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by MikeWormdog
Wed Jun 03, 2009 12:27 am
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: MSHSAA bidding discussion
Replies: 77
Views: 11534

MSHSAA bidding discussion

Are you referring to me or Jeremy Gibbs?
by MikeWormdog
Tue Jun 02, 2009 11:41 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: MSHSAA bidding discussion
Replies: 77
Views: 11534

MSHSAA bidding discussion

Matt (Weiner), I assure you, I mean well. Yeah, no math questions would be better. Assuming there was math, I would have mostly calculation (NAQT-ish) with some stuff on theory, history, terms, etc. No MSHSAA would be better, too. I've fought against them for 14 years. However, that organization is ...
by MikeWormdog
Tue Jun 02, 2009 10:19 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: MSHSAA bidding discussion
Replies: 77
Views: 11534

MSHSAA bidding discussion

Charlie, I edited three Bulldogs over Broadway tournaments, from 2004-2006. So, if you don't like those tournaments, I can't help you. I don't think I edited one BHSAT tournament--that's not how it really operated. I edited sets of three or four rounds out of a 12-13 round set for several years, fro...
by MikeWormdog
Tue Jun 02, 2009 9:49 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: MSHSAA bidding discussion
Replies: 77
Views: 11534

MSHSAA bidding discussion

3 line tossups are not good quizbowl. Calculation tossups are not good quizbowl. A state championship series that uses geographic quotas and purports to crown the champion after only 5 games is not good quizbowl. Until these things can be fixed about the MSHSAA format, you are going to just be part...
by MikeWormdog
Tue Jun 02, 2009 8:30 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: MSHSAA bidding discussion
Replies: 77
Views: 11534

MSHSAA bidding discussion

I feel like problem #2 is directly related to the formatting issue though. Part of the problem in generating interest from high quality question sources is the standard MSHSAA format (which good writers are generally unwilling to write for). It seems to me that if the format changes, the probabilit...
by MikeWormdog
Tue Jun 02, 2009 3:51 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: MSHSAA bidding discussion
Replies: 77
Views: 11534

MSHSAA bidding discussion

Moderator note: This thread was split from the "Calling Former Players" thread. That thread can be found here. Some of this post was discussed in my email conversations with Jeremy Gibbs. This thread he started also sprung from a suggestion I had, where I mentioned that I felt that many f...
by MikeWormdog
Tue May 12, 2009 10:07 am
Forum: Tournament Announcements and Discussion
Topic: 2009 MSHSAA State Tournament Discussion
Replies: 113
Views: 23427

2009 MSHSAA State Tournament Discussion

Also, what do you mean by deep knowledge? I agree that knowing that Dostoyevsky spent time in Siberia is somewhat pointless--but that was a Questions Galore question, not NAQT (or any other pyramidal provider). Actually, it is pretty important to know that Dostoyevsky spent time in Siberia in exile...
by MikeWormdog
Tue May 12, 2009 2:03 am
Forum: Tournament Announcements and Discussion
Topic: 2009 MSHSAA State Tournament Discussion
Replies: 113
Views: 23427

2009 MSHSAA State Tournament Discussion

Quince is a highly important fruit in the Old World, where it is used to make an alcohol-free cough remedy. Our word "marmalade" came from "marmelo," the Portuguese word for quince. It appears in Edward Lear's poem "The Owl and the Pussycat," and Charlemagne mandated t...
by MikeWormdog
Mon Mar 16, 2009 5:38 pm
Forum: Miscellaneous
Topic: Calling all MSA alumni
Replies: 10
Views: 3263

Calling all MSA alumni

Yeah, there may have been a staff team my year, too. Jim Meyer was an RA when I was there, I think, and may have been on the RA team.
by MikeWormdog
Mon Mar 16, 2009 1:55 pm
Forum: Miscellaneous
Topic: Calling all MSA alumni
Replies: 10
Views: 3263

Calling all MSA alumni

They had it in 1995, too, when I went. I can't remember where the questions were from. There was a house tournament sort of like Panasonic, with multiple teams playing at once but with more normal questions and rules. Then the winner of that tournament (us) played a team of RAs and a team faculty. W...
by MikeWormdog
Thu Jun 12, 2008 9:03 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Nationals talk
Replies: 60
Views: 5161

