Search found 191 matches

by leapfrog314
Thu Jul 26, 2007 8:06 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: 2007 Post-Nationals Poll Discussion - Results are in!
Replies: 83
Views: 32758

cornfused wrote:Pensawhat?
Cola. It's a kind of soft drink, Greg.
by leapfrog314
Sun Jul 22, 2007 3:26 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: Computational math in high school quizbowl
Replies: 73
Views: 81851

What about noncomputational math!? There often seems to be way too little emphasis on math theory and history; when there is any, it's often screwy and just frustrates real math players. An only slightly paraphrased example: What do you call a plane which is divided into two open intervals by a line...
by leapfrog314
Thu Jul 19, 2007 11:46 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: 2007 Post-Nationals Poll Discussion - Results are in!
Replies: 83
Views: 32758

I'm surprised that so many people didn't put Brindlee Mountain A in their top 25. They almost made it over us (New Trier) to the playoffs at PACE.

Overall, I think the results are very reasonable. Thanks, Fred and the community! (Well, including myself...)
by leapfrog314
Tue Jul 17, 2007 11:26 pm
Forum: College area archives
Topic: QBML: wouldn't it be nice?
Replies: 37
Views: 20870

How do you (turn off smart quotes) In Word 97-2003, it's under Tools > AutoCorrect Options. In Word 2007 it's under Options > Proofing > AutoCorrect Options. Either place, you can turn off unhelpful features like "smart quotes" and "capitalize things that you think are the beginnings...
by leapfrog314
Mon Jul 16, 2007 7:14 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: Illinois '07-'08
Replies: 1091
Views: 245722

Jeopardy! wrote:a colorful ten-letter term for people who do blacksmithing
by leapfrog314
Thu Jul 12, 2007 12:52 pm
Forum: College area archives
Topic: I am tired of awesome people dying
Replies: 136
Views: 19511

grapesmoker wrote:a lot of people make it past 75 these days.
But it takes, like, 75 years to do so. That's a long time of trying not to die.
by leapfrog314
Tue Jul 10, 2007 2:41 pm
Forum: College area archives
Topic: QBML: wouldn't it be nice?
Replies: 37
Views: 20870

Unfortunately, NAQT already beat you to creating an XML format for quizbowl questions. If you're interested enough to see for yourself, download the zip file on this page...

BUT I bet they don't use LaTeX.
by leapfrog314
Thu Jun 28, 2007 12:45 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: Panasonic Results
Replies: 149
Views: 54429

Incidentally, was Illinois the only team that took 18 hours to get home?
by leapfrog314
Sun Jun 24, 2007 5:46 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: Panasonic Results
Replies: 149
Views: 54429

News Flash: Missouri wins their round with 298 points.
by leapfrog314
Sun Jun 24, 2007 5:13 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: Panasonic Results
Replies: 149
Views: 54429

Also, Oklahoma won their room (over California) on the last question, both scoring over 320 points, though only three teams were in that room. As to the IL/DC/ME/NM room, DC buzzed in a lot, but negged about as much. The other two teams were rather quiet. The match is still going on, but after the 5...
by leapfrog314
Tue Jun 05, 2007 5:50 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: How to Make Legitimate Quizbowl (More) Exciting
Replies: 43
Views: 20135

Sir Vinokurov, I agree with you. My entire question was how we could make quizbowl more appealing (perhaps appealing is more the idea than exciting ) -- for outsiders as well as insiders -- without compromising its legitimacy. I agree that the primary goal isn't to make quizbowl appealing; the goal ...
by leapfrog314
Mon Jun 04, 2007 12:46 am
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: How to Make Legitimate Quizbowl (More) Exciting
Replies: 43
Views: 20135

For the layperson spectators. The players already find good quizbowl exciting.
by leapfrog314
Mon Jun 04, 2007 12:27 am
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: Illinois '07-'08
Replies: 1091
Views: 245722

I think Richard Montgomery is going to win the IHSA State Championship. Seriously, though, a lot of great players will be graduating this year, but there are quite a few excellent juniors in Illinois this year who will be even better next year. Besides that, there are always a few surprises... As fa...
by leapfrog314
Mon Jun 04, 2007 12:14 am
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: How to Make Legitimate Quizbowl (More) Exciting
Replies: 43
Views: 20135

How to Make Legitimate Quizbowl (More) Exciting

OK, guys. I've been reading Chris's thread, The Thread for People who Like NAC . In it, he asks why people like NAC; one response which kept coming up was that NAC is more "exciting" than NAQT for laypeople, because the audience knows some of the answers, because Chip plays up the teams, a...
by leapfrog314
Sun May 27, 2007 10:39 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: Illinois 06-07
Replies: 802
Views: 292209

