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.
Popular Science » You Probably Don’t Have Smartphone Pinky
Gabriel Saldana via Flickr, CC by SA 2.0 Pinky That's probably just how your pinky looks Over the past year, cell phone users have been sharing photos of some wonky pinky fingers. The pinkies are curved or at an angle from the rest of the fingers, and users claim that the shape of their hands has changed from over-using their … [Link]
Popular Science » Watch SpaceX Test-Fire Its Spaceship For Astronauts, The 'Dragon 2'
SpaceX may not have stuck its recent ambitious water landing, but Elon Musk's private rocket company isn't letting that slow it down. Just a few minutes ago on the official SpaceX Facebook page and YouTube, the company posted the above video and photos of its capsule designed to carry astronauts, the Dragon 2 or Crew Dragon, performing a "hover test." … [Link]
Mashable » Trump suggests Obama to blame for Ferguson unrest in new video
Donald Trump has been blasted by critics on the left and the right for his divisive language and policies. But in a video posted to his Facebook page Thursday, Trump claims he's the one that can unite the country. "I will unify and bring our country back together," Trump says in the video. "We will be unified. We will be one. … [Link]
Mashable » Watch Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer drive a mini Zamboni like a boss
Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer has criticism coming from all sides for her management of the company since taking the top seat in 2012, but one thing everyone can probably agree on is that she knows how to party. Gizmodo scored exclusive footage of the top executive and mother of two recent twins driving a mini Zamboni (or ice resurfacer, for you … [Link]
Mashable » Update: Giant snow penis returns, bigger than ever
By now you've probably heard about the large snow penis that sent the town of Gothenburg, Sweden into a tizzy. After many complaints, park authorities managed to remove the penis etching with the help of an abnormally long brush. The removal inspired the creation of a Facebook group petitioning the return of the snow penis, which more than 3,000 people joined … [Link]
Mashable » 'Heroes' creator wants to birth more stories, but not for 'Heroes Reborn'
Tim Kring still believes there's life left in the Heroes franchise, even if NBC doesn't want more Heroes Reborn. As you'll recall, last week, NBC president Bob Greenblatt told reporters that Heroes Reborn was — and was always intended to be — a one-and-done season, and that there were "no more incarnations" of Heroes on the horizon. See also: 'Heroes Reborn' … [Link]
Mashable » Adele's 'Hello' becomes the fastest video to reach 1 billion views on YouTube
LOS ANGELES — Sorry, Psy. On Thursday, YouTube announced that Adele has surpassed the record set by Psy's music video “Gangnam Style." Her "Hello" is now the fastest video to reach 1 billion views on the platform. The singer-songwriter reached the 1 billion milestone after just 87 days, handily beating Psy's record (158 days). The news of Adele's YouTube record comes … [Link]
Mashable » NFL refs accidentally left the Patriots and Chiefs playoff game balls at their hotel
Take this as a reminder to always double check your hotel room before you leave. Footballs and air pressure gauges meant for Saturday's playoff game between the New England Patriots and the Kansas City Chiefs were accidentally left in a Hyatt hotel room by game officials, according to Massachusetts State Police. See also: Bacon chips and dip: The sinful addition to … [Link]
Mashable » WeChat turns 5: Let's look back at its defining moments
WeChat was born five years ago. Here’s our potted history of China’s most essential app. October 2010: In development In a Tencent office in the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou, away from the company’s Shenzhen HQ, a small team starts working on a mobile chat app. January 21, 2011: Tencent launches a messaging app It started quietly on Jan 21, 2011 … [Link]
Popular Science » The Reason We Haven't Met Aliens May Be That They Don't Live Long Enough
Wayne England CSIRO's Parkes radio telescope A noted radio telescope in Australia. Where are all the aliens? Where are the bugs, the invasion fleets, the Tripods, the Vulcans? Humans have imagined otherworldly beings for ages, but as we've begun scanning the night sky for proof that we aren't alone, we haven't seen or heard a single extraterrestrial peep. A new … [Link]
Slashdot » Verizon Vows To Build the First 5G Network In the US
alphadogg writes: Verizon says it will have the first 5G network in the U.S., a promise it probably can't fulfill until 2020 but will start working at this year. Verizon Chief Financial Officer Fran Shammo made the pledge Thursday on the company's fourth-quarter financial results call. He also repeated the company's plans for so-called 5G trials this year. 
Read more … [Link]
Mashable » Show off those Vine skills for a shot at a $3,000 prize
It’s award show season, and this time you might actually win something. Join our brand new #MashableRemix vine challenge for the chance to win up to $3,000 and be featured at the Armstrong Vine Awards That's right, $3,000. That's $500 for each second of your Vine. The Armstrong Vine Awards was started three years ago to source the best talents on … [Link]
Popular Science » Facebook Is Retooling 360 Video To Use Less Data
Facebook "You're going to start seeing a lot more 360 degree video on your News Feed," Facebook CTO Mike Schroepfer told Popular Science last week at the Future of AI conference at NYU. And he was right. Today, Mark Zuckerberg and Facebook's engineers released information about how they're making 360 degree video up to 80 percent smaller than the original … [Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » Man Proposes to Girlfriend in the Geekiest Way Possible [Video]
On January 6th, 2016, Ian Coulson proposed to his girlfriend in the geekiest way I’ve seen in a while. Watch. Congratulations Ian! [Ian Coulson] The post Man Proposes to Girlfriend in the Geekiest Way Possible [Video] appeared first on Geeks are Sexy Technology News. [Link]
Mashable » 15 tips for surviving this weekend's snowstorm, by my grandma
This is my grandma. Her name is Joy. She is, as you would guess by her name, a joy. As one of the possibly most dangerous snowstorms of the year approaches, I certainly didn't want to listen to the hyped-up Adderall fiends on the weather channel, who are desperate to make me feel scared, open links and buy bread. I wanted … [Link]
Slashdot » California Bill Would Require Phone Crypto Backdoors
Trailrunner7 writes with this except from On The Wire: A week after a New York legislator introduced a bill that would require smartphone vendors to be able to decrypt users' phones on demand from law enforcement, a California bill with the same intent has been introduced in that state's assembly. On Wednesday, California Assemblyman Jim Cooper submitted a bill that … [Link]
Mashable » U.S. Navy launches first biofuel-powered warships
The Navy just launched its first carrier strike group powered partly by biofuel, a mix made from beef fat. This is part of its “Great Green Fleet” initiative, which aims to draw power from alternative energy and lessen military reliance on foreign oil. Turning to alternative energy will give the military options so it is no longer at the mercy of … [Link]
Mashable » Forget cars, the self-driving stroller is coming
With self-driving cars dominating the tech conversation in recent months, it's no surprise that someone would eventually attempt to bring automation to parents sick of pushing their young child in a stroller. Smartbe, which is marketed as "the first intelligent stroller in the world," uses a motion-tracking sensor to follow you wherever you go, allowing for hands-free strolling or an assisted … [Link]
Mashable » Animator shares his 30-day NYC experience in GIFs
Forgoing the camera and scrapbook supplies, animator and Vimeo filmmaker James Curran tried his hand at documenting 30 days in New York City — entirely in GIFs All the highlights of NYC are checked right off: from grabbing a bite at the Guggenheim, doing some hungover laundry and then catching a showing of one of Shia LaBeouf's movies next to … [Link]
Mashable » Wacky dog stars in couple's engagement photos
A sense of humor is key to maintaining a successful relationship. If you don’t believe us, just ask Collin Pierce and his fiancé Sara. After posting a hilarious engagement photo they took with their dog Reji on Reddit, the couple has received some serious praise from the Internet See also: Enthusiastic wiener dog totally photobombs couple's engagement photos 
Image: Collin PierceMashable … [Link]
Popular Science » Your DNA Could Make You Resistant To Certain Bacteria
CDC via Flickr, CC by ND 2.0 E. coli bacteria If infected with E. coli, some people have worse symptoms than others. New research suggests that varying gene expression might be the reason why. You probably know that your DNA contains the blueprints for every protein your body needs, plus instructions on how to regulate them. But your DNA could … [Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » Elder Wars: Two Magic-Using Geezers Settle Their Differences With a Fight! [Video]
[AndrewMFilms] geezers battling to the death! The post Elder Wars: Two Magic-Using Geezers Settle Their Differences With a Fight! [Video] appeared first on Geeks are Sexy Technology News. [Link]
Slashdot » An Ancient, Brutal Massacre May Be the Earliest Evidence of War
HughPickens.com writes: Violence has always been part of human behavior, but the origins of war are hotly debated. Some experts see it as deeply rooted in evolution, pointing to violent confrontations among groups of chimpanzees as clues to an ancestral predilection while others emphasize the influence of complex and hierarchical human societies, and agricultural surpluses to be raided. Now James … [Link]
Popular Science » What To Expect From The Big East Coast Winter Storm
NASA/NOAA GOES Project January 2016 Snowstorm People from the Mississippi Valley to New York are bracing for a possible blizzard this weekend, stocking up on food and supplies as forecasters scramble to predict our weather future. Right now, all the signs are pointing one way: towards a huge storm. Airlines are already starting to cancel flights out of cities in … [Link]
Mashable » Sundance: Werner Herzog's 'Lo and Behold' plumbs the Internet's impact
PARK CITY, Utah — Does the Internet dream of itself? Will people even need human contact in the future? Isn't it weird to see monks looking at their smartphones? SEE ALSO: 'Werner Herzog' narrates 'Me and Earl and the Dying Girl' trailer These are just a few of the modern existential humdingers explored in Lo and Behold, the latest deep-dive documentary … [Link]
Mashable » Man with stage IV bone cancer saves neighbor from burning home
When Dennis Kucia smelled smoke at his Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, home on Tuesday, his first thought was to save his family They all made it out. But then Kucia heard someone call from inside the building. He crawled under the smoke that was quickly filling the house. His neighbor, who uses crutches, was struggling to make it out by himself, and … [Link]
Mashable » National Weather Service director says storm could paralyze east coast from DC to NYC
Louis Uccellini is first and foremost a weather geek. He co-wrote the most authoritative compendium on northeast winter storms, which was published in two weighty volumes by the American Meteorological Society (and this reporter proudly owns) As the first director of the National Weather Service in many years to have a PhD in meteorology, when he says a storm is potentially … [Link]
