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 » Here’s how OLAY’s skin analysis platform opened my eyes to AI innovation in beauty

Friday 10 March 23:56:15 UTC 2017

Editor’s Note: A representative from Mashable's Branded Content team attended the Olay panel on a Global Skin Analysis Program at Mobile World Congress and gave a firsthand account of the event. This is where Olay premiered their Skin Advisor, which is a platform powered by artificial intelligence. Mashable’s Chief Data Scientist, Haile Owusu, sat on this panel. I’d never really considered the myriad … [Link]

Mashable » Marine leader says revenge porn 'allegations undermine everything we stand for'

Friday 10 March 23:53:22 UTC 2017

The revenge porn scandal rocking the Marines has been condemned by the upper echelons of the military. Two of the most powerful people in uniform denounced a Marine-led Facebook group that shared a Google Drive filled with nude photos of female marines and other women. The photos were uploaded without the women's consent. SEE ALSO: Teen boys are 'abusing' girls online. … [Link]

Popular Science » If the EPA doesn't believe in science, what is it good for?

Friday 10 March 23:27:00 UTC 2017

kid with face near lit cigarette Environment What's left when the Environmental Protection Agency throws facts out the window? Increasingly, science isn’t guiding the policy and budget decisions of the EPA. What will that mean for the future of the United States—and the planet? Read on. [Link]

Popular Science » A new legged robot wants to wobble, crawl, and bounce its way into the market

Friday 10 March 23:20:00 UTC 2017

Minitaur in snow Military Minitaur wants to get a leg up on wheeled robots Minitaur legged robot can go places wheels can't. Read on. [Link]

Slashdot » MAC Address Randomization Flaws Leave Android and iOS Phones Open To Tracking

Friday 10 March 23:20:00 UTC 2017

New submitter cryptizard writes: Modern Android and iOS versions include a technology called MAC address randomization to prevent passive tracking of users as they move from location to location. Unfortunately, researchers have revealed that this technology is implemented sporadically by device manufacturers and is often deployed with significant flaws that allow it to be easily defeated. A research paper [published … [Link]

Mashable » Mashable just broke the Guinness World Record for tallest stack of tortillas and YUM

Friday 10 March 23:19:25 UTC 2017

SXSW 2017 is upon us and Mashable kicked things off by making history … with tortillas. During Day One of "The Mashable Show" — an exclusive 90-minute livestream of all things Interactive, Film and Music down at South By being broadcast on Twitter — Ben Leventhal, Co-founder of Resy shattered the Guinness World Record for tallest stack of tortillas as the … [Link]

Mashable » Oh, nothing, just a Tesla Model 3 prototype driving down the street …

Friday 10 March 23:14:29 UTC 2017

Tesla lovers might have to wait until later this year for a shot at a ride in the electric carmaker's first crack at an "affordable" sedan, the Model 3, but the prep for its release is ramping up. Tesla recently announced Model 3 production will start ahead of initial projections in July — and a prototype of the car was just … [Link]

Popular Science » Google just made the internet a tiny bit less annoying

Friday 10 March 23:06:00 UTC 2017

Google Invisible reCAPTCHA Technology See ya, CAPTCHA! On Wednesday, Google launched “Invisible reCAPTCHA,” a service that works in the background as a gatekeeper without a human having to do anything. [Link]

Mashable » Cory Booker refuses to rule out running for president at SXSW

Friday 10 March 22:50:02 UTC 2017

New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker is maybe possibly going to be a presidential candidate at some point in our lives, although who knows, because getting straight answers from a politician is hardly a thing that is possible. Booker has been thought of as a potential Democratic presidential candidate for a while now, and he didn't do anything to tamp down the … [Link]

Slashdot » Message For AMD: Open PSP Will Improve Security, Hinder Intel

Friday 10 March 22:40:00 UTC 2017

futuristicrabbit writes: AMD has faced calls from Edward Snowden, Libreboot and the Reddit community to release the source code to the AMD Secure Processor (PSP), a network-capable co-processor which some believe has the capacity to act as a backdoor. Opening the PSP would not only have security benefits, but would provide AMD with a competitive advantage against rival chipmaker Intel. … [Link]

Mashable » 'Hack' blamed for Instagram post that briefly upended the NFL world

Friday 10 March 22:34:35 UTC 2017

When the verified Instagram account of New England Patriots backup quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo appeared to bid the Boston area farewell early Friday, it was a major piece of NFL news. Except that it apparently wasn't news at all. SEE ALSO: How Derek Jeter's once-mocked startup became a sports media powerhouse In the wee hours of Friday morning, Garoppolo's Instagram account posted … [Link]

Mashable » The Women's Strike fizzled because Americans can't stop working

Friday 10 March 22:30:04 UTC 2017

At the Women's March in January, there was a line of screaming women in pink pussy hats stretching as far as the eye could see. While there isn't an official headcount of how many participated in the Women's Strike on Wednesday, the visuals told a far different story. Just over a thousand people were estimated at the strike's major protest outside … [Link]

Mashable » Kind man dresses wild toad in wonderful, tiny hats to make a little boy happy

Friday 10 March 22:26:59 UTC 2017

We never knew a toad could look good in hats until we saw it on the internet. And now that we've seen it, both us and toads can never go back. It all starts with Mr. Toad, who would show up day after day on Chris Newsome's porch in the summer. SEE ALSO: Just a load of animals with pancakes because … [Link]

Mashable » Hurricane forecasters sent a blunt warning to their bosses

Friday 10 March 22:09:20 UTC 2017

When Hurricane Sandy made a devastating left hook into the Mid-Atlantic on Oct. 29, 2012, killing nearly 150 people and causing about $70 billion in damage, a narrative took hold in the weather community and the media that made its way to Capitol Hill. U.S. weather models were late in forecasting that storm's bizarre track when compared to the top model … [Link]

Slashdot » Blogger Wins Libel Damages Over Columnist's Tweets

Friday 10 March 22:00:00 UTC 2017

eionmac shares a report that details a legal battle in which a food blogger won thousands of dollars in libel damages "after a row over two tweets." BBC reports: Food blogger Jack Monroe has won 24,000 British pounds damages, plus legal costs, in a libel action against columnist Katie Hopkins after a row over two tweets. Ms Monroe sued the … [Link]

Mashable » The Airbus Pop.Up is the autonomous car/drone mashup of your dreams

Friday 10 March 21:49:55 UTC 2017

When you really need to beat traffic, do you ever wish your car could just take flight and soar above the streets right then and there? Airbus offered antsy commuters a tantalizing look at a multi-modal ride hailing model with its latest far-fetched future concept, Pop.Up. The high-flying transportation system, brought to life through renderings and video with Italdesign, was unveiled … [Link]

Slashdot » The SEC Just Handed Bitcoin a Huge Setback

Friday 10 March 21:40:00 UTC 2017

The SEC has decided to deny an application for the first exchange-traded product that tracks the price of bitcoin, according to an order posted on the regulator's website. From a report: In an order today, the commission found that the proposed fund was too susceptible to fraud, due to the unregulated nature of Bitcoin. The result is a major setback … [Link]

Popular Science » NASA's new ozone layer watchdog takes orbit

Friday 10 March 21:35:54 UTC 2017

Space The ozone layer is no longer thinning, but we need to keep an eye on it If you should ever wonder how Earth’s ole ozone layer is holding up, rest assured, because NASA is watching it, hyper-vigilantly. [Link]

Popular Science » How to clean your keyboard without breaking it

Friday 10 March 21:35:53 UTC 2017

DIY For sticky keys, dirty buildup, and all other forms of messiness A step-by-step guide on how to clean your computer keyboard without breaking it. [Link]

Popular Science » Five rad and random things I found this week

Friday 10 March 21:35:52 UTC 2017

Gadgets The end-of-week dispatch from Pop Sci's commerce editor. Vol. 2. Five rad and random things I found this week vol. 2. Read on. [Link]

Mashable » Everybody shut up. Just let us enjoy the kids in the BBC video.

