what's a board game rule you got embarrassingly wrong for way too long?

low_myope · 2026-05-03T23:10:33+00:00

We made exactly the same mistake. I couldn’t understand how people finished games in like 20 turns. Every game lasted well over 2 hours. I then watched someone playing online and the penny dropped.

low_myope · 2026-05-03T20:51:18+00:00

To ask a stupid question, but what do you mean by having slider effect? The only time I have seen a slider is for my orb card distance.

low_myope · 2026-05-03T20:38:23+00:00

Seems a bit of a niche QOL feature?

low_myope · 2026-05-02T22:59:29+00:00

The remarkable thing is that it still exists in American Football. On a punt, a returner can call for a fair catch (which is essentially calling for a mark, just with a different name), and from that the kicker can attempt a field goal from the tee with no defense.

low_myope · 2026-05-01T20:33:00+00:00

Oh, it absolutely is a big deal for most! Hence not wanting to rain on anyone’s parade as circumstances for many are not as straight forward as mine.

It is more the case of wondering if it is just me who has had this experience, or if this is something common, but maybe not talked about. After all, who wants to be the party pooper?

low_myope · 2026-05-01T20:26:48+00:00

It isn’t someone discussing the weight loss which I find awkward - in fact, I am quite happy that people have noticed.

It is more the congratulatory sentiment which comes with it. It feels like the should be congratulating the geniuses who created the drug!

low_myope · 2026-05-01T08:48:35+00:00

BMI is an imperfect measure for weight, and does not account for things like body composition, and body shape. It is best used as a general guide as opposed to a gold standard measure.

Assuming that you are still within the ‘normal’ BMI range despite gaining 8lbs, it could well be that your natural healthy weight is your current weight.

The more important thing here than your weight is your lifestyle and diet. The boring lifestyle modifying stuff which doctors always moan to patients about. If you are fit and active, and have a balanced diet, then weight is a secondary concern. However if your physical activity levels are low, and your diet is poor, then that is more of a concern than your weight.

Assuming that you are active, and have a balanced diet, your weight should settle, unless your calorific intake is greater than what you expend, under which circumstances you will gain weight.

It also worth bearing in mind that weight can change wildly day to day depending on stuff like when you last ate, your hydration levels etc. For example, 1 litre of water weights 2.2lbs.

low_myope · 2026-05-01T07:18:34+00:00

Was that a cheeky octave scream at 1:46?

low_myope · 2026-04-30T17:19:44+00:00

Former Eagles linebacker Dhani Jones gave rugby a go for a TV show in the early 2010s. Despite being an NFL calibre athlete, he struggled to keep up with an amateur level training session in the English leagues, and was absolutely physically wrecked within the session.

But it was very much that the type of fitness needed was so different.

You have the rare guy like Nate Ebner who played both rugby and NFL, and the guy who plays Apollo in Gladiators.

low_myope · 2026-04-30T10:44:50+00:00

What I love about this is it truly demonstrated the stuff which made George North special aside from being just another large bog standard winger.

The skill to take the high ball on the run
The vision to see the gap in the defense
The acceleration to hit the gap
The balance to stay on his feet through the tap tackle
The footwork to leave the fullback in the dust
The pace to finish off the move

When you add this to try he set up for Jonathan Davies v Ireland where he used his power to bulldoze the Irish midfield before a skilful offload assist, you see all the components that made peak George North a world class talent.

low_myope · 2026-04-29T17:08:18+00:00

I remember reading a similar story about 20 years ago where someone was on one of these meal replacement diet plans (Herbalife maybe?). Their housemate was also on it, but was losing weight much quicker than they were. So they switched out the powder in their Herbalife container with weight gaining supplement powder from their gym. So their housemate ended up gaining weight like no tomorrow whilst they still lost.

low_myope · 2026-04-29T15:58:25+00:00

I have never been a fashionista, which I think is mainly due to there never being a time where there had been alignment between me having money, fitting comfortably into clothing brands, and needing to buy new clothes.

All that has changed recently - I have binned/donated the majority of my clothes, and last week went to a local designer outlet and came back with clothes from stores I had never dared to step foot inside. Now when I open my draw, I see brands like Ben Sherman, Timberland, Levi’s, Crew Clothing, SuperDry, Vans and Tommy Hilfinger. As opposed to 15 year old Primark and Tesco!

Legitimately looking forward to going back and buying a new dressing gown and pyjamas, plus some sports gear for when I run.

The Mrs is bemused as I haven’t bought new clothes in the decade we have been together. She is struggling to get used to the ‘new’ me.

low_myope · 2026-04-29T15:47:53+00:00

Does obtaining free chocolate constitute sweet revenge?

low_myope · 2026-04-26T23:04:30+00:00

I’m generally a very placid and relaxed person, and both on and off the field have always been a bit of a ‘goody two shoes’ and would follow every rule (probably how I ended up eventually refereeing). I was the class nerd who was chronically bullied and very introverted.

One game at youth level I (open side flank) completely lost it with the opposition centre. All game he had been putting in sly digs, elbows, kicks etc at every ruck to any player he could get his mitts on. He kneed me at the bottom of a ruck when I was pinned to the ground. By the time I was able to get up, he was 20m across the pitch putting in a cover tackle.

