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 » White House hires 'impressive' Facebook engineer as IT head
The White House on Thursday announced a new addition to its growing team of in-house techies: Facebook Engineering Director David Recordon. Recordon will serve as director of White House Information Technology when he starts in a few weeks, according to a Medium blog post from Anita Decker Breckenridge, White House deputy chief of staff. The new position "will be responsible for modernizing … [Link]
Slashdot » Why Is the Grand Theft Auto CEO Also Chairman of the ESRB?
donniebaseball23 writes In an editorial at GamesIndustry.biz, Brendan Sinclair asks an important question about the game ratings board in America. Should Strauss Zelnick, the CEO of Take-Two, which owns the Grand Theft Auto franchise and has been at the heart of the ESRB's biggest controversies of the last decade, really be serving as its chairman? "No matter how removed from … [Link]
ProgrammableWeb.com » U.S. Energy Information Agency Enhances APIs Accessiblility
The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) has partnered with the U.S. Federal Reserve to make up-to-date energy and economics data automatically available in spreadsheets via their APIs.
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Mashable » 8 most hirable boy band replacements for Zayn Malik
Looks like One Direction is actually going two directions. With the world in tatters after news of Zayn's departure from One Direction's world tour, it's only natural to assume the band is looking for a replacement fifth member to help finish off their remaining shows. See also: Top 20 music fan armies: Beliebers, Swifties, Directioners and more Looking through a number … [Link]
Slashdot » Microsoft Says Free Windows 10 Upgrades For Pirates Will Be Unsupported
An anonymous reader writes with this story about some of the fine print to Microsoft's offer of Windows 10 upgrades to pirates. "When Microsoft confirmed it will offer free Windows 10 upgrades to pirates worldwide, many were shocked. VentureBeat has been trying to get more details from the company, which disclosed today that after PCs with pirated copies of Windows … [Link]
Mashable » Rethink unveils Baxter the robot's one-armed brother, Sawyer
Baxter, Rethink's trainable robot, uses its two arms to complete menial tasks so humans don't have to The bot sets itself apart from other workplace robots with its friendly face, ability to adjust to changing work conditions and relative affordability ($22,000) — but it's not the perfect fit for every job. Now, however, Baxter has a one-armed brother named Sawyer, which … [Link]
Mashable » 'Food for Thought' puts a tasty spin on consuming literature
No spoilers — literally. In her Food for Thought: Book Collection In Tins series, designer Maria Mordvintseva-Keeler puts a foodie twist on how we consume literature. Instead of a traditional book, Mordvintseva-Keeler has neatly packaged three classic stories, Breakfast at Tiffany's, Naked Lunch and Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant, into cans. See also: Don't judge a book by its cover 'til … [Link]
Mashable » Amazon gets the green light to test drones in the U.S.
Amazon will soon be able to test its drones in the U.S. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) just gave its approval for the company to operate unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) — but under strict conditions. As spelled out by the FAA, Amazon's "experimental airworthiness certificate" will permit the company to fly drones but only at altitudes of 400 feet or below, … [Link]
Slashdot » Taxi Companies Sue Uber For False Advertising On Safety
jfruh writes "A group of California taxi operators are suing Uber, claiming the ridehailing service is guilty of false advertising when it comes to rider safety. The taxi companies claim that Uber doesn't use a Live Scan fingerprint ID for drivers like they do, and that the $1 "safe rides" fee on every fare doesn't specifically go towards boosting safety. … [Link]
Mashable » Church vows to stop soaking homeless people
A prominent San Francisco cathedral promised to remove a sprinkler system it had used to douse homeless people sleeping in its doorways after public outcry. The sprinkler system was designed to periodically rain down water throughout each night, which warded away homeless people who regularly slept under the building's sheltered alcoves See also: Photographer train hops across the American Southwest with … [Link]
Mashable » Newborn clouded leopard kitten squeaks his way through a hot bath
That chubby belly! Those little pink toe beans! This baby clouded leopard was born just 12 days ago at Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo to proud parents Yim and Malee. He will be hand-reared for the next several months before being paired with his future mate, according to the Zoo's Facebook page Classified as an endangered species, this little goober joins … [Link]
Mashable » This is why you should never linger at the finish line during a track meet
Here’s a new term to add to your vocabulary: "wham sauced." During the New Balance Nationals indoor championships over the weekend, an announcer shouted this glorious new phrase during an collision at the finish line. See also: 25 of YouTube's Funniest Sports Fails An official was on the track during the race, setting up the finish line tape, as four racers … [Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » Transparent Windows Could Capture Solar Power
Researchers at Michigan State University say they’ve produced a transparent solar concentrator that can be attached to windows to harness power without losing light or visibility. The idea of using windows to capture solar energy isn’t new. Rather than the surface of the window being a solar panel, existing technologies use a plastic overlay to harness the solar rays and … [Link]
Mashable » No one's getting anything done during March Madness, so don't even try
Why have good grades when you could have a great bracket? These basketball fans have fallen victim to the productivity black hole that is March Madness and it's only going to get worse. With 32 games being played in a 48-hour period, midterms and Excel spreadsheets are quickly taking a backseat See also: 12 March Madness facts to make your bracket … [Link]
Mashable » Ron Hunter trash talks Obama after Georgia State's epic upset
President Barack Obama understandably didn't pick 14-seed Georgia State to upset three-seed Baylor in the first round of March Madness on Thursday. But that they did, in truly epic fashion, to become instant tourney darlings In the locker room after the game, Georgia State coach Ron Hunter couldn't resist taking a dig at POTUS's bracket-picking skills: That was just the cherry … [Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » Spongebob Bass Pants [Video]
ARE YOU FEELING IT NOW, MR.KRABS!? [hannabalecta | Via Reddit] The post Spongebob Bass Pants [Video] appeared first on Geeks are Sexy Technology News. [Link]
Slashdot » Obama: Maybe It's Time For Mandatory Voting In US
HughPickens.com writes CNN reports that when asked how to offset the influence of big money in politics, President Barack Obama suggested it's time to make voting a requirement. "Other countries have mandatory voting," said Obama "It would be transformative if everybody voted — that would counteract money more than anything," he said, adding it was the first time he had … [Link]
Mashable » Ryanair reverses course on cheap transatlantic flights
On Monday, a Ryanair spokesperson said 14 routes between Europe and the U.S. were in its future. On Thursday, the budget airline's board quashed the idea of ultra-cheap transatlantic flights, dashing the hopes of frugal travelers everywhere "In the light of recent press coverage, the Board of Ryanair Holdings Plc wishes to clarify that it has not considered or approved any … [Link]
Mashable » Want to watch 20,000 pounds of fireworks explode? Duh.