Illinois had a great showing at NAQT Nationals this weekend! Congratulations to:

13. New Trier
33. St. Ignatius, Maine South, Wheaton North
49. Bloomington

Those standings are out of 160 teams. Auburn without Siva went 5-5 on Saturday, almost making it to today's playoffs.
by leapfrog314
Sat May 26, 2007 11:39 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: RESULTS: Maggie Walker wins 2007 HSNCT!
Replies: 138
Views: 51923

Helpful condensed summary for those playing along at home. In no particular order, and based only on the information above. (Not official -- ETC.) Supposedly 61 teams have advanced to Sunday rounds based on preliminary win-loss. Teams will be seeded but placed in a double-elimination bracket. 9-1: M...
by leapfrog314
Sat May 26, 2007 9:13 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: RESULTS: Maggie Walker wins 2007 HSNCT!
Replies: 138
Views: 51923

I can add: New Trier 8-2 (we ended with the 2 card) State College A 9-1 (they ended up with the 1 card) New Trier beat Novi A, James Island Charter, and Minnetonka A, then lost to Wilmington Charter A by five points. We then beat East Lansing A, Garfield Heights, Livingston, Eden Prairie A, and Rich...
by leapfrog314
Sun Apr 22, 2007 6:29 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: Illinois 06-07
Replies: 802
Views: 292209

Thanks to the IHSSBCA for their great Awards Banquet last night. It was only their second, but went off without a hitch.
by leapfrog314
Thu Apr 19, 2007 11:07 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: Illinois 06-07
Replies: 802
Views: 292209

ecks wrote:Auburn (Rockford), New Trier (Winnetka), and Bloomington HS
Those three teams and St. Ignatius (Chicago) are the four Illinois teams registered for HSNCT. Maine South (Park Ridge) is on the waitlist.

New Trier plans to attend PACE NSC; I don't know if any other Illinois teams are.
by leapfrog314
Mon Apr 09, 2007 2:19 am
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: Illinois 06-07
Replies: 802
Views: 292209

Indiana University. Nick and I (naturally...the "New Trier twins" as Herr Egan calls us) are planning on (re)starting their quizbowl team. Know of anyone else going who would be interested?
by leapfrog314
Fri Apr 06, 2007 11:51 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: 2007 Pre-Nationals National Poll Results
Replies: 66
Views: 27063

yadda yadda New Trier yadda Bloomington This has no bearing on Bloomington vs New Trier, and I was simply pleased to see that we were on the top 25 at all, which I didn't necessarily expect. However, I think it definitely bears mentioning that New Trier won Illinois's NAQT State Qualifier pretty co...
by leapfrog314
Wed Apr 04, 2007 2:27 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: 2007 Pre-Nationals National Poll Results
Replies: 66
Views: 27063

Who cares about IHSA questions? Actually, the IHSA Terms & Conditions were changed last year to require pyramidal questions, and we were all very pleasantly surprised by the quality of the IHSA questions this year. In fact, I was quite pleased with the IHSA State Series this year. Hopefully the...
by leapfrog314
Sun Apr 01, 2007 3:35 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: Illinois 06-07
Replies: 802
Views: 292209

From http://www.aegisquestions.com/press-eo.html : Aegis announces first step towards Quiz Bowl peace and unity Question writers will offer 2007-8 questions in Esperanto CHICAGO, Ill., April 1, 2007 - In an unprecedented move, Aegis Questions, Inc. has become the first question provider to promote g...
by leapfrog314
Tue Mar 13, 2007 8:42 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: Illinois 06-07
Replies: 802
Views: 292209

We have at least two major State Series (Masonic and IHSA) in Illinois already, and a third State Qualifier tournament (NAQT). I do not think we need another. Also, while I do prefer NAQT to Illinois format, I do not think that changing our format is a high priority by any means. Change the question...
by leapfrog314
Thu Mar 08, 2007 11:08 am
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: Illinois 06-07
Replies: 802
Views: 292209

I agree the questions were a big improvement. There were a few really bizarre and bad questions that really stuck out, though. I know that they were the minority, but inconsistent packets can be just as bad as consistently bad packets. (What do you call a half-plane with an open boundary? Answer: Op...
by leapfrog314
Tue Mar 06, 2007 10:29 am
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: Illinois 06-07
Replies: 802
Views: 292209

Good luck to everyone at IHSA Regionals today!
by leapfrog314
Mon Feb 19, 2007 6:16 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: Illinois 06-07
Replies: 802
Views: 292209

Regarding the fact that the bonuses sounded like four unrelated tossups: Matt Laird and I discussed this, and he had a really good theory about this. If you look at Great Auk's sample KMO questions , you'll notice that they all sound like the tossups we heard at Masonics. You'll also notice that the...
by leapfrog314
Sat Jan 27, 2007 9:41 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: Illinois 06-07
Replies: 802
Views: 292209

I definitely agree with Matt on this one. Sucks to not make it to State because there were three other teams in your sectional that also fully deserved to go. Also, today's UIUC Solo Results (from Donald's tournament thread): 1st: Hunter Fast (Bloomington, Best Junior) 2nd: Nick Matchen (New Trier) ...
by leapfrog314
Fri Jan 26, 2007 12:41 am
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: Illinois 06-07
Replies: 802
Views: 292209

The problem is that it seems doubtful that the level of official support available to normal quizbowl teams would be available to teams at such a tournament so, given that the support level is already too low in many places, it doesn't seem like such an event would succeed. Yeah, I would tend to ag...
by leapfrog314
Thu Jan 25, 2007 8:36 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: Illinois 06-07
Replies: 802
Views: 292209

To expand (hah! math!) upon Nick's reference: Before the actual competitions at the PAC begin, there is one night when the players can scrimmage. Last year, there were three rooms with six teams set up in each room; between each round, everyone gets up and sits somewhere random, and plays one round ...
by leapfrog314
Wed Jan 24, 2007 2:40 am
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: Illinois 06-07
Replies: 802
Views: 292209

Justin: There is a way of calculating square roots by hand, and it's only a little slower than long division if you're really familiar with it. I am not. Indeed, as you point out, sqrt(e) is a lot more reasonable than the Kaneland physics questions I experienced, where I had to approximate answers t...
by leapfrog314
Sun Jan 21, 2007 1:11 am
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: Illinois 06-07
Replies: 802
Views: 292209

Asinine computational math questions - one question that was cut from the tournament asked for the square root of "e", given to 2 sigfigs. I wrote a replacement in the moderators meeting - the Roman numeral conversion to binary tossup - to replace that particular one. Repeat flaws, both i...
by leapfrog314
Sun Jan 07, 2007 6:18 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: Illinois 06-07
Replies: 802
Views: 292209

Ariadne (wife of Dionysus) came up in the question after a bonus mentioning Strauss's "Ariadne on Naxos," for example. During the last match, we were very aware of the repeats - Carnegie, for one, came up twice (though in two different rounds) on basically the same set of clues. To add to...
by leapfrog314
Fri Jan 05, 2007 11:01 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: Taft: Ruby on Rails-powered web-based tournament software
Replies: 7
Views: 4611

Two detail-oriented comments: - On the /teams/standings page, the title for BPts is "Bonus poitns" [sic]. - The tables are inconsistent with capitalization of Not a Number ("nan" vs "NaN"), and you might be better off changing it to "--" or something like it, ...
by leapfrog314
Sun Dec 31, 2006 3:26 am
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: Illinois 06-07
Replies: 802
Views: 292209

I have already emailed this to all the coaches who came to the tournament, but it bears repeating on this forum: All eight rounds used at New Trier's Varsity tournament on the 16th are now available for your perusal and download at http://www.aegisquestions.com . If you have any comments, please pos...
by leapfrog314
Wed Dec 20, 2006 3:08 am
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: Illinois 06-07
Replies: 802
Views: 292209

My personal thanks to whoever wrote the "All your base are belong to us" question. That was my favorite of the tournament. That would be me. I tried to make all of the Miscellaneous questions really interesting and off-beat. On that note, what did everyone think of the three Miscellaneous...
by leapfrog314
Mon Nov 20, 2006 1:16 am
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: Illinois 06-07
Replies: 802
Views: 292209

Re: More on the questions from kickoffs.

