Search found 13216 matches

by Gavin Chipper
Tue Mar 10, 2015 11:43 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Questions you've always wanted answered
Replies: 1615
Views: 631905

Re: Questions you've always wanted answered

New Scientist often complain about "Big Pharma", but it's a tricky one. I mean, what about banning patents on these things? I can't imagine that would completely wipe out the economic viability for these companies. Or if countries nationalised this type of thing. Although I suppose telling...
by Gavin Chipper
Fri Mar 06, 2015 11:17 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Ask Graeme?
Replies: 1740
Views: 684748

Re: Ask Graeme?

Excellent work. Thank you.
by Gavin Chipper
Thu Mar 05, 2015 10:20 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers for Thursday March 5th 2015 (S72 P44)
Replies: 7
Views: 2494

Re: Spoilers for Thursday March 5th 2015 (S72 P44)

Jojo Apollo wrote:Well done on becoming an octochamp, Jordan. Good set of games there. :)
Agreed. Nice to see the octochamp factory on full steam this series. I've always wanted to see what would happen if we had nine in a series!
by Gavin Chipper
Wed Mar 04, 2015 2:30 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers for Wednesday March 4th 2015 (S72 P43)
Replies: 6
Views: 1938

Re: Spoilers for Wednesday March 4th 2015 (S72 P43)

GAOLERS as the standard method equaller to GHERAOS.
by Gavin Chipper
Mon Mar 02, 2015 9:09 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers For Monday March 2nd 2015
Replies: 8
Views: 2519

Re: Spoilers For Monday March 2nd 2015

Johnny Canuck wrote:The conundrum scramble was probably meant to suggest "RUBEN'S HAT". Did anyone else read it as something else at first?
Not me but I got the answer as soon as Jordan said HEATBURNS because it's been a scramble before!
by Gavin Chipper
Mon Mar 02, 2015 8:03 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers For Monday March 2nd 2015
Replies: 8
Views: 2519

Re: Spoilers For Monday March 2nd 2015

MICRONISE in round 12 (and ISOMERIC)? Can't think where I got that from... Also, PLUMAGES in round 2? No way of making an objective decision. (Search thing finds it, but that's been discredited.) Different birds can have different plumages. It was allowed here . Does the dictionary say anything diff...
by Gavin Chipper
Mon Mar 02, 2015 8:01 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers for Friday February 27th 2015 (S72 P40)
Replies: 9
Views: 2839

Re: Spoilers for Friday February 27th 2015 (S72 P40)

James Robinson wrote:
Dan McColm wrote:Josh Hurst found MICRONISE in the ISOMERIC round, must be new to ODO?
Only one R in the selection.......... :P
MICRONISE has only got one R!
by Gavin Chipper
Fri Feb 27, 2015 6:02 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers for Friday February 27th 2015 (S72 P40)
Replies: 9
Views: 2839

Re: Spoilers for Friday February 27th 2015 (S72 P40)

Tony Atkins wrote:Also a beater available in the TOASTER/TREASON round.
Was that NOTATORS? I got that in one of the rounds.
by Gavin Chipper
Thu Feb 26, 2015 8:53 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: C4C/apto/Countdown Dreams
Replies: 758
Views: 401148

Re: C4C/apto/Countdown Dreams

Ben Wilson wrote:
Gavin Chipper wrote:Just to clarify, the thing about being a sociopath - was that just something you said in the dream?
Yes, I said that in the dream.
Yes, but was it just something you said in the dream?
by Gavin Chipper
Wed Feb 25, 2015 5:17 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: C4C/apto/Countdown Dreams
Replies: 758
Views: 401148

Re: C4C/apto/Countdown Dreams

Just to clarify, the thing about being a sociopath - was that just something you said in the dream?
by Gavin Chipper
Wed Feb 25, 2015 3:21 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers for Wednesday February 25th 2015 (S72 P38)
Replies: 12
Views: 1691

Re: Spoilers for Wednesday February 25th 2015 (S72 P38)

Gavin Chipper wrote:The first E was the 9th vowel out. A record?
Funny you should ask.
by Gavin Chipper
Wed Feb 25, 2015 3:17 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers for Wednesday February 25th 2015 (S72 P38)
Replies: 12
Views: 1691

Re: Spoilers for Wednesday February 25th 2015 (S72 P38)

Tony Atkins wrote:Nad is right - it is a great feeling getting a 9 on the show. But not to DRAMATISE things it was also good to get two
sat at home today. Will he rise to Rachel's challenge? I suspect not.
He has already done a 6 small though.
by Gavin Chipper
Wed Feb 25, 2015 2:42 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers for Wednesday February 25th 2015 (S72 P38)
Replies: 12
Views: 1691

Re: Spoilers for Wednesday February 25th 2015 (S72 P38)

Rachel and Nick both laughing at the challenger during her selection!
by Gavin Chipper
Wed Feb 25, 2015 2:19 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers for Wednesday February 25th 2015 (S72 P38)
Replies: 12
Views: 1691

Re: Spoilers for Wednesday February 25th 2015 (S72 P38)

Did they give a six in round 2? I wasn't paying enough attention. There's TONGUE anyway.
by Gavin Chipper
Wed Feb 25, 2015 2:17 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers for Wednesday February 25th 2015 (S72 P38)
Replies: 12
Views: 1691

Re: Spoilers for Wednesday February 25th 2015 (S72 P38)

ORATOR in round 1.

The first E was the 9th vowel out. A record?
by Gavin Chipper
Sun Feb 22, 2015 9:15 pm
Forum: Countdown - Current recaps
Topic: Thursday 19th February 2015 (Series 72 Prelim 34)
Replies: 5
Views: 1889

Re: Thursday 19th February 2015 (Series 72 Prelim 34)

The round 6 solutions (Andy and Rachel) and Andy's in round 14 still don't work.

Edit - Look at Peter's solutions for Rachel's round 6 (except use 50 instead of 59!) and Andy's round 14.

For Andy's round 6, you can use (50+8+6-1)x10
by Gavin Chipper
Fri Feb 20, 2015 8:46 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers for Thursday February 19th 2015 (S72 P34)
Replies: 15
Views: 2706

Re: Spoilers for Thursday February 19th 2015 (S72 P34)

Jon Corby wrote:
Gavin Chipper wrote:
Jon Corby wrote:
REVEILLE isn't an obscure word, you tit.

It does feel like they accidentally messed up the pile of teasers with the Catsdown ones though :)
It is an obscure word. No-one has used it ever.
No, it isn't.
It is, and that's the matter closed.
by Gavin Chipper
Fri Feb 20, 2015 3:59 pm
Forum: Countdown - Current recaps
Topic: Monday 16th February 2015 (series 72, prelim 31)
Replies: 9
Views: 2974

Re: Monday 16th February 2015 (series 72, prelim 31)

Well, I suppose it's interesting to note these things in the historical record, and it's also useful for threads like this . Ironically, had these things not been noted in the historical record, analyses such as the one in the thread referred to might have had some validity. I suppose Graeme just s...
by Gavin Chipper
Fri Feb 20, 2015 3:57 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers for Thursday February 19th 2015 (S72 P34)
Replies: 15
Views: 2706

Re: Spoilers for Thursday February 19th 2015 (S72 P34)

OUTSOLD in round 8. REVEILLE needed more explanation. It's one thing to have obscure words, but then not to say what they mean is even worse! REVEILLE isn't an obscure word, you tit. It does feel like they accidentally messed up the pile of teasers with the Catsdown ones though :) It is an obscure ...
by Gavin Chipper
Thu Feb 19, 2015 7:53 pm
Forum: Countdown - Current recaps
Topic: Monday 16th February 2015 (series 72, prelim 31)
Replies: 9
Views: 2974

Re: Monday 16th February 2015 (series 72, prelim 31)

Rachel also gave a solution to the last numbers out of time and it was more intuitive than the one in the recap. (100-4+3)*(50+75)/25=495 Correct, but unlike the other two this is statement of fact and not something that affects the recap as a whole so no edit is required. Also, can I apologize to ...
by Gavin Chipper
Thu Feb 19, 2015 3:55 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers for Thursday February 19th 2015 (S72 P34)
Replies: 15
Views: 2706

Re: Spoilers for Thursday February 19th 2015 (S72 P34)

OUTSOLD in round 8.

REVEILLE needed more explanation. It's one thing to have obscure words, but then not to say what they mean is even worse!
by Gavin Chipper
Wed Feb 18, 2015 3:14 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers for Wednesday February 18th 2015 (S72 P33)
Replies: 4
Views: 2002

Re: Spoilers for Wednesday February 18th 2015 (S72 P33)

A few good opponents for Kevin to have to deal with to finish off his run.
by Gavin Chipper
Tue Feb 17, 2015 7:55 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Birthdays
Replies: 1252
Views: 129694

Re: Birthdays

What, Gavin (2)?
by Gavin Chipper
Tue Feb 17, 2015 4:35 pm
Forum: Countdown - Current recaps
Topic: Monday 16th February 2015 (series 72, prelim 31)
Replies: 9
Views: 2974

Re: Monday 16th February 2015 (series 72, prelim 31)

Rachel also gave a solution to the last numbers out of time and it was more intuitive than the one in the recap. (100-4+3)*(50+75)/25=495
by Gavin Chipper
Tue Feb 17, 2015 4:31 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Birthdays
Replies: 1252
Views: 129694

Re: Birthdays

Indeed. Happy birthday Charlie (31)!

Jason, you forgot to number your post.

Jon, are you sure you counted correctly?
by Gavin Chipper
Tue Feb 17, 2015 2:54 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers for Tuesday February 17th 2015 (S72 P32)
Replies: 7
Views: 3371

Re: Spoilers for Tuesday February 17th 2015 (S72 P32)

Standard method for the last numbers was (50-1)×(9-2)+10=353.

Edit - Beaten to it by the king of the standard method.
by Gavin Chipper
Mon Feb 16, 2015 2:44 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers For Monday February 16th 2015
Replies: 7
Views: 2127

Re: Spoilers For Monday February 16th 2015

NOTATOR in round 10.
by Gavin Chipper
Sat Feb 14, 2015 10:57 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: We got upgraded!
Replies: 30
Views: 5617

Re: We got upgraded!

"View active topics" is back! Thanks to Charlie for sorting it out.
by Gavin Chipper
Fri Feb 13, 2015 6:30 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: We got upgraded!
Replies: 30
Views: 5617

Re: We got upgraded!

UI is User Interface and UX is User Experience, which does have a major impact on your forum experience, being the thing itself. Well when I was talking about things that make very little difference, I was talking about things like "Marking all posts read is done via AJAX. That's beautiful.&qu...
by Gavin Chipper
Fri Feb 13, 2015 5:08 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: We got upgraded!
Replies: 30
Views: 5617

Re: We got upgraded!

Matt Morrison wrote:I don't think UI/UX makes "very little difference". I also don't believe anything to do with view active topics is basic functionality, I've never ever clicked it. Ever.
What is UI/UX and what difference does it make to one's forum experience?
by Gavin Chipper
Fri Feb 13, 2015 2:38 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers for Friday February 13th 2015 (S72 P30)
Replies: 6
Views: 1523

Re: Spoilers for Friday February 13th 2015 (S72 P30)

I'm surprised no-one spotted the standard method of 25×9-10/5=223.
by Gavin Chipper
Fri Feb 13, 2015 2:05 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: We got upgraded!
Replies: 30
Views: 5617

Re: We got upgraded!

Matt Morrison wrote:If you were proposing that I don't care, then yes.
So why do you get excited about all these "extra features" that make very little difference but don't care about basic functionality?
by Gavin Chipper
Fri Feb 13, 2015 11:47 am
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: We got upgraded!
Replies: 30
Views: 5617

Re: We got upgraded!

Matt Morrison wrote:Adam is correct. There is no favicon setup in the HTML code, and there is no default one here.
And am I correct about "View Active Topics"?
by Gavin Chipper
Thu Feb 12, 2015 7:40 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Ask Graeme?
Replies: 1740
Views: 684748

Re: Ask Graeme?

