text:
CRANHAM is a residential area of east London, and part of the London Borough of Havering.[1] It is located east-northeast of Charing Cross and comprises an extensive built-up area to the north and a low density conservation area to the south surrounded by open land.[2] It was historically a rural village in the county of Essex and formed an ancient parish.[3] It is peripheral to London, forming the eastern edge of the urban sprawl. The economic history of Cranham is characterised by a shift from agriculture to housing development.[4] As part of the suburban growth of London in the 20th century, Cranham significantly increased in population,[5] becoming part of Hornchurch Urban District in 1934 and has formed part of Greater London since 1965.[6] The 2011 Census population of Cranham was included in Upminster.

History

Toponomy

                 1881                   416
  ----------------------------------- -------
                 1891                   465
                 1901                   397
                 1911                   489
                 1921                   519
                 1931                  1,240
                 1941                  war #
                 1951                  2,836
   1.  no census was held due to war
         source: UK census[7]

  : CRANHAM (PARISH) POPULATION

Cranham is recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as comprising two manors. The smaller was in the north of the parish, and called _Craohv_ and in 1201 as _Craweno_.[8] It means 'spur of land frequented by crows' and is formed from the Old English 'crāwe' and 'hōh'.[9] The larger was the Anglo-Saxon manor of Ockendon (_Wochenduna_) During the Middle Ages, and until around the 15th century, it was also known as BISHOP'S OCKENDON because a large part of its area was owned by the Bishop of London.[10]

Economic development

The parish is recorded in 1086 as being heavily wooded, supporting an agrarian way of life.[11] Forest clearance was well advanced by the 15th century, with an increase in population and arable land; and there was a mill in Cranham]].[12] Cranham lay on brick earth and this gave rise to the Cranham Brick and Tile Company which was in operation from 1900 to 1920.[13] Drury has suggested that early trade was with the nearby settlements of Romford and Hornchurch and with London via the River Thames at Rainham.[14]

Local government

[1931: Cranham (5) within Romford Rural District, adjoining Upminster (4) and Great Warley (3)] Cranham formed an ancient parish of in the Chafford hundred of Essex.[15] The vestry met in the church until 1829 and then at the parish workhouse.[16] In 1836 the parish was grouped for poor relief into the Romford Poor Law Union and for sanitary provision in 1875 into Romford rural sanitary district.[17] The sanitary district became Romford Rural District from 1894 and a parish council was formed to replace the vestry.

The parish formed part of the London Traffic Area from 1924 and the London Passenger Transport Area from 1933.[18] To reflect the significantly increased population in the area, Romford Rural District was abolished in 1934 and Cranham was amalgamated with neighbouring parishes into Hornchurch Urban District.[19] The parish council was abolished and Hornchurch Urban District Council became the local authority. There was a revision of boundaries with North Ockendon, which had been part of Orsett Rural District, absorbed into Cranham and a small area to the north, near Great Warley, transferred to Brentwood Urban District.[20]

In 1965 Hornchurch Urban District was abolished and its former area was transferred from Essex to Greater London, to be combined with that of the Municipal Borough of Romford in order to form the present-day London Borough of Havering.[21] In 1993 the Greater London boundary, to the east of Cranham and north of the railway line, was locally realigned to the M25 motorway, returning some mostly unpopulated areas of open land to Essex and leaving North Ockendon as the only part of Greater London outside the bounds of the motorway.[22]

Urban development

[Map of Cranham] In the 17th and 18th centuries manorial homes, including Cranham Hall, became attractive properties for merchants from the City of London.[23] Initial attempts to expand the suburban estates from Upminster in the early 20th century ran into problems because of the lack of water supply.[24] In 1922 sewage works for Upminster and Cranham were opened in Great Warley.[25] In the 1930s land was used to develop some council housing and following the sale of the Benyon estate the pace of new building quickened. Cranham's location on the very edge of London's urban sprawl is explained by the halting effect on suburban house building of the introduction of the Metropolitan Green Belt and World War II.[26][27] Thereafter building took place within the area bounded by the Southend Arterial Road in the north and St Mary's Lane in the south; and there were 615 council houses built by 1971.[28]

Governance

Cranham forms part of the Hornchurch and Upminster UK Parliament constituency, and is partly within the Havering wards of Upminster and Cranham. Together these form the Upminster Area Committee.[29] The current MP is Julia Lopez (politician). Each ward elects three councillors to Havering London Borough Council. All six councillors elected in 2010 for the two wards were the Upminster and Cranham Residents' Association candidates[30][31] and the area is unusual in that the residents' association is strongly active.[32] From 1945 to 1974 Cranham formed part of the Hornchurch constituency and from 1974 to 2010 it formed part of the Upminster constituency. Cranham is within the Havering and Redbridge London Assembly constituency.

Geography

Most of Cranham is located on the London Clay belt, with loam to the north and a gravel valley to the south.[33] It rises to about in the north and to below in the south; with a ridge running east to west upon which All Saints' Church is located.[34] Cranham forms a continuously built-up area with Upminster to the west, with open fields separating it from Harold Wood in the north, Great Warley to the east and North Ockendon to the southeast. Franks Wood and Cranham Brickfields are designated a Site of Importance for Nature Conservation with a habitat of ancient woodland, coppices, ditches, scrub, tall herbs and neutral grassland.[35] The community forest centre for the extensive Thames Chase is located in the open land to the south east.[36] Cranham forms part of the Upminster post town in the RM14 postcode district.[37] Climate data for Cranham is taken from the nearest weather station at Greenwich, around southwest of All Saints church:

Demography

  Cranham compared (2001 Census)
  -------------------------------- --------------- ------------- -------------- ------------ -------------
  Statistic
  Ethnic group
  White
  Asian
  Black
  Mixed
  Chinese/Other
  Population
  TOTAL
  Density(/hectare)
  Households

Demographic data is produced by the Office for National Statistics for the wards of Cranham and Upminster. All of Cranham is contained within these wards, however they also cover the connected settlement of Upminster and the rural outlier of North Ockendon. In 2001 the population of Upminster ward was 12,674[43] and Cranham ward was 12,242,[44] giving a total population of 25,098. 80.95% in Upminster and 81.73% in Cranham report their religion as Christian, compared to 76.13% for Havering, 58.23% in London and 71.74% in England. 10.08% in Upminster and 10.46% in Cranham report having no religion, compared to 13.18% in Havering, 15.76% in London and 14.59% in England.[45][46] With a black and minority ethnic population of 3% in 2001, Cranham and Upminster wards have the lowest Simpson index for ethnic diversity in London.[47] The level of home ownership is atypically high compared to the rest of London and England, with over 90% of housing tenure under owner-occupation in both wards.[48][49]

Economy

There are several short parades of shops; the largest on Front Lane, dominated by a Tesco Express store.[50] The nearest significant activity centre identified in the London Plan is the local district centre at Upminster.[51] Within Havering, Upminster is identified as the nearest of seven main town centres.[52] There are a number of commercial businesses centred around the A127 Southend Arterial Road including a wholesale butcher, mushroom cultivator, caravan sales, and a sports equipment supplier.[53] There are a limited number of hospitality venues, including pubs and a popular tandoori restaurant.[54]

Transport

[Two floodlight towers in the London Underground depot are the tallest structures in Cranham] Front Lane is the main road through Cranham and runs north to south, connecting with the A127 road in the north. Approximately to the northeast it has a junction with the M25 motorway, which forms the outer ring road of London. Cranham is the location of the Upminster depot of the London Underground's District line.[55] The nearest London Underground station is at Upminster, approximately to the west. The London-Tilbury-Southend Line of the National Rail network passes through the area in two places, with the nearest station also at Upminster. There are Transport for London bus service to Upminster, Hornchurch, Romford, and Ockendon station on routes 248, 346 and 347.[56]

Culture

[Willow Parade and shops on Front Lane] All Saints' parish church was rebuilt in 1873 and is a grade II listed building. James Oglethorpe, the founder of the state of Georgia, now part of the United States of America, is buried with his wife at the centre of its chancel.[57][58] The area around the church forms a conservation area.[59] There is a second church called St Luke's further north on Front Lane.[60] Cranham Hall, the former manor house, is a grade II listed building. There are two community associations that are both registered charities.[61][62] The Cranham Community Association operates a broad range of sporting, self-improvement and hobby activities at Cranham Community Centre on Marlborough Gardens.[63] Cranham Social Hall, with a capacity of 100, is separately operated by the Front Lane Community Association, and provides a limited range of activities.[64][65] The main cultural and entertainment facilities of the borough are located in Hornchurch and Romford.[66]

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[8] {{ cite book | surname=Mills | first=D. | title=Oxford Dictionary of London Place Names | year=2000 | publisher=Oxford}}

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title: Cranham

question: In what ways does Cranham stand out from the rest of London demographically.

answer: Cranham has a very low Black and minority ethnic population with the lowest Simpson index for ethnic diversity in London. Homeownership is also atypically high with over 90% of housing tenure under owner-occupation in both wards.


split: test

text:
So this is my first story that I have ever written. Its still a work in progress and there's a lot of grammar mistakes because I've been typing it up on my phone. I'm just looking to see what you guys think of the plot line or any other suggestions you guys might have. Thanks and I hope you enjoy.

