Christmas 2010 comp

Mr Thinhead · Post by **Mr Thinhead** » Fri Nov 12, 2010 10:24 pm

Your help and suggestions please.

Having just won the second billion comp, and by good fortune at that, I'd like to sponsor a Christmas 2010 comp. But I need ideas about what it should be. Just guessing the team total on Christmas Eve is a bit unimaginative, so suggestions please as to what will make an interesting comp. I'll try to pick one of the ideas that looks most workable and fun and, of course, I'll put up a vast prize fund.

So, suggestions please during the coming week. I'm away in London from Monday and might not get a chance to post again until I get back on Saturday. But I'll try to look in if I can.

Over to all TSBTers for ideas! And, of course, I get to adapt them as required to make life hard for all entrants.

Post by **Megacruncher** » Sat Nov 13, 2010 1:15 am

Mr Thinhead wrote:..... Just guessing the team total on Christmas Eve is a bit unimaginative, so suggestions please as to what will make an interesting comp. ....

Never disregard the bleedin' obvious!

Rather than going for the usual first order stuff like total credit you could get all second order and have us guess RAC at a particular time. Bit nerdy but different.

Or.., you could go totally non-boinc, eg who will be bottom of the SPL, on what points and goal difference as we go into Xmas.

Or ... how many times will the word "family" be used during the Queen's broadcast.

Or..., anyone else?

johnn · Post by **johnn** » Mon Nov 15, 2010 2:08 am

Here's one idea... "not sure how well it will go over"

How about
a guess of the price paid or "quoted" for a computer component? Ie
you could use for instance a computer case like an LIAN LI Lancool PC-K7B Black Aluminum/ SECC ATX Mid Tower Computer Case.
To make it interesting you could shop online worldwide and get lowest
price, average price or highest price, it would be up to the author of the post.

Mr Thinhead · Post by **Mr Thinhead** » Sat Nov 27, 2010 5:35 pm

Sorry for the delay in picking this up folks. Busy week to say the least.

Anyway, regarding the comp, here is what I propose. I want you to tell me the hour and date at which the team will pass 2,200,000,000 (2.2 billion).

But there's a catch.

You can have more than one guess, but only one in each 7-day period. So, for example, if you submit an entry on Sunday 28 November you can't have a second guess until (at least) 7 full days (seven 24-hour periods) have passed, which would be some time on Sunday 5 December. And so on.

Each entry is for one specific hour and date, e.g. 13:00 on 25 December.

Entries cannot be revised. But, as mentioned above, you can enter more than once.

Once submitted, that hour and date is all yours for the duration of the comp. No one else can have it. So, if you have your heart set on a specific hour and date, enter soon.

You should, I think, be able to have three or four entries before the comp ends and we pass the above total.

You might want to try to time your final entry such that you can make it as close as possible to when we cross the line. But, remember, any entry, including your final entry, has to be made at least 7 days after your previous entry.

Got that? Hope so.

Amazon voucher prize. Temujin stats being used. My arbitrary decisions are final and can't be questioned unless you do so while standing stark naked outside the Scottish Parliament building holding a placard saying Come boinc with me!

MacDitch · Post by **MacDitch** » Sat Nov 27, 2010 6:33 pm

Let me start the ball rolling then...

27th of December @ 13:00

Mr Thinhead · Post by **Mr Thinhead** » Sat Nov 27, 2010 7:16 pm

You were quick on the draw. Thanks for that.

MacDitch, 27 December @ 13:00

And, using your entry as an example for everyone else, you will be able to submit another entry after 6.33 pm on Sat 4 December.

PinkPenguin · Post by **PinkPenguin** » Sat Nov 27, 2010 9:52 pm

26th December @ 22:00

steve · Post by **steve** » Sun Nov 28, 2010 12:02 am

Mr Thinhead wrote:Sorry for the delay in picking this up folks. Busy week to say the least.

Anyway, regarding the comp, here is what I propose. I want you to tell me the hour and date at which the team will pass 2,200,000,000 (2.2 billion).

But there's a catch.

You can have more than one guess, but only one in each 7-day period. So, for example, if you submit an entry on Sunday 28 November you can't have a second guess until (at least) 7 full days (seven 24-hour periods) have passed, which would be some time on Sunday 5 December. And so on.

Each entry is for one specific hour and date, e.g. 13:00 on 25 December.

Entries cannot be revised. But, as mentioned above, you can enter more than once.

Once submitted, that hour and date is all yours for the duration of the comp. No one else can have it. So, if you have your heart set on a specific hour and date, enter soon.

You should, I think, be able to have three or four entries before the comp ends and we pass the above total.

You might want to try to time your final entry such that you can make it as close as possible to when we cross the line. But, remember, any entry, including your final entry, has to be made at least 7 days after your previous entry.

Got that? Hope so.

Amazon voucher prize. Temujin stats being used. My arbitrary decisions are final and can't be questioned unless you do so while standing stark naked outside the Scottish Parliament building holding a placard saying Come boinc with me!

maybe how many CM of snow will fall before xmas

Mr Thinhead · Post by **Mr Thinhead** » Sun Nov 28, 2010 12:26 pm

maybe how many CM of snow will fall before xmas

Very appropriate. Here in Perthshire we are snowed in. We live only about 50 yards from the Tay but I doubt we could even get the river bank easily, where there is a path that eventually leads to civilisation. Snowing really hard as I write. Certainly no chance of driving anywhere.

State of play so far:

PinkPenguin, 26 December @ 22:00
MacDitch, 27 December @ 13:00

My daughter found a robin sheltering in our kitchen this morning. I'd have let it stay but it wasn't too keen on my company.

I'm signing off now and going to have a look outside. I may be some time.

Post by **aardvark** » Sun Nov 28, 2010 4:58 pm

Snowed under here in Aberdeen as well, no travel today.

I'll have a guess at 23rd December @ 17:00.

johnn · Post by **johnn** » Sun Nov 28, 2010 8:14 pm

01:00 25 Dec.

Mr Thinhead · Post by **Mr Thinhead** » Sun Nov 28, 2010 8:47 pm

aardvark , 23 December @ 17:00
johnn, 25 December @ 01:00
PinkPenguin, 26 December @ 22:00
MacDitch, 27 December @ 13:00

A rough calculation tells me that early entrants should be able to make 4 guesses, and just possibly 5, before we hit 2.2 billion.

Post by **Megacruncher** » Sun Nov 28, 2010 11:39 pm

Good format!

Right my first guess is 22nd Dec @ 08:00

PS As for the nude picketing outside the Scottish Parliament clause, that might just be a winning recruitment strategy, if, and it's a big if, we can find a suitably photogenic complainer. Volunteers should post a photograph of themselves unclad outside in sub-Zero conditions. Possibly this should be some separate, if somewhat gruesome, sub-competition?

Mr Thinhead · Post by **Mr Thinhead** » Mon Nov 29, 2010 3:57 pm

Megacruncher , 22 December @ 08:00
aardvark , 23 December @ 17:00
johnn, 25 December @ 01:00
PinkPenguin, 26 December @ 22:00
MacDitch, 27 December @ 13:00

Volunteers should post a photograph of themselves unclad outside in sub-Zero conditions.

Could you perhaps post a sample photo of your good self showing what would be a suitable entry for this new (and, possibly, as you say, somewhat gruesome) comp?

Post by **Megacruncher** » Mon Nov 29, 2010 7:25 pm

Mr Thinhead wrote:Could you perhaps post a sample photo of your good self showing what would be a suitable entry for this new (and, possibly, as you say, somewhat gruesome) comp?

