Search found 56 matches

by salamanca
Wed Dec 14, 2016 3:35 pm
Forum: Quizbowl History Forum
Topic: "Young" versus "Old" Players
Replies: 3
Views: 9043

Re: "Young" versus "Old" Players

I apologize for not seeing this earlier and providing additional context regarding my original question, which was meant to really tease out differences regarding the individualized evolution of top players, e.g., as they progress from inexperienced to experienced, rather than generational differenc...
by salamanca
Wed Sep 21, 2016 10:12 am
Forum: Quizbowl History Forum
Topic: Greatest Upsets in Quizbowl History
Replies: 75
Views: 78516

Re: Greatest Upsets in Quizbowl History

Let me start by echoing the general praise for the entertainment value of this thread. As for the following statement: To the getting tossups vs. bonus conversion point, I remember having a conversation with Matt Jackson a while back in response to a rant that Matt Weiner delivered on the IRC. The g...
by salamanca
Thu Apr 28, 2016 11:40 am
Forum: Quizbowl History Forum
Topic: 25 for 25: A Definitive List of the Greatest ACF Players
Replies: 29
Views: 28244

Re: 25 for 25: A Definitive List of the Greatest ACF Players

They existed, but I'd say they were much more rare. The thrust of my longer post above was that, back in the day, you could often sit around and wait until the last couple clues of a question - especially if it was a fairly hard question - because there weren't as many specialists around ("hyp...
by salamanca
Mon Apr 20, 2015 9:52 pm
Forum: College area archives
Topic: ACF Nationals 2015 Discussion
Replies: 227
Views: 110608

Re: ACF Nationals 2015 Discussion

A bit of context. I volunteered to write a freelance packet for Nats and chose to write the following literature TUs: Terence "The Burning Plain" (Rulfo) The Fifth Column Donne's Holy Sonnets , and Antonia Shimerda (Cather). Some of these TUs made it through editing and were dispersed thro...
by salamanca
Tue May 06, 2014 10:04 am
Forum: Quizbowl History Forum
Topic: Quiz Bowl Survivor: 50 Buzz, 49 Neg
Replies: 169
Views: 139294

Re: Quiz Bowl Survivor: 50 Buzz, 49 Neg

As promised here are some additional thoughts and anecdotes regarding Matt W.'s previous discussion on the strength of the second/third tier at early 2000s National Championships and some personal reflections on the cyclical nature of team strength, especially as it pertains to the current great tea...
by salamanca
Tue Apr 29, 2014 3:52 pm
Forum: Quizbowl History Forum
Topic: Quiz Bowl Survivor: 50 Buzz, 49 Neg
Replies: 169
Views: 139294

Re: Quiz Bowl Survivor: 50 Buzz, 49 Neg

This is the culture from which Zeke emerged, and while I give him enormous credit for adopting and expanding upon these practices, and for transmitting them to later generations of Michigan players, it would be a mistake to posit that they emerged, Athena-like, from Zeke's head around the year 2000...
by salamanca
Tue Apr 29, 2014 1:32 pm
Forum: Quizbowl History Forum
Topic: Quiz Bowl Survivor: 50 Buzz, 49 Neg
Replies: 169
Views: 139294

Re: Quiz Bowl Survivor: 50 Buzz, 49 Neg

Christina Aguilera’s song “Hero”
I was wrong, the song was "Beautiful." Just wanted to set the record straight, lest I've upset some Aguilera fans.
by salamanca
Tue Apr 29, 2014 12:09 pm
Forum: Quizbowl History Forum
Topic: Quiz Bowl Survivor: 50 Buzz, 49 Neg
Replies: 169
Views: 139294

Re: Quiz Bowl Survivor: 50 Buzz, 49 Neg

Subash’s surprising, though most welcome, cameo in this thread, has reminded me that I did not directly address his and the Chicago A team’s imperious performance at ICT in 2003 in my previous post about notable teams. Part of the reason for this is that various other contemporaries have discussed i...
by salamanca
Thu Apr 17, 2014 12:57 pm
Forum: Quizbowl History Forum
Topic: Quiz Bowl Survivor: 50 Buzz, 49 Neg
Replies: 169
Views: 139294

Re: Quiz Bowl Survivor: 50 Buzz, 49 Neg

So the only traditional Masters tournaments I recall playing in the 90s were the (last?) Philly Experiment and the VA Open the year before I started grad school at Michigan in 2000. I think a team of John Nam, Arthur Fleming and I finished 4th at the first and then Adam, Arthur, Shaun H. (?) and I f...
by salamanca
Wed Apr 16, 2014 12:32 pm
Forum: Quizbowl History Forum
Topic: Quiz Bowl Survivor: 50 Buzz, 49 Neg
Replies: 169
Views: 139294

Re: Quiz Bowl Survivor: 50 Buzz, 49 Neg

Inspired by Andrew’s recent posts I wanted to offer the following observations and reminiscences about some notable teams from the mid to late 90s and early 2000s. Georgia Tech 1996- As Andrew points out above this was a powerhouse team on rote academic questions that was more limited on deeper stuf...
by salamanca
Wed Dec 28, 2011 1:01 pm
Forum: College area archives
Topic: Feats of quizbowl willpower
Replies: 16
Views: 4897

Re: Feats of quizbowl willpower

This is an interesting topic for sure. I think that during my days the most amazing feats of QB willpower I'd ever seen were Andrew at ICT in 2001 and ACF Nats in 2010 and Subash at ACF Regs in 2002 (one of the more underrated performances of all time) and ICT in 2003. That said, I'd just like to cl...
by salamanca
Mon Apr 25, 2011 4:58 pm
Forum: College area archives
Topic: ACF Nationals 2011 thanks and discussion
Replies: 88
Views: 34721

Re: ACF Nationals 2011 thanks and discussion

I have been following this discussion with some interest for a number of reasons and just wanted to offer a reflection inspired by Kenneth from ASU’s discussion of the playability of questions by folks who are not in the top bracket of ACF Nationals. As a player I loved harder questions, I prided my...
by salamanca
Fri Oct 08, 2010 12:14 pm
Forum: Quizbowl History Forum
Topic: Notable Retirements: An Appreciation
Replies: 0
Views: 3582

Notable Retirements: An Appreciation

I meant to post this before the current season was in full swing, however real life caught up to me and this is somewhat belated. I just wanted to take a little bit of time to recognize the retirement (at least in terms of collegiate eligibility) of three titans of the modern game, to laud their acc...
by salamanca
Mon Apr 19, 2010 10:15 pm
Forum: College area archives
Topic: ACF Nationals 2010 Thanks
Replies: 3
Views: 2428

ACF Nationals 2010 Thanks

All, ACF Nationals 2010 was held this past weekend in scenic College Park, Maryland. The tournament featured some of the best quizbowl performances I’ve ever seen, as a host great players and teams showed what can be done on a challenging and deep set of questions. Donald Taylor has posted the final...
by salamanca
Sun Apr 18, 2010 6:18 pm
Forum: College area archives
Topic: The Self-Balancing Binary Search Tree Protest
Replies: 6
Views: 4205

Re: The Self-Balancing Binary Search Tree Protest

I want to reiterate my congratulations to both Minnesota A and Stanford and certify that the question Mike posted upthread was the question used in the packet.

Thanks,
by salamanca
Sat Mar 27, 2010 4:55 pm
Forum: College area archives
Topic: 2010 Carper Award
Replies: 1
Views: 1087

2010 Carper Award

The Academic Competition Federation is proud to announce that the 2010 winner of the Dr. N. Gordon Carper Lifetime Achievement Award is Subash Maddipoti, formerly of the University of Illinois and the University of Chicago. ACF members voted to give Subash this award based on his masterful administr...
by salamanca
Wed Mar 24, 2010 5:11 pm
Forum: College area archives
Topic: HI 2010 Discussion
Replies: 56
Views: 10305

Re: HI 2010 Discussion

Speaking only for myself: if Questions of Travel were submitted as a TU answer for ACF Nationals and it was the hardest question in that particular packet, I certainly would have thought about letting it through. I may have changed it to a Bishop question, but then again, I like asking about works a...
by salamanca
Mon Mar 22, 2010 4:21 pm
Forum: College area archives
Topic: ANNOUNCEMENT: ACF Nationals (4/17/2010)
Replies: 82
Views: 37750

Re: ANNOUNCEMENT: ACF Nationals (4/17/2010)

TheKingInYellow wrote:I assume checks should be made out to ACF?
Actually checks should be made out to me, Ezequiel Berdichevsky, or, if you are into that whole brevity thing, Adam Fine.

Thanks,
by salamanca
Mon Mar 22, 2010 10:54 am
Forum: College area archives
Topic: Not learning our lesson (ACF Nationals reminder)
Replies: 0
Views: 1176

Not learning our lesson (ACF Nationals reminder)

Guess what QB community—it is March 22, 2010. Why is this an important date? Well, it means that spring is almost here, birds are chirping, and the first two rounds of the NCAA Basketball tournament are in the books. It also means that the no penalty deadline for submitting the packets that will con...
by salamanca
Wed Feb 03, 2010 2:31 am
Forum: College area archives
Topic: ANNOUNCEMENT: ACF Nationals (4/17/2010)
Replies: 82
Views: 37750

Re: ANNOUNCEMENT: ACF Nationals (4/17/2010)

Andy's current question about packet deadlines and where to find them is enough to have shaken me from my dogmatic slumber, so here go some updates... Duration and Location : The tournament will take place on both Saturday, April 17, and Sunday, April 18. We are currently looking to assemble as soli...
by salamanca
Sat Jun 27, 2009 1:09 am
Forum: College area archives
Topic: ANNOUNCEMENT: ACF Nationals (4/17/2010)
Replies: 82
Views: 37750

ANNOUNCEMENT: ACF Nationals (4/17/2010)

It is my pleasure to announce that next year's ACF Nationals will be held at the University of Maryland, College Park. Please note that due to a conflict with the dreaded Maryland Day extravaganza, the date has changed from our previous announcement (i.e., the original date was 4/24), we hope that t...
by salamanca
Fri May 08, 2009 7:11 am
Forum: College area archives
Topic: ACF Nationals Impressions or Commentary Redux
Replies: 10
Views: 3478

Re: ACF Nationals Impressions or Commentary Redux

Re: the Michelangelo clue... aha, we are talking about the The Conversion of St. Paul TU. Duly noted. Ok. I will definitely look into this. I guess that is what happens when you post at 2 in the morning...

Ezequiel
by salamanca
Fri May 08, 2009 2:13 am
Forum: College area archives
Topic: ACF Nationals Impressions or Commentary Redux
Replies: 10
Views: 3478

ACF Nationals Impressions or Commentary Redux

Before too much time passes, I just wanted to share my impressions about the questions at ACF Nationals 2009, as well as the events leading up to the tournament. I want to begin with a discussion of the logistics and what Matt or Sean, or the rest of the staff, could or could not have done different...
by salamanca
Mon Jan 19, 2009 2:26 pm
Forum: College area archives
Topic: Open Teams at non-Open Tournaments
Replies: 42
Views: 9813

Re: Open Teams at non-Open Tournaments

All- Since ACF Nats editing has begun in earnest for me and I am checking out what the community is arguing about these days, I was wondering what folks thought about this typically Westbrookian statement: sure, you do everything you can to make your present team win, but at its heart, I contend tha...
by salamanca
Tue Jul 08, 2008 10:31 pm
Forum: College area archives
Topic: ACFDB - a new tossup database
Replies: 79
Views: 23588

Re: ACFDB - a new tossup database

Or even more qualitative quality descriptions--it's a little difficult to distinguish numerically between, say, CotKU and the 1998 Harvard T-Party and Penn Bowl 2006 and Chicago Opens and ACF Regionals 2001... but I'm sure that it's not unreasonable to have qualitative categories like Steinhice and...
by salamanca
Wed Mar 12, 2008 2:55 pm
Forum: College area archives
Topic: 24 hours of quizbowl
Replies: 57
Views: 12011

Re: 24 hours of quizbowl

Michigan basically did this the week before both NAQT Nats and ACF Nats from 01-03 by reading every good tournament in our archive back to back to back etc.. Highlights include Litvak telling me to leave him the fuck alone after I chastised him for falling asleep and Subash taking the train over fro...
by salamanca
Wed Feb 13, 2008 4:27 pm
Forum: College area archives
Topic: Packet Submission Requirements: The High Cost of Quality
Replies: 22
Views: 4878

Interesting

Speaking as a person who edited and wrote a few questions during my career, I want to reiterate that the reason the community started instituting these penalties was to make people as accountable as possible for acting in "good faith" (i.e. that teams will work on these questions over a pe...
by salamanca
Tue Jan 29, 2008 8:13 pm
Forum: College area archives
Topic: Dwight Introduces Yet Another QB Rating System
Replies: 13
Views: 3859

Hmmm

Congratulations, you have just proven how pointless this statistic is.

