Search found 96 matches

by Heather Styles
Mon Jun 17, 2019 11:56 pm
Forum: Countdown - Events
Topic: Countdown in Brinsworth 2019
Replies: 1
Views: 3042

Re: Countdown in Brinsworth 2019

Srsly?
by Heather Styles
Thu Aug 17, 2017 2:09 pm
Forum: Countdown - Events
Topic: CoBirmingham/The FOCAL Finals 2017
Replies: 29
Views: 25611

Re: CoBirmingham/The FOCAL Finals 2017

Thanks, Matt, for a thoughtfully worded and helpful post. I suppose I would only say that if one means anti-consumerism, perhaps say that, and leave Christmas out of it. In homes and churches in many parts of the world, it still is a meaningful religious festival.
by Heather Styles
Wed Aug 16, 2017 11:54 pm
Forum: Countdown - Events
Topic: CoBirmingham/The FOCAL Finals 2017
Replies: 29
Views: 25611

Re: CoBirmingham/The FOCAL Finals 2017

Hannukah isn't *quite* as ingrained into our culture as Christmas. You're right, Matty. It wasn't an exact parallel. It just makes me sad that Focal, which I worked hard to establish, has come to this. I feel sorry for anyone whose idea of fun is to knock what is essentially a festival of love, lig...
by Heather Styles
Wed Aug 16, 2017 10:18 pm
Forum: Countdown - Events
Topic: CoBirmingham/The FOCAL Finals 2017
Replies: 29
Views: 25611

Re: CoBirmingham/The FOCAL Finals 2017

(Also, ad hominem attacks are usually a sign of a lost argument.)
by Heather Styles
Wed Aug 16, 2017 10:10 pm
Forum: Countdown - Events
Topic: CoBirmingham/The FOCAL Finals 2017
Replies: 29
Views: 25611

Re: CoBirmingham/The FOCAL Finals 2017

If you'd made it an anti-Hannukah theme, would you be imagining that was in any way cool?
by Heather Styles
Wed Aug 16, 2017 8:55 pm
Forum: Countdown - Events
Topic: CoBirmingham/The FOCAL Finals 2017
Replies: 29
Views: 25611

Re: CoBirmingham/The FOCAL Finals 2017

An "anti-Christmas" theme is a terrible idea, even by you guys' standards. It's no better than anti any other religious festival.
by Heather Styles
Fri Jun 23, 2017 10:25 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: EU Referendum
Replies: 182
Views: 47218

Re: EU Referendum

That's an encouraging statistic. I hope that our sorry excuse for a government takes note.
by Heather Styles
Fri Jun 23, 2017 10:40 am
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: EU Referendum
Replies: 182
Views: 47218

Re: EU Referendum

So, Leave voters, a year on - how's Brexit working out for you? Are you pleased with the start of the negotiations with the EU? Did the NHS ever get that £350 million a week? How are things looking in Northern Ireland and Scotland? Happy 'independence' day.
by Heather Styles
Thu Apr 13, 2017 7:23 pm
Forum: Countdown - Events
Topic: COREA17 - Saturday 15th April 2017
Replies: 26
Views: 29843

Re: COREA17 - Saturday 15th April 2017

Sorry, Tony, I can't make it after all, I'm just not up to it.
by Heather Styles
Sat Apr 01, 2017 7:07 am
Forum: Countdown - Events
Topic: CO-MSO 2017
Replies: 34
Views: 23887

Re: CO-MSO

I will no longer be co-hosting this event. I have already explained why to Tony. I know that this won't bother most people either way, but equally I hope that it might encourage some more people to attend. I won't respond to any questions or comments in public or private about this.
by Heather Styles
Fri Mar 24, 2017 9:29 am
Forum: Countdown - Events
Topic: COREA17 - Saturday 15th April 2017
Replies: 26
Views: 29843

