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.

ProgrammableWeb.com » How Fast are Bitcoin and Blockchain APIs Growing?

Thursday 8 June 23:38:02 UTC 2017

Editor's note: Be sure to check out our research on the overall growth of Web APIs since 2005. At the time of writing, this is the most recent data we have, but check the research page to see if we have a more updated article. We will be continually updating the growth chart. [Link]

Mashable » If you have an older iPhone, you might miss out on some of the new AR fun

Thursday 8 June 23:37:28 UTC 2017

When Apple teased the latest version of its mobile software platform earlier this week at its WWDC event, it confirmed one of our biggest predictions for the company's direction going forward: iOS 11 will come with a new focus on augmented reality. Apple's making a push to get everyone involved in its AR plans with ARKit, a new platform that will … [Link]

Slashdot » Boeing Studies Planes Without Pilots, Plans Experiments Next Year

Thursday 8 June 23:30:00 UTC 2017

"Boeing has begun researching the possibility of commercial-passenger jets that will fly without pilots, using artificial intelligence guiding automated controls to make decisions in flight," reports Seattle Times. The company is planning experimental flights, without passengers, for next year. From the report: "The basic building blocks of the technology are clearly available," said Mike Sinnett, former chief systems engineer on … [Link]

Slashdot » No Known Ransomware Works Against Windows 10 S, Says Microsoft

Thursday 8 June 22:50:00 UTC 2017

An anonymous reader shares a report: According to Microsoft, "no Windows 10 customers were known to be compromised by the recent WannaCry (WannaCrypt) global cyberattack." That's great news for anyone running the latest version of the OS, and the software giant says it is working to ensure Windows 10 remains safe from other future attacks. However, if you want to … [Link]

Mashable » Uber's CEO reportedly sent out rules for sex between employees before a 2013 party

Thursday 8 June 22:31:59 UTC 2017

Who would have guessed that a company under investigation for chronic sexual harassment would have distributed guidelines for sex between employees before a party in Miami? According to a report in Recode, Uber CEO Travis Kalanick sent an email outlining those rules before Uber celebrated launching in its 50th city in 2013. In a note reportedly known as the "Miami letter," … [Link]

Slashdot » Amazon Kills Off Unlimited Cloud Storage Option For Amazon Drive

Thursday 8 June 22:30:00 UTC 2017

Coldeagle writes: It looks like Amazaon is killing off it's unlimited storage plan and replacing it with a 1 TB plan for the same monthly cost. USA Today reports: "Amazon had the best deal in online storage — unlimited backup for $59.99 — but now unlimited is out. It has been replaced with tiered pricing, the system used by Amazon's … [Link]

Mashable » Brave woman catches massive snake with a pillowcase like it's NBD

Thursday 8 June 22:28:35 UTC 2017

Some people might be horrified to find a mouse in their living room, let alone a snake. SunShine McCurry of North Carolina seemed unfazed when she discovered a massive snake in her own home. In a video, she simply sneaks up on the reptile, and wraps it in a pillowcase like a real OG.  It's hard not to share McCurry's … [Link]

Mashable » For the first time ever, a video game trailer has qualified for an Oscar

Thursday 8 June 22:23:58 UTC 2017

Honestly, for me the flip-flopping bears would've qualified it for an Oscar alone — but this qualification is a lot more legitimate than just my feelings for animated bears. Of course, Everything and its 10-minute gameplay trailer (up top) won't win a Best Picture Academy Award (aside from any kind of La La Land, Golden Globes mix-up joke someone feels … [Link]

Popular Science » The Drone Federalism Act would shift regulation to state and local governments

Thursday 8 June 22:21:00 UTC 2017

Military The FAA would serve as a liaison between local governments and the national drone air traffic management system. Drone Federalism Act would shift regulation to state and local governments. Read on. [Link]

Mashable » This couple got a pretty rotten surprise from UberEats

Thursday 8 June 22:11:29 UTC 2017

Everyone hates the wait between ordering food and the food actually arriving. So, you can imagine the dismay one Toronto couple experienced when their UberEATS order resulted in a couple of extremely old, smelly sandwiches being delivered to their door.  Anna Kotlikova and Blake Weinzettl ordered pizza and soda from a nearby restaurant, Montana's, this weekend through UberEATS but instead received … [Link]

Slashdot » EU Seeks New Powers To Obtain Data 'Directly' From Tech Firms

Thursday 8 June 22:10:00 UTC 2017

Zack Whittaker reports via ZDNet: European authorities are seeking new powers to allow police and intelligence agencies to directly obtain user data stored on the continent by U.S. tech companies. The move comes in the wake of an uptick in terrorist attacks, including several attacks in Britain and France, among others across the bloc. Tech companies have been asked to … [Link]

Popular Science » Bosch plans to use radar sensors in millions of cars to make better maps

Thursday 8 June 22:00:54 UTC 2017

Technology It would be a big help for autonomous vehicles. Maps of the future may get an accuracy boost, thanks to a new partnership between Bosch and mapping company TomTom. Read on. [Link]

Mashable » We want your honest loyalty about these posters we designed for 'Trump-Comey: The Movie'

Thursday 8 June 21:58:27 UTC 2017

James Comey's testimony may never bring President Trump down or save our democracy from crumbling into the earth, but, hey, let's look at the bright side: at least it'll make a pretty good movie. The former FBI director's prepared remarks were rich with political intrigue, shadowy subtext and a bunch of random clock references. It's the perfect cocktail for an enjoyably … [Link]

Mashable » 15 products to satisfy your 'Wonder Woman' obsession

Thursday 8 June 21:44:26 UTC 2017

Just to let you know, if you buy something featured here, Mashable might earn an affiliate commission. Wonder Woman finally got the superhero movie she deserves — and we couldn’t be more pumped about it. This Amazonian princess gives us all the feels — and proves that justice will always trump hate.  For all of those who left the theater feeling … [Link]

Mashable » John McCain's bizarre excuse for making no sense at the Comey hearing

Thursday 8 June 21:42:25 UTC 2017

The American people are easily distracted. But surely — surely! — our esteemed lawmakers in Congress wouldn't get distracted by a frivolous entertainment spectacle the night before a hearing in which the very future of America could be at stake.  If only.  Now let's all incredulously sad-cry together after John McCain's bizarre questioning of James Comey on Thursday in Washington, D.C. … [Link]

Mashable » The internet has the hots for James Comey

Thursday 8 June 21:39:13 UTC 2017

“Comey Day" had some big revealing moments…but the internet only had eyes for Comey, literally. The tweet reax are absurd.  Read more…More about News, Twitter, Politics, Russia, and Mashable Video [Link]

Popular Science » China is building the world's fastest amphibious fighting vehicle

Thursday 8 June 21:31:28 UTC 2017

From Our Blogs: Eastern Arsenal 30 miles per hour on water. The North China Institute of Vehicle Research has built an armored car that can swim at speeds of up to 50 kilometers per hour (faster than some warships). [Link]

Slashdot » US Ranks 28th In the World In Average Wireless Broadband Speeds

Thursday 8 June 21:30:00 UTC 2017

An anonymous reader quotes a report from DSLReports: The United States is 28th in terms of wireless broadband data speeds, according to the latest Akamai state of the internet report (pdf, hat tip ReCode). According to the data collected by the company, the United States average mobile broadband speed is now a not-entirely unrespectable 10.7 Mbps. But that speed pales … [Link]

Mashable » Free book downloads are here to help New Yorkers ignore each other on the subway

Thursday 8 June 21:24:02 UTC 2017

Looking for something to help you pass the time on the subway? New Yorkers just got a great (and free!) new option. SEE ALSO: Stuck subway passengers throw impromptu graduation for student missing his ceremony Starting Thursday, commuters can take advantage of the Subway Library, a joint effort between the New York Public Library, Brooklyn Public Library, Queens Library, the MTA, … [Link]

Mashable » 9 pool floats you need right now

Thursday 8 June 21:04:11 UTC 2017

Just to let you know, if you buy something featured here, Mashable might earn an affiliate commission. You heard it here first: No pool party is complete this summer without an epic float. We can all thank the infamous swan model for adding some much needed spice to the inflatable scene and inspiring Instagram posts everywhere.  Whether you want to refrain … [Link]

Mashable » Family throws elaborate quinceañera for their 15-year-old cat

Thursday 8 June 21:04:00 UTC 2017

Pets are a part of our families, and we will go to the end of the earth and beyond to make them feel that way.  So, when Luna the cat from Charlotte, North Carolina, turned 15 (!!), she got the party she always dreamed of: an extravagant, pink quinceañera. A quinceañera is a celebration of a girl's 15th birthday with cultural … [Link]

Mashable » Katy Perry accuses Taylor Swift of 'character assassination.' Sounds a lot like Taylor Swift!

