c4countdown

Paul Worsley

I enjoyed The Imitation Game on Netflix the other night. I found it slightly irritating when characters kept saying how "smart" Alan Turing was. I'm pretty sure that the term "smart", meaning "clever", wasn't around in the 1940s. Turing seemed to know what they meant th...

Paul Worsley

Phil Reynolds wrote: ↑Tue Aug 18, 2020 11:38 pm
Paul Worsley wrote: ↑Mon Aug 17, 2020 8:35 pm She died in 1984, but everyone of my age has heard of Pat Seed.
You don't say what your age is, but from the above statement I can deduce you're not 59 as that's my age and I've never heard of her.

By "everyone" I meant my wife and my in-laws.

Paul Worsley

Pat Seed.

She died in 1984, but everyone of my age has heard of Pat Seed. She was even the subject of an Eammon Andrews "This is Your Life".

Paul Worsley

Blofeld only appears in three of the novels, and is strangled by Bond in "You Only Live Twice" . The timeline of the novels is completely different to the films, so he seems pretty much indestructible in the movies. There was some contractual problem which meant the makers of the movies co...

Paul Worsley

Marc Meakin wrote: ↑Sat Jul 18, 2020 11:48 am That's a bit obscure .

She played a principal role in a blockbuster movie. Hardly obscure.

The reason she doesn't get a wiki page is because she never did anything else (out of choice).

Paul Worsley

Carrie Henn.

She played "Newt" in the 1986 film Aliens.

Paul Worsley

How often does Countdown have to edit due to offensive words.....and is the scoring contrived so the person playing said word is not penalised. Once I was in the audience and a contestant offered PISSES, which was valid, but they reshot it, and he offered PASSES, which was also available. I'm not s...

Paul Worsley

Anyway , shouldn't we be boycotting NASA for employing Nazi war criminals https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Paperclip Tom Lehrer put it like this.... "Don't say that he's hypocritical Say rather that he's apolitical "Once the rockets are up, who cares where they come down? That's ...

Paul Worsley

Unless you was being deliberately facetious , I was trying to make a point that the ends don't justify the means The increase in our understanding of astronomy, geology, the origin of the solar system, the moon have all been greatly enhanced by the Apollo program. The eight year deadline issued by ...

Paul Worsley

Marc Meakin wrote: ↑Thu Jul 02, 2020 5:34 am The benefits of science isn't really a great reason to do something hugely expensive.

Yeah. Knowledge, Who needs it?

Paul Worsley

Mark James wrote: ↑Fri Jun 19, 2020 8:25 am The space race was kind of stupid. The whole point was America beating the Soviets

There were huge benefits in the fields of science and technology from the space program. If it was just a pissing competition, why go another 5 times (6 if you count the aborted Apollo 13)?

Paul Worsley

People (poker commentators) who pronounce the number three as tray. I play poker regularly, (or I did), all over the NW, and I don't remember anyone saying "tray". However, "deuce" for two, is quite common. I think it's not a bad idea to add poker players, including commentators...

Paul Worsley

Film Buff of the Year, which ran for about 3 years in the 1980s. It was, as the title suggests, a quiz dedicated to films. The breadth of knowledge of the contestants was jaw dropping, and I think it got pulled because it was almost impossible to play along. Face the Music.(BBC2 1970s and 80s) A qui...

Paul Worsley

Oliver, you have forced me into revealing my affiliation. [sigh] My cousin, who is 22, is (and has been) standing for councillor elections in his Local constituency (well, sort of(the one his uni's in)) and he represents the Conservative party. As such, we have "inside knowledge". Well, O...

Paul Worsley

Rhys Benjamin wrote: ↑Sun May 31, 2020 11:56 pm Die Another Day was on ITV just now.

Easily the worst Bond film. He has an invisible car ffs! Also, the scene where he windsurfs on a tsunami is embarrassing. This movie could have killed off the franchise.

Paul Worsley

A good quality vodka tastes better out of the fridge. The same is true for gin.

Paul Worsley

Use a tea spoon to get the jam out of the jar rather than use the knife you use for the butter. Using the same knife for the butter and the marmalade/jam/marmite is a heinous crime in the Worsley household, and still policed officiously by Mrs W, even after 29 years of marriage. Crumbs of toast in ...

Paul Worsley

Because you're much more likely to catch it playing cricket.

(If anyone knows of any jobs going at the Christmas Cracker Factory.....)

Paul Worsley

If people over seventy are the most vulnerable , then I would say no. I'm guessing he would very easily afford professional childcare 24 hour childcare? Is there such a thing? I can understand why you are annoyed that he broke lockdown rules, but he and his wife are in the best position to know who...

Paul Worsley

I would have been far more sympathetic to Mr Cummings predicament if he and his wife had no over relatives to call upon in the local area like his brother for example Really? I would suggest that for the vast majority of parents unable to look after their young children, the obvious choice would be...

Paul Worsley

He's not a publicly elected figure, so there is no reason for him to resign.

The question is, should he be sacked?

Paul Worsley

Mark Deeks wrote: ↑Tue May 19, 2020 1:56 pm She's also 25 years older than me, which isn't conventionally attractive. But here we are.

Is it ok to have a celebrity crush who is 25 years younger, cos I've got a shitload?

Paul Worsley

I got bored with Ozark Season 3 and gave up.

Narcos Mexico

Just started Series 3 of Unforgotten.

Paul Worsley

The Russians, who still produce the most top players in the world, learn the game backwards. That is they learn endgame first, middle game next and only then move on to openings. If you're just playing for fun, don't get bogged down learning openings, just the basics. ie control of the centre, rapid...

Paul Worsley

My opinion of basketball did go up slightly last year when I was in Las Vegas. I was playing card with a bunch of Americans who were watching a basketball game on the screens. They were very excitable and clearly passionate about the game, which I believe was a college game. Maybe it is a real sport...

Paul Worsley

Any suggestions for parking?

Paul Worsley

Andy Platt wrote: ↑Thu Jan 23, 2020 11:21 pm Bringing it back to Countdown somewhat, my auntie is really good mates with Carol Vorderman's sister, Trixie.

I went to school with Carol Vorderman's first husband. I didn't go to the wedding, but I did go to the divorce party.

Paul Worsley

Tom S wrote: ↑Sat Jan 18, 2020 10:33 am He was actually quite nice and pleasant, though.

I assumed he would be. What made you think otherwise?

Paul Worsley

Mark Deeks wrote: ↑Sat Jan 18, 2020 8:00 am Weird that she'd take her uncle's name. Guess they do it differently in the West Country/Empire.

That was just how me and my flatmates referred to her. We also used to mouth The Imperial March when we knew she was coming up the stairs.

Paul Worsley

James Robinson wrote: ↑Fri Jan 17, 2020 11:20 am
Paul Worsley wrote: ↑Fri Jan 17, 2020 9:47 am At Uni, a flatmate's girlfriend was the niece of Darth Vader.
Body or voice?

David Prowse.

It was around the time of the filming of The Return of the Jedi, and he was pretty pissed off about the fact they'd used a different actor for the death scene, according to his niece (Beverly Vader).

Paul Worsley

At Uni, a flatmate's girlfriend was the niece of Darth Vader.

Paul Worsley

I have a friend who appeared on Pointless, and apparently it's ok to ask for clarification. So if a Champions League question came up it would be ok to ask "Is that a European competition?"

Paul Worsley

You're quite right (although I think its £11k more). The tipping point is about 69k. What I should've said that on the whole, those earning 50-100k will be paying less. The "tipping point" is 64K by my calculations*. It would be dishonest to suggest that anyone earning 50-100K would be pa...

Paul Worsley

- Everyone who earns up to 100k will be better off - Those who earn between 20-50k will basically be getting a 10% net pay rise overnight - This will raise £6bn for the treasury Don't do any interviews with Nick Ferrari. Someone earning £100K pa would be pay a whopping £15K extra under your propose...

Paul Worsley

Jon O'Neill wrote: ↑Tue Dec 03, 2019 8:53 am 75% was a nice round number that took the overall picture into "profit" vs. the status quo.

What about National Insurance? Are you abolishing it or keeping it the same as it is now?

Paul Worsley

Coming back to the original question, I believe that Sir Keir Starmer or Lisa Nandy would be the best choice to lead the Labour party. Given that both candidates are seen as too centrist for Momentum, it's likely to be Rebecca Long-Bailey. None of them will ever be PM, but Nandy stands the best chan...

Paul Worsley

Jon O'Neill wrote: ↑Tue Dec 17, 2019 5:34 pm Labour got more votes and more seats this GE than the 2015 GE so to call it their worst defeat since 1935 is a little misleading in a discussion about how they fared.

Labour won fewer seats than they did in 2015.

Paul Worsley

Gavin Chipper wrote: ↑Mon Dec 16, 2019 10:58 pm I don't think it's that at all. You mentioned the press. It's much more how it's presented than the actual policies.

So let me get this right. The Labour party just suffered their worst defeat since 1935, and you think it's down to presentation?

Paul Worsley

Jon O'Neill wrote: ↑Sun Nov 24, 2019 11:40 pm Worth noting that the odds have moved significantly away from Corbyn in this market, when the Brexit Party stood down their candidates in all CON seats.

Thanks for the heads up though. I managed to get some money on a Conservative majority at 6/4 on Betfair.

Paul Worsley

Jon O'Neill wrote: ↑Sun Nov 24, 2019 11:06 pm None of this is to say that I accept the original premise, that higher tax kills aspiration. People are motivated by more than just cash.

Just out of interest, how did you come up with 75%? If punitive tax doesn't kill aspiration why stop there? Why not 85% or 95% or even 100%?

