OVER 2 YOU 214 (18/01/05)

THE PLOT THICKENS

Does anyone know of a web site or resource that can identify the names of films from the plot alone? I would like to know the name of a film I saw on TV in the early 70's (I think), but cannot remember the title, the names of the actors.

Peter Jones, via email

Peter Jones could try the International Movie Database or IMDB (www.imdb.com), which allows a search on plots. For example, searching for keywords ‘murder’ and ‘insurance’ brings up Double Indemnity. Alternatively he could post a question on the usenet group uk.media.dvd where, aside from the usual jocular responses, he is also likely to get some useful answers.

R. Tumbleweed, via email

The Usenet group - rec.arts.movies.past-films posts many requests to identify movies from the sketchiest details with great success. There are some very knowledgeable contributors there.And based on past experience there and probability theory, I would guess the movie Mr Jones is looking for is "Sole Survivor" starring Richard Basehart and William Shatner, involving a B-25 bomber discovered in the Libyan desert.

John Dean, Oxford

The Allmovie film database lets you find movies by a variety of means, including keyword, principle actors, author, title, location, company and technical details. You will find it at: www.allmovie.com/avg_film_finder.html

Steve Daniels, via email

You need only the sketchiest of details to look for movies at filmsite.org. This uses a Google-powered search facility so it is fast and very thorough. There are more details on the website and the address is: www.filmsite.org/filmsearch.html

Jane Tew, via email

I would have a look at Amazon, which has an amazing search facility that can often find obscure films just using one actor’s name, or a keyword from the plot. I suggest using the Amazon.com website as this seems to have a much wider coverage, especially for American movies, though you should also try the UK site (www.amazon.co.uk) as that includes a lot of British material, especially TV films and programmes.

Keith T., Peterborough

EMERGENCY CLIPART

Does anyone know of a source of British clipart with graphics relating to the Fire, Police and Ambulance emergency services?

R.A.E. German, via email

There is a ton of British clipart relating to policemen, police cars, ambulances and fire engines in Google Images. Just go to www.google.co.uk and click the Images link, then type in what you are looking for, i.e., ‘fire engine clipart’ and you will be spoilt for choice

S. Henderson, Cashalton

I think Mr German will be very lucky to find a clipart resource relating solely to the British emergency services, though there doesn’t seem to be any shortage of US websites. Bearing that in mind I suggest that your correspondent pays a visit to: www.rochesterpd.org/policeclipart/ Cops/index.html, and although American in origin there may well be some images there that he could make use of, or modify

David Maples, via email

There are a handful of ambulances and medical-related clipart images on the ‘unofficial’ London Ambulance Service website at: www.lond.ambulance.freeuk.com/

ambulance.clipart.htm

Doug Pinter, via email

I don’t know if this will help but there’s an image of a British ‘bobby’ on the UK Clipart web site at: http://ukclipart.allinfo-about.co.uk/graphics/

uk_images/London/london.html and an animate police car, chasing a robber at: www.feebleminds-gifs.com/divide4.html

June Dawes, via email

A while ago, when I was working on a class project I found some simple cartoon style graphics and clipart images relating to first aid, safety and emergencies at: http://hazard.com/graphics/Emergencies/, though none of them are particularly ‘British’ in nature but you might find something that you can use.

Lynn Norton, via email

CAN YOU HELP?

Is there such a thing as a set of bathroom scales that can be linked to a PC? I am diabetic and my doctor advised me to loose a lot of weight, which I am slowly doing, but it would be useful to be able to automatically plot my progress on a graph or chart against my blood sugar readings, which I am able to download to my PC. I know I could do this manually, and I have tried, but I have trouble remembering.

Hugh Prescott, via email

I work for a letting agency, can anyone suggest a simple downloadable, freeware or commercial diary/scheduler program to book viewings and valuations that could be viewed on our small office network.

Claire, via email