So how did you do in predicting 2008?
January 4th, 2009
Michael Kennedy is the 2008 PB Forecaster of the Year
The final results for the 2008 prediction competition have now been number-crunched - the top 20 are shown above, while the full results are available via the link below. Congratulations to the leading forecasters, with Michael Kennedy finishing ahead of Houndtang and Ian Hunter, and thanks to everyone who took part.
Just check out the questions here.
For the 2008 events section, only two players predicted Joe Biden to be elected Vice-President (70% got Obama in the White House, with the competition coming right after the Iowa caucuses), while only 36% predicted Boris to see off Ken, and a mere 16% forecasted a No vote in the Irish EU referendum.
All of the “big four” in the Cabinet managed to last the year, despite Jacqui Smith’s average predicted tenure being just 253 days, with Darling not much better at 287. The final ICM/Guardian highs and lows were 45-37 for the Conservatives, 35-25 for Labour, and 22-17 for the Lib Dems, while the Conservative lead varied from a massive 20 to a shaky 2 points.
Finally, the often tricky to predict May local elections, including adjustments for the London Assembly, saw the Conservatives up 259 seats, the Lib Dems up by 31, while Labour were down by 333.
Gaza coverage:
Double Carpet
MessageSpace Advertising
I don’t recognise most of these names.
And first!
Wow, three people were worse than Roger!
Is the calculation of Nick Palmer’s local election scores right?
My 2: Is the calculation of Nick Palmer’s local election scores right?
Yes it is. I’m tired and can’t add up!
re 2. Don’t knock Roger - at least he didn’t get a negative number of points.
Are we having a contest for this year?
Yes, 61st
Well, it’s not too bad considering I’m amongst the least politically informed here. I like to think I add something of the perspective held by those outside the Westminster village.
Look forward to seeing if I can improve my standing in this year:)
Can we have a contest again for this year Mike?
What a delicious irony that Iain Dale, the ultimate devotee of website league tables, should just have failed to make the top ten!
4 I got 666 points! Perhaps in future I should post as the “Number of the Beast”!
Roger again close to the foot of the table…he hasn’t been much in evidence of late…
O/T First tennis tip of the year Serra to beat Ferrero in the Brisbane tennis at 13/8 with skybet.com. Serra has won their only match, prefers fast surfaces and is underrated here. I’d make him 4/5 favourite.
11, semi-related because I’d been pondering betting on the Aussie Open: what’s the deal with Betfair’s Australian wallet? Why can’t bets on Oz stuff simply be made from the main wallet?
wahey I came 50th! Not too bad i suppose. Will try and improve, should there be one this year. Say there will be!
Thanks to DC for organising this.
7. I agree, we need and want a forcasting and predicting competition for 2009.
Remember PBers I forcast a May GE. Lol
Grr points lost when someone didn’t tell me it was a leap year!! grrr
12. They had to jump through hoops to get a licence in Oz so every related market has to go into the Oz wallet. Someone to do with the duty as well.
16, just read the blurb on how to get verified. Might do the Post Office thing, but it’s a slight hassle and won’t be done in time for Serra’s match.
well 12th the polls category and 24th in the locals isn’t too bad I suppose. But equal last in the days! Must do better this year.
Things you might have money on…
Baltimore battering Miami, 20-3 late in the 3rd.
Taylor 3-1 up against Barneveld (who had two darts from 36 to level at 2-2 but missed).
17, incidentally, for small amounts at least you can get better odds on Betfair, with the lay value at 3.8, so scope for even better odds getting accepted (though as I said, you’ll need your Aussie wallet sorted out).
OT has anyone been to NYC? I’m going in a few days and need some ideas of things to do.
21. Benny Austwick.
I have been.
Don’t pay to go in the Statue of Liberty - waste of money. Take the free ferry over to Staten Island instead, you get a great view from the boat.
What sort of thing are you interested in?
22. Yes I heard they closed the walkway at the top of the statue since 9/11 gah!
I’m into anything touristy! Wish i had the time to do DC
17.Just make a simple transfer from your UK wallet to your Aussie wallet.
It really is easy.
21. Best thing to do in NYC? Get the train to Philadelphia
well I did well and came 86th
- sorry President Obama - that one I did not predict - but glad it happened 
16 - re verification in Australia, I used Centrebet (an Australian firm) to back Obama.
In order to collect, I had to email a scan of the card I used to place the bet. They recommend you black out the middle eight of the 16 numbers, so it’s secure, which I did.
But a bit of a palaver if you haven’t got a scanner, but fine in the end.
24 URW, will you not then have to prove your age somehow if you win?
2009 prediction competition
Thanks to everyone for their comments and I’m glad you enjoyed it. This is quite a busy time of year for me as it’s the start of a new Election Game season too, but I will consult with Our Genial Host and Morus on the questions for the 2009 competition and hopefully we’ll have something up by next weekend. It’ll be similar to the 2008 version but obviously reflecting what might happen in ‘09.
Wow 9th!!!
27. Yeah the Aussies are aggro, still at least they won’t arrest you unlike the Americans.
Oh for the free market.
I would like to put in a prize quiz but can’t do the twiddly bits.
I would be willing to do a £100 Prize Quiz if someone else could do the twiddly bits and monitor the results.
28, to withdraw funds from the Aussie wallet you need to print off a form, fill it out, take it to your local post office with proof of ID and they’ll stamp it or sign it and post if off to Betfair.
Not too bad (although I haven’t checked the form, my cranky old computer doesn’t like pdfs much), but obviously won’t occur in time for Serra.
URW,
If you drop me a line at electiongame@yahoo.co.uk it would be good to try and work something out.
Thanks
21. There’s a wonderful planetarium there, with an excellent display in really understanding the scale of the universe.
25. I think New York is a great city. Go to LA if you want a city you should really leave quickly.
9. Isn’t that 616?
I predict the New Nazi Nation will continue its slaughter in Gaza and British politicians will look the other way as usual.
But as this is a no-brainer, I guess anyone could predict that; this will be Obama’s first big test. Will he continue the US obsession with looking back at the Nazi Holocaust of the 30s and 40s and ignore the new holocaust?
So sad that Israeli politicians are so taken up with positioning themselves for their general election that the slaughter of women and babies in Palestine means nothing to them.
Malcolm
Has anyone seen any reports on the number of target suspects detained by the Israelis during the current incursion?
33. If you can’t use the Australian betfair wallet, 13/8 with skybet.com and 6/4 elsewhere is very good.
37.
This website encourages healthy debate and polite disagreement, but post number 37 enters into the category of being grossly offensive
37. Completely disgraceful post from start to finish.
39, aye I saw Ladbrokes has 6/4. My Ladbrokes wallet is empty at present though. Thanks for the tip though, tennis is a good sport to bet on, because of the cunning scoring system and all the variables (most obviously surface).
33 - When I won on Serena aa couple of years ago I just transferred to my UK wallet…
37. To use terms relating to Nazi Germany to the Jewish state is extremely distasteful. Regardless of whether you think the actions of Israel are excessively militant or not, they are not carrying out genocide, as is demonstrated by the increasing Palestinian population. You can make a case for calling it apartheid, but please refrain from “Holocaust” talk.
37. I am disappointed it was allowed through the moderation process.
35. Thanks a lot, I’ll definitely look into the planetarium. Love astronomy.
It’s a shame I leave one week before Obama’s inauguration grr
Why?
Is political opinion to be bannedfrom a political betting site?
Malcolm
47. You were not expressing a plitical opinion - in my view you were inciting religio/racial hatred.
Double Carpet.
I just fired off an email but have no way of knowing whether it arrived.
If it did then good but otherwise Peter The Punter probably has my Tel Number.
46. It’s a shame you won’t be there in April…
http://www2.fi.edu/exhibits/traveling/galileo/
As a great supporter of my Jewish friends I still argue with them with every breath in my body that the State of Israel is the most dangerous threat to world peace.
I have no hatred for Israeli polticians, just anger. And for those who look the other way a little contempt.
malcolm
47 - well, we know your opinion, Malcolm. There are sites that will give a better reception to your twisted mind, but reasonable folk don’t visit them. Go there and pander to your audience.