I really liked the fact that almost every tossup was gettable. And that was really the point. While some players have complained that the tossups were too easy, others have complained that they were absolutely too difficult. In fact, we just got an email that many central Illinois coaches were fed ...
by leapfrog314
Sun Nov 19, 2006 1:31 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: Illinois 06-07
Replies: 802
Views: 292209

Nick, Matt Laird, and myself moderated at the Wheaton North Kickoff, and noticed many of these problems ourselves. I have several comments to offer on the matter. Siva, we did indeed try to make the questions easy by the end, because there are some teams that only play in their conference and Kickof...
by leapfrog314
Sat Nov 11, 2006 10:01 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: Illinois 06-07
Replies: 802
Views: 292209

Welcome to the New Trier Scobol Solo Prognostication Results! 1. Will any school put multiple students in the final? ...My opinion - just New Trier. Maine South AND Auburn. Surprising. 3. What, if any, underclassmen will make the finals? Well, Greg's an obvious choice to guess before the tourney. I'...
by leapfrog314
Thu Nov 09, 2006 9:54 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: Embarrassing Answers/powers
Replies: 15
Views: 7627

Re: Embarrassing Answers/powers

This group was founded by Carmen Electra [buzz] Actually that's literally the only thing I know about the Pussycat Dolls. :neutral: Also, don't forget last year's question at NAQT Nationals about Snakes on a Plane. I'm sure I wasn't the only person who demonstrated way too much knowledge about that...
by leapfrog314
Thu Nov 09, 2006 2:27 am
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: Illinois 06-07
Replies: 802
Views: 292209

Sweeping category awards is really tough. Remember last year, everyone was thinking Colleen could sweep lit. She knows her lit, but she only got one Lit category ribbon. I think math is especially tough to sweep. Unlike previous years, there isn't anybody from out of state, as far as I know. I predi...
by leapfrog314
Wed Oct 11, 2006 10:45 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: QBStatGen Program
Replies: 9
Views: 4143

Very nice. I was actually planning to write a stats program myself much like this one, once I had more free time later this year. You have saved me a lot of work. :grin: (To spare the rest of the forum users from the craziness that is web programming, I am going to send you a very technical comment ...
by leapfrog314
Mon Oct 09, 2006 1:10 am
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: Illinois 06-07
Replies: 802
Views: 292209

There weren't that many Bible questions, actually. I'll double-check this (I didn't produce this set myself, so I can't say for sure) but I think a couple rounds wound-up with two Bible-based questions, a tossup and a bonus, which is maybe too much for every round, but not every round was like that...
by leapfrog314
Wed Aug 16, 2006 4:53 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: Illinois 06-07
Replies: 802
Views: 292209

Yeah, so I went to the IHSSBCA website, and decided to come here to see whether someone could explain what Moderator Certification to include test and match components this year means, and while they're at it, why Only five players will be on Team Illinois this year (change in PAC rules?) and also w...
by leapfrog314
Fri Aug 04, 2006 12:15 am
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: Scholastic Bowl bot
Replies: 32
Views: 17676

Yeah, as Alejandro has mentioned, the current documentation is always available at http://www.aegisquestions.com/triviabot. The bullet points at the top are a good introduction, and you probably don't need to read further.
by leapfrog314
Thu Aug 03, 2006 1:52 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: Illinois 06-07
Replies: 802
Views: 292209

If it's clearly communicated that the A team is the best team (not best players) and the same with the B team, the school color system is useful. Ah, but unfortunately, no school has such a depth of talent that there is a distinction between "best team" and "five best players." ...
by leapfrog314
Thu Aug 03, 2006 1:43 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: Scholastic Bowl bot
Replies: 32
Views: 17676

More detail about downloading IRC clients: If you have Windows, I suggest X-Chat. Don't use the official Windows download, that costs money. A legal, free Windows build can be downloaded as an MSI installer , or if the MSI doesn't work (i.e. you have an unpatched version of Windows 95 or 98) then us...
by leapfrog314
Thu Jul 20, 2006 8:35 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: Illinois 06-07
Replies: 802
Views: 292209

It also says something about the state's sectional distributions that the Class AA teams at State last year had played: (pulls out booklet from State) 92, 68, 16 (!), 60, 62, 87, 83, and 90 matches during their seasons, respectively. But now, Coach Egan, you don't think people have solved this ranki...
by leapfrog314
Thu Jul 20, 2006 1:37 am
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: Illinois 06-07
Replies: 802
Views: 292209

Okay, so fantasy quiz bowl isn't the best idea. But do we want some sort of cumulative individual and team scoring database for Illinois? I mean, something that keeps track of tossups gotten, tossups heard, etc. for each person and team. We could contact each TD and ask them if they would keep the s...
by leapfrog314
Sat Jul 15, 2006 2:11 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: Illinois 06-07
Replies: 802
Views: 292209

Oh, Brad. However, if enough people are interested, and no demi-god of scobol shoots down the idea for some other reason, I've offered to get a website and infrastructure running. I'm not worried about being insane. (Keep in mind that I know nothing about sports, so you'd have to keep a close eye on...