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 » The first things you should do if you win the $1.5 billion Powerball jackpot (or any windfall)
Everyone has the dream of what they would do when they win the lottery: buy a house near Lake Como in Italy. Sharp new suits. All the cars one person could ever hope to drive Someone might walk away from Wednesday's Powerball drawing $1.5 billion richer (well, subtract the total of an inevitably hefty tax bill) But first, there's the scary … [Link]
Mashable » Bookstore cats are silently judging your lack of reading in 2016
Remember that New Year's resolution to read more books and watch TV less? How's that working out for you? Well the bookstore-owning felines of Instagram — where the #bookstorecats hashtag has become popular of late — have not forgotten. Your decision to neglect another book club meeting has not gone unnoticed by these fuzzy-bellied, hyper-judgmental bookworms. See also: What happened when … [Link]
Slashdot » Al Jazeera America Terminates All TV and Digital Operations
waspleg writes: Executives of Al Jazeera America (AJAM) held a meeting at 2 p.m. Eastern Time to tell their employees that the company is terminating all news and digital operations in the U.S. as of April 2016, resulting in the loss of hundreds of jobs. AJAM has been losing staggering sums of money from the start. That has become increasingly … [Link]
Mashable » Hollywood is getting a new digital studio, thanks to mogul Peter Chernin
LOS ANGELES — Former Fox president Peter Chernin, one of the biggest advocates of digital filmmaking in Hollywood, is forming a studio to create content geared toward millennials A new digital-first studio is coming to Hollywood courtesy of Otter Media, the joint venture between The Chernin Group and AT&T. Otter announced Wednesday that it is teaming up with Van Toffler, former … [Link]
Popular Science » How Pranking An Online Calendar Almost Sent This Student To Prison
Torley, via Flickr CC BY-SA 2.0 Cyberspace It began, as these stories tend to, with an enthusiastic prankster and a little knowledge of the internet. It ended, fortunately, with a modest legal battle and a lenient judge. In the middle, it put a kid in jail on Christmas eve, 2014. Ryan Pickren, the Georgia Tech student at the heart of … [Link]
Mashable » Obama administration heads to Detroit to speed up self-driving car rules, report says
Federal regulations regarding the implementation and operation of self-driving cars might be in the works. According to Reuters, Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx is set to be in Detroit Thursday to discuss the Obama administration's efforts to lay out nationwide guidelines for the introduction of self-driving vehicles. The administration aims to speed up the process of getting autonomous cars on the road, … [Link]
Mashable » Flight MH370 search team finds another old shipwreck, but still no plane
The Australian search team tasked with finding the remains of the Malaysian Airline jet that vanished along with 239 passengers nearly two years ago has found a second centuries-old shipwreck — but still no plane. The MH370 search team was in the process of its exhaustive search of the Indian Ocean's floor on Dec. 19 when underwater Sonar alerted the crew … [Link]
Mashable » There is now a Bernie Sanders (parody) phone sex hotline
Warning: the following audio is NSF-anyone, ever. Bernie Sanders: Vermont senator, presidential hopeful or 74-year-old sex icon? No need to choose. You can now experience all sides of Bernie with a parody phone sex hotline that imagines what it'd be like if Bernie was on the other line. Sure, you can't actually call the phone. But you can listen, and what … [Link]
Mashable » Dogs know best: New study shows your pup can tell how you feel
Can dogs tell when we are happy, sad or angry? As a dog owner, I feel confident not only that I can tell what kind of emotional state my pets are in, but also that they respond to my emotions. Yet as a hard-headed scientist, I try to take a more rational and pragmatic view. These personal observations seem more likely … [Link]
Mashable » China's bestseller of 2015 was a coloring book for adults
China’s best-selling book of 2015 didn't have many of words. Secret Garden, an adult colouring book, was the No. 1 book on China's biggest online stores — Amazon, Dangdang and JD.com. See also: Amazon announces its 20 best-selling books of 2015 The three companies released their lists on Wednesday, and the book from Scotland-based artist Johanna Basford made the top spot … [Link]
Slashdot » Alfred Poor Talks About Health Wearables at CES (Video)
The biggest shift in wearables that Alfred Poor saw at CES was from consumer wearables to wearables designed to serve corporate goals, especially cutting health care costs. He says that when it comes to fitness and other health-related wearables, "consumer is the past and business is the future." 
Read more of this story at Slashdot. [Link]
Mashable » Jim and Roy continue their battle for Pam’s heart in ‘13 Hours’
Image: ParamountYour favorite (and least favorite) characters from The Office are back, and they’re taking their battle for Pam Beesly’s love to the next level…just kidding. The photo is actually a promo shot from the new Michael Bay film 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi, which stars John Krasinski — known for his beloved role as the adorable prankster, … [Link]
Mashable » Somalia will pay for a 13-year-old boy who builds motorized toy cars to go to school
A 13-year-old boy in Somalia taught himself to build motorized toy cars from batteries and plastic scraps — and earned himself a free education in the process Guled Adan Abdi has rarely attended school on a regular basis. He goes to class in the city of Buuhoodle when he can, but has only made it to his third year of primary … [Link]
Mashable » WOW Air's $199 flights from California to Europe are now on sale
What you've heard is true: $199 flights from California to Europe are now a reality. Well, sort of. That $199 price tag that set social media ablaze this week covers the departing flight, not the cost of the roundtrip airfare. And like other budget European airlines, the Iceland-based WOW Air charges passengers extra fees for carry on and checked luggage, reserving seats … [Link]
Popular Science » 2016 Mercedes E-Class Prepares Your Ears For A Crash
Mercedes-Benz Pink noise protects hearing in a crash CES 2016 wrapped up last week, so there’s a lot of tech getting a lot of attention. Cars can talk to each other, cars can talk to street signs, cars can drive themselves — or they’re getting there, anyway. Much of this new technology is in the service of safety. If we … [Link]
Mashable » Jason Alexander talks 'Seinfeld' spinoffs he always wanted to see
“It’s a spinoff, also about nothing". In a conversation with Chris Hardwick and Matt Mira on the Nerdist podcast, Alexander chats about two potential Seinfeld spinoffs he contends NBC "should have done." See also: Forget the pretzels, a George Costanza-themed bar will make you thirsty "The number one that I thought, through the roof, would've been the four parents down at … [Link]
Popular Science » Glyph’s VR-Like Headphones Let You Wear Video
Video of Glyph Virtual Reality Headphones At CES 2016 Competition in the virtual reality space is heating up. Oculus Rift has announced its plans for consumer release and HTC Vive isn’t too far behind. Playstation VR is coming this year and who knows what the Nintendo NX will bring. 
Xavier Harding Glyph The headset lets you watch video and play … [Link]
Mashable » GoPro goes from bad to worse, slashing 7% of staff
GoPro is in free fall — and not the fun kind its customers like to record. The action camera maker revealed Wednesday that it expects sales from the all-important holiday quarter to be "lower than anticipated" and announced plans to lay off 7% of its workforce "Over the past two years, GoPro's headcount has grown by more than 50% annually, to … [Link]
Mashable » Hairless guinea pig Strawberry Shortcake knows how to stay squeaky clean
Hairless Kim Possible mole-rat, Rufus, your position on the naked animal throne is being challenged. The new furless animal on everyone's lips? Strawberry Shortcake. Her lack of coat and tiny pomegranate eyes naturally lend themselves to a name after a juicy, pink fruit. The guinea pig is obviously a pamper-head — check out that spa-like atmosphere, clawfoot tub and candlelight. 
Image: … [Link]
Mashable » Hoverboard bursts into flames with rider still on it
By now we seen a long list of burned hoverboards and even a few in the midst of exploding, but this is the first time we've seen one go up in flames while the owner is on it Hoverboard owner Kevin MacLeod says he charged his brand new hoverboard overnight and, as we can see in the video, as soon … [Link]
Popular Science » The iPhone's Siri Can Beatbox In Different Accents
Apple's Siri on the iPhone assistant is known for her punchy humor and for advising you on rain when you're already near a window. Now the iOS virtual assistant can help you get started working on that hot hip-hop track you've always wanted to record. If you ask Siri about her beatboxing skills, she'll repeat "boots and cats"–an infamous phrase … [Link]
Slashdot » NASA Forms New Planetary Defense Office To Manage Asteroid Threats
An anonymous reader writes: NASA has set up a new Planetary Defense Coordination Office to detect and track near-Earth objects. CNN reports: "The department, which includes the position of Planetary Defense Officer, is managed by the Planetary Science Division of the Science Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington DC. And its mission includes the early detection of potentially hazardous … [Link]
Mashable » Alpacas in costumes make life worth living
The stars of the Pennsylvania Farm Show are a group alpacas who look better in skirts and hats than you ever will. This video by Julia Hatmaker shows the fuzzy creatures strutting their stuff in the Farm Show's first-ever costume contest Truth be told: it's no contest, as each and every one of these alpacas is a winner. Kalki Koechlin … [Link]
Mashable » Drake coloring book is the calming presence you need in your life
Adult coloring books and your boyfriend Drake have the following in common: they both present a sense of calm in an otherwise chaotic world Coloring books provide an outlet in which to pour your stifled creativity. Drake provides assurance that he'll answer your late-night calls, and look great in a turtleneck while doing so. See also: Hotline Bing: The Drake and … [Link]
Popular Science » What Happens If We Find Out An Asteroid Is Heading For Earth?
Wikimedia Commons Illustration Of A Giant Rock Crashing Into Earth If ever there's a giant space rock headed for our planet, hopefully bureaucracy will save us. Last week, NASA announced the creation of a new office that will take charge in such a scenario. The Planetary Defense Coordination Office (PDCO) will help to track near-Earth asteroids, develop asteroid deflection strategies, … [Link]
Mashable » Dude is a buffet lover's worst nightmare
This man shows what it's like to be the master of your own destiny in a buffet setting. His seamless maneuver to take what he deserves absolutely earns him a place in the buffet hall of fame. Kalki Koechlin takes on the media's portrayal of women in her new video Stephen Colbert shares the secret to winning the Powerball jackpot … [Link]
Mashable » Guns, Trump and Burning Man are more politically correct with a glass of bourbon
Grover Norquist, president of the anti-tax Americans for Tax Reform and a member of the National Rifle Association's executive board, had a few drinks with Mashable to talk about the president, 2016 and his Burning Man adventures. Read more…More about Barack Obama, Politics, Republicans, White House, and State Of The Union [Link]
New Scientist – News » Time might flow backwards as well as forwards from the big bang
In the multiverse, pocket universes could be born with clashing directions of time – the evolving future of one could happen in the rewinding past of another
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Popular Science » A Statistician Explains Your Odds In Tonight's Powerball Drawing
Video of Powerball math: Statistician geeks out on the odds Powerball fever is coming to a head tonight. With the largest lottery prize ever, $1.5 billion, America has gone crazy, snapping up tickets left and right, and everyone wants to win. It's one of the few times that people can find the fun in statistics, which is why Lawrence Livermore … [Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » Deadpool’s Best Billboard Yet [Pic]
It may take you a minute to figure out this one, but Deadpool’s billboard game is strong as hell. This is his best yet! [Imgur] The post Deadpool’s Best Billboard Yet [Pic] appeared first on Geeks are Sexy Technology News. [Link]
Mashable » Google Cardboard apps will soon sound more realistic
Google Cardboard's virtual reality apps may soon sound a whole lot better. The company introduced new tools for developers that Google promises will allow them to create more immersive and realistic audio within their virtual reality apps for Cardboard See also: Escape Helmet: How virtual reality will grow in 2016 The new software development kit (SDK) enables developers to support spatial … [Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » Cosplay Remix: 5 Years of Star Wars Cosplay [Video]
My pals from Beat Down Boogie just released an awesome compilation of all the Star Wars cosplay they caught on film for the past 5 years! Check it out! [beatdownboogie] The post Cosplay Remix: 5 Years of Star Wars Cosplay [Video] appeared first on Geeks are Sexy Technology News. [Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » REBEL SCUM: A Star Wars Fan Film [Video]
A Rebellion pilot is hounded by death from the merciless Empire and a frozen grave, after being abandoned during the retreat of the Rebel Alliance from Hoth. Rebel Scum pays homage to the original Star Wars trilogy; nearly all visual effects were created without the use of CGI, using time honored methods such a stop-motion animation. Shot on location in … [Link]
Mashable » Hulu's virtual reality debut pushed back to spring
Although the virtual reality push, from gaming to movies to TV, is rapidly gaining momentum, Hulu fans will have to wait a little longer for the company's promised VR app The VR experience tool that was supposed to launch in November, in conjunction with the Samsung Gear VR, still isn't ready for its debut a Hulu spokesperson confirmed to Mashable on … [Link]
Slashdot » Are Phone Numbers Doomed To Die?
