[fblike]
Today’s R&D is brought to you by Prepd, the only software built specifically for extemp. Prepd makes it easy to research, practice, and compete! Visit www.prepd.in to learn more. Like Prepd on Facebook for special info and contests.
This R&D provides resources on states moving to raise the smoking age to twenty-one. Massachusetts is currently looking into the idea, which Hawaii adopted back in June. Advocates say that a higher age limit will reduce smoking among teenagers, while critics allege that it violates individual liberty.
More states should be like Hawaii and raise the smoking age to 21 https://t.co/1wr7elD8Ar pic.twitter.com/CmfZINxt05
— Bloomberg View (@BV) December 1, 2015
Kansas City, MO & Kansas City, KS raise smoking age to 21; encourages other metros to do so to decrease smoking https://t.co/dHQ0Mk3YrO
— Mayors Innovation (@MayorInnovation) November 30, 2015
Boston seeks to raise the smoking age to 21: https://t.co/8fhcz4eAo4 pic.twitter.com/N1pC7ikWQc
— USA TODAY College (@USATODAYcollege) November 28, 2015
An incident that many commentators had been fearing in Syria took place last week when Turkish forces shot down a Russian aircraft that allegedly violated Turkish airspace. The Russian plane was reportedly flying a mission to bomb rebel positions near the Turkish border, something that Russia has made a common occurrence since deciding several months ago to bolster its support for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. The Turkish government claimed that it warned the Russian aircraft before shooting it down, but Russia denies these claims. Russian President Vladimir Putin has demanded an apology and has taken economic countermeasures against Turkey in response to the incident. Considering the fact that France is trying to get both nations to take part in an international coalition to fight the Islamic State, the Russian-Turkish incident illustrates how assembling such a coalition will prove difficult. After all, both nations support opposite sides in the Syrian Civil War. Also, the incident sparks questions about what the Western world should do if a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) finds itself in a military spat with Russia.
Here is today’s premium R&D to accompany 
s a list of all our old quizzes, 
At this year’s Florida Blue Key, National Points Race leader Justin Graham of Trinity Preparatory School (FL) routed the competition, decisively winning both extemp categories. Graham cruised to an easy victory in International Extemp, picket fencing the final round and defeating Jacob Levenson of Nova Senior High School (FL) by eight ranks. In United States Extemp, Graham took four of the five available first place ranks in the final round and defeated Jacob Thompson of Des Moines Roosevelt High School (IA) by six ranks. This was the second consecutive year that Graham won the U.S. Extemp portion of the tournament.
Last month, the Bronx High School of Science in New York City hosted their annual New York City Invitational Tournament and Trinity Preparatory School (FL) continued their impressive showing on the national circuit, taking the top two places. Nathaniel Saffran won his first national circuit title over the season by five ranks over Justin Graham, who won the Wake Forest National Earlybird in September. Christopher Mayer of Montville Township High School (NJ) finished in third place, eight ranks behind Saffran.
Starting next Monday, more than one hundred heads of state, climate activists, international officials, and scientists will convene in Paris for negotiations on a new global climate accord that can replace the 1997 Kyoto Protocol. The conference, also referred to as COP21, will aim to install oversight of carbon emission reductions by the developed (and possibly developing world) and create a framework to aid developing nations in climate mitigation efforts. Those following environmental policy are hopeful that this conference, which has been promoted for two years, will not collapse like the Copenhagen talks did in 2009. However, limitations facing U.S. President Barack Obama, who once dreamed of a farther reaching and legally binding climate accord, may constrain the talks since the Republican Party is likely to reject any agreement that obligates the United States to reduce its carbon emissions. According to climate activists, the failure of the Paris talks would set the world on a dangerous path since the world is set to have its hottest year on record this year. According to these activists the time to act on climate change has finally arrived.
Here is today’s premium R&D to accompany