Search found 3465 matches

by Jon O'Neill
Tue Nov 22, 2022 8:46 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Music
Replies: 295
Views: 83973

Re: Music

I think paying for downloads is almost as mental as buying physical music. Four reasons to pay for downloads: 1. Not all music is available to stream 2. Once downloaded, no reliance on the internet 3. Making compilations for others 4. Less energy use 5. The artist gets paid for their talent and eff...
by Jon O'Neill
Mon Nov 21, 2022 10:13 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Music
Replies: 295
Views: 83973

Re: Music

I think paying for downloads is almost as mental as buying physical music.
by Jon O'Neill
Mon Nov 21, 2022 9:51 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: REALLY obvious things you've just realised
Replies: 630
Views: 275747

Re: REALLY obvious things you've just realised

PDF File sounds a lot like paedophile.
by Jon O'Neill
Sun Nov 20, 2022 10:34 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Music
Replies: 295
Views: 83973

Re: Music

This is an interesting article about the mess. But I do wonder what bad would happen if you just got rid of streaming from the charts. Sure, lots of people only stream these days, but would there be a particular bias against certain songs? Well presumbly against old songs that people continue to pl...
by Jon O'Neill
Sun Nov 20, 2022 6:11 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Music
Replies: 295
Views: 83973

Re: Music

I don't know how I'd optimise it but I'd get rid of the obvious nonsense like passive streams, rules based on the age of a song and limits on the number of songs per artist. So now you have a situation where Mariah Carey is number 1 each Christmas, the top 10 gets blocked out whenever a hugely popu...
by Jon O'Neill
Sun Nov 20, 2022 5:07 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Music
Replies: 295
Views: 83973

Re: Music

Since streaming became a big component of the chart methodology, the UK singles charts have become much more similar to the US singles charts (which have always included an airplay component and have always been susceptible to record label tampering). Static top fives from week to week aren't reall...
by Jon O'Neill
Wed Oct 12, 2022 5:32 am
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Deathwatch 2017
Replies: 467
Views: 210173

Re: Deathwatch 2017

What a depressing and pointless thread.
by Jon O'Neill
Sun Sep 25, 2022 7:34 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: What TV programmes have you been watching lately?
Replies: 761
Views: 565983

Re: What TV programmes have you been watching lately?

Jon O'Neill wrote: Thu Sep 15, 2022 11:05 pm Don't Hug Me I'm Scared was due to be released on All 4 Monday just gone, but it's been delayed. Presumably it's the same reason but I don't know for sure.

For those unfamiliar:
https://youtu.be/9C_HReR_McQ
It's brilliant.

Cunk on Earth is also good.
by Jon O'Neill
Thu Sep 15, 2022 11:05 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: What TV programmes have you been watching lately?
Replies: 761
Views: 565983

Re: What TV programmes have you been watching lately?

Don't Hug Me I'm Scared was due to be released on All 4 Monday just gone, but it's been delayed. Presumably it's the same reason but I don't know for sure.

For those unfamiliar:
https://youtu.be/9C_HReR_McQ
by Jon O'Neill
Tue Sep 13, 2022 7:59 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: What TV programmes have you been watching lately?
Replies: 761
Views: 565983

Re: What TV programmes have you been watching lately?

Reversing the order does make for a weird first 10 minutes of Snowflake. In any case, it was still great, even if the crowd were a lot less into it on the BBC version than when I saw it in the Royal Festival Hall.
by Jon O'Neill
Mon Sep 05, 2022 7:25 pm
Forum: Countdown - Events
Topic: Your preferred format for CO-events
Replies: 74
Views: 31715

Re: Your preferred format for CO-events

Divisions are nuts for all the reasons outlined previously.

Classroom style is no fun for me. The main reason I attend co-events is to catch up with people and meet new ones with a background of playing the game. Classroom style kills this. It's so rigid.

