Anyone who works as a freelancer these days has to be at least a bit familiar with techie things. But it isn’t just that. When I was a kid and those vaguely SF puppet shows were on the television and all the other kids wanted to be Greg Gogetem or Steve Savetheuniverse, I wanted to be the guy in a white coat and glasses called Doc or Brains. Here are some technology-related feeds I find useful and/or entertaining.
Slashdot » Scientists Say the Future Looks Bleak For Our Bones
HughPickens.com writes Nicholas St. Fluer reports at The Atlantic that according to researchers, our convenient, sedentary way of life is making our bones weak foretelling a future with increasing fractures, breaks, and osteoporosis. For thousands of years, hunter-gatherers trekked on strenuous ventures for food with dense skeletons supporting their movements and a new study pinpoints the origin of weaker bones … [Link]
Mashable » Sony's 'The Interview' challenges North Korea — and Hollywood
The Interview, for all its build up and controversy, could be the canary that Hollywood studios watch as they navigate the perils of more quickly making movies available online. By releasing the movie on Google and Microsoft's Xbox streaming services, among others, Sony has given Hollywood a test case for distributing movies outside the multiplex cinemas. See also: You can rent … [Link]
Mashable » Shooting near Ferguson renews debate over police body cameras
The Berkeley, Missouri, police officer who shot and killed 18-year-old Antonio Martin at a gas station on Tuesday didn't have his body camera on at the time, according to police. The black teenager allegedly pointed a gun at the officer before the officer shot him. Though the publicly available surveillance video of the incident might support that claim, it's difficult to … [Link]
Slashdot » Did North Korea Really Attack Sony?
An anonymous reader writes "Many security experts remain skeptical of North Korea's involvement in the recent Sony hacks. Schneier writes: "Clues in the hackers' attack code seem to point in all directions at once. The FBI points to reused code from previous attacks associated with North Korea, as well as similarities in the networks used to launch the attacks. Korean … [Link]
Mashable » A CDC error may have exposed a technician to Ebola
A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention technician may have been exposed to live Ebola virus after a laboratory error discovered on Tuesday. The CDC will also check whether other employees were exposed to the virus and will monitor the exposed technician for 21 days, the length of the disease's incubation period. The exposed technician was reportedly wearing a smock and … [Link]
Mashable » Ho ho hodor! 8 last-minute 'Game of Thrones' Christmas cards
If you've been following the last four seasons of Game of Thrones, you've probably noticed that the citizens of Westeros aren't exactly filled with holiday cheer. We're here to change that. See also: The Brutal Truth About 'Game of Thrones' Dads In the off chance you've been doing some spectacular procrastination with your gifts, we've created these Game of Thrones Christmas … [Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » This Landspeeder Cat Bed is the Best Cat Bed Ever + More Geeky Cat Furniture [Pic]
A custom made lanspeeder cat bed by Roxy’s Dream, a small company that makes custom pet furniture. Be sure to check out more of their awesomely geeky creation below. 
[Source: Roxy’s Dream on Facebook | Roxy’s Dream] The post This Landspeeder Cat Bed is the Best Cat Bed Ever + More Geeky Cat Furniture [Pic] appeared first on Geeks are … [Link]
Slashdot » Google Motion Denied In Lawsuit Against Mississippi Attorney General
An anonymous reader points out that a judge has called a time-out on a case between Google and Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood. "A federal judge has denied Google's motion to block enforcement of a subpoena issued by Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood that seeks information from Google about parts of its operations, including information about advertising for imported prescription … [Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » IT EXISTS: A R/C Flying Christmas Tree [Video]
This R/C flying Christmas Tree was created by the folks over at Flyguy Promotions, a company that creates various R/C drones, planes, and ever superheroes. There’s not much details about how this thing works, but hey, it’s Christmas, so magic is probably the answer! [Otto Dieffenbach | Via Technabob] The post IT EXISTS: A R/C Flying Christmas Tree [Video] appeared … [Link]
Slashdot » Subsurface 4.3 Released
jones_supa writes "The Subsurface development team proudly announces release 4.3 of the open source divelog and dive planning program, available for all major desktop operating systems. This is the software originally founded by Linus Torvalds, and the development seems to be continuing in great pace. Subsurface now supports flexible filtering of the dive list based on criteria like tags, people … [Link]