HughPickens.com writes: Valentina Zarya writes at Fortune Magazine that the top 2016 prediction for David Marcus,Facebook's vice president of messaging products, is the disappearance of the phone number and its replacement by applications like Facebook's Messenger. " You can make video and voice calls while at the same time not needing to know someone's phone number," writes Marcus. "You don't … [Link]
Mashable » Nicknamed 'Apache Joan of Arc', this warrior is a heroine in her own right
Try as you might, you probably won't find Lozen's story in your history books.Read more: http://on.mash.to/1mWshXH Read more…More about History, Watercooler, Videos, Native American, and Wtf History
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Mashable » Your feelings about the Powerball jackpot, explained in charts
You are not going to win the $1.5 billion Powerball jackpot. The odds, quite simply, are too stacked against you. It's not going to happen, give up. That being said, it'd be stupid not to at least buy some tickets though, right? See also: A very serious and 100% foolproof guide to winning the Powerball As more drawings go by without … [Link]
Popular Science » The Confounding Commandments Of Cancer Screening
slgckgc via Flickr, CC by 2.0 Mammogram These are images generated from a mammogram, a breast cancer screening test. Last year, at the age of 43, Chicago-based writer Jessica Gardner had her first mammogram. She knew that most screening guidelines recommended that women of average risk for breast cancer receive annual mammograms starting at age 40, but Gardner procrastinated—because she … [Link]
Popular Science » Drone Owners Have One Week Left To Register With The FAA For Free
FAA Infographic How To Label A Drone With astonishing speed, the FAA’s registration deadline for drones is fast approaching. The initiative, announced in December and with a hard deadline of February 19th, 2016, requires anyone who owns an unmanned flying vehicle weighing more than half a pound to register it online with the agency. There’s a $5 fee for each … [Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » Forging Pyramid Head’s Great Knife (Silent Hill) in Real Life [Video]
From Man at Arms – Reforged: Every other Monday, our team of blacksmiths and craftsman build some of your favorite weapons, and some weapons that you’ve never seen before. In this episode, the team takes on an epic build from everyone’s favorite horror game Silent Hill with the Pyramid Blade. [AWE me] The post Forging Pyramid Head’s Great Knife (Silent … [Link]
Mashable » Ted Cruz goes duck hunting with 'Duck Dynasty' star Phil Robertson
If you can kill a duck and turn it into gumbo, Phil Robertson will endorse your presidential campaign. The star of A&E's Duck Dynasty said Ted Cruz would do just that in a video released by the Cruz campaign. See also: I partied with a top Obama hater before the State of the Union In the minute-long video, Robertson explains … [Link]
Popular Science » Why This Canadian Space Blogger Wrote A Book On NASA's Origins
NASA The early days of NASA During the State of the Union on Tuesday evening, President Barack Obama referenced the nascent industry of private space travel, and how that sector could "reignite" America's "spirit of innovation." The sheer wonderment with space has always existed with Amy Shira Teitel, who has been fascinated with space exploration since she was seven years … [Link]
Popular Science » North Korean Missile Test Less Successful Than It Appears
Screenshot by author, from YouTube A North Korean Missile Explodes Shortly After Launch North Korea’s official releases lie so often it’s hard to notice when they publish a kernel of truth. Last week, the country claimed to have tested a hydrogen bomb, while analyses from around the world showed the impact to be instead that of a much weaker atomic … [Link]
Mashable » YouTube stars Roman Atwood and FouseyTUBE are going on tour
LOS ANGELES — It's no joke: YouTube pranksters Roman Atwood and Yousef Saleh Erakat (FouseyTUBE), are going on tour together. The two announced Wednesday that they have partnered with Mills Entertainment, the producers behind YouTubers Lilly Singh and Tyler Oakley's respective tours, to bring their fans a live viewing experience. Their 2016 multi-city tour, which will kick off on Feb. 23, … [Link]
Popular Science » Hormone Boosts Immune Function And Might Extend Your Lifespan
Yale News Degenerated thymus As you age, the thymus becomes fattier, limiting its ability to generate pathogen-hunting T cells. As we age, lots of things don’t work as well as they used to. The immune system is one of those things—over time, the body slows its production of pathogen-hunting T cells, making it harder for the body to combat newly-introduced … [Link]
Mashable » Out and proud Jeopardy contestant snaps back at GOP for using his likeness
Former Jeopardy! contestant Louis Virtel is snapping back at the House Republicans who used his image to promote the GOP While on Jeopardy!, after demolishing a Daily Double question about prolific playwright Arthur Miller, Virtel let out a celebratory snap that spread across the Internet in video and GIF form See also: 'Jeopardy!' mastermind Matt Jackson loses in classiest way possible … [Link]
Mashable » These anti-terror suits are too crazy to be real (because they're not)
A political prankster highlighted what he believes is Europe's flawed approach to terrorism — using a blow-up suit. The mustachioed man, a self-described defense and security consultant, presented for nearly 30 minutes at the European Parliament and fielded questions from an audience that included members of parliament, the public and the media. He said Europe's response to terror threats has … [Link]
Mashable » ‘100 Years of Beauty’ video shows the elegant style of Japanese women
The latest in Cut Video's "100 Years of Beauty" series shows Japan's changing beauty styles over the past century. The different headwear, makeup, hairstyles and accessories highlight the ways Japanese beauty has thrived throughout the years, and more importantly, how Japanese women survived the '80s with a hairstyle that doesn’t make us want to die of embarrassment. Stephen Colbert shares … [Link]
Mashable » Early data shows 2015 blew away previous records to become Earth's hottest year
During the next week, the official climate agencies around the world that are responsible for tracking the planet's average temperatures will almost certainly come to the same conclusion: 2015 was the warmest year on record. This would mean that 2015 would beat the previous warmest year, which occurred in 2014 — remember that? The combination of a record strong El Niño … [Link]
Mashable » President Obama shares friendly moment with Syrian refugee Dr. Hamo
After Tuesday's State of the Union address, President Barack Obama spent a few minutes talking with Dr. Refaai Hamo, a Syrian scientist who fled his country after a slew of deadly bombings killed members of his family, including his daughter and wife. The brief but friendly encounter underscored sentiments Obama has expressed in the State of the Union, recent speeches and … [Link]
Slashdot » Uber Scaling Up Its Data Center Infrastructure
1sockchuck writes: Connected cars generate a lot of data. That's translating into big business for data center providers, as evidenced by a major data center expansion by Uber, which needs more storage and compute power to support its global data platform. Uber drivers' mobile phones send location updates every 4 seconds, which is why the design goal for Uber's geospatial … [Link]
Mashable » Real-life Forrest Gump took a cross-country CitiBike trip and Instagrammed it all
Jeffrey Tanenhaus was bored with his life in New York City. At 35, the rat race held such little allure that he ended his lease in Brooklyn, New York, and took to the open road — on a CitiBike. CitiBike is the bicycle sharing program in the city, providing commuters with access to bulky blue bikes for daily, weekly or annual … [Link]
Popular Science » A Giant Chasm May Rest Underneath Antarctica’s Ice Sheet
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Antarctica Icescapes in Antarctica It's one of the largest areas of land left unsurveyed on Earth. Princess Elizabeth Land in Antarctica is an ice-encrusted wasteland, whose actual stoney topography lies far beneath the surface of the ice sheet. But now, researchers are getting a glimpse of the buried landscape, and they've found a huge hole. … [Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » The Four “New” Elements & How We Got Them [Science Video]
The periodic table just got four new elements, but this isn’t as groundbreaking as recent headlines would have you believe. Join Speaking of Chemistry’s resident killjoy to find out why. [Reactions] The post The Four “New” Elements & How We Got Them [Science Video] appeared first on Geeks are Sexy Technology News. [Link]
Mashable » Nearly 1 million people have seen 'CodeGirl' — with more ways to watch coming soon
CodeGirl director Lesley Chilcott talks about the distribution plan behind her new film about girl coders, which premiered on YouTube and MashableWatch the full film: http://on.mash.to/1SGj5THHear the director talk more about how the film was made: http://on.mash.to/1Q5YQhO Read more…More about Engineering, Coding, Entertainment, Film, and Youtube
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ProgrammableWeb.com » Google's Cardboard Virtual Reality Updated With Spatial Audio
The virtual reality space is really beginning to heat up, and Google knows it needs to move fast if it wants to remain competitive. The search giant released an update to the Google Cardboard SDK today that should go a long way to improving the virtrual reality experience. Moving forward, developers will be able to move beyond stereo sound and … [Link]
Mashable » Here's Linkin Park's 'In The End' as performed by 180 different movies
YouTube user The Unusual Suspect has created a supercut of scenes from 180 movies that, combined, create a performance of Linkin Park's angsty anthem "In The End." How did this guy have enough time to take on such a huge project? In the end, it doesn't even matter — because we're glad he did. Mulder and Scully hook up in … [Link]
Slashdot » Netflix Executive Admits a VPN-Blocking Policy Might Be Impossible To Enforce
An anonymous reader writes: Netflix's chief product officer Neil Hunt has admitted that the company has 'no magic solution' to subscribers who use VPNs to access content not licensed for their geographical region, commenting that 'It's likely to always be a cat-and-mouse game'. Hunt notes that Netflix can only rely on lists of VPN IP addresses, and that these can … [Link]
Mashable » Al Jazeera is shutting down its American TV news unit
Al Jazeera America, the U.S. wing of the Qatar-based Arab media company, is shutting down operations in its cable television unit within three months Launched in 2013, the channel was billed as a more progressive and left-leaning news outlet for a younger audience. Some called it a propaganda effort by the Qatari government, which helps fund the parent company Al Jazeera. … [Link]
Mashable » The world's largest railway exhibit is on Google Maps — and trust us, you'll want to see this
More than a million people visit the quirky, high-tech and massive Miniatur Wunderland — the world's largest, tiniest-scale model railway exhibit — in Hamburg, Germany each year, but now you can do it all from the comfort of your own computer. Google Maps has added Street View to the intricate exhibit, which features 8 miles of railway tracks and follow … [Link]
Popular Science » Google Streetview Takes Viewers To A Miniature Train 'Wunderland'
Google Street View is downsizing. They've taken us deep into the seven seas and up perilous rock faces but now, they're taking us somewhere very small: Hamburg's Miniatur Wunderland, a huge model train set. The best part is, you can immerse yourself in this miniature Wunderland without drinking any sketchy potions. The model train set currently covers nearly 14,000 square … [Link]
Mashable » We need to talk about Vince Vaughn's bangs
Vince Vaughn is following mixed reviews for Season 2 of True Detective with something we can all get on board with: a fresh hairstyle. The actor appears on the poster of his new film alongside Hailee Steinfeld — who received an Academy Award nomination for her braids in True Grit — sporting some cool new bangs. See also: Matt Damon has … [Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » Dorkly Comic: General Hux Preparing for Episode VIII (Spoilers!) [Comic]
Warning: Spoiler Alert! Julia Lepetit and Chloe Cole from Dorkly illustrate what might happen between Star Wars Episode VII and VIII. 
They really need to call it Planet Pew Pew. That would be awesome. [Source: Dorkly] The post Dorkly Comic: General Hux Preparing for Episode VIII (Spoilers!) [Comic] appeared first on Geeks are Sexy Technology News. [Link]
Slashdot » NY Bill Would Force Decryption of Smartphones On Demand
Trailrunner7 sends word about New York Assemblyman Matthew Titone's bill that forbids the sale of smartphones that can't be cracked by their manufacturers. On the Wire reports: "A bill that is making its way through the New York state assembly would require that smartphone manufacturers build mechanisms into the devices that would allow the companies to decrypt or unlock them … [Link]
Mashable » Get lost exploring craters on the dwarf planet Ceres in new NASA photos
New photos of the dwarf planet Ceres show off the intricate details of craters that dot the surface of the cosmic body. NASA's Dawn spacecraft took these new pictures of Ceres — the largest object in the asteroid belt between Jupiter and Mars — at the end of December, when it just 240 miles from the dwarf planet's surface. "Everywhere we … [Link]
Mashable » 'Heroes Reborn' will be the end of 'Heroes,' probably for real this time
PASADENA, California — The Heroes universe will come to a close — probably for good — with the upcoming finale of Heroes Reborn NBC president Robert Greenblatt confirmed Wednesday that the network has no plans for a second installment of the miniseries See also: The 'Friends' cast is reuniting to honor a legendary TV director on NBC "I think that was … [Link]
Mashable » Republicans have run out of patience with candidates who don't get the Internet
Six years ago, iPads weren't for sale on retail shelves, Snapchat hadn't launched and you could still buy the Uber.com URL on GoDaddy.com. That’s how dramatically different the digital landscape looked like the last time the slate of Republican senators up for re-election this November ran campaigns Today, a strong campaign strategy that includes voter data analytics, online fundraising and targeted … [Link]
Popular Science » How, Exactly, Is Joe Biden Going To Cure Cancer?
Joe Biden Vice President Joe Biden at the 2016 State of the Union Address, being put in charge of "Mission Control" in the effort to find a cure for cancer by 2020. There was a moment during Obama’s valedictory State of the Union address last night that seemed uncharacteristically unscripted. Obama announced that he was putting Vice President Joe Biden … [Link]
Popular Science » Tesla Car Can Be Summoned And Park Itself
Tesla AutoPark V7.1 – Summon Feature Tesla Motors continue to add self-driving capabilities to its Model S electric car at a breathtaking pace, and the company announced yet more this past Sunday. This latest software upgrade, Version 7.1, has been eagerly awaited by Model S owners whose carswere built since August 2014. The new software is now in the early … [Link]
Mashable » A mom got tired of her teenage sons not cuddling so she knit a new son who will
Finally, a solution for parents who don't want their kids to grow up: just knit new kids. When Marieke Voorsluijs's sons began reaching puberty, they stopped wanting to cuddle with her. Being a textile designer, she did what came natural: created a new son out of yarn who would cuddle endlessly. See also: 15 great achievements in knitting Of course, the … [Link]
Mashable » The Internet has lost it over these color-changing 'Mermaid Pillows'
Interior design has never been so magical Dallas-based consumer reporter and Fox 4 News anchor Steve Noviello recently came across pillows in a Nebraska Furniture Mart that defy the laws of physics and are just really, really fun. Noviello posted a livestream video to his Facebook account of the "mermaid pillows," showing how the sequin fabric seemingly changes color when … [Link]
Popular Science » NASA's Heavy Lift Rocket Is Plagued With Problems
NASA/MSFC Artist's concept of NASA's Space Launch System In 2010, President Obama scrapped the NASA program that would bring humans back to the moon and then Mars. The Constellation program, which began under the George W. Bush administration, was "over budget, behind schedule, and lacking in innovation," according to President Obama. So instead of Constellation we're getting the Space Launch … [Link]
Mashable » Tiny toddler exercises to impress a girl
Pint-sized Brody Lee Smith wants men everywhere to know that getting buff will earn you positive attention from girls, particularly those that are rude to you all day. He just wants to work hard to "be stronger than that big guy," which is an excellent message to send to toddler underdogs everywhere. Alpacas in costumes make life worth living Dude … [Link]
Mashable » 'Pocket Mortys' is the demented hybrid of Pokémon and 'Rick and Morty'
Only Rick and Morty could reveal how twisted Pokémon games truly are. In Pokémon titles, you battle your beloved pets for fame and glory. In Pocket Mortys, you do the same — but with your grandson and his myriad of other-dimensional selves standing in for pocket monsters. 
In a move that will remind some of certain 'Pokemon' games, your Ricks follow … [Link]
Mashable » Zulily had the best response for customer who tried to return a winter coat
Some people would rather have a root canal before contacting customer service, which is why it's so refreshing when you actually have a positive experience. Kelly Blue Kinkel ordered a new winter coat from the discount online retailer Zulily several weeks ago, only to discover that the material wouldn't be suitable for wearing around her two dogs. Apparently, their coarse hair … [Link]
Slashdot » Stallman's Legacy Halts At Hardware
szczys writes: To say Richard Stallman had a profound effect on free software is not a bold enough statement. The power of the GPL, and his advocacy for software freedom have changed the world. But there is one frontier that has yet to hear this gospel. These days, no hardware is an island. Almost every type of electronics we use … [Link]
Mashable » Deadly avalanche in French Alps sweeps away high school students, teacher
A dozen people, including a group of French high school students and their teacher, were swept away by an avalanche in the Vénosc ski resort in the Isere area of the French Alps on Wednesday, according to multiple French news reports. Two of the students are dead and at least one other person, believed to be the teacher, was seriously … [Link]
Mashable » The 2016 Puppy Bowl lineup scores a touchdown in cuteness
America’s finest sporting event is upon us: the 2016 Puppy Bowl. On Super Bowl Sunday, airing the same time as the big game, puppies will flood your TV with wagging tails and slobbering kisses. See also: Puppy Bowl gets virtual reality treatment on Animal Planet This year's roster features puppies from 44 animal shelters and rescue organizations located across the United … [Link]
Mashable » Administrator cancels school with a little help from Adele
Adele, a.k.a. the queen reviving near obsolete forms of communication, has certainly sparked a creativity deep within our souls "Hello" has inspired a multitude of covers, conversations with exes and social experiments, but more recently it’s been used to announce one of the most magical occurrences in the world: a school snow day. See also: GoPro captures a dog's version of … [Link]
Mashable » Netflix CEO Reed Hastings commits $100 million to education fund
Reed Hastings has already made it easier for millions to access entertainment. Now he wants to do the same for education Hastings, the CEO and cofounder of Netflix, announced in a Facebook post Tuesday that he is launching a $100 million fund to back efforts that connect children with better educational experiences. 
The Hastings Fund, as the new venture is called, kicked … [Link]
Mashable » British teenager creates robot lawyer to help people with their legal queries
Remember the 18-year-old who created that awesome website last summer to help people appeal unfair parking tickets? Well he's back, and this time he's gone one step further and actually created a robot lawyer to help the public deal with a whole range of different legal issues. See also: British man responds to speeding ticket in the cutest way possible "Immediately … [Link]
Mashable » This guy is trolling a British store by making sweary Nutella jars
Personalised gifts are something of a minefield. On the one hand they're a charming way of allowing customers to buy creative presents that contain a special message for the intended recipient; on the other, they're perfect fodder for trolling. See also: Man complains about crayfish wrap, epic 3-hour rap battle ensues When Irish writer Seamas O'Reilly noticed that London department store … [Link]
Mashable » PewDiePie, Maker Studios launch new network, Revelmode
LOS ANGELES — Maker Studios is teaming up with its star YouTube creator Felix Kjellberg, a.k.a. PewDiePie, to create a new network. Revelmode, which will focus on content, community and charity, will include a roster of hand picked talent whose "voice and aesthetic" align with the brand, which is driven by Kjellberg's own experiences and ideas Together we will create content, … [Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » A GoPro Inside a Washing Mashine Spinning at 1200 RPM [Video]
From zfeydo: Tossed the Hero 3 inside a washer at work, it was only a demo cycle that lasted a few minutes and peaked out at 1200 rpm. [zfeydo] The post A GoPro Inside a Washing Mashine Spinning at 1200 RPM [Video] appeared first on Geeks are Sexy Technology News. [Link]
New Scientist – News » Your gut’s trick for controlling the bacteria that live in it
How do our bodies stop gut bacteria from taking over? The first evidence shows our cells send small molecules in to interfere with their genes
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New Scientist – News » Marks of the Anthropocene: 7 signs we have made our own epoch
From nuclear weapons to intensive farming, there is overwhelming evidence that our activities will leave a lasting impact on the geological record
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New Scientist – News » Famous Wow! signal might have been from comets, not aliens
A powerful radio signal from space has puzzled astronomers for decades and led to talk of alien signals, but now there might be a more mundane explanation
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New Scientist – News » Mathematicians invent new way to slice pizza into exotic shapes
If you want to share a pizza equally but certain people don't like the toppings in the middle, there's now a slicing formula to keep everyone happy
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New Scientist – News » Philae lander fails to respond to last-ditch efforts to wake it
A signal sent to comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko received no response, suggesting the famous space lander has reached the end of its life
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New Scientist – News » MPs suggest smart drugs and nutmeg for exemption from drugs law
The UK government is attempting to outlaw legal highs, but MPs are proposing an ever-lengthening list of psychoactive chemicals that could be exempted
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New Scientist – News » Peterborough Pompeii rises from the ashes after 3000 years
The first excavations of an amazingly well-preserved archaeological site offer an unprecedented glimpse into Bronze Age life in the British Isles
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New Scientist – News » New rumours that gravitational waves have finally been detected
Cosmologist Lawrence Krauss at Arizona State University says rumours that the Advanced LIGO detector has picked up a signal have now been confirmed
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New Scientist – News » US and UK update recommendations on sugar and alcohol
Added sugar should make up no more than 10 per cent of a person's daily calorie intake, according to the latest five-year update of the US's dietary guidelines
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New Scientist – News » 60 Seconds
Brain training fail, mysterious old stone tools found in Indonesia, bird flu reaches the UK and more
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New Scientist – News » Dinosaurs took part in building competitions to attract females
Physical evidence that dinosaurs put on showy displays to attract mates has been discovered for the first time
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New Scientist – News » Impulsive people may have less free will than the rest of us
A twist on a classic free will experiment suggests that impulsive people have less time to veto their own actions once the decision to act has been made
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New Scientist – News » The firms who will beat Google to get us into self-driving cars
The world's biggest car companies are now taking autonomous cars seriously – and that spells bad news for Google's hopes of leading the way
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New Scientist – News » One Per Cent
Touching VR Virtual reality typically plays to our eyes and ears. Now our sense of touch is spoken for too with Teslasuit, a full-body outfit that transmits sensation from virtual reality to the skin. The suit, which can be pre-ordered through a Kickstarter pledge of £1799, has 52 different points of stimulation. “If I wasn’t […]
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New Scientist – News » Iceman Ötzi may have had stomach ache when he was murdered
DNA analysis of the famous mummy has revealed a gut bug linked to inflammation, which could have blighted his last days
[Link]
New Scientist – News » Star clusters could host long-lived technological civilisations
We've been too quick to dismiss globular clusters of old stars as hosts of life. Old, interstellar extraterrestrials could exist there
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New Scientist – News » ‘Locked-in’ people show signs of awareness with maths puzzles
Doctors found that two people thought to be in a vegetative state are able to add and subtract, meaning they may be conscious but 'locked-in' and unable to move
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New Scientist – News » First ever pictures of single proteins thanks to graphene sheet
Microscope slides of ultra-thin carbon have allowed individual protein molecules to be imaged, which could one day help treat diseases like Alzheimer's
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New Scientist – News » Sound of your own voice may help you understand your emotions
We know bodily signals such as heartbeat play an active role in shaping our thoughts and emotions. Now it seems our voices have similar powers
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New Scientist – News » Moonlight helps plankton escape predators during Arctic winters
It may be dark for months at a time close to the poles, but tiny zooplankton still commute to deeper water every day to avoid getting eaten
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Mashable » 'Hairspray' will be NBC's next live musical
Welcome to the '60s, NBC. NBC chairman Bob Greenblatt confirmed today at the Television Critics Association that the network's next live musical will be Hairspray, a Broadway smash based on John Waters' 1988 film. It will be executive produced by Craig Zadan and Neil Meron, who have handled all of NBC's recent live musicals, including last month's highly successful The Wiz … [Link]
Popular Science » Tiny Motors Could Help Slower Sperm Swim To Egg
Mariana Medina-Sánchez et al, 2015, Nano Letters Spermbot A sperm being moved towards an egg with a spiral-shaped bot, visible here around the sperm's tail. For the millions of American couples that struggle each year to conceive a child, most procedures, such as in vitro fertilization and artificial insemination, have a relatively low success rate. Male fertility issues contribute to … [Link]
Mashable » 'SkiFree' comes to glorious, bloody life in this short horror film
Skiing isn't for the faint of heart, as any fan of SkiFree will tell you. The 25-year-old Windows pack-in game had a special surprise for any players who made it past the 2000-meter mark of its endless downhill slope: a homicidal Abominable Snow Monster, built to tear a slow skier to pieces. It looks goofy, but it's a terror. Just ask … [Link]
Mashable » Powerball odds? Slim. Pogo-stick accident? More likely.
The winner of this Wednesday's Powerball drawing is poised to collect a staggering $1.3 billion (before taxes). But with the discouraging odds of 1 in 292.2 million, it's extremely unlikely that you'll find yourself with the winning ticket. In fact, you're more likely to die from a vending-machine-related accident than to draw the lucky number. (The odds of dying from a … [Link]
Mashable » Saoirse Ronan teaches Stephen Colbert to pronounce names like 'Saoirse Ronan'
Stephen Colbert can do a decent Irish brogue — but he could still use some pointers from a true Irish lass Saoirse Ronan, Golden Globe-nominated star of the drama Brooklyn, knows what it's like to hear her name butchered by strangers — and Dennis Quaid. So, in an effort to help out the host, Ronan offered him a crash course … [Link]
Mashable » Joy and pain intermingle outside David Bowie musical 'Lazarus'
This way or no wayYou know, I’ll be freeJust like that bluebirdNow ain’t that just like me Even as he was dying, David Bowie left the world with indelible art. And right now, nowhere is that more apparent than a small theater in Manhattan's East Village, where Lazarus — written by Bowie and Enda Walsh — tells the story of an … [Link]
Mashable » California gas leak is emitting 4.5 million cars' worth of pollution every day
An ongoing natural gas leak at a storage facility in Aliso Canyon, California, has poured so much methane gas into the atmosphere since the leak began on Oct. 23, 2015, that it now comprises 2% of the entire country's annual methane emissions, according to figures from the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF). This figure is expected to rise, given that the leak … [Link]
Mashable » Slick earbuds will let Coachella attendees experience the festival in a brand new way
Attendees at this year's Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival will have the ability to experience the festival in a whole new way, thanks to some cutting-edge technology. Goldenvoice — the people behind Coachella — are partnering Silicon Valley with Silicon Valley startup Doppler Labs to bring the Here Active Listening System to the masses. Here — which raised more than … [Link]
Mashable » Man with Sir Mix-a-Lot’s old phone number keeps getting raunchy texts
The law student who ended up with Sir Mix-a-Lot’s old phone number discovered that “Baby Got Back” was the theme of his next several messages. See also: Baby Got Bassoon: Sir Mix-A-Lot Performs With Seattle Symphony Orchestra As the Seattle Times writes, law student Jonathan Nichols chose a new, local number in order to help with his job search. Soon afterward, … [Link]
Mashable » The 'Friends' cast is reuniting to honor a legendary TV director on NBC
The Friends cast is coming back to NBC. But don't get too excited: They won't be playing their old characters Along with casts from several other classic NBC shows, the Friends are reuniting in February for a special that will play tribute to legendary TV director James Burrows. See also: 'Force Awakens' star Adam Driver channels emo Kylo Ren in 'SNL' … [Link]
Slashdot » Open Salaries: the Good, the Bad and the Awkward
gollum123 writes: More employers, from Whole Foods Market, with 91,000 employees, to smaller companies such as SumAll and Squaremouth, are opening up companywide salary information to all employees. They generally don't disclose it to the public—but one company, Buffer, posts all employees' salaries on its website. The idea of open pay is to get pay and performance problems out on … [Link]
Mashable » Boeing imagines the airplane cabin as a giant LED screen
At a time when it seems most new airplane designs are focused on cramming more people onboard, Boeing has a refreshing concept that could make aviation more luxurious. In a video showing the concept, the aircraft manufacturer presents a modern cabin featuring color-changing accent lighting and projections on the ceiling and walls. See also: The ultimate window seat is a glass … [Link]
Mashable » Travelers rank their smartphones as more important than pretty much everything
What is the one thing you can't travel without? If you're like a majority of travelers, you might be reading this story on it. A study from Expedia found travelers worldwide consider their smartphone more vital to carry than basics like a toothbrush or even a driver's license. See also: The suitcase of the future will follow you around like a … [Link]
Mashable » Apple CEO Tim Cook slams White House again for not supporting unbreakable encryption
Apple CEO Tim Cook is still angry the Obama administration hasn't taken a firm stance on unbreakable encryption. Cook reportedly told White House officials last week they should "come out and say 'no backdoors'" during a recent meeting regarding counterterrorism issues held in San Jose, according to The Intercept. Representatives from major technology companies including Microsoft, Facebook, Google and Twitter also … [Link]
Mashable » The new normal: Twitter stock hits new low again and again
Started from the top, now we're here After soaring above $70 a share in its first weeks as a public company, Twitter stock fell below $20 a share for the first time on Friday. By Wednesday, the stock had fallen below $19 for the first time and was still dipping See also: Tech FANGs — Facebook, Apple, Netflix and Google — … [Link]
Mashable » Norwegian gentleman is having a very dapper morning
Trym Nordgaard reads a book and sips his tea, all while effortlessly gliding through the icy snow in the most luxurious of robes. Smooth af. This guy is clearly living in his own classy gangster's paradise, especially with that nub of a ponytail. 'Force Awakens' star Adam Driver channels emo Kylo Ren in 'SNL' promo World's cutest little hockey goalie … [Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » Employer Snooping On Staff Emails May Be Legal
Employers in 47 European countries may have the right to read personal messages sent by staff using a work computer. That’s the result of a court ruling concluding a case that ran for nine years. The case involved a Romanian who was fired in 2007. His employer had told him to set up a Yahoo Messenger account to respond to … [Link]
Mashable » David Bowie pulled no punches calling out MTV for ignoring black artists in 1983
Since news of David Bowie's death emerged on Sunday, there has been international appreciation for the singer's various contributions to music and society. One of his old interviews that's resurfaced is this 1983 video. In the clip, Bowie asks presenter Mark Goodman why MTV does not showcase many black artists. "It occurred to me, having watched MTV over the last … [Link]
Slashdot » GNOME Settings Area Getting a Refurbishment
jones_supa writes: Allan Day has written a blog post today about some of the improvements that are being worked on for GNOME's settings area. The new GNOME Settings area is working toward a model that uses a list sidebar for navigation. The window is now resizable, and overall should be a nice upgrade. The new GNOME settings area certainly bears … [Link]
Mashable » #InternetABook gives classic literature the modern remake you didn't know it needed
Sorry, Tolkein: Elvish is out, and Internet lingo is in.* For @Midnight's latest round of #HashtagWars, the show hosted a literary challenge: #InternetABook. The game is simple — give books a modern twist by adding Internet references to their titles For the record, we would 100% read some of these results. "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Instagram?" Yes, please! See … [Link]
Mashable » This Bronx church choir's emotional 'thank you' will make you tear up
The members of Bronx-based New Day Church's New Day Praise Choir have a story that's beautiful as the music they make, and at least one amazing thing to be thankful for — each other Making it in New York is a challenge, and this group of professional singers and actors has provided each other with shoulders to lean on through … [Link]
Mashable » Oregon militants want you to stop sending them dildos
The armed militants at the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge headquarters in Burns, Oregon, have a request: Stop mailing them dildos. See also: These are the armed militants occupying a federal building in Oregon In a Facebook video posted Monday, Jon Ritzheimer, an ex-marine who is involved in the standoff, complained about receiving “an enormous dildo” and a bag of penis-shaped candies, … [Link]
Mashable » What it's like to be a VR porn star — and other CES takeaways
We need to debrief after everything we saw at CES 2016. See also: The best tech of CES 2016 On this episode of MashTalk, we recap all the noteworthy things we saw at CES 2016, including tech-savvy cars, LG's rollable display, Samsung's smart fridge and our hands-on experience (sorry) with VR porn Listen to the episode on iTunes or on … [Link]
Mashable » Jewish leader in France says to avoid wearing yarmulke after machete attack
A leading Jewish authority in Marseille, in southern France, asked fellow Jews on Tuesday to refrain from wearing their traditional skull cap to stay safe after a machete-wielding teen attacked a Jewish teacher. Zvi Ammar, head of the Israelite Consistory of Marseille, said he is asking Jews to go without the kippa "until better days." His call came a day after … [Link]
Mashable » 'Modern Family' star Ariel Winter calls out Vine star Nash Grier for homophobic slurs
LOS ANGELES — When "#favnashvid" was trending on Twitter earlier this week — a tribute to Vine star Nash Grier — Modern Family's Ariel Winter was not amused. The actress responded sarcastically to the hashtag on Twitter by referencing a video from 2014 in which Grier yelled a homophobic slur #FavNashVid that one time when he was just super homophobic and … [Link]
Mashable » Officer fatally shoots 12-year-old girl while trying to evict her family
A Pennsylvania police officer shot and killed a 12-year-old girl at her house on Monday when the bullet he fired at the girl's dad passed through the man's arm and hit the girl, who had been standing behind him The officer had been trying to serve the family an eviction notice when Donald Meyer, the girl's father, allegedly aimed a rifle … [Link]
ProgrammableWeb.com » Unified Inbox Aims to Simplify Communications with Launch of UnificationEngine
Unified Inbox, a global Unified Communications as a Service (UCaaS) company, has launched UnificationEngine, a platform that makes it possible for developers to integrate multiple communication channels using a single API. UnificationEngine features a collection of pre-built connectors that allow developers to quickly add specific communication services such as Email, Facebook, Twitter, and Weibo to applications.
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New Scientist – News » Autonomous cars only ease traffic when paired with smart lights
Self-driving cars won't solve traffic alone. We'll need to replace the traffic lights too
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Mashable » Why the term 'fast food' is dying
You might hear "Fresh casual" more often than "Would you like sweet and sour sauce or ketchup," these days, but don't be fooled Fast food isn't going anywhere. It's just being repackaged because the term "fast food" has become most unpopular "Fast food" becoming a dirty termChipotle says it's "fast casual"Shake Shack:"fine casual"Arby's: "fast crafted" https://t.co/vIb2Aodhej — Candice Choi (@candicechoi) January … [Link]
Mashable » There could be more music from 'Blackstar' we haven't heard yet
LONDON — A batch of unheard David Bowie songs recorded during the sessions for his final album, Blackstar, could be released later this year. Five songs were laid onto tape, according to the L.A. Times, and could make part of a deluxe edition in months to come. "There are five more songs from these sessions that have yet to be released," … [Link]
Slashdot » The BBC Announces Robot Wars' Return To TV
Blacklaw writes: The BBC has announced that Robot Wars, the classic metal-mashing amateur robotics competition, is returning for a new series. They are building an all-new battle arena — following the sale of the original for scrap in 2005. "The new series includes a raft of technological advances since the show first aired over a decade ago, and viewers can … [Link]
Mashable » New York City becomes a violent playground in 'The Division'
New York City is frequently a focus of post-apocalypse fiction, but The Division sure makes the city's festering urban hellscape of death and disease look pretty. This new trailer highlights the journey that players embark upon as they fight their way through the broken streets. You're out to retake New York in the wake of an infectious disease that has wiped out … [Link]
Popular Science » What You Need To Know About Zika Virus
CDC via Wikimedia Commons Aedes aegypti mosquito A bite from the wrong Aedes aegypti mosquito can give a person dengue, yellow fever, chikungunya, or Zika. Recently, a new viral outbreak in South America has been getting some attention. It’s called the Zika virus, and it’s spread throughout the continent over the past two years. While scientists work to understand just … [Link]
Mashable » 'Force Awakens' star Adam Driver channels emo Kylo Ren in 'SNL' promo
Don't touch Kylo Ren's fries. In a new promo for Saturday Night Live, Adam Driver reprises his evil Star Wars: The Force Awakens character when Kate McKinnon tries to steal the last french fry on his plate He also gets super emo about filming the promo in a diner, instead of a studio where SNL promos usually take placeEmo Kylo … [Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » Thor Redecorating [Comic]
[Source: Nebezial on Deviantart] The post Thor Redecorating [Comic] appeared first on Geeks are Sexy Technology News. [Link]
Mashable » You think you know the 'Gilligan's Island' theme, but do you?
It's a classic tale: Gilligan, the Skipper, the Professor, Mary Ann … the rest We've heard the song a million times, but what if we stripped the Gilligan's Island theme away from the title sequence? What's left? Awesomeness, that's what Subscribe to Mashable Watercooler for new episodes of Dub Actually every Wednesday. World's cutest little hockey goalie busts an all-star … [Link]
Mashable » Adorable 'Star Wars' illustrations cast characters in whole new light
LONDON — There's a very sweet illustration doing the rounds this week, of Princess Leia from Star Wars affectionately kissing Carl Fredricksen from Up. See also: 'Star Wars' never looked cuter than reimagined as 'Calvin and Hobbes' characters Carrie Fisher, who plays Leia in the movies, retweeted the image Tuesday, instantly winning it thousands of retweets and likes. @carrieffisher pic.twitter.com/nWAdsViYcj — … [Link]
Mashable » Infamous eight-hour bus driving game 'Desert Bus' is coming to VR
Imagine driving through the desert for eight hours in a bus with a misaligned tire that causes it to constantly pull right. You earn a point for each completed trip, but you lose all your points if you crash. That's Desert Bus, an infamously awful video game that, over the past nine years, has raised $3.1 million for the Child's Play charity. … [Link]
Mashable » David Bowie, Patti Smith and 9 more artists who inspired 'City on Fire'
Garth Risk Hallberg's novel City on Fire follows a wide cast of narrators — punks, heirs, detectives, journalists, artists — through New York City in the '70s. But there's another character featured heavily in the book: music As characters navigate the '70s punk scene, music both drives the book's protagonists and enriches the world of City on Fire — sometimes literally … [Link]
Mashable » Lozen: The badass warrior woman you've probably never heard of
Video: Vicky Leta, Andrea Romano, Alisa Stern Try as you might, you probably won't find Lozen's story in your history books. Lozen's incredible skills and eventful, tragic life earned her the nickname the "Apache Joan of Arc." This Native American warrior was a Chihenne Chiricahua Apache medicine woman, a skilled fighter and strategist on the battlefield, the sister of a … [Link]
Mashable » World's cutest little hockey goalie busts an all-star move
Dance like no one is watching — or least until the coach calls you in for the next period. This adorable pint-sized hockey goalie enjoyed his game break to the fullest and grooviest. Watch as he keeps it loose in the hips while sacrificing nothing in the arm movement We can only assume this his own little way to keep … [Link]
Mashable » Madonna pays tribute to David Bowie with 'Rebel Rebel' cover
Madonna paid tribute to the late David Bowie while performing a stadium show in Houston, Texas on Jan. 12 Before launching into a performance of "Rebel, Rebel," Madonna made a short speech about the artist, calling him the man who "inspired my career." "He was one of the geniuses in the music industry, one of the greatest singer/songwriters of the … [Link]
Mashable » Canada's plan to lure visitors and new citizens: Free national parks
Canada wants to be the destination of nature lovers in 2017 Parks Canada will waive entry fees at the more than 40 national parks around the country, and they're throwing in a bonus for people who become Canadian citizens: a bonus free year of admission to the parks. See also: 'You are home': Canada's Justin Trudeau welcomes Syrian refugees The opening … [Link]
Slashdot » EFF: Cisco Shouldn't Get Off the Hook For Aiding Torture In China
itwbennett writes: In a lawsuit in Northern California that was dismissed in 2014, Falun Gong practitioners alleged that Cisco Systems built a security system, dubbed "Golden Shield," for the Chinese government knowing it would be used to track and persecute members of the religious minority. That case is being appealed, and on Monday the EFF, Privacy International and free-speech group … [Link]
Mashable » I'm a dude and I wore makeup every day this week
LONDON — When I decided to finally start wearing makeup, I didn't know how life changing it could be.I'm not opposed to it by any means. It's mainly the hassle of waking up earlier that turns me off. I only groom only when absolutely necessary (i.e. when nose hairs start growing wild, or facial hair starts resembling, uh, pubes).Still, I was … [Link]
Mashable » Even David Bowie's death was a beautiful, cryptic work of purposeful art
LOS ANGELES —We still don't know exactly what type of cancer took David Bowie. The absence of that last detail — fragile but still intact since Sunday — preserves a bit of mystery, of the belief that Bowie was somehow extra-mortal. The man who made dazzling, defiant art of everything he did left a white space on his final work. Can … [Link]
Mashable » Magician reveals the tiny secret to making a coin disappear
So, that's how they do it. Though most magicians prefer not to share the secrets of their trade, T R Stillson of @stillsonmagic revealed the teeny detail we're sure you've missed in the past See also: Magician makes dog treats disappear; dogs confused Ever wonder how a Magician makes a coin disappear? Well watch closely and you'll see exactly how it's … [Link]
Mashable » This stylish cable bracelet lets you charge your phone on the go (sort of)
Mashable fashion reporter Noelle Sciacca tests Rebecca Minkoff's cable bracelet to see how it ranks in the world of wearable tech. Read more…More about Fashion, Iphone, New York City, Rebecca Minkoff, and New York Public Library [Link]
New Scientist – News » Global watchdog needed to spot the next Ebola-like outbreak
A surveillance group and more funding for vaccines could help us move quicker and save lives the next time a potential pandemic emerges
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Mashable » George Clooney and Julia Roberts are under attack in 'Money Monster' trailer
America's biggest stars are in trouble In this new trailer for Money Monster — a film directed by Jodie Foster — George Clooney plays Lee Gates, a Wall Street whiz and TV personality who gets taken hostage live on his show by an angry investor (Jack O'Connell). Julia Roberts plays the show's producer, desperate to find a way to save … [Link]
Mashable » Turkey detains 3 Russians after deadly bombing in Istanbul
Turkish police detained 13 suspected Islamic State militants on Wednesday, including three Russian nationals, in raids following a suicide bomb attack in Istanbul that killed 10 tourists, according to the Doğan news agency Police in the Mediterranean city of Antalya also seized documents and CDs during a search of where the suspects were found, the agency said. It was not immediately … [Link]
Mashable » LG to launch 'playful' flagship phone in February
