I very rarely watch television, but I do always read the TV guide in the FT to see what’s on. Usually it’s cr*p, but I take note if the FT reviewer gives something five stars and for the past two Tuesday’s I’ve been watching the superb and very moving ‘The Last Tommy’ .

Finding out about this programme is another small illustration of an aspect of information retrieval. I would *never* have found out about this via the web. It was brought to my attention by a newspaper which I highly regard for its news coverage, arts reviews and TV and film critics. So I’m watching something because it’s been recommended and I trust the views and opinions of those that do the recommending.

The more I think about it, the more I want a peer reviewed internet and not one in which I have to tread carefully to avoid the unpleasant junk and or get overloaded with the sheer volume of dross.