Search found 1123 matches
- Wed May 20, 2009 9:36 am
- Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
- Topic: Spoilers, Tuesday 19/05/2009
- Replies: 52
- Views: 3970
Re: Spoilers, Tuesday 19/05/2009
As 575=25x23, Clive's route seemed the obvious way to go, but didn't get there in time - though as I'm pretty good at spotting factors, I consequentially often miss an easy way. :geek: When Jimmy buzzed for the conundrum, I thought STIMMING? - but then realised (a) too few letters & (b) probably...
- Tue May 19, 2009 2:56 pm
- Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
- Topic: Spoilers, Tuesday 19/05/2009
- Replies: 52
- Views: 3970
Re: Spoilers, Tuesday 19/05/2009
Alternative 2nd numbers: 4x(50+3x(8-1))
- Fri May 15, 2009 3:17 pm
- Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
- Topic: Spoilers for Friday 15th March
- Replies: 28
- Views: 3233
Re: Spoilers for Friday 15th March
Another alternative R14: (50+8)x(25-9)/2
- Tue May 12, 2009 2:24 pm
- Forum: Countdown - General
- Topic: Gender
- Replies: 44
- Views: 2934
Re: Gender
... with the right environment women can compete with men at the top level. The reason for the absence of top women players may have as much to do with gender bias (in the minds of trainers, parents, i.e. anybody in a position to offer support to a blossoming player); inequality of opportunity etc ...
Re: Scrabble
I'm not surprised that Scrabblers don't do particularly well, as the vocabulary available is significantly different from the Countdown one.
Even though I'm only an unrated social player, in most weeks I spot a DC equaller or beater which turns out to be invalid.
Even though I'm only an unrated social player, in most weeks I spot a DC equaller or beater which turns out to be invalid.
- Wed May 06, 2009 6:26 pm
- Forum: Off-topic
- Topic: Unfortunate names
- Replies: 37
- Views: 4435
Re: Unfortunate names
There's a firm hereabouts calling themselves 'Token Cleaning Services' - OK if you only need "a lick and a promise".Eoin Monaghan wrote:I know a company called 'Brush' cleaning.
- Tue May 05, 2009 5:14 pm
- Forum: Off-topic
- Topic: Unfortunate names
- Replies: 37
- Views: 4435
Re: Unfortunate names
I know a guy called Chris Peacock. That's probably the best I've got. That reminds me that when I was at Gloster Aircraft, I worked with a guy named Harry Peacock. Not worth comment as such, except that his section was the 'flutter' group, and also included Cec Partridge, Terry Heron and Pat Woodco...
- Fri May 01, 2009 2:57 pm
- Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
- Topic: Spoilers for Friday 1 May
- Replies: 26
- Views: 3354
Re: Spoilers for Friday 1 May
Alternative second numbers: (25-8)x(8x5+6)=782
- Tue Apr 28, 2009 3:38 pm
- Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
- Topic: Spoilers for Tuesday 28th April
- Replies: 28
- Views: 3783
Re: Spoilers for Tuesday 28th April
Even Gyles admitted that Susie was looking at himAndy Wilson wrote:They've done it! They've discovered the source of the swine flu!
- Tue Apr 28, 2009 2:46 pm
- Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
- Topic: Spoilers for Tuesday 28th April
- Replies: 28
- Views: 3783
Re: Spoilers for Tuesday 28th April
STODGIER
- Tue Apr 28, 2009 2:31 pm
- Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
- Topic: Spoilers for Tuesday 28th April
- Replies: 28
- Views: 3783
- Mon Apr 27, 2009 9:34 pm
- Forum: Games and Puzzles
- Topic: Curious Words Round 3: The Nemesis of Xerxes
- Replies: 18
- Views: 4097
Re: Curious Words Round 3: The Nemesis of Xerxes
4. SUBCONTINENTAL
With thanks to Quinapalus
With thanks to Quinapalus
- Fri Apr 24, 2009 8:48 pm
- Forum: Off-topic
- Topic: Light up and enjoy a fag?
- Replies: 25
- Views: 2785
Re: Light up and enjoy a fag?
More likely the dust from the coal - remember the miners' death toll, too.David Roe wrote:I wonder if all this lung disease was made worse by the smoke from the boiler? I can't imagine it would help.
- Fri Apr 24, 2009 5:55 pm
- Forum: Countdown - General
- Topic: CountMax errors
- Replies: 727
- Views: 93255
Re: CountMax errors
I think that there are a good many UN- words valid in Scrabble but not Countdown, though I've not done a survey.