Thursday 8 June 20:56:42 UTC 2017

If Katy Perry would like to be excluded from the "Bad Blood" narrative, it's far too late for that. In her new NME cover story, she explained why she chose to respond in the first place.  “I mean, I’m not Buddha — things irritate me. I wish that I could turn the other cheek every single time, but I’m also not … [Link]

Slashdot » It's Been So Windy in Europe That Electricity Prices Have Turned Negative

Thursday 8 June 20:50:00 UTC 2017

An anonymous reader writes: It's been very windy across Europe this week. So much so, in fact, that the high wind load on onshore and offshore wind turbines across much of the continent has helped set new wind power records. For starters, renewables generated more than half of Britain's energy demand on Wednesday — for the first time ever. In … [Link]

Mashable » The best marketers are mad scientists

Thursday 8 June 20:48:07 UTC 2017

We’ve come a long way since the Mad Men era of marketing and advertising. The modern marketer is as much mad scientist as inspired creative, thanks to the proliferation of data and tools to access and analyze it. Just as inventor Thomas Edison was able to run 10,000 different experiments, changing a little something here, a little something there, until he … [Link]

Mashable » You can now check in and fly out of Dubai's airport with just your phone as ID

Thursday 8 June 20:42:05 UTC 2017

Need ID while traveling out of Dubai? There's an app for that. UAE Wallet is a new app now available on the Apple App Store and could replace physical identification documents for United Arab Emirates residents flying out of Dubai and other airports. SEE ALSO: Facial recognition technology is taking over airports: Your face is your new boarding pass With the … [Link]

Mashable » China just built the world's biggest floating solar project

Thursday 8 June 20:19:45 UTC 2017

China has installed a massive field of solar panels on a particularly poignant site: a lake formed by the collapse of abandoned coal mines. The world's largest floating solar project can produce enough power to light up a nearby city in China's eastern Anhui province. The local government wants to expand the initiative to more than a dozen sites, which together … [Link]

Mashable » Has Elon Musk finally … cracked?

Thursday 8 June 20:12:00 UTC 2017

Hey Elon? Buddy? Is everything OK? I know things have been pretty hectic lately, what with Model 3 production in high gear, all that talk of Mars, and the throes of young love making the world seem so fresh and new, but you're the CEO of three companies.  You've got to keep it together.   SEE ALSO: Help, we're worried about … [Link]

Slashdot » Malware Uses Obscure Intel CPU Feature To Steal Data and Avoid Firewalls

Thursday 8 June 20:10:00 UTC 2017

An anonymous reader writes: Microsoft's security team has come across a malware family that uses Intel's Active Management Technology (AMT) Serial-over-LAN (SOL) interface as a file transfer tool. The problem with Intel AMT SOL is that it's part of Intel's ME, a separate chip inside Intel CPUs that runs its own OS and stays on even when the main CPU … [Link]

Mashable » Leaking anonymously is hard. Here's how to do it right, and not get caught.

Thursday 8 June 20:08:59 UTC 2017

So you've decided to become a leaker.  Be it government corruption, corporate malfeasance, evidence of Russian hacking, or just some garden-variety, messed up shit someone wants to stay under wraps—a secret caught your eye, and you've decided it needs to be exposed.  But how to do it without getting burned in the process? SEE ALSO: When it comes to online security, … [Link]

Mashable » These futuristic contact lenses could record video in a blink of an eye

Thursday 8 June 20:08:00 UTC 2017

Tech giants Sony, Google, and Samsung have filed patents for smart contact lenses that take photos, record video, display information and more. Read more…More about Google, Samsung, Technology, Sony, and Photos [Link]

ProgrammableWeb.com » Zenedge Launches API Security Solution with SDK

Thursday 8 June 20:05:16 UTC 2017

Zenedge, an AI-powered cybersecurity products provider, has announced the launch of Zenedge API Security, a product designed to protect APIs from DDoS attacks and malicious bots while allowing for legitimate API traffic. [Link]

Mashable » Trump's legal team apparently doesn't know how to use spell-check

Thursday 8 June 19:59:23 UTC 2017

All across the country, middle school English teachers are crying.  After James Comey's jaw-dropping testimony today, President Trump's legal team responded by dropping a few jaws of their own. Not by providing a resounding defense — that, for now, seems impossible —  but by releasing a statement that included a dramatic misspelling in the first line. SEE ALSO: Wow, James Comey's … [Link]

Slashdot » China Arrests Apple Distributors Who Made Millions on iPhone Data

Thursday 8 June 19:30:00 UTC 2017

An anonymous reader shares a report: Police in China's Zhejiang province have arrested 22 (apparently third-party) Apple distributors for allegedly selling iPhone user data. Officials say the workers searched an internal Apple database for sensitive info, such as Apple IDs and phone numbers, and peddled it on the black market for between 10 to 180 yuan with each sale ($1.50 … [Link]

Mashable » And now, 12 of the best quotes from the Comey hearing

Thursday 8 June 19:12:36 UTC 2017

Lordy, seagull, priest — what a day it's been. On Thursday former FBI Director James Comey took the hot seat to testify to the Senate Intelligence Committee about his interactions with President Trump. And somehow, someway, the hearing resulted in a bunch of stellar new catchphrases the world can now use to respond to most every situation imaginable. SEE ALSO: James … [Link]

Mashable » J.R. Smith tweets, then deletes, 'Cavs in 7' with Cleveland on brink of NBA Finals defeat

Thursday 8 June 19:08:56 UTC 2017

Oh, J.R. Smith. NBA fans love the Cleveland Cavs' shooting guard for reasons both ridiculous and poignant.  Which is why a tweet posted then deleted from Smith's account after the Warriors beat Cleveland in Game 3 of the NBA Finals could only have come from him.  But this time, he says, it wasn't him.  SEE ALSO: Sorry to kill your buzz … [Link]

Mashable » Comey got in a lot of a jabs during the biggest hearing of 2017

Thursday 8 June 19:05:40 UTC 2017

Former FBI Director James Comey spoke a lot of words during his hearing before the Senate Intelligence Committee on Thursday, some of which were quite juicy. He appeared before the committee to talk about what led to his firing by President Donald Trump, and had some choice words for the president (as well as a few others). SEE ALSO: All hail … [Link]

Popular Science » Dogs and wolves both get sad when you don’t treat them fairly

Thursday 8 June 18:50:33 UTC 2017

Animals They’re all such good boys! What do you mean he gets meat and I get kibble? I'm done with this game. [Link]

Mashable » This adorable chatbot wants to talk about your mental health

Thursday 8 June 18:50:25 UTC 2017

When you launch Woebot in Facebook Messenger, the chatbot's cerulean blue eyes peer out from the screen. He looks concerned, a little quizzical. He invites you to chat.  Within a few messages he explains his purpose: "So here's how I work, I'm going to ask you about your mood and as I get to know you, I'll teach you some good … [Link]

Slashdot » Theresa May Says UK Will 'Tear Up' Human Rights Laws If Needed For Terror Fight

