Search found 248 matches

by Phil H
Sun Jun 13, 2021 10:05 am
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Politics in General
Replies: 1644
Views: 1717500

Re: Politics in General

I think (although may be wrong) the act originated with Colin Kaepernick, predating the BLM movement (which I assume you're referring to). BLM began in 2013 and Kaepernick first knelt in protest in 2016; but my impression is that the "movement" is far greater in size than any of its forma...
by Phil H
Fri Jun 11, 2021 7:16 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers for Friday 11th June 2021 (Series 83, Prelim 115)
Replies: 19
Views: 2988

Re: Spoilers for Friday 11th June 2021 (Series 83, Prelim 115)

To misquote Douglas Adams: just as I thought the Gloria Hunniford cringe would peak, it struck upward with renewed ferocity until I thought my very brain would vaporize.
by Phil H
Sun May 30, 2021 8:42 am
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Track and Field (and Road) Athletics
Replies: 252
Views: 51366

Re: Track and Field Athletics

Ooh, I've not seen much 90m+ throwing for ages. No thanks to the BBC who really don't like throwing events! I must look out for this bloke. Germany's Johannes Vetter throws 96.29m at the EuroAthletics Team Championships – the third farthest throw in history. He now occupies 7 of the top 15 spots on...
by Phil H
Sun May 23, 2021 5:45 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Track and Field (and Road) Athletics
Replies: 252
Views: 51366

Re: Track and Field Athletics

Is it just me or have there been numerous references to "lactic acid" in coverage of every event this season, but next to none in previous seasons?
by Phil H
Thu May 13, 2021 8:22 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Politics in General
Replies: 1644
Views: 1717500

Re: Politics in General

Matt Rutherford wrote: Thu May 13, 2021 6:07 pm a fervent Republican
Deliberate capital R? :lol:
by Phil H
Fri Apr 30, 2021 5:36 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers for Thursday 29th April 2021 (Series 83, Preliminary 84)
Replies: 3
Views: 1223

Re: Spoilers for Thursday 29 April 2021 (Series 83, Preliminary 84)

Peter Thomas wrote: Thu Apr 29, 2021 6:15 pm Teatime Teaser: "You're happy to let them know you don't like what they're wearing."

DISCLOSE

Diss clothes? That's awful!
Nick seemed quite pleased with himself for having got the joke.
by Phil H
Tue Apr 27, 2021 4:14 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Politics in General
Replies: 1644
Views: 1717500

Re: Politics in General

I reckon Johnson did say it, given that: - my horoscope today said to be wary of those with too much influence over my life - horoscopes are generally trustworthy - Richard Dawkins doesn't believe in horoscopes and he's getting more unhinged by the day And if you don't believe me about horoscopes, w...
by Phil H
Mon Mar 29, 2021 8:04 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers for Monday 29th March 2021 (Series 83, Preliminary 61)
Replies: 13
Views: 3363

Re: Spoilers for Monday 29 March 2021 (Series 83, Preliminary 61)

Rhys Benjamin wrote: Mon Mar 29, 2021 7:43 pm I don't think the general standard on the show is that much higher.
I agree with this, although on a micro level, I don't remember any "how did they get through the audition?" players in the last couple of months.
by Phil H
Mon Mar 29, 2021 7:57 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers for Monday 29th March 2021 (Series 83, Preliminary 61)
Replies: 13
Views: 3363

Re: Spoilers for Monday 29 March 2021 (Series 83, Preliminary 61)

Rhys Benjamin wrote: Mon Mar 29, 2021 7:43 pm a player is more likely to be a returnee than a newbie
What? Unless I've got the wrong end of the stick, that surely can't be true.
by Phil H
Fri Mar 26, 2021 7:36 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers for Friday 26th March 2021 (Series 83, Prelim 60)
Replies: 7
Views: 1903

Re: Spoilers for Friday 26th March 2021 (series 83 prelim 60)

A couple of times Dan probably didn't help him points-wise by picking a final consonant...
by Phil H
Fri Mar 26, 2021 7:31 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers for Friday 26th March 2021 (Series 83, Prelim 60)
Replies: 7
Views: 1903

Re: Spoilers for Friday 26th March 2021 (series 83 prelim 60)

Still short odds to join the 1000 club; less so to beat Elliott's octototal, but not out of the question. Needs an average of better than 136 in his next two games.
by Phil H
Thu Mar 25, 2021 8:45 am
Forum: Other game shows
Topic: ...and that's ZoomDown
Replies: 314
Views: 110134

Re: ...and that's ZoomDown

L'oisleatch McGraw wrote: Thu Mar 25, 2021 3:53 am He was allowed do it on TV without being DQed...
I didn't see either of his TV episodes, but according to the wiki, he didn't attempt the conundrum in either of his games?
by Phil H
Wed Mar 24, 2021 7:52 pm
Forum: Other game shows
Topic: ...and that's ZoomDown
Replies: 314
Views: 110134

Re: ...and that's ZoomDown

Each "retirement for personal reasons" damages the reputation of the show I agree about the "personal reasons" wording to a certain extent - "withdrew after suspicions were raised" would surely avoid any suggestion of libel, or if the aim is to be completely neutral, t...
by Phil H
Tue Mar 23, 2021 1:06 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers for Monday 22nd March 2021 (Series 83, Preliminary 56)
Replies: 15
Views: 4247

Re: Spoilers for Monday 22 March 2021 (Series 83, Preliminary 56)

I'd be willing to bet that most viewers didn't understand the teaser. You cannot possibly know that. You can only extrapolate from yourself and the very limited selection of people you know. I would see it as dumbing down with a vengeance to explain that Miss Fylde was a beauty queen from Lancashir...
by Phil H
Sat Feb 20, 2021 2:45 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Reasons to be cheerful because of the pandemic
Replies: 15
Views: 4206

Re: Reasons to be cheerful because of the pandemic

Normally I get a cold at some point during winter, but haven't so far this year. Probably not a coincidence.
by Phil H
Fri Feb 05, 2021 4:10 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Hate Speech
Replies: 30
Views: 6598

Re: Hate Speech

If I ever had a particularly strong attachment to any of it though I've long outgrown it, and I don't expect it to stay as it always was forevermore; it's to be expected that these enduring franchises will modernise themselves over time. Unless there's something particularly egregious about it that...
by Phil H
Thu Feb 04, 2021 12:42 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Hate Speech
Replies: 30
Views: 6598

Re: Hate Speech

Callum Todd wrote: Thu Feb 04, 2021 5:18 am I've just googled news for Scrabble, Mattel and Thomas the Tank Engine, and don't see anything. What's happening exactly?
I'm guessing they've given it some kind of 'woke' makeover, given that Rhys seems to want to turn every conversation these days into that conversation.
by Phil H
Tue Jan 26, 2021 5:22 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Politics in General
Replies: 1644
Views: 1717500

Re: Politics in General

Graeme Cole wrote: Tue Jan 26, 2021 1:24 pm wait until you find out about the word gay.
"Gay means happy, a pussy is a cat; a shag is a seabird and that is that."
by Phil H
Tue Jan 26, 2021 1:00 am
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Best steak restaurants
Replies: 13
Views: 4154

Re: Best steak restaurants

I quite like a steak à cheval, and was rather disappointed to learn two minutes ago that it doesn't actually contain any horse.
by Phil H
Wed Jan 13, 2021 6:58 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: "Doctor's handwriting"
Replies: 4
Views: 2309

Re: "Doctor's handwriting"

... was this really ever a "thing"? Do doctors really have worse handwriting than anyone else? Being sober about it, I think it's just one of many near-ubiquitous forms of rudeness which is more common where a power differential exists, and that medicine is one of several areas where ther...
by Phil H
Wed Jan 13, 2021 6:48 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: "Doctor's handwriting"
Replies: 4
Views: 2309

Re: "Doctor's handwriting"

Gavin Chipper wrote: Tue Jan 12, 2021 8:16 pm Isn't stuff generally printed now?
Naive.

Gavin Chipper wrote: Tue Jan 12, 2021 8:16 pm Concentrate on more important things and get off my case you despicable excuse for a human being.
Harsh.
by Phil H
Tue Jan 12, 2021 6:21 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: "Doctor's handwriting"
Replies: 4
Views: 2309

"Doctor's handwriting"

Why does our culture treat this mainly as an eccentricity to be laughed off?

