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#1 UK General Election Competition
Posted: Thu Mar 04, 2010 9:57 pm
by Mr Thinhead
********
GENERAL ELECTION COMPETITION
What will the TSBT combined total be when the prime minister announces the next UK general election?
On the day, the total score when I look at
http://ubt-seti.dyndns.org/tsbt/UBT.php ... oject=comb is what counts. Not when you look at it.
Your entry must be to the NEAREST 100k, for example, 1,234,500,000 is valid, as is 1,234,600,000. Anything not to the nearest 100k isn't valid, and any such entries will be designated numpty entries.
So, all you have to do is get the prime minister to tell you the above date then do some simple arithmetic. Easy!
Now read the other rules below, particularly the one about date of posting or revising your entry.
********
AMAZING PRIZE
An Amazon voucher for £20 (or equivalent in US $)
********
RULES
All entrants must be actively crunching TSBT members from point of entry to date of announcement.
Your entry cannot be the same as someone else's.
Revise your entry as often as you want BUT NOTE: all entries/revisions made in the two days before the announcement are null and void.
So take care, and don't leave it too late to enter or revise your entry.
And I can make up other rules if I need to, my judgement final, etc. 8)
#2
Posted: Thu Mar 04, 2010 11:19 pm
by Megacruncher
Great a comp with loads of arbitary rules.
1,327,800,000 says I
#3
Posted: Fri Mar 05, 2010 12:28 am
by FlyingfocRS
#4
Posted: Fri Mar 05, 2010 4:30 am
by Reeltime
Nice comp. My 1st entry is 1,333,300,000
#5
Posted: Fri Mar 05, 2010 9:30 am
by MacDitch
This should be... ...interesting.
I'll guess a completely random 1,313,100,000
#6
Posted: Fri Mar 05, 2010 11:51 am
by Mr Thinhead
Wow. Four entries already. Thank you.
Remember everyone that entries should be the total as it will be ON THE DATE THE ELECTION IS ANNOUNCED (i.e. NOT the date of the general election itself).
She Who Must Be Obeyed (aka mother of my children and Chief Female Thinhead) has said that I must point this out, even if I thought it was clear already.
#7
Posted: Fri Mar 05, 2010 2:16 pm
by Nightlord
She Who Must Be Obeyed
Hang on a minute, are you married to Mrs N too? ....and what's this about you and she having wains?
1,320,500,000 (ish)
#8
Posted: Fri Mar 05, 2010 5:33 pm
by Mr Thinhead
Hang on a minute, are you married to Mrs N too? ....and what's this about you and she having wains?
Never mentioned
married. But it now looks like I'll need to check the bairns' DNA.
Anyway, here is the state of play:
MacDitch 1,313,100,000
Nightlord 1,320,500,000
Megacruncher 1,327,800,000
Reeltime 1,333,300,000
FlyingfocRS 1,345,400,000
#9
Posted: Fri Mar 05, 2010 10:01 pm
by Megacruncher
Of course the rules of the comp are such that, even with all this interest, you could end up with no valid entries if all of us revise our entries just ahead of the announcement. This would assume of course that Broon gets a sudden supply of anti-dither pills and surprises us with a snap decision.
#10 Re: UK General Election Competition
Posted: Fri Mar 05, 2010 11:29 pm
by Andy Manzie
I will go for 1,340,900,000
#11
Posted: Fri Mar 05, 2010 11:31 pm
by Mr Thinhead
Of course the rules of the comp are such that, even with all this interest, you could end up with no valid entries...
Good point. I had to consult my legal team. This is an opportunity to implement the first of no doubt many convoluted amendments to the rules.
If all entrants, and that means ALL, fall inside the 2-day window then the prize will go to whoever is nearest. But if even one entry/revision is older than 2 days then the 'null and void' rule stands.
That seems fair. Basically with this comp there is a disadvantage in waiting too long before entering, and it makes revising potentially risky.
So all entrants should make use of anti-dither pills too. 8)
#12
Posted: Fri Mar 05, 2010 11:49 pm
by Mr Thinhead
Final roundup before bedtime. Have to get up early tomorrow. Far too early considering that it's the weekend.
MacDitch 1,313,100,000
Nightlord 1,320,500,000
Megacruncher 1,327,800,000
Reeltime 1,333,300,000
Andy Manzie 1,340,900,000
FlyingfocRS 1,345,400,000
So far it looks like none of you think an announcement will be made in the next couple of weeks. :)
#13
Posted: Sat Mar 06, 2010 1:59 am
by Megacruncher
So far it looks like none of you think an announcement will be made in the next couple of weeks. :)
Well no, I've got to say that I consider our esteemed premier will cling to office with all the tenacity, and dignity, with which a turd clings to a newly soiled blanket! :)
#14
Posted: Sat Mar 06, 2010 8:26 am
by PinkPenguin
... right, dither pills downed !
It's 1,339,600,000... not sure about the colour though. I think I need another dither pill!
#15
Posted: Sat Mar 06, 2010 10:19 am
by Mr Thinhead
MacDitch 1,313,100,000
Nightlord 1,320,500,000
Megacruncher 1,327,800,000
Reeltime 1,333,300,000
PinkPenguin 1,339,600,000
Andy Manzie 1,340,900,000
FlyingfocRS 1,345,400,000
Sin agad e.
#16
Posted: Sat Mar 06, 2010 4:04 pm
by aardvark
Count me in....I'll have a stab at
1,337,500,000.
P.S can you change the "dither pills" ? These ones are the wrong shape & a bit hard to swallow (same shape as Mr Browns P45).

#17
Posted: Sat Mar 06, 2010 7:06 pm
by johnn
The last competition had me guessing why I was so far off the mark.
Maybe it was all that vino I drank.

Here a goe's anyway
1,374,900,000.
#18
Posted: Sat Mar 06, 2010 10:10 pm
by Mr Thinhead
And the latest is:
MacDitch 1,313,100,000
Nightlord 1,320,500,000
Megacruncher 1,327,800,000
Reeltime 1,333,300,000
aardvark 1,337,500,000
PinkPenguin 1,339,600,000
Andy Manzie 1,340,900,000
FlyingfocRS 1,345,400,000
johnn 1,374,900,000
The prime minister has contacted me to say that this is the most useful breakdown of public opinion about the probable date of the general election that he has seen.
#19
Posted: Tue Mar 09, 2010 2:58 pm
by MacDitch
And the latest is:
Nightlord 1,320,500,000
Megacruncher 1,327,800,000
Reeltime 1,333,300,000
aardvark 1,337,500,000
PinkPenguin 1,339,600,000
Andy Manzie 1,340,900,000
FlyingfocRS 1,345,400,000
MacDitch 1,360,500,000
johnn 1,374,900,000
I have finally got around to doing something more than posting repeating numbers so a real guess is now in the above list. :)
#20
Posted: Sun Mar 14, 2010 2:58 pm
by Mr Thinhead
For what it's worth, the following is from the BBC election countdown page:
TUESDAY, 6 APRIL - ELECTION DATE ANNOUNCED
After the long Easter weekend, Mr Brown is expected to announce the date of a general election as 6 May.
But will events prove otherwise?
#21
Posted: Sun Mar 14, 2010 4:43 pm
by aardvark
I'll up my guess a bit to 1,367,500,000.
My toaster gave me reliable information, inscribed on "the significant other's" slice of toast this morning

