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Little things

October 8th, 2008 | 3 Comments | Posted in Irritants

Stupid little things that irritate me when they’re clearly too insignificant to bother about. An occasional series.

The advertisement for iglü (mouth ulcer treatment) that shows, in the background, a penguin struggling against a strong wind, outside and igloo. Penguin + igloo = just wrong.

Kate Bush’s “Babooshka“. The lyrics to the first verse are, apparently, “She wanted to test her husband. / She knew exactly what to do: / A pseudonym to fool him. / She couldn’t have made a worse move.” That’s not what Kate sings, though. She sings “She couldn’t have made a worst move.” My copy was on The Whole Story album so I don’t know if she corrected her faux pas on later recordings, but the version I have grates on the ear each time I hear it.

More to follow, I suspect.

When did we stop taking responsibility

October 6th, 2008 | 3 Comments | Posted in Irritants

“I was installing a fire alarm system but I was given the wrong type of ladder …”

“I was walking across reception and the floor was wet but there wasn’t a sign …”

I’m sure you’ve seen these adverts for the UK equivalent of ambulance chasing lawyers. There’s also that other series of adverts with that chap off The Bill.

I’ve already bemoaned the dumbing down of TV programme but am also wondering when people stopped having to take responsibility for their own actions.

Despair 2 – the ideas return

October 3rd, 2008 | 1 Comment | Posted in Irritants

Remember those ridiculous TV show ideas from a few weeks ago? Well, there’s been another survey. One show now has some more details and there are three new travesties in the planning stage.

This time I thought of copy/paste and so can give you the descriptions verbatin. Your challenge, if you’re brave enough to accept it, is to identify the worst of these ideas. It’s not going to be easy, I warn you.

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Despair

September 20th, 2008 | 6 Comments | Posted in Irritants

A while ago I signed up for a survey panel about (satellite/cable) TV. There was some sort of prize draw attached, I forget what but it was something nice.

In return I get sent occasional surveys about TV shows.

I received one today. I should have written down the questions but I’ll try to paraphrase the questions and my answers.

Q. A new show is planned called “Tyson:Inside the man”. How likely are you to watch it?
A. 1/10

Q. “Tyson: Inside the man” will be the first show to have full access to Mike Tyson as he rebuilds his life after yada yada yada celebrity friends yada yada Las Vegas. How likely are you watch this show?
A. 1/10

Q. Please describe why you are unlikely to watch this show.
A. I don’t hold boxing in high regard and don’t believe that violent rapists such as Tyson should be given any publicity whatsover.

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An end to the matter

August 2nd, 2008 | 1 Comment | Posted in Irritants

I am pleased to confirm that I have received the parcel sent by recorded delivery on 31st July.

I have also now received the parcel you sent on the 30th July by first class post. I shall, of course, be returning the duplicate items to you on Monday as I’ve no wish to have two of each item when I only ordered and paid for one.

Incidentally, I do feel that your comment to Paypal “Customer claims they were lost in post” is somewhat misleading given that my dispute was raised four days before you posted the first parcel and 11 days after you’d first claimed to have posted the order (unless, of course, you’ve now sent me three or more parcels).

Twunts

Misleading update

July 29th, 2008 | 4 Comments | Posted in Irritants, Retail therapy

Lyle is correct in that the “delayed” item in my order was a phone battery.

Since I wrote the last post I’ve still received nothing and my notification of a dispute via Paypal didn’t produce any response from the bastard in question (so I’ve escalated it to a claim). Hopefully Paypal will review what I wrote and give me my money back.

Let’s face it, if the order had been posted he’d have responded to that effect pretty darned quickly. Bastard.

Slightly misleading

July 22nd, 2008 | 5 Comments | Posted in Irritants, Retail therapy

Ah, hello. I placed an order with you last week and had an email to say it had been sent on Tuesday but there’s been no sign of it.

“What’s your order number?”

66666

“Ah, yes. We were out of stock of the BST-39 but they’ve come in now and all the orders are in the post today.”

So when the website and email said it had been despatched on the 15th … ?

“Yes, it had been sent for despatch, but we didn’t send it because we didn’t have all the things you ordered.”

I see. Do you feel that the email and message on the website might be just a little misleading.

“No. How?”

Well, it’s … oh, never mind.

Will my order arrive tomorrow? It had bloody better do. Harrumph.

They (Don’t) Work For You

June 26th, 2008 | 2 Comments | Posted in Irritants

I am indebted to an update – courtesy of TheyWorkForYou – on the antics of my supposed representative in Parliament, the Right Dishonourable Christopher Fraser.

His contribution to the Protection of Bats and News debate on 24th June was, I feel, telling and I applaud the hours of work on his part which much have gone into his preparation.

See for yourself.

Twunt.