c4countdown

Martin Gardner

The littlest pet shop? Yeah, this is why real paper dictionaries aren't great for word games, as there's too much room for interpretations, or even some things that are just errors. I've pointed out quite a few (nailerys, funer, funest) that under the letter of the rule (as I understand them) should...

Martin Gardner

Completely insane - I like it.

Martin Gardner

Santa Claus is fucking hilarious, I basically fall over laughing everytime I get him. More like that please. Maybe Homer Simpson, or Ralph Wiggums from the Simpsons?

Martin Gardner

Matt Morrison wrote:bollocks. I missed the rounds before the RETIRED round - any chance anyone wrote them down and can post them quickly? xx

AEIOCDLNR but not in that order - Sheila got 7, Neil got 8 (you beat me, Neil).

Martin Gardner

Not to mention POLISHER and REPOLISH...

Martin Gardner

I hope Charlie doesn't mind me copying this here, it's my comment on Facebook: I genuinely had a conversation with Christine about big boobs once. I said something along the lines of "I'm one of those people that likes girls with big tits, or as they're also known, men!" Anyone else find t...

Martin Gardner

George Jenkins wrote:I was taking her up Cannon Street for the 5.41 to Dover

You're definitely not gay then.

Martin Gardner

I see similarities with my own writing That's quite funny, because you know how sometimes on a forum you sometimes get people muddled up (maybe it's just me)? But I sometimes do with you and Phil. By the way, on the subject of campness, I'm not sure how conscious a thing it is. If someone hangs aro...

Martin Gardner

Can't think of any other Octochamp who's had some many good scores, despite so many close games! Well done again, very neat last numbers solution. Yeah I know he's only won seven, I'm just "assuming" the 8th one. Knowing him, he'll probably be 40-0 after five rounds, and win 99-98. :mrgre...

Martin Gardner

Well played Neil! Wireless was a great spot. As was the 87 times table! Thanks! I was annoyed with myself for not getting the first numbers game right (always factorise first!!) so it stuck in my mind. :) That's a bit annoying, why didn't he just choose six consonants and try and get an eight? Whic...

Martin Gardner

Aha, a good example of Microsoft word fudging something is this. I wrote "a recent Channell 4 documentary." and it tried to change it to documentaries (to agree with '4'). I'm more surprised that it didn't try to change your spelling of 'Channel.' ;) Yeah too quick for me, I just edited t...

Martin Gardner

Aha, a good example of Microsoft word fudging something is this. I wrote "a recent Channel 4 documentary." and it tried to change it to documentaries (to agree with '4').

Martin Gardner

Can't think of any other Octochamp who's had some many good scores, despite so many close games! Well done again, very neat last numbers solution.

Martin Gardner · Re: Spoilers & Comments, Tuesday 24/02/2009 LINKMEN (apparently).

LINKMEN (apparently).

Martin Gardner

Seriously impressive numbers game, I can get 784 (98 * 8).

Martin Gardner

That's a bit annoying, why didn't he just choose six consonants and try and get an eight?

Martin Gardner

Not that I know of (Charlie will answer this, I'm sure) because the posts that appear at the top of the forum are the ones with the most 'recent activity', so if people are still discussing a game from two weeks ago, that could be the top of the list. Try control F, that's my tip.

Martin Gardner

Before the show starts, I'd just like to say how much I'm enjoying it and how I think the show's improved - notably because Jeff talks to the contestants and gets them more involved than Des did, and secondly because I think Rachel is hot.

Martin Gardner

I have nothing to add that hasn't already been said, yeah, but when I was on Countdown for the first time, Richard didn't say "Martin enjoys pool and snooker, and he's straight!" Jeff did mention it on her first show, and did a very good job of it. And Jeff didn't say, "Our challenge...

Martin Gardner

Gary Male wrote:Partially. I'm sure someone will be along later with the list of proposed guest hosts but none was filmed.

I'd have answered 5 on the basis that William G Stewart hosted the Richard V Carol match, then screamed blue murder if it was marked as wrong.

IAWTP

Martin Gardner

I have nothing to add that hasn't already been said, yeah, but when I was on Countdown for the first time, Richard didn't say "Martin enjoys pool and snooker, and he's straight!" Jeff did mention it on her first show, and did a very good job of it. Like I remember one guy about 5 years ago...

