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.

ProgrammableWeb.com » Instagram Graph API Lets Businesses Schedule Posts

Wednesday 31 January 23:39:30 UTC 2018

Instagram is stepping up the number of features available to businesses that use the image-sharing social network to spread their branding messages. Specifically, it has updated the Instagram Graph API and added tools businesses are sure to appreciate. Moving forward, businesses will be able to schedule posts, view posts in which they've been tagged, and peruse the profiles of other … [Link]

Mashable » Jaguar races through frigid Arctic in its forthcoming electric SUV

Wednesday 31 January 23:30:08 UTC 2018

Jaguar brought a fleet of its electric vehicle prototypes to the Arctic in northern Sweden, and then proceeded to race them around the snow-blanketed flats. This could be viewed as stunt — though a potentially useful stunt: It's important to see how electric vehicles perform in extreme weather conditions. According to Jaguar, the company drove its forthcoming I-PACE SUV around its … [Link]

Mashable » Amazon dropped a hilarious new Super Bowl ad for Alexa

Wednesday 31 January 23:26:07 UTC 2018

Amazon and friends are getting hyped for the Super Bowl. The company released a hilarious Super Bowl ad on its YouTube channel on Wednesday. The ad depicts a fictional scenario in which Alexa loses her voice. The company must scramble to find celebrities to replace her as the voice of the Amazon Echo, and hilarity ensues. SEE ALSO: Peter Dinklage calls … [Link]

Slashdot » White House Seeks 72 Percent Cut To Clean Energy Research

Wednesday 31 January 23:20:00 UTC 2018

An anonymous reader quotes a report from Engadget: The Trump administration has made it very clear that it is pro fossil fuels and has little interest in pushing programs the promote renewable energy. Now, the Washington Post reports that the president's proposed 2019 budget slashes funds for Energy Department programs focused on energy efficiency. While the proposal is just a … [Link]

ProgrammableWeb.com » Google Adds New Apps Script Development Tools for G Suite Apps

Wednesday 31 January 23:10:39 UTC 2018

Google recently announced that it has added a number of tools designed to help developers improve their development with Apps Script, a JavaScript-based platform that is used for implementing add-ons for G Suite applications which include Google Sheets, Docs, Slides and Forms. [Link]

Slashdot » SpaceX Successfully Launches Satellite Into Orbit On a Used Falcon 9 Rocket

Wednesday 31 January 23:03:00 UTC 2018

Darrell Etherington reports via TechCrunch: SpaceX has launched a Falcon 9 rocket loaded with a geocommunications satellite commissioned by the Government of Luxembourg. The satellite, created by Orbital STK and to be operated by SES, will support humanitarian and military operations for Luxembourg, among other communications functions. The rocket took off from Cape Canaveral on Wednesday, a day after its … [Link]

New Scientist – News » Trump’s 90-day plan for opioids has failed – here’s a better one

Wednesday 31 January 23:01:07 UTC 2018

Deaths caused by accidental drug overdoses in the US now exceed those from motor vehicle incidents and guns. The government has been all talk and little action [Link]

New Scientist – News » Someone made advanced stone tools in India 172,000 years ago

Wednesday 31 January 23:01:06 UTC 2018

A cache of stone tools found in south India reveals that the hominins living there over 170,000 years ago already had advanced tool-making skills [Link]

New Scientist – News » ‘Speaking’ orca is further proof they shouldn’t be kept captive

Wednesday 31 January 23:01:05 UTC 2018

An orca called Wikie who learned to mimic human speech could teach us a lot about killer whale culture – but that’s no reason to keep orcas in captivity [Link]

Mashable » Pornhub offers 110 gallons of lube to the city of Philadelphia for its dry pole problem

Wednesday 31 January 22:56:06 UTC 2018

The Philadelphia Police Department announced it won't grease up the city's light poles for the Super Bowl, so Pornhub is offering them 110 gallons of lube. Earlier this month, the city of Philadelphia decided to grease up some of the city's light poles with Crisco in an attempt to thwart any unruly sports fans from climbing up and inevitably injuring themselves … [Link]

Mashable » Here's your first look at 'Jessica Jones' Season 2

Wednesday 31 January 22:55:14 UTC 2018

We last saw Jessica Jones taking down the Hand in Marvel's Defenders, but soon she'll be back for another solo outing, hopefully as powerful and gripping as the last. Netflix released the first images and a few behind-the-scenes photos from Jessica Jones Season 2, and we just hope we can remain patient. SEE ALSO: Netflix drops super-charged trailer for Marvel's … [Link]

Slashdot » GDC Rescinds Award For Atari Founder Nolan Bushnell After Criticisms of Sexually Inappropriate Behavior

Wednesday 31 January 22:40:00 UTC 2018

The organizers of the Game Developers Choice Awards announced today that they have rescinded the Pioneer Award for Atari founder Nolan Bushnell, and announced the award will not be given this year entirely. "The decision follows a day of outcry after GDC organizers announced that Bushnell, 74, had been tapped for the GDCA's lifetime achievement honor," reports Polygon. "News accounts … [Link]

Mashable » Why it makes no sense for Apple to bring iPad apps to Macs

Wednesday 31 January 22:30:24 UTC 2018

In December, it was reported that Apple was looking into bridging the worlds of iOS and macOS even further with universal apps that could run on both platforms. And now Axios says Apple's still on track to bring iPad apps to Macs this year. No mention of iPhone apps running on Mac. Just iPad apps. Yuck, no thanks. SEE ALSO: Why … [Link]

Mashable » Facebook's traffic is down 50 million hours per day as Zuckerberg demands less 'viral videos'

Wednesday 31 January 22:25:44 UTC 2018

One of Facebook's core statistics doesn't look so good. Time spent on the network — a number that drives the tech giant's revenue — is down by an estimated 50 million hours per day. Facebook now reaches 2.13 billion people per month and has 1.4 billion daily active users. If we were to revisit that 50 million hours number on a … [Link]

Mashable » An ode to the delightfully unhinged Lisa Frank Facebook page

Wednesday 31 January 22:06:57 UTC 2018

More than a year ago, I made the impulsive decision to delete the Facebook app from my phone. Friends, it's been great! I like my iPhone better when there's like 80 percent less autoplay food video to stare at. SEE ALSO: I deleted Facebook off my phone and you should too But I'm no internet purist. Deleting the app from my … [Link]

