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 » The NSA Uses the Same Chat Protocol As Hackers
rossgneumann writes NSA documents obtained by Edward Snowden and reported on by Der Spiegel on Sunday reveal that the agency communicates internally with Jabber, an open source messaging service used by hackers and activists trying to skirt the NSA's internet surveillance dragnet. A document outlining the NSA's Scarletfever program—a "message driven cryptologic exploitation service" designed as part of the larger … [Link]
Mashable » Tourists get a jumpstart on New Year's resolutions at fitness retreats
This New Year's Eve, Kristi Soomer won't be sipping champagne or worrying about who she'll kiss at midnight. She'll be surfing in the Dominican Republic. Soomer, a 34-year old Toronto resident, is heading south for Swell Surf Camp, a surfing and yoga retreat. It's not the first time she's gone to a fitness retreat specifically scheduled for the start of a … [Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » Control Z [Comic]
[Source: Two Cent Slice on Tapastic] The post Control Z [Comic] appeared first on Geeks are Sexy Technology News. [Link]
Mashable » Two decades after launch, AirTran takes its final flight
DALLAS, Texas — AirTran Airways has ceased to exist in an industry that has reshaped itself into something that would not be easily recognized when the carrier took its first flight about two decades ago. AirTran, which was acquired by Southwest in 2011, joins Northwest Airlines, which was bought by Delta, and Continental Airlines, which merged with United Airlines, in retirement. … [Link]
Slashdot » Gmail Reportedly Has Been Blocked In China
An anonymous reader is one of many to point out a report that Gmail has been blocked in China. A years-long war between Google and China that highlights the ideological chasm between the two behemoths has now entered a new phase. On Monday morning, reports confirmed online chatter that Gmail has been fully blocked in China. And transparency advocates say … [Link]
Slashdot » Aereo Gets OK From Bankruptcy Court To Auction Technology Assets
An anonymous reader writes Judge Sean Lane of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Manhattan gave permission to Aereo to sell its remaining assets to the highest bidder. The decision came after Aereo reached an agreement with the major broadcast networks that are suing the service. From the article: "Now a bankruptcy court in New York has granted Aereo permission to … [Link]
Mashable » Uber and Lyft are teaming with MADD for New Year's Eve
Uber doesn't plan to get even with customers who complain about their surge pricing on New Year's Eve. But it is getting MADD Both Uber and its rival Lyft are partnering with Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) for New Year's Eve, a move that could arguably be viewed as advancing a more positive counter-narrative to compete with what will likely be … [Link]
Mashable » Mom censors nudity with a towel, helps Reddit clean up the Internet
When 22-year-old redditor DantesInfernape posted a picture of his mother using a towel to shield his eyes from nudity on their television, he unknowingly created the last great meme of 2014: "Censorship Mom." In the comments of his post, DantesInfernape says that they were watching The Master when his mom brought out the towel. His submission title reads: "There were boobs … [Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » Fight Unsecured Wi-Fi Networks with this Glowing DIY Hobbit Sting Sword [Pic + Video]
Youtuber Spark IO has taken a toy Sting sword and combined it with a Spark Core to transform it into a tool that glows when there are unsecured wi-fi networks nearby. To celebrate the launch of the new Hobbit flick, we made a version of Sting that turns blue near unsecured Wi-Fi networks. And when you slash the sword, Sting … [Link]
Slashdot » Microsoft Is Building a New Browser As Part of Its Windows 10 Push
mpicpp sends word that Microsoft may be working on a new browser. "There's been talk for a while that Microsoft was going to make some big changes to Internet Explorer in the Windows 10 time frame, making IE 'Spartan' look and feel more like Chrome and Firefox. It turns out that what's actually happening is Microsoft is building a new … [Link]
Mashable » How to get around China's blocking of Gmail
When the Chinese government cut off direct access to Gmail in June, Internet users responded by using Gmail third-party clients That route, though, was blocked this weekend when the Chinese government closed a gap in its Great Firewall. However, there is still a way for Chinese Internet users to access Gmail by using software commonly known as VPNs or "virtual private … [Link]
Mashable » DJ Jonathan Toubin set to headline CES MashBash, rock your face off
We hope you're ready to party, because we sure are. Our annual CES MashBash is almost a week away, and we're happy to announce that DJ Jonathon Toubin will be taking the floor to make sure this year's event is the best yet. Toubin, who started his career spinning for the underground art scene in Brooklyn, is one of the most prolific and highly praised … [Link]
Mashable » Snowden leaks reveal encryption programs that NSA couldn't break
A new report on documents leaked to the press by whistleblower Edward Snowden highlights some security tools the National Security Agency has cracked — and those it hasn't — in its widespread surveillance of digital communication. The NSA had trouble breaking some forms of encryption, according to a report in the German newsmagazine Der Spiegel that listed seven coauthors, including Laura … [Link]
Slashdot » Russia Plans To Build World First DNA Databank of All Living Things
An anonymous reader writes Researchers from Moscow State University plan to build a database that will house the DNA of every creature known to man. The University has secured a $194 million grant for the project dubbed "Noah's Ark." The gigantic "ark," set to be completed by 2018, will be 430 sq km in size, built at one of the … [Link]
Mashable » Mashable's 150 top songs of 2014
2014 has been a big year for music. It included long-awaited returns from Jenny Lewis and D'Angelo along with strong debuts by new artists like FKA Twigs and YG. So naturally, we compiled our top 150 songs of the year — as chosen by Mashable staff — into a Music Monday playlist. See also: 13 albums we can't wait to hear … [Link]
New Scientist – News » Man vs sherry trifle: Can I eat myself drunk?
Graham Lawton attempts to get mashed on potatoes and sauced on sauce. It's a sobering insight into what really happens to the booze we cook with (full text available to subscribers) 
[Link]
O'Reilly News and Commentary » Biology as the next hardware
Ive spent the last couple of years arguing that the barriers between software and the physical world are falling. The barriers between software and the living world are next. At our Solid Conference last May, Carl Bass, Autodesks CEO, described … [Link]
Mashable » Report: Windows 10 will have a new browser that's not Internet Explorer
Internet Explorer, Microsoft's venerable but often despised web browser, may be on its way out. That's according to Microsoft Student Partner lead Thomas Nigro, who mentioned on Twitter that Windows 10 would feature a new browser that would not carry the Internet Explorer name. See also: With Windows 10, Microsoft Finally Gets It Ok so Microsoft is about to launch a … [Link]
Mashable » Detroit paper apologizes for running a photo of the wrong Harbaugh brother
After weeks of speculation, the San Francisco 49ers have officially parted ways with head coach Jim Harbaugh, who has reportedly landed a coaching job at his alma mater, University of Michigan. That's Jim Harbaugh, not John Harbaugh. John is Jim's older brother, who is still the head coach of the Baltimore Ravens. But if you mixed up the two brothers, you … [Link]
Slashdot » Ask Slashdot: Best Wireless LED Light Setup for 2015?
An anonymous reader writes I want to get a jump-start on next year's Christmas by wiring up my mother's gnome garden for a Christmas light show. I need a setup that can use wireless LED lights and speakers, the lights using a custom sequence set to music, that can be controlled remotely indoors to go off on a schedule, say … [Link]
Mashable » Shiba Inu puppy jumps for joy at the sound of kibble hitting his bowl
This puppy is all of us when hunger strikes. YouTube user Jon Sun noticed that his 4-month-old Shiba Inu puppy, Kibo, "has a minor freakout" every time he filled the dog's bowl with food. Sun created a supercut of Kibo's adorable puppy jumps for all of the Internet to enjoy. If people brought you your favorite dinner every day, you'd … [Link]
Mashable » 12 ugly sweaters selfies that took the holidays to the next level
Last week, Mashable partnered with DoSomething.org and Mentor Up to bring you our very own Ugly Sweater Photo Challenge But we didn't just ask you to share your ugliest sweater; we wanted you to show an adult how to snap a picture and share it on social media. 'Tis the season of giving. See also: The dangers lurking in your Christmas … [Link]
Mashable » Microbiome may have evolved to take down the elderly
The microbes that live in and on humans may have evolved to preferentially take down the elderly in the population, a new computer model suggests. That, in turn, could have allowed children a greater share of food and resources, thereby enabling an extended childhood. Such a microbial bias may also have kept the first human populations more stable and resilient to … [Link]
Mashable » A guide to binge-watching 'Friends' on Netflix
So no one told you binge-watching Friends was gonna be this way? The smash-hit comedy makes its Netflix debut on Jan. 1, and what better way to ring in the New Year than marathoning until your eyes bleed and insides hurt from laughing? Unfortunately, binge-watching is a fine art and deciding how best to tackle 10 seasons will be harder than … [Link]
Slashdot » 6 Terabyte Hard Drive Round-Up: WD Red, WD Green and Seagate Enterprise 6TB
MojoKid writes The hard drive market has become a lot less sexy in the past few years thanks to SSDs. What we used to consider "fast" for a hard drive is relatively slow compared to even the cheapest of today's solid state drives. But there are two areas where hard drives still rule the roost, and that's overall capacity and … [Link]
Mashable » Ebola case confirmed in Glasgow
A health care worker who returned to Glasgow from Sierra Leone on a British Airways flight less than 24 hours ago has Ebola, Scottish officials confirmed on Monday. The patient, who was working with Ebola victims in West Africa, took a flight from Sierra Leone late Sunday night via Casablanca, Morocco and London Heathrow, arriving into Glasgow Airport on a British … [Link]
New Scientist – News » Russia boasts best mental agility at World Mind Games
The world's top minds gathered in China last month to compete in five classic tests of cognition, including chess, go and draughts 
[Link]
Slashdot » Kim Dotcom's Mega Again Announces Encrypted Browser-Based Chat Service
An anonymous reader writes Kim Dotcom, founder of file hosting service Mega, revealed his company will be launching a browser-based chat service "soon." Dotcom referred to the service with the hashtag #MegaChat, though he confirmed with VentureBeat that this may not be its final name. This is not the first time Dotcom has talked about the upcoming service, which gets … [Link]
Mashable » Is this peak sharing economy? Presenting the Airbnb for Airbnb
The startup industry has a shorthand by which new startups are described via comparisons to successful startups. "Uber, but for metadata." "Spotify, but for home decor." "Seamless, but for honey badgers." While it can sometimes sound silly, it's an easy way to quickly describe what a company does. Now, this shorthand has come to its logical extreme with the "Airbnb for … [Link]
Mashable » The 2014 'Arctic Report Card' is here, and yes, it suggests global warming
The Arctic is warming at the fastest rate of any region on the planet, about twice as quickly as the globe's average rate of warming, scientists recently reported. Not only that, but the effects of this warming are increasingly visible well beyond the region's iconic sea ice and polar bears, according to the 2014 Arctic Report Card, which was released earlier … [Link]
ProgrammableWeb.com » Parse Launches Crash Reporting, Local Datastore for iOS
Mobile backend-as-a-service provider Parse, which was acquired by Facebook in 2013, has launched Parse Crash Reporting, a solution that enables iOS and Android developers to more easily record and resolve application crashes.
[Link]
Slashdot » Samsung To Discontinue Galaxy Alpha For Cheaper Galaxy A5
An anonymous reader writes that Samsung is giving up on their Galaxy Alpha smartphones. "Samsung will reportedly stop producing the metal-clad Galaxy Alpha early next year, and instead position the Galaxy A5 smartphone as its replacement. According to a report, with the launch of Galaxy A5 in South Korea – which can be as early as mid-January and as late … [Link]
Mashable » Netflix to help parents trick kids on New Year's Eve
Looking to enjoy New Year's Eve without the kids? Netflix has you covered Citing research that shows 34% of parents admit to fooling their kids into thinking it's midnight on New Year's Eve hours before the actual event, Netflix is giving parents some help. On Monday, the company said it would provide a 3-minute clip featuring King Julien of DreamWorks' All … [Link]
Mashable » Hackers claim they can copy fingerprints from photos
For more than a century, it's been possible to lift fingerprints from a physical surface, like a drinking glass. Now a group of hackers is saying they can copy fingerprints from photographs. According to the Chaos Computer Club — the same Berlin-based group that claimed it cracked Apple's Touch ID fingerprint sensor last year — it's possible to replicate a thumbprint … [Link]
Mashable » Missing AirAsia flight puts pressure on aircraft tracking debate
After the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370, one of the biggest questions was why we didn't know where the plane was. In 2014, why couldn't — why hadn't — we put a GPS on every plane so we always knew where it was? Airline industry officials said it was more complicated than that, of course — but most everyone agreed … [Link]
Mashable » 'Brands Saying Bae' Twitter account shames brands for acting like teens
Just because brands want to seem hip doesn't mean they have to act like children. That, at least, appears to be the message behind a scathing new Twitter account Brands Saying Bae, a Twitter account that launched over the weekend, has already attracted more than 7,500 followers by publicly shaming brands for acting like teenagers on Twitter. The account highlights examples … [Link]
Mashable » The only conceivable reasons for Niall ever leaving One Direction
LONDON — Twitter had palpitations overnight after several entertainment sites tweeted that Niall was leaving One Direction. Just as Directioners began to brace themselves for heartbreaking national helplines, it was revealed that the news was a hoax sparked by two hacked Twitter accounts. See also: 50 most-tweeted songs of 2014 So while we were fast asleep, it turns out some dickhead … [Link]
Mashable » Man named Jack Daniels naturally names newborn son Jim Beam
Some babies are just too bold for a normal name. A man named Jack Daniels Leathers and his wife, Lydia Leathers of Gray, Louisiana, have named their newborn son Jim Beam, continuing the tradition of naming their family's very classy tradition of naming their children after American alcohol. See also: 8 Babies Named After the Internet and Tech "My parents decided … [Link]
Mashable » The most pirated TV shows and movies of 2014