Mashable » Stop saying the Sony hack was a publicity hoax for 'The Interview'
LOS ANGELES — There's really no polite way of putting this, so here goes: The persistent suggestion on social media and elsewhere that Sony cooked up this whole mess to transform The Interview from a middling comedy into a VOD hit is patently idiotic. So stop thinking it. Stop it right now. Don't even post silly jokes about it because 1) … [Link]
Mashable » Hailing a taxi with UberT now costs $2 extra in New York City
Uber has quietly added a $2 booking fee to its taxi-hailing feature, UberT — just in time for Christmas. Now any time a user books a ride using UberT (also known as UberTaxi), there's an extra fee automatically tacked onto the bill UberT allows users to hail non-Uber yellow or green boro cabs (the only ones you can legally hail on … [Link]
Mashable » Twitter's best reactions to watching 'The Interview'
After weeks of hacking, threats and uncertainty, Sony agreed to release The Interview online, for just $6 And if you thought that was anti-climatic, you clearly haven't streamed the movie yet See also: How to watch 'The Interview' right now The Interview ended up being more of a social commentary on Katy Perry, puppies and The Lord of the Rings than … [Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » Marshmallow Ghostbuster Stop Motion Holiday Video [Video]
A fun stop motion video by content creation firm Bodega Studio featuring a Marshmallow Ghostbuster hunting down an alternate version of slimer. Happy Holidays from everyone at Bodega Studios, Northern Lights (Post), Mr. Wonderful (Design) and SuperExploder (Sound)! Thanks Adam! [Source: Bodega Studio] The post Marshmallow Ghostbuster Stop Motion Holiday Video [Video] appeared first on Geeks are Sexy Technology News. … [Link]
Mashable » Travel headaches add up as bad weather hits busy holiday week
The holidays: when good will toward men is on full display at airports and train stations around the world. Just kidding. Holiday travel can understandably make people a bit crabby, and this year, a storm system in the Midwest and Northeast United States is adding to headaches across the country. See also: The worst things people do on airplanes, ranked Flight … [Link]
Slashdot » UK Man Arrested Over "Offensive" Tweet
mooterSkooter writes A 19-year-old Uk man has been arrested over an "offensive" tweet about an accident in which six people died. From the article: "The tweet, which has since been deleted along with the account that posted it, joked about the tragedy, in which the driver lost control of the vehicle and drove on the pavement, hitting Christmas shoppers 'like … [Link]
Mashable » Why isn't Apple showing 'The Interview'?
It’s not hard to spot a conspicuous absence in the list of streaming services offering the Seth Rogen comedy The Interview Wednesday. Google Play is offering itYouTube is offering it. Microsoft's Xbox Live is offering it. Sony set up a special website where you can stream it. So where's iTunes? Apple was actually Sony Pictures' first choice for a media partner … [Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » Screen Team’s Awesome 2014 Geeky Christmas Parody Medley [Video]
From my pals Chad and Angie over at The Screen Team: Here is our Christmas Parody Medley 2014 featuring the biggest song hits of the year from Taylor Swift, Iggy Azalea, Frozen, Idina Menzel, Meghan Trainor All About That Bass, Magic! Rude, Pharrell Williams, Happy, Chandelier, and Selfie! [Screen Team] The post Screen Team’s Awesome 2014 Geeky Christmas Parody Medley … [Link]
Slashdot » US Internet Offers 10Gbps Fiber In Minneapolis
An anonymous reader writes Christmas came early in Minneapolis! U.S. Internet has announced that they are now offering 10 Gbps service to all of their existing fiber customers. Their prior top tier service was 1 Gbps. The article also goes on to state that they're actively working on rolling out 40 Gbps and 100 Gbps fiber service as well." 
Read … [Link]
Mashable » How to watch 'The Interview' right now
Sony surprised the Internet on Christmas Eve by making The Interview available to watch online. Many believed the film would be permanently shelved following a massive cyberattack on Sony Pictures Entertainment. You can watch The Interview, about an assassination plot against North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, right now. We've compiled a list of links of where you can download the film, … [Link]
Mashable » Travel watchdog warns vacationers about resort fees hidden in the small print
A reminder to anyone booking travel to escape to a warmer climate this winter: Read the fine print, or you may be surprised by extra fees. UK watchdog Which? is warning consumers about resort fees that turn seemingly great deals into something not so great. The group researched deals available through popular booking websites, and found "hidden" fees as high as … [Link]
Slashdot » Should Video Games Be In the Olympics?
An anonymous reader writes: The BBC is running a story about e-sports and competitive video game. It's based on comments from Rob Pardo, formerly of Blizzard Entertainment, who says there's a good argument for having e-sports in the Olympics. He says video games are well positioned to be a spectator sport — an opinion supported by Amazon's purchase of Twitch.tv … [Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » Star Wars Episode VII: LEAKED LIGHTSABER SCENE [Video]
I loled. [happyhour] The post Star Wars Episode VII: LEAKED LIGHTSABER SCENE [Video] appeared first on Geeks are Sexy Technology News. [Link]
Mashable » Photographer dresses up his dogs for the most adorable Christmas cards ever
British photographer Peter Thorpe found the perfect inspiration for his Christmas cards: his dogs In 1990, he began dressing up his household pups, starting with his terrier, Paddy, as reindeer, Ebeneezer Scrooge, tree angels and all kinds of Christmas-inspired characters. See also: Photographer documents sheep and goats' inner supermodel "Paddy was quite grumpy so the fact he would happily sit within … [Link]
Geek Culture » Unexpected kindness… pass it on
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Mashable » Answers for the 9 worst questions you'll get asked over the holiday
If your sweet, loving family passes judgment only on criminals or ne’er-do-wells, close this tab now. Go spend unlimited time with your gentle relatives without having to answer questions about "what your plan is." Everyone else, happy holidays—and welcome to a fresh referendum on your performance as an adult. Unless you're a surgeon or renowned pianist, chances are your family uses … [Link]
ProgrammableWeb.com » Built.io Flow Cloud Integration Platform Opens for Early Access
Built.io, a mobile back-end and application development platform built by raw engineering, has announced the availability of early access to Flow, a cloud integration and data orchestration platform for the Internet of APIs (IoA) that the company plans to unveil sometime in 2015.
[Link]
New Scientist – News » Storm warning: Can crystal-gazing predict the weather?
It's easy to make a storm glass – just mix the chemicals and watch crystals form and disappear. But there might be a scientific basis to its supposed powers (full text available to subscribers) 
[Link]
Mashable » Watch 'The Interview' with us and the rest of the Internet
The Interview is now available to rent on Google Play, YouTube Movies, Xbox Video and its own website, so we decided to watch it live along with the rest of the Internet. We'll be sharing the most interesting moments and reaction right here in real time. So join us for our Interview viewing party; we started the movie shortly after 1 … [Link]
Slashdot » Sony To Release the Interview Online Today; Apple Won't Play Ball
An anonymous reader writes "The BBC reports: "Sony Pictures is to distribute its film The Interview online, after a cyber-attack and a row over its release. The film will be offered on a dedicated website — seetheinterview.com — as well as via Google and Microsoft services." Notably absent among the services to provide The Interview is Apple. The New York … [Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » Banecat is Back Once Again to Ruin Your Christmas [Video]
Banecat is back, and this time, he wants to ruin your Christmas! [BloodBlitz] The post Banecat is Back Once Again to Ruin Your Christmas [Video] appeared first on Geeks are Sexy Technology News. [Link]
Mashable » Watch a 'post-mortem' of a star explosion
Astronomers have spotted a new object emerging from the ashes of a recently deceased star. The stellar post-mortem, which is recounted in two new videos, may also solve a mystery surrounding the unexpected shape of the star's explosive remains, scientists say In February 1987, astronomers saw a new point of light appear in the sky: a supernova explosion, roughly 150,000 light-years … [Link]
Mashable » You can rent 'The Interview' on Google, YouTube and Xbox starting now
LOS ANGELES — Sony released The Interview on multiple streaming platforms in the U.S. on Wednesday, making good on persistent rumors that it would come out on demand along with its limited theatrical run. You can buy The Interview for $14.99, or rent it for $5.99, on Google Play, YouTube Movies, Xbox Video and SeeTheInterview.com. See also: Watch 'The Interview' with … [Link]
Mashable » Loyal dog refuses to leave injured owner, chases after ambulance transporting him
Dogs: 100. All other animals (especially cats): 0 This Brazilian pup may have just earned the title of "most fiercely loyal pet in existence ever" after it chased down the ambulance transporting its owner, who had just suffered a seizure. Eventually, the paramedics were forced to stop the ambulance and let the dog into the vehicle, the Brazilian news outlet Globo … [Link]
Mashable » NYC woman in trouble for making $61,000 on Airbnb with rent-controlled apartment
A New York City judge has ordered an Upper West Side woman to stop renting out her rent-controlled apartment on Airbnb immediately. Noelle Penraat, 62, made $61,000 in nine months from renting out three of the four bedrooms in her apartment, according to the judge. Penraat's landlord, Brookford LLC, sued her in October. "She has been profiteering from a rent-controlled apartment … [Link]
Slashdot » The History of the NORAD/Microsoft and Google Santa Trackers
theodp writes: Marketing Land's Danny Sullivan has a pretty epic post on How Google Became A Santa Tracker Tradition To Rival NORAD, and wonders if future generations will think of Santa tracking as synonymous with Google, just as past ones have felt about NORAD. Until it split with Google in 2012 (for unknown reasons) and hooked up with Microsoft, Sullivan … [Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » Superman’s Gift [Comic]
[Source: Texts from Superheroes] The post Superman’s Gift [Comic] appeared first on Geeks are Sexy Technology News. [Link]
Mashable » Ireland tells U.S. to respect its sovereignty in Microsoft email case
Ireland is lending some support to Microsoft, as it stands against a U.S. search warrant. The U.S. government wants Microsoft to surrender one customer's emails related to a drug investigation. The emails are stored on servers in Ireland, however, so the software giant has refused. It argues that the United States does not have jurisdiction Now, Ireland has sounded off in … [Link]
Mashable » Christmas lights are bad for you and for the environment
Last week, NASA released a report whose tone was misleadingly gleeful. Called "NOAA/NASA Satellite Sees Holiday Lights Brighten Cities," it began, “Even from space, holidays shine bright.” The satellite has been monitoring patterns in nighttime lighting intensity all over the world since its mission began in January of 2012. The conclusions are unsurprising: beginning on Black Friday, nighttime lighting in and … [Link]
Slashdot » How Laws Restricting Tech Actually Expose Us To Greater Harm
An anonymous reader writes: Cory Doctorow has an article in Wired explaining why crafting laws to restrict software is going to hurt us in the long run. The reason? Because we're on an irreversible trajectory toward integrating technology with our cars and houses, bodies and brains. If we don't control the software, then at some point, we won't control parts … [Link]
Mashable » Zoo animals love getting presents as much as you do
A bucket filled with fish might not be your idea of the best Christmas present ever. But then again, if you're reading this, you're likely not a penguin See also: 15 passive aggressive holiday gifts to confuse your friends As you run around putting the final touches on your holiday shopping list, let these animals remind you: It's the thought that … [Link]
Mashable » The Doctor meets Santa in the 'Doctor Who' Christmas special. Seriously.
Has it really been 10 years? Tomorrow's Doctor Who Christmas special, "Last Christmas," marks the 10th year in a row fans of the show have been treated to a special holiday episode, and the first one starring Peter Capaldi It's also the first to feature perhaps the most obvious character for a Christmas-themed story. See also: Rewatching 'Doctor Who' Season 8: … [Link]
Mashable » 1968: Daddy's gone to the moon for Christmas
On Dec. 21, 1968, Apollo 8 and its astronauts – Frank Borman, James Lovell, and William Anders – launched into space and over the course of their mission, became the first people to orbit the Moon. Apollo 8 orbited the Moon 10 times, and on Christmas Eve, the crew made a TV broadcast reading the first 10 verses of the Bible's … [Link]
Mashable » Show MashableReads your cozy reading photos
For some, winter vacation means no school. For others, it means days off from work. But for us, winter vacation means time to curl up and read a book. This month, Mashable's social book club MashableReads is cozying up with Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel, our December book selection and the final MashableReads title of 2014. With its beautiful … [Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » World’s Fastest Internet Comes To… Minneapolis
Minneapolis is to get what’s being billed as the world’s fastest broadband connection, a whopping 10 gigabits per second. The service is available to around 30,000 homes and businesses in the city and is provided by US Internet. It already provides a gigabit service but has now flipped the switch to increase that ten-fold. Although available to consumers, it’s probably … [Link]
Mashable » Korean Air Lines execs face arrest over 'nut rage' incident
The Korean Air Lines executive who delayed a flight over the improper service of macadamia nuts could now be facing jail time. South Korean prosecutors are seeking to arrest Heather Cho, the airline's former vice-president and head of in-flight services. Cho was on a flight leaving John F. Kennedy International Airport Dec. 5 in New York when, after being served the … [Link]
Slashdot » Human Eye's Oscillation Rate Determines Smooth Frame Rate
jones_supa writes: It should be safe to conclude that humans can see frame rates greater than 24 fps. The next question is: why do movies at 48 fps look "video-y," and why do movies at 24 fps look "dreamy" and "cinematic." Why are games more realistic at 60 fps than 30 fps? Simon Cooke from Microsoft (Xbox) Advanced Technology Group … [Link]
Mashable » There's a blizzard warning in effect for … Hawaii?!
