Search found 146 matches

by Paul Erdunast
Tue Oct 13, 2015 3:19 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers For Monday October 12th 2015
Replies: 12
Views: 5374

Re: Spoilers For Monday October 12th 2015

This was a very impressive performance imo. He clearly has done a lot of work on the Countdown dictionary, and he understands 4l methods. I don't mind him writing down a different word if it's not written down - it's declaring the same word that the not written down rule is aimed at.
by Paul Erdunast
Wed Oct 07, 2015 11:41 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers for Friday October 2nd 2015 (S73 P64)
Replies: 27
Views: 8730

Re: Spoilers for Friday October 2nd 2015 (S73 P64)

I think MLT is better than most of you are giving him credit for. He's pretty much not missed any non-apterous words, and his numbers are top drawer (see the elegance of his 784 solve). He'd have given me a decent game in my lounge in all the matches - on the show I wouldn't want to be facing him at...
by Paul Erdunast
Fri Aug 28, 2015 3:49 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: New changes to the ODO
Replies: 15
Views: 5069

Re: New changes to the ODO

Thanks Jon - to be clear, are words like gustnado allowed in countdown? http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/defin ... h/gustnado

If not, they're erroneously included in your list of countdown-valid headwords, despite being US English.
by Paul Erdunast
Thu Aug 27, 2015 10:15 am
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: New changes to the ODO
Replies: 15
Views: 5069

Re: New changes to the ODO

If this is their September update, then hopefully a full word list will appear at http://public.oed.com/the-oed-today/rec ... o-the-oed/
by Paul Erdunast
Wed Aug 26, 2015 11:09 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: New changes to the ODO
Replies: 15
Views: 5069

Re: New changes to the ODO

The issue is not that the whole ODE is in the ODO, but the flavour of the words which have entered the ODO is a lot more ODE-like. For instance, with the ODO before this update we never saw 15 random spelling variants (that's not counting the -ed, -ing variants thereof) inserted. With that in mind, ...
by Paul Erdunast
Wed Aug 26, 2015 9:58 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: New changes to the ODO
Replies: 15
Views: 5069

New changes to the ODO

So the ODO has made some MAJOR changes. Essentially most of the words in the full 20 volume Oxford Dictionary of English are in. This includes obscure and obsolete variants. See http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/gointer and http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/gwin...
by Paul Erdunast
Fri Apr 24, 2015 9:21 am
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers for Tuesday April 21st 2015 (S72 P70)
Replies: 7
Views: 2260

Re: Spoilers for Tuesday April 21st 2015 (S72 P70)

MANUKAS in round 10 to add another tree to MAHONIAS in round 11 :)
by Paul Erdunast
Thu Apr 02, 2015 8:51 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers for Tuesday March 31st 2015 (S72 P58)
Replies: 6
Views: 2367

Re: Spoilers for Tuesday March 31st 2015 (S72 P58)

Sutural in arduous round too
by Paul Erdunast
Sat Mar 14, 2015 3:43 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers For Monday March 9th 2015
Replies: 7
Views: 2239

Re: Spoilers For Monday March 9th 2015

MONILIAE is the 8
by Paul Erdunast
Fri Mar 06, 2015 11:51 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Ask Graeme?
Replies: 1740
Views: 684248

Re: Ask Graeme?

I don't know if this is the right topic given it's not about countdown history but about words, but:

Do you have the ability to answer what the flattest possible rounds with maxes of: 8, 7, 6, 5, and 4 - where flat is defined as most alternate words as the max? Would be v interesting!
by Paul Erdunast
Mon Jan 12, 2015 6:51 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers for Friday January 9th 2015 (S72 P5)
Replies: 12
Views: 3349

Re: Spoilers for Friday January 9th 2015 (S72 P5)

Well played again Andy.

Just to note, if Andy had picked for two vowels at the end of the PIANOLSNA round, he would have got PIANOLSAE - NEOPLASIA.
by Paul Erdunast
Mon Jan 05, 2015 9:42 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers For Monday January 5th 2015
Replies: 8
Views: 2017

Re: Spoilers For Monday January 5th 2015

Brilliant performance and t-shirt Andy.

Something I noticed - had you picked for a final vowel in the DELRIOUSG round, you'd have got DELIRIOUS for 9. Didn't matter in the end because the next round was IMPLICATES :D
by Paul Erdunast
Sat Dec 06, 2014 1:06 am
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers for Friday December 5th 2014 (S71 P101)
Replies: 18
Views: 5118

Re: Spoilers for Friday December 5th 2014 (S71 P101)

Well done Antoinette. Fantastic run and richly deserved total.

