship product, a fully autonomous robot created to aid users with day-to-day activities throughout the home, has been the focus of a week-long campaign. Thought leaders in various … [Link]
Mashable » British MPs hope a day off will encourage people to vote
LONDON — Would a national holiday make you feel more like voting? The House of Commons political and constitutional reform committee hopes so. It has recommended a day off for each general election in the UK as part of a package of proposed changes to try and increase voter turnout. See also: Russell Brand calls David Cameron an 'arsewipe' in 'Parklife' … [Link]
Mashable » On the latest 'Scandal,' Rowan proved to be the ultimate foe
One episode before the mid-season finale of Scandal, episode 8 is a rather tantalizing game of cat and mouse There's also plenty of bickering between the men in Liv's life, surprise villains, quite a few gripping scenes leading up to Rowan's takedown — and we come closer to figuring out just who is spying on Olivia. See also: On 'Scandal': Fitz … [Link]
Slashdot » Google Wallet API For Digital Goods Will Be Retired On March 2, 2015
An anonymous reader points out that Google plans to shut down Google Wallet API for third-party digital purchases. "Google has quietly revealed it plans to retire the Google Wallet API for digital goods on March 2, 2015. The company plans to continue supporting the sale of apps on Google Play as well as in-app payments, but users will not be … [Link]
New Scientist – News » Enter the kaleidoscopic world of cancer drug crystals
Celebrating the International Year of Crystallography, an exhibition in London reveals the beauty of crystal structures 
[Link]
Mashable » William and Kate announce December visit to New York and D.C.
LONDON — The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are returning to the U.S. in December more than three years after their first trip there. William and Kate's three-day visit, set to take place between Dec. 7 and Dec. 9, will focus on the East Coast with engagements, including a basketball game, planned in New York City and Washington D.C. "The Duke … [Link]
ProgrammableWeb.com » Google Retires Google Wallet API for Digital Goods
Google has announced that it will be retiring its Google Wallet for digital goods API on March 2, 2015. In a post on the Google Wallet for Business help site, Google explained:
[Link]
Bad Science » Some London talks and events coming up
There are a few London talks and events coming up over the next few weeks, all very different, and more to come around the country soon: Monday 17th Nov – Richard Herring Leicester Square Podcast This show is a great institution: comedian Richard Herring interviews comedians and the occasional nerd in front of a live audience, […] [Link]
New Scientist – News » Philae drills comet, but may not survive the night
Time is running out to get crucial comet data back from ESA's Philae lander as its solar panels are not getting enough sun to charge the batteries 
[Link]
Mashable » Mysterious submarine illegally entered Swedish waters, officials say
Sweden has confirmed that a small foreign submarine illegally entered its waters last month, though it's still unclear which country was behind the intrusion, officials said Friday. In unusually stark language for the nonaligned country, Prime Minister Stefan Lofven warned that such incursions into Swedish territory presented "enormous risks" for those involved, and that Sweden would defend its borders "with all … [Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » ‘Firefly’-Themed Board Games Fly Onto Shelves In Time For Holidays!
