Search found 1111 matches

by Callum Todd
Sat Sep 02, 2023 7:02 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Rachel Riley Post
Replies: 76
Views: 16549

Re: Rachel Riley Post

Probably not very well publicised outside of the UK
by Callum Todd
Tue Aug 22, 2023 5:38 am
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Rachel Riley Post
Replies: 76
Views: 16549

Re: Rachel Riley Post

The BBC news article I had read about Greenwood leaving by mutual consent has been updated to say that he could remain at Manchester United, on full pay, until he is sold to another club. I had thought that his contract was being terminated with a negotiated financial settlement, as that is what is ...
by Callum Todd
Mon Aug 21, 2023 4:38 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Rachel Riley Post
Replies: 76
Views: 16549

Re: Rachel Riley Post

As for the length of time taken to announce that Greenwood wouldn't be continuing at Manchester United, I'm fairly confident that all just comes down to money. They've made some unconvincing noises about their own processes, their responsibility as an employer, blah blah blah, but as alluded to abov...
by Callum Todd
Sun Aug 20, 2023 8:53 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Rachel Riley Post
Replies: 76
Views: 16549

Re: Rachel Riley Post

I really respect Rachel's comments on the Mason Greenwood topic. Coming from a public figure well known to be a very passionate Manchester United supporter, saying she would stop supporting the team is a significant statement that will surely cause a great number of football fans, who might otherwis...
by Callum Todd
Fri Aug 11, 2023 7:33 am
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Countdown ELO Ratings
Replies: 23
Views: 4627

Re: Countdown ELO Ratings

Johnny Canuck wrote: Thu Aug 10, 2023 9:40 pm Elo is a name, not an acronym. ELO ratings are the kind that you can’t bring down.
Don't bring them down, Bruce?
by Callum Todd
Wed Aug 02, 2023 11:48 am
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Countdown Lookalikes?
Replies: 390
Views: 221805

Re: Countdown Lookalikes?

Anyone see a bit of Paul Anderson in Cillian Murphy nowadays?

Image
by Callum Todd
Thu Jul 20, 2023 8:06 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: What TV programmes have you been watching lately?
Replies: 758
Views: 565471

Re: What TV programmes have you been watching lately?

The crossword one is good
by Callum Todd
Thu Jul 13, 2023 4:30 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Countdowners in the news
Replies: 238
Views: 116837

Re: Countdowners in the news

Incredible achievement from Andrew!
by Callum Todd
Sat Jul 08, 2023 6:54 am
Forum: Countdown - Events
Topic: FOCAL Finals and MK Open - 25th November 2023
Replies: 48
Views: 16667

FOCAL Finals and MK Open - 25th November 2023

Twin tournaments to close the season: who will be 2023 FOCAL Champ? https://focalcountdown.files.wordpress.com/2022/06/1500x1000-novotel-milton-keynes-england-foto1.jpg Date : Saturday 25th November 2023 Venue : Novotel Milton Keynes, Saxon St, Leyburn Ct, Heelands, Milton Keynes, MK13 7RA ( map ) A...
by Callum Todd
Sun Jul 02, 2023 8:30 am
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Questions you've always wanted answered
Replies: 1615
Views: 630758

Re: Questions you've always wanted answered

One of the concerns in combat sports is the damage of knocked out fighters hitting their head on the canvas as they fall. There's a great video of a Muay Thai ref showing some amazing reactions to catch a falling fighter's head before he hits the deck; incredible save.
by Callum Todd
Fri Jun 30, 2023 2:41 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Questions you've always wanted answered
Replies: 1615
Views: 630758

Re: Questions you've always wanted answered

Why is it that on a forum of several dozen members, half the topics seem to be created by one person? It seems to be the case on every forum I'm on. I'm sure there's some sort of law for it (similar to the square root law of the work force?) The Pareto Principle, there's some really fun examples of...
by Callum Todd
Wed Jun 28, 2023 5:40 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Glastonbury
Replies: 5
Views: 976

Re: Glastonbury

I only watched Arctic Monkeys and Guns N Roses. I thought Arctic Monkeys were great. Axl Rose's voice was mostly naff although he still hit the biggest notes when he saved himself for them but Slash's guitar solos made it a good show.
by Callum Todd
Thu Jun 01, 2023 8:04 am
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: If Sky waved their Chequebook would Colin Murray be tempted?
Replies: 9
Views: 2271

Re: If Sky waved their Chequebook would Colin Murray be tempted?

So why would Keys proving himself a bellend lead to Stelling leaving Countdown, which appeared to me to be the cause and effect being pointed out. When Keys got sacked from Sky, Jeff Stelling replaced him on some of his presenting duties I believe, leading to Jeff not having enough time in his sche...
by Callum Todd
Tue May 30, 2023 5:39 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: If Sky waved their Chequebook would Colin Murray be tempted?
Replies: 9
Views: 2271

Re: If Sky waved their Chequebook would Colin Murray be tempted?

I read Lav's message as Keys is a bellend, rather than Jeff. I think Jeff is fairly universally liked. Seems a decent chappie.
by Callum Todd
Thu May 25, 2023 4:46 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Kurt Zouma and animal abuse
Replies: 160
Views: 12144

Re: Kurt Zouma and animal abuse

I recently read a book that covers a lot of the trickier questions that have come up in this thread, including many that were put towards me and I was unable to answer effectively, such as Elliott's excellent question. The book is called Justice for Animals: Our Collective Responsibility and it's by...
by Callum Todd
Thu May 25, 2023 12:58 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Politics in General
Replies: 1604
Views: 1652437

Re: Politics in General

I did Of Mice and Men in my English GCSE and thought it was really good. We read it aloud in class when we first went through it and I remember it was a friend of mine who came to the first use of the N-word and hesitated, looked to the teacher for approval, and was given it, so went ahead. I have r...
by Callum Todd
Tue May 23, 2023 6:50 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers for Tuesday 23rd May 2023 (Series 87, Heat 87)
Replies: 15
Views: 1455

Re: Spoilers for Tuesday 23rd May 2023 (Series 87, Heat 87)

Congratulations Ronan; a fantastic achievement! I hope you had lots of fun filming.
by Callum Todd
Tue May 23, 2023 6:14 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: This Morning
Replies: 6
Views: 877

Re: This Morning

Really don't get why the whole Schofield thing is such a big story. Just strikes me as another incidence of celebrity piffle.
by Callum Todd
Tue May 23, 2023 6:12 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Wildlife Parks are they a good thing.
Replies: 5
Views: 807

Re: Wildlife Parks are they a good thing.

I did speak to the owner about why they don't keep elephants and he said that the enclosure needed would be too vast to make it (financially) viable that jarred me a bit as I always assumed owners were philanthropists. If I'm correcting in reading this as you thinking that "philanthropists&quo...
by Callum Todd
Sun May 21, 2023 10:11 am
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: C4C/apto/Countdown Dreams
Replies: 758
Views: 400169

Re: C4C/apto/Countdown Dreams

Excellent. For me the most bizarre part of that dream is the dimensions of the snooker table. The angles would be completely different to a normal size table. That won't do.
by Callum Todd
Sun May 21, 2023 10:06 am
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Politics in General
Replies: 1604
Views: 1652437

Re: Politics in General

It's like the famous saying says (I'm probably paraphrasing here) "I might not agree with what you are saying but will fight to the death for your right to say it" Voltaire When I spoke at the Oxford Union last year about the alarming recent popularity of people filming things vertically ...
by Callum Todd
Sun May 21, 2023 10:03 am
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Wildlife Parks are they a good thing.
Replies: 5
Views: 807

Re: Wildlife Parks are they a good thing.

Good topic. Historically zoos have been bad; they started as little more than circuses. Nowadays most of them are improving and have better standards. But a lot of them are still quite bad, and there's a softer less utilitarian objection one might have to even the best of them. There's a chapter in ...
by Callum Todd
Mon May 08, 2023 2:39 pm
Forum: Countdown - Events
Topic: Goat/Co:Brum 2023
Replies: 15
Views: 9403

Re: Goat/Co:Brum 2023

Keen on this one, should be able to sign up shortly. I'd be interested to hear what hotel others have booked if they have done so already, especially the Parkrunners!
by Callum Todd
Mon May 08, 2023 2:38 pm
Forum: Countdown - Events
Topic: Countdown In Newcastle upon Tyne (CoNuT) - Saturday 8th July 2023
Replies: 16
Views: 9001