Re: COREA17 - Saturday 15th April 2017

Chris Marshall wrote: Sun Mar 19, 2017 8:42 pm Winnersh Triangle Travelodge is £36 for the Saturday night if anyone was thinking of staying over.
A whole Travelodge for £36 for one night - bargain. It looks like you're winning the #travelodgepricewar so far (I paid £83.50 for two nights, including breakfast)...
by Heather Styles
Wed Mar 01, 2017 1:13 am
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Politics in General
Replies: 1592
Views: 1635247

Re: Politics in General

It seems a decent idea, which makes it almost guaranteed not to happen under this government.
by Heather Styles
Mon Feb 20, 2017 5:23 pm
Forum: apterous.org
Topic: Warning 2
Replies: 1
Views: 3903

Warning 2

.
by Heather Styles
Mon Feb 20, 2017 2:35 pm
Forum: apterous.org
Topic: Warning
Replies: 5
Views: 4831

Re: Warning

No, sadly this is not fake news.
by Heather Styles
Mon Feb 20, 2017 12:45 pm
Forum: apterous.org
Topic: Warning
Replies: 5
Views: 4831

Warning

I would like to tell fellow apterous members about something that happened to me. [ REDACTED ] conned me out of hundreds of pounds by offering apterous lessons and not delivering them all. If he approaches you offering lessons, be more sensible than I was. Which I'm sure you would be, but just to wa...
by Heather Styles
Mon Feb 20, 2017 11:06 am
Forum: Countdown - Events
Topic: Your preferred format for CO-events
Replies: 74
Views: 31498

Re: Your preferred format for CO-events

Ryan Taylor wrote: Tue Jan 24, 2017 7:05 pm I prefer playing Bristol-style rather than Lincoln style because then I can be assured that the letter distribution is the same for everyone and that the letters are being shuffled properly.
I agree. This is another advantage of Bristol style.
by Heather Styles
Wed Jan 25, 2017 11:36 am
Forum: Countdown - Events
Topic: COREA17 - Saturday 15th April 2017
Replies: 26
Views: 29843

Re: COREA17 - Saturday 15th April 2017

Callum Todd wrote: Mon Jan 23, 2017 7:00 pm
Gavin Chipper wrote: Mon Jan 23, 2017 6:53 pm
Tony Atkins wrote: Mon Jan 23, 2017 3:18 pm we will stay out this year.
Thomas Cappleman wrote: Mon Jan 23, 2017 3:53 pm In please.
The decision has already been made, Thomas.
somebody make a brexit joke
In, please.

THE PEOPLE HAVE SPOKEN! RESPECT THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE!
by Heather Styles
Mon Jan 23, 2017 9:35 pm
Forum: Countdown - Events
Topic: COLIN XIII- Countdown in Lincoln, 28-29 January 2017
Replies: 87
Views: 61175

Re: COLIN XIII- Countdown in Lincoln, 28-29 January 2017

I've never said anything about anyone being punished, and I never asked for full disclosure, Jono. And Ben, yes, you can make rules, and other people can object to those rules. I've said all I'm prepared to say publicly on this now.
by Heather Styles
Mon Jan 23, 2017 11:52 am
Forum: Countdown - Events
Topic: COLIN XIII- Countdown in Lincoln, 28-29 January 2017
Replies: 87
Views: 61175

Re: COLIN XIII- Countdown in Lincoln, 28-29 January 2017

No, I don't think cheating does have to benefit the person doing the cheating. I refer my right honourable friend to Oxford Online Dictionary definition 1.1 of cheat (verb): "Gain an advantage over or deprive of something by using unfair or deceitful methods." Selecting out 4th consecutive...
by Heather Styles
Mon Jan 23, 2017 10:03 am
Forum: Countdown - Events
Topic: COLIN XIII- Countdown in Lincoln, 28-29 January 2017
Replies: 87
Views: 61175

