Search found 316 matches

by Stewart Gordon
Mon Oct 05, 2015 12:16 am
Forum: Countdown - Current recaps
Topic: Tuesday 18th August 2015 (Series 73, Prelim 37)
Replies: 9
Views: 3549

Re: Tuesday 18th August 2015 (Series 73, Prelim 37)

Different structural forms of the same element are allotropes. It's a similar concept to isomers in that they are different arrangements of the same atoms. But allotropes are necessarily of a single element, and not necessarily at the molecular level as isomers are.
by Stewart Gordon
Sun Oct 04, 2015 11:05 pm
Forum: Countdown - Current recaps
Topic: Tuesday 18th August 2015 (Series 73, Prelim 37)
Replies: 9
Views: 3549

Re: Tuesday 18th August 2015 (Series 73, Prelim 37)

I'm surprised Susie read out only the nuclear physics definition of ISOMER (an atomic nucleus with the same atomic/mass numbers as another but a different energy state), and not the chemistry one (a compound with the same combination of atoms as another but a different arrangement of the atoms). I'd...
by Stewart Gordon
Fri Aug 14, 2015 8:41 pm
Forum: Countdown - Current recaps
Topic: Tuesday 7th July 2015 (Series 73, Prelim 13)
Replies: 3
Views: 1477

Re: Tuesday 7th July 2015 (Series 73, Prelim 13)

From where did Nick get that Boris Becker was, at 17, the youngest ever Wimbledon winner? According to sources I've seen, it was 15-year-old Lottie Dod in 1887.
by Stewart Gordon
Mon May 18, 2015 11:24 pm
Forum: Countdown - Current recaps
Topic: Tuesday 28th April 2015 (Series 72 Prelim 74)
Replies: 4
Views: 1684

Re: Tuesday 28th April 2015 (Series 72 Prelim 74)

No mention of whether ANTIQUER would have been valid. Would it? It would have to be listed under this entry , and it's not. Have you established that this is indeed the dictionary Countdown uses now? I wasn't sure whether it was actually the free-for-all one or a more comprehensive one that you hav...
by Stewart Gordon
Thu Apr 30, 2015 8:39 pm
Forum: Countdown - Current recaps
Topic: Thursday 23rd April 2015 (Series 72 Prelim 72)
Replies: 8
Views: 2451

Re: Thurrsday 23rd April 2015 (Series 72 Prelim 72)

Susie wasn't sure whether FAILOVERS is a word. It seems to me that it ought to be. But what would have happened if a contestant had tried the word and Susie couldn't make up her mind about it? Is it an 8 you are prepared to gamble if you need the points ? I hope I would manage not to misdeclare it ...
by Stewart Gordon
Thu Apr 30, 2015 8:36 pm
Forum: Countdown - Current recaps
Topic: Tuesday 28th April 2015 (Series 72 Prelim 74)
Replies: 4
Views: 1684

Re: Tuesday 28th April 2015 (Series 72 Prelim 74)

No mention of whether ANTIQUER would have been valid. Would it?
by Stewart Gordon
Sat Apr 25, 2015 3:16 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Apterites disqualified for 'being too good'.
Replies: 13
Views: 3887

Re: Apterites disqualified for 'being too good'.

Anthony Endsor wrote::lol: :lol:
For those saying it was premature, it was actually posted after midnight, but because of the clock having not been reset following the clocks going forward, it's come up as 31st March.
Notice at the bottom of each page: "All times are UTC"

That explains everything....
by Stewart Gordon
Sat Apr 25, 2015 3:14 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Apterites disqualified for 'being too good'.
Replies: 13
Views: 3887

Re: Apterites disqualified for 'being too good'.

When you say "due to appear", do you mean they had actually been offered a place? I would have thought that once someone's secured a place on the show they can't take it back.
by Stewart Gordon
Sat Apr 25, 2015 1:58 pm
Forum: Countdown - Current recaps
Topic: Thursday 23rd April 2015 (Series 72 Prelim 72)
Replies: 8
Views: 2451

Re: Thurrsday 23rd April 2015 (Series 72 Prelim 72)

Susie wasn't sure whether FAILOVERS is a word. It seems to me that it ought to be. But what would have happened if a contestant had tried the word and Susie couldn't make up her mind about it?
by Stewart Gordon
Tue Feb 24, 2015 10:55 pm
Forum: Countdown - Current recaps
Topic: Tuesday 24th February 2015 (Series 72, Prelim 37)
Replies: 2
Views: 1330

Re: Tuesday 24th February 2015 (Series 72, Prelim 37)

It isn't clear whether Rufus believed that snake story was a real one. I'd certainly expect a vet to know better. Anyway, see:
http://www.snopes.com/critters/snakes/measured.asp
by Stewart Gordon
Wed Jan 21, 2015 11:36 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Ask Graeme?
Replies: 1740
Views: 684270

Re: Ask Graeme?

Gavin Chipper wrote:Yeah, it's not an anagram if it's the same.
Even if the two is and the two ss have been swapped over? :)
by Stewart Gordon
Tue Jan 13, 2015 11:29 pm
Forum: Countdown - Events
Topic: COLIN XI- Countdown in Lincoln, 24-25 January 2015
Replies: 133
Views: 35816

Re: COLIN XI- Countdown in Lincoln, 24-25 January 2015

I'm almost ready to book my place. I might be dragging a spectator along - would that be OK?
by Stewart Gordon
Sun Jan 11, 2015 3:09 pm
Forum: Countdown - Events
Topic: COLIN XI- Countdown in Lincoln, 24-25 January 2015
Replies: 133
Views: 35816

Re: COLIN XI- Countdown in Lincoln, 24-25 January 2015

Office products (almost definitely Word or Outlook) automatically switch ":-)" or ":)" into a smiley face, but they use a non-standards-compliant way of doing it, I think using the Wingdings font, which means that the smiley face renders as a "J" in pretty much all non...
by Stewart Gordon
Sat Feb 22, 2014 11:06 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers For Monday February 10th 2014
Replies: 16
Views: 3815

Re: Spoilers For Monday February 10th 2014

In recent times I've come across UPDATIONS. As I understand it it's an Indianism. Is it in the ODE?
by Stewart Gordon
Sat Jan 18, 2014 1:58 pm
Forum: Countdown - Events
Topic: COLIN X- Countdown in Lincoln, 25th-26th January 2014
Replies: 216
Views: 45954

Re: COLIN X- Countdown in Lincoln, 25th-26th January 2014

I keep meaning to book myself in for this but things have been a bit hectic so I haven't had the time to look into it properly, what with the "hangover" event to consider. Are there still places left on both events? Moreover it would be nice to have a "last updated" date on the l...
by Stewart Gordon
Wed Sep 25, 2013 12:17 pm
Forum: Countdown - Events
Topic: Co:Leam - 28th September 2013
Replies: 55
Views: 29165

Re: Co:Leam - 28th September 2013

I keep meaning to register but not remembering at the right time! Is the event full now, or can you squeeze another one in?
by Stewart Gordon
Fri May 31, 2013 10:36 pm
Forum: Countdown - Events
Topic: ????? in Nottingham 2013
Replies: 26
Views: 8378

Re: ????? in Nottingham 2013

I know I should be more active on this forum! It would certainly be good to do CoNot again, just as long as it isn't in the first half of August.
by Stewart Gordon
Thu Feb 21, 2013 9:43 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: B'day Championship Spoilers For Thursday February 14th 2013
Replies: 66
Views: 13893

Re: B'day Championship Spoilers For Thursday February 14th 2

And SOLIDEST - "it's got more than one syllable, and so it has to be specified" - so words like "more", "least", "best", "worse" can be inferred somehow? That doesn't follow. If it's got more than one syllable it does have to be specified. Yes, that...
by Stewart Gordon
Thu Feb 14, 2013 9:00 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: B'day Championship Spoilers For Thursday February 14th 2013
Replies: 66
Views: 13893