Re: Countdown In Newcastle upon Tyne (CoNuT) - Saturday 8th July 2023

Is there a hotel of choice for those that have already booked? Looking at my options for this event, I intend to be there :)
by Callum Todd
Tue Apr 18, 2023 12:54 pm
Forum: Countdown - Events
Topic: Goat:Leeds 2023, Saturday 15th April 2023
Replies: 18
Views: 10043

Re: Goat:Leeds 2023, Saturday 15th April 2023

Thank you Fiona for posting the results, and a big thank you for hosting and doing all the atropine work on the day! Congratulations Rob on another event win sealed with another 9 great performances. George won the Yorkshire T award for picking the letter T most often, and there was a great competit...
by Callum Todd
Tue Apr 18, 2023 12:44 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Politics in General
Replies: 1604
Views: 1652437

Re: Politics in General

I understand Stephen Hendry's response. Clearly what he drew from the Just Stop Oil protestors' actions is that when our purpose of being here is dependant on the health of a wondrous but fragile greenscape, we must do everything we can to repair it when damaged and protect it from harm by anyone wh...
by Callum Todd
Mon Feb 06, 2023 11:20 am
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Countdown adjudication dictionary
Replies: 103
Views: 12235

Re: Countdown adjudication dictionary

All this talk of what a dictionary should be like for Countdown is pretty meaningless unless Countdown has any influence over the dictionary, which I don't think it does (no idea what this legendary "deal with Oxford" looks like). As far as I can see Countdown just has to choose an existin...
by Callum Todd
Sun Feb 05, 2023 1:38 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Veganism Discussion
Replies: 117
Views: 11114

Re: Veganism Discussion

Graeme Souness mentioning ethics as the main reason for not eating meat again on Sky Sports during their eco focus. Go on Graeme! Unlikely champion of ethical veganism on sports TV! :D
by Callum Todd
Tue Jan 31, 2023 8:42 am
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: You Are The Ref
Replies: 345
Views: 147327

Re: You Are The Ref

Meh, I think it's fine to award it to P1. Otherwise P2 could just force a redraw on a conundrum they've lost by doing this deliberately. If you say the answer uninvited after a close buzz without waiting for the host, you've forfeited the conundrum. Tough luck.
by Callum Todd
Mon Jan 23, 2023 7:30 pm
Forum: Countdown - Events
Topic: "What is COLIN?" and other questions
Replies: 37
Views: 34026

Re: "What is COLIN?" and other questions

I hear the Fox and Hounds have closed their Mike Brown-approved kitchen. Wherever are we to scran?
by Callum Todd
Thu Jan 19, 2023 5:50 pm
Forum: Countdown - Events
Topic: FOCAL website down
Replies: 5
Views: 1696

Re: FOCAL website down

Yeah sorry about this folks the website domain has been a very silly goose recently. focalcountdown.com is the way to go on. Going to get it all up to date this weekend.
by Callum Todd
Wed Jan 11, 2023 1:08 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: New Countdown Host To Be Revealed TODAY…
Replies: 8
Views: 1360

Re: New Countdown Host To Be Revealed TODAY…

Steph's Packed Lunch today also featured an exclusive reveal of Charles as the new King, and a groundbreaking scientific report from ecologists in Canada who have discovered that bears shit in the woods.
by Callum Todd
Wed Jan 11, 2023 8:34 am
Forum: Games and Puzzles
Topic: Wordiply (from The Guardian)
Replies: 28
Views: 5987

Re: Wordiply (from The Guardian)

Well done Marc!
by Callum Todd
Fri Jan 06, 2023 5:21 pm
Forum: Games and Puzzles
Topic: Wordiply (from The Guardian)
Replies: 28
Views: 5987

Re: Wordiply (from The Guardian)

🅦🅞🅡🅓🄸🄿🄻🅈 #16
🌟 Length Score: 100%
💫 Rare long word found!
🚀 Letter Score: 111
🔗 Play Wordiply: https://www.wordiply.com
🎬 Today's starter: 🄰🅁🅃

Big score today. Only really needed to know one word. I quite light this game but expect the novelty will be short-lived for me, like with Wordle.
by Callum Todd
Mon Jan 02, 2023 3:56 pm
Forum: Countdown - Events
Topic: FOCAL Finals Location
Replies: 1
Views: 1123

FOCAL Finals Location

Hello. We did the FOCAL Finals in MK last year and I think it went very well. There's been some discussion behind the scenes about what might be the best venue for the FOCAL Finals going forwards. It has previously been in Birmingham/West Midlands, and given the popularity of some of our northern ev...
by Callum Todd
Mon Jan 02, 2023 9:07 am
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Religion
Replies: 548
Views: 140940

Re: Religion

Fiona's story is a great modern-day example of one of the ways in which religion can be advantageous to societies, as we've discussed before on this thread and elsewhere, I think.
by Callum Todd
Mon Jan 02, 2023 9:03 am
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Next Champion of Champions series
Replies: 197
Views: 27777

Re: Next Champion of Champions series

1. Ahmed Mohammed (bottom) 2. Sam Cappleman-Lynes (top) 3. Elliott Mellor (bottom) 4. Tom Stevenson (top) 5. Eddy Byrne (bottom) 6. Luke Johnson-Davies (bottom) 7. Florence Cappleman-Lynes (top) 8. Dan Byrom (bottom) 9. Dinos Sfyris (bottom) 10. Matt O'Connor (top) 11. James Haughton (top) 12. Stu ...
by Callum Todd
Sun Jan 01, 2023 2:47 pm
Forum: Countdown - Events
Topic: "What is COLIN?" and other questions
Replies: 37
Views: 34026

Re: "What is COLIN?" and other questions

It's been down a few weeks now. Some domain problem. On it.
by Callum Todd
Sun Dec 25, 2022 2:23 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Merry Xmas C4C! 2022
Replies: 15
Views: 2493

Re: Merry Xmas C4C! 2022

Merry Christmas folks, lovely sentiments, love you guys x
by Callum Todd
Fri Dec 23, 2022 1:52 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Is Colin Murray making Countdown too competitive?
Replies: 42
Views: 4721

Re: Is Colin Murray making Countdown too competitive?

Yeah I think it's absolutely fair enough. Actually it's a nice touch to share an element of the game that most competitive players keep an eye on (close games particularly at a high level are constant underlined by the effort to establish an 11+ gap by round 13 or 14 for this very reason) with the v...
by Callum Todd
Sun Dec 18, 2022 12:34 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: C4C appears to have been pwned
Replies: 18
Views: 2123

Re: C4C appears to have been pwned

Gavin Chipper wrote: Sat Dec 17, 2022 5:59 pmOne false move and we could all be paperclips.
'I can see you're trying to maximise paperclips. Would you like some help with that?'
by Callum Todd
Sat Dec 17, 2022 11:05 am
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Joke Items
Replies: 250
Views: 82674

Re: Joke Items

Treadmills Useful for agoraphobics Forgot to respond at the time but fair point, I concede that for a minority of people in specific situations a treadmill might be their only feasible way of running. Was reminded of this by the fact I've skipped the last two parkruns because of ice. If I had acces...
by Callum Todd
Fri Dec 16, 2022 7:14 am
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Religion
Replies: 548
Views: 140940

Re: Religion

If you use the tool on the website I linked to choose different Bible versions, many of them are quite explicit in saying "have sexual relations with a man" or similar. So, the KJV's flowery language aside, it's fairly well agreed what that bit means. Essentially, to counter my original po...
by Callum Todd
Thu Dec 15, 2022 5:30 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Religion
Replies: 548
Views: 140940

Re: Religion

That's the way I interpreted it. But what's the Bible reference? And what translation are you using? This is one of the starkest examples. You can choose whichever translation you like on that website. But in order to interpret "as he lieth with a woman", you need a pre-established norm. ...
by Callum Todd
Tue Dec 13, 2022 10:11 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Countdown Lookalikes?
Replies: 390
Views: 221805

Re: Countdown Lookalikes?

The new Team Principal of McLaren F1, Mike Brown

Image
by Callum Todd
Sun Dec 11, 2022 11:43 am
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Genius things
Replies: 41
Views: 10754

Re: Genius things

This sounds promising
by Callum Todd
Sat Dec 10, 2022 10:43 am
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Religion
Replies: 548
Views: 140940

Re: Religion

No it's not. I'm pretty sure that Callum means that it is (scientifically) true that the bible says it! That's the way I interpreted it. But what's the Bible reference? And what translation are you using? This is one of the starkest examples. You can choose whichever translation you like on that we...
by Callum Todd
Sat Dec 10, 2022 10:15 am
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Religion
Replies: 548
Views: 140940

Re: Religion

Ha, oops! That phrasing certainly sounded a lot clearer in my head the first time round. I would hope it's obvious from the context of the post that sentence was in that I wasn't being homophobic. I meant what Fiona said.
by Callum Todd
Fri Dec 09, 2022 6:34 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Religion
Replies: 548
Views: 140940

Re: Religion

Yes, the is-ought problem is what I intended to highlight. I don't think "more and better science" solves that problem or necessarily gives us an objective morality (although I am sympathetic to the attempt to ground morality in objectivity), just that it solves the problem of traditional ...
by Callum Todd
Thu Dec 08, 2022 10:29 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: What films have you watched lately?
Replies: 428
Views: 240977

Re: What films have you watched lately?

Matilda the Musical Film. I love Tim Minchin but wasn't sure his Matilda musical would be my thing so a film version was perfect for me. Emma Thompson is superb as Miss Trunchbull; I really wasn't expecting the film to be so damn funny but I laughed very hard so many times when she was on screen. I...
by Callum Todd
Wed Dec 07, 2022 5:04 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Do you keep a personal diary?
Replies: 16
Views: 1215

Re: Do you keep a personal diary?

I think it's been found in studies and shit that keeping a diary is very helpful for organising your thoughts and stuff. So the comments above about thinking whatever you would write would be uninteresting sort of miss the point; the utility of a diary is in writing rather than reading it. No, I don...
by Callum Todd
Tue Dec 06, 2022 1:39 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Religion
Replies: 548
Views: 140940

Re: Religion

I've been reading a bit of Yuval Noah Harari recently and think that those of you who find this topic interesting might enjoy his discussions about religion. If you don't have time to read Sapiens and Homo Deus then just whack his name into YouTube along with a topic name such as "religion"...
by Callum Todd
Sun Dec 04, 2022 9:06 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: What films have you watched lately?
Replies: 428
Views: 240977

Re: What films have you watched lately?

Matilda the Musical Film. I love Tim Minchin but wasn't sure his Matilda musical would be my thing so a film version was perfect for me. Emma Thompson is superb as Miss Trunchbull; I really wasn't expecting the film to be so damn funny but I laughed very hard so many times when she was on screen.
by Callum Todd
Sat Dec 03, 2022 12:09 am
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Politics in General
Replies: 1604
Views: 1652437

Re: Politics in General

It's more the repeated questioning and implied disbelief that's so egregious: 'no, where are you really from?' after being told Britain several times is just awful. It beggars belief that someone in such a high profile role that likely involved speaking diplomatically with people from all sorts of d...
by Callum Todd
Wed Nov 23, 2022 2:26 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Music
Replies: 295
Views: 83923

Re: Music

The fair comparison point you make notwithstanding, my linking of the article was only intended to provide information about how downloading uses less energy than streaming, which was all that Tim asserted and you said you didn't get how. The follow-on implications that article makes about energy us...
by Callum Todd
Wed Nov 23, 2022 6:40 am
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Music
Replies: 295
Views: 83923

Re: Music

Jon O'Neill wrote: Tue Nov 22, 2022 8:46 pm 4. I don't get how.
https://www.bbc.com/future/article/2019 ... ate-change

Mostly comparing streaming to physical media but from the description of how streaming uses energy should make it obvious why downloading uses less.
by Callum Todd
Tue Nov 22, 2022 8:08 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Joke Items
Replies: 250
Views: 82674

Re: Joke Items

Treadmills
by Callum Todd
Mon Nov 21, 2022 5:49 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Music
Replies: 295
Views: 83923

Re: Music

I sort of get Gavin's point here in relation to 'buying' vs 'listening'.

Back in the day if you went to a record store and bought a new single it counted the same on the charts whether you took the record home and played it once, or a hundred times over.
by Callum Todd
Thu Nov 17, 2022 2:02 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: 40th Anniversary Celebrations
Replies: 40
Views: 4107

Re: 40th Anniversary Celebrations

Philip A wrote: Thu Nov 17, 2022 1:09 pm I think a studio audience of celebrity fans of the show would have been good.
So we can't go in the audience anymore but Philip Schofield and Holly Willoughby can? Shocker.