Friday 10 March 21:23:09 UTC 2017

Ughhhhh, why can’t anything on the internet just be fun anymore? You’ve probably seen the amazing video that went viral this morning of a man’s appearance on BBC being interrupted by his two hilarious children. It is pretty much the only good thing to happen on the internet in ages, and in this era of constant bad news we desperately need … [Link]

Slashdot » Oculus CTO John Carmack Is Suing ZeniMax For $22.5 Million

Friday 10 March 21:20:00 UTC 2017

An anonymous reader quotes a report from TechCrunch: The feud between Oculus and ZeniMax Media is opening up once again, this time with the CTO of Oculus, John Carmack, suing his former employer for earnings that he claims are still owed to him. The suit is largely unrelated to the $6 billion trade secrets suit which ended last month with … [Link]

Mashable » Characters react to a naked Link in 'Zelda: Breath of the Wild'

Friday 10 March 21:04:53 UTC 2017

The world of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is incredibly responsive — enemies will pick up nearby objects to use as weapons, lightning has a higher chance of striking you if you're wearing a metal helmet and characters will not let you off the hook if you're walking around naked. Breath of the Wild is the first Zelda … [Link]

Slashdot » Microsoft Admits Mistake, Pulls Problematic Windows 10 Driver

Friday 10 March 20:40:00 UTC 2017

Wayne Williams, writing for BetaNews: Microsoft pushed out a mysterious driver to Windows users on Wednesday that caused big problems for some. The driver, listed as "Microsoft — WPD — 2/22/2016 12:00:00 AM — 5.2.5326.4762," wasn't accompanied by any details, although we knew from the name that it related to Windows Portable Devices and affected users who had phones and … [Link]

Mashable » Sean Spicer channels Melissa McCarthy during a White House press conference

Friday 10 March 20:16:06 UTC 2017

Press Secretary Sean Spicer made a joke during the daily White House press conference on Friday, and, to be fair, it was actually pretty funny. In the first weeks of President Donald J. Trump's presidency, it became pretty clear that Spicer had a short temper when answering questions he didn't like or understand from the press. Being the press secretary and … [Link]

Mashable » Everyone's convinced Sean Spicer's upside-down flag pin was a distress signal

Friday 10 March 20:03:48 UTC 2017

It was a fashion misstatement during Friday's White House press briefing. Or was it a message? White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer checked in with the press for his usual session while unknowingly wearing his American flag lapel pin upside down. SEE ALSO: CNN is Sean Spicer's enemy except for when it's reporting good things about Trump Twitter, of course, noticed. … [Link]

Slashdot » Alphabet's Waymo Asks Judge To Block Uber From Using Self-Driving Car Secrets

Friday 10 March 20:00:00 UTC 2017

Waymo, Alphabet's self-driving spinoff from Google, is formally asking a judge to block Uber from operating its autonomous vehicles, according to new documents filed in Waymo's lawsuit against Uber. From a report on The Verge: The lawsuit, which was filed last month, alleges that Uber stole key elements of its self-driving car technology from Google. Uber has called the accusations … [Link]

Mashable » 'The Mashable Show' isn't slowing down for its second day on Twitter Live at SXSW

Friday 10 March 20:00:00 UTC 2017

Couldn’t make it to Austin to catch SXSW? No worries, we got you. Mashable and Twitter have teamed up to create The Mashable Show, streaming the best of SXSW 2017 straight to your timeline from Mashable House in Austin, Texas. The exclusive 90-minute live stream kicked off on Friday with Cookie Monster, Kerri Doherty and all things Interactive, Film and Music … [Link]

Mashable » 'Buffy' is the only show that prepared us for the Hellmouth of Tinder

Friday 10 March 19:59:36 UTC 2017

Buffy the Vampire Slayer premiered 20 years ago today at the dawn of the information age when humanity was grappling with a very big question — can nerds ever be cool? Sarah Michelle Gellar and and her crew did their best to convince us. The conventionally hot outcasts who wouldn't take any bullshit from demons spent most of their time hanging … [Link]

Mashable » Mark Zuckerberg and Travis Kalanick laugh it up at 'Babes and Balls' party

Friday 10 March 19:59:28 UTC 2017

What would any kind of Silicon Valley outing be without ping pong and a heaping side of sexism? We may never know. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Uber CEO Travis Kalanick both recently attended a birthday party for fellow rich white guy Dropbox CEO Drew Houston, at the Susan Sarandon-owned San Francisco outpost of SPiN. The two tech titans, one of … [Link]

Mashable » 'Pokémon Go' developers feel you: Gyms need to be improved

Friday 10 March 19:53:28 UTC 2017

Collecting and evolving Pokémon in Pokémon Go is a lot of fun, but the competitive side of the popular mobile app is lacking. Developer Niantic recognizes that. Pokémon Go's gym feature needs to be improved, Niantic admitted in an interview with multiple outlets during the 2017 Game Developers Conference, Polygon reported Thursday. SEE ALSO: Local Cincinnati cemetery wants 'Pokémon Go' players … [Link]

Mashable » New fund puts $141 million toward digital finance in the developing world

Friday 10 March 19:36:50 UTC 2017

Digital finance could completely reshape the economies of the developing world. Everyone in fintech knows that. But no one funding startups has ever devoted their full attention to serving people outside the traditional financial system — until now. Accion and Quona Capital this week launched the Accion Frontier Inclusion Fund, which devotes $141 million to using financial technology in order to … [Link]

Mashable » A father couldn't afford a last-minute plane ticket for his toddler. This heroic woman saved the day.

