John Gordon Ross

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

Mashable » Nothing to see here, just a cricket commentator announcing a match during his vasectomy

Wednesday 1 February 23:39:41 UTC 2017

Not even a vasectomy will stand between this man and the sport of gentlemen. One cricket commentator was apparently so determined to not miss a day on the job, he decided to do a live broadcast of a New Zealand-Australia match while getting a vasectomy.  SEE ALSO: LeBron James unleashes sick burns on 'hater' Charles Barkley After the numbing anesthetic kicks … [Link]

Mashable » Need help with your taxes? IBM Watson is here to help

Wednesday 1 February 23:30:00 UTC 2017

Tax season has finally brought in the ultimate expert: Watson.  IBM's supercomputer, which has already applied its endless knowledge to curing cancer, researching ALS and writing songs, will use its talents to process huge amounts of information to do taxes through H&R Block this year.   "Tax preparation is a perfect use for Watson. Just like Watson is already revolutionizing other … [Link]

Slashdot » Tokyo 2020 Olympic Medals To Be Made From Recycled Phones

Wednesday 1 February 23:20:00 UTC 2017

Mickeycaskill quotes a report from Silicon.co.uk: The medals for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games will be made from recycled mobile phones in an effort to engage the Japanese nation and meet sustainability criteria. The Tokyo 2020 organizing committee has called on the Japanese public to donate their "discarded or obsolete electronic devices" to provide the eight tonnes of … [Link]

Mashable » An NBA free agent takes his job hunt to Instagram

Wednesday 1 February 23:13:07 UTC 2017

Despite standing just 5-foot-9, Nate Robinson is the NBA slam dunk contest's only three-time champion. He's swatted LeBron James. He's swatted Yao Ming. He's averaged as many as 17 points per game in an NBA season. He's electrified arenas from Los Angeles to Toronto to Miami while becoming a basketball fan-favorite.  Robinson is also, at the moment, unemployed. So what's an … [Link]

Mashable » NASA experiments show how astronaut’s genes changed in space

Wednesday 1 February 23:05:41 UTC 2017

Living in space for one year can change a lot about a person, including their DNA.  For NASA astronaut Scott Kelly, his year spent living and working on the International Space Station made him more of an environmentalist and gave him a view of our planet that most people will never see in person.  But beyond those shifts in perspective, Kelly's … [Link]

Popular Science » Bat Bot flies through the air on whisper-thin wings

Wednesday 1 February 22:42:35 UTC 2017

Aviation A flappy little drone A flexible bat bot successfully flies… [Link]

Slashdot » Tim Sweeney Dislikes Windows 10 Cloud Rumors, Calls OS 'Crush Steam Edition'

Wednesday 1 February 22:40:00 UTC 2017

An anonymous reader quotes a report from Ars Technica: The rumor that Microsoft is building a version of Windows 10 that can only install apps from the Windows Store has drawn criticism before it's even official. Epic Games founder Tim Sweeney took to Twitter to attack the operating system. Although its real name is named Windows 10 Cloud, he's dubbing … [Link]

Mashable » Bad Lip Reading tackles the NFL in a hilarious new parody

Wednesday 1 February 22:36:12 UTC 2017

It's becoming one of the best traditions of the year: just before the Super Bowl, Bad Lip Reading drops its annual overdub of the NFL. This year's edition doesn't disappoint.  From random nonsense to silly phrases, there's just something hilarious about making grown NFL players sound completely ridiculous.  Just watching 'Super Mario Maker' level is pure chaos Seth Meyers has a lot … [Link]

Mashable » Parents, do not let this dumb sign make you feel guilty about using your phone

Wednesday 1 February 22:34:58 UTC 2017

You may have seen the viral photo of a daycare sign scolding moms and dads to get off their phones and pay attention to their kids. Please, for the love of all that is holy, do not let these people phone-shame you. The image was posted on Facebook on Friday by Juliana Farris Mazurkewicz, who took it as she arrived for … [Link]

Mashable » Snapchat celebrates Black History Month with 'Young, Black and Proud' story

Wednesday 1 February 22:28:48 UTC 2017

Snapchat is taking new steps to celebrate Black History Month in its app. The app is rolling out a set special geofilters and launching a new "Our Story" called "Young Black and Proud," which encourages Snapchat users to share their experiences and what makes them proud, to commemorate Black History Month. SEE ALSO: This book service wants to help you celebrate … [Link]

Mashable » 'Super Mario Maker' level is pure chaos

Wednesday 1 February 22:23:08 UTC 2017

Created by YouTube user Val JP, known for similarly ridiculous Super Mario Maker levels, "Tricky Mario" looks like exactly that: tricky as hell. You can find and play it for yourself, if you dare, here. (h/t Reddit)  Bad Lip Reading tackles the NFL in a hilarious new parody Seth Meyers has a lot of questions about Melania Trump's 'Vanity Fair' cover Most patient … [Link]

Mashable » Twitter's big tease on abuse updates is extremely disappointing

Wednesday 1 February 22:11:52 UTC 2017

Twitter has a big plan to combat abuse. CEO Jack Dorsey and VP of Engineering Ed Ho have been chatting back and forth about it, on Twitter, all week.  But don't get too excited just yet — you'll probably roll your eyes when you hear today's update.  Making Twitter a safer place is our primary focus and we are now moving … [Link]

Mashable » Exxon's former CEO is now our secretary of state. So, there's that.

Wednesday 1 February 22:11:23 UTC 2017

Rex Tillerson, the longtime head of ExxonMobil, won Senate confirmation on Wednesday to be secretary of state. In this new role, Tillerson will be in charge of U.S. international climate negotiations as well as international aid efforts on climate-related disasters.  Yes, you read that correctly: The former head of one of the largest oil and gas companies in the world will … [Link]

ProgrammableWeb.com » Slack Updates SDKs for New Enterprise Shared Channel Features

Wednesday 1 February 22:10:41 UTC 2017

Slack is targeting the enterprise in a big way with Slack Enterprise Grid, a scalable version of its business communications platform. Along with the expanded platform, Slack updated its Node.js and Python SDKs so developers can add the new features to their own Slack apps. [Link]

Mashable » Tokyo will make its 2020 Olympic medals from recycled smartphones

Wednesday 1 February 22:06:53 UTC 2017

For those who've dreamt of taking a selfie with Olympic superstar Simone Biles, this might be the closest your smartphone will ever get to her. Olympics organizers are hoping to construct medals for Tokyo 2020 from recycled smartphones. SEE ALSO: How Nike plans to break one of the most daunting barriers in human performance “Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic medals will … [Link]

Mashable » Instagram just ruined Instagram

Wednesday 1 February 22:02:22 UTC 2017

Instagram, the popular social network based around sharing photos, died suddenly on Tuesday. The service was 6 years old. The cause of death was trying to be everything to everyone, a condition it had suffered for months but had been managing quite well. Despite its status as both a top-rated app in Apple's App Store and one of Facebook's prized acquisitions, … [Link]

Slashdot » Airbus Is About To Build A Self-Flying Electric Robo-Taxi

Wednesday 1 February 22:00:00 UTC 2017

Airbus said today it is building a prototype of an electric self-flying plane for a single passenger, which it is calling the Vahana. The autonomous plane can fly a single passenger on trips of around 50 miles. From a report on FastCompany: Airbus teased two possibilities for the Vahana on December 14: an electric helicopter and a plane with wings … [Link]

Mashable » This stoner's ingenuity is the best joke on the internet

Wednesday 1 February 21:47:52 UTC 2017

Sometimes you've gotta make do with what you've got. After running out of sandwich bags, Twitter user @wallahi was in quite the predicament. How would he keep his sammy safe from the outside world during transit?  SEE ALSO: Man who lost his testicles while showing off his scuba bong is fake news Sure, most people would have reached for the tin … [Link]

Mashable » Beyoncé's Coachella performance will be pretty interesting, according to Twitter

Wednesday 1 February 21:39:00 UTC 2017

More like Preggochella. As you probably heard, Beyonce and Jay Z announced that they are expecting twins with a earthy Instagram post that gained over three million likes in an hour. And, while most people are celebrating the announcement, many are left wondering what this will mean for Beyonce's headlining Coachella performance which was set to begin on April 15. SEE … [Link]

Geek Culture » Love is all around… Joan Jett

Wednesday 1 February 21:38:31 UTC 2017

[Link]

Mashable » Facebook is within reach of 2 billion users

Wednesday 1 February 21:37:17 UTC 2017

Facebook hasn't hit 2 billion users per month, but it's getting pretty damn close. Just when you thought Facebook already connected the entire world, it's proving that it can grow faster than ever before.  SEE ALSO: Facebook's VR social network is surprisingly stunning Facebook now reaches 1.86 billion monthly active users, having added 70 million users in the quarter. That's an … [Link]

Mashable » Denny's tweeted about eating babies because Beyoncé broke everything

Wednesday 1 February 21:29:47 UTC 2017

Remember brand tweets? When pop culture news used to happen, brands would often jump on the trending topics to promote their products with a light-hearted quip. Sometimes, people would laugh at the tweets. Other times they would roll their eyes. Occasionally, people would get angry at the tweets for being insensitive. Today, it happened again. SEE ALSO: The 9 most cringeworthy … [Link]

Slashdot » Jury Orders Oculus To Pay $500 Million In ZeniMax Lawsuit

Wednesday 1 February 21:20:00 UTC 2017

An anonymous reader quotes a report from Polygon: A Dallas, Texas jury today awarded half a billion dollars to ZeniMax after finding that Oculus co-founder Palmer Luckey, and by extension Oculus, failed to comply with a non-disclosure agreement he signed. In awarding ZeniMax $500 million, the jury also said that Oculus did not misappropriate trade secrets as contended by ZeniMax. … [Link]

Mashable » Yes, 'Game of Thrones' fans, you'll get something from George RR Martin this year

Wednesday 1 February 21:15:54 UTC 2017

And lo, in the sixth year of waiting for new words from Westeros, the people's prayers were answered: George RR Martin has confirmed reports that he is writing a new story set in his "Song of Ice and Fire" universe.  It isn't the next novel, Winds of Winter, which Martin has been working on since 2011. It's a prequel story called … [Link]

Mashable » Beyoncé's pregnancy announcement spawned many, many wonderful jokes

Wednesday 1 February 21:15:37 UTC 2017

As expected, the Internet exploded when Beyoncé announced via Instagram that she and Jay-Z are expecting twins. Twitter was flooded with responses to the news—everything from stories of unstoppable tears to the fact that the announcement coincided with Black History Month dominated timelines—and some of the tweets are downright hysterical. SEE ALSO: Everyone stop everything: Beyoncé just announced that she's pregnant … [Link]

Mashable » Leaked video shows 'nightmare inducing' robot from Boston Dynamics

Wednesday 1 February 21:06:28 UTC 2017

The company behind Atlas has a new impressive and terrifying robot.Alphabet-owned Boston Dynamics is expanding beyond robots with legs. The company, which has previously made two-legged, human-like robots like Atlas and four-legged, dog-like robots like Spot, is now experimenting with a robot on wheels. Venture capitalist Steve Jurvetson shared a video of Boston Dynamics showing off a new robot called Handle … [Link]

Mashable » Denis Leary knows he looks like Kellyanne Conway and he's not ruling out a biopic

Wednesday 1 February 21:04:21 UTC 2017

At 7:20 AM on Jan. 31, the powers that be decided to throw us a bone and blissfully point out that Kellyanne Conway and Denis Leary share, like, a whole face.  I remain convinced that @KellyannePolls is a character played by @denisleary pic.twitter.com/e73UqgRMf4 — David Baddiel (@Baddiel) January 31, 2017 The resemblance is… uncanny. At the very least it looks like … [Link]

Mashable » Facebook ordered to pay $500 million over Oculus VR lawsuit — but still comes out a winner

Wednesday 1 February 20:51:52 UTC 2017

Facebook’s Oculus has been ordered to pay $500 million after a jury found that Oculus co-founder Palmer Luckey violated a non-disclosure agreement, according to Polygon.  It could have been a lot worse. The jury also found Oculus was not guilty of the most serious allegations — that the virtual reality company's founders had stolen trade secrets — in particular, code that … [Link]

Mashable » The reunion that shocked Nicki Minaj fans on Instagram

Wednesday 1 February 20:43:50 UTC 2017

Let’s be honest, a Young Money reunion is the best way Black History Month could have kicked off this year, especially considering the confusing disaster of a speech from the White House.   Lil Wayne, Nicki Minaj and Drake were all in the same room recently and thankfully, they saw it fit to share pictures from their reunion with the world.  … [Link]

Slashdot » EU Announces Deal To End All Wireless Roaming Charges

Wednesday 1 February 20:40:00 UTC 2017

The European Union took a big step toward creating a Digital Single Market today with the announcement of a deal that would end roaming charges for mobile consumers across the continent. From a report on VentureBeat: The plan had originally been announced two years ago when the European Commission unveiled an ambitious plan to create a DSM that would unify … [Link]

New Scientist – News » Bat-inspired robot swoops and dives like the real thing

Wednesday 1 February 20:30:00 UTC 2017

A lightweight drone with features mimicking the wings of bats is an agile flyer and could be used to monitor safety risks at construction sites [Link]

Mashable » Can dating apps be used to catch fugitives? You bet.

Wednesday 1 February 20:25:29 UTC 2017

Using a dating app to find someone special is nothing new, but CBS's new reality show, Hunted, takes matchmaking to a whole new level. The show follows several two-person teams as they attempt to get off the grid and stay on the run for 28 days, as a team of highly trained law enforcement experts use every trick in the … [Link]

Slashdot » Leaked Video Shows New 'Nightmare-Inducing' Wheeled Robot From Boston Dynamics

Wednesday 1 February 20:00:00 UTC 2017

Boston Dynamics has a reputation for building robots which push the boundaries of robotics technology, although with a slightly creepy persona. Its latest robot is no different. From a report on The Verge: The company's new wheeled, upright robot is named Handle ("because it's supposed to handle objects") and looks like a cross between a Segway and the two-legged Atlas … [Link]

Mashable » Beyoncé's big announcement gave an incredible start to Black History Month

Wednesday 1 February 19:54:03 UTC 2017

Queen Bey just snatched the entire month. Beyonce and Jay Z announced that they will be having twins in a very Mother Earth-themed Instagram post.  And, because she is the unofficial queen of America, the internet went insane with her post reaching over a two million likes in under half an hour. SEE ALSO: Everyone stop everything: Beyoncé just announced that … [Link]

ProgrammableWeb.com » Daily API RoundUp: Google Cast, Associated Press, OpenStack, Azure Search

Wednesday 1 February 19:37:30 UTC 2017

Every day, the ProgrammableWeb team is busy, updating its three primary directories for APIs, clients (language-specific libraries or SDKs for consuming or providing APIs), and source code samples. [Link]

Mashable » Beyoncé's pregnancy announcement will save America, at least according to Twitter

Wednesday 1 February 19:37:03 UTC 2017

If you are reading this, take comfort in knowing that Beyoncé Giselle Knowles-Carter and Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter will be having twins this year. Yes. Twins.  Despite the fact that probably everyone reading this article will never get to babysit the "beybies," the news that the Queen will be giving birth to twins has brought an unexpected burst of joy in the … [Link]

Mashable » Players share their heartfelt stories of 'Asheron's Call' after servers are shut down

Wednesday 1 February 19:31:10 UTC 2017

Turbine shut the door on MMO Asheron's Call yesterday after 17 years of operation. Many players, including one adorable grandather, called this game home for a lot of, if not all of that time. PC Gamer interviewed several of those players and shared their stories in a video that captures the game's final moments online. If you've ever bonded with … [Link]

Mashable » Cool dad Obama wore a backwards hat on vacation, and the internet lost it

Wednesday 1 February 19:30:28 UTC 2017

Seeing former President Barack Obama out of office in street clothes is like seeing your elementary school teacher at the grocery store. You know they're just normal people, but sometimes, you forget. Obama is taking a much-deserved post-presidency vacation with his family on Richard Branson's Necker Island in the British Virgin Islands. He's is finally allowed to let loose after serving … [Link]

Mashable » 5 brilliant camera moves in movie history

Wednesday 1 February 19:30:00 UTC 2017

Without camera moves, films would be all static play and no fun. The way the camera moves says more to us than just a show-off of technical tricks.  Directors, throughout the years, have implemented their own unique camera styles to best tell their stories on-screen. These are just some of the top moves in film history, so far. Visit CineFix for … [Link]

Mashable » This Groundhog Day will keep Tom Cruise at 'The Edge of Tomorrow'

Wednesday 1 February 19:30:00 UTC 2017

If the 1993 film starring Bill Murray were made in our modern era, it may (most definitely) star Tom Cruise and it may (most likely) be of the sci-fi genre. Because let's face it, Tom Cruise is still cool and we just all love a good sci-fi action flick. This Trailer Mix imitates the original Groundhog Day trailer shot-for-shot! Visit CineFix … [Link]

Mashable » This unique artist creates famous faces out of food

Wednesday 1 February 19:23:35 UTC 2017

24-year-old Pavlo Bondar has been creating portraits of famous figures out of food materials since he was a child. Read more…More about Real Time Video, Real Time, Famous, Portrait, and Donald Trump [Link]

Slashdot » Reached Via a Mind-Reading Device, Deeply Paralyzed Patients Say They Want to Live

Wednesday 1 February 19:20:00 UTC 2017

Neuroscientists have designed a brain-reading device to hold simple conversations with "locked-in" patients that promises to transform the lives of people who are too disabled to communicate. Details of four patients who were able to communicate using what is being touted as a groundbreaking system were made public this week. From a report on MIT Technology Review: Now researchers in … [Link]

New Scientist – News » Imaginative ants are able to picture their dream home

Wednesday 1 February 19:07:21 UTC 2017

Forget ants all being mindless clones. Fussy individuals that learn from past experience are crucial for helping a colony choose the right place to live [Link]

Mashable » Everyone stop everything: Beyoncé just announced that she's pregnant with twins

Wednesday 1 February 19:03:56 UTC 2017

Ring the alarm: Beyoncé is pregnant with 1 + 1 = 2 babies.  The de facto queen of the United States announced her pregnancy on Instagram Wednesday.  "We would like to share our love and happiness," she wrote. "We have been blessed two times over. We are incredibly grateful that our family will be growing by two, and we thank you … [Link]

Mashable » Instagram is testing photo albums, because nothing is sacred anymore

Wednesday 1 February 19:03:27 UTC 2017

Instagram is about to get a lot more like Facebook. The app is testing a new feature that allows you to share multiple photos and/or videos in a single post. That's right: photo albums could be coming to Instagram. SEE ALSO: Unicorn macarons are a thing now, and Instagrammers are losing it The feature, which is currently live in the beta … [Link]

New Scientist – News » A painful reminder for Donald Trump of why torture is pointless

Wednesday 1 February 19:00:00 UTC 2017

The US president wants to revive torture for terror suspects, but we have known for millennia that it is no way to get at the truth, says Shane O’Mara [Link]

New Scientist – News » Water spotted in the atmosphere of nearby hot Jupiter exoplanet

Wednesday 1 February 19:00:00 UTC 2017

Astronomers have detected water vapour in the atmosphere of 51 Pegasi b – which lies just 50 light years away [Link]

New Scientist – News » Clinic claims it has used stem cells to treat Down’s syndrome

Wednesday 1 February 19:00:00 UTC 2017

A clinic in India says it has used stem cells to treat Down’s syndrome in up to 14 people, but the announcement has alarmed independent researchers [Link]

New Scientist – News » Ant choosiness reveals they all have different personalities

Wednesday 1 February 19:00:00 UTC 2017

Forget ants all being mindless clones. Fussy individuals that learn from past experience are crucial for helping a colony choose the right place to live [Link]

Mashable » 7 February games you should get excited about

Wednesday 1 February 18:58:09 UTC 2017

Video games are already off to a great start in 2017 — especially after the runaway success of Resident Evil 7 — and February is looking even better. It's easy to leapfrog this month, what with Nintendo delivering The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (and a little thing called Switch) and BioWare launching Mass Effect: Andromeda in March. But … [Link]

Popular Science » Fast food packaging may contain dangerous chemicals

Wednesday 1 February 18:44:45 UTC 2017

Health A third of fast food wrappers test positive for chemicals linked to negative health effects A new study found that more than a third of fast food packages contains a toxic chemical… [Link]

Slashdot » Tesla Drops 'Motors' From Name As CEO Musk Looks Beyond Cars

Wednesday 1 February 18:40:00 UTC 2017

Tesla Motors changed its name to "Tesla Inc" as Chief Executive Elon Musk looks to transform the Silicon Valley firm from an electric car maker to a diversified energy products company. From a report on Reuters: In October, Musk unveiled solar-powered roof tiles that eliminate the need for traditional panels and a longer-lasting home battery illustrating the benefits of combining … [Link]

Mashable » Make yourself feel better by laughing at January's best news bloopers

Wednesday 1 February 18:10:00 UTC 2017

If you ever feel like you made a big mistake at your job, just remember that at least you didn't make that mistake on national television. News Be Funny compiles the best news bloopers from every month into one video for our enjoyment. This month features your usual newscaster slip ups, anchors that can't stop laughing and passersby stealing the … [Link]

Mashable » Using a mind reading device, 'locked-in' patients told researchers they're happy

Wednesday 1 February 18:08:01 UTC 2017

In a major breakthrough, a team of European researchers has developed a high-tech solution to give a voice to the voiceless.  By using a brain-computer interface, the team from the Wyss Center in Geneva successfully communicated with patients suffering from complete locked-in syndrome (CLIS), a devastating neurological condition. The researchers published their findings in a new paper published in PLOS Biology.  … [Link]

Mashable » How Facebook is trying to dominate mobile without owning your smartphone

Wednesday 1 February 18:07:48 UTC 2017

Mobile, once Facebook's greatest flaw, is now the social network's greatest success thanks to its ownership of four of the world's most powerful apps.  That's not enough. Now, Facebook is working on further integrating these apps to dominate your smartphone experience — while simultaneously building for the next platform. "For a while it didn't make sense to do multiple standalone apps," … [Link]

Popular Science » These gorgeous photos of Saturn’s rings are Cassini’s 'Grand Finale'

Wednesday 1 February 18:00:00 UTC 2017

Space NASA is collecting new info about the particles orbiting the gas giant In the last few months of its mission, Cassini is collecting an unprecedented amount of detail… [Link]

Slashdot » LibreOffice 5.3 Released, Touted As 'One of the Most Feature-Rich Releases' Ever

Wednesday 1 February 18:00:00 UTC 2017

An anonymous reader shares a report: A new month, and a brand new version of open-source office suite LibreOffice is now available to download. And what a release it is. LibreOffice 5.3 introduces a number of key new features and continues work on improving the look and feel of the app across all major platforms. The Document Foundation describes LibreOffice … [Link]

Mashable » Johnny Depp apparently spends $2 million a month to live like Johnny Depp

Wednesday 1 February 17:54:09 UTC 2017

A lawsuit battle between Johnny Depp and his former business management company has revealed more about the actor than any interview with Barbra Walters or Oprah Winfrey ever could.  Depp, who originally sued The Management Group for misconduct and claimed they grossly misused his finances, received a countersuit from the management company, who claim that they did all they could to … [Link]

Mashable » Bryan Singer explains why the X-Men franchise is perfect for TV

Wednesday 1 February 17:49:08 UTC 2017

Ever since the very first X-Men film went into production, filmmaker Bryan Singer has, minus a step out of the universe here and there, held a Professor X-level degree of authority over the movie franchise. Now he’s expanding the world of the mutant superheroes into television — and he’s even getting behind the camera himself for the pilot. Mashable caught up … [Link]

Mashable » Snapchat will soon make real clouds vomit rainbows

Wednesday 1 February 17:47:45 UTC 2017

With lenses, Snapchat has already made augmented reality a large, core part of its platform. And now the popular app is looking to further expand into AR with environment-detection that'll augment your surroundings. According to The Information, Snap Inc. is working on a more advanced version of the real-time "World Lenses" that were introduced last year.  SEE ALSO: Everything you need … [Link]

Mashable » Ben & Jerry's just introduced individual slices of your favorite ice creams

Wednesday 1 February 17:40:37 UTC 2017

Clearly someone at Ben & Jerry's has seen the videos of enterprising bloggers slicing up pints for ice cream sandwiches. On Wednesday the ice cream purveyor unveiled Pint Slices. They're round slabs of ice cream, covered in chocolate and individually wrapped. SEE ALSO: Twinkies ice cream has arrived on a planet that might not be ready for it Basically, they're Ben … [Link]

Mashable » Start your engines for this possible RuPaul's Drag Race-inspired LEGO set

Wednesday 1 February 17:38:21 UTC 2017

Queens, rejoice, because someone out there wants RuPaul's Drag Race to be memorialized in LEGO form. SEE ALSO: This new app is like Instagram for your Lego creations Called RuPaul's Brick Race, this LEGO set was submitted to LEGO Ideas, a website where anyone with a great LEGO idea can create a proposal and then attempt to attract supporters. According to … [Link]

Mashable » Trump's short Black History Month speech was mostly about himself

Wednesday 1 February 17:33:49 UTC 2017

It took President Donald Trump just three paragraphs before he began to talk about himself in the opening speech of a meeting held on Wednesday morning to honor Black History Month.  The president briefly mentioned Martin Luther King Jr., then pivoted to talk about how news coverage of himself is bad and he does not like it. SEE ALSO: Trump’s political … [Link]

Mashable » Why social media is freaking you out in Trump's America—and how to stop it

Wednesday 1 February 17:25:42 UTC 2017

Remember when Facebook was a fun place to see cute baby photos? And now it feels more like a sanitarium where everyone's screeching about the impending apocalypse? And scrolling through it knots your stomach and makes you feel like going to bed forever?  Turns out,  there's something to all of that. Consider how your relationship with social media's changed since President … [Link]

Mashable » Rejoice! Hillary Clinton is writing a book of personal essays

Wednesday 1 February 17:20:18 UTC 2017

Hillary Clinton may not be president, but that's not stopping her from sharing her thoughts with the world in a powerful way. On Wednesday, Clinton fans had good reason to rejoice after Simon & Schuster announced that the 2016 Democratic presidential candidate is working on a book to be released this fall. SEE ALSO: Hilarious bad lip reading of the inauguration … [Link]

Slashdot » Annual Hard Drive Reliability Report: 8TB, HGST Disks Top Chart Racking Up 45 Years Without Failure

Wednesday 1 February 17:20:00 UTC 2017

Online backup solution provider Backblaze has released its much-renowned, annual hard drives reliability and failure report. From a report on ArsTechnica: The company uses self-built pods of 45 or 60 disks for its storage. Each pod is initially assembled with identical disks, but different pods use different sizes and models of disk, depending on age and availability. The standout finding: … [Link]

New Scientist – News » What Trump’s US Supreme Court pick means for women’s health

Wednesday 1 February 16:57:00 UTC 2017

Neil Gorsuch, nominated to the vacancy on America's highest court, has a record of hostility to reproductive rights, says Christina Cauterucci [Link]

Mashable » Seth Meyers has a lot of questions about Melania Trump's 'Vanity Fair' cover

Wednesday 1 February 16:53:56 UTC 2017

Melania Trump's cover for the Mexican edition of Vanity Fair, also known as the "diamond noodles heard 'round the world," features the new First Lady twirling a bite of probably priceless spaghetti.  Understandably, Seth Meyers has a lot of questions. For example, if one eats jewelry but also has it on, is one effectively wearing a bunch of snacks? And … [Link]

Mashable » This sign is the new gold standard for political trolling

Wednesday 1 February 16:52:45 UTC 2017

We all know Nigel Farage, prominent Brexiter and Donald Trump's BFF in Europe the UK. SEE ALSO: Nigel Farage reportedly plans move to the U.S. While praising his American buddy and the controversial travel ban in the European Parliament, a Labour MEP decided to troll him in an epic way.  Seb Dance, sitting behind Farage, held up a sign on which … [Link]

Slashdot » It's Time To Admit Apple Watch Is a Success

Wednesday 1 February 16:40:00 UTC 2017

At company's quarterly earnings call, Apple CEO Tim Cook said the holiday period was the company's "best quarter ever" for Apple Watch — both units and revenues — "with holiday demand so strong that we couldn't make enough." He added: Apple Watch is the best-selling smartwatch in the world, and also the most-loved, with the highest customer satisfaction in its … [Link]

Mashable » Google wins its latest case against the 'right to be forgotten'

Wednesday 1 February 16:34:30 UTC 2017

The "right to be forgotten" isn't guaranteed worldwide, according to a new court ruling.  Google on Tuesday won the latest lawsuit over its search results when a court in Japan ruled that the company did not need to remove links to articles written about a man arrested on child pornography charges, the Wall Street Journal reported.  The "right to be forgotten" … [Link]

Mashable » Snapchat filter stops toddler's tears right in their fluffy bunny tracks

Wednesday 1 February 16:34:20 UTC 2017

You'd think it was impossible for an adorable baby to get any cuter, but add the bunny Snapchat filter to the mix and your heart might just explode. This little one has the best reaction to seeing herself transformed. Her mood instantly changes when she notices her own cuteness. She's feelin' herself, just like we all do under the veil … [Link]

Mashable » Top 5 camera moves in cinema

Wednesday 1 February 16:30:00 UTC 2017

Movies would be plain, simple, and static without the use of camera movement techniques. The best directors utilize their own styles in the way they move the camera to tell the story. These are the top uses of camera moves in movie history. Visit CineFix for more episodes and movie-related content. Sea lions grab the back of a boat for impromptu … [Link]

Mashable » Third grader has no time for your silly homework nonsense

Wednesday 1 February 16:23:01 UTC 2017

Homework is the literal worst. You head home after a rough day of say, third grade, sit down to watch your favorite cartoon with your favorite snack, trying to wash away thoughts of gym class, gross school lunch and rejection from your first crush and then…your heart sinks. You remember that you still have to write a stupid book report about … [Link]

Mashable » Sea lions grab the back of a boat for impromptu ride along

Wednesday 1 February 16:22:21 UTC 2017

Who knew sea lions liked people? One family got a serious treat when two sea lions grabbed hold of the stern on their boat and rode along for a ride. With one toddler on board and a baby sea lion in the water, this video is a recipe for cuteness overload. James Corden and Sting clash over who is the better … [Link]

Mashable » Student creates enormous 'Simpsons' portrait on his college's wintry lawn

Wednesday 1 February 16:12:13 UTC 2017

This guy definitely had better things to do than study. Reddit user gtobe woke up to proof of some real Simpsons fandom in their university Wednesday. Some overachieving student decided to use the college's newly fallen snow to create a portrait of America's favorite animated father, Homer Simpson. SEE ALSO: 'The Simpsons' finally reveals the make and model of Homer's car … [Link]

Mashable » Apple just beat Samsung as the world's top smartphone maker

Wednesday 1 February 16:11:39 UTC 2017

Apple is back on top.  According to a new report by research firm Strategy Analytics, the company sold more smartphones than any other company in the fourth quarter of 2016, including its biggest rival, Samsung.  SEE ALSO: Apple's website just got an update only total geeks will notice Apple reported selling 78.3 million iPhones in the last quarter of 2016, whereas … [Link]

New Scientist – News » Tiny spacecraft could brake at exoplanet using alien starlight

Wednesday 1 February 16:11:27 UTC 2017

Lightweight solar sails could bring spacecraft to the nearest star in just 20 years – but hitting the brakes will be challenging. A new paper suggests using the stars themselves to park around their planets [Link]

Mashable » Twitter launches Black History Month chatbot in celebration of black culture

Wednesday 1 February 16:04:59 UTC 2017

Looking for new ways to celebrate black history and culture this Black History Month? There's a bot for that. Blackbirds, Twitter's black employee resource group, launched a chatbot on Feb. 1 to provide users with community-focused facts, information and support. When you DM the @Blackbirds account, the bot will greet you automatically, letting you choose from one of four preset categories: … [Link]

Slashdot » HTTPS Adoption Has Reached the Tipping Point

Wednesday 1 February 16:00:00 UTC 2017

Security expert Troy Hunt, who is perhaps best known for creating Have I Been Pwned data breach service, argues that adoption of HTTPS has reached the tipping point, citing "some really significant things" that have happened in the past few months. From a blog post: We've already passed the halfway mark for requests served over HTTPS — This was one … [Link]

Mashable » This stress-reducing device may be the answer to daily anxiety

Wednesday 1 February 15:56:59 UTC 2017

‘Lief’ monitors your heart and breath in real time. Once it detects an imbalance in your breathing, a quiet vibration will switch on, guiding you breath by breath. This simple three minute exercise can help lower your heart rate. Read more…More about Real Time Video, Real Time, Breathing, Breath, and Smart Patch [Link]

Mashable » Mum makes Prince George sailor outfits so your child can dress like the future king

Wednesday 1 February 15:53:55 UTC 2017

LONDON — Prince George has some top-notch sartorial style. When he's not dressed up in a cute pair of shorts and long socks, he's wearing a nautical-inspired outfitOne British mum has decided that everyone should have clothes as nice as Prince George. So she's selling handmade Prince George-inspired sailor suits on Etsy.  SEE ALSO: Here's why Prince George is always wearing … [Link]

Mashable » It’s time to stop doubting Apple

Wednesday 1 February 15:53:06 UTC 2017

A good quarter for a company can make critics forget what they were talking about. In the days leading up to Apple’s first quarter 2017 earnings report, which encompasses last year’s holiday buying season, many pundits were engaged in hand-wringing over Apple’s fortunes and futures. Questions included: How big a decline would we see in iPhone sales? Was the MacBook Pro … [Link]

Mashable » Mini horses lead cops in a nail-biting, low-speed chase

Wednesday 1 February 15:50:00 UTC 2017

We've got some trouble-making farm animals on the loose. Watch these mini horses trot away from the law in a cute three against one chase down. What lead them to this life? We're guessing probably a run-in with some shady cows.  James Corden and Sting clash over who is the better singing waiter Britons protested in an anti-Trump demonstration with a most … [Link]

Mashable » This absolutely stunning Oreo art will blow your mind

Wednesday 1 February 15:44:12 UTC 2017

Oreos are great for so many things — dunking in milk, recreating in weird flavors, just plain eating. SEE ALSO: Instagram is obsessing over these delicate flower-shaped gelato cones But it turns out Oreos also make a great canvas. Tisha Cherry is a full-time occupational therapist. But one look at her Instagram and its clear she is also using food to … [Link]

Mashable » James Corden and Sting clash over who is the better singing waiter

Wednesday 1 February 15:42:14 UTC 2017

Dinner and a show! Last night on The Late Late Show with James Corden, the late night host set up a hilarious sketch in which he plays a singing waiter to a restaurant full of people. But, he didn't expect rock legend Sting to come in and try to steal the show. The two singers went head to head in … [Link]

Mashable » How to find protests in your city when you don't know where to start

Wednesday 1 February 15:38:56 UTC 2017

If you feel a policy, law or even a world leader needs changing, the first step is simple: you protest. Protesting has long been a way for marginalized communities to combat oppression. But the act of defiance and dissent is currently having a mainstream moment, thanks to the newly minted presidency of Donald J. Trump. SEE ALSO: 5 crucial online resources … [Link]

Mashable » Trump-May special relationship gets special treatment in the streets of London

Wednesday 1 February 15:28:35 UTC 2017

Theresa May's audience with Donald Trump at the White House was widely seen a rekindling of the special relationship between U.S. and UK.  SEE ALSO: Illustrator perfectly sums up how Brits feel about Theresa May holding Trump's hand But a British street artist offered another, more cheeky interpretation.  In a street artwork on Great Eastern street, London, Pegasus painted May laughing … [Link]

Slashdot » 'Australia Is Stubbing Out Smoking'

Wednesday 1 February 15:20:00 UTC 2017

Australia was the first country in the world to introduce mandatory plain packaging for tobacco products. Now it is taking another strong stand, but will other countries follow suit? From an article on BBC, shared by an anonymous reader: It's not easy being a smoker in Australia. The smoking bans started inside — in workplaces, bars and restaurants — and … [Link]

Mashable » GoPro's Karma drone is back on sale after design flaw made them fall out of the sky

Wednesday 1 February 15:09:47 UTC 2017

GoPro’s Karma drone is back. The action camera company launched Karma, its first consumer drone, to great fanfare in late October. But shortly after, GoPro voluntarily recalled all 2,500 shipped drones after some owners reported their quadcopters were inexplicably losing power and falling out of the sky. SEE ALSO: A blind man attached a GoPro to his guide dog – the … [Link]

Mashable » Of course this novelty 'Final Fantasy' fork is an oversized sword replica

Wednesday 1 February 15:08:26 UTC 2017

The simple rule when you're creating Final Fantasy swag: go comically oversized. Nissin Foods, the Japanese noodle company, knows what's up. An upcoming celebration of Final Fantasy's 30th anniversary will include the Cup Noodles maker's extremely limited release of an "Ultima Weapon Fork." SEE ALSO: 'Final Fantasy XV' has killer product placement Just look at this amazing thing: Image: Nissin FoodsHere … [Link]

Mashable » How Nike plans to break one of the most daunting barriers in human performance

Wednesday 1 February 15:03:37 UTC 2017

Human beings have walked the earth for millennia, yet no one has ever run 26.2 miles — a marathon, if you prefer — in less than two hours.  Can it be done? Nike thinks this is year it will be done. In December, the company announced a lofty goal to break the barrier sometime in 2017. Now, speaking on the record … [Link]

Mashable » LEGO releases 'Beauty and the Beast' blocks just in time for the live-action film

Wednesday 1 February 15:00:00 UTC 2017

Parents, make sure you have hard-bottomed slippers ready to go because your house is about to turn into a plastic minefield.  Just in time for the heavily anticipated Mar. 17 release of Disney's live-action Beauty and the Beast, LEGO has announced a new line of signature blocks called BrickHeadz to commemorate the film's beloved characters. SEE ALSO: The extended 'Beauty and … [Link]

Mashable » Pornhub wants to be the hottest destination for sex ed

Wednesday 1 February 15:00:00 UTC 2017

For a growing number of American kids, porn is their sex ed. Now Pornhub is hoping to offer their audience some more formal lessons in how to be a healthy and happy sexual being. On Wednesday, the massive adult entertainment destination took the somewhat surprising step of launching the “Pornhub Sexual Health Center.” They're hoping the free sub-site will become a … [Link]

Mashable » This device could help men be better in bed

Wednesday 1 February 14:58:49 UTC 2017

‘Lovely’ is a smart, wearable sex toy for couples. It's essentially a FitBit for your penis, tracking performance while also providing extra stimulationIt comes with an app that measures your pace, the amount of thrusts and also recommends new positions to try out.   Read more…More about Fitness Trackers, Wearble, Real Time Video, Real Time, and Sex Tech [Link]

Mashable » Heroic police dog leaves a paw-erful impression

Wednesday 1 February 14:54:07 UTC 2017

When the call comes in, defenders of justice must act — that includes Scoobie, a German shepherd police dog. SEE ALSO: Doggy tour bus shows adventurous pups the sights of London When Hackney Metropolitan Police Service were called to investigate suspicious noises at a building site, they brought along their trusted canine for assistance. They sent in Scoobie to scope out … [Link]

Slashdot » The Future of iOS is 64-Bit Only — Apple To Stop Support For 32-Bit Apps

Wednesday 1 February 14:40:00 UTC 2017

Your ability to run 32-bit apps on an iOS device is coming to an end. As several other Apple news sites have reported, Apple has updated the pop-up warning in the iOS 10.3 beta to say that the 32-bit app you're running "will not work with future versions of iOS." The warning goes on to say that the "developer of … [Link]

Mashable » New rolling road barriers are designed to reduce the impact of road accidents