URW - email safely arrived - I’ll be in touch. Many thanks.
45 - That’s unfair scampi - you know we don’t pre-moderate.
Malcolm, I think that is out of order, and does nothing for the cause of the Palestinian people because of the inflammatory way in which it was expressed. We don’t censor our comments on the understanding that people are responsible about the ability to post freely. Please consider that.
51. ‘As a great supporter of my Jewish friends..’
Haha beyond caricature.
51. “I have no hatred for Israeli polticians, just anger. And for those who look the other way a little contempt”.
The calculated use of the ‘nazi’ term betrays rather more feeling than anger or even contempt. Also wonder how often you have posted so virulently against the Hamas rockets on Israeli civilians for the past few months.
51 - ah yes! The argument “some of my best friends are Jewish”… stop digging Malcolm; your hole is pretty deep.
37. Really nasty comment you have made. There is no just cause for comparing Israel and Nazi Germany.
Congrats to Michael Kennedy! Also to Iain Dale who did well
54. “That’s unfair scampi - you know we don’t pre-moderate”
My apologies I honestly didn’t realise that.
Morus and DC.You are two of the best guys on the whole internet and MS is more than lucky to have you both on board.
I moderate a forum and this is my mantra……”Everyone has an absolute right to offend and everyone equally has a right to be offended.”
The second part generally gets ignored on higher profile sites.
In NYC, just a few ideas: go to the Guggenheim and the Frick Museum; eat at Katz’s Deli (the hotdogs are the best in town and the pastrami sandwich is delicious); the meatpacking district has cool restaurants and bars.
As for predictions, I think Alistair Darling will not be CoE by the end of the year (assuming no GE); it looks like he’s been set up for a fall as his predictions on recovery were way too optimistic and it always seems to me he’s somewhat disdainful of Brown and Mandelson.
I also reckon we’ll see Blears and Harman become more prominent in veiled criticism of Brown as he weakens. I can see a pact between them a la Blair/Brown at Granita - if only to protect/further their own interests and to ensure one of them gets the top job.
I’m probably totally wrong but what the heck, it’s fun to speculate.
re 47. Malc - your post goes beyond the purpose of the site. There are other forums, your language is excessive and use of the term Nazi in this context, I would suggest, is not helpful.
Please tone it down.
60 - Fair enough, squire. Accepted without reservation.
61 - Very kind URW - we’re lucky in very rarely having to moderate. Only libel, and very personal abuse - everyone here tends to respond to being asked to dial it down, which is appreciated.
MM - if you’re there FA Cup 4th Round: Derby vs Forest
I suspect Mmalc wants to do some Warsaw Ghetto riff.
Sadly he’s not the only one around the web
Egypt has reportedly re-opened contacts with Hamas leadership in Damascus to try to put the current crisis to rest.
65 A tasty East Midlands derby-and what about the two scouse teams getting drawn together? (Us little Hammers will need our thermal underwear for a trip to Hartlepool unless the temperature soars 1000% in the next 3 weeks :lol:)
67. Having made peace with Israel, the Egyptian government is in a very precarious position should Israel’s actions have the likely inflammatory effect on Muslim Arab public opinion.
Malcolm Two Names has been disgraceful on this topic for days. I’m surprised it’s taken anyone so long to call him on it.
67 - This was always going to be the end game.Followed by a Syria/Israel peace treaty later this year.(Hamas’ biggest nightmare)
69 - Most Arab states want Hamas destroyed.
@64:
I have charts that prove that Morus is only the third best person on the Internet.
Mahmoud Abbas would love to see Hamas destroyed.
Why the silence from The One?
Whilst (almost) centre-stage,I have to put in a good word for tim and at the same time expressing sympathy for S.Jackson MP.
My heart always goes out to any ‘real’ person on the internet.
Repeatedly I have urged good friends to stay anonymous in every respect.
Well….I ignored my own advice and ‘came out’ on Betfair many years ago.I am not gay(so far) but am Jewish.
Once you give the internet feral dogs a sniff of who you are, they are on your trail for life.
Back to tim and SJMP.
I don’t think it is clever attacking posters’ wives simply because you know who they might be.At the same time I think tim-the -poster himself has to field a whole heap of abuse from others not fit to …………supply your own metaphor.
Mike
I apologise to you for the anger that I have used in my posts; sadly for some posters it is easier to snarl at the writer than answer the argument. Incidentally I have very close Jewish friends in both the Commons and the Lords
Malcolm
65 Peter - super tie. However, for Forest, the notion of losing - and having Derby taunt us about losers being led by a loser - is too horrible to contemplate!!!
Their last league fixture was a madhouse - 8 yellow cards, 1 red card, 28 fouls, an own goal and a missed penalty - most of that in the last five minutes. How we got a point I’ll never know.
71. Indeed, but the states which have signed treates with Israel also want their publics’ opinion to stay calm on the issue.
A Syrian peace deal would be very hard on Hamas, and even worse for Hezbollah. I really hope it happens. One complicating factor is that Turkey has been the on-off broker of the talks, and Ankara may demand a heavy price from the Americans in terms of guarantees against Iraqi Kurdistan declaring independence.
72 - Edward Heath was once complimented on the view from his living room “Why Ted this must be one of the ten best views in all of England”
Grumpily, he responded “And which are the other nine?”
I’ve got to ask, Martin, who beat me? Not Joe Biden *again*, surely?
@74:
You’re being melodramatic, URW. I post in many places under my own name, and whilst I am aware of the potential risks that carries, I know myself, and I know that I should be prepared to stand by my opinions and pronouncements. Unless I’m trolling, of course.
“Once you give the internet feral dogs a sniff of who you are, they are on your trail for life.”
Oh please. Some people on The Internet are dicks. If you accidentally arouse a dick, deal with it and move on. Really, people on the Internets have short memories. Yes, tempers flare, lines are crossed, and shouting ensues. But fifteen minutes later we’re all friends again, and hugging and sharing cake.
73. There hasn’t been any silence from Obama.
“If somebody was sending rockets into my house where my two daughters sleep at night, I’m going to do everything in my power to stop that. I would expect Israelis to do the same thing.”
How much else can he say? He’s not the President yet.
@78:
See http://www.holytaco.com/2008/01/08/the-10-best-fat-people-internet-videos
76. You got a point because of an idiot Ref. Just hope we have another manager at the end of the month.
@80:
He said that during the election campaign. He’s maintained a studied silence throughout the Gaza brouhaha.
79.I bow to your superior knowledge of the internet.
75. “sadly for some posters it is easier to snarl at the writer than answer the argument”
When you attach this to the apology it detracts from it. And what concerned me about your post apart from the language was the absence of argument!
75. We were condemning the post, not the writer. And if you read my post again, I think you will find I did deal with your argument.
So, I came 95th out of 111. Well up to my usual standards…
I’m hoping to break into the top 90 next time though.
80 Just because he’s not in power, doesn’t mean he can’t say anything. How about threatening to withdraw all US government aid to Israel when he becomes POTUS unless the invasion ends.
15th eh? Not bad not bad, congratulations to the top predictors at the top of the thread, and interesting just how many aren’t regular posters. As with betting, predicting individuals to survive is usually the safer way to go as long as David Blunkett isn’t involved!
Thanks to Double Carpet for all his work running this and for all his input into the site - already looking forward to this year’s contest.
BTW - The Doctor Who tip came good as well, although the value was weak by the time I published it. Hope anyone who had money on did well.
88. Obama will not say that as he does support Hamas!
scampi-Some of malc19ken’s bestest friends are Jewish.Lay off the guy !
Seriously,I sniffed out malky long before he showed his true colours.
69. Public opinion gets inflamed over cartoons, it gets inflamed over farting in the direction of Mecca or so it seems. There is always a total rent a mob who turn out. What we are missing is a real test of what the masses think. Sure they may not like it but are they truly that bothered?
Looking at the middle of the road Arab nations, they are just sitting on their hands at the moment. They watched Hamas declare the ceasfire over, they watched the rockets fly and they watched the Israelis make it very clear that they were going to do something very heavy in response. Hamas expected a bigger Israeli action, what they didnt expect was it to happen when it did (the story is they expected it a couple of days later)and the size and speed of it.