Still wrapping your head around CES? Sorry, no time for that: The Mobile World Congress in Barcelona starts in late February, and announcements are already trickling in The first major company to go official with their announcement was LG, which started sending out invites to a Feb. 21 event See also: Watch this 18-inch LG display roll up and point to … [Link]
Mashable » Stephen Colbert shares the secret to winning the Powerball jackpot
Stephen Colbert is trustworthy and wealthy, so he is definitely the best person to help you win the record $1.5 billion Powerball jackpot While his tips may seem a bit simple, don't disregard them So go on, buy more lotto tickets. No, even more! So many that you go bankrupt and can't afford the Internet, so you'll never know who … [Link]
Slashdot » Police Say They Can Crack BlackBerry PGP Encrypted Email
schwit1 writes: Police in two countries have claimed that they can read encrypted data from BlackBerry devices that are being marketed as having "military-grade security." The story originally broke when Dutch website Misdaadnieuws (Crime News) published documents from the Netherlands Forensic Institute (NFI), a Dutch law enforcement agency, stating that police were able to access deleted messages and read encrypted … [Link]
Mashable » 1968: Photos of Johnny Cash's legendary Folsom Prison performance
Image: Dan Poush/APIn 1953, Johnny Cash watched the Crane Wilbur film Inside the Walls of Folsom Prison and was inspired to write a song from the perspective of the incarcerated. The result was "Folsom Prison Blues," one of his most popular songs.The song was a hit among inmates, with Cash receiving numerous letters begging him to come perform at various prisons. Cash … [Link]
Mashable » Yuck, Waffle House employees fired for washing their hair in the kitchen
FORREST CITY, Ark. — Waffle House says it has fired two employees at one of its Arkansas restaurants after video emerged showing a worker dipping her hair into a pot of water in the restaurant's kitchen. Antonio Robinson tells Memphis, Tennessee, television station WREG (http://bit.ly/1UNNfmM ) that his friend found hair in his food when they dined last week at a … [Link]
Mashable » Obama's final State of the Union was basically an hour-long subtweet
WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama's White House spent the days leading up to his final State of the Union address rolling out pushes on Snapchat and Facebook. The White House released the text of the speech first on Medium, and Obama will sit for interviews with three YouTube stars. But in delivering his final speech, it seems as though Obama has … [Link]
Mashable » Lego U-turns on using bricks for political art after clash with Ai Weiwei
Lego has changed its policy around bulk sales, months after the company said it wouldn't fill an order placed by the Chinese dissident artist Ai Weiwei Ai wrote in a post on Instagram in October that Lego refused his bulk brick order because he was planning to use the materials for a political work of art. See also: People are donating … [Link]
Mashable » Jacob Tremblay met your dream date Oscar Isaac at the Golden Globes
Like most cool kids, Jacob Tremblay — the 9-year-old star of RoomStar Wars fan On Tuesday night's Jimmy Kimmel Live, the young actor described meeting Poe Dameron — better known as your crush Oscar Isaac — at the 2016 Golden Globes. The two trending actors touched on all the necessary topics, including fake light sabers and seeing one's face printed … [Link]
Slashdot » Teen Hacks US Intelligence Chief's Personal Accounts
An anonymous reader writes: The U.S. Director of National Intelligence, James Clapper, has now joined the CIA's John Brennan in having his personal online accounts hacked. A teenage hacker known as 'Cracka' has claimed responsibility for the hack, reporting that he had infiltrated Clapper's home telephone, online accounts and his personal email, as well as his wife's Yahoo account. Cracka … [Link]
New Scientist – News » Shark virgin births seen in two generations for the first time
Two surprising new findings are overturning everything we knew about parthenogenesis, suggesting virgin births could be far more common than we thought
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Mashable » 'Fifty Shades' scores six Golden Raspberry noms, including Worst Picture
After weeks of waiting, the year's most important film awards presentation is almost here We're talking, of course, about the 36th Annual Golden Raspberry Awards — a yearly event dedicated to torching the movie industry's most hilariously awful (and just plain awful) products. You probably won't be surprised to learn that this year's crop of nominees features several citations for Universal's … [Link]
Mashable » I partied with a top Obama hater before the State of the Union
WASHINGTON — Washington's good at mixing booze and work — and the State of the Union is no exception. Lawmakers frequently have a few before the speech, while many staffers and lobbyists turn the night into a drinking game. So why not get a bit of it on camera, and throw back some bourbon with one of President Obama's biggest haters? Grover … [Link]
Mashable » Giant creatures fill the skies for India's kite festival, and they're pretty creepy
Kite enthusiasts from around the world have gathered in India for Ahmedabad's International Kite Festival this week. Organizers for Gujarat's tourism department say 29 different countries are represented at the four-day event. Sea creatures, insects and dinosaurs filled the skies. Read more…More about India, Video, Videos, Lifestyle, and Travel Leisure [Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » Deal of the Day: Save BIG on “Marvel Cinematic Universe: Phase Two” and “The Collected Works of Hayao Miyazaki”
For today’s edition of Deal of the Day, Amazon offers some big savings on two beautiful box sets that fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and Studio Ghibli will definitely want to put their hands on! –Marvel Cinematic Universe: Phase Two – $249.99 $179.99 –The Collected Works of Hayao Miyazaki – $249.99 $184.99 
The post Deal of the Day: Save … [Link]
Mashable » FIFA fires Sepp Blatter's right-hand man … for the second time
FIFA has fired Jerome Valcke for the second time, cutting ties with the secretary general four months after he was suspended while under investigation for wrongdoing at the scandal-scarred governing body. FIFA announced Wednesday that its emergency committee, consisting of the heads of the regional confederations, decided to dismiss Sepp Blatter's top aide over the weekend. See also: John Oliver rips … [Link]
Slashdot » US Modernizes Nuclear Arsenal With Smaller, Precision-Guided Atomic Weapons
HughPickens.com writes: The NY Times reports that the Pentagon has been developing the B61 Model 12, the nation's first precision-guided atom bomb. Adapted from an older weapon, the Model 12 was designed with problems like North Korea in mind: Its computer brain and four maneuverable fins let it zero in on deeply buried targets like testing tunnels and weapon sites … [Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » A Game of Battleship That Uses The Periodic Table of Elements
Karyn from teachbesideme.com homeschools 4 children, and to help them learn The Periodic Table of Elements, she built a custom Battleship game board that uses 4 laminated copies of the table to lay the ships upon using dry-erase markers. The kids can then mark where they want to place their ships by circling rows of 2, 3, 4, and 5 … [Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » Dry Ice Screams Like a Million Souls Being Tortured in Hell [Video]
Warning: Loud. [Mrjhwal] The post Dry Ice Screams Like a Million Souls Being Tortured in Hell [Video] appeared first on Geeks are Sexy Technology News. [Link]
Mashable » 5 things (besides willpower) that'll help you successfully make life changes
Falling short of achieving the goals you set for your business, health or relationships? Feel weak and ineffective because you can’t seem to find the willpower to overcome bad habits? Well, that's because it’s not only about willpower. At least that’s what the research says that underpins the New York Times business bestseller Change Anything: The New Science of Personal Success. … [Link]
Mashable » These people waited in line for hours to get their hands on Powerball tickets
People waited for up to three hours on the California/Nevada border to buy Powerball tickets, since Nevada does not participate in the Powerball lottery. The jackpot is now at $1.5 billion, with the drawing on Wednesday evening. Read more…More about Us World, Us, Powerball, Standalone Video Template, and Standalone News
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Mashable » The BBC is bringing back epic robot battle show 'Robot Wars'
LONDON — Robot Wars, the drama-filled and often hilarious BBC show that saw teams of amateur robot builders create remote controlled-machines, then pit them against each other in an industrial arena of death, is coming back to our screens. A new series, promising "more robots, more battles and more science than ever before," has been commissioned. Six 60-minute episodes will be … [Link]
Mashable » Mulder and Scully hook up in Jimmy Kimmel's 'X-Files' parody
And yes, we mean the real Fox Mulder and Dana Scully On Tuesday, Gillian Anderson and David Duchovny visited Jimmy Kimmel Live to promote the long-awaited X-Files reboot, coming to FOX on Jan. 24. In a parody that sends Mulder and Scully to an abandoned government lab in New Mexico, the pair encounters FBI Agent Keith (played by Kimmel), who's … [Link]
Mashable » 'Irresponsible' corset ad banned for promoting unhealthy body image
LONDON — A television ad showing women using a corset to make their waists appear "sexy" and "tiny" has been banned by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) in Britain after officials deemed it "irresponsible". The Shop Channel aired the teleshopping ad for the Velform Miniwaist — a waist compression garment — which showed various women squeezing their waists, along with footage … [Link]
Mashable » Ask Siri to beatbox for you right now. Seriously, do it.
