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 » The alien planets of TRAPPIST-1 are already inspiring great art, poetry, and writing

Wednesday 22 February 23:55:55 UTC 2017

Imagine standing on a world 40 light-years from Earth. You look up, and see other planets slowing moving through the sky, sisters to the world you find yourself on.  You notice that it's relatively dark, because the star you're orbiting is dim, and far smaller than the sun. But you're still warm, thanks to the infrared light emitted by the ultracool … [Link]

Mashable » There's a gold statue of Kanye West as Jesus in Los Angeles now, and that seems right

Wednesday 22 February 23:53:54 UTC 2017

Yeezus Christ, there's a gold statue of Kanye West posed as the son of God on the cross in Los Angeles.  West stands on his tip toes in what may or may not be Yeezys upon a pedestal reading "False Idol" — a nod to J Cole's apparent Kanye diss track — looking a lot like an Oscar statue just days … [Link]

Mashable » Milo Yiannopoulos' logo kind of makes him look like a failed DJ

Wednesday 22 February 23:41:12 UTC 2017

In case you haven't heard, it's been an especially rough week for Milo Yiannopoulos, but even in the darkest of times the man can't help but troll the world. First Yiannopoulos' book deal was dropped by Simon & Schuster after backlash surrounding some controversial pedophilia comments he made in a video, and then the notorious alt-right internet troll announced he would … [Link]

Mashable » Some dude wants you to 'control' your period with, uh, glue

Wednesday 22 February 23:34:33 UTC 2017

Some disturbing but unsurprising news from Man-Land: Daniel Dopps, a Kansas-based chiropractor and human version of the word "actually," wants people to "control" their periods with — wait for it — glue. Yes, Dopps has a fresh patent for Mensez, a "feminine lipstick" intended to stop menstrual blood by sealing together the labia minora.  According to Dopps' LinkedIn page, the glue … [Link]

Slashdot » Tesla Posts Earnings Loss But Claims Model 3 Production Will Start In July

Wednesday 22 February 23:30:00 UTC 2017

An anonymous Slashdot reader shares a report from BGR: Tesla on Wednesday released its earnings report (PDF) for the company's recent fourth quarter. When the dust settled, Tesla posted revenue of $2.28 billion and a loss of 69 cents per share. By way of contrast, Tesla during the same quarter a year-ago posted a loss of $0.87 per share on … [Link]

Mashable » Pray for the dancing house that fell off stage during Katy Perry's BRIT Awards performance

Wednesday 22 February 23:27:43 UTC 2017

In the grind that is awards show season, not everyone makes it out unscathed.  Take for example this background dancer who fell off stage during Katy Perry's "Chained to the Rhythm" performance at Wednesday's BRIT Awards.  SEE ALSO: Katy Perry's 'Chained to the Rhythm' is cotton candy political pop The dancer, disguised inside one of the many lit-up cardboard houses for … [Link]

Mashable » Doomsday-proof vault in the Arctic receives a major deposit of seeds

Wednesday 22 February 23:24:43 UTC 2017

A frozen tundra is perhaps the worst place in the world to grow crops. But that didn't stop people from bringing nearly 50,000 seeds of potatoes, lentils, wheat, barley and other food staples to the Arctic Circle this week. The seeds won't be sprinkled across frozen farmlands. Instead, they'll be stored indefinitely at a global seed vault on Norway's Svalbard archipelago.  … [Link]

Mashable » Someone got banned from Club Penguin in 39 seconds

Wednesday 22 February 23:17:18 UTC 2017

Sometimes getting banned from a game is more fun than playing it.  Such is the unsaid thesis behind a group of folks trying to get kicked off the child-friendly game Club Penguin.  SEE ALSO: German zoo really wants its stolen penguin back, please The game's great at barring users who say stuff like "fuck," "shit" and "ass" on its servers, … [Link]

Mashable » Adorably weird shruggie dog gets an equally weird Photoshop battle

Wednesday 22 February 23:14:06 UTC 2017

A photo of a weird dog captured in an awkward moment stole the internet's heart, then Redditors quickly Photoshopped the crap out of it.  It all started when Redditor zzzman82 posted a photo to r/Funny, claiming that one of their Facebook friends posted a photo of the dog in hopes of getting it adopted. "I think he chose the perfect photo," … [Link]

New Scientist – News » Successful Russian launch re-paves the way to space station

Wednesday 22 February 23:07:05 UTC 2017

Russia's Soyuz rocket – currently the only way to get to the International Space Station – has had its first successful trip since a failed launch in December, restoring astronauts' ability to get to space [Link]

Mashable » Sad boy's attempt at hooking up reminds us to text carefully

Wednesday 22 February 23:05:56 UTC 2017

Pro tip: If you're going to text your bro about going to a girl's dorm to hook up, triple check to make sure you're not sending that text to the girl you think you're hooking up with instead. Chances are, that hook up will be null and void. This guy learned the hard way when he made his intentions very, very … [Link]

Mashable » Sorry Beyoncé, but these baby polar bears are the cutest twins of 2017

Wednesday 22 February 23:01:00 UTC 2017

Look at these babies. Just look at them. These precious angel bears belong to the Columbus Zoo, who shared the twins' first photoshoot today on Facebook. SEE ALSO: Stop everything: the nation's zoos are in a vicious, wonderful #CuteAnimalTweetOff No offense to Beyoncé, Amal Clooney or any other celebrities expecting twins, but these polar bear babes are the cutest twins of … [Link]

Slashdot » Disney Develops Room With 'Ubiquitous Wireless' Charging

Wednesday 22 February 22:50:00 UTC 2017

An anonymous reader quotes a report from CNET: The scientific and tech arm of the entertainment giant Disney has built a prototype room with "ubiquitous wireless power delivery" that allows several devices to be charged wirelessly in much the way we get internet access through Wi-Fi. By tapping quasistatic cavity resonance, researchers discovered they could generate magnetic fields inside specially … [Link]

Mashable » Gynopedia helps female travelers find reproductive health care around the globe

Wednesday 22 February 22:36:57 UTC 2017

Getting comprehensive sexual and reproductive health care as a woman is hard. Getting care while jet setting, however, is damn near impossible. But a silly-named site is looking to change that for female travelers, allowing globetrotters to access need-to-know health information in an easy-to-read wiki.  SEE ALSO: When the trolls come at you over birth control coverage, here's what to say … [Link]

Mashable » Katy Perry's Brit Awards performance included a sneaky jab at Trump

Wednesday 22 February 22:36:19 UTC 2017

It was the performance everyone was looking forward to — Katy Perry, going large at the 2017 Brit Awards, with her new single "Chained to the Rhythm." Her performance was full of little paper houses bobbing back and forth (the new Left Shark?), but it definitely wasn't a commentary on the fact that none of us will ever own a house … [Link]

Mashable » 'Rogue One' Blu-Ray will give us zero deleted scenes

Wednesday 22 February 22:26:58 UTC 2017

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story is coming to Digital HD on March 24 and Blu-Ray on April 4, Disney announced Wednesday. But on neither platform will you get to see any deleted scenes or alternate versions of scenes, Disney reps confirmed to Mashable. That's unusual for a Star Wars movieThe Force Awakens, for example, arrived on home video last year … [Link]

Mashable » The 'Apple Park' spaceship campus will open in April…and it looks amazing

Wednesday 22 February 22:23:09 UTC 2017

The long-awaited Apple campus will be opening its doors in April 2017 and will include a theater named in memory of late co-founder, Steve Jobs. Read more…More about Real Time Video, Real Time Video, Real Time, Real Time Video, and Business [Link]

Mashable » Uber CEO Travis Kalanick needs to resign

Wednesday 22 February 22:15:30 UTC 2017

In the wake of sexual harassment and fundamental employee mismanagement allegations detailed by a female engineer, thousands of people are deleting Uber from their smartphones in protest. Again. SEE ALSO: Uber's ratings are in the toilet It's a nice gesture, but will probably have very little impact on Uber's bottom line. This is a global company after all, and I think … [Link]

Mashable » For only the second known time, a chimp has a disorder similar to Down Syndrome

Wednesday 22 February 22:10:12 UTC 2017

A 24-year-old chimp in Japan has a genetic disorder similar to Down Syndrome in humans, researchers have found. Kanako is only the second chimpanzee known to have the chromosomal defect trisomy 22. The disorder has stunted her growth, left her blind and resulted in a congenital heart disease and underdeveloped teeth. SEE ALSO: Primates, our closest living relatives, are facing an … [Link]

Slashdot » Sony Unveils World's Fastest SD Card

Wednesday 22 February 22:10:00 UTC 2017

At CP+2017, Sony announced the SF-G UHS-II SD card that features read and write speeds of 300MB/s and 299 MB/s, respectively, which makes it the fastest SD card in the world. Amateur Photographer reports: Available in 32GB, 64GB or 128GB from March 2017, all versions of the cards are compatible with Sony's free file rescue software, for recovering lost content. … [Link]

New Scientist – News » Desert people evolve to drink water poisoned with deadly arsenic

Wednesday 22 February 22:00:00 UTC 2017

People living in the Atacama desert of Chile evolved specific gene mutations over the past 7000 years that make them better at detoxifying the heavy metal [Link]

Mashable » Michael C. Hall makes a great point about David Bowie's Brit award win

Wednesday 22 February 21:55:08 UTC 2017

The late, great David Bowie posthumously won British Male Solo Artist at the 2017 Brit Awards — but would he have cared? It's a very important point, raised by Michael C. Hall, who accepted the award on his behalf. Michael C. Hall collects British Male on behalf of @DavidBowieReal#BRITs pic.twitter.com/JD7YNDOEHV — BRIT Awards (@BRITs) February 22, 2017 Hall is perhaps most … [Link]

Mashable » The Chainsmokers and Coldplay release a boring song about being boring

Wednesday 22 February 21:53:22 UTC 2017

Hey, I was doing just fine before I heard "Something Just Like This" by the Chainsmokers and Coldplay.  Vocals are left to Chris Martin's perfectly adequate pipes, as he spins a tale of longing for something uncomplicated, crooning, "I've been reading books of old. The legends and the myths."  But he's not like the other guys who did stuff! He is … [Link]

Mashable » 'Mass Effect' brings totally f*ckable aliens to 'Cards Against Humanity'

Wednesday 22 February 21:43:46 UTC 2017

If there's one thing Mass Effect fans know well, it's that everybody in BioWare's space adventure series likes to f*ck. That's why the URL for an upcoming Mass Effect-themed pack for Cards Against Humanity is totallyfuckablealiens.com. If that's any indication of what's to come in the 14 new cards, then this expansion ought to fit right in. SEE ALSO: Cards Against … [Link]

Mashable » Pro tip: How to parry, counter and guard-break your way to victory in 'For Honor'

Wednesday 22 February 21:43:45 UTC 2017

Being a pro gamer isn't easy. To master top competitive 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 officially released over a week ago but that doesn't mean we've all mastered the art of combat in … [Link]

Mashable » It's about time: Half of all websites are now encrypted

Wednesday 22 February 21:43:44 UTC 2017

Slowly but surely, the web is becoming more secure. About half of all websites are now encrypted using HTTPS, in a development the Electronic Freedom Foundation (EFF) has labeled a significant milestone.  SEE ALSO: You can track someone's live location and where they live for just a couple of dollars Both Google and Mozilla now report that at least 50 percent … [Link]

Mashable » The pineapple on pizza debate is tearing us apart

Wednesday 22 February 21:43:43 UTC 2017

When you hear the phrase "pineapple on pizza" people are either drooling in hunger, dancing on a table at 3 a.m., or reaching for a barf bag to throw up their disgust. The debate over whether to put fruit on your pizza dough is raging again and it's as ugly as a four-day-old slice.  Over the past week, we've learned that … [Link]

Mashable » Artist creates beautiful nature scenes out of gunpowder, then sets it on fire

Wednesday 22 February 21:43:42 UTC 2017

Danny Shervin is a painter who has taken to using gunpowder as his material of choice to create incredibly detailed works of artHis original artwork is based in nature, with images of owls, deer and other woodland animals. To share with the world the painstaking process of creating art with gunpowder, he has put together a Paint with Gunpowder YouTube. … [Link]

Mashable » 18 people who have no idea how to use a computer

Wednesday 22 February 21:42:30 UTC 2017

Just because you own a fancy laptop doesn't mean you're very tech savvy.  From horrifying computer deaths to disgusting motherboards covered in a mysterious mold, Reddit's IT professionals at r/TechSupportGore share some of the gnarliest tech nightmares that roll into their shops.  SEE ALSO: 18 photos that will make your IT person want to cry Check it out, and if you … [Link]

ProgrammableWeb.com » Google's TensorFlow Reaches 1.0

Wednesday 22 February 21:40:03 UTC 2017

TensorFlow, Google's machine learning software library, has reached 1.0 status and now packs support for a wider selection of APIs for ingesting and analyzing Big Data. The tool's pre-1.0 life found it helping researchers, engineers, students, and others in examining information for patterns and insight. The full release makes the machine learning code even more powerful. [Link]

Slashdot » Software Vendor Who Hid 'Supply Chain' Breach Outed

Wednesday 22 February 21:30:00 UTC 2017

tsu doh nimh writes: Researchers at RSA released a startling report last week that detailed a so-called "supply chain" malware campaign that piggybacked on a popular piece of software used by system administrators at some of the nation's largest companies. This intrusion would probably not be that notable if the software vendor didn't have a long list of Fortune 500 … [Link]

Mashable » Find your serenity now with George Costanza singing The Chainsmokers

Wednesday 22 February 21:26:42 UTC 2017

Oh wow. We didn't know we needed this until right now. Youtuber DustinNotJustin created this beautiful video of George Costanza singing "Closer" by The Chainsmokers and we're no longer in need of serenity now. This video just speaks to us and somehow captures George's vibe in an unconventional, but incredible way. Song of the summer + Summer of George = … [Link]

Mashable » NASA discovered 7 Earth-sized planets and everyone made the same Trump jokes

Wednesday 22 February 21:20:18 UTC 2017

Finally — some good news. NASA has found what pretty much appears to be a backup solar system a mere 40 light-years away. And not a moment too soon. SEE ALSO: NASA may put astronauts on the first flight of its new mega-rocket Scientists discovered seven Earth-sized exoplanets circling a dwarf star, TRAPPIST-1, and everyone on Earth is ready to … [Link]

New Scientist – News » Female fish mate 200 times but save eggs for the perfect male

Wednesday 22 February 21:00:00 UTC 2017

Lampreys engage in prolonged sex sessions where the females pretend to mate with 10 or more males – all the while waiting for "the one" [Link]

Slashdot » Apple's New Spaceship Campus Gets a Name, Lifts Off In April

Wednesday 22 February 20:50:00 UTC 2017

An anonymous reader quotes a report from Ars Technica: Apple has been building its giant new "spaceship" campus in the company's hometown of Cupertino, California, since December of 2013, and since then fans have paid obsessive attention to the structure. It gets buzzed by drones constantly, and the most popular YouTube videos of the building in progress have amassed well … [Link]

Mashable » Emma Watson just found a new, Earth-friendly way to be fabulous

Wednesday 22 February 20:48:19 UTC 2017

Emma Watson has slayed basically ever since we first met her. First, she played heroic intellect Hermione in the Harry Potter films. Then she made powerful feminist statements as UN Women Goodwill Ambassador. Next, she attended the Women's March on Washington with her mom. And just in case you forgot about how talented she is, her acting and singing has taken … [Link]

Mashable » Access all your cards in one click with this solar-powered smart wallet

Wednesday 22 February 20:46:58 UTC 2017

The innovative Ekster wallet incorporates a mechanical pocket for easy card access and a solar-powered GPS tracker for location monitoring.  Read more…More about Click, Solar Powered, Smart Wallet, Real Time Video, and Real Time Video [Link]

Mashable » Kellyanne Conway reportedly benched from TV by Team Trump

Wednesday 22 February 20:46:23 UTC 2017

Does it seem like we've been seeing less of Kellyanne Conway lately?  Once the most recognizable mouthpiece of President Trump, she hasn't been on TV since last week, when she said on MSNBC that Trump still had "full confidence" in Gen. Michael Flynn…a few hours before Flynn resigned.  If absence makes the heart grow fonder, Kellyanne's fans can prepare for the … [Link]

Mashable » Oscar-nominated movies get poster remakes featuring 'Pokémon,' 'Overwatch' and 'Star Wars'

Wednesday 22 February 20:43:25 UTC 2017

A group of artists celebrated some of the biggest Oscar-nominated movies by reimagining them in different film, TV, video game and comic book universes. Imgur user Diablien uploaded a collection of 10 alternative posters for Oscar-nominated movies featuring characters from other universes and new titles to fit them. The gallery also includes links to  purchase the poster prints along with attribution … [Link]

Mashable » Researchers built an origami-inspired bulletproof shield to protect police officers

Wednesday 22 February 20:32:47 UTC 2017

Brigham Young University researchers designed this origami-inspired bulletproof shield using 12 layers of Kevlar.  Read more…More about Gunfire, Blue Lives Matter, Police Officers, Real Time Video, and Bulletproof Shield [Link]

Mashable » Rivers in the sky: Why California is flooding

Wednesday 22 February 20:19:19 UTC 2017

It’s hard to believe that after five years of record drought, many Californians are hoping that this winter's weekly deluges will come to a swift conclusion. The latest storm, which struck over the weekend and ended on Tuesday, has forced thousands to evacuate, including urban residents in San Jose, as floodwaters continue to rise and levees are strained.  This winter demonstrates … [Link]

Popular Science » This one simple trick predicts when an ice age will pause

Wednesday 22 February 20:19:10 UTC 2017

Environment And it all started with an e-mail Researchers are trying to understand interglacials—the pauses that occur between ice ages. Technically, we're living in one now. But when will the next ice age come? [Link]

Mashable » A couple took 'breakup photos' and they're still pretty sad about the whole thing

Wednesday 22 February 20:14:10 UTC 2017

Harrison and Jackie broke up in 2015.  At the end of 2016, they had a photoshoot. A breakup photoshoot. For their breakup.  They dated in high school, tried to make it work while attending college separated by a few thousand miles of farmland, and eventually the distance drew them apart. three and a half years into their relationship, they ended it. … [Link]

Slashdot » Americans at Risk of Identity Theft as They File their Tax Returns

Wednesday 22 February 20:10:00 UTC 2017

Ian Barker, writing for BetaNews: As we move into the tax return season a new study reveals that attitudes to identity theft and a pattern of poor practices are leaving much of the public vulnerable. Data security and ID theft protection company CyberScout has carried out its second annual Tax Season Risk Report and finds 58 percent of Americans are … [Link]

Popular Science » What the Pop Sci folks are reading right now

Wednesday 22 February 20:10:00 UTC 2017

Gadgets Should we start a book club? From Sci Fi to Toni Morrison, these are the books we're reading now. Onward! [Link]

Mashable » If 'La La Land' was directed by David Lynch, it'd look something like this…

Wednesday 22 February 20:00:00 UTC 2017

Everyone knows that La La Land is the feel-good, singing and dancing movie of the year. And with Damien Chazelle nominated for "Best Director" in this weekend's Academy Awards, we wondered what the film would look like with an entirely different director and tone.  This episode of Trailer Mix brings you a darker, more surrealist version courtesy of David Lynch. Visit … [Link]

New Scientist – News » Skulls reveals that ancient Americans didn’t mix with neighbours

Wednesday 22 February 20:00:00 UTC 2017

Skull shape tells us that some early inhabitants of the Americas kept to themselves, and that South America saw at least two distinct waves of colonisation [Link]

Mashable » Google wants to give you back your face when you're in VR

Wednesday 22 February 19:49:02 UTC 2017

The blank, robotic VR masks seen in mixed reality videos could soon receive a facial fix that's pretty cool but also kind of creepy, just like any good advancement in technology should be. SEE ALSO: Wearing a VR headset gets even more awkward underwater In a new blog post on the Google Research Blog (hat tip to The Verge), a few … [Link]

Popular Science » What pregnant women actually need to know about herpes

Wednesday 22 February 19:40:00 UTC 2017

Health A reported link between herpes and autism isn't as scary as it sounds A new study reports a link between herpes and autism. But there's more to it than that. And having a baby isn't as scary as many HSV-positive women are led to believe. [Link]

Geek Culture » 7 planet solar system detected!

Wednesday 22 February 19:38:50 UTC 2017

WOW! And when I first read about the Firefly universe, I thought to myself, hmmm, that many habitable worlds around a star?… nah, that'll never happen. Science fiction for the win! 😀 [Link]

ProgrammableWeb.com » Yelp Updates Fusion API, Signals the End of Legacy API

Wednesday 22 February 19:32:56 UTC 2017

Last year, Yelp introduced its Yelp Fusion API. The new API was a complete rebuild from the previous Yelp API. Since its introduction, Yelp has continued to invest time and resources into the Fusion API. Accordingly, Yelp recently announced new features, some bug fixes, and the winding down of the the original Yelp API. [Link]

Mashable » Boris Johnson's jogging gear is dividing the nation

Wednesday 22 February 19:27:10 UTC 2017

Having your photograph taken is probably the last thing anyone wants when they're out for a jogBut, that's precisely what happened to Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson — one of the most powerful UK politicians — when he was out for a run on The Mall in London on TuesdayPhotos of Johnson's running attire made front page news in the UK on … [Link]

Slashdot » iPhone Owners in US Spent $40 Each on Apps in 2016

Wednesday 22 February 19:10:00 UTC 2017

Zoey Chong, writing for CNET: iPhone users in the US are spending more and more on apps and in-app purchases. Spending climbed to an average of $40 per person last year, according to research released Monday by Sensor Tower. This is up from $35 in 2015. Gaming continued to lead the way, accounting for more than 80 percent of Apple … [Link]

New Scientist – News » HIV vaccine therapy lets five people control virus without drugs

Wednesday 22 February 19:00:00 UTC 2017

The therapy gives the immune system the tools to flush out HIV, meaning daily drugs can be ditched – one man has been free of them for seven months [Link]

New Scientist – News » Seven Earth-size planets found around nearby star may have water

Wednesday 22 February 19:00:00 UTC 2017

The small, cool star TRAPPIST-1 is one of the best places to look for life in the Milky Way: its seven rocky planets might all have water and atmospheres [Link]

Mashable » Earnest little girl tries her best to make oatmeal despite not understanding recipe

Wednesday 22 February 18:57:58 UTC 2017

Let's be clear: This little girl is really trying her best. It's not her fault that recipes can be very confusing. It's not her fault that the word "cup" in English can mean many different things. It's not her fault that she probably hasn't learned about measurements yet. All this girl wants is to help her family make oatmeal. Even … [Link]

Mashable » Peeps Oreos taste nothing like Peeps, and that's a good thing

Wednesday 22 February 18:51:39 UTC 2017

Peeps, adorable as they are, do not taste good.  That's fine! Your mom doesn't stock up on Peeps every spring for the flavor. No, she buys them for their squishy little chick-like shape and their unbelievably stabile shelf life. So when Peeps Oreos landed on our desks, we were skeptical. These new, limited edition sandwich cookies feature a vanilla wafer with … [Link]

Mashable » Switch storage limits take Nintendo gaming back to the '90s

Wednesday 22 February 18:30:38 UTC 2017

Nintendo seemingly has one thing to say about our supposedly "all digital" future: LOL. The upcoming Switch features a downright minuscule 32GB of built-in storage, and that number comes down even more once you account for the operating system and basic apps. It's so small, in fact, that one of the console's launch titles in Japan won't actually fit. SEE ALSO: … [Link]

Mashable » That's it, Netflix just cornered the comedy-special market

Wednesday 22 February 18:28:56 UTC 2017

Netflix is making damn sure Netflix gets the last laugh. The streaming giant on Wednesday announced Louis C.K. will debut two new stand-up comedy specials exclusively on the platform. The six-time Emmy winner joins Chris Rock, Jerry Seinfeld, Dave Chappelle, Amy Schumer … and just about all the other big name comedians who have taken their jokes to Netflix in exchange … [Link]

Popular Science » An adjustable coffee grinder for 81 percent off? I'd buy it.

Wednesday 22 February 18:28:10 UTC 2017

Gadgets Grind for any machine for only $9 bucks. An adjustable coffee grinder for 81 percent off? I'd buy it. Read on. [Link]

Mashable » Peter Thiel company reportedly helped NSA spy program

Wednesday 22 February 18:21:18 UTC 2017

Peter Thiel is a man who enjoys both the having of cake and the putting of that cake into the largest hole in his face. He's written that "A free press is vital for public debate," yet financed a lawsuit that bankrupted Gawker Media. He's buddy-buddy with "America First" President Donald Trump, but if his friend winds up ruining the United … [Link]

Slashdot » Thrilling Discovery of Seven Earth-Sized Planets Orbiting Nearby Star

Wednesday 22 February 18:21:00 UTC 2017

At a press conference on Wednesday, NASA scientists announced that they have spotted seven Earth-sized planets orbiting closely around a small, ultra-cool star. The star is 39 light years away. From a report on The Guardian: It is the first time that so many Earth-sized planets have been found in orbit around the same star, an unexpected haul that suggests … [Link]

Mashable » Falling ice chunk demolishing car provides another reason to hate winter

Wednesday 22 February 18:19:21 UTC 2017

Anyone blessed to live in an area with heavy snowfalls and winter weather knows the dangers that come along with the climate.  A camera captured two extremely lucky men narrowly avoiding a huge chunk of ice that fell onto their vehicle as they were exiting. Just a moment before the impact, the two look up, likely because they were warned … [Link]

Mashable » Sushi donuts will make your Instagram feed a little more delicious in 2017

Wednesday 22 February 18:13:47 UTC 2017

It’s a new year. And you know what they say: new year, new sushi creation. Time to say goodbye to sushi burritos and prepare yourself for the Instagram flood of this next mashup: sushi donuts. SEE ALSO: The sushi croissant is the most California thing to ever happen, ever SUSHI DONUTS! Do I need to say more? And what's fishy about … [Link]

Mashable » Jay Z will be the first rapper in Songwriters Hall of Fame and it's about damn time

Wednesday 22 February 18:02:59 UTC 2017

Jay Z has 99 problems but being consistently overlooked by the Songwriters Hall of Fame ain't one.  Jay made headlines last year when he was the first rapper to even earn a nomination and now he's confirmed to actually receive the honor. Songwriters are eligible 20 years after their first hit — so for Jay Z, that means 1996's Reasonable Doubt. … [Link]

Slashdot » HP Is Advertising Its Real, Modern Printers on This Fake, Awkward '80s Computer Show

Wednesday 22 February 18:01:00 UTC 2017

T.L. Stanley, writing for AdWeek: It's a fine line between effective '80s homage and clumsy retro spoof, with the latter usually involving a lot of overplayed visual gags like brick-sized cell phones and VHS tapes. Cue pointing and laughing. This new HP video, dubbed "Computer Show," hits the sweet spot perfectly with its recreation of a Reagan-era public access show … [Link]

Mashable » Seven Earth-sized planets orbit an alien star only 40 light-years away

Wednesday 22 February 18:01:00 UTC 2017

A small, cool star in distant space plays host to something amazing.  Scientists have discovered that at least seven Earth-sized worlds circle the star TRAPPIST-1, a ultracool dwarf star only about 40 light-years (235 trillion miles) from Earth.  The planetary haul — which includes at least six rocky planets total, three of which were first discovered last year — is detailed … [Link]

Popular Science » A whopping seven Earth-size planets were just found orbiting a nearby star

Wednesday 22 February 18:00:00 UTC 2017

Space Three of them may be habitable Scientists have hit the jackpot, discovering seven Earth-size exoplanets orbiting a star just 39 light-years away. Read on. [Link]

Mashable » SodaStream recalls some bottles since they might explode in your face

Wednesday 22 February 17:50:21 UTC 2017

Believe it or not, repeatedly pumping carbon dioxide into a small bottle might just make it go boom. One line of bottles from DIY soft-drink maker SodaStream's has been declared particularly prone to explosions, so the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has issued a recall. SEE ALSO: Cool teen builds soda machine in empty locker The one-liter bottles in question … [Link]

Mashable » Chelsea Clinton remembers the good old days when fake news was about aliens

Wednesday 22 February 17:39:48 UTC 2017

Remember the good old days when fake news was about space aliens instead of important political issues?  No? Well, luckily Chelsea Clinton does, and she's decided to enlighten us by sharing a scandalously hot fake news story from the 90s. SEE ALSO: Apple CEO Tim Cook: Tech companies have to fight fake news You may think that the fake news phenomenon … [Link]

Mashable » Recut version of 'La La Land' directed by David Lynch looks more like a suspense thriller

Wednesday 22 February 17:39:08 UTC 2017

Everyone knows La La Land is the feel-good, singing and dancing movie of the year. And with Damien Chazelle nominated for Best Director in this weekend's Academy Awards, we wondered what the film would look like with an entirely different director and tone.  This episode of Trailer Mix brings you a darker, more surrealist version courtesy of David Lynch. Visit … [Link]

Mashable » Ford's self-driving cars won't have steering wheels because engineers maybe kept falling asleep

Wednesday 22 February 17:38:41 UTC 2017

Will self-driving cars have steering wheels? Maybe not, if engineers keep falling asleep.  Ford's self-driving cars will skip over Level 3 — where cars are automated, but human drivers are still expected to take over if need be — to Level 4, where cars are basically fully autonomous except for extreme conditions. (Self-driving cars that would meet the requirements for Level … [Link]

Mashable » 'Logan' lives up to its R-rating with all claws in

Wednesday 22 February 17:30:48 UTC 2017

Tentpole season comes earlier every year, and this year LOGAN is kicking it off.  Clint and Ti are joined by Mashable Entertainment editors, Josh Dickey and Laura Prudom, to talk mutants, favorite superhero movies, genre mixing and most importantly WOLVERINE! Visit CineFix for more episodes and movie-related content. Read more…More about Blockbuster Movies, Patrick Stewart, James Mangold, Hugh Jackman, and X … [Link]

Popular Science » Cat poop parasites don't actually make you psychotic

Wednesday 22 February 17:26:15 UTC 2017

Animals Correlation and causation get mixed up again Cat owners can sleep easy tonight. Well, maybe they can’t if their cat likes to wake them up at 4am by gently clawing their cheeks, but they can at least put their minds… [Link]

Slashdot » GE, Intel, and AT&T Are Putting Cameras and Sensors All Over San Diego

Wednesday 22 February 17:20:00 UTC 2017

An anonymous reader shares a Fortune report: General Electric will put cameras, microphones, and sensors on 3,200 street lights in San Diego this year, marking the first large-scale use of "smart city" tools GE says can help monitor traffic and pinpoint crime, but raising potential privacy concerns. Based on technology from GE's Current division, Intel and AT&T, the system will … [Link]

Mashable » Twitter helps brands become more than faceless monoliths to their customers

Wednesday 22 February 17:12:17 UTC 2017

Next time you seek out customer service through a Twitter message, you may find yourself talking to an actual human rather than a corporate account. The social network now lets brands display avatars and names of individual employees in direct-message conversations, while still operating through the company’s main profile. The new tool will also more clearly indicate when you are talking … [Link]

Mashable » This ‘Walking Dead’ shirt was banned from stores for racism

Wednesday 22 February 17:02:28 UTC 2017

A shirt sporting a popular line from The Walking Dead was just discontinued by UK retailer Primark, after complaints regarding the racist history of the phrase. The white t-shirt depicts Lucille—the name given to a barbed-wire wrapped bat owned by Walking Dead villain Negan, along with the phrase "eeny meenie miny moe"—a reference to the words spoken by Negan before deciding … [Link]

Mashable » The Pope is still enjoying a one-way Twitter beef with Trump

Wednesday 22 February 16:55:07 UTC 2017

It's been a busy few weeks since President Donald Trump was inaugurated but that hasn't kept one of our favorite feuds, between Trump and Pope Francis, from rolling on. SEE ALSO: Throwback Thursday: Donald Trump vs Pope Francis edition Admittedly, it's been a one-sided affair since the two first traded barbs last February over Trump's plans to build a wall. … [Link]

Popular Science » Play console video games on your computer

Wednesday 22 February 16:54:48 UTC 2017

DIY And take your gaming anywhere Both the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 consoles can stream games to a laptop or desktop over the web. Here's how to get everything set up. [Link]

New Scientist – News » Pluto is still an ex-planet, no matter what its fans think

Wednesday 22 February 16:44:13 UTC 2017

A fresh attempt to revive full planet status for Pluto is a non-starter. Astronomer Michael Brown explains why hopes of a comeback are futile [Link]

Slashdot » Verizon To Begin 5G User Trials in 11 Markets by Middle of Year

Wednesday 22 February 16:40:00 UTC 2017

Verizon will test faster fifth-generation (5G) mobile broadband service in 11 markets in the first half of this year as the nation's largest wireless carrier tries to take the lead in the 5G race. From a report on Bloomberg: Working with equipment partners including Ericsson and Samsung, Verizon will beam 5G signals to a test group of homes and businesses … [Link]

Mashable » Netflix's 'Mystery Science Theater' gets release date, perfect cast photo

Wednesday 22 February 16:39:41 UTC 2017

Get ready to welcome back your favorite robot pals: The Mystery Science Theater 3000 reboot is right on the horizon. In the first cast photo before the new episodes premiere, Netflix gave us a glimpse at MST3K's lab-suited up newcomers and voice actors who will join the family. SEE ALSO: Martin Scorsese and Robert De Niro's next collaboration reportedly coming to … [Link]

Mashable » Amber Tamblyn and David Cross have my permission to name all celebrity babies

Wednesday 22 February 16:38:06 UTC 2017

Celebrity baby names have become a total snooze.  Where have all the Audio Sciences gone? Blake Lively couldn't even throw us a bone by naming her kid after Taylor Swift. Instead, she and Ryan Reynolds went with the lovely and admittedly unexpected name Inez. The last truly great branding of a celebrity offspring was clearly Saint West.  But, as we prepare … [Link]

Mashable » Why the heck did Apple just buy iCloud.net?

Wednesday 22 February 16:33:13 UTC 2017

Apple’s now the official owner of the website iCloud.net, which up until recently, had nothing to do with its iCloud storage and services website accessible at iCloud.com. Ownership of iCloud.net was transferred to Apple sometime this week, TechCrunch reports. The site, which was owned by a software developer named Tong Lei, was a Chinese social network of sorts since its creation … [Link]

Mashable » Seth Meyers pokes fun at awards show darlings in 'Oscar Bait' clip

Wednesday 22 February 16:29:41 UTC 2017

La La Land. Carol. Manchester by the Sea. They're all critically acclaimed films. And they were all shamelessly released right before Oscar season. To be fair, so was "Oscar Bait," a new Seth Meyers clip that pokes fun at the curious annual influx of poignant cinema around Nov. 1. Yes, all the trappings of an Oscar nominee are here: jarring … [Link]

Mashable » Color-changing hair dye is the perfect product for commitment phobes

Wednesday 22 February 16:24:20 UTC 2017

Dyeing your hair is a big commitment. You think you've finally picked the right color after multiple trips to the drug store, only to find out that you hate it and want to crawl into a hole until you're able dye it back again.  But now, with Fire, the color-changing hair dye from The Unseen, you can save your commitment phobia … [Link]

Mashable » Banks are finally taking on Venmo — and have a money-transfer app of their own

Wednesday 22 February 16:17:23 UTC 2017

For years, banks have watched as their youngest customers split restaurant checks, shared utility bills, and pitched in for parties using third-party payment apps such as Venmo. Now, they're trying to take back the person-to-person payments business by launching an app of their own. Nineteen banks, including Bank of America, Citigroup, JPMorgan Chase, and Wells Fargo, are teaming up to start … [Link]

Mashable » People on Twitter are so confused by Russia's attempt to debunk 'fake news'

Wednesday 22 February 16:06:52 UTC 2017

Russia certainly keeps its promises.  After facing accusations that Donald Trump's campaign team was in touch with Russian intelligence agents last year, Maria Zakharova, a spokeswoman for Russia's Foreign Ministry, announced it would start a new section exposing "fake news".  SEE ALSO: How computer hacking is becoming Russia’s weapon of choice Fast forward a week and here it is. Not quite … [Link]

Slashdot » US Homeland Security Employees Locked Out of Computer Networks

Wednesday 22 February 16:01:00 UTC 2017

Dustin Volz, reporting for Reuters: Some U.S. Department of Homeland Security employees in the Washington area and Philadelphia were unable to access some agency computer networks on Tuesday, according to three sources familiar with the matter. It was not clear how widespread the issue was or how significantly it affected daily functions at DHS, a large government agency whose responsibilities … [Link]

Mashable » Instagram launches photo albums, sadly

Wednesday 22 February 16:00:00 UTC 2017

Have you ever scrolled through your Instagram feed and thought to yourself, "This is nice, but it'd be better with even more selfies/vacation/baby/dog photos squeezed into the same amount of space"? No? Well, too bad because Instagram is set on giving you exactly that.  The app formally introduced a new feature that allows users to attach up to 10 photos and … [Link]

Mashable » New 'Futurama' stories are coming in the most unexpected way

Wednesday 22 February 15:59:35 UTC 2017

Matt Groening and David X. Cohen — the executive producers behind Futurama — are getting back together with "much of" the series' original writing team for a new mobile game. Futurama: Worlds of Tomorrow is… a video game. Of some kind. We know that much. SEE ALSO: Student creates enormous 'Simpsons' portrait on his college's wintry lawn It's coming from the … [Link]

Popular Science » Middle Eastern seed bank re-deposits backups into Svalbard's doomsday vault

Wednesday 22 February 15:53:51 UTC 2017

Environment Just two years after tumultuous withdrawal Today, 49,000 varieties of crops including cabbages, wheat, lentils, sweet peas, and many other important agricultural crops will be wheeled into a vault in a… [Link]

Mashable » IBM's Watson will diagnose heart disease when doctors may have missed the signs

Wednesday 22 February 15:50:52 UTC 2017

Getting treatment for heart disease depends on a diagnosis from doctors, who can occasionally miss the subtle signs of trouble.  IBM thinks it can help those doctors through artificial intelligence — namely its Watson technology famous for besting Jeopardy champions and researching cancer. The company announced the introduction of its newest feature as part of its broader expansion of Watson Health's … [Link]

Mashable » Twitch streamer and father of 3 dies 22 hours into charity stream

Wednesday 22 February 15:50:44 UTC 2017

Twitch streamer Brian "PoshyBrid" Vigneault died of unknown causes Sunday during a charity marathon stream. The 35-year-old is survived by his three children and their mother. Around 4:30 p.m. ET Sunday, Vigneault was about 22 hours into his stream when he left to go for a smoke, PVP Live reported, and did not return. The Virginia Beach Police Department said officers … [Link]

Mashable » Horrifying image generator turns your doodles into super weird cat pics

Wednesday 22 February 15:45:20 UTC 2017

What if your terrible cat drawings could look like the nightmarish real thing? Well now it can. Christopher Hesse has created an image-to-image translator, which is a program that has been trained to recognize certain visual cues and will match them with a corresponding photo. Hesse has created a few different iterations of the translator, one of which can generate building … [Link]

Mashable » 'Nioh' speedrun took less than two hours because gods walk among us

Wednesday 22 February 15:39:34 UTC 2017

Speedrunners have officially conquered Nioh. The new Team Ninja game that delivers Dark Souls-style RPG play in feudal Japan has now been completed in one hour and 40 minutes — by speedrunner Distortion2 — and you can see video proof above. If you're wondering why that's so impressive, then you're probably not familiar with From Software's Souls games. They're a … [Link]

Mashable » Texas to feral pigs: It's time for the 'hog apocalypse' to begin

Wednesday 22 February 15:33:14 UTC 2017

Texas has a new plan for its 2.5 million feral hogs: total annihilation.  Sid Miller, the state's agriculture commissioner, just approved a pesticide — called "Kaput Feral Hog Lure" — for statewide use. "The 'hog apocalypse' may finally be on the horizon," Miller said in a statement on Tuesday. SEE ALSO: First human-pig chimeras created, sparking hopes for transplantable organs — … [Link]

Mashable » What's coming to Hulu in March

Wednesday 22 February 15:22:09 UTC 2017

If you don't have a Hulu subscription yet, get with the times (or make more worthwhile friends). Better yet, treat yo self to the ad-free version or be content to be brainwashed by branding.  Beyond the latest episodes of most network TV shows, Hulu has a sprawling selection of movies and older TV classics. Here's what's joining the streaming service in … [Link]

Slashdot » Tinder Wants AI To Set You Up On a Date

Wednesday 22 February 15:22:00 UTC 2017

Dave Lee, writing for BBC: Tinder is growing up. It's now a serious technology company tackling one of life's most important matters, and is by far the most popular dating app worldwide. After a lot of boardroom musical chairs, Mr Rad is the chairman of both Tinder and Swipe Ventures, the arm of the company designed to buy other dating-related … [Link]

Mashable » Apple's new 'Apple Park' spaceship campus will open in April

Wednesday 22 February 15:21:17 UTC 2017

If you think Apple's products are impressive, just wait until you see the company's brand new campus. Though the planning and construction has taken years to complete, on Wednesday, the tech company revealed that its campus, which will henceforth be known as Apple Park, will be opening to employees in April and pay respects to Steve Jobs, the late Apple co-founder … [Link]

Mashable » Martin Scorsese and Robert De Niro's next collaboration reportedly coming to Netflix

Wednesday 22 February 15:14:46 UTC 2017

Loyalty to Netflix can threaten a relationship, but for longtime collaborators Martin Scorsese and Robert De Niro, it's the next step in a long, fruitful partnership. Netflix has reportedly acquired streaming rights to The Irishman, Scorsese's next project starring De Niro, according to IndieWire. (A rep for Netflix did not immediately respond to Mashable's request for confirmation.) SEE ALSO: Netflix's 'Dear … [Link]

Mashable » 'The Discovery' trailer will definitely mess with your mind

Wednesday 22 February 15:05:03 UTC 2017

Can a scientific discovery be too dangerous to share with the world? That's the terrifying question posited in The Discovery, a Netflix original film that premiered at Sundance and stars Robert Redford, Jason Segel, Rooney Mara and Jesse Plemons. SEE ALSO: 'Girlfriend's Day' is the bleak Netflix comedy you need today In The Discovery, Redford plays Dr. Thomas Harbor, who … [Link]

Mashable » Chrissy Teigen agrees that John Legend looks like 'Arthur'

Wednesday 22 February 14:58:18 UTC 2017

Chrissy Teigen not only loves poking fun of herself, she also doesn't mind poke fun at her husband. It's no secret that Teigen and John Legend like to bring attention to their relationship, from spending their nights playing with Snapchat filters to helping each other with wardrobe malfunctions.  The down-to-Earth couple were back at it again on Twitter yesterday after user … [Link]

Popular Science » Why can whale nerves stretch and turn like bungee cords?

Wednesday 22 February 14:55:31 UTC 2017

Animals We could use their twisted secrets to treat nerve damage One group of researchers thinks they’ve figured out how: nerve cells are coiled and coated in two different layers of waviness. A better understanding of how this works… [Link]

Mashable » Draw electrical circuits with this silver pen

Wednesday 22 February 14:53:12 UTC 2017

Silver has the highest conductivity among metals and this silver ink pen lets you connect electrical circuits by just drawing on paper.  The Japanese startup, IgIC, hopes to use the pens to drive down the costs of traditional electrical circuits. Read more…More about Electric Conductivity, Real Time Video, Circuit, Electronics, and Startup [Link]

Slashdot » AMD Launches Ryzen, Claims To Beat Intel's Core i7 Offering At Half the Price

Wednesday 22 February 14:43:00 UTC 2017

Reader MojoKid writes: AMD CEO, Dr. Lisu Su took to the stage at AMD's Ryzen tech day yesterday and opened the event with official speeds, feeds, pricing, and benchmark scores for the company's upcoming Ryzen series processors. AMD's goal with Ryzen, which is based on its Zen microarchitecture, was a 40% IPC (instructions per clock) uplift. As it turns out, … [Link]

Mashable » BMW and LEGO collaborated to create the concept hoverbike of our dreams

Wednesday 22 February 14:28:08 UTC 2017

LEGO and BMW teamed up to create a model set for one of the automaker's most popular motorcycles – BMW R 1200 GS Adventure.  Lego Technic engineers used the same 603 pieces from the model to construct a concept hoverbike. Then, their colleagues at BMW, impressed by the design, built a life-sized replica of the futuristic bike. Read more…More about Concept … [Link]

Mashable » This startup buys and fixes up languishing mobile games and tools

Wednesday 22 February 14:25:23 UTC 2017

Major app stores are often littered with forgotten or neglected husks of software — apps that developers have, for whatever reason, long given up on updating or actively managing. While some simply gather cobwebs, others maintain loyal followings of a respectable size despite their dilapidated code. In those latter cases, inattentive proprietors are often letting a steady stream of potential advertising … [Link]

Mashable » Richard Linklater made an 'I Pee With LGBT' ad to protest Texas' anti-trans bathroom bill

Wednesday 22 February 14:20:34 UTC 2017

Who said great art can't be a sing-songy rhyme? The award-winning director of Boyhood and a bunch of other movies that make you cry recently produced an ad to help fight his home state's proposed anti-transgender bathroom initiative, SB6.  Titled "I Pee with LGBT,' the ad features a Texas utopia where people get to the use bathroom of their choice, … [Link]

Mashable » This organization is providing kids with 3D-printed prosthetics — free of charge

Wednesday 22 February 14:12:31 UTC 2017

An organization is changing lives all over the world by providing 3D-printed prosthetics to those in need. 'e-Nable' is a global volunteer network that seeks to use their 3D printers and skills for social good.    Read more…More about Mashable Video, E Nable, Limb Amputees, Amputees, and Prosthetics [Link]

Slashdot » Uber's Self-Driving Cars Are Now Picking Up Passengers in Arizona

Wednesday 22 February 14:00:00 UTC 2017

Almost two months to the day after Uber loaded its fleet of self-driving SUVs into the trailer of a self-driving truck and stormed off to Arizona in a self-driving huff, the company is preparing to launch its second experiment (if you don't count the aborted San Francisco pilot) in autonomous ride-hailing. From a report on The Verge: What's different is … [Link]

Popular Science » Audio engineering is making call center robots more 'human' and less annoying

Wednesday 22 February 14:00:00 UTC 2017

Science There's more to it than smarter A.I. Filler sound can make customer support computers seem friendlier and more helpful. [Link]

Mashable » Drone captures mesmerizing footage of water overflowing in a portal-like 'Glory Hole'

Wednesday 22 February 13:59:44 UTC 2017

There’s water overflowing in the 'Glory Hole' spillway at Lake Berryessa, California.   Fortunately, a drone captured the stunning visuals. Read more…More about Real Time Video, Glory Hole Spillway, Rain, Water, and Spillway [Link]

Mashable » Video shows Harrison Ford wrongly flying over airliner

Wednesday 22 February 13:59:01 UTC 2017

SANTA ANA, Calif. (AP) — Video released Tuesday shows a plane piloted by Harrison Ford suddenly and mistakenly flying low over an airliner with 110 people aboard at a Southern California airport. The 45 seconds of soundless video show the 74-year-old Star Wars and Indiana Jones star's potentially serious mishap at John Wayne Airport in Orange County. SEE ALSO: Harrison Ford … [Link]

Mashable » Project Entrepreneur: ZoomDojo co-founder Carol Rattray

Wednesday 22 February 13:31:00 UTC 2017

This interview comes from our partners at Project Entrepreneur, as part of their #WednesdayWisdom blog series featuring industry leaders and disruptive visionaries who are working to build the future of entrepreneurship. Carol Rattray is co-founder of ZoomDojo, an early stage venture capital firm dedicated to investing in ambitious entrepreneurs to define and dominate a new generation of commerce. We sat down … [Link]

Popular Science » This ancient society passed power down from woman to woman

Wednesday 22 February 13:30:00 UTC 2017

Science The evidence lies in a Chaco Canyon crypt In a colossal 650-room structure built over a millennia ago in present-day New Mexico, women ruled. [Link]

Mashable » Stephen Colbert grills Joe Scarborough about Trump's first "scary as hell" month in office

Wednesday 22 February 13:28:20 UTC 2017

The Vice-President is typically the voice in the President's ear.  With this President, however, it's cable TV. Joe Scarborough, co-host of the MSNBC morning show Cup of Joe, came on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert on Tuesday night to discuss Trump's first "scary as hell" month in office.  "Even when he claims he's not watching the show and sends … [Link]

New Scientist – News » Bird flu strain hitting China may be getting more dangerous

Wednesday 22 February 13:13:55 UTC 2017

Already this winter H7N9 has caused 424 known cases in humans, and it seems to be acquiring a deadly mutation that will make it spread more quickly [Link]

Slashdot » Google Releases Open Source File Sharing Project 'Upspin' On GitHub

Wednesday 22 February 13:00:00 UTC 2017

BrianFagioli quotes a report from BetaNews: Today, Google unveiled yet another way to share files. Called "Upspin," the open source project aims to make sharing easier for home users. With that said, the project does not seem particularly easy to set up or maintain. For example, it uses Unix-like directories and email addresses for permissions. While it may make sense … [Link]

Mashable » India's new currency problem: Fake Rs 2,000 bills at SBI ATM

Wednesday 22 February 12:29:46 UTC 2017

It’s not that the Indian government isn’t trying to fill the void it created last November when it invalidated much of the cash in the country. But, every week it seems to run into a new problem. The latest challenge is fighting the fake bills. Rohit Kumar, a New Delhi resident has filed a complaint with the police after a cash … [Link]

Mashable » Muslim Americans' campaign to repair Jewish cemetery gets the J.K. Rowling bump

Wednesday 22 February 12:14:53 UTC 2017

A fundraising project launched by Muslim American activists to help repair a Jewish cemetery has reached its goal of $20,000 in just three hours.  SEE ALSO: Trump’s Muslim Ban could have doomed Apple The campaign, organised by Linda Sarsour and Tarek El-Messidi, calls for "solidarity with the Jewish-American community" to rebuild the almost 200 headstones damaged at the Jewish cemetery in … [Link]

Mashable » Hero cashier makes baby's shopping trip the best day ever

Wednesday 22 February 11:46:50 UTC 2017

It’s definitely true that not all heroes wear capes — the heroes we really remember are the ones who make everyday life so much better. A supermarket cashier in Scotland has become the subject of adoration on Facebook for making a shopping trip with a baby the best thing ever. SEE ALSO: Mother shares hilarious picture of her babysitter truly nailing … [Link]

Mashable » Woman channels #ShePersisted spirit in rant against Mitch McConnell

Wednesday 22 February 11:46:49 UTC 2017

Sorry Mitch McConnell, but that's a hell of a rant. The Senate majority leader got a scolding over jobs and health care from a pretty angry constituent at a luncheon in Kentucky.  “The last I heard, these coal jobs are not coming back and now these people don’t have the insurance they need because they’re poor," the woman said. SEE ALSO: … [Link]

Mashable » Believe it or not, these are IKEA shelves

Wednesday 22 February 11:38:05 UTC 2017

This IKEA hack will awaken the math nerd in you. Japanese artist and architect Takayoshi Kitagawa has created parabolic shelves out of simple, modular IKEA shelving to decorate his childhood home. SEE ALSO: Ikea is now selling a bicycle — and it looks just as pretty as their furniture He wanted to find a way to categorise his father's vast array … [Link]

Mashable » Heinous furry crocs are the latest fashion trend that nobody asked for

Wednesday 22 February 11:28:14 UTC 2017

Crocs lovers of the world: Stop reading now. You are not going to like what you're about to read. Crocs are a crime against fashion and they need to be stopped.  SEE ALSO: Horrifying bejeweled crocs hit the runway at London Fashion Week We may, however, have to wait a little longer for the demise of the wretched Croc, because fashion … [Link]

O'Reilly News and Commentary » #Ebook Deal/Day: Juniper MX Series – $28.99 (Save 50%) Use code DEAL

Wednesday 22 February 11:26:47 UTC 2017

Get "Juniper MX Series" today using code DEAL and save 50%!This sale ends at 2:00 AM 2017-02-23 (PDT, GMT-8:00). [Link]

Mashable » You can now order a Trump troll doll and it's very NSFW

Wednesday 22 February 11:21:10 UTC 2017

If you still have nightmares after the election of Donald Trump, you can try to channel your shock by pre-ordering a teeny-tiny doll of the U.S. president, with teeny-tiny hands, his teeny-tiny Android phone and a (disturbingly visible) teeny-tiny penis. SEE ALSO: An orange alligator exists and people are calling it 'Trumpigator' For $25, you can now pre-order Trump Troll Doll … [Link]

Mashable » Iceland's president clarifies he likes pineapples, just not on pizza

Wednesday 22 February 11:17:34 UTC 2017

Few things are as divisive as pineapple on pizza, as the president of Iceland just experienced.  SEE ALSO: Blogger learns that it's never OK to talk down pizza After claiming that he was "fundamentally opposed" to pineapple as a pizza topping, Guðni Th. Jóhannesson went as far to say that he would ban it, if he were allowed. His controversial opinion … [Link]