Ezequiel
by salamanca
Wed Jul 11, 2007 6:07 pm
Forum: College area archives
Topic: "the stagna(tion) of ACF"
Replies: 9
Views: 4416

Clarification

Although I appreciate that the general concern with ACF has been and (probably, rightfully) continues to be how do we make these questions easier (I have some more to say about this as well, at some point), I was actually more intrigued by Mr. Chuck's choice of words-- I had never thought of the qui...
by salamanca
Wed Jul 11, 2007 8:39 am
Forum: College area archives
Topic: "the stagna(tion) of ACF"
Replies: 9
Views: 4416

"the stagna(tion) of ACF"

This sounds like an interesting stipulation Mr. Chuck, do you mind explaining it further? I feel like the college game has "stagnated" all over the board (witness NAQT's decision to shrink the field a few years ago and the slow decline in active DI programs). Why single out this organizati...
by salamanca
Sat Apr 07, 2007 3:22 pm
Forum: College area archives
Topic: ACF Nationals Discussion
Replies: 28
Views: 13100

Comments

Hi, While I think much of the important issues have been covered by previous posts. I just wanted to note that, given the context of his own QB career, I don’t think Ryan’s criticisms are that out of line—after all, his introduction to ACF play occurred at Michigan during the height of Quizbowl domi...
by salamanca
Mon Apr 02, 2007 9:16 am
Forum: College area archives
Topic: RESULTS! ACF Nationals 2007 Details
Replies: 18
Views: 20212

Thanks

Hello all, I just wanted to take this time to personally thank all the folks who made ACF Nats such a logistical success [Andrew and I will address question issues in the other thread] this past weekend. Vandy, especially the people assigned to help us out in the Tournament Headquarters on Saturday,...
by salamanca
Fri Mar 09, 2007 12:58 pm
Forum: College area archives
Topic: ACF Nats Field Update
Replies: 10
Views: 6543

Rounding into shape

Hey all-- just wanted to note that we are quickly approaching 20 teams (Adam will provide a more detailed breakdown soon) and I wanted to remind you that if you wanted to be a part of this fine tournament then you should contact Matt Keller and/or me before the 16th of March and let us know. Thanks,...
by salamanca
Wed Feb 21, 2007 7:04 pm
Forum: College area archives
Topic: Blast from the past
Replies: 0
Views: 2257

Blast from the past

Hey all, I was reflecting on the current discussion and just wanted to point out that some of these ideas/realizatons had already been bandied about and potentially ignored or put on the back burner or maybe the time to implement them just was not right. Anyways, here are some thoughts about this to...
by salamanca
Mon Feb 05, 2007 8:44 am
Forum: College area archives
Topic: RESULTS! ACF Nationals 2007 Details
Replies: 18
Views: 20212

CORRECTION

Adam Kemezis' email was incorrect in the original announcement. You should direct your emails about registration and the like to him at akemezi@bgsu.edu. Everything else about the original email remains in effect however... so get your packets in 'cause now that football season is over and March Mad...
by salamanca
Sat Feb 03, 2007 1:33 pm
Forum: College area archives
Topic: Demographic Underrepresentation: questions and rosters in qb
Replies: 43
Views: 20086

One thought

As far as ACF tournaments go-- your question (be it on Inuit gods, the works of Soyinka, or the Arc de Triomphe) will have a much greater chance getting used if it is well written and there isn't a repeat. The distribution guidelines are sketchy boundaries for submission tourneys. If you deviate too...
by salamanca
Fri Jan 12, 2007 12:36 am
Forum: College area archives
Topic: RESULTS! ACF Nationals 2007 Details
Replies: 18
Views: 20212

RESULTS! ACF Nationals 2007 Details

Hello all, As you may or may not have known ACF Nationals will be taking place on March 31, 2007 at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee. The official Tournament Director will be Adam Kemezis and the on site point man will be Matt Keller. Please send all team registrations to both of these ...
by salamanca
Tue Oct 03, 2006 6:01 pm
Forum: College area archives
Topic: ANNOUNCEMENT: ACF Nationals 2007 Site
Replies: 0
Views: 2023

ANNOUNCEMENT: ACF Nationals 2007 Site

Hello everyone, I am pleased to announce that the 2007 edition of ACF Nationals will be held in the sunny city of Nashville, Tennessee at Vanderbilt University on the weekend of March 31. I will serve as lead editor and will be ably assisted by such Eightball and MJG lovin’ characters as Matt Lafe...
by salamanca
Sun Aug 06, 2006 9:53 pm
Forum: College area archives
Topic: Chicago Open Thanks
Replies: 3
Views: 3343

Final Summation

Hey Everyone, Sorry for being a week late in posting a final summation, I had to catch up on much of the work that neglected while I was editing much of the days leading up to the tourney. First off, I just wanted to reiterate my genuine thanks to all the players and staff that came out to participa...
by salamanca
Sun Jul 30, 2006 12:35 am
Forum: College area archives
Topic: Chicago Open Thanks
Replies: 3
Views: 3343