Another December, another year of pirating Game of Thrones coming to end. The beloved and controversial HBO fantasy epic holds the royal station of the most pirated TV show for the third consecutive year, according to TorrentFreak. Viewers pirated the show 8.1 million times on BitTorrent in 2014 The show is behind HBO's subscription wall, so it makes sense that it … [Link]
Mashable » Crowd boos NYC mayor during NYPD graduation ceremony
Members of the crowd at an NYPD graduation ceremony booed New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio before and during his speech on Monday, days after some officers turned their backs to the mayor while he spoke at a fellow officers' funeral on Saturday. An already tense rift between de Blasio and the city's police erupted after two NYPD officers were … [Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » Welcome to Palpatine’s Kitchen [Comic]
Let the heat flow through you! [Comic by Artist QuadForceFive] The post Welcome to Palpatine’s Kitchen [Comic] appeared first on Geeks are Sexy Technology News. [Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » M&Ms Trick Your Brain When Positioned on a LEGO Checkerboard [Pics]
Mary Coffelt, Briena Heller, and Michael McCamy have created this fun take on Akiyoshi Kitaoka’s “Bulge” illusion at the Barrow Neurological Institute last summer. Sure, we all now that lines on a LEGO checkerboard can’t be anything but straight, but when you strategically position M&Ms on it, your brain warps your vision and make the whole thing all funny looking. … [Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » Bill Nye’s Answer to the Fermi Paradox (The Search for Extra Terrestrial Civilizations) [Video]
The Fermi paradox states that, since there are nearly endless chances for life to evolve in the universe, civilizations must occur in some of those instances. But to date there have been no signs of these civilizations. Bill Nye has a simple yet hopeful answer to the mystery. [Big Think] The post Bill Nye’s Answer to the Fermi Paradox (The … [Link]
Slashdot » Belize's "Blue Hole" Reveals Clues To Maya's Demise
An anonymous reader writes The collapse of the Mayan civilization has been a mystery for decades, but now new research suggests that the blue hole of Belize could provide an answer. Studying minerals from Belize's famous underwater cave, researchers have discovered that an extreme drought occurred between AD 800 and AD 900, which is when the Mayan civilization collapsed. From … [Link]
Mashable » 18 new shows we can't wait to see in 2015
It looks like 2015 might be the year to invest in that additional DVR As 2014 comes to a close, it's time to look forward to a new year and new reasons to not get up from the couch See also: Movies to look forward to in 2015 The list below is an early look at what the new shows we'll … [Link]
Mashable » Shake Shack files for IPO
Get ready for the most mouthwatering IPO of 2015. Shake Shack, the fast-growing burger chain, filed paperwork with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Monday to raise up to $100 million in a public offering. See also: 7 tech companies that may go public in 2015 The high-end burger shop was founded more than a decade ago by serial restauranteur Danny … [Link]
Mashable » 'Happy Valley' and other crime dramas top British list of 2014 TV shows
It seems the critics couldn't get enough of the crime drama genre this year The Yorkshire drama Happy Valley was the best programme of the year, according to the poll of 22 critics from the Radio Times magazine and RadioTimes.com The six-episode series follows police sergeant Catherine Cawood, played by Sarah Lancashire, as she comes face to face with the man … [Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » The Hobbit Song – I Will Show You [GLOVER Dance Remix]
From Glover: I will show you – The Hobbit song is a tribute to Peter Jackson`s trilogy. It’s an original song using sounds, effects and vocal samples from The Hobbit. Music created and produced by Glover with Logic Pro X. [Glover] The post The Hobbit Song – I Will Show You [GLOVER Dance Remix] appeared first on Geeks are Sexy … [Link]
Mashable » Why air disasters keep happening in Southeast Asia
In the past year, Malaysia’s aviation industry has suffered an unprecedented number of tragedies. Although the odds of any person boarding a flight dying in a plane crash are about 1 in 11 million, three Malaysia-based aircraft have apparently gone down, with no survivors. The latest, AirAsia Flight QZ8501, had been traveling from Surabaya, Indonesia, to Singapore when it vanished over … [Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » The Year in News: What Happened Next (Stories From May-June 2014)
Continuing our look back at the stories we covered in 2014 and their subsequent developments, we turn to May. Despite finally bringing in a deadline to stop issuing security updates for the 13-year-old Windows XP, Microsoft issued a patch for Internet Explorer on the system, vowing it was a one-off. It has since stuck to that vow, despite roughly one … [Link]