Nationals talk

Yeah, Dunbar has historically been very good, along with Dorman, of course. Morrilton, Arkansas, has had decent teams in the past. Nothing spectacular, but they might be decent on that format. Parkview is a magnet school in Little Rock and also might have a decent team, and according to their Wikipe...
by MikeWormdog
Tue Jun 10, 2008 12:18 am
Forum: Miscellaneous
Topic: Getting off the board
Replies: 9
Views: 1664

Getting off the board

Maybe the dude's in the Witness Protection Program. Or maybe quizbowl killed his father and/or unborn child. Any of those scenarios would make me want to cut ties with a meaningless board that I could otherwise just ignore. I hope he burned all of his study materials and any clothing he wore to tour...
by MikeWormdog
Tue Jun 03, 2008 11:40 am
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Nationals talk
Replies: 60
Views: 5161

Nationals talk

Hey, way to go, Charlie and co. Two excellent finishes among difficult fields, especially at PACE, where your only losses were to the top 2 teams. Nice work, NKC!

Also, it's good to see more Missouri teams at national tournaments again.
by MikeWormdog
Wed Mar 26, 2008 12:55 pm
Forum: Tournament Announcements and Discussion
Topic: 2008 Maple Woods Worksheet tournament
Replies: 57
Views: 4585

2008 Maple Woods Worksheet tournament

Andy sez: Hey, didn't I already win this argument? What's next? Are you going to give a more detailed version of what I said in the children's lit debate (suburban conference thread) too? Yeah, you did, but I thought I had a few points to make, particularly concerning "knowledge" or "...
by MikeWormdog
Tue Mar 25, 2008 8:10 pm
Forum: Tournament Announcements and Discussion
Topic: 2008 Maple Woods Worksheet tournament
Replies: 57
Views: 4585

2008 Maple Woods Worksheet tournament

It has absolutely nothing to do with the fact that that is how they play it in other places. Try checking NKC trashman's quote earlier in the thread, not to mention your oft-quoted belief that Missouri teams are falling behind the rest of the nation because of format issues. Another matter, why are...
by MikeWormdog
Tue Mar 25, 2008 5:13 pm
Forum: Tournament Announcements and Discussion
Topic: 2008 Maple Woods Worksheet tournament
Replies: 57
Views: 4585

2008 Maple Woods Worksheet tournament

Hmm...I must have missed this thread. Yeah, the Northtown kids now sometimes don't really know what they're talking about (though they do say it loudly and vociferously). It's good that they like pyramidal questions, but they aren't quite clear on their reasons for it, other than the fact that that'...
by MikeWormdog
Mon Feb 25, 2008 1:27 pm
Forum: Miscellaneous
Topic: things that suck...
Replies: 623
Views: 395834

things that suck...

Kristin Chenoweth is somewhat evil. She was good in Wicked, but she just played herself (like she always does). She can wear a bit thin (Idina Menzel wanted to kill her when they were doing Wicked together). She isn't as orange as she used to be, though. I can't believe I'm talking about these peopl...
by MikeWormdog
Fri Feb 22, 2008 12:46 am
Forum: Miscellaneous
Topic: Presidential Predictions
Replies: 55
Views: 7440

Presidential Predictions

I'm not sure anyone should blame Reagan for immigration problems due in a large part to racist quota systems and a historically nativist attitude many US citizens have had since 1776. If the problem were too many Canadians, I don't think that many people would be up in arms. Personally, I blame Jame...
by MikeWormdog
Wed Feb 20, 2008 1:13 am
Forum: Tournament Announcements and Discussion
Topic: Warrenton High School Tournament
Replies: 53
Views: 5422

Warrenton High School Tournament

When Andy and I played in high school, there were questions like NAQT's and also speed questions. In fact, NAQT's questions produced for HS teams in the late 90s were harder than they are now. PACE didn't form until after I graduated (Andy was still in high school.) I, like both Charlie and Andy (as...
by MikeWormdog
Sun Feb 17, 2008 8:38 pm
Forum: Miscellaneous
Topic: Presidential Predictions
Replies: 55
Views: 7440

