[eDebate] The evolution of STA

[David Rhaesa]

I remember we discussed the computerization of tabroom back at the DSR-TKA 
tournament in Lubbock, TX.  Parson was pensive and Rhodes assured us that 
the pencil sharpeners would be lonely.

BUT,

I applaud the work of the computer technicians.  At Baylor, Robert Wood and 
I would play Sports-Illustrated computerized NBA basketball back when it was 
a paper and pencil version.  At Dartmouth I survived on some computer game 
boxing match.  By Augustana, I was using Rich Edwards program and plugging 
in the great world philosophers as the debaters and flipping a coin to 
determine the round outcomes.  And as a youngster in Salina, Kansas I played 
Ballpark Baseball at the Ballpark bar at Santa Fe and Ellsworth.  I remember 
the St. Louis Cardinals world series team from the 50s with Jo Medwick.  I 
joined a league with kids a year older than I and picked the 27 Yankees.  
They decided that they'd let me use them even if the league was supposed to 
be for more current teams and there were rules and guidelines.  I missed 
quite a few of my games.  But it was fun when I made it to them.  Sadly, the 
Ballpark burned down and is now replaced by some homeopathic massage 
aromatherapy where the foosball table kind of place.

Clearly there is a place for paper and pencils and computerization working 
in tandem in this world.

I've been writing poetry with a friend so I apologize for being Strange.

David


"We are really dealing with a synthetic form; IN ORDER TO BELIEVE in magical 
behavior it is necessary to be highly disturbed."
Jean-Paul Sartre, The Emotions Outline of a Theory p.75


>From: Joe Bellon <gsudebate at mindspring.com>
>To: edebate at ndtceda.com
>Subject: Re: [eDebate] The evolution of STA
>Date: Thu, 11 Mar 2004 12:59:12 -0500
>
>I would like to echo the thanks that others have given to Rich, Gary, and 
>Jon. I remember what tournaments were like back when they used to be paired 
>with index cards, transparencies, and grease pencils. The current situation 
>is so much better that I often can't find words to explain how much worse 
>things used to be. The unbelievable effort that Rich, Gary, and Jon have 
>put forth on behalf of the community is one of the things that I think 
>about when asked why debate is a special place.
>
>After our last fall tournament, I failed to publicly thank Jon Bruschke, in 
>particular, for being such a wonderful help. When I screwed up a basic 
>entry setting and couldn't figure out how to fix it after the first night 
>of the tournament, he was available via cell phone and solved my problem in 
>seconds. I can't count the number of times Rich Edwards has answered my 
>panicked TRM questions when I called him at home.
>
>Sometimes we focus so much on the implementation difficulties of new 
>systems that it can seem like we are an ungrateful bunch. Talking with 
>others who run tournaments, I know that we really are thankful. It's good 
>to have an opportunity to publicly thank some of the many people who 
>sacrifice on our behalf.
>
>Joe Bellon
>Director of Debate
>Georgia State University
>
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