14 rounders are also a joke format.
by Jon O'Neill
Fri Sep 02, 2022 7:27 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Apple variety rankings
Replies: 17
Views: 1280

Re: Apple variety rankings

I like red deliciouses.
by Jon O'Neill
Wed Aug 24, 2022 8:24 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Strikes
Replies: 21
Views: 1122

Re: Strikes

I realise it's an oversimplication, but if you aren't happy with your pay/terms/conditions then go find a different job. It's what the rest of us do. That's not really an option for a lot of the strikier jobs. As a trained train driver it's not like there are lots of different train companies to go...
by Jon O'Neill
Wed Aug 03, 2022 6:20 am
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: The C4C Football Thread
Replies: 1265
Views: 195273

Re: The C4C Football Thread

Although on some less optimistic notes: 2) while media coverage, etc, play a big role in perception, the women's game will struggle to ever be as big as the men's game for as long as the standard is substantially lower. And, unfortunately, I can't see that changing any time soon, if ever. It is cha...
by Jon O'Neill
Fri Jul 15, 2022 8:30 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers for Wednesday January 8th 2014 (S70 P3)
Replies: 24
Views: 5090

Re: Spoilers for Wednesday January 8th 2014 (S70 P3)

I found this thread again because I did a search for "attributive" (relating to adjectives). But: Danny got a rare run-out up front today and we both scored! Lost 4-2 though. How's Danny's football career going now? He still plays, as do I, but for different teams. I see him around once i...
by Jon O'Neill
Mon Jul 11, 2022 5:48 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Questions you've always wanted answered
Replies: 1615
Views: 631198

Re: Questions you've always wanted answered

Keeps the inside relatively well insulated while allowing easy access/egress? Not too popular on bring your pet to work day though This is apt as it was reading about a dog getting stuck and dying in one of them that prompted me to post this. I feel like they are an inefficient solution to a proble...
by Jon O'Neill
Mon Jul 11, 2022 7:13 am
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Questions you've always wanted answered
Replies: 1615
Views: 631198

Re: Questions you've always wanted answered

Mark Deeks wrote: Mon Jul 11, 2022 3:39 am Those big multi-chamber revolving doors that some offices, hotels etc have. Why?
Keeps the inside relatively well insulated while allowing easy access/egress?
by Jon O'Neill
Tue Apr 19, 2022 8:37 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Countdown Lookalikes?
Replies: 390
Views: 221981

Re: Countdown Lookalikes?

Superb.
by Jon O'Neill
Wed Apr 06, 2022 10:13 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Pig-Headed Man
Replies: 56
Views: 4603

Re: Pig-Headed Man

I see Boris has spoken out against trans women competing in women's sport. I have a dilemma as I don't want to be agreeing with by far the worst PM this century and probably the last but maybe he has a point for once. Good news for you. He doesn't. Unfortunately I have to agree with the cunt for on...
by Jon O'Neill
Sat Mar 05, 2022 4:05 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Sanctioning individuals based on nationality
Replies: 28
Views: 2569

Re: Sanctioning individuals based on nationality

Callum Todd wrote: Sat Mar 05, 2022 11:46 am Yeah Mazepin is shite.
He came 21st out of 20 in the world championship last year.
by Jon O'Neill
Fri Feb 18, 2022 4:56 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Alex Rivers
Replies: 21
Views: 8364

Re: Alex Rivers

Wow... that is horrendous.
by Jon O'Neill
Fri Feb 18, 2022 7:14 am
Forum: Games and Puzzles
Topic: The Monty Hall Problem
Replies: 9
Views: 2262

Re: The Monty Hall Problem

Any representation of paradox that doesn't state that he reveals what he knows to be an empty door/goat is simply wrong.
by Jon O'Neill
Sat Jan 15, 2022 5:12 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Politics in General
Replies: 1604
Views: 1653109

Re: Politics in General

Who's surprised?
by Jon O'Neill
Sat Jan 15, 2022 5:12 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Pig-heart man
Replies: 12
Views: 1194

Re: Pig-heart man

That's pretty cool.
by Jon O'Neill
Sat Jan 15, 2022 5:12 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: The Sexual Predator (allegedly) Formally Known as Prince
Replies: 7
Views: 998

Re: The Sexual Predator (allegedly) Formally Known as Prince

This thread title is one of the all-time greats.

