John Gordon Ross

A Man for All Reasons

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Geekish

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

Slashdot » SpaceX Is Livestreaming A Hyperloop Pod Competition

Sunday 29 January 23:39:00 UTC 2017

SpaceX is livestreaming a competition between hyperloop pods from outside their headquarters in Hawthorne, California, and at least one Los Angeles newspaper is also covering the event live on Facebook. "This competition is the first of its kind anywhere in the world," SpaceX writes, noting that 27 teams put their pods through a "litany" of pre-qualifying tests hoping to qualify … [Link]

Mashable » Meteorologists to the world: "Don't call me weather girl"

Sunday 29 January 23:27:29 UTC 2017

Https%3a%2f%2fblueprint-api-production.s3.amazonaws.com%2fuploads%2fstory%2fthumbnail%2f34921%2f32f402c4-69a8-4368-8017-9aa328bee1c7Feed-tw Feed-fb Female meteorologists have a simple request: Stop labeling us educated, highly trained scientists as "weather girls." And maybe stop commenting on our dresses and lipstick and start asking about our forecasts. "Women on television can also be scientists. It's that simple," said Ginger Zee, a meteorologist on Good Morning America and ABC World News Tonight.  On Sunday, The Weather Channel … [Link]

Slashdot » The US Border Patrol Is Checking Detainees' Facebook Profiles

Sunday 29 January 22:47:00 UTC 2017

An anonymous reader quotes CNET: Border patrol agents are checking the Facebook accounts of people who are being held in limbo for approval to enter the U.S., according to a Saturday tweet by immigration lawyer Mana Yegani that was spotted by The Independent… Yegani, who is a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, told CNET that checking phones has … [Link]

The Joy of Tech » JoT #2377: UnLadylike Liberty!

Sunday 29 January 22:32:07 UTC 2017

JoT thumbKeep your tired, especially if they're poor! [Link]

ProgrammableWeb.com » Hundreds of Apps Found with Hard Coded Secret Tokens

Sunday 29 January 22:21:12 UTC 2017

Two years ago, there was a growing chorus of voices expressing concern about private API keys finding their way into the public domain thanks in part to careless pushing of code to services like GitHub. Now this problem has spread to mobile apps. The guys over at Hackernoon explain. [Link]

Slashdot » Google Earnings Reveal $3.6 Billion Lost On 'Moonshots' In 2016

Sunday 29 January 21:40:00 UTC 2017

Thursday Google revealed earnings results for 2016 showing the total loss for their "other bets" division had reached $3.6 billion. An anonymous reader quotes CNN : The "other bets" portion of its business includes ambitious projects like self-driving cars, life sciences research and high-speed Internet access… Alphabet shuttered a project to beam Internet to rural areas with solar-powered drones, halted … [Link]

Mashable » Celebrities are pouring money into the ACLU after Trump's immigration ban

Sunday 29 January 21:28:13 UTC 2017

Https%3a%2f%2fblueprint-api-production.s3.amazonaws.com%2fuploads%2fcard%2fimage%2f365241%2f2d9c4b42-e343-47ce-baf9-c6e6dba811cbFeed-tw Feed-fbThe ACLU successfully argued for a halt to deportations across the United States on Saturday after an executive order issued by President Donald Trump on Friday caused chaos for immigrants from seven Muslim-majority nations.  Even before the stay was granted by a federal judge in Brooklyn, celebrities began calling for donations to the ACLU, starting with Sia, who said she will … [Link]

Mashable » Shyamalan's 'Split' is still #1 at the box office

Sunday 29 January 20:57:16 UTC 2017

Https%3a%2f%2fblueprint-api-production.s3.amazonaws.com%2fuploads%2fcard%2fimage%2f365232%2ff986de64-ecff-47e9-af9b-b4fda4b5af10Feed-tw Feed-fbM. Night Shyamalan is back. For the second weekend in a row, the director's Split is the box office winner. Not since 1999's The Sixth Sense has a Shyamalan movie opened with two consecutive #1 weekends. But Split pulled it off, seemingly cementing the filmmaker's re-emergence after more than a decade of critical duds. SEE ALSO: 'Split' review: M. Night Shyamalan's … [Link]

Slashdot » Toshiba Will Spin Off Some Of Its Memory Business

Sunday 29 January 20:41:00 UTC 2017

Lucas123 writes: Toshiba, which invented NAND flash, plans to sell off an as-of-yet undisclosed portion of its memory business, including its solid-state drive unit, to Western Digital. Toshiba is spinning the business off to WD, a business ally, because it hopes in the long run the Toshiba-WD alliance will enable an expansion in NAND flash production capacity and increased efficiency … [Link]

Mashable » 16 things Quentin Tarantino learned from rewatching 'Reservoir Dogs' at Sundance

Sunday 29 January 20:36:06 UTC 2017

Https%3a%2f%2fblueprint-api-production.s3.amazonaws.com%2fuploads%2fcard%2fimage%2f365237%2fe3dde112-4f8e-4bb5-b703-c97670e21d35Feed-tw Feed-fbPARK CITY, Utah — Few debuts in the history of cinema have made as much impact as Quentin Tarantino’s Reservoir Dogs did when it premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 1992. A smart, slick caper film, QT’s rat-a-tat dialogue and style birthed numerous imitators and ushered in the latest generation of filmmaker who, like their musical contemporaries, were deft at … [Link]

Mashable » Headshots and comebacks in crazy 'Counter-Strike' finals

Sunday 29 January 20:11:32 UTC 2017

Https%3a%2f%2fblueprint-api-production.s3.amazonaws.com%2fuploads%2fcard%2fimage%2f365406%2f69510e54-4bb0-4f41-8d3e-a6e62e515a32Feed-tw Feed-fbATLANTA — Astralis won the 10th Counter-Strike: Global Offensive Major on Sunday, taking out the Polish powerhouse Virtus.pro in an intense grand finals match to earn its first-ever Major title. The two teams in the ELeague Major grand finals battled for glory and the $500,000 first place prize, with Astralis winning 2-1 in an exciting fight between the two Counter-Strike titans. … [Link]

Slashdot » Tostitos' Breathalyzer Bags Can Detect If You're Drunk — Then Call Uber

Sunday 29 January 19:44:00 UTC 2017

Slashdot reader schwit1 writes that Tostito's corn chips "has developed a special bag, available for a limited time, that can detect if you've had too much to drink." Its all-black packaging measures your breath for traces of alcohol, and if the test reveals you're sober, a green circle appears on the bag. But, Mashable reports… If it decides you've been … [Link]

Mashable » Internet points out irony of Trump screening 'Finding Dory' during #MuslimBan

Sunday 29 January 19:29:40 UTC 2017

Https%3a%2f%2fblueprint-api-production.s3.amazonaws.com%2fuploads%2fcard%2fimage%2f365191%2f2838cfd4-9496-43c6-befb-6fed22d63eaeFeed-tw Feed-fbFinding Dory was snubbed when the Oscar nominations were announced on Tuesday.  Now it's back in the news, this time because President Donald Trump is reportedly screening the movie at the White House for staff and family — right in the middle of the furor over what is effectively a ban on Muslim immigrants. SEE ALSO: Lyft pledges $1 million ACLU … [Link]

Mashable » An artist has created something incredible for your home out of sand

Sunday 29 January 19:00:00 UTC 2017

Https%3a%2f%2fblueprint-api-production.s3.amazonaws.com%2fuploads%2fstory%2fthumbnail%2f34543%2ffd9c8fbb-095a-4393-9ef4-684bc0a616dfFeed-tw Feed-fbThis ever-changing sand sculpture rolls a metal ball around to continuously create and erase beautiful patterns. Read more…More about Home Tech, Furniture, Home Design, Design, and Technology [Link]

Slashdot » 'Here's Where Google Hid Chrome's SSL Certificate Information'

Sunday 29 January 18:34:00 UTC 2017

"Google Chrome users have been contacting me wondering why they no longer could access the detailed status of Chrome https: connections, or view the organization and other data associated with SSL certificates for those connections," writes Slashdot reader Lauren Weinstein, adding "Google took a simple click in an intuitive place and replaced it with a bunch of clicks scattered around." … [Link]

Mashable » 2 big names in video games take on Trump's immigration ban

Sunday 29 January 18:25:44 UTC 2017

Https%3a%2f%2fblueprint-api-production.s3.amazonaws.com%2fuploads%2fcard%2fimage%2f365158%2f47a14247-8b30-46af-81e6-ccad6d790a1dFeed-tw Feed-fbThe Trump administration's immigration ban has prompted a fast response from two of the bigger names in the world of video games: Vlambeer and Playdots. Starting at 7:00 p.m. ET on Saturday, Vlambeer — the Dutch studio behind Ridiculous Fishing, Luftrausers, and Nuclear Throne — pledged to donate all revenue from the subsequent 24 hours to the American Civil Liberties Union. … [Link]

