c4countdown

Neil Zussman

Got the conundrum, and in a shorter time than Rick. As a result, beat both contestants in this game - a rare occurrence. I got 'Laterally' straight away for the conundrum, but then decided to pursue a totally different path :oops: Fortunately, it wasn't crucial... Rick told me that he had been prac...

Neil Zussman

A scores 1.0 on the Raccoon scale. What do I win? That's poor. There are loads of 2-letter words that get a score of 1.0 which is clearly more impressive. :) The list starts Aa, Ab, Ad, etc... depending on which dictionary you use. (If you want to use 'common' words only, then there's still At, On,...

Neil Zussman

Thanks Michael. Would have loved to watch it at the time, not so bothered now. Plus I doubt I'd ever got the opportunity to, something tells me it won't even get a second series, let alone a DVD release :) Au contraire- applications for the second series of Only Connect were being invited right up ...

Neil Zussman

I got the letter today and........... I was successful! :D (Thanks Kate!) However, I think if I come up against anyone like Neil who is on at the moment, then I will be like a lamb to the slaughter. :roll: Where do all you octochamps/ winners/ champions of champions/ finalists/ mega-brains go to le...

Neil Zussman

Each of the packs in Corby's picture clearly contains 3 sandwiches- just imagine if they were a variety pack, containing say one egg sandwich one tuna sandwich and one jam sandwich- that's 3 sandwiches. So if you got 2 slices of bread and made, say, an egg sandwich, then cut it in half, you'd have ...

Neil Zussman

I think I've corrected the puzzle moving/adding as few words as possible. My changes are capitalised. They should do this more often, much more fun than a generic heard-it-before maths problem. Hopefully you won't see this if you don't want to: Let's play a game. I'll toss a coin. If the three tosse...

Neil Zussman

Each of the packs in Corby's picture clearly contains 3 sandwiches- just imagine if they were a variety pack, containing say one egg sandwich one tuna sandwich and one jam sandwich- that's 3 sandwiches. So if you got 2 slices of bread and made, say, an egg sandwich, then cut it in half, you'd have t...

Neil Zussman

Incidentally, I'm sure someone else has got it but an alternative method for the 2nd numbers is: [(10+10)*9+1]*3. Told you I was better at 6 small, the big number put me off!

Neil Zussman

Thanks everyone :) As Jojo said, it was nice to finish with a slightly more comfortable game (though still not an easy one). All the contestants were really nice people, as was everyone behind the scenes (and on-screen). I'd recommend it to anyone! (Although I still maintain that it's a nerve-wracki...

Neil Zussman

Just for the record, Warwick won it a year or two ago, in my first year at the university. Coincidence? I think not!

Neil Zussman

Martin Gardner wrote:Aha, a good example of Microsoft word fudging something is this. I wrote "a recent Channell 4 documentary." and it tried to change it to documentaries (to agree with '4').

I'm more surprised that it didn't try to change your spelling of 'Channel.'

Neil Zussman

A scores 1.0 on the Raccoon scale. What do I win? That's poor. There are loads of 2-letter words that get a score of 1.0 which is clearly more impressive. :) The list starts Aa, Ab, Ad, etc... depending on which dictionary you use. (If you want to use 'common' words only, then there's still At, On,...

Neil Zussman

Kai Laddiman wrote:Not in order, my name has 1936 words up to 9 letters long, and Eoin's has a mere 4184.

Mine has 4437 up to 9 letters (according to the link Peter mentioned). So clearly L is marginally more useful than O, when combined with N,E,I.

Neil Zussman

FTR, I totally agree with the comments about Jeff. Obviously I didn't appear on the show under any other host, but just from watching it on TV it seems like there's a lot more contestant-host banter. My worst start to a match in 7 attempts, not helped by round 3. This match was filmed before I'd had...

