John Gordon Ross

A Man for All Reasons

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Geekish

Anyone who works as a freelancer these days has to be at least a bit familiar with techie things. But it isn’t just that. When I was a kid and those vaguely SF puppet shows were on the television and all the other kids wanted to be Greg Gogetem or Steve Savetheuniverse, I wanted to be the guy in a white coat and glasses called Doc or Brains. Here are some technology-related feeds I find useful and/or entertaining.

Slashdot » Tron 3 Is Cancelled

Sunday 31 May 23:25:00 UTC 2015

Dave Knott writes: Tron 3 won't be coming to a theater near you. Disney had been developing a sequel to Tron:Legacy since the movie, made for $170 million, grossed $400 million worldwide. But now they have chosen not to move forward with a third installment in the sci-fi series, sources say. "Disney has had strong success with its live-action properties … [Link]

Mashable » 5 delicious nail art designs inspired by dessert

Sunday 31 May 23:05:47 UTC 2015

Nail-art-summer-treats-11Feed-tw Feed-fbSummertime treats come in many shapes and forms: ice cream sandwiches, popsicles, fro yo and, now, nail art. This new Japanese nail trend will sweeten your sizzling summer outfits. See also: 8 iced coffee popsicles for a cool summer buzz A mix of two Japanese styles, kawaii and decora, it’s inspired by desserts, fusing bright neons seen in treats like popsicles … [Link]

Mashable » Everything you need to know about building a successful corporate careers page

Sunday 31 May 23:01:02 UTC 2015

Career-searchFeed-tw Feed-fbLet’s face it, even great companies fail to host a "careers" page on their website — or host a poorly designed, ineffective one at best With more and more job seekers flocking to websites and social media to research companies, it’s important to have a strong online presence — and that means a streamlined, well designed careers page. See also: Creative … [Link]

Geeks are Sexy Technology News » “Orange is the New Black” Next in Line for Funko Pop! Collectibles [PICS]

Sunday 31 May 23:00:59 UTC 2015

The critically acclaimed Orange is the New Black is back for a third season on Netflix starting June 12, and Funko has announced that five characters will be getting their own Pop! minis this summer! [Orange is the New Black Pop! Vinyl Figure | via Entertainment Weekly] The post “Orange is the New Black” Next in Line for Funko Pop! … [Link]

Slashdot » An Early Look At Android M's Multi-Window Mode For Tablets

Sunday 31 May 22:13:00 UTC 2015

Ars Technica has a look at the experimental multi-window mode in the just-announced Android M. It's not a headlining feature yet: "buggy, busted, and buried, but intriguing nonetheless" is how Ars describes it. Android Police is similarly faint in its praise. All that might be true, but to many users even a partly working multi-window mode would be welcome, especially … [Link]

Mashable » This 92-year-old just became the oldest woman to finish a marathon

Sunday 31 May 22:03:04 UTC 2015

Rnnr987Feed-tw Feed-fbDid you break a sweat running up a flight of steps today? Did you get winded trotting from your car to the store yesterday? Then consider this your official wake up call A 92-year-old cancer survivor has rocked her way into the record books, becoming the oldest woman to finish a marathon. See also: Marathon runner collapses, finishes race on hands … [Link]

Slashdot » China Unveils World's First Facial Recognition ATM

Sunday 31 May 21:10:00 UTC 2015

An anonymous reader links to an article at IB Times according to which: China has unveiled the world's first facial recognition ATM, which will not allow users to withdraw cash unless their face matches their IDs. The machine was created by Tsinghua University and Hangzhou-based technology company Tzekwan. It has a camera installed in it that captures the facial features … [Link]

Mashable » Enrique Iglesias gets bloodied fingers after trying to grab drone at concert

Sunday 31 May 21:01:55 UTC 2015

IglesiasFeed-tw Feed-fbIf we someday end up in a dystopian future full of killer drones, we may look back on May 31, 2015 as the turning point. Or, it might just be that time Enrique Iglesias tried to grab a drone during a concert, and ended up getting his fingers sliced See also: Runway drones are the new supermodel During a show in … [Link]