Thursday 8 June 18:50:00 UTC 2017

Hours ahead of the UK general election, the prime minister and Conservative party leader Theresa May proposed to "tear up" human rights law which, she asserts, stops her government dealing effectively with terrorism. From a report: She said she wants to do more to restrict the freedom of those posing a threat and to deport foreign suspects. The UK could … [Link]

Mashable » This startup wants to be the QVC of your smartphone

Thursday 8 June 18:46:24 UTC 2017

Eric Feng thinks he's found the perfect intersection of media and online retail, and it's, well, a little outside the box. The former Hulu executive and Kleiner Perkins partner is launching a new shopping platform built entirely around an obsession among certain parts of the internet with so-called "unboxing" videos. SEE ALSO: The future of retail is permanent pop-up shops, according … [Link]

Mashable » There's a new ring of power in Tolkien's 'Lord of the Rings' universe

Thursday 8 June 18:43:50 UTC 2017

Middle-earth: Shadow of War's first story trailer dropped today, revealing a handful of amazing new items and characters to entice Lord of the Rings nerds.  Shadow of War's newest trailer includes looks at a new ring of power (wielded by the protagonist Talion), the Nazgûl, the army of the dead, a great spider that could be Shelob, and a balrog.  … [Link]

Mashable » 'Game of Thrones' Season 7 finale will be the show's longest episode ever

Thursday 8 June 18:37:56 UTC 2017

We're all panicked about having seven Game of Thrones episodes this season instead of the usual 10, and while they aren't fully making up for lost time, there's hope yet. The episodes are all around one-hour exactly, and the final two are the longest the show has ever had.  SEE ALSO: Will 'Game of Thrones' Season 7 feature super-sized episodes? … [Link]

Mashable » Mom gets a little too excited when her baby says 'mama' for the first time

Thursday 8 June 18:29:34 UTC 2017

A child's first words can be a heartwarming and exciting moment for a parent. And according to this video, it can be a terrifying and scarring video for the kid.  This mother was hoping to catch her baby say the word "mama" for the very first time, but when it actually happened, she was not prepared in the slightest.  "Ahh! … [Link]

Mashable » How 3D printing could save the lives of astronauts in space

Thursday 8 June 18:28:46 UTC 2017

When you sign on to be an astronaut, you put a lot on the line. Coupled with chance of disaster before even leaving the planet, you run a high risk of developing cardiovascular disease from weightlessness and space radiation — just one of the many factors you probably didn’t think about when you were a kid, daydreaming about stepping onto the … [Link]

Mashable » Honda's finally going in on self-driving car development

Thursday 8 June 18:26:10 UTC 2017

Self-driving car development is potentially the biggest trend gripping the automotive world, and unsurprisingly, nearly every major automaker has outlined some sort of bold strategy to be among the first autonomous systems to hit the roads. Honda, one of the biggest automakers in the world, has been one of the least active players in the game.  A recent report ranking the … [Link]

Mashable » Sex discrimination lawsuits pile up in Silicon Valley—and there's no end in sight

Thursday 8 June 18:17:20 UTC 2017

Even for a Silicon Valley sexual harassment lawsuit, the case against UploadVR contains some bizarre details. Among the various sordid allegations from the company's former head of social media, the company's San Francisco office had a room with a bed dubbed the "kink room." That's just one of the pieces of a lawsuit that alleges sexual harassment and discrimination at the … [Link]

Slashdot » Former FBI Director Admitted He Was the Source Of At Least One Leak To the Press

Thursday 8 June 18:10:00 UTC 2017

Shortly after his dismissal as head of the FBI, James Comey authorized "a close friend" to leak the contents of his memos to the press in order to prompt a special counsel investigation, he said today. From a report: Former FBI Director James Comey testified that he asked a friend, a law professor at Columbia University, to leak details of … [Link]

Mashable » Kevin Durant and Steph Curry's moms adorably celebrated their sons' Game 3 win together

Thursday 8 June 18:06:27 UTC 2017

The Golden State Warriors took unquestioned command of the NBA Finals on Wednesday night by narrowly beating the Cleveland Cavaliers to take a 3-0 lead in the series.  But Warriors stars Steph Curry and Kevin Durant aren't the only ones pumped to be just one win from the title. So are their moms, who were caught in an adorable postgame celebration … [Link]

Mashable » Twitch is (rightfully) banning people for streaming while driving

Thursday 8 June 18:02:04 UTC 2017

Twitch streamers who make the stupid and dangerous decision to stream while driving are being banned by Twitch. A string of Twitch streamers who use the IRL category (which stands for "in real life" and doesn't require streamers to be playing a video game) have been banned over the past few weeks, Kotaku noticed. Although the ban reasons listed were not … [Link]

Mashable » A Russia-linked cyber espionage group used a Britney Spears Instagram to spread malware

Thursday 8 June 18:01:17 UTC 2017

A sophisticated hacking group believed to be connected with the Russian government appears to have tested some new malware … in the comments of a Britney Spears Instagram photo.  *sigh* 2017. SEE ALSO: Meet the 20-somethings who halted a worldwide cyberattack Information technology research group ESET spotted the malware hiding in a comment that looks pretty much like any other spam … [Link]

Mashable » Teens are coming together to send Ramadan cards to every mosque in the U.S.

Thursday 8 June 17:54:01 UTC 2017

Get out your safety scissors and crayons —it's time to make greeting cards in the spirit of celebration and inclusion. In a new campaign called Sincerely, Us, youth social change organization DoSomething.org is encouraging non-Muslim Americans to send cards to mosques during Ramadan. It's an effort to combat Islamophobia, and celebrate the holy month with Muslim neighbors. SEE ALSO: Striking portrait … [Link]

Mashable » 'Orange is the New Black': Where everyone left off

Thursday 8 June 17:47:14 UTC 2017

How do you keep track of a show with as many characters and backstories as Orange is the New Black? It's 2017 — you don't have to leave it to memory. To gear up for Season 5, we run down the core characters of Netflix's addictive prison dramedy, so get ready to play catch up and then binge away your weekend. … [Link]

Popular Science » How to binge-watch Netflix without ruining your sleep

Thursday 8 June 17:43:58 UTC 2017

DIY Have your screen time and sleep time too. Watching too many Netflix episodes too late at night can seriously mess up your sleep patterns and your health—but it doesn't have to be that way. [Link]

Mashable » Neil deGrasse Tyson reveals another moral dilemma

Thursday 8 June 17:30:08 UTC 2017

Why we should send people to space instead of robots. Read more…More about Space, Science, Robots, Mashable Video, and Space Video [Link]

Mashable » The top 5 most over-the-top employee benefits from tech companies

Thursday 8 June 17:30:06 UTC 2017

I’ve seen my fair share of company benefits after 10+ years recruiting for tech companies. Tech Startups in San Francisco are known for having extensive benefits from daily lunches to paid gym memberships or free monthly massages. Before I share some of the coolest benefits I’ve come across, I have a word of advice for new companies…  Before offering I’ve learned from experience … [Link]

New Scientist – News » Fetuses turn to follow face-like shapes while in the womb

Thursday 8 June 17:30:00 UTC 2017

Newborn babies preferentially look at faces. Now fetuses have been seen tracking a face-like pattern, suggesting this ability develops by the third trimester [Link]

Slashdot » Lowe's To Lay Off About 125 Workers, Move Jobs To India

Thursday 8 June 17:30:00 UTC 2017

An anonymous reader shares a report: Home improvement retailer Lowe's says it's laying off approximately 125 information technology workers, the third round of job cuts this year. Chief Information Officer Paul Ramsay said in a memo that the affected workers were notified Wednesday. He said the Mooresville, North Carolina-based company has spent the last several years planning a strategic IT … [Link]

New Scientist – News » Artificial whisky taster has the palate of a connoisseur

Thursday 8 June 17:30:00 UTC 2017

A technique involving fluorescent dyes can tell the age and origin of different spirits, and a fake from the genuine article – much like a whisky taster’s tongue [Link]

Popular Science » The oldest fossils of our species just got older

Thursday 8 June 17:05:51 UTC 2017

Science These possible Homo sapiens help confirm humanity's history. New fossil findings may help write our species' origin story—if we can agree on what it means to be human. Read on. [Link]

Mashable » Curatio wants to be Tinder plus Facebook for health and disease communities

Thursday 8 June 17:01:46 UTC 2017

Anyone going through a health crisis or living with a chronic condition is familiar with the same struggle: you want to find people who understand what's going on in your life, but to find those people, you'd probably have to share information about your health more widely than is comfortable.  Curatio is trying to solve both those problems. The social app … [Link]

Mashable » Please make your day better with this supercut of a nice dad saying 'Huh?'

Thursday 8 June 16:51:03 UTC 2017

Every dad has his own charming quality, like being a master of puns or always calling you 'bud.' This YouTuber caught onto his Kansas City father-in-law's charming penchant for saying "Hmm?" and "Huh?" whenever he's called. The way he says "huh" makes you know he's really interested in what you're about to say. Like you can tell this dad your … [Link]

Slashdot » Amazon Lent $1 Billion To Merchants To Boost Sales On Its Marketplace

Thursday 8 June 16:50:00 UTC 2017

An anonymous reader shares a report: Amazon.com Inc has stepped up lending to third-party sellers on its site who are looking to grow their business, a company executive said in an interview on Wednesday. The e-commerce giant has doled out more than $1 billion in small loans to sellers in the past 12 months, compared with more than $1.5 billion … [Link]

Mashable » Those weird '4:44' ads actually tease a Mahershala Ali and Lupita Nyong’o film

Thursday 8 June 16:41:18 UTC 2017

Tidal put all 4:44 rumors to rest when a trailer for a new film aired during Game 3 of the NBA Finals on Wednesday night.  While it's unfortunate that 4:44 doesn't seem to mean a new Jay-Z album is imminent, or any of these theories, it does mean that we will get a mysterious project from a Tidal and Sprint partnership, … [Link]

New Scientist – News » Fortified gas marbles are 10 times stronger than regular bubbles

Thursday 8 June 16:32:00 UTC 2017

Bubbles reinforced with an external layer of particles can hold their shape under pressure – which may help in making stronger foams and in drug delivery [Link]

Mashable » Amazon Drive no longer offers an unlimited cloud storage plan

Thursday 8 June 16:31:38 UTC 2017

Amazon no longer offers its unlimited storage deal for Amazon Drive, a change that becomes effective Thursday. Previously, the company offered unlimited cloud storage at $60 per year, or unlimited photo storage for $12 per year, which was one of the best deals available.  SEE ALSO: Inside Amazon’s first New York City Bookstore The new plans include 100 GB for $11.99, … [Link]

Mashable » Lit AF peacock gets away with breaking $500 worth of liquor

Thursday 8 June 16:27:48 UTC 2017

It’s time we start holding birds accountable for their actions. On Monday, a peahen (a female peacock) walked into a Los Angeles-area liquor store and made its home there for 90 minutes, according to the Associated Press. SEE ALSO: Pelican in a cop car wants you to know this isn't what it looks like Though that's a long time to browse … [Link]

Mashable » The iPhone's volume indicator will finally stop killing your videos with iOS 11

Thursday 8 June 16:25:47 UTC 2017

Here’s a scenario all iPhone users are familiar with: You're watching a video of, lets say, a guy getting flattened by a gigantic water balloon and decide the volume is just a smidge too loud. You go to turn down the volume on your iPhone … only to have the volume display cover the entire center of your screen, leaving you … [Link]

Mashable » Good internet samaritan will tweet your rude subtweet so you don't have to

Thursday 8 June 16:19:10 UTC 2017

When the urge to subtweet is too great to bear, step back, take a deep breath and DM someone who'll do it for you. Good samaritan Corey Kindberg put out a call on his personal Twitter account for subtweets that people are too afraid to tweet themselves.  SEE ALSO: Yeah, the Tinder pick up line from Master of None? It probably … [Link]

Mashable » Ouch. James Comey broke a date with his wife to have that awful dinner with Trump.

Thursday 8 June 16:16:27 UTC 2017

Read more… {"player":{"descript~ choose the president over your beloved wife.","image":&quot~ James Comey broke a date with his wife to have that awful dinner with Trump.","sources":[{~ trump,sex and relationships,james comey,russia investigation","sec0&quot~ trump,sex and relationships,james comey,russia investigation","videoSeri~ More about Donald Trump, Sex And Relationships, James Comey, Russia Investigation, and Culture [Link]

Mashable » 'Wonder Woman' keeps kicking butt, becomes most-tweeted movie of 2017

Thursday 8 June 16:13:59 UTC 2017

Diana Prince keeps setting superhuman records. Not only did Wonder Woman rake in millions and become the biggest box office debut for a female director ever, it also became the most-tweeted about movie of the year with more than 2.19 million tweets, according to Twitter.  SEE ALSO: The swoon-worthy romance of 'Wonder Woman' is a rarity in superhero movies When … [Link]

Mashable » Glow-in-the-dark doughnuts are here to solve your late-night eating woes

Thursday 8 June 16:12:52 UTC 2017

Have you ever really wanted a doughnut, but thought to yourself, "Ugh, it's just way too dark to eat one right now. I can't see a thing?" Well now a pastry shop in Australia is solving all your problems. Black Star Pastry has created Glonuts —  glow-in-the-dark doughnuts that may as well be brewed up in a bubbling cauldron somewhere. Happy … [Link]

Mashable » Artist builds gentle giants from scrap wood and hides them throughout his city

Thursday 8 June 16:10:58 UTC 2017

Thomas Dambo is a scavenger artists who transforms scrap wood into giant sculptures resembling friendly creatures. In his latest project, he hid six giants in the outskirts of Copenhagen, Denmark, hoping to encourage people to go out and explore their natural surroundings. Read more…More about Sculpture, Activism, Artist, Wooden, and Recycling [Link]

Slashdot » What the Hell Is Happening To Cryptocurrency Valuations?

Thursday 8 June 16:10:00 UTC 2017

The investment category of cryptocurrencies hit a new milestone this week, one that would have been unfathomable just a couple of years ago: $100 billion in combined market capitalization. The break above the 12-digit threshold is largely attributable to bitcoin, which is by far the largest digital currency in the still-nascent category, and which has been on a tear lately. … [Link]

Mashable » 'The Witcher 3' developer the victim of a data breach, ransom demanded

Thursday 8 June 16:01:43 UTC 2017

CD Projekt Red, the developer behind the Witcher series, has admitted to being the victim of a data breach. One or more unidentified hackers obtained files relating to — potentially among other things — the upcoming, largely mysterious game, Cyberpunk 2077. The perpetrators then reached out to CDPR to demand a ransom, under the threat of releasing the stolen data publicly. … [Link]

New Scientist – News » Bacteria release aphrodisiacs that put others in mood for sex

Thursday 8 June 16:01:00 UTC 2017

Eros protein is the first evidence that bacteria regulate mating of other, non-bacterial creatures [Link]

Popular Science » This online course bundle helps you master JavaScript for under $40

Thursday 8 June 16:00:03 UTC 2017

Sponsored Post Learn the MEAN stack, Angularjs and more for just $38. This online course bundle helps you master JavaScript for under $40. Learn the MEAN stack, Angularjs and more for just $38. Read on. [Link]

Popular Science » Scientists use glowing dyes to spot fake whiskey

Thursday 8 June 16:00:00 UTC 2017

Science This technique can even identify the drink’s origin, blend, age, and taste. By adding whiskey to different vials of dyes that glow under black light, we can create unique patterns of fluorescence that identifies the whiskey by origin, blend,… [Link]

Mashable » Nowhere on Facebook is safe from ads—including instant articles

Thursday 8 June 16:00:00 UTC 2017

The Guardian is out. So is The New York Times. SEE ALSO: Facebook is going to do something about those terrible ads on your website Facebook has failed to keep the two of the most reputable newspapers on board with Instant Articles, the publishing platform where articles are uploaded directly to the social network. But Facebook is not giving up. On … [Link]

Mashable » James Comey speaks for all of America: 'Lordy, I hope there are tapes.'

