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54 votes were received, but one was rejected because the voter did not vote in at least four categories. Losing this vote did not alter the outcome in any category. Running the whole of the competition during week days has proven a good policy over the last two months. We are slowly rebuilding a good core of regular voters (members and lurkers). We lost many regular voters with the problems with our previous host server. It is also gratifying to see how busy the Forum is these days, with 1100 to 1200 posts each month. This month saw a relatively new, but very talented member, Andrew, dominate the competition winning five awards. Mey was, of course, still very much in evidence, winning three awards. The 14 awards were split between 6 contributors. |
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There is a bit of a story behind Rick's impressive win here. Originally he selected another anagram to run here. However, it was found to be a rediscovery. When I advised him, I suggest his Religious Fundamentalist anagram, which I considered excellent. He agreed to run that one. Even by the 12 hour mark, Rick had opened a 17 point lead, which he maintained to the finish. Mey finished strongly to secure 2nd place, while Andrew held off a late challenge by Horrid Stretchy Pus for third place. |
1 | Rick Rothstein | 66 | Religious fundamentalist = Futile rituals in God's name. |
2 | Mey Kraus | 48 | Traditional wedding ceremonies = Two declaring "I do" need a minister. |
3 | Andrew | 35 | Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned = Her hormones can kill any who default! |
4 | Horrid Stretchy Pus | 33 | A holy bible tells us the righteousness of God ~ but selfish George Bush heeds only oil totals. |
5 | View | 25 | The lost city of Atlantis = Honestly, is it total fact? |
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Andrew has been with us for about 6 months and has won three awards so far. This month was easily his best yet. After some early jostling for position, Andrew was ahead in this category by the 12 hour mark, leading by eight points. He gradually increased this lead to win by 13 points. |
1 | Andrew | 53 | Captain James T. Kirk of the Starship Enterprise = The finest skipper in Star Trek, a major space hit. |
2 | Mey Kraus | 40 | The 'Cappella Sistina' frescoes = Sit speechless in a place of art. |
3 | Tony Crafter | 39 | The Disneyland Resort at Anaheim, California = ChildrenÕs hearts at one in a fairy-tale domain. |
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This was a massive win for Mey. Mey was 26 points ahead by 12 hours and steadily increased his lead, always being at least double the points of the second place. |
1 | Mey Kraus | 82 | A question to G.W. that he prefers to ignore: ~ When are these troops getting out of iraq? |
2 | Rick Rothstein | 37 | The Republican Congressman Mark Foley ~ prefers young, macho, black male interns. |
3 | Richard Grantham | 35 | The nuclear test in North Korea = Intolerant nut has rocket here. |
3 | Tony Crafter | 35 | Islamic Fundamentalism = Muslim fanatic's mad line. |
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This was the only closely fought category this month. Mey led by six points midway through Day One and was still four points clear by 24 hours. Andrew caught up with him at the end of Day Two at which point they were tied. On the final day, Andrew polled better to win by two points. |
1 | Andrew | 68 | The President of the United States of America = Incompetent, hated head of state terrifies us. |
2 | Mey Kraus | 66 | The American President George W. Bush = We can agree he's not bright, I'd presume? |
3 | lawyer2U | 35 | Mel Gibson = Gin slob? Me? |
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This was a good month for Rick, despite not placing in his favourite category, Rude. Rick maintained a good lead throughout this event, coming home ten points clear of the field. Rick's two wins this month, bring him up to eight awards for the year, and 21 awards altogether. He moves from 17th to equal 15th place with Zoran on the All Time Table. |
1 | Rick Rothstein | 58 | The Gideons International = An interest in God in a hotel. |
2 | Neil Ramsay | 48 | The Americans' Central Intelligence Agency = An ethically negligent menace since Carter. |
3 | Rosie Perera | 40 | The International Gender Dysphoria Association = An operation, since son had other identity as a girl. |
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This category looked like being close in the first 24 hours, with Andrew have a small lead over my anagram. On the last two days, he moved well ahead for a comfortable win. |
1 | Andrew | 62 | A ham sandwich goes into a bar and the bartender declares "We don't serve any food here." = |
2 | Tony Crafter | 46 | "The most successful politician is he who says what everybody is thinking most often and in the loudest voice." = |
3 | Larry Brash | 45 | The five dead Amish schoolgirls: Naomi Rose Ebersole, Marian Fisher, Mary Liz and Lena Miller, and Anna Mae Stoltzfus = |
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Tony had two good entries here to select from and asked my advice. I was not sure which one that he should run, so I consulted by 15 year old daughter who was on the computer next to mine. She selected the one that won beating mine! Tony maintained a small but comfortable lead from the start to the end. |
1 | Tony Crafter | 58 | An undertaker was working alone late one night.... = A cardiologist died and was given a very elab... |
2 | Larry Brash | 46 | Three businessmen, an American, a Japanese and a... = During a world scientific meeting on Informati... |
3 | Simon Woodard | 28 | Call me Ishmael. Some years agoÑnever mind how ... = To relocate on a whaling ship for months did ... |
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After a few quieter months in this category, often with just four entries, it was nice to see eight entries, although only seven ran in the end. I thought Andrew's entries would do well here, but we are so used to seeing Mey dominate this category that I thought Andrew might just get a place rather than a win. I was wrong. Even by 12 hours, it was clear that Andrew was going to win easily. His 25 point lead increased to 40 by the end of Day Two. Mey caught up a little near the end but was never likely to overhaul him. Andrew won five awards this month, giving him eight for this year and his all-time total. He jumps from 47th to 27th on the All Time Table, which is the biggest jump that I can recall. Mey won three awards this month, giving him 43 for the year and 274 altogether. Tony won two awards this month and continues a strong year with 22 wins. His all-time total is 49 wins, putting him close to passing the legendary Richard Brodie. |
1 | Andrew | 75 | Genesis |
2 | Mey Kraus | 41 | The Oscar Wilde poem 'Les Silhouettes' |
3 | Tony Crafter | 35 | "If Tomorrow Never Comes" A song by Ronan Keating |
4 | Horrid Stretchy Pus | 24 | Do We Become by Frances Howarth |
5 | David Bourke | 22 | I Don't Feel Like Dancin' - Scissor Sisters |
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By 12 hours, it was close between Richard and David. Richard, however, pull ahead and opened up an unassailable lead to win by 19 points. Richard's win was his 5th this year. That gives him a total of 158 in his career. |
1 | Richard Grantham | 61 | The bride and groom = Get hard in bedroom. |
2 | David Bourke | 42 | The International Gender Dysphoria Association = One poor sod. Hairy arse, ten-inch genitalia...and tits! |
3 | Paul Pan | 34 | I rub on a clit ~ lubrication. |
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There were only a small number of serious contenders here this month, including Horrid Stretchy Pus's General, which missed out by two points, lawyer2U's third in Peoples Names, and Neil Ramsay's second in Other Names. My usual criteria often includes favouring an anagram that just missed an award. However, I have the discretion of selecting one that really appealed to me even if it was many points behind. On this occasion, I chose to do this and I selected lawyer2U's short, funny and apt offering.
This was lawyer2U's first win. |
Congratulations to all the winners. Thank you all for voting.