Only Connect

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SparkOut
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Re: Only Connect

Post by SparkOut » Mon Feb 15, 2021 9:33 pm

I shan't spoil the outcome for anyone who hasn't been able to see it yet, but I will applaud the introduction of the word "xyzzy" in a national TV programme :)

PS @Ali what MIT Hunt team do you play with?

livecodeali
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Re: Only Connect

Post by livecodeali » Mon Feb 15, 2021 11:04 pm

Since 2014 I've hunted with team 'Rage' - we're always some sort of pun on the word, this year we were called 'Non-Abelian Rage Theory' as the initial theme was a Physics conference. My first was with Manic Sages in 2012, who actually won it, so I was part of the writing team in 2013.

SparkOut
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Re: Only Connect

Post by SparkOut » Mon Feb 15, 2021 11:39 pm

Woo! I think I vaguely remember seeing vertexillology that year, but I could easily be confusing with another one from any other time. I'm pretty sure I couldn't do it, anyway. (Team Unseen - I'm the resident stone frog, as in "as much use as...").

livecodeali
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Re: Only Connect

Post by livecodeali » Tue Feb 16, 2021 4:29 pm

Ah cool, that was probably the most successful of the ones we wrote I reckon! Are you part of a small UK based contingent of a mostly American team? Have you ever been there in person? I would love to some day!

Btw, my latest ep is up on YT https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xl9j2V81y8Y

SparkOut
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Re: Only Connect

Post by SparkOut » Tue Feb 16, 2021 4:50 pm

Well, a long time ago a lateral puzzles forum started and has a handful of members across Europe (notably a few Austrians) and one or two worldwide. One of those is married to the Team Unseen captain, and one year thought to invite the rest of the forum to take part. There has been some ebb and flow over time, and we've slowly got a bit more competent at using collaboration tools to make it work.
In 2008 we had a EuroMIT meetup in The Netherlands with some of the Europeans, and a few years ago I went to another near Linz where the Austrian cohort tend to gather for the event. I have been disappointed not to have been able to go since.
One of the Austrians took part on campus in 2019. I too would love to be able to one day.
We're pretty small but we ususlly don't do too badly, despite my stone frogness, but never in danger of finding the coin.
We did storm the first CiSRA hunt in 2012 though, under the name yope.

SparkOut
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Re: Only Connect

Post by SparkOut » Tue Feb 16, 2021 4:53 pm

I think there's two British members although we try to introduce some others from different puzzling sites now and then. Actually the other Brit is one I poached from Codex to hunt with us - then Codex won.

livecodeali
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Re: Only Connect

Post by livecodeali » Tue Feb 16, 2021 5:07 pm

Heh, me, Katie and Paul have done the CiSRA hunt since around 2011 - I think we came about 13th in 2012! Our team name in the smaller hunts is ManMaths or some variation thereon. We used to have a few more people from the Manchester maths dept doing the Australian hunts around that time, and got a few top tens or thereabouts.

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Re: Only Connect

Post by mwieder » Sat Feb 20, 2021 2:49 am

Hah! xyzzy was the only thing I could think of as well.

SparkOut
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Re: Only Connect

Post by SparkOut » Mon Mar 08, 2021 9:31 pm

I won't spoil the outcome for anyone who wants to watch but hasn't yet seen, but the next broadcast of Ali's team performance (semi finals) has just been on TV here.

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Re: Only Connect

Post by mwieder » Mon Mar 08, 2021 10:12 pm

Ah, thanks. I think I have to wait another four days or so for it to show up on youtube.

livecodeali
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Re: Only Connect

Post by livecodeali » Tue Mar 09, 2021 10:49 pm


bogs
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Re: Only Connect

Post by bogs » Tue Mar 09, 2021 10:54 pm

Was that you in a teddy? SHOCKING! :twisted:

*Edit - forgot the congrats heh.
Image

SparkOut
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Re: Only Connect

Post by SparkOut » Mon Mar 29, 2021 7:48 pm

Tonight's the final, on tenterhooks. Really hoping for success for Ali. Good (retrospective) luck!

SparkOut
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Re: Only Connect

Post by SparkOut » Mon Mar 29, 2021 8:36 pm

Now I have to keep a secret as well as Ali.
Whatever the outcome, very well done Ali.

livecodeali
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Re: Only Connect

Post by livecodeali » Tue Mar 30, 2021 5:58 pm

The final is now on YouTube https://youtu.be/txl4nmb9IGE

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