Mashable » Sun-powered Solar Impulse now 24 hours into flight across Pacific Ocean

Sunday 31 May 20:34:50 UTC 2015

Impulse-oneFeed-tw Feed-fbThe Solar Impulse has completed a little more than 20% of its trip from Nanjing, China, to Hawaii, the longest leg in its bid to fly around the world using only energy from the sun The plane is currently flying over the Sea of Japan, relying on the energy stored in its batteries to make the flight's evening portion. Pilot André … [Link]

Geeks are Sexy Technology News » The Code Black: A Sick-Looking, Compact, HD Camera Drone

Sunday 31 May 20:05:50 UTC 2015

HD camera drones (and drones in general) are becoming huge right now. Whether being used for war tactics or being used by some stoners to shoot fireballs at themselves and film it, drones are proving to be the next step in our technological revolution. The Code Black HD camera drone looks to take it even further by coming ready-to-fly right … [Link]

Geeks are Sexy Technology News » With These Velvet Cloaks, Spell Casting & Vampire Slaying Never Looked So Good!

Sunday 31 May 20:04:18 UTC 2015

These plush velvet capes include a hood, matching drawstring…and even a secret pocket, for all your potion bottle, stake-carrying needs! Made by Poprageous out of L.A., the cloaks come in Midnight, Black, and Oxblood, and will only set you back $119. [via Fashionably Geek] The post With These Velvet Cloaks, Spell Casting & Vampire Slaying Never Looked So Good! appeared … [Link]

Slashdot » Future of Employment: How Susceptible Are Jobs To Computerization?

Sunday 31 May 20:01:00 UTC 2015

turkeydance writes: What job is hardest for a robot to do? Mental health and substance abuse social workers (found under community and social services). This job has a 0.3 percent chance of being automated. That's because it's ranked high in cleverness, negotiation, and helping others. The job most likely to be done by a robot? Telemarketers. No surprise; it's already … [Link]

Geeks are Sexy Technology News » Autonomous Cheetah Robot Jumps Over Obstacles While Running [Video]

Sunday 31 May 20:00:07 UTC 2015

In a leap for robotic development, the MIT researchers who built a robotic cheetah have now trained it to see and jump over hurdles as it runs — making this the first four-legged robot to run and jump over obstacles autonomously. [MIT] The post Autonomous Cheetah Robot Jumps Over Obstacles While Running [Video] appeared first on Geeks are Sexy Technology … [Link]

Mashable » Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson: 12 interesting facts you probably never knew

Sunday 31 May 19:25:06 UTC 2015

The-rock1Feed-tw Feed-fbDwayne "The Rock" Johnson was a household name long before he even hit the big screen. The pro-wrestler-turned-action film star has had quite the career. The 43-year-old isn't even close to finished, either. Scoring bigger and badder roles every year, up for superhero flicks, action blockbusters and everything in between, it seems like Johnson's career is just beginning to blossom, though … [Link]

ProgrammableWeb.com » Google Cast API Updates Promise Faster Streaming and New Games

Sunday 31 May 19:14:17 UTC 2015

With plenty of features catering to users coming out of Google I/O, the event has also seen new developer releases that will strengthen its streaming offerings, writes Ronald Chavez for Mashable. [Link]

Mashable » Acapulco, a paradise littered with violence

Sunday 31 May 19:06:03 UTC 2015

Acapulco-final-01b1Feed-tw Feed-fbACAPULCO, Mexico – Acapulco, Mexico's most famous Pacific port, was recently bestowed with the dubious honor of having the highest murder rate in the country.The cartels, the military and the tourists all want the city for themselves – and all for different reasons.A view of hotels along the beach in Acapulco.Once, Acapulco epitomized tropical glamour. During the 1950s, stars such as Elizabeth … [Link]

Geeks are Sexy Technology News » Here’s Why You Should NEVER Try to Put Out a Grease Fire With Water [Video]