Re: B'day Championship Spoilers For Thursday February 14th 2

Well played again today Jack, jumper theft notwithstanding. When I was watching this game I was very surprised SALMONS wasn't accepted - I'd have been pretty miffed in Chris's situation. I was pretty surprised a few months ago when Susie said she'd allow it. In my view it was a mistake then, which ...
by Stewart Gordon
Mon Feb 11, 2013 3:13 pm
Forum: Countdown - Events
Topic: Co:Leam - 28th September 2013
Replies: 55
Views: 29165

Re: Co:Leam - 28th September 2013

Mike Brown wrote:I'm suddenly washing my hair that day.
Maybe you should get up 10 minutes earlier, so that you have time to wash your hair before the event.

Or go to bed 10 minutes later.
by Stewart Gordon
Mon Feb 11, 2013 3:08 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Birthday Championship Spoilers For Monday February 11th 2013
Replies: 28
Views: 8262

Re: Birthday Championship Spoilers For Monday February 11th

Did anyone actually get the boulders/brass connection?
by Stewart Gordon
Sun Jan 20, 2013 2:44 pm
Forum: Countdown - Events
Topic: Countdown in Lincoln 2013- Saturday 26th January
Replies: 195
Views: 46987

Re: Countdown in Lincoln 2013- Saturday 26th January

Are these food plans beginning to come together?
by Stewart Gordon
Tue Nov 06, 2012 12:13 am
Forum: Countdown - Current recaps
Topic: Monday 5th November 2012 (Series 67, Prelim 65)
Replies: 3
Views: 1147

Re: Monday 5th November 2012 (Series 67, Prelim 65)

I would have expected UNLIKED to be there in the sense of UN-LIKED, rather than UNLIKE-D. But it seems nobody in the whole studio thought of the possibility of that meaning.
by Stewart Gordon
Sun Aug 19, 2012 9:00 pm
Forum: Countdown - Events
Topic: Countdown in Lincoln 2013- Saturday 26th January
Replies: 195
Views: 46987

Re: Countdown in Lincoln 2013- Saturday 26th January

It's the time of the year again for me to announce that for the ninth time, COLIN is back! And thirdly, as this is the ninth COLIN Call me a pedant if you like, but if this is the ninth COLIN, then it's only the eighth time of being back. 10:00 doors open 11:35 welcome (officially) 11:50 round 1 13...
by Stewart Gordon
Thu Aug 16, 2012 12:07 am
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers for Friday August 10th 2012 (Series 67 Prelim 25)
Replies: 21
Views: 5489

Re: Spoilers for Friday August 10th 2012 (Series 67 Prelim 2

I think disallowing MATEYS was a bad call, yes. Page xvi at the front of the dictionary says "Plurals formed by adding -s (or -es when they end in -s, -x, -z, -sh or soft -ch) are regarded as regular and are not shown". So the regular plural of LOCH would be LOCHES.... Nope - the CH in LO...
by Stewart Gordon
Wed Aug 15, 2012 10:38 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers for Friday August 10th 2012 (Series 67 Prelim 25)
Replies: 21
Views: 5489

Re: Spoilers for Friday August 10th 2012 (Series 67 Prelim 2

I think disallowing MATEYS was a bad call, yes. Page xvi at the front of the dictionary says "Plurals formed by adding -s (or -es when they end in -s, -x, -z, -sh or soft -ch) are regarded as regular and are not shown". So the regular plural of LOCH would be LOCHES.... It goes on to say &...
by Stewart Gordon
Mon Jul 02, 2012 10:54 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Subtitling errors
Replies: 24
Views: 6971

Re: Subtitling errors

The solution to the second TTT in today's show was given as "DISCRETE" in the subtitles, even though the correct spelling "DISCREET" had already appeared on the screen by this point. So clearly the subtitles are done by only one pair of ears, and not a single eye. As if that wasn...
by Stewart Gordon
Wed Jun 27, 2012 8:19 pm
Forum: Countdown - Events
Topic: COHUD - Countdown In Huddersfield - Saturday 30th June 2012
Replies: 80
Views: 24136

