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 » No, Snapchat won't reverse its update for 50,000 retweets

Friday 9 February 23:38:51 UTC 2018

Snapchat users really want the old Snapchat back following the redesign rollout. The Snapchat kids want the old way back so badly that in less than 24 hours, a tweet suggesting all we needed was 50,000 retweets has reached more than 733,000 retweets. The call to action is reminiscent of the Wendy's chicken nugget teen who got 3.6 million retweets, making … [Link]

Mashable » The Oxford comma debate gets Maine drivers $5 million

Friday 9 February 23:37:21 UTC 2018

The Oxford comma is probably the most divisive punctuation mark in the English language: academics root for it, journalists are torn over it, and the general public has some strong feelings about it. And recently, Oakhurst Dairy settled a dispute for $5 million because a policy lacked an Oxford comma. [first date]Me: Do you use the Oxford comma?Date: The what?Me: *Shrugs, … [Link]

Mashable » Astronomers spot Elon Musk's cosmic Tesla flying in space

Friday 9 February 23:33:22 UTC 2018

Thousands of people watched as SpaceX launched its Tesla Roadster to space atop a Falcon Heavy rocket on Tuesday. They looked on as the nose cone housing the Tesla was stripped away, exposing the electric car to the vacuum of space as David Bowie's "Life on Mars" played, ushering it to orbit. Thousands continued watching a livestream of the Tesla and … [Link]

Mashable » Where to find deals on flowers for Valentine's Day

Friday 9 February 23:25:42 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. Just say no to gas station roses. Please. Don't do that. You're better than that. If sending flowers for Valentine's Day is your thing (editor's note: it should be) then get smart … [Link]

Slashdot » Amazon To Take On UPS, FedEx Via 'Shipping With Amazon'

Friday 9 February 23:25:00 UTC 2018

According to a report by The Wall Street Journal, Amazon is planning to take on UPS and FedEx with a new shipping service named "Shipping with Amazon" (SWA). The new service will reportedly roll out in Los Angeles in the coming weeks. Ars Technica reports: Aside from first starting in LA, SWA will first serve third-party merchants that already sell … [Link]

Mashable » Google might finally make its messaging app more like Apple's iMessage

Friday 9 February 23:23:38 UTC 2018

Google might finally be bringing its default messaging app on Android up to speed with Apple's iMessage. No, the green bubbles (sadly) won't be going away, but Android users may soon have a way to exchange messages via their web browsers. SEE ALSO: Making GIFs just got way easier thanks to Google's keyboard app It looks like a future version of … [Link]

ProgrammableWeb.com » Episerver Launches Headless API for Content as a Service

Friday 9 February 23:08:57 UTC 2018

Episerver, a software company that offers a commerce and content platform, yesterday announced the launch of a new headless API. [Link]

Slashdot » Major Websites Are Planning a 'Day of Action' To Block Repeal of Net Neutrality

Friday 9 February 22:45:00 UTC 2018

An anonymous reader writes: Fight for the Future, a nonprofit advocacy group concerned with digital rights, has posted to medium today, revealing that many major websites, online communities, and internet users are planning a "day of action" focused on finding the final vote needed to pass the Congressional Review Act (CRA). "50 Senators have already come out in support of … [Link]

Mashable » Detroit quickly reverses ban on Airbnb after backlash

Friday 9 February 22:09:06 UTC 2018

That was fast. Airbnb rentals in Detroit were banned this week in certain neighborhoods after changes to the city's zoning ordinance went into effect. But once hosts flagged city officials and Airbnb about cease and desist notices, it turned out no one — not even the mayor — knew that the partial ban was in place. Surprise! SEE ALSO: Airbnb banned … [Link]

Mashable » The best travel sites to help you plan the perfect trip

Friday 9 February 22:05:29 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. Traveling can be a great way to log off, relax, and recuperate from the stress of everyday life. But planning your next travel adventure? That can be a downright existential hellscape, a task that can quickly … [Link]

Slashdot » Apple Intern Reportedly Leaked iPhone Source Code

Friday 9 February 22:05:00 UTC 2018

Earlier this week, a portion of iOS source code was posted online to GitHub, and in an interesting twist, a new report from Motherboard reveals that the code was originally leaked by a former Apple intern. The Verge reports: According to Motherboard, the intern who stole the code took it and distributed it to a small group of five friends … [Link]

Mashable » Someone made a delightful supercut of every visual effects Oscars winner (and this year's nominees)

Friday 9 February 21:49:03 UTC 2018

Things have greatly improved in the world of special effects since 1938, when Shawn of the North took home the first Academy Award for the category. Since then we've seen everything form Return of the Jedi to Forrest Gump winning the award. Thanks to the good folks at Burger Fiction, we now have a glorious compilation of every visual effects … [Link]

Mashable » Tesla fans: This adorable preschool diorama is for you

Friday 9 February 21:47:31 UTC 2018

Even pre-schoolers are learning about the Tesla Roadster's flight to space. This clip from Redditor ground_truth shows a very timely addition to a solar system diorama hanging in their child's preschool. Right between the planets Earth and Mars is a suspended little red car — a teeny reference to the Tesla Roadster that rocketed into space from SpaceX's Falcon Heavy launch … [Link]