Friday 10 March 19:30:35 UTC 2017

Air travel can be a pretty inhumane experience, but every once in awhile a fellow passenger does something that makes the skies feel just a little bit friendlier. An anonymous woman is quickly becoming a viral hero after she paid for a plane ticket for a toddler in need. The photo of her and the tale of her generosity was posted … [Link]

New Scientist – News » Maize engineered to silence deadly toxins in poisonous mould

Friday 10 March 19:28:30 UTC 2017

Most people on the planet are exposed to aflatoxins from fungi that infect staple crops, but now a GM approach could help change that [Link]

Slashdot » Pennsylvania Sues IBM Over Jobless Claims System Upgrade

Friday 10 March 19:20:00 UTC 2017

Pennsylvania has sued IBM for $170 million, claiming the company failed to deliver a promised upgrade to its outdated system of processing unemployment claims. From a report: IBM did not immediately respond to a request for comment but a company representative told the Associated Press the suit had no merit and the company would fight it. The suit stems from … [Link]

ProgrammableWeb.com » Three Common API Design Mistakes and How to Overcome Them

Friday 10 March 19:15:54 UTC 2017

Jason Harmon, head of APIs at engaging forms tool Typeform, and namesake of the JSON schema, gave a fantastic proactive talk at a recent APIdays conference about “the things that break stuff in production.” Three things in fact. [Link]

Mashable » AT&T has a new prepaid unlimited data option — but it's sloooooow

Friday 10 March 19:11:39 UTC 2017

AT&T announced Friday it will offer an unlimited data option for its contract-free GoPhone users, so even more people have a shot at taking advantage of the unlimited data plan arms race between the major U.S. mobile carriers. Unfortunately for AT&T's prepaid customers, however, the 4G service will be sloooow. The plan offers GoPhone users "unlimited" data for $60 a month … [Link]

ProgrammableWeb.com » Acquisition of Stormpath Exemplifies Dangers of Using Startup APIs

Friday 10 March 19:11:14 UTC 2017

Okta, an enterprise identity management platform provider, has acquired Stormpath, a startup that provides an API for implementing user management capabilities in websites and applications. Stormpath co-founders Alex Salazar and Les Hazlewood along with the Stormpath team are joining Okta to help accelerate the development of its identity platform for developers. [Link]

ProgrammableWeb.com » Tesla API Crash Highlights Vulnerabilities of API Economy

Friday 10 March 19:00:57 UTC 2017

Earlier this week, Tesla's "owner API" was down for an estimated 20 hours according to unofficial Tesla API providers and Tesla owners. During the outage, Tesla owners were unable to utilize Tesla's keyless driving feature or view vehicle status through the Tesla Motors app. [Link]

Popular Science » Breakthroughs, stardom, and collapse: the life cycle of a sea arch

Friday 10 March 18:40:37 UTC 2017

Azure Window Science Weathering the waves At some point, the constant battering was just too much for the old rocks to handle. Read on. [Link]

Slashdot » Africa Gets Its Own Web Address

Friday 10 March 18:40:00 UTC 2017

Africa now has the unique web address .africa, equivalent to the more familiar .com, following its official launch by the African Union. From a report on BBC: AU commission chairperson Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma hailed its creation as the moment when Africa "got [its] own digital identity." The AU says the .africa domain name will "bring the continent together as an … [Link]

Mashable » Strong winds blow away 4-year-old girl opening a door

Friday 10 March 18:36:29 UTC 2017

A 4-year-old girl displayed her extreme phone-holding abilities when a strong gust of wind blew open the door she was holding onto, sending the girl flying with it. Brittany Gardner was unloading her vehicle when her daughter Madison walked up the front steps to enter their home in Lyndhurst, Ohio, on Wednesday. When Madison opened the door, the wind blew … [Link]

Mashable » One perfume wants to be the next weapon against cybersecurity attacks

Friday 10 March 18:33:46 UTC 2017

Kaspersky is a company that creates software to protect homes and businesses from viruses and internet threats and now they will also be making perfume. The company is partnered with Scarlett London, a well-known fashion and lifestyle blogger based in the U.K. Together, they have created a dialogue around the importance of cybersecurity and just how devastating a cyberattack can be … [Link]

Mashable » 'Avatar 2' is delayed yet again, confirms James Cameron

Friday 10 March 18:32:21 UTC 2017

That return trip to Pandora is getting postponed yet again. Avatar director James Cameron has admitted that the projected 2018 release date for the sequel is "not happening." The filmmaker did not say when the new due date might be. SEE ALSO: 'Avatar' makes the leap from screen to comic book: An exclusive look Plans for Avatar 2 were first announced … [Link]

Popular Science » Everything you need to know about the deadly listeria outbreak

Friday 10 March 18:29:07 UTC 2017

Health Food safety is no joke Several deaths linked to listeria have prompted the Centers for Disease Control to issue a warning and recall the affected products. Here's what you need to know. [Link]

New Scientist – News » Your brain fills gaps in your hearing without you realising

Friday 10 March 18:21:00 UTC 2017

The words we hear are often obscured by other noises, but it doesn’t matter. Before we get a chance to notice, our brains guess what we should hear instead [Link]

New Scientist – News » Can renaissance in psychedelic drug research survive Trump era?

Friday 10 March 18:19:00 UTC 2017

Psychedelics are poised to become treatments for mental illness and addiction but a renewed war on drugs could scupper this promise, says Kevin Franciotti [Link]

New Scientist – News » Could fast radio bursts really be powering alien space ships?

Friday 10 March 18:12:00 UTC 2017

Two researchers have suggested that mysterious bursts of energy could propel alien spaceships around the universe – if such alien travellers happen to exist [Link]

Slashdot » How Many Snapchat Clones Does It Take For Facebook To Lose Its Self-Respect?

Friday 10 March 18:00:00 UTC 2017

Alex Hern, writing for The Guardian: Over the past year, Facebook has shown an almost monomaniacal dedication to taking on Snapchat by importing its defining features wholesale into the company's own apps. Facebook Live has "masks" now (think Snapchat's Lenses). Instagram has geostickers (like Snapchat's location-aware stickers.) WhatsApp has "Status" (think Snapchat Stories). Instagram has "Stories" (think … Snapchat stories). … [Link]

Mashable » IKEA ends all furniture fights with this simple solution

Friday 10 March 17:56:17 UTC 2017

There are few things more destructive in a relationship than assembling flatpack furniture. But, IKEA might have created a genius solution that could bring peace to households the world over. SEE ALSO: Ikea designed a refugee shelter and it lasts 6x longer than traditional emergency tents IKEA has just announced its most recent invention — furniture that snaps together in … [Link]

Mashable » D.C. is gearing up to become the capital of esports, sponsors team NRG Esports

Friday 10 March 17:32:27 UTC 2017

For Washington, D.C., being the capital of the United States of America isn't enough. The city is looking to become the capital of something else entirely: esports. North American esports team NRG Esports is now being sponsored by D.C., the district's official convention and sports authority, Events D.C. revealed to me in a series of interviews yesterday. Not only is the … [Link]

Mashable » Why people can't stop watching pimples and blackheads getting squeezed

Friday 10 March 17:25:35 UTC 2017

WARNING: This post contains images that some readers may find graphic. Squeezing your own spots is one of life's strangely satisfying pleasures, if not mildly gross. But, watching other people's zits and blackheads being squeezed? Well, that's a whole other level of grossness. This fascination has had a longstanding cult following on the internet and one of the most recent cult … [Link]

Mashable » Radioactive boars have taken over towns abandoned after Fukushima

Friday 10 March 17:22:57 UTC 2017

It’s been nearly six years to the day since a tsunami smashed into Fukushima, Japan, ruining the power and cooling systems of three nuclear reactors. The result was a "nuclear accident." Residents could no longer live there without great risk of radiation poisoning. Officials set up a perimeter for miles around the reactors, known as an exclusion zone. Now, former residents … [Link]

