Displaying Vote Archives 80 to 90
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(Created on 8th February 2009)
Vote #81
Question:
Less than a week to go before I'll be in Florida ready to embark on the road trip, so it's obviously time to turn our minds to something completely different. I was out for a walk on Saturday and was watching a duck ducking under the water and it made me wonder whether a duck is called a duck because it ducks or if the word duck is called duck after a duck. So that's this week's question - is a duck called a duck because it ducks or is the word duck called duck after a duck?
Results:
I think it’s about time you went on your trip was the clear winner with 67% of the votes from the following selection:
- The animal was named after the verb (22%)
- The verb was named after the animal (0%)
- WTF (11%)
- I think it’s about time you went on your trip (67%)
Pre-Result Discussion
Analysis:
Well, the good news is that it seems unanimous that I need to go on my trip and I definitely agree with that sentiment. Also, following the good news is the fact that I'm here in Florida starting my trip with the Fab 4, so at least I'm going to get to go on that trip. The bad news is that a whole five minutes of research didn't actually find anything so I have no pearls of wisdom to offer. A duck appears to be called a duck because that's what a duck is called - nothing more, nothing less.
(Created on 14th February 2009)
Vote #82
Question:
So, by the time this posts, we should be well on our way. Well, I say that, but there is a chance that it may rain so we could be delayed by a day as the race may be postponed. Anyway, the hope is that we'll be on the road and then what? Well, I guess the thing we're all going to be worried about is who is going to be the first person to break wind in the car on the road trip?
Results:
Hog was the clear winner with 57% of the votes from the following selection:
- Mr O (0%)
- Rag (29%)
- Hog (57%)
- Howling Mad Dad (14%)
Pre-Result Discussion
07:45:58
16th February 2009
Analysis:
It was indeed the Hog who was the first to “let er rip” whilst we pootled down the road. I have to say, in the grand scheme of things, there really hasn't been a lot of wind in the car.
(Created on 23rd February 2009)
Vote #83
Question:
Well, we're slowly chugging along and it appears to be taking its toll on the car. The breaks are starting to grind and the check engine light has come on. Do you think the car will make it to Vegas?
Results:
Yes was the clear winner with 71% of the votes from the following selection:
- Yes (71%)
- No (29%)
Pre-Result Discussion
06:55:27
23rd February 2009
Analysis:
It appears that Mr O underestimated the strength of the Dodge Grand Caravan. We had more lights start to illuminate our dashboard, but it didn't stop running. I guess technically there's another day for it to break down, but I leave today so it can't leave me stranded.
The most recent light was one marked ESP / BAS. This, as best we can tell is traction control and breaking assist. I find it very hard to believe that our beast was fitted with traction control, so I can only assume that this was warning us of more break failures.
(Created on 2nd March 2009)
Vote #84
Question:
As the road trip draws to a close, Mr O asked the only question I can think of asking - should we do another road trip?
Results:
Yes was the clear winner with 88% of the votes from the following selection:
- Yes (88%)
- No (13%)
Pre-Result Discussion
05:44:47
4th March 2009
Analysis:
Yah boo to the neigh sayer! The eyes have it.
Looks like a pretty good turn out to the voting booths this week and a very positive response in favor of another road trip. My guess is that it probably won't be until next year and we need to think carefully about where it will be. We obviously need to tie it in with some sporting event or other. My initial thought was another racing trip, but I suppose there's always South Africa next year that might have a certain appeal.
I'm pretty sure something will happen. You just need a little patience whilst we decide what it will be.
(Created on 8th March 2009)
Vote #85
Question:
I guess it's the end of the line for road trip related vote questions as we're back to the daily grind. As I face the failing economy I do go back to some of the blogs written on the road trip for inspiration with this week's vote question. I think a crucial factor in turning this economy around is to determine who is your favorite A-Team character?
Results:
Howling Mad Murdock was the clear winner with 40% of the votes from the following selection:
- John (Hannibal) Smith (20%)
- Templeton (Faceman) Peck (20%)
- Howling Mad Murdock (40%)
- B.A. Baracus (20%)
Analysis:
Pretty even spread and back to the normal lack of voting. It looks like Howling Mad Murdock has won the vote. Not quite sure what that says - maybe there's a desire to be a little mad, or maybe it's just that his character added a lot of color to the program.
Anyway, I'm off to go through the back catalog of A-Team episodes and watch them to pretend I'm living in the 80's. After that will be to watch the new movie when it comes out and to try and not be disappointed with it. The trouble is I think I'm now one of the old gits that's just going to keep going on about what bits aren't as good as they were in the original TV series.
(Created on 15th March 2009)
Vote #86
Question:
The road trip now seems like 100 years ago, but we keep pressing on through life - to be sure, to be sure. And on that note, we find ourselves facing St Patrick's Day. So, how do you intend to celebrate St Patrick's Day?
Results:
Not going to celebrate it was the clear winner with 60% of the votes from the following selection:
- Wear something green (0%)
- Drink Guiness (20%)
- Drink something green (0%)
- Some other way (20%)
- Not going to celebrate it (60%)
Analysis:
Well I guess that vote question fell a bit flat. Not much of a bunch of party goers are we? At least not for Paddy's day anyway. Now!
(Created on 22nd March 2009)
Vote #87
Question:
So, the economy's still down, the new government is trying different things, the old governments in other countries are trying different things ..... really makes you wonder - who's your favorite cartoon dog?
