Achievements and Accomplishments Thread

[lalatan]

Think this is the first time I've gotten over a hundred UR words while getting a 16/30 and a 15/28.

Screen Shot 2024-10-17 at 4.05.29 PM.png

Definitely a noteworthy achievement. Congrats!! I compare it with Mauna Loa. This peak is visible and impressive but there is a gigantic base of knowledge and study that supports it and is unseen.

[lalatan]

As for me I'm still playing a little (I was elected president of a nearly 50 year old volunteer based 501C3 and that has kept me quite busy and was one of the main reasons I had to pull back from the competition) (so much for retirement ) and still looking only for big words.
I also read the Word Twist related forums and occasionally look in on the big word competitions to keep track of (hope I'm not being presumptuous) all my Word Twist friends including lalatan,( I still love playing "what word did lalatan get) spike1007, dasan, youself (kjambur), crazykate, bwt1213, DrPlacebo, Naboka, 2cute, and too many more for my sore fingers to list.

I'm glad you are still in the game! I also enjoy playing what word will lalatan find. Congrats on your presidency.

[Naboka]

Definitely a noteworthy achievement. Congrats!! I compare it with Mauna Loa. This peak is visible and impressive but there is a gigantic base of knowledge and study that supports it and is unseen.

Thanks. Appreciate that. Takes someone who's actually made the journey to understand the efforts involved. The work you've done to reach the longword peaks you have is definitely underappreciated.

Saw a Weatherchannel program on mountains, which included Mauna Loa. Interesting how we determine the actual height of a mountain and the factors involved--such as the center bulge of the planet which makes things further from the Earth's center point.

Working with kindergarteners has increased my fascination with learning and proficiency. How do we actually learn? And why are some more inclined to absorb information and improve their skills? We've had plenty of very smart kids who just weren't really interested in learning. They learned. But, only a fraction of what their ability would have predicted. Then some kids just light up with pleasure when they learn.

The idea of 10,000 hours to mastery is misleading. Ten thousand hours of what? Efficient practise and analysis of the skills and knowledge required, coupled with a continuous examination of results leading to corrections of those elements which are least effective and a continuous reinforcement of those elements which are most effective? Or just going through the motions and making adjustments by default rather than focused analysis and correction?

Most people don't absorb much of what they read. You have them read a page and test them on its contents only to discover they didn't really get it all. Others can read that page and repeat back nearly every detail. So, 10,000 hours of reading will produce dramatically different outcomes in gained knowledge.

For some people, learning is almost an addiction. All of us feel a degree of pleasure from understanding. But the pleasure feedback differs from individual to individual. For some it's like a candle in a cave, for others it's like stadium lighting at the World Series.

For some, learning is almost an addiction: all that pleasurable feedback.

Of course, with computers thinking for us, letting programs perform our tasks and thinking has become more and more tempting. Why do the work when you can have a program do it for you? Computers probably have an adverse affect on our ability and willingness to think for ourselves.

Most people don't realize that thinking is a skill like any other. We can all move our bodies, we can walk and get up from a chair. But we can't do the things Simone Biles does, or the crazy things parkour athletes do. Most of us think at a rudimentary level, where others think at the equivalent of elite athletes.

Why are some driven to maximize their talents and others aren't? Got no clue.

But people who maximize their skill sets realize that it takes lots and lots and lots of practise and work. It's not accidental or God given. But reaching those goals, no matter how painful and tedious the journey, makes it all worthwhile.

Though, there are many ways to reach the top of a mountain, it's probably more satisfying to have climbed it than taking a helicopter ride. Though, there are those who catch a ride to the top and pretend they actually made the climb.

I could go on and on with this stuff: 30 pages, 100, 500. There's just so much to know and understand, so much to examine.

But...

Back to playing the game of What Word Did Lalaten Find.

[lalatan]

Saw a Weatherchannel program on mountains, which included Mauna Loa. Interesting how we determine the actual height of a mountain and the factors involved--such as the center bulge of the planet which makes things further from the Earth's center point.

I chose Mauna Loa because it's the world's largest active volcano by mass and volume. They estimate its volume as 18k cubic miles. Most of its height is underwater: 16.4k ft of its total 30.1k ft from base to summit. And of course most of its volume is underwater as well. What I didn't know before was this: "its mass depresses the crust beneath it by another 8 km (5 mi), in the shape of an inverse mountain, meaning the total height of Mauna Loa from the start of its eruptive history is about 17,170 m (56,000 ft)."

Working with kindergarteners has increased my fascination with learning and proficiency. How do we actually learn? And why are some more inclined to absorb information and improve their skills? We've had plenty of very smart kids who just weren't really interested in learning. They learned. But, only a fraction of what their ability would have predicted. Then some kids just light up with pleasure when they learn.

