Search found 13214 matches

by Gavin Chipper
Fri Feb 09, 2024 12:42 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Questions you've always wanted answered
Replies: 1615
Views: 630591

Re: Questions you've always wanted answered

Which foodstuff has the biggest retail profit margin? I would have said crisps or popcorn (especially in a cinema) but one of my managers said it was bread but I'm not convinced Well if you're allowed to specify the place (e.g. in a cinema) there's a lot of places that hike up prices if you're in a...
by Gavin Chipper
Thu Feb 08, 2024 4:25 pm
Forum: Countdown - Events
Topic: CO:parkrun Recaps
Replies: 583
Views: 289110

Re: CO:parkrun Recaps

Well, here's the relevant bit from their webpage: After careful consideration and extensive consultation–both in 2019 and in 2023, we decided to continue categorising people based on gender rather than sex. We feel this is aligned with us as a health and wellbeing charity that provides non-competiti...
by Gavin Chipper
Thu Feb 08, 2024 2:46 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers for Thursday 8th February 2024 (Series 89, Heat 28)
Replies: 11
Views: 737

Re: Spoilers for Thursday 8th February 2024 (Series 89, Heat 28)

Although not as long as FACTOTUM, TACTFUL was the standard method contestant-beater in round 4.
by Gavin Chipper
Thu Feb 08, 2024 2:20 pm
Forum: Countdown - Events
Topic: CO:parkrun Recaps
Replies: 583
Views: 289110

Re: CO:parkrun Recaps

I think the best solution is to change "gender" to "sex" on the sign-up and leave people to it. They don't demand proof of age.
by Gavin Chipper
Thu Feb 08, 2024 12:26 pm
Forum: Countdown - Events
Topic: CO:parkrun Recaps
Replies: 583
Views: 289110

Re: CO:parkrun Recaps

The Telegraph have an article about it.
by Gavin Chipper
Thu Feb 08, 2024 12:18 pm
Forum: Countdown - Events
Topic: CO:parkrun Recaps
Replies: 583
Views: 289110

Re: CO:parkrun Recaps

Good point.
by Gavin Chipper
Thu Feb 08, 2024 1:30 am
Forum: Countdown - Events
Topic: National COLIN Day
Replies: 2
Views: 371

Re: National COLIN Day

That's quite clever actually.
by Gavin Chipper
Wed Feb 07, 2024 11:21 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: What films have you watched lately?
Replies: 428
Views: 240900

Re: What films have you watched lately?

I watched The Lavender Hill Mob the other day. Quite enjoyable.
by Gavin Chipper
Wed Feb 07, 2024 5:33 pm
Forum: Countdown - Events
Topic: CO:parkrun Recaps
Replies: 583
Views: 289110

Re: CO:parkrun Recaps

P***sed off about this. My nephew won't be happy when I tell him he's destined not to make it to the top of the first finishers list at our parkrun!
by Gavin Chipper
Tue Feb 06, 2024 11:13 pm
Forum: Countdown - Events
Topic: COLIN XX- your input desired
Replies: 13
Views: 811

Re: COLIN XX- your input desired

I'm not that bothered about having a calendar - it's just something I was idly thinking about.

But a pdf sounds like a reasonable compromise for next year's thing anyway.
by Gavin Chipper
Tue Feb 06, 2024 9:55 pm
Forum: Countdown - Events
Topic: COLIN XX- your input desired
Replies: 13
Views: 811

Re: COLIN XX- your input desired

For next year, I'm finally pulling the trigger on a 'big prize' (such as mugs, t-shirts, calendars etc) I've been thinking of for years, namely the 'Big Book of COLIN'. What this will include is all manner of stuff like photos, stats, records, old (and some new) puzzles, quizzes... but I also want ...
by Gavin Chipper
Tue Feb 06, 2024 4:35 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Questions you've always wanted answered
Replies: 1615
Views: 630591

Re: Questions you've always wanted answered

Well chronic just means it's over a long time. It doesn't say how serious it is. Kidney presumably because it involves the kidneys, and disease - it's just the word for bad medical things isn't it? Still, good job it's nothing to worry about!
by Gavin Chipper
Mon Feb 05, 2024 2:30 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: The Dead of 2024
Replies: 54
Views: 3855

Re: The Dead of 2024

Wow. That's Dad's Army gone then. I was hoping for another 20 years.
by Gavin Chipper
Sun Feb 04, 2024 9:23 am
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Politics in General
Replies: 1604
Views: 1652099