Mashable » On the polonium trail: How Russian assassins poisoned ex-spy Litvinenko
Three spies walk into a bar. Hours later, one of them falls ill. He begins vomiting, his hair falls out and blisters appear in his mouth. Twenty-two days after the meeting, he dies. It's part "walks into a bar" joke, part John le Carré spy novel. But this is the true story of the assassination of a Russian spy by two … [Link]
Mashable » One man's final request: Don't vote for Trump
Jeffrey Cohen passed away at the age of 70 on Sunday, leaving quite the obituary behind. The Pittsburgh chiropractor began his obituary by discussing his main philosophy: "The meaning of life is 'OOPS!'" See also: Jeb Bush gets his own Donald Trump Freedom Kids, featuring Vanessa Hudgens Cohen founded the Nimmo Educational Foundation, which carries out research on chronic pain and … [Link]
Mashable » 21 ways to entertain your kids during bad weather
As a child snow days are exciting — the possibility of TV, pajamas all day, cookies, no school But as a parent, the prospect can be a little more grim — messes, yelling, everyone eating your cookies and a 10-hour loop of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. It makes you have newfound respect for Ma Ingalls, who had four kids in a dugout … [Link]
Mashable » Cow in Queens briefly tastes freedom
A cow boldly escaped a rumored slaughterhouse and briefly ran around Queens in New York City on Thursday. The NYPD was called, and the cow was eventually captured. Read more…More about New York City, Cow, Us World, Us, and Videos [Link]
Mashable » Badass crab wielding a knife will cut you
A new species of deadly crab has been discovered in Brazil. The craustacean was caught on film as it swung a knife and backed away slowly from the video camera, ready to strike at any moment. While we're unsure if the crab got what it came for, we think this is a great way for the species to fend off seafood-loving … [Link]
Mashable » Dog owner remembers his best friend on Instagram by giving away tennis balls
One grieving pet owner decided to honor his dog by helping other pups play Instagram user imso, whose name is Chris, observed the two-year anniversary of the death of his dog, Everything, by giving away tennis balls online. He bought 100 to share, hoping people would use them to spend time with their best canine friends. See also: Over 100 police … [Link]
Mashable » Man posing in a traditional boudoir photo shoot is beyond stunning
Women often pose in sexy boudoir photo shoots to show they care for their significant others — so it only makes sense that men do it as well. It's 2016, after all. Dubbing it "dudoir," Masika May posted her latest collection of photographs featuring a man posed in the same traditional poses — complete with shy smiles, flirty glances at the … [Link]
Slashdot » Developers Frustrated with GitHub Prod For Changes In Bug Reports, Transparency
DeveloperTech reports that a group of GitHub developers have posted an open letter, with nearly 1300 signatures, expressing dissatisfaction with GitHub's processes and policies, and in particular the site's level of transparency. A slice of the letter: "Those of us who run some of the most popular projects on GitHub feel completely ignored by you. We’ve gone through the only … [Link]
Mashable » It's Biz Please episode 2: Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, Netflix and Facebook
Jeff Bezos vs. Elon Musk. Netflix vs. NBC Episode two of Biz Please introduces our new segment, Business Beef, about the titans of industry who just can't stop talking smack and throwing shade This week, Jason, Heidi and Seth discuss the rising tension between billionaires Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos over their respective rockets. We'll also touch on the rise of … [Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » BOOM Raider: A Humorous Tomb Raider Short Film [Video]
A fantastic short movie in the “Tomb Raider” universe by our pals over at Fury Fingers, featuring the lovely Shiveeejam, whom we featured in the past for her awesome Deadpool cosplay. Down to her last arrow, Lara finds a path through enemy soldiers via an explosive barrel. But getting the right angle and shot can prove difficult… [Fury Fingers] The … [Link]
ProgrammableWeb.com » Bloomberg Announces OpenFIGI API
Bloomberg has announced the launch of OpenFIGI.com and the OpenFIGI API to provide exchanges, data providers, custodians and other organizations direct access to multiple tools for identifying, mapping and requesting the Financial Instrument Global Identifier (FIGI). These new web-based tools will help organizations search for existing FIGIs, request identifiers for new securities and cross-reference, or map, FIGIs to other third-party … [Link]
Mashable » Ex-cop gets 263 years in prison for a string of rapes, sexual assaults in Oklahoma
Former Oklahoma City police officer Daniel Holtzclaw was sentenced on Thursday to 263 years in prison, the maximum sentence, having been found guilty of four counts of first-degree rape, among many other charges, including second-degree rape and forcible oral sodomy He was charged with 36 crimes that ranged from stalking to rape, and was convicted of 18. All the crimes took … [Link]
Slashdot » Fake Facebook Emails Deliver Malware Masquerading As Audio Message
An anonymous reader writes: A new spam campaign is targeting Facebook users. It uses the same approach as the recent one aimed at WhatsApp users, and Comodo researchers believe that the authors of both campaigns are likely the same. The fake emails are made to look like an official communication from the popular social network, and their goal is to … [Link]
Mashable » Uber launches new app to bring food to your door
Uber’s appetite for growth knows no limits The ride-hailing company is planning to expand its meal delivery service, UberEats, in 10 U.S. cities, including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and Austin, in an ambitious and delicious bid to take a slice of the on-demand food market. Right now, UberEats is in a few select cities, including New York, and only offers … [Link]
Popular Science » Blue Origin Might Be Planning Another Rocket Launch This Weekend
Blue Origin Blue Origin's New Shepard rocket takes off Blue Origin, the rocket company founded by Amazon founder and CEO Jeff Bezos, in November 2015 performed the first successful powered vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) of a reusable rocket, the New Shepard. It's hard to keep rocket launches under wraps. SpaceNews is reporting that someone has filed a temporary flight … [Link]
Mashable » New 'How to Get Away with Murder' trailer will have you dying for more
Thank God it's Thursday Your days of being without Annalise Keating and her extremely complicated company are almost over — and now a new teaser has dropped for the big return of How to Get Away with Murder. The teaser doesn't give away much about the show's episodes, but it does possibly introduce us to baby Wes. Mysteries abound See … [Link]
Mashable » Tor is the deep web's favorite browser, so should you use it?
Video: Armand Valdes, Loris Ravera Tor, or The Onion Router, is a browsing tool used to surf the web anonymously. It's used by journalists, activists and privacy advocates as a means of evading prying eyes. It's even been name-dropped on House of Cards. So what makes the Tor browser any different than Chrome, Firefox or Safari? More importantly, should you … [Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » Government On So-Called Hoverboards: Keep Fire Extinguisher Nearby
By DanielPetkov (Own work) [CC BY-SA 4.0 (http://creativecommons.org/license~ via Wikimedia CommonsUS safety officials say you shouldn’t use a self-balancing skateboard (marketed as hoverboards) without a working fire extinguisher nearby. The Consumer Product Safety Commission is following its British counterparts by investigating several manufacturers, though haven’t yet seized any stock. The warnings come as Amazon decided to offer a full refund to … [Link]
Popular Science » Researchers Use Modified Rabies Viruses To Map The Brain
Andrew Murray The spinal cord of a mouse with the modified rabies virus. Few diseases match rabies' rampant method of self-replication and domination of the brain. The virus multiplies, spreading from cell to cell until the brain cannot support normal function and dies. And that's exactly why it's become so useful. Eight years ago, researchers at the Salk Institute found … [Link]
Mashable » Facebook upgrades its iOS app with new 3D Touch features
Facebook’s iOS app is getting an update iPhone 6S users will appreciate: new 3D Touch actions The social network is beginning to roll out support for new "peek and pop" 3D Touch actions in its iOS app. The update, which is starting to roll out to iPhone 6S users Thursday, allows iPhone 6S users to utilize 3D Touch while browsing their … [Link]
Mashable » Your day could be worse: Watch this 855-pound squat fail
Maybe you're having a rough day at the office. Maybe you're sitting home alone feeling kinda blue Well, take heart — at least you didn't try to lift 855 pounds, then fail, sending massive plates clanging all over a semi-public place. Because that's exactly what the guy in the video above did See also: 'Meth Curry' and the casual cruelty … [Link]
Mashable » Olivia is doing A-OK without Fitz in new 'Scandal' promo
You didn't think she was just going to sit at home knitting or something, right? Despite a fall finale breakup that left fans' beloved Olitz in shambles, Olivia seems to be moving along just fine in life — thanks at least in part to good ol' Jake Ballard See also: This 'Grey's Anatomy' trailer is rated 'O' for OMG No … [Link]
Slashdot » Game Historian: Gygax Swiped Fantasy Rules From a Forgotten 1970 Wargame
An anonymous reader writes: According to game historian Jon Peterson, Gary Gygax's Chainmail fantasy wargame (which became the basis for Dave Arneson's Blackmoor and later Dungeons & Dragons) borrowed heavily from an earlier set of rules published by Leonard Patt, a long-forgotten member of the New England Wargamers Association. Among the appropriations were rules for heroes and wizards including the … [Link]
Mashable » Key and Peele made a movie about a cat, and it looks awesome
If you feel yourself getting Hollywood sequel fatigue, fear not: Original movies are still out there, like the upcoming Keanu, from the minds and faces of Key & Peele. See also: Amy Schumer says she doesn't steal jokes: 'I'm literally going to take a polygraph' Jordan Peele, who co-wrote the film's script with Alex Rubens, stars as a man who … [Link]
Mashable » This is 'Uncle Spliffy,' the NBA All-Star turned marijuana activist
Remember Cliff Robinson? The sharpshooting power forward was ahead of his time in the NBA, making the 1994 All-Star game and enjoying a long, productive career Here's a career update: The player once known as "Uncle Cliffy" now goes by "Uncle Spliffy" — he's a marijuana activist in Oregon See also: From NBA lottery pick to heroin addict arrested with grenade … [Link]
Mashable » 'Serial' Episode 5: The search for Bowe Bergdahl
Editor’s note: Miriam Ramirez, a freelance writer and former reporter for The Monitor in McAllen, Texas, served as an active-duty Military Police/Corrections Specialist in the United States Army. She'll be recapping Serial Season 2 for Mashable. SPOILER ALERT! The following contains spoilers from Season 2, Episode 5 of the Serial podcast. See also: 'Serial' Episode 4: Bergdahl's captivity, torture had him … [Link]
Mashable » Kremlin hilariously denies the ruble is crashing. Why, what have you heard?
