John Gordon Ross

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

Mashable » This stunning 'Veep' artwork is fit for a POTUS

Thursday 20 April 23:59:48 UTC 2017

Selina Meyer's stint as POTUS may be over, but whenever Veep's hapless heroine wants an ego boost, she need look no further than the spectacular collection of artwork that Los Angeles' Gallery1988 is currently exhibiting in honor of the Emmy-winning comedy's sixth season. SEE ALSO: 'Veep' cut a 'golden showers' joke because of Trump “Veep fans love the show’s iconic and … [Link]

Mashable » Justice Department reportedly prepares charges for Julian Assange's arrest

Thursday 20 April 23:37:49 UTC 2017

Julian Assange's future just got a little less certain. On Thursday, CNN reported — citing "officials familiar with the matter" — that U.S. authorities have prepared charges to seek the arrest of the WikiLeaks founder. The charges, and the full status of the case, are currently unclear, but the news doesn't sound promising for Assange. SEE ALSO: Get creeped out by … [Link]

Mashable » 'The X-Files' revival is being revived for another 10 episodes on Fox

Thursday 20 April 23:35:52 UTC 2017

The truth is still out there, and so is The X-Files. Fox has renewed the beloved sci-fi franchise for another season, following the ratings success of last year's revival. Season 11 will once again be executive-produced by creator Chris Carter, with stars David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson returning in their roles as FBI Agents Fox Mulder and Dana Scully.  The upcoming … [Link]

Mashable » Huge snake falls through gym's ceiling because even indoors isn't safe

Thursday 20 April 23:20:18 UTC 2017

So you think you're safe from snakes inside? Not in Australia. Chantal Vaughan, the owner of Bokwa CQ gym in Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia walked into work on Tuesday and discovered a large hole in the ceiling of her business.  SEE ALSO: WTF nature: Snake tries to bite a guy on a motorcycle Vaughan told The Morning Bulletin that she figured it … [Link]

Slashdot » Google Home Now Recognizes Specific Users' Voices, Gains Support For Multiple Accounts

Thursday 20 April 23:20:00 UTC 2017

Google has issued a long-awaited feature for Google Home: support for multiple users. In an update rolling out today, up to six people will be able to connect their Google account to a Google Home, and the unit will try to distinguish each person's voice from the other users connected to the device. Therefore, each person will be able to … [Link]

Mashable » Bruce Springsteen slams 'con man' Trump in new song and we are here for it

Thursday 20 April 23:15:34 UTC 2017

Bruce Springsteen hasn't been shy about his feelings on current president Donald Trump before but, thanks to an old friend, he's finally sharing some thoughts via song. SEE ALSO: Look how much smaller Trump's visit from the New England Patriots was than Obama's Long-time Springsteen collaborator Joe Grushecky penned "That's What Makes Us Great," an anti-Trump anthem, and looped The Boss … [Link]

Mashable » Space is a 'burrito of awesomeness' says our new favorite astronaut

Thursday 20 April 23:04:25 UTC 2017

Space. It's awesome.  Just ask NASA astronaut Jack Fischer, who just flew in space for the very first time. After arriving safe and sound at the International Space Station on Thursday, his words — like Neil Armstrong's "one giant leap for mankind"— will surely inspire future generations of astronauts.  "It’s a burrito of awesomeness smothered in awesome sauce, baby. It’s sooo … [Link]

Mashable » The world's smartest vending machine will be used to sell weed, of course

Thursday 20 April 22:54:51 UTC 2017

If you're looking for a more convenient hookup, you might just be in luck.  A new line of super high-tech green vending machines debuted at the NAMAOneShow this week — and by "high" and "green," we're not talking about energy efficiency. The smart vending system, which has advanced features like biometric security capabilities, is built to sell weed.   American Green, … [Link]

Slashdot » FCC Takes First Step Toward Allowing More Broadcast TV Mergers

Thursday 20 April 22:40:00 UTC 2017

An anonymous reader quotes a report from The Verge: In a divided vote today, the Federal Communications Commission took steps that could lead to more consolidation among TV broadcasters, reducing the number of sources of local news. Today's changes revolve around the media ownership cap — a limit on how many households a TV or radio broadcaster is allowed to … [Link]

Mashable » Want to feel old? Shaq and Manute Bol's sons play high school basketball together.

Thursday 20 April 22:37:30 UTC 2017

Shareef O'Neal, high school basketball star and son of Shaquille O'Neal, committed Wednesday to play collegiately for Arizona.  So I did what any self-respecting college hoops fan does when a major recruit announces his college decision: obsessively lurked through his Twitter timeline. (Yup, sports makes us all do weird things from time to time. Go sports!) SEE ALSO: Meet the self-taught … [Link]

Mashable » T-Mobile spent its 420 trolling 'VerHIGHzon' about weed

Thursday 20 April 22:02:21 UTC 2017

T-Mobile isn’t letting 420 mellow its fierce marketing war with Verizon. In an effort led by famously outspoken CEO John Legere, the carrier poked fun at its larger rival for choosing to release its earnings report on the “holiest of high days.” “This is the same company that’s made questionable decisions one after the other for the past four years and … [Link]

Slashdot » Airbnb Fires Back, Accuses Hotel Industry Of Punishing the Middle-Class

Thursday 20 April 22:00:00 UTC 2017

According to a legal documents, the American Hotel and Lodging Association (lobbying group for hotels in the U.S.) kicked off a plan last year to fight back Airbnb and other home-sharing services with a $5.6 million annual budget. Airbnb has responded to the revelation. From a report: The company's head of policy, Christopher Lehane, accused hoteliers of price-gouging customers and … [Link]

Mashable » Female Fox panelist told she was giving America an erection on air hours after O'Reilly got fired

Thursday 20 April 21:29:21 UTC 2017

Just a few hours after it was announced Bill O'Reilly was dropped from Fox News over multiple allegations of sexual harassment, anchors at a Fox roundtable managed to make crude jokes about a female anchor's appearance on air. To her face. To everyone's faces, like that's a totally cool thing to do.  "I think you're giving America a raise," Greg Gutfeld … [Link]

Mashable » Inside the filthy chaos of Gorillaz's Brooklyn house party pop-up

Thursday 20 April 21:26:06 UTC 2017

In Williamsburg, there are perfectly curated dirty dishes and cigarette butts on display. At The Spirit House, a collaboration between Gorillaz and Sonos, fans can interact with the virtual band's world IRL while listening to tracks from their upcoming album, Humanz. Damon Albarn has described the record as, "a party record about the world going fucking nuts." And here, the experience … [Link]

Mashable » BINGE ALERT: Why you need to start your 'Twin Peaks' catch-up tonight

Thursday 20 April 21:23:04 UTC 2017

There’s still time to catch up on Twin Peaks like a reasonable person. But you should really start tonight. Whether you're completely new or just want a re-watch (and I recommend this highly; you've forgotten more than you think), you've got 30 episodes (including the pilot), plus the film Fire Walk With Me.  That's 31 pieces of David Lynch's bizarre TV … [Link]

Slashdot » CC'ing the Boss on Email Makes Employees Feel Less Trusted, Study Finds

Thursday 20 April 21:20:00 UTC 2017

Do you ever loop your boss when having a conversation with a colleague when his or her presence in the thread wasn't really necessary? Turns out, many people do this, and your colleague doesn't find it helpful at all. From an article: My collaborators and I conducted a series of six studies (a combination of experiments and surveys) to see … [Link]

Mashable » 3 companies that actually built real-life hoverboards

Thursday 20 April 21:18:40 UTC 2017

Movie fans and tech geeks alike have long shared a common dream: a chance to ride on Marty McFly's hoverboard, just like in Back to the Future Part II.  When the date portrayed in the movie, October 21, 2015, came and passed, though, the gadgets we most commonly thought of as hoverboards had two wheels and a propensity to explode, which … [Link]

Mashable » Tinder really, really wants you to think you’re swiping around for lasting love

Thursday 20 April 21:07:47 UTC 2017

When you hear the word Tinder, what's the first thing that comes to mind?  If you said "hooking up" you're certainly not alone, but of course there are plenty of people who’ve swiped their way to a soulmate and lived happily ever after, too. So which is it? And why does it even matter?  Well, new data out Wednesday from Tinder … [Link]

Mashable » 16 'WYD After Smoking This' memes that will leave you giggling

Thursday 20 April 21:04:34 UTC 2017

What you doing after smoking this?  While it's not brand new, the WYD after smoking this meme has hit its peak on Thursday thanks to the unofficial marijuana holiday 420.  SEE ALSO: This weed company grows pot for your specific moods For those not in the know, the meme is pretty simple. Post a photo of a ridiculous lineup of cannabis … [Link]

ProgrammableWeb.com » What Is a WebSockets Push-Styled API and How Does It Work?

