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.

Mashable » TiVo will let you skip the football and watch just the Super Bowl commercials

Friday 2 February 23:52:03 UTC 2018

America is breaking out the nachos and beer for the Sunday's big game. This one's especially riling up the sports world, with Eagles fans rooting against what might be the Patriots' third win in the past five years. Even Fiona the Hippo weighed in with her prediction. But if you're like me, you're only there for the commercials and the snacks. … [Link]

Slashdot » Bicyclist Protests Net Neutrality By Slowing Traffic Outside the FCC Building

Friday 2 February 23:30:00 UTC 2018

An anonymous reader quotes a report from The Hill: A protester opposed to the Federal Communication Commission's (FCC) net neutrality repeal slowed traffic to a crawl outside the FCC Monday as a demonstration against the repeal. A video released Monday shows Rob Bliss, video director for the website Seriously.TV, setting up traffic cones to block all but one lane for … [Link]

Mashable » A guide to 'deepfakes,' the internet's latest moral crisis

Friday 2 February 23:23:21 UTC 2018

Where there's innovation, there's masturbation — at least in one dark corner of the internet, where nearly 80,000 people have gathered to share fabricated videos of celebrity women having sex and Nicolas Cage uncovering the Ark of the Covenant. These are "deepfakes," a new kind of video featuring realistic face-swaps. In short, a computer program finds common ground between two faces … [Link]

Mashable » Why Apple doesn't need to sell more iPhones anymore

Friday 2 February 23:09:24 UTC 2018

There’s a common misunderstanding that if a company doesn't sell more of something, it means the product is a failure. Case in point: iPhone sales fell year-over-year, and because of it, people trotted back out the same old tired narrative that Apple is doomed…again. But for real this time! They claim the iPhone X is a failure because $1,000 is simply … [Link]

Mashable » Neal Shusterman redefines dystopian fiction with his 'Arc of the Scythe' series

Friday 2 February 23:08:58 UTC 2018

If there is one person who has shaped the landscape of young adult pop culture, it's Neal Shusterman. The prolific author, perhaps best known for the Unwind Dystology and The Accelerati Triligoy, has been writing for a variety of mediums — books, film, TV, and games — since the '80s, including writing for the Goosebumps and Animorphs TV series and the Disney channel … [Link]

Slashdot » Chrome OS Is Almost Ready To Replace Android On Tablets

Friday 2 February 22:50:00 UTC 2018

Several news features rolling out to Chromebooks paint a picture of the future of Chrome OS as the rightful replacement for Android tablet software. Those include a new split-screen feature for multitasking while in tablet mode, and a screenshot feature borrowed from Android. The Verge reports: As it stands now, Chrome OS is very close to taking up the mantle … [Link]

Mashable » The Spice Girls just reunited for the first time in years

Friday 2 February 22:48:55 UTC 2018

The Spice Girls making a comeback is what 2018 needs right now, among other things. The English girl group reunited on Friday for the first time since the London Olympics in 2012. The group all met up at Geri Halliwell's (Ginger Spice) home to speak with their former manager about upcoming projects. It feels like 1994 all over again, so bring … [Link]

Mashable » James Comey tweets response to Nunes memo filled with fire and fury

Friday 2 February 22:43:13 UTC 2018

Lordy. James Comey never really went away after he was fired by President Donald Trump in May 2017, hanging around like a ghost who feels obligated to chime in every once in a while. SEE ALSO: The Nunes memo was just released, and of course the website crashed The former FBI director weighed in on Friday when the House Intelligence Committee … [Link]

Mashable » Middle school class gives priceless reaction to a ‘Black Panther’ surprise

Friday 2 February 22:13:39 UTC 2018

The release of Black Panther has everyone running around with record-breaking excitement these days, but no one can match the fervor of the kids of Ron Clark Academy. The Atlanta middle schoolers were all told that they would be seeing the Marvel film together, and the group immediately burst into dance with so much enthusiasm, it's impressive. SEE ALSO: 'Black Panther' … [Link]

Slashdot » Microsoft Is Now Selling a Surface Laptop With An Intel Core m3 Processor For $799

Friday 2 February 22:10:00 UTC 2018

Microsoft has begun offering a lower specced Surface laptop running Windows 10 S and an Intel Core m3 processor. It's priced at $799, compared to the standard model's $999 price, and is only available in the platinum color configuration. Windows Central reports: The Intel Core m3 spec is paired with 4GB of RAM and 128GB Storage. This is definitely not … [Link]

Mashable » Here's how SpaceX's Falcon Heavy rocket stacks up to the competition

Friday 2 February 22:06:50 UTC 2018

After years of delays and setbacks, SpaceX is finally ready to launch the maiden flight of its Falcon Heavy rocket, which is scheduled for Feb. 6. SpaceX has said that the launcher, with its 27 engines and 3 boosters, will be the most powerful rocket currently flying when it makes its debut on Tuesday. But how does that really stack up? … [Link]

Mashable » This device wants to punch your muscle pains away

Friday 2 February 22:01:48 UTC 2018

The G2PRO by TheraGun could be the answer to your muscle aches. This vibrating massager claims to soothe your pains through its powerful vibration. Don't be intimidated by its aggressive appearance. Read more…More about Health, Fitness, Pain, Exercise, and Massage [Link]

Mashable » It's time to replace Groundhog Day with Lobster Day

Friday 2 February 21:56:17 UTC 2018

Everyone is sick of Groundhog Day (no offense, Phil) and it's time to liven things up a bit. Let's take a leaf out of Nova Scotia's book and hire a lobster instead. Lucy the lobster — a good lobster — burst forth from the ocean today to tell Nova Scotians how much more winter they should expect. Lucy did not see … [Link]

Mashable » Are tracksuits cool now or is Armie Hammer trolling us?