The Midland Police Department in Texas was court ordered to detonate around 20,000 pounds of fireworks over a three-day period Luckily for us, one of these fiery yet dazzling events was caught on video. According to the department, the fireworks were seized by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Local bomb squads were also in attendance to assist. … [Link]
Mashable » 12 inspirational videos to activate your tear ducts
Every minute, 300 hours of video are uploaded to YouTube. Of these, only a few manage to strike your heart, and make you weep like a retiring athlete winning a championship for the first time Remember the deaf woman who was able to hear for the first time? Or the time San Francisco came out to watch Batkid save the … [Link]
New Scientist – News » Falcons learn to hunt by chasing drones
The ancient sport of falconry is embracing high-tech hunting, with falconers using robots to train their birds. The move could help conservation efforts 
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Mashable » The Arctic was missing an ice patch the size of Texas and California this winter
The Arctic climate sent yet another in a long series of alarm bells on Thursday as scientists announced that the sea ice cover in the region hit a record low maximum for the year. The winter maximum typically occurs in March, but this year it took place about two weeks earlier than average, with sea ice most likely maxing out on … [Link]
Slashdot » "Descent" Goes For a Crowdfunding Reboot (and a Linux Version)
New submitter boll writes A bunch of Star Citizen alumns have taken it upon themselves to resurrect the hit game franchise Descent, backed by a Kickstarter campaign. If you are a semi-oldtimer on the PC gaming scene, you may fondly remember how the original Descent was among the first to provide 6 genuine degrees of freedom during intense late night … [Link]
Mashable » Apple's first day on the Dow demonstrates power of tech industry
When Apple, the largest technology company in the United States, said it would be joining the Dow Jones Industrial Average, market observers asked themselves a single question: What took so long? Techies can now rejoice. Apple's first day on the Dow is Thursday. The company joined after a torrid run, with its shares up 38% since its stock split last June. … [Link]
Mashable » Shoot the scene outside your window for our photo challenge
For this week's photo mission, shoot through glass to capture what you see outside your windowMashable is partnering with Windex to bring you this challenge. The scenery can be just about anything — the beautiful suburbs seen from your living room window, the hustle and bustle outside your office building, or a breathtaking cityscape from a high-up observation deck. See also: … [Link]
Mashable » 9 great places to watch the solar eclipse in the UK and Ireland
LONDON — Despite the threat of toxic smog and heavy cloud cover, the UK and Ireland are nations of optimists when it comes to big events like Friday's solar eclipse The almost total solar eclipse, which occurs when the sun, moon and Earth are aligned so that the moon's shadow reaches the surface of the Earth, will be visible from 9:23 … [Link]
Mashable » Bluetooth umbrella makes sure you never leave it behind
Losing an umbrella is a part of life — one that often leaves you drenched in the rain and out at least $15 But New York-based startup Davek, known for selling high-end umbrellas that don't crap out on you after just two uses, has developed a concept to ensure that you never leave an umbrella behind again See also: The Internet … [Link]
Slashdot » Musk Says Drivers May Become Obsolete, Announces Juice-Saving Upgrades
Lucas123 (935744) writes During a discussion at a Nvidia conference, Elon Musk predicted that in the future, consumers will not be allowed to drive cars because it will be considered too dangerous. [Note: compare Lyft CEO Logan Green's opposite view] 'You can't have a person driving a two-ton death machine,' he said. Others agree. Thilo Koslowski, a vice president at … [Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » Artist Makes Gorgeous Pop Culture Paintings Using Coffee [Picture Gallery]
While for a lot of geeks, coffee is something to keep us awake after a long night of gaming, for Maria A. Aristidou, it’s a creation medium that is used to bring to life fantastic portraits of pop culture characters. To create various shading and different tones of browns, the artist layers coffee on her canvases and uses different brews … [Link]
New Scientist – News » Clucking hell: The nightmare world without chickens
Riots, pandemics, starvation – if this humble bird disappeared, we would be in big trouble. So how likely is chickageddon? (full text available to subscribers) 
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Mashable » Cookie Monster tries to break the Internet
AUSTIN, Texas — Cookie Monster just wants to break the Internet. But how? The blue, furry monster traveled to SXSW with Internet-crashing dreams and a suitcase full of cookies in a quest to #BreaktheInternet. A grouchy feline gives some input, but Cookie might not exactly understand what breaking the Internet means See also: A delicious day at NYC museums with … [Link]
Mashable » How to watch the total solar eclipse online
FAROE ISLANDS — Clouds, schmouds. There's no need to let the weather affect your view of Friday's total solar eclipse. In fact, there's no reason to let your current location on the planet affect it, either. The total eclipse will only be visible on land from the Faroe Islands and Svalbard, Norway, and the partial eclipse will only be visible from … [Link]
Mashable » Bayside meets Westeros in oddly perfect 'Saved by the Thrones' mashup
Brace yourselves — '90s nostalgia is coming. Mandatory.com found the perfect way to refresh your Game of Thrones knowledge before season 5 hits the airwaves on April 12: a catchy mashup with the Saved by the Bell theme song. See also: 21 one-star reviews for 'Game of Thrones' With all the doom and death that happened in season 4, we all … [Link]
Mashable » Judge refuses to release grand jury testimony in Eric Garner chokehold case
A judge on Thursday refused to release testimony heard by a grand jury that declined to indict a police officer in the chokehold death of Eric Garner, arguing there wasn't a good enough reason to release the secret information. The New York Civil Liberties and others had asked the court to order Staten Island District Attorney Daniel Donovan to release the … [Link]
Slashdot » Why I Choose PostgreSQL Over MySQL/MariaDB
Nerval's Lobster writes For the past ten years, developers and tech pros have made a game of comparing MySQL and PostgreSQL, with the latter seen by many as technically superior. Those who support PostgreSQL argue that its standards support and ACID compliance outweighs MySQL's speed. But MySQL remains popular thanks to its inclusion in every Linux Web hosting package, meaning … [Link]
Mashable » Monica Lewinsky: 'Shame is an industry and the currency is clicks'
VANCOUVER, Canada — If anyone knows what it means to be publicly humiliated, it's Monica Lewinsky In one of very few major media appearances in more than a decade, Monica Lewinsky took the TED stage on Thursday to champion online compassion. In the years since arguably the biggest sex scandal of our time, Lewinsky has turned her attention to activism, namely … [Link]
Mashable » Zayn Malik left the One Direction tour and the world is basically ending
It seems that things have gotten much darker for One Direction fans. First, Zayn Malik and Louis Tomlinson were forced to pay a "weed bond" to tour in the Philippines in response to a video of the pair getting high Now, Zayn is leaving the band's international tour See also: Top 20 music fan armies: Beliebers, Swifties, Directioners and more It's … [Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » This Papercraft Millenium Falcon Took 4 Years to Make [Picture Gallery]
Bernard Szukiel spent 4 years to make this amazingly detailed 38″ long papercraft version of the Millenium Falcon. The model even has some fiber optic cables and LEDs to light up specific parts of the ship. 
