Search found 6225 matches

by Marc Meakin
Mon Mar 18, 2024 6:13 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Questions you've always wanted answered
Replies: 1609
Views: 623716

Re: Questions you've always wanted answered

Maybe in the future AI will stop cars going too closs
by Marc Meakin
Sun Mar 17, 2024 5:43 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: The Dead of 2024
Replies: 54
Views: 3782

Re: The Dead of 2024

Most here will need to Google but one of my favourite singers of the 70s, Steve Harley has passed away
by Marc Meakin
Sat Mar 16, 2024 11:45 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: REALLY obvious things you've just realised
Replies: 627
Views: 273865

Re: REALLY obvious things you've just realised

Gavin Chipper wrote: Sat Mar 16, 2024 9:12 pm It's possible I was aware of this at the time but forgot, but India apparently overtook China as the most populous country last year.
Both countries combined constituting more than a third of the world population is insane
by Marc Meakin
Sat Mar 16, 2024 8:55 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: What films have you watched lately?
Replies: 419
Views: 239150

Re: What films have you watched lately?

One of the few subjects I can profess to be something of an xxpert on is the Oscars. There have only been a handful of films to win the big four. I do take your point that best picture winners tend to win multiple awards but that's understandable. The Last Time best film and Actor was from the same ...
by Marc Meakin
Sat Mar 16, 2024 7:51 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: What films have you watched lately?
Replies: 419
Views: 239150

Re: What films have you watched lately?

Oppenheimer. Mostly tedious and far too long. Also what a coincidence that when the hive mind decides a film is the best of the year, it also has e.g. the best actor in it as well. Not sure why people pay attention to the Oscars. It's just the incestuous film industry getting together to self-congr...
by Marc Meakin
Sat Mar 16, 2024 11:18 am
Forum: Countdown - Events
Topic: FOCAL Belts
Replies: 15
Views: 420

Re: FOCAL Belts

Matt Morrison wrote: Thu Mar 14, 2024 3:30 pm Will probably have to wait a while before we can get all the Sex Offender's Register Belt contestants together, but there should be a decent entry.
Only if you bring an Ouija board
by Marc Meakin
Fri Mar 15, 2024 5:54 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Questions you've always wanted answered
Replies: 1609
Views: 623716

Re: Questions you've always wanted answered

Why do people spend their whole lives earning and saving, to then do nothing with it except leave it to other people in their will? I find it quite baffling when people feel obligated to do so - any money you've earned should be yours to enjoy, and the whole societal expectation that you should be ...
by Marc Meakin
Thu Mar 14, 2024 6:25 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Questions you've always wanted answered
Replies: 1609
Views: 623716

Re: Questions you've always wanted answered

Is it a rule everywhere? I've never noticed a sign at my local Tesco when filling up. I wouldn't know not to play on my phone at the same time. It could be a rule that has changed without the signage having come down. I still see the odd stay 2 metres apart sign from the days of covid in various pl...
by Marc Meakin
Thu Mar 14, 2024 3:18 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Unpopular opinions you genuinely hold
Replies: 242
Views: 30298

Re: Unpopular opinions you genuinely hold

People walking their dogs should have poo bags on them anyway and are part of the wider dog walking community, so if they see some dog poo that didn't come from their own dog, they should pick it up anyway and not be all "Well it's nothing to do with me" about it. Especially on that bridg...
by Marc Meakin
Thu Mar 14, 2024 2:35 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Unpopular opinions you genuinely hold
Replies: 242
Views: 30298

Re: Unpopular opinions you genuinely hold

David Williams wrote: Thu Mar 14, 2024 10:22 am It would be nice if the wider McDonalds-eating community acted in similar fashion.
I guess a discarded burger could be mistaken for a dog poo
by Marc Meakin
Thu Mar 14, 2024 6:44 am
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Unpopular opinions you genuinely hold
Replies: 242
Views: 30298

Re: Unpopular opinions you genuinely hold

People walking their dogs should have poo bags on them anyway and are part of the wider dog walking community, so if they see some dog poo that didn't come from their own dog, they should pick it up anyway and not be all "Well it's nothing to do with me" about it. Especially on that bridg...
by Marc Meakin
Wed Mar 13, 2024 11:48 am
Forum: Countdown - Events
Topic: FOCAL Belts
Replies: 15
Views: 420

Re: FOCAL Belts

Fiona T wrote: Tue Mar 12, 2024 10:12 pm Got some spare budget for Reading (sign-ups well above my break even) so happy to take suggestions for extra prizes ideally that anyone has a chance of winning - more limited in Bristol cos rude words etc aren't really on.
Lucky losers ie player with the closest set of losing games.
by Marc Meakin
Tue Mar 12, 2024 5:57 pm
Forum: Countdown - Events
Topic: FOCAL Belts
Replies: 15
Views: 420