	Clank ……….. Clank ……………….. Clank. My eyes snapped open at that thunderous sound. It was like a hellish hammer smashing against stone and metal. I couldn’t seen anything but black. Everything was swallowed by the darkness. I reached out as another round of that reached sound began. It was like my head was throbbing with each sound. I tried to cover my ears but there was something covering my face, some kind of mask. I could taste a hint of metal in the air and followed the tube down to a metal cylinder that I had to guess was about the size of my leg. Moving my hands and feet outward I could feel the rough stone that was all around me. I was in a box, a gods damn tiny ass stone box. I have to be in one of the hells, my own personal hell. Trapped in eternal darkness with that damn noise, my whole body cringed as it kept repeating getting faster. I couldn’t take it anymore, covering my ears I yelled with all my might “FUCKING STOP GODS DAMN IT”. It did, it was the most beautiful silence that I’ve ever heard, but just as I felt the slightest bit of relief there was this horrifying scratching. It was like metal being dragged against stone but it was so loud. My head felt like it was going to explode. I covered my ears trying to make it stop but it was still there shacking my stone prison. After what felt like a lifetime the sound stopped. Relief, the sound of nothing was never sweeter, hell I would even take that clanking noise over the scraping. Then the stone above me started moving and a bring light blinded me. I slammed my eyes shut wait for whatever came next. I felt a gentle hand slowly touch mine. Please be an angel her to take me to haven. Then a sweet soft voice, a voice that I knew said “Hey Danny can you hear me?” I opened my eyes just as the light moved away from my face.
“Valerie” I said as I quickly sat up, which was a huge mistaken because my head started spinning. Valerie quickly pulled me into a tight hug, after a few seconds my head righted its self and I hugged her back.
“You two can get a room later if you want but right now we need to get going.” a voice said from above us. Even in the dark I could see her face turn to a dark scarlet color as she pulled away from the hug. Turning to look above me I saw the source of the voice. “How are you feeling buddy?” Nash said. He was wearing his normal smirk but I could tell something was wrong by the look in his eyes. It didn't show his normal cocky attitude, they were cold and suspicious. That and he wasn't wearing his uniform. He had street clothes on with a long black trench coat, no doubt to conceal his sidearm.
“Confused and I have one hell of a headache” I said as he reached down, pulling me out of the pit.
 “Well we have a lot to catch you up on so let’s get out of here.” He said as he started heading towards a parked truck. Valerie grabbed my arm and start pulling me after him as I took the first good look around at my surrounding. Lightning slashed above us lighting up the sea of stones around us.
“Ummm Nash, why was I buried in a grave? Nash?” I shouted.
Thunder crashed over head as Valerie looked up and said with a worried look on her face “Don't worry we will explain everything on the way.”
I followed them to the truck and slid in the back seat with Valerie, Nash walked around to the passenger seat. Even as he sat down he didn’t seem to relax. He kept his hand on his side arm.
“Hey it's good to see you up and around. How are you feeling?” June said from the driver seat.
“Thanks, just a headache. But someone really needs to tell me what's going on. The last thing I remember is heading to to a sparing session and now I'm waking up in a grave. So what the hell is happening? I said, looking at each of then waiting for an answer.
“The palace was attacked and you were knocked unconscious in the first explosion. It injured or killed a lot of our brothers. The royal guard is down to about 100 fight ready soldiers. Most of us are wanted in connection to the attack.  Valerie was able to get you to the medical ward and fake your death to smuggle you out.” Nash said staring out his passenger window towards the once brilliantly lit imperial tower. It had been a beacon of hope for much of the world for the past 500 years. It had always been lit up. But now all you could see is it's silhouette when the lightning flashed.  I could tell that Valerie was crying even though she was facing away from me. She knew most of them just as well as us from being one of our doctors. She lost a lot of friends, we all had.  But we've lost friends before, she hasn't. I wish I was still in that coffin listening to the scraping and hammering. I would trade an eternity in hell to bring back anyone of my dead brothers and sisters. Life doesn't work that way though, not anymore at least.
“I'm so sorry about burying you in a coffin but it was the only way I could think of getting you out of there. I just don't know what else to do and I didn’t think they would bury you that fast.” Valerie barely whispered. I could still see more tear welling up in her brown eyes as she said it.
“It's ok you didn't have any other choice” I said while trying to give her the most sincere smile I could. “You did what you though was best, and thank you for getting me out alive.” It didn't bother me that she did that. I just don't understand how such a thing like this could happen. “Who did this? I asked.  None of them said anything,
Nash was the first to say something. “It's not good.” While never moving his eyes from the window.
“We think it was Sky admiral Havren. His flag ship arrived above the city ten minutes before the attack and he arrive in the tower right as the fighting stopped. We think it's a power play I take over the empire. June said. “He has publicly claimed to have arrived just in time to stop the fighting between loyal royal guardsmen and a group of guardsmen who were attempting to assassinate the emperor and has since assumed power.”
“What about the emperor? Or even Alexandria? She's the heiress shouldn't she take the throne before him? I asked.
June spoke up after Nash didn't respond. “The emperor is currently at our safe house but he was near the explosion and is still in a coma. As far as Alexandria, she's still alive and well. She still has her personal guards with her in the palace, and we believe that try are still loyal to the imperial family but we haven't been able to contact any of them. As of right now we are going on the assumption that she is more or less a hostage with her guard and the admiral has some plan for her.  But we haven't been able to contact them. Havren has declared the rest of us traitors and fugitives. Without her support we have to remain hidden and scattered. It will only be a matter of time before we are all hunted down.”
“So where are we going then?”
“June’s aunt has a old mansion on just a few minutes away and we have set up a base camp in the old cellar and tunnels underneath.” Valerie said.
I could remember a couple of years back when June first applied to join the guard as a marksmen. Everyone just wrote the five foot five rich girl off, but not our captain. He insisted on giving her a fair shot, and  she get one.  I don't know what it was that he saw in her at the time but when she took her first shots on that range she was like an artist; even with a rifle that was almost bigger then her. She has been our squad ever since.
We pulled up the long gravel drive towards the mansion. Ha mansion this place was like a castle.
“We’ll park around back under some trees.” June said. “That will hide the truck and we can use the garden entrance.”
“Hey June why are all the lights off? Doesn’t your aunt live here?
“Nope no one has lived here in about five years so we can use it as long as we need to.” June said.
“Damn your family is that rich and I've still been buying you coffee all this time.” Nash said.
“Well actually my dad cut me off for the most part when I join the guard. He said It wasn't an appropriate career for a noble lady or some bullshit like that.” June said.
“Oh umm sorry I didn’t know.” Nash stammered out. June just kind of shrugged it off while Valerie and shared a glance as we felt the awkwardness descend on us like a heave fog. June seemed to be the only one who didn't feel it.
“Ok well welcome to our summer home” June said as she threw the truck in park and we all climbed out. The rain had stopped and a full moon was shining through a hole in the clouds as thunder rolled in the distance.  I fully expected Nash to make some smart ass remark about the whole summer house thing but he must have still felt bad about bring up Junes past. We walked though the garden full of dead flowers an bushes. Everything around us was just dead. There weren’t even any weeds growing. This place gave me the chills. I've been through firefights, been shot and stabbed, I've stared death in the eyes but I've never felt such an erie feeling before. I felt Valerie's arm brush against mine as she moved a little bit closer and it almost made me jump. We finally walked into a small shed where June pulled up a trap door and we all descended into the darkness.

Sorry for the crappy formatting, this is my first post ever.

title: [SF]My first story

question: Summarize the different feelings going through the minds of the fugitives as they seek refuge from their would-be pursurers.

answer:
The main protagonist was surprised to see one of her friends. He was relieved as he hugged Valerie. He was confused to find himself entombed. His friends told him they need to get him out first, but will explain later.

The main protagonist told his friends he is fine except that he has a horrible headache. Valerie apologized for burying him in a coffin. She says it was done to save him from assassins and would-be hunters who believe he and his friends are behind the calamity that befell the country.

June, one of the main protagonist's rescuers, offered her aunt's old house as a haven in the meantime. Nash teased her about her family being rich but he has to buy her coffee all the time. June said she had been cut-off from the family fortune for quite sometime. Nash apologises as the awkwardness of the statement permeated through the group.


text:
1.

