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 » Why cord-cutters should (kind of) be excited about Comcast's new Xfinity Stream app

Wednesday 15 February 23:57:02 UTC 2017

Comcast Xfinity subscribers will be treated to a tricked-out new mobile TV experience later this month. Xfinity Stream is an overhauled app that will serve as a replacement for the cable giant's current on-the-go platform, Xfinity TV.   The new app adds a slew of features to Comcast's mobile entertainment suite — but perhaps most importantly, it will serve as a … [Link]

Mashable » This pollinating bee drone shows the powers of these endangered creatures

Wednesday 15 February 23:54:04 UTC 2017

Bees in the U.S. are more endangered than ever, requiring protection under the Endangered Species Act for the very first time back in October. Now a college student in Georgia is showing the world just how environmentally vital these creatures really are — by creating a bee drone that pollinates flowers. SEE ALSO: National Geographic's 'Origins' is like 'Cosmos' but about … [Link]

Mashable » Kesha says Dr. Luke tried to control her diet, and has the emails to prove it

Wednesday 15 February 23:43:18 UTC 2017

Dr. Luke's alleged pattern of abuse and controlling behavior toward Kesha included emails criticizing her weight and complaining that she wasn't sticking to her diet plan, according to court documents obtained Wednesday by Mashable.  Kesha released the emails as part of an ongoing legal battle with her former music producer, whose legal name is Lukasz Gottwald. She says Dr. Luke, her … [Link]

Slashdot » Nearly 56,000 Bridges Called Structurally Deficient

Wednesday 15 February 23:20:00 UTC 2017

schwit1 quotes a report from USA Today: Nearly 56,000 bridges nationwide, which vehicles cross 185 million times a day, are structurally deficient, a bridge construction group announced Wednesday. The list is based on Transportation Department data. The department scores bridges on a nine-point scale, and while the deficient ones might not be imminently unsafe, they are classified in need of … [Link]

Mashable » Wife accidentally donates husband's shirt with $8,000 in pocket to Goodwill

Wednesday 15 February 23:19:29 UTC 2017

Always check those pockets before you donate your old clothes. Bob Hoffmann of Placentia, California had saved up a total of $8,000 and intended to use the money to take his wife on a romantic getaway when tragedy struck: Bob's wife Linda Hoffmann had donated some old clothes to a local Goodwill, and inside of one of the shirts contained Bob's … [Link]

Mashable » The very first IMAX VR arcade just opened and it's already pretty popular

Wednesday 15 February 22:59:59 UTC 2017

For the last couple of years, I've been telling any VR company I meet that to truly take the technology mainstream, they need to move beyond mobile to virtual reality arcades.   On Wednesday, the industry took a giant step in that direction with the launch of the very first IMAX VR location.  SEE ALSO: Now you can climb Mount Everest … [Link]

Mashable » Why you can't get a Sweetgreen salad on Thursday in D.C.

Wednesday 15 February 22:58:23 UTC 2017

You might want to pack your own lunch Thursday. Cities across the U.S. are participating in "Day Without Immigrants," a social justice movement based out of Washington, D.C., to show just how much we rely on an immigrant-based workforce. The nationwide strike may affect your lunch plans. SEE ALSO: Sweetgreen will be one of the first chains to go fully cashless … [Link]

Slashdot » Patent Office Rules CRISPR Patents, Potentially Worth Billions, Belong To Broad Institute

Wednesday 15 February 22:40:00 UTC 2017

According to a ruling by judges at the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the disputed patents on the gene-editing tool CRISPR belong to the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard. "The ruling comes a little over two months after a high-profile court hearing, during which MIT and University of California, Berkeley heatedly argued about who should own CRISPR," The … [Link]

Popular Science » Here are the winners of NASA's space poop challenge

Wednesday 15 February 22:29:46 UTC 2017

Space Three designs for an in-suit toilet take home $30,000 Poopin' ain't easy in space. That's why NASA set up a competition to gather ideas for a better space suit toilet. [Link]

Mashable » 'All Our Wrong Todays' is your next fast-reading, mind-expanding, science fiction romance

Wednesday 15 February 22:28:01 UTC 2017

If you're a fan of books that leave you gaping open-mouthed like Keanu Reeves at the end of The Matrix when you turn the final page, you're going to love All Our Wrong Todays.  This is a debut novel by Canadian screenwriter Elan Mastai, whose work you might know if you've seen the Daniel Radcliffe movie What If. Mastai reportedly received … [Link]

Slashdot » MariaDB Fixes Business Source License, Releases MaxScale 2.1

Wednesday 15 February 22:20:00 UTC 2017

Creator of The Open Source Definition and longtime Slashdot reader Bruce Perens writes: MariaDB is releasing MaxScale 2.1, a new version of their database routing proxy, and has modified its timed-transition-to-Open-Source "Business Source License" to make it more acceptable to the Open Source community and more easily usable by other companies. I've blogged the issues I had with the license … [Link]

Mashable » The Microsoft Surface Studio is an illustrator's dream

Wednesday 15 February 22:19:04 UTC 2017

For the two weeks that the Microsoft Surface Studio sat at my desk, it attracted a lot of attention. I'm an illustrator and I work with a lot of other creatives, and artists love to look at something beautiful. There were plenty of “Oohs” and “Aahs,” and the beautiful simplicity of the device was demonstrated when, for about 15 minutes, five … [Link]

Mashable » Now we know how Elon Musk really feels about the Muslim travel ban

Wednesday 15 February 22:16:29 UTC 2017

Elon Musk, the closest person we have to the living embodiment of Bruce Wayne, just accidentally revealed feelings about President Donald Trump's embattled travel ban that are stronger than he previously let on.  SEE ALSO: Elon Musk defends meeting with Trump: 'Does not mean I agree' A series of tweets went out on Musk's Twitter account Wednesday afternoon, decrying the ban … [Link]

Mashable » Play of the day: Under Armour CEO publicly wallows in regret for Trump comments

Wednesday 15 February 22:10:45 UTC 2017

After a week of blisteringly bad press, Under Armour CEO Kevin Plank is second-guessing his word choice when it comes to Donald Trump.   Plank bought a full-page ad in the Baltimore Sun on Wednesday to walk back his praise for the president. SEE ALSO: Under Armour CEO endorses Trump, Twitter users endorse shopping elsewhere The sportswear exec spoke glowingly of … [Link]

Slashdot » Utilities Vote To Close Largest Coal Plant In Western US

Wednesday 15 February 22:00:00 UTC 2017

An anonymous reader quotes a report from Ars Technica: At 2.25 gigawatts, Arizona's Navajo Generating Station is the biggest coal-burning power plant in the Western U.S. The plant, and the nearby Kayenta coal mine that feeds it, are located on the Navajo Indian Reservation, and the Navajo and Hopi peoples have had a conflicted relationship with coal since the plant … [Link]

Popular Science » 13 pet gifts fit for a champion at Westminster

Wednesday 15 February 22:00:00 UTC 2017

Gadgets Doggie swag. 13 things to make you and your dog feel like you won Best in Show. Read on. [Link]

Mashable » Student thanks teacher for pushing them to their goals maybe a little too hard

Wednesday 15 February 21:47:28 UTC 2017

Teachers always go above and beyond for their students, no matter what. Whether they're forcing them to get their homework done on time or keeping them out of trouble, teachers are there to make sure their students succeed and grow up to become whatever their little hearts desire. SEE ALSO: Giant bear gives out gifts, smiles and hugs just in time … [Link]

Mashable » Let #GandalftheGuide show you New Zealand in this photo series

Wednesday 15 February 21:31:13 UTC 2017

“All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us," said Gandalf in J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings trilogy. New Zealand has become inextricably linked to Tolkien's story due to the fact that the film adaptations were shot there. An untold number of people have visited the country just so they could … [Link]

Mashable » You can now apply and interview for a job entirely within Facebook

Wednesday 15 February 21:23:13 UTC 2017

The fear of a job recruiter stalking your Facebook account just got shook up. Starting Wednesday, Facebook users can apply to a job directly on the social network. So if you're browsing Facebook all day because your job is boring, you're really in luck with this new feature. Facebook Pages in the U.S. and Canada can now put up a job … [Link]

Slashdot » Dutch Town Pilots Lightlines To Help Distracted Smartphone Users Cross the Road

Wednesday 15 February 21:20:00 UTC 2017

An anonymous reader writes: A Dutch municipality has introduced pedestrian traffic lights specifically designed to help smartphone users avoid stepping into traffic by displaying a colorful strip of light on the pavement. Built by Dutch firm HIG Traffic Systems, the new +LightLine light comes with a LED strip that illuminates the pavement with a horizontal strip before the road crossing. … [Link]