I'm not sure the interweb is ready for that yet. Although the snow is so deep in Edinburgh that a strategic position behind one of the four foot high snowplough created walls of snow that seal off all the minor roads here would spare my blushes. Leaving me to worry only about frostbite & hypothermia.

steve · Post by **steve** » Mon Nov 29, 2010 10:38 pm

Mr Thinhead wrote:Megacruncher , 22 December @ 08:00
aardvark , 23 December @ 17:00
johnn, 25 December @ 01:00
PinkPenguin, 26 December @ 22:00
MacDitch, 27 December @ 13:00

Volunteers should post a photograph of themselves unclad outside in sub-Zero conditions.
Could you perhaps post a sample photo of your good self showing what would be a suitable entry for this new (and, possibly, as you say, somewhat gruesome) comp?

I'll take 21 dec at 22.00

steve · Post by **steve** » Mon Nov 29, 2010 10:42 pm

My entry for second comp

Post by **Megacruncher** » Wed Dec 01, 2010 12:01 am

Brrr! :)

Is that really you steve & if so where's your placard?

steve · Post by **steve** » Wed Dec 01, 2010 2:01 am

Megacruncher wrote:Brrr! :)

Is that really you steve & if so where's your placard?

I'm afraid it shrank in the snow

PinkPenguin · Post by **PinkPenguin** » Wed Dec 01, 2010 9:30 pm

Ah! ... connected the GPUs to the sauna, I see. Good move, given the weather.

Mr Thinhead · Post by **Mr Thinhead** » Wed Dec 01, 2010 11:34 pm

steve, 21 December at 22.00
Megacruncher , 22 December @ 08:00
aardvark , 23 December @ 17:00
johnn, 25 December @ 01:00
PinkPenguin, 26 December @ 22:00
MacDitch, 27 December @ 13:00

Regarding the second comp, very impressed Steve. An excellent entry. And my wife did ask what site I was looking at when your picture was displayed. But the judges might disqualify you for wearing a hat. Can anyone else do better?

River Tay beginning to freeze over I think.

Post by **Reeltime** » Thu Dec 02, 2010 7:25 am

6am 24th Dec

Mr Thinhead · Post by **Mr Thinhead** » Thu Dec 02, 2010 6:08 pm

steve, 21 December at 22.00
Megacruncher , 22 December @ 08:00
aardvark , 23 December @ 17:00
Reeltime, 24 December @ 06:00
johnn, 25 December @ 01:00
PinkPenguin, 26 December @ 22:00
MacDitch, 27 December @ 13:00

Post by **Megacruncher** » Sun Dec 05, 2010 11:51 pm

Okay Doaky Dudes.
A week has passed since my first guess so here is my second one. Where as a matter of interest are the other second guesses?
Whatever, it's been a busy week & it's obvious that all the guesses to date are a bit pessimistic. With 72 Meg to go & 38 Meg put away in the last 7 days I'm making my second guess:

18th December @ 19:00

MacDitch · Post by **MacDitch** » Mon Dec 06, 2010 6:32 am

What happened to our RAC over the last week!!! And why did I forget to come and add a second guess?! Ah well, resolved now.

Megacruncher , 18 December @ 19:00
MacDitch , 19 December @ 07:00
steve, 21 December at 22.00
Megacruncher , 22 December @ 08:00
aardvark , 23 December @ 17:00
Reeltime, 24 December @ 06:00
johnn, 25 December @ 01:00
PinkPenguin, 26 December @ 22:00
MacDitch, 27 December @ 13:00

Mr Thinhead · Post by **Mr Thinhead** » Mon Dec 06, 2010 7:22 am

Yes, nearly everyone who has entered so far is entitled to a second guess. If 7 days have passed since you entered then feel free to submit another entry.

Snowed again overnight here in Perthshire. But all the cows have been milked and it's time for breakfast.

Post by **aardvark** » Mon Dec 06, 2010 1:26 pm

I'll have a second go then :)
22nd December @ 00:00 Hrs.

PinkPenguin · Post by **PinkPenguin** » Mon Dec 06, 2010 8:20 pm

02:00 on 20th December.