Re: FOCAL Belts

One time Countdown appearance over 60 and bald.
Surely the best chance for me to win a belt 😊
by Marc Meakin
Tue Mar 12, 2024 5:56 pm
Forum: Countdown - Events
Topic: FOCAL Belts
Replies: 15
Views: 420

Re: FOCAL Belts

Just a fun idea. If across FOCAL tournaments there were belts different categories like in boxing. Examples - Over 40s - Ladies - Hasn't been on the show - Tom (there's enough Toms to justify it) What categories would you have? The first two would be interesting, with Countdown dominated by men und...
by Marc Meakin
Mon Mar 11, 2024 7:43 pm
Forum: Other game shows
Topic: The 1% Club
Replies: 50
Views: 4728

Re: The 1% Club

I can't remember how the question was worded.
Even though each answer decreases by 22
Lee said 10 was the answer because it was the numerals in descending order.
by Marc Meakin
Mon Mar 11, 2024 6:36 pm
Forum: Other game shows
Topic: The 1% Club
Replies: 50
Views: 4728

Re: The 1% Club

Elliott Mellor wrote: Mon Mar 11, 2024 5:17 pm
Marc Meakin wrote: Mon Mar 11, 2024 1:23 pm Saturdays 1% question
Spoilers below


Would a half been acceptable given the sequence before?
Also each sequence is 22 greater than the one below
Why would a half be an acceptable answer?
2 x a half is 1 so sequentially it would work
by Marc Meakin
Mon Mar 11, 2024 1:23 pm
Forum: Other game shows
Topic: The 1% Club
Replies: 50
Views: 4728

Re: The 1% Club

Saturdays 1% question
Spoilers below







Would a half been acceptable given the sequence before?
Also each sequence is 22 greater than the one below
by Marc Meakin
Sun Mar 10, 2024 9:27 am
Forum: Other game shows
Topic: The 1% Club
Replies: 50
Views: 4728

Re: The 1% Club

Philip A wrote: Sat Mar 09, 2024 9:35 pm Better questions this week. I stupidly failed 25%. I got 1% right, though.
One percent was surprisingly easy.
The one with the hand digits did me (I think it was early on maybe 70%) I didn't spot the 1st 2 were seperated boxes)
by Marc Meakin
Sat Mar 09, 2024 3:29 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Questions you've always wanted answered
Replies: 1609
Views: 623716

Re: Questions you've always wanted answered

Mark Deeks wrote: Sat Mar 09, 2024 2:16 pm What's so iconic about the Abbey Road album cover? It's just some people walking.
Art is subjective.
I only like the fact that Paul is barefoot which helped to fan the flames of the "Paul is dead" myth.
by Marc Meakin
Fri Mar 08, 2024 2:04 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Questions you've always wanted answered
Replies: 1609
Views: 623716

Re: Questions you've always wanted answered

Why did people have to wire their own plugs in the past? Stuff came without a plug on. Insane. This is boomer territory A lot of things didn't have plugs in the days before moulded plugs were commonplace. Possibly to keep the cost down.. Possibly because there wasn't a standardised plug for various...
by Marc Meakin
Wed Mar 06, 2024 9:08 am
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: The C4C Football Thread
Replies: 1265
Views: 194576

Re: The C4C Football Thread

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/68eKjE4CkrCiHGJY/

This is unbelievable how women's football was treated just over 50 years ago
by Marc Meakin
Mon Mar 04, 2024 6:43 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Politics in General
Replies: 1592
Views: 1635110

Re: Politics in General

Interested to see George Galloways speech on Gaza
by Marc Meakin
Mon Mar 04, 2024 6:40 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: REALLY obvious things you've just realised
Replies: 627
Views: 273865

Re: REALLY obvious things you've just realised

Interestingly it's normally Beatles Songs that get ripped off.
Taxman and Tomorrow Never Knows spring to mind
by Marc Meakin
Mon Mar 04, 2024 3:47 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: REALLY obvious things you've just realised
Replies: 627
Views: 273865

Re: REALLY obvious things you've just realised

Ian Volante wrote: Mon Mar 04, 2024 1:05 pm
Jon O'Neill wrote: Sun Mar 03, 2024 10:05 pm Sun King is a blatant rip off of Albatross and these are two totally separate and distinct songs.
Inspired by I'd say. I doubt they set out to copy it.
Well there are lots of songs that sound similar by accident.
Particularly riffs
by Marc Meakin
Sun Mar 03, 2024 12:07 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: What TV programmes have you been watching lately?
Replies: 753
Views: 560551

Re: What TV programmes have you been watching lately?

True Detective. Night Country. A bit confusing at times, but it all made sense in the end. Jodie Foster was very good, as was her co-star, Kali Reis. Spoiler Alert I enjoyed it too though all the supernatural stuff turned to be a bit of a red herring in the end. It didn't have all the true detectiv...
by Marc Meakin
Sun Mar 03, 2024 9:56 am
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: MEAKIN THREAD
Replies: 62
Views: 21046

Re: MEAKIN THREAD

Rather than start another thread or trawl through to find a more suitable thread I will post this her.
Just found the AI website Riffusion and had a morning laughing my head off creating silly lyrics and having an AI voice sing them in different music genres.
by Marc Meakin
Sat Mar 02, 2024 7:19 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: REALLY obvious things you've just realised
Replies: 627
Views: 273865

Re: REALLY obvious things you've just realised

I suppose people are using "sub" to just mean "not as good as" in this case, rather than "numerically less than", but it is slightly weird. On a related note, people often talk about something having really low odds when they mean low probability. Low odds is the oppos...
by Marc Meakin
Sat Mar 02, 2024 6:38 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: REALLY obvious things you've just realised
Replies: 627
Views: 273865

Re: REALLY obvious things you've just realised

Mark James wrote: Sat Mar 02, 2024 6:08 pm If something is sub par it means it's not good however sub means under or below and the word par comes from golf, and in golf it's good if you are under par so the expression kind of doesn't make sense.
Par can also mean face value
by Marc Meakin
Sat Mar 02, 2024 12:56 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: What TV programmes have you been watching lately?
Replies: 753
Views: 560551

Re: What TV programmes have you been watching lately?

Last Tango In Halifax.
Late to the party but it's well written and acted.
We have made a decision to stop watching depressing soaps and watch quality serial dramas instead
by Marc Meakin
Fri Mar 01, 2024 9:24 am
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: The Dead of 2024
Replies: 54
Views: 3782

Re: The Dead of 2024

Gavin Chipper wrote: Thu Feb 29, 2024 9:38 pm I thought both fat ladies died.
Oh yeah I was thinking of Rosemary Shrager.

Who is a cook and a lady, also fat and still alive
by Marc Meakin
Thu Feb 29, 2024 5:28 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: The Dead of 2024
Replies: 54
Views: 3782

Re: The Dead of 2024

Paul Worsley wrote: Thu Feb 29, 2024 1:35 pm
Marc Meakin wrote: Thu Feb 29, 2024 1:08 pm
Paul Worsley wrote: Thu Feb 29, 2024 11:56 am Countdown guest Dave Myers, age 66. RIP.
The hairy biker?
Yes
So now we have one hairy biker and one fat lady.
Maybe they should team up
by Marc Meakin
Thu Feb 29, 2024 5:27 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Interesting things that aren't necessarily completely obvious
Replies: 8
Views: 2644

Re: Interesting things that aren't necessarily completely obvious

Mark James wrote: Thu Feb 29, 2024 4:41 pm I have loads of films recording off the tv on vhs tapes. Apparently it is possible to recover old teletext data from those tapes.
Back in the day when we used to roller skate the teletext before surfing the internet
by Marc Meakin
Thu Feb 29, 2024 1:08 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: The Dead of 2024
Replies: 54
Views: 3782

Re: The Dead of 2024

Paul Worsley wrote: Thu Feb 29, 2024 11:56 am Countdown guest Dave Myers, age 66. RIP.
The hairy biker?
by Marc Meakin
Thu Feb 29, 2024 4:25 am
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: The Dead of 2024
Replies: 54
Views: 3782

Re: The Dead of 2024

Very sad about Richard Lewis.
Didnt really know him before Curb but like with Bob Einstein (Funkhouser) I have since checked out his stand up and he was a very funny guy
by Marc Meakin
Wed Feb 28, 2024 9:02 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Politics in General
Replies: 1592
Views: 1635110

Re: Politics in General

In defence of Tal (not that he needs defending), he's affected by this shitshow very directly, where as the rest of us have the privilege of commentating from the sidelines. I think if you were designing the solution from scratch you'd have one utopian democratic state where everyone lived happily,...
by Marc Meakin
Tue Feb 27, 2024 4:55 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Politics in General
Replies: 1592
Views: 1635110