Presidential Predictions

People in Springdale are often shortsighted. Hmmm, I wonder which demographic group forms the bulk of the labor force that works in the chicken processing facilities that led to that region's economic boom? If people thought sensibly, folks in Arkansas would be very welcoming towards immigrants in t...
by MikeWormdog
Wed Feb 06, 2008 5:37 pm
Forum: Miscellaneous
Topic: Presidential Predictions
Replies: 55
Views: 7440

Presidential Predictions

To a certain strain of evangelicals, being Jewish is an advantage, but I see what you mean. I've also heard Condoleezza Rice as a rumored possibility, but that could have its own problems among that same group. George W. Bush and Dick Cheney (despite what Dubya might say) are not evangelical Christi...
by MikeWormdog
Tue Feb 05, 2008 9:34 pm
Forum: Miscellaneous
Topic: Presidential Predictions
Replies: 55
Views: 7440

Presidential Predictions

I would like Obama to win, but I think an Obama-McCain (or even Hillary-McCain) would be a rather enlightened race (especially compared to previous years). I like the Obama-Richardson idea, too. I think John Edwards would make a very good Health and Human Services secretary (though he might prefer t...
by MikeWormdog
Fri Dec 07, 2007 12:48 am
Forum: Miscellaneous
Topic: College football
Replies: 33
Views: 2603

College football

While the turmoil may not bode well for recruiting for the next couple of years (unless Gus Malzahn comes back), the team has played well despite these lingering problems. They beat LSU at Baton Rouge knowing that Nutt might leave and had a good season during the coaching problems/defections last ye...
by MikeWormdog
Thu Dec 06, 2007 1:02 am
Forum: Miscellaneous
Topic: College football
Replies: 33
Views: 2603

College football

I like the BCS, although I think some years no championship should be awarded. This is one of those years. Oklahoma and USC are probably the best two teams, but they lost when they shouldn't have. So did LSU and Ohio State. Why does a champion even have to be crowned? Why can't multiple teams claim ...
by MikeWormdog
Thu Dec 06, 2007 12:44 am
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Proposal for a new rule on team sizes
Replies: 26
Views: 1675

Proposal for a new rule on team sizes

One reason people in Missouri have lots of people on teams is because MSHSAA requires 4 people to play on a team. Other tournaments aren't subject to this restriction, but the idea is still there. Six or seven people on a team isn't unusual to lots of teams, partly because they don't think they have...
by MikeWormdog
Mon Nov 12, 2007 5:29 pm
Forum: Tournament Announcements and Discussion
Topic: Smithville Tournament
Replies: 36
Views: 5582

Smithville Tournament

Dear Charlie, Guess what? Some tournaments aren't that great. It doesn't really matter whether your precious "free time" isn't being put to its utmost efficiency and enjoyment. Other than writing your Matt Weiner fanzine or buying locks of Chris Ray's hair off ebay, I'm not sure what would...
by MikeWormdog
Sun Jul 08, 2007 9:20 pm
Forum: College Quizbowl
Topic: how does one start a college quizbowl team?
Replies: 19
Views: 2597

how does one start a college quizbowl team?

While packets are more important than buzzers, people like buzzers, and buzzers are attractive to potential recruits. You might want to try borrowing buzzers from Liberty High or some other local school when you first start out. William Jewell may also own a set of buzzers that you could borrow/rent...
by MikeWormdog
Fri Jul 06, 2007 5:51 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: ACE camp
Replies: 73
Views: 4700

ACE camp

The fact is Mike you are the exemption more than the rule. Believe it or not: not every quiz bowler is like you (hard to grasp I know). Thanks for setting me straight, Bill. I really don't know anything about what other people think about quizbowl, certainly not to the extent that you do. My person...
by MikeWormdog
Thu Jul 05, 2007 5:15 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: ACE camp
Replies: 73
Views: 4700

