Here are the answers for this week’s Extemp Central news quiz.
Month: August 2010 Page 3 of 4
Here is your R&D for August 13th:
Dissidents say Iran nuclear sanctions are helping Ahmadinejad from the Christian Science Monitor
Are U.S. sanctions against Iran working? A group of Iranian dissidents say they are not.
Green Light and Delay on Same-Sex Marriage from the New York Times
The federal judge who ruled that Proposition 8 was unconstitutional over a week ago has lifted a temporary stay that prevented same-sex marriages from being conducted. However, its mixed news for gay couples because he allowed the Ninth Circuit Couple of Appeals time to consider the issue.
One more bailout from the Boston Globe
Although President Obama has said that there won’t be any more Wall Street bailouts, some believe that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, government owned mortgage entities, will get a government bailout shortly. Find out what the future might hold for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in this article.
Into the Inferno: Russia’s Wildfires Provide the Prime Minister with an Opportunity to Show How Much He Cares from the Economist
Russian Prime Minister and former President (and he may be president again) Vladimir Putin recently piloted a plane that dropped 12 tons of water on wildfires plaguing central Russia. How will the wildfires impact Putin’s future political aspirations?
South Asian ‘superbug’ spreads to Australia from the Sydney Morning Herald
In an era of easy international travel and medical tourism scientists worry that superbugs that are drug resistant will spread and create a medical crisis. This provides a good example for a speech on global medical issues.
Just like last year, the third tier of the Extemp Central National Points Race has more tournaments than any other tier. With the Extemp TOC falling into the fourth tier, find out which tournament moved up.
Also, this year there will be a change in how third tier tournaments are tabulated. Instead of points only being given to finalists, students who reach quarter-final and semi-final rounds at these tournaments will also receive points. A breakdown of how points are awarded will be revealed next week.
The following tournaments have been selected as fourth tier tournaments for the 2010-2011 National Points Race. The criteria in selecting these three tournaments for this tier is that they had more participation or higher quality fields than tournaments in the fifth tier, but lacked the prestige and/or the extremely wide participation of tournaments in the third tier.
This year, Extemp Central will award points for the finalists AND semi-finalists of these tournaments. A complete listing of the points that will be awarded will be announced next week.
Here is your R&D top five for August 12th:
Low Approval of Congress Not Budging, Now 19% from Gallup
Extempers always need poll data, especially for domestic politics speeches. This article discusses Congress’s continually low approval rating and how voters of all parties are not satisfied with the legislative branch.
North Korea offers ginseng to pay Czech debt from the Financial Times of London
Thought the North Korean economy was bad? This story is great AGD material about how short on funds the current North Korean government is.
$3 Billion Allocated For Jobless Homeowners from the Los Angeles Times
The American housing market is still reeling and the Obama administration hopes that more aid to jobless homeowners will solidify it. Read about the nation’s foreclosure problems in this article.
Somalia’s Ban on Aid Agencies is Condemned from IRIN (courtesy of AllAfrica)
The Islamic terror group Al Shabab has banned three aid organization from operating in south-central Somalia because they are allegedly proselytizing. Read more about the ban and its impact on Somalia’s people.
Blagojevich jurors suggest they may be deadlocked from the Washington Post
If you thought that the federal government’s case against former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich was a slam dunk think again. The jury has said that its deadlocked on some counts.
This year the Extemp Central National Points Race will keep the five tiered system that was introduced last year. Tournaments in this year’s fifth tier will award points for all finalists, or those that finish in the top six if there are more than six finalists.
Below are the tournaments that will compose this year’s fifth tier of the National Points Race.
Here is your R&D top five for August 11th:
Why we need to let states go broke from the New York Post
Political strategist Dick Morris argues that federal bailouts to states send the wrong message and that a new Congress after the 2010 elections should amend federal bankruptcy law so that states can declare bankruptcy and abrogate the agreements they have with public employee unions.
Agricultural Production Falls 7.5% in Cuba from the Latin American Herald Tribune
Times are tough for the Cuban economy. Falling agricultural production has made Cuba import more food and has spurred calls for economic reform for the tiny island nation.
The Costs of Pakistan’s Floods from the Council on Foreign Relations
In this enlightening article, the Council on Foreign Relations summarizes the issues facing Pakistan after the worst flooding it has ever experienced. It links to other articles that will help extempers build a file for this important issue.
Colorado Democrat Bennet escapes anti-incumbent mood from Reuters
Yesterday was election day in Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, and Minnesota. Michael Bennett, Colorado’s incumbent Democratic Senator, who had the support of President Obama, defeated an insurgent campaign from Andrew Romanoff. Get a summary of yesterday’s primary action in this article.
Ginsburg urges cooperation on judicial nominees from the San Francisco Chronicle
Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg said that partisan arguments over judicial appointments are regrettable and that more bipartisanship is needed in the judicial confirmation process.
