2005 in Review: Themes

Larry McGrath has submitted to me the newest installment of “Neat Things by Larry,” but I’ll give him the honor of being the first column of the new year by posting it tomorrow. We’re about a half hour short of the New Year here in New York, which means that the first official post of the year 2006 is on its way (recalibrated to Pacific Standard Time, of course). In the meantime, a retrospective on two themes, with a third forthcoming. Enjoy the final few hours and minutes of the year 2005!

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Picturing Princeton (At Last!)

PRINCETON, NJ - It took forever and a half, but there are finally pictures from the Princeton Classic in VB Photos, courtesy of VBD’s intrepid correspondent Anjan Choudhury. Enjoy!

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Gearing Up for Nationals

Early in the new year, you’ll be seeing some very subtle changes here at Victory Briefs Daily–to offer one tantalizing preview, there won’t be a million-year delay on comments anymore–and you’ll also see the reintroduction of one our most popular features, Live from the NFL. With your help, we’ll be providing coverage of every district tournament in the country, and that reporting will serve as the lead-up to our week of up-to-the-minute reports from Nationals in Dallas.

As your districts begin hold their tournaments, be sure to send the results–as well as a photo of the LD qualifiers–to Jon Cruz. Since Live from the NFL is not yet open, we’ll break with tradition and report the first national qualifiers in the country here on our main page. Be sure to check the preceding article to congratulate these fine debaters!

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NFL Results: Central Minnesota District

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - Congratulations are in order for Apple Valley High School’s Erin Granlund and Coon Rapids High School’s Amanda Bryan! Barbara Bryan has informed VBD that the two debaters have qualified to represent the Central Minnesota District this June in Dallas at the 2006 National Tournament. The first alternate is Ronni Toledo of Apple Valley.

Erin and Ronni are coached by Pam Cady-Wycoff, Cherian Koshy, and Tim Hogan. Amanda is coached by Myles Wagner.

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Connecting for College: Class of 2006 Edition

Good luck to all those senior debaters on circuits across America who have applied to college and are hearing back from them now. This is an open invitation for all debaters nationwide to share college acceptances, news, and whatnot. (Think of it this way: the sooner you share, after all, the sooner you can make contacts for potential future judging jobs!)

For those who are waiting to hear back or who are still finishing up applications, best of luck from Victory Briefs.

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Into the Great Wide Open: An Open Thread

SANTA MONICA, CA - We’re coming close to the end of 2006. Over on TheVi.be I posted a list of predictions for 2006 as thought up by a friend of mine over at Fimoculous.com. I’ve always been one to ring in the new year in a rather subtle fashion. Normally, I make big plans to go out and party like a rock-star. In the end, though, I usually flake on my plans and just go to bed early. This year, now that I live in LA, I suppose I ought to give the rock-star plans a try. We’ll see. How will you spend your New Year’s Eve?

Oh! Remember the completely open thread doesn’t need to be about this topic. That is only a potential starter. As per usual… Rant, Rave, but please be respectful!

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VBT Hotel Information

SANTA MONICA, CA - If you are planning on staying at the tournament hotel for the VBT, and have not yet made your reservation, PLEASE EMAIL ME ASAP! Our block is in over-flow and I need to tell them TODAY if they need to open more rooms. If you do not get in the block, the rate per night is $225.00.

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