Author Archive
For Every Reaction There Is A Equal And Opposite Reaction
Suffice it to say that my reaction to last Sunday’s NFA-LD competition was the antithesis of David’s, with one exception – and that exception, which I want to stress at the outset – is highly important, so let me begin with the positive. In the four debates I judged, I saw 7 very intelligent, hard-working, and sincere college [...]
Is the K Okay in NFA?
Recent posts, plus questions from my own debaters, lead me to ask this question: Is a Kritik ( ”K”) even permitted by the NFA-LD Rules? Frankly, I have no inclinations one way or another, but I would like to hear the issue debated. And it might be helpful if we were all to agree to a [...]
Tournament Schedule – NFA National Qualifiers
Is anyone else READY FOR SOME L.D. DEBATE? I sure would like to see a 2010-11 Tournament Schedule – and particularly which tournaments earn you an invite to the “Big Dance” in (ya gotta love this, given the topic) “NORMAL ILLinois…”! BTW: Is PCC having its tournament this year, and – if so – is [...]
Yesterday’s PSCFA Demonstration Debate
(1) KUDOS: First and foremost, thanks to Josh for “coming off the bench” on a totally ad hoc basis, and debating the Negative with virtually no opportunity to prepare. Josh was a class act yesterday – both as a debater and as a human being. (2) CONTENT SUMMARY: The Affirmative Case was what we at [...]
Reflections Upon the Coaches Meeting from an Inside Dope
As many/most of you know, on Friday-Sunday last, the PSCFA Coaches’ Meeting was held in San Diego. Based upon what I saw/heard there from the “Directors” of various programs, as well as what I have read (with glee) in the wording of the tournament invitations I have received, I feel that some advice to competitors [...]
New Evidence for Inherency
As anyone reading this blog should know, a NFA-LD debate is, at least according to the official “Paradigm for Judging,” supposed to be argued and decided on “traditional stock issues.” One of those traditional stock issues is “inherency.” Moreoever, the “Paradigm for Judging” identifies proving inherency as one of the Affirmative’s “three initial burdens.” (Put [...]
“The Spread,” Speed, and Activist Judges (Part 2)
…. PREVIOUSLY ON SO-CAL-LD.net**: A. This is the second – and concluding – Post on the issue of the alleged “Anti-Spread/Anti-Speed Rule” in NFA-LD debate. If you have not read Part 1 (which I posted on 8/2/10, and which bears the same title), please do so before reading this Post. B. This is NOT a [...]
“The Spread,” Speed, and Activist Judges (Part 1)
In accordance with what I understand my duties as a “Coach Contributor” to this Board to be, this Post is primarily addressed to other coaches. However, I hope everyone in the SoCal-LD community will read it. And I am happy to accept any/all feedback – positive or negative – from anyone. Yesterday, I basically took [...]
8 Important Websites
A GREAT Sunday morning to all! Those of you who are varsity (experiened) NFA-LD’ers know that, even as I am writing this post, the good people (faculty and students) at Otterbein are in 24/7 debate-camp-mania-mode, churning out what will probably become known as the “Lafayette Briefs.” Otterbein ends a week from today – and the [...]
“Here I Stand” (Lennon or Luther?)
I was not required to make a “CANDIDATE STATEMENT” before being elected, or selected, or whatever I was… prior to holding the position on this Board that I am now truly honored to hold. So, belatedly – and rather than say this as tangential to the context of some procedural or substantive thread – I [...]
Monkeying Around With PIC’s & Teepees
I have chosen to address the controversy over “PIC’s” (Proposition-Inclusive-Counterplans), or what I call “Teepees*” (Topic Plus – [fill-in-the blank] Counterplans) as a new and separate thread, instead of responding directly to Nick Matthew’s excellent Post “defending” PICS (and attacking the NFA’s “PARADIGM FOR JUDGING”, which appears in the thread, “Let The Fun Begin.” ! [...]
For Those NOT Going to Otterbein
I urge you to take the time to actually read two major works before launching into card-cutting. This will give the focus you need to cut evidence intelligently. (1) What will probably become known as “The Bush Commission Report…” full title “The President’s New Freedom Commission on Mental Health – ACHIEVING THE PROMISE: TRANSFORMING MENTAL [...]