#22
Posted: Mon Mar 15, 2010 7:21 pm
by Nightlord
Well, given the input from the toaster and the fact we are currently hitting around 4.5M per day, I think I'll revise to an optimistic 1,380,000,000
#23
Posted: Mon Mar 15, 2010 10:13 pm
by Mr Thinhead
Election latest:
Megacruncher 1,327,800,000
Reeltime 1,333,300,000
PinkPenguin 1,339,600,000
Andy Manzie 1,340,900,000
FlyingfocRS 1,345,400,000
MacDitch 1,360,500,000
aardvark 1,367,500,000
johnn 1,374,900,000
Nightlord 1,380,000,000
#24
Posted: Tue Mar 16, 2010 12:59 am
by aardvark
Are you not having a guess Mr T ?
I don't think it would be an issue unless the P.M decides to give you a call again :protest:
#25
Posted: Tue Mar 16, 2010 11:02 pm
by Storme
1,364,500,000
#26
Posted: Wed Mar 17, 2010 2:38 pm
by Mr Thinhead
Are you not having a guess Mr T ?
Well, as you insist... I think that there might still be a surprise and it will be called earlier than expected.
No one has a guess in the 1,350,000s so I will go bang in the middle and say 1,355,000,000. But what do I know? I'm only one of the cleaners at No. 10 after all. I must have a good poke around in the wastebaskets tonight.
#27
Posted: Wed Mar 17, 2010 6:27 pm
by aardvark
I'm only one of the cleaners at No. 10 after all. I must have a good poke around in the wastebaskets tonight.
See if you can find any info' on the comming tax rises, especially the price of bread, my toaster's getting a bit concerned and is thinking of voting Conservative. This of course would make it about the only Conservative voter in Scotland.
#28
Posted: Wed Mar 17, 2010 8:30 pm
by Mr Thinhead
Election latest:
Megacruncher 1,327,800,000
Reeltime 1,333,300,000
PinkPenguin 1,339,600,000
Andy Manzie 1,340,900,000
FlyingfocRS 1,345,400,000
MacDitch 1,360,500,000
Storme 1,364,500,000
aardvark 1,367,500,000
johnn 1,374,900,000
Nightlord 1,380,000,000
See if you can find any info' on the comming tax rises, especially the price of bread, my toaster's getting a bit concerned and is thinking of voting Conservative. This of course would make it about the only Conservative voter in Scotland.
Yes, there will be a bread tax. There will be three fewer slices in each loaf after the election, the so-called budget loaf. If you come from a upper crust background then the tax will be rolled out a year later. Toasters will be banned, unless wind-powered. And cheese on toast will be classed as a perversion and anyone eating it will be deemed to have volunteered to serve in Afghanistan.
#29
Posted: Wed Mar 17, 2010 9:14 pm
by PinkPenguin
Yes, there will be a bread tax. There will be three fewer slices in each loaf after the election, the so-called budget loaf. If you come from a upper crust background then the tax will be rolled out a year later. Toasters will be banned, unless wind-powered. And cheese on toast will be classed as a perversion and anyone eating it will be deemed to have volunteered to serve in Afghanistan.
....
Yippeee! pizza!.. with lashings of cheese, chili peppers and hot sausage on top!
1,365,200,000 ...do I get posted to Herat ? :blob6:
#30
Posted: Thu Mar 18, 2010 2:06 pm
by Mr Thinhead
Election latest:
Megacruncher 1,327,800,000
Reeltime 1,333,300,000
Andy Manzie 1,340,900,000
FlyingfocRS 1,345,400,000
MacDitch 1,360,500,000
Storme 1,364,500,000
PinkPenguin 1,365,200,000
aardvark 1,367,500,000
johnn 1,374,900,000
Nightlord 1,380,000,000
...do I get posted to Herat ?
Yes, to serve as a target during target practice.

#31
Posted: Sat Mar 20, 2010 3:27 pm
by Mr Thinhead
It seems that at least four of you believe (or perhaps know?) that the election will be announced before the end of this month.
#32
Posted: Fri Mar 26, 2010 5:08 pm
by PinkPenguin
Yes, to serve as a target during target practice.

... Help! They're shooting the anchovies on the pizzas... come to think of it, this not entirely surprising as the anchovies are fighting back.