Does anyone who was there know what Rachel was laughing and shaking her head about in the 2nd numbers game?
by Paul Erdunast
Mon Dec 01, 2014 7:26 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers For Monday December 1st 2014
Replies: 9
Views: 2215

Re: Spoilers For Monday December 1st 2014

Did Susie say aliments^ was valid? I thought ALIMENT wasn't able to be pluralised?
by Paul Erdunast
Mon Nov 03, 2014 2:54 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers for Monday 3rd November 2014
Replies: 20
Views: 3469

Re: Spoilers for Monday 3rd November 2014

Very well done George :)

I feel a bit bad for Tom who could have been an octochamp in his own right, being put against George, but I guess you win some you lose some.
by Paul Erdunast
Mon Oct 27, 2014 11:15 pm
Forum: apterous.org
Topic: Is Apterous down? [DO NOT POST IN THIS TOPIC FOR ANY OTHER REASON]
Replies: 604
Views: 308510

Re: Is Apterous down?

not down but on the ropes and wobbling drastically.
by Paul Erdunast
Fri Oct 24, 2014 1:56 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers for Friday October 24th 2014 (S71 P72)
Replies: 22
Views: 6468

Re: Spoilers for Friday October 24th 2014 (S71 P72)

a real crowd pleaser today, wp george! especially enjoyed your two numbers solutions and the 9 (forgot caponiers though saw proscenia). Nosegays great spot from the contestant, beat me all ends up.
by Paul Erdunast
Thu Oct 23, 2014 1:47 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers for Thursday October 23rd 2014 (S71 P71)
Replies: 43
Views: 6436

Re: Spoilers for Thursday October 23rd 2014 (S71 P71)

WASHDAY and HEADWAY (ul) very strong - beat me there!

PERCOIDS for beater in r 12 (I think)
by Paul Erdunast
Thu Oct 09, 2014 3:02 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers for Thursday October 9th 2014 (S71 P62)
Replies: 8
Views: 3886

Re: Spoilers for Thursday October 9th 2014 (S71 P62)

MIRETAPS lolol (that was an M but put upside down mistakenly!)

**edit** PRIMATES = MIRETAPS if I'm right that it was an upside-down M. Compare to the actual W in the next round.
by Paul Erdunast
Tue Sep 02, 2014 4:53 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers for Tuesday September 2nd 2014 (S71 P38)
Replies: 15
Views: 5048

Re: Spoilers for Tuesday September 2nd 2014 (S71 P38)

Do we know if HEJIRA is ok in ODO? Looks like it's capitalised while only HEGIRA is under the non-capitalised version. The search bar is especially unhelpful on this.
by Paul Erdunast
Tue Aug 19, 2014 7:40 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers for Tuesday August 19th 2014 (S71 P31)
Replies: 12
Views: 2985

Re: Spoilers for Tuesday August 19th 2014 (S71 P31)

Nice to see both COATEES and JACKETS available in the same round :)
by Paul Erdunast
Sat May 24, 2014 2:19 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoiler for Friday May 23rd 2014 (S70 P87)
Replies: 7
Views: 1689

Re: Spoiler for Friday May 23rd 2014 (S70 P87)

Today I learnt POMACE doesn't pluralise.

BUTEO as well for 5.
by Paul Erdunast
Thu Apr 24, 2014 3:44 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers for Thursday April 24th 2014 (S70 P73)
Replies: 17
Views: 4411

Re: Spoilers for Thursday April 24th 2014 (S70 P73)

Great game - unlucky on the VIRGATE/VITRAGE - VITRAGE is ok in scrabble - though JUMBOES isn't. Just checked the ABSP site and he seems to be a top level scrabble player. Wouldn't be surprised to see him go far - that is, until an Apterite comes his way and really starts to put pressure on the lette...
by Paul Erdunast
Fri Apr 11, 2014 2:16 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers for Friday April 11th 2014
Replies: 6
Views: 1707

Re: Spoilers for Friday April 11th 2014

FUGATO as a beater in the GAMMY round (r11)
by Paul Erdunast
Mon Mar 31, 2014 2:25 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers For Monday March 31st 2014
Replies: 32
Views: 6733

Re: Spoilers For Monday March 31st 2014

I think I got my first ever 13-max that game - unless there was a 7 in the TAIPAN round. (Jordan I thought the same too - but I think he said MOTORED which would make more sense)