Mashable » Ranking every sport in the Winter Olympics, even the ridiculous ones

Friday 9 February 21:26:21 UTC 2018

The Winter Olympic Games are here and that can only mean one thing: time to come out of your hygge cave, don your most patriotic gear to root on your country (while simultaneously ignoring the quiet specter of rising nationalism), and watch the finest specimens of athletically trained human compete in physical activity on a global stage for honor and glory. … [Link]

Mashable » Amazon is having a huge Valentine's Day sale through Feb. 14 on Echo, Fire HD, and Kindles

Friday 9 February 21:25:27 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. Valentine's Day is coming in hot and Amazon is getting in on the action with a sale on a ton of Alexa compatible devices and tablets (which are definitely more useful gifts … [Link]

Slashdot » Firefly Canon To Expand With Series of Original Books

Friday 9 February 21:25:00 UTC 2018

More Firefly stories are on the way. Entertainment Weekly: EW can exclusively report that Titan Books and Twentieth Century Fox Consumer Products have teamed up to publish an original range of new fiction tying in to Joss Whedon's beloved but short-lived TV series Firefly. The books will be official titles within the Firefly canon, with Whedon serving as consulting editor. … [Link]

Mashable » Apple thinks you should really chill about that iBoot leak

Friday 9 February 21:23:13 UTC 2018

Everyone, take a deep breath. It's going to be OK. Yes, a piece of Apple's iOS source code was posted to GitHub this week, but it turns out that when it comes to the security of your iPhone the iBoot leak might just be much ado about nothing. SEE ALSO: Apple is none too pleased with seeing leaked iPhone source code … [Link]

Mashable » We know how many episodes will be in 'Stranger Things 3'

Friday 9 February 20:54:01 UTC 2018

Stranger Things 3 is on its way, and now we know exactly how many episodes we're waiting on. Netflix confirmed that Season 3 will have eight episodes as the shadow monster (most likely) zeroes in on Hawkins. The news was first reported by TVLine. SEE ALSO: Netflix's 'Everything Sucks!' trailer is all about that sweet, '90s high school nostalgia Stranger Things … [Link]

Mashable » Set the mood this Valentine's Day with these super romantic gift ideas

Friday 9 February 20:50:02 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. Valentine's Day gifts typically hover around the clichéd. Flowers, chocolate, and stuffed animals — yuck. Nothing says "I put no thought into this whatsoever" like a Whitman sampler from CVS. SEE ALSO: … [Link]

Slashdot » Man Handed Conditional Prison Sentence for Spreading Information About Popcorn Time Service

Friday 9 February 20:45:00 UTC 2018

A man from Denmark has been handed a six-month conditional prison sentence for spreading information about Popcorn Time, an authorized on-demand movies and TV shows streaming service, news outlet TorrentFreak reports. From the report: In what is being described as a first for Europe, the man was convicted after telling people how to download, install and use the movie streaming … [Link]

Mashable » Kylie Jenner and MKBHD question Snapchat's future post-redesign

Friday 9 February 20:31:13 UTC 2018

Snapchat is supposed to be cool. But for some of the top internet celebrities, Snapchat's redesign has them questioning their future with the app. SEE ALSO: Evan Spiegel defends algorithms, criticizes Facebook in a new op-ed ahead of Snapchat's redesign Kylie Jenner — who just gave birth to her first child and is coming back from somewhat of a social media … [Link]

New Scientist – News » Is the quantum computer revolution really just five years away?

Friday 9 February 20:15:55 UTC 2018

Many of those involved in the race to unleash the power of quantum computing predict it will happen soon. Here's why, says Graeme Malcolm [Link]

Slashdot » 51 Percent of Financial Services Companies Believe Existing Tech is Holding Them Back

Friday 9 February 20:05:00 UTC 2018

An anonymous reader shares a report: Legacy technology can be a major obstacle to digital transformation projects and, according to a new survey of financial services technology decision makers carried out for business consultancy Janeiro Digital, almost 51 percent say existing technology is holding back innovation. Three of the biggest roadblocks are seen as lack of support for change (34 … [Link]

Mashable » This smart cat shows off his skills with his favorite game

Friday 9 February 20:01:43 UTC 2018

Cats are the perfect predator, and have a knack for deterring rodents and hunting down pests. In Gilbert's case, he can always find a bell. SEE ALSO: Finally, an automatic food and water dispenser for your cat Redditor Dingingdonging posted a video of their cat, Gilbert, playing the classic cup game. They hid a small bell under a cup, and then … [Link]

Mashable » Was Evan Spiegel right to turn down a billion dollars?

Friday 9 February 20:01:42 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. Snap is starting the year off strong. Its quarterly earnings blew past expectations, and while its redesign is angering some users, the change is expected to improve the app experience for everyone, with time. SEE ALSO: … [Link]

Mashable » South Korea is slowly moving toward LGBTQ acceptance — and the Olympics can help

Friday 9 February 19:55:46 UTC 2018

When LGBTQ Olympians traveled to Sochi for the 2014 Winter Games, they stepped into a battle none of them particularly wanted to fight. A year prior, Russian President Vladimir Putin had signed the country's first anti-gay propaganda law. The government was in the middle of a brutal crackdown against the LGBTQ population, and queer Olympians were tasked with responding to it … [Link]

Mashable » Why You Should Never Bite Your iPhone's Battery

Friday 9 February 19:53:11 UTC 2018

Read more…More about Iphone, Mashable Reels, Sn Reels, Tech, and Iphone [Link]

New Scientist – News » Deadly superbugs are evolving to beat alcohol hand sanitisers

Friday 9 February 19:53:00 UTC 2018

Alcohol-based hand sanitisers were introduced in hospitals to stop the spread of drug-resistant superbugs like MRSA. Now it seems the bacteria have got the upper hand [Link]

New Scientist – News » We need to start taking vaping seriously as a way to save lives

Friday 9 February 19:51:00 UTC 2018

E-cigarettes were once seen as a sinister cousin to ordinary smoking. Now doctors in the UK think they could be a public health lifeline [Link]

Slashdot » Ubuntu 18.04 LTS Could Come with Snap Apps Preinstalled

Friday 9 February 19:25:00 UTC 2018

Ubuntu 18.04 LTS 'Bionic Beaver' could ship with Snap apps installed by default. From a report: A proposal from Ubuntu developer Steve Langasek suggests that Snapcraft now stand as a 'first-class' alternative to traditional packages, making them ripe for inclusion. "As more software becomes available as snaps, we want to take advantage of this body of packages as part of … [Link]

Mashable » This woman is cooking with her mouth and the internet isn't having it

Friday 9 February 19:10:07 UTC 2018

Nathan Ceddia filmed a cooking tutorial using just her mouth after hearing about numerous cooking injuries. Instead of using knives, Ceddia chewed up the ingredients and spit them back out. The internet reacted grossly to the video. Read more…More about Watercooler, Twitter, Video, Film, and Youtube [Link]

Mashable » These paintings are literally made with love

Friday 9 February 18:50:50 UTC 2018

Toronto based artist, Alexis Fraser, is a contemporary portraiture artist who puts a lot of love (and kisses) into her paintings. Read more…More about Mashable Video, Portrait, Makeup, Real People, and Painting [Link]

Mashable » This machine claims to kill mosquitos like no other

Friday 9 February 18:48:05 UTC 2018

The 'Radius' machine keeps bugs away through heatwaves that spread a natural mosquito repellent made from flowers. The company claims that the chemical is completely natural and doesn't affect your skin or breathing. Perfect for camping or just lounging outdoors, this machine takes the worry out of bug spray. Read more…More about Mashable Video, Real Time, Real Time Video, Real Time, … [Link]

Slashdot » Viacom To Launch Its Own Streaming Service this Year

Friday 9 February 18:45:00 UTC 2018

Viacom said today it's planning to launch its own ad-supported streaming service by September 2018, the end of its fiscal year. The service will include "tens of thousands of hours of content" from across Viacom's library. From a report: Viacom had hinted about its plans in streaming before, but it shared a few more details on the call about what … [Link]

Mashable » Can your puppers hold an egg in its mouth without breaking it?

Friday 9 February 18:27:05 UTC 2018

Twitter dog owners are trying the 'Egg Challenge' on their doggos. This challenge began after a video of a golden retriever went viral. Apparently, golden retrievers have gentle mouths that they won't crack an egg when it's in their mouths. But dog owners are trying it with breeds of all kinds. Some are having it but others aren't. Read more…More about … [Link]

Mashable » L.L. Bean ends legendary lifetime return policy, and of course social media is to blame

Friday 9 February 18:13:45 UTC 2018

Congratulations, internet! We've ruined another glorious thing. On Friday, beloved cozy and outdoors-y things retailer L.L. Bean announced that it would end its famed lifetime return policy. And social media is at least in part to blame. “What we have seen, and it has come to the point where we had to act upon it, is a small but growing group … [Link]

Mashable » North and South Korean Olympic athletes are taking selfies together to show unity

Friday 9 February 18:07:48 UTC 2018

The next time you're thinking of mocking people who take selfies, think of this moment. As North and South Koreans join forces to compete in the Pyeongchang Olympics, the players have shared locker rooms and practice space. So far it looks like things have run smoothly for the divided nations — if the selfies are any indication. SEE ALSO: Team USA … [Link]

Slashdot » Twitch To Ban Users For 'Hate' on Other Platforms

Friday 9 February 18:05:00 UTC 2018

Twitch has updated its guidelines so that abuse taking place on other platforms can contribute to a suspension on the streaming site. From a report: Directing "hate or harassment" towards someone on Twitch using other services will be considered a policy violation. Conduct Twitch deems "hateful" on any platform will result in an "immediate indefinite suspension." Sexual conduct rules have … [Link]

Mashable » Flu season rages on, surpassing 2009 swine flu epidemic by some measures

Friday 9 February 18:04:23 UTC 2018

The severe flu season of 2017-2018 could get worse before it gets better, officials with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warned Friday. With at least three strains now circulating across the U.S., with the most dangerous one designated H3N2, the season has already surpassed recent records for hospitalizations and other measures. One out of every 10 deaths, or … [Link]

Mashable » Coat heaters exist and are here to make winter — dare we say it — enjoyable

Friday 9 February 18:00:46 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. Mother Nature isn't messing around — it's really cold right now. And on some days, it feels as if your bulky puffer jacket won't do you justice. You could grab a second — or third … [Link]

Mashable » Why you should stop laughing at Trump over a stock market correction

Friday 9 February 17:29:12 UTC 2018

Repeat after me: The Dow Jones Industrial Average is not the stock market. The stock market is not the economy. And nobody should be treating short-term shifts in any of the above as fodder for their political fights on Twitter. It was probably inevitable that Donald Trump would be ignorant of all this. After a month of tweeting (25 times) about … [Link]

Slashdot » Russian Nuclear Scientists Arrested For 'Bitcoin Mining Plot'

Friday 9 February 17:20:00 UTC 2018

Russian security officers have arrested several scientists working at a top-secret Russian nuclear warhead facility for allegedly mining crypto-currencies, BBC reported Friday, citing local media. From the report: The suspects had tried to use one of Russia's most powerful supercomputers to mine Bitcoins, media reports say. The Federal Nuclear Centre in Sarov, western Russia, is a restricted area. The centre's … [Link]

Mashable » Save big on these online courses that can help you prep for this year's most in-demand tech certifications

Friday 9 February 17:10:37 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. It’s important to learn new things. It passes the time, it's good for your brain, and it increases your odds of outsmarting everyone at your local trivia night. Consider that free pitcher of … [Link]

Mashable » Somehow a thief was caught with the most amateur doodle

Friday 9 February 17:09:34 UTC 2018

Another day, another hilarious police sketch. This time, we're treated to more of a doodle than a detailed illustration from Lancaster, Pennsylvania. While in search of a robber who made out with cash from Central Market by posing as an employee, a witness whipped up a sketch that somehow miraculously managed to trigger the memory of an investigator. SEE ALSO: Police … [Link]

Mashable » The accidental library: Why Elon Musk launched books to space that could last 14 billion years

Friday 9 February 17:09:05 UTC 2018

Humanity’s first-ever permanent space library was effectively founded this week, as the three books of Isaac Asimov's Foundation Trilogy blasted into the solar system. The novels weren't really expected to make it to space. They weren't deliberately chosen. But they will probably be out there for millions of years, zipping around the sun, moving out past Mars 20 times faster than … [Link]

Mashable » Chrissy Teigen also hates the new Snapchat update, so maybe there's hope

Friday 9 February 17:02:27 UTC 2018

Snapchat rolled out a new update two days ago and users are not pleased – including Chrissy Teigen. SEE ALSO: 9 Snapchat Sins You're Probably Guilty of It's hardly uncommon for users to express frustration with app updates, but one notable criticism of Snapchat's redesign from Twitter user Courtney Coffman caught Teigen's eye. I’m not happy with this new @Snapchat update… … [Link]

Mashable » There will not be an international refugee team competing in the 2018 Winter Olympics

Friday 9 February 16:55:49 UTC 2018

During the 2016 Olympic Games the International Olympic Committee allowed a collective team of refugees to compete as a way of highlighting the global crises of displaced people. There will not be a similar team for this year's Winter Games. In an email, a spokesperson for the International Olympic Committee confirmed to Mashable that there would not be a team made … [Link]

Mashable » We're sorry but this baby giraffe tops all other giraffes

Friday 9 February 16:54:17 UTC 2018

Step aside April the giraffe, there's a new giraffe in town and this giraffe is the best one. The Kansas City Zoo welcomed a new baby giraffe born on Feb. 2. She doesn't have a name yet, but everything about her is perfect. Look at her expression. Look at her hair. Look at the way she sticks his tongue out … [Link]

Mashable » Uber and Waymo just reached a $245 million settlement

Friday 9 February 16:53:53 UTC 2018

The legal battle between two of the biggest tech titans is finally over — at least for now. The attorney representing Waymo, the self-driving car company spun out of Google, settled its court case with ride-hailing giant Uber on Friday. Google's parent company, Alphabet, is set to receive 0.34 percent of Uber's equity at a $72 billion valuation as part of … [Link]

Mashable » Amazon may soon launch a national delivery service

Friday 9 February 16:47:43 UTC 2018

Amazon may soon enact its next plan to capture the retail sphere. The company is close to launching Shipping With Amazon, a full-scale national delivery service, according to a Wall Street Journal report that cites anonymous sources. The service is poised to compete with with delivery service giants FedEx and United Parcel Service (UPS) as well as the United States Postal … [Link]

Slashdot » Uber Settles Dispute With Alphabet's Self-driving Car Unit

Friday 9 February 16:40:00 UTC 2018

In a shocking development, Uber said on Friday it has settled the high-stakes trade-secret theft lawsuit brought by Alphabet's Waymo, resolving a conflict that already cost the ride-hailing giant its top driverless car engineer and threatened to further embarrass the company. From a report: Uber will pay Waymo a 0.34 percent equity stake amounting to about $245 million at Uber's … [Link]

Mashable » Chromebooks may soon have Google Assistant standard

Friday 9 February 16:29:47 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. Chromebook owners might soon be saying "OK Google" to their laptops. This is according to a snippet of Chrome OS code unearthed by XDA Developers, which indicates that native Google Assistant integration might be coming to … [Link]

Mashable » Just say no to typos: WhiteSmoke can edit your emails for you

Friday 9 February 16:26:19 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're going to let you in on a little secret: Even the best writers need an editor. Sure, you know the difference between "their," "there," and "they're," but you might need some … [Link]

Mashable » YouTube temporarily cuts Logan Paul off from ad revenue

Friday 9 February 16:17:23 UTC 2018

Logan Paul is back on YouTube in typically repulsive fashion — but it appears that the streaming service is not amused. SEE ALSO: YouTube will try to prevent the next Logan Paul fiasco by cutting off the cash Early Friday morning, YouTube announced on Twitter it would "temporarily" cut Logan Paul off from video ad revenue. In response to Logan Paul’s … [Link]

Mashable » Fake Trump and fake Kim Jong-Un crash the Winter Olympics opening ceremony

Friday 9 February 16:15:49 UTC 2018

The 2018 Winter Olympics opening ceremony in Pyeongchang, South Korea featured plenty of flag-bearing, fabulous outfits, and…political impersonators? Per Business Insider, two men showed up to the opening festivities dressed as North Korean dictator Kim Jong-Un and President Donald Trump. No one really had any idea why they were dressed up as two, uh, venerated political leaders, but they caused quite … [Link]

Mashable » Justin Timberlake and Ellen team up to make Super Bowl selfie kid cry

Friday 9 February 16:01:36 UTC 2018

What's better than becoming a famous meme after taking a selfie with Justin Timberlake at the Super Bowl? Going on The Ellen DeGeneres show and having The Man of the Woods casually call you up to chat. Less than a week after 13-year-old Ryan McKenna won the Super Bowl halftime show with his Timberlake selfie Ellen invited him over for … [Link]

Slashdot » Nvidia Will Focus on Gaming Because Cryptocurrencies Are 'Volatile'

Friday 9 February 16:00:00 UTC 2018

Graphics card manufacturer Nvidia made almost $10 billion dollars in the last fiscal year, that's up 41 percent from the previous period. The GPU company broke the news to its investors in a conference call on Thursday, and said that video games such as Star Wars: Battlefront II and Playerunknown's Battlegrounds as well as the unprecedented success of the Nintendo … [Link]

Mashable » Amazon's best daily deals today: Headsets, HP laptops, jewelry, and more

Friday 9 February 15:50:19 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. Technology is always going to move faster. Like 5G fast. The upcoming smartphones of 2019 will soon have 5G speeds and change the way we surf the web. It's time you start … [Link]

Mashable » The 'Black Panther' soundtrack is here to tide you over 'til the movie drops

Friday 9 February 15:42:33 UTC 2018

There’s still one week left before Black Panther hits theaters, but luckily we now have the banging soundtrack to keep us occupied. SEE ALSO: 'Black Panther' gets first bad review for dumbest reason imaginable The Black Panther soundtrack just dropped early Friday, giving us an early look at what is surely to be one of the best movie soundtracks of the … [Link]

Mashable » Star Wars' obsession with white guy filmmakers is hurting the franchise

Friday 9 February 15:35:53 UTC 2018

For the most part, Lucasfilm's keeping their Star Wars plans close to the vest. But of the details we do know about their upcoming slate, one obvious pattern stands out: All of them are being created by white men. SEE ALSO: OMG more Star Wars movies are on the way, this time from the 'Game of Thrones' creators This isn't a … [Link]

Slashdot » VLC 3.0 Adds Chromecast Support and More as the Best Free Media Player Gets Even Better

Friday 9 February 15:20:00 UTC 2018

Ian Paul, writing for PCWorld: The best free media player is getting even better. After three years of development, VLC 3.0 'Ventari' is rolling out to all platforms, and it's packed full of goodies such as Chromecast support. The latest version of VLC contains a lot of great additions, as well as a tweaked UI. Chromecast discovery tops the list. … [Link]

Mashable » New Samsung Galaxy S9 leak reveals new dock, headphone jack

Friday 9 February 15:08:54 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 Samsung Galaxy S9 will have an accessory called the DeX Pad, a dock with USB, USB-C and HDMI jacks that lets you position your phone horizontally and use it as touchpad or a virtual keyboard, … [Link]

Mashable » Instagram's Superzoom feature is the perfect meme for your precious pets

Friday 9 February 15:07:02 UTC 2018

Instagram was never made for us. It was made for our adorable pets. Sara (@blurrysara) found the perfect model to showcase on Instagram sitting in her house and she knew exactly how to capture this pup: using the Superzoom feature. She probably didn't mean to do it, but she started a meme in the process. SEE ALSO: People are letting their … [Link]

Mashable » The horse in 'Shadow of the Colossus' is garbage

Friday 9 February 15:05:03 UTC 2018

Shadow of the Colossus, out this week for the PlayStation 4, features an exceptional horse. Perhaps the greatest horse ever seen in a video game, really: loyal, strong, fluid in her movements, Agro is the kind of steed you feel honored to mount and… kill things with. SEE ALSO: Unexpected video game horses, ranked But is Agro a realistic horse? … [Link]

Mashable » Tara Lipinski and Johnny Weir are giving off some serious 'Hunger Games' vibes at the Olympics

Friday 9 February 14:43:02 UTC 2018

The 2018 Winter Olympics have arrived and the spotlight isn't only on the athletes. The world is keeping a close eye on the skills, performance, and fashion of announcers, too, and on day one of competitions when people wanted a hot new Olympics meme Johnny Weir and Tara Lipinski volunteered as tribute. The professional figured skaters showed up looking like announcers … [Link]

Slashdot » Turkey Rolls Out Domestic Rival To WhatsApp, Raising Surveillance Concerns

Friday 9 February 14:42:00 UTC 2018

Turkey has launched a domestic messaging app to rival Facebook's popular WhatsApp Messenger service, raising concerns among government critics that Ankara (capital of Turkey) could use the new platform to tighten surveillance and bolster an 18-month-old crackdown. From a report: The app, called PttMessenger after Turkey's Post and Telegraph General Directorate (PTT), was introduced in a limited roll-out to state … [Link]

Mashable » All the moments you need to see from the 2018 Winter Olympics opening ceremony

Friday 9 February 14:31:36 UTC 2018

While the competition has already started, the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea officially got underway Friday night local time with the opening ceremony. SEE ALSO: A complete guide to bluffing your way through the Winter Olympics NBC won't air it in the U.S. for almost another 12 hours, but the rest of the world (and the enthusiastic Americans who … [Link]

Mashable » Catt Sadler speaks out on E! exit: 'To stay would mean collaborating with an evil system'

Friday 9 February 14:20:27 UTC 2018

Last December, Catt Sadler left her 12-year tenure as an E! co-host. Inadvertently, she sparked a revolution by exemplifying the issues that the Time's Up movement aims to dismantle. At the time Sadler took to her blog to explain that the reason she left was because she learned her male co-star was being paid nearly twice as much as her for … [Link]

Mashable » Two cats fighting escalated into a full-on Photoshop battle

Friday 9 February 14:14:33 UTC 2018

Cats in funny pose + internet = inevitable Photoshop battle. SEE ALSO: Finally, an automatic food and water dispenser for your cat A photo of two cats having a tussle has captured Reddit's imagination. The original image is pretty simple. #熊本日日&#~ 夕刊連載&#1~ ★新聞博&#29~ * 「あいさ&#1~ * 「SUMO」 * * #熊日猫島 #猫島あり&#~ #新聞博物&#~ #熊本日日&#~ #熊日 #湯島 #熊本 #上天草 #天草 #ねこ #猫 #ねこ部 … [Link]

Mashable » How to watch the Winter Olympics: TV schedule, livestreaming, and more

Friday 9 February 14:13:24 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. NBC finally got it together this year and will be airing all of the 2018 PyeongChang Olympic Winter Games (Feb. 9-25) while they occur, including the Opening Ceremony that aired earlier … [Link]

Mashable » Move over Tide Pods, police are cracking down on a dangerous Ikea challenge

Friday 9 February 14:08:48 UTC 2018

It seems the internet can't get enough of dangerous challenges. UK police have issued a warning about a teen craze called the "24 hour challenge" after an 11-year-old went missing while sleeping over in Ikea. SEE ALSO: The number of teens eating Tide Pods is skyrocketing 11-year-old Kaden Mirza from Sheffield, UK, was reported missing earlier this week after he didn't … [Link]

Slashdot » YouTube Suspends Ads on Logan Paul's Channels After 'Recent Pattern' of Behavior in Videos

Friday 9 February 14:02:00 UTC 2018

More problems and controversy for Logan Paul, the YouTube star who caused a strong public backlash when he posted a video of a suicide victim in Japan. From a report: Google's video platform today announced that it would be pulling advertising temporarily from his video channel in response to a "recent pattern of behavior" from him. This is in addition … [Link]

Mashable » Woman instantly regrets decision to order Dr. Martens from eBay

Friday 9 February 13:16:05 UTC 2018

Plenty of people order stuff from the internet nowadays, and nine times out of ten it's probably fine. But when you're paying for something you've only seen in a tiny thumbnail image, there's always the potential for mishap. SEE ALSO: This smart lock is powered by the sun Take Robyn Moore's recent purchase, for instance: This is why you shouldn't order … [Link]

Slashdot » Elon Musk Explains Why SpaceX Prefers Clusters of Small Engines

Friday 9 February 13:00:00 UTC 2018

An anonymous reader quotes a report from Ars Technica: The company's development of the Falcon 9 rocket, with nine engines, had given Musk confidence that SpaceX could scale up to 27 engines in flight, and he believed this was a better overall solution for the thrust needed to escape Earth's gravity. To explain why, the former computer scientist used a … [Link]

Mashable » Director uses Twitter poll to ask DC fans about casting 'Nightwing' and it was kinda weird

Friday 9 February 12:42:03 UTC 2018

The former Boy Wonder needs your help, apparently. SEE ALSO: Facebook deletes angry DC fanboy group trying to bring down 'Black Panther' It was announced not so long ago that a live-action Nightwing movie was in the works, with Lego Batman director Chris McKay at the helm. For those of you unfamiliar with the project it is about the character of … [Link]

Mashable » This is what happens when women ask their crushes out for Valentine's Day

Friday 9 February 11:58:09 UTC 2018

The very idea of asking your crush out on a date for Valentine's Day is enough to make some people run for the hills. But, one dating blogger encouraged women to bite the bullet and ask out the person they've had their eye on lately. And, the responses were encouraging. Well, mostly. SEE ALSO: This bot can tell if your … [Link]

Mashable » 2 total strangers recreated a famous WWII photo at the Eagles parade

Friday 9 February 11:18:56 UTC 2018

Twitter is a place where people like to argue and shout at each other a lot — but it's also a place where two total strangers can arrange to recreate famous historical photographs. SEE ALSO: Meet the Super Bowl selfie kid who became a meme overnight Earlier this week, writer Shamus Clancy tweeted a famous black-and-white photograph from the end of … [Link]

Mashable » 'Black Panther' is on the cover of TIME magazine and people are loving it

Friday 9 February 10:54:41 UTC 2018

Any publication capable of repeatedly enraging Donald Trump is one we should pay at least some attention to. SEE ALSO: It's unanimous! Critics love 'Black Panther' The latest cover of TIME magazine has struck a chord. It features Black Panther star Chadwick Boseman. TIME’s new cover: Behind the revolutionary power of ‘Black Panther’ https://t.co/7knjU9cGD5 pic.twitter.com/HzHjQOCoMC — TIME (@TIME) February 8, 2018 … [Link]

Mashable » Zendaya shares ingenious way she copes with stress

Friday 9 February 10:11:44 UTC 2018

When we're feeling stressed or anxious, many of us turn to our preferred coping strategies. Actor and singer Zendaya shared her go-to method of dealing with stress—and it's a totally doable activity that many of us can get on board with. SEE ALSO: Zendaya goes back in time with history's most iconic hairstyles Zendaya tweeted that she has a colouring … [Link]

Mashable » Taylor Swift expertly trolls Ed Sheeran about his height in Instagram video

Friday 9 February 10:04:20 UTC 2018

When he's hanging out with Taylor Swift, Ed Sheeran has apparently perfected a clever technique: "peacocking". SEE ALSO: Ed Sheeran's Instagram engagement announcement is as cute as you'd expect Swift presented incontrovertible evidence of this phenomenon — which apparently consists of elevating oneself to seem more important than the other person — in the form of an Instagram video on Thursday: … [Link]

Slashdot » Spread of Breast Cancer Linked To Compound In Asparagus and Other Foods

Friday 9 February 10:00:00 UTC 2018

Asparagus and other foods like potatoes, nuts, legumes and soy contain a compound known as asparagine, which researchers believe helps drive the spread of breast cancer to other organs. "When scientists reduced asparagine in animals with breast cancer, they found that the number of secondary tumors in other tissues fell dramatically," The Guardian reports. "The spread of malignant cells, often … [Link]

New Scientist – News » First glimpse of how genes may cause mental health problems

Friday 9 February 7:48:16 UTC 2018

Geneticists are starting to unpick what causes psychiatric conditions like schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, and even some autism-like developmental conditions [Link]

New Scientist – News » Oldest dog burial suggests prehistoric humans loved dogs as pets

Friday 9 February 7:48:15 UTC 2018

A dog that was buried with its owners 14,000 years ago was chronically ill throughout its life, yet its owners repeatedly nursed it back to health – suggesting a deep bond of friendship [Link]

New Scientist – News » App guesses your emotions to target you with adverts

Friday 9 February 7:48:14 UTC 2018

Data from smartphone sensors can be used to predict our mood, leading to better movie recommendations – and more effective ads [Link]

New Scientist – News » Is Elon Musk’s playboy space odyssey really the future we want?

Friday 9 February 7:48:13 UTC 2018

The Falcon Heavy rocket’s first launch has put a red Tesla Roadster into space. The images are beautiful and fun, but the wider implications aren’t great [Link]

New Scientist – News » Primitive human eggs matured in the lab for the first time

Friday 9 February 7:31:00 UTC 2018

Human eggs have been removed in their most primitive state and brought to maturity in the lab for the first time, potentially boosting fertility treatments. [Link]

Mashable » Get some media player nostalgia with this web version of Winamp

Friday 9 February 7:00:22 UTC 2018

Nestled along Age of Empires II and some sort of cracked antivirus, many computers in the early-2000s were also home to Winamp. The freeware media player which "really whips the llama's ass" clocked up more than 60 million users by 2001, well before the likes of iTunes or VLC player made any sort of dent in our music-listening habits. SEE ALSO: … [Link]

Slashdot » Researchers Create Simulation Of a Simple Worm's Neural Network

Friday 9 February 7:00:00 UTC 2018

ClockEndGooner writes: Researchers at the Technische Universitat Wein have created a simulation of a simple worm's neural network, and have been able to replicate its natural behavior to completely mimic the worm's natural reflexive behavior. According to the article, using a simple neural network of 300 neurons, the simulation of "the worm can find its way, eat bacteria and react … [Link]

The Joy of Tech » JoT #2490: Liftoff!

Friday 9 February 6:41:43 UTC 2018

JoT thumb what goes up… [Link]

Mashable » Apple AirPods are the latest tech product that can allegedly explode

Friday 9 February 5:32:03 UTC 2018

Another tech product, another explosive allegation. Except this time it's not a phone. A man from Tampa, Florida claims one of his Apple AirPods blew up while he was at the gym. SEE ALSO: 10 things you (probably) didn't know about Apple's HomePod According to WFLA, Jason Colon was listening to dance music at an LA Fitness when the right side … [Link]

Mashable » Harass someone outside of Twitch? That could get you banned.

Friday 9 February 4:09:34 UTC 2018

Twitch is cracking down on harassment — both on and off the platform. The livestreaming video platform announced an update to its community guidelines in a blog post on Thursday, writing, "Hate simply has no place in the Twitch community." SEE ALSO: This is everything you need to start streaming video games on Twitch Conduct Twitch deems to be "hateful" will … [Link]

Slashdot » AIs Have Replaced Aliens As Our Greatest World Destroying Fear

Friday 9 February 3:30:00 UTC 2018

An anonymous reader shares an excerpt from a report via Quartz: As we've turned our gaze away from the stars and toward our screens, our anxiety about humanity's ultimate fate has shifted along with it. No longer are we afraid of aliens taking our freedom: It's the technology we're building on our own turf we should be worried about. The … [Link]

