Matt O'Connnell Blog

Located at Morningside College

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NFL invites teams to Colin Kaepernick workout Saturday.

Image result for colin kaepernick
via https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/28067012/nfl-invites-teams-colin-kaepernick-workout-saturday

The NFL has a quarterback problem. With many starting quarterbacks injured indefinitely, even household names like Ben Rothenburger and Cam Newton will be missing the remainder of the season. With many teams desperate to find a reliable starter, will teams finally give Kaepernick a fair chance?

The former 49ers quarterback who was drafted in 2011, played for the team until the 2016 season. This week NFL clubs were notified that a private workout will be held for the free agent. This meeting will include an on the field workout and interview. Kaepernick was pushed into the spotlight when protesting police brutality and racial injustice by taking a knee during the national anthem. After the 2016 season, Kaepernick became a free agent.

Many people think that NFL executives did not give him a fair chance after the controversy. He certainly has more talent than some starting quarterbacks in the league. Kaepernick took the 49ers to Super Bowl XLVII. He certainly has the accolades to support his cause.

As of now, there are several teams that have announced their interest in the quarterback. The Dallas Cowboys will have at least one representative to the workout along with the Falcons, Redskins, and Dolphins.

Overall I think the article is well written. It would have been easy to only discuss the national anthem controversy. While that was discussed it wasn’t the overarching theme. It includes a tweet from Colin Kaepernick talking about how he has been practicing since he left the league.

Last Night

The last person that I talked to was Jonathan Covert. I last saw him leaving the gymnasium. Both of us were doing commentary for the women’s basketball game. Jonathan has reddish hair and facial hair. Jonathan is probably around 6ft in height. Last night he was wearing a red sweatshirt with jeans. He has a voice fit for radio.

We called the basketball game for its duration. Afterward, we talked about the paper due in Dave Madsen class on Friday. He was concerned because he had very little done. Other than that we just discussed the game. After we packed everything up we went our separate ways.

Article 3

In the recent Kentucky gubernatorial race, the incumbent Republican governor Matt Bevin. Lost to newcomer Democrat Andy Beshear. Kentucky which is traditionally a strong red state. Turned blue in part to the campaign started by Kentucky school teachers. The teachers, who organized on Facebook had a strong hatred of Matt Bevins’s policies. 

Eddie Campbell, president of the Kentucky Education Association, said he’s never seen teachers so engaged in the political process. When asked about the change Eddie Campbell had this to say, “The case they made to their communities changed the course of this election and the course of public education in the state.” The Kentucky Education Association represents more than 45 thousand current and retired educations as well as many aspiring teachers. Back in January 2018 Bevin proposed a state budget that would have required schools to reduce their budgets by 12 percent. In April of the same year Republican lawmakers passed a bill that slashed pension benefits for new and retired teachers prompting a walkout by Kentucky educators. 

The center for disease control announced that Vitamin E acetate has emerged as “one very strong culprit of concern” according to Anne Schu-chat, the principal deputy director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The sticky chemical has been added to some THC vaping liquids to dilute them. A report released on Friday from the CDC showed direct evidence of vitamin E ace-tate at the primary site of injury within the lungs.

Of the 419 THC- containing products the FDA has tested. 50 percent contained the honey like substance. State and federal investigations have also found many of the THC products people use are purchased from the black market or other illegal sources. In Iowa there have been 38 cases of the illness. 

How much time does Earth have? Our planet has been around for billions of years. We know that the planet will eventually burn out and be unable to support life. When that times come will it be like the destruction in the apocalyptic movie 2012? Or will it just go up in a puff of dust? 

According to CNN more than 300 lightyears from Earth there is evidence that two exoplanets recently collided. Exoplanets are planets outside our solar system. 

The star system where these two exoplanets are located is called BD +20 307. It was discovered by NASA’s Spitzer Space Telescope a decade ago. 

Scientists think that Earth’s moon formed after Earth collided with a planetary body the size of Mars billions of years ago Alicia Weinberger lead investigator had this to say, “This is a rare opportunity to study catastrophic collisions occurring late in a planetary systems history.” When asked local resident mark O’Connell had this to say

President Trump Ordered To Pay $2 Million Over Misuse Of Foundation Funds

via https://www.npr.org/2019/11/07/777287610/judge-says-trump-must-pay-2-million-over-misuse-of-foundation-funds

After an investigation into the Trump Foundation a New York judge has ruled that the President must pay $2 million in damages. In January of 2016 during a televised event in Iowa Trump had said the funds raised would be distributed to charities. According to documents the Trump Foundation misguidedly used funds.

The organization is being dissolved. Now the money will go to a group of charities. The person who filed the case, New York Attorney General Letitia James had this to say ” The Trump Foundation has shut down, funds that were illegally misused are being restored, the president will be subject to ongoing supervision by my office, and the Trump children had to undergo compulsory training to ensure this type of illegal activity never takes place again.” When reacting to the verdict she added, “The Courts decision, together with the settlements we negotiated, are a major victory in our efforts to protect charitable assets and hold accountable those who would abuse charities for personal gain.”