Re: COLIN XIII- Countdown in Lincoln, 28-29 January 2017

:geek:
Matt Morrison wrote: Mon Jan 23, 2017 9:34 am I would like to see Ben make a stand and force Jono to do a full-audience apology at the start of the day. If he refuses, banned.
I wouldn't want anyone banned over a single admission of cheating. I just want people to see this for what it is.
by Heather Styles
Mon Jan 23, 2017 10:01 am
Forum: Countdown - Events
Topic: COLIN XIII- Countdown in Lincoln, 28-29 January 2017
Replies: 87
Views: 61175

Re: COLIN XIII- Countdown in Lincoln, 28-29 January 2017

I'm disappointed at your lack of backbone on this, Ben. It makes me feel like a mug that I've played by what are self-evidently the rules at previous events. What 'lack of backbone'? This is the first I've ever heard of something like this happening at an event- it's not like I can police sixteen s...
by Heather Styles
Sun Jan 22, 2017 11:01 pm
Forum: Countdown - Events
Topic: COLIN XIII- Countdown in Lincoln, 28-29 January 2017
Replies: 87
Views: 61175

Re: COLIN XIII- Countdown in Lincoln, 28-29 January 2017

I'm disappointed at your lack of backbone on this, Ben. It makes me feel like a mug that I've played by what are self-evidently the rules at previous events.
by Heather Styles
Sun Jan 22, 2017 10:12 am
Forum: Countdown - Events
Topic: COLIN XIII- Countdown in Lincoln, 28-29 January 2017
Replies: 87
Views: 61175

Re: COLIN XIII- Countdown in Lincoln, 28-29 January 2017

I play for fun, but I play for fairness, too. The reason sorting is not okay ]is that it distorts the scores and affects finishing positions.
by Heather Styles
Sun Jan 22, 2017 8:30 am
Forum: Countdown - Events
Topic: COLIN XIII- Countdown in Lincoln, 28-29 January 2017
Replies: 87
Views: 61175

Re: COLIN XIII- Countdown in Lincoln, 28-29 January 2017

What do you mean, "if there are tables not sorting"? Sorting is blatantly cheating. Well done for owning up and calling for a ban, Jono.
by Heather Styles
Fri Jan 20, 2017 8:04 am
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Politics in General
Replies: 1592
Views: 1635247

Re: Politics in General

I don't know that journalists are going out of their way to find a Brexit angle on every story. Something so widely and profoundly consequential is always going to be newsworthy, in my view. So I don't think we should stop talking about it, but we should look for new terms of debate.
by Heather Styles
Fri Jan 20, 2017 7:40 am
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Politics in General
Replies: 1592
Views: 1635247

Re: Politics in General

I deliberately left the question open because I was interested to hear any response before I gave my tuppence-worth. Like you, I cannot think of any politicians who are really stupid. I was thinking specifically when asked the question of Boris Johnson and Donald Trump. I think they are both anythin...
by Heather Styles
Thu Jan 19, 2017 12:27 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Politics in General
Replies: 1592
Views: 1635247

Re: Politics in General

Are all politicians who seem stupid as stupid as they seem?
by Heather Styles
Mon Jan 16, 2017 8:43 am
Forum: Countdown - Events
Topic: Exactly how official is a "CO-event" permitted to be...
Replies: 20
Views: 7105

Re: Exactly how official is a "CO-event" permitted to be...

[/quote] You can always team up with Tony Atkins in the rival group if he's OK with the idea of being part of a group that does online events along with real life ones! [/quote] For the avoidance of doubt (and I think this is pretty widely understood), there is no such rival group. Most "Co-eve...
by Heather Styles
Sun Jan 15, 2017 12:24 am
Forum: Countdown - Events
Topic: CO-MSO 2017
Replies: 34
Views: 23887

Re: CO-MSO

aidan linge wrote:Not sure if I'll be able to attend will have to decide closer to the time, will there be FOCAL points up for grabs as well as medals?
No. This isn't a FOCAL affiliated event.
by Heather Styles
Sun Jan 15, 2017 12:23 am
Forum: Countdown - Events
Topic: CO-MSO 2017
Replies: 34
Views: 23887

