Search found 593 matches

by Howard
Tue Dec 29, 2015 2:35 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: GSAC XXIII Main Site - Richmond, VA December 12, 2015
Replies: 7
Views: 5251

Re: GSAC XXIII Main Site - Richmond, VA December 12, 2015

Why were students from different schools allowed to play together on a pseudonymous team? "Allowed" is the wrong word to use here. I was unaware this had happened until your post. I received this registration weeks ago: "I would like to register two teams from Raleigh Charter for GSA...
by Howard
Fri Jul 10, 2015 1:25 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: The State of Good Quizbowl, State-by-State
Replies: 61
Views: 51500

Re: The State of Good Quizbowl, State-by-State

It's not so much VHSL as it is the declining number of teams attending tournaments. Only three circuit events in Virginia drew fields of over 18 teams (with the largest at 28), while back in high school we would regularly go to tournaments with 24-48 teams. I've repeatedly posted for a number of ye...
by Howard
Tue Jul 07, 2015 1:05 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: DC Metro 2015-16 Date Claim Thread
Replies: 52
Views: 36605

Re: DC Metro 2015-16 Date Claim Thread

Maybe this is because I've spent most of the past few years as a staffer and playing in college, bu you also have to strike a balance between scheduling high school events and college events, Mr. Gilbert. Scheduling things for 4 weekends in a row strikes me as a very bad idea and as something that ...
by Howard
Mon Jul 06, 2015 12:56 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: DC Metro 2015-16 Date Claim Thread
Replies: 52
Views: 36605

Re: DC Metro 2015-16 Date Claim Thread

It's been my experience over the years that the following negatively impact on a tournament. In order of impact on a tournament from greatest to least impact: 1. Major Holiday on or near tournament date (Thanksgiving, Winter Break, Spring Break) 2. Insufficient lead time on tournament announcement 2...
by Howard
Tue Jun 23, 2015 1:51 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: Going to HS tournaments without coaches?
Replies: 12
Views: 7423

Re: Going to HS tournaments without coaches?

This year, for the first time ever, due to my philoshophical issues with an organizer, I refused to take my team to a particular tournament. I made it clear to my team the extent of my issues and advised them they were still free to make up their own minds as to whether they still wished to attend w...
by Howard
Fri Jun 12, 2015 1:07 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: Visually displaying questions with programs?
Replies: 4
Views: 4814

Re: Visually displaying questions with programs?

I once ran a tournament where we made a similar accommodation for a deaf team. I assigned one of my students the task of making a powerpoint which would reveal the words of each tossup one by one. The rule was that in the deaf team's room, the powerpoint would replace the moderator reading the quest...
by Howard
Thu May 21, 2015 5:06 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: Ben Cooper Memorial Tournament (May 23)
Replies: 11
Views: 10143

Re: Ben Cooper Memorial Tournament (May 23)

I was hoping Noah would post, but since he has not, in the event there are teams that have not received a response via e-mail or on the boards:

the appropriate faculty at Georgetown Day have informed me that this event has been canceled.

I hope no one shows up to a tournament that is not occurring.
by Howard
Fri May 15, 2015 1:31 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: Ben Cooper Memorial Tournament (May 23)
Replies: 11
Views: 10143

Re: Ben Cooper Memorial Tournament [POSTPONED]

Thanks for the responses, both Arjuna and Jacob.
by Howard
Wed May 13, 2015 5:46 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: Ben Cooper Memorial Tournament (May 23)
Replies: 11
Views: 10143

Re: Ben Cooper Memorial Tournament [POSTPONED]

I'm sorry for the delay in this announcement. The administration has been slow to respond and I have been slow to update. We are unable to host on May 9th, however with enough demand we will host a tournament on May 23rd on HSAPQ. Please email me at gdsquizbowl@gmail.com to express interest. I hope...
by Howard
Fri Apr 10, 2015 7:24 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: Thoughts on NHBB & IHBB Question Writing
Replies: 22
Views: 12126

