Just a quick update. Each team's position and the motions for each round are listed below. Closed adjudication on day 3 means we don't know any results, but we've been in some tough rooms. We'll find out as the New Year dawns in Turkey.
Alaska A: 7-CG, 8-OG, 9-OG
Alaska B: 7-CG, 8-OO, 9-OG
Alaska C: 7-CO, 8-OO, 9-OG
Alaska D: 7-CG, 8-OG, 9-CO
That's right, three Opening Govs in the 9th round. Sometimes you're the windshield, sometimes you're the bug.
Break in 3 1/2 hours. More later.
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Livin' in a lonely world . . .
Round 6: This house would prosecute communities for complicity in honor killings.
Alaska A: CO, 1st, 12 points
Alaska B: OG, 3rd, 10 points
Alaska C: OG, 3rd, 11 points
Alaska D: OG, 2nd, 11 points
My favorite motion so far. The intersection of legal, cultural and moral issues is what makes for excellent BP debates. Plenty of ground to explore in 8 speeches, lots of good ground on both sides and timely as well. Unfortunately, the debate I saw considered none of these issues, but at least it gave me plenty of time during the debate to think about the things that I thought should be discussed.
So all Alaska teams are within striking distance of the break. This is the nail-biting time, though, and not just because all the rounds tomorrow are closed adjudication. Facing the prospect of having to take two firsts and a second rounds tomorrow is daunting for some of the Seawolves, but others have a bit more of a margin. Typically, breaking requires at least 18 points. Given that there are around 400 teams here this year, the break will require 18 and very high speaker points.
Updates tomorrow will be limited, as I’ll have little to report round-by-round. They’ll announce the break tomorrow at midnight (around 11:00 am Alaska time) and I’ll do my best to get the break posted a.s.a.p., but wireless access really tends to bog down when there are lots of people on, so you may have more luck checking Colm Flynn’s site if you’re really anxious to know who broke where.
Oh, and I realize now that it was Journey who sang “Don’t Stop Believing,” not Rush. But I'm still holding on to that feeling.
Alaska A: CO, 1st, 12 points
Alaska B: OG, 3rd, 10 points
Alaska C: OG, 3rd, 11 points
Alaska D: OG, 2nd, 11 points
My favorite motion so far. The intersection of legal, cultural and moral issues is what makes for excellent BP debates. Plenty of ground to explore in 8 speeches, lots of good ground on both sides and timely as well. Unfortunately, the debate I saw considered none of these issues, but at least it gave me plenty of time during the debate to think about the things that I thought should be discussed.
So all Alaska teams are within striking distance of the break. This is the nail-biting time, though, and not just because all the rounds tomorrow are closed adjudication. Facing the prospect of having to take two firsts and a second rounds tomorrow is daunting for some of the Seawolves, but others have a bit more of a margin. Typically, breaking requires at least 18 points. Given that there are around 400 teams here this year, the break will require 18 and very high speaker points.
Updates tomorrow will be limited, as I’ll have little to report round-by-round. They’ll announce the break tomorrow at midnight (around 11:00 am Alaska time) and I’ll do my best to get the break posted a.s.a.p., but wireless access really tends to bog down when there are lots of people on, so you may have more luck checking Colm Flynn’s site if you’re really anxious to know who broke where.
Oh, and I realize now that it was Journey who sang “Don’t Stop Believing,” not Rush. But I'm still holding on to that feeling.
Over the hump
Round 5: This house would abolish the taxes on cigarettes and alcohol that go beyond normal sales taxes.
Alaska A: CO, 3rd, 9 points
Alaska B: OG, 4th, 9 points
Alaska C: OG, 1st, 10 points
Alaska D: OG, 1st, 9 points
A short update given the quick turnaround between rounds 5 & 6. Two firsts, one of which came in the Opening Gov for Akis and Amie, were a welcome outcome for this round. That we debated this very motion in the retreat helped. Obviously this was not the Turkey motion and I’ll admit that I was surprised to see another chestnut motion at this point in the tournament. What’s next? Who knows.
Thanks again to Chris and Tom for the best motivation a coach could offer. Their ability to break after ending day two on 11 points serves as strong empirical evidence of the “Rush principle:” don’t stop believing. Even if you’re not from the University of South Detroit.
Alaska A: CO, 3rd, 9 points
Alaska B: OG, 4th, 9 points
Alaska C: OG, 1st, 10 points
Alaska D: OG, 1st, 9 points
A short update given the quick turnaround between rounds 5 & 6. Two firsts, one of which came in the Opening Gov for Akis and Amie, were a welcome outcome for this round. That we debated this very motion in the retreat helped. Obviously this was not the Turkey motion and I’ll admit that I was surprised to see another chestnut motion at this point in the tournament. What’s next? Who knows.
