Search found 918 matches

by Alec Rivers
Sat Oct 17, 2009 3:27 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Swearing: pseudo-psycho-socio-linguistic analysis
Replies: 44
Views: 5059

Re: Swearing: pseudo-psycho-socio-linguistic analysis

Bear in mind that, in the case of an independently produced documentary such as that one, it's quite possible that the bleeping was applied by the film's makers (who will have sold it to a number of broadcasters for showing at various times of day) and not by Channel 4. They seem to be a lot more s...
by Alec Rivers
Sat Oct 17, 2009 11:51 am
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Swearing: pseudo-psycho-socio-linguistic analysis
Replies: 44
Views: 5059

Re: Swearing: pseudo-psycho-socio-linguistic analysis

If we keep watering these words down, we lose the facility altogether. [Citation needed]. Language, swearing and complaints about its overuse have been around for a long time now, it seems a bold claim that we are nearing a point of irreversible change in the fundamental utility of speech. Lol, yea...
by Alec Rivers
Sat Oct 17, 2009 1:48 am
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Swearing: pseudo-psycho-socio-linguistic analysis
Replies: 44
Views: 5059

Re: Swearing: pseudo-psycho-socio-linguistic analy

David O'Donnell wrote:Oi! I am starting a PhD in two months and I am 32 :evil:
I did clarify this earlier, in this post.
by Alec Rivers
Sat Oct 17, 2009 1:45 am
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Swearing: pseudo-psycho-socio-linguistic analysis
Replies: 44
Views: 5059

Re: Swearing: pseudo-psycho-socio-linguistic analysis

By the way when and why did "cunt" become the rudest swear word that is apparently miles worse than any other? I don't actually remember this always being the case, although perhaps when I was growing up, I wasn't aware that there was a ranking list out there and I hadn't met so many weir...
by Alec Rivers
Fri Oct 16, 2009 1:09 am
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: The fantastic Jeff Stelling
Replies: 91
Views: 11032

Re: The fantastic Jeff Stelling

¿ƃuıʇıɹʍ ʇuoɹɟ-oʇ-ʞɔɐq ǝɥʇ ɥʇıʍ s,ʇɐɥʍ WOW. I assumed at first that was an image. I have absolutely no idea how you did that. Clarke's Third Law applies. Basically there are enough weird characters in Unicode that you can find passable upside-down versions of most common characters (notice how some...
by Alec Rivers
Thu Oct 15, 2009 11:38 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Swearing: pseudo-psycho-socio-linguistic analysis
Replies: 44
Views: 5059

Re: Swearing: pseudo-psycho-socio-linguistic analysis

I find the famous crime scene from Season 1 of The Wire, which consists of nothing but creative use of one swear word very funny - it doesn't undervalue the expressive power of the word in question. That is funny. 'Fuck' is, after all, reputed to be one of the hardest-working words in the language.
by Alec Rivers
Thu Oct 15, 2009 9:34 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Irregular plurals
Replies: 9
Views: 1263

Re: Irregular plurals

Ian Volante wrote:
Alec Rivers wrote:Certainly an interesting and useful page, but aren't the following typos, or am I missing something?
Countdown Wiki wrote:the ODE admits only VERTABRAE and not VERTABRAS as the plural of VERTEBRA
:shock:
If only you could correct it...
If only I was signed up...
by Alec Rivers
Thu Oct 15, 2009 8:40 pm
Forum: Countdown - Current recaps
Topic: Monday 12th October 2009 (Series 61, Prelim 61)
Replies: 12
Views: 2024

Re: Monday 12th October 2009 (Series 61, Prelim 61)

Think you mean ONAGERS in round 4. Thought I'd point it out here rather than pming you discretely about it so we can all have a jolly good laugh. discreetly Good spot. My way of remembering the difference between -eet- and -ete- is that in the one meaning 'separate', the E's are separated by the T.
by Alec Rivers
Thu Oct 15, 2009 8:33 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: The fantastic Jeff Stelling
Replies: 91
Views: 11032

Re: The fantastic Jeff Stelling

Phil Reynolds wrote:Clarke's Third Law applies.
Indeed it does. And, accordingly, I would hate to spoil the mystery so soon. :D
by Alec Rivers
Thu Oct 15, 2009 8:12 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: The fantastic Jeff Stelling
Replies: 91
Views: 11032

