Search found 1803 matches

by Mark Deeks
Wed Jun 14, 2023 9:35 am
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Deathwatch 2017
Replies: 467
Views: 210067

Re: Deathwatch 2017

Cormac McCarthy, too. 2023 continues to put up numbers. I'm telling you, there's still a chance. Just needs one Bono-esque surprise big name and then we'll bring on Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and push for the win.
by Mark Deeks
Thu Jun 01, 2023 12:23 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Questions you've always wanted answered
Replies: 1615
Views: 631031

Re: Questions you've always wanted answered

Seems like he missed an obvious trick, though. Coulda been the ubiquitous one with a bit more forethought. Silly Gary.
by Mark Deeks
Wed May 31, 2023 6:09 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Questions you've always wanted answered
Replies: 1615
Views: 631031

Re: Questions you've always wanted answered

When Gary Fahrenheit was devising his temperature scale, what's with the random placing of the 0?
by Mark Deeks
Thu May 25, 2023 5:36 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Politics in General
Replies: 1604
Views: 1652850

Re: Politics in General

Of course. Trust me, I know the freedom with which my grandparents used it. But a rebroadcast wouldn't be in that time, and thus the word wouldn't need to be there.
by Mark Deeks
Thu May 25, 2023 5:05 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Politics in General
Replies: 1604
Views: 1652850

Re: Politics in General

Your last sentence is exactly MY point - this is why the N-word adds nothing, because we already know the major is an out-of-touch buffoon. At that point, it's just using the word for the sake of it.
by Mark Deeks
Thu May 25, 2023 12:05 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Politics in General
Replies: 1604
Views: 1652850

Re: Politics in General

There's a limit to that. The use of the slur has to add something - as you say, context is key. I can't remember the exact usage in Of Mice And Men, but if it serves to highlight the racial prejudice of the time, then, sure. Whereas the Major using the word in Fawlty Towers didn't add anything (it w...
by Mark Deeks
Wed May 24, 2023 7:19 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Deathwatch 2017
Replies: 467
Views: 210067

Re: Deathwatch 2017

Hey man, that's just what I do. I kill celebrities for internet clout. We've all got hobbies, don't judge me.
by Mark Deeks
Wed May 24, 2023 1:25 am
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Deathwatch 2017
Replies: 467
Views: 210067

Re: Deathwatch 2017

I realise 2016 had so many heavy hitters in the world of entertainment that its lead at the top will be tough to beat, but, 2023 is serving up some real names in the death game this year. Rolf Harris, Jerry Springer, Martin Amis, Jim Brown, Len Goodman, Harry Bellafonte, Barry Humphries, Dick Fosbur...
by Mark Deeks
Sat May 13, 2023 10:25 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: C4C/apto/Countdown Dreams
Replies: 758
Views: 400389

Re: C4C/apto/Countdown Dreams

Missed the action? That simply won't do.
by Mark Deeks
Sat May 13, 2023 3:15 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: C4C/apto/Countdown Dreams
Replies: 758
Views: 400389

Re: C4C/apto/Countdown Dreams

Many if not most of my dreams involve either snooker or Matt Morrison . This one went for both. - I was a member of a professional basketball team, the Milton Keynes Miltons, and our next match took place inside a scout hut just off the A507 near the Ampthill turn-off with remarkably low ceilings. T...
by Mark Deeks
Mon May 08, 2023 2:40 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Is it time to end, the Monarchy?
Replies: 66
Views: 4294

Re: Is it time to end, the Monarchy?