Neil Zussman

Very interesting game to watch, I bet! Can't help thinking that I was a bit lucky to win, because it didn't seem like I played that well for the last 12 rounds! Getting 2 nines, but still not recording my highest score backs that up. Mind you, scoring 108 despite not scoring in 4 rounds is pretty go...

Neil Zussman

Goodness, this thread has taken an interesting turn...

Neil Zussman

He got that conundrum really quickly - you're not still beating yourself up about it, are you? Well, it was the only conundrum I missed all day, so naturally I'm a little bit disappointed- although I suppose I should be grateful it was that one rather than Wednesday's one that I missed! :shock: You...

Neil Zussman

The conundrums are solved blindingly quickly and the vast range of words people come up with, have you scratching your head in amazement (so many words I have never even heard of ), the average standard seems far higher than on the TV show. Naturally those on a Countdown practice site are going to ...

Neil Zussman

This is a similar attitude I took. I just went to have fun, not expecting anything like what happened. I didn't learn word lists, stems, fancy tricks, anything at all before I went, and, hey. I didn't even have apterous.org to help me. Just believe in yourself and try your best and you will be bril...

Neil Zussman

15 to 1 was fantastic and a worthy companion to Countdown. I'll never forget this, couldn't believe it at the time! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9vIGc9uPIQ Awesome, what a legend. I knew that had happened, but hadn't seen that episode, so thanks for that link Junaid. He only came 2nd in the fina...

Neil Zussman

Cheers, Ben was just about to give Kirk a nudge in the direction of that post myself

Although maybe rather than pessimism, I should've written paranoia rules.

I'm relieved I avoided a crucial conundrum today, I must say...

Neil Zussman

I had noticed you lived in Leamingotn. Not being a first year or finalist, I'm not given a place on campus, so I currently rent a house in Leam with 3 other guys on my course. I've been wondering if I'd bump into you at some point, which would be a bit of a coincidence! Mm. Not a huge coincidence r...

Neil Zussman

The really strong players who are likely to become octochamps should be looking to maximise their score and hence seeding in the finals. However Neil has so far largely been in tight games where he's needed to ensure the win, so I think I largely agree with his decisions. You could argue that I sho...

Neil Zussman

I had noticed you lived in Leamingotn. Not being a first year or finalist, I'm not given a place on campus, so I currently rent a house in Leam with 3 other guys on my course. I've been wondering if I'd bump into you at some point, which would be a bit of a coincidence! Hi Neil. I also went to Warw...

Neil Zussman

JimBentley wrote:I fucking ballsed up the cunting fuckundrum, after a pissingly fuck-easy game. Maybe I should've put this in Scrag?

Sorry Kai

I notice there's nothing longer than a 4 in round 3? That doesn't happen every day.

Neil Zussman

I hadn't realised until today, Neil, that you're a student at good old Warwick Uni, my alma mater and from which I still live just a handful of miles away in leafy Leamington. What with Kirk's home town being just up the road in Rugby, there's quite a few of us in the locality. I had noticed you li...

Neil Zussman

For your second point, if we stayed in the green room all day, we'd starve. :) As anyone who was on with me will know, this is utter rubbish. That huge box of biscuits could keep a family going for a month (or a very hungry little kid going for a few hours). Big box of biscuits? You mean the pack o...

Neil Zussman

Neil, you seemed a bit miffed after the last numbers game when you said you had got the numbers the same way as Anita, was it because you thought you should have been asked first as you didn't have it written down (or maybe you did but it was edited) or was it because you were miffed because you th...

Neil Zussman

Charlie Reams wrote:Nice one Neil. Didn't see this game but it looks like you're powering along nicely, not to mention moistly.

Thanks Charlie, and happy belated birthday, hope you had a good one!

Neil Zussman

Have just recieved my first facebook friend request from a total stranger, with an accompanying message that simply reads: 'You're doing well on Countdown. Friend?'
How odd. I don't suppose any of you know someone named 'Cameron Burrows'?

