Search found 3956 matches

by Ian Volante
Fri Aug 05, 2022 12:05 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Questions you've always wanted answered
Replies: 1615
Views: 631053

Re: Questions you've always wanted answered

Why do tins of coconut milk not have ringpulls like every other canned good since the start of the 21st century... I hate those bloody ringpulls on tins. Quite apart from requiring some force to open them fully, they leave a lip on the tin which means that all the juice doesn't come out. And they g...
by Ian Volante
Thu Aug 04, 2022 11:52 am
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Commonwealth Games
Replies: 14
Views: 984

Re: Commonwealth Games

Once Upon a Time it was countries with the Queen as Head of state or should I put this on the things I've just realised Membership nowadays requires adhering to the Harare Principles (or something like that I think), and is nowt to do with having been a colony/dominion in the past. See Mozambique f...
by Ian Volante
Thu Aug 04, 2022 11:49 am
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Questions you've always wanted answered
Replies: 1615
Views: 631053

Re: Questions you've always wanted answered

Why do tins of coconut milk not have ringpulls like every other canned good since the start of the 21st century... I hate those bloody ringpulls on tins. Quite apart from requiring some force to open them fully, they leave a lip on the tin which means that all the juice doesn't come out. And they g...
by Ian Volante
Wed Jul 27, 2022 12:06 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: The C4C Football Thread
Replies: 1265
Views: 195270

Re: The C4C Football Thread

Women's football is more interesting to watch than the men's. There I've said it. This might be unfair, as I don't watch much football; but my general impression of elite team sport is that at the very highest level, optimal play can render a contest into a bore-fest of tactical manoeuvring, wherea...
by Ian Volante
Tue Jul 26, 2022 11:43 am
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: REALLY obvious things you've just realised
Replies: 630
Views: 275695

Re: REALLY obvious things you've just realised

Been listening to Radio 2. Was a bit confused to hear an interview with Gilbert and Sullivan, and they were playing a load of music that didn't sound like the normal operettas. Turns out, it's Gilbert O'Sullivan and he is an entirely different (and crucially, living) artist. Big fan of him in the 7...
by Ian Volante
Fri Jul 22, 2022 12:22 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: REALLY obvious things you've just realised
Replies: 630
Views: 275695

Re: REALLY obvious things you've just realised

Gavin Chipper wrote: Fri Jul 22, 2022 11:17 am
Marc Meakin wrote: Fri Jul 22, 2022 9:20 am
Gavin Chipper wrote: Thu Jul 21, 2022 9:57 pm Wham! and George Michael did two completely different songs, both called Freedom.
Also Robbie Williams
Yeah, but Wham! basically is George Michael.
I suspect Andrew might have something to say about that.
by Ian Volante
Thu Jul 21, 2022 7:44 am
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Politics in General
Replies: 1604
Views: 1652875

Re: Politics in General

A tax cut would have been better than the energy bills rebate and NI hike hits the wrong audience at the wrong time. This reads oddly to me. It gives me the impression that you'd prefer a tax cut as a performative measure rather than a rebate that has more chance of reaching the people who need it ...
by Ian Volante
Fri Jul 15, 2022 6:59 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Politics in General
Replies: 1604
Views: 1652875

Re: Politics in General

I've some sympathy with reducing the role of the state. However, the state has a powerful position, especially at the moment, in smoothing turbulent economic waters. To my mind, there's way too much rhetoric, and very little cogent policy-making, and I don't see that changing any time soon. Personal...
by Ian Volante
Thu Jul 14, 2022 7:14 am
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Politics in General
Replies: 1604
Views: 1652875

Re: Politics in General

Marc Meakin wrote: Thu Jul 14, 2022 6:35 am Maybe she should have used Slipknot instead as the tories greatest hits ruined things for the working class socialists.
Are socialists particularly into early noughties metal?
by Ian Volante
Wed Jul 13, 2022 12:05 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Politics in General
Replies: 1604
Views: 1652875

Re: Politics in General

A tax cut would have been better than the energy bills rebate and NI hike hits the wrong audience at the wrong time. This reads oddly to me. It gives me the impression that you'd prefer a tax cut as a performative measure rather than a rebate that has more chance of reaching the people who need it ...
by Ian Volante
Tue Jul 12, 2022 11:43 am
Forum: Games and Puzzles
Topic: Wordle
Replies: 81
Views: 11416

Re: Wordle

Wordle and Quordle reasonably often, same as a few months ago.
by Ian Volante
Mon Jul 04, 2022 12:04 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: People you shouldn't trust
Replies: 921
Views: 394709

Re: People you shouldn't trust

Johnny Canuck wrote: Fri Jul 01, 2022 12:16 am Whatever conglomerate puts these all over Facebook.
Image
Can't you block them? I've never seen this at all.
by Ian Volante
Fri Jun 24, 2022 12:38 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Veganism Discussion
Replies: 117
Views: 11114

Re: Veganism Discussion

Marc Meakin wrote: Thu Jun 23, 2022 12:49 pm I guess only radical vegans would boycott Glasto like Morrissey
Erm, he's played there at least three times.
by Ian Volante
Fri Jun 24, 2022 12:34 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Things you were crap at as a kid
Replies: 12
Views: 935

Re: Things you were crap at as a kid

Gavin Chipper wrote: Wed Jun 22, 2022 1:23 pm Yeah, most people can't juggle. It takes a particular effort to learn and most people don't do it.
Meh, I'm not great at it, but it took me five minutes to grasp the basics.
by Ian Volante
Wed Jun 22, 2022 9:04 am
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Veganism Discussion
Replies: 117
Views: 11114

Re: Veganism Discussion

Marc Meakin wrote: Tue Jun 21, 2022 9:45 pm Just to play Devils avacado.
I wondo how many vegans are going to Glastonbury knowing full well this is the site of a working dairy farm?
The devil's really struggling for peril this week.
by Ian Volante
Mon Jun 20, 2022 11:33 am
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Countdown words spotted in real life
Replies: 122
Views: 54763

Re: Countdown words spotted in real life

Not sure if a quiz counts, but Pat Gibson successfully answered 'matamata' against us last night. You must have had some pretty bad selections to be getting that word. The selection of questions on South American fauna that nobody apart from Pat Gibson had heard of was the problem I suspect...
by Ian Volante
Thu Jun 16, 2022 12:02 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Countdown words spotted in real life
Replies: 122
Views: 54763

Re: Countdown words spotted in real life

Not sure if a quiz counts, but Pat Gibson successfully answered 'matamata' against us last night.
by Ian Volante
Mon Jun 13, 2022 11:55 am
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Trade Secrets
Replies: 155
Views: 42840

Re: Trade Secrets

It's a good idea and probably would have been really useful a few years back. I think mostly these days they keep a small cache of adverts they can show when the connection to the server fails. But yeah, will still work with some. Works perfectly on the Scrabble app as long as you turn it off after...
by Ian Volante
Thu Jun 09, 2022 11:49 am
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Veganism Discussion
Replies: 117
Views: 11114

Re: Veganism Discussion

Callum Todd wrote: Thu Jun 09, 2022 9:45 am Interesting story in the meat vs. faux-meat environmentalism space, with allusion to 'greenwashing'.
There's a reasonable chance they're correct in their claims, but they're idiots in not having done the work and in using weasel words instead.
by Ian Volante
Wed Jun 01, 2022 11:59 am
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Spare parts
Replies: 11
Views: 977

Re: Spare parts

So the answer to my original question seems to be "because it's difficult surgery" https://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/14bk64/why_cant_we_transplant_limbs/c7c08ro/ I've not read that link (sorry), but it seems to me that it would be much easier to add a hand to an arm that alread...
by Ian Volante
Wed Jun 01, 2022 11:54 am
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Putin/Russia invading Ukraine
Replies: 19
Views: 1953

Re: Putin/Russia invading Ukraine

At what point does it become irresponsible to continue with this defence? The rest of the world have made it clear they're not going to join in this war because they're too scared of Russia and what Putin might do, and Ukraine's military might is nothing compared to Russia's. So if Russia decide to...
by Ian Volante
Mon May 30, 2022 12:08 pm
Forum: Other game shows
Topic: Is Deal or No Deal an example of Monty Hall?
Replies: 4
Views: 5414

Re: Is Deal or No Deal an example of Monty Hall?

And that's the thread. Not quite ... an alternative explanation: The essence of the Monty Hall problem (& supposed paradox) is that the quiz master knows which box the prize is in. Once he reveals this knowledge (by opening doors) all boxes/doors are not equally likely any more. However in &quo...
by Ian Volante
Mon May 30, 2022 12:01 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Spare parts
Replies: 11
Views: 977

Re: Spare parts

Callum Todd wrote: Fri May 27, 2022 5:47 pm Not sure I understand the premise. Do potatoes have an usually high quantity of DNA?
Not sure about spuds specifically, but some plants have vast amounts of genetic material, sometimes caused by reduplication of their genome.
by Ian Volante
Mon May 30, 2022 11:52 am
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: What computer games have you been playing lately?
Replies: 95
Views: 32620

Re: What computer games have you been playing lately?