The National Weather Service has issued blizzard warnings for the summits of Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea volcanic peaks, both located on the Big Island of Hawaii, in advance of a vigorous storm system The warnings, which were issued at about 3:39 a.m. on Wednesday, local time, warn of "periods of heavy snow and low visibility on the high summits." Winds … [Link]
Mashable » Hold on, we're going home with Drake Christmas cards
Drake, music's resident sweetheart, has a little holiday present for you. No, it is not an early release of Views from the 6— it's his love in the form of festive holiday cards. Illustrator Oliver Holmes created the Drizzy-themed cards for Complex See also: 18 houses that Christmas harder than you Just hold on, we're going home for the holidays Have … [Link]
Mashable » Police evict squatters in London who planned to feed homeless on Christmas Day
LONDON — Police officers and bailiffs clashed with a group of squatters in a five-storey Victorian building near Trafalgar Square in central London on Wednesday morning The group, who refer to themselves as "Love Activists," refused to leave the former Royal Bank of Scotland office, as bailiffs tried to evict them. Some climbed onto the ledge of the first-floor balcony. See … [Link]
Mashable » Little boy has precious reaction to learning he'll be a brother
Here's one present Santa can't build in his workshop For eight years, 10-year-old Ethan has asked for just one thing for Christmas: a sibling. (Feeling pretty guilty about your holiday wish list right about now?) This year, his parents were finally able to give Ethan that present Ethan's reaction, upon opening the card containing a picture of a sonogram, was … [Link]
Mashable » Superfans create a low-budget remake of the new 'Star Wars' trailer
When the Force fails you, use cardboard and glue. YouTube channel Dumb Drum created a shot-for-shot, "Sweded" remake of the Star Wars: The Force Awakens trailer. According to Urban Dictionary, sweding is the "summarized recreation of popular pop-culture films using limited budgets and a camcorder." At least a paper crossguard lightsaber has very little chance of cutting off your own … [Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » Last Minute Gift Idea: Gift Cards With Instant Delivery
If you’re still looking for the perfect little something to send to a loved one and are out of time (or if you’re simply too far from them,) why not send these people an online gift card with instant delivery? Here are a few ideas: -Amazon Gift Card with Instant Delivery (Email) -AMC Theatres Gift Cards – E-mail Delivery -Ghirardelli … [Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » These Cosplayers are Feeling Very Festive for the Holidays [Picture Gallery]
A fantastic series of pictures taken at Holiday Matsuri 2013 and 2014 by Eddie from Papanotzzi, an amateur photography-type guild focused around Anime & Sci-Fi/Comic conventions. Holiday Matsuri is an annual festively-themed Anime & Gaming convention located in Orlando, FL. 
[Pictures Source: Papanotzzi on Facebook] The post These Cosplayers are Feeling Very Festive for the Holidays [Picture Gallery] appeared first … [Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » A Smaug and Toothless Sass-Off! [Comic]
A fantastic comic by Australian artist Ria Rosa based on the recent video featuring Stephen Colbert interviewing Smaug. [Source: Ria Rosa – Only Fools Rush In | Ria Rosa on Deviantart.com] The post A Smaug and Toothless Sass-Off! [Comic] appeared first on Geeks are Sexy Technology News. [Link]
Slashdot » Study: Police Body-Cams Reduce Unacceptable Use of Force
An anonymous reader writes: Incidents like the Michael Brown case have recently put police body-worn cameras into the public consciousness, but they're not a new idea to criminology experts. In fact, researchers at Cambridge began a study in 2012 using law enforcement in Rialto, California as a test bed. Their results are now in: "The experiment showed that evidence capture … [Link]
Mashable » Seattle Seahawks bring man to tears with surprise gift
Here's proof that the NFL can bring a grown man to tears A young father wearing a Seattle Seahawks jacket had a random encounter with the girlfriend of Seahawks running back Robert Turbin. She asked to take a photo in his jacket, so he obliged, and asked if he could get something signed. The man's phone died before the two … [Link]