Neil Zussman

That was such a scary game- you could see how relieved I was when I got the conundrum! Happy birthday to Anita, it was a good contest. Definitely deserves another go, there are plenty of people who would've missed 'dominate', 'lemonade' and 'cherubs' for instance. Strangely, she didn't beat me in an...

Neil Zussman

Heather Culpin wrote:Yes, I'm enjoying your programs Neil and hope you win a few more. You're a good all-rounder with a pleasant manner, and also you remind me of Alastair McGowan for some reason. Do you do impressions?

Sadly not, I'm appalling at accents.

Neil Zussman

Wednesday's game is the first of the 3 I saw recorded in January. You may remember, Neil, (or probably not as you had rather more important things on your mind) a rather large lady introducing herself at your table with your parents, as I was sat at the next table with my eldest son, while having o...

Neil Zussman

Thanks everyone, and yes Martin, it is me :) (It's not like Zussman is that common a name, now, is it? ;) ) There were some words I'm quite pleased with (and some numbers), though my brain does have a tendency to go to sleep occasionally, as you saw. Commiserations to Kate, she was a good champion, ...

Neil Zussman

Is it not 5/6 * 5/6 * 5/6 * 1/6?
The only way the fourth turn was the first 6 is if the first three turns weren't a 6...

Neil Zussman

OK. Hope I didn't mess things up too badly for you

Good luck everyone!

Neil Zussman

Massive apologies but I will be about 20-30 minutes late (i.e. I should be online just before 7). Just do whatever is easiest for you Charlie- if I have to forfeit a few matches then so be it, if you want me to drop out altogether then I'll have to live with that although obviously I'd rather play t...

Neil Zussman

An even later entrant, but I will be able to make make it, so put me down please.

Neil Zussman

No idea if it could be implemented easily, but I'd like to see a kind of 'Anti-Stemmer' feature- i.e. if you put in a string of n letters, it tells you all the words of length n-1 that could be made from those (such as: ACELP Stemmer: ACELP+A=PALACE ACELP+D=PLACED etc. Anagrams: Place Anti-Stemmer: ...

Neil Zussman

Number of dictionaries Dictionary Corner has access to: 2 Number of dictionaries Kate had access to: 0 Number of words per dictionary for Dictionary Corner: Lots/2 Number of words per dictionary for Kate: 2/0 = Undefined= (for the purposes of my argument) Infinity > Lots/2. Sorry Charlie. So? I pla...

Neil Zussman

Nice one Chris, not one I've heard before, so I'm pleased with myself for working this one out:
Aries and Libra. <---- Answer written in white, to avoid spoiling it for anyone else, highlight it to read.
Someone else can add the explanation.

Neil Zussman

Right: I know not every stanza scans perfectly. And yes, I should get out more. But here's a little something I cobbled together in my free time (aka lectures ;) ) Each day I await eagerly Twenty-five minutes past three. I gasp under my breath; It's starting, there's Jeff! And the lovely Rachel and ...

Neil Zussman

Modesty Blaze So...I've outfoxed dictionary corner twice !!! Number Crunching Number of times Kate Richardson outfoxes Dictionary Corner: 2 Number of times Dictionary Corner outfoxes Kate Richardson: Lots. Number of dictionaries Dictionary Corner has access to: 2 Number of dictionaries Kate had acc...

Neil Zussman

David O'Donnell wrote:Only just now caught up with the show. THEROPODS was awesome, one of the best spots ever - well done!

Agreed, I'm a bit embarrassed that I didn't get that. Anyone who spotted that would feel justified in feeling a bit smug!

Neil Zussman

AMPUTATE annoyed me (well it isn't pleasant is it?). I was waiting for another e for amputee, but somehow missed the 8 :oops: Also, TROOPED hasn't been mentioned yet for the poofter/ woofter round has it? Well done Kate, though it was an immensely tight finish. Thought it was strange that they didn'...

