USA Uber Alles - My Way Or the Highway 2

Apple's itunes won't let us buy songs for 79 US cents because we're in the UK. There's a pretty sucessful band in the UK called Suede. In the US they have to be called "The London Suede" because an obscure lounge singer had registered the name. In the rest of the world, Suede are called Suede. Despite this, on iTunes pretence of having British site, Suede are listed as "The London Suede". You can't have it both ways, Apple, you gits.

Argos

Their website was down for much of the time I tried to use it yesterday. Later on the telly was plastered with adverts about how some clever bloke had used their website to reserve all his presents even though he'd left everything until the last minute.

1. It doesn't work if you can't log on (you didn't expect a rush at Christmas? of course you didn't).
2. If an item isn't in stock at the store you choose, you have go through other stores, one by one, until you find a store (or as in my case, don't) with your item.

This is hopeless and anyone could see that - I wonder who designed their site?

Mailwatch are just the best

They took the Mail's CD of Christmas Carols and auctioned it - the proceeds going to Asylum Welcome - they have written to the Mail to let them know - quality.

As part of this I noticed that there's a blog dedicated to letters to the Mail too.

Trust your instincts

It's an attractive idea - well explained over at timewasting. I'm off to make a start. Just as soon as I've done my expenses, written this plan and asked a few people what they think.

Mr and Ms Shouty Revisited

Bliss! Through co-operation between passengers and a zero-tolerance Train Manager the shoutys and the bloke with a 10k Turbosound rig strapped to his head were banished from the quiet zone for more than an hour of the two-hour trip.

The Court Service

I'm sure it is staffed by some wonderful people. I have had occasion to write to them because of a huge delay. Of six letters I've written, two (and oddly, the two containing the most significant details) have apparently failed to arrive. They must be in one of the most amazing selective Royal Mail Bermuda triangle areas ever - and fancy - right in the middle of London.

Email sent from my gmail.com address to a general "customer services" (Ha!) address remains unanswered.

Eventually a lady who I'd been in correspondence with at HMCS sent me an email (after I'd tried to e-mail her without success) - I replied immediately. It never arrived. Seemingly all my e-mail to the court service is filtered out so they never get it.

No one cares - and there's no-one to complain to. This is the Law, sonny, run for their benefit, not yours.

I moan a lot

1) I wish I was more tolerant.
2) This is the most wonderful thing ever and restores my faith in a whole lot of things - I'd thank the originator if I could find his details.

My way or the Highway

Microsoft Works 8 has a dictionary. It includes a reference to Burton-On-Trent.

Bur·ton-up·on-Trent
Bur·ton-up·on-Trent [bùrt’n ə pon trént] town on the Trent River in Staffordshire, central England. It is a historic brewing center. Population: 60,525 (1991)
Encarta ® World English Dictionary © & (P) 1998-2004 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

Thanks Microsoft, for not noticing, or caring (like most Americans) that we spell it "centre"

Their dictionary mentions some spelling disparities, but British English spellings are never in the index - just added to the US ones as an afterthought.