Geekish

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

Mashable » Netflix muscles into the reality TV game with 'Ultimate Beastmaster'

Friday 24 February 23:53:49 UTC 2017

For someone who helped created the The Biggest Loser, producer David Broome sure knows how to be a winner when it comes to reality television. Now, after over a decade creating and producing unscripted projects for cable and broadcast channels, Broome is hoping to make reality TV work for Netflix. Ultimate Beastmaster, which launched on the streaming service Friday, is Broome's … [Link]

Slashdot » FCC To Halt Rule That Protects Your Private Data From Security Breaches

Friday 24 February 23:20:00 UTC 2017

According to Ars Technica, "The Federal Communications Commission plans to halt implementation of a privacy rule that requires ISPs to protect the security of its customers' personal information." From the report: The data security rule is part of a broader privacy rulemaking implemented under former Chairman Tom Wheeler but opposed by the FCC's new Republican majority. The privacy order's data … [Link]

Popular Science » Does the weirdly warm weather mean spring is already here?

Friday 24 February 23:04:53 UTC 2017

Environment Why it isn't so nice that the weather's so nice What are the implications of the recent very warm weather? Read on. [Link]

Mashable » The Google v. Uber lawsuit is confusing, until you watch 'Silicon Valley'

Friday 24 February 23:02:38 UTC 2017

Google and Uber are set to duke it out in court, and the fight is far from simple. The good news is, though, that as art imitates life which then often imitates art, HBO's Silicon Valley can help you understand this quarrel. On Thursday, Alphabet (Google's parent company) announced that it's taking Uber to court over self-driving car technology that it … [Link]

Mashable » 'Get Out' rips the mask off a monster we know too well

Friday 24 February 23:00:00 UTC 2017

Clint and Ti got a sneak peak at Jordan Peele's directorial debut. Does Peele make the leap from sketch comedy genius to thriller auteur? Short consensus is… oh man, big time. Watch their review for the long version! Visit CineFix for more episodes and movie-related content. Read more…More about Mashable Video, Allison Williams, Daniel Kaluuya, Racism, and Thriller [Link]

Mashable » May we all love something as much as the internet loves Justin Trudeau's butt

Friday 24 February 22:43:26 UTC 2017

And lo, Twitter was grateful for the peach emoji. For this week, Justin Trudeau's butt enchanted the internet. A photo of the Canadian prime minister wearing pants that fit him has flooded Twitter like maple syrup on a plate of pancakes. And everyone is talking about Trudeau's butt. SEE ALSO: Justin Trudeau and Angela Merkel had a candlelit dinner and I … [Link]

Slashdot » Toshiba Plans To Ship a 1TB Flash Chip To Manufacturers This Spring

Friday 24 February 22:40:00 UTC 2017

Lucas123 writes: Toshiba has begun shipping samples of its third-generation 3D NAND memory product, a chip with 64 stacked flash cells that it said will enable a 1TB chip shipping later this spring. The new flash memory product has 65% greater capacity than the previous generation technology, which used 48 layers of NAND flash cells. The chip will be used … [Link]

Mashable » Fox News' Shep Smith attempts to explain 'Fake News' to Donald Trump

Friday 24 February 22:32:18 UTC 2017

"CNN's reporting was not fake news," Fox News host Shep Smith said on air on Friday. In lieu of a daily press conference, White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer held a closed-door gaggle with reporters, hand-selecting which media organizations had the privilege of attending. CNN, the New York Times, BuzzFeed, the Los Angeles Times and Politico were denied access, prompting … [Link]

Mashable » Some people are having issues with their new Nintendo Switch controllers

Friday 24 February 22:18:17 UTC 2017

Some members of the press, ourselves included, have had Nintendo's Switch console for a few days now in advance of its March 3 release. And some members of the press, ourselves not included, have reported issues with the left Joy-Con controller. Left shark would be (even more) ashamed if this was 2015. SEE ALSO: All the ways I played with Nintendo's … [Link]

Mashable » The most cringe-worthy quotes from CEO Travis Kalanick on Uber's sexist work culture

Friday 24 February 22:08:35 UTC 2017

Uber CEO Travis Kalanick has a history of cringe-worthy comments. Easiest example — "Boob-er" in reference to a "women on demand" service — and here's some more. SEE ALSO: Why sexual harassment scandals like Uber's are bound to persist in tech When he's not putting his foot in his mouth, Kalanick is known for particularly aggressive business tactics, which is one … [Link]

Mashable » JaVale McGee and Shaq's Twitter war went 0 to 100, real quick

Friday 24 February 22:07:14 UTC 2017

Brace for impact, folks. This is officially a full-on Twitter war. A pre-existing feud between former NBA star Shaquille O'Neill and Golden State Warriors center JaVale McGee flared up again late Thursday night with a series of hot tweets, the content of which included violent threats, nut emoji and not-so-savory photoshopped images. SEE ALSO: In pep talk fail, Jameis Winston … [Link]

Mashable » 'Arrival' screenwriter's next act after Oscar nomination? A comic book

Friday 24 February 22:03:39 UTC 2017

Eric Heisserer is having a hell of a year. The writer hit the big time with Arrival, which he produced and penned. Heisserer won both the Writer's Guild of America and Critics' Choice Awards for Best Adapted Screenplay, and may have a pretty good Oscar night too. SEE ALSO: One of the most underrated heroes in comics is back. … [Link]

Slashdot » Security Lapse Exposed New York Airport's Critical Servers For a Year

Friday 24 February 22:00:00 UTC 2017

An anonymous reader quotes a report from ZDNet: A security lapse at a New York international airport left its server backups exposed on the open internet for almost a year, ZDNet has found. The internet-connected storage drive contained several backup images of servers used by Stewart International Airport, but neither the backup drive nor the disk images were password protected, … [Link]

Mashable » Nintendo Switch impressions from 16-time WWE champion John Cena

Friday 24 February 21:56:12 UTC 2017

WWE Superstar John Cena played the Nintendo Switch at a pop-up event in California yesterday and he wants gamers to know one thing: the hype is real. We were able to talk to Cena over the phone a day after he was spotted in the desert with a Nintendo Switch playing The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and 1-2-Switch. … [Link]

Mashable » Someone lost a pair of Snuggie-clad goats, but it's OK because they were found

Friday 24 February 21:55:48 UTC 2017

Finding out you've lost a pet is one of the most crushing and terrifying moments to experience. But losing two goats in Snuggies? We can't even imagine what that level of pain would feel like. That's exactly what happened in Nampa, Idaho. The Nampa Police Department discovered two lost goats in their town, who also appear to be wearing Snuggies. In … [Link]

Mashable » Professor asks class 'Questions for Heterosexuals' to explain how LGBTQ people feel every day

Friday 24 February 21:50:14 UTC 2017

If you don't identify as completely straight, you may have been asked some unsolicited and slightly ignorant questions about your "lifestyle." Twenty-year-old junior in college, Elise, posted this photo on Twitter of a "Questions for Heterosexuals in the Class" PowerPoint slide her Human Sexuality professor created to explain to the class how difficult it is to answer common questions LGBTQ people … [Link]

Mashable » This is what happens when you tie your shoe in the middle of a game

Friday 24 February 21:46:24 UTC 2017

Here’s a lesson for all you aspiring hoopers out there — shoe untied? Call a timeout. Unfortunately for Northwestern point guard Ashley Deary, she didn't. With the Wildcats hosting Rutgers on Thursday, Deary started a drive in the second quarter, but noticed her untied shoelace before getting too far down the court. SEE ALSO: In pep talk fail, Jameis Winston tells elementary … [Link]

Mashable » An exclusive look at Donald Trump's Twitter drafts for Oscar night

Friday 24 February 21:43:46 UTC 2017

Folks, this Sunday is the 89th Academy Awards. It's an incredibly special night for Hollywood, where last year's movies are praised and millionaires receive gold statues. And if this year's past awards shows have been any precedent, it's also a night where celebrities get to talk about Trump. Last month at the Golden Globes, Meryl Streep called out Trump during her … [Link]

Mashable » This self-driving semi company wants to make truckers' jobs easier

Friday 24 February 21:36:27 UTC 2017

If a new startup has its way, highways might soon be filled self-driving semi trucksEmbark, which emerged from stealth mode to launch publicly Friday, is the latest autonomous long haul solution to hit the road. The company claims its semi trucks will be able to self-navigate freeway routes from exit to exit without any driver interaction. The State of Nevada gave … [Link]

Mashable » Fishermen stumble upon a 16-foot manta ray while out at sea

Friday 24 February 21:35:57 UTC 2017

It’s a "sea monstah." The Outcast Sport Fishing crew was chartering off the coast of Hilton Head Island, South Carolina when they came across a massive sea monster: a 16-foot manta ray, which is basically a giant swimming bird. SEE ALSO: To hunt in the dark, these fish bring their own 'flashlights' .mcclatchy-embed{position:relative;~ 0 56.25%;height:0;overflow:hidden;max~ iframe{position:absolute;top:0;left~ After cruising alongside the giant to … [Link]

Mashable » Laverne Cox beautifully takes a transphobic activist to task on live TV

Friday 24 February 21:32:16 UTC 2017

Laverne Cox has always used her celebrity platform to be a voice for the transgender community, and she isn't stopping anytime soon. The actress appeared on MSNBC's Hardball on Thursday, joining Mara Keisling, executive director of the National Center for Transgender Equality, and Travis Weber, a right-wing activist who argued for states' rights to determine specific rights offered to transgender people. … [Link]

Mashable » Someone put the Nintendo Switch's battery to the test

Friday 24 February 21:20:56 UTC 2017

When they revealed the Switch, Nintendo also revealed the portable console's possible battery lifespan. They estimated somewhere between two and a half to six hours of battery life, depending on settings and what you're running, of course. YouTube channel GameXplain put that assessment to the test, pushing the console's settings to the max (brightness, sound, wifi on) and letting The … [Link]

Slashdot » Studios Push for $50 Early Home Movie Rentals

Friday 24 February 21:20:00 UTC 2017

As many as five major Hollywood studios have been working with cinema owners to shrink the traditional release window and allow consumers to rent movies on-demand in as little as 17 days after they hit theaters, reports Variety. From the article: Warner Bros. and Universal have been the most aggressive in pursuing an arrangement that would see certain movies receive … [Link]

Mashable » Adding self-driving tech to your car is surprisingly cheap… and legal

Friday 24 February 21:19:25 UTC 2017

Self-driving tech is on its way to cars — but for some, it's not coming soon enough. While Tesla rolls out updates to Autopilot incrementally and other automakers fine-tune their autonomous platforms after years of development, some ambitious drivers are tricking out their own, regular cars with self-driving systems. They're doing it with aftermarket gear that's available to anyone to buy … [Link]

New Scientist – News » Having a cigarette may make your body crave coffee too

Friday 24 February 21:02:00 UTC 2017

People who smoke may metabolise caffeine differently to non-smokers, leaving them needing to drink more to get the same hit from their coffee [Link]

Mashable » Kind RA fulfills student's birthday dream of hearing a bedtime story

Friday 24 February 20:52:47 UTC 2017

Resident Advisors or RAs are in many ways responsible for helping to shape the college experience of students who live on campus, and in some cases fulfilling dreams. Typically, RAs wear many hats: arbiter in roommate disputes, provider of free food and buster of parties, to just name a few. However, one very patiently kind RA at the University of Tennessee … [Link]

Slashdot » Boeing and Airbus Can't Make Enough Airplanes To Keep Up With Demand

Friday 24 February 20:40:00 UTC 2017

From a report on Axios: Aerospace manufacturers like Boeing and Airbus cannot produce airplanes fast enough to meet demand despite what the Wall Street Journal calls "one of the industry's steepest production increases since World War II." The run up in demand is partially the result of fast-growing airline industries in the Middle East and China. Manufacturers will need to … [Link]

Mashable » Trump White House blocks CNN, New York Times, BuzzFeed, Politico from press briefing

Friday 24 February 20:38:13 UTC 2017

In the latest shot fired between the White House and the press corps, the Trump administration reportedly blocked numerous mainstream media outlets from being in on Friday afternoon's scheduled press briefing. CNN, the New York Times, BuzzFeed, the Los Angeles Times and Politico were all denied access to the small briefing known as a "gaggle"—an informal session that's on the record, … [Link]

Mashable » Watch Ed Moses, a former U.S. Olympic swimmer, compete on Netflix's 'Ultimate Beastmaster'

Friday 24 February 20:37:57 UTC 2017

Are you a beast? Ed Moses, a former U.S. Olympic swimmer, wants to be. The athlete was among the 108 competitors to tackle Netflix's first reality competition series Ultimate Beastmaster. Mashable got an exclusive look (above). The show launched across the globe on Friday. SEE ALSO: Netflix's 'Mystery Science Theater' gets release date, perfect cast photo The show pits 108 competitors … [Link]

Mashable » New leak exposes a trove of personal passwords and sensitive info

Friday 24 February 20:30:30 UTC 2017

Cloudflare, one of the giants of internet security responsible for keeping the websites we all visit safe, is itself the source of a vulnerability that has the potential to rival the Heartbleed bug of 2014. And to make things worse, we don't even know the full extent of the damage yet. Let's get this out of the way early: Change your … [Link]

Mashable » These badass women exercising to Maya Angelou's poetry is all the inspiration you need today

Friday 24 February 20:23:37 UTC 2017

If you've been searching in vain for motivation to exercise, stop right now. This video has everything you need: a scorching soundtrack, the legendary poet Maya Angelou and a motley crew of fierce women slaying it in their respective sports. The one-and-a-half minute clip is the latest installment of the UK "This Girl Can" campaign. The initiative aims to "inspire … [Link]

Mashable » Jordan Peele raises the stakes on racism in chilling thriller 'Get Out'

Friday 24 February 20:13:41 UTC 2017

Clint and Ti got a sneak peek at Jordan Peele's directorial debut. Does Peele make the leap from sketch comedy genius to thriller auteur? Big time. Watch their review for the long version. Visit CineFix for more episodes and movie-related content. Read more… More about Racism, Social Thriller, Thriller, Horror, and Daniel Kaluuya [Link]

Mashable » Nintendo puts a banana peel in the path of a real life 'Mario Kart' business

Friday 24 February 20:11:17 UTC 2017

Nintendo has always been protective of its brands, and today they lobbed a blue shell at a fellow Japanese business trying to make a few yen. The gaming giant filed a lawsuit Friday against go kart business MariCar (or Marika), which rents street-legal karts to customers for a tour of Tokyo. SEE ALSO: John Cena is helping Nintendo advertise the Nintendo … [Link]

Slashdot » Google Renames Messenger To Android Messages as the Company Pushes RCS

Friday 24 February 20:00:00 UTC 2017

We have come a long way from the age of flip phones and nine-key texting. Even as if group messaging and instant messengers took over, the SMS has largely retained its core standard over the years. Google wants to change that, and for this, it has been working with hundreds of carriers and manufacturers around the world to bring the … [Link]

Popular Science » McDonald's new science straw, a head-tripping optical illusion, and other amazing images of the week

Friday 24 February 19:48:00 UTC 2017

Science Newsworthy eye candy From freshly-discovered exoplanets of Earth size to the new J-shaped straw of McDonald's, PopSci brings you the Images of the Week. [Link]

