Search found 330 matches

by Thomas Cappleman
Wed May 06, 2020 2:21 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: When Countdown episodes run out
Replies: 80
Views: 28989

Re: When Countdown episodes run out

CoC XIV due to follow the 30th Birthday Championship (starting 25th June based on email I just received).
by Thomas Cappleman
Thu Mar 12, 2020 11:02 am
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: REALLY obvious things you've just realised
Replies: 630
Views: 275606

Re: REALLY obvious things you've just realised

Gavin Chipper wrote: Thu Mar 12, 2020 10:19 am What?

Edit - I mean, why is it funny and why is a picture of a football with that weird blood hand/face on it relevant? I'm not getting it at all.
The volleyball's from Cast Away. Do you want to build a snowman? is from Frozen. These are both somewhat successful films.
by Thomas Cappleman
Wed Feb 12, 2020 10:50 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Internal monologue
Replies: 19
Views: 7446

Re: Internal monologue

Very much on the internal voice side - would love it to shut up when I try and sleep.

On the Countdown side of things, some part of my brain will often chuck solutions out, but they'll still at some point get internally vocalised.
by Thomas Cappleman
Tue Feb 11, 2020 11:34 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Is COUNTDOWN worthy of respect as a game?
Replies: 21
Views: 10184

Re: Is COUNTDOWN worthy of respect as a game?

Going with the definition Callum found, of artistry as "creative skill", I think a combination of those words must include some element of choice - tying in with the openness Callum talked about. Pure art-art obviously has this - you could choose to make or paint anything within the realms...
by Thomas Cappleman
Fri Jan 24, 2020 9:57 am
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Poll: The strongest series? [S01-S81]
Replies: 18
Views: 7441

Re: Poll: The strongest series? [S01-S81]

Not even a contest. 69 had (at the time) 3 of the 5 highest octototals, plus Zarte who would have been in the 900+ club then if he hadn't played Dylan and went on to be one of the top players of all time, and then Callum comes along and trains enough that he beats all 3 of the top seeds to win the s...
by Thomas Cappleman
Mon Jan 13, 2020 11:21 am
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Questions you've always wanted answered
Replies: 1615
Views: 630809

Re: Questions you've always wanted answered

The intro to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cap_(sport) describes it well. True (thanks) although it gets confusing again as it starts off by saying it's a metaphorical thing, then later it says that association football teams still award a physical cap. If so, and players are given one every time t...
by Thomas Cappleman
Mon Jan 13, 2020 11:10 am
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Questions you've always wanted answered
Replies: 1615
Views: 630809

Re: Questions you've always wanted answered

The intro to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cap_(sport) describes it well.
by Thomas Cappleman
Wed Jan 08, 2020 8:14 am
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Who are Countdown's unluckiest losers?
Replies: 27
Views: 9825

Re: Who are Countdown's unluckiest losers?

Ciaran McCarthy and Peter Steggle also come to mind - both lost to Mark Murray with scores of 104 and 95 respectively.
by Thomas Cappleman
Thu Jan 02, 2020 10:18 am
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: How many countries have you been to?
Replies: 172
Views: 81991

Re: How many countries have you been to?

Year-end update: China (airport only), New Zealand and Russia, bringing to 31. Was due to add Romania on a work trip this month, but cancelled for now (may still make it later this year anyway).
by Thomas Cappleman
Thu Dec 05, 2019 4:20 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Series 81 finals predictions
Replies: 8
Views: 5021

Re: Series 81 finals predictions

David Williams wrote: Thu Dec 05, 2019 10:12 am I'm sure we're all relieved that Chris Evans ensures there is no Bevins number discontinuity.
Though Robin Johnson in series 79 and his associated stretch of games did break it.
by Thomas Cappleman
Tue Dec 03, 2019 3:50 pm
Forum: apterous.org
Topic: ProRanks history video
Replies: 11
Views: 7610

Re: ProRanks history video

This is great Tom. I was considering trying to do something similar a few weeks back as part of my efforts to learn R, but couldn't raise the effort to scrape the data - what did you use for that piece? My Python code's below. I used requests (a nice intuitive module) to just get each page in turn,...
by Thomas Cappleman
Tue Nov 19, 2019 10:08 am
Forum: apterous.org
Topic: ProRanks history video
Replies: 11
Views: 7610

Re: ProRanks history video

It's so nice that I won't take it personally that I have been excluded! I hope it's because of my stupid punctuated name rather than a personal vendetta. Oh whoops. Yes, that actually is the reason - my code gathering the data from each page expected names to contain letters and spaces only. Also m...
by Thomas Cappleman
Mon Nov 18, 2019 7:06 pm
Forum: apterous.org
Topic: ProRanks history video
Replies: 11
Views: 7610

ProRanks history video

I made one of those moving bar charts showing ProRanks over time: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YfWpClM ... e=youtu.be

Only shows the top 20 as some weeks don't have a full top 25 because of deactivated accounts. Very low-effort recording technique as well.
by Thomas Cappleman
Tue Oct 22, 2019 8:59 am
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: People you shouldn't trust
Replies: 921
Views: 394491

Re: People you shouldn't trust

Gavin Chipper wrote: Mon Oct 21, 2019 3:31 pm People who have toasted marshmallows. How is that a thing? It's such an arbitrary thing to do. Excuse me a minute while I stir fry some gummy bears.
Is it any more arbitrary than toasting bread? Excuse me while I cook this thing that's already been cooked.
by Thomas Cappleman
Fri Oct 18, 2019 12:34 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Is Countdown moving to Leeds ?
Replies: 3
Views: 2555

Re: Is Countdown moving to Leeds ?

It's made by ITV Studios, not channel 4, so doubt that's going to have any impact (that's also presumably why it's in Media City already, which Channel 4 don't seem to be bothering with based on that article)
by Thomas Cappleman
Wed Oct 02, 2019 4:05 pm
Forum: Countdown - Events
Topic: FOCAL scoring system
Replies: 57
Views: 40038

Re: FOCAL scoring system

Most events though are fairly similar in their spread of strength (with Waterford being the main exception, with a much higher ratio of non-regulars), and also aren't anywhere near 4 or 100 in size. In a small event, there's no way of getting a high position without playing the rest of the top playe...
by Thomas Cappleman
Wed Aug 28, 2019 12:57 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Thread Of Random (for Marc)
Replies: 168
Views: 51138

Re: Thread Of Random (for Marc)

I don't think the hole in the ozone layer was even thought of back then. Mainly because we didn't have the scientific consensus until around that point. Not one to court controversy but I have believed global warming to be a conspiracy theory with very little hard evidence to support it. Certainly ...
by Thomas Cappleman
Tue Aug 27, 2019 10:04 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Religion
Replies: 548
Views: 140948

Re: Religion

Also why couldn't Jesus just be the wisest, humblest most loving human ever without having to be the son of God. Except he then comes out with statements like "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" and "Whoever acknowledges me before o...
by Thomas Cappleman
Tue Aug 27, 2019 3:19 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Ask Graeme?
Replies: 1740
Views: 683929

Re: Ask Graeme?

2. What is the longest string of centuries in preliminary games?- I would have thought that 9 in a row starting from Elliott Mellor's 1st game would be a contender. Zarte's first run + Dylan's octorun + Gemma's first game (14 games total) is most likely I reckon. I've had a look at all the octocham...
by Thomas Cappleman
Sun Jun 16, 2019 12:10 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Tory Leadership
Replies: 20
Views: 12277

Re: Tory Leadership

Ashton Hancock wrote: Sun Jun 16, 2019 10:24 am I am not a Tory supporter. All the contenders are total idiots.
Are you just sad that your uncle Matt had to pull out of the race?
by Thomas Cappleman
Fri May 24, 2019 10:31 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Ask Graeme?
Replies: 1740
Views: 683929

Re: Ask Graeme?

