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 » Lawmakers Are Fighting For Net Neutrality

Thursday 14 December 23:50:00 UTC 2017

An anonymous reader quotes a report from The Verge: Lawmakers and public officials are responding to the FCC's decision to gut net neutrality with promises of action. In the hours following the FCC hearing, officials from around the country announced lawsuits and bills intended to counter the FCC's decision. In New York, Attorney General Eric Schneiderman said that he's leading … [Link]

Mashable » Net Neutrality is dead and your privacy is at risk. Here are 5 VPNs that can help.

Thursday 14 December 23:49:33 UTC 2017

Just to let you know, if you buy something featured here, Mashable might earn an affiliate commission. The FCC has spoken and it's official: Net Neutrality is dead. Mashable's been closely covering this story — you can read everything here — but we'll give you the TL;DR version. The FCC has decided that large internet service providers (ISPs) like Xfinity, Verizon, … [Link]

Mashable » This state senator wants to revive net neutrality in California

Thursday 14 December 23:37:42 UTC 2017

The Federal Communications Commission repealed net neutrality in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, which prohibited powerful telecoms from charging more for faster internet access.  But 3,000 miles away, in California, State Senator Scott Wiener announced plans to buck the FCC's decision by introducing California's own net neutrality rulesIn a Medium post, Wiener said he will spend the next 60 days considering the … [Link]

Mashable » The HyperCharger PRO can handle three devices at once

Thursday 14 December 23:29:10 UTC 2017

Just to let you know, if you buy something featured here, Mashable might earn an affiliate commission. These days, you wouldn't want to be caught dead on a long flight without a portable charger — yet, you still likely forget to purchase and pack one, time after time. And there you are, once again stuck on a plane with no Netflix, … [Link]

Mashable » Caught between Mac and Windows? This crossover program could help.

Thursday 14 December 23:21:14 UTC 2017

Just to let you know, if you buy something featured here, Mashable might earn an affiliate commission. As Mick Jagger once moaned into a microphone, you can't always get what you want — and computers are no exception. Windows-powered computers are still some of the most popular models money can buy. But with their razor-sharp aesthetics and user-friendly edge, Apple's slew … [Link]

Slashdot » Attackers Deploy 'Triton' Malware Against Industrial Safety Equipment

Thursday 14 December 23:10:00 UTC 2017

wiredmikey writes: A new piece of malware designed to target industrial control systems (ICS) has been used in an attack aimed at a critical infrastructure organization, FireEye said on Thursday. The malware, which has been dubbed "Triton," is designed to target Schneider Electric's Triconex Safety Instrumented System (SIS) controllers, which are used to monitor the state of a process and … [Link]

Mashable » What's next for 'The Simpsons' after years of mocking their new owner Disney?

Thursday 14 December 23:02:46 UTC 2017

As I'm sure you heard, Disney bought 20th Century Fox for $52 billion today. And I'm sure your first thought was, what does this mean for The Simpsons? While we don't know exactly, we will gladly speculate while ruminating on the fact that, for 28 years, the longest-running animated show has dunked on the Big Mouse company over and over again.  … [Link]

ProgrammableWeb.com » Postman Launches Directory of APIs That Support Its Collections Technology

Thursday 14 December 22:50:58 UTC 2017

Postman, an API development environment provider, has announced the launch of the Postman API Network, a list of public APIs. The list is derived from the API descriptions publishers have provided via Postman Collections. This network of APIs helps developers find and use APIs for building web and mobile applications. [Link]

ProgrammableWeb.com » Avolution Adds Enhanced API to ABACUS Toolset

Thursday 14 December 22:50:40 UTC 2017

Avolution, enterprise architecture software provider, has announced version 5.2 of its ABACUS tool. A key addition to the latest version is an enhanced REST API. ABACUS specializes in consolidating data from various business resources (e.g. Excel, Visio, SharePoint, etc.) for analysis, and the enhanced API streamlines ABACUS' capabilities and usefulness. [Link]

Mashable » Give Omarosa credit for this: she made General Kelly's life hell

Thursday 14 December 22:33:15 UTC 2017

The reign of Omarosa Manigault Newman is officially over, and everyone has the same question: What the hell did she do every day? On Wednesday, former White House Director of Communications for the Office of Public Liaison Omarosa Manigault officially "resigned" — or was fired, depending on your source. What is evident is that she appears to have left on explosively … [Link]

Slashdot » PSA: AIM Will Be Discontinued Tomorrow

Thursday 14 December 22:30:00 UTC 2017

Cutting_Crew writes: Along with Yahoo Messenger, MSN Messenger and ICQ, I used AIM extensively (without an AOL subscription of course). AIM will finally come to a halt on December 15th, 2017, as reported a few months ago and explained in AOL fashion over on their website. I remember using AIM to keep in touch with friends, co-workers and yes, even … [Link]

Mashable » Matt Damon attempts to speak about sexual harassment and shows he STILL doesn't get it

Thursday 14 December 22:21:58 UTC 2017

Here’s a pro-tip if you're trying to shut up and listen to women: Shut up.  Matt Damon, who has been speaking out following the avalanche of sexual assault and misconduct allegations in Hollywood, has stepped up to the mic for a third attempt at advocating for women in Hollywood, and once again falls flat. In an interview with Peter Travers for … [Link]

Mashable » You've heard of cronuts, but have you heard of 'crossushi'?

Thursday 14 December 22:18:38 UTC 2017

Invented at Mr. Holmes Bake House in Los Angeles, this kooky Japanese-French creation could be the next big food trend. Read more…More about Mashable Video, California, Los Angeles, French, and Sushi [Link]

Mashable » If you've never seen 'Star Wars' before, you're not alone

Thursday 14 December 22:12:59 UTC 2017

Believe it or not, a few Mashable employees have never seen Star Wars before. With all this talk about porgs and Star Wars: The Last Jedi, we thought it'd be interesting to ask people what they thought Star Wars is about and if they could identify characters. Their responses were hilarious. Read more…More about Space, Movies, Robots, Galaxy, and Star Wars … [Link]

Mashable » This Lego machine wants to ice your Christmas cookies for you

Thursday 14 December 22:06:35 UTC 2017

Jason Allemann designs and builds custom models using Lego bricks. He built a cookie-icing machine using a Lego Mindstorm EV3 kit. The machine features 3 different designs—an angel, snowflake, and a star for the holiday season.  Read more…More about Watercooler, Christmas, Mashable Video, Lego, and Robot [Link]

Slashdot » EFF: Accessing Publicly Available Information On the Internet Is Not a Crime

Thursday 14 December 21:50:00 UTC 2017

An anonymous reader quotes a report from EFF: EFF is fighting another attempt by a giant corporation to take advantage of our poorly drafted federal computer crime statute for commercial advantage — without any regard for the impact on the rest of us. This time the culprit is LinkedIn. The social networking giant wants violations of its corporate policy against … [Link]

Mashable » Google just helped NASA find an alien planet thousands of light-years from Earth

Thursday 14 December 21:46:50 UTC 2017

And we're tied, folks.  Thanks to Google and some fancy artificial intelligence, we now know that our solar system is just slightly less unique than we may have thought.  Scientists have discovered an eighth planet circling the sunlike star Kepler-90, 2,545 light-years away. This means that our solar system and Kepler 90 are now tied for the most number of known … [Link]

Mashable » People are using Uber instead of ambulances

Thursday 14 December 21:38:09 UTC 2017

When you're in need of a ride to the hospital do you call 911 or order an Uber? It may sound like a silly question, but a recent study revealed that ambulance usage is dropping in the United States, and researchers believe ride sharing services like Uber are to blame. A research paper released on Wednesday, showed the findings of David … [Link]

Mashable » Breitbart and Infowars are anti-net neutrality, but could be hit hard under repeal

Thursday 14 December 21:31:55 UTC 2017

If you get your news from Gateway Pundit, net neutrality is covered with stories like "Obama’s Terrifying Federal Government SCAM That Liberals Fell For." The pundit, however, should be worried. Far-right websites have been eagerly awaiting Thursday's repeal of net neutrality regulations, but it's confusing as to why these conservative sites wanted the Federal Communications Commission to turn over power to … [Link]

ProgrammableWeb.com » Part 5: Turnkey Push API Infrastructure Providers

Thursday 14 December 21:20:13 UTC 2017

This is the final part of our series on push technologies. In this part we will looks at some turnkey push API infrastructure providers. The previous parts of this series have helped you become familiar with various kinds of push technologies. Of course, a technology isn't an implementation and you require an implementation to do anything productive. Creating an API … [Link]

Mashable » Bitcoin tycoon promises to give away $86 million worth of bitcoins to charity

Thursday 14 December 21:20:09 UTC 2017

If you had a fortune in bitcoins, what would you do with it? One Bitcoin whale (a term often used for someone who owns a lot of bitcoins) has decided to simply give most of it away to charities. The anonymous benefactor announced his intentions on Reddit, and launched a site for this endeavor which he had called the Pineapple Fund.  … [Link]

Mashable » Elon Musk decides he's Willy Wonka, offers Boring factory tours as prizes to hat buyers

Thursday 14 December 21:12:57 UTC 2017

Read more… {"player":{"descript~ next, Elon?","image":&quot~ Musk's vision for traffic-skipping underground tunnels looks pretty incredible","sources&quot~ musk,amber heard,real-time,real-time video,real time,the future,us & world,real time video,elon musk tesla,elon,boring company,rea,tunnels,the boring company","sec0":null~ musk,amber heard,real-time,real-time video,real time,the future,us & world,real time video,elon musk tesla,elon,boring company,rea,tunnels,the boring company","videoSeriesName~ More about Contest, Hats, Boring Company, The Boring Company, and Tech [Link]

Slashdot » NASA, Google Spot Eighth Planet in Solar System Rivaling Ours

Thursday 14 December 21:10:00 UTC 2017

An anonymous reader shares a report: Google isn't just good for finding cat videos on the internet. The search giant's machine learning technology is also helping search the universe for planets outside our solar system. NASA on Thursday revealed the discovery of blazing-hot exoplanet Kepler-90i thanks to the use of a Google neural network trained to identify planets from the … [Link]

Mashable » Disney and Netflix are battling for your kids' attention — and your wallet

Thursday 14 December 21:02:11 UTC 2017

With Disney’s $52 billion acquisition of 21st Century Fox, the world’s greatest children’s entertainment behemoth now gets the foundation for distribution platforms to match.  In other words: The kids content steaming wars are on. And — this should go without saying — where there are kids' attention spans, there's a ton of money to be made. While talk of cord-cutter culture … [Link]

Mashable » Amazon to sell Apple TV, Google Chromecast after two-year ban

Thursday 14 December 20:46:32 UTC 2017

Congrats, Apple and Google. Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos is ready to play nice, in a way.  Amazon will begin selling Apple TV and Google Chromecast devices after a two-year ban on the e-commerce giant, CNET reported Thursday. Those products compete with Amazon's own streaming services via Fire TV devices. SEE ALSO: Google is geeking out over the new 'Star Wars' just … [Link]

Mashable » Actresses plan to wear black at Golden Globes to protest sexual misconduct in Hollywood

Thursday 14 December 20:44:09 UTC 2017

The women of Hollywood aren't about to let their industry forget its horrible history of sexual assault and harassment. Many actresses will protest sexual misconduct in Hollywood by wearing black to the Golden Globe Awards, People reports. Nominees and presenters are expected to participate, and the trend may pervade not just the Golden Globes but the entire awards season. SEE ALSO: … [Link]

Mashable » Two scholarly brothers get accepted into their dream schools in heartwarming videos

Thursday 14 December 20:37:06 UTC 2017

It’s every student's dream to apply and get accepted into their dream college or university.  Although it may take a long road to get there with the dreaded SATs, admissions essays, and interviews, there's no better feeling than reading an email or physical letter stating: "Congratulations, you're accepted!" And for two young academic scholars, those three words just may have changed … [Link]

Slashdot » Amazon Will Resume Selling Apple TV, Google's Chromecast

Thursday 14 December 20:30:00 UTC 2017

Ina Fried, reporting for Axios: Amazon confirmed Thursday that it will again sell the Apple TV set-top box and Google Chromecast dongle. The company had stopped selling the devices amid disputes with both giants. There's a lot of frenemy stuff at play here, with Google, Apple and Amazon all selling their own streaming devices, but also looking to offer their … [Link]

Mashable » Late night writer Amber Ruffin breaks down why Black Women need to run America

Thursday 14 December 20:19:14 UTC 2017

After Democratic candidate, Doug Jones, won the Alabama senate seat on Tuesday over his opponent, Roy Moore, many people throughout social media had one specific group of people to thank: African-American women.  The exit polls show that while 72 percent of white men and 63 percent of white men voted for Moore, 93 percent of black men and 98 percent … [Link]

Mashable » 14 jokes about net neutrality while they're still free

Thursday 14 December 20:08:06 UTC 2017

In a brave motion, the Federal Communications Commission voted to repeal a nasty net neutrality protection on Thursday that was put in place by the evil Obama administration in 2015. Finally, the internet will be able to serve its true and real purpose: make untold billions of dollars for faceless corporations, which nearly everyone in the United States hates. SEE ALSO: … [Link]

Mashable » Dear Disney: Now you own the original 'Star Wars', please restore its full glory

Thursday 14 December 19:53:02 UTC 2017

The history of Star Wars and the history of 20th Century Fox, the movie studio that Rupert Murdoch just sold to Disney as one part of a massive $52 billion deal, are intimately intertwined.  20th Century Fox executive Alan Ladd Jr., known to one and all as Laddie, is the main reason the original Star Wars exists. In the mid 1970s, … [Link]

Mashable » Stock up on porg swag before 'The Last Jedi' destroys your emotions

Thursday 14 December 19:53:01 UTC 2017

Just to let you know, if you buy something featured here, Mashable might earn an affiliate commission. From what we know of Star Wars: The Last Jedi so far, it looks like things are only going to get darker for Rey and the rest of the new generation. But at least we have porgs now!  These cuddly, penguin-like aliens are making … [Link]

Mashable » The Ataribox has been delayed, casting doubt on the console's future

Thursday 14 December 19:53:00 UTC 2017

Atari’s throwback console Ataribox looks like it's in trouble. The Ataribox, first revealed in June, was supposed to go up for preorder Thursday, but the preorder was unexpectedly delayed the morning of, Engadget reported. According to Atari, the delay is because the console is taking a bit longer to make than expected. SEE ALSO: We know what Ataribox will cost now, … [Link]

Mashable » Let the Death Star shine a light on things with this Star Wars lamp

Thursday 14 December 19:36:35 UTC 2017

Just to let you know, if you buy something featured here, Mashable might earn an affiliate commission. Sure, the Death Star may be an Imperial space station with enough power to decimate an entire planet, but you've got to admit that it makes a pretty stylish lamp. SEE ALSO: This Chewbacca stocking is the perfect Christmas gift for Star Wars fans … [Link]

Slashdot » Fortinet VPN Client Exposes VPN Creds; Palo Alto Firewalls Allow Remote Attacks

Thursday 14 December 19:30:00 UTC 2017

An anonymous reader shares a report: It's been a bad week for two of the world's biggest vendors of enterprise hardware and software — Fortinet and Palo Alto Networks. The worst of the bunch is a credentials leak affecting Fortinet's FortiClient, an antivirus product provided by Fortinet for both home and enterprise-level clients. Researchers from SEC Consult said in an … [Link]

Mashable » We are creating a new class of extreme weather events, with dire results

Thursday 14 December 19:28:27 UTC 2017

The next time someone tells you that we can’t tie an individual weather event to climate change, you should tell them that’s partly to mostly bullshit. Not only can we say a whole lot about an event’s ties to climate change, but some events could not have occurred without global warming’s assistance.  Let this sink in for a second.  Global warming … [Link]

Slashdot » The Trump Administration Just Voted To Repeal the US Government's Net Neutrality Rules

Thursday 14 December 18:50:00 UTC 2017

The Federal Communications Commission voted on Thursday to dismantle landmark rules regulating the businesses that connect consumers to the internet, granting broadband companies power to potentially reshape Americans' online experiences. The agency scrapped so-called net neutrality regulations that prohibited broadband providers from blocking websites or charging for higher-quality service or certain content. The federal government will also no longer regulate … [Link]

Mashable » Cheese lovers rejoice, study finds it might actually be good for you!

Thursday 14 December 18:48:07 UTC 2017

A study published in the European Journal of Nutrition found that eating a little bit of cheese per day could reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. Read more…More about Health, Mashable Video, Cheese, Healthy, and Mashable Video [Link]

Mashable » Net neutrality is officially dead

Thursday 14 December 18:42:54 UTC 2017

Companies now control the internet, and there's no way to stop them.  The Federal Communications Commission voted on Thursday to eliminate its power to ensure net neutrality, effectively paving the way for internet providers to begin charging companies and consumers for faster internet access.  These kinds of arrangements, commonly called "fast lanes," will inevitably favor big companies and hurt innovation, net … [Link]

Mashable » Why 'Final Fantasy' Has the Best Hair in Gaming

Thursday 14 December 18:42:26 UTC 2017

Read more…More about Final Fantasy, Final Fantasy Xv, Mashable Reels, Entertainment, and Gaming [Link]

Slashdot » Space Is Not a Void

Thursday 14 December 18:20:00 UTC 2017

An anonymous reader shares an article: When President Kennedy announced the Apollo Program, he famously argued that we should go to the moon because it is hard. Solving the technical challenges of space travel is a kind of civilizational achievement on its own, like resolving an interplanetary Rubik's Cube. The argument worked, perhaps all too well. As soon as we … [Link]

Slashdot » Internet Traffic To Major Tech Firms Mysteriously Rerouted To Russia

Thursday 14 December 17:46:00 UTC 2017

wiredmikey writes: Internet traffic to some of the world's largest tech firms was briefly rerouted to Russia earlier this week in what appeared to be a Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) attack. Internet monitoring service BGPmon noticed that 80 IP prefixes for organizations such as Google, Microsoft, Apple, Facebook, NTT Communications, Twitch and Riot Games had been announced by a Russian … [Link]

Mashable » BÖHM headphones make a great gift for music listeners and gamers

Thursday 14 December 17:32:39 UTC 2017

Just to let you know, if you buy something featured here, Mashable might earn an affiliate commission. New headphones are a perfect gift for people who use their phone or play games or listen to music, which is literally just about anyone. So these wireless headphones from BÖHM are definitely going to please someone, and they're a whopping 56% off. SEE … [Link]

Mashable » My name is on a fake Net Neutrality comment, and yours might be, too

Thursday 14 December 17:22:52 UTC 2017

There’s a lot of fake news out there, but at least you're not the one writing it, right?  Not so fast. The Federal Communications Commission has received millions of comments concerning the potential repeal of Net Neutrality leading up to today's vote. Unfortunately, one million of those comments were written by bots, according to the New York Attorney General's Office. And … [Link]

Mashable » Ryan Reynolds posts hilarious pic implying Deadpool is already in trouble with Disney

Thursday 14 December 17:18:22 UTC 2017

Disney just bought Fox for $52 billion and now owns, among other things, the Merc with the Mouth. Ryan Reynolds quickly shared a photo of Deadpool being escorted from the Disneyland premises with the caption "Apparently you can't blow the Matterhorn." SEE ALSO: Why would Disney want to buy a big chunk of 21st Century Fox? Netflix. Deadpool is known for … [Link]

Mashable » MashReads podcast: 'Infinite Jest' is really hard to talk about

Thursday 14 December 17:15:45 UTC 2017

David Foster Wallace wrote a difficult book to talk about, and it's only gotten harder with time. But we didn't let that stop us.  On this week's episode of the MashReads Podcast, I was joined by Chloe Bryan and Brett Williams, other brave souls who tackled the 1,079-page tome that is Infinite Jest.  Wallace's mildly dystopian seminal work takes place somewhere … [Link]

Mashable » 50 stocking stuffers under $5

Thursday 14 December 16:52:17 UTC 2017

If, at this point in the holiday season, a glance at your checking account balance brings you closer to an ulcer than you've ever been, you should: Consult a doctor. Reassess you gift budget. Once you've got those covered, stock up on a few small-but-delightful gifts to pass out when the time comes. Your doctor will thank you. 1. A candy … [Link]

Mashable » Sorry to dump this on you, but another 'Mad Pooper' is on the loose

Thursday 14 December 16:40:35 UTC 2017

Oh, crap: police in one New York village are searching for yet another "Mad Pooper." An unidentified person is currently on a pooping spree in Orchard Park, New YorkPer the New York Daily News, "multiple homeowners" have allegedly noticed human feces suddenly appearing on their lawnsAccording to the Buffalo News, one person even filed a police report. SEE ALSO: The 8 … [Link]

Slashdot » Wine Glasses Are Seven Times Larger Than They Used To Be

Thursday 14 December 16:40:00 UTC 2017

An anonymous reader shares a report: Our Georgian and Victorian ancestors may have enjoyed a Christmas tipple but — judging by the size of the glasses they used — they probably drank less wine than we do today. Scientists at the University of Cambridge have found that the capacity of wine glasses has ballooned nearly seven-fold over the past 300 … [Link]

Mashable » The Pupper controller for the Nintendo Switch is adorable

Thursday 14 December 16:29:37 UTC 2017

There’s a new Nintendo Switch peripheral that transforms the console's Joy-Con controllers into a cute little puppy face. Finally. SEE ALSO: 'The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild' was the most unforgettable game of 2017 Amazon just listed a new Pupper controller grip for the Nintendo Switch, which looks similar to the standard Switch Joy-Con grip with one crucial addition: … [Link]

Mashable » Justin Beiber practicing his dance moves on Instagram is the most precious thing on the internet today

Thursday 14 December 16:28:18 UTC 2017

There is nothing more pure in this world than the pairing of a vulnerable Justin Bieber and an Ed Sheeran song. For some reason, this combination came to life on Wednesday when Bieber took the time to bless Instagram timelines with two videos of him practicing some dance moves to the tune of "Perfect," off of Sheeran's critically-acclaimed album, ÷.  SEE … [Link]

Mashable » Great job everybody, we just killed free online porn

Thursday 14 December 16:22:24 UTC 2017

RIP your porn habit. Thursday's FCC vote to end net neutrality will kill many of the things you enjoy most about the internet in its current form, but chief among them is your ability to access copious amounts of free adult entertainment. Three rich men fuck all Americans. Coming soon to Pornhub. #NetNeutrality — Pornhub ARIA (@Pornhub) December 14, 2017 At … [Link]

Mashable » Save $100 on the GoPro Hero 5 Black 4K camera at Best Buy

Thursday 14 December 16:13:33 UTC 2017

Just to let you know, if you buy something featured here, Mashable might earn an affiliate commission. Watching a video filmed via GoPro is like going on a wild, first-person ride. Now you can take people on your adventures with the GoPro Hero 5 Black 4K Camera, which is on sale today for $100 off. SEE ALSO: This Photoshop course is … [Link]

Slashdot » Google and Facebook 'Must Pay For News' From Which They Make Billions

Thursday 14 December 16:03:00 UTC 2017

Internet giants such as Google and Facebook must pay copyright charges for using news content on their platforms, nine European press agencies said. These giant platforms, news agencies said, make vast profits from news content on their platforms. The call comes at a time when the EU is debating a directive to make Facebook, Google, Twitter and other major players … [Link]

Mashable » New U.S. embassy looks like something out of 'Star Trek' and it has a moat

Thursday 14 December 16:00:29 UTC 2017

Crazily expensive, incredibly secure, and visually stunning.  SEE ALSO: UK's Russian Embassy confirms that they reside on the Dark Side These are the first things that spring to mind when you see a medieval castle. #NewProfilePic #33NineElmsLane 🇺🇸🇬&#127463~ pic.twitter.com/zJEFPGQzZ9 — U.S. Embassy London (@USAinUK) December 13, 2017 And those are also the main concepts behind the new U.S. embassy in London, … [Link]

