The Billion to One Challenge!!

[markwales]

As you are probably aware there are well into the Billions when it comes to website pages.... So I thought I'd try something.

I have NO IDEA whether this will work or not, or whether anyone will be interested in playing along!

Five minutes ago I visited randomwebsite.com and clicked on the random website link...

Your mission, should you wish to accept it, is to find out what website appeared when I clicked the link.

As mentioned above, this is a billion to one challenge, and so I'll offer some help. I will answer any Yes or No questions on this thread. I will ONLY answer yes or no to questions asked, unless I decide that a clue is required.

As mentioned, I have no idea whether this will work, if it's too difficult, or too easy... but It's gotta be worth a crack :D

Whoever guesses correctly (it could take a long time) will then have the chance to start the thread again with a site of their choice.

Ok, fire away with questions. (I'll be off to bed soon due to an early start tomorrow, but will answer all questions in the morning - should anyone be arsed to ask anything :laugh)


John - Is it a sports site? YES
Chris - Is it a gambling site? NO
Oldham - Is it dedictaed to one team? YES
TH - was it the Harlem Globetrotters? NO
Chris - Racing site? NO
Oldham - 7 players or more in a team? NO
FTB - Played on water? NO
BigC - Golf realted? NO
Oldham - Are vehicles involved in the sport? YES
FTB - Is it a Racing team? YES
Chris - Skateboarding? YES !!!!!!!
Oldham - Does the team have a 'snow' team? NO

[John]

Grand idea young man. :spinning

I didn't even know randomwebsite.com existed but you've intrigued me so much I'm about to pay it a visit.

OK, first question - was the website that you clicked on sports related?

[markwales]

Good first question John - and one I knew would appear.

The answer? YES it was to my surprise a Sports related website.

[Iron Chris]

Was it a gambling site?

[markwales]

NO it wasn't a gambling site Chris.

I have no idea whether this will work or not - it aint gonna be easy that's for sure!

[TheOldhamWhisper]

Was the site dedicated to a single team?

[markwales]

I'll try to keep a log of questions and answers in post one of the thread.

[markwales]

Was the site dedicated to a single team?

A very good question.

and the answer is yes.... although that team could also be known in this particular area of sport as a brand.

For example, if this was an F1 site, and it was Maclaren.com, then yes it would be a team, but more so a brand.

Hope that makes sense

[tophatter]

was it the Harlem Globetrotters?

[markwales]

was it the Harlem Globetrotters?

Nope :rolleyes:

[Iron Chris]

Was it a Horse Racing site?

Godolphin?

[TheOldhamWhisper]

Are there 7 members or more in the team?

[markwales]

Bear in mind this was RANDOM site - and could be ANY sport, in ANY country, in ANY part of the world...

All I will say is that all sites on randomwebsite.com are DOT COM sites, and so there will not be any foriegn language sitesm everything is in english, although not necessarily English in origin.

[markwales]

Was it a Horse Racing site?

Godolphin?

No

[Fadetoblack]

Is it a sport that takes place on the water?

[bigcumba]

?golf related

[markwales]

Are there 7 members or more in the team?

No - it is an individual sport.

CLUE: If you think Maclaren, it's a sports brand that sponsors or is the owner of a team of individuals that participate in a sport. Hope that nakes sense :yikes:

[markwales]

Is it a sport that takes place on the water?

No

[markwales]

?golf related

No

[TheOldhamWhisper]

Are vehicles involved in the sport?

[Fadetoblack]

Is it a form of racing? Indy 500 for instance

[markwales]

CLUE - This ISN'T a mainstream sport - although most of us will have either owned the required equipment as a child, or had a go of a mates!

Bear in mind I'm 33!!.... although it's still widely used by kids and teens these days too.

[markwales]

Are vehicles involved in the sport?

YES !!! But don't get tied down by vehicles.. it's something that moves, and can take you from a to b.

[markwales]

Is it a form of racing? Indy 500 for instance

YES - It's a racing team

What type of racing, and the name of the team/brand is where you need to go :D

[chancer]

red bull karting

[Iron Chris]

Skateboarding?

Missed the extra clue!!

[John]

Go-Karting.....?

[markwales]

Skateboarding?

Missed the extra clue!!

YES - We have the sport :D:D:D:D

[bigcumba]

cycling team?

[MattR]

From what you said I'm guessing maybe BMX racing?


ok seen skateboarding now

[bigcumba]

ah skateboarding...

[Fadetoblack]

Foxy boxing. Oh...nevermind.

[markwales]

Right - we now know it's Skateboard racing.

In order to narrow things down, finding out which TYPE of racing may help.

[TheOldhamWhisper]

Does the brand also have a 'snow' team?

[markwales]

Does the brand also have a 'snow' team?

Not that I can see on the website no.

Skateboard Wheels in snow could be an issue :D

[MattR]

Do they have skateboard 'racing' ? Is it the one that's called Street Luge or something?

[markwales]

Do they have skateboard 'racing' ? Is it the one that's called Street Luge or something?

YES it's Skateboard racing. and No, it's not luge - or anything straight for that matter !!!

[TheOldhamWhisper]

Is the team based nearer to London than New York?

[John]

(I will put actual guesses in bold italics)

Timeship Racing

[markwales]

You are probably one question or statement from being able to find out or guess the address of the website out of the billions that are out there.... mightily impressive, altghough John getting sporting related in post one helped narrow it down greatly.

[markwales]

Is the team based nearer to London than New York?

NO

But it does have one Brit in the team so I can gather!!... mostl;y yanks though.,

[markwales]

(I will put actual guesses in bold italics)

Timeship Racing

Nope - very good guess though

[John]

The American Slalom Skateboard Association (ASSA)

[markwales]

Right, I'm determined to get this done and dusted before I go to bed, and prove that it aint that difficult :D

Yes I've given a couple of clues, but nothing giving away too much.

It's Skateboarding
It's Racing
It's downhill
It's not straight

[markwales]

The American Slalom Skateboard Association (ASSA)

You are so close it's unbelievable - I have no doubt that this particular site is a member of the above association.

Using only 2 of the above words will provide you with the answer in front of your eyes. (on google :D)

[Iron Chris]

RoeRacing

[markwales]

BOOOOOOOM !!!!...

We have a winner !!!

www.roeracing.com is the site I got taken to by randomwebsite.com

A billion to one, in less than an hour!!

Well done Chris - It's up to you whether you have the next crack.

[markwales]

I quite enjoyed that :D

[Iron Chris]

Excellent Mark, think we got off to a good start with sport though..:wink

Will try and remember to set one going tomorrow as like yourself will be going off to bed shortly.

[markwales]

I am quite amazed that inside 46 posts, and with only 3 to 4 clues, we found a random website about skateboards from the USA !!!

I'm sure if anyone wishes to carry this on over time, it will get a lot more difficult - although I would advise that people pick proper websites, and try to avoid things like blogs or forums.

Thanks for joining in though :D

[TheOldhamWhisper]

Pretty good going people :)

[John]

Well done Chris! :spinning

I enjoyed that too. :)

[wb]

Thats quite remarkable. Well done lads. Very Interesting.

This kind of reminds me of something I heard in a sociology lecture a year or two ago....

The theory was that on average, we are no more than 7 people away from anyone in the world.

To give a made up example


George Bush....




1) A workmate of yours
2) Has a brother who likes politics
3) who has a friend in the Labour party
4) who knows a local MP
5) that often talks to tony blair
6) who knows George Bush
7) Bingo :)

[Laf]

That's the theory of 'six degrees of separation'.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Six_degrees_of_separation

[wb]

Ah yes, that was the one.

[Workshy]

Is it a US "team"?

Oops, I missed page 2. :D SILLY ME!!!!

[tophatter]

I found some interesting sites using that randompage link.

Found a particulary ferocious anti George Bush site with all sorts of accusations aimed at him and another american site which was devoted to busting the myths of the American christian fundamentalist organisation.

Interessting stuff and it gave me an interesting and refreshing insight into the people of America who the likes of Fox news dont give airtime to. There is nothing wrong with a bit of cyniscm as it is healthy for democracy.

[markwales]

I wonder what site Chris will come up with tonight :D

[John]

There's a Firefox plugin called StumbleUpon which you can install, and it comes up with your chosen category-related websites, at random, every time you click the Stumble button. So if you filter it with 10 different categories it'll choose any site at random from those 10 categories in its database. :)

[piggy]

just had a go and by pure luck found a great comedy site, ive posted the link in humour youve got to watch the videos they are brilliant:D

[Iron Chris]

Sorry guys, a bit later coming online tonight and the forum seems a bit quiter, so will have a go tomorrow night...:)

[Iron Chris]

Right anyone wanting a go...I got a site up first go last night which I have remembered (as I just got a load of rubbish first three goes tonight), so fire away if you wish...:wink (NOT easy!!).

[mathare]

Is it a US based site?

[Iron Chris]

Is it a US based site?

NO - I don't think so ..:D

[Iron Chris]

:censored: might have got that wrong...:yikes:

[markwales]

Is it a humorous site?