Mashable » A guide to TV holiday marathons
If there's any time to let someone do your TV thinking for you, it's the holidays And if you're not sweet on any of our picks, many networks have curated a host of marathons for your enjoyment. Some of them are even kind of awesome Check out our favorites, below, and consider this handy list our gift to you: 
Image: imgurBest … [Link]
Mashable » Uber CEO indicted in South Korea for violating transportation law
Uber’s expansion into Asia hit a snag Wednesday when prosecutors in South Korea indicted the company's CEO, Travis Kalanick, on the grounds that the service violates the country's transportation law The Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office charges that Uber's service — and those of it competitors — are unsafe and violate a law that bans rental car operators from competing with … [Link]
Slashdot » Many DDR3 Modules Vulnerable To Bit Rot By a Simple Program
New submitter Pelam writes: Researchers from Carnegie Mellon and Intel report that a large percentage of tested regular DDR3 modules flip bits in adjacent rows (PDF) when a voltage in a certain control line is forced to fluctuate. The program that triggers this is dead simple — just two memory reads with special relative offset and some cache control instructions … [Link]
Mashable » 'Blood Sports': America's dog fighting industry is still as strong as ever
In a way, Tim Rickey has both the best job and worst job in the world On one hand, he rescues and rehabilitates dogs from dangerous environments for a living; on the other hand, he's constantly front-and-center to one of the most violent, secretive fighting subcultures in America "It's an ongoing mix of joy and heartbreak," he tells me. "I've seen … [Link]
Mashable » The Havana high life, before Castro and the Revolution
It was during the presidency of Gerardo Machado in the '20s that Cuba's tourist trade really took off. Hotels, restaurants, night clubs, golf clubs and casinos sprung up in Havana catering to the rich jet-setters seeking luxury. Socialites, debutantes, celebrities like Ava Gardner and Frank Sinatra, and American mobsters came to play in the Cuban paradise. Tourism, and the growing and … [Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » This Christmas Tree is Really Super! [Pic]
Putting the presents on the roof? That’s brilliant! [Source: Dizzytrist on Reddit] The post This Christmas Tree is Really Super! [Pic] appeared first on Geeks are Sexy Technology News. [Link]
Mashable » 20 songs turning 20 in 2015
Have you ever taken a good, hard look at music released in 1995? TLC had us chasing waterfalls, Skee-Lo made a wish and Michael Jackson stripped down with Lisa Marie Presley in a music video that took 20 years to erase from our memories See also: 30 Instagram pets that colored our world in 2014 So turn off Home Improvement, pop … [Link]
O'Reilly News and Commentary » Bitcoin is a digital money ecosystem
Editor’s note: this is an excerpt from Chapter 1 of our recently released book Mastering Bitcoin, by Andreas Antonopoulos. You can read the full chapter here. Antonopoulos will be speaking at our upcoming event Bitcoin & the Blockchain, January 27, … [Link]
O'Reilly News and Commentary » Fairy tales and pop culture as inspiration for design innovation
In this podcast episode, David Rose, an instructor at MIT’s Media Lab and CEO at Ditto Labs, sits down with Mary Treseler, O’Reilly’s director of strategic content for our design space. In the interview, Rose defines his mission: “to make … [Link]
Mashable » Air rage: Behind bad behavior on planes
People do disgusting and disruptive things on airplanes. They show little regard or patience for fellow passengers and their needs. Inconsiderate behavior on the part of passengers can make air travel an unpleasant hassle for everyone. The 2014 annual Expedia Airplane Etiquette Study ranked the top on-board etiquette violators as reported by passengers: Rear Seat Kicker: cited by 67% of study … [Link]
Slashdot » The World Is Not Falling Apart
An anonymous reader writes: As much as we like complaining, and as much as the big media stations like to focus on the most horrible news of the day, the world is actually becoming a better place. Stephen Pinker and Andrew Mack have an article in Slate going through many of the statistics for things like homicide rates, child abuse, … [Link]
Mashable » How much of the Christmas Nativity story is true?