Thursday 20 April 20:49:25 UTC 2017

This is the third part of our series on push technologies. In this part we will provide a primer on WebSockets and how they work. [Link]

Slashdot » China's First Cargo Spacecraft Launch a 'Crucial Step' To Space Station

Thursday 20 April 20:40:00 UTC 2017

Earlier today, China launched its first unmanned cargo spacecraft on a mission to dock with the country's space station, marking further progress in the ambitious Chinese space program. Chinese state media Xinhua described the event as a "crucial step for China's plan to have an operational space station by 2020." From a report: The Tianzhou-1 took off from the Wenchang … [Link]

New Scientist – News » The incredible naked mole rat can survive with hardly any oxygen

Thursday 20 April 20:30:00 UTC 2017

These animal superheroes get on fine in conditions that would kill us and can go into a kind of suspended animation if oxygen levels drop too low [Link]

Mashable » Taking a virtual selfie in Facebook Spaces is mind-boggling

Thursday 20 April 20:29:54 UTC 2017

We had a first look at Facebook's new VR Oculus app called Facebook Spaces. Take selfies with a virtual selfie stick, draw 3D pictures, make video calls, and more. Read more…More about Mashable Video, Real Time Video, Real Time Video, Real Time, and Real Time Video [Link]

Mashable » Apple wants your applause for a mining goal without a plan

Thursday 20 April 20:24:29 UTC 2017

Please clap.  Apple wants to stop mining for rare Earth metals and other components that help its technologies work. The company announced this through its recently-released 2016 environmental responsibility report, and via a nice little rollout with the help of Vice.  Everything Apple builds, they say, will one day be made from recyclable materials such as copper, aluminum, and tin. No … [Link]

Mashable » Twitter is gloriously roasting the ridiculous premise of House Hunters

Thursday 20 April 20:12:57 UTC 2017

Get your budget sheets ready. The HGTV hit show House Hunters follows couples who are trying to find their perfect home on their budget.  While the premise of the show sounds simple, some Twitter users have pointed out how absurd the differences between the couple's tastes in decor and spending can be. SEE ALSO: HGTV, Food Network Shows Coming to Amazon … [Link]

Mashable » Here's why thousands of scientists are (and aren't) marching on Saturday

Thursday 20 April 20:03:19 UTC 2017

Scientists and science fans around the world will take to the streets on Saturday in a show of support for facts and reason.  And like the myriad reasons people go into the sciences themselves, marchers planning to head to the main March for Science event in Washington, D.C. or satellite marches around the world have a wide number of reasons for … [Link]

Mashable » Littlefinger's 'Game of Thrones' scheme may get truly evil in season 7

Thursday 20 April 20:02:27 UTC 2017

Lord Petyr Baelish, aka Littlefinger, isn't just the most creepy player in the whole Game of Thrones. He is also the most devious, perhaps the one best poised to win the whole thing in the end — and new photos from the show's seventh season released Thursday certainly pour fuel on that fire. SEE ALSO: 'Game of Thrones' Season 7 photos … [Link]

Mashable » Freak out over this video of the coolest flying car yet

Thursday 20 April 20:00:24 UTC 2017

Well, that's pretty amazing. Lilium Aviation dropped a video showing the successful test flight of its all-electric flying car—aka vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) prototype, per The Verge—and it's something to behold.  The vehicle gets its vertical lift thanks to the 36 electric jets mounted on the vehicle's wings on a dozen movable flaps pointed downward, giving it enough force … [Link]

Slashdot » File System Improvements To the Windows Subsystem for Linux

Thursday 20 April 20:00:00 UTC 2017

An anonymous reader shares a new article published on MSDN: In the latest Windows Insider build, the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) now allows you to manually mount Windows drives using the DrvFs file system. Previously, WSL would automatically mount all fixed NTFS drives when you launch Bash, but there was no support for mounting additional storage like removable drives … [Link]

Mashable » How legal weed plans to get along with a hostile Trump administration

Thursday 20 April 19:57:33 UTC 2017

Trump’s new administration has made it pretty clear that it’s not cool with legal weed. In the three months since Donald Trump took office, multiple members of his administration have spoken in veiled terms about some future possible action, hinting that the growing medical and recreational marijuana industry might suffer some federal restrictions, if not a fatal crackdown.  So, how does … [Link]

Mashable » Why this police department's 'hilarious' tweet about 420 is actually super messed up

Thursday 20 April 19:49:26 UTC 2017

While 420, the unofficial holiday for all things weed started as a secret code between some teens, it's become so much more in the past few years.  As cannabis becomes more accepted in society as states move to legalize recreational and medical marijuana, 420 has become commercialized. Major brands and even police departments are piling on, but instead of celebrating, they're … [Link]

Mashable » Ben & Jerry's is celebrating 420 with the perfect stoner treat

Thursday 20 April 19:48:36 UTC 2017

Ben & Jerry's is totally okay with you celebrating 420 in your own special way because they have created a treat combination so creative and decadent that it only really deserves to be paired with a bag of chips and a blunt.  Introducing the Chill-aco, a new taco/burrito/ice cream creation fit for the stoner in your life.  Image: Ben & jerry'sSEE … [Link]

Mashable » What's Gilly reading in new 'Game of Thrones' Season 7 photo?

Thursday 20 April 19:38:55 UTC 2017

HBO has just released the first official photos from the upcoming season of Game of Thrones. Among the collection of familiar stoic faces bracing themselves for winter was one curious entry featuring Sam and Gilly poring over books and texts in what has to be Oldtown. SEE ALSO: This 'Game of Thrones' fan theory is peak Lannister Image: hboOne look at … [Link]

Mashable » People still like United Airlines more than Donald Trump

Thursday 20 April 19:38:03 UTC 2017

Good news for United Airlines: The company could still be president of the United States.  A Public Policy Polling poll released on Thursday asked people whether respondents had a higher opinion of United or President Donald Trump — 42 percent said United, compared with just 40 percent who went with the president. If it helps anyone personally affronted by this poll, … [Link]

Mashable » Beyoncé just won the twins a new toy: a Peabody award

Thursday 20 April 19:34:49 UTC 2017

The good folks behind the Peabody Awards did history a solid by presenting Beyoncé yet another accolade this week.  Her sixth studio album, Lemonade, has already won itself Grammy awards, Emmy nominations, and MTV Video Music awards — and now Bey can add a Peabody Entertainment Award to the shelves. SEE ALSO: Beyonce out at Coachella, will headline in 2018 instead … [Link]

Mashable » Enjoy this IRL Rickroll as the FCC votes for another corporation friendly change

Thursday 20 April 19:32:46 UTC 2017

For dorks like myself, watching the Federal Communications Commission doesn't get much better than this. Let's start with the fun stuff. FCC Chairman Ajit Pai is reportedly starting his promised assault on net neutrality rules. The move is already causing concern in the tech industry and mobilizing activists groups to stage an opposition. That opposition started on Thursday with an in-person … [Link]

Mashable » It's the absolute worst time for 'Girlboss' on Netflix

Thursday 20 April 19:25:45 UTC 2017

When Netflix signed on for Girlboss, it probably sounded like a great idea. Feminism, fashion, and San Francisco? We were about to have our first female president, so what could go wrong?  When the show starts streaming on Friday, things will be a little different. Not only are we living in Trump's America, but Nasty Gal, the multi-million-dollar startup the show … [Link]