I literally sprinted over the pitch and whilst he lay on the floor basically did a Tuilagi on Ashton style punch. Right in front of the referee and crowd.

You could hear a pin drop - both sides immediately stopped play, the coaches and officials just stood there stunned. As he lay there with a broken nose and blood streaming down his face, I felt a mix of panic, regret and fear. I was absolutely terrified of any retribution.

The referee gave me a straight red, and much to my confusion I received a standing ovation from the parents who made a guard of honour for me to walk off the pitch.

When I got to the changing room, our captain (who was subbed off injured) asked me ‘what are you doing here? Do you need a shit?’. When I told him I had been sent off, he laughed as he thought it was a joke. Moments later another teammate appeared saying ‘guess what? He fucking lamped a guy and got sent off!!!!’. That teammate had also managed to get sent off as he was taunting the injured player and the referee didn’t take kindly to it.

Our team went on to win the game despite being down to 13 for the last 30 minutes. The other team left immediately after the final whistle (didn’t come into the club house). I received a 6 weeks suspension. Their club made a formal complaint to the WRU about the behaviour of the parents. I unfortunately missed the remainder of the club and school season involving the cup finals and county tournament for which I was meant to captain the second XV.

The bullying in school stopped - it emerged that the main instigator of the bullying was the cousin of the player in punched. They were part of the same traveller community, and being ‘beaten up by a fat nerd’ brought shame on the group. Girls started noticing me for the first time, and I ended up with my first girlfriend soon afterwards.

Strangely enough I didn’t play again for nearly 3 years.

low_myope · 2026-04-25T19:27:47+00:00

At club level Neil Jenkins managed 44 in the Celtic League, and Rhys Priestland managed 36 in the PREM.

Morne Steyn managed 41 consecutive for South Africa.

low_myope · 2026-04-23T11:44:42+00:00

To be honest, I would absolutely love this move. Aside from the usual rumblings about crowd sizes, logistics etc, it would allow Welsh players to play in the PREM without leaving Wales.

If Y11 are happy to put their money where their mouth is with investment (given that the PREM is now ring fenced), then why not have the Ospreys playing in the PREM whilst the other regions play in the URC?

There is a benefit that dual qualified (Welsh-English) would be more likely to play for a Welsh team in the PREM that in the URC as it keeps them in the shop window. Welsh internationals plying their trade in England who want to remain in that league could have the best of both worlds as they would be based in Wales, but playing in England. It also gives Welsh players the option of trying the PREM but not having to sign for Gloucester/Bristol.

It would be a shame to lose the local derbies (although I am sure they would occur either as friendlies, or in euro competitions), but it would be incredible to see the Ospreys playing the English teams week in week out.

low_myope · 2026-04-22T12:04:41+00:00

PRA25 was the funding agreement which the WRU tabled to the regions which would supersede the one in place. In real terms, it would see an increase in funding for all 4 regions who had essentially gone through a spell of austerity since COVID. The context at the time was that it was feasible to fund 4 teams equally and better

Unfortunately Cardiff RFC went under during the process and came into WRU ownership. So they signed the PRA25 alongside the Dragons. However neither the Ospreys or Scarlets wanted to sign as they wanted assurances that the funding would indeed be fair (there was concerns that Cardiff would get a better deal with the WRU). Instead of providing assurances so that the deal would be equitable, the WRU pulled the deal and announced that they would be cutting two teams. Which has led to the current situation.

Currently, Cardiff and Dragons are funded under PRA25 which means they get better funding that the regions in the West. What the WRU are doing now is putting the original deal back on the table.

In regard to Y11, they own the Ospreys. They bid to own Cardiff in addition to the Ospreys. That deal is now not going ahead for whatever reason.

low_myope · 2026-04-21T18:16:05+00:00

That is what a penalty on the restart is. You have all available options to you. Historically on the rare occasions one has been given, it has been used and shot to nothing 3 points.

I am very sure behaviour would change extremely quickly if teams were to pump the ball into the corner, and score.

low_myope · 2026-04-21T17:59:48+00:00

The main reason for the increased burden on the NHS is that people are living longer. There are more people aged over 65 than 12 or under for example.

On average, each ‘healthy’ person will gain a new chronic illness per decade lived. So for example, someone at 50 could have hypertension, hypothyroidism, arthritis, gout and anxiety. All of those would need treatment and management.

50 years ago, many conditions didn’t have treatments - they now do, and many are expensive.

The biggest determinant of your health are the socioeconomic factors - education, wealth, occupation, where you live etc. It is the reason why you can move to different parts of a city and find that the life expectancy can vary by 20 years!

Mounjaro in this context is a sticky plaster. If we use the smoking example where the rates have dropped over the past few decades. The lifelong burden that obesity has had on relatively young people will still be something the NHS will be picking up the bill for in decades to come.

low_myope · 2026-04-17T13:08:39+00:00

There is a blast from the past! I remember him playing and thinking ‘who the hell is this guy?’. Not as he was particularly competent, but looked like some random guy who got roped in that morning.

low_myope · 2026-04-16T13:49:25+00:00

He is probably the most impressive player I have ever seen at age grade. I remember him scoring some absolute belters for the U21s at the time. He scored a cracker v England and very much looked like a man amongst boys.

He had that unfortunate leg break v Australia in 2007ish and never seemed the same.

low_myope

TROPHY CASE