Search found 3101 matches

by Rhys Benjamin
Mon Jan 02, 2023 4:15 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Corrections to numbers methods on the wiki
Replies: 7
Views: 1777

Re: Corrections to numbers methods on the wiki

For reference, this is why Mike has not published his notes for Series 2-6, and the recaps are all written by him. I don't want to put any pressure on Mike, but he ought to be able to help you out on the first two issues here.
by Rhys Benjamin
Mon Jan 02, 2023 1:24 am
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Colin Murray’s future at Countdown
Replies: 34
Views: 5055

Re: Colin Murray’s future at Countdown

Glad to see they've had a sensible pill, finally. This news is about 2 years overdue!
by Rhys Benjamin
Fri Dec 30, 2022 6:41 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Countdowners in the news
Replies: 238
Views: 116847

Re: Countdowners in the news

by Rhys Benjamin
Sun Dec 25, 2022 7:41 pm
Forum: Countdown - Historical recaps
Topic: Friday 7 November 1986 (Series 10, Prelim 19)
Replies: 1
Views: 2219

Re: Friday 7 November 1986 (Series 10, Prelim 19)

The introduction has been uploaded to YouTube so Frances's name is actually spelt Kicul, although no blame attached to Mike here given Richard's abysmal pronunciation of it.

Obviously I can't change CDB or TCDP, so just letting you know.
by Rhys Benjamin
Fri Dec 23, 2022 9:20 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Is Colin Murray making Countdown too competitive?
Replies: 42
Views: 4721

Re: Is Colin Murray making Countdown too competitive?

Someone's also nominated the low scores page on the wiki for deletion, for example. Fuck that page. Worst page on there - absolutely unnecessary. Agreed that the deletion of that page is worthy of discussion I agree with this. Why have a list of 15-round scores under 30? What's it for? The lowest s...
by Rhys Benjamin
Fri Dec 23, 2022 2:35 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers for Friday 23 December 2022 - Series 86 Grand Final
Replies: 34
Views: 2821

Re: Spoilers for Friday 23 December 2022 - Series 86 Grand Final

And this is why Colin is such a good host, teasing "big big news" after the break. Can't imagine anyone else, even RW, doing so.
by Rhys Benjamin
Fri Dec 23, 2022 2:20 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers for Friday 23 December 2022 - Series 86 Grand Final
Replies: 34
Views: 2821

Re: Spoilers for Friday 23 December 2022 - Series 86 Grand Final

Not sure why Rachel thought they'd do 4L 284 + 7 when Philip's way above (also my way) was more obvious.
by Rhys Benjamin
Fri Dec 23, 2022 2:11 pm
Forum: apterous.org
Topic: Is Apterous down? [COMMENTING HERE WILL ... Yeah, we know]
Replies: 50
Views: 22141

Re: Is Apterous down? [COMMENTING HERE WILL ... Yeah, we know]

Just for reference I've been greeted by this load of gobbledegook which someone technical might know about.

[redacted]
by Rhys Benjamin
Fri Dec 23, 2022 2:10 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Is Colin Murray making Countdown too competitive?
Replies: 42
Views: 4721

Re: Is Colin Murray making Countdown too competitive?

Countdown is not RuPaul's Best Friend race; I've seen a few comments suggesting it should be. Someone's also nominated the low scores page on the wiki for deletion, for example.
by Rhys Benjamin
Thu Dec 22, 2022 11:07 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Is Colin Murray making Countdown too competitive?
Replies: 42
Views: 4721

Re: Is Colin Murray making Countdown too competitive?

In 2012, partly because it was in Baku and therefore started at 12am local time, by the time Loreen was leaving the Russian grannies behind practically no one was left in the hall. Similar situation in Moscow 2009. Rather than a slow realisation that a winner has, well, won, a moment of declaration ...
by Rhys Benjamin
Thu Dec 22, 2022 10:48 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Is Colin Murray making Countdown too competitive?
Replies: 42
Views: 4721

Re: Is Colin Murray making Countdown too competitive?