Thursday 8 June 15:42:02 UTC 2017

Read more… {"player":{"descript~ Comey DGAF.","image":&quot~ Comey speaks for all of America: 'Lordy, I hope there are tapes.'","sources&quo~ trump,fbi,james comey,tapes,fbi director,russia investigation,comey hearing","sec0":null~ trump,fbi,james comey,tapes,fbi director,russia investigation,comey hearing","videoSeriesName~ More about Conversations, Politics, Donald Trump, Fbi, and James Comey [Link]

Mashable » James Comey finally lets his emo side show during his testimony

Thursday 8 June 15:37:38 UTC 2017

President Trump was wrong about former FBI Director James Comey: he's no showboat, he's just a 6'8" emo teen. Comey delivered a surprisingly emotional testimony on Thursday, making a special appeal to his former staff at the FBI. Comey spoke lovingly of the institution and the people who worked in it — and it was strangely hard not to tear up, … [Link]

Mashable » 99-million-year-old bird fossil has been found preserved in amber and it's truly exquisite

Thursday 8 June 15:35:25 UTC 2017

We might just be one step closer to a real life Jurassic Park scenario. A three-inch fossil of a 99-million-year-old baby bird was found in an amber mine in Myanmar.  SEE ALSO: T. rex might not have been fluffy, after all The hatchling is the most complete bird preserved in amber that has ever been found from the Cretaceous period, about … [Link]

Mashable » At this secretive class, students learn the art of web hacking

Thursday 8 June 15:32:02 UTC 2017

Forget algebra. Forget textbooks. This is education for the digital era. The students of Practical Hacking are learning the tools and techniques that hackers use to infiltrate websites and networks. What they do with that knowledge is up to them. Identities have been concealed per request. Read more… More about Tech, Web, Technology, Security, and Internet [Link]

Slashdot » With Essential, 'Already a Unicorn', Andy Rubin Wants To Disrupt the Apple-Samsung 'Duopoly'

Thursday 8 June 15:30:00 UTC 2017

Bloomberg reported on Wednesday that Essential, Andy Rubin's new startup, has added $300 million to its war chest as it looks to break into the highly competitive field of consumer electronics. The financing round valued Essential at $900 million to $1 billion, according to an analysis by Equidate, which runs a market for private company stock. In an interview, Rubin, … [Link]

Mashable » Prepare yourself for a mini Ryan Lochte, world: He's officially a dad

Thursday 8 June 15:25:36 UTC 2017

Is Ryan Lochte psyched about fatherhood? Jeah he is! The Olympic swimmer and his fiancée, Kayla Rae Reid, have welcomed their first child, a son named Caiden Zane. "Never seen a miracle before," Lochte wrote on Instagram. "Until this morning." SEE ALSO: Say hello to your favorite 2032 Olympic swimmer, Boomer Phelps Caiden Zane Lochte. #miracle #babyboy A post shared by … [Link]

Mashable » 88-year-old UK daredevil breaks record for oldest female plane wing walker

Thursday 8 June 15:24:22 UTC 2017

If you have a fear of flying, you'll most likely not enjoy wing-walking, but you will definitely be impressed by it. Death-defying wonder woman Betty Bromage just broke the record for the oldest female wing-walker in the UK at age 88. SEE ALSO: 6 non-superhero female characters who are still as kickass as Wonder Woman Wing-walking, for those who like to … [Link]

Mashable » Something pretty shady happens when you Google the ginger emoji

Thursday 8 June 15:22:50 UTC 2017

The battle to get a redhead emoji added to keyboards has certainly not been without impassioned debate. But, now it seems Google might have waded into the ginger emoji discussion with a rather shady message.  SEE ALSO: An online petition is pleading with Apple to add a redhead emoji If you're an iPhone user with Gboard enabled on your keyboard, something … [Link]

Mashable » James Comey is our newest sex symbol. Wait, what?

Thursday 8 June 15:19:50 UTC 2017

Move over, Justin Trudeau, there's a new sexy politician in town.  Since former FBI Director James Comey was fired by President Trump, he's emerged as an unlikely savior of American democracy, but now he's also emerged as an unlikely new sex symbol. Just moments into his hot fire testimony before the Senate Intelligence Committee on Thursday, the good people of the … [Link]

Mashable » Watch Rihanna visit schools in Malawi to advocate for better education for students

Thursday 8 June 15:11:42 UTC 2017

Rihanna is a citizen of the world and wants to do as much to help it as possible. Not only is Rihanna the founder of Clara Lionel Foundation, the pop star is also an ambassador for the Global Partnership for Education. It is on behalf of these two organizations and Global Citizen that Rihanna visited Malawi earlier this year to … [Link]

Mashable » The Weird World of Back Cracking Videos

Thursday 8 June 15:08:08 UTC 2017

Read more…More about Youtube, Mashable Reels, Back Cracking Videos, and Culture [Link]

Mashable » Once upon a time Apple made sneakers and they could cost you $15K

Thursday 8 June 15:05:25 UTC 2017

When you think of Apple, the first thing that comes to mind might not be fashion. However, Apple did, in fact, dip into the clothing industry in the '80s and '90s, and now a pair of its vintage shoes could be yours … for a price. Heritage Auction House plans to put the Apple Computer Sneakers, which they say are from … [Link]

Mashable » 'House of Cards' Twitter account sums up Comey hearing in one perfect GIF

Thursday 8 June 15:05:12 UTC 2017

Former FBI Director James Comey's Senate hearing on Thursday had all the appearances of must-see TV: A big lead up, dramatic characters, and potentially game-changing plot twists. All it was missing was the benefit of actually being a TV show, but Frank Underwood would never let that stop him. SEE ALSO: Actual politics has caught up to and surpassed 'House of … [Link]

Mashable » Students rant about ridiculously confusing exam with hilarious memes

Thursday 8 June 15:00:14 UTC 2017

Have you ever come out of an exam so mentally exhausted that you start to question the very meaning of life? SEE ALSO: Teens used their AP English exams to completely roast Trump Several British students who took the AQA Psychology examination yesterday came out of testing rooms completely destroyed. The army of weary test takers took to Twitter to hilariously … [Link]

Popular Science » Celebrate World Ocean's Day with these gorgeous photos of the sea

Thursday 8 June 15:00:00 UTC 2017

Environment Darlin' its better down where it's wetter. Take a look at stunning pictures of the ocean in honor of World Ocean's Day. [Link]

Mashable » Alexa will thoroughly roast the Cavs and Warriors if you ask her to

Thursday 8 June 14:55:13 UTC 2017

These NBA Finals have been incredibly boring and mostly uncompetitive so far, but don't worry because Alexa is here to make it fun.  YouTube user SportTechie decided to experiment with Alexa and asked for "a Cavaliers burn." Alexa replied with "Why is Kyrie Irving missing his jumpers? He believes his shot is flat." Damn.  "Alexa give me a Warriors burn." … [Link]

Slashdot » US Pays Farmers Billions To Save The Soil. But It's Blowing Away

Thursday 8 June 14:50:00 UTC 2017

An anonymous reader shares an NPR report: Soil has been blowing away from the Great Plains ever since farmers first plowed up the prairie. It reached crisis levels during the Dust Bowl of the 1930s, when windblown soil turned day into night. In recent years, dust storms have returned, driven mainly by drought. But Shook — and others — say … [Link]

