John Gordon Ross

A Man for All Reasons

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Geekish

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

Slashdot » Best Open Source Software Identified By InfoWorld Listicles

Saturday 30 September 23:09:00 UTC 2017

An anonymous reader writes: InfoWorld announced the winners of this year's "Best of Open Source Software Awards" — honoring 68 different projects, spread across five categories. Besides the 15 best software development tools, they also recognized the best cloud computing software, machine learning tools, and networking and security software (as well as the best databases and analytics tools). "Open source … [Link]

Slashdot » US Consumer Groups Warn 'Robot Car Bill' Threatens Safety

Saturday 30 September 22:04:00 UTC 2017

"If you don't place a Capable Engineering crew to oversee a project that involves lives, you're asking for trouble," writes Slashdot reader Neuronwelder. Consumer Reports writes: Congress is moving ahead with plans to let self-driving cars be tested on U.S. roads without having to comply with the same safety rules as regular vehicles… The House passed its version of the … [Link]

Slashdot » Why Google's Gmail Phishing Warnings Give False Positives

Saturday 30 September 21:04:00 UTC 2017

Vortex.com is one of the oldest domains on the internet — one of the first 40 ever registered, writes Slashdot reader Lauren Weinstein. So why does Google sometimes block the email he sends? Here's why. First, my message had the audacity to mention "Google Account" or "Google Accounts" in the subject and/or body of the message. And secondly, one of … [Link]

Mashable » Bear chills out on garbage dump's couch after a long day

Saturday 30 September 20:46:31 UTC 2017

Twitter FacebookBears don't have any interest in your miserable standing desks, thank you very much. Mandy Stantic was visiting a garbage dump in Northern Manitoba last spring when she came upon a black bear sitting on a discarded sofa. Stantic, whose photos just recently went viral, had specifically driven to the dump with her daughter to see the dump (god bless Canadian … [Link]

Mashable » Leaked NBA memo instructs that players, coaches must stand during the national anthem

Saturday 30 September 20:39:28 UTC 2017

Twitter FacebookFor our latest edition of "professional sports organizations really don't get it" we highlight the National Basketball League. A Friday memo sent by the league to all players and coaches made a point of reinforcing an existing rule that everyone is required to stand for the national anthem. It then goes on to suggest other options for engaging with a protest … [Link]

Mashable » Air France flight to LA makes emergency landing in Canada after engine blows out

Saturday 30 September 20:10:30 UTC 2017

Twitter FacebookAn Air France flight en route from Paris to Los Angeles made an emergency landing in Goose Bay, Canada after its engine blew out over the Atlantic Ocean Saturday.  The Airbus A380 left Charles de Gaulle Airport Saturday morning and landed around 1:40 p.m. in Canada, CBC reported.  SEE ALSO: Air France launches an 'airline for millennials' and it's beyond cringe … [Link]

Slashdot » Hollywood's International War on Kodi Plugins And Video-Streaming Boxes

Saturday 30 September 20:04:00 UTC 2017

An anonymous reader quotes the EFF: In the past few years, the sale of pre-configured Kodi boxes, and the availability of a range of plugins providing access to streaming media, has seen the software's popularity balloon — and made it the latest target of Hollywood's copyright enforcement juggernaut. We've seen this in the appearance of streaming media boxes as an … [Link]

Mashable » Uber is definitely not happy with Travis Kalanick's board appointments

Saturday 30 September 19:33:33 UTC 2017

Twitter FacebookOusted Uber CEO but still-Uber-board-member Travis Kalanick named two new directors to Uber's board without consulting anyone else at the ride-hailing company he founded.  Despite Kalanick's looming presence over Uber, the people actually running the company now were not happy with his scheme.  SEE ALSO: Uber CEO admits 'we've got things wrong' in open letter "The appointments of [former Xerox CEO … [Link]

Mashable » Here's where Trump spent the past 10 days as Puerto Rico collapsed

Saturday 30 September 19:25:24 UTC 2017

Twitter FacebookHurricane Maria is the largest storm to hit Puerto Rico in modern history, but President Trump was just a little too busy this week to gave the island his full attention. A new report by The Washington Post breaks down how the President spent the last 10 days as the island's devastation deepened. When the storm first hit, Trump responded by … [Link]

Mashable » How to activate Smart Invert in iOS 11

Saturday 30 September 19:04:40 UTC 2017

Twitter FacebookThe new "Smart Invert" feature in iOS 11 is a dark mode, but smarter.  For a while, Apple has been trying features to ease the nighttime burden on our eyes when they're staring at screens, with greyscale mode in iOS 8 and Night Shift in iOS 9. Smart Invert, iOS 11's go at eye relief, inverts some colors, but leaves images, … [Link]

Slashdot » Ancient Papyrus Finally Solves Egypt's 'Great Pyramid' Mystery

Saturday 30 September 19:04:00 UTC 2017

schwit1 was the first Slashdot reader to bring us the news. Newsweek reports: Archaeologists believe they have found the key to unlocking a mystery almost as old as the Great Pyramid itself: Who built the structure and how were they able to transport two-ton blocks of stone to the ancient wonder more than 4,500 years ago…? Experts had long established … [Link]

Slashdot » Solar Powered Smartwatch Successfully Crowdfunded on Kickstarter

Saturday 30 September 18:04:00 UTC 2017

An anonymous reader quotes the Verge: Battery life on smartwatches is, in a word, bad. And while most of today's watches can more or less make it through a day without dying, they're still a far cry from the months or even years that traditional watches can run for. What if you never had to charge your smartwatch? That's the … [Link]

Mashable » 10 days after Hurricane Maria, Puerto Rico is still fighting for life

Saturday 30 September 17:59:03 UTC 2017

Twitter FacebookIn the aftermath of Hurricane Maria, Donald Trump blames Puerto Rico's continuing struggles on "poor leadership." Pictures tell a very different story. While the president sunk to an inexcusable new low on Saturday, images coming out of the storm-ravaged U.S. territory show us what's really going on. It is much as San Juan Mayor Carmen Yulín Cruz described it: "This is … [Link]

Mashable » Texas high-school players take a knee, get kicked off football team

Saturday 30 September 17:35:02 UTC 2017

Twitter FacebookTwo Texas high-school football players stood with athletes across the country against police brutality and discrimination by protesting during the national anthem. Immediately after, they were told to hand in their uniforms.  Sophomore Cedric Ingram-Lewis and his cousin Larry McCullough were kicked off their team at Victory & Praise Christian Academy, the Houston Chronicle reported. The pair didn't play in the … [Link]

Slashdot » Microsoft Explains Why Edge Has So Few Extensions

Saturday 30 September 17:27:16 UTC 2017

Mark Wilson writes: It's now a little more than a year since Microsoft first brought extensions to Edge. After so long you would expect the selection of addons to be overwhelming — but that's far from being the case. In all, there are only 70-odd Edge extensions available, and Microsoft has been moved to explain why. In a blog post, … [Link]

Slashdot » Google Investigates Facebook's Russian Political Operatives, Will Address Congressmen

Saturday 30 September 16:34:00 UTC 2017

An anonymous reader quotes Recode: Facebook has shared some details about the Russian-operated profiles it discovered on its platform with Google, as the search giant — with the rest of the tech industry — continues to probe the extent to which Kremlin-backed misinformation spread through their websites during the 2016 U.S. presidential election. It is unclear if Google has found … [Link]

ProgrammableWeb.com » Daily API RoundUp: BombBomb, Compliance.ai, Q emotion

Saturday 30 September 15:39:17 UTC 2017

Every day, the ProgrammableWeb team is busy, updating its three primary directories for APIs, clients (language-specific libraries or SDKs for consuming or providing APIs), and source code samples. [Link]