Re: CO-MSO

Is that a round 1 or round 2 question? Round 1. It's things the Fox and Hounds usually run out of on the last Saturday in January, along with space and beer. 3 points to the Verbivores. This puts you at precisely the number of points required to be able to cock up the wall and then win by one after...
by Heather Styles
Sat Jan 14, 2017 1:29 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: People you shouldn't trust
Replies: 921
Views: 392718

Re: People you shouldn't trust

Gavin Chipper wrote:People who refer to the president of America as "the leader of the free world" without any quote marks or "so called" etc. That's not what they are. It's not a real thing.
I agree. Where would you put the quote marks - around leader, free, or both?
by Heather Styles
Fri Jan 13, 2017 8:16 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Thread Of Random (for Marc)
Replies: 168
Views: 50966

Re: Thread Of Random (for Marc)

If cheese isn't a proper 'after' (it is, though), I'd happily have it as a 'before' or a 'between'. I'm not fussy.
by Heather Styles
Thu Jan 12, 2017 4:21 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Thread Of Random (for Marc)
Replies: 168
Views: 50966

Re: Thread Of Random (for Marc)

Favourite 'afters': cheese. All the cheese. Any cheese.
by Heather Styles
Mon Jan 09, 2017 2:37 pm
Forum: Countdown - Events
Topic: FOCAL 2017
Replies: 37
Views: 18925

Re: FOCAL 2017

Focal personnel, please stop contacting me indirectly. If you have something to ask, then ask me, as any reasonable adult would.
by Heather Styles
Sun Jan 08, 2017 9:59 am
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Questions you've always wanted answered
Replies: 1609
Views: 623814

Re: Questions you've always wanted answered

Could it be because you lied when you were seventeen? That's only a guess, by the way, not an accusation.
by Heather Styles
Sat Jan 07, 2017 2:10 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: People you shouldn't trust
Replies: 921
Views: 392718

Re: People you shouldn't trust

I plead technical incompetence. I love paragraph breaks, but didn't realise they were possible using this smartphone. Oh look, it's that button there. Phew. I didn't make up the term 'Brexit' and I agree, it's naff, partly because 'Britain' is a nebulous term and there is no consensus about whether ...
by Heather Styles
Sat Jan 07, 2017 5:16 am
Forum: Countdown - Events
Topic: CO:LON:17 - Countdown in London 2017 (Saturday 6th May)
Replies: 29
Views: 21262

Re: CO:LON:17 - Countdown in London 2017 (Saturday 6th May)

I'm probably not coming to the event, but I might be around afterwards. Either way, the Old China Hand (the after pub for Comultilon) is very near the venue and has ping pong, darts and board games. Just a thought.
by Heather Styles
Sat Jan 07, 2017 4:59 am
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: People you shouldn't trust
Replies: 921
Views: 392718

Re: People you shouldn't trust

The lack of a plan for Brexit is certainly a big problem, but I don't view it as the fundamental problem. The fundamental problem, as I see it, is the lack of a legal framework for Brexit. Any political plan for Brexit will fail if it cannot legally be implemented. This is why many people, including...
by Heather Styles
Sat Jan 07, 2017 3:46 am
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: People you shouldn't trust
Replies: 921
Views: 392718

Re: People you shouldn't trust

My journalistic training taught me to value concise expression, but not at the expense of clarity. The challenge of any good newspaper journalist is that of finding the shortest way of saying something without potentially misleading the reader. This involves excising tautologous phrases. If a piece ...
by Heather Styles
Fri Jan 06, 2017 8:45 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: People you shouldn't trust
Replies: 921
Views: 392718

Re: People you shouldn't trust

Of course not all Brexiters are knuckle-draggers, racists or xenophobes. I have met many intelligent Brexiters, but the ones I've been trying to debate with this week have mainly been several sandwiches short of a picnic. Yes, I'm one of the whinging poor loser remainers. I'll get over it as soon as...
by Heather Styles
Fri Jan 06, 2017 12:29 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: People you shouldn't trust
Replies: 921
Views: 392718