Friday 2 February 21:50:05 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. For as long as I've lived I have been under the very strict impression that tracksuits are simply not that cool. It's unclear exactly how I fell into this judgmental mindset, but after Vulture recently called … [Link]

Mashable » Why the Internet Is Addicted to Slime

Friday 2 February 21:49:14 UTC 2018

Read more…More about Mashable Reels, Slime, Sn Reels, Culture, and Web Culture [Link]

Mashable » We built a Nintendo Labo car, and it's unlike any other video game

Friday 2 February 21:44:32 UTC 2018

Nintendo unveiled it's latest crazy (cardboard) creations, Labo, and let us build a little RC car, complete with heat seeking abilities. It's one of a number of Labo toys that Nintendo is releasing in April. Read more…More about Gaming, Mashable Video, Nintendo, Remote Control, and Video Games [Link]

ProgrammableWeb.com » WebAPI Manager Browser Extension Limits Access to Web APIs

Friday 2 February 21:39:41 UTC 2018

WebAPI Manager is a new browser extension for the Firefox and Google Chrome web browsers that allows users to limit website access to Web APIs. [Link]

Mashable » Get lost watching this mesmerizing lava gush and cool

Friday 2 February 21:38:52 UTC 2018

For months, molten lava has gushed from Kilauea Volcano in Hawaii, cooling and creating a dark, rippled surface. Read more…More about Mashable Video, Landmark, Landscape, National Park, and Park [Link]

Mashable » 'Fake follower' factory Devumi denies NYT exposé on shady practices

Friday 2 February 21:35:43 UTC 2018

Twitter board member Martha Lane Fox didn't deny having fake followers on the company's network after a New York Times investigation exposed her. She blamed it on a "rogue employee." But in regards to the actual company that supplied her with fake followers, Devumi is denying such shadiness and claiming the New York Times report is "inaccurate." The denial arrived six … [Link]

Mashable » Create rainbow art with this Insta-worthy light stick

Friday 2 February 21:33:17 UTC 2018

Paint perfect rainbows into your photos with this light-saber like device. Especially designed for photographers, this light stick allows you add light effects or image overlays to your photos without too much effort. You can even use it for animationsPaint away! Read more…More about Photography, Mashable Video, Light, Real Time, and Real Time Video [Link]

Slashdot » YouTube Will Put Disclaimers On State-Funded Broadcasts To Fight Propaganda

Friday 2 February 21:30:00 UTC 2018

An anonymous reader quotes a report from Ars Technica: YouTube's latest strategy to fight the spread of misinformation involves putting a disclaimer on videos from certain news sources. The online video website announced it will start labeling videos posted by state-funded broadcasters to alert viewers that the content is, in some part, funded by a government source. YouTube will begin … [Link]

Mashable » Marvel is making 'The Last Jedi' in comic book form

Friday 2 February 21:09:07 UTC 2018

The Last Jedi was a whole lotta movie, and now it's going to be a whole lotta awesome comicsMarvel is set to adapt the latest Star Wars film into a six-part print comic featuring "never-before-seen" new content. SEE ALSO: Trailer for final episodes of 'Star Wars Rebels' is here — and holy sh*t Gary Whitta is set to pen the six … [Link]

Mashable » World's largest beer brewer highlights clean water and disaster relief during Super Bowl

Friday 2 February 21:06:29 UTC 2018

Anheuser-Busch, the world's largest brewing company, is devoting two Super Bowl ads this year not to beer, but water. The new TV spots, from the brewer's popular brands Budweiser and Stella Artois, both focus on the need for clean water in different parts of the world. It's undoubtedly an effort by Anheuser-Busch to show off its accomplishments in corporate social responsibility, … [Link]

Mashable » Video proves we’re all taking the same Instagram photos

Friday 2 February 20:59:39 UTC 2018

It's something straight out of a Black Mirror episode: everybody is the same. Oliver KMIA tried to visit Rome's famous Trevi Fountain, but was frustrated when he couldn't even get close to it because of the mob of people taking photos in front of it. He was inspired by this music video about the lack of creativity on social media, … [Link]

Mashable » Can a media company succeed without Facebook? This startup says yes.