Re: Thoughts on NHBB & IHBB Question Writing

Yeah, I'm not sure what this was supposed to mean, but as the forums administrator I'd like to see people avoid taking odd, veiled shots like this, and as a member of PACE I'd encourage Mr. Gilbert to contact the organization itself if there are lingering issues that could be resolved, rather than ...
by Howard
Fri Apr 10, 2015 7:19 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: Thoughts on NHBB & IHBB Question Writing
Replies: 22
Views: 12126

Re: Thoughts on NHBB & IHBB Question Writing

Slight derail here, but are we talking about the current PACE leadership? I have no idea what "questionable or disreputable practices" people like Matt Jackson and Mike Bentley have engaged in, but I'm pretty sure this applies more to the PACE leadership of 2010-2011 than anyone currently...
by Howard
Fri Apr 10, 2015 6:36 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: Thoughts on NHBB & IHBB Question Writing
Replies: 22
Views: 12126

Re: Thoughts on NHBB & IHBB Question Writing

Submission of packet sets at the last minute has been happening for years and continues to happen on a regular basis. There have been several tournaments where the questions were still being written while the tournament was being played . Matt is far from the only person (or organization) to have th...
by Howard
Mon Dec 22, 2014 2:08 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: Vermicious Knids who drop at the last minute
Replies: 19
Views: 9154

Re: Vermicious Knids who drop at the last minute

d this about a year ago when I wasn't feeling so well physically and wasn't sure I could make a 2.5 hour trip and spend a half hour sitting in a room at a time. 3. If you do need to drop, let the tournament director know immediately. This allows for the greatest amount of time for the director to ma...
by Howard
Sat Oct 25, 2014 1:38 pm
Forum: New High School Teams
Topic: What defines a team captain?
Replies: 23
Views: 20945

Re: What defines a team captain?

First, I'd like to say I agree with what Shawn Zheng and Mr. Rutsky have posted. In regard to your particular situation, I think you need to ask what the title "captain" really means. On my team, it's just the person who coordinates a team during a match. It's his (or her) responsibility t...
by Howard
Mon Sep 22, 2014 5:39 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: ERHS Quizbowl Tournament; Greenbelt MD; (9/27/14)
Replies: 12
Views: 7883

Re: ERHS Quizbowl Tournament; Greenbelt MD; (9/27/14)

VinaiRachakonda wrote:
yellow7206 wrote:What is the minimum number of teams you need to hold this tournament?
We need at least 20 teams to make a decent amount profit. Our school is charging us a significant amount to host the tournament.
Just received cancellation notice in my e-mail.
by Howard
Mon Sep 22, 2014 12:58 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: ERHS Quizbowl Tournament; Greenbelt MD; (9/27/14)
Replies: 12
Views: 7883

Re: ERHS Quizbowl Tournament; Greenbelt MD; (9/27/14)

I sent an e-mail Friday to enter and have received no response. Our entry is also not reflected in the current field update.
by Howard
Thu Aug 21, 2014 6:38 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: New Kent Fall Kick-Off Tournament (10/4/14; New Kent, Va)
Replies: 4
Views: 3507

Re: New Kent Fall Kick-Off Tournament (10/4/14; New Kent, Va

MDUCK wrote:T$10 off the school's fee for every 150 miles traveled one-way from your school's address to Harris Hall, according to Google Maps.
I presume New Kent High School is the intended destination point, not Harris Hall.
by Howard
Thu Apr 17, 2014 1:04 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: It's Academic discussion
Replies: 105
Views: 53578

Re: It's Academic discussion

I did, Charlie. I thought you were also drawing a comparison with It's Academic. My apologies for misunderstanding your intent.
by Howard
Tue Apr 15, 2014 7:44 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: It's Academic discussion
Replies: 105
Views: 53578

Re: It's Academic discussion

As somebody who co-founded the Missouri Quizbowl Alliance and spent a subsequent 5 years of my life fighting very vigorously to convince teams that the MSHSAA series was a horribly run boondoggle and had to work even harder to force good quizbowl to exist at all in the state in the face of a bunch ...
by Howard
Tue Apr 15, 2014 1:03 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: The Role of a Moderator
Replies: 41
Views: 13672

Re: The Role of a Moderator

Also I am left wondering what happened to the losing team. Why do they get a pass that #Cash-Crew did not. I don't think anyone got a pass. The last time I looked at the stats, both teams showed forfeit. If you're asking about the discussion here, no one from the other school has bothered to enter ...
by Howard
Fri Apr 11, 2014 1:03 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: It's Academic discussion
Replies: 105
Views: 53578

Re: It's Academic discussion

Except it does matter, because we don't want new teams accepting lies as truth at a formative stage in their quizbowl lifetimes. And this was the point behind my post in the first place. I disputed exactly two of Matt's statements: It's Academic is a net negative for quizbowl and ...will make you w...
by Howard
Wed Apr 09, 2014 8:17 pm
Forum: New High School Teams
Topic: Beginner-level competition in DC/MD/VA area
Replies: 4
Views: 4997

Re: Beginner-level competition in DC/MD/VA area

Sorry for making your job difficult by posting whilst you were splitting.
by Howard
Wed Apr 09, 2014 8:06 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: It's Academic discussion
Replies: 105
Views: 53578

Re: Beginner-level competition in DC/MD/VA area

Having played on one line questions in middle school and having made the transition to real questions, I can say that playing one-liners does in fact make it a lot harder to be good at quizbowl. My freshman year, I negged a lot. The lateral thinking skills that playing one-line questions had taught...
by Howard
Wed Apr 09, 2014 7:53 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: It's Academic discussion
Replies: 105
Views: 53578

more It's Academic posts

Paying (I don't know how high the costs are, but it appears to me that non-pyramidal is usually substantially more expensive than pyramidal) to attend a non-pyramidal tournament in hopes of gaining publicity and thus funding for pyramidal Quizbowl seems counterintuitive to me. There are no costs be...
by Howard
Wed Apr 09, 2014 7:41 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: It's Academic discussion
Replies: 105
Views: 53578

Re: Beginner-level competition in DC/MD/VA area

That's a nice simplification. In reality, getting better at quizbowl involves developing a mindset for how to process and sort new information you're being exposed to. Playing one-liners destroys your ability to do that, and even if you learn a fact that you didn't know before about an academic sub...
by Howard
Wed Apr 09, 2014 7:18 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: It's Academic discussion
Replies: 105
Views: 53578

Re: Beginner-level competition in DC/MD/VA area

It's Academic is a net negative for quizbowl This is arguably false. There are 162 schools in the Baltimore-DC area that participate in It's Academic each year. Pyramidal quizbowl continues to stumble along, with most weekend tournaments drawing around 20 teams ( not schools, teams ), and I have ca...
by Howard
Thu Apr 03, 2014 5:58 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: The Role of a Moderator
Replies: 41
Views: 13672

Re: The Role of a Moderator

For the record, this is against NAQT rules*, and it could be interpreted as against HSAPQ's** (and I guess ACF's). * Section K.1 ** Section B.1 Farrah's post basically sums it up; every existing rule set of which I'm aware establishes that teams may not fix or throw games, that doing so is a form o...
by Howard
Wed Mar 19, 2014 5:48 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: Ease of Powers
Replies: 27
Views: 8731

Re: Ease of Powers

After observing several NAQT tournaments this year and pouring over questions, I am 100% sure that it has become much easier to power tossups than it used to be. My observation is largely the same, Lee. There seems to have been a shift toward making questions about one clue easier to power. While b...
by Howard
Wed Mar 19, 2014 1:08 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: Ease of Powers
Replies: 27
Views: 8731

Re: Ease of Powers

quizbowllee wrote:After observing several NAQT tournaments this year and pouring over questions, I am 100% sure that it has become much easier to power tossups than it used to be.
My observation is largely the same, Lee. There seems to have been a shift toward making questions about one clue easier to power.
by Howard
Wed Mar 19, 2014 1:02 pm
Forum: New High School Teams
Topic: Steering a Team Away From NAC
Replies: 22
Views: 9881