Yesterday UNMAILED turned out to be unacceptable. (and UNPOSTED & UNSENT are too)
Yesterday UNMAILED turned out to be unacceptable. (and UNPOSTED & UNSENT are too)
- Fri Apr 24, 2009 2:55 pm
- Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
- Topic: Spoilers for Friday 24th April
- Replies: 17
- Views: 2248
Re: Spoilers for Friday 24th April
LASSOER as an alternative to OARLESS
- Sat Apr 18, 2009 11:24 am
- Forum: Games and Puzzles
- Topic: Eyeball it!
- Replies: 19
- Views: 3243
Re: Eyeball it!
I got 5.2, default aspect ratio of my display made right angles look wrong.
Will try again when I've altered it.
Will try again when I've altered it.
Re: Veggies
I also missed the whole point of this. I was going to compare it to member's ratings, but now realise that votes are private. SO unless people tell me what they chose, it's not really going to work!. I went for other, because I don't have any dietary specialties etc but nor do I eat anything and ev...
- Fri Apr 17, 2009 8:58 am
- Forum: Countdown - Current recaps
- Topic: Tuesday 14 April 2009 (Series 60 Prelim 48)
- Replies: 7
- Views: 994
Re: Tuesday 14 April 2009 (Series 60 Prelim 48)
Anyone who's read the original Heinlein story will know that a WALDO isn't the sort of remote control that hides under the sofa cushions. It actually is used for remote handling of dangerous materials (especially radioactive ones) and consists of a glove connected to a mechanical manipulator. http:/...
Re: Y'know...
Nowadays he'd have said "absolutely"Kevin Thurlow wrote:Phil is right - it goes back a long time. ...
The BBC man even said "yes" a couple of times.
- Tue Apr 07, 2009 9:48 am
- Forum: Off-topic
- Topic: Street View thread
- Replies: 34
- Views: 4270
Re: Street View thread
There isn't a street view hereabouts yet, but here's a birdseye view ;) http://maps.google.co.uk/maps/mpl?moduleurl=http:%2F%2Fmaps.google.co.uk%2Fhelp%2Fmaps%2Fstreetview%2Fmapplet.html&mapclient=google&ie=UTF8&ll=51.764032,0.121888&spn=0.000857,0.001727&t=h&z=19&lci=com...
- Mon Apr 06, 2009 6:17 pm
- Forum: Off-topic
- Topic: Have you read this twaddle!!
- Replies: 27
- Views: 3904
Re: Have you read this twaddle!!
Chambers' dictionary defines colin as 'the Virginian quail', so it's OK in Scrabble, even though it's not a Countdown word.
- Fri Apr 03, 2009 2:57 pm
- Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
- Topic: Spoilers for Friday 3rd April 2009
- Replies: 25
- Views: 4403
Re: Spoilers for Friday 3rd April 2009
Second numbers alternative: (100+9x7)x2=326
- Thu Apr 02, 2009 3:02 pm
- Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
- Topic: Spoilers, Thursday 02/04/09
- Replies: 20
- Views: 2876
Re: Spoilers, Thursday 02/04/09
MOISTURE
As I'd started a redundant thread for today, I'll mention here too that I didn't need Rachel's method , as 651 = (25+6)x3x7
As I'd started a redundant thread for today, I'll mention here too that I didn't need Rachel's method , as 651 = (25+6)x3x7
- Thu Apr 02, 2009 2:56 pm
- Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
- Topic: Spoilers, Thursday 02/04/09
- Replies: 20
- Views: 2876
Spoilers for Thursday April 2nd
Easier way for 651: (25+6)x7x3
- Mon Mar 30, 2009 3:23 pm
- Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
- Topic: Spoilers for Monday 30th March 2009
- Replies: 32
- Views: 3908
Re: Spoilers for Monday 30th March 2009
I did it using only the smalls - (6-1)x2x7x10
- Wed Mar 25, 2009 11:33 am
- Forum: Countdown - General
- Topic: Birthdays
- Replies: 1252
- Views: 134243
Re: Birthdays
Mother's Day here is the fourth Sunday in Lent, so it moves with Easter - see Wikipedia.Jason Larsen wrote: Also, I didn't know UK Mother's Day was in March. US Mother's Day is in May (the second Sunday, in fact.)
Thanks to all for birthday greetings.