I *do* like it when he does that - the Eurovision Song Contest picked up on this in 2013-15 after most of the audience went home in 2012 when Euphoria was winning by miles. The mathematical winning moment therefore works a lot better.
by Rhys Benjamin
Thu Dec 22, 2022 2:09 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

Unfortunately I'm already booked for Uni cricket alumni, so can't do, I'm afraid.
by Rhys Benjamin
Fri Nov 25, 2022 10:59 am
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Politics in General
Replies: 1604
Views: 1652485

Re: Politics in General

The do-nothing Mayor has ignored the wishes of Londoners. 2 in 3 opposed ULEZ expansion in the “genuine consultation” and furthermore some opposition responses were improperly excluded. This is a scandal and Khan should resign.
by Rhys Benjamin
Mon Nov 21, 2022 12:25 pm
Forum: apterous.org
Topic: You know you're playing too much apterous when...
Replies: 114
Views: 56100

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

You bookmark Lexplorer at work because it’s the most accurate and correct dictionary you can think of.
by Rhys Benjamin
Fri Nov 18, 2022 8:48 am
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Politics in General
Replies: 1604
Views: 1652485

Re: Politics in General

A former civil servant has done a big interview with Guido to pour cold water on the Raab witch-hunt.

https://order-order.com/2022/11/17/the- ... standards/
by Rhys Benjamin
Tue Nov 01, 2022 2:11 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Politics in General
Replies: 1604
Views: 1652485

Re: Politics in General

Suella’s not a great home sec, but she is right about one thing: there are too many people seemingly uninterested in the channel crossings, pretending it’s not happening because they refuse to believe that it’s illegal or should be stopped. No one needs to flee from France illegally to come here. Th...
by Rhys Benjamin
Tue Oct 25, 2022 7:47 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Politics in General
Replies: 1604
Views: 1652485

Re: Politics in General

I agree that the reporting shown is pretty bad, and I'd expect complaints to be upheld. But to reiterate my previous questions - what values do you personally believe to be important? What are the values of the conservative party? Does Boris lead by example when considering those values? Boris John...
by Rhys Benjamin
Mon Oct 24, 2022 12:38 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Politics in General
Replies: 1604
Views: 1652485

Re: Politics in General

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?
by Rhys Benjamin
Mon Oct 24, 2022 7:38 am
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Politics in General
Replies: 1604
Views: 1652485

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/1 ... eC41NlkJsg
by Rhys Benjamin
Thu Oct 20, 2022 3:24 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Politics in General
Replies: 1604
Views: 1652485

Re: Politics in General

We must retreat to go forward.

Back Boris.
by Rhys Benjamin
Wed Oct 19, 2022 7:40 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Politics in General
Replies: 1604
Views: 1652485

Re: Politics in General

I don’t know whether I’m joking any more when I post this.

https://twitter.com/rhysbenjamin/status ... AcZjGFR89Q
by Rhys Benjamin
Mon Oct 17, 2022 9:26 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Politics in General
Replies: 1604
Views: 1652485

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/15809 ... XX0n1_lMsQ
by Rhys Benjamin
Fri Aug 12, 2022 8:29 am
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Politics in General
Replies: 1604
Views: 1652485

Re: Politics in General

You could definitely sell the idea, emphasising “look how much tax you pay, it’s not fair, tax is theft, etc”. Council tax was born out of the poll tax debacle, but the poll tax itself was part of a wider move to local government funding. It was meant to make local government more accountable as wel...
by Rhys Benjamin
Sun Aug 07, 2022 9:12 am
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Politics in General
Replies: 1604
Views: 1652485

Re: Politics in General

This reads oddly to me. It gives me the impression that you'd prefer a tax cut as a performative measure rather than a rebate that has more chance of reaching the people who need it most (not that I'm saying the rebate was the best way of doing it). My point being that a large portion of people bei...
by Rhys Benjamin
Fri Jul 15, 2022 6:49 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Politics in General
Replies: 1604
Views: 1652485