Mashable » How Snapchat is cooking up the next dancing hot dog

Thursday 14 December 16:00:00 UTC 2017

Snap is opening up to more creators. The self-proclaimed camera company released Lens Studio on Thursday as a way for developers to build augmented-reality experiences for Snapchat. The tool, available as a desktop app on Mac and Windows, is similar to Facebook's AR studio, released earlier this week. Google offers ARCore, and Apple has ARKit. Snapchat is betting designers will want … [Link]

Mashable » Google is geeking out over the new 'Star Wars' just as much as you are

Thursday 14 December 15:58:39 UTC 2017

Google launched Star Wars augmented reality stickers on its Pixel and Pixel 2 phones. You can fight AR stormtroopers or play with a whole bunch of porgs… the world is your galaxy. Read more…More about Google, Film, Movies, Technology, and Games [Link]

Mashable » This star-studded video celebrates clean energy initiatives changing lives around the globe

Thursday 14 December 15:54:25 UTC 2017

Paid Content | ShellDespite differences in geography and culture, citizens around the world are united in their quest for a brighter future.The vision for a more sustainable society involves innovating upon deeply ingrained rituals of daily life, from mealtime to the daily commute. From clean cookstoves in China, to hydrogen-fueled cars that emit nothing but water in the U.S. and U.K., … [Link]

Mashable » 'The Simpsons' predicted Disney would take Fox over one day

Thursday 14 December 15:53:49 UTC 2017

Trust The Simpsons to have predicted one of the biggest entertainment acquisitions in media history 20 years ahead of its time.  The Fox sitcom foresaw the company being owned by Disney back in 1998. In the episode, Homer gets a personal assistant job in Hollywood and pitches his script at 20th Century Fox, "a division of Walt Disney Co." SEE ALSO: … [Link]

Mashable » This interactive emoji dance party is about as 'internet' as it gets

Thursday 14 December 15:52:53 UTC 2017

Created by interactive developer and designer Charlie Clark, 'Emoji Party' is an audio-visual emoji experience that let's you throw your own internet rave using your favorite emojis. The interactive experience creates pulsating emoji waves that move and respond to your mouse.  Read more…More about Smartphone, Smartphones, Internet, Mashable Video, and Emoji [Link]

Mashable » A 3D printer powered by a watermill prints ceramic pottery

Thursday 14 December 15:51:34 UTC 2017

Designer duo O João e a Maria developed a hydraulic 3D printer that user a watermill to print ceramic containers. The project, called 360º UNDER WATER, is currently a work-in-progress and went from idea to prototype in just two weeks, as it was part of an artistic residency in the town of Mértola, Portugal.  Read more…More about Mashable Video, Water, Portugal, … [Link]

Mashable » This huge snake crawled underneath a Christmas tree and the owners wouldn't have it

Thursday 14 December 15:48:47 UTC 2017

A red-bellied snake entered a home on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland, Australia. It hid underneath the Christmas tree before squeezing into a printer. A snake catcher was called in to remove it.  Read more…More about Watercooler, Video, Iphone, Australia, and Home [Link]

Mashable » Google finally gives more Android phones their own Assistant

Thursday 14 December 15:46:08 UTC 2017

Google is rolling out its personal AI Google Assistant to users with phones running older versions of its Android OS, finally giving more people the voice-controlled smart features that are becoming a hallmark of the platform.  SEE ALSO: Google Assistant can now identify almost any song playing near you The company announced the AI will soon be available to users running … [Link]

Mashable » Neil DeGrasse Tyson explains the term 'the stars align'

Thursday 14 December 15:20:18 UTC 2017

StarTalk Radio Host Neil DeGrasse Tyson explains what it means when someone says 'the stars align.' It turns out there's a major problem with the term that you may not have known.  Check out more of StarTalk Radio's podcasts here. StarTalk on Mashable is a video series, produced by Mashable and StarTalk Radio.  StarTalk Radio is a podcast and radio program … [Link]

Slashdot » Almost 100 Million People a Year 'Forced To Choose Between Food and Healthcare'

Thursday 14 December 15:20:00 UTC 2017

Almost 100 million people are pushed into extreme poverty each year because of debts accrued through healthcare expenses. From a report: A report, published by the World Health Organization and the World Bank this week, found the poorest and most vulnerable people are routinely forced to choose between healthcare and other necessities for their household, including food and education, subsisting … [Link]

Mashable » The hit factor: The science behind pop music

Thursday 14 December 15:16:15 UTC 2017

CREATED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH BOSE Music: Foemen, "Boy" Read more… More about Music, Pop, Pop Star, Pop Culture, and Brain [Link]

Mashable » This is your brain on hip-hop: How rap music affects human emotion

Thursday 14 December 15:15:30 UTC 2017

CREATED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH BOSE Read more…More about Music, Science, Hip Hop, Rap, and Brain [Link]

Mashable » There’s much more to classical music than meets the ear

Thursday 14 December 15:14:28 UTC 2017

CREATED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH BOSE Music: Mozart, "Eine Kleine Nachtmusik" Read more… More about Music, Science, Intelligence, Smart, and Classical Music [Link]

Mashable » Mark Hamill: Not having Carrie Fisher around to see 'The Last Jedi' is 'unspeakably tragic'

Thursday 14 December 15:13:45 UTC 2017

Carrie Fisher's death will always sting for Star Wars fans, but The Last Jedi is the first film in the franchise to release into a world without her. Even a year after her passing, costar Mark Hamill and director Rian Johnson struggled to find the words to describe her performance as it connects to the past, present, and future of Princess … [Link]

New Scientist – News » A family in Italy doesn’t feel pain because of a gene mutation

Thursday 14 December 15:08:27 UTC 2017

Six members of the same family have a reduced sensitivity to pain, meaning they don’t notice when they break bones. Now the gene responsible has been identified [Link]

Mashable » The dude about to kill Net Neutrality thinks a dumb video will get you on his side

Thursday 14 December 14:44:48 UTC 2017

On the day before he's set to vote down Net Neutrality rules, FCC Chairman Ajit Pai wants to calm your fears about the dark future he's about to unleash. He did that with a really stupid video.  On Wednesday, with the help of conservative outlet The Daily Caller, Pai released a video entitled "7 Things You Can Still Do on the … [Link]