I always find your kindergarten observations interesting, maybe even more so now that my wife works part-time as a teacher assistant.

The idea of 10,000 hours to mastery is misleading. Ten thousand hours of what? Efficient practise and analysis of the skills and knowledge required, coupled with a continuous examination of results leading to corrections of those elements which are least effective and a continuous reinforcement of those elements which are most effective? Or just going through the motions and making adjustments by default rather than focused analysis and correction?

Agreed.

For some people, learning is almost an addiction. All of us feel a degree of pleasure from understanding. But the pleasure feedback differs from individual to individual. For some it's like a candle in a cave, for others it's like stadium lighting at the World Series...

Why are some driven to maximize their talents and others aren't? Got no clue.

When I was a kid I voluntarily read encyclopedias and the dictionary. Haha, I never heard of anyone else in my 70 years who did that, although I'd venture a guess that there are others on this forum who have. I don't know why I have been a lifelong learner because nobody else in my family was. All my life I read articles and watched documentaries. I found it has helped a lot with my living skills.

But people who maximize their skill sets realize that it takes lots and lots and lots of practise and work. It's not accidental or God given. But reaching those goals, no matter how painful and tedious the journey, makes it all worthwhile.

Though, there are many ways to reach the top of a mountain, it's probably more satisfying to have climbed it than taking a helicopter ride. Though, there are those who catch a ride to the top and pretend they actually made the climb.

I scrambled (climbing with no ropes) to the top of a mountain twice, 1 of them 3 times. I have to admit it's an almost godlike experience, looking down on people and cars that looked like ants 3,300 ft below. I had an opportunity to fly to the top of mountain in a chopper but my wife said it was too expensive. I regret not doing it. I hiked on 2 different glaciers; 1 I took a bus to get on it. The other I climbed onto. The solo climb was more satisfying but I enjoyed the ease of riding a bus.

I could go on and on with this stuff: 30 pages, 100, 500. There's just so much to know and understand, so much to examine.

But...

Back to playing the game of What Word Did Lalaten Find.

lol

[bwt1213]

When I was a kid, I read encylopedias and dictionaries, too. Even read the Oxford Unabridged dictionary once -- took me years. As a young adult, bought my very own copy of the Encyclopedia Britannica so I could read it at home at my leisure, and then did so. Every year, when they had their annual update edition, I was sure to buy that and read it, too. I didn't stop that practice until perhaps 20 years ago. I can't claim I can remember everything I've read, but I sometimes surprise myself.

[Naboka]

When I was a kid, I read encylopedias and dictionaries, too. Even read the Oxford Unabridged dictionary once -- took me years. As a young adult, bought my very own copy of the Encyclopedia Britannica so I could read it at home at my leisure, and then did so. Every year, when they had their annual update edition, I was sure to buy that and read it, too. I didn't stop that practice until perhaps 20 years ago. I can't claim I can remember everything I've read, but I sometimes surprise myself.

You and lalatan reading dictionaries and encylopedias as kids is impressive. Mostly, I spent my formative years goofing off, getting into trouble and taking long hikes along railroad tracks and into the woods. An unidealized version of something from Spielberg's imagination. Sometimes we explored that maze of the drainage system that ran beneath the highway.

Being poor white trash, we didn't have a lot of academic influences. Think if I got a C on the report card my parents would have been happy as I consistently set the bar looow.

We'd often get the large refrigerator cardboard boxes from the appliance store and turn them into whatever. The "whatever" usually reached a denouemnet (from becoming sufficiently flexible) by serving as a "tank" --which was battle tested by setting the hillsides along the freeway on fire and rolling through the flames. Fortunately, our carelessness never had worse consequences than a mildly blackened landscape.

My favorite encyclopedia will remain the Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia from the late 1800's to early 1900's. Not even the OED seemed to capture the english language with such finesse and insight.

But, my interest in words didn't occur until I was 18 and asked an upper-middle-class co-worker who seemed to know unusual words if there was a word for someone who loved women. He didn't hesitate. Philogynist.

And the flame was lit.

On another note:

Just ran across this board, so this post will serve double duty.

Shocked to see any of my games reach 39 plays with me having the most words. (And there are only 80 words from a game with 140 UR's.) Also had the longest/best word which was unusual enough that I had logged it. The game dates back to July of 2023--a habit I picked up from lalatan.

No idea as to how many times it had been played then, but reaching 39 in more than a year suggests it wasn't many. That's a loooong time for something I play to last so long. Think there are a number of skilled head hunters who like knocking off my games.

But the thing that surprises me the most is retaining most words. Most words just ain't my thang. So I'm a bit thrilled.

Unfortunately, it still has one more play to earn retirement. So...

But for just this moment... Bliss.

ps: lalatan, yeah, those kindergarten experiences are intriguing. so much to learn from them. Think I learn more from them than they do from me.

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[kjambur]

Lalatan, Folkslinger et al... sorry for the delay in acknowledging your appreciation. I moved to the UAE in Jan this year and am now in India for what was supposed to be a 2-week trip but got extended to a month-long work-cation Haven't had time to even log in here. See you guys soon. On a lighter note: When will we have a 6x6 board???

[lalatan]

Here's my contribution to the "look what I found after the board was played 40x" collection. I don't make an attempt unless the stats indicate there is a strong possibility of a higher scoring best word and this qualified. Not even an exotic word. Interesting how that happens...

30 PTS SENTIMENTALITIES PLAYED 40X.jpg

[jbud1980]

Total points: 790 New record!
Total words: 122 (22 common,12 wide,13 rare,75 ultra rare) New record!

Bested my high score playing 4X4 tonight. Talk about an excellent early Christmas present. Happy Holidays, all.

[JJBeanie]

Total points: 790 New record!
Total words: 122 (22 common,12 wide,13 rare,75 ultra rare) New record!

Bested my high score playing 4X4 tonight. Talk about an excellent early Christmas present. Happy Holidays, all.

Congratulations, jbud1980! It's such a buzz when things like that happen.

[bwt1213]

Total points: 790 New record!
Total words: 122 (22 common,12 wide,13 rare,75 ultra rare) New record!

Bested my high score playing 4X4 tonight. Talk about an excellent early Christmas present. Happy Holidays, all.

Great job! Couldn't help noticing the high appw score, especially for 4x4 -- you seem to have found a rich vein or three.

[Naboka]

Had this weird dream that Megacheater had been reinstated by Stephen after submitting documentation from the Nigerian Society of International Bogglists. The NSIOB verified that he could type over 300 words a minute and knew more than 99% of all words in the English language.

Wow!

Pretty impressive.

The average person only knows about 6% of the words in the English language. And something like 98% of people can't type 60 words per minute. The average speed being... 30 ish?

Consequently, Megacheater could post about his amazing accomplishments. About scoring over 3,000 points in 4x4 and 5,000 points in 5x5. With over 400 words in 4x4 and 600 words in 5x5.

People were cheering. Lining the roads in celebration. Parades were had. Nigerian Princes and Princesses rode their regal floats and magic carpets, giving us mere mortals a glimpse of the greatness only imagined in dreams.

Ah, dreams.

So different than reality.

But, for some, the dream is all they have; reality just too hard to bear.

{ps: speaking of vocabulary, did you know that ranivores are creatures that eat frogs? With two ponds in the back, we get to watch a parade of creatures preying on frogs. And, best of all, ranivore is accepted in Wordtwist.)

[mpd]

I'm not exactly sure how the approval process works with posting, so I've removed any screenshots/external links and hopefully the third time's the charm.

Not a whole lot to say, but I'm quite happy to set a new PB, clearing 1500 in 4x4 after several months of effort. I think that 1600 is probably attainable, though there are only so many boards that realistically hold that potential.

Additionally, I've posted a couple videos of my gameplay. A search of "mpd wordtwist" should be enough to lead anyone interested to them.

Hope everyone is having an enjoyable holiday season

[JJBeanie]

I'm not exactly sure how the approval process works with posting, so I've removed any screenshots/external links and hopefully the third time's the charm.

Not a whole lot to say, but I'm quite happy to set a new PB, clearing 1500 in 4x4 after several months of effort. I think that 1600 is probably attainable, though there are only so many boards that realistically hold that potential.

Additionally, I've posted a couple videos of my gameplay. A search of "mpd wordtwist" should be enough to lead anyone interested to them.

Hope everyone is having an enjoyable holiday season

Wow, Mitch, that's amazing! Congratulations on breaking through 1500!

It was interesting to watch your hands in the short video and to see the words fly by on the longer one. I see when you find certain letter combos, you spit out all the words associated with those letters pretty darn quick. I have a couple of combos like that (ates and nesses) where my fingers just do their thing without any conscious thought from me. You have a heck of a lot more combos than I'll ever have. I chuckled when you had some invalid words plus there was a slight pause in finger movement at one point. I chuckled because that makes up about 70% of my game play and for you it was just a blip

All the best for 2025. I'm hoping you break through 1600 pts. What a feat that will be!

[Naboka]

Video.

Above and beyond.

Obviously, I owe you an apology for doubting. How silly of me to suspect that something was amiss. Back when I'd go days without losing any most-points records and suddenly noticed that I was losing 6-15 a day, I initially thought there was a glitch in the system. Investigating, I realized you were always playing when the records disappeared, so I started tracking you.

