Search found 13216 matches

by Gavin Chipper
Thu Mar 28, 2024 6:10 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: What TV programmes have you been watching lately?
Replies: 761
Views: 566082

Re: What TV programmes have you been watching lately?

Not that he's in it all the time, but the death of Richard Lewis probably makes it less likely if anything.
by Gavin Chipper
Wed Mar 27, 2024 5:36 pm
Forum: Countdown - Events
Topic: Co-Event Suggestion Box
Replies: 147
Views: 13379

Re: Co-Event Suggestion Box

But having two events in one go seems a bit of a "hack" allowing people to rack up two lots of points while making just one trip. So? I don't think this is a bad thing. Two events on the same weekend allows people to save money on travel. We shouldn't award fewer points for an event just ...
by Gavin Chipper
Wed Mar 27, 2024 12:01 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: What TV programmes have you been watching lately?
Replies: 761
Views: 566082

Re: What TV programmes have you been watching lately?

I've been working my way through Yes Minister / Prime Minister on the iPlayer. They've been repeating them on Tuesday evenings and leaving them on the iPlayer for a month (rather than indefinitely as they do with some programmes). But the last couple of Tuesdays it hasn't been on for some reason. Al...
by Gavin Chipper
Tue Mar 26, 2024 11:15 am
Forum: Countdown - Events
Topic: Co-Event Suggestion Box
Replies: 147
Views: 13379

Re: Co-Event Suggestion Box

What would people think of doing away with tie-break conundrums and allowing draws to happen? There isn't the same need to declare a winner that the TV show has, and I feel like achieving level scores over 9 rounds should count for slightly more than a defeat and slightly less than a win. Also avoi...
by Gavin Chipper
Tue Mar 26, 2024 11:08 am
Forum: Countdown - Events
Topic: Co-Event Suggestion Box
Replies: 147
Views: 13379

Re: Co-Event Suggestion Box

I previously suggested that perhaps someone could only count points from one event if there were two events at a weekend (e.g. COLIN and hangover). The reason not all events count towards your end-of-year total is that it's hard to make every event and people shouldn't be expected to if they want to...
by Gavin Chipper
Sun Mar 24, 2024 6:28 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Politics in General
Replies: 1604
Views: 1653234

Re: Politics in General

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...
by Gavin Chipper
Sun Mar 24, 2024 1:17 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Politics in General
Replies: 1604
Views: 1653234

Re: Politics in General

I've noticed that the first minister of the home nations tick a lot of the diversity boxes and gender (in the case of Norther Ireland. Isn't it time The Tea Shop was a first minister of colour I stared at this for a while, but I'm still lost as to what it means. He means the Taoiseach. But anyway i...
by Gavin Chipper
Sun Mar 24, 2024 7:08 am
Forum: Countdown - Events
Topic: CO:parkrun Recaps
Replies: 583
Views: 289691

Re: CO:parkrun Recaps

Thanks. I'll sort out the points at some point.
by Gavin Chipper
Sat Mar 23, 2024 10:27 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Politics in General
Replies: 1604
Views: 1653234

Re: Politics in General

It could be argued that Capital Gains sometimes come in the form of risky investments (similar to gambling which is not taxed) so the tax on that should take into account the expected gains rather than just the actual gains. Though it would be very different for different investments so probably not...
by Gavin Chipper
Sat Mar 23, 2024 12:57 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Should I be worried?
Replies: 11
Views: 669

Re: Should I be worried?

I was reading a random article about Bitcoin and it mentioned nonce and that it meant single-use, so there you go. It's not something you readily Google. (I could have looked it up in a print dictionary obviously.)
by Gavin Chipper
Sat Mar 23, 2024 11:06 am
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Unpopular opinions you genuinely hold
Replies: 248
Views: 30655

Re: Unpopular opinions you genuinely hold

Punch a woman when she's down.
by Gavin Chipper
Fri Mar 22, 2024 12:53 pm
Forum: Countdown - Events
Topic: CO:parkrun Recaps
Replies: 583
Views: 289691

Re: CO:parkrun Recaps

you're due to have some people for the corug park run that won't be playing in the event but are very much affiliated with countdown (rachael montgomery melody coupe and maybe adam beach) so assume you're counting these guys? They would have to at least be at the event in some capacity to get point...
by Gavin Chipper
Thu Mar 21, 2024 6:05 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Should I be worried?
Replies: 11
Views: 669

Re: Should I be worried?