Re: COHUD - Countdown In Huddersfield - Saturday 30th June 2

James, can you please arrange a special prize for the person who comes last? (I think it might be me) Lol, I'll see what I can do, Kerry. :D What are you going to do about all the games that finish 0-0, with both players refusing to answer the tie-break conundrum because then they'll be out of the ...
by Stewart Gordon
Wed Jun 27, 2012 12:30 pm
Forum: Countdown - Events
Topic: COHUD - Countdown In Huddersfield - Saturday 30th June 2012
Replies: 80
Views: 24136

Re: COHUD - Countdown In Huddersfield - Saturday 30th June 2

The date has somewhat crept up on me! Count me probably in.
by Stewart Gordon
Thu May 03, 2012 5:59 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers for Thursday May 3rd 2012 (Series 66 Prelim 78)
Replies: 6
Views: 2388

Re: Spoilers for Thursday May 3rd 2012 (Series 66 Prelim 78)

I saw CAMISOLE just as the clock had finished. But then I remembered that I think it can be spelt CHAMISOLE as well. Though it isn't on OneLook or in C20C. I assume it isn't in the ODE either otherwise DC would've mentioned it. But it has about 107000 hits on Google. Does this alternative spelling a...
by Stewart Gordon
Fri Apr 06, 2012 2:28 pm
Forum: Countdown - Events
Topic: CO:REA - Reading - Saturday of Easter Weekend 2012
Replies: 63
Views: 14612

Re: CO:REA - Reading - Saturday of Easter Weekend 2012

By the way if this AD/BC system is based on Christ's birth, then surely Christmas Day is 1st January. I heard somewhere that there was some significance placed on the 8th day after someone's birth (or 7th day after as it would be known in modern English). I guess somebody assumed long ago that our ...
by Stewart Gordon
Wed Apr 04, 2012 9:20 pm
Forum: Countdown - Events
Topic: CO:REA - Reading - Saturday of Easter Weekend 2012
Replies: 63
Views: 14612

Re: CO:REA - Reading - Easter Saturday 2012

Also, I would automatically have assumed that Easter Saturday was between Good Friday and Easter Sunday. The alternative (i.e. what Stewart says) may well be right but it just seems silly. You can always avoid using the term Easter Saturday if you don't like its definition. Most people would probab...
by Stewart Gordon
Wed Apr 04, 2012 12:17 pm
Forum: Countdown - Events
Topic: CO:REA - Reading - Saturday of Easter Weekend 2012
Replies: 63
Views: 14612

Re: CO:REA - Reading - Easter Saturday 2012

Michael Wallace wrote:If only Tony had put the date down as well to avoid any possible ambiguity.
Maybe I'll think of an event to hold on Christmas Day, 31 October 2012....
by Stewart Gordon
Wed Apr 04, 2012 12:15 pm
Forum: Countdown - Events
Topic: CO:REA - Reading - Saturday of Easter Weekend 2012
Replies: 63
Views: 14612

Re: CO:REA - Reading - Easter Saturday 2012

I've always thought Easter Saturday was the day between Good Friday and Easter Sunday. It seems logical to have Easter Saturday and Easter Sunday in the same weekend. I can only imagine this is what everybody else thought too. And what date do you think is the logical meaning of Easter Wednesday? E...
by Stewart Gordon
Wed Apr 04, 2012 10:49 am
Forum: Countdown - Events
Topic: CO:REA - Reading - Saturday of Easter Weekend 2012
Replies: 63
Views: 14612

Re: CO:REA - Reading - Easter Saturday 2012

Tony Atkins wrote:We are running CO:REA (Countdown in Reading) on Easter Saturday, 7th April 2012
How has this discussion progressed so far without a single person already noticing that you've got the dates completely mixed up?