ProgrammableWeb.com » TrueLayer Launches New Banking API

Wednesday 15 February 21:16:37 UTC 2017

TrueLayer has launched an API that allows developers to connect apps with customer account data from banks and credit cards across the UK. [Link]

Mashable » Dedicated husband wins Valentine's Day by covering room with 7,000 sticky notes of love

Wednesday 15 February 21:16:10 UTC 2017

What did your Valentine get you? Some chocolates? A teddy bear? Roses? That's all very sweet, but it's about to be royally upstaged by this incredible room covered in 7,000 sticky notes of love. Jennifer Brinley left for work on Valentine's Day, bidding adieu to a completely normal looking bedroom. She came home and found it covered with notes all designed … [Link]

Mashable » This photo series proves trans people are more than their gender identity

Wednesday 15 February 21:02:30 UTC 2017

Sharing your story of struggle and resilience can be revolutionary — especially when lives like yours are consistently misrepresented. An ongoing photo and interview series called Transilient taps into that idea, documenting the diverse lives and experiences of transgender and gender-nonconforming people around the U.S. The series aims to challenge mainstream media representation of trans lives, and prove that trans people … [Link]

Mashable » Dads can legit carry their babies like kangaroos with this pouch shirt

Wednesday 15 February 20:51:37 UTC 2017

‘Lalabu’ created a shirt for new dads to carry their newborn in. It's made of stretchy and strong fabric that is comfortable and secure for you and your baby. It can also pass as a normal shirt when you're not carrying your little one around.  Read more…More about Shirt For Dad, Shirt, Shirt With Pouch, Pouch, and Dad Shirt [Link]

Mashable » Dads, like moms, are at risk of depression after a child’s birth, researchers report

Wednesday 15 February 20:43:32 UTC 2017

New dads are at risk of experiencing the same symptoms of postpartum depression as women who’ve just given birth — despite the fact that their bodies don’t go through the same sort of changes. A paper published Wednesday in JAMA Psychiatry finds that just over four percent of new fathers experience elevated symptoms of depression after their children are born. The idea … [Link]

Slashdot » Yahoo Notifying Users of Malicious Account Activity as Verizon Deal Progresses

Wednesday 15 February 20:40:00 UTC 2017

Kate Conger, writing for TechCrunch: Yahoo is continuing to issue warnings to users about several security incidents as it moves toward an acquisition by Verizon. Users are receiving notifications today about unauthorized access to their accounts in 2015 and 2016, which occurred due to previously disclosed cookie forging. "As we have previously disclosed, our outside forensic experts have been investigating … [Link]

New Scientist – News » Two new drug therapies might cure every form of tuberculosis

Wednesday 15 February 20:30:00 UTC 2017

In small trials across Africa, the therapies cured people with even the most drug-resistant forms of TB, and more quickly than current treatments [Link]

Popular Science » Aliens are probably out there, according to Winston Churchill

Wednesday 15 February 20:05:39 UTC 2017

Space A newly-investigated essay from 1939 reveals Churchill's thoughts on E.T. In 1939, the year World War II broke out, Winston Churchill had aliens on his mind. [Link]

Popular Science » You can fake a healthy skin tone to look more attractive (without actually being healthier)

Wednesday 15 February 20:05:38 UTC 2017

Health Beauty really is only skin deep You don’t actually have to be healthier to seem attractive to people—you just have to look healthier. And also apparently we find yellow-ish skin attractive. [Link]

Mashable » Ashton Kutcher blew a kiss at John McCain and lol what is happening?

Wednesday 15 February 20:00:59 UTC 2017

What the world needs now is love, sweet love — and if we need to rely on John McCain and Ashton Kutcher to help us achieve that, then so be it. On Wednesday morning, Kutcher, dreamy actor and chairman of Thorn, a tech company that builds software to fight human trafficking and the sexual exploitation of children, attended a Senate Foreign … [Link]

Slashdot » Brazil Judge Rules Uber Drivers Are Employees, Deserve Benefits

Wednesday 15 February 20:00:00 UTC 2017

An anonymous reader shares a Reuters report: A Brazilian judge ruled that a driver using the Uber ride-hailing app is an employee of the San Francisco-based company and is entitled to workers' benefits, adding to the global debate over labor rights for drivers on the platform. Uber said on Tuesday it would appeal the decision by Judge Marcio Toledo Goncalves, … [Link]

Mashable » Couple had romantic Valentine's Day dinner… on a New York City subway platform

Wednesday 15 February 19:58:54 UTC 2017

New York City subways are grimy, loud and not the most romantic place to celebrate a relationship—but for some reason, none of that stopped Mohammad Choudry from choosing a subway platform as the location for a Valentine's Date dinner. With a makeshift dinner table adorned with balloons, Choudry surprised his wife of nine years, Johnnybell Sanchez, on the platform Monday night.  … [Link]

Mashable » This 3D-printed wheelchair could greatly improve lives of wheelchair users

Wednesday 15 February 19:58:22 UTC 2017

The 'Go Wheelchair' is a 3D-printed stunner that wants to make life easier for those who have difficulty walking.Designed by London-based firm LayerLab, the chair is as innovative as it is beautiful.  Read more…More about 3d Printer, Wheelchair Users, Handicapped, Real Time Video, and Innovation [Link]

Mashable » One of the shortest bills ever was just introduced in congress, it's basically just 'KILL THE EPA'

Wednesday 15 February 19:57:27 UTC 2017

So much for ponderous legislation that's too lengthy for lawmakers to read before voting. A new bill that would have sweeping consequences for every resident of the U.S., and in fact the world at large, contains just a single, all-important sentence.  The bill, sponsored by freshman Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida, seeks to abolish the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).  As … [Link]

Mashable » 'The Daily Show' created the browser extension Trump deserves

Wednesday 15 February 19:54:13 UTC 2017

The Daily Show may have just created its magnum opus and shockingly, it's a browser extension. On Wednesday afternoon, the show tweeted that they had created a browser extension that converts Donald Trump’s tweets into their "rightful state": a child’s scribble. SEE ALSO: Twitter's backend is breaking under Trump's tweets We made a browser extension that converts Trump’s Tweets into their … [Link]

Mashable » Putin cuddling a pregnant Trump isn't the Valentine's Day image we need but it's the one we deserve

Wednesday 15 February 19:33:56 UTC 2017

While there are infinite ways to celebrate Valentine's Day, Hater, the dating app that connects you with people who hate the same things, took an unusual route in celebrating love this year: by projecting a drawing of Vladimir Putin cuddling a pregnant Donald Trump.  SEE ALSO: Hater, the app that lets you find love based on what you hate That's not … [Link]

Mashable » Meet the sports psychologist that helped a 'Counter-Strike' team achieve greatness

Wednesday 15 February 19:30:00 UTC 2017

When Astralis struggled to close out key games, they turned to a sports psychologist, who helped them approach the game with a different mindset.  After countless playoff appearances, the team went on to win their first championship ever at the Eleague Major in January. Read more…More about Competitive Gaming, Astralis, Csgo Major, Eleague, and Counter Strike [Link]

New Scientist – News » Tiny 3D-printed camera lens could give drones vision like ours

Wednesday 15 February 19:30:00 UTC 2017

The camera, measuring less than the width of a few human hairs, combines four lenses to mimic the natural vision of predators with precise detail only in the centre of an image [Link]

Mashable » Amazon and Google may bring back home phones

Wednesday 15 February 19:25:49 UTC 2017

When was the last time you actually talked to someone on a home phone? It's no secret that landline phone service is on the way out — a recent survey found over half of American households had ditched their home phones — but home-based phone service might not be dead just yet.  If a report from the Wall Street Journal holds any … [Link]

Slashdot » Voice Calls May Be Coming To the Amazon Echo and Google Home

Wednesday 15 February 19:20:00 UTC 2017

Amazon and Google are interested in adding the ability to make and receive phone calls to their popular home speaker devices — Echo and Home, reports WSJ, adding that telecom regulations and privacy are some of the things both the companies are tackling. If the companies are able to sort out the issues, the feature could make way to the … [Link]

Mashable » Truth can be found through this 8-year-old wearing a clown costume in family picture

Wednesday 15 February 19:19:02 UTC 2017

Throughout the story of humanity, every so often, heroes emerge. Real heroes, those that shine with bravery and radiate with self-possession, are so rare that we so often over look them, losing their light in the noise of a mundane world. Not today. SEE ALSO: Courageous kid balances on 16-foot-tall tower of milk crates For on Feb. 13, Twitter user Leslie … [Link]

Mashable » A dinosaur-era reptile popped out babies, not eggs

Wednesday 15 February 19:03:59 UTC 2017

Mammals give birth to babies, reptiles pop out eggs, right? An ancient fossil unearthed in China suggests the latter wasn't always true. Paleontologists have found a 245-million-year-old fossil of a pregnant reptile and her curled-up embryo.  The discovery suggests this long-necked reptile may have ditched its egg-bearing ways over time to gain a biological advantage, according to a study published Wednesday … [Link]

Popular Science » Scientists may have just made a malaria vaccine breakthrough

Wednesday 15 February 19:00:07 UTC 2017

Health But the vaccine has its limitations This latest discovery may be a giant step forward in creating the long elusive malaria vaccine. [Link]

Slashdot » Now Get Weather Alerts Even When Your Mobile Networks Are Down, Thanks To IBM's Mesh Networking

Wednesday 15 February 18:40:00 UTC 2017

Communicating news of severe weather events or natural disasters is something mobile phones are well suited to, but if there's limited or disrupted network coverage the message may fail to get through. But not anymore. From a CNET report: A new Weather Channel app, though, can get the message through even during earthquakes, tornadoes, and terrorist attacks when mobile networks … [Link]

New Scientist – News » The Mars paradox: Why we still don’t understand water on Mars

Wednesday 15 February 18:30:00 UTC 2017

A 40-year quest to resolve discrepancies between climate models and observations just got another false start. Are we missing something more fundamental? [Link]

New Scientist – News » Universes that spawn ‘cosmic brains’ should go on the scrapheap

Wednesday 15 February 18:30:00 UTC 2017

Weird consciousnesses called Boltzmann brains arise in many cosmological theories – but we now have reason to rule them out unless we live in an old universe [Link]

New Scientist – News » Churchill’s lost essay on alien worlds has a message for us all

Wednesday 15 February 18:30:00 UTC 2017

In 1939 Winston Churchill mused about the possibility of exoplanets and life beyond Earth. His words still resonate today, says Rebecca Boyle [Link]

Mashable » Quick-thinking cop saves restaurant from burning truck

Wednesday 15 February 18:28:13 UTC 2017

A quick-thinking police officer responding to a car fire at a Jack in the Box drive-thru managed to save the restaurant from catching fire. Officer Chris Womack with the Glenn Heights Police Department in Texas responded to a call of vehicle fire, and upon arrival noticed that a truck, located in the restaurant's drive-thru lane, was ablaze and dangerously close … [Link]

Mashable » Natural 'Firefall' phenomenon captured in wild photographs

Wednesday 15 February 18:24:52 UTC 2017

Each year in February, if the conditions are just right, Yosemite National Park's Horsetail Fall will glow bright orange for a phenomenon fans call the "Firefall." When sun hits the waterfall at the right angle, it lights the water — which flow down the side of the rock formation El Capitan — for about 10 minutes.  SEE ALSO: This national park … [Link]

Mashable » Untangling the The Weeknd's new toxic masculinity banger dissing Justin Bieber

Wednesday 15 February 18:22:28 UTC 2017

It was only a matter of time before a couple of dudes not liking each other because they both feel ownership of the same woman devolved into lyrics about balls.  The Weeknd and Nav's new track, "Some Way," is an ode to the unchecked male ego. They brag about a lot of things, including and not limited to being better at … [Link]

Mashable » Domino's customer gets an unexpected offer of MDMA, cocaine and more with their delivery

Wednesday 15 February 18:17:18 UTC 2017

We’re sure many delivery drivers throughout history have had the thought, "what if I also delivered drugs? I'm already out and about, twice the money, etc."  Presumably all of these delivery drivers have had the secondary thought, "nah that's like, an extremely bad idea" immediately afterwards.  Not our guy. The unnamed Liverpool Domino's delivery person has apparently been leaving their calling … [Link]

Mashable » This is the real reason Apple's senior leadership lacks diversity

Wednesday 15 February 18:11:33 UTC 2017

Apple should be working faster. Not on building the next iPhone, or even creating the next hit TV show, but rather, on increasing the diversity at the company.  That's what a small group of shareholders, led by vocal investor Tony Maldonado, have been pushing. Later this month, Apple shareholders will vote on a proposal to increase the racial diversity of executives … [Link]

Slashdot » Apple Explains Why Its R&D Spending Is On the Rise

Wednesday 15 February 18:00:00 UTC 2017

Apple has steadily increased its spending on research and development over the past few quarters. An executive with the company explained why that's the case. From a report on CNBC: Company's financial guru attributes the spending to something of a much smaller scale: chips. It may not sound like it, but that research is "very strategic and important" for Apple … [Link]

Mashable » Introducing the little robot arm that can recreate anything you draw

Wednesday 15 February 17:59:49 UTC 2017

The 'Line-us' combines robotics and art in to one playful gadget so users can create and save drawings on paper and in an app. Read more…More about Technology, Tech, Gadgets, Real Time Video, and Real Time [Link]

Mashable » BlackBerry's smartphone market share is finally 0%

Wednesday 15 February 17:57:07 UTC 2017

BlackBerry sold 200,000 of its own phones last year, but that might as well have been zero.  The onetime leader in smartphones sales made up zero percent — or 0.0482 percent — of global smartphone purchases in the fourth quarter of 2016.  Business Insider spotted the stat in research from the firm Gartner tracking smartphone sales.  SEE ALSO: The upcoming Mercury … [Link]

Mashable » We finally know when 'Outlander' will return for Season 3

Wednesday 15 February 17:56:34 UTC 2017

Outlander hasn't graced our screens since July 2016, but it will be a few more months before Claire and Jamie Fraser are back for more time-traveling shenanigans, swashbuckling swordplay and knee-weakening romance.  Starz has announced that Season 3 of Outlander will premiere in September 2017 with 13 new episodes, and it can't come soon enough. The new installments are based on … [Link]

Mashable » Surprise! 'Love Actually' will get a sequel this spring

Wednesday 15 February 17:53:51 UTC 2017

Love Actually is getting a spring sequel 14 years later, because even in March, Christmas is all around.  The short film will reunite old cast members and catch up with their characters in 2017, just in time for Red Nose Day, the charitable event in the U.S. and U.K. that benefits children worldwide. "I would never have dreamt of writing … [Link]

Mashable » What I learned from using Snap Spectacles as a marketer, tech geek and a dad

Wednesday 15 February 17:51:30 UTC 2017

There’s nothing cooler than a dad walking down the street sporting a sweet pair of new sunglasses –– at least that’s what I tell myself. Sure, it’s wishful thinking, unless he’s wearing Snap’s new Spectacles.  In the midst of Snap’s financials getting picked apart during its run-up to an IPO, I got my hands on a pair of the headline-generating eyewear. … [Link]

Mashable » NBC's smooth-talking Keith Morrison is the new voice of Waze

Wednesday 15 February 17:36:21 UTC 2017

Hello lost drivers of the world. We have some good news. Please welcome your new go-to direction giver, longtime correspondent of NBC's Dateline Keith Morrison. Yes, it's true. Morrison, who admittedly has some pretty smooth vocals 😏 , will be the latest celebrity voice narrating the popular traffic app, Waze. SEE ALSO: Google Maps will soon get you where you need … [Link]

Mashable » NASA may put astronauts on the first flight of its new mega-rocket

Wednesday 15 February 17:22:34 UTC 2017

NASA astronauts may fly to space atop the agency's brand new mega-rocket a lot sooner than expected. On Wednesday, NASA's acting administrator Robert Lightfoot sent out a memo to employees explaining that he has asked the agency to perform a study looking into what it would take for NASA to launch people on the first flight of the giant Space Launch … [Link]

Slashdot » IT Decisions Makers and Executives Don't Agree On Cyber Security Responsibility

Wednesday 15 February 17:20:00 UTC 2017

Sead Fadilpasic, writing for BetaNews: There's a severe disconnect between IT decision makers and C-suite executives when it comes to handling cyber attacks. Namely, both believe the other one is responsible for keeping a company safe. This is according to a new and extensive research by BAE Systems. A total of 221 C-suite executives and 984 IT decision-makers were polled … [Link]

Mashable » 'It Can't Happen Here' – and (so far) it hasn't

Wednesday 15 February 17:17:02 UTC 2017

The Dystopia Project is Mashable's ongoing book series reflecting on what dystopian fiction has to tell us under a Trump administration. We'll debrief a new book every two weeks, teasing out its secrets.  As Nineteen Eighty-Four raced to the top of the Amazon bestseller list right after Trump's inauguration, for very good reasons, there was another dystopian book hot on its … [Link]

New Scientist – News » Dormouse might be first tree-climbing mammal shown to echolocate

Wednesday 15 February 17:15:00 UTC 2017

It's not just bats that navigate at night using a form of sonar – so might a dormouse, and if so it could tell us whether bats' echolocation preceded flight [Link]

Mashable » A new roboadvisor wants to close the retirement savings gap for people of color

Wednesday 15 February 17:13:49 UTC 2017

Saving for retirement is hard no matter what, but it's especially challenging if you're part of a group that has been historically disadvantaged in income, wealth and investing.  Finhabits, a new retirement savings platform, hopes to close the wealth and investing gap in retirement savings for black and Latino investors. According to the Economic Policy Institute, 74 percent of Hispanic families … [Link]

Mashable » A huge, new 'Watch Dogs 2' update changed the game's ending and may hint at its future

Wednesday 15 February 17:00:00 UTC 2017

A new update for Watch Dogs 2 includes a very specific hint that could be a reference to the location of the next game in the series. Before we go any further, consider this your spoiler warning. If you haven't finished the story in Watch Dogs 2, go do that before diving in on fan theories.  SEE ALSO: 15 years later, … [Link]

New Scientist – News » Emergency clause lets European countries beat bee pesticide ban

Wednesday 15 February 16:59:00 UTC 2017

About half of the European Union’s member states are making use of an emergency clause to allow the use of banned pesticides that are thought to harm bees [Link]

Mashable » Whole Foods is getting beaten at its own game

Wednesday 15 February 16:57:38 UTC 2017

Whole Foods has a paradoxical problem: Its products are just too popular. The high-end grocery chain said it would close nine stores last week after a year and a half of falling same-store sales. Yet ironically, the organic food craze it pioneered has never been bigger. Responsibly-sourced groceries now see the sort of demand of which Whole Foods could only dream … [Link]

Mashable » Ruth Bader Ginsburg takes time away from saving our country to save your relationship

Wednesday 15 February 16:56:44 UTC 2017

You can't really go wrong following any advice that genius legal badass Ruth Bader Ginsburg gives you. It turns out that’s especially true when it comes to love. The Supreme Court justice and feminist internet superhero Notorious RBG spoke recently at Stanford University, where she shared some advice that she’d been given by her mother-in-law on her wedding day: "'In every … [Link]

Popular Science » NASA wants to put astronauts on the very first launch of its new mega-rocket

Wednesday 15 February 16:49:55 UTC 2017

Space The Space Launch System could carry astronauts as soon as 2019 NASA may change the SLS launch schedule in order to but humans onboard. [Link]

Mashable » Happy Valentine's Day from these adorably terrible heart-shaped pizzas

Wednesday 15 February 16:48:22 UTC 2017

By the looks of Twitter, many, many people ordered heart-shaped pizzas for Valentine's Day. Unfortunately, very few of these pizzas resembled hearts. In fact, the best characteristic of many of these pizzas was that they were, despite everything, still pizza. Anyway, here are a bunch of those bad pizzas. They are fun to laugh at if you had a better pizza … [Link]

Mashable » These wired earbuds fix one of the most annoying things about the iPhone 7

Wednesday 15 February 16:43:36 UTC 2017

Fact: There's no way to listen to music and charge your iPhone 7/7 Plus at the same time. That is, unless you buy a dongle or switch to wireless headphones. If neither of those workarounds is to your liking, you can pick up a pair of Pioneer's new Rayz Plus earbuds, which have a Lightning charging port built right into the … [Link]

Mashable » Jimmy Kimmel tests Denzel Washington's memory with famous lines from his career

Wednesday 15 February 16:43:26 UTC 2017

Denzel Washington has been making films since the 1980s, so of the billions of words he has uttered, it is imaginable that he would forget a few of his famous lines here and there.  When the actor stopped by Jimmy Kimmel Live! to promote his latest movie Fences, Kimmel tested Washington memory with the help of strangers at a farmers … [Link]

Slashdot » 'Electric Buses Now Cheaper Than Their Diesel or CNG Counterpart, Could Dominate the Market Within 10 Years'

Wednesday 15 February 16:40:00 UTC 2017

An anonymous reader shares a report: Transit vehicles today are mostly powered by gasoline, diesel, and CNG, while batteries only represent about 1 percent of the market. It is currently a small part of the industry, but it's also the fastest growing fuel source in the sector and it's starting to become highly competitive. Electric bus maker Proterra is ramping … [Link]

Mashable » A new set-top box promises to unite all your content in one place

Wednesday 15 February 16:26:39 UTC 2017

While you can connect more content and devices to your TV than ever before, a new problem is emerging: you need a roadmap to navigate all your disparate set-top boxes, dongles and sticks connected to your TV's rapidly filling HDMI ports. A new solution to this overcrowding is Caavo, and yes, it's yet another set-top box, but don't hold that against … [Link]

Mashable » This sports psychologist may be the secret weapon of 'Counter-Strike' champions Astralis

Wednesday 15 February 16:24:57 UTC 2017

Astralis is undoubtedly one of the best 'Counter-Strike: Global Offensive' teams on the planet, but they have one fatal flaw: choking in high-pressure situations and throwing away chances to be crowned CS:GO champions. In an effort to change their luck, the team hired a sports psychologist, and finally reeled in the Major tournament win that had eluded them. Read more…More … [Link]

New Scientist – News » The maths problems that could win you a million dollars

Wednesday 15 February 16:24:49 UTC 2017

Six of the seven Millennium Prize problems remain unsolved, but cracking any one of them would be a major – and financially rewarding – achievement [Link]

Mashable » A girl made poop-shaped brownies to see if sight affects taste. We're thinking it does.

Wednesday 15 February 16:07:38 UTC 2017

It’s been said that when it comes to food, you eat with your eyes first. So when Imgur user addrandomusernamehere's daughter created this science project to investigate whether or not sight affects taste, she really gave a sh*t and went all in:  The user's wife created these absolutely horrifying poop-shaped brownies to amp up their daughters project and probably terrify her … [Link]

Popular Science » A small city in Iowa is devoting 1,000 acres of land to America's vanishing bees

Wednesday 15 February 16:07:07 UTC 2017

Animals Little habitats on the prairie to save our nation's pollinators The nation's bees are in trouble, and a small city in Iowa is doing something about it. [Link]

Mashable » Kendall Jenner turns interview into impromptu photoshoot of Jimmy Fallon

Wednesday 15 February 16:00:16 UTC 2017

Even haters have to give credit where credit is dueKendall Jenner is really talented. The supermodel stopped by The Tonight Show last night to demonstrate her skills as a fashion photographer. After showing some examples of Jenner's work, the model instructed the talk show host to get up on his desk and conducted an inspired impromptu photoshoot. Check out the … [Link]

Slashdot » China's Huawei Catching Up With Apple, Samsung Smartphone Sales

Wednesday 15 February 16:00:00 UTC 2017

From a report: Chinese smartphone maker Huawei managed to gain ground on Samsung and Apple in terms of global market share last year, following the problems encountered by the two giants, the Gartner consultancy group said on Wednesday. Over the year as a whole, the Chinese maker saw its sales leap by 26.7 percent, while the South Korean and US … [Link]

Mashable » 2 super-cool 'Prey' features were also 'a nightmare' to develop

Wednesday 15 February 16:00:00 UTC 2017

We haven't seen a whole hell of a lot of Arkane Studios' Prey just yet. Even the hour I spent with the game contained me to the opening act, where your abilities and arsenal are mere starting points for Morgan Yu, the character you play. We've gotten glimpses at how the game will play. We know we will play as Morgan, … [Link]

Mashable » This social experiment takes a devastating look at academic pressure placed on students

Wednesday 15 February 15:55:00 UTC 2017

In 2013 alone, 2,471 suicides in India were attributed to "failure in examination," according to the National Crime Records Bureau. It's a stark reminder of how teenagers and students are disproportionately affected by India's suicide crisis, but the academic pressure students face isn't just in school — it's at home, too. SEE ALSO: Facebook launches suicide prevention tools for its … [Link]

Mashable » Professor Willow from 'Pokémon Go' needs to be immediately sacked

Wednesday 15 February 15:50:52 UTC 2017

LONDON — As someone who's been life-alteringly addicted to Pokémon Go for over seven months now, I feel I'm as qualified as anyone to make the following statement: Professor Willow, as helpful as he may occasionally seem, needs to lose his job. The guy is literally the worst professor in the world.  SEE ALSO: Charmander and friends come to life in … [Link]

