Why Did the N.B.A. Long Tolerate Sterling? - Victor Ragsdale 4th Period

Donald Sterling is A Racist, But That's Not News for the N.B.A. - Victor Ragsdale 4th Period


   Donald Sterling, owner of the L.A. Clippers, was recently recorded instructing his girlfriend, V. Stiviano, to NOT associate with black people or bring them to the game. He has received a bunch of backlash and the players association wants him banned from attending future playoff games of the season, but the problem is that his bigotry has been known for too long by the organization.

   I don't understand how people could give him their money knowing that he is so racist. I don't understand how the players signed their contracts knowing that they would playing under a racist-headed organization. I couldn't do it. It really angers me when people so ignorant (particularly racists).

  BTW just in case I didn't make it clear: I LOATHE RACISTS!!

Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/29/opinion/why-did-the-nba-long-tolerate-sterling.html?hp&rref=opinion&_r=0

Beijing Develops Technology to Supply Water - Victor Ragsdale 4th Period

Seawater to supply Beijing in 2019 

Victor Ragsdale - 4th Period

           Beijing Enterprises Water Group develops a reverse osmosis membrane technique to desalinate water, which will in return allow for Beijing to "save and recycle used water at the consumer end." The project will begin reaping results by 2019. 

      This is a great method of providing water to China; however, I will need more information before I fully approve the technique. I worry that there may be adverse effects to the surrounding marine ecosystems, which may - as a result of the project - experience immediate significant changes in chemical concentrations. The project includes saltworks processing the salt. But the questions remains as to whether or not large-scale desalination efforts would result in negative effects in the environment. 

Source: http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/854547.shtml#.U1XayOZdXgB 

Victor Ragsdale - 4th Period

2018 Winter Olympics: Pyeongchang, South Korea - Victor Ragsdale - 4th Period

XXIII Olympic Winter Games: Pyeongchang, South Korea 

     The 2018 Winter Olympics are to be held in South Korea in the city of Pyeongchang. Luckily unlike Sochi, the country already has 5 of the 13 needed venues, meaning that the country won't have to spend the estimated $51 billion on constructing the necessary venues for the events. 

      I'm glad that the Olympics will be in South Korea. Its a beautiful country that is modern day democracy. Now I can actually watch them, because I didn't want to watch Sochi 2014 because I felt conflicted about supporting the corruption that happened as a result of the Olympics. I don't like enabling. But now I feel that I can enjoy the Winter Olympics fully.

     Tell me what you think..... #SportsAtBTW 

Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/25/sports/olympics/south-korea-awaits-2018-games-with-a-different-plan.html?ref=sports 

Bombs in Baghdad kill 18 - Victor Rasgdale - 4th Period

Car bomb and roadside bombing kill 18 in Iraq

          The ever-present tension as a result of the U.S. mission's success in finding and killing Osama bin Laden has yet to lose its intensity. Since the event and Iraqi authorities have cracked down security on a Sunni protest camp, there have been a multitude of attacks on people in public places. In this month alone, there have been 147 deaths from attacks in Iraq. 

          It's very unfortunate that the possibility of peace among the terrorist nations has become increasingly impossible. We may have to face this sad reality, but this doesn't mean we shouldn't try to keep it a minimum. Is there anything that we can do to stop violence in the Middle East while maintaining peace at home? 

Tell me what you think... 

Source: http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/12/09/3807644/car-bomb-and-roadside-bombings.html   

Victor Ragsdale - 4th Period

Metro-North Train Sped at 82 M.P.H. Ahead of Curve in Fatal Crash - Victor Ragsdale - 4th Period

Metro-North Train Sped at 82 M.P.H. Ahead of Curve in Fatal Crash 

           The Metro-North Railroad train that ran off tracks is being investigated for the cause of the incident. The train engineer operating the locomotive is in the hospital, and the case has been investigated for criminal intent. After testing him for drug and alcohol, they found "no criminal intent." Officials believe he was going above the maximum at the turn, which is 30 mph. Even on straight paths, the max speed is 70 mph, well under the 82 mph traveling locomotive. 

  

           Seriously dude. Did you just zone out or something? How did you not realize that you were speeding at a crazy rate? Even if you didn't, was there not someone monitoring the train to see that it was above the maximum speed? You would think that in the 21st century, we would be smart enough to invent an alarm that notifies the operator and the home base that a vehicle is traveling at undesirable speeds (whether that be too fast, or too slow). C'Mon, 'Murica! Tell me what you think... 

Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/03/nyregion/metro-north-train-accident-bronx.html?pagewanted=1&_r=0 

French Foreign Minister Says Iran Nuclear Talks Failed to Reach Deal - Victor Ragsdale 4th

Talks With Iran Fail to Produce a Nuclear Agreement 

Victor Ragsdale - 4th Period

          French foreign minister, Laurent Fabius, and Iran's foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, were unable to reach a conclusion on Iran's nuclear program. In an effort to freeze the Iranian nuclear program, the negotiations began, but after days of (what seemed to be) progress, Iran voiced dissatisfaction of the proposal. But the time spent was not in vain; the countries will continue the negotiations soon. 