Sunday 31 May 19:00:42 UTC 2015

Don’t do this at home, or in fact, anywhere. NEVER. It’s just a very, very bad and dangerous idea. [The Slow Mo Guys] The post Here’s Why You Should NEVER Try to Put Out a Grease Fire With Water [Video] appeared first on Geeks are Sexy Technology News. [Link]

Mashable » Recycling center looking for woman who left rare $200,000 Apple I computer

Sunday 31 May 18:52:06 UTC 2015

Apple-1Feed-tw Feed-fbShe doesn't know it yet, but an unidentified Bay Area woman has a $100,000 check waiting for her. A local recycling center is searching for a woman who dropped off an extremely rare Apple I computer, and then left without providing her contact information. The facility later sold the computer for $200,000, and is now looking for the mystery woman, so … [Link]

Slashdot » Windows 10 RTM In 6 Weeks

Sunday 31 May 18:43:00 UTC 2015

Billly Gates writes: Ars Technica has the scoop on a new build with less flat icons and a confirmation of a mid July release date. While Microsoft is in a hurry to fix the damage done by the Windows 8 versions of its operating system, the next question is, is ready for prime time? On Neowin there's a list of … [Link]

Mashable » 7 essential apps for your vacation in London

Sunday 31 May 18:31:51 UTC 2015

London1Feed-tw Feed-fbLONDON — If London's leafy parks, palaces, museums and craft beer-serving pubs have enticed you to take a vacation in the city this summer, you'll need a few essential apps to help you make the most out of any trip to the capital. See also: 12 refreshing spots to go wild swimming in the UK Whether you want to climb to … [Link]

New Scientist – News » Artificial DNA links up just like the real thing

Sunday 31 May 18:30:00 UTC 2015

Fake DNA letters designed in the lab are good enough to form the same long chains as the real thing, and could be incorporated into living cells [Link]

Geeks are Sexy Technology News » What if We Could Regenerate? [Comic]

Sunday 31 May 18:00:11 UTC 2015

[Source: Comics by Kotor] The post What if We Could Regenerate? [Comic] appeared first on Geeks are Sexy Technology News. [Link]

Mashable » 'Halt and Catch Fire' Season 2: What you need to know about the arrival of Mutiny

Sunday 31 May 17:56:21 UTC 2015

Halt1Feed-tw Feed-fbMuch like some of the characters on the show, Halt and Catch Fire feels wiser and more grown up as it enters Season 2 And that's no mistake See also: Mutiny has arrived in new 'Halt and Catch Fire' photo At the end of its freshman season, the show saw techies Cameron (MacKenzie Davis) and Donna (Kerry Bishé) join forces for … [Link]

Slashdot » Ask Slashdot: Best Test Case Manager Plugin For JIRA?

Sunday 31 May 17:31:00 UTC 2015

Bomarc writes: I've been working with software testing … for a few years now. And there seems to be a serious lack of QA — Test Case Management (TCM) tools. The company that I'm working for needs a good test case manager. Currently JIRA is the tool of choice for other aspects of project management. I'm not asking to jump … [Link]

Mashable » Satellite images show clearly that Russia faked its MH17 report

Sunday 31 May 17:02:16 UTC 2015

Ap336289388035Feed-tw Feed-fbKIEV, Ukraine — Faked. Forged. Doctored. Photoshopped. That's what new analysis of publicly available satellite images, published Sunday by a team of independent digital sleuths, reveal Russia's Ministry of Defense did with satellite imagery presented in its official report on the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17. They say it was Russia's attempt to blame Ukraine for the crime The ill-fated … [Link]

Slashdot » Scientists Study Crime In Progress In a VR Simulated Environment

Sunday 31 May 16:28:00 UTC 2015

HughPickens.com writes: Claire Nee writes in the NYT that for psychologists, it's best to observe actual behavior, in real time, and afterward interview research participants. Yet for obvious ethical and safety reasons, it's almost never possible to observe a crime as it happens. Now psychologists have devised a simulated environment that can be navigated using a mouse or a game … [Link]