Mashable » Fans are losing it over this Jon Snow theory from new 'Game of Thrones' photo

Thursday 20 April 19:25:07 UTC 2017

Jon Snow has always been a bastard. Aw, I feel bad even typing it. The ever-brooding Night's Watch Commander and and King of the Andals' Man Buns has had a rough go of it for the past couple season of Game of Thrones (and also his whole life). At the end of Season 6, we learned Jon's true parentage, and an … [Link]

Slashdot » Amazon Cloud Chief Jabs Oracle: 'Customers Are Sick of It'

Thursday 20 April 19:20:00 UTC 2017

It's no secret that Amazon and Oracle don't see eye to eye. But things are far from improving, it appears. From a report: On Wednesday, two months after Oracle co-CEO Mark Hurd called Amazon's cloud infrastructure "old" and claimed his company was gaining share, Amazon Web Services chief Andy Jassy slammed Oracle for locking customers into painfully long and expensive … [Link]

Mashable » There was a lot more to that viral New York Times photo of the Patriots' Trump visit

Thursday 20 April 19:11:33 UTC 2017

After Donald Trump took umbrage to the size of his comparatively puny inauguration crowd in January, the photo from Wednesday was almost too good to be true.  Turns out it was. Mostly. Bear with us here as we break this thing down.  SEE ALSO: Meet the self-taught brothers behind the hit web cartoon 'Game of Zones' Here's the photo that went … [Link]

New Scientist – News » Is Serena Williams’s pregnancy making her a better athlete?

Thursday 20 April 19:11:09 UTC 2017

Williams was 8 weeks pregnant at the Australian Open. Some theories suggest early pregnancy boosts athletic performance, but there isn’t much evidence [Link]

New Scientist – News » Has the social media political bubble theory just been popped?

Thursday 20 April 19:11:08 UTC 2017

If life online drives increasingly partisan attitudes, how come offline older generations are getting polarised quicker than the young, wonders Lara Williams [Link]

Popular Science » Google Home can now recognize individual users by the sound of their voice

Thursday 20 April 19:00:39 UTC 2017

Technology An inevitable but important step forward for smart home hubs On Thursday, Google announced that its Home device will now be able to know who is talking to it by just the sound of their voice, a key development for smart home… [Link]

Popular Science » Warning: Do NOT get into a breath-holding contest with a naked mole rat

Thursday 20 April 19:00:14 UTC 2017

Animals They can basically survive without oxygen Naked mole rats thrive in environments that would leave humans gasping for breath. [Link]

New Scientist – News » Machine learning shows exactly when to zap brain to boost memory

Thursday 20 April 19:00:00 UTC 2017

Jolting the brain with electricity really does seem to boost memory, but only if it’s done at the right time. Now we can detect when the brain could use a shock [Link]

Mashable » Mascot saves kid from foul ball and gets paid back in the cutest way

Thursday 20 April 18:52:45 UTC 2017

Softball games bare untold dangers at every corner — fly balls, slippery floors, uh, mostly the balls, we guess. They're concussion machines, basically.  That's why, when a foul ball was headed straight for a young boy sitting in the stands at a University of Florida softball game, it looked like disaster was on the way. That's when his guardian gator, Albert … [Link]

Mashable » Guy goes on date with former manager of Olive Garden and posts breadstick intel to Twitter

Thursday 20 April 18:51:41 UTC 2017

If an Olive Garden runs out of breadsticks, is it still even an Olive Garden? For so long, this has been a question to which we've had no answer. But now we have come a little closer thanks to one man, his Twitter, and a date. On Wednesday, Joe Wadlington used Twitter to share the story of a date with someone … [Link]

New Scientist – News » Environment chief says US should exit Paris climate agreement

Thursday 20 April 18:42:00 UTC 2017

The US appears to be getting closer to quitting the Paris climate agreement, with Scott Pruitt, the head of the EPA, saying it’s a bad deal for the country [Link]

Slashdot » Mastercard is Building Fingerprint Scanners Directly Into Its Cards

Thursday 20 April 18:40:00 UTC 2017

Mastercard said on Thursday it's beginning trials of its "next-generation biometric card" in South Africa. In addition to the standard chip and pin, the new cards have a built-in fingerprint reader that the user can use to authenticate every purchase. From a report: Impressively, the new card is no thicker or larger than your current credit and debit cards. Read … [Link]

ProgrammableWeb.com » MuleSoft Anypoint "Crowd" Focuses On Promotion, Discovery, and Re-Use of Developer Assets

Thursday 20 April 18:38:17 UTC 2017

Extending its portfolio of solutions to cover the last and potentially most challenging mile of an enterprise's services-oriented, API-led business transformation journey, MuleSoft announced the Crowd release of its Anypoint Platform today at Connect, its annual conference in San Francisco. [Link]

Mashable » Giant icebergs are a big tourist draw in Newfoundland, and a warning sign

Thursday 20 April 18:35:49 UTC 2017

A record warm Arctic winter has spawned a tourism boom in a tiny Canadian town. Sightseers and selfie-snappers are flocking to Ferryland, Newfoundland, to watch enormous icebergs drift off the Southern Shore.  The town of 500 residents has seen bumper-to-bumper traffic in recent days. Its two lone restaurants would theoretically be packed — that is, if they opened before late … [Link]

Mashable » Two brothers launch Instagram series to capture life on U.S.-Mexico border

Thursday 20 April 18:31:05 UTC 2017

Every week, a little league team in El Paso, Texas, practices late at night under piercing lights. In the distance looms a large, illuminated red "X," marking the Mexico side of the U.S.-Mexico border.  The team is made up of 11-year-old boys, all of whom have grown up within a stone's throw of the border. They've grown up knowing this area … [Link]

Mashable » Haunting is the new ghosting is the new…you know what? We gotta stop this.

Thursday 20 April 18:25:30 UTC 2017

Do you have lost loves lurking on your Instagram feed? Do you feel a spooky shiver whenever you use Snapchat? You’re probably being haunted. Yes, haunted. Basically it's when someone you’ve ended things with decides to reassert themselves into your fragile mind by watching your Instagram or Snapchat stories or liking your social media posts.   As with actual ghosts, they … [Link]

Mashable » This company makes clear coffee and our minds are blown

Thursday 20 April 18:24:05 UTC 2017

‘Clear Coffee' is produced by David and Adam Nagy who wanted a drink that wouldn’t stain their teeth. While their brewing methods are a secret, they say the result tastes like cold brew. Read more…More about Mashable Video, Brewing, Brew, Water, and Instagram [Link]

ProgrammableWeb.com » Microsoft Goes GA with Three More Cognitive Services APIs

Thursday 20 April 18:22:45 UTC 2017

Microsoft continued its push into its Cognitive Services portfolio by making three more of its Cognitive Services APIs generally available. [Link]

Mashable » 'Mario Kart 8 Deluxe' reviews are in: Still great, three years later

Thursday 20 April 18:17:44 UTC 2017

There’s a new Mario Kart coming! Uhhhh… sort of? Not really fully new. More like "old, but re-released with new bits." It's called Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and it's the Nintendo Switch version of the racing series' Wii U game. All 48 tracks from the original are included — post-release DLC and all — but so much more has changed. New … [Link]

Mashable » Tesla recalls 53,000 Model X and Model S cars over parking brakes

Thursday 20 April 18:12:00 UTC 2017

Tesla announced on Thursday a recall of 53,000 Model S and Model X vehicles due to problems with electronic parking brakes.  The company announced the recall on its website, noting that a the issue "could prevent the parking brake from releasing." Tesla noted that it did not consider the problem a safety issue, nor has the company found any accidents or … [Link]

Mashable » 'Game of Thrones' Season 7 photos offer our first glimpse of winter

Thursday 20 April 18:10:07 UTC 2017

The first photos for Game of Thrones Season 7 have arrived, and we are SHOOK. We're overdue for a full trailer after the March 30 teaser trailer got us all riled up, but these pictures are definitely a good start; at the very least, it serves as a reassuring reminder that all of our favorites are still alive (for now).  Enjoy … [Link]

Popular Science » A warp in space-time just gave us four views of one exploding star

Thursday 20 April 18:00:00 UTC 2017

Space Astronomers catch a galaxy magnifying and splitting the light from a supernova A galaxy passing in front of a supernova does trippy things to its light. Read on. [Link]

Slashdot » Microsoft Says It Will Release Two Feature Updates Per Year For Windows 10, Office

Thursday 20 April 18:00:00 UTC 2017

Microsoft is making a few changes to how it will service Windows, Office 365 ProPlus and System Center Configuration Manager. From a report: Announced today, Microsoft will be releasing two feature updates a year for Windows 10 in March in September and with each release, System Center Configuration Manager will support this new aligned update model for Office 365 ProPlus … [Link]

Mashable » This 'Game of Thrones' statue is the stuff nightmares are made of

Thursday 20 April 17:43:54 UTC 2017

The penultimate episode of Game of Thrones Season 6 — aka "Battle of the Bastards" — was traumatic for a number of reasons: Rickon Stark was murdered in front of his brother and a bunch of random soldiers just because he doesn't know how to zig-zag; Jon Snow was almost crushed to death by a heaving mass of bodies; Ramsay Bolton … [Link]

Popular Science » The evolution of the great American pickup truck, from 1925 to today

Thursday 20 April 17:36:00 UTC 2017

Cars Keep on truckin’. There is no vehicle more American than the pickup truck. Read on. [Link]

Mashable » Somehow, Fox News and Donald Trump come out on top of the Bill O'Reilly fiasco

Thursday 20 April 17:25:12 UTC 2017

A year ago, it would've felt pointless to imagine Fox News without its mastermind (Roger Ailes), its marquee star (Bill O'Reilly), or its young dynamo (Megyn Kelly). And it would've been laughable to imagine those three gone as the network scores record ratings, all while under one President Donald Trump. And yet: Here we are.  O'Reilly and Fox News split on … [Link]

Mashable » 'First Dates' is the dating show you've never heard of but will absolutely love

Thursday 20 April 17:24:39 UTC 2017

Looking for love is far from easy. Sometimes it can feel like you're doing it all wrong. But one British reality dating show is bringing joy, laughter, and even the odd tear, to viewers by showing the more human side to first dates. SEE ALSO: Online dating is a total nightmare for farmers Set in a restaurant in the heart of … [Link]

Mashable » 'Last Jedi' director moves scar on Kylo Ren's face, chaos ensues

Thursday 20 April 17:23:23 UTC 2017

Star Wars fandom is, by far, the nit-pickiest fandom on the planet. Nothing gets past it. So when a microsecond-long shot of Kylo Ren in The Last Jedi trailer showed the Dark Side devotee with a scar in a slightly different place on his forehead, an inch or two to the right of where he was slashed by Rey's lightsaber in … [Link]

Slashdot » President Trump Misses 90-Day Deadline To Appoint a Cybersecurity Team After Alleged Russian Hacking

Thursday 20 April 17:23:00 UTC 2017

From a report: President-elect Donald Trump was very clear: "I will appoint a team to give me a plan within 90 days of taking office," he said in January, after getting a U.S. intelligence assessment of Russian interference in last year's elections and promising to address cybersecurity. Thursday, Trump hits his 90-day mark. There is no team, there is no … [Link]

Mashable » MasterCard is testing new cards with fingerprint sensors to keep your money safe

Thursday 20 April 17:08:00 UTC 2017

While fingerprint sensors may be the reason for a delay in the new iPhone, that technology isn't holding back MasterCard from rolling out new credit cards with fingerprint technology.  SEE ALSO: The Galaxy S8's fingerprint sensor sure looks like it's in a terrible spot The company announced on Thursday that it's successfully wrapped up a pair of trials of cards with … [Link]

Mashable » These giant, beautiful icebergs are actually signs of a warm Arctic winter

Thursday 20 April 17:01:20 UTC 2017

There giant, floating mountains of ice are part of what's known as "Iceberg Alley" and they represent climate change.  The icebergs, which have been spotted off the coast of Canada, have become a big tourist attraction. However, they've raised concerns regarding the warm Arctic winter.  Read more…More about Warm Arctic Winter, Climate Change, Arctic, Real Time Video, and Real Time Video … [Link]

Mashable » There's a 'GIFs Against Friends' messenger game because the internet is the worst

Thursday 20 April 16:47:23 UTC 2017

You reap what you sow, as they say.  Zynga is putting out a sort of follow-up today to their incredibly popular, incredibly addictive Words With Friends mobile game. But where Words With Friends was the perfect melding of a puzzle game that made you think and the social exuberance of going up against your friends, GIFs Against Friends feels like … [Link]

Popular Science » Where does the poop go?: The hidden machines of cruise ships

Thursday 20 April 16:46:00 UTC 2017

Technology Behind the scenes of the life aquatic Cruise ships are entire cities set to sea. To function far from shore, floating burgs like these rely on often-hidden machinery. Read on. [Link]

Mashable » Google Home can now distinguish voices, support multiple users

Thursday 20 April 16:43:03 UTC 2017

Google Home may finally have a solution to children "hijacking" the device to buy stuff. Google Home now supports up to six different accounts on one device and can distinguish between the voices of different users, the company announced on Thursday. It uses a specific voice as a key to share your playlists, commute time and schedule.   SEE ALSO: Need … [Link]

Popular Science » Is bicycling a cancer-fighting miracle? Probably not.

Thursday 20 April 16:42:41 UTC 2017

Health No more than regular exercise, anyway A study finds that people who commute to work by bicycle have lower rates of heart disease and cancer. But there's probably more to the story. Read on. [Link]

Slashdot » Discovery May Help Decipher Ancient Inca String Code

Thursday 20 April 16:40:00 UTC 2017

A discovery made in a remote mountain village high in the Peruvian Andes suggests that the ancient Inca used accounting devices made of knotted, colored strings for more than accounting. From a report on National Geographic: The devices, called khipus (pronounced kee-poos), used combinations of knots to represent numbers and were used to inventory stores of corn, beans, and other … [Link]

Mashable » Armie Hammer lights up in an exclusive 420 clip from 'Free Fire'

Thursday 20 April 16:34:37 UTC 2017

Light one up and settle in. We're going to be here a while.  Free Fire stars Armie Hammer, Brie Larson, Cillian Murphy, and Sharlto Copley as participants in a black market arms deal that spirals into an explosive, bloody, no-holds-barred shootout that lasts nearly the entire running time of the movie. SEE ALSO: Summer movie preview: What to watch if … [Link]

Mashable » 'GTA Online' is kicking it old school in new top-down stunt racing mode

Thursday 20 April 16:26:18 UTC 2017

Grand Theft Auto Online is throwing it back to the good old days — when GTA was a top-down game — with the new Tiny Racers mode. Coming to GTA Online April 25, Tiny Racers is a brand new stunt racing mode that looks almost like a top-down Hot Wheels with powerups. Not only will you have to be careful … [Link]

New Scientist – News » Facebook banks on virtual reality as the future of socialising

Thursday 20 April 16:26:00 UTC 2017

New tools from Facebook suggest that in the future we will talk to our friends in a virtual reality chat room and enhance our communications with AR [Link]

Mashable » Take a peaceful moment to watch this baby hippo shower

Thursday 20 April 16:14:50 UTC 2017

Come enjoy a moment of secondhand joy. Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden shared an adorable video of their baby hippo Fiona taking a shower, and it's safe to say: this baby has fully achieved zen. Earlier this week, after her morning routine of getting weighed and then drinking 60 ounces of formula in the zoo's kitchen, the little hippo walked into … [Link]

Mashable » Chris Evans is making his Broadway debut. Thank you, world.