Wednesday 1 February 14:36:28 UTC 2017

A group of architects from South Korea have come up with a rolling road barrier system designed to minimize the impact of highway crashes.  The barrier is made up of plastic cylinders that spin upon impact, absorbing the shock and stabilizing the vehicle. This reduces the speed and the chances of that vehicle spinning out of control and causing a pile … [Link]

Mashable » Most patient cat suffers through curious dog's sniff-down

Wednesday 1 February 14:35:17 UTC 2017

All this poor cat wants to do is enjoy some quiet quality time with its owner. Unfortunately, one nosy dog has other plans. Apparently something about this cat is irresistible, and the dog just can't stop bothering it. Instead of lashing out, this cat very politely lets the dog satisfy its curiosity. Now that we think about it, we feel … [Link]

New Scientist – News » £1 million prize for engineers who invented digital camera tech

Wednesday 1 February 14:32:00 UTC 2017

The 2017 Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering goes to four technologists whose work has led to cameras used in everything from astronomy to smartphones [Link]

Mashable » The 'resistance' is loving conspiracy theories about a power-hungry Trump

Wednesday 1 February 14:30:00 UTC 2017

Conservative bloggers and opinion writers don't have a monopoly on spreading their political conspiracy theories. After President Donald Trump signed his executive order prohibiting people from Muslim-majority nations from traveling to the U.S., activists mobilized against the constitutionally questionable ban that caused chaos in airports nationwide over the weekend.  But their protests may be just what Trump's inner circle wanted, according … [Link]

Mashable » After 8 years, a small team of fans releases their 'Mega Man' remake for free

Wednesday 1 February 14:25:16 UTC 2017

Made by a small team of six fans, Mega Man 2.5D is finally out, and you can download it for free.  2.5D features local co-op, with second players playing as Proto Man, and camera perspective changes, hence the 2.5 dimensional reference.  Here's the original concept the team came up with, the popularity of which inspired them to turn it into … [Link]

Popular Science » Scientists just found a 500-million-year-old worm with legs

Wednesday 1 February 14:00:00 UTC 2017

Science A standing ovation The imprint in the stone looks like the shadow of a flattened shrimp. [Link]

Slashdot » Google Chrome Engineer Says Windows Defender 'the Only Well Behaved Antivirus', Cites 'Tons of Empirical Data'

Wednesday 1 February 14:00:00 UTC 2017

Days after former Firefox developer Robert O'Callahan said that antivirus security suites are not necessary, and AV vendors are of little help. A Google Chrome engineer has echoed the same message, reaffirming that Microsoft's built-in software is indeed the most well-behaved security suite. From a report: Apparently the disdain for 3rd party AV solutions runs deep amongst browser developers, as … [Link]

Mashable » Watch this lion attack a tourist vehicle in a popular biological park

Wednesday 1 February 13:53:41 UTC 2017

India's tryst with wild animals roaming freely on streets continues. SEE ALSO: Indian town gets a midnight visit from a group of Asiatic lions In a popular biological park in the southern state of Karnataka, two lions last week attacked a safari vehicle. Thankfully, no injuries were reported.  A phone video made the rounds on local television stations. It shows … [Link]

Mashable » Relax everyone, your gin supply is safe

Wednesday 1 February 13:40:38 UTC 2017

LONDON — Gin is a precious thing. But, recent fears over dwindling supplies of juniper have troubled gin enthusiasts around the world.The UK's National Tree Seed Project has been quietly working to safeguard the future of gin by protecting native juniper trees. Berries from the juniper tree are a critical ingredient in the production of ginThe project — set up by … [Link]

Popular Science » If Earth's orbit is so crowded, why don't we see space junk in photos of the Earth?

Wednesday 1 February 13:30:18 UTC 2017

Space It’s a matter of perspective Sometimes, when we post a cool picture of the Earth taken from space, Popular Science gets questions about why—if there's so much garbage in space—we don't see a… [Link]

Mashable » Britons protested in an anti-Trump demonstration with a most unique rally cry

Wednesday 1 February 13:19:40 UTC 2017

The citizens of Brighton joined a global anti-Trump protest on Monday evening. And they had some strong words for the U.S. commander-in-chief.  SEE ALSO: We translated Britain's best anti-Trump protest signs The crowd arranged a version of the quintessentially English song, "Hey! Baby," a melody that has become a popular football chant. However, this adaptation contained zero themes of sportsmanship.  … [Link]

Mashable » Jon Stewart returns with a few executive orders of his own

Wednesday 1 February 13:12:53 UTC 2017

Imagine a world where Jon Stewart was president and in charge of signing executive orders. Sadly, that is not our world — but it was for a second on The Late Show with Steven Colbert last night when Jon Stewart made an appearance. Stewart, who showed up dressed as Donald Trump with a dead animal on his head, made his … [Link]

Mashable » Crowdfunded LGBTQ film from India is hoping for a Cannes premiere

Wednesday 1 February 13:00:53 UTC 2017

Baby steps, giant dreams.  A crowdfunded short film from India is aspiring for a coveted premiere at the Cannes Film Festival this year.  SEE ALSO: 5 times when intolerant India had a problem with Bollywood Sisak, which claims to be the country's "first silent LGBTQ film," is a wordless love story that unfolds between two strangers aboard local trains in Mumbai.  … [Link]

Slashdot » Facebook Changes Feed To Promote Posts That Aren't Fake, Sensational, Or Spam

Wednesday 1 February 13:00:00 UTC 2017

TechCrunch is reporting that Facebook is prioritizing "authentic" content in News Feed with a ranking algorithm change that detects and promotes content "that people consider genuine, and not misleading, sensational, or spammy." The algorithm will also boost stories that are going viral in real-time. From the report: To build the update, Facebook categorized Pages that frequently share inauthentic posts like … [Link]

Bad Science » How many epidemiologists does it take to change a lightbulb?

Wednesday 1 February 12:49:44 UTC 2017

Robin Ince just asked if I know any epidemiologist lightbulb jokes. I wrote this for him. How many epidemiologists does it take to change a lightbulb? We’ve found 12,000 switches hidden around the house. Some of them turn this lightbulb on, some of them don’t; some of them only work sometimes; and some of them […] [Link]

Mashable » This guy could be Cara Delevingne's dad

Wednesday 1 February 12:45:56 UTC 2017

No, Cara Delevingne's father has not mastered the science of genetic duplication, nor has he invented time travel. At least, not according to his doppelgänger, Seth Hamby. SEE ALSO: Cara Delevingne won't let Twitter shade stop her from promoting awareness of the refugee crisis Hamby posted this tweet along with two pictures — one photo of himself and one photo of … [Link]

Mashable » This spoof government job involves watching porn all day

Wednesday 1 February 12:25:22 UTC 2017

If this "job ad" to become a government porn censor looks too good to be true — that's because it is.  The New Government Jobs website is in fact a spoof created by the Open Rights Group to raise awareness about the incoming UK's Digital Economy Bill, which will force any website that benefits commercially from porn to verify the age … [Link]

Mashable » India pledges to bring high-speed affordable internet access to 150,000 villages

Wednesday 1 February 12:01:13 UTC 2017

Taking cue from Silicon Valley giants, the Indian government today ramped up its efforts to bring more of its citizens online. India plans to bring affordable high-speed broadband connection to 150,000 villages in a year, finance minister Arun Jaitley said today as he unveiled the annual budget for the country. SEE ALSO: India's Reliance Jio snags 72.4 million 4G LTE subscribers … [Link]

Mashable » Body-positive blogger compares 2 photos to make an important point

Wednesday 1 February 11:35:30 UTC 2017

LONDON — Instagram is awash with posts about fitness and dieting, with many showing an unrealistic and doctored view of women's bodies. But, one body-positive blogger posted two photos taken at the same time to make a stand against the body pressures women and girls face on Instagram. SEE ALSO: Nourish your Insta: 10 self-love advocating women to follow in 2017 … [Link]

Mashable » India has spoken! Scotch comes second place in a round up of #GiftsMenLove

