The Quizbowl Resource Center

This is a formal announcement for Minnesota Open 2010, to take place on the weekend of November 20-21, 2010.

Side events. We're probably going to continue last year's trend of having a few small mostly-shootout-style side events, mostly on Sunday, instead of something like a regular trash tournament. The current lineup of side events includes Bruce Arthur's Wild Kingdom (Saturday night), Mike Bentley's all-tossup video game set (Sunday), some other video game theme packets written by various people, and possibly a gimmicky lit packet by Ike Jose. Depending on time, Mike Cheyne and I (and a few other people) may also have a vanity-ish all-tossup trash set ready. I encourage any enterprising writers to write the theme packets/vanity packets of their dreams, and we'll probably find some time to play them.

Who is editing? Gautam Kandlikar, Bernadette Spencer, Mike Cheyne, and I will be on the editing team. Andrew Hart will also be helping in whatever capacity time permits, and the editing team will collaborate to write several editor's packets. We're currently seeking collaborators, mostly in the area of science (especially physics), and also potentially in some areas of history.

Who can come? This is a true open event, meaning that there are no eligibility requirements.

Target difficulty. Roughly the same as last year's Minnesota Open, though perhaps just a touch easier. Again, be responsibly difficult.

Target length. Please submit questions six lines or longer in 10-point Times New Roman font, with one inch margins [note: one inch is not always the default]. The more material we have to work with, the better. Final questions will converge around eight lines in length, with some longer and some shorter.

Power tossups. There will be powers, but the editors will place them. Please don't powermark your submitted questions.

Formatting requirements. Please use the standard ACF style. This means "for 10 points", not "FTP" or "for ten points". I'm anal enough to change them all, but I'd rather not have to! Ten point, Times New Roman font with 1-inch margins. If you want to submit packets in Verdana, that's fine too. Please lump together all questions of a certain part of the distribution, preceded with "5/5 Literature" or whatever the heading may be.

Distribution. 24/24 total:

15/15 Big Three
5/5 Literature [at least 1/1 World, American, European, and British; vary reasonably by time, and include a mix of poetry, drama, and novels]
5/5 History [at least 1/1 American, European, and World and at least 1 British; vary reasonably by time, limit military history to 5 or fewer total questions]
5/5 Science [at least 1/1 Chemistry, Physics, Biology, and Other Science (Astronomy, computer science, earth science, geology, math, paleontology); no science biography; no more than 1 of any given "other science"]

3/3 RMP
1/1 Mythology [at least 1 non-Greco-Roman myth]
1/1 Philosophy [maximum 1 ancient philosophy; feel free to write on pre-Socratics, but only in an interesting way]
1/1 Religion [at least 1 J/C/I is encouraged but not mandated; I'd like to see some inventiveness here since minor religion bowl can get kind of old]

3/3 Fine Arts
1/1 Painting [vary reasonably by time; try to include mostly works-based clues]
1/1 Non-opera Music
1/0 or 0/1 Other visual arts [sculpture, architecture, justifiably-fine-arts film, installation art]
1/0 or 0/1 Other musical arts [opera, ballet, dance, or jazz]

2/2 Social Sciences + Geography + Current Events
1/1 Social Sciences [includes law, anthropology, sociology, psychology, economics, game theory; no more than one question on each discipline]
1/0 or 0/1 Geography or Current Events
0/1 or 1/0 Additional Social Sciences, Geography, or Current Events [no more than one geography question and one CE question in packets, please]

1/1 Your Choice
1/1 pop culture, sports, general knowledge, or additional/fringe academic [no more than one question on any given topic]

Submitting packets. We are now existing in the future, where "the future" is defined as "a gmail address that forwards to all the editors", so email your packets to minnopeneditors (at) gmail (dot) com.

Base cost. The base cost is $120.

Discount/penalty schedule.
-$50: September 19, 2010
-$25: October 3, 2010
No discount/penalty: October 17, 2010
+$25: October 24, 2010
+$50: October 31, 2010
+$100: November 7, 2010
After November 7: +$10/day

Note that packet discounts and penalties work on a sliding scale; if you were to submit a packet on, say, September 26, you'd receive a discount of $38 (rounded). Furthermore, packets themselves will be prorated, if desired--that is, if you have all your questions done and your teammates are being lazy jerks, submit your questions anyway and you'll get a partial discount. DOUBLE FURTHERMORE, packet deadlines are understood thus: the absolute latest a packet can be turned in to receive any given discount or penalty is four a.m. the succeeding day.

Other discounts.
Buzzer (max 4): -$5
Moderator: -$20
Additional teams from same school: -$10 [that is, both Harvard B and Harvard C would start with a base cost of $110]
Travel: $10 off if over 300 miles

Mirrors. We hope that good teams and players from all over want to come to the main site, since last year's event was such a success in terms of drawing a great field. That said, we'd be amenable to one or two coastal mirrors; contact us if you're interested.

Freelancing. We would really appreciate it if anyone wishes to write a freelance packet.

