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 » 'Star Wars Epic Yarns' shows the fuzzy side of the Force
A long time ago, in a craft-minded household far, far away, two felt-sensitive siblings came up with the idea of remaking the original Star Wars trilogy in yarn. The result, Star Wars Epic Yarns by Vancouver natives Jack and Holman Wang, will be published next April by Chronicle Books. The trio of books each contain 12 classic scenes from A New … [Link]
Slashdot » Mozilla's 2013 Report: Revenue Up 1% To $314M; 90% From Google
An anonymous reader writes Mozilla has released its annual financial report for 2013, and the numbers hint as to why the organization signed a five-year deal with Yahoo, announced by the duo on November 19. Revenue increased just 1 percent, and the organization's reliance on Google stayed flat at 90 percent. The total revenue for the Mozilla Foundation and its … [Link]
Mashable » British company reunites lost teddy bears with owners
The future looks stuffed with promise for lost teddy bears in Britain Scenario: You're traveling on a train with your family in London. The train pulls up to the station and you quickly herd your bags, your bigger luggage and kids off the train. You're off the train and as the cars pull away, your youngest proclaims that he left his … [Link]
Mashable » GOP-led panel debunks Benghazi theories in Friday night news dump
WASHINGTON — A two-year investigation by the Republican-controlled House Intelligence Committee has found that the CIA and the military acted properly in responding to the 2012 attack on a U.S. diplomatic compound in Benghazi, Libya, and asserted no wrongdoing by Obama administration appointees. Debunking a series of persistent allegations hinting at dark conspiracies, the investigation of the politically charged incident determined … [Link]
Slashdot » Molecular Clusters That Can Retain Charge Could Revolutionize Computer Memory
jfruh writes:Computing devices have been gobbling up more and more memory, but storage tech has been hitting its limits, creating a bottleneck. Now researchers in Spain and Scotland have reported a breakthrough in working with metal-oxide clusters that can retain their charge. These molecules could serve as the basis for RAM and flash memory that will be leagues smaller than … [Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » Blood-sucking Gaming Peripheral Seems Unlikely Pitch
Two Kickstarter users are looking for funding for a peripheral that turns spilling blood in a video game into a reality. It’s dubious, to say the least, that it’s a serious proposition. Blood Sport is described as a hacked version of a rumble pack that uses an Arduino controller to track when your character is wounded in a game and … [Link]
Mashable » How the creepiest and coolest moments on 'Constantine' come to be
Some of the key special effects scenes on NBC's Constantine may just comprise mere minutes of screen time, but behind the scenes, weeks of work have actually gone into creating the mind-blowing moments that make you jump Despite this fact, though, visual effects supervisor Kevin Blank says bringing the creepy world of Constantine is mostly scary fun See also: Every … [Link]
Slashdot » The EU Has a Plan To Break Up Google
An anonymous reader points out a report at the Financial Times (paywalled) which says the European Parliament is preparing to call for the break-up of Google. According to the draft seen by the FT, a potential solution to ongoing anti-trust concerns with Google is "unbundling search engines from other services." The article notes, "The European parliament has no formal power … [Link]
ProgrammableWeb.com » APIs Could Unlock Much Needed Banking Industry Transformation
Banks will need to open up their transactional data via API in order to maintain their foothold in a financial services ecosystem that is halfway through a decade-long industry-wide disruption, PayX CEO Adrian Hausser said Tuesday at the API Academy’s API360 Summit in London. [Link]
ProgrammableWeb.com » WeChat API Adds Payment Functionality
WeChat, the instant messaging service owned by Tencent, is popular in its home base of China but faces stiff competition from WhatsApp and others as it tries to expand globally. To compete successfully, it will have to add new features. To give developers access to its 300 million users, the company has just released an API for iOS and Android. … [Link]
Mashable » Mashable and Street Dreams capture Coney Island in its off-season
Last weekend, Mashable and Street Dreams Magazine opened up Coney Island's Luna Park for our second #MashMeet. We wanted to give our community exclusive access to a famous park in its off-season, and we're so glad we did. See also: 25 creative compositions on streets around the world From mid-afternoon to sundown, we made portraits, chased light and collaborated with Instagram's … [Link]
Mashable » Inside the concrete walls of Afghanistan's fun park, a respite from war
Kabul may seem an unlikely location for a fun park, but that's exactly what makes an attraction devoted to amusement so appealing. Thousands of families have visited Kabul's City Park since it opened in October, taking advantage of the chance to temporarily escape lives greatly affected by war. Even among park rides and costumed characters, the threat isn't far away: The … [Link]
Mashable » Ferguson protesters and police agree on limited 'rules of engagement'
St. Louis County officials said on Friday they would honor some, though not all, of the Ferguson protesters' proposed "rules of engagement" for police interactions during demonstrations that may come with the impending grand jury decision there. Among the rules the two sides are in agreement on: The first priority will be to preserve human life, police will wear minimally required … [Link]
Mashable » Radio hosts offer Bill Cosby's crowd $1,000 to heckle him mid-show
UPDATE: The hecklers didn't show up, but Bill Cosby got a standing ovation. MELBOURNE, Florida — Two local radio personalities are urging attendees of Bill Cosby's Friday night comedy show to stand up mid-performance, yell something about the sexual assault allegations against him, and videotape their heckling. Sabrina Ambra, one of the radio hosts, told Mashable they will give $1,000 to … [Link]
Slashdot » Top NSA Official Raised Alarm About Metadata Program In 2009
An anonymous reader sends this report from the Associated Press: "Dissenters within the National Security Agency, led by a senior agency executive, warned in 2009 that the program to secretly collect American phone records wasn't providing enough intelligence to justify the backlash it would cause if revealed, current and former intelligence officials say. The NSA took the concerns seriously, and … [Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » Deaf Man Hears Wi-Fi Networks