So, these are things and they exist… just in time for the holidays. You can find them at Amazon.com or at certain specialty stores! -Firefly Yahtzee Game -Firefly Clue Game 
[Firefly Yahtzee Game | Firefly Clue Game | via The Mary Sue] [Link]
Mashable » Week of stormy weather as high winds and rain batter the UK
LONDON — Britain and Northern Ireland have had a week of biblical weather as severe storms moved in from the west. A man disappeared after being swept out to sea, railway lines were closed and a section of the M25 collapsed during several days of fierce weather. The Environment Agency has issued 20 flood alerts as winds of almost 100mph were … [Link]
Slashdot » Window Washing a Skyscraper Is Beyond a Robot's Reach
HughPickens.com writes "Patrick McGeehan writes in the NYT that the image of a pair of window washers clinging to a scaffold dangling outside the 68th floor of 1 World Trade Center have left many wondering why robots can't rub soapy water on glass and wipe it off with a squeegee relieving humans of the risk of injury, or death, from … [Link]
Mashable » Apple thinks iOS 'Masque Attack' isn't such a big deal
Apple has publicly responded to the newly revealed iOS vulnerability that allows attackers to install malware that replaces your legitimate apps. For example, you could receive a prompt to install a new "Facebook" app, and the malware would then supersede the actual Facebook app, leaving something nasty in its place. The tech company said in statement that the vulnerability hasn't been … [Link]
Mashable » Nick Offerman's wooden emoji are far superior to all other communication
Nick Offerman believes in good, old-fashioned communication. Especially when it comes handcrafted in solid oak. The Parks and Recreation actor crafted an artisanal alternative to plain old emoji in a parody infomercial on Conan. Each wooden pictogram measures about a foot in diameter and weighs about 14 pounds. No one said good communication was easy, folks. Nothing is more American … [Link]
Mashable » No joke: The Onion reportedly up for sale
Satirical news site The Onion is up for sale, according to a report, which insists the move is no joke. The self-proclaimed "finest news source" in America is working with investment bank GCA Savvian on a sale, Bloomberg reported, citing "people with knowledge of the matter." See also: Disney Expects Maker Studios to Become Next Marvel, Pixar or Lucasfilm Friday's report … [Link]
Mashable » U.S. to pledge $3 billion to help developing countries adapt to global warming
In its second major international climate policy announcement of the week, the Obama administration is expected to declare as early as Friday that it intends to provide $3 billion over the course of four years to help developing countries adapt to global warming impacts and transition to renewable energy technologies President Obama is expected to make the announcement at the start … [Link]
Mashable » First person jailed for 'revenge porn' in Britain
LONDON — A man who shared explicit photos on WhatsApp of his ex-girlfriend has been jailed for 12 weeks, becoming the first person in Britain to be prosecuted for posting revenge porn. Luke King, 21, posted the intimate image of his former girlfriend as the profile photo on his WhatsApp account See also: Our Best Weapon Against Revenge Porn Is Copyright … [Link]
Slashdot » Education Chief Should Know About PLATO and the History of Online CS Education
theodp writes Writing in Vanity Fair, U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan marvels that his kids can learn to code online at their own pace thanks to "free" lessons from Khan Academy, which Duncan credits for "changing the way my kids learn" (Duncan calls out his kids' grade school for not offering coding). The 50-year-old Duncan, who complained last December … [Link]
Slashdot » US Education Chief Should Know About PLATO and the History of Online CS Education
theodp writes Writing in Vanity Fair, U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan marvels that his kids can learn to code online at their own pace thanks to "free" lessons from Khan Academy, which Duncan credits for "changing the way my kids learn" (Duncan calls out his kids' grade school for not offering coding). The 50-year-old Duncan, who complained last December … [Link]
Mashable » TSA confiscated a record number of firearms in the past year
The Transportation Security Administration has confiscated 1,855 firearms so far this year from travelers at airports. That is already more than was confiscated in all of 2013, and there is still a month and a half to go until 2014 ends Seventy-nine percent of the confiscated firearms were loaded. See also: Airports are testing a scanner to let your water bottle … [Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » Dogs Playing Dungeons & Dragons
Dogs Playing Poker might be a avery popular series of oil paintings by C. M. Coolidge, but I vastly prefer this version. Dogs Playing Dungeons & Dragons is available for purchase on posters or t-shirts over at RedBubble. Poker? Meh! Billards? Bah! Tabletop RPG? YESSS! It’s about time the notorious gaming dogs got something relevant to play. Watch closely as … [Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » Amazon Deal of the Day: Save 80% on Logitech Ultimate Ears 4000 Headphones – $19.99
For today’s edition of Deal of the Day, Amazon has the Logitech Ultimate Ears 4000 headphones for just $19.99. That’s 80% off ont he headphones’ regular list price of $99.99. UE Sound Signature: Pure, undiluted, immersive sound that’s rich, clear and perfectly tuned Grab-and-go design: Compact, durable and easy to pack in your bag with included zippered travel pouch Lightweight … [Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » Now You Too can be a Superhero (Or Villain!) With These Underoos Sets
Kids usually wear these, but these sets of Underoos are adult-sized! Available in sizes small to x-large and for men and woman! 