From the birth of Jesus in a manger to the Star of Bethlehem, the classic details of the Nativity story show up in Christmas pageants and storefront windows everywhere. But how may of those details are rooted in history?"My overall take on this, which would be the opinion of most other biblical scholars as well, is that there is very little … [Link]
Mashable » 20 people who really owned the whole DIY thing this Christmas
Congratulations, Internet. You've just won Christmas. The holidays are the perfect time to bake, decorate and do all kinds of artsy things with your friends and family — and no one understands that more than these craft-obsessed individuals See also: 11 last-minute DIY Christmas trees While some people bake a batch of cookies or spend an afternoon making a few ornaments … [Link]
Mashable » 7 things people hate about your website
This article is part of DBA, a new series on Mashable about running a business that features insights from leaders in entrepreneurship, venture capital and management. When you're browsing the web — whether online shopping or information-gathering — what's the one thing that drives you crazy about the sites you visit? Chances are, it's something that interrupts your user experience. See … [Link]
Mashable » With 1,500,000 lights, this family wins at Christmas
How many lights do you need for a real-life Christmas fairy tale? We don’t know the exact number, but a million and a half probably makes the cut In the small Croatian town of Čazma, a few thousand Christmas lights would make your house stand out from the rest. But retired engineer Zlatko Salaj wanted to make sure his family … [Link]
O'Reilly News and Commentary » Four short links: 24 December 2014
DRMed Cat Litter Box — the future is when you don’t own what you buy, and it’s illegal to make it work better. (via BoingBoing) Are We Consistent Yet? — the eventuality of consistency on different cloud platforms. How Complex … [Link]
O'Reilly News and Commentary » #Ebook Deal/Day: Designing for Emerging Technologies – $21.49 (Save 50%) Use code DEAL
Get "Designing for Emerging Technologies" today using code DEAL and save 50%!This sale ends at 2:00 AM 2014-12-25 (PDT, GMT-8:00). [Link]
Mashable » ISIS reportedly shoots down warplane over Syria, captures pilot
Islamic State fighters shot down a warplane believed to be from the U.S.-led coalition over Syria on Wednesday and captured its pilot, activists said. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the aircraft was shot down near the northern city of Raqqa, the Islamic State group's de facto capital. The Observatory said the warplane was part of the U.S.-led coalition, … [Link]
Slashdot » NuSTAR Takes Beautiful X-ray Image of Sol
New submitter swell points out a new image release from NASA, the first taken of the Sun by its Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array (NuSTAR). It's the most sensitive shot ever taken in the high-energy X-ray range of the spectrum. Direct image link. While the sun is too bright for other telescopes such as NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory, NuSTAR can safely … [Link]
Mashable » Live updates: Police clash with protesters near Ferguson after black teen shot dead
UPDATED: 9:07 a.m. ET 3 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW1. A man, identified as 18-year-old Antonio Martin, was shot by a police officer in Berkeley, Missouri.2. St. Louis County police say the officer was conducting a routine check when the man pulled out a gun.3. Crowds have gathered at the scene and clashed with police. A police officer fatally shot … [Link]
Mashable » 158-year-old redwood may be UK's oldest living Christmas tree
A cultural agency in the United Kingdom says it has discovered the oldest living Christmas tree in all of Britain. While the 158-year-old tree hasn't been used as a holiday decoration in decades, at one time it was uprooted every Christmas season and brought indoors, where it lit up the halls of an English mansion. The tree was then replanted after … [Link]
Mashable » George H.W. Bush taken to hospital
Former President George H.W. Bush was admitted to a Houston hospital Tuesday evening after experiencing a shortness of breath, a family spokesman said. Bush, 90, was taken by ambulance to Houston Methodist Hospital as a "precaution," according to spokesman Jim McGrath. He "will be held for observation, again as a precaution," McGrath said in a statement. Bush spent nearly two months … [Link]
Slashdot » TripAdvisor Fined In Italy For Fake Reviews
mpicpp writes with news that TripAdvisor, a travel website filled with user-generated reviews, has been hit with a €500,000 ($611,000) fine for "misleading customers" by failing to cull fake reviews from their list. "The regulator complained that people reading TripAdvisor Italy were unable to distinguish between genuine and fake reviews posted on the site. It said both were presented by … [Link]
Mashable » 31 holiday song facts that will impress all the other carolers
You may already know the lyrics for these festive carols, but now you can yourself a bonafide holiday trivia expert Mental Floss host Mike Rugnetta shares some little known facts about everyone's favorite holiday songs, from old classics like "Little Drummer Boy" to modern hits like Mariah Carey's "All I Want For Christmas is You." Seattle Seahawks bring man to … [Link]