Mashable » How millennials can make the most of career milestones

Wednesday 15 February 15:48:10 UTC 2017

Millennials have a different approach to the workforce compared to previous generations.    They are career explorers, trying different things and always developing new skills. Whether they have a desire to travel, want to explore different avenues that play to their strengths, or are going through a life change, millennials generally gravitate towards the new.    And with new come a … [Link]

Mashable » Pro tip: How to keep cool when you're outnumbered in 'For Honor'

Wednesday 15 February 15:47:05 UTC 2017

Being a pro gamer isn't easy. To master top games takes hundreds of hours of practice — but also knowledge. Each week, we'll share the most useful tips and tricks to improve your play. It's time to get good. For Honor released this week and it brought a whole new style of combat with it. To be successful on the … [Link]

Popular Science » El Niño swept away huge chunks of the west coast last winter

Wednesday 15 February 15:46:45 UTC 2017

Environment And climate change could make it worse In January of last year, drones captured video of houses perched perilously on rapidly eroding cliffs along California’s coast. Those houses in Pacifica, California… [Link]

Mashable » Domino's Pizza failed spectacularly at making a heart-shaped pizza yesterday

Wednesday 15 February 15:46:18 UTC 2017

At least you put the effort in, Domino's. Valentine's Day is the time for people to surprise their loved ones with gifts and trips. With all of the work put into these surprises, one would hope that their plans would go smoothly. Reddit user chopped_broccoli was surprised by their girlfriend when she sent a heart shaped pizza to their hotel room … [Link]

Mashable » 'His Dark Materials' author tweets back at fans who can't wait for his new books

Wednesday 15 February 15:36:10 UTC 2017

The celebrated author of His Dark Materials has announced the publication of a new trilogy which will constitute an "equel" to the series of fantasy novels that sold more than 17.5 million copies worldwide.  SEE ALSO: This 'Harry Potter' compilation might be the most brilliantly ridiculous to date Philip Pullman said the follow-up will be called The Book of Dust, and … [Link]

Popular Science » How to get Wi-Fi to every corner of your house

Wednesday 15 February 15:33:04 UTC 2017

DIY Death to dead zones You've probably got more than one device in your home that relies on the internet. Here's how to make sure you're always getting a strong signal. [Link]

Mashable » A dog named after an Adele song wins top prize at Westminster Show

Wednesday 15 February 15:32:42 UTC 2017

Nearly 3,000 dogs traveled to New York City to compete in the Westminster Dog Show this past weekend, but only one could be Best in Show. SEE ALSO: Distracted beagle wins everyone's heart at Westminster Dog Show This year, the honor was given to Rumor, a 5-year-old female German shepherd. The Best in Show Judge Thomas H. Bradley told CNN that … [Link]

Mashable » January recap: Top trends (so far) on the internet in 2017

Wednesday 15 February 15:27:56 UTC 2017

We bet you didn’t expect to see one of these “best of…” headlines until sometime in mid-December.  But the way we figure, in the middle of February we can all use more frequent doses of the warm and fuzzies. Plus, there’s enough gold on the internet to warrant nostalgia-inducing updates a bit more often than simply once a year. So in … [Link]

Slashdot » Google's Not-so-secret New OS

Wednesday 15 February 15:20:00 UTC 2017

According to reports late last year, Google is working on a new operating system called Andromeda. Much about it is still unknown, but according to the documentations Google has provided on its website, it's clear that the Fuchsia is the actual name of the operating system, and the kernel is called Magenta. A tech enthusiast dug around the documentations to … [Link]

Popular Science » U.S. science advisory committee supports genetic modification of human embryos

Wednesday 15 February 15:03:25 UTC 2017

Health Gene editing could be allowed soon—but only under very specific circumstances This week, a panel of experts from the National Academy of Science in the United States, released a report that endorses this type of research, though a long list of… [Link]

Mashable » Watch us play the first full hour of 'Prey'

Wednesday 15 February 15:00:00 UTC 2017

I got to play Prey last Friday, from character selection screen to an hour later, when our time was up. My initial assessment from such a short time with the game can be summed up with a few movie and game references: it's like the original Alien met and fell in love with BioShock and then they played a little … [Link]

Mashable » This headset helps the legally blind see

Wednesday 15 February 15:00:00 UTC 2017

The 'eSight 3' is a wearable camera that fits directly over the eyes and glasses and can help restore vision. Read more…More about Real Time Video, Real Time, Macular Degeneration, Vision, and See [Link]

Slashdot » BlackBerry Files Patent-Infringement Suit Against Nokia

Wednesday 15 February 14:44:15 UTC 2017

An anonymous reader writes: BlackBerry has filed a patent-infringement lawsuit against Nokia, demanding royalties on the Finnish company's mobile network products that use an industrywide technology standard. Nokia's products including its Flexi Multiradio base stations, radio network controllers and Liquid Radio software are using technology covered by as many as 11 patents, BlackBerry said in a complaint filed in federal … [Link]

Slashdot » Russian Cyberspies Blamed For US Election Hacks Are Now Targeting Macs

Wednesday 15 February 14:30:00 UTC 2017

You may recall "APT28", the Russian hacking group which was tied to last year's interference in the presidential election. It has long been known for its advanced range of tools for penetrating Windows, iOS, Android, and Linux devices. Now, researchers have uncovered an equally sophisticated malware package the group used to compromise Macs. From a report on ComputerWorld: The group … [Link]

Mashable » Google Arts and Culture now loaded with decades of awesome U.S. history

Wednesday 15 February 14:00:00 UTC 2017

This Presidents' Day, you can take a step back in time and learn about our former Commanders-in-Chief thanks to a handy new feature from Google. Google Arts and Culture has partnered with institutions, libraries and museums across the United States to deliver presidential media directly on our screens. Some of the displays are definitely catered to the history buffs, like an … [Link]

Mashable » Smart glasses are digital eyes for the legally blind

Wednesday 15 February 14:00:00 UTC 2017

Yvonne Felix is watching me. This would not be remarkable for most people I meet with, but Felix is legally blind. She smiles and tells me she can see me taking notes on my computer and every time I look up at her. I can’t see her eyes, but the special visor she’s wearing from eSight is pointed in my … [Link]

Mashable » Trevor Noah totally gets Ivanka Trump's crush on Justin Trudeau

Wednesday 15 February 13:55:47 UTC 2017

When Joe Trudeau — sorry, "Justin Trudeau" — visited the White House recently, he made everyone swoon, especially the president's daughter. Trevor Noah can empathize. As he explained on The Daily Show, Ivanka is forced to look at men all day who he describes as trolls — or alternatively, "alt-handsome." SEE ALSO: What to do when you're so overwhelmed by the … [Link]

Mashable » A Swiss city is using an ingenious system to deal with trash

Wednesday 15 February 13:45:02 UTC 2017

A Swiss company is changing the way cities deal with trash by using a system of underground waste disposal.  Trash containers are stored below ground level. This not only increases capacity, but also gets rid of the smell and keeps the trash out of sight. Read more…More about Europe, Garbage Disposal, Garbage Bin, Garbagebin, and Real Time Video [Link]

Mashable » Gordon Ramsay attempts to teach a kitchen amateur to cook

Wednesday 15 February 13:35:23 UTC 2017

Gordon Ramsay can be quite a formidable instructor. The task of learning to cook for a kitchen amateur named Shane was even more daunting because of one major catch — he would receive instruction from Ramsay, but only verbal instruction. SEE ALSO: Gordon Ramsay delivers Twitter food reviews with classic brutality In the video above, the two men stand back … [Link]

Slashdot » New Study In Mice Shows That Increasing Serotonin Affects Motivation, But Only In Certain Circumstances

Wednesday 15 February 13:30:00 UTC 2017

New submitter baalcat quotes a report from Neuroscience News: A new study in mice shows that increasing serotonin, one of the major mediators of brain communication, affects motivation — but only in certain circumstances. Furthermore, the study revealed that the short and long term effects of increased serotonin levels are opposed — a completely unforeseen property of this neurotransmitter's functional … [Link]

Mashable » The full 'Carpool Karaoke' trailer is here and it's outrageously epic

Wednesday 15 February 13:17:06 UTC 2017

We had the teaser for Apple's upcoming Carpool Karaoke: The Series earlier this week, and now we have a full-blown, two-and-a-half-minute trailer. SEE ALSO: 15 times Carpool Karaoke was the perfect antidote to 2016 In the video above, everyone from John Cena and Shaquille O'Neal to Ariana Grande and Seth MacFarlane get behind the wheel for the driving-and-singing-based shenanigans made … [Link]

Mashable » London tourist attraction is getting dragged for sexist Valentine's social media campaign

Wednesday 15 February 13:09:57 UTC 2017

One of London's most popular tourist attractions is being dragged on social media for their "sexist and tasteless" marketing campaign for Valentine's Day.  SEE ALSO: Hillary Clinton assures 'the future is female' in inspiring video comeback The London Dungeon, which recreates the city's gory and macabre historical events in a gallows humour style, has apologised after posting a series of dark … [Link]

Mashable » This epic log flip challenge is the internet's next bottle flip

Wednesday 15 February 12:59:35 UTC 2017

The internet is a strange place where the most random challenges can emerge — and the next viral craze could very well be the log flip challenge. SEE ALSO: The 'Gilmore Girls' coffee challenge doesn't have a happy ending In the video above, a man flips a piece of wood onto a chopping block and it lands perfectly upright. A … [Link]

Mashable » J.K. Rowling's Twitter feud with Piers Morgan just took an unexpected twist

Wednesday 15 February 12:54:41 UTC 2017

LONDON — The ongoing Twitter feud between J.K. Rowling and Piers Morgan just keeps getting better and better. SEE ALSO: 27 times J.K. Rowling was the hero we all needed in 2016 First, a quick recap: it all started on Saturday, when J.K. Rowling gleefully shared a video of Piers Morgan being told to "fuck off" by Australian comedian Jim Jefferies.  … [Link]

Mashable » Emma Watson called into an iPad to give commuters $2 advice

Wednesday 15 February 12:30:21 UTC 2017

New Yorkers passing through Grand Central Station might have come across an peculiar sight during their commute yesterday — Emma Watson giving $2 advice from an iPad.  SEE ALSO: Before Belle, Emma Watson turned down the chance to be Cinderella Watson appeared to be streaming live to the device, connecting her with advice seekers. So I just "ran" into Emma Watson … [Link]

Mashable » This 'Harry Potter' compilation might be the most brilliantly ridiculous to date

Wednesday 15 February 12:13:31 UTC 2017

Some people might ask why? But then again, why not? SEE ALSO: Harry Potter and Voldemort were in love and we have proof In the video above, a YouTube channel called Flater created a compilation of every time the names "Harry" and "Potter" were said in all eight "Harry Potter" films.  The result is a dizzying and entertaining trip down … [Link]

Mashable » 80 new Pokémon are coming to 'Pokémon Go'

Wednesday 15 February 12:00:00 UTC 2017

The big day has finally arrived, trainers. Over the past few months, rumours and speculation about the arrival of Generation Two in Pokémon Go have reached absolute fever pitch. SEE ALSO: 7 things 'Pokémon Go' badly needs in 2017 It started last December when the baby Pokémon were added to the game, and since then the excitement (and frustration) has been … [Link]

Mashable » 24 ways your brain rapidly changed after Trump's election

Wednesday 15 February 12:00:00 UTC 2017

For many of us, it's becoming increasingly hard to remember the time before Donald Trump was elected — that rosy, carefree time before we were on the verge of war with five different countries and our president knew that Frederick Douglass was dead.  Ah, the good old days. Trump's presidency, just weeks old, has been so brutal and swift that it's … [Link]

O'Reilly News and Commentary » #Ebook Deal/Day: Securing the Internet of Things – $29.98 (Save 50%) Use code DEAL

Wednesday 15 February 11:56:49 UTC 2017

Get "Securing the Internet of Things" today using code DEAL and save 50%!This sale ends at 2:00 AM 2017-02-16 (PDT, GMT-8:00). [Link]

Mashable » Italian restaurateur has brilliant idea to award polite children

Wednesday 15 February 11:42:38 UTC 2017

It’s a well-known, stereotypical scene: Italian children plaguing customers' lunches at restaurants with their rowdy behaviour under the benevolent glance of their parents. SEE ALSO: Restaurant bill reminds customers that 'immigrants make America great' It happens so frequently that a restaurateur came up with a brilliant idea to solve the nuisance — a 5 percent discount for "polite" children.  Antonio Ferrari, … [Link]

Mashable » Forget flowers, 'love insurance' was a trending gift on Valentine's Day

Wednesday 15 February 10:48:33 UTC 2017

First comes love, then comes — love insurance? Buying love insurance is the latest trend sweeping millennials in China, with a growing number of couples signing up. SEE ALSO: Why more and more singles in China are renting partners The idea behind it is that couples pay companies a one-time fee to agree to get married within a set time frame. … [Link]

Mashable » 9 spectacular photographs from the Asia's largest aeronautics show

Wednesday 15 February 10:48:15 UTC 2017

The largest aeronautics event in Asia and second largest in the world, Aero India 2017, is presently underway in the IT city of Bangalore.  SEE ALSO: 15 mesmerizing photos capture Kashmir's first snowfall of the season Organized by India's Defence Ministry along with several aeronautics firms, the Aero Show serves as a marketplace for the global defense industry. It involves flying … [Link]

Slashdot » Iron Age Potters Accidentally Recorded the Strength of Earth's Magnetic Field

Wednesday 15 February 10:30:00 UTC 2017

Solandri writes: We've only been able to measure the Earth's magnetic field strength for about two centuries. During this time, there has been a gradual decline in the field strength. In recent years, the rate of decline seems to be accelerating, leading to some speculation that the Earth may be losing its magnetic field — a catastrophic possibility since the … [Link]

Mashable » Basketball team refuses to play without its female members, forfeits season

Wednesday 15 February 10:28:41 UTC 2017

Sometimes the spirit of girl power is expressed by nine fifth-grade boys saying they'd rather forfeit an entire season's worth of basketball games than kick out their female teammates. It's a beautiful thing. Until recently, St. John the Apostle Parish School in New Jersey had a co-ed basketball team which consisted of 11 players, nine of them boys, two of them … [Link]

Mashable » Man trolls girlfriend with the most brutal Valentine's Day message ever

Wednesday 15 February 10:23:32 UTC 2017

LONDON — As far as Valentine's Day pranks go, they don't come much more brutal than this. SEE ALSO: Man's kiss cam proposal goes horribly, horribly wrong This is 21-year-old Laura Marie Kerr from Ballymena, Northern Ireland. turtle neck jumpers help hide my seven chins and I love them pic.twitter.com/sLlOhdexsi — LMK (@lauramariekerr) November 19, 2016 On Valentine's Day, Kerr took … [Link]

Mashable » The Nokia 3310 might come back and people just really want to play Snake

Wednesday 15 February 10:22:17 UTC 2017

We live in the era of nostalgia after all, as confirmed by the triumph of retro TV shows, movies and games such as Stranger Things, La La Land and Pokémon Go.  SEE ALSO: Legendary Nokia 3310 might be coming back this month So when a reliable report on VentureBeat hinted at the return of the beloved Nokia 3310, a nearly indestructible … [Link]

Mashable » Get your feet wet as a marine biologist in a VR coral reef

Wednesday 15 February 10:18:01 UTC 2017

SINGAPORE — Now you can dive into a realistic reef without having to get wet. A team of technologists and marine biology experts have produced a virtual reality coral reef based off the Sisters' Islands Marine Park in Singapore. SEE ALSO: Most of the coral in Japan's largest coral reef are dead, and the rest are dying The demo, named "Eyes … [Link]

Mashable » Canon's new cameras are perfect for Casey Neistat wannabes

Wednesday 15 February 9:32:59 UTC 2017

Thanks to popular YouTubers like Casey Neistat, vlogging is more popular than ever.  With its three new cameras — the EOS M6, EOS T7i and EOS 77D — Canon's fully embracing the vlogging movement with open arms. SEE ALSO: Vlogger learns hatching an emu egg you bought on eBay isn't a great idea What makes a great vlogging camera? There aren't … [Link]

Mashable » Grandma passes a year in hospital making paintings to share with fellow patients

Wednesday 15 February 9:16:09 UTC 2017

Despite an unusual living situation, a New Jersey grandmother has managed to keep up with a lifelong hobby. For the past year, Jill Sobocinski's 83-year-old grandmother, Joan Holland, has lived in a New Jersey hospital. To pass the time, she's painted 15 pieces of art which she plans to share with family and fellow hospital patients. SEE ALSO: These artists are … [Link]

Mashable » Viral selfie-morphing FaceApp launches on Android after huge iOS success

Wednesday 15 February 8:53:11 UTC 2017

Android users will now be able to change their frowns to smiles, after a popular face-morphing app launched on Wednesday on Google Play. FaceApp, which was initially available only for Apple iPhones, had reached one million downloads in two weeks, the app's developer told Mashable. The app also reached #1 on the top free list in six territories, and #1 in … [Link]

Mashable » Let's turn off Magic Leap's mixed-reality hype machine

Wednesday 15 February 8:27:02 UTC 2017

There is vaporware and then there's oh-shut-up-and-just-release-the-dam~ The latter is what many have come to think of when the name Magic Leap is mentioned.  And with good reason. Founded back in 2011, the hype train for what many believe is an augmented reality headset or glasses company left the station around 2014. Since then, the company has racked up investments from … [Link]

Mashable » America First, India Second? This video makes a strong case for it.