A deaf man has modified his hearing aid so that he can “hear” the presence of wireless networks. Writing in the New Scientist, Frank Swain says it’s an experiment to explore the way tech works for deaf people. With the modifications, the hearing aid makes different sounds to indicate both the quantity and type of wireless networks in any particular … [Link]
Mashable » Uber and Spotify hope music collaboration drowns out recent woes
Uber and Spotify's music collaboration kicked off Friday with a series of live concerts and so-called drive-alongs with artists across the globe. Mashable met Uber representatives at the company's office in Santa Monica, California, to get a first-hand look at the service, which gives paying Spotify subscribers control over the music in an Uber car See also: Uber hires IBM's former … [Link]
Mashable » Duolingo app now certifies English language proficiency
The popular and acclaimed free language learning platform Duolingo has just launched a new app that allows you to certify your English proficiency right on your iOS device. "Every year, over 30 million job seekers and students around the world are forced to take a test to prove that they know English or other languages in order to apply for a … [Link]
Slashdot » Obama's Immigration Order To Give Tech Industry Some, Leave 'Em Wanting More
theodp writes: "The high-tech industry," reports the Washington Post's Nancy Scola, "will have at least two things to be happy about in President Obama's speech outlining executive actions he'll take on immigration. The president plans to grant the tech industry some, but not nearly all, of what it has been after in the immigration debate. The first is aimed at … [Link]
Mashable » Jerusalem on edge after deadly attacks and a summer of war
JERUSALEM — Dara Frank and Sam Green had been planning their wedding for months The nuptials, though, was the easy part. The timing was harder. The couple, American emigres to Jerusalem both in their 20s, had scheduled their wedding for late August — and all summer Israeli soldiers had been fighting in Gaza. And then there was the seating arrangement…. “We … [Link]
Mashable » Oh Friday, it's Joy: Amy Poehler brings the 'Inside Out' feelings together
LOS ANGELES — Joy to the world, Friday is come And it's been a week of ups and downs See also: The first character poster from Disney/Pixar's 'Inside Out': Sadness But mostly downs: We've wallowed in Sadness (Monday), roiled in Disgust (Tuesday), raged with Anger (Wednesday) and cowered with Fear. But it's the Friday before a short holiday week. Ahh, … [Link]
Mashable » David Muir, ABC's World News Tonight anchor, joins Media Summit
The Mashable Media Summit is right around the corner, and we're excited to share our latest speaker announcements with you. David Muir, Anchor at ABC News, discussing the evolution of world news in the digital age. Liam Stack, Digital Journalist at the New York Times and Miriam Elder, Foreign/National Security Editor at BuzzFeed will join Louise Roug's panel on War Stories: … [Link]
Mashable » Atari documentary director: 'We were worried we wouldn't find anything'
When construction workers operating giant machinery descended upon a New Mexico landfill in April, nobody was freaking out more than Atari: Game Over director Zak Penn. "I was nervous as shit," said Penn, who was shooting a documentary of the dig. "It was entirely possible it wasn't going to happen." See also: 1790s Paris reborn through research in 'Assassin's Creed: … [Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » Want: Dry Wipe Film For Tabletops
A brilliantly simple idea that’s already been funded on Kickstarter, Wrap is simply a film which you can fit to a desk or any other flat surface to turn it into a dry wipe board. It comes custom-sized to your request specification and is applied with an adhesive backing. The backing is designed to not only be removable without leaving … [Link]
Mashable » Poo-Pourri is back to remind us that everybody poops (even Santa)
Nothing will get you into the holiday spirit like a pun-filled commercial featuring Father Christmas in his most vulnerable state Continuing its tradition of funny ads, toilet deodorizing company Poo-Pourri has a new spot featuring Santa in a bit of a pinch. Unfortunately, nature made its call while Old Saint Nick was delivering presents, and his foul stench woke three … [Link]
Slashdot » CERN Releases LHC Data
An anonymous reader writes: Ever wished you had access to CERN's LHC data to help with your backyard high-energy physics research? Today you're in luck. CERN has launched its Open Data Portal, which makes experimental data produced by the Large Hadron Collider open to the public. "The first high-level and analyzable collision data openly released come from the CMS experiment … [Link]
Mashable » The latest 'Hunger Games' gets opening weekend all to itself
There’s a simple way for a movie studio to win a box-office battle: Make sure the competition is weakThe Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1 is expected to garner somewhere around $150 million in movie ticket sales this weekend — far more than any other film this year —largely because no one in Hollywood was brave enough to take it on. … [Link]
Mashable » How technology is changing the way we plan and experience events
Events and event planning are evolving into new, dynamic formats. Old models are falling away and technology is giving both planners and event participants an opportunity to grow and revisit the underlying ideas about how event spaces work. "It's been fascinating watching just how fast things have changed," said Brian Solis, principal at Altimeter Group, at a New York conference this … [Link]
Mashable » Buffalo snow peaks at 7.3 feet during week of once-in-a-generation cold
The grand totals are in from the Buffalo area's deadly lake-effect snow event — and the town of Cowlesville, New York, hit the jackpot. That community, about 25 miles east-southeast from downtown Buffalo, picked up 88 inches of snow this week. That's a whopping 7.3 feet of snow. The average annual snowfall in Buffalo is 93.4 inches, which means some areas … [Link]
ProgrammableWeb.com » Twitter Simplifies Vine Embedding Via New oEmbed API
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Mashable » An athlete and analyst discuss lacrosse's immense rise in popularity
Join Dave Damshek, former Jimmy Kimmel Live writer and sports commentator, and Paul Rabil, a professional lacrosse player, two individuals driving the world of sports, as they drive to Culver City High School.In the realm of professional sports, lacrosse may not be the first thing that comes to mind. But it's getting there — growing in popularity and expanding across the … [Link]