Found a couple recorded as 30s ( http://wiki.apterous.org/Episode_4419 and this wonderfully ironic entry http://wiki.apterous.org/Episode_761 ) Also a couple of 29.75s ( http://wiki.apterous.org/Episode_5293 and http://wiki.apterous.org/Episode_5326 ) and a 29.9 after an incorrect 29s buzz ( http://...
by Thomas Cappleman
Thu May 23, 2019 1:15 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Series 80 - Female Winners
Replies: 2
Views: 1934

Re: Series 80 - Female Winners

Would need a Graeme to answer fully, but it's definitely looking good compared to recent years. You have to go back to series 71 to find the last series with more than 1 female finalist, leaving very little time for the others to fit in a high percentage. Series 80 has already managed that, Sandra's...
by Thomas Cappleman
Wed May 22, 2019 1:15 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Negative picking
Replies: 20
Views: 13226

Re: Negative picking

Seems entirely reasonable, particularly when that's your specialism. When I'm playing a stronger letter player I'll deliberately try to open up the selection for the same reason, to prevent a selection where I have to guess what word like PAPOOCH is valid to match my opponent. If the aim were to exp...
by Thomas Cappleman
Mon May 20, 2019 1:03 pm
Forum: Countdown - Events
Topic: Countdown In Brinsworth 2019
Replies: 113
Views: 97479

Re: Countdown In Brinsworth 2019

Hi Guys This will now be an online event held over a few weeks starting later this month. It will be held here on c4countdown 1st off player 1 will text how many vowels and consonants they would like and I will reply to both contestants with them vowels and consonants the same with round 2 etc. I w...
by Thomas Cappleman
Fri Apr 26, 2019 2:12 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Questions you've always wanted answered
Replies: 1615
Views: 630809

Re: Questions you've always wanted answered

If you shortened "bicycle" to "bic" you'd be sectioned, so why do people shorten "microphone" to mic? "Mike" makes so much more sense. https://www.audiolinks.com/blog/mike-vs-mic/ As I suspected, mike is the preferred grammatically, particularly when used as ...
by Thomas Cappleman
Mon Mar 11, 2019 4:36 am
Forum: Countdown - Events
Topic: COREA - Reading - 20th April 2019
Replies: 6
Views: 9386

Re: COREA - Reading - 20th April 2019

In please
by Thomas Cappleman
Sat Mar 02, 2019 11:47 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Mark and Zarte's 26.2 Hour Game Of Countdown
Replies: 21
Views: 13344

Re: Mark and Zarte's 26.2 Hour Game Of Countdown

Great work everyone involved - the standard you guys reached, even after a day's playing, was amazing. Also thanks to Patrick, an attendee of the event, who solved the lifelong which-are-the-discard-piles problem that has plagued Co events for more than a decade by suggesting that the discards are l...
by Thomas Cappleman
Tue Jan 29, 2019 8:13 am
Forum: Other game shows
Topic: Only Connect
Replies: 169
Views: 93706

Re: Only Connect

Based on what has happened so far, I think it works like this:- 16 teams, so 8 games in the "heats" round. Following this we have 8 winners (1-0) and 8 losers (0-1). Next stage is the "losers" round - win this and you're at 1-1 and survive, lose and you're 0-2 and BFH as Jim Bow...
by Thomas Cappleman
Fri Jan 11, 2019 1:05 pm
Forum: Countdown - Events
Topic: COLIN XV- Countdown in Lincoln, 19-20 January 2019
Replies: 59
Views: 61250

Re: COLIN XV- Countdown in Lincoln, 19-20 January 2019

Mike Springett beat me to it in the Facebook discussion, but obviously there will be a parkrun happening as well on this weekend. Just like to let everyone know there will be a parkrun happening over the weekend for Colin 2020 too. And Colin 2022. 2021 however will controversially take place midwee...
by Thomas Cappleman
Thu Nov 22, 2018 3:17 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: How many combos?
Replies: 8
Views: 4252

Re: How many combos?