Wednesday 15 February 8:14:37 UTC 2017

In case you've watched the video and haven't got the context, here's what's happening. After the Dutch satirical video went viral, a host of countries have been mocking Trump's oft-repeated "America First" statement with tongue-in-cheek videos. Not to forget, a Trump-ish voice-over to go with it. SEE ALSO: Twitter's backend is breaking under Trump's tweets And now, India shows Trump … [Link]

Mashable » Huawei to launch P10 flagship phone on February 26

Wednesday 15 February 8:13:34 UTC 2017

Ahead of a big event, smartphone makers usually keep (nearly) everything under wraps, even the names of devices they're launching.  But Huawei isn't playing that game this year. The company just posted a teaser video which clearly announces the launch of a new flagship: Huawei P10.  SEE ALSO: You can now buy the dual-camera Honor 6X phone in the U.S. … [Link]

Mashable » Columbia students explain the meanings of their Chinese names to fight racism

Wednesday 15 February 7:40:44 UTC 2017

Chinese students at Columbia University have responded to a series of xenophobic attacks on campus with a simple 2 minute video. The video was made after an increasing number of Asian students with Chinese names found their name tags vandalised and torn off their dormitory doors. Name tags bearing Western names, meanwhile, had remained intact, recent campus reports say. SEE ALSO: … [Link]

Slashdot » ISRO Makes History, Launches 104 Satellites With Single Rocket

Wednesday 15 February 7:30:00 UTC 2017

neo12 writes: Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) made history by launching 104 satellites in a single launch. The lift-off of PSLVC 37 at 9.28 am from Sriharikota was a perfect one. In 28 minutes, all 104 satellites were successfully placed into the Earth's orbit. 101 of the 104 satellites belong to six foreign countries, including 96 from the U.S. and … [Link]

Mashable » Yes, Justin Bieber is coming to perform in India

Wednesday 15 February 6:36:17 UTC 2017

Indian Beliebers, rejoice!  The Canadian pop sensation has announced his maiden concert in the country. Yes, Justin Bieber will be performing in Mumbai on May 10. SEE ALSO: Justin Bieber makes fun of The Weeknd—again Part of the singer's Purpose Tour 2017, the concert will be held in DY Patil Stadium. "After 6 months of negotiation we have finally closed the … [Link]

Mashable » Somebody left their cucumber behind after this 'Fifty Shades Darker' screening

Wednesday 15 February 6:17:10 UTC 2017

Look, you've probably figured out by now that the new Fifty Shades Darker film hasn't received the most positive reactions from critics. But it seems some people rate it rather highly. See, a cinema staffer randomly found a cucumber lying in an aisle following a Fifty Shades Darker screening. SEE ALSO: Fire brigade tweets warning for couples inspired by 'Fifty Shades' … [Link]

Mashable » Ivanka Trump becomes a thirsty AF meme when faced with Justin Trudeau

Wednesday 15 February 5:31:27 UTC 2017

Ivanka Trump and real life Disney character Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau may be from different sides of the aisle, but the pure thirst the former is displaying for the latter is strong as hell. At least, according to the jokesters online. While haters will say the images captured during Trudeau's Monday meeting with Donald Trump and co. in Washington display … [Link]

Mashable » How far they'll go: 'Moana' shows the power of Polynesian celestial navigation

Wednesday 15 February 5:28:40 UTC 2017

One of the greatest feats of human migration in history was the colonisation of the vast Pacific Ocean by Polynesian peoples. They achieved it thanks to their sophisticated knowledge of positional astronomy and celestial navigation. The Disney film Moana has drawn attention to these accomplishments and helped inform a new generation about the complexity of Indigenous astronomy. SEE ALSO: New Zealand … [Link]

Mashable » This rocket just launched a record-number of satellites to space

Wednesday 15 February 4:31:03 UTC 2017

A rocket loaded down with a record number of satellites just launched on its way to orbit.  The Indian Space Research Organization's (ISRO) Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) blasted off on Tuesday at 10:58 p.m. ET to bring 104 satellites to space, the largest clutch of spacecraft ever launched by one rocket. SEE ALSO: 88 satellites will launch on Valentine's Day … [Link]

Slashdot » How Algorithms May Affect You

Wednesday 15 February 4:00:00 UTC 2017

New submitter Muckluck shares an excerpt from a report via Phys.Org that provides "an interesting look at how algorithms may be shaping your life": When you browse online for a new pair of shoes, pick a movie to stream on Netflix or apply for a car loan, an algorithm likely has its word to say on the outcome. The complex … [Link]

Mashable » Chance the Rapper didn't buy that Eric Andre was dating Rosario Dawson

Wednesday 15 February 3:54:16 UTC 2017

Ah, Valentine's Day: That wonderful, totally real holiday that we all love and respect, because of how real it is.  It's a day of love. But also? It's a day of learning. Eric Andre, of Adult Swim's The Eric Andre Show, spent a lot of today posting pictures of himself and actress Rosario Dawson on the world wide web.  #valentine #rosario … [Link]

Mashable » 'This Is Us' decides to break our hearts on Valentine's Day

Wednesday 15 February 3:00:00 UTC 2017

Like so many of us in the real world, the characters on This Is Us are going through major emotional turmoil, and Valentine's Day is just another excuse to turn on the waterworks.  Tonight’s episode focused on the Pearson men and turned out to be a hugely moving installment.  We are all Randall Randall’s a stress case and he’s reaching his … [Link]

Slashdot » Scientists Propose Plan To Re-Freeze the Arctic

Wednesday 15 February 2:50:00 UTC 2017

Kristine Lofgren writes: In case you've been under a rock for the past 20 years, the Arctic is melting super fast. Certain *ahem* governments are dragging their feet doing anything about it, which means the planet could be in for a spectacular meltdown within the next 20 years. But a clever bunch of scientists have hatched a plan to re-freeze … [Link]

Mashable » Cartoonists use #AddAFish to support a detained refugee artist on hunger strike

Wednesday 15 February 2:34:02 UTC 2017

#AddAFish may be a simple hashtag, but it's trying to save a man's life. On Twitter, illustrators are rallying behind an Iranian cartoonist, who has been living in Australia's mandatory offshore detention centre on Manus Island since 2013. Using the nom-de-plume Eaten Fish, the 25-year-old has been a victim of Australia's policy of detaining all asylum seekers who arrive by boat … [Link]

Mashable » What a Snapchat phone could look like

Wednesday 15 February 2:28:34 UTC 2017

We already know that the makers of Snapchat can reinvent sunglasses. But what about smartphones?  In hypothetical concept designs, marketing firm Mediakix envisions what a Snap Inc. smartphone might look like, if the company that owns Snapchat was working on one.  It might seen outlandish for Snap to make a phone, but not if you read the company's IPO earlier this … [Link]

Slashdot » Disney, YouTube Cut Ties With PewDiePie, Top YouTube Submitter, Over Anti-Semitic Videos

Wednesday 15 February 1:58:19 UTC 2017

jo7hs2 writes: Disney's Maker Studios has cut ties PewDiePie, the YouTube submitter with 53 million subscribers, over anti-Semitic clips the submitter released earlier in the year. The clips, three videos published in January, have since been removed from the channel. According to TechCrunch, "They included one skit in which [Felix Kjellberg, PewDiePie's real name] paid a Sri Lanka-based group of … [Link]

Mashable » Hugh Jackman shares skin cancer removal selfie so you wear sunscreen

Wednesday 15 February 1:56:22 UTC 2017

Logan wants you to wear sunscreen, kids. Australian actor, Hugh Jackman, shared a photo of himself with a bandage on his nose on Facebook Tuesday, covering a non-melanoma cancer which he just had removed. It's the sixth time he's had to undergo treatment. "Another basal cell carcinoma," Jackman wrote on Twitter. "Thanks to frequent body checks and amazing doctors, all is … [Link]