New Scientist – News » Reverb: Why we dig messy sound
From concert-hall designers to pop record producers, everyone in the music industry knows we love reverb. But why, asks sound guru Trevor Cox (full text available to subscribers) 
[Link]
New Scientist – News » Split-colour bird is half male, half female
What's red and white and feathered all over? A northern cardinal with the plumage of both a male and female 
[Link]
Mashable » Fearing protests, Russia steps up verdict in case against top opposition leader
In a surprise move, a Russian court has bumped up the date of its ruling in the high-profile trial of opposition leader Alexei Navalny, seemingly to avoid protests in his support. See also: Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny could spend 10 years behind bars Along with his brother Oleg, Alexei Navalny is charged with defrauding a French cosmetics company, though the … [Link]
Slashdot » FBI Allegedly Investigating Lizard Squad Member Over Xbox Live, PSN Attacks
blottsie writes The FBI is actively investigating a member of the hacker collective that claimed responsibility for recent high-profile cyberattacks on Microsoft and Sony properties, according to multiple sources with knowledge of the investigation and the attacks. A member of the Lizard Squad hacking group, who goes by the alias "ryanc" or Ryan, allegedly garnered the attention of a special … [Link]
Mashable » Vegas-bound Virgin Atlantic plane makes emergency landing at Gatwick
A Virgin Atlantic plane has made a "non-standard" or emergency landing in Gatwick Airport after a technical fault with its landing gear meant it had to circle for more than three and a half hours Flight VS43 took off from Gatwick bound for Las Vegas at about 11:45 a.m. Monday but after detecting a technical issue with one of the landing … [Link]
Mashable » AirAsia 8501 and MH370: The differences
The disappearance of an AirAsia passenger jet soon after takeoff inevitably brings back memories of the mystery behind Malaysia Airlines Flight 370, which disappeared nearly 10 months ago and is yet to be found. But while it is still not known what happened to AirAsia Flight 8501, there appear to be no reasons its presumed crash is anything other than a … [Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » Cyberman in Disquise Wants to “UPGRADE” Poor Unsuspecting Squirrel [Video]
Let’s just hope that this squirrel doesn’t get upgraded, and then end up turning all squirrels on the planet as little cybersquirrels. It would be the end of humanity. In a more serious note, this squirrel feeder was created by Doctor Who fan Emma Young. “My whole family are Doctor Who fans, especially my younger son Joe, so I decided … [Link]
Slashdot » Neil DeGrasse Tyson Explains His Christmas Tweet
140Mandak262Jamuna writes Neil DeGrasse Tyson tweeted on christmas day what appeared to begin as a tribute to Infant Jesus, but ended up celebrating Isaac Newton. Apparently this was retweeted some 77000 times, far above his average of 3.5K retweets and caused many to be angry. He doubled down on it by tweeting about people being offended by objective truths. Then … [Link]
Mashable » John Oliver's brilliant excuses for skipping your New Year's Eve plans
You may already believe that New Year's Eve is the worst. But if your friends don't, John Oliver can help get you out of those pesky plans. Though Last Week Tonight is on hiatus until 2015, Oliver surprised fans with a web exclusive, featuring foolproof reasons to cancel your plans for Dec. 31. The excuses are tailored, ranging from boring … [Link]
Mashable » More bodies recovered from burning Greek ferry, bringing death toll to 7
The Italian coast guard says two more bodies have been recovered from the Greek ferry fire, bringing the death toll to seven. There was no immediate word on where the two bodies were recovered. The evacuation of the Greek ferry that caught fire between Italy and Albania has been completed, with a total of 414 people rescued from the boat, Italian … [Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » Amazon Deal of the Day: Up to 50% Off Select Electronics Accessories
For today’s edition of Deal of the Day, Amazon offers up to 50% off on select Electronics accessories such as flash memory, bluetooth speakers, phone cases, keyboards, and more! The Fugoo style bluetooth speaker is being offered in there. This is the one I have at home and I strongly recommend it to you guys. That thing offers 40 hours … [Link]
Slashdot » 2015 Could Be the Year of the Hospital Hack