Results:
Scooby-doo and Snoopy tied with 38% of the votes each from the following:
- Brian Griffin (25%)
- Deputy Dawg (0%)
- Huckleberry Hound (0%)
- Odie (Garfield) (0%)
- Pluto (0%)
- Ren (Ren & Stimpy) (0%)
- Santa's Little Helper (0%)
- Scooby-doo (38%)
- Snoopy (38%)
Analysis:
OK - we seem to have hit the right mark with this one. I guess this tells me that I'm at the right level for the audience of this site. That said, no clear winner. I think there's a definite break between new and old. My guess is that there's a few people our there who don't know who Brian Griffin is (Karen being one of them). He's the dog out of Family Guy - just in case you didn't search to find out who he is. That said, as popular a vote Brian was, he didn't manage to win out in this contest. Joint honors go to Scooby-Doo and Snoopy. I have to say, I'm tempted to post another vote in favor of Scooby-Doo on behalf of William as he's a huge Scooby fan. I'm not going to change the votes though as I think I can live with this joint win and I think both of them are very worthy of this coveted EBR vote.
(Created on 29th March 2009)
Vote #88
Question:
Given my new affiliation to the Bill Oddie posse and signing up to get mailings of bird sightings. What day of this week will I get notified of the most interesting bird?
Results:
Monday and Thursday tied with 33% of the votes each from the following:
- Monday (33%)
- Tuesday (0%)
- Wednesday (17%)
- Thursday (33%)
- Friday (17%)
Pre-Result Discussion
21:46:08
29th March 2009
Analysis:
Monday yielded a number of emails around the migration of painted ladies (butterflies) and the fact that golden crowned sparrow were hanging around later than normal. The latter causing some discussion that it was not in fact late. Whilst interesting, not relevant to this week's vote. There was a good email that reported sightings of a glaucus gull, rufus hummingbird, multiple swallows, Wilson's warbler and great tailed grackles. Nothing amazing, but later emails reported a burrowing owl, varied thrush, cackling and white fronted geese, and finally, a pair of wood duck. There was also another note on the great horned owl (known to his friends as GHO), but this also included a chilean flamingo amongst details of 60 species (and yes, there were sightings of bushtit).
Tuesday only saw three emails detailing sightings. One of a pied billed grebe, one of bullock's oriole, Bewick's wren, red shouldered hawk and various wood peckers. The last of pygmy nuthatch and orange crowned warbler
Have you gone to sleep yet?
Wednesday produced an interesting debate about the use of acronyms to describe birds. A topic that I think will be discussed in more detail as time passes. But for now, the merits of the sightings were Eurasian wigeon, Wilson's snipe, great horned owl, northern harrier, red-tailed hawk, marsh wrens along with Allen's hummingbird and Bullock's oriole. Another message highlighted a number of birds again, the highlight being a western kingbird.
Still with me?
Thursday was actually the day of the monthly meeting of the Audubon society which I attended. There was a fascinating presentation by the person who had seeming spent his life studying birds. Seriously - it was really interesting and I feel that I haven't done him justice as I'm struggling to remember a quarter of the facts he shared with us. The other bonus was the fact that I won a hummingbird feeder in the raffle - cool. All this is great, but what did it produce by way of informative birding messages? Well, not a lot really. Only one email that talked of Bewick's wren, blue-gray gnatcatchers, orange crowned warbler and larkspurs.
Only one more day to go. Work with me now ....
Friday and the end of the work week. Potentially another day for good insights as people make an early break for freedom after a week being chained to a desk. I know by now that you're desperate for me to give you the details, so here they are - the first message bore details of a cooper's hawk, western bluebirds, titmice and chickadees before describing another location that yielded varied thrush and a golden eagle plus several woodpeckers. Another reported a pacific-sloped flycatcher, spotted towhee and western bluebird.
So, what does all this mean? Well, it means that Monday won. I wrote a comment when I posted my vote saying that I'd picked Monday and, given that this is, to a certain extent subjective as it's down to me to decide what's the most interesting, I'm not going to give an answer that means I picked wrong am I? If you're looking for a more scientific answer, Monday produced the most emails and the most information about the widest variety of birds. It also featured a pair of wood duck (that I've yet to see) that I think are very interesting. That, plus the great horned owl that we went to see at the weekend, pretty much ties it down to Monday winning.
(Created on 5th April 2009)
Vote #89
Question:
Given that all this birding is going to my head, it seems like I'll stick with that theme for another week at least. This week's question to ponder - where did barn owls sleep/nest before man built barns?
Results:
Who gives a hoot? was the clear winner with 40% of the votes from the following selection:
- Field (0%)
- Tree (20%)
- Cave (20%)
- N/A - barn owls didn't exist before barns (20%)
- Who gives a hoot? (40%)
Analysis:
What a bunch of haethens! Fancy not caring about such an important issue as this - how do you sleep at night? So, the majority of the votes went to “not giving a hoot” and the rest were mixed between trees, caves and it not being applicable as barn owls didn't exist prior to barns. I rather like this last option as it makes me thing some weird evolution took place after the invention of the barn. Still, not sure why I'm bothering with this analysis as it's clear that nobody cares given the result of the vote.
(Created on 12th April 2009)
Vote #90
Question:
Well, lets fly away from birds and look at when you're going to fly away. What month are you planning to take your summer holiday?
Results:
September was the clear winner with 67% of the votes from the following selection:
- May (17%)
- June (0%)
- July (0%)
- August (0%)
- September (67%)
- N/A - not taking a summer holiday (17%)
Analysis:
I think the results of this vote are absolutely hilarious. Technically speaking, the summer months are June, July and August - none of which got any votes at all. So nobody is taking a summer vacation if you're to apply the strict sense of the word summer. The majority of votes going to September which is a beautiful month to go away - don't you just love autumn? Or fall if you have an inclination to call it that.
Other than the person not having a summer holiday (which I suspect may be Mr O), I wish you all the best and hope you have a great time.
18:27:41
8th February 2009