Re: The fantastic Jeff Stelling

Derek Hazell wrote:anosrep VT sih ton s'ti os hgouht mih tem ev'uoy
¿ƃuıʇıɹʍ ʇuoɹɟ-oʇ-ʞɔɐq ǝɥʇ ɥʇıʍ s,ʇɐɥʍ
by Alec Rivers
Thu Oct 15, 2009 6:43 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Irregular plurals
Replies: 9
Views: 1263

Re: Irregular plurals

Certainly an interesting and useful page, but aren't the following typos, or am I missing something?
Countdown Wiki wrote:the ODE admits only VERTABRAE and not VERTABRAS as the plural of VERTEBRA
:shock:
by Alec Rivers
Thu Oct 15, 2009 12:23 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Recommend A Book For Kirk
Replies: 47
Views: 3768

Re: Recommend A Book For Kirk

Kirk Bevins wrote:Post away but reading fiction is boring.
If it's non-fiction you want, Mother Tongue by Bill Bryson is a cracking read about the English language. I've read it three times already. ;)
by Alec Rivers
Thu Oct 15, 2009 12:08 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Dictionary Corner Guests for the new series
Replies: 276
Views: 31640

Re: Dictionary Corner Guests for the new series

I know not all of these are original suggestions, but my list would include: Stephen Fry — my philological hero Helen Chamberlain — eye candy Hugh Laurie — quality humour Bill Bailey — addictive zaniness Eddie Izzard — unexpected tangents Joanna Lumley — can't quite put my finger on it Paul Merton —...
by Alec Rivers
Thu Oct 15, 2009 1:42 am
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Swearing: pseudo-psycho-socio-linguistic analysis
Replies: 44
Views: 5059

Re: Swearing: pseudo-psycho-socio-linguistic analysis

Ben Hunter wrote:It's not the end of the world.
It is! Haven't you heard? :D
by Alec Rivers
Thu Oct 15, 2009 12:45 am
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: It's ok
Replies: 20
Views: 2495

Re: It's ok

Sue Sanders wrote:Real life (outside the wardrobe/internet/Countdown studio) must be a bewildering experience for him.
Aw, that's so sad. :cry:
by Alec Rivers
Thu Oct 15, 2009 12:17 am
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Swearing: pseudo-psycho-socio-linguistic analysis
Replies: 44
Views: 5059

Re: Swearing: pseudo-psycho-socio-linguistic analysis

Brian, this is why I think it's as important as ever to set young people a good example. In effect, taboo words are a resource, and, as such, should be used sparingly and appropriately. I'm not a prude – I think there is a time and a place for all the 'bad' words, but we're forgetting to demonstrate...
by Alec Rivers
Wed Oct 14, 2009 11:01 pm
Forum: Countdown - Current recaps
Topic: Wednesday 14th October 2009 (Series 61, Prelim 63)
Replies: 9
Views: 1475

Re: Wednesday 14th October 2009 (Series 61, Prelim 63)

James Robinson wrote:... but can he provide a grandstand finish for his final show tomorrow :?: Who knows? (Well, he does, since the show has already been recorded!)
Phew! I first read this as: "Well, he does, ...", then realised you meant: "Well, he does, ...". lol
by Alec Rivers
Wed Oct 14, 2009 9:22 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Do Countdown and clunge go hand in hand?
Replies: 63
Views: 7649

Re: Do Countdown and clunge go hand in hand?

Derek Hazell wrote:Yes
Great find, Derek. It's a good story. ;)
by Alec Rivers
Wed Oct 14, 2009 8:16 pm
Forum: apterous.org
Topic: Feature requests
Replies: 1956
Views: 432963

Re: Feature requests

Charlie Reams wrote:Done.
Excellent job. I don't know if you saw me ask in the game chat, but it would be awfully fab if you could give the new panel a fixed height. :D
by Alec Rivers
Wed Oct 14, 2009 4:55 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: C4Cers in Other Media
Replies: 166
Views: 29750

Re: C4Cers in Other Media

Julie T wrote:I can't remember whether my problems were just on IE.
It's made by Microsoft. That should be a clue. ;)
by Alec Rivers
Wed Oct 14, 2009 1:21 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers For Tuesday October 13th 2009
Replies: 27
Views: 2625

Re: Spoilers For Tuesday October 13th 2009

Brian Moore wrote:I wanted to paint ... eyes onto it.
Image


Edit - changed picture host.
by Alec Rivers
Wed Oct 14, 2009 12:10 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers For Monday October 12th 2009
Replies: 20
Views: 2571

Re: Spoilers For Monday October 12th 2009

Phil Reynolds wrote:As what? Sorry, I'm unfamiliar with cult practices... :?
:D
by Alec Rivers
Wed Oct 14, 2009 12:07 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: C4Cers in Other Media
Replies: 166
Views: 29750

Re: C4Cers in Other Media

BTW, I'm having a ridiculously long lag between typing stuff on the forum and it coming up on the screen, so now type stuff on a notepad doc and then copy and paste. I only have this problem on c4c, not any other forums. Any thoughts? Maybe a different browser would help. If you're using Internet E...
by Alec Rivers
Wed Oct 14, 2009 11:49 am
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Swearing: pseudo-psycho-socio-linguistic analysis
Replies: 44
Views: 5059

Re: Swearing: pseudo-psycho-socio-linguistic analysis

Eek, into my thirties now, and I'm actually starting to feel like I could study properly! I did too, but my depression is just too crushing these days. In hindsight I realise that's the point I should have made, rather than just referring to my age. I should have said I regret not studying when I s...
by Alec Rivers
Wed Oct 14, 2009 12:56 am
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Swearing: pseudo-psycho-socio-linguistic analysis
Replies: 44
Views: 5059

Re: Swearing: pseudo-psycho-socio-linguistic analysis

Charlie Reams wrote:
Alec Rivers wrote:studying age
:shock:
Yeah, you know, 15-30. That was years ago. Brain too mushed to do A-Levels and Degrees now. :(
by Alec Rivers
Wed Oct 14, 2009 12:38 am
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Swearing: pseudo-psycho-socio-linguistic analysis
Replies: 44
Views: 5059

Swearing: pseudo-psycho-socio-linguistic analysis

Please excuse the heading: the imposed length limit (and my intoxication by the exuberance of my own verbosity) precluded the use of a more elegant syntax. I have long been intrigued by the way human languages function. (I regret not having studied linguistics when I was at studying age.) As the sub...
by Alec Rivers
Tue Oct 13, 2009 10:18 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers For Monday October 12th 2009
Replies: 20
Views: 2571

Re: Spoilers For Monday October 12th 2009

I notice "can I get" mainly on American TV.
by Alec Rivers
Tue Oct 13, 2009 10:16 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Blimey I'm going on.
Replies: 8
Views: 2153

Re: Blimey I'm going on.

Congrats, Andrew. :D
by Alec Rivers
Tue Oct 13, 2009 10:14 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: C4Cers in Other Media
Replies: 166
Views: 29750

Re: C4Cers in Other Media

Kai Laddiman wrote:Discuss.
I've started a new topic because there are one or two interesting aspects of 'bad language' that haven't been covered.
by Alec Rivers
Tue Oct 13, 2009 6:56 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers For Tuesday October 13th 2009
Replies: 27
Views: 2625

Re: Spoilers For Tuesday October 13th 2009

Sue Sanders wrote:
Alec Rivers wrote:Oh, and a DC-beater in the 'GONADS' round: UNSOUND.
Only one U though...???
Oops, my bad. :oops:
by Alec Rivers
Tue Oct 13, 2009 6:52 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: C4Cers in Other Media
Replies: 166
Views: 29750

Re: C4Cers in Other Media

Ah, but knowing it and seeing it being used by someone whose example may be followed are two different things. The stuff Kai hears on an average day in the playground would make Matthew Green blush. lol. I wasn't intending on starting a big discussion, tbh, but I would like to mention that my point...
by Alec Rivers
Tue Oct 13, 2009 4:13 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers For Tuesday October 13th 2009
Replies: 27
Views: 2625

Re: Spoilers For Tuesday October 13th 2009

Oh, and a DC-beater in the 'GONADS' round: UNSOUND. :)
by Alec Rivers
Tue Oct 13, 2009 4:10 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers For Tuesday October 13th 2009
Replies: 27
Views: 2625

Re: Spoilers For Tuesday October 13th 2009

I don't claim to have much fashion sense but Rachel's outfit looked like it had been rescued from a shredder. Anyone with me on this?
by Alec Rivers
Tue Oct 13, 2009 2:33 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: C4Cers in Other Media
Replies: 166
Views: 29750