Re: Politics in General

This is a very good song by Biden and Netenyahu.
by Gavin Chipper
Sat Feb 03, 2024 3:10 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Questions you've always wanted answered
Replies: 1615
Views: 630591

Re: Questions you've always wanted answered

There's better satellite coverage just outside the Grim Reaper's house.
by Gavin Chipper
Sat Feb 03, 2024 1:15 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers Thursday February 1st
Replies: 2
Views: 414

Re: Spoilers Thursday February 1st

The teatime teaser - "Lincs or Notts; you make the connection". Never mind that I thought he said "Links or nuts", but quite a good COLIN reference, held in Lincs obviously. Apparently my run on Sunday crossed the border into Notts as well so very relevant.
by Gavin Chipper
Fri Feb 02, 2024 9:06 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: The Dead of 2024
Replies: 54
Views: 3855

Re: The Dead of 2024

Jonnie Irwin (who I believe Elliott picked) and Carl Weathers have died.
by Gavin Chipper
Fri Feb 02, 2024 12:46 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Countdown Lookalikes?
Replies: 390
Views: 221732

Re: Countdown Lookalikes?

Series 89 contestant Kevin Cornell (he was on a few days ago): https://static.ffx.io/images/$zoom_0.353%2C$multiply_1.3975%2C$ratio_1.776846%2C$width_1059%2C$x_0%2C$y_0/t_crop_custom/q_62%2Cf_auto/4dfa3e1c98c36b5af741e37a3c1968bb8bd9de7c US president Bill Clinton: https://wiki.apterous.org/images/th...
by Gavin Chipper
Thu Feb 01, 2024 7:10 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: REALLY obvious things you've just realised
Replies: 630
Views: 275511

Re: REALLY obvious things you've just realised

Why did no-one mention that the Queen had died? So Charles is King?
by Gavin Chipper
Thu Feb 01, 2024 5:59 pm
Forum: Countdown - Events
Topic: CO:parkrun Recaps
Replies: 583
Views: 289110

Re: CO:parkrun Recaps

After nearly a year, I've finally updated the PB list. As well as a new entry from Matt Gould, there were improvements from Matthew Tassier, Junaid Mubeen, Jonathan Wynn, Dan Byrom, Stephen Read, Kai Laddiman and Adam Latchford. Adam Latchford improved from 29:29 to 20:35 - nearly 9 minutes! He was ...
by Gavin Chipper
Thu Feb 01, 2024 5:30 pm
Forum: Countdown - Events
Topic: CO:parkrun Recaps
Replies: 583
Views: 289110

Re: CO:parkrun Recaps

We have a new season on our hands. And before COLIN, a load of us went to the relatively new Yarborough Leisure Centre parkrun (something about collecting parkruns beginning with every letter of the alphabet), and here are the results : 6 (1). Gevin Chapwell - 18:59 (75.24%) (889 points) 27 (2). Dan...
by Gavin Chipper
Thu Feb 01, 2024 2:50 pm
Forum: Countdown - Events
Topic: COLIN XIX- Countdown in Lincoln, 27-28 January 2024
Replies: 44
Views: 16913

Re: COLIN XIX- Countdown in Lincoln, 27-28 January 2024

I didn't eat at the social club. Are you saying the food there was better than OK or worse than OK? Was implied in what I said, but to clarify, worse. Think everyone said they're chips were undercooked, and everything was served with said chips Will feed that back to the MH manager next time I spea...
by Gavin Chipper
Wed Jan 31, 2024 2:06 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Favourite Comedy Gig
Replies: 11
Views: 756

Re: Favourite Comedy Gig

Marc Meakin wrote: Wed Jan 31, 2024 2:05 pm
Jon O'Neill wrote: Tue Jan 30, 2024 9:38 pm Cliche but it's Stewart Lee and Frankie Boyle.
Interestingly, in his set Stewart Lee had a little dig at Frankie Boyle for using a team of uncredited writers. (Lee writes his own material) for his stand Up
Did he then repeat it 20 times because he was lacking material of his own?
by Gavin Chipper
Wed Jan 31, 2024 1:16 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Politics in General
Replies: 1604
Views: 1652099

Re: Politics in General

Just to add to the above, Sunak speaking out in that way suggests delusions of grandeur. His opinion is irrelevant. The ICJ is much bigger than him in this regard.
by Gavin Chipper
Tue Jan 30, 2024 2:18 pm
Forum: Countdown - Events
Topic: Co-Event Suggestion Box
Replies: 147
Views: 13365

