Author: Carrie

  • In the belly of the Beeb

    I did my usual radio babble on BBC Scotland this morning, but for the first time I went to the Beeb’s spanking new headquarters in Govan. It really is an amazing building, although it’s very easy to give yourself a severe attack of vertigo once you’re up a few floors. I’ve asked if it’s OK…

  • The end of too-loud adverts?

    Here’s one for Squander Two: the Advertising Standards Authority is running a consultation on how best to get rid of too-loud TV adverts. As S2 points out from time to time, adverts aren’t actually any louder than the programmes in terms of peak levels; however, they *are* louder overall, because they’re compressed. The same thing…

  • Essential advice for romantics sending flowers

    Before you hand over cash to the florist, it’s a good idea to have the following bits of information: * The full name of the person you’re sending ’em to * The correct address of the person you’re sending ’em to Someone has clearly forgotten to do both of those things. Either that, or I…

  • One of the best album reviews I’ve read in ages

    Alexis Petridis of the Guardian reviews R Kelly’s latest opus. I’m in tears here.

  • The Brown note

    We went to see Derren Brown last night. It’s the second time we’ve seen him, and this tour’s even better than the last one: not only is he an exceptionally clever illusionist/mentalist/whatever, but he’s also very, very funny. I’ve no idea whether tickets are still available (I suspect not) but if you can get hold…

  • Confessions of a teenage binge drinker

    Like most teenagers, I was an underage drinker. And like most underage drinkers, I got hold of booze in three ways: I smuggled out spirits from the drinks cupboard, I got an older teenager to go into the off-licence and get it for me, or I simply went into the offy myself and bought the…

  • Forget Kate Moss. Never mind Lily Allen. Drew’s designs are where it’s at.

    Long-time .net readers will remember the inimitable Drew, whose writings cracked me and various .net staffers up but baffled pretty much everyone else. But if you’re one of the select group who found his stuff hilarious, has he got t-shirts for you. I like the “Is it 1900 already? Where’s my flying car?” one best.…

  • Today I am mostly hating my Xbox 360

    I stumbled upon the critically-acclaimed Psychonauts in a branch of Game the other day. I’ve been looking for it for ages without success, and I know that although it’s an Xbox game, my 360 will run it. Better still, it was four pounds. Four pounds! Game in, dashboard says there’s an update, update installs, system…

  • Apple’s DRM-free downloads contain user information. So what?

    There’s a minor kerfuffle happening in blogland over iTunes Plus, the new bit of iTunes that offers DRM-free downloads. Apparently the metadata contains user information including your email address, which of course means that if you share files via P2P or turn an album into a torrent then the copyright cops will come a-knocking. Which…

  • Green car saves the planet, but probably not you

    Top Gear magazine has uncovered an interesting loophole affecting the G-Whiz electric car: because it’s not legally a car, it doesn’t undergo the same crash testing as “real” cars. Here’s what happens if you prang it: (Sorry if you’ve seen this already – it was new to me)Â