Search found 3101 matches

by Rhys Benjamin
Sun Mar 19, 2023 4:05 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Politics in General
Replies: 1604
Views: 1652549

Re: Politics in General

They’ve been working on this since lockdown 1. Not a surprise.

On the other hand I bloody hope the test alert makes it clear it’s a test.
by Rhys Benjamin
Fri Mar 17, 2023 10:23 am
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Politics in General
Replies: 1604
Views: 1652549

Re: Politics in General

Andrew Neil never called the Government Nazis Nor did Gary Lineker. This is what he said, here and here : Good heavens, this is beyond awful. This is just an immeasurably cruel policy directed at the most vulnerable people in language that is not dissimilar to that used by Germany in the 30s, and I...
by Rhys Benjamin
Fri Mar 17, 2023 10:09 am
Forum: Countdown - Events
Topic: CoRugby 2023
Replies: 31
Views: 13775

Re: CoRugby 2023

Gavin Chipper wrote: Fri Mar 17, 2023 9:05 am
Rhys Benjamin wrote: Thu Mar 16, 2023 10:54 pm Strikers have buggered this up now, I won't be able to make it.
I don't think you can blame this one on Gary Lineker.
But I can blame it on the Ranting, Moaning, and Terrible union.
by Rhys Benjamin
Fri Mar 17, 2023 10:07 am
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: ChatGPT
Replies: 37
Views: 3473

Re: ChatGPT

Gavin Chipper wrote: Thu Mar 16, 2023 6:32 pm Donald Trump isn't just "right wing" though. He's a dangerous lunatic.
But the tweet below it further proves my point.
by Rhys Benjamin
Thu Mar 16, 2023 10:54 pm
Forum: Countdown - Events
Topic: CoRugby 2023
Replies: 31
Views: 13775

Re: CoRugby 2023

Strikers have buggered this up now, I won't be able to make it.
by Rhys Benjamin
Thu Mar 16, 2023 1:02 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: ChatGPT
Replies: 37
Views: 3473

Re: ChatGPT

I've seen an article suggesting that ChatGPT has a heavily left-wing bias. As in, proper Marxist-Leninism. :D Not only do I doubt this to be the case, but I don't even see how it could be the case. What would a "Marxist-Leninist" chatbot look like? If I ask it a question about mortgage ra...
by Rhys Benjamin
Sat Mar 11, 2023 12:08 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Politics in General
Replies: 1604
Views: 1652549

Re: Politics in General

Andrew Neil never called the Government Nazis, nor was he ever party political, and Alan Sugar isn’t a BBC employee (The Apprentice is an independent production). They made Clarkson apologise in 2011 for joking - joking! - about shooting strikers. What is ridiculous is the fact the Beeb clearly agre...
by Rhys Benjamin
Mon Mar 06, 2023 8:56 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Politics in General
Replies: 1604
Views: 1652549

Re: Politics in General

You mean about Sue Gray's stitch-up with Labour?
by Rhys Benjamin
Thu Mar 02, 2023 11:45 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

Good idea for a Backbench Business Debate. I'll call the boss.
by Rhys Benjamin
Tue Feb 28, 2023 8:37 am
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Politics in General
Replies: 1604
Views: 1652549

Re: Politics in General

We must not historically revise the original NI protocol. It was better than May’s backstop and thus was agreed to at a time when time was not on the country’s side. May’s backstop provided no exit mechanism for Stormont and would have forced the UK into EU customs rules. The Windsor Framework for t...
by Rhys Benjamin
Mon Feb 27, 2023 9:59 am
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: ChatGPT
Replies: 37
Views: 3473

Re: ChatGPT

Gavin Chipper wrote: Sun Feb 26, 2023 10:23 am Not sure where it gets its facts from:
a load of fake news waffle
Told you so. It’s hopelessly left-wing.

It’s got its facts from the court of Twitter opinion, not, you know, reality.
by Rhys Benjamin
Wed Feb 22, 2023 8:46 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: ChatGPT
Replies: 37
Views: 3473

Re: ChatGPT

I've seen an article suggesting that ChatGPT has a heavily left-wing bias. As in, proper Marxist-Leninism. I think that says a lot about the state of Twitter and the internet than it does about AI being "realistic" etc. given it clearly isn't representative of the majority of people.
by Rhys Benjamin
Wed Feb 22, 2023 9:26 am
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Countdown adjudication dictionary
Replies: 103
Views: 12235