The main character in Kokotoni Wilf looked kind of religious. Not Jesus, but thought it was worth a mention for elimination purposes. Somewhere between an angel and a butterfly I'd say. Not sure what the design intention was, but a nice little game, that. I've still not made much progress with it.
by Ian Volante
Wed May 25, 2022 11:48 am
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Politics in General
Replies: 1604
Views: 1652875

Re: Politics in General

Also what is the point in there being a price cap if it just goes up with energy prices anyway ? The logic was that people that didn't change supplier over long periods were being screwed by annual increases being applied which were effectively loyalty penalties. A separate issue to the cost of the...
by Ian Volante
Mon May 23, 2022 11:59 am
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Eurovision Song Contest 2022
Replies: 23
Views: 1860

Re: Eurovision Song Contest 2022

Rhys Benjamin wrote: Fri May 20, 2022 5:58 pm Sam Ryder has narrowly lost to Harry Styles for this week’s #1, which confirms what I’ve been saying for a while: UK chart performance is a barometer for our Eurovision performance.
I suspect it's the other way round.
by Ian Volante
Mon May 23, 2022 11:56 am
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Most Famous People without a Wikipedia Article
Replies: 55
Views: 35611

Re: Most Famous People without a Wikipedia Article

Gavin Chipper wrote: Sat May 21, 2022 4:20 pm Never heard of.

Looks like he's a stand-in member of ZZ Top. Hmm.
Permanent.
by Ian Volante
Sat May 21, 2022 4:00 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Most Famous People without a Wikipedia Article
Replies: 55
Views: 35611

Re: Most Famous People without a Wikipedia Article

Elwood Francis.
by Ian Volante
Mon May 16, 2022 11:45 am
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: How do you watch your TV these days?
Replies: 2
Views: 389

Re: How do you watch your TV these days?

If I don't watch or listen to something live, I'm unlikely to watch it at all.
by Ian Volante
Tue Apr 26, 2022 8:54 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Elon Musk and Twitter
Replies: 10
Views: 980

Re: Elon Musk and Twitter

He can crow all he likes about free speech, it doesn't make him immune to libel/slander laws, which are a decent part of the basis for content management in the first place.
by Ian Volante
Thu Apr 14, 2022 11:56 am
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Pig-Headed Man
Replies: 56
Views: 4603

Re: Pig-Headed Man

Ian Fitzpatrick wrote: Thu Apr 14, 2022 8:58 am If you think that was a party I would hate to go to one of yours!
I don't think the quality of the party was defined in statute.
by Ian Volante
Mon Apr 04, 2022 12:02 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: People you shouldn't trust
Replies: 921
Views: 394709

Re: People you shouldn't trust

Elliott Mellor wrote: Sat Apr 02, 2022 6:02 pm People who say "x years young!" when talking about a person's birthday. It does not even make sense, and just sounds really ridiculous.
Meh, just the use of an antonym for effect. There's probably a linguistic term for this, but I don't know what it is.
by Ian Volante
Mon Mar 21, 2022 12:52 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: What films have you watched lately?
Replies: 428
Views: 241157

Re: What films have you watched lately?

Watched The Guard again for Paddy's Day. An excellent little film, silly, funny occasionally quite surprising. The only down sid eis that Don Cheadle doesn't attempt a cockney accent.
by Ian Volante
Wed Mar 16, 2022 1:01 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: What TV programmes have you been watching lately?
Replies: 761
Views: 565821

Re: What TV programmes have you been watching lately?

Matt Morrison wrote: Tue Mar 15, 2022 12:34 pm Euphoria. Not sure what I expected
A mild rush of endorphines?
by Ian Volante
Mon Mar 14, 2022 12:38 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Politics in General
Replies: 1604
Views: 1652875

Re: Politics in General

When did TikTok become "acceptable"? When it was first getting big, there was a lot of controversy abut it being this scary Chinese product that the Chinese government were presumably using to spy on everyone. Now it's everywhere, and you get the BBC going on about these viral TikTok vide...
by Ian Volante
Wed Mar 09, 2022 8:31 am
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Sports you would like to see.
Replies: 13
Views: 1246

Re: Sports you would like to see.