Mashable » 5 things to know about 5G

Friday 9 February 3:04:46 UTC 2018

Get ready to hear a lot more about 5G. Slowly but surely, we're moving closer and closer to the super-connected, ultra-fast, 5G world tech companies have been promising us for years. SEE ALSO: Ultra-fast 5G smartphones are coming in 2019 Here's what you need to know about the state of 5G right now. 1. It's really, really fast Okay, it sounds … [Link]

Mashable » Bermuda legalised marriage equality a year ago, but now it's taking it back

Friday 9 February 2:36:33 UTC 2018

Last year, Bermuda made marriage equality legal. Now, the British overseas territory now stands as the first jurisdiction in the world to go backward on the decision. Signed into law by Bermuda's governor John Rankin on Thursday, the legislation strips the right for LGBTQ couples to get married — instead allowing them to undertake civil partnerships only. SEE ALSO: These LGBTQ … [Link]

Mashable » Airbnb banned in parts of Detroit, and even the mayor's confused

Friday 9 February 2:21:57 UTC 2018

Even Detroit's mayor seems baffled how one line in a 216-page zoning packet can ban Airbnb rentals in certain Detroit neighborhoods. The ban in the city's amended zoning ordinance went into effect this week, preventing homeowners in zones R1 and R2 from having "paid overnight guests" in homes. That means no Airbnb hosting at homes in those areas, which cover a … [Link]

Slashdot » Facebook Is Testing a Dislike Button

Friday 9 February 1:40:00 UTC 2018

Ever since the inception of the Like button, Facebook users have been asking for a "dislike" button. Today, Facebook is testing a "downvote" button with certain users in the comment section of posts within Facebook groups and on old Facebook memories content. The Daily Beast reports: The feature appears to give users the ability to downrank certain comments. This is … [Link]

Mashable » The 'darkest building on Earth' is at the Winter Olympic Games

Friday 9 February 1:35:47 UTC 2018

“There’s something about this that's so black, it's like how much more black could this be? And the answer is none. None more black." Spinal Tap's inane discussion of their pitch-black album cover is the best way we can get a handle on the brand-new pavilion unveiled at the Pyeongchang Winter Olympic Games in South Korea. SEE ALSO: The Norwegian curling team's … [Link]

Slashdot » Arizona Introduces Bill That Would Allow Residents To Pay Taxes In Bitcoin

Friday 9 February 1:00:00 UTC 2018

In a bid to attract businesses involved in blockchain and cryptocurrencies, Arizona lawmakers have proposed a bill that would allow the state's citizens to pay their taxes in bitcoin. "Arizona State Rep. Jeff Weninger, who introduced the bill, said it was a signal to everyone in the United States, and possibly throughout the world, that Arizona was going to be … [Link]

Mashable » There's a 'Shape of Water' fish-man dildo, and we have questions

Friday 9 February 0:57:01 UTC 2018

Warning: This post contains NSFW images of a fish-man dildo. Best picture Oscar nominee Shape of Water invited viewers to imagine exactly what the mechanics of fish-man sex entail. But the merely implied explanation still leaves the age-old question of "what does a fish-man dick look like?" wide open for speculation. But fear not. Because that's what Tumblr's for. XenoCatArtifacts created … [Link]

ProgrammableWeb.com » Daily API RoundUp: Guidebook, eHealthMe, Cloudmersive

Friday 9 February 0:49:54 UTC 2018

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

Mashable » A complete guide to bluffing your way through the Winter Olympics

Friday 9 February 0:47:13 UTC 2018

They’re here! The Winter Olympics have returned to fill our lives with two weeks of skiing, skating, and hot luge action and make these deep, dark days of late winter before baseball spring training a little less awful. SEE ALSO: The Norwegian curling team's pants are the real stars of the Olympics The Winter Olympics is one of the few events … [Link]

Mashable » Potty-mouthed 98-year-old is very surprised to learn he's 98

Friday 9 February 0:42:39 UTC 2018

After the milestone birthday of 21, it's pretty easy to forget your age as the years just tick away. Recently, when a son asked his elderly father how old he thought he was, he initially responded with the number 79. Boy, was he off by a lot. When the man finally discovered he's 98 years old, he responded quite candidly. … [Link]

Mashable » 'Black Panther' gets first bad review for dumbest reason imaginable

Friday 9 February 0:38:38 UTC 2018

Critical reviews are always subjective opinions. So in general, you can't really say a reviewer got it objectively "wrong." Unless, that is, you're referring to the first negative review of Black Panther, courtesy of the Irish Independent's Ed Power. Because even a staunch defender of every critic's right to their own opinion, taste, and perspective will find it hard to justify … [Link]

Slashdot » German Navy Experiences 'LCS Syndrome' In Spades As New Frigate Fails Sea Trials

Friday 9 February 0:20:00 UTC 2018

schwit1 shares a report from Ars Technica, highlighting the problems the Germany Navy is facing right now. It has no working submarines due to a chronic repair parts shortage, and its newest ships face problems so severe that the first of the class failed its sea trials and was returned to the shipbuilders in December. From the report: The Baden-Wurttemberg … [Link]

Mashable » Female Uber drivers make less than their male counterparts, but it's not what you think

Friday 9 February 0:18:42 UTC 2018

Even driving Uber while female comes with a pay gap — but it's different from the systemic problem of lower pay seen in other industries. Stanford, University of Chicago, and Uber economists looked at more than a million Uber rides in the U.S. from January 2015 through March 2017 and found a roughly 7 percent gap. This lower hourly pay rate … [Link]

John Gordon Ross

A Man for All Reasons