text:
LILY LAU LEE LEE (; born ) is a Hong Kong cartoonist. She has been described as “the first self-proclaimed feminist _manhua_ artist in Hong Kong”.[1]

Personal life

Lily Lau Lee Lee was born on .[2] Lau said “As a Chinese woman, and the youngest girl in my family, I was told that there were many limitations on what I could achieve. My parents did not have very high expectations and told me that I did not have to work very hard...I was told by my teacher that I should pursue my studies in the arts, but I did not have the resources to do so....It took me nearly 20 years to recognise my own abilities.”[3] Lau graduated with a degree in Graphic Design at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University in 1990.[4] Lau also graduated with a master's degree from the University of Leeds.[5]

Career

She became involved in activist causes, including becoming a chairperson of Hong Kong's Association for the Advancement of Feminism, which spoke out about sexist imagery in television advertisements[6][7] and hosted a mock awards night for the most sexist ads.[8] She turned from feminist essays to cartoons when asked by an academic to produce cartoons for a gender and sexuality journal.[9] Lau said “People in Hong Kong don't like reading more than 1,000 words. So if you want them to see your work, you do comics.”[10]

In 1998, Lau began drawing the comic strip _Lily's Comix,_ which appeared initially in _Hong Kong Film Weekly_ and later in mainstream newspapers like in the _Hong Kong Economic Journal_, _The Sun_, and _Apple Daily_. The strip was controversial and noted for its “graphic nudity and sexual frankness”.[11] She went on to draw other strips for newspapers, including _Beginning of the End_ in Hong Kong and _St. John's Warts_ in Taiwan.[12]

In 1998, she also publisher her first book of comics, 媽媽的抽屜在最低 - 性,性别,性别政治 (_Mom’s Drawer At the Bottom - Sex, Gender, Gender Politics_).[13] It quickly sold most of its initial 1000 copy print run and was later published in a bilingual Chinese-English version.[14] Lau directly labels her work as feminist and Wendy Siuyi Wong and Lisa Cuklan note that “Lau deliberately engages gender politics and ideology, often by using simple observation rather than polemical argument.”[15]

She has also published _This Is How Stars Should Really Be_ (1999), an anti-racist Chinese and English language comic book,[16] and _The Beginning of the End_ (2001). In 2001, she contributed the title story to the international comics collection _Letter to a Dead Friend,_[17] a product of an art exhibition at the 2000 Fumetto International Comics Festival.[18]

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[14] Wong, Wendy, & Lisa Cuklanz. (2001). “Humor and Gender Politics: A Textual Analysis of the First Feminist Comic in Hong Kong.” In Matthew P. McAllister, Edward Sewall, and Ian Gordon (Eds.), _Comics and Ideology_ (pp. 69–98). New York: Peter Lang Publishing.

[15] Wong, Wendy Siuyi, & Lisa Cuklanz. (2002). “Critiques of Gender Ideology in Hong Kong Comic Arts, 1966-1999.” _Journal of Gender Studies_, Vol. 11(3): 253-266.

[16]

[17]

[18]

title: Lily Lau Lee Lee

question: What has Lau studied?

answer: Lau has a degree in Graphic Design from the Hong Kong Polytechnic University and also has a master's degree from the University of Leeds.

question: What causes has Lau stood for?

answer: Lau mainly stood for feminism.

question: Where was Lily's Comix published?

answer: Lily's Comix was first published in Hong Kong Film Weekly and later appeared in newspapers like the Hong Kong Economic Journal, The Sun and Apple Daily.

question: Which books has Lau published?

answer: Lau has published - Mom's Drawer At the Bottom, This Is How Stars Should Really Be, and The Beginning of the End.

question: Write a ~6 sentence summary.

answer:
Lily Lau Lee Lee is a Chinese comic writer. Lau has a degree in Graphic Design from the Hong Kong Polytechnic University. She is the chairperson of Hong Kong's Association for the Advancement of Feminism.

Lau also publishes comic strips called Lily's Comix in newspapers. The strip has been controversial for its "graphic nudity and sexual frankness."

The comic creator has also published a few books; Mom's Drawer At the Bottom is one of them.


split: test

text:
SUSAN HALE (December 5, 1833 – September 17, 1910) was an American author, traveler and artist. She devoted herself entirely to the art of painting in watercolors which she studied under English, French and German masters. Hale traveled extensively, sketching and visiting the galleries of the world. She was associated with her brother, the Rev. Edward Everett Hale, in the publication of _The Family Flight_ series, which included the several countries she had visited. She also exhibited her pictures of the White Mountains in New Hampshire, of North Carolina scenery and of foreign scenes, in New York City and Boston. She edited _Life and Letters of Thomas Gold Appleton_ (1885), and contributed numerous articles to periodicals.

