Search found 320 matches

by RexSueciae
Thu Mar 07, 2024 8:44 pm
Forum: Collegiate Discussion
Topic: Ancient/Medieval History balance
Replies: 6
Views: 1040

Re: Ancient/Medieval History balance

I support greater coverage of ancient history topics, broadly defined -- my upcoming Clarke Memorial Tournament is guaranteed to have at least 1 ancient or classical history question per packet (and if it crashes and burns, hopefully it will still serve as the nucleus for another question set). I di...
by RexSueciae
Mon Feb 12, 2024 10:08 pm
Forum: Collegiate Discussion
Topic: On Team Splitting at National Qualifiers
Replies: 19
Views: 3876

Re: On Team Splitting at National Qualifiers

I've no horse in this race but I am skeptical of any attempt to codify a team-splitting ban, whether by statistical methods or by formation of some body that would adjudicate matters of team lineups. I have a deep mistrust of statistics, which admittedly informs my decisions, but I would like to add...
by RexSueciae
Fri Feb 02, 2024 4:51 pm
Forum: Collegiate Announcements & Results
Topic: Clarke Memorial Tournament - Fall 2024, 3 Dot
Replies: 5
Views: 736

Re: Clarke Memorial Tournament - Fall 2024, 3 Dot

Would love if this were open, playing short questions online (as any playtest mirror, if it exists, would likely be) isn't the most ideal. I'd happily pay a higher fee for the privilege and it seems like a good way to generate more revenue for these charities. Are there 15s? There will be powermark...
by RexSueciae
Thu Feb 01, 2024 10:34 pm
Forum: Collegiate Announcements & Results
Topic: Clarke Memorial Tournament - Fall 2024, 3 Dot
Replies: 5
Views: 736

Re: Clarke Memorial Tournament - Fall 2024, 3 Dot

Cheynem wrote: Thu Feb 01, 2024 10:24 pm What is this memorializing?
Me, obviously. It is a free country.
by RexSueciae
Thu Feb 01, 2024 10:15 pm
Forum: Collegiate Announcements & Results
Topic: Clarke Memorial Tournament - Fall 2024, 3 Dot
Replies: 5
Views: 736

Re: Clarke Memorial Tournament - Fall 2024, 3 Dot

This post reserved for mirror sites.
by RexSueciae
Thu Feb 01, 2024 10:13 pm
Forum: Collegiate Announcements & Results
Topic: Clarke Memorial Tournament - Fall 2024, 3 Dot
Replies: 5
Views: 736

Clarke Memorial Tournament - Fall 2024, 3 Dot

I am proud to announce the Clarke Memorial Tournament , a question set that will be available for mirrors during the fall semester of 2024! The Clarke Memorial Tournament will be entirely written and edited by Vasa Clarke, which is to say, myself. This question set will consist of 15 packets of 20/2...
by RexSueciae
Mon Dec 25, 2023 12:05 pm
Forum: Collegiate Announcements & Results
Topic: 2023 Festivus (12/23/23)
Replies: 18
Views: 8584

Re: 2023 Festivus (12/23/23)

Seconded, thank you for running Festivus this year.
by RexSueciae
Tue Nov 21, 2023 9:09 am
Forum: Middle School Quizbowl Announcements & Discussion
Topic: Looking for a Packet Writer?
Replies: 3
Views: 1475

Re: Looking for a Packet Writer?

What rate would you consider? If you are writing questions freelance, a good rule of thumb is five dollars per question , not per packet, at the bare minimum. NAQT offers "up to $8.77 per tossup question and up to $6.78 per bonus question" to its writers (plus extra in bonuses for writers...
by RexSueciae
Mon Nov 06, 2023 10:38 pm
Forum: Theory
Topic: A new quiz bowl trainer
Replies: 4
Views: 1556

Re: A new quiz bowl trainer

Protobowl has issues. QBReader isn't very good. And I need a reliable source where I can study efficiently. Do you guys have any ideas? If you are looking to study efficiently in the sense of playing questions, and for whatever reason you're not fond of QB Reader, I suggest doing something like the...
by RexSueciae
Thu Nov 02, 2023 8:02 am
Forum: Theory
Topic: Studying Religion
Replies: 6
Views: 2948

Re: Studying Religion

When I'm writing religion (which is something I do) I totally agree with this. If any of you have religion-specific packets, I would love to see them and study them. Apart from my own 2018 RAPTURE, the only side events on religion (that are posted to the collegiate packet archive under "Belief...
by RexSueciae
Thu Nov 02, 2023 3:10 am
Forum: Collegiate Discussion
Topic: The Quizbowl Packet Archive IS getting an overhaul!
Replies: 28
Views: 20006

Re: The Quizbowl Packet Archive IS getting an overhaul!