Mashable » Adventurous bunny riding public transit just wants to see London

Saturday 30 September 15:37:33 UTC 2017

Twitter FacebookThis little bunny just wants to see the world. Or at least London.  A rabbit has been spotted riding the bus and the Overground in London.  There's a rabbit on my buspic.twitter.com/ccPtRo3KdH — Matt Hepburn (@MattHepburnClan) September 29, 2017 I saw him on the overground to hackney the other day.. he's very busy & important, rarely latepic.twitter.com/6yCnZ88Vx0 — Jo Duffy (@JoDuffy91) … [Link]

Slashdot » Microsoft Releases 'Next Generation' Preview of Skype For Linux

Saturday 30 September 15:34:00 UTC 2017

BrianFagioli writes: Friday, Microsoft released a refreshed preview of Skype for Linux. There are both DEB and RPM packages available, making it easy to install on, say, Ubuntu, Debian, or Fedora. In fact, I successfully installed it on Pop!_OS earlier today. Believe it or not, the new interface is quite nice, making it something I could possibly enjoy using on … [Link]

Mashable » Mayor of San Juan responds to Trump: "We have one goal, it is to save lives"

Saturday 30 September 15:27:32 UTC 2017

Twitter FacebookAfter President Trump tore into Mayor Carmen Yulín Cruz on Twitter on Saturday morning, the mayor took to TV to briefly defend herself and advocate for the rest of the island. "This is what we have, it is one goal: it is to save lives," the mayor told MSNBC's Joy Reid. "I have no time for distractions. All I have is … [Link]

Mashable » Celebrity clapbacks and roasted trolls took center stage this September

Saturday 30 September 15:00:00 UTC 2017

Twitter FacebookSocial media is a place to document your thoughts, collect information and find the most epic clapbacks of 2017. And September proved to a beautiful month for clapbacks. Essentially a clapback is a fiery comeback to someone’s insult or remark. Merriam-Webster, what are you waiting for? If you can add "troll," "clapback" should be next—and get Google involved so the number … [Link]

Mashable » Eerie first images of inside the sunken Costa Concordia

Saturday 30 September 15:00:00 UTC 2017

Twitter FacebookIt took multiple trips and weeks of planning for German photographer Jonathan Danko Kielkowski to be able to sneak his way into the carcass of the Costa Concordia. The vessel sits, still partially underwater, moored to a sea wall after being towed there, where it's waiting to be disassembled. By swimming out to the ship, Kielkowski was able to take the … [Link]

Mashable » Trump lashed out at San Juan's mayor after she begged for help in Puerto Rico

Saturday 30 September 14:32:35 UTC 2017

Twitter FacebookIn a truly low moment among low moments, President Donald Trump attacked Carmen Yulín Cruz, the mayor of San Juan, Puerto Rico, on Saturday morning after she criticized his administration's response to Hurricane Maria.  The Mayor of San Juan, who was very complimentary only a few days ago, has now been told by the Democrats that you must be nasty to … [Link]

Slashdot » Steve Wozniak: Net Neutrality Rollback 'Will End the Internet As We Know It'

Saturday 30 September 14:30:00 UTC 2017

An anonymous reader quotes Silicon Beat: Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak penned an op-ed on Friday with a former Federal Communications Commission chairman, urging the current FCC to stop its proposed rollback of Obama-era net neutrality regulations. In the op-ed published by USA Today, Wozniak and Michael Copps, who led the FCC from 2001 to 2011, argued the rollback will threaten … [Link]

Mashable » An Impressionist painter's gritty street photos of Amsterdam circa 1900

Saturday 30 September 14:00:00 UTC 2017

Twitter FacebookA cyclist on the Prinsengracht.Image: George Henrik Breitner/Rijksmuseum via EuropeanaGeorge Hendrik Breitner was born in the Netherlands in 1857, and developed a talent for painting by the time he was in his twenties.After encountering Impressionism during a stint in Paris, he became a leading figure of Amsterdam Impressionism, often sketching scenes of everyday life on the streets alongside his contemporary, Vincent … [Link]

Mashable » Jane Fonda wasn't even the worst part of Megyn Kelly's terrible first week