Re: Countdown adjudication dictionary

Rhys, nobody is gonna be printing anything in 2023, it's a paperless society these days everywhere you go, as i'm sure you know. You should see our office! I think that’s a poor decision from OUP, though, even just from a historical standpoint. They should print a paper dictionary every 10-15 years...
by Rhys Benjamin
Tue Feb 21, 2023 4:37 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Countdown adjudication dictionary
Replies: 103
Views: 12235

Re: Countdown adjudication dictionary

Okay, let's play. What exactly am i supposed to be changing to and why? The dictionary isn't perfect, but are any of them? It's not long since we had the best C of C ever and two highest scores of 154 in pretty close succession, all of which happened using the current dictionary set up. Am i missin...
by Rhys Benjamin
Mon Feb 20, 2023 10:04 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Countdown adjudication dictionary
Replies: 103
Views: 12235

Re: Countdown adjudication dictionary

Maybe when Damian retires the new person will have the vision to make the change. Okay, let's play. What exactly am i supposed to be changing to and why? The dictionary isn't perfect, but are any of them? It's not long since we had the best C of C ever and two highest scores of 154 in pretty close ...
by Rhys Benjamin
Mon Feb 20, 2023 8:24 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Politics in General
Replies: 1604
Views: 1652549

Re: Politics in General

That's as maybe, but it doesn't change how the scum media have acted.

https://twitter.com/NewsmanDan/status/1 ... 34914?s=20
by Rhys Benjamin
Sun Feb 19, 2023 10:14 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Countdown on YouTube [etc.]
Replies: 27
Views: 14009

Re: Countdown on YouTube [etc.]

Johnny Canuck wrote: Sat Feb 18, 2023 10:57 pm
Gavin Chipper wrote: Sat Feb 18, 2023 10:25 pmI don't know why people don't stick to their real names.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JOImSuV6aQo
r/whoosh
by Rhys Benjamin
Sun Feb 19, 2023 10:13 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Cricket
Replies: 196
Views: 33657

Re: Cricket

I wasn't - but seemingly England are these days. When they play Test cricket these days it's hilarious for all the right reasons.
by Rhys Benjamin
Fri Feb 17, 2023 10:42 am
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Cricket
Replies: 196
Views: 33657

Re: Cricket

Broad comes in as “the nighthawk” and immediately top edges a slog in the air. Blundell and Kuggeleijn look at each other and it lands between them. Then he wears one on the lid and takes 6 minutes to get another one.

This is absolutely banterlicious, I’m loving it.
by Rhys Benjamin
Tue Feb 14, 2023 1:07 pm
Forum: apterous.org
Topic: You know you're playing too much apterous when...
Replies: 114
Views: 56111

Re: You know you're playing too much apterous when...

A constituent’s letter makes reference to “my Chambers dictionary” and your first reaction is “heretic!”
by Rhys Benjamin
Mon Feb 13, 2023 10:24 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: The Brits and Non Gender Specific Awards
Replies: 20
Views: 2095

Re: The Brits and Non Gender Specific Awards

I don't mind having one award, but Harry Styles was quite right to highlight that no one nominated in "British Artist of the Year" (which he won) were women. Obviously Becky Hill and Dua Lipa deserved nominations more than Fred Again or Central Cee.
by Rhys Benjamin
Mon Feb 13, 2023 1:15 am
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers for Tuesday 10 January 2023 - CoC XVI, Prelim 7
Replies: 25
Views: 2161

Re: Spoilers for Tuesday 10 January 2023 - CoC XVI, Prelim 7

The Only Connect thing where they buzz in at the last possible moment in a game of chicken with the timer seems a bit silly to me. They basically always buzz (they very rarely don't make a guess even if they have no idea) so it might as well just auto-buzz at the end of the time rather than require...
by Rhys Benjamin
Wed Feb 08, 2023 11:57 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Politics in General
Replies: 1604
Views: 1652549

Re: Politics in General

In other “shockingly underreported dreadful media shite”: According to Sky, Zelensky received a standing ovation in Westminster Hall. Which he did, but this was probably down to the fact there were no chairs and the invite explicitly says standing room only. So well done Sky. Both the BBC News at Te...
by Rhys Benjamin
Wed Feb 08, 2023 4:42 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Politics in General
Replies: 1604
Views: 1652549

Re: Politics in General

Had this been a Tory the word “Conservative” would have been in the headline or in the first paragraph at the very least.

I dare you to tell me the BBC aren’t biased.

https://t.co/iKXdZC9gOb
by Rhys Benjamin
Tue Feb 07, 2023 9:01 am
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Countdown adjudication dictionary
Replies: 103
Views: 12235

Re: Countdown adjudication dictionary

It would be down to the whims of the caseworker and the MP. Certainly I like to do everything possible rather than just go “pfft, too trivial”. Obviously our casework is confidential so I can’t give examples.
by Rhys Benjamin
Mon Feb 06, 2023 6:01 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Comparatives and Superlatives of Adjectives Under ‘Derivatives’ Removed! *UPDATE: NOW FIXED*
Replies: 25
Views: 3577

Re: Comparatives and Superlatives of Adjectives Under ‘Derivatives’ Removed!

And did you ask what his mom had made him for lonch, or perhaps was he not very hongry? Here we go, found that sentence in full at last: (To the tune of 1001 Nights) Fuque I left my cheque back at the cheque-in Inside the aeroport The courridour of Brito-Xian Aeroways I board the aeroplane And I wi...
by Rhys Benjamin
Mon Feb 06, 2023 11:52 am
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Countdown adjudication dictionary
Replies: 103
Views: 12235

Re: Countdown adjudication dictionary

Someone should just have a quiet word with Oxford This reminds me of this thread back in 2013. As I said at the time, Countdown must be brilliant advertising for them, but they don't give anything in return, like a dictionary that specifies what the words are, which would be so low effort for them....
by Rhys Benjamin
Sun Feb 05, 2023 11:47 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Countdown adjudication dictionary
Replies: 103
Views: 12235

Re: Countdown adjudication dictionary

Someone should just have a quiet word with Oxford to publish a new paper dictionary every 10 years or so, because the suggestion that there will never be a post-2010 paper dictionary from Oxford is a bit ludicrous, frankly. Won't people in the future want to have one for archiving and archaeological...
by Rhys Benjamin
Sat Feb 04, 2023 9:43 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Comparatives and Superlatives of Adjectives Under ‘Derivatives’ Removed! *UPDATE: NOW FIXED*
Replies: 25
Views: 3577

Re: Comparatives and Superlatives of Adjectives Under ‘Derivatives’ Removed!

The blanket rule that allowed "dominater" would have been badly thought out though. It should be DOMINATOR, and not because it's a special case. ATE -> ATOR is the standard method. Even if you apply that method, over-general rules such as these have more holes than a cheese grator. This r...
by Rhys Benjamin
Sat Feb 04, 2023 9:24 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Comparatives and Superlatives of Adjectives Under ‘Derivatives’ Removed! *UPDATE: NOW FIXED*
Replies: 25
Views: 3577

Re: Comparatives and Superlatives of Adjectives Under ‘Derivatives’ Removed!

the said words are all reasonable So are most agent nouns in some context, but many of those aren't specified (e.g. invoicer, tightener, deployer, ...) and we're used to that. Perhaps adjectives that don't have their own entry, and are instead only mentioned as derivatives of a noun, are rare enoug...
by Rhys Benjamin
Fri Feb 03, 2023 10:04 am
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Jim Bentley, 1971-2022
Replies: 32
Views: 3861

Re: Jim Bentley, 1971-2022

I've withdrawn my post. I'm not trying to pick a fight with anyone, and I'm sorry if you feel I've offended you (pl.) because that's not my intention.
by Rhys Benjamin
Fri Feb 03, 2023 12:59 am
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Jim Bentley, 1971-2022
Replies: 32
Views: 3861

Re: Jim Bentley, 1971-2022

[redacted]
by Rhys Benjamin
Fri Feb 03, 2023 12:34 am
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Jim Bentley, 1971-2022
Replies: 32
Views: 3861

Re: Jim Bentley, 1971-2022

[redacted]
by Rhys Benjamin
Fri Feb 03, 2023 12:31 am
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Getting back on for a second go
Replies: 88
Views: 19428

Re: Getting back on for a second go

Wonder what the deal is for mediocre octochamps/QFs - would love another crack now I've improved, but suspect more than 10 years would be required. If I'm still alive and brain still works, I'll pencil in 2035 :) I think if you've qualified for QFs your hopes of going back on to a normal series are...
by Rhys Benjamin
Fri Feb 03, 2023 12:18 am
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Jim Bentley, 1971-2022
Replies: 32
Views: 3861

Re: Jim Bentley, 1971-2022

[redacted]
by Rhys Benjamin
Fri Feb 03, 2023 12:04 am
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Stand-up comedy
Replies: 71
Views: 16276