          Despite how much we try to reason with certain nations, they insist on using and enabling nuclear weapons technology, (in spite of their lack of a technological foundation and stability). Why world? WHY?

Tell me what you think of Iran's nuclear weapons program.... Freeze it? Or keep it running?

Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/10/world/iran-nuclear-talks.html?emc=edit_na_20131109&_r=0 

F.D.A. Urging a Tighter Rein on Painkillers - Victor Ragsdale - 4th Period

F.D.A. Urging a Tighter Rein on Painkillers - Victor Ragsdale

           The Food and Drug Administration is recommending tighter controls on prescribed drugs as a result of the increasing amount of overdoses on prescribed drugs. The abuse of prescription drugs has quadrupled since 1999, and the loose rules for governing them are likely for the ever-increasing abuse. The problem is how to determine how tight controls of certain drugs should be, for some drugs are not as effective as others. 

          This article was published to raise awareness of substance abuse (specifically prescribed substance abuse), and hopefully receive a significant uproar in the pharmaceutical consumer audience. 

Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/25/business/fda-seeks-tighter-control-on-prescriptions-for-class-of-painkillers.html?emc=edit_na_20131024 

Testing The Limits of the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution - Victor Ragsdale, 4th Period

Rally At The Alamo Will Call On Texans to Raise Their Rifles High 

          Many "armed demonstrators"are planning to rally at the Alamo this Saturday to celebrate to gun culture of the state, as well as push the limits of its right to bear arms. The citizens are asking to be able to carry weapons openly and unconcealed in public. The citizens are also to have loaded weapons at the protest. 

          This is a highly unreasonable task. Why do people think it is acceptable to carry loaded weapons publicly, and unconcealed? Especially at a time when there have more weapons attacks than ever. Our president has had to make more addresses on gun violence than State of The Union speeches (1). THIS IS RIDICULOUS!! It would be completely ignorant of us to expect to be able to have weapons in public for all to see, especially if they are LOADED!! By allowing this to be legal, we are practically escorting terrorists (and others crazy enough to kill people for..."reasons") to make attacks on innocent people. 

           Texan loaded arms in public: smart or STUPID? Tell me what you think...

-- Victor Ragsdale - 4th Period 

Source: Rally at the Alamo... - NYTimes.com 

With Accusations of Sabotage, Venezuela Expels 3 U.S. Embassy Officials - Victor Ragsdale 4th Period

With Accusations of Sabotage, Venezuela Expels 3 U.S. Embassy Officials - Victor Ragsdale 4th Period

      The Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro expelled the top American diplomat and two other U.S. embassy officials accusing them of being in a plot to sabotage the Venezuelan economy. He gave them 48 hours to leave the country.

      Of course this was done because the president needs a scapegoat for the economic issues in Venezuela. How could he have handled the situation better? Well, instead of looking for a scapegoat, President Maduro should be looking for a solution. He needs to focus on the real problem at hand, which is not the "suspect", but the victim. He needs to find a way to help his people and country. Finding a person to blame is not the way.

Tell me what you think...

Source: NYTimes.com - Venezuela Expels 3 U.S. Embassy Officials

President Obama Embraces Russian Proposal on Syria's Weapons - Victor Ragsdale (4th Period)

CRISIS IN SYRIA 

President Obama Embraces Russian Proposal on Syria's Weapons 

                 Recently the Syrian government used its chemical weapons to kill hundreds of their citizens, killing many innocent women and children. In response to their usage of chemical weapons, President Obama sought congressional approval of a US military attack in Syria. On Wednesday, September 4, 2013, a divided Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Wednesday approved an authorization of force against the Syrian regime. But before the House of Representatives could approve the strike, US Secretary of State John Kerry as well as the Russian government proposed that Syria should have international monitors take control of the Syrian government's chemical weapons.  

             This proposal would be great for an ideal world where countries do what is considered morally acceptable if not morally embraced. If the nation was willing to use chemical weapons on their own people, we must consider the possible consequences of US military action and international intervention in Syria. Ideally the nation would give up their weapons and we would dispose of them properly. The problem is that if the world were really ideal, would we have to take chemical weapons from the country in the first place? And considering how the world isn't ideal, are we prepared for resistance from the Syrian government (which may or may not come in a violent form)? Can we really trust the nation that receives the weapons to dispose of them properly? And if we can't and decide to do it ourselves, how we can we expect other nations to trust us if we couldn't trust them?

                Think about it and tell your stance on the entire subject. What's better, US military strike, Russian proposal, other possible intervention(s), or perhaps no intervention at all... 

Source: Russian Proposal On Syria's Chemical Weapons

Video: Hilary Clinton on Syria's Chemical Weapons Proposal

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