Search found 2267 matches

by dtaylor4
Thu Sep 01, 2016 12:33 am
Forum: College area archives
Topic: Saying Farewell
Replies: 13
Views: 7732

Re: Saying Farewell

I hope that as people move on from playing/writing/editing quizbowl that they stay involved by reading at local tournaments. Quizbowl reading skill is a preciously rare commodity in pretty much every part of the country. A few Saturdays a year reading can make a big difference in the quality of a l...
by dtaylor4
Sat Aug 13, 2016 6:41 pm
Forum: Quizbowl History Forum
Topic: Your Travel Disaster Stories
Replies: 51
Views: 72617

Re: Your Travel Disaster Stories

There are two travel stories that merit note in this thread, though I don't remember all the details of either. Illinois sent 3 teams to the 2009 SCT at Indiana University. For many reasons, this was one of the worst tournaments I ever played, but I'll stick to the travel part of it here. I awoke a...
by dtaylor4
Thu Jul 28, 2016 11:59 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: Illinois '16-'17
Replies: 145
Views: 66188

Re: Illinois '16-'17

Your Feline Genome wrote:
Joker wrote:
Bubalus Period wrote:People keep making bad posts in Illinois discussions
Oh god, not this again!
by dtaylor4
Mon Jun 06, 2016 7:07 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: 2016 PACE NSC: June 4-5, Chicago
Replies: 78
Views: 67771

Re: 2016 PACE NSC: June 4-5, Chicago

(I can't believe we're having THIS argument again—I wasn't even in quizbowl when this was last a thing!) I think that the main issue with the PACE format is the simple fact that one slip up in the prelims can relegate teams to a particular position (in our and Barrington's case, a maximum placing o...
by dtaylor4
Wed May 04, 2016 12:49 am
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: Magic Draft @ MSNCT Saturday Night (after stats entry[8pm])
Replies: 3
Views: 502

Re: Magic Draft @ MSNCT Saturday Night (after stats entry[8p

I'm with the others, won't be staffing but would be down for slinging spells in the future (as if my avatar wasn't enough of an indicator).
by dtaylor4
Mon Apr 11, 2016 12:41 am
Forum: Middle school area archives
Topic: LOST I - 4/9/2016, SCOP MS [Litchfield, IL]
Replies: 9
Views: 6961

Re: LOST I - 4/9/2016, SCOP MS [Litchfield, IL]

Top 4 from the tournament:

1) Champaign Next Gen A
2) Springfield Franklin A
3) Carlinville
4) Champaign Next Gen B
by dtaylor4
Fri Apr 08, 2016 10:57 am
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: Bee St Louis Regional
Replies: 2
Views: 2436

Bee St Louis Regional

Anyone know the full story behind the cancellation of yesterday's event in Clayton, MO?
by dtaylor4
Thu Mar 10, 2016 9:48 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: Neg 5 : Quizbowl for the Cloud
Replies: 175
Views: 166310

Re: Neg 5 : Quizbowl for the Cloud

Did this update get rid of the scoresheet option? We used Neg5 at our event and that was one of our teams favorite features, having the ability to just click 10, 15, -5 for each question. I don't seem to see it on the new release (unless I'm missing it?). Thanks! So it seems that the issue (for me)...
by dtaylor4
Sun Feb 21, 2016 11:12 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: Illinois '15 - '16
Replies: 64
Views: 47137

Re: Illinois '15 - '16

About the format: I have been invited to the Masons' April recap meeting for the past three years (it helps that it's maybe ten minutes from me). I can be reasonably confident in saying that the format is not changing. Yes, I understand it can lead to upsets, but when I've seen teams average 20ppb ...
by dtaylor4
Sun Feb 21, 2016 1:38 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: Illinois '15 - '16
Replies: 64
Views: 47137

Re: Illinois '15 - '16

As I was reading at O'Fallon yesterday, I distinctly remember seeing one TU in my areas where the clues should have been re-jiggered, and another TU where the answer was a bit too far out there. I had a good spread of teams in my room, but even the teams I saw that maybe won 0-2 games all day were h...
by dtaylor4
Mon Jan 11, 2016 9:39 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: SMV 2015: HSQB's Secret Santa - Send your gifts!
Replies: 100
Views: 7571

Re: SMV 2015: HSQB's Secret Santa - Send your gifts!

Muriel Axon wrote:Thanks to Donald Taylor (presumably) for a Spyderco stainless steel pocket knife! I now have the urge to cut everything...
Indeed twas me. Don't cut everything, just things that need cut
by dtaylor4
Sat Jan 02, 2016 5:38 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: Neg 5 : Quizbowl for the Cloud
Replies: 175
Views: 166310

Re: Neg 5 : Quizbowl for the Cloud

In playing around with this, I have one question: If a protest is noted but not resolved on the spot (say tossup 11), is there a way to go back and fix the results of that tossup without having to re-enter the entire second half? ETA: Having sub information entered after the game instead of when the...
by dtaylor4
Tue Dec 29, 2015 12:51 am
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: SMV 2015: HSQB's Secret Santa - Send your gifts!
Replies: 100
Views: 7571

Re: SMV 2015: HSQB's Secret Santa - Send your gifts!

I received DVD copies of Misery and John Carpenter's Prince of Darkness from Alejandro Lopez-Lago.

Definitely looking forward to watching Misery, as I really like James Caan (original Rollerball ftw)
by dtaylor4
Sat Dec 26, 2015 5:10 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: SMV 2015: HSQB's Secret Santa - Send your gifts!
Replies: 100
Views: 7571

Re: SMV 2015: HSQB's Secret Santa - Send your gifts!

Much thanks to the mystery sender for Larisa Shepitko's Wings and Ascent ! They look awesome and you've introduced me to another Soviet female director, which I appreciate. (and introduced me to Criterion's Eclipse series which looks awwwwesome) Enjoy! (And yes, Eclipse is terrific!) By the way -- ...
by dtaylor4
Wed Nov 18, 2015 1:12 am
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: SMV 2015: HSQB's Secret Santa - Send your gifts!
Replies: 100
Views: 7571

Re: SMV 2015: HSQB's Secret Santa - 11/29 Deadline

Donald Taylor
[email protected]

1) A good horror movie. I love the Hellraiser series, but want to branch out.
2) A collection of short poetry.
3) A unique/strange coin. Does not have to be currency, but should have two distinct sides.
by dtaylor4
Tue Nov 10, 2015 11:23 pm
Forum: Best of the Best
Topic: Just what is "business casual" dress, and how do I wear it?
Replies: 52
Views: 53760

Re: Just what is "business casual" dress, and how do I wear

Also, do not forget a decent undershirt. Especially in classrooms where there are a lot of people in a small space, it can get hot pretty quickly, and the last thing you want is for others to see sweat stains in your armpits. Anti-perspirant will only go so far. Even if a decent button-down is too m...
by dtaylor4
Tue Sep 01, 2015 9:10 am
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: Electronic Scorekeeping
Replies: 5
Views: 3819

Re: Electronic Scorekeeping

Last year, the Springfield Invitational used electronic scoresheets, as all of the scorekeepers were given school-owned MacBooks that were wirelessly networked to a printer in HQ.

If the resources and logistics are there, it can be a great boon. If not, it is not worth the trouble.
by dtaylor4
Sun Jun 07, 2015 12:36 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: Discussion of pronunciation guides
Replies: 30
Views: 17263

Re: Discussion of pronunciation guides

For the Masonic sets, David Reinstein puts PGs in red text. From what I have gathered from a wide swath of readers, it helps tremendously, as it easily pops out off of the page.
by dtaylor4
Wed Apr 22, 2015 1:44 am
Forum: Quizbowl History Forum
Topic: Favorite Quizbowl Experiences
Replies: 77
Views: 68698

Re: Favorite Quizbowl Experiences

CO 2008. Spent the day after my 21st birthday doing tourist-y things with the Florida contingent (Borglum, Beyer, Harvey, Ragab, Silberstein, other people whom I can't name off the top), then three days of doing stats for History Doubles (Bruce, I still owe you a thank you for the ties), the main ev...
by dtaylor4
Wed Apr 22, 2015 1:35 am
Forum: College area archives
Topic: Where Are You Going Next Year? (2015 College)
Replies: 47
Views: 29921

