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.

Slashdot » China Has Launched the World's First All-Electric Cargo Ship

Saturday 9 December 23:34:00 UTC 2017

slash.jit writes: China has launched the world's first all-electric cargo ship. It can travel 80 kilometers (approximately 50 miles) after being charged for 2 hours. As noted by Clean Technica, 2 hours is roughly the amount of time it would take to unload the ship's cargo while docked. Oh…and Ironically, the world's first all-electric cargo ship is being used to … [Link]

Slashdot » Emotion Recognition Systems Could Be Used In Job Interviews

Saturday 9 December 22:34:00 UTC 2017

dcblogs writes: Emotion recognition software identifies micro-expressions through video analysis. These are expressions that may be as fast as 1/25 of a second and invisible to the human eye, but a close analysis of video can detect them. These systems are being used in marketing research, but some employers may be interested in using them to assess job candidates. Vendors … [Link]

Mashable » Miles Morales makes his big screen debut in 'Spider-Man: Into the Spider-verse'

Saturday 9 December 22:32:03 UTC 2017

Yes, Miles Morales technically exists inside the Marvel Cinematic Universe. But the other Spider-Man hasn't made an appearance in any of those movies, and he hasn't ever gotten one of his own. Until now. Sony's first trailer for Spider-Man: Into the Spider-verse premiered on Saturday at Brazil Comic-Con, starring Morales as the friendly neighborhood wall-crawler. Marvel originally introduced the character … [Link]

Mashable » Happy holidays from these dogs meeting Santa Claus

Saturday 9 December 22:21:29 UTC 2017

Twitter Moments: sometimes they're delightful and sometimes they feel a little … forced.  We can promise you this, though: you will love this particular Moment, which is as simple as it is vital. Reader, this Twitter Moment is just a bunch of photos of dogs meeting Santa. That's something we can all enjoy. SEE ALSO: Little boy uses sign language to … [Link]

Slashdot » Google Glitch Took Thousands of Chromebooks Offline

Saturday 9 December 21:34:00 UTC 2017

Slashdot reader Bismillah was the first to notice stories about Chromebooks going offline. GeekWire reports: Tens of thousands, perhaps millions, of Google Chromebooks, widely prized by schools due to their low cost and ease of configuration, were reported to be offline for several hours on Tuesday. The apparent cause? A seemingly botched WiFi policy update pushed out by Google that … [Link]

Mashable » John Boyega appears to be stranded in Atlanta ahead of 'The Last Jedi' premiere

Saturday 9 December 20:40:06 UTC 2017

Even the Force can't make a snowbound plane take off. If his tweets are any indication, Star Wars star John Boyega is stuck in snowy Atlanta just hours before Saturday's The Last Jedi premiere in Los Angeles. "Looks like no one's leaving!" he wrote. "Guess I'll start a family now…." SEE ALSO: Your new favorite 'Star Wars' critter is less than … [Link]

Slashdot » Updated Debian Linux 9.3 and 8.10 Released

Saturday 9 December 20:34:00 UTC 2017

An anonymous reader writes: The Debian project is pleased to announce the third update of its stable distribution Debian 9 (codename stretch). This point release mainly adds corrections for security issues, along with a few adjustments for serious problems. Security advisories have already been published separately and are referenced where available. The Debian project also announces the tenth update of … [Link]

Mashable » Saoirse Ronan isn't having the backlash around that Aer Lingus sketch on 'SNL'

Saturday 9 December 19:57:09 UTC 2017

Lots of people weren't thrilled with Saturday Night Live for capitalizing on the presence of Irish-American guest host Saoirse Ronan with a sketch about Ireland's Aer Lingus airline. Ronan, as it turns out, wasn't one of them. SEE ALSO: Irish people are not impressed by SNL's Aer Lingus sketch The sketch drew criticism for leaning on Irish stereotypes and jokes … [Link]

Slashdot » "The FCC Still Doesn't Know How the Internet Works"

Saturday 9 December 19:34:00 UTC 2017

An anonymous reader writes: The EFF describes the FCC's official plan to kill net neutrality as "riddled with technical errors and factual inaccuracies," including, for example, a false distinction between "Internet access service" and "a distinct transmission service" which the EFF calls "utterly ridiculous and completely ungrounded from reality." "Besides not understanding how Internet access works, the FCC also has … [Link]

Mashable » Happy 5-year anniversary to the stylish IKEA monkey

Saturday 9 December 18:51:46 UTC 2017

Five years ago today, a "stylish but illegal" Rhesus Macaque wearing a shearling coat was spotted in a Toronto IKEA.  Fast forward to 2017. The world is in shambles, shearling coats are back in style, and IKEA monkey, whose real name is Darwin, is no less beloved. In fact, tons of people online are wishing a happy anniversary to the cozy … [Link]

Slashdot » What Mistakes Can Stall An IT Career?

Saturday 9 December 18:34:00 UTC 2017

Quoting snydeq: "In the fast-paced world of technology, complacency can be a career killer," Paul Heltzel writes in an article on 20 ways to kill your IT career without knowing it. "So too can any number of hidden hazards that quietly put your career on shaky ground — from not knowing your true worth to thinking you've finally made it. … [Link]

Mashable » Neil Patrick Harris's daughter wrote an adorable letter to the tooth fairy

Saturday 9 December 18:02:01 UTC 2017

I wish all mail was this cute. Neil Patrick Harris posted a photo to Instagram Friday of his daughter Harper's most recent correspondence with the tooth fairy. Predictably, the letter is adorable — the seven-year-old announces that she has lost a tooth, then tells the tooth fairy, "I love you because you rock!" As someone who receives primarily Bed Bath & … [Link]

Slashdot » Reporter Regrets Letting Amazon's Delivery People Into His House

Saturday 9 December 17:34:00 UTC 2017

An anonymous reader writes: Washington Post reporter Geoffrey A. Fowler describes his short-lived experience with "Amazon Key", a $250 smart lock system with a security camera that grants Amazon's delivery people access to your home. The lock sounds "like R2-D2 with constipation," and at one point it actually jammed (though his persistent delivery person eventually got it working properly). The … [Link]

Mashable » This was the year we turned on social media

Saturday 9 December 17:30:00 UTC 2017

With each passing day comes yet another reason to question the notion that the long arc of the universe bends toward justice. However, this year, in particular, has made it resoundingly clear that — regardless of the direction of that arc — the process by which it bends manifests with stuttering jolts and fits. Things seem one way to many people, … [Link]

Mashable » Plus-size tights ad takes 'tone-deaf' to new heights

Saturday 9 December 17:06:03 UTC 2017

Companies, hello! Hope you are doing great. Here's how not to advertise. Wish, an e-commerce business that advertises heavily on Facebook (they're behind some of the, uh, weirder ads you may have come across), is under fire this week for its product images for plus-size tights. Rather than featuring photos of plus-size models, Wish is advertising the tights with photos of … [Link]

Slashdot » Patreon Hits Donors With New Fees, Angering Creators

Saturday 9 December 16:34:00 UTC 2017

Patreon's changing their fee structure to make donors cover payment-processing fees (standardized to 2.9%) — plus an additional 35 cents for every pledge. Long-time Slashdot reader NewtonsLaw reports that Patreon's users are furious: Despite Patreon's hype that this is a good thing for creators, few of these actually seem to agree and there's already a growing backlash on social media… … [Link]

Mashable » Download this: Bitcoin apps are riding high as its price skyrockets

Saturday 9 December 16:31:25 UTC 2017

There’s a new app at the top of the App Store and it's all because of Bitcoin. Coinbase, a popular Bitcoin wallet app, is now at the top of Apple's App Store, unseating Snapchat, Instagram, and YouTube as the most in-demand software.  SEE ALSO: Apple's most downloaded apps of 2017 That in itself might not be terribly surprising considering the cryptocurrency … [Link]

Mashable » Is this the most dog-friendly car ever?

Saturday 9 December 16:00:00 UTC 2017

The 'X-Trail 4Dogs' is a concept car in dogs in mind. It has many features to keep your dog happy, like a non-spill water dispenser and smart dog treat bowl. It even has a shower and two-way camera with audio.  Read more…More about Dogs, Transportation, Animal, Nissan, and Pet [Link]

Mashable » 35 good memes that got us through a bad year

Saturday 9 December 16:00:00 UTC 2017

It’s been a bad year for some, which means it's been an absolutely fantastic year for memes. From Salt Bae to the countless memes mocking President Trump and his first year in office, this has truly been a magical year for coping with sadness and madness using increasingly weird comedy online. SEE ALSO: 7 Memes That Belong in a Museum For … [Link]

Slashdot » People Keep Finding Hidden Cameras in Their Airbnbs

Saturday 9 December 15:34:00 UTC 2017

"Airbnb has a scary problem on their hands: People keep finding hidden cameras in their rental homes," reports the New York Post. "Another host was busted last month trying to film guests without their knowledge — marking the second time since October that the company has had to publicly deal with this sort of incident." BuzzFeed reports: In October, an … [Link]

Mashable » Mark Hamill and Stephen Colbert bless us with Luke Skywalker's 'lost' Cantina scene

Saturday 9 December 15:29:01 UTC 2017

Ever wondered what Luke Skywalker was up to between Return of the Jedi and The Force Awakens? Well, Mark Hamill and noted Star Wars superfan Stephen Colbert have the answer: He was trying to get into a bar. A really delightful sketch from Friday's Late Show features Hamill as a middle-aged Luke and Colbert as a condescending Cantina maître d'. … [Link]

