c4countdown

Callum Todd

Regardless of the sentiment, "check your privilege" is one of those American imports that's basically meaningless in British English. Ridiculous phrase. The exact phrase is kind of annoying, but the meaning it carries is definitely not meaningless. Those of us with privilege should take t...

Callum Todd

I'm with Gavin on clothes. Either these opinions aren't unpopular enough or I'm just an unpopular kind of guy.

Callum Todd

I'm with Ell on the crisps thing. And with Mark on Nickelback.

Callum Todd

I understand Adam G's point, assuming that it is something like: the ability to travel for leisure is a luxury and that many who "spend their whole life working a day job" do so out of financial necessity so it's unfair to criticise them as "boring" for that. But I think it's a r...

Callum Todd

I didn't take Mark's post to mean that tuition fees should be paid all up front Neither did I. Or was that more to Marc? (Also, I read your Mark as Marc when I first replied pre-edit.) It was in reference to both posts quoted talking about payment up front, although I recognise your post was itself...

Callum Todd

You should have to pay university tuition fees. If you had to pay upfront then Universities would be elites and only a privilege for rich people. I think like sport, universities should be available for all. However, there should be a better way to pay as presumably you should get a well payed job ...

Callum Todd

Some of the opposition to the whole Rwanda plan for migrants is itself somewhat racist, or at least chauvinistic.

Callum Todd

Yeah I think anyone who's ever organised a co event will realise it's impossible to determine beforehand that a provided lunch is a requirement. Most venues don't offer it and if they do then it's normally: - a ballache to organise - difficult to cater for allergies/dietary requirements - poor value...

Callum Todd

It seems impossible to enforce any limit that controls or restricts people's reproductive capacities wiothout being actively murderous. So any opinion along those lines isn't going to find any popularity with me. Education of responsibilities and ethics is all good though. Largely agree with all the...

Callum Todd

JackHurst wrote: ↑Wed Nov 29, 2023 8:23 pm
Fiona T wrote: ↑Wed Nov 29, 2023 7:44 pm I get that the players who've won dozens of them might just chuck them in a box under the stairs
I hope nobody does this.

I do very literally this. I have above-ground space for one or two trophies so the most recent one or two take pride of place. The rest go subterranean.

Callum Todd

I think the conundrums were great. The one thing that's pretty clear from the above comments is that there was a good range of difficulties and feels to the conundrums, which is exactly what you'd want from a co:event in my opinion. Some of the conundrums even have a wide gap in perception of diffic...

Callum Todd

2) Prizes at Events: The variation in prizes between events is fine, and I have no suggestions for improvements. Hosts are doing a great job with prizes. While trophies are a nice reward for winning an event, I understand that sourcing them adds extra time and financial burdens for hosts, so their ...

Callum Todd

Steve Hyde wrote: ↑Wed Nov 29, 2023 2:57 pm In today's episode a contestant scored points by declaring 99 in a numbers round. Has this ever happened before?

Oh wow that's cool!

Callum Todd

You're at a co:event. This is a co:event. It's not Countdown. It's not apterous. It's a co:event. So you're at a co:event and it's Bristol style. Conundrum time. It's a crucial conundrum. Pretty important game in the context of the day too. Both players buzz at around about the same time, although i...

Callum Todd

By the way, on the topic of writing numbers down, I would advise players to try one classroom event where they don't write the numbers down and see if they feel it's better for them. Unless you have eyesight problems, or are really far away from the screen, then not writing numbers down has multipl...

Callum Todd

Not really an addition as much as a 'keep it up' but I thought the adjudication of the crucial conundrums on Saturday by other players was a great idea and I would love to see it kept up if possible. I've not done a Bristol style event in years but this definitely made it much more enjoyable and fa...

Callum Todd

If it's awkward to copy the numbers down from right to left, then perhaps the easy answer is to have them appear from left to right? The only reason the TV show does it right to left is because the target button is on the left so it makes sense for Rachel to be there after putting the numbers up. T...

Callum Todd

Thank you to everyone who came to the event yesterday, and special thanks to Fiona for the excellent new big-screen graphics software and Adam for capping off a year of fantastic contributions to the community with an amazing job as host. Results are as below: FOCAL Finals and MK Open 2023 Novotel, ...

Callum Todd

The Deathwatch "2017" thread on this forum

Callum Todd

https://focalcountdown.com/upcomingevents/

Has a list of events that have confirmed venues for 2024. Webpages with full details to be posted once all requirements are confirmed with FOCAL. more details are already available on this forum

Callum Todd

Also sorry to hear that. I was looking forward to meeting you, Marc! Btw, does it say in the opening post where in the hotel the event is taking place? Sorry should have specified. It's the Willem room on 1st floor. Can't miss it really just follow signs for Conference Rooms and it's the biggest on...

Callum Todd

Marc Meakin wrote: ↑Sat Nov 25, 2023 6:43 am Can't today sadly as I have had some kind of reaction to my Covid Jab yesterday
Weak and I'll today
If anybody here wants to take my place they can with my blessing
Have fun

Sorry to hear that Marc was looking forward to meeting you! Get well soon

Callum Todd

How can it be meaningful if it's false? Spending your one and only brief shot at life with the false hope of having a better afterlife seems a terrible waste. The best way to get meaning from life is the here and now - make your impact on the world a positive one (something you've definitely embrac...

Callum Todd

[...] religion is not a requirement to live a [...] meaningful life. I think it could be said that religion is a requirement to live an objectively meaningful life, with the caveat that it is almost certain that the objective behind that meaning is false. I believe that's essentially the main reaso...

Callum Todd

Yes.

David Baddiel did a good brief interview on a BBC podcast recently, heard it in BBC Sounds. He explained how people often conflate Israel with Judaism.

Callum Todd

Surely you're used to pacing yourself in km so that makes sense. My watch is in km, my Edge (used for longer cycles) is in miles. But Strava shows everything in km anyway. You can change your Strava settings to show in miles if you prefer. Personally I always use km unless I'm doing a race that fit...

Callum Todd

Not sure if we've had this discussion before and it's probably got a simple answer anywhere but the talk of what external advantages a competitive sportsperson can gain are fair and which aren't always makes me think of the doping debate. High level competitive athletes do all sorts of things to giv...

Callum Todd

I used Click & Collect a lot in lockdown when delivery spots were scarce or reserved for isolating households but I didn't want to go into crowded supermarkets.Since then I mostly either do a normal shop in person or get a home delivery, as Graeme suggested. It's worth noting thought that Click ...

Callum Todd

This is Countdown news.

Callum Todd

Probably not very well publicised outside of the UK

Callum Todd

The BBC news article I had read about Greenwood leaving by mutual consent has been updated to say that he could remain at Manchester United, on full pay, until he is sold to another club. I had thought that his contract was being terminated with a negotiated financial settlement, as that is what is ...

Callum Todd

As for the length of time taken to announce that Greenwood wouldn't be continuing at Manchester United, I'm fairly confident that all just comes down to money. They've made some unconvincing noises about their own processes, their responsibility as an employer, blah blah blah, but as alluded to abov...

Callum Todd

I really respect Rachel's comments on the Mason Greenwood topic. Coming from a public figure well known to be a very passionate Manchester United supporter, saying she would stop supporting the team is a significant statement that will surely cause a great number of football fans, who might otherwis...

Callum Todd

Johnny Canuck wrote: ↑Thu Aug 10, 2023 9:40 pm Elo is a name, not an acronym. ELO ratings are the kind that you can’t bring down.

Don't bring them down, Bruce?

Callum Todd

Anyone see a bit of Paul Anderson in Cillian Murphy nowadays?

Callum Todd

The crossword one is good

Callum Todd

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-66238584

Callum Todd

Incredible achievement from Andrew!

Callum Todd

Twin tournaments to close the season: who will be 2023 FOCAL Champ? https://focalcountdown.files.wordpress.com/2022/06/1500x1000-novotel-milton-keynes-england-foto1.jpg Date : Saturday 25th November 2023 Venue : Novotel Milton Keynes, Saxon St, Leyburn Ct, Heelands, Milton Keynes, MK13 7RA ( map ) A...

Callum Todd

One of the concerns in combat sports is the damage of knocked out fighters hitting their head on the canvas as they fall. There's a great video of a Muay Thai ref showing some amazing reactions to catch a falling fighter's head before he hits the deck; incredible save.

Callum Todd

Why is it that on a forum of several dozen members, half the topics seem to be created by one person? It seems to be the case on every forum I'm on. I'm sure there's some sort of law for it (similar to the square root law of the work force?) The Pareto Principle, there's some really fun examples of...

Callum Todd

I only watched Arctic Monkeys and Guns N Roses. I thought Arctic Monkeys were great. Axl Rose's voice was mostly naff although he still hit the biggest notes when he saved himself for them but Slash's guitar solos made it a good show.

Callum Todd

So why would Keys proving himself a bellend lead to Stelling leaving Countdown, which appeared to me to be the cause and effect being pointed out. When Keys got sacked from Sky, Jeff Stelling replaced him on some of his presenting duties I believe, leading to Jeff not having enough time in his sche...

Callum Todd

I read Lav's message as Keys is a bellend, rather than Jeff. I think Jeff is fairly universally liked. Seems a decent chappie.

Callum Todd

I recently read a book that covers a lot of the trickier questions that have come up in this thread, including many that were put towards me and I was unable to answer effectively, such as Elliott's excellent question. The book is called Justice for Animals: Our Collective Responsibility and it's by...

Callum Todd

I did Of Mice and Men in my English GCSE and thought it was really good. We read it aloud in class when we first went through it and I remember it was a friend of mine who came to the first use of the N-word and hesitated, looked to the teacher for approval, and was given it, so went ahead. I have r...

Callum Todd

Congratulations Ronan; a fantastic achievement! I hope you had lots of fun filming.

Callum Todd

Really don't get why the whole Schofield thing is such a big story. Just strikes me as another incidence of celebrity piffle.

Callum Todd

I did speak to the owner about why they don't keep elephants and he said that the enclosure needed would be too vast to make it (financially) viable that jarred me a bit as I always assumed owners were philanthropists. If I'm correcting in reading this as you thinking that "philanthropists&quo...

Callum Todd

Excellent. For me the most bizarre part of that dream is the dimensions of the snooker table. The angles would be completely different to a normal size table. That won't do.

Callum Todd

It's like the famous saying says (I'm probably paraphrasing here) "I might not agree with what you are saying but will fight to the death for your right to say it" Voltaire When I spoke at the Oxford Union last year about the alarming recent popularity of people filming things vertically ...

Callum Todd

Good topic. Historically zoos have been bad; they started as little more than circuses. Nowadays most of them are improving and have better standards. But a lot of them are still quite bad, and there's a softer less utilitarian objection one might have to even the best of them. There's a chapter in ...

Callum Todd

Keen on this one, should be able to sign up shortly. I'd be interested to hear what hotel others have booked if they have done so already, especially the Parkrunners!

Callum Todd

Is there a hotel of choice for those that have already booked? Looking at my options for this event, I intend to be there

Callum Todd

Thank you Fiona for posting the results, and a big thank you for hosting and doing all the atropine work on the day! Congratulations Rob on another event win sealed with another 9 great performances. George won the Yorkshire T award for picking the letter T most often, and there was a great competit...

Callum Todd

I understand Stephen Hendry's response. Clearly what he drew from the Just Stop Oil protestors' actions is that when our purpose of being here is dependant on the health of a wondrous but fragile greenscape, we must do everything we can to repair it when damaged and protect it from harm by anyone wh...

Callum Todd

All this talk of what a dictionary should be like for Countdown is pretty meaningless unless Countdown has any influence over the dictionary, which I don't think it does (no idea what this legendary "deal with Oxford" looks like). As far as I can see Countdown just has to choose an existin...

Callum Todd

Graeme Souness mentioning ethics as the main reason for not eating meat again on Sky Sports during their eco focus. Go on Graeme! Unlikely champion of ethical veganism on sports TV!

Callum Todd

Meh, I think it's fine to award it to P1. Otherwise P2 could just force a redraw on a conundrum they've lost by doing this deliberately. If you say the answer uninvited after a close buzz without waiting for the host, you've forfeited the conundrum. Tough luck.

Callum Todd

I hear the Fox and Hounds have closed their Mike Brown-approved kitchen. Wherever are we to scran?

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