There's probably even a way to do the seven IF tests and combine the results in a single cell (essentially whatever you'd put in the 7 separate cells, combined into one formula).
by Thomas Cappleman
Thu Nov 22, 2018 2:47 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: How many combos?
Replies: 8
Views: 4252

Re: How many combos?

Yeah, you definitely don't want to do that by working out each combination individually. Doing 7 individual IF tests then combining the results as a string would be ideal, however you do that in Excel.
by Thomas Cappleman
Thu Nov 22, 2018 2:20 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: How many combos?
Replies: 8
Views: 4252

Re: How many combos?

2^7=128 (each day can either be in the set or not). Or 127 if you discount the empty list.
by Thomas Cappleman
Fri Nov 02, 2018 5:30 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: How many countries have you been to?
Replies: 172
Views: 81991

Re: How many countries have you been to?

25 Turkey, just passing thru, sadly 26 Israel with work, interesting few days in Tel Aviv mainly, but a trip to the Dead Sea meant.... 27 Palestine and adds Palestine to the exclusive list of "countries I've been to without realising I've been to", a list which currently consists of Pales...
by Thomas Cappleman
Mon Oct 22, 2018 2:15 pm
Forum: Other game shows
Topic: Countdowners On Other Quizzes
Replies: 253
Views: 165452

Re: Countdowners On Other Quizzes

Nathan Pace in on The Chase tonight, he's been waiting over a year for the broadcast date! Good luck Nathan Also tonight, the Countdowners on Only Connect run continues, with Bob de Caux. Also Dave Ryan and Suzy Turner on 5th November, and Hugh Binnie, Lauren Hamer and Matt Bayfield on 19th November.
by Thomas Cappleman
Tue Oct 16, 2018 10:33 am
Forum: Other game shows
Topic: Lateral
Replies: 3
Views: 6182

Re: Lateral

Really enjoyed these at the time, would love to see it commissioned. My one concern is that the nature of the questions makes it easier than OC to write hints that aren't any use. In OC, each hint is an extra element of the set/sequence, so is always extra information. Here, the hint is a clarificat...
by Thomas Cappleman
Fri Oct 12, 2018 3:04 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers for Friday 12th October 2018 (Series 79, Prelim 76)
Replies: 8
Views: 6096

Re: Spoilers for Friday 12th October 2018 (Series 79, Prelim 76)

This series must be approaching the record for greatest number of people who have been provisionally ranked #1 seed, though I suspect Series 21 is still tops (see the factoid on the page). This series is currently tying series 21 with 9 provisional #1s (due to having 2 currently unseeded players fi...
by Thomas Cappleman
Wed Oct 10, 2018 10:34 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Ask Graeme?
Replies: 1740
Views: 683929

Re: Ask Graeme?

Graeme Cole wrote: Wed Oct 10, 2018 7:50 pm
Graeme Cole wrote: Wed Oct 10, 2018 7:29 pmnew 15-rounders
We've had the current format for over 5 years now. When am I going to stop calling it the "new" 15-rounder?
Given that this is the Ask Graeme? thread, I think it's on you to answer your own question. Preferably with suitable statistics.
by Thomas Cappleman
Tue Sep 25, 2018 2:52 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: How many countries have you been to?
Replies: 172
Views: 81991

Re: How many countries have you been to?