Slashdot » Apple Will Fight 'Right To Repair' Legislation

Wednesday 15 February 1:40:00 UTC 2017

An anonymous reader quotes a report from Motherboard: Apple is planning to fight proposed electronics "Right to Repair" legislation being considered by the Nebraska state legislature, according to a source within the legislature who is familiar with the bill's path through the statehouse. The legislation would require Apple and other electronics manufacturers to sell repair parts to consumers and independent … [Link]

Mashable » Penguins given Valentine's hearts to spruce up their nests and attract the ladies

Wednesday 15 February 1:38:21 UTC 2017

Everyone is celebrating right now, including some romantic penguins at the California Academy of Sciences. Biologist Piper Dwight handed out red felt Valentine's hearts to 14 African penguins during feeding time.  SEE ALSO: Stop everything: the nation's zoos are in a vicious, wonderful #CuteAnimalTweetOff With adorable results, obviously. According to Dwight, the penguins will take these fuzzy hearts back to their … [Link]

Mashable » New low-power chips could put voice control everywhere

Wednesday 15 February 1:36:27 UTC 2017

After countless awkward interactions and botched commands, we're finally getting to the point where it feels natural to have a conversation with our devices. From the rumored Samsung Bixby and Apple's OG personal assistant Siri in phones to Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant in smart home hubs, using at least one form of voice control tech is becoming the norm.    … [Link]

The Joy of Tech » JoT #2383: When the dam breaks!

Wednesday 15 February 1:30:50 UTC 2017

Here comes the flood! [Link]

Mashable » Qantas now lets you use Foxtel, Netflix and Spotify while flying

Wednesday 15 February 1:27:59 UTC 2017

Travelling soon? You might be able to enjoy your favourite #content at 35,000 feet. On Wednesday, Qantas announced it would be offering Foxtel, Netflix and Spotify on all Wi-Fi enabled flights from late February.  Airplane Wi-Fi does not have best reputation for speed, but in a statement, the Australian airline claimed its service will be "10 times faster" than your average … [Link]

Mashable » This fake Michael Flynn Twitter account is so convincing even lawmakers are confused

Wednesday 15 February 1:24:29 UTC 2017

It seemed like Michael Flynn, the ousted White House national security adviser, wasn't going quietly after he resigned Monday night.  What appeared to be his Twitter account lit up with posts about his resignation and how Donald Trump and the country should move forward. But it turns out the endless commentary from the general was actually coming from an apparent parody … [Link]

Mashable » Siri will pretend to be the Batcomputer if you say this word

Wednesday 15 February 1:15:33 UTC 2017

Siri got a Lego Batman-themed update. Apple's digital assistant will surprise you with references to The Lego Batman Movie if you pretend she is the Batcomputer.  SEE ALSO: Will Arnett prank calling a toy store as Lego Batman is so damn funny The gimmick works if you say "Hey 'Puter" or "Hey Computer" (gravely Will Arnett voice not required). When you … [Link]

Mashable » Spotify says the 'Star Wars' Cantina Band song is people's #1 sex track

Wednesday 15 February 1:09:46 UTC 2017

When you're about to do the thing, you'd want to set the mood right. Maybe get candles out, put some sensual music on for the occasion. But apparently in Australia, "sensual music" translates the Cantina Band song from Star Wars. Yep. It's the top song in the country when searching for "sex" on Spotify, according to the streaming service.  SEE ALSO: … [Link]

Mashable » New study counts your calories … based on your tweets

Wednesday 15 February 1:07:10 UTC 2017

Twitter could shine light on what public health in America really looks like. That's what's being suggested by new research out of the University of Vermont's Computational Story Lab, which paints a portrait of how many calories people are burning and eating in different parts of the country — via their tweets. SEE ALSO: Harvard scientists have created the rarest material … [Link]

Mashable » Guns N' Roses booed after naming the wrong city in stadium concert

Wednesday 15 February 1:02:06 UTC 2017

Guess the Guns N' Roses announcer hasn't heard of that age-old rivalry between Sydney and Melbourne, then? The bands fans in Melbourne, Australia, filled a stadium with boos after the band's announcer addressed them as Sydney (of all places) Tuesday night. Fortunately, most of the crowd found it hilarious, and not unlike a classic Simpsons moment. SEE ALSO: Dead mic silences … [Link]

Mashable » The 10 most iconic Maxine Waters moments

Wednesday 15 February 1:00:00 UTC 2017

If for some reason you don't know Rep. Maxine Waters: 1.) Where have you been? and 2.) Welcome.  For the millions who've sat motionless in shock as the president signed a de facto Muslim ban and set the stage for war with China, Mexico, Australia, Iran, Germany and the star of Kindergarten Cop, 78-year-old Maxine Waters is a gift from the … [Link]

Slashdot » Is IoT a Reason To Learn C?

Wednesday 15 February 1:00:00 UTC 2017

itwbennett writes: Whether or not beginning programmers should learn C is a question that has been roundly debated on Slashdot and elsewhere. The general consensus seems to be that learning it will make you a better programmer — and it looks good on your resume. But now there might be another reason to learn C: the rapid growth of the … [Link]

Mashable » Here's even more proof that Steph Curry and Lebron James rule the NBA universe

Wednesday 15 February 0:43:55 UTC 2017

If you weren't already convinced that the NBA universe revolves around Steph Curry and LeBron James, here's your proof.  All-Star Weekend is upon us, meaning we've reached the de facto halfway point in the 2016-17 NBA seasonInstagram has pulled data on the most popular posts of this season's first half. Much like on the court, Curry and James dominate the league … [Link]

Mashable » Bill Nye's new correspondent whose stereotype-challenging work you need to see

Wednesday 15 February 0:42:50 UTC 2017

Bill Nye has a new talk show coming to Netflix called Bill Nye Saves The World, and along with it comes a new team of correspondents. The team features the likes of Karlie Kloss, Derek Muller and Emily Calandrelli, but it's Australia's Nazeem Hussain you really, really need to familiarise yourself with. SEE ALSO: Forget Europe: It's all about America first, … [Link]

Mashable » Vogue promises diversity and delivers Karlie Kloss as a geisha instead

Wednesday 15 February 0:41:11 UTC 2017

A "diversity issue" of a magazine definitely should not provide more examples of the diverse ways the media can completely let down the people fighting for representation.  Vogue's latest gives themselves a pat on the back for a cover featuring a few models that don't look like Kendall Jenner alongside Kendall Jenner. But it's a different story once you start turning … [Link]

Slashdot » Disney Cuts Ties With PewDiePie, Top YouTube Submitter, After Anti-Semitic Videos

Wednesday 15 February 0:20:00 UTC 2017

jo7hs2 writes: Disney's Maker Studios has cut ties PewDiePie, the YouTube submitter with 53 million subscribers, over anti-Semitic clips the submitter released earlier in the year. The clips, three videos published in January, have since been removed from the channel. According to TechCrunch, "They included one skit in which [Felix Kjellberg, PewDiePie's real name] paid a Sri Lanka-based group of … [Link]

Mashable » El Rey Network joins the digital entertainment world with new series

Wednesday 15 February 0:17:01 UTC 2017

El Rey Network, the English-language lifestyle network, is expanding into digital entertainment with help from Danny Trejo. The network is kicking off its digital programming with a monthly project celebrating the spirit of the independent creator called Artists in Residence, Mashable has exclusively learned. The show, which launches Wednesday, will pair Trejo (Machete) with YouTube star Josh Leyva.  As part of … [Link]

Mashable » Now you can climb Mount Everest in VR

Wednesday 15 February 0:09:56 UTC 2017

Just last week, I had a great conversation with a Manhattan taxi driver named Sherpa, who, after I asked if his name was connected to Nepal, told me that he had indeed stopped working on Mount Everest to live in New York City. Smiling, he suggested I visit the famed (and quite dangerous) mountain one day, to which I replied, "I'm … [Link]

Mashable » Jack Dorsey's Valentine's Day gift proves at least someone loves Twitter

Wednesday 15 February 0:02:12 UTC 2017

No one loves Twitter more than Jack Dorsey loves Twitter. The cofounder and CEO of the news app is spreading the love this Valentine's Day — to his own company. Dorsey revealed, in a tweet linking to a form to the Securities and Exchange Commission,  that he bought 425,998 shares of Twitter stock, over Monday and Tuesday. Dorsey now owns 15,468,426 … [Link]

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