     [Rle7]

    Rle7 _Active Member_

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      PAMELA JEAN MITCHELL
      Missing since August 19, 1992 from Nashville, Davidson County, Tennessee.
      CLASSIFICATION: Endangered Missing

      Vital Statistics DATE OF BIRTH: February 16, 1962
      AGE AT TIME OF DISAPPEARANCE: 30 years old
      HEIGHT AND WEIGHT AT TIME OF DISAPPEARANCE: 5'5"; 105 lbs
      DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS: White female. Brown hair; brown eyes.
      AKA: Gifford, Warrick, and Saddler.

      Circumstances of Disappearance
      Pamela Mitchell disappeared on August 19, 1992.
      Pamela lived at 2828 Dickerson Road, Nashville. She was last seen at the Krystal Restaurant, located at 100 West Trinity Lane. She has not been seen since. She was married and has two children.
      At the time of her disapperance she was on and off of drugs and was prostituting at times. A witness told police Mitchell got into a car at a Krystal on West Trinity Lane and she was never seen again.
      Her family believes foul play was involved in her disappearance.

      Investigators
      If you have any information concerning this case, please contact:
      METROPOLITAN NASVILLE POLICE DEPARTEMENT
      DETECTIVE CLINTON VOGEL
      615-862-7557
      615-862-7546
      E-MAIL
      NCIC Number: M-680660983

      Please refer to this number when contacting any agency with information regarding this case. SOURCE INFORMATION:
      Metropolitan Nasville Police Departement
      Missing USA
      News Channel 5 7/13/07
      http://www.doenetwork.org/cases/605dftn.html

2.

     [Rle7]

    Rle7 _Active Member_

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      A Nashville family continues to search for their loved one, now missing for 15 years.

      Pamela Mitchell went missing in August 1992 in East Nashville.

      Relatives last saw her in 1991 on Christmas.

      Mitchell delved into drugs and prostitution.

      Metro police detectives do not have any real leads in the case.

      Her family said each holiday is difficult knowing they do not have any answers.

      "It's so hard to deal with and cope with," said Mitchell's sister-in-law Karen Gifford, adding that it's "hard to put into words" her feelings about Mitchell's disappearance.

      http://www.newschannel5.com/global/story.asp?s=7435853

3.

4.

     [Kat]

    Kat _Kind words do not cost much_

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      Pamela has been missing 18 years today. Come home soon.

      https://www.findthemissing.org/cases/8/2/

      NamUs Profile:
      Dental: NA
      DNA: NA
      Fingerprints: NA

5.

     [mmtp777]

    mmtp777 _New Member_

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      I'm from Nashville and recently saw a post where Pamela's daughter Ashley is attempting to look for her. I wasn't familiar with the case until then but after doing a search found it on here. For a city the size of Nashville we actually have very few missing persons cases so this one caught my eye.

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     [sam spade]

    sam spade _Active Member_

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     [sam spade]

    sam spade _Active Member_

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8.

      I agree I'm from not to far from Nashville and I had never heard of this case either there really aren't to many missing cases there

9.

     [creepedout]

    creepedout _Well-Known Member_

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      The link for a potential match that was double posted two and three posts above mine is no longer working. I can't find the thread either. Can someone assist?

10.

     [creepedout]

    creepedout _Well-Known Member_

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      Scratch my above post. I think I found it:

      POST MORTEM IMAGE AT LINK
      https://identifyus.org/en/cases/6326

      She is not listed in the ruleouts. Both have DNA in the system, but Pamela's dentals and prints aren't available.

11.

      Pamela has been missing for 27 years today.

12.

      Pamela has been missing for 28 years today.

13.

      I love you mama. I pray we find answers one day. It's been 28 years. You'll be a great grandmother next April. Can you believe it? I know I can't. You've missed so much. I pray we find justice and your remains. Your murderer, if still alive, probably reads these things. To him/her: we may not get you in this life, but God's justice comes after. May you burn in hell.
      Rest in peace, mama. Wherever you are. Love, Your Daughter, Ashley

14.

      It doesn't matter. That link is for a woman that is not my mother. It isn't Pamela Mitchell. I would know if it were. I'm her daughter and mama didnt have tattoos with two Male's names. She only has two children, my brother Kenneth Shane, and myself, Ashley. My daddy's name was Rick. Hope this helps.

15.

     [Rockfarmer]

    Rockfarmer _Well-Known Member_

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      Ashley, welcome to Websleuths @Amitchell6971
      So sorry about your mother. There are many WS'ers who love and care for the missing. WS'ers will never give up.
      Please consider becoming a Verified Insider on this case.
      Verification Process for Professional or Insider Posters

16.

      Thank you so much. I really appreciate that. The FBI has her DNA so if she ever does turn up, we'll be notified. Unfortunately, I don't believe she'll ever be found. In my personal opinion, she is buried in basement of the man who reported her missing without ever reaching out to us, the family. For some strange reason the police didnt think that enough to call him a suspect, so I don't think we'll ever know.

17.

      We have 19 unsolved missing persons here in Nashville. Sadly, none of them have turned up, not even mama. It's crazy how that many people just vanish. Breaks my heart.

 [Websleuths]

question: What does the text say about the qualities that make a good FBI agent?

question: What did the text say about Pamela Jean Mitchell?

answer: Pamela Jean Mitchell was born on February 16, 1962, and lived at 2828 Dickerson Road, Nashville. She was White, 5'5" tall, 105 lbs., had brown hair and brown eyes. Mitchell was married and had two children. She was 30 years old when she went missing.

question: What does the text say about Pamela Jean's family and how do they feel about the case?

answer: Pamela Jean Mitchell was married to Rick and had two children, Ashley and Kenneth Shane, and one great-grandchild coming in April. According to her daughter, Ashley, Rick may also be already deceased. The family, particularly Ashley, feels that her mother will never be found because she is buried in the basement of the man who reported her missing. Ashley is perplexed why the man didn't reach out to them and why the police never treated him as a suspect because the detectives didn't have any real leads at the time. Pamela Jean's family says that each holiday is difficult because they don't have answers.

question: Summarize everything related to Pamela Jean's case.

answer: Pamela Jean Mitchell went missing on August 19, 1992, but her relatives last saw her during Christmas of 1991. She was last seen getting into a car at the Krystal Restaurant located at 100 West Trinity Lane, Nashville, Davidson County, Tennessee. At the time of her disappearance, she was on and off drugs and working as a prostitute. Pamela Jean was 30 years old when she disappeared, and the family believes foul play was involved in her disappearance.


text:
Sitting on the couch, the TV turned down at Sarah’s request, I knew something was coming. The Christmas holidays had been awkward and she had been distant the whole time. It wasn't the best of breaks, but I hadn't let the feelings glide by. I had asked her straight out, on Christmas day, if something was wrong.

I had never once felt like I couldn't trust her completely, but for the first time, my gut was telling me something was going on. It was so cliché too, sudden furtive behavior around her phone, guilty glances from wherever she happened to be tapping away, and she was tapping away a lot. And the funny thing is, up until the holidays, I thought things had been getting better. Another cliché.

So I asked her.

After opening presents with her family, Indie wanted another push on the swing under the big oak tree in the garden, and I wanted an escape from the debris of Christmas wrapping, presents and food. Waiting for lunch in the sun under the tree, between pushes of Indie on the swing, she walked over and I couldn't take it anymore.

Push.

 “I have never felt this way before”
.
Push.

“I have always trusted you. Implicitly.”

Push.

“But my gut is telling me something is going on.”

Push.

“You are acting so differently.”

Push.

“Is there something going on?”

Push.

“Is there someone else?”

Push.

Looking back now, the lie she told straight to my face without hesitation, hurt as much as what was to come, especially since what we had been through.

title: [NF] My Story

question: What do the "pushes" in the story represent?

answer: The pushes in the story represent the main characters urges to know the truth from Sarah and they represent pushing on the swing.

question: What is happening between the main character and Sarah?

answer: It looks like either a breakup, or a barrier in their relationship is forming.

question: Does it seems as though Sarah is honest with the main character?

answer: From the main character's point of view, it does not seem as though Sarah is honest with them.


text:
The cover up continues

An analysis of the New Zealand Defence Force response to the book _Hit and Run_

Nicky Hager and Jon Stephenson

29 March 2017

The Chief of Defence Force Lieutenant General Tim Keating presented the NZDF response to the book _Hit and Run_ at a press conference on Monday 27 March 2017. For 45 minutes he and his colleagues suggested that everything in the book was incorrect.

The _Hit and Run_ authors have now had time to study the defence chief's statements. Our conclusion is that the NZDF criticisms are wrong – with one exception – and that they have failed to address almost everything of substance in the book. This is what a cover up looks like.

