Search found 8356 matches

by Charlie Reams
Wed Mar 26, 2008 3:45 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Cheltenham racing cancelled
Replies: 11
Views: 2674

Re: Cheltenham racing cancelled

This one caught my eye.
harry wrote:Brit. a division of candidates according to merit in an examination.
What is this called outside British English?
by Charlie Reams
Wed Mar 26, 2008 3:34 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Great news everyone!
Replies: 40
Views: 3671

Re: Great news everyone!

Corby wrote:lol@corbyworby :)
My finger hovers over the "Change username" button...
by Charlie Reams
Tue Mar 25, 2008 10:16 pm
Forum: Countdown - Events
Topic: CoLei
Replies: 11
Views: 3335

Re: CoLei

Ben Wilson wrote:Any time other than August is best for me (serious Scrabbling season, August is). Leicester's no problem for me travel-wise.
Likewise, and August onwards is dandy for me. Hopefully I'll be applying to the show around the same time.
by Charlie Reams
Tue Mar 25, 2008 9:32 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: The Dictionary Corner guest spot.
Replies: 21
Views: 3162

Re: The Dictionary Corner guest spot.

I have just heard Anne Widdecombe tell a joke (in an inappropriate authoritarian manner) which has been told previously on the programme (with minor variations as happens with jokes). Wouldn`t the producers have spotted this and advised against a repeat telling? I think she did the same joke ("...
by Charlie Reams
Tue Mar 25, 2008 4:11 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers for Tuesday 25th March
Replies: 26
Views: 3968

Re: Spoilers for Tuesday 25th March

Was amazed they missed BOUNTIES but very disappointed not to be the first person to post PUTSCHES :(
by Charlie Reams
Tue Mar 25, 2008 10:14 am
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Cheltenham racing cancelled
Replies: 11
Views: 2674

Re: Cheltenham racing cancelled

I believe it's a pun on the different meanings of "class". Such japery is probably beyond people of your class.
by Charlie Reams
Tue Mar 25, 2008 10:09 am
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Official homage to David O'Donnell (as requested)
Replies: 3
Views: 1537

Official homage to David O'Donnell (as requested)

Just this morning I was considering the political and socialistical ramifications of the illuminati's dominance over the cognoscenti in that monarchist regime, Countdown. For example we have the well-known Communist Carol Vorderman, whose Trotskyite leanings I find quite distasteful, and the equally...
by Charlie Reams
Tue Mar 25, 2008 9:56 am
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Frank Mulvey
Replies: 7
Views: 3504

Re: Frank Mulvey

For once, yes.
by Charlie Reams
Sun Mar 23, 2008 9:48 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Countdown Chat Room
Replies: 10
Views: 2187

Re: Countdown Chat Room

I think there was one but it never got that popular. I think this community is slightly too small to sustain it, and Messenger works better, but that might change in the future. If anyone else disagrees and wants to set one up then I wouldn't be against it.
by Charlie Reams
Sun Mar 23, 2008 9:46 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Great news everyone!
Replies: 40
Views: 3671

Great news everyone!

Anyway so I thought I would share this great news with everyone! The other day I saw a sweetcorn. It was just like the sweetcorn you have in Britain! What is your favourite sweetcorn? I think this is the kind of thing we can all talk about. I must say, this is probably a coincidence, but if I see an...
by Charlie Reams
Sun Mar 23, 2008 9:38 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Letter Distribution
Replies: 3
Views: 1273

Re: Letter Distribution

Never one to miss a chance to plug my own work - CountGen accurately simulates the "cheaty shuffle" used on the program, so it generates much more accurate practice games. It also gives you the solutions when you've finished tearing your hair out.
by Charlie Reams
Sat Mar 22, 2008 11:58 am
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Forum Trollery
Replies: 11
Views: 2881

Re: Forum Trollery

The volume of completely meaningless shit being posted by unnamed users shows no sign of diminishing, trolling or not, so we might as well have our fun and try to keep it to in Off-Topic.
by Charlie Reams
Sat Mar 22, 2008 11:56 am
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Kingdom of Loathing
Replies: 12
Views: 3284

Re: Kingdom of Loathing

The correct link is here. If you like it then you probably have more of a sense of humour than Richard Brittain. If not then you probably still do.
by Charlie Reams
Fri Mar 21, 2008 9:07 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Why was the "fun" thread locked?
Replies: 41
Views: 3904

Re: Why was the "fun" thread locked?