#33
Posted: Fri Mar 26, 2010 8:34 pm
by Megacruncher
Well it looks as if I think that the election will be called in the wee small hours of Saturday morning, which is unlikely, unless Broon takes an accidental overdose of anti-dither pills having become confused when trying to reduce the public finance deficit at a cabinet cider binge-drinking competition.
So I'll revise my guess to
1,380,800,000
#34
Posted: Sat Mar 27, 2010 9:33 am
by Mr Thinhead
the anchovies are fighting back
Beware of the improvised explosive anchovy found only in Herat.
... cabinet cider binge-drinking competition
Following which cabinet members hang around Whitehall corners selling themselves to passers-by just
like a cab for hire.
Which MP would you choose to hire, and for what?
Reeltime 1,333,300,000
Andy Manzie 1,340,900,000
FlyingfocRS 1,345,400,000
MacDitch 1,360,500,000
Storme 1,364,500,000
PinkPenguin 1,365,200,000
aardvark 1,367,500,000
johnn 1,374,900,000
Nightlord 1,380,000,000
Megacruncher 1,380,800,000
#35
Posted: Sat Mar 27, 2010 11:50 am
by MacDitch
Reeltime 1,333,300,000
Andy Manzie 1,340,900,000
FlyingfocRS 1,345,400,000
Storme 1,364,500,000
PinkPenguin 1,365,200,000
aardvark 1,367,500,000
MacDitch 1,369,000,000
johnn 1,374,900,000
Nightlord 1,380,000,000
Megacruncher 1,380,800,000
#36
Posted: Sat Mar 27, 2010 12:40 pm
by Reeltime
MacDitch wrote:
Andy Manzie 1,340,900,000
FlyingfocRS 1,345,400,000
Storme 1,364,500,000
PinkPenguin 1,365,200,000
aardvark 1,367,500,000
MacDitch 1,369,000,000
Reeltime 1,370,000,000
johnn 1,374,900,000
Nightlord 1,380,000,000
Megacruncher 1,380,800,000
#37
Posted: Sun Mar 28, 2010 2:00 am
by Megacruncher
Which MP would you choose to hire, and for what?

I think that might form the basis for a totally separate comp!
Or it might well work as a reality tv prog whereby the many unemployed/unemployable former parliamentarians who shall soon be littering these Isles abase themselves for beer money to satisfy the whim of a vengeful public.
Anyhoo my entry to this undeclared comp is : Geof Hoon - I mean, what an utter worthless tosser, screws up two wars and, smug as ever. now expects to clean up! Well, I'll let him clean up! Specifically my cars, alloys and wheel arches too, using only his lying self-serving tongue, all at minimum wage rates. After that he will clean out my roof gutters equiped with only his nostrils.

#38
Posted: Sun Mar 28, 2010 9:53 am
by PinkPenguin
Anyhoo my entry to this undeclared comp is : Geof Hoon - I mean, what an utter worthless tosser, screws up two wars and, smug as ever. now expects to clean up! Well, I'll let him clean up! Specifically my cars, alloys and wheel arches too, using only his lying self-serving tongue, all at minimum wage rates. After that he will clean out my roof gutters equiped with only his nostrils.

... You might have to lock up the silver, count the wheels and check the lead on the gutters afterwards.

#39
Posted: Sun Mar 28, 2010 10:06 am
by Mr Thinhead
Is it true that Geoff Hoon's nickname, given by fellow MPs, is
Buff?
Just why would they give him a nickname like that?