Surely it's arrogant at best and dangerous at worst?
by Phil H
Tue Dec 22, 2020 5:12 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Special Spoilers for Tuesday 22nd December 2020 (Special S48)
Replies: 9
Views: 3152

Re: Special Spoilers for Tuesday 22 December 2020

The pretend handshake at the end was good.
by Phil H
Mon Dec 21, 2020 9:56 pm
Forum: Other game shows
Topic: ...and that's ZoomDown
Replies: 314
Views: 110134

Re: ...and that's ZoomDown

Didn't disappoint...
by Phil H
Thu Dec 17, 2020 5:32 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Obscenity democracy
Replies: 205
Views: 30755

Re: Obscenity democracy

[double post]
by Phil H
Thu Dec 17, 2020 5:22 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Obscenity democracy
Replies: 205
Views: 30755

Re: Obscenity democracy

Peter Mabey wrote: Thu Dec 17, 2020 3:09 pm I had the 1947 edition of the Oxford Companion to Music as a birthday present... pretty recent. :o
Next you'll be telling me most people don't use wind-up gramophone players any more!
by Phil H
Thu Dec 17, 2020 12:14 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Obscenity democracy
Replies: 205
Views: 30755

Re: Obscenity democracy

And anyone who knows what the Plastic Elvis thing is, knows how ridiculous it is that people are getting hung up on that term, as though it were a slur or an insult. I asked because I don't know what it is, and you use it like a stick to beat people with. It seems to cheapen debate. I'm interested ...
by Phil H
Wed Dec 16, 2020 10:21 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers for Wednesday 16th December 2020 (Series 82, 1st Semi-Final)
Replies: 20
Views: 4834

Re: Spoilers for Wednesday 16 December 2020 (Series 82, First Semi Final)

I was feeling well pleased with myself for having "solved" the conundrum with CREAMABLY.
by Phil H
Wed Dec 09, 2020 11:03 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Ladbrokes - Next Presenter Odds
Replies: 40
Views: 11174

Re: Ladbrokes - Next Presenter Odds

Jennifer Steadman wrote: Wed Dec 09, 2020 9:40 pm Pretty sure there were odds available for both Ned Pendleton and Tom Barnes to be named host when Jeff quit?

It's not the most, um, robust market to be pinning any sort of hopes on. (Obviously, because Mark wasn't on the list.)
Were either anywhere near 16-1?
by Phil H
Wed Dec 09, 2020 6:27 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Who should replace Nick Hewer?
Replies: 78
Views: 22391

Re: Who should replace Nick Hewer?

Well sport - football especially - is a good example where up until very recently, gay players generally were not publicly 'out'. I think you're young enough that possibly the worst sort of discrimination was before your time, and so hopefully your employment prospects won't be affected by your sex...
by Phil H
Tue Dec 08, 2020 10:40 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Who should replace Nick Hewer?
Replies: 78
Views: 22391

Re: Who should replace Nick Hewer?

Fiona T wrote: Tue Dec 08, 2020 8:14 pm
So what's the difference between diversity and token diversity? Genuinely confused why - if the efforts to improve diversity are real - it's token?
Don't know that it's worth rising to the bait...
by Phil H
Wed Dec 02, 2020 7:04 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers for Wednesday 2nd December 2020 (Series 82, Preliminary 170)
Replies: 9
Views: 3199

Re: Spoilers for Wednsday 2 December 2020 (Series 82, Preliminary 170)

Decent game today, although the desperation to blow smoke up Nicola's arse for even getting close to the great Leo was bit much.
by Phil H
Fri Oct 09, 2020 9:06 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: COVID-19 Coronavirus Thread
Replies: 503
Views: 157412

Re: COVID-19 Coronavirus Thread

Paywall / free trial where you have to remember ti cancel = not reading it. What's the gist other than the obvious from the headline? I'm guessing "The Scottish govt are terrible both for almost approaching the England death rate at one point and not being freedom-loving enough to go the whole...
by Phil H
Sun Sep 20, 2020 6:39 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: COVID-19 Coronavirus Thread
Replies: 503
Views: 157412

Re: COVID-19 Coronavirus Thread

No one has stopped to think about mental health. No one has even considered the fact that there are 20,000 lockdown deaths not down to COVID directly - almost half as many as COVID itself. I knew we had different political sympathies but I don't usually disagree with you quite so often or so strong...
by Phil H
Thu Sep 10, 2020 10:41 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Track and Field (and Road) Athletics
Replies: 252
Views: 51366

Re: Track and Field Athletics

Ian Volante wrote: Thu Sep 10, 2020 11:49 am
Ooh, I've not seen much 90m+ throwing for ages. No thanks to the BBC who really don't like throwing events! I must look out for this bloke.
Volante-like cheekbones to boot.
by Phil H
Thu Sep 10, 2020 10:38 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Track and Field (and Road) Athletics
Replies: 252
Views: 51366

Re: Track and Field Athletics

The worst events are the high jump and pole vault due to their binary nature - setting the target in advance and then just seeing whether you can make it or not. It's what allowed Bubka to break the world record countless times by touring the big events and upping the record by a centimetre at a ti...
by Phil H
Wed Sep 09, 2020 9:31 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Track and Field (and Road) Athletics
Replies: 252
Views: 51366

Re: Track and Field Athletics

Obviously nearly breaking a record is never going to be as sexy as actually doing it, but I was quite excited about Johannes Vetter's 97.76 in the javelin on Sunday - only 72cm behind Jan Zelezny's 98.48, which I've heard being called the most impressive of all athletics world records.
by Phil H
Wed Sep 09, 2020 9:28 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Track and Field (and Road) Athletics
Replies: 252
Views: 51366

Re: Track and Field Athletics

"Despite the lack of big names, the British Athletics Championships peaked at 1.4 million viewers on BBC2 at 8.25pm Friday - more than BBC1 and ITV at the same time."

(from @benbloomsport on twitter)
by Phil H
Tue Aug 25, 2020 4:32 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Track and Field (and Road) Athletics
Replies: 252
Views: 51366

Re: Track and Field Athletics

I don't know how big darts is generally, but take away my Countdown friends and the Kirk Bevins effect, and I'm not sure I know anyone who gives a shit about it. A few weeks ago I went to my local pub hoping I could ask for the French domestic cup final featuring Paris Saint-Germain (football) to b...
by Phil H
Wed Apr 22, 2020 7:20 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: NHS-worship
Replies: 39
Views: 10244

Re: NHS-worship

I don't think it's necessarily a contradiction to say that the NHS is both underfunded and has aspects of significant inefficiency. But I do agree that it's worth asking more specifically where the money might be spent, rather than simply agreeing that "more money" for "the NHS" ...
by Phil H
Thu Apr 16, 2020 8:36 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: NHS-worship
Replies: 39
Views: 10244

Re: NHS-worship

I might be weakening a little on this; it feels different now that so many of them have been through the mill. But I haven't quite weakened enough to actually join in with the clapping yet.
by Phil H
Thu Apr 02, 2020 9:40 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: COVID-19 Coronavirus Thread
Replies: 503
Views: 157412

Re: COVID-19 Coronavirus Thread

This is a good interview on the use of police powers and lack of consistency between "guidance" and law: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/better-human-podcast/id1481010283 And a much shorter summary of the interviewee's points can be found here: https://davidallengreen.com/2020/03/the...
by Phil H
Fri Mar 27, 2020 10:35 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Private Message Abuse.
Replies: 8
Views: 4357

Re: Private Message Abuse.

We all need something to make lockdown less boring, I guess.
by Phil H
Fri Mar 27, 2020 8:42 am
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: NHS-worship
Replies: 39
Views: 10244

Re: NHS-worship

My step daughter cleans our doctor's surgery. She enjoyed the adulation. I do quite like the aspect of including people like cleaners and care assistants whose jobs aren't given the same social status. Another line being thrown around a lot at the moment is something like "it should be nurses ...
by Phil H
Thu Mar 26, 2020 8:00 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: NHS-worship
Replies: 39
Views: 10244

Re: NHS-worship

Well, I've opened the windows and I can certainly hear it in my flat, even though I live in a notoriously reserved area of a notoriously reserved city.
by Phil H
Thu Mar 26, 2020 7:12 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: NHS-worship
Replies: 39
Views: 10244

Re: NHS-worship

Marc Meakin wrote: Thu Mar 26, 2020 6:58 pm I guess Phil H can do a slow hand clap
I might use that timeslot to get my groceries. Probably the safest time to do so. Maybe that'd even be a better way to honour the NHS than clapping. :lol:
by Phil H
Thu Mar 26, 2020 7:08 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: NHS-worship
Replies: 39
Views: 10244

Re: NHS-worship

It's what separates us from the animals. It is therefore a huge source of national pride. It's just about the only thing I have any national pride in. I'm embarrassed to say I don't know if it was the first universal healthcare system of its kind - it might well have been - but it's often said that...
by Phil H
Thu Mar 26, 2020 6:37 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: NHS-worship
Replies: 39
Views: 10244

Re: NHS-worship

I don't have anything against individual workers unless they've given me a reason to, but it's not uncommon to hear people say things like "after this, they should never have to pay taxes again." Okay, maybe they didn't mean it literally, but still, what the fuck? Off the top of my head, a...
by Phil H
Thu Mar 26, 2020 6:15 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: NHS-worship
Replies: 39
Views: 10244

NHS-worship

This might be unpopular but at least it's topical: I find the extent to which the NHS are valorised above almost everything else in this country rather weird and at times sinister. Yes, its creation was a massive step forward for the UK. Yes, it has been badly neglected and underfunded by recent gov...
by Phil H
Mon Mar 23, 2020 11:40 am
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers for Friday 13th March 2020 (Series 82, Prelim 52)
Replies: 7
Views: 4433

Re: Spoilers for Friday 13th March 2020 (Series 82, Prelim 52)

This champion geezer is pretty good. Very solid on the letters. I think I've beaten him in one letters round over two games but the numbers have let him down a bit. Yep. I'd predict him to win eight and finish as number 3 seed so far. That's a pretty tight target to aim for! I've obviously become t...
by Phil H
Wed Mar 18, 2020 12:12 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: A massive apology to you all.
Replies: 34
Views: 14309

Re: A massive apology to you all.

Folks, aren't we getting a bit carried away with the "identity theft" business? I'm no lawyer but I'd have assumed it only becomes a crime if you try to make payments using someone else's money, get a loan in someone else's name, or suchlike.
by Phil H
Tue Mar 17, 2020 12:34 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers for Friday 13th March 2020 (Series 82, Prelim 52)
Replies: 7
Views: 4433

Re: Spoilers for Friday 13th March 2020 (Series 82, Prelim 52)

Gavin Chipper wrote: Fri Mar 13, 2020 6:24 pm This champion geezer is pretty good. Very solid on the letters. I think I've beaten him in one letters round over two games but the numbers have let him down a bit.
Yep. I'd predict him to win eight and finish as number 3 seed so far.
by Phil H
Thu Mar 05, 2020 6:22 pm
Forum: Countdown - Events
Topic: Co:MyArs April 31st
Replies: 13
Views: 6583

Re: Co:MyArs April 31st

May I politely suggest that the moderators consider moving the non-genuine events to the off-topic forum so that a noob coming across the forum is not confused about what's real and what isn't? I'm really insulted that you assume this is non-genuine just because inanimate objects are taking part. I...
by Phil H
Wed Mar 04, 2020 8:21 pm
Forum: Countdown - Events
Topic: Co:MyArs April 31st
Replies: 13
Views: 6583

Re: Co:MyArs April 31st

Martin Peters wrote: Wed Mar 04, 2020 8:17 pm
Why are you doing this ?
Mainly to give myself, and perhaps others, a break from the forum being spammed to fuck.
by Phil H
Wed Mar 04, 2020 8:09 pm
Forum: Countdown - Events
Topic: Co:MyArs April 31st
Replies: 13
Views: 6583

Co:MyArs April 31st

It's actually at MY HOUSE... do you see what I did there? But I tweaked it to be down with the kids. Looking forward to my debut as a Co-event host! Confirmed entrants: Me Four empty pizza boxes Eight empty cans of Strongbow Dropdeadfred (from the incel forum I go on) All the models from the top ten...
by Phil H
Fri Feb 14, 2020 7:36 am
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Internal monologue
Replies: 19
Views: 7544

Re: Internal monologue

Fiona T wrote: Thu Feb 13, 2020 11:42 pm
You're from Glasgow? Cunt is a term of endearment, no?
I once had an argument on the bus with someone who said something about "Asian cunts" and then claimed he meant the word in an entirely neutral way.
by Phil H
Thu Feb 13, 2020 11:13 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Internal monologue
Replies: 19
Views: 7544

Re: Internal monologue

Jennifer Steadman wrote: Thu Feb 13, 2020 11:06 pm Yes, but what I really want to know is how people's monologue specifically manifests. I'd say about 20% of mine is in the third person.
I've developed a habit of saying to myself, "He was a fucking arsehole/cunt/etc" and then realising it's myself I'm annoyed with at the time.
by Phil H
Thu Feb 13, 2020 7:31 am
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Internal monologue
Replies: 19
Views: 7544

Re: Internal monologue

The first time I played Apterous after contributing to this thread, I found my internal voice a lot more noticeable than previously!
by Phil H
Wed Feb 12, 2020 12:50 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Internal monologue
Replies: 19
Views: 7544

Re: Internal monologue

Oh, and on the subject of the top players, I don't actually know my 25 times table in the same way I know my 7 times, so I have to check on myself when I'm looking for 425 - "That's 17*25, right? 400 would be 4*4, which is 16, so yeah, 17 for 425." I don't quite say every word of that in m...
by Phil H
Wed Feb 12, 2020 12:43 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Internal monologue
Replies: 19
Views: 7544

Re: Internal monologue

Interesting stuff again. I think what Callum describes is more or less what I experience and what I assumed to be standard. It's quite common for people to say that their internal voice seems to disappear when they are reading at their most fluently. I once did an evening class about the "psych...