Gavin Chipper wrote: Tue Mar 08, 2022 9:49 pm Tennis but with cricket balls and bats. And to serve you bowl the ball. After that you play like tennis.
Inverse vigoro then. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vigoro
by Ian Volante
Tue Mar 08, 2022 12:48 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Cricket
Replies: 196
Views: 33658

Re: Cricket

This article (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/rules_and_equipment/4404874.stm) is a reasonable summary. I think it assumes knowledge that the layman wouldn't have. My understanding was that you were supposed to have a straight arm when bowling, which I would take to mean the same thing as a...
by Ian Volante
Mon Mar 07, 2022 1:28 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Cricket
Replies: 196
Views: 33658

Re: Cricket

It's still legitimate to discuss how much of an advantage they think it gave him. If someone asked if height gave an advantage in basketball, you wouldn't say "Well it's legal to be tall." I suppose you could say that all disparity in sporting ability or style is ultimately physiological ...
by Ian Volante
Fri Mar 04, 2022 12:50 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Fact or Bullshit
Replies: 27
Views: 2210

Re: Fact or Bullshit

Marc Meakin wrote: Fri Mar 04, 2022 10:45 am Does time, travel in a curve ?
If so wouldn't every event be, eventually cyclical?
It's a component of spacetime. Maybe this is a good place to start: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spacetime#Light_cone
by Ian Volante
Fri Mar 04, 2022 12:48 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Questions you've always wanted answered
Replies: 1615
Views: 631053

Re: Questions you've always wanted answered

Gavin Chipper wrote: Fri Mar 04, 2022 9:48 am Other than where there's a diving board, why do swimming pools ever need to make you out of your depth?
To facilitate heavy petting?
by Ian Volante
Fri Feb 18, 2022 1:11 pm
Forum: Games and Puzzles
Topic: The Monty Hall Problem
Replies: 9
Views: 2262

Re: The Monty Hall Problem

For interest: viewtopic.php?t=47
by Ian Volante
Wed Feb 16, 2022 12:43 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

Marc Meakin wrote: Tue Feb 15, 2022 4:45 pm So much for her wanting her day in court
If it's not two extremely rich people against each other, this is the only likely outcome to my mind.
by Ian Volante
Wed Feb 16, 2022 12:36 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: What TV programmes have you been watching lately?
Replies: 761
Views: 565821

Re: What TV programmes have you been watching lately?

In an unusual fit of up-to-dateness, I watched most of 'This is Going to Hurt' the other day. Excellently dark humour, veering more often towards the dark.

A few big laughs for me, a rarity indeed.
by Ian Volante
Tue Feb 15, 2022 12:34 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Google Instant
Replies: 20
Views: 3089

Re: Google Instant

Did they just quietly get rid of this? No? This still happens for you? The main thing was not the suggestions but loading up a whole new page of results every time you press a button. But while we're at it, the suggestions are often awful. Often you'll type in a name and it will only come up with s...
by Ian Volante
Mon Feb 14, 2022 1:12 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Veganism Discussion
Replies: 117
Views: 11114

Re: Veganism Discussion

animal problems Assuming this was meant to be "animal products", it's one of my favourite malapropisms for a while. 'Plant Pioneers No Pork Pie' (for anyone interested: it was a bit dry as there was no jelly but the pastry and the protein filling were very nice). Co-op ones are far better...
by Ian Volante
Mon Feb 14, 2022 1:07 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Google Instant
Replies: 20
Views: 3089

Re: Google Instant

Gavin Chipper wrote: Fri Feb 11, 2022 9:10 pm Did they just quietly get rid of this?
No?
by Ian Volante
Mon Feb 14, 2022 1:05 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Anyone Going To Watch The Superb Owl?
Replies: 4
Views: 581

Re: Anyone Going To Watch The Superb Owl?

When American football was first on TV here I was quite interested, but the half-time show is a real killer. The game starts at 11:30, it takes them till 01:00 to get to half-time, so there's still an hour and a half to go - and everything stops. That must be bedtime for a lot of people in the UK. ...
by Ian Volante
Thu Feb 10, 2022 1:01 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Next Champion of Champions series
Replies: 197
Views: 27780

Re: Next Champion of Champions series

Serious question: Is Countdown not going to have a Champion of Champions anymore? Been an omnipresent question since about three CoCs ago tbh. No reason why they won't keep going with them still - I know the transition of presenters as well as COVID have used up a lot of resources recently. Don't s...
by Ian Volante
Wed Feb 09, 2022 1:06 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Genius things
Replies: 41
Views: 10755