Re: Steering a Team Away From NAC

that YOU paid for with an inflated entry fee. It's not as bad now, but the first (and last) time I considered going to NAC, before really even knowing anything about it, this was my take. Another coach recommended it to me, saying we could win and get the cash. My take was that winning was statisti...
by Howard
Wed Feb 12, 2014 7:13 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: Tournament Attendance Hindered by Coach
Replies: 10
Views: 4120

Re: Tournament Attendance Hindered by Coach

I feel like it's not so much her rationale, but her indoctrination, but we (the team leadership) feel that she does not take quiz bowl as seriously as we do. It's critical that you know why this is occurring if you want to find the best solution. One possibility is that the coach is only willing to...
by Howard
Mon Jan 20, 2014 7:45 pm
Forum: New High School Teams
Topic: Other Team Members Too Afraid To Buzz
Replies: 5
Views: 4710

Re: Other Team Members Too Afraid To Buzz

There's a certain amount of overlap between good students and students who play quizbowl. As a good student, your goal on a test or quiz is to be as correct as possible; you're judged on the correctness of your response. As a quizbowl team, you're judged at the end of the game by which team scored m...
by Howard
Sat Jan 18, 2014 1:03 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: Recommendation for a national tournament.
Replies: 15
Views: 5189

Re: Recommendation for a national tournament.

If that's the case, then NSC, with an allegedly more elite field, would be expected to have higher aPPB than HSNCT. If the data were from teams that attended both tournaments, I'd be much more convinced. (I'm not complaining that you didn't do this, just pointing out that we may be making errors in ...
by Howard
Fri Jan 17, 2014 1:42 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: Recommendation for a national tournament.
Replies: 15
Views: 5189

Re: Recommendation for a national tournament.

Grams's Go-Go Boots wrote:FWIW, when I did aPPB calculations after the 2011 and 2012 seasons, the NSC came out to be one to two PPB easier than HSNCT, which is a significant difference.
Are you doing this across the whole field or just the teams that went to both tournaments?
by Howard
Mon Nov 11, 2013 2:11 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: RAYNOR at Woodson HS, Fairfax VA (w/TJHSST) - (11/16/13)
Replies: 21
Views: 13770

Re: RAYNOR at Woodson HS, Fairfax VA (w/TJHSST) - (11/16/13)

I may be able to add a team for this. I'll know more after Tuesday's practice.
by Howard
Wed Oct 23, 2013 12:20 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: UD Fall Tournament - 10/26/13 (Newark, DE)
Replies: 30
Views: 14289

Re: UD Fall Tournament - 10/26/13 (Newark, DE)

Two of the three that were likely for this have become unavailable, so we unfortunately won't be able to make this happen.

I hope everything goes smoothly in our absence.
by Howard
Sat Oct 19, 2013 3:34 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: UD Fall Tournament - 10/26/13 (Newark, DE)
Replies: 30
Views: 14289

Re: UD Fall Tournament - 10/26/13 (Newark, DE)

I just noticed we're listed in the field. It's probable we'll be able to come, but I don't have enough commitments to say we'll be there.
by Howard
Mon Oct 07, 2013 7:59 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: Split thread: "Venting and vituperation" and sexism
Replies: 83
Views: 24365

Re: Split thread: "Venting and vituperation" and sexism

Unless I'm missing something, who did that exchange drive away? Anyone that doesn't want the same ad hominem attacks aimed at them. Surely you don't believe that people come here to be attacked. Further, I don't see how such exchanges can be seen as promoting anything other than "we're a bunch...
by Howard
Mon Oct 07, 2013 7:42 pm
Forum: College area archives
Topic: A second is a defined length of time
Replies: 26
Views: 10366

Re: A second is a defined length of time

DumbJaques wrote:I don't really know if the rules really logically imply we should prompt for answers on tossups....
I don't believe any of the current rules imply this. Unless my reading is incorrect, current rules only indicate we should prompt on bonuses.
by Howard
Mon Oct 07, 2013 7:35 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: Split thread: "Venting and vituperation" and sexism
Replies: 83
Views: 24365

