I'm having an interesting e-mail exchange...
Superior says, "I'm not happy with X".... with the not so subtle implication that X is at least partially my fault.
I send one e-mail in reply with a couple of reasons X may have happened -- and suggesting that X was the choice of the person involved, just like Y was my choice.
Then -- I look on-line to see if X actually IS the case ---
and it isn't. This isn't a case of interpretation -- it is a case of a quick mouse-click and a small amount of counting to see if it is or is not the case..... and it isn't.
Who wants to bet that Superior won't really accept that X isn't the case?
Monday, March 31, 2008
Worries about distant relatives....
When I hear about tragedies in far away places, I have a pang of worry that someone I love might be involved in the tragedy... For example, hubby teases me about being worried that after the Omaha mall shooting, the shooter got to his house and was holding him hostage.
I just heard a radio story about a fireworks accident at an Orlando area Wrestle-mania event.
I have a number of relatives in Orlando...
but, I'm not worried that they were there.
I just heard a radio story about a fireworks accident at an Orlando area Wrestle-mania event.
I have a number of relatives in Orlando...
but, I'm not worried that they were there.
Mother Nature -- I cry UNCLE!!!
Dear Mother Nature,
What's wrong? -- you are so cranky with BN state lately...
Today is the last day of March --- tomorrow is APRIL....you know, the month we are supposed to have buds on the trees, tender green grass and the end of winter!
In fact, you and the weather people must be cooperating -- because they are making up new warnings... I've never heard them give a "heavy snow warning" -- not a 'winter storm warning or watch', not a 'blizzard warning' or anything like that...
As it is, I'm sitting here with ProfGrrrl's postcard (which looks warm) a vase full of tulips and SNOW outside.
I've had enough. I'm over it. If I weren't so darned ethical I'd call in sick tomorrow just to avoid the snow.
Is this EVER going to stop?
Am I going to spend my dissertation "summer" looking out at the white stuff?
Am I going to be trapped in my apartment while several feet of snow pile up outside?
Is this going to be the first year the outdoor pools won't open, and I'll be stuck doing water aerobics inside all summer?
come on -- give us a break.
What's wrong? -- you are so cranky with BN state lately...
Today is the last day of March --- tomorrow is APRIL....you know, the month we are supposed to have buds on the trees, tender green grass and the end of winter!
In fact, you and the weather people must be cooperating -- because they are making up new warnings... I've never heard them give a "heavy snow warning" -- not a 'winter storm warning or watch', not a 'blizzard warning' or anything like that...
As it is, I'm sitting here with ProfGrrrl's postcard (which looks warm) a vase full of tulips and SNOW outside.
I've had enough. I'm over it. If I weren't so darned ethical I'd call in sick tomorrow just to avoid the snow.
Is this EVER going to stop?
Am I going to spend my dissertation "summer" looking out at the white stuff?
Am I going to be trapped in my apartment while several feet of snow pile up outside?
Is this going to be the first year the outdoor pools won't open, and I'll be stuck doing water aerobics inside all summer?
come on -- give us a break.
Sunday, March 30, 2008
If you love debating.... leave for a while
So -- tonight there are only four debaters left in the tournament.
--- and there are a lot of new former debaters.
--- and you were good, really good. The best, even for a couple of years... judges voted for you, competitors loved you -- you were popular, maybe for the first time in your life.
Just like all the seniors before you.
And just like this year's sophomores and juniors will be next year.
It is tempting to hang around, coach or judge. To be part of the 'community' -- whatever that means.
Instead --- you should get out... go away. Do something amazing or mundane... but, leave.
The thing is, you'll never love it more than you did this morning -- and in a year or two your arguments will be forgotten -- and in three or four years, nobody will be competing that you competed against.
In 8 or so, some snarky little pip-squeek will say you've never had a connection to debate -- even when you did much better than he ever did at the big tournament.
So -- go, learn something new, move to a new city, get out and see what the rest of the world does on the weekend.
If you really love it, go get a PhD in comm and THEN get a coaching job.... or, at least take a couple years off between now and your MA / assistant coaching position.
The thing is, the coaches who will hire you will also remember you in a year or two. They'll remember judging you (or they'll look up your NPTE record). They'll ask around, call your old coach and then take a good guess at whether or not you'll be a good coach for their program.
And -- if you leave and return, you'll know you are doing it because it is what you want to do -- not because it is all you CAN do.
--- and there are a lot of new former debaters.
--- and you were good, really good. The best, even for a couple of years... judges voted for you, competitors loved you -- you were popular, maybe for the first time in your life.
Just like all the seniors before you.
And just like this year's sophomores and juniors will be next year.
It is tempting to hang around, coach or judge. To be part of the 'community' -- whatever that means.
Instead --- you should get out... go away. Do something amazing or mundane... but, leave.
The thing is, you'll never love it more than you did this morning -- and in a year or two your arguments will be forgotten -- and in three or four years, nobody will be competing that you competed against.
