Spoilers for Tuesday 27th January CoC
Posted: Tue Jan 27, 2009 3:28 pm
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'Fraid not, good try though.rayfolwell wrote:Is IDOLISTS OK ?
OSMUNDA is actually fine, and I can't see why PIPETTE wouldn't be.Craig Beevers wrote:Presumably OSMUNDA isn't in but maybe PIPETTE is?
Er, that's what Paul Zenon said.Matt Morrison wrote:R2: surely GAUDIEST
That is amazing how you go from a mediocre Countdowner to possibly the greatest of all time in such a small amount of time. I suppose he must have just been naturally brilliant at the game.Martin Gardner wrote: I met Conor Travers when he was about 13 as he came to COLIN and won two games out of six. About a year later, he won a whole series averaging 110 points a game.
True, and also had the conundrum been crucial Nick may have focused that bit harder on it and got it quickly.He's pretty hot on them, as he proved in the series 56 final.Martin Gardner wrote:
it's a bit harsh to lose based on BIONICS but I think Nick might have gone for six small numbers at the end of the game, in that case.
Mr Travers losses were narrow ones to former champion Stewart Holden (twice!), former runner up and CofC semi-finalist Tom Hargreaves, and, erm, me. I can assure you he was far from mediocre.Jimmy Gough wrote:That is amazing how you go from a mediocre Countdowner to possibly the greatest of all time in such a small amount of time. I suppose he must have just been naturally brilliant at the game.Martin Gardner wrote: I met Conor Travers when he was about 13 as he came to COLIN and won two games out of six. About a year later, he won a whole series averaging 110 points a game.
Conor was far from mediocre at COLIN. As I recall he had terrible luck in the draws (checking now, he lost twice against series champion Stewart Holden, once against all-time great Tom Hargreaves and one against Paul "knows every word" Howe). His victories were against good opposition as well (Dan Harris and two time COLIN runner-up Jon O'Neill). "Naturally brilliant" doesn't really mean anything, but he was (and is) definitely brilliant. At COLIN and on TV.Jimmy Gough wrote:That is amazing how you go from a mediocre Countdowner to possibly the greatest of all time in such a small amount of time. I suppose he must have just been naturally brilliant at the game.Martin Gardner wrote: I met Conor Travers when he was about 13 as he came to COLIN and won two games out of six. About a year later, he won a whole series averaging 110 points a game.
I meant that he has a good ability to remember words with relatively little practise. Some people are naturally better at the game than others, it would take some people hundreds of games to reach the standard some people can reach with a fraction of the amount. Like some people have to work really hard to do well academically, while others do next to no work but do better. This has been covered in a different thread so I should just stop talking but I hope you see what I meant.Jon O'Neill wrote: "Naturally brilliant" doesn't really mean anything
Ooh, this is dubious. DoD and myself shouted it out as soon as the 9th letter appeared so Mrs Kai would have to have got it before then. How good is your mum at Goatdown, Kai?Kai Laddiman wrote:Mum told me later she found it.
Jimmy Gough wrote:I meant that he might have a good ability to remember words with relatively little practise. Some people are naturally better at the game than others, it would take some people hundreds of games to reach the standard some people can reach with a fraction of the amount. Like some people have to work really hard to do well academically, while others do next to no work but do better. This has been covered in a different thread so I should just stop talking but I hope you see what I meant.Jon O'Neill wrote: "Naturally brilliant" doesn't really mean anything
I was sat with Naomi in the front row of the audience, she wasn't in the green room. (I actually left to go for a pee or something, and returned to the audience during this round.)Junaid Mubeen wrote:Ooh, this is dubious. DoD and myself shouted it out as soon as the 9th letter appeared so Mrs Kai would have to have got it before then. How good is your mum at Goatdown, Kai?Kai Laddiman wrote:Mum told me later she found it.