The Kremlin in Moscow has a firm, studied official response to the stunning crash of the ruble to levels not seen since the crash of 1998, to a paltry 85 rubles to the U.S. dollar. Slammed by falling oil prices, the ruble is now the worst-performing currency in the world As an example, here is Bloomberg's chart of how the US … [Link]
O'Reilly News and Commentary » Chrissie Brodigan on user research at GitHub
Subscribe to the O’Reilly Design Podcast, our podcast exploring how experience design—and experience designers—are shaping business, the Internet of Things, and other domains. In this weeks Design Podcast episode, I sit down with Chrissie Brodigan, manager of user experience research … [Link]
Mashable » Pig eating a strawberry will remind you to eat healthy today
Watch Milton the pig happily nibble on a strawberry and savor every bite of the fruity treat. Let his healthy eating inspire you to get your daily intake of fruit today. #tbt when it took me more than .05 seconds to eat a strawberry! A video posted by Milton (@miltonthepig) on Jan 21, 2016 at 6:56am PST Read more… More about … [Link]
Mashable » This innovation is a 'light at the end of the tunnel' for more than 1.3 billion impoverished individuals
Think about the things you couldn't live without Perhaps the first thing that comes to mind is a luxury item, like a car, smartphone or even a television. Or maybe you're a little more practical, thinking of food, water or shelter. But what about something simple — something so fundamental to daily life that it's easily taken for granted — like … [Link]
Mashable » 10 gorgeous wallpapers you need to download right now
With all of the customisable tech available to us, there's no excuse for having the same old wallpaper that comes with your computer. In order to help inspire creativity in the new year, Mashable, Dell and Intel partnered with Talenthouse to source wallpaper designs from artists all over the world. And, after receiving over 2000 submissions, we've narrowed it down to … [Link]
Mashable » How to prepare for the major snowstorm expected to thrash the East Coast this weekend
A major, potentially life-threatening winter storm could bring feet of snow to millions of people living along the east coast of the United States starting Friday. Forecasters have issued a blizzard warning for Washington, D.C., and blizzard watches for New York City, Philadelphia and other cities along a swath of the coast. It's also possible that the storm could cause coastal … [Link]
Mashable » Resilient dog doesn't let his disability stop him from hitting the slopes
Roosevelt the dog will warm your heart during this cold winter season. Born with deformed front paws, Roosevelt has always worked his hardest to live life to the fullest. After being rescued by New England Border Collie Rescue and adopted in 2010, Roosevelt was fitted for a doggy wheelchair. On New Year's Eve, Roosevelt ended the year with a bang, … [Link]
Popular Science » FAA Bans Drones At The Superbowl
FAA Super Bowl No Fly Zones Planning to capture some of the 50th Super Bowl excitement by drone? Probably wise to think again, because that’s super illegal. The FAA is declaring the sky above Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California off-limits for unauthorized aircraft, in two huge sweeping circles of overlapping sky. They did the same thing for last year's … [Link]
Mashable » Cityscape rings let you wear the world's greatest skylines
Jeweler Ola Shekhtman's line of rings allows its wearers to carry the greatest city skylines with them wherever they go. The Etsy jeweler's Cityscape series features rings representative of big and small cities across the world, from Hong Kong to Charleston, South Carolina. See also: Engagement rings are about to look a lot different 
LondonImage: ShekhtwomanWhen Shekhtman first began making jewelry, … [Link]
Popular Science » Arctic Report: How To Sell A Single Fish To 11 Different Countries
Breanna Draxler Bringing in the Catch Jani brings his boat ashore to unload the night's catch at Tobøfisk. A boat pulls up to the dock. It's a long-liner, meaning the owner, an Icelander by the name of Jani, uses long lines and hooks to bring fish up from the seafloor, between 100 and 1,000 feet down. Jani's boat has 16,000 … [Link]
Mashable » Brooklyn's artisanal mayo shop gets a crafty Yelp review
Trevor L. isn't much of a mayo guy, but that didn't stop him from crafting a five-star review for Brooklyn's very own artisinal mayo shop. Empire Mayo, a tiny specialty mayonnaise store (seriously) located in the Prospect Heights neighborhood of Brooklyn, has seen plenty of criticism since it opened in 2011. Some see it as the face of gentrification. Others note … [Link]
Mashable » Teen with Down syndrome will be youngest business owner in his Texas city
Blake Pyron, a 19-year-old with Down syndrome, is set to open a snow cone shop in Sanger, Texas, becoming the youngest business owner in the city. Officials are expected to approve the project on Feb. 1, the day Blake turns 20 See also: 4-year-old with Down syndrome stars in back-to-school ads The teenager promises that the Snow Shack will serve all … [Link]
Mashable » Militants attack popular Mogadishu beach with car bombs and gunfire
A group of militants set off explosions and sprayed bullets at a popular beach in Mogadishu, Somalia, on Thursday evening, leaving an unknown number of people dead and wounded. Authorities told the Associated Press at least three people have been killed The attack began just after sunset at Lido Beach when witnesses reportedly heard two explosions followed by outbursts of gunfire. … [Link]
Slashdot » Linux Foundation Quietly Drops Community Representation
The Linux Foundation, though it's straightforwardly not a grassroots organization along the lines of the FSF or EFF, has long had a degree of non-corporate involvement by way of community-elected members on its board. Now, writes new submitter Ensign Nemo, that's no longer true. An excerpt from Matthew Garrett's blog on the change: The by-laws were amended to drop the … [Link]
Mashable » New fight erupts in Airbnb's war with the hotel industry
The war between Airbnb and the U.S. hotel industry heated up this week as representatives from both groups descended on a prominent conference and went to head-to-head in a battle of words and data. Chris Lehane, the former top political adviser to Bill Clinton who joined Airbnb as head of global policy last year, is scheduled to make the case for … [Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » I Will Finish What You Started [Comic]
[Source: Down the Upward Spiral | Like “Down the Upward Spiral” on Facebook] The post I Will Finish What You Started [Comic] appeared first on Geeks are Sexy Technology News. [Link]
Popular Science » Prairie Voles Show Empathy Just Like Humans
Zack Johnson Prairie voles consoling. Life on Earth for a prairie vole is a rough one. Across the dry and windswept grasslands of the Central United States and Canada they stake their claim, rummaging on seeds and insects and scurrying nervously through networks of underground tunnels. Cold winters (they don’t hibernate) and a wide array of predators add to the … [Link]
Mashable » Hamlet the emotional support pig is literally flying
Some passengers on planes hog the armrests. Some passengers are actually hogs. Hamlet, the emotional support animal of Megan Peabody, 28, is a jetsetting pig who's providing comfort in the skies. Peabody has a fear of flying, but says having Hamlet onboard is a great help. "I love flying, but I suffer with anxiety," Peabody told MailOnline, "so being able to … [Link]
Mashable » You've never seen a farmer's market like this one from 1900
Image: Bain News Service/Library of CongressThe Westchester County Fair, held in various locations just north of New York City, first emerged as an annual summer tradition in 1694, when the villages of Westchester and Rye would gather to barter and sell their produce and livestockIt evolved from a simple farmer’s market into a more extravagant affair over the centuries, adding horse … [Link]
Mashable » It's National Hug Day, but please don't hug me
I don't know when we decided hugs were the default greeting for every social situation, but it has to stop. Jan. 21 marks National Hugging Day, the day where society deems it appropriate, nay necessary, for humans to spread their love and friendship by smushing torsos and appendages together as a sign of affection whenever possible — and this is one … [Link]
Mashable » Wife documents sleepy husband's inability to finish glass of wine
Drop the Ambien and the chamomile tea, this drowsy husband shows us all a glass and a half of wine is all the doctor ordered for a good night's sleep. The man's wife, Redditor miss-izzle, posted this photo with the caption, "My husband has a glass or two of wine the night before his days off. It never fails, he falls … [Link]
Mashable » John Legend and Juanes sing 'Redemption Song' for detainees in Arizona
ELOY, Ariz. — Colombian musician Juanes and singer John Legend met immigrants at a jail in Arizona on Wednesday before performing for a small crowd outside the facility to draw attention to immigration and mass incarceration. The Grammy winners each played two songs separately and one together — Bob Marley's "Redemption Song" — as dozens of people sang along in … [Link]
Slashdot » Backdoor Account Found On Devices Used By White House, US Military
An anonymous reader writes: A hidden backdoor account was discovered embedded in the firmware of devices deployed at the White House and in various US Military strategic centers, more precisely in AMX conference room equipment. The first account was named Black Widow, and after security researchers reported its presence to AMX, the company's employees simply renamed it to Batman thinking … [Link]
New Scientist – News » Venus flytrap can count prey’s steps to dissolve them alive
When an insect lands on a flytrap, the plant counts the number of times it is touched to trigger different stages of digestion
[Link]
Mashable » What we learned from the 'Making a Murderer' filmmakers' Twitter Q&A
Twitter got a chance to question the filmmakers of Making a Murderer Wednesday, and leapt at the opportunity to clear up some of the rebuttals that have followed release of the wildly popular series New details have continued to emerge as Internet sleuths hungry for answers pore over the available evidence, and as key participants emerge to have their say about … [Link]
Mashable » Kids troll TV station to get them to cancel school for the day
There is nothing so sweet, and so rare, as a snow day. Nobody knows this better than the students of the Hamilton County schools in Tennessee. Recently, some students in the district tried to troll their local TV station to get them to close school in advance of a snowstorm. See also: Washington, D.C., snowstorm has reached 'bread and milk' freakout … [Link]
Mashable » Shocking footage shows Cape Town traffic officer shot at point-blank
Dashcam footage has been released showing the moment a bystander shot an officer during a traffic stop last year in Cape Town, South Africa. The officer, Nizaam Alexander, sustained a flesh wound. He was released from the hospital shortly after the incident. He has since been honored with a bravery award. [Additional reporting by Storyful] Read more…More about Youtube, Us World, … [Link]
Mashable » Watch Megadeth's intense new animated video for 'Dystopia'
Megadeth is the stuff of metal legend. After Dystopia is released Friday, the iconic band will have 15 studio albums to its name And their newest work should make seasoned fans rejoice: The album's larger-than-life guitar riffs and strong opinions harken back to Megadeth's roots The video for the album's title track, debuting below exclusively on Mashable, is the second installment … [Link]
Mashable » This 200-million-year-old Welsh dinosaur has been given a fierce name
A Jurassic dinosaur whose remains were unearthed at the bottom of a cliff in Wales has just been officially given a name: Dracoraptor hanigani — the first word loosely translates as "dragon thief" while the second references the two brothers, Rob and Nick Hanigan, who found it. The specimen, which dates back 201 million years and is thought to be the … [Link]
Mashable » Watch Bradley Cooper and Jake Gyllenhaal audition for 'Clueless'
Bradley Coper, Jake Gyllenhaal or Seth Rogen in Clueless? As if! W Magazine asked A-list actors like Cooper and Rogen to channel their inner Cher Horowitz to read her iconic Haitian debate speech from the classic film See also: 16 way harsh burns from 'Clueless' that still sting 20 years later Watch this on The Scene. While these men may have … [Link]
Slashdot » Code Reviews vs. Pair Programming
An anonymous reader writes: I've spent nine years working in teams which religiously follow pair programming. I'm used to working that way and appreciate the benefits it brings. We didn't have the luxury of pair programming all the time in my last project. This required us to do code reviews to ensure the quality of the code we delivered. This … [Link]
Popular Science » The Human Brain Could Store 10 Times More Memories Than Previously Thought
Salk Institute Two neurons connect through two synapses A neuron, yellow, connects to the axon of another neuron, translucent black strip, in two different locations (indicated here with arrows). Like computers, our brains have an impressive capacity to store memories. Scientists have long known that the brain stores memories as patterns of electrical pulses that move through and between neurons. … [Link]
Mashable » Carly Fiorina reportedly 'ambushed' a school field trip for an anti-abortion event
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Carly Fiorina was accused on Wednesday of using young children as props at an anti-abortion event in Iowa without the permission of their parents, The Guardian reported. Fiorina spoke with a crowd of more than a dozen 4- and 5-year-old children seated around her at the Iowa Right to Life Presidential Forum at the Greater Des Moines Botanical … [Link]
Mashable » The latest on the potentially historic East Coast snowstorm
A potentially historic snowstorm is all but certain to crush Washington, D.C., and the surrounding region beginning Friday afternoon with up to 30-inches of snow, damaging coastal flooding and crippling travel disruptions. Millions of people will be affected by the storm — 15 million of them will see blizzard conditions alone. Stay tuned as we cover their preparations, the storm's impact … [Link]
Popular Science » Facebook Wants To Be Your Second-Screen Sportscenter
Facebook Facebook's Sports Stadium will show live stats, discussions, and expert commentary about individual sports games. Facebook is the place for friends, family, and strangers to collectively post strong opinions — including many opinions about sports. That's why Facebook is launching a new service today called "Sports Stadium," an addition to your News Feed that organizes information about specific sports … [Link]
Mashable » Hear David Bowie do spot-on impressions of Springsteen, Lou Reed and more
David Bowie had decades' worth of different personas under his belt, from Major Tom to Ziggy Stardust to the Thin White Duke. But a recently unearthed recording of Bowie playing around in a London studio shows that he could also have been several other rock stars, if he wanted. In the clip, a playful Bowie does musical impressions of Bruce … [Link]
Mashable » D.C. prepares for a possibly historic blizzard
The Washington D.C. area is preparing for what could be its biggest snowfall in years. And even though the flakes won’t be falling until Friday, a small dusting Wednesday evening from a separate weather system paralyzed transit, and left thousands stuck in traffic for hours. The inch that accumulated Wednesday night is only a preview of the possible 2 feet that … [Link]
Mashable » 'American Pie' singer Don McLean speaks out about domestic violence arrest
“I hope I will not be judged in this frantic media environment." See also: Original lyrics for 'American Pie' could reveal the song's true meaning Don McLean has made his first public statement since his Monday arrest in Maine for domestic violence assault. The "American Pie" singer-songwriter offered a brief but heartfelt explanation for his troubled home life. My statement on … [Link]
Mashable » Earth's oceans may contain more plastic than fish by 2050, study says
In three decades, the world’s oceans will contain more discarded plastic than fish when measured by weight, researchers say. The shocking finding was revealed in a newly released Ellen MacArthur Foundation report that investigates the inefficiency of the world’s plastic economy. SEE ALSO: How does your plastic bag get into the ocean? While researchers acknowledge that plastic is integral to everyday life, they … [Link]
ProgrammableWeb.com » Atlassian Increases Development Speed with Three New Bitbucket Features
Today, Atlassian announced three new Bitbucket features designed to accelerate the development process. Smart Mirroring, Git LFS, and Projects were all announced last September; however, Atlassian has now shipped the features and they are readily available. Bitbucket, and the three new features, were designed with distributed teams in mind.