schwit1 writes After Obamacare required hospitals to convert all health records into electronic files, those records are now very vulnerable, and experts expect hackers to target them in the coming years. From the article: "Along with vast troves of credit card information and celebrity snapshots, hackers stole a record number of medical records from U.S. health-care facilities this year. In … [Link]
Mashable » AirAsia's CEO is in the spotlight as search for missing plane continues
Tony Fernandes is more than just the CEO of AirAsia: He's the brash personality and cheerleader-like figure who gives the discount carrier its soul. A flamboyant executive who loves race cars and soccer — and is known for speaking his mind, sometimes inappropriately — Fernandes has opened air travel to millions who previously couldn't afford it. See also: Everything we know … [Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » An Astronaut’s Guide to Optimism: A Message of Hope and Optimism for 2015 (Ft. Astronaut Chris Hadfield) [Video]
As the year ends, here’s a message of hope and optimism from astronaut Chris Hadfield. Our world is not as bad a place as we often feel it to be. It is easy to look to the future and lament on how far there is left to go, but sometimes it is helpful to stop and reflect on just how … [Link]
Mashable » Pinterest cashes in on success of promoted pins, opening it to all advertisers
After initial success with its beta program, Pinterest announced Sunday that it will expand its chief monetization vehicle, promoted pins, to all advertisers, starting Jan. 1. Pinterest introduced the program in June, which offered advertisers the chance to run pins that are targeted to users based on age, sex, location and interests. See also: 15 Pinterest Users Every Designer Should Follow … [Link]
Mashable » Watch them before they go: A Netflix movie marathon guide
The weather outside is frightful, but staying inside under our covers with a mug of hot chocolate and our good ol' pal Netflix is so delightful. This holiday season is the perfect time of year to plan a movie marathon with your friends, and what better way to start the New Year than to cross a few more flicks off your … [Link]
Mashable » Xiaomi raises $1.1 billion to become the world's most valuable startup
Uber who? Xiaomi, the largest smartphone maker in China, confirmed Monday that it has raised $1.1 billion at a pre-money valuation of $45 billion, following weeks of reports about a massive upcoming funding round See also: Numbing numbers: The year in insane startup valuations The valuation tops Uber, reportedly making Xiaomi the most valuable startup in the world, though to call … [Link]
Slashdot » Gmail Reportedly Has Been Blocked In China
An anonymous reader is one of many to point out a report that Gmail has been blocked in China. A years-long war between Google and China that highlights the ideological chasm between the two behemoths has now entered a new phase. On Monday morning, reports confirmed online chatter that Gmail has been fully blocked in China. And transparency advocates say … [Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » A Breathtaking Journey Through the Western Half of the United States [Time-Lapse Video]
This timelapse video is a collection of footage shot over the last year and a half around the western half of the United States. The shots ranged from very different locations. From Montana to Arizona and most weren’t easy to get to but of course that makes them worth going to. The locations captured ranged in temps of 100 degrees … [Link]
Slashdot » Norse Security IDs 6, Including Ex-Employee, As Sony Hack Perpetrators
chicksdaddy writes Alternative theories of who is responsible for the hack of Sony Pictures Entertainment have come fast and furious in recent weeks — especially since the FBI pointed a finger at the government of North Korea last week. But Norse Security is taking the debate up a notch: saying that they have conclusive evidence pointing to group of disgruntled … [Link]
Mashable » New York Jets coach Rex Ryan fired
New York Jets head coach Rex Ryan will not be returning to the NFL team in 2015 after one of the most disappointing seasons in the franchise's history. This morning Woody Johnson informed John Idzik and Rex Ryan that they will not be returning to the team in 2015. — New York Jets (@nyjets) December 29, 2014 Ryan was 46-50 in … [Link]
Mashable » Temperatures plummet across the UK amid warnings of ice and snow
LONDON — The year might be almost over, but last night temperatures dropped to a 2014 low across England, Wales and Northern Ireland. See also: The extreme weather and climate events of 2014 in 13 photos Temperatures were compared to Alaska and Iceland Monday morning as newspapers attempted to contextualise mercury readings that plummeted to minus 8.8 degrees Centigrade (16.2F) in … [Link]
Mashable » Questions to ask before starting a business in 2015
