text:
JERUSALEM (AP) — An enigmatic sculpture of a king’s head dating back nearly 3,000 years has set off a modern-day mystery caper as scholars try to figure out whose face it depicts.

The 5-centimeter (2-inch) sculpture is an exceedingly rare example of figurative art from the Holy Land during the 9th century B.C. — a period associated with biblical kings. Exquisitely preserved but for a bit of missing beard, nothing quite like it has been found before.

While scholars are certain the stern bearded figure wearing a golden crown represents royalty, they are less sure which king it symbolizes, or which kingdom he may have ruled.

Archaeologists unearthed the diminutive figurine in 2017 during excavations at a site called Abel Beth Maacah, located just south of Israel’s border with Lebanon, near the modern-day town of Metula.

Nineteenth-century archaeologists identified the site, then home to a village called Abil al-Qamh, with the similarly named city mentioned in the Book of Kings.

During the 9th century B.C., the ancient town was situated in a liminal zone between three regional powers: the Aramean kingdom based in Damascus to the east, the Phoenician city of Tyre to the west, and the Israelite kingdom, with its capital in Samaria to the south.

Kings 1 15:20 mentions Abel Beth Maacah in a list of cities attacked by the Aramean King Ben Hadad in a campaign against the Israelite kingdom.

“This location is very important because it suggests that the site may have shifted hands between these polities, more likely between Aram-Damascus and Israel,” said Hebrew University archaeologist Naama Yahalom-Mack, who has headed the joint dig with California’s Azusa Pacific University since 2013.

Yahalom-Mack’s team was digging through the floor of a massive Iron Age structure in the summer of 2017 when a volunteer who arrived for the day struck pay dirt. The layer where the head was found dates to the 9th century B.C., the epoch associated with the rival biblical kingdoms of Israel and Judah.

In a rare move, archaeologists and curators at the Israel Museum in Jerusalem rushed to put the piece on public display. A detailed report is set for publication in the June edition of the journal Near Eastern Archaeology.

Eran Arie, the Israel Museum’s curator of Iron Age and Persian archaeology, said the discovery was one of a kind. “In the Iron Age, if there’s any figurative art, and there largely isn’t, it’s of very low quality. And this is of exquisite quality.”

The royal figurine is made of faience, a glass-like material that was popular in jewelry and small human and animal figurines in ancient Egypt and the Near East.

“The color of the face is greenish because of this copper tint that we have in the silicate paste,” Yahalom-Mack said. But a crucial clue for identifying it as a Near Eastern monarch was its “very interesting hairdo,” she said.

The bearded figure’s hair is pulled back in thick locks that cover the ears, and is held in place by a striped diadem of gold. Its hairstyle looks similar to the way ancient Egyptians depicted neighboring Near Eastern peoples in art.

“The guy kind of represents the generic way Semitic people are described,” she said.

Because Carbon-14 dating cannot give a more exact date for the statue’s creation other than sometime in the 9th century, the field of potential candidates is large. Yahalom-Mack posited it could be kings Ben Hadad or Hazael of Damascus, Ahab or Jehu of Israel, or Ithobaal of Tyre, all characters appearing in the biblical narrative.

“We’re only guessing here, it’s like a game,” she said. “It’s like a hello from the past, but we don’t know anything else about it.”

As scholars debate whether the head was a stand-alone piece or part of a larger statue, the Hebrew University team is set to restart digging this month at the spot where the mystery king’s head was found.

question: What does the statue resemble?

answer: While researchers are not sure which king or kingdom the statue is from, it is in a style similar to the way Egyptian art depicts neighboring Near Eastern kings. It looks, one expert says, like "the generic way Semitic people are described." It is clear that it is a Biblical figure, and it is dated to around Biblical times.


split: test

text:
On Friday, auction house Sotheby’s sold a painting by British graffiti artist Banksy for $1.4 million. The piece was a copy of one of the artist’s most famous works, an image of a girl releasing a red balloon, and moments after it was sold, the painting self-destructed, shredding itself while onlookers watched.

In a video, Banksy explained that he had secretly installed a shredder in the frame of the painting, titled “Girl with Balloon,” to destroy it if it ever went up for auction. The anonymous artist is known for creating satirical and subversive political art, and by shredding the painting, he essentially turned the auction itself into a work of art, quoting artist Picasso in an Instagram post: “the urge to destroy is also a creative urge.”

Sotheby’s described the painting as a “framed work, spray paint and acrylic on canvas,” and notes that it’s “the first time in auction history that a work of art automatically shredded itself.” It’s certainly a long-simmering plot, and it seems unlikely that the shredder and its power source would have remained a secret for so long.

The painting itself was a 2006 reproduction of the iconic image, which features a girl releasing a red balloon. The original image was spray painted on a building in East London in 2002, although it was covered up for many years before it was removed in 2014 and sold at auction the following year. Other copies of the painting have been auctioned over the years.

question: Who is Banksy?

answer: Banksy is a British graffiti artist known for his satirical and subversive political art.

question: Explain the art piece that sold at Sotheby's auction.

answer: The art piece was a copy of one of Banksy's most famous works, an image of a girl releasing a red balloon. Moments after it was sold, the painting self-destructed, shredding itself. Banksy secretly installed a shredder into the frame of the painting.

question: Did the buyer know it was going to explode?

answer: The article doesn't indicate.

question: Explain the original art piece.

answer: The original piece was spray painted on a building in East London in 2002. In 2014 it was removed and sold at auction the following year.

question: Write a ~2 sentence summary.

answer: Banksy is a British graffiti artist known for his satirical and subversive political art turned the auction at Sotheby's into a work of art through performance art. After a copy of "Girl with Balloon" sold for 1.4 million dollars, it self-destructed by shredding itself.


text:
Hi im a 16 year aspiring writer and these is one of my short stories, please try to as critical as you can.

It was a cold afternoon. The old retiree opened the back door of his one-storey dwelling carrying a light brown leather leash with a robust metal chain and the end of it. Therein almost immediately barking ensued. The barking was of his dog, ecstatic in the knowledge of what was to follow. The dog was confined to a small caged perimeter in the corner of the retiree’s backyard. It was a dog that was neither big nor small, but in either case it was one which could have been loyal, accessible and most of all obedient to the man, had it not been neglected. The dog had a name but the old man in his petulance had always called it, Dumb Dog.

Dumb Dog had gone overlooked after the demise of the old man’s wife. Who in her last stand of her doomed battle with cancer, had given it to her spouse, as a parting gift. One that was to bring him companionship in the time he had left on this earth without her. The old man however saw the creature as nothing but smut and frankly only kept it around for the sake of not upsetting his children for when they payed a visit, which increasingly became scarcer by the months.

The old man would soon grow tired of the dog’s barking and would use the leash in his hand to lash the dog into silence. The dog, which was evidently malnourished, yelped woefully and cowered to the ground, as the old man shouted, uncalled for obscenities at it.

It is often said that canines are the only animals that have truly seen their Gods. But if Dumb Dog didn't know it, he was sure to have an idea, that his God was a callous one. A man who lived his life with consuming rage and anger, belittling sentiments and utter despise for anything that was a threat to his pride. The old man was nothing but a ruthless brute that ruled the house once with alcohol pumping through his veins and his fists pounding through his loved ones and yet old age had now mellowed him. But if Dumb Dog had a say in all of this, he would agree that old dogs never learn new tricks and the old man would still yet remain somewhat of a hard knock.

Walking along the pavement, Dumb Dog, in his excitement and foolishness would stretch the old man every so often. Having the old man to either pull back the leash causing Dumb Dog to choke on his own collar or to simply beat some darn sense into him. Nevertheless when they reached the park, the old man would free Dumb Dog from his shackles to roam the green with liberty, it was a sentiment of absolute annoyance on behalf of the old man.

With Dumb Dog sniffing, urinating and exorcising the true nature of his kind, the old man realised that another dog, a much bigger one had entered the fray, unattended and with no God to govern him. The big dog was of a German Shepard kind, if not a cross breed and it had all the characteristics of being a wild and evil dog.

The bad dog trotted along the concrete pavement that ran through the park tending to its own business. The old man unconsciously thought about the safety of himself and even his redundant canine companion. He rose to his feet instinctively and began to hurry towards Dumb Dog, it was the least he could do. Yet at the same exact moment, Dumb Dog himself had spotted the Bad Dog and because of its purity and stupidity, it ran directly towards it. The old man shouted at Dumb Dog to stop, but Dumb Dog wasn't trained for that sort of authority nor was he ready for what was to follow.

By the time the old man had reached the dogs, the German Shepard was declared the champion, except Dumb Dog was never a contender. Dumb Dog’s gullet was being yanked wildly in this moment in time. It was brutal to watch but even more so brutal to be at the receiving end of it. Poor Dumb Dog thought the old man, who tried in vain to remove the Bad Dog off of Dumb Dog, by kicking and stomping on it, which seemed to work for a while, or he had at least hoped it had worked. Only for it to turn out to be an unwise idea, for as the German Shepard turned its fury towards the old man and even bit him on the hand. The old man moved away swiftly in fear and continued to watch in horror as Bad Dog went back to finish the job at hand. The old man, helpless as he watched the life seize in dumb dog did not try again; he simply consoled himself, with the idea that every dog had its day. Foolishness had been the reason behind that day for Dumb Dog.

The old man would later forget what happened exactly after the attack mostly to the shock he had encountered. But it did occur to him that he had made a statement to the police regarding the incident. He had gone to the hospital to have his hand examined, which explained the bandage that wrapped his right hand and then him talking to his youngest daughter over the telephone just before he went to sleep, where she had told him amongst other things “don't worry, we’ll get you another one”. Get me another one? He thought. What for? He imagined? To entertain him? To keep him company? Or to feel less bad about not being visited by his children? Of course it was the latter, but he couldn't be sure.

The next day was nothing out of the ordinary; nothing had changed for the old man, after all the dog was nothing but a burden, which had never excited an emotion in him. Although it must be said that whilst reading the day’s newspaper he did hear the bark of a dog and it had made him think of Dumb Dog almost instantly. He didn't particularly miss him but, it was his dog nonetheless, it belonged to him, it was his possession and it was taken from him just like his wife had been many months ago.

Many days would pass since the attack, when the old man made a phone call to the police officer that had taken his statement. The old man had called to enquire about the case of the Bad Dog. He was truly banking on the fact that it had been found and destroyed by now; after all it was what he had been promised. For it had no purpose left, besides to kill and kill again. Yet the police did not find the dog nor did they even look as far as the old man was concerned. He tried to bite his tongue in, once he heard the outcome, but he couldn't help it when he shouted, that the police force were just a bunch of “inconsiderate, uninterested and imprudent lot of pricks”.

Months had past, when whilst walking through the same park that had been the setting of Dumb Dog’s death, the old man spotted a German Shepard, which had unmistakably resembled Bad Dog. This time with its owner or God. The old man didn't think twice about it and he approached the owner. Not in interest or curiosity as one would expect, but with accusations and allegations. Bewildered, the owner denied every single bit of it. He was adamant that his dog was trained and not in any way a danger to people or other dogs for that matter. The accusations would then turn into abuse and almost into a physical confrontation between the two bickering parties. The police would eventually arrive whom concerned witnesses had called. They tried telling the old man to move on and that he had accused the wrong dog. But the old man’s antics would spill over to them. They weren’t only disinterested; they were also lying through their teeth, he held.

It was clear that the old man was a fellow with too much pride. The empty bottle of Jack in the living room that same night did not signify sorrow and yearn for Dumb Dog, instead it was to numb the battering his pride had taken. It was also that same night that a show was on the television box. A documentary on dogs, dangerous dogs. Among the many mongrels was the American Pit Bull. It was a dog that was not big in size but big in bite. The more the old man listened, the more he thought about revenge against Bad Dog. He would have his day, he supposed as soon as Good Dog got a hold of him.

The next day, the old man had withdrawn his entire pension payment and had combined it with what little savings he had. He was to buy a Pit Bull, a killer to kill a dog, which had killed another dog, it was confusing, but it had to be done and it needed to be done straight away, thus puppies were out of the question. He searched for a full-grown pure breed, but none wanted to sell, until he met Dave a man who was willing to part with his for cash to fix his heroin habit. Dave was a crook no less, but he had the decency to tell the old man, that it was an unwise decision, he was not his dogs God and he couldn't command him like Dave could. But the old man knew that once he had seen Butch he had seen his accomplice, he would tame him and they would be buddies he believed.

Butch or Good Dog as he became to be known, tried to kill the old man for the next month or so. But steady food and shelter made him a sympathizer. Another month would pass and another after that. Up until the point where old man would grow fond of Good Dog; he had made him smile and laugh. For a moment the old man even thought about abandoning his plans for revenge, in the fear that something bad would come of it for Good Dog. That was to be the case until one day, when the victim would come face to face with his old nemesis. Bad Dog was there at the park once again with his owner, but so was Good Dog. He knew what Good Dog was capable of, after all he had witnessed him shred countless tires in the backyard. So he knew the outcome, but what if he got injured? He asked himself.

But pride was fucking the old man; it was bigger and stronger then one hundred Good Dog’s. He wandered over to Bad Dog and the owner, who appeared to be teasing the dog into jumping for a plastic toy. Once real close, he unleashed Good Dog.

Thanks

title: A story about an old man who’s dog is killed by another dog and his attempt to buy another dog to kill the culprit.

question: Summarize the events that led to the death of Dumb Dog.

answer: Dumb Dog belongs to the old man. It used to belong to his wife. However, he was forced to take over its ownership after his wife's passing. The old man doesn't treat Dumb Dog very well, leading to it being malnourished and frightened most of the time. One day, the old man took the dog to the park and let it roam around. A bigger dog (a German Shephard) came into the park and Dumb Dog trotted towards it. The big dor saw Dumb Dog coming closer and attacked it, ripping its throat. The old man tried to intervene but was bitten as well. The police soon arrived and the old man made a report. However, the police never found the dog.

question: What breed is Dumb Dog?


text:
CHRISTOPHER PAUL HENZEL is an American diplomat and the United States Ambassador to Yemen.[1][2]

Education and career

Henzel earned a Bachelor of Arts from the College of the Holy Cross and a Master of Science from the National War College.[3]

From January 2017 until April, 2019 Henzel was chargé d'affaires ad interim at the American Embassy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. From 2013 to 2016 he was director of the Office of Israel and Palestinian Affairs at the State Department in Washington. From 2010 to 2011 he headed the provincial reconstruction office in Mosul, Iraq. He has also served as deputy chief of mission in Manama, Bahrain; and counselor for political affairs in Amman, Jordan. His earlier overseas postings included an assignment in Yemen from 1997 to 1999. He studied Arabic in Tunisia. Henzel entered the foreign service in 1985.[4]

United States Ambassador to Yemen

On September 21, 2018, President Trump nominated Henzel to be the next United States Ambassador to Yemen.[5] On January 2, 2019, the Senate confirmed his nomination by voice vote.[6]

Personal life

Henzel speaks Arabic, Spanish and German.[7]

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

title: Christopher P. Henzel

question: How many languages does Henzel Speak?

answer: Three

question: How many degrees has Henzel been awarded?

answer: Two

question: Where was Henzel's first position?

answer: Not enough information is given to answer.

question: How many months passed between nomination and confirmation of Henzel's ambassadorship?

answer: Three

question: Write a ~2 sentence summary.

answer: This article introduces Christopher P Henzel, a US Ambassador to Yemen. It discusses his educational and professional background, including his many appointments overseas.


text:
Former WWE Champion CM Punk appeared on The Kevin & Bean Show this morning in Los Angeles. The show airs on 106.7 KROQ FM and Punk appeared to promote tonight's LA premiere of his new "Girl on the Third Floor" horror movie.

When asked about possibly appearing on WWE's SmackDown FOX premiere this Friday in LA, Punk joked, "When is SmackDown, is that tonight?"

Punk was also asked about recently trying out for the WWE Backstage studio show on FS1, which will be hosted by Renee Young and WWE Hall of Famer Booker T, beginning November 5.

Punk joked again, "You mean to tell me you'd watch a show where I talk about wrestling?"

Punk somewhat downplayed the talk of a possible role on the WWE FS1 show, but he did give some props to Renee. He then addressed the rumors about the show.

"I think people have... it's taken on a life of its own," Punk said of the rumors on a possible WWE return and a role on the FS1 show.

Punk brought up how The Rock, who will return to WWE TV on Friday's SmackDown, called him live from the ring during a post-RAW dark segment in February 2017, when WWE was in Los Angeles. Punk didn't take the call that night.

"I enjoy The Rock, I do," Punk said of The Rock and his return on Friday. "And I'm not trying to put this out... gee, hopefully people don't do this, but do you remember the last time The Rock was in the Staples Center?"

He continued, "Let's do it again. When is this show, next Friday? Dwayne, call me Friday," Punk joked.

One of the hosts imagined how big it would be if they did a phone call segment like that on SmackDown, but had the camera cut backstage to Punk on his phone, live in the Staples Center for his WWE return.

Punk responded to that fantasy booking and said, "100% better than anything on their shows since I left."

Punk later said wrestling is not on his mind in general, and hasn't been for 7 years. He tries not to follow the rumors but he believes social media is a negative cesspool, and it becomes a different "7th level of hell" when you factor pro wrestling social media into that.

"If nothing happens, please don't be mad at me," Punk said in response to a comment about how fans are waiting for the return to happen soon.

Punk was also asked about fans chanting his name at WWE events. He said, "I love it. How can you not love it?"

Regarding his future in the working world, Punk said he does want to do more acting. One of the hosts said they want to see him release an autobiography, and he said that a book is possible.

"It's a possibility. After I shed these frivolous lawsuits and come out victorious in both, I realized I do have a lot of stories that are fairly ridiculous, that I think the public should probably read."

Punk was asked once again about what he is doing on Friday, another reference to a possible WWE SmackDown return. He said, "What's the date? Probably watching hockey, I'm super excited about that."

Punk asked the hosts to pretend that they were the owners of a billion dollar wrestling company. One of the hosts joked about pretending to be Stephanie McMahon and Punk responded, "Let's pretend you're someone else."

Punk continued with the pretend situation and said, "If you want me to work for you, why is it my responsibility to move that forward? Shouldn't you be contacting me and doing something?"

Punk said he does not miss pro wrestling, when asked by one of the hosts.

"I don't miss wrestling, no. I guess maybe if I missed anything it would be performing, because there very much is a rush to your music hitting and going out, to be able to read a crowd and give them what you think they want, and not necessarily give the crowd what they want because as a performer, you almost have to be objective. ... I always appreciated and enjoyed [telling a story]," he said.

Another host joked about Living Colour being at SmackDown to perform his "Cult of Personality" theme song. Punk said he's surprised WWE hasn't given the song to another Superstar. He then made apparent references to Aleister Black and possibly Shane McMahon.

He said, "They got the guy that sits like me, the guy that tries to talk like me..."

question: What was CM Punk promoting when he appeared on the Kevin & Bean Show?

answer: His new horror movie "The Girl on the Third Floor"

question: What are Punk's thoughts on a possible WWE return and role on the FS1 show WWE Backstage?

answer: Punk downplays a possible role on the WWE FS1 show and thinks his rumored WWE comeback has taken a life of its own.

question: How does Punk feel about a possible return to a live WWE Smackdown show with the Rock?

answer: He says that fantasy booking is 100% better than anything on WWE's shows since he left.

question: What does Punk think about pro wrestling now that he's retired?

answer: Punk says wrestling isn't on his mind in general, hasn't been for the past seven years, and doesn't miss it. He also tries not to follow the rumors because he believes social media is a negative cesspool.

question: Write a ~4 sentence summary.

answer: Former WWE Champion CM Punk appeared on The Kevin and & Bean Show in Los Angeles to promote the LA premiere of his new horror movie, Girl on the Third Floor. Punk downplays rumors that he's returning to the WWE and hosting WWE Backstage on FS1 alongside Renee Young and Booker T. He talks about "The Rock" calling him live from the ring during a WWE RAW segment in LA and how he didn't take the call. Punk says he doesn't think about pro wrestling at all and doesn't miss the physical aspect of it. He does miss performing and the rush he gets from the crowd.


text:
Let’s go back to high school. You’re a good student, at or near the top of your class. You’ve got natural gifts but you also work hard for your grades and for your future success. You’ve got a classmate, George, also smart but lazy as a 12-term congressman.

George doesn’t study; he just finds a way to sit near you at test time. You get an A, George gets an A. You got a 1550 on your SAT — hey, so did George. You were a shoo-in for top science project prize, except George’s project coincidently mirrored yours.

George got into Harvard. You missed and settled for Hofstra. You feel cheated and taken advantage of and, worst of all, everyone seemed to know what George was up to, but little was done to stop him.  You see, George came from a family that no one much liked but everyone in town wanted to do business with. His family lent out a lot of easy money and undercut prevailing prices. So George was … tolerated.

If countries were high school classmates, Canada and Britain are your lunch table buds, Australia is the party dude, Russia is the brooding wannabe smoking in the boys’ bathroom, and China is George.

China largely has cheated its way to prosperity. In the U.S., research and development is a healthy investment in painstaking science and education and costly trials. In China, research and development is an internet connection and hacking tools.

In the past three decades, China has lifted itself from a rural, trinket-based economy to first-string varsity on the global pitch. Its spectacular rise tracks on a straight-line correlation with the advent and proliferation of the internet. This is no coincidence.

Because of the internet and some dispiriting naïveté, data developed through the time-consuming hard work of others was suddenly accessible for copying and pilfering. Everything from weapon systems to computer hardware and software, telecommunications, industrial processes and energy production became a target.

Suddenly, China began producing and exporting a whole lot of products that looked just like stuff invented in the West. Here, we pay for software licenses, the lifeblood of today’s economy.  In China, 99 percent of Microsoft licenses are counterfeit and unpaid for.

Because they didn’t have to recover the considerable sunk costs of R&D or pay for valuable products, China could undercut prices and build massive trade imbalances in their favor. And so, with the hundreds of billions of dollars worth of intellectual property stolen each year from the U.S. and with its resulting trade bonanza, suddenly China was sitting on a nice pile of yuan.

Now, China has announced a goal of global dominance in artificial intelligence by 2030 with a primary application in weaponry.  They are currently outspending the U.S. in this area. Easy to do with a massive trade imbalance enabled by theft and forced technology transfer.

To add insult to injury, they became a loan-shark nation furnishing funds to an insatiable U.S. Congress that makes the prodigal son look like Ebenezer Scrooge. In other words, we’ve gone into debt to a nation that has lent us money it essentially stole from us.

Sounds pretty bad, you say. Oh, we’re just getting started. Many in the political class here in the U.S. prefer a policy of averted eyes when it comes to China, including many running for president, favoring instead a focus on climate change.

But with belching, coal-fired China in the room, any steps we take to clean up our own carbon footprint will be like taking a bath in a smoking chimney. Our leaders would have us tax and inconvenience ourselves to the extreme to solve a problem that China is making worse.

Also worsening is an opioid epidemic killing tens of thousands each year in the U.S., fueled by fentanyl smuggled into the country from — you guessed it — China.

China has a specific strategy to become the world’s most powerful economy and lone superpower. How do we know this? Because they openly proclaim it. Not only that, but the methods by which they are striving to achieve this goal are not particularly clandestine.

The FBI considers China to be the top intelligence threat to the United States. FBI Director Christopher Wray recently testified to the Senate Intelligence Committee that he considered the Chinese threat “more deep, more diverse, more vexing, more challenging, more comprehensive and more concerning than any (other) I can think of.”

The reason he made such a stark statement is the immense complexity of the asymmetrical Chinese intelligence strategy. China is taking active steps to not just steal our intellectual property, but also position itself to cripple our critical infrastructure and financial system if needed.

Former National Security Agency director Mike Rogers[]Michael (Mike) Dennis RogersJohn Katko tapped to be next ranking member of House Committee on Homeland Security Overnight Defense: Lawmakers release compromise defense bill in defiance of Trump veto threat | Senate voting next week on blocking UAE arms sale | Report faults lack of training, 'chronic fatigue' in military plane crashes Hillicon Valley: GOP chairman says defense bill leaves out Section 230 repeal | Senate panel advances FCC nominee | Krebs says threats to election officials 'undermining democracy' MORE has testified that China and one or two other countries likely have the ability to shut down significant portions of our power grid on command. And think of our financial system’s vulnerability to cyber intrusions — not to steal money but to corrupt, manipulate, or even eliminate data and throw a trust-based system into chaos.

The FBI sees China executing its plans in a number of ways, but would point to three main vectors.

First is the remote assault on our intellectual property via cyber intrusions as outlined above.  Second is their full leverage of our generous access to U.S. academia via hundreds of thousands of student visas and even preferential admittance to universities over U.S. students.

Third is their exploitation of our capitalist system itself as they insinuate Chinese companies into our supply chain, engage in joint ventures, and sell Chinese products such as Lenovo and Huawei to our companies and government agencies as platforms for gathering sensitive data.

In 2017, China was so bold as to pass a law requiring its citizens to collect intelligence as they engage in business and academics worldwide and cooperate with Chinese intelligence agencies.  Can you imagine U.S. citizens being required to report their business dealings to the FBI or CIA?

This threat — and it is a threat — is difficult to counter. The first line of defense is to shine a light on its reality and understand with whom we are dealing. The shame of it all is that the Chinese people are brilliant and entirely capable of developing economic prosperity in an honest and trustworthy way and being a major contributor to a peaceful world. But their corrupt and cynical leadership is too fearful to let that happen. Sadly, they’re stuck being George for now.  And nobody likes George.

_Kevin R. Brock, former assistant director of intelligence for the FBI, was an FBI special agent for 24 years and principal deputy director of the National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC). He is a founder and principal of NewStreet Global Solutions, which consults with private companies and public-safety agencies on strategic mission technologies._

question: What are the three ways the article says China is trying to gain an edge on the rest of the world?

answer: First, China is undertaking a remote assault on the United States' intellectual property via cyber intrusion. Second, China has full access to U.S. academia via student visas and preferential admittance to universities over U.S. students. The third is their exploitation of the U.S. capitalist system by inserting themselves into the supply chain, engage in joint ventures, and sell Chinese products to U.S. companies and government agencies as platforms for gathering sensitive data.

question: What happened in 2017?

answer: In 2017, China passed a law requiring its citizens to collect intelligence as they engage in business and academics worldwide and cooperate with Chinese intelligence agencies.

question: Who is George?

answer: George is a character that the author creates as a metaphor for China and the nation's recent actions, particular in opposition to the United States.


text:
The Clever Wife
Shortstories.com
(Tell & Share... 4:24:14)

There lived a Woman whose Husband had a bad habit. The man would drink a lot every day. This caused him to lose his normal senses for most of the time.
The Woman tried many times to help him get out of this habit. But all her efforts went in vain!

Every night, someone else would have to bring him back home. One such night when he was brought home, the Woman had him carried to a grave in the neighborhood. She thought she could teach him a good lesson by frightening him and then he would stop his bad habit.

Then she dressed herself in a dark-colored dress. She wore a mask upon her face. She waited for him to wake up.

When the Woman saw her Husband returning to his senses, she moved towards him with a serious face. Then, she gave him some food to eat and spoke loudly, “Get up and eat, it is my job to bring food for the dead.”

The Husband was very scared. He ran home at once. From that day onwards, he gave up his bad habit.

title: I hope you find this story interesting... the wife changes the bad habit of her husband... "go! for the change!"

question: What is the husband's bad habit?

answer: The husband drinks a lot every day.

question: How does the husband usually get home?

answer: Usually someone else has to bring him back.

question: How did the wife scare the husband?

answer: The wife scared the husband by making him think he was dead.

question: Did the husband stop drinking?

answer: Yes, the husband stopped drinking.

question: Write a ~2 sentence summary.

answer: The husband keeps drinking despite his wife's efforts to help. One day the wife tricks the husband into thinking he is dead, and he doesn't drink anymore.


text:
[RED Gemini]
RED Gemini 5K custom low light camera. Photo: Jarred Land
UPDATE (May 2018)

Once again RED have changed things up and this article is now out of date and will no longer be updated. Their lineup now consists of only one body (the 'DSMC2 Brain') and three sensors - the Monstro, Helium and Gemini, all with Weapon specs. More info here.

UPDATE (March 2018)

RED have made the Gemini available for purchase to the general public (and not part of a limited run). I will keep the original article below unedited, however with the general release of the camera, more official specs have become apparent. My resolution calculations were correct, though it's now revealed that the camera sports 'dual sensitivities' - with native values at 800 and 3200 ISO for regular and low light applications. The Gemini sensor is housed within an Epic-W body - something that wasn't clear with the limited release. Interestingly though, those first five cameras sport a silver 'Gemini' badge on the front, whereas the general release Gemini have the regular Epic-W badge. The 5K Gemini Epic-W is priced at $24,500; $5,000 more than the first five (Jarred did say it was subsidised) and $5,000 less than the 8K Helium Epic-W.

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

Today Jarred Land of RED Digital Cinema announced a new sensor, and a very special one at that. By the time you read this, they will have sold out... there were only five available, making them rarer than the elusive "Stormtrooper" white Weapon Heliums which were very limited in number (varying reports between 25 and ~75.)
Jarred made the announcement on his Instagram and currently this post is the only source of information regarding the camera. A custom build for a 'very special customer for use in outer space', it is a new sensor built for low light. Not available to buy online, those who caught the post early enough and had the cash to hand had to email Jarred himself to purchase.

Priced at $19,500 however, it certainly seems like a bargain: $10,000 cheaper than an Epic-W and only $7,000 more than a Scarlet-W. This does raise the question however, what DSMC2 body is the Gemini based on? The "Stormtroopers" were Weapon bodies with Helium sensors - the regular black versions of which are currently priced at $49,500. Gemini refers to the sensor, but there's no mention of what body it's in, other than Jarred's cryptic description of it being in a "custom almost-black" DSMC2 body. Suggests that it's a one off and isn't a Scarlet-W, Epic-W or Weapon... and is simply known as a Gemini. The only picture shows a unique silver badge on the front with the Gemini branding - where usually it reads the body model.

Interesting to note is the size of the sensor. Reportedly Super 35, in reality it is much larger. RED have always been known for being bigger than everyone else - their Helium 8K and Dragon 6K sensors are both classed as Super 35 though are notably larger than S35 offerings from other manufacturers. The Gemini is in fact more than half way between traditional Academy Super 35 and Full Frame (a x1.22 crop factor).

[RED Gemini Sensor Size]
RED Gemini Sensor Size in comparison to the other DSMC2 sensors. Click to enlarge.
Also important is that the height of the sensor is tall enough for full 2x anamorphic capture without any cropping - something that until now, was only available in the Arri Alexa family (with 4:3 S35 sensors) and full frame/large format cameras such as the Weapon Monstro and Sony Venice. Academy Super 35 full capture area is 24x18mm - and the Gemini is 30.72x18mm. Whether this is by design - anamorphic in outer space - or not isn't yet clear. In either case, the sensor was clearly designed with large pixels at its foundation. The bigger the pixels, the more light it will capture. Assuming the same 5K resolution as the Scarlet-W (using width only as the sensors have different aspect ratios) and 100% active area, I've worked out the pixel pitch (size) and compared it to other cameras below.

  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                        RED Weapon      RED Epic-W     RED Scarlet-W   RED Gemini   Sony A7Sii     Canon C300ii
                        Monstro         Helium         Dragon
  --------------------- --------------- -------------- --------------- ------------ -------------- ---------------
  Sensor size (mm)      40.96 x 21.60   29.9 x 15.77   25.6x13.5       30.72x18     35.6x23.8      24.6x13.8

  Image circle (mm)     46.31           33.8           28.9            35.61        42.82          28.21

  Sensor aspect ratio   1.90:1          1.90:1         1.90:1          1.71:1       1.50:1 (3:2)   1.78:1 (16:9)

  Crop factor           x0.94           x1.28          x1.50           x1.22        x1.01          x1.53
  x1.0 = Full frame
  (ø 43.3mm)

  Resolution            8192 x 4320     8192 x 4320    5120x2700       5120x3000    4240x2832      4096x2160

  Pixel pitch (µm)      5.00            3.65           5.00            6.00         8.40           6.01
  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Given the Monstro and Dragon's precise pixel pitch down to an exact micrometre (µm), and whilst speculative until more official details emerge, it's a fair assumption that the 5K Gemini is indeed 5120 wide - and from that we can work out the probable height - exactly 3000 pixels high. We can now see that the Gemini sports 20% bigger pixels than the Monstro and Dragon sensors and 64% bigger pixels than the Helium. I've also included the current reigning low light king, the Sony A7Sii for comparison: it's massive 8.4µm pixels are the reason it is so popular for low light applications. If RED were to make a camera with the same pixel pitch as the A7Sii, a Vista Vision sized sensor would have a resolution of 4878x2572. If a Vista Vision sensor was DCI 4K, it would have whopping 10µm pixels!

The Gemini also has the same size pixel as another popular low-light camera, the Canon C300ii, and equally interesting is that a 4K (4096x2160) window of the Gemini sensor would be 24.58x12.96mm - nearly exactly the same size as traditional Super 35 cameras like the C300ii (judging by the resolution and dimensions, the Canon has inactive areas at the top and bottom of the sensor for DCI capture).

Whist 'native ISO' isn't easily quantifiable with RED's sensors, two stops more sensitive than the Helium sensor would rate the Gemini somewhere in the region of 5,000-10,000 ISO (RED guru Phil Holland rates the Helium with the Standard and Low Light OLPFs between 1280 and 2500 ISO). Mighty impressive - one can only imagine what it will be like pushing beyond that and with post-processing (noise reduction etc). How will it compared to the Sony A7Sii? We'll just have to wait and see once the five lucky owners get their hands on it. Whether the Gemini is noisier at ultra-high ISOs or not, the higher data rate and raw capture is sure to provide a much more robust image than the Sony's lossy 8-bit codec, meaning richer blacks and more detail overall.

question: What makes the Gemini more appealing than the elusive "Stormtrooper" white Weapon Heliums.

answer: The RED Gemini 5k custom low light camera sports dual sensitivities with native values at 800-3200 ISO for regular and low light use. With its limited edition, this sensor is unique and would likely sell out fast to the public. The Gemini is rarer than the elusive "stormtrooper" white Weapon Heliums because only five were made available for purchase, while the "Stormtrooper," which was previously limited, was reported to be around 25 and 75.


text:
SEMANE SETLHOKO KHAMA (1881–1937) was a mohumagadi (queen mother) of the BaNgwato chieftaincy in the Bechuanaland Protectorate. Educated in a missionary school, she became a teacher and upon her marriage to Khama III continued to press for education for the BaNgwato. A proponent of modern medicine, she was influential in bringing modern midwifery to the area. As a devout Christian, she encouraged women's involvement in the church and the Woman's Christian Temperance Union.

Early life

Semane daughter of Setlhoko was born in 1881 in the area where the Tswapong Hills meet the Limpopo River valley. She was descended from the Ba Birwa and Ba Seleka peoples, who had traditionally been vassals of the BaNgwato. She attended missionary school, studying under Alice Young of the London Missionary Society. The school was established in Phalatswe in 1894 and was the first formal education offered to the BaNgwato. Students studied arithmetic, domestic sciences, drawing, geography, music, reading, sewing and writing. When Young left in 1898, she was followed by Ella Sharp, who ran both the regular school and a normal school. From the age of 16, Semane assisted Young in the instruction of music and needlework, and by the time she completed her teacher training was able to teach all of the courses offered at the school.

Later life

Though a commoner, and not approved of by many BaNgwato because of her status, Semane was selected by Bessie Ratshosa to marry her father Khama III. Ratshosa picked Semane because of her commitment to Christianity and teaching, believing that she would be a modern role model for BaNgwato women. Khama had previously been married three times, divorcing one wife and being widowed twice. In 1900, Semane became his fourth wife and the couple would have five children, though only two a daughter, Bonyerile, and a son, Tshekedi, survived childhood.

Semane continued to instruct students at the school run by Sharp at Serowe and at the school at the Kgotla, the traditional tribal meeting place. One of her students, Seretse Khama, was later to become the first President of Botswana. She was one of the first educated women to press for educational development among the BaNgwato and “made a significant contribution” to Botsawana's education system. As an advocate of modern medicine, she was also involved in spreading midwifery practices among the BaNgwato.

Semane and Khama III, as Christians, promoted their faith to the BaNgwato and attempted to outlaw consumption of liquor. As a senior deaconess in the church, she pressed for women to join the church, teaching them to become instructors for other women and girls. Her husband died in 1923 and was succeeded by his son, Sekgoma II, a child of his first marriage to Mma-Besi. Though she remained in the royal household, her position was less prominent. When Sekgoma took ill, she became his nurse, though that created further conflict, as his sisters favored treatment by Tswana healers, rather than European physicians. When he died in 1925, Semane was accused of causing his death through poisoning and witchcraft and narrowly escaped being lynched.

Against her wishes, Semane's son, Tshekedi, was unable to finish his schooling, as he was called home by the village elders to become regent for Sekgoma's son, Seretse. She had hoped he would be able to finish his education before becoming regent. Under his regency, she gained popularity and became a significant factor for pushing the levels of women's education and their political activism. In 1930, she formed a branch of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union known as the _Women's Regiment of Beer_ and encouraged her son in his efforts to ban alcohol. She also supported his marriage in 1936 to Bagakgametse, who would be accused the following year of poisoning and witchcraft related to Semane's death. An autopsy confirmed there was no evidence of poisoning.

Legacy

The roots of political involvement by women's church groups and “still fractious politics of temperance in Botswana” can still be traced to Semane and her influence. She is remembered as a pioneer in the educational development of Botswana.

title: Semane Setlhoko Khama

question: What does the text say about education in Botswana?

answer: The article discusses the life of Semane Setlhoko Khama, a teacher who toiled to improve education in Botswana, making significant improvements to the education system in the early twentieth century. Later in her life, Semane pushed for women's education and political activism. She left a legacy of women's political activism and as a pioneer of the educational development of Botswana.

question: What does the article say about Semane's family life?

answer: Semane was the daughter of Setlhoko, born in 1881, educated in the missionary school. Her commitment and education led Bessie Ratshosa to choose her to marry Bessie's father, Khama III. They had two surviving children together out of five total, a daughter and a son. When Khama died, his son from his first marriage succeeded him. She became his nurse when he fell ill, but he died in 1925. Semane's son, Tshekedi, couldn't finish his education despite her wishes as the elders chose him to be the regent for Sekgoma's son. She pushed for women's education and political activism during his regency.

question: What does the article say about Prohibition?


text:
The world's best interviews. The world's best lubes.

Interested in watching all of our Brass Chats Teasers?  They're right here:

 May 10, 2020/ Joel Baroody
The world-famous Canadian Brasscame to play in Hartford, Connecticut this past winter, and the Monster boys were fortunate enough to snag some tickets. Obviously, seeing the Canadian Brass is a bucket-list concert item—and if you haven’t checked that box, when all of the sheltering-in-place is behind us, do it!!—but even COOLER was the fact that Charles Daellenbach (tuba player/performer extraordinaire and founding member of The Canadian Brass) sat down with us after the show for a beer and a chat!

The gracious Mr. Daellenbach was generous with his time and shared so much. You’ll hear great stories, all the way from Arnold Jacobs to tales from the road (like headlining a….hang on…..Country and Western Festival?!).

As with each of the Brass Chats, there’s plenty here that stays with you after the interview, and lots of ideas that you can start to implement the minute you finish watching. Charles tells us about why many freelancers fail to find work, how ideas are everywhere all the time for the taking, how to put on a show without selling out, and much more.

We hope you enjoy! Love,

Tom, Chris, and Joel—Monsters.

 February 24, 2020 February 24, 2020/ Joel Baroody
If your supplemental musical web surfing has not brought you into the path of this month’s Brass Chatter, you’re probably living in a house made of rocks and need to go out back to see if the pterodactyl holding your internet connection in place is still alive. Test it by poking him with a stick, and once he (this is a Flintstones joke kids, stick with us for a sec) looks at the fourth wall and says “hey….it’s a livin!” ….you’ll know the problem is fixed. Now that your connection is fixed and you’ve gone back inside under your rock roof and sat down in your rock chair, we have two jobs for you:

Job One: watch this Brass Chat! Michael is a dude who….just knows. You name it and he’s played it, and you’ll hear about a bunch of it here, from playing with the Rolling Stones to Buddy Rich to Broadway. You’ll also get to learn how he built his business from the ground up, what his most moving performance was, his thoughts on learning how to improvise, and the most important element to his success. Speaking of that…..

Job Two: start exploring the boundless universe of amazing things that our friend MICHAEL DAVIS! has created! Your jumping-off-point is hip-bonemusic.com, where you’ll find yourself up to your eyeballs in books, instructional videos, online lessons, and other treasures. You should also check out his fabulous interview series called Bone2Pick.

Michael is a huge inspiration to all of us in the brass world, and he was one of our funnest and funniest interviews we’ve ever done. We hope to get him back on for round 2 someday. Until then: this interview was a ridiculously easy edit—-there was so much amazing stuff in there that we basically kept everything. So, enjoy!

Love,

Joel, Tom, Chris - Monsters.

 January 01, 2020 January 01, 2020/ Joel Baroody
Happy New Year everybody! Thanks for being Brass Chats fans. Exciting stuff to come this year! Okay, enough of that——on to this month:

Remember last month when we opened with “Michael Sachs is….not like us”? Well…..had we interviewed this month’s guest first, he definitely would’ve gotten that sentence. JACK SUTTE! Is……Not. Like. Us. (In a good way but) Not. Like. Us.

Tune up the video to feast upon stories about his first day on the job in Cleveland back in 1999, playing TOMASI—in high school 🤮🤮🤮—and if your screen doesn’t recognize those, they were barfing faces—, why he doesn’t have a DAILY ROUTINE (?!), and how he switches between playing orchestral 2nd trumpet and the MOST CHALLENGING SOLO REPERTOIRE EVER WRITTEN. He’s on a quest to record every trumpet sonata in existence, and we are not joking, so if you want to troll him, WRITE SOME MORE TRUMPET SONATAS SO HE’LL NEVER FINISH. …but he’s damn close, so get moving!

Speaking of getting moving: it’s our hope that this month’s (and every month’s) Brass Chat is part of the tonic you need to motivate, inspire, and encourage you down on your paths of musical productivity in the new decade. We have big goals, and so do you. Thanks Jack Sutte, for helping us take the first step!!

Love you all,

Joel, Tom, Chris - Monsters.

 November 28, 2019 November 28, 2019/ Joel Baroody
Michael Sachs is….not like us.

HIS TRUMPET SOUND is comprised of equal parts pure molten gold, Old-Testament-fire-and-fury, new puppy fur, goose-pimple-shivers, maple syrup, Mahler’s image of heaven, heartbreak, and electrocution; OUR SOUNDS are comprised of equal parts desperation and diarrhea. HE’S spent more hours deciphering voodoo elements and tweaks of trumpet construction (MANY details in the interview, that you can try!!!!) than WE’VE spent actually playing the trumpet…..HE knows how to approach James Stamp exercises, and WE, as it turns out…….don’t.

Want to learn how to play Stamp? You’ve come to the right place!

Want to learn some trumpet tweaks that you can do, today, to make your horn play better? You’re about to listen to the right guy! (…it’s a wormhole, but it’s worth it!)

Want to hear what a big-5 principal learned from watching Nolan Ryan (one of the greatest pitchers of all time) warm up? Hit that play button.

Hanging with Michael Sachs was an absolute treat, and he was generous with his time and info—we’ll hit him up again someday, because the hour wasn’t nearly enough!

Happy Thanksgiving! We love you all and we’re thankful to all our Brass Chats guests, thankful that we get to do this, and thankful that you like watching.

Love,

Monsters

 April 20, 2019 April 20, 2019/ Joel Baroody
From the desk of Tom Brown, 1/3rd of Monster Oil:

“It was 1998.  I had just finished up my undergraduate degree and was trying to figure out why I still had fundamental issues with the trumpet.

I had countless friends who went on and on about what Indiana University Professor John Rommel had done for their playing, so I gave him a call. That first hour I had with him was the most inspirational hour of my trumpet career.

In this lesson he had the courage to tell me I was fundamentally playing the trumpet incorrectly, that there was an easier way, and then proceeded to tell me how it could be fixed.

Fast forward to the summer of 2018.  I purchased a 2000 Lincoln Town Car station wagon (don't ask) that had a tape deck.  So I went into my garage and the first tape I pulled out of an old box (full of maybe 200 tapes) was THIS lesson.  So....this was meant to be.

I called Professor Rommel and asked him if he'd be ok with us releasing it as a Brass Chat.  He said sure (mostly).  So I spent a fair amount of time cleaning up the sound quality which was pretty bad.  And I must say the tape is as inspirational today as it was then.

Thankfully for you, I don't do much playing in the lesson.  He talks most of the time, and the info is applicable to pretty much anybody who plays, not just me.

Don't worry, this isn't a substitute for a proper Brass Chat with Mr. Rommel, but we thought you might find it interesting.”

There it is—fabulously inspiring raw trumpet content, rescued by pure serendipity from the bowels of an old stinky cardboard box. Your brain is like a stinky cardboard box right now; fill it with this tape to fix!

Love,

Monsters

 March 10, 2019 March 10, 2019/ Joel Baroody
Here is our prescribed method for watching this, our latest installment of Brass Chats, in FOUR easy steps:

1.  If you’ve never watched Thomas Gansch and Mnozil Brassperform before, find them on Youtube and watch them blow a couple tunes out of the water. If you’re already familiar with them, go watch your favorite one

2.  Search for your jaw on the floor, wipe your tears away, mend the shattered pieces of your broken heart, and pull yourself back together as you get ready for step 3

3.  Watch this interview with our new favorite human being, Thomas Gansch

4.  Go back, armed with what you now know about fearlessness, individuality, sound concepts, performing concepts, artistry, emotion, theater, Al Pacino, and much more, and repeat step 1 for a whole new experience

This method will be the best hour and a half you’ll spend all year on becoming a better artist. If we still haven’t sold you (which, why are you even on this page), within this Brass Chat you will find Thomas Gansch’s ruminations on:

-   the beginnings of Mnozil

-   the correct and incorrect pronunciations of Mnozil

-   the key to cosmic understanding

-   finding his own musical identity

-   falling in love with jazz

-   the best trumpet player that has ever walked this planet

-   how much he practices per day

-   who he wants to play at his funeral

-   the most important thing in life (spoiler alert: it may or may not be five hundred dubba C’s in a row)

-   the secret to his unstoppable endurance

-   his daily warm-up/routine

-   Mark Gould

-   his biggest vice

…and much more. Eat up, you savages!

Love,

Monsters

PS: if you’ve never seen Mnozil, start looking for the next time they come to town. It is a different, much better experience than watching them online, and is worth missing your grandma’s birthday, or taco night, or church, or your kid’s recital, or your kid’s first steps, or your kid’s birth, or whatever you people do in your free time. Cheers!

 November 06, 2018 November 06, 2018/ Joel Baroody
Chad Winkler is magical, on so many levels. Well…at least two: …okay, two and a half:

First level, obviously, would be his trumpet prowess. Second level, there’s this. …I know, right?! And the half-level? Chad tells us his favorite magician in the famous Monster Round.

Why on earth do you care about that? …You don’t, of course. But maybe you will care about:

-   What he learned from George Vosburgh

-   Chad playing the Posthorn solo at Mahler’s grave

-   Chad’s obsession with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra

-   The best horns Chad’s ever played

-   The meanest thing he’s ever said to a student

-   How a warmup should never last more than ten minutes

-   and much more.

Intrigued? Tantalized? Invigorated? Motivated? Fumigated? CONSTIPATED?!?! US TOO!!!!!!!!

Enough poop jokes. Go get better at music! It’s BRASS CHATS. Hit it!

Love - Monsters.

 October 02, 2018 October 02, 2018/ Joel Baroody
[Brass Chats Season 2, Episode 9: David Bilger]

David Bilger, Principal Trumpet of the Philadelphia Orchestra, spills his guts and tells you how he got so good.

Read More

 September 03, 2018 September 03, 2018/ Joel Baroody
So, in December of 2017 we went on an epic adventure and filmed 10 episodes of Brass Chats around the country. Among these was Scott Laskey, who we caught up with at the Midwest Clinic in Chicago.

After the trip we had some planning to do, including the order in which these Brass Chats should be released. We based our decisions on a few criteria, and ended up deciding (back in December) to release Scott's chat in September, 2018.

If you're here, you probably know by now: Scott passed away about a month ago. He will be dearly missed by the trumpet, brass, and music communities. We very much regret that he never got to see this Brass Chat, which is absolutely fantastic and will be appreciated and combed over for many years because of the wide array of topics he covers, and the wisdom he brought to the table.

In a first for Brass Chats, we have decided to release this Chat unedited. We don't want you to miss out on any part of this interview, which was among his last. It runs for about one hour and fifteen minutes, and as you'll see, could have gone muuuuch longer if time had permitted. If you need more motivation to watch, the following phrase might help: "Bud Herseth's mouthpiece."

There will be no coupon code this month. Don't buy Monster Oil... Instead:

1. Email scottlaskeymemorial@gmail.com with your best Scott story. This is something his family has set up, and we can't wait to see the final product, so don't delay.

2. Grab your favorite Laskey mouthpiece and play as loud as you're able for as long as possible in your next practice session.

We will miss you, Scott! Thanks for everything you did for the trumpet world, and thanks for hanging out with us.

 August 06, 2018 August 06, 2018/ Joel Baroody
Buckle up, it's Brass Chats time! This month's candidate is a real treat. If you want to know:

-   what it was like playing with Chris Martin
-   how many practice hours you should be putting in on your instrument
-   how to get an efficient warm up in twenty minutes
-   how to be a more consistent player

...look no further than Brass Chats, Season 2, Episode 7: Tage Larsen. He's the 4th/utility trumpet player with the legendary Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and if you listen to him chat with us for a bit, you just also might hear about:

-   his favorite new exercise craze
-   singing in a reggae band
-   just what in the heck he has to do with the Mighty Mighty Bosstones.

Join us! Thanks Tage!!!

question: Summarize a few of the points the Brass Chats want to cover with their audience.

answer: The interviewers have scheduled Charles Daellenback of the world-famous Canadian Brasscame for an interview. They are hoping he will share some of the stories of what happened to the band on tour. The Brass Chats are also hoping to teach their audience about finding work as a freelancer, finding ideas, and how to put on a show without selling out.

question: Who are the staff of Brass Chats?


text:
When you were nine, your mother shot you in the chest.

At school, they called you Voodoo Boy, but as your dad, I couldn’t see the wood for the trees. I see it now. Clear as sheets of gelatine. And the way you sculpted me... well, it makes the analogy all the more appropriate I suppose.
When you fell and tore your knees, you didn’t cry like other kids. You were transfixed by the leaky, tasty goo that came out; running down your shins, and coating your fingertips. Dabbling and savouring and swallowing the copper liquid, with a grin on your face and a flutter in your concrete heart.

Your teachers would write notes in your workbook. Not pleasant ‘Well done Nicholas’es as I would’ve wanted, but ‘See me’s and red detention slips. All the time. Stabbing with pencils, painting curses on walls. You held a girl down, and stapled her tongue to her lip, Nick.

We took you out of school after that.
And your mother, she looked at you in shame, disgust. Loathing. She couldn’t understand – and this is a direct quote – why you were so fucking evil. I couldn’t bring myself to hate you. I made you, and I wanted to make your life liveable. That was my duty.

The strangest things would fascinate you; ordinarily exciting things were dashed with mundane and just discarded, like they weren’t worth the effort. You liked eyes. You drew them. You touched them and pushed them inwards to see how long it took for your vision to fog over. Once, your mother stopped you from popping it back into your skull. We need to be clear on this; it wasn’t because she didn’t want it to happen. She almost certainly did. She simply couldn’t stomach it. And when yours weren’t interesting anymore, the growing brown tedium of your irises, you looked to experiment elsewhere.
Not on me, mine were brown too. What you told me after pressing your own was that you wanted to see inside. You asked me what was there, and I said I didn’t know. Blood or something probably.

It was around eight o’clock, sometime in November. Your mother had fallen asleep on the sofa, and you were drawing, cutting and sticking. You heard her snore; ‘Mean Old Mum’, and you felt like an experiment. Mother’s pearly blues.
You tried to see inside her eyes. I think you believed me about the contents, but you were very much about finding things out for yourself, for certain.
Her eyes were loosely closed. The one on the left, the top eyelid. You snipped it right up the middle to get a closer look at the cornea, the iris, the pupil. White fluid, red fluid, and screaming, cursing, flailing mother. She said that we had to disown you, that you were a fucked up child. I couldn’t leave you, and she left me after that. I still loved her and trusted her, and she still popped by from time to time – to cry, to talk – but she never acknowledged you again.
One day, she came by, drunk. Very drunk. All slurred words and vocal gesticulations. She had a service revolver, her Dad’s I think.

When you were nine, your mother shot you in the chest.
When you were nine, your mother shot herself in the head, upwards, through the roof of her mouth.

She collapsed backwards, into the table by the front door – the one we kept the keys on, and the post – an assortment of thumping noises, and gurgling noises trickling from the hole in her head.

I loved you Nick. And for all your faults, I still love you. But I’m done now. Everyone gives me the look. The one that says ‘like Father like son’. And I don’t want to be thought of like that. I’m a good man. I have a good heart. But they’ve gone to waste.

I guess I’m trying to say that I hope all this has changed you, and I’ll see you soon.

Love you Nick,
Dad.

title: Voodoo Boy

question: Summarize the weird actions Nicholas has taken, according to his Dad.

answer: Nicholas is called Voodoo Boy at school because of the way he acts. He does not cry when he scrapes his knees and would obsess over the sight of blood, licking and savoring it. Nic was also fascinated with eyes. He would touch them and try popping them back into his skull... until his mother stopped him. He plucked out his mother's eye one day as she was sleeping on the sofa. The mum decided to leave after that. She once came back and shot Nic in the chest before she shot herself in the head.

question: What steps were taken to rehabilitate Nicholas?


text:
CARSON, CALIF. (THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2014) – USL PRO and LA Galaxy II announced the 2014 USL PRO schedule today. LA Galaxy II will kick off its inaugural, 28-game season versus the Orange County Blues at StubHub Center on Saturday, March 22 at 7:30 p.m. PT. As the league enters the second season of its groundbreaking partnership with MLS, each USL PRO squad will once again play a pair of regular season games vs. MLS Reserve teams.

LA Galaxy II Season Ticket Memberships will be added as a benefit that is included with the purchase of all LA Galaxy official supporter Season Ticket Member plans. For all other fans, LA Galaxy II Season Ticket Memberships begin at just $72 for all 14 regular season home games. Group and single game tickets will go on sale to the general public on February 18. For more information on LA Galaxy or LA Galaxy II memberships, visit www.lagalaxy.com or call 877-3GALAXY (342-5299).

The 2014 USL PRO Playoffs will include the top eight finishers in the table, with the quarterfinals (No. 1 vs. No. 8, No. 2 vs. No. 7, etc.) set for the weekend of September 12-14. The semifinals featuring the four remaining teams will be played the following weekend, with the 2014 USL PRO Championship set for the weekend of September 26-28. All playoff rounds feature a single-game knockout format and teams will not be re-seeded following each round.

-   CLICK HERE TO BUY LA GALAXY II SEASON TICKETS

Every USL PRO game in 2014 will stream live for free via YouTube, the largest global video sharing site. Live games and on-demand content will be available for free on each team’s YouTube channel, with archived games available shortly after each game’s completion. The USL PRO YouTube channel will showcase all of the archived and on-demand content produced by each team, including the USL PRO Goal of the Week as well as USL PRO Weekly, an audio podcast that uncovers the personalities throughout the league. Please visit http://www.uslsoccer.com/connect for links to each USL PRO account.

A first of its kind program in MLS, LA Galaxy II will provide playing time and development opportunities for players within the LA Galaxy player development structure. The USL PRO side offers a 28-game season and will feature LA Galaxy first team players, players signed by Galaxy II and LA Galaxy Academy players.