1. The raid described in the book “is not an operation the NZSAS conducted”: INCORRECT

The information presented in Keating's press conference leaves no doubt that the book and the defence chief are talking about the same raid. Keating gave the name of the raid (Operation Burnham), the times and date (12.30-3.45am on 22 August 2010), the location in the Tirgiran Valley, and said the SAS arrived in two Chinook helicopters, used SAS snipers, found a quantity of ammunition in one building and had one SAS trooper injured by falling debris. All of these are details of the SAS raid publicised first in chapter 3 of the book. There were not two different raids with the same operation name at the same time in the same valley. It is obviously the same raid.

An NZDF power point presentation shown in the press conference showed three main SAS objectives in the valley called A1, A2 and A3. The book had already identified the SAS's main targets as being the house and guest house of an insurgent named Abdullah Kalta and the house of an insurgent named Naimatullah, neither of whom were present during the raid. The NZDF objectives A1 and A2 are the buildings belonging to Abdullah Kalta seen in a photo on p.60 of the book and NZDF objective A3 is the house of Nematullah shown on pp. 39 and 60 of the book.

2. The SAS raid was in a different village with a different name: INCORRECT

The defence force claimed that the SAS raid occurred in a village called Tirgiran, not the villages of Naik and Khak Khuday Dad named in the book. This is not true. The locals know the names of their own villages and they are called Naik and Khak Khuday Dad. The raid occurred there.

3. The SAS raid was about two kilometres from the position we gave in the book: CORRECT, BUT DOES NOT CHANGE THE STORY IN ANY SIGNIFICANT WAY

After the NZDF press conference, Nicky Hager said that the authors stood by the whole story and that at most the NZDF denials might mean that the events in the book occurred two kilometres from where we thought they were, ie. a slightly different location in the isolated mountain valley.

We have checked the NZDF maps shown at the press conference and it appears the location of the raid and the villages is indeed slightly different to what our local sources told us. But the villages at that location are definitely called Naik and Khak Khuday Dad, and all the rest of the story in the book is unchanged. Likewise the photos in the book of the villages attacked in the raid are correct, as are the photos of the victims and destroyed houses.

The Defence Force leapt on this and tried to sow doubt about the rest of the book. Keating said the “central premise” of the book was incorrect; that there were “major inaccuracies – the main one being the location”. But the location is a minor detail, difficult to establish in mountains with no roads or detailed maps (there are no known maps of the valley that include the locations and names of the villages along it). Contrary to what Keating said, the central premise of the book is that the actions of the SAS and its allies in the villages of Naik and Khak Khuday Dad led to civilian deaths and injuries, destruction of houses, neglect of wounded people and then a cover up – and none of that has changed.

4. The NZDF has now replied to the allegations in the book: INCORRECT

The defence force has not replied to most allegations in the book. Most strikingly, Keating's presentation did not address the deaths and injuries suffered by children, mothers and elderly people who were obviously not insurgents – which are the most important allegations in the book.

The allegations that the defence force has avoided or answered inadequately to date are:

* SAS-controlled attack helicopters fired at civilians in Khak Khuday Dad village with many casualties, including the three-year-old child Fatima

* SAS snipers appear to have shot at least one civilian, a recently graduated school teacher home on holiday

* SAS-controlled attack helicopters pursued two farmers who opposed the Taliban along the valley and killed them

* Twelve houses were destroyed despite there being no military necessity to do so

* No assistance was given to the wounded at the time, including in houses that Defence now says it knew might have contained civilians

* Nor did the SAS go back to render assistance later, despite knowing that civilians were likely to have been injured

* The SAS returned for a second raid on the village Naik and blew up a house or houses

* A bound and blindfolded prisoner was beaten by an SAS trooper while his colleagues looked on and did nothing

* The prisoner was then handed over to the Afghan secret police who were known to have a notorious reputation for torturing prisoners

* That prisoner was then tortured by the Afghan secret police and when the defence force learned about this it kept it secret

* The SAS arranged the extra-judicial killing of some other insurgent suspects

* The NZDF repeatedly denied and covered up what the SAS have done, and continue to do so to this day.

5. An ISAF investigation has already occurred, there is no need for another inquiry: A WEAK SELF-SERVING ARGUMENT

First it is important to explain about the investigation done in August 2010 by the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) coalition headquarters, which was cited repeatedly during the NZDF press conference. In 2010 the subject of civilian deaths was very sensitive in Afghanistan and so ISAF was attempting to investigate all suspected cases of civilians being killed by ISAF forces. But these “assessments” were very far from being full or independent.

The ISAF investigation into the 22 August 2010 raid was completed in less than a week and did not involve anyone going to the area or talking to the affected villagers. It included a review of attack helicopter weapons system video and concluded that several “errant rounds”, caused by a gun sight malfunction, “may have resulted in civilian casualties”. However reports from SAS members and local people interviewed for the book describe multiple heavy attacks that wounded and killed civilians in different locations. Thus the hastily-conducted ISAF review appears far from being adequate. It is silent on most of the allegations in the book.

There is no need for New Zealand to rely on the brief and inadequate ISAF review. Most of the information needed to confirm whether or not the allegations in the book are correct is located here in New Zealand, in the SAS files. The best option is an independent inquiry where this information can be gathered and assessed.

6. Keating said the insurgents may have used civilians as human shields; aircraft video showed insurgents were killed; the conduct of the New Zealand ground forces was “exemplary”; and so on: UNSUBSTANTIATED CLAIMS AND SELECTIVE INFORMATION

Much of Keating's presentation was unsubstantiated assertions. This does not help the public find the truth since the defence force has an obvious interest in avoiding bad news about itself. He also said that the book claimed the SAS “deliberately killed civilians”, which we did not say. If we are correct that bad things are being covered up, we cannot expect the people at the heart of the cover up to provide impartial information. Once again, this means that the only acceptable option is a full and independent inquiry.

7. Lieutenant General Tim Keating told the press conference: “The ground force commander was an NZSAS Officer who controlled both the ground activities and provided clearance, after the appropriate criteria had been met, for any involvement of the aircraft. These elements were co-ordinated by an air controller in his location.” CORRECT AND IMPORTANT INFORMATION

This statement contradicts earlier statements by the government (in 2014) where ministers suggested that if there had been any civilian deaths they were the responsibility of the US pilots, not the New Zealand SAS. It confirms what we said in the book: that the SAS commanders in charge of the raid have responsibility for deaths and injuries caused by the US attack helicopters, which they controlled and had requested to be part of the raid.

8. Finally, Keating told the press that there were legal complications for having an inquiry: INCORRECT

This is not correct. We are not proposing an inquiry by the defence force about itself. The government has the power to launch a full and independent inquiry at any time. We believe the NZDF is trying to avoid a full and independent inquiry precisely because some officers are scared of what it will show. But the issue will continue to fester, as it has for years, until that happens.

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question: What does the text say about the defense chief's thoughts on Hit and Run?

answer: The Chief of Defense Force is Lieutenant General Tim Keating. He and his colleagues have said that everything in the book "Hit and Run" is incorrect in a press conference. In this conference, he tries to contradict a lot of the claims from the book. He believes the central premise of the book was incorrect with the main accuracy being the location of the raid. In critiquing the book, Keating said that the insurgents may have used civilians as human shields, aircraft video showed insurgents were killed, and that the conduct of the New Zealand ground forces was "exemplary". He also claims that the book was claiming the SAS "deliberately killed citizens", which he finds false.

question: Summarize negative events that have to do with children.

answer: Allegations are made in the book "Hit and Run" that there were deaths and injuries suffered by children at the hands of the SAS. One allegation claims that a three year old child was killed by an SAS-controlled attack helicopter. These helicopters fired at civilians in Khak Khuday village. Defense chief Keating's presentation didn't even address these allegations. The author of this article says these are the most important allegations.

question: What does the text say about maps?

answer: NZDF maps were shown at the NZDF's press conference condemning the book "Hit and Run". The authors of this book say they have checked this map, and confirm they were a bit off in their book about the location of the raid and the villages. The authors defend the book by saying that location is a minor detail, and that its difficult to establish in mountains with no roads or detailed maps. There are no known maps of the valley that include the locations and names of the villages along it.

question: What does the text say about the Trump administration?


text:
Such is the state of advanced capitalism: we can't pay our bills, but China's on the moon. In fairness, the Chinese government is doing humanity a favour.

The race to populate space has been staggeringly slow, and the idea that someone would finally think to scan below the moon's surface for precious minerals is rather moving. For so long, the moon had appeared to us as merely a dull, lifeless wodge of dust and space-shit. To think of it as being radiantly packed with precious minerals is actually quite romantic. One can imagine poems being written about it.