Great comeback - how many behind was that from?
by Paul Erdunast
Sat Mar 29, 2014 5:17 am
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Inaccurate info on my wiki
Replies: 12
Views: 4912

Re: Inaccurate info on my wiki

Sorry to hijack, but roughly in the same topic: my wiki article says I've disappeared - which I had done, until January...now I've made a comeback - pretty please could this be reflected in the wiki? :)
by Paul Erdunast
Wed Feb 26, 2014 11:29 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers For Monday February 24th 2014
Replies: 28
Views: 5530

Re: Spoilers For Monday February 24th 2014

Chuffed I managed to get most of the beaters you spotted. I think my housemates didn't enjoy it when I shouted expletives at the TV in the ARBOURS round because she picked a consonant in the end instead of a vowel - I wanted to fish for LABORIOUS - as it turned out, the next vowel was an O which wou...
by Paul Erdunast
Sun Feb 23, 2014 4:46 am
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Stems (includes spoiler for Friday 14 Feb)
Replies: 7
Views: 2495

Re: Stems (includes spoiler for Friday 14 Feb)

I suppose the logic in a round for your stemming idea would be: 1. Look for the 9 with the RETAINS+x+y combo. 2. Look for the 8 with RETAINS+x 3. Look for the 8 with 6 of the letters of RETAINS with y and z where y and z aren't any which you can add to RETAINS to make an 8. I must admit, I'd find it...
by Paul Erdunast
Fri Feb 21, 2014 7:06 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Stems (includes spoiler for Friday 14 Feb)
Replies: 7
Views: 2495

Re: Stems (includes spoiler for Friday 14 Feb)

I suppose what you're asking is for a list of 9 letter words with all the letters of RETAINS in, and a list of 8 letter words with at least 6 of the 7 letters of RETAINS. For instance, VESTIARY has RETAI_S in it, but not the N. The question as I understand it is: consider a set of 9 letters with RET...
by Paul Erdunast
Mon Feb 03, 2014 3:28 am
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: 1001-2000 most common maxes, and so on
Replies: 8
Views: 4053

Re: 1001-2000 most common maxes, and so on

I agree that just learning a list of words is a rubbish way of learning words. I'm using zyzzyva's cardbox system to generate scrambled versions of the words so that I learn how to unscramble them. They come up each day if I get them wrong, so it's a pretty effective way of learning them - I've alre...
by Paul Erdunast
Sun Feb 02, 2014 3:30 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: 1001-2000 most common maxes, and so on
Replies: 8
Views: 4053

1001-2000 most common maxes, and so on

I'm currently in the middle of learning the top 1,000 most common maxes, but I realise that when I finish in about a month or so, I will have a problem: I'd like to learn most efficiently, meaning that I'd need to next learn the maxes from 1001-2000, but they are not on apterous like this list is. I...
by Paul Erdunast
Fri Jan 10, 2014 3:15 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Text file of the new (post-2012) dictionary
Replies: 0
Views: 777

Text file of the new (post-2012) dictionary

Just wondering if anyone might have a text file of the new countdown dictionary? I've got one of the old dictionary such that SATURNIC is allowed. The problem is that far too many words are allowed in that dictionary, and if I'm gonna learn off it, that's not a good thing.

Thanks!
by Paul Erdunast
Wed Jan 23, 2013 6:00 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Birthday Championship Spoilers For Monday January 21st 2013
Replies: 34
Views: 5874

Re: Birthday Championship Spoilers For Monday January 21st 2

Good game!

I managed to spot CAVENDISH - but are ANURETIC and MORTALIZE allowed in the shorter OED? MORTALIZE is definitely fine in the larger OED, and ANURETIC in CSW.
by Paul Erdunast
Mon Aug 03, 2009 12:41 pm
Forum: apterous.org
Topic: Apterous Summer Open FINAL WEEK
Replies: 60
Views: 6953

Re: Apterous Summer Open FINAL WEEK

Hi Andrew- sorry I didn't get to play my last game- I wasn't able to go on apterous during much of the week, but because my opponent (Tyron Potts) isn't registered on here I couldn't leave him a pm to arrange a time for a game. Consequently I haven't seen him since we I think played in the other of ...
by Paul Erdunast
Mon Aug 03, 2009 12:12 pm
Forum: apterous.org
Topic: Apterous Etiquette
Replies: 155
Views: 15699

Re: Apterous Etiquette

oh, and this was before chat points, so the nines which come up frequently in chat wouldn't have come up to educate us about rare words and the like
by Paul Erdunast
Mon Aug 03, 2009 12:08 pm
Forum: apterous.org
Topic: Apterous Etiquette
Replies: 155
Views: 15699