When the Queen died, I happened to be at my parents' house, because it was near to a comedy gig I was going to and I still blag free dinners like a teenager. The news greatly upset my mum - I didn't really know why then, and I still don't really know why now. As best I can tell, it was a combination...
by Mark Deeks
Sun May 07, 2023 6:29 am
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Is it time to end, the Monarchy?
Replies: 66
Views: 4294

Re: Is it time to end, the Monarchy?

do you not find the whole religious aspect of it all a bit weird or even uncomfortable?
I didn't, until yesterday. But that whole ceremony just felt a bit culty.
by Mark Deeks
Thu May 04, 2023 9:02 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Questions you've always wanted answered
Replies: 1615
Views: 631031

Re: Questions you've always wanted answered

Fair.
by Mark Deeks
Thu May 04, 2023 8:05 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Questions you've always wanted answered
Replies: 1615
Views: 631031

Re: Questions you've always wanted answered

I dunno man. The flute's a sneaky-cool instrument and all, but I can't remember us beatifying a flautist before. She seems to have transcended society with it.
by Mark Deeks
Thu May 04, 2023 5:31 am
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Questions you've always wanted answered
Replies: 1615
Views: 631031

Re: Questions you've always wanted answered

What's apparently so interesting about Lizzo?
by Mark Deeks
Mon May 01, 2023 1:22 pm
Forum: Games and Puzzles
Topic: Nobody in the world could beat you at X Y and Z
Replies: 35
Views: 4092

Re: Nobody in the world could beat you at X Y and Z

They used to have town planning in the Olympics. I reckon I could plan the shit out of a town.
by Mark Deeks
Mon May 01, 2023 1:17 pm
Forum: Games and Puzzles
Topic: Nobody in the world could beat you at X Y and Z
Replies: 35
Views: 4092

Re: Nobody in the world could beat you at X Y and Z

I'm telling you, write the goddamn cheque, Buffet. Destruction Derby. It's over for you. 99s every time, I was a machine. Still am. Definitely haven't wasted my life or anything. Anyway, this is all just a thinly veiled pretense for someone to just ask Jack what he would do so he can say pool and Co...
by Mark Deeks
Sun Apr 30, 2023 8:19 pm
Forum: Games and Puzzles
Topic: Nobody in the world could beat you at X Y and Z
Replies: 35
Views: 4092

Re: Nobody in the world could beat you at X Y and Z

Holy balls you're posh.
by Mark Deeks
Sun Apr 30, 2023 7:36 pm
Forum: Games and Puzzles
Topic: Nobody in the world could beat you at X Y and Z
Replies: 35
Views: 4092

Re: Nobody in the world could beat you at X Y and Z

Sarcasm, the original Destruction Derby on the Playstation, cutting perfectly round fingernails using massive kitchen scissors.
by Mark Deeks
Fri Apr 28, 2023 11:41 am
Forum: Games and Puzzles
Topic: the Countdowners Outside Co:Event Meet-ups game (COCMEAT)
Replies: 97
Views: 78277

Re: the Countdowners Outside Co:Event Meet-ups game (COCMEAT)

Guess I have a fair few to add here, mostly through quizzing. Incomplete list off the dome - Fiona, Tim Down, James Wilson, Ned, Aidan Linge, Rychelle, Tom Rowell, Ian Volante, Phil Makepeace, Charlie, Phil (RIP), Supee, T-Cap. Most recently, Ahmed Mohammed. We talked about all of you. Especially YO...
by Mark Deeks
Wed Apr 19, 2023 1:17 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Politics in General
Replies: 1604
Views: 1652850

Re: Politics in General

There's a chance that GB News selectively chose someone who would say something like that so as to fit an agenda and stoke feelings in the audience. My dad watches GB News pretty much all day, it's, uh, quite the viewing experience.
by Mark Deeks
Tue Apr 18, 2023 10:20 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Politics in General
Replies: 1604
Views: 1652850

Re: Politics in General

The difference in the reactions to the protests at the National and at the snooker was kinda funny. (I mean on the broadcasts, not in my house.)
by Mark Deeks
Tue Apr 18, 2023 10:17 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Politics in General
Replies: 1604
Views: 1652850

Re: Politics in General

Well,alright. I disagree, but have only anecdotal evidence with likely selection-bias issues, so. Still think it's not a great protest strategy to disrupt unrelated things, but definitely agree it's better than jumping in the road. Most things are.
by Mark Deeks
Tue Apr 18, 2023 10:12 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Politics in General
Replies: 1604
Views: 1652850

Re: Politics in General

Jon O'Neill wrote: Tue Apr 18, 2023 9:43 pmThe people you're talking about who would have that reaction against the movement are a very thin slice of the spectrum of human perspective
Are they?
by Mark Deeks
Tue Apr 18, 2023 9:08 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Politics in General
Replies: 1604
Views: 1652850

Re: Politics in General

I say this as a man who had a fairly robust discussion with his dad about the protests at the Grand National only a couple of days prior, in which he made much the same argument as me, so I feel a little hypocritical. But at least those protesters were actually protesting at the site of the issue th...
by Mark Deeks
Tue Apr 18, 2023 9:07 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Politics in General
Replies: 1604
Views: 1652850

Re: Politics in General

everything good we have in this world came from people who were willing to fight for it Yes, but it matters who you're fighting, and where you fight. The climate fight isn't with snooker tables, and any benefits from the exposure of protesting (was it even a protest? it was just a disruption) a maj...
by Mark Deeks
Sat Apr 15, 2023 4:00 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Countdown Lookalikes?
Replies: 390
Views: 221913

Re: Countdown Lookalikes?

Image

Good luck Graeme in the first round of the World Snooker Championship against Ronnie O'Sullivan today.
by Mark Deeks
Sun Apr 02, 2023 4:45 am
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Questions you've always wanted answered
Replies: 1615
Views: 631031

Re: Questions you've always wanted answered

That's exactly the same score I got first time. Well done! Yeah some of the stuff is ridiculous, but don't grade yourself against those bits.
by Mark Deeks
Fri Mar 31, 2023 7:54 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Strange things you used to believe as a child
Replies: 32
Views: 6039

Re: Strange things you used to believe as a child

When I was young, I thought snooker balls all had two white stripes on the top and wondered how they managed to stay there when the ball was rolling.

Image
by Mark Deeks
Thu Mar 23, 2023 7:06 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Questions you've always wanted answered
Replies: 1615
Views: 631031

Re: Questions you've always wanted answered

No qualification required. Just pay and turn up. Decided to dip my toe in. There is a monthly version at a venue in Canterbury for £12 50 on the 1st April Hope its not too full on Those are the monthly quiz grand prixs. 90 min written quizze You've basically just signed up to give up your Saturday ...
by Mark Deeks
Thu Mar 23, 2023 6:35 am
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Questions you've always wanted answered
Replies: 1615
Views: 631031

Re: Questions you've always wanted answered

No qualification required. Just pay and turn up.
by Mark Deeks
Wed Mar 22, 2023 9:46 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Questions you've always wanted answered
Replies: 1615
Views: 631031

Re: Questions you've always wanted answered

Considering they seem to practice every single day, why are all church bell ringers so crap?
by Mark Deeks
Wed Mar 22, 2023 9:46 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Questions you've always wanted answered
Replies: 1615
Views: 631031

Re: Questions you've always wanted answered

It was indeed.
by Mark Deeks
Tue Mar 21, 2023 6:50 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Absolutely terrible claims to fame/celebrity spots
Replies: 74
Views: 28049

Re: Absolutely terrible claims to fame/celebrity spots

The world's joint-largest container ship is named after my aunt.
by Mark Deeks
Tue Mar 21, 2023 2:51 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Questions you've always wanted answered
Replies: 1615
Views: 631031

Re: Questions you've always wanted answered

How do cows get that big when they only eat grass?
by Mark Deeks
Mon Mar 20, 2023 9:30 am
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Getting back on for a second go
Replies: 88
Views: 19428

Re: Getting back on for a second go

The two days of filming heats were, even now, probably the best two of my life. There was no expectation, only a small amounted of self-inflicted pressure (certainly made up for that later on), a receptive actual audience, a bunch of fun stories/coincidences, the fun of new experiences, and, moreove...
by Mark Deeks
Tue Mar 14, 2023 2:17 am
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Deathwatch 2017
Replies: 467
Views: 210067

Re: Deathwatch 2017

Will never understand how the high jump is possible. How can you jump higher than you are?
by Mark Deeks
Sat Mar 11, 2023 10:06 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: ChatGPT
Replies: 37
Views: 3473

Re: ChatGPT

I resemble that remark.
by Mark Deeks
Fri Mar 03, 2023 3:44 am
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: This house believes Countdown is the greatest gameshow of all time
Replies: 26
Views: 3589

Re: This house believes Countdown is the greatest gameshow of all time

I don't think the answer to the question of Best Game Show should be a quiz show. They are distinct enough as a genre.
by Mark Deeks
Thu Mar 02, 2023 5:26 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: This house believes Countdown is the greatest gameshow of all time
Replies: 26
Views: 3589

Re: This house believes Countdown is the greatest gameshow of all time

The 'skill' in quizzing is just knowing more stuff.
Eh, there's a fair bit more to it than that. Quizzing is the intersection of knowledge, logic and deduction.
by Mark Deeks
Wed Feb 22, 2023 7:43 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: ChatGPT
Replies: 37
Views: 3473

Re: ChatGPT

Gonna put a lot of us out of work, self included. Ah well.
by Mark Deeks
Sun Feb 19, 2023 10:22 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Have we got a thread for that?
Replies: 16
Views: 2603

Re: Have we got a thread for that?

Fiona T wrote: Sat Feb 18, 2023 11:32 pm AKA questions for Gavin

Do we have a thread for "people you thought probably died years ago but are still alive"

(in this case, Jimmy Carter)

Until just now, I would have also said, Dickie Davies. But alas.
by Mark Deeks
Sun Feb 19, 2023 5:30 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: The Mandela Effect
Replies: 49
Views: 7970

Re: The Mandela Effect

"Minor crime." Aight. And this is why it's genuinely terrifying that you're a safeguarder. Good luck with the lawsuit.
by Mark Deeks
Mon Feb 06, 2023 11:42 am
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Countdown adjudication dictionary
Replies: 103
Views: 12235

Re: Countdown adjudication dictionary

The content in ODP has made the gap between online players and home players too great now, in my view.
I think this is the main point. The nicheness of some of the new online stuff is fun for the word nerds, but not good for the overall game.
by Mark Deeks
Fri Feb 03, 2023 10:06 am
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Jim Bentley, 1971-2022
Replies: 32
Views: 3861

Re: Jim Bentley, 1971-2022

"I am however relieved that it does not seem to be a consequence of his outing and resultant discussion on here - something we should consider if anything like this turns up in the future." So what are we considering exactly, if it's not taboo to talk about it? Fiona was basically saying ...
by Mark Deeks
Fri Feb 03, 2023 1:06 am
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Jim Bentley, 1971-2022
Replies: 32
Views: 3861

Re: Jim Bentley, 1971-2022

So, outing a sex-offender is taboo now it seems. I don't think that's what she's saying. I think she's simply saying that she's glad Jim didn't kill himself through being outed on C4, which is not the same thing as saying the news should not be shared. I thought Jim might be a suicide risk, too, an...
by Mark Deeks
Fri Feb 03, 2023 1:02 am
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Jim Bentley, 1971-2022
Replies: 32
Views: 3861

Re: Jim Bentley, 1971-2022

Well, look, that's why we have these discussions. It's certainly how I interpreted comments like Fiona's above; I apologise if you feel I've not been very clear and I'm not trying to piss people off at all. I do think some have been too sympathetic and I'm surprised you can't see how Damian and I h...
by Mark Deeks
Fri Feb 03, 2023 12:47 am
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Jim Bentley, 1971-2022
Replies: 32
Views: 3861

Re: Jim Bentley, 1971-2022

Can't see how. No one has said anything nice about him.
by Mark Deeks
Fri Feb 03, 2023 12:29 am
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Jim Bentley, 1971-2022
Replies: 32
Views: 3861

Re: Jim Bentley, 1971-2022

not willing to believe it, or indeed willing to overlook these recent events Well, having been the person to post both pieces of news on this forum - which you can rest assured were both the result of many, many hours of research and discussion - I think it's fair to say that no one has been more i...
by Mark Deeks
Wed Feb 01, 2023 5:57 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers for Wednesday 1 February 2023 (Series 87, Heat 8)
Replies: 6
Views: 739

Re: Spoilers for Wednesday 1 February 2023 (Series 87, Heat 8)

Harelip is offensive? I thought it was just the name for the thing.
by Mark Deeks
Wed Feb 01, 2023 2:52 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Jim Bentley, 1971-2022
Replies: 32
Views: 3861

Re: Jim Bentley, 1971-2022

He was our friend. He absolutely 100% would not have been if we knew. But we didn't, and so he was.
by Mark Deeks
Wed Feb 01, 2023 11:27 am
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Jim Bentley, 1971-2022
Replies: 32
Views: 3861

Re: Jim Bentley, 1971-2022

FWIW, it was very very considered, and we/I attempted to contact Jim in advance so as to try and mitigate that risk. It was after finding out that every point of contact for him no longer worked that a deeper effort to find out his current circumstances was undertaken, leading to this.
by Mark Deeks
Wed Feb 01, 2023 11:04 am
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Jim Bentley, 1971-2022
Replies: 32
Views: 3861

Re: Jim Bentley, 1971-2022

It kind of feels like he died twice in a week.
by Mark Deeks
Wed Feb 01, 2023 11:00 am
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Jim Bentley, 1971-2022
Replies: 32
Views: 3861

Jim Bentley, 1971-2022

His family have informed me that long-time C4C mainstay Jim Bentley died unexpectedly last August. He had a stroke while out for a run. Whatever else we now know about Jim, he was, for a long time, part.of the furniture around here. It was already a very confusing period for those of us who consider...
by Mark Deeks
Tue Jan 31, 2023 9:57 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Countdowners in the news
Replies: 238
Views: 116901

Re: Countdowners in the news

The attraction isn't the crime. It's fucked up, but it's not the crime. The acting on it, that's the crime.
by Mark Deeks
Tue Jan 31, 2023 9:56 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: You Are The Ref
Replies: 345
Views: 147335

Re: You Are The Ref

Sam Cappleman-Lynes wrote: Tue Jan 31, 2023 2:35 pm
Fiona T wrote: Tue Jan 31, 2023 12:58 pm Yeah I'm adopting the Jack Hurst Shuffle going forward. :)
I opened this thread at the latest message without having read the previous half dozen or so, and I choose to believe that this is a dance move.

Image
by Mark Deeks
Sun Jan 29, 2023 10:04 pm
Forum: Countdown - Events
Topic: Safeguarding at and around co-events
Replies: 68
Views: 7871

Re: Safeguarding at and around co-events

This I appalling, surely not during an event? In a pub afterwards when people are drunk I would suspect. Of those that I know, yes. I don't however think the delineation between event and the rest of the day matters too much - I appreciate it might to organisers and FOCAL people, but, to the attend...
by Mark Deeks
Sun Jan 29, 2023 8:38 pm
Forum: Countdown - Events
Topic: Safeguarding at and around co-events
Replies: 68
Views: 7871

Re: Safeguarding at and around co-events

"So far we've been lucky that the worst kind of crimes, of the kind these people got convicted for, haven't happened to any of us at events." That we know of. And going beyond the paedophilia stuff that this discussion hitherto has focused on, there have definitely been crimes committed ag...
by Mark Deeks
Sat Jan 28, 2023 1:01 am
Forum: Countdown - Events
Topic: Safeguarding at and around co-events
Replies: 68
Views: 7871

Re: Safeguarding at and around co-events

I'm not going to any social event that requires a DBS check in advance.