Solved: Google Reader slowdown/freezes

If you’re a regular user of the Google Reader RSS tool, you may have noticed that the most recent revamp hasn’t just attracted the usual complaints when any user interface is changed but, for some people, has caused serious performance problems.

In my case I found that at one point (when I was scrolling through a list of 100+ articles, having been away for a couple of days) the tab with Google Reader open was eating up a staggering 1GB of RAM. Fortunately I have a multi-core processor which, along with Chrome’s sandboxing, avoided a complete meltdown, but even then I was still getting significant slowdowns and freezes on the Reader.

It turns out the most likely cause of the specific memory problems is related to Google adding a Google+ button for every article. There’s some sort of issue with the link, which is being multiplied by the number of articles in your message pane to create the slowdown.

One workaround for this, which seems to be working in my place, is to tweak any ad-blocking utilities you are running to block the button. You can do this by adding the following address to your list of blocked ad locations:

plusone.google.com/u/0/_/+1/fastbutton

Incidentally, if you are running blanket ad-blocking tools and enjoy reading Geeks Are Sexy, we’d very much appreciate it if you were able to add our site to your list of exceptions — doing so will help our bottom line and make it easier for us to keep bringing you sexy, geeky content. Believe it or not, this place costs the price of a medium-sized Sedan to run every year.

And if you think our ads are still too annoying, you can always help us by donating a small amount (or a big one!) to the blog or by “Flattering” us.



The Magic of Augmented Reality [Video]

Ever wanted to stand under a lightning storm inside a mall? Or pet a leopard? Or just stand idly by as a Tyrannosaurus Rex walks past? If you were hanging out in Hungary recently, you could have had the chance. Thanks to an Appshaker pair-up with National Geographic, Hungarian mall shoppers were able to insert themselves into some enviably awesome scenes. Check out the highlights:

For more Appshaker goodness, check out their site.

[g.tdw]



Minimalist Superhero Posters [Picture Gallery]

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Reddit user BloOp spent the last two months working on these amazing superhero posters, and I must say, I’d love to get a few of those to put in my geek den.

[Source: Imgur]

Jurrasic Park Cosplay @ Los Angeles Comickaze 2011 [Video]

A female raptor (with a purse, no less) running after a Jurassic Park ranger? I’ve now seen everything. My life is now complete.

[ModernvisualArts @ Comickaze 2011]

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80 people enter a Manhattan Best Buy wearing blue polo shirts and khaki pants. Chaos ensues.

[Improv Everywhere]

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TOKYO, Japan, November 8, 2011 – Honda Motor Co., Ltd. today unveiled an all-new ASIMO humanoid robot newly equipped with the world’s first* autonomous behavior control technology. With a further advance in autonomy, the all-new ASIMO can now continue moving without being controlled by an operator. Moreover, with significantly improved intelligence and the physical ability to adapt to situations, ASIMO took another step closer to practical use in an office or a public space where many people come and go.

[Honda]

Amazing Blade Runner-ish Short: XXIT [Video]

Entirely filmed on a Canon EOS C300, XXIT is totally amazing sci-fi short set in a Blade Runner-ish world where the future seems to meet the present. The movie was produced by high tech production company Stargate Studios, the same company that worked on the VFX of many popular shows such as Heroes, The Walking Dead, and 24.

[Stargate Studios]