[Link]
O'Reilly News and Commentary » Roger Chen on hardware and robotics startups
Subscribe to the O’Reilly Hardware Podcast for insight and analysis about the Internet of Things and the worlds of hardware, software, and manufacturing. In this new episode of the Hardware Podcast, David Cranor and I talk with Roger Chen, formerly … [Link]
Mashable » 'Brave' browser promises up to 60% faster speed by blocking ads
Brave may be the new browser that haters of intrusive online ads have been looking for — it claims to block ads, block third-party trackers and speed up browsing. One big caveat, though: After removing third-party ads, Brave puts in its own advertising. The new browser is the work of Brendan Eich, the former CEO and co-founder of Mozilla and creator of JavaScript, … [Link]
Slashdot » How Robotaxis Might Mitigate Electric Car Depreciation
Hallie Siegel writes: Autonomous car expert Brad Templeton argues that we're in for a period of about 5 years in electric cars where each year's new model is a lot better, and that could be a problem for people trying to sell them. Further exacerbating Moore's Law for cars is that autonomous features (like traffic jam assist) rely heavily on … [Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » FREE eBook: The Bootstrap Programming Cookbook
Just a quick deal for you geeks. This deal will only be good for a limited time: We are offering you “The Bootstrap Programming Cookbook,” for free today! Kick-start your Bootstrap projects with these hot recipes! Bootstrap is a free and open-source collection of tools for creating websites and web applications. It contains HTML and CSS-based design templates for typography, … [Link]
Popular Science » See The Huge East Coast Snowstorm From Space
NASA Goddard Rapid Response January 2016 Blizzard The blizzard that's headed straight for DC. It's coming for you, East Coast. In case you've been living a blissful paradise where you missed the news that the #snowpocalypse is coming, let the above picture be a wakeup call. Captured by NASA on January 20, this image shows the central part of North … [Link]
Popular Science » This Is How You Will Use 'Night Shift' On The iPhone and iPad
Xavier Harding iOS 9.3 Night Shift iOS 9.3 will offer a new toggle in Control Center when users update iPhone and iPad users have seen some interesting features added to their devices after purchase through Apple's free wireless software updates, and the latest update could offer a quick way to help you sleep better. With the upcoming release of iOS … [Link]
Mashable » You'll never guess who's actually watching all those ads on the internet
Advertisers are spending more money than ever on digital ads, but many of them still never reach actual human eyes. That's because as the online ads industry has grown, another more nefarious one has flourished with it: an underbelly of fraudsters who game ads with automated "bots" that mimic human movement and generate fake clicks for which advertisers unknowingly pay. That … [Link]
Mashable » This motorcycle-riding French bulldog is guaranteed to make you smile
Ollie the French bulldog is not your prototypical biker dude. See also: Adorable puppy doesn't understand kids these days This guy on our ride today asked me if I was a Pug? What? You're too funny dude!!! Do you not see my fabulous bat ears ? Hilarious I tell you, Hilarious. Let's go grandpa, ride! #hilarious #funny #toofunny #toocute #toosweet #toomuchcuteness … [Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » Man Performs an Acoustic Version of ‘Yub Nub,’ The Ewok Celebration Song [Video]
Because why not? 🙂 When last we met our STAR WARS comrades, a year before the BATTLE OF JAKKU, and 30 years before THE FORCE AWAKENS, they were celebrating with the Ewoks upon the destruction of the second DEATH STAR over the moon of Endor. They sang a song of freedom, power, and glory for the great victory. This is … [Link]
Mashable » What really killed Freddie Gray
Even before the death of Freddie Gray, we'd seen so many cases of white police officers taking the lives of unarmed black people without legal consequences And almost all of these killings could have been avoided. See also: How Black Lives Matter forced America to confront racism In many cases, when a white police officer took the life of an unarmed … [Link]
Mashable » Airbnb can be gross, rival HomeAway demonstrates in new ad
Sharing your vacation accommodations with a stranger can be a fun way to make new friends, save some money and otherwise liven up a trip. It can also make for a hellish holiday full of hair-matted bars of soap, little kids hosing down your meals with squirt guns and unwelcome affections from big hairy men in Speedos See also: Nick Offerman … [Link]
Mashable » 'Winter on Fire' is an Oscar nominee and a 'manual for revolution,' says director
Evgeny Afineevsky's Winter on Fire: Ukraine's Fight for Freedom has it all: blood, sweat and tear gas See also: Ukraine's children of war In just an hour and a half, the film captures the view from the trenches of Ukraine's Euromaidan revolution, with special attention paid to the bravery and steely resolve of the hundreds of thousands of demonstrators who … [Link]
Mashable » All socially conscious dog wants to do is recycle
Everyone knows recycling is a good thing to do, but not everyone does it. Sometimes, it's just too hard to drag your body to the recycling bin down the block when that trash can is right there — ready to take it all in. But over in Bodmin, England, one boxer takes his recycling very, very seriously. See also: These energetic … [Link]
Popular Science » Giant Megacopter Drone Lifts Weights, Sets Record
Screenshot by author, from YouTube Megacopter When it comes to setting new world records, sometimes the key is just finding a task that hasn’t been done before. “Fastest human in the 100 meter dash” is a record first set in the 19th century and continually bested, but “heaviest payload lifted by a remote-controlled multicopter?” That’s brand new, and was set … [Link]
Mashable » 5 tips from The Brunch Boys to help you step up your brunch game
Look, we could all use some advice on how to step up our brunch game. Jeremy Jacobowitz, President of Brunch Boys and all around brunch expert, chatted via email with Mashable to give some inside tips and tricks on how to get the most out of your dining experience. Sippin on dat rose in the LES. @brunchboys adventures with @kayleighharrington A … [Link]
Mashable » 'Exploding Kittens' blows up on iOS, with Android coming soon
Exploding Kittens, a tabletop card game about… well, you know, is now available for iOS — with an Android version coming "soon." The iOS release costs $1.99, and there's currently a launch special in effect that makes all in-app purchases free for a limited time. Games support up to six players, though no Internet connection is required. All participating devices link up … [Link]
Slashdot » Russia Forming Space Alliance With Iran, May Fly Iranian Astronaut
MarkWhittington writes: Quietly, the Russians appear to be forming a space alliance with the Islamic Republic of Iran, according to a story in Sputnik. Not only is Russia in talks to launch Iranian satellites on Russian rockets but also to include an Iranian astronaut on a future space mission. What that space mission might be is open to question. A … [Link]
Mashable » Arnold Schwarzenegger visits Scotland, cycles wrong way down busy road
LONDON — Watch out, Scotland — Arnie's in town with his bike and he's got absolutely zero tolerance for Britain's backwards traffic rules. See also: Arnold Schwarzenegger took a glorious biking tour of London Schwarzenegger was in Edinburgh on Thursday morning for a sightseeing tour. He was spotted out and about snapping selfies and cheerfully documenting his trip for Snapchat, … [Link]
Mashable » Drug traffickers get stoned, call police on themselves
Have you ever been so high that you called the cops on yourself? Well, these guys were Leland Ayala-Doliente and Holland Sward were attempting to move 20 pounds of marijuana from Las Vegas to Bozeman, Montana, when they started to get a bit paranoid. The two broke the golden rule of smuggling and dipped into their stash. See also: Smugglers … [Link]
Mashable » At least 14.5 million from D.C. to New York face historic blizzard
UPDATED12:30 p.m. ET: This post has been updated to include the blizzard warning issued for Washington, D.C., and Baltimore, as well as new forecast information suggesting lower snow totals in New York City. About 15 million people from Washington, D.C., to New York City are facing the likelihood of a crippling, life-threatening blizzard beginning on Friday and lasting through early Sunday. … [Link]
Mashable » Fairy tales trace back thousands of years, some older than the Bible
Many well known fairy tales predate the existence of modern European languages and major world religions, finds new research. The findings, published in the journal Royal Society Open Science, open up the possibility that popular folktales influenced writings in Greek and Roman mythology, the Bible and other religious works. They also negate the claims of some scholars who have held that … [Link]
New Scientist – News » Footage of first Parkinson’s treatments found after 50 years
A researcher has tracked down videos of L-dopa tests in Chilean miners in the 1960s that became the first successful treatment for Parkinson's disease
[Link]
New Scientist – News » Race of world’s tiniest cars set to drive nano-robot revolution
This year will see the first-ever "nanocar" race in France. We take a look at the competition – and where cars the size of molecules can take us in the future
[Link]
New Scientist – News » Mystery supernova could be fast-spinning magnetic star
The brightest ever supernova was confirmed last week, but no one could explain it. Now a culprit has been found: a magnetar driven by an extremely massive star
[Link]
Mashable » What the hell kind of musical instrument is this?
Innovating the shape and functions of smartphones and wearables has become pretty common in recent years, but somewhere along the way digital musical instruments fell out of the tech spotlight That trend may change if a new device from Zoom North America called the Arq Aero RhythmTrak is any indication See also: 3-Armed Drummer Makes Becoming a Cyborg Look Pretty Cool … [Link]
Mashable » Our very uninformed Apple fanboy creates his own Genius Bar on Max's Macs
In the first installment of "Max's Macs," resident Mac pro Max Knoblauch tries to teach you how to unleash your inner Apple techie. Read more…More about Apple, Macbook, Watercooler, Videos, and Watercooler Humor
[Link]
Mashable » This Sriracha news is about to majorly improve your day
Everyone’s favorite hot sauce is now being sold in everyone's favorite packaging. Sriracha, king of the condiment shelf, is finally available in packets. 
Image: sriracha2goWhat makes the packet so special? For starters, you can stop shoving your giant bottle of Sriracha in your purse. You can also stop storing that giant bottle of Sriracha at your desk. Have a giant bottle … [Link]
Mashable » Listen to Miley Cyrus's long-lost remix of Kanye West's 'Black Skinhead'
Now we know what it sounds like when Kanye West and Miley Cyrus collide Cyrus' remix of West's Yeezus song "Black Skinhead" has arrived on the Internet, and it's got a surprisingly '80s twist. The remix features a heavy reworking of "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" by Tears for Fears, layered over a jumble of beats See also: Kanye West … [Link]
Mashable » Amy Schumer says she doesn't steal jokes: 'I'm literally going to take a polygraph'
Amy Schumer is fighting hard against allegations that she's stolen other comedians' material, which surfaced earlier this week. In a candid conversation with Jim Norton on his SiriusXM Radio show late Wednesday, Schumer addressed the accusations, staunchly saying, "I would never ever do that and I never have." She added that she is "literally going to take a polygraph test" and … [Link]
Mashable » Palin lambasted by veterans for blaming son's domestic violence arrest on PTSD
Veterans and veterans' advocates were outraged after Sarah Palin seemingly linked her son Track's recent arrest on domestic violence charges to President Barack Obama’s neglect of veterans. In a series of tweets after Palin's remarks, Brandon Friedman, the former digital media director for the Department of Veterans Affairs, argued that Palin was "wading into dangerous territory." See also: Sarah Palin blames … [Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » Teenagers and Dad Jokes [Comic]
[Source: Cheer Up, Emo Kid | Like “Cheer Up, Emo Kid” on Facebook | Follow “Cheer Up, Emo Kid” on Twitter] The post Teenagers and Dad Jokes [Comic] appeared first on Geeks are Sexy Technology News. [Link]
Slashdot » Can Author Obfuscation Trump Forensic Linguistics?
An anonymous reader writes: Everyone possesses their own writing style, which may be used to identify authors even if they wish to remain anonymous: linguists employ stylometry to settle disputes over the authorship of historic texts as well as more recent cases, and are called to verify the authors of suicide notes or threatening letters. Computer linguists carry out research … [Link]
Mashable » Facebook is building a sports hub to rival ESPN
Game on. Facebook has announced the launch of Facebook Sports Stadium, its first shot at trying to provide the kind of real-time sports experience that is dominated by Twitter and ESPN. "With 650 million sports fans, Facebook is the world’s largest stadium. People already turn to Facebook to celebrate, commiserate, and talk trash with their friends and other fans," wrote product … [Link]
Mashable » China's Weibo massively increases character limit, pressuring Twitter
It looks like 2,000 characters is the new 140. Weibo, China’s microblogging platform that's often compared to Twitter, will reportedly expand its 140-Chinese-character limit on messages to as much as 2,000, according to the South China Morning Post. See also: Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey is no longer a billionaire as of today The Twitter twin said it will launch a trial … [Link]
Mashable » The best moments from Disney's 'High School Musical' cast reunion
It’s somehow been 10 years since a movie about six high school kids sang and danced its way into the hearts of a generation of Disney Channel viewers. The High School Musical cast — with one notable exception, but we'll get to that — got together on Disney Wednesday for the film's anniversary. Their reunion was filled with nostalgia, music, and … [Link]
Mashable » 4 things to know about the Russian assassin who allegedly killed an ex-spy in London
A British inquiry found Thursday that Russian Vladimir Putin likely ordered Russia's federal security service (FSB) to assassinate Alexander Litvinenko, one of its former agents, who had defected to the United Kingdom. See also: Putin 'probably approved' plan to murder ex-spy Alexander Litvinenko Judge Robert Owen, who led the official inquiry made public Thursday, wrote that he is certain Litvinenko was … [Link]
New Scientist – News » This is what life is like in the smoggiest place on Earth
Nowhere better illustrates the new global health emergency created by air pollution than my home city of Delhi, says Padmaparna Ghosh
[Link]
Mashable » Will Smith won't go to the Oscars this year: 'This is so deeply not about me'
Will Smith announced on Good Morning America that he will not attend 2016's Oscars ceremony. In an interview with Robin Roberts on Thursday, the actor said he would join his wife Jada Pinkett Smith in boycotting Hollywood's biggest night because no actors of color were nominated for awards this year. "I think that I have to protect and fight for the … [Link]
Mashable » Legendary mum creates cat newsletter to update daughter on important pet news
LONDON — Sometimes when you move away from home, it's your pets you miss the most. They can't write emails or Facebook messages, they can't work a phone — they're basically just harder to stay in touch with, aren't they? See also: This photogenic cat has conquered the selfie game Well, maybe not. Caroline Hatwell, a 30-year-old IT worker who last … [Link]
Mashable » Ronda Rousey threatens to rip off Beck Bennett's arm in 'SNL' promos
Predictable, but still amusing: Ronda Rousey's new set of Saturday Night Live promos focus mostly on the UFC fighter's strength, confidence and general badass-ery. Just try to guess what happens when SNL cast member Beck Bennett puts his arm around her — or when he challenges her to a fight while wearing a wrestling onesie. It's exactly what you think. … [Link]
Slashdot » Bank Consortium Successfully Tests Bitcoin Tech
An anonymous reader writes: R3CEV, a startup dedicated to bringing blockchain technology to traditional finance, yesterday ran a successful test of transactions between 11 of the world's largest financial institutions. This represents a big step forward in bringing blockchain, the foundation for Bitcoin, to traditional banking. The test, which connected the banks on a private 'distributed ledger' using Microsoft's cloud-based … [Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » ‘Daredevil’ Season 2 Promises Both Punisher and Elektra Will Have Costumes
People were kind of pissed that Daredevil didn’t wear his costume until the end of season one, and even then, a lot of fans were let down with the way the suit looked. So what should we expect from new characters Elektra and Punisher next season? Good news, from ComicBook.com and Daredevil Co-Executive Producer Marco Ramirez: “Anything like a comic … [Link]
Mashable » This new Bernie Sanders ad is more like a Simon and Garfunkel music video
WASHINGTON — The latest ad from Bernie Sanders' presidential campaign doesn't look much like a traditional campaign spot. There are no attacks and you don't hear from the candidate himself. See also: Donald Trump's campaign ad screws up basic geography The only words spoken in the minute-long spot come from the folk duo, Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel singing "America," … [Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » Amazon Deal of the Day: Save BIG on These PNY SSDs (240 or 480GB)
For today’s edition of Deal of the Day, Amazon offers some great savings on two SSD drives from PNY. If you are looking to boost your system with faster boot times, quicker application launches and better overall system storage, these drives are a great way to achieve that! –PNY 240 GB CS1211 Internal 2.5″ SATA III Value Solid State Drive … [Link]
Mashable » Jeb Bush gets his own Donald Trump Freedom Kids, featuring Vanessa Hudgens
Donald Trump isn't the only candidate with cute little girls to sing about him. Sure, Jeb(!) Bush doesn't get as many headlines, he doesn't have the biggest personality and we're not all that crazy about his brother. But that doesn't mean he's not an OK guy. He's really OK. He even has Vanessa Hudgens behind him. It's fine if you … [Link]
Mashable » Drone lands on moving car like it's no big deal
Drones can fly thousands of feet in the air or a foot off the ground. They can fly autonomously, avoiding obstacles and some can even follow you and take awesome selfies. But we've never seen a drone make an autonomous and perfect landing on a moving car. Until now. Researchers at the German Aerospace Center recently demonstrated a car-sized, electric … [Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » TERRIBLE IDEA: Vat19 Dude Bathes in 500 Pounds of Liquid Glass Putty [Video]
This is a really, really bad idea. From Vat19: We filled up a bathtub with 500 pounds of crystal clear putty. And then we got in it. Enjoy! [Liquid Glass Putty on Vat19.com] The post TERRIBLE IDEA: Vat19 Dude Bathes in 500 Pounds of Liquid Glass Putty [Video] appeared first on Geeks are Sexy Technology News. [Link]
Mashable » The U.S. will make it harder for some Europeans to visit
WASHINGTON — The Obama administration will announce as early as Thursday its plan to introduce new visa requirements for European travelers who are dual nationals of Iran, Iraq, Sudan or Syria, or who have visited any of these countries in the last five years. U.S. officials and congressional aides involved in discussions say the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will outline … [Link]
Slashdot » Ashley Madison Blackmail Letter Revealed
An anonymous reader writes: Security researcher Graham Cluley says he has been forwarded a blackmail letter, sent to a member of the controversial Ashley Madison adultery website. In the letter the blackmailer says that unless $2000 worth of bitcoin is not paid within 10 days, the recipient's wife, friends and colleagues will be informed of his misdemeanors. In a threatening … [Link]