Neil Zussman

I'm not too bothered who is in the Corner, provided they do something entertaining- tell a funny story, or perform a magic trick. So far this series, there have been too many guests imho who are just there to cash in on the current fleeting wave of hysteria surrounding them. I'm sure Andrew Sachs an...

Neil Zussman

Square numbers? The presence of the 25p ensures that both 27p and 34p work. :) But I'm sure there's another value that fails. Although again, I'm gonna be lazy and not try to find it. 12p Sorry. It's my own fault. I noticed earlier when Howard found fault with Jono's original solution that 1 4 9 br...

Neil Zussman

Phil Reynolds wrote:
Kai Laddiman wrote:NFSMB

I guess Kai would prefer a Non-virtual FSMB. I don't blame him. Though personally I prefer Aeroes.

Neil Zussman

In the English number system, we have 3 basic starting values, 1 2 5, and then we multiply these by multiple of 10 (10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500 etc.). I wonder if doing this would always work? i.e. 1 4 9 becomes 1 4 9 10 40 90 100 400 etc. I suspect not, but will hold out hope until a counterexample ...

Neil Zussman

I was wondering when Kai would get round to posting in this topic. BTW, I don't know how many swear words I know. What an anti-climax! :) Why thank you. :x *mr sarcasm* It's pronounced zʊss-mən ;) (not to rhyme with fuss or bus, although I'm used to that by now) On a completely unrelated note, can ...

Neil Zussman

Having made a total idiot of myself in my earlier post, I'll try to regain some credibility now. I can demonstrate that Jono's suggestion is not correct, by showing a counter example. Suppose there is a currency containing three coins: 1p, 4p and 9p. This meets the criterion than each is at least d...

Neil Zussman

Lincoln?
I doubt it.

Neil Zussman

I was wondering when Kai would get round to posting in this topic.

Kai Laddiman wrote:BTW, I don't know how many swear words I know.

What an anti-climax!

Neil Zussman

Neil - see my earlier post.... Well spotted that there was a change of shuffler for the CofC - though I should expect no less from you all! Yes, I'm afraid I was off sunning myself on the first day of recording (the first five shows) and although I was back for the subsquent two days, I wasn't actu...

Neil Zussman

Both Dutch and Welsh have the curious property of having a letter which is clearly two characters (IJ and LL respectively) and there are probably others like this. The IJ is particularly odd because, depending on context, it can be sorted as if it were two characters, or as one character occurring ...

Neil Zussman

I'm not even certain that Susie is the final judge actually - in one of Charlie's games (I think) I remember her flicking through the dictionary for (I think) an agent noun, suddenly pausing for a split second, and saying "yep that's fine". There was no way she could have actually just st...

Neil Zussman

Just for the record, what was Anna's declaration in round 1? It sounded like DENTLE* to me, but that's not a word and there was only one E. Didn't she just say DENTAL? I guess that at the time of the 'numbergate' round that has agitated Dan, Rachel was well aware that Anna was obviously very nervou...

Neil Zussman

It's really very interesting to see all these old games- thanks Rich. FWIW, the max is at least 2 higher since I can get 1 away in round 4: (3*4-10)*(50+1)*8=816; though I imagine it is possible to be exact. Regarding the comment that the conundrum ended -ING: when did that stop happening in finals?...

Neil Zussman

Matt Morrison wrote:
Neil Zussman wrote:Slipped over on the stuff this morning. I hate snow
don't get it confused with ice Zussman! Ice is annoying, snow is bloody great. And don't you forget it.

Snow and Ice go hand-in-hand. Bring on global warming, I say!
Edit: Awesome I'm a rookie now

Neil Zussman

I can't believe nobody has mentioned the biggest news story of the Transfer Window!!! :o The mighty Leyton Orient have signed young Chelsea midfielder Jimmy Smith. Earth-shattering! :D Exciting times! Can i take a random stab in the dark and guess that you're an Orient fan? hehe Yes. Blame my dad. ...

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