John Gordon Ross

A Man for All Reasons

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Geekish

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 » Neil deGrasse Tyson reveals meaning of life to 6-year-old: 'Explore as much as you can'

Saturday 17 January 23:20:21 UTC 2015

Neil-tysonFeed-tw Feed-fb At a speech in Boston, DrNeil deGrasse Tyson took a crowd question from a curious 6-and-three-quarters-year-old boy named Jack. The question was a simple one, "What is the meaning of life?" See also: 10 Neil deGrasse Tyson Quotes From SXSW to Fuel Your Love of Science Tyson, after a laugh, told Jack that he defines the meaning of life as … [Link]

Slashdot » Lies, Damn Lies, and Tech Diversity Statistics

Saturday 17 January 23:03:00 UTC 2015

theodp writes Some of the world's leading Data Scientists are on the payrolls of Microsoft, Google, Facebook, Yahoo, and Apple. So, it'd be interesting to get their take on the infographics the tech giants have passed off as diversity data disclosures. Microsoft, for example, reported its workforce is 29% female, which isn't great, but if one takes the trouble to … [Link]

Mashable » Fox confirms the best TV news of the day: 'X-Files,' 'Prison Break' could be coming back

Saturday 17 January 22:13:26 UTC 2015

X-filesFeed-tw Feed-fbPASADENA, Calif. — After the success it saw from resurrecting Jack Bauer and co. for another installment of 24, Fox is looking to bring back two more popular properties, the heads of Fox's TV group confirmed Saturday First, X-Files fans could be in for a return to the world of Mulder and Scully, as ongoing conversations are taking place to bring … [Link]

ProgrammableWeb.com » Why America Should Open Its Doors to Immigrant Programmers

Saturday 17 January 22:00:01 UTC 2015

There is a drought across the U.S., and especially in Silicon Valley: there aren't enough programmers to meet the escalating demand for work. According to Paul Graham, programmer and founder of ViaWeb and Y-Combinator, the only way to secure America's position as a technology superpower is to open its doors to outstanding immigrant programmers. [Link]

Slashdot » Obama: Gov't Shouldn't Be Hampered By Encrypted Communications

Saturday 17 January 21:58:00 UTC 2015

According to an article at The Wall Street Journal, President Obama has sided with British Prime Minister David Cameron in saying that police and government agencies should not be blocked by encryption from viewing the content of cellphone or online communications, making the pro-spying arguments everyone has come to expect: “If we find evidence of a terrorist plot and despite … [Link]

Mashable » John McCain is the spitting image of Lord Voldemort in this photo

Saturday 17 January 21:33:01 UTC 2015

John-mccainFeed-tw Feed-fbA new photograph of five-term Arizona senator and 2008 Republican presidential nominee John McCain is drawing comparisons to a certain dark wizard from J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series. Yes, Sen. John McCain looks exactly like Lord Voldemort. See also: 7 unbelievable things you could buy with Colorado's weed tax revenue Redditor Dam8ti0n was the first to point out the senator's uncanny … [Link]

Slashdot » Ridley Scott Adapts Philip K. Dick's 'Man in the High Castle' For Amazon

Saturday 17 January 20:57:00 UTC 2015

An anonymous reader writes with word of an adaption of Philip K. Dick's The Man in the High Castle. Ridley Scott is the executive producer for the adaptation of a Philip K. Dick novel that's one of 13 new TV shows from Amazon Studios. There's also a video adaptation of The New Yorker magazine, and all 13 pilots are available … [Link]

Mashable » Lea Michele joins Fox's comedy-horror anthology 'Scream Queens'

Saturday 17 January 20:51:43 UTC 2015

LeamicheleFeed-tw Feed-fbGlee may have just started its final season on Fox, but Lea Michele is already in business with the network and creator Ryan Murphy once again The actress is officially joining Scream Queens, a comedy-horror anthology set to debut this fall See also: Julianne Hough will play Sandy in Fox's 'Grease' live musical Fox made the announcement during its presentation at … [Link]