Martin Gardner

Hannah O wrote:Firstly, from what I've seen so far in these forums, it doesn't matter what creed, colour, religion or preference you have- you will get insulted!

Yeah I think that's because there's a big male bias on this forum. If it were a mainly female forum, that wouldn't happen.

Martin Gardner

JackHurst wrote:Was there a tea-time teaser last week that was identical to todays first one?
I seem to have certain memories of seeing the exact same one recently. Please tell me it wasn't in a dream, i dont want to admit to havign dreams about countdown!

Yeah DECLARED has been used twice in two weeks.

Martin Gardner

What an exciting game today. I felt quite sorry for Heather at the beginning when Neil got the first 9 letter word as she looked quite upset, but she soon gathered her wits together and did really well in the end. If it's any consolation, Heather, I also got SCALE in the first round! Heather seemed...

Martin Gardner

Interesting first round... as far as I know she could have just offered PASCAL for six, it's a unit of pressure (from memory). Really weird sort of game, very good but weird. I thought we were going to have 110 - 30 style thrashing when it was 33 - 0, and in the end she got it back to just 6 points ...

Martin Gardner

Plates has long been one of my favourites for this: PALEST PASTEL PETALS PLATES PLEATS SEPTAL STAPLE TEPALS So that would be 7/720 would it? (6!= 720). It would be interesting to have a list of all the quad-nines, I came up with with, with a bit of help from Google: ACTIONERS, CREATIONS, NARCOTISE, ...

Martin Gardner

I don't remember a single homophobic comment, there were comments on the word POOFTER, which like I say, I don't find particularly offensive myself, but then I'm not gay. You know what the papers are like - never let the facts stand in the way of a good story. I suppose there aren't any homophobic ...

Martin Gardner

Actually, I think I can settle this. It says it should have been valid here - bad luck Charlie. No not really because I wrote that, and I'm not claiming I'm absolutely right! I'll summarise some of the points I read on the old forum. Btw I do think I mentioned that it would be useful to photocopy t...

Martin Gardner

I don't remember a single homophobic comment, there were comments on the word POOFTER, which like I say, I don't find particularly offensive myself, but then I'm not gay. You know what the papers are like - never let the facts stand in the way of a good story. I suppose there aren't any homophobic c...

Martin Gardner

Actually I just dug out the right messages on the old mailing list, and most of the people at the time said they should have allowed it.

Martin Gardner

Charlie Reams wrote:
Martin Gardner wrote:As I said the last time, technically GERANIUMS is a valid answer, so they should accept it. Or better yet, don't set it in the first place!
And as everyone else said last time, you'd have to be a fucking retard to think the answer was GERANIUMS.

Doesn't invalidate my point though, does it?

Martin Gardner

As I said the last time, technically GERANIUMS is a valid answer, so they should accept it. Or better yet, don't set it in the first place!

Martin Gardner

http://www.apterous.org/viewgame.php?game=27658

I'm going to propose this as my worst performance ever. Ironically, the previous game between us finished 125 - 106.

Martin Gardner

Joseph Bolas wrote:
Junaid Mubeen wrote:
Ian Fitzpatrick wrote:The other question about teapots is
where do you all keep them?
ebay.com
Just looking on ebay now and someone is selling their teapot and trying to get £225 for it

Try spot the number of spelling errors in the description!

Martin Gardner

Yeah alright I admit I was bored of it after the first week. I was bored with it after the first minute. I can't imagine how anybody could watch it, let alone play it. Nor how anybody could compare it with a genuine quiz game such as 15-to-1 (whom God preserve). I liked 15-to-1 too (or should that ...

Martin Gardner

How do the ratings reflect ability on the Show? Would a rating of 2000+ reflect a series winner, perhaps, and a 1700+ an octochamp, or am I way off the mark? Or is there no correlation at all because there are some people who find apterous much much easier/ harder than the actual show? That wouldn'...

Martin Gardner

Junaid Mubeen wrote:
Kirk Bevins wrote: Only geeks will go 6 small.
Thanks, buddy

In fairness, you can come up with all the arguments you like why I kept going for four large - in all honesty, it was just for a laugh.

Martin Gardner

Series 47 hasn't got a mention yet - 8 Octochamps, including Chris Wills (875 pts) and Tom Hargreaves (850 pts). There were also three players than won seven games, and didn't make the finals*! Admittedly the final turned out to be a bit of a procession, but it was still fantastic. Plus I didn't see...