- Thu Mar 19, 2009 4:02 pm
- Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
- Topic: Spoilers for Thursday 19th March
- Replies: 25
- Views: 3534
Re: Spoilers for Thursday 19th March
Alternative second numbers: 9x25+3=228;228x4-1=911
Best I can find for first is: (9+7+1)x(5x8-1)=663
Best I can find for first is: (9+7+1)x(5x8-1)=663
- Tue Mar 17, 2009 4:06 pm
- Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
- Topic: Spoilers for March 17th
- Replies: 97
- Views: 11893
Re: Spoilers for March 17th
I was hoping for GRANULOSE, but it's Scrabble only.
- Sat Mar 14, 2009 2:39 pm
- Forum: Games and Puzzles
- Topic: Trick questions
- Replies: 42
- Views: 6913
Re: Trick questions
Number 5:There isn't one - being now part of the Eurozone, they use the international euro.
- Fri Mar 13, 2009 3:21 pm
- Forum: Off-topic
- Topic: More linguistic nonsense
- Replies: 35
- Views: 5361
Re: More linguistic nonsense
There are plenty of sentences where recasting them to move the preposition away from the end gives a very awkward result, e.g. "The children knew what I was looking at." and some where even a simple sentence would require major surgery to remove the trailing preposition, e.g. "The do...
Re: Ghosts?
I don't think ghosts are spirits of the departed, but there seem to be too many experiences on record to dismiss out of hand - I'm inclined to go for the 'Stone Tape' theory. (See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Stone_Tape ) When I was living in Cheltenham, one of my friends' home was next door to ...
- Wed Mar 11, 2009 11:28 am
- Forum: Off-topic
- Topic: Obscenity democracy
- Replies: 205
- Views: 31420
Re: Obscenity democracy
People living in Scunthorpe and Penistone have problems, too.Rosemary Roberts wrote:Can we take it that the four people in favour of a filter are not professional programmers? Perhaps there are some that work, but they generally seem to make themselves and the associated a forum a laughing-stock.
- Sat Mar 07, 2009 10:55 pm
- Forum: Countdown - General
- Topic: Shuffling
- Replies: 76
- Views: 18003
Re: Shuffling
[quote="D Eadie" ...there are more E's than any other vowel.[/quote] How many are there, then? - although I think 3 the same of each one occurs occasionally, (without digging into the archives) I don't recall having ever seen 4 E's. :? I'm no expert in probability theory, but would not be ...
- Thu Mar 05, 2009 1:51 pm
- Forum: Countdown - Current recaps
- Topic: Recap for Wednesday 4 March 2009
- Replies: 28
- Views: 17269
Re: Recap for Wednesday 4 March 2009
... nor red wine, my preferred source.Charlie Reams wrote:I thought that too, was quite surprised the the ODE's definition didn't mention it.Phil Reynolds wrote: most people associate tannin with tea.
- Mon Mar 02, 2009 10:57 am
- Forum: Off-topic
- Topic: Sandwich/Sandwiches
- Replies: 195
- Views: 15959
Re: Sandwich/Sandwiches
I have been away for a few days and have only just caught up with this. My main experience with a sandwich was an evening with Danny Stanford and his missus. It was going quite well but, and it may well have been because of the gloom, Danny touched me unexpectedly, and, I have to say, inappropiatel...
- Thu Feb 26, 2009 12:25 pm
- Forum: Games and Puzzles
- Topic: Nothing to do with binary, folks!
- Replies: 21
- Views: 3065
Re: Nothing to do with binary, folks!
As dividing 10 by 9 leaves remainder 1, any digit followed by any number of 0s leaves that digit as remainder on dividing by 9. Write your number as a sum like that, and you're done. (e.g. 486 -> 400+80+6, so remainder is same as that of 4+8+6=18 - obviously 0) As the sum of digits of a multi-digit ...
- Wed Feb 25, 2009 7:33 pm
- Forum: Games and Puzzles
- Topic: Names in Words
- Replies: 20
- Views: 3165
Re: Names in Words
To avoid people with short names getting too much of advantage, don't add more letters than already there when making a composite anagram!Peter Mabey wrote: This gives an idea for a variation on the Anagrams thread.
- Wed Feb 25, 2009 5:47 pm
- Forum: Off-topic
- Topic: Sandwich/Sandwiches
- Replies: 195
- Views: 15959
Re: Sandwich/Sandwiches
When I make myself a sandwich lunch I start with two slices of bread, spread & fill to taste and put them together. Then I cut the assembled sandwich into 8 roughly triangular pieces for ease in eating - if anyone interrupted to ask if I'd finished my sandwich, I'd say no, as I wouldn't think of...