Mashable » 30 of the brightest tech innovations from the UK

Friday 24 February 19:29:48 UTC 2017

Paid Content By UK's Department for International TradeThe UK is a world-leading hub for business with an unrivalled network of experienced and innovative companies. Our businesses offer exceptional products and services that have transformed the day-to-day lives of people around the world.The UK has been home to some of the most genius inventions. Did you know the first photograph was pioneered … [Link]

Slashdot » Americans Believe Robots Will Take Everyone Else's Job, But Theirs Will Be Safe, Study Says

Friday 24 February 19:20:00 UTC 2017

An anonymous reader shares a CNBC report: You may accept, by now, that robots will take over lots of jobs currently held by human workers. But you probably believe they won't be taking yours. Though other industries are in danger, your position is safe. That's according to a report released by LivePerson, a cloud-based messaging company which surveyed 2,000 U.S.-based … [Link]

Mashable » Brave Uber whistleblower breaks her silence to warn of 'smear campaign'

Friday 24 February 19:16:58 UTC 2017

Susan Fowler Rigetti became a whistleblower Sunday when she published a blog post describing the sexist work culture and oppressive management style she experienced while at Uber. SEE ALSO: Ex-Uber employee shares harrowing tale of sexism at the company Since then, other women stepped forward with similar stories and the company's investors are now demanding action. Uber CEO Travis Kalanick held … [Link]

ProgrammableWeb.com » Amazon Alexa Has More Skills Than You Do

Friday 24 February 19:12:44 UTC 2017

Amazon Alexa, the voice-controlled artificial intelligence behind the Amazon Echo and Echo Dot in-home speakers, has amassed a whopping 10,000 skills. Skills are features, tool, actions, or abilities enabled by developers. As such, Amazon is saying a big Thank You! to its supporters. [Link]

Mashable » Have a great time looking at these round chinchilla butts

Friday 24 February 19:12:33 UTC 2017

Surprise. People online love fluffy chinchilla butts. And these objects of the internet's affection are from Cameron's Chinchillas, a small scale breeding business run by Cameron Holmes in the British county of Buckinghamshire. SEE ALSO: Can everyone quit hanging out with dolphins while we're stuck in the office? Holmes says that the chinchillas love to nap, eat healthy snacks like rolled … [Link]

Popular Science » This is what America looked like before the EPA cleaned it up

Friday 24 February 19:09:57 UTC 2017

horse in front of chemical company Environment It wasn't pretty A snapshot from America before the impact of the EPA and the effects of rules regulating clean water and air were felt. [Link]

Popular Science » What would America be like without the EPA?

Friday 24 February 19:08:31 UTC 2017

Environment Why we created the Environmental Protection Agency—and why we still need it What did America look like before the EPA? PopSci takes a look. [Link]

Popular Science » An LED bike light for 75 percent off? I'd buy it.

Friday 24 February 18:49:00 UTC 2017

Gadgets Cruise clearly anytime. It's $32 bucks. Crazy bright LED bike lights for 75 percent off? I'd buy it. Read on. [Link]

Mashable » Watch this aerogel insulated jacket withstand liquid nitrogen

Friday 24 February 18:42:30 UTC 2017

Oros outerwear is made with an insulating aerogel inspired by NASA technology used in space suits. Read more…More about Aerogel Insulated, Nasa Earth Observatory, Real Time Video, Real Time Video, and Invention [Link]

Mashable » Europeans are cutting down U.S. forests for so-called 'sustainable' energy

Friday 24 February 18:40:23 UTC 2017

European nations, including the UK, are making a grave accounting error that will result in the emissions of more planet-warming greenhouse gases, according to a new report from an independent London think tank. By counting the burning of wood pellets from felled forests in the U.S., Canada and Russia as a "renewable" or "sustainable" form of energy, nations in the European … [Link]

Slashdot » Tesla Is So Sure Its Cars Are Safe That It Now Offers Insurance For Life

Friday 24 February 18:40:00 UTC 2017

In the self-driving future envisioned by Tesla CEO Elon Musk, car owners might be saying "goodbye" to a whole lot more than steering wheels. From a Mashable report: Musk is so sure of the safety features bundled into Tesla vehicles that his company has begun offering some customers a lifetime insurance and maintenance package at the time of purchase. No … [Link]

Mashable » Natalie Dormer reveals what it's like to be killed off on 'Game of Thrones'

Friday 24 February 18:26:48 UTC 2017

Anyone who's seen Game of Thrones will know that the phrase "All men must die" isn't just restricted to men. Margaery Tyrell, who went out in a blaze of green glory in the Season 6 finale, is just one of the show's latest victims. Read more…More about Mashable Video, Game Of Thrones, Margaery Tyrell, Real Time Video, and Real Time Video … [Link]

Mashable » Texting on Android will soon get a lot better

Friday 24 February 18:26:35 UTC 2017

Texting on Android is about to get a much needed makeover. On Friday, Google announced a push to bring Rich Communications Services (RCS) messaging to Android users around the world. RCS is a communication protocol used by wireless carriers, and it's an upgrade to SMS — you know, the thing you probably call "texting." SEE ALSO: iMessage is the only thing … [Link]

Mashable » Woman having a scary good time at a concert is everything

Friday 24 February 18:13:23 UTC 2017

"What are these things attached to my hands?" After capturing a woman having a very intense experience at a concert, Redditor santiSC, a festival organizer claims he offered the woman a free guest list pass for life to his shows if he could use the footage. The woman apparently agreed, so santiSC used the footage to highlight the show that … [Link]

Mashable » Netflix continues comedy takeover, signs deal with Tracy Morgan

Friday 24 February 18:12:53 UTC 2017

The points may not matter in comedy, but for anyone keeping track, Netflix is winning. The company announced Friday that it would be exclusively streaming Tracy Morgan's upcoming comedy special Staying Alive. Netflix's upcoming comedy deals include specials from Dave Chappelle, Chris Rock and Amy Schumer, to add to the streaming platform's already massive comedy library. SEE ALSO: That's it, Netflix … [Link]

Mashable » Ian McShane thinks 'Game of Thrones' fans need to 'get a f*cking life'

Friday 24 February 18:09:33 UTC 2017

Ouch. Deadwood star Ian McShane spent one episode in the world of Westeros last season, and now he can't stop ragging on Game of Thrones fans. "The show is huge, but some fans seem to identify with it [too closely]," he told Empire magazine, according to British sites Metro and the Belfast Telegraph. "You want to say, 'Have you thought about … [Link]

Mashable » 'Tokyo 42,' that colorful 'Grand Theft Auto'-like game, reveals more of its tricks

Friday 24 February 18:08:50 UTC 2017

We're getting another look at the pretty, colorful, minimalist Tokyo 42 today thanks to a new gameplay clip. The latest from Tokyo 42 — an isometric assassin stealth-action game coming out later this year for PC, Xbox One and PS4 — showcases the Cop Drop, a minigame where you, you guessed it, take on the law. Sure sounds GTA-ish The … [Link]

Mashable » Fans wave what appear to be Russian flags in support of Trump at CPAC

Friday 24 February 18:00:17 UTC 2017

America has always been the land of red, white and blue — but now those colors come with a Russian twist. On Friday, some attendees at CPAC, the annual Conservative Political Action conference, waved tiny flags that appear to be exactly copies of the Russian flag, however these have the word "Trump" emblazoned on them. CPAC staff quickly went around and … [Link]

Slashdot » With No Fair Use, It's More Difficult to Innovate, Says Google

Friday 24 February 18:00:00 UTC 2017

Unlike the United States where 'fair use' exemptions are entrenched in law, Australia has only a limited "fair dealing" arrangement. This led head of copyright at Google to conclude that Australia wouldn't be a safe place for his company to store certain data, a clear hindrance to innovation and productivity. From a report on TorrentFreak: The legal freedom offered by … [Link]