Popular Science » Cut A Record From A Tortilla
Courtesy Dwight Chia Tortilla Record When Dwight Chia, a senior at the University of California at San Diego, saw a YouTube video of a record player spinning a tortilla, he decided to turn the joke into reality. Chia’s hobby, creating 78 rpm acrylic records on a laser cutter, served him well. A record stores information as ridges along the length … [Link]
Mashable » 'Cats' will return to terrorize Broadway once more
Did you know that the naming of cats is a difficult matter? It isn't just one of your holiday games. You may think at first I'm as mad as a hatter when I tell you a cat must have Three. Different. Names. Science save us: Cats is returning to Broadway this summer. The famed Andrew Lloyd Webber musical that held New York City's … [Link]
Geeks are Sexy Technology News » BRANDED DREAMS: The Day Ads Start Appearing in Our Dreams [Video]
From Studio Smack: We see ads everyday and everywhere. They have become part of our life. While some people try to avoid seeing ads, advertisers keep finding new ways to reach us. However they are unable to reach us when we sleep. Our dreams are the last safe and add-free place so it seems. But what happens when advertisers have … [Link]
Mashable » 'Temple Run' demon-monkey comes to life in Jim Henson's Creature Shop
Demon-Monkey from Temple Run isn't evil — he's just pissed that treasure hunters keep trying to steal his stuff. Which is why Imangi's digital shorts for the game show a different side of Demon-Monkey, a softer side. He does yoga. He gets manicures. He knows from pampering himself. The demon-monkey from Imangi's shorts is a product of the small army of creators … [Link]
Slashdot » Former Mozilla CEO Launches Security-Centric Browser Brave
rudy_wayne writes: Former Mozilla CEO Brendan Eich has launched a new Chromium-based browser called Brave. "Brave blocks everything: initial signaling/analytics scripts that start the programmatic advertising 'dirty pipe', impression-tracking pixels, and ad-click confirmation signals," Eich wrote on the Brave site. Former Mozilla CTO Andreas Gal said in a blog post that "the web is broken," with current browser vendors unwilling … [Link]
Mashable » 93-year-old WWII veteran will finally reunite with his girlfriend after 70 years
It may sound cheesy to some, but you can't stop true love. Norwood Thomas, a 93-year-old veteran, is finally getting the chance to reunite with his sweetheart Joyce Morris (formerly Durrant) after spending more than 70 years apart. See also: 98-year-old couple recreates their wedding day 70 years later During World War II, Thomas was a paratrooper in the 101st … [Link]
Mashable » Julian Assange to be questioned about sex assault allegations 'in coming days'
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange will be questioned shortly at Ecuador's embassy in London, the president of the South American country said Wednesday. President Rafael Correa told reporters in Quito that questions submitted by Swedish prosecutors will be asked of Assange by Ecuadorean officials "in the coming days." The questions relate to accusations of sexual assault made by two women. See also: … [Link]
Mashable » Hoverboards would make the worst Uber rides ever
It's true — there are some places hoverboards just don't belong. No matter your opinion on the latest in transportation technology, we can all probably agree that no one wants to ride piggyback to work down a busy city street Plus, if you're going to risk spontaneous combustion, you might as well get a seat. Kevin Hart takes on British … [Link]
Mashable » Mumbai to get India's first LGBT radio cab service next year
India could soon get its first fleet of radio cabs run by LGBT driver. Called Wings Rainbow, the initiative hopes to dispel prejudices and boost employment opportunities for members of the transgender community in particular, who often face economic difficulties due to social discrimination. The service will first launch in Mumbai sometime in 2017. See also: How India's first transgender band … [Link]
Mashable » Kevin Hart takes on British grime artist Stormzy in impromptu rap battle
Kevin Hart and Ice Cube are in the UK to promote their new movie Ride Along 2, while in Manchester the pair met up with the South London MC Stormzy and an unexpected rap battle ensued Hart laid down some bars to grime MC JME's instrumental while Stormzy did a new take on his "WickedSkengMan 4" freestyle. The video shot … [Link]
Slashdot » Theoretical Evidence For a Ninth Planet Beyond Pluto May Be Premature
An anonymous reader writes: Earlier today, the team of Pluto-killer Mike Brown and Konstantin Batygin announced that they had found evidence of a ninth planet in our Solar System beyond the orbit of Pluto, larger and more massive than even Earth. However, a closer inspection of the work shows that they predict a few things that haven't been observed, including … [Link]
Mashable » 8-year-old dubs Gary Busey's Amazon Fire TV commercial and it's oddly zen
Just witnessing Gary Busey is enough to frighten children, but when he's dubbed by our 8-year-old actress Madeleine, he somehow becomes more human than ever before. Busey's original Amazon Fire TV commercial was bizarre to say the least, but we begin to feel for Busey, and his struggles before using the device, now that he sounds like a little kid. … [Link]
Mashable » This candy promises a bounty to Super Bowl players who break this stupid NFL rule
The National Football League considers any choregraphed, offensive or prolonged touchdown celebrations unsportsmanlike conduct punishable by thousands of dollars in player fines. Butterfinger begs to differ. The candy bar brand, which is unaffiliated with the league, is promising to cover up to $50,000 in excessive celebration fines racked up by NFL players in the last three games of the season … [Link]
Mashable » Uncovering Tor: The deep web's browser of choice
Tor is the deep web's browser of choice, but how does it work exactly and should you use it? Read more…More about Tor, Tech, Videos, Deep Web, and Mashable Explains [Link]
Mashable » Sounds that you can't hear could be making you unwell
LONDON — Train stations, shopping centres, museums and libraries could be making people ill by exposing the public — without their knowledge — to airborne ultrasound and very high frequency noise (VHF), a new study has revealed. The study, published this week in the Proceedings of the Royal Society, suggests that mass public exposure to ultrasound and VHF could be causing … [Link]
Mashable » Massive Attack app uses iPhone data to give fans unique remixes
LONDON — Trip hop duo Massive Attack have released a new "sensory music player" app that remixes and reforms songs from their new EP according to environmental data taken from your phone. The app, which is entitled Fantom and works with the iPhone 5s and upwards, uses your location, movement and heartbeat to manipulate the music, along with the time of … [Link]
Mashable » 'Quantico' star Priyanka Chopra to produce an all-girls sitcom just for mobile phones
After winning awards and applause for her role in Quantico and Bajirao Mastani, Bollywood actor and producer Priyanka Chopra is co-producing and acting in an original mobile sitcom. Titled It's My City, it revolves around the lives and loves of four girls who share an apartment in Mumbai. See also: Meet Priyanka Chopra, the Bollywood star headlining ABC's 'Quantico' The bi-weekly sitcom will be … [Link]
Mashable » 18 ways to refresh your job search when it's wearing you down
If there’s any time of year when job-search fatigue swoops in and threatens to stop you cold in your cover-letter writing, resume-tailoring, application-sending game, this may be it. The holidays are a thing of the past, the temperature’s dropping, and the reality of the situation is pretty much in your face. Regardless of whether you’re working and want to leave the … [Link]
Slashdot » Nielsen Adds Facebook To Social TV Ratings
New submitter AnneMackay451 writes with news that the Nielsen media audience measuring company will now include social media buzz into its ratings. From the article: "Nielsen wants to know what TV shows are getting the biggest buzz on Facebook. The measurement firm is expanding its Twitter TV Ratings to include data from Facebook and, eventually, Instagram. The new reports are … [Link]
Mashable » Nicola Sturgeon brilliantly shut down a journalist's tweet about her fashion choices
LONDON — Nicola Sturgeon had no time for a male journalist's recent comments about her fashion choices Sky News' Ireland correspondent David Blevins tweeted on Wednesday that he'd spotted Northern Irish journalist Tracey Magee, DUP leader Arlene Foster and First Minister of Scotland Sturgeon, also the leader of the Scottish National Party, all sporting similar-looking blazers during recent public appearances They're … [Link]
Mashable » 16 bizarre truths I learned as a bikini fitness competitor
Competitive fitness is blowing up among general fitness connoisseurs, thanks to Instagram stars like Paige Hathaway and Michelle Lewin. Their bods and commitment are inspiring women around the world to set the goal of one day stepping on the stage as a fitness competitor in the bikini division at the next local competition Yet this community still isn't universally understood or … [Link]
Popular Science » China rings in new year with a new amphibious Landing ship
CCTV Tianmushan On January 12, 2016, the Tianmushan was commissioned as the PLAN's 12th Type 072A LST. On January 12, 2016, the PLA's "916" Tianmushan, a 5,000 ton Type 072A LST (Landing Ship Tanks), was commissioned into the PLAN. The news is notable in two ways: the first is that it joins the East Sea Fleet, which has responsibility for … [Link]
O'Reilly News and Commentary » Four short links: 21 January 2016
Big Bang Data: Networks of London (YouTube) — guide to the easy-to-miss networks (fibre, CCTV, etc.) around Somerset House, where an amazing exhibition is about to launch. The network guide is the work of the deeply talented Ingrid Burrington. Sensors … [Link]
Mashable » Kevin Hart may not be the best footballer, but he's definitely the funniest
Kevin Hart may only be a patchy footballer at best, but you can't deny the man's got style. Hart and Ice Cube recently paid a visit to Manchester City FC's football ground so Hart could face off with the club's goalkeeper Joe Hart in a penalty shoot-out. The result wasn't exactly the finest example of the sport, but it was … [Link]
O'Reilly News and Commentary » #Ebook Deal/Day: Cloud Native Java – $16.99 (Save 50%) Use code DEAL
Get "Cloud Native Java" today using code DEAL and save 50%!This sale ends at 2:00 AM 2016-01-22 (PDT, GMT-8:00). [Link]
Mashable » Tattoo artists and enthusiasts talk about tattoo triumphs and regrets