Wednesday 1 February 11:29:50 UTC 2017

Did you know that scotch is the second most popular gift for men? Buying gifts for your loved ones can be stressful, and picking something special year after year is tough. How do you know just what they want? If you have ever wondered just what to gift your man on special occasions like Valentine’s Day, then look no further – … [Link]

O'Reilly News and Commentary » #Ebook Deal/Day: Designing UX: Forms – $11.99 (Save 50%) Use code DEAL

Wednesday 1 February 11:26:45 UTC 2017

Get "Designing UX: Forms" today using code DEAL and save 50%!This sale ends at 2:00 AM 2017-02-02 (PDT, GMT-8:00). [Link]

Mashable » Ricky Gervais says he's packing on the pounds and gives zero f*cks about it

Wednesday 1 February 11:01:38 UTC 2017

During a Tonight Show interview, Ricky Gervais called bullsh*t on Jimmy Fallon's polite compliment about Gervais' physical appearance and it's hilarious. "Look at me! Of course I don't look great," said Gervais. SEE ALSO: Ricky Gervais interrupts chat show interview to play with cute dog In the video, Gervais says he's packing on the pounds. He then went on a … [Link]

Mashable » This country just banned cash transactions over $4,500

Wednesday 1 February 10:33:32 UTC 2017

India’s war against black money has led to several new policies and orders of late, one of which was announced by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Wednesday in his Union Budget presentation in the Parliament.  The country has banned all cash transactions above Rs 300,000 (roughly $4,500) from April 1.  SEE ALSO: This country will give all its senior citizens a … [Link]

Mashable » Elon Musk's Hyperloop dream is closer to becoming a reality

Wednesday 1 February 10:28:26 UTC 2017

Three university teams have been the first to test drive their pods in SpaceX's depressurized track as part of Elon Musk's Hyperloop competition. The Delft University Hyperloop team clinched the top price for their prototype pod in the first phase. The Technical University of Munich, Germany received a price for the fastest pod, while MIT were awarded best design.  The next … [Link]

Slashdot » NASA's Cassini Captures Photos of Saturn's Rings In Unprecedented Detail

Wednesday 1 February 10:00:00 UTC 2017

NASA's Cassini probe has captured news images of Saturn's rings in unprecedented detail. The images were captured by the probe in its penultimate mission phase of its mission that includes "20 orbits that dive past the outer edge of the main ring system" before the spacecraft plunges into the planet itself. Interestingly, the rings include what NASA calls "moonlets" embedded … [Link]

New Scientist – News » Plant keeps moths captive inside its fruits for almost a year

Wednesday 1 February 10:00:00 UTC 2017

Some moths use fruit of trees they pollinate as food for their larvae, but one East Asian moth matures within the fruit right until adulthood [Link]

Mashable » This risky fireworks battle is straight out of a Harry Potter scene

Wednesday 1 February 9:27:38 UTC 2017

Don’t try this at home. Seriously. This intense battle between two guys in China shooting fireworks at each other is going viral. SEE ALSO: Voldemort isn't as terrifying as you think The official People's Daily outlet tweeted the dangerous "duel" between the two men, where they blasted fireworks on sticks at each other. Needless to say, we don't recommend doing this. … [Link]

Mashable » Samsung to launch something on Feb. 26, but it probably won't be a phone

Wednesday 1 February 9:26:11 UTC 2017

If it were any other February, we'd probably be waiting for Samsung to launch a new version of its flagship smartphone. But after the Note7 fiasco and the subsequent long investigation into what happened, the Galaxy S8 launch got pushed to a later, yet-unannounced date.  However, judging by this invite I've just received, Samsung will be launching something this February — … [Link]

Mashable » This country will give all its senior citizens a biometrics-based smart health card

Wednesday 1 February 9:20:27 UTC 2017

India’s audacious push to bring and make use of Aadhaar, the world’s largest biometrics database, was one of the highlights at the annual financial budget unveiled in the country today. SEE ALSO: Inside India's plan to substitute cash with its citizen's fingerprints Finance Minister Arun Jaitley announced that senior citizens in the country will soon get Aadhaar-based smart cards. These cards … [Link]

Mashable » Teenager receives a huge gift surprise from Miss Universe contestant

Wednesday 1 February 9:06:54 UTC 2017

A teenager in the Philippines came home to a dream come true — a prom dress that graced the Miss Universe stage just days before. 15-year-old Zyra Nicole Cifra received Miss Bulgaria-Universe's blue gown, after the teen's mother wrote to the beauty queen. SEE ALSO: Embarrassed Miss Universe gets sweet revenge on Steve Harvey Violina Ancheva, Miss Bulgaria 2016, said in … [Link]

Mashable » This vintage-looking cardboard instant camera is a hipster dream

Wednesday 1 February 7:33:33 UTC 2017

Remember those analog cameras with bellows you used to only see in history books? Well, now you can actually own one that'll work with newfangled Fujifilm Instax Mini paper. The Jollylook instant camera, which just reached its funding goal on Kickstarter, is the first of its kind to be made from recycled paper and cardboard. SEE ALSO: Phone with dual front-facing … [Link]

Mashable » Veteran speaks out against 'Muslim ban' with incredible Iraq story

Wednesday 1 February 7:29:39 UTC 2017

There’s no doubt we're living in troubling times, but U.S. veteran's story has been warming hearts all over the internet. Dylan Park-Pettiford shared a story on Twitter, Saturday, about an Iraqi boy named Brahim, who he met during his first deployment to the war-torn nation. The moving thread has been retweeted well over 58,000 times.  SEE ALSO: 6 ways to push … [Link]

Slashdot » GitLab.com Melts Down After Wrong Directory Deleted, Backups Fail

Wednesday 1 February 7:00:00 UTC 2017

An anonymous reader quotes a report from The Register: Source-code hub Gitlab.com is in meltdown after experiencing data loss as a result of what it has suddenly discovered are ineffectual backups. On Tuesday evening, Pacific Time, the startup issued the sobering series of tweets, starting with "We are performing emergency database maintenance, GitLab.com will be taken offline" and ending with … [Link]

Mashable » Secret citizen Peter Thiel thinks he is God's gift to New Zealand, basically

Wednesday 1 February 6:45:18 UTC 2017

President Donald Trump's man in Silicon Valley, Peter Thiel has options should his current political experiment not work out.  In January, the New Zealand Herald uncovered that the infamous venture capitalist had been a New Zealand citizen since 2011, raising eyebrows around the world. Just how Thiel obtained the passport was revealed Wednesday, after the government released an 145-page file on … [Link]

Mashable » Tim Cook says India is 'a great place to be' as Apple posts its all-time record revenue

Wednesday 1 February 6:43:38 UTC 2017

Apple CEO Tim Cook’s bet on overseas markets as the company looks for further growth and expansion is starting to show results. SEE ALSO: Apple bets on Reliance Jio as iPhone sales in India increase 50% The company posted strong quarterly iPhone sales and revenue Tuesday, reporting substantial growth in regions such as India, the fastest growth smartphone market.  Cook, who … [Link]

Mashable » Male-specific fake tan is a thing now because of, um, reasons

Wednesday 1 February 6:12:00 UTC 2017

It was inevitable, really. Being a society in which every product is pointlessly gendered, sooner or later some company was going to release a male-specific fake tan. That company is Australia's Bondi Sands, successful sellers of fake tan products. Their new "everyday gradual tanning foam" is marketed straight at guys, despite all fake tan being unisex insofar as it's lotion in … [Link]

Mashable » Rap group call out publication for using their image in place of 'gang'

Wednesday 1 February 5:28:57 UTC 2017

When searching for a picture of a "gang" on the internet, you'd better not go with an image of your average rap group. It's too late for the Daily Mail, whose Australian iteration published a photo of UK rappers Section Boyz in an article about a local gang in Melbourne. SEE ALSO: WeRateDogs Twitter combats Muslim ban with 'unconditional love' The … [Link]

Mashable » Meet the woman who's making consumer boycotts great again

Wednesday 1 February 4:57:18 UTC 2017

It all started when Shannon Coulter saw the infamous Access Hollywood tape.   She put a twist on Donald Trump’s vulgar words with her #GrabYourWallet campaign, which quickly spread across social media. Now, in the wake of the #DeleteUber fiasco, it seems like boycott movements could have a real impact on companies that do business with Trump. SEE ALSO: Uber fights … [Link]