Mashable » Snap an ugly sweater pic for our photo challenge
Chalk it up to the intricate embroidery, festive pompoms, or horrendous clash of colors, there's no finer fashion statement than the ugly holiday sweater. But there's a little more to the holidays than sporting ghastly garb. This week, for our photo challenge, we partnered with DoSomething.org and Mentor Up to support the Grandparents Gone Wired campaign See also: 18 tacky Christmas … [Link]
Mashable » Uber apologises for 'wrong decision' over Sydney siege price surging
Ride-sharing company Uber has issued a lengthy apology after introducing surge pricing during the Sydney siege, with the cost to leave the city skyrocketing to four times the normal fare. The central business district of Sydney went into lockdown on Dec. 15 as a crazed gunman held 17 people hostage in the Lindt Cafe. Office workers were advised to leave the … [Link]
Mashable » U.S. could see damage of at least $1.1T through 2100 from sea level rise, storm surge
The combination of sea level rise due to global warming as well as storm surges from tropical storms and hurricanes could cost a cumulative total of about $1 trillion by the end of this century, a study has found The research, published Dec. 14 in the journal Climatic Change, attempts to combine data on sea level rise with coastal property information … [Link]
Slashdot » De-escalating the Android Patent War
In 2011, a consortium formed from Microsoft, Apple, Sony, BlackBerry, and others spent $4.5 billion acquiring Nortel's patent portfolio, which contained a great deal of ammunition that could be used against Android. That threat has now been reduced. Today, 4,000 of the patents were purchased by a corporation called RPX, which has licensing agreements from Google, Cisco, and dozens more … [Link]
Mashable » 'Team America' sells out on Amazon after 'The Interview' kerfuffle
While Sony's extremely limited theatrical release of The Interview could end up costing the studio millions of dollars in lost ticket sales, all the publicity seems to have done wonders for the DVD sales of another movie that prominently features a North Korean dictator. DVD copies of Team America: World Police, the 2004 comedy by South Park creators Trey Parker and … [Link]
Mashable » Latest Firefox phone has transparent shell
A new phone that runs Firefox OS is launching in Japan on Christmas Day, and it's a looker The Fx0 phone has an unusual feature that makes it stand out next to iPhones and Android devices: The Fx0's exterior casing is transparent. See also: Mozilla to Bring Low-Cost Firefox Smartphones to India and Indonesia The see-through phone is the product of … [Link]
Mashable » Satellite images show historic Syrian sites reduced to rubble
A long and bloody civil war has taken an immeasurable toll on the people of Syria, but a new report provides a detailed analysis of the toll on the country's cultural heritage sites that have also fallen victim to the unrest. Several locations with invaluable importance, including UNESCO World Heritage sites, have been seriously damaged and in some cases destroyed. While … [Link]
Mashable » Police brutality protesters defy NYC mayor's plea for calm
New Yorkers took to Fifth Avenue, one of the city's busiest shopping districts, Tuesday night to once again demand justice for those who have suffered from police brutality, even after Mayor Bill de Blasio asked for them not to do so Hundreds crowded Fifth Avenue—and continued the march to Harlem—at one point holding a moment of silence at 116th Street and … [Link]
Mashable » Twitter analytics now available on iPhone app
Twitter analytics are now available on the iPhone app Analytics show users how many impressions their tweets get and charts other engagement metrics, as well as retweets and favorites. So even if a tweet isn't getting retweeted 1,000 times, users can see if people are still interacting with the post. See also: Twitter: What to expect in 2015 The new feature … [Link]
Slashdot » Comcast-TWC Merger Review On Hold
An anonymous reader writes: When the U.S. Federal Communications Commission began reviewing the merger between Comcast and Time Warner Cable, it imposed a 180-day deadline on the review process. The agency has now pushed that deadline back a few weeks after learning that TWC withheld over 7,000 documents they shouldn't have. TWC originally claimed the documents fall under attorney-client privilege, … [Link]
Mashable » Merry Christmas. Here is a dog, dressed as Santa, riding a Roomba
Watch out, dust bunnies. Santa Dog is coming to town. An adorable Boston terrier dressed as Santa Claus takes a Roomba ride around the living room while the song "Dónde Está Santa Claus?” by Augie Rios plays in the background. If this doesn't get you into the holiday spirit, nothing will. Seattle Seahawks bring man to tears with surprise gift … [Link]
Slashdot » Tech's Gender Gap Started At Stanford
JCallery writes: The New York Times has an in-depth look at the gender gap in tech through the eyes of Stanford's class of 1994. The article surveys the culture of the school and its attempts at changing the equation on diversity. It also examines Stanford's impact on the big companies (Yahoo, PayPal, WhatsApp, Stella & Dot) and big names (Peter … [Link]
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