Re: Stand-up comedy

Didn't know about this thread, but I'm definitely going to promote Rhys Thorne (no relation) who is genuinely hilarious. I tend to go along and watch him if I can; he's excellent.
by Rhys Benjamin
Fri Feb 03, 2023 12:01 am
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Jim Bentley, 1971-2022
Replies: 32
Views: 3861

Re: Jim Bentley, 1971-2022

[redated, since i feel i've not been understood properly]
by Rhys Benjamin
Wed Feb 01, 2023 5:43 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)

And hence why the “censor everything” argument doesn’t work, in a nutshell.
by Rhys Benjamin
Tue Jan 31, 2023 5:14 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Getting back on for a second go
Replies: 88
Views: 19428

Re: Getting back on for a second go

Good luck with your application Adam, will keep my fingers crossed for you. Coming up to 8 years since my solitary appearance and I’m desperate to get back on. Applied last year but didn’t hear anything so might have to wait for the 10 year mark. Slightly tempted to apply before then but not sure p...
by Rhys Benjamin
Tue Jan 31, 2023 10:34 am
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Countdowners in the news
Replies: 238
Views: 116878

Re: Countdowners in the news

A medical professional can refer to specialists - I guess medication to reduce libido or whatever might be appropriate. Suppressing your sexuality medically is a big ask, but probably better to most than an attraction to children (which if not suppressed could lead to a) abused children and b) long...
by Rhys Benjamin
Tue Jan 31, 2023 7:58 am
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: You Are The Ref
Replies: 345
Views: 147329

Re: You Are The Ref

IMO, either is acceptable. Player Two’s given the conundrum away by yelling it out before coming to them; a more magnanimous Player One might say (“oh, that’s not what I had”).
by Rhys Benjamin
Mon Jan 30, 2023 11:24 pm
Forum: Countdown - Events
Topic: Safeguarding at and around co-events
Replies: 68
Views: 7871

Re: Safeguarding at and around co-events

Cut and paste from the other thread. As far as I can see he's not been on apto, or co-events, so in terms of our community a non-concern. Basically he's just a guy who lost (badly) on countdown. I appreciate the Willie Whitelaw argument here (cross that bridge...), but this surely goes some way for ...
by Rhys Benjamin
Mon Jan 30, 2023 11:23 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Countdowners in the news
Replies: 238
Views: 116878

Re: Countdowners in the news

I'm very much coming round to the view that paedophiles cannot help their sexual attraction. It's wrong/abhorrent by all societal and moral standards, but not something they've chosen to be. You cannot help your sexuality - you can of course choose whether to indulge it. [...] I do think we need to...
by Rhys Benjamin
Mon Jan 30, 2023 8:20 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Ask Graeme?
Replies: 1740
Views: 683979

Re: Ask Graeme?

6 small: 2650 1 large: 22055 2 large: 4637 3 large: 958 4 large: 1361 This is extracted from a post on numbers success by pick, and is the closest thing I can find to "how often each selection has been picked". So yeah, how often has each selection been picked, and is that possible as a m...
by Rhys Benjamin
Mon Jan 30, 2023 6:54 pm
Forum: Countdown - Events
Topic: COLIN XVIII- Countdown in Lincoln, 28-29 January 2023
Replies: 52
Views: 13120

Re: COLIN XVIII- Countdown in Lincoln, 28-29 January 2023

If you see something that doesn't look right, speak to me, or make an edit to the wiki yourself on wiki.apterous.org.

See it, say it, sorted.
by Rhys Benjamin
Mon Jan 30, 2023 4:28 pm
Forum: apterous.org
Topic: Classic Aptochat moments
Replies: 222
Views: 145034

Re: Classic Aptochat moments

Image

Not sure if it counts, as such, but...
by Rhys Benjamin
Mon Jan 30, 2023 2:32 pm
Forum: Countdown - Events
Topic: COLIN XVIII- Countdown in Lincoln, 28-29 January 2023
Replies: 52
Views: 13120

Re: COLIN XVIII- Countdown in Lincoln, 28-29 January 2023

The Sunday should now be up too. I also have an Excel tool that changes the points into wikitable format, so if there's any errors then apologies in advance.
by Rhys Benjamin
Mon Jan 30, 2023 1:06 pm
Forum: Countdown - Events
Topic: Safeguarding at and around co-events
Replies: 68
Views: 7871

Re: Safeguarding at and around co-events

We need to be careful about storing personal data about people in a database, because it comes with various legal requirements . Among other things, anyone would have a right to access the data held about them, so you wouldn't put anything on a player's record which you wouldn't be prepared to show...
by Rhys Benjamin
Mon Jan 30, 2023 11:57 am
Forum: Countdown - Events
Topic: COLIN XVIII- Countdown in Lincoln, 28-29 January 2023
Replies: 52
Views: 13120