Chicago Open Thanks

I will post the stats and full results a bit later. I just wanted to take this opportunity to thank all the teams that came out to play and more notably all of the folks who came out to help run the tournament: Alice Chou, Christian Kammerer, Kevin Olmstead, Mark Calaguas, Ryan McClaren for reading;...
by salamanca
Thu Jul 06, 2006 12:38 am
Forum: College area archives
Topic: New Chicago Open Update
Replies: 2
Views: 3080

New Chicago Open Update

Hello all, I hope people are writing me some quality questions as I post this update… anyways, here is the schedule for the weekend of July 29 in Chicago: -the history two-man tournament will start around 7pm on Friday, July 28 -the CO will start at 9 am on Saturday, July 29; Science Monstrosity w...
by salamanca
Mon Jun 26, 2006 5:45 pm
Forum: College area archives
Topic: Chicago Open Update
Replies: 9
Views: 5528

Chicago Open Update

As promised, here is the updated field for CO. So far I have received two packets [from Beyer, Borglum, Kendall, and Platzer and from free agent Ahmad Ragab (which might be a compelling reason to let him join your team)]. Unless I have expressly waived this requirement—and you all know who you are...
by salamanca
Mon Jun 26, 2006 1:09 pm
Forum: College area archives
Topic: East Coast Summer Open: Crime on Goat Island @ CMU
Replies: 16
Views: 11221

Props

I just wanted to thank the various teams for coming, especially Bob and his crew... in light of the recent discussions about transitioning from HS to college and the ways in which both levels of quizbowl can and should learn from one another I applaud you all's willingness to see how the other half ...
by salamanca
Wed Jun 14, 2006 12:21 pm
Forum: College area archives
Topic: Official Announcement: Chicago Open
Replies: 3
Views: 4935

Reminder and Field Update for CO

Hi all-- This is just a reminder that you have three days to get packets in for the discount. So far, I have received a grand total of [drum roll please] ZERO! Don't be a faker, turn in your shit... Anyways, here are the teams that have registered or expressed interest to me in the past month or so....
by salamanca
Thu Jun 08, 2006 11:44 am
Forum: College area archives
Topic: high school - college retention
Replies: 72
Views: 31105

Mistake

Noah, I realize you may not go to Cal Tech and that you are a different person than I had initially thought. If so then I apologize. But I stand by my point about team history and its impact...

Ezequiel
by salamanca
Thu Jun 08, 2006 11:29 am
Forum: College area archives
Topic: high school - college retention
Replies: 72
Views: 31105

About College Players

I think that Noah's candor is instructive, though I suspect that it is also somewhat self-deluded. Clearly the college game is made up of un-social, maladjusted, and smelly people. Meanwhile, the HS game, where one can get "good" by just showing up to practice is populated by a variety of ...
by salamanca
Thu May 25, 2006 2:56 pm
Forum: College area archives
Topic: CO Discussion
Replies: 28
Views: 15144

You asked for it, you got i!

Just cuz we love all you crazy ass CO competitors-- if there is indeed enough interest [ie. at least 8-10 teams] Andrew and I have agreed to team up and write a trash tournament from scratch. Respond here or email either of us to confirm your interest... I imagine that packet specs and cost will mos...
by salamanca
Thu May 18, 2006 1:35 pm
Forum: College area archives
Topic: Official Announcement: Chicago Open
Replies: 3
Views: 4935

Possible Mirrors

Hi-- People have yet to contact me about mirroring the tournament, but I await their communications with bated breath. Seriously, if you'd be interested in hosting a mirror let me know. Also, for those folks planning on being in Chi-town in late July: registration is open, so don't be left outside C...
by salamanca
Sun May 07, 2006 10:47 pm
Forum: College area archives
Topic: Official Announcement: Chicago Open
Replies: 3
Views: 4935

Official Announcement: Chicago Open

Hello Everyone, As folks may have surmised from my earlier posts I will be in charge of editing Chicago Open this summer. Helping me out this year will be Chris Romero and hopefully some other folks that we are currently negotiating with. This will be an academic submission tournament and the target...
by salamanca
Thu Apr 20, 2006 10:50 am
Forum: College area archives
Topic: ACF Nationals Host
Replies: 0
Views: 2075

ACF Nationals Host

There should be one, so... I am officially taking submissions from now until June 20. If your team is interested in hosting the premier academic quizbowl competition national championship, let me know at eberdich@gmail.com. When you make your pitch, try to give me an estimate of the number of folks ...