Mark Deeks wrote: Thu Mar 21, 2024 6:00 pm
Fortunately I use a nonce password
(hehe)
Nonce passwords are kept more secure, for obvious reasons. Mine is J1mmy5av1l3.
by Gavin Chipper
Wed Mar 20, 2024 11:55 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers for Wednesday 20th March 2024 (Series 89, Heat 57)
Replies: 6
Views: 339

Re: Spoilers for Wednesday 20th March 2024 (Series 89, Heat 57)

For some reason people learn (25×75+x)×50/100 but not the others as well.
by Gavin Chipper
Wed Mar 20, 2024 4:33 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Questions you've always wanted answered
Replies: 1615
Views: 631287

Re: Questions you've always wanted answered

Ian Volante wrote: Wed Mar 20, 2024 1:24 pm
Marc Meakin wrote: Tue Mar 19, 2024 2:01 pm
Ian Volante wrote: Tue Mar 19, 2024 1:34 pm

Why use AI when a simple distance sensor would do the job?
That's what I meant, and if it cut the accelerator when activated it might encourage safer driving
That's not AI, is the point I'm making.
It's more I than some people.
by Gavin Chipper
Wed Mar 20, 2024 9:18 am
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: What films have you watched lately?
Replies: 428
Views: 241259

Re: What films have you watched lately?

12 Angry Men. Forget Oppenheimer. This is a film. Very much recommended. Its probably in my top ten of best American movies of all time. IMDB has it as no 5 in the all time ratings. (Oppenheimer is 88) So for context Oppenheimer not bad but 12 Angry Men is exceptional Am I right in saying there wer...
by Gavin Chipper
Wed Mar 20, 2024 12:24 am
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: What films have you watched lately?
Replies: 428
Views: 241259

Re: What films have you watched lately?

12 Angry Men. Forget Oppenheimer. This is a film. Very much recommended.
by Gavin Chipper
Mon Mar 18, 2024 5:56 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Questions you've always wanted answered
Replies: 1615
Views: 631287

Re: Questions you've always wanted answered

Why do they have them on some motorways but not others and how do they decide which one?
by Gavin Chipper
Mon Mar 18, 2024 2:07 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Questions you've always wanted answered
Replies: 1615
Views: 631287

Re: Questions you've always wanted answered

If chevrons are 40 metres apart, then logically to me that means 80 metres (although that would be two chevron gaps really). However, if we are talking about visible chevrons, that will keep changing as the cars cross over them. But to always keep two chevrons visible, you would need to be just over...
by Gavin Chipper
Sat Mar 16, 2024 9:12 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: REALLY obvious things you've just realised
Replies: 630
Views: 275779

Re: REALLY obvious things you've just realised

It's possible I was aware of this at the time but forgot, but India apparently overtook China as the most populous country last year.
by Gavin Chipper
Sat Mar 16, 2024 8:31 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: What films have you watched lately?
Replies: 428
Views: 241259

Re: What films have you watched lately?

Oppenheimer. Mostly tedious and far too long. Also what a coincidence that when the hive mind decides a film is the best of the year, it also has e.g. the best actor in it as well. Not sure why people pay attention to the Oscars. It's just the incestuous film industry getting together to self-congr...
by Gavin Chipper
Sat Mar 16, 2024 5:26 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: What films have you watched lately?
Replies: 428
Views: 241259

Re: What films have you watched lately?

