At this next tournament, I will dive headfirst into a new speaking event I have never tried: Original Advocacy. I am going to rant for 10 minutes about a problem and propose a government solution. Obviously I have a hard time saying the government should do more than it already does, so I will advocate that we abandon my least favorite government policy ever:
Should the United States end the War on Drugs?
I'm not a druggie, and I still know that drugs are bad. But I also know the only thing worse than drugs is the war we are fighting against them. Watch my favorite people ever as they explain it:
Is it easy to guess which side I am taking? Good. Hopefully some of you disagree. This topic is:
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
The Onion makes me laugh.. but scares me
Preemptive Memorial Honors Future Victims Of Imminent Dam Disaster
FYI I live DIRECTLY below the Folsom Dam. What an article.
Friday, October 19, 2007
Tool
A Tool tour and a new DVD coming out in December... I really couldn't ask for more. Maybe a preview of the DVD? Oh hey, they have that too.
Thursday, October 18, 2007
LD Talking Points
The topic for the first semester of LD debate is: "A just society ought not use the death penalty"
..sooo much room for confusion. So negative on this resolution means pro-death penalty. Who dreamed that up? Anyway, when I started research for this case I didn't honestly have a personal conviction. I decided to write both using the best information and philosophy I could find, and kinda feel it out. After running the case a few times, I decided what I really like to say about it.
First of all, the topic here is not whether the death penalty is effective or humane - the key word is just. To be SURE that the clash in this debate is over justice and not merits of the death penalty, I came right out and used "Justice" as my value. I threw in my token morality argument and talked a bit about the fundamental purposes of criminal punishment. Then I brought in a little bit of an offbeat theme: economics.
The contention says: If human life is to have the highest value, it should cost the most to take it. Like purchasing a material item, you should have to pay more for higher value things. Among those receiving life sentences are drug dealers, gangsters, and even people who have had "three strikes." By giving murderers a life sentence, we establish that taking a human life is as costly, and therefore carries as much value, as violation of the "three strikes" law. We must make these criminals pay the highest price for the highest crime.
..sooo much room for confusion. So negative on this resolution means pro-death penalty. Who dreamed that up? Anyway, when I started research for this case I didn't honestly have a personal conviction. I decided to write both using the best information and philosophy I could find, and kinda feel it out. After running the case a few times, I decided what I really like to say about it.
First of all, the topic here is not whether the death penalty is effective or humane - the key word is just. To be SURE that the clash in this debate is over justice and not merits of the death penalty, I came right out and used "Justice" as my value. I threw in my token morality argument and talked a bit about the fundamental purposes of criminal punishment. Then I brought in a little bit of an offbeat theme: economics.
The contention says: If human life is to have the highest value, it should cost the most to take it. Like purchasing a material item, you should have to pay more for higher value things. Among those receiving life sentences are drug dealers, gangsters, and even people who have had "three strikes." By giving murderers a life sentence, we establish that taking a human life is as costly, and therefore carries as much value, as violation of the "three strikes" law. We must make these criminals pay the highest price for the highest crime.
Thursday, October 4, 2007
September/October Topic
"A just society ought not use the death penalty as a form of punishment"
Still don't know how I feel about it.
Still don't know how I feel about it.
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Saturday, May 12, 2007
Tool's Rosetta Stoned
I came up with my theory of the puzzle behind 10,000 Days, th best album I have ever heard.
Stick with me here.
First of all the entire thing (with the exception of the parts about Maynard's mother) seems to revolve around the theme of several main ideas of Tool's and my favorite comedian: Bill Hicks. If Bill Hicks isn't the key to the puzzle, then the album is at least an ode to his philosophy.
There are some direct references to Hicks. First of all, Hicks claimed to have experienced contact with aliens, and all kinds of other-worldly things when tripping on acid and his favorite, mushrooms. Very Terence McKenna. He claimed that he discovered his ideas about humanity through this psychedelic revelation. Basically, he got high and learned the secret of existence.
The song "Rosetta Stoned" seems to be an almost literal, or at least inspired telling of Hicks' story. "DMT" which Maynard references, is a powerful hallucinogenic substance known for its users' tendency to experience alien encounters and such. Maynard quotes Bill with several phrases he uses: "Stealth banana" and "Picture this if you will" are both phrases literally used by Hicks in his famous bits. "I forgot my pen" the way I interpret it, means that the character in the song has failed to comprehend, or has comprehended but will fail to tell humanity about the truth revealed to him. Bill Hicks died without a lot of people appreciating what he told them.
This one is a bit of a stretch, but it makes sense. Bill Hicks frequently performed in and visited Australia. He talked about it in his routines, and was diagnosed with cancer while visiting there. Perhaps this explains why the doctor has an Australian accent? It represents the end of Bill Hicks' enlightened life.
The theme of drugs opening your eyes, at least on the tracks "Lost Keys" and "Rosetta Stoned" seem to be a definite ode to Bill Hicks. I think I'll go look for Bill in the pictures on the album. Whether or not this is related to the mysterious puzzle I keep hearing about, I'll let you know.
Stick with me here.
First of all the entire thing (with the exception of the parts about Maynard's mother) seems to revolve around the theme of several main ideas of Tool's and my favorite comedian: Bill Hicks. If Bill Hicks isn't the key to the puzzle, then the album is at least an ode to his philosophy.
There are some direct references to Hicks. First of all, Hicks claimed to have experienced contact with aliens, and all kinds of other-worldly things when tripping on acid and his favorite, mushrooms. Very Terence McKenna. He claimed that he discovered his ideas about humanity through this psychedelic revelation. Basically, he got high and learned the secret of existence.
The song "Rosetta Stoned" seems to be an almost literal, or at least inspired telling of Hicks' story. "DMT" which Maynard references, is a powerful hallucinogenic substance known for its users' tendency to experience alien encounters and such. Maynard quotes Bill with several phrases he uses: "Stealth banana" and "Picture this if you will" are both phrases literally used by Hicks in his famous bits. "I forgot my pen" the way I interpret it, means that the character in the song has failed to comprehend, or has comprehended but will fail to tell humanity about the truth revealed to him. Bill Hicks died without a lot of people appreciating what he told them.
This one is a bit of a stretch, but it makes sense. Bill Hicks frequently performed in and visited Australia. He talked about it in his routines, and was diagnosed with cancer while visiting there. Perhaps this explains why the doctor has an Australian accent? It represents the end of Bill Hicks' enlightened life.
The theme of drugs opening your eyes, at least on the tracks "Lost Keys" and "Rosetta Stoned" seem to be a definite ode to Bill Hicks. I think I'll go look for Bill in the pictures on the album. Whether or not this is related to the mysterious puzzle I keep hearing about, I'll let you know.
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
Oak Ridge Speech & Debate!
Update: Well, considering the size and crappiness of our school, he did well. Top 32 in LD for me, and Zack and Nguyen did well in expos (not sure how well, but not finals). Lauren made it to the second break in congress. Awesome season.
Yep. we are sending 3 out of 6 to State this year. Thanks to Nakul for earning us (me) that extra spot in LD. All of your expos and LD are belong to us!!
Yep. we are sending 3 out of 6 to State this year. Thanks to Nakul for earning us (me) that extra spot in LD. All of your expos and LD are belong to us!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