There is even a rumour that the Egyptians were playing disinformation about when an Israeli attack would take place. No idea on that one.
For the likes of Iran, we’ll see if Hizbollah kicks up on the Lebanon border which Israel is reportedly beefing up its defences around. It suist Iran to cause a flare, check the oil price (as you may know Socrates, I’ve been backing on a price rise recently and am in positve territory after shaky start). That oil price suits Iran who frankly will go into really deep financial trouble if it doesnt rise.
If you listen to the Arab League they seem to be very aware that the Egyptian backed ceasefire deal was broken by hamas and there is a very clear move by certain western and Arab states to put in some kind of agreed semi-permanent monitoring process..and also hem Hamas in. It will also mean that the stranglehold by Israel in the Strip will have to listen a touch. The Isralis know about this idea. Whether it crystalises into a firm plan I have no idea.
There is another aspect to the Israeli move that so far has been hidden and prompted my question earlier in the thread about numbers of those arrested by the Isralis. They have been doing what appear to be rather well targeted house to house moves and detaining people. An idea of the numbers will indicated whether they are just taking anyone at all identified as a possible carrier of a gun or middle rankers. This kind of move should be noted as it enables the Israelis to do a number of things.
-Gather intelligence and possibly gain some informants that will be returned in place fairly rapidly.
-Severely restrict Hamas ability to co-ordinate future activities for the short term by holding people for a period
-Provide a set of bargaining tools for a ceasefire
@88:
Why would Obama threaten to do that? Israel are smart enough to see through such an obvious and stupid bluff.
My suspicion is, that Obama is looking for a way to support Israel’s action, without taking too much flak from the idiot-left faction of his power base. The easiest way to do that is to stay silent and let Hillary take the fire. She’s already been written off by the cretinoleft as a hateful old ISRAEL LIKER after all.
I’d expect Obama to maintain a silence.
It increases the chances of deals later.
Hamas know that, so do Egypt and Israel.
092 ‘lessen not listen’
83. Fair enough, I was under the impression the comments were recent.
88. You’re right that he could say something, but I think its a sensible policy to not talk about foreign policy until he comes in office. President’s have a wide range of tools at their disposal whereas president-elects only have public rhetoric. He doesn’t have the access behind the scenes to be able to truly judge what decisions are in the making. If he came out and made a statement like that and then tomorrow morning some Hamas nutter decapitated an Israeli child, he would be in a terrible position to negotiate a peace deal.
90 Threatening to withdraw aid has nothing to do with supporting Hamas or not. It has everything to do with attempting to halt a conflict which is escalating exponentially. Either giving billions of dollars in aid to Israel or supporting Hamas is a false dichotomy and there are middle ways as I am sure you appreciate.
Looking at the last two treads, I wonder if PB is a reflection of the post Christmas mood in the nation at large?
87 - Correcting myself. I was 90th out of 106 not 95th out of 111. I misread the sheet - so I’ve actually achieved my top 90 ambition then?
98
I suspect its a reflection of how dirty politics is going to get as Mcbroon tries to hang onto power by his fingertips.
98. In what way Sally C?
91. URW: Seriously,I sniffed out malky long before he showed his true colours.
Well, his “all three parties are the same” crap was a dead giveaway.
92. Public opinion may get inflamed over cartoons or the naming of a teddy bear, but in those cases there is no danger of that anger being directed at the country’s own government. That is not the case with this issue as if events get particularly antagonised governments like Egypt and Jordan may be seen as stooges of Israel on the Arab street. That is a very dangerous position for a repressive government to be in, even if only 10% of the population turns to violence.
While I agree the angry rioters are a minority, I equally don’t think you can judge mass opinion by the actions of political actors, who tend to be much less ideologically pure and much more interested in realpolitik to maintain their own survival.
Iain Dale says Sir Alan Walters has died
98.”Looking at the last two treads, I wonder if PB is a reflection of the post Christmas mood in the nation at large?”
Sally, hold onto your hat, its always like this when something big kicks off in the Middle East. But the last thread was something else.
100.”I suspect its a reflection of how dirty politics is going to get as Mcbroon tries to hang onto power by his fingertips.”
