whoa... we're wireless at Gig Harbor: part II

8:16 a.m.
I have to add the a.m. suffix, now, since this is Day Two of the Gig Harbor tournament, and we're smack dab in the middle of Round One, Pattern A. I'm running on zucchini bread, an egg, slightly caffeinated coffee, and moxie. If you're awake and reading this "live," my empathy is boundless.

10:24
I watched a Public Forum round. The resolution: that the United States government should implement universal health care based on the French system. Negative contention one: "universal" means "covering every condition at 100%" and since the French system isn't "universal" in this way, it's logically flawed and we can't affirm. Never mind that in the context of health care, "universal" and "comprehensive" aren't synonyms. Shorthand version of the contention: the framers are stupid.

11:56
Competing in Lincoln-Douglas debate means knowing what ICCPR stands for. It's great reading, trust me.

2:12
Pattern B--Impromptu, Humorous Interp, Oratory, and, as my former coach called it, I Can Read. The ratio of nervous energy to fatigue is reaching a critical level.

3:04
With his wireless connection, Mr. Anderson liveblogs, or, in better moments, helps debaters research important statistics or arguments to bolster their previously-demolished contentions. August, on the other hand, downloads service packs onto a jump drive so he can transfer them to his wireless-less tablet PC.

3:38
What is the carbon footprint of a debate tournament?

5:14
"Did somebody not take a Gandhi quote? How do you not take a Gandhi quote?"