[Hot Topic | Via] [Link]
Mashable » Reddit CEO explains resignation: 'I'm basically completely worn out'
After more than two years working as the CEO of one of the most popular (and occasionally one of the most controversial) websites in the world, Yishan Wong was exhausted. "I'm basically completely worn out, and it was having significantly detrimental effects on my personal life," Wong confessed on Q&A site Quora, a few hours after news broke that he had … [Link]
Slashdot » Comet Probe Philae To Deploy Drill As Battery Life Wanes
An anonymous reader writes With less than a day of battery life left, The European Space Agency's Philae probe will begin to drill for samples even though the drilling may dislodge it. From the article: "Philae is sitting in the shadow of a cliff, and will not get enough sunlight to work beyond Saturday. Friday night's radio contact with the … [Link]
Mashable » New Yorkers give more practical advice than Taylor Swift
Taylor Swift, recent New York transplant, was also recently named the official Global Welcome Ambassador by the city's tourism organization. It's a smart move by New York, but Swift's experience of the city doesn't ring particularly true for many longtime New Yorkers. If you listen very closely, you can hear a collective eye roll when in one video, she calls bodegas … [Link]
Mashable » 14 nuggets of wisdom from Margaret Atwood
“I love it when technology fails." So began literary legend Margaret Atwood's visit to Mashable's New York City headquarters for a MashableReads discussion about her new book, Stone Mattress. See also: Author Emma Straub on 'The Vacationers' and the Literary Internet Despite her schadenfreude approach to tech, Atwood is one of literature's most connected authors, using social networks such as Twitter … [Link]
New Scientist – News » Zoologger: Stingless suicidal bees bite until they die
Who needs a sting when you can sink your insect teeth into the body of your enemy, choosing death over ever letting go? 
[Link]
Mashable » Benedict Cumberbatch impersonating Tom Hiddleston will explode your heart
Does this man know no limits? In honor of his new film, The Imitation Game, Benedict Cumberbatch — also known as the most delectable actor currently gracing the big and small screens — impersonated 10 celebrities during an interview with MTV OK, so his Christopher Walken imitation wasn't exactly award-worthy, but his Tom Hiddleston was definitely squeal-worthy. No one dances … [Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » Man Receives Text Message Spam and Sends Hilarious Response Back [Pic]
This might be fake, but I don’t really care, it’s still hilarious. [Via TechEblog] [Link]
Mashable » Google turns Turing Award into true Nobel of computing with $1 million fund
Google, a long-time sponsor of the A.M. Turing Award — sometimes called the Nobel of computing — has quadrupled the prize money for the award to $1 million The Association for Computing Machinery has been handing out the A.M. Turing Award annually since 1966, honoring computer scientists and engineers for "major contributions of lasting importance to computing." Google has been a … [Link]
Slashdot » Sony To Take On Netflix With Playstation Vue
stephendavion writes "Sony is planning to launch PlayStation Vue, a TV service for PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4 consoles providing on demand programs and live content. The company will roll out the service to selected customers in New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles, and is expected to feature content from CBS, Fox, NBC Universal, Discovery Communications and 75 other channels. … [Link]
Mashable » Al Roker sets record for longest live weather telecast
Al Roker, the NBC and Weather Channel avuncular meteorologist, just crossed a threshold no weatherman has ever done before. At 8 a.m. ET on Friday, Roker finished a 34-hour live weather report, setting a world record It wasn’t easy or always pretty. As Roker, 60, told the tale of a massive cold front enveloping the whole nation, his voice grew hoarse … [Link]
Slashdot » Department of Justice Harvests Cell Phone Data Using Planes
Tyketto writes The US Department of Justice has been using fake communications towers installed in airplanes to acquire cellular phone data for tracking down criminals, reports The Wall Street Journal. Using fix-wing Cessnas outfitted with DRT boxes produced by Boeing, the devices mimic cellular towers, fooling cellphones into reporting "unique registration information" to track down "individuals under investigation." The program, … [Link]
Mashable » Renegade cat in Paris isn't a tiger, but it's still on the run
A reported tiger on the loose near Disneyland Paris crossed a major highway and slinked past a gas station Friday, still eluding the 200 French police and military forces trying to hunt it down. A helicopter buzzed over the woods east of Paris and a dozen police vehicles lined a grassy area where the big cat was spotted early Friday after … [Link]
Mashable » 17 luxurious gifts no one will buy this year, unless you're stupid rich
All too often the holiday season reminds us just how much money we have to spend in order to please our family, friends and neighbors Sometimes we wait in line for five hours to get the newest game console that will start collecting dust two months later. When you shelled out $200 for Barbie's Dream House, what did you buy everyone … [Link]
New Scientist – News » Feedback: Very traditional error messages
Lords and revenants, saving the spooks' site, managementgonads goes quantum and more (full text available to subscribers) 
[Link]
Mashable » Steady stream of data from comet-lander but battery is running out
Europe’s Philae lander is doing well and has succeeded in planting a thermometer in the comet where it touched down this week, the European Space Agency said Friday. Scientists have received a steady stream of data from the lander, which on Wednesday became the first spacecraft to touch down on a comet and has since sent its first images from the … [Link]
Mashable » Domino's now lets you track pizza orders on your Pebble
Domino's has offered a service called the "Pizza Tracker" for customers since 2008, enabling them to follow the status of their order every step of the way Now, the company has launched its first official smartwatch app, enabling pizza tracking for Pebble owners See also: 25 Best Free Android Apps To follow the adventures of your pizza using Pebble, download … [Link]
Mashable » 16 stocking stuffers for the stoner who lights up your life
You know what every herb enthusiast wants as a present. They probably want weed, but that's so unoriginal (also illegal, depending on where you live). Pot is not a very thoughtful gift. It won't last more than a week and it will definitely be forgotten See also: 8 weed recipes for the stoner with a sophisticated palate However, a marijuana-inspired accessory … [Link]
New Scientist – News » Axing Europe's top science job is a step backwards
The EU is wrong to scrap its chief science role given our challenges in energy, food and climate, argue science advocates Tracey Brown and Sile Lane 
[Link]
Mashable » Is your brand's email marketing campaign ready for the holidays?
Check a calendar lately? The holidays, man — they are coming and they're coming fast. And with them come the heaviest shopping days of the year. Is your business ready to take advantage? If you're like most, you plan to use the end of the year to boost your 2014 sales, and email marketing will play an important role in helping … [Link]
Mashable » British jihadists who travel abroad will have passports seized under new law
British jihadists who travel abroad to fight in countries such as Iraq or Syria could be banned from returning to the UK, according to new anti-terror laws outlined by David Cameron Addressing Australia's parliament Friday, Cameron said police in ports will be given new powers to seize passports to both stop British nationals returning to the UK and prevent "suspects" from … [Link]
Mashable » 5 habits that can turn interviewers against you
Having spent the last decade recruiting, I've had many a conversation with hiring managers after a candidate exits the interview. And, while I always hope for exceptional feedback, sometimes the news is not so glowing. Sometimes, the candidate has done something so annoying to the interviewer that, at best, she is now questioning her interest in keeping this person in the … [Link]
Mashable » 15 celebrities who let fame go to their forehead
It’s time to get real weird, Internet We scour the depths of the Internet to find the weird, strange and creepy, but we may have hit rock bottom with the subreddit r/quasimoderp. See also: A Disturbing Look at Today's Celebrities, 60 Years in the Future Much like its noseless big brother, the subreddit focuses on altering the appearance of the human … [Link]
Slashdot » Researchers Forecast the Spread of Diseases Using Wikipedia
An anonymous reader writes Scientists from Los Alamos National Laboratory have used Wikipedia logs as a data source for forecasting disease spread. The team was able to successfully monitor influenza in the United States, Poland, Japan, and Thailand, dengue fever in Brazil and Thailand, and tuberculosis in China and Thailand. The team was also able to forecast all but one … [Link]
Mashable » 'Open Windows,' 'Unfriended' boot up a new movie genre: the laptop thriller
