c4countdown

Rhys Benjamin

Carol Vorderman’s gone quiet recently.

Hah.

Rhys Benjamin

In light of recent events:

How many rounds have had 2 or 6 vowels (and indeed other non-standard numbers (0, 1, 7, 8, 9) if these values exist)?
How many of these instances have slipped through since 1995 (and the 3V 4C rule)?
If a manageable number, could these please be listed?

Rhys Benjamin

Deciding which words are the lowest probability is hard. I guess QUIZZICAL has a probability of zero because there's only one Z in the pack. For the lowest nonzero probability, possibly JUKEBOXES? J, K and X only appear once in the usual consonant distribution. QUIZZICAL has appeared as a conundrum...

Rhys Benjamin

There is nothing outright wrong with countries advertising for votes. Malta did it too, on Grindr, hilariously. It does raise questions about pay-for-play and level playing fields, but how on earth do you ban something like that? Broadcasters and governments will simply wash the money and get influe...

Rhys Benjamin

9/10 for my predictions. Greece for Australia the only one I missed.

Rhys Benjamin

My predictions tonight - much harder to predict: Australia, Latvia, Armenia, Austria, Lithuania, Malta, Denmark, Luxembourg, Israel, Finland. Greece could easily make it but it's hard to see what misses out.

Rhys Benjamin

Poland, Estonia, Ukraine, Sweden, Norway, Belgium, San Marino, Albania, The Netherlands, Cyprus will qualify. Hard to see what else could make it.

Well I got 8 right. HOW did Portugal get in!? And I'm also amazed Iceland made it.

Rhys Benjamin

It's the 69th running of the Eurovision Song Contest and a few countries have entered into the spirit of things... Malta are "serving Kant" (until the censors got to them and now they're just "serving"), Australia's "Milkshake Man" is about drinking his special milk, an...

Rhys Benjamin

Sorry to gravedig a very old thread but I do see Marwan fairly regularly through my work... he told some great stories about this episode, not least HENTAI, but he told me the other day he essentially Jimmy Gough-ed the conundrum. He also thought he started very poorly and grew into the game.

Rhys Benjamin

Variation on a theme, but Chrome is flagging up security issues here because the HTTPS for C4C has expired.

Rhys Benjamin

Round 7 has generated quite a stir amongst terrorist supporters on X.

Although, as I have pointed out… they’re shouting at vowels and consonants.

Rhys Benjamin

Unleashed is a cracking read. Boris is an excellent writer, always has been.

Rhys Benjamin

Keeping the venue secret is an overreaction. No other organised sports/games/tournaments have to do this. If we really are saying co-events might not be safe for attendees if we publish the venue in advance, that's the point at which I question whether I still want to go to these at all. Just for b...

Rhys Benjamin

This happened to me on the show. Colin (in DC) was frantically whispering to Susie at around 15-20 seconds “I’ve got it, I’ve got it, it’s JA…” before tailing off. But then I knew it started with the J and that’s how JAILBAKER^ came about. Had it been crucial I might have made a fuss, but it wasn’t ...

Rhys Benjamin

2. Early in a game, C1 offers UPVOTE. DC looks it up on ODO and it's not in, so it's disallowed. Later on in the same game, C2 also offers UPVOTE. To everyone's surprise, the word is now valid on ODO. After some investigation, it transpires that ODO's three-monthly update happened in the middle of ...

Rhys Benjamin

This is what we call a three-line whip.

Rebel on the King's Speech and you will lose it.

Simple.

Rhys Benjamin

That's still one very messy hung Parliament. Of course it would depend entirely on what the Lib Dems want to do, but one cannot imagine them joining another coalition any time soon. A Labour/Green/SNP/PC coalition gives 291, whilst a Conservative/Reform coalition gives 249. The Lib Dems would have ...

Rhys Benjamin

That's still one very messy hung Parliament. [...] A Labour/Green/SNP/PC coalition gives 291, whilst a Conservative/Reform coalition gives 249. The Lib Dems would have to jump in with that incredibly busy coalition on the Left, giving that bloc 367 seats and a majority of 84 (with a 326 threshold)....

Rhys Benjamin

Under PR using Regional Party List, the only method by which we can ascertain results due to not knowing transferable votes (obviously), we get the following: Scotland: CON 7, LAB 21, LD 5, REF 4, GRN 2, SNP 18 North East: CON 6, LAB 13, LD 1, REF 6, GRN 1 North West: CON 14, LAB 33, LD 5, REF 12, G...

Rhys Benjamin

Sunak clearly won that debate. Starmer looked rattled, especially when he said he would not go private for ideological reasons even for a family member. It is a ludicrous position to take - to be a bed blocker when you can afford private healthcare is letting your country down because of your own id...

Rhys Benjamin

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c9rz5dp467lo Could you shed any light on this Rhys ? So... Joost Klein, the Dutch artist, objected to a Swedish producer putting a camera in his face for the @Eurovision socials for his immediate reaction after performing (as they have done for everyone). He is a...

Rhys Benjamin

I got a paltry 6, but how on earth did Latvia make it? The Israel reaction in the hall was odd. There were loud vocal minorities on both sides who kept trying to drown the other side out with boos/cheers as appropriate. I had two very loud Israelis behind me so it was hard to tell who won that battle.

Rhys Benjamin

Tonight’s prediction: Malta, Switzerland, Czechia, Austria, Denmark, Armenia, Georgia, Belgium, Israel, Netherlands

Rhys Benjamin

This is one of the widest open years in a long time. There is a small format change which now means the big five will perform during the semi final entries (the UK will be performing 5th tonight). Italy, Croatia, Netherlands, Switzerland all will do well and it is so hard to call a winner this year...

Rhys Benjamin

This is one of the widest open years in a long time. There is a small format change which now means the big five will perform during the semi final entries (the UK will be performing 5th tonight). Italy, Croatia, Netherlands, Switzerland all will do well and it is so hard to call a winner this year....

Rhys Benjamin

In the other news, Conservative Alan Duncan has gone rogue in an LBC interview , calling out members of the Conservative party for supporting Israel, and is now under investigation from the party . Nice way to whitewash antisemitism here. He suggested British Lords, one of whom is Jewish, were doin...

Rhys Benjamin

Why are politicians expressing opinions about the design of a football shirt? I really don't get the big hoo-ha about that cross thing on the England shirt. Total non issue, even at a football/design level, never mind social/political. One of the most acute examples of the depressing tendency for t...

Rhys Benjamin

As a general rule that seems sensible, but we don't always know that and people change names between appearances too. Do we know whether Jeff ever appeared as Jeffrey? Can't think why the wiki redirect would have been added otherwise! What do we do with people who do change their name - do only the...

Rhys Benjamin

True neutral: Leave the selection column blank. Nobody actually needs it. *cries in recap* Also, with reverse declarations I said after CoLon 2022 that I do 1-2-2-1 as a method: C1: 7. C2: 7. Me: Your word, C2? C2: BANANAS. C1: I also have BANANAS. This just doubly ensures there's no copying going ...

Rhys Benjamin

Jeffrey Burgin 8 wins, 1 loss Jeffrey Clayton 11 wins, 2 losses Jeffrey Hansford 10 wins 1 loss 29 wins, 4 losses 29/33 = 87.9% (I am going by Jeffreys on the wiki - Jeffrey Clayton redirects to Jeff Clayton - adjudication required!) (Edit - inability to correctly evaluate 29+4 ) I think it has to ...

Rhys Benjamin

"I wasn't a vile antisemite, I just fell for an online hoax."

Well that's all right then, Mr Ali...

Rhys Benjamin

By the way, a few people at COLIN were emphasing the importance of shuffling the letters well and using e.g. four As coming out in a row as evidence of poor shuffling. However, unless it's a new pack with letters clumped together, it shouldn't really make any difference. Shuffling is good practice ...

Rhys Benjamin

Apologies in advance for splitting this up. It appears as though Charlie no longer has the time/motivation to provide Apterous updates with the frequency that people desire. Obviously was never, ever a problem with a paper dictionary (something something why don’t OUP do an ODE4 and/or COD13) but in...

Rhys Benjamin

Colin said Alison had been on before. Anyone got any ideas when?

Rhys Benjamin

Obviously we know about Maus's record for the shortest time to solve all 8 conundrums, but what is the record for 7/7, 6/6, 5/5, etc.? (And I suppose, 9/9, 10/10, etc., if it has been done)

I've noticed Matthew Jenkins managed to solve 4/4 in 8.25, which must be up there?

Rhys Benjamin

Mwahahaha.

The number of "ha"s is so arbitrary, it makes zero sense.

Rhys Benjamin

As well as being America's lapdog in joining in with the attacks on the Houthis , Rishi Sunak has spoken out against South Africa's case against Israel . A spokesperson for UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said Mr Sunak believed South Africa's case was "completely unjustified and wrong." &qu...

Rhys Benjamin

I love how this has become "these were from my run". So in keeping with that, from my run, "wandering polluting columnist" is a great descriptor for Owen Jones.

Although not from my run, I do like "disinfect qualified awfulness" from Series 42.

Rhys Benjamin

We would be better off as a country if we had kept Boris Johnson as PM.

Rhys Benjamin

Nul points. https://www.apterous.org/viewgame.php?game=3715914

Rhys Benjamin

You have to remember that until 1998 points was the only criterion for seedings and series were three months long, not six. This often meant a 7-time winner would outscore an octochamp and get a higher seeding, and also the threshold for entering finals was lower.

Rhys Benjamin

Also, while I'm writing this, I've got a lot of queries about word validity on the wiki, but I don't have any of the correct dictionaries. […] I've also got some queries about whether the words below are valid or not as well: (snip) The short answer is that when the recaps are created (between 2003...

Rhys Benjamin

Great conundrum, well done Damian. That's very kind - thank you. Glad you enjoyed it - and to everyone, thank you again for your support for the show. Roll on 2024. It's already looking pretty good - and not a badge in sight... You're very welcome! Essentially, this post from Graeme should be hung ...

Rhys Benjamin

Okay I very much wanna be educated a bit here especially in a space here FOR anything political. As someone that knows nothing about Judaism other than having friends that are in that religion and a small grasp on what Chanukah is (or however you prefer spelling it) along with a few other Jewish ho...

Rhys Benjamin

I don't know why Carol Vorderman became a full-time Twitter troll this year but her victimisation of Johnny Mercer and his wife has been appalling. The threats Johnny and his wife have received on the back of her abuse, and no action taken against Vorderman, is ridiculous.

Rhys Benjamin

Great conundrum, well done Damian.

Rhys Benjamin

In my job I have become sadly familiar with immigration rules. It is my understanding you will need a BRP and ILR to immigrate to the UK in that way. Obviously I don't know your personal circumstances so I would not be able to comment on the likelihood of success or failure of applications. However,...

Rhys Benjamin

Should be noted that on number ordering, it's only since Rachel took over that the large numbers have always been on the left. Carol always did it in reverse order of how the contestant said it (which I personally prefer) so there are several examples of large numbers NOT being in the middle. Off t...

Rhys Benjamin

Should be noted that on number ordering, it's only since Rachel took over that the large numbers have always been on the left. Carol always did it in reverse order of how the contestant said it (which I personally prefer) so there are several examples of large numbers NOT being in the middle. Off th...

Rhys Benjamin

Fiona T wrote: ↑Tue Dec 05, 2023 8:19 am
Marc Meakin wrote: ↑Tue Dec 05, 2023 7:33 am I find it hilarious that Gevs mate Owen Jones being so outspoken as a gay man who would be thrown off the nearest roof in Gaza just for being gay.
citation needed

Well, given Hamas have no tall buildings left…

Rhys Benjamin

First of all, Hamas likely exists in the form it does because of the oppression by Israel on the Palestinians for decades. It breeds terrorism. Also far more Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces over the decades than vice versa. Does it make such a difference that Hamas killed a lot of I...

Rhys Benjamin

The addition of an extra offer at 3-box is good. The reduced prizes, not so good. Most of the time people didn't win 5 figures anyway.

Rhys Benjamin

It's a bit "generic ITV 80s gameshow" in the same mould as Take Your Pick, Play Your Cards Right, et al. The final round for the money is hugely on the clichéd side. But yeah, not terrible.

Rhys Benjamin

As per David, really. Bizarre tactics from C1, but really it's C2's fault for not playing the safe 8, which is the best choice in this circumstance.

Rhys Benjamin

That'll teach me for being such a cynic! Apologies!

Rhys Benjamin

Andrew Neil has got it spot on. Lot of nonsense spouted about “trial by media” re Russell Brand. The media has no power to try and/or convict. Rightly. But it has a responsibility to research, reveal and expose wrongdoing. Which it has in the Brand investigation by @Channel4 @thetimes — responsibly ...

Rhys Benjamin

If you commit a crime, you get arrested.

Unless it’s illegal immigration, in which case you are waited on hand and foot by taxpayers’ money.

Lock them up. Stop the boats.

Rhys Benjamin

Ronan M Higginson wrote: ↑Wed Aug 16, 2023 11:50 am
samir pilica wrote: ↑Wed Aug 16, 2023 11:14 am Wonder what his motivation for going on the show was ? No doubt a successful, intelligent man in real life, bothered to fill in the form, auditioned, travelled to Salford and then...
Got himself a free hotel...

There's other ways to get a free hotel in this country. #satire

Rhys Benjamin

Gavin Chipper wrote: ↑Mon Jun 19, 2023 7:00 pm
Rhys Benjamin wrote: ↑Sun Jun 18, 2023 8:09 pm I wasn't talking about Boris's riposte here, and nor was the committee.
What were you talking about?

They (and I) were referring to the MPs who had criticised the committee throughout.

Rhys Benjamin

This suggests that criticism of how the Committee has operated is to be censured, and I think that is fundamentally wrong. A Select Committee cannot be prosecutor, judge, and jury with a blank cheque as they currently are. MPs who have expressed concerns about the committee throughout the process -...

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