Slashdot » Ford Patents Driverless Police Car That Ambushes Lawbreakers Using AI

Wednesday 31 January 22:00:00 UTC 2018

Ford has developed a patent for a police car that issues tickets without even pulling you over. The same car could also use artificial intelligence to find good hiding spots to catch traffic violators (Warning: source may be paywalled; alternative source) and identify drivers by scanning license plates, tapping into surveillance cameras and wirelessly accessing government records. The Washington Post … [Link]

Mashable » Michelle Obama gave one little girl's third grade project an A+

Wednesday 31 January 21:58:18 UTC 2018

Growing up, most of us had the one school project that required us to dress up as one of our heroes. Twitter user Audrey Dow (@ADCollegeOpp) shared a picture of her 9-year-old daughter dressed as her hero former First Lady Michelle Obama for a school project. Dow says her daughter was inspired by the former First Lady's commitment to helping students … [Link]

Mashable » You can soon ride the Avengers’ all-electric Harley-Davidson motorcycle

Wednesday 31 January 21:53:50 UTC 2018

The sleek motorcycle Scarlett Johansson's character Black Widow used to maneuver through traffic in the 2015 Avengers movie will soon be available for non-superheroes. Harley-Davidson, known for its American-made motorcycles, is expanding into all-electric vehicles with its first e-bike expected to hit the road in the next 18 months. SEE ALSO: This ridiculous electric SUV concept is over the top in … [Link]

Mashable » You don't need snow to ski because you can now ski in VR

Wednesday 31 January 21:51:53 UTC 2018

SkyTechSport offers a virtual reality ski simulator for those who want to ski without the snow. They offer a panoramic 4K view that looks like a ski resort and motors that reproduce sensations as if you were actually skiing. The simulation can be adjusted to fit your preference. You might forget that you're not outdoors. Read more…More about Sports, Olympics, Snow, … [Link]

Mashable » Mom can't stop laughing after learning the meaning of this NSFW word

Wednesday 31 January 21:32:32 UTC 2018

Regardless of its definition, the word queef will continue to bring bouts of laughter to anyone who hears it. This is simply a fact, and it's been once again proven true by Twitter user _andreaacruzz's mother. "I told my mom what a queef was yesterday and this was her reaction," Cruz wrote on Twitter. "If you want a good laugh, enjoy … [Link]

Mashable » This is how Margot Robbie looked like a master figure skater on 'I, Tonya'

Wednesday 31 January 21:22:50 UTC 2018

Believe it or not, the high-flying figure skating landing those triple axles is not Margot Robbie. Instead, it's a combination stunt doubles and complex visual effects to create movie magic. Find out how post production company, 'Eight VFX' faked some of Robbie's moves through face replacement and other techniques. Read more…More about Olympics, Mashable Video, Margot Robbie, Vfx, and Real Time … [Link]

Slashdot » Tesla Pushes Even More States To Upend Auto Dealer-Friendly Laws

Wednesday 31 January 21:20:00 UTC 2018

An anonymous reader quotes a report from Ars Technica: Tesla is now pressing ahead with lobbying efforts that would allow it to expand its direct dealerships in two more states: Nebraska and Wisconsin. For now, more than 20 states already allow the California automaker to sell its own vehicles, while others have set up a system that at least partially … [Link]

Mashable » The internet trolled Trump for this roast-worthy habit during his SOTU

Wednesday 31 January 21:01:26 UTC 2018

President Donald Trump was caught clapping a lot during his first State of the Union address and the internet roasted him for it. Read more…More about Twitter, Trending, Politics, Mashable Video, and Government [Link]

Mashable » 'SEX Club' spam just took over Strava

Wednesday 31 January 20:51:29 UTC 2018

For millions of people, the fitness-tracking app Strava is a handy tool for logging runs and sharing exercise data with friends. Strava may also be, it turns out, a great way to join a sex club. On Wednesday, an untold number of Strava users received unsolicited invitations from someone by the name of Jessy Kiss to a group called "SEX Club." … [Link]

Mashable » We could cross a global warming red line by 2022

Wednesday 31 January 20:48:26 UTC 2018

Within the next five years, global average surface temperatures may temporarily breach a key guardrail set out by the Paris Climate Agreement, according to a new report from the U.K. Met Office. The report warns that global average temperatures are "likely" to exceed 1 degree Celsius, or 1.8 degrees Fahrenheit, above preindustrial temperatures within the next five years. The past three … [Link]

Slashdot » Big Backing For 'Universal Stylus' Campaign

Wednesday 31 January 20:41:00 UTC 2018

Google has backed an effort to standardise touch-screen styluses so they can be used on many devices. From a report: The Universal Stylus Initiative (USI) was launched, in 2015, to encourage companies to produce styluses that work on rivals' products Dell, Intel, Lenovo, LG and graphics tablet-maker Wacom have all backed the project. However, Apple, Microsoft and Samsung have not. … [Link]

Mashable » Get a 55-inch HDTV from Samsung for cheaper than on Black Friday

Wednesday 31 January 20:36:13 UTC 2018

Heads up: All products featured here are selected by Mashable's commerce team and meet our rigorous standards for awesomeness. If you buy something, Mashable may earn an affiliate commission. With that big football game right around the corner, maybe it’s time to upgrade your current television and impress everyone who's coming over for the partySamsung is having a huge sale on … [Link]

Mashable » Thank Nintendo's failed Wii U for the Switch's wild success

Wednesday 31 January 20:23:48 UTC 2018

In the video game industry, it's largely believed that you should never count Nintendo out. The legacy home console company usually has a method behind its madness. Wednesday morning, Nintendo revealed that its newest console has outsold its last one in just 10 months. The Wii U came out in 2012, and managed to sell 13.56 million units during its five-year … [Link]

Mashable » This Xbox One X deal at Dell is too big to miss

Wednesday 31 January 20:19:59 UTC 2018

Heads up: All products featured here are selected by Mashable's commerce team and meet our rigorous standards for awesomeness. If you buy something, Mashable may earn an affiliate commission. If you've noticed all your gamer friends are obsessed with a little game called Monster Hunter: World, then you might want to jump on the bandwagon with a new system of your … [Link]

Slashdot » Google Flights Will Now Predict Airline Delays — Before the Airlines Do

Wednesday 31 January 20:00:00 UTC 2018

Google is rolling out a few new features to its Google Flights search engine to help travelers tackle some of the more frustrating aspects of air travel — delays and the complexities of the cheaper, Basic Economy fares. From a report: With the regard to delays, Google Flights won't just be pulling in information from the airlines directly, however — … [Link]

Mashable » Amazon's Alexa is rooting for the Philadelphia Eagles in the Super Bowl

Wednesday 31 January 19:53:11 UTC 2018

We’re just a few days away from the Philadelphia Eagles and the New England Patriots facing off in Super Bowl LII, and one of tech's most famous gadgets has apparently already picked a side. SEE ALSO: Airbnb won't stand for discrimination against Eagles fans According to a little video making the rounds, Amazon's Alexa, like most of America, wants the Eagles … [Link]

Mashable » Welcome to Future Shift

Wednesday 31 January 19:51:33 UTC 2018

If you like to follow Mashable Tech on social media, you might notice that things are looking a little different than they used to. That's because we're now calling our Facebook and Twitter accounts Future Shift, and we're launching a nifty new newsletter, too. Why? Read on. It'd be hard to name an aspect of our lives today that isn't just … [Link]

Mashable » 'Monopoly: Cheaters Edition' was made for all you con artists out there

Wednesday 31 January 19:50:22 UTC 2018

Sometimes Monopoly gets frustrating and you can't help but take part in a little bit of cheating to get ahead. Of course, that's against the rules and can result in some pretty vicious arguments. SEE ALSO: New Hasbro Ad for Monopoly Cat Piece Is Purrfection Now, the makers of the game are rewarding cheaters with Monopoly: Cheaters Edition, a new spin … [Link]

Mashable » Little girl cries because she just can't stop dreaming about waffles

Wednesday 31 January 19:32:01 UTC 2018

We've all been there. This little girl is experiencing serious inner turmoil — over waffles. "Why can't I just stop dreaming about waffles?" she cries, before breaking down into incoherent sobs about being haunted by her favorite breakfast food. Seems like someone needs a nap — and maybe some pancakes. Read more… More about Parenting, Dream, Waffles, Culture, and … [Link]

Slashdot » Facebook Really Wants You To Come Back

Wednesday 31 January 19:20:00 UTC 2018

An anonymous reader writes: The social network is getting aggressive with people who don't log in often, working to keep up its engagement numbers, Bloomberg reports. Sample this for instance: It's been about a year since Rishi Gorantala deleted the Facebook app from his phone, and the company has only gotten more aggressive in its emails to win him back. … [Link]

Mashable » Proof that we're all a little weird when we shop online

Wednesday 31 January 19:07:49 UTC 2018

Shopping online is an unfortunate necessity, but we all have our own quirky ways of making it fun. Take, for example, this clip from Twitter user chastonmiller18. By clicking through the different styles and colors on the model, he makes him do a little shimmy on screen. Found this gem in my camera roll pic.twitter.com/mdloatLkCy — Chaston Miller (@chastonmiller18) January 30, … [Link]

Mashable » Send digital notes with Lovebox, the perfect Valentine's Day gift for your tech-obsessed boo

Wednesday 31 January 18:59:28 UTC 2018

Heads up: All products featured here are selected by Mashable's commerce team and meet our rigorous standards for awesomeness. If you buy something, Mashable may earn an affiliate commission. While that "absence makes the heart grow fonder" jazz is usually true, long distance relationships can really feel, well, distant. You do the best that you can with the communication options you … [Link]

Mashable » 'Black Panther' is already on track to be the biggest superhero movie ever

Wednesday 31 January 18:57:38 UTC 2018

All hail the KingBlack Panther is already outpacing all other superhero movies with advance ticket sales. Black Panther is currently Fandango's top ticket-seller. The film is not due out for almost two weeks. According to Fandango, 97 percent of surveyed users said they look forward to "a different kind of superhero movie," and 93 percent have been looking forward to … [Link]

Mashable » This wheelchair allows people with limited mobility to expand their horizons

Wednesday 31 January 18:45:59 UTC 2018

The ‘HexHog’ is a battery-powered off-road wheelchair that allows people with limited mobility traverse water, mud, snow, and sand. Designed for ease-of-use, the wheelchair allows the adventurous wheelchair users to tackle any terrain. Read more…More about Tech, Mashable Video, Snow, Adventure, and Sand [Link]

Mashable » Without climate change context, Trump's State of the Union rhetoric about disasters rings hollow

Wednesday 31 January 18:44:23 UTC 2018

President Trump's first official State of the Union speech began with a reminder of the disasters that have befallen Americans during the past year, from wildfires in California to three of the top 5 most expensive hurricanes in U.S. history. "We have faced challenges we expected, and others we could never have imagined," Trump said. "We have endured floods and fires … [Link]

Slashdot » 'Hello!' Says the Human. 'Hello!' Pipes the Orca Right Back.

Wednesday 31 January 18:40:00 UTC 2018

A human greets an orca with a "Hello!" "Hello!" responds the orca. A new research shows, the orcas have been able to imitate human speech, in some cases at the first attempt, saying words such as "hello", "one, two," "Amy", and "bye bye." From a report: The study also shows that the creatures are able to copy unfamiliar sounds produced … [Link]

Mashable » 'Fantastic Beasts' sequel won't mention Dumbledore's sexuality

Wednesday 31 January 18:29:25 UTC 2018

“I always thought of Dumbledore as gay," J.K. Rowling announced nonchalantly to her fans shortly after the release of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. 11 years later, the highly anticipated Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald will introduce us to a young Dumbledore, but will "not explicitly" tell us he's gay, director David Yates told Entertainment Weekly. SEE ALSO: Daniel … [Link]

Mashable » Amazon is on the hook for three more Woody Allen movies

Wednesday 31 January 18:09:18 UTC 2018

Woody Allen's actors may be starting to abandon him, but Woody Allen's distributor won't get off so easily. Not only is Amazon Studios already on the hook to release Allen's A Rainy Day in New York, it's just the second in a five-picture deal struck in 2016 by Roy Price, the studio head who was pushed out after his own wave … [Link]

Mashable » Atari's founder won't receive a major industry award as #TimesUp turns to video games

Wednesday 31 January 18:04:32 UTC 2018

#TimesUp for video games. Finally. Atari founder Nolan Bushnell will no longer receive the prestigious Pioneer Award at the annual Game Developers Choice Awards in March. He had previously been announced as the recipient for 2018, but backlash from the community stemming largely from Bushnell's past comments and behavior compelled the change. SEE ALSO: Dylan Farrow expertly calls out Justin Timberlake's … [Link]

Slashdot » Google Chrome To Feature Built-In Image Lazy Loading

Wednesday 31 January 18:00:00 UTC 2018

An anonymous reader writes: Future versions of Google Chrome will feature built-in support for lazy loading, a mechanism to defer the loading of images and iframes if they are not visible on the user's screen at load time. This system will first ship with Chrome for Android and Google doesn't rule out adding it to desktop versions if tests go … [Link]

Mashable » A bunch of movies from your childhood are now half-price on iTunes

Wednesday 31 January 17:52:09 UTC 2018

A bunch of movies from your childhood are for sale on iTunes, and they're now half their usual price. This week, iTunes has added a number of older titles to its "Under $8" collection, as spotted by 9to5Toys. Yeah, we know, it's probably been ages since you actually paid money for a full-length movie, but shush! It's nostalgia time. SEE … [Link]

Mashable » Lorde thanked New Zealand for supporting female musicians by taking out a full-page ad

Wednesday 31 January 17:20:04 UTC 2018

Lorde may have lost Album of the Year at the Grammys, but she's not letting it stop her from giving a thank you speech. Tuesday, the singer took out a full-page ad in The New Zealand Herald to thank the country for believing in female musicians. It also was a response to the Recording Academy President Neil Portnow's unfortunate remarks about … [Link]

Slashdot » Apple Still Aims To Allow iPad Apps To Run on Macs This Year

Wednesday 31 January 17:20:00 UTC 2018

Apple's push for performance and security improvements over new features will also apply to this year's Mac software, Axios reported on Wednesday, but one key feature remains on the roadmap for 2018: The ability for Macs to run iPad apps. From the report: On the Mac side, this is taking the form of a new project around security as well … [Link]

Mashable » You'll never burn your toast again thanks to this see-through toaster

Wednesday 31 January 17:19:54 UTC 2018

Heads up: All products featured here are selected by Mashable's commerce team and meet our rigorous standards for awesomeness. If you buy something, Mashable may earn an affiliate commission. We've all been in the same boat, crunchy bread lovers. Finding that fine line between toasting your bread to crispy, brown goodness and charring your bread worse than Anakin Skywalker in Revenge … [Link]

Mashable » 5 YouTube workouts you'll actually want to do

Wednesday 31 January 17:18:10 UTC 2018

For the unseasoned athlete, YouTube workouts can be pretty difficult. For some people (hello), they can also feel deeply embarrassing. To be clear, we're not knocking the power of the high-energy, Blogilates-type workout vid — those can be extremely motivational for someone who wants to dial up to 11. But if you're looking for something a little more chill and a … [Link]

Mashable » Forget normal jewelry this Valentine's Day and go the nerdy route instead

Wednesday 31 January 17:11:21 UTC 2018

Heads up: All products featured here are selected by Mashable's commerce team and meet our rigorous standards for awesomeness. If you buy something, Mashable may earn an affiliate commission. When people want to go above and beyond for their lovers on Valentine's Day, one of the easiest solutions is usually jewelry. You may be considering a fancy ring or a gold-laced … [Link]

Mashable » 3 growth hacking strategies that will take your business to the next level

Wednesday 31 January 16:47:14 UTC 2018

Heads up: All products featured here are selected by Mashable's commerce team and meet our rigorous standards for awesomeness. If you buy something, Mashable may earn an affiliate commission. There are many ways to grow your business, but growth hacking can be one the most effective. Growth hacking is like guerrilla filmmaking: it eschews traditional growth strategies like radio and TV … [Link]

Mashable » See the hilarious evolution of one reporter's loooong signature sign-off

Wednesday 31 January 16:43:22 UTC 2018

Glenn Payette, a reporter for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation in Newfoundland and Labrador, is known for his long sign-off: "Glenn Payette, CBC News, St. Joohhnn's." But the reporter didn't always end his broadcasts like that. In fact, this compilation shows that his signature "St. Joooohhhhnnnn's" is something that's evolved gradually over the years. It's barely noticeable in the first few … [Link]

Slashdot » High School Computer Science: Look Ma, No Textbooks!

Wednesday 31 January 16:42:00 UTC 2018

theodp writes: Computer Science Teacher Alfred Thompson wonders how other high school CS teachers use textbooks. "It's not a conversation I hear much about," he writes. Indeed, many teachers apparently don't rely on CS textbooks much at all. In fact, the highly-touted new AP Computer Science Principles (AP CSP) course does not require a CS textbook for students (sample College … [Link]

Mashable » This family took on the TidePod challenge and it's not what you think

Wednesday 31 January 16:35:29 UTC 2018

The Oribello family in Colorado pretended to take part in the Tide Pod Challenge by swapping out the detergent pods for frosted treats. The family claims to have posted the video to raise awareness of the dangers of eating TidePods. Some in the comment section praised them for their successful prank, while others criticized their actions. Read more…More about Watercooler, Twitter, … [Link]

Mashable » Glamorous wireless headphones would make a great Valentine's Day gift (hint, hint)

Wednesday 31 January 16:13:54 UTC 2018

Heads up: All products featured here are selected by Mashable's commerce team and meet our rigorous standards for awesomeness. If you buy something, Mashable may earn an affiliate commission. If you're going to invest in any single tech accessory, it might as well be a pair of headphones. From catching up on your favorite podcasts during your morning commute to jamming … [Link]

Mashable » 'House of Cards' adds Diane Lane, Greg Kinnear for the show's final season

Wednesday 31 January 16:13:30 UTC 2018

Diane Lane and Greg Kinnear are joining the sixth and final season of House of Cards. Netflix didn't have much more to say about the casting than that. Production resumed on the stalled sixth season on Wednesday, ending the hiatus that started in October after allegations of sexual misconduct began to swirl around former star Kevin Spacey. SEE ALSO: Firing Kevin … [Link]

Mashable » Super blue blood moon photos show that it lived up to the hype

Wednesday 31 January 16:06:48 UTC 2018

On Tuesday morning, a good number of people were treated to the beauty that is a rare super blue blood moon. SEE ALSO: What the hell is the 'super blue blood moon' anyway? The event combined a super moon (when the moon is at its closest point to Earth), a blue moon (the second full moon of the month), and a … [Link]

Mashable » Dorky dad posed with hilarious CNN headline and made his son take this classic pic

Wednesday 31 January 16:06:35 UTC 2018

Headlines are fleeting in today's raging political climate, but one brave dad decided to hold on to one forever. As any slightly dorky father would, he employed his son to capture the hilariously misleading headline that appeared on a CNN chyron before Tuesday night's State of the Union address. SEE ALSO: Here's why you don't buy your dad a Bluetooth microphone … [Link]

Slashdot » Judges Say the UK's Digital Surveillance Program Snooper's Charter Is Illegal

Wednesday 31 January 16:02:00 UTC 2018

Mark Wilson writes: Judges have ruled that the UK government's digital surveillance program — known variously as the Snooper's Charter and the Investigatory Powers Act — is illegal. In the case brought by human rights group Liberty, appeal judges found that the preceding Data Retention and Investigatory Powers Act 2014 (DRIPA) — which ultimately became the Snooper's Charter — failed … [Link]

Mashable » This treehouse is actually a hotel room high up in a French forest

Wednesday 31 January 15:56:32 UTC 2018

Atelier Lavit designed a cozy treehouse as part of the resort Les Cabanes des Grands Chênes in France. The hotel room is built 35 feet above ground, surrounding an 100 year old oak tree. The only access to the 24-square-foot cabin is via a suspension bridge. Read more…More about Mashable Video, France, Paris, Europe, and Vacation [Link]

Mashable » Samsung is making chips for cryptocurrency mining

Wednesday 31 January 15:55:27 UTC 2018

Every product here is independently selected by Mashable journalists. If you buy something featured, we may earn an affiliate commission which helps support our work. Samsung's chip-making division is diving into the lucrative space of cryptocurrency mining. Korean news outlet The Bell broke the news Tuesday, and Samsung confirmed to TechCrunch Wednesday that it's indeed making crypto-mining chips. SEE ALSO: Bananacoin, … [Link]

Mashable » Why Lena Headey is campaigning to support refugee families in Europe

Wednesday 31 January 15:49:33 UTC 2018

‘Game of Thrones' star Lena Headey has been working with the International Rescue Committee to raise awareness about some of the social and cultural difficulties refugees face when trying to integrate their lives in Europe. Read more…More about Celebrities, Mashable Video, Social Issues, Social Good, and Refugees [Link]

Mashable » Michelle Obama explains her painfully awkward reaction to Melania Trump's gift

Wednesday 31 January 15:43:20 UTC 2018

Michelle Obama is finally opening up about that time she accepted an inauguration present from Melania Trump and had no idea how the heck to react. If you're not familiar with the palpably awkward interaction, let's refresh: To kick off the first lady handover, Melania gifted Michelle a medium-sized Tiffany & Co. box. Clearly not expecting a present, Michelle frantically looked … [Link]

Mashable » Lena Headey opens up about Harvey Weinstein and the power of being a mother

Wednesday 31 January 15:40:48 UTC 2018

We caught up with 'Game of Thrones' star Lena Headey in London to discuss how being a mother influences her humanitarian work and affected her decision to speak out against Harvey Weinstein. Read more…More about Uk, London, Mashable Video, Game Of Thrones, and Motherhood [Link]

Mashable » Amazon has sweet deals today on Dell laptops, Hoover vacuums, charging banks, and more

Wednesday 31 January 15:37:49 UTC 2018

Heads up: All products featured here are selected by Mashable's commerce team and meet our rigorous standards for awesomeness. If you buy something, Mashable may earn an affiliate commission. The only thing better than getting a new laptop is getting a new laptop that's on sale. Amazon has a certified refurbished Dell Latitude 7480 14-inch Notebooks on sale today. According to … [Link]

Mashable » 'Broverwatch' is a group of guys who get together to play games and talk about their feelings

Wednesday 31 January 15:34:44 UTC 2018

At three o'clock every Sunday afternoon, a group of four British lads get together to play video games. This might sound like a pretty standard Sunday, but these chaps congregate so they can talk about their mental health, their feelings, and, well, how crap they are at video games. They call themselves "Broverwatch." (And, yeah, they really love playing Overwatch.) SEE … [Link]

Mashable » Hell yeah Leslie Jones is officially joining NBC's Olympics team

Wednesday 31 January 15:31:33 UTC 2018

American hero and Ghostbuster Leslie Jones is making her triumphant return to the Olympics this year, so buckle up and get ready to enjoy some hilarity while watching the top athletes in the world do their thing. SEE ALSO: 6 Olympic highlights from day one in Rio, in Leslie Jones tweets Jones will be joining NBC's 2018 Winter Olympic Games coverage … [Link]

Mashable » Scott Baio denies Nicole Eggert's sexual abuse claim in new interview

Wednesday 31 January 15:24:47 UTC 2018

Scott Baio brought his Facebook Live story to Good Morning America. In a Wednesday interview, the Charles in Charge star pushed back against former co-star Nicole Eggert's allegations that he molested her during their time together on the show, when she was still a minor. Much of what Baio said echoed a Facebook Live he posted on Sunday as Eggert's story … [Link]

Slashdot » Samsung Surpasses Intel To Become the World's Largest Chipmaker

Wednesday 31 January 15:22:00 UTC 2018

Samsung Electronics just knocked Intel off its perch as the world's biggest chipmaker by revenue, a spot the U.S. company has held since 1992. From a report: On Tuesday, Samsung reported 2017 chip sales of $69 billion, blowing past Intel's $63 billion from last year. The switch underlines how Samsung has transformed itself from a maker of cheap televisions into … [Link]

Mashable » Apple tells U.S. government it isn't slowing old iPhones to get people to buy new ones

Wednesday 31 January 15:19:23 UTC 2018

Apple has confirmed the U.S. government is investigating the company after it was discovered Apple slowed down (a.k.a "throttled") older iPhones. The U.S. Department of Justice and the Securities and Exchange Commission are reportedly probing the company, though Apple wouldn't confirm any specific agencies. The tech giant, however, has denied any malicious intent, and reiterated that "we have never — and … [Link]

Mashable » Save on winter hats and gloves that are Bluetooth and touchscreen compatible

Wednesday 31 January 15:16:35 UTC 2018

Heads up: All products featured here are selected by Mashable's commerce team and meet our rigorous standards for awesomeness. If you buy something, Mashable may earn an affiliate commission. If anyone thinks you’re going to put your phone in your pocket just because it’s below zero and hailing, they’re nuts. Then again, you’ve become pretty attached to your fingers over the … [Link]

Mashable » Netflix video explains the fascination that would lead to 'Altered Carbon'

Wednesday 31 January 15:08:16 UTC 2018

What is humanity's fascination with immortality? In a fascinating featurette preparing for the premiere of Netflix's Altered Carbon, experts and influencers speak about humankind's history of chasing immortality and continued strides toward it. SEE ALSO: What's coming to Netflix in February In Altered Carbon, citizens of a futuristic society contain all their mind's information – their souls, depending how you … [Link]

Mashable » Will Spotify and Apple Music soon be forced to jack up their prices?

Wednesday 31 January 15:08:00 UTC 2018

It’s widely known that musicians get paid fractions of a penny for their streamed songs on Spotify, Apple Music, Pandora, and other streaming services. In fact, UC Irvine media studies professor Peter Krapp told Mashable it would take about 4 million Spotify streams for a songwriter to make minimum wage in California over the course of a month. But this past … [Link]

Mashable » Police arrest 5 people after finding 4,000 kilos of oranges in their cars

Wednesday 31 January 14:53:09 UTC 2018

“Step out of the car sir. Are you aware you were driving well over the seed limit? Also your car is full of oranges." SEE ALSO: Knives were taken off the streets in London and melted down to build a free outdoor gym Police in Seville, Spain, apprehended five suspects on Friday for allegedly stealing 4,000 kilos of oranges. Police stopped … [Link]

Slashdot » LibreOffice 6.0 Released: Features Superior Microsoft Office Interoperability, OpenPGP Support

Wednesday 31 January 14:40:00 UTC 2018

prisoninmate writes: LibreOffice 6.0 comes two and a half years after the LibreOffice 5.x series, and it's the biggest release of the open-source and cross-platform office suite so far. It introduces a revamped design with new table styles, improved Notebookbars, new gradients, new Elementary icons, menu and toolbar improvements, and updated motif/splash screen. LibreOffice 6.0 offers superior interoperability with Microsoft … [Link]

Slashdot » Apple: We Would Never Degrade the iPhone Experience To Get Users To Buy New Phones

Wednesday 31 January 14:04:00 UTC 2018

Apple today responded to reports that the Justice Department and Securities and Exchange Commission are probing its decision to throttle older iPhones, confirming that the U.S government has asked questions. From a report: Apple said it would never intentionally "degrade the user experience to drive customer upgrades." Apple acknowledged in December that it was secretly slowing the speeds of iPhones … [Link]

Mashable » How 2018 can be the year for Latinx representation

Wednesday 31 January 14:00:00 UTC 2018

American entertainment continues to suffer from a lack of representation. While things have improved, the Latinx population remains very hidden. Latinx are the U.S.' second largest racial group with 18 percent of the population. Yet, we only make up around 8 percent (just a five percent increase from 2016) of media representation. As people, citizens, movie goers, and TV watchers, we … [Link]

Mashable » This year’s flu shot might not stop the virus, but it can fend off the worst symptoms

Wednesday 31 January 14:00:00 UTC 2018

There’s a potent flu virus infecting Americans this influenza season — even healthy people including a marathon runner and bodybuilder have become seriously ill. But although the flu shot isn’t so effective this year, the vaccine will still probably spare you from the most severe symptoms, hospitalization, or at worst, death. Like most flu seasons, there are a few strains circulating … [Link]

Mashable » Is Facebook's Messenger Kids app good for children? One group says no.

Wednesday 31 January 13:52:25 UTC 2018

Getting children addicted to social media is now' Facebook's latest bad lewk. In an open letter to Mark Zuckerberg, a coalition of children's health and education organizations and individuals have called on Facebook to shut down Messenger Kids on behalf of the wellbeing of children. Messenger Kids is the parent-monitored chat, photo, and video messaging service Facebook launched in December 2017 … [Link]

New Scientist – News » Time for the UK to stop dithering and add folic acid to bread

Wednesday 31 January 13:49:48 UTC 2018

With yet more evidence in favour of fortifying flour with folic acid to help avoid serious birth defects, it's time the government acted, says Geoffrey Webb [Link]

New Scientist – News » Art history AI sees links between hundreds of years of paintings

Wednesday 31 January 13:49:47 UTC 2018

A machine learning system that can spot connections between painting styles from the last several hundred years could teach art historians something new [Link]

New Scientist – News » Can a brain implant treat Alzheimer’s? It might just be placebo

Wednesday 31 January 13:49:46 UTC 2018

Alzheimer’s disease may have been slowed in two people given implants that stimulate the brain with electricity, but this may just have been the placebo effect [Link]

New Scientist – News » A more humane way of slaughtering chickens might get EU approval

Wednesday 31 January 13:49:45 UTC 2018

A new system that apparently kills chickens without distress by lowering the air pressure could soon be approved in Europe, offering a humane death for billions of birds [Link]

New Scientist – News » Renewables made more electricity than coal in Europe in 2017

Wednesday 31 January 13:49:44 UTC 2018

The amount of electricity generated by renewables in Europe has for the first time outpaced that coming from coal sources, according to new analysis of official figures [Link]

Mashable » Looks like Tom Hardy finally got his Leonardo DiCaprio tattoo after losing that bet

Wednesday 31 January 13:03:35 UTC 2018

Back in 2016, Tom Hardy made an unusual promise. He bet his Revenant co-star Leonardo DiCaprio that he wouldn't win an Oscar for the film, and promised that if he did he'd get a tattoo of DiCaprio's choosing. SEE ALSO: Tom Hardy's 1999 mixtape has resurfaced and it's surprisingly catchy Well, we all know how that one ended — and judging … [Link]