That has been in evidence for a while now MTF.
103. They went through it 2006 though Socrates and god knows how many times before. It will taker a lot more before public pressure really causes gyp for the leaders.
97. Isn’t it the old merrygoround though? Israel gets US aid, uses it to buy weapons from US companies. US companies donate to political parties and the cycle continues.
Or am I misinformed?
101 A bad mood. Frayed tempers.
105. Fair enough.
97. In this matter his only option pre-inauguration is silence. After this the obvious middle way at this point is - as it has been for some time now - the two-state solution. I think that currently Hamas and Hezbollah [backed by Iran] are a stronger obstacle to this than Israel. Therefore the response at present to Hamas is Gaza is not pleasant but very understandable and probably ‘acceptable’ at the moment to Arab moderates.
All of this ‘outraged’ nonsense from the silly left in the UK and elsewhere is so clearly artificial as to be almost laughable.
Pleasantly surprised to see myself at no. 2 on the leaderboard. I have to say I can’t remember predicting Obama for president… I actually had a bet on McCain!
And given very little coverage today.
BBC - UK forces take key Taleban bases
Tragically we have taken heavy losses this year, just look at the last two months alone.
110-scampi.What comes from Left and Right is generic rather than artificial.
What comes from the Right these days is limited to those of the Far Right who hate Jews even more than they hate terrorists.
For the Left it is so easy,the ultimate cheap shot.There are VOTES in hating Israel and at the same time you can make yourselfr out to be a jolly good fellow.
112. ChristinaD: And given very little coverage today: BBC - UK forces take key Taleban bases
Because it’s good news, perhaps?
107. It wasn’t combined with a global recession last time.
113.They could have given the story more prominence in light of the sheer scale of the operation, and conditions faced by our soldiers during that period. We have also lost a lot of soldiers in Helmend province this year, I don’t have the figures for the amount who have been injured.
Go Eagles, Go!
3 - 0
http://sports.betfair.com/Index.do?mi=100288558&ex=1&origin=MRL
110. Part of the problem is that you don’t just need the political actors to line up behind a deal but also the bulk of the Israeli and Palestinian peoples. Even if you militarily eliminated Hamas (an unlikely event in my opinion) and agreed a peace deal between everyone else, if a large chunk of the Palestinians buy into Hamas’ ideology then Hamas, or another group like them, would rise up and wreck the peace agreement.
Much though I’d like Obama to be taking an active role, Socrates is right - if he announced any forthcoming policy unless X happened, he’d in effect be acting as President, without all the information and advice that Presidents get. I wouldn’t expect him to take instant action the day after he’s inaugurated either. The problem is that Bush can’t credibly do it either, since he won’t be president when the ‘or else’ part comes round. The slow transition system has a lot to answer for.
69. 103. This idea of an ‘Arab street’ or ‘Muslim Arab public opinion’ is just a myth, though, isn’t it? As Yokel notes, what we generally see is often merely a rent-a-mob, or some other group of licensed nutters. Most ordinary Arabs couldn’t care less about the Palestinians.
I don’t know if anyone had a bet on the darts, but Phil Taylor thumpd Barney 7-1 in the final.
117 - The last opinion poll showed Hamas support down to 28% in the territories.
This whole thing boils down to maximum damage on Hamas with minu=imum civilian casualties.
I believe Israel is making a mistake by not allowing foreign journalists to enter Gaza, however, I believe that it is in the long term interests of the Middle East for Israel to destroy as much of the Hamas infrastucture as possible.
Any hope for an Arab/UN supported ceasefire relies on that.
Secondarily, the rocket attacks by Hamas seem to me to be motivated by a fear of a Syrian deal.
In the short term (by which I mean the next couple of months) this will be less likely.) Remember also that Syria has killed far more Islamists in one week (the Hama massacre,than Israel would do at this rate if carried on for a year)
118 - The biggest drawback of the American system is this ‘dead’ period. Bush cannot do anything beyond a short term mope, Obama can’t do anything because he has no power as of yet.
119 - Any opinion polls on Arab opinion so that we can base the discussion on something approaching a factual basis?
