text:
“WALK LIKE A MAN” is a song written by Bob Crewe and Bob Gaudio and originally recorded by the Four Seasons.[1]

The Four Seasons's version

The song features the counterpoint of Nick Massi's bass voice and the falsetto of lead singer Frankie Valli. It was their third number one hit, initially reaching the top of the _Billboard_ Hot 100 on March 2, 1963, remaining there for three weeks. “Walk Like a Man” also went to number three on the R&B singles chart [2]

During the sessions that produced the hit recording, the fire department received an emergency call from the Abbey Victoria Hotel (the building that housed the Stea-Phillips Recording Studios). As producer Bob Crewe was insisting upon recording the perfect take, smoke and water started to seep into the studio; the room directly above the studio was on fire, but Crewe had blocked the studio door. He continued recording until firemen used their axes on the door and pulled Crewe out.[3]

Other versions have been recorded by artists such as the Mary Jane Girls (1986), Divine (1985), Dreamhouse and Jan & Dean (1963) off the album _Jan & Dean Take Linda Surfin_. Plastic Bertrand did a version in French, entitled _C'est Le Rock 'n' Roll_ (1978) and Hungarian band Bon Bon recorded the song with the title _Sexepilem_ (1999).

The song features prominently in the 1993 film _Heart And Souls_ as well as the 1996 film _Sleepers_. It also features in the 1993 film _Mrs. Doubtfire_ and is played during the opening credits of _The Wanderers_.

Personnel

Partial credits.[4]

The Four Seasons

-   Frankie Valli – lead vocals, handclaps
-   Tommy DeVito – harmony and backing vocals, guitar, handclaps
-   Nick Massi – harmony and backing vocals, bass, handclaps
-   Bob Gaudio – harmony and backing vocals, piano, handclaps

Additional musician and production staff

-   Panama Francis – drums
-   Bob Crewe – producer
-   unknown – engineer

Charts

+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Chart (1963)                      | Peak                              |
|                                   | position                          |
+:==================================+===================================+
| New Zealand (_Lever Hit           | 1                                 |
| Parade_)[5]                       |                                   |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| UK{{cite book                     | first= David                      |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| US _Billboard_ Hot 100[6]         | 1                                 |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| US _Billboard_ R&B[7]             | 3                                 |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+

Divine version

Divine recorded “Walk Like a Man” and released it as a single from the album _Maid in England_ in 1985.

Track listing

1.  “Walk Like a Man” – 3:50
2.  “Man Talk” – 3:23

Charts

+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Chart (1985)                      | Peak                              |
|                                   | position                          |
+===================================+===================================+
| Australian Singles Chart[8]       | 75                                |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| German Singles Chart[9]           | 52                                |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Irish Singles Chart               | 23                                |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Swiss Singles Chart[10]           | 28                                |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| UK Singles Chart[11]              | 23                                |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+

[1]

[2]

[3] Sasfy, Joe. _Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons: 1961-1967_, Time-Life Records “The Rock 'N' Roll Era” (1987)

[4] https://www.drummerworld.com/drummers/Panama_Francis.html

[5] Flavour of New Zealand, 28 March 1963

[6] _Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955–1990_ -

[7]

[8]  N.B. The Kent Report chart was licensed by ARIA between mid 1983 and 19 June 1988.

[9] Divine - Singles _Media Control Charts_. Retrieved 2010-06-12.

[10] Divine - Discography Swiss Charts Online. Retrieved 2010-06-12.

[11]

title: Walk Like a Man (The Four Seasons song)

question: What does the article say about what the song Walk Like a Man is about?

question: What does the article say about Walk Like a Man song?

answer: It is a song written by Bob Crewe and Bob Gaudio and originally recorded by the Four Seasons. It reached the top of the Billboard Hot 100 on March 2, 1963, remaining there for three weeks. It also went to number three on the R&B singles chart. Other versions have been recorded by the Mary Jane Girls, Divine, Dreamhouse, and Jan & Dean Plastic. Bertrand did a version in French and the Hungarian band Bon Bon also recorded the song.

question: What does the article say about Crewe's solo career?


split: test

text:
  "It's been an hour since I dropped her back at her house and she hasn't sent me a text." He said, "She must be pretty mad."

  "You said you dumped her?"

  He swigged his beer. I drank my coffee.  We were on the porch and it was early daytime.

  "Yeah, man. I dumped her."

  I said, "I figure she must be upset."

  "Shit." He said, and nodded.

  I looked out across the lawn, across the street, and to the other side. An old man stood on his porch in dark blue coveralls and he wore a red hat. From afar, I could only see his eggy skin and blue eyes that I figured must be almost dead up close. He cracked a beer and drank from the can. He kept an eye towards us.

  Johnny started kinda giggling next to me. He wasn't looking out, but in, and he said, "Yeah, she was pretty mad. You wanna hear something?"

  "Sure."

  "Ok, so we were in bed and I was tired, you know. I'm layin there and I'm trying to fall asleep, because I'd only woken up when she got up to take a shit or something. And I'm still all comfortable in bed when she comes back in, you know, after crappin' her brains out, well, THEN she starts being frisky. Don't get me wrong, I love to do her. But I wasn't so tired I hadn't pictured her crappin' out all those lentils she eats. I mean I know what that shit does to me."

  I stopped listening. I stopped nodding my head. I lit another cigarette and looked into my empty mug. His words slipped past me. The old man was in his garage then. He seemed to move about carrying the weight of hopeless burdens. He scuffed his boots on the pavement. He put on his work gloves.

  "After everything, we're all cuddled up and I'm definitely trying to sleep now. Thing is, it's her hair, you know it's so goddam curly and after getting pulled on a bit, it's just a fucking mane. It gets everywhere and I'm laying there and it gets in my mouth and I'm like, 'Fuck!' You know?"

  I was a beat late on this cue.

  "Shit, man, you there? Oh, you out of coffee, you fuckin' pussy faggot?" He said, "If you're going in there, grab me another one."

  I went in and was back out when I saw the old timer across the way. He had   two black trash-cans out in the driveway, and he was tying heavy black bags into each. I handed Johnny the beer.

  "Man, I shoulda said, 'Grab me two,' but I guess this is alright."

  "Just shut up and drink it." I said, "And you're welcome."

   We drank our liquids and watched the old man perform. He looked methodical, solemn and only semi-lucid as he enacted this boring brand of magic. Slowly he made his way behind his house and disappeared.

  "Still nothin'."

  "Nothing?"

  "Yeah, she still hasn't sent me anything."

  I said, "You're joking."

  "I'm tellin ya, she must be on her period or something."

  "Women," I said.

  Johnny drank his beer and looked at his phone. We heard a large engine start up. Pretty soon, the old man was pulling around the corner of his house in a John Deere. It was bright green and it was rigged for mulching with nylon pouches, but he only had a small lawn. From afar, I figured the soft old bastard must like riding a fancy mower better than dying behind an old, heavy push.

  "Honestly dude," he said, "I'm kinda getting worried."

  "What could have happened?"

  " I don't know. I'm sure she's just crying or sleeping or something, it's just that the other times I dumped her, it wasn't but fifteen or twenty minutes before she'd send me something."

  "Maybe she..."

  "Oh my God, and those were always the best messages to get from her, too! She'd get like wild. I'd be lying if I said I don't miss those texts."

  "Well."

  "This one time, I fucked her at her parent's house. I guess that was the first time we fucked. She made me wear a condom, which sucked, but it was still pretty awesome fucking her. Anyway, she said she had heard of some new vaginal condom or diaphragm or something that she was gonna get. She said it was gonna be just for me, cause she knew I hate condoms and I told her I wanted to cum in her."

  The old man was making quick work with his mower. The blade cut clean through his Bermuda without tearing it. He nudged up against the flower bed too, and he got it good enough that he wouldn't need a weed-eater. He smirked, and I know I saw that.

  "So about three days before my twenty-first, I'm thinking about who I'm gonna fuck, and I got a couple of options. You know, none are really superstars or anything. Nothing I couldn't live without, but, anyway I'm sensin' that this 'Her-and-I' thing is just gonna fuck me up on what should be the funnest day of my life. So I just ditched her cause I wanted to sleep with Shannon because Shannon's got such big tits. Well, it gets time to meet up with my girl and I'm drunk so I call her. I told her that her pussy is too loose and that I don't want her busted ass anymore. Oh man, she went nuts."

   "Makes sense," I said.

  "Yeah, well that night Shannon's friends are like cock-blocking the shit out of me, and then all those bitches run home early because they got a test or some shit the next morning. So I call her back, and she's not happy, but I get her to talk to me and I get her to let me come over.

"It was funny, man, it was fucking funny when I showed up because she opens the door and she's still got on her dress and her make-up is all washed out. And she was so damn mad! I couldn't believe it, but I got her back into bed. I don't know how, man, I was fucking drunk as shit, but I did, and I fucked her until I puked."

  "What?"

 "Yeah." He smiled.

  "You twisted son of a..."

  "Haha, exactly! I puked all over the side of her bed, dude!"

  "Jesus," I said. "Then what?"

  "I dumped her for real." He said, "I busted my nut, barfed and went home. She texted me later, but not because she was mad, but because she wanted me back.

  "She was sending me shit like, 'Oh Johnny, please take me back!' you know, but then she'd say stuff like, 'I want you to cum in my pussy cause I just found my diaphragm I'd been telling you about. I'll let you fuck me all night Johnny, I swear. Just come pick me up, Baby. Please. Please Johnny, come back and let me have it!'

  "I mean I was blown away by that shit. All the time though, it was stuff like that."

  "Just like that?"

  He said, "Well, you know. Just crazy shit."

  "Well maybe she'll text you."

  "Yeah." He said, "Maybe I'll text her, you know? I mean, just to make sure she's ok."

  I looked at the old man who was shutting off his mower. Slowly, with aged joints, he moved off the mower's saddle and moved to dump the clippings in the cans. He dragged the just full cans to the curb. He put out the sprinkler.

  Johnny started stirring and it was hot outside so I started moving to head back inside.

  "I don't know dude," I said. "I think you gotta make it a rule, and the rule's gotta say you gotta fuck another girl before you can go back to one you already fucked. Otherwise dude, she owns you. You know what I'm saying? You gotta prove to yourself that she isn't the only bitch you can get. I say you find that Shannon girl and smack those tits around just because you can. Then, maybe, think about goin' back to the 'same-old, same-old' bitch who apparently fucking loves you for some stupid fucking reason."

  "Damn dude, that's truth right there. That's truth."

  "Let the big dog eat," I said.

  Johnny laughed hard and said real loud and deep, "LET THE BIG DOG EAT! ARF! ARF!"

  We laughed and high-fived before Johnny went in checking his phone for numbers. I heard him inside saying, "Yo Shannon, how you doin', girl?"

  I flicked a dead cigarette butt into my yard, and then saw the old man staring at me. Even from over here on my porch, I could see he looked disappointed.

  He turned away and started into his house. The door was open as he slowly crossed the threshold and I heard what must've been his wife playing piano. A happy grandma-laugh burst as her song was abruptly halted. I heard her laugh again, then play and sing some bars of "For He's a Jolly-Good Fellow." The old man in his work-suit danced the rest of the way past the door. She kept playing, then the door closed, and then their laughter went hidden.

title: MEN (Warning: Pretty Filthy Language)

question: Why does Johny keep dumping his girlfriend and getting taken back without repercussions?

answer: He doesn't know.

question: How many times have Johnny dumped his girlfriend?

answer: We do not exactly know, but it is more than twice now.

question: Why is Johnny's girlfriend not texting him after the breakup?

answer: We do not know the reason why.


text:
Jeffery was sitting in his statistics class nodding away as the information was simply passing by him. He could hardly wait to get out of class. Mondays, and Fridays were fine because there was a small chance of him seeing her. However, on Wednesdays she was always on time. He could see it now walking out from his this room strolling down Taylor Mall. Casually looking over to his right, and there she would be in a sunflower dress with dark hair writing in her journal. He could feel it now the sun beating down on him, and the wind tickling his skin. Jeffery would spend hours every day imagining how he would ask her to a date.  Perhaps Coffee, no she wouldn’t like coffee it’s obvious she likes tea. The courage he needed wasn’t there; he couldn’t talk to girls especially beautiful ones like her. The clock was ticking away, and the professor closed his book with a loud thud. Everyone got up, and started to leave. Jeffery was so deep into though that he didn’t hear class was over so early. Looking at the clock he knew he had time to stroll around in the building. She wouldn’t be there until 12:30.
Jeffery walked out and down the hall to his right. Ahead of him was the journalist building. He thought why not pop on by, and see what they were up to. He fixed his tie, and walked in. The building was much more impressive than the criminal justice one. Newly remolded it held three floors, and a news station on top. All of the students were moving around through the building all dressed nice, and talking about current events. College always had the optimistic feel to it especially on Wednesdays. Jeffery looked around the room. I may as well take a seat, I still have ten minutes. He sat there and opened up his favorite book, and started to read. Behind him he could hear the television blaring news programs. Another new part of the build was a massive projector showing news around the clock. Give me a good book any day.
He wasn’t a page in when he heard “Some of the most difficult of challenges is taking the first step.”
Jeffery turned kept listening. “We have to fight for what we want, and never take no for answer. Today may be the last day we have on earth.” Jeffery was feeling something moving inside of him, a strange inspiration. “So with this last day we will love like there is no tomorrow, fight like there is no tomorrow, and live like there is no tomorrow.” YES, Jeffery thought yes that’s right I have to tell her. He turns around to see where this new motivation comes from. On the scene is black and the words come up “Ford.” Why do car commercials always have the best inspiration? His watch started to beep he looked down 12:25. This was it he was about to see her. He got up, but the inspiration he felt still lingered with him. His breathing picked up, and he started to walk at a brisk pace. This was something different this was something new. He was going to ask her to a date today. He was actually going to talk to her. He started moving faster and faster almost running to the door. He quickly opens it. I’m going to do it I can do it. He rounds the corner to Taylor mall and stops to look for her. In his excitement he began to frantically search. She wasn’t on the grass like she normally was, or on any of the benches. He felt the need to keep looking. It was Wednesday she had to be here. There was no mistake she wasn’t here. He went over to where she normally sat a small group of people were there talking.
“Excuse me, have you seen a pretty girl with long dark hair in a Sun Flower dress?”
They looked at each other and shrugged their shoulders. One of the other girls sitting there spoke up to Jeffery, “What’s her name?”
His face went white. In all of the time that he had been dreaming about her he never knew her name. He began to run down Taylor mall in embarrassment. He reached the edge of the street. Defeated, and broken he would get on the train back to his small dorm. Today college, and Wednesday lost their hopeful optimism.  Jeffery reached back to get his train card, and realized that his wallet was missing. Perfect as if today couldn’t get any worse. He started to head back to the journalist building where he thought he lost it. We walked in, and climbed up the stairs. He got to his couch, and saw no wallet. His heart sank again. He lost his wallet, lost hope of asking the most beautiful girl out on a date, and embarrassed himself doing it. He turned to walk home when he felt a tap on his shoulder. He turned to see the prettiest girl with long dark hair in a sunflower dress standing there. He felt his heart jump for joy, and he said “Hello”
“Your Jeffery Snipe right? I have your Wallet.”
He reached out and grabbed it brushing her hand he felt his heart melt some. “T-thank you, I’m Jeffery”
She smiled warmly “Jeff… I am Summer.” She paused for a moment looking at him warmly,  “can I tell you something Jeff?”
Jeff still bewildered nodded. Summer looked away then back at him “It might sound creepy but every Wednesday at 12:30 I wait for you to come out of class so I can see your smiling face, but I have never had the courage to ask you to a date.”

title: [RO] Summer

question: Summarize Jeffery's thoughts on asking the girl on a date.

answer: Jeffery would spend hours every day imagining how he would ask the girl he had a crush on on a date. He thought about taking her to coffee, but felt that she preferred tea more. After being inspired in class, he really feels like today is the day he will ask her on a date. When he can't find her after class and loses his wallet, he loses hope about taking her on a date.

question: Summarize what happens when Jeffrey finally talks to the girl.

answer: Jeffrey finally gets to talk to the girl when she taps him on the shoulder and asks if he's Jeffrey Snipe. She had found his wallet, and was returning it. He brushes her hand as he retrieves it and his heart melts. He introduces himself, and she tells him her name is Summer. She asks if she can tell him something, which bewilders him. She admits to him that she waits for him to come out of his class every Wednesday at 12:30 so she can see his smiling face. She says she never had the courage to ask him on a date.

question: What does the text say about Jeffery in the journalist building?

answer: Jeffery decides to pop in the journalist building to kill some time and see what they're up to. He finds the building to be much more impressive than the criminal justice one, as it is newly remodeled with a news station on top. Jeffery decides to take a seat in one of the rooms and read while news programs were blaring all around him. He ends up inspired by a certain program's commercial that talks about taking the first step, and living like there is no tomorrow. He then leaves the building to find the girl.

question: Summarize how Jeffery feels when someone asks if he knows the girl's name he's looking for.

answer: When he can't find the girl in Taylor mall, Jeffery asks a group of girls if they have seen a pretty girl in a sunflower dress. One of the girls asks him if he knows her name, and his face turns white. He realizes in all of the time he had been dreaming about her he never knew her name. He ends up feeling embarrassed, defeated and broken. He feels like college and Wednesday has now lost its hopeful optimism.

question: Summarize Jeffery's date with Summer.


text:
This pattern is available as a free Ravelry download

Skills required - yo, k2tog, k, purl

TIP - if you prefer not to have a visible spine, on the WS work into the back loop of the spine increases (to close them).

This is designed to be a quick relaxing knit.

It is worked top down, so you can adapt it to any amount of yarn and any needle size. Click on YARN IDEAS for suggestions.

It works well with shaded yarns. I designed it originally to highlight the shading in Batiko (with is why it has stockinette sections). The lace is to keep it light and summery and interesting to knit, but without being too challenging.

The 2-stitch garter stich border at the top and the seed stitch border at the bottom mean that no extra finishing is required.

Many thanks to the test knitters for their suggestions, beautiful work and photos:

anachrotech
andanteknitter
Anitat
camilliaknits
chileblanco
christinacoghill
darkmoon (who’s already started her second)
debsf
deemaurice
googoo
kaaatija
knittycroc
jdpaulson
jJ1216
jlwiemelt
jovician
lauralu
Lillkitten
love2read
momnitsforme
novaofsav (who’s making a new one with her handspun)
Sandymorgan
sewknitful
SheKnitsToo
SouthernComfortKC
Stampingjoan
texgal
xstmj (who passed the pattern on to both her daughters)

question: What kind of pattern does the text describe?

answer: A knitting pattern.

question: What is WS?

answer: Wrong side.

question: Can the pattern be adapted for different amounts of yarn and needle size?

answer: Yes.

question: Does the pattern utilize garter stitch?

answer: Yes.

question: Who does the author thank?

answer: Test knitters.

question: Where can you get this pattern?

answer: On Ravelry.

question: Write a ~1 sentence summary.

answer: The text is a description of a knitting pattern.


text:
[ thumb|the Long Island City Fire Department existed until 1898, when it was amalgamated into the FDNY.] The LONG ISLAND CITY FIRE DEPARTMENT was run by the independent municipality of Long Island City, in what is now Queens, New York City.[1][2]

The LICFD was a volunteer fire department until 1891, when the Department made the transition to all paid firefighters. At that time, it consisted of 8 engine companies, 3 hose companies, and 1 hook and ladder company.[3]

Rather than operating a fireboat of its own, the Department made use of a vessel owned by the Newtown Creek Towing Company, named _Protector_, on as-needed basis.[4]

After the 1898 consolidation of Queens with the other four boroughs and creation of the modern City of New York, the companies and equipment of the Brooklyn and Long Island City Fire Departments were merged with the New York City Fire Department (FDNY) on January 28, 1898.[5] Unlike some other smaller cities, Long Island City's firefighters were full-time employees, not volunteers, so they were all transferred to the FDNY.[6] The companies of the former Queens and Brooklyn fire departments were renumbered in 1913.[7]

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

title: Long Island City Fire Department

question: When was the Long Island City Fire Department founded?

answer: That information can't be found.

question: What happened to the Long Island City Fire Deparment?

answer: In 1989, it was amalgamated into the New York City Fire Department.

question: What did the fire deparment consist of in 1891?

answer: 8 engine companies, 3 hose companies, and 1 hook and ladder company.

question: What is Long Island City?

answer: Long Island City was an independent municipality that was located in what is now Queens, New York City.

question: Write a ~3 sentence summary.

answer: The Long Island City Fire Department was a fire department in the municipality of Long Island City. It ran as a volunteer department until 1891, when it transitioned to paid firefighters. In 1898, it was amalgamated into the New York City Fire Department.


text:
KAZI SEKENDAR ALI DALIM ( – 14 January 2020) was a Bangladesh Nationalist Party politician and a member of Parliament for the constituency of Khulna-3.

