Search found 924 matches

by Elliott Mellor
Tue Feb 14, 2023 7:12 pm
Forum: Games and Puzzles
Topic: Button Bashing Mayhem (another Sporcle game)
Replies: 33
Views: 3911

Re: Button Bashing Mayhem (another Sporcle game)

I'm genuinely astonished at people getting 200+. I just can't do it because once I start going too fast I end up pressing the same button twice in a row.
by Elliott Mellor
Mon Feb 13, 2023 6:31 pm
Forum: Games and Puzzles
Topic: Button Bashing Mayhem (another Sporcle game)
Replies: 33
Views: 3911

Re: Button Bashing Mayhem (another Sporcle game)

This game here . My best is 222, which I thought was good when I set it, so it will be interesting to see how much you guys can deflate my ego this time. Mightily impressive, considering I couldn't get beyond 130 or so. The quicker I go, the more likely I am to accidentally type two in a row, which...
by Elliott Mellor
Mon Feb 13, 2023 10:51 am
Forum: Games and Puzzles
Topic: Sporcle multiplication tables
Replies: 20
Views: 2884

Re: Sporcle multiplication tables

Gavin Chipper wrote: Mon Feb 13, 2023 10:14 am
Sam Cappleman-Lynes wrote: Mon Feb 13, 2023 9:57 am https://youtu.be/Ve71eKpjnkU
Obscene.
Depressing, more like.
by Elliott Mellor
Mon Feb 13, 2023 8:50 am
Forum: Games and Puzzles
Topic: Sporcle multiplication tables
Replies: 20
Views: 2884

Re: Sporcle multiplication tables

Had another go this morning and got 1:11. This reminds me of a game that the kids at my mum's school do which tests how many arithmetic calculations up to 12*12 (and divisions) you can do in a minute. Some kids have gotten 90, and even 100+, and it always flummoxed me that they could do so many, sin...
by Elliott Mellor
Sun Feb 12, 2023 6:14 pm
Forum: Games and Puzzles
Topic: Sporcle multiplication tables
Replies: 20
Views: 2884

Re: Sporcle multiplication tables

Had a few goes and my best was 1:14. Even with my very best efforts, there was no way I could type quick enough to get sub-1 minute. Guess I've just not spent enough time in front of a computer to be able to type with the devastating efficiency that some people here apparently can!
by Elliott Mellor
Fri Feb 10, 2023 9:31 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Which Is Your Favourite Joke?
Replies: 48
Views: 10442

Re: Which Is Your Favourite Joke?

Marc Meakin wrote: Fri Feb 10, 2023 8:45 am This week's favourite joke:
I made a ventriloquist doll out of some old bits of carpet.
Its ruggish
That's genuinely a crap joke.
by Elliott Mellor
Wed Feb 08, 2023 9:14 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Extractions
Replies: 9
Views: 1057

Re: Extractions

I'm pretty sure they literally take minutes and you'll be recovered the same day.
by Elliott Mellor
Tue Feb 07, 2023 9:54 am
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Countdown adjudication dictionary
Replies: 103
Views: 12238

Re: Countdown adjudication dictionary

Gavin Chipper wrote: Mon Feb 06, 2023 10:40 pm To clarify matters, I won't be writing to James Cleverly on this subject.
Is this because you think the issue is too complicated for him to understand, or because you don't feel like writing to an MP is the way to solve this?
by Elliott Mellor
Fri Jan 27, 2023 4:11 pm
Forum: Countdown - Events
Topic: Safeguarding at and around co-events
Replies: 68
Views: 7878

Re: Safeguarding at and around co-events

It's worrying that people would probably readily have signed up for this hypothetical event in 2022, and there might well have been children sign up too. Nobody would have known, even in spite of the fact he'd been on the sex offenders register since 2020. If there was any argument against DBS chec...
by Elliott Mellor
Fri Jan 27, 2023 3:29 pm
Forum: Countdown - Events
Topic: Safeguarding at and around co-events
Replies: 68
Views: 7878