The Foundation also agreed to deliver the remaining assets totaling $1.7 million to the charities receiving the $2 million ordered by the court. The President tweeted, ” I am the only person I know, perhaps the only person in history, who can give major money to charity ($19M), charge no expense, and be attacked by the political hacks in New York State. No wonder we are all leaving! Every penny of the $19 million raised by the Trump Foundation went to hundreds of great charitable causes with almost no expenses.” A statement from the Foundation said it was “pleased to donate” the $2 million to charitable organizations. Thanking the judge for not imposing a larger fine.

I do a majority of my news comments from Vox. I feel that NPR is more unbiased compared to other sources. Vox is more left leaning from what I have read. While most NPR articles cover both parties discussed in the article.

Article 3 Draft

How the teachers strikes gave Democrats a win in deep red Kentucky https://www.vox.com/identities/2019/11/6/20951459/kentucky-democrat-beshear-bevin-teachers

In the recent Kentucky gubernatorial race, the incumbent republican governor Matt Bevin. Who lost to newcomer democrat Andy Beshear. Kentucky which is traditionally a strong red state. Turned blue in part to the campaign started by Kentucky school teachers. The teachers, who organized on Facebook had a strong hatred of Matt Bevins policies. Eddie Campbell, president of the Kentucky Education Association, said he’s never seen teachers so engaged in the political process. When asked about the change Eddie Campbell had this to say, “The case they made to their communities changed the course of this election and the course of public education in the state.” The Kentucky Education Association represents more than 45 thousand current and retired educations as well as many aspiring teachers. Back in January 2018 Bevin proposed a state budget that would have required schools to reduce their budgets by 12 percent. In April of the same year Republican lawmakers passed a bill that slashed pension benefits for new and retired teachers prompting a walkout by Kentucky educators. 

https://www.espn.com/nba/recap?gameId=401160753

The Milwaukee Bucks held off the Los Angeles Clippers one hundred twenty-nine to one hundred twenty-four, marking Milwaukee’s fourth straight win. (I’ll add much more to this one.)

And now back to music

The Warriors are scoffing at tanking, for now

Image result for steph curry broken hand
via: https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/27972085/the-warriors-scoffing-tanking-now

In the last five years the Golden State Warriors have made the NBA Finals all five years. Winning four of those. With major departures and injuries, this years team has the worst start in recent memory. Will they be able to claim a spot in the playoffs? Or will they succumb to the pressure?

After losing Klay Thompson to a knee injury during the playoffs, people realized that the Warriors dynasty was over. Losing veteran players like Andre Iguodala and Shawn Livingston certainly didn’t help. With Steph Curry breaking a bone in his hand Wednesday night, their chances are even slimmer.

They were all ready in for a tough year with the young inexperienced team. Warriors owner Joe Lacob had this to say about the teams expectations “We will fight like hell. Develop our younger guys. Learn to win.” Adding “You don’t get better by trying to loose. Our entire organization is about winning. And we will win.”

I think the article by Ramona Shelburne is well written. It has a good attention grabbing lead. It features a video of an EPSN journalist breaking down Steph Currys injury. It uses good quotes from the Golden State Warriors owner. Who provides some great quotes.

Media Comparison

For my comparison, I decided to look at CNN’s article on Rudy Giuliani’s recent voicemails. The print story is Giuliani talks money and Bidens in dual accidental phone calls to reporter. While I found a CNN video titled Giuliani accidentally called reporter. Hear what he said.

The CNN video has a brief lead showing the viewers an excerpt of the voicemails between Giuliani and an unknown person. The reporter has a panel of four other people that she asks questions to. The CNN article goes much more in-depth. It makes great use of quotes when there was only a brief quote from Giuliani in the video. The article includes multiple quotes from Rudy. It also features a quote from Andrew Bates who is a spokesperson for the Biden campaign.

There are quite a few differences between the article and the video. The video itself is relatively short. It is only two minutes long and the majority of the time is spent on asking the other guests what their reaction was. The article was much more detailed. In the article, it gives more background information that somebody just watching the video would not have known.

Here is the link to the CNN article. The video is embedded in the article. https://www.cnn.com/2019/10/25/politics/giuliani-buttdial-bahrain-bidens/index.html

House Republicans’ impeachment​ stunt is an attempt to distract from the allegations against Trump

via https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2019/10/23/20929023/house-republicans-impeachment-stunt-trump

After weeks of testimony behind closed doors from top White House officials, Republicans invaded the room where the depositions are being held. Many of whom have criticized Democrats secretive process.

Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida had this to say “Behind those doors, they intend to overturn the results of an American presidential election.” Around 30 Republicans reportedly rushed passed police officers causing a distraction. Even ordering a pizza at one point.

Republicans who were barred from SCIF are not members of the House oversight committee. However there are Republicans that are on a committee and have access to information and interviews that have been conducted as apart of this investigation.

The article makes great use of quotes from both Republican and Democratic politicians. I think the lead could be improved. There isn’t anything that instantly grabs my attention and engages me to keep reading. The authors include a twitter post from The Washington Examiner showing a video of the events that unfolded.

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