Geeks are Sexy Technology News » The Bing Self-Driving Car is Here! [Parody]

Sunday 31 May 16:00:28 UTC 2015

Google better watch out, there’s a new automated vehicle on the road. Introducing the Bing Self-Driving Car. [Rooster Teeth] The post The Bing Self-Driving Car is Here! [Parody] appeared first on Geeks are Sexy Technology News. [Link]

Geek Culture » Please don't fold your piece of paper too much…

Sunday 31 May 15:46:14 UTC 2015

… because the Universe isn't big enough for it! [Link]

Mashable » Joe Biden on son Beau: Success is when your children turn out better than you

Sunday 31 May 15:41:09 UTC 2015

Beau-bidenFeed-tw Feed-fbU.S. Vice-President Joe Biden spoke about his son Beau Biden in a speech at Yale University's commencement less than one month before Beau died of brain cancer at the age of 46. Joe spoke of his son with pride, noting that Beau had gone to Syracuse University's law school out of loyalty to his deceased mother, and later served as Delaware's … [Link]

Slashdot » LHC Season 2 Is About To Start Testing the Frontiers of Physics

Sunday 31 May 15:33:00 UTC 2015

An anonymous reader writes: The final preparations for the second run of the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) are in place. This week, it is expected to start taking new data with collisions at the record-breaking energy of 13 teraelectronvolts (TeV). There are a lot of expectations about this new LHC season. In one of CERN's articles physicists tell of their … [Link]

Mashable » Forget Taylor Swift: Metalheads are Spotify's biggest listeners

Sunday 31 May 15:03:39 UTC 2015

MetalFeed-tw Feed-fbWhen I tried to reach Bob Lugowe, director of promotions and new media at Relapse Records, he couldn't get back to me immediately. He and the entire staff of Relapse were at a death metal festival Such is the life of metalheads, perhaps the most dedicated fans to their genre "Whether it's wearing a 'battle jacket' full of sewn on patches … [Link]

Mashable » 21 DIY ideas for the ultimate birthday party

Sunday 31 May 14:30:48 UTC 2015

Diy_birthday_partyFeed-tw Feed-fbThere ain't no party like a DIY party. Everyone loves a good birthday, and makers especially love to plan them. Instead of heading down to the nearest party supply store, you can create your own totally customized party that the guest of honor will never forget. See also: 15 DIY projects for some serious fun in the sun Birthdays only come … [Link]

Slashdot » Mystery Woman Recycles $200,000 Apple I Computer

Sunday 31 May 14:23:00 UTC 2015

Dave Knott writes: A recycling centre in the Silicon Valley is looking for a woman who dropped off an old computer for recycling. The computer was apparently inside boxes of electronics that she had cleaned out from her garage after her husband died. This would be nothing unusual, except that the recycled computer was an Apple I,. The recycling firm … [Link]

Mashable » Traveling to get lost helped me find myself after tragedy

Sunday 31 May 13:40:25 UTC 2015

Boat_saint_luciaFeed-tw Feed-fbI’d been in Saint Lucia less than 24 hours and already I felt antsy. It didn’t help that the resort was only 10 minutes from the airport, or that we were handed a rum punch the minute we walked into the hotel lobby. Thirty minutes after getting off the plane, I was sitting under a palm tree on a blue and … [Link]

Mashable » 25 cool accessories every dream backyard should have

Sunday 31 May 13:30:55 UTC 2015

Summer-accessoriesFeed-tw Feed-fbThis summer is going to kick grass. The backyard is a sacred space. If you're lucky enough to own a private patch of outdoors, there are a few items that can transform your yard into a dreamy oasis. All it takes is proper mood lighting, extra comfortable seating and a lot of bug spray. See also: 29 inflatable accessories to ensure … [Link]

New Scientist – News » Guilty pleasures: What's the cost of being a couch potato?