Mashable » Charlize Theron kicks ass and takes names in the NSFW 'Atomic Blonde' trailer

Friday 10 March 17:21:58 UTC 2017

2017 is shaping up to be the year of Charlize Theron, Action Star. Following her deliciously devious turn in The Fate of the Furious, Theron will get to play the hero in Atomic Blonde, the new film by John Wick director (and future Deadpool 2 helmer) David Leitch. As you might expect from that pedigree, the Atomic Blonde trailer is … [Link]

Slashdot » U.S. Jobs, Pay Show Solid Gains in Trump's First Full Month

Friday 10 March 17:20:00 UTC 2017

Two anonymous reader share a Bloomberg report: U.S. employers added jobs at an above-average pace for a second month on outsized gains in construction and manufacturing while wage growth picked up, as the labor market continued its steady improvement in the new year. The 235,000 increase followed a 238,000 rise in January that was more than previously estimated, the best … [Link]

Mashable » Julia Louis-Dreyfus is the ultimate proud mom at her son's college basketball game

Friday 10 March 17:17:57 UTC 2017

Our parents are our biggest fans whether we're the team's #1 player or the equipment manager. SEE ALSO: High school basketball team loses game in worst way possible Celebrity parents are no exception to this fandom. Actress Julia Louis-Dreyfus got totally pumped Thursday, as any parent would, to watch her son, Charlie Hall, play basketball for Northwestern University in their win … [Link]

Mashable » Cower in fear at how one monster opens a loaf of bread

Friday 10 March 17:08:49 UTC 2017

Living with roomates is always an adventure. You can find a new best friend. You can find the worst person you ever met. And sometimes, you can find a person who is a perfectly nice bloke who opens a package of bread like a savage beast starving for fuel. Observe Alasdair Mckay's roomie's bread opening habit: One of my flatmates opens … [Link]

Mashable » Did WikiLeaks just do Apple and Google a huge favor?

Friday 10 March 16:59:21 UTC 2017

When WikiLeaks dumped a plethora of CIA documents this week, it revealed just how many of our devices are vulnerable to hacking. Scary, sure—but should Apple and Google say thank you to Assange and Co. for helping make their devices more secure? This week's MashTalk podcast dives into that question, exploring why #Vault7 isn't as momentous as the Snowden revelations … [Link]

Popular Science » What are the "natural flavors" in your food? Biotech is making the answer more complicated.

Friday 10 March 16:48:16 UTC 2017

Science Scientists are turning to microbes to manufacture scents and flavors Many companies are using microbes and molecules made by living organisms to forge natural scents and flavors. [Link]

Popular Science » Parachute practice, a CT scanned pigeon, and other amazing images of the week

Friday 10 March 16:48:15 UTC 2017

Science Newsworthy eye candy Our favorite images from this week in science, health, and environmental news. [Link]

Popular Science » How scientists managed to store information in a single atom

Friday 10 March 16:48:14 UTC 2017

TechnologyIn the quest to shrink data storage down into tinier and tinier forms, scientists have scored a very, very small triumph. [Link]

Mashable » Nature documentarian Sir David Attenborough is now an adorable cartoon

Friday 10 March 16:45:21 UTC 2017

Sir David Attenborough is a renowned documentarian and the golden voice behind such works as Planet Earth and The Blue Planet. Attenborough, who has a prolific career producing stunning, larger-than-life nature documentaries, is taking on a new project — Attenborough's Adventures. SEE ALSO: Sir David Attenborough is back and 2017 is finally starting to look up Attenborough voices his younger self … [Link]

Mashable » Cops tell Uber driver to stop filming, but he's also a lawyer

Friday 10 March 16:43:03 UTC 2017

When cops pulled over Uber driver Jesse Bright and asked him to stop filming on his phone, they had no idea he was actually a lawyer, and knew he was well within his rights. Bright was driving a passenger on the ride sharing app when he was pulled over near a pawn shop in Wilmington, North Carolina on February 26. … [Link]

Slashdot » NASA Finds Lunar Spacecraft That Vanished 8 Years Ago

Friday 10 March 16:40:00 UTC 2017

An anonymous reader shares a CNN report: It made history as India's first unmanned lunar spacecraft. Then it vanished. Nearly a decade later, NASA has located two unmanned spacecraft orbiting the moon, including India's Chandrayaan-1, which went quiet in 2009. Scientists used a new ground radar to locate the two spacecraft — one active and one dormant, NASA said Thursday. … [Link]

Mashable » A live-action 'Little Mermaid' trailer surfaces – but not from Disney

Friday 10 March 16:39:55 UTC 2017

A new Little Mermaid trailer has just surfaced on the web, but there's a catch. Unlike so many of the other live-action remakes we've gotten in recent years (up to and including next week's Beauty and the Beast), this Little Mermaid does not come from Disney. Instead, it's an unrelated production by Conglomerate Media and Kingsway Productions. There's more. This … [Link]

Mashable » Nicki Minaj breaks her silence about Remy Ma by dropping 3 surprise songs

Friday 10 March 16:39:28 UTC 2017

Thirteen days. It took 13 days for Nicki Minaj to respond to Remy Ma's two tracks that lit a fire to the Internet and had everyone on edge of their seats for what just might be the rap feud of the year. Instead of just dropping one scathing track, Minaj took her time and went for a completely different approach: three … [Link]

Mashable » The next iOS will deeply change the iPhone, and you won't even notice

Friday 10 March 16:37:21 UTC 2017

If you're the type of person who immediately updates their iPhone to the latest version of iOS every time new software drops, here's a friendly warning: Hold off a moment and back up the files on your device before the next one. While that's generally good advice, you'll want to be extra sure to secure your files before blindly pulling the … [Link]

Mashable » Starbucks' new spring cups look kinda like Twitter trolls

Friday 10 March 16:16:39 UTC 2017

Starbucks recently announced their first ever limited edition spring-themed cups. The pastel-hued cups will be available starting March 16 and are noticeably different from any other limited edition cup Starbucks has ever done. While a few of the cups will feature some pre-drawn designs, most of the cups are quite blank. In lieu of the well-known Starbucks logo, Starbucks is encouraging … [Link]

Mashable » Hamantaschen finally gets a jello shot upgrade

Friday 10 March 16:07:26 UTC 2017

If you've ever been to a Purim party (this year, the holiday falls on Mar. 11 and 12), you've likely eaten hamantaschen, a triangular cookie filled with prunes or other fruit jam. Sorry if you fell asleep, they just aren't that exciting. Until this year, that is, when Rebecca Firkser, of My Jewish Learning, created hamantaschen jello shots. SEE ALSO: Sushi … [Link]

Mashable » Amazon gives 'Man in the High Castle' viewers the ultimate immersive experience

Friday 10 March 16:04:41 UTC 2017

In case you were craving an almost-too-close-to-home dystopian escape, Amazon's got you covered. In conjunction with its series Man in the High Castle, Amazon Studios has created an immersive, narrative experience called "Resistance Radio." The point is to give viewers the ability to experience the world where pirate radio stations broadcast in secret from basements, boats and pickup trucks. Resistance … [Link]