- Tue Feb 24, 2009 11:16 pm
- Forum: Games and Puzzles
- Topic: Names in Words
- Replies: 20
- Views: 3165
Re: Names in Words
If not in order, Word Matcher gives me 826 solutions up to 9 letters. (Without deleting capitalised or multi-word ones.)
I liked PETER + ARSY = SPARE TYRE
This gives an idea for a variation on the Anagrams thread.
I liked PETER + ARSY = SPARE TYRE
This gives an idea for a variation on the Anagrams thread.
- Tue Feb 24, 2009 3:28 pm
- Forum: Games and Puzzles
- Topic: Names in Words
- Replies: 20
- Views: 3165
Re: Names in Words
With thanks to Quinapalus Word Matcher http://www.quinapalus.com/matcher.html I've found the following, restricting the search to words in which my name occurs in order. 5 letters peter 6 letters pelter perter pester peters petter pewter 7 letters pearter peatery peatier pelters pesters petered pett...
- Tue Feb 17, 2009 10:23 pm
- Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
- Topic: Spoilers & Comments, Tuesday 17/02/2009
- Replies: 48
- Views: 6689
Re: Spoilers & Comments, Tuesday 17/02/2009
Junaid Mubeen wrote:Or even three many.Jon Corby wrote:That's a lot of threes. Some would say too many.Peter Mabey wrote:Or else (3x75+50)x3-3
(please laugh)
- Tue Feb 17, 2009 4:13 pm
- Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
- Topic: Spoilers & Comments, Tuesday 17/02/2009
- Replies: 48
- Views: 6689
Re: Spoilers & Comments, Tuesday 17/02/2009
Or else (3x75+50)x3-3
- Tue Feb 17, 2009 3:59 pm
- Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
- Topic: Spoilers & Comments, Tuesday 17/02/2009
- Replies: 48
- Views: 6689
Re: Spoilers & Comments, Tuesday 17/02/2009
Alternative: (75-9-1)x7=455
- Tue Feb 17, 2009 3:39 pm
- Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
- Topic: Spoilers & Comments, Tuesday 17/02/2009
- Replies: 48
- Views: 6689
- Sat Feb 14, 2009 7:14 pm
- Forum: Countdown - Historical recaps
- Topic: Recap for second QF of series 40 - 18/06/99
- Replies: 12
- Views: 2703
Re: Recap for second QF of series 40 - 18/06/99
I did (10+8+1)*(50-4-3)
- Fri Feb 13, 2009 9:47 pm
- Forum: Games and Puzzles
- Topic: Signs
- Replies: 16
- Views: 4135
Re: Signs
Zodiac<--- This is why.Neil Zussman wrote:Nice one Chris, not one I've heard before, so I'm pleased with myself for working this one out:
Aries and Libra. <---- Answer written in white, to avoid spoiling it for anyone else, highlight it to read.
Someone else can add the explanation.
- Thu Feb 12, 2009 3:59 pm
- Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
- Topic: Spoilers and comments for Thursday 12/02/2009
- Replies: 48
- Views: 6038
Re: Spoilers and comments for Thursday 12/02/2009
Or else (50+5+1)*(10-4+1)Chris Philpot wrote:(50-1)*(10-(5-4)-1) uses all of the six numbers.
- Sun Feb 08, 2009 10:34 pm
- Forum: Games and Puzzles
- Topic: C4C Cryptic Crossword No. 1
- Replies: 42
- Views: 5377
Re: C4C Cryptic Crossword No. 1
Phil, thanks again for a commendable first effort. If you really want to get into cryptic crosswords, I recommend Chambers' Crossword Companion, which combines in one handy volume Don Manley's Crossword Manual (all about setting), their Dictionary (lots of ideas for clues) and their Completer (filli...
- Sat Feb 07, 2009 12:38 pm
- Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
- Topic: Spoilers for Friday February 6th 2009
- Replies: 67
- Views: 8981
Re: Spoilers for Friday February 6th 2009
I missed today's show - for the first time in ages :cry: and don't fancy getting up on Sun at 6am to watch repeat. :? ... or you could just watch it right now my dear Les(ley): http://www.channel4.com/video/countdown/catchup.html [/quote Last time I tried that, I got sound but no pictures. :cry: 4o...