LOS ANGELES — You don't have to look too far back in history to find filmmakers horrified by the idea that their creations would be viewed on a laptop. Until just a few years ago, it was bigscreen-or-bust — directors openly sneered at the idea of watching movies on personal screens of any size. But a pair of recent projects … [Link]
Mashable » 'Assassin's Creed Unity': Glitches and microtransactions mar a pretty Paris
Assassin’s Creed Unity was a game I really wanted to like. I’ve been a fan of the Assassin’s Creed series since its debut, and have always gotten a kick out of them, despite some flaws. After last year’s Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag really raised the bar for the series in both scope and storytelling, I couldn't help but get excited … [Link]
Slashdot » Ubisoft Points Finger At AMD For Assassin's Creed Unity Poor Performance
MojoKid (1002251) writes "Life is hard when you're a AAA publisher. Last month, Ubisoft blamed weak console hardware for the troubles it had bringing Assassin's Creed Unity up to speed, claiming that it could've hit 100 FPS but for weak console CPUs. Now, in the wake of the game's disastrous launch, the company has changed tactics — suddenly, all of … [Link]
Mashable » Obama meets Myanmar's Aung San Suu Kyi at home where she was kept under arrest
President Barack Obama gave a blunt assessment Friday of the need for further reform in Myanmar's move toward democracy, weighing into sensitive controversies over the treatment of religious minorities and a prohibition keeping opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi from running for president. Suu Kyi, released four years ago from more than two decades of confinement, is now a member of … [Link]
Mashable » Severe weather hits Australia as G20 agenda ignores climate change
The irony isn't lost on us. As the G20 Summit, the first in years without climate change on the agenda, is due to begin in Brisbane, the country has been hit with a fierce heatwave. Prime Minister Tony Abbott will be sweating. See also: Australians put heads in the sand for Bondi Beach climate protest The Australian Prime Minister announced the … [Link]
Slashdot » Thanks To the Private Space Industry, Things Are Looking Up For Space City USA
gallifreyan99 writes When the shuttle program was ended, and manned space exploration was put on hold, the people of Titusville, Florida were left in big trouble. "Just 20 miles northwest of Kennedy Space Center in Florida, it used to have a proud nickname: Space City USA. The dizzying boom of the 1950s and '60s helped create myriad jobs by giving … [Link]
Mashable » Moment iPhone 6 lens add-ons are big, bold and feel a bit dangerous
Moment Lens asks the question: How committed are you to high-quality iPhone photography? Its two, $99-a piece iPhone 6 add-on lenses require a special, bayonet-style mount that you have to basically glue onto your iPhone. Putting anything on your brand-new device that can’t be slipped off is, well, a major commitment. See also: Apple iPhone 6: The Review Once you get … [Link]
Mashable » New England Patriots regret thanking racist Twitter account
On its mission to be the first NFL team to 1 million Twitter followers Thursday, the New England Patriots experienced a jaw-dropping fumble While the team thanked fans for their support, there was one racist account that shouldn't have been included in the gratitude fest See also: Lorde and Diplo got into a Twitter feud over Taylor Swift's butt After removing … [Link]
Mashable » Welcome to Brisbane: The ghost town hosting the G20
If Russian President Vladimir Putin and Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott face off on the streets of Brisbane and no one is around to see it, does it make a shirt-front? As the G20 Summit is set to start this weekend in Ghost Town, Australia, the attending world leaders will have the Brisbane CBD all to themselves. There will be no … [Link]
Mashable » Make storybooks scary on Vine and watch exclusive 'Babadook' clip
For this week's Vine challenge, turn your favorite childhood books into scary stories. Transform Dr. Seuss into Dr. Hannibal Lecter and Curious George into Monkey Shines. Or, make The Very Hungry Caterpillar a very vicious monster and Junie B. Jones face bigger fears than school bullies See also: Mr. Men children's books reimagined for millennials You can animate directly on the … [Link]
Mashable » Harvard's computer science department gets a $60M boost from ex-Microsoft CEO
Harvard’s computer science department is getting around $60 million from ex-Microsoft CEO and 1977 alum Steve Ballmer Ballmer, who now owns the LA Clippers basketball team, hopes to remake Harvard into a world-class destination for computer science by hiring 12 top professors. Despite Harvard's stellar reputation, its computer science program isn't top 10 US News & World Report ranked Harvard's department … [Link]