RUNNING FIELD (team names will eventually be assigned by me)
Ungodly Coincidences of the Old West (Droge/Sabhapathy/Zeng/Berend) (packet received, -$50)
Frankie, Sniffles, Bounce-Bounce, and the Claw (Magin/Byrne/Guan/"Ben") (final penalty +$100)
Another Citizen Who Isn't Ready For Some Football (Sorice/Jose/Messner/Martin) (packet received, net -$25)
The Classic Battle Between Evil and the Narrator (Laferbrook/Teitler/Vinokurov) (packet received, -$25)
Correction: Pissed Minutemen (Arthur/Yetman/Davis/Bentley) (some large-ish penalty)
Electron Sex Parties Right Here (Chicago A) (packet received, -$25)
Theology Contained in This Picture May Not Be Wholly Accurate (Chicago B) (packet received, +$13)
My Name is Pleasance, and I Am Funky (Chicago C) (packet received, +$0)
Gloria Estefan and the Catalina Deus Ex Sound Machine (Heinonen/Hansen) (packet not required)

TEAMS ATTENDING OTHER SITES THAT WILL BE RECEIVING DISCOUNTS
Toronto (-$50)
VCU (-$45)
whatever team Eric Mukherjee is on (Penn?) (-$25)
UVA (-$15)

Might as well get the ball rolling stating that I'll be playing this. If you want to team up, send me an e-mail at [email protected].

I just noticed that this date is the same as that for HFT V.

nobthehobbit wrote:I just noticed that this date is the same as that for HFT V.

Yeah, my guess is that it's because MCMNT took the traditional (well, as much as two tournaments establishes tradition) MO date. It's a shame they couldn't have found a better date, but hey, we'll save money on plane tickets.

If I get funded for the fall quarter, I'd like to fly out to this. I'd need teammates. Note that I'm a hilariously poor literature, fine arts and social science (that isn't economics) player and only marginal in history and biology.

[email protected] if you're interested. I should find out about funding after the summer quarter ends (around August 20th or so)

Crazy Andy Watkins wrote:

nobthehobbit wrote:I just noticed that this date is the same as that for HFT V.

Yeah, my guess is that it's because MCMNT took the traditional (well, as much as two tournaments establishes tradition) MO date. It's a shame they couldn't have found a better date, but hey, we'll save money on plane tickets.

Nope, it's because you smell bad.

Ukonvasara wrote:

Crazy Andy Watkins wrote:

nobthehobbit wrote:I just noticed that this date is the same as that for HFT V.

Yeah, my guess is that it's because MCMNT took the traditional (well, as much as two tournaments establishes tradition) MO date. It's a shame they couldn't have found a better date, but hey, we'll save money on plane tickets.

Nope, it's because you smell bad.

It should be noted that this also conflicts with Delta Burke, but I'm not sure how that affects people's plans.

As for MCMNT, it was the best available date we could think of in October such that novices don't get QB burnout after playng EFT and MCMNT two weekends in a row.

I noticed, and was wounded spiritually, but presumably there should exist very few players who would seriously have to make a choice between a tournament of MO's noted challenge and DB's noted gentleness.

I'm expressing interest in continuing my perfect MO attendance; though I'm not completely sure yet.

I would like to express disappointment that this date coincides with HFT. I would like to attend both HFT with my high school team and MO as a player.

Are there any options that might make attending both possible?

Romero

When do you expect to finalize this date? I have a US Airways voucher that I'd like to use for this tournament, but will need to do it soon in order for there to be seats.

Sorry about the delay on this; we will be posting details soon. What do people think (especially those flying in) about moving the tournament back a week, thus accommodating HFT people and still allowing ACF Fall editors to play guilt-free?

One week later probably means Carleton won't be able to go.

I represent a consortium of non-science players who are banding together to field an open team for this event. We are interested in acquiring a science player. If this is you, please contact me ASAP.

I am interested in finding a team for this event.

I am happy to announce that Bruce Arthur's Wild Kingdom is tentatively scheduled for Saturday night.

Have physics, will travel. Looking for teammates.

Laferbrook...the team that Ike Jose once described as "very...entertaining" should be there and probably needs some teammates.

Illinois will have one team there.

Time permitting, I will write that "literary pieces by non-literary authors" packet that I mentioned.

Edit: The Laferbrook team is very entertaining. Watch out for my Michelin Guide series: Quizbowlers to Play With and Teams to Play With coming in the near future.

I won't be coming to this site of the tournament.

every time i refresh i have a new name wrote:I won't be coming to this site of the tournament.

You have said that the past two years. I hope you're wrong again.

I may make the trek up here to staff.

Hey people who earlier expressed reservations about the date (e.g. those involved with HFT): what do you think about 11.20-21?

What would MO be without Mrs. Gupta?

Ukonvasara wrote:Hey people who earlier expressed reservations about the date (e.g. those involved with HFT): what do you think about 11.20-21?

For non-HFT reasons this would be infinitely preferable for me.

Slight edit to the packet requirements. Also, I'd like to pin a date down soon, so if more interested people could chime in on the possible date change, that'd be great.

I believe I can make either date.

We're hoping for 2 teams from Michigan. Not sure about everyone else, but I will very likely only be able to come if it's the weekend of 11/13.

I think either date's fine with me.

And, it's true, Ike Jose did use BOTH of the words "very" and "entertaining" at some point during the CO and VCU weekends. He may, however, have been referring to a passage in Some Prefer Nettles.

My two words to describe Team Laferbrook are:

"Oh dear." [sips drink]

It looks like I'm playing on a team with Charlie Dees and Brendan Byrne (and possibly a fourth from Missouri?).

The weekend of the 20th is vastly preferable for me. As I said in the other thread, I was hoping that Dallas's classics tournament might be played in some form during the weekend for those who haven't been able to hear it yet.

I forgot to put my e-mail address in my last post...it's myfirstname.mylastname at gmail.

Also, I think I'd prefer the earlier date...though it isn't that important.

The field and announcement have been updated; as you can see, we've chosen to move the tournament to the later date. We hope to see you then!

Ukonvasara wrote:The field and announcement have been updated; as you can see, we've chosen to move the tournament to the later date. We hope to see you then!

I hate you guys.

Terrible Shorts Depot wrote:

Ukonvasara wrote:The field and announcement have been updated; as you can see, we've chosen to move the tournament to the later date. We hope to see you then!

I hate you guys.

I hate your finals-scheduling department :-(

Trevor Davis and I are looking for two teammates. Send me an e-mail at [email protected] if you're interested.

Hey,
I just sent a pack to the address provided; did you guys (and gals) get it?
Also, U of T may be attending! I feel that the phrase w00t applies.

A general reminder:

This year's MO is intended to be slightly easier than past MOs: more difficult than ACF Regionals, but at or below the difficulty of ACF Nationals. Please keep that in mind for your submissions and tone down your team-mate if he/she writes on insane answer-lines.

--Gautam

minusfive wrote:Hey,
I just sent a pack to the address provided; did you guys (and gals) get it?
Also, U of T may be attending! I feel that the phrase w00t applies.

We did indeed; thank you! I hope you can make it out to the main site too! (if not, the Maryland mirror appears to be a substantially shorter drive, so there's always that option as well)

On a related note, the first post has been updated with turned-in packet information. We hope to see more soon!

Unfortunately, I won't be able to make it out there. Airfare is prohibitively expensive and I hopefully will be in New York that weekend for the Jets game.

Barring either a major speed up in MO production (which would be helped by more packets submitted) or my dissertation production, it's unlikely that the trash event theoretically conceived for this will be written in time. That said, there seems to be a number of fun side events already on the docket.

Either with Rob or not, I will eventually a produce a trash set with a consistent if eccentric distribution that will please people like me.

Bentley Like Beckham wrote:Trevor Davis and I are looking for two teammates. Send me an e-mail at [email protected] if you're interested.

We're still looking for up to two teammates for this tournament if there are any people still not on a team or any teams that look shorthanded.

Cheynem wrote:Barring either a major speed up in MO production (which would be helped by more packets submitted) or my dissertation production, it's unlikely that the trash event theoretically conceived for this will be written in time. That said, there seems to be a number of fun side events already on the docket.

Either with Rob or not, I will eventually a produce a trash set with a consistent if eccentric distribution that will please people like me.

Depending on who's heard the game show set, I could probably get it from Nate to read for anyone interested.

dtaylor4 wrote:

Cheynem wrote:Barring either a major speed up in MO production (which would be helped by more packets submitted) or my dissertation production, it's unlikely that the trash event theoretically conceived for this will be written in time. That said, there seems to be a number of fun side events already on the docket.

Either with Rob or not, I will eventually a produce a trash set with a consistent if eccentric distribution that will please people like me.

Depending on who's heard the game show set, I could probably get it from Nate to read for anyone interested.

Yes, and it should be complete for TERP on 10/30. It's currently at 65 questions, but I think it'll end up at 150-175 or so.

yessssssssssssssssss

Ukonvasara wrote:

minusfive wrote:Hey,
I just sent a pack to the address provided; did you guys (and gals) get it?
Also, U of T may be attending! I feel that the phrase w00t applies.

We did indeed; thank you! I hope you can make it out to the main site too! (if not, the Maryland mirror appears to be a substantially shorter drive, so there's always that option as well)

On a related note, the first post has been updated with turned-in packet information. We hope to see more soon!

1) Is this Maryland mirror actually happening? And if so, when is it being announced?
2) Do the mirror sites require packet submission?
3) Will they run Andrew Hart's listening quiz? Note: the likelihood of me attending an Eastern mirror rises from ~25% to ~75% if the answer is "yes".

Ted Gioia, myself, Doug Yetman, and mysterious science player are a team for this.

Morraine Man wrote:Ted Gioia, myself, Doug Yetman, and mysterious science player are a team for this.

Eric Mukherjee is not "mysterious."

grapesmoker wrote:

Morraine Man wrote:Ted Gioia, myself, Doug Yetman, and mysterious science player are a team for this.

Eric Mukherjee is not "mysterious."

Who among us truly knows Eric?