Saturday 30 September 14:00:00 UTC 2017

Twitter FacebookNo one expected Megyn Kelly's move from inflammatory Fox News host to soft-focus daytime talk show host to be a smooth ride but, if the first week is any indication, it's going to be a lot more awkward than we could have imagined. SEE ALSO: Megyn Kelly debuts her new morning show and Twitter hated it In fact, Last Week Tonight … [Link]

Mashable » Ever wondered how prank calling would work on 'Game of Thrones'? 'The Simpsons' has the answer

Saturday 30 September 13:17:14 UTC 2017

Twitter Facebook Everyone is obsessed with Game of Thrones these days — even the The Simpsons. America's favorite TV family is paying homage to the HBO hit in the Season 29 premiere, "The Serfsons," and we've got an exclusive sneak peek at the episode. After almost 30 years on air, long-suffering bartender Moe Szyslak has had to endure countless prank calls from … [Link]

Mashable » How to teach your kids about the NFL protests and the awesome power of dissent

Saturday 30 September 13:00:00 UTC 2017

Twitter FacebookAs I listen to the range of insults hurled at our NFL players, I'm disgusted. It's one of many times I'm glad my son is too young to fully understand the effects of racism in America. But as American football gets extra attention thanks to a league-wide protest over the past year — the most recent movement to increase visibility around … [Link]

Mashable » 11 seasonal candle scents you really, really need to try this fall

Saturday 30 September 13:00:00 UTC 2017

Twitter FacebookNothing says fall like lighting a nice candle in your home as the cooler weather hits. But there are plenty of fall-specific candle scents you could go with. SEE ALSO: Since no one else will, I’m taking it upon myself to be the Scrooge of fall We've compiled a list of the best fall candle scents to make your home cozy … [Link]

Slashdot » Equifax Board Forms Panel To Review Executives' Stock Sales After Data Breach

Saturday 30 September 13:00:00 UTC 2017

An anonymous reader quotes a report from Bloomberg: Equifax's board of directors has formed a special committee to review the stock sales that top executives made days after the company found out it was hacked. Directors at Equifax have retained counsel and are conducting a "thorough review" of the trades, according to a Sept. 28 letter the company's outside lawyers … [Link]

Mashable » Here's how you can learn to play guitar without taking expensive lessons

Saturday 30 September 12:00:00 UTC 2017

Twitter FacebookJust to let you know, if you buy something featured here, Mashable might earn an affiliate commission. All those hours of Guitar Hero never turned you into the next Jimi Hendrix or Les Paul  — but the FRETX? It just might. Learn how to play guitar the smart (and fun) way with the help of this clip-on learning device, which will … [Link]

Mashable » Get 5 years of free Netflix so you can stop using your parents' password

Saturday 30 September 12:00:00 UTC 2017

Twitter FacebookJust to let you know, if you buy something featured here, Mashable might earn an affiliate commission. Why is Will Byers spitting alien eggs into the sink? What happened to Eleven? Is Hop working for the shadow government? Will we ever get justice for Barb?! These are probably just some of the questions that have been bouncing around the Christmas-light-festooned walls … [Link]

Slashdot » Hawaii Approves Telescope On Volcano Sacred To Indigenous People

Saturday 30 September 10:00:00 UTC 2017

A new $1.4 billion telescope will be built atop a Hawaiian volcano indigenous people consider sacred. The team of scientists fighting for the telescope won approval from Hawaiian officials on Thursday after selecting the site and applying to build there in 2009. Reuters reports: The Hawaii Board of Land and Natural Resources voted 5-2 to allow construction of the Thirty … [Link]

Slashdot » FCC Silenced Puerto Rico Radio Station's Boosters In March 2017

Saturday 30 September 7:00:00 UTC 2017

An dochasac writes: WAPA (680 AM) is a radio station in San Juan, Puerto Rico. After Hurricane Maria took out power, phone lines, cell towers and internet, WAPA was the only Puerto Rican radio station on the air for crucial public emergency communication. But WAPA's signal coverage was significantly cut in March 2017 when the FCC refused to renew the … [Link]