Easter Saturday is the 14th this year.
by Stewart Gordon
Mon Mar 26, 2012 2:51 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers For Monday March 26th 2012
Replies: 8
Views: 2227

Re: Spoilers For Monday March 26th 2012

Another way:
8 × (7 × 6 - 1) - 6 = 322
by Stewart Gordon
Thu Mar 15, 2012 9:08 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Wiki down?
Replies: 2
Views: 909

Wiki down?

For the last few days I've been unable to access the wiki . It just gets into a seemingly infinite waiting cycle without displaying anything. However, updates have been appearing in the recent changes RSS feed the server is responding to pings DFEOJM is showing it as up at the moment the validator m...
by Stewart Gordon
Tue Mar 06, 2012 3:42 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers for Tuesday March 6th 2012 (Series 66 Prelim 42)
Replies: 9
Views: 2581

Re: Spoilers for Tuesday March 6th 2012 (Series 66 Prelim 42

I'd just about got round 10 sussed as the contestants were declaring.
100 × 5 + 75 - (50 + 6) ÷ 8
by Stewart Gordon
Mon Feb 27, 2012 3:25 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers For Monday February 27th 2012
Replies: 15
Views: 4397

Re: Spoilers For Monday February 27th 2012

Just to be interesting:
(50 + 4) × (9 + 8) ÷ (8 + 1) = 102
by Stewart Gordon
Fri Feb 10, 2012 4:09 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers for Friday February 10th 2012 (Series 66 Prelim 25)
Replies: 17
Views: 3084

Re: Spoilers for Friday February 10th 2012 (Series 66 Prelim

"Many a mickle makes a muckle". If you look this up, you'll discover that it's nonsense. I expected far better of Susie than this.
by Stewart Gordon
Tue Feb 07, 2012 3:23 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers for Tuesday February 7th (Series 66 Prelim 22)
Replies: 6
Views: 2541

Re: Spoilers for Tuesday February 7th (Series 66 Prelim 22)

Nobody got that numbers game? Looked easy to me:
50 × (8 + 4) - 7 × 3
But Rachel's way is cleverer. :)
by Stewart Gordon
Sun Jan 22, 2012 10:27 pm
Forum: Countdown - Events
Topic: Countdown in Lincoln 2012- Saturday 28th January
Replies: 150
Views: 43127

Re: Countdown in Lincoln 2012- Saturday 28th January

I'm inclined to go for the cheese and broccoli quiche for a change this time. And apple pie with custard.
by Stewart Gordon
Fri Jan 20, 2012 1:54 am
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Should Countdown BAN Under 16's?
Replies: 44
Views: 9035

Re: Should Countdown BAN Under 16's?

: The producers certainly should not be allowed to get away with offering someone a place on the show and then taking it back. Unless maybe the person in question was later found to have broken rules that were already in place. Graeme Cole wrote: However, shortly after Eoin's appearance the product...
by Stewart Gordon
Wed Jan 18, 2012 2:15 am
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Should Countdown BAN Under 16's?
Replies: 44
Views: 9035

Re: Should Countdown BAN Under 16's?

The producers certainly should not be allowed to get away with offering someone a place on the show and then taking it back. Unless maybe the person in question was later found to have broken rules that were already in place. Why not? Countdown isn't some sort of Olympic sport. It's a TV show. Beca...
by Stewart Gordon
Mon Jan 16, 2012 3:07 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers for Friday January 13th 2012 (Series 66 Prelim 5)
Replies: 22
Views: 5210

Re: Spoilers for Friday January 13th 2012 (Series 66 Prelim

Jon O'Neill wrote:Well we've had the whole debate before. But the rules say one-syllable adjectives can have -ER and -EST forms.
Does anyone have the full, exact wording of this rule as it currently stands?