Mashable » Barack Obama was just spotted in New York City and people treated him like a rockstar

Friday 24 February 17:47:58 UTC 2017

To everyone who silently begged for Barack Obama's return from the sunny British Virgin Islands: today is your lucky day. The former president of the United States is officially back, and made a surprise appearance in New York City to the delight of the city's civilians. SEE ALSO: Obama beat Richard Branson in a kitesurfing face-off Obama stopped by a building … [Link]

New Scientist – News » The greatest danger asteroids pose to us is not from the impact

Friday 24 February 17:27:00 UTC 2017

If an asteroid hits a major city, only 3 per cent of the casualties will be from the crater it forms – most will be from overheated air and high winds [Link]

New Scientist – News » Morphing drone takes off like a helicopter, flies like a plane

Friday 24 February 17:24:00 UTC 2017

A drone for surveying farmers’ fields takes off vertically and then shape-shifts into a plane, making it easier to launch and allowing it to fly for longer [Link]

Slashdot » LG's Latest Battery Is Also a Phone

Friday 24 February 17:20:00 UTC 2017

An anonymous reader shares an Engadget report: The problem with having a smartphone that you want to use all the damn time is that you'll spend a big chunk of your day wedded to an outlet. LG believes that nobody should have to suffer such an indignity, and has launched the X power2 as a remedy. The smartphone is designed … [Link]

Mashable » Prepare to blast off to the coolest galaxy cake ever

Friday 24 February 17:16:59 UTC 2017

The discovery of seven new planets was definitely a highlight of the week. In fact, some might say that galaxy deserves a delicious sort of tribute. Stand down, JLaw. This cake, posted by Imgur user Pedagiggle is a much better tribute. In fact, it blows any other cake out of the galaxy. SEE ALSO: Seven Earth-sized planets orbit an alien star … [Link]

Mashable » The making of Planet Coaster, evolved simulation gaming at its finest

Friday 24 February 17:12:22 UTC 2017

Paid Content by Frontier DevelopmentsOver the past 12 years, Frontier has made leaps and bounds of progress in the arena of sim gaming, evidenced by the debut of its new build-your-own-theme-park game Planet Coaster. The game is revolutionary for several reasons: each simulated character in the theme park possesses his or her own "Guest Brain" that dictates individualised behavior; the game employs … [Link]

Mashable » Britain declares war on North American grey squirrels

Friday 24 February 16:57:12 UTC 2017

The future of red squirrels in the UK is in danger and conservationists are calling for your help. SEE ALSO: Wow, this gang of squirrel monkey babies is very adorable The endangered mammal needs protection from the invasive grey squirrels introduced in 1876 from North America. A total of 5,000 volunteers are required in "red squirrels strongholds" across England, Wales and … [Link]

New Scientist – News » Was Kim Jong-nam killed by VX nerve gas? Doesn’t look like it

Friday 24 February 16:53:00 UTC 2017

Malaysia says Kim Jong-nam – half-brother of North Korea's Kim Jong-un – was killed with VX nerve gas that was found on his face and hands. But chemical weapons experts are not convinced [Link]

Mashable » Lana Del Ray calls upon fellow witches to cast spell on Donald Trump

Friday 24 February 16:51:56 UTC 2017

For what is probably the first time in history, witches are preparing to gather their sorcery and cast a collective spell on the President of the United States on Friday, Feb. 24 at midnight, and Lana Del Ray is all in. The singer tweeted her support for the call on Thursday night and instructed her fans to search online for the … [Link]

Mashable » The 'Bob's Burgers' soundtrack will have 112 songs, which is not enough

Friday 24 February 16:48:57 UTC 2017

The songs from Bob's Burgers will finally get the official, sensual release they deserve. Sub Pop will release the show's official soundtrack, which will have no less than 112 tracks — 107 from the show and 3 covers from St. Vincent, The National, Lapsley and Stephin Merritt of Magnetic Fields. It's called The Bob's Burgers Music Album, naturally. SEE ALSO: Eugene … [Link]

Mashable » New 'Twin Peaks' posters give us the first real clue about Showtime's revival

Friday 24 February 16:45:56 UTC 2017

Devoted Twin Peaks fans are probably well aware that February 24 is a special day for the show — marking the date that the body of Laura Palmer (Sheryl Lee) washed up on the shore of the sleepy burg, and that FBI Special Agent Dale Cooper (Kyle MacLachlan) drove into town — at 11:30 a.m., as our hero noted on his … [Link]

Slashdot » Treasure Trove of Internal Apple Memos Discovered in Thrift Store

Friday 24 February 16:40:00 UTC 2017

An anonymous reader shares a Gizmodo report: Peeking inside a book bin at a Seattle Goodwill, Redditor vadermeer caught an interesting, unexpected glimpse into the early days of Apple: a cache of internal memos, progress reports, and legal pad scribbles from 1979 and 1980, just three years into the tech monolith's company history. The documents at one point belonged to … [Link]

Mashable » The Trump-Putin New Yorker cover is clear about who's really in charge

Friday 24 February 16:33:19 UTC 2017

The New Yorker isn't afraid to call out Donald Trump or his Russian bro, Vladimir Putin, that's for damn sure. For its latest artistic masterpiece, Barry Blitt transformed the magazine's iconic first cover from 1925 — featuring New Yorker mascot Eustace Tilley inquisitively gazing at a butterfly — into political commentary on the eerily complex Trump-Putin relationship. SEE ALSO: Moth named … [Link]

Mashable » Calvin Harris blesses us with Frank Ocean and Migos together on a sunny track

Friday 24 February 16:26:51 UTC 2017

Sure, the effects of global warming are becoming more apparent every day—but at least we have a fire song to breeze through the last days on this planet (until we make our way to the other seven). Calvin Harris, with the help of Frank Ocean and the Migos, comes through for us all this warm winter with a summer track that … [Link]

Mashable » Has Ed Sheeran betrayed Taylor Swift and her squad?

Friday 24 February 16:23:03 UTC 2017

For years, Ed Sheeran has enjoyed a low-key membership in Taylor Swift's squad, even attending her annual Fourth of July party/grueling photo shoot last year. But did he just evict himself from her castle on a hill? SEE ALSO: Tom Hiddleston insists Hiddleswift wasn't fake news Just before the Brit Awards on Wednesday, Sheeran not only crashed a BBC 1 interview … [Link]

New Scientist – News » Augmented reality lets cars communicate to reduce road rage

Friday 24 February 16:22:00 UTC 2017

Virtual signs that pop up on your windscreen and say “rushing to the hospital” or “in a hurry to the airport” help turn other drivers’ aggression to empathy [Link]

Mashable » Apple: Random iPhone battery shutdowns are way down

Friday 24 February 16:16:04 UTC 2017

Good news for iPhone users fed up with infuriating battery-shutdown woes: There might just be a solution to your problem. Chances are, it's already at work in your phone. Frustrated iPhone users have reported unexpected system shutdowns for months. The battery issues, which affect iPhone 6, 6 Plus, 6S and 6S Plus devices, typically strike when power levels dwindle to about … [Link]

Mashable » 'Street Fighter V' commentators' sound effects save the day after audio cuts out

Friday 24 February 16:14:06 UTC 2017

Live broadcasts always have the looming possibility of interruptions or problems, and it takes true talent to turn a disastrous situation into an entertaining one when the cameras are rolling and you can't yell cut. As Street Fighter V competitors Bryant "Smug" Huggins and Arturo "Sabin" Sanchez were trading blows in a Next Level Battle Circuit match Wednesday, the game's audio … [Link]

New Scientist – News » There’s no such thing as ‘clean coal’ – it’s dirty and expensive

Friday 24 February 16:14:00 UTC 2017

Australia and the US want to revive an uneconomical and polluting technology, and, worse, Australia plans to take money from a clean energy fund to do it [Link]

Mashable » Every day a sweet dog peeks out from under a gate, waiting for his friend

Friday 24 February 16:04:49 UTC 2017

May we all find a secret dog bud that will wait for your pets every day. Elisa Lee a 17-year-old senior at Lakewood High School in California has developed somewhat of a routine with her newfound friend Ralph, a golden retriever that really enjoys some friendly pets. SEE ALSO: Meet the dog who's basically a saint This is Ralph he is … [Link]

Mashable » KFC is coming for clean eaters with this hilarious parody

Friday 24 February 16:01:27 UTC 2017

#CleanEating might not be everyone's favourite Instagram trend. But KFC has decided to come after the clean eating brigade in an inexplicable parody. SEE ALSO: Gift your Valentine their true heart's desire with a fried chicken bouquet KFC UK and Ireland tweeted a video of their new "#CleanEating burger," a chia seed-topped cauliflower bun containing spiralised chicken breast dressed with "ice … [Link]

Slashdot » Panasonic Wants Employees To Relax, Limits Work Days To 11 hours

Friday 24 February 16:00:00 UTC 2017

Japan is notorious for its long working hours, which have been blamed for a national health crisis known as "karoshi" — death from overwork. From a report on CNET: Panasonic hopes to curb this, instructing its 100,000-ish employees to work no later than 8 p.m. each day, reports Asahi Shimbun. This hour reduction still enables a 55-hour working week, but … [Link]

Mashable » Just swearing at Trump (probably) won't get you in Twitter timeout

Friday 24 February 15:56:07 UTC 2017

Twitter has created "Twitter timeout" — or what I like to call "Twitter jail" — in which the reach of a user's tweets is limited for a 12-hour period if that user is flagged for harassment. SEE ALSO: Twitter's backend is breaking under Trump's tweets The feature, first reported by BuzzFeed, began rolling out earlier this month but is just starting … [Link]

Mashable » Barack Obama hasn't updated his LinkedIn page and now we're even more depressed

Friday 24 February 15:46:55 UTC 2017

Even Barack Obama can't handle the truth. I'd been waiting for the LinkedIn notification, "News about Barack Obama," or "Congratulate Barack Obama on his new position." But there's been nothing. SEE ALSO: Barack Obama goes hard in the paint in 'NBA 2K17' Then I checked the former President's LinkedIn page, one he created in 2007, while he was just an Illinois … [Link]

Mashable » The holy grail of VR headsets might look something like this

Friday 24 February 15:40:27 UTC 2017

Having conquered smartphones and smartwatches, Qualcomm now wants its powerful mobile chips to power all-in-one virtual reality headsets. The chipmaker announced its latest processor, the Snapdragon 835, will play a key role in accelerating the adoption of headsets that aren't dependent on a smartphone or a tether to a PC. SEE ALSO: Wearing a VR headset gets even more awkward underwater … [Link]

Mashable » Here's what to say at your Oscar party so you sound smart

Friday 24 February 15:40:02 UTC 2017

We get it: There's too much content. You're binging 17 shows and way behind on podcasts and since when were there so many Best Picture nominees and when was the last time you read a book? We in the media biz are here to help, starting with your 2017 Oscar cheat sheet. Whether you've seen them all or just *couldn't* get … [Link]

Mashable » Justin Bieber tweets about being a big boy who doesn't pee himself

Friday 24 February 15:37:22 UTC 2017

“If it makes you happy, it can't be that bad," the underrated philosopher Sheryl Crow once sang. Now, Justin Bieber is keeping her flame burning. Biebs responded to allegations that he might have peed in his very expensive sweatpants with a smile and a simple explanation for why his "dick area" was wet. SEE ALSO: Justin Bieber's latest cry for help … [Link]

Mashable » Beyoncé voices her support for trans youth after Trump's bathroom decision

Friday 24 February 15:27:57 UTC 2017

Beyoncé shared a message of support for trans students on Thursday, a day after President Donald Trump rescinded rules that allowed trans students to use school bathrooms that align with their gender identities. "#LGBTQ students need to know we support them," a post from her Facebook page reads, before sharing a link to GLSEN.org, an organization that advocates for LBGTQ students. … [Link]

Mashable » The Tesla Model 3 gets real in July

Friday 24 February 15:26:54 UTC 2017

Tesla’s 2016 earning report and letter to shareholders presented some exciting news for some of its most eager customers. The letter revealed that production for Model 3 — the company's "affordable" electric car — is on track to start in July 2017, with volume ramping up by September. The company predicts production will scale to "exceed 5,000 vehicles at some point … [Link]

Mashable » Bitcoin reaches an all-time high as SEC decision looms

Friday 24 February 15:25:06 UTC 2017

Bitcoin is reaching new highs. The cryptocurrency on Friday morning was trading at $1,197 — just above the $1,165 record high average price set three years ago, according to CoinDesk. Bitcoin has staged a comeback after nearly reaching a record high but then falling at the very beginning of 2017. On the currency's first day of trading in the new year, … [Link]

Slashdot » Samsung's First Exynos 9 Chip is Faster, Uses Less Power, and Supports Gigabit LTE

Friday 24 February 15:20:00 UTC 2017

Samsung is taking a big step forward on both processing and LTE speeds with its next mobile system on a chip. From a report on The Verge: The chip, called the Exynos 9 Series 8895, is supposed to perform 27 percent faster than its predecessor and consume 40 percent less power. It's also Samsung's first to support gigabit LTE, offering … [Link]

Mashable » Kindergartener adorably recreates iconic historical figures for Black History Month

Friday 24 February 15:15:16 UTC 2017

There are so many ways to celebrate Black History Month online, but dressing up as legendary black women might take the cake. That's what kindergartner Lola is doing this February with the help of her mother and 28 legends that changed history. The two have created an adorable way to bring history lessons to life with a photo series they are … [Link]

Mashable » Girl Scout cookie doughnuts prove too much of a good thing is just enough

Friday 24 February 15:04:24 UTC 2017

If you managed to make it through the doldrums of February without any Girl Scout cookies, bravo. And simultaneously, "awww…sad." Don't worry. Even if your local scouts have stopped selling cookies, Broad Street Dough Co., in Oakhurst, New Jersey, has the cookie/doughnut mashups of your dreams. The innovating company have turned your favorite Girl Scout cookies into doughnuts. A post shared … [Link]

Mashable » 9 ways to get free tax help from a human being

Friday 24 February 15:03:52 UTC 2017

Tax help can cost a lot of money. Pros charge $150 an hour on average to do a federal and state return, according to the National Society of Accountants. Help with planning, back taxes or audits can cost even more. But there are a few ways to get human tax help for free. 1. Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) What it … [Link]

Mashable » Roads made from recycled plastic are paving the way to a greener tomorrow

Friday 24 February 15:03:09 UTC 2017

Roads laid with asphalt are so 20th century. They're unsustainable, brittle and they contribute over 1.6 million tons of carbon dioxide around the world each year. Construction company, VolkerWessels, is using recycled plastic bottles to pave the roads. Lightweight and easily installed, the roads are built to last three times longer. Read more…More about Real Time Video, Recycled Materials, Recycled Plastic, … [Link]

Mashable » Stephen Colbert doesn't buy Sean Spicer's excuse for transgender bathroom protection roll back

Friday 24 February 14:52:39 UTC 2017

Ouch, Spicer is going to need ice with that burn. Last night on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, the late night host tore into President Trump's decision to rescind protections for transgender students that allowed them to use bathrooms corresponding with their gender identity in schools. And, since it was the issue of bathroom rights, Colbert threw in an … [Link]

Mashable » His last book changed how we see history. This one destroys your future.

Friday 24 February 14:51:07 UTC 2017

In the future, will humans become immortal, yet anxious, gods? Or will they become soulless devotees of data who worship at the altar of algorithms? That's the choice posed by Homo Deus: A Brief History of Tomorrow, historian Yuval Harari's long-awaited follow-up to Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind. (Longer awaited in the U.S., where Homo Deus finally arrived this week. … [Link]

Slashdot » New iOS Update Fixes Unexpected Shutdown Issue On iPhone 6, iPhone 6s

Friday 24 February 14:40:00 UTC 2017

Matthew Panzarino, writing for TechCrunch: Over the past couple of iPhone versions users have complained of "unexpected" shutdowns of their devices. Some iPhone 6, 6S, 6 Plus and 6S Plus devices could basically go dark unexpectedly, forcing a user to have to plug them into an outlet to get them to power back on. Apple has been working on this … [Link]

Mashable » Aubrey Plaza gives charming, adoptable puppies fantastic backstories

Friday 24 February 14:30:34 UTC 2017

Puppies plus late night television is always the recipe for a great video. On Thursday night's Late Show, Stephen Colbert decided to help some cute puppers out by airing a segment called Rescue Dog Rescue with Aubrey Plaza. The two took turns cradling adoptable puppies and fabricating ridiculous personalities for them so as to make them more attractive to potential … [Link]

Mashable » Cry of the Week: Alas, poor Jar Jar! We weep for Star Wars' most hated character

Friday 24 February 14:17:50 UTC 2017

Welcome to our new weekly series "Cry of the Week," in which we highlight whatever moment made us ugly cry on our couches the most in the past seven days. If you truly hate Jar Jar Binks, this week's cry may not be for you. For those Star Wars nerds who feel at least some sympathy for the Gungan outcast, read … [Link]

Slashdot » Founder of India's $4 Smartphone Firm Arrested on Allegations of Fraud

Friday 24 February 14:00:00 UTC 2017

Remember the $4 smartphone from India? Yeah, things haven't really materialized. Reuters reports: The founder of an Indian tech firm that shot to prominence by offering a $4 smartphone has been arrested on allegations of fraud, after a handset dealer accused the company of not refunding him for an unfulfilled order, the police said. Mohit Goel, the founder of Ringing … [Link]

Mashable » Great news, 'Zelda' fans: 'Breath of the Wild' gets off to a killer start

Friday 24 February 14:00:00 UTC 2017

After five hours of tooling around in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, one thought keeps flitting back into my head again and again: This. IsGreat. Breath of the Wild is unlike any Zelda game you've ever played. It might even be more accurate to say it's unlike any Nintendo game you've ever played. SEE ALSO: We finally unboxed … [Link]

Popular Science » Fracking fluid is leaking more often than we thought

Friday 24 February 13:59:22 UTC 2017

Shale Gas Drill Rigging at night Energy And that's not great Most of our attention has been focused on fracking leaks underground, but these latest studies show an increased need for scrutiny of surface leaks, which can pollute… [Link]

Popular Science » 47 ice cube trays for the chillest people you know

Friday 24 February 13:47:00 UTC 2017

Gadgets Take advantage of this golden age of novelty ice molds. Ice cube molds to give your drink character. Read on. [Link]

Mashable » India is so tired and so overworked

Friday 24 February 13:39:11 UTC 2017

We told you that our lack of sleep is costing the world billions of dollars. We also told you that Gen-Z might be the most hardworking people ever. Now it's time to put the spotlight on India — a country of 1.3 billion people with 65% below the age of 35. SEE ALSO: Facebook's new bereavement leave raises an important point … [Link]

Mashable » Watch Ellen DeGeneres give an entire class of high school seniors scholarships for college

Friday 24 February 13:28:16 UTC 2017

The senior class of Summit Academy Charter School in Brooklyn, New York got a huge surprise Thursday while guesting on Ellen. In one of the biggest giveaways in the history of her show, host Ellen DeGeneres secured full four-year college scholarships to any New York state university for each student in the class of 2017. And if you've never seen … [Link]

Mashable » WhatsApp hits 200 million active users in India

Friday 24 February 13:08:47 UTC 2017

WhatsApp has hit 200 million monthly active users in India as the Facebook-owned service continues its dominance in developing markets. India remains the biggest market for WhatsApp, which had 160 million active users in the country last November. Moving forward, Brian Acton, a founder of WhatsApp, said the company will explore ways to contribute to "India's vision for digital commerce." SEE … [Link]

Slashdot » Alphabet's Waymo Sues Uber For Allegedly Stealing Self-Driving Secrets

Friday 24 February 13:00:00 UTC 2017

An anonymous reader quotes a report from Bloomberg: It took Alphabet Inc.'s Waymo seven years to design and build a laser-scanning system to guide its self-driving cars. Uber Technologies Inc. allegedly did it in nine months. Waymo claims in a lawsuit filed Thursday that was possible because a former employee stole the designs and technology and started a new company. … [Link]

Popular Science » How to get rid of mice

Friday 24 February 13:00:00 UTC 2017

Mouse DIY Protect your house from vermin Everything you need to know about mouse control… [Link]

New Scientist – News » Bill Gates’ robot tax alone won’t save jobs: here’s what will

Friday 24 February 12:47:00 UTC 2017

To fend off the worst excesses of automation, we need to start thinking more clearly about the jobs that will be left [Link]

Mashable » Girl Scouts around the world pen powerful letters about hopes for a better world

Friday 24 February 12:39:06 UTC 2017

Girl Guides and Girl Scouts all over the world are writing powerful letters to share their hopes, ambitions and fears for the future. The letters are part of a campaign by the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts encouraging members to write about issues affecting them. SEE ALSO: 7 strategies for raising confident girls in the Trump era From … [Link]

Mashable » That story about a nuclear bunker with a massive weed farm isn't what it seems

Friday 24 February 12:37:04 UTC 2017

On the surface, it may seem like a story that's highly relevant to millennial interests. Police in Wiltshire uncovered a massive weed farm inside a bunker built in 1985 to protect government officials and local dignitaries in the event of a nuclear attack. SEE ALSO: Customs agents seize 3,947 pounds of weed disguised as limes What's cooler than thousands of cannabis … [Link]

New Scientist – News » AI beats professional players at Super Smash Bros. video game

Friday 24 February 12:25:00 UTC 2017

An AI trained using deep learning came out on top against 10 high-ranking players of Nintendo’s multiplayer fighting game Super Smash Bros. Melee [Link]

O'Reilly News and Commentary » #Ebook Deal/Day: Angular 2 Cookbook – $19.99 (Save 50%) Use code DEAL

Friday 24 February 11:26:40 UTC 2017

Get "Angular 2 Cookbook" today using code DEAL and save 50%!This sale ends at 2:00 AM 2017-02-27 (PDT, GMT-8:00). [Link]

Mashable » The painful reason Emma Thompson won't be in the Love Actually reunion

Friday 24 February 11:26:04 UTC 2017

Disclaimer: this article will break your heart. It was announced last week that Love Actually is getting a spring sequel — 14 years later (because Christmas is all around us even in March, eh?!). SEE ALSO: Surprise! 'Love Actually' will get a sequel this spring The short film – also written and directed by Richard Curtis — will reunite old cast … [Link]

Mashable » The best signs from the 'Reclaim the Night' protest against sexual violence and victim blaming

Friday 24 February 11:21:17 UTC 2017

Thousands of women took to the streets of Manchester, UK, on Thursday evening to protest sexual violence, street harassment and victim blaming. The first "Reclaim the Night" march took place in 1977 after police implemented a curfew while the "Yorkshire Ripper" — an English serial killer who murdered 13 women between 1975 and 1980 — was active in the north of … [Link]

Mashable » India takes a mature stand on same-sex love and Twitter hails it

Friday 24 February 10:55:27 UTC 2017

“A boy can cry to give vent to his feelings. He can also be soft-spoken or shy. Being rude and insensitive is not a sign of masculinity," reads the instruction manual of a health kit issued by the Indian government. There's more"Adolescents frequently fall in love. They can feel attraction for a friend or any individual of the same or opposite … [Link]

Mashable » Beluga whale wedding picture gets a new Photoshop battle and it's glorious

Friday 24 February 10:34:07 UTC 2017

Beluga whales crashing weddings have been a thing since at least 2013, when a photograph of a smiling, peering whale went viral, becoming one of the most incredible photobombs in wedding day history. SEE ALSO: Adorable couple fall in love in 'Final Fantasy XIV' and have an in-game wedding Apparently, the Mystic Aquarium in Connecticut is one of the main destinations … [Link]

Mashable » I will never understand how this guy solves Rubik's cubes so fast

Friday 24 February 10:29:16 UTC 2017

There's the way we plod along trying to solve the Rubik's cube… and then there's speed cubing. Rubik's cube champion Feliks Zemdegs shared a video of solving the puzzle in a scorching 3.81 seconds — quicker than his previous world record time of 4.73 seconds. SEE ALSO: Master solves and juggles Rubik's cubes at the same damn time The 21-year-old … [Link]

Slashdot » Cloudflare Leaks Sensitive User Data Across the Web

Friday 24 February 10:00:00 UTC 2017

ShaunC writes: In a bug that's been christened "Cloudbleed," Cloudflare disclosed today that some of their products accidentally exposed private user information from a number of websites. Similar to 2014's Heartbleed, Cloudflare's problem involved a buffer overrun that allowed uninitialized memory contents to leak into normal web traffic. Tavis Ormandy, of Google's Project Zero, discovered the flaw last week. Affected … [Link]

Mashable » These people dancing during a traffic jam is straight out of a scene from 'La La Land'

Friday 24 February 9:18:56 UTC 2017

Remember that unrealistic opening scene in La La Land when everyone got out of the car during a traffic jam and just started dancing? It's just happened in real life. SEE ALSO: 'La La Land' as an 8-bit video game wins the Oscar for cuteness A group of around 30 men and women in China decided they had enough of waiting … [Link]

Mashable » Asia's best restaurant has a frustratingly confusing menu of only 22 emojis

Friday 24 February 9:05:29 UTC 2017

Gaggan is a posh restaurant that's been crowned Asia's best for the third year in a row. So imagine going there and having to order off an all-emoji menu SEE ALSO: You've been saying these emoji names wrong your whole life Gaggan's menu is a minimalist one-pager of just 22 emojis, each representing one dish. The emojis provide a clue as … [Link]

Mashable » Reince Priebus rejects Steve Bannon's touch in awkward TV moment

Friday 24 February 8:58:16 UTC 2017

Sorry, Steve Bannon, Reince Priebus doesn't want to hold your hand. In a delightful moment broadcast from a Feb. 23 CPAC event, Bannon reached out for a brief moment of human connection only to have his advances sort of… swatted away? By Chief of Staff Priebus. SEE ALSO: Sorry, Steve Bannon, Jake Tapper isn't going to "shut up" because you told … [Link]

Mashable » Malaysia says it'll seize motorcycles being operated as ride-sharing vehicles

Friday 24 February 8:41:40 UTC 2017

A hot fledgling motorcycle taxi hailing service has hit a wall in Malaysia, after barely getting on the road. Dego Ride found itself effectively banned from Malaysian streets on Friday, after regulators threatened to seize motorcycles belonging to people offering rides on their vehicles, local news reports say. SEE ALSO: Uber is pretty much throwing in the towel in Taiwan The … [Link]

Mashable » How one startup peon had a real-life Slumdog Millionaire moment

Friday 24 February 7:37:21 UTC 2017

As you sow so shall you reap. The old English proverb came to life for Mumbai-based Shyam Kumar, a peon at mobile wallet firm Citrus Pay. He became a millionaire after his employer was acquired by Naspers-backed online payments company PayU in a $130 million deal last year. SEE ALSO: How an Injured NFL Hopeful Made a Fortune on LinkedIn Instead … [Link]

Mashable » Awesome 11-year-old girl invents a prosthetic arm that blasts glitter

Friday 24 February 7:05:28 UTC 2017

The world needs more glitter and 11-year-old inventor, Jordan Reeves, knows it. She designed and created a prosthetic arm that shoots out glitter. It's working title? "Project Unicorn." Why didn't we think of that? The arm itself is mostly 3D printed, and uses compressed air to shoot out sparkles. Pretty awesome. Her finished invention was presented to the judges of Shark … [Link]

Slashdot » Life Expectancy Set To Hit 90 In South Korea, Study Predicts

Friday 24 February 7:00:00 UTC 2017

According to a study published in the journal The Lancet, researchers have predicted that South Korea will likely become the first country where the average life expectancy will exceed 90 years. The researchers led by public-health researcher Majid Ezzati at Imperial College London used data from the World Health Organization and a suite of 21 statistical models they developed to … [Link]

Mashable » VX was the liquid that killed North Korea's Kim Jong-nam, but what is it?

Friday 24 February 6:42:55 UTC 2017

It’s almost like something out of a spy novel. On Friday, Malaysian authorities announced that VX, the "deadliest nerve agent ever created", was used to assassinate Kim Jong-nam, the half-brother of North Korea's current leader. SEE ALSO: Stores are already selling the 'LOL' shirt worn by North Korea 'assassin' The alleged killers are believed to have wiped a substance on Kim's … [Link]

Mashable » Video of 'chubby' tigers taking down a drone may be way darker than you think

Friday 24 February 5:30:33 UTC 2017

A video of "chubby" Siberian tigers taking down a drone, complete with a silly soundtrack — like so much viral content — is more than what it seems. While the video's been shared far and wide, but the origins of the footage have been a cause for concern for a while now. SEE ALSO: Watch a bunch of chubby tigers take … [Link]

Mashable » Teenager expertly wrestles a live python out from underneath a car

Friday 24 February 5:23:53 UTC 2017

What were you doing when you were 14? Eating Doritos and watching Buffy? Same. But not Australia's Oli Wardrope. Instead, he's pulling live, massive snakes out of the bottom of cars. Before school, even. Queensland man, Yogi McDougall, posted the video to Facebook Friday, writing "All part of the job. I love having apprentices." The video shows young Wardrope wrestling … [Link]

Mashable » Google to launch a desktop version of Allo messenger

Friday 24 February 5:20:33 UTC 2017

Google’s Allo messenger will soon be easier to use at work, thanks to a new desktop version to complement the mobile app. SEE ALSO: iMessage is the only thing keeping me on an iPhone The company's VP of communications products, Nick Fox, tweeted out a sneak peek at the desktop app in development. Still in early development, but coming to a … [Link]

Slashdot » Self-Driving Cars Should Be Liable For Accidents, Not the Passengers: UK Government

Friday 24 February 3:30:00 UTC 2017

"Electric charging points at all major motorway services and petrol stations, and the occupants of a self-driving car aren't liable in the case of an accident — those are two of the measures proposed by a new law that the UK government hopes will let us reap the rewards of improved transport technology over the next few years," reports Ars … [Link]