Apple’s possibly-sentient personal assistant Siri can do a lot of things, but did you know she can beatbox? It's simple to try, provided you have an iPhone or an iPad: Just ask "Siri, can you beatbox for me?" See also: Spitting sick beats is genetic in father-daughter beatbox battle The trick is not exactly new; it's been around at least since … [Link]
Slashdot » Consumers Expect Their Cars To Become Mini Data Centers
coondoggie writes: Many consumers expect self-driving cars to become common in the not-too-distant future — cars that diagnose problems without human intervention, cars that adapt to a particular driver's behaviors and react to its environment. Those are some of the conclusions from IBM's 'Auto 2025: A New Relationship – People and Cars' research involving 16,000 global consumers who were asked … [Link]
Mashable » This Michael Jackson 'Thriller' fiddle cover will get your toes tapping
We've all heard covers of Michael Jackson's "Thriller", but you probably haven't heard a version like the one this guy created — using only his fiddle and an acapella app Niall Murphy, from Northern Ireland has successfully modernised the memorable track in this short video The talented musician — who wears Jackson's trademark white glove — fills the track with … [Link]
Mashable » Weird facts drawn in cute style to tickle your brain
Artist Mike Lowery may work mostly for kids (which is to say, he draws books for them), but he's become popular for taking his drawings to Instagram to teach random facts to a wider audience. See also: Tumblr Art Project Gives Everyday People Monster Twins Lowery is a children's book illustrator and self-described constant sketchbooker who posts a regular series of … [Link]
Mashable » Google cuts the price of Nexus 5X to $349
If the $379 price tag on Google's Nexus 5X smartphone was just a little too high for you, you're in luck: The starting price of the device has been reduced to $349 The phone, which is unlocked and contract-free, was at times available at an even lower price, but the difference is that this is a permanent reduction, making this a … [Link]
Mashable » Woman finds dead baby weasel in her supermarket salad
LONDON — A nurse from Bradford in Yorkshire discovered some surprise protein in her supermarket salad recently, finding a dead weasel nestled among the lettuce leaves and shredded carrot. Rifat Asghar was tucking into the Asda takeaway lunch when one of her colleagues noticed a "furry lump" among the sweetcorn and onion. Closer inspection revealed a leg, a tail and an … [Link]
Mashable » Confusion over David Bowie's death creates uncomfortable moment on reality TV show
LONDON – Celebrity Big Brother contestant Tiffany Pollard, ended up in an unbearably awkward situation on Tuesday night after she wrongly assumed a fellow contestant had died. Just after Angie Bowie was told the news about her ex-husband David Bowie, who died on Sunday, the 66-year-old author left the diary room and confided in fellow housemate Tiffany. After being informed about … [Link]
New Scientist – News » Darkness visible: Lighting up the night
A new, almost radical arts festival is coming to London. Tobias Revell basks in its glow
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Popular Science » The Military Applications Of China’s CES Passenger Drone
Chinese Internet Ehang 184 The Ehang 184 debuts at CES 2016, capable of carrying 100kg of humans and cargo at 100 kph for 23 minutes (sadly no rides were offered to guests and journalists). One of the most talked about products at the 2016 Consumer Electronics Shows in Las Vegas left observers wondering whether to call it a passenger drone … [Link]
Mashable » India continues to remain young, with 41% population below the age of 20
The world's second-most populous country India continues to be overwhelmingly young, with 41% of its population below the age of 20, according to newly-released data from the 2011 Census. See also: India will be world's most populous country by 2022, U.N. projects Around 50% of India's population is in the 20-59 age group, and only 9% is above the age of … [Link]
O'Reilly News and Commentary » Four short links: 13 January 2015
Object Lessons — Bogost and Schaberg edit a series about the hidden lives of ordinary things, from advocates to attendants, heresies to shares. For anyone who cares about products. A Data Programming CS1 Course (PDF) — We have found that … [Link]
O'Reilly News and Commentary » #Ebook Deal/Day: Essential SQLAlchemy – $16.99 (Save 50%) Use code DEAL
Get "Essential SQLAlchemy" today using code DEAL and save 50%!This sale ends at 2:00 AM 2016-01-14 (PDT, GMT-8:00). [Link]
Mashable » Your boss can monitor your private chats in some cases, court rules
A new judgement from the European Court of Human Rights is sure to rustle some feathers, especially among advocates of online privacy in the workplace The court sided Tuesday with a Romanian engineer's employer, which monitored the worker's personal online communication and used his private conversations as grounds to fire him. While the ruling sounds like — and indeed, could be … [Link]
Mashable » Man with cartoon vacuum cleaner tattoo on his crotch is starting to regret it
LONDON — We all love Henry the Hoover. The little guy has long been the country's favourite vacuum cleaner, shuttling around the nation's carpets picking up dust and dirt and keeping things clean. Not sure we'd want him tattooed on our crotch though. See also: 25 beautifully understated minimalist tattoos Lewis Flint from Grimsby, Yorkshire, got a pretty large image of … [Link]
Mashable » Iran 'releases' 10 U.S. Navy sailors held in Persian Gulf
Iranian state television is reporting that all 10 U.S. sailors detained by Iran after entering its territorial waters have been released. Iran's Revolutionary Guard said the sailors were released Wednesday after it was determined that their entry was not intentional. See also: Iran seizes 2 U.S. Navy boats The nine men and one woman were being held at an Iranian base … [Link]
Mashable » GM to launch self-driving Lyft fleet in Austin, Texas
DETROIT — Turns out, the first self-driving car you will ride in won't be one you own; it'll be one you order up on your smartphone from Lyft. "The first mainstream deployment of autonomous vehicles won't be to customers but to a ride-share platform," General Motors President Dan Ammann told Mashable at the North American International Auto Show. "We're going to … [Link]
Mashable » Indian comedian Kiku Sharda arrested for imitating guru-turned-actor Gurmeet Rahim Singh
Indian comedian and television actor Kiku Sharda has been arrested for imitating self-styled spiritual leader Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, famous for his films and rock music videos, and hurting the religious sentiments of his followers See also: India's cricket captain MS Dhoni gets an arrest warrant for posing as a god on a magazine cover Sharda was arrested in Mumbai by … [Link]
Mashable » Snapchat filters have never looked so good thanks to these male models
Video: Taylor Jones LONDON — If you've ever wondered what goes on backstage during men's fashion week, then wonder no more Mashable went backstage at the Baartmans and Siegel presentation during men's fashion week in London to find out what really goes down during the final countdown before a show. See also: We asked total strangers which fashion trends they … [Link]
Slashdot » Scientists Struggle To Stay Grounded After Possible Gravitational Wave Signal
schwit1 writes with news that cosmologist Lawrence Krauss has set the scientific community abuzz by confirming a rumor floating around for the past several months that the LIGO experiment may have discovered gravitational waves. The excitement centers on a longstanding experiment known as the Advanced Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) which uses detectors in Hanford, Washington, and Livingston, Louisiana to … [Link]
Mashable » Don't let 'acqua alta' deter you from taking a winter trip to Venice
After the driest holiday period since records began, the legendary high tides returned to Venice this past weekend. Acqua alta — the high water that floods into the Venice lagoon, leaving parts of the city underwater — is a great divider. Either the idea of swimming in St. Mark’s Square (as hardy tourists do each year) is a bucket list ambition, … [Link]
Mashable » You'll never drink alone again with this South Korean robot booze buddy
The worst thing about drinking alone is… drinking alone. Now you can leave your #ForeverAlone days behind with this robotic drinking buddy aptly called Drinky. Created by South Korean inventor, Eunchan Park, this automatic drink machine will raise its glass to your every "cheers" and down the shot in one swift gulp. For more interactivity, Drinky will even flash you … [Link]
Mashable » 21 times 'Star Wars' actress Daisy Ridley's Instagram was out of this world awesome
LONDON — We all already know that Rey, the badass heroine of the Star Wars: The Force Awakens is awesome, but did you know that the actress who plays her, is just as cool? Daisy Ridley's Instagram is an excitable, bubbling mish-mash of cheery selfies, videos of her dog Muffin, and funny clips of her getting really, really hyped about Star … [Link]
Mashable » Yes, 'Between the World and Me' is a Young Adult book
Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates was by all accounts one of the best books of 2015. Besides being a #1 New York Times bestseller, the harrowing discussion of race in America won the National Book Award for Non-Fiction and was on the Best Books list for every major publication But now it has one more accolade to add … [Link]
Mashable » Australians, you can win the $1.5 billion jackpot without flying to America
If you laugh in the face of Australia's measly $70 million Lotto, this news is for you. You can now play for America's massive $US1.5 billion (that's A$2.1 billion) Powerball from Australia, meaning you'll be able to afford an extra private jet if you win the main prize. To enter such a lottery previously, you would have needed to board a … [Link]
Mashable » London gallery hosts all-women show to smash art's glass ceilings
LONDON — In 1989, the female artists collective Guerrilla Girls famously asked in a poster, "Do women have be to be naked to get into the Met. Museum?" In 2016, not a lot has changed in the art world. Women are still vastly underrepresented in all facets: from artists and museum directors to curators and permanent collections. See also: The UK's … [Link]
Mashable » Having 8 million Instagram followers has this crazy drawback
For most devout Instagrammers, having 1 million followers — let alone 8 million — sounds like a dream come true. But with great power comes a great pain, in the form of a zillion notifications you receive each time you post Don't believe us? Just check out this video by Demy De Zeeuw, whose soccer-focused account 433 has 8 million followers. … [Link]
Mashable » There's a shoe-shaped church in Taiwan to attract female worshippers
What would take us to church? More than a hit song from Hozier, according to this Taiwanese church. An enormous Cinderella-liked glass slipper church has been erected in Ocean View Park in Budai town, situated on the east coast of Taiwan, according to reports by Huanqiu.com. See also: Kick your feet up and relax in this $500,000 gold skull armchair Made … [Link]
Mashable » Spirit of Tasmania ferry breaks from moorings, crashes into Melbourne pier
UPDATE: Wednesday, Jan. 13, 10:21 p.m. AEDT: The Spirit of Tasmania has been secured and passengers and crew have disembarked. The Spirit of Tasmania, a large Australian ferry, has broken from its moorings and smashed into a Melbourne pier Passengers and crew were stranded inside the boat for an hour before the boat was secured and they could disembark from the … [Link]
Mashable » Border feds seize $35,000 in counterfeit smart wristbands
If you were hoping to nab a cheap wearable any time soon, your friendly, neighborhood, knock-off dealer's supply might have just gotten pinched. An estimated $35,000 worth of counterfeit smart wristbands from Hong Kong were seized by U.S. Customs and Border Protection in Philadelphia Jan. 4. According to a release, CBP worked with the unnamed trademark-holding company in order to determine whether the fakes were … [Link]
Mashable » Kalki Koechlin takes on the media's portrayal of women in her new video
Indian actress Kalki Koechlin's new video "The Printing Machine" tackles the media's portrayal of women, in a powerful example of performative poetry. See also: This Indian web series' gender-flipped world explains why we need feminism In the YouTube video, Koechlin recites her satirical poem on the sensationalist approach taken by news outlets and social media in reporting incidents of violence … [Link]
Slashdot » TPP Signing Ceremony To Take Place In February
Dangerous_Minds writes: New Zealand officials are hoping that the TPP signing ceremony is to take place in February in Auckland, New Zealand. According to the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, it is expected that all 12 countries are going to sign the controversial Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). Those 12 countries are Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, … [Link]
The Joy of Tech » JoT #2237: Watch yourself!
