John Gordon Ross

A Man for All Reasons

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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 » Corporations like PepsiCo will never be 'woke,' but here's how they can be better

Wednesday 5 April 23:36:04 UTC 2017

Twitter FacebookOn the spectrum of wokeness, American multinational soda corporations tend to land somewhere near dead last — and good ol' PepsiCo just took a giant nosedive toward the bottom. The company incited well-deserved social media outrage after its ad, featuring Kendall Jenner pacifying a bunch of cops with a can of Pepsi, went viral Tuesday. Viewers accused the company of appropriating … [Link]

Mashable » Make meeting up with friends infinitely more complicated with Microsoft's 'Who's In' app

Wednesday 5 April 23:30:20 UTC 2017

Twitter FacebookDo you find planning casual social meet-ups too straightforward? Have you ever wanted to get together with friends, but longed for a way to make that process complicated? Not "complicated" like you just slept with your best friend complicated, but more along the lines "wait, what is going on here?" If so, then Microsoft has a product for you. SEE ALSO: … [Link]

Mashable » American spies now have their own app

Wednesday 5 April 23:21:51 UTC 2017

Twitter FacebookIn intelligence parlance, a tear line is a mark on a sensitive document where all the information below that line has been cleared for release — the not-so-secretive background info. Now Tearline is the name of an app for intelligence officers to talk about unclassified reports.  SEE ALSO: Your internet service provider shouldn't be allowed to spy on you, but they … [Link]

Slashdot » Electric Car Ferries Enter Service In Norway

Wednesday 5 April 23:20:00 UTC 2017

AmiMoJo writes from a report via BBC: Following two years of trials of the world's first electric car ferry, named Ampere, Norwegian ferry operators are busy making the transition from diesel. It is thought that 84 ferries are ripe for conversion to electric power, and 43 ferries on longer routes would benefit from conversion to hybrids that use diesel engines … [Link]

Mashable » This mother's face after delivering an 11-pound baby says it all

Wednesday 5 April 23:00:19 UTC 2017

Twitter FacebookThe average weight of a newborn baby is about seven and-a-half pounds, according to parenting websites.  Well, Natalie Bancroft of Spokane Valley, Washington, naturally delivered a healthy baby boy in her home that weighed 11 pounds 2 ounces at birth. No, that's not a typo, her child weighed 11 pounds 2 ounces at birth.  SEE ALSO: This baby face generator app … [Link]

Mashable » How 'The Good Fight' is tackling politics while avoiding 'Trump fatigue'

Wednesday 5 April 22:57:06 UTC 2017

Twitter FacebookThere’s no denying that the world has changed since November.  Whether it's changed for better or worse depends entirely on your perspective — but for The Good Fight's executive producers, Robert and Michelle King, Donald Trump's election has certainly provided endless storytelling opportunities for the new legal drama. The series is a spinoff of CBS' The Good Wife, which streams new … [Link]

Mashable » Quadruplets got into Yale and Harvard. All four of them.

Wednesday 5 April 22:44:27 UTC 2017

Twitter FacebookImagine thinking you're having twins, and ending up with quadruplets. Then, fast-forward 18 years, and imagine that all four of your sons get into two of the country's most prestigious Ivy League schools. That's what happened to the parents of Nigel, Zach, Aaron, and Nick Wade – four extraordinary high school seniors who found out they were all accepted to Harvard. … [Link]

Slashdot » YouTube Launches 'YouTube TV' In Select Markets

Wednesday 5 April 22:40:00 UTC 2017

In late February, YouTube unveiled its live TV service called YouTube TV, which offers live TV streaming over the internet for $35 per month with no long-term contract required. The company has officially launched the service today in five select markets: New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco Bay Area, Chicago, and Philadelphia. YouTube says that more markets are coming soon, … [Link]

Mashable » Actually, 'Dimension 404' isn't 'Black Mirror.' It's something weirder.

Wednesday 5 April 22:22:16 UTC 2017

Twitter Facebook When the trailer dropped for Hulu's new series Dimension 404, made by web content studio RocketJump, you could have been forgiven for picking up a very Black Mirror vibe. Like Black Mirror, Dimension 404 is a science-fiction anthology series with a new story every episode. Each story features some kind of technology gone wrong (the 404, of course, refers to … [Link]

Slashdot » The Windows 10 Creators Update Is Now Available

Wednesday 5 April 22:20:00 UTC 2017

An anonymous reader quotes a report from BleepingComputer: Microsoft will officially release Windows 10 Creators Update on April 11, the same day it will retire Windows Vista, but users unwilling to wait that long can install it starting today, April 5, using the Windows 10 Update Assistant. The tool installs Build 15063 of the Windows 10 Insiders Build program, which … [Link]

Mashable » Dad Photoshops his daughter into dangerous situations and it's A+ dad'ing

Wednesday 5 April 22:19:12 UTC 2017

Twitter FacebookA necessary skill for all sinister parents in the digital age: Photoshop. Dublin-based designer and dad Stephen Crowley has mastered the fine art of lovingly Photoshopping his daughter Hannah into situations that would give most parents a heart attack. His convincing work can easily fool someone taking a quick glance, leading to plenty of double takes and a few shocked people.  … [Link]

Mashable » Hey, normals, Martha Stewart wants to help you pick a wine

Wednesday 5 April 22:15:40 UTC 2017

Twitter FacebookMartha Stewart, your guide to all things good and worthwhile, is expanding her empire into the world of wine.  Now you, a regular person, can drink what Martha drinks, thanks to her newest venture Martha Stewart Wine Co. The shop offers a curated selection of wines sold both à la carte and in packs. SEE ALSO: Instead of telling women who … [Link]

Mashable » Two 'Overwatch' voice actors trade lines and it's both weird and awesome

Wednesday 5 April 22:15:09 UTC 2017

Twitter Facebook What happens when two iconic voices from Overwatch run into each other in public? They give you a taste of what it would be like if their characters switched roles. The voice actors behind Overwatch's Sombra (Carolina Ravassa) and Mercy (Lucie Pohl) shared a video of themselves in New York City feeding each other lines of dialogue to say in … [Link]

Mashable » Binge on virtual reality with HTC Vive's 'Netflix for VR'

Wednesday 5 April 22:08:46 UTC 2017

Twitter FacebookJust a week after the one-year anniversary of the Oculus Rift's consumer debut, the HTC Vive is celebrating a similar birthday with the launch of its Viveport subscription service.  The easiest way to describe the service is as Netflix for VR. It could save you money if you’re currently spending a ton of cash on new games each month.   SEE … [Link]

Mashable » Rando friends can see your Facebook Stories and you can't stop it

Wednesday 5 April 22:03:56 UTC 2017

Twitter FacebookFacebook Stories are… well, they're a lot.  The feature is the latest and most drastic step in the Snap-ification of Facebook and its properties, as Instagram, Messenger, and WhatsApp have all added the ability to share quick, ephemeral image and video slices of your life with your friends and followers.  That's all well and good — it's fun to share the … [Link]

Slashdot »  Forget Apple. Xiaomi CEO Now Wants to Be More Like Costco

Wednesday 5 April 22:00:00 UTC 2017

Xiaomi says it's misunderstood. Once compared with Apple for its sleek smartphones and charismatic leadership, the Chinese startup is seeking an image makeover as it tries to recover from a sales-growth slide. From a report: And the brand its billionaire co-founder Lei Jun wants to be compared with: Costco Wholesale Corp., the Issaquah, Washington-based warehouse retailer that sells everything from … [Link]

Mashable » It looks like JPMorgan is building its very own roboadviser

Wednesday 5 April 21:43:16 UTC 2017

Twitter FacebookIf you can’t beat ’em, join ’em. In the summer of 2016, JPMorgan Chase & Co. CEO Jamie Dimon said his firm could give clients a free, automated investment service as part of a future bundle of digital-banking products. Well, he just revealed the bank is following through on that promise and building one. SEE ALSO: Video gaming becomes a scholarship … [Link]

New Scientist – News » Squishy robotic manta ray flaps its wings to spy in the ocean

Wednesday 5 April 21:37:31 UTC 2017

A manta-ray-inspired robot is made of soft, transparent materials so that it can go undetected as it swims around monitoring wildlife and wrecks [Link]

New Scientist – News » Cheap stroke drug boosts pancreatic cancer survival in mice

Wednesday 5 April 21:37:30 UTC 2017

A drug used in Asia for decades to treat strokes has been found to soften the armour of pancreatic tumours, making them vulnerable to chemotherapy [Link]

New Scientist – News » Apes can see things from your perspective and help you out

Wednesday 5 April 21:37:29 UTC 2017

Chimps, bonobos and orangutans help humans when they look for objects in the wrong place – showing they can tell when others believe something that's false [Link]

Slashdot » Taser Offers Free Body Cameras To All US Police

Wednesday 5 April 21:20:00 UTC 2017

An anonymous reader quotes a report from Ars Technica: Taser, the company whose electronic stun guns have become a household name, is now offering a groundbreaking deal to all American law enforcement: free body cameras and a year's worth of access to the company's cloud storage service, Evidence.com. In addition, on Wednesday, the company also announced that it would be … [Link]