Mashable » Facebook's new emoji are finally available to everyone

Friday 24 February 3:08:51 UTC 2017

No longer a company that prioritizes moving fast and breaking things, Facebook has finally finished rolling out new emoji across its desktop and mobile sites. Those of you excitedly awaiting the latest rendition of that instant classic, Man in Business Suit Levitating, need wait no longerEmojipedia reports that all users of Facebook's website now have access to the entire new set … [Link]

Mashable » Apple to investigate iPhone 7 that 'blew up'

Friday 24 February 3:01:09 UTC 2017

A dramatic video of a smoking iPhone 7 Plus is really freaking Twitter out. Brianna Olivas says her rose gold iPhone 7 Plus exploded and began smoking Wednesday morning when her boyfriend grabbed his phone and began recording. The video, which Olivas shared on Twitter later that day, shows smoke pouring out of one side of the phone and the iPhone's … [Link]

Mashable » Caitlyn Jenner sends Trump a critical message from 'one Republican to another'

Friday 24 February 2:37:28 UTC 2017

Caitlyn Jenner has been a problematic, Donald Trump-loving spokeswoman for the transgender community. But that didn't stop her from coming out hard against the president Thursday night. The transgender former-Olympian turned reality star isn't happy with Trump's reversal this week of an Obama-era action that allowed transgender kids to use the bathrooms of their choice in schools. In fact, she wants … [Link]

Mashable » Dude really loves his 'biggest ever' huntsman spider, named Behemoth

Friday 24 February 2:11:31 UTC 2017

Like big spiders? Of course you like big spiders. Someone else who seems to LOVE big spiders is the General Manager at the Australian Reptile Park, Tim Faulkner, who is having a ball showing off his friend "Behemoth." SEE ALSO: Watch this horrifying redback spider take out a snake The park claimed in a Facebook post that "Behemoth" is the country's … [Link]

Mashable » Tell your pal and a confidant: The 'Golden Girls' cafe is Instagram heaven

Friday 24 February 1:52:47 UTC 2017

Picture it: The year's 2017 and despite being cancelled in 1992, Golden Girls is still your favorite show. What's a cheesecake-loving gal to do? Where can one hang out with pals and confidantes? Don't worry, fellow friends of Dorothy (and Blanche, Rose and Sophia) — the first Golden Girls cafe is open for business, and Instagram users have been showing it … [Link]

The Joy of Tech » JoT #2387: Seven angry planets!

Friday 24 February 1:39:32 UTC 2017

JoT thumb We spy, with our little eyes… [Link]

Mashable » In pep talk fail, Jameis Winston tells elementary school girls they're 'supposed to be silent'

Friday 24 February 1:29:43 UTC 2017

Whatever Jameis Winston's intentions were, things went way, way off track. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback spoke to a group of elementary school students in St. Petersburg, Florida, on Wednesday, hoping to inspire the community's youth. But things went horribly wrong when Winston had the boys in the room stand up and the girls sit down and cheer for them, preaching … [Link]

Mashable » Florence and the Machine's Opera House show fined for being too loud

Friday 24 February 1:20:49 UTC 2017

If you want your new neighbourhood to be quiet, maybe buying a place next to one of the world's most famous music venues isn't a great idea. Australia's Sydney Opera House was fined A$15,000 (US$11,562) for violating noise limits during a Florence and the Machine gig, according to The Australian. SEE ALSO: There's not enough medical marijuana in Australia, so it's … [Link]

Mashable » How to live the life you love even when you’re injured

Friday 24 February 1:08:21 UTC 2017

Everyone has their good days and their bad days — it’s just human nature. But when a bad day hits — car accident, slippery ice, clumsy roommate — the life you love shouldn’t need to change. Not so fun fact: The average cost of a broken leg is $7,352. If you’re like most young adults, chances are you don’t have … [Link]

Slashdot » Study Reveals Bot-On-Bot Editing Wars Raging On Wikipedia's Pages

Friday 24 February 1:00:00 UTC 2017

An anonymous reader quotes a report from The Guardian: A new study from computer scientists has found that the online encyclopedia is a battleground where silent wars have raged for years. Since Wikipedia launched in 2001, its millions of articles have been ranged over by software robots, or simply "bots," that are built to mend errors, add links to other … [Link]

Mashable » In murder case, Amazon says Alexa's speech is protected by the First Amendment

Friday 24 February 0:59:58 UTC 2017

Add yet another skill to Alexa's repertoire: staunch defense of the First Amendment. Amazon is holding firm and refusing to hand over voice and transcription data recorded by an Echo speaker to prosecutors in Arkansas as part of a murder trial. Amazon maintains the authorities haven't clearly established that the investigation is more important than a customer's privacy rights, according to … [Link]

Mashable » This NBA trade marks the end of basketball's best pre-game dancing duo

Friday 24 February 0:51:09 UTC 2017

Trades in professional sports are bittersweet — while they usually upgrade teams in one way or another, they often result in teary goodbyes to beloved players. Or in the Oklahoma City Thunder's case, the end of a dynamic dancing duo unlike any other. SEE ALSO: Patriots fans should be terrified after Tom Brady's latest Instagram In a package that will … [Link]

Mashable » Trans activists on why Trump’s bathroom decision could hurt so many kids

Friday 24 February 0:36:03 UTC 2017

In response to Donald Trump's decision to roll back guidance for public schools on transgender students and restrooms, members of the trans community and those impacted have begun sharing emotional personal accounts of harassment. SEE ALSO: Inauguration singer and her trans sister would like to talk to President Trump On Thursday, prominent voices in the LGBTQ community — writer Janet Mock, … [Link]

Mashable » New Nokia 3310 will have a color display, report says, so 'Snake' will look super dope

Friday 24 February 0:25:10 UTC 2017

We may have a few more details about what the new version of Nokia's classic 3310 will look like. The handset will ship with a color display and have feature phone capabilities, according to information from Chinese site Vtech, which claims to have leaked information about the upcoming handset. SEE ALSO: The Nokia 3310 might come back and people just really … [Link]

Mashable » Pissed off investors have had it up to here with Uber

Friday 24 February 0:21:38 UTC 2017

Two of Uber's earliest investors have joined the hate-on-Uber parade. In a stern open letter published on Medium, Mitch and Freeda Kapor, who invested in Uber in 2010, criticized the company for a history of "toxic patterns" and hiring a "team of insiders to investigate its destructive culture and make recommendations for change." SEE ALSO: Users get message about Susan Fowler … [Link]

Slashdot » World's Only Sample of Metallic Hydrogen Has Been Lost

Friday 24 February 0:20:00 UTC 2017

New submitter drunkdrone quotes a report from International Business Times: A piece of rare meta poised to revolutionize modern technology and take humans into deep space has been lost in a laboratory mishap. The first and only sample of metallic hydrogen ever created on earth was the rarest material on the planet when it was developed by Harvard scientists in … [Link]

Mashable » Google goes after Uber in court over self-driving car secrets

Friday 24 February 0:08:58 UTC 2017

Silicon Valley giants seem to be stepping on each other's toes in the race to bring self-driving cars to the road. Waymo, the autonomous car arm of Alphabet (which owns Google), filed a lawsuit against Uber on Thursday accusing the ride-hailing company of stealing its trade secrets. In a lengthy Medium post announcing the suit, the company's spokespeople alleged that a … [Link]

Mashable » This weekend, Android prepares for the iPhone X

Friday 24 February 0:00:00 UTC 2017

It’s Android's time to shine. In less than a week, Mobile World Congress (MWC), an annual event that brings together the phone and telecom industries, will kick off in Barcelona, and as is customary, a lot of new Android smartphones will make their debuts. This year is a little different, though. After years of iterative upgrades, Apple's iPhone — which, like … [Link]

John Gordon Ross

A Man for All Reasons