Re: C4Cers in Other Media

Sue Sanders wrote:Like you don't know Fuckers!!!
Ah, but knowing it and seeing it being used by someone whose example may be followed are two different things. ;)
by Alec Rivers
Mon Oct 12, 2009 11:17 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers For Monday October 12th 2009
Replies: 20
Views: 2571

Re: Spoilers For Monday October 12th 2009

James Robinson wrote:Alternative to 1st numbers:

25 x 10 = 250

250 + 9 - 3 = 256
That was also my method but, because I had 27 seconds left, I thought I'd look for a fun way, using all the numbers:

(10 / (9 - 4) + 75) × 3 + 25 = 256

8-)
by Alec Rivers
Mon Oct 12, 2009 10:25 pm
Forum: apterous.org
Topic: Feature requests
Replies: 1956
Views: 432963

Re: Feature requests

Nice one. Thanks.
by Alec Rivers
Mon Oct 12, 2009 9:26 pm
Forum: Countdown - Current recaps
Topic: Retraction
Replies: 60
Views: 4711

Re: Retraction

Haha. That went wrong. I was just being pedantic because the missing comma in "Any update on this Jason?" changed the meaning. My bad.
by Alec Rivers
Mon Oct 12, 2009 9:10 pm
Forum: apterous.org
Topic: Feature requests
Replies: 1956
Views: 432963

Re: Feature requests

Would it be possible to have a Player Status feature? A symbol next to the name or a colour change could indicate: Available for play (either not in a game or playing a bot but accepting challenges) Not available for play (e.g. waiting for a particular opponent or just there to chat) Away from compu...
by Alec Rivers
Mon Oct 12, 2009 6:04 pm
Forum: Countdown - Current recaps
Topic: Retraction
Replies: 60
Views: 4711

Re: Retraction

Douglas Wilson wrote:Any update on this Jason?
What other Jason is there? ;)
by Alec Rivers
Mon Oct 12, 2009 2:53 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Limerick Competition
Replies: 36
Views: 4525

Re: Limerick Competition

Derek Hazell wrote:Lol well that was a novel way to find out the news!
I only found out because people started commenting "R.I.P. Stephen Gately" on my upload of Craig Harper doing a send-up of Boyzone.
by Alec Rivers
Sun Oct 11, 2009 3:02 pm
Forum: apterous.org
Topic: Numbers Attack Tournament - Round 2
Replies: 105
Views: 8976

Re: Numbers Attack Tournament - Round 2

Kirk Bevins wrote:It's not showing there because you forgot to use the blue tournament challenge as you pointed out.
Oh, okay. I thought maybe Charlie was adding scores manually in cases like this. As long as he knows the game was played, that's all that matters. ;)
by Alec Rivers
Sun Oct 11, 2009 2:39 pm
Forum: apterous.org
Topic: Numbers Attack Tournament - Round 2
Replies: 105
Views: 8976

Re: Numbers Attack Tournament - Round 2

Division B I forgot to use the blue tournament challenge, sorry. My game with Peter Lee ended 161-154 in my favour, although it could have gone either way. Thanks again to Peter for an enjoyable game that remained tight throughout. ;) This result isn't showing on the results page , or am I looking ...
by Alec Rivers
Sun Oct 11, 2009 2:08 pm
Forum: Countdown - Events
Topic: COLEI2 games
Replies: 31
Views: 3122

Re: COLEI2 games

Dinos Sfyris wrote:Round 5: T S E E T O D P A

C1: postdate (its capitalised)
Don't you mean hyphenated?
by Alec Rivers
Sun Oct 11, 2009 12:16 pm
Forum: apterous.org
Topic: Apterous Etiquette
Replies: 155
Views: 15693

Re: Apterous Etiquette

lol, kaibot, you know too much! :D
by Alec Rivers
Sun Oct 11, 2009 12:07 am
Forum: apterous.org
Topic: Feature requests
Replies: 1956
Views: 432963

Re: Feature requests

Following recent events, how about a facility enabling players to boot a troublemaker? Say, three or four people's 'boot' required within a minute or two, only available to paid-up players.
by Alec Rivers
Sun Oct 11, 2009 12:01 am
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Questions you've always wanted answered
Replies: 1615
Views: 630788

Re: Questions you've always wanted answered

I disagree - there a huge nostalgia for white dogshit and I think it's the right time for a relaunch. But don't you remember how deceptive that stuff was? It looked like it had petrified and ought to be solid. But that was just the crust concealing a ripe, gloopy interior with just the right viscos...
by Alec Rivers
Sat Oct 10, 2009 9:27 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Birthdays
Replies: 1252
Views: 129676