Re: Genius things

Marc Meakin wrote: Wed Feb 09, 2022 12:53 pm
Callum Todd wrote: Wed Feb 09, 2022 12:41 pm Exciting news about fusion power.
I wonder if the government can tax this?
They already do tax energy supply.
by Ian Volante
Mon Feb 07, 2022 12:50 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Questions you've always wanted answered
Replies: 1615
Views: 631053

Re: Questions you've always wanted answered

Marc Meakin wrote: Sun Feb 06, 2022 9:54 am On a similar subject, will Queen Camilla become the Queen Mother when Charles dies?
I really doubt it, unless there's a bigger surprise waiting for us from the early 80s.
by Ian Volante
Mon Jan 31, 2022 12:58 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: What books have you been reading lately?
Replies: 58
Views: 19536

Re: What books have you been reading lately?

The recent Billy Connolly autobiography is excellent fun, and gives quite a bit of insight. Been working through a selection of GK Chesterton works, which are of their time, but excellent fun. I can understand why Terry Pratchett looked up to him. I'm breaking these up by working through Lord of the...
by Ian Volante
Mon Jan 24, 2022 1:24 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Questions you've always wanted answered
Replies: 1615
Views: 631053

Re: Questions you've always wanted answered

Callum Todd wrote: Sat Jan 22, 2022 2:06 pm
Gavin Chipper wrote: Sat Jan 22, 2022 12:59 pm
Callum Todd wrote: Sat Jan 22, 2022 12:51 pm

Image

I found this guy with a bit of searching. Is this him?
Yes, it seems so. Thanks!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paddy_O%27Connell

Looks like he's on Radio 4 these days
I find him quite listenable.
by Ian Volante
Wed Jan 19, 2022 12:47 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Records on the wiki
Replies: 19
Views: 6552

Re: Records on the wiki

Gavin Chipper wrote: Tue Jan 18, 2022 10:48 pm So 30 (and 200) would be "bottoms", whereas 29 would be a "top".
This place is becoming more like Grindr every day.
by Ian Volante
Thu Jan 13, 2022 12:37 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: What films have you watched lately?
Replies: 428
Views: 241157

Re: What films have you watched lately?

Quite enjoyed 'Witness for the Prosecution' over Christmas. One of Charles Laughton's last films, and a very good story all round.
by Ian Volante
Fri Jan 07, 2022 10:14 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Deathwatch 2017
Replies: 467
Views: 210088

Re: Deathwatch 2017

Gavin Chipper wrote: Fri Jan 07, 2022 4:34 pm Sidney Potter.
Any relation of Harry?
by Ian Volante
Mon Jan 03, 2022 11:15 am
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: 2021 vision
Replies: 26
Views: 7496

Re: 2021 vision

Marc Meakin wrote: Sat Jan 01, 2022 7:11 am 2022 predictions.
Lewis Hamilton to make history and retire.
Lots of drivers have retired in the past.
by Ian Volante
Mon Jan 03, 2022 11:14 am
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Super Cool Funny Jokes
Replies: 144
Views: 18623

Re: Super Cool Funny Jokes

Elliott Mellor wrote: Mon Jan 03, 2022 9:38 am
Ian Volante wrote: Sun Jan 02, 2022 11:57 pm
Jon O'Neill wrote: Wed Oct 12, 2011 2:51 pm Bumped into a transvestite in Manchester yesterday...

...

He had a wig 'n' a dress.
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.
by Ian Volante
Sun Jan 02, 2022 11:57 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Super Cool Funny Jokes
Replies: 144
Views: 18623

Re: Super Cool Funny Jokes

Jon O'Neill wrote: Wed Oct 12, 2011 2:51 pm Bumped into a transvestite in Manchester yesterday...





...






He had a wig 'n' a dress.
Still don't get this.
by Ian Volante
Thu Dec 23, 2021 11:57 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Questions you've always wanted answered
Replies: 1615
Views: 631053

Re: Questions you've always wanted answered

I have recently learned that some people stand to wipe their arse. Whyever would you do that? You get different angles and can find stuff you might not have got from just the sitting position. So you need to do both, though you obviously start with sitting. Left and right handed as well. If you hav...
by Ian Volante
Thu Dec 23, 2021 4:50 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Questions you've always wanted answered
Replies: 1615
Views: 631053

Re: Questions you've always wanted answered

Mark Deeks wrote: Wed Dec 22, 2021 11:27 pm See to me, those aren't reaction videos. Those are analysis, commentary, whatever. The ones that are just straight reaction....well, if it's not a dog getting the zoomies when seeing the owner it hasn't seen for two years, it's a tough sell on me
Fair enough I'd say.