Mashable » Demi Lovato led a crowd of emo kids in a cover of Paramore's 'Misery Business'

Thursday 8 June 14:49:27 UTC 2017

Demi Lovato was a guest DJ at Emo Nite in LA on June 6, blasting the finest anthems for the broken hearted MySpace youth quoted religiously on their profiles.  But the speakers went out (a very emo problem) but Lovato, who is the business of misery, handled it like a pro. Lovato led the crowd in an a cappella cover … [Link]

Mashable » Even more ways James Comey hid from Trump before his firing

Thursday 8 June 14:46:51 UTC 2017

As former FBI Director James Comey testifies in front of the Senate Intelligence Committee today, it's hard not to think about the various ways in which the former leader of the FBI reportedly avoided President Trump. In May, the New York Times reported that Comey had attempted to "blend in with the blue curtains in the back of the room" to … [Link]

Mashable » Pete Souza just burned Trump (yet again) on Instagram before Comey's hearing

Thursday 8 June 14:36:39 UTC 2017

Welp, it's Thursday, which means America is gearing up to watch former FBI Director James Comey testify in front of the Senate Intelligence Committee about his interactions with President Trump. Many people are glued to bar screens across the country watching the political madness unfold, but meanwhile, on Instagram, Obama's former White House photographer is throwing some Grade-A Trump shade before … [Link]

Mashable » All hail James Comey's 'resting Comey face'

Thursday 8 June 14:34:54 UTC 2017

Fired FBI director James Comey — who is, according to the president, a big time "showboat" who loves attention — has executed perhaps the most unyielding poker face of all time. At his own hearing. And the internet noticed. SEE ALSO: Wow, James Comey's breakup playlist is really powerful Seriously, in the early stages of the proceedings, the dude didn't change … [Link]

Mashable » Annnnd another Fox News host just blasted Donald Trump

Thursday 8 June 14:22:11 UTC 2017

Fox News anchor Neil Cavuto blasted President Trump on Tuesday after the president fired off another one of his infamous tweets attacking the "fake media." During his call out, Cavuto burned Trump with a spin on a classic breakup line, saying: "It's not the fake news media that's your problem, it's you." The Fox News host went on to discuss … [Link]

Mashable » A major new 'Pokémon Go' update is on the way

Thursday 8 June 14:16:07 UTC 2017

Brace yourselves, trainers — the biggest Pokémon Go update since the release of Gen II is well on its way. SEE ALSO: A beginner's guide: How to play 'Pokémon Go' We've known for a while that Niantic were planning a big overhaul to the current gym system (it was due a change, to be fair), and with today's announcement we now … [Link]

Slashdot » 'I'm Not Sure I Understand' — How Apple's Siri Lost Her Mojo

Thursday 8 June 14:10:00 UTC 2017

Apple has struggled to make Siri as smart as Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa because of disagreements among its staff and its decisions to limit how long it stores user data, former Apple employees told The Wall Street Journal. The company unveiled a new version of Siri during its WWDC keynote address on Monday but failed to show the world … [Link]

Mashable » Samantha Bee slams Trump's London tweets and diet of 'scrambled Islamophobia'

Thursday 8 June 14:03:04 UTC 2017

Donald Trump has completely reset the bar for "Presidential behavior," but even by that standard his tweets about the terrorist attack in London were a disappointing low. On Wednesday's Full Frontal, Samantha Bee tried to understand just what possessed Trump to attack the mayor of London during a tragedy.  SEE ALSO: The White House is silent. Trump's tweets are all … [Link]

Mashable » RedTube's new adult greeting cards will make any occasion sexy

Thursday 8 June 14:00:00 UTC 2017

Ever go into a Hallmark and think, "Ugh, if only this place was sexier"? Yeah… Well, either way, here's some great news for you.  RedTube, the massive porn platform, just launched Speak From the Heart, a new line of adult greeting cards. Their online shop features 20 cheekily designed messages that cover a variety of occasions. The idea, as they said … [Link]

Mashable » Why your iPhone photos look so bad

Thursday 8 June 13:58:15 UTC 2017

You don't need an expensive camera to take epic photos. The phone in your pocket will do just fine. Here are 10 ways to shoot the best photos from your phone with Ray Wong!  Read more…More about Iphone, Photography, How To, Smartphone, and Photos [Link]

Mashable » Twitch will stream the Comey hearing to kick off a dedicated News channel

Thursday 8 June 13:30:00 UTC 2017

Twitch is staging its second "interactive public service experiment" on Thursday morning, using the U.S. Senate as a backdrop. When former FBI director James Comey sits with the Senate Intelligence Committee to answer questions about his private conversations with Donald Trump, he'll be doing so in front of a live Twitch audience. It's far from the only way to tune in … [Link]

Mashable » Step inside the secretive class that turns people into hackers

Thursday 8 June 13:29:12 UTC 2017

Forget algebra. Forget textbooks. This is education for the digital era. The students of Practical Hacking are learning the tools and techniques that hackers use to infiltrate websites and networks. What they do with that knowledge is up to them. Identities have been concealed per request. Read more…More about Tech, Web, Technology, Security, and Internet [Link]

Mashable » Sweet Jesus, the new 21.5-inch iMac has a removable processor and memory

Thursday 8 June 13:23:44 UTC 2017

We knew that Apple's new iMacs would be disassembled and examined in every possible way shortly after launch. What we didn't expect, however, was for the smaller model to be modular — to a degree, at least.  After iFixit's experts tore down the new 21.5-inch, 4K Retina model to bits, they discovered that both the device's processor and memory aren't soldered … [Link]

Mashable » We turned the key UK election figures into glorious Top Trump cards

Thursday 8 June 13:13:51 UTC 2017

It’s a simple fact of life that while nobody much likes politicians, everybody likes Top Trumps. No British childhood was complete without a memory or two of those sweet, sweet cards. SEE ALSO: 13 hilariously viral moments from the UK election campaign 2017 In order to make the UK general election a teeny bit more palatable, we decided to condense the … [Link]

New Scientist – News » Crumb-free bread will mean ISS astronauts can now bake in space

Thursday 8 June 13:11:00 UTC 2017

Bread has been banned in space for 50 years thanks to the dangers of free-floating crumbs – but specially designed ovens mean astronauts could soon ditch tortillas [Link]

Mashable » The swoon-worthy romance of 'Wonder Woman' is a rarity in superhero movies

Thursday 8 June 13:06:42 UTC 2017

Along with dead parents, superpowers, and CG-heavy aerial battles over major metropolitan areas, romantic subplots are just kind of a thing we've come to expect from superhero movies.  Yet it's rare they're really done well. All too often, we wind up with two-dimensional love interest stuck in relationships that feel more like contractual obligations than actual love stories.  SEE ALSO: Chris … [Link]

Mashable » The new trailer for Super Nintendo World's theme park is pure joy

Thursday 8 June 13:05:08 UTC 2017

Universal Studios Japan released a trailer for its upcoming Super Nintendo World theme park, showing off Super Mario staples like Peach's and Bowser's castles, a Toad house, piranha plants, and more. Almost the entire trailer is animated, which makes sense considering Universal only just broke ground on the park recently. But it still shows the possibilities that await Nintendo fans … [Link]

Popular Science » 13 genius items for your next big road trip

Thursday 8 June 13:04:00 UTC 2017

Gadgets Gear for the long haul. Road trip gear for the good kind of road rage. Read on. [Link]

Slashdot » Facebook Wants To Spy On People Using Their Phone's Camera and Analyze Facial Emotions

Thursday 8 June 13:00:00 UTC 2017

An anonymous reader quotes a report from The Sun: The social network applied for a patent to capture pictures of a user through their smartphone. The creepy designs, which date back to 2015, were discovered by software company CBI Insight, which has been analyzing Mark Zuckerberg's "emotion technology." Patent documents contain illustrations showing a person holding a smartphone with a … [Link]

