Search found 38 matches

by Kafkaesque
Fri Dec 19, 2014 9:14 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: HSQB's Favorite Hit Songs of 2014
Replies: 48
Views: 3450

Re: HSQB's Favorite Hit Songs of 2014

My bad! I'll switch it out with "Demons" since it's basically the same song.
by Kafkaesque
Fri Dec 19, 2014 10:22 am
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: HSQB's Favorite Hit Songs of 2014
Replies: 48
Views: 3450

Re: HSQB's Favorite Hit Songs of 2014

Best 1. "Problem [feat. Iggy Azalea]" by Ariana Grande. Iggy's verse predictably sucks, but that doesn't stop this sleek, stylish banger from becoming one of the best hits of 2014. Grande has the range and charm of a young Mariah Carey. Props to Disney for finding this talent. 2. "Cha...
by Kafkaesque
Tue May 13, 2014 10:01 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: What Happens to DC-Area Quizbowl Next Year?
Replies: 158
Views: 98860

Re: What Happens to DC-Area Quizbowl Next Year?

As for Loudoun County I know that Reese is returning but I'm unaware of any B team for them or what other people they return, although Reese alone may be enough to keep them competitive. We'll be returning two A-team players next year: Reese (a junior) and Jack (a freshman). They generally get abou...
by Kafkaesque
Sat May 10, 2014 8:57 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: Pre-tournament Playlists
Replies: 49
Views: 4380

Re: Pre-tournament Playlists

Illmatic or Madvillainy all the way through.

A good non-hip-hop choice would be xx by The xx.
by Kafkaesque
Tue Apr 29, 2014 9:21 am
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: Where Will You Be Going To College Next Year? 2013-14
Replies: 45
Views: 20767

Re: Where Will You Be Going To College Next Year? 2013-14

I'll be attending Harvard, and I plan to continue playing quizbowl.
by Kafkaesque
Sat Feb 01, 2014 6:59 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: VHSL Scholastic Bowl: Regional Contenders
Replies: 18
Views: 7989

Re: VHSL Scholastic Bowl: Regional Contenders

Loudoun County won the 4A North regional championship and remains undefeated in VHSL competition. Woodgrove battled through the losers' bracket, beating Charlottesville and EC Glass (whom they had lost to earlier by ~100 points) to take second place. Interestingly enough, this means the 4A North reg...
by Kafkaesque
Tue Jun 18, 2013 4:46 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: 2013 NASAT Set & Tournament Discussion
Replies: 57
Views: 15298

Re: 2013 NASAT Set & Tournament Discussion

While that's true, also keep in mind that "channel protein" is a really broad kind of answer encompassing lots of different substances, many of which are completely unlike aquaporins (such as voltage-gated sodium channels, for instance). I envision your buzz as someone ringing in to say &...
by Kafkaesque
Mon Jun 17, 2013 12:28 am
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: 2013 NASAT Set & Tournament Discussion
Replies: 57
Views: 15298

Re: 2013 NASAT Set & Tournament Discussion

The biology team I consulted on your protest said that the two clues prior to where you buzzed are not true of channel proteins of general and thus it is a wrong answer. I don't quite understand that reasoning. An aquaporin is a type of channel protein. I buzzed with channel protein, which wasn't q...
by Kafkaesque
Sun Jun 16, 2013 10:39 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: 2013 NASAT Set & Tournament Discussion
Replies: 57
Views: 15298

Re: 2013 NASAT Set & Tournament Discussion

To the writer who wrote the pretzel tossup, I thank you for writing the tossup that gave me one of my favorite buzzes of all time. Although, I must ask what subject that was in. YES. I first-clued this toss-up, and it was one of my favorite buzzes as well. Regarding the set, I enjoyed it. I think m...
by Kafkaesque
Sat Jun 08, 2013 8:33 pm
Forum: College area archives
Topic: Announcement: MATE II - Arrested Development
Replies: 32
Views: 9506