This past weekend was the sixth annual DC Tattoo Expo which is held in the Crystal Gateway Marriott in Arlington, VA. The show welcomed thousands of guests, who weaved up and down the ballrooms aisles, some there to look and others to get new ink. The three-day festival hosted more than 400 tattoo artists who came to the expo to show … [Link]
Mashable » There's a simple reason why you can never get Adele tickets
Marisa Boyette, 21, an economics and accounting major at Georgia College, is familiar with the laws of supply and demand. She’s well aware that the two tickets she holds for Adele’s concert in Atlanta could fetch much more than the $150 she and her mother paid. She's not selling, but the temptation was there. “Even though these tickets were going for … [Link]
Mashable » 20 years of memories, as tennis ace Lleyton Hewitt bows out
From fresh-faced at 15 to a world-class athlete at 34, Lleyton Hewitt's tenure as one of Australia's best-known tennis superstars has made him one of the biggest draws to the sport A known record-breaker, Hewitt reigns as the longest-running consecutive competitor in the Australian Open. It is also his last — this tournament marks his retirement. After 20 years of serves, … [Link]
New Scientist – News » Crisis in antibiotic resistance could be slowed by blood test
A test that can distinguish between bacterial and viral infections could prevent unnecessary use of antibiotics that speeds the rise of drug resistance
[Link]
Mashable » This story of a bus driver's sweet act of kindness is cheering up Ireland
LONDON — Some people are just plain nice. See also: 14 British people whose acts of kindness inspired us all in 2015 William Harris, a driver for Bus Éireann in Cork, Ireland, clearly fits that bill — the story of how he went above and beyond to help an older passenger who was struggling after getting off his bus is being … [Link]
Mashable » The Columbus Zoo needs help naming its baby polar bear
The Columbus Zoo's new baby polar is ready for the record books. At nearly 3-months-old, the teeny bear is doing very well, however the zoo has yet to name her and is asking for the Internet's help Help name the #polarbear cub at the #ColumbusZoo! Vote every day thru 2/3 => https://t.co/vsW3YJPgJj#WildWed pic.twitter.com/lDsfg9xQTs — Columbus Zoo (@ColumbusZoo) January 20, 2016 … [Link]
Mashable » Tim Peake's space snaps capture the otherworldly essence of the Aurora Borealis
LONDON — Tim Peake is keeping himself busy in space. This week alone he's given a masterclass on going to the toilet on the International Space Station (ISS), perfected the art of making coffee, and now he's been improving his photography with some lessons. Some might say he should be focussing on those 265 experiments on his To Do list up … [Link]
Mashable » Putin 'probably approved' plan to murder ex-spy Alexander Litvinenko
LONDON — President Vladimir Putin probably approved a plan by Russia's FSB security service to kill former agent Alexander Litvinenko, a British judge said Thursday. In a lengthy report, Judge Robert Owen said that he is certain Litvinenko was given tea laced with a fatal dose of polonium-210 at a London hotel in November 2006. See also: 5 things we learned … [Link]
Mashable » Detained Swedish activist Peter Dahlin apologises on China state TV
Just days after missing Hong Kong bookseller Gui Minhai's tearful confession on Chinese TV, a video apology of detained Swedish activist Peter Dahlin has been aired on China's state broadcaster, CCTV. See also: Why Hong Kong's missing booksellers are raising fears of suppression under the mainland In a 10-minute segment aired on Wednesday, the co-founder of a Hong Kong-registered human rights … [Link]
Slashdot » Big Brother Is Coming To UK Universities
An anonymous reader writes: An upcoming report by the Higher Education Commission, a UK group of MPs, business and academic professionals, will paint a picture of a higher education system that, thanks to the increasing use of data, may undergo radical change, sometimes with painful ethical considerations. Among their visions: an Amazon-style recommendation service on courses and work experience based … [Link]
Mashable » Meet the heterosexual couples fighting for civil partnerships
LONDON — Amy Wilson can't see herself wearing a white dress, or even walking down the aisle, but she wants the protection that comes with marriage, especially as she's expecting her first child with her partner. "When it comes to the idea of marriage, a lot of the religious and historical connotations jar with me," Wilson told Mashable. The law currently … [Link]
Mashable » Graphic designer creates a new movie poster every day, makes us want to binge
We’re all familiar with the mechanics of a favorite movie: You watch one flick over and over again — until your friends start addressing you as the "IMDb page for The Godfather: Part II" Graphic designer, Peter Majarich, has his fair share of favorite movies, as well. But the artist is especially a fan of film posters as evidenced in his … [Link]
Mashable » Frozen pants are the hottest new trend this winter
Residents suffering through the brutal winters of Minnesota are finding interesting ways to entertain themselves. With winter comes plenty of new activities like sledding, ice skating and of course snowball fights, but when it's too cold to stay outside for more than 15 minutes, it's time for a new activity: frozen pants See also: Giant snow penis baffles Swedish town Taking … [Link]
Mashable » Newly-appointed 'king of impressions' Ross Marquand is back with more
Ross Marquand is back, except again, it's not really him. Following the viral success of the original video, Vanity Fair has released more micro impressions from chameleon and The Walking Dead actor Ross Marquand. This time he tackles the frustration behind forgetting you hate cinnamon pad thai, getting seltzer when you asked for tonic, and having someone else steal your … [Link]
Mashable » The creators behind 'Welcome to Night Vale' are launching a new podcast platform
“Turn on your radio and hide." Joseph Fink and Jeffrey Cranor, the creators behind the Welcome to Night Vale podcast, are launching a new podcast platform called Night Vale Presents See also: 'Welcome to Night Vale' Is the Eerie Podcast You're Dying to Hear News of the platform comes just over three years after Fink and Cranor's podcast, a bi-weekly fictional … [Link]
New Scientist – News » Virtual idyll could aid convalescence and stave off depression
Taking in natural beauty can improve our well-being, and now tests could show if virtual scenery benefits hospital patients and personnel at remote outposts
[Link]
Mashable » Constructing London's Tower Bridge required intricate innovation
c. 1889Image: London Stereoscopic Company/Getty ImagesIn the late 1800s, London was faced with the task of building a new span across the Thames, downstream of London Bridge. In order to allow tall-masted sailing ships to pass through to the Thames' port facilities, the new bridge could not be a typical street-level, fixed crossingIn 1877, a committee was formed which held a … [Link]
Mashable » Apple to open iOS App Development Center in Italy
Apple announced Thursday it is opening its first iOS App Development Center in Europe. The center will be located at a partner institution in Naples, Italy, offering a specialized curriculum for students interested in becoming developers for Apple's mobile app ecosystem Apple will also work with partners in other European countries to offer additional training an open up opportunities for students … [Link]
Mashable » Darth Vader onesie recalled for choking hazard
A Darth Vader-themed infant bodysuit sold at Disney parks and resorts has just been recalled due to a choking hazard. If only they'd seen the movies, maybe somebody would've seen this coming. Thankfully there are no reported injuries, says the Consumer Product Safety Commission, but the Star Wars onesies have three snaps on the bottom which can detach when exposed to … [Link]
Mashable » With record sales in 2015, Apple looks to open its branded stores in India soon
Apple has applied for the Indian government's permission to launch its first branded retail stores in India soon. Amidst reports of China's slowing smartphone market, Apple will be hoping to increase its share in India, which has overtaken its Asian neighbour as the world's fastest-growing market for smartphones See also: This is the country where Apple sells the cheapest and most … [Link]
Mashable » UberX to pick up at Los Angeles International Airport
LOS ANGELES — Passengers arriving at Los Angeles International Airport will be allowed to leave in an UberX car starting Thursday morning. LAX was a notable holdout against Uber's cheapest ride-hailing service, as taxi companies lobbied to keep out a potent competitor. See also: Toronto cab driver bangs on Uber car, is dragged 70 feet at anti-Uber protest After months of … [Link]
Mashable » The NFL should stop flirting with a franchise in London and go for it
The NFL has already conquered the U.S., and now its sights might just be set on Europe Mark Waller, NFL's executive vice president of international, reportedly said that London was on track to have its own NFL franchise by 2022, per per BBC. But a league spokesperson confirmed to Mashable that the report is "not accurate." "The BBC story was incorrect," … [Link]
Slashdot » 10 People Arrested In the Netherlands For Bitcoin Laundering
New submitter Incadenza writes: 10 people were arrested in the Netherlands today according to the Public Prosecution Service (In Dutch). The arrests were said to be part of an international investigation, including requests from the USA, Morocco, Australia and Lithuania. Apparently the investigators followed the trace from 'Bitcoin-cashers' (who convert the Bitcoin profits to old money) back to Bitcoin transactions … [Link]
Mashable » Taiwan's first confirmed Zika virus case brought in from Thailand
Amidst news of a Zika virus outbreak, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has confirmed Taiwan's first Zika virus infection. To date, the virus infections in Asia were constrained to the Southeast Asia region. Taiwan's Ministry of Health and Welfare said on Tuesday that the infected patient is a 24-year-old man travelling to Taipei from Northern Thailand. The man, … [Link]
Mashable » How Latino digital network mitú is winning over millennials, investors
SANTA MONICA, Calif. — Roy Burstin and Doug Greiff remember when their Latino digital network mitú couldn't nab a time slot at the annual Digital Content New Fronts in New York City It was 2012, and they had just formed the millennial-geared company (then identified as a multi-channel network) with Beatriz Acevedo. But the founders still wanted to spread the word … [Link]
Mashable » AFP is opening a North Korea bureau, but will it have freedom to report?