Mashable » Comey attack ads are a thing now, so Stephen Colbert made his own

Thursday 8 June 12:23:38 UTC 2017

Great America Alliance, a pro-Trump PAC that recently gave Tomi Lahren a job, has released ads attacking James Comey — who, recall, no longer works for the government. The ads will air during his testimony Thursday.  So Stephen Colbert decided to get in on the fun by also attacking a private citizen who is not running for office: a random … [Link]

Mashable » Sound-bending mini piano is all you need to become a DJ god

Thursday 8 June 11:47:33 UTC 2017

In La La Land, too-cool-for-cover-bands and struggling jazz pianist Sebastian (Ryan Gosling) plays on the Roli Seaboard Grand, a $3,000 futuristic keyboard that warps sound based on presses, bends and slides, after joining Keith's (John Legend) band, The Messengers. It's a sick keyboard for professionals, but at $3,000 it's far too pricey. That's why Roli's introducing the Seaboard Block, a half-sized … [Link]

Mashable » How Airbnb plans to help refugees find shelter

Thursday 8 June 11:38:25 UTC 2017

Airbnb has come up with a way to help refugees, evacuees, and other displaced people.  SEE ALSO: The entire country of Sweden is listed on Airbnb In order to meet its five-year goal to provide free short-term housing to 100,000 people in need, the home-sharing company has launched Open Homes, a platform that allows everyone to sign up to host a … [Link]

Mashable » A guide to the James Comey hearing, for normals

Thursday 8 June 11:14:10 UTC 2017

Hello and welcome to what will probably be the most consequential and most-watched political event of the magically dystopian year that is 2017. You're here to learn about Thursday's Senate Intelligence Committee hearing, at which former FBI Director James Comey will testify.  So let's do that. SEE ALSO: Trumpniks have no defense for the James Comey mess, so duh, they're blaming … [Link]

Mashable » Good dog's TV watching ritual is so freaking adorable

Thursday 8 June 11:13:18 UTC 2017

TV watching rituals are important for optimal viewing pleasure and Heidi the dog knows all about it. SEE ALSO: Dogs at polling stations are the only good thing about the UK election In the video above, Heidi's owner demonstrates how the adorable shepherd reacts when it's TV time. First, Heidi and her owner arrive home worn out from a bit … [Link]

Mashable » Your favorite board games have some pretty wacky origin stories

Thursday 8 June 10:26:51 UTC 2017

Humans evolve. So do the games they play. But they've always played them, even back in an age when, the evidence suggests, our ancestors actually worshipped with boardgames. That's just one of the startling insights to be found in It's All A Game, a splendid new book by British journalist Tristan Donovan. A quick and breezy read, it doesn't just tell … [Link]

Mashable » Seth Meyers tears apart Donald Trump over 'terrible Tinder date' with James Comey

Thursday 8 June 10:24:44 UTC 2017

It's Comey-day and late night hosts are getting ready for the former FBI director's testimony before a Senate hearing.  In the latest Late Night's "A Closer Look," Seth Meyers digs into Comey's opening statement which contains "damning and truly bizarre details about Comey's uncomfortable interactions with Trump." Besides several interactions — Trump "would not leave him alone" — Meyers rips … [Link]

Mashable » Kit Harington had an awkward first meeting with Ed Sheeran in a men's toilet

Thursday 8 June 10:18:44 UTC 2017

Not all great friendships start at a urinal, but some clearly do. Kit Harington and Ed Sheeran's, for instance. During an appearance on The Late Late Show, everyone's favourite Northern badass told the story of how he first bumped into Sheeran in a gent's toilets. SEE ALSO: Ed Sheeran, Kit Harrington, Zach Braff and some dude walk into a bar… … [Link]

Slashdot » SpaceX Will Launch Secretive X-37B Spaceplane's Next Mission

Thursday 8 June 10:00:00 UTC 2017

schwit1 quotes a report from Los Angeles Times: SpaceX will launch the Air Force's X-37B experimental spaceplane later this year, in the military's latest vote of confidence in the Elon Musk-led space company. This will be the first time SpaceX has launched the uncrewed robotic vehicle. United Launch Alliance, a joint venture between Boeing Co. and Lockheed Martin Corp., has … [Link]

Mashable » Dogs at polling stations are the only good thing about the UK election

Thursday 8 June 9:59:02 UTC 2017

The best thing about exercising your democratic right to vote today will be the adorable sight of cute doggies gathered at the polling stations. SEE ALSO: 41 times Stephen King's dog Molly was the most evil beast on the internet This snap election gives us yet another opportunity to enjoy the glorious influx of voter pups on Twitter, which began trending … [Link]

Mashable » 'Anchorman' parody of the UK election is hilariously on-point

Thursday 8 June 9:46:23 UTC 2017

Remember the epic fight sequence from Anchorman? Of course you do. And really, wasn't it only a matter of time before it got its own real-world political parody? SEE ALSO: 13 hilariously viral moments from the UK election campaign 2017 On Wednesday evening, BBC Three unleashed the above mashup on Facebook. At the time of writing it's on around 4 … [Link]

Mashable » Facebook patents show multiple ways the network could harness our emotions

Thursday 8 June 9:41:32 UTC 2017

Social media has been known to mess with our emotions and even affect our mental health — and that manipulation is sometimes by design.  Facebook, in particular, has been known to play fast and loose with its users feelings. Troubling news broke last month that the network's targeted ads were sometimes designed to prey on teenage users' perceived insecurities, which isn't … [Link]

Mashable » Former Mexican president savagely rips Trump apart over taco bowls

Thursday 8 June 9:40:18 UTC 2017

The former president of Mexico loves a good Trump bashing, as his latest stunt shows.  Vicente Fox, the 74-year-old who served as president of Mexico from 2000 to 2006, appeared in a new video from Super Deluxe in which he slams the U.S. president's food and drink choices while reiterating that the country will not pay for a border wall.  … [Link]

Mashable » Wedding photo with actual explosion in it is the final word in dramatic wedding photos

Thursday 8 June 9:23:08 UTC 2017

This wedding shoot is literally, figuratively blowing our minds. Behold the lengths a Japanese couple has gone to, for the ultimate dramatic wedding photo. Props to them also for being able to appear calm, as multiple cement bombs went off behind them. SEE ALSO: 93-year-old bride gets the internet to help her pick her wedding outfit I mean, seriously.  Marital blissImage: … [Link]

Mashable » Man gets crushed beneath a giant water balloon in glorious slow motion

Thursday 8 June 8:55:10 UTC 2017

This isn't the first time YouTube duo The Slow Mo Guys have experimented with giant water balloons, and it's not going to be the last. SEE ALSO: Man explodes out of a giant water balloon in glorious slow motion The clip above, which features Dan slowly being squashed beneath a six foot orange balloon filling with water, is the first … [Link]

Mashable » China now has a one-dog policy

Thursday 8 June 8:50:30 UTC 2017

After China's lifting of its longstanding one-child policy, it's started to put in a one-dog policy. A couple of cities in China have introduced restrictions on dog ownership, allowing each household to only have one dog. SEE ALSO: China ending its one-child policy won't change the sad reality for parents Qingdao, in the eastern part of China, released new rules on … [Link]

Mashable » Chinese school isolating its HIV-positive students just shows we need better awareness

Thursday 8 June 8:36:45 UTC 2017

On Wednesday, millions sat for China's notoriously grueling two-day college entrance exam, known as the gaokao. While everyone files into testing facilities for the exam, 16 kids in northern China's Shanxi province will sit the test in isolation — because they're HIV-positive. SEE ALSO: Powerful gene-editing tool can eliminate HIV infection in mice The students go to the Linfen Red Ribbon … [Link]

Mashable » Just a bunch of sick photos of British politicians when they were young and fit