It gets better. Apparently, the substance sought is helium-3, an isotope of the element that could potentially replace oil and gas as our energy generators. Not only is the moon redeemed, but the earth is saved.

It takes a lot to make this cynic weep, but I'm seriously waxing lachrymose now.

The question is, why haven't the moon's resources been thoroughly plundered by now? Why hasn't it provided us with the energy necessary to colonise the rest of space? I'll tell you why: it's because capitalism is weak and timid.

In principle, it shouldn't be this way. Capitalism, said Rosa Luxemburg, always needs a periphery. There needs to be a non-capitalist outside to appropriate – new land, new resources, to provide profitable investment opportunities. Whether it takes the form of colonisation, privatising public goods, turfing peasants off their lands or creating "intellectual property", there is a need to accumulate beyond the existing realm of capitalist property relations.

The geographer David Harvey points out that the world capitalist system needs to find $1.5tn profitable investment opportunities today in order to keep growing at its historical average of 3% a year. In 20 years' time, it will need to find $3tn.

The effects of this are complex. On the one hand, such production places a tremendous burden on the planet and risks making large parts of it uninhabitable and extinguishing a great deal of life. Further, this production both exploits workers and becomes imbricated with all manner of brutality – consider the relationship between coltan production and war in the Congo. On the other hand, well: tablets, smartphones, DVD players, advanced sex toys that do something other than just buzz, cars that don't smell like foot disease, an abundance of stuff that makes life easier and more interesting.

The problem with capitalism, though, is that it's actually staggeringly timid in some respects. For all that the Communist Manifesto breathlessly extolled the revolutionary spirit of capital – "constant revolutionising of production, uninterrupted disturbance of all social conditions … all that is solid melts into air" – businesses are really quite conservative. They aren't going to invest unless they're reasonably sure of a profit, even if the result is sluggish growth and flatlining innovation.

This is why, as Mariana Mazzucato points out,it falls to states to undertake the risky investments that pay off in the technology that makes, for example, iPhones possible. Of course, capitalist states do a great deal else to overcome the inertia of the system, from war to violent enclosures. It doesn't do to idealise the state. The point here is that, if it were left to private sector enterprise, we would never have seen a human foot touch down on the moon's surface.

Of course, under capitalism the state's ability to explore the unknown is limited by its priority of making things work for business, or developing a greater war machine. States don't need an immediate return on investment, but if they're to justify taxing profits, they need to demonstrate some sort of plausible return. Hence, there's always more money for military arsenals than spaceships. We could be holidaying on Mars, but some people would rather bomb Afghanistan. Put that on a placard.

However, as Leigh Phillips explains, even the limited exploration of space thus far has produced unexpected bounties for the Earth-bound: cooling suits used by nuclear reactor technicians, dialysis technology, running shoes, water purification, housing insulation, food preservation, fire retardants and so on. And even if it didn't provide all these spin-offs, human curiosity is an end in itself. So what if we don't find the aliens who have been kidnapping drunk rednecks and plumbing their lower intestines? We'll find precious mineral ore on an asteroid, and that's more than enough.

So, this is what we need. First, international socialism. And to paraphrase Lenin, socialism = soviet power + interstellar travel. Don't ask me how we get that, we just need it as a precondition for everything else. Second, an international space exploration programme, funded with the express purpose of adding to the sum of stuff and human knowledge. Third, a popular space tourism programme. We have to be careful with this. The last thing anyone wants to see is a conga line of pot-bellied fortysomethings drinking Red Stripe on Jupiter. But hopefully socialism will elevate the culture. Finally, a publicly funded cryogenics programme now for everyone who wants to live to see this day.

Is that really too much to ask?

question: What does the text say about the moon?

answer: The author talks about how China is on the moon. The author finds the idea that someone at last would think to scan below the moon's surface for precious minerals is sort of moving. They are searching for helium-3, an isotope of the element that could possibly replace oil and gas as the world's energy generators. The moon had appeared as a dull, lifeless pile of dust and space debris, but now it's seen as redeemed and potentially earth's lifesaver. The author notes that the moon's resources haven't been completely drained by now due to capitalism's weakness. If it were left to private sector enterprise, no one would have seen a human foot touch down on the moon's surface.

question: Summarize the main point of the article.

answer: The main point of the article revolves around the idea that capitalism is the reason humans' race to populate space has been staggeringly slow. Capitalism's weakness is why the moon's resources haven't been ran through or provided humans with the energy necessary to colonize the rest of space. In relation to this, the author points out the issues with capitalism and the space race, and proposes some ideas to improve things.

question: Summarize how the author feels how their can be more advancements in space exploration.

answer: The author provides three necessities for advancements in space. They first suggest international socialism as a precondition for everything else. The second thing is to have an international space exploration program that would be funded with the purpose of adding to the sum of things and human knowledge. The third thing would be a popular space tourism program. Finally, they jokingly suggest a publicly funded cryogenics program for everyone who wants to live to see the day any of this comes to fruition.

question: What does the text say about solar power?


text:
Champagne, chardonnay and second-rate vodka. The descent into Vanity Heights was a perfect contradiction. Darcy’s den was full of promises. The promises of allure, freedom, revelry. The promises of power and powder, regret, addiction. But the promise that Vanity Heights fulfilled best was not Darcy’s own. It was the promise flashed upon the television, upon the computer screen, canonised on the glossed pages of magazines. The expectations of how teenager life should be; the expectations, up until this night, crushed by education and responsibility. This was the promise that led Darcy’s guests down the stairs. Down the stairs into Vanity Heights.

The house had transformed into a delinquent ballroom. The girls dropped as low as their heels would allow; their men watched through the haze. Darcy was a dragon. A pink dragon, breathing about the toxic smoke of his habit. He was perched upon his barstool throne, positioned strategically in the centre of the room, when she arrived.
“Celeste!” he exclaimed, prancing over to her, a stick of addiction in one hand and a glass of hobby in the other. She gave a long hug, a short conversation and an expected question. With a customary smile, Darcy gave to her an expected bottle of answer.

The party raved on, yet the revelry was muted by the brick wall that barricaded Celeste from the action. The rhythmic dripping of the basin tap was the only music Celeste had, yet she chose to reapply her face instead of dancing. She wanted to dance, though, and she knew Darcy would be waiting for her, so she rushed through her routine. She clasped onto her 50mL glass friend, already thrice-used, even though she had been in the bathroom only five minutes.
        The drink was downed within seconds of being poured; the liquid sunk to her stomach. She could feel the warm tendrils, cooing words of friendship, branching through her chest, her stomach and finally, finally, back up to drown her mind; pulling her further from the world and closer to her weekend friends.
        Six doses later, to finish the bottle, and she was ready to join them.

No one ever really knew why she was there. Good school, great grades, aspirations of business and law. Nevertheless, she was soon jiving and twisting and dropping on the floor, with Darcy and other men: around them and in their laps; their hands hoping to get in hers.  Her beholder lay seemingly dormant in her stomach; though its dark tendrils were tightening, strengthening their grip on Celeste, controlling her like a puppet with tangled strings. She thought the overseer a friend, a protector, but her body knew better.

Celeste mapped her escape as soon as she felt it. Up the stairs, out of Vanity Heights, past the kitchen, into the garden bed just by the backdoor. She pushed through the crowd. Darcy saw her leave; he knew why, but he didn’t follow.  He never did. By the time she reached the stairs, the beast had revealed itself. A kraken, furious as red, limbs thrashing about inside of her, fighting desperately for an escape. Tentacles of fear, doubt, regret, disappointment.
‘No,’ she thought once more, ‘I shouldn’t be disappointed.’ She knew she wasn't wasting her life; she was just having a little to drink. She wasn’t reckless and irresponsible; she was just a normal teenager. She was just having fun, she has earned it, she would stop after tonight, leave her alone. Her stomach was having none of that, though. She made a mistake by trying to fly the stairs two at a time. Her feet tangled and she fell, the first wave of expel surging from her, onto the steps above.

Whilst the beast had once been considered friend, it had no more. It escaped her again, covering her hair, clothes, face. She tried to pull herself further up the stairs, but the sickly purple tentacles constricted about her and dragged her down; down, down, down, back into Vanity Heights.
‘Vile guardian’, she cried, ‘noxious saviour, foul beast, nefarious raper; first friend, now foe. Always, foe’.
The stench accompanying her disgrace engulfed her wholly, yet the contents of her stomach continued to emerge, again and again, onto the step where her head now resigned to lay.
‘Never again,’ she sobbed, she promised to herself, her parents, her schoolwork.
‘Never again,’ she promised, but Celeste’s promises were made to be broken and it was already too late. She lay shattered upon the stair case, empress turned peasant; her knight in glass armour had left her and once more she had nothing. The world around her spun, and sank, and faded to black.

title: Vanity Heights

question: Describe Celeste in action.

answer: Celeste was having the time of her life at the party. She was dancing away in the ballroom, fully enjoying herself. She was drinking a lot and was ready to join her weekend friends on the dance floor.

question: Why did Celeste leave the ballroom so quickly?

answer: Celeste was dealing with the beast within herself. The beast she was dealing with had tentacles of fear, doubt, regret, and disappointment. She was telling this beast that she shouldn't be disappointed and that she wasn't wasting her life by having a little to drink. She was not reckless and irresponsible, and she was just a normal teenager that was having fun. But this beast was not a friend anymore, it had become a foe.

question: How would Celeste's life be if she had no regret about enjoying herself and did not care for the beast?


text:
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A website of MoveOn.org Civic Action.