Mashable » Presenting everything we think will happen in 'The Last Jedi'

Saturday 9 December 14:54:09 UTC 2017

LOS ANGELES — Breathe. Just breathe.  On Saturday night, the wait will finally be over — at least for the hundreds of guests (including your humble scribe) gathered at the Shrine Auditorium in Downtown L.A. for the world premiere of Star Wars: The Last Jedi.  After that, I will enter Star Wars reviewer exile, unable to publish anything beyond vague tweet-length … [Link]

Mashable » When smartphones come to church, you know nowhere is safe

Saturday 9 December 14:30:00 UTC 2017

I’ve attended church with my family for my entire life, but I've noticed a stark change in the last few visits to our non-denominational Christian congregation: A startling number of people around me spent the sermons glued to smartphones and tablets. Even my dad, a classic Midwestern disciplinarian, pulled out his iPhone and put it on his lap for easy access … [Link]

Mashable » This mini elliptical is a spin class under your desk

Saturday 9 December 14:00:00 UTC 2017

Cubii is a mini elliptical that can fit under your desk. It's perfect for those who sit in an office all day or any couch potatoes out there. The ergonomic design offers low range of motion that can give you some physical activity while sitting down without hurting your knees. Cubii retails for $249. Read more…More about Health, Sitting, Mini, Desk, … [Link]

Mashable » How to become a graphic designer without going back to school

Saturday 9 December 13:00:00 UTC 2017

Just to let you know, if you buy something featured here, Mashable might earn an affiliate commission. In 2017, it's safe to say tech has seeped into virtually every industry the job market has to offer. Take art, for example. Today, you'll likely find fewer Picassos and Pollocks and more graphic designers. At the intersection between computers and art, graphic designers … [Link]

Mashable » Master a second, third, or fourth language by taking $70 off a Rosetta Stone subscription

Saturday 9 December 13:00:00 UTC 2017

Just to let you know, if you buy something featured here, Mashable might earn an affiliate commission. Once you’re an adult, learning a new language is also seriously hard. One great way to do it is by completely immersing yourself in the language — you know, packing up your bags and moving to a new country. But if you can’t quit … [Link]

Mashable » Virtual reality might save my long-distance relationship

Saturday 9 December 13:00:00 UTC 2017

The most romantic place I’ve ever been was a grassy hill overlooking a campground. It was late evening; lit-up tents and cabins dotted the valley that sprawled before us. In the distance, stood a black mountain range, the bright edges of the northern lights peering out from behind. I was surrounded by the warm night, a waxing gibbous moon, a canopy … [Link]

Mashable » These 10 movies turning 10 in 2018 will make you feel old

Saturday 9 December 13:00:00 UTC 2017

The world was a very different place 10 years ago. Barack Obama had just been elected, the stock market had crashed, and The New York Giants won the Super Bowl. Despite all that, it was a solid year for Hollywood. The studios churned out classics for all ages that are still worth re-watching today. Here is just a sampling of the … [Link]

Slashdot » Sexual Harassment In Tech Is As Old As the Computer Age

Saturday 9 December 13:00:00 UTC 2017

Tekla Perry writes: Historian Marie Hicks, speaking at the Computer History Museum talks about how women computer operators and programmers were driven out of the industry, gives examples of sexual harassment dating back to the days of the Colossus era, and previews her next research. "It's all a matter of power, Hicks pointed out — and women have never had … [Link]

New Scientist – News » Record-breaking two-tonne fish is the heaviest of its kind

Saturday 9 December 10:53:10 UTC 2017

The record books say that the ocean sunfish is the heaviest bony fish alive, but in fact the specimen in question belongs to a different species [Link]

New Scientist – News » That interstellar asteroid could be a shard of a shredded planet

Saturday 9 December 10:53:08 UTC 2017

'Oumuamua, an oddly shaped asteroid from beyond our solar system, recently passed by. It may have formed when a planet was ripped into fragments by its star [Link]

New Scientist – News » Will wildfires finally change Rupert Murdoch’s climate stance?