Denmark and Sweden done, and should be adding Israel and Palestine in a month.
by Thomas Cappleman
Fri Aug 31, 2018 8:46 am
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: The CoC Predictions Game
Replies: 81
Views: 47049

Re: The CoC Predictions Game

People have actually done that? What kind of lunatic would send you a range when the scoring system requires an exact number? What did they think would happen? So if someone says "I think A will beat B by 5-10 points", and Zarte takes the middle value which is 7.5, and the actual margin t...
by Thomas Cappleman
Tue Aug 28, 2018 12:25 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers for Monday 27th August 2018 (Series 79, Prelim 43)
Replies: 8
Views: 4992

Re: Spoilers for Monday 27th August 2018 (Series 79, Prelim 43)

Ian Fitzpatrick wrote: Tue Aug 28, 2018 10:09 am Trouser never used to be allowed
It's been valid since at least 2001: http://wiki.apterous.org/Episode_3031
by Thomas Cappleman
Tue Aug 28, 2018 7:58 am
Forum: Countdown - Events
Topic: CO-MSO 2018
Replies: 11
Views: 12461

Re: CO-MSO 2018

Has Prune finished in the top half of a Co-event before?
by Thomas Cappleman
Sat Aug 25, 2018 3:46 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: C4C/apto/Countdown Dreams
Replies: 758
Views: 400212

Re: C4C/apto/Countdown Dreams

Ben Wilson wrote: Sat Aug 25, 2018 9:58 am Had a brilliant one that I can hardly remember anything about other than Jen was trying to stuff Graeme into a wardrobe and I got the impression the reason was benevolent.
It's because Graeme's a magical creature from Narnia, and needed to return home.
by Thomas Cappleman
Mon Aug 20, 2018 9:40 am
Forum: Countdown - Events
Topic: FOCAL scoring system
Replies: 57
Views: 40038

Re: FOCAL scoring system

I've already given a system that I think would work. Basically, in a one-person event, they'd get 50; for two it would be 66.7, 33.3; for three it would be 75, 50, 25 etc. There's a formula out there somewhere but I can't be bothered to find/work it out again right now. I think it's the fairest lin...
by Thomas Cappleman
Wed Jul 18, 2018 4:19 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: C of C Draw......
Replies: 105
Views: 64817

Re: C of C Draw......

Nice to see a couple of non-Apterites in the mix, with Phil and Dougie recognised for their excellent performances in last series.

When are audience tickets likely to be available?
by Thomas Cappleman
Thu Jun 28, 2018 11:57 pm
Forum: Other game shows
Topic: Mastermind
Replies: 17
Views: 15147

Re: Mastermind

Elliott Mellor wrote: Thu Jun 28, 2018 8:39 pm Very nice, what'll your specialist subject be (if you can say)?
Doing the New Testament letters
by Thomas Cappleman
Thu Jun 28, 2018 4:20 pm
Forum: Other game shows
Topic: Mastermind
Replies: 17
Views: 15147

Mastermind

I'm going to be filming for the next series of Mastermind on the evening of 24th July. If anyone (nearby or otherwise) fancies coming along to Media City for non-Countdown filming and to keep me company in the green room let me know. I can have 3 guests in the green room, as well as up to 7 addition...
by Thomas Cappleman
Thu Jun 28, 2018 7:41 am
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: What films have you watched lately?
Replies: 428
Views: 241018

Re: What films have you watched lately?

Marc Meakin wrote: Thu Jun 28, 2018 5:43 am
Thomas Cappleman wrote: Wed Jun 27, 2018 10:49 pm
Marc Meakin wrote: Wed Jun 27, 2018 6:42 pm I want to say as a clue it's a fictitious character but that may be challenged 😊
Based on the wording, God/Jesus?
Both in the top five
No 1 is an anagram of no 2
Oh, Satan and Santa. Don't know which order.
by Thomas Cappleman
Wed Jun 27, 2018 10:49 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: What films have you watched lately?
Replies: 428
Views: 241018

Re: What films have you watched lately?

Marc Meakin wrote: Wed Jun 27, 2018 6:42 pm I want to say as a clue it's a fictitious character but that may be challenged 😊
Based on the wording, God/Jesus?
by Thomas Cappleman
Wed Jun 27, 2018 1:22 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: What films have you watched lately?
Replies: 428
Views: 241018

Re: What films have you watched lately?