[Source: Bernard Szukiel on Starship Modeler] The post This Papercraft Millenium Falcon Took 4 Years to Make [Picture Gallery] appeared first on Geeks are … [Link]
Slashdot » First AMD FreeSync Capable Gaming Displays and Drivers Launched, Tested
MojoKid writes Soon after NVIDIA unveiled its G-SYNC technology, AMD announced that it would pursue an open standard, dubbed FreeSync, leveraging technologies already available in the DisplayPort specification to offer adaptive refresh rates to users of some discrete Radeon GPUs and AMD APUs. AMD's goal with FreeSync was to introduce a technology that offered similar end-user benefits to NVIDIA's G-SYNC, … [Link]
Mashable » London landmarks disappear as unhealthy air pollution spikes in UK
LONDON — London landmarks seemed to vanish Thursday as a noxious and hazy mix of air pollutants that's been making its way across Western Europe arrived in the UK. Vertiginous structures like the Gherkin, the Walkie Talkie and even the EU's tallest building, known as the Shard, disappeared as the air quality deteriorated. A similar effect hit Paris on Wednesday, partially … [Link]
Mashable » California governor proposes $1 billion in drought-relief spending
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Gov. Jerry Brown and legislative leaders on Thursday proposed legislation to accelerate more than $1 billion in drought-relief bond spending for California as it copes with a fourth dry year. "We need to get the money out the door now for shovel-ready projects and existing water programs that only need funding to get started," Senate President Pro Tem … [Link]
New Scientist – News » Today on New Scientist
All the latest on newscientist.com: the robot with a self, cool electric cars, recruitment by video game, solar eclipse guide, NHS game-changers, and more 
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New Scientist – News » Cane toads' kiss of death lets finches live
Invasive toads in Australia poison predators that eat them, allowing other prey, like the crimson finch to flourish 
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Mashable » Latest claim on jihadi forum: ISIS was behind Tunisia terror attack
Militants linked to the Islamic State (ISIS) claimed responsibility for Wednesday's terror attack in the Tunisian capital of Tunis that left 21 people dead, including 18 foreign tourists In an audio clip posted to a jihadi forum regularly used by the group, one that bore some of the hallmarks of previous messages, the message called the attack on the Bardo Museum … [Link]
Mashable » Tunisia terror attack threatens country's tourism industry
A shocking terror attack at a popular museum in the Tunisian capital rattled the country on Wednesday and left many questioning the safety of the north African nation. Tourism plays a major role in the Tunisian economy and the large scale attack could have a lasting impact on the industry See also: Tunisia rallies for peace after terror attack in capital … [Link]
Mashable » Think twice before you take that eclipse selfie
Optometrists are warning about the risks of selfies ahead of Friday morning's solar eclipse, which will be viewable in much of the northern hemisphere. The UK-based College of Optometrists issued a warning about the event, saying that the act of taking an eclipse selfie (or "eclipsie") could put people's eyes in harm's way. Eye damage can occur from staring at the … [Link]
Mashable » March Madness: The touching story behind UAB's mismatched sneakers
If you tuned in for part of the opening-day March Madness game between Alabama-Birmingham (UAB) and Iowa State, you probably had the same question as so many others: Why do UAB's players have mismatched sneakers on? It's not just a fashion statement. And it's not a mistake. In fact, the reason has a bittersweet backstory and is a touching little March … [Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » Well, That Explains The Kool-Aid Man [Comic]
Well, that explains that. [Source: Three Word Phrase] The post Well, That Explains The Kool-Aid Man [Comic] appeared first on Geeks are Sexy Technology News. [Link]
Slashdot » No Fuel In the Fukushima Reactor #1
An anonymous reader writes To nobody's surprise, the Japanese press reports that a new way to look at the inside of one of the Fukushima 1 damaged reactors has shown the fuel is not in place. Engineers have not been able to develop a machine to directly see the exact location of the molten fuel, hampered by extremely high levels … [Link]
Mashable » Concept design plans skyscrapers that don't cast a shadow
The taller the skyscraper, the longer the shadow it casts — which doesn't always bode well for the people and businesses below. Design firm NBBJ is hoping to change that by constructing an entirely shadowless skyscraper for London, which is gearing up for the addition of more than 250 tall buildings to the city's skyline in the near future. SEE ALSO: … [Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » New “Avengers: Age of Ultron” Trailer Shows Completely New Footage! [Video]
Check out this new TV spot for “Avengers: Age of Ultron” which shows mostly new footage of the movie! In theaters May 1st! [Marvel] The post New “Avengers: Age of Ultron” Trailer Shows Completely New Footage! [Video] appeared first on Geeks are Sexy Technology News. [Link]
Mashable » If Ship Your Enemies Glitter wasn't enough, there's a NSFW option
Every morning, you wake up to a brand new day full of fresh opportunities to change people's lives for the better and pursue your own health and happiness. Life is an endless stream of possibilities, and now, anonymously shipping shipping edible penises to whoever your choose is one of them Preying on the warm and fuzzy feeling of getting an unexpected … [Link]
Mashable » All is not lost in ISIS’s attempt to smash the past
The archaeological and historical communities are deeply dismayed about ISIS destroying archaeological sites and materials in the last few weeks. We have seen pictures of ISIS smashing statues and artifacts in the Mosul museum. ISIS soldiers have reportedly destroyed buildings at the ancient Assyrian cities Ninevah and Nimrud in Iraq. ISIS is also believed to be selling Assyrian and other antiquities … [Link]
Slashdot » Some Biodegradable Plastics Don't Live Up To Their Claims
ckwu writes From bread bags to beverage bottles, many plastics now contain additives designed to make the materials biodegradable. But a new study shows that plastics made with such additives do not biodegrade in the environment significantly faster than those without the compounds. Researchers prepared films of commercial plastics with three different types of additives supplied by their manufacturers. The … [Link]
Mashable » Agency involved in UVA student's injury had already been sued for wrongful arrest
Editor’s note: This post contains graphic imagery. Please view with caution. The same Virginia agency whose officials allegedly brutalized a black University of Virginia student on Wednesday was recently sued after the wrongful arrest of another UVA student Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe has asked for an investigation into the arrest of Martese Johnson by Virginia Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control agents … [Link]
Mashable » New 'Avengers: Age of Ultron' trailer confirms it: Captain America's in charge
At the end of Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Nick Fury, before going into hiding, turned to the Man Out of Time and said it plainly: "Looks like you're calling the shots now, Cap." But Tony Stark isn't bitter about Captain America being in charge of the Avengers, these days. Nah, not at all. "He's the boss. I just pay … [Link]
Mashable » March Madness coach's halftime knowledge bomb will change your reality
Mind. Blown North Florida coach Matthew Driscoll was interviewed at halftime of his team's Wednesday night play-in game against Robert Morris, and dropped some coaching wisdom that just might give you new clarity in life See also: March Madness adopt-a-team: 5 squads that deserve your support Ready? Here we go: #Truth. There aren't enough "100" emojis in the universe to do … [Link]
New Scientist – News » Eclipse 2015: Your guide to the solar spectacle
What will happen, where and when, and how to watch tomorrow's eclipse safely – as well as what scientists might learn from it 
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Slashdot » Google: Our New System For Recognizing Faces Is the Best
schwit1 writes Last week, a trio of Google researchers published a paper on a new artificial intelligence system dubbed FaceNet that it claims represents the most accurate approach yet to recognizing human faces. FaceNet achieved nearly 100-percent accuracy on a popular facial-recognition dataset called Labeled Faces in the Wild, which includes more than 13,000 pictures of faces from across the … [Link]
Mashable » 'Silicon Valley' Season 2 could feature weekly broken bones and a Christmas special
When Silicon Valley returns on April 12, could sh*t get … fake? You tell us, because these new teasers for Season 2 are pretty bonkers, even for the inherently bonkers HBO comedy. They feature totally authentic, not-at-all-fake-or-misleading interviews with cast members, who reveal some fairly outlandish plot lines for the upcoming season. SEE ALSO: S#!t gets real in 'Silicon Valley' … [Link]
New Scientist – News » Video games beat interviews to recruit the very best
Forget interviews. Being good at special video games could land you that plum job – and help make recruitment a fairer process 
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Mashable » The UK's beaches are swamped with washed-up wet wipes
LONDON — Next time you use a wet wipe, do nature a favour and put it in the bin. The common tendency to flush wet wipes down the toilet is based in the mistaken belief that they easily disintegrate, but in reality, they are causing an influx of the wipes on Britain's beaches, according to a new report from the Marine … [Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » Michael Biehn To Return As Hicks in “Alien” Sequel!
About a month ago, writer-director Neill Blomkamp announced that his Alien concept art was going to become a movie reality. 
(‘Alien’ concept art by Neill Blomkamp.) Now, actor Michael Biehn, who played Cpl. Dwayne Hicks in Aliens has announced that he will be reprising his role of Hicks in Blomkamp’s sequel! It's official, I will be reprising my role as 'Cpl.' … [Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » These Squirrels Become Jedi Knights (Among Other Things) in the Afterlife [Picture Gallery]
What you are seeing here are not photoshopped pictures but the work of Corin Teeters from Teeters’ Taxidermy Studio. For those interested, the piece above, featuring a Jedi and a Sith fighting to the death, is currently up for auction on ebay for $600. Oh, and yes, the lightsabers actually do light up! Here are a few other funny pics … [Link]
Mashable » Troubled National Weather Service websites among government's most popular
The trouble-plagued federal weather-forecast website and broader Weather.gov website from the National Weather Service (NWS) saw a combined total of nearly 100 million total visitors in the past 30 days, according to federal data released Thursday Add in the homepage for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), which oversees the NWS and also provides a wealth of satellite, climate and … [Link]
Mashable » Silicon Valley's latest gender discrimination lawsuit targets Facebook
Even having one of the strongest advocates for women in the workplace doesn't insulate Facebook from legal complaints of female employees Chia Hong, a former Facebook employee who worked at the company from 2010 until she was fired in 2013, is suing the social network for discrimination and harassment based on her gender and race, according to a lawsuit filed this … [Link]
Mashable » Target promises $10 million for data breach victims, if they can prove it
A federal judge has approved a class-action settlement in which Target promised to pay each victim of its 2013 data breach up to $10,000 if they can prove damage But there's a catch: The company previously argued in court that consumers have no way of showing they suffered any harm. And it's not yet clear what kind of proof the retailer … [Link]
Mashable » Elon Musk: Tesla software update makes driving out of range 'impossible'
Tesla drivers won't need to worry much about the range of their electric cars anymore. With an over-the-air software update, the Tesla Model S sedan will be able to better predict and warn the driver when it gets close to its range limit. It will also better incorporate Tesla's network of charging stations into trip planning, CEO Elon Musk announced Thursday … [Link]
Slashdot » OpenSSL Security Update Less Critical Than Expected, Still Recommended
An anonymous reader writes As announced on Monday, the OpenSSL project team has released new versions of the cryptographic library that fix a number of security issues. The announcement created a panic within the security community, who were dreading the discovery of another Heartbleed-type bug, but as it turns out, the high severity issue fixed is a bug than can … [Link]
Mashable » Heroic dog saves entire litter of puppies from a forest fire
A brave mother dog saved all nine of her puppies from a raging forest fire near Valparaíso, Chile this week The hero mom was unable to move the litter away from danger, so she dug a hole under a metal container and hid them from harm, Telemundo reports See also: Rescue workers saved a tiny puppy trapped inside a steel … [Link]
Mashable » Here are the issues we'll discuss at +SocialGood UK
Tickets are now available for this month's +SocialGood UK conference, which will bring together elected officials, activists, leaders and influencers to discuss how technology and digital media can drive social change. See also: What is +SocialGood, and how can you get involved? From ending global poverty to bridging the digital divide, this event is designed to foster conversation and spur social … [Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » Become a Landlubbing Mermaid with These Knitted Tail! [PIC]
Ever wanted to be a mermaid, but didn’t want to deal with that whole breathing underwater nonsense? Well, now you can! 
It takes a bit of knitting skill, so you may have to find someone to help, but the Mad Hooker helps you through every step, including what type of wool works best and when to alternate colors. The post … [Link]
Mashable » 'Evolve' has some freaky new characters and an observer mode ideal for esports
The 4-versus-1 competitive shooter Evolve is cranking out more characters for players to pick from, along with a distinct game mode solely for competitive play. While 'Evolve' fans knew more hunters were in the works, 2K Games shared the line-up additions Thursday morning. Players can now pick from cyborg-like Torvuld for the Assault class; a spooky-looking trapper named Crow, complete with … [Link]
Slashdot » Nintendo To Announce Virtual Boy 2
SlappingOysters writes Nintendo has officially unveiled the development of its next home console, codenamed the NX. This article at finder puts forward the case that Nintendo will be stepping back into the virtual realty game with a follow-up to its ill-fated 1995 peripheral, the Virtual Boy. It would be going head-to-head with the Vive, Project Morpheus and the much-rumoured, not … [Link]
Mashable » Kim Jong-un planning Moscow visit in May
Kim Jong-un has accepted an invitation to visit Moscow this May, making a rare trip out of North Korea, according to Russian officials. It will be his first official foreign visit since assuming power in 2011. See also: Woman shows what 100 years of beauty look like in North and South Korea Dmitry Peskov, spokesman for Russian President Vladimir Putin, confirmed … [Link]
Mashable » Super chill bro cats won't leave you hanging
Cats have a reputation for being loners — biding their time sleeping, cleaning themselves and waiting around for you to do their bidding. But do you even know cats, bro? Here is the evidence that kitties can totally hang. They lift, high-five and shoot hoops just like all the cool dudes at your fraternity, so holler at your cat next … [Link]
New Scientist – News » Solar eclipse and freak weather may mess up renewables
This week's eclipse will test solar power resilience in Germany, but it may be just a taste of challenges ahead as we deploy more renewables 
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Mashable » Mysterious, never-before-seen dust cloud covers Mars
Scientists using NASA's Mars-orbiting MAVEN spacecraft discovered a mysterious cloud of dust hundreds of miles above the planet's surface — and no explanation for how it got there. The Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution spacecraft was on the hunt for remnants of a comet that blitzed Mars in October when it detected the high-altitude dust, scientists said at the Lunar and … [Link]
Mashable » Birthday boy learns the hard way that candles and balloons don't mix well
It's an accident you could see coming from a mile away. This guy — who looks old enough to have known better — held a bunch of balloons a little too close to the candles on a birthday cake, resulting in a ball of flames. Everyone is laughing, so it doesn't appear anyone was hurt. Except for his dignity, of … [Link]
Mashable » Earth's most fearsome forces of nature
Millions around the world live in areas susceptible to destruction by natural forces, where their homes and lives could be torn apart in a matter of minutes. These photos capture the incredible — often incredibly terrifying — forces of nature. See also: Astronauts capture vivid Aurora display from International Space Station Additional reporting by Getty. Have something to add to this … [Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » Nerdist Presents: Enjoy Your Burrito! + What Would YOU put in YOUR Ideal burrito?
If you’re even remotely aware of Nerdist, you should already know that burritos reign supreme, as they are founder Chris Hardwick’s favorite food. Heck, the Nerdist motto is even “Enjoy your burrito”! The love of the stuffed, cylindrical, tortilla’d food has consumed the business so much that they are now part of their interview questions. So, just what exactly is … [Link]
New Scientist – News » Electric cars are so cool they may make it colder
A benefit of replacing conventional cars with electric ones could be a cooling effect in cities of up to 1 °C, which could cut air conditioning use 
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O'Reilly News and Commentary » What the IoT can learn from the health care industry
Adrian Gropper co-authored this post. After a short period of excitement and rosy prospects in the movement weve come to call the Internet of Things (IoT), designers are coming to realize that it will survive or implode around the twin … [Link]
Slashdot » To Avoid NSA Interception, Cisco Will Ship To Decoy Addresses
An anonymous reader writes with this news snipped from The Register: Cisco will ship boxes to vacant addresses in a bid to foil the NSA, security chief John Stewart says. The dead drop shipments help to foil a Snowden-revealed operation whereby the NSA would intercept networking kit and install backdoors before boxen reached customers. The interception campaign was revealed last … [Link]
Mashable » Giant 'Carolina Butcher' crocodile ancestor ruled before the dinosaurs
An enormous crocodile ancestor with blade-like teeth walked on two legs and was at the very top of North America's food chain 231 million years ago, according to a new study. Named "Carolina Butcher" (Carnufex carolinensis), the newly discovered toothy beast reveals that predecessors of today's crocodiles — crocodylomorphs — were top predators in North America prior to the reign of … [Link]
Mashable » TAG Heuer teams with Google and Intel to take on the Apple Watch
The effort to blend traditional Swiss watchmaking with Silicon Valley technology continues with one of the biggest heavy hitters out of Switzerland. Luxury timepiece company TAG Heuer, which has been making watches for 155 years, announced a smartwatch that runs on Google's Android Wear software and powered by an Intel chip on Thursday at Baselworld, the international watch exhibition in Switzerland … [Link]
Mashable » Baffling Vine of Iggy Azalea rapping will make you question everything
First things first: What the f are you saying, Iggy? It's the greatest mystery of this century since the blue-and-black/white-and-gold dress debacle: What are the words coming out of Iggy Azalea's mouth? See also: 50 Underwhelming Real Names of Famous Musicians After a Vine of the Australian rapper performing "D.R.U.G.S." during a concert in 2013 recently emerged online, the Internet exploded … [Link]
Mashable » Will Ferrell dresses as Little Debbie on 'The Tonight Show,' things get weird
The only thing sweeter than a Zebra Cake is Will Ferrell dressed as Little Debbie. The comedian and actor showed up claiming to be the new face of the snack brand on The Tonight Show. Ferrell was actually on the show to promote his new movie Get Hard, but he mostly just gave Jimmy Fallon and the audience an uncontrollable … [Link]
ProgrammableWeb.com » PandaDoc Seeks to Replace PDFs with New API
San Francisco-based startup PandaDoc believes the future of document delivery is going to rely on HTML5.
[Link]
New Scientist – News » IVF nutrients may dictate if the baby's a boy or girl
For people undergoing IVF, the type of protein-rich liquid their embryos develop in could play a role in determining their baby's sex 
[Link]
Mashable » 12 March Madness facts to make your bracket suck less
The madness has begun. All across North America, people are rushing to finish their college basketball brackets for March Madness. Some are crunching numbers, others are flipping coins. Everyone has their own strategy, but most are ignoring key facts. See also: March Madness Coaches Feel All of the Things Seeds are one of the most important factors in determining who is … [Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » Amazon Deal of the Day: Save 61% Off on these Kingston Digital HyperX FURY SSDs (120 and 240GB) + FREE Shipping
For today’s edition of Deal of the Day, Amazon offers the 120GB Kingston Digital HyperX FURY SSD for just $57.99 and the 240GB version for $94.99, both with free shipping. If you need to boost the speed of your system, putting your OS on one of these babies will definitely speed things up! HyperX FURY solid-state drive delivers impressive performance … [Link]
Slashdot » Gabe Newell Understands Half-Life Fans, Not Promising Any Sequels
jones_supa writes Half-Life 3 is undoubtedly one of the most anticipated games in history. While Valve transitioned from the revolutionary series that brought the company most of its original success, to online games like Team Fortress, Dota and Left 4 Dead, people still desperately want to believe that there is more coming for Half-Life. In a recent podcast interview he … [Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » The Walking Dead as a 16-Bit Video Game (Part 1)
CineFix presents the first two seasons of AMC’s The Walking Dead retold via old-school 8-bit (and a little 16 bit 😉 game tech. [CineFix] The post The Walking Dead as a 16-Bit Video Game (Part 1) appeared first on Geeks are Sexy Technology News. [Link]
Mashable » 16 photo frames filled to the brim with sunlight
For our latest photo challenge, you embraced bright sunlight. We were drawn to the beautifully overexposed and harshly contrasted images you created. See also: 9 simple composition tips to take your photos to the next level The challenge was hosted by a team of Texas-based photographers, who comprised our SXSW Instacorps: Carra Sykes, Lauren Marek, Matt Crump, Chris Cody and Abraham … [Link]
Slashdot » "Open Well-Tempered Clavier" Project Complete; Score and Recording Online
rDouglass writes Open source music notation software MuseScore, and pianist Kimiko Ishizaka, have completed the Open Well-Tempered Clavier project and released a new studio recording and digital score online, under the Creative Commons Zero (CC0, public domain) license. Their previous project, the Open Goldberg Variations (2012), has shown its cultural significance by greatly enhancing the Wikipedia.org article on J.S. Bach's … [Link]
Mashable » One Direction members forced to pay 'weed bond' by Philippines
LONDON — Should One Direction want to get chiller in Manila, it will cost them a pretty penny. The Philippines' Bureau of Immigration has imposed a "weed bond" on the band, asking 1D members Zayn Malik and Louis Tomlinson to post bonds of almost $5,000 (£3,360) each, which will be forfeited if they're caught using or promoting illegal drugs during their … [Link]
ProgrammableWeb.com » Smarterer Announces Free Access to Its Skill Assessment API
Smarterer, a skill assessment engine, has announced that the Smarterer REST API is now free for companies and individuals to utilize. With the API, companies and individuals can embed hundreds of crowdsourced skill assessments directly into products, apps, and websites.
[Link]
Slashdot » Persistent BIOS Rootkit Implant To Debut At CanSecWest
msm1267 writes Research on new BIOS vulnerabilities and a working rootkit implant will be presented on Friday at the annual CanSecWest security conference. An attacker with existing remote access on a compromised computer can use the implant to turn down existing protections in place to prevent re-flashing of the firmware, enabling the implant to be inserted and executed. The devious … [Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » This Spectacular “Proof of Concept” Sci-Fi Trailer for “The Leviathan” Will Leave You Wanting for More!
Wow. Just wow. Apparently, this is just a “proof of concept” trailer for a movie featuring people hunting gigantic flying beasts to harvest their eggs, which contain exotic matter that allows ships to travel at faster than light speeds. I don’t know about you guys, but I want to see more. A lot more. [Ruairi Robinson | Via LS] The … [Link]
Mashable » You can now see analytics for U.S. government websites
The White House on Thursday introduced a publicly available analytics dashboard that keeps tabs on traffic stats from 3,800 government websites. In the dashboard, website analytics for some of the most-trafficked government sites are available in real time. At any given moment, you can see which websites are most popular — right now the IRS' "Where's My Refund?" page tops the … [Link]
Slashdot » The Pirate Party Now the Biggest Party In Iceland
jrepin writes The Pirate Party now measures as the largest political party in Iceland, according to a new servey from the Icelandic market and research company MMR which regularly surveyes the support for the political parties in Iceland. Support for political parties and the government was surveyed in the period between the 13thand 18th of March. The results show that … [Link]
Mashable » Would you trust Facebook with your bank account?
Facebook is moving fast to allow users to send payments to each other. But will users bite? The answer will be essential in determining the winner of one of the hottest races in the tech industry: payments. Alongside Facebook, startups like Xiaomi and Venmo race giants like Apple and Google for the chance to connect their networks with the wallets of … [Link]
Slashdot » Apple May Start Accepting Android Phones As Trade-Ins
HughPickens.com writes Bloomberg reports that according to a person with knowledge of the matter, Apple plans to start accepting non-Apple devices as trade-ins as the company seeks to extend market-share gains against Android smartphones. Apple is seeking to fuel even more iPhone 6 and 6 Plus sales after selling 74.5 million units in the last three months of 2014. Thanks … [Link]
Mashable » The race to save 1,100 starving baby sea lions
More than 1,100 baby sea lions have washed ashore on California's beaches in the past two months. Some believe the sea lions are victims of the warming coastal waters, which are two to six degrees Fahrenheit above average. NOAA scientists say an El Niño climate pattern may be part of the reason why the waters are warmer in this area. El … [Link]
Mashable » Some parasites may fuel cannibalism in their hosts
Some parasites can make an animal more likely to eat its own kind, finds a new study that is among the first to link parasites to cannibalism The findings, published in the journal Royal Society Open Science, add to the growing body of evidence that certain parasites may sometimes influence, and even directly control, the behavior of those that they infect … [Link]
Mashable » Polar bear attacks tourist's tent in Svalbard
UPDATED 1:27 p.m. GMT FAROE ISLANDS — A solar-eclipse tourist in Svalbard was slightly injured when a polar bear attacked the tent he was sleeping in, according to Norwegian authorities. Thousands of tourists from around the globe have traveled to Svalbard, a remote Arctic Norwegian archipelago, as well as the nation of the Faroe Islands, to witness a total solar eclipse … [Link]
Mashable » King Richard III to get proper burial 530 years after his death
LONDON — King Richard III will be laid to rest this Sunday — 530 years after he died. The last king of England from the House of York, who was killed at the Battle of Bosworth in 1485 as the War of the Roses reached its bloody climax, will be taken to Leicester Cathedral for a full burial. See also: The … [Link]
New Scientist – News » NHS game-changers: The antibiotic apocalypse
By 2050, antibiotic-resistant microbes could cost the world $1 trillion a year. We need new drugs and technology that can take the guesswork out of diagnosis 
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Mashable » New genetic study of UK shows 10,000 years of immigration and invasions
LONDON — Immigration might be a hot topic in the current general election campaign, but it's certainly not a recent trend. See also: Genetic study shows how much America really is a melting pot New research, published in the journal Nature this week, shows how waves of invasions and migrations shaped the white population of Britain, from the Normans to the … [Link]
Mashable » CuriosityStream: the new 'Netflix for nonfiction'
Will people pay to learn about outer space in the same way they'll pay for House of Cards? John Hendricks thinks so. The man who founded the company behind the Discovery Channel is launching a new venture, CuriosityStream, an online subscription video site that launched on Monday. See also: Sony has created the Cadillac of pay TV. Would you pay $600 a … [Link]
Mashable » British woman among dead in Tunisian museum attack
LONDON — A British woman is among the victims of Wednesday's museum attack in Tunis that left 23 people dead. See also: Tunisia rallies for peace after terror attack in capital leaves 22 dead UK Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said Thursday in a statement that the woman died in the terrorist attack in the Tunisian capital, adding that consular staff are … [Link]
O'Reilly News and Commentary » Four short links: 19 March 2015
Using Monitoring Dashboards to Change Behaviour — [After years of neglect] One day we wrote some brittle Ruby scripts that polled various services. They collated the metrics into a simple database and we automated some email reports and built a … [Link]
O'Reilly News and Commentary » Use code DEAL
SAVE 30% – Use code DEAL > [Link]
Mashable » 5 house plants that will clean your stale office air
Are you an indoor gardener? Keeping house plants is a hobby that really gives back, making spaces look, feel and even smell fresh. Certain house plants help purify indoor air, removing harmful volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and other pollutants, which can improve air quality and give you a cleaner, healthier work environment See also: 5 scents that could improve your productivity … [Link]
Slashdot » UK's GCHQ Admits To Using Vulnerabilities To Hack Target Systems
Bismillah (993337) writes "Lawyers for the GCHQ have told the Investigatory Powers Tribunal in the UK that the agency carries out the same illegal Computer Network Exploitation (CNE) operations that criminals and hackers do. Except they do it legally. GCHQ is currently being taken to court by Privacy International and five ISPs from UK, Germany, the Netherlands, Zimbabwe and South … [Link]
Mashable » The smallest 3D-printed drill in the world is useless but beautiful
A man has just created the world's smallest 3D-printed working drill and it is perfect. Lance Abernethy is a maintenance engineer from New Zealand who has an obsession with small things. It was this obsession that led him to create the tiny tool, according to 3D Print. The maker of small things drew up the plans off his regular-sized drill … [Link]
Mashable » The inside of a fake Apple Watch vs. the real thing — it isn't pretty
Yes, we know there are fake Apple Watch devices available for sale in China, online and at certain tech conferences, but what's behind the veneer of imitation smartwatch deception? Do the insides of these cleverly crafted shams live up to the finely hewn artistry of Apple's internal case designs? We have yet to get our hands on the real Apple Watch, … [Link]