Ready to launch your own business in 2015? You're not alone: Each year at CorpNet we see an uptick of new businesses formed in January. The New Year marks a new beginning, and what can be more fulfilling and exciting than making things happen with your own business? As a serial entrepreneur myself, I wouldn't trade the opportunities and exhilaration for … [Link]
New Scientist – News » Become an instant expert on the best science of 2014
Our editors pick their favourite features, interview, comment, video and more 
[Link]
Mashable » 16 books turning 10 in 2015
After 10 years, you can figure out which books from 2005 held up and which ones are best left off your reading list. In the past decade, these books have been read, re-read, reviewed, shared and some even adapted for the big screen. But if you haven't yet cracked open one of these contemporary classics, 2015 is a good time to … [Link]
Mashable » Greece set for snap general election after failing to elect president
Greece is heading for early general elections after parliament failed to elect a new president in a third and final round of voting on Monday. See also: Greece borrows Australian landmark to promote itself in new tourism ad The prospect of early elections has intensified fears over the country's financial future, causing investors to sell off the country's stocks. The coalition … [Link]
O'Reilly News and Commentary » Four short links: 29 December 2014
OpenROV — open source submersible, funded in 1 day on Kickstarter, now available for purchase. Ur/Web — web application language that’s functional, pure, statically typed, and strict. (via IT World) MeArm (Thingiverse) — a low cost robot arm. The meArm … [Link]
O'Reilly News and Commentary » #Ebook Deal/Day: Learning PHP, MySQL & JavaScript – $21.49 (Save 50%) Use code DEAL
Get "Learning PHP, MySQL & JavaScript" today using code DEAL and save 50%!This sale ends at 2:00 AM 2014-12-30 (PDT, GMT-8:00). [Link]
Mashable » 1909: Imagining what a policewoman would look like, before there were any
The only available information about these pictures is the description in the Library of Congress: "The woman 'Cop' (a dream). A Suffragette posed to illustrate the woman police concept – Cincinnati." Yet, as odd as it may appear, it may be possible to take them at face value. In 1910, only 12 months after these pictures were taken, a thirty-seven-year-old Alice … [Link]
Slashdot » Trees vs. Atmospheric Carbon: A Fight That Makes Sense?
StartsWithABang writes Yes, carbon levels in our atmosphere are rising, it's causing the Earth to warm and the climate to change, and our dependence on fossil fuels isn't going away anytime soon. Yet even if we ceased all carbon emissions today, the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere is already high enough that it is likely to result in long-term … [Link]
Mashable » Queen's Guards moved back from public over fears of 'lone wolf' attacks
Members of the Queen's Royal Guards have been removed from high-profile public posts outside key royal residences in London following increased security threats See also: Queen's Guard Plays a Regal 'Game of Thrones' Cover It's the first time since the height of the IRA’s campaign in the 1980s that the guards are no longer allowed on sentry duty alone. The guards … [Link]
Mashable » Aussie stories you shared in 2014: Karl Stefanovic, laughing shark victim and boxing roos
In a year overcome with large aviation tragedies and bloody wars, Aussies filled their spare mind space and Twitter feeds with stories a world away from devastation. Feminism battles, impromptu dance parties, the iPhone 6 and a pair of boxing kangaroos were some of the most shared stories on Mashable from Australia in 2014 It was a welcome break from the … [Link]
Mashable » Iran's supreme leader tweets about U.S. police brutality saying #blacklivesmatter
Iran’s Grand Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has once again used his Twitter account to blast the United States, directing his attention to Ferguson and #blacklivesmatter. See also: In a country where city workers shoot stray dogs, some Iranians work to save them In a series of tweets sent Sunday, Khamenei says true followers of Jesus would not support racial oppression in the … [Link]
ProgrammableWeb.com » How The UK's Government is Leading API Security
As modern information exchange is relying more and more heavily on APIs, security for these web services is critical for ensuring proper identity authentication and for controling varying levels of API access. The United Kingdom's government has become a well-known leader in carefully implementing these measures.
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New Scientist – News » Fancy naming a world after someone this Christmas?