Slashdot » Why Tether's Collapse Would Be Bad For Cryptocurrencies

Wednesday 31 January 13:00:00 UTC 2018

Yesterday, Bloomberg reported that the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission sent subpoenas last week to virtual-currency venue Bitfinex and Tether, a company that issues a widely traded coin and claims it's pegged to the dollar. Wired's Sandra Upson explains why Tether's collapse would be bad for the entire cryptocurrency market: Unlike bitcoin and its many siblings, tether is what is … [Link]

Mashable » Deaf guy goes on date with signer and they liked each other a lot

Wednesday 31 January 12:44:43 UTC 2018

All signs point to love! That's what unfolded during an episode of RTÉ's First Dates Ireland. John-Charles, who's deaf, appeared on the reality dating show in search of love. He was paired up with Stephen, a hearing person who studied sign language. And, the two got on like a house on fire! "It would have been so strange for me … [Link]

Mashable » Dissatisfied pub-goer accidentally leaves glowing 1-star review

Wednesday 31 January 12:23:08 UTC 2018

Is there a word for when you want to insult someone but end up paying them a really nice compliment by mistake? SEE ALSO: These robotic arms are actually bartenders The Antelope pub in Surbiton, London, received a 1-star Google review to be proud of. A screenshot was shared on the r/casualuk subreddit, where it went viral and people were able … [Link]

Mashable » People are using face-swapping tech to add Nicolas Cage to random movies and what is 2018

Wednesday 31 January 11:53:56 UTC 2018

For some people, the future of technology is synonymous with a boundless realm of opportunities. For others it's a Black Mirror-inspired nightmare fest, where humanity is just one step away from bringing about its own, possibly robot-induced destruction. SEE ALSO: Anna Kendrick and Adam DeVine face-swapped and it's terrifying And for others still, it simply means face swapping the hell out … [Link]

Mashable » Facebook bans cryptocurrency ads due to frequent fraud

Wednesday 31 January 11:38:24 UTC 2018

Every product here is independently selected by Mashable journalists. If you buy something featured, we may earn an affiliate commission which helps support our work. Those cryptocurrency ads that promise to make you rich in a matter of days? You won't see them on Facebook any more. The company added a new advertising policy Tuesday, prohibiting ads promoting "financial products and … [Link]

Mashable » This hamster has gone viral because it has a tiny bed

Wednesday 31 January 11:26:19 UTC 2018

Yeah enjoy your 15 minutes of fame while it lasts, tiny hamster. Soon you'll be as obscure and unloved as the rest of us. SEE ALSO: Veterinarians are using fish skin to help heal bear paw burns from wildfires A tweet about a hamster getting its own little bed has gone viral, with over 71,000 retweets at time of writing. Take … [Link]

Mashable » Google can now predict flight delays

Wednesday 31 January 11:00:00 UTC 2018

Every product here is independently selected by Mashable journalists. If you buy something featured, we may earn an affiliate commission which helps support our work. The only thing worse than missing your flight is arriving on time just to realize the flight's been delayed for a couple of hours, and there's nothing you can do besides sip expensive airport coffee and … [Link]

Mashable » Jamie Lee Curtis shared her first photo from the new 'Halloween' movie set

Wednesday 31 January 10:55:21 UTC 2018

Michael Myers first terrified viewers back in 1978, before he'd even starred in Austin Powers. Wait… SEE ALSO: 'Get Out' inspires a college course taught around the horror film We learned last year that Jamie Lee Curtis was returning to the Halloween franchise, and now she's released the first photo from the set. First shot! First day. Same slate. Same Laurie. … [Link]

Mashable » Paris Hilton dresses up as Kim Kardashian and oh how the tables have turned

Wednesday 31 January 10:54:28 UTC 2018

Fame’s a funny old thing, isn't it? One minute you're ordering someone to clean and organise your closet, and the next minute, you're modelling their husband's clothing line. Well, that's how things have panned out for Paris Hilton. SEE ALSO: Paris Hilton rings in 2018 with the most Paris Hilton tweet imaginable Back at the height of Paris' reality TV stardom, … [Link]

Mashable » Chrissy Teigen casually trolls her hair stylist in Instagram comments

Wednesday 31 January 10:40:40 UTC 2018

When it comes to Chrissy Teigen's expert clapback powers, nobody is safe. Not even her own hair stylist. SEE ALSO: Chrissy Teigen throws some serious shade at 1 Oscar-nominated movie On Monday, Teigen shared a couple of snaps of herself attending a pre-Grammys party. In the post's description, meanwhile, she shouted out her stylists. "I must thank my dear friends who … [Link]

Slashdot » Mazda Says Its Next-Gen Gasoline Engine Will Run Cleaner Than An Electric Car

Wednesday 31 January 10:00:00 UTC 2018

schwit1 shares a report from Popular Mechanics: Mazda is staking much of its future on the continued existence of the internal-combustion engine, with clever tech like spark-controlled compression ignition set to debut in Mazda's next-generation production-car engine, Skyactiv-X. But the automaker is already thinking even further into the internal-combustion future. Automotive News reports that Mazda is working on a new … [Link]

Mashable » Helen Mirren totally destroys James Corden in a brutal rap battle

Wednesday 31 January 9:56:28 UTC 2018

Helen Mirren isn't a name you'd normally associate with rap — but after the video above, that all may have to change. The legendary actress appeared on The Late Late Show with James Corden on Tuesday night and took on the host for a round of "Drop the Mic". SEE ALSO: Rap battle between Samuel L. Jackson and James Corden … [Link]

Slashdot » How To Watch the 'Super Blue Blood Moon' Lunar Eclipse

Wednesday 31 January 7:00:00 UTC 2018

Stephanie Pappas reports via Live Science how you can watch Wednesday's "Super Blue Blood Moon" eclipse: The eclipse will occur in the wee hours of the morning on Wednesday, Jan. 31, when the full moon will pass through the Earth's shadow. Viewers on Earth will see the face of the moon turn a murky red. On the West Coast, totality … [Link]

Mashable » Yes, this is the front page of the Washington Post after Trump's speech

Wednesday 31 January 6:32:46 UTC 2018

Update, Jan. 31, 1:25 a.m. ET: This story has been updated to include the final front page from the Washington Post. During his first State of the Union speech, Donald Trump characterized immigrants as violent gang members, pushed for more nukes, and vilified athletes who protest police brutality. But that's not the story the first edition of the Washington Post told. … [Link]