Re: Apterous Etiquette

Hate to make unfounded accusations, but it takes one to know one. (By the way I know that you aren't a cheat Simon, just a good player- I'd heard of those words from apterous experience) I remember one game I played against said Joe Hammill, went to a crucial conundrum (can't get into apterous at th...
by Paul Erdunast
Wed Jul 15, 2009 7:07 pm
Forum: apterous.org
Topic: Bug reports
Replies: 2157
Views: 437063

Re: Bug reports

When I offered someone a game of bullet 9, it said something along the lines of "can't do it because you are not a full member." Given that I am a full member, and then I gave apterous prune a game of bullet 9 straight afterwards, I can see it is a bug in the message window, as I reckon th...
by Paul Erdunast
Tue Jul 14, 2009 9:26 pm
Forum: apterous.org
Topic: Aptominibash III
Replies: 44
Views: 4375

Re: Aptominibash III

why not, yes please!
by Paul Erdunast
Thu Jul 09, 2009 5:35 pm
Forum: apterous.org
Topic: Apterous Summer Open Week 3
Replies: 48
Views: 6592

Re: Apterous Summer Open Week 3

My games against Neil Zussman http://www.apterous.org/viewgame.php?game=89591 (Paul 0-1 Neil) http://www.apterous.org/viewgame.php?game=89601 (Paul 0-2 Neil) Two very good games, especially the second where Neil proved to be on unstoppable form in the letters, both of us getting some very good words...
by Paul Erdunast
Sat Jul 04, 2009 7:03 pm
Forum: apterous.org
Topic: Apterous Summer Open Week 2
Replies: 53
Views: 7090

Re: Apterous Summer Open Week 2

Here are the games in the open between me and Niall Seymour http://www.apterous.org/viewgame.php?game=86856 (Paul 1-0 Niall) http://www.apterous.org/viewgame.php?game=86865 (Paul 1-1 Niall) http://www.apterous.org/viewgame.php?game=86877 (Paul 2-1 Niall) Some really good games in there, especially t...
by Paul Erdunast
Thu Jul 02, 2009 4:36 pm
Forum: apterous.org
Topic: Apterous Summer Open Week 2
Replies: 53
Views: 7090

Re: Apterous Summer Open Week 2

My games against Peter Lee:

http://www.apterous.org/viewgame.php?game=85806 (Paul 1-0 Peter)
http://www.apterous.org/viewgame.php?game=85796 (Paul 2-0 Peter)

Both of these were great games, going down to the wire each time. Really lovely guy to play as well
by Paul Erdunast
Fri Jun 26, 2009 8:14 pm
Forum: apterous.org
Topic: Apterous Summer Open Week 1
Replies: 88
Views: 11185

Re: Apterous Summer Open Week 1

In the U1200 between me and Ross Allatt http://www.apterous.org/viewgame.php?game=82477 (Ross 62-51 Paul) http://www.apterous.org/viewgame.php?game=82489 (Ross 69-100 Paul) http://www.apterous.org/viewgame.php?game=82501 (Ross 63-74 Paul) So I won that match 2-1, but some very tough close-fought gam...
by Paul Erdunast
Tue Jun 23, 2009 6:31 pm
Forum: apterous.org
Topic: Card Hunt!
Replies: 58
Views: 7587

Re: Card Hunt!

I reckon that they all are for playing certain words- for example I got a queen of diamonds for getting one which Kirk missed in one of his finals games, if that helps (not sure if I am allowed to say the word so I haven't)
by Paul Erdunast
Sun Jun 14, 2009 6:15 pm
Forum: apterous.org
Topic: Feature requests
Replies: 1956
Views: 433185

Re: Feature requests

Kai Laddiman wrote:Just a little niggle: I think the colours of some of the variants need to be changed. Check this page, for example.
I agree with Kai. I now have a massive green splodge in the middle of my vision.
That colour has gotta go
by Paul Erdunast
Sun Jun 14, 2009 5:17 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers - 11 Jun 2009 [Series 60 First QF]
Replies: 55
Views: 5720

Re: Spoilers - 11 Jun 2009 [Series 60 First QF]

Davy, although proddie isn't in the OED2r, which is the one they use for countdown, it is in the full OED.
by Paul Erdunast
Sun Jun 14, 2009 5:14 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers - Wednesday 10th June 2009
Replies: 38
Views: 3809

Re: Spoilers - Wednesday 10th June 2009

Interestingly, SEEDINGS is in the full oed

Under: seeding, vbl. n.