Early life and education

She was born in Boston, Massachusetts to Nathan Hale and Sarah Preston Everett who had a total of eleven children. Susan's father, Nathan Hale, nephew and namesake of the patriot hero, was a lawyer and editor/owner of the _Boston Daily Advertiser_ while her mother, also an author, was a sister of Edward Everett, a Unitarian minister and politician. Growing up, Susan was mostly the companion of her older sister Lucretia.[1]

She was educated privately by tutors until she was 16,[2] and then entered the school of George Barrell Emerson. Without any particular teaching, she learned to draw and to paint early in life.[3]

Career

For many years, she was a successful teacher in Boston. She started on this occupation when her father became ill and the family income needed to be supplemented. In 1860, she moved to Brookline with her family. Her father died there in 1862 and her mother in 1865. When the family situation broke up in 1867, Susan and her sister Lucretia went abroad to stay with their brother Charles who was consul general of the United States in Egypt. On returning from abroad, Susan took rooms at 91 Boylston Street in Boston and continued her teaching.[4]

In 1872, she decided she wanted to get the best training in watercolor she could, and went abroad again and studied art in Paris, France, and Weimar, Germany, for nearly a year. When she returned in 1873, she began giving lessons in watercolors. She lived and maintained a studio in the Art Club at 64 Boylston Street. Later, she began holding meetings where she read or talked to people.[5] [Susan and brother, Edward Everett Hale (l-r)] In 1885, she began to keep house at the summer home of her brother, Edward, in Matunuck, Rhode Island, which she called home until her death in 1910. Her brother and his wife had gone abroad to look after their sick daughter. Susan eventually moved most of her things to Matunuck, and began to spend time there regularly during summers. During winters, she traveled. In earlier years, she had spent winters working in Boston and traveled in the summer, sometimes accompanying well-known friends such as Thomas Gold Appleton and Frederic Edwin Church.[6] She continued visiting Boston between her travels abroad and her stays at Matunuck.[7] Her watercolors were mostly landscapes done during her travels; she also described her travels in vivid detail in letters to her sister, Lucretia.[8]

Hale died at her summer home in Matunuck, in 1910.[9]

Selected works

[_The Story of Mexico_ (1889)]

-   _A Family Flight through France, Germany, Norway and Switzerland._ 1881 (with Edward Everett Hale)
-   _A Family Flight over Egypt and Syria._ 1882 (with Edward Everett Hale)
-   _A Family Flight through Spain._ 1883
-   _Self-Instructive Lessons in Painting with Oil and Water-Colors on Silk, Satin, Velvet, and Other Fabrics Including Lustra Painting and the Use of Other Mediums._ 1885
-   _Men and Manners of the Eighteenth Century._ 1898
-   _Addison and Gay._ 1898
-   _Young Americans in Spain._ 1899
-   _Letters of Susan Hale._ 1919
-   _Nonsense Book; A Collection of Limericks._ 1919
-   _Inklings for Thinklings._ 1919

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[9]

title: Susan Hale

question: What happened to Susan's family during the 1860s?

answer: She was a schoolteacher to supplement her family's income when her father became ill. When her father died in 1862 and her mother in 1865 she moved with her sister Lucretia abroad to Egypt where their brother Charles was consul general. After this she returned to Boston and continued her teaching.


text:
_KIDS ON Q_ is a Philippine television children's show broadcast by Q. Hosted by Tonipet Gaba, it premiered on April 28, 2007. The show concluded on January 30, 2010 with a total of 135 episodes.

Overview

The show features 3-5 minute AVs (Audio and Video) on the latest news, issues, and concerns of children and their parents. The program aims to be an entertaining yet informative aid to answering the many questions a child has about his world. It is anchored by Tonipet Gaba, who also hosts Art Angel on GMA Network and Tara Lets Eat segment of The Beat (formerly Sapulso).

Reporters

Originally includes ten (10) talented and witty on-cam talents called Q reporters. For each episode, five (5) Q reporters rotate on reporting various segments and bumpers. Each Q reporter has his own 'specialty' story (food, fashion, culture, sports, behind the scenes of events and shows, adventure, etc.), but are not limited on tackling other topics.