Mashable » Greek police reportedly detain 4 alleged extremists, possibly including Belgium suspect

Saturday 17 January 20:28:00 UTC 2015

Belgium-greekFeed-tw Feed-fbATHENS, Greece — Greek police on Saturday detained four suspected extremists, including man believed to be the ringleader of a Belgian jihadi cell. A Greek police official said the four were arrested separately in Athens, and included a man who matches the description of Abdelhamid Abaaoud — who Belgian authorities suspect was behind a jihadi cell that was dismantled in Belgium … [Link]

Geeks are Sexy Technology News » Top Ten Anticipated Video Games of 2015

Saturday 17 January 20:04:09 UTC 2015

A new Legend of Zelda? Yes please! 2014 was a meh year for video games. We had some disappointments in some major titles that promised bigger things than we got, and overall, the killer games to get people to buy new consoles just weren’t there yet. Though there were definitely some gems (Far Cry 4 was a blast), it looks … [Link]

Geeks are Sexy Technology News » Anything is Possible! [Comic – Part I and II]

Saturday 17 January 20:03:25 UTC 2015

[Source: Ted Adair – Motion Designer & Burrito Enthusiast] The post Anything is Possible! [Comic – Part I and II] appeared first on Geeks are Sexy Technology News. [Link]

Geeks are Sexy Technology News » Merfest: It’s Exactly What it Sounds Like

Saturday 17 January 20:02:05 UTC 2015

So, um, there is a convention held yearly in North Carolina and is essentially a gathering of local folks who like to dress up as mermaids and mermen. Of course it is called ‘merfest‘ because what else would you call it? The best part is, these people get together up to three times a week and actually swim in the … [Link]

Mashable » Comedian deals with OkCupid scammer in the best possible way

Saturday 17 January 20:01:47 UTC 2015

Mike-bFeed-tw Feed-fb Stand-up comedian Mike Bobrinskoy's nine-minute set about his real-life OkCupid scamming experience will leave you in tears. As Bobrinskoy describes in this video, he decided to have a little fun with a scammer when an obviously fake account on the dating site began asking him to send them money. His playing along leads to some hilarious email interactions with the … [Link]

Geeks are Sexy Technology News » NEVER Touch Someone Playing an Occulus Rift Horror Game [Video]

Saturday 17 January 20:01:38 UTC 2015

Touching someone who’s immersed in an Occulus Rift horror game is just a really bad idea as you can see in the video above. [James Poulos | Via Geekologie] The post NEVER Touch Someone Playing an Occulus Rift Horror Game [Video] appeared first on Geeks are Sexy Technology News. [Link]

Geeks are Sexy Technology News » The Beauty of Iced Flowers

Saturday 17 January 20:00:03 UTC 2015

As you can see from the above shot, bouquets of flowers perfectly frozen in blocks of ice are quite stunning. Iced flowers in nature is a state you rarely see them in. Tokyo artist and musician Azuma Makota put together the above display in hopes to evokes some emotion in those who see it. From his Facebook page: This exhibition … [Link]

Slashdot » What Africa Really Needs To Fight Ebola

Saturday 17 January 20:00:00 UTC 2015

Lasrick writes Laura Kahn, a physician on the research staff of Princeton University's Program on Science and Global Security, writes that the high tech solutions being promoted to help fight Ebola in Africa will make no difference. What Africa really needs is anti-corruption efforts, now. "A case in point is Liberia, which has received billions of dollars in international aid … [Link]

Mashable » Julianne Hough will play Sandy in Fox's 'Grease' live musical

Saturday 17 January 19:27:25 UTC 2015

JuliannehougeFeed-tw Feed-fbPASADENA, Calif. — Proving it's hopelessly devoted to the idea of a live musical, Fox announced on Saturday that it has cast two key roles for its upcoming production of Grease. Dancing With the Stars judge Julianne Hough will take on the role of Sandy, made famous by Olivia Newton-John in the 1978 movie, while High School Musical alum Vanessa Hudgens … [Link]