Re: COLIN XVIII- Countdown in Lincoln, 28-29 January 2023

The Saturday is up on the wiki now - I'll do the Sunday shortly. Feel free to pick holes in it like a block of Swiss cheese. (Other cheeses are available.) https://wiki.apterous.org/COLIN_XVIII
by Rhys Benjamin
Sun Jan 29, 2023 2:06 am
Forum: Countdown - Events
Topic: Safeguarding at and around co-events
Replies: 68
Views: 7871

Re: Safeguarding at and around co-events

(Aside: I haven't actually been to any FOCAL events yet - I hope my contributions are taken as intended (advice from someone with some basic safeguarding training and who has seen how events in other spaces protect their attendees) and not seen as me "sticking my oar in") Dare I say it, b...
by Rhys Benjamin
Sat Jan 28, 2023 6:25 pm
Forum: Countdown - Events
Topic: Safeguarding at and around co-events
Replies: 68
Views: 7871

Re: Safeguarding at and around co-events

To be fair, I never said we should do that, merely that cost shouldn't be a factor.

But I think it's fairly obvious that an organiser should have one - surely we're all agreed on this?
by Rhys Benjamin
Fri Jan 27, 2023 8:28 pm
Forum: Countdown - Events
Topic: Safeguarding at and around co-events
Replies: 68
Views: 7871

Re: Safeguarding at and around co-events

Cost really should not be a factor here. Maybe there's some truth in this if you know you're going to be a regular attendee, but for a first-timer who's considering going to an event, the cost absolutely is a factor, as is the hassle of actually having to apply for one. I think most people would ho...
by Rhys Benjamin
Fri Jan 27, 2023 7:16 pm
Forum: Countdown - Events
Topic: Safeguarding at and around co-events
Replies: 68
Views: 7871

Re: Safeguarding at and around co-events

Can I just mythbust something for a moment? I have had an enhanced DBS since 2017 as I work with children in cricket in the summer months (at least one person on this forum can corroborate this, so I am not making this up, although it feels very shitty that I even need to say that). Once it’s done, ...
by Rhys Benjamin
Fri Jan 27, 2023 3:52 pm
Forum: Countdown - Events
Topic: Safeguarding at and around co-events
Replies: 68
Views: 7871

Re: Countdowners in the news

Graeme Cole wrote: Thu Jan 26, 2023 11:18 pm
Rhys Benjamin wrote: Thu Jan 26, 2023 11:09 pm Forget "FOCAL" - this goes for all co-events, including non-FOCAL ones.
Ideally, yes. But anybody can hire a hall and call what they're doing a co-event, and we can't stop them.
I doubt many would go to one if the organiser refuses to DBS themselves.
by Rhys Benjamin
Fri Jan 27, 2023 1:31 pm
Forum: Countdown - Events
Topic: Safeguarding at and around co-events
Replies: 68
Views: 7871

Re: Safeguarding at and around co-events

Looking at the date on that article (December 2020), and some of the case details given in it (which I am not repeating), what concerns me a lot is the fact he has been active on Apterous and here between then and now. What Jim did is terrible and I'm very shocked about this, but I'm not actually t...
by Rhys Benjamin
Thu Jan 26, 2023 11:09 pm
Forum: Countdown - Events
Topic: Safeguarding at and around co-events
Replies: 68
Views: 7871

Re: Countdowners in the news

Forget "FOCAL" - this goes for all co-events, including non-FOCAL ones.
by Rhys Benjamin
Thu Jan 26, 2023 8:07 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Countdowners in the news
Replies: 238
Views: 116878

Re: Countdowners in the news

Looking at the date on that article (December 2020), and some of the case details given in it (which I am not repeating), what concerns me a lot is the fact he has been active on Apterous and here between then and now.
by Rhys Benjamin
Wed Jan 25, 2023 7:28 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: You Are The Ref
Replies: 345
Views: 147329

Re: You Are The Ref

You're entering tournament scores into atropine in a Lincoln style tournament [...] a submitted scoresheet is the score agreed by all players and the error stands? This, basically - the game is over when the conundrum is finished and the score is agreed by all. A televised equivalent would be Damia...
by Rhys Benjamin
Tue Jan 24, 2023 10:59 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Where the hell, is Julian Fell?
Replies: 33
Views: 9725

Re: Where the hell, is Julian Fell?

Any reasons for a lack of Scott Mearns?