Actually, apparently he was about to buzz in with AWESTRUCK before I buzzed.Rich Priest wrote:True, and also had the conundrum been crucial Nick may have focused that bit harder on it and got it quickly
Yeah, that was the first word which immediately came to me when the conundrum was revealed, but just after Kai buzzed I noticed that it was indeed TRACKSUIT.Kai Laddiman wrote:Actually, apparently he was about to buzz in with AWESTRUCK before I buzzed.Rich Priest wrote:True, and also had the conundrum been crucial Nick may have focused that bit harder on it and got it quickly
Ah, of course she would be, I was confused as she was in the green room for the game before...okay in that case well in Mrs Kai, sorry I doubted you!Jon Corby wrote:I was sat with Naomi in the front row of the audience, she wasn't in the green room. (I actually left to go for a pee or something, and returned to the audience during this round.)Junaid Mubeen wrote:Ooh, this is dubious. DoD and myself shouted it out as soon as the 9th letter appeared so Mrs Kai would have to have got it before then. How good is your mum at Goatdown, Kai?Kai Laddiman wrote:Mum told me later she found it.
You can only choose a maximum of five vowels and there are plenty of niners out there with five vowels John.John Bosley wrote:Nick did a lot of choosing vowels especially after he got a 9. This would stop either contestant getting a 9 and would be in his interest. I do not like it. If I see what I see is really happening, I am so not impressed I am going off countdown a wee bit.
I would be really relieved to be put right on this.
So by a lot, you mean once, in a round where the first four vowels were OAAA? Besides which there's nothing wrong with choosing letters (or numbers) tactically to restrict an opponent's scoring, you've earned that right by getting yourself into a strong position. And Kai didn't need a 9, he needed to win 2 of the last 3 rounds (plus maybe the conundrum), I'd have been happier facing 5 vowels as it's less likely to produce a flat round.John Bosley wrote:Nick did a lot of choosing vowels especially after he got a 9. This would stop either contestant getting a 9 and would be in his interest. I do not like it. If I see what I see is really happening, I am so not impressed I am going off countdown a wee bit.
I would be really relieved to be put right on this.
I know but it sounds like you think it's underhand in some way.John Bosley wrote:I didn't say there was anything against the rules, but that doesn't mean I liked it.
So my selection of 5 vowels in one round has put you off Countdown?! Out of interest, which consonant would you have hoped to come out after MDNSOAAA to produce a nine-lettered word?John Bosley wrote:Nick did a lot of choosing vowels especially after he got a 9. This would stop either contestant getting a 9 and would be in his interest. I do not like it. If I see what I see is really happening, I am so not impressed I am going off countdown a wee bit.
I would be really relieved to be put right on this.
One that didn't yield an obscure 9Nick Wainwright wrote:which consonant would you have hoped to come out after MDNSOAAA to produce a nine-lettered word?
Nah, he wouldn't have the time. By the time he's 15 he'll be juggling five girlfriends and working on his second million.Martin Gardner wrote: I'm just wondering Kai whether you think if you had waited until 14 or 15, whether you could have won the whole competition.
John, pros of the game "fish" for long obscure words. Nick did the right thing. I was looking for an E for ADENOMAS which would have probably been a winner. As it was it was a U and I had OSMUNDA which, again, was a winner. It's about probability and about knowing how obscure certain words are.John Bosley wrote:Nick did a lot of choosing vowels especially after he got a 9. This would stop either contestant getting a 9 and would be in his interest. I do not like it. If I see what I see is really happening, I am so not impressed I am going off countdown a wee bit.
I would be really relieved to be put right on this.
I take a few days off from the forum and return to this, undoubtedly the most fucking retarded post of all time. You're wrong in just so many ways that my brain almost exploded when I read it. Maybe this would be more to your taste.John Bosley wrote:Nick did a lot of choosing vowels especially after he got a 9. This would stop either contestant getting a 9 and would be in his interest. I do not like it. If I see what I see is really happening, I am so not impressed I am going off countdown a wee bit. I would be really relieved to be put right on this.