Re: Co-Event Suggestion Box

By the way, a few people at COLIN were emphasing the importance of shuffling the letters well and using e.g. four As coming out in a row as evidence of poor shuffling. However, unless it's a new pack with letters clumped together, it shouldn't really make any difference. Shuffling is good practice a...
by Gavin Chipper
Tue Jan 30, 2024 10:35 am
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers for Monday 29th January 2024 (Series 89, Heat 20)
Replies: 4
Views: 469

Re: Spoilers for Monday 29th January 2024 (Series 89, Heat 20)

Not on Apterous (so with all necessary caveats).
by Gavin Chipper
Mon Jan 29, 2024 11:10 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers for Monday 29th January 2024 (Series 89, Heat 20)
Replies: 4
Views: 469

Re: Spoilers for Monday 29th January 2024 (Series 89, Heat 20)

Geezer looked like a potential octochamp yesterday. Not sure what happened to him.
by Gavin Chipper
Mon Jan 29, 2024 4:19 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Music
Replies: 295
Views: 83899

Re: Music

I don't really like the Darkness song either but my reaction to someone liking a song is also in some way proportional to how popular it is in general. Maybe the Mariah Carey song is better than I gave it credit for but there's loads I prefer.
by Gavin Chipper
Mon Jan 29, 2024 4:15 pm
Forum: Countdown - Events
Topic: COLIN XIX- Countdown in Lincoln, 27-28 January 2024
Replies: 44
Views: 16913

Re: COLIN XIX- Countdown in Lincoln, 27-28 January 2024

I didn't eat there either. Veggie options were limited.
by Gavin Chipper
Mon Jan 29, 2024 2:19 pm
Forum: Countdown - Events
Topic: COLIN XIX- Countdown in Lincoln, 27-28 January 2024
Replies: 44
Views: 16913

Re: COLIN XIX- Countdown in Lincoln, 27-28 January 2024

Yes, really good again. If I had one small suggestion, it would be that if there are table numbers, it's best to have them explicitly labelled rather than people having to infer them from the set numbers on the lids of the letters/numbers boxes, which are generally harder to find with the lids often...
by Gavin Chipper
Thu Jan 25, 2024 10:26 pm
Forum: Countdown - Events
Topic: Co-Event Suggestion Box
Replies: 147
Views: 13365

Re: Co-Event Suggestion Box

I've thought about that before, and I think it's probably better overall to have 2 tables of 2 unbeaten players, rather than a 3 and a 1.
by Gavin Chipper
Thu Jan 25, 2024 5:20 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers for Thursday 25th January 2024 (Series 89, Heat 18)
Replies: 4
Views: 545

Re: Spoilers for Thursday 25th January 2024 (Series 89, Heat 18)

I checked it on Apterous when I watched and it said invalid. Unless it's slipped through the net with the update.
by Gavin Chipper
Wed Jan 24, 2024 3:33 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Unpopular opinions you genuinely hold
Replies: 248
Views: 30645

Re: Unpopular opinions you genuinely hold

Mark Deeks wrote: Wed Jan 24, 2024 2:29 pm Sure, but that's privatised industry for you.
And that itself is a problem. Essential services like this should not be privatised.
by Gavin Chipper
Wed Jan 24, 2024 8:50 am
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Unpopular opinions you genuinely hold
Replies: 248
Views: 30645

Re: Unpopular opinions you genuinely hold

What I found ridiculous (and I mentioned this on here before) was when the prices all went up (due to the war in Ukraine I think) but then the companies recorded record profits as well. That was obviously a piss take, and they were never pulled up on it. If prices go up for them, then sure, raise pr...
by Gavin Chipper
Tue Jan 23, 2024 11:46 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers for Tuesday 23rd January 2024 (Series 89, Heat 16)
Replies: 6
Views: 740

Re: Spoilers for Tuesday 23rd January 2024 (Series 89, Heat 16)

Toby McDonald wrote: Tue Jan 23, 2024 11:42 pm R3 LNAFP: (9*8-6+2)*3 = 204
I did (9+8)×6×2=204.
by Gavin Chipper
Tue Jan 23, 2024 10:12 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers for Tuesday 23rd January 2024 (Series 89, Heat 16)
Replies: 6
Views: 740

Re: Spoilers for Tuesday 23rd January 2024 (Series 89, Heat 16)

John Garcia wrote: Tue Jan 23, 2024 4:10 pm 4th Numbers:
6 + 5 + 10 = 21; 21 x 50 = 1050; 1050 - 75 - 7 = 968
I saw that as well, but after the time.
by Gavin Chipper
Tue Jan 23, 2024 3:55 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Was Jeanne Calment a fraud?
Replies: 70
Views: 24929

Re: Was Jeanne Calment a fraud?

What's your point here? I don't think your post really addressed what Marc was saying. Marc said he expected people living to 100 to be the norm, which I think is fairly interpreted as more people doing that than not. Sure, but in the context of the discussion the exact proportion is not really tha...
by Gavin Chipper
Tue Jan 23, 2024 1:03 pm
Forum: Countdown - Events
Topic: CO:Rea - 20 April 2024
Replies: 14
Views: 12583

Re: CO:Rea - 20 April 2024

I think any travelling at all the day before might be a bit tiring, and could be a bit of a risk! Hopefully I'll see you out there in London and good luck to your daughter!
by Gavin Chipper
Tue Jan 23, 2024 1:00 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers for Monday 22nd January 2024 (Series 89, Heat 15)
Replies: 4
Views: 536

Re: Spoilers for Monday 22nd January 2024 (Series 89, Heat 15)

If you don't have access to a reliable Countdown dictionary/wordchecker, I'd say it's best to ask whether a word is in rather than authoritatively declare it. E.g.

Round 12: wooliest?

Not

Round 12: WOOLIEST
by Gavin Chipper
Mon Jan 22, 2024 8:52 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Questions you've always wanted answered
Replies: 1615
Views: 630591

Re: Questions you've always wanted answered

The other thing is what he does is vandalism - he doesn't get permission does he? Other people would be at risk of being arrested for doing that. Or if they vandalise the vandalism... I think it defeats the point that everyone, including the authorities, fawn over his work. If he was on the run from...
by Gavin Chipper
Mon Jan 22, 2024 5:46 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Questions you've always wanted answered
Replies: 1615
Views: 630591

Re: Questions you've always wanted answered

Fiona T wrote: Mon Jan 22, 2024 5:20 pm Banksy painting
Good post for two reasons. Self-destructed and it's also a very good question.
by Gavin Chipper
Mon Jan 22, 2024 3:21 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Questions you've always wanted answered
Replies: 1615
Views: 630591

Re: Questions you've always wanted answered

Bombs?
by Gavin Chipper
Mon Jan 22, 2024 3:17 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Was Jeanne Calment a fraud?
Replies: 70
Views: 24929

Re: Was Jeanne Calment a fraud?

Improvements in the global south might enable us to surpass 80, but I'd be amazed if we got much further than that. There's already loads of 80-year-olds roaming the streets. What's your point here? I don't think your post really addressed what Marc was saying. Marc was talking about 120-year-olds ...
by Gavin Chipper
Sun Jan 21, 2024 3:48 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: REALLY obvious things you've just realised
Replies: 630
Views: 275511

Re: REALLY obvious things you've just realised

Switzerland looks like some sort of tardigrade thing. Denmark is Batman. The USA looks like a whale.
by Gavin Chipper
Sun Jan 21, 2024 9:22 am
Forum: Countdown - Events
Topic: CO:Rea - 20 April 2024
Replies: 14
Views: 12583

Re: CO:Rea - 20 April 2024

This is the day before the London Marathon by the way, so it's unfortunately not doable for me.
by Gavin Chipper
Sat Jan 20, 2024 11:18 pm
Forum: Countdown - Events
Topic: CO:Rea - 20 April 2024
Replies: 14
Views: 12583

Re: CO:Rea - 20 April 2024

Is Tony Atkins involved or is this just a separate thing from his events?
by Gavin Chipper
Sat Jan 20, 2024 12:13 pm
Forum: Countdown - Events
Topic: Co-event dictionary
Replies: 34
Views: 3716

Re: Co-event dictionary

I also don't see a problem with the request. If you ran a project in your spare time, wouldn't you be annoyed if a user raised a specific feature request needed for an event at a weeks' notice on a Friday night? When they could have raised it at any point up to 9 weeks ago. We've just coming to the...
by Gavin Chipper
Sat Jan 20, 2024 11:31 am
Forum: Countdown - Events
Topic: Co-event dictionary
Replies: 34
Views: 3716

Re: Co-event dictionary

I also don't see a problem with the request. As said, the change might have happened anyway before COLIN, regardless of the request. Any time there's an update, there's a sudden change in the words available with all the consequences of that. I'm not sure point 2 is anything against what Fiona has d...
by Gavin Chipper
Fri Jan 19, 2024 4:56 pm
Forum: Countdown - Events
Topic: Co-Event Suggestion Box
Replies: 147
Views: 13365

Re: Co-Event Suggestion Box

The question really is whether putting 1, 2, 3 against each other in round 2 is the best way to get the best players against each other in the final round. It doesn't seem likely.

It's not putting a value judgement on it. I'm just addressing Jack's list.
by Gavin Chipper
Fri Jan 19, 2024 2:21 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Was Jeanne Calment a fraud?
Replies: 70
Views: 24929

Re: Was Jeanne Calment a fraud?

I think in 30 years time living to 100 plus will be the norm however as we are all gifted with a limited amount of brain cells I can envisage 120 year olds roaming the streets like zombies. There's a horror movie in that Improvements in the global south might enable us to surpass 80, but I'd be ama...
by Gavin Chipper
Fri Jan 19, 2024 12:54 pm
Forum: Countdown - Events
Topic: Co-Event Suggestion Box
Replies: 147
Views: 13365

Re: Co-Event Suggestion Box

- The final round of games should most likely pit the best players against each other. Which, if any, of those 5/6 principles does the current system fail on? The Swiss system used at COLIN and other players doesn't really do this. As far as I understand the top players after round 1 go against eac...
by Gavin Chipper
Thu Jan 18, 2024 4:19 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Strange things you used to believe as a child
Replies: 32
Views: 6039

Re: Strange things you used to believe as a child

I used to not know that actors on television were a thing, and that programmes were all just made "from scratch" using some sort of technology. A bit like how things are going to be in a few years anyway.
by Gavin Chipper
Wed Jan 17, 2024 10:45 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Was Jeanne Calment a fraud?
Replies: 70
Views: 24929

Re: Was Jeanne Calment a fraud?

Deserved more.
by Gavin Chipper
Wed Jan 17, 2024 4:46 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Was Jeanne Calment a fraud?
Replies: 70
Views: 24929

Re: Was Jeanne Calment a fraud?

I'm amazed anyone even believed it in the first place. The dog was supposedly a full 7 years older than the dog that had previously been crowned and over double the breed's life expectancy, was obese, and had no signs of extreme age. I'd be amazed it it was older than 14/15. Hugely embarrassing for...
by Gavin Chipper
Wed Jan 17, 2024 4:46 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Was Jeanne Calment a fraud?
Replies: 70
Views: 24929

Re: Was Jeanne Calment a fraud?

Just read through this whole thread again. One of my favourites that I like coming back to every so often. So thanks for the bump!
by Gavin Chipper
Wed Jan 17, 2024 12:19 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers for Tuesday 16th January 2024 (Series 89, Heat 11)
Replies: 9
Views: 784

Re: Spoilers for Tuesday 16th January 2024 (Series 89, Heat 11)

Adam S Latchford wrote: Wed Jan 17, 2024 8:16 am
Howie Myers wrote: Wed Jan 17, 2024 6:02 am r3 alt: 8*(9*10+4)+2=754
r5: OCTANES
r8: DANCIER
r13: BROMATES
r14 alt: (5+5)*(8*7)-2-1=557
Octanes bad (maybe it's fine in the new dictionary update idk but def bad on apterous), costean the falsey
Surely octanes is the falsey - COSTEAN is the word!
by Gavin Chipper
Tue Jan 16, 2024 10:15 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Track and Field (and Road) Athletics
Replies: 252
Views: 49559

Re: Track and Field (and Road) Athletics

This is incredible https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/athletics/67974629 Yes, and it also goes back to what I said quite recently about women's times improving more than men's. Two women under the world record, and the men's race gave no times of particular note. But also Agnes Ngetich and Emmaculate Anya...
by Gavin Chipper
Sat Jan 13, 2024 2:14 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: Unpopular opinions you genuinely hold
Replies: 248
Views: 30645

Re: Unpopular opinions you genuinely hold

That's quite a claim, considering they want to do so in the relatively near future. Well September 2026 at the earliest.
by Gavin Chipper
Sat Jan 13, 2024 10:25 am
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Worst word ever
Replies: 9
Views: 1386

Re: Worst word ever

Matt Morrison wrote: Fri Jan 12, 2024 5:46 pm it's gauge
I think it's a gaugeous word.