ProgrammableWeb.com » JSON API Co-Author Shows Practical Advantages Of Hypermedia

Saturday 17 January 19:00:10 UTC 2015

In a recent article series looking at web APIs, developer and author Steve Klabnik discussed the implementation of hypermedia by using four real-world examples from his own experiences. He began by dismissing the idea that it is all-or-nothing when it comes to incorporating hypermedia in your API. [Link]

Slashdot » Analysis Suggests Solar System Contains Massive Trans-Neptunian Objects

Saturday 17 January 18:58:00 UTC 2015

BarbaraHudson writes NBC News reports that at least two planets larger than Earth likely lurk far beyond Pluto, just waiting to be discovered, a new analysis of the orbits of "extreme trans-Neptunian objects" (ETNOs) suggests. The potential undiscovered worlds would be more massive than Earth and would lie about 200 AU or more from the sun — so far away … [Link]

Mashable » 'Empire,' 'Gotham' renewed for Season 2

Saturday 17 January 18:37:01 UTC 2015

EmpireFeed-tw Feed-fbPASADENA, Calif. — Just two weeks into its freshman season, Fox's Empire has been renewed for another season Also renewed is freshman drama Gotham, which entered the TV season as one of the most-anticipated series, and is one of the top-performing newbies. See also: 18 new shows we can't wait to see in 2015 Empire, meanwhile, tied ABC's How to Get … [Link]

Mashable » Florida mall shooting leaves 1 dead, 2 injured

Saturday 17 January 18:30:55 UTC 2015

Police-tape-flickrFeed-tw Feed-fbUPDATED 1:48 p.m. ET One person is dead and two others injured, after a shooter opened fire inside the food court of the Melbourne Square mall in Melbourne, Florida, on Saturday morning. The shooting took place before the mall opened at 10 a.m., local time, with NBC News reporting that the first police calls occurred around 9:30 a.m. Melbourne Mayor Kathy … [Link]

Mashable » Photographer captures rare, breathtaking images of recently flipped iceberg

Saturday 17 January 18:03:22 UTC 2015

Alex-cornell-thumbFeed-tw Feed-fbIcebergs are pretty standard when it comes to appearance: They can be bold and beautiful, sure — but for the most part, they're white, snowy and generally look the same However, filmmaker Alex Cornell created a new photo series while on vacation in Antarctica last month, which shows a completely different side — literally — to these giant blocks of ice. … [Link]

Slashdot » Silicon Valley Security Experts Give 'Blackhat' a Thumbs-Up; Do You?

Saturday 17 January 18:00:00 UTC 2015

HughPickens.com writes Cade Metz writes that last week Parisa Tabriz, head of Google's Chrome security team, helped arrange an early screening of Michael Mann's Blackhat in San Francisco for 200-odd security specialists from Google, Facebook, Apple, Tesla, Twitter, Square, Cisco, and other parts of Silicon Valley's close-knit security community, and their response to the film was shockingly positive. "Judging from … [Link]

Mashable » Australian driver narrowly avoids falling trees caused by windstorm

Saturday 17 January 17:37:11 UTC 2015

Tree-fallFeed-tw Feed-fb Luck and a quick reaction probably saved this driver from severe injuries An intense windstorm on Dec. 29, recorded by one driver's dashboard camera, wreaked havoc on trees lining the Maroondah Highway in Australia. The storm, which registered wind speeds of more than 50 miles per hour, caused dozens of trees to fall onto the road almost simultaneously. It took … [Link]

Slashdot » FCC May Permit Robocalls To Cell Phones — If They Are Calling a Wrong Number

Saturday 17 January 17:07:00 UTC 2015

An anonymous reader writes There have been plenty of false rumors about cell phones being opened up to telemarketers, but now the FCC is actually considering it. From the article: "Consumers have long had the support of government to try to control these calls, chiefly through the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, which actually allows consumers to file lawsuits and collect … [Link]