Re: People you shouldn't trust

Marc, no offence, but... if you had taken the trouble to read rather than just quote my words, you would have seen that it is the fake pretence of humility that I dislike about IMHO, not that it is text speak. IMO is unnecessary unless you think your reader may lack the critical faculties to disting...
by Heather Styles
Fri Jan 06, 2017 12:28 am
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: People you shouldn't trust
Replies: 921
Views: 392718

Re: People you shouldn't trust

Okay, Ian, you've proved me wrong on two counts: that sprouts can be nice, and that they can be talked about after Christmas. I cannot abide IMHO. It is a sure indicator of anything other than humility on part of the owner of the opinion. It's almost as annoying as people who start sentences with, &...
by Heather Styles
Fri Jan 06, 2017 12:01 am
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Crisps
Replies: 47
Views: 12067

Re: Crisps

I cannot think of any crisps that I don't like; ideally, I would live exclusively off the things. My attitude to crisps is similar to my attitude to food in general in that I am just as likely to enjoy a cheap and cheerful crisp as a pricy, pretentious one (not that one crisp is ever enough, of cour...
by Heather Styles
Thu Jan 05, 2017 1:07 am
Forum: Countdown - Events
Topic: FOCAL 2016
Replies: 114
Views: 30613

Re: FOCAL 2016

Elite at the game, I meant, but if you want to take it to mean having a high opinion of yourselves as well, I won't contradict you.
by Heather Styles
Wed Jan 04, 2017 9:34 pm
Forum: Countdown - Events
Topic: FOCAL 2016
Replies: 114
Views: 30613

Re: FOCAL 2016

I know you can't please all of the people all the time, and it's quite an achievement even to please most of the people most of the time, so respect for that. Until/unless the whole thing is properly democratised and the elitist set-up altered, you'll always have an awkward squad, and it'll probably...
by Heather Styles
Wed Jan 04, 2017 9:23 pm
Forum: Countdown - Events
Topic: FOCAL 2016
Replies: 114
Views: 30613

Re: FOCAL 2016

If others are happy to pay a £1 per person per event levy as well as more in order to subsidise an event they don't go to and on publicity, they are possibly more stupid, and definitely more generous, than I am.
by Heather Styles
Wed Jan 04, 2017 2:54 pm
Forum: Countdown - Events
Topic: FOCAL 2016
Replies: 114
Views: 30613

Re: FOCAL 2016

I think that the Focal end-of-year event should be self-supporting, ideally, and I would prefer not to subsidise it, but that's between me and individual organisers. I would like someone from Focal to explain why they think any extra fundraising is necessary or justified.
by Heather Styles
Wed Jan 04, 2017 11:03 am
Forum: Countdown - Events
Topic: FOCAL 2016
Replies: 114
Views: 30613

Re: FOCAL 2016

Thanks Chris. From what I already knew, I thought the surplus would be about that amount, so thank you for confirming it. It would be nice to think that this surplus would be enough to negate the need for further fundraising in 2017 (other than via the £1 per person per event levy). If attendance fi...
by Heather Styles
Wed Jan 04, 2017 3:12 am
Forum: Countdown - Events
Topic: CO-MSO 2017
Replies: 34
Views: 23887

Re: Possible CO-MSO

Okay Tony, I'll wait to hear from you for definite.
by Heather Styles
Mon Jan 02, 2017 7:06 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Organised Religion
Replies: 49
Views: 7038

Re: Organised Religion

Yes, I agree, paradise seems pretty dubious as an idea. I can understand why people would want to believe it, though, especially those who don't have much going for them in life.
by Heather Styles
Mon Jan 02, 2017 2:51 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Organised Religion
Replies: 49
Views: 7038