Re: Where Are You Going Next Year? (2015 College)

Muriel Axon wrote:Joe is taking a job in finance. Memorial tournament forthcoming after his metaphorical death.
I resent this!
by dtaylor4
Tue Mar 17, 2015 1:52 am
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: IHSA 2015
Replies: 21
Views: 5933

Re: IHSA 2015

ACantataforLiebowitz wrote:Mythology = Literature
How IHSA does not consider short stories to be a thing (novels Harrison Bergeron and The Open Boat)
1) Myth is explicitly under the lit distribution.
2) Harrison Bergeron isn't a novel...
by dtaylor4
Wed Mar 11, 2015 1:24 am
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: Literary Phrasing
Replies: 20
Views: 8973

Re: Literary Phrasing

For clarification's case, here's the prompt/first part: An eye operation serves as a turning point in this story, in which the patient ends up dying. [10] This tale sees Laurel Hand read Dickens to her father, Judge McKelva, when not feuding with her stepmother, Fay. ANSWER: The _Optimist's Daughter...
by dtaylor4
Tue Mar 10, 2015 2:16 am
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: Literary Phrasing
Replies: 20
Views: 8973

Literary Phrasing

For a bonus in a recent tournament, the lead-in and prompt for a bonus part about a novel called it both a "story" and a "tale." I was intentionally vague with not wanting to call it a novel. I did have one person question the phrasing, as he alleged that those pointed at a short...
by dtaylor4
Mon Mar 09, 2015 9:25 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: IHSA 2015
Replies: 21
Views: 5933

Re: IHSA 2015

I read all three rounds at Glenwood (who lost to East Peoria in a tight final). I made a comment after the first half that there would be many more bad questions, and the set did not disappoint. The math sucked, some of the history questions were holy-mother-of-god hard, and the art had jokes for an...
by dtaylor4
Wed Mar 04, 2015 11:33 pm
Forum: College area archives
Topic: Side bets at ICT and ACF Nats
Replies: 17
Views: 7023

Re: Side bets at ICT and ACF Nats

As someone who has won bets at practice (off degenerate gambler Mike Sorice) and on a live packet (woo Starcade knowledge), the most people should bet is like a meal.

People have done prognostication pools on here (top bracket finishers, UG titles, etc), but no money was involved.
by dtaylor4
Sun Mar 01, 2015 6:59 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: Masonics 2015
Replies: 17
Views: 6099

Re: Masonics 2015

Masonic prognostication! 1A: Elmwood, KCD, Blue Ridge will all make top 4 unless they're stacked into the same bracket. 2A: U-Lab is the team to beat, and Macomb or Litchfield are the only teams that could. 3A: A team that took a prelim loss will win the title. Bold prediction: both brackets will ha...
by dtaylor4
Sat Feb 21, 2015 6:19 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: Masonics 2015
Replies: 17
Views: 6099

Re: Masonics 2015

Soooooo, 10 sectionals delayed due to weather. Eight re-scheduled for the 28th, with Riverton and Greenville still unsure.

Up at the northern end, I can say that the roads when I left were manageable for me in my car, but not for an activity bus.
by dtaylor4
Fri Feb 20, 2015 10:50 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: Masonics 2015
Replies: 17
Views: 6099

Re: Masonics 2015

From the website: Greenville, O'Fallon, Mahomet-Seymour, Springfield, and Cobden have all been delayed. The central part of the state is under a winter storm warning until tomorrow night, so districts are being cautious.
by dtaylor4
Fri Feb 20, 2015 1:29 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: Masonics 2015
Replies: 17
Views: 6099

Re: Masonics 2015

It has been indicated to me that Dale himself emailed the hosts indicating the above caveat. I plan on bringing it up again tomorrow at the sectional I am reading at (Blue Ridge), and I don't think it would hurt for those of us who know better to stress it in our respective coaches' meetings as well.
by dtaylor4
Mon Feb 16, 2015 12:33 am
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: 2015 NAQT Illinois State (2/14/2015; Urbana, IL)
Replies: 15
Views: 9331

Re: 2015 NAQT Illinois State (2/14/2015; Urbana, IL)

Major props to Mike, as well as the rest of the crew who worked behind the scenes to make sure the tournament ran smoothly despite a number of snafus that could have FUBAR'd the tournament. I only saw the final scoresheets, but I was definitely impressed with the level of play across the board, espe...
by dtaylor4
Mon Jan 19, 2015 12:45 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: Winnebago Invitational 1/17/2015
Replies: 4
Views: 3907

Re: Winnebago Invitational 1/17/2015

Thank you to everyone for coming out to Winnebago's tournament yesterday! Congratulations to Keith Country Day School, who won a very exciting final match against second-place Byron, and to third- and fourth-place teams Dwight A and Galesburg! Thank you to our excellent staffers: Alec Krueger, Mich...
by dtaylor4
Fri Jan 16, 2015 2:08 am
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: Illinois '14-'15
Replies: 91
Views: 40994

Re: Illinois '14-'15

no ice wrote:The Masonic Sectional assignments are up and they are atrocious.
Oh child, those who expect fairness from the Masonic sectional pairings know little.
by dtaylor4
Sun Jan 04, 2015 12:10 am
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: SMV 2014: DEADLINE EXTENDED
Replies: 93
Views: 6691

Re: SMV 2014: DEADLINE EXTENDED

Mike Bentley wrote:Thanks mystery sender for the copy of Trials and Passions: Crimes in the Name of Love and Madness by Lisa Appignanesi!
Glad to see it finally got there!
by dtaylor4
Sat Jan 03, 2015 12:40 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: Split screens in Word for Easy Reading
Replies: 7
Views: 3889

Re: Split screens in Word for Easy Reading

In older version of word, one can go "Window -> New Window" to achieve a similar effect.
by dtaylor4
Wed Dec 24, 2014 3:31 pm
Forum: College area archives
Topic: IRC Festivus 2014: Quentin Tarantino Edition
Replies: 74
Views: 37542

Re: IRC Festivus 2014: Quentin Tarantino Edition

Ukonvasara wrote:
Ukonvasara wrote:Next year I think an earlier start is indeed advisable.
Dr. Loki Skylizard, Thoracic Surgeon wrote:Y'all think you'll start a bit earlier next year? It seemed like a very late start for no real reason.
nope, gonna start later out of spite

FESTIVUS 2015: LONG DAY'S JOURNEY INTO SPITE
by dtaylor4
Tue Dec 23, 2014 4:12 am
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: SMV 2014: DEADLINE EXTENDED
Replies: 93
Views: 6691

Re: SMV 2014: DEADLINE EXTENDED

I placed my order 12/5, and neither Amazon nor the Postal Service can indicate if it was delivered.
by dtaylor4
Fri Dec 05, 2014 8:07 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: SMV 2014: DEADLINE EXTENDED
Replies: 93
Views: 6691

Re: SMV 2014: DEADLINE EXTENDED

Placed my order today, and came home to a copy of the Popul Vuh. A John Lawrence Christmas was not included, but thanks!
by dtaylor4
Thu Nov 20, 2014 2:19 am
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: Periodic table posters in classrooms
Replies: 11
Views: 6391

Re: Periodic table posters in classrooms

My question would be, where can a moderator draw the line and just replace the bonus?
by dtaylor4
Thu Nov 13, 2014 2:21 am
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: SMV 2014: DEADLINE EXTENDED
Replies: 93
Views: 6691

Re: SMV 2014: press x to send and receive presents

Donald Taylor

[email protected]

1. An interesting tie that is not indecent.
2. Something related to rugby.
3. Something related to non-European mythology. Past SMV gifts have included tomes on Georgian and Scots/Irish myth.
by dtaylor4
Sat Sep 06, 2014 9:32 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: buzzer system repair
Replies: 5
Views: 3604