Jason, please post this kind of rubbish in Off-topic where it belongs.
by Charlie Reams
Fri Mar 21, 2008 2:15 pm
Forum: Games and Puzzles
Topic: Luck in Scrabble
Replies: 49
Views: 5568

Re: Luck in Scrabble

Michael Wallace wrote:Also, how good are the good scrabble bots? Do they just look for the best individual word they can make? Or are they more tactical (not setting up triple words and so on)?
Quackle beat all-comers at last year's Man vs Machine tournament in Toronto, and continues to improve. It's pretty good :)
by Charlie Reams
Thu Mar 20, 2008 11:26 pm
Forum: Games and Puzzles
Topic: Luck in Scrabble
Replies: 49
Views: 5568

Re: Luck in Scrabble

Quackle A 20 - 20 Quackle B Mean score : 436 Median score : 439 Total spread : +369 for Quackle A Total spread, ignoring negative numbers : 3447 Mean spread : 86.19 Median spread : 79 Biggest spread : Quackle A won by 262 points Smallest spread : Quackle A won by 2 points Publish the full scores an...
by Charlie Reams
Wed Mar 19, 2008 9:00 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Welcome! - Post here first
Replies: 1961
Views: 1026559

Re: Welcome! - Post here first

I write a lot of rubbish for http://www.ukgameshows.com and hate sudoku, frozen mash, detox, loan sharks, the Daily Mirror and the phrase "75 times table". I see you've also started littering the wiki with your green-eyed anti-Carol-isms, you bitter little woman. You can edit it back, you...
by Charlie Reams
Wed Mar 19, 2008 8:48 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Series 33 on the Countdown Wiki
Replies: 7
Views: 2263

Re: Series 33 on the Countdown Wiki

Tried to post in this thread before but it seems to have been eaten by the Internet ether, so I'll just echo Jono's sentiments. What do the asterisks mean next to some of the other available words? Words that DC didn't mention. It's fairly meaningless when there are 30 maxes or something but I'll lo...
by Charlie Reams
Mon Mar 17, 2008 7:39 pm
Forum: Games and Puzzles
Topic: Luck in Scrabble
Replies: 49
Views: 5568

Re: Luck in Scrabble

This remains a topic close to your heart, I see. I applaud your efforts to bring in some statistical basis. The results are definitely interesting. Quackle B beat Quackle A 21-19 with just 10 points of spread. But if you ignore the negative numbers, it comes out as 3894 which is 97.35 points a game....
by Charlie Reams
Sun Mar 16, 2008 11:52 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Kingdom of Loathing
Replies: 12
Views: 3284

Kingdom of Loathing

Anyone else here play Kingdom of Loathing? If not, you should.
by Charlie Reams
Sun Mar 16, 2008 11:48 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: I think my computer needs a change
Replies: 19
Views: 2742

Re: I think my computer needs a change

That's a reasonable amount. If you buy a new processor, you'll need someone to install it, but it's probably cheaper overall. Follow my advice above and see if that doesn't solve your problem.
by Charlie Reams
Sun Mar 16, 2008 11:32 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: I think my computer needs a change
Replies: 19
Views: 2742

Re: I think my computer needs a change

Your computer shouldn't get slower over time. Try looking under Control Panel for "Add or Remove Programs" and uninstall any programs you don't need. Also try running Spybot S&D to clean up anything that has installed itself without your knowledge. When you say it has a lot of memory, ...
by Charlie Reams
Sun Mar 16, 2008 10:03 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Countdown tens
Replies: 21
Views: 3435