Thanks again to Chris and Tom for the best motivation a coach could offer. Their ability to break after ending day two on 11 points serves as strong empirical evidence of the “Rush principle:” don’t stop believing. Even if you’re not from the University of South Detroit.
Sun and Sri Lanka
Round 4: This house would prohibit high-ranking members of the Sri Lankan military and the Tamil Tigers from participating in elections.
Alaska A: CG, 1st, 8 points
Alaska B: CG, 1st, 9 points
Alaska C: OG, 3rd, 7 points
Alaska D: OG, 3rd, 6 points
Here’s to everyone who’s ever written a brief on Sri Lanka (that’s you, Christy). To argue that a democratic process that excludes specific interest groups is still democratic (or at least in the best interests of the country) requires a degree of specific knowledge that is possible only with good research. Once again, hard work wins.
The “Turkish Riviera” finally made an appearance today. Crystal clear, bluebird skies over a placid bay makes for a great setting for the World Championships. It’s so clear that you can almost see Syria from here.
On to lunch, a brief break and round 5. I have a feeling that we’ll see our Turkish motion next—I’m thinking something about EU membership and Muslim tensions. You heard it here first.
Alaska A: CG, 1st, 8 points
Alaska B: CG, 1st, 9 points
Alaska C: OG, 3rd, 7 points
Alaska D: OG, 3rd, 6 points
Here’s to everyone who’s ever written a brief on Sri Lanka (that’s you, Christy). To argue that a democratic process that excludes specific interest groups is still democratic (or at least in the best interests of the country) requires a degree of specific knowledge that is possible only with good research. Once again, hard work wins.
The “Turkish Riviera” finally made an appearance today. Crystal clear, bluebird skies over a placid bay makes for a great setting for the World Championships. It’s so clear that you can almost see Syria from here.
On to lunch, a brief break and round 5. I have a feeling that we’ll see our Turkish motion next—I’m thinking something about EU membership and Muslim tensions. You heard it here first.
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
End of day one
Round 3: This house would financially incentivize both inter-faith and inter-ethnic marriages.
Alaska A: CO, 2nd, 5 points
Alaska B: OG, 3rd, 6 points
Alaska C: CO, 4th, 6 points
Alaska D: CO, 4th, 5 points
Dear Amie. Dear, sweet Amie. As the standard bearers for Alaska (on a perfect 6 points after round 2), Amie and Akis were among the top teams of the tournament going into the third round. That put them in one of the top rooms facing other, top teams. Amie and Akis drew a round against Sydney, Monash and another team, and as their room appeared on the tab Amie turned to me and said “Hmmm. Sydney and Monash. I don’t really know who those teams are.” I bit my tongue, not wanting to reveal that between them Sydney and Monash have won 20% of the World Championships. Oh Amie, after this round, you will know who Sydney and Monash are.
But that’s why you come to Worlds. To face the best. Realize that to be in the position to hit Sydney and Monash in round 3, Amie and Akis had to beat Oxford in round 2. Mission accomplished.
Everyone is still in the hunt and to have two teams on par after day one is a solid performance. Here’s hoping that by this time tomorrow we’ll have even more in line to break.
ps: if you’re an info junkie, check out the WUDC on Twitter. Lots of references to other blogs about Worlds hidden among the tweets.
Alaska A: CO, 2nd, 5 points
Alaska B: OG, 3rd, 6 points
Alaska C: CO, 4th, 6 points
Alaska D: CO, 4th, 5 points
Dear Amie. Dear, sweet Amie. As the standard bearers for Alaska (on a perfect 6 points after round 2), Amie and Akis were among the top teams of the tournament going into the third round. That put them in one of the top rooms facing other, top teams. Amie and Akis drew a round against Sydney, Monash and another team, and as their room appeared on the tab Amie turned to me and said “Hmmm. Sydney and Monash. I don’t really know who those teams are.” I bit my tongue, not wanting to reveal that between them Sydney and Monash have won 20% of the World Championships. Oh Amie, after this round, you will know who Sydney and Monash are.
But that’s why you come to Worlds. To face the best. Realize that to be in the position to hit Sydney and Monash in round 3, Amie and Akis had to beat Oxford in round 2. Mission accomplished.
Everyone is still in the hunt and to have two teams on par after day one is a solid performance. Here’s hoping that by this time tomorrow we’ll have even more in line to break.
ps: if you’re an info junkie, check out the WUDC on Twitter. Lots of references to other blogs about Worlds hidden among the tweets.
Still a hope for perfection
Round 2: This house believes that developing nations should pay the full tuition of women’s university studies.
Alaska A: OO, 4th, 3 points
Alaska B: CO, 2nd, 5 points
Alaska C: CO, 1st, 6 points
Alaska D: CO: 2nd, 5 points
A very interesting motion that truly tested the viability of cost/tradeoff disadvantages as constructive Opposition material. Unfortunately, Alaska A was adjudicated by the CA of the tournament who, as author of the motion, seemed to have a particular course of arguments in mind that James and Michael didn’t access. As James and I agreed, though, dark horses are dark because they drop behind the main pack at the outset only to rally at the end. Where's my riding crop?
Colin and Michaela (Alaska B) were in the CO position in the same room as Michael and James and took the 2nd. Drew and Sarah (Alaska B) also ended in the top half of their room. Akis and Amie (Alaska C) are our sole remaining hope for a perfect record at Worlds, beating Oxford and Queensland (Australia) for the first.
Round three goes up in a few moments. Tonight is global village night so we’re looking forward to the diversity of it all (and hopefully not a return of Alaska’s interactions with the Irish). 43 nations are registered from around the world.
Alaska A: OO, 4th, 3 points
Alaska B: CO, 2nd, 5 points
Alaska C: CO, 1st, 6 points
Alaska D: CO: 2nd, 5 points
A very interesting motion that truly tested the viability of cost/tradeoff disadvantages as constructive Opposition material. Unfortunately, Alaska A was adjudicated by the CA of the tournament who, as author of the motion, seemed to have a particular course of arguments in mind that James and Michael didn’t access. As James and I agreed, though, dark horses are dark because they drop behind the main pack at the outset only to rally at the end. Where's my riding crop?
Colin and Michaela (Alaska B) were in the CO position in the same room as Michael and James and took the 2nd. Drew and Sarah (Alaska B) also ended in the top half of their room. Akis and Amie (Alaska C) are our sole remaining hope for a perfect record at Worlds, beating Oxford and Queensland (Australia) for the first.
Round three goes up in a few moments. Tonight is global village night so we’re looking forward to the diversity of it all (and hopefully not a return of Alaska’s interactions with the Irish). 43 nations are registered from around the world.
A perfect record so far . . .
Round 1: This house would ban labor unions
Alaska A (James & Michael): OG, 1st
Alaska B (Colin & Michalea): OO, 1st
Alaska C (Akis & Amie): OO, 1st
Alaska D (Drew & Sarah): CO, 1st
After what will likely go down in history as the most incoherent inspirational speech ever offered (hey, it sounded really good in my head at 2 am) Alaska opened strongly. Not one point dropped, which makes all the difference in establishing a cushion for later rounds.
As has become tradition, the tournament opened with a chestnut motion, but a good one on which to shake off the rust. We were fortunate that ¾ of us were on the opposition for the motion as it’s tricky to argue against the right to collective action. Michael and James did, however, and in so doing also got an Opening Gov out of the way.
Last night’s opening dinner was very nice. A beautifully-decorated room, a decent meal and a great Turkish cover band (Hotel California sung with a Turkish accent was a particular high point) together with short opening speeches made for a fine start to the tournament. Today’s round 1 started only 5 minutes late and we seemed to be in line for a timely start to round 2 as well. A good lunch and a brief break sets us off to round 2. I’ll update the results as quickly as I can after that.
Alaska A (James & Michael): OG, 1st
Alaska B (Colin & Michalea): OO, 1st
Alaska C (Akis & Amie): OO, 1st
Alaska D (Drew & Sarah): CO, 1st
After what will likely go down in history as the most incoherent inspirational speech ever offered (hey, it sounded really good in my head at 2 am) Alaska opened strongly. Not one point dropped, which makes all the difference in establishing a cushion for later rounds.
As has become tradition, the tournament opened with a chestnut motion, but a good one on which to shake off the rust. We were fortunate that ¾ of us were on the opposition for the motion as it’s tricky to argue against the right to collective action. Michael and James did, however, and in so doing also got an Opening Gov out of the way.
Last night’s opening dinner was very nice. A beautifully-decorated room, a decent meal and a great Turkish cover band (Hotel California sung with a Turkish accent was a particular high point) together with short opening speeches made for a fine start to the tournament. Today’s round 1 started only 5 minutes late and we seemed to be in line for a timely start to round 2 as well. A good lunch and a brief break sets us off to round 2. I’ll update the results as quickly as I can after that.
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