One minor issue -- when attempting to search for Beliefs, the term "Beliefs" is the only one searchable. However, all the religion / myth packets are tagged with "Belief." Therefore, it is currently impossible to search for such packets because the only option is to search "...
by RexSueciae
Sun Oct 29, 2023 9:02 am
Forum: Theory
Topic: Studying Religion
Replies: 6
Views: 2948

Re: Studying Religion

I second the recommendation not to necessarily start with the primary texts. You might want to read them eventually, but nothing is more demoralizing than slogging through a lengthy genealogy or set of incredibly detailed divine laws, especially at the beginning when you don't know any of the contex...
by RexSueciae
Sat Jul 22, 2023 11:06 am
Forum: Theory
Topic: So You Want To Write A Tournament
Replies: 10
Views: 7483

Re: So You Want To Write A Tournament

This is the most comprehensive resource I've seen on the nuts and bolts of writing a question set -- invaluable to anyone who has not done this sort of thing before, whose school doesn't have the kind of institutional knowledge about quizbowl writing, etc. Before the tournament is edited, the head e...
by RexSueciae
Mon Jul 10, 2023 7:39 pm
Forum: Miscellaneous Quizbowl
Topic: Geoword
Replies: 29
Views: 11334

Re: Geoword

Enunciation is good. I would also note that I keep messing up when I'm prompted -- it would be really nice if the prompt would take the new answer and append it somehow to the old -- because I keep answering how I reflexively answer in quizbowl which isn't quite how Geoword works. But that's just me...
by RexSueciae
Fri Jun 16, 2023 9:23 am
Forum: Collegiate Discussion
Topic: Reworking the History Distribution
Replies: 13
Views: 6911

Re: Reworking the History Distribution

A decade ago, when I was a high school student working on GSAC, as I recall the history subdistribution went something like this: 1/1 American, 1/1 European, 1/1 World, 1/1 Ancient/Modern. The latter being split half and half, so 0.5 of each. I don't remember the exact year limits (I think that &quo...
by RexSueciae
Tue Jun 13, 2023 6:57 am
Forum: New High School Teams
Topic: List of Essential Resources (alpha)
Replies: 22
Views: 40060

Re: List of Essential Resources (alpha)

Whenever I need to search questions, I either site search the packet archive or go to https://aseemsdb.me/
by RexSueciae
Mon Jun 12, 2023 7:48 pm
Forum: Collegiate Announcements & Results
Topic: VCU Open (NASAT Mirror): July 8 + 9 2023
Replies: 7
Views: 2351

Re: VCU Open (NASAT Mirror): July 8 + 9 2023

I'll staff baseball if necessary. I'm not over-fond of the sport.
by RexSueciae
Fri Sep 16, 2022 5:17 pm
Forum: College area archives
Topic: Tricon VI: Worldwide #Cheersmack (postponed)
Replies: 10
Views: 3391

Re: Tricon VI: Worldwide #Cheersmack (September 18 @ online)

Matt Weiner wrote: Sun Sep 11, 2022 1:27 pm Due to insufficient signups from both players and writers, this tournament will not be held during the current academic year. I may give it another attempt next summer.
In that case, I have another year to contribute a packet.
by RexSueciae
Wed Jun 22, 2022 8:21 am
Forum: College area archives
Topic: Tricon VI: Worldwide #Cheersmack (postponed)
Replies: 10
Views: 3391

Re: Tricon VI: Worldwide #Cheersmack (summer 2022 @ Maryland and elsewhere)

I probably won't be appearing in person but I shall gladly write a packet for this.
by RexSueciae
Fri Oct 09, 2020 10:14 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: Let's All Be Wrong about the Nobel in Literature!
Replies: 10
Views: 1355

Re: Let's All Be Wrong about the Nobel in Literature!