I hope he gets his comeuppance.
by Jon O'Neill
Thu Jan 06, 2022 3:02 pm
Forum: Games and Puzzles
Topic: Wordle
Replies: 81
Views: 11419

Re: Wordle

Jon O'Neill wrote: Thu Jan 06, 2022 3:00 pm Wordle 201 3/6

🟨⬛⬛⬛⬛
⬛⬛🟩🟩⬛
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
An interesting sub-game is to try to work out which words were guessed from the solution (knowing the answer).
by Jon O'Neill
Thu Jan 06, 2022 3:00 pm
Forum: Games and Puzzles
Topic: Wordle
Replies: 81
Views: 11419

Re: Wordle

Wordle 201 3/6

🟨⬛⬛⬛⬛
⬛⬛🟩🟩⬛
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
by Jon O'Neill
Mon Jan 03, 2022 1:56 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Super Cool Funny Jokes
Replies: 144
Views: 18623

Re: Super Cool Funny Jokes

Ian Volante wrote: Mon Jan 03, 2022 11:14 am
Elliott Mellor wrote: Mon Jan 03, 2022 9:38 am
Ian Volante wrote: Sun Jan 02, 2022 11:57 pm

Still don't get this.
Wig 'n' a dress/Wigan address :)
I thought it might be something like that. But...it's just not doing it for me.
Yeah, that is rubbish.
by Jon O'Neill
Fri Dec 24, 2021 10:51 am
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Questions you've always wanted answered
Replies: 1615
Views: 631198

Re: Questions you've always wanted answered

Gavin Chipper wrote: Fri Dec 24, 2021 9:33 am Going in from the front? Never acceptable.
:shock:
by Jon O'Neill
Thu Dec 23, 2021 12:58 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers for Thursday 25th November 2021 (Series 84, Prelim 108)
Replies: 12
Views: 1409

Re: Spoilers for Thursday 25th November 2021 (Series 84, Prelim 108)

Hence “dubious”. You’ve also good GOOD which is BETTER and BEST rather than gooder x and goodest x, and NTH is an adjective but nther x and nthest x (used to be Apto valid) are illogical too. Good explicitly states that the comparative is better so gooder doesn't require any subjectivity to disallo...
by Jon O'Neill
Thu Dec 23, 2021 12:07 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers for Thursday 25th November 2021 (Series 84, Prelim 108)
Replies: 12
Views: 1409

Re: Spoilers for Thursday 25th November 2021 (Series 84, Prelim 108)

Not sure it's a rule. Apterous tends to disallow -EDER and -EDEST words but I've not ever seen any evidence from the show as far as I'm aware. Hence “dubious”. You’ve also good GOOD which is BETTER and BEST rather than gooder x and goodest x, and NTH is an adjective but nther x and nthest x (used t...
by Jon O'Neill
Tue Dec 07, 2021 10:45 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers for Tuesday 7th December 2021 (Series 84, Preliminary 116)
Replies: 9
Views: 1056

Re: Spoilers for Tuesday 7 December 2021 (Series 84, Preliminary 116)

Philip A wrote: Tue Dec 07, 2021 9:57 pm
Gavin Chipper wrote: Tue Dec 07, 2021 8:01 pm
Philip A wrote: Tue Dec 07, 2021 4:59 pm R6 Alt: ((7+7-1)*75-9)=322

Enjoying Craig Charles.
Divide by 3?
Yes, forgot to add that.
That gives 969.
by Jon O'Neill
Fri Dec 03, 2021 10:09 am
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Mondegreens
Replies: 127
Views: 33282

Re: Mondegreens

The Black Keys - Gotta Get Away

"I went from Xanadu to Kalamazoo"
Apparently it's San Berdoo.
by Jon O'Neill
Fri Nov 19, 2021 10:43 am
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Future of the forum
Replies: 7
Views: 1619

Re: Future of the forum

I just renewed the site so we're good til at least 2023. It costs about £86 a year to keep it online so if you'd like to make a small contribution to the cost, I'd be very grateful -- but the site will be here either way! (PayPal link) Hooray! However, the link doesn't work and I can't work out wha...
by Jon O'Neill
Tue Oct 26, 2021 7:32 am
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: First impressions of Anne
Replies: 141
Views: 24510

Re: First impressions of Anne

I did get a vibe off Rachel. I'd say if given a choice of lunch out with Anne, Nick or Jeff... Anne would be her 3rd preference. This may be from the Daily Mail, but the story's everywhere. It's not a surprise. Looks like we're getting a new presenter sooner rather than later, but who will it be? I...
by Jon O'Neill
Tue Oct 05, 2021 1:20 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Do we rely too much on centralised communication?
Replies: 9
Views: 1695

Re: Do we rely too much on centralised communication?

Ian Volante wrote: Tue Oct 05, 2021 12:20 pm I do miss Trillian, which included all my chats on MSN, Yahoo, ICQ and something else that I've forgotten. Was dead good.
AOL Instant Messenger? Trillian was pretty cool.
by Jon O'Neill
Wed Sep 22, 2021 8:06 am
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Is it time to end Countdown?
Replies: 57
Views: 8858

Re: Is it time to end Countdown?

I've been watching for about 17 years and can't remember a time when there weren't doom-mongers saying that the show was on its last legs and needed to be axed.
by Jon O'Neill
Sun Sep 12, 2021 9:29 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: TENNIS
Replies: 136
Views: 38044

Re: TENNIS

Yeah, it's easy to lose sight of how massive an achievement this is because the proportionality in media coverage of UK sport is very reliably completely wrong. This is huge. First person to win a GS as a qualifier. To not lose a set on the way. To not even give up 5 games in any single set. All in ...
by Jon O'Neill
Tue Aug 17, 2021 2:49 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers for Monday 16th August 2021 (Series 81, Prelim 35)
Replies: 16
Views: 2253

Re: Spoilers for Monday 16th August 2021 (Series 81, Prelim 35)

It's also worth looking over the history of this forum regarding the word. Here is the general search and I think it's worth looking at this thread , and this one , and the word even has its own thread . I'm always a bit nervous when these old threads get dug up, especially on issues where the play...
by Jon O'Neill
Sun Aug 08, 2021 2:36 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Olympics 2020
Replies: 135
Views: 16330

Re: Olympics 2020

Japan doing really well to come 3rd. It does seem like the host nation tends to do better than they normally would. And this time it can't be down to home support. I'm guessing some events confer some inbuilt home advantage (familiarity with the track/venue, or conditions) but mostly is because the...
by Jon O'Neill
Tue Aug 03, 2021 9:24 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Olympics 2020
Replies: 135
Views: 16330

Re: Olympics 2020

Well, I wasn't saying I considered the arbitrariness to be unfair, just that fairness can become a logical black hole. But the protected category of women can be subject to different definitions of woman and as long as it's rigorously defined then you could argue that any definition is fair. Ok, tr...
by Jon O'Neill
Tue Aug 03, 2021 8:47 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Olympics 2020
Replies: 135
Views: 16330

Re: Olympics 2020

The way you get stronger and build muscle is by putting on mass. This means you have to eat at a caloric surplus everyday in order to fuel the growth, development, and healing of your muscles. If you do not eat enough, you cannot increase muscularity, and eventually cannot even maintain it. This is...
by Jon O'Neill
Tue Aug 03, 2021 10:25 am
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Olympics 2020
Replies: 135
Views: 16330

Re: Olympics 2020

Yeah, the track should definitely be on my list above. I will revise my % weightings at some point. With that Rudisha race, 2nd place was still 0.6 behind the old WR, so yes the field jumped ahead a lot (or the track got easier) but in the grand scheme of things it wasn't quite the quantum leap that...
by Jon O'Neill
Tue Aug 03, 2021 8:18 am
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Olympics 2020
Replies: 135
Views: 16330

Re: Olympics 2020

World records are tumbling. In the 400m hurdles, the previous world record (which was broken last month after 29 years) was broken again - by 0.75 seconds! The silver medallist broke the old WR by 0.5 seconds. The bronze medallist broke the WR that had stood until last month as well. This example of...
by Jon O'Neill
Tue Aug 03, 2021 8:12 am
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Olympics 2020
Replies: 135
Views: 16330

Re: Olympics 2020

I saw some of the weightlifting today, and this isn't just me being rude, but does it help being morbidly obese? I was wondering if the extra weight comes with free extra muscle, the converse how when you're weightless in space you automatically lose muscle despite your best efforts. Also maybe the...
by Jon O'Neill
Mon Aug 02, 2021 4:27 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Olympics 2020
Replies: 135
Views: 16330

Re: Olympics 2020

Laurel Hubbard is likely to make history as the first trans gold medal winner in the weightlifting. But if I was a woman competing against her I would be a bit pissed off as she has gone through male puberty surely giving her an unfair advantage. Not sure what odds you were looking at! This tweet l...
by Jon O'Neill
Fri Jul 23, 2021 11:01 am
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Cricket
Replies: 196
Views: 33658

Re: Cricket

(The on-field cricket was never, ever going to be the issue. But the graphics were horrible. I shouldn't really have to look in four separate corners of the screen to see it's 100-2, needing 60 from 35.) You don't really need to read anything to see the state of the game now. The position of the to...
by Jon O'Neill
Thu Jul 22, 2021 2:26 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Cricket
Replies: 196
Views: 33658