MoveOn.org Civic Action is a 501(c)(4) organization which primarily focuses on nonpartisan education and advocacy on important national issues. MoveOn.org Political Action is a federal political committee which primarily helps members elect candidates who reflect our values through a variety of activities aimed at influencing the outcome of the next election. MoveOn.org Political Action and MoveOn.org Civic Action are separate organizations.

question: What is MoveOn?

answer: A nonprofit specializing in Civic Action and Political Action.

question: What does MoveOn.org Civic Action focus on?

answer: On nonpartisan education and advocacy on important national issues.

question: What does MoveOn.org Political Action focus on?

answer: Its federal political committee helps members elect candidates who reflect its values.

question: What is MoveOn's take on privacy?

answer: It takes privacy seriously

question: Write a ~1 sentence summary.

answer: MoveOn.org is a nonprofit who takes privacy seriously and its Civil Action side focuses on nonpartisan education, while the Political Action side is a federal political committee which helps members elect candidates who reflect its values.


text:
"The Funeral of Linus van Pelt" - by Mykel Montes

Charlie Brown parked his car next to a sidewalk about three blocks away from the church. He grabbed the satchel that was in the passenger seat, got out of the vehicle, and locked it. A number of thoughts ran through his head as he walked to the church. He was nervous, because he was about to see a number of faces he hadn’t seen in ages; and torn inside, because his brain was repeating the memory of the phone call he received the week before. What came from the other end of the phone line was a crying Sally, his sister, giving news about the suicide of her husband. Her husband Linus.

As Charlie Brown came up to the chapel doors, he stopped for about ten seconds. Then, in an exhale, he said to himself, “Here goes nothing,” and opened the doors. It was like the Christmas pageant rehearsal all over again, except, no one was dancing, and people finally turned their attention to Charlie Brown.
He was first greeted by Lucy. She said to him, “Oh Charlie Brown, I’m so happy you’re here.” “Hi Lucy”, he said, as he saw over Lucy’s shoulder his sister sobbing over the open casket, and Schroeder playing the church’s organ. It gutted him even a little more seeing the absence of a happy canine dancing on top of the musical instrument.

“I should have been a better sister all those years. Why did I have to be such a blockhead? Why couldn’t I be more gentle and caring?”

“Lucy, you made Linus strong. If it weren’t for you, his blindness toward society would have crushed him before he finally grew up.”

“But Charlie Brown, I was always a monster. Remember when you were in that coma for two weeks because of my stupid football pranks?”

“Don’t worry Lucy. That’s behind us.”

“Sally and I tried our hardest to put together the best funeral and burial we could. Unfortunately, we didn’t have enough to purchase doves for tomorrow’s burial. Instead, we had to buy those weird-looking yellow birds.”

“Oh Lucy, it’s perfect. Just perfect.”

Charlie Brown then greeted his sister. He held her in his arms.

“I’m a terrible wife. I should have given him his space. He should have been free to have experienced other women, not stay with someone who was constantly trying to neck him since he was a child.”

“Sally, he didn’t want anybody else. You were meant for him. You gave him all the love you had. You were perfect. Linus was probably just too intelligent, and maybe his knowledge led him to realize something no one should have to realize.”

“Well, Linus did keep mentioning here and there a little about how meaningless life was and always questioned the reason for emotions. His therapist believes that Linus would always conclude his numerous existential crises that there is no purpose for life.”

“See? It was nothing you did. But I should have been there for him all these years.”

“No, don’t blame yourself Charlie. You were busy making a living and you succeeded in your pursuits. You have no idea how proud Linus was of you in your accomplishments in your career. By the why, did you bring your son?”

“No, his mother has full custody of him, and she wasn’t even willing to let me bring him here.”

“Oh what a shame. You know I always knew that woman was terrible for you. You should have at least tried to nab a date with Heather.”

“That was just a schoolboy crush. She was always out of my league. And then when she dropped out of high school, I knew there was no way of ever seeing her.”

Suddenly, Charlie Brown heard a voice behind him say, “Hey Chuck, is your wife making you hold her purse for her while she has another period? Or are you finally queer like me?”

Charlie Brown turned around and saw Peppermint Patty standing, with Marcy next to her. “I had no idea men could grow balder. You sure got lucky you didn’t end up with him, sir,” said Marcy.

“Good grief,” said Charlie Brown, “Did you two honestly think tank tops and sandals would be appropriate to wear to a funeral? Show some respect.”

“YOU show some respect, you patriarchal pig!” said Peppermint Patty. “You think you’re such a big shot since you left everybody to go to business school. You’re just a capitalist fascist now.”

“Why all the hate, Peppermint Patty? What’s wrong with you? What did I ever do to make you hate me?”

“What do you think, asshole? All those years of you teasing me and never making a move. What was wrong with YOU? Oh what, you were too depressed for me? You were always a buzzkill. Good god, it’s a mystery that you weren’t the one that ended up committing suicide, ya know that? You’re the reason I hate men. Thank god I eventually realized that my true love was always right beside me,” Peppermint Patty said as she put her arm around Marcy.

“Well then why are you being such a pissy bitch if you found love? Didn’t you hear that California finally legalized same-sex marriage?”

“WE DON’T EVEN LIVE IN CALIFORNIA, DOME HEAD!” And then the next thing Charlie Brown saw after Peppermint Patty’s fist was blackness.

He woke up, and saw a familiar face. It was a face that magically inserted live butterflies into his stomach.

“Are you okay?” the face said.

“It’s the little red head girl!” he exclaimed.

“Excuse me?”

“I mean -- I’m sorry -- Heather. It’s good to see you. What happened to Peppermint Patty?” Charlie Brown asked as Heather and Sally pulled him up by his hands. Sally walked and sat down to give her brother and Heather space to talk.

“She was escorted out,” said Heather, “but it was no trouble, because she said that she and Marcy had some protest to attend or something.”

Charlie Brown and Heather conversed for about fifteen minutes. They told each other of their lives and what they had done since high school. Charlie Brown had always been afraid of talking to her in elementary school because of his attraction to her, and in high school he managed to be friendly acquaintances with her, but that was as far as he ever got. Heather explained to Charlie Brown that an older boyfriend she had had gotten her into drugs and hedonistic celebrations. She dropped out of high school to run away from her life and travel cross-country with her boyfriend. She had become a free spirit only to end up on the gritty side of life. As the years went by, Heather had become pregnant, which put pressure on her boyfriend. Her boyfriend had been jailed because of a drunken rage that resulted in her miscarriage. She was alone now, living in an old apartment building in Chicago. Coincidentally, Chicago’s where Charlie Brown had been spending his adulthood.

“In all honesty, Charlie Brown, I had always wished you would have come up to me and asked me out.”

“I’m sorry, Heather. I always wanted to be there. But I never had faith in myself. All those years, I felt that the world was against me, and that my existence was nothing but a nuisance to others.”

“How do you feel about yourself now?”

“I feel… I feel good about myself. And I have to thank Linus. He was always encouraging me to have faith in myself and in the world. I wouldn’t be where I am now if it weren’t for all the advice he had been giving me since we were kids. He even gave me advice on how to approach you, but that was the one thing I never had faith in. It was beauty that I had always feared, and it was beauty that Linus had always celebrated.”

“Beauty?”

“Yes. It was my weakness. My weakness was you. But I’ve overcome that fear, and as I currently stare in the face of beauty at this very moment, I am a bit sad knowing that I had missed so many opportunities in my childhood to experience that joy that I had always dreamed about whenever I would see that beauty on the other side of that playground.”

Heather stood quiet, then stared into Charlie Brown’s eyes.

“Charlie Brown, for some reason, fate resulted in both of us living in the same city, and then brought us together to have this conversation right here in this chapel. I doubt that you’re dumb enough to miss the new opportunity that the universe has at last thrown at you.”