I'm honestly just amazed that Milan Kundera is still alive.
by RexSueciae
Mon Sep 14, 2020 7:06 pm
Forum: College area archives
Topic: Statement on LIT Cheating Allegation: Princeton A
Replies: 16
Views: 9824

Re: Statement on LIT Cheating Allegation: Princeton A

If such an experiment cannot produce negative evidence, it side-steps the point of such an experiment. It can only serve to either kick the can down the road indefinitely or exonerate him. Are you suggesting that evidence is only useful if it can be used to prove Chase's guilt? If so, I find that a...
by RexSueciae
Sun Jul 19, 2020 6:58 pm
Forum: Community Discussion
Topic: Maintaining Boundaries II (Focus on Social Media)
Replies: 8
Views: 9735

Re: Maintaining Boundaries II (Focus on Social Media)

I am uncertain that simply having an online space where high schoolers and college students might interact is anything to be worried about. Quizbowl, for literally decades, has had one such online space -- these very forums. I can think of several prominent incidents of misconduct but can think of n...
by RexSueciae
Thu Jul 16, 2020 10:15 pm
Forum: Community Discussion
Topic: On HS Teams Without Coaches
Replies: 68
Views: 48437

Re: On HS Teams Without Coaches

I agree fully with your assessment of mandatory coaches (thanks for showing up with data) and those are all solid ideas for keeping teams accountable -- hopefully the misconduct forms / contact lines become a community standard, because that actually sounds like it will do some good.
by RexSueciae
Thu Jul 16, 2020 1:08 am
Forum: Community Discussion
Topic: On HS Teams Without Coaches
Replies: 68
Views: 48437

Re: On HS Teams Without Coaches

Let me clarify that I am not viewing this situation as a binary choice or balancing act between "make things convenient for some teams" and "prevent player misconduct and misogyny" because obviously, given the two situations, one should choose the latter. What I doubt is that req...
by RexSueciae
Wed Jul 15, 2020 8:01 pm
Forum: Databases and Quizbowl Software
Topic: Frequency lists for every quizbowl category!
Replies: 1
Views: 4213

Re: Frequency lists for every quizbowl category!

That's neat! One thing I noted -- sometimes, answerlines are counted twice in a list (for example, in Mythology you have Horus appearing twice, Hera appearing twice, Heracles appearing twice) because one answer has the answerline written with a space, and one does not. It might be worth sanitizing t...
by RexSueciae
Wed Jul 15, 2020 11:12 am
Forum: Community Discussion
Topic: On HS Teams Without Coaches
Replies: 68
Views: 48437

Re: On HS Teams Without Coaches

I am not sure that regulating "rogue" or unofficial teams is the most effective way to constrain student misbehavior. While adults may have the opportunity to attain greater maturity, it is to nobody's surprise that adults, even coaches, are more than capable of committing misconduct as we...
by RexSueciae
Sun Apr 12, 2020 7:30 pm
Forum: College area archives
Topic: This Time, A Stern Warning
Replies: 179
Views: 146918

Re: This Time, A Stern Warning

Welp. Ike wrote in the discord: Just wanted to post this here since it was brought up. The timing of Eric's post has nothing to do with Ottawa Hybrid's mirror. It had to do with me formulating the statistical evidence, double checking that I crossed all my ts and dotted my Is and showing it to Eric ...
by RexSueciae
Wed Apr 08, 2020 9:08 pm
Forum: College area archives
Topic: This Time, A Stern Warning
Replies: 179
Views: 146918

Re: This Time, A Stern Warning

In addition to things mentioned above, cheating accusations should probably belong in one of the forums sections that you need an account to view. In the current ethical morass in which we find ourselves in which no real solutions have been offered, here's a common-sense actionable policy change th...
by RexSueciae
Wed Apr 08, 2020 12:49 am
Forum: College area archives
Topic: This Time, A Stern Warning
Replies: 179
Views: 146918

Re: This Time, A Stern Warning

I'm also a bit baffled, as Will is, by people expressing concern about the use of stats--what else would you suggest, if not analysis of the only records quizbowl keeps, we as a community use in attempts to determine whether a performance was anomalous? I don't think "I don't understand what's...
by RexSueciae
Tue Apr 07, 2020 10:36 pm
Forum: College area archives
Topic: This Time, A Stern Warning
Replies: 179
Views: 146918

Re: This Time, A Stern Warning

I stand by every word of my previous post, with the possible exception of my haruspicy quip. I am not an authority figure of any type and am entirely in favor of public conversation on serious issues. But holy heck . Even with a carefully-written explanation accompanied by responsible caveats, peopl...
by RexSueciae
Tue Apr 07, 2020 9:52 pm
Forum: College area archives
Topic: This Time, A Stern Warning
Replies: 179
Views: 146918

Re: This Time, A Stern Warning

Right now I'm reading through back logs of Discord servers because what with the quarantine and newly commenced pass-fail grading systems, I have more time than I used to (or, at least, license to procrastinate). I am doing my best to absorb the vast quantity of information that has been produced in...
by RexSueciae
Fri Mar 15, 2019 6:11 pm
Forum: Community Discussion
Topic: Indulge me a moment...
Replies: 19
Views: 16571

Re: Indulge me a moment...

There have been occasional attempts over the years to produce open tournaments that aren't on very hard questions. Some of these have been good, while some haven't. I'm certain that if done well, such a product would generate a lot of interest, especially in the summer. If someone wants to do a dif...
by RexSueciae
Fri Jan 18, 2019 11:34 am
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: Mythology
Replies: 10
Views: 8928

Re: Mythology

I've also found OverlySarcasticProductions (https://www.youtube.com/user/RedEyesTakeWarning) to be an excellent source for basic descriptions of myths from all sorts of backgrounds, with the humor and some Shakespeare summaries being a nice bonus. I second the recommendation of OverlySarcasticProdu...
by RexSueciae
Mon Dec 10, 2018 3:59 pm
Forum: College area archives
Topic: Is Festivus happening?
Replies: 11
Views: 6304

Re: Is Festivus happening?

If this happens, I can definitely read a short packet consisting of RAPTURE rejects / ideas I had after it was over / funny things that deserve their time in the spotlight.
by RexSueciae
Fri Nov 09, 2018 3:28 pm
Forum: College area archives
Topic: ACF Fall 2018 - Specific Questions and Errata
Replies: 53
Views: 26558

Re: ACF Fall 2018 - Specific Questions and Errata

Small quibble: Hestia didn't give up her divinity for Dionysus, anybody who says that is relying on secondary sources which draw a frankly dubious inference from the discrepancy between ancient lists of the Twelve Olympians. Different sources (some contemporaneous with each other) list different god...
by RexSueciae
Sat Oct 06, 2018 10:31 pm
Forum: College area archives
Topic: This Must Be The Place
Replies: 5
Views: 4431

Re: This Must Be The Place

I would like to subscribe to your educational newsletter.
by RexSueciae
Fri Oct 05, 2018 2:48 pm
Forum: Collegiate Announcements & Results
Topic: JaMES: How well do you know your Bible? (Summer 2020)
Replies: 27
Views: 12253

Re: JaMES: How well do you know your Bible? (Summer 2020)

I look forward to playing this question set. Good luck.
by RexSueciae
Tue Oct 02, 2018 12:38 am
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: Who Would Win In A Fight?
Replies: 12
Views: 1969

Re: Who Would Win In A Fight?

There are a number of traditions associated with the American South. Some, like seersucker suits, are admirable and worthy of preservation (in addition to looking nice, they tend to be cooler than other materials at high temperature). Others, like institutionalized violence, probably are not. Yet I ...
by RexSueciae
Sun Sep 02, 2018 4:12 pm
Forum: College area archives
Topic: we should be doing religion better
Replies: 26
Views: 12550

Re: we should be doing religion better

Now that RAPTURE has no further mirrors planned (as all summer side event weekends have concluded) I thought I should revive this thread -- a year in the future! -- and leave a few words on the planning and writing of a religion tournament. This may or may not have an impact on the writing of the re...
by RexSueciae
Sun Sep 02, 2018 2:24 pm
Forum: College area archives
Topic: RAPTURE - A religion side event [Summer 2018]
Replies: 23
Views: 13093

Re: RAPTURE - A religion side event [Summer 2018]

Hey all, As nobody has officially contacted me requesting use of RAPTURE for a future mirror, I am going to officially declare this question set to be clear for public discussion. I am actually typing up more extensive comments on the process of writing religion in quizbowl, which I will make availa...
by RexSueciae
Sat Sep 01, 2018 11:49 pm
Forum: College area archives
Topic: Human Use of Human Beings Discussion
Replies: 4
Views: 319

Re: Human Use of Human Beings Discussion

I did not realize that there were no comments and would also like to add that I had fun, that the answerlines were interesting and cool things, and that this was top stuff through and through
by RexSueciae
Fri Aug 31, 2018 9:31 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: Where are the TV-style questions here?
Replies: 2
Views: 4089

Re: Where are the TV-style questions here?

The short answer is that they don't exist. The long answer is that, occasionally on the archives (or more often on the forums) someone will have written a packet or two of "speedcheck" questions that are shorter than typical quizbowl questions, often on a favorite pet topic. These are some...
by RexSueciae
Sat Aug 25, 2018 10:11 pm
Forum: College area archives
Topic: RAPTURE - A religion side event [Summer 2018]
Replies: 23
Views: 13093

Re: RAPTURE - A religion side event [Summer 2018]

This weekend marks the last mirrors of this question set. If you would like to host an event using these questions, let me know within the week because otherwise I'll be uploading them to the archive when September comes. Meanwhile, the private discussion forum is around, so if you'd like to leave a...
by RexSueciae
Sat Aug 25, 2018 9:56 pm
Forum: College area archives
Topic: RAPTURE Online Mirror [August 25]
Replies: 7
Views: 4044

Re: RAPTURE Online Mirror [August 25]

Round 1 Austin 0 (1/0/3) Hidehiro 50 (1/4/1) Moses 65 (3/2/0) Zhenglin 5 (0/1/1) John 35 (1/5/6) Round 2 Austin 25 (0/3/1) Hidehiro 55 (0/6/1) Moses 55 (4/0/1) Zhenglin 50 (0/5/0) John 0 (1/1/5) Round 3 Austin -15 (0/1/5) Hidehiro 45 (1/4/2) Moses 45 (2/3/3) Zhenglin 45 (2/2/1) John 50 (2/3/2) Roun...
by RexSueciae
Fri Aug 24, 2018 8:38 pm
Forum: College area archives
Topic: RAPTURE Online Mirror [August 25]
Replies: 7
Views: 4044

Re: RAPTURE Online Mirror [August 25]

Everyone who's signed up to play as of right now should have just received an email with a link to the Discord. Additionally, at least one person has expressed interest in spectating. If you've already played this and would like to quietly watch, I'll probably also share the link in the main quizbow...
by RexSueciae
Wed Aug 22, 2018 11:33 pm
Forum: College area archives
Topic: RAPTURE Online Mirror [August 25]
Replies: 7
Views: 4044

Re: RAPTURE Online Mirror [August 25]

Everyone signed up to play should have received an email to the effect of "this is happening I'll send a Discord invite Friday." If you did not receive such an email, let me know.

In other news, this is still happening and I'll send a Discord invite Friday. It's not too late to sign up!
by RexSueciae
Tue Aug 14, 2018 3:59 pm
Forum: College area archives
Topic: NASAT Mirror at Valencia College: August 18
Replies: 17
Views: 7527

Re: NASAT Mirror at Valencia College: August 18

I've heard from more than one Florida person about reading RAPTURE at some point after the main event or otherwise using the questions. Whoever's organizing this, e-mail me before the weekend and I'll send you a .zip of the packets so it can happen!
by RexSueciae
Mon Aug 13, 2018 5:12 pm
Forum: College area archives
Topic: 2018 RAPTURE general discussion
Replies: 8
Views: 686

Re: 2018 RAPTURE general discussion

Ah, I see the problem. I could edit this in order to more specifically differentiate Ezra from Nehemiah on the subject of divorce (Ezra throws himself down in prayer, Nehemiah personally goes around beating people). Thank you for bringing that to my attention, I hadn't thought of it.
by RexSueciae
Mon Aug 13, 2018 4:23 pm
Forum: College area archives
Topic: 2018 RAPTURE general discussion
Replies: 8
Views: 686

Re: 2018 RAPTURE general discussion

Here they are! Description acceptable. In a treatise on doing this activity, Saint Augustine of Hippo suggested the influence of active and contemplative virtues on people who may have been symbolized as a lion, a man, a calf, and an eagle. The Diatessaron was an early attempt to accomplish this goa...
by RexSueciae
Sun Aug 12, 2018 11:15 pm
Forum: College area archives
Topic: Illinois Side Event Open - 8/11/18
Replies: 92
Views: 37298

Re: Illinois Side Event Open - 8/11/18

I've been forgetting to plug this, but for people who played RAPTURE and would like to say things about it there is a private discussion forum for doing that! I hope people had fun at the last RAPTURE mirror before the online event.