Slashdot » FCC May Permit Robocalls To Cell Phones — If They a Calling a Wrong Number

Saturday 17 January 17:07:00 UTC 2015

An anonymous reader writes There have been plenty of false rumors about cell phones being opened up to telemarketers, but now the FCC is actually considering it. From the article: "Consumers have long had the support of government to try to control these calls, chiefly through the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, which actually allows consumers to file lawsuits and collect … [Link]

New Scientist – News » Eureka relived: Alchemy that's more than magic

Saturday 17 January 17:00:00 UTC 2015

Recreating the convoluted preparations of alchemists reveals a world of painstaking chemical experimentation beyond funny robes and pointed hats (full text available to subscribers) [Link]

Mashable » ​The CENTCOM hack wasn't a big deal, but don't scoff at ISIS hackers just yet

Saturday 17 January 16:31:17 UTC 2015

Isis_hack1Feed-tw Feed-fbOn Monday, the Twitter avatar of the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) was replaced with the picture of a masked militant, the flag of the Islamic State group and the message "I love you isis." Whoever took control of CENTCOM's account then started tweeting generic threats to U.S. military personnel, posting screenshots of random unclassified military documents — and a picture of … [Link]

Slashdot » Linus On Diversity and Niceness In Open Source

Saturday 17 January 16:07:00 UTC 2015

An anonymous reader writes "Linus Torvalds has sent a lengthy statement to Ars Technica responding to statements he made in a conference in New Zealand. One of his classic comments in NZ was: "I'm not a nice person, and I don't care about you. I care about the technology and the kernel — that's what's important to me." On diversity, … [Link]

Mashable » Could Hollywood's new love of complex women help Hillary Clinton?

Saturday 17 January 16:06:31 UTC 2015

Women-in-pop-culture-hillary-and-violaFeed-tw Feed-fbFor years, Hollywood has asked women on screen to play one of three roles: girlfriend, wife or mistress. These characters are often hollow, with few aspirations or desires beyond illuminating the inner life of a male keeper Now that illusion seems to be slowly, stubbornly receding in favor of the complicated female character. Like the generations of male characters that came … [Link]

Mashable » Anonymous burial for 1 of 3 gunmen behind France attacks

Saturday 17 January 15:36:36 UTC 2015

Belgium-securityFeed-tw Feed-fbPARIS — City officials in Reims say one of the gunmen responsible for attacks last week that killed 17 people was buried in the eastern French city over their objections, and despite concerns that the grave could become a shrine for extremists. Said Kouachi, the elder of two brothers who together gunned down 12 people in their Jan. 7 attack on … [Link]

Mashable » 10 smoothie recipes for a fresh start to your morning

Saturday 17 January 15:30:35 UTC 2015

Smoothie-recipesFeed-tw Feed-fbThe new year is a time for resolutions, and often those resolutions are diet-related. Whether you are looking to eat more, eat less, eat more or less the same (but slightly better) in 2015, make room for more freshly blended smoothies. Not only a quick and easy way to eat natural foods, smoothies make for satisfying breakfasts that can easily replace … [Link]

Mashable » Atmospheres may be the key to day and night for alien planets

Saturday 17 January 15:15:35 UTC 2015

Kepler69cFeed-tw Feed-fbAlien planets that orbit close to their parent stars may be at high risk of the ultimate hot-cold scenario, with one side stuck in permanent daylight while the other shrouded in everlasting night. But a thin atmosphere may be enough to save a planet from this fate, new research shows. Living on a planet with one side in perpetual sunlight and … [Link]

Slashdot » European Countries Seek Sweeping New Powers To Curb Terrorism

Saturday 17 January 15:09:00 UTC 2015

New submitter cooler-than-ice (3981829) writes with this story from the Washington Post: Belgian leaders on Friday sought sweeping new powers to monitor and punish their citizens for involvement with terrorism, joining France in an effort to rewrite laws just hours after dozens of arrests across Europe offered dramatic evidence of the threats security officials say are facing the continent. From … [Link]