-   Renford Alano
-   Aria Cariño
-   Isabella Dayto
-   Mikee de Vega
-   Caleb Gotico
-   Ella Guevara
-   Eugene Herrera
-   Nikki Liu
-   Sam Turingan

Graduated Q Reporter

-   David Hubalde
-   Romina de Jesus

Kids on Q Super Squad

On March 28, 2009, _KIDS ON Q_ reintroduced their _Q REPORTERS_ as the _SUPER SQUAD_. KUYA TONIPET acts as the _SQUAD LEADER_, and gives out their “missions” at the beginning of the show. The kids are given their own characters, moniker and costume which are related to their missions.

-   Renford Alano _“Taste Buddy Renford”_
-   Aria Cariño _“Resident Foodie Aria”_
-   Ish Dayto _“Eco-Ish”_
-   Mikee de Vega _“Smarty Mikee”_
-   Caleb Gotico _“Cool Caleb”_
-   Ella Guevara _“Cheer-fella Ella”_
-   Eugene Herrera _“Eugene the Dream”_
-   Nikki Liu _“Nifty Nikki”_
-   Sam Turingan _“Jammin' Sam”_

History

With the growing demand of new and quality station-produced programs on Q, its public affairs department launched _KIDS ON Q_. Its format is similar with its predecessors 5 and Up and Chikiting Patrol, but aims to feature a more complex and wider range of topics.

In early 2007, auditions were held at some selected schools in the metro and at the GMA Network Center for its line-up of kid correspondents. Those who passed the preliminary auditions were then exposed on-cam and trained through Q Channel 11's reality job search program “May Trabaho Ka!” (now called “Hired”). Nine hopefuls were chosen (_Renford, Aria, Ish, Romina, Mikee, Caleb, David, Nikki and Sam_) from the said reality show. StarStruck Kids finalist Ella Guevara who also auditioned as _KIDS ON Q_ reporter was also chosen. Together they compose the original line-up of _Q REPORTERS_. TONIPET GABA, more popularly known as KUYA TONIPET was assigned as the show's anchor, whose task is to give the introduction to the kid's reports.

On April 28, 2007, _KIDS ON Q_'s pilot episode aired. Originally, the show consists of six to seven main segments and three bumper segments. Six _Q REPORTERS_ rotate each week to deliver various stories ranging from food, fashion, sports, culture, animals, behind the scenes of events and concerts, and anything about kids. Three out of the six reporters will then have additional bumper reports or mini segments usually featuring additional information _(WORD FOR THE DAY, KIDSTORY, SPECIAL Q REPORT, KIDSPEAK, FUN SCIENCE, MATH MADE EASY, INSIDE OUT, ETC.)_. During the show's continuous evolution, it trimmed down its segments from six to five, and bumpers from the original three to only one or two (mostly Special Q Reports, Paid Advertisements, and additional Brain Teasers trivia) depending on the occasion.

Also _Q REPORTERS_ are now assigned to a specific 'specialty' story, and usually has an attached moniker or gimmick that matches his/her personality. For example, RENFORD is now known as _“THE TASTE BUDDY”_ and is assigned mostly on food segments, while ROMINA is the _“RESIDENT FASHIONISTA”_, and usually reports about kiddie fashion. Although they have 'specialty' stories, they are not limited to it and can still report on different topics depending on the situation. Also, tandems are added on the show. NIKKI and CALEB are the only regular tandems on the show (but occasionally both can still report alone), but depending on situations, they could be paired with other reporters, or other reporters can become tandems. Another modification on the show includes two or more _Q REPORTER_ appearing on one segment. This is common during their out-of-town shoots and specials like in Subic, Bataan, Baguio, Ilocos Sur, Pulilan and Zambales.

Another notable change in the show is its medium. In the early months of the show, it was delivered mostly in Filipino with a little English. But because Q-11's target audience is the Class A and B viewers, it moderately incorporated more English with the kid's reports. In early 2008, during the station's reformat to a more “Class A-B” look, _KIDS ON Q_'s medium officially shifted. Tonipet's headlines and introductions and the whole Q reporter's segments are now delivered almost completely in English, with a little Filipino only on some of the kid's soundbytes and unavoidable local terms.

In summer of 2008, DAVID bid farewell to the show, and another set of auditions were held at the GMA Network Center. This coincided with the show's first anniversary and as preparation for its relaunch. Unlike the first set of auditions, it was only exclusive for boