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 » Obama Says He's 'A Strong Believer In Strong Encryption'
An anonymous reader writes: U.S. President Barack Obama spoke with Re/code recently on a variety of topics relating to technology. The talk included the president's thoughts on encryption, which has been a controversial subject in tech circles lately after government officials (including Obama himself) have publicly complained about default encryption in modern communication tools. In the interview, he says he's … [Link]
Mashable » Patty Hearst's dog is a Westminster winner — seriously
Patty Hearst is a woman of many accomplishments. The heir to a billion-dollar media company and ex-brainwashed terrorist-slash-bank-robber is now the co-owner of a Westminster champion. The New York socialite, who goes by Patricia Hearst-Shaw, co-owns a Shih Tzu named Rocket that won in the Toy group Monday night during the first round of the Westminster Dog Show. Rocket will go … [Link]
Mashable » Hate crimes and hate speech: Islamophobia's rise in the U.S.
Two days after three Muslim students were shot and killed in a possible hate crime in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, a Muslim man was assaulted at a grocery store in Dearborn, Michigan, possibly as part of a rising tide of alleged Islamophobia in the United States. "We're really seeing a spike in anti-Muslim hate rhetoric since the Charlie Hebdo attack," Ibrahim … [Link]
Mashable » Boston mayor to residents: Stop jumping out of windows into snow
Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh has a message for all the fools jumping out of windows into snow piles: Stop it. See also: Boston buried: The city before and after colossal snowstorms "I’m asking people to stop their nonsense right now," Walsh said at a press conference Tuesday, addressing the legions of people who have jumped out of windows — often … [Link]
Mashable » Badass sea lion crashes family kayaking day
A family was just trying to enjoy a nice kayaking outing when a punk sea lion jumped on board and didn't even help row Or maybe it's the family that was behaving badly — after all, the ocean is totally a sea lion's home turf. It's kind of rude to take your kayak out for a spin without extending so … [Link]
Mashable » Breeds meet their match at Westminster Dog Show
What’s better than one dog? A pack of glorious dogs. The Westminster Dog Show will select the Best in Show Tuesday night, but each breed goes through a process of elimination that includes as many as 58 contestants during the first level of judging. There are 192 breeds competing for top dog in this year's show See also: Did not wake … [Link]
Slashdot » Oregon Residents Riled Over Virtually Staff-free Data Centers Getting Tax-breaks
An anonymous reader writes: The population of Hillsboro, Oregon is becoming vocal about the state's enterprise zone program offering enormous tax concessions to companies setting up data centers in the region — even though the five-year deals on offer only require data center operators to employ one person. That's exactly as many people as one DC plant, Infomart Portland, employs … [Link]
Mashable » Marathon runner collapses, finishes race on hands and knees
After collapsing near the finish line of the Austin Marathon and Half Marathon on Sunday, 29-year-old Hyvon Ngetich of Kenya was offered a wheelchair and assistance, both of which she refused Determined, Ngetich then crawled the remaining 50-meters to the to end of the race while the crowd cheered her on, finishing third in the elite women's division in 3 … [Link]
Mashable » 'Breaking Bad' art exhibit in London is 99.1% chemically awesome
The world can never have enough Breaking Bad art. Many of the show's dark themes and symbols — creepy, burned pink teddy bears, anyone? — have been beautifully interpreted by the artists featured in London's 71a gallery this month. See also: Famed cartoonist Ralph Steadman's 'Breaking Bad' portraits go on display in London The gallery recently wrapped up an exhibition featuring … [Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » Geektastic Katsucon 2015 Cosplay Music Videos (Part I and II)
Hobbyist videographer and Youtuber MLZ Studios once again attended Katsucon this year and compiled some of the best costumes he’s seen in two fantastic cosplay music videos. Check ‘em out! (Above and below!) [MLZ Studios] The post Geektastic Katsucon 2015 Cosplay Music Videos (Part I and II) appeared first on Geeks are Sexy Technology News. [Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » Barbie Gets Internet Connection, Will Talk To Kids
Mattel is to release an Internet-connected Barbie that can remember and repeat a child’s comments. And, yeah, I think we all know where this is going. The $75 Hello Barbie toy will include both speech synthesis and speech recognition, powered by a battery that lasts an hour between charges. The batteries are in Barbie’s legs, so there’s not much room … [Link]
Mashable » No, there's nothing wrong with your Fitbit
There are poorly designed scientific studies, and then there's poor reporting on scientific studies by journalists who should know better. A prime example of the latter is the response to a research letter published last week in the Journal of the American Medical Association called "Accuracy of Smartphone Applications and Wearable Devices for Tracking Physical Activity Data." The gist of the … [Link]
Mashable » 11 dogs struttin' their stuff at the Mardi Gras dog parade
New Orleans really does have a parade for everything Groups of dogs gathered on Feb. 8 for the 23rd annual Mystic Krewe of Barkus parade, which features dogs and their owners dressed in costume. See also: Did not wake up like this: Westminster's craziest dog grooming routines The Mystic Krewe of Barkus was founded in 1992 after Thomas Wood brought his … [Link]
Mashable » The billion humans who watched India and Pakistan play cricket
Super Bowl XLIX drew 114 million viewers in the U.S. earlier this month, making it the most-watched American TV program of all time Well, guess what, America? That ain't squat. When India and Pakistan faced off in the Cricket World Cup on Sunday, nine times as many people tuned in to watch a fierce rivalry that extends well beyond sports. The … [Link]
Slashdot » Advice on How to Start an IT Business (Video)
Lee Drake owns a small IT service and sales company in Rochester, New York, called OS Cubed. He was a cubicle denizen many years ago, and didn't like it. So he started his own business, first with a partner and later as the sole owner. Rochester may be part of the infamous "rust belt," but Lee seems to be doing … [Link]
Mashable » Photo series spans cultures to show real beauty around the world
True beauty extends far beyond magazines and runways. Romanian photographer Mihaela Noroc set out to prove how beauty crosses borders and cultures in her series called The Atlas of Beauty. In it, she captures ordinary women from different countries. See also: Woman Tests Beauty Standards With Bold Photoshop Experiment "Now I can say that beauty is everywhere, and it’s not a … [Link]
Mashable » Letting pets on Amtrak is a top priority for one Republican congressman
WASHINGTON — It all began with Lily, a 15-pound snowball of a French bulldog with the face of a tough guy and the personality of a princess. She and her owner, Republican congressman Jeff Denham of California, take the occasional coast-to-coast plane ride together. But when he tried to take her on Amtrak a couple years back, he learned that only … [Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » Transform Your Phone Into a Time Machine With this DeLorean Phone Case [Pic + Video]
For those of you who are interested in transforming their iPhone 6 into something that looks like the DeLorean Time Machine from Back to the Future, Bandai has you covered with their upcoming DeLorean phone case, and even though it looks totally impractical, I don’t care, I still want one. You can pre-order the case from Bandai japan for about … [Link]
Mashable » Snapchat reportedly raising more funding at valuation of up to $19 billion
Déjà vu. Snapchat is looking to raise as much as $500 million in a new funding round at a valuation of up to $19 billion, according to a Bloomberg report on Tuesday, citing a source familiar with the matter. See also: Snapchat's not-so-secret weapon: Live events If that valuation sounds oddly familiar, it's probably because that's the amount Facebook originally agreed … [Link]
Mashable » What happens when you play table tennis every day for a year
Anyone can become an expert in table tennis in one year. At least that's what Sam Larcombe, a ranked table tennis player and coach, believes. To prove it, he took novice table tennis player, Sam Priestley, and challenged him to get ranked in England's top 250 best players by the end of 2014. See also: Man Beats Robot at Ping-Pong, … [Link]
Slashdot » Algorithmic Patenting
An anonymous reader writes: Venturebeat reports on companies using software to "create" patents. They say a company called Cloem will use the software to "linguistically manipulate a seed set of a client's patent claims by, for example, substituting in synonyms or reordering steps in a process, thereby generating tens of thousands of potentially patentable inventions." The article says, "There is … [Link]
Mashable » T-Mobile's John Legere: A lot of spoiled CEOs would never do what I do
We’ve learned quite a few things about John Legere from observing his Twitter feed. T-Mobile's CEO is a fan of The Walking Dead and Better Call Saul. He likes to run in a snow-covered Central Park. His life philosophy is "Get shit done." He absolutely hates AT&T, Verizon and Sprint, and gleefully tweets about their various mishaps. This is the guy … [Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » TARDIS Dematerialisation: A Doctor Who VFX Shot [Video]
Watch the TARDIS as it dematerializes in a whole new way in this interesting short VFX video from John Smith. Since the TARDIS’ dematerialisation effect has remained largely unchanged for the past fifty years, I thought it might be interesting to try out a new approach. So this is my attempt at capturing what travelling through time and space might … [Link]
Slashdot » 1950s Toy That Included Actual Uranium Ore Goes On Display At Museum
hypnosec writes: The Gilbert Atomic Energy Lab — dubbed the world's most dangerous toy — has gone on display at the Ulster Museum in Northern Ireland. The toy earned the title because it includes four types of uranium ore, three sources of radiation, and a Geiger counter that enables parents to measure just how contaminated their child have become. The … [Link]
Mashable » A Mardi Gras ode to New Orleans by 'NCIS: New Orleans' star CCH Pounder
On a regular day, New Orleans is among the best places to find a party in the country. During Mardi Gras? It's the undisputed capital city of celebration. And it's one like no other, according to actress CCH Pounder, whose work on CBS's NCIS: New Orleans has brought her closer to the city than she's ever been before. In the … [Link]
New Scientist – News » Work in an age of robots
As automation and the internet sweep away employment certainties even for the creative classes, three books explore the depth of our predicament 
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Mashable » 2-year-old and teacup pig are the two best friends that anyone could have
Selecting one's BFF is a complicated process The person should complement you, not outshine you. You should share common interests, but stand out as individuals. And, perhaps most importantly, you should photograph well together See also: Get inspiration for your personal brand from Pam the bulldog Photographer and lifestyle blogger Lindsey Bonnice proved herself as a skilled matchmaker when she adopted … [Link]
Slashdot » Another Star Passed Through Our Oort Cloud 70,000 Years Ago
New submitter mrthoughtful writes: According to researchers at the University of Rochester, a recently discovered dim star (Scholz's star) passed through our Oort cloud 70,000 years ago. At its closest, it was about 52,000 AU distant from Sol, or about 0.8 light-years. This is still quite a distance — Voyager 1 is about 125 AU away right now — but … [Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » What It Would Be Like If Presidents Acted Like Frank Underwood from ‘House of Cards’
House of Cards on Netflix is a pretty intense show, headed by a pretty intense guy. Frank Underwood played by the brilliant Kevin Spacey is a political figure unlike we have ever seen represented. And he loves to monologue at the camera. So what if other presidents were more like him? Well, as you can see below, it makes for … [Link]
Mashable » The Justin Bieber roast promo is truly egg-cellent
Justin Bieber literally has egg on his face. The first promo for Bieber's Comedy Central's roast just dropped, and he's getting egged, while shirtless, of course. He's worked hard to earn the spot, now the world gets to sit back and watch all of his misbehaviors put on blast. See also: 12 Comedian Quotes for When Your Job Makes You Want … [Link]
Mashable » Washington D.C. has giant snowball fight after storm shuts down offices
Where there's snow, there's bound to be snowball fights. Washington, D.C. residents on Tuesday took part in a snowball fight of epic proportions in the city's Meridian Hill Park See also: Boston buried: The city before and after colossal snowstorms Tens of thousands of workers in the Mid-Atlantic region were asked to stay home from work on Feb. 17 as … [Link]
Mashable » People were running while flipping pancakes in bizarre races across Britain
LONDON — People running, pan in hand while flipping a pancake is not something you see everyday but that's what many people across Britain did to celebrate Pancake Day on Tuesday. See also: Deliciously Epic Pancake Art to Celebrate National Pancake Day Pancake Day, also known as Shrove Tuesday, is the day before Ash Wednesday and the start of Lent Traditionally … [Link]
Mashable » 'Game of Thrones' Monopoly will make you want to kill your family
For fans upset that Winds of Winter won't be released this year, don't fret Hasbro and HBO are teaming up to create Game of Thrones Monopoly, a game that will take you longer to play than it takes George R. R. Martin to write the books. See also: 6 Blunt Character Changes HBO Made to 'Game of Thrones' Slated for a … [Link]
Mashable » Smart move, HBO: 'Last Week Tonight with John Oliver' renewed for 2 seasons
Comedy Central might be losing Jon Stewart, but HBO is making sure they stay in business with John Oliver until at least 2017. The network Tuesday announced they've renewed Last Week Tonight with John Oliver for a third and fourth season, each to consist of 35 shows SEE ALSO: 11 comedians who jumpstarted their careers on 'The Daily Show' "We are … [Link]
Mashable » Boston buried: The city before and after colossal snowstorms
BOSTON — Snowstorm after snowstorm has pounded Boston over the past several weeks. The latest blitzed the city on Saturday and Sunday, burying much of it with another foot of snow — this on top of the feet-high snowbanks that already lined much of Boston See also: Blizzard dumps another foot of snow on winter-weary Boston Some parts of the city … [Link]
Mashable » Stunning time-lapse of Dubai shows the city in flow-motion
These time-lapse videos are a little different from the rest Rob Whitworth uses a technique that he describes as "flow-motion" to transport his audience on a journey from the cockpit of an airplane landing in Dubai to the top of the Burj Khalifa, through the city streets and into its desert playland. The static time-lapse shots zoom into different subjects. See … [Link]
Mashable » Watch Beyoncé and Ed Sheeran's duet of Stevie Wonder's 'Master Blaster'
LOS ANGELES — Stevie Wonder rocked his head in approval, Tony Bennett rhythmically snapped his fingers and Jill Scott could not contain her smile as Beyoncé and Ed Sheeran jammed out onstage to Wonder's "Master Blaster (Jammin')." The unlikely duo performed the tune — notably released in 1980 before both of them were even born — during the opening medley for … [Link]
Slashdot » Interviews: Ask Stephen Wolfram a Question
Stephen Wolfram's accomplishments and contributions to science and computing are numerous. He earned a PhD in particle physics from Caltech at 20, and has been cited by over 30,000 research publications. Wolfram is the the author of A New Kind of Science, creator of Mathematica, the creator of Wolfram Alpha, and the founder and CEO of Wolfram Research. He developed … [Link]
Mashable » Tom Hanks and Justin Bieber are filming a music video for Carly Rae Jepsen
Tom Hanks, are you lost? The actor was caught dancing down a New York City street on Monday for a Carly Rae Jepsen music video. No, you didn't read that incorrectly — Carly called him (not maybe), and this is crazy See also: 5 Surprising Facts About Tom Hanks 
Image: NCP/Star Max @tomhanks & @justinbieber dancing in a music video filming … [Link]
Slashdot » Privacy: the 21st Century's Newest Luxury Item
chicksdaddy writes: There is a report today on the 21st century's newest luxury item: online privacy The Christian Science Monitor writes about the growing market for premium privacy protection tools available to tech-savvy consumers with the desire for online anonymity — and the means to pay for it. The piece profiles new tools from companies like Abine that deliver everything … [Link]
Mashable » Delta CEO points to 9/11 amid criticism from Gulf airlines
Competition in the airline industry has been heating up between legacy carriers in the United States and Europe and rapidly expanding Gulf carriers like Emirates and Etihad. That competition had previously been (mostly) polite — now there are signs the gloves are coming off Leaders of U.S. carriers have said the Gulf carriers are benefiting greatly from their governments' financial support, … [Link]
ProgrammableWeb.com » Octoblu IoT Platform Opens APIs to Developers
Octoblu, an Internet of Things (IoT) cross-protocol network/platform, is now openly available to developers wanting to connect “everything to everything.”
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Mashable » Mardi Gras: Where celebrities become kings (or gods) for a day
NEW ORLEANS — This year, John C. Reilly is a god. Literally He’s Bacchus, to be exact, and his reign started atop a Mardi Gras float on Sunday (two days before Fat Tuesday). Since Danny Kaye in 1969, the Krewe of Bacchus has been led by a celebrity king … err … god. And aside from Louis Armstrong reigning as King … [Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » ‘Adventure Time’ Boots Will Help You Run Away to Distant Lands
It is hard to not get sucked into the twisted yet enchanting world of Adventure Time. From its zany cast of characters to its complicated and somewhat adult story lines, it is a show that can appeal to all. And what better way to represent that fevered fandom than with some Adventure Time themed boots to go adventuring in? By … [Link]
Mashable » 6 tips for managing highly intelligent employees
This question originally appeared on Quora.How can you manage people smarter than you and more knowledgeable than you? Let's say you manage a group of 8-10 software developers. All of your teammates have much higher IQs than you do. How can you manage them efficiently?Answer below by Ian McAllister, general manager at Amazon. Don't manage: Guide. IQ and experience are two … [Link]
Mashable » Suspected Copenhagen shooter was no radical, just a 'loser'
COPENHAGEN, Denmark — Many would have stepped back when attacked, but Omar Abdel Hamid el-Hussein stood his ground He took his punches and kept his guard up, waiting for the right moment to strike. “Omar was determined, focused and very aggressive when he wanted to be," said a former boxing partner of Hussein, who is suspected of carrying out the worst … [Link]
Mashable » Amazon Prime 1-hour deliveries now available across Manhattan
Amazon made its Prime Now one-hour delivery service available in all of Manhattan last week, a company representative said. This is a a big expansion from its initial service launched in December, which was confined to one zip code in New York City. See also: Amazon Knows What You Want Before You Buy It Prime subscribers can get two-hour deliveries for … [Link]
New Scientist – News » Today on New Scientist
All the latest on newscientist.com: Drone laws that could scupper Amazon's delivery plans, the skunk and psychosis link and when not to do your food shop 
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Mashable » Biden being Biden is the highlight of Ash Carter's swearing-in ceremony
Vice President Joe Biden has had his fair share of awkward interactions, and Tuesday was no different. He welcomed the new defense secretary's wife into the fold by whispering into her ear, which was promptly caught on camera Biden stole the show at Defense Secretary Ash Carter's swearing-in ceremony on Tuesday when he gripped Carter's wife, Stephanie, by the shoulders See … [Link]
Slashdot » Ask Slashdot: Version Control For Non-Developers?
occamboy writes My spouse works at a company that deals with lots of documents (Word, spreadsheets, scans, and so forth), and they have a classic version control problem that sucks up hours of her time each week. Documents are stored on a shared server in some sort of hierarchy, but there are all kinds of problems, e.g. multiple copies get … [Link]
Mashable » Twitter introduces TweetDeck Teams to make managing accounts easier
TweetDeck launched a new feature for power users and brands on Tuesday called TweetDeck Teams. In a blog post, Twitter described it as a "simple way to share access to your account without sharing passwords." See also: GIFs now finally work in TweetDeck The feature, which is rolling out to TweetDeck for the web, TweetDeck for Chrome and TweetDeck for … [Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » This “Up!” Dog House Looks Beyond Amazing! [Video]
Check out this amazing “Up!” dog house that was built by the folks over at Super-Fan Builts for Steve Minty, a major fan of the movie who you might have seen in pictures online for his very authentic-looking “Russell” cosplay. [Awe Me] The post This “Up!” Dog House Looks Beyond Amazing! [Video] appeared first on Geeks are Sexy Technology News. … [Link]
Mashable » Doug Baldwin finally apologizes for Super Bowl poop celebration
Remember that time Doug Baldwin scored a touchdown in the Super Bowl then pretended to poop the football? Of course you do — how could you forget?? More than two weeks after the dastardly act, the Seattle Seahawks receiver delivered a message for fans: He's sorry. But not only that, he also finally revealed who the crappy celebration was aimed at … [Link]
O'Reilly News and Commentary » Postmodern security
A few weeks ago, I wrote aboutpostmodern computing,and characterized it as the computing in a world of distrust. This morning, I read Steve Bellovin’s blog post,What Must We Trust? — Bellovin explains that “modern” (my word) security is founded on … [Link]
Mashable » Jon Snow gets stoned, very stoned
News presenter Jon Snow has said he was more frightened while stoned on skunk cannabis than he ever was in any of the war zones he's reported from See also: Data backs up what we already know: British stoners like nachos and 'Spaced' The 67-year-old Channel 4 News presenter, who has broadcast from many conflicts around the world in the course … [Link]
Mashable » 22 perfect selfies with the frozen fountain in New York's Bryant Park
Call them founties. Instagram users have made the fountain in New York City's Bryant Park a top spot for selfie tourism, as below-freezing temperatures left it frozen in an icy bliss. See also: The Super Bowl of snowstorm phenomena causes weather nerd freak-out The iconic Josephine Shaw Lowell Memorial Fountain, dedicated in 1912, has so much ice that its pink granite … [Link]
Mashable » Ithaca tells tourists they should just go to Florida instead
New York has invested heavily in promoting tourism beyond New York City, promoting upstate as a winter wonderland. But the city of Ithaca has called uncle against a frigid and seemingly unending winter season. See also: What a night in New York City looks like from 7,500 feet "Due to this ridiculously stupid winter, Ithaca invites you to visit The Florida … [Link]
ProgrammableWeb.com » Getting Started with Apple WatchKit
Our first installment on WatchKit, How To Make Sense of the WatchKit for Apple Watch, focused on the design and UX elements of Apple's forthcoming wearable, Apple Watch.
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Mashable » A Beck/Kanye mashup is now a song that exists
After two weeks of awkward feuding between Beck and Kanye West, the duo has finally received a mandatory friendship mashup. Earlier this month, Beck received the high honor of Album of the Year at the Grammys. Surprising approximately nobody, Kanye thought Beyoncé was more deserving of the award, briefly hopping on stage when Beck took the mic and going on a … [Link]
ProgrammableWeb.com » H2O Releases Python API for its Machine Learning Solution
Machine learning company H2O has released a new Python API for its Sparkling Water application. Sparkling Water extends H2O's core product, a predictive analytics platform, to Apache Spark, an open-source in-memory big data processing platform that is growing in popularity.
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Mashable » Even the ancient Egyptians got paid sick leave
We might think of state supported health care as an innovation of the 20th century, but it's a much older tradition than that. In fact, texts from a village dating back to Egypt's New Kingdom period, about 3,100 – 3,600 years ago, suggest that in ancient Egypt there was a state-supported health care network designed to ensure that workers making the … [Link]
Mashable » All your favorite '80s teen movies in one musical tribute
Today's best teen movies have the 1980s to thank for carving out an entire genre devoted to coming-of-age stories. This tribute from YouTube editor Robert Jones — known for his popular TV and film mashups — covers genre favorites from the decade John Hughes fans: This one's for you. A sexy 89-year-old grandpa went on Tinder dates for his grandson … [Link]
Mashable » Don't mess with a Bostonian's parking spot. Seriously.
Parking is serious business in Boston. Every winter is tough, but this season's unending freeze in the city has stretched residents to their breaking points. See also: 9 crazy snow records Boston has already broken this season Traditionally, Boston residents are permitted to shovel out parking spots and save them for later with an object, but the seemingly simple and … [Link]
Mashable » Capture the golden hour for our photo challenge
In photography, the golden hour is roughly the first hour of light after sunrise and the last hour of light before sunset, during which daylight is redder and softer. The warm colors the low sun produces during these blocks are considered the most desirable, particularly in outdoor photography. For this week's Mashable Photo Challenge, take advantage of these hours. Both portraits … [Link]
Mashable » Michelle Obama and Big Bird get silly on 'Billy on the Street'
Spoiler alert: Michelle Obama tells Billy Eichner he may get shot FLOTUS will do anything to get kids to eat fruits and vegetables, including pushing Billy Eichner around in a shopping cart on Funny or Die's "Billy on the Street." Big Bird was also there, and they competed in a ridiculous game show about Ariana Grande and carrots and then slow … [Link]
Mashable » Polar bear is the only one enjoying the freezing weather right now
Take note, humans: This is how you do winter. While the rest of the Northeast was grumbling their way through the recent snowstorms, a polar bear named Kali enjoyed a nice, relaxing roll in the frozen paradise at the Buffalo Zoo See also: Man gets exactly what he deserves for laughing at his dog slipping on ice Local news station WGRZ-TV … [Link]
Mashable » A sexy 89-year-old grandpa went on Tinder dates for his grandson
Tinder: all ages and marital statuses welcome. YouTuber Ethan Cole found little luck on Tinder, so he procured the help of his 89-year-old grandfather Joe. Creating a profile using pictures from Joe's younger days, five dates were set up with Tinder users who consented to their date being filmed. The resulting dates were painfully awkward, as Joe is not only … [Link]
Mashable » At least 20 dead after power line electrifies float during Haiti parade
At least 20 people were killed during an accident at a Carnival celebration in Haiti's capital city, Port-au-Prince, early Tuesday after a man standing on a float was electrocuted by a power line, setting off a mass panic. Dozens were trampled The Haitian Prime Minister Evans Paul announced the cancellation of the rest of Tuesday's festivities and instead planned to hold … [Link]
Mashable » What do you call someone who doesn't identify as male or female?
How do we mindlessly gender people in our everyday conversations? asks Dr. Lee Airton, who teaches in the bachelor of education program at the University of Toronto It's a habit that comes naturally. Think of the last time you asked, "Is that a boy or a girl?" Or when you quizzed someone about whether or not she had a boyfriend See … [Link]
Mashable » Krispy Kreme apologizes after KKK gaffe on Facebook
LONDON — Doughnut-maker Krispy Kreme has apologized after scheduling an event called "KKK Wednesday" at a store in the UK. See also: How to stop videos from auto-playing on Facebook Krispy Kreme was due to host KKK Wednesday (KKK meaning "Krispy Kreme Klub") on Feb. 18, at its store in Hull, which it had promoted via a post on its Facebook … [Link]
Mashable » Rare Bob Marley performance footage from 1978 puts you in front row
LOS ANGELES — Three years before Bob Marley died of cancer at 36, the reggae legend charmed a lively crowd at Boston's Music Hall Close your eyes and picture it. The year is 1978, and a sweaty Marley and The Wailers are already 10 songs deep when he transitions into "War." A fan standing in the front row filmed Marley … [Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » Love for a Geek [Comic]
For Valentine’s Day this year, Gavin Aung Than of Zen Pencils adapted a quote from author Robert Fulghum to create a beautiful comic that defines what love is for us, geeks. 
[Source: Zen Pencils] The post Love for a Geek [Comic] appeared first on Geeks are Sexy Technology News. [Link]
Slashdot » Flaw In Netgear Wi-Fi Routers Exposes Admin Password, WLAN Details
An anonymous reader writes A number of Netgear home wireless routers sport a vulnerability that can be misused by unauthenticated attackers [here's the report at seclists.org] to obtain the administrator password, device serial number, WLAN details, and various details regarding clients connected to the device, claims systems/network engineer Peter Adkins. The vulnerability is found in the embedded SOAP service, which … [Link]
Mashable » Report: Xiaomi surpasses Samsung to become China's top smartphone seller
The world's largest smartphone market is now led by a comparatively small startup, according to a new report Xiaomi, a Chinese gadget maker that launched recently enough for some to still call it a startup, passed giants like Samsung and Lenovo to become the top smartphone seller in China, based on data released Tuesday from IDC See also: What is Xiaomi? … [Link]
Mashable » Jimmy Fallon recaps all the FOMO you felt watching 'SNL 40'
Saturday Night Live knows how to throw a good party Pretty much every famous person ever (at least, anyone who has ever appeared on SNL before) was invited to attend SNL's 40th anniversary special, so it's no surprise that the after-party was one huge FOMO moment for those observing at homeJimmy Fallon, a former SNL cast member, had the honor … [Link]
Mashable » Jony Ive gave J.J. Abrams some design advice for 'more ominous' lightsaber
That new crossguard lightsaber proved controversial among Star Wars fans when it first appeared in the Star Wars: The Force Awakens teaser in November Little did we know that Apple's senior vice president of design, Jony Ive, may have helped inspire its strange new look See also: Jony Ive Thinks Apple Copycats Are Lazy Thieves In a wide-ranging New Yorker profile … [Link]
Mashable » Report: Apple ordered 5 to 6 million Apple Watches ahead of April launch
Apple has ordered 5 million to 6 million Apple Watches from its Chinese suppliers in preparation for the product's April launch, according to a new report The Wall Street Journal, quoting sources familiar with the matter, approximated that half of that is reserved for the Apple Watch Sport ($349) and about one-third will be reserved for mid-range models. The rest will … [Link]
Mashable » Judge blocks Obama's immigration action; White House promises appeal
HOUSTON — The White House promised an appeal Tuesday after a federal judge in Texas temporarily blocked President Barack Obama's executive action on immigration and gave a coalition of 26 states time to pursue a lawsuit aiming to permanently stop the orders. U.S. District Judge Andrew Hanen's decision late Monday puts on hold Obama's orders that could spare from deportation as … [Link]
New Scientist – News » UK party leaders unite on climate change
The leaders of the three major political parties in the UK have agreed to act on global warming, regardless of who wins the May election 
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Slashdot » What To Do After Robots Take Your Job
sarahnaomi writes In 2013, researchers Carl Frey and Michael Osborne of the Oxford Martin School dropped the bombshell that 47 percent of US jobs were at risk of computerisation. Since then, they've made similar predictions for the UK, where they say 35 percent of jobs are at high risk. So what will our future economy look like? "My predictions have … [Link]
Mashable » Celebrities hilariously reveal their emoji wish lists
NEW YORK — Celebrities, they're just like us. They love to send emoji like the little cat face with heart eyes But anyone familiar with the emoji keyboard knows far too well that it could use a few additions See also: 10 Emoji Meanings That Might Surprise You On the red carpet for Saturday Night Live's 40th anniversary special on … [Link]
Mashable » Prosecutor in Dominique Strauss-Kahn pimping case moves to drop charges
A French prosecutor is calling for aggravated pimping charges to be dropped against the former IMF chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn. See also: Dominique Strauss-Kahn on orgies, stress and saving the world Lille prosecutor Frederic Fevre said on Tuesday that neither the investigation nor the evidence given in court had established he was guilty. It's now up to the judge to decide Four … [Link]
Slashdot » OpenStreetMap.org Gets Routing
An anonymous reader writes "Good news for OpenStreetMap: the main website now has A-to-B routing (directions) built in to the homepage! The OSM website offers directions which are powered by third-parties using OSM data, providing car, bike, and foot routing. OpenStreetMap has a saying: 'What gets rendered, gets mapped' – meaning that often you don't notice a bit of data … [Link]
O'Reilly News and Commentary » 4 significant ways to improve your ability to innovate
The use of the traditional annual fiscal cycle to determine resource allocation encourages a culture that thwarts our ability to experiment and innovate. It perpetuates spending on wasteful activities and ideas that are unlikely to deliver value. How can we … [Link]
Slashdot » Federal Study: Marijuana Use Doesn't Increase Auto Crash Rates
An anonymous reader writes: After the legalization of marijuana in multiple states around the U.S., many are worried about a corresponding uptick in car crashes as people drive while under the influence of pot. But according to a new federal study (PDF) commissioned by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, those fears seem unfounded. They report that after adjusting for … [Link]
Mashable » Russia-backed rebels claim to capture key Ukraine rail hub
LUHANSKE, Ukraine — Russia-backed separatists say they have gained control of a key rail hub in eastern Ukraine. The Donetsk News Agency, a rebel mouthpiece, quoted the rebels' so-called defense ministry as saying Tuesday that their forces have pushed government troops out of Debaltseve and are now controlling a large part of it. Fierce fighting on Tuesday, two days after a … [Link]
Mashable » 5 teens arrested after hundreds of Jewish graves vandalized in France
Five teenagers have been arrested in eastern France on suspicion of ransacking hundreds of graves in a Jewish cemetery. See also: Hundreds of graves vandalized at Jewish cemetery in France Some 250 graves were vandalized in Sarre-Union, a town in the Alsace region of France near the German border. There were reports that they had been painted with Swastikas. The crime … [Link]
Mashable » Sony SmartEyeglass now available for pre-order
Mere weeks after Google stopped selling Google Glass, Sony jumped on the smart eyewear bandwagon Its SmartEyeglass Developer Edition, a pair of augmented reality glasses, are available for pre-order in the UK and Germany for $840 (£540 or €670), starting Tuesday SmartEyeglass, which connects to host devices running Android 4.4 and above, uses a 419×138-pixel, monochrome green display projected onto the … [Link]
Mashable » Boy and girl arrested in England on suspicion of terrorism offences
LONDON — Two 16-year-olds have been arrested by counter-terrorism police in Greater Manchester. The boy and girl were arrested Monday on suspicion of being involved "in the commission, preparation or instigation of an act of terrorism," police said Tuesday morning. See also: New UK anti-terrorism measures outlined in response to raised threat level The arrests, made by the North West Counter … [Link]
Mashable » A 10-minute timer could revolutionize your productivity
Call me crazy, but I've always preferred sleep to caffeine. But with erratic schedules and tight deadlines, getting six or more hours of sleep per night is no easy task for a consultant — just ask any of my diet soda and coffee-addicted colleagues. Between a demanding job and an even more demanding home life, I've spent a lot of time … [Link]
New Scientist – News » See one of the world's dirtiest jobs: e-waste disposal
This tiny workshop is one of thousands in China where our gadgets go to die – poisoning land and people on their way out 
[Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » Amazon Deal of the Day: 56% Off Game of Thrones: Season 4 [Blu-Ray + Digital Copy] – $34.99 (OUT TODAY!)
For today’s edition of Deal of the Day, Amazon has the just released “Game of Thrones: Season 4″ box set on Blu-Ray (+ Digital Copy) for just $34.99. That’s 56% off the season’s recommended list price of $79.98. Game of Thrones is one of HBO’s signature series and a huge runaway hit for the network. This year, a plethora of … [Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » A Hauntingly Beautiful Cover of Beck’s “Wave” by Acoustic Labs [Video]
Watch as [GAS] friend Gregory Johnson of Acoustic Labs performs a hauntingly beautiful cover of Beck’s Wave using various instruments he obviously all excels at. I usually only post his geekier covers, but this one is just too beautiful not to share. [AcousticLabs] The post A Hauntingly Beautiful Cover of Beck’s “Wave” by Acoustic Labs [Video] appeared first on Geeks … [Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » This Doctor Who TARDIS Ring Will Take You Through Time and Space
This beautiful made to order TARDIS ring comes from Etsy user dtekdesigns and can be made using platinum, white gold, rose gold, yellow gold, and sterling silver. Like the Doctor himself, this ring is trendsetting and lovingly unique. It is made using natural SI quality diamonds, G-H color and Natural Blue Sapphires. 1/4 carat total weight. 
[Source: dtekdesigns on Etsy.com] … [Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » Supervillain Origins: Calendar Man
Say what you want, but Calendar Man was one of the weirder and wackier Batman villains from his earlier days that somehow still survived into his new canon as well. For the few of you out there who wish to know more about this mathematical moron, we have the perfect video for you. Worth watching just for The Brave and … [Link]
Mashable » Jewish journalist taunted, spat at in '10 Hours of Walking in Paris as a Jew' video
An Israeli journalist found himself faced with verbal abuse and spitting during a ten-hour walk around the streets of Paris. See also: Hundreds of graves vandalized at Jewish cemetery in France At the start of the video, Zvika Klein puts on a kippah or yarmulke in front of the Eiffel Tower in a short film inspired by "10 hours of … [Link]
O'Reilly News and Commentary » Four short links: 17 February 2015
Matthew Effects in Reading (PDF) — Walberg, following Merton, has dubbed those educational sequences where early achievement spawns faster rates of subsequent achievement “Matthew effects,” after the Gospel according to Matthew: “For unto every one that hath shall be given, … [Link]
O'Reilly News and Commentary » #Video Deal/Day: Introduction to Java 8 – $49.99 (Save 50%) Use code DEAL
Get "Introduction to Java 8" today using code DEAL and save 50%!This sale ends at 2:00 AM 2015-02-18 (PDT, GMT-8:00). [Link]
Mashable » Did Not Wake Up Like This: Westminster's craziest dog grooming routines
If you have trouble making yourself presentable in the morning, owning a show dog is probably not for you. Looks are everything at the Westminster Dog Show. The average grooming process can be anywhere from 15 minutes to six hours, depending on the breed and how often they attend shows. Some handlers come equipped with one to two groomers who are … [Link]
Slashdot » When Chess Players Blunder
An anonymous reader writes: Joe Doliner has done a statistical analysis of mistakes in rated chess games. He used a chess engine called Crafty, which is capable of not only finding mistakes, but quantifying how bad they are. After crunching all the matches on chessgames.com in 2014, which amounted to almost 5 million moves, Crafry found only 67,175 blunders that … [Link]
Mashable » 6-page guide tells Brits how to make the perfect cup of tea
LONDON — Use a white porcelain teapot, brew for six minutes and pour the milk into the cup before the tea See also: 8 Tea Recommendations Based On Your Childhood Tea Set These are some of the controversial guidelines for how you make the perfect cup of tea, according to business standards organisation, the British Standards Institution. Making a cuppa should … [Link]
Mashable » Massive cyber-spying program 'the Equation Group' discovered
An incredibly sophisticated cyber espionage operation, likely originating in the U.S., has been discovered by the security researchers at Russia's Kaspersky Lab Dubbed the Equation Group, this "threat actor" has been using spyware and malware tools to infect computers of governments, telecoms, military, nuclear research, energy and other companies in more than 30 countries. Kaspersky did not say who's behind Equation, … [Link]
Mashable » 24 photos that will satisfy your minimal needs
Most people, naturally, are drawn to minimalism. White interiors, conceptual art, modern architecture — they're eye-catching. Instagram was a game changer for this less-is-more trend. From portraits against blank walls to aerial shots of objects on clean surfaces, the platform is home to many minimalist gems. See also: 14 photos that pop with color and light For our latest Mashable Photo … [Link]
Slashdot » Game Theory Calls Cooperation Into Question
An anonymous reader sends this excerpt from Quanta Magazine: The physicist Freeman Dyson and the computer scientist William Press, both highly accomplished in their fields, have found a new solution to a famous, decades-old game theory scenario called the prisoner's dilemma, in which players must decide whether to cheat or cooperate with a partner. The prisoner's dilemma has long been … [Link]
Mashable » 'Better Call Saul' Episode 3 recap: Nobody likes to leave home
In episode three of Better Call Saul’s premiere season, Jimmy finds himself unable to shake Nacho, one of Tuco’s brutal henchmen, who's hanging around like a bad cold. But before we learn of Jimmy’s latest predicament, Better Call Saul flashes us back to when Chuck was still lucid and Jimmy was still … A criminal? SEE ALSO: 'Better Call Saul' Episode … [Link]
Mashable » Australian galleries ban selfie sticks, save small speck of humanity
Finally, logic has won out against the use of this year's most annoying Christmas present: the selfie stick. A bizarre contraption that can be seen at every major tourist site in the world and is slowly making its way into Australian restaurants, bars, workplaces and schools has been shut down by the highest of cultural organisations. In a win for humanity, … [Link]
Slashdot » Nanotech Makes Steel 10x Stronger
An anonymous reader writes: A new metal-making process currently in testing at oil fields uses nano-scale plating to make metals like steel as much as ten times stronger than they would be without it. "[The process] uses an advanced form of electroplating, a process already used to make the chrome plating you might see on the engine and exhaust pipes … [Link]
Mashable » Massive fireballs captured at the scene of train derailment in West Virginia
A train carrying more than 100 tankers of crude oil derailed during a snowstorm in southern West Virginia on Monday. At least one tanker landed in a river, igniting at least 14 in all and sending a fireball hundreds of feet into the sky, officials and residents said. One section of the derailed train also slammed into a house. A state … [Link]
Mashable » Pregnant women claim they received fake ultrasound photographs found on Google
A woman from Western Australia has pleaded not guilty to supplying expectant mothers with fake ultrasound photos. Rawinia Hayes, who ran the business Amazing 4D Imaging, faced court Monday over claims she distributed photographs she found online instead of actual imagery she had taken. Hundreds of women posted photos on Facebook, where many claim they discovered their intimate photos were duplicates … [Link]
Mashable » 'Catneto' is the most terrifying kitty you'll see today
Be very afraid. Every cat owner knows their furry feline is secretly out to get them. From weaving in and out of legs, to leaving dead animals on the doorstep as a warning, cats only have destruction on their mind. In one of the scariest imagined scenarios possible involving a cat, Magneto Cat has the ability to control metal. No … [Link]
Mashable » Japan's insane underground bicycle parking lots are the future
An impressive video has emerged of what it is like to park your bicycle in Japan, proving once and for all that the technologically-advanced country has thought of everything. A man in the video posted to YouTube can be seen putting his bike into an elevator-like contraption, just before it is sucked into a metal shaft with rows and rows … [Link]
Mashable » Here's what Fenway Park looks like buried in snow
After yet another winter storm pummeled Boston this weekend, the home of the Red Sox has been swallowed by snow. In the past several weeks, the city has been hammered by a series of relentless snowstorms that have smashed snowfall records and made daily life difficult for winter-weary Bostonians. The city has seen nearly eight feet of snow and counting this … [Link]
Slashdot » AT&T To Match Google Fiber In Kansas City, Charge More If You Want Privacy
An anonymous reader writes: When Google Fiber started bringing gigabit internet to cities around the U.S., we wondered how the incumbent ISPs would respond. Now we know: AT&T has announced they will match Google Fiber's gigabit offerings in Kansas City. Of course, there are some caveats. First, AT&T's rollout may stop as it fights the Obama administration over net neutrality. … [Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » The 13 Most Ridiculous Types of Stormtroopers
Though we can all admit we thought the original, white costumed versions of the stormtroopers we saw in the first Star Wars movies were quite intimidating and awesome, many variations have come since. It would also be safe to say not all the versions of stormtroopers were as cool or as necessary as the original. About Incinerator Troopers, io9 says: … [Link]
Mashable » Bryan Singer reveals production art from upcoming 'X-Men: Apocalypse'
Director Bryan Singer shared a cryptic piece of production art from his upcoming X-Men: Apocalypse film through Instagram on Monday The film, which is set to hit theaters in May 2016, is said to be the final installment in a trilogy that started with X-Men: First Class and continued with X-Men: Days of Future Past. James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Jennifer Lawrence … [Link]
Mashable » Australian woman shocked by balance of $10 million on bank receipt
An Australian woman discovered an available balance of $10 million on her bank receipt on Sunday, after withdrawing cash from an ATM. 49-year-old Sue Lamb from the Gold Coast was shocked when she saw an available balance of $9,990,420 on her business credit card and posted a photo of the receipt on Facebook. "Just checked my credit card which has a … [Link]
Slashdot » PC-BSD: Set For Serious Growth?
Artem Tashkinov writes: Luke Wolf, a KDE developer, argues that PC-BSD might become a serious desktop OS contender by year 2020, since Linux so far has failed to grasp any serious market share. He writes, "Consider this: In the past 10 years has the distribution you run changed significantly in what it offers over other distributions? I think you'll find … [Link]
Mashable » Whips, spanks and domination: 'Fifty Shades' of kinky box office headlines
LOS ANGELES — Domination dominated the headlines, but there were plenty of whippings, spankings, ropings-in, cuffings, seductions and even an explosion, too. All in all, it was a pretty racy weekend for journalists who write about movies. The weekly ritual of box office reporting is the last place where the modern writer can safely submit to the temptation to make a … [Link]
Mashable » Japan hit with 6.9 magnitude quake near anniversary of Fukushima disaster
A magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck off the shores of northeastern Japan on Monday. Following the quake, the Japan Meteorological Agency issued a tsunami advisory for Iwate Prefecture Although Japan is accustomed to regular quakes of lower magnitudes, an earthquake event near 7.0 is worth noting. The quake comes just one month before the four-year anniversary of the 2011 Tohoku 9.0 magnitude … [Link]
Slashdot » The Software Revolution
An anonymous reader writes: Y Combinator president Sam Altman writes about how the third great technological revolution — which he calls the software revolution — is affecting the world economy. He says, "It appears that the software revolution will do what technology usually does—create wealth but destroy jobs. Of course, we will probably find new things to do to satisfy … [Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » New Drone Rules Make Amazon Delivery A No-Go
The Federal Aviation Authority has published draft rules to allow the routine commercial use of unmanned drones. But a key restriction means plans for delivery services will have to remain on hold. The rules would mean that unmanned aircraft weighing less than 55 pounds could fly without special permission or licensing. However, the operator would need to be certified and … [Link]
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