Search found 3465 matches

by Jon O'Neill
Sat Jan 02, 2021 7:41 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Genius things
Replies: 41
Views: 10754

Re: Genius things

Automatic/video doorbells sound like hell to me. Great, you can answer the door remotely and see who's there, but there's bugger all you can see if they start doing something contrary to what you'd like. I'd rather not know. Also, I'm aware of landlords (in the USA I believe) who are able to lock p...
by Jon O'Neill
Sat Jan 02, 2021 3:59 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Genius things
Replies: 41
Views: 10754

Re: Genius things

I meant lamp in a more generic sense. Not sure why I chose that word.
by Jon O'Neill
Fri Jan 01, 2021 6:00 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Genius things
Replies: 41
Views: 10754

Re: Genius things

How new are we talking?

mRNA vaccines
Ring doorbell
LED lamp
by Jon O'Neill
Tue Dec 29, 2020 5:39 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: People you shouldn't trust
Replies: 921
Views: 394247

Re: People you shouldn't trust

Shakin' Stevens for the line "It's the season love and understanding". Of The song is completely trashed by that omission. I always thought it was in there but so clipped as to be almost inaudible. But there. So I found a live version to see if it was more clear. Not only is there no &quo...
by Jon O'Neill
Tue Dec 29, 2020 5:37 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: People you shouldn't trust
Replies: 921
Views: 394247

Re: People you shouldn't trust

Shakin' Stevens for the line "It's the season love and understanding". Of The song is completely trashed by that omission. I always thought it was in there but so clipped as to be almost inaudible. But there. So I found a live version to see if it was more clear. Not only is there no &quo...
by Jon O'Neill
Wed Dec 23, 2020 6:05 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Ask Graeme?
Replies: 1740
Views: 683758

Re: Ask Graeme?

What is the record for the same number of matching declarations in a game? 11, between Jack Hurst and David O'Donnell in this 30BC game . I've taken "matching declarations" to mean that in a letters round the players declared the same word and scored the same number of points, and in a nu...
by Jon O'Neill
Wed Dec 23, 2020 4:59 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Special Spoilers for Wednesday 23rd December 2020 (Special S49)
Replies: 17
Views: 5160

Re: Special Spoilers for Wednesday 23 December 2020

Fantastic shows this week. Really enjoyed them all. Colin is fantastic. Loved that he took a big interest in the contestants and also the people at home playing along.
by Jon O'Neill
Wed Dec 23, 2020 4:46 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Ask Graeme?
Replies: 1740
Views: 683758

Re: Ask Graeme?

What is the record for the same number of matching declarations in a game?
by Jon O'Neill
Tue Dec 22, 2020 2:23 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Catsdown - Why the Small Dictionary?
Replies: 7
Views: 3466

Re: Catsdown - Why the Small Dictionary?

I had rather a fiesty discussion about this yesterday. I only ever watch Catsdown because of the “down” bit (and also because as you can see with Clarkson-era Top Gear the unscripted bits are MUCH better than the badly scripted jokes). It must have been filmed in February admittedly, but Sean Lock ...
by Jon O'Neill
Mon Dec 21, 2020 3:44 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Special Spoilers for Monday 21st December 2020 (Special S47)
Replies: 24
Views: 6935

Re: Special Spoilers for Monday 21 December 2020

JackHurst wrote: Mon Dec 21, 2020 3:18 pm It was a shame to see Tom denied what would have been his highest score
Could, not Would.

Was the turning over of the board animated? Or was that just me?

Anyway that was a really enjoyable show.
by Jon O'Neill
Sat Dec 19, 2020 7:49 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Computerphile - Brute Forcing the Countdown Numbers Game
Replies: 10
Views: 5035

Re: Computerphile - Brute Forcing the Countdown Numbers Game

I did see this.

Surely what he does here pales in sophistication to what you did for you solver Graeme? And especially what Charlie did for the apterous solver, which presumably has all spoilage numbers attacks solved...
by Jon O'Neill
Fri Dec 18, 2020 9:08 am
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers for Friday 18th December 2020 (Series 82, Grand Final)
Replies: 42
Views: 11003

Re: Spoilers for Friday 18 December 2020 (Series 82, Grand Final)

91.4 vs. 91.2 raw % score. Surely statistically the closest final of all time, at 50.05% vs. 49.95% implied probability.

I expect a raw max of 125 today so predict the final score of 114.25-114 (but no crucial).

Pretty exciting.
by Jon O'Neill
Mon Dec 07, 2020 9:07 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Who should replace Nick Hewer?
Replies: 78
Views: 22284

Re: Who should replace Nick Hewer?

Victoria Coren-Mitchell
Rob Brydon
by Jon O'Neill
Mon Dec 07, 2020 8:14 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Who should replace Nick Hewer?
Replies: 78
Views: 22284

Re: Who should replace Nick Hewer?

Noel Edmonds
Richard Ayoade
Richard Osman
by Jon O'Neill
Mon Dec 07, 2020 10:46 am
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: You've just been made producer of Countdown...
Replies: 88
Views: 28666

Re: You've just been made producer of Countdown...

Marc Meakin wrote: Mon Dec 07, 2020 9:05 am when Nick retires ( please let it be soon)
Wow. I didn't know you had this level of influence.
by Jon O'Neill
Thu Dec 03, 2020 5:31 pm
Forum: Countdown - Events
Topic: Introducing... the H2H-o-Matic!
Replies: 36
Views: 23832

Re: Introducing... the H2H-o-Matic!

Brilliant, Jono. You're amazing. I owe you a drink. Or something. So the "sudden death playoff" was played 3-way, and the "score" includes the round you lost on? That might be difficult to wikicode. Ok, you can buy me a drink, but we can only discuss the Wiki, not politics. We m...
by Jon O'Neill
Thu Dec 03, 2020 10:33 am
Forum: Countdown - Events
Topic: Introducing... the H2H-o-Matic!
Replies: 36
Views: 23832

Re: Introducing... the H2H-o-Matic!

Redhill 2007 is next to wikify but I can't work out for the life of me what's going on. If it's Edinburgh style then nobody's got enough games, plus I find five rounds very difficult to believe if it is Edinburgh style. But if it's Bristol-style, the final table in each round except round one is Ed...
by Jon O'Neill
Mon Nov 30, 2020 10:01 am
Forum: apterous.org
Topic: Cheating: What it is, and why you shouldn't do it
Replies: 257
Views: 195859

Re: Cheating: What it is, and why you shouldn't do it

Apart from the fact that it's absolutely obviously cheating... it's also explicitly listed in the OP of this thread: Cheating is using any kind of artificial aid to alter your performance in the game. This includes: using an anagram or numbers solver program or website , to generate solutions or to...
by Jon O'Neill
Mon Nov 30, 2020 10:00 am
Forum: apterous.org
Topic: Cheating: What it is, and why you shouldn't do it
Replies: 257
Views: 195859

Re: Cheating: What it is, and why you shouldn't do it

Apart from the fact that it's absolutely obviously cheating... it's also explicitly listed in the OP of this thread: Cheating is using any kind of artificial aid to alter your performance in the game. This includes: using an anagram or numbers solver program or website , to generate solutions or to ...
by Jon O'Neill
Fri Nov 27, 2020 6:10 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Which words are the most useful to know?
Replies: 92
Views: 36128

Re: Which words are the most useful to know?

I've said it before and I'll say it again. This really is good.
by Jon O'Neill
Tue Nov 24, 2020 1:52 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: What TV programmes have you been watching lately?
Replies: 757
Views: 565246

Re: What TV programmes have you been watching lately?

I do find it difficult to enjoy films where the protagonists are not likeable but I only watched the pilot of Succession so maybe it gets better. You might struggle with Succession. But give it a go. At worst it's beautifully crafted. How about another example of the protagonists all being horrendo...
by Jon O'Neill
Tue Nov 24, 2020 12:10 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: What TV programmes have you been watching lately?
Replies: 757
Views: 565246

Re: What TV programmes have you been watching lately?

Succession (both seasons but particularly the second) - outstandingly good. I stood up and applauded the TV at the end of some episodes. Queen's Gambit - pretty good. The Crown - only half way through but really enjoying this as an easy watch. And agree with Phil about Thatcher. I'm re-watching Ski...
by Jon O'Neill
Tue Nov 24, 2020 11:10 am
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: What TV programmes have you been watching lately?
Replies: 757
Views: 565246

Re: What TV programmes have you been watching lately?

Succession (both seasons but particularly the second) - outstandingly good. I stood up and applauded the TV at the end of some episodes. Queen's Gambit - pretty good. The Crown - only half way through but really enjoying this as an easy watch. And agree with Phil about Thatcher. I'm re-watching Skin...
by Jon O'Neill
Mon Nov 16, 2020 11:34 am
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: RIP Howard Somerset
Replies: 11
Views: 4844

Re: RIP Howard Somerset

That's really sad news.