Mashable » Watch 'MacGyver' and 'Hawaii Five-0' join forces in an earth-shattering crossover

Friday 10 March 16:01:33 UTC 2017

Hawaii Five-0 and MacGyver have plenty in common: They're both reboots of long-running and much-beloved series; they both air on CBS; and they both count Peter Lenkov as an executive producer. So it was only a matter of time before the two shows staged a crossover, and for any fans wondering how Mac (Lucas Till) and Jack (George Eads) might … [Link]

Mashable » Twitter is finally rolling out a smart fix for its abuse problem

Friday 10 March 16:00:35 UTC 2017

Trolls thrive on Twitter—but a new update may hit 'em where it hurts. The social network deployed previously announced features Thursday that give users more control over the notifications they receive. Bottomline, you can disable notifications from people who haven't confirmed their identity on Twitter, meaning anonymous trolls can't spew their wretched swamp juice all over your @ replies. SEE ALSO: … [Link]

Slashdot » Elon Musk: I Can Fix South Australia Power Network in 100 Days Or It's Free

Friday 10 March 16:00:00 UTC 2017

An anonymous reader shares a report on The Guardian: Elon Musk, the billionaire founder of electric car giant Tesla, has thrown down a challenge to the South Australian and federal governments, saying he can solve the state's energy woes within 100 days — or he'll deliver the 100MW battery storage system for free. On Thursday, Lyndon Rive, Tesla's vice-president for … [Link]

Mashable » How NASA found India's long-missing moon probe

Friday 10 March 15:58:15 UTC 2017

NASA just found a long-lost spacecraft orbiting the moon. The Indian Space Research Organization's (ISRO) Chandrayaan-1 probe was lost less than one year after its 2008 launch, but now, thanks to help from the U.S. space agency, it has been found again. SEE ALSO: India is launching its second moon mission early next year The spacecraft — India's first moon probe … [Link]

Mashable » A big reveal on 'Girls' is our Cry of the Week

Friday 10 March 15:53:10 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. Spoilers ahead! Since its inception, HBO's Girls has been a polarizing show, usually more likely to make a casual viewer cry with rage than empathy over the characters' constant narcissism and … [Link]

Mashable » Kristen Stewart is super chill about her starring role in a Trump Twitter rant

Friday 10 March 15:43:59 UTC 2017

Dude, she just can't be bothered. Kristen Stewart appeared on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert Thursday to discuss her new movie "Personal Shopper" and show off her newly bleached and shaved hair. During the interview, Colbert brought up President Trump's old Twitter tirade concerning Stewart and her then boyfriend, Robert Pattinson. The pair famously spit due to Stewart's infidelity, … [Link]

Mashable » PSA: The new 'Beauty and the Beast' soundtrack is streaming on Spotify

Friday 10 March 15:41:13 UTC 2017

There may be something on Spotify that wasn't there before… and by "something," we mean the brand-new Beauty and the Beast soundtrack. The album for the live-action movie features updated versions of all your favorite songs from the original, as well as a few new numbers. Those include "How Does a Moment Last Forever," sung by Céline Dion — who did … [Link]

Mashable » A MashBash made for a 'king'

Friday 10 March 15:26:37 UTC 2017

It’s 9PM on a Sunday night in Austin. What will you be doing? A true superfan would’ve already been in line for hours waiting to get into the MashBash—one of SXSWi’s hottest parties! Turn up with a few thousand of your closest friends as we celebrate the end of SXSW Interactive 2017 with drinks (courtesy of Jim Beam Bourbon, Hornitos Tequila … [Link]

Slashdot » Google Launches Official Gmail Add-On Program

Friday 10 March 15:20:00 UTC 2017

Google is making it possible for developers to bring their services into Gmail using new integrations called Add-ons. From a report on PCWorld: It's built so that developers can write one set of code in Google's Apps Script language and have their integration run in Gmail on the web, as well as inside Google's Android and iOS apps for the … [Link]

Mashable » 'The Vampire Diaries' series finale will be 'beautiful' and definitely final, the stars promise

Friday 10 March 15:11:30 UTC 2017

Vampires may be immortal, but TV shows aren’t. And, after eight seasons of dopplegangers, witches, werewolf-vampire hybrids, not-quite-dead parents and all the other baggage that our favorite forever-young Salvatore brothers brought with them when they returned to their native Mystic Falls, Virginia, it’s time to close the coffin on The Vampire Diaries. “This show is forever going to be ingrained in … [Link]

Mashable » Facebook dips its gigantic toe into the U.S. sports scene

Friday 10 March 14:53:24 UTC 2017

Facebook just scored something big in live. The social networking giant will livestream regular season matches of American soccer through a partnership with Major League Soccer and Univision Deportes, the companies announced Friday. SEE ALSO: Facebook's new emoji are finally available to everyone The deal includes at least 22 matches of the 2017 season with the first game on March 18 … [Link]

Popular Science » Gifts for people who really love dinosaurs

Friday 10 March 14:49:18 UTC 2017

Gadgets Dinosaur stuff for dinosaur people. Dinosaur gear for kids, dogs, botanists, and just your regular run-of-the-mill nerds. Read on. [Link]

Popular Science » Saturn has a moon that looks just like a ravioli

Friday 10 March 14:49:16 UTC 2017

Space Kisses fingers How is it possible for a moon to look this much like a ravioli? Read on. [Link]

Slashdot » Chrome 57 Arrives With CSS Grid Layout and API Improvements

Friday 10 March 14:40:00 UTC 2017

Google has launched Chrome 57 for Windows, Mac, and Linux. From a report on VentureBeat: Among the additions is CSS Grid Layout, API improvements, and other new features for developers. You can update to the latest version now using the browser's built-in silent updater, or download it directly from google.com/chrome. Chrome is arguably more than a browser: With over 1 … [Link]

Mashable » You can now manage your bank account with emojis

Friday 10 March 14:17:59 UTC 2017

We rarely go to the bank anymore. Our main interaction with these money-tending edifices is through the tiny money-spitting mouths of ATMs. But we miss the human interaction. It's unlikely we'll ever get that same-level of human-banker contact back, but at least Capital One is giving us a banking chat bot, the first, they claim, SMS-based one in the U.S. And … [Link]

New Scientist – News » Never-before-seen gatherings of hundreds of humpback whales

Friday 10 March 14:13:00 UTC 2017

The marine giants are gathering to feed in super-groups of 200, and no one knows why. It could be their natural behaviour when populations are at normal levels [Link]

Mashable » The White House doesn't want to call it Trumpcare, so Stephen Colbert's going to call it Trumpcare

Friday 10 March 14:11:50 UTC 2017

Stephen Colbert took on Republicans' new healthcare bill Thursday night, sharing a quick update on its status in Congress. "The GOP's new healthcare bill cleared its first hurdle early this morning when it was passed by the House Ways and Means Committee after roughly 18 hours of debate," Colbert began. "Any anyone who's spent 18 hours trying to pass something … [Link]

