Month: May 2010 Page 2 of 3

CFL Nats R&D: Education, Health & Human Services, Housing & Urban Development

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On May 22, 2010

In R&D, U.S. Extemp

Texas board to finish social studies guidelines from the Associated Press

Schools, students sue state over funding from the San Francisco Chronicle

U.S. schools chief: We’re in ‘educational emergency’ from CNN

Pawlenty won’t go after federal education grant from Business Week

Education chief says 300,000 teachers could lose jobs from the Boston Globe

New financial regulations bring tougher rules for mortgage borrowing, lending from the New Jersey Star Ledger

What the healthcare law means for small businesses from the Los Angeles Times

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CFL Nats R&D: Agriculture, Interior, Energy, Transportation

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On May 21, 2010

In R&D, U.S. Extemp

Farmers say risk management program too complex from Business Week

Tesla to build electric cars at Northern California plant from the Los Angeles Times

U.S. Bans Japan Beef Imports After Foot-And-Mouth Outbreak  from Bloomberg

EPA scolds BP in Gulf oil spill: dispersant is too toxic, change it from the Christian Science Monitor

Interior Secretary Salazar provides details on plan for Minerals Management Service from the Washington Post

Obama to Mandate Rules to Raise Fuel Standards from the New York Times

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Extemp Central News Quiz Answers for the Week of May 17th-21st, 2010

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On May 21, 2010

In Quiz

Here are the answers for this week’s Extemp Central news quiz.  Check back on Monday for the newest news quiz.  Also, over the weekend check back at Extemp Central as we post more R&D’s for the CFL extemp topic areas and the CFL extemp topic brief book will be up by Wednesday!

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CFL Nats R&D: The State Department

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On May 20, 2010

In R&D, U.S. Extemp

Clinton’s New START Misstatements from the Heritage Foundation

US-Mexico tensions darken visit of President Felipe Calderón from the Christian Science Monitor

Mexico-U.S. Relations: What’s Next? from the Americas Quarterly

Japan, US to end base row: reports from the Agence France Presse

The Say-Do Gap and Obama’s Engagement Strategy from the Center for a New American Security

Seoul’s Charges Usher In New Tensions from the Wall Street Journal

U.S. envoy urges leading Iraqi politicians to look beyond personal ambitions from the Washington Post

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CFL Nats R&D: Africa, Australia, and Oceania

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On May 19, 2010

In International Extemp, R&D

South Africa’s World Cup:  Who Profits Most from the Economist

Australian price on carbon is inevitable, concedes Hockey  from the Sydney Morning Herald

Old ills could dash a new southern Sudan’s hopes from the Los Angeles Times

Namadi Sambo confirmed as Nigeria vice-president from the BBC

Deposed PM Says Government Still Exists from Garowe Online

White South Africans use Facebook in campaign to return to Holland from the Christian Science Monitor

Gay Couple Convicted in Malawi from the New York Times

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HotTopics: International Extemp Questions for the Week of May 18th-24th, 2010

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On May 19, 2010

In International Extemp, Weekly Questions

1.  In light of the EU’s recent deals to protect the euro zone, has the organization become a “transfer union”?
2.  Can Benigno Aquino revitalize the Filipino economy?
3.  How will the departure of Wan Yanhai impact China’s fight against AIDS?
4.  Are Maoist protesters in Nepal negotiating from a position of strength or weakness?
5.  Will the Greek bailout lead to the downfall of Merkel’s government?
6.  Are Tymoshenko’s concerns about Russian influence in the Crimea valid?
7.  How should the international community respond to violence against homosexuals in Africa?
8.  Will the latest EU-Central American free trade deal be implemented?
9.  Is it a mistake for Israel to reject Qatar’s bid for a restoration of diplomatic relations?
10.  How should China respond to South Korea’s findings that North Korea sank a South Korean warship in March?

CFL Nats R&D: Europe & Asia

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On May 18, 2010

In International Extemp, R&D

Russia Seeks Energy Cooperation With Ukraine from the Wall Street Journal

EU Finance Ministers Take On Hedge Funds from Der Spiegel

Russia defends Medvedev-Hamas talks from Al Jazeera

Beijing changes tune on nuclear Kim from the Asia Times

David Cameron led Conservatives to Power by Moving to the Center from the Christian Science Monitor

EU, Central American states reach trade deal from Reuters

Thai Strife Threatens Investment from the Wall Street Journal

Ex-Tamil Tiger fighters held in limbo from the BBC

WHO demands immediate end to Gaza blockade from the Agence France Presse

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HotTopics: United States Extemp Questions for the Week of May 18th-24th, 2010

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On May 18, 2010

In U.S. Extemp, Weekly Questions

1.  Should the U.S. put off new sanctions on Iran in light of Iran’s agreement to send low-enriched uranium to Turkey?
2.  What steps can the federal government take to ensure that another offshore oil drilling disaster does not occur?
3.  Should Obama’s aunt Zeituni Onyango have been granted asylum?
4.  Are public employee unions too powerful?
5.  How optimistic should GM executives be after the company posted its first quarterly profit in three years?
6.  Will Eric Holder file a lawsuit against Arizona’s new immigration law? 
7.  Should ethnic studies programs be banned?
8.  How big of a blow to school reform advocates is the decision by Central Fall High School to rehire much of its staff who were fired earlier this year?
9.  What did Tuesday’s primaries say about the mood of the American electorate?
10.  Does the Supreme Court’s ruling in US v. Comstock demonstrate that federalism is not a high priority among the Court’s conservatives?

CFL Nats R&D: Americas, Non-U.S.

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On May 17, 2010

In International Extemp, R&D

Each day, Extemp Central will be presenting R&D’s for CFL’s nine topic areas.  It is hoped that extempers can use these as a guide to beef up their files/research for the tournament.

Brazil & Iran Call for New Economic Order from the Latin American Herald Tribune

Gay killings increase in Mexico from the Latin American Post

Haitian Earthquake Survivors Need Social and Economic Rights from Upside Down World

Venezuela Stocks Down 43% in Official Rate US Dollar Terms for the Year from the Latin American Herald Tribune

EU farmers led by France promise to lobby against concessions for Mercosur from MercoPress

Mexico manhunt for missing politician Diego Fernandez de Cevallos from the Christian Science Monitor

Argentina and the World from the Buenos Aires Herald

Venezuela Imposing ‘Draconian Clampdown’ on Markets from the Latin American Post

2009-2010 Extemp Central National Points Race: TOC Creates Some Shakeups

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On May 17, 2010

In National Points Race

The 2009-2010 Extemp Central National Points Race standings have been updated to reflect the results of the Extemporaneous Speaking Tournament of Champions (TOC) at Northwestern University.  After new results were put in, the National Points Race has become more competitive and the National Team Points Race has a new leader.  To check out the new standings, click on the “Natl Points Race” tab at the top of this page or click here.

There are two National Points Race tournaments remaining:  CFL and NFL Nationals.  CFL is a third tier tournament and will provide 100 points to the winner.  NFL Nationals is the only first tier tournament on the schedule and it will provide 200 points to its winner and 25 additional bonus points to the winners of the USX and IX final rounds.  With these tournaments remaining, the National Points Race is still up in the air so keep following Extemp Central through NFL to find out who the 2009-2010 National Points Race champion will be.

Extemp Central News Quiz for the Week of May 17th-21st, 2010 (Short Answer Version)

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On May 17, 2010

In Quiz

Think you can do the quiz without choices?  If so, here’s the short answer version of this week’s news quiz.  Good luck!

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Extemp Central News Quiz for the Week of May 17th-21st, 2010 (Multiple Choice Version)

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On May 17, 2010

In Quiz

Here is the multiple choice version of this week’s news quiz.  Pick well and good luck!

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Extemp Central Recognized at the Extemp TOC!

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On May 17, 2010

In Extemp TOC, Site News

Yesterday, Extemp Central was recognized at the Extemp TOC awards ceremony for its role in assisting the high school extemp community.  Although the TOC Service Award was awarded to me, I would like to say that the award should be shared with Corey Alderdice, our website manager, as well as everyone who has worked for the site since it came online in the summer of 2006:  Michael Garson, Colin West, Hunter Kendrick, Sebastian Pyrek, Adam Johnson, Stacey Chen, Mark Royce, Ian Panchevre, Omar Qureshi, Akshar Rambachan, Nicholas Cugini, Max Webster, David Tannenwald, Bill Thompson, Rob Warchol, Sarah Anand, Matt Arons, and Evan Larson.

Also, thank you to everyone who has helped spread the word about Extemp Central.  It continues to grow and it is good to know that many programs and students have found it useful over the last several years.   Without your support, this website would not exist.  Look for the return of R&D (based on CFL/NFL topic areas) starting late Monday evening, the wrap up of this year’s National Points Race, topic area brief books for CFL & NFL Nats, and other resources in the run up to NFL Nationals in Kansas City!

Extemp Central thanks the Extemp TOC and its staff for the recognition.

-Logan Scisco

Live from the Extemp TOC: Zewail Earns Convincing Victory; San Marino (CA) & L.C. Anderson High School (TX) Place Two in Finals

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On May 17, 2010

In Extemp TOC, National Circuit Results

After two intense days of competition, the eighth annual Extemp Tournament of Champions has concluded at Northwestern University.  On a day that began with the announcement of the 24 participants in quarter-finals, Nabeel Zewail of San Marino High School in California, a finalist at Yale, the California Invitational at Berkeley, and the Exhibition Round champion at this year’s Montgomery Bell Extemp Round Robin, marched through the tournament and won each of his elimination rounds to become the champion.  Zewail was joined in the final by San Marino teammate Oscar Wang, who made his second national circuit final appearance of the season.  L.C. Anderson High School in Texas also had a strong showing, with Haydn Forrest placing second and Shaan Heng Devan placing fifth in his second consecutive TOC final round appearance.  Mirza Germovic of Des Moines Roosevelt High School in Iowa, MBA participant and George Mason finalist, and Valerie Shen of James Madison Memorial High School in Wisconsin rounded out the final.  (More after the jump)

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Live from the Extemp TOC: How Pairings Unfolded

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On May 17, 2010

In Extemp TOC, National Circuit News

Unfortunately, the lack of a wireless connection prohibited live coverage from yesterday’s elimination rounds at the TOC.  Despite that, this post contains the pairings for the quarter-final, semi-final, and final rounds so everyone can see how the tournament developed.  The number in parenthesis is the seeding of the extemper based on preliminary results.  It took a cumulative score of 32 across 11 ballots (the lowest rank of each extemper was dropped in prelims) to break to quarter-finals.

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