Re: Politics in General

A tax cut would have been better than the energy bills rebate and NI hike hits the wrong audience at the wrong time. This reads oddly to me. It gives me the impression that you'd prefer a tax cut as a performative measure rather than a rebate that has more chance of reaching the people who need it ...
by Rhys Benjamin
Wed Jul 13, 2022 9:40 am
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Politics in General
Replies: 1604
Views: 1652485

Re: Politics in General

I am sad that Boris has gone although it was the right time for him to stand down. As a voter in this election, brief views on each of the leadership candidates: Kemi Badenoch: “I’m the Prime Minister and I’m offended by unisex / gender neutral toilets” is bonkers. I’m not overly keen on net zero ei...
by Rhys Benjamin
Fri Jul 08, 2022 11:10 am
Forum: apterous.org
Topic: Words 'in the wild'
Replies: 10
Views: 5969

Re: Words 'in the wild'

Image
by Rhys Benjamin
Mon Jun 20, 2022 2:51 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Politics in General
Replies: 1604
Views: 1652485

Re: Politics in General

Not to punish illegal entry into a country?

[citation needed]
by Rhys Benjamin
Sat Jun 18, 2022 6:51 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Politics in General
Replies: 1604
Views: 1652485

Re: Politics in General

My point is really that simply doing the decent thing by anyone in a camp in Calais today would surely mean that even more people would turn up in Calais. Aye. David Cameron in 2015 said that we would only take in refugees from Syria (rather than via Europe) so that they wouldn’t be encouraged to m...
by Rhys Benjamin
Sat Jun 18, 2022 2:09 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Politics in General
Replies: 1604
Views: 1652485

Re: Politics in General

has been superceded by the Nationality and Borders Act You haven't highlighted what specific part of the Act backs up your point, and much of it isn't in force yet, but even giving you maximum benefit of doubt, I think the most that can be said is that crossings could now theoretically be criminali...
by Rhys Benjamin
Fri Jun 17, 2022 7:29 am
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Politics in General
Replies: 1604
Views: 1652485

Re: Politics in General

Yes they are.
Yes they are.
Yes they are.
Yes they are.
Yes they are.
Yes they are.
Yes they are.
Yes they are.

That ruling, based on a loophole of the difference “arrival” and “entry”, has been superceded by the Nationality and Borders Act.

https://bills.parliament.uk/bills/3023/stages
by Rhys Benjamin
Thu Jun 16, 2022 8:21 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Politics in General
Replies: 1604
Views: 1652485

Re: Politics in General

The point is that they wouldn't need to come over the channel in unseaworthy vessels if we shipped them here ourselves. The point is they shouldn't be coming over in unseaworthy vessels AT ALL. There are plenty of safe and legal routes for people to come to the UK. God knows we deal with enough HO ...
by Rhys Benjamin
Thu Jun 16, 2022 8:22 am
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Politics in General
Replies: 1604
Views: 1652485

Re: Politics in General

Why do people need to claim asylum from France? It’s not exactly a non-safe country. These people are coming over the channel in unseaworthy vessels from a safe country, France, and we are spending millions every day accommodating them in stasis. A policy of deporting them is not a bad policy at all...
by Rhys Benjamin
Wed Jun 15, 2022 7:34 am
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Politics in General
Replies: 1604
Views: 1652485

Re: Politics in General

The people smugglers have won then.
by Rhys Benjamin
Tue Jun 07, 2022 11:13 am
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Politics in General
Replies: 1604
Views: 1652485

Re: Politics in General

It’s more like “oh, I’m sorry, as a police car the traffic laws don’t all apply to us, I didn’t realise that one still did”. But now there’s a genuinely awful conspiracy theory going around that Boris never had Covid. Come on, seriously… a bit of fact-checking please. Please take a sensible pill bef...
by Rhys Benjamin
Mon May 30, 2022 11:41 am
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Eurovision Song Contest 2022
Replies: 23
Views: 1859

Re: Eurovision Song Contest 2022

Even before the contest I believe we were at 28 in the chart, the highest we’d been for many years.
by Rhys Benjamin
Mon May 30, 2022 10:27 am
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Politics in General
Replies: 1604
Views: 1652485

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 Rhys Benjamin
Fri May 27, 2022 6:50 am
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Politics in General
Replies: 1604
Views: 1652485

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, tel...
by Rhys Benjamin
Fri May 20, 2022 5:58 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Eurovision Song Contest 2022
Replies: 23
Views: 1859

Re: Eurovision Song Contest 2022

Sam Ryder has narrowly lost to Harry Styles for this week’s #1, which confirms what I’ve been saying for a while: UK chart performance is a barometer for our Eurovision performance.
by Rhys Benjamin
Sat May 14, 2022 7:35 am
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Eurovision Song Contest 2022
Replies: 23
Views: 1859

Re: Eurovision Song Contest 2022

7/10 for me on Thursday night as well - missed Poland, Belgium, Estonia.

William Lee Adams of Wiwibloggs now says anything other than top 5 is a disappointment for the UK!
by Rhys Benjamin
Tue May 10, 2022 11:44 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Eurovision Song Contest 2022
Replies: 23
Views: 1859

Re: Eurovision Song Contest 2022

7/10 for me, I had Denmark, Austria, and Albania in and Moldova, Lithuania, and Portugal out. I mean, Moldova I can understand, but the other two!?
by Rhys Benjamin
Tue May 10, 2022 11:35 pm
Forum: Countdown - Events
Topic: Co:Brighton - 16 July 2022
Replies: 48
Views: 11209

Re: Co:Brighton - 16 July 2022

Rawr.
by Rhys Benjamin
Tue May 10, 2022 6:37 pm
Forum: Countdown - Events
Topic: Co:Brighton - 16 July 2022
Replies: 48
Views: 11209

Re: Co:Brighton - 16 July 2022

Unfortunately I'm busy that day, but I would strongly recommend getting there early. Lewes Road is horrid to traverse via bus at the best of times, and if you're coming on the number 25 bus it's even worse.
by Rhys Benjamin
Tue May 10, 2022 6:36 pm
Forum: Countdown - Events
Topic: The future of COLIN
Replies: 21
Views: 3267

Re: The future of COLIN

To echo Jack's point, co-event pricing, especially Lincoln and London, is fairly inelastic: if pricing issues do put people off, it will be the combination of travel/hotel/etc, not the entry fee itself. Taking my recent cricket event in Brighton in January as a very rough guide, you don't get much c...
by Rhys Benjamin
Tue May 10, 2022 6:20 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Anne Robinson to leave Countdown
Replies: 110
Views: 10959

Re: Anne Robinson to leave Countdown

Possibly Colin's done the old filming/broadcast dates mix-up and he's filling in all of the rest of S86.
by Rhys Benjamin
Mon May 09, 2022 6:51 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Eurovision Song Contest 2022
Replies: 23
Views: 1859

Eurovision Song Contest 2022

The bookies’ favourite is Ukraine… really!? I mean, it wasn’t doing great in the odds until Vlad the Terrible showed up and the song is a bit naff… I have therefore put five quid on Italy. Predictions for the semi finals: SF1: Albania, Switzerland, Ukraine, The Netherlands, Denmark, Austria, Iceland...
by Rhys Benjamin
Sat May 07, 2022 7:14 am
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Politics in General
Replies: 1604
Views: 1652485

Re: Politics in General

(And the BBC haven’t really bothered to dwell on it, largely because they didn’t send any reporters here.) Is that the reason? Or is it largely because the gain of a single council is quite an insignificant story compared to the massive losses suffered overall? Being a London council, if we (and Cr...
by Rhys Benjamin
Fri May 06, 2022 6:17 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Politics in General
Replies: 1604
Views: 1652485

Re: Politics in General

WE WON HARROW COUNCIL. WE GAINED A COUNCIL IN LONDON. (And the BBC haven’t really bothered to dwell on it, largely because they didn’t send any reporters here.)