Friday 2 February 20:55:18 UTC 2018

Most app developers targeting teens and their ever-shrinking attention spans fall short of mainstream success — but not Mammoth Media. The Santa Monica, Calif.-based startup claims it has reached about 30 percent of U.S. teenagers in less than four years, solely through the two apps its created: Wishbone and Yarn. Wishbone, a teen polling app, and Yarn, an interactive fictional storytelling … [Link]

Slashdot » Why Alexa Won't Light Up During Amazon's Super Bowl Ad

Friday 2 February 20:51:00 UTC 2018

Bloomberg: Amazon.com is advertising its Alexa-powered speakers in the big game on Sunday. It's an amusing 90 seconds that features celebrities like Gordon Ramsay, Rebel Wilson, Anthony Hopkins, Cardi B and the world's wealthiest man, Jeff Bezos himself. The word "Alexa" is uttered 10 times during the Super Bowl spot, but thankfully, the Amazon Echo in your living room isn't … [Link]

Mashable » A wine subscription service is the Valentine's Day gift that keeps on giving (and other ideas)

Friday 2 February 20:49:32 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. As far as Valentine's Day clichés go, wine is pretty close to the top of the list. (Also up there: chocolates, flickering candles, roses, horrible stuffed bears, we could go on.) Upgrade … [Link]

Mashable » There's a problem with YouTube's new anti-propaganda initiative

Friday 2 February 20:46:22 UTC 2018

YouTube is attempting to stem the ugly ooze of propaganda and conspiracy theories on its platform with what can be best described as a misleading Band-Aid. On Friday, Google-owned YouTube announced it's rolling out "notices" that inform users they're watching a video from an organization that receives funding from a government. "Our goal is to equip users with additional information to … [Link]

Mashable » Flu season has gone from bad to worse, CDC reports, as 17 more children die in the US

Friday 2 February 20:31:04 UTC 2018

Top doctors at the Centers for Disease and Control and Prevention (CDC) continue to report more grim news about this year's severe flu season, largely due to a particularly nasty strain of the virus. On Friday morning, the CDC provided updated influenza statistics, gathered from the week spanning Jan. 21 to Jan. 28. Although there's a deluge of numbers and statistics … [Link]

Mashable » 'Krypton' Super Bowl spot features Superman…'s cape

Friday 2 February 20:24:46 UTC 2018

This spring, Syfy is diving into Superman's home planet … years before he was even a twinkle in Lara's eye. SEE ALSO: 'Metropolis' is a new TV series set before Superman becomes Superman Krypton centers on Seg-El (Cameron Cuffe), who will go on one day to become Kal-El's grandfather. Right now, though, he's just a young man trying to decide … [Link]

Mashable » Mom catches her 8-year-old planning the most wholesome sleepover ever

Friday 2 February 20:19:59 UTC 2018

Redditor favorite_hoodie's eight-year-old brother was so excited to have his friends over he planned an entire sleepover, complete with a hot tub, full breakfast menu, and board game hour. SEE ALSO: Little girl pens grim birthday card for mom's significant other After posting the list to Reddit, the internet understandably cooed and awed over the innocence of it all before … [Link]

Slashdot » YouTube Warns of 'Consequences' For Creators Who Misbehave

Friday 2 February 20:10:00 UTC 2018

YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki has announced that creators whose actions impact negatively on its community will face "consequences." From a report: Wojcicki said the video-sharing platform is developing new policies that "would lead to consequences" if a content creator "does something egregious" that reflects unfavorably on other YouTube creators. YouTube's CEO made the comments in a blog post that detailed … [Link]

Mashable » The real story behind Steve Jobs 'getting fired' from Apple

Friday 2 February 19:48:28 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. It's legend in the computer industry: In the mid '80s, Steve Jobs was ousted from Apple, the company he co-founded and went on to eventually lead to worldwide dominance, after a boardroom battle with the CEO … [Link]

Mashable » #MeToo founder is writing a memoir

Friday 2 February 19:46:22 UTC 2018

Long before the New York Times released their bombshell expose on Harvey Weinstein, one woman coined the words that would spark a revolution both on and offline. Though not initially credited with its founding, activist Tarana Burke launched the Me Too campaign in 2007 for her non-profit Just Be Inc., which helps survivors of everything from sexual harassment to assault. Her … [Link]

Mashable » The best kind of laptop stand is the one you don't ever have to think about

Friday 2 February 19:45:47 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. Whether you’re working from home or just falling down a Wikipedia hole, if you’re putting in some serious time on your laptop, there’s a good chance you’ll eventually end up on the … [Link]

Mashable » Now we know why polar bears are so vulnerable to global warming

Friday 2 February 19:39:41 UTC 2018

Polar bears are the sentinel species when it comes to global warming. They're the symbol used for fundraising campaigns and initiatives to raise awareness of how human activities, specifically the burning of fossil fuels for energy, is endangering our majestic planet. We've known for a while that polar bears, which depend on sea ice cover for hunting and breeding, are already … [Link]

Slashdot » Working From Home: What if You Never Saw Your Colleagues in Person Again?