Don’t shoot the messenger! [Link]
Mashable » Deadly pregnant snake ready to lay eggs under a fridge in Australia
Checked under the fridge lately? In Australia, you can't be sure what might be living under there On example that will surely make the hairs stand on the back of your neck: A deadly and pregnant eastern brown snake hiding under a refrigerator in the Adelaide suburb of Moana. See also: A woman places ad searching for human cat to sit … [Link]
Slashdot » Algorithms Claimed To Hunt Terrorists While Protecting the Privacy of Others
An anonymous reader sends this report from Motherboard: Computer scientists at the University of Pennsylvania have developed an algorithmic framework for conducting targeted surveillance of individuals within social networks while protecting the privacy of untargeted digital bystanders. … The algorithms are based on a few basic ideas. The first is that every member of a network (a graph) comes with … [Link]
Mashable » J.J. Abrams knows Rey's last name — and definitely won't tell you
PASADENA, California — While the Internet fills to the brim with Star Wars: The Force Awakens theories one man who can put all the speculation to rest is staying mum — with little effort Master secret keeper J.J. Abrams told curious reporters Tuesday that though he's not directing the next Star Wars movie, he knows "quite a bit" about the script … [Link]
Mashable » Skype will add free group video calling to its mobile apps
Skype will soon be adding one of its most requested features. Microsoft will soon add free group video calls to Skype's iOS, Android and Windows 10 mobile apps, the company announced Tuesday. The update is expected to roll out to Skype's respective apps "over the next few weeks." See also: The 12 best iPhone apps of 2015 Once it's live, the … [Link]
Mashable » National Guard to hand out water in Flint, Michigan after contamination scare
FLINT, Michigan — Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder late Tuesday activated the National Guard to help distribute bottled water and filters in Flint as it deals with a drinking water crisis that began months ago. Snyder's executive order is intended to bolster outreach to Flint residents, whose tap water became contaminated with too much lead after it switched its drinking water supply. … [Link]
Mashable » The GOP State of the Union response is proof that even Republicans are sick of Trump
WASHINGTON — For seven years, the official Republican response to President Obama's State of the Union address was a careful recitation of Republican principles and attacks on the president. Not this time. South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley used her moment in the spotlight to issue a thinly-veiled warning to Donald Trump, attacking the billionaire Republican front-runner with rhetoric that was as … [Link]
Mashable » Supreme Court: Florida death penalty system is unconstitutional
Florida’s unique system for sentencing people to death is unconstitutional because it gives too much power to judges — and not enough to juries — to decide capital sentences, the Supreme Court ruled Tuesday. See also: Connecticut court abolishes death penalty, outlawing 11 remaining death sentences The 8-1 ruling said that the state's sentencing procedure is flawed because juries play only … [Link]
Mashable » These sleepy kids at the State of the Union were all of us
Sorry, Obama. The reviews are in, and your age-10-and-under constituents are calling your final State of the Union a "yawn." Tuesday's SOTU — President Barack Obama's final address — highlighted matters from curing cancer to immigration, but it seems these adorable audience members just wanted the president to lay out a plan for earlier bedtimes See also: Ruth Bader Ginsburg and … [Link]
Mashable » Obama's final SOTU brings out emotion and joy reminiscent of optimism around his inauguration
“Teach 'em how to say goodbye…One last time!" That lyric from Lin Manuel Miranda's Broadway masterpiece Hamilton — sung to George Washington — became somewhat of a rallying cry for supporters of President Barack Obama on one of the first stops of his farewell tour: his last State of the Union address. And though Obama is entering his last year in … [Link]
Mashable » Michelle Obama stands out in a marigold dress at the State of the Union
Marigold gets the First Lady's vote for 2016 In a sea of navy, white and red, Michelle Obama wore a vibrant yellow-orange dress to support her husband at his final State of the Union address. The wool crepe shift is a style from American designer Narciso Rodriguez a brand the first lady has supported before 
Image: SAUL LOEB/AFPBack in 2008, Obama … [Link]
Mashable » Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Obama hug it out at the SOTU
All rise for the huggable RBG Much like a child hugging their grandma before middle school graduation, President Barack Obama adorably embraced Associate Justice of the Supreme Court Ruth Bader Ginsburg before taking the podium for his eighth and final State of the Union address Tuesday night 
Image: NICHOLAS KAMM/AFPSee also: How Obama has aged since his first State of the … [Link]
Mashable » ISIS targets Turkey's tourists in latest suicide attack that kills 10
The suicide attack in the heart of Istanbul’s tourist district on Tuesday marked the latest escalation in the Islamic State's fight against Turkey. The blast, which killed 10 foreigners, was the third ISIS-linked suicide attack on Turkish soil in the last six months, but the first to take aim at tourists and the country’s cultural and economic capital. See also: Turkey … [Link]
Mashable » Obama puts Biden in 'mission control' of new push to cure cancer
WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama tasked Vice President Joe Biden to run "mission control" on a very personal mission for him: A "moonshot" to cure cancer, which killed Biden's son, Beau, earlier this year. "Last year, Vice President Biden said that with a new moonshot, America can cure cancer. Last month, he worked with this Congress to give scientists at … [Link]
Mashable » Obama touts technology as the answer to America's ills in State of the Union
From teaching kids to code to expanding access the open Internet, the tech industry played a prominent role in President Barack Obama's State of the Union address on Tuesday night. One of the key questions Obama centered his speech around: "How do we make technology work for us, and not against us — especially when it comes to solving urgent challenges … [Link]
Mashable » How two maverick designers broke GM's rules to re-invent Buick
DETROIT — Even Buick admits it: Most people under 30 have no opinion of Buick as a brand. Most carmakers would find that extremely distressing — especially one with such a long lineage. For Buick, however, it's an opportunity. The blank slate means the successful luxury brand (it outsold Audi in 2015) has a chance to reinvent itself for a whole … [Link]
Popular Science » All The Big Sci-Tech Topics In President Obama's Final State Of The Union
AP Photo/Evan Vucci, Pool President Obama delivers his final State of the Union address On January 12, 2016, President Obama delivered his seventh and final annual State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress in Washington, D.C. The president's speech was notably more concerned with sci-tech topics than in years past. President Obama gave his seventh and … [Link]
Mashable » More access, reporting pushes 'Serial' to move to biweekly episodes
Serial, the mega-popular investigative journalism podcast, is moving from weekly to biweekly episodes to accommodate reporting needs for the show's second season See also: 'Serial' Episode 4: Bergdahl's captivity, torture had him 'feeling every second' Season 2 is centered around an investigation into Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, who was held prisoner by the Taliban for five years. A U.S. special operations team … [Link]
Mashable » People hate what Ciara wore to sing the National Anthem
Ciara proves you don't have to be in the game to have the biggest fumble of the night. The Grammy Award winner performed the National Anthem at Monday's College Football Championship game but it wasn't her voice that caught fan's attention. Viewers became collectively side-tracked by one thing: her dress See also: 8 times Instagram policed women's bodies 
Image: Christian Petersen/Getty … [Link]
Mashable » What Cameron Crowe learned from David Bowie after spending six months with him
PASADENA, California — Cameron Crowe's first meeting with David Bowie was a stroke of pure luck if there ever was one He was a young writer on assignment when he first mentioned to the musicians he was profiling — friends of Bowie — that he wanted to interview the singer himself. They promised they'd relay the message See also: 10 memorable … [Link]
Slashdot » Graphene Flakes Facilitate Neuromorphic Chips
An anonymous reader writes: One of the hot areas of semiconductor research right now is the creation of so-called neuromorphic chips — processors whose transistors are networked in such a way to imitate how neurons interact. "One way of building such transistors is to construct them of lasers that rely on an encoding approach called "spiking." Depending on the input, … [Link]
Mashable » Australia's beautiful Lake Eyre comes back to life after heavy rains
The beginning of 2016 has reinvigorated areas of South Australia, with the heaviest rainfall in decades rising water levels in Lake Eyre. The normally arid lake has come back to life, with birds and other small mammals enjoying the wetland The Australian Bureau of Meteorology told Mashable Australia after the rainfall over the New Year, the Warburton River that flows into … [Link]
Mashable » This showy Chinese wedding is attracting jealous comments online
Chinese netizens are pretty used to garish shows of wealth, but this lavish wedding is still managing to raise eyebrows on Weibo. Pictures of a southern Chinese wedding are going viral on Chinese social media. The story started circulating after Bob Lam, a popular Hong Kong TV host, posted this photo of the bride with her jewellery. Lam was hired by … [Link]
Mashable » NFL owners give Rams' move to L.A. the green light, Chargers could follow
NFL owners voted Tuesday night to allow the St. Louis Rams to move to a new stadium just outside Los Angeles, and the San Diego Chargers will have an option to share the facility. See also: What NFL concussion crisis? Trump calls league 'soft' The Oakland Raiders, who also wanted to move to the area, were left out of the deal, … [Link]
Mashable » Apple Watch shipped over 50% of smartwatches in 2015, report says
Apple still won't release the sales figures for its Apple Watch, a decision that has some wondering if the wearable device might be the company's first major misstep But if a new report is to be believed, the Apple Watch is not only a success, but it's doing better than any other smartwatch on the market — at least in terms … [Link]
Mashable » Obama barely mentions guns in his final State of the Union address
WASHINGTON — President Obama has made gun control a key focus of his final years in office, and recently redoubled efforts to limit gun violence by using his executive powers to close some background check loopholes. Yet in his final State of the Union address, he plans to use the word "guns" just once. Obama's only reference to the issue that … [Link]
Mashable » Jeh Johnson is this year's State of the Union 'designated survivor'
WASHINGTON — If disaster strikes at the State of the Union, Jeh Johnson, the secretary of homeland security, could be the next president. He won't attend President Barack Obama's final State of the Union address Tuesday night, chosen as the White House's "designated survivor" this year. Johnson has been headed up the Department of Homeland Security since 2013. He previously served … [Link]
Mashable » Businessman rides a razor scooter while grinning through busy tunnel
This guy makes riding a foot scooter dangerous, but kinda cool for the first time, we'll admit. A man rode a kids' scooter down the busy Cross City Tunnel in Sydney, Australia on Tuesday, because driving a car just didn't seem to quite cut it. See also: A woman places ad searching for human cat to sit on her bed … [Link]
Mashable » Why David Bowie tried to bury his first album — and why you should give it a try
In the now-sadly-complete annals of David Bowie weirdness, there's nothing so weird as a Bowie album that, weirdly, isn't very weird at all Such is the case with the self-titled David Bowie (1967). Released two years before the singer made it big with Space Oddity, it hit record stores at the height of the hippie era, on exactly the same day … [Link]
Mashable » SpaceX uses Incubus to remind us just how awesome that Falcon 9 launch was
Amazon and Blue Origin founder Jeff Bezos might be good at trolling SpaceX founder Elon Musk, but the ecommerce king can't compare to the latter when it comes to making space look cooler than it ever has That's what Musk's SpaceX did on Tuesday when it uploaded a recap of the 2015 launch and return landing of the Falcon 9 … [Link]
Mashable » Apple's new 'Night Shift' feature for iPhones should help you sleep. Here's how it works
Using your iPhone and iPad at night is about to get a lot easier on your tired brain. That's thanks to a new feature Apple previewed Monday called Night Shift, which will roll out as part of the upcoming iOS 9.3 update. The change allows you to automate changing the color temperature of your device's display, which can ease the strain … [Link]
Mashable » This koala got its very own water sprinkler to beat the heat
When temperatures in Adelaide, South Australia, hit unbearable heights on Jan. 12, this little koala found himself stressing out — that is, until a kind stranger came along and set up his very own mini sprinkler system. Adelaide local, Steven Wiltshire, was the mastermind behind the creative cool-down method, setting it up with an alternating 10 minutes on, 10 minutes … [Link]
Mashable » Swallowing this smart nano pill could stop us from making diet mistakes
It’s not always talked about in polite company, but your body produces a lot of gases scientists know little about. A new smart pill, designed at Melbourne's RMIT University, could help us learn more and may eventually assist in customising what we eat to suit our bodies Researchers from the Centre for Advanced Electronics and Sensors have developed the pill, which … [Link]
Mashable » 'They didn't do it': Brother of 'Making a Murderer' convict drops passionate rap
Much of the uproar surrounding Netflix's popular true-crime documentary series Making a Murderer has focused on Steven Avery, the man who was convicted of murdering a woman just two years after being released from prison for a rape he didn't commit. Avery has been maintaining his innocence once again and his supporters have fervently been spreading that message online through social … [Link]
Slashdot » Verizon Accused of Helping Spammers By Routing Millions of Stolen IP Addresses
An anonymous reader writes: Spamhaus, an international non-profit organization that hunts down spammers, is accusing Verizon of indifference and facilitation of cybercrime because it failed for the past six months to take down stolen IP routes hosted on its network from where spam emails originated. Spamhaus detected over 4 million IP addresses, mainly stolen from China and Korea, and routed … [Link]
Mashable » Smash Mouth covers David Bowie song and the result is very painful
Critics call David Bowie things like "a genius," a "brilliant artist," and "one of the great figures of modern music." So, who better to pay tribute to the recently deceased iconic rockstar than the writers of such classic lyrics like, "get your game on, hey" and "put away the crack before the crack puts you away." Smash Mouth: true lyrical literati. … [Link]
Mashable » LEGO throws it back with original 1960's Batcave set
Quick, to the LEGO batcave! To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the legendary Batman series that premiered Jan. 12, 1966, LEGO has announced the release of the LEGO Batman Classic TV Series Batcave. See also: Check Out This Epic Bat Cave Made Entirely of LEGO Inspired by the legendary TV series, it’s an incredibly detailed Batcave set with more than 2,500 … [Link]
Slashdot » Microsoft Ends Support For Internet Explorer 8-10 and Windows 8
An anonymous reader writes: Microsoft today ended support for old versions of Internet Explorer, including IE8, IE9, and IE10, as well as Windows 8. For the browsers, the company has also released a final patch (KB3123303) that includes the latest cumulative security updates and an "End of Life" upgrade notification. In short, the final patch will nag Windows 7 and … [Link]
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