Mashable » The internet isn't too happy about Ivanka Trump's fancy dress tweet

Sunday 29 January 17:37:56 UTC 2017

Https%3a%2f%2fblueprint-api-production.s3.amazonaws.com%2fuploads%2fstory%2fthumbnail%2f35127%2f68a712e5-abbe-46f2-a75d-86c08dd09efdFeed-tw Feed-fbAmidst the chaos brought on by President Donald Trump's maybe illegal executive decision to block immigration from several Muslim-majority countries, first daughter Ivanka Trump wants the internet to check out her dress. On Friday, Trump signed an executive order that instituted a 90-day travel ban for citizens from seven predominantly Muslim nations, a 120-day suspension on U.S. entry for all refugees, … [Link]

Slashdot » All-Corn Diet Turns Hamsters Into Cannibals

Sunday 29 January 17:34:00 UTC 2017

An anonymous reader quotes Engadget: A new paper outlines the efforts of scientists at the University of Strasbourg to determine why the European hamster has been dying off at an alarming rate… Previously, the rodent's diet consisted of grains, roots and insects. But the regions in which its numbers were dropping have been taken over by the industrial farming of … [Link]

Mashable » WeRateDogs Twitter combats Muslim ban with 'unconditional love'

Sunday 29 January 16:54:13 UTC 2017

Https%3a%2f%2fblueprint-api-production.s3.amazonaws.com%2fuploads%2fcard%2fimage%2f365132%2f6d30a70e-1ce2-4d9f-86c2-6c16c3425b05Feed-tw Feed-fbThe @dog_rates Twitter account is protesting Donald Trump's #MuslimBan with adorable photos (naturally) and messages of love. It started innocently enough on Saturday, during widespread airport protests railing against the Trump administration's immigration ban — which affects an outsized proportion of Muslims. The WeRateDogs account shared a photo of a cute pup protester wearing a sign that read: "I wag 4 … [Link]

Slashdot » Ransomware Locks A Hotel's Guests In Their Rooms

Sunday 29 January 16:34:00 UTC 2017

An anonymous reader writes: A luxury hotel paid "thousands" in Bitcoin ransom to cybercriminals who hacked into their electronic key system, "locking hundreds of guests in or out of their rooms until the money was paid." The "furious" hotel manager says it's the third time their electronic system has been attacked, though one local news site reports that "on the … [Link]

Mashable » This 'Hidden Figures' cosplay is the cutest

Sunday 29 January 16:31:31 UTC 2017

Https%3a%2f%2fblueprint-api-production.s3.amazonaws.com%2fuploads%2fstory%2fthumbnail%2f35126%2f0fc927e3-7448-4b08-b763-33db203fe621Feed-tw Feed-fbJust a few days after news of a best picture nomination for Hidden Figures, its star Taraji P. Henson enchanted her Instagram followers with a photo of sweet cosplay inspired by the film.  SEE ALSO: Why 'Hidden Figures' — and its unsung heroes — is the ultimate NASA story The photo shows three young girls dressed as the film's leading women, … [Link]

Mashable » Here's Justin Bieber getting savagely checked in the NHL All-Star celebrity game

Sunday 29 January 16:20:17 UTC 2017

Https%3a%2f%2fblueprint-api-production.s3.amazonaws.com%2fuploads%2fcard%2fimage%2f364935%2fe6615245-583d-441b-8eca-6f0f7da514f6Feed-tw Feed-fbThe NHL All-Star celebrity game puts former pro hockey players on the same ice as actors and musicians — which can apparently lead to moments like this.  Justin Bieber learned the hard way just how physical the NHL can be when Chris Pronger checked him into the boards Saturday. SEE ALSO: The most dad-ass dad sneaker of all time just became … [Link]

Mashable » Lyft pledges $1 million ACLU donation in response to Trump's #MuslimBan

Sunday 29 January 15:46:02 UTC 2017

Https%3a%2f%2fblueprint-api-production.s3.amazonaws.com%2fuploads%2fcard%2fimage%2f365092%2f84c25e46-93ee-4b6a-aefe-fc04ad61e79bFeed-tw Feed-fbWhile the #DeleteUber hashtag continues to gather steam on social media, Lyft is taking on Donald Trump's Muslim ban directly — and probably picking up some new customers in the process. The ride-sharing company — and Uber competitor — addressed the political minefield in an email to customers, bearing the title "Defending Our Values." The joint statement from co-founders Logan Green … [Link]

Slashdot » Can A Robot Fool 'I Am Not A Robot' Captchas?

Sunday 29 January 15:34:00 UTC 2017

Business Insider reports on a new video showing a robotic arm apparently defeating the "I am not a robot" captcha test. An anonymous reader quotes their report: The Captcha the robot fools tracks the user's mouse movements to make sure they're a "real" human. So rather than trying to trick it with software — a tactic that can often be … [Link]

Mashable » This VR paint studio allows you to collaborate live with anyone in the world

Sunday 29 January 15:00:00 UTC 2017

Https%3a%2f%2fblueprint-api-production.s3.amazonaws.com%2fuploads%2fstory%2fthumbnail%2f34824%2f37c539aa-2016-47df-bf6b-1cf088dae89eFeed-tw Feed-fbMasterpieceVR features a unique multiplayer painting and sculpting studio where several users can collaborate in real time. Read more…More about Real Time Video, Real Time, Gaming, Video Games, and Brinx Software [Link]

Slashdot » Actor John Hurt Dies At Age 77

Sunday 29 January 14:34:00 UTC 2017

Slashdot reader necro81 writes: A fantastic chameleon of the stage and screen has died. Sir John Hurt passed away at age 77. Slashdot readers should recognize him as the first person to have a xenomorph burst from his chest in the original Alien (a scene he later parodied in Spaceballs ). Others may recall he played the downtrodden protagonist Winston … [Link]

Mashable » The Terra Nova expedition: An ambitious and ill-fated attempt to reach the South Pole

Sunday 29 January 14:00:00 UTC 2017

Https%3a%2f%2fblueprint-api-production.s3.amazonaws.com%2fuploads%2fstory%2fthumbnail%2f35049%2f71009d25-4fdd-4654-9fa9-63bc73fd7134Feed-tw Feed-fbJan. 5, 1911Geologist Thomas Griffith Taylor and meteorologist Charles Wright look out towards the Terra Nova from inside an ice grotto.IMage: Herbert Ponting/Scott Polar Research Institute, University of Cambridge/Getty ImagesIn 1910, British explorer Robert Falcon Scott embarked on an ambitious expedition to Antarctica, aiming to explore uncharted wastelands, conduct scientific studies and above all else, become the first person to reach … [Link]

Slashdot » ISPs Finally Abandon The Copyright Alert System

Sunday 29 January 11:34:00 UTC 2017

"Major internet providers are ending a four-year-old system in which consumers received 'copyright alerts' when they viewed peer-to-peer pirated content," reports Variety. An anonymous reader quotes Engadget's update on the Copyright Alert System. It was supposed to spook pirates by having their internet providers send violation notices, with the threat of penalties like throttling. However, it hasn't exactly panned out. … [Link]

Slashdot » CNET Editor Rails Against Non-Consensual Windows Updates

Sunday 29 January 8:34:00 UTC 2017

schwit1 shares this angry commentary from a CNET senior editor: Maybe you're delivering a presentation to a huge audience. Maybe you're taking an online test. Maybe you just need to get some work done on a tight deadline. Windows doesn't care. Windows will take control of your computer, force-feed it updates, and flip the reset switch automatically — and there's … [Link]

Mashable » Actor Kal Penn raises thousands for Syrian refugees after vile social media comment

Sunday 29 January 7:57:30 UTC 2017

Https%3a%2f%2fblueprint-api-production.s3.amazonaws.com%2fuploads%2fcard%2fimage%2f364929%2ff621c242-a912-4d74-bcf4-d855733d3a91Feed-tw Feed-fbWhat Kal Penn calls turning bigotry into love is a powerful force indeed.  The actor flipped a vile social media comment on its head Saturday, using the message of hate to rally support for Syrian refugees to the tune of $50,000.  SEE ALSO: Hollywood rallies to support Iranian Asghar Farhadi, barred from Oscars by Muslim ban Penn shared a screenshot of … [Link]

Mashable » Thanks to Trump ties, #DeleteUber campaign grows on social media

Sunday 29 January 7:07:57 UTC 2017

Https%3a%2f%2fblueprint-api-production.s3.amazonaws.com%2fuploads%2fcard%2fimage%2f365059%2f4e991adf-e36c-4c32-9d49-e0aa370ff8d9Feed-tw Feed-fbLinks to President Donald Trump are shaping up to be a liability for Silicon Valley's golden boys. Case in point: Uber.  The hashtag #DeleteUber has been spreading on social media amid protests against Trump's Muslim travel ban. The ride hailing service was accused of "strike breaking" in New York Saturday, while others condemned remarks made by Uber CEO Travis Kalanick indicating … [Link]

Mashable » OurMine just hacked a bunch of WWE accounts

Sunday 29 January 6:12:56 UTC 2017

Https%3a%2f%2fblueprint-api-production.s3.amazonaws.com%2fuploads%2fcard%2fimage%2f365055%2fedc0c7d2-efe6-4765-ab63-6a8a4ad45614Feed-tw Feed-fbNotorious hacker group OurMine is back at it, hacking social media profiles to let the world know just how easy it can be to get inside an account.  This time, the World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) group is at the receiving end.  SEE ALSO: OurMine just combined hacking and debunking to dispel a fake Britney Spears death tweet Several Twitter accounts affiliated … [Link]

Slashdot » Trump's Executive Order Eliminates Privacy Act Protections For Foreigners

Sunday 29 January 5:34:00 UTC 2017

Long-time Slashdot reader Kernel Kurtz writes : January 28 is supposed to be Data Privacy Day, so it seems fitting in an alternative sort of way that U.S. President Trump just signed an executive order that eliminates Privacy Act protections for foreigners. As a non-American, I find it curious that the person who says he wants to bring jobs to … [Link]

Mashable » Airbnb offers free housing to those affected by Muslim travel ban

Sunday 29 January 4:09:32 UTC 2017

Https%3a%2f%2fblueprint-api-production.s3.amazonaws.com%2fuploads%2fcard%2fimage%2f365018%2f96ecdfef-b381-41ae-9cf2-e1d198bcf279Feed-tw Feed-fbAirbnb said it will help those affected by Donald Trump's Muslim travel ban on Saturday, but is yet to share the fine print. The company's cofounder and CEO Brian Chesky wrote on Facebook that Airbnb will provide free housing to refugees and people not in their home city who are denied the ability to board flights. "We have 3M homes, so … [Link]

Slashdot » Ask Slashdot: Should You Tell Future Employers Your Salary History?

Sunday 29 January 2:34:00 UTC 2017

An anonymous reader writes: During the interview process for a technology job, I was asked to fill out an application which included questions about my compensation history. When I asked why, I was told that it was part of the background check and wouldn't be used to determine the size of the offer… What is the risk for the employer … [Link]

Mashable » Airport protests against Muslim ban spread across the U.S. via social media

Sunday 29 January 2:29:12 UTC 2017

Https%3a%2f%2fblueprint-api-production.s3.amazonaws.com%2fuploads%2fcard%2fimage%2f364966%2f08147d4b-988a-4a3f-b23d-4f2838a2a4b5Feed-tw Feed-fbOrganising on social media under the hashtag #MuslimBan, Americans gathered at airports across the country Saturday to protest President Donald Trump's travel ban on Muslim immigrants. Trump signed the executive order Friday, which included a 90-day travel ban for citizens of Iraq, Syria, Iran, Sudan, Libya, Somalia or Yemen, as well as a 120-day suspension of the U.S. refugee program.  The … [Link]

Mashable » 'Counter-Strike' semifinals highlights: Near misses, killing sprees and chaos

Sunday 29 January 1:21:21 UTC 2017

Https%3a%2f%2fblueprint-api-production.s3.amazonaws.com%2fuploads%2fcard%2fimage%2f364936%2f534035a0-9220-4725-8256-abe37d08c57eFeed-tw Feed-fbATLANTA — Four Counter-Strike: Global Offensive teams battled at the ELeague Major semifinals Saturday, with Astralis taking on Fnatic and Virtus.pro going up against SK Gaming in two intense fights for coveted spots in the finals. To kick off the semis, Astralis closed out the best-of-three match against Fnatic with a 2-0 victory, handling Fnatic with ease on the second map, … [Link]

Mashable » Instagram pic proves Serena Williams is the GOAT and also the best sister

Sunday 29 January 1:03:40 UTC 2017

Https%3a%2f%2fblueprint-api-production.s3.amazonaws.com%2fuploads%2fcard%2fimage%2f364961%2f14ba488b-5760-4b98-b788-841cd535c161Feed-tw Feed-fbThe Williams-on-Williams final at the Australian Open Saturday was quite the event. Not only did Serena Williams beat her sister Venus to secure an open-era record for Grand Slam singles titles, she also reminded us of the power of sisterly love.  After her victory, she shared a sweet picture of her and Venus on Instagram: "The top is never lonely when … [Link]

Slashdot » Server Runs Continuously For 24 Years

Sunday 29 January 0:34:00 UTC 2017

In 1993 a Stratus server was booted up by an IT application architect — and it's still running. An anonymous reader writes: "It never shut down on its own because of a fault it couldn't handle," says Phil Hogan, who's maintained the server for 24 years. That's what happens when you include redundant components. "Over the years, disk drives, power … [Link]

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