Saturday 9 December 10:53:07 UTC 2017

The media-mogul's Santa Monica vineyard was saved from wildfire destruction, but the world may yet burn thanks to his climate views, says Richard Schiffman [Link]

New Scientist – News » Food delivery robots are teaching themselves how to cross roads

Saturday 9 December 10:53:04 UTC 2017

Until now, delivery robots have always needed humans to help them when things get tricky. Now machine learning has helped them work out how to manage without us [Link]

New Scientist – News » Africa’s giraffes are being slaughtered by Joseph Kony’s army

Saturday 9 December 10:53:03 UTC 2017

Elephants, giraffes, giant elands and chimpanzees are being decimated by poachers linked to violent militias in a lawless region of central Africa [Link]

Slashdot » Reading Information Aloud To Yourself Improves Memory

Saturday 9 December 10:00:00 UTC 2017

According to a study in the journal Memory, reading aloud works by creating a "production effect" which cements information in your memory. Meanwhile, hearing words said in your own voice personalizes the references and enhances recollection, according to psychology professor Colin MacLeod and researchers from the University of Waterloo in Ontario, Canada. Quartz reports: The findings are based on a … [Link]

New Scientist – News » Light from LIGO’s neutron star smashup just got even brighter

Saturday 9 December 7:43:00 UTC 2017

The gravitational wave event from August still has surprises in store. Its light is three times brighter now, which may change how we think of gamma ray bursts [Link]

Slashdot » Toyota's New Power Plant Will Create Clean Energy From Manure

Saturday 9 December 7:00:00 UTC 2017

schwit1 shares a report from Futurism: Japanese automobile giant Toyota is making some exciting moves in the realm of renewable, clean energy. The company is planning to build a power plant in California that turns the methane gas produced by cow manure into water, electricity, and hydrogen. The project, known as the Tri-Gen Project, was unveiled at this year's Los … [Link]

Slashdot » People Who Can't Remember Their Bitcoin Passwords Are Really Freaking Out Now

Saturday 9 December 3:30:00 UTC 2017

An anonymous reader quotes a report from Slate: Bitcoin has had quite a week. On Thursday, the cryptocurrency surged past $19,000 a coin before dropping down to $15,600 by Friday midday. The price of a single Bitcoin was below $1,000 in January. Any investors who bought Bitcoins back in 2013, when the price was less than $100, probably feel pretty … [Link]

Mashable » 'Jumanji' is a great video game movie that's not actually based on a video game

Saturday 9 December 2:15:24 UTC 2017

It’s a truism that Hollywood has a terrible track record when it comes to video game movies. But it’s not entirely accurate. There are lots of great video game movies out there – they're just not based on actual video games. SEE ALSO: How ‘8-Bit Cinema’ turns classic movies into old-school video games This month, Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, joins … [Link]

Mashable » The polar bear in this video is dying from starvation. Fortunately, most aren't…yet

Saturday 9 December 2:13:54 UTC 2017

After landing on Baffin Island, Canada, wildlife photographer and environmental activist Paul Nicklen captured video of a frail polar bear — dying and foaming from the mouth — as the weak animal collapsed to the ground. The bear will soon be dead — if it isn't already.  On Dec. 5, Nicklen posted the grim video to his Instagram account, and since … [Link]

Mashable » Little boy uses sign language to call for help while on Santa's lap

Saturday 9 December 1:29:01 UTC 2017

A little boy creeped out while sitting on Santa's lap used baby sign language to tell his parents he was not feeling safe with Old Saint Nick. Kerry Spencer shared an old photo of her son hanging out with a pretty convincing looking mall Santa when he was just 1 year old. "We taught our baby sign language. This is the … [Link]

Slashdot » Insurers Are Rewarding Tesla Owners For Using Autopilot

Saturday 9 December 1:25:00 UTC 2017

Britain's largest auto insurance company Direct Line is testing out an idea to let Tesla owners receive a 5% discount for switching on the car's autopilot system, seeking to encourage use of a system it hopes will cut down on accidents. Reuters reports: The move – confirmed by company representatives in response to Reuters' questions – is Tesla's only tie-up … [Link]

Slashdot » Zero-Day iOS HomeKit Vulnerability Allowed Remote Access To Smart Accessories Including Locks

Saturday 9 December 0:45:00 UTC 2017

Apple has issued a fix to a vulnerability that allowed unauthorized control of accessories, including smart locks and garage door openers. "Our understanding is Apple has rolled out a server-side fix that now prevents unauthorized access from occurring while limiting some functionality, and an update to iOS 11.2 coming next week will restore that full functionality," reports 9to5Mac. From the … [Link]

ProgrammableWeb.com » Daily API RoundUp: Google Poly, Directus, Trueface

Saturday 9 December 0:08:15 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]

Slashdot » 'Process Doppelganging' Attack Bypasses Most Security Products, Works On All Windows Versions

Saturday 9 December 0:03:00 UTC 2017

An anonymous reader quotes a report from Bleeping Computer: Yesterday, at the Black Hat Europe 2017 security conference in London, two security researchers from cyber-security firm enSilo have described a new code injection technique called "Process Doppelganging." This new attack works on all Windows versions and researchers say it bypasses most of today's major security products. Process Doppelganging is somewhat … [Link]

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