·:[ Leefe rates the world… ]:·
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Looking at the Aliens vs Predator: Requiem site tonight it was interesting to see that there are three types of English: North American, Outside North American, and Australian.

So what is the difference? Should we feel privileged, or outcasts?

Examining the different English options I found the major difference for the ‘English Australia‘ sub site is the addition of an intermediary age verification page.

I presume that has to do with some legislation in Australia that prohibits access to R rated sites for minors. Hence you need to verify your age.

The thing that annoys me though is: If you are going to do a site specific for Australia you might like to get the date format correct on the age verification form.

Australia uses the international date format day/month/year.

Came across this parody of the writers strike in the USA. Would the Internet survive if bloggers stopped? What would people do with all that time they spend blogging and reading other people’s blogs?

(see YouTube movie below the fold)

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There is a competition for the new Transformers movie on the Australian SciFi channel’s web site. Unfortunately there are some quality control issues with the competition entry form.

What you need to tick
The form asks for your details, requires you to tick the ‘I agree to the Terms and Conditions’ checkbox, with an supposedly optional checkbox to join the Paramount Pictures Movie Club.

But as you an see from the screen capture, if you fill out all the required fields and tick the ‘YES - I have read and accept the Terms & Conditions’ checkbox you still get an error message.

The problem is that the Paramount checkbox is also marked required in the code, despite there being no indication that it is required. And why should I be required to sign-up for a opt-in mailing list?

<label>

<input type=”checkbox” name=”entry_additional_1″ value=”False” required=”true” title=”Terms & Conditions” />
YES - I would like to subscribe to the Paramount Pictures Movie Club</label>

Looks like a copy past job where they forgot to remove the required=”true” from the Paramount checkbox.

The above is the main problem I have with the competition entry form, but since I am posting errors I thought I might as well continue.

Verifying email
The JavaScript that verifies that fields are filled only checks there is something in the email field, not that it is a valid email address. The script the form is submitted to also doesn’t check the email address validity.

While they could say it is the responsibility of the entrant to check their details are correct. If you are going to check a field is filled you may as well check it is valid.

Squashed terms and conditions
The terms and conditions being squashed into five lines scrollable of text makes them a little hard to read. I understand that most people don’t bother reading them, but it is assumed that you have so it would be nice to make them easier to read.

Competition closed but form still available
I noticed the problems above a few days ago. Unfortunately I’ve only just had time to write them all up. As a result if you go to the SciFi competitions page you can no longer enter the Transformers competition. But if you enter the URL directly you still get the competition form.

Note: I noticed that they have now fixed the Paramount required checkbox. Not that you can enter the competition any more because it closed yesterday.

Ever wondered what would happen if you stuck elements from major space operas into one universe?

Finding this movie on YouTube I see that someone has. And has the skills to create it. Good animation and reasonably scripted scenes.

(YouTube movie on full post page)
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Reading an article on Computerworld titled US gov’t seeks builder for military robot, where the first paragraph states:

“Creative scientists have until next week to submit proposals for creating a shape-shifting military robot that can shrink and then reconfigure itself to normal height and shape.”

Looks very much like a promo for the new Transformers movie. But after reading the following:

“The U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is accepting proposals for building the so-called Chemical Robot (ChemBot) from researchers until July 2.”

It became obvious that the US government department just wants an advanced screening of the movie before it opens on 4 July in the USA.