Social networking

Should pro-anorexia sites be banned?

Perhaps no one should be surprised that there are Web sites that appear to encourage those who have anorexia and bulimia and even give supposedly helpful tips on how to pursue those conditions.

Now the U.K.'s Royal College of Psychiatrists has called for urgent governmental action to halt the proliferation of such sites.

"Pro-ana and pro-mia websites advocate anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa as a lifestyle choice, rather than as serious mental disorders," said professor Ulrike Schmidt, chair of the college's eating disorders section. "Research shows that, even for healthy young women, viewing such … Read more

The software that points 'gaydar' at Facebook

I know those chaps at MIT get involved in some strange pursuits.

But here's one that might make some readers feel that the world is now irreversibly eerie.

According to the Boston Globe, two MIT students, Carter Jernigan and Behram Mistree, seemingly fascinated with ethics and law and, possibly, other people's sex lives, became enraptured by how much information people are revealing through their Facebook profiles.

So they delved into some Facebook profile data and believe they have created software that can tell whether someone on Facebook is gay, merely by looking at his or her friends.

Especially, … Read more

Drug cops caught playing Wii during raid

It's not easy being a drug cop.

You're constantly dealing with characters who can be less savory than mud pie. And then you discover that some of these people have vast amounts of money.

Who amongst us would not, therefore, in the midst of a raid on a suspected drug dealer's house, avail himself of the suspect's loot? Consider, for instance, the suspect's Wii.

In some highly entertaining footage from WFLA Tampa, cops appear to have been caught red-fingered by a security camera they missed in the home of Michael Difalco, an alleged drug dealer … Read more

The worst-named blog in human (and animal) history

For all I know, the folks who run PETA, the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, are fine, upstanding individuals.

I imagine that at times, they get a little over-excited about their cause. But at least they care about something.

For example, Monday, PETA's blog celebrated the organization's success in persuading a hospital in Missouri to stop shoving plastic pipes down cats' windpipes.

I can't be sure if the hospital was searching for a cure for hay fever or merely allowing its internists to have some rather unpleasant fun. Because I was struck momentarily insensate by … Read more

When a computer decides you must choke to death

Perhaps you are skeptical about the notion that computers will, one day, actually control us.

Perhaps you might imagine yourself to be a little dependent on your digital friend but not to the degree that it tells you what to do.

Perhaps, however, you have never stayed at the Hotel Monte Mulini on Croatia's Adriatic Coast. Please allow me to explain.

I am currently in Rovinj, Croatia, home of the Weekend Media Festival. The festival has speakers from companies such as Google, MTV, and Nokia and, well, there was this one speech Saturday titled, "Why advertise when you … Read more

Study finds retailers are thinking socially

Retailers have a love-hate relationship with social media, according to a study set to be released next week.

The E-tailing Group, which specializes in retail sector trends, surveyed 117 companies--from small to large--to assess how retailers and brands view the social Web.

The biggest concern among respondents is that consumers will "trash their products in front of a large audience," according to E-tailing Group. At the same time, companies very much want to partake in the social Web.

Ninety-three percent of companies surveyed said they are seeking greater customer engagement through social-media efforts. And 76 percent want to … Read more

Facebook break leads to burglary suspect

Facebook may have 300 million members, but a news story this week makes one particular member stand out from the crowd.

Jonathan G. Parker, 19, of Fort Loudoun, Pa., is alleged to have burgled a house of two diamond rings. However, according to the Journal of West Virginia, Parker is alleged to have done something of a highly modern nature during this burglary.

For the victim, examining her computer after the burglary, noticed that her computer was logged into someone else's Facebook account. This might seem strange in itself. However, the person who logged on (perhaps to update his … Read more

Content still king on the Net

The Internet offers everything from searching to shopping to social networking, but Net users still spend most of their time on plain old content sites, according to a survey from the Online Publishers Association.

In the latest installment from its monthly Internet Activity Index, the OPA reported that Internet users are now spending 42 percent of their time online using content sites, more than any other category. That figure represents a 24 percent jump from 2003 when Net users spent 34 percent of their time on content sites.

Content sites include those that offer news, information, and entertainment, such as … Read more

Court rejects 'GPS made me do it' argument

It appears that, strangely, some BMW drivers are actually submissive.

In what may be the first case of its kind, Robert Jones was found guilty this week of what they call in the U.K. "driving without due care and attention" for daftly following the orders of the soothing voice of his GPS when the more urgent voice attached to his brain cells might have suggested he, um, think.

You may be rendered temporarily numb, when you hear the details of this story, to discover that Jones delivers cars for a living.

You see, when Jones' GPS suggested … Read more

Kanye's mess could be advertiser's opportunity

Some have blamed the cognac. Others think he's just a little left of loopy.

But Kanye West certainly got them going on Twitter when he wandered on stage to upstage country singer Taylor Swift as she accepted the Best Female Video award at the MTV Video Music Awards on Sunday.

West embarrassed himself by grabbing Swift's mic and making a rather creepy mess of his self image. Should you wonder what caused West's bizarre behavior, well, it appears he was upset that Beyonce didn't win. If only he'd waited till the end of the ceremony, … Read more