He was a great bloke. A joy to be around at Co-Events and his contributions on here were always high quality. He always felt like a very young old guy... he had that glint in his eye. I definitely aspire to be like that in my old age.
by Jon O'Neill
Sat Nov 14, 2020 6:03 pm
Forum: Countdown - Historical recaps
Topic: Monday 29 November 1982 (Series 1, Prelim 16)
Replies: 7
Views: 12040

Re: Monday 29 November 1982 (Series 1, Prelim 16)

Fiona T wrote: Sat Nov 14, 2020 3:42 pm Linky here

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NBQH0XXMyEg
This is amazing. I could watch Kenneth Williams episodes all day.
by Jon O'Neill
Sat Nov 14, 2020 3:31 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Cummings and goings
Replies: 73
Views: 20813

Re: Cummings and goings

So Dominic Cummings said in January that he wanted to make himself "largely redundant" by the end of the year (https://dominiccummings.com/2020/01/02/two-hands-are-a-lot-were-hiring-data-scientists-project-managers-policy-experts-assorted-weirdos/) but apparently this is a "news"...
by Jon O'Neill
Wed Nov 11, 2020 8:20 pm
Forum: Games and Puzzles
Topic: Squarebot
Replies: 28
Views: 9754

Re: Squarebot

Add the sum of the length of the sides together. Add 1. Multiply this by 100 and add 50. What do you get? If 3600, it's a square. If not, it's a rectangle. Is that even right? Doesn't 18 and 16 give the same answer as 17/17? Disregard this. See my first answer. This was a joke answer as you can tel...
by Jon O'Neill
Wed Nov 11, 2020 4:26 pm
Forum: Games and Puzzles
Topic: Combination Lock
Replies: 10
Views: 3923

Re: Combination Lock

Is Reel A the first reel?
by Jon O'Neill
Wed Nov 11, 2020 3:42 pm
Forum: Games and Puzzles
Topic: Squarebot
Replies: 28
Views: 9754

Re: Squarebot

Add the sum of the length of the sides together. Add 1. Multiply this by 100 and add 50. What do you get?

If 3600, it's a square. If not, it's a rectangle.
by Jon O'Neill
Wed Nov 11, 2020 3:27 pm
Forum: Games and Puzzles
Topic: Squarebot
Replies: 28
Views: 9754

Re: Squarebot

"How many squares have you drawn on the paper?"
by Jon O'Neill
Tue Oct 27, 2020 3:07 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: You Are The Ref
Replies: 345
Views: 147321

Re: You Are The Ref

Player A vs Player B Selection is O E M I I T S L L Player A leans back straight away, player B is sure there is a nine there but unsure whether it’s mollisite or mollities. He knows that player A will have it right and writes both down. Player A declares first with mollities, player B declares the...
by Jon O'Neill
Sun Oct 25, 2020 11:10 am
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Cool Things You Did
Replies: 74
Views: 18674

Re: Cool Things You Did

Phil Reynolds wrote: Sun Oct 25, 2020 9:45 am I got buried in an insane quantity of pine cones for a music video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lbTRP-xw7uE
This is great 8-)
by Jon O'Neill
Wed Oct 21, 2020 10:16 pm
Forum: Other game shows
Topic: ...and that's ZoomDown
Replies: 314
Views: 108086

Re: ...and that's ZoomDown

Gavin Chipper wrote: Wed Oct 21, 2020 9:55 pm Great show and it works really well. I really enjoyed playing in it.
Jon O'Neill wrote: Wed Oct 21, 2020 3:35 pm Love the show. Congratulations to all those who have made it what it is.
Does that include you?
No, and especially not you.
by Jon O'Neill
Wed Oct 21, 2020 3:35 pm
Forum: Other game shows
Topic: ...and that's ZoomDown
Replies: 314
Views: 108086

Re: ...and that's ZoomDown

Love the show. Congratulations to all those who have made it what it is.
by Jon O'Neill
Fri Oct 16, 2020 9:44 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Xmas Specials
Replies: 7
Views: 3653

Re: Xmas Specials

Too late I guess..