Re: Organised Religion

I wanted to come on here to defend my religious beliefs but I've realised that I don't have any. Life is just a heap of randomness and no-one's guess is any better than anyone else's.
by Heather Styles
Sat Dec 31, 2016 3:00 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: People you shouldn't trust
Replies: 921
Views: 392718

Re: People you shouldn't trust

Yeah, that's what I was trying to say. Thank you for translating my word soup. Other people not to trust: Theresa May (please no-one respond with "But she's a safe pair of hands" without offering evidence); sprouts (admittedly, sprouts aren't literally, literally people, but I thought I'd ...
by Heather Styles
Thu Dec 29, 2016 10:53 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: People you shouldn't trust
Replies: 921
Views: 392718

Re: People you shouldn't trust

Oh yes, I had a feeling the trustworthiness of the 1 to 10 scale had been discussed before here. I can't say I much mind it, but I agree that it does lead to an erroneous tendency to think of 5 as the mid point. I actually had to check using my fingers to confirm that 5 is not the mid point. Another...
by Heather Styles
Thu Dec 29, 2016 3:24 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: People you shouldn't trust
Replies: 921
Views: 392718

Re: People you shouldn't trust

People who, when asked to rate something on a scale of 1 to 10, say any number smaller than 1 or bigger than 10. The scale is 1 to 10. It's not difficult. You can even use your fingers. Relatedly, people who promise to put in 110% effort.
by Heather Styles
Wed Dec 28, 2016 11:04 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: People you shouldn't trust
Replies: 921
Views: 392718

Re: People you shouldn't trust

I agree about the global village phenomenon, but it does not account for why many people have blamed this year because an unusually high number of above averagely well-known people have died during it. But is the "F*** 2016" phenomenon just superstitious nonsense, or is it saying something...
by Heather Styles
Tue Dec 27, 2016 11:19 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Who would be the biggest deaths?
Replies: 236
Views: 50618

Re: Who would be the biggest deaths?

I don't necessarily see how it is intellectually elite to argue for a greater range of representation, but I will admit to being a bit of an intellectual snob. I hadn't even heard of Carrie Fisher until the other day, for example. And it wasn't until earlier this year that I found out that Justins B...
by Heather Styles
Tue Dec 27, 2016 7:36 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Who would be the biggest deaths?
Replies: 236
Views: 50618

Re: Who would be the biggest deaths?

Is everyone who is sad that a musician or actor has died shallow? No. Is popular culture inherently shallow? Again, no. But do we as a society disproportionately value the achievements of entertainers above those of, for example, astrophysicists? Arguably, yes. I hadn't heard of Vera Rubin until tod...
by Heather Styles
Tue Dec 27, 2016 10:25 am
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Who would be the biggest deaths?
Replies: 236
Views: 50618

Re: Who would be the biggest deaths?

Vera Rubin, an astrophysicist who discovered dark matter, died aged 88 yesterday. But that probably won't be deemed particularly significant, nor as further evidence of the evil machinations of 2016. This may because Vera Rubin didn't, to my knowledge, either sing or act and neither did she hasten h...
by Heather Styles
Fri Dec 23, 2016 5:25 am
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: How would you rank the celebratory days of the year?
Replies: 17
Views: 7859

Re: How would you rank the celebratory days of the year?

Christmas, Easter, Miscellaneous and Sometimes Frankly Weird But Nonetheless Enjoyable Family Celebrations, My Birthday, COLIN (other Co events are also available), New Year, Pancake Day, Bonfire Night, Halloween.
by Heather Styles
Fri Dec 23, 2016 1:52 am
Forum: Countdown - Events
Topic: Your preferred format for CO-events
Replies: 74
Views: 31498

Re: Your preferred format for CO-events

None of the details of game play bothers me very much, certainly not enough to stop me enjoying an otherwise enjoyable event. I respect all organisers' choices and innovations (even, begrudgingly, 1-0 scoring). To the 15-round doubters I would say it is possible to fit in five 15-round games without...