Thursday 20 April 16:07:06 UTC 2017

Today in "news you certainly did not expect," dreamboat Chris Evans is coming to Broadway. Yes, yes, it's true. We have no idea how we got so lucky, but here we are. According to Variety, the actor and director will be making his Broadway debut in a Kenneth Lonergan play, Lobby Hero. And wait, it gets better. SEE ALSO: Chris Evans … [Link]

Mashable » Miami is re-naming a street in honor of 'Moonlight'

Thursday 20 April 16:01:39 UTC 2017

Miami is making its connection to Moonlight a bit more official. After the movie won over the hearts of critics en route to an Oscar for Best Picture, the city in which the film is based is re-naming a street in its honor. The Miami New Times reported on Tuesday that the Florida city would be naming a stretch of Miami-Dade … [Link]

Slashdot » Wikipedia's 'Ban' of 'The Daily Mail' Didn't Really Happen

Thursday 20 April 16:00:00 UTC 2017

Earlier this year, The Guardian reported that editors at Wikipedia had "voted to ban the Daily Mail as a source for the website," calling the publication "generally unreliable." Two months later, not only previous Daily Mail citations on Wikipedia pages are still alive, several new ones have also appeared since. So what's going on? The Outline has the story: There … [Link]

Popular Science » Scientists discover yet another rocky planet that could (maybe) host alien life

Thursday 20 April 15:58:41 UTC 2017

Space A sky full of super-Earths Astronomers have located another "super-Earth"—a rocky planet that could have the right stuff to host some kind of life. Read on. [Link]

Mashable » Genius kid fakes letter from school claiming he needs more time for 'video game class'

Thursday 20 April 15:44:24 UTC 2017

Life is hard if you're a kid who loves video games. You can't play while you're at school and then when you get home you have to get all your homework done, eat your dinner, and do your chores before you are allowed to play. SEE ALSO: Insults are bad but this little kid's 'Overwatch' diss is too perfect Seven-year-old Nathan … [Link]

Popular Science » 20 helpful Google Home commands to try

Thursday 20 April 15:36:40 UTC 2017

DIY "OK Google, help me out!" If you've bought Google's new AI-powered speaker—or you're just interested in finding out what it does—here are 20 of its most useful commands. [Link]

Slashdot » The Biggest Time Suck at the Office Might Be Your Computer

Thursday 20 April 15:20:00 UTC 2017

Sharing personal anecdotes and recent studies, a new report on Bloomberg blames outdated computers, decade-old operating systems and ageing equipments for being one of the biggest hurdles that prevents people from doing actual work in their offices. From the article: Slow, outdated computers and intermittent internet connections demoralize workers, a survey of 6,000 European workers said. Half of U.K. employees … [Link]

Slashdot » MIT No Longer Owns 18.0.0.0/8

Thursday 20 April 15:00:00 UTC 2017

An anonymous reader shares: MIT no longer owns 18.0.0.0/8. That's a very big block of scarce IPv4 addresses that have become available again. One block inside this /8, more specifically 18.145.0.0/16, was transferred to Amazon. Read more of this story at Slashdot. [Link]

Slashdot » Microsoft To Shut Down Wunderlist, an App It Acquired Two Years Ago, In Favor Of Homegrown App To-Do

Thursday 20 April 14:40:00 UTC 2017

From a report on TechCrunch: Microsoft acquired the popular mobile to do list application Wunderlist back in 2015, and now it's preparing users for its eventual demise with the release of its new application "To-Do," it announced this week. The new app was built by the team behind Wunderlist, and will bring in the favorite elements of that app in … [Link]

Slashdot » Physicists Observe 'Negative Mass'

Thursday 20 April 14:00:00 UTC 2017

Physicists have created a fluid with "negative mass," which accelerates towards you when pushed. From a report on BBC: In the everyday world, when an object is pushed, it accelerates in the same direction as the force applied to it; this relationship is described by Isaac Newton's Second Law of Motion. But in theory, matter can have negative mass in … [Link]

Mashable » Meet the self-taught brothers behind the hit web cartoon 'Game of Zones'

Thursday 20 April 13:33:46 UTC 2017

The animated web show Game of Zones has been beloved by NBA fans since the first of its sporadically released episodes ran three years ago. Brilliantly finding the comedic creases in basketball drama, then combining those storylines with a pop culture titan (HBO's Game of Thrones, if you didn't catch that), then throwing it all together in one slick-looking package, the … [Link]

Mashable » Sweet kid breaks down with joy after dad surprises him with Cubs tickets

Thursday 20 April 13:30:16 UTC 2017

When you love a team, there is nothing quite like seeing them in person. The parents of 9-year-old Kolt Kyler were well aware of this, which is why they decided to reward their son with ticket to see his beloved Chicago Cubs. Kolt's half-sister Hannah Himes told ABC News that Kolt has been essentially the kid version of a superhero. He's … [Link]

Mashable » These weed-infused doughnuts taste like pot but won't get you stoned

Thursday 20 April 13:30:00 UTC 2017

These doughnuts won't get you stoned, but they'll definitely taste like they should. Guild Dispensary in San Jose, California, is teaming up with local donut chain Psycho Donuts to bring the world weed-flavored doughnuts in celebration of the stoner holiday 420. But these aren't your typical sweets loaded with weed.  SEE ALSO: The 10 most popular munchies ordered on 420 Image: … [Link]

Mashable » Apple Originals

Thursday 20 April 13:20:54 UTC 2017

Heartfelt shout-outs to Tim Cook from the Emmys and Oscars stages — how would that sound? Or lest we get too ahead of ourselves, how about a title card that reads "Apple Films" or "An Apple Original Series" in front of your favorite new movie or TV show?It all has a bit of a ring to it, right?  Apple is undeniably … [Link]

Mashable » 'The Daily Show' takes a look at some of Bill O'Reilly's most racist moments

Thursday 20 April 13:11:26 UTC 2017

Yesterday was a beautiful, beautiful day for television. After advertisers dropped the show on the heels of several sexual harassment allegations, 21st Century Fox announced yesterday that The O'Reilly Factor host and longtime enemy of all things progressive Bill O'Reilly was let go from the network. Daily Show host Trevor Noah celebrated O'Reilly's firing in the only appropriate manner: by … [Link]

Mashable » Helen Hunt reveals how her acting career helped her direct 'Feud'

Thursday 20 April 13:09:18 UTC 2017

When it comes to the career trajectories of Bette Davis and Joan Crawford, Helen Hunt can relate. Like the two acting icons at the center of FX’s Feud: Bette and Joan, Hunt began her Hollywood career at a young age (in her case, as a child actress) and has enjoyed both widespread popularity – as the Emmy-winning star of the hit … [Link]

Mashable » Woman makes an epic solo world tour on a motorbike

Thursday 20 April 13:01:51 UTC 2017

Nikki Misurelli is journeying around the world on her motorbike, hoping to inspire women to travel. Read more…More about Nikki Misurelli, Real Time Video, Real Time Video, Real Time, and Adventure Travel [Link]

Mashable » Oops. You've been picking the wrong dating profile pics all this time.