Mashable » Stormy Daniels denies affair with Trump before 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!' appearance

Wednesday 31 January 6:32:45 UTC 2018

Well, this is certainly a turn of events. Adult film star Stormy Daniels released a statement denying allegations she had an affair with Donald Trump, just in time for the president's State of the Union address on Tuesday night and Daniels' appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! SEE ALSO: Here are the pissiest faces from Trump's State of the Union Daniels … [Link]

Mashable » Samantha Bee's choose your own adventure game for Trump's State of the Union is perfect

Wednesday 31 January 5:18:30 UTC 2018

There was trepidation surrounding Donald Trump's first State of the Union address, and perhaps there's no better way to settle your nerves than a fun game. The Twitter account for Full Frontal with Samantha Bee devised a "choose your own adventure" game during the speech on Tuesday night. SEE ALSO: Here are the pissiest faces from Trump's State of the Union … [Link]

Mashable » Spotify tests a free radio app called Stations

Wednesday 31 January 4:44:02 UTC 2018

Spotify is experimenting with a free music streaming app called Stations. The new app, which appears to be available only in Australia, was quietly released in the Play Store Tuesday. As the name suggests, Stations is a radio-like service that creates customized stations based on users' preferences. It's a bit like Pandora in that it's also ad-based, but it's not quite … [Link]

Mashable » Here are the pissiest faces from Trump's State of the Union

Wednesday 31 January 4:15:14 UTC 2018

On Tuesday night, Donald Trump gave his first official State of the Union speech, and not everyone in attendance was thrilled. SEE ALSO: There's a typo on State of the Union tickets because America in 2018 is just one big typo Whether because of his bombastic tweets, his policies, or just, you know, him, many people — mostly opposing Democrats — … [Link]

Mashable » Senator Chuck Schumer looked mad as hell at the State of the Union

Wednesday 31 January 3:36:08 UTC 2018

President Trump gave his first State of the Union address on Tuesday, and while all ears were on his speech, all eyes were on the reactions of everyone else in the room. Following the fallout of DACA and the recent government shutdown, it's safe to say that Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer isn't too pleased with Trump, and boy did it … [Link]

Slashdot » Pocket-Sized DNA Reader Used To Scan Entire Human Genome Sequence

Wednesday 31 January 3:30:00 UTC 2018

An anonymous reader quotes a report from Ars Technica: A few years back, a company called Oxford Nanopore announced it was developing a radically different way of sequencing DNA. Its approach involved taking single strands of the double helix and stuffing them through a protein pore. With a small bit of current flowing across the pore, the four bases of … [Link]

Mashable » Chill emu has a swim alongside unsuspecting tourists

Wednesday 31 January 2:31:14 UTC 2018

You’re not supposed to get too close to the wildlife, but in Australia, sometimes it just finds you. Two tourists were paddleboarding off Monkey Mia Beach in Western Australia on Jan. 26 when they came across an emu who was cooling off in the water. SEE ALSO: Robots are much cuter when they're dogs According to WA Today, the moment was … [Link]

Mashable » Trump's State of the Union slogan was used before… by Hillary Clinton

Wednesday 31 January 2:05:44 UTC 2018

A few hours before President Trump was slated to address the nation in his first State of the Union Address, the White House released a series of excerpts from Trump's prepared speech. But one of the catchiest slogans was actually coined by none other that Hillary Clinton. Whoops! SEE ALSO: Why I, a politics nerd, will never watch a Trump State … [Link]

Mashable » The emotional support peacock that couldn't get on a flight also has his own Instagram

Wednesday 31 January 1:17:36 UTC 2018

Can the saga of the airport peacock get any better? The massive bird also has his own Instagram. The "emotional support" peacock was denied entrance to a flight from Newark Airport on Sunday, despite his owner buying him his own plane ticket. However, Dexter the peacock is determined to get to Los Angeles and he's been posting about his journey on … [Link]

Mashable » Instagram gave brands a hot new feature, but still won't give users a chronological timeline

Wednesday 31 January 1:07:51 UTC 2018

Instagram’s latest update is totally here for you — as long as the you in question just so happens to be a major brand account on its platform. That's right, as of today, businesses now have the ability to schedule posts. And new features are all good and fine, I guess, but what I'm really trying to say here is maybe … [Link]

Slashdot » T-Mobile Commits To 100 Percent Renewable Electricity By 2021

Wednesday 31 January 1:00:00 UTC 2018

T-Mobile said on Monday that it will move to 100 percent renewable electricity by the year 2021. It had also "finalized a contract for wind power from the Solomon Forks Wind Project in Kansas," reports CNBC. "Power generation there is due to begin at the beginning of 2019, and will supplement the energy T-Mobile receives from the Red Dirt Wind … [Link]

Slashdot » Amazon's Push Into Healthcare Just Cost the Industry $30 Billion In Market Cap

Wednesday 31 January 0:20:00 UTC 2018

Today, Amazon, along with Berkshire Hathaway and JPMorgan, announced a plan to launch an independent company that will offer healthcare services to the companies' employees at a lower cost. The venture, which will be managed by executives from the firms, will be run more like a non-profit, than a for-profit entity. Even though the plans are vague, the news caused … [Link]

Mashable » Investigation reveals that Australians didn't vote for Ferry McFerryface

Wednesday 31 January 0:08:34 UTC 2018

When a public vote decided that Sydney's newest ferry would be named Ferry McFerryface, Australians were (understandably) annoyed. As if our parliament wasn’t shameful enough. Ferry McFerryface is deeply embarrassing. Beam me up to New Zealand. 😞 — Antfarmer (@antfarmer) November 13, 2017 But according to Transport Minister Andrew Constance, Ferry McFerryface was what "the people vote for," so the … [Link]

Mashable » Wild Arctic weather: Siberian temperatures swing 100 degrees Fahrenheit in 2 weeks

Wednesday 31 January 0:00:56 UTC 2018

On weather maps, the high pressure area looks like a pockmark in the Arctic. The reddish, almost pink blotch goes from far eastern Russia across the Bering Sea and up into the Chukchi Sea, extending well north, into the Arctic. The unusually strong high pressure area is sweeping anomalously warm air into Siberia, northeast Russia, parts of Alaska, and the Arctic … [Link]

John Gordon Ross

A Man for All Reasons