Charlie Brown then smiled. Heather smiled back. They sat down on a bench next to Lucy and Sally as Reverend Franklin gave his sermon. After the sermon, Pig Pen went up to the podium to give his short speech:

“Linus was a gift to us all. I remember the horrific time in my life when I became addicted to crystal meth. Everybody from my childhood grew up, and when I was on drugs, it sounded to me like they spoke nothing but loud incoherent noises. I was afraid that if I were grown up, perhaps my voice would also sound like some broken trombone. But Linus helped me overcome my fears, and convinced me to get help, and soon enough I was on my way to recovery. Today, I stand before you, clean and pure like Linus’ childhood innocence. We all remember how excited he would get on holidays. We all remember his crazy stories about the Great Pumpkin and the Easter Bunny.  And I know we all remember that time he told us all the meaning of Christmas, and then got us all to sing around that small tree. It was Linus who reminded us that all things in life including that tree deserve love. It was Linus to reminded us to have faith.”

At this point in the speech, Charlie Brown’s eyes filled with tears. Heather held on to his hand.

Pig Pen Continued:

“It is sad to see Linus gone from our lives, and for him, I wish that everyday was a holiday, but it was his wish for all of us to have faith in love. Happiness is love.”

After the speech, everybody at the funeral took their town to have their final moments with Linus’ body in his casket.

Charlie Brown stepped up to the coffin and took one last look at his childhood best friend. Linus lay there with his arms crossed on his chest. His face hadn’t changed a bit since Charlie Brown last saw him.  Charlie Brown shared his final words with Linus:

“Hey buddy. It’s been a long time. You know, I never got to thank you for what you did for me. All those years of you being by my side were the best moments of my life, no matter how much I complained about life. To tell you the truth, throughout my life, I never actually did discover the meaning of life, or the purpose of my existence. But instead, I discovered how precious all living things are, and how important it is to take chances. I would have never gotten where I am if I hadn’t taken chances, and I would have never seen how gorgeous the world can be hadn’t you been by best friend. I should have never left your side—“ He choked a little as he tried not to cry as he spoke. “What I discovered was how amazing life can be once you allow yourself to live it.”

Charlie Brown opened the satchel he had been carrying over his shoulder. He pulled out a small, light blue blanket. It was old, but still in good condition.

“I love you buddy. I hope you and Snoopy are having a great a time together,” Charlie Brown said as he tucked the blanket underneath Linus’ arms.

title: The Funeral of Linus van Pelt

question: Summarize all of Charlie Brown's thoughts about Snoopy.

answer: Whenever Charlie Brown sees Schroeder playing the organ, he imagines Snoopy dancing on it. Additionally, when Charlie Brown talks to Linus, he says "I hope you and Snoopy are having a great a time together," presumably in the afterlife.

question: Summarize everything to do with Heather.

answer: Sally mentions that Charlie Brown should have asked out Heather, the little red headed girl. Charlie and Heather talk for about 15 minutes after he wakes up from getting beat up by Peppermint Patty. They learn that they are both living in Chicago, and confess their feelings for one another. They then sit with one another the rest of the funeral.

question: Summarize Charlie Brown's interaction with Linus's body.

answer: Charlie Brown thanks Linus for being his friend, and for lessons he had taught him. He then says he regrets ever leaving him, and gives him back his blue blanket. He says he loves him, and hopes that he is having a good time with Snoopy.


text:
TRANQUILITY BAY was a residential treatment facility affiliated with World Wide Association of Specialty Programs and Schools (WWASPS), that operated from 1997 to early 2009.[1] It was located in Calabash Bay, Saint Elizabeth Parish, Jamaica.[2]

History

The director was Jay Kay, a college dropout with no training in child development who ran a mini-mart in San Diego,[3][4] and who is son of WWASPS president Ken Kay. The cost for one child ranged from $25,000 to $40,000 a year. Tranquility Bay was generally acknowledged as the toughest of the WWASPS schools.[5] As with other WWASPS facilities, Tranquility Bay has been the subject of much controversy, including allegations of torture, unsanitary living conditions, unqualified employees, and denial of medical care;[6] these claims have been the subject of multiple lawsuits from former Tranquility Bay residents.[7]

Tranquility Bay stated that it was dedicated to helping parents who are having difficulty with their children, whether they are doing drugs, breaking the law, or being disobedient or disrespectful. In 2003, Kay said “if I have kids, and they start giving me a problem, well, they are going straight in the program. If I had to, I'd pull the trigger without hesitation”;[8] however, in 1999, Kay (who at that time was not working for WWASPS) said that the Tranquility Bay staff were “untrained”, without “credentials of any kind”, and that Tranquility Bay “could be leading these kids to long-term problems that we don't have a clue about because we're not going about it in the proper way”.[9]

Children as young as 12 were admitted to Tranquility Bay, for reasons ranging from drug use to conflicts with a new stepmother.[10] From 2002 to 2005 the Government of the Cayman Islands sent some delinquent youth to Tranquility Bay; the government funded the students as they were located in Tranquility Bay.[11]

Tranquility Bay was shut down in January 2009,[12] after the case of Isaac Hersh gained national media and political attention and years of alleged abuse and torture came to light. Many politicians, including Hillary Clinton, were involved in Isaac's release.

In popular culture

The “Cassie” episode of the A&E program _Intervention_, first shown in January 2011, features a young woman addicted to prescription painkillers who had been sent to Tranquility Bay as a child and blamed her father for not rescuing her.[13] In the episode, Cassie alleged that her fellow residents consumed “chemicals” so they would be sent to the hospital and would be able to talk to their parents regarding the abuse they were enduring. However, she alleged that when they vomited in response to the poison, rather than being sent to a hospital, they were restrained by staff face down in their own vomit.

[1] Maia Szalavitz, Bad Economy Killing Abusive Teen Programs, The Huffington Post, January 30, 2009

[2] Home Page. Tranquility Bay. August 13, 2003. Retrieved on October 2, 2010. “Tranquility Bay, Calabash Bay P.A., St. Elizabeth, Jamaica 876-965-0003.”

[3] Decca Aitkenhead, “The Last Resort”, _The Observer Magazine_, 29 June 2003.

[4] “No More Nightmares at Tranquility Bay?”

[5]

[6] TBFight.com: Tranquility Bay & WWASP website

[7]

[8]

[9] Tim Weiner, [https://www.nytimes.com/2003/06/17/world/parents-divided-over-jamaica-disciplinary-academy.html?sec=&spon=&pagewanted=all Parents Divided Over Jamaica Disciplinary Academy], _The New York Times_, June 17, 2003.

[10]

[11] Pioro, Basia. “Controversy surrounds Tranquility Bay .” _Caymanian Compass_. Tuesday 13 July 2006. Retrieved on 9 August 2010.

[12]

[13]

title: Tranquility Bay

question: What does the article say aboutTranquility Bay?

answer: Tranquility Bay was a residential treatment facility affiliated with the World Wide Association of Specialty Programs and Schools which operated from 1997 to early 2009. It was located in Calabash Bay, Saint Elizabeth Parish, Jamaica. Tranquility Bay stated that it was dedicated to helping parents who are having difficulty with their children, whether they are doing drugs, breaking the law, or being disobedient or disrespectful. However, Tranquility Bay has been the subject of much controversy, including allegations of torture, unsanitary living conditions, unqualified employees, and denial of medical care. These claims have been the subject of multiple lawsuits from former Tranquility Bay residents. Tranquility Bay was shut down in January 2009, after the case of Isaac Hersh gained national media and political attention, and years of alleged abuse and torture came to light.

question: What does the article say about the number of users of Tranquility Bay?


text:
The CANADIAN BIRKEBEINER is the largest classic style cross-country ski event in Western Canada. Founded in 1985, it is one of three Birkebeiner Loppets held worldwide, the others being the Norwegian Birkebeinerrennet and the American Birkebeiner. The event is organised annually on the second Saturday of February by the Canadian Birkebeiner Society, with the help of about 500 volunteers. About 1000 skiers take part in the one-day event, which includes races from 2 km to 55 km. The three main races are the 55 km with 5.5 kg backpack, the 55 km light and the 31 km from Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village, via Elk Island National Park and finishing at Washkahegan Staging Area in Cooking Lake-Blackfoot Provincial Recreation Area, Alberta.

Origin

The Canadian Birkebeiner is named after the Norwegian Birkebeinerrennet, which commemorates an important historical event.[1] In 1206 a group of Birkebeiner loyalists, who fought for Sverre Sigurdsson and his descendants in the Norwegian civil war, smuggled Haakon IV, the widely regarded illegitimate son of Norway's King Håkon Sverresson, from Lillehammer to safety in Trondheim. As in the Norwegian Birkebeinerrennet, the skiers in the Canadian Birkebeiner carry a pack symbolising the weight of an 18-month-old child.[2]

History

On February 9th, 1985 the first Birkebeiner race was organised by the Canadian Birkebeiner Society.[3] In total 127 skiers participated in the cross-country marathon starting in Devon, Alberta and finishing at Fort Edmonton Park. The Canadian Birkebeiner continued to be held in this area until 1990,[4] when, because of recurring issues with the level of snow on the Devon - Fort Edmonton Park trail, the event moved permanently to Cooking Lake-Blackfoot Provincial Recreation Area.