Slashdot » Microsoft Unveils Improved AI-powered Search Features for Bing

Thursday 14 December 14:40:00 UTC 2017

Microsoft unveiled a handful of new intelligent search features for Bing at an event held in San Francisco this week. From a report: Powered by AI, the search updates are meant to provide more thorough answers and allow for more conversational or general search queries. First, when answering a question, Bing will now validate its answers by sourcing a number … [Link]

Slashdot » FCC's Own Chief Technology Officer Warned About Net Neutrality Repeal

Thursday 14 December 14:00:00 UTC 2017

Margaret Harding McGill, reporting for Politico: The Federal Communications Commission's own chief technology officer expressed concern Wednesday about Republican Chairman Ajit Pai's plan to repeal the net neutrality rules, saying it could lead to practices that are "not in the public interest." In an internal email to all of the FCC commissioner offices, CTO Eric Burger, who was appointed by … [Link]

Mashable » 5 crossovers we want to see from the Disney-Fox union

Thursday 14 December 13:58:23 UTC 2017

Just when we thought Disney couldn't dominate the box office any more completely, they went and picked up 20th Century Fox. There's every reason to fret about this latest turn of events. Will the Mouse House discourage Fox's edgier projects? Might the decreased competition lead to ever-bigger, ever-blander movies? How much more power will Disney have to throw around the next … [Link]

Mashable » This is who the iMac Pro is for

Thursday 14 December 13:31:26 UTC 2017

The vast majority of Apple customers will never use an iMac Pro. The monstrously potent machine, billed as the “most powerful Mac ever built” when Apple unveiled it in June, has stratospheric capabilities and a price tag to match, putting it well out of the realm of consideration for your average iPhone user. But I’d wager all of those people will, … [Link]

Mashable » Disney buys 21st Century Fox for $52 billion as it prepares for war with Netflix and Amazon

Thursday 14 December 13:18:30 UTC 2017

It’s an arms race, and every media company is involved. Disney announced its much-anticipated acquisition of a big piece of 21st Century Fox for $52.4 billion in stock.  The move gives Disney four important assets as the Mickey Mouse operation moves to compete with rivals including Netflix and Amazon.  Here's what Disney is buying: 21st Century Fox movie studio FX and … [Link]

Mashable » Man's security camera prank on unsuspecting friend escalates spectacularly

Thursday 14 December 13:13:54 UTC 2017

Turns out if you combine a security camera, some remote control lights, an Amazon Echo and an unsuspecting friend it can make for a pretty fun Twitter thread. SEE ALSO: This British man's email exchange with a scammer escalated hilariously On Wednesday, writer Nick Kocher took to Twitter to share the epic tale of a sequence of pranks he played on … [Link]

Mashable » Why spending $1,000+ on a phone isn't as crazy as it sounds

Thursday 14 December 13:00:00 UTC 2017

On Oct. 27, I joined millions of people worldwide in pre-ordering the iPhone X in the middle of the night. I went back to sleep after spending exactly $1,250.97 for the fully-loaded version, and I woke up the next day feeling completely unfazed by my purchase. A thousand dollars is a lot of f*cking money to spend on a phone that … [Link]

Mashable » McDonald's makes the McVegan burger a permanent fixture on 2 countries' menus

Thursday 14 December 12:42:48 UTC 2017

McDonald’s isn't exactly number one on the list of vegan-friendly eateries. But, for vegans in Sweden and Finland, McDonald's just got a hell of a lot friendlier.  SEE ALSO: McDonald's is testing out a McVegan burger in Finland McDonald's is making its McVegan burger a permanent menu fixture in Sweden and Finland after a successful trial of the item in Tampere, … [Link]

Slashdot » Disney Makes Deal for 21st Century Fox, Reshaping Entertainment Landscape

Thursday 14 December 12:25:00 UTC 2017

Disney is going all in for its upcoming fight with Netflix and other streaming giants. The Walt Disney Company said Thursday that it had reached a deal to buy most of the assets of 21st Century Fox, the conglomerate controlled by Rupert Murdoch, in an all-stock transaction valued at roughly $52.4 billion. From a report: To complete the integration, a … [Link]

Mashable » This trailer re-imagines 'Star Wars' with a green-skinned Han Solo and a female lead

Thursday 14 December 12:07:33 UTC 2017

In a parallel universe, in a galaxy far, far away, Han Solo is green-skinned with gills, Stormtroopers brand lightsabers, and the main character is a heroic young girl named Luka Starkiller.  Those are just a few of the anomalies that can be seen in the paintings of talented artist Ralph McQuarrie who in 1975 was commissioned by George Lucas to … [Link]

Mashable » An airplane drew a Christmas tree on a flight tracker because why not

Thursday 14 December 12:04:45 UTC 2017

How far would you go for a Christmas gif? SEE ALSO: Budweiser is one step closer to developing beer on Mars Airbus A380 — the world's largest passenger plane — carried out a very festive test flight over Germany on Wednesday, as can be viewed on flight tracker websites. An early Christmas gif from the @Airbus A380.See how Airbus drew their … [Link]

Mashable » Shipwrecked souls: Behind the scenes of Outlander's Season 3 finale

Thursday 14 December 12:00:00 UTC 2017

It’s a crisp June morning on Silverstroom Beach, a secluded bay located on the western cape of South Africa. The normally pristine stretch of soft white sand is littered with the debris left behind after a catastrophic shipwreck — barrels, rigging, and jagged chunks of wood. There are two bodies on the beach, a man and a woman, both damp and … [Link]

Mashable » YouTuber addresses cultural stereotypes about interracial relationships

Thursday 14 December 11:57:54 UTC 2017

Making videos on the internet comes hand in hand with receiving mean and abusive comments. And, sometimes these comments can be extremely personal.  But, YouTuber Natalie Tran was not prepared for the reactions and comments she receives about being an Asian woman in an interracial relationship. So, she decided to address the stereotypes surrounding her relationship—many of which are rooted … [Link]

Mashable » Company's Christmas competition results in very awkward Instagram hashtag fail