ACE camp

The fact that noone has brought up yet. It is summer most kids would rather be doing other things then going to quiz bowl camp. This attitude is awful (and the poor grammar and spelling don't make it any better). I also don't think it's true, especially when it applies to kids who like quizbowl and...
by MikeWormdog
Tue Jun 19, 2007 12:08 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Creation of a new question archive
Replies: 30
Views: 2406

Creation of a new question archive

I think giving the questions away for free is ok, but I think some money should be given to the writers and editors of the questions. Many people put a lot of work into writing, and if the questions end up getting used by high school and college teams all over the country, I don't think a little pro...
by MikeWormdog
Tue May 29, 2007 7:17 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: What is "good quizbowl"
Replies: 15
Views: 1287

What is "good quizbowl"

Here is how VHSL questions have evolved, hopefully for the better. I wrote both of these. BTW, I would certainly include a Tess of the D'Urbevilles clue in any Hardy question I write, at least for a district-level tournament. Yeah, I agree with your comments, Shawn. Re: Tess of the D'Urbevilles, ye...
by MikeWormdog
Tue May 29, 2007 4:22 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: What is "good quizbowl"
Replies: 15
Views: 1287

What is "good quizbowl"

I now have a related question - what is it that makes so many coaches averse to pyramidality in Missouri? Looks like Charlie's been busy at the computer since he's been back from Chicago. Nice work, by the way, at nationals. I've been trying to stay out of this topic since I think it's been covered...
by MikeWormdog
Wed May 16, 2007 2:40 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: So let's evaluate...
Replies: 8
Views: 707

So let's evaluate...

Re: Helias, it could have depended on when their school got out. Historically with MSHSAA's restrictions, Savannah could go to ASCN because they were out of school and on summer vacation by the time it rolled around. MSHSAA couldn't do anything because school was out. Other schools who got out later...
by MikeWormdog
Sun May 13, 2007 10:17 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Call for PACE affiliations
Replies: 13
Views: 1054

Call for PACE affiliations

Huh? Then how did NKC go to nationals back in the day? Wouldn't they have had to be a wildcard bid? You qualified for both ASCN and Chip/Questions Unlimited and most other tournaments by winning a tournament with 16 or more teams. There was no "qualifying" process, nor were there affiliat...
by MikeWormdog
Mon May 07, 2007 4:48 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: 2007 State Questions
Replies: 77
Views: 5110

2007 State Questions

how much trash was there? more than 2/2 a round?
by MikeWormdog
Mon May 07, 2007 4:32 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: 2007 State Questions
Replies: 77
Views: 5110

2007 State Questions

Were the German and Russian questions there because of the "Language Arts" non-lit component of Missouri's distribution?  I don't see anything wrong with foreign language questions.  Should there have been more French or Spanish instead of Russian? Were the Russian questions actually hard...
by MikeWormdog
Mon May 07, 2007 1:25 pm
Forum: Tournament Announcements and Discussion
Topic: State
Replies: 33
Views: 4649

State

I just want to congratulate Northtown for winning state for the first time in a while. Way to go, guys. Do it again next year. Congratulations to the other winners as well.
by MikeWormdog
Mon May 07, 2007 12:02 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: 2007 State Questions
Replies: 77
Views: 5110

2007 State Questions

The Iron Chef America question would have been easier two or three years ago, when the show was more popular, though I think the regulars have changed since it began airing. They're all Food Network personalities...just naming a few of them would have gotten you some points (though the food network ...
by MikeWormdog
Mon May 07, 2007 10:32 am
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: 2007 State Questions
Replies: 77
Views: 5110

2007 State Questions

What is wrong with a question on Iron Chef unless it asked for specific people? .. ok then that would be overkill. And Canadian sitcoms is also a bit out there.... can anyone name a Canadian sitcom cuz I honestly can´t think of one at the moment ? Can we hear specific questions that were bad? With ...
by MikeWormdog
Fri May 04, 2007 11:27 am
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: If you could change one thing about MSHSAA
Replies: 16
Views: 1331

If you could change one thing about MSHSAA

I do not think the MSHSAA dropping sponsorship of academic competition would be ideal, for the simple reason that a majority of teams would simply disappear. How many teams played in the old MOACA state championships, and how many play in today's MSHSAA championships? If a proposed rule change woul...
by MikeWormdog
Thu May 03, 2007 10:09 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: If you could change one thing about MSHSAA
Replies: 16
Views: 1331