- Thu Feb 05, 2009 10:11 am
- Forum: Off-topic
- Topic: Birthday music
- Replies: 56
- Views: 5330
Re: Birthday music
The singers I remember from my childhood (I'm about a year older than George :!: ) are Gracie Fields and George Formby. When war broke out, I was sent away to my grandparents in the Isle of Wight, who had no electricity (or running water), though they did have a wireless set, for which the battery h...
- Tue Feb 03, 2009 3:51 pm
- Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
- Topic: Spoilers for Tuesday 3rd February 2009
- Replies: 39
- Views: 4774
- Sun Feb 01, 2009 1:27 pm
- Forum: Off-topic
- Topic: Favourite song at the moment
- Replies: 69
- Views: 8062
Re: Favourite song at the moment
Not having to hang around with kids any more, I'm glad to say I've not even heard of nearly all of the 'songs' mentioned. :ugeek: I'll go with the Ravel, in preference to the Albeniz. At the present, I've been enjoying R3 Mendelssohn Day on iPlayer (apart from people rabbitting on instead of getting...
- Thu Jan 29, 2009 3:57 pm
- Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
- Topic: Spoilers for 29/01/2009, CofC semi-final #2
- Replies: 81
- Views: 7623
Re: Spoilers for 29/01/2009, CofC semi-final #2
Or else CARIBOUS
- Thu Jan 29, 2009 3:01 pm
- Forum: Off-topic
- Topic: No God on the bus.
- Replies: 83
- Views: 9532
Re: No God on the bus.
I'm going by the Bible, or at least the parts of the Bible I can recall (forgive my rusty mind), so essentially I'm going directly to the source. At school I was pretty well immunised against against that by our R.E. teacher, who told us about the findings of textual criticism. The Bible is now kno...
- Thu Jan 29, 2009 2:31 pm
- Forum: Games and Puzzles
- Topic: Online Scrabble
- Replies: 31
- Views: 5544
Re: Online Scrabble
I used to play on wordbiz, but haven't done for yonks.
Nowadays I just play socially in a couple of local clubs (90% female OAPs). No challenges, as we have agreed word list books on the tables. (Chambers for one, Collins for the other, with dictionaries available.)
Nowadays I just play socially in a couple of local clubs (90% female OAPs). No challenges, as we have agreed word list books on the tables. (Chambers for one, Collins for the other, with dictionaries available.)
- Tue Jan 27, 2009 4:49 pm
- Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
- Topic: Spoilers for Tuesday 27th January CoC
- Replies: 57
- Views: 6127
Re: Spoilers for Tuesday 27th January CoC
EASEMENT in round 6
- Tue Jan 27, 2009 12:00 pm
- Forum: Countdown - General
- Topic: Rachel Riley Unveiled.
- Replies: 141
- Views: 19450
Re: Rachel Riley Unveiled.
I don't think it could be called "an Aspergers thing", it's more likely "a mathematician's thing": without the brackets the written equation is plain wrong. Yes - there was a somewhat acrimonious correspondence on the Crossword Centre message board on the same subject, with math...
- Tue Jan 27, 2009 11:45 am
- Forum: Countdown - Current recaps
- Topic: Monday 26th January 2009 (COC XIII QF3)
- Replies: 20
- Views: 4179
Re: Monday 26th January 2009 (COC XIII QF3)
a skidoo is a snowmobile According to the OED2r, as used by Countdown, it's as Susie reported. Oh, sorry. I did check with the online OED before posting and that just gives the snowmobile definition. Chambers gives Ski-doo as the registered name for the snowmobile, with skidoo as an alternative, th...
- Tue Jan 27, 2009 11:05 am
- Forum: Countdown - General
- Topic: New member
- Replies: 69
- Views: 7327
Re: New member
Welcome, George - it's good to greet an old railwayman: though my gricing days are past now I still subscribe to the RCTS. (I'll be 83 in March, and have given up driving now.) Although I was trained for the aircraft industry (at Farnborough - hi, Chris!) I did have some railway experience, as I had...
- Fri Jan 23, 2009 11:12 am
- Forum: Countdown - Current recaps
- Topic: Tuesday 20 January 2009 (CoC Heat 7)
- Replies: 11
- Views: 2293
Re: Tuesday 20 January 2009 (CoC Heat 7)
Ther is also a similar piece of cutlery very popular in the 60's calles a splade which combines a spoon fork and a bit of an excuse for a blade usefull for cake and currys as a right hand fork user it suits well anyone heard of these. I have several of these things - definitely useful for curries &...