Friday 2 February 19:30:00 UTC 2018

Bryan Lufkin, writing for BBC: Throughout my career I've worked with people that I've never met in person. In theory, I could spend an entire day without meeting another human face-to-face. But could this kind of self-imposed isolation become standard working practice in the future? Studies show that in the US, the number of telecommuters rose 115% between 2005 and … [Link]

Mashable » Student 3D prints one-of-a-kind electric violin to play a unique composition

Friday 2 February 19:25:45 UTC 2018

Musician Sean Riley from the University of Texas at Austin designed and 3D printed a special 6-string electric violin to play a unique composition. The song titled ‘The Dharma at Big Sur’ by John Adams requires the instrument to enter cello range with a low F and low C. Read more…More about Music, Technology, Design, Mashable Video, and Musician [Link]

Mashable » The Nunes memo reveals that Devin Nunes is dumber than we thought

Friday 2 February 18:54:39 UTC 2018

After a week of breathless coverage of the supposedly explosive Nunes memo, the House Intelligence Committee finally released it to the public on Friday. The response of experts in the field: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ . SEE ALSO: 'Democracy dies in dankness' according to Trump Jr. The Nunes memo, named after House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes whose aides wrote the thing, was supposed … [Link]

Slashdot » Laser Scans Reveal Maya 'Megalopolis' Below Guatemalan Jungle

Friday 2 February 18:50:00 UTC 2018

Laser-toting archaeologists have discovered an entire new city in the Central American jungle, the National Geographic reported this week. From the report: In what's being hailed as a "major breakthrough" in Maya archaeology, researchers have identified the ruins of more than 60,000 houses, palaces, elevated highways, and other human-made features that have been hidden for centuries under the jungles of … [Link]

Mashable » Learn the programming language that's used by Airbnb and Hulu

Friday 2 February 18:33:59 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. The world of programming is full of many different languages. If you’re new to web development, it can be hard to know which one to learn first. One of the best to … [Link]

Mashable » The Nunes memo was just released, and of course the website crashed

Friday 2 February 18:09:05 UTC 2018

The U.S. government released a highly anticipated document today, and, perhaps unsurprisingly, the designated website couldn't handle the load. The so-called Nunes Memo, a contentious document authored by House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes' staff, alleges abuse of power by the F.B.I. in relation to its investigation into the Trump campaign's possible ties to the Russian government. SEE ALSO: 'Democracy dies … [Link]

Slashdot » GOP Memo Criticizing FBI Surveillance is Released

Friday 2 February 18:08:00 UTC 2018

The controversial four-page memo created by Republican staffers on the House Intelligence Committee alleging abuse of surveillance authority by the Justice Department and FBI has been released Friday after being declassified by the president. The memo is unredacted. (Alternative link for the memo.) The Washington Post: The four-page, newly declassified memo written by the Republican staffers for the House Intelligence … [Link]

Mashable » 'Bachelor' contestant reported as a missing person for lying to her mom. Probably.

Friday 2 February 17:40:52 UTC 2018

Many of you know Bekah Martinez as the 22-year-old battling to win Arie Luyendyk Jr.'s heart on Season 22 of The Bachelor, but few know that she was also a reported missing person in the state of California only a couple days ago. On Thursday, Humboldt County's local newspaper The North Coast Journal shared the truly bizarre story about a reader … [Link]

Mashable » #DeleteHQ: HQ Trivia's new funding may come from Peter Thiel, and the internet is revolting

Friday 2 February 17:36:02 UTC 2018

A year ago the internet raged against an app with #DeleteUber. Now, it's time to #DeleteHQ. By HQ, the internet means HQ trivia, the app that quietly launched in July and now invites more than 1 million people to play trivia every day. Why are people campaigning to delete HQ after less than six months into the app's rise and popularity? … [Link]

Mashable » This is who the cast of 'Altered Carbon' would like to be resurrected as

Friday 2 February 17:31:21 UTC 2018

Netflix’s 'Altered Carbon' is a show where characters can switch bodies (sleeves) with their memories and consciousness intact. We asked the cast who they would love to wear as their sleeve today. Read more…More about Entertainment, Tv, Netflix, Mashable Video, and Streaming [Link]

Slashdot » Surface Pro 4 Owners Are Putting Their Tablets in Freezers To Fix Screen Flickering Issues

Friday 2 February 17:21:00 UTC 2018

Hundreds of Surface Pro 4 owners have been complaining about screen flickering issues on their tablets, and many are putting it in freezers to "fix" it. From a report: A thread over at Microsoft's support forums shows that the problems have been occurring for more than a year, and most devices affected are out of warranty. Dubbed "Flickergate," a website … [Link]

Mashable » 'Counter-Strike' creator arrested, suspended by Valve

Friday 2 February 16:42:14 UTC 2018

Jess Cliffe, one of two creators of the iconic first-person shooter game Counter-Strike, was arrested and booked for sexual exploitation of a child in Seattle Thursday morning, local station KINO 7 reported Thursday. Cliffe has not been charged with a crime and is expected to have a bail hearing Friday afternoon. SEE ALSO: Aly Raisman: The more we talk about sexual … [Link]

Mashable » Humble Bundle is currently offering a 'pay what you want' deal on classic Rockstar games for a good cause

Friday 2 February 16:40:47 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 grew up with any of Rockstar Games' classic pantheon of awesome games, then Humble Bundle has an epic deal for you, and it even goes towards a great cause. Rockstar … [Link]

Slashdot » Nearly Three-Quarters of Adults in US Believe AI Will Eliminate More Jobs Than It Will Create — and They Want Companies To Pay For the Retraining

Friday 2 February 16:40:00 UTC 2018

Key findings from a Gallup poll: Nearly three-quarters of adults (73%) say an increased use of AI will eliminate more jobs than it creates (PDF). Results are consistent across most demographic groups. However, those with blue-collar jobs are particularly pessimistic, with 82% saying the transition will result in a net job loss, compared with 71% of those with white-collar jobs. … [Link]

Mashable » RIP Nigel, the saddest bird in the world

Friday 2 February 16:30:42 UTC 2018

Move aside Romeo and Juliet. The award for most tragic love story now belongs to Nigel the bird and his concrete beloved. Per The Guardian, the story begins in 2013 when Nigel, a gannet, showed up on Mana Island, an uninhabited piece of land off the coast of New Zealand. Initially, conservationists had placed fake concrete gannets on the island in … [Link]

Mashable » Which DNA test should you get? This guide can help.

Friday 2 February 16:17:28 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. DNA test kits like AncestryDNA and 23andMe have become increasingly popular over the past few years and were a surprisingly popular gift item during the holiday season. Though DNA tests are being … [Link]

New Scientist – News » First UK three-parent babies could be born this year

Friday 2 February 16:17:26 UTC 2018

Two cases have been approved in the UK for using a three-parent baby technique to make healthy babies. The technique has already been used in China and Ukraine [Link]

New Scientist – News » Brain genes hint at why Zika doesn’t always cause microcephaly

Friday 2 February 16:17:25 UTC 2018

One in 10 babies exposed to the Zika virus during pregnancy develop abnormally small heads. A study of twins in Brazil suggests gene activity may decide which [Link]

New Scientist – News » Pregnant women have to navigate a minefield of painkiller advice

Friday 2 February 16:17:24 UTC 2018

I'm pregnant and sick of confusing advice about whether painkillers can harm developing fetuses – what should women like me do? [Link]

Mashable » How to survive the Super Bowl Sunday episode of 'This Is Us'

Friday 2 February 16:17:11 UTC 2018

The big day is coming. The day we've been waiting for. The day that we watch Jack Pearson burn to death on This Is Us. At least that's what we've been led to believe: A fire started by a slow cooker caused a full-on house blaze, and potentially led to the fiery demise of America's favorite dead dad Jack Pearson (played … [Link]

Mashable » Jennifer Aniston on 'Friends' reunion: 'Anything is a possibility'

Friday 2 February 16:10:33 UTC 2018

"Y'all should do a Friends reunion," Ellen DeGeneres told Jennifer Aniston in the latest episode of Ellen. "I know people keep asking that." They do, but Ellen is allowed. "Is it even in the realm of possibility?" she asked. "Anything is a possibility," Aniston replied diplomatically. "I mean, George Clooney got married." SEE ALSO: Don't hold your breath for a … [Link]

Mashable » The surprising poignancy of the 'FBI agent' meme

Friday 2 February 16:09:28 UTC 2018

By now, we know that hacking into a webcam is fairly easy, and that covering up your webcam is generally a good idea. But lately, the internet seems to have made a bizarre, poignant peace with the idea that someone might be watching us — not rogue hackers, necessarily, but the FBI itself. Jokes about the "FBI agent watching our computers" … [Link]

Slashdot » A Search For Insomnia Genes Involving 1.3 Million People is the Largest Genetic Study Ever

Friday 2 February 16:01:00 UTC 2018

In a genetic study of unprecedented size, scientists have searched for inherited causes of insomnia in the DNA 1,310,010 people. From a report: They found 956 different genes linked to the sleep disorder, drawing closer to an explanation of what causes it and, perhaps, to new ways to treat it. The study appears to be the first gene search to … [Link]

Mashable » Justin Timberlake's 'Man of the Woods' gets savaged by Pitchfork

Friday 2 February 16:00:18 UTC 2018

Justin Timberlake's fifth solo album Man of the Woods released on Friday and immediately got torn to pieces by Pitchfork. Man of the Woods comes in at 66 minutes with 15 and a half songs and Pitchfork's Jamieson Cox could barely find any moments worth praising, calling large swaths of the record shallow and uninspired. And that's a pretty fair assessment. … [Link]

Mashable » Hey, tech CEOs: Fighting racism isn't just right, it's also good business

Friday 2 February 16:00:10 UTC 2018

This column is part of a series called "Voices of Women in Tech," created in collaboration with AnitaB.org, a global enterprise that supports women in technical fields, as well as the organizations that employ them and the academic institutions training the next generation. Last fall, as the world reeled from Charlottesville's white supremacist protests and the killing of anti-racist protester Heather Heyer, … [Link]

Mashable » Know-it-all groundhog releases obvious public statement about the winter

Friday 2 February 15:49:17 UTC 2018

If you're especially bored this Friday and prefer to get your news from incredulous sources, you may be interested in this video of Punxsutawney Phil predicting the weather. Spoiler Alert: Phil predicts six more weeks of winter. SEE ALSO: This TV channel is celebrating Groundhog Day in a hilarious way These faithful followers of Phil have been forcing the poor … [Link]

Mashable » Amazon has wireless headphones, Bluetooth speakers, and a Poe Dameron electric razor on sale today

Friday 2 February 15:31:35 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. Your smartphone is using fewer and fewer wires these days. Try to keep up. Amazon has the goods on wireless headphone deals today that you'll definitely want to snatch up. From a … [Link]

Mashable » The 10 best thrillers of all time

Friday 2 February 15:23:11 UTC 2018

Continuing our journey through the genres, we're taking a look at all the best types of thrillers, political, action, crime, erotic, and more. It's time to bite your nails through 10 of the best thrillers of all time! Subscribe to CineFix for more movie-related content Read more…More about Cinefix, Movie List, Top 10 List, Thrillers, and Movie Lists [Link]

Mashable » This concept app wants to use technology to help you quit smoking

Friday 2 February 15:22:26 UTC 2018

FitSmoke is almost like a personal coach to help you decrease the amount of cigarettes you smoke per day. Place your cigarettes in the box and set your goals in the app. The box will release a cigarette at a specific time based on the goal you set. In case you really need a cigarette, there's an emergency button that will … [Link]

Slashdot » Firefox 59 Will Stop Websites Snooping on Where You've Just Been

Friday 2 February 15:20:00 UTC 2018

Firefox 59 will reduce how much information websites pass on about visitors in an attempt to improve privacy for users of its private browsing mode. From a report: When you click a link in your browser to navigate to a new site, the site you go on to visit receives the address of the site you came from, via the … [Link]

Mashable » Yes, it's weird that the Han Solo spinoff doesn't have a trailer yet

Friday 2 February 15:12:59 UTC 2018

As of today, we're less than four months away from the next Star Wars movie. But you'd never know it from the marketing campaign – or, rather, the total lack thereof. To date, we've seen next to nothing from Solo: no trailer, no teaser, no poster, not even an official image, unless you count that behind-the-scenes promo pic from the first … [Link]

Mashable » Justin Timberlake dances around nature in 'Man of the Woods' music video

Friday 2 February 15:06:03 UTC 2018

Justin Timberlake's new album Man of the Woods released Friday along with a new music for the album's namesake song: "Man of the Woods." "Man of the Woods" is a light, summery kind of song about how JT loves his wife, Jessica Biel, and likes to brag about her because, well, JT's a man of the woods. The entire song … [Link]

Mashable » Billboard gives Michele Bachmann that sign from 'God' she's been waiting for

Friday 2 February 14:49:41 UTC 2018

In the waning days of 2017, former Minnesota Tea Party congresswoman Michele Bachmann indicated she'd been looking for a sign from God about whether or not she should run for the U.S. Senate in 2018. SEE ALSO: Is 2018 over yet? It looks like God has responded via a billboard in St. Paul, Minnesota. It's a resounding one-word answer: "No." Billboard … [Link]

Slashdot » Sony's PlayStation 4 Has Nearly Outsold the PlayStation 3

Friday 2 February 14:43:00 UTC 2018

Sony's PlayStation 3 sales stand at around 80 million — which means its successor, the current gen PlayStation 4, will soon surpass it. From a report: The Japanese electronics giant sold 9 million PlayStation 4 consoles from October through December, it said on Friday in its latest quarterly earnings report. Sales for the console were at 67.5 million as of … [Link]

Mashable » Kim Kardashian West is sending her 'haters' Valentine's gifts and there's no ulterior motive there

Friday 2 February 14:37:25 UTC 2018

Passive-aggressive gift-giving just got taken to a new level. SEE ALSO: Paris Hilton dresses up as Kim Kardashian and oh how the tables have turned Kim Kardashian West has released a range of "Kimoji Hearts" perfumes, and with Valentine's Day on the horizon, what better time to publicise? Kardashian sent some PR sets of the fragrances in actual chocolate hearts, and … [Link]

Mashable » Netflix's 'Altered Carbon' is a cautionary tale for our times

Friday 2 February 14:15:27 UTC 2018

What would you do if you could live forever? In Netflix's Altered Carbon, based on the novel by Richard K. Morgan, humanity has evolved past the arbitrary expiration of the physical form. Centuries into the future, our essence is encased in a small disk and the rich wear bodies like seasonal fashion. If it sounds unnerving, it's meant to be; … [Link]

Slashdot » Bitcoin Plummets Below $8,000 For First Time Since November

Friday 2 February 14:01:00 UTC 2018

Bitcoin's value dipped $8,000 this morning — the first time since November 24, according to CNBC — just hours after the cryptocurrency made news after going under $9,000. From a report: After the news that Bitcoin had headed south of $9,000, CNBC branded the range of $9,000 to $10,000 as "a difficult one for bitcoin to break below" after its … [Link]

Mashable » This action figure may have just revealed a detail about Captain America in 'Infinity War'

Friday 2 February 13:13:48 UTC 2018

Comic book fans are eagle-eyed, or should I say… Hawkeyed? *High fives self* SEE ALSO: Forget normal jewelry this Valentine's Day and go the nerdy route instead The toy versions of the Marvel heroes that feature in the upcoming Avengers: Infinity War have already hit shelves, and plastic Captain America features what could be a tell-tale detail. First look at Cap's … [Link]

Slashdot » DuckDuckGo CEO: 'Google and Facebook Are Watching Our Every Move Online. It's Time To Make Them Stop'