Re: Safeguarding at and around co-events

Graeme raises some fantastic points here, particularly this: The problem I'm trying to address is that this week, we discovered that even a respected and trusted participant in our community could be convicted, put on the sex offenders' register, and even have that reported in the press, and we coul...
by Elliott Mellor
Fri Jan 27, 2023 11:19 am
Forum: Countdown - Events
Topic: Safeguarding at and around co-events
Replies: 68
Views: 7878

Re: Safeguarding at and around co-events

I'd definitely say that it should be a requirement that event organisers undergo a full DBS check for future events - obviously it doesn't weed out the people who simply haven't been caught yet, but I'd say it's far better to do *something* than nothing. The very blunt truth of the matter is that no...
by Elliott Mellor
Thu Jan 12, 2023 6:48 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: REALLY obvious things you've just realised
Replies: 630
Views: 276085

Re: REALLY obvious things you've just realised

Marc Meakin wrote: Thu Jan 12, 2023 5:30 am The Elgin marbles are not a set of spheres but sculptures
I'm impressed you have managed to live for over half a century without learning this. Just wait until you find out what a titmouse is, or a gravy train, or a cat burglar :lol:
by Elliott Mellor
Sat Jan 07, 2023 7:07 pm
Forum: apterous.org
Topic: Game of the Year (GotY) 2022 - nominations
Replies: 0
Views: 1554

Game of the Year (GotY) 2022 - nominations

Evening, all! We've had Christmas, then New Year, and now it's time for the next big event of the season: Game of the Year :D I hope you all had an above average 2022, and if not then I hope you have a significantly better 2023. Please read the following carefully: Nominations The rules for nominati...
by Elliott Mellor
Mon Jan 02, 2023 4:18 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Corrections to numbers methods on the wiki
Replies: 7
Views: 1778

Re: Corrections to numbers methods on the wiki

A few days ago, someone pointed out that the wiki page for a Countdown episode listed a contestant's method incorrectly, because it used a number twice. After fixing it, I ran a script on my database (which is derived from the wiki), and found there were hundreds of other cases where a supposedly v...
by Elliott Mellor
Fri Nov 18, 2022 12:34 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: David Barnard, 1991-2022
Replies: 85
Views: 12023

Re: Please say a prayer for David Barnard

A very sad loss indeed - condolences to all his friends and family. Rest in peace, David, Countdown legend.
by Elliott Mellor
Fri Nov 04, 2022 4:08 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers for Friday 4 November 2022 (Series 86, Heat 100)
Replies: 13
Views: 1069

Re: Spoilers for Friday 4 November 2022 (Series 86, Heat 100)

MONOSES in r1
TOMELET in r2
MAJORAT in r4
TENESMUS in r10
by Elliott Mellor
Mon Oct 24, 2022 1:03 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Politics in General
Replies: 1604
Views: 1654116

Re: Politics in General

Rhys Benjamin wrote: Mon Oct 24, 2022 12:38 pm Bob, my boss, and 1922 committee member, so therefore neutral, has told the press that Boris got 100.

So maybe all the “journalists” who said he was lying about it should apologise to him?
Perhaps if you could answer the questions above this post, we could then debate this.
by Elliott Mellor
Mon Oct 24, 2022 8:32 am
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Politics in General
Replies: 1604
Views: 1654116

Re: Politics in General

The BBC aren’t even trying to hide their bias any more. I don’t ever want to hear that Boris was given a fair time of it. https://twitter.com/nj_timothy/status/1584440848879882240?s=21&t=WskpPxSv1OM6eC41NlkJsg Inasmuch as I'm generally happy to accept that people are going to have different pol...
by Elliott Mellor
Tue Oct 18, 2022 6:48 am
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Politics in General
Replies: 1604
Views: 1654116