Moreover, does the ODE make use of any label like "not comparable" or "not gradable"?
by Stewart Gordon
Sat Jan 14, 2012 2:20 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Subtitling errors
Replies: 24
Views: 6971

Re: Subtitling errors

It seems to me that a programme like this shouldn't be skimping on the subtitler's wages. I can imagine that people who have been deaf for all or most of their lives, and who therefore rely on subtitles, might have difficulty recognising homophones.
by Stewart Gordon
Sat Jan 14, 2012 2:11 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers for Friday January 13th 2012 (Series 66 Prelim 5)
Replies: 22
Views: 5210

Re: Spoilers for Friday January 13th 2012 (Series 66 Prelim

Jack gave INVADERS. But he had declared 7, and there was no R or S in the selection. Yet it was just accepted without comment. ?????????? INVADED wasn't it? Tbh I thoutgh it sounded like INVADERS but judging by the selection and the fact that it's Jack I assumed I'd misheard. I listened to it at le...
by Stewart Gordon
Fri Jan 13, 2012 4:37 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers for Friday January 13th 2012 (Series 66 Prelim 5)
Replies: 22
Views: 5210

Re: Spoilers for Friday January 13th 2012 (Series 66 Prelim

Jack gave INVADERS. But he had declared 7, and there was no R or S in the selection. Yet it was just accepted without comment.

??????????
by Stewart Gordon
Mon Jan 09, 2012 4:39 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Should Countdown BAN Under 16's?
Replies: 44
Views: 9035

Re: Should Countdown BAN Under 16's?

Beyond that - this is where it gets absurd. The child cannot be in our building, whether asleep, playing Countdown or whatever, for more than 7.5 hours per day - and they are not allowed in the building after 7pm. Who made all these rules? They need a separate toilet - they can't use the normal lad...
by Stewart Gordon
Mon Jan 09, 2012 4:29 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Should Countdown BAN Under 16's?
Replies: 44
Views: 9035

Re: Should Countdown BAN Under 16's?

Once upon a time, or so I heard, there were plans for a Junior Countdown but nothing came of them. I wonder whether this project is going to be resurrected. Maybe grant the licence to some TV company that already makes children's game shows. I also wonder if there's going to be a change to the rule ...
by Stewart Gordon
Mon Jan 09, 2012 4:17 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Should Countdown BAN Under 16's?
Replies: 44
Views: 9035

Re: Should Countdown BAN Under 16's?

Earlier this year, she had an audition for this show, and came top out of the 8 contestants, and had been given a place on the show, which would have made her the show's youngest ever female contestant. However, she has since been told that under-16's are now no longer going to be allowed to partic...
by Stewart Gordon
Wed Dec 21, 2011 11:56 am
Forum: Countdown - Events
Topic: Countdown in Lincoln 2012- Saturday 28th January
Replies: 150
Views: 43127

Re: Countdown in Lincoln 2012- Saturday 28th January

Seems we've got quite a lot of people in already - including quite a handful I've never heard of!

Count me in for anything edible that turns out to be on offer.
by Stewart Gordon
Thu Dec 15, 2011 2:28 am
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Subtitling errors
Replies: 24
Views: 6971

Re: Subtitling errors

Even live subtitles are better than nothing, but it's the lag that annoys me the most, sometimes 30/40 seconds behind the action, especially on talk shows. I agree. Moreover, I've seen Big Brother use live subtitles even in the daily highlights shows, where the footage is pre-recorded, and yet they...
by Stewart Gordon
Wed Nov 30, 2011 3:16 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers For Wednesday November 30th 2011
Replies: 15
Views: 2958

Re: Spoilers For Wednesday November 30th 2011

Unless I saw a phantom letter, my ability to spot nines seems to have OUTLASTED theirs....
by Stewart Gordon
Wed Nov 16, 2011 10:23 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Subtitling errors
Replies: 24
Views: 6971

Re: Subtitling errors

And WALES today ... what has the world come to?
by Stewart Gordon
Mon Oct 24, 2011 10:28 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Subtitling errors
Replies: 24
Views: 6971

Re: Subtitling errors

I suspect it's because there isn't much time to devote to subtitling, even for recorded programmes, Why would they need to devote time to it? Why is it not adequate to have the subtitlers at the filming and editing sessions? Or can the production company not afford to pay them for that many hours? ...