Martin Gardner

Was he not also accused of verbally giving an identical numbers solution to his opponent, and then shredding his written version before it could be verified? There's loads of different versions of this story, yeah. I know that in one game, he gave an identical solution to his opponent, (seemingly) ...

Martin Gardner

Ian Volante wrote:
Douglas Wilson wrote:I'm not being funny but why should i be expected to contribute £10 to something that rarely works!
No-one's expecting anything, it's free unless you choose to pay

Perhaps a one-month extension for the people who paid £10 would be in order?

Martin Gardner

In my heats, the first three I got set were INNERMOST, OVENPROOF and UNSIGHTED. In fairness they tucked in a few -ING conundrums after that.

Martin Gardner

I watched the QF clip pretty recently on YouTube, he said PARQUETRY straight away, before Des had asked him what it was. He'd actually said the word before I'd even seen the letters. Which reminds me, what the frig does it mean?

Martin Gardner

I wish to apologise for any mistakes in my grammar etc. Apparently, that is a crime in these pages. I regret that my young days living in Deptford were not conducive to a good education. I couldn't care less. I think everything you have to say is worth listening to. Just because I disagree without ...

Martin Gardner

I wish to apologise for any mistakes in my grammar etc. Apparently, that is a crime in these pages. I regret that my young days living in Deptford were not conducive to a good education. I couldn't care less. I think everything you have to say is worth listening to. Just because I disagree without ...

Martin Gardner

Diane Allinson wrote:
Martin Gardner wrote:This might suit you.
Thanks Martin, can you fast forward on there? If you know, how quickly after the show ends is it available on the site?

I'm usually home around five, and it's already on there. So less than an hour after it ends on C4, I would say.

Martin Gardner

Does Marie Wale still work there? She was pretty cute as well.

Martin Gardner

Hannah O wrote:That conundrum was interesting! Was it just me or were the Teatime Teasers more difficult than usual today? I could have just been on bad form...

The BAGPIPER one, you just have to switch the two vowels. PS APPETISE in the NAPPIEST round.

Martin Gardner

I like the new set, the blue colours are much easier on the eye than the previous pinks/purples, I never could get used to those, and although Carol's dress sense wasn't that great (sorry Carol if you're reading, still love you though!), I'm not sure what she could have worn that wouldn't have clas...

Martin Gardner

Round five of this game is a strong contender for the best round where it's easy to get one away, but hard to get it spot on.

Martin Gardner

Velvet just got COZIEST against me on Apterous. Is that not American?

Martin Gardner

Java.com

Congratulations!
You have the recommended Java installed (Version 6 Update 12).

So it looks like that's not the problem, so what is it, then?

Martin Gardner

Rory MacDonald wrote:outroar for the round where orator was the best they could do

I think you've confused outrage and uproar; outroar isn't there.

Martin Gardner

Another 792 would be:

8 * 3 * 4 = 96
96 + 3 = 99
99 * 8 = 792

Martin Gardner

Aha it's another FUNNEST style one. Does it specify the double M?

Martin Gardner

I like Rachel's dress. Having said that, I thought the black cocktail dress with the tan boots a few days ago was a bit odd.

Martin Gardner

Charlie Reams wrote:Assuming I've interpreted it correctly (your brackets are very dodgy), the question is
Code: Select all
x+1      3x-2
----  +  ----  - 2 = 0
2x-1     2x+1

Makes sense now, I didn't interpret the question like that.

Martin Gardner

In the mean time, try logging in every few minutes and it will probably work eventually.

This reminds me of an aside I read in Viz once.

"Save money on doorbell batteries by simply going to your door every five minutes to see if someone's there."

Martin Gardner

I faced a bit of a dilemma whether I should go on sooner or later, but I stuck with myself, and I ended up in the best Series ever . I wonder if everyone thinks that their own series was the best? I got asked quite a bit if I wish I'd applied at a different time (to stand a better chance of being a...

Martin Gardner

'Going for Gold' follows 'Countdown' on France 3, in France. The French equivalents, clearly. And they also run them six days a week, not five. So they need about 300 episodes a year, I don't think either of them takes a break, certainly we watched them both on New Year's Eve, but New Year's Day, we...

Martin Gardner

Gavin Chipper wrote:Apparently she got there but spent ages trying to find the Olympic stadium. It took a lot of Seoul searching.

Haha, that's not bad at all!

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