Slashdot » Google Quadruples A.M. Turing Award To $1M
alphadogg writes The Association for Computing Machinery has announced that its annual A.M. Turing Award, sometimes called the Nobel Prize in Computing, will now come with a $1M award courtesy of Google. Previously, the award came with a $250K prize funded by Google and Intel. The award, which goes to "an individual selected for contributions of a technical nature made … [Link]
Mashable » Chinese hacker group Deep Panda allegedly attacked Australian sites
A group of hackers with connections to the Chinese government have targeted Australian media organisations in the lead-up to the G20, a security company claims. Dmitri Alperovitch, co-founder of U.S. computer security firm CrowdStrike, told the ABC's 7.30 Report there has been heightened activity on the websites of Australian media organisations in the last few weeks by a group known as … [Link]
Mashable » Samsung and BlackBerry team up for better Android security
Samsung is tapping an unlikely source to tighten up its security offerings for enterprises: BlackBerry. The two companies announced a new security-focused partnership Thursday that will bring BlackBerry's encryption system to businesses using Samsung's Galaxy smartphones See also: BlackBerry's Comeback Plan Is Bearing Fruit — So Far Beginning early next year, Samsung will integrate BlackBerry's BES12 end-to-end encryption service, into its … [Link]
Mashable » Australia wanted the World Cup so bad it did a horrible thing
It is official, we are terrible humans that put football above humanity. Australians are obsessed with sport, but this has taken it to a new, depressing low. Australia attempted to use African aid money to support projects in the countries of FIFA members, in a push for Australia to win the bid to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup, according to … [Link]
Slashdot » Will Lyft and Uber's Shared-Ride Service Hurt Public Transit?
An anonymous reader writes Lyft and Uber have already undercut the price of a taxi in most markets, but with this new service, both are now taking aim at public transit systems. By attempting to offer a viable alternative to the bus and metro, Lyft and Uber are offering new options to consumers in a space where few existed before. … [Link]
Mashable » Which of these stunners is the year's best soccer goal?
FIFA unveiled its 10 nominees for the annual Puskás Award this week, an honor that recognizes the best-executed goals in soccer from leagues across the world. Members of the public can vote online here to narrow the group down to a final three that FIFA will announce on Dec. 1. Named for the star and captain of the 1950s Hungarian national … [Link]
Mashable » Lorde covering an R&B song will make you bow down
Bow down to a Lorde among mortals The 18-year-old singer stopped by BBC Radio 1 recently and did a very unexpected cover to Jeremih's "Don't Tell 'Em." Like everything Lorde does, the remix was soulful beyond her years and gave depth to a song that even Jeremih probably couldn't have seen coming Who knew royals had so much swagger? No … [Link]
Mashable » In corruption debacle, FIFA satirizes itself while further besmirching the beautiful game
It reads like something from a Monty Python sketch, but this is real life — or, at least, what passes for reality in the warped universe of FIFA Land In sum: The ethics of FIFA's report on its much-anticipated report on ethics regarding the bidding for the 2018 and 2022 editions of the World Cup are being challenged by the investigator … [Link]
Mashable » Justice Department uses small planes to spy on U.S. cellphones, report says
The U.S. Justice Department has repeatedly used light aircraft to imitate cellphone towers and gather signals from thousands of phones to aid in criminal investigations, according to a damning new report. The surveillance program began in 2007 and is run by the U.S. Marshals Service in at least five cities, the Wall Street Journal said Thursday. The planes carry so-called "dirtboxes" … [Link]
Slashdot » Researchers Use DNA To Record a Cell's Life History
sciencehabit writes If cells could talk, they'd have quite a story to tell: Their life history would include what molecules they'd seen passing by, which signals they'd sent to neighbors, and how they'd grown and changed. Researchers haven't quite given cells a voice, but they have now furnished them with a memory of sorts—one that's designed to record bits of … [Link]
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