Just for fun I posted a film question on another forum and apart from obvious Googlers hardly anyone got it. Which character has been played the most on screen ( that's film AND TV before you ask ) ? Are we defining most by number of distinct portrayals? If so, it's probably someone like the Queen.
by Thomas Cappleman
Wed Jun 13, 2018 12:33 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Series 78 Finals Predictions (Contains Spoilers!)
Replies: 73
Views: 41718

Re: Series 78 Finals Predictions (Contains Spoilers!)

QF1: Tom Chafer-Cook vs Graeme Staples (Prediction: 50 Points) (Actual: 45 Points) (Score: 50-45=5 Points) If I understand this correctly, if you predicted Tom to win by a million and 45 points, you'd get a million points. That is technically correct, although I must admit no one is going to win wi...
by Thomas Cappleman
Mon Jun 04, 2018 10:03 am
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: What TV programmes have you been watching lately?
Replies: 758
Views: 565553

Re: What TV programmes have you been watching lately?

But then Detectorists. Talk about pulling it back. Watched the whole lot over the last couple of weeks and definitely one of the best comedy dramas I've ever seen I think. Just wonderful. Superb character acting, cutesy low-level high-tension drama, really likeable casting, just felt so fucking bri...
by Thomas Cappleman
Wed May 30, 2018 9:22 am
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: C4C/apto/Countdown Dreams
Replies: 758
Views: 400212

Re: C4C/apto/Countdown Dreams

Elliott Mellor wrote: Wed May 30, 2018 7:22 am No sure what happened after this, but I'm sort of disappointed it ended and really hope the queen actually does watch Countdown.
She does: http://royalcentral.co.uk/uk/thequeen/t ... sses-85735
by Thomas Cappleman
Fri May 25, 2018 8:46 am
Forum: Other game shows
Topic: Hard Ball
Replies: 1
Views: 4568

Re: Hard Ball

I've been watching the morning repeats (or as much as is left when I wake up). Spotted Karen Pearson on the first episode I caught. And agreed, the quantity of questions is a definite plus.
by Thomas Cappleman
Fri May 18, 2018 9:56 am
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Where are They Now ?
Replies: 44
Views: 25573

Re: Where are They Now ?

Richard Brittain (according to a conversation on Apterous some time) lives on my walk to work. Not actually spotted him, but he said he saw me one time.
by Thomas Cappleman
Mon May 07, 2018 8:43 am
Forum: Other game shows
Topic: The Return of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire
Replies: 35
Views: 33789

Re: The Return of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire

Clarkson is at least making it very clear how confident he is about his answers, and is clearly terrified of getting into the position you described. Not a lifeline to keep in future if the host isn't known for their general knowledge. I thought Clarkson was warming into the role nicely yesterday. H...
by Thomas Cappleman
Thu May 03, 2018 12:29 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Why do ?.....
Replies: 21
Views: 6986

Re: Why do ?.....

I think part of the justification is that they're "always on duty". This made more sense when they'd spend most of the time in the parish, and so could reasonably be approached by a parishioner. It makes less sense now when an Irish priest ends up on BGT. Interestingly the original purpose...
by Thomas Cappleman
Wed Apr 18, 2018 10:58 am
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: (SPOILERS) The Countdown Scoring System.
Replies: 9
Views: 8080

Re: (SPOILERS) The Countdown Scoring System.

Gavin Chipper wrote: Wed Apr 18, 2018 10:54 am Stuff like maxes aren't even officially measured anyway.
And to do so you'd need an absolutely definitive list of which words are valid, with a ruling on every edge case.
by Thomas Cappleman
Wed Apr 11, 2018 3:54 pm
Forum: Other game shows
Topic: University Challenge and Only Connect 2016/17
Replies: 81
Views: 67950

Re: University Challenge and Only Connect 2016/17

Thanks very much to all of you for the kind words about UC - quite possibly the most stressful thing I've ever put myself through (it's even harder than it looks, and I'm all the more in awe now of the teams who can post high scores time after time without breaking a sweat) but also among the most ...