Thursday 20 April 13:01:00 UTC 2017

Think you've obsessed over your dating profile pics and finally managed to get them just right? Sorry, but you'd better think again. The dating app Hinge sifted through thousands of their users photos and figured out what gets those likes and what gets ignored. The results are pretty surprising. Hinge’s profile requires you to add six photos, and people can like … [Link]

Mashable » This one hitter just changed everything awful about one hitters

Thursday 20 April 13:00:00 UTC 2017

With seemingly endless ways to consume cannabis, the classic one hitter still remains a staple in most stoner's collection of pieces.  Typically a metal or ceramic pipe about the size of a cigarette, a one hitter is one of the easiest ways to bring some weed on the go. But while a one hitter is convenient, it can also be a … [Link]

Slashdot » China To Question Apple About Live-Streaming Apps On App Store That Violate Internet Regulations

Thursday 20 April 13:00:00 UTC 2017

Three Chinese government agencies are planning to tell Apple to "tighten up checks" on live-streaming software offered on its app store, which can be used to violate internet regulation in the country. "Law enforcement officers had already met with Apple representatives over live-streaming services, [state news agency Xinhua reported], but did not provide details of the meetings," reports The Guardian. … [Link]

New Scientist – News » Drunken crayfish show that loneliness raises alcohol tolerance

Thursday 20 April 12:32:01 UTC 2017

Crayfish forced to be solitary are less affected by alcohol, because being alone appears to alter the way their nerves function [Link]

New Scientist – News » Blood from human babies makes brains of elderly mice young again

Thursday 20 April 12:31:59 UTC 2017

Young blood can rejuvenate the mind. Now a study has identified a protein in umbilical cord blood that can boost memory and brain function in aged mice [Link]

Slashdot » 95% Engineers in India Unfit For Software Development Jobs: Report

Thursday 20 April 12:30:00 UTC 2017

An anonymous reader shares a report: Talent shortage is acute in the IT and data science ecosystem in India with a survey claiming that 95 percent of engineers in the country are not fit to take up software development jobs. According to a study by employability assessment company Aspiring Minds, only 4.77 percent candidates can write the correct logic for … [Link]

Mashable » Stephen Colbert brings back 'Stephen Colbert' to send off Bill O'Reilly

Thursday 20 April 12:28:30 UTC 2017

On Wednesday night, two Stephen Colberts said their goodbyes to disgraced conservative talking head Bill O'Reilly: the Stephen Colbert who currently hosts the Late Show, and the "Stephen Colbert" (largely based on O'Reilly) who used to host The Colbert Report. The goodbyes were pretty different. Here's a hint: one Colbert called O'Reilly "Papa Bear" and the other called him a … [Link]

Mashable » This weed company grows pot for your specific moods

Thursday 20 April 12:00:00 UTC 2017

Green Crack. Cat Piss. Blueberry Lambsbread. Alaskan Thunder Fuck. Sure, names of cannabis strain can be fun, but they're also ridiculous, confusing, and don't usually offer much insight on their effects.  Breaking away from ridiculous strain names, cannabis growers Canndescent created its own classification system by grouping strains into five different categories: Calm, Cruise, Create, Connect, and Charge.  SEE ALSO: The … [Link]

Mashable » 7 effective ways to avoid a high five

Thursday 20 April 12:00:00 UTC 2017

Fair warning ahead. Today is National High Five Day, apparently, so you might be asked to participate in a high five.  Now, you might not want to do this, and that is okay. High fives are a little weird and a little germy. Plus, what if you have sweaty hands? Tricky. SEE ALSO: Always cold? Here's how to make it replace … [Link]

Slashdot » No, Millennials Aren't a Bunch of Job-Hopping Flakes

Thursday 20 April 12:00:00 UTC 2017

From a report: Today, Pew researchers published findings that refute yet another stereotype about millennials that actual millennials find infuriating: the idea that they're job-hopping more often than other generations. According to Pew's analysis of recent government data, "college-educated millennials are sticking with their jobs longer than their Gen X counterparts." Read more of this story at Slashdot. [Link]

Mashable » This hologram David Attenborough is here to teach you all about nature

Thursday 20 April 11:56:54 UTC 2017

It’s possible that you, like us, have always harboured a secret ambition to be best friends with David Attenborough. SEE ALSO: 10 things named after Sir David Attenborough The soothing voice, the look of grandfatherly kindness, the stories of tracking rare species in remote corners of the globe — that's BFF material right there, isn't it? Well, the bad news is … [Link]

Mashable » This hot video-streaming service is breathing down the necks of Netflix and Prime Video

Thursday 20 April 11:32:05 UTC 2017

While Netflix and Amazon Prime are going all out to capture the burgeoning video streaming market in India — a country of 450 million internet users — a homegrown 'challenger' so to speak has slowly emerged as the champion. Hotstar, the two-year-old on-demand video platform from the house of Rupert Murdoch-owned Star TV, has crossed 100 million downloads on Google Play … [Link]

Mashable » HTC will launch its squeezable phone on May 16

Thursday 20 April 11:31:05 UTC 2017

HTC was once the maker of some of the best Android phones on the planet. It still makes solid phones, but after a few uninspiring models and several years of financial troubles, the brand lost a lot of its luster.  Soon, all that could be forgotten, as the company just announced the launch of its new flagship, the HTC U.  SEE … [Link]

Popular Science » Sea cucumbers have a secret superpower

Thursday 20 April 11:30:00 UTC 2017

Animals It looks like a diseased pickle, but looks can be deceiving Named for the long, tubular vegetable with a clean smell and a crisp flavor, the animal looks more like a pickle with an unmentionable skin disease. Read on. [Link]

Mashable » Woman gets glorious TV revenge on man who dumped her via text

Thursday 20 April 11:17:16 UTC 2017

If you've never seen the British dating show First Dates, you haven't truly lived. The show matches up participants based on compatibility and then hosts dates simultaneously in one restaurant.  SEE ALSO: Dating show couple awkwardly argues over who should pay bill, online debate ensues On the show's most recent episode, a woman named Emma was shocked to discover that she … [Link]

Mashable » Tech CEOs are looking more and more like politicians

Thursday 20 April 11:15:00 UTC 2017

Last week, Dennis Mitzner, an Israeli tech journalist, published a blog post on his website claiming an overemphasis on social justice had "contaminated" tech journalism. He grumbled about how a press visit to a Nokia factory had, in his mind, been derailed. Instead of focusing on the company's plans to build a commercial 5G network, the group of journalists fretted over … [Link]

Popular Science » Frog mucus can fight off the flu

Thursday 20 April 11:00:00 UTC 2017

Animals A good kind of slime Mucus can be gross, but it could also create medicine. Read on. [Link]

Mashable » Adorable boyfriend learns how to make engagement ring from scratch for the ultimate proposal

Thursday 20 April 10:39:30 UTC 2017

When Mike Boyd went shopping for an engagement ring for his girlfriend Kim, he couldn't find one that felt quite "right." So, he decided to something a little bit unconventional. He took a jewellery class and learned how to make a diamond engagement ring entirely from scratch, all by himself. And, it turned out beautifully! SEE ALSO: Star Wars fans … [Link]

O'Reilly News and Commentary » #Ebook Deal/Day: Mastering JavaScript Single Page Application Development – $17.99 (Save 50%) Use code DEAL

Thursday 20 April 10:26:40 UTC 2017

Get "Mastering JavaScript Single Page Application Development" today using code DEAL and save 50%!This sale ends at 2:00 AM 2017-04-21 (PDT, GMT-8:00). [Link]

Mashable » Police arrest Chihuahua for jay walking and 2 counts of assault

Thursday 20 April 10:22:20 UTC 2017

Everyone thinks Chihuahua's are small, cuddly and relatively harmless creates. Not so. SEE ALSO: Haughty swan cares little for your train delay, pesky humans Just take this post from the official Facebook account for the Police Service of Northern Ireland shared on Wednesday. If this doesn't convince you that Chihuahuas are actually dangerous thugs committed to a lifetime of heinous criminal … [Link]

Mashable » Nasty homophobic banner at college game gets fought with an uplifting expression of love

Thursday 20 April 10:10:51 UTC 2017

Two women suddenly ambushed a college basketball game this week with a long banner bearing a homophobic message. But a group of mothers have risen up to fight against the hatred. SEE ALSO: China releases surprisingly progressive sex education textbook supporting same-sex couples The initial banner in the now-viral image, was unfurled by two graduate students from the Huazhong University of … [Link]

Slashdot » Qualcomm Collected Partial iPhone Royalties Despite Legal Battle With Apple

Thursday 20 April 10:00:00 UTC 2017

From a report: Qualcomm continued to collect some royalties for Apple's use of its wireless technology in iPhones last year despite dueling lawsuits between the two mobile giants, cheering Qualcomm investors who feared that the payments had entirely dried up. Qualcomm said on Wednesday that Apple's contract manufacturers including Foxconn paid royalties, although they withheld around $1 billion from the … [Link]

Mashable » Hooters to alter iconic uniforms for new outlets so it can be 'family friendly'

Thursday 20 April 9:40:05 UTC 2017

Family friendly isn't exactly the first thing to come to mind when you think of Hooters. But the company, which is opening more than 30 new outlets across Asia, plans to change that — with the help of a new image. SEE ALSO: Hooters Ball Girl Accidentally Ruins Baseball Play According to Neil Bailey, the president of Hooters Asia, he wants … [Link]

Mashable » James Corden and Kevin James throw down an epic angry soccer dad karaoke battle

Thursday 20 April 9:16:19 UTC 2017

Any youth soccer player will know the embarrassment of having a soccer dad. They yell at the referee, coach from the sidelines, and make a scene. SEE ALSO: James Corden jokes about the spying vibrator, making the point that nothing is sacred In the video above, James Corden and Kevin James take on the role of the angry soccer dad … [Link]

Mashable » Starbucks barista goes on spectacularly angry rant about Unicorn Frappuccinos

Thursday 20 April 9:08:17 UTC 2017

The world is well and truly obsessed with unicorns. So much so that Starbucks has just launched a Unicorn Frappuccino to bring unicorn-flavoured drinks to the masses. But one Starbucks employee isn't happy about it.  SEE ALSO: Starbucks has launched a Unicorn Frappuccino to grace the Earth On Wednesday's launch of the new drink, a Starbucks barista took to Twitter … [Link]

Mashable » Watch Korn's 12-year-old bassist casually shred in his tour debut

Thursday 20 April 8:54:20 UTC 2017

When we were 12 years old we were just trying to make it through a day at school.  This kid is up on stage just casually shredding some nu metal. SEE ALSO: Korn still exists and will tour with the 12-year-old son of Metallica's bassist, who has amazing hair Tye Trujillo — the son of Metallica bassist Robert Trujillo — … [Link]

Mashable » MashReads Podcast: Why you should reread 'The Great Gatsby' as an adult

Thursday 20 April 8:44:34 UTC 2017

There are few books that capture the pursuit of — and utter disenchantment with — the American Dream as well as F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby. Written in 1925, The Great Gatsby follows Nick Carroway as he tells the tale of Jay Gatsby, a wealthy yet enigmatic man living on the Long Island Sound struggling to win back the … [Link]

Mashable » Lana Del Rey and The Weeknd's new track is hauntingly catchy

Thursday 20 April 8:42:31 UTC 2017

We were promised a collaboration between Lana Del Rey and The Weeknd, and here it is in all its moody, black-and-white glory. The video above features the two of them sitting on the "H" of the Hollywood sign, whispering to each other while the vocals for "Lust For Life" play in the background. SEE ALSO: Lana Del Ray calls upon … [Link]

Mashable » Rihanna's new jelly slides look like those cheap sandals found all over Asia

Thursday 20 April 8:33:28 UTC 2017

Yet another case of designers making expensive versions of cheap things.  No matter which way you look at them, there's no denying these Rihanna x Puma Fenty Jelly Slides look exactly like the cheap plastic sandals found just about everywhere across Asia.  SEE ALSO: Ikea is 'deeply flattered' by this $2,145 high fashion homage to their humble tote I mean, just … [Link]

Mashable » India bans one of its oldest symbols of VIP culture

Thursday 20 April 8:24:48 UTC 2017

India has banned its most prominent display of VIP culture — the red beacon light atop cars of ministers, government officials and bureaucrats. PM Narendra Modi has said, "Every Indian is special. Every Indian is a VIP."  The ban, effective from May 1, doesn’t exempt even vehicles of the President, Prime Minister and the Chief Justice of India.  SEE ALSO: India's … [Link]

Mashable » Samsung Galaxy S8 shows amazing resilience to abuse in new video

Thursday 20 April 7:57:12 UTC 2017

How much abuse can Samsung's Galaxy S8 take? In most cases, the question is mostly an academic one, as the vast majority of users won't expose their phone to potential damage beyond a few drops and perhaps a brush with the car keys.  But after the disastrous launch of the Galaxy Note7 — a phone Samsung had to pull from the … [Link]

Mashable » North Koreans have been spotted playing volleyball at its nuclear test site

Thursday 20 April 7:55:00 UTC 2017

North Korea's military has been spotted seemingly playing a game of volleyball at the main Punggye-ri nuclear test site. Satellite images of the site appear to show two six-player teams facing each other, with a net between them. Joseph Bermudez, an analyst for non-profit 38 North, which first noticed the pictures, said multiple games were going on at the facility — … [Link]

Mashable » New drone footage gives us the best look at Apple's spaceship campus yet

Thursday 20 April 7:34:11 UTC 2017

Apple’s enormous new campus in Cupertino, dubbed Apple Park, is now nearly completed and expected to open later in April.  And while we certainly don't lack drone footage of the spaceship-like, circular main building of the campus, a new video gives us a solid glimpse of its nearly finished interior, as well as a couple of great night shots.  SEE ALSO: … [Link]

Mashable » Katy Perry's picture of Hindu goddess on Instagram offends Indians

Thursday 20 April 7:03:37 UTC 2017

Katy Perry has invited the wrath of Indians. Much like Snapchat CEO Evan Spiegel did recently. Albeit, for a different reason. The American singer-songwriter is being pilloried for posting a picture of an Indian goddess on Instagram, with the caption 'current mood.'  SEE ALSO: Miranda Kerr is really feeling the wrath of Spiegel's alleged India comments The post has got over … [Link]

Slashdot » South Indian Frog Oozes Molecule That Inexplicably Decimates Flu Viruses

Thursday 20 April 7:00:00 UTC 2017

An anonymous reader quotes a report from Ars Technica: From the slimy backs of a South Indian frog comes a new way to blast influenza viruses. A compound in the frog's mucus — long known to have germ-killing properties — can latch onto flu virus particles and cause them to burst apart, researchers report in Immunity. The peptide is a … [Link]

Mashable » Vandalism and theft are plaguing bike-sharing companies in new cities they go to, too

Thursday 20 April 6:56:00 UTC 2017

It’s been just three months after the first bike-sharing company arrived in Singapore, but reports of abuse and vandalism of shared bikes in the city keep popping up on social media. The majority of these shared bikes are stationless, which means they don't need to be docked at a designated spot. They lock themselves after your ride is over, and you're … [Link]

Mashable » This 420 hydroponic weed shopfront is all substance, no actual drugs

Thursday 20 April 6:24:45 UTC 2017

420 day is here, and in light of the fact that it's still very illegal to smoke or possess cannabis in Australia, a pop-up protest with a difference has emerged. A retail storefront featuring hydroponic weed showed up on Thursday in Sydney's Kings Cross and  rather bold protest slash installation got the internet collective tongue wagging. SEE ALSO: Liquor sales haven't … [Link]

Mashable » 'Sustainable tourism' is not working. Here's how we can change that.

Thursday 20 April 5:09:49 UTC 2017

This year is the United Nations' International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development.  UN World Tourism Organisation Secretary-General Taleb Rifai declared it gave "… a unique opportunity to advance the contribution of the tourism sector to the three pillars of sustainability — economic, social and environmental, while raising awareness of the true dimensions of a sector which is often undervalued." Sustainable … [Link]

Mashable » Atlassian co-founder wasn't about to let this politician 'troll' him on TV

Thursday 20 April 3:42:21 UTC 2017

You know what they say: Talk sh*t, get proverbially hit. Co-founder and co-CEO of Australian startup Atlassian had to issue a Twitter-blow to the nation's immigration minister on Wednesday night, after the politician started running his mouth off. "Wow…did I just get trolled by a govt minister as being un-Australian?" tech billionaire Mike Cannon-Brookes wrote on Twitter after reading about the … [Link]

Mashable » The internet is savaging the rhetoric of 'Australian values,' whatever those are

Thursday 20 April 3:40:48 UTC 2017

Ask someone Down Under what "Australian values" are, and you're likely to get a bit of umming and ahhing. Being a land full of people from around the world and a complex and rich Indigenous history, it's not a question that has a clear answer. Even the country's Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull couldn't pinpoint what exactly "Australian values" are on Wednesday, … [Link]

Slashdot » States Are Moving To Cut College Costs By Introducing Open-Source Textbooks

Thursday 20 April 3:30:00 UTC 2017

In an effort to curb the rising cost of textbooks, which went up by 88% between 2006 and 2016, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Maryland and New York have announced initiatives that adopt open-source, copyright-free textbooks. The initiatives will reward colleges who adapt or scale the use of OER (open educational resources) — "materials like electronic textbooks … [Link]

Mashable » More than 150 tech companies urged a court to shut down Trump's latest travel ban

Thursday 20 April 3:07:38 UTC 2017

Silicon Valley is once again striking out at Donald Trump's immigration policy. More than 160 tech companies asked a federal court on Wednesday to kill the president's latest restrictions on travelers from several Muslim-majority countries, Recode first reported. SEE ALSO: Snap, Uber and Facebook file brief opposing Trump's travel ban Facebook, Google, Amazon, Snap, and Uber are among the many tech … [Link]

Mashable » Now you can order and pay for Subway in Facebook Messenger

Thursday 20 April 2:49:27 UTC 2017

Six-inch, foot long, toasted bread or multi-grain, you can now order it all and pay for it through Facebook Messenger. Subway and partner MasterCard announced this week the immediate availability of a Subway ordering chat bot for Facebook Messenger — one of several mobile payment-enabled food-based chatbots, including ones for Fresh Direct and The Cheesecake Factory. SEE ALSO: Subway swears its … [Link]

Mashable » It's official: Amazon is hitting Australia and local competition is probably screwed

Thursday 20 April 2:36:33 UTC 2017

The moment Australian retailers have dreaded is here.   Amazon is expanding Down Under, opening warehouses that’ll enable cheap, fast local shipping, and letting small businesses sell goods through the site—a development an Amazon employee reportedly said would "destroy the retail environment in Australia."   Shopping on Amazon.com is already available to Australians, but with international shipping and long delivery times, … [Link]

Mashable » Google, the world's top advertising company, is building an ad blocker for Chrome

Thursday 20 April 2:35:55 UTC 2017

Google, the internet's biggest advertising company, may be building an ad blocker. The search giant plans to roll out a feature in the next mobile version of its Chrome browser that would filter out certain types of ads, the Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday.  SEE ALSO: Top ad blocker seeks 'ordinary user' to decide which ads die Such a tool seems … [Link]

Mashable » Instagram will soon work offline on your Android phone

Thursday 20 April 2:28:15 UTC 2017

Facebook is working on a way for Instagram to work offline on Android. At a session at Facebook's F8 developer conference on Tuesday, titled "Building Offline Experiences for Instagram," a software engineer described the new offline mode for Android.  SEE ALSO: Facebook F8 Day 2: AR glasses, brain typing, skin listening, and more 80 percent of Instagram's users are outside of … [Link]

Mashable » Google Maps labels dude's house as a pizzeria and now everyone wants pizza

Thursday 20 April 2:24:17 UTC 2017

Everyone loves pizza, but no one loves strangers coming to one's home and demanding it. So spare a thought for Michael McElwee from Darwin, Australia, whose house keeps being visited by randoms looking for pizza. It's all thanks to an error on Google Maps. SEE ALSO: Rejoice! Oculus Rift owners can now experience the awesomeness of Google Earth VR McElwee told … [Link]

Mashable » Samantha Bee fixes Bill O'Reilly's lame 'apology' in one perfect tweet

Thursday 20 April 2:21:16 UTC 2017

Samantha Bee's response to Bill O'Reilly's statement about being let go from Fox News can be expressed in four letters: FTFY. In a tweet, the Comedy Central host promptly fixed up Bill O'Reilly's statement that went out a few hours after the conservative talk show host was fired from his Fox News show. SEE ALSO: Bill O'Reilly was fired from Fox … [Link]

Mashable » F8 makes it abundantly clear that Facebook has ambitions way beyond your social network

Thursday 20 April 2:10:31 UTC 2017

Facebook is coming for you.  With the social media giant's F8 conference in the rear-view mirror, it is now more clear than ever that what we think of when we think of Facebook — messaging, sharing photos, forming groups, etc. — represents only the beginning of the company's ambitions.  SEE ALSO: Everything you need to know about what Facebook announced at … [Link]

Mashable » Facebook's top VR researcher explains why augmented reality is the future

Thursday 20 April 1:53:03 UTC 2017

Augmented reality is the future because it's a lot more socially acceptable than virtual reality. That was the surprising message from  Chief Oculus Scientist Michael Abrash at F8.  During his portion of the keynote, when many in attendance may have suspected he would dive more deeply into Oculus' latest virtual reality advancements, Abrash instead laid out an ambitious vision for how … [Link]

Mashable » You're gonna need some help recognizing this phishing scam

Thursday 20 April 1:20:58 UTC 2017

How do you spot a phishing scam when the URL looks perfectly legit?  An old phishing technique has recently popped back up in the news, and it has the potential to fool some folks no matter how many times they inspect a URL for typos. SEE ALSO: Your internet data is absolutely a national security issue Phishing works like this: Some … [Link]

Mashable » Russian woman steals YouTube's heart after mastering the green screen

Thursday 20 April 1:11:35 UTC 2017

Move over Casey Neistat, the internet has a new favorite YouTuber.  Tatiana Subbotina, a 62-year-old living in Saint Petersburg, Russia is slowly becoming a YouTube sensation thanks to her hilarious (and slightly ridiculous) green screen videos.  SEE ALSO: Vladimir Putin HATES this meme so much Russia banned it According to BuzzFeed, Subbotina started making videos of herself while living in … [Link]

Mashable » Grown men go through a carwash in an open convertible, just for the LOLs

Thursday 20 April 1:03:39 UTC 2017

They knew exactly how would go down. And yet, they did it anyway. The LOLs are worth it for Australian radio presenters, Hamish and Andy, who sold all their bitcoin (!) in order to buy an old SAAB convertible. Why, you ask? Oh, just to drive it through a carwash on camera.  You know, just to see what that'd be … [Link]

Mashable » Celebs sent 'reminders' by FTC to disclose when they're paid to shill on Instagram

Thursday 20 April 0:56:16 UTC 2017

Federal regulators are putting dozens of celebrities on notice over their sponsored Instagram posts. The Federal Trade Commission said Wednesday that it sent more than 90 letters to stars, athletes and brand marketers whom it claims were not clearly labelling paid social media endorsements.    SEE ALSO: Kardashians accused of not disclosing ads on social media You’ve probably seen these kind … [Link]

New Scientist – News » Isolated crayfish are more resistant to the effects of alcohol

Thursday 20 April 0:30:00 UTC 2017

Crayfish forced to be solitary are less affected by alcohol, because being alone appears to alter the way their nerves function [Link]

Slashdot » First Evidence For Higher State of Consciousness Found

Thursday 20 April 0:30:00 UTC 2017

New submitter baalcat quotes a report from Neuroscience News: Neuroscientists observed a sustained increase in neural signal diversity — a measure of the complexity of brain activity — of people under the influence of psychedelic drugs, compared with when they were in a normal waking state. The diversity of brain signals provides a mathematical index of the level of consciousness. … [Link]

Mashable » Skier eats it going off a jump and flips 7 times before stopping

Thursday 20 April 0:20:21 UTC 2017

Falling in front of a crowd is bad enough, but doing seven cartwheels after eating snow? That's mortifying. Skier Magnolia Neu hit a really sweet jump at the Balls Mountain Range in California this week and ended up wowing the crowd. Sadly, the impressive part was how terrible she botched the landing. SEE ALSO: Endangered snow leopard shocks skiiers on Indian … [Link]

Mashable » Trolls are lashing out at Christian Bale's new movie before it even premieres

Thursday 20 April 0:06:13 UTC 2017

Christian Bale's newest movie is getting hit hard on movie rating site IMDb, because not everyone is down with its portrayal of the Ottoman (now Turkish) government's 1915 mass killings of Armenians.  But with an entire section of the movie's site devoted to spreading the message about the Armenian genocide and other mass killings, the Turkish community is pushing back against … [Link]

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