Re: Announcement: MATE II - Arrested Development

Some of us may want to play this at NSC. Any chance someone who has this can email it to me? I read the packet today for the RM team during lunch, and it was a good time (Jonathan Marx won by a good margin). If you'd still like to play the packet sometime tonight or tomorrow, email me at mason.p.ha...
by Kafkaesque
Fri Jun 07, 2013 10:38 pm
Forum: College area archives
Topic: Announcement: MATE II - Arrested Development
Replies: 32
Views: 9506

Re: Announcement: MATE II - Arrested Development

Okay, I'll plan on hosting the event during lunch, then. Current field: Jonathan Marx Will H-M Sam Deutsch Josh Weaver I'll do my best to find the RM team during lunch, so other potential players should meet there as well. We'll collectively find a room and play the packet. It shouldn't take more th...
by Kafkaesque
Fri Jun 07, 2013 9:59 pm
Forum: College area archives
Topic: Announcement: MATE II - Arrested Development
Replies: 32
Views: 9506

Re: Announcement: MATE II - Arrested Development

When would this be held?
I'm thinking Saturday night or possibly during lunch. What do you think? I haven't attended a national tournament before so I'm not entirely sure what time would work best for the competitors.
by Kafkaesque
Fri Jun 07, 2013 9:33 pm
Forum: College area archives
Topic: Announcement: MATE II - Arrested Development
Replies: 32
Views: 9506

Re: Announcement: MATE II - Arrested Development

I'm going to be heading up to NSC tomorrow to watch matches and such, so I can run a brief side-event if people are interested. The first eight (or ten if we can acquire one of those ten-buzzer systems) people to express interest can play. Hope to see you there!
by Kafkaesque
Sun Jun 02, 2013 11:51 pm
Forum: College area archives
Topic: Announcement: MATE II - Arrested Development
Replies: 32
Views: 9506

Re: Announcement: MATE II - Arrested Development

Just to clarify: I'm pretty sure all of the above were eventually successfully added. Not sure what the issue was. Thanks everyone for playing! We ended up splitting the players into two rooms (played one after another). Our first champion was Jack Mehr, who defeated Nate Weiser by a razor-thin marg...
by Kafkaesque
Sun Jun 02, 2013 6:41 pm
Forum: College area archives
Topic: Announcement: MATE II - Arrested Development
Replies: 32
Views: 9506

Re: Announcement: MATE II - Arrested Development

I might be going to NSC as a spectator. If I do, I'd be happy to run the packet there.
by Kafkaesque
Sat Jun 01, 2013 7:34 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: What Happens to DC-Area Quizbowl Next Year?
Replies: 158
Views: 98860

Re: What Happens to DC-Area Quizbowl Next Year?

Eric, thanks for the analysis! I enjoyed the read. Some 4A comments: I'm not sure who will fill Chris' shoes on Woodgrove next year; he probably got around 80% of their points last year, and there was no clear #2 on the team. Charlottesville was pretty good this past season; I'm still bitter about l...
by Kafkaesque
Sat Jun 01, 2013 12:20 am
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: What Happens to DC-Area Quizbowl Next Year?
Replies: 158
Views: 98860

Re: What Happens to DC-Area Quizbowl Next Year?

Whoa, my team actually got a mention. Thanks, Will! Loudoun County has a good bit of potential, but our success next year is entirely contingent on how much I and Reese study (as the rest of the team doesn't seem to have the motivation). We'll definitely be looking to give some of the perennial Virg...
by Kafkaesque
Thu May 23, 2013 9:40 pm
Forum: College area archives
Topic: Announcement: MATE II - Arrested Development
Replies: 32
Views: 9506

Re: Announcement: MATE II - Arrested Development

If enough people are not able to make the Skype date and can find a reasonable alternative, I'd be happy to read for a second, separate Skype tournament.
by Kafkaesque
Thu May 23, 2013 10:52 am
Forum: College area archives
Topic: Announcement: MATE II - Arrested Development
Replies: 32
Views: 9506

