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        riddles >> general problem-solving / chatting / whatever >> Worldcup 2014
        
(Message started by: 4nh13 on Jun 24^th, 2014, 3:46am)

Title: Worldcup 2014
Post by 4nh13 on Jun 24^th, 2014, 3:46am

The tournament's in progress. Which country you think will be the champion?

Title: Re: Worldcup 2014
Post by towr on Jun 24^th, 2014, 9:08am

I hope the whole effing world cup explodes in a great ball of fire, along with everything that goes with it, so that I'll never have to suffer its existence ever again.

Title: Re: Worldcup 2014
Post by dudiobugtron on Jun 24^th, 2014, 6:01pm

Unlike most sports games, soccer doesn't have any weird score possibilities or strange rules that allow for interesting riddles or maths problems!

Soccer balls, on the other hand, are another kettle of fish. And that's without even thinking about all the possible (and often even more fun) physics problems. :)

Title: Re: Worldcup 2014
Post by JiNbOtAk on Jun 29^th, 2014, 7:29pm

on 06/24/14 at 09:08:11, towr wrote:

I hope the whole effing world cup explodes in a great ball of fire, along with everything that goes with it, so that I'll never have to suffer its existence ever again.

Eh ? I thought your country is doing well so far. Any particular reason for this obvious distaste?

on 06/24/14 at 18:01:49, dudiobugtron wrote:

Unlike most sports games, soccer doesn't have any weird score possibilities or strange rules that allow for interesting riddles or maths problems!

Well, there's always probabilities. And given the number of upsets so far, it should be interesting to map out the chances of each participating nation to win.

Title: Re: Worldcup 2014
Post by towr on Jun 29^th, 2014, 10:36pm

on 06/29/14 at 19:29:58, JiNbOtAk wrote:

Eh ? I thought your country is doing well so far. Any particular reason for this obvious distaste?

I don't like football (or sports in general). Which in itself, you might think, is no reason to hate it. However, the attention the world (and this country in particular) lavishes on football goes at the cost of everything else, and that irks me to no end.
For example, after working all day I like to get home and watch the six o'clock news; but now, not only is the news not on the channel it's usually on - because it's been pushed aside by effing football - it's not even at six o'clock because the channel it's moved to is also airing football and the bastards have seen fit to move it to an earlier time when I can't watch it.
You can bet that if the whole world cup goes up in a big ball of fiery death, I can at least enjoy my six o'clock news again; heck it'd be 24-hour coverage, probably.

Title: Re: Worldcup 2014
Post by dudiobugtron on Jun 30^th, 2014, 12:17am

on 06/29/14 at 19:29:58, JiNbOtAk wrote:

Well, there's always probabilities. And given the number of upsets so far, it should be interesting to map out the chances of each participating nation to win.

Indeed; in fact there is a whole industry dedicated to working out these sorts of chances, which I had entirely overlooked. Coming up with a more efficient prediction algorithm (cf: moneyball) could make you a lot of money.

Title: Re: Worldcup 2014
Post by rloginunix on Jun 30^th, 2014, 8:29am

In an attempt to cheer towr up please look for "A Heated Debate" in the easy section.

Title: Re: Worldcup 2014
Post by Grimbal on Jul 2^nd, 2014, 6:23am

I have the same feeling with the Tour de France (France's big bicycle race) and the Olympic Games.
The event is aired in direct the whole afternoon with extensive comments and analysis and replays of the "important" happenings. Then they make an interruption for the news (that are not moved). But the news start with 1/2 hour summarizing the very same sports event.

Title: Re: Worldcup 2014
Post by rloginunix on Jul 2^nd, 2014, 9:22am

In an attempt to cheer up Grimbal please look for "Straight Circles" (since bicycles were mentioned) in the easy section.

Title: Re: Worldcup 2014
Post by wakiza33 on Sep 16^th, 2014, 9:37am

As an interesting tidbit about the World Cup--I have friends in Argentina.

They seem to take Messi for granted. Most people are very upset at him still. Quite perplexing, to me. Their love of Maradona blinds them to the greatness they have.