Mashable » Australians are betting on the name of the new Internet Explorer
Australians are having a punt on the new name of Microsoft's next generation browser. Despite worldwide celebrations that Internet Explorer had been killed off by Microsoft, the company confirmed Wednesday to Mashable it is yet to totally pull the plug on one of the world's most hated browsers See also: Not so fast: Internet Explorer isn't dead just yet It all … [Link]
Mashable » Two people killed in shooting at restaurant in Sweden
Several people were shot inside a restaurant in the city of Goteborg late Wednesday and at least two of them have died, Swedish police said. Police said in a statement that an automatic weapon is believed to have been used in the shooting. They had no details on any suspects but said several people had been brought in for questioning. The … [Link]
Slashdot » Lyft CEO: Self-Driving Cars Aren't the Future
Nerval's Lobster writes Google, Tesla, Mercedes and others are working hard to build the best self-driving car. But will anyone actually buy them? In a Q&A session at this year's South by Southwest, Lyft CEO Logan Green insisted the answer is "No." But does Green truly believe in this vision, or is he driven (so to speak) by other motivations? … [Link]
Mashable » Witness in Ellen Pao trial denies 'porn star' conversation on plane ride
SAN FRANCISCO — An allegedly risqué conversation between Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers partners on a cross-country private plane ride took center stage as a high-stakes gender discrimination trial kicked off its 17th day on Wednesday Former junior partner Ellen Pao, who is suing the famed venture capital firm for $16 million, says that her male colleagues and their associates discussed … [Link]
Mashable » The Australian Government is one step closer to having access to your data
On Thursday morning, the Australian Government secured a back room deal with the Opposition to help push through highly controversial data retention laws. In the negotiations, the Labor Opposition fought for the proposed laws to include a "Public Interest Advocate," who can argue on behalf of the media as to whether the need to capture the data of journalists is in … [Link]
Mashable » Martese Johnson weeps during a protest prompted by his bloody arrest
As students gathered on the University of Virginia campus to protest the bloody arrest of one of their own Wednesday evening, the black undergrad that was allegedly brutalized by Alcohol Beverage Control agents stood amongst the crowd, wiping away tears. At some point during his arrest Wednesday morning, Martese Johnson, who was brought to the ground by Virginia officials after his … [Link]
New Scientist – News » My little fetal pony wins top Wellcome photo prize
You're unlikely to have seen a New Forest pony quite like this one captured in an image shortlisted for the Wellcome Image Awards 2015 
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Mashable » 18 OMG moments from the 'Empire' season finale
There’s no telling quite how big the ratings will be for tonight's Empire season finale, but in terms of shock value, the 2-hour episode was off the charts Good news is we've recapped the biggest moments below — every fight, every betrayal, and holygoodnessthisshowisamazing moment. See also: Why you should watch 'Empire,' if you're not already obsessed As you might guess, … [Link]
Slashdot » Uber Shut Down In Multiple Countries Following Raids
wired_parrot (768394) writes "Worldwide raids were carried out against Uber offices in Germany, France and South Korea. In Germany, the raids followed a court ruling banning Uber from operating without a license. In Paris, raids followed an investigation into deceptive practices. And in South Korea, 30 people, including Uber's CEO, were charged with running an illegal taxi service." 
Read more … [Link]
Mashable » Australian goes to Canada, passes out drunk, gets insane frostbite
An Australian woman has posted photos of her extreme frostbite online after falling asleep in the freezing temperatures of a Canadian winter after a massive night out. The woman, who identified herself to Mashable as Emma Quirk from the Blue Mountains in New South Wales, posted an entire gallery on Monday to imgur under the name "thebassistsmuse" showing the horrible state … [Link]
Mashable » 5 March Madness stars you'll see in the NBA next season
There are a lot of good reasons to watch March Madness. For starters, it's fun to watch online at work — instead of, you know, doing actual work. It's also fun to attach yourself to awesome storylines and see how they play out But one of the best reason to watch March Madness is getting an early look at the NBA's … [Link]
Mashable » Prankster calls C-SPAN claiming to be the 'Fresh Prince of Bel-Air'
Yo, C-SPAN, smell you later. During a discussion about Iran negotiations on C-SPAN's morning call-in show, Washington Journal, a man calling himself Jack Strickland phoned in and recited the theme song lyrics from The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Strickland apparently has a YouTube account that has a few C-SPAN prank calls. In all fairness, it is totally possible he's from … [Link]
Mashable » Man samples the friendly skies by creating a remix of airplane cabin noises
The cabin pressure didn't drop, but the beats did. A man created a techno remix using airplane cabin noises he captured on his phone during a flight. He even uses a keyboard he carried onto the plane to add a little melody to his impromptu piece. According to the video description, this is apparently what you do "when you're bored … [Link]
Slashdot » Google 'Experts' To Screen Android Apps For Banned Content
An anonymous reader writes Google has announced that it will start an official human-based screening process for all of the apps featured in its Google Play store, in a bid to "better protect the community" and "improve the app catalogue." The search giant revealed yesterday that a "team of experts" would be reviewing apps and all updates offered across the … [Link]
Mashable » The adventurers who travel thousands of miles to catch a total solar eclipse
FAROE ISLANDS — This Friday, the hottest place for total solar eclipse fans to be is on one of a few cold, small islands in the North Atlantic and Arctic Oceans. Travelers hoping to catch a glimpse of the moon obscuring the sun have traveled from around the world to the Faroe Islands and Svalbard, the only land masses where the … [Link]
ProgrammableWeb.com » Peach Payments Launches Smart Payments Platform
Peach Payments, an emerging market web and mobile payments solution provider, has launched its Smart Payments Platform, a new unified API.
[Link]
Slashdot » How To Make Moonshots
An anonymous reader writes Google Glass failed. Its self-driving cars might change the world. At Google[x], pursuing the biggest, craziest projects means getting comfortable with failure — and embarrassment. Astro Teller, who leads Google's experimental lab Google[x], embraces the idea that failing fast is a way to learn even faster. "Larry Page told me, a little over two years ago, … [Link]
New Scientist – News » Large cache of giant lemur bones found in flooded cave
Giant lemurs, horned crocodiles, pygmy hippos and gigantic birds discovered in a watery cave grave may have been swept there by floods 
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