Friday 2 February 13:00:00 UTC 2018

An anonymous reader shares a report from CNBC, written by Gabriel Weinberg, CEO and founder of DuckDuckGo: You may know that hidden trackers lurk on most websites you visit, soaking up your personal information. What you may not realize, though, is 76 percent of websites now contain hidden Google trackers, and 24 percent have hidden Facebook trackers, according to the … [Link]

Mashable » Ellen DeGeneres got a gorilla conservation fund for her 60th birthday

Friday 2 February 12:26:10 UTC 2018

There’s no present greater than the survival of great apes. SEE ALSO: Meet the animals that probably went extinct in 2017 Ellen DeGeneres turned 60 recently, and her wife Portia de Rossi gave her present on air, despite having almost entirely lost her voice. "It's your sixtieth birthday," said de Rossi, "and this gift had to be really special, and it … [Link]

Mashable » The cryptocurrency market has halved in less than a month

Friday 2 February 11:47:48 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. Bitcoin, Ethereum, and all other major cryptocurrencies are taking a pummeling today. BTC is at $8,234, down 16.3 percent in the last 24 hours, and Ethereum is at $858, down a whopping 23 percent in the … [Link]

Mashable » This TV channel is celebrating Groundhog Day in a hilarious way

Friday 2 February 11:43:17 UTC 2018

Forget, "What if there is no tomorrow?" What if there is nothing else on television? In honour of Groundhog Day, a UK cable channel has cleared their schedule to pay homage to the 1993 Bill Murray classic of the same name. In the film, Murray plays arrogant weatherman Phil Connors. He's sent to cover the annual event where Punxsutawney Phil the … [Link]

Mashable » 'Jeopardy!' contestants completely fail football category, Trebek gets sassy

Friday 2 February 10:44:29 UTC 2018

Three Jeopardy! contestants on Thursday night demonstrated a remarkable and, quite frankly, relatable lack of awareness of the entire sport of American football. SEE ALSO: 'Jeopardy!' contestant mistakes Jack White for…Eminem? CBS Sports shared on Twitter the hilariously excruciating exchange between Alex Trebek and the contestants as they attempted the "Talkin' Football" category. At one point Trebek jokes about going to … [Link]

Mashable » Billy Eichner is on a mission to make the mid-terms glam again

Friday 2 February 10:24:51 UTC 2018

What's the one thing missing in political activism? You guessed it, glamour. SEE ALSO: The internet trolled Trump for this roast-worthy habit during his SOTU Prompted by the statistic that 12% of millennials voted in the last mid-term elections, Billy Eichner is running a campaign with Funny or Die to get people voting by glamming up the midterms. He launched … [Link]

Slashdot » New Zero-Day Vulnerability Found In Adobe Flash Player

Friday 2 February 10:06:40 UTC 2018

GBHackers On Cyber Security and an anonymous Slashdot reader have shared a story about a new zero-day vulnerability found in Adobe's Flash Player. Bleeping Computer reports: South Korean authorities have issued a warning regarding a brand new Flash zero-day deployed in the wild. According to a security alert issued by the South Korean Computer Emergency Response Team (KR-CERT), the zero-day … [Link]

Mashable » Meghan Markle had an awkward but sweet moment during a mix up at an awards ceremony

Friday 2 February 9:58:48 UTC 2018

Joining the royal family means working now and again. SEE ALSO: Trump gets asked if he's invited to the royal wedding, things get super awkward Meghan Markle did her first awards event as a soon-to-be royal on Thursday. The event was the Endeavour Fund Awards, which celebrates the achievements of wounded, injured and sick former service-personnel in the fields of … [Link]

Mashable » Predictably, people are reselling Elon Musk's flamethrower on eBay for jacked-up prices

Friday 2 February 9:37:50 UTC 2018

Elon Musk's Boring Company flamethrowers are as good as sold out. Naturally it means people out there will be looking for one, and lo and behold, people are flipping their flamethrowers for inflated prices online. SEE ALSO: Launching a Tesla to space is really, really stupid, but I love it all the same On eBay, there are roughly 50 listings advertising … [Link]

Slashdot » LG Settles Bootloop Lawsuit With $425 Cash Or a $700 Rebate Toward a New LG Phone

Friday 2 February 7:30:00 UTC 2018

Early last year, a class-action lawsuit was filed against LG over bootloop issues affecting their G4 and V10 smartphones. Now, according to a settlement website set up by the law firm Girard Gibbs, members of the lawsuit have received a settlement offer. The only catch is that the settlement is only for plaintiffs of the initial case. Android Police reports: … [Link]

Slashdot » Ask Slashdot: Which Tech Company Do You Respect Most?

