Ditloids

Cerebral distractions of every kind, mostly but not exclusively Countdown-related.

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Kirk Bevins
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Ditloids

Post by Kirk Bevins »

Thought you guys were clever so I'd post these. Feel free to cheat using google etc as I just would like to know the answers...I've got most of them but a few I'm struggling with. Here goes:

1) 513 P K by A S on S
2) 44 D W F or W S in a G B O T T by D B
3) 8 D in an O D U
4) 1874 A B C D E: 'M W, C H, I W to S Y'
5) A W D 6442 to E the M of M
6) 1946 J G Q to E
7) 4 I of C; L I, I T, M T and G I
8) 20 M of the T B T P S

Any help would be appreciated. If anyone is interested in the 12 I've got so far to give an idea of difficulty (or just to give you something to do, let me know!)
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Graeme Cole
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Re: Ditloids

Post by Graeme Cole »

6. 1946: just gone quarter to eight

Seen one very much like that before, though.
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Kirk Bevins
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Re: Ditloids

Post by Kirk Bevins »

Nice. Disappointingly my dad nailed 6 and 7 just after I posted so 6 left to go...
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Re: Ditloids

Post by Eoin Monaghan »

I'm pretty sure number 5 is something to do with pressing 62442 (are you missing the first 2?) to Enter the Ministry of Magic (in Harry Potter series), but I don't know the first part.

Can I also see some of the others please? If it's not too much bother.
Last edited by Eoin Monaghan on Sun Dec 18, 2011 7:05 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Ditloids

Post by Thomas Carey »

Eoin Monaghan wrote:I'm pretty sure number 5 is something to do with pressing 6442 to Enter the Ministry of Magic (in Harry Potter series), but I don't know the first part.
I think it was 62442 (which spells MAGIC on a phone).
cheers maus
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Re: Ditloids

Post by Eoin Monaghan »

Thomas Carey wrote:
Eoin Monaghan wrote:I'm pretty sure number 5 is something to do with pressing 6442 to Enter the Ministry of Magic (in Harry Potter series), but I don't know the first part.
I think it was 62442 (which spells MAGIC on a phone).
Yeah, that's what I meant, you posted right before my edit!
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Kirk Bevins
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Re: Ditloids

Post by Kirk Bevins »

The magazine states 6442 but it could be an error. What would the "AWD" be? A wizard's something? I don't do Harry Potter. I'll post the others for you.
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Re: Ditloids

Post by Kirk Bevins »

Kirk Bevins wrote:
1) 513 P K by A S on S
2) 44 D W F or W S in a G B O T T by D B
3) 8 D in an O D U
4) 1874 A B C D E: 'M W, C H, I W to S Y'
5) A W D 6442 to E the M of M
6) 1946 J G Q to E
7) 4 I of C; L I, I T, M T and G I
8) 20 M of the T B T P S
These are ones I've got but feel free to solve them for fun (or confirm my answers):

9) 364 G M T L G to M in T in the 12 D of C
10) 8549176320 D in A O
11) 14 O by G and S
12) 47 G B M at the B O
13) 0 P 0 G
14) 38 S on an A R W
15) 82 S A on a D
16) V R 63 Y 216 D
17) 32 P on the L E
18) I A G N B L B 8 D a W
19) 6,500 W in the E S B
20) 12 L in the FF
Eoin Monaghan
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Re: Ditloids

Post by Eoin Monaghan »

Well, to enter the Ministry of Magic, you go into a payphone and type in 62442, then the box will descend through the ground - if that gives you a bit more help. Maybe I'm barking up the wrong tree, but that looks more right.

I can see why you got 15. :)
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Kirk Bevins
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Re: Ditloids

Post by Kirk Bevins »

Eoin Monaghan wrote:Well, to enter the Ministry of Magic, you go into a payphone and type in 62442, then the box will descend through the ground - if that gives you a bit more help. Maybe I'm barking up the wrong tree, but that looks more right.

I can see why you got 15. :)
Ha, I didn't...my dad did and he called me a tool or similar.
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Re: Ditloids

Post by Kirk Bevins »

I reckon it's "A wizard dials 6442 to enter the ministry of magic"....does that sound right? I'm guessing they're all wizards..
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Re: Ditloids

Post by Eoin Monaghan »

Kirk Bevins wrote:I reckon it's "A wizard dials 6442 to enter the ministry of magic"....does that sound right? I'm guessing they're all wizards..
Yeah, that would make sense. Just hope they have made a mistake!
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Re: Ditloids

Post by Liam Tiernan »

No 1 is:513 people killed by Arnold Schwarzenegger on screen
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Innis Carson
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Re: Ditloids

Post by Innis Carson »

#4 must be something along the lines of 1874: Alexander Bell called (something something) "Mr Watson, come here, I want to see you"
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Re: Ditloids

Post by Innis Carson »

#2: 44 days without food or water spent in a glass box over the Thames by David Blaine

On second thought, he did have water, maybe this isn't exactly right. Or perhaps it's another mistake.
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Re: Ditloids

Post by Kirk Bevins »

Innis Carson wrote:#2: 44 days without food or water spent in a glass box over the Thames by David Blaine

On second thought, he did have water, maybe this isn't exactly right. Or perhaps it's another mistake.
Yeah, it sounds very right....the WS just needs to be confirmed really.
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Kirk Bevins
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Re: Ditloids

Post by Kirk Bevins »

3 and 8 we're nowhere near on. 8 drams in an ounce...but what's the DU?

8 doors on an octagonal display unit? Lol...something like that?
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Re: Ditloids

Post by Gavin Chipper »

Oh I see - these are called ditloids. Weird name.
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Re: Ditloids

Post by Phil Reynolds »

#7 is Four Inns of Court: Lincoln’s Inn, Inner Temple, Middle Temple and Gray’s Inn
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Re: Ditloids

Post by Phil Reynolds »

Kirk Bevins wrote:These are ones I've got but feel free to solve them for fun (or confirm my answers):

9) 364 G M T L G to M in T in the 12 D of C
364 Gifts My True Love Gave to Me in the 12 Days of Christmas
11) 14 O by G and S
14 Operettas by Gilbert and Sullivan (Operas would probably get you the point)
13) 0 P 0 G
0 Pain 0 Gain
16) V R 63 Y 216 D
Victoria Reigned 63 Years 216 Days
18) I A G N B L B 8 D a W
I Ain't Got Nothing But Love Babe 8 Days a Week

So is it you or Keith that subscribes to The Actuary magazine? :geek:
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Re: Ditloids

Post by Kirk Bevins »

Haha..me. Im training to be an actuary. Dads a train driver.
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Re: Ditloids

Post by Kirk Bevins »

Still got "20 M of the T B T P S" to go folks, as well as "8 D in an O D U" as well as the "DE" of 1874: A B C D E : "MW, CH, IW to SY"
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Re: Ditloids

Post by Kirk Bevins »

Kirk Bevins wrote:Still got "20 M of the T B T P S" to go folks, as well as "8 D in an O D U" as well as the "DE" of 1874: A B C D E : "MW, CH, IW to SY"
The ones we didn't get:
20 members of the Texan band The Polyphonic Spree

8 Deliveries in an Over Down Under

1874: Alexander Bell completes discourse experiment: "Mr Watson, Come here, I want to see you"

Also, the AWD 6442 tet M o M was:
Arthur Weasley dials 62442 (mistake in mag as we thought) to enter the Ministry of Magic.

Not sure if I got a point for saying "A wizard dials..." but I didn't win the £50 voucher anyway. It's a cluedo puzzle this week.
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Re: Ditloids

Post by Jon Corby »

Kirk Bevins wrote:1874: Alexander Bell completes discourse experiment: "Mr Watson, Come here, I want to see you"
That's absolutely shocking, how the hell were you supposed to figure out that wording? It barely even makes sense.
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Re: Ditloids

Post by Lesley Hines »

Jon Corby wrote:
Kirk Bevins wrote:1874: Alexander Bell completes discourse experiment: "Mr Watson, Come here, I want to see you"
That's absolutely shocking, how the hell were you supposed to figure out that wording? It barely even makes sense.
No. I've just googled it wondering if AB called the invention of the telephone a discourse experiment and nothing even like it.

Wish I'd spotted this thread earlier, I love ditloids. I always include a round like this in our quiz on Sundays (or Dingbats, or other similar ungooglable stuff).

More if you've got them :D I'll look out for them this time. :oops:
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Re: Ditloids

Post by Charlie Reams »

Jon Corby wrote:
Kirk Bevins wrote:1874: Alexander Bell completes discourse experiment: "Mr Watson, Come here, I want to see you"
That's absolutely shocking, how the hell were you supposed to figure out that wording? It barely even makes sense.
I don't know how these are scored, but I would've thought you'd get the point for identifying the quote (which is reasonable), Alexander Bell, and any reasonable guess for the middle. Otherwise it's idiotic.
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Re: Ditloids

Post by Matt Bayfield »

Oh, for god's sake, that one about the Polyphonic Spree is bad for so many reasons:

1) Adding "Texan band" makes it practically impenetrable.
2) There aren't even exactly 20 members in the band anyway. The number in the band has varied over the years. Wikipedia lists 21 current members.
3) The Polyphonic Spree are shit.
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