Oppenheimer. Mostly tedious and far too long. Also what a coincidence that when the hive mind decides a film is the best of the year, it also has e.g. the best actor in it as well. Not sure why people pay attention to the Oscars. It's just the incestuous film industry getting together to self-congra...
by Gavin Chipper
Fri Mar 15, 2024 3:13 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers for Friday 15th March 2024 (Series 89, Heat 54)
Replies: 2
Views: 180

Re: Spoilers for Friday 15th March 2024 (Series 89, Heat 54)

Some very hard conundrums in the last few days/weeks.
by Gavin Chipper
Thu Mar 14, 2024 10:34 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Countdowners in the news
Replies: 238
Views: 116955

Re: Countdowners in the news

"He received some positive feedback" - that's news.
by Gavin Chipper
Thu Mar 14, 2024 10:32 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Questions you've always wanted answered
Replies: 1615
Views: 631287

Re: Questions you've always wanted answered

Perfect for this thread - why's it called a forecourt? Doesn't seem quite right.
by Gavin Chipper
Thu Mar 14, 2024 10:31 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Questions you've always wanted answered
Replies: 1615
Views: 631287

Re: Questions you've always wanted answered

I would say driving in and out of the forecourt is more dangerous than using your phone. They should have a rule where you have to stop 50 metres away and push your car in. All that combustion going on...
by Gavin Chipper
Thu Mar 14, 2024 6:15 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Questions you've always wanted answered
Replies: 1615
Views: 631287

Re: Questions you've always wanted answered

Is it a rule everywhere? I've never noticed a sign at my local Tesco when filling up. I wouldn't know not to play on my phone at the same time.
by Gavin Chipper
Thu Mar 14, 2024 11:07 am
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Unpopular opinions you genuinely hold
Replies: 248
Views: 30655

Re: Unpopular opinions you genuinely hold

People walking their dogs should have poo bags on them anyway and are part of the wider dog walking community, so if they see some dog poo that didn't come from their own dog, they should pick it up anyway and not be all "Well it's nothing to do with me" about it. Especially on that bridg...
by Gavin Chipper
Wed Mar 13, 2024 6:31 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Unpopular opinions you genuinely hold
Replies: 248
Views: 30655

Re: Unpopular opinions you genuinely hold

People walking their dogs should have poo bags on them anyway and are part of the wider dog walking community, so if they see some dog poo that didn't come from their own dog, they should pick it up anyway and not be all "Well it's nothing to do with me" about it. Especially on that bridge...
by Gavin Chipper
Tue Mar 12, 2024 9:31 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers for Tuesday 12th March 2024 (Series 89, Heat 51)
Replies: 2
Views: 180

Re: Spoilers for Tuesday 12th March 2024 (Series 89, Heat 50)

Geezer was quite good today. A bit early on, but another potential octochamp perhaps.
by Gavin Chipper
Sun Mar 10, 2024 9:56 pm
Forum: Other game shows
Topic: The 1% Club
Replies: 52
Views: 4978

Re: The 1% Club

Cool, thanks.
by Gavin Chipper
Sun Mar 10, 2024 8:41 pm
Forum: Other game shows
Topic: The 1% Club
Replies: 52
Views: 4978

Re: The 1% Club

I've still not watched this. Is it like 1 vs 100 (which I've also not watched)?
by Gavin Chipper
Sat Mar 09, 2024 7:59 am
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers for Thursday 7th March 2024 (Series 89, Heat 48)
Replies: 4
Views: 342

Re: Spoilers for Thursday 7th March 2024 (Series 89, Heat 48)

Howie Myers wrote: Sat Mar 09, 2024 5:55 am r3 alt: 10*(75+8+6-2)-1=869
r7: UNCITED
r13: PROPHASES
Neither valid on Apterous. PROPHASE is though.
by Gavin Chipper
Fri Mar 08, 2024 12:44 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Questions you've always wanted answered
Replies: 1615
Views: 631287

Re: Questions you've always wanted answered

Why did people have to wire their own plugs in the past? Stuff came without a plug on. Insane.
by Gavin Chipper
Thu Mar 07, 2024 2:55 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers for Thursday 7th March 2024 (Series 89, Heat 48)
Replies: 4
Views: 342

Re: Spoilers for Thursday 7th March 2024 (Series 89, Heat 48)

Her highest score of 98 but her total of 686 is still 10 short of Jack Harvey's 696, so fifth of the five octochamps. She needs to hope the octowell dries up!
by Gavin Chipper
Thu Mar 07, 2024 2:26 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Who is better: Carol Vorderman or Rachel Riley?
Replies: 62
Views: 12685

Re: Who is better: Carol Vorderman or Rachel Riley?

