[Via Suzie Austin, who is evil.]
Bloody LoveFilm
Or LOVEFiLM as we’re probably supposed to capitalise it. I’m updating my rental list at the moment, as I do every so often, and I’m shocked at the number of features that they used to have (or at least the one they gobbled up, ScreenSelect, used to have) that now don’t work.
For instance, although I can still hide a title on the recommendation list, it’s no longer marked in a way that makes obvious sense, so I have to play around to find it. (And I’ll probably forget next time, and have to play around again.)
And worse. Actually, each time I find something that is wrong or missing, it turns out that actually it isn’t missing, it’s just odd and not terribly obvious. And the recommendations system seems completely buggered: it’s recommending the second half of Lost season 1, not on the basis of the first half of Lost season 1, but because I’ve selected 24 (yes, people might like both, but they aren’t remotely similar or indeed terribly overlapping viewerships – are they?). And it seems to prefer making suggestions based on things I’ve expressed some interest in over things I’ve actually rated. Which makes me wonder why they want me to rate things at all.
And when you go back to a page having updated something, using their own buttons to get back to what you were doing before, the page doesn’t contain the updated information. That’s just shoddy. And their web layout is horrible and confusing. And they don’t seem to take account of “please hide this” instructions in sorting out recommendations (with the result that I’m getting kind of tired of saying that I don’t want to rent episodes of The Simpsons). It’s like a service designed by bank managers.
Okay, time to chill out and go to bed. But L0v3f17m sux.
We've lost one
With sadness: Ian Richardson, RIP. (Via Rabbit Strike.)
Britishness
Heaven help people who actually expect to learn something while studying for their be-like-us Britishness test. Ignoring for a moment the weird capitalisation (because neat English isn’t terribly British), and instead boggle at the idea that a Britishness test – a way of determining whether someone has sufficient knowledge of British norms, culture and government to be able to successfully integrate in society – can be prepared for by a “life in the UK handbook”, and assessed using multiple choice questions. Which of course you can practice beforehand on the official website, because otherwise it would be discriminatory.
I’m always amazed at the waste of time spent in preparing for these kinds of tests, given how spoonfed towards a pass you are. Then I remember that some people fail the Driving Test Theory, and I despair.
Hiding no longer
Over the weekend, James and I finally dragged our battered bodies in front of a computer for long enough to finish off our first Talk To Rex film, a whimsical little comedy about a dark and evil woman who terrifies people using her shiny necklace. It’s written and directed by James, so I’ll let him tell you all about it: Hide and Seek.
Kevin Tomlinson
Over the next couple of weeks, Kevin is doing a number of shows at The Etcetera Theatre in Camden, including mask, improvisation and (unless he’s cut that bit) puppetry using found objects – amongst other things. If you have a soul, you’ll like his work, so please: go see.
Pa-doing
You are Spider-Man
Spider-Man 85%
Iron Man 65%
Catwoman 65%
The Flash 50%
Superman 50%
Hulk 50%
Green Lantern 50%
Robin 48%
Batman 45%
Supergirl 43%
Wonder Woman 23%
You are intelligent, witty, a bit geeky and have great power and responsibility.
Unnecessary, but mildly amusing
A man, a plan, a canoe, pasta, heros, rajahs, a coloratura, maps,
snipe, percale, macaroni, a gag, a banana bag, a tan, a tag, a banana
bag again (or a camel), a crepe, pins, Spam, a rut, a Rolo, cash, a
jar, sore hats, a peon, a canal – Panama!
(Via a friend, but found on the Internet at Anvari.Org.)
Brilliant
This is what the Internet was created for.
Talk To Rex 