SEOUL — Agence France-Presse is opening a bureau in North Korea in hopes of providing a deeper look into one of the world’s most secretive and tightly controlled nations The Paris-based news agency reached an agreement with the Korean Central News Agency, the state-run propaganda outlet, to open a bureau in Pyongyang by mid-2016. That would make it one of just … [Link]
Mashable » Vietnam is in mourning over the death of a sacred giant turtle
The sudden death of one of Vietnam's endangered Yangtze softshell turtles, or Rafetus swinhoei, has sent shockwaves through the country. The rare reptile was found dead in its home, the Hoan Kiem Lake in central Hanoi, on Tuesday, Vietnam's state media, the Vietnam News Agency, reported. The cause of death has yet to be confirmed, but authorities have said the animal … [Link]
Mashable » 24-karat gold Kit Kat is for the chocolate lover who has it all
If there's not enough gold in your life, let us present to you the 24 karat gold Kit Kat bar. Yep, you'll be able to get your hands on an exclusive bit of chocolate, which has been created to help celebrate Chinese New Year. See also: There's an adult jumping castle with life-size ice creams at Sydney Harbour Inside the Kit … [Link]
Mashable » One man's incredible journey from child soldier to an Australian icon
From a Sudanese child soldier to a viral inspiration and social justice advocate, Deng Thiak Adut has delivered the 2016 Australia Day Address The annual address, which took place at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music on Thursday, historically focusses on the changing nature of Australian identity. This year it was no different, with Adut's inspiring speech discussing the concept "Freedom from … [Link]
Slashdot » The Most Popular Bad Passwords of 2015
Nerval's Lobster writes: For years, security experts have told people they need better passwords protecting their online accounts: no more '123456' or 'qwerty' or 'password.' Based on SplashData's fifth annual list of the 25 most common passwords, however, it's clear that relatively few people are listening to that advice. The firm based its list on more than 2 million leaked … [Link]
Mashable » Amazon is offering refunds on all hoverboards, U.S. consumer safety agency says
Hoverboards have been blowing up and causing dads to fall on their butts for months now, and at least one retailer has apparently decided to throw in the towel. Amazon has chosen to give full refunds to any customers who bought a hoverboard, according to U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Chairman Elliot F. Kaye. See also: U.S. product safety agency issues … [Link]
Mashable » General Motors embraces mobility as a business with its new Maven brand
General Motors is officially now in the mobility market. GM announced Thursday morning that it has launched a new mobility brand called Maven that will work to connect international users with car sharing, preferred parking and more. See also: Self-driving cars will come to car sharing before showrooms, GM says Although some Maven features will have international applications, its car-sharing program … [Link]
Slashdot » High-Tech Attack Alert For 2016 Super Bowl
An anonymous reader writes with news about a Homeland Security memo concerning potential technological attacks during the Super Bowl. The forthcoming Super Bowl event on 7th February could be at risk of a high-tech attack against fans both inside and outside the San Francisco 49ers Stadium. A security memo issued by the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security has … [Link]
Mashable » The latest episode of 'Arrow' changed everything
WARNING: This post contains spoilers about the latest episode of Arrow Praise the TV Gods, she's ok. Well, kinda Arrow is back for the second half of its season and just minutes into the first new episode of 2016, the fate of fan favorite Felicity was revealed — only we didn't get the whole story See also: This 'Grey's Anatomy' trailer … [Link]
Mashable » Michigan governor releases Flint emails, battles White House for disaster funding
Following up on a promise from his Tuesday night "State of the State" address, Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder released a slew of emails from 2014 and 2015 relating to the ongoing water crisis in Flint on Wednesday afternoon. See also: The woman who fought Michigan officials to save Flint In a letter that introduces the 270 pages-plus document, Snyder says he … [Link]
Mashable » Tesla sues German supplier over failed Model X falcon doors
Tesla Motors has filed a lawsuit against German auto parts supplier Hoebiger Automotive Comfort Systems, alleging the company failed to produce the falcon-wing doors for Tesla's Model X crossover. See also: Faraday Future's 1,000-horsepower concept car should make Tesla very, very nervous In the suit, Tesla asserts that doors produced by Hoebiger “sagged beyond Tesla’s specified tolerance levels” and “did not … [Link]
Mashable » Same-sex marriage not recognised after death in Australian honeymoon tragedy
Marco Bulmer-Rizzi lost his husband David on Saturday. Now, he is fighting for the right to have their marriage recognised on David's death certificate David died in a freak accident at a friend's house in South Australia, he fell down a set of stairs and tragically suffered a severe head injury. The British couple were visiting Australia to celebrate their honeymoon … [Link]
Mashable » New England Patriot hailed as hero for rescuing woman from car crash
New England Patriots linebacker Darius Fleming is an apparent hero for rescuing a woman from a smoking car crash, pulling her from a vehicle and injuring himself in the process last week. He then played Saturday's playoff game against the Kansas City Chiefs with 22 stitches in his right leg — which hardly anyone else knew at the time, he told … [Link]
Mashable » Abba has reunited at an Abba-themed restaurant, naturally
Abba has reunited. But in Stockholm, at an Abba-themed Greek taverna, and not really. Agnetha Fältskog, Anni-Frid Lyngstad, Bjorn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson, who have reportedly not been photographed in the same room together since 2008, unexpectedly showed up Wednesday evening for the opening of Ulvaeus' Greek taverna, Tyrol. See also: 'Mamma Mia!' restaurant is the dinner theater dream you didn't … [Link]
Mashable » Buffalo Bills promote Kathryn Smith to first full-time female NFL coach
BUFFALO, New York — The Buffalo Bills promoted Kathryn Smith to be their special teams quality control coach, making her the first full-time female member of an NFL coaching staff. The team announced the move in a release Wednesday night. Smith was an administrative assistant this season for Bills assistant coaches under Rex Ryan, with whom she has worked for seven … [Link]
Mashable » Photography challenge pushes people to capture something in an empty space
Photographers often find inspiration in the environment around them, but in this video they are pushed to create something from nothing. In a challenge called BLANK, part of "The Lab" series by Canon Australia, the ability of six photographers is put to the test. They are asked to capture a compelling and beautiful image in an empty room, with only … [Link]
Slashdot » The Story Behind National Reconnaissance Office's Octopus Logo
v3rgEz writes: When the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) announced the upcoming launch of their NROL-39 mission back in December 2013, they didn't get quite the response they hoped. That might have had something to do with the mission logo being a gigantic octopus devouring the Earth. Researcher Runa Sandvik wanted to know who approved this and why, so she filed … [Link]
Mashable » There's an adult jumping castle with life-size ice creams at Sydney Harbour
If you are still reminiscing about the hours you spent on a rusty backyard trampoline with an ice cream dripping down your chin, here's something for you. A jumping castle created specifically for adults has been set up at Sydney's Circular Quay, Australia complete with a giant inflatable Golden Gaytime and Bubble O' Bill — the most Aussie ice creams of … [Link]
Mashable » Days ahead of 'historic' snowstorm, D.C. grinds to a halt after an inch of snow
In a harbinger of bad things to come, Washington, D.C., traffic became gridlocked on Wednesday evening as a small system passed by, dropping around an inch of snow as the city prepared for what could be a historic snowstorm later this week See also: Washington, D.C., hasn't seen a blizzard like this in nearly 100 years The snow on Wednesday evening, … [Link]
Mashable » Australia's largest solar plants are open for business
Australia is slowly getting solar panels on a scale that can match its seriously vast quantities of sunlight. On Wednesday, two new solar plants officially opened in the New South Wales towns of Nyngan and Broken Hill. According to the project's owner, AGL Energy, they will generate enough power to serve more than 50,000 homes. The two plants cover more than … [Link]
Mashable » Stacey Dash's #OscarsSoWhite solution is to eliminate Black History Month
Clueless star Stacey Dash chimed into the #OscarsSoWhite controversy by making some comments that came across a little, well … you know. The actress, who has enjoyed a resurgence in fame as a conservative commentator for Fox News, was invited on Fox and Friends Wednesday to offer her opinion on the Oscar boycott some African-American artists are planning See also: … [Link]
Slashdot » E-Mail Spam Goes Artisanal
An anonymous reader writes: Spam filters have come a long way over the past two decades — but spammers have, too. Though email providers are better than ever at blocking spam, it's still big business, with a lot of money to be made. Security researchers are seeing a new trend in spam: less volume, and better targeting. The article mentions … [Link]
Mashable » Leica's X-U is a pretty and pricey waterproof camera
Waterproof and rugged cameras don't get prettier than Leica's new X-U. Aimed at adventurers and designed in collaboration with the carmaker Audi, the X-U is the first Leica camera that can be submerged in up to 49 feet of water. It's also extremely rugged: shock-resistant, shatterproof and dust-sealed. See also: The search for the ultimate smartphone camera The aluminum camera has … [Link]
Mashable » Sundance Festival-goers can helicopter into Park City with Uber-like app
LOS ANGELES — Anyone who's flown in for the Sundance Film Festival knows you have to build in an hour to drive from the Salt Lake City airport to Park City. But not anymore. For less than $100 per person, a group of six people arriving at the Salt Lake City International Airport can take BLADE, an app-enabled helicopter ride that … [Link]
Mashable » Fan love: Kristaps Porzingis among NBA's hottest jersey sellers
Kristaps Porzingis grew up in Latvia, idolizing NBA stars from afar. Now the 20-year-old rookie's jersey is the fourth-highest seller in the league, outpacing big names he watched on TV as just another hoop dreamer only a few short years ago We recently detailed how and why the 7-foot-3 New York Knicks rookie is the basketball world's favorite new thing. But … [Link]
Mashable » This 'Grey's Anatomy' trailer is rated 'O' for OMG
Meredith Grey — TV's most tragic character of all time — will once again be a victim of her terrible luck When Grey's Anatomy returns for the second half of its season in February, the skilled surgeon will be attacked by a patient and, you guessed it, have to fight for her life Look, it's easy to make light of … [Link]
Mashable » 7 coffee cocktails for epic winter hibernation
If you live on the East Coast, you are probably preparing for this weekend's upcoming potentially massive blizzard Typically that means getting extra toilet paper, canceling those weekend getaway plans and making sure your Netflix account is in working order See also: 6 tricks to stop sweating through your winter layers It is, however, equally important not to neglect what you … [Link]
Mashable » Our next book club pick: A novel of the worst maritime disaster ever
Image: Philomel Books "Salt to the Sea tells the hidden story of the greatest maritime disaster in history that dwarfs both the Titanic and the Lusitania combined. But somehow it’s a story that history opted to forget." That's how YA author Ruta Sepetys describes her upcoming historical novel, Salt to the Sea — our MashReads book club pick for February … [Link]
Slashdot » NASA, NOAA Analyses Reveal Record-Shattering Global Warm Temperatures In 2015
vikingpower writes: Earth's 2015 surface temperatures were the warmest since modern record keeping began in 1880, according to independent analyses by NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Globally-averaged temperatures in 2015 shattered the previous mark set in 2014 by 0.23 degrees Fahrenheit (0.13 Celsius). Only once before, in 1998, has the new record been greater than the … [Link]
Mashable » U.S. product safety agency issues new hoverboard warning
A new, more detailed warning about hoverboards was issued by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) on Wednesday This time, in addition to reminding consumers that there is "no safety standard in place for hoverboards," CPSC Chairman Elliot F. Kaye also warned would-be hoverboard buyers against considering any UL marks on a hoverboard as an indication of a safe deviceUL … [Link]
Mashable » Senate Democrats block bill to tighten vetting process for Syrian refugees
WASHINGTON — Senate Democrats blocked a bill Wednesday that would have tightened the requirements needed to accept Syrian refugees seeking asylum in the United States. The bill, which needed 60 votes to pass, failed by a vote of 55-43. Members on both sides of the aisle accused the other of playing politics with the legislation, which would have forced the the … [Link]
Mashable » Rumor has it: Gossip can actually be good for you
Let’s face it: gossips get a bad rap. Smugly looking down from a moral high ground — and secure in the knowledge that we don’t share their character flaw — we often dismiss those who are obsessed with the doings of others as shallow. Indeed, in its rawest form, gossip is a strategy used by individuals to further their own reputations … [Link]
Mashable » Washington, D.C., snowstorm has reached 'bread and milk' freakout status
Some cities handle their weather preparedness better than others. Washington, D.C., and the Mid-Atlantic area are currently preparing for aWashington, D.C., plans giant 'Star Wars'-themed snowball fight While it's fun (especially for northern cities) to poke fun at D.C. for its excitement over a snowstorm, some weather reports are predicting a snow accumulation of up to 30 inches, enough to cripple … [Link]
Slashdot » 'Star Wars: Episode VIII' Delayed By Seven Months
Mr.Intel writes with bad news for those of you champing at the bit to see the next Star Wars movie. Engadget reports: "You'll have to wait a bit longer to see what the heck is up with Luke Skywalker. Disney announced this afternoon that it's delaying Star Wars: Episode VIII from May 26, 2017 by seven months to December 15, … [Link]
Archive
26 Apr 2024 25 Apr 2024 24 Apr 2024 23 Apr 2024 22 Apr 2024 21 Apr 2024 20 Apr 2024 19 Apr 2024 18 Apr 2024 17 Apr 2024 16 Apr 2024 15 Apr 2024 14 Apr 2024 13 Apr 2024 12 Apr 2024 11 Apr 2024 10 Apr 2024 09 Apr 2024 08 Apr 2024 07 Apr 2024 06 Apr 2024 05 Apr 2024 04 Apr 2024 03 Apr 2024 02 Apr 2024 01 Apr 2024 31 Mar 2024 30 Mar 2024 29 Mar 2024 28 Mar 2024 27 Mar 2024 26 Mar 2024
0 responses so far ↓
There are no comments yet...Kick things off by filling out the form below.
You must log in to post a comment.