[Iron Chris]

NO - not as such, but some of the content could be.

[markwales]

Is it media based? tv, film, comedy, theatre etc?

[Iron Chris]

Is it media based? tv, film, comedy, theatre etc?

NO.

[markwales]

Is it Politics based?

[Iron Chris]

Is it Politics based?

NO.

[mathare]

Sports based?

[Iron Chris]

Sports based?

NO.

Think I might regret using his site...:laugh

[markwales]

Jeepers.

HOw about religion?

[Iron Chris]

Jeepers.

HOw about religion?

NO.

Your 'media' question was straying towards the basis of the site and also part of the title..:wink

[markwales]

Jesus wept.

Not comedy
Not media
Not sport
Not religion
Not politics

How about Education?

[mathare]

Is the site mainly text?

[Iron Chris]

Jesus wept.

Not comedy
Not media
Not sport
Not religion
Not politics

How about Education?

NO. :(

[Iron Chris]

Is the site mainly text?

NO. :)

[mathare]

Does the site contain a lot of downloadable content?

[markwales]

Holy Schmoly

Not comedy
Not media
Not sport
Not religion
Not politics
Not Education

A US based site about nothing :doh

Ummm.... is it a childrens site?

[markwales]

Is it a personal family site?

[Iron Chris]

Does the site contain a lot of downloadable content?

NO.

[Iron Chris]

Childrens Site - NO.

Personal Family Site - NO.

[Iron Chris]

Your 'media' question was straying towards the basis of the site and also part of the title..

[markwales]

Is it a Porn site?

[Iron Chris]

Is it a Porn site?


:laugh :laugh NO. (Though some people may have tried putting some on)

[markwales]

Blimey, 30 mins and we've not even got to the second stage !!!!

[markwales]

Ah haaa.... is it a P2P site?

[wb]

Is it a news/current affairs site?

[Iron Chris]

Ah haaa.... is it a P2P site?

Will say YES.. :pk1

[mathare]

Is it yousendit.com?

[Iron Chris]

Is it a news/current affairs site?

NO.

[Iron Chris]

Is it yousendit.com?

NO.

[markwales]

Right - we're in :D

Is it Youtube.com?

If not, is it a site where you can download software in order to be able to share files with anther person online? Or do you download from the site itself rather than other internet users PC's?

[Iron Chris]

NO.

More for sharing on the site than sending to other people...:doh ... can you tell I am starting to lose it now...:splapme

[Iron Chris]

Sorry, my fault guys, not a site for sharing files, emails etc... :ermmm

[markwales]

Is it Myspace.com?

[markwales]

So we're not quite sure if it's a p2p site now..'.. sooooo

is it a Chat site?

[mathare]

Is it a well-known site?

[Iron Chris]

Is it Myspace.com?

NO.

[mathare]

Isn't this a great way to get your post count up? :D

[Iron Chris]

So we're not quite sure if it's a p2p site now..'.. sooooo

is it a Chat site?

NO. Not Chat

31/8/2006 - Iron Chris makes big :butthead: of himself...:laugh

[Iron Chris]

Is it a well-known site?

No.

[TheOldhamWhisper]

Is it a site for photographs?

[markwales]

The fact we haven't even got passed stage 1 leads me to believe we really need a clue !!!!

[Iron Chris]

Is it a site for photographs?

Was just going to post a clue when... YES...:wiggle:

[TheOldhamWhisper]

Is the site also the name of a planet?

[Iron Chris]

Is the site also the name of a planet?

NO.

[markwales]

So this is a site where people can upload photographs to share with others?

If not, is it a site where people can buy professional photo's?

[markwales]

Is the domain name a www.########.com site?

ie. a standard one word .com website?

[Iron Chris]

So this is a site where people can upload photographs to share with others?

YES

[Iron Chris]

Is the domain name a www.########.com site?

ie. a standard one word .com website?

YES.

[markwales]

I'm going to come on in with a guess here....

is it www.webshots.com ?

[Iron Chris]

I'm going to come on in with a guess here....

is it www.webshots.com ?

NO.

[markwales]

Is it JUST a photo site, or can other things be uploaded and shared? Are we simply looking for a photograph site, based in the US?

[markwales]

Is the domain name a simple, common word?

[Iron Chris]

Is it JUST a photo site, or can other things be uploaded and shared? Are we simply looking for a photograph site, based in the US?

YES -Just a Photo site - with photos from around the world.

[Iron Chris]

Is the domain name a simple, common word?

TWO common words together, the first of which is the theme of the photographs submitted.

[TheOldhamWhisper]

Is the site free to use?

[Iron Chris]

Is the site free to use?

YES.

[markwales]

worldphotos.com?

[Iron Chris]

worldphotos.com?

NO.

[markwales]

Are the photo's themed?

i.e. Sport, holiday, family etc

[TheOldhamWhisper]

TWO common words together, the first of which is the theme of the photographs submitted.

Are all the photos of a particular theme? eg all sports photos?

[Iron Chris]

Are the photo's themed?

i.e. Sport, holiday, family etc

YES. Of yourself, taken by yourself. (Peza could probably have posted his photo on the site if he wanted).

[mathare]

So we need to get the theme of the photos, great

Sports? :)

[mathare]

self something?

[Iron Chris]

self something?

YES. The first word of the site would be the most common way of taking the photo, but the photos on the site use all different ways.

Sorry Mat, if you meant the site is called self - then NO, but the pictures are of self

[mathare]

headshots.com.au?

Or just .com in fact?

[Iron Chris]

CLUE :

Pictures taken of yourself, by yourself, but with the camera pointing away from yourself..:)

[markwales]

Right - this is a bit way out but....

www.mirrorproject.com

[Iron Chris]

headshots.com.au?

NO.

[Iron Chris]

...... :happyboun :happyboun :happyboun :happyboun :wiggle: :wiggle: :wiggle: :wiggle:

WELL DONE MARK...:D

Sorry if I wasn't helping guys...:(

[mathare]

Nice one Marky, great work too by you Chris

[markwales]

Woooo Hooooo :D:D:D:D:D

That was a really diificult one Chris. No real theme to get us going.

It took some pretty heavy clues for me to get anywhere near.

Off to bed now - but I, or a volunteer :D can/will post one tomorrow night.

Any volunteers? It's an hours commitment pretty much.

[Iron Chris]

That was hard work trying to get you there without giving too much away.

[John]

I'll volunteer to do one if I am not watching Grimsby Town lose at home. :spinning

I'll start it in a new thread though.

[John]

I probably won't be around from about 7pm onwards tonight as I'm off to watch the local smitten try and play some fluent, tactile, inspirational, skillful football. That's right Vegy, I'm going to watch Orient. :laugh :laugh :laugh

I will therefore be postponing tonight's challenge until tomorrow/Sunday night. Therefore somebody else is free to have a go this evening. :)

[mathare]

If I on am the forum for long enough tonight (quite likely) I'll have a go :)

[mathare]

If anyone is up for a game tonight I have a candidate site...

[mathare]

Anyone up for a game tonight?

[John]

Yep, I'll play. :)

C'mon people!

[Fadetoblack]

Shoot!

[tophatter]

I have heard a rumour that TIPP is currently working on a partial wheel to narrow the odds down on this - If this rumour turns out to be true I may have to edit the Name of the thread to the "999,999,543 to one Challenge"

:prosper:

[mathare]

OK, I have a site. It's the same one I had on Friday in fact. It was so good I saved it for this very occasion

[Fadetoblack]

Is it hobby related?

[mathare]

Is it hobby related?No.

And you'd better make these guesses good fellas as I want to go to bed in about half an hour :yikes:

[Fadetoblack]

Is it music related?

[mathare]

Is it music related?No

[buddhabee]

Is it skateboarding :D

[mathare]

Is it skateboarding :D:laugh A long shot there but no

[Fadetoblack]

Does it involve midgets?

[John]

Is it an educational site? Teaching for example.

[buddhabee]

A site specifically aimed at women?

[mathare]

Does it involve midgets?:laugh no, sorry

[mathare]

Is it an educational site? Teaching for example.I'm gonna say yes. But I would have said that before you edited and added the last bit :wink

[mathare]

A site specifically aimed at women?Nope

[chancer]

is it a scientific theory site

[mathare]

is it a scientific theory siteNo

[John]

Ooo intriguing.

Is it a university's website?

[chancer]

a "how to" site

[Fadetoblack]

Is it Kama Sutra related?

[scaaty]

Anything to do with gambling ?

[mathare]

Ooo intriguing.

Is it a university's website?The boy's on fire. Yes

[chancer]

is it an american university

[scaaty]

Open University ?

[mathare]

a "how to" siteNo


Anything to do with gambling ?No


Is it Kama Sutra related?No

[John]

Love this game. :spinning

Is it the website of the university you yourself attended?

[Fadetoblack]

Is the university in England?

[mathare]

is it an american universityYes

[mathare]

Open University ?Nope

[mathare]

Love this game. :spinning

Is it the website of the university you yourself attended?No, no, no

[mathare]

Is the university in England?No, it isn't

[chancer]

harvard

[mathare]

harvardNope

[scaaty]

A university for animals ?

[Fadetoblack]

Brown?

[buddhabee]

An Ivy League University?

[John]

Temple University

[mathare]

A university for animals ?:laugh No

[mathare]

Brown?No

[tophatter]

Is it sports?

[mathare]

An Ivy League University?Pretty sure that's a no

[chancer]

is it a state university

[scaaty]

New Age of some sort ?

[mathare]

Temple UniversityNo. But a good guess in a way...

[John]

Bryn Mawr College (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bryn_Mawr_College) (I was going to do this one last night!)

[chancer]

is it religious

[buddhabee]

East Coast?

[mathare]

is it a state universityNot sure if I am honest. I don't understand the US uni system well enough to answer this one properly and I'm buggered if I'm reading the whole site to find out

[Fadetoblack]

Is it some sort of nunnery? You know...in a dirty way...(or not)

[mathare]

New Age of some sort ?No

[mathare]

Bryn Mawr College (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bryn_Mawr_College) (I was going to do this one last night!)Nope

[mathare]

is it religiousI'd say Yes to that

[mathare]

Is it some sort of nunnery? You know...in a dirty way...(or not):laugh Not really, no

[Yoda]

Notre dame?

Yoda

[John]

http://www.cua.edu/

The Catholic University of America

[Fadetoblack]

It's surely Wheaton College?

[chancer]

is it a specific religion - catholic, baptist, etc

[buddhabee]

University Of Christian Scientists?

[scaaty]

Is it this one ? http://www.ficu.edu/

[mathare]

East Coast?Hang on, my US geography is about as crap as that of most Yanks...Eastern but not coastal

[mathare]

Notre dame?

YodaNope

[mathare]

None of the specifics mentioned so far

It is a specific religion though

[Yoda]

Native American religion uni?

[mathare]

Native American religion uni?Nope

[scaaty]

Jewish ?

[Fadetoblack]

Scientology?

[mathare]

Jewish ?No, nor scientology I'm afraid FTB

[Yoda]

Vision Christian College

[John]

Based in Columbus or a place nearby?

[chancer]

lutheran

[chancer]

buddist

[John]

USA MAP:

http://fwhk8549.hp.infoseek.co.jp/images/usa/usa-map.gif

[Yoda]

Kkk?

[mathare]

Vision Christian CollegeNo

[scaaty]

mormon ?

[mathare]

Based in Columbus or a place nearby?Assuming you mean the one in the south-east on your map, no

[mathare]

lutheranNope, nor buddhist

[mathare]

mormon ?No

[mathare]

Kkk?Nope

[buddhabee]

University of Jedi Knights?

[John]

I think it's time for a clue! :D

[chancer]

methodist

[mathare]

University of Jedi Knights?Far more obvious than that. So obvious that I had better just check it hasn't been mentioned and I missed it...

[Yoda]

Circleville Bible College

[scaaty]

jesuit ?

[mathare]

Circleville Bible CollegeNope.

Don't get too hung up on the religious aspects. The name is not religious, at least not obviously so

[Yoda]

Princeton, Yale, Harvard?

[mathare]

jesuit ?Bloody hell there are far more religions than I knew of coming out here. Not Jesuit though

[buddhabee]

Does it have the word 'sacred' in it's name?

[mathare]

Princeton, Yale, Harvard?No, it's not one of the famous universities

[mathare]

Does it have the word 'sacred' in it's name?No, it doesn't. Try more questions about the name though...

[Fadetoblack]

Is it a University of.... (as in the name)

[mathare]

With John smashing the theme so early on I expected the combined might of the forum to have nailed this by now. Come on...

[scaaty]

does the name include church ?

[buddhabee]

Is there the name of a place (city or town) in it's name?

[Yoda]

is it a place name?

[mathare]

Is it a University of.... (as in the name)I have to say no

[mathare]

does the name include church ?No

[mathare]

Is there the name of a place (city or town) in it's name?Yes :)

[Yoda]

North west US?

[mathare]

North west US?Eastern, but not coastal

[scaaty]

is it lutheran ?

[chancer]

baltimore hebrew college

[mathare]

is it lutheran ?No

[scaaty]

is it mainstream religion or a crazy american one ?

[buddhabee]

baltimore hebrew college


Please be 'yes' I wanna go to bed. :cuck

[mathare]

baltimore hebrew collegeGetting geographically closer but wrong state still