5. Sport, esp. Lawn Tennis. The placing of competitors in a list of seeds (SEED n. 3); (also pl.) the order or ranking so produced.

So really the LTA is right to use it (as are the others on this page!)
by Paul Erdunast
Sun Jun 14, 2009 4:54 pm
Forum: Games and Puzzles
Topic: Four 4s
Replies: 124
Views: 11605

Re: Four 4s

Can't see 65
(4!+!4)x(4/sqr4)=66
by Paul Erdunast
Fri Jun 12, 2009 5:25 pm
Forum: Countdown - Events
Topic: Apterous Summer Open
Replies: 118
Views: 15648

Re: Apterous Summer Open

Please also enter me into the 1200 category :)
by Paul Erdunast
Tue Jun 09, 2009 9:16 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Songs For Each Of The Series 60 Finals Contestents
Replies: 44
Views: 5629

Re: Songs For Each Of The Series 60 Finals Contestents

The tune to the chewits advert was "I like to move it move it" by Reel 2 Real.
by Paul Erdunast
Tue Jun 09, 2009 8:28 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Julian on youtube
Replies: 38
Views: 2922

Re: Julian on youtube

First time I've seen Julian, you can tell his experience and skill with languages, especially other than english, I enjoyed gerontic, given its Ancient Greek roots, but I'd never see it, or indeed risk it, he's an amazing contestant, especially as he never had apterous
by Paul Erdunast
Tue Jun 09, 2009 7:59 pm
Forum: apterous.org
Topic: Your best apterous word to date?
Replies: 124
Views: 14873

Re: Your best apterous word to date?

But doesn't apterous mean notpossessing the power of flight, given it is a description of insects being without wings?

(a privative+ pterous (winged))
by Paul Erdunast
Tue Jun 09, 2009 7:50 pm
Forum: Countdown - Events
Topic: Apterous Summer Open
Replies: 118
Views: 15648

Re: Apterous Summer Open

Argh, I may be away for a week or so in August, but when dates are known, then if it happens to be a Sunday-Saturday holiday and not a Wed-Tue one, then please strike me off. However as things stand, please keep me in
by Paul Erdunast
Tue Jun 09, 2009 7:46 pm
Forum: Countdown - Events
Topic: Apterous Summer Open
Replies: 118
Views: 15648

Re: Apterous Summer Open

Yep, I'm in

Please put me in the U1000 (If I am eligible when the ratings are averaged or whatever you are going to do to them), if not then please put me in the U1200.
by Paul Erdunast
Sun Jun 07, 2009 3:33 pm
Forum: apterous.org
Topic: DARIC, SOED and other things which are not bugs
Replies: 15
Views: 1768

Re: DARIC, SOED and other things which are not bugs

Thanks, some good reasons, and interesting to know which versions are which. To be honest, in the daric round, I really should have found radii!
by Paul Erdunast
Sat Jun 06, 2009 7:36 pm
Forum: apterous.org
Topic: DARIC, SOED and other things which are not bugs
Replies: 15
Views: 1768

Re: DARIC, SOED and other things which are not bugs

In case you are interested, here is the dictionary (OED full version) definition for daric:

A gold coin of ancient Persia, said to have been named from the first Darius. Also a Persian silver coin of the same design, specifically called siglos.
by Paul Erdunast
Sat Jun 06, 2009 7:33 pm
Forum: apterous.org
Topic: Apterous League Tests
Replies: 138
Views: 13107

Re: Apterous League Tests

I kinda agree with Andrew for this one, because if apterous is meant to mirror countdown, and especially if there is lots of interest (I would be interested in playing in the first league after this test too) then it will make the scoring system so much simpler if there is just one point for a win a...
by Paul Erdunast
Thu Jun 04, 2009 11:10 am
Forum: apterous.org
Topic: DARIC, SOED and other things which are not bugs
Replies: 15
Views: 1768

DARIC, SOED and other things which are not bugs

This isn't a bug but I was directed here anyway, it is a query about a word which is in the OED full edition not being allowed in countdown, and I am not sure if it should or should not be disallowed- the word is daric, it is an ancient Persian coin, and in the OED it is not capitalised. Is the OED2...
by Paul Erdunast
Wed Jun 03, 2009 7:57 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Words with heavily repeated letters
Replies: 64
Views: 3736

Re: Words with heavily repeated letters

"kalopistos" does sound right (Though I really am not sure given I only have an AS in Ancient Greek as yet), but the endings and the words seem right- pistos=trustworthy/reliable and kalos= fine, so putting them together should make something akin to bona fide. There is a river in America ...