1. Will Alvaro Uribe’s departure smoothe relations between Colombia and Venezuela?
2. Who should be the British Labor Party’s next leader?
3. Will South Africa’s government workers win their recent labor dispute?
4. Does a recent landslide show that China needs to adopt more aggressive environmental protection policies?
5. Would compensation to South Korea for World War II abuses imperil the DPJ?
6. Is Lebanon or Iran a bigger short term threat to Israeli security?
7. How can the Greek government create a stronger consensus for austerity measures?
8. Should Mexico consider legalizing drugs?
9. Why was Paul Kagame’s victory in the Rwandan presidential election so lopsided?
10. How will recent wildfires impact Vladimir Putin’s political standing?
Here is your R&D for August 10th:
2012 calendar moved back, for now from Politico
The Republican Party has tentatively fixed its 2012 presidential primary calendar and placed the Iowa caucus on the first Tuesday in February.
Rwandan president plans victory party ahead of early election results from the Washington Post
Not a fan of Rwandan President Paul Kagame? This article strengthens the argument that the Rwandan presidential election is a mere formality.
First Guantánamo military tribunal under Obama gears up from the Christian Science Monitor
The first military tribunal under President obama’s term starts Tuesday. This article provides an overview of the trial.
Higher Education and the Economy from the Brookings Institute
Grover Whitehurst argues in this piece that America’s diversity in higher education is a great asset that the government needs to take advantage of to boost American economic competitiveness.
Hillary for Vice President? from the Wall Street Journal
Some Democratic political advisors are championing a 2012 switch where Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Vice-President Joe Biden would swap roles. Why do people want this? Read this short article to find out.
1. Is education the biggest economic challenge facing the United States?
2. Should online gambling be legalized?
3. Why is President Obama’s support among white voters falling?
4. Would drug legalization by the United States be the best form of assistance to Mexico in its drug war?
5. Is the cost of Michelle Obama’s recent vacation news worthy?
6. How can the federal government eliminate waste in Medicare and Medicaid?
7. Why are electricity blackouts in the U.S. skyrocketing?
8. Is the Gulf oil spill still a potent political issue?
9. Should the House pass the state jobs bill?
10. Is President Obama an asset or a liability for Democrats this November?
Here is your R&D for August 9th:
New Poll Finds Merkel Government at Rock Bottom from Der Spiegel
Germany’s economic recovery isn’t helping Angela Merkel’s coalition. New polls show that 83% of Germans aren’t happy with their current government and the Social Democrats appear ready to pounce.
Teachers unions improve schools from the Miami Herald
Do teachers unions get a bad rap? In this editorial from Karen Aronowitz, president of the United Teachers of Dade County, argues that they do.
Frat party: Which Miliband brother deserves to lead Labour? The one who best understands the Conservatives from the Economist
This Bagehot feature argues that when the Labor Party elects a leader in September they need a candidate that best understands their opposition and that party elders don’t understand how the Conservative Party has transformed itself.
Democratic candidates all but ignore their legislative successes from the Los Angeles Times
As Democrats campaign this fall, strategists are advising them not to brag about their legislative successes. Is that good politics or a major blunder that could cost Democrats control of Congress?
Venezuela and Colombia leaders to hold talks on rift from the BBC
After their latest diplomatic rift, the new president of Colombia and Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez seek to repair relations. Chavez still hates the U.S., though.
For those seeking a challenge, here is the short version of this week’s news quiz. Good luck!
Here is this week’s multiple choice news quiz. Pick well and good luck!
Andy Charrier, the extemp and debate coach at Lakeville South High School in Minnesota, recently posted an interesting Yale University study about the academic benefits of forensic and debate activity. With his permission, we have reposted his summary of the study below.
Here is your R&D for August 6th:
America Is at Risk of Boiling Over from the Wall Street Journal
In an opinion-editorial piece, Peggy Noonan discusses how Americans are no longer optimistic about their children’s futures and how politicians are tone deaf to their concerns.
Al-Qaeda’s new ‘planning chief’ lived in US for 15 years from the UK Telegraph
Adrian Shukrijumah is al-Qaeda’s new planning chief and is considered very dangerous because he lived in the U.S. for 15 years.
Snap analysis: July jobs show odd mix of bad news from Reuters
Need some help figuring out the latest unemployment figures? This article from Reuters should help you.
State aid bill a gamble for Dems from Politico
Next week the House will pass the Senate’s $26 billion aid package to states. However, they could face backlash from the public because of the cost.
Nearly 30,000 Dead in Mexican Drug War from the Latin American Herald Tribune
In a chilling report, it is estimated that 30,000 people have been killed in Mexico’s drug war since 2006. Read an overview of the drug war in this article.
Unhappy robber: Gunman calls restaurant to gripe from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Granted, this is usually a place for “hard news” but this hilarious story would be great for an AGD.