Search found 46 matches
Re: Suicide
Well yeah, but that's just the same IP. If she'd been hanging in her living room, it's not beyond the realms of possibility that squatters might have moved into her flat and started using her internet connection, as well as eating her flesh and making basic tools from her bones (squatters are fairl...
- Wed May 26, 2010 8:43 pm
- Forum: Games and Puzzles
- Topic: Boys and Girls
- Replies: 27
- Views: 4490
Re: Boys and Girls
Wow. Totally counter-intuitive. I love it.
- Sun May 16, 2010 8:42 pm
- Forum: Countdown - General
- Topic: Analysis of 4 large
- Replies: 38
- Views: 7676
Re: Analysis of 4 large
There's a lot of scope here for potential Project Euler problems, n'est-ce pas?
- Sat May 08, 2010 9:16 pm
- Forum: Games and Puzzles
- Topic: Two Towers
- Replies: 23
- Views: 4180
Re: Two Towers
David's right. It's called the Gilbreath Principle and it's pretty amazing. More here . I was shown this trick by James Grime, who works at Cambridge Uni on something called the Enigma Project . I managed to work out the answer but hadn't heard of the Gilbreath Principle. He's a great speaker - watc...
- Thu May 06, 2010 2:27 pm
- Forum: Games and Puzzles
- Topic: Two Towers
- Replies: 23
- Views: 4180
Re: Two Towers
I spent a while thinking about manipulating pairs in various complicated ways, then ran out of time so had to admit defeat. Such a simple solution! This is a lovely puzzle. I was distracted by stuff I learnt from another puzzle, which is also satisfying, although not quite so simple: I hand you a de...
- Thu May 06, 2010 1:34 pm
- Forum: Games and Puzzles
- Topic: Two Towers
- Replies: 23
- Views: 4180
Re: Two Towers
[I haven't looked at any answers or suggested answers yet, cos I want to try it on my own]
I presume you're not allowed to enlist the aid of a sighted person?
I presume you're not allowed to enlist the aid of a sighted person?
- Sun Apr 25, 2010 9:50 am
- Forum: Off-topic
- Topic: Name My Child
- Replies: 141
- Views: 21306
Re: Name My Child
Who?Jon Corby wrote:Clare Sudbery.Alice Moore wrote: I lurk, occasionally (7, 3).
- Sun Apr 25, 2010 12:47 am
- Forum: Off-topic
- Topic: Name My Child
- Replies: 141
- Views: 21306
Re: Name My Child
I lurk occasionally.*Marc Meakin wrote:BTW whatever happened to Alice Moore.
Edit: *Is it just me, or does that sound like a cryptic crossword clue?
I lurk, occasionally (7, 3).
- Mon Mar 01, 2010 11:57 pm
- Forum: Games and Puzzles
- Topic: Maths Tutorial Problem
- Replies: 18
- Views: 3187
Re: Maths Tutorial Problem
For what it's worth, I presented this problem to a Year 10 (14- and 15-yr-olds) top set (only one managed to solve it), and here is a description of the solution which was aimed at them: Because X = 2a^2 = 3b^3 = 5c^5, we know that X must be a multiple of 2 and a multiple of 3 and a multiple of 5. I...
- Wed Dec 09, 2009 10:19 pm
- Forum: Off-topic
- Topic: Questions you've always wanted answered
- Replies: 1617
- Views: 743864
Re: Questions you've always wanted answered
Breast stroke, back stroke, butterfly and crawlSue Sanders wrote:meet Mike, he swims like a fish
Doggy paddle belly flop, you can do them all
LEARN TO SWIM!
- Fri Nov 13, 2009 3:59 pm
- Forum: Off-topic
- Topic: Coincidence
- Replies: 224
- Views: 90201
Re: Coincidence
Gavin Chipper wrote:Isn't that called making a phone call?Alice Moore wrote:picking up the phone before it rings
That would be "pick up the phone before it rings... only to find that someone is on the other end. Someone you were just about to call."
- Thu Nov 12, 2009 4:42 pm
- Forum: Off-topic
- Topic: Coincidence
- Replies: 224
- Views: 90201
Re: Coincidence
Fair point. Sorry again.
- Wed Nov 11, 2009 8:54 pm
- Forum: Off-topic
- Topic: Coincidence
- Replies: 224
- Views: 90201
Re: Coincidence
All these coincidences are much more likely than they appear to be. I guess this is all parade rain, but I can't resist... Let's take the bumping-into-people-in-unlikely-places one. During the course of your life you will become acquainted with hundreds, or more likely thousands, of people. This may...