Mashable » Mexico protesters confront police in mass protest for missing students
Tens of thousands of people took to the streets across Mexico and around the world Thursday night in what may be the biggest protest yet over the kidnapping and presumed murder of 43 students. The demonstrators sought the return of the students, who have not been seen since they were taken by police from a rural teachers' college in September. Nov. … [Link]
Mashable » Silicon Valley gets slim pickings from Obama on immigration
Silicon Valley leaders watched U.S. President Barack Obama's immigration reform speech on Thursday, hoping that he would help tech companies by expanding visa and green card programs — but they had no such luck Obama's announcement included deportation protection for 5 million undocumented immigrants, but his plan will not do much for college-educated immigrants who come to the U.S. looking to … [Link]
Slashdot » Harvard Scientists Say It's Time To Start Thinking About Engineering the Climate
merbs writes: Harvard has long been home to one of the fiercest advocates for climate engineering. This week, Harvard's School of Engineering and Applied Sciences published a research announcement headlined "Adjusting Earth's Thermostat, With Caution." That might read as oxymoronic — intentionally altering the planet's climate has rarely been considered a cautious enterprise — but it fairly accurately reflects the … [Link]
New Scientist – News » Us vs universe: Hold still while the Earth trembles
In the hunt for gravitational waves, tiny tremors set a limit on how sensitive any ground-based detector can be – so we've just got to go off-world (full text available to subscribers) [Link]
New Scientist – News » Zoologger: tickly kiss turns on hairy-mouthed spiders
The males of this spider species evolved a trick to make females more likely to let them father their offspring – tickling them with hairy mouthparts [Link]
Mashable » One Direction's 'Night Changes' video will make you swear off dating
Self-proclaimed "Directioners" have dreamed of one day finally embarking on a romantic date with one (or all) of the One Direction bandmates With the group's new music video for "Night Changes," Harry, Zayn, Liam, Louis and Niall make those dreams a virtual reality. And it's way creepier than expected. See also: Danny DeVito Is the Best Part of One Direction's … [Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » Hot Dog Turkey Is Plain Bizarre
If you’ve ever wondered if you could replace the turkey in your Thanksgiving dinner with hot dogs, you’re probably a bit weird. But never mind, because the not-entirely-unbiased source of Oscar Meyer has published instructions for doing just that. It’s hard to imagine this would be tastier or quicker than turkey, but it would certainly be a conversation starter, even … [Link]
New Scientist – News » Today on New Scientist
All the latest on newscientist.com: how to hear yourself happy, tapeworm in the brain, crowdfunded charity, smartwatch predicts seizures and more [Link]
Slashdot » Windows Kernel Version Bumped To 10.0
jones_supa writes: In Windows, the kernel version number is once again in sync with the product version. Build 9888 of Windows 10 Technical Preview is making the rounds in a private channel and the kernel version has indeed been bumped from 6.4 to 10.0. Version 6.x has been in use since Windows Vista. Neowin speculates that this large jump in … [Link]
New Scientist – News » What's behind snowmageddon that hit the US this week?
A kink in the jet stream caused by a recent super typhoon over the Pacific is driving freezing temperatures and early snowfall in the US [Link]
Mashable » Adorable giant panda can bear-ly contain all the snow day feels
As winter creeps up and leaving the house becomes progressively more treacherous, we all need a pick-me-up. Da Mao, a giant panda at the Toronto Zoo, is here to save the day He could hardly contain his excitement and took full advantage of his #Snovember snow day. Check out Da Mao above, slipping, sliding, and tumbling the winter blues away, … [Link]
Mashable » Politicians gear up for 2016 after Obama's immigration announcement
U.S. President Barack Obama's Thursday night address to the nation announcing his executive actions on immigration reform captured national attention and drew an instant response from politicians. Republicans criticized Obama for changing his tune on immigration reform, while Democrats applauded him, with some even urging further action See also: Immigration reform: What's happening and why it matters With 2016 on the … [Link]
New Scientist – News » Saturn's calming nature keeps Earth friendly to life
Even slight tweaks to Saturn's orbital plane and distance could have put Earth on a comet-like path around the sun – and ejected Mars from the solar system [Link]
Slashdot » Ask Slashdot: What's the Most Hackable Car?
An anonymous reader writes: When looking for a new (or used) car, I have readily available information regarding features, maintenance history, and potential issues for that specific model or generation. What I would really like is a car that is readily hackable on the convenience-feature level. For example, if I want to install a remote starter, or hack the power … [Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » Google Experiments With Fee To Hide Ads
Google is experimenting with a way for users to pay a monthly fee to hide ads from some sites. The participating sites will then get a cut of the money. Google Contributor will allow web users to pay $1, $2 or $3 a month to take part: it doesn’t appear the amount you pay makes any difference to what you … [Link]
Mashable » Watch Kim Kardashian blow snow out of her butt
Here, ladies and gentlemen, is one of the only good things that Jimmy Kimmel has contributed to the Internet: Kim Kardashian blowing snow out of her butt Since Los Angeles doesn't have snow (they have celebrities instead), Kimmel decided to turn Kim K.'s bootylicious Paper Magazine cover into a snowblower. It's second only to the Kardashian coffee (koffee?) hack. See … [Link]
New Scientist – News » Smartwatch detects skin's electricity to predict seizures
Embrace measures the skin's electrical activity to detect changes that foreshadow an epileptic seizure – and sends out a distress call [Link]
Slashdot » Culberson As Chair of NASA Fundng Subcommittee Makes Europa Mission More Likely
MarkWhittington writes: As many have expected, Rep. John Culberson (R-TX) has been elevated to chair the House Appropriations Subcommittee for Commerce, Justice, and Science. The subcommittee has charge of NASA funding, something of keen interest for the congressman, whose Houston district is close to the Johnson Spaceflight Center. Moreover, Culberson's enthusiasm for space exploration goes far beyond what would be … [Link]