1)Most maxes/ most points scored by a non series finalist? 2)Least maxes/ least points score by a series finalist. (Not including finals games)? 3) did the answer to 1) do better than any series champs did in their heats? Not an exact answer to your question 3, but David Franks failed to make the q...
by Gavin Chipper
Thu Feb 12, 2015 12:23 am
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers for Wednesday February 11th 2015 (S72 P28)
Replies: 7
Views: 1455

Re: Spoilers for Wednesday February 11th 2015 (S72 P28)

Demasted in the maddest round. Not even demast there........., sorry. :( Interestingly, it says OEDEMA can be pluralised, but the definition here doesn't seem to suggest it, unless I'm missing something............: http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/oedema When you say it can be ...
by Gavin Chipper
Tue Feb 10, 2015 2:52 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers for Tuesday February 10th 2015 (S72 P27)
Replies: 14
Views: 4463

Re: Spoilers for Tuesday February 10th 2015 (S72 P27)

LABOUR was the standard method alternative to ARBOUR.
by Gavin Chipper
Tue Feb 10, 2015 2:40 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers for Tuesday February 10th 2015 (S72 P27)
Replies: 14
Views: 4463

Re: Spoilers for Tuesday February 10th 2015 (S72 P27)

Another pointless teatime teaser...
by Gavin Chipper
Mon Feb 09, 2015 3:56 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers For Monday February 9th 2015
Replies: 6
Views: 1746

Re: Spoilers For Monday February 9th 2015

When the answers to the teatime teasers are too obscure (e.g. PELTRIES), I think it defeats the whole point of them in that they're meant to be gettable from the clue by a "casual viewer". It's OK once in a while but it seems to happen rather a lot. Discuss.
by Gavin Chipper
Sun Feb 08, 2015 4:22 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Ask Graeme?
Replies: 1740
Views: 684748

Re: Ask Graeme?

The highest such disparity is that of Samir Pilica , who maxed 68.75% of his letters rounds and 46.875% of his numbers rounds. I know your database won't cover any of this series, but I believe Andy Noden has an even bigger disparity (76.25% on letters, 53.13% on numbers). That's using the stricter...
by Gavin Chipper
Sun Feb 08, 2015 10:42 am
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Ask Graeme?
Replies: 1740
Views: 684748

Re: Ask Graeme?

Yes Neb. That would make the most sense, but only on the list that includes winning and losing games. The reason I (belatedly) asked about just the winning games was because I was wondering about the minimum level people have had to reach to scrape a certain number of wins.
by Gavin Chipper
Sun Feb 08, 2015 12:04 am
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Ask Graeme?
Replies: 1740
Views: 684748

Re: Ask Graeme?

Thanks Graeme. Nice work as always. Also, sorry to be a pain, but would it be possible to do that including just winning games as well, so not including their final, losing game?
by Gavin Chipper
Thu Feb 05, 2015 11:06 am
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Clarke Carlisle
Replies: 5
Views: 1793

Re: Clarke Carlisle

Throwing away a massive lead against an inferior opponent on Countdown can't have helped.
by Gavin Chipper
Wed Feb 04, 2015 3:00 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Ask Graeme?
Replies: 1740
Views: 684748

Re: Ask Graeme?

What's the lowest total score and number of maxes for a one-time winner, two-time winner and so on?
by Gavin Chipper
Wed Feb 04, 2015 11:55 am
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers for Tuesday February 3rd 2015 (S72 P22)
Replies: 14
Views: 3655

Re: Spoilers for Tuesday February 3rd 2015 (S72 P22)

Did anyone else notice Susie saying SNAPPIER is an anagram of PANNIERS? Yes. Me too. Also the other annoying thing which happens occasionally: Champ: 8, REASONED Nick: Good. What about in the corner? DC: We got some 7s, blah blah, but there was an 8 there: REASONED Nick: Wow. And Champ's sitting th...
by Gavin Chipper
Tue Feb 03, 2015 5:10 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers for Tuesday February 3rd 2015 (S72 P22)
Replies: 14
Views: 3655

Re: Spoilers for Tuesday February 3rd 2015 (S72 P22)

Bradley Cates wrote:Did anyone else notice Susie saying SNAPPIER is an anagram of PANNIERS?
Yes.
by Gavin Chipper
Tue Feb 03, 2015 5:09 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Patricia Pay RIP
Replies: 14
Views: 6194

Re: Patricia Pay RIP

Sad news. RIP.
by Gavin Chipper
Tue Feb 03, 2015 3:31 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: People you shouldn't trust
Replies: 921
Views: 395525

Re: People you shouldn't trust

Adam Dexter wrote:
Gavin Chipper wrote:People who share a birthday with Jeff Gordon.
And why would that be? Was Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother not trustworthy?

Edit: Used correct tense
It has to be the same year as well.

But probably not anyway.
by Gavin Chipper
Tue Feb 03, 2015 2:56 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers for Tuesday February 3rd 2015 (S72 P22)
Replies: 14
Views: 3655

Re: Spoilers for Tuesday February 3rd 2015 (S72 P22)

Quite pleased with my 137 today. Must be my best playing at home.
by Gavin Chipper
Mon Feb 02, 2015 5:50 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers For Monday February 2nd 2015
Replies: 15
Views: 3448

Re: Spoilers For Monday February 2nd 2015

Could have had MANEUVERS for 9 without the American spelling rule.
by Gavin Chipper
Mon Feb 02, 2015 2:57 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: (Men) sitting down for a wee
Replies: 101
Views: 23802

Re: (Men) sitting down for a wee

Out of curiosity, hat do the standers do in the dead of night? Put the light on? Stand in the dark? Obviously put the light on. That's the most stupid question I've ever heard. Why would I walk into a dark room at 8pm and turn the light on but not do the same if it was 3am? And it's nothing to do w...
by Gavin Chipper
Mon Feb 02, 2015 12:14 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers For Monday January 26th 2015
Replies: 54
Views: 9367

Re: Spoilers For Monday January 26th 2015

It could have been a properly thought out system. It just turned out not to be. Even if it were, it wouldn't automatically follow that it always means what you think it ought to. For example, CLEAROUT redirects to clear-out, thereby showing you the error of your ways rather than condoning the use o...
by Gavin Chipper
Mon Feb 02, 2015 1:11 am
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers For Monday January 26th 2015
Replies: 54
Views: 9367

Re: Spoilers For Monday January 26th 2015

SALMONS? Surely SALMONS is allowed in the restaurant rule? No. The food rule just means SALMON can be pluralised. The plural is still SALMON. Exactly. I mean, someone might ask for two "salmons" in a restaurant, but people say lots of things that aren't in the ODO. The ODO has the plural ...
by Gavin Chipper
Fri Jan 30, 2015 8:37 pm
Forum: Countdown - Events
Topic: COLIN XI: The Hangover Recaps
Replies: 16
Views: 4343

Re: COLIN XI: The Hangover Recaps

I thought you were supposed to play the same game as each other, but other people did it differently. I played Elfeshire and we had two separate games against Prune. When he was acting as Prune' picking agent against me, he picked randomly for vowel or consonant for the 8th and 9th letters rather th...
by Gavin Chipper
Fri Jan 30, 2015 4:20 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers for Friday January 30th 2015 (S72 P20)
Replies: 26
Views: 6680

Re: Spoilers for Friday January 30th 2015 (S72 P20)

James Robinson wrote:But, well done to Tracey, who deserved octochampdom, and I was glad to give her a well-deserved big hug straight afterwards. :D
What could she have possibly done to deserve that?
by Gavin Chipper
Fri Jan 30, 2015 3:55 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers for Friday January 30th 2015 (S72 P20)
Replies: 26
Views: 6680

Re: Spoilers for Friday January 30th 2015 (S72 P20)

Well done Tracey, but is 6 a record?
by Gavin Chipper
Thu Jan 29, 2015 12:10 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers For Monday January 26th 2015
Replies: 54
Views: 9367

Re: Spoilers For Monday January 26th 2015

Nice phone cover. I might get one for my phone, but I'll have to check it's big enough first.

By the way, Jono might be giving it all this in this thread, but let's not forget that he was wandering around with shit in his hair the other day and needed me to save him.
by Gavin Chipper
Wed Jan 28, 2015 9:24 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers For Monday January 26th 2015
Replies: 54
Views: 9367

Re: Spoilers For Monday January 26th 2015

SALMONS? Fair enough. I don't think it would be completely insane to allow it, but if not, then we could still come up with other rules that are still objective. We could use the search box for comparatives, superlatives and plurals of mass nouns, and have everything else covered by basic rules tha...