LA GALAXY 2014 USL REGULAR SEASON SCHEDULE

+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+
| DATE            | TIME (PT)       | OPPONENT        | LOCATION        |
+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+
| 3/22/2014       | 7:30 PM         | ORANGE          | STUBHUB CENTER  |
|                 |                 | COUNTY BLUES    | - TRACK STADIUM |
+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+
| 3/29/2014       | 7:30 PM         | SACRAMENTO      | STUBHUB CENTER  |
|                 |                 | REPUBLIC FC     | - TRACK STADIUM |
+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+
| 4/07/2014       | 7:30 PM         | OKC ENERGY FC   | STUBHUB CENTER  |
|                 |                 |                 | - TRACK STADIUM |
+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+
| 4/13/2014       | 7:30 PM         | SACRAMENTO      | STUBHUB CENTER  |
|                 |                 | REPUBLIC FC     | - TRACK STADIUM |
+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+
| 4/19/2014       | 7:30 PM         | ORANGE          | STUBHUB CENTER  |
|                 |                 | COUNTY BLUES    | - TRACK STADIUM |
+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+
| 4/25/2014       | 7:10PM          | Phoenix FC      | Peoria Sports   |
|                 |                 | Wolves          | Complex         |
+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+
| 4/27/2014       | 4:00PM          | Orange          | TBD             |
|                 |                 | County Blues    |                 |
+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+
| 5/05/2014       | 7:30 PM         | CHARLOTTE       | STUBHUB CENTER  |
|                 |                 | EAGLES          | - TRACK STADIUM |
+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+
| 5/10/2014       | TBD             | Dayton Dutch    | TBD             |
|                 |                 | Lions           |                 |
+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+
| 5/17/2014       | TBD             | Sacramento      | TBD             |
|                 |                 | Republic FC     |                 |
+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+
| 5/25/2014       | 8:00 PM         | OKC ENERGY FC   | STUBHUB CENTER  |
|                 |                 |                 | - MAIN STADIUM  |
+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+
| 6/01/2014       | TBD             | Sounders FC     | Starfire Sports |
|                 |                 | Reserves        | Complex         |
+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+
| 6/08/2014       | 8:00 PM         | DAYTON DUTCH    | STUBHUB CENTER  |
|                 |                 | LIONS           | - MAIN STADIUM  |
+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+
| 6/11/2014       | 7:30 PM         | ROCHESTER       | STUBHUB CENTER  |
|                 |                 | RHINOS          | - MAIN STADIUM  |
+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+
| 6/14/2014       | TBD             | Charleston      | Blackbaud       |
|                 |                 | Battery         | Stadium         |
+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+
| 6/21/2014       | 7:10PM          | Phoenix FC      | Peoria Sports   |
|                 |                 | Wolves          | Complex         |
+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+
| 6/28/2014       | 4:30PM          | Orlando City SC | ESPN Wide World |
|                 |                 |                 | of Sports       |
+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+
| 7/05/2014       | 7:30 PM         | PHOENIX FC      | STUBHUB CENTER  |
|                 |                 | WOLVES          | - TRACK STADIUM |
+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+
| 7/13/2014       | 3:00 PM         | REAL SALT LAKE  | STUBHUB CENTER  |
|                 |                 | RESERVES        | - TRACK STADIUM |
+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+
| 7/19/2014       | 5:00PM          | OKC Energy FC   | Pribil Stadium  |
+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+
| 7/26/2014       | 7:00PM          | Orange          | TBD             |
|                 |                 | County Blues    |                 |
+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+
| 7/30/2014       | 4:00 PM         | Harrisburg City | Skyline Sports  |
|                 |                 | Islanders       | Complex         |
+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+
| 8/02/2014       | 4:00PM          | Pittsburgh      | Highmark        |
|                 |                 | Riverhounds     | Stadium         |
+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+
| 8/09/2014       | 7:30 PM         | PHOENIX FC      | STUBHUB CENTER  |
|                 |                 | WOLVES          | - TRACK STADIUM |
+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+
| 8/16/2014       | 5:00PM          | OKC Energy FC   | Pribil Stadium  |
+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+
| 8/24/2014       | 12:00 PM        | WILMINGTONHAMME | STUBHUB CENTER  |
|                 |                 | RHEADSFC        | - TRACK STADIUM |
+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+
| 9/01/2014       | 7:30 PM         | RICHMOND        | STUBHUB CENTER  |
|                 |                 | KICKERS         | - TRACK STADIUM |
+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+
|  9/06/2014      | TBD             | Sacramento      | TBD             |
|                 |                 | Republic FC     |                 |
+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+

question: Summarize the main point of the article.

answer: The main point of the article is to discuss the 2014 USL PRO that was announced by USL PRO and LA Galaxy II. It describes the league's second season with its partnership with MLA. The article also describes the additions of LA Galaxy II Season Ticket Memberships and announces that every game will be available for free live streaming on Youtube.

question: What does the text say about streaming?

answer: The article mentions that every USL PRO game in 2014 will stream live for free on YouTube. The article calls YouTube the largest global video sharing site. Live games and on-demand content are featured. The live games will be archived and kept on each team's YouTube channel. Additionally there is a podcast called USL PRO Weekly that will uncover the personalities throughout the leagues.

question: What does the text say about what the 2014 USL PRO Playoffs included?

answer: The 2014 USL PRO Playoffs will include top eight finishers in the table. Quarterfinals will be set for the weekend of September 12-14. All playoff rounds feature a single-game knockout format and teams won't be re-seeded following each round.

question: What does the text say about coaches?


text:
Jonathan parked his car on the far side of the lot in a corner space. Even though there were plenty of spots that were closer to his final destination, he wanted to make sure that no one went near his new car. He contemplated taking two spaces but decided against it because he didn’t want to be that guy. He didn’t want to be a guy that he himself would look down upon. After all it was just a car, why should he inconvenience others? But it was his car. And it was new.

Jonathan exited his car and began making his way through the rows of empty spaces in the parking lot. After about twenty strides he finally reached another car, eventually made his way to a sidewalk and began making his way through the park. He checked his watch; it was only 11:40 in the morning. He had twenty minutes to kill before he could begin doing what he came here to do.

Jonathan walked along the sidewalk and enjoyed the scenes of the park. The sun beat down on him, as the cloudless sky was so picturesque it could have been on a postcard boasting of the stereotypical weather enjoyed by southern California in the summer time. While it was summer, the day was not exceptionally hot, although Jonathan began to feel beads of sweat form on the back of his neck. A black shirt and jeans may not have been the best outfit to wear outside.

After a few minutes Jonathan reached his destination and checked his watch again. 11:43, still seventeen minutes before the Museum of Art opened. Perplexed with what to do, Jonathan began walking around aimlessly, hoping to find something interesting to amuse himself while he waited for the museum to open. He walked along the park, looking at the old buildings and admiring their architecture. But this admiration was fleeting, having seen these buildings numerous times before, their charm and allure was forgotten on Jonathan.

While walking, Jonathan came across a garden he had never seen before, nestled in between two smaller buildings as a makeshift courtyard. Seeking refuge from the sun that was beginning to wear on Jonathan, he decided to try and find a place to sit and wait until the museum opened. As he walked along the courtyard, he could not find any benches that were not taken by couples, no doubt enjoying the scenery and company of one another that Jonathan was hoping to partake in. Not wanting to make any couple feel unconformable by sitting next to them and possibly ruining their nice moment, Jonathan instead circled the courtyard, no doubt being eyed by the couples wondering why this one man appeared to be seamlessly pacing around the courtyard.

A couple finally obliged and left their bench as Jonathan was walking by. He sat hurriedly on the vacated bench and found himself next to an older woman in a wheel chair and what he presumed to be her daughter. They were talking happily and the older woman seemed happy to be outside. Jonathan sat there for a few minutes, occasionally hearing parts of their conversation while periodically checking his phone to see if he had any messages. He didn’t.

He repeated this task every so often, not sure what he was hoping to find, but even more unsure about how to act alone in a public place. He felt that the couples were watching him, wondering why he was alone in a very lovely place on a nice day. Jonathan hoped that if people were watching him that by checking his phone maybe they’d think he was trying to get in contact with someone who would meet him at the courtyard, when in reality no one was coming.

He checked his watch again. 11:56. Four minutes. Jonathan thought about getting up and walking back to the museum, getting there right as it opened. Right as he was about to leave, the older woman and her daughter decide to leave. Perhaps they were going to the museum as well? As the woman was wheeled passed Jonathan, she smiled. He responded with a unsure half smile and a head nod to acknowledge the woman. As he was about to get up, Jonathan realized he couldn’t leave just yet, otherwise the couples watching him might think that he was only there to view the old woman. Why else would he leave right as they were leaving? It couldn’t be coincidence. He’d have to wait an appropriate amount of time before leaving the courtyard, to make it appear that his departure had nothing to do with the old woman in the wheel chair. He would be late for the opening.

Jonathan walked into the museum and was immediately receptive to the cool, circulated air. He was much sweatier than he realized after having been outside for almost a half an hour. After showing his member card he was walked past the counter and began to wonder about the museum.

He liked coming on Sunday mornings right when the museum opened because there were less people. Unlike those days when membership was free and the museum was turned from a place of refuge with those of intellect into a hall bantered about by mobs of children and inattentive mothers who wanted to do something “cultural” for their children with the hopes that maybe a piece of great art would influence them, when in reality they were just happy to be out of the house. Jonathan disliked these people very much. Not the children, for they didn’t know any better, but the adults who treated his museum as a McDonalds play room. Jonathan only went to the museum once on a “free day” and vowed never to go back again.

On Sundays Jonathan only had to put up with adults who acted inappropriately, talking to loudly, walking in front of him while viewing a work. These acts may seem trivial but Jonathan rather disliked them because of the ease of which they could be avoided, at least among non-oblivious adults. While Jonathan didn’t consider himself an artist or even one who knew a great deal about art, he
knew what he liked and how to appreciate it.

As he wondered through the halls he walked into a room and was completely surrounded. He had walked into a room that featured life-sized Buddhists statues, collected from various temples all throughout Southeast Asia. They stood over ten feet tall and towered over Jonathan’s average build. Eight statues filled the room, four on each side of the wall with Jonathan in the middle, alone, being gazed upon by the century old works. He had been in this room dozens of times before, but for some reason felt uncomfortable. He had to leave.

Jonathan walked back into the hall from which he just came, unsure of why he felt so strange walking into the exhibit. Part of him thought it was because he was alone and caught off guard by the sixteen carved eyes all focusing on him, while another part wondered if he was burying some deeply guilt within himself that only eight Buddhists statues could reveal. Whatever it was, he didn’t care to find out and made his way into the German expressionist gallery.

Jonathan wondered about the first floor of the museum for about an hour, making his way through some new exhibits he hadn’t seen yet. Being impressed with some and disappointed with others, he made his way upstairs to the familiar galleries that hadn’t changed since he became a member many years ago. He walked through the Italian Renaissance gallery and sat down on a bench conveniently placed in front of his two favorite paintings.

Jonathan wasn’t alone in the gallery for very long, as people would occasionally drift in and out, viewing the works and mumbling softly to themselves or others. Occasionally people would stop and view the paintings that Jonathan was admiring. He could see the people out of the corner of his eye at times, watching him, wondering how he could remain so intently focused on just two works for such a long period of time.

“They are breathtaking, aren’t they? These two works,” Jonathan said softly. This is my favorite spot in the whole museum. On the one hand on the left, you have Canaletto painting Venice in such an idealized way. Picturesque. Perfect. How anyone who has ever imagined Venice would view it.  With water so clear and a sky so blue you don’t know which is which. Gondola operators singing in the canals to lovers new and old, their voices echoing off buildings that have seen more history than anyone of us could ever dream. Gloriously crafted buildings that have seen so much, so many lovers and families enjoying the canals, and so many more yet to see! It’s truly remarkable.