IN for next year's ones.
by Jon O'Neill
Tue Oct 06, 2020 1:25 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: COVID-19 Coronavirus Thread
Replies: 503
Views: 155323

Re: COVID-19 Coronavirus Thread

Just because the troll writes in grammatically coherent sentences, doesn't mean we should keep feeding it...
by Jon O'Neill
Tue Oct 06, 2020 11:06 am
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Countdowners in the news
Replies: 238
Views: 116794

Re: Countdowners in the news

Mark James wrote: Tue Oct 06, 2020 10:54 am https://metro.co.uk/2020/10/04/countdow ... -13370774/

Just wanted to mention this article as we finally get to learn Susie's real name. Fabulous investigative journalism there from the Metro.
Wow
by Jon O'Neill
Mon Sep 21, 2020 8:11 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Trade Secrets
Replies: 155
Views: 42835

Re: Trade Secrets

I'll start: don't use cotton buds for cleaning your ears. They are useless. Use Bic pen lids. They're sturdy so you can scrape all the wax off the ear walls, or whatever you call it, they won't fall off, they go in the perfect depth (for me) before it starts getting uncomfortable, and they're cheap...
by Jon O'Neill
Mon Sep 07, 2020 7:34 am
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Future of this forum
Replies: 8
Views: 7900

Re: Future of this forum

Donated!
by Jon O'Neill
Wed Aug 26, 2020 7:28 am
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers for Thursday 20th August 2020
Replies: 7
Views: 3382

Re: Spoilers for 20th August 2020

It's a bit like the way the TV guide on Sky/Virgin/probably all others starts with the lowest-numbered channels at the top.
by Jon O'Neill
Mon Aug 17, 2020 9:48 am
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: What is the best non dairy milk for coffee ?
Replies: 13
Views: 5092

Re: What is the best non dairy milk for coffee ?

undoubtedly it is the Barista version of Oatly. The Barista version is worth it. oat milk in general is the best for coffee in terms of smoothness (some like soy can curdle) and oat milk is also pretty much the best for the planet too This is the best one I had too. The first few sips are acceptabl...
by Jon O'Neill
Mon Aug 17, 2020 7:57 am
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: What is the best non dairy milk for coffee ?
Replies: 13
Views: 5092

Re: What is the best non dairy milk for coffee ?

I've tried them all and nothing beats cow milk.
by Jon O'Neill
Fri Jul 24, 2020 9:00 am
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: You Are The Ref
Replies: 345
Views: 147321

Re: You Are The Ref

It's the last round of a co-event. At this event, draws are allowed and they count as half a win, like at MK. As usual, the top two after six games play each other in the final. The top of the standings table looks like this: P W Pts 1 Alice 6 5 405 2 Bob 6 5 401 3 Cock 5 5 325 4 Dick 5 5 317 5 Ran...
by Jon O'Neill
Wed Jul 22, 2020 3:04 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Joke Items
Replies: 250
Views: 82670

Re: Joke Items

Mark James wrote: Wed Jul 22, 2020 2:45 pm Strimmers.
Go on..?
by Jon O'Neill
Mon Jul 20, 2020 1:54 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: You Are The Ref
Replies: 345
Views: 147321

Re: You Are The Ref

In case 1, re-do, for the reasons you gave.
In cases 2 and 3, the result stands. The "no plurals no present tense verbs" thing isn't a hard and fast rule as far as I know.
by Jon O'Neill
Sun Jul 12, 2020 7:21 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Offensive Words
Replies: 57
Views: 25229

Re: Offensive Words

Haha, I think the drifting of my post from serious to flippant wasn't obvious enough. It happened because the more I thought about it, the more ridiculous it seemed to have to be justifying my point. As I said earlier, the word list for a word game should correspond to some dictionary or set of dict...
by Jon O'Neill
Thu Jul 09, 2020 10:31 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Offensive Words
Replies: 57
Views: 25229

Re: Offensive Words

The main reason is that it's utterly utterly pointless. The onus should not be on me (or people who agree with me) to convince you (or people who agree with you) that the wordlist should correspond to a dictionary or set of dictionaries. Otherwise we might as well just start again with a set of rand...
by Jon O'Neill
Thu Jul 09, 2020 9:44 am
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Offensive Words
Replies: 57
Views: 25229

Re: Offensive Words

Marc Meakin wrote: Thu Jul 09, 2020 7:41 am
Jon O'Neill wrote: Thu Jul 09, 2020 7:23 am It would be absolutely ridiculous if this passed.
These are strange times though , with virtue signalling and cancel culture gathering pace.
There's a big difference between opposing sexual predators from running riot and opposing words being used in a board game.
by Jon O'Neill
Thu Jul 09, 2020 7:23 am
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Offensive Words
Replies: 57
Views: 25229