Biography

Dalim was a member of the executive committee of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party.[1] He joined the Bangladesh Awami League in 1996 and was elected to parliament from Khulna-3 as a Bangladesh Awami League candidate in 1996.[2][3] Later, he returned to the Bangladesh Nationalist Party.[4]

Dalim died on 14 January 2020 at Combined Medical Hospital in Dhaka at the age of 75.[5][6][7]

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

title: Kazi Sekendar Ali Dalim

question: How did Dalim die?

answer: That information can't be found.

question: Where was Dalim born?

answer: That information can't be found.

question: Describe Dalim's personal life.

answer: The article does not mention anything about his personal life.

question: What was Dalim's political affiliation?

answer: He was a member of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party.

question: Name two of the offices Dalim held.

answer: A member of the executive committee of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party and a member of Parliament for the constituency of Khulna-3.

question: Write a ~3 sentence summary.

answer: Kazi Sekendar Ali Dalim was a politician from Bangladesh. He was a member of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party. He served as a member of Parliament for the constituency of Khulna-3.


text:
You could pick Suda51's work—like _Killer7_ or the more recent _No More Heroes_ and _Shadows of the Damned_—out of a line-up. The art style is cartoonish, as are the characters. Memorable protagonists like the vulgar-mouthed tough guy Garcia "Fucking" Hotspur or the lascivious Travis Touchdown turned juvenile humor into compelling, tongue-in-cheek delight. And the combat in said games was always fun.

So when a seemingly typical vapid, valley girl cheerleader entered the ring of Suda's portfolio to beat up zombies and comical zombie bosses, it felt like the next best Suda game was upon us. Juliet Starling, who is basically the Buffy the Vampire Slayer of her world, was the next Travis Touchdown.

But it's not the protagonist this time that turns a stupid plotline and sophomoric jokes into an endearing experience. It's not the squeaky and unfalteringly chipper Juliet, with her supposed innocence towards the sexualized jokes thrown left and right at her expense, that makes me snort with laughter at the over-the-top, sometimes random humor I've come to be familiar with in Suda's games. It's the boss battles, and the mini-games, and the flavor of personality you see from some of the zombies.

_Lollipop Chainsaw_ is set in a ridiculous enough plotline to fit the stupid-but-endearing style. Juliet Starling, a zombie hunter and high school cheerleader, finds San Romero High overrun by a zombie infestation.

Juliet's entire family is made up of zombie hunters. Her two sisters—the older a sniper expert and the youngest crazed and more obnoxiously "girly" than her middle sister—and father will sometimes show up in the game to help her out. They appear at odd intervals, and not nearly often enough for me to care about them. The best role they play in the game is to drop off gifts that upgrade Juliet's chainsaw. It is her birthday today, after all.

G/O Media may get a commission

WHY: Slicing up zombies with a chainsaw is incredibly fun, and you get to experience endearingly stupid humor fighting in boss battles.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Lollipop Chainsaw

DEVELOPER: Grasshopper Manufacture
PLATFORMS: Xbox 360 (played), PS3
RELEASED: June 12th

TYPE OF GAME: Hack-and-slash with RPG elements like upgrades.
WHAT I PLAYED: Finished the campaign in roughly 7 hours.

TWO THINGS I LOVED

-   Inventive boss battles featuring stereotypical character tropes in a humorous way.
-   Being a kick-ass zombie hunter with awesome cheerleader/chainsaw combo moves.

TWO THINGS I HATED

-   Humor that tries to be sophomoric in an endearing way, but often dips into regular old stupidity.
-   Strange game design ideas, including a lack of save points, unskippable cutscenes and wonky pause controls.

MADE-TO-ORDER BACK-OF-BOX QUOTES

-   "I was about to accuse the developer of ripping off of Suda51's style, until I realized the developer was Suda51." - _-Tina Amini, Kotaku.com_
-   "Being a vapid cheerleader with pigtails was never appealing until they put a chainsaw in her hands." _-Tina Amini, Kotaku.com_

Juliet is skilled with a chainsaw. And after she picks up a new birthday gift from a new zone, she can shoot faraway enemies with a blaster and dash to speed through the map. Though the gifts unlock these chainsaw abilities, you can purchase combo moves and permanent stat boosts at shops scattered throughout San Romero.

As skilled as Juliet is with a chainsaw, she's also quite the adept cheerleader. So it's only natural to combine the two skills in combos that you purchase, incorporating slicing chainsaw swings with leapfrogs, spins and twirls. They're as fun to carry out as they are deadly. Juliet's boyfriend's decapitated head swings at her hip, and can be used in battle, too. If Juliet activates a Nick card, the game enters "Nick roulette," where you can choose from Nick's available decapitated head abilities. These include swinging Nick's head around for an attack, or shooting him out at enemies. Upgrades for his moves can be found at the shops, as well. Fighting zombies is never dull, because there's always a new combination of attacks that you haven't tried out, or a new particularly fickle zombie that needs a different attack approach.

There are five main zones in _Lollipop Chainsaw_. In the midst of hunting and murdering cheerleaders and basketball players that have turned into vicious flesh-eating beings, Juliet will occasionally run into different mini-game challenges. Some are small distractions from the rest of the combat, like placing her boyfriend's decapitated head onto a headless zombie body to control him with button commands. Others are longer and more laborious, like decapitating zombies to score points in a twisted version of basketball. And others are hilarious and satisfying, like running over a horde of zombies on a tractor. After each zone is completed, you can redo it in Ranking mode to run the zone at your best time.

Some of developer Grasshopper Manufacture's humor feels right, in that random and quirky way it's supposed to feel. You'll chainsaw-rip into a zombie right after he oddly proclaims that his favorite president is Warren G. Harding. What? Ok. Teacher zombies yell for apples and tell you to do your homework. It's so misplaced, and yet appropriate, and it tickles me.

I have two favorite zones in _Lollipop Chainsaw_. I'll only mention one so I don't spoil too much. When you reach the farm zone you'll mow down hillbilly farmer zombies that have an unhealthy obsession with chickens. Heck, they even toss the chickens at you as a weapon. If Garcia Hotspur were here, he'd know exactly how to respond, guaranteed to be dropping a few F bombs. But Juliet never has anything funny or interesting to say. She acts like a bimbo, and I've never found the humor in laughing at the dumb hot chick. Her boyfriend Nick is more likeable than she is. He jokes around about space cake, and his commentary usually resonates with me more than hers. Nick is a body-less belt accessory, but he has more depth than Juliet.

Some of the humor is a swing and a miss. _Lollipop Chainsaw_ feels like it wants to take cracks at overly-sexualized male characters like _No More Heroes_ did, but can't properly emulate it in a way that isn't totally tacky. Travis, a stereotypical otaku, drooled all over himself in front of Sylvia. It was so exaggerated and tongue-in-cheek that it was funny.

But take for example Juliet's creepy sensei, who has convinced her that wearing panties with teddy bears on them helps her fight zombies. In one scene he accidentally flops onto her chest, jiggle physics in full swing. It was apparently considered so funny that they ran the joke twice, just two seconds after. The jokes don't touch on the subtle innuendos of _No More Heroes_ like how Travis charged up his beam katana, or the overt innuendos in the same game that are so over-the-top that you wouldn't feel like a sleaze laughing at them.

I was expecting _Lollipop Chainsaw_'s ditzy protagonist and decidedly dumb zombies to carry my way through the game. Grasshopper Manufacture's particular brand of humor has always struck a chord with my funny bone. But Juliet was more annoying than funny. She held a good grip on her chainsaw, but was at best cute. Garcia and Travis are terribly flawed characters, but it's what makes them great central figures. But Juliet's naive and dimwitted personality isn't as interesting as Garcia's excessive drinking or Travis'...passions for women.

What actually pulled me through _Lollipop Chainsaw_ was the combat, and the boss battles in particular. Juliet moves fast and swift against her enemies. She can attack from the air, and gets good range on swinging attacks once you upgrade them. If she doesn't get hit in the process, Juliet can chain slash lots of zombies, and it's incredibly satisfying to land combos. Most games that excel in combat sometimes struggle with challenging and fun boss battles to match. But in _Lollipop Chainsaw_, it's an opportunity for even more exaggerated, random humor.

I first met Zed the Punk Rock Zombie—the first boss you'll encounter in _Lollipop Chainsaw_—during a preview demonstration. I could tell that Grasshopper Manufacture had some interesting ideas in store for boss rounds. I battled Zed by avoiding visualized insults—literally visualized, meaning each insult is spelled out and you have to dodge the oncoming letters—as well as smashing the speakers he stood on. It's both silly and thematic.

The dark purveyors—as the bosses are called in the game—are one of the few times that the Grasshopper Manufacture/Suda51 flavor actually comes through. They're crazy characters with a penchant for insults and violence. However, as fair warning, if you were squeamish about video game dialogue that tosses the term "bitch" around, _Lollipop Chainsaw_ is not for you. _Lollipop Chainsaw_ likes to call Juliet lots of names, and the intent for a fun-sexy tone gets lost in an overuse of them.

Though the vulgar choice of humor and language _sometimes_ works in moments like sequences with tongue-in-cheek characters like the viking dark purveyor or hippie zombie boss, it doesn't always work. _Lollipop Chainsaw_ tries so hard to be like _Shadows of the Damned_ with its humor. Garcia is tough, and he speaks his mind. He's charming, but not in a way that you would want home around your parents.

But when I rescue a fellow classmate from turning into a zombie in _Lollipop Chainsaw_ and he says something like, "I never thought I'd be saved by someone with such great tits," I just can't bring myself to laugh. Some people will be bothered by the message it sends, and offended by how juvenile it is. I'm bothered that it's not funny. I can see what it's trying to do. I know that the game and its developers don't want me to take it seriously, and I sure don't. But it misses the mark of humor that it's also trying to go for.

Other jokes feel outdated. I'm pretty sure autotune was out even back when it made an appearance in _Saints Row: The Third_, but I still accepted it. There was lots of missed potential for nonsensical humor that you don't need a wit-receptor to enjoy. The result during most of the game fits this description, just without the enjoyment.

My biggest gripe with _Lollipop Chainsaw_ could have been solved with smart playtesting and more considerate design decisions. There are certain leniencies that _Lollipop Chainsaw_ doesn't give you. You can't always pause the game, only a few cutscenes are skippable, and you can't save the game mid-zone. You have to finish each in one sitting. I can't imagine what the value of limiting a player's control on their own game like that could be, but it's one you will experience in _Lollipop Chainsaw_ regardless.

_Lollipop Chainsaw_ is pretty stupid. It's not a game we will use to convince the naysayers that there is indeed educational, artistic, or otherwise meaningful value in playing video games. This is one you might want to hide from your accusing significant other or parent, because they will undoubtedly not understand the sophomoric humor and base desire for swift and fun combat needed to enjoy the game. And I'm ok with those kind of games.

But you may even want to hide the game from the most loving of Suda51 fans. Because while there are jokes and characters that resemble the style of games like _No More Heroes_ or _Shadows of the Damned_, the quality and direction can't compare.

_Lollipop Chainsaw_ effectively exchanges the charm of following around a character that can both be loved and laughed at for charm that resides in its enemies instead. You get more Garcia Hotspur style enjoyment in the wacky, crazed and cocky bosses than you do in the lead character. I don't want another Garcia or another Travis. I want a character that is funny for the same reasons those two are funny. Because as dumb, or as hot headed, or as flawed as they may be, they're still enjoyable. Like a class clown that's fun to have around, or someone you'd want to invite over for your backyard barbecue party.

Juliet isn't the star here. That particular style of humor that's so often misinterpreted and dismissed as juvenile still spills through, though not as often or as effectively. _Lollipop Chainsaw_ feels less like a Suda51 game than Grasshopper Manufacture's other titles. Unfortunately, sometimes its humor suffers for that. And yet, I still get a great kick out of professionally sweeping through hordes of my zombified classmates, breakdancing zombies, and quirky boss purveyors.

question: What does the text say about Atari?

question: What does the text say about Suda51?

answer: Suda51 is a video game designer for developer Grasshopper Manufacture that gave the world memorable protagonists such as the vulgar-mouthed tough guy Garcia "Fucking" Hotspur and the lascivious Travis Touchdown. Some of his famous works include "Killer7", "No More Heroes", and "Shadows of the Damned". The art style and characters in these games are cartoonish, but the combat was always fun. Suda51 is also known for creating games with stereotypical heroes, sophomoric jokes, and over-the-top sexualized jokes. His newest game is entitled "Lollipop Chainsaw" a zombie hack-and-slash with RPG elements like upgrades. The main protagonist here is teenage zombie hunter Juliet Starling.

question: What does the text say about the heroine in the game Lollipop Chainsaw?

answer: The heroine in the video game "Lollipop Chainsaw" is a vapid, valley girl high school cheerleader named Juliet Starling. She comes from a family of zombie hunters, which includes her father and sisters. She finds San Romero High overrun by a zombie infestation and kills zombies using a chainsaw, which can be upgraded RPG-style. Juliet uses her cheerleader and chainsaw skills for killer combo moves. Juliet's boyfriend, Nick, is a decapitated head attached to her hip that she can use as a weapon. Juliet acts like a bimbo that doesn't have anything funny or interesting to say. Her personality is naive and dimwitted, making her annoying at times. Nick and the zombies have more personality than Juliet.


text:
PAUL CHARLES QUINN (born 21 July 1985) is a Scottish footballer. His usual position is right back, but he can also play at centre back or on the right wing. Quinn started his career at Motherwell and has also played for Cardiff City, Doncaster Rovers, Ross County (two spells), Aberdeen and Dundee United.

Career

Motherwell

Born in Wishaw, Quinn came through the youth ranks at Motherwell and signed a professional contract with the club on 12 May 2002. In the 2002–03 season, he made his first professional appearance for the club, replacing Brian Dempsie as a substitute during the SPL game against Celtic on 1 December 2002.[1] He did not feature regularly but in following seasons he proved his worth and also his versatility, by starting 27 and 26 games in all competitions during the 2003–04 and 2004–05 seasons respectively, filling a number of different positions in the Motherwell defence. Quinn scored his first goal for Motherwell during the Scottish Premier League match against Kilmarnock on 21 February 2004.[2] He did not score another goal for the club for over three years, when he scored during a league match against Aberdeen on 15 September 2007.

He was restricted to just 21 games during the 2005–06 season, but in the following seasons, he established himself as a first team player and at the beginning of the 2007–08 season he was a first choice in the Motherwell defence, displacing Martyn Corrigan at right back. Such has been the quality of his performances and the general improvement in his game under Mark McGhee that Corrigan was limited to one starting performance during the first half of the 2007–08 season and left to seek first-team football at Kilmarnock.

On 11 January 2008, it was announced that Quinn would assume the role of club captain, due to the sudden death of Phil O'Donnell the previous month. At the age of 22, Quinn became one of the youngest captains in the Motherwell's history. Although vice-captain Stephen Craigan was widely expected to be promoted to the position of club captain, he continued in his existing role.

Cardiff City

On 4 June 2009 he signed for Football League Championship side Cardiff City on a three-year contract for a fee of around £300,000,[3] describing the transfer as his “ideal move”.[4] He made his debut for the club in a 4–0 win over Scunthorpe United, the first competitive match at the Cardiff City Stadium. On 17 August 2010, it was revealed that Motherwell were still owed around £175,000 of the transfer fee and that no further payments had been made toward the fee since January 2010.[5] However, the following week Cardiff reached an agreement with Motherwell and £100,000 of the remaining fee was paid.[6] Quinn scored his first Cardiff goal on 2 April 2011, in a 4–1 win over Derby County.[7]

Quinn was named captain for the League Cup game against Oxford United.[8] and again for Huddersfield Town. He got his first league appearance off the season against Southampton, on 28 September, following a knock to Kevin McNaughton in the game. After only four starts during the season, Quinn was released at the end of his contract.[9]

Doncaster Rovers

Following his release, Quinn joined Doncaster Rovers on trial playing in a goalless draw against Sheffield Wednesday.[10] On 9 August, Quinn signed a one-year deal at Keepmoat Stadium.[11]

Quinn then went on to make 43 league and cup appearances for Doncaster Rovers, helping them become League 1 Champions when he cleared the missed penalty at the Brentford game on the final day of the season, his long pass out of the box finding Billy Paynter just inside his own half who went up to the other end and passed to James Coppinger to score the winner. On 27 July 2013 he signed a new deal lasting till June 2015.[12] However, on 22 August 2014, his contract with the club was ended by mutual consent[13]

Ross County

Quinn returned to Scottish football in October 2014, when he signed for Ross County.[14] He made his debut as a substitute in Ross County's 5–0 loss against Celtic on 18 October 2014.[15]

Aberdeen

In June 2015, Quinn signed a two-year deal with Aberdeen after becoming a free agent.[16] He made his debut for Aberdeen on 2 July 2015, against FK Shkëndija in the first qualifying round of the Europa League.[17] Quinn scored his first league goal for Aberdeen in the 86th minute of a 2–1 victory against Celtic at Pittodrie, sending Aberdeen to the top of the table.[18]

Ross County (second spell)

On 26 January 2016, Quinn returned to Ross County, signing an 18-month contract.[19] He scored on his debut as Ross County beat Celtic 3–1 to reach the final of the Scottish League Cup.[20] He played in the final, as Ross County won 2–1 against Hibernian.[21]

Ahead of the 2016–17 season, Quinn was handed the captaincy at Ross County, after the previous captain Andrew Davies had asked to leave the club.[22] At the end of his contract, Quinn was released by Ross County.[23]

Dundee United

Quinn signed a short-term contract with Scottish Championship club Dundee United in August 2017.[24] In January 2018, he extended his contract until the end of the 2017–18 season.[25][26] Quinn was released by United in May 2018, following the end of his contract.[27]

Career statistics

[28]

  Club               Season         League                    National Cup   League Cup   Other   Total
  ------------------ -------------- ------------------------- -------------- ------------ ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ---- ---
  Division           Apps           Goals                     Apps           Goals        Apps    Goals
  Motherwell         2002–03[29]    Scottish Premier League   4              0            0       0
  2003–04[30]        26             0                         3              0            0       0
  2004–05[31]        23             0                         0              0            3       0
  2005–06[32]        18             0                         0              0            3       0
  2006–07[33]        26             0                         0              0            3       0
  2007–08[34]        31             2                         2              0            2       1
  2008–09[35]        33             1                         3              0            1       0
  Total              161            3                         8              0            12      1
  Cardiff City       2009–10[37]    Championship              22             0            2       0
  2010–11[39]        23             1                         1              0            2       0
  2011–12[41]        1              0                         1              0            3       0
  Total              46             1                         4              0            7       0
  Doncaster Rovers   2012–13[42]    League One                38             0            1       0
  2013–14[44]        Championship   35                        2              1            0       1
  Total              73             2                         2              0            4       0
  Ross County        2014–15[45]    Scottish Premiership      29             3            1       0
  Aberdeen           2015–16[46]    Scottish Premiership      13             1            0       0
  Ross County        2015–16[48]    Scottish Premiership      14             0            2       1
  2016–17[49]        19             0                         1              1            2       0
  Total              33             0                         3              2            4       1
  Dundee United      2017–18[50]    Championship              16             0            1       0
  Career total       371            10                        19             2            27      2

  : Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Honours

Doncaster Rovers

-   League One Champions: 2012–13

Ross County

-   Scottish League Cup: 2015–16[52]

Personal life

On 27 April 2008, Quinn was rushed to hospital with a broken jaw after an unprovoked attack outside the notorious Baker Street establishment in Wishaw.

In June 2008, Quinn and his girlfriend were robbed at gunpoint whilst holidaying in Florida, United States. The couple had been returning to their hotel when the incident took place.[53]

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

[11]

[12]

[13]

[14]

[15]

[16]

[17]

[18]

[19]

[20]

[21]

[22]

[23]

[24]

[25]

[26]

[27]

[28]

[29]

[30]

[31]

[32]

[33]

[34]

[35]

[36] Appearances in the Europa League

[37]

[38] Appearances in the Championship play-offs

[39]

[40]

[41]

[42]

[43] Appearance in the Football League Trophy

[44]

[45]

[46]

[47]

[48]

[49]

[50]

[51] Appearance in the Scottish Challenge Cup

[52]

[53]

title: Paul Quinn (footballer, born 1985)

question: What does the text say about Quinn's career in Cardiff City?

answer: Quinn signed for Football League Championship for Cardiff City on June 4, 2009. He made his debut when their team won over Scunthorpe United. Quinn scored his first Cardiff goal on April 2, 2011, then was named captain for the League Cup game against Oxford United. He got his first league appearance off the season against Southampton on September 28. After only four starts during the season, Quinn was released at the end of his contract.

question: What does the text say about Quinn's career in the Doncaster Rovers?

answer: Following his release from Cardiff City, Quinn joined Doncaster Rovers and on August 9, he signed a one-year deal. Then on July 27, 2013, he signed a new deal lasting until June 2015. This contract was terminated early on August 22, 2014, by mutual consent.

question: What does the text say about Quinn's personal life?

answer: On April 27, 2008, Quinn was rushed to the hospital with a broken jaw after an unprovoked attack. Then in June 2008, Quinn and his girlfriend were robbed at gunpoint in Florida.


text:
The EU LCS summer playoffs feature star power, storylines, veteran legacies, and rookie uprisings.

They also feature the Unicorns of Love.

UoL will face Giants in the first quarterfinal, on Saturday, Aug. 13, in a battle of teams that weren’t supposed to be here, but made it happen anyways. For the Unicorns’ hardcore, pink-wearing, cake-making fans, the playoffs are a chance to prolong the glory of over-achieving, a chance to cheer some more, cosplay some more and revel in every moment.

But for the Unicorns’ players and organization, these playoffs are about far more than just enjoying the journey, and far more, even, than winning games. These playoffs are about establishing the future security of the franchise, about finding momentum and relevance as a team worth playing for, worth cheering for, worth loving, and perhaps most importantly, worth signing with.

UNICORNS OF CONSISTENT MEDIOCRITY

By objective standards, the Unicorns of Love are not, and have never been, an especially good team, but they’ve never been awful, either. They did just enough to squeak into the 2016 summer playoffs in sixth place and earn their meeting with Giants, putting together a thoroughly middle-of-the-pack array of performance statistics.

          Win Rate   GSPD    EGR    K:D Ratio   Dragon Control   Jungle Control
  ------- ---------- ------- ------ ----------- ---------------- ----------------
  Value   47%        +0.2%   46.2   0.89        54%              48.4%
  Rank    6          5       8      8           5                7

_GSPD: Gold spent percentage difference. EGR: Early-game rating._

This is the kind of finish we’ve come to expect from UoL, who have consistently hovered around the edges of respectability during their two-year EU LCS history. Over four splits, they have finished the regular season fifth, fourth, fifth and sixth. Their playoff fates have varied, from an unexpected finals run and second-place result in spring 2015 to a quarterfinals exit in spring 2016, with a 3-0 loss to Origen thrown in during the finals of the 2015 regionals tournament to prevent them from reaching the World Championships.

UoL are not among Europe’s most robust organizations from a business perspective, either, judging by their public-facing online persona, at least. They lack the multi-esport presence boasted by most of the other EU LCS brands, and their official website is a simple merchandise store, with no team or player information, news, or promotional content. Instead, they rely on social media (not visible via links on their website, for what it’s worth), including a Facebook page and a Twitter account, both with modest followings.

Still, the Unicorns’ online presence is more impressive than, for example, H2K-Gaming’s sub-30,000 Twitter followers and merch-only website, despite H2K fielding teams in multiple esports while the Unicorns operate only their LoL team. In their online presence, too, UoL are unexceptional, but not irrelevant, bordering on respectability.

While the Unicorns don’t carry the legacy of Fnatic, the star power of Enrique “xPeke” Cedenõ Martinez’s Origen, or even the relative financial clout and multi-game presence of organizations like H2K or Vitality, their goofy branding and consistent LCS presence has earned them the kind of hardcore, highly vocal fan base you’d normally associate with the most established, successful esports franchises.

UoL owe much of their fanbase to their bizarrely brilliant pink-themed branding. The informal, self-effacing, we-are-all-mascots vibe of the Unicorns of Love name and logo has a strong pull for fans who want to feel part of something bigger than themselves. When all five players dye their hair pink to start the split, it evokes the theme of a “friendship team,” the little guys making their own path through the world. It appeals to the same emotional triggers of belonging and self-determination that have made the bunny-eared, Ginyu Force-posing, lack-of-stable-sponsorship Tigers of LoL Champions Korea such an international fan favorite.

But there are two enormous differences between Europe’s Unicorns and Korea’s Tigers. First, the Tigers are one of the very best teams in the entire world, while the Unicorns are a mid-tier EU LCS squad with minimal international experience. Second, despite their branding, their hair-dyeing, and their manager’s cult of personality, the Unicorns are not a friendship team.

REVOLVING DOOR OF DEPARTING FRIENDS

Since UoL joined the EU LCS, they have fielded 16 different players, due in large part to intentional departures, rather than roster decisions made by the team’s management. That’s a lot of short-term friendships.

It began with jungler Mateusz “Kikis” Szkudlarek leaving the team during the summer 2015 regular season, citing issues with the team’s communication and work ethic. Then star mid laner Tristan “PowerOfEvil” Schrage also left at the end of the split, seeking greener pastures with Origen. UoL were faced with gaping holes through the middle of their lineup. They managed to fill those holes with waning star Danil “Diamondprox” Reshetnikov in jungle and Hampus “Fox” Myhre in the mid lane, also bringing on Pierre “Steeelback” Medjaldi at AD carry to replace Pontus “Vardags” Dahlblom.

That mid lane and AD carry pairing would turn out to be one of Europe’s more talented carry duos, but the Unicorns’ spring split was ultimately a disappointment, featuring a tumultuous string of temporary jungler replacements, none of whom stuck with the team for more than a few weeks, after Diamondprox was forced to step away due to visa issues.

After the Unicorns’ early playoff exit, Fox and Steeelback left for Schalke 04 and Roccat, respectively, moves that, both on paper and in final results, didn’t exactly carry them further up the standings, perhaps suggesting other motives for the transfers. UoL had been forced into another roster rework, and this time they signed uninspiring Korean veteran Kang “Move” Min-su in the jungle, while mid and ADC were taken over by rookies Fabian “Exileh” Schubert and Kim “Veritas” Kyoung-min, the team’s second import.

With these moves, as in UoL’s previous offseasons, the team lost talented players and replaced them with what appeared to be on-paper downgrades at worst, or “sidegrades” at best. This has been the primary trend of UoL’s tenure, the theme that has underpinned their narrative. It’s perhaps arguable that Fox was a mid lane upgrade over PowerOfEvil, but it would have been hard to make that claim at the time he joined the team, when he was a mid-tier, just-relegated alumnus of SK Gaming. Similarly, hindsight shows that Steeelback was an improvement over Vardags, but his career trajectory at the time made that outcome very uncertain: the year before, Steeelback had been removed from Fnatic after an abysmal showing at the 2015 Mid-Season Invitational, and he had gone on to bounce around the periphery of the Challenger scene for several months with nothing to show for his efforts.

In the midst of each offseason of change, it must be admitted that the Unicorns struggled to retain and attract noteworthy talent, instead settling for veterans with few other options, or playing the lottery with unproven rookies. Players like Fox and Steeelback joined UoL because they had to earn back the league’s respect, and once they had done so, they moved on.

Yet, despite all this turbulence, despite having to scrounge up so many replacement players from the Challenger scene, or find veterans that more prestigious teams were unlikely to pursue, the Unicorns have maintained their unbroken streak of playoff appearances, while nearly all of their alumni have failed to find success elsewhere.

How have they done it? Say thank you to their stable two-man core, support Zdravets “Hylissang” Galabov and top laner Tamás “Vizicsacsi” Kiss.

HYLISSANG AND VIZICSACSI: THE TWO-HORNED THREAT

If there is a “friendship team” core to UoL, it is a love triangle between Hylissang, Vizicsacsi, and coach Fabian “Sheepy” Mallant, a former jungler who helped found the team before stepping back from playing in May 2014 to take over the coaching duties.

Throughout their careers, Hylissang and Vizicsacsi have been relatively low-profile players, their performances ranging from average to good. Their stability has been among their biggest assets, and their loyalty to their team has been the glue that held the organization together.

The more they’ve been needed, the more both players have upped their game, and this split featured Vizicsacsi and Hylissang at their most impressive — both were among the league’s best in their roles. Without the efforts of the two UoL veterans, there would have been no playoffs; instead, there would have been the very real threat of relegation, and you can be sure that if the Unicorns of Love had dropped out of the EU LCS instead of high-profile Schalke 04, it would not have led to outcry about franchising and protecting owners’ investments. Money talks.

Despite being consistently decent, the Hylissang plus Vizicsacsi pairing doesn’t carry the gravitas of, say, Heo “Huni” Seung-hoon plus Kim “Reignover” Yeu-jin, or of Søren “Bjergsen” Bjerg plus Yiliang “Doublelift” Peng. They are not a duo whose name power is likely to attract free agents to play alongside them.

At least, they haven’t been before.

PLAYING FOR THE FUTURE

With Vizicsacsi and Hylissang playing better than ever, these playoffs are a chance to send a message to the entire EU LCS: “We are the Unicorns. We are winners. Join us.”

In the absence of organizational prestige or significant financial backing, establishing Vizicsacsi and Hylissang as legitimate LCS stars is the best shot the team has to stem the bleeding on their perpetual inability to retain talent. It’s an opportunity to secure UoL a brighter future, one where they rise above their mid-tier status and threaten to become something greater. Everything Vizicsacsi and Hylissang do over the coming weeks needs to shout: Imagine what you could do if you were our jungler, our mid laner, our AD carry. Imagine what we could achieve together. This is the task the Unicorns face, the goal they are chasing.

The Unicorns are a sixth seed, a clear underdog. Beating Giants will be a challenge. But the real challenge of these playoffs — and the Regional Qualifiers beyond them — is to put on a good enough show to convince future free agents that the Unicorns are a team worth playing for, and not just when your career trajectory leaves you short on options and happy just to play another LCS split, regardless of the gaudy uniforms.

There’s plenty at stake for Move, Exileh, and Veritas, too. They are playing for their spots in the spring 2017 lineup, because up to this point, none of the three have cemented themselves as players who demand to be retained. A breakout performance by any of these three would help their own cause, and would also help UoL, firming up their image as a team with potential.

