c4countdown

Howard Somerset

James Robinson wrote:See you later, after the Terriers finally beat Cambridge.

Do you mean that you may not be coming back again this season? We'll miss you.

Howard Somerset

Martin Bishop wrote:... so I'll probably be able to spare one for you, Howard.

I'm touched, Martin.

I'm quite sure it would have more chance of outliving me than the one other commemorative mug that I've ever had - a coronation souvenir, one of which was given to all school kids in 1953.

Howard Somerset

One suggestion by PM so far. Not correct.

Howard Somerset

Martin Bishop wrote:Who's going to buy a mug?

Not a chance!

Maybe they should be awarded as losers' prizes at forthcoming Co-events.

Howard Somerset

One unfortunate habit of mine when seeing a puzzle I like is to try to extend it. So ... using the rule as described by Charlie, suppose you can choose any starting number, rather than being forced to start with "1". What is the longest closed loop you can find? Finding a loop of length 1 ...

Howard Somerset

Dinos's puzzle this morning reminds me of another I learned at about the same time. It's probably equally well known, so PM me with an answer, and I'll acknowledge it here if you're right. Find a 10 digit number in which the first digit is the number of zeros in the number the second digit is the nu...

Howard Somerset

There is a less common variation to this one, and in both versions the first four terms are as you've given, Dinos. Charlie's offer of a fifth term is a say-what-you-see reading left to right. The less common alternative is say-what-you-see looking at the whole thing regardless of order. For this al...

Howard Somerset

Sod the women, I want an over 65s' sub-league.

Howard Somerset

Eoin Monaghan wrote:TREBOR is Robert backwards.

When I was a kid, and spelt my entire name backwards, not just first and last names, I was convinced that Trebor sweets were produced just for me.

Howard Somerset

Main (bottom section) and Junior, please

Howard Somerset

I'm certainly not the right person to give advice on this question, so I'll abstain from the vote (for the time being, anyway).

Howard Somerset

Gavin Chipper wrote:I would say that Rhys has hit the nail right on the head.

But was it the right nail?

Howard Somerset

Number of series per year is not the best comparison. Give or take one or two, and including COCs, It took the first 18 9-round series 7 years to go from 1 to 18. First seven years: 937 episodes - 134 episodes per year. It took the first 18 15-round series 9 years to go from 46 to 63. Most recent ni...

Howard Somerset

FUCKSAKE. Don't you hate it when you set your alarm specifically to getting-up-to-do-your-fantasy-team-before-the-deadline-time, and then fuck about on the internet doing hyper duels and shit and forget? Fucking annoying! Thanks for that post, Matt. You've just reminded me of something. Gotta dash.

Howard Somerset

If you like a bit of casual statistics now and again, the Royal Statistical Society has recently launched an online version of its magazine . You may recognise the name of one of the contributors. Tell your friends, your facebooks and your twitters! (Pimp pimp pimp.) Love it, Michael. Just read you...

Howard Somerset

I've been surprised for a while how few people follow this one, and that I only recognise one name amongst the followers. Of course people may not be using their own names.

Howard Somerset

Stuck on a clue today. "From this, be let out? I must be mad." Sure you bought the right paper? It's not in my copy. Maybe you were passed off with the Telegraph instead. edit - Ah, finally found it. I like the way you do crosswords. Wait until the next day when the answer's printed, and ...

Howard Somerset

Michael Wallace wrote:How many shows left until the finals?

Including today, 20.

So certainly time for two octochamps.

Howard Somerset

Hello, I'm Charles Alfred Lewis Reams. My hobbies are listening to podcasts and scratching myself. One time I went on the show and lost twice but they kept inviting me back anyway. It was awesome. Welcome, Charles. Or do you prefer to be called Alfie, or maybe Loo? Good to see that you've plucked u...

Howard Somerset

Funny accent too. Can't really see him fitting in here.

Maybe if we all ignore him, he'll go away.

Howard Somerset

Ian Fitzpatrick wrote:...and possibly the DC guest?

I won't say too much. But no, not the DC guest.

Howard Somerset

On Friday 10th December, Countdown will feature on Coronation Street . Scenes which will appear on the programme were recorded in the studio yesterday. The only real spoiler as far as the Countdown programme itself is concerned, is that viewers will get a preview of what Jeff, Rachel and Susie will ...

Howard Somerset

I also vented my opinion about changing the bloody clocks at all and would welcome some success this time to the parliamentary efforts to keep BST all the year round and sod the farmers in the far north! I understood that object of the private member's bill is to move to Central European Time, whic...

Howard Somerset

I'm delighted to hear that your top year 9 set queried the style, Kirk. It shows they're thinking, and understanding what's happening. I certainly accept that styles change over the years, and now never query a student when he/she uses this particular method of demonstrating calculations. What does ...

Howard Somerset

I've used it for just over a year now. I use it almost entirely for tweeting score flashes for my local football team, and for receiving score updates originating from tweeters at other games in the same league. When I last looked, I had 123 followers, and most of them seemed genuine football contac...

Howard Somerset

So she did, Jono. Marginally more acceptable.

But pretty well every kid I know now writes such strings. I used to challenge it, but they all say that's how their teachers do it.

Howard Somerset

Had a quick browse through remaining posts now. Some of the predictions are a little vague, but a reasonable order is: 83% Jason - five correct out of six predictions 80% James - 4/5 75% Tom & Jimmy - each 3/4 67% Jeffrey - 2/3 60% Phil & David - each 3/5 57% Stewart - 4/7 33% Paul - 1/3 14%...

Howard Somerset

Juat looking at the first prediction in this thread: Champions: Chelsea Runners-up: Manchester Utd. Relegated: Portsmouth, Hull City and Burnley I would hope for nothing less than a top half of the table finish from my beloved Bolton Wanderers :D I only he'd kept quiet about his beloved Bolton Wande...

Howard Somerset

Kai Laddiman wrote:CO-events are all up north. Bring on CoBrig!

Leicester and Nottingham aren't in the north; they're in the midlands.

Lincoln's the only northern one I can think of.

Howard Somerset

given that the co-presenter is still using the equals sign inappropriately after almost two years :?: Writing things like: 6 x 75 = 450 + 4 = 454 I'm sure Carol used to do the same thing. It's very common nowadays, and I'm sure many schools use that method. Though I've yet to see it in a text book.

Howard Somerset

I'll have a go. Timing should work, provided I can get first round played before Christmas Eve.

Howard Somerset

Ryan Taylor wrote:Ha this is great, I'm gonna think about this in my next lecture. Got one straight away which is quite worrying that I thought of that body part first.

What's the betting that it's the same one I got immediately when I first got up this morning?

Howard Somerset

The four letter pair just came to me a few minutes ago, while driving.

Just one of the fives to go.

Maybe not in a medical textbook Karen, but my daughter and son-in-law, both doctors, use the word frequently, mainly when talking about me.

Howard Somerset

Got one immediately. Five letters.

Now looking for the other two pairs.

Howard Somerset

Well done, Innis

Howard Somerset

I'll abstain. Yet to see one I like.

Howard Somerset

In the meantime, go for it as a pencil; it's still available.

Howard Somerset

My opponents were all really nice people, and took the losses in a really gracious manner, both off set and on set. Also whilst I am at it, I think I may have had a relatively easy octorun in terms of nines available and difficulty of numbers rounds, but I also think that the quality of opponents w...

Howard Somerset

Interesting that during Rory McG's first visit to DC in early 2009, he poured scorn on Rachel for being a Manchester United supporter having been born and brought up in Essex. Yet today we learn that Rory, a self confessed Arsenal supporter, was born and brought up in Cornwall. :) Driving distance S...

Howard Somerset

Dan Abrey wrote:How did Susie spell traipsing in round 9?

TRAPESING, I believe.

Howard Somerset

Dan Abrey wrote:Ah, didn't know that Howard. Shouldn't talk out of my arse when I don't actually know anything

No worries, Dan. Some people (no names, of course) make more sense when they talk out of their arse.

Howard Somerset

Dan Abrey wrote:Plus the wiki's still up, so it's not the website itself.

The wiki was up at the end of last week, when both apterous and the cdb were down due to being unplugged for cleaning. The wiki's on a different machine.

Howard Somerset

Rhys Benjamin wrote:OH, NO, NOT AGAIN!

Martin Long wrote:Down again.

Texted Charlie about the quality of staff at Apterous Towers.

Howard Somerset

It appears that comments made on this article are being vetted prior to being shown. Shame.

I feel that it's unlikely that this comment will get an airing:

At first glance nine factual errors and one spelling mistake.
Not bad for the Daily Mail

Howard Somerset

Your next target, Jack, is an average of 121 in three finals games. That would take you past Julian Fell's 11 game record total. No pressure, of course. :D Let's see if he can get past Eoin and the rest first! But yeah, that "xicount" record is pretty special and I wonder if it will ever ...

Howard Somerset

Ian Volante wrote: ... no harm in texting now I wouldn't have thought.

You've persuaded me. Done!

Howard Somerset

It's not a good time to let Charlie know (around 4am where he is - may even be 3am, as I'm not sure when DST finishes in the States). If I find it's not back up in a few hours, I'll text Charlie (unless someone else does).

Howard Somerset

Your next target, Jack, is an average of 121 in three finals games. That would take you past Julian Fell's 11 game record total.

No pressure, of course.

Howard Somerset

Just watched the eighth game, Jack. Brilliantly played throughout, and well deserved record. So glad you missed that last conundrum, so I could at least beat you on one conundrum. Just as well that you didn't need that conundrum to get past 936. Still can't get over the fact that I'd been told that ...

Howard Somerset

My sympathies.

Don't know which is worse. Apterous being down, or F1 being on TV.

On second thoughts, lack of Apterous is marginally worse. In the case of F1 and TV there are always other more interesting stations you can switch to.

Howard Somerset

Rhys Benjamin wrote:Yesterday you said he lost today's game......

I don't believe you.........

Well, I was told that Jack lost his first game. I don't believe anything anyone says now.

Howard Somerset

I've gone for the third option, cos I'll be away skiing from Christmas Eve through to about 3rd Jan. First option would be second best. That's assuming I'd be admitted. When I first read the title, I thought it was a thread started by Charlie, announcing that he was about to close Apterous down for ...

Howard Somerset

Glad I was out with my dog for the last 45 mins. So missed whatever spoilers were around.

Howard Somerset

My total of 703 assumes that he got 115 today. I haven't seen the prog yet, but that's what I'm told he got.

Howard Somerset

Michael Wallace wrote:What's his total now?

It's 703.

If he repeats his two lowest scores so far in his final two games, he'll miss the record aggregate score by just one point.

Howard Somerset

Rhys Benjamin wrote:97879

Unless I say, that always includes the post I'm writing.

Do another 2119 posts just like that one, but upping the number each time, and you'll soon get that coveted 100,000th.

Howard Somerset

Charlie Reams wrote:More statistical fun. Not a bad article although I would hope that the final formula was a bit more than a lucky guess.

Nice one, Charlie.

Howard Somerset

Since I only first heard about it today, my excitement level was 0 at the time I started reading this thread. It dropped a little when I looked at the poll, but has risen back to its original level now, having read the thread.

It could get even higher as the day goes on.

Howard Somerset

Rhys Benjamin wrote:Don't forget to fill in the poll (if you can)

And if you can't, simply switch to prosilver, at least temporarily.

Howard Somerset

It appears you use "View active topics" while I see "View new posts". Now I see "View new posts" for the first time. But it does seem just what it says - only the threads with the most recently added posts, five threads only in my case. It shows all the posts since you...

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