Sunday 31 May 13:30:00 UTC 2015

Sitting is the new smoking, linked to heart disease, diabetes and even cancer. Here's how to offset that box-set marathon (full text available to subscribers) [Link]

Slashdot » MinGW and MSVCRT Conflict Causes Floating-Point Value Corruption

Sunday 31 May 13:22:00 UTC 2015

jones_supa writes: If you are working on a C++ program where you need very accurate floating point numbers, you might have decided to use long double data type for the extra precision. After a few calculations, you happen to print your number. To your shock, instead of the number being 123.456789, it is printed out as -6.518427 × 10^264 (or … [Link]

Mashable » Clint Eastwood, waiting for his big break

Sunday 31 May 13:05:17 UTC 2015

Clint-eastwoodFeed-tw Feed-fbImage: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty ImagesClint Eastwood didn't want to be an actor. Even though he appeared in school plays, he said he had no interest in it at all.But acting was interested in him — or at least, in his appearance. Drafted into the U.S. Army in 1951, Clint was stationed at California's Fort Ord. When a Universal Studios crew rolled up to … [Link]

Geeks are Sexy Technology News » Amazon Deal of the Day: 61% Off Robotech: The Complete Set – $34.99

Sunday 31 May 12:43:04 UTC 2015

For today’s edition of Deal of the Day, Amazon has “Robotech: The Complete Set” for just $34.99. That’s 61% off on the collection’s regular list price of $89.98. ROBOTECH: THE COMPLETE SET includes the remastered versions of all 85 episodes from the three Robotech Wars: THE MACROSS SAGA, THE ROBOTECH MASTERS and THE NEW GENERATION. It also includes the ROBOTECH: … [Link]

Geeks are Sexy Technology News » Dorkly Comic: 4 Reasons Why Finishing a Videogame is Better than Graduating

Sunday 31 May 12:42:05 UTC 2015

The always amazing Julia Lepetit from Dorkly illustrates 4 reasons why finishing a videogame can actually be better than graduating. [Source: Dorkly] The post Dorkly Comic: 4 Reasons Why Finishing a Videogame is Better than Graduating appeared first on Geeks are Sexy Technology News. [Link]

Geeks are Sexy Technology News » Did I Just Find The Photo That Was The Inspiration For ‘The Doof’ In ‘Fury Road’?

Sunday 31 May 12:41:39 UTC 2015

doof1 So I am going through my pictures folder yesterday on my computer getting ready to do a pic dump for my site, when I discovered a very strange picture. As many of you know who read this site daily, I have an obsession with “the doof” from Fury Road. I just think he is one of the most over-the-top and … [Link]

Geeks are Sexy Technology News » A Throne Fit for an IT King [Pic]

Sunday 31 May 12:41:14 UTC 2015

Redditor jonat1992 built the ultimate IT thrones using some old, unused Dell boxes from his work, and I have to say, It looks totally awesome. I’d take this throne over the Iron Throne from GOT any time. [jonat1992] The post A Throne Fit for an IT King [Pic] appeared first on Geeks are Sexy Technology News. [Link]

Geeks are Sexy Technology News » Start Instilling Geekiness Right Out of the Womb with These Handmade Baby Mobiles [PICS]

Sunday 31 May 12:40:39 UTC 2015

Start instilling geekiness in your baby — or a loved one’s baby — right away! Little Wrens Nursery custom makes Doctor Who, Harry Potter, and Alice in Wonderland mobiles that can even be customized by color. Using wood, metal, vellum, paint, and paper, each mobile is handcrafted to order. Prices start at $49. Alice in Wonderland Doctor Who 1 Doctor Who 2 Harry Potter … [Link]

Slashdot » How Elon Musk's Growing Empire is Fueled By Government Subsidies

Sunday 31 May 12:24:00 UTC 2015

theodp writes: By the Los Angeles Times' reckoning, Elon Musk's Tesla Motors, SolarCity, and SpaceX together have benefited from an estimated $4.9 billion in government support. The figure compiled by The Times, explains reporter Jerry Hirsch, comprises a variety of government incentives, including grants, tax breaks, factory construction, discounted loans and environmental credits that Tesla can sell. It also includes … [Link]

