Search found 241 matches

by Siverus Snape
Sun Apr 11, 2010 5:40 pm
Forum: College area archives
Topic: Country questions, particularly in 2010 ICT
Replies: 19
Views: 2758

Country questions, particularly in 2010 ICT

I wish I could be more helpful and give you the exact round in which this occurred, but one of the DII packets had four TUs with answers being the names of countries (Poland, Norway, and two others). If I recall, two of those were consecutive, and most of them had political and/or geography clues. T...
by Siverus Snape
Mon Mar 15, 2010 11:05 am
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: IHSA Sectionals results and discussion
Replies: 67
Views: 10141

Re: IHSA Sectionals results and discussion

Am I missing something? Why is Stevenson suddenly a favorite over Auburn? What's their season head-to-head record?
by Siverus Snape
Tue Jan 12, 2010 8:58 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: Team Illinois Tryouts for NASAT
Replies: 106
Views: 17386

Re: Team Illinois Tryouts for NASAT

The way it worked when I tried out for Team Illinois was that everybody played the whole day. The details were never revealed to me as to how the individual pairings are made, but they function as another source of information about a player's abilities. I think the results of the individual rounds ...
by Siverus Snape
Wed Aug 19, 2009 10:20 am
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: Illinois '09-'10
Replies: 568
Views: 141654

Re: Illinois '09-'10

Just want to point out that Illinois teams are pretty darn low in Fred's rankings. Obviously, Fred doesn't have access to insider info about who may be good now or who can step up to replace the holes that the really strong class of '09 left. But either way, you guys have some work to do.
by Siverus Snape
Thu Jul 02, 2009 12:26 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: Illinois '09-'10
Replies: 568
Views: 141654

Re: Illinois '09-'10

So Jeff, you're predicting one team in the top 3 and seven teams in the top 10? Interesting. I'll have to refrain from making an attempt at rankings because it would be way too speculative. I haven't really seen any of these teams or players play against each other, especially recently. I guess I've...
by Siverus Snape
Sat Jun 20, 2009 12:45 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: Do not do this!
Replies: 53
Views: 8798

Re: Do not do this!

Ahhh, Greg's doing real math again!!!
by Siverus Snape
Mon Jun 01, 2009 8:26 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: 2009 NAQT HSNCT
Replies: 349
Views: 102408

Re: 2009 NAQT HSNCT

Darn. Even so, we still shouldn't have won that game: Dorman most definitely should have been prompted on Gauss for Gaussian integers, it's obvious they knew what they were talking about Was it so obvious? From what I recall, that bonus part asked for the numbers, then mentioned they were named aft...
by Siverus Snape
Mon Jun 01, 2009 7:44 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: 2009 NAQT HSNCT
Replies: 349
Views: 102408

Re: 2009 NAQT HSNCT

There are two separate concepts, brahma and brahman, that mean very different things; both trace back to the same Sanskrit etymology but they shouldn't be treated as the same concept for quizbowl purposes (i.e. you shouldn't be able to say the same word for both answers, unless we are n thousand ye...
by Siverus Snape
Thu Apr 30, 2009 8:32 am
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: Illinois in HSNCT
Replies: 44
Views: 7141

Re: Illinois in HSNCT

Ben is far more likely to make the top ten than I am. Last year, I averaged around 30 ppg at HSNCT, and he did....slightly better. For whatever reason, I've found that NAQT (style, distribution, whatever) tends not to suit me, especially at the higher levels.
by Siverus Snape
Tue Apr 28, 2009 12:07 am
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: Class of 09, Where Will You Be Playing Next Year
Replies: 79
Views: 21806

Re: Class of 09, Where Will You Be Playing Next Year

I'm 99% sure I'm going to Harvard, but I haven't decided whether I'll continue quiz bowl.
by Siverus Snape
Wed Apr 22, 2009 10:10 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: 2009 NAQT HSNCT
Replies: 349
Views: 102408

Re: 2009 NAQT HSNCT

I'm somewhat of a local who can crash with his brother in Chicago, so I am definitely interested in this Laser Quest plan.
by Siverus Snape
Sat Mar 21, 2009 9:56 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: Illinois '08-'09
Replies: 1271
Views: 207244

Re: Illinois '08-'09

You know, I almost forgot about the beauty of Egan-Glerum-bashing.
by Siverus Snape
Sat Mar 21, 2009 4:37 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: 2009 IHSA State Final Results
Replies: 26
Views: 3881

