Ground Zero Mosque Debate

On the week right after half term, Mr. Evershed was away, so Debating was canceled. Not that I would have attended, as I was sick practically the whole week, but it's the principle of the thing; because Mr. Evershed was away, it doesn't look so bad for me to skip another session.

The prepared debate about the Ground Zero Mosque ("THBT a mosque should be allowed to be built near Ground Zero") was finally debated this Monday, the 1st of November.

It sucked big time.

First of all, the teams were all mixed up since quite a substantial number of people were not in attendance. On top of that, it had been about 2 weeks since I'd done the research and I was unfamiliar with the topic. It was my first time trying the role of the First speaker, and I had no idea whatsoever how to start the debate.

I spoke like a 6th grader debating for the first time.

At least it's so bad that it can only get better from here...

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On the topic of the actual debate itself:

The "Ground Zero Mosque" is a planned mosque being built near the 9-11 World Trade Center terrorist attacks Ground Zero. I feel that it brings into focus the still on-going tension between religious ideology even in the 21st century, and even years after 9-11. The ongoing controversy and debate surrounding it is another symptom of the mutual hate and suspicion that the terrorist suicide bombings, religious wars, etc, going on in the world, especially in the Middle East, are rooted in.

screenshot of my section of the debate research/plan:

Missing Athletics heats.

Dear Diary,

This past week sucked. Not only was the experience of being ill terrible in and of itself, I missed Inter-House Athletics heats, which was on Thursday, after training hard for it during mid-term break.

Trying to see if I can be seeded into the finals anyway using my time from last year.

HKSSF Swimming: Day 2

South Island School was overall 4th in the Division. Our C-grade was amazing, coming 2nd and pulling our overall score up to get 4th. It was a really great experience; it was the first time the swimming team has ever achieved something like this in the years I've been on the team.

Despite the overall success of the team, however, my individual performance was lame. I missed my one remaining event. =.= I missed marshalling as I was in the washroom, and when I got back they wouldn't let me swim even the the event hadn't started yet. Mr. Picknell had an argument with the officials about it, but they didn't relent.

Economics tutoring, lesson 3

Lesson 3. Inflation.

HKSSF Swimming Day 1

HKSSF Division Two swimming heats took place last Friday. As the day approached my excitement grew. I was certain that I could get into the final in my main individual event, the 50m butterfly, as I had last year, and perhaps even be a contender for a medal, as my personal time had recently reached a personal best of 30.26 seconds and I felt I could drop that further.



youtube link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8PcAL8DQEX8&feature=channel_video_title

Unfortunately, when the time came, I did not perform to expectations, stopping the clock at 31.17, 10th place and cut off from the finals. Upon completing the race, I knew immediately without even looking at the clock that I had not made the final. My reaction time had been slow, I took 1 fewer underwater dolphins then planned, and then had a horrible breakout that had me expend extra energy getting into the pace of my stroke. Combined with having gone all out in inter-house cross-country the previous day, I had completely run out of energy by the last 20m or so, and then touching the wall with a glide rather than a full stroke. Watching the video, graciously taken by Victor at my request, I see that I was stroking at the same pace as the person in the next lane, lane 5, until the second half of the 50m, when I started falling back. In the end, that person got into the finals with a sub-30 time. Not to be arrogant, but judging from my knowledge of my own ability, I strongly believe that I could have kept up if not for fatiguing prematurely due to cross country the previous day.

After my 50 fly, I also took part in the 4x50m medley relay. Although our team came 10th in 2:13:30, falling short of the top eight again, I met my goal of proving to myself that I could indeed go faster than 31 in 50fly. I spit a 30.78... which would have made the final in 7th place. 

Although I did not manage to make the finals in either event, I take heart in the fact that I will still be at finals day completing in the 200IM, which is a straight-final event. At first, when I was slated to swim the 200IM, I was, to put it lightly, unenthusiastic. Now, however, it appears it was a blessing in disguise.

Photos from Debating

The motion of the debate last week was that "it should be compulsory for women over the age of 18 to own tasers." Tiffany gave us some quick feedback afterward. She said, for example, that I contradicted myself by first saying that the proposition team was discriminating against women by generalising that all women need weapons to protect themselves, and then saying that women under 18 should not be excluded.

I really appreciate the tips she gave us, and I will definitely take them into account in my next debate.

Also, I got one of the other club members to help me take some photos: