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by STPickrell
Thu Jun 11, 2009 5:59 am
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: MSHSAA bidding discussion
Replies: 77
Views: 11823

MSHSAA bidding discussion

Hey, given that it's been a complete year since my questions were used, I'm willing to give my questions to anyone who asks. I think the URL is quizbowlpackets.com, right?

I think at the end of 2009-10 I will put my complete VHSL archive online.
by STPickrell
Mon Jun 08, 2009 6:37 am
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: MSHSAA bidding discussion
Replies: 77
Views: 11823

MSHSAA bidding discussion

Small correction: IHSA series is written by an array of former quizbowlers, coaches, etc. For the most part, they are people who play in college or very recently played. The questions are (mostly) pyramidal although some of the former coaches may have an imperfect understanding of such. However, mem...
by STPickrell
Tue May 12, 2009 10:50 am
Forum: Tournament Announcements and Discussion
Topic: 2009 MSHSAA State Tournament Discussion
Replies: 113
Views: 25980

2009 MSHSAA State Tournament Discussion

As an aside, the last few days have gotten me to think about trying my hand at writing the state tournament questions next year (nothing definite or anything, just thinking about considering the possibility). I think it would be interesting to see if decent questions can conform to those standards ...
by STPickrell
Fri May 01, 2009 6:36 am
Forum: Tournament Announcements and Discussion
Topic: 2009 MSHSAA Sectional/State Predictions
Replies: 104
Views: 20647

2009 MSHSAA Sectional/State Predictions

If I am not mistaken it's no worse than regular flu and people are just worried because we don't know much about it. That is pretty much the case. SARS 16 countries, 8,273 cases, 775 deaths Swine flu H1N1 14 countries confirmed, 524 laboratory confirmed cases, 4,033 probable Only in Mexico does the...
by STPickrell
Thu Apr 30, 2009 9:25 am
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Can someone from Truman State contact me ASAP?
Replies: 1
Views: 1128

Can someone from Truman State contact me ASAP?

I am the new CFO of HSAPQ and I'd like to send an invoice. But first, I'll need to know how many teams attended the Truman State tournament. :) My email is shawn (underscore) pickrell (at) yahoo (dot) com. Thanks.
by STPickrell
Wed Jan 21, 2009 12:00 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: You guys were right after all.
Replies: 57
Views: 8538

You guys were right after all.

There would be no limit on who'd write for regular season questions. I'd even accept current HS students writing as long as their contribution was limited to 1 or 2 matches that they school could not play on. MSHSAA series questions would require a rule (say, at least 3 years after HS graduation and...
by STPickrell
Wed Jan 21, 2009 10:20 am
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: You guys were right after all.
Replies: 57
Views: 8538

You guys were right after all.

Update from me: 1. HSAPQ will be writing VHSL sets in 2009-10 unless coaches decide computation math tossups are near and dear to their hearts (they are 2 of 30 tossups as it is.) 2. This frees me back up to some extent. 3. I can contribute a non-trivial amount of questions to someone who is willing...
by STPickrell
Tue Dec 09, 2008 10:53 pm
Forum: Tournament Announcements and Discussion
Topic: Truman High School sKnow Bowl 2009
Replies: 73
Views: 8305

Truman High School sKnow Bowl 2009

I think the accusation was probably that I hate difficult math.

I'm glad, however, to be the baseline for Bad Quizbowl in Virginia.
by STPickrell
Wed Nov 05, 2008 9:07 am
Forum: Miscellaneous
Topic: Reminder for Tomorrow
Replies: 12
Views: 1612

Reminder for Tomorrow

It seems McCain is up 6,000 votes. Pending the NC and MO recounts, I am 50 for 50.
by STPickrell
Wed Nov 05, 2008 12:24 am
Forum: Miscellaneous
Topic: Reminder for Tomorrow
Replies: 12
Views: 1612

Reminder for Tomorrow

Just out of curiousity...what are your predictions for the five left? North Carolina, Indiana and Missouri for Obama, Montana and Alaska for McCain. Final score: 375-163. I am also 45/45. (The pic I made is on Facebook). I suspect AK will go for McCain but Matt and I disagreed on MO -- I had it sta...
by STPickrell
Tue Oct 14, 2008 10:37 am
Forum: Miscellaneous
Topic: Things that don't suck
Replies: 620
Views: 693687

Things that don't suck

Voting for McCain because Obama is pro-choice: acceptable

Voting for McCain because Obama is Muslim: in denial of reality

Voting for McCain in 2008 is akin to voting for Carter in 1980 or for Hoover in 1932.

Simply put, prosperity is not another tax cut around the corner.
by STPickrell
Tue Oct 14, 2008 10:32 am
Forum: Miscellaneous
Topic: okie state - mizzou
Replies: 8
Views: 1330

okie state - mizzou

Yay! Virginia is once again mediocre instead of terrible!
by STPickrell
Wed Sep 10, 2008 8:55 am
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: 2009 MSHSAA contract
Replies: 57
Views: 5325

2009 MSHSAA contract

Bob, can you provide the new QG owner with my contact information? If he is interested in writing short pyramidal questions akin to what I wrote for districts, I will be happy to provide him with advice and review questions (I will be free after January to edit). It seems my efforts were at least to...
by STPickrell
Wed Jul 23, 2008 6:34 am
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: May Advisory Committee Meeting
Replies: 28
Views: 2546

May Advisory Committee Meeting

My afterprom party involved me winning $50 in cash and gift certificates worth over $100 at the auction. I was the last one to have any sufficient chits from the casino night.
by STPickrell
Thu Jul 17, 2008 12:26 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: May Advisory Committee Meeting
Replies: 28
Views: 2546

May Advisory Committee Meeting

Shawn, I am curious - what is the policy in Virginia? There is none. Non-athletic teams are allowed to play as many outside competitions as they want, against anyone, anywhere. It is solely a matter between the team and their school/school district. On the other hand, individual Districts may place...
by STPickrell
Wed Jul 16, 2008 7:23 am
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Quiz Bowl Sectionals?
Replies: 82
Views: 23326

Quiz Bowl Sectionals?

scphilli wrote: I am agreeing with Mueller. Every squirrel finds its nut.
WHO ARE YOU AND WHAT HAVE YOU DONE WITH THE REAL SEAN PHILLIPS?












:)
by STPickrell
Tue Jul 15, 2008 5:49 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: May Advisory Committee Meeting
Replies: 28
Views: 2546

May Advisory Committee Meeting

Mr. Gibbs, I believe a fair compromise would be to allow teams to participate in collegiate tournaments but have said participation count against the limit of 14 dates. (Is the limit for each player or for the team?) The other suggestions all seem to be good. I am especially pleased by the allowing ...
by STPickrell
Sun Jun 29, 2008 10:41 am
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Nationals talk
Replies: 60
Views: 5198

Nationals talk

Six rounds is not that hard to write, I mean a total of 1200 tossup questions and 3600 bonus questions cannot be that stressful if you are a national distributor with so many resources at their disposal. You want to make the QB competition as good as possible. I fail to see why at least the basics ...
by STPickrell
Sun Jun 29, 2008 10:29 am
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: A new project.
Replies: 2
Views: 648

A new project.

Charlie, there's a chance I might have a few coaches from the conferences I sold questions to.
by STPickrell
Tue Jun 17, 2008 6:59 am
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Nationals talk
Replies: 60
Views: 5198

Nationals talk

Game 6. Streetsboro (OH) vs Galileo (VA) Virginia represent! In spring 2007, I was asked by their coach if they could use my Scholastic Bowl questions, reformatted for the Virginia Beta meet. I had to remind her that there was a large chance said questions had already been seen by participants who ...
by STPickrell
Tue Jun 17, 2008 6:55 am
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Protests
Replies: 29
Views: 2322

Protests

Bible quiz in the early 90s is not a substitute for experience playing modern quizbowl. Or for playing quizbowl in general, modern or not. I've seen Bible Quiz-ish stuff. It is to quizbowl (in the most generous terms I can manage) what history bowls or science bowls are, at best a subset of the ove...
by STPickrell
Tue Jun 17, 2008 6:46 am
Forum: Miscellaneous
Topic: Your New 2001 State Champion
Replies: 6
Views: 1840

Your New 2001 State Champion

From the AP article:
"had improperly spent $50,000 on a scoreboard, about $100,000 for new uniforms and $5,900 on a gymnasium floor."

Wait, $5,900 on a gym floor and $100k for new uniforms? Methinks some reporter got his numbers screwed up here.
by STPickrell
Mon Jun 02, 2008 2:56 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Player movement
Replies: 79
Views: 12276

Player movement

To be fair, I did put in the caveat if the school will give you money for it. If you have a budget of $1-2k a year, focus on in-state tournaments.

Matt did one better by adding, that doesn't take away from more legitimate quizbowl.
by STPickrell
Mon May 26, 2008 12:40 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Player movement
Replies: 79
Views: 12276

Player movement

Yah, I have to talk to the Dean of Student affairs and activities to ok it then get a professor to sponsor it. It is the only way C of O will allow me to a thing like that. There are a few that are intrested in the freshman class so I figure there would be a few upperclassmen as well that would be ...
by STPickrell
Thu May 08, 2008 8:26 am
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Quiz Bowl's status in MSHSAA
Replies: 18
Views: 1788

Quiz Bowl's status in MSHSAA

Actually, that's the best way to find the true state champion, since, like, everyone is competing for one title. I would wager that in 9 of 10 years, the school that wins an all-Missouri championship would have an enrollment of greater than 600 students. This may have a bad effect on smaller school...
by STPickrell
Wed May 07, 2008 8:59 am
Forum: Miscellaneous
Topic: Things that don't suck
Replies: 620
Views: 693687

Things that don't suck

My new house in Vienna, VA.
by STPickrell
Wed May 07, 2008 8:50 am
Forum: Miscellaneous
Topic: things that suck...
Replies: 623
Views: 442460

things that suck...

L-Town Expatriate wrote: Leaving my British girlfriend each morning to go to work.
so how long is she over here?
by STPickrell
Wed May 07, 2008 8:47 am
Forum: Miscellaneous
Topic: MY GIRLFRIEND
Replies: 16
Views: 2505

MY GIRLFRIEND

MY BRAIN!
by STPickrell
Tue May 06, 2008 1:29 pm
Forum: Tournament Announcements and Discussion
Topic: State Discussion
Replies: 40
Views: 5901

State Discussion

I agree with you Ravi. There were a few short questions which was uncharacteristic of how he had been writing questions. Most of these were in language arts, grammar and foreign language specifically. I'd been operating under the assumption that foreign language was *wanted* by folks. But Sean's po...
by STPickrell
Tue May 06, 2008 8:53 am
Forum: Tournament Announcements and Discussion
Topic: State Discussion
Replies: 40
Views: 5901

State Discussion

Just like... hmm... I'm going to think of 4 random numbers and tell you to do random things with them! Do players prefer the 'do the same thing four times' type of bonus? As for repeating from the regular season, and the district tournament -- I wrote 55 matches between the regular season, district...
by STPickrell
Sun May 04, 2008 4:07 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: My withdrawal from the Missouri market
Replies: 48
Views: 12350

My withdrawal from the Missouri market

NAQT is not a very feasible option because they don't write for our distribution, it will take a ton of work to produce 15-20 MSHSAA style rounds for districts, and who knows where those questions would come from, especially the bonuses that don't use a format remotely similar to MSHSAA. Once again...
by STPickrell
Wed Apr 30, 2008 12:43 pm
Forum: Miscellaneous
Topic: Things that don't suck
Replies: 620
Views: 693687

Things that don't suck

L-Town Expatriate wrote: 1) My British girlfriend.
2) Making out with her in three states simultaneously.










:D











:wub: Dawn









:wub:
MY BRAIN!!!!!
by STPickrell
Wed Apr 30, 2008 12:41 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Summer Novice Open interest
Replies: 26
Views: 2567

Summer Novice Open interest

I wouldn't mind helping a Missouri mirror with maybe 5/5 or so in my better areas (literature, trash, history, religion/mythology.) I can do that over one slow day or 2-3 average days here @ work.

I'm not up on the latest of what stock clues are though.
by STPickrell
Mon Apr 28, 2008 10:04 am
Forum: Miscellaneous
Topic: things that suck...
Replies: 623
Views: 442460

things that suck...

calc BC. *grumble grumble* True story. I took AP Calculus in 12th grade (1993). When we actually took the test, we were then asked to fill in the "Calc AB" or "Calc BC" bubble. As a group, my class took about 5-6 minutes trying to figure out which one we were taking, as the exis...
by STPickrell
Mon Apr 28, 2008 10:01 am
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Summer Novice Open interest
Replies: 26
Views: 2567

Summer Novice Open interest

I'm guessing difficulty would be my 'regular season' questions on the tossups, and definitely a couple lines longer. Bonuses will typically have an easy part, a medium part, and a hard part to them. I'm assuming most of us know this already but there's probably a few lurkers/infrequent posters that ...
by STPickrell
Thu Apr 24, 2008 9:19 am
Forum: Miscellaneous
Topic: things that suck...
Replies: 623
Views: 442460

things that suck...

That was actually one of the few performances of last night that did NOT suck. Unlike the guy with dreadlocks singing "Memory" from Cats. He didn't bother to google or youtube it to find out that the song is supposed to be sung by a middle aged diva. Who is a cat. And goes to kitty kat he...
by STPickrell
Tue Apr 22, 2008 4:12 pm
Forum: Tournament Announcements and Discussion
Topic: 2008 District Results
Replies: 180
Views: 44411

2008 District Results

ashkenaziCD wrote: Everyone, stop talking about this fantasy quizbowl crap. It's probably the stupidest thing that's ever happened on this board.
I can understand it not being your cup of tea, but why so ... vehement ... against it?
by STPickrell
Sun Apr 13, 2008 2:57 pm
Forum: Tournament Announcements and Discussion
Topic: 2008 District Results
Replies: 180
Views: 44411

2008 District Results

The credit score and rating are given by different people I think, and the question specified who gave it. Shawn, could you post this question? Sixty percent of people have one between 650 and 799 using the Fair Isaac system preferred by mortgage lenders; Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion have thei...
by STPickrell
Sun Apr 13, 2008 1:22 pm
Forum: Tournament Announcements and Discussion
Topic: 2008 District Results
Replies: 180
Views: 44411

2008 District Results

Alright, there was one question about Nero and they were lookin for the great fire of Rome, I buzzed in early and said nero cause they said "It occured while He was away and did not play a *Buzz*" (Nero) incorrect then it goes to say Great Fire of Rome. I guess I should have said Great Fi...
by STPickrell
Sun Apr 13, 2008 7:32 am
Forum: Tournament Announcements and Discussion
Topic: 2008 District Results
Replies: 180
Views: 44411

2008 District Results

Feel free to discuss specifics of any questions during the regular season and the district tournament.
by STPickrell
Fri Apr 11, 2008 9:53 am
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: My withdrawal from the Missouri market
Replies: 48
Views: 12350

My withdrawal from the Missouri market

I got to thinking about this a bit more and came up with a hypothetical solution. Do you think that MSHSAA and the coaches would be amenable to my Missouri Academic Competition Veteran Consortium (MACVC)? Here's how it would work, we would gather up say 10 or so former Missouri quizbowl veterans wh...
by STPickrell
Wed Apr 09, 2008 4:29 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: My withdrawal from the Missouri market
Replies: 48
Views: 12350

My withdrawal from the Missouri market

In 2008-09, I will no longer provide academic competition questions in Missouri. Simply put, I overextended myself and wish to spend more time focusing on my family, my day job, and potential interests outside of quizbowl. People interested in writing for the Missouri state series may contact Stacy ...
by STPickrell
Mon Apr 07, 2008 4:41 pm
Forum: Miscellaneous
Topic: Things that don't suck
Replies: 620
Views: 693687

Things that don't suck

http://youtube.com/watch?v=oqWgSKgIDR4

A New Kids on the Block reunion by definition cannot suck.
by STPickrell
Mon Apr 07, 2008 4:39 pm
Forum: Tournament Announcements and Discussion
Topic: JV State 2008
Replies: 37
Views: 2976

JV State 2008

Who made up the X Teams?
by STPickrell
Wed Mar 19, 2008 8:10 am
Forum: Miscellaneous
Topic: Things that don't suck
Replies: 620
Views: 693687

Things that don't suck

flycaitiee69 wrote: The Ring!!!
Rick Astley does not suck. Therefore this Youtube video is 100% germane to the thread.
by STPickrell
Mon Mar 17, 2008 4:26 am
Forum: Tournament Announcements and Discussion
Topic: Suburban Conference Big 7 Championship
Replies: 33
Views: 2429

Suburban Conference Big 7 Championship

FWIW, I will write one Shakespeare tossup per four matches in VHSL play, which comes out to one every 2-4 Missouri matches. I give other important authors (Twain, Dickens, etc.) one question per twelve VHSL matches. My lit bonus writer included one Shakespeare bonus every 12 VHSL matches. I'd go so ...
by STPickrell
Mon Mar 10, 2008 1:47 pm
Forum: Miscellaneous
Topic: Things that don't suck
Replies: 620
Views: 693687

Things that don't suck

Death wrote:
STPickrell wrote: Another band with a total lack of suck is Terasbetoni.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=CLI4pl8YU9Y

Suomi Euroviisut!
ugh. like some terrible crossbreed of manowar and lordi lol
Wait, you regard Manowar as False Metal?
by STPickrell
Mon Mar 10, 2008 10:41 am
Forum: Miscellaneous
Topic: Things that don't suck
Replies: 620
Views: 693687

Things that don't suck

Another band with a total lack of suck is Terasbetoni.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=CLI4pl8YU9Y

Suomi Euroviisut!
by STPickrell
Fri Mar 07, 2008 3:55 pm
Forum: Tournament Announcements and Discussion
Topic: 2008 Maple Woods Worksheet tournament
Replies: 57
Views: 4632

2008 Maple Woods Worksheet tournament

There's also no uniqueness to the claim that these questions are poorly researched or just wrong. Christ, one of the prompts I've seen this season was, "It is one of the six official languages of the U.N.," and there was only one acceptable answer. Guess which of the six it was. English? ...