Mashable » Next-gen Google Home could control your lights and fix your bad Wi-Fi

Wednesday 5 April 21:18:43 UTC 2017

Twitter FacebookIt’s barely been five months since Google Home arrived to take over homes and there are already whispers of version 2.0. According to a report from The Information, Google's working on an upgraded version of Home that'll also double as a Wi-Fi router and mesh network. SEE ALSO: How to order a pizza with Amazon Alexa or Google Home To put … [Link]

Mashable » The next iPhone will be less expensive than we thought, analysts say

Wednesday 5 April 21:17:40 UTC 2017

Twitter FacebookApple’s upcoming iPhone 8 is reportedly facing delays—but at least it may be less expensive than we thought. There have been several reports that the upcoming 10th anniversary iPhone could cost upwards of $1,000 due to a number of hardware changes, including an OLED screen,  a stainless steel frame and glass back, and more.  SEE ALSO: The Mac Pro is getting … [Link]

Mashable » Every time the Kardashian/Jenner clan actually got political

Wednesday 5 April 21:00:15 UTC 2017

Twitter FacebookPicturing Kendall Jenner stopping a fashion shoot to join a protest IRL like in that terrible Pepsi ad requires a bit of imagination considering you can count the number of times she’s spoken out about causes on one hand. The same goes for other members of the Kardashian/Jenner clan. Kendall and Pepsi were rightfully dragged over the ad that dropped Tuesday … [Link]

Mashable » Kendall Jenner had some words about that Pepsi commercial before any of us saw it, and, welp…

Wednesday 5 April 20:52:13 UTC 2017

Twitter FacebookHindsight: It's 20-20! And it must be especially sharp today for Kendall Jenner and Pepsi, as they're both experiencing the neither sweet nor fizzy taste of putting one's foot in one's mouth.   If you're not living in a cave out of the range of cell service, you know by now that the global soda empire paid Jenner, a global celebrity, … [Link]

Slashdot » Uber Finds One Allegedly Stolen Waymo File — On An Employee's Personal Device

Wednesday 5 April 20:40:00 UTC 2017

Uber said today that it had found one of the documents Waymo alleges was stolen by a former employee — who left its self-driving car effort to join Uber's — on the employee's personal computer. From a report on TechCrunch: The document was found on a personal device belonging to Sameer Kshirsagar, Uber's attorney Arturo Gonzalez said at a court … [Link]

Mashable » Teen promposes to Emma Stone by epically recreating 'La La Land' opening number

Wednesday 5 April 20:26:46 UTC 2017

Twitter Facebook✨  City of stars, are you shining just for teens? ✨ It appears that way, ever since the smoothest teen of all, 17-year-old Jacob Staudenmaier, decided he would ask his celebrity crush, the beautiful and talented star of La La Land, Emma Stone, to be his date to prom. Heads up—he looks just like a young Ryan Gosling, so this could … [Link]

Popular Science » We sleep less as we age because our brains don’t think we're tired

Wednesday 5 April 20:25:06 UTC 2017

Health Sadly, there’s nothing we can do about it—yet Researchers argue that because of certain brain mechanisms that change as we age, we are unable to get the proper sleep necessary for normal functioning. [Link]

Popular Science » The bionic leaf seems poised to lead a fertilizer revolution

Wednesday 5 April 20:16:12 UTC 2017

Gadgets A lucky four leaf clover Could a bionic leaf save the world? Read on:… [Link]

Mashable » Tennis star Nick Kyrgios uses Facebook to … sell a used car?

Wednesday 5 April 20:11:05 UTC 2017

Twitter FacebookSocial media has long since narrowed the gap between professional athletes and sports fans, but this — well, this takes things to a whole new level of personal connection.  You — yes, you! — can buy a used car direct from tennis star Nick Kyrgios via Facebook. SEE ALSO: How Derek Jeter's once-mocked startup became a sports media powerhouse Kyrgios is … [Link]

Mashable » Starring in this PSA helped a 12-year-old girl tell her school she's autistic

Wednesday 5 April 20:07:59 UTC 2017

Twitter Facebook A jarring new PSA called "Make It Stop" replicates how Holly, a 12-year-old autistic girl living in the UK, experiences sensory overload. But the ad doesn't just help spread awareness and further acceptance of autism — starring in it has helped Holly disclose her own diagnosis to her peers in real life. She shared the video with her school during … [Link]

Mashable » Netflix puts troubling rumors about 'The Office' to rest in the best way

Wednesday 5 April 20:04:40 UTC 2017

Twitter FacebookFact: Episodes of The Office are not leaving Netflix. Don't believe us even though we just did our best Dwight Schrute impression for you? Fine. The streaming service also confirmed that the nine seasons of everyone's favorite show are here to stay — and they used the most epic Michael Scott reference to do it.  And if you don't believe Netflix, … [Link]

Mashable » 'Wheel of Fortune' contestant gets it so, so wrong that, honestly, it's kind of admirable

Wednesday 5 April 20:00:57 UTC 2017

Twitter FacebookThere are incorrect game show answers, and then, there are game show answers so unsettlingly wrong, they're actually inspiring.  Tuesday night's Wheel of Fortune? Definitely an example of the latter. In the episode, contestants were asked to solve a puzzle with the category "living thing." The clues got as far as "_O_EYS_CK_E B_S_" before a contestant rang in with a truly, … [Link]

Slashdot » Phony VPN Services Are Cashing In On America's War On Privacy

Wednesday 5 April 20:00:00 UTC 2017

Reader Freshly Exhumed writes: Nicholas Deleon at Motherboard reveals a run-in with scammers who are already hard at work taking advantage of newly signed legislation that allows Internet Service Providers to sell your online privacy, including your web browser history, to the highest bidder without your consent. Relatedly, Tim Berners-Lee would prefer people to protest in the streets rather than … [Link]

Mashable » Softball player lands flat on her face in a slide so terrible it's almost good

Wednesday 5 April 19:57:24 UTC 2017

Twitter FacebookListen, if you're not an athlete, softball is hard. We're not pretending to be pros or anything, but if we could give one tip to the ball players out there trying to make it to the next base, it would be to slide FEET FIRST if at all possible. Poor University of Akron outfielder Madison Carter didn't get this memo and … [Link]

Mashable » New York City just took a major step toward equal pay

Wednesday 5 April 19:43:38 UTC 2017

Twitter FacebookThe day after Equal Pay Day, New York City took a major step toward salary equity.  The New York City Council passed a bill on Wednesday that makes it illegal for employers to ask for potential employees' salary histories — a milestone in the fight for equal pay.  The legislation, proposed to the city council by the New York City public … [Link]

Mashable » This may be the most adorable computer we've ever seen

Wednesday 5 April 19:40:02 UTC 2017

Twitter FacebookNostalgia has been all the rage among electronics enthusiasts these days, from this Windows 98 "smartwatch" to Nokia's revamp of the classic 3310. But here's a nostalgic effort that goes above and beyond: Developer Janis Hermanns built a Wi-FI enabled LEGO Macintosh Classic that runs Docker on a Raspberry Pi Zero with an e-paper display.  SEE ALSO: Make a LEGO Robot … [Link]

The Joy of Tech » JoT #2404: Song of Spring!

Wednesday 5 April 19:38:16 UTC 2017

JoT thumbAfter a long winter of discontent… a new hope? [Link]

Geek Culture » Creepy face projections!

Wednesday 5 April 19:35:25 UTC 2017

High-speed sensing of faces gets mapped to high-speed projection which is then mapped dynamically onto the face. [Link]

Mashable » This device will fix your nasty slouching habit over time

Wednesday 5 April 19:30:01 UTC 2017

Twitter FacebookThe 'UPRIGHT GO' is a tiny wearable that sticks on the square of your back. It vibrates when you're slouching, reminding you to sit upright. There's also an app, of course, that tracks your improvement. Workers everywhere clearly need this device.  Read more…More about Real Time Video, Real Time Video, Real Time, Office Tech, and Tech [Link]

Mashable » Pepsi, I wrote your next great commercial for you for free

Wednesday 5 April 19:23:11 UTC 2017

Twitter FacebookWe open on an oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico. A Lumineers song is playing, but it's just instrumental. Clapping. Acoustic guitar. This is a fun place to be, if your friends are there. Enter HOT GUY, wearing denim jacket. HOT GUY wipes his brow and cracks a GENERIC BRAND COLA as he observes the drill. The GENERIC BRAND COLA … [Link]

Popular Science » This "Spiderman" sea snail shoots webs of mucus

Wednesday 5 April 19:21:32 UTC 2017

Animals With great snot comes great responsibility Imagine having all the powers of a worm-snail. Read on:… [Link]

Slashdot » Google's Custom Machine Learning Chips Are 15-30x Faster Than GPUs and CPUs

Wednesday 5 April 19:20:00 UTC 2017

Four years ago, Google was faced with a conundrum: if all its users hit its voice recognition services for three minutes a day, the company would need to double the number of data centers just to handle all of the requests to the machine learning system powering those services, reads a PCWorld article, which talks about how Tensor Processing Unit … [Link]

Mashable » The 'Will Now Have Stories' meme is here to bash Facebook

Wednesday 5 April 19:14:07 UTC 2017

Twitter FacebookEverything is a story, OK? THIS IS A STORY. Whether you want it or not, Facebook announced that it will start highlighting Facebook Stories on its app. You know, the one they added to Instagram? Yes, the one they clearly stole from Snapchat? SEE ALSO: 'Zoom in on the nose' meme is guaranteed to improve your self-esteem While the internet loves … [Link]