And on the right side you have Guardi painting Venice for how it really is. Dirty, hazy, the canal littered with merchants and street peddlers trying to make a living. Clogging the beauty of the canal with just unorganized chaos. The buildings lose their luster, as they too are not immune from the damaging effects of the chaos, appearing unkempt and filthy. This is how Venice, I’m sure, actually looked in the 16th century. Not the picturesque scene that we want to see but rather one that is more representative of life. Where people don’t see the beauty around them but rather they can’t because they are just to busy trying to get by. Just trying to survive.

I’ve been trying to survive for a long time now. Jonathan stopped his sentence and looked at the two paintings, putting his hand over his mouth and stroking his chin. He continued speaking. I’ve come here a lot, and I can always tell where I am in life based on which one of the paintings I focus on, the idealized imagery or the gritty reality. And the more I come here, the more I realize I never look at the painting on the left.

Jonathan heard a low cough coming from behind him. He looked over and saw a docent, standing in the doorway, with a perplexed look on her face. Jonathan looked around, and saw no one else in the room. He was unsure how long he was talking or if he was even talking to anyone. He felt his face go bright red with embarrassment. He couldn’t think of what to do next.

title: Venice

question: Summarize Jonathan's thoughts about the museum.

answer: He's a long-time member and likes going there, especially on Sundays. He finds the behavior of unattended children especially bothersome, so he doesn't like going on the days when museum entry is free. Some adults also behave in a rude manner while there, but Jonathan can tolerate the people who talk loudly or walk in front of him when he's looking at something. In the Italian Renaissance gallery, there are two paintings that he likes to look at often. They both depict Venice, one in a pristine and ideal state while the other shows a gritty, realistic state.

question: What does the text say about prejudice?


text:
Happiness can only be obtained by the ignorant.

Entering the ward, I hurriedly found my way to the room. Upon first glance, I understood the silence of the attendants. For it was not something I would believe if told; it had to be shown. While out, my beautiful wife was strolling through her gardens as she always had, fingering the tulips, tasting the apples, breathing the air. Every breath was one with the ability to sing to the trees and touch my heart. Though, this time she did not return as she was. She had collapsed.

The reasons elude the doctor and nothing else can be done. My eyes transfixed on what was once my vision of beauty, and strength. Now had become nothing more than a humble shell of what she once was. Pale and exhausted, she still greeted me with a smile. Yesterday it would have warmed my heart to see this. If all else was lost, I could press on knowing I could one day see it again, but this smile was different. It was not like the rest, it was a true smile, one that can be only adorned by a man or woman when they are in true accepting of fate. With my vision blurring and my steps faltering I clambered to the bedside, sobbing for the first time since becoming a man. I fumbled through the sheets and grasped for her hand. Finding it, I was startled by the cold. Frightened, I clasped it with both hands as if trying to return the warmth. She reached up and touched my cheek. She gazed into my eyes with content and love. Unfaltering she said not a word but watched and smiled. As if by some sort of magic I was no longer afraid.

My hand slipped through my wife’s hair and behind her head, the other went under her knees. I lifted her up as if weightless, and carried her through gates and out to the field. I sat her down carefully leaning her upon the trunk of the once mighty oak. Next to her, my arm around her waist and her arm across my chest we sat in silence, knowing what doesn't need to be said. We watched the sun peek at noon and set at dusk. When unexpectedly she reached up and turned my head. She leaned forward and embraced me for the last time. I watched as her eyes rolled back, and her hands slipped from my face. I cried once more, hugging her as if it would bring her back. Sobbing into the nape of her neck, my heart dimmed and my soul became lost.

I did not start to live until I met her, and I do not remember life without her.

I couldn't remain. I stood up and began my walk home. Every sight reminding me of her. The road we always took to the market. The lake we swam in. I could not escape her. Wandering the streets I found myself home. I solemnly walked up the stairs; the house which once felt warm and inviting felt nothing but cold and alone. Trembling I reached out to the door and pushed it open. I could not enter. I collapsed to my knees and wept into my hands until I could hear the birds chirping. At another time it would have pleasantly awoken me from sleep alongside my love, but today it made me feel bitter. Strange how a simple bird can invoke a feeling of such loss. I had to stop it.

I reached for the nearest item and threw it at the window, shattering it and scaring off the bird. Suddenly I wanted the bird back. I miss the sound, the memory. My head spun with endless thoughts. Unable to grasp at the nothing that was there I became overwhelmed by everything. Every picture, every piece of furniture, everything slapped me in the face. She is gone. My life, my dreams shattered before me. I walked on a path of glass, but my feet were made of stone. Every step I tried to take only threatened what little sanity I had left. I had no escape from it. Finally I entered the room. A mistake at heart but a feeling of necessity compelled me. Upon opening the door her fragrance hit me like a spear into the heart. It hurt but it comforted me slightly. I walked to the bed and fell upon the mattress, falling asleep comes easy to the weary.

Many believe dreams are gateways to the soul. Mine must have been in hell.

That day we decided to go to the market. She needed some peaches to make us some cobbler so we left early to get the freshest ones available. When we got there we spent hours searching the market for nothing. Exhausted from the day, we returned home, had a pleasant dinner and went to bed just like any other day. I awoke the next morning feeling her presence beside me, I rolled over assuming she would be there, but she was not. I suddenly realized that it was just a dream and nothing more. What kind of torture is this? My own mind tearing me apart. I could not handle another dream so I did not sleep. Days went on I watched the couples outside my house. I began to hate them. I began to hate love. Why shouldn’t I? It betrayed me; it left me with out a word and attacks me when I can't fight back. When life takes your lemons, you're left with just an empty glass

I have not slept in weeks. I eat only when it becomes unbearable. I keep the curtains drawn, and the lights out. I do not like the light, it has become unwanted. My neighbors come in uninvited to check on me. I am no longer trusted to live life myself. They say its concern, I call it intrusion. But still they come and make me wash myself and change the bandages on my wrists when they got dirty. They try to comfort me, but I reply to them harshly. I like their company but I do not want it. I just want to be alone. I wanted to slip into a sleep and dream of her forever, but I did not want to wake from the sleep. That would hurt far too much. They don't understand my loss. None of them do. I know what has to be done. I know how to be happy. When all is lost and you stop looking, you are lost.

I waited until just before dawn. I used the darkness to conceal me. I do not know what I was concealed from, but it was comforting. My pack slung behind me I ran out of the city. I can finally be happy again. For the first time in a great while I was excited. The old oak was still there.... unchanged from that day. I climbed up the tree giddy as ever. I perched myself on the highest branch. I tied the knot pulling it tight. Staring at the sun as it crested the horizon I slipped from the branch. And finally fell asleep.

...I didn't dream, I could no longer dream.

title: The Dream of Once Was [RF]

question: What does the story say about positive emotions?

answer: The narrator believes happiness can only be obtained by the ignorant. His wife's smile would have warmed his heart the day before, but doesn't as she's in a hospital bed. After his wife's death, the narrator realizes the only way to be happy again is to join her in death.

question: What does the story say about death?

answer: The narrator's wife dies a while after collapsing in the gardens. She dies beneath a might oak. The narrator dies by hanging himself on that same tree.

question: What does the story say about the disease the narrator's wife had?


text:
Dr. KWABENA ADJEI (19432019),[1] sometimes referred to as Nkonya Terminator[2] was a Member of Parliament for the Biakoye Constituency in the Oti region of Ghana. He was also the former chairman of the National Democratic Congress.[3][4]

Early Life and Education

Kwabena Adjei was born on 9 March 1943 at Nkonya Ntsumuru in the Oti region.[5] He attended the University of Ghana, Legon and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) Psychology in 1970. In 1973 and 1978, he had his Doctor of Philosophy (Research Methods & Statistics in Psychology) and Master of Business Administration from the University of Strathclyde and University of Ghana respectively.[6][7]

Politics

Kwabena was a key founding member of the National Democratic Congress. He represented Biakoye Constituency in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Parliament of the 4th Republic of Ghana.[8]

He served as Minister for Lands & Forestry, Food & Agriculture and Parliamentary Affairs under presidency of J.J Rawlings.[9] He was elected Chairman of the National Democratic Congress in 2005, he succeeded Obed Asamoah.[10]

Career

He was an Educationist. He taught psychology and sociology in University of Ghana, University of Cape Coast, University of Maiduguri.

Elections

Adjei was first elected into Parliament during the 1996 Ghanaian General Elections, he polled 20,740 votes out of the 26,564 valid votes cast representing 63.90% over Abotsina Festus Andrews of the New Patriotic Party, Alexander Kwame Mensah of the Democratic People`s Party, Christiana Amaa Pokuah Nyark of the Convention People`s Party and George k. Afari of the people`s National Convention who polled 1,903 votes, 1,897 votes, 1,706 votes and 348 votes respectively.[11]

He was elected again as the Member of Parliament for the Biakoye constituency in the 2000 Ghanaian general elections.[12] He won the elections.[13] His constituency was a part of the 17 parliamentary seats out of 19 seats won by the National Democratic Congress in that election for the Volta Region.[14][15][16]

The National Democratic Congress won a minority total of 92 parliamentary seats out of 200 seats in the 3rd parliament of the 4th republic of Ghana.[17] He was elected with 15,036 votes out of 22,042 total valid votes cast.

This was equivalent to 69% of the total valid votes cast.[18][19] He was elected over Edward C. Boateng of the New Patriotic Party, William K. Semanhyia of the National Reformed Party, Christian O. Nyarko of the Convention People's Party and Atsu N. Missiahyia of the United Ghana Movement.[20][21]

These obtained 4,108, 1,674, 751 and 210 votes respectively out of the total valid votes cast. These were equivalent to 18.9%, 7.7%, 3.4% and 1% respectively of total valid votes cast.[22][23]

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[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

[11]

[12]

[13]

[14]

[15]

[16]

[17]

[18]

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[20]

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[22]

[23]

title: Kwabena Adjei

question: What does the article say about Dr. Adjei's family?