Re: Split thread: "Venting and vituperation" and sexism

Forgot to mention the above exchange occurred approximately 4.5 months ago. So yes, the things that drive people away are still happening.
by Howard
Mon Oct 07, 2013 7:33 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: Split thread: "Venting and vituperation" and sexism
Replies: 83
Views: 24365

Re: Split thread: "Venting and vituperation" and sexism

It's two weeks with a possible extension to a month, and I have an extremely busy two weeks ahead of me. My school work and other work that makes me money is a higher priority than winning internet arguments. The following example comes to mind because it involved, well, me. Hopefully this helps. T...
by Howard
Thu Oct 03, 2013 12:52 pm
Forum: College area archives
Topic: A second is a defined length of time
Replies: 26
Views: 10366

Re: A second is a defined length of time

Yeah, I'd like someone to explain why we prompt for answers on bonus parts but not after someone has buzzed on a tossup (or prior to a tossup going dead, but that's less important). As a player, I'd prefer the prompt. I think it stems from the idea of "you buzzed; you should have the answer fo...
by Howard
Wed Oct 02, 2013 1:09 pm
Forum: College area archives
Topic: A second is a defined length of time
Replies: 26
Views: 10366

Re: A second is a defined length of time

Renesmee LaHotdog Voight wrote:Why is not prompting for an answer on tossups silly?
It goes back to the whole issue that we're not exact in our counting. Prompting is just another means of making sure the player understands the time limit is approaching.
by Howard
Mon Sep 23, 2013 8:43 pm
Forum: College area archives
Topic: A second is a defined length of time
Replies: 26
Views: 10366

Re: A second is a defined length of time

Probably the most important part of the timing is that the team have an idea when time will be called. "Answer please" or something similar should suffice. As long as the reader is consistent with the amount of time and actually does this, the actual amount of time (presuming it's in the v...
by Howard
Mon Sep 23, 2013 12:53 pm
Forum: College area archives
Topic: A second is a defined length of time
Replies: 26
Views: 10366

Re: A second is a defined length of time

I have a set pace I count of the time. I'll give teams an example before the start of the match so they know what to expect. The most important things are that each team knows what to expect and that you're consistent. It's important to realize that allowing (e.g.) 6 seconds for every "5-second...
by Howard
Tue Jun 25, 2013 5:43 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: The Good Quizbowl Media Strategy (or lack thereof)
Replies: 34
Views: 25034

Re: The Good Quizbowl Media Strategy (or lack thereof)

Out of curiosity, have we invited the press to HSNCT, NSC, or NASAT with the lure that x,y,z local teams will be there.
by Howard
Sat Jun 01, 2013 4:54 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: 2013 NAC
Replies: 89
Views: 47058

Re: 2013 NAC

We reached the limit. 3 teams were no shows. However, some teams who registered w/ buzzers unfortunately didn't bring them. After that, one buzzer system didn't work. That left us w/ the exact number of buzzers needed. I think that we might have had 1 extra staffer (w/ 1 reader per room), but the s...
by Howard
Sat Jun 01, 2013 4:49 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: 2013 NAC
Replies: 89
Views: 47058

Re: 2013 NAC

Yes, there's the context of John Gilbert being a tireless crusader for the legitimacy of It's Academic, of his posting (in this very thread) that everyone's "preferences" are equally valid and should be catered to, and the fact that he defends rather than mocks people who claim to want mo...
by Howard
Fri May 31, 2013 7:12 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: 2013 NAC
Replies: 89
Views: 47058

Re: 2013 NAC

Perhaps I haven't worked quite hard enough at keeping my personal format opinions out of this discussion. I don't think it does us any good to re-enter an argument regarding them as we already know where it will end up. And my response to Charlie probably helped us steer down that path. So I apologi...
by Howard
Thu May 30, 2013 6:57 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: 2013 NAC
Replies: 89
Views: 47058

Re: 2013 NAC

There's been declining attendance in the DC area for years. It was common to see 64 teams at a tournament with another 5 to 10 on the wait list. It's very rare to see a tournament with 32 teams now. In fact, many have on the order of 16 to 20. Not too long after the decline in attendance, organizer...