In the end, for some teams these playoffs are about so much more than chasing a trophy, or even earning a spot in the Regional Qualifiers. For the Unicorns of Love, their hardcore fans, and their two longsuffering, underrated veterans, the coming weeks are a quest for stability, a quest for respect. It’s a quest to keep the love alive.

_Tim "MAGIC" Sevenhuysen runs_ _OraclesElixir.com__, the premier source for League of Legends esports statistics. You can find him__on Twitter__, unless he’s busy giving one of his three sons a shoulder ride._

question: Summarize the characteristics of Unicorns of Love as a team over the past few years.

answer:
Unicorns of Love will be facing Giants in the first quarterfinals in August in a chance for the team to over-achieve for the season. This kind of game is a chance for UoL to secure the future of the team as well as advertise that the team is worth playing for.
UoL has been a perennial average team, doing enough to sneak into playoff year after year. The team always hovered at the edge of respectability with no multi-esport presence, a simple website comprising of a merchandising store with no player information, news, or promotional content. The team purely owes its fanbase to its pink-teamed branding,
UoL has also struggled to hold onto its elite players with name after name departing every season, while average veterans and rookies stayed to stabilize the team. UoL owed its perennial playoff presence to Hylissang and Vizicsacsi, two good players who have helped the team punch above their weight.

question: Why has Hylissang and Vizicsacsi stayed with Unicorns of Love?


text:
JASON DASEY is a TV and radio broadcaster, journalist, professional emcee and media executive. He was the first Australian sports host on CNN International and BBC World News and the original anchor of ESPN's SportsCenter Asia and SportsCenter India (English edition). Best known to Asian audiences, Jason is a former vice-president and lead anchor for the Malaysian network ASTRO. Returning to Australia in 2019, he is a journalist at ABC News (Australia) and a radio correspondent for Singapore station Money FM 89.3.

Early career

The eldest of four brothers, Jason grew up in Sydney where he attended North Sydney Boys High School and was co-editor of the school's magazine. His father was an advertising copywriter and artist, while his mother was a cooking book author and cooking teacher. Jason's first newspaper articles were published in the North Shore Times in 1977. From 1978, he became a freelance sports reporter for Australian Associated Press. At the start of 1980, Jason joined The Sydney Morning Herald, Australia's oldest newspaper, as a cadet journalist. In December 1980 at the age of 18, he broke his first major story, securing an exclusive interview with a Soviet defector who jumped ship in Sydney Harbour to seek political asylum.

Towards the end of his four years with the Herald, Jason's personal vacation to New York City in September 1983 coincided with Australia winning sailing's America's Cup. Jason borrowed a blazer and talked his way into the New York Yacht Club before sending back an insider's account to the Sydney Morning Herald on the night the United States lost the America's Cup for the first time after 132 years.

Move to Television

That front-page story from a famous edition of the Herald helped 21-year-old Jason land a job at Australia's Seven Network in Sydney where he worked between 1983 and 1985 as an on-air reporter for Seven News and its nightly 'Willesee' current affairs show. At the end of 1985 after a six-month stint as a researcher for BBC Nine O'Clock News in London, he became a producer and reporter for SBS-TV in Sydney.

In 1987, Jason returned to London where he would base himself for most of the next decade, with his paternal grandmother from Staffordshire. Initially, he freelanced as a producer/reporter for SBS-TV, Fairfax Media, Reuters TV and BBC TV for whom he was an assistant producer on Breakfast Time, contributing to its coverage of Australia's Bicentenary, including producing a back-stage interview with Barry Humphries in London's West End. In January 1989, Jason became a sports producer and reporter for European satellite network Sky News as it launched in Britain. A year later at Sky, he gained his first regular experience in the studio, as a weekend sports presenter.

BBC and CNN Jobs

Jason's biggest break came at the end of 1994. As a freelance producer and occasional presenter for BBC World Service Television in London, he was promoted to senior sports anchor on the re-branded BBC World News after a fill-in stint as host. It made him the first Australian newsreader on the global network as part of ‘Newsday’, a breakfast show for Europe, with co-hosts Philip Hayton, Melinda Wittstock and Richard Quest.

After three years in London with the BBC, Jason moved to the U.S. in 1997. After serving as a freelance reporter for BBC World Service and Denver local station, KUSA-TV 9-News (NBC), Jason re-located to Atlanta in early 1999 to take up a job at CNN International. He was initially a news producer/writer, but in May 1999, Jason became the first Australian sports anchor on CNN International's World Sport, broadcasting daily to more than 200 countries, often in partnership with Pedro Pinto. That year, he also made his first forays into digital journalism with a regular column for the CNN Sports Illustrated website.

[Jason Dasey in Paris to cover the 2008 French Open]

ESPN career

In November 2001, Jason left CNN to become the senior news presenter at Asian network ESPN Star Sports, based in Singapore. After hosting the India-focused Sportsline, Jason was the original anchor as SportsCenter Asia was launched in earnest in May 2002 and when SportsCenter India was reshaped as an English-language show in October 2003. With Jason as co-host, SportsCenter Asia was voted Best Sports Programme at the 2003 Asian Television Awards. In 2005, he appeared as a judge on the first Dream Job Asia series, including the final with Pakistan cricket legend Wasim Akram.

In addition, Jason presented major sporting events for ESPN STAR Sports, including three tennis Grand Slams in 2003 and 2004, the 2005 United States Grand Prix, international cricket, rugby, plus the 2006 FIFA World Cup where he was an on-site 'live' reporter in Germany. He also wrote a weekly column called Dasey Direct for Espnstar.com.

After hosting more than 1000 news programmes over five years at ESPN STAR, Jason relocated to ESPN's world headquarters in Bristol, Connecticut in late 2006 to be an anchor for the launch for two more international versions of SportsCenter while reporting on major events like the 2008 Masters Tournament and 2008 French Open. He also conducted in-depth SportsCenter Conversations with sports legends that included Sugar Ray Leonard, Nadia Comăneci and George Foreman. His meeting with Foreman in Houston for ESPN was featured in Episode 6 of the Family Foreman reality TV series, airing in August 2008 on TV Land.

In November 2008, Jason moved back to Asia, setting up a base in Hong Kong while freelancing for ESPN, primarily as a feature interviewer of sports identities like Nick Faldo, Bernhard Langer, Venus Williams and Justin Langer while continuing to write a weekly column on Asian and Australian football for ESPN Soccernet.

[Jason Dasey in Manila hosting the AFC Annual Awards, December 2014]

ASTRO

After almost eight years within the ESPN group, Jason joined Asian satellite network ASTRO in 2009 as vice-president and sports' executive producer. Based in Kuala Lumpur, he built an in-house production team, was chief anchor for Astro's Premier League coverage and hosted seven major tournaments, including 2010 FIFA World Cup, UEFA Euro 2012, 2014 FIFA World Cup. He also devised new programming like FourFourTwo TV Show, Bola@Mamak, BPL Turning Points & Stadium Unplugged. In November 2011, two of the shows were nominated for Asian Television Award in non-sports categories: Best Talk Show & Best Comedy Show.

Away from football, he hosted the 2011 Rugby World Cup and presented 26 episodes of an interview-based show, _Golfing Greats: In Their Own Words_ for Golf Channel in Singapore and Malaysia and conducted in-house trainings for Astro anchors, reporters and writers. As a weekly sports columnist, Jason wrote for several regional newspapers including _The Star_ and 'South China Morning Post" plus the Stadium Astro website. For two years he was chief columnist and consulting editor of the Malaysia/Singapore edition of FourFourTwo magazine and hosted a popular weekly football podcast, Football Fever. In 2009 and 2012, he emceed the Asian Football Confederation Annual Awards in Kuala Lumpur. In 2012 and 2014, Jason received nominations for Best Sports Presenter/Commentator at the Asian Television Award.

[Jason Dasey and Park Ji-sung at 2018 World Cup draw in Kuala Lumpur]

Return to ESPN

In 2014, Jason re-joined ESPN through The Walt Disney Company in a management role with a focus on creating digital content and Southeast Asian commercial opportunities for ESPN FC, having initially worked as a consultant, while winding down his ASTRO commitments. His last hosting for ASTRO was the 2014 FIFA World Cup from Brazil, including the July 13th final. After helping set up the daily ESPN FC Indonesia TV show on Jakarta-based NET. Media, premiering in June, Jason oversaw the November 2014 launch of the Southeast Asia edition of ESPN FC. Later that month, he co-hosted the 2014 AFC Annual Awards in Manila, marking the confederation's 60th anniversary. In January 2015, he reported from Australia from the 2015 AFC Asian Cup for both web and ESPN FC TV show. In April 2016, he interviewed top Asian coaches at the draw for 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification – AFC Third Round in Kuala Lumpur. In January 2017, Jason hosted the 2017 Australian Open tennis for Sony ESPN, marking a return to the Indian TV market after an 11-year absence. In June 2017, Jason joined ex-Liverpool striker Emile Heskey for analysis shows around the 2017 UEFA Champions League Final for an invited audience at Singapore National Stadium which were streamed live on the ESPN FC Facebook page. Also in 2017, Jason covered the successful qualification, including two playoffs, of Australia's Socceroos for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. On November 30, he co-hosted the 2017 AFC Annual Awards in Bangkok to coincide with his 40th anniversary in journalism. In January 2018, Jason again presented Grand Slam tennis for Sony ESPN as anchor of the 2018 Australian Open and appeared as a guest alongside ex-India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar on episodes of the Run Order show, hosted by comedian Cyrus Broacha.

Cockatoo Media

In February 2018, Jason left his full-time position at The Walt Disney Company to set up his own Singapore company, Cockatoo Media, working as host of Weekend Mornings on Singapore radio station Money FM 89.3. He was part of the presentation team for the 2018 FIFA World Cup for ESPN India and Sony Entertainment Television for Pakistan in June and July and anchored the 2019 Australian Open on Sony ESPN. He also contributed to the ESPNCricinfo coverage of 2018 Indian Premier League and 2019 Indian Premier League from Mumbai. Through Cockatoo Media, Jason also works as a media trainer, emcee and website consultant. In late 2019, Jason moved back to Australia after more than 25 years abroad, setting up bases in Brisbane and Sydney. He continued to serve clients across Asia-Pacific, while setting up his own YouTube platform, featuring interviews with pop musicians Greedy Smith and Rex Goh, and author Michael Robotham. In December 2019, he emceed the Asian Football Confederation Annual Awards for the fifth time in his former base of Hong Kong. In January 2020, after a fill-in stint as breakfast host on Money FM 89.3 Jason anchored the 2020 Australian Open, fronting coverage of the opening Grand Slam tournament for the fourth consecutive year for Sony ESPN. In February 2020, he began a new Australia tourism radio series called 'Dasey Down Under' for Money FM 89.3, including a segment with Terri Irwin and Bindi Irwin at Australia Zoo, and started work as a digital news contributor to ABC News (Australia). In April 2020, he became the host of weekly, digital real estate show, Property Line, on Property TV.