(I lost. Narrowly. Which was better than we expected.)
by Rhys Benjamin
Fri May 06, 2022 6:15 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Anne Robinson to leave Countdown
Replies: 110
Views: 10959

Re: Anne Robinson to leave Countdown

Anne’s demeanour simply wasn’t correct, from the start, middle and end. some bits I liked - I liked more chat with the contestants, gentle teasing is fine but put-downs/belittlement not so good. Conversational rather than interrogational - good example from yesterday - Jeremy Vine's chat with the c...
by Rhys Benjamin
Thu May 05, 2022 9:18 am
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Anne Robinson to leave Countdown
Replies: 110
Views: 10959

Re: Anne Robinson to leave Countdown

Anne has given a rather vicious interview to The Sun where she has said she quit because she refused to be employed by Channel 4, rather than remain freelance. Even a “huge” pay rise didn’t tempt her.

She has also admitted to asking for Rachel to be muted.
by Rhys Benjamin
Thu May 05, 2022 8:06 am
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Anne Robinson to leave Countdown
Replies: 110
Views: 10959

Re: Anne Robinson to leave Countdown

It was just that the divorce was so messy I can’t see Channel 4 going back to her. Of course, I have no idea what salary Rachel is on for Countdown (or Anne for that matter) but remember that Vorderman left in a dispute over pay, where they wanted to cut her salary from £900k to £90k in one go. Alle...
by Rhys Benjamin
Wed May 04, 2022 9:15 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Anne Robinson to leave Countdown
Replies: 110
Views: 10959

Re: Anne Robinson to leave Countdown

Well, Richard Osman has publicly backed Colin Murray… but more interestingly, Vorderman has not distanced herself from the rumours (like she did last time). That tells me a lot. According to The Sun, “bosses” (C4? Damian? Who knows?) want her back.
by Rhys Benjamin
Fri Apr 15, 2022 9:19 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Pig-Headed Man
Replies: 56
Views: 4602

Re: Pig-Headed Man

Gavin Chipper wrote: Wed Apr 13, 2022 2:39 pm If the Tory MPs don't do anything, Johnson's constituents could do a recall petition. I'd enjoy that.
They can't, because a Fixed Penalty Notice does not amount to a criminal conviction (unless unpaid). The Recall of MPs Act 2015 says a recall petition can only be instigated in that event.
by Rhys Benjamin
Fri Apr 15, 2022 9:18 pm
Forum: Countdown - Current recaps
Topic: Calling All Wannabe Recappers!!
Replies: 486
Views: 212548

Re: Calling All Wannabe Recappers!!

Since the recaps seem to be on hiatus at the moment, I could do some of the S85 recaps? Although the recap writer doesn't seem to be working- I get an error message when I click on it. More than happy to let you do them for now, Christy. Obviously working full-time plus local elections is a huge ti...
by Rhys Benjamin
Wed Apr 13, 2022 1:51 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: David Barnard, 1991-2022
Replies: 85
Views: 12022

Re: Please say a prayer for David Barnard

Always sad to hear a member of Countdonia is suffering. Hope he pulls through.
by Rhys Benjamin
Wed Apr 13, 2022 8:28 am
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Pig-Headed Man
Replies: 56
Views: 4602

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, and...
by Rhys Benjamin
Mon Apr 11, 2022 11:27 am
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: You Are The Ref
Replies: 345
Views: 147328

Re: You Are The Ref

A couple of these that came up on Saturday: As a host, if both players declare the same length I will flip the declaration as a further no-cheating measure. This was something that I was challenged on when hosting on Saturday, and I was surprised at that given it’s how it’s been done on telly. Examp...
by Rhys Benjamin
Sat Apr 09, 2022 9:52 am
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: How will the sale of Channel 4 affect Countdown's future?
Replies: 4
Views: 1068

Re: How will the sale of Channel 4 affect Countdown's future?

It won’t, imo.

It’s a culturally significant programme and killing it is a PR catastrafuck.