Re: Politics in General

The world's worst journalist at it again. He's even acknowledged he's wrong, but left the original, fake news, tweet up... https://twitter.com/Peston/status/1580907218836553728?s=20&t=iFhugG3xB7L9XX0n1_lMsQ Yeah, a journalist who tells lies should be removed from the public eye and never be all...
by Elliott Mellor
Mon Oct 17, 2022 7:47 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Crisps and confectionery
Replies: 5
Views: 386

Re: Crisps and confectionery

I bought some monster munch multipack as I was feeling nostalgic and one pack had FIVE monster munch in it. You should sell this story to The Sun. You've even nailed the capital letters touch :D I have actually found myself saying "when I was young" in sentences now, which is a little bit...
by Elliott Mellor
Tue Oct 11, 2022 11:11 am
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Is modern life bad for society
Replies: 10
Views: 762

Re: Is modern life bad for society

Marc Meakin wrote: Tue Oct 11, 2022 8:16 am ...and flirting is dying as the me too movement has made flirtatious behaviour a minefield.
Speak for yourself...
by Elliott Mellor
Sat Oct 01, 2022 1:28 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Things you can't un-notice
Replies: 16
Views: 920

Re: Things you can't un-notice

Marc Meakin wrote: Sat Oct 01, 2022 1:20 pm
Elliott Mellor wrote: Sat Oct 01, 2022 12:23 pm The amount of topics that Marc Meakin creates.
Unless of course you block me
I never said I didn't like reading them :)
by Elliott Mellor
Sat Oct 01, 2022 12:23 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Things you can't un-notice
Replies: 16
Views: 920

Re: Things you can't un-notice

The amount of topics that Marc Meakin creates.
by Elliott Mellor
Fri Sep 09, 2022 12:54 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Queen Elizabeth II 1926-2022
Replies: 63
Views: 3670

Re: Queen Elizabeth II 1926-2022

Gavin Chipper wrote: Fri Sep 09, 2022 11:37 am Apparently she might have had bone cancer.
Is that likely to be anything more than a bit of internet gossip, though? Obviously the palace is never going to actually declare what it was - they'll simply state it was "old age".
by Elliott Mellor
Wed Aug 24, 2022 9:47 am
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Kurt Zouma and animal abuse
Replies: 160
Views: 12151

Re: Kurt Zouma and animal abuse

I'm not sure that's *quite* correct. Without the interference, you'd (in my opinion) actually have more cats being born because you'd have millions of unneutered horny cats roaming around, which would (if true, and I concede that I'm basing this on intuition) inevitably lead to far fewer mice and b...
by Elliott Mellor
Wed Aug 24, 2022 8:00 am
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Kurt Zouma and animal abuse
Replies: 160
Views: 12151

Re: Kurt Zouma and animal abuse

If all pet cats were released completely in to the wild, they'd cause far, far more devastation to mice and birds. Birds and mice and simply further down the food chain than cats - it's completely natural. Stray cats live exclusively off prey that they kill, and they'd probably live in much the sam...
by Elliott Mellor
Tue Aug 23, 2022 7:24 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Kurt Zouma and animal abuse
Replies: 160
Views: 12151

Re: Kurt Zouma and animal abuse

What's your opinion on keeping pets? The most obvious way this happens is to the animals 'your' "pet" animal eats. I have seen meatless "pet" food out there so maybe cats and dogs, just like humans, don't need to eat other animals to be healthy but I don't know enough about this...
by Elliott Mellor
Tue Aug 23, 2022 10:56 am
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Kurt Zouma and animal abuse
Replies: 160
Views: 12151

Re: Kurt Zouma and animal abuse

Basically what Gavin said. I have the same inclination as you Fiona, but when I think about it I cannot for the life of me think of any rational justification for it. Is species a relevant distinction for the moral worth of individual experience? Would we save one white rhino rather than 1,000,000 ...
by Elliott Mellor
Wed Aug 10, 2022 3:08 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: People you shouldn't trust
Replies: 921
Views: 395687