Mashable » Father of twin daughters has come up with a hilarious way to freak out hotel guests

Friday 10 March 14:05:21 UTC 2017

While being the parent of twins means double the work, it also has some unique perks — especially if you're a fan of horror films. SEE ALSO: These tiny twin justices are the superheroes we need now A father tweeted this picture of his twin daughters dressed up as the creepy sisters from the classic Stanley Kubrick horror, The Shining, and … [Link]

Mashable » News show honors The Notorious B.I.G. with Biggie-themed broadcast

Friday 10 March 14:04:35 UTC 2017

Thursday marked two decades since the death of The Notorious B.I.G. and many took time out of their day to pay the rapper their respects. Members of the Atlanta news team did more than just send a remembrance tweet. They seamlessly embedded some Biggie lyrics into their reporting, and went way beyond the obvious line, "If you don't know now … [Link]

Mashable » Mandy Moore and Zachary Levi talk reuniting for 'Tangled: The Series'

Friday 10 March 14:02:54 UTC 2017

We already know that Tangled's Rapunzel (Mandy Moore) and Eugene (Zachary Levi) got their happily ever after — thanks to the sequel short Tangled Ever After, which took us inside the romance (and chaos) of their wedding day — but the beloved Disney movie also told us that it took years before our long-haired leading lady accepted Eugene's proposal and … [Link]

Slashdot » Slashdot Asks: Are Password Rules Bullshit?

Friday 10 March 14:00:00 UTC 2017

Here's what Jeff Atwood, a founder of Stack Overflow thinks: Password rules are bullshit. They don't work. They heavily penalize your ideal audience, people that use real random password generators. Hey, guess what, that password randomly didn't have a number or symbol in it. I just double checked my math textbook, and yep, it's possible. I'm pretty sure. They frustrate … [Link]

Mashable » Here's what happens in the 'Kong: Skull Island' post-credits scene

Friday 10 March 13:59:36 UTC 2017

Kong: Skull Island runs a healthy 120 minutes, which means you'll probably be tempted to get up and stretch your legs or hit the bathroom the moment the end credits start to roll. But if you can sit tight just a few moments longer, you'll be treated to a juicy post-credits scene with big implications for the future of the franchise. … [Link]

Mashable » Samuel L. Jackson gets called out on Facebook and reacts with humility

Friday 10 March 13:51:39 UTC 2017

Samuel L. Jackson isn't one to shy away from voicing his opinions — even if they turn out to be unpopular. But he's also capable of listening as a recent radio interview shows. SEE ALSO: Samuel L. Jackson uses one tweet to crush Ben Carson and his slaves as 'immigrants' comment During an appearance on the New York radio station Hot … [Link]

Slashdot » Verizon Wireless Wades Right Back Into the Net Neutrality Debate With Fios Deal

Friday 10 March 13:00:00 UTC 2017

An anonymous reader quotes a report from The Verge: Verizon is taking a page out of AT&T's book by zero rating its Fios cable TV service for all Verizon Wireless customers. That means that if you purchase your mobile data plan from Verizon Wireless and your cable TV plan from Fios, you can now use the Fios Mobile app to … [Link]

New Scientist – News » What makes a good surgeon? Video analysis rates suturing skills

Friday 10 March 12:52:00 UTC 2017

Doctors have varying styles for stitching up wounds. A machine-learning system tells doctors how well they’re doing to help improve their technique [Link]

Mashable » All the clues from the 'Game of Thrones' Season 7 teaser you may have missed

Friday 10 March 12:48:24 UTC 2017

We finally, finally have a release date for Game of Thrones Season 7, and that can only mean one thing — it's time jump aboard the hype train and crank the theories into overdrive. SEE ALSO: The first 'Game of Thrones' Season 7 poster is here and it's pretty badass Luckily, we have some new material to work with. Thursday's release … [Link]

New Scientist – News » Robot that shows pain could teach doctors to recognise it better

Friday 10 March 12:42:00 UTC 2017

Doctors are worse at spotting pain than laypeople, but a robot with realistic facial expressions could help them learn to better understand patients [Link]

Mashable » Commuters call out 'sexist' ad, brand brings on the extreme sarcasm

Friday 10 March 12:36:54 UTC 2017

A Twitter spat has broken out after people called out a mobile spa app for a "sexist" advert on the London Underground. SEE ALSO: People are calling for this 'sexist' and 'degrading' advert to be removed "Out with the guys 'til 4am again?! Keep her sweet with a spa mani/pedi at home," reads USPAAH's advert, which has been spotted at Tube … [Link]

Mashable » Man attempts to give serious BBC interview, regrets ever having children

Friday 10 March 12:23:02 UTC 2017

This viral video might be the best lesson in "how to keep a straight face" in the most hilarious situation ever. A very serious expert on South Korea appears on BBC World News via webcam to discuss the impeachment of South Korea's President Park Geun-hye. SEE ALSO: Live interview with 'Walking Dead' star has hilariously unorthodox ending But just when he's … [Link]

New Scientist – News » Mystery brain particles may link head injuries to dementia

Friday 10 March 12:15:00 UTC 2017

Head injuries cause immune cells in the brain to shed microscopic particles, which spread inflammation. This may be why head trauma is linked to dementia [Link]

New Scientist – News » Babies in prams are exposed to high levels of air pollution

Friday 10 March 12:05:00 UTC 2017

Air pollution has been linked to asthma and pneumonia in children. Now a study has found prams are exposed to high pollution near junctions and bus stops [Link]

Mashable » India extends paid maternity leave to 26 weeks, citizens hail the move

Friday 10 March 11:45:50 UTC 2017

In what is being touted as a "historic" move, India has more than doubled its paid maternity leave to 26 weeks from 12 weeks for working moms-to-be. The global average is 20 weeks, according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). India is now ahead of several European and Asian nations when it comes to fully paid maternity leaves … [Link]

Slashdot » Apache Servers Under Attack Through Easily Exploitable Struts 2 Flaw

Friday 10 March 11:30:00 UTC 2017

Orome1 quotes a report from Help Net Security: A critical vulnerability in Apache Struts 2 is being actively and heavily exploited, even though the patch for it has been released on Monday. The vulnerability (CVE-2017-5638) affects the Jakarta file upload Multipart parser in Apache Struts 2. It allows attackers to include code in the "Content-Type" header of an HTTP request, … [Link]

Mashable » This store celebrated women by offering discounts for frying pans

Friday 10 March 11:20:05 UTC 2017

A woman's best friend is her… frying pan? A department store in Singapore has come under fire after offering discounts on frying pans as part of a promotion on International Woman's Day. SEE ALSO: While you were out striking on International Women's Day, China asked people to go shopping The store, TANGS, marked March 8 by offering discounts for a range … [Link]

Mashable » Pikachu-themed batteries are being recalled because they overheat

Friday 10 March 11:15:15 UTC 2017

Pikachu can't recharge your phone any more. The electric-type Pokémon — and the world's most recognisable electric rodent — is now the face of the latest battery-related product recall. SEE ALSO: 80 new Pokémon are coming to 'Pokémon Go' The Pokémon Company — which manages the Pokémon franchise — released a warning yesterday on its website (link in Japanese) regarding two … [Link]

Mashable » South Korea's president just got kicked out of office and people are pretty happy about it

Friday 10 March 11:02:08 UTC 2017

South Korea's President Park Geun-hye has become the country's first democratically elected leader to be forced out of office — and people are pretty pleased. For months, Ms Park has been caught in the midst of a corruption scandal, and now could face criminal charges. SEE ALSO: Samsung's turmoil derails plan to crown its heir apparent The former president and her … [Link]

Mashable » Majestic discovery in Egypt is basically straight from a 19th century sonnet

Friday 10 March 11:00:49 UTC 2017

“Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair!" SEE ALSO: Mysterious discovery under the water in China will awaken your inner Indiana Jones This famous line is from a 1818 sonnet by Percy Bysshe Shelley entitled "Ozymandias," which talks about the remains of a huge statue in the desert depicting a once-proud king, Ramses II, who ruled Egypt more than 3,000 … [Link]

Mashable » In China, you can hire someone to persuade mistresses into ending affairs

Friday 10 March 10:56:54 UTC 2017

People say that happiness is only real when shared. But what if your spouse wanted to share it with another person? Desperate spouses in China who are seeking an amicable end to their partners' transgressions are hiring "mistress hunters" — trained professionals that are sent undercover to "accidentally" meet and dissuade the third party in a marriage to put an end … [Link]

Mashable » TIME is getting dragged for this weird tweet about Amal Clooney's baby bump during her speech on ISIS

Friday 10 March 10:50:23 UTC 2017

TIME is getting dragged after tweeting about Amal Clooney's "baby bump" while she was delivering a powerful speech at the United Nations (UN) about ISIS. SEE ALSO: 11 incredible women in law promoting social justice for all TIME tweeted: "Amal Clooney shows off her baby bump at the United Nations," and linked to an article published on TIME Motto about her … [Link]

Mashable » Samuel L. Jackson explains his Ben Carson tweet and why he isn't afraid of Trump

Friday 10 March 10:37:12 UTC 2017

Samuel L. Jackson has been outspoken about his political views on Twitter — from feuds with Trump to tweets advocating civil rights. SEE ALSO: Samuel L. Jackson recreates Samuel L. Jackon's entire film career in 11 minutes The actor paid a visit to the Late Late Show to promote his upcoming film, Kong: Skull Island. When James Corden asked him … [Link]

New Scientist – News » Sneaky beetles evolved disguise to look like ants, then eat them

Friday 10 March 10:16:00 UTC 2017

At least a dozen species of rove beetles have independently evolved almost identical disguises to dupe their army ant prey into accepting them as one of their own [Link]

Slashdot » Stunning Close-up of Saturn's Moon, Pan, Reveals a Space Empanada

Friday 10 March 10:00:00 UTC 2017

sciencehabit quotes a report from Science Magazine: Astronomers have long known that Pan, one of Saturn's innermost moons, has an odd look. Based on images taken from a distance, researchers have said it looks like a walnut or a flying saucer. But now, NASA's Cassini probe has delivered stunning close-ups of the 35-kilometer-wide icy moon, and it might be better … [Link]

New Scientist – News » SpaceX follows Jules Verne – with one exception

Friday 10 March 9:30:00 UTC 2017

Jules Verne predicted many technical features of the Apollo moon missions – did he’s get the politics of SpaceX’s moonshot right too? [Link]

Mashable » 56-year-old model Mercy Brewer stuns in new lingerie campaign

Friday 10 March 8:53:40 UTC 2017

Ageing is an inescapable part of life — and who would want to? Not this 56-year-old model, that's for sure. Scottish woman Mercy Brewer was a fixture of the London '80s punk scene, and decades later, she's still repping that "f*ck you" attitude, posing for New Zealand cult intimates label, Lonely Lingerie, in a quietly powerful shoot. SEE ALSO: Lena Dunham … [Link]

New Scientist – News » Dogs use deception to get what they want from humans (a sausage)

Friday 10 March 8:30:00 UTC 2017

Who needs enemies with friends like these? Human’s best friend can be sneaky and manipulative – and all for a tasty treat [Link]

Mashable » 'Namaste': Emma Watson's special video message for her Indian fans

Friday 10 March 7:44:16 UTC 2017

Emma Watson is on the cover of Vanity Fair. Emma Watson is schooling anti-feminists. Emma Watson is championing gender equality. And in the middle of all this, Emma Watson is also gearing up for the release of Beauty and the Beast. SEE ALSO: Disney's 'Beauty and the Beast' will probably break a box office record Now, in a special promotional … [Link]

Slashdot » NVIDIA Lifts Veil On GeForce GTX 1080 Ti Performance Reviews, Which Show Faster Speeds Than Titan X

Friday 10 March 7:00:00 UTC 2017

MojoKid writes from a report via HotHardware: NVIDIA is officially launching its most powerful gaming graphics card today, the GeForce GTX 1080 Ti. It was announced last week at the Game Developers Conference and pre-orders began shortly thereafter. However, the cards will begin shipping today and NVIDIA has lifted the veil on performance reviews. Though its memory complement and a … [Link]

Mashable » Elon Musk makes a bet to fix a state's energy woes in 100 days, or it's free

Friday 10 March 6:27:58 UTC 2017

Now we know Elon Musk is a betting man. Yesterday, Tesla's Vice President for energy products Lyndon Rive (who is Musk's cousin) said the company could build enough battery storage capacity with its Powerwall 2, to solve lingering energy supply concerns in the state of South Australia, within 100 days. So modest. It was an idea enthusiastically taken aboard by Atlassian … [Link]

Mashable » Eleven from 'Stranger Things' and Arya from 'Game of Thrones' together at last

Friday 10 March 4:36:26 UTC 2017

So maybe a Game of Thrones/Stranger Things crossover will never happen, but at least we have this trippy Converse commercial to entertain us. It stars Millie Bobby Brown (A.K.A. Eleven), the youngest Stark girl A.K.A. Maisie Williams, Long Beach rapper Vince Staples, model Winnie Harlow, and lots of other attractive youths. It's all about, like, Converse and following your dreams … [Link]

Mashable » Love Jay-Z and Beyoncé? Then a bar called 'The Carter' might be for you

Friday 10 March 4:13:34 UTC 2017

Matching a bunch of hip-hop and R&B icons with a bar seems like a idea we should've all come up with. The Carter is a new establishment in Sydney, Australia, that's dedicated to Jay-Z, a.k.a Shawn Corey Carter, and everyone's queen, Beyoncé. 'Cause who doesn't love the Carter family? SEE ALSO: Jay Z's venture capital fund is here There's plenty of … [Link]

Mashable » MashReads Podcast: 'Glee' star Chris Colfer talks about his new novel 'Stranger than Fanfiction'

Friday 10 March 3:58:08 UTC 2017

There’s a powerful connection between characters and the fans who love them. Anyone who scribbled Harry Potter fanfiction or dissected the latest teen drama with their friends knows. And the line between actor and character is often completely muddled for viewers that live far beyond the realities of Hollywood. SEE ALSO: MashReads Podcast: 'History Is All You Left Me' is a … [Link]

Mashable » Reddit immediately notices T-Mobile's higher 'unlimited' data plan

Friday 10 March 3:34:27 UTC 2017

If only true, unadulterated unlimited data was a real thing. But as a consolation, T-Mobile customers this week were surprised with a 2GB increase from 28GB to 30GB each month as the threshold before their data is throttled, or slowed down for "deprioritization," which gives priority to other customers. But there's still no overage charges, so some semblance of an unlimited … [Link]

Slashdot » Ancient Technique Can Dramatically Improve Memory, Research Suggests

Friday 10 March 3:30:00 UTC 2017

An anonymous reader quotes a report from The Guardian: After spending six weeks cultivating an internal "memory palace," people more than doubled the number of words they could retain in a short time period and their performance remained impressive four months later. The technique, which involves conjuring up vivid images of objects in a familiar setting, is credited to the … [Link]

Mashable » Thousands of women have launched virtual storefronts in Indonesia

Friday 10 March 3:15:06 UTC 2017

Thousands of Indonesian women are launching a new breed of mom-and-pop shop — one that's entirely contained within a phone or tablet. A startup called Slingshot lets anyone apply to launch a three-dimensional virtual storefront with the country's biggest retailer, Alfamart. Through micro-franchise agreements, owners can stock their shelves and display racks with any assortment of items from Alfamart's inventory, … [Link]

Mashable » Tesla owners drop serious cash on their cars only to wait months to get them repaired

Friday 10 March 2:36:42 UTC 2017

What good is owning a car if you can't actually drive it? Some Tesla owners across the country are asking themselves that very question after collisions sent their electric vehicles to the shop — where the cars remained, and remained, and remained. Elon Musk's Tesla has wowed fans and critics alike for the speed at which it has transitioned from an … [Link]

Slashdot » Google's reCAPTCHA Turns 'Invisible,' Will Separate Bots From People Without Challenges

Friday 10 March 2:25:00 UTC 2017

Google is making CAPTCHAs invisible using "a combination of machine learning and advanced risk analysis that adapts to new and emerging threats." Ars Technica reports: The old reCAPTCHA system was pretty easy — just a simple "I'm not a robot" checkbox would get people through your sign-up page. The new version is even simpler, and it doesn't use a challenge … [Link]

The Joy of Tech » JoT #2393: Growth industry!

Friday 10 March 2:07:50 UTC 2017

JoT thumb The future of employment! [Link]

Slashdot » EU Court Sets Limit On 'Right To Be Forgotten' In Company Registers

Friday 10 March 1:45:00 UTC 2017

The European Union's top court ruled in May 2014 that people could ask search engines, such as Google or Microsoft's Bing, to remove inadequate or irrelevant information from the web results produced from searches for people's names. Today, the court is limiting the so-called "right to be forgotten" principle, ruling that individuals cannot demand that personal data be erased from … [Link]

Mashable » Watch: Two delightful turtles flip-flop their way to pure, blissful freedom

Friday 10 March 1:34:53 UTC 2017

There’s nothing quite like the adorable sound of turtles flapping their way back into the sea. Following months of rehabilitation, a green sea turtle called Gretchen, and an olive ridley named Chompa, were released to back into the sea. Swim free, turtle friends. Swim free. SEE ALSO: Turtle living in wishing pond gets surgery after years of eating of coins left … [Link]

Slashdot » Nearly 200,000 Wi-Fi Cameras Are Open To Hacking

Friday 10 March 1:05:00 UTC 2017

An anonymous reader quotes a report from BleepingComputer: What started as an analysis of a simple security flaw in a random wireless IP camera turned into seven vulnerabilities that affect over 1,250 camera models and expose nearly 200,000 cameras to hacking. The flaws affect a generically named product called Wireless IP Camera (P2P) WIFICAM, manufactured by a (currently unnamed) Chinese … [Link]

Mashable » Daredevil just crossed the Atlantic in the most epic way

Friday 10 March 1:02:28 UTC 2017

Well, that's one way to get an ab workout. A South African man named Chris Bertish has just become the very first human being to cross the entire Atlantic Ocean on a stand-up paddleboard. He made the fierce 4,050-mile journey alone at sea over 93 days, The Guardian reports, crossing from Agadir, Morocco to Antigua's English Harbor. SEE ALSO: New coral … [Link]

Mashable » Looks like Matt Damon really could've grown potatoes on Mars

Friday 10 March 1:01:39 UTC 2017

Looks like The Martian was right about one thing: potatoes can grow on Mars. At least, it looks promising according to the results of an experiment by the International Potato Centre (CIP), which is a real thing. SEE ALSO: Finding your chill in VR is easy when you can meditate on Mars No, they didn’t fly a potato to space. They … [Link]

Mashable » 'Deadpool 2' casts 'Atlanta' star Zazie Beetz as Domino

Friday 10 March 0:37:52 UTC 2017

Deadpool is about to get lucky. Atlanta actress Zazie Beetz has just joined the cast of Deadpool 2 in the role of Domino, a mutant mercenary with the power of "subconscious telekinetic probability manipulation" — essentially, the gift of incredibly good luck. SEE ALSO: You need to watch the 'Deadpool 2' teaser playing before 'Logan' right now, because it's just that … [Link]

Slashdot » Project Scorpio Next-Generation Xbox Gaming Console Debuts In Microsoft Store

Friday 10 March 0:35:00 UTC 2017

BrianFagioli quotes a report from BetaNews: Microsoft's next generation of video game console is currently called "Project Scorpio." This will be a truly new console, although it will be backwards compatible with all Xbox One games — nice. In fact, you will even be able to use your Xbox One controllers and other accessories. While we do not have a … [Link]

Mashable » AI figured out the word people text when their suicide risk is high

Friday 10 March 0:14:15 UTC 2017

If you were asked to guess the words people use when they're most at risk for suicide, you'd be right to think of obvious nouns and verbs like die, overdose and, yes, the word suicide itself. So when Crisis Text Line, a free mental health support service, built an algorithm to flag high-priority texts, it included those among 50 words to … [Link]

Slashdot » The Promise of Blockchain Is a World Without Middlemen

Friday 10 March 0:05:00 UTC 2017

dryriver writes: The Harvard Business Review has an interesting article about how Blockchain technology may bring down the cost of business transactions and enable new ways of doing things: "Consider the problem that small manufacturers have dealing with giants like Wal-Mart. To keep transaction costs and the costs of carrying each product line down, large companies generally only buy from … [Link]

Mashable » These theaters have playgrounds because everyone loves loud kids at movies

Friday 10 March 0:04:59 UTC 2017

Movie theaters are desperate to get would-be customers off their couches, away from their unending supply of streaming movies, TV shows and cat videos. SEE ALSO: 'Kong: Skull Island' gets it right with nostalgic retro visuals Some sell "luxury" offerings like fancy meals and cocktails. Cinépolis is trying another strategy to entice moviegoers: playgrounds. The company's "Cinepolis Junior" theaters for kids … [Link]

John Gordon Ross

A Man for All Reasons