Re: Announcement: MATE II - Arrested Development

We think a singles tournament would work best for this packet.
by Kafkaesque
Wed May 22, 2013 7:13 pm
Forum: College area archives
Topic: Announcement: MATE Part I Skype Tournament (5/18)
Replies: 10
Views: 3311

Re: Announcement: MATE Part I Skype Tournament (5/18)

Unfortunately, we're going to have to postpone the packet a week. While we would love to have the packet done by HSNCT, we don't think it will be ready (in all its glory) by then. Instead, we plan to host a Skype tourney on (mark your calendars!) June 1st. Also, we'll pursue a minor side-event at NS...
by Kafkaesque
Mon May 20, 2013 1:24 am
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: BHSAT 2013 Individual/Specific Question Discussion
Replies: 47
Views: 9530

Re: BHSAT 2013 Individual/Specific Question Discussion

If it means anything, I briefly learned about Ibn Battuta in my AP World class last year.
by Kafkaesque
Mon May 20, 2013 1:16 am
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: Question-specific discussion
Replies: 40
Views: 13688

Re: Question-specific discussion

I agree with your solution; I suppose it's just an easier question. Maybe the diet clue just sticks out for me because I've gotten Rasta with that clue multiple times.
by Kafkaesque
Mon May 20, 2013 12:58 am
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: Question-specific discussion
Replies: 40
Views: 13688

Re: Question-specific discussion

There actually wasn't a buzzer race in my room because of some strange circumstances. Noah Cowan's buzzer broke right after that clue (the cord fell out), and he started fumbling with the buzzer while simultaneously shouting "buzz!" However, I was shocked that the answer was indeed Rasta b...
by Kafkaesque
Sun May 19, 2013 4:05 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: Question-specific discussion
Replies: 40
Views: 13688

Re: Question-specific discussion

Could you post the Rastafarianism toss-up? I found the lead-in surprisingly easy (the oft-repeated diet clue).
by Kafkaesque
Tue May 14, 2013 7:08 pm
Forum: College area archives
Topic: Announcement: MATE Part I Skype Tournament (5/18)
Replies: 10
Views: 3311

Announcement: MATE Part I Skype Tournament (5/18)

Hello trash fans, As you may have noticed in the Facebook group, I recently posted about a trash packet I'm writing on all things The Office. I'd like to announce that this packet will be the start of a trash series by myself and Anay Katyal (of Plainfield North) called Mason and Anay's Trash Extrav...
by Kafkaesque
Mon Apr 22, 2013 8:18 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: BHSAT 2013 General Discussion
Replies: 24
Views: 4641

Re: BHSAT 2013 General Discussion

Common link trash toss-ups are fine, but I felt that their concentration was a bit too high at this tournament. I didn't notice as many questions of this kind in other categories; it seemed to be over-used in the trash category. Also, I didn't say there was anything structurally wrong with these que...
by Kafkaesque
Sun Apr 21, 2013 3:18 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: BHSAT 2013 General Discussion
Replies: 24
Views: 4641

Re: BHSAT 2013 General Discussion

Oh, I just thought of something. Did anyone else notice the excessive length of many of the bonuses? I accidentally interrupted the moderator more than a few times during the tournament as a result of their long-winded nature. During most matches, we found ourselves sitting there shocked at the leng...
by Kafkaesque
Sun Apr 21, 2013 3:10 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: BHSAT 2013 Individual/Specific Question Discussion
Replies: 47
Views: 9530

Re: Individual/Specific Question Discussion

Now that I see the clues that follow Braque, I can understand why you mentioned him there. It seems to drop off in difficulty quite a bit after Braque, but that's understandable since there aren't that many famous cubist works.
by Kafkaesque
Sun Apr 21, 2013 2:42 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: BHSAT 2013 Individual/Specific Question Discussion
Replies: 47
Views: 9530