Re: People you shouldn't trust

Family members who gift framed photos of their kids to others. Like, great, another thing to file in a drawer out of sight. I'm not really sure why people imagine that you're going to want a picture of their grinning kid on the wall/mantlepiece staring at you - it just seems like a bizarre concept i...
by Elliott Mellor
Sat Jul 23, 2022 9:11 am
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: C4C/apto/Countdown Dreams
Replies: 758
Views: 401282

Re: C4C/apto/Countdown Dreams

Time to revive this thread with a contribution from last night. It was my birthday, however I'd had no messages from anyone to wish me a happy birthday. I was especially disappointed that maus hadn't sent me any form of acknowledgement, and I started telling strangers that it was my birthday in orde...
by Elliott Mellor
Mon Jul 11, 2022 6:56 pm
Forum: Games and Puzzles
Topic: Wordle
Replies: 81
Views: 11422

Re: Wordle

Do many people even still play wordle? I haven't played it in months because it quickly got boring, and I've not really heard anyone speaking about it recently. Definitely feels like the hype has died down.
by Elliott Mellor
Wed Jun 22, 2022 12:38 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Things you were crap at as a kid
Replies: 12
Views: 937

Re: Things you were crap at as a kid

Not sure how you equate juggling and surfing with scoring a century at snooker. Maybe your definition of a kid is different to mine. I was thinking under 16. I have been to Cornwall as a kid and saw some kids surfing. My sister could juggle in her early teens and she wasn't especially talented (No ...
by Elliott Mellor
Wed Jun 22, 2022 12:14 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Things you were crap at as a kid
Replies: 12
Views: 937

Re: Things you were crap at as a kid

I was doing what most 50 somethings do at some point and was reminiscing about childhood days. I came to the conclusion I was shit at virtually everything Couldn't : Swim Juggle Do Rubiks Cube Skip solo Boomerangs didn't come back Handstands Cartwheels Pogo stick I was 14 when I learned to ride a b...
by Elliott Mellor
Sun Jun 19, 2022 8:27 pm
Forum: Games and Puzzles
Topic: Unalike Words
Replies: 6
Views: 1854

Re: Unalike Words

I think SEAWORTHY DUCKLING deserves a mention for pleasingness, despite only scoring 72.
by Elliott Mellor
Mon May 30, 2022 11:42 am
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Politics in General
Replies: 1604
Views: 1654116

Re: Politics in General

"I'm sorry, I didn't realise the speed limit was 30 for everyone. My mate told me that I could do 60, as he didn't think the rules applied to us. I didn't think it'd cause a crash." Except this is more like a police car speeding without bloos and toos. It’s a case of mistakes being made. ...
by Elliott Mellor
Fri May 27, 2022 7:51 am
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Politics in General
Replies: 1604
Views: 1654116

Re: Politics in General

The Gray report is clear that Number 10’s staff clearly thought that as they were exempt from lockdown they were exempt from restrictions in total. I’m not sure you can pin that on the PM, to be honest. I think that’s on Martin Reynolds and other Number 10 officials. They then created a culture, te...
by Elliott Mellor
Sun May 15, 2022 9:53 am
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Eurovision Song Contest 2022
Replies: 23
Views: 1862

Re: Eurovision Song Contest 2022

^^^ That's insane. Anyway, on further reflection, I would say that the UK song was the best and it's not even close so it's good that it came second behind the obvious winners. But it was still very close with the bland offerings from Spain and Sweden and with a relatively low televote for the UK, ...
by Elliott Mellor
Mon May 09, 2022 1:15 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: C4C/apto/Countdown Dreams
Replies: 758
Views: 401282

Re: C4C/apto/Countdown Dreams

One from last night seemed to be set in the 1940s (I have 1945 in my head as being important in the dream, but not sure if this is accurate), since it turns out that maus, myself and some other people I can't recall (though Bradley may have been one) are trying to escape bombing by the nazis. Someho...
by Elliott Mellor
Mon May 02, 2022 8:07 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Was Jeanne Calment a fraud?
Replies: 70
Views: 24967

Re: Was Jeanne Calment a fraud?

