Search found 250 matches

by Noel Mc
Sun Jun 13, 2021 11:33 am
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Politics in General
Replies: 1604
Views: 1653821

Re: Politics in General

Marc Meakin wrote: Sun Jun 13, 2021 11:25 am can i mention the compulsion for young Germans to join the Hitler youth
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

:lol: :lol: :lol:

Hahahahahahaha
by Noel Mc
Sun Jun 13, 2021 7:26 am
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Politics in General
Replies: 1604
Views: 1653821

Re: Politics in General

Footballers being compelled to take the knee Compelled by who or what? Compelled by a desire to show a display of solidarity with people suffering racist abuse? How awful! Im referring to taking the knee which is an act of a political organisatiin founded in Anerica Whats wrong g with stand up to r...
by Noel Mc
Sun Jun 13, 2021 7:07 am
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Politics in General
Replies: 1604
Views: 1653821

Re: Politics in General

Footballers being compelled to take the knee Compelled by who or what? Compelled by a desire to show a display of solidarity with people suffering racist abuse? How awful! Given that several teams have stopped making the gesture, and several individuals have spoken out saying they don't want to do ...
by Noel Mc
Sun Jun 13, 2021 6:06 am
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Politics in General
Replies: 1604
Views: 1653821

Re: Politics in General

Marc Meakin wrote: Thu Jun 10, 2021 4:14 pm
Footballers being compelled to take the knee
Compelled by who or what?
Compelled by a desire to show a display of solidarity with people suffering racist abuse?
How awful!
by Noel Mc
Wed Jun 09, 2021 12:56 am
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Next Champion of Champions series
Replies: 197
Views: 27783

Re: Next Champion of Champions series

It's definitely not solely meritocratic. Last time there were definitely people who had performed better than me (other semi-finalists with better octo-totals). I'm pretty sure I was picked solely on the gimmicky basis of always picking 4 large.
by Noel Mc
Wed May 12, 2021 10:29 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Politics in General
Replies: 1604
Views: 1653821

Re: Politics in General

A generally accepted view over here is there will be a United Ireland vote within the next 10/15 years.

If it were to happen now, it would be a no. 15 years, I'd say it would be a yes. Anything between now and then, who knows.

If you thought the Brexit vote was bad...
by Noel Mc
Wed Jan 06, 2021 1:51 pm
Forum: Games and Puzzles
Topic: Chess - advice for a beginner?
Replies: 24
Views: 13884

Re: Chess - advice for a beginner?

I'm looking for some way to run a chess tournament for pupils, a few parameters if possible: - No chat function - I want to ideally be able to share a URL for two pupils to play eachother - Free - Easy to sign up - pupils all have a school Google account, so that could be easily used. Anyone able to...
by Noel Mc
Mon Jan 04, 2021 7:36 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: COVID-19 Coronavirus Thread
Replies: 503
Views: 155384

Re: COVID-19 Coronavirus Thread

'Schools being open' is a pretty big difference to March.

I'm more laughing at the insinuation that Starmer could cause people to ignore rules by what he said. He's a muppet like, but that's just dumb.

I my be inferring incorrectly from what you said, in which case I apologise!
by Noel Mc
Mon Jan 04, 2021 4:41 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: COVID-19 Coronavirus Thread
Replies: 503
Views: 155384

Re: COVID-19 Coronavirus Thread

Rhys Benjamin wrote: Mon Jan 04, 2021 2:09 pm The implication made by Keir Starmer yesterday that Tier 4 is not lockdown is incredibly dangerous. With it looking more likely that the remaining 22% of the country will go into lockdown, I suspect we won't see the figures come down in the way we want to...
Hahaha
by Noel Mc
Mon Dec 21, 2020 7:04 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Best TV/Film Opening Credits
Replies: 15
Views: 6019

Re: Best TV/Film Opening Credits

Made another one of these:

https://youtu.be/kzqvFK8CKUg
by Noel Mc
Thu Dec 17, 2020 7:11 am
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: COVID-19 Coronavirus Thread
Replies: 503
Views: 155384

Re: COVID-19 Coronavirus Thread

Hospitals here (NI) are massively overwhelmed. There are 12 hospitals here, yesterday 8 of them were over capacity.