Can someone explain the magic in "the product of two primes", Rachel mentions it often and I feel I should know it but I'm afraid it has escaped me. Thanks. I think it's just that there is a way of getting the target by multiplying 2 smaller numbers, but only one so it's hard to spot. If ...
by Gavin Chipper
Thu Mar 07, 2024 11:00 am
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Should I be worried?
Replies: 11
Views: 669

Re: Should I be worried?

Seems a bit weird. Is that a forum thing or local to you, do you think?
by Gavin Chipper
Wed Mar 06, 2024 6:29 pm
Forum: Countdown - Events
Topic: CO:parkrun Recaps
Replies: 583
Views: 289691

Re: CO:parkrun Recaps

By the way, I've added Tom Rowell to the PB list, with his time of 35:37, but I haven't gone through all the times to check for new PBs, so I won't quote the whole list again.
by Gavin Chipper
Wed Mar 06, 2024 6:23 pm
Forum: Countdown - Events
Topic: CO:parkrun Recaps
Replies: 583
Views: 289691

Re: CO:parkrun Recaps

OK, so CO:Liv was on 24th Feb, and Fiona T did Crosby , whereas Stephen Read did Warrington . 146 (1). Fiona Titcombe - 29:42 (60.98%) (500 points) 91 (1). Stephen Read - 25:56 (51.48%) (500 points) And the table: 1. Gevin Chapwell - 889 2. Dan Byrom - 778 3. Fiona Titcombe - 722 4. Thomas Carey - 6...
by Gavin Chipper
Tue Mar 05, 2024 6:00 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers for Tuesday 5th March 2024 (Series 89, Heat 46)
Replies: 5
Views: 288

Re: Spoilers for Tuesday 5th March 2024 (Series 89, Heat 46)

I thought Colin's "I wonder..." in the REBENDING round could be seen as leading the contestants.
by Gavin Chipper
Mon Mar 04, 2024 5:08 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers for Monday 4th March 2024 (Series 88, Heat 45)
Replies: 4
Views: 415

Re: Spoilers for Monday 4th March 2024 (Series 88, Heat 45)

That's the 5th win then. But at an average of 82.2 (if I've worked it out right), she might need some higher scores if we do get more than 8 octochamps.
by Gavin Chipper
Sat Mar 02, 2024 7:20 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Ask Graeme?
Replies: 1740
Views: 684272

Re: Ask Graeme?

Which day has had the most series champs appear over the years? Could you elaborate? Day of the year or day of the week? And by "appear" do you mean their first game, or all games? According to this , octochamps tend to start on the third of the five episodes on a recording day, so a Wedn...
by Gavin Chipper
Sat Mar 02, 2024 6:48 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: REALLY obvious things you've just realised
Replies: 630
Views: 275779

Re: REALLY obvious things you've just realised

I suppose people are using "sub" to just mean "not as good as" in this case, rather than "numerically less than", but it is slightly weird. On a related note, people often talk about something having really low odds when they mean low probability. Low odds is the opposi...
by Gavin Chipper
Sat Mar 02, 2024 5:25 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Ask Graeme?
Replies: 1740
Views: 684272

Re: Ask Graeme?

There's a Mike C Daysley that played as recently as 2020. The profile picture is of him with the trophy.
by Gavin Chipper
Sat Mar 02, 2024 7:39 am
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers for Friday 1st March 2024 (Series 89, Heat 44)
Replies: 4
Views: 402

Re: Spoilers for Friday 1st March 2024 (Series 89, Heat 44)

I saw FOULEST as well but jargons isn't on Apterous. Maybe a mass noun but possibly someone with Premium access can adjudicate.
by Gavin Chipper
Sat Mar 02, 2024 7:36 am
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Ask Graeme?
Replies: 1740
Views: 684272

Re: Ask Graeme?

There's a list of Mastermind champions on the Wikipedia. It would take someone about five minutes to look for potential matches on the Countdown wiki and we could determine likely actual matches from there. I might have a look later when I'm on my laptop if I can be bothered.
by Gavin Chipper
Thu Feb 29, 2024 9:38 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: The Dead of 2024
Replies: 54
Views: 3855

Re: The Dead of 2024

I thought both fat ladies died.
by Gavin Chipper
Thu Feb 29, 2024 4:42 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Interesting things that aren't necessarily completely obvious
Replies: 8
Views: 2657

Re: Interesting things that aren't necessarily completely obvious

I think I did that once. Was quite low grade though.
by Gavin Chipper
Thu Feb 29, 2024 1:49 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Ask Graeme?
Replies: 1740
Views: 684272

Re: Ask Graeme?

The equivalent would surely be winning a series of Countdown.
by Gavin Chipper
Thu Feb 29, 2024 12:57 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers for Wednesday 28th February 2024 (Series 89, Heat 42)
Replies: 3
Views: 313

Re: Spoilers for Wednesday 28th February 2024 (Series 89, Heat 42)

Fiona T wrote: Thu Feb 29, 2024 12:32 pm
Gavin Chipper wrote: Thu Feb 29, 2024 12:14 pm GOSSAMER to equal DC's MEGARONS in round 10. Much better word.
Mostly seen on condom packets back in the day...
You've spoilt it now.
by Gavin Chipper
Thu Feb 29, 2024 12:14 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers for Wednesday 28th February 2024 (Series 89, Heat 42)
Replies: 3
Views: 313

Re: Spoilers for Wednesday 28th February 2024 (Series 89, Heat 42)

GOSSAMER to equal DC's MEGARONS in round 10. Much better word.
by Gavin Chipper
Thu Feb 29, 2024 12:58 am
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: The Dead of 2024
Replies: 54
Views: 3855

Re: The Dead of 2024

Richard Lewis. I know him mainly from Curb Your Enthusiasm so quite a shocker. I always thought at the beginning of Curb he looked younger than Larry David, but Larry stayed the same age, whereas Richard aged terribly and was way older looking than Larry later on.
by Gavin Chipper
Wed Feb 28, 2024 7:28 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Politics in General
Replies: 1604
Views: 1653234

Re: Politics in General

I haven't mentioned Owen Jones for a while, and I don't rely on him. I just think he puts points across well sometimes. The last video I linked to was from the ICJ. My arguments aren't one-dimensional and I have in any case explained why I have focused more on criticising Israel. You "play the ...
by Gavin Chipper
Wed Feb 28, 2024 5:00 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Politics in General
Replies: 1604
Views: 1653234

Re: Politics in General

My intention has never been to downplay the Hamas terrorist attack on 7/10. I've just focused more on the Israeli response because it's ongoing, larger in scale, and has western support (so seen as acceptable by many people), and so is more of a political talking point in that respect. As for the &q...
by Gavin Chipper
Wed Feb 28, 2024 1:20 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Politics in General
Replies: 1604
Views: 1653234

Re: Politics in General

I think it's best described as a clear call for the destruction of the state of Israel. Either just a "soft" destruction of the regime, or outright ethnic cleansing, doesn't matter. Making out new complicated meanings to defend idiots? I pass. Would a single secular state in the region wi...
by Gavin Chipper
Wed Feb 28, 2024 12:15 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: OED vs ODP: what’s the difference?
Replies: 9
Views: 543

Re: OED vs ODP: what’s the difference?

The decision seems quite arbitary in places, including RUINEYAT as Fiona mentioned. With a print dictionary, which has to be a reasonable size, it makes sense that they would have to make these decisions, but online it seems less important to have the two distinct dictionaries, except maybe for Coun...