Re: Offensive Words

It would be absolutely ridiculous if this passed.
by Jon O'Neill
Thu Jun 25, 2020 10:27 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: The C4C Football Thread
Replies: 1265
Views: 195247

Re: The C4C Football Thread

Image

:D
by Jon O'Neill
Thu Jun 25, 2020 10:22 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: You Are The Ref
Replies: 345
Views: 147321

Re: You Are The Ref

For those that think it's fine, when declaring your word second, to have written down 10-15 plausible words and then just point to the one your opponent says... would you prefer if apterous was coded in this way, instead of the perfectly logical way it's coded now?
by Jon O'Neill
Thu Jun 25, 2020 3:33 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: B'day Championship Spoilers For Thursday February 28th 2013
Replies: 49
Views: 11654

Re: B'day Championship Spoilers For Thursday February 28th 2013

Gavin Chipper wrote: Thu Jun 25, 2020 3:27 pm Did they silence the swearing today? I couldn't hear it.
I think they did. And if I'm not remembering this completely differently, didn't I make a comment about our online head to head record that wasn't in today's edit?
by Jon O'Neill
Thu Jun 25, 2020 2:20 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: B'day Championship Spoilers For Thursday February 28th 2013
Replies: 49
Views: 11654

Re: B'day Championship Spoilers For Thursday February 28th 2013

Sam Cappleman-Lynes wrote: Thu Jun 25, 2020 1:58 pm I was surprised to see today, after Jon was apparently still choosing between PODGIER and FIREDOG in R2 when asked for his word, that he didn't immediately forfeit the round.
Haha that's brilliant.
I have learnt how not to cheat in the intervening 6 years.
by Jon O'Neill
Thu Jun 25, 2020 7:21 am
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: You Are The Ref
Replies: 345
Views: 147321

Re: You Are The Ref

Fair point. I think you have to have made your decision on what word you're going to offer when you declare your length. I would prefer a situation where someone who had the ability to write down every combination of letters on their paper in 30 seconds couldn't draw every letters round that they d...
by Jon O'Neill
Wed Jun 24, 2020 1:36 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: You Are The Ref
Replies: 345
Views: 147321

Re: You Are The Ref

Sorry, in this case you only have two options, say MAWSONITE and AWMSONITE. You know your gonna pick one of them, by decide to wing it when asked. They declare first, saying MAWSONITE and getbapproving looks from dictionary corner. What would you do in that instance? Purposely pick the wrong one or...
by Jon O'Neill
Wed Jun 24, 2020 12:28 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: You Are The Ref
Replies: 345
Views: 147321

Re: You Are The Ref

Sorry, in this case you only have two options, say MAWSONITE and AWMSONITE. You know your gonna pick one of them, by decide to wing it when asked. They declare first, saying MAWSONITE and getbapproving looks from dictionary corner. What would you do in that instance? Purposely pick the wrong one or...
by Jon O'Neill
Wed Jun 24, 2020 11:54 am
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: You Are The Ref
Replies: 345
Views: 147321

Re: You Are The Ref

What if you knew there was a 9, had two possible options and resolved that you were gonna pick one, regardless of what the other person does. They declare first and you see DC give a smile and a nod. In that case, what do you do? If you're saying they declared the "other" one, then you ha...
by Jon O'Neill
Wed Jun 24, 2020 11:30 am
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: You Are The Ref
Replies: 345
Views: 147321

Re: You Are The Ref

Letters round, selection is MNTSWAOIE. You are declaring second and know there is a 9. Unsure what it is, you write down a few random ones. WAMNIOTES MAWSONITE AWMNIOTES Player 1 declares a 9, you also declare a 9. Wait for them to declare MAWSONITE. You then say 'Yep, same word' and point to the c...
by Jon O'Neill
Wed Jun 24, 2020 8:04 am
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: You Are The Ref
Replies: 345
Views: 147321

Re: You Are The Ref

It's the final letters game. C1 declares 8, and C2 declares 9. C1 says their word is NEMATOID, C2 says their word is MONRADITE. Points to C2. Later on, as the contestants shake hands for the crucial conundrum, C1 catches a glimpse of C2's paper and notices that DOMINATER is written in large letters...
by Jon O'Neill
Mon Jun 22, 2020 12:17 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Joke Items
Replies: 250
Views: 82670

Re: Joke Items

The hyphen Our IT helpdesk at work also decided that the hyphen was a joke item, and introduced a new rule meaning that it wasn't allowed in anyone's name. Boy was that fun for me. The number of internal processes that just don't work for me any more is ridiculous. The best one was when we rolled a...