Friday 2 February 6:34:37 UTC 2018

dryriver writes: On Slashdot, we often discuss the missteps and non consumer-friendly behavior of various tech companies. This company forced people into a subscription payment model. That tech company doesn't respect people's privacy. Yet another tech company failed to fix a dangerous exploit quickly, protect people's cloud data properly, or innovate and improve where innovation and improvement was badly needed. … [Link]

Mashable » Dudes brawl on train, then unexpectedly end up hugging it out

Friday 2 February 4:55:39 UTC 2018

Well, this is unexpectedly heartwarming. Two unnamed commuters who were traveling on a train in Sydney, Australia got into a fight for unknown reasons, in a video shot by Judita Aku-wei Winter but uploaded by Ten News on Friday. The situation predictably got ugly, but the end result was uh, well, a hug. "If you don't mean it, I don't … [Link]

Mashable » Women in music to man in charge of Grammys: 'Time's up, Neil'

Friday 2 February 4:20:51 UTC 2018

Recording Academy President Neil Portnow (the man in charge of the Grammys) told women in music they'd have to "step up" if they wanted to win more awards. Today, women in music responded by telling him he's the one who'll have to step up if he wants to keep his job. The Grammys faced intense backlash this year for the staggering … [Link]

Slashdot » NFL Players With Long and Short Careers Have Similar Death Risk, Study Finds

Friday 2 February 3:30:00 UTC 2018

An anonymous reader quotes a report from Reuters: The study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association compared 2,933 athletes who played in the National Football League for an average of five years to 879 "replacement players" who filled in for three games during a mid-1980s strike, finding no statistically significant difference in rates of death from all … [Link]

Mashable » Wallaby stuck in harbour rescued by some very nice ferry workers

Friday 2 February 2:33:37 UTC 2018

Look, we've said before that you'll never see a wallaby in Australian cities — they're wild animals, after all. Yes, police recently pursued one down the Sydney Harbour Bridge, but we all thought that would be a one-off. We thought wrong. SEE ALSO: Here's a snake eating a possum, because Australia Ferry workers helped save a wallaby that was struggling to … [Link]

Geek Culture » Giveaway! Clear Ear Automated Spiral OTO-Tip!

Friday 2 February 2:29:11 UTC 2018

You all ears? OK, this giveaway is fun… we're giving away a Clear Ear Automated Spiral OTO-Tip! EDIT! We have a winner, thanks folks! —– Clear ear Oto-Tip is a unique and effective daily ear cleaning device for consumers, dedicated to making ears happier. It was developed out of Stanford University's Biodesign Program. Unlike cotton swabs or hydrogen peroxide, clear … [Link]

Slashdot » How DIY Rebels Are Working To Replace Tech Giants

Friday 2 February 2:20:00 UTC 2018

mspohr shares an excerpt from an "interesting article about groups working to make a safer internet": Balkan and Kalbag form one small part of a fragmented rebellion whose prime movers tend to be located a long way from Silicon Valley. These people often talk in withering terms about Big Tech titans such as Mark Zuckerberg, and pay glowing tribute to … [Link]

Mashable » Launching a Tesla to space is really, really stupid, but I love it all the same

Friday 2 February 2:07:59 UTC 2018

On Tuesday, something truly ridiculous is going to space. Elon Musk's SpaceX is launching the first flight of its new rocket, the Falcon Heavy. And what is it taking to space? Perhaps a satellite? Maybe a student experiment? Nope! SEE ALSO: Elon Musk announces an early February launch plan for Falcon Heavy SpaceX is launching a cherry red Tesla Roadster blasting … [Link]

Slashdot » Apple Begins Selling Refurbished iPhone 7 and 7 Plus Models

Friday 2 February 1:40:00 UTC 2018

Apple today has added refurbished iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus models to its online store for the first time in the United States. MacRumors reports: iPhone 7 models are available in all three storage capacities, including 32GB for $499, 128GB for $589, and 256GB for $679, reflecting savings of 10 percent off Apple's current prices for brand new models. … [Link]

Mashable » Mozzarella stick chips are here and how have we lived without them?

Friday 2 February 1:39:08 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. Standard issue Ruffles potato chips just got a major upgrade with the addition of mozzarella stick dust. Food Instagrammer TheJunkfoodAisle spotted a new flavor of Ruffles potato chips at a Safeway on Thursday: Mozzarella 'n Marinara. … [Link]

Mashable » The internet of dildos is here, and it's vulnerable as hell

Friday 2 February 1:32:20 UTC 2018

When your internet-connected lightbulb gets hacked, a university gets DDoS'd. But when the same thing happens to your internet-connected vibrator? Well, let's just say the ramifications are a tad more personal. Welcome to the wild, wonderful, and oh-so vulnerable world known to security researchers as the internet of dildos. A subdomain of the internet of things, IoD encompasses the bevy of … [Link]

Slashdot » Amazon Patents Wristbands Designed To Track and Steer Employees' Movements

Friday 2 February 1:00:00 UTC 2018

New submitter hyperclocker shares a report from NY Daily News: Amazon workplace employees may soon be guided by their wrists. The tech company this week received two patents for a wristband designed to guide warehouse workers' movements with the use of vibrations. The concept relies on ultrasonic sound pulses or radio transmissions to detect the position of an employee's hand … [Link]

Slashdot » Twitter Can't Be Blamed For 2015 ISIS-Linked Killings, Court Rules

Friday 2 February 0:20:00 UTC 2018

A federal appeals court in San Francisco ruled yesterday that Twitter is not legally responsible for the deaths of two Americans in an ISIS-linked attack in Jordan, even though the Islamic State may have used its access to Twitter to spread its message of terrorism and recruit new members. The decision upholds a 2016 ruling on the same case, which … [Link]

John Gordon Ross

A Man for All Reasons