New Scientist – News » Worst-ever coral bleaching event continues into fourth year

Wednesday 22 February 10:55:00 UTC 2017

NOAA’s Coral Reef Watch is predicting that many reefs will bleach in the next three months as sea temperatures remain high despite the recent El Niño coming to an end [Link]

Mashable » Badass cyclist gets revenge on catcalling van drivers

Wednesday 22 February 10:49:46 UTC 2017

Getting catcalled is never a pleasant experience. And sometimes it's not until after the event that we think about what we could have said or done. One London cyclist appears to have got her revenge on a van driver who was catcalling her.  Unverified footage — filmed from behind on a motorcyclists go-pro — shows the cyclist being harassed by … [Link]

Mashable » South Korean women will live longer than the rest of us in the future

Wednesday 22 February 10:49:00 UTC 2017

Scientists are predicting that we'll live longer. Life expectancy is projected to exceed 90 years for the first time, according to a study in the U.K. medical journal, The Lancet.  South Korea in particular tops the globe with the largest increase in life expectancy across both men and women.  SEE ALSO: Facebook's new bereavement leave raises an important point about grief … [Link]

Mashable » Parkour legend casually flips and slides on giant ice sculptures like it's NBD

Wednesday 22 February 10:16:49 UTC 2017

While the rest of us mere mortals struggle to walk on ice without slipping, parkour athlete Jason Paul took to the massive ice sculptures of northern China for some effortless flipping, sliding and high jumping. At the International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival in Harbin, the temperature dips down to -25°C (-13°F) on average. Every year, the blisteringly cold Chinese … [Link]

Mashable » Satya Nadella announces the 'first coming together of Microsoft and LinkedIn' project

Wednesday 22 February 10:16:28 UTC 2017

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella announced Project Sangam, a cloud-based initiative to skill job-seekers as well as help them find better job opportunities, in India.  Speaking at Microsoft's 'Future Decoded' event in Mumbai on Wednesday, Nadella said that Project Sangam "is actually the first coming together of Microsoft and LinkedIn" — the professional networking site which it acquired in a $26.2-billion deal … [Link]

Slashdot » Studies Show Testosterone Offers Little Benefits To Aging Men

Wednesday 22 February 10:00:00 UTC 2017

An anonymous reader quotes a report from Ars Technica: In decades of research, scientists have found only one medical condition that's clearly and effectively treated with testosterone supplements: pathological hypogonadism — that's low testosterone levels due to disease of the hypothalamus, pituitary gland, or testes. In a series of placebo-controlled, randomized trials, researchers tracked the effect of testosterone on the … [Link]

Mashable » 18-year-old chess grandmaster gets kicked off Iran national team for not wearing a headscarf

Wednesday 22 February 9:58:20 UTC 2017

An 18-year-old Iranian chess grandmaster has been kicked off the national team after she showed up for a game not wearing a hijab. Dorsa Derakhshani was competing in a chess tournament in Gibraltar earlier this month. SEE ALSO: Lindsey Lohan claims she was profiled in an airport while wearing a headscarf However, she failed to wear a hijab, or traditional headscarf, … [Link]

Mashable » Watch a man smash 124 coconuts in less than a minute. With his bare hands.

Wednesday 22 February 9:34:57 UTC 2017

It's not that we have any personal vendetta against coconuts. But the amount of effort you need to invest to break them open is a deal-breaker for many of us. If you're one such soul, you've just found a new friend in Abeesh Domanic. To say Domanic, 25, is good with coconuts would be an understatement. The resident of Southern … [Link]

Mashable » The Dot braille smartwatch is finally getting shipped out to patient buyers

Wednesday 22 February 9:15:58 UTC 2017

SEOUL — Next month, the Dot smartwatch will finally hit shelves, offering a sleek timepiece for the blind. The watch is coming to the market after nearly three years of repeated stops and starts. SEE ALSO: Smart glasses are digital eyes for the legally blind Unlike most assistive smartwatches for the blind which rely on audio prompts, the Dot displays messages … [Link]

Mashable » No, Samsung isn't launching a refurbished Galaxy Note7

Wednesday 22 February 7:52:35 UTC 2017

No, Samsung isn’t bringing the Galaxy Note7 from the dead.  SEE ALSO: Even in death, the Galaxy Note7 continues to change the smartphone market The South Korean smartphone company has refuted a widely circulated report that claimed that Samsung plans to sell refurbished units of the Galaxy Note7 in Indonesia and India later this year.  "The report on Samsung planning to … [Link]

Mashable » Japan zoo kills 57 monkeys carrying 'invasive alien' genes

Wednesday 22 February 7:41:13 UTC 2017

A Japanese zoo has killed 57 snow monkeys by lethal injection, after they were found to be carrying genes of an "invasive alien species." One third of the monkeys at the Takagoyama Nature Zoo were found to have been crossbred with the rhesus macaque. SEE ALSO: Robotic finger monkeys are cute and not weird at all The rhesus macaque, which is … [Link]

Mashable » Blogger learns that it's never OK to talk down pizza

Wednesday 22 February 7:17:05 UTC 2017

Here’s a life tip: Never, ever talk ill of pizza. While there recently have been arguments over what exactly should go on pizza, there will be hell to pay for those who try to get people to stop eating it. SEE ALSO: Iceland's president said he would ban pineapple on pizza if he could As a Nigerian fitness website called Naija … [Link]

Slashdot » Cellphones As a Fifth-Order Elaboration of Maxwell's Theory

Wednesday 22 February 7:00:00 UTC 2017

schwit1 shares a report from IEEE Spectrum that reflects on the "Stages of Electronics" based on James Clerk Maxwell's theory: Now that the world has become addicted to portable electronics, billions of people have come to see the companies providing these gadgets as the most innovative, and the people who head those companies as the most exalted, of all time. … [Link]

Mashable » Microsoft launches Skype Lite for India that works on slow internet and supports Aadhaar

Wednesday 22 February 6:46:04 UTC 2017

Microsoft has just found the perfect Skype app for the Indian market.  At an event in Mumbai today, Satya Nadella announced Skype Lite, a 13MB app that works even on slower networks and on lower-end phones with limited storage and processing power.  SEE ALSO: Facebook's 'Lite' app for developing areas now has 200 million monthly users On top of this, Skype … [Link]

Mashable » Rich people deserve more nice things, so here's a bowling alley just for them

Wednesday 22 February 5:55:26 UTC 2017

Do you have an obscene amount of money? Are you also inexplicably obsessed with bowling? Then boy are you in luck, because a bowling alley in Melbourne, Australia has popped up that will set you back at least A$10,000 ($7,691) for a mere three hours-worth of play. Of course, you're also in luck generally, because you've got A$10,000 to blow on … [Link]

New Scientist – News » New species of bushbaby found in disappearing forests of Angola

Wednesday 22 February 5:30:00 UTC 2017

The Angolan dwarf galago is the fifth new primate species found in mainland Africa since 2000, but its habitat is under threat [Link]

Mashable » Students fight back after diversity posters banned from school for being 'anti-Trump'

Wednesday 22 February 5:21:49 UTC 2017

When the artist behind the classic Barack Obama "Hope" poster released an array of beautiful new images honoring diversity ahead of Trump's inauguration, they quickly became icons of a more welcoming country. However, administrators at Westminster High School in Carroll County, Maryland have reportedly banned teachers from displaying the posters on campus, saying they're "anti-Trump" and just too political. Students at … [Link]

The Joy of Tech » JoT #2386: The nine stages of forgetting your phone

Wednesday 22 February 4:58:14 UTC 2017

Not me, I never forget my phone! *checks* [Link]

Mashable » Wolverine claws toward greatness in the R-rated 'Logan'

Wednesday 22 February 4:54:47 UTC 2017

Tentpole season comes very, very early this year with the latest X-Men adventure, Logan. Clint and Ti are joined by Mashable editors Josh Dickey and Laura Prudom to talk mutants, their favorite superhero movies, genre mixing and, most importantly, WOLVERINE! Visit CineFix for more episodes and movie-related content. Read more… More about James Mangold, Wolverine, Patrick Stewart, Hugh Jackman, and … [Link]

Mashable » To sit, or not to sit? THAT is the question.