In 1996 a study of heart rates of cross-country skiers was conducted during the race, and the results reported in the Journal of Human Movement Studies.[5]

In 1999 about 2500 people took part in the race;[6] more recently the event has attracted about 1000 skiers.[7]

While the race is organized every year, it has occasionally been cancelled because of inappropriate conditions; in 2016 there wasn't enough snow, and in 2019 the temperature was below -25C.[8]

Haakon Haakonson Award

Since 1990 skiers that have completed all three international Birkebeiner long distance cross-country ski races - Birkebeinerrennet in Norway, the American Birkebeiner and the Canadian Birkebeiner - receive the Haakon Haakonson Award.[9] The award is an initiative of the Canadian Birkebeiner Society to recognise the skier's dedication to the Birkebeiner races. In 2019 a total of 175 skiers received the award.

[1] _Olympic Review_. International Olympic Committee,.; 1988. p. 163.

[2] _Nature First: Outdoor Life the Friluftsliv Way_. Dundurn; 31 July 2007. . p. 190.

[3] _Parkinson Disease: A Health Policy Perspective_. John Wiley & Sons; 16 February 2010. . p. 121.

[4] John Peaker. _The Complete Guide to Cross Country Skiing in Canada_. Doubleday Canada, Limited; 1 January 1987. . p. 94.

[5] _Journal of Human Movement Studies_. Vol. 31. Teviot Scientific.; 1996. p. 161–163.

[6]

[7] “Favourable conditions draw around 1,000 to annual Birkebeiner”. _Edmonton Journal_, Hina Alam, February 11, 2018

[8] Birkebeiner Ski Festival forced to cancel 2019 event due to extreme cold. By Karen Bartko and Emily Mertz, _Global News_, February 5, 2019

[9] “Edmonton senior to ski Canadian Birkebeiner in preparation for 66-km skimarathon in Estonia”. Nick Lees, _Edmonton Journal_, January 22, 2017

title: Canadian Birkebeiner

question: What is the Canadian Birkebeiner?

answer: The largest classic style cross-country ski event in Western Canada, one of three global Birkebeiner Loppets.

question: Where is the Canadian Birkebeiner?

answer: Alberta. The races take place from the Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village, via Elk Island National Park, to the Washkahegan Staging Area in Cooking Lake-Blackfoot Provincial Recreation Area.

question: How long is the Canadian Birkebeiner?

answer: It is a one-day event that involves races of up to 55 kilometers.

question: Summarize everything relating to the Devon-Fort Edmonton Park trail.

answer: The cross-country marathon trail started at Devon and finished at Fort Edmonton Park from 1985 to 1990, when the event had to be moved due to recurring issues with the level of snow.

question: List the names of 2 people mentioned.

answer: Sverre Sigurdsson, Haakon IV.

question: Who organizes the Canadian Birkebeiner?

answer: The Canadian Birkebeiner Society, with the help of about 500 volunteers.

question: Why do skiers carry a bag in one of the main races?

answer: The 5.5kg bag/pack symbolizes the weight of an 18-month-old child; smuggling the illegitimate son of a Norwegian king to safety is the historical event celebrated by the races.

question: Write a ~2 sentence summary.

answer: The Canadian Birkebeiner is the largest classic-style cross-country ski event in Western Canada, held on Alberta by the Canadian Birkebeiner Society. The one-day event consists of three main races and celebrates the smuggling of an illegitimate son of a Norwegian king to safety in the thirteenth century.


text:
-   [Home]
-   Forum
-   The Ubuntu Forum Community
-   Ubuntu Specialised Support
-   Ubuntu Development Version
-    MODSIGN: Couldn't get UEFI db list

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

1.

    MODSIGN: Couldn't get UEFI db list

      Hi,
      I have installed Ubuntu and everything works as far as I can see, but I did get a error messages when I did reboot.
      And I can find this in the log files.

      Couldn't get size: 0x800000000000000e
      MODSIGN: Couldn't get UEFI db list
      Couldn't get size: 0x800000000000000e

      I have a Lenovo Thinkpad T470s and I have disabled Secure boot in BIOS and I'm running UEFI only at the settings so "old" BIOS don't work, but I do have the Intel SGX on Software Controlled but I don't know if it's because of that?

      Does someone know how to solve the issue?

      VISIT NOHATECH TO READ GUIDES AND NEWS REGARDING SERVER SOFTWARES LIKE NGINX, SSMTP, SEAFILE, WORDPRESS, SERVER AND NETWORK SECURITY, CALIBRATION, MARIADB AND MUCH MORE.
      VISIT HTTPS://NOHATECH.SE FOR MORE INFORMATION.

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

2.

    Re: MODSIGN: Couldn't get UEFI db list

      Can you tell us which Ubuntu version you installed?

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

3.

    Re: MODSIGN: Couldn't get UEFI db list

      Hi,
      I did install Ubuntu 18.04.

      It do looks like that this error message is appearing when I reboot the computer I can see it appear in the log files.

      VISIT NOHATECH TO READ GUIDES AND NEWS REGARDING SERVER SOFTWARES LIKE NGINX, SSMTP, SEAFILE, WORDPRESS, SERVER AND NETWORK SECURITY, CALIBRATION, MARIADB AND MUCH MORE.
      VISIT HTTPS://NOHATECH.SE FOR MORE INFORMATION.

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

4.

    Re: MODSIGN: Couldn't get UEFI db list

      [Quote] Originally Posted by CALBY [View Post]

      I did install Ubuntu 18.04.

      So moved to _Ubuntu Development Version_

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

5.

    Re: MODSIGN: Couldn't get UEFI db list

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

6.

    Re: MODSIGN: Couldn't get UEFI db list

      I am running Ubuntu Xenial 16.04.3 LTS with HWE. I began getting similar errors only after upgrading to kernel 4.13.0-26-generic.

      kernel: [ 0.982630] Couldn't get size: 0x800000000000000e
      kernel: [ 0.982929] MODSIGN: Couldn't get UEFI db list
      kernel: [ 0.986380] Couldn't get size: 0x800000000000000e

      The errors seem to be related to an attempt to import UEFI keys for Secure Boot.
      I do not have Secure Boot enabled in my BIOS but do only boot in UEFI.
      I have a SuperMicro board with American Megatrends BIOS Version 2.2
      I was able to stop the errors simply by changing a setting in the BIOS from [Customized] to [Standard] for Secure Boot Mode.
      The Customized setting allows you to modify the secure boot keys manually. The Standard just sets the default keys.
      Note: This fixed my error even though I previously had Secure Boot [Disabled] in BIOS settings.

      Security -> Secure Boot -> Secure Boot Mode -> [Standard]

      Hope this can possibly help others.

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

7.

    Re: MODSIGN: Couldn't get UEFI db list

      Steve!!! You're a lifesaver. This worked.

      Nice Job []

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

8.

    Re: MODSIGN: Couldn't get UEFI db list

      In my case the problem dissapired after I unplugged DVD-RW drive.

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

9.

    Re: MODSIGN: Couldn't get UEFI db list

      I'm having the same problem, but the hardware is a Mac Mini.
      The bootable thumb drive (created in Ubuntu 16.04) works on one Mac Mini (newer) but not on another (older, cannot be upgraded to latest macOS - so I want to put Ubuntu on it. I've done this for an older MacBook Air).
      That I know of, there's no way to access the boot rom.

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

10.

    Re: MODSIGN: Couldn't get UEFI db list

      I have discovered on my newly-set-up multiboot system that if I install grub from one Linux but then I boot to a second Linux in the menu list, I get the error message shown at the grub splash screen. (However, Linux boots for me despite the error.) The error is not there if I boot into the Linux from which I installed grub!

      I confirmed this: I re-installed grub from the second Linux. Now the second Linux boots without the error, but the first Linux boots with the error.
      So I could make make the error go away by reinstalling grub from the Linux that will boot first in the list by default.

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

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question: What is the specific Ubuntu problem being talked about in the forum?

answer: The author is getting an error message after rebooting a recently installed Ubuntu system.

question: What might have happened if the OP installed an older version of Ubuntu and not 18.04?

answer: The OP probably wouldn't have run into the problem if he installed an older Ubuntu version.

question: Name one solution that fixed the reboot error issue.

answer: Changing the BIOS setting for Secure Boot Mode from [Customized] to [Standard] seemed to fix the error for one user.