Post by **Megacruncher** » Tue Dec 07, 2010 1:42 am

Allow me to recap:

Megacruncher , 18 December @ 19:00
MacDitch , 19 December @ 07:00
Pinkpenguin, 20 December @ 02:00
steve, 21 December at 22.00
aardvark, 22 December @ 00:00
Megacruncher , 22 December @ 08:00
aardvark , 23 December @ 17:00
Reeltime, 24 December @ 06:00
johnn, 25 December @ 01:00
PinkPenguin, 26 December @ 22:00
MacDitch, 27 December @ 13:00

But Mr T you have forgotten to enter?!

Personally I always like trying to win my own comps. Don't think I ever have but it's fun trying!

Mr Thinhead · Post by **Mr Thinhead** » Tue Dec 07, 2010 2:23 pm

But Mr T you have forgotten to enter?

Well, as you insist.

Megacruncher , 18 December @ 19:00
MacDitch , 19 December @ 07:00
Pinkpenguin, 20 December @ 02:00
Mr Thinhead, 20 December @ 08.00
steve, 21 December at 22.00
aardvark, 22 December @ 00:00
Megacruncher , 22 December @ 08:00
aardvark , 23 December @ 17:00
Reeltime, 24 December @ 06:00
johnn, 25 December @ 01:00
PinkPenguin, 26 December @ 22:00
MacDitch, 27 December @ 13:00

steve · Post by **steve** » Thu Dec 09, 2010 11:43 am

my second guess is the 17 at 1800

Post by **Reeltime** » Thu Dec 09, 2010 10:53 pm

Ill go 18th 6am cheers

Post by **Megacruncher** » Thu Dec 09, 2010 11:28 pm

Excellent. More optimism!

steve, 17 December @18:00
Reeltime 18 December @ 06:00
Megacruncher , 18 December @ 19:00
MacDitch , 19 December @ 07:00
Pinkpenguin, 20 December @ 02:00
Mr Thinhead, 20 December @ 08.00
steve, 21 December @ 22.00
aardvark, 22 December @ 00:00
Megacruncher , 22 December @ 08:00
aardvark , 23 December @ 17:00
Reeltime, 24 December @ 06:00
johnn, 25 December @ 01:00
PinkPenguin, 26 December @ 22:00
MacDitch, 27 December @ 13:00

Post by **Megacruncher** » Sun Dec 12, 2010 10:37 pm

Well in an hour or so I'd be eligible to cast another vote. However with less than 30 Meg until target and us banking 42Meg in the last week it seems quite certain that this will be my last shot.

So I'll hold fire for a few days as I suggest should everyone else. Mind you, leave it too late and it ... might be too late. One thing's for sure, none of the guesses (apart possibly steve's) so far are likely to be close (barring some major project outages).

Post by **aardvark** » Wed Dec 15, 2010 8:06 pm

Final guess 16th December @19:00.

C'mon guys looks like tomorrow's it :)

Post by **Megacruncher** » Wed Dec 15, 2010 8:44 pm

16th December @18:00. says I.

PinkPenguin · Post by **PinkPenguin** » Wed Dec 15, 2010 9:08 pm

16th December @ 20:00 ....

johnn · Post by **johnn** » Wed Dec 15, 2010 9:24 pm

Final guess December 16th at 17:00, as this is the closest I could get. I
would have picked Mega's guess but he beat me to it. Thankfull for opportunity to make one last guess anyways.

Post by **Megacruncher** » Thu Dec 16, 2010 1:10 am

johnn wrote: I would have picked Mega's guess but he beat me to it.

Actually I'm beginning to think I should have gone for the slightly later 20:00 slot bagged by PP but I'm committed now!

Anyhoo we have:-

johnn .............. 16th December @ 17:00
Megacruncher .. 16th December @ 18:00
Aardvark ......... 16th December @ 19:00
PinkPenguin ..... 16th December @ 20:00
steve, 17 December @18:00
Reeltime 18 December @ 06:00
Megacruncher , 18 December @ 19:00
MacDitch , 19 December @ 07:00
Pinkpenguin, 20 December @ 02:00
Mr Thinhead, 20 December @ 08.00
steve, 21 December @ 22.00
aardvark, 22 December @ 00:00
Megacruncher , 22 December @ 08:00
aardvark , 23 December @ 17:00
Reeltime, 24 December @ 06:00
johnn, 25 December @ 01:00
PinkPenguin, 26 December @ 22:00
MacDitch, 27 December @ 13:00

Still some possible slots available!