Mashable » Man pranks wife into thinking their son shaved his head, and she was not having it

Wednesday 5 April 19:12:17 UTC 2017

Twitter FacebookA parent and serious Photoshop skills can be a lethal combination. Rayena Wesson left her husband Bobby in charge of their son while she worked as a nurse at a hospital in Alabama. Seeing his opportunity, Bobby decided to scare the living sh*t out of his wife with a Photoshop prank. The playful husband edited pictures of himself and his son … [Link]

Mashable » Someone designed a rocking chair that looks straight out of space

Wednesday 5 April 19:05:12 UTC 2017

Twitter FacebookIT ONEOFF created the 'U.F.O.' rocking chair which stands for 'Unidentified Furniture Object'. It was inspired by the look of UFO flying saucers and can spin like one too. 'U.F.O.' also rocks back and forth. With an out of the world price of $9,000, we hope it's life changing. Read more…More about Real Time Video, Real Time Video, Real Time, Spaceship, … [Link]

Mashable » Uh oh: Apple may have to delay the iPhone 8 launch

Wednesday 5 April 19:02:31 UTC 2017

Twitter FacebookDo good things come to those who wait? If the rumors regarding production problems for Apple's iPhone 8 are true, we may all be waiting a long time to find out.  According to a report from the Chinese-language Economic Daily News that was picked up by DigiTimes, the cause of the delay on the new phone is twofold: "Technical issues" involving … [Link]

Mashable » Well actually, this jaw-dropping Steph Curry highlight was an illegal move

Wednesday 5 April 18:58:16 UTC 2017

Twitter FacebookSteph Curry regularly lights up the internet with preposterous basketball deeds, so at first glance this ultra-sweet behind-the-back pass seems like more of the same.  But … 🤔 🤔 🤔 … something's off here. Way off.  It went unnoticed in some quarters, but that shouldn't have counted! The pass looks cool, sure, but Curry definitely double-dribbled.  Watch again just before Curry … [Link]

New Scientist – News » Japan and Norway set off on annual whale hunt despite opposition

Wednesday 5 April 18:57:45 UTC 2017

The countries continue whaling, Norway for food, and Japan claiming it is for scientific research, an argument now dismissed as unjustified by another report [Link]

New Scientist – News » Earth-sized telescope set to snap first picture of a black hole

Wednesday 5 April 18:57:44 UTC 2017

The Event Horizon Telescope will take images of the black hole at the centre of our galaxy, and could reveal how relativity and quantum mechanics mesh [Link]

Mashable » There's been a big victory for LGBTQ workers in the fight against discrimination

Wednesday 5 April 18:55:57 UTC 2017

Twitter FacebookIt’s been a long time coming, but LGBTQ workers are finally a step closer to being truly protected from workplace discrimination, according to a ruling from a federal appeals court in Chicago. The judges determined that, under the landmark 1964 Civil Rights Act, LGBT employees cannot be fired on the basis of their sexual orientation, the first time that determination has … [Link]

Mashable » Wikipedia stats reveal how our collective memory works

Wednesday 5 April 18:52:12 UTC 2017

Twitter FacebookWhen a plane crashes or goes missing, we become obsessed with knowing exactly what happened. Such tragedies, though statistically rare, capture our attention because it feels inexplicable to lose so many souls in an instant.   It turns out that our curiosity doesn't end there. New research published Wednesday in Science Advances shows that plane crashes trigger collective memories of similar … [Link]

Mashable » The worst possible ways 'Game of Thrones' could end

Wednesday 5 April 18:50:36 UTC 2017

Twitter FacebookThe end of Game of Thrones is imminent, but will it be loved or will it disappoint?  While that's yet to be seen, one thing is certain: Game of Thrones fans will continue to speculate every single possible outcome, storyline, and ridiculous theory that gets floated into the ether. The center of that rumor chamber is, of course, on the Game … [Link]

ProgrammableWeb.com » MZ Announces $1,000,000 Live Open Data Challenge to Promote Platform

Wednesday 5 April 18:43:08 UTC 2017

MZ; creator of Game of War – Fire Age and now a global, scalable data platform; just announced the launch of what it calls, "the world's only free, live data platform." MZ calls the platform Satori, and it coalesces open data from across the globe into live, streaming data. [Link]

Slashdot » Canonical Killing Unity For Ubuntu Linux, Will Switch To the Superior GNOME

Wednesday 5 April 18:40:00 UTC 2017

Reader BrianFagioli writes: Today, the company admits that it is throwing in the towel on Unity, as well as its vision for convergence with devices like phones and tablets. Starting with Ubuntu 18.04, the wonderful GNOME will once again become the default desktop environment! "We are wrapping up an excellent quarter and an excellent year for the company, with performance … [Link]

Mashable » Re-imagined trailer reveals Peter Parker's dark secret, and it'll blow your mind

Wednesday 5 April 18:30:00 UTC 2017

Twitter FacebookPeter Parker has a secret. No, we don't just mean his secret identity as Spider-Man, but rather his unhealthy obsession with Gwen Stacy. In this re-imagined trailer, we explore the darker side of Parker as a creepy stalker. Visit CineFix for more episodes and movie-related content. Read more…More about Re Imagined Trailer, Mashable Video, Pater Parker, Spider Man, and Trailer [Link]

Mashable » Martin Luther King Jr.'s daughter takes down Pepsi in one heartbreaking tweet

Wednesday 5 April 18:25:48 UTC 2017

Twitter Facebook Bernice King isn't having it with that terrible Pepsi commercial either.  With one powerful image of her father, the 54-year-old daughter of Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King showed Pepsi just how tone-deaf their commercial featuring Kendall Jenner really is.  SEE ALSO: Pepsi finally unites America with its terrible Kendall Jenner ad The commercial, released on Tuesday, shows … [Link]

Mashable » Lucky dog gets the cutest mini versions of his human's dinner every night

Wednesday 5 April 18:12:02 UTC 2017

Twitter FacebookFor some dogs, standard wet food and kibble just doesn't cut it. They long for plush soft tacos and flavorful roast potatoes, like a castaway on a deserted island.  Or their dog moms just insist on feeding them tiny versions of their own meal and they're hungry so, like, whatever.  SEE ALSO: Adventurous dog decides to compete in ski race without … [Link]

Mashable » Two comedians went on vacation just to eat at Guy Fieri restaurants

Wednesday 5 April 18:06:10 UTC 2017

Twitter FacebookWhen planning your next vacation getaway, why not consider Flavortown? New York comedians Jackie Jennings and James Dwyer can't recommend it enough. The two hosts of A Big Dumb Thing (a monthly comedy show at the Upright Citizen's Brigade Theater about big dumb things) recently embarked on an international journey. The goal? Eat at two of Guy Fieri's restaurants—one in New … [Link]

Mashable » Teen investigative journalists oust shady principal, give us all hope for future

Wednesday 5 April 18:05:14 UTC 2017

Twitter Facebook In the post-truth age of fake news and distrust in media, the teen journalists of tomorrow are out here bringing scoops to the masses. Or, at least, to their local high school newspaper. SEE ALSO: How teens are pranking your Facebook News Feeds with random events .mcclatchy-embed{position:relative;~ 0 56.25%;height:0;overflow:hidden;max~ iframe{position:absolute;top:0;left~ A newly hired principal at a Pittsburg, Kansas high school resigned … [Link]

Slashdot » In Tech, Wage Gender Gap Worsens For Women Over Time, and It's Worst For Black Women

Wednesday 5 April 18:00:00 UTC 2017

An anonymous reader shares a TechCrunch report: According to a new study involving more than 120,000 job offers transacted on Hired, a jobs marketplace for tech workers, the average female candidate is still making less than her male peers for the same work, and sometimes far less. Hired's data shows that 63 percent of the time women receive lower salary … [Link]

Mashable » Is it 2004? Moto just released a super embarrassing rap song

Wednesday 5 April 17:55:57 UTC 2017

Twitter FacebookIn trying to remain relevant, Moto — the tech company that brought us the beautiful Razr — did something super awkward and embarrassing instead. Moto, formerly known as Motorola, decided it would be super cool and totally hip to create a rap song and accompanying lyric video summarizing its company history. *face palms for dayssssss* SEE ALSO: This flying motorcycle is … [Link]

Mashable » What actual activists have to say about that terrible Pepsi ad

Wednesday 5 April 17:43:08 UTC 2017

Twitter FacebookWhen it's time to protest, activists know to bring their passion, comfortable shoes, and — most importantly — a chilled, refreshing Pepsi to diffuse any tense situation.  At least, that's the message the beverage company seemed to promote with its latest ad starring famed intersectional activist model and reality TV star Kendall Jenner. Jenner, who has never been to an actual … [Link]

Mashable » ‘Overwatch’ almost had a cat with a jetpack but, alas, life is cruel

Wednesday 5 April 17:40:17 UTC 2017

Twitter FacebookSome characters that were created early on in Overwatch's development were shelved, never to be seen again. One of those characters was a cat. With a jetpack. And they shelved it. In an interview with GameSpot, Overwatch game director Jeff Kaplan revealed that a cat hero was made for Overwatch while the team was testing the boundaries of the kind of … [Link]

Mashable » Housemates reach new levels of petty with a note for their Amazon deliveryman