Re: Birthdays

A rather late Happy Birthday, Derek. (I've just got back from CoLei2.) ;)
by Alec Rivers
Sat Oct 10, 2009 9:19 pm
Forum: apterous.org
Topic: Official Thread of Brag
Replies: 1176
Views: 167123

Re: Official Thread of Brag

Kirk Bevins wrote:1% chance of winning! Screw you eye of apterous.

http://www.apterous.org/viewgame.php?ke ... 0585895681
Quality, Kirk. :)
by Alec Rivers
Sat Oct 10, 2009 9:15 pm
Forum: Countdown - Events
Topic: CoLei2 - Saturday 10 October 2009
Replies: 142
Views: 16076

Re: CoLei2 - Saturday 10 October 2009

Yeah, I agree. Great stuff, Jeff. Thanks again. Really cool meeting all of you for the first time, too. :D
by Alec Rivers
Fri Oct 09, 2009 10:17 am
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: It's ok
Replies: 20
Views: 2495

Re: It's ok

OMG. And I thought Bush was thick.
by Alec Rivers
Thu Oct 08, 2009 11:06 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: HOWTO: Hyperlinks for Dummies
Replies: 25
Views: 3142

Re: HOWTO: Hyperlinks for Dummies

I'm not interested in having a competition. That's not why I posted this topic.
by Alec Rivers
Thu Oct 08, 2009 10:33 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Nice One
Replies: 28
Views: 2499

Re: Nice One

Sue Sanders wrote:My balls of wool are itchy.
Has these two anagrams: Amicably follows theory, of coitally balmy whores.
by Alec Rivers
Thu Oct 08, 2009 10:11 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: HOWTO: Hyperlinks for Dummies
Replies: 25
Views: 3142

Re: HOWTO: Hyperlinks for Dummies

Dear Ask, Sometimes, what I type....like this I'm typing now - doesn't actually appear on the screen for about 30 seconds. It's a bit like spirit writing...and very annoying. It can slow up any time of the day and it seems to be getting worse But it's not doing it right now. Answer in one syllable ...
by Alec Rivers
Thu Oct 08, 2009 8:58 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: HOWTO: Hyperlinks for Dummies
Replies: 25
Views: 3142

Re: HOWTO: Hyperlinks for Dummies

Karen Pearson wrote:Let's hope I don't need 'Folder options' or you'll be getting another question!
:shock:
by Alec Rivers
Thu Oct 08, 2009 8:41 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: HOWTO: Hyperlinks for Dummies
Replies: 25
Views: 3142

Re: HOWTO: Hyperlinks for Dummies

What a nice guy. So, if you're offering free IT support, I'd hate to pass up the opportunity..... .... whenever someone emails me a photo the damn computer tries to open it in Corel ... so I have to save the photo before I can open it in Photoshop. Do you know how I can stop it defaulting to Corel?...
by Alec Rivers
Thu Oct 08, 2009 8:31 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: HOWTO: Hyperlinks for Dummies
Replies: 25
Views: 3142

Re: HOWTO: Hyperlinks for Dummies

Derek Hazell wrote:You're a nice guy/lad/chap/boy/fella/gent/bloke/geezer/man, Alec.
Thanks, dude. I think 'bloke' more-or-less covers it. ;)
by Alec Rivers
Thu Oct 08, 2009 8:30 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: HOWTO: Hyperlinks for Dummies
Replies: 25
Views: 3142

Re: HOWTO: Hyperlinks for Dummies

Kai Laddiman wrote:Haha, you just looked at a thread for dummies, so you're a dummy.
And how did your comment get here? lol :D
by Alec Rivers
Thu Oct 08, 2009 8:27 pm
Forum: apterous.org
Topic: Numbers Attack Tournament - Round 2
Replies: 105
Views: 8976

Re: Numbers Attack Tournament - Round 2

Will any unused blue tournament challenges be removed before the start of the next round?
by Alec Rivers
Thu Oct 08, 2009 7:54 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: HOWTO: Hyperlinks for Dummies
Replies: 25
Views: 3142

HOWTO: Hyperlinks for Dummies

Having noticed that some members are unsure about how to create links, I thought I would create this:

Image

If it helps just one person, I'm happy. ;)


Edit - changed picture host.