New Scientist – News » Us vs universe: Taking the twinkle out of the stars
That pretty twinkling is a blurry plague for astronomers – but we can cancel it out with artificial stars and shape-shifting mirrors (full text available to subscribers) [Link]
Mashable » Mark Ruffalo and Stephen Merchant play boozy musical chairs
Jimmy Fallon just made musical chairs infinitely more entertaining — and alcohol-filled On Thursday's Tonight Show, Fallon introduced the game Musical Beers to the world. Think red solo cups filled with beer in the place of chairs Mark Ruffalo and Stephen Merchant of HBO's Hello Ladies were the first two guinea pigs for the game, and in no time, turned … [Link]
Mashable » The ugly Christmas sweater business is worth millions
As an avid sports fan and the owner of Forever Collectibles, a sports memorabilia company in Somerset, N.J., Michael Lewis has seen his share of over-the-top apparel. Still, he wasn’t prepared for what he encountered last Dec. 20, when he came to work and found dozens of employees wearing garish sweaters covered in lights, bells, and ornaments. “It really hit me … [Link]
Mashable » From Bottom Burn to Bonkle, new map shows Britain's rudest place names
LONDON — We've always known Britain had some odd and often rude place names, but this is ridiculous. A new map has collated all of the more — shall we say — challenging names across the country, taking out the conventional towns and cities, and leaving just the more profane. So Bristol is absent, but Butt Mound is clearly marked. You … [Link]
Mashable » A bus powered by human poop is up and running in the UK
Ms. Frizzle would be so proud. A bus powered by biomethane gas, which is generated through the treatment of human and food waste, made its maiden voyage in England this month. So, essentially, it's a poop bus. It runs on poop. See also: 17 DIY Bathroom Hacks to Make Your Experience Less Crappy The "Bio-Bus" seats 40 passengers and can travel … [Link]
Mashable » Not all drones are created equal
This post follows "An Illustrated History of the Drone," Mashable's first animated mini-documentary about the history of drone technology. On Nov. 20, we hosted a Google Hangout with Peter W. Singer, top-notch strategist and senior fellow at the New America Foundation in Washington D.C., and Arthur Holland Michel, co-director of the Center for the Study of the Drone at Bard College … [Link]
Slashdot » It's Not Developers Slowing Things Down, It's the Process
An anonymous reader writes: Software engineers understand the pace of writing code, but frequently managers don't. One line of code might take 1 minute, and another line of code might take 1 day. But generally, everything averages out, and hitting your goals is more a function of properly setting your goals than of coding quickly or slowly. Sprint.ly, a company … [Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » Games of Thrones Video Game Trailer Released [Video]
Here’s the first trailer for the initial instalment of Game of Thrones: A Telltale Games Series. It sounds like a similar concept to the Walking Dead series, based around a combination of point-and-click and conversation trees. It’ll be a six-part series, with choices you make in one instalment affecting the events of future instalments when you play them. [Link]
Mashable » New Mexico lawmakers concerned about Spaceport America's future
New Mexico, which has invested $218.5 million into the future of space tourism, is concerned about the viability of Spaceport America. Lawmakers grilled New Mexico Spaceport Authority executive director Christine Anderson on Thursday about how it plans to deliver on the promise of the Spaceport, especially now since commercial flights by Virgin Galactic are postponed indefinitely following a deadly crash last … [Link]
Mashable » An arsonist threatens hipster wonderland in 'Portlandia' Season 5 trailer
Drama is brewing within the the hipster fantasy world of Portlandia The "Epic Trailer" for Season 5 dropped Thursday, bringing with it new guest stars, including Vanessa Bayer, Seth Meyers, Olivia Wilde, Jane Lynch and even Oscar the Grouch. We learned there's a "weirdo" arsonist on the loose, and it's plunging the entire city into chaos. Even our beloved Feminist … [Link]
Mashable » Obama literally runs back into the White House because he forgot his BlackBerry
President Barack Obama left the White House on Friday morning, bound for Las Vegas, and nearly left behind the thing he cares about most — Kevin! No, the president nearly forgot his BlackBerry. The president boarded Marine One on the South Lawn around 10:30 a.m. when he suddenly realized he'd forgotten his super-secure, NSA-developed smartphone. "I forgot something," Obama told White … [Link]
Mashable » Theme parks are trying incorporate tech to lure you off the couch
ORLANDO, Florida — Your local fun zone, amusement center and theme park is facing an existential challenge these days. They need to lure you, the American guest, off your sofa with your high-resolution, interactive video games and into their world of fun — real-life fun. A decade or two ago, folks went to theme parks, big and small, to experience the … [Link]
Mashable » Yemen's Al Qaeda branch denounces ISIS on Twitter
Al-Qaeda’s branch in Yemen denounced the Islamic State group for declaring a caliphate on territory it seized in Syria and Iraq without the necessary authority to do so. Sheikh Harith al-Nadhari, the purported spiritual leader of the branch, often referred to as al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula or AQAP, said in a video that ISIS's expansion intantions are "driving a wedge" … [Link]
Slashdot » Google Launches Service To Replace Web Ads With Subscriptions
An anonymous reader writes: Everyone understands by now that ads fund most of the sites on the web. Other sites have put up paywalls or started subscription bonuses, with varying success. Google, one of the web's biggest ad providers, saw a problem with that: it's a huge pain for readers to manage subscriptions for all the sites they visit — … [Link]
Mashable » Passengers stuck on Eurostar trains for 8-plus hours tweet their misery
LONDON — It was a very long night for hundreds of Eurostar passengers after a power cut left them stranded for more than eight hours Two trains were halted late Thursday due to the technical difficulties, including a train from Brussels to London carrying 600 passengers and another from London to Paris with 700 on board See also: Japan's levitating train … [Link]
Mashable » The midseason finale of 'Scandal' was absolutely insane
In the shocking midseason finale of Scandal, there's no more basking in the sun — as Olivia put it: "The sun went down a long time ago, and it's not coming back up" — as everything implodes Cyrus' secret is out. Rowan seeks to take down anyone who threatens his future. Olivia has a tough choice to make, and Mellie is … [Link]
Mashable » Aereo throws in the towel, but may have already changed TV forever
We now return you to your regularly scheduled, non-Internet programming. Streaming television startup Aereo has filed for bankruptcy, putting the company in a position to wind down its operations. See also: 10 Reasons Why I Ignored Your Resume Aereo announced on Friday that it has filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, a move that is typically expensive and allows for the company … [Link]
Mashable » New Beyoncé songs leaked online: Bow down and listen
This is not a test. Feel free to ring the alarms. Two new Beyoncé songs, "7/11" and "Ring Off," leaked in full Thursday night, just a day after a snippet of "7/11" began circulating online. See also: Beyoncé earned more than any other woman in music this year The songs will most likely be pulled, but Columbia Records has not yet … [Link]
Mashable » Mattel apologizes for controversial Barbie book, pulls it from online stores
Mattel apologized on Wednesday for the Barbie children's book that was widely deemed sexist for its portrayal of a female engineer who needs the help of two men to do her job, and pulled the book from online stores. The company posted an apology to its Barbie Facebook page, saying all titles "moving forward will be written to inspire girl's imaginations, … [Link]
Mashable » Thanksgiving fails to make you extra thankful for your family
Thought your family was nuttier than pecan pie? Turns out for every weird uncle or annoying cousin you have at Thanksgiving dinner, Twitter has a plethora of awkward stories to one-up your family. And thanks to Jimmy Fallon and #Thanksgivingfail, we can all be extra thankful for our own families this year. Mark Ruffalo and Stephen Merchant play boozy musical … [Link]
Mashable » Every important midseason TV date in one calendar
All your favorite TV shows are taking a break, but fret not — they will be back. And when the shows return, they'll have some new friends with them Grey's Anatomy, Scandal and How to Get Away with Murder have already taken their bows for 2014, and next week, Gotham, The Flash and more will do the same. Ah, midseason hiatus … [Link]
Mashable » Roadside bandits steal cooler full of Ebola blood in Guinea
CONAKRY, Guinea — It was a highway robbery but the bandits got more than they bargained for when they stopped a taxi van in Guinea and made off with blood samples that are believed to be infected with the deadly Ebola virus. See also: Eyewitness to Hell: Life in Ebola-Ravaged Liberia Authorities publicly appealed on national radio Friday to the unidentified … [Link]
Mashable » MRI scans reveal tapeworm in man's brain
LONDON — A 50-year-old man who has been suffering headaches and strange smells has finally discovered the cause of his woes: a 1 cm (0.4 inch) tapeworm in his brain. The parasite is thought to have been burrowing through his grey matter for more than four years, moving 5 cm (2 inches) from the right side to the left. See also: … [Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » LED Lamp is Accurate Moon
This LED lamp, designed by Japanese company Nosigner, is “a topographically-accurate LED light that was created based on data retrieved from the Japanese lunar orbiter spacecraft Kaguya.” It’s said to be inspired by the appearance of a supermoon (the combination of a full moon and the moon being at its closest point to Earth) shortly after the 2011 tsunami that … [Link]
Slashdot » Aereo Files For Bankruptcy
An anonymous reader writes: After losing its Supreme Court case in June and briefly attempting to transform itself into a cable company, Aereo is now filing for chapter 11 bankruptcy. Their service worked by letting people stream over-the-air television to their internet-connected devices. The content industry pushed back, and though Aereo argued its way through several lower courts, they say, … [Link]
Mashable » Google's LTE-enabled balloons take 5 minutes to inflate, can last 100 days
It's a bird! It's a plane! It's..Google The search giant shared some new details on Project Loon, the company’s network of LTE-enabled balloons that deliver Internet access to connect people in rural and remote areas The balloons, which travel through the stratosphere and can raise or lower into the wind, have travelled 1.86 million miles since the start of the … [Link]
New Scientist – News » Watch a tapeworm squirm through a living man's brain
A tapeworm that usually lives in frogs and dogs has been found crawling across a man's brain, most likely tucking into fatty acids from the cerebral tissue [Link]
Mashable » Weather whiplash in Buffalo: Flooding feared as 60-degree temps follow epic snow
The snow is no longer falling in Buffalo, New York, but the area isn't in the clear yet. Now it must contend with another extreme: flooding. The National Weather Service issued a flood watch on Friday morning as officials warned that rain and a warm spell over the weekend could make for hazardous conditions in the area. Rain and warm temperatures … [Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » Amazon Deal of the Day: Up to 60% Off Syfy TV Series on Blu-ray and DVD + Amazon’s Black Friday Deals Week
For today’s edition of Deal of the Day, Amazon offers up to 60% off on various Syfy TV series on Blu-ray and DVD. Stock up on series such has Haven, Sanctuary, Defiance and more while they’re selling for cheap! -Up to 60% Off Syfy TV Series on Blu-ray and DVD You can also check out these Amazon’s Black Friday deals, … [Link]
Slashdot » Microsoft Rolls Out Robot Security Guards
An anonymous reader writes: Microsoft is testing a group of five robot security guards. They contain a sophisticated sensor suite that includes 360-degree HD video, thermal imaging, night vision, LIDAR, and audio recorders. They can also detect various chemicals and radiation signatures, and do some rudimentary behavioral analysis on people they see. (And they look a bit like Daleks.) The … [Link]
Mashable » 10 Republicans who want to sue Obama over his immigration plan
In a primetime address on Thursday evening, President Obama laid out his plan to overhaul the immigration system with a series of executive actions to protect millions of undocumented workers from deportation Just moments after the president stepped away from his podium, Republicans lashed out against the action. Many called the overhaul an abuse of power because Obama didn't work with … [Link]
Mashable » Uber's Emil Michael isn't going anywhere, report says
Despite pressure to fire Uber executive Emil Michael after his controversial remarks surfaced this week, at least two investors in the company and CEO Travis Kalanick are still firmly behind him, according to a new report. Bloomberg reported on Friday that Michael was integral to Uber's financing round in June that valued it at $17 billion, as well as in the … [Link]
Mashable » 'Sunset Overdrive' fans will pick the game's next goodies
Sunset Overdrive players will have a chance to directly impact future upgrades to the game, thanks to an in-game voting system designed to measure fans' pulse. The voting system is part of a big batch of new Sunset Overdrive content rolling out on Xbox One in the next week, some of which is meant to coincide with the console's first birthday. … [Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » Friends Of The Galaxy [Mash-Up Video]
Great mash-up here as the creator Robert Jones has tried to fit the footage to the lyrics wherever possible. Let’s hope the inevitable Groot spin-off outperforms Joey. [Via: Geek Tyrant] [Link]
Mashable » Celebrities reading mean tweets about themselves never gets old
It's a tradition as old as time, or at least Twitter, itself — Jimmy Kimmel subjects celebrities to read through the sludge tweeted about them. Luckily for Kimmel, we'll never stop having rude, insensitive things to say about the rich and famous. And luckily for us, having celebrities read those comments will never not be funny. The eighth installment of … [Link]
Slashdot » Leaked Documents Show EU Council Presidency Wants To Impair Net Neutrality
NotInHere writes: The advocacy group "European Digital Rights" (EDRi) reports on leaked documents proposed by the Presidency of the council of the EU (currently held by Italy), which plans to remove vital parts from the telecommunications package that introduced net neutrality. The changes include removing the definition of "net neutrality" and replacing it with a "reference to the objective of … [Link]
Mashable » Two people dead as balcony collapses in London
LONDON — Two people have died and six were injured after a balcony collapsed in central London. The London Ambulance Service were called to the incident in Cadogan Square at 10am Friday and treated eight patients, they said. One died at the scene and a second passed away later on. It's thought that the deceased were removal men carrying a sofa. … [Link]
Mashable » Tate creates 3D Minecraft worlds inspired by famous paintings
LONDON — If a picture paints a thousand words, how many does a Minecraft map generate? British art institution Tate has teamed up with the game's cartographers to create virtual 3D worlds inspired by great artworks. The environments have been labelled 'Tate Worlds' and will allow players to explore a virtual space based on paintings and sculptures in the Tate Collection. … [Link]
Slashdot » Swedish Court Refuses To Revoke Julian Assange's Arrest Warrant
An anonymous reader writes A Swedish court rejected an appeal by Julian Assange to revoke a detention order issued over allegations of sexual assault. "In the view of the Court of Appeal there is no reason to set aside the detention solely because Julian Assange is in an embassy and the detention order cannot be enforced at present for that … [Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » ‘Back To The Future’ Watch Apes Flux Capacitor
This wristwatch from ThinkGeek may not be the most practical of timekeeping devices, but it’s certainly creative nostalgic. The “flux capacitor” section contains 12 lights. To check the time, you press the button and count the number of lights that flash on. The watch flashes three times to indicate hours, the first digit of the minutes, then the second digit … [Link]
New Scientist – News » Feedback: When the web was in the egg
We may think the machine stops, a world palace of knowledge, web arrives with woo-woo prose and more (full text available to subscribers) [Link]
Mashable » Phone-hacking editor Andy Coulson out of prison after 5 months
LONDON — The former News of the World Editor who was jailed for conspiracy to hack the phones of crime victims, politicians and celebrities has been released from prison after serving five months of an 18 month sentence Andy Coulson was released Friday morning from Suffolk's Hollesley Bay Prison, leaving by car and saying nothing to reporters, according to the BBC. … [Link]
Mashable » 11 gifts under $25 that look expensive
Forget spending a fortune on impressive gifts for your loved ones this year Whether you're on a tight budget or have a long gift list, you'll probably run into the problem of wanting to buy quality presents, but not wanting to break the bank. The solution? Shop smart and choose items that look pricier than they are, and trick your gift … [Link]
New Scientist – News » Galaxies in filaments spaced like pearls on a necklace
What began as a project looking at the statistics of galaxy distributions found an underlying pattern that could help astronomers learn how the universe evolved [Link]
Mashable » 14 strange but true stories from the Butterball Turkey Talk-Line
Before your meal goes up in smoke, just pick up the phone and call someone who truly cares. Butterball staffs dozens of so-called "Thanksgiving experts" for their annual Turkey Talk-Line to help cooks all over the country with their bird-related problems. See also: The hot dog turkey is the perfect dish for lazy chefs on Thanksgiving Callers from every walk of … [Link]
Mashable » Twitter: What to expect in 2015
Around this time last year, the big question about Twitter was how much would the social network and the company's culture change after going public. The answer, as we now know, is that it would change quite a bit Twitter enjoyed a honeymoon with Wall Street in its first three months as a public company, with the stock briefly soaring above … [Link]
Slashdot » Coal Plants Get New Lease On Life With Natural Gas
HughPickens.com writes Christina Nunez reports in National Geographic that in the past four years, at least 29 coal-fired plants in 10 states have switched to natural gas or biomass while another 54 units, mostly in the US Northeast and Midwest, are slated to be converted over the next nine years. By switching to natural gas, plant operators can take advantage … [Link]
Mashable » The 50 best GIFs of 2014
Although the debate on the correct pronunciation of the term "GIF" continues, 2014 was still a great year for the file format. A lot of great moments took place, which will allow GIFs to flourish well into 2015 and beyond. Twitter is finally supporting them on its platform and the GIF also saw some technological advancements with sites like Imgur and … [Link]
Mashable » Ollie the robot and 3D printing combine to create insane racing machine