Wednesday 22 February 3:52:27 UTC 2017

Will the real conclusive study on the health effects of sedentary behavior PLEASE stand up??? Or sit down … who even knows anymore. See, it's like this — every so often a new study comes out declaring that sitting for hours on end is essentially your ticket to an early grave. So then you read it, become increasingly terrified and make … [Link]

Mashable » Miss World contestant in wheelchair hopes to make catwalk 'inclusive and fair'

Wednesday 22 February 3:42:05 UTC 2017

In an ivory gown, Australian woman Justine Clarke, 26, turned heads at the South Australian state final of Miss World Australia on Sunday. She also broke boundaries, becoming one of the few women to have competed in a beauty pageant while using a wheelchair. "I want the catwalk to be an inclusive and fair experience for everyone," Clarke said in a … [Link]

Slashdot » The Only Thing, Historically, That's Curbed Inequality: Catastrophe

Wednesday 22 February 3:30:00 UTC 2017

ColdWetDog writes: The Atlantic has an interesting article on how societies have decreased economic equality. From the report: "Calls to make America great again hark back to a time when income inequality receded even as the economy boomed and the middle class expanded. Yet it is all too easy to forget just how deeply this newfound equality was rooted in … [Link]

Mashable » What should the Han Solo movie be called? Here are the best options.

Wednesday 22 February 3:11:18 UTC 2017

This much we can tell you for sure: the still-untitled Han Solo spin-off movie will not be called "Red Cup."  That's the working title, a nod to the fact that George Lucas named Solo's character for the plastic drinks brand. (True story.) But what about the actual title for the standalone film, which as of Tuesday is scheduled for May 25, … [Link]

Mashable » 'This Is Us' gives us a road trip we'll never forget in 'Memphis'

Wednesday 22 February 3:00:00 UTC 2017

This recap contains spoilers for This Is Us Season 1, episode 16, titled "Memphis." In an episode sure to make Kleenex shares skyrocket, this week's installment of This Is Us takes us back to William’s early life in Memphis, where we meet his cousin Ricky and learn that William was once on track to become a serious songwriter and musician … [Link]

Mashable » There's not enough medical marijuana in Australia, so it's speeding up imports

Wednesday 22 February 2:44:54 UTC 2017

While Australia is increasingly pro-medical cannabis, it's still hard to get your hands on the stuff if you're in need (and have a prescription). The government has indicated it's open to speeding things up, with Health Minister Greg Hunt announcing Wednesday that authorities will allow more rapid importation of the drug while a domestic supply is built. Medical cannabis is often … [Link]

Mashable » Anti-Trump protesters spread a powerful message on the Statue of Liberty

Wednesday 22 February 2:30:28 UTC 2017

A sign unfurled on the Statue of Liberty added to its message about America taking in the "tired" and "poor" and those "yearning to breathe free.” Its words? “Refugees Welcome.” SEE ALSO: Google creates $4 million crisis fund to fight Trump's immigration ban A small group of activists claimed responsibility for the message and posted about it on the Twitter account … [Link]

Slashdot » College Senior Turns His Honda Civic Into a Self-Driving Car Using Free Hardware, Software

Wednesday 22 February 2:05:00 UTC 2017

holy_calamity writes: University of Nebraska student Brevan Jorgenson swapped the rear-view mirror in his 2016 Honda Civic for a home-built device called a Neo, which can steer the vehicle and follow traffic on the highway. Jorgenson used hardware designs and open-source software released by Comma, a self-driving car startup that decided to give away its technology for free last year … [Link]

Mashable » Don't challenge this 6-year-old with one arm at golf because you'll lose

Wednesday 22 February 1:54:07 UTC 2017

Tommy Morrissey has some serious golf skills.  At the Honda Classic on Tuesday, he took on PGA pros even though he's only 6 years old and has one arm.  According to USA Today, he bested pro golfer Ryo Ishikawa from 60 yards out, landing his ball five feet closer to the pin on the 18th hole of the Champion course at … [Link]

Mashable » The Atlanta Hawks Twitter account doesn't want to hear your trade suggestions

Wednesday 22 February 1:51:41 UTC 2017

The NBA trade deadline is less than 48 hours away, leaving basketball executives scrambling and trade rumors swirling, many of them on Twitter. And it seems many fans think the folks running NBA team social media accounts somehow have a say in what trades are consummated. That is most definitely not the case, but the Atlanta Hawks had a brilliant response … [Link]

Mashable » How to get Uber to recognize sexual harassment in 41 easy steps

Wednesday 22 February 1:32:06 UTC 2017

A female engineer has exposed Uber's sexism problem. It only took a few steps for her to do this — 41, in fact, so simple! — and if you follow the program, you too can see results at your own workplace. Susan Fowler Rigetti (who goes by Susan J. Fowler on her blog) worked for the ride-hailing company in 2015, and … [Link]

Slashdot » Valve's Gabe Newell Says Only 30 SteamVR Apps Have Made $250,000+

Wednesday 22 February 1:25:00 UTC 2017

New submitter rentarno writes: According to Valve President, Gabe Newell, only 30 virtual-reality apps on Steam (of some 1,000) have made more than $250,000. But that isn't stopping the company from throwing the bulk of their weight behind virtual reality; Valve recently confirmed that it's working on 3 full VR games. Valve still believes in a huge future for VR, … [Link]

Mashable » Why sexual harassment scandals like Uber's are bound to persist in tech

Wednesday 22 February 1:21:44 UTC 2017

If you thought tech companies were succeeding, even incrementally, at creating more inclusive workplaces, it's not entirely your fault. Headline after headline suggests that influential Silicon Valley executives understand they have a problem and are working to fix it. But a serious scandal like the one Uber now faces, following damning allegations of sexual harassment and corporate negligence, is all it … [Link]

Mashable » Police call BS on Egg the stolen pug story and the internet is in shambles

Wednesday 22 February 1:12:38 UTC 2017

It was just so tragic: An innocent pug, ripped violently from his owner's arms. The story sent the internet into a tailspin, but now the police seem to think it doesn't add up. When the alleged crime emerged on Feb. 10, the internet fell hook, line and sinker for the tale of Egg, a young pet pug from Sydney, Australia that … [Link]

Mashable » Instead of a suitcase just put everything in this jacket

Wednesday 22 February 1:01:29 UTC 2017

Never mind that you look like a dorky shoplifter, this jacket is supposed to make air travel so much easier. SEE ALSO: Car rooftop tent will make road trips a breeze The "Airport Jacket," which is set to take off later this year if its $76,000 Kickstarter gets funded (and it works), is the ultimate travel hack. So far, the … [Link]

Slashdot » Samsung To Sell Refurbished Galaxy Note 7 With a Smaller Battery, Says Report

Wednesday 22 February 0:45:00 UTC 2017

According to a report via The Korean Economic Daily, Samsung is said to be putting refurbished Galaxy Note 7 handsets on sale with new batteries following the cancellation of the device late last year. The speculation suggests the smartphones could be relaunched this June. Android Authority reports: Samsung is said to be swapping the Note 7's 3,500 mAh batteries with … [Link]

New Scientist – News » Buttercups focus light to heat their flowers and attract insects

Wednesday 22 February 0:31:00 UTC 2017

A special layer of cells inside the petals makes them act together like a parabolic reflector, focusing visible and infrared light on the flower centre [Link]

Mashable » Wearing a VR headset gets even more awkward underwater

Wednesday 22 February 0:28:24 UTC 2017

As if wearing a bulky VR headset on your face didn't look awkward enough, somebody's gone and cobbled together one that can be used underwater.  Yes, a VR headset you wear in a pool. Let that sink in (no pun intended!) for a minute. SEE ALSO: VR may be hyped, but it'll take 'maybe a decade' to become mainstream The VR … [Link]

Mashable » This awkward TV kiss will make you want to curl up and die

Wednesday 22 February 0:14:42 UTC 2017

Dating shows are full of deliciously awkward moments, and that's why we can't get enough. A recent episode of Australia's Married At First Sight (yes, it's a real show in which people get married…at first sight) served up a classic example. SEE ALSO: Confessions of a Tinder Tourist: The rules of right-swiping abroad Let's set the scene: The date between Cheryl … [Link]

ProgrammableWeb.com » Daily API RoundUp: ProPublica Congress, Cardlife, Keygen, BirdEye, Placer

Wednesday 22 February 0:13:37 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 » The first ever self-driving car race ended in a crash

Wednesday 22 February 0:11:40 UTC 2017

For the first time ever, self-driving race cars zoomed through a course in public, with impressive (well, for one of them, anyway) results.  Roborace, the self-driving racing series Formula E announced in 2015, made history with its first public trial race at the Buenos Aires ePrix last weekend.  The two competitors: Devbots 1 and 2, which raced each other in a … [Link]

Slashdot » 'We Won't Block Pirate Bay,' Swedish Telecoms Giant Says

Wednesday 22 February 0:05:00 UTC 2017

Last week, a Swedish Patent and Market Court of Appeal ordered The Pirate Bay and streaming portal Swefilmer to be blocked by internet service provider Bredbandsbolaget for the next three years. The order was not well supported by other internet service providers in Sweden, as it appears they don't like the idea of becoming copyright policemen. TorrentFreak reports: Last week … [Link]

Mashable » We hit the streets to find out how people earned their Big Mac

Wednesday 22 February 0:00:43 UTC 2017

Everyone loves a good reward. And as it turns out, everyone earns one at some point in their day. Rewarding yourself when you achieve a big goal is great, but what about all those little things you accomplish every day – shouldn’t they be recognized too? Raise your hand if you:  brushed your teeth today? called your mom? showed up … [Link]

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