Mashable » Charlie Hebdo protesters in Niger set churches on fire, 4 dead

Saturday 17 January 15:00:48 UTC 2015

Charlie-hebdo-nigerFeed-tw Feed-fbMuslim anger flared over a French satirical weekly's latest caricature of the Prophet Muhammad, with four people reported killed and dozens injured at a protest Friday in the West African country of Niger, and violent clashes between demonstrators and police in Pakistan, Jordan and Algeria. Supporters say the cartoon on the cover of Charlie Hebdo is a defiant expression of free … [Link]

Mashable » Illegal gold mining is destroying South American rainforests

Saturday 17 January 14:45:39 UTC 2015

Peru-gold-miningFeed-tw Feed-fbWhat’s destroying the South American rainforest? Most people would point to agriculture, cattle operations, and a booming population. But researchers are starting to recognize another threat: Gold mining. According to a new study, gold mining razed 650 square miles of tropical forest in South America between 2001 and 2013. That may not sound like a lot — the area is about … [Link]

Slashdot » Micromax Remotely Installing Unwanted Apps and Showing Ads

Saturday 17 January 14:43:42 UTC 2015

jones_supa (887896) writes "Reports are coming in that users of certain devices by Indian phone manufacturer Micromax noticed apps being silently installed without their consent or permission. Uninstalling these apps won't help, as they will be automatically reinstalled. Alternatively, instead of downloading apps, the phone might litter the UI with stack of notifications which are advertisements for online stores and … [Link]

Mashable » 9 hobbies anyone can master in 2015

Saturday 17 January 14:30:06 UTC 2015

WebvillaFeed-tw Feed-fbEvery time we roll into another new year, it's time for reinvention Some may want to lose 15 pounds, others are interested in getting through a reading list or traveling to the Grand Canyon. Your motives might be different, but the key to success is always the same: In order to do what we want, we have to start doing it … [Link]

Mashable » How to be more assertive at work

Saturday 17 January 14:15:31 UTC 2015

GaugeFeed-tw Feed-fbHave you ever admired a co-worker who’s able to navigate challenging situations with ease and professionalism, no matter the politics and difficult personalities involved? You know the type: She has a Teflon-like ability to deflect anger and frustration in the problem-solving process and doesn’t settle for an outcome that would sacrifice her self-respect or clout among colleagues. What she’s exhibiting is … [Link]

ProgrammableWeb.com » Reverse Engineering Raises Ethical Aspects of Using Private APIs

Saturday 17 January 14:00:08 UTC 2015

A recent inquiry on Hacker News questioned the ethics of reverse-engineering a private API, and what should be done with it next. The question is a valid one, with opinion split over whether to publish the hack, allowing developers to create better applications through third-party integration, or to inform the company of the security breach, risking the closure of the … [Link]

Slashdot » Google Search Will Be Your Next Brain

Saturday 17 January 13:53:00 UTC 2015

New submitter Steven Levy writes with "a deep dive into Google's AI effort," part of a multi-part series at Medium. In 2006, Geoffrey Hinton made a breakthrough in neural nets that launched Deep Learning. Google is all-in, hiring Hinton, having its ace scientist Jeff Dean build the Google Brain, and buying the neuroscience-based general AI company DeepMind for $400 million. … [Link]

Geeks are Sexy Technology News » Amazon Deal of the Day: 47% Off JBL Charge Portable Indoor/Outdoor Bluetooth Speaker – $89.99 + FREE Shipping

Saturday 17 January 13:11:33 UTC 2015

For today’s edition of Deal of the Day, Amazon has the the excellently-reviewed JBL Charge Portable Indoor/Outdoor Bluetooth Speaker (available in 4 colors) for just $89.99 plus free shipping. That’s 47% off on the speaker’s regular list price of $169.95. With the JBL Charge speaker, strength isn’t limited to audio performance. From its rugged case and grille to the rubber … [Link]