TV/Radio/Digital roles

-   Newsday, BBC World (Sports presenter, 1995–1997)
-   World Sport, CNN (Co-host, 1999–2001)
-   Sportsline, ESPN STAR Sports (Host, 2001–2003)
-   SportsCenter Asia, ESPN STAR Sports (Original host, 2002–2006)
-   SportsCenter India, ESPN STAR Sports (Original host, English edition, 2003–2005)
-   SportsCenter Pacific Rim, ESPN International (Original co-host/reporter, 2007–2009)
-   SportsCenter Atlantic, ESPN International (Original co-host/reporter, 2007–2009)
-   Family Foreman, Episode 6, TV Land (As ESPN Reporter, 20 August 2008)
-   FourFourTwo TV Show, ASTRO SuperSport (Original host, 2009-2013)
-   Golfing Greats: In Their Own Words, Golf Channel (Original host, 2009-2014)
-   2010 FIFA World Cup. ASTRO (Host, June–July 2010)
-   Barclays Premier League. ASTRO (Host, August 2010-May 2014)
-   Bola@Mamak, ASTRO (Executive Producer, August 2010-May 2013)
-   Football Overload, ASTRO (Executive Producer, February 2011-May 2014)
-   Stadium Unplugged, ASTRO (Executive Producer, November 2011-May 2014 )
-   2011 Rugby World Cup, ASTRO (Host, October 2011)
-   UEFA Euro 2012, ASTRO (Host/Executive Producer, June–July 2012)
-   BPL Turning Points, ASTRO (Host/Executive Producer, August 2013-May 2014)
-   Red Card Radio, (Host, August 2013-June 2014)
-   2014 FIFA World Cup, ASTRO (Host, June–July 2014)
-   2015 AFC Asian Cup, ESPN FC TV show (Reporter, January 2015)
-   2017 Australian Open, Sony ESPN (Host, January 2017)
-   2017 UEFA Champions League Final, ESPN FC Facebook page, (Host, June 2017)
-   2018 Australian Open, Sony ESPN (Host, January 2018)
-   Money FM 89.3 (Host/Correspondent, March 2018 – Present)
-   2018 Indian Premier League, ESPNCricinfo, (Host, May 2018)
-   2018 FIFA World Cup, Sony ESPN, (Host, June/July 2018)
-   Indian cricket team in Australia in 2018–19, ESPNCricinfo, (Host, January 2019)
-   2019 Australian Open, Sony ESPN (Host, January 2019)
-   2019 Indian Premier League, ESPNCricinfo, (Host, April 2019)
-   Money FM 89.3 (Host, The Breakfast Huddle & Workday Afternoon, January 2020)
-   2020 Australian Open, Sony ESPN (Host, January 2020)
-   ABC News (Australia), (Producer/writer, February 2020 – Present)
-   Property Line, PropertyTV (Host, April 2020-October 2020)

title: Jason Dasey

question: Summarize the trajectory of Jason Dasey's career before he was employed by the BBC.

answer: Jason Dasey is a TV anchor, journalist, and media executive. He was the co-editor of the North Sydney Boys High School magazine while he was in college. However, his first job was with the Australian Associated Press as a freelance sports reporter in 1978. He left to join the Sydney Morning Herald in 1980 and at the age of 18 broke his first major story. After many years with the Herald, Jason landed a role with Australia's Seven Network where he worked for 2 years before he became a producer and reporter for SBS-TV in Sydney. This job was Dasey's last job before he relocated to London and began freelancing for British media, including the BBC for whom he was an assistant producer on Breakfast Time.

question: What convinced Dasey that journalism suits him?


text:
229.46MB. 14691 audio & 7169 images. Updated 2019-01-15.

This item is large, and may take some time to download.

Description

This is part 1 of 2 of the NHK Ojad Pitch Accent Deck Abridged edition, you can find more information about this deck at the video below, you can also find a full version of this deck with 70,000 cards with full audio. This deck has been split into 2 pieces due to size limits on Anki web. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lsi3RoRqXVU Cheers, Yogapants

Sample (from 1250 notes)

CARDS ARE CUSTOMIZABLE! When this deck is imported into the desktop program, cards will appear as the deck author has made them. If you'd like to customize what appears on the front and back of a card, you can do so by clicking the Edit button, and then clicking the Cards button.

  ------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------
  質問                                        「肌（はだ）」のアクセントは？914

  NHKアクセント                               肌仮名　：　はだ漢字　：　肌発音図: [] []
                                              助詞: [] []オ

  OJAD終止形                                  肌はだ []

  OJADオーディオ(単独)

  OJAD語形                                    肌はだ []

  OJADオーディオ(男性)

  OJADオーディオ(女性)

  OJADオーディオ(両方)

  品詞と使用頻度                              名詞-普通名詞-一般 - 1341

  TAGS
  ------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------

  ---------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  質問                   「限る（かぎる）」のアクセントは？392
  NHKアクセント          限る仮名　：　かぎる漢字　：　限る発音図: [] [] []
  OJAD終止形             限るかぎる []
  OJADオーディオ(単独)
  OJAD語形               限るかぎる []限りますかぎります []限ってかぎって []限ったかぎった []限らないかぎらない []限らなかったかぎらなかった []限ればかぎれば []限らせるかぎらせる []限られるかぎられる []限れかぎれ []限れるかぎれる []限ろうかぎろう []
  OJADオーディオ(男性)
  OJADオーディオ(女性)
  OJADオーディオ(両方)
  品詞と使用頻度         動詞-一般 - 623
  TAGS
  ---------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

  ---------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------
  質問                                                 「流れ（ながれ）」のアクセントは？551

  NHKアクセント                                        流れ仮名　：　ながれ漢字　：　流れ発音図: [] [] []
                                                       助詞: [] [] []オ

  OJAD終止形                                           流れながれ []

  OJADオーディオ(単独)

  OJAD語形                                             流れながれ []

  OJADオーディオ(男性)

  OJADオーディオ(女性)

  OJADオーディオ(両方)

  品詞と使用頻度                                       名詞-普通名詞-一般 - 853

  TAGS
  ---------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------

After the file is downloaded, double-click on it to open it in the desktop program.

At this time, it is not possible to add shared decks directly to your AnkiWeb account - they need to be added from the desktop then synchronized to AnkiWeb.

Reviews

[] on 1599562053
WAY too many issues to make for a comfortable learning experience. Biggest issue is that cards spontaneously straight up miss all information and have no audio. Second biggest issue is how bad the frequency detection is. Extremely uncommon words which merely share readings with common words appear early. It's evident the method used here was extremely flawed and it's sad Yoga didn't even bother going through the first few hundred cards and fix them up so people can get at least a basic grasp on pitch accent with a decent deck. I also don't know why you need a "のアクセントは?" on every single card, this screams bad design. I don't know why other people rate this high, except for the fact that there does not seem to be a decent deck anywhere. I'm disappointed but will probably keep using it while fixing all the issues because I'm not seeing a good pitch deck anywhere.

[] on 1579655182
To answer someone else question, オ is just a place marker for particles.
On the back of the card there is a 助詞 (meaning particle) section where you see オ. This will only appear for nouns and/or な-adjectives, since those are the words that will be followed by a particle. This オ is showing you how particle X will attach to the word and watch accent it will have with particle X.

[] on 1572913802
Why do so many cards end with an オ though?

[] on 1557395141
thanks

[] on 1547512819
Domo ariagato gozaimasu!

[] on 1547512726
Don't know how you managed to rip the audio from the epwings but good work.

[] on 1547512593
Wow, this is crazy!!

[] on 1547512558
I wish I had this when I first started studying pitch accent!! This is a game changer

question: What does the text say about the issues with the cards?

answer: The first issue with the cards is that they miss all information and have no audio. Another issue that needs to be addressed is that extremely uncommon words appear early. Along with this, the cards also have a bad design.


text:
_SERF_ () is a 2019 Russian comedy film directed by Klim Shipenko, the film stars Miloš Biković, Aleksandra Bortich and Ivan Okhlobystin. The plot follows a wealthy businessman's son who is made to believe he has traveled back to the time of Serfdom in Russia, in order to reform his uncouth behaviour.

It was theatrically released in Russia on 26 December 2019 by Central Partnership.[1][2]

Plot

Grigoriy, called Grisha (Milos Bikovic) is the son of the oligarch Pavel (Aleksandr Samoylenko), a spoiled, exalted guy who spends almost all the time in night clubs, loves women and enjoys full immunity. After Grisha nearly had an accident as a result of an accident, trying to get away from the traffic cop, Pavel was surprised to realize that he could lose his son by losing his wife in the past. Grisha lives with full confidence and confidence that his father will save him from any crime. The oligarch is desperate to find a way to influence his son for the better. TV producer Anastasiya (Mariya Mironova), with whom Pavel has long been in a relationship based on sex, invites him to contact her ex-husband, an eccentric psychologist, whose unusual methods may seem cruel and shocking, but almost always give a guaranteed result.

Soon Grisha gets into an accident arranged by his father and loses consciousness. He comes to himself in a stable, the stable is located in the abandoned village, the village - in the estate, and the estate-in the Russian Empire in the summer of 1860, six months before the abolition of serfdom. At first Grisha thinks that this is a joke or a practical joke, but the surrounding reality is too real, the surrounding people are really convincing — and now he is a disenfranchised serf, a master's groom, unable to perform his duties, because he is afraid of horses. In horror, trying to just run away, the runaway groom is on the scaffold, and from the gallows he is saved only by the appearance of Aglaya (Olga Dibtseva), the daughter of a landowner, for the sake of whose name day the master (Oleg Komarov) pardons the fugitive. Trying to reason logically, Grisha at first vehemently denies the possibility of falling into the past, but then gradually comes to terms with the position of a serf.