Re: Individual/Specific Question Discussion

Could you post the toss-up on cubism? I remember being surprised that Braque came up so early (around the middle of the question), but maybe I just zoned out and it was actually closer to the end.
by Kafkaesque
Sun Apr 21, 2013 2:09 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: BHSAT 2013 General Discussion
Replies: 24
Views: 4641

Re: BHSAT 2013 General Discussion

Overall, I enjoyed the set and found its difficulty to be mostly appropriate. I also liked the new (at least, new to me) science problems that required one to have real knowledge of the subject. A pertinent example was the bonus part that provided a few chemicals in solution and asked if a precipita...
by Kafkaesque
Tue Apr 16, 2013 11:45 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: Maggie Walker Spring Tournament [Richmond, VA] (5/18/2013)
Replies: 32
Views: 14374

Re: Maggie Walker Spring Tournament [Richmond, VA] (5/18/2013)

Loudoun County plans to attend this tournament, and the original date works better for us.
by Kafkaesque
Sat Mar 23, 2013 8:21 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: VA NAQT States at UVA (3/23/13 in Charlottesville)
Replies: 22
Views: 8773

Re: VA NAQT States at UVA (3/23/13 in Charlottesville)

I'll echo everything that Raynor said; it was a superbly well-run tournament. Thanks for a great time!
by Kafkaesque
Wed Jan 30, 2013 8:18 pm
Forum: New High School Teams
Topic: What is the best method for rapid improvement?
Replies: 9
Views: 9428

Re: What is the best method for rapid improvement?

Ankit, thanks for the suggestions. I understand that improvement based on packet-studying has a limit, which is why I proposed two distinct periods of studying in my OP. Our plan for nationals is to read legitimate sources of knowledge, unlike the cheaper (and less thorough) method of packet-reading...
by Kafkaesque
Sun Jan 20, 2013 9:19 pm
Forum: New High School Teams
Topic: What is the best method for rapid improvement?
Replies: 9
Views: 9428

Re: What is the best method for rapid improvement?

@JordanKuhn: Hey! Great job at the tournament! It's no surprise that your team hadn't heard of us before this year, as we've really been a middling, VHSL-only team for most of our quizbowl history (though back in 2004, we did get second at AA states!). Your impression that my whole team is willing t...
by Kafkaesque
Sat Jan 19, 2013 3:24 pm
Forum: New High School Teams
Topic: What is the best method for rapid improvement?
Replies: 9
Views: 9428

Re: What is the best method for rapid improvement?

@Tokyo Sex Whale: Thank you for the links and advice! I like the part about being interested in what you study especially; that's exactly what we're trying to do! We were terrible at literature before someone who loved literature joined the team. @tgaddy: Yeah, those holes are partially covered unde...
by Kafkaesque
Sat Jan 19, 2013 3:20 pm
Forum: New High School Teams
Topic: How to make a team more than mediocre?
Replies: 26
Views: 24573

Re: How to make a team more than mediocre?

Thanks for the info! I figured you went on some sort of studying binge over winter break. Good luck at regionals (though I'm sure you won't need it)!
by Kafkaesque
Sat Jan 19, 2013 1:37 am
Forum: New High School Teams
Topic: What is the best method for rapid improvement?
Replies: 9
Views: 9428

What is the best method for rapid improvement?

Hello, everyone! This is my first thread, so I might as well share a bit about myself: I'm a high school junior who only recently discovered a passion for quizbowl. I did play on my school's varsity team last year, but we were mediocre at best (3rd in the district), and I didn't take it very serious...
by Kafkaesque
Sat Jan 19, 2013 1:05 am
Forum: New High School Teams
Topic: How to make a team more than mediocre?
Replies: 26
Views: 24573

Re: How to make a team more than mediocre?

I attended the Blacksburg HS tournament, so I can vouch for Eric's skill. He pulled >500 pt games consistently by himself. Very impressive. Eric, hey! I met you briefly at the tournament. If I may, have you done a lot more studying/practicing since the Cavalier Classic? Or have you been this good fo...