Geeks are Sexy Technology News » Watch a Snake Swim Through Sand Thanks to High Speed X-Ray Equipment

Saturday 17 January 13:10:50 UTC 2015

Using X-ray equipment that allowed them to watch the animals move through a bed of dry sand, Georgia Tech researchers have studied how the shovel-nosed snake and sandfish lizard use their unique body plans to swim through sand. Information provided by the research could help explain how evolutionary pressures have affected body shape in sand-dwelling animals. (Credit: Jason Maderer) [GeorgiaTech … [Link]

Geeks are Sexy Technology News » Japan Crate: A Japanese Candy Club That Delivers Crazy Sweets to Your Door

Saturday 17 January 13:09:55 UTC 2015

I know for a fact that there’s quite a few of you who enjoy all things Japanese, so I’m fairly sure you guys will be interested to know about Japan Crate, a “Candy Club” that delivers crazy Japanese sweets to your door monthly. From Japan Crate: Ever wanted to try the crazy Japanese candy you’ve seen online? Now you can! … [Link]

Geeks are Sexy Technology News » ‘Be My Eyes’ Is A New App Helping the Visually Impaired See

Saturday 17 January 13:08:54 UTC 2015

We have apps that can make us have funny voices or make us look like zombies. We have apps that hold our hands and lead us to our destination, or help us meet people who we may have lots in common with. All these things are fun and useful, but what about apps that are TRULY improving the quality of … [Link]

Geeks are Sexy Technology News » How To Make A Brad Pitt Film in Four Minutes

Saturday 17 January 13:07:42 UTC 2015

I bet you didn’t know it, but you can learn to make your very own Brad Pitt movie in about four minutes times. Not to say the films are formulaic, but take notes when you watch this and you could realistically be fairly rich in about two years time. [Via CinemaSins] The post How To Make A Brad Pitt Film … [Link]

Geeks are Sexy Technology News » Honest Game Trailer: The Sims [Video]

Saturday 17 January 13:06:19 UTC 2015

You’ve Simmed a city, a tower, an earth, and an ant. Now, EA and Maxis let you simulate the least interesting subject yet – you! The Sims. [Smosh Games] The post Honest Game Trailer: The Sims [Video] appeared first on Geeks are Sexy Technology News. [Link]

Mashable » 8 easy feng shui changes to make right now

Saturday 17 January 13:05:57 UTC 2015

Ap709048891Feed-tw Feed-fbInstead of resolutions you’re likely to break or expensive gym memberships you won't use, try out some quick moves from the ancient art of feng shui to help ensure this year is your best one yet. Feng shui coach Susan Chan has been consulting clients on how to balance their lives for over 10 years. She gave Mashable insider tips that … [Link]

Geeks are Sexy Technology News » Alarm Clock Philosophies [Pic]

Saturday 17 January 13:05:38 UTC 2015

I’m the maximizer about 10% of the time, but usually, I always wake up about 5 minutes before the alarm goes off. I must be some kind of precog I guess. What about you? 🙂 [Source: The Doghouse Diaries] The post Alarm Clock Philosophies [Pic] appeared first on Geeks are Sexy Technology News. [Link]

Mashable » This cozy Danish custom could help cure your winter blues

Saturday 17 January 12:07:20 UTC 2015

Blanket-hyggeFeed-tw Feed-fbA couple of months ago, as the weather started getting cold in New York and I began my annual ritual of wondering why I live here, I received an email from my friend. The subject line read, "Sat, Nov. 22: Hygge Party!" It was an invitation, in preparation of impending winter, for a Brooklyn gathering to "celebrate all things hyggeligt. Friends, … [Link]