Mashable » 3 cheap beauty tricks that take 5 minutes or less

Sunday 31 May 12:03:29 UTC 2015

Screen-shot-2015-05-29-at-11.48.18-amFeed-tw Feed-fb You don't have to spend big bucks to sport this year's beauty trends Beauty expert and host of E!'s new show Good Work, Sandra Vergara demonstrates how easy (and cheap) it is to copy the looks of your favorite celebrities See also: 4 easy ways to instantly upgrade your clothes for free You don't need lip injections to look like Kylie … [Link]

Mashable » 7 delicious facts for National Macaroon Day

Sunday 31 May 12:00:56 UTC 2015

MacaroonsFeed-tw Feed-fb Happy National Macaroon Day! On May 31, we celebrate the chewy pile of sweet goodness that is a perfectly prepared macaroon. In honor of this favored cookie, from the U.S.'s chocolate-dipped coconut confection to its French cousin, the more delicate almond "macaron," Mashable pulled together a few tasty facts. Happy munching! 3 cheap beauty tricks that take 5 minutes or … [Link]

Mashable » When dealing with global warming, the size of the risk matters

Sunday 31 May 12:00:43 UTC 2015

GlacierspitsbergenFeed-tw Feed-fbShortly after September 11, 2001, Vice President Dick Cheney gave us what has since become known as the One Percent Doctrine: “If there’s a 1% chance that Pakistani scientists are helping al-Qaeda build or develop a nuclear weapon, we have to treat it as a certainty in terms of our response.” It inspired at least one book, one war, and many … [Link]

Mashable » John Kerry breaks leg in bike accident while at nuclear talks in Switzerland

Sunday 31 May 11:07:06 UTC 2015

KerrybicycleFeed-tw Feed-fbUPDATED 1:14 p.m. ET U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry is currently in a Geneva hospital, but is expected to take an air ambulance to Boston for "further treatment," State Department spokesperson John Kirby reportedly said in a statement. Kerry to take an air ambulance back to the U.Spic.twitter.com/411PvARzhu — Zeke Miller (@ZekeJMiller) May 31, 2015 An update from @statedeptspox on … [Link]

Mashable » 6 ways students are fighting back against sexist school dress codes

Sunday 31 May 11:04:56 UTC 2015

Dresscode-1Feed-tw Feed-fbInstead of spending mornings in front of mirrors, stretching fingertips to measure skirt hemlines, high school students are now breaking school dress codes unapologetically. Then they're getting detention. And then they're doing something about it. As the weather gets warmer, sweaters and jeans are getting shoved to the back of the closet, replaced by short skirts and tank tops. This leaves … [Link]

Slashdot » Rosetta Team Proposes Landing On Comet To Finish Mission

Sunday 31 May 10:32:00 UTC 2015

schwit1 writes: Rather than simply turn off the spacecraft when its funding runs out at the end of 2015, Rosetta's science team have proposed that the mission get a nine month extension, during which they will slowly spiral into the comet and gently land. Their proposal is similar to what American scientists did with their NEAR spacecraft, which hadn't been … [Link]

New Scientist – News » Guilty pleasures: Can you party all night and not pay tomorrow?

Sunday 31 May 8:30:00 UTC 2015

Sleep deprivation brings out our bad side, whether we skip a night's sleep or just don't get enough regularly. To avoid the worst, take a cat nap (full text available to subscribers) [Link]

Mashable » Lives are at risk because of this cliff's extreme popularity on Instagram

Sunday 31 May 8:05:37 UTC 2015

WeddingcakerockFeed-tw Feed-fbStep away from the edge, Instagram fanatics. A picturesque clifftop on the outskirts of Sydney, Australia, has become such a popular photo destination on Instagram that local authorities have had no choice but to rope it off. See also: Instagram user offers discount prices to fight artist selling $90,000 screenshots of her photos A photo posted by 认真点。 (@stephy_lii) on May … [Link]