Can't believe I thought something was off when I realized you were playing me 20% of your games, day after day, week after week, month after month. Everyone here probably goes months playing 20% of their games against the same random player day after day, week after week, month after month. Nothing suspicious there. Probably happens all the time. Surely nothing odd or unusual about it.

Your scores, being so high indicated a player capable of beating pretty much anyone. So, how dumb of me to think something didn't add up when I would run across your games and beat your scores by 50, 100, even more than 200 points. No contradictions or inconsistencies there. How silly of me.

Then, you went on a quest to claim the average points per game gold trophies. Mighty valuable those gold trophies. But, the problem with playing for high averages is you can't really play the lower scoring games. A few players have solved this by having two accounts.

So when a new player arrived, who mirrored your playing patterns... Suddenly, he was beating me 6-12 times a day while playing my games about 20% of his played. All while I was occaisionally running across his games and beating him by 50, 100, even more than 200 points.

I'm so embarassed to have thought that player might be you. He was a player who was beating Megaword as many as 5 times a day, and boysmom how many times a day, but somehow only winning about 70% of games played. Nothing inconsistent or contradictory there. Obviously, any 70% player here is capable of beating Megaword 5 times in a day, of beating the very best players everytime he played them, but losing 30% of his games to... to... to...? To whom?

The only conclusion must be that I'm shamefully acting like an abject loser, someone incapable of accepting that his team lost the game. The refs must have been bought off.

Seeing is believing. Every day I see video on Instagram and Youtube of things that seem impossible. David Blaine does things that blow my mind. How grinch-like must a person be to see such wonders and doubt. Faith and doubt don't go well together. None of us can be carried away into the ecstasy of belief if we doubt.

Philosophically, we realize we can only know this world through our senses. Sight, sound, touch, etc. But, quatum physics and religion both suggest there is something beyond our 5 senses. What seems solid really is not. The things we see are mostly illusions of a brain interpreting inputs. The eyeball sees things upside down and the brain has to flip the image. Do we actually see the color yellow?

How can we doubt the actor playing concert-level piano pieces? His fingers dart skillfully across the keys. In weeks the actor goes from being merely a competent player to a maestro. Our eyes tell us it's true. Our minds want to believe. Tears fill our eyes. We suspend our disbelief.

Seeing is believing. In these days of CG, we get to see images of celebrities and politicians stark naked when they've never taken a nude photo. We get to see clips of a guy catching a ball thrown from a hundred yards away while looking at the camera rather than the ball. How can we doubt such things?

Lance Armstrong used to claim he'd been tested over 500 times and never failed a drug test. It was true. So how could we doubt?

The nullfidian will never know the joy of believing without question. I am surely doomed to eternal suffering for my heretical nature. To not believe? How is it possible? To not believe what we see? How utterly debased must one be to question anything?

To cry out for forgiveness. Tantalus never reaching the fruit, never able to drink. To not trust what is seen. How is it possible? Surely, there is something egregiously wrong with one's ability to reason when he sees video and... Please, God, just a single bite of belief! Just one sip of trust! Forgive my doubts! There is video! To suffer the sulphurous burn of scepticism, eternally burning long after every star has consumed itself!

Could there be any greater punishment than not believing? If only confessing would end the torture. The heretic on the rack suddenly seeing the error of his ways.

Yet, in the end, nothing that happens here in the Wordtwist universe is all that important. A minor tempest in a child's teapot. And, not surprisingly, no neighbor has ever felt those tremors when the child next door holds a trembling teapot.

A little bit of success seems like a lot so someone with little success. $100 seems like a windfall to a homeless person holding a sign at the intersection. But, for some $100 is the tip at a restaurant with gathered friends. All of us are different, so it's not really the job of any of us to determine what another should find important. I follow a girl on instagram who's been wheelchair bound but is learning to walk. Simple tasks like hesitantly walking across the room or gingerly standing while making a meal are such monumental successes for her. They fill her with joy. Her little successes fill me with joy too.

Sharing other's joy makes life more rewarding. As does sharing their sorrows.

None of us is completely honest. The nature of the human brain makes absolute honesty absolutely impossible.

The universe is filled with answers to which we have no access. We often don't even have questions to even seek those answers. It's just all beyond our comprehension. The unknown unknown. Sometimes, all we can do is trust the feeble stream of information our senses provide and make educated or uneducated guesses as to the meaning and importance of those inputs. We fill our lives with self-deception because the universe is so frightening we need our security blankets to calm our minds.

Either way, my daughter's cinnamon rolls are heavenly. My wife's marinar divine. The music of living transcendant. May we all enjoy our sensory inputs as much as possible and learn to not take our human foibles too seriously.