We’re not suggesting that ‘best before’ and ‘use by’ labelling on food is less a safety initiative, more a cynical attempt to increase consumption. However, it’s fair to say it’s hardly the most accurate science practised by retailers and producers. How quickly fresh food deteriorates depends on a number of variables, yet we’re told to follow the guidelines – especially ‘use by’ dates – to the letter.

Plenty of us trust our noses and guts over the labelling – if it’s not rancid, slimy or stinking like a French youth hostel then there’s a good chance it’s still good to throw in a bolognaise. This rather imprecise art has been turned into a forum called Food Safety For the Cheap and Adventurous. You tell the other forum members what you have lurking in your fridge, and they’ll tell you whether you should scoff it or not. Unsurprisingly, it’s hardly consistent in its advice:

Hi everyone, I left milk out in a warm room overnight for about 8 hours. Is it still safe for me to drink?

- You could put it back in the fridge to get cold and it’ll be okay for a couple days but it’s going to spoil a whole lot faster.

- I would toss it. If it is not cold to touch, it is not edible.

- It should still be safe, although it might taste off. You could still use it for cooking, though.

- Milk comes outta the cow warm, not cold. Warm milk, 8 hour warm milk, is fine. Drink it all ya want.

That’s that sorted, then. So even less scientific, and based on subjective opinion and fishwive’s tales. Better to pay close attention to those ‘use by’ labels, or even (whisper it) decide for yourself. Unless it’s Butterkist popcorn that contains rice weevils, that is.

via [The Consumerist]

On the plus side, it’ll make a trip to Aldi bearable, the prices will probably be better than anything your dealer can offer, and you’ll have a full list of ingredients on the side of the packaging:

All the best to avid Bitterwallet reader Martin who is currently dancing at 180 rpm to Talvin Singh in his bedroom. Next week – Jamie Oliver’s hands are too big and the floor has melted into the sky after a batch of Sainsbury’s Taste The Difference magic mushrooms.

As the newspaper industry collapses in the face of digital media, it seems owners are desperate to try anything to increase revenue. That, or people in the North East of England are a bunch of bong-eyed sallow-skinned drug gobblers; of the 80 threads on the Sunday Sun forums, over half are pill-peddling spam posts. Moderators, hello?

[Sunday Sun]

I can’t decide whether Foursquare will rule the world or like most social media interaction conducted in public situations, completely destroy the fabric of society. Probably both.

Because there always comes a point during an evening at the pub when somebody pulls out their mobile to text or check email, giving permission for everybody else to do so. Then it’s Facebook, Twitter and pretty much any thumb-bothering exercise that doesn’t involve talking to each other in real life. You stand there in your circle, nobody speaking to anyone except avatars disconnected from your physical situation.

For the uninitiated, the year-old Foursquare has moved this principle onto location-based activity. It exists in the form of a mobile app (available across most handsets as a download or web application) that allows you to ‘check-in’ at shops, venues, restaurants, parks – anywhere. Certain types or numbers of check-ins you earn badges or become the ‘mayor’ of a particular venue – there’s a very strong gaming element to Foursquare, as people figure out how to acquire certain badges and race one another to do so.

What’s the point? Beyond the hollow satisfaction of becoming the major of Sainsbury’s and spoiling all social events by further titting about on your mobile, what does Foursquare achieve? Nothing much. Well, not yet. Slowly but surely, businesses are becoming increasingly interested in experimenting with Foursquare, because it has the potential to drive to their outlets. In return, there’s good news for consumers, if you’re prepared to invest a few seconds here and there by checking in.

Bars and restaurants are promoting official offers through Foursquare – if you check into one venue, you might be prompted about another venue nearby offering free drinks or meals to its mayor. Plenty of unofficial deals are popping up too, with signs appearing in shop windows offering money off purchases to anyone who can show they’re checked in at the store in question.

Yesterday, Foursquare announced a US-wide deal with Starbucks, which means customers can unlock a special Barista badge after five check-ins, but will also be able to access deals and invitations to exclusive events.

Real time, location-based deals have the potential to be huge, because while you wouldn’t leave the house for a half-price cheese roll, Foursquare could determine your choice of sandwich shop if you’re already in the vicinty. Of course, if the corporate suits get too involved, it’ll probably see them trying to ask more of consumers than they’re prepared to offer, and the road to collecting thousands of points for a tall latte is an easy one to stumble upon. Foursquare (and other similar serivces like Gowalla) offer the potential for consumers to benefit from local bargains, wherever they are, so long as you’re prepared to be permanently distracted by your mobile.

What you see is what you get with CashforGoldScams.com – a website dedicated to highlighting complaints from consumers in both the US and UK, who believe they’ve been conned by various companies named after cash/gold transactive behaviour.

There’s some solid stuff on there, including consumer advice, cautionary tales and the like, as well as a more worrying commentary comparing the financial recession to the World Trade Center attacks and envisioning a dystopian future where our very survival hangs on our ability to hoard broken earrings from Elizabeth Duke.

Alas, because the site owner is based in the US, they’re seemingly unaware that Google Ads is undermining their efforts in the UK, as avid Bitterwallet reader Jay pointed out to us:

Gah. Damn you, Winton. As an aside, now seems as good a time as any to discuss the incandescent rage that seizes you upon seeing Dale Winton whoring himself while your kids watch Ben 10 every afternoon.

There’s only one thing worse than chavs (aside from typing Blue Waffle into Google and hitting ‘I’m feeling lucky’ – really, don’t do it) and that’s French chavs. Witness the devastation unleashed when H&M rolls up the shutters at their new store Toulouse; inside, limited edition garments to celebrate the opening. It’s like watching a swarm of locusts on crack.

[LiveLeak] * it’s in Paris, I know

Of course it’s not proper news that we’ve got for you, like an exclusive involving copyright, China or YouTube. It’s far more substantial than that, and it’s all thanks to avid Bitterwallet reader Sean Atherton who has the eyes of a hawk. Specifically, a hawk capable of using a PC and navigating Google Maps, despite the lack of opposable thumbs.

While mooching about the streets of London, Sean spotted this encounter between Google and the law; two Google cars caught together in the wild, with the Street View of one car showing the driver of the other been approached by traffic wardens, as a police officer eyes them up at the end of the street:

The raised hand of the first warden, the second seemingly speaking into her walkie-talkie – they’re taking Google down for their illegal parking (assuming that parking restrictions are applicable in that particular controlled parking zone – we couldn’t be arsed to check). You might think you’re big, Google, but you ain’t bigger than a pair of frumpy, middle-aged traffic wardens with a job to do.

Parents – if you seriously think a combination of well-documented engineering principles and brightly coloured plastic will stop your infant, the dog and the flatscreen wearing a bowl of breakfast, you’re a naive fool. The Gyro Bowl will not save you or your carpet. Children have their ways, you see. They can bend the laws of nature to ensure food, dirt, vomit and faeces can reach everywhere.

Save your money and simply teach your child to eat properly, without the need of gyroscopic training apparatus for space-faring hamsters.

Hey, Apple fanboys! Time to turn the fire up an extra bar and bring on the vinegar strokes. Some very clever chaps with plenty of time on their hands have gone to the trouble of rendering key Apple products in 3D. It’s two minutes long, so some of you will probably manage thirds:

…because it will end in a horrible, horrible mess of melted latex bonding to fleshy thighs. You just know somebody will see this and attempt it, and make page seven of the Daily Star next Tuesday.

[LiveJournal]

Apparently, this factory sealed NES game is the rarest licensed NES game available for purchase in North America. The free shipping was sure to have been a dealbreaker.

Nice, but it’s hardly Jet Set Willy, is it? Thanks to avid Bitterwallet reader Jon for the spot.

Ah, you cheeky spam-meisters, currently causing chaos on Twitter right now. As good as you are, you’re not going to convince me my brother is a horny 24 year-old chick.

You have, however, made a drab day a little brighter, not only by making our MPs look slightly dickish, but by hijacking the accounts of major companies stupid enough to click on your links:

[The Consumerist]

While Spotify don’t give a fancy fart who they share personal data with, Micro Direct refuse to share any customer information whatsoever. Even with the customer. in fact, avid Bitterwallet reader Nigel is delighted at the lengths Micro Direct went to to keep even his own name secure:

It’s interesting that even the name of the sender is scraped from a database – there’s not a drop of thought put into the process whatsoever. Seriously, is nobody arsed about sending preview emails anymore?

As BuzzFeed points out, once you see this, you can’t unsee it. It will sink deep into the sponges of your brain, and be there every time you look at your mobile or whatever piece of crapola you own with LG’s logo on it:

[BuzzFeed]