Is the alcohol message all wrong?

Excellent article from a cultural anthropologist on how our attitude to reducing alcohol consumption is entirely misguided: “Our beliefs about the effects of alcohol act as self-fulfilling prophecies - if you firmly believe and expect that booze will make you aggressive, then it will do exactly that. In fact, you will be able to get roaring drunk on a non-alcoholic placebo.”

Cassetteboy Vs Dragons’ Den

Chrome’s Private Browsing Mode

The BBC have published a scare-story about various browsers’ private modes. Firstly, anyone who genuinely relies on these to be entirely secure is fooling themselves.

However, I do think they’re a bit unfair on Chrome. One of the main points they cover is:

Add-ons or plug-ins for browsers, particularly those that help with searching, also readily log information that the private browsing mode was supposed to delete, found the study.

But Chrome automatically disables any add-on during private browsing, and you specifically have to turn on any one that you wish to use. They also give you a message telling you not to rely on the privacy of the setting. I don’t really think there’s much more Google could be doing to keep users aware, other than just not having it as an option at all.

Loser from N-Dubz threatens to kill someone who doesn’t like his music

The inanely named ‘Dappy’ of pointless repulsive losers N-Dubz has had to apologise to a woman he sent threatening text messages to. Not by itself very funny, but the more you read into it, the more hilarious it becomes.

Chloe Moody texted The Chris Moyles Show while the band were being interviewed, calling them “losers” and labelling Dappy “repulsive”.

But she was shocked to receive a message the following day from rapper Dappy saying: “Your [sic] gonna die”.

The BBC said Dappy took down Ms Moody’s number without producers’ knowledge.

So, a woman texts Chris Moyles to tell him she doesn’t like a repulsive band, and one of the losers in said band take this as an opportunity to send her death threats. That’s taking being a bit touchy about your music to extremes I’d say.

He texts a few more times, with such gems as:

U sent a very bad msg towards Ndubz on The Chris Moyels [sic] Show yesterday Morning and for that reason u will never be left alone!!! If u say sorry I will leave you alone.

Obviously, this poor woman has absolutely no idea who would be sending her such ridiculous messages. I mean, who the hell likes N-Dubz enough that you’d threaten to stalk and kill someone who didn’t like them? I guess if she’d thought on a bit, the only answer to that question is ‘a member of N-Dubz’.

Eventually, they speak over the phone, and Dappy (or Dino, for that is his real name) rants at her some more. Now he’s been forced to apologise by his management company and he says:

“I called her in the heat of the moment when I was angry, but that is no excuse for my behaviour.

“I’m genuinely sorry. I’d also like to send my sincerest apologies to Radio 1.”

So, he’s apologised to Radio 1, but not to the person he threatened to kill for not liking his music. Hmm.

His record company has “offered her free N-Dubz concert tickets”. She’ll be taking them up in a shot, I’m sure.

Finally, the BBC say:

“He must have taken the number down from the production team’s text console in the studio.

“We were unaware of this, but will take steps to ensure it doesn’t happen again.”

Really, the BBC have to make sure they don’t show any guests their computer screens, in case they take down the numbers and make death threats towards the listeners? Blimey.

Oh, and:

Last November, Dappy joined Schools Secretary Ed Balls to launch a Government campaign against “cyber-bullying” over mobile phones and the internet.