Re: Countdown tens

dinos_the_chemist wrote:They would have to find a 10-letter letter simile for it!
Synonym?
by Charlie Reams
Sun Mar 16, 2008 10:01 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: I think my computer needs a change
Replies: 19
Views: 2742

Re: I think my computer needs a change

Buying a new computer also entails buying a new processor.
by Charlie Reams
Sat Mar 15, 2008 3:45 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Countdown tens
Replies: 21
Views: 3435

Re: Countdown tens

Jason Larsen wrote:So, in other words all of you loyal friends are saying, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it."
No one said that.
by Charlie Reams
Thu Mar 13, 2008 4:49 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: If I were to Americanize Countdown
Replies: 20
Views: 2964

Re: If I were to Americanize Countdown

Being alive is definitely a good attribute for a game show host, although William G. Stewart pushes the boundary.
by Charlie Reams
Thu Mar 13, 2008 4:48 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Countdown tens
Replies: 21
Views: 3435

Re: Countdown tens

David O'Donnell wrote:Wait a minute! Have I just been called a bully by the king of the trolls?
Hmm, I didn't notice any posts from Paul "Tranmere" Thomson.
by Charlie Reams
Sun Mar 09, 2008 7:32 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Des Chiffres et Des Lettres
Replies: 57
Views: 7057

Re: Des Chiffres et Des Lettres

The standard on DCeDL is very high, I think. You'd do well to learn the language that quickly. I think Martin Gardner or Jeff might be able to provide better answers than this one, but that never stopped me making worthless contributions in the past has it?
by Charlie Reams
Sun Mar 09, 2008 2:54 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Teatime Teaser Alphabet
Replies: 67
Views: 6620

Re: Teatime Teaser Alphabet

I think it defeats the point a bit if you set words that aren't actually in the Countdown dictionary.
by Charlie Reams
Sun Mar 09, 2008 1:27 am
Forum: Countdown - Historical recaps
Topic: Wanted - your Countdown games!
Replies: 3
Views: 1693

Re: Wanted - your Countdown games!

Basically, write your recap in the recap writer and just click the "Make wiki version" button as well as the normal "Make text version". You can email the resulting text to me or put it on the wiki yourself.
by Charlie Reams
Sun Mar 09, 2008 12:25 am
Forum: Countdown - Historical recaps
Topic: Wanted - your Countdown games!
Replies: 3
Views: 1693

Re: Wanted - your Countdown games!

Julian hinted that he might do it sometime, but he seems to have disappeared again for the time being.
by Charlie Reams
Sat Mar 08, 2008 3:44 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Brass monkeys
Replies: 3
Views: 1384

Re: Brass monkeys

It reminds me of "Situation Normal All Fouled Up", or her highly circumspect definition of FANNIES. It's quite charming really.
by Charlie Reams
Sat Mar 08, 2008 3:43 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Teatime Teaser Alphabet
Replies: 67
Views: 6620

Re: Teatime Teaser Alphabet

Alphabetic update: 6. CHADRAIN - arachnid 9. SURETIME - emeritus 24. GENTFARM - fragment 4. TOYGARRY - gyratory 19. HARMGOOL - hologram 1. BEAUTJIL - jubilate 23. GOANORAK - kangaroo 11. HALTREGY - lethargy 25. TAMPONIE - ptomaine 3. REALQUIT - quartile 15. SLEEPTUX - sextuple 7. MARISUIT - tiramisu...
by Charlie Reams
Sat Mar 08, 2008 12:35 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Teatime Teaser Alphabet
Replies: 67
Views: 6620

Re: Teatime Teaser Alphabet

Just a few to get us started: 20. TOOLDIME - dolomite 24. GENTFARM - fragment 1. BEAUTJIL - jubilate 23. GOANORAK - kangaroo 25. TAMPONIE - ptomaine 7. MARISUIT - tiramisu :) 21. RULEHART - urethral? 13. GREATLOW - waterlog (I think this used to be hyphenated though) 5. AYOBROKE - yearbook Left over...
by Charlie Reams
Sat Mar 08, 2008 1:13 am
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Audition
Replies: 24
Views: 4014

Re: Audition

Jason Larsen wrote:I don't know why, but whenever I post here I tend to be very nervous because I don't know what any of your feelings are going to be like at any given time.
I notice you've managed to overcome these nerves 216 times already. Have you figured out how quotations work yet?
by Charlie Reams
Fri Mar 07, 2008 6:56 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: If I were to Americanize Countdown
Replies: 20
Views: 2964

Re: If I were to Americanize Countdown

Yes, I especially like the idea of Charles Bronson as Carol. It would take an actor of his calibre to pull off her dramatic entrances and brutal fistfights with Susie "Bruisie" Dent. Or did you mean the notorious criminal (real name Michael Peterson)?
by Charlie Reams
Fri Mar 07, 2008 11:49 am
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: An interesting Countdown observation
Replies: 38
Views: 4536

Re: An interesting Countdown observation

David Roe wrote:Sorry about the fairly unpleasant welcome you've received - maybe someone's had a bad day.
Oh no, I like pointing out bad logic every day.
by Charlie Reams
Fri Mar 07, 2008 12:27 am
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: An interesting Countdown observation
Replies: 38
Views: 4536

Re: An interesting Countdown observation

Jason, please read the quoted material to get some context. Example follows. It's only a matter of putting a caption up for a few seconds, it's a small thing that doesn't matter enormously but is better done than not done. And no, there doesn't seem to be any very good reason for cutting that corner...
by Charlie Reams
Thu Mar 06, 2008 11:32 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: An interesting Countdown observation
Replies: 38
Views: 4536

Re: An interesting Countdown observation

Jason Larsen wrote:I am not at fault for anything.
Jason, what is this in response to?
by Charlie Reams
Thu Mar 06, 2008 10:05 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: An interesting Countdown observation
Replies: 38
Views: 4536

Re: An interesting Countdown observation

3. There seems to be no good reason why they don't do that anymore, other than that they just can't be arsed. So they can be arsed to make a 38 minute TV show, but not to put the host's name over the top of the introduction - is that really the most likely explanation you can devise? I think that's...
by Charlie Reams
Thu Mar 06, 2008 9:16 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Anagrams and anagramming
Replies: 1
Views: 1102

Re: Anagrams and anagramming

Mark Nyman wrote:When I've thought about how the brain stores words, letters and letter arrangements, I've concluded it's like a turntable with loads and loads of little thin flashcards.
Interesting thought from a man who'd know.
by Charlie Reams
Thu Mar 06, 2008 9:03 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: An interesting Countdown observation
Replies: 38
Views: 4536

Re: An interesting Countdown observation

Jennifer Turner wrote:It still looks wrong not to have a caption with the host's name on it at the start. I can't think of any good reason why they stopped doing that; it's probably just sheer laziness that they can't be bothered anymore.
Haha. Do you have some kind of personality disorder or are you just really dumb?
by Charlie Reams
Thu Mar 06, 2008 7:46 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: "...and a better one..."
Replies: 89
Views: 11149

Re: "...and a better one..."

It annoys me too, but I bet I can't resist it when my time comes. It's just one of those things you have to do innit?
by Charlie Reams
Wed Mar 05, 2008 11:12 am
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Tim Vine
Replies: 16
Views: 3675

Re: Tim Vine

I got a PM from you but it said it had "been deleted before it had been delivered", so I assumed you'd changed your mind about messaging me.
by Charlie Reams
Mon Mar 03, 2008 9:04 pm
Forum: Countdown - Events
Topic: COMA- The Countdown Online Masters competition
Replies: 190
Views: 20963