I thought I might come back to this topic after the death of Kane Tanaka . The other thing about the mortality plateau is that there doesn't seem to be any particular reason for believing that it is a consistent thing above 105 anyway. Even if we include Calment, we have nine reaching 117, and only...
by Elliott Mellor
Mon May 02, 2022 9:10 am
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Where the hell, is Julian Fell?
Replies: 33
Views: 9732

Re: Where the hell, is Julian Fell?

Jamie Wing messaged me the other day to say that he actually happened upon Julian Fell in a restaurant in Oxford recently. Julian was (unsurprisingly) quite perturbed to have been recognised, saying that it was the first time in 15 years that it had happened to him. Didn't chat much as he quite clea...
by Elliott Mellor
Wed Apr 20, 2022 10:38 am
Forum: Countdown - Events
Topic: The future of COLIN
Replies: 21
Views: 3268

Re: The future of COLIN

I echo the other sentiments - as a relative newbie I've very much enjoyed Colin. Personally I don't think branded notepads/pens/coasters are necessary unless you have an excess of dosh to get rid of! As far as running at a loss, as long as you're keeping records, I'd feel inclined to add however mu...
by Elliott Mellor
Wed Apr 20, 2022 9:17 am
Forum: Countdown - Events
Topic: The future of COLIN
Replies: 21
Views: 3268

Re: The future of COLIN

I know I'm not really in a great position to comment on this as I've never been an attendee myself, but at least from the perspective of feedback from friends who have been, it's something they hugely look forward to and supplies them with a great deal of enjoyment and social opportunities. Only you...
by Elliott Mellor
Wed Apr 13, 2022 1:48 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Pig-Headed Man
Replies: 56
Views: 4605

Re: Pig-Headed Man

I am surprised it is the surprise birthday cake which has elicited a fine, not least because I’m not sure what Boris was meant to do there. Rishi and Carrie on the other hand should be in hotter water. They obviously thought it was OK at the time because it was reported in The Times at the time, an...
by Elliott Mellor
Wed Apr 13, 2022 1:29 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: David Barnard, 1991-2022
Replies: 85
Views: 12023

Re: Please say a prayer for David Barnard

Absolutely crushing news. Didn't know him too much personally but he seemed very amiable and full of energy - my best wishes are with him and his loved ones at this time.
by Elliott Mellor
Tue Apr 12, 2022 5:17 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Pig-Headed Man
Replies: 56
Views: 4605

Re: Pig-Headed Man

There can be absolutely no excuse for this. They both need to go (along with all their other cronies). If they stay in power, then that is an extremely dangerous precedent.
by Elliott Mellor
Sun Apr 10, 2022 4:48 pm
Forum: apterous.org
Topic: Game of the Year (GotY) 2021 - voting
Replies: 8
Views: 2783

Re: Game of the Year (GotY) 2021 - voting

Always a pleasure to run and commentate - much better than having it automated, don't you think? :D
by Elliott Mellor
Sun Apr 10, 2022 8:50 am
Forum: apterous.org
Topic: Game of the Year (GotY) 2021 - voting
Replies: 8
Views: 2783

Re: Game of the Year (GotY) 2021 - voting

THE GotY 2021 POLL HAS NOW CLOSED.[/size][/b] A HUGE thank you to all those who nominated and voted this year. The standard this year was possibly the highest ever, and a very large number of 10s were dished out (deservedly!) Every game that was in the running this year had earnt its place, and it r...
by Elliott Mellor
Sat Apr 09, 2022 8:42 am
Forum: apterous.org
Topic: Game of the Year (GotY) 2021 - voting
Replies: 8
Views: 2783

Re: Game of the Year (GotY) 2021 - voting

Last day!!!
by Elliott Mellor
Mon Apr 04, 2022 5:25 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: People you shouldn't trust
Replies: 921
Views: 395687

Re: People you shouldn't trust

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. I'm well aware of what it is, I jus...
by Elliott Mellor
Sun Apr 03, 2022 8:49 am
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: People you shouldn't trust
Replies: 921
Views: 395687

Re: People you shouldn't trust

People who say "x years young!" when talking about a person's birthday. It does not even make sense, and just sounds really ridiculous. A 10-year-old is 6 years young for Countdown. That’s about the only legit reason to use the phrase IMO. Even then, you'd say "6 years TOO young".
by Elliott Mellor
Sat Apr 02, 2022 6:02 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: People you shouldn't trust
Replies: 921
Views: 395687

Re: People you shouldn't trust

People who say "x years young!" when talking about a person's birthday. It does not even make sense, and just sounds really ridiculous.
by Elliott Mellor
Sat Apr 02, 2022 5:53 pm
Forum: apterous.org
Topic: Game of the Year (GotY) 2021 - voting
Replies: 8
Views: 2783

Re: Game of the Year (GotY) 2021 - voting

One week left!!!
by Elliott Mellor
Thu Mar 31, 2022 4:19 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: NHS-worship
Replies: 39
Views: 10123

Re: NHS-worship

I echo what Fiona says about the lack of coordination, and that this is a problem with the system. My great-grandma was in hospital for a considerable period shortly before she died, and I didn't really got a positive impression of the system - one time she hadn't eaten for a whole day because nobod...
by Elliott Mellor
Sat Mar 26, 2022 7:45 pm
Forum: apterous.org
Topic: Game of the Year (GotY) 2021 - voting
Replies: 8
Views: 2783

Re: Game of the Year (GotY) 2021 - voting

Two weeks left to vote!!
by Elliott Mellor
Thu Mar 03, 2022 8:15 am
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers for Wednesday 2nd March 2022 (Series 85, Prelim 43)
Replies: 12
Views: 1110

Re: Spoilers for Wednesday 2 March 2022 (Series 85, Prelim 43)

Shouldn’t have been. Correct to allow it - it was clearly stated that the dictionary used was apterous. If the event is rule-bound to go by the latest facsimile of the Apterous dictionary and chooses to use that for adjudication then that’s absolutely fine. The problem is the ‘latest’ version of th...
by Elliott Mellor
Mon Feb 28, 2022 7:15 pm
Forum: apterous.org
Topic: Game of the Year (GotY) 2021 - nominations
Replies: 1
Views: 2046

Re: Game of the Year (GotY) 2021 - nominations

Nominations have now closed.

Voting thread is live here.
by Elliott Mellor
Mon Feb 28, 2022 7:14 pm
Forum: apterous.org
Topic: Game of the Year (GotY) 2021 - voting
Replies: 8
Views: 2783

Re: Game of the Year (GotY) 2021 - voting

Nominations have now closed.

Voting thread is live here.

Edit: Wrong thread lmao.
by Elliott Mellor
Mon Feb 28, 2022 7:11 pm
Forum: apterous.org
Topic: Game of the Year (GotY) 2021 - voting
Replies: 8
Views: 2783

Game of the Year (GotY) 2021 - voting

Thanks to all those who submitted nominations for GotY 2021 . 2021 proved to be an absolutely sensational year for apterous, largely owing to people having a lot more time to play on it (as in 2020). This year, I have decided to make a couple of changes, so please read the rules carefully . Voting r...
by Elliott Mellor
Sat Feb 12, 2022 7:21 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Veganism Discussion
Replies: 117
Views: 11117

Re: Veganism Discussion

Just a response to some of your points Ell; I'm not going to attempt to proselytise or counter-argue on this thread as I think I did enough of that on the animal abuse thread, and when we're discussing the facets of veganism other than the ethics of animal cruelty I think there's less need for the ...
by Elliott Mellor
Sat Feb 12, 2022 2:28 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Veganism Discussion
Replies: 117
Views: 11117

Re: Veganism Discussion

I did find Callum's arguments to be quite intriguing, and have definitely made an effort to reduce my meat intake (well, in terms of foodstuffs). There are reasons that deter me from completely losing animal products, however: 1) Convenience - If a friend is having a barbeque with a few mates, I don...