Need some help writing questions for extemporaneous speeches

[kizmet-42.livejournal.com]

I'm a coach of a high school speech and debate team. We are hosting a tournament next month, and I have to come up with 3 dozen questions about current domestic and international issues/events.

Ok, other than the heir-apparent of the UK is now engaged, I could use some suggestions.

The criteria are:

1. It has to be recent: events/reports more than 2 months ago are too dated.

2. It has to have been reported in the national mainstream media. The Daily Caller, TPM, and Breitbart's sites are not acceptable sources. Blogs are not acceptable sources.

3. Variations on a theme are welcome: Will Obama run for president in 2012? is as good as Will Obama win his second term as president?

4. Questions about BIG science or non-political events are acceptable, such as the recent number of cyber-bullying related suicides.

5. We love policy questions.

6. No celebrity questions: we don't care who is being intimate with anyone else.

7. No sports questions.

I know, that's so much I can't use, but I can use anything you give me.

Thanks in advance!

(no subject)

[coldblossom.livejournal.com]

I know that one of the "big things" in the news right now is how invasive the TSA is being with the body-scanners and the "pat-downs" (with allegations now that they will actually put their hands down inside your pants and underthings while searching you). I fly usually at least 4 times a year (which is not a ton, I admit) from Phoenix and usually through Atlanta. I linked an article on my FB that spoke about how "pat-downs" are no longer just done outside of the clothes--the agents are putting their hands inside and literally feeling you up.  I said I didn't agree to the invasive scans and especially not to being felt-up and, if presented with the choice, I would probably decline both (so far I have not encountered the backscatter xray machines, but the news keeps saying that Sky Harbor (PHX) has them).

The very liberal husband of a dear friend responded to me by saying that I don't have anything to hide (I think he was trying to be nice here?) and that he goes through the scanners all of the time (he does fly about 60k miles per year) and has never been subjected to a pat-down (I assume because he's never declined the scan). He sees it as no big deal and that I am overreacting to nothing because--again--I have nothing to hide.

I want to respond to him that he's looking at the issue from the wrong perspective. Good people don't refuse to subject themselves to random searching (especially not strip-searches) because they have something to hide. They don't subject themselves because the other person does not have the right to search them without their consent. Nobody should be made to feel violated, to subject themselves to what would be considered (referring to the "pat-downs"), under any other circumstance, a sexual assault.

The "don't touch my junk" guy told the TSA agent not to touch him in that manner, and when he was told there was no other way, declined to fly. Now he's facing a potential lawsuit and criminal charges. This is beyond backwards. And if you think this is an isolated case and its only happened recently due to the Underwear Bomber, etc, then you should read this article from back in 2002 about how a flyer was arrested, charged, and fined after his pregnant wife was humiliated by the TSA during what amounted to a partial strip-search--in full-view of other flyers.

I want to say these things, but I do not want to "fight" with him (he is incredibly liberal) because I don't want to alienate him and potentially my friend. Plus I don't think anything I could say would change his mind, anyway.

Its just sad that that Americans think that any of this is OK. I think it was Benjamin Franklin that said that those who would give up essential liberty for a little extra security deserve neither and I used to take issue with that quote. However, now I see exactly what he was talking about and it is quite depressing.

Now For Something Really Important: Bristol On DWTS

[lazypadawan.livejournal.com]

As you might have heard, Bristol Palin lives to dance another day on "Dancing With The Stars," making it to the final round.

As you might have guessed, progressive heads are exploding. "Those teabaggers are keeping her on the show because she SUCCKSS!!1!" "It's a conspiracy!!!" Supposedly Joy Behar went on a tear about it, but I don't know because I'm surreptitiously writing this at work and I'm not at home to watch "The View." Not that I would if I were home anyway. One of the local morning radio personalities is obviously upset by Bristol's longevity. The press is going on the warpath.

Now, I haven't watched DWTS this season nor have I ever voted for anyone on the show. I don't know if Bristol is the reincarnation of Ginger Rogers or if she has two left feet. The only organized efforts I've ever seen to keep Bristol on the show is on a few blogs and Tammy Bruce's Operation Bristol. But I will say this...hello, America, it's ALWAYS been a popularity contest! How do you explain popular soap star Kelly Monaco winning the first season? The only reason why Apolo Ohno beat Joey Fatone a few years ago is that Ohno had more fangirls. Dancing-wise they were about evenly-matched. Marie Osmond was far older than her competitors and made it to third place because well, people love Marie Osmond. Buzz Aldrin could barely move but he made it a few weeks anyway because he was an American hero.

I have no doubt that there are a lot of people voting for Bristol because they admire her mom. I also have no doubt that are a lot of people voting AGAINST Bristol because they freakin' hate her mother and all that she stands for. But if it's all just a right wing conspiracy, how come Tucker Carlton got bounced his first week? Tom DeLay would have cruised to victory on his one bum leg and wouldn't have had to drop out.

Regardless of whether Bristol's a good dancer or not, I think there are many people pulling for her for non-political reasons. Maybe they kind of feel some sympathy for her. Maybe they just admire her moxie. After all, DWTS is full of showbiz veterans and ringers, including pop stars who are required to know how to dance anyway. She's really had to learn it all from scratch.

(no subject)

[coldblossom.livejournal.com]

"...freedom is kind of a hobby with me, and I have disposable income that I'll spend to find out how to get people more of it."

[link]


Penn Gillete was also a victim of the TSA. The quote above makes me <3 him, though. I've seen a few things from him over the years that point to him being very libertarian (including his "Americans have the right to be stupid" article/column/whatever you want to call it).

Also, the Taiwanese have a take on this now. They make us look like fools in this animation. Its just ridiculous.