Shit, they have a forum for that. Actually it's quite useful because I'm in training to go on and I need to know which strategies work.Charlie Reams wrote:I take a few days off from the forum and return to this, undoubtedly the most fucking retarded post of all time. You're wrong in just so many ways that my brain almost exploded when I read it. Maybe this would be more to your taste.John Bosley wrote:Nick did a lot of choosing vowels especially after he got a 9. This would stop either contestant getting a 9 and would be in his interest. I do not like it. If I see what I see is really happening, I am so not impressed I am going off countdown a wee bit. I would be really relieved to be put right on this.
Thank for your kindly but rather outspoken advice, but I was actually asking for help if you read my fucking retarded post carefully. I firstly need to apologise to Nick - sorry Nick - you are right to take every chance to win - that is what the game is about.Charlie Reams wrote:I take a few days off from the forum and return to this, undoubtedly the most fucking retarded post of all time. You're wrong in just so many ways that my brain almost exploded when I read it. Maybe this would be more to your taste.John Bosley wrote:Nick did a lot of choosing vowels especially after he got a 9. This would stop either contestant getting a 9 and would be in his interest. I do not like it. If I see what I see is really happening, I am so not impressed I am going off countdown a wee bit. I would be really relieved to be put right on this.
From the little of it I have seen, I observe that if you think 'blue' and the team and audience chant 'blue blue' in a religious type way, there is always a blue in the box when it's opened. Infallible.Gavin Chipper wrote:
Shit, they have a forum for that. Actually it's quite useful because I'm in training to go on and I need to know which strategies work.
Yup, you're 100% right, apart from those occasions where there is a red in it.Chris Corby wrote:From the little of it I have seen, I observe that if you think 'blue' and the team and audience chant 'blue blue' in a religious type way, there is always a blue in the box when it's opened. Infallible.Gavin Chipper wrote: Shit, they have a forum for that. Actually it's quite useful because I'm in training to go on and I need to know which strategies work.
Ah yeah, but then it's because the player forgot to take into account what colour clothing the box opener was wearing. Or the colour they were wearing. Or whether they were believing hard enough.Matt Morrison wrote:Yup, you're 100% right, apart from those occasions where there is a red in it.Chris Corby wrote:From the little of it I have seen, I observe that if you think 'blue' and the team and audience chant 'blue blue' in a religious type way, there is always a blue in the box when it's opened. Infallible.Gavin Chipper wrote: Shit, they have a forum for that. Actually it's quite useful because I'm in training to go on and I need to know which strategies work.
I don't think it is that retarded, I think it deserves an answer. Imagine I'm on Apterous and the letters are DMNSAAO. Now the best pick is a vowel for ADENOMAS, but it comes a 'U'. What's the best pick now? Surely it's still a vowel for ADENOMAS, because even though I can see at least one consonant that gives an 8, 'E' is the most likely vowel because there are 20 of them, and none of the previous 4 vowels were an 'E'. So I reckon you've got a 50% chance or more of getting ADENOMAS in this way.Charlie Reams wrote:I take a few days off from the forum and return to this, undoubtedly the most fucking retarded post of all time. You're wrong in just so many ways that my brain almost exploded when I read it. Maybe this would be more to your taste.John Bosley wrote:Nick did a lot of choosing vowels especially after he got a 9. This would stop either contestant getting a 9 and would be in his interest. I do not like it. If I see what I see is really happening, I am so not impressed I am going off countdown a wee bit. I would be really relieved to be put right on this.
It all sounds a bit complicated. Has there been proper research written up in journals?Michael Wallace wrote:Ah yeah, but then it's because the player forgot to take into account what colour clothing the box opener was wearing. Or the colour they were wearing. Or whether they were believing hard enough.
Cheers Junaid for that vote of confidence! I did get it actually - you were watching from the green room and I was in the studio, so unless you shouted it bloody loudly I couldn't have heard you! I may be crap at this most of the time, but I think I deserve some credit for this one! If I remember correctly, I was sitting next to Corby and I even muttered it to him (not that he'll remember, but I do because I was amazed I'd found a 9).Junaid Mubeen wrote:Ooh, this is dubious. DoD and myself shouted it out as soon as the 9th letter appeared so Mrs Kai would have to have got it before then. How good is your mum at Goatdown, Kai?Kai Laddiman wrote:Mum told me later she found it.
I mucked about with this statistically, just for jolly. Final choice of a vowel is slightly more likely (at 71% to 63% for a consonant) to reveal a 7. Choice of a vowel is significantly (48% as opposed to 23%) more likely to produce an 8, (i.e if I or E come out)Nick Wainwright wrote:So my selection of 5 vowels in one round has put you off Countdown?! Out of interest, which consonant would you have hoped to come out after MDNSOAAA to produce a nine-lettered word?John Bosley wrote:Nick did a lot of choosing vowels especially after he got a 9. This would stop either contestant getting a 9 and would be in his interest. I do not like it. If I see what I see is really happening, I am so not impressed I am going off countdown a wee bit.
I would be really relieved to be put right on this.
Did you remember to weight the selections according to what was left in the deck, rather than the original frequencies?DaveC wrote:I mucked about with this statistically, just for jolly. Final choice of a vowel is slightly more likely (at 71% to 63% for a consonant) to reveal a 7. Choice of a vowel is significantly (48% as opposed to 23%) more likely to produce an 8, (i.e if I or E come out)
Yup!Charlie Reams wrote:Did you remember to weight the selections according to what was left in the deck, rather than the original frequencies?DaveC wrote:I mucked about with this statistically, just for jolly. Final choice of a vowel is slightly more likely (at 71% to 63% for a consonant) to reveal a 7. Choice of a vowel is significantly (48% as opposed to 23%) more likely to produce an 8, (i.e if I or E come out)
Naomi Laddiman wrote:Cheers Junaid for that vote of confidence! I did get it actually - you were watching from the green room and I was in the studio, so unless you shouted it bloody loudly I couldn't have heard you! I may be crap at this most of the time, but I think I deserve some credit for this one! If I remember correctly, I was sitting next to Corby and I even muttered it to him (not that he'll remember, but I do because I was amazed I'd found a 9).Junaid Mubeen wrote:Ooh, this is dubious. DoD and myself shouted it out as soon as the 9th letter appeared so Mrs Kai would have to have got it before then. How good is your mum at Goatdown, Kai?Kai Laddiman wrote:Mum told me later she found it.
Yes.Ian Fitzpatrick wrote:Hey, does Mrs Kai feature in any of the photographs in the bar at CofC?
Ha Ha, which is she?Jon Corby wrote:Yes.Ian Fitzpatrick wrote:Hey, does Mrs Kai feature in any of the photographs in the bar at CofC?
Sorry Junaid, I did miss your earlier post. I skimmed through and stopped to post a reply as soon as I got to the original comment - I was obviously deeply offended by it!! Afterwards, I forgot to go back and read the other posts.Junaid Mubeen wrote:Oops, sorry Mrs Kai, I did realise after Corby Jnr corrected me (I think you've missed a post of mine above). I have no trouble believing Kai inherited his smarts from yourself. And you were definitely the best amongst the contestants' mums at the game!
(hope my mum doesn't read this)
Have I missed the answer elsewhere? I wanna see the woman who created young Kai!Ian Fitzpatrick wrote:Ha Ha, which is she?Jon Corby wrote:Yes.Ian Fitzpatrick wrote:Hey, does Mrs Kai feature in any of the photographs in the bar at CofC?
This makes me even more gutted.Ben Hunter wrote:D'oh, bet Kai was gutted about BIONICS