In 8 or so, some snarky little pip-squeek will say you've never had a connection to debate -- even when you did much better than he ever did at the big tournament.
So -- go, learn something new, move to a new city, get out and see what the rest of the world does on the weekend.
If you really love it, go get a PhD in comm and THEN get a coaching job.... or, at least take a couple years off between now and your MA / assistant coaching position.
The thing is, the coaches who will hire you will also remember you in a year or two. They'll remember judging you (or they'll look up your NPTE record). They'll ask around, call your old coach and then take a good guess at whether or not you'll be a good coach for their program.
And -- if you leave and return, you'll know you are doing it because it is what you want to do -- not because it is all you CAN do.
Let's hear it for the women....
Common wisdom says that female/female debate teams don't win.
The reasons are complicated, including sexist notions about how women should communicate and the fact that women don't often stay in debate long enough and focus on it enough to be highly competitive...
but, the bit tournament has a female/female team in the top 8 (at least one, as there are two teams I don't know...).
They are up against seniors who have been uber-competitive for four years ---- so beating them won't be easy.
On the plus side, what I know of the 5-person panel leads me to think that the panel is a pretty good one for their style.
So -- go FM!!!
The reasons are complicated, including sexist notions about how women should communicate and the fact that women don't often stay in debate long enough and focus on it enough to be highly competitive...
but, the bit tournament has a female/female team in the top 8 (at least one, as there are two teams I don't know...).
They are up against seniors who have been uber-competitive for four years ---- so beating them won't be easy.
On the plus side, what I know of the 5-person panel leads me to think that the panel is a pretty good one for their style.
So -- go FM!!!
NPDA, the saga continues....
It seems there was an appeal of the late round last night.... so, they're already starting late.
I feel bad for those folks out in Colorado... I'm sure the appeals are probably valid appeals --- but, the whole tournament is getting bogged down with them.
I have lots of friends out there, just wanting to get on with it. The build-up of nervous energy is really draining.... the students get their adrenaline going and it doesn't turn off when there is a delay.
Even though some people put NPTE and NPDA in some kind of bizarre competition -- I don't see it that way... I wanted them to have a good tournament. I wanted my coach and competitor friends to enjoy a smoothly run tournament and to have fun together. As it is, I suppose they have plenty of time to hang out and talk -- but, the point is to be debating... they can talk later.
So -- I wish y'all good luck out there --- and I hope it gets moving soon.
Updated to add... postings are supposed to be ready at 10:00.... 90 minutes late, ouch -- that is a hard way to start the day.
I feel bad for those folks out in Colorado... I'm sure the appeals are probably valid appeals --- but, the whole tournament is getting bogged down with them.
I have lots of friends out there, just wanting to get on with it. The build-up of nervous energy is really draining.... the students get their adrenaline going and it doesn't turn off when there is a delay.
Even though some people put NPTE and NPDA in some kind of bizarre competition -- I don't see it that way... I wanted them to have a good tournament. I wanted my coach and competitor friends to enjoy a smoothly run tournament and to have fun together. As it is, I suppose they have plenty of time to hang out and talk -- but, the point is to be debating... they can talk later.
So -- I wish y'all good luck out there --- and I hope it gets moving soon.
Updated to add... postings are supposed to be ready at 10:00.... 90 minutes late, ouch -- that is a hard way to start the day.
Oh lord, what now -- NPDA style....
So my pals in Colorado finally got their last elimination round of the night off...
It was late, but now it is done....
or, not ---- it seems that there is a protest (or perhaps more than one) that couldn't be settled last night. So the results aren't final and thus they can't make the 'judges needed in the morning' list.
I'm sure this is stressful for the teams involved -- while most of the tournament knows if they are eliminated or not -- the teams in the protest round(s?) don't... and probably won't find out until they arrive at the tournament.
Also, this will lead to a bunch of judge 'confusion' -- Many judges will drink anyway and either not show up or show up drunk/hungover. They'll be making terrible decisions they can't explain --- which makes me much more angry than I can express here....
Last time the protests were about the 25 minute forfeit rule (you have 25 minutes to prepare your arguments on the new resolution AND get to the debating room... teams aren't really good at the getting to the debating room part of that). I wonder what this is about.....
It was late, but now it is done....
or, not ---- it seems that there is a protest (or perhaps more than one) that couldn't be settled last night. So the results aren't final and thus they can't make the 'judges needed in the morning' list.
I'm sure this is stressful for the teams involved -- while most of the tournament knows if they are eliminated or not -- the teams in the protest round(s?) don't... and probably won't find out until they arrive at the tournament.
Also, this will lead to a bunch of judge 'confusion' -- Many judges will drink anyway and either not show up or show up drunk/hungover. They'll be making terrible decisions they can't explain --- which makes me much more angry than I can express here....
Last time the protests were about the 25 minute forfeit rule (you have 25 minutes to prepare your arguments on the new resolution AND get to the debating room... teams aren't really good at the getting to the debating room part of that). I wonder what this is about.....
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