This month's voter turnout of 40, beat the record of 38 set just last month. It is most pleasing to see most regulars voting in the first day or so (20 on the first was something of a record, too). There has been a good smattering of lurkers and occasional visitors who make a point of voting regularly. Before I make the announcement of this month's winners, I would like to make an appeal to the group. Several people have mentioned to me their concern about the high frequency of very rude and obscene anagrams appearing in the group. At least one member has expressed frustation and disgust about this and have indicated that they might leave the group over this. While all of us enjoy a bit of crude humour, we need to be a little more sensitive to the feelings of all of members and show a little of constraint. A spoiler space and a warning in the subject line have been the traditional way of dealing with this and I am pleased to see that some members are using this. Sorry to sound like a bit of a headmaster, but the boys responsible will please report to my study for a good spanking! Here are the winners of the November 2001 Anagrammy Awards. ---------------- GENERAL CATEGORY A relatively small field of ten this month in the General Category. Richard G started soundly and maintained a comfortable lead. There was intense competition for the minor places. Janet swept from 5th to 3rd with the last two votes, just pushing Adrian and Mey out of the awards. This was Lardy Girl's third win of the year 1st. Richard Grantham with: 44 A love-hate relationship = The volatile pair has one. 2nd. Lardy Girl with: 36 Inmates on death row = Morons await the end. 3rd. Jaybur with: 29 In silhouette = Is the outline. Eq 4th. Adrian Hickford with: 28 Chicken risotto = Rice in hot stock. Eq 4th. Meyran Kraus with: 28 Newton's Law of Gravitation? = Veto! It's wrong! I wanna float! ---------------- ENTERTAINMENT CATEGORY Only six started here this month, and Janet and I shared the early lead. However, she soon broke clear and pulled steadily ahead of the rest of the competition. It was interesting (and pleasing) to see that the shortest anagram won here. 1st. Jaybur with: 49 Manet's 'Olympia' = Simple anatomy! Eq 2nd. Larry Brash with: 40 The Far Side cartoonist Gary Larson ~ is a creator of grisly and honest art. Eq 2nd. Adrian Hickford with: 40 "Murder on the Orient Express" by Agatha Christie = Hush! Poirot exercises the brain and 'grey matter'. ---------------- TOPICAL CATEGORY Topical was surprisingly smal this month with just five entries. Tom Myers had a lot of nominations in other categories, but none suitable to moved here. Janet had considered running another of her topical nomations here, but I picked hers that ran a creditable second. Mey was the strongest performer on Day One and was never in trouble winning here. 1st. Meyran Kraus with: 65 Search for Osama Bin Laden Proves Difficult = A darn problem - US forces fail to find his cave! 2nd. Jaybur with: 59 Post early for Christmas = I race for stamps, shortly! 3rd. David Bourke with: 50 The World Toilet Summit in Singapore... Millions go there to dump in its water! ---------------- RUDE CATEGORY Some voters do regularly skip this category and despite my comments above, I will not censor the results here. So, feel free to skip to the next category if you wish. There were only two real contenders here and SpursKevin always look the most likely winner. Kevin has now had four wins in a row. 1st. SpursKevin with: 70 Crotchless undies = Discloses her cunt. 2nd. Tom Myers with: 54 Take off all your clothing = A lot of really hot fucking.. Eq 3rd. Maurice Goddard with: 29 Don't forget to pull the chain = Drench that foul toilet pong! Eq 3rd. Richard Grantham with: 29 Shitload = I had lots. ---------------- PEOPLE'S NAMES CATEGORY With 10 starters, this category was a little below its usual high standard this month. It took a while for a leader to be established, but Adrian Hickford exerted his influence by Day Three and opened a good sound lead to win his 9th Anagrammy. 1st. Adrian Hickford with: 44 Charles Lutwidge Dodgson = Select odd words, laughing. 2nd. Larry Brash with: 30 Taliban's leader Mullah Omar = Burial alarm. Send me to Allah! 3rd. .Jaybur with: 29 The Honorable Donald Rumsfeld = So, he'll hunt for bearded old man! ---------------- OTHER NAMES CATEGORY Another fairly small field, but there were two brilliant nominations here. It was a very close contest between David B and Mey. Towards the end I was sure that David was the winner, but a late burst by Mey got him home by 2 points. 1st. Meyran Kraus with: 82 Seven Eleven Incorporated = Open it and never ever close! 2nd. David Bourke with: 80 The Dictaphone = Hi-tech notepad. 3rd. Richard Grantham with: 36 Fisher-Price Toys = Eyes rich profits. ---------------- SPAM CATEGORY 8 entries here was one of the larger field this year. I dearly wanted to win this one, but expected fierce competition from David B and Mey. I managed to get about 12 points into the lead, but David caught me midway. A strong finish gave me the win. That was my 13th win for the year and 61st ever 1st. Larry Brash with: 54 UNIVERSITY DIPLOMAS Obtain a prosperous future, money earning power, and the admiration of all. [snip] 2nd. David Bourke with: 46 Dear reader, We would like to ask you to participate in a study that is being conducted by the University of Amsterdam. [snip] 3rd. Meyran Kraus with: 34 Question: Where do I get this New credit File from? [snip] ---------------- LONG CATEGORY This was another close category. Janet had a good start, but David B caught up and passed her comfortably mid way through. A power finish from Janet drew her equal with David for a tied result. It was nice to see Janet do well with her first really long anagram and win herself 3 Anagrammies this month. That makes her total for the year 18 and her all time total of 30. Eq 1st. David Bourke with: 40 GODDARD MEMORIAL TRAIL TO BE DEDICATED JUNE 6 [snip] Eq 1st.Jaybur with: 40 Impressionism emerged in France in the latter half of the nineteenth century as a revolutionary new force in painting. [snip] 3rd. Allan Morley with: 35 No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main. [snip] ---------------- SPECIAL CATEGORY A little quieter this month with seven entries, three of which belonged to Mey. However, the standard was right up there. Richard G took the early lead and was never really challenged. David and Mey were not too far back. Two wins for Richard, giving him 34 this year and 90 all up. David also had two wins ( and was unlucky not to have had three). He has had 18 wins this year and 38 career total. Mey had another great month with three wins. That is 24 for the year and 74 altogether. 1st. Richard Grantham with: 49 Two anagrams of Shakespeare's 128th sonnet [snip] 2nd. Meyran Kraus with: 42 What It's Like Everlast 3rd. David Bourke with: 35 I believe the sun should never set upon an argument ---------------- AWARDSMASTER'S CHOICE AWARD FOR THE BEST NON-WINNING ANAGRAM. Not an easy choice this month. Of the shorter losing anagrams Adrian's Chicken Risotto and David's The Dictaphone were both excellent. Alan Morley had two great longer anagrams in Long and Special. After some thought, I went for Alan's Long Category entry. Here it is again: Allan Morley with: No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main. If a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less, as well as if a promontory were, as well as if a manor of thy friend's or of thine own were. Any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind; and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee. = Fine in theory, friend, but very cold comfort for a man whose withdrawal from society *is* nonetheless akin to a life on an isle far, far away - and for whom isolation's severe pain may meet a bitter end only after his death, even at his own hand. Remember, lonesomeness does in fact happen; we must be aware of that, and keep in mind T.S. Eliot's view: "Hell is oneself; hell is alone."