Mashable » Video of a cop jamming to 'Shake it Off' is just perfect

Saturday 17 January 11:37:05 UTC 2015

Cop-shake-it-offFeed-tw Feed-fb The "Shake It Off" craze still shows no signs of ending, and as it turns out, even police officers aren't immune to the perfectly hummable Taylor Swift tune A dash-cam video uploaded to YouTube by the Dover Police on Friday, shows a policeman driving in his car, when "Shake It Off" suddenly starts playing on the radio See also: Chill … [Link]

Mashable » Even Frankenstein's monster breaks for afternoon tea

Saturday 17 January 11:04:09 UTC 2015

Frank-11Feed-tw Feed-fb1935English actor Boris Karloff (1887 – 1969) relaxes on the set of the film 'Bride of Frankenstein,' in which he reprises his role as Frankenstein's creation.Image: John Kobal Foundation/Getty ImagesHe thought he had died and gone to heaven when he could go to a five-day cricket match and have smoked salmon and cucumber sandwiches.SARA KARLOFF, BORIS' DAUGHTERc. 1935Still wearing the monster … [Link]

Slashdot » Spanish Judge Cites Use of Secure Email As a Potential Terrorist Indicator

Saturday 17 January 10:56:00 UTC 2015

An anonymous reader writes Is it possible that using secure email services can be construed as an indicator of being a terrorist? Although it's a ridiculous notion that using secure email implies criminal activities, a judge cited that reason to partially justify arrests in Spain. In December, as part of "an anti-terrorist initiative" Operation Pandora, over 400 cops raided 14 … [Link]

Slashdot » Engineer Combines Xbox One, PS4 Into Epic 'PlayBox' Laptop

Saturday 17 January 7:59:00 UTC 2015

MojoKid writes We can finally stop arguing over which is the superior game console, the PlayStation 4 or Xbox One. Quite frankly, it's a pointless debate, and it took a self-taught engineer to put the argument to rest, which he did by combining both game systems into a 22-inch laptop. Meet the "PlayBox," a gaming laptop that's equal parts Xbox … [Link]

Mashable » Los Angeles may ban app's users from selling parking spots

Saturday 17 January 5:28:52 UTC 2015

La-parkingFeed-tw Feed-fbLos Angeles is the latest city to call for a ban on apps that allow users to sell their parking spots — on their driveway and on the street — to others. After facing legal heat over selling street parking in San Francisco, where it is still based, MonkeyParking offered its controversial service in Los Angeles. Now members of the city … [Link]

Slashdot » 19,000 French Websites Hit By DDoS, Defaced In Wake of Terror Attacks

Saturday 17 January 4:54:09 UTC 2015

An anonymous reader writes Since the three day terror attack that started in France on January 7 with the attack on satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo, 19,000 websites of French-based companies have been targeted by cyber attackers. This unprecedented avalanche of cyber attacks targeted both government sites and that of big and small businesses. Most were low-level DDoS attacks, and some … [Link]

Mashable » Mitt Romney focuses on the poor as he talks 2016 presidential run

Saturday 17 January 4:43:11 UTC 2015

Ap446827540798Feed-tw Feed-fbSAN DIEGO — Mitt Romney is telling fellow Republicans that he's weighing another presidential run, one in which he would show more compassion for the nation's poor and middle class. In a speech to the Republican National Committee aboard a moored aircraft carrier, the 2012 GOP nominee says he is "giving some serious consideration to the future." See also: Paul Ryan … [Link]

Slashdot » Andy Wolber Explores Online Word Processors' ODF Support

Saturday 17 January 4:32:00 UTC 2015

TechCurmudgeon writes with a look at how well Google Docs and Microsoft Word Online are at dealing with documents that start (or are exported) in Open Document Format. Does using proprietary document formats make any more sense than buying a coffee maker that uses only one type of coffee, or an ebook you can only read on one device, or … [Link]

Mashable » Increased identity checks for EU travelers unlikely after Paris attacks

Saturday 17 January 3:54:26 UTC 2015

French-soldiersFeed-tw Feed-fbSeveral European Union officials want to bring back identity checks for travelers after gunmen led a series of attacks in Paris last week that killed 17 victims But the rising call for more travel restrictions within the EU—which does not require travelers to produce passports at many borders between member nations—is not likely to get far, according to experts. That said, … [Link]

Mashable » New typhoon soaks Pope Francis' trip to storm-ravaged Philippine city

Saturday 17 January 3:00:23 UTC 2015

Ap141894619791Feed-tw Feed-fbIt is perhaps only fitting that Pope Francis' visit to the storm-ravaged Philippine city of Tacloban, which was almost wiped off the map by a Super Typhoon in 2013, was complicated by another incoming storm This time, though, the typhoon, known as Mekkhala, is a comparatively weak one, and the pope on Saturday morning local time refused to be deterred by … [Link]

Mashable » If you're blind, this app makes strangers your eyes

Saturday 17 January 2:45:26 UTC 2015

Context_blindFeed-tw Feed-fbA new app aims to help the blind "see" with their iPhone. The idea behind Be My Eyes is that sometimes people who are visually impaired may need help with simple tasks but can't easily get assistance. The app solves this by creating a platform that connects the two groups via video chat. See also: 'Seeing-eye vest' could help the blind … [Link]

Lifehacker » How I Beat Repetitive Stress Injury (RSI) with a Few Minor Adjustments

Saturday 17 January 2:24:07 UTC 2015

In 2005, programmer Henrik Warne developed RSI—repetitive stress injury. Over the course of six months, the condition progressed so severely that he considered a career change. Fortunately, through a combination of actions, he managed to get rid of the pain and fully recover.Read more… [Link]

Mashable » Duke community gathers for first Muslim call to prayer despite chapel controversy

Saturday 17 January 1:23:46 UTC 2015

Duke-chapel-prayerFeed-tw Feed-fb Several hundred people gathered at the steps of Duke University's chapel on Friday for its first Muslim call to prayer, despite the administration's swift reversal of its decision to allow the prayer to be amplified from its bell tower. The schools' Muslim Students Association set up a P.A. system on the chapel's steps, over which a woman read the call … [Link]

Mashable » After criticism from Microsoft, Google reveals more Windows security problems

Saturday 17 January 0:57:38 UTC 2015

Microsoft1Feed-tw Feed-fbGoogle’s done it again. Early this week, Microsoft was publicly displeased with Google for revealing a Windows security hole that would allow hackers to gain control of computer systems. Now Google's Project Zero disclosed two more Microsoft bugs. That makes at least four disclosures against Microsoft in the last few weeks. See also: 11 free tools to protect your online activity … [Link]

Slashdot » Ask Slashdot: What Tablet and Software For a Partially Sighted Person?

Saturday 17 January 0:52:00 UTC 2015

RobHart (70431) writes My friend has had both retinas detach, twice. He is legally blind but partially sighted. He has a number of devices that help him read (either by magnifying the text or as text to speech) — but none are really portable. What do Slashdotters recommend (if anything) in terms of a tablet and software that will make … [Link]

Mashable » Watch the 'Force Majeure' director melt down after Oscar snub

Saturday 17 January 0:01:09 UTC 2015

MajeureFeed-tw Feed-fb LOS ANGELES — If that isn't Force Majeure director Ruben Östlund (above, right) actually watching — and then utterly melting down about — not getting an Oscar nomination for Best Foreign Language Film, well then give these two some honorary statues, because that is some great acting. No one's been able to definitively prove that this is a truly live, … [Link]

Geeks are Sexy Technology News » Why Did ‘Lego Movie’ Get Snubbed By Awards Season?

Saturday 17 January 0:00:52 UTC 2015

It could be said that in many ways, The Lego Movie was the most powerful animated movie of 2014. It showed us animation in a medium we have never seen before, was smile inducing, and had a cast that would rival any major motion picture. So why the recent Oscar snub when they were so clearly the animated front-runner? Luke … [Link]

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