The beast that is the Ollie, a connected toy that can do insane stunts and reach speeds of 22km/h, just got more impressive. Now you can hot up your ride with customised hubcaps and tyres. The Ollie, released in September by Sphero, is a robotic toy that can be controlled by an app on your iPhone or Android device connected … [Link]
Mashable » The Ukrainian revolution, one year on
KIEV, Ukraine – On a recent autumn afternoon, Mustafa Nayyem sat in the corner booth of a dark café in the Ukrainian capital, sipping coffee and reminiscing about how the revolution began a year ago. "It was a real uprising of the people, totally grassroots," he said. "There were no politics, and no politicians to spoil the movement." See also: From … [Link]
Mashable » UKIP wins Rochester by-election, taking second seat in Westminster
LONDON — UKIP has easily won the Rochester & Strood by-election, giving the anti-European Union party its second seat in Westminster See also: Emigrant Britain: Where do UK citizens live in the European Union? Mark Reckless took 42.1 percent of the vote — he is the second Conservative to leave the party and win back the seat for UK Independence Party. … [Link]
Mashable » Shop 'til you drop: Big British retailers bringing it this Black Friday
LONDON — A number of British retailers will be joining their counterparts on the other side of the Atlantic with offers timed to coincide with Black Friday. The day, synonymous with the promise of cut-priced goods, long queues and consumerism at its most extreme, happens on Nov. 28, the Friday following Thanksgiving. An import from the United States, it kick starts … [Link]
Mashable » 3D printer installed on the International Space Station
We just got closer to self-sufficiency in space with the installation of a 3D printer aboard the International Space Station The Zero-G is the first 3D printer built for zero gravity. It was designed by Bay Area startup Made In Space, and it arrived on the International Space Station on Sept. 22, according to Gigaom See also: Want to bury your … [Link]
Slashdot » Russia May Be Planning National Space Station To Replace ISS
An anonymous reader writes with news that Russia may be building its own space station to replace the ISS. Russia may be planning to build a new, independent national space station rather than prolong its participation in the $150 billion International Space Station (ISS) program beyond its current 2020 end date. The U.S. space agency NASA proposed last year to … [Link]
Mashable » Slush brings investors, startups to the frozen North
On arriving at the legendary Slush startup conference in Finland's Helsinki, the environment is akin to a fantasy world, a place that is dark and mysterious. It's as if the Northern Lights are flashing not in the interplanetary sky, but all around the conference center. What began as an idea in a Helsinki bar is now a conference in its seventh … [Link]
Mashable » This French bulldog thinks he's a diesel engine
A 3-year-old French bulldog named Dosh has the Internet fooled The towel-draped pup sounds a lot like an idling diesel engine when he gets overheated It's a good thing this engine is idling, too, because we're not ready to see this cute face take off quite yet. 'Key and Peele' imagine the dark underbelly of competitive aerobics Video: Obama announces … [Link]
Mashable » Pool, deck, eco-friendly: This is the typical Australian home
Australians are a society of fixers, buildings, painters, remodellers. We are obsessed with home renovation and our pads. In case you couldn't tell from the ridiculous amount of reality renovation shows gracing our television screens over the last few years, a new survey by design platform Houzz has confirmed it once and for all. We have a local style, influenced by … [Link]
Slashdot » The Man Who Made Tetris
rossgneumann writes Life gets pretty chill after creating 'Tetris' and escaping the KGB. A quick web search for "Alexey Pajitnov" brings up pages of articles and interviews that fixate only on his seminal creation—a work that remains, far and away, the best selling video game of all time. But clearly, there's more to the man than just Tetris. Meeting Pajitnov … [Link]
Mashable » Figure out your nonsensical Silicon Valley job title
We’ve got a great piece of content for all you thinkfluencing disruptors out there. Silicon Valley is no stranger to parody, given the startup culture's rapid creation of buzzwords and unusual job titles. The Silicon Vally job title generator Tumblr is a solid example of how many are fed up with the high-vocabulary, low-meaning nature of some of the industry's cushier … [Link]
Mashable » Snowed out in Buffalo, the Bills head to Detroit
BUFFALO, N.Y. — Snowed out in Buffalo, the Bills are heading to Detroit to play their "home" game against the New York Jets on Monday night. The NFL announced the location and date of the game on Thursday night after a severe lake-effect storm paralyzed much of the Buffalo region. More than 5 feet of snow has fallen in the Buffalo … [Link]
Slashdot » Greenwald Advises Market-Based Solution To Mass Surveillance
Nicola Hahn writes In his latest Intercept piece Glenn Greenwald considers the recent defeat of the Senate's USA Freedom Act. He remarks that governments "don't walk around trying to figure out how to limit their own power." Instead of appealing to an allegedly irrelevant Congress Greenwald advocates utilizing the power of consumer demand to address the failings of cyber security. … [Link]
Mashable » Microsoft's Black Friday offers include $150 off Surface Pro 3
As Black Friday inches closer, Microsoft has announced some pretty sweet deals that will be available from Nov. 27 to Nov. 28. Black Friday can drive everyone a bit crazy, so by researching early you can spare yourself some panic on the day. If you use Black Friday to get your Christmas list completed, these discounted items should fill a couple … [Link]
Mashable » Report: Ferguson Police Officer Darren Wilson in talks to resign
Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson is in talks to resign ahead of an expected grand jury announcement regarding his killing of unarmed black 18-year-old Michael Brown in August. News of the possible resignation was first reported by CNN. #AC360 begins right now with breaking news on reports #OfficerWilson is negotiating his resignation from #Ferguson PD pic.twitter.com/VQ0X670rqU — Anderson Cooper 360° (@AC360) … [Link]
Mashable » Taylor Swift's YouTube views doubled after pulling music from Spotify
In the aftermath of Taylor Swift removing her songs and albums from Spotify, some fans who still need Swift in their lives have moved over to YouTube. Swift's daily YouTube views doubled in the first week after Swift and Big Machine Records pulled her songs from Spotify on Nov. 3, Nielsen Music Connect told Mashable. See also: Billboard's albums chart shakeup … [Link]
The Joy of Tech » JoT #2074: Phones make the man!