Wednesday 5 April 17:39:46 UTC 2017

Twitter FacebookIn a romantic relationship, passive aggression is never the answer. In a relationship with your deliveryman, sometimes you just have no choice. When Ron Blackman and his housemate Dr. Charles received yet another “sorry we missed you” note from an Amazon courier—left, like the others, while they were actually in their home—they decided they'd had enough. The pair decided to communicate … [Link]

Mashable » This perfect Los Pollos Hermanos training video prepares you for 'Better Call Saul'

Wednesday 5 April 17:31:40 UTC 2017

Twitter Facebook You don't build a fast-food empire as a front for your drug empire without having really good employees and really good employees require really good training videos.  Gustavo "Gus" Fring knew this and now we can see how he built such a successful chain with Los Pollos Hermanos courtesy of these training videos for the fried chicken shack.  SEE ALSO: … [Link]

Mashable » Ice age waterfalls caused the original 'Brexit,' scientists say

Wednesday 5 April 17:26:43 UTC 2017

Twitter FacebookBritain’s political separation from the European Union officially began last week. But the island's original split from mainland Europe actually happened hundreds of thousands of years ago. Researchers have a new theory for how this prehistoric "Brexit" likely went down: first with an overflowing glacial lake, and later with a catastrophic flood.   If it wasn't for this set of geological … [Link]

New Scientist – News » Facebook will use photo-matching tech to take down revenge porn

Wednesday 5 April 17:24:00 UTC 2017

Sharing private sexual images without consent is illegal in many places. Facebook has announced new tools to stop so-called revenge porn images spreading [Link]

Mashable » Pepsi pulls cringeworthy Kendall Jenner ad after massive backlash

Wednesday 5 April 17:22:19 UTC 2017

Twitter Facebook Well, that didn't last long. Pepsi said Wednesday it will remove a widely panned commercial from its online platforms and television slots after the company faced a massive backlash on social media this week. "Pepsi was trying to project a global message of unity, peace and understanding," a spokesperson said in a statement. "Clearly we missed the mark, and we … [Link]

Mashable » NASA emotionally prepares us for Cassini's end with this grand finale preview

Wednesday 5 April 17:21:08 UTC 2017

Twitter Facebook So this is the end, Cassini. The NASA spacecraft, which has spent the last 13 years orbiting Saturn and shining new light on both that planet and its moons, is preparing for its last hurrah as it spins ever closer to its end.  And to prepare us for the end, NASA has released the above video that simulates Cassini's last … [Link]

Slashdot » FCC's Ajit Pai Says Broadband Market Too Competitive For Strict Privacy Rules

Wednesday 5 April 17:20:00 UTC 2017

In an op-ed published on the Washington Post, FCC Chairman Ajit Pai and his counterpart at the FTC have argued that strict privacy rules for ISPs aren't necessary in part because the broadband market is more competitive than the search engine market. From a report on ArsTechnica: Internet users who have only one choice of high-speed home broadband providers would … [Link]

Mashable » Facebook introduces new photo-matching tech to fight revenge porn

Wednesday 5 April 17:11:54 UTC 2017

Twitter FacebookRevenge porn is one of the most insidious problems on social media and the internet at large — and Facebook is now taking new steps to fight it on one of the world's largest online platforms.  The social network announced it's rolling out a new set of tools for users on Facebook, Messenger, and Instagram to prevent their most intimate images … [Link]

Mashable » Meet the mind-blowing parrot that can talk like Matthew McConaughey

Wednesday 5 April 17:05:02 UTC 2017

Twitter FacebookEveryone knows parrots can repeat words they hear humans say, but there's one parrot with a repertoire of voices and noises so large that, in my opinion, he deserves his own TV show. Einstein the African grey parrot turned 30 years old this week (some African greys live to be 80!). To celebrate his big day, Zoo Knoxville showed off his … [Link]

Mashable » This company is microchipping its workers to give them an all-access pass to the office

Wednesday 5 April 17:03:16 UTC 2017

Twitter FacebookEpicenter, a Swedish co-working office, is offering its members an implantable RFID microchip that can unlock doors and operate office machinery.   Read more…More about Standalone Featured, Mashable Video, Epicenter, Real Time Video, and Stockholm [Link]

Mashable » Six reasons Mastodon won't survive

Wednesday 5 April 17:00:30 UTC 2017

Twitter FacebookWilliam Shatner couldn't find me on Mastodon. This was a problem. I couldn't even find you https://t.co/keNUC3IOYd — William Shatner (@WilliamShatner) April 5, 2017 Mastodon stomped onto the scene this week instantly generating some buzz as the anti-Twitter. It looks and feels like Twitter. but is not a part of it. Mastodon is a free, open-sourced messaging platform that's decentralized in … [Link]

Mashable » YouTube TV is exactly what live TV streaming should look like in 2017

Wednesday 5 April 17:00:00 UTC 2017

Twitter FacebookYou already go to YouTube to watch funny cat videos, the latest music videos, and movie trailers, so why wouldn't you go there to watch live TV? For $35 a month, YouTube TV bundles together over 40 live broadcast and cable channels, YouTube Red Originals content, and, perhaps best of all, gives you cloud DVR with unlimited storage.  It's a hell … [Link]

Mashable » 'Persona 5' explained: Is this 100-hour game for you?

Wednesday 5 April 16:36:08 UTC 2017

Twitter FacebookWhat is Persona 5 and why will gamers not shut up about it? If you're not plugged in with Japanese role-playing games — colloquially referred to as "JRPGs" — then it's easy to miss Persona. The series lacks the mainstream name recognition of a Final Fantasy, and its unusual gameplay isn't easily summed up. SEE ALSO: A brief history of Persona, … [Link]

Slashdot » Bannon Loses National Security Council Role in Trump Shakeup

Wednesday 5 April 16:35:00 UTC 2017

Top presidential strategist Steve Bannon has been booted from the National Security Council amid a reshuffling of the key panel, Bloomberg reports Wednesday morning. President Donald Trump reorganized the council, removing Bannon and downgrading the role of his homeland security adviser, Tom Bossert, the report added, citing multiple sources. From the report: Bannon, the former executive chairman of Breitbart News, … [Link]

Mashable » Guy leaves bad comment about his smart garage door opener, gets his device disabled

Wednesday 5 April 16:33:15 UTC 2017

Twitter FacebookIf you're happily plunging into the world of smart home appliances, take heed: These devices can sometimes be remotely disabled, and something as easy as getting in or out of your own garage can suddenly become a problem.  Or at least that's exactly what apparently happened to a customer of Garadget, a smart, connected garage door opener. When the customer, identified … [Link]

Mashable » Allow us to destroy this Harry Potter theory that Snape is still alive

Wednesday 5 April 16:30:49 UTC 2017

Twitter FacebookOh internet, why do you test me? A new theory making the rounds in media outlets suggests that Snape may be alive at the end of the Harry Potter series. A Reddit user presented their points on the subject, and now I am going to entirely deconstruct this argument because someone has to. SEE ALSO: 'Fantastic Beasts' gets the Honest Trailers … [Link]

Mashable » Samsung's got a more powerful Galaxy S8 that you probably won't be able to buy

Wednesday 5 April 16:14:06 UTC 2017

Twitter FacebookSamsung’s Galaxy S8 and S8+ aren't lacking in performance. Equipped with the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 chip and 4GB of RAM, they're easily going to be two of the most powerful phones available when they launch on April 21. But as cutting edge as the S8's are, Samsung's reportedly going to release an even beefier version, and you probably won't be … [Link]

Mashable » A driverless shuttle called Harry is coming to London and it's low-key exciting

Wednesday 5 April 16:13:23 UTC 2017

Twitter Facebook They're probably not as glamorous and spectacularly futuristic as self-driving cars, but autonomous shuttles have some interesting near-future applications that shouldn't be easily dismissed.  SEE ALSO: These are the first driverless cars in London As part of a public trial that will see 100 people travelling in a prototype driverless vehicle in Greenwich, London, we got to test "Harry," a … [Link]

Mashable » Katy Perry Googles hot pictures of herself to boost her confidence

Wednesday 5 April 16:07:50 UTC 2017

Twitter FacebookSometimes all it takes is one really good, hot Instagram picture to remind you that you're not as gross as you think you are. And no one knows this better than Katy Perry. The "Chained to the Rhythm" singer posted a super hot photo of herself on Instagram, which is not unusual for a super hot celebrity to do. But the … [Link]

Mashable » Forget graphing calculator hacks, real cheaters use a tortoise

Wednesday 5 April 16:02:52 UTC 2017

Twitter FacebookLook, cheating is bad. But if you're going to do it, you better have a plan. Sure, you could sneak glances at your phone, or write reminders on your hand or, if you're really committed, enter a trove of information into your graphing calculator. All of those options pale in comparison to the purest and safest method to cheat on a … [Link]

Slashdot » Kim Dotcom Announces New Bitcoin Venture For Content Uploaders To Earn Money

Wednesday 5 April 16:00:00 UTC 2017

Infamous New Zealand-based internet mogul Kim Dotcom plans to launch a Bitcoin payments system for users to sell files and video streaming as he fights extradition to the United States for criminal copyright charges. From a report on Reuters: The German-born entrepreneur, who is wanted by U.S. law enforcement on copyright and money laundering allegations related to his now-defunct streaming … [Link]

Mashable » AT&T is offering free HBO—which is awesome, but also scary

Wednesday 5 April 15:55:27 UTC 2017

Twitter FacebookIn the ongoing battle for you—the wireless smartphone user—and your dollars, this is a big, bold move. AT&T announced Wednesday that it's now going to give customers who pay for its Unlimited Plus service free access to HBO.  It's yet another substantial play by AT&T in what has become a heated competition against Verizon, T-Mobile, and Sprint. The telecom giants are … [Link]

Mashable » 'The Daily Show' explores the pivotal role of Black Twitter

Wednesday 5 April 15:55:17 UTC 2017

Twitter Facebook Black Twitter has been at the center of almost all major events within the African American community. Everything from the #BlackLivesMatter movement to debates about Kanye West's new album have been discussed within this thriving internet community.  Daily Show correspondent Roy Wood Jr. explores the experience of taking part in a social media community tailored specifically for one culture. Wood … [Link]

Popular Science » Why NASA is going to vaporize one of its best spacecraft

Wednesday 5 April 15:45:14 UTC 2017

cassini Space Cassini's "grand finale" begins April 23 The Cassini spacecraft will meet a very violent end—but for a good reason. Read on. [Link]

Mashable » Dude tries to crowdfund a $15,000 engagement ring. Internet says, 'Nope!'

Wednesday 5 April 15:36:46 UTC 2017

Twitter FacebookThe old rule of thumb is that you should spend three months' salary on an engagement ring — but they never said anything about spending other peoples' salaries. Yet that is what William Oliver, a 30-year old in Atlanta, is trying to do. He's crowdfunding the purchase of a $15,000 ring for his girlfriend, Alexandra. Yes, sadly, this is real. You … [Link]

Mashable » You could be an extra on 'Game of Thrones' this weekend — there's just one small catch

Wednesday 5 April 15:30:35 UTC 2017

Twitter FacebookPractice your cursing and probably playing dead — Game of Thrones is reportedly casting extras in Dublin on April 8. Well, not just Game of Thrones, but the company that handles its extras castingThe Extras Department will host a casting call in its office for multiple projects, including Thrones. SEE ALSO: Ed Sheeran on his 'Game of Thrones' role: 'I'd probably … [Link]

Mashable » Re-imagined trailer reveals Peter Parker's deepest, darkest obsession

Wednesday 5 April 15:30:00 UTC 2017

Twitter Facebook Peter Parker has a secret. No, we don't just mean his secret identity as Spider-Man, but rather his unhealthy obsession with Gwen Stacy. In this re-imagined trailer, we explore the darker side of Parker as a creepy stalker. Visit CineFix for more episodes and movie-related content. Read more… More about Marvel Cinematic Universe, Marvel Comics, Recut Movie Trailer, Peter Parker, … [Link]

Slashdot » Microsoft Finally Reveals What Data Windows 10 Really Collects

Wednesday 5 April 15:20:00 UTC 2017

Starting today, Microsoft is updating its privacy statement and publishing information about the data it collects as part of Windows 10. From a report: "For the first time, we have published a complete list of the diagnostic data collected at the Basic level," explains Windows chief Terry Myerson in a company blog post. "We are also providing a detailed summary … [Link]

Popular Science » The best Chromebook add-ons and tricks

Wednesday 5 April 15:18:59 UTC 2017

Chromebook DIY Make the most of your Google-powered laptop Learn how to use your Chromebook offline, unlock it with your smartphone, safely share it with others, install Android apps, and more. [Link]

Mashable » The internet is debating how pants would wear pants, and dear god what have we done?

Wednesday 5 April 15:11:44 UTC 2017

Twitter FacebookDo you have a minute? Are you sitting down? Good, because once again, the internet just provided the world with a real head-scratcher, and you're going to need to be comfortable for this one. Twitter user bobby joined in on the great millennial tradition of throwing up a divisive question for the internet to fight over—and once again, it's about pants.  … [Link]

Mashable » Merriam-Webster throws shade at Ivanka Trump after she can't define the word 'complicit'

Wednesday 5 April 15:08:23 UTC 2017

Twitter FacebookWho would have guessed we'd one day reach a point in life where everyone's favorite slinger of shade would be…a dictionary?  And yet: here we are. Those behind the social presence of Merriam-Webster, were at it again on Wednesday, responding to a CBS interview in which Ivanka Trump said/confessed/uttered what should now be an immortalized phrase: "I don't know what it … [Link]

Popular Science » Death by banana peel? Black hole? The science behind your most absurd nightmares.

Wednesday 5 April 14:59:10 UTC 2017

slip on banana peel Health A new book investigates the lighter side of death Is there any real science behind imaginary (and imaginative) deaths? Read on. [Link]

Mashable » Starbucks Japan's 'American Pie' Frapp is pure, patriotic decadence

Wednesday 5 April 14:59:02 UTC 2017

Twitter FacebookLet’s face it, when you order a Frappuccino at Starbucks, you know you're really just ordering a liquid dessert. There's sugar, there's syrup of some kind, milk, whipped cream — pretty much all the makings of a cake.  Well, if you think those drinks are too heavy and caloric for your taste, Starbucks in Japan has somehow topped the normal Frappuccino … [Link]

Mashable » 'Squirrel Girl' and more Marvel heroes headed to Freeform for TV series

Wednesday 5 April 14:56:53 UTC 2017

Twitter FacebookThe small screen is about to get even more superheroes, but this time they're on Freeform (sorry, Netflix and CW). The network formerly known as ABC Family announced Wednesday that it would be home to Marvel's New Warriors, a live-action comedy about young people with powers trying to live and work together. SEE ALSO: Marvel's 'The Defenders' teaser contained more clues … [Link]

Mashable » Jimmy Fallon's barbershop quartet gives 'Baby Got Back' the '50s treatment

Wednesday 5 April 14:56:48 UTC 2017

Twitter Facebook Sir Mix-a-Lot's "Baby Got Back" is only 25 years old, but now we know how it would sound if it were actually about 70. Jimmy Fallon and his barbershop quartet, The Ragtime Gals, covered the instantly recognizable song in four-part harmony, giving a new vibe to lines like "Fellas! (Yeah!) Has your girlfriend got the butt?" The Gals nearly made … [Link]

Mashable » eBay's founder just dropped $100 million to fight fake news

Wednesday 5 April 14:49:52 UTC 2017

Twitter FacebookPierre Omidyar is putting his money where his mouth is — again. The eBay founder has pledged a fresh $100 million in his ongoing efforts to fight the spread of "fake news" and hate speech. SEE ALSO: Ebay founder backs tests to give people free money The contribution comes through his philanthropic fund, the Omidyar Network, and will go to a … [Link]

Mashable » Sean Spicer's standard reply gets a phenomenal 'Muppets' remix

Wednesday 5 April 14:47:06 UTC 2017

Twitter Facebook "Do doo do do do." The Late Show with Stephen Colbert gave Press Secretary Sean Spicer the once-in-a-lifetime chance to sing alongside the Muppets. Set to the tune of the hit song "Mahna Mahna," the show played a montage of Spicer describing actions by the Trump administration as "phenomenal" to reporters. The press secretary seemed to take the joke well … [Link]

Mashable » Lyft partners with the National Federation of the Blind to make rides more accessible

Wednesday 5 April 14:42:04 UTC 2017

Twitter FacebookLyft is working to make its rides more accessible.  The ride-hailing company this week joined with the National Federation of the Blind for a partnership that promises to increase awareness of blind passengers' rights, advocate for effective public policies and expand transportation options for blind passengers and those with low vision.  "Companies like Lyft are empowering blind people to live the … [Link]

Slashdot » We're Creating a Perfect Storm of Unprecedented Global Warming

Wednesday 5 April 14:40:00 UTC 2017

An anonymous reader shares a report: If we do nothing to reduce our carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, by the end of this century the Earth will be as hot as it was 50 million years ago in the early Eocene, according to a new study out today in the journal Nature Communications. This period — roughly 15 million years after … [Link]

Mashable » These filmmakers will bring immigrant stories to those who need to see them most

Wednesday 5 April 14:36:24 UTC 2017

Twitter FacebookAfter the election of President Donald Trump, filmmaker Daniel Klein felt compelled to resist. It was a feeling many progressives in the U.S. had as Trump came to lead the country — a man who was elected on a platform that insulted and demonized at-risk communities. In response, Klein and his team behind the award-winning food documentary series The Perennial Plate … [Link]

Mashable » Friday night baseball on Twitter is back

Wednesday 5 April 14:35:35 UTC 2017

Twitter FacebookWhile we're all ruminating over what NFL Thursday Night Football will look like on Amazon, former rights-holder Twitter announced it will be streaming baseball.  SEE ALSO: Soon you can watch NFL games on Amazon Prime Starting this Friday, weekly live streams of MLB games will be available on Twitter. The first game is the World Series Champion Chicago Cubs against the … [Link]

Popular Science » Here's what it's like to get thrown into a volcano

Wednesday 5 April 14:30:47 UTC 2017

lava Entertainment Book excerpt: And then you're dead Let’s say you were pitched into a volcano. Your first question: Will you sink or float? Read on:… [Link]

Mashable » The 'Master of None' Season 2 trailer will make you want to go to Italy, stat

Wednesday 5 April 14:22:43 UTC 2017

Twitter Facebook Master of None Season 1 ended with Dev (Aziz Ansari) heading to Italy, and one look at the Season 2 trailer makes a perfect case for it. In Italy, Dev eats pasta, jumps in startlingly blue swimming pools, wines and dines with beautiful women. SEE ALSO: Why an Emmy for ‘Master of None’ feels like a personal victory for millions … [Link]

Mashable » Ed Sheeran on his 'Game of Thrones' role: 'I'd probably prefer to have sex than die'

Wednesday 5 April 14:11:14 UTC 2017

Twitter FacebookIt’s rare in the world of Game of Thrones to have people you know and trust, which is why Ed Sheeran will keep the company of friends when he guest stars on the show in Season 7. Maisie Williams (Arya) has been a fan of Sheeran for several years, while at the same time the singer was gunning to get a … [Link]

Mashable » I'm an iMessage sentimentalist running out of storage

Wednesday 5 April 14:09:40 UTC 2017

Twitter FacebookThere’s only one thing standing between me and a tonne of free space on my iPhone: my entire iMessage history. But, try as I might, I cannot bring myself to delete a single message. I'm an iMessage sentimentalist and it's becoming a problem.  SEE ALSO: Confessions of a digital hoarder I've been receiving warning messages for months. "Storage Almost Full," my … [Link]

New Scientist – News » Syria chemical attack looks like nerve gas – and was no accident

Wednesday 5 April 14:09:35 UTC 2017

Victims' symptoms suggest yesterday's Syrian government air strike may have used sarin, and other evidence discounts a stray hit on a rebel weapons cache [Link]

Mashable » Giant robot arm mounted on a truck can build a brick house in 48 hours

Wednesday 5 April 14:04:16 UTC 2017

Twitter FacebookAustralian-based construction company, Fastbrick Robotics, has created a prototype that can print a brick house from the ground up in just two days. 'Hadrian X' is due to be released commercially by the end of 2017. Read more…More about Affordable Housing, Brick Wall, Mobile Devices, 3d Printing, and Construction [Link]

Mashable » Tony Hale to host the 9th Annual Shorty Awards

Wednesday 5 April 14:00:00 UTC 2017

Twitter FacebookTelevision funny man Tony Hale will host the 2017 Shorty Awards, Mashable can exclusively report. Now in their ninth year, the Shorty Awards honor the best in new and emerging media platforms, including YouTube, SnapChat, Instagram, and Periscope. SEE ALSO: 5 moments from the Shorty Awards that show the power of new media "I watch youtube more than I watch television," … [Link]

Slashdot » Samsung Electronics Spent $10.2 Billion On Marketing Last Year

Wednesday 5 April 14:00:00 UTC 2017

An anonymous reader shares a report: Samsung and LG, South Korea's two leading tech giants, expanded their spending on marketing last year amid increased competition, data showed Wednesday. According to industry data, Samsung spent 11.5 trillion won (US$10.2 billion) on marketing in 2016. The figure included 4.4 trillion won on advertisements, which advanced 15 percent on-year. LG Electronics also spent … [Link]

New Scientist – News » World’s largest canary discovered on island of giants and dwarfs

Wednesday 5 April 13:56:00 UTC 2017

An odd-looking bird named the “new finch” is actually the planet’s biggest canary – and it lives with other largest and smallest species on an isolated island [Link]

Mashable » Inventor builds a one-wheel lunar rover, takes it on a precarious spin

Wednesday 5 April 13:52:35 UTC 2017

Twitter Facebook Inventor XenonJohn is at it again with his latest creation — a one-wheel lunar rover. SEE ALSO: Someone invented an iPhone case that doubles as a phone charger Mashable shared one of the Youtuber's past creations — a bagpipe playing robot. In the video above, XenonJohn drives around a town square on his one-wheel vehicle. The rover is his latest … [Link]

Mashable » The bike of the future is here, and it has all the features you could want

Wednesday 5 April 13:11:55 UTC 2017

Twitter FacebookThere have been many e-bikes, but this may be the 'smartest' of them all. With lots of features integrated directly into the bike, the 'Volta' by Pure Cycles is designed to make your ride easier. Read more…More about Transportation, Bikes, Tech, and Tech [Link]

Mashable » Twitter just shook the internet with NFL streaming news. Again.

Wednesday 5 April 13:09:51 UTC 2017

Twitter FacebookTwitter shook the tech press (some of its most loyal users and followers) last year when it announced it had purchased the digital streaming rights — beating out Facebook, Amazon, and Yahoo — for 10 games of NFL Thursday Night Football games.  SEE ALSO: Soon you can watch NFL games on Amazon Prime The general reaction at the time could be … [Link]

Slashdot » Canadian Town Picks Uber For Public Transit

Wednesday 5 April 13:00:00 UTC 2017

Stephen Shankland reports via CNET: Innisfil, population 32,727 as of 2014, concluded in a March council meeting that subsidizing the car-hailing service was a better deal than paying for a bus line. The city plans to pay 100,000 Canadian dollars (about $75,000) for a first stage of the program and CA$125,000 for a second round about 6 to 9 months … [Link]

Mashable » Watch the exact moment SpaceX made history by landing a reused rocket

Wednesday 5 April 12:42:45 UTC 2017

Twitter FacebookSpaceX made history last week, and now you can relive that historic moment over and over. We already know that Elon Musk's SpaceX successfully launched and landed a reused rocket, the first time in its history that's been done, and we know — to paraphrase Joe Biden — it's a big freaking deal.  Now, you can re-watch every second of the … [Link]

New Scientist – News » Neglect and drug trade led to Colombian landslide disaster

Wednesday 5 April 12:11:02 UTC 2017

People who snort coke may have contributed to the landslide that devastated the town of Mocoa in Colombia, killing hundreds [Link]

Mashable » Shifting Green: How small changes in design and functionality can save the world

Wednesday 5 April 12:00:00 UTC 2017

Twitter FacebookPaid Content By the 2017 All-Electric Chevrolet Bolt EVWith its innovative battery technology and long range per charge, The Chevrolet Bolt EV is as practical as it is groundbreaking. And with its affordable price, it truly is the first EV for everyoneThat coveted “a-ha moment” doesn’t always happen right away – or at all.Developing an idea often happens through months — … [Link]

Mashable » Pictures of an airborne Harry Styles ignite a Photoshop battle for the ages

Wednesday 5 April 11:45:16 UTC 2017

Twitter FacebookThere’s only one thing to do when photographs of a flying Harry Styles hit the web — commence a Photoshop battle. SEE ALSO: Benedict Cumberbatch's Dr. Strange gets even stranger in Photoshop Battle In the photographs, Harry Styles dangles from a helicopter during the filming of his new music video for "Sign of the Times." The song is Styles' debut single … [Link]

Popular Science » Yes, 50 million years ago the earth was hotter. Here's why climate change is still a major problem

Wednesday 5 April 11:30:00 UTC 2017

Environment We've got 99 problems and CO2 is number one A combination of more CO2 and a hotter sun means the Earth is in for unprecedented warming—and humans are along for the ride. Read on:… [Link]

Slashdot » Spotify Premium Users Will Get Some Albums Two Weeks Before Free Users

Wednesday 5 April 11:30:00 UTC 2017

Spotify has signed a long-term licensing agreement with Universal Music Group, allowing new albums from Universal artists to be restricted to its premium service for up to two weeks. The Verge reports: In a statement, Spotify CEO Daniel Ek admitted that Spotify understands that its policy of releasing albums across its entire service couldn't last forever. "We know that not … [Link]

Mashable » 'Doctor Who' Season 10, Episode 1 is the perfect intro for Time Lord newbies

Wednesday 5 April 11:24:18 UTC 2017

Twitter FacebookI have a confession to make: I'm not actually a Doctor Who fan. I don't mean I don't like the show, it's just that I've never really got into it before. I've caught a few episodes here and there, but aside from that there's been a Tardis-shaped hole in my life. That may be about to change, though. SEE ALSO: 'Doctor … [Link]

Mashable » Posh graffiti in Latin isn't as smart as it seems

Wednesday 5 April 11:04:56 UTC 2017

Twitter FacebookWhat’s more creative than using Latin to vandalise luxury homes in Cambridge, the university city?  A new five-bedroom, riverfront £1.25 million ($1.56 million) development in Chesterton has been daubed with graffiti reading: Locus in Domos Loci Populum.  Political graffiti in Latin on expensive new riverside homes on Water Street, Chesterton, Cambridge pic.twitter.com/0BUZUpfBNZ — Richard Taylor (@RTaylorUK) April 4, 2017 Rarely has … [Link]

Mashable » When the office internet goes down, things get very, very weird

Wednesday 5 April 11:00:00 UTC 2017

Twitter Facebook The internet went out at the office and all seemed fine, until it wasn't.  Read more… More about No Filter, Internet Goes Out, and Watercooler [Link]

O'Reilly News and Commentary » #Ebook Deal/Day: JSON at Work – $21.49 (Save 50%) Use code DEAL

Wednesday 5 April 10:57:00 UTC 2017

Get "JSON at Work" today using code DEAL and save 50%!This sale ends at 2:00 AM 2017-04-06 (PDT, GMT-8:00). [Link]

Mashable » Dutch men are holding hands in solidarity against anti-LGBTQ violence

Wednesday 5 April 10:30:09 UTC 2017

Twitter FacebookDutch men are holding hands in an act of protest and solidarity after a gay couple was brutally beaten for holding hands in public.  SEE ALSO: LGBTQ people share their stories of violence and resilience Jasper Vernes-Sewratan and Ronnie Sewratan-Verne were holding hands in Arnhem, Netherlands, when they were attacked by a group in the early hours of Sunday morning. Vernes-Sewratan … [Link]

Mashable » Huawei's new Honor 8 Pro smartphone has 6GB of RAM, ultra-slim design

Wednesday 5 April 10:30:00 UTC 2017

Twitter FacebookThe world of Huawei phones is a confusing one. The company has a couple of flagship lineages under its Huawei brand name — the smaller Huawei P, the larger Huawei P Plus, and the also-larger Huawei Mate phones.  Huawei also has a sub-brand, Honor, which is also globally available, but has a stronger presence in the U.S. and the UK.  It's … [Link]

Mashable » South Korea's biggest messenger app gets clearance to launch an online-only bank

Wednesday 5 April 10:21:03 UTC 2017

Twitter FacebookA big change is coming to South Korea's banking industry. Hot on the heels of the launch of Korea Telecom's internet K Bank, another online-only bank is about to be launched by Kakao Talk, the country's biggest messenger app.  SEE ALSO: You can now manage your bank account with emojis Both banks allow customers to bank just from their smartphones, from … [Link]

Mashable » James Corden and Claire Danes perform dramatic soap opera using only Katy Perry lyrics

Wednesday 5 April 10:11:20 UTC 2017

Twitter Facebook It all starts with a tube of cherry ChapStick in this episode of The Bold and the Lyrical — a Late Late Show skit in which all the dialogue is song lyrics. SEE ALSO: James Corden makes a stunning Belle in a 'Beauty and the Beast' crosswalk musical In the video above, James Corden and an ensemble cast of Hollywood's … [Link]

Mashable » 'Doctor Who' boss wants us to stop making a fuss about a gay character, already

Wednesday 5 April 10:02:47 UTC 2017

Twitter FacebookEven if you're not the biggest Doctor Who fan, chances are you've read the recent headlines about the Doctor's new companion being gay. SEE ALSO: 7 things to get excited about in the upcoming 'Doctor Who' episodes The news has been everywhere, reported across the world — and showrunner Steven Moffat isn't happy about it. Speaking at a Q&A that followed … [Link]

Slashdot » How the IBM 1403 Printer Hammered Out 1,100 Lines Per Minute

Wednesday 5 April 10:00:00 UTC 2017

schwit1 quotes a report from IEEE Spectrum: The IBM 1460, which went on sale in 1963, was an upgrade of the 1401 [which was one of the first transistorized computers ever sold commercially]. Twice as fast, with a 6-microsecond cycle time, it came with a high-speed 1403 Model 3 line printer. The 1403 printer was incredibly fast. It had five … [Link]

Mashable » When the internet goes out, there's nowhere to hide

Wednesday 5 April 10:00:00 UTC 2017

Twitter FacebookWe thought we were civilized human beings at work. But when the internet goes out, we learn that civilization is only but a farce. Read more…More about Internet Goes Out, No Filter, and Watercooler [Link]

Mashable » #StopHindiChauvinism has taken over Indian Twitter

Wednesday 5 April 9:46:21 UTC 2017

Twitter FacebookIndia, a country of 1.3 billion people, has 22 official languages. Its most-spoken language (Hindi) is sometimes mistaken as the national language.  But it's not. India has no "national language" though Hindi has become the unofficial leader of the pack. And that is a problem.   SEE ALSO: New mobile banking app supports 11 Indian languages and English People hailing from … [Link]

Mashable » Myanmar's bottled water brands kept failing FDA tests so it fixed that by lowering standards

Wednesday 5 April 9:42:08 UTC 2017

Twitter FacebookYou might want to be careful the next time you reach for a bottle of water in Myanmar.  Some 70 drinking water brands were granted brand licenses despite failing FDA-administered tests, after the government decided it was easier to lower test standards than for the brands to improve the quality of their water. SEE ALSO: In ultimate insult, Trump rolls back … [Link]

Mashable » This '90s music video predicted Kendall Jenner's terrible Pepsi ad and it's eerie

Wednesday 5 April 9:22:35 UTC 2017

Twitter FacebookIt is safe to say that Pepsi's latest ad, which seemed to suggest a sugary artificial beverage is all you need to solve police brutality, caused an overwhelming wave of outrage on social media.  The cringeworthy video — from the buzzword-happy march of stock-photo-looking millennials to a random subplot about a Muslim photographer — reaches its grotesque climax when privileged, white … [Link]

Mashable » Louis C.K. goes on an epic rant about why Trump is a 'lying sack of sh*t'

Wednesday 5 April 9:08:10 UTC 2017

Twitter Facebook Louis C.K. isn't one to mince words. The comedian told Stephen Colbert exactly what he thinks about Donald Trump in a Late Show interview last night. SEE ALSO: Stephen Colbert skewers Jeff Sessions for lying, as expected In the video above, Colbert brings up the time Louis took to his email list to warn his fans about the dangers of … [Link]

Mashable » Rental bidding startup seems good for landlords. Tenants? Not so much.

Wednesday 5 April 8:54:53 UTC 2017

Twitter FacebookFinding a place to rent can be hellish, but does transferring that process online make it better? One startup argues yes, but tenancy advocates are doubtful. Alex Lubinsky, the CEO of the Californian company Rentberry, is aggressively confident about the usefulness of his product. He even characterised the heavy criticism levelled at it in the U.S. as "good publicity." His site … [Link]

Mashable » Racist posters targeting Chinese students stir controversy at the University of Texas at Austin

Wednesday 5 April 8:35:59 UTC 2017

Twitter FacebookRacist flyers targeting Chinese students have been seen on the University of Texas at Austin. The posters, which claim to promote a "special class" to teach Chinese students  "ethics," went viral two days ago. The poster sarcastically notes that plagiarism "isn't bad in [Chinese] culture." SEE ALSO: #BlackWomenAtWork hashtag uncovers the everyday racism black women face at work "Did you know … [Link]

Mashable » Alcatel's new phone has two cameras on the back. And another two for selfies

Wednesday 5 April 8:30:07 UTC 2017

Twitter FacebookIt was only a matter of time. After dual rear cameras became the de facto standard for flagship phones, some manufacturers, like Oppo, Vivo and LG, started introducing phones with dual selfie cameras.  And now, Alcatel has released a phone that has two cameras on each side. SEE ALSO: Meitu's latest smartphone is for the selfie-obsessed Called Alcatel Flash, it's a … [Link]

Mashable » Nivea actually ran an ad with the slogan 'white is purity' and didn't end well

Wednesday 5 April 7:17:48 UTC 2017

Twitter FacebookYou don't need to be a genius to figure out that putting the words "white" and "purity" together is problematic, what with white supremacy and all. Yet beauty brand Nivea slapped a "white is purity" slogan on one of its recent advertisements. A move they're now presumably regretting.  SEE ALSO: Pepsi finally unites America with its terrible Kendall Jenner ad The … [Link]

Mashable » Legendary sportstar's debut music video is going all kinds of viral

Wednesday 5 April 7:04:26 UTC 2017

Twitter Facebook One of India's greatest icons of sport, Sachin Tendulkar has debuted on a new pitch. Literally.  After wowing the world with his batting skills for over two decades, the former cricketer has wielded the mike for "Cricket Wali Beat" (The Beat of Cricket). The music video was created to promote his new app, 100 MB Cricket, and as you can … [Link]

Slashdot » 'Arctic World Archive' Will Keep the World's Data Safe In an Arctic Mineshaft

Wednesday 5 April 7:00:00 UTC 2017

An anonymous reader quotes a report from The Verge: Norway's famous doomsday seed vault is getting a new neighbor. It's called the Arctic World Archive, and it aims to do for data what the Svalbard Global Seed Vault has done for crop samples — provide a remote, impregnable home in the Arctic permafrost, safe from threats like natural disaster and … [Link]

Mashable » Google releases YouTube Go app for millions of people on slow internet

Wednesday 5 April 5:38:54 UTC 2017

Twitter FacebookYouTube’s new app for India's flaky internet market is finally here.  A beta version of YouTube Go app, first unveiled last year, has gone live on Google Play, the company says. Google plans to release a stable version of the app later and also intends to make it available in other developing markets.  SEE ALSO: India has the slowest Internet speeds … [Link]

Mashable » This postal service is delivering KFC, because there's not enough mail now

Wednesday 5 April 5:22:51 UTC 2017

Twitter FacebookWith the numbers of letters being sent each year plunging, it's no surprise postal services are turning to other, more creative revenue sources. The enterprising New Zealand Post, for one, are turning to fried chicken deliveries. In a partnership with KFC, naturally. SEE ALSO: This world leader likes canned spaghetti on pizza and seriously, WTF? The pilot will be rolling out … [Link]

Mashable » Drowning horse saved by father and son, after collapsing in their doorway

Wednesday 5 April 4:43:47 UTC 2017

Twitter FacebookA horse narrowly escaped drowning in floods, thanks to the efforts of a family from the Australian town of Murwillumbah. Now a man, his wife and their son are being praised all over social media, having spent over five hours keeping the horse, who collapsed in their doorway, alive. SEE ALSO: Add this cheeky fella to your 'suburb-wandering seals of Australia' … [Link]

Mashable » Pepsi finally unites America with its terrible Kendall Jenner ad

Wednesday 5 April 3:45:31 UTC 2017

Twitter FacebookOne group saw an out-of-touch Hollywood celebrity and corporation glorifying a liberal agenda.  Another saw an out-of-touch Hollywood celebrity and corporation profiting from the fight for civil, LGBTQ and immigrant rights. Both of them agreed: Kendall Jenner's new Pepsi ad is complete garbage.  Good on you Pepsi, you managed to bring Liberals & Conservatives together in a WTF were they thinking … [Link]

Slashdot » Scientists Invent Smartphone Screen Material That Can Repair Its Own Scratches

Wednesday 5 April 3:30:00 UTC 2017

drunkdrone quotes a report from International Business Times: Researchers say they have developed a new material that could pave the way for self-repairing smartphones, robots and other electronic devices. Scientists from the American Chemical Society claim that the material, which can stretch up to 50 times its usual size, is able to heal itself "like nothing has happened" even when … [Link]

Mashable » A floating techno-libertarian city might be coming to the Pacific

Wednesday 5 April 2:40:06 UTC 2017

Twitter FacebookIn May, a group will gather in Tahiti to discuss building floating cities off the French Polynesian coast.  That's right. The men of the Seasteading Institute (and something suggests, it will be mostly men) dream of building extra-national platforms in the ocean.  The organisation has been derided as a techno-utopian pipe dream, or more prosaically, as a means of tax evasion … [Link]

Mashable » If you like space and beards, prepare to love TV's #SpaceGandalf

Wednesday 5 April 2:29:54 UTC 2017

Twitter FacebookThe term "Space Gandalf" is more than an obscure Doctor Who reference, you guys. It's a real-life person. And he's quite the dude. The world got to meet the IRL Space Gandalf when he made a special appearance on the Australian iteration of physicist Brian Cox's TV show Stargazing Live, which (as the name suggests) is a multi-platform program about space, … [Link]

Mashable » Obsess over your dog even more with this smart pet door

Wednesday 5 April 2:05:12 UTC 2017

Twitter FacebookPeople who want to know everything about their pets have a powerful new tool.  SureFlap, based in the UK, already makes a line of products connected to pets' implanted microchips. Now it's putting out an app-enabled pet door for cats and small dogs.  SEE ALSO: Finally, you can vacuum clean your dog It should be pretty straightforward to start tracking your … [Link]

New Scientist – News » It has got harder to access sexual health services in the UK

Wednesday 5 April 1:57:42 UTC 2017

In the UK, people should get a clinic appointment within 2 days 98 per cent of the time, but a study suggests fewer than 91 per cent of those with symptoms do [Link]

Mashable » Professor brings her kid to class dressed as Godzilla and everyone loved it

Wednesday 5 April 1:41:24 UTC 2017

Twitter FacebookWhen you're a kid, going to work with your parent can be a total bore, unless you get to dress up as Godzilla, of course. Professor Erika Biga Lee at the School of Informatics and Computing at Indiana University brought her 7-year-old kid Max to her class on Tuesday because his school had an inservice day. So what do you do … [Link]

Mashable » This world leader likes canned spaghetti on pizza and seriously, WTF?

Wednesday 5 April 1:35:29 UTC 2017

Twitter FacebookWe can deal with a certain amount of experimentation on pizza. But we can't commiserate with the Prime Minister of New Zealand, Bill English, who happens to like putting canned spaghetti on his pizza.  A true abomination and clearly the sign of an unstable leader, if ever there was. SEE ALSO: Dudes are drawing a 'dick and balls' with their GPS … [Link]

Mashable » Artificial intelligence is now trying to make sense out of the mess that is Congress

Wednesday 5 April 1:30:08 UTC 2017

Twitter FacebookGoverning is hard. Predicting what the, ahem, disjointed members of Congress are going to do on any given day is even harder.  So why not give your noggin a little rest and let artificial intelligence do it for you? SEE ALSO: Microsoft CEO says artificial intelligence is the 'ultimate breakthrough' Enter PredictGov, a website that uses machine learning to try and … [Link]

Slashdot » GM Hooking 30,000 Robots To Internet To Keep Factories Humming

Wednesday 5 April 1:25:00 UTC 2017

An anonymous reader quotes a report from Bloomberg: General Motors has connected about a quarter of its 30,000 factory robots to the internet, and the largest U.S. automaker already is reaping the benefits of less down time. In the last two years, GM has avoided 100 potential failures of vehicle-assembling robots by analyzing data they sent to external servers in … [Link]

Mashable » Owner gives adorable 3-legged dog cartoon arms on Instagram

Wednesday 5 April 1:15:18 UTC 2017

Twitter FacebookBradley the dog may only have three legs, but his humans have turned his missing limb into an adorable personality trait thanks to some some funny doodles.  Charley Desrochers and his girlfriend Marinnane adopted him from the Ace of Hearts in Beverly Hills, California. Before getting picked up by the rescue, Bradley had a paralyzed leg after getting hit by a … [Link]

Mashable » Here are the funniest reactions to Kendall Jenner's terrible 'woke' Pepsi ad

Wednesday 5 April 0:59:30 UTC 2017

Twitter Facebook Pepsi has an answer for the millions of Americans fearful that the Trump Administration might take away their basic rights and crucial services. Hint: It involves a can of Pepsi. SEE ALSO: Advertisers look to commiserate with disenchanted voters — and mock Donald Trump The soda giant's latest ad centers on a political march full of millennials — the generically … [Link]

Slashdot » Utah Supreme Court Ruling Bars Direct Sales of Teslas Through a Subsidiary

Wednesday 5 April 0:45:00 UTC 2017

The Utah Supreme court has ruled on Monday that the state's regulators could prohibit an auto manufacturer from having ownership interest in a dealer. "In what the court called 'a narrow, legal decision,' it said that it wouldn't weigh in on whether allowing the state's Tax Commission to prohibit direct sales from Tesla's wholly owned subsidiary was the best policy … [Link]

Mashable » Bye, Twitter. All the cool kids are migrating to Mastodon.

Wednesday 5 April 0:41:19 UTC 2017

Twitter FacebookIn the battle between a massive prehistoric beast and a fluttering bird, we all know what's destined to come out on top.  But in the case of Mastodon, a social network with the potential to take on Twitter, the former just so happens to be the underdog. And yet, it's an underdog with serious spunk.  SEE ALSO: Inside Twitter's decision to … [Link]

Mashable » Why Michael Jordan didn't attend North Carolina's national championship win

Wednesday 5 April 0:37:12 UTC 2017

Twitter FacebookNorth Carolina legend Michael Jordan was savaged with crying Jordan memes after the Tar Heels lost the 2016 national title game on a heart-breaking buzzer-beater with him in the stands.  On Monday night, North Carolina got sweet redemption by winning the 2017 national title over Gonzaga. This time around, Jordan was not in attendance — but it's not because he was … [Link]

Mashable » Soon you can watch NFL games on Amazon Prime

Wednesday 5 April 0:13:07 UTC 2017

Twitter FacebookSorry, Twitter. The NFL has found a new streaming home with Amazon Prime, Mashable has confirmed. Beginning later this year, Amazon Prime users can stream 10 Thursday night games — which will still be available on linear TV on CBS and NBC (which are splitting rights), and NFL Network. SEE ALSO: Julian Edelman's clutch, jaw-dropping catch was the real MVP of … [Link]

Mashable » Parrot and a vase is a master class in unconditional love

Wednesday 5 April 0:07:09 UTC 2017

Twitter Facebook Relationship goals are all around us. Just take this parrot Atti, for example, who has fallen madly, deeply, and unapologetically in love with a vase. Love is love is love, my friends. Take a moment to watch this bird fearlessly put his love on display in this heartwarming video – and honestly, consider it a teachable moment. Find you a … [Link]

Slashdot » Former Snapchat Employee Presses To Unseal Allegedly Doctored Usage Statistics

Wednesday 5 April 0:05:00 UTC 2017

In early January, a former Snapchat employee named Anthony Pompliano filed a lawsuit against the company claiming they reported false growth numbers to investors in an effort to inflate its valuation. Today, Pompliano's attorney asked a judge to unseal court filings that purportedly show the misrepresented usage of its app. Los Angeles Times reports: The specific details remain redacted until … [Link]

Mashable » We're one step closer to finally actually maybe having birth control for men

Wednesday 5 April 0:01:00 UTC 2017

Twitter FacebookWhen it comes to birth control, men pretty much have two options: condoms and vasectomies. But is that finally about to change? The results of a new study, published Tuesday in Basic and Clinical Andrology, are giving us a reason to believe that we might someday have a real solution to the age-old problem of male contraception. The potential answer to … [Link]

Mashable » 9 ways the MLB can make baseball more exciting

Wednesday 5 April 0:00:00 UTC 2017

Twitter FacebookAh, baseball. America's Pastime.  It's a patient sport, but offers plenty of excitement. And also plenty of long commercial breaks. And a lot of people just standing around. And quite a bit of waiting for replay challenges to conclude. And not to mention the games are usually like three and a half hours long. And a lot of people swinging a … [Link]

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