If you could change one thing about MSHSAA

the 250 mile rule is for tournaments a team can travel as far as they want if it is just one game. Hence Poplar Bluff Vs. Lawerence north a few years ago or the Rock vs teams from CO, TX, or MN good to know...I wasn't aware of how those teams got around that. I think a "tournament" in ter...
by MikeWormdog
Thu May 03, 2007 9:03 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: If you could change one thing about MSHSAA
Replies: 16
Views: 1331

If you could change one thing about MSHSAA

The only reasons for such restrictions are based on precedents from athletic competions which do not always make sense for quizbowl. Well why can't a sports team that raises the funds be allowed to go to Hawaii over Christmas or spring break? Virginia teams are allowed this and it reflects in the g...
by MikeWormdog
Thu May 03, 2007 1:53 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Ranking Players
Replies: 39
Views: 3822

Ranking Players

The way i see it, if you dont fight me at state you're a [mod edit] Are you for real? Has wrasslin' gone to your head? Bad reaction to the 'roids? Dude, settle down, learn stuff, stop spouting stupid coaching aphorisms, and play well on Saturday. Then maybe people who've never met you or heard of y...
by MikeWormdog
Sun Apr 29, 2007 8:27 pm
Forum: Miscellaneous
Topic: O'Fallon, MO
Replies: 3
Views: 1017

O'Fallon, MO

I don't think that's disproportionate at all. I think 14 out of 100 might be a bit low. College towns in general offer lots of benefits, often equalling those of larger cities. The towns' populaces are generally well-educated, and the areas have a youthful vitality. Schools are usually pretty good, ...
by MikeWormdog
Tue Apr 17, 2007 10:40 pm
Forum: Tournament Announcements and Discussion
Topic: JV State 2007
Replies: 136
Views: 7761

JV State 2007

Since you left, and Chuq came on last season. NKC made state once I believe, sure liberty and Savannah were in the same district most of those season but how many second place finishes in that time NKC has never placed below first whenever they've made it to state. NKC went in 96-99, Savannah went ...
by MikeWormdog
Tue Apr 17, 2007 8:44 pm
Forum: Tournament Announcements and Discussion
Topic: JV State 2007
Replies: 136
Views: 7761

JV State 2007

Some teams do ok with only three hours a week, but lots of teams (including all the successful ones in your area, to my knowledge) practice more than that. If it's only three hours a week, then you could be doing lots of stuff outside practice...going over lists, reading questions, reference books, ...
by MikeWormdog
Tue Apr 17, 2007 7:47 pm
Forum: Tournament Announcements and Discussion
Topic: JV State 2007
Replies: 136
Views: 7761

JV State 2007

[ I can tell from playing in college at a certain point (usually around 12) the more people at practice the less productive it becomes. 8, 8 and who ever can come seems to work out nice. Also from College I know all about helpful player. I looked for all types. 1. The kids that can play quizbowl at...
by MikeWormdog
Tue Apr 17, 2007 3:34 pm
Forum: Miscellaneous
Topic: my landlord makes similar demands
Replies: 1
Views: 701

my landlord makes similar demands

http://sjl.funnyordie.com//v1/view_vide ... 2583be6925

hope this is ok here, but just think how bad your landlord could be...
by MikeWormdog
Tue Apr 17, 2007 3:05 pm
Forum: Tournament Announcements and Discussion
Topic: JV State 2007
Replies: 136
Views: 7761

JV State 2007

It's good that you're working on math with the kids, and I'm sorry about the state of the East Buchanan math department, as well as your team's past coaching issues. I hope your team becomes successful. Many other subjects come up in tournaments as well, and building a team dominant on literature an...
by MikeWormdog
Tue Apr 17, 2007 12:39 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: District Results
Replies: 69
Views: 9093

District Results

People who question the validity of arbitrary authority figures often are some of the best at their particular endeavor. Teams that dislike the state tournament format, MSHSAA, and its policies are quite regularly the ones that do the best.