Re: Cricket

https://admin.thecricketer.com/weblab/sites/96c8b790-b593-bfda-0ba4-ecd3a9fdefc2/resources/images/site/hundredbanner230221.gif I thought it was a great start to The Hundred. Loads of novel stuff, some good some bad... - Helmet cam - great - Graphics style - I liked them. A lot of people on Twitter ...
by Jon O'Neill
Wed Jul 21, 2021 11:46 am
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: "Black Takeover Day" - Autumn 2021
Replies: 79
Views: 26102

Re: "Black Takeover Day" - Autumn 2021

Great lineup.
by Jon O'Neill
Tue Jul 20, 2021 9:41 am
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: New Countdown App Looking for Beta Testers
Replies: 65
Views: 12788

Re: New Countdown App Looking for Beta Testers

Fiona T wrote: Mon Jul 19, 2021 9:47 pm Nice thread on hacking the official app - get Rob's dictionary in there!

https://twitter.com/Foone/status/1416664786444570625
This is sensational.
by Jon O'Neill
Thu Jul 15, 2021 7:16 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Track and Field (and Road) Athletics
Replies: 252
Views: 49559

Re: Track and Field Athletics

Gavin Chipper wrote: Thu Jul 15, 2021 4:18 pm The testosterone of puberty doesn't explain the performance/time graph. Not even close.
Source?
by Jon O'Neill
Thu Jul 15, 2021 2:18 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Track and Field (and Road) Athletics
Replies: 252
Views: 49559

Re: Track and Field Athletics

Definitely on testosterone. Either juicing for the local parkrun, or going through puberty. Absolutely impossible to say which given the facts.
by Jon O'Neill
Thu Jul 15, 2021 7:55 am
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Track and Field (and Road) Athletics
Replies: 252
Views: 49559

Re: Track and Field Athletics

Phil H wrote: Wed Jul 14, 2021 8:39 pm I'm still 50:50 on whether the suggestion is that this dude took a course of steroids just for a seventh-place finish in Braintree parkrun.
This is how I read it as well. Perhaps he is serving a ban.
by Jon O'Neill
Tue Jul 13, 2021 12:17 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: TENNIS
Replies: 136
Views: 38044

Re: TENNIS

Much as I hate to admit it as he's my least favourite of the big 3, I think Djokovic probably now has the best claim to the title of GOAT, with his win over Nadal at the French this year.
by Jon O'Neill
Fri Jul 09, 2021 5:10 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: COVID-19 Coronavirus Thread
Replies: 503
Views: 155355

Re: COVID-19 Coronavirus Thread

I think there might be quite a strong correlation between a) answering Ipsos MORI polls and b) not having a social life, not wanting one, and not wanting anyone else to have one.
by Jon O'Neill
Tue Jul 06, 2021 8:00 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: COVID-19 Coronavirus Thread
Replies: 503
Views: 155355

Re: COVID-19 Coronavirus Thread

Paul Worsley wrote: Tue Jul 06, 2021 7:39 pm
Gavin Chipper wrote: Tue Jul 06, 2021 7:34 pm You wouldn't have to make it compulsory for workers.
They would still be required to enforce it. Assaults on shop assistants are up 7% in the past 12 months
That doesn't seem like a particularly noteworthy statistic. Do you have a source so we can see what a regular baseline would be?
by Jon O'Neill
Thu Jul 01, 2021 9:15 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: First impressions of Anne
Replies: 141
Views: 24510

Re: First impressions of Anne

It is her first day on the job guys. She/the team will have had no chance to step back and analyse her performance. If you were to go back and watch the first days of Hewer, Riley - even Whiteley - you'd see marked differences between the trademark style you associate with them and whatever they wer...
by Jon O'Neill
Tue Jun 29, 2021 3:13 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: First impressions of Anne
Replies: 141
Views: 24510

Re: First impressions of Anne

Stewart Gordon wrote: Tue Jun 29, 2021 1:58 pmskill'll
Niiiice
by Jon O'Neill
Mon Jun 14, 2021 8:40 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Politics in General
Replies: 1604
Views: 1653109

Re: Politics in General

Just on the link between the gesture and BLM, it's pretty hard to be sure of this because clearly for some people the gesture and/or reaction to it are all about BLM and for some people they aren't to do with BLM at all. Also, as touched on in this thread, there isn't really much consensus on what ...