Paul Worsley

JimBentley wrote: ↑Sat Nov 23, 2019 11:25 pm I endorse this proposal wholeheartedly.

A 75% tax rate on earnings over 50K kills aspiration. Why would anyone start a small business, with all the risk and all the extra work bother?

Paul Worsley

Not obvious until someone tells you, but in the song Feel Like Making' Love by Bad Company, they actually sing "Feel like bacon, love?"

Paul Worsley

Joker is relentlessly bleak and not as good as I had hoped. Phoenix was outstanding though.

Paul Worsley

The way I see it, they're a hospital. It's completely outside of their role and beyond their jurisdiction to be trying to stop someone going somewhere else for treatment. The doctor's duty of care is to the patient, not to the parents/next of kin. If the doctor believes that a procedure or transfer...

Paul Worsley

This was quite an easy one for most radio stations though. "Rock And Roll" kind of stands up today but all the rest of the Glitter stuff is really dated now. And it's not as though much other early 70s glam stuff gets played these days (I guess because it does sound so dated). As for Rolf...

Paul Worsley

Live albums, on the other hand... There are a few notable exceptions. At Filmore East is better than any studio album produced by The Allman Brothers. Thin Lizzy's Live and Dangerous is their best album, in my opinion, although there is a lot of debate about just how live it is. B.B.King Live at th...

Paul Worsley

I might as well do live music while I'm here. If you go to see a band live it's not as good as listening to their recorded music. Wow. I know this is the "Controversial Musical Opinions" thread, and I kept quiet when someone said Bonnie Tyler had a better song than anything Bowie ever did...

Paul Worsley

Dan Byrom wrote: ↑Tue Sep 24, 2019 11:49 am I have heard second hand from a friend who saw someone with one leg longer than the other get prayed for and visibly see the shorter leg get longer.

Type "faith healer leg trick" into YouTube to see see it first hand, complete with an explanation of how it's done.

Paul Worsley

There are hundreds of good albums.

I would define a good album as one that you listen to from start to finish. It may have highlights, but that doesn't make the other tracks "fillers".

Paul Worsley

Just to be clear, Trump and the right wing American media have NOT been referring to Greta Thurnberg's Asperger's as a mental illness. Political commentator Michael J Knowles disgracefully referred to her as a "mentally ill Swedish child", but he has been criticised by the American media, ...

Paul Worsley

Michael Jackson was rightly revered for being a great performer, and innovative showman, but his song writing was nothing special.

"'Cause this is thriller....." No, Michael. This is horror.

Paul Worsley

Covers of Beatles songs were far superior to the originals. Exhibit A - Dear Prudence. Siouxsie knocked it out of the park. I'm old enough to remember the release of Siouxsie's version, and was already familiar with the Beatle's White Album. I think the cover is ok, but never "far superior&quo...

Paul Worsley

Before I started this thread I checked out the Sun and the Daily Mail websites, and neither lead on the Flintoff story. I also picked up a copy of the Sun while queueing in Costa and no mention of Flintoff on the front page. I subscribe to the online Daily Telegraph and wasn't aware they were ignori...

Paul Worsley

What near-treasonous behaviour was that, Paul? Explain with examples please. And anyway, the Guardian is not left-wing, it is very much centrist. They probably hate Corbyn as much as you do! I was being sarcastic in response to another thread. Basically, I believe the current political paralysis ca...

Paul Worsley

I cannot believe that after near treasonous behaviour by Jeremy Corbyn, the best headline the Guardian and the Mirror can come up with is about the Duchess of Sussex's fashion line for unemployed women, and Simon Cowell's botox. I used to laugh about North Korea and Russia suppressing news stories, ...

Paul Worsley

Gavin Chipper wrote: ↑Wed Aug 28, 2019 11:05 am Would they not have had fillings in a post-apocalyptic world?

Unlikely. From what I remember, they didn't even have Netflix.

Paul Worsley

That said, I'm not all that pleased about it. I am somewhat jealous of the comfort that faith seems to provide many people I know. The late Christopher Hitchens considered himself an "antitheist", in that he didn't believe in god, and would be disappointed to discover that he was wrong, e...

Paul Worsley

I agree it's a ridiculous argument. I went to a church school, and was once asked by a teacher, who was also a minister, what I thought about the bible. I told him I was an atheist, and he replied, "There's no such thing as atheist". When he saw the puzzled look on my face, he explained th...

Paul Worsley

Smarter. He's smarter than us. Nothing smug there :roll: I don't think he said he was smarter. He just said that agnosticism is a smarter position than atheism. I assume he means that, because you can't prove 100% that there isn't a god, it is smarter to label yourself a "Don't Know" By t...

Paul Worsley

Ian Volante wrote: ↑Wed Jul 31, 2019 12:18 pm In the UK, we're lucky to have a lot of fresh water resource, although it's becoming a problem in the southeast of England as far as I'm aware.

Maybe if they didn't put so much of it in their beer, they wouldn't have a problem.

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