#40
Posted: Tue Mar 30, 2010 9:25 pm
by Mr Thinhead
I'll be away in London until Saturday folks, although I'll try to log in and have a look if time permits.
Anyway, now seems an appropriate time to remind everyone of the following rule:
Revise your entry as often as you want BUT NOTE: all entries/revisions made in the two days before the announcement are null and void.
Also, if there are any lurking noobs out there, please submit an entry. The competition was meant to lure you in. It isn't just for all the pensioners that have entered so far.
#41
Posted: Wed Mar 31, 2010 12:07 am
by Megacruncher
It isn't just for all the pensioners that have entered so far.
Whay Hay! A pension!
If only boinc produced one. Dream on.
Imagine if it's all been organised by some eccentric billionaire who will some day soon unveil himself and reward every boincer to the tune of, say, 1 US cent per credit. That would be $2.1 Billion (which by my researches at least 700 people on this planet could afford) to be shared out btwn just under 2 million Boincers. For me this would be worth $680K which would keep me in spares for years to come!
Of course it's more likely that Mr T's remarks, far from giving us hope for financial reward, just constitute a thoughtless ageist slur against the TSBT faithful!

#42
Posted: Wed Mar 31, 2010 12:37 am
by aardvark
Imagine if it's all been organised by some eccentric billionaire who will some day soon unveil himself and reward every boincer
More likely a Government project, getting us all to work out the current national debt. Or perhaps the M.P's expenses bill for next year, now that they've all been driven "underground".
It isn't just for all the pensioners that have entered so far.
If I was 20 years younger I'd...............................
Reminds me of a statement I heard last year about the new T.V reality show they were thinking about, for those with Dimentia called "Where do you think you are ?".
#43
Posted: Thu Apr 01, 2010 11:14 pm
by Megacruncher
Broon will (unless he bottles it again!) name the day on Tuesday morning which means that entries will effectively, and fiendishly enough retrospectively, close on Sunday morning. So as I'm away the weekend I'll take this chance to revise my entry to
1,365,700,000
#44
Posted: Sat Apr 03, 2010 10:02 am
by Mr Thinhead
The state of play (the first two in the list can't win as the total is now over 1,353,000,000):
Andy Manzie 1,340,900,000
FlyingfocRS 1,345,400,000
Storme 1,364,500,000
PinkPenguin 1,365,200,000
Megacruncher 1,365,700,000
aardvark 1,367,500,000
MacDitch 1,369,000,000
Reeltime 1,370,000,000
johnn 1,374,900,000
Nightlord 1,380,000,000
#45
Posted: Sat Apr 03, 2010 9:16 pm
by FlyingfocRS
Ok suppose I'd better revise my guess then.
Andy Manzie 1,340,900,000
Storme 1,364,500,000
PinkPenguin 1,365,200,000
Megacruncher 1,365,700,000
FlyingfocRS 1,366,400,000
aardvark 1,367,500,000
MacDitch 1,369,000,000
Reeltime 1,370,000,000
johnn 1,374,900,000
Nightlord 1,380,000,000
#46
Posted: Tue Apr 06, 2010 1:41 am
by Megacruncher
If & as you can see it's a
big if he doesn't bottle it Broon should be off to see Auld Betty in the morning so she can start the countdown for the election.
The outcome for him is pretty uncertain (humiliation or total humiliation

) but it looks like a pretty sure victory for storme - unless GB procrastinates until the evening or possibly confines himself to small talk about the health of the corgies and hopes that, out of pity, AB declares him PM for life!
#47
Posted: Tue Apr 06, 2010 7:09 am
by MacDitch
GENERAL ELECTION COMPETITION
What will the TSBT combined total be when the prime minister announces the next UK general election?
So... What constitutes 'announces'? Given that it was reported last night, does that mean it's announced or we're waiting until "Auld Betty" approves it? Not that I have a chance any way...

#48
Posted: Tue Apr 06, 2010 8:12 am
by Mr Thinhead
What constitutes 'announces'?
Me deciding when the PM has done it, which I agree will be likely some time today.
Don't worry, I'll be in all day, so I won't miss his phone call.
#49
Posted: Tue Apr 06, 2010 11:38 am
by Guest
OK, the deed is done.
I make the score 1,363,950,804, which I think makes Storme the winner.
Well done. The knighthood and prize are being arranged.
#50
Posted: Tue Apr 06, 2010 3:19 pm
by Mr Thinhead
Storme: I have just sent you a PM about claiming your prize.