Outside Antrim Area Hospital had 15 ambulances outside it with people being treated in them, because there was no space inside for them.
by Noel Mc
Sat Dec 12, 2020 11:10 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: COVID-19 Coronavirus Thread
Replies: 503
Views: 155384

Re: COVID-19 Coronavirus Thread

Rhys Benjamin wrote: Thu Dec 10, 2020 11:19 pm So having harassed Dominic Cummings for not technically breaking the rules, Beth Rigby and Kay Burley break Covid rules. You couldn't really make it up.

Margaret Ferrier is still an MP, by the way.
Think they've both been suspended
by Noel Mc
Sun Nov 08, 2020 4:38 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: You've just been made producer of Countdown...
Replies: 88
Views: 28681

Re: You've just been made producer of Countdown...

Fiona T wrote: Sun Nov 08, 2020 12:00 pm
L'oisleatch McGraw wrote: Sun Nov 08, 2020 6:51 am
Is it your time of the month?
The '80s called - they'd like their misogynistic tropes back please.
:D :D
by Noel Mc
Tue Nov 03, 2020 7:59 am
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Countdown on YouTube [etc.]
Replies: 27
Views: 14010

Re: Countdown on YouTube [etc.]

Fingers crossed for part two :D
by Noel Mc
Mon Oct 26, 2020 3:28 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Re: Ticket #5803: ZoomDown - evidence of potential cheating
Replies: 72
Views: 23134

Re: Ticket #5803: ZoomDown - evidence of potential cheating

Nothing to contribute to any of this, other than admitting that I enjoy checking to see if there have been any more posts to this thread.
by Noel Mc
Thu Oct 22, 2020 3:31 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Politics in General
Replies: 1604
Views: 1653821

Re: Politics in General

I think, in terms of it being a Covid measure, it's probably because a lot of people are struggling (more than normal) financially in the current climate. Similar to financial aid being given to businesses etc. which are struggling.
by Noel Mc
Thu Oct 22, 2020 9:28 am
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Politics in General
Replies: 1604
Views: 1653821

Re: Politics in General

So, what do we think about this whole extension (or lack thereof) of Free School Meals over the holidays?
by Noel Mc
Fri Oct 16, 2020 6:43 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: COVID-19 Coronavirus Thread
Replies: 503
Views: 155384

Re: COVID-19 Coronavirus Thread

I'm going to stick my neck out and say that, regardless of where one stands on devolution generally, dealing with an international pandemic shouldn't be a devolved issue. I would agree, but only so far as I think it should be dealt with on a land-mass basis. Wales, Scotland and England together, No...
by Noel Mc
Thu Oct 15, 2020 10:12 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: COVID-19 Coronavirus Thread
Replies: 503
Views: 155384

Re: COVID-19 Coronavirus Thread

No matter how many powers are given to Scotland, they still argue for independence. I'm not Scottish, so I don't know for sure, but I imagine this very sentiment is what drives some Scots towards wanting independence. Removing the devolved government in Stormont would be very risky indeed. When the...
by Noel Mc
Thu Oct 15, 2020 4:48 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: COVID-19 Coronavirus Thread
Replies: 503
Views: 155384

Re: COVID-19 Coronavirus Thread

I find it incredibly weird that in England, the Prime Minister/government of the entire UK gets to decide our coronavrius rules, but that other parts of the UK have their own system. I know this is an age-old thing, and is related to e.g. this but it is a bizarre asymmetry nonetheless, and this who...
by Noel Mc
Thu Oct 15, 2020 4:44 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: COVID-19 Coronavirus Thread
Replies: 503
Views: 155384

Re: COVID-19 Coronavirus Thread

We (NI) are going in to a two week lockdown from this weekend. Schools closed an extra week for mid term. Restaurants etc. all shut. Close to the full shabang. What about over the border? Different restrictions depending on the county. Not totally up to speed. My brother works down in Dublin and he...
by Noel Mc
Wed Oct 14, 2020 9:00 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: COVID-19 Coronavirus Thread
Replies: 503
Views: 155384

Re: COVID-19 Coronavirus Thread

We (NI) are going in to a two week lockdown from this weekend. Schools closed an extra week for mid term. Restaurants etc. all shut. Close to the full shabang.
by Noel Mc
Sun Oct 11, 2020 6:08 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Ask Graeme?
Replies: 1740
Views: 684582

Re: Ask Graeme?

JackHurst wrote: Sun Oct 11, 2020 1:19 pm I would say this game is more notable for the winning word in rd 8.
Spotted it after about 2 seconds. Spent the next 28 seconds panicking, desperately trying to find something else.
by Noel Mc
Mon Oct 05, 2020 8:01 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: COVID-19 Coronavirus Thread
Replies: 503
Views: 155384

Re: COVID-19 Coronavirus Thread

In other news, lots of talk over here about a potential 'circuit breaker'. Suggestion is schools close for an extra week either before or after midterm. Mini lockdown with as much as possible closed down for two weeks.

Any talk in England/Wales/Scotland about this?
by Noel Mc
Fri Oct 02, 2020 7:06 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: COVID-19 Coronavirus Thread
Replies: 503
Views: 155384

Re: COVID-19 Coronavirus Thread

I also specifically meant her response to the Ferrier case.
by Noel Mc
Fri Oct 02, 2020 7:05 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: COVID-19 Coronavirus Thread
Replies: 503
Views: 155384

Re: COVID-19 Coronavirus Thread

If it's up to me the devolved nations and administrations should never have been allowed to create their own rules. lololololol What about issues outside Coronavirus?? Editting this: Northern Ireland hasnt had the best response, but surely you can see how a totally different landmass would probably...
by Noel Mc
Fri Oct 02, 2020 6:30 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Name Pronunciations
Replies: 11
Views: 3807

Re: Name Pronunciations

Not a pronunciation thing, but I always assumed Hilary was a male name, having an uncle by that name. Used to wonder why the President had a wife with a man's name.
by Noel Mc
Fri Oct 02, 2020 6:29 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: COVID-19 Coronavirus Thread
Replies: 503
Views: 155384

Re: COVID-19 Coronavirus Thread

Far far worse than what Cummings did, obviously. Massive fan of Laura K being used as an indicator of left-wing bias in the media. Impressed by Sturgeon's response to it. Whilst her performance shouldn't be a factor, I imagine she is just winning more and more people over in terms of Scottish indepe...
by Noel Mc
Wed Sep 30, 2020 9:47 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Name Pronunciations
Replies: 11
Views: 3807

Name Pronunciations

Inspired by a tangent in a different thread. It can be argued that some words have a 'correct' pronunciation and different dialects' pronunciations can be labelled as 'incorrect'. Whether you agree with that or not though: Do names have 'correct' pronunciations? If so, who determines what the correc...
by Noel Mc
Fri Sep 25, 2020 10:26 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: People you shouldn't trust
Replies: 921
Views: 395305

Re: People you shouldn't trust

Phil Reynolds wrote: Thu Sep 03, 2020 4:43 pm
Noel Mc wrote: Sat Jun 27, 2020 8:35 am See also the pronunciation of the name Mary: (Merry/Meery)
I don't understand. I don't know anyone who pronounces the name Mary in either of these ways.
What other way is it pronounced??
by Noel Mc
Fri Sep 25, 2020 10:25 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: You Are The Ref
Replies: 345
Views: 147380

Re: You Are The Ref

Ah, excellent!
by Noel Mc
Fri Sep 25, 2020 10:24 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: COVID-19 Coronavirus Thread
Replies: 503
Views: 155384

Re: COVID-19 Coronavirus Thread

People need to stop arguing from hindsight, because it's ridiculous. "We should have locked down sooner" - when exactly did you call for lockdown, and why would you do so so early on? Do you not realise it's a weapon of last resort, because evidently you don't. "Stay alert is pants, ...
by Noel Mc
Fri Sep 25, 2020 10:14 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: You Are The Ref
Replies: 345
Views: 147380

Re: You Are The Ref

(Maybe the wrong place to ask this) So I know (I think) there are two conundrum rules: - No plurals - Only one valid solution Are there then any possible 9 letter selections with two valid 9 letter words which could be used as a conundrum? So imagine SHEEPLANT was a valid word. ELEPHANTS is also val...
by Noel Mc
Thu Aug 27, 2020 10:01 am
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: "Black Takeover Day" - Autumn 2021
Replies: 79
Views: 26110

Re: "Black Takeover Day" - Autumn 2021

I am fortunate in that I've never been negatively discriminated against: Male White Heterosexual Middle Class However, as a person living in Belfast, were I born at the same time as my parents, things could have been different. I'm lucky that I don't really remember much of what happened here. I was...
by Noel Mc
Wed Aug 26, 2020 10:47 am
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: "Black Takeover Day" - Autumn 2021
Replies: 79
Views: 26110

Re: "Black Takeover Day" - Autumn 2021

The thought of anyone 'not being happy' is so laughable. Suck it up, seriously. I'd be amazed if Nick, Susie or Rachel are upset about it. Anyone who is upset from a viewer perspective, especially in terms of the competition etc. (is it a special, is it not, octoruns blah blah blah), need to get a l...
by Noel Mc
Sat Aug 22, 2020 5:19 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Countdown vs Scrabble
Replies: 8
Views: 3501

Re: Countdown vs Scrabble

FIBRATE is valid in Scrabble, but not in Countdown :cry: :cry: :cry:
by Noel Mc
Wed Aug 19, 2020 8:31 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Most Famous People without a Wikipedia Article
Replies: 55
Views: 35633

Re: Most Famous People without a Wikipedia Article

That's a bit obscure . She played a principal role in a blockbuster movie. Hardly obscure. The reason she doesn't get a wiki page is because she never did anything else (out of choice). That in itself doesn't exclude you from a wiki page. The boy who played Charlie in Charlie and the Chocolate Fact...
by Noel Mc
Wed Aug 19, 2020 4:43 pm
Forum: apterous.org
Topic: Cheating: What it is, and why you shouldn't do it
Replies: 257
Views: 196298

Re: Cheating: What it is, and why you shouldn't do it

Strikes me that an easyish way to make cheating more difficult might be to prevent copy from the letters, and paste in to the answer box. I can't think of a single instance where you'd legitimately need to do this. I copy and paste pretty much all declarations these days. That's only because I'm pl...
by Noel Mc
Mon Jul 27, 2020 7:59 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Ask Graeme?
Replies: 1740
Views: 684582

Re: Ask Graeme?

You're like a wizard.

Statistically, it shouldn't be surprising that there have never been two identical rounds, but somehow it is.
by Noel Mc
Mon Jul 27, 2020 6:31 am
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Ask Graeme?
Replies: 1740
Views: 684582

Re: Ask Graeme?

From the start of the current 15-round format to the end of series 81... Single player: 78 is the most common score (68 times) followed by 80 and 82 (64 times each). Final score (ignoring order, writing the winner's score first in all cases): 74-69 (6 times) followed by 78-62, 80-70 and 98-77 (5 ti...
by Noel Mc
Sat Jul 25, 2020 7:28 am
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Countdowners in the news
Replies: 238
Views: 117047

Re: Countdowners in the news

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/darts/53536189

You can discern who this mentions without even clicking the link.
by Noel Mc
Thu Jul 23, 2020 8:59 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Ask Graeme?
Replies: 1740
Views: 684582

Re: Ask Graeme?

Single player and then final result.
by Noel Mc
Thu Jul 23, 2020 8:58 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Ask Graeme?
Replies: 1740
Views: 684582

Re: Ask Graeme?

What is the most common final score in the current format?
by Noel Mc
Wed Jul 15, 2020 8:13 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Ask Graeme?
Replies: 1740
Views: 684582

Re: Ask Graeme?

Any idea of the highest intermediate number of a number round solution for which you must go via that number?

That's worded horribly.
by Noel Mc
Wed Jul 15, 2020 10:02 am
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Offensive Words
Replies: 57
Views: 25248

Re: Offensive Words

I had FAPS broadcast. Albeit they had to cut out Susie and Rachel's laughing. All that remained was Nick's bewilderment.
by Noel Mc
Wed Jul 01, 2020 2:47 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: People you shouldn't trust
Replies: 921
Views: 395305

Re: People you shouldn't trust

Gavin Chipper wrote: Sat Jun 27, 2020 4:01 pm I notice how you haven't given away your natural pronunciation!
I'm a haitch/Meery sort of person!
by Noel Mc
Sat Jun 27, 2020 8:35 am
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: People you shouldn't trust
Replies: 921
Views: 395305

Re: People you shouldn't trust

Regarding the aitch/haitch situation, where I live there is a rather funny/depressing split along typical Northern Ireland lines for the pronunciation. I taught in a school for a year and intentionally changed my pronunciation of the letter, mainly just to avoid boring conversation. I did randomly d...
by Noel Mc
Thu Jun 25, 2020 5:11 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: You Are The Ref
Replies: 345
Views: 147380

Re: You Are The Ref

The AELUROIDS episode was actually what prompted the question.

I wonder how many declarations down the years have been spelt wrong? I know sometimes Susie aske how it's being spelt, but not always.
by Noel Mc
Wed Jun 24, 2020 12:10 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: You Are The Ref
Replies: 345
Views: 147380

Re: You Are The Ref

Sorry, in this case you only have two options, say MAWSONITE and AWMSONITE. You know your gonna pick one of them, by decide to wing it when asked. They declare first, saying MAWSONITE and getbapproving looks from dictionary corner. What would you do in that instance? Purposely pick the wrong one or ...
by Noel Mc
Wed Jun 24, 2020 11:44 am
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: You Are The Ref
Replies: 345
Views: 147380

Re: You Are The Ref

What if you knew there was a 9, had two possible options and resolved that you were gonna pick one, regardless of what the other person does.

They declare first and you see DC give a smile and a nod.

In that case, what do you do?
by Noel Mc
Wed Jun 24, 2020 11:28 am
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: You Are The Ref
Replies: 345
Views: 147380

Re: You Are The Ref

Letters round, selection is MNTSWAOIE. You are declaring second and know there is a 9. Unsure what it is, you write down a few random ones. WAMNIOTES MAWSONITE AWMNIOTES Player 1 declares a 9, you also declare a 9. Wait for them to declare MAWSONITE. You then say 'Yep, same word' and point to the co...
by Noel Mc
Fri Jun 12, 2020 3:38 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Copyright Issues
Replies: 5
Views: 2881

Re: Copyright Issues

Just went for it in the end. As you say, doubt they'll care too much!

About 12.05 in this video:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=npOBkKBjmrM
by Noel Mc
Thu Jun 11, 2020 12:41 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Copyright Issues
Replies: 5
Views: 2881

Copyright Issues

Some of you are a lot more knowledgeable than me. I know that episodes and stuff have been taken from YouTube. Making a final assembly video for pupils, which will go on YouTube. Planning on doing a short numbers round, with graphics ripped from the app, then the clock music playing over. I wouldn't...
by Noel Mc
Fri May 29, 2020 7:06 am
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Cummings and goings
Replies: 73
Views: 20826

Re: Cummings and goings

On my phone, so can't quote. Just responding to two things: Police don't have the power to definitively say someone broke the law, that power lies with the courts. So when the police say 'might have broke the law', all the word 'might' means is that it would need to be confirmed by a court. As far a...
by Noel Mc
Wed May 20, 2020 3:42 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Best TV/Film Opening Credits
Replies: 15
Views: 6019

Re: Best TV/Film Opening Credits

An update for you: After a lot of procrastination, I finally got round to the intro at about 11 pm last night. I was short on time so didn't have much scope for variety!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=GHfjmuvG2sg
by Noel Mc
Mon May 18, 2020 9:32 am
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Best TV/Film Opening Credits
Replies: 15
Views: 6019

Re: Best TV/Film Opening Credits

Best Opening Credits for me is Catch Me if You Can. Would love to try this! The obvious first answer has to be the A-Team. Single greatest TV intro of all time. Excellent call! Just dropping in to say great work Noel. What age do you teach? Ah cheers Matt! Secondary School age, so 12-18. I just wan...
by Noel Mc
Sun May 17, 2020 7:51 am
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Best TV/Film Opening Credits
Replies: 15
Views: 6019

Best TV/Film Opening Credits

I'm looking for suggestions here. I've been making assemblies for my school since we've been closed. They mostly just track my gradual descent in to madness. I've been refilming intros to different films and TV shows. You can see them at the start of these: The Office (US) , Stranger Things , Star W...
by Noel Mc
Thu May 07, 2020 11:50 am
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: When Countdown episodes run out
Replies: 80
Views: 29002

Re: When Countdown episodes run out

CoC XV due in late July I presume, again, from an email I've just received.