Re: Politics in General

This is quite an interesting speech at the ICJ about Israel's crimes against Palestine over the years. I noticed he mentions 1967 but not it's significance. Agreed that the attacks against Israel were not Palestinian but the reason was to create a fortress for Israel. But it's time we had a Palesti...
by Marc Meakin
Sun Feb 25, 2024 8:00 pm
Forum: Other game shows
Topic: The 1% Club
Replies: 50
Views: 4728

Re: The 1% Club

It's moot unless any of the contestants answered the alternate choices
by Marc Meakin
Sat Feb 24, 2024 6:05 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Questions you've always wanted answered
Replies: 1609
Views: 623716

Re: Questions you've always wanted answered

Mark Deeks wrote: Sat Feb 24, 2024 12:18 pm What the hell problem was the penny farthing trying to solve?
I guess the height of the thing gives you a nice view of whatever.
If we still used them now you could see how bad the traffic is
by Marc Meakin
Sat Feb 24, 2024 7:54 am
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: What TV programmes have you been watching lately?
Replies: 753
Views: 560551

Re: What TV programmes have you been watching lately?

One Day on Netflix. Not the sort of show I would usually watch it's basically 15 episodes of a relationship between 2 friends and sometimes lovers Based on the book by David Nicholas. The writing is top notch and the 2 leads are excellent. Its so easy to binge, given that each episode is around 30 m...
by Marc Meakin
Fri Feb 23, 2024 7:15 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: The Dead of 2024
Replies: 54
Views: 3782

Re: The Dead of 2024

Marc Meakin wrote: Fri Feb 23, 2024 2:29 pm Fred Elliott from Corrie has died, I say Fred Elliott from Corrie has died.
RIP
I should have said played by John Savident, I say John Savident 86 RIP
by Marc Meakin
Fri Feb 23, 2024 3:27 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: What TV programmes have you been watching lately?
Replies: 753
Views: 560551

Re: What TV programmes have you been watching lately?

The current and probably last Series of Curb. Still one of the only shows on TV to make me actually belly laugh.... well until the next Tory Party political broadcast at least. I love all the peripheral characters more than Larry, especially Suzie and Leon and now Tracy Ullman getting the best lines...
by Marc Meakin
Fri Feb 23, 2024 3:22 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Unpopular opinions you genuinely hold
Replies: 242
Views: 30298

Re: Unpopular opinions you genuinely hold

Too many Mar(k/c)s. Maybe we can refer to Marc James as MJ. Although that may not be a handle he would like under the circumstances. You can call me Meakin for simplicity, my missus does as she had a brother called Mark (though he passed away 6 years ago the name has stuck.) Which will be fun when ...
by Marc Meakin
Fri Feb 23, 2024 2:29 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: The Dead of 2024
Replies: 54
Views: 3782

Re: The Dead of 2024

Fred Elliott from Corrie has died, I say Fred Elliott from Corrie has died.
RIP
by Marc Meakin
Fri Feb 23, 2024 11:38 am
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Unpopular opinions you genuinely hold
Replies: 242
Views: 30298

Re: Unpopular opinions you genuinely hold

The one I went to was a stag do. Even though I was 18 I was so shy and green I wasn't even sure what was happening apart from that there was a comedian. My older mates said we can get a seat at the front. It was like going to Sea world in ad much as anyone worth their salt doesn't sit in the front r...
by Marc Meakin
Fri Feb 23, 2024 5:18 am
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Unpopular opinions you genuinely hold
Replies: 242
Views: 30298

Re: Unpopular opinions you genuinely hold

Probably not that unpopular within the unrepresentative population sample that is the C4C community, but in the eider world, it seems to be: I, a straight and reasonably normally libidoed man even with the sertraline, have absolutely no desire to go to a strip club After getting humiliated at the o...
by Marc Meakin
Wed Feb 21, 2024 5:42 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Track and Field (and Road) Athletics
Replies: 252
Views: 49375

Re: Track and Field (and Road) Athletics

I can fully understand why existing athletes are whinging about this idea, as they've practised for a long time to perfect the take-off. If it becomes just a long jump event rather than a long jump from as close to an arbitary line as possible, then it simply renders a lot of their work obsolete. D...
by Marc Meakin
Tue Feb 20, 2024 4:11 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Track and Field (and Road) Athletics
Replies: 252
Views: 49375

Re: Track and Field (and Road) Athletics

That would be very interesting but by reducing the take-off gap to zero, it does kind of break old records. They do generally show the gap to the line nowadays anyway, but I don't know if they know the gaps for the old records of Mike Powell and Jonathan Edwards. I agree that old records should be ...
by Marc Meakin
Tue Feb 20, 2024 4:08 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Track and Field (and Road) Athletics
Replies: 252
Views: 49375