Re: COMA- The Countdown Online Masters competition

For anyone reading this, the game is about to kick off. Get yourself on MSN Messenger pronto!
by Charlie Reams
Sun Mar 02, 2008 1:04 am
Forum: Countdown - Current recaps
Topic: Wednesday 27 Feb 2008 (Series 58, Game 41)
Replies: 3
Views: 1393

Re: Wednesday 27 Feb 2008 (Series 58, Game 41)

I believe it's Margaret Smith of 31 Cranberry Cottages, Horsesham, Leicester. That's just off-hand.
by Charlie Reams
Sat Mar 01, 2008 10:04 am
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Countdown with The Times next week
Replies: 23
Views: 4734

Re: Countdown with The Times next week

I offer good odds that they use the wrong dictionary.
by Charlie Reams
Sat Mar 01, 2008 12:58 am
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Teatime Teasers
Replies: 7
Views: 2243

Re: Teatime Teasers

If someone solves the teaser, they feel happy. Plural ones are easier to solve. So, modus ponens.
by Charlie Reams
Thu Feb 28, 2008 1:14 am
Forum: Countdown - Events
Topic: My game of Countdown
Replies: 77
Views: 10639

Re: My game of Countdown

That's what Jesus would do!
by Charlie Reams
Wed Feb 27, 2008 10:02 pm
Forum: Countdown - Events
Topic: My game of Countdown
Replies: 77
Views: 10639

Re: My game of Countdown

No, that really is him. The Fake Richard Brittain is someone else. Who says I can't use the name change facility productively?
by Charlie Reams
Wed Feb 27, 2008 2:29 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Earthquake fun!
Replies: 29
Views: 4297

Re: Earthquake fun!

The bit where they trampoline over the fence made me lose bladder control.
by Charlie Reams
Wed Feb 27, 2008 1:46 pm
Forum: Countdown - Historical recaps
Topic: Wanted - willing recappers
Replies: 24
Views: 3323

Re: Wanted - willing recappers

I emailed you yesterday David - did you get it?
by Charlie Reams
Wed Feb 27, 2008 1:44 pm
Forum: Countdown - Events
Topic: COMA- The Countdown Online Masters competition
Replies: 190
Views: 20963

Re: COMA- The Countdown Online Masters competition

I think it's Saturday lunchtime, but that's Unofficial.
by Charlie Reams
Wed Feb 27, 2008 1:43 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Earthquake fun!
Replies: 29
Views: 4297

Re: Earthquake fun!

Corby wrote:
Conor wrote:I felt it whilst watching Shaun of the Dead. I thought it was the zombies.
Shit film, ain't it?
You are, objectively, wrong.
by Charlie Reams
Wed Feb 27, 2008 10:19 am
Forum: Games and Puzzles
Topic: Number Sequence
Replies: 20
Views: 2748

Re: Number Sequence

I imagine Kirk does.
by Charlie Reams
Wed Feb 27, 2008 10:15 am
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Earthquake fun!
Replies: 29
Views: 4297

Earthquake fun!

I was on the 3rd floor of a fairly old building (Selwyn College) so picked up plenty of the tremors. Remarkably everyone on my floor was woken up (and slightly frenzied) but people on lower floors hardly noticed.

Anyone else in the shock zone?
by Charlie Reams
Wed Feb 27, 2008 2:15 am
Forum: Countdown - Historical recaps
Topic: Wanted - willing recappers
Replies: 24
Views: 3323

Re: Wanted - willing recappers

I can hook you up with someone NODEful if you like?
by Charlie Reams
Tue Feb 26, 2008 11:43 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: What happens if Carol retires?
Replies: 26
Views: 3767

Re: What happens if Carol retires?

Michael Wallace wrote:I hope I'm not the only one who's now imagining Conor in a wig...
I really hope you are.
by Charlie Reams
Tue Feb 26, 2008 11:32 pm
Forum: Countdown - Historical recaps
Topic: Wanted - willing recappers
Replies: 24
Views: 3323

Re: Wanted - willing recappers

Yep, I'd be equally happy with that, plus you're one of the few people with good knowledge of wikisyntax.