Original and unaltered, and adverts

So apparently the Radio Times is having another make-over and to keep me as a loyal reader they've sent through some money-off vouchers, which arrived Monday. Unlike the last time they did this the first voucher is for the current issue that was on-sale yesterday. It's a standard voucher with the standard boilerplate "original and unaltered" vouchers are the only ones redeemable.

So what? Well on the back of the voucher is a couple of questions you can answer plus an area to fill out your email address. But if I fill them out the voucher is no longer the same as when I received it - it's been altered. Okay we know they mean you can't photocopy or scan it in and churn out a hundred off them, you can't scribble out the "50p" and write in "£1.00", but technically speaking if I write on the back it could be refused. Ah you might say they ask you to fill it out, no they don't nowhere in the bumpf or on the voucher does it say - please fill this out. So I haven't


So adverts again. A major shampoo chain is patting itself on the back for winning some award. "It wasn't a designer or salon brand" no it was them. Good for them except "Thousands of consumers can't be wrong" Uh okay; if we assume that the majority is always right then Christianity is the best religion (2.1 billion), China is the best country (1.3 billion), and that Microsoft Windows is the best operating system (90-95% market share). That the supermarkets that take the lion's share of the High Street pound are the best shops, and that fast food restaurants provide the best food. Quality, quantity; not always the same thing.

The other advert getting on my goat is the Crispy Salad one "Fresh from the fields of Florette" Wow so they own the fields? According to their website

Florette works closely with its agricultural partners...

So that sounds like a no then. The questions and answers provide more information for the inquiring mind.

Is the packaging gas-flushed?

You might be relieved to know that only certain salad leaves are gas-flushed, uh-huh what the heck is gas-flushed? Oddly enough not a question shown on this page, but now it's been brought to my attention I want to know. At least you don't have to wash them as they come fully prepared; so how do Florette wash them? Hey look that isn't on the Q&A list either or on the 'from field to supermarket' pictorial guide. Also note the supermarket assumption, if they're so fresh and tasty why aren't they sold in greengrocer's?