Re: 2009 IHSA State Final Results

Part 4, I believe was: "What was the name of the daughter whom the protagonist took to the river?"
by Siverus Snape
Sat Mar 21, 2009 11:39 am
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: NIU Havoc Mirror: Dogs of War 4/25/09
Replies: 16
Views: 3034

Re: NIU Havoc Mirror: Dogs of War 4/25/09

I'm not sure whether Auburn is coming, but I won't be able to moderate either way. I have a bunch of other commitments.
by Siverus Snape
Sat Mar 21, 2009 1:05 am
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: A fond farewell
Replies: 14
Views: 3089

Re: A fond farewell

Thank you so much, Coach Riley. It has truly been a pleasure getting to know you and competing with your teams over the years. I'm looking forward to our NSC Illinois reunion dinner.
by Siverus Snape
Wed Mar 11, 2009 7:47 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: IHSA regional assignments
Replies: 73
Views: 15132

Re: IHSA regional assignments

I've been noticing tossups this year and last year that give specifications for the answer before the question begins (e.g., two word answer required) and tossups that say "Work X of the author whom you are to name" instead of "Work X by this author." Assuming that those types of...
by Siverus Snape
Tue Mar 10, 2009 9:59 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: NAQT State/UIUC Solo
Replies: 16
Views: 2445

Re: NAQT State/UIUC Solo

Let's be clear what we're talking about here, Dan and Jeff. Donald asked about the lack of comp math in the solo, not the NAQT tournament, the two of which were written by very different sets of people. It is a general opinion I have seen expressed around here that NAQT comp math fails too much in t...
by Siverus Snape
Sun Mar 08, 2009 6:11 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: NAQT State/UIUC Solo
Replies: 16
Views: 2445

Re: NAQT State/UIUC Solo

Most of the top players in Illinois got that way by playing extensively in formats other than IHSA, so we are generally very much okay with no computational math. For the field you drew on Saturday, I can't really see anyone who would take issue with the lack of calculation.
by Siverus Snape
Mon Feb 23, 2009 8:43 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: Dropping Titles in Literature Questions
Replies: 76
Views: 11100

Re: Dropping Titles in Literature Questions

Why are buzzer races precived more often than they occur? I think it would be quite useful to be able to gauge how many precived buzzer races are actually buzzer races when evaluating sets. It's my experience that people sometimes reflexively press the buzzer when they see someone else make a move ...
by Siverus Snape
Sun Feb 22, 2009 6:48 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: Masonic Sectionals 2/21
Replies: 33
Views: 5017

Re: Masonic Sectionals 2/21

This tournament isn't designed to determine the best team--it's designed to give schools with less budget and less exposure some money. I think that for the Masons, the ideal situation would be one in which the best team did in fact win but the other money-earning places went to less strong program...
by Siverus Snape
Sun Feb 15, 2009 8:18 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: Illinois '08-'09
Replies: 1271
Views: 207244

Re: Illinois '08-'09

Well, usually when it comes to questions with as much quality and depth as these, there's plenty of DON'T TALK ABOUT SPECIFIC QUESTIONS FROM THIS SET --the mgmt when it comes to the religion questions. I can't say without looking at the questions whether DON'T TALK ABOUT SPECIFIC QUESTIONS FROM THIS...
by Siverus Snape
Fri Feb 13, 2009 8:47 am
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: NIU Huskie Bowl - 2/14/09 - Dekalb, IL
Replies: 73
Views: 13601

Re: NIU Huskie Bowl - 2/14/09 - Dekalb, IL

Well, I'll do my best for you, Jack, but hopefully Auburn's scoring will be a little bit more balanced with Michael back.
by Siverus Snape
Wed Feb 11, 2009 8:28 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: Illinois '08-'09
Replies: 1271
Views: 207244

Re: Illinois '08-'09

Unfortunately, the 10-12 round tournaments that have been run in Illinois recently have run into some serious lateness problems, and we really don't want that to be the case. Provided it's okay with the Loyola people, I don't see why we can't play one or two post-tournament rounds for fun, consideri...
by Siverus Snape
Thu Feb 05, 2009 9:02 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: NIU Huskie Bowl - 2/14/09 - Dekalb, IL
Replies: 73
Views: 13601

Re: NIU Huskie Bowl - 2/14/09 - Dekalb, IL

Am I right in assuming that powers will no longer be in play, given the question vendor change? What about negs?
by Siverus Snape
Tue Jan 27, 2009 12:54 am
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: 2nd Annual Junior NAC
Replies: 12
Views: 2234

Re: 2nd Annual Junior NAC

Oh Jack, how you always manage to irritate someone never ceases to amaze me.
by Siverus Snape
Tue Jan 27, 2009 12:11 am
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: Illinois '08-'09
Replies: 1271
Views: 207244

Re: Illinois '08-'09

We're planning on keeping the set under wraps for a little bit longer in case someone else comes forth with a mirroring request. In the meantime, I should soon be able to release last year's questions, which were similar in tossup style and quality but had Illinois format bonuses.
by Siverus Snape
Tue Jan 20, 2009 11:00 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: Middle School Quiz Bowl Questions
Replies: 4
Views: 1795

Re: Middle School Quiz Bowl Questions

I'm worried that our (Auburn's) questions may be a little bit too difficult, but I'd be happy to send you a few rounds to look at.
by Siverus Snape
Tue Jan 20, 2009 7:26 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: The predicted demise of Illinois frosh/soph tournaments
Replies: 47
Views: 8052

Re: The predicted demise of Illinois frosh/soph tournaments

I think that Auburn will continue to host a house-written frosh-soph tournament as long as possible, if for nothing else than to expose new teams and young players to pyramidality and, starting this year, mACF bonuses. The way I see it, it's not as important (at least for beginners) that players com...
by Siverus Snape
Mon Jan 19, 2009 12:12 pm
Forum: College area archives
Topic: ACF Winter discussion
Replies: 106
Views: 18811

Re: ACF Winter discussion

Is it just my inexperience, or is the World Lit distribution in this set too heavy on the Japanese stuff?
by Siverus Snape
Sun Jan 18, 2009 7:59 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: Illinois '08-'09
Replies: 1271
Views: 207244

Re: Illinois '08-'09

I have to say I am thrilled that a team like St. Viator, which I hadn't heard of before this year, is trying out the PACE NSC format at the Loyburn Classic when so many other longtime coaches purposely limit their team to IHSA-like events. Major kudos.
by Siverus Snape
Sun Jan 18, 2009 7:46 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: NIU Havoc Mirror: Dogs of War 4/25/09
Replies: 16
Views: 3034

Re: NIU Havoc Mirror: Dogs of War 4/25/09

Tentatively sign me up to moderate, Brad, assuming Auburn sends some teams.
by Siverus Snape
Thu Jan 15, 2009 2:41 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: Illinois '08-'09
Replies: 1271
Views: 207244

Re: Illinois '08-'09

That change might be a good idea, Andy. Winnebago's field is almost totally different from the field Northwestern might hope to draw. I'd stay away from the last weekend in January, though, because that's sometimes WUHSAC territory.
by Siverus Snape
Mon Jan 12, 2009 8:51 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: Illinois '08-'09
Replies: 1271
Views: 207244

Re: Illinois '08-'09

It was indeed house-written, but I think we're selling the questions to Springfield so Coach Adkins can host a mirror, so the set, if posted, will be delayed. I'll try to keep you up-to-date.
by Siverus Snape
Mon Jan 12, 2009 8:40 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: Illinois '08-'09
Replies: 1271
Views: 207244

Re: Illinois '08-'09

Full stats for the Auburn F/S tournament: http://results.scobo.net/SQBS.aspx?org=RockfordAuburn&id=2&page=standings Thank you to everyone who came for your patience with the weather delays. Hopefully, we'll have more luck next year (and have a better contingency plan on deck). If you're conf...
by Siverus Snape
Tue Jan 06, 2009 10:16 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: ANNOUNCEMENT: UIUC High School Solo
Replies: 26
Views: 11105

Re: ANNOUNCEMENT: UIUC High School Solo

Sam Peterson, please come.
by Siverus Snape
Mon Dec 22, 2008 6:53 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: Bad Negs Again
Replies: 494
Views: 113915

Re: Bad Negs Again

I meant the Bhagavad Gita, definitely.
by Siverus Snape
Mon Dec 22, 2008 6:42 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: Bad Negs Again
Replies: 494
Views: 113915

Re: Bad Negs Again

I'm stupid for not noticing this. Not only is the lead-in you put in a bad clue, it's factually incorrect . According to the source I used for the entire tossup, the Gita is only one chapter (the eighteenth chapter, as noted in the original tossup.) Actually, Reinstein was right. The Gita is divide...
by Siverus Snape
Mon Dec 22, 2008 1:46 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: New Trier Varsity 12/20 (IL)
Replies: 107
Views: 20654

Re: New Trier Varsity 12/20 (IL)

The epistolary tossup was really ambiguous for me until quite late; "adjective" doesn't really clear the air much. It would have been better, probably, to include a word like "form" or "structure," or even to discuss the epistolary nature of a few of the works in depth.
by Siverus Snape
Mon Dec 22, 2008 12:57 am
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: Bad Negs Again
Replies: 494
Views: 113915

Re: Bad Negs Again

The beginning clues were relatively non-specific (I imagine you didn't want someone saying, "This sounds Indian. It must be..."), so I guess they didn't stick in my head. It was a tight match, so when I heard "part of a larger work," I reflex-buzzed thinking "Grand Inquisito...
by Siverus Snape
Sun Dec 21, 2008 11:21 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: Illinois '08-'09
Replies: 1271
Views: 207244

Re: Illinois '08-'09

Is anyone else surprised by how closely the top teams are playing each other this year, especially lately? If we consider the consensus top 4 (in alphabetical order) as Auburn, Carbondale, Loyola, and New Trier, then everyone of the top four has at least one win and one loss against virtually every ...
by Siverus Snape
Sun Dec 21, 2008 11:00 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: New Trier Varsity 12/20 (IL)
Replies: 107
Views: 20654

Re: New Trier Varsity 12/20 (IL)

I was going to suggest HSAPQ or a mirror for next year, but then I realized that you'll probably want to keep an IHSA-like distribution or at least computational math. How hard do you think it would be to cannibalize a set from another source and basically just write the math questions? Obviously, y...
by Siverus Snape
Sun Dec 21, 2008 10:41 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: Bad Negs Again
Replies: 494
Views: 113915

Re: Bad Negs Again

At New Trier Varsity, I reflex-negged with The Grand Inquisitor for the Bhagavad Gita.
by Siverus Snape
Fri Dec 19, 2008 8:27 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: Illinois '08-'09
Replies: 1271
Views: 207244

Re: Illinois '08-'09

Ms. Greene was waiting to find out if one of the teams dropped out so we could bring 3. I'll pass along the message, and hopefully we'll be able to contact all the players in time.
by Siverus Snape
Wed Dec 17, 2008 3:57 am
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: Illinois '08-'09
Replies: 1271
Views: 207244

Re: Illinois '08-'09

It's also the creator of hilarity when two players try to out-extend each other as a signal of: "I got this." "No I got this more" "Oh hell no, it's on!", etc. Bonus hilarity for buzzers that fall off the table and inadvertently make one of the other players buzz who i...
by Siverus Snape
Mon Dec 08, 2008 11:53 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: Barrington Invitational Tournament VI (3.14.09) - jr high
Replies: 45
Views: 12181

Re: Barrington Invitational Tournament VI (3.14.09) - jr high

I could do at most a round or two, and like Brad, I wouldn't be able to get it done until after February starts.
by Siverus Snape
Mon Dec 08, 2008 11:52 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: Illinois '08-'09
Replies: 1271
Views: 207244

Re: Illinois '08-'09

Well, you got me there.
by Siverus Snape
Mon Dec 08, 2008 8:34 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: The Decemberist II - 12/06/08 - Rock Valley CC, Rockford, IL
Replies: 23
Views: 5875

Re: The Decemberist II - 12/06/08 - Rock Valley CC, Rockford, IL

Moderator comments: I don't want to call out a name in a public place like this, so I'll leave it at "the man who moderated Auburn A's first round." It was pretty clear that he needs more experience with these types of questions and the bonus format. He read slowly enough that it actually ...
by Siverus Snape
Mon Dec 08, 2008 8:18 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: Illinois '08-'09
Replies: 1271
Views: 207244

Re: Illinois '08-'09

Yeah, I'm not comfortable with the fact that the (admittedly very few) questions I've seen have been very much Biography Bowl. It would be much more helpful to use early clues that are firmly in the high school canon and that would probably be central to a high school class on the subject. I'm think...
by Siverus Snape
Mon Dec 08, 2008 9:36 am
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: Illinois '08-'09
Replies: 1271
Views: 207244

Re: Illinois '08-'09

I don't think it matters that much, but it looks like you switched stat lines for Zahed and me during our first game against Loyola A.