Mashable » New campaign wants you to raise funds for abuse victims by ditching the razor

Wednesday 1 February 4:30:11 UTC 2017

Imagine if raising much-needed money for non-profits was as easy as growing out your body hair for a month. Well, a new initiative is set to challenge society's standards when it comes to women's body hair —encouraging women to ditch their razors, letting their legs and underarms grow free for the month of February. SEE ALSO: 25 feminist gifts for the … [Link]

Mashable » Twitter tweaks video again, adding view counts for some users

Wednesday 1 February 3:34:18 UTC 2017

Like Facebook, Twitter is obsessed with video, and it's not done tweaking how it delivers those little motion picture clips to your timeline. As spotted by BuzzFeed's Dorsey Shaw, some people are now seeing video view counts in their feed next to the usual timer. SEE ALSO: President Trump is destroying Twitter A Twitter spokesperson in Australia confirmed the test to … [Link]

Slashdot » 2K Games Wins the Right To Store and Share Your Biometric Facial Data

Wednesday 1 February 3:30:00 UTC 2017

In October 2015, two gamers who used face-scanning tech found in 2K Games' NBA series to create more realistic avatars filed a lawsuit against the company as they were concerned about how 2K would store and use their biometric data. On Monday, however, a New York federal judge ruled that neither games' biometric face scanning tech had established 'sufficient injury' … [Link]

Mashable » A beginner's guide to the legendary Tim Tam biscuit, now available in America

Wednesday 1 February 2:25:53 UTC 2017

America, you're about to discover your favourite new biscuit. Australia's much-loved Tim Tam biscuit is now available widely in the U.S., following years of sporadic imports bought up by homesick expats and curious Americans. SEE ALSO: These Chinese festive food mashups are blowing our minds A Tim Tam is essentially two chocolate malt biscuits, coated in a thin layer of milk … [Link]

Mashable » Bandcamp pledges 100 percent of its share of Friday's profits to ACLU

Wednesday 1 February 1:59:42 UTC 2017

Donald Trump's 'Muslim ban' has already had a number of tech companies pledging support to immigrants and those who protect them. Online music platform Bandcamp is the latest company to put its money where its mouth is, promising that 100 percent of its share of sales made this Friday Feb. 3 will be donated to the American Civil Liberties Union. SEE … [Link]

Mashable » LeBron James unleashes sick burns on 'hater' Charles Barkley

Wednesday 1 February 1:58:03 UTC 2017

TNT analyst Charles Barkley has a history of belittling LeBron James, and it seems King James has finally had enough.  The Cleveland Cavaliers superstar absolutely ripped Barkley after a loss on Monday night, just days after Barkley criticized James for complaining about his team's lack of roster depth. Barkley called him "whiny" and "inappropriate" for questioning the Cavaliers' front office.  James … [Link]

Slashdot » Touch Bar MacBook Pros Are Being Banned From Bar Exams Over Predictive Text

Wednesday 1 February 1:25:00 UTC 2017

An anonymous reader quotes a report from TechCrunch: When it launched late last year, the new MacBook Pro's Touch Bar was largely reliant on first-party applications to show off what it could do. Since then, a number of other companies have jumped on board, helping the secondary screen grow into something more than novelty. Of course, as with any new … [Link]

The Joy of Tech » JoT #2378: Delete uber!

Wednesday 1 February 1:11:44 UTC 2017

It’s an app mob! [Link]

Mashable » Sheryl Sandberg leans into Trump with pro-immigrant Facebook post

Wednesday 1 February 1:08:44 UTC 2017

Sheryl Sandberg is the latest tech giant to remind Donald Trump that immigration is integral to the fabric of the United States.  Sandberg penned an essay (on Facebook, where else?) recalling the bravery of her great grandmother, a Lithuanian refugee who landed at Ellis Island in 1889. "If Channa had not taken that difficult journey, I would not be here today … [Link]

Mashable » Budweiser accidentally made a moving political statement with its Super Bowl ad

Wednesday 1 February 0:57:29 UTC 2017

Budweiser claims it didn't set out to make a moving political statement with its new Super Bowl commercial — but fate evidently had other ideas. The ad follows Budweiser's immigrant founder, Adolphus Busch, along his quest from Germany to America in the late 1800s. Upon arriving, he isn't exactly greeted with open arms right away. "You're not wanted here," a man … [Link]

Mashable » 89-year-old and her hottie roommate talk living arrangements on TV

Wednesday 1 February 0:56:52 UTC 2017

Ever done something nice for your neighbour? Maybe you've let them know you're holding a party in advance, or some such. Whatever good deed you might have done, it pales in comparison to the generosity 31-year-old Chris Salvatore has shown his neighbour Norma Cook.  As previously reported, she's just become his new roomie. And it's adorable. SEE ALSO: 'Google changed my … [Link]

Mashable » Beautiful photo of Jewish and Muslim families bonding at protest will give you hope

Wednesday 1 February 0:53:27 UTC 2017

For many around the globe, the last week has been filled with a great deal of fear and confusion. U.S. President Trump ordered an immigration ban that resulted in the detention of legal U.S. residents and valid visa holders at airports nationwide on Friday, sparking immediate controversy and massive protests. Resistance spread over the weekend throughout the country's airports as concerned … [Link]

Slashdot » Researcher Develops Explosion-Proof Lithium Metal Battery With 2X Power of Lithium-Ion

Wednesday 1 February 0:45:00 UTC 2017

MojoKid writes: Tufts University professor and founder of Ionic Materials, Mike Zimmerman, hopes that his resilient ionic battery technology will finally replace Lithium Ion. The reason scientists and researchers pay so much attention to battery design is because today's lithium-ion technologies have several downsides, as we saw recently with Samsung's Galaxy Note 7 recall. If you were to take apart … [Link]

Mashable » Canada comes for Fox News over its false Quebec mosque tweet

Wednesday 1 February 0:31:41 UTC 2017

Fox News has been scolded by the Canadian government after it told more than 13 million Twitter followers the deadly mosque attack in Quebec Monday had been committed by a person "of Moroccan origin." On Tuesday, Kate Purchase, director of communications for Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, told Twitter she'd emailed Fox asking it to remove the "false and misleading" tweet, … [Link]

New Scientist – News » Ants with fussy personalities help colonies find better homes

Wednesday 1 February 0:31:00 UTC 2017

Forget ants all being mindless clones. Fussy individuals that learn from past experience are crucial for helping a colony choose the right place to live [Link]

Mashable » Facebook wants to take over your TV

Wednesday 1 February 0:25:43 UTC 2017

Facebook may soon be making a big push into the TV market.  The social network is working on a video app for set-top boxes, like the Apple TV, that would feature "TV-quality" shows licensed by the company, according to a new report in The Wall Street Journal. SEE ALSO: Facebook is giving longer videos a bump in your News Feed Though … [Link]

Mashable » Former 'I'm a Mac' actor Justin Long is now shilling for an Android phone

Wednesday 1 February 0:08:03 UTC 2017

Huawei, the largest smartphone maker in the China and third largest in the world, is looking to invade the U.S. in a very big, splashy way. The Chinese tech giant has enlisted actor Justin Long, who appeared in Apple's famous "Get a Mac" TV commercials between 2006 to 2009, to star in its new Android smartphone campaign. According to Campaign US, … [Link]

Slashdot » AI Decisively Defeats Four Pro Poker Players In 'Brains Vs AI' Tournament

Wednesday 1 February 0:05:00 UTC 2017

Halfway through the "Brains vs. AI" poker competition, it was pretty clear the artificial intelligence named Libratus would end up victorious against its human opponents, who are four of the world's top professional players. Lo and behold, Libratus lived up to its "balanced and forceful" Latin name by becoming the first AI to beat professional poker players at heads-up, no-limit … [Link]

Popular Science » Frogs use elastic tongues and reversible spit to catch prey

Wednesday 1 February 0:00:00 UTC 2017

Science Check out these spitting images New research reveals a frog's meal is dependent on the softness of its tongue and the versatility of its saliva. [Link]

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