In reality, the whole village of the 19th century turns out to be a skilful production of Anastasiya and a psychologist, carried out with the huge money of Grisha’s father. The goal of the project is to completely change Grisha’s view of the world around him and himself, for which the team is watching his every move, calculating the intricacies of scenario turns and trying to think through every little thing. Of course, in a situation of permanent wild time pressure, in a situation where not only the actors, but also the scriptwriter inevitably have to constantly improvise, it is impossible to cope with all these trifles. The project is saved mainly by the primeval Grisha ignorance, almost complete lack of even basic knowledge on the history of Russia from constant overlays - anachronisms in the surroundings, modern objects found in the village, neologisms in the speech of “nobles” and “peasants”.

According to the scriptwriter’s plan, an affair with Aglaya should begin, developing into a joint run of a serf with a “young lady” and a complete reassessment of life attitudes, but Grisha’s cynicism does not even allow him to realize what a tragedy a girl’s “threatening marriage” may be with even a rich but old and, most importantly, unloved landowner. Pavel, who was convinced that his son and in the setting of another era remains the same heartless bastard - moreover, in the 19th century he gradually manages to settle down, dodge some unpleasant realities, seep through others and find a hundred ways that, in general, not bad even get into the role of a slave - in anger, he almost closes the project, but the situation is saved by an unplanned program failure. Grisha accidentally, out of the corner of her eye, remarks that the village girl Liza (Aleksandra Bortich), who had unsuccessfully jumped from a horse, seems to be wearing modern panties (Liza is a horse breeder who works with the horses involved in the project, and not an actress, and therefore not was present at the relevant briefing), and intends to immediately check this, in public trying to lift her hem. Seeing the reaction of those around him, Grisha suddenly realizes what exactly he - in terms of the patriarchal peasant community - has just done, and for the first time in his life returns to the person offended by him to ask for forgiveness. Amazed Pavel agrees to continue the project.

To the team’s surprise, Grisha is honestly linked to Liza, to whom he tells wonderful fairy tales about the future and is glad that at least one person understands him, and if she doesn’t believe him, at least she listens to him. The psychologist proposes to change the scenario and make Liza the object of Grisha's love. Liza is disgusted with divorce, but she nevertheless agrees to help him change. Along the way, Grisha gradually changes his views on life and himself, watching his own known sins manifest themselves in the son of Lord Aleksey Timofeev, played by a guy named Anton who gets in trouble and Grisha agrees to be punished and abducted for him.

Polina, offended by the loss of the “leading role”, convinces Anton that Liza beat off Grisha with her quite deliberately, despite the fact that in reality Liza herself really began to feel some sympathy for Grisha. Two offended actors are rapidly finding a common language beyond the scope of their creative task; the accidentally spotted scene of the “incest” of “brother and sister” shock not only Liza, but also Grisha, who is accustomed to everything, the furious Lev Arnoldovich removes “Aglaya” and “Aleksey” from the roles. In revenge Polina on the show “Andrey Malakhov. Live” publicly talks about the project, where they’re “torturing a guy”, because of which a criminal case is instituted (kidnapping committed by an organized group - part three of article 126 of the Criminal Code of Russia, from six to fifteen years ...) and a wanted list is announced. Polina is doing her best to help investigators figure out the location of the attacker's nest. Remained a few hours until the moment when special forces burst into the project site. Anastasiya urgently begins to prepare a plan for “bringing” Grisha back to his usual reality, and Lev conducts an impromptu brain storm to find a way to arrange Grisha’s emergency catharsis, which can nevertheless crack his impenetrable cynicism.

For this crucial stage of the psychological correction of Grisha's attitudes, a new script is urgently written; in the absence of other options - the invasion of the Mongol-Tatars. The Golden Horde in the 19th century didn’t surprise Grisha at all, but when the turn of the decisive act came - to not allow the Horde to take Liza away for fun “Khan” (Azamat Musagaliyev), he surrendered and desperate runs to his stable. However, to Pavel’s great surprise and no less than the satisfaction of Leo, who was confident in his methods, after a few minutes Grisha still gathered his courage, quickly and professionally saddled his horse, and, having beaten Liza away from the “evil Tatars”, he rode away from the village with her. Just a couple of minutes before the emergence of the police, which hardly manages to convince that the project is only engaged in pseudo-historical filming.

At the edge of the forest, already in view of a completely modern gas station, Grisha is euthanized with sleeping pills and, upon awakening, they inform that he, having got under the car, spent three months in a coma and there was no village and no past. Character changes, activated by the transferred experiences, remain with Grisha, but from the realization of Liza’s unreality, he becomes depressed. Having accidentally met the actors Polina and Anton (Aglaya and Aleksey) in the club, he is first ready to believe that he has made up his mind - however, having seen firsthand the torment of Grisha, they still tell him the truth about the project and that love with Liza is he was real. Finding Liza in real life, Grisha stays with her. When Pavel decides to marry Anastasiya, finally confessing to herself that she is much more than a lover for him, congratulate the young Grisha and Liza come together.

In the last scene of the film in the “village” brought in chains and dragged to the gallows another “fallen into the past” majeure to his re-established pattern. Grisha, in makeup and costume, with passion and pleasure has been part of the project team, once already proved its effectiveness.

Cast

Production

Filming

Principal photography began on August 2018, in Moscow and the urban-type settlement of Pushkinskiye Gory, Pushkinogorsky District, Pskov Oblast, Russia.

Release

_Serf_ was released in the United States on 24 November 2019,[3] and in the Russian Federation by Central Partnership on 26 December 2019.

Marketing

The film was first shown at the 4th Russian Film Week in London. The premiere took place in the famous British cinema Odeon Luxe Leicester Square, in the main hall, which seats 800 spectators.

Reception

Box office

The film was released in Russia on 26 December 2019, and in the first weekend of its screening put in more than 300 million rubles, and a total of 3.151 billion Russian rubles, which made it the most profitable film in Russian cinema. It is the most profitable Russian film of all time, with only _Avatar_ grossing more (3.6 billion Russian rubles) in Russia's box office.[4]

Critical response

According to critic A.V. Valley, “Serf” (Kholop) - a modern Russian hybrid of “The Truman Show” and the film “Ivan Vasilyevich Changes His Profession”. Reviewers of various online publications such as Meduza (Anton Dolin),[5] Tsargrad TV (Yegor Kholmogorov),[6] Around TV (Anna Entyakova),[7] Weburg.net. (Kirill Ilyukhin),[8] and the magazine Ogoniok (Andrey Arkhangelsky),[9] rated the film positively.

Film critic of the portal “Film.ru” Vladislav Shuravin rated 7 out of 10. The observer also notes similarity with other films, namely with the _Text_ (2019 film). Shuravin notes that among the New Year’s films of recent years, _Serf_ is the most «_compromise option_».[10]

Denis Stupnikov, a movie reviewer at the InterMedia information portal, gave the film 7 out of 10 points. The critic notes the director’s ability to «_balance on the razor’s edge, but not cross the line_», as well as the fact that «_Klim Shipenko tries not to abuse empty toothache, so even simple-minded jokes have a very deep connotation_».[11]

Yulia Troitskaya, a columnist for the Kanobu.ru entertainment site, rated the film neutral, indicating that similar stories had already been seen (_Frontier_ (2018 film), _Black Hunters_ (2008 film)). But, according to the critic, the plot is most similar to the movie _Back to the USSR_ (TV Mini-Series), only _Serf_ «_does not consist of four watch episodes, although the characters reveal the same pattern and come to the same finals_». Also, Yulia did not appreciate the fact that the line of secondary heroes was not developed, therefore, «_if they are deleted from history, nothing will change_». In positive moments, Troitskaya recorded the soundtrack and the «_good nature_» of the picture.[12]

Vera Alenushkina, a critic of the movie section on the Russian version of Time Out, gave a negative assessment to the film. Noting some discrepancy between the age category and overkill with violent scenes, she rated the film two points out of five. According to V. Alyonushkina, the film could have been recorded in the category of nothing pretending comedies from the category «drank / looked / went to eat up the Olivier», if not for one «but»: the reviewer was seriously guarded by the concept of the picture is the core idea of «healing violence», both physical and psychological, «whip anthem». In particular, the final transformation of the punished into the punishing one, which looks like a reward for obedience.[13]

[1]

[2]

[3] В 2020 году российский кинопрокат в США начнется с показа детского мультфильма. Tass.ru (5 January 2020). Retrieved on 2020-01-12.

[4]

[5] Dolin, Anton [_Serf_: a good Russian comedy about a major who became serf From the director of _Text_ (2019 film) by Klim Shipenko] (in Russian).

[6] Kholmogorov, Yegor [Major in typical Pskov distant] (in Russian).

[7] Entyakova, Anna [Review of the film _Serf_: a convincing application for the title of a new national hit from the director of _Text_ (2019 film)] (in Russian).

[8] Ilyukhin, Kirill [_Serf_: show of the impudent Truman - News - Weburg.] (in Russian).

[9] Arkhangelsky, Andrey [Whip-father, whip-mother] (in Russian).

[10]  [From the stink I hear: review of the film _Serf_.] (in Russian).

[11]  [Review of the film _Serf_ by Klim Shipenko: Whose will you be?] (in Russian).

[12]  [ _Serf_ from the director of _Salyut 7_ (2017 film) and _Text_ (2019 film) - the story of a major in love under the guise of a Saga about popadants] (in Russian).

[13]  [_Serf_. Life-giving whip] (in Russian).

title: Serf (film)

question: Why does Pavel want to change Grisha?

answer: Pavel thinks of Grisha, his son as a spoiled, womanizer, ignorant, cynic, reckless, heartless bastard who always relied on his father to get him out of trouble. Pavel is scared that he could lose his son if he will continue with the same behavior.

question: Summarize what caused the psychological experiment to end.

answer: Two of the people involved in the experiment lost their roles and went on a live Tv show where they talked about the experiment describing it as a project where they are torturing a guy. This caused the police to take notice, open a criminal case and shut the experiment down.

question: Summarize how Grisha was made to believe he was in 1860.

answer: Pavel, his father, arranged for Grisha to get into an accident that made him lose consciousness. When he comes back to himself he is in a stable, in a village part of the Russian Empire, in the summer of 1860. What Grisha doesn't know is that all of it is a skillful production organized by his father and associates. At first, Grisha finds it hard to believe his surroundings but he gradually comes to terms with it mostly because of his ignorance and complete lack of knowledge of Russian history.

question: Describe Grisha's girlfriend from before the experiment.