Tech

Rdnieag Sbramlecd Wrods

An interesting side-story on slashdot says:

Aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at an Elingsh uinervtisy it deosn't mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoetnt tihng is taht frist and lsat ltteer is at the rghit pclae. The rset can be a toatl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae we do not raed ervey lteter by it slef but the wrod as a wlohe.

I'd be inclined to disagree were it not for the fact that I found it alarmingly easy to read that paragraph. The more I find out, the more amazed I am at the workings of the brain.

Arts

Film: Calendar Girls

I saw Calendar Girls at my local cinema last night. (It's been a while since we've had a film at The Riverside Theatre on the date of national release! I hope this is a sign of things to come.)

I began to feel a little intimidated as the usually empty auditorium filled up... with women. So as a guy, as a guy surrounded by girls, watching a tale of inhibitions, did I have a good evening? Of course I did.

It's not a perfect film, but it's a perfect British comedy. On many occasions dialogue was drowned out by the laughing in the theatre. And two or three times my laughter was blocked by a welling in the eyes; the film certainly drags you through the emotions.

At times it's a little misguided; at times you feel a bit used, but it's not your standard Hollywood fare. This film dares prod the fringes of the story; it looks at how friends and family react to The Calendar, though admittedly only really glancing in that direction rather than focussing on their reactions.

What impressed me most though, was the use of the Yorkshire landscape. Maybe I'm only just beginning to understand how beautiful the Dales are, but it was wonderful to see the rolling hills, the big beautiful skies, and I was thrilled to spot the Cow and Calf where I stood this time last week.

A good film. Gentle, not too challenging. Affirming. A film to take your mum to.