Slashdot » Apple is Really Bad At Design

Saturday 30 September 5:45:00 UTC 2017

Joshua Topolsky, writing for the Outline: Once upon a time, Apple could do little wrong. As one of the first mainstream computer companies to equally value design and technical simplicity, it upended our expectations about what PCs could be. "Macintosh works the way people work," read one 1992 ad. Rather than requiring downloads and installations and extra memory to get … [Link]

Slashdot » Chip Reprograms Cells To Regenerate Damaged Tissue

Saturday 30 September 3:30:00 UTC 2017

An anonymous reader quotes a report from Scientific American about a device that delivers infusions of DNA and other molecules to restore injured limbs in mice, and maybe someday, humans: Cells are typically reprogrammed using mixtures of DNA, RNA and proteins. The most popular method uses viruses as a delivery vehicle — although they can infect unintended cells, provoke immune … [Link]

Mashable » Obama, Biden and Prince Harry had so much fun at the Invictus Games

Saturday 30 September 2:43:13 UTC 2017

Twitter FacebookWhile Donald Trump is dealing with the Tom Price fallout, former President Barack Obama is having a grand time.  He got together with BFF Joe Biden and Prince Harry on Friday at the Invictus Games in Toronto. They all watched the United States face France in a game of wheelchair basketball, and boy did they look like they were having fun.  … [Link]

Slashdot » Radical Leftists Built Their Own FOSS Alternative To Reddit After It Banned Them

Saturday 30 September 1:25:00 UTC 2017

eeplox shares a report from VICE, adding: "Community-built sites like these are very much needed since Reddit announced they were going closed source": After r/LeftWithSharpEdge was taken down, ziq [one of the subreddit's members] decided to leave Reddit and create an independent anarchist community free from its rules. Raddle.me, which was originally called Raddit.me, is an "alternative that is focused … [Link]

Mashable » An indie game that aims to preserve an indigenous culture and its mythology

Saturday 30 September 1:04:45 UTC 2017

Twitter FacebookIn recent years, a unique relationship has developed between the world's most ancient cultures and the newest forms of storytelling.  Games like Upper One Games' Never Alone, for example, popularized the trend by working alongside the native Alaskan Iñupiaq people to preserve and bring global attention to their culture's stories.  Mulaka, an indie game from Mexico-based studio Lienzo, is the latest … [Link]

Slashdot » Apple Investigating Reports of iPhone 8 Plus Devices 'Splitting Open'

Saturday 30 September 0:45:00 UTC 2017

Apple is currently investigating reports of the iPhone 8 Plus splitting open while being charged with the included cable and plug adapter. The first claim comes from a Taiwanese iPhone 8 Plus owner, who posted photos which show damage consistent with a swollen battery. The second claim is from a Japanese owner who posted similar photos of his device, which … [Link]

Mashable » Tom Price flies out of Trump’s White House, and everybody’s making fun of him

Saturday 30 September 0:20:53 UTC 2017

Twitter FacebookAnother one bites the dust at the White House. Tom Price, now the former Secretary of Health and Human Services, resigned from his position in the Trump administration on Friday, after Politico reported last week that the cabinet secretary had been flying in private charter planes on the taxpayers' dime.  SEE ALSO: Tom Price probably wishes he could take back these … [Link]

Slashdot » Former Female Oracle Employees Sue Company For Alleged Pay Discrimination

Saturday 30 September 0:05:00 UTC 2017

Three female, former Oracle employees are suing Oracle for allegedly paying women less than men in similar jobs. Rong Jewett, Sophy Wang and Xian Murray filed a lawsuit August 28, seeking a class-action status to represent all other women who have worked at the company. TechCrunch reports: The lawsuit, first reported by The Information, alleges that Oracle discriminated against women … [Link]

Mashable » Paw print pins raise money to stop puppy mills

Saturday 30 September 0:01:28 UTC 2017

Twitter FacebookPincause has fought for human rights, gender equality, and the importance of science — and now the pin-making activist team is raising money to stop puppy mills across the U.S. The couple behind the pins is spreading the message that people should adopt dogs instead of getting them at shops that source animals from the mills. Many of those dogs live … [Link]

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