Thursday 14 December 11:53:04 UTC 2017

When you're running an Instagram competition, it's important to get your hashtag game on point. You want something snappy, something catchy — maybe something with a bit of alliteration. Something that will be memorable. SEE ALSO: British man complains about crooked bread, gets a perfect response This was clearly the thought process British baking company Warburtons had recently when they decided … [Link]

Mashable » You can only buy this Miami condo with Bitcoin

Thursday 14 December 11:42:16 UTC 2017

If you're looking for a penthouse condo in Miami, and are sitting on a large heap of Bitcoin, we just might have a deal for you.  A condo in Miami is selling on real estate site Redfin, seemingly for a price of $33. But according to CNBC it's actually 33 bitcoins, which is roughly $563,000 at current prices.  SEE ALSO: Bitcoin's … [Link]

Mashable » Selena Gomez had a very sweet Instagram message for Taylor Swift's birthday

Thursday 14 December 11:08:52 UTC 2017

Friends send friends messages on Instagram for their birthdays. That's just, like, the law. SEE ALSO: Taylor Swift reinvents herself (again) for her first Vogue cover of the Reputation era It was Taylor Swift's birthday Wednesday and you'd better bet her friend Selena Gomez had nice stuff to say about it. I’m glad you were born. You write all the thoughts … [Link]

Mashable » Morgan Spurlock says he's 'part of the problem,' admits sexual misconduct

Thursday 14 December 10:56:38 UTC 2017

Morgan Spurlock admits to being part of the problem.  SEE ALSO: Director Bryan Singer sued for alleged sexual assault of 17-year-old In a long tweet, the Super Size Me filmmaker lays down his history of sexual misconduct, from accusations of rape to paying to settle a sexual harassment allegation in the workplace.  He also confesses to having been "unfaithful to every … [Link]

Mashable » Tim Minchin gave a beautiful performance for James Corden following the birth of his baby girl

Thursday 14 December 10:25:14 UTC 2017

A healthy dose of cynicism underpinned with compassion. That's the Tim Minchin way. SEE ALSO: Harry Styles just sort of helped James Corden with the birth of his daughter James Corden was not on The Late Late Show on Wednesday night due the birth of his new baby daughter, but guest host Bryan Cranston was there to introduce musical poet … [Link]

Mashable » Fox reporter gets nailed in the face with snowball seconds before going live

Thursday 14 December 10:12:53 UTC 2017

Live reporting can be a risky business. Adverse weather conditions, large roadside puddles — these are just a couple of the hazards a broadcaster faces when they're out in the field. It's not often you expect the source of the chaos to be your own colleague, though. SEE ALSO: I really hate to break this to you, but that BBC … [Link]

Slashdot » Star Wars: The Last Jedi Has Critics In Raptures

Thursday 14 December 10:00:00 UTC 2017

gollum123 shares a report from BBC: "Rousing." "Thrilling." "Addictively bold." Just a few of the superlatives the critics are using to describe the latest film in the Star Wars saga. The Last Jedi, writes the Telegraph, is "enormous fun" and "will leave fans beaming with surprise." The Guardian calls it "an explosive sugar rush of spectacle" possessing "a tidal wave … [Link]

Mashable » Bryan Cranston's guest monologue for James Corden is as smooth as you'd expect

Thursday 14 December 9:53:57 UTC 2017

If you need someone to have your back at the last minute, you can always rely on Bryan Cranston. SEE ALSO: Bryan Cranston had sex on a train and it did not go to plan With James Corden still away from work due to the birth of his baby daughter, Wednesday night's edition of The Late Late Show saw the … [Link]

Mashable » Minion steals part of guy's lawn then tags him on Facebook

Thursday 14 December 9:45:40 UTC 2017

A person dressed as a Minion has been causing a bit of mischief in the Western Australian town of Kalgoorlie — he's accused of stealing bits of grass from a man's front yard. Brad Nicklin told WA Today he was sitting on his porch when he noticed a patch of grass missing from his front lawn. SEE ALSO: 14 of the … [Link]

Slashdot » Solar Power and Batteries Are Encroaching On Natural Gas In Energy Production

Thursday 14 December 7:00:00 UTC 2017

Socguy writes: The relentless downward march in cost of both solar and battery storage is poised to displace 10GW worth of natural gas peaker plant electricity production in the U.S. by 2027. Already we are seeing the net cost of combined solar and batteries cheaper than the equivalent natural gas peaker plant. Some particularly aggressive estimates from major energy companies … [Link]

Mashable » Behind the ambitious plan to build and race flying cars

Thursday 14 December 5:04:37 UTC 2017

Since Back to the Future, you're far from alone if you've wondered where the heck your flying car is already. Sure, we've seen pitches by the likes of Kitty Hawk, which is backed by Google co-founder Larry Page, and Slovakian startup AeroMobil — but the reality of a flying car still seems a way off. SEE ALSO: Why everyone suddenly got … [Link]

Mashable » SoundCloud's new CEO says update won't change what makes it great

Thursday 14 December 5:01:00 UTC 2017

Chance the Rapper traveled across the country over the last year telling crowds, "no problem."  And yet, for SoundCloud, the music service that helped propel him to fame, it's been a year of turmoil. In July, the company was forced to lay off 173 employees, about 40 percent of its workforce, as it failed to pull in enough money to meet … [Link]

New Scientist – News » A family in Italy doesn’t feel pain because of a gene mutation

Thursday 14 December 4:55:07 UTC 2017

Six members of the same family have a reduced sensitivity to pain, meaning they don’t notice when they break bones. Now the gene responsible has been identified [Link]

Mashable » 4 industries you probably didn't realize could be impacted by net neutrality

Thursday 14 December 4:06:12 UTC 2017

With a historic net neutrality vote set to take place tomorrow, people across the United States are rightly concerned about the future of the internet. Visions of price-tiered online spaces dancing in their heads, constituents all over the country are reaching out to their elected officials in a likely doomed effort to forestall what many see as the inevitable destruction of … [Link]

Slashdot » Author of BrickerBot Malware Retires, Says He Bricked 10 Million IoT Devices

Thursday 14 December 3:30:00 UTC 2017

An anonymous reader writes: The author of BrickerBot — the malware that bricks IoT devices — has announced his retirement in an email to Bleeping Computer, also claiming to have bricked over 10 million devices since he started the "Internet Chemotherapy" project in November 2016. Similar to the authors of the Mirai malware, the BrickerBot developer dumped his malware's source … [Link]

New Scientist – News » This is the oldest fossil of a plesiosaur from the dinosaur era

Thursday 14 December 3:30:00 UTC 2017

A nearly complete skeleton of an early long-necked plesiosaur has been found in a clay pit in Germany, and reveals they survived a mass extinction [Link]

New Scientist – News » Robot that’s the width of a hair masters Pac-Man and cuts cheese

Thursday 14 December 3:30:00 UTC 2017

Tiny metal robots can plot their own route around a maze modelled on the iconic video game – and could be used in surgery one day [Link]

New Scientist – News » TB, or not TB? At last, a urine test can diagnose it quickly

Thursday 14 December 3:30:00 UTC 2017

For the first time, a urine test has been developed that reliably detects tuberculosis – a valuable weapon in the fight against an infection that kills millions [Link]

Mashable » How archaeologists used VR to make an ancient capital come to life

Thursday 14 December 3:03:37 UTC 2017

Now you can travel back to ancient Cyprus, thanks to a VR app developed by researchers.  The Paphos Theatre in VR app, available on Google Play and iTunes, is the result of 20 years of excavation by University of Sydney archaeologists, and lets you explore the ancient Nea Paphos' Theatre during its heyday in 150 AD. SEE ALSO: Busting myths about … [Link]

Slashdot » Trump Administration Calls For Government IT To Adopt Cloud Services

Thursday 14 December 2:10:00 UTC 2017

According to Reuters, The White House said Wednesday the U.S. government needs a major overhaul of information technology systems and should take steps to better protect data and accelerate efforts to use cloud-based technology. The report outlined a timeline over the next year for IT reforms and a detailed implementation plan. One unnamed cloud-based email provider has agreed to assist … [Link]

Mashable » Is George Lucas damning 'The Last Jedi' with faint praise?

Thursday 14 December 2:05:19 UTC 2017

Although on the script page George Lucas is a man of too many words, in real life he is a man of too few. Those of us interested in the life of the shy Star Wars billionaire must make do with the tiniest of insights into his thinking about what Disney is doing with his former intellectual property. So news that … [Link]

The Joy of Tech » JoT #2475: Santa's new workshop!

Thursday 14 December 2:00:11 UTC 2017

He’s a miner now! [Link]

The Joy of Tech » JoT #2476: Stay un-spoiled!

Thursday 14 December 1:50:24 UTC 2017

The spoiler-free Force is strong with this one! [Link]

Slashdot » Avast Launches Open-Source Decompiler For Machine Code

Thursday 14 December 1:30:00 UTC 2017

Greg Synek reports via TechSpot: To help with the reverse engineering of malware, Avast has released an open-source version of its machine-code decompiler, RetDec, that has been under development for over seven years. RetDec supports a variety of architectures aside from those used on traditional desktops including ARM, PIC32, PowerPC and MIPS. As Internet of Things devices proliferate throughout our … [Link]

Mashable » This 'Harry Potter' activewear will guarantee you the House Cup

Thursday 14 December 1:17:18 UTC 2017

Someone give us a Triwizard Tournament to win, as we need an excuse to hand over our galleons for this new Harry Potter-inspired activewear. A new range from Australian label Black Milk, "Team Hogwarts," is something we'd actually wear — and maybe exercise in (or just rewatch the Prisoner of Azkaban). SEE ALSO: 'Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery' finally lets you fulfill … [Link]

Mashable » Journalists are being jailed for 'fake news,' and critics blame Trump

Thursday 14 December 1:08:30 UTC 2017

A record 262 journalists were jailed in 2017 simply for doing their work, according to a report published Wednesday by the Committee to Project Journalists. That figure is higher even than last year's historic peak of some 259 journalists behind bars. The nonprofit's annual census found that, of those arrested, an astonishing 21 were arrested on "false news" charges. Others have … [Link]

Slashdot » T-Mobile Is Becoming a Cable Company

Thursday 14 December 0:50:00 UTC 2017

T-Mobile has revealed that it's launching a TV service in 2018, and that is has acquired Layer3 TV (a company that integrates TV, streaming and social networking) to make this happen. The company thinks people are ditching cable due to the providers, not TV itself. Engadget reports: It claims that it can "uncarrier" TV the way it did with wireless … [Link]

Mashable » Black women who blocked Roy Moore need your support, not your tweets

Thursday 14 December 0:44:06 UTC 2017

After Democrat Doug Jones upset his opponent Roy Moore in the election to choose Alabama's next senator, the celebration on Twitter featured a recurring theme: white people thanking black women for voting en masse to deny Moore a victory.  SEE ALSO: Why people on Twitter are giving black women the credit for Roy Moore's defeat Exit polls show 98 percent of … [Link]

Mashable » 'The Last Jedi' characters have landed in 'Star Wars Battlefront II'

Thursday 14 December 0:38:26 UTC 2017

Fight the First Order as Finn or destroy the Resistance as Captain Phasma when The Last Jedi characters come to Star Wars Battlefront II. Released on Wednesday, the game's new DLC content features a single-player story called "Resurrection" alongside new multiplayer goodies. SEE ALSO: There's going to be a 'Last Jedi' screening on the International Space Station Since Dec. 5, you've … [Link]

Slashdot » Robots Are Being Used To Shoo Away Homeless People In San Francisco

Thursday 14 December 0:10:00 UTC 2017

An anonymous reader quotes a report from Quartz: San Francisco's Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) has been ordered by the city to stop using a robot to patrol the sidewalks outside its office, the San Francisco Business Times reported Dec. 8. The robot, produced by Silicon Valley startup Knightscope, was used to ensure that homeless people … [Link]

Mashable » Cheese lovers rejoice, study finds it might actually be good for you!

Thursday 14 December 0:00:00 UTC 2017

A study published in the European Journal of Nutrition found that eating a little bit of cheese per day could reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. Read more…More about Health, Mashable Video, Cheese, Healthy, and Mashable Video [Link]

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