121 - Levels of party support isn’t what is needed, it’s gauging support or otherwise for positions and ideas.
122. There are some, usually around 50/50 iirc. But the polling situation is less than ideal obviously.
122. I’m trying to post a link but its being blocked for some reason. Google “Annual Arab Public Opinion Poll”
86% rate the Palestinian issue as “very important” to them.
112 Thoughts are with you, as well as the soldiers, CD.
Touch Down by Minnesota : 6 -6
Is there a prize for coming 6th, or do I have to make do with feeling smug?
124. 20% think that Israel should continue to be fought even if the 1967 territories are returned. That would be enough to worry any government, and is a number much beyond the “rent a mob”.
re 48 it is a political opinion - extreme nonetheless. If the Israelis do something offensive are we not allowed to say so, in case we might hurt their feelings and that of any sympathisers?
re 73 well he’s probably not the only one. The Israelis are going about it though in the one way which beyond an absolute shadow of a doubt ensures that they are not destroyed, but strengthened.
Eagles Field goal. Lead 9-7.
test?
Why is my comment “awaiting moderation”?
The only thing in my comment is a Telegraph link!!
129 Sure, John.
You get 6 copies of Mike’s book, The Political Punter: fifth place gets five copies, fourth place four copies, and so on.
112&113
From the bbc : “Troops had “yomped” 60km through mud to get to the town before fighting”
Brown still hasn’t provided the helicopters then.
137-
131. He’s allowed to say what he wants, but others are allowed to say how offensive and tasteless it is, and Mike is not obliged to host offensive material on his site.
Pick Six
Eagles lead 15-7
Touch Down! by he Eagles… after interception…
Corporeal — do you have money on the line?
142. No, if I had I would’ve put money on Chargers to Superbowl, as much heart as head. The odds would’ve shortened now though. I’m just watching for interest via internet streams.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/polit…ll-1224486.html
Oh Dear!
Time to leave the E.U. ?
144 - We agreed to pay in Euros? Ouch.
re 139 that’s fine
144 - “Mr Cable said: “Tony Blair should have insisted on much more far-reaching commitments on agricultural reform, and that failure is costing us in higher contributions now.”
The man’s an economic genius I tell you?
145. Gordon bought some with the gold money. Might come in handy!!
147. Is he wrong?
16 - 14 — Eagles to Vikings
144. That article seems to imply the Chancellor was taken aback by the pound’s slump. It had already been on a steady decline for some time before November when he supposedly calculated his figures. If as Chancellor he couldn’t see the situation getting worse after he had dramtically increased the country’s debt, as well as the likely cut in interest rates, then he really is in the wrong job.
It’s hardly been a surprise to anyone else
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7591563.stm
re 144 Gabble care to let us know how many schools will close, nurses will be sacked etc to pay for this “unfunded” commitment?
Re Brisbane Tennis - Extrabet marginally better odds on HenryG’s tip at 7/4. I never touch Betfair for Oz/NZ bets - yes I even had to jump through the required hoops for the NZ GE. Just can’t understand why this is necessary when there are no such requirements when betting with a conventional bookie - their loss, not mine.
136 PtP - You’re not nicking my jokes are you, by any chance?
Corporeal — Which team will begin the second half with the ball?
It is amazing how this government’s continued economic incompetence (or should that be economic incontinence) has cost us billions!!
147
As with almost all Blair’s deals it was one way traffic with no concrete agreement to revise / reduce the CAP,neck and neck with Chamberlain in terms of negotiating skills or rather lack of them.
155. Eagles are 3rd and 11 on their own 5 now. 10 minutes left in the third. I’ve got a good streaming link if you want me to email it to you.
157 – More billions down the drain thanks to this vile administration….aghh!
Anyway, time for bed, g’nite.
thanks, I have it on TV, on Fox.
I missed the beginning of the game, for we were looking @ the hockey game between Montreal and the Panthers.
ooh Bill Richardson has quit as Obama’s nominee for commerce secretary
154 PfP - What do you expect? I’m a cockney. I’d nick anything!
Btw, I owe u several emails and a good explanation. They will be forthcoming shortly. Bear with me. Off to Uncle now though.