Slashdot » There Is a Finite Limit On How Long Intelligence Can Exist In Our Universe

Sunday 31 May 7:43:00 UTC 2015

StartsWithABang writes: The heat death of the Universe is the idea that increasing entropy will eventually cause the Universe to arrive at a uniformly, maximally disordered state. Every piece of evidence we have points towards our unfortunate, inevitable trending towards that end, with every burning star, every gravitational merger, and even every breath we, ourselves, take. Yet even while we … [Link]

Mashable » A fan-favorite clone is in major jeopardy on 'Orphan Black'

Sunday 31 May 5:31:45 UTC 2015

Orphanblack1Feed-tw Feed-fbDid you think last week's big death on Orphan Black was tough? Well, poor Hot Paul may not be the only one we say goodbye to this season In Saturday's new episode, two lives hung in the balance: one who made it out alive and another who was in more danger than ever by the end of the hour Surprisingly, neither … [Link]

Mashable » Cafe owner kicks out man for complaining about breastfeeding mum

Sunday 31 May 5:25:08 UTC 2015

BreastfeedingFeed-tw Feed-fbAn Australian cafe owner has been widely praised on social media after asking a man to leave her premises when he complained about a woman breastfeeding in public. On Wednesday, a man approached proprietor Jessica-Anne Allen of Cheese and Biscuits in Rockhampton, Queensland, letting her know a woman was sitting in the cafe courtyard breastfeeding "The middle aged gentleman" suggested she … [Link]

Slashdot » Ground Crew Back In Touch With LightSail Solar Spacecraft

Sunday 31 May 4:57:00 UTC 2015

Yesterday, we noted that the Planetary Society's solar-sail powered craft had lost radio contact with its controllers here on Earth; Engadget reports that the group has issued an update, and the news is good. From the Society's release: "The solar sailing spacecraft test mission, a precursor to a 2016 mission, has now resumed contact after a suspected software glitch affected … [Link]

Mashable » Texas legislature says no more jail for kids who skip school

Sunday 31 May 4:27:25 UTC 2015

LockersFeed-tw Feed-fbAUSTIN, Texas – Skipping school would no longer be a criminal offense under a bill that has cleared both chambers of the Texas Legislature. Instead, accumulating unexcused absences would mean civil punishments with fines starting at $100, under a proposal the Senate and House passed Saturday. The measure now heads to Governor Greg Abbott who has to sign or veto the … [Link]

Mashable » Minute Maid Park floods during Astros-White Sox game

Sunday 31 May 4:18:17 UTC 2015

AstrosFeed-tw Feed-fbAs rain continued to pummel swaths of Texas Saturday, a closed-roof Minute Maid Park was flooded during the Houston Astros-Chicago White Sox game. The heavy rain started about halfway through the game and water seeped into the ballpark, causing drainage issues and flooding of three to four inches. See also: More than 35 trillion gallons of rain have fallen on Texas … [Link]

Mashable » 'Louie' Season 5 finale: In praise of fart jokes

Sunday 31 May 3:11:03 UTC 2015

Louie-season-5-finale-thumbFeed-tw Feed-fbOur hapless hero's comedy tour of hell comes to its conclusion in Louie's Season 5 finale — and it ain't pretty. He arrives in culturally bankrupt Oklahoma City (at least that's how it's portrayed) to find that the locals are made up of the lowest common denominator. Not only are they racist, but they also don't appreciate good (read: his) comedy. … [Link]

Mashable » This machine translates written descriptions into images

Sunday 31 May 3:00:20 UTC 2015

Computational-imaginationFeed-tw Feed-fbImagine an oak tree in a field of wheat, silhouetted against a cloudless blue sky on a dreamy sunny afternoon. The chances are that most people reading this sentence can easily picture a bucolic scene in their mind's eye. This ability to read a description of a scene and then imagine it has always been uniquely human. But this precious skill … [Link]

Mashable » Woolworths cancels $1 million in vouchers after customer data leak

Sunday 31 May 2:52:48 UTC 2015

WoolworthsFeed-tw Feed-fbUpdated: Sunday, May 31 2:00 p.m. with Woolworths statement In a significant data breach, Australian supermarket chain Woolworths mistakenly emailed out a spreadsheet with the personal details of thousands of customers, as well as the redeemable codes of 7,941 gift cards. The release of the gift card codes — valued at A$200 and A$100 each and purchased last week by customers … [Link]

Mashable » Vice President Joe Biden's son, Beau Biden, dies of brain cancer

Sunday 31 May 2:01:28 UTC 2015

BeauFeed-tw Feed-fbVice President Joe Biden's son has died after suffering from brain cancer, according to a statement released by the White House Saturday evening. Beau Biden, who formerly served as Delaware's attorney general and had a promising career ahead of him in Democratic party politics, lived a life "defined by service to others," the vice president said in the statement "The entire … [Link]

Mashable » Household robots are here, but their real promise is decades away

Sunday 31 May 2:00:42 UTC 2015

Jibo_counter_grandma-55d952d9d9a38d6e07cd5a3151ae9a6814be0733c9b53bfb8000073ccd820dc7Feed-tw Feed-fbSocial robots like Amazon's Echo can play music and tell you the weather today, but their real promise is potentially decades away. Social robots like the quasi-anthropomorphic Jibo and Amazon's far more utilitarian Echo are beginning to find their places in our living rooms. The consensus seems to be that they are pretty cool but leave a lot to be desired. … [Link]

Slashdot » Steve Albini: The Music Industry Is a Parasite — and Copyright Is Dead

Sunday 31 May 1:52:00 UTC 2015

journovampire sends word of another thought-provoking rant from Steve Albini (mentioned here last a few years back for his paean to the beauty of analog tape for recording): The veteran producer addressed an audience in Barcelona on Saturday: "The old copyright model – the person who creates something owns it and anyone else that wants to use it or see … [Link]

Mashable » 'Deep Web' director Alex Winter: Silk Road case wasn't really about drugs

Sunday 31 May 1:25:04 UTC 2015

Alex-interview-nowmFeed-tw Feed-fb Ross Ulbricht, the man convicted as being the mastermind behind the black market website Silk Road, was sentenced to life in prison on Friday. Deep Web, a documentary about Ulbricht and the Silk Road trial, as well as deeper issues such as privacy, digital rights and the role of the government, debuts on Epix on Sunday night. See also: Did … [Link]

Mashable » What the world looks like from behind a niqab

Sunday 31 May 0:54:06 UTC 2015

Niqab-thumbFeed-tw Feed-fbThe niqab, as well as the burka and hijab, are worn to honor the Quran and the Hadith, a record of the sayings of Prophet Mohammad, which assert that a woman's body should be covered out of modesty and respect. While wearing the niqab is a choice for some, extremist group Islamic State (ISIS) has imposed harsh dress-code restrictions on women … [Link]

Mashable » Apple's dive into AR could take the technology mainstream

Sunday 31 May 0:29:54 UTC 2015

Meta9087a0dfasfFeed-tw Feed-fbJust a little more than a week before Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference in San Francisco, reports have surfaced that Apple has acquired German augmented reality (AR) software company Metaio The unexpected move signals the iPhone maker may be prepping a deep dive into the world of the virtual, a turn that could dramatically increase interest in what has been, to date, … [Link]

Mashable » Moment of truth: Sun-powered plane takes off from China for 6-day journey

Sunday 31 May 0:14:54 UTC 2015

SolarFeed-tw Feed-fbUPDATE: May 31, 9:47 a.m. ET Solar Impulse is currently flying near Japan as part of its six-day Pacific Ocean leg. The plane is relying on its batteries for power, as it looks to circle the globe while running only on sunlight Batteries are discharging, @andreborschberg is performing 20min naps to rest#LIVE on http://t.co/JIj9tHK6hl pic.twitter.com/vL59yEWC1n — SOLAR IMPULSE (@solarimpulse) May 31, … [Link]

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