Re: Track and Field Athletics

Aye, but you can't ask people to jump over nothing. The bar provides a point in space to aim for, and tactile feedback, both crucial. I'd agree that the distance above the bar might also be measured by such a method, another way of doing this could be to have them jumping over a large pile of tiny ...
by Marc Meakin
Tue Feb 20, 2024 2:03 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: REALLY obvious things you've just realised
Replies: 627
Views: 273865

Re: REALLY obvious things you've just realised

I was toying with posting this in another thread but I've just found out that French people are prone to dipping their breakfast pastries, croissants and baguettes in their hot drink as part of their breakfast ritual
by Marc Meakin
Sun Feb 18, 2024 11:37 am
Forum: Other game shows
Topic: The 1% Club
Replies: 50
Views: 4728

Re: The 1% Club

Season 3 has started and there has been a significant shift to logic questions over word related ones (apart from the 1% question ironically) I find to make the show more enjoyable towards the sharp end I'm freeze framing the questions to give me enough time to get it right. I usually have to read q...
by Marc Meakin
Wed Feb 14, 2024 9:54 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Politics in General
Replies: 1592
Views: 1635110

Re: Politics in General

Here's a thing. I think the term anti-Semitic (or antisemitic) is generally not a good one to use. If someone is racist against black people, they are racist. If they are racist against Asian people, they are racist. But if they are racist against Jewish people, they are anti-Semitic. Why does it m...
by Marc Meakin
Wed Feb 14, 2024 6:16 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: The Dead of 2024
Replies: 54
Views: 3782

Re: The Dead of 2024

Gavin Chipper wrote: Wed Feb 14, 2024 4:05 pm I've always thought of him as Mr. TOTP2.
That too but I remember Ask Elvis. and Gervaisse as two of the best characters in his afternoon show on Radio one in the early 90s
by Marc Meakin
Wed Feb 14, 2024 12:34 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Track and Field (and Road) Athletics
Replies: 252
Views: 49375

Re: Track and Field (and Road) Athletics

If you're happy to count that then why not count Kipchoge's sub-2? Why wasn't it official then? He had pacemakers, and if I remember right, was shielded from air resistance by a vehicle in front of him too, not to mention shoes that were beyond regulations. Pacemakers should be OK though as most mi...
by Marc Meakin
Wed Feb 14, 2024 12:31 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: What films have you watched lately?
Replies: 419
Views: 239150

Re: What films have you watched lately?

Callum Todd wrote: Wed Feb 14, 2024 9:17 am Django Unchained. Good.
12 Years a Slave, better
by Marc Meakin
Tue Feb 13, 2024 6:43 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Track and Field (and Road) Athletics
Replies: 252
Views: 49375

Re: Track and Field (and Road) Athletics

Sam Cappleman-Lynes wrote: Tue Feb 13, 2024 6:25 pm
Marc Meakin wrote: Tue Feb 13, 2024 4:16 pm I reckon if the enhanced games happen then sub 2 hours will happen
If you're happy to count that then why not count Kipchoge's sub-2?
Why wasn't it official then?
by Marc Meakin
Tue Feb 13, 2024 6:06 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: The Dead of 2024
Replies: 54
Views: 3782

Re: The Dead of 2024

Genuinely shocked and upset about this.
RIP Steve Wright a legend of radio 1 and 2
by Marc Meakin
Tue Feb 13, 2024 4:16 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Track and Field (and Road) Athletics
Replies: 252
Views: 49375

Re: Track and Field (and Road) Athletics

The thing is Kiptum was the sub-2 hour hope. He was also fun to watch. He'd take the first half of his marathons fairly easily and then just go in the second half. With better pacing, sub-2 looked a formality. Also, for whatever reason, the women's marathon records are often set by people you've ne...
by Marc Meakin
Tue Feb 13, 2024 4:14 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Questions you've always wanted answered
Replies: 1609
Views: 623716

Re: Questions you've always wanted answered

Mark Deeks wrote: Tue Feb 13, 2024 3:47 pm What's that whole thing about when your ear goes PING and then you're deaf for a few seconds?
Ive never experienced this but my step daughter (in her early thirties) says it happens whenever she hears a cat scarer
by Marc Meakin
Sun Feb 11, 2024 6:46 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Questions you've always wanted answered
Replies: 1609
Views: 623716

Re: Questions you've always wanted answered

If the enhanced games ever actually happens, what legal records are most likely to be bettered?
Probably more women's records than mens but I'm wondering about the Marathon and cycling records being most likely to be challenged