Sleep well.
re 162 PtP Uncle Ned?
158 corporeal. Are you following on Sports Illustrated Game Flash or Video or A.N. Other method?
163 “Uncle Ned = Bed” , me old china.
164. A.N Other. I am a student after all, can’t afford to pay for these things
I am following the game for free, as well. Only as a text commentary.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/nfl/scoreboards/2009/01/04/3296_viewcast.html
167. Generally live NFL web streams aren’t too hard to find. Though the nfl does usually try and shut them down.
Toughdown Eagles.
Young Corporeal should have went ALL-in on the Eagles…
Touch down! — Yeah baby!!
Game Over
The Number of the Beast is 616.
That’s a fact!
Not quite, dumb penalty keeps the game alive (albeit on life support)
OK, now the game’s over.
Next week:
Saturday:
9:30 Baltimore at Tennessee
1:15 Arizona at Carolina
Sunday:
6:00 Philadelphia at NY Giants
9:30 San Diego at Pittsburgh
172. iic.
That’s essentially unknowable. Usual disclaimer applies, but this is a decent summary of the case for each number.
I still read this page;thrice daily,at least.
I still feel sorry that Snowflake 5 rightly turend her heels up at the Tory yob-bovver-boys who dominate this.
I welcome Southam Observer (pardon my spleiing if incorrect)
I EVEN hold a candle of peace to Don,to whom I was exceptionally rude around Easter last time.
Hey ho,its 2009-and we sho0uld feel at least a tinge of hope that a Democrat,not a Republican,will take the oath of office on January 20th.(Wonder when the book opens on ‘length of inaugural address’-my inkling is he will ramble on a bot,like the moment he accepted victory-which Bill Clinton did,in 3 minutes alat at Little Rock,in ‘92 (I now have mostyof the transcript of what Bill Clinton said-I cry,as I did at the momemt it happened,at re-living one of the most beautiful moments of my life)
174
9:30 Baltimore at Tennessee….Titans to just shade it
1:15 Arizona at Carolina…….a Bye week for the Panthers
Sunday:
6:00 Philadelphia at NY Giants…Cracker. Giants to edge it.
9:30 San Diego at Pittsburgh….Steelers all the way
Regular season results for these matchups:
Tennessee 13 Baltimore 10 (week 5)
Arizona 23 Carolina 27 (week
NY Giants 36 Philadelphia 31 (week 10)
Philadelphia 20 NY Giants 14 (week 14)
San Diego 10 Pittsburgh 11 (week 11)
Arizona at Carolina was, of course, in week 8.
115 of the 256 regular season games were decided by 7 points or less (45%). All five of the games cited in my 178 were amongst them. Next week could be a cracker.
178 LS - you really know your stuff when it comes to American Football!
181. Disraeli. Thanks
I’m just living up to my name (LS stands for “LondonStatto”) — and being a statto is 50% knowing where to look, and 50% caring enough to look there
I was at Wembley for the Dolphins-Giants game in Oct 2007.
Back to work tomorrow, so Good Night All.
Sleep well!
San Diego have bizarrely ended up as a sleeper pick I think. The talent is undoubtedly there for a run. The reason they’ve not been good is they’ve struggled getting a pass rush going.
Pittsburgh however don’t have much of an o-line and are easy to get pressure on the Quarterback so I think the Chargers can win it.
San Diego at Pittsburgh is a brave pick - warm weather teams travelling to cold-weather cities in the playoffs do not have a great record.
I wouldn’t argue with Disraeli’s picks at 177, though I too can see the Ten/Bal and NYG/Phi games going either way.
OK, my bed calls. Night all.
test
test 8(
Sorry for the late posting, but congratulations to the various winners of the predictions competition. I’m struck by how many unfamiliar names there are up at the top end - hopefully this will encourage a few more lurkers to post! To get my (not very good) excuse in, I failed to submit an entry last year as my computer doesn’t like multi-sheet spreadsheets (I try to avoid giving Bill Gates any money wherever possible).
Looking forward to the 2009 predictions competition.
Test
Machiavelli predicted that 2008 would happen; does he win anything?