MacDitch · Post by **MacDitch** » Thu Dec 16, 2010 8:09 am

Hmm, tried to be organised by setting a reminder, but apparently I set it 12 hours too late as everyone else has got in before me!!

Oh well, my last guess added below.

johnn .............. 16th December @ 17:00
Megacruncher .. 16th December @ 18:00
Aardvark ......... 16th December @ 19:00
PinkPenguin ..... 16th December @ 20:00
MacDitch , 16 December @ 21:00
steve, 17 December @ 18:00
Reeltime 18 December @ 06:00
Megacruncher , 18 December @ 19:00
MacDitch , 19 December @ 07:00
Pinkpenguin, 20 December @ 02:00
Mr Thinhead, 20 December @ 08.00
steve, 21 December @ 22.00
aardvark, 22 December @ 00:00
Megacruncher , 22 December @ 08:00
aardvark , 23 December @ 17:00
Reeltime, 24 December @ 06:00
johnn, 25 December @ 01:00
PinkPenguin, 26 December @ 22:00
MacDitch, 27 December @ 13:00

PinkPenguin · Post by **PinkPenguin** » Thu Dec 16, 2010 4:18 pm

Megacruncher wrote:
johnn wrote: I would have picked Mega's guess but he beat me to it.
Actually I'm beginning to think I should have gone for the slightly later 20:00 slot bagged by PP but I'm committed now!

.... At this point it's looks more likely johnn was right about Mega's guess. Nice finish!

Post by **aardvark** » Thu Dec 16, 2010 6:16 pm

Didn't witness the step onto 2,200,000. But TJ's stats are showing 2,200,205,376 @ 18:13.........................Looks like 18:00 has it.

Post by **Megacruncher** » Thu Dec 16, 2010 6:34 pm

Hurrah 4 me! I suppose I should await Mr Thinhead's final & utterly arbitary decision before delivering my tearful but gracious victory speech.

Good crunching everyone! :wav:

MacDitch · Post by **MacDitch** » Thu Dec 16, 2010 6:53 pm

Congrats Megacruncher.

Hopefully this will make up for the incoming deluge of snow.

Post by **aardvark** » Thu Dec 16, 2010 7:46 pm

I should await Mr Thinhead's final & utterly arbitary decision

Good point, Mr T might decide to cancel due to Inclement weather

3 inches of snow in Aberdeen today

PinkPenguin · Post by **PinkPenguin** » Fri Dec 17, 2010 7:55 am

aardvark wrote:
I should await Mr Thinhead's final & utterly arbitary decision
Good point, Mr T might decide to cancel due to Inclement weather

3 inches of snow in Aberdeen today

...Either that or he may award a special prize for heroic precision under decidedly adverse weather conditions

Around here they were skiing on the adriatic beaches... there appears to be a little confusion on the subject of water sports in this area at the moment!
http://mmedia.kataweb.it/foto/27461472/ ... to-la-neve

Mr Thinhead · Post by **Mr Thinhead** » Sat Dec 18, 2010 6:38 pm

Sorry folks for being absent while all the action was taking place.

I meant to look in on Thursday but events conspired against me. And Friday was given over to travelling to one of the the darkest corners of Fife. Its a bit like Wicker Man in Fife, only I managed to get out in time.

Anyway, it seems congrats are in order to Megacruncher: please send me a PM with your email address and an Amazon voucher will be on its way soon (well, before Christmas).

Post by **aardvark** » Sat Dec 18, 2010 6:55 pm

Congratulations Mega'

:wav:

Post by **aardvark** » Sat Dec 18, 2010 6:55 pm

Congratulations Mega'

:wav: