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by Alec Rivers
Thu Mar 04, 2010 2:35 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Is Countdown ruining Burnley FC
Replies: 13
Views: 2428

Re: Is Countdown ruining Burnley FC

John Bosley wrote:
Alec Rivers wrote:lol. Of course it's recorded live (mostly). What Alan Hansen doesn't realise is that it's not transmitted live.
That was my (rather pointless) point
I know – my response was directed more at Jeff. :roll:
by Alec Rivers
Wed Mar 03, 2010 11:55 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers For Wednesday March 3rd 2010
Replies: 23
Views: 4039

Re: Spoilers For Wednesday March 3rd 2010

It takes a lot to highly irritate me, but the challenger's insistence on calling Jeff "sir" was making me scream out loud every time :!: This, and the champ's use of the word 'also', where 'as well' or 'too' would sound better. 'Also' at the end of a sentence just sounds wrong. Or is that...
by Alec Rivers
Wed Mar 03, 2010 11:49 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers For Wednesday March 3rd 2010
Replies: 23
Views: 4039

Re: Spoilers For Wednesday March 3rd 2010

It takes a lot to highly irritate me, but the challenger's insistence on calling Jeff "sir" was making me scream out loud every time :!: This, and the champ's use of the word 'also', where 'as well' or 'too' would sound better. 'Also' at the end of a sentence just sounds wrong. Or is that...
by Alec Rivers
Wed Mar 03, 2010 12:22 am
Forum: apterous.org
Topic: Feature requests
Replies: 1956
Views: 433003

Re: Feature requests

Kirk Bevins wrote:
Alec Rivers wrote: You could record yourself reading the list out, save it as an mp3 and put it on your iPod (or whatever) to listen to in the gym. That might be easier to concentrate on and, as a bonus, would reduce the risk of major nerd alerts. ;)
Have you seen me with technology, Alec?
Oh yeah, good point. :D
by Alec Rivers
Wed Mar 03, 2010 12:14 am
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Is Countdown ruining Burnley FC
Replies: 13
Views: 2428

Re: Is Countdown ruining Burnley FC

lol. Of course it's recorded live (mostly). What Alan Hansen doesn't realise is that it's not transmitted live.
by Alec Rivers
Wed Mar 03, 2010 12:10 am
Forum: apterous.org
Topic: Apterous Simulation Of An Entire Series
Replies: 94
Views: 12491

Re: Apterous Simulation Of An Entire Series

A possible (obvious yet neat) name, perhaps: Simdown
by Alec Rivers
Tue Mar 02, 2010 8:11 pm
Forum: apterous.org
Topic: Feature requests
Replies: 1956
Views: 433003

Re: Feature requests

So, in short, any word lists or word stems or classic rounds etc for me to print off and look at when exercising would be brill. You could record yourself reading the list out, save it as an mp3 and put it on your iPod (or whatever) to listen to in the gym. That might be easier to concentrate on an...
by Alec Rivers
Sun Feb 28, 2010 2:00 am
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: The Sun Countdown Footballers Quiz
Replies: 15
Views: 3318

Re: The Sun Countdown Footballers Quiz

Adam Dexter wrote:I think it ought to be noted that there was a disclaimer saying, if I remember correctly, "The scoring system is different on the show".
Ah, fair do's. I didn't notice that.
Adam Dexter wrote:And good spot on the illegal conundrum :)
Ta.
by Alec Rivers
Sun Feb 28, 2010 1:55 am
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Countdown mentions on other shows
Replies: 315
Views: 137078

Re: Countdown mentions on other shows

I did like the fact that Burnley scrambled his name on the team sheet which they'd given to the match commentators. I can't remember exactly, but it was something like RACKLE SCALLIER. :)
by Alec Rivers
Sat Feb 27, 2010 4:05 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: The Sun Countdown Footballers Quiz
Replies: 15
Views: 3318

Re: The Sun Countdown Footballers Quiz

So to summarise, then, the thickest of the lot is the Sun researcher for the scoring fail in round 2 and for the plural conundrum. :roll:
by Alec Rivers
Fri Feb 26, 2010 11:16 pm
Forum: Countdown - Historical recaps
Topic: Calendar Countdown Pilot 1981
Replies: 2
Views: 667

Re: Calendar Countdown Pilot 1981

Nice one, James.
by Alec Rivers
Fri Feb 26, 2010 11:12 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Countdown Pilot Episode
Replies: 33
Views: 3866

Re: Countdown Pilot Episode

Matt Morrison wrote:Maybe I'm just making informed assumptions based on modern information ... I can't remember the proper terminology
IIRC it's called the Availability Error. ;)
by Alec Rivers
Fri Feb 26, 2010 5:52 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers For Friday February 26th 2010
Replies: 26
Views: 2681

Re: Spoilers For Friday February 26th 2010

Ryan Taylor wrote:Bitterly disappointed that Clarke didn't win and continue into next week. He was better than I was expecting (I presumed his appearance was just overhyped but he really was a good player).
This.
by Alec Rivers
Fri Feb 26, 2010 5:07 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Countdown Pilot Episode
Replies: 33
Views: 3866

Re: Countdown Pilot Episode

Horrifying and hilarious at the same time - like watching a chav drive your new car off a cliff.
by Alec Rivers
Fri Feb 26, 2010 12:57 am
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers For Thursday February 25th 2010
Replies: 31
Views: 2751

Re: Spoilers For Thursday February 25th 2010

Jenni Falconer:

Image


Lisa Faulkner:

Image
by Alec Rivers
Thu Feb 25, 2010 8:32 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Countdown Lookalikes?
Replies: 390
Views: 221861

Re: Countdown Lookalikes?

ImageImage
Chris Davies..............................Sarah Millican

Sorry, Chris, couldn't resist. ;)
by Alec Rivers
Thu Feb 25, 2010 8:15 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Religion
Replies: 548
Views: 140953

Re: Religion

Just thought I would throw this little cat in amongst the pigeons. Interesting, indeed. One problem I have with it, though, is that it is ambiguous. What exactly do people believe in when they say they believe in God? Is it restricted to the deities of the established religions as portrayed by them...
by Alec Rivers
Thu Feb 25, 2010 7:57 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Words changing meaning.
Replies: 52
Views: 3730

Re: Words changing meaning.

As the boys deem it appropriate to discuss the attractiveness or otherwise of female contestants, I see no reason why we shouldn't do the same with the male ones. I would honestly say that the attractiveness of young male contestants has been WAY more heavily discussed here than that of their femal...
by Alec Rivers
Thu Feb 25, 2010 7:53 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers For Wednesday February 24th 2010
Replies: 20
Views: 2822

Re: Spoilers For Wednesday February 24th 2010

Joyce Phillips wrote:If he becomes a teacher, he won't have to worry about the pay.
Why, because there isn't any? :roll:
by Alec Rivers
Thu Feb 25, 2010 2:29 am
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers For Wednesday February 24th 2010
Replies: 20
Views: 2822

Re: Spoilers For Wednesday February 24th 2010

And props to him for not saying: "Well, you know, at the end of the day, I'm over the moon, Jeff!"
by Alec Rivers
Wed Feb 24, 2010 10:05 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers For Tuesday February 23rd 2010
Replies: 28
Views: 3718

Re: Spoilers For Tuesday February 23rd 2010

Kirk Bevins wrote:... turning ...
:?:
by Alec Rivers
Wed Feb 24, 2010 6:40 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Dispatches
Replies: 24
Views: 3509

Re: Dispatches

I watched the second part of this programme. I found it really annoying that they had all these numbers games but didn't bother to show them to us. I know you might say "but that's not the point of it" - well they didn't need to spend so much fucking time on these games we couldn't see th...
by Alec Rivers
Wed Feb 24, 2010 1:39 am
Forum: Countdown - Events
Topic: Which was your favourite co-event?
Replies: 9
Views: 2228

Re: Which was your favourite co-event?

Matt Morrison wrote:Why is COLIN the only fully capitalised one?
To subliminally draw you towards it. ;)
by Alec Rivers
Tue Feb 23, 2010 1:24 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Countdown specials: The Secret's Out
Replies: 80
Views: 11896

Re: Countdown specials: The Secret's Out

Matthew Green wrote:... Dinos is on TV more than Simon fucking Cowell these days.
When has Dinos ever been on Simon Cowell? :D
by Alec Rivers
Mon Feb 22, 2010 6:33 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Words changing meaning.
Replies: 52
Views: 3730

Re: Words changing meaning.

In light of this , would things like "rubbisher" and "crappest" be valid words? :lol: Rather than crap, crappy is more often used in comparative and superlative senses, i.e. crappier, crappiest. Crapper is used by some as another word for toilet. Rubbish is bisyllabic so its com...
by Alec Rivers
Mon Feb 22, 2010 3:42 pm
Forum: Games and Puzzles
Topic: Really nice crossword clues
Replies: 9
Views: 1687

Re: Really nice crossword clues

If anyone's interested, the best colour to use to hide solutions in the standard view of this forum seems to be EAF6FD, which is roughly mid-way between the lighter blue background (EFF7FB) and the darker one (E4F4FE).
by Alec Rivers
Sun Feb 21, 2010 12:42 am
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers for Wednesday 17th Feb
Replies: 93
Views: 10664

Re: Spoilers for Wednesday 17th Feb

Jason Larsen wrote:If her hair were darker, I wouldn't have been as surprised
Jason, when you're in a hole, STOP DIGGING!
by Alec Rivers
Sat Feb 20, 2010 11:57 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers for Wednesday 17th Feb
Replies: 93
Views: 10664

Re: Spoilers for Wednesday 17th Feb

Brian Moore wrote:
Alec Rivers wrote:I find it hard to place religious people above atheists, agnostics, or any other group.
You obviously don't have what it takes to be a judge then.
Wow, that is disgusting (IMO).
by Alec Rivers
Sat Feb 20, 2010 10:21 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers for Wednesday 17th Feb
Replies: 93
Views: 10664

Re: Spoilers for Wednesday 17th Feb

Looking at Heather Badcock, I would never have guessed that she was a Bible study teacher. Think of this, a redhead who likes Guns 'N Roses and singing karaoke? She's a nice person, but I guess you can just judge a book by its cover. If Heather read this, she would be very offended! Too bloody righ...
by Alec Rivers
Sat Feb 20, 2010 12:18 am
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Birthdays
Replies: 1252
Views: 129677

Re: Birthdays

Run, James, run for your life!!
by Alec Rivers
Fri Feb 19, 2010 11:19 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Another footballer to appear on Countdown
Replies: 28
Views: 6572

Re: Another footballer to appear on Countdown

James Robinson wrote:Telegraph article
di-doo, di-doo, diddly-dee indeed. lol
by Alec Rivers
Thu Feb 18, 2010 8:16 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: The Matt Morrison Computer Corner
Replies: 452
Views: 115207

Re: The Matt Morrison Computer Corner

Gavin Chipper wrote:What do people make of Norton?
I've not heard anything good about it. I hear the latest version may be a bit better, but it has always carried a reputation of being resource-hungry. The paid-for security software I would recommend is McAfee SecurityCenter.
by Alec Rivers
Thu Feb 18, 2010 4:34 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers For Thursday February 18th 2010
Replies: 11
Views: 2178

Re: Spoilers For Thursday February 18th 2010

Kirk Bevins wrote:That second numbers was possible - 1 solution
Highlight to reveal:

50 x 10 = 500
500 - 6 = 494
494 x 9 = 4446
4446 / 6 = 741
741 - 8 = 733
by Alec Rivers
Wed Feb 17, 2010 4:40 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers for Wednesday 17th Feb
Replies: 93
Views: 10664

Re: Spoilers for Wednesday 17th Feb

Kirk Bevins wrote:Another two answered conundrum ...
Kirk Bevins wrote:... this wasn't a two answered conundrum ...
WTF?
by Alec Rivers
Wed Feb 17, 2010 12:15 am
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Dispatches
Replies: 24
Views: 3509

Re: Dispatches

Unbelievable. I suppose we can now add "lowest educational standard" to "highest teenage pregnancy rate" and "highest childhood asthma rate" in Europe. Go England.
by Alec Rivers
Sun Feb 14, 2010 10:40 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Old people
Replies: 14
Views: 2226

Re: Old people

Old people – you can't beat 'em.



Pity.
by Alec Rivers
Fri Feb 12, 2010 5:49 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: CountMax errors
Replies: 727
Views: 91014

Re: CountMax errors

So, are you saying you never expressed any doubt about FUN being an adjective?
by Alec Rivers
Fri Feb 12, 2010 5:41 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: CountMax errors
Replies: 727
Views: 91014

Re: CountMax errors

Charlie Reams wrote:You might find this entry more useful.
Calm down, Charles. You expressed doubt about FUN being an adjective and I helpfully provided documentation to show that it is. If you thought I was somehow trying to contradict you and be argumentative, then you have a persecution issue.
by Alec Rivers
Fri Feb 12, 2010 5:22 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: CountMax errors
Replies: 727
Views: 91014

Re: CountMax errors

Add FUNNER and FUNNEST. I balked when I heard Susie say yes. Does that mean we should also have GOODER and GOODEST? :cry: They're completely different cases. GOOD is undeniably an adjective whose inflections happen to be irregular, and are given explicitly in the dictionary. FUN is arguably not an ...
by Alec Rivers
Fri Feb 12, 2010 5:16 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: CountMax errors
Replies: 727
Views: 91014

Re: CountMax errors

Kirk Bevins wrote:
Alec Rivers wrote:Does that mean we should also have GOODER and GOODEST? :cry:
Anyone fancy a can of worms?
Precisely. ;)
by Alec Rivers
Fri Feb 12, 2010 5:15 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers For Friday February 12th 2010
Replies: 25
Views: 4334

Re: Spoilers For Friday February 12th 2010

2nd numbers also:

75 x 9 + 6 x 8 + 3 x 4
by Alec Rivers
Fri Feb 12, 2010 5:09 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: CountMax errors
Replies: 727
Views: 91014

Re: CountMax errors

Kirk Bevins wrote:Add FUNNER and FUNNEST.
I balked when I heard Susie say yes. Does that mean we should also have GOODER and GOODEST? :cry:
by Alec Rivers
Thu Feb 11, 2010 2:36 pm
Forum: Countdown - Current recaps
Topic: Wednesday 10th February 2010 (Ser. 62, Prelim 23)
Replies: 19
Views: 2675

Re: Wednesday 10th February 2010 (Ser. 62, Prelim 23)

You know, you don't really need to bother with a [sic] when the quotation is being done by a computer. (Unless, of course, you actually type all your quotes out, in which case you might want to use the quote button.) You know, if you broaden your mind a little, you'll miss less of life. What I did ...
by Alec Rivers
Thu Feb 11, 2010 12:57 pm
Forum: Countdown - Current recaps
Topic: Wednesday 10th February 2010 (Ser. 62, Prelim 23)
Replies: 19
Views: 2675

Re: Wednesday 10th February 2010 (Ser. 62, Prelim 23)

Okay, I thought it sounded like personal (and therefore biased) commentary, which I wasn't expecting to see in a recap. ;) wat [sic] I thought recaps were meant to be purely factual, impersonal accounts of games. As such, I wouldn't expect them to feature personal sentiments along the lines of &quo...
by Alec Rivers
Thu Feb 11, 2010 1:56 am
Forum: Countdown - Current recaps
Topic: Wednesday 10th February 2010 (Ser. 62, Prelim 23)
Replies: 19
Views: 2675

Re: Wednesday 10th February 2010 (Ser. 62, Prelim 23)

James Robinson wrote:
Alec Rivers wrote:
James Robinson wrote:Keith's risky 7 unfortunately sees Craig take the early lead.
Why?
To me, it's a bit unfortunate if you give away the lead early on. It's just how I see it, Alec.
Okay, I thought it sounded like personal (and therefore biased) commentary, which I wasn't expecting to see in a recap. ;)
by Alec Rivers
Wed Feb 10, 2010 10:11 pm
Forum: Countdown - Current recaps
Topic: Wednesday 10th February 2010 (Ser. 62, Prelim 23)
Replies: 19
Views: 2675

Re: Wednesday 10th February 2010 (Ser. 62, Prelim 23)

James Robinson wrote:Keith's risky 7 unfortunately sees Craig take the early lead.
Why?
by Alec Rivers
Tue Feb 09, 2010 9:20 pm
Forum: Games and Puzzles
Topic: Playtest: www.letterscore.co.uk
Replies: 6
Views: 1605

Re: Playtest: www.letterscore.co.uk

letterscore.co.uk wrote:Letterscore knows over 240000 words! That's pretty smart for a computer.
lol. Was that written in 1982?

And, as for the game, a kind description would be: 'hopeless'. :cry:
by Alec Rivers
Mon Feb 08, 2010 9:14 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Hello
Replies: 32
Views: 2138

Re: Hello

Jason Larsen wrote:No, unsurprisingly, but the rest of the US is covered in snow!
You've checked everywhere?
by Alec Rivers
Fri Feb 05, 2010 4:58 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers For Friday February 5th 2010
Replies: 35
Views: 4372

Re: Spoilers For Friday February 5th 2010

I heard OUTSTEER, too.

Thought TEALIGHT^ was in the GOLIATH round, but no.
by Alec Rivers
Thu Feb 04, 2010 11:28 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: +sums+
Replies: 14
Views: 2376

Re: +sums+

Kirk Bevins wrote:Good point. I think plussing should be in too.
Aaaaarghh!
by Alec Rivers
Thu Feb 04, 2010 11:26 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: +sums+
Replies: 14
Views: 2376

Re: +sums+

Interestingly, ODE doesn't give MINUS as a verb, so where "I'm adding these two numbers together" is acceptable, "I'm minusing these two numbers" is invalid. Plussing, the antonym of minusing, isn't in, either. The antonym of adding is subtracting. And the syntax changes for sub...
by Alec Rivers
Thu Feb 04, 2010 8:43 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers For Thursday February 4th 2010
Replies: 17
Views: 2786

Re: Spoilers For Thursday February 4th 2010

First numbers: Was that the most protracted and uncomfortable attempt at winging it ever seen? :roll:
by Alec Rivers
Thu Feb 04, 2010 8:37 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: +sums+
Replies: 14
Views: 2376

Re: +sums+

My most frequent expression mid-sum is pretty much "um... fuck..." After that it really can be anything, and with varied results. lol. :D It doesn't matter to me if others use different terms, though, apart from 'by' for 'times': wtf?? I don't say it myself, but when people use 'by' for t...
by Alec Rivers
Thu Feb 04, 2010 1:01 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Food heaven and food hell
Replies: 18
Views: 3299

Re: Food heaven and food hell

My fave meal is fillet steak, mangetout and new potatoes smothered in a rich Roquefort sauce. Om nom nom.

My hell would be a stir-fry of mushrooms, tomatoes, celery, leek, turnips, rhubarb and brie.
by Alec Rivers
Wed Feb 03, 2010 10:36 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: What are you having for dinner?
Replies: 34
Views: 4061

Re: What are you having for dinner?

Sue Sanders wrote:Braised a slab of pork ribs slowly in the oven in a liquid sauce of store cupboard stuff - soy, honey, tomato sauce, ginger, wine vinegar, for about 3 hours. Added a bag of stir fry veg to the sauce when the meat was starting to fall of the bone. Served with rice and finger bowls.
Droool!
by Alec Rivers
Wed Feb 03, 2010 8:46 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: What are you having for dinner?
Replies: 34
Views: 4061

Re: What are you having for dinner?

KFC
by Alec Rivers
Wed Feb 03, 2010 6:01 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers For Wednesday February 3rd 2010
Replies: 20
Views: 2986

Re: Spoilers For Wednesday February 3rd 2010

Simpler first numbers: (25 - 7) x 8 = 144
by Alec Rivers
Wed Feb 03, 2010 5:28 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: CountMax errors
Replies: 727
Views: 91014

Re: CountMax errors

D Eadie wrote:Self-chastisement coming.
Ha, so that's what you call it. :P