Thursday 8 June 7:50:00 UTC 2017

It may seem strange, but even politicians were young, not that long ago.  SEE ALSO: Politicians change 404 error page to troll UK Prime Minister Theresa May With general election polling underway, why not take a moment to look back at the main party leaders when they were beautiful blossoms ready to flower.  Some of them were activists, speaking up for … [Link]

Slashdot » Astronomers Prove To Einstein That Stars Can Warp Light

Thursday 8 June 7:00:00 UTC 2017

Astronomers have observed for the first time ever a distant star warp the light of another star, "making it seem as though the object changed its position in the sky," reports The Verge. The discovery is especially noteworthy as Albert Einstein didn't think such an observation would be possible. From the report: These events require stars that are very far … [Link]

Mashable » 13 hilariously viral moments from the UK election campaign 2017

Thursday 8 June 6:00:00 UTC 2017

It’s widely known that General Election campaigns tend to be long, depressing affairs. But that doesn't mean they're totally devoid of fun. Nestled among the repetitive answers and frustrating debates are brief, shining moments of hilarity. Sometimes these come from obvious places (politicians eating food), and sometimes less obvious (politicians asking random members of the public to "smell their spaniel"). SEE … [Link]

Mashable » Apple makes an eloquent plea to take climate change seriously

Thursday 8 June 3:37:55 UTC 2017

Apple's latest commercial is advertising the Earth. In a rare topical turn for the company, the ad makes a lofty appeal for environmentalism at a moment when such efforts face historic threats from Donald Trump's administration. SEE ALSO: Apple will soon block autoplay videos and data tracking in Safari "Like it or not, for the moment, the Earth is where … [Link]

Slashdot » US Spy Chief Reverses Course, Will Not Say How Many Americans Caught in NSA Surveillance

Thursday 8 June 3:30:00 UTC 2017

Zack Whittaker, writing for ZDNet: US Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats has refused to say how many Americans have been caught up in the government's surveillance programs, reversing a confirmation pledge he made earlier this year. Coats said at a hearing before the Senate Intelligence Committee on the reauthorization of a key foreign surveillance law that it is "infeasible" … [Link]

Mashable » The most important iOS 11 feature is one you may not want to use—but should

Thursday 8 June 3:20:34 UTC 2017

It’s only been a couple of days since Apple introduced the next version of iOS and already there's a lot to look forward to.  Marquee features like a more intelligent Siri and Apple Pay in Messages aside, there's Wi-Fi sharing with friends, one-handed keyboards, and probably a few we don't even know about yet. But none of these even come close … [Link]

Mashable » Smart glasses give legally blind man second chance to see his wife at their wedding

Thursday 8 June 2:47:28 UTC 2017

Andrew Airey married his wife almost 15 years ago, but recently he had a second wedding and this time he could see more of her face and even her wedding veil. SEE ALSO: New sight simulator shows what it's like to be legally blind Airey lives with Stargardt's disease, a form of macular degeneration, and his eyesight has deteriorated over the … [Link]

Mashable » Who to follow on Twitter so you don't have watch the Comey testimony

Thursday 8 June 2:19:52 UTC 2017

Ousted FBI director James Comey's Senate testimony is being played up as one of the biggest TV events of the year — and not just on C-SPAN. But if you don't want to or can't watch, here's a Twitter cheatsheet of who to follow to keep up. SEE ALSO: How to throw your own painfully nerdy James Comey watch party Comey's … [Link]

Mashable » The Oakland A's just ended Wendy's on Twitter while defending the Warriors' honor

Thursday 8 June 2:10:49 UTC 2017

And here we have a story about one brand roasting another brand while defending a third brand on a platform run by a fourth brand.  Ah, 2017: What a time to be alive!  Right? Right?! RIGHT?!?! *sobs into pillow* Anyway, on to our story.  SEE ALSO: Taco Bell's cute baseball tweet is everything that's wrong with America Wendy's (yes, the fast-food … [Link]

Slashdot » Electric Vehicles Have Another Record Year, Reaching 2 Million Cars In 2016

Thursday 8 June 2:05:00 UTC 2017

An anonymous reader shares a report from the International Energy Agency: The number of electric cars on the roads around the world rose to 2 million in 2016, following a year of strong growth in 2015, according to the latest edition of the International Energy Agency's Global EV Outlook. China remained the largest market in 2016, accounting for more than … [Link]

Slashdot » Airbnb Announces Its Plan To House 100,000 People In Need

Thursday 8 June 1:25:00 UTC 2017

New submitter mirandakatz writes: Airbnb has just unveiled its Open Homes Platform, a home-sharing site for hosts motivated by goodwill instead of profits — and for guests motivated by need rather than wanderlust. Specifically, Airbnb is going to begin by connecting refugees with hosts in Canada, France, Greece, and the United States. Ultimately, refugees will be just one group that … [Link]

Mashable » Squirrel gets spooked by lightning and then tries to play it cool

Thursday 8 June 0:59:34 UTC 2017

A nearby lightning strike is sure to spook anyone, even a squirrel. Security footage from a Nest cam recently released shows a little critter hopping along, minding its own business when lightning suddenly strikes close by. Luckily the squirrel was on the other side of the street, but check out its reaction. Let's hope lightning doesn't strike near the same … [Link]

Mashable » Pride and zombies: This 'Walking Dead' cover is a damned delight

Thursday 8 June 0:59:31 UTC 2017

If you've always wanted to see a zombie impaled by a Pride flag, today is your lucky day. The latest issue of The Walking Dead features a variant cover created by Sina Grace and Tamra Bonvillain in honor of Pride Month. It features a fan-favorite character named Jesus, who is often praised – online as well as in letters printed in … [Link]

Slashdot » Verizon Expected To Cut Up To 1,000 Yahoo, AOL Jobs After Acquisition

Thursday 8 June 0:45:00 UTC 2017

Verizon's acquisition and merger of AOL and Yahoo will result in many job cuts. According to Recode, up to 1,000 AOL and Yahoo jobs are expected to take place across the two companies as the merger is completed. From the report: This action is not unexpected, given that both companies have a lot of redundancies, including in human resources, finance, … [Link]

Mashable » 47 baby goats in video proves you can't have too many baby goats

Thursday 8 June 0:27:08 UTC 2017

Release the goats!  It's breakfast time at the goat cheese farm, Sunflower Farm Creamery, and these kids are excited—all 47 of them. That's right, 47 baby goats! No matter what kind of baby goat you like, you'll find a favorite in this video. There's a baby bottle-drinking goat. There are jumping-on-bags-of-pine-shavings goats. There's even a hopping-on-mommy's back goat.  According to … [Link]

Slashdot » Apple To Force Users To 2FA On iOS 11, macOS High Sierra

Thursday 8 June 0:05:00 UTC 2017

Trailrunner7 quotes a report from On the Wire: With the upcoming releases of iOS 11 and macOS High Sierra later this year, Apple is planning to force many users to adopt two-factor authentication for their accounts. The company this week sent an email to customers who have the existing two-step verification enabled for their Apple IDs, informing them that once … [Link]

New Scientist – News » Baby brain scans can predict who is likely to develop autism

Thursday 8 June 0:03:50 UTC 2017

A machine-learning program can tell from scans which high-risk infants will later show autism symptoms. This could, controversially, enable early intervention [Link]

New Scientist – News » There’s as much water in Earth’s mantle as in all the oceans

Thursday 8 June 0:03:49 UTC 2017

The zone of mantle rock that sits 400 to 600 kilometres below our feet seems to be saturated with water [Link]

Mashable » The James Comey hearing could be wild. Here's how to watch it.

Thursday 8 June 0:02:17 UTC 2017

Last month, James Comey was fired without warning by President Donald TrumpOn Thursday morning at 10 a.m. ET, the former FBI director just might have his revenge when he testifies before the Senate Intelligence Committee.  While Comey's prepared remarks have already been released to the public—with talk of "hookers in Russia" and an awkward request for loyalty—the hearing still promises to … [Link]

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