Can you survive without it? If you enJoyed the comic, please retweet or share the URL. Thanks! [Link]
Mashable » Secret Service arrests woman with gun outside White House
Minutes after President Barack Obama finished his nationwide address regarding immigration reform Thursday evening, Secret Service officials arrested a woman with a gun outside the White House. The Michigan woman, 23-year-old April Lenhart, was walking along the north fence line of the White House on Pennsylvania Avenue around 8:30 p.m. with a 9mm handgun in a holster around her waist, a … [Link]
Slashdot » Harvard Students Move Fossil Fuel Stock Fight To Court
mdsolar writes A group of Harvard students, frustrated by the university's refusal to shed fossil fuel stocks from its investment portfolios, is looking beyond protests and resolutions to a new form of pressure: the courts. The seven law students and undergraduates filed a lawsuit on Wednesday in Suffolk County Superior Court in Massachusetts against the president and fellows of Harvard … [Link]
Mashable » Run like a girl: Tiny Sam Gordon still dominates at tackle football
Since a highlight reel of a tiny, speedy girl named Sam Gordon dominating boys twice her size in tackle football went mega-viral two years ago, a lot has changed for the young athlete. She met with the United States' women's soccer team, landed on the front of a Wheaties box and was NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell's guest at the 2013 … [Link]
Mashable » 'Key and Peele' imagine the dark underbelly of competitive aerobics
Key and Peele spoofed everyone's favorite aerobics-themed viral video in a way that only they can — they turned the video into a melodrama that imagines the dark undercurrent of athletic dance. The clip has it all: heartbreak; backstabbing; the viral video's beloved original music. We'd watch the hell out of this show. This French bulldog thinks he's a diesel … [Link]
Mashable » There won't be a net neutrality decision this year
The new rules to govern the Internet will wait until 2015. The Federal Communications Commission will not vote on Open Internet rules in December, according to the regulator's newly released agenda for its December open meeting. See also: 5 Things Managers Should Never Say Aloud The December meeting represented the last opportunity for the FCC to vote on new regulations in … [Link]
Mashable » Republican leaders lash out at Obama's immigration plan
President Barack Obama announced a plan on Thursday that will protect five million undocumented immigrants from deportation, and top Republican lawmakers were outraged Many Republican legislators have decried Obama's plan for weeks now, saying that he is abusing his power as president by deciding to reform the immigration system without Congress See also: Immigration reform: What's happening and why it matters … [Link]
Mashable » Southwest Airlines claims title as only major carrier offering free checked bags
On Wednesday, it became clear that JetBlue will soon add baggage fees and add more seats to planes — a move that would likely lead to less legroom for passengers. It didn't take long for Southwest Airlines to capitalize on its new status as the only airline offering free checked baggage. See also: Fuel prices keep dropping, but don't expect that … [Link]
Slashdot » The Nintendo DS Turns 10
An anonymous reader writes The Nintendo DS has reached a remarkable milestone: it's turned 10 years old. A new retrospective on one of Nintendo's greatest ever smash hits points out that it's now old enough to become a Pokemon trainer, and looks back at some of the greatest (and possibly overlooked) titles on the platform which has sold 154 million … [Link]
Mashable » Yik Yak threats shut down two California high schools in one week
As one southern California high school reopened Thursday after a two-day lockdown following threats from an anonymous social networking app, another was put on lockdown. In both instances, the threats came from an app called Yik Yak, which allows users to post anonymously from anywhere within a 1.5 mile radius of their location See also: Ironically, Anonymous App Secret Is Hatching … [Link]
ProgrammableWeb.com » Microsoft Announces OneNote Search API Beta Release
Microsoft has announced the beta release of its OneNote Search API. Bing search technology powers the full text search features of the latest OneNote API. [Link]
New Scientist – News » Huge genome helped frog tapeworm feast on man's brain
A tapeworm that usually lives in frogs and dogs has been found crawling across a man's brain, most likely tucking into fatty acids from the cerebral tissue [Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » Doctor Who Fan Gets Surprise At Auto Shop [Pic]
A massive Doctor Who fan who posts at Tumblr under the name TheTraciWho recently took her car in for servicing. It’s covered in decals, lanyards and even a mini-figure celebrating the show, so the mechanic will have been able to spot her fandom. They left a note that made clear that appreciation is shared: (Spotted by: Tor.com) [Link]
Slashdot » Customers Creating Fake Amazon Pages To Get Cheap Electronics At Walmart
turkeydance writes People are reportedly creating fake Amazon pages to show fake prices on electronics and other items. In the most heavily publicized cases, Walmart was reportedly duped into selling $400 PlayStation 4 consoles for under $100. From the article: "The company announced on Nov. 13 that it would price-match select online retailers, including Amazon.com. However, any Amazon member with … [Link]
Mashable » Qualcomm: Get ready for 4K smartphones
If you think the ultra-sharp Quad HD displays on today's state-of-the-art smartphones are as good as it gets, think again. According to Qualcomm, who builds many of today's key technologies in mobile, 4K smartphones are just around the corner, and they'll take pixel counts to an — arguably absurd — new level. When Apple debuted the iPhone 4 back in 2010, … [Link]
Mashable » Facebook shuttle bus drivers vote to join Teamsters union
Bus drivers who shuttle Facebook employees to and from the company's Silicon Valley headquarters voted on Wednesday to unionize, citing complaints about long hours and less-than-livable wages. The drivers, who are employees of a company that contracts with Facebook called Loop Transportation, voted 43-28 to join Teamsters Local 853. Many say they begin work at 6 a.m. and don't finish until … [Link]
Mashable » $10K raised in 1 day for boyfriend stabbed 9 times by catcaller
SAN FRANCISCO — It's the stuff of nightmares — because it could so easily happen to anyone Ben Schwartz, a 31-year-old San Francisco man, was walking with his girlfriend Miyoko in the wee hours of Saturday morning just five blocks from city hall when a man catcalled her for the third time that night, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. Schwartz, … [Link]
Mashable » Obama announces major immigration overhaul
President Barack Obama announced a series of executive actions on Thursday night that will overhaul the United States' immigration system. The actions will protect millions of undocumented immigrants from deportation, allowing them to obtain permits to work in the United States, though they won't be eligible for government health insurance. In total, around five million undocumented immigrants—out of the nation's estimated … [Link]
Slashdot » UNSW Has Collected an Estimated $100,000 In Piracy Fines Since 2008
Jagungal (36053) writes The SMH reports that The University of NSW says it has issued 238 fines — estimated to total around $100,000 – to students illicitly downloading copyright infringing material such as movies and TV shows on its Wi-Fi network since 2008. The main issues are that the University is not returning any money to the copyright holders but … [Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » Harley Quinn & Poison Ivy Go Roller Derby In New Shirts
If you’ve wondered what Batman’s female antagonists do for leisure, these two new shirts by Tom Kurzanski may have the answer. Available exclusively through Tee Fury, they show Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy as members of Roller Derby teams. [Spotted by: Fashionably Geek] [Link]
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