Want to name an alien world? Keep your ideas on a tight leash, advises astronomer Heather Couper 
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Slashdot » Life In Space, In More Than 12,000 Photos
CNET is one of many sources carrying the stunning time-lapse photography of astronaut Alexander Gerst. Gerst assembled into a 6-minute movie 12,500 still images taken by cameras set up to document things like ISS docking procedures, but which ended up capturing quite a bit more: Images of auroras abound in the video below, as do spellbinding shots of humming cities … [Link]
Mashable » Happy goat savors a spoonful of peanut butter
Stephie the goat is ending 2014 right — with a giant spoonful of peanut butter and the resolve to savor each lick. The happy goat is one of many residents living at the Manning River Farm Animal Sanctuary in New South Wales, Australia. There, she resides peacefully with cows, pigs, chickens and, of course, peanut butter-wielding humans. GoPro captures dog's … [Link]
Slashdot » Twitter Bug Locks Out Many Users
TechCrunch and ZDNet are among the many sources to report that many users are having trouble right now signing in to Twitter, and that the company is working right now to fix the glitch. As ZDNet describes the problem, According to Twitter's server response at the time of writing, most of 2015 has happened, and we are heading into a … [Link]
Mashable » Ukraine volunteers bring support to soldiers
In the wake of the ongoing crisis in Ukraine, volunteers across the country have united to support Ukrainian soldiers. The movement is expansive and wide-ranging, with volunteers providing everything from food and warm clothes to bulletproof vests and camouflage tents. In addition to donations, they also care for injured soldiers, offer patriotic lessons at school and send family photos to the … [Link]
Mashable » From the 1930s to present: New Year's Eve in New York's Times Square
Every year hundreds of thousands of revelers descend upon the gleaming intersection of Seventh Avenue and Broadway in New York City to celebrate the turn of the new year. Famously, Times Square plays host to musical performances, celebrity guests and 2,000 pounds of falling confetti. Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve began in 1974, and has hosted the ball drop party … [Link]
Mashable » Same-sex couples seek gay-friendly wedding services
Elizabeth calls her upcoming marriage to Julie, her partner of 12 years, "the amazing moving wedding." The South Carolina women initially planned to marry in Connecticut, where same-sex marriage has been legal since 2008. They scheduled their wedding around their oldest son's graduation there, on Memorial Day weekend. But when gay marriage bans were struck down closer to home, their plans … [Link]
Slashdot » What Northern Hemisphere Astronomers Are Missing From the Southern Hemisphere
creimer (824291) writes The New York Times Sunday Review has an interesting article on the astronomical night life when viewed from Sao Paulo, Brazil, featuring a treasure trove not visible to astronomers in the Northern Hemisphere: "Yet the Southern Hemisphere claims the three brightest stars of the night sky: Sirius, Canopus and Alpha Centauri. Canopus belongs to the Carina constellation, … [Link]
Mashable » GoPro captures dog's heartbreaking reaction to his owner leaving the house
Get ready to never leave your pet home alone again Curious about the antics his dog gets into after he leaves the house, YouTube user Mike the Intern strapped a GoPro onto his pet to capture his dog's reaction Unfortunately, Mike's overly attached dog doesn't handle separation very well Have something to add to this story? Share it in the … [Link]
Slashdot » Sony PlayStation Network Back Up Now, Supposedly
jfruh (300774) writes Sony's PlayStation Network, brought down in a Christmas Day hacking attack, now seems to be back online. Of course, Sony also said the same thing on Saturday, but outages and problems lingered. From the article: At around 1 a.m. U.S. Eastern Time on Sunday, Sony declared its online gaming platform fixed and, as it had done the … [Link]
Mashable » Search for missing AirAsia Flight 8501 called off for another night
UPDATED: 8:03 a.m. Eastern / 8:03 p.m. in Jakarta The search for the missing AirAsia plane has been called off for another night after Indonesian officials said the objects that an Australian search aircraft spotted were not from the missing aircraft. It has been more than 24 hours since the Airbus A320-200 vanished with 162 people on board en route … [Link]
Mashable » Twitter users reporting bug that dates every post as one year old
UPDATE: 12:32 a.m. ET: Twitter has posted an update to its support account apologizing for the service problems, but still has yet to offer any explanations for the major disruptions, which lasted for hours. The issue that prevented some users from signing in to Twitter has been resolved. We apologize for the inconvenience: http://t.co/7BlGvFMC3e — Twitter Support (@Support) December 29, 2014 … [Link]
Mashable » Seth Rogen and James Franco live-tweet 'The Interview'
James Franco and Seth Rogen celebrated The Interview's swift comeback by live tweeting the movie start to finish, for our benefit. When Sony Pictures originally pulled The Interview from theatrical release following anonymous threats in the wake of Sony's very public hack, the likelihood of a massive comeback for the flick seemed slim. But thanks to independent theaters across the U.S. … [Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » Somebody Call The Doctor: A Fun Doctor Who-Themed Music Video
Kat Robichaud is obviously a big fan of the Doctor because she inspired herself from the Character to write “Somebody Call The Doctor,” a quirky fun rock music video featuring the many and varied incarnations of the legendary alien. Check it out! [Kat Robichaud] The post Somebody Call The Doctor: A Fun Doctor Who-Themed Music Video appeared first on Geeks … [Link]
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