- Thu Nov 05, 2009 5:10 pm
- Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
- Topic: Spoilers for Thursday 5th November 2009
- Replies: 57
- Views: 6274
Re: Spoilers for Thursday 5th November 2009
Oops, forgot I was watching on +1. Thought I was first to post this.Peter Mabey wrote:second numbers: (25+1)x(10+5-10/5)=338
- Thu Nov 05, 2009 4:55 pm
- Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
- Topic: Spoilers for Thursday 5th November 2009
- Replies: 57
- Views: 6274
Re: Spoilers for Thursday 5th November 2009
338 = (25 + 1) x (10 + 5 - (10/5))
Hmm. Suspect I either remembered something wrong there, or just plain got it wrong. Were there actually two tens in the selection? I can't check it now. Will have to wait for someone else to either confirm or correct.
Hmm. Suspect I either remembered something wrong there, or just plain got it wrong. Were there actually two tens in the selection? I can't check it now. Will have to wait for someone else to either confirm or correct.
- Tue Nov 03, 2009 10:09 pm
- Forum: Off-topic
- Topic: The Matt Morrison Computer Corner
- Replies: 452
- Views: 123387
Re: The Matt Morrison Computer Corner
Hibernation turns the computer off completely, it just saves the current state to the disk and then restores it when you turn back on (so your programs are in the same state as they were before, more or less). If you want to improve your eco-fu then use hibernate. But don't over-use. Your computer ...
- Sun Sep 13, 2009 7:49 pm
- Forum: Off-topic
- Topic: Derren Brown - The Events
- Replies: 584
- Views: 72318
Re: Derren Brown - The Events
The balls in the lottery trick DEFINITELY couldn't have been nail-written. That's an absolute definite. You could practice nail writing on ping pong balls your whole life and you would never get the same degree of perfectly done writing (that looks printed) that was on the lottery balls. I'm prepar...
- Sun Sep 13, 2009 12:19 am
- Forum: Off-topic
- Topic: Derren Brown - The Events
- Replies: 584
- Views: 72318
Re: Derren Brown - The Events
Not if you're accomplished. It's just a question of practice.Kieran Child wrote:a nail writer might be used to create a prediction secretly after an event. The problem with this is that the writing will look crap.
- Sun Sep 13, 2009 12:08 am
- Forum: Off-topic
- Topic: Derren Brown - The Events
- Replies: 584
- Views: 72318
Re: Derren Brown - The Events
assuming that the guy really did have the cheque in his pocket the whole time and that Derren never touched it after the trick began, which certainly seemed to be the case I'm surprised by this comment when elsewhere you've been so clear that he is a magician and uses selight of hand very effective...
- Wed Sep 09, 2009 8:47 pm
- Forum: Games and Puzzles
- Topic: The Times Numerical Listener Puzzle
- Replies: 39
- Views: 4811
Re: The Times Numerical Listener Puzzle
Thanks Howard, much appreciated. Your first two questions are answered in the first sentence in the puzzle description - The letters used in the clues represent different positive integers less than 100 I must be missing something, as this doesn't tell me whether zero is included... unless you say z...
- Wed Sep 09, 2009 4:55 pm
- Forum: Games and Puzzles
- Topic: The Times Numerical Listener Puzzle
- Replies: 39
- Views: 4811
Re: The Times Numerical Listener Puzzle
I've only just started this and am moving very slowly indeed, but I have some questions... 1. Do any of the letters represent zero? 2. Are any numbers duplicated (ie two letters both representing the same number)? It says grid solutions aren't duplicated, but doesn't seem to specify re letter-number...
- Mon Sep 07, 2009 9:40 pm
- Forum: Off-topic
- Topic: Favourite Website?
- Replies: 20
- Views: 2451
Re: Favourite Website?
It's because she's a girl.Phil Reynolds wrote:What is it with this "I'm a girl" non sequitur?
- Sun Sep 06, 2009 11:34 pm
- Forum: Games and Puzzles
- Topic: Four blokes
- Replies: 52
- Views: 5408
Re: Four blokes
depending on how far you draw the lines, you can always do something like this Which is kind-of-nearly-almost the parallel-infinity thing, so I get half a point. As awarded by me. For the third one, you just splodge a really thick line across all the dots :) Or fold the paper so that each line of t...
- Sun Sep 06, 2009 11:28 pm
- Forum: Games and Puzzles
- Topic: Four blokes
- Replies: 52
- Views: 5408
Re: Four blokes
OK, I got a hint via Google. I can do all three tasks now. My hint began with F.
- Sun Sep 06, 2009 11:19 pm
- Forum: Games and Puzzles
- Topic: Four blokes
- Replies: 52
- Views: 5408
Re: Four blokes
Yes.Kieran Child wrote:1) Can you link all the dots with 4 straight lines?
No.Kieran Child wrote:2) Can you link all the dots with 3 straight lines?
edit: Or not unless I use the thing about parallel lines meeting at infinity.
Hell no.Kieran Child wrote:3) Can you link all the dots with 1 straight line?
- Sun Sep 06, 2009 10:55 pm
- Forum: Off-topic
- Topic: Tell us something surprising about yourself
- Replies: 64
- Views: 7406
Re: Tell us something surprising about yourself
...which is why all the cows round your way are an attractive reddish-brown.Brian Moore wrote:though I'm a bit rusty these days
- Sun Sep 06, 2009 10:48 pm
- Forum: Games and Puzzles
- Topic: Four blokes
- Replies: 52
- Views: 5408
Re: Four blokes
Aha!
I notice you didn't restate the original rule that they can only speak if they say their answer? This is relevant, right?
I notice you didn't restate the original rule that they can only speak if they say their answer? This is relevant, right?
- Sun Sep 06, 2009 7:52 pm
- Forum: Games and Puzzles
- Topic: Four blokes
- Replies: 52
- Views: 5408
Re: Four blokes
Can people see around the people in front of them? So, in the first puzzle, can the guy at the back on the right see both hats in front of him, or only one?
- Wed Aug 12, 2009 8:01 pm
- Forum: Off-topic
- Topic: Pick my new home!
- Replies: 17
- Views: 2651
Re: Pick my new home!
Lancaster has been reported as having the highest suicide rate in England, or maybe even the UK.
This may be because it is the arse end of nowhere. Dundee and Cardiff are both far more pleasant, despite being foreign.
This may be because it is the arse end of nowhere. Dundee and Cardiff are both far more pleasant, despite being foreign.
- Sun Jul 19, 2009 11:06 pm
- Forum: Games and Puzzles
- Topic: HOTELIEST
- Replies: 16
- Views: 3207
Re: HOTELIEST
QUE (QUEER, QUEEST)Charlie Reams wrote:2) Are there any which take -ER and -EST but are not adjectives?
SAY (SAYER, SAYEST)
- Sun Jul 19, 2009 10:57 pm
- Forum: Games and Puzzles
- Topic: HOTELIEST
- Replies: 16
- Views: 3207
Re: HOTELIEST
1) BEAD (BEADS, BEADED, BEADING)
In similar vein, also MOULD.
In similar vein, also MOULD.
- Fri Jun 19, 2009 11:27 pm
- Forum: Games and Puzzles
- Topic: Which two letters come next in the sequence?
- Replies: 81
- Views: 9758
Re: Which two letters come next in the sequence?
The big breakthrough for me was realising that not only did TH sometimes stand for THE, but CI stood for CITY. And then I got TO,TH,BO,FR,TH,BI,BA,CI and then I got the rest.
- Fri Jun 19, 2009 10:09 pm
- Forum: Games and Puzzles
- Topic: Which two letters come next in the sequence?
- Replies: 81
- Views: 9758
Re: Which two letters come next in the sequence?
Here's another. What are the next 5 letters in this sequence? F,U,K,A,W,W,R,A,Y,R,D,U,K,A,W,W,L,T,E,E,T,K,E,Y,R,Y,E,W,N,U,K,A,R,Y,O,E,E,W,T,U,T,D,O,E,E,W,N,U,K,A,R Clue: It's going on a similar principle to the last one (which is why it uses single letters: too easy otherwise). God knows whether any...
- Fri Jun 19, 2009 10:03 pm
- Forum: Games and Puzzles
- Topic: Which two letters come next in the sequence?
- Replies: 81
- Views: 9758
Re: Which two letters come next in the sequence?
GOT IT!
Of course I can't prove it by giving the answer, as it's already been given. But this should be enough:
BE,IN,DU,BE,GO,TO,ME
Although I'm aware there are alternatives to what I just wrote, but that's the version I know.
Very good. Raised a smile in this corner of the internet.
Of course I can't prove it by giving the answer, as it's already been given. But this should be enough:
BE,IN,DU,BE,GO,TO,ME
Although I'm aware there are alternatives to what I just wrote, but that's the version I know.
Very good. Raised a smile in this corner of the internet.
- Fri Jun 19, 2009 9:50 pm
- Forum: Games and Puzzles
- Topic: Which two letters come next in the sequence?
- Replies: 81
- Views: 9758
Re: Which two letters come next in the sequence?
Aha!
Hang on a mo... think I'm finally getting there...
Hang on a mo... think I'm finally getting there...
- Fri Jun 19, 2009 9:22 pm
- Forum: Games and Puzzles
- Topic: Which two letters come next in the sequence?
- Replies: 81
- Views: 9758
Re: Which two letters come next in the sequence?
OK... so do the repetitions correspond to identical entries? eg does TH always mean the same thing?
And indeed... does TH refer to the word THE?
And indeed... does TH refer to the word THE?
- Thu Jun 18, 2009 9:46 am
- Forum: Games and Puzzles
- Topic: Which two letters come next in the sequence?
- Replies: 81
- Views: 9758
Re: Which two letters come next in the sequence?
OK, some questions: 1. Are the pairs initials? 2. And more specifically, do they refer to people? 3. Do the pairs correspond to countries? 4. Is the ordering chronological? ie, do the later pairs correspond to more recent events? 5. Do the pairs correspond to winners - eg Countdown finalists, Eurovi...
- Thu Jun 18, 2009 9:40 am
- Forum: Games and Puzzles
- Topic: Which two letters come next in the sequence?
- Replies: 81
- Views: 9758
Re: Which two letters come next in the sequence?
Can't we have more clues first, to give we lesser-able the chance of a small quantity of satisfaction?
- Thu Jun 04, 2009 2:59 pm
- Forum: Countdown - General
- Topic: When is the Series 60 Final?
- Replies: 23
- Views: 2651
When is the Series 60 Final?
When will the Series 60 final be aired? Is it next week? I've tried to find the answer to this question here and on Countdown Wiki, but I must have been using the wrong search terms or looking in the wrong places.
- Sun May 10, 2009 9:05 pm
- Forum: apterous.org
- Topic: New numbers interface: Your comments please
- Replies: 111
- Views: 14025
Re: New numbers interface: Your comments please
I guess I'd make a rubbish cheat cos I can't see how the brackets function is exploitable. Would somebody mind humouring me and explain why brackets are bad? Although I can see how the new system would be quicker to grasp for someone who'd never played Apterous before, I'm afraid it has made it more...
- Tue Apr 21, 2009 3:41 pm
- Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
- Topic: Spoilers for Tuesday 21st April
- Replies: 29
- Views: 3634
Re: Spoilers for Tuesday 21st April
Is this our very own Jimmy Gough? I missed the initial introduction. Speaking of which... does anyone else get frustrated by the fact that the contestants' name plates are too small / far away to be read? So unless you hear the surname when it's first announced, you're never sure who the contestant ...
- Fri Mar 27, 2009 9:51 pm
- Forum: apterous.org
- Topic: Should the DC character, Josef Fritzl, be dropped?
- Replies: 131
- Views: 16670
Re: Should the DC character, Josef Fritzl, be dropped?
Someone else has the avatar pic of George Galloway, can't remember who. Hmm, I wonder why I said "I thought it was Gary Male" above? This is how the exchange went: Info for any of the people who voted against the character, who wish not to see Matthew's current avatar (pic of Josef Fritzl...
- Fri Mar 20, 2009 5:05 pm
- Forum: apterous.org
- Topic: Should the DC character, Josef Fritzl, be dropped?
- Replies: 131
- Views: 16670
Re: Should the DC character, Josef Fritzl, be dropped?
Good arguments have been made on both sides, despite the unfortunate desire of some contributors to resort to personal attacks. Consequently I have decided to withdraw the controversial character for the time being. Options for people who want further control over their guests will be added at some...
- Fri Mar 20, 2009 4:01 pm
- Forum: apterous.org
- Topic: Should the DC character, Josef Fritzl, be dropped?
- Replies: 131
- Views: 16670
Re: Should the DC character, Josef Fritzl, be dropped?
If you don't like it, don't fucking go there - that's what I do if something offends me on a website. But surely this is one of the problems discussed at length above - that people will be alienated from the whole site (and prevented from enjoying the playing of the game), simply on the basis of on...
- Fri Mar 20, 2009 3:06 pm
- Forum: apterous.org
- Topic: Should the DC character, Josef Fritzl, be dropped?
- Replies: 131
- Views: 16670
Re: Should the DC character, Josef Fritzl, be dropped?
As for the implication that I think that others are po-faced or whatever for not enjoying this stuff, I've at all times tried to be objective, have refrained from insulting other people, and have tried not to make sweeping generalisations. None of my post was aimed at any one individual (so that bi...
- Fri Mar 20, 2009 9:57 am
- Forum: apterous.org
- Topic: Should the DC character, Josef Fritzl, be dropped?
- Replies: 131
- Views: 16670
Re: Should the DC character, Josef Fritzl, be dropped?
So... The Josef Fritzl character is funny because of the ridiculous and unlikely juxtaposition of Horrific Child Rapist with inoffensive teatime TV show, right? And it is precisely because he is such a monster that it's funny? But isn't it also possible that when people see throwaway lines like &quo...