Search found 1110 matches

by Callum Todd
Mon Mar 18, 2024 4:23 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Questions you've always wanted answered
Replies: 1609
Views: 623745

Re: Questions you've always wanted answered

I take it to mean you should be able to see at least 2 chevrons on the ground between yourself and the car in front.

Agreed it's unclear though.
by Callum Todd
Sat Mar 09, 2024 11:35 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Questions you've always wanted answered
Replies: 1609
Views: 623745

Re: Questions you've always wanted answered

What's so iconic about the Abbey Road album cover? It's just some people walking. My impression is it's more than the album itself is iconic and, many of us being very visual in our thinking/memories, the album cover is the most available candidate to be a visual memory of the album, so it took on ...
by Callum Todd
Mon Feb 26, 2024 6:41 pm
Forum: Other game shows
Topic: The 1% Club
Replies: 50
Views: 4728

Re: The 1% Club

Adam Gillard wrote: Mon Feb 26, 2024 5:00 pm
Callum Todd wrote: Mon Feb 26, 2024 1:31 pm Regional accents probably changed the answer for that one too. For example I would consider OUR and HEN to be valid answers in my dialect but not in Queen's (King's?) English
Hem and Hex alongside Hen in that case
Yep. Maybe OAR in Irish accent?
by Callum Todd
Mon Feb 26, 2024 1:31 pm
Forum: Other game shows
Topic: The 1% Club
Replies: 50
Views: 4728

Re: The 1% Club

Regional accents probably changed the answer for that one too. For example I would consider OUR and HEN to be valid answers in my dialect but not in Queen's (King's?) English
by Callum Todd
Fri Feb 16, 2024 10:13 am
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Ask Graeme?
Replies: 1740
Views: 682557

Re: Ask Graeme?

Adam S Latchford wrote: Fri Feb 16, 2024 9:42 am What is the most successful first name in countdown (if we say at least 3 people have to have been called this and do it by percentage of games won)
My money is on Tom/Thomas. Or maybe Mark.
by Callum Todd
Wed Feb 14, 2024 9:17 am
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: What films have you watched lately?
Replies: 419
Views: 239185

Re: What films have you watched lately?

Django Unchained. Good.
by Callum Todd
Fri Feb 09, 2024 10:18 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: What films have you watched lately?
Replies: 419
Views: 239185

Re: What films have you watched lately?

Poor Things was absolutely batshit. Loved it. Very funny. Off to see Argylle tomorrow. Poor Things second to Oppenheimer as film of the year. Let me know what you think of Argylle I have no real standards when it comes to films. Any light entertainment pap will do me. Argylle was rubbish. Can't rem...
by Callum Todd
Thu Feb 08, 2024 5:53 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: What films have you watched lately?
Replies: 419
Views: 239185

Re: What films have you watched lately?

Poor Things was absolutely batshit. Loved it. Very funny.

Off to see Argylle tomorrow.
by Callum Todd
Wed Feb 07, 2024 7:41 pm
Forum: Countdown - Events
Topic: COLIN XX- your input desired
Replies: 13
Views: 788

Re: COLIN XX- your input desired

I think there's nothing wrong with selling the books to make sure everyone can have one. Obviously FOCAL events are non-profit and all that but given that COLIN has tended to run over budget in recent years and these books could cost you a bit to produce, making it more likely to happen again next y...
by Callum Todd
Wed Jan 31, 2024 7:44 am
Forum: Countdown - Events
Topic: CO:Sheffield - Saturday 18th May 2024
Replies: 2
Views: 10218

Re: CO:Sheffield - Saturday 18th May 2024

Going to suggest this place for post-event scran if no plans have already been made:

https://templeof.fun/
by Callum Todd
Tue Jan 30, 2024 12:56 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Favourite Comedy Gig
Replies: 11
Views: 744

Re: Favourite Comedy Gig

Stewart Lee for me! Enjoy it Marc 😄
by Callum Todd
Tue Jan 30, 2024 12:56 pm
Forum: Countdown - Events
Topic: COLIN XIX- Countdown in Lincoln, 27-28 January 2024
Replies: 44
Views: 16827

Re: COLIN XIX- Countdown in Lincoln, 27-28 January 2024

Agreed, everything Mark mentioned being good about the Fox and Hounds applied to the social club, and in greater measure than the F&H (in its current iteration) is capable of providing. I had to ask some locals how to get to the social club as I had found it but thought I would be breaking and e...
by Callum Todd
Tue Jan 30, 2024 12:53 pm
Forum: Countdown - Events
Topic: Co-Event Suggestion Box
Replies: 137
Views: 12562

Re: Co-Event Suggestion Box

Agreed, it may sound simple but manually redistributing the letters packs is a massive ballache. Please don't mess the packs up when playing with them everyone! I also found the selections benefitted from the marvellous efforts of MSR and Beachy this weekend. I have to say I absolutely adored using ...
by Callum Todd
Sun Jan 21, 2024 10:03 am
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: The Countdown Android App is now out!
Replies: 153
Views: 28542

Re: The Countdown Android App is now out!

There's a maxmimum amount of times you can do it within a fixed time period. At the moment it's twice in 48 hours. Then you just have to wait for one of the abandoned games to fall out of that time window. So if you abandon two head to head games in 48 hours, you can't start another head to head ga...
by Callum Todd
Sun Jan 21, 2024 7:22 am
Forum: Countdown - Events
Topic: Co-Event Suggestion Box
Replies: 137
Views: 12562

Re: Co-Event Suggestion Box

Matt Rutherford wrote: Sat Jan 20, 2024 9:35 pm Goat/Co Brum will be back in August (will open sign-ups post-Rugby), so some newer stuff could be trialled. From what's written above, my initial thoughts would be...

-Have both Goat and Co at six games.
Wouldn't a 6 game event on a Friday night be a bit long?
by Callum Todd
Sun Jan 21, 2024 7:19 am
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: The Countdown Android App is now out!
Replies: 153
Views: 28542

Re: The Countdown Android App is now out!

[*] Rate Limiting for Abandoned Games: To encourage fair play. If you abandon multiple games, you'll be rate limited. Please make sure to finish the games you start. Loving the head to head feature, thanks Jack. Can I ask what "rate limiting" means please? Sorry if I'm being thick but I d...
by Callum Todd
Thu Jan 18, 2024 7:06 am
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Was Jeanne Calment a fraud?
Replies: 70
Views: 24843

Re: Was Jeanne Calment a fraud?

Gavin Chipper wrote: Wed Jan 17, 2024 10:45 pm Deserved more.
I have no... dog in this fight (re: Jeanne Calment) but I enjoyed the joke :D
by Callum Todd
Thu Jan 11, 2024 7:00 pm
Forum: Countdown - Events
Topic: COLIN XIX- Countdown in Lincoln, 27-28 January 2024
Replies: 44
Views: 16827

Re: COLIN XIX- Countdown in Lincoln, 27-28 January 2024

Thomas Cappleman wrote: Thu Jan 11, 2024 3:52 pm Tim finally found a way to break the Tim Down curse and get an actual good seeding then
Yep, good luck to him when he gets drawn against Dan and Latchford in Round 1 :lol:
by Callum Todd
Tue Jan 09, 2024 6:00 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Kurt Zouma and animal abuse
Replies: 160
Views: 12026

Re: Kurt Zouma and animal abuse

Yeah I did wonder what the difference between eating a dog and eating a cow is. Come to think of it, I think all the animals we traditionally eat are vegetarian - we don't generally eat carnivores - wonder why that is.... Lots of reasons, it's not just humans who play at this. Generally speaking mo...
by Callum Todd
Tue Jan 09, 2024 10:45 am
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Kurt Zouma and animal abuse
Replies: 160
Views: 12026

Re: Kurt Zouma and animal abuse

Dog meat to be outlawed in South Korea

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-67920167
by Callum Todd
Sun Jan 07, 2024 12:43 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Unpopular opinions you genuinely hold
Replies: 242
Views: 30303

Re: Unpopular opinions you genuinely hold

You all (recent commenters) seem to be putting the cart before the horse. Persons under the rainbow flag(s) all deviate from societal norms of fitting with binary gender roles, which is much wider than who/what someone is attracted to. Anyone in these groups has endured, and continue to endure, att...
by Callum Todd
Fri Jan 05, 2024 9:49 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Unpopular opinions you genuinely hold
Replies: 242
Views: 30303

Re: Unpopular opinions you genuinely hold

Being trans is not really related to being gay, except in a superficial sense, and the concept of an LGBT (plus some extra letters maybe) "community" is somewhat bizarre. I basically feel this way too, except I realise I don't know very much about this so it's very possible I'm missing so...
by Callum Todd
Sun Dec 24, 2023 11:19 am
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Your favourite Christmas song
Replies: 33
Views: 3873

Re: Your favourite Christmas song

Hadn't heard Kelly Clarkson's before this poll. Its relative success here inspired me to give it a listen. It's made my Christmas playlist. Thank you c4cers!
by Callum Todd
Wed Dec 20, 2023 10:33 am
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Questions you've always wanted answered
Replies: 1609
Views: 623745

Re: Questions you've always wanted answered

Stealing hubcaps was definitely a big thing when I was a kid. (I did not partake!)
by Callum Todd
Sat Dec 16, 2023 3:20 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Music
Replies: 295
Views: 83763

Re: Music

A Spaceman Came Travelling
I Believe in Father Christmas
Xmas Wrapping
Stop the Cavalry
Step into Christmas
Happy Xmas (War is Over)

Also contenders
by Callum Todd
Sat Dec 16, 2023 8:39 am
Forum: Countdown - Events
Topic: December Decathlon: 9th December onwards in the App
Replies: 23
Views: 4174

Re: December Decathlon: 9th December onwards in the App

Yeah thanks Jack, Great idea and it works amazingly well on the app. Some super play from everyone, should be a great final.
by Callum Todd
Fri Dec 15, 2023 9:29 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Unpopular opinions you genuinely hold
Replies: 242
Views: 30303

Re: Unpopular opinions you genuinely hold

Mark Deeks wrote: Fri Dec 15, 2023 8:35 pm There's no denying Bush had some swag about him.
https://youtu.be/TCm9788Tb5g?si=M2cm3_iDopAMtmRV
by Callum Todd
Sun Dec 10, 2023 7:29 am
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: What's the minimum time you have to be resident in the British Isles in order to qualify for Countdown?
Replies: 52
Views: 6473

Re: What's the minimum time you have to be resident in the British Isles in order to qualify for Countdown?

Regardless of the sentiment, "check your privilege" is one of those American imports that's basically meaningless in British English. Ridiculous phrase. The exact phrase is kind of annoying, but the meaning it carries is definitely not meaningless. Those of us with privilege should take t...
by Callum Todd
Fri Dec 08, 2023 1:46 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Unpopular opinions you genuinely hold
Replies: 242
Views: 30303

Re: Unpopular opinions you genuinely hold

I'm with Gavin on clothes. Either these opinions aren't unpopular enough or I'm just an unpopular kind of guy.
by Callum Todd
Fri Dec 08, 2023 1:30 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Unpopular opinions you genuinely hold
Replies: 242
Views: 30303

Re: Unpopular opinions you genuinely hold

I'm with Ell on the crisps thing. And with Mark on Nickelback.
by Callum Todd
Fri Dec 08, 2023 1:29 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: What's the minimum time you have to be resident in the British Isles in order to qualify for Countdown?
Replies: 52
Views: 6473

Re: What's the minimum time you have to be resident in the British Isles in order to qualify for Countdown?

I understand Adam G's point, assuming that it is something like: the ability to travel for leisure is a luxury and that many who "spend their whole life working a day job" do so out of financial necessity so it's unfair to criticise them as "boring" for that. But I think it's a r...
by Callum Todd
Thu Dec 07, 2023 6:53 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Unpopular opinions you genuinely hold
Replies: 242
Views: 30303

Re: Unpopular opinions you genuinely hold

I didn't take Mark's post to mean that tuition fees should be paid all up front Neither did I. Or was that more to Marc? (Also, I read your Mark as Marc when I first replied pre-edit.) It was in reference to both posts quoted talking about payment up front, although I recognise your post was itself...
by Callum Todd
Thu Dec 07, 2023 4:15 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Unpopular opinions you genuinely hold
Replies: 242
Views: 30303

Re: Unpopular opinions you genuinely hold

You should have to pay university tuition fees. If you had to pay upfront then Universities would be elites and only a privilege for rich people. I think like sport, universities should be available for all. However, there should be a better way to pay as presumably you should get a well payed job ...
by Callum Todd
Thu Dec 07, 2023 4:12 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Unpopular opinions you genuinely hold
Replies: 242
Views: 30303

Re: Unpopular opinions you genuinely hold

Some of the opposition to the whole Rwanda plan for migrants is itself somewhat racist, or at least chauvinistic.
by Callum Todd
Wed Dec 06, 2023 10:57 am
Forum: Countdown - Events
Topic: Co-event lunch arrangements
Replies: 20
Views: 3193

Re: Co-event lunch arrangements

Yeah I think anyone who's ever organised a co event will realise it's impossible to determine beforehand that a provided lunch is a requirement. Most venues don't offer it and if they do then it's normally: - a ballache to organise - difficult to cater for allergies/dietary requirements - poor value...
by Callum Todd
Thu Nov 30, 2023 8:07 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Unpopular opinions you genuinely hold
Replies: 242
Views: 30303

Re: Unpopular opinions you genuinely hold

It seems impossible to enforce any limit that controls or restricts people's reproductive capacities wiothout being actively murderous. So any opinion along those lines isn't going to find any popularity with me. Education of responsibilities and ethics is all good though. Largely agree with all the...
by Callum Todd
Thu Nov 30, 2023 6:25 pm
Forum: Countdown - Events
Topic: Co-Event Suggestion Box
Replies: 137
Views: 12562

Re: Co-Event Suggestion Box

JackHurst wrote: Wed Nov 29, 2023 8:23 pm
Fiona T wrote: Wed Nov 29, 2023 7:44 pm I get that the players who've won dozens of them might just chuck them in a box under the stairs
I hope nobody does this.
I do very literally this. I have above-ground space for one or two trophies so the most recent one or two take pride of place. The rest go subterranean.
by Callum Todd
Wed Nov 29, 2023 7:15 pm
Forum: Countdown - Events
Topic: FOCAL Finals and MK Open - 25th November 2023
Replies: 48
Views: 16622

Re: FOCAL Finals and MK Open - 25th November 2023

I think the conundrums were great. The one thing that's pretty clear from the above comments is that there was a good range of difficulties and feels to the conundrums, which is exactly what you'd want from a co:event in my opinion. Some of the conundrums even have a wide gap in perception of diffic...
by Callum Todd
Wed Nov 29, 2023 7:04 pm
Forum: Countdown - Events
Topic: Co-Event Suggestion Box
Replies: 137
Views: 12562

Re: Co-Event Suggestion Box

2) Prizes at Events: The variation in prizes between events is fine, and I have no suggestions for improvements. Hosts are doing a great job with prizes. While trophies are a nice reward for winning an event, I understand that sourcing them adds extra time and financial burdens for hosts, so their ...
by Callum Todd
Wed Nov 29, 2023 3:08 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Ask Graeme?
Replies: 1740
Views: 682557

Re: Ask Graeme?

Steve Hyde wrote: Wed Nov 29, 2023 2:57 pm In today's episode a contestant scored points by declaring 99 in a numbers round. Has this ever happened before?
Oh wow that's cool!
by Callum Todd
Wed Nov 29, 2023 3:06 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: You Are The Ref
Replies: 345
Views: 146824

Re: You Are The Ref

You're at a co:event. This is a co:event. It's not Countdown. It's not apterous. It's a co:event. So you're at a co:event and it's Bristol style. Conundrum time. It's a crucial conundrum. Pretty important game in the context of the day too. Both players buzz at around about the same time, although i...
by Callum Todd
Wed Nov 29, 2023 1:55 pm
Forum: Countdown - Events
Topic: Co-Event Suggestion Box
Replies: 137
Views: 12562

Re: Co-Event Suggestion Box

By the way, on the topic of writing numbers down, I would advise players to try one classroom event where they don't write the numbers down and see if they feel it's better for them. Unless you have eyesight problems, or are really far away from the screen, then not writing numbers down has multipl...
by Callum Todd
Tue Nov 28, 2023 12:31 pm
Forum: Countdown - Events
Topic: Co-Event Suggestion Box
Replies: 137
Views: 12562

Re: Co-Event Suggestion Box

Not really an addition as much as a 'keep it up' but I thought the adjudication of the crucial conundrums on Saturday by other players was a great idea and I would love to see it kept up if possible. I've not done a Bristol style event in years but this definitely made it much more enjoyable and fa...
by Callum Todd
Tue Nov 28, 2023 11:03 am
Forum: Countdown - Events
Topic: Co-Event Suggestion Box
Replies: 137
Views: 12562

Re: Co-Event Suggestion Box

If it's awkward to copy the numbers down from right to left, then perhaps the easy answer is to have them appear from left to right? The only reason the TV show does it right to left is because the target button is on the left so it makes sense for Rachel to be there after putting the numbers up. T...
by Callum Todd
Sun Nov 26, 2023 5:35 pm
Forum: Countdown - Events
Topic: FOCAL Finals and MK Open - 25th November 2023
Replies: 48
Views: 16622

Re: FOCAL Finals and MK Open - 25th November 2023

Thank you to everyone who came to the event yesterday, and special thanks to Fiona for the excellent new big-screen graphics software and Adam for capping off a year of fantastic contributions to the community with an amazing job as host. Results are as below: FOCAL Finals and MK Open 2023 Novotel, ...
by Callum Todd
Sun Nov 26, 2023 2:27 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Joke Items
Replies: 250
Views: 82479

Re: Joke Items

The Deathwatch "2017" thread on this forum
by Callum Todd
Sat Nov 25, 2023 8:22 am
Forum: Countdown - Events
Topic: Co Event Calendar 2024
Replies: 3
Views: 2446

Re: Co Event Calendar 2024

https://focalcountdown.com/upcomingevents/

Has a list of events that have confirmed venues for 2024. Webpages with full details to be posted once all requirements are confirmed with FOCAL. more details are already available on this forum
by Callum Todd
Sat Nov 25, 2023 8:20 am
Forum: Countdown - Events
Topic: FOCAL Finals and MK Open - 25th November 2023
Replies: 48
Views: 16622

Re: FOCAL Finals and MK Open - 25th November 2023

Also sorry to hear that. I was looking forward to meeting you, Marc! Btw, does it say in the opening post where in the hotel the event is taking place? Sorry should have specified. It's the Willem room on 1st floor. Can't miss it really just follow signs for Conference Rooms and it's the biggest on...
by Callum Todd
Sat Nov 25, 2023 7:00 am
Forum: Countdown - Events
Topic: FOCAL Finals and MK Open - 25th November 2023
Replies: 48
Views: 16622

Re: FOCAL Finals and MK Open - 25th November 2023

Marc Meakin wrote: Sat Nov 25, 2023 6:43 am Can't today sadly as I have had some kind of reaction to my Covid Jab yesterday
Weak and I'll today
If anybody here wants to take my place they can with my blessing
Have fun
Sorry to hear that Marc was looking forward to meeting you! Get well soon
by Callum Todd
Sat Oct 21, 2023 1:10 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Religion
Replies: 548
Views: 140439

Re: Religion

How can it be meaningful if it's false? Spending your one and only brief shot at life with the false hope of having a better afterlife seems a terrible waste. The best way to get meaning from life is the here and now - make your impact on the world a positive one (something you've definitely embrac...
by Callum Todd
Fri Oct 20, 2023 5:55 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Religion
Replies: 548
Views: 140439

Re: Religion

[...] religion is not a requirement to live a [...] meaningful life. I think it could be said that religion is a requirement to live an objectively meaningful life, with the caveat that it is almost certain that the objective behind that meaning is false. I believe that's essentially the main reaso...
by Callum Todd
Sun Oct 15, 2023 4:28 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Can you be pro-Palestinian without being anti-semetic?
Replies: 14
Views: 1987

Re: Can you be pro-Palestinian without being anti-semetic?

Yes.

David Baddiel did a good brief interview on a BBC podcast recently, heard it in BBC Sounds. He explained how people often conflate Israel with Judaism.
by Callum Todd
Sun Oct 15, 2023 4:26 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: People you shouldn't trust
Replies: 921
Views: 392704

Re: People you shouldn't trust

Surely you're used to pacing yourself in km so that makes sense. My watch is in km, my Edge (used for longer cycles) is in miles. But Strava shows everything in km anyway. You can change your Strava settings to show in miles if you prefer. Personally I always use km unless I'm doing a race that fit...
by Callum Todd
Sat Sep 30, 2023 1:48 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Track and Field (and Road) Athletics
Replies: 252
Views: 49376

Re: Track and Field (and Road) Athletics

Not sure if we've had this discussion before and it's probably got a simple answer anywhere but the talk of what external advantages a competitive sportsperson can gain are fair and which aren't always makes me think of the doping debate. High level competitive athletes do all sorts of things to giv...
by Callum Todd
Wed Sep 13, 2023 12:46 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Joke Items
Replies: 250
Views: 82479

Re: Joke Items

I used Click & Collect a lot in lockdown when delivery spots were scarce or reserved for isolating households but I didn't want to go into crowded supermarkets.Since then I mostly either do a normal shop in person or get a home delivery, as Graeme suggested. It's worth noting thought that Click ...
by Callum Todd
Sun Sep 03, 2023 6:55 am
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Countdowners in the news
Replies: 237
Views: 116309

Re: Countdowners in the news

This is Countdown news.
by Callum Todd
Sat Sep 02, 2023 7:02 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Rachel Riley Post
Replies: 76
Views: 16482

Re: Rachel Riley Post

Probably not very well publicised outside of the UK