Re: 2015 NAQT HSNCT: May 30-31, Chicago

ndikkala wrote:Actually, I never considered that there was a repair service at all for buzzer sets. Who would I have to contact to get them fixed?
Contact the manufacturer, and (assuming the company is above board) you should be able to have it repaired and sent back in a timely manner.
by dtaylor4
Sat Sep 06, 2014 12:56 am
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: buzzer system repair
Replies: 5
Views: 3604

Re: 2015 NAQT HSNCT: May 30-31, Chicago

I have a somewhat technical question regarding buzzers lighting up. Some of our buzzers have lights that work but do not fit through the slot in the buzzer, because they have gotten loose inside the housing. It is still possible to see that the buzzer is lit up, just from a bit of an angle. Would t...
by dtaylor4
Thu Aug 28, 2014 7:56 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: Let's make some more fun of MSHSAA
Replies: 7
Views: 4773

Re: Let's make some more fun of MSHSAA

It's true that MSHSAA member schools would not be allowed to attend a regular-season national championship held in Missouri if it used NAQT rules. NAQT has been talking with MSHSAA in the hope of finding a solution to this issue that is agreeable to all parties involved. Clearly your under-the-tabl...
by dtaylor4
Sun Aug 17, 2014 7:22 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: Illinois '14-'15
Replies: 91
Views: 40994

Re: Illinois '14-'15

Keep in mind, too, the IHSA uses a multiplier for certain schools as well. I am not sure how closely the Masonic participation mirrors that of the IHSA's (I assume it is smaller in terms of numbers), but I figure this estimate would be altered. I wonder, though, how much this would impact the secti...
by dtaylor4
Sat Aug 16, 2014 3:06 am
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: Illinois '14-'15
Replies: 91
Views: 40994

Re: Illinois '14-'15

I talked with Dale Thayer -- the cutoffs aren't decided yet, as they're waiting for more knowledge of who's gonna be in the tournament (don't want to cut it off at an odd number of schools in two classes if you don't have to!). I can confirm this, as I was at the committee meeting in April where th...
by dtaylor4
Sat Jul 26, 2014 9:43 am
Forum: Trash
Topic: Clearinghouse for Random Packet Announcements
Replies: 577
Views: 455445

Re: Clearinghouse for Random Packet Announcements

crash bandicoot wrote:Would anyone be interested if I wrote a packet on cricket?
Assuming I am free on the night it's read, I may show up for it.
by dtaylor4
Sun Jul 13, 2014 12:14 am
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: Help HSQBRank with gathering data
Replies: 7
Views: 4811

Re: Help HSQBRank with gathering data

bird bird bird bird bird wrote:
The "University High A (IL)" played at UIUC Earlybird.
Uni Lab (Urbana).
This school is distinct from the U-High in Normal, which doesn't get out much.
by dtaylor4
Fri Jun 06, 2014 1:02 am
Forum: Quizbowl History Forum
Topic: Favorite Quizbowl Experiences
Replies: 77
Views: 68698

Re: Favorite Quizbowl Experiences

4. Seth Teitler Mythology Singles I forget if this was in 2004 or 2005. I finished in the bottom bracket. Regardless, as I've said many times before this is the only tournament I ever played that was a life-changing event for me. It forever converted me to the "hard questions on easy answers&q...
by dtaylor4
Wed Jun 04, 2014 12:01 am
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: 2014 HSNCT Consolation Rounds Discussion
Replies: 13
Views: 8367

Re: 2014 HSNCT discussion

I don't know what the issue was in this case, but I know for a few rounds, the delays were because packets couldn't be sent to consolation games until after they had been sent to playoff games, and in a few cases, protests prevented some rounds from starting on time. A possible solution might to be...
by dtaylor4
Tue Jun 03, 2014 2:11 am
Forum: Quizbowl History Forum
Topic: All-time all-state teams
Replies: 61
Views: 53359

Re: All-time all-state teams

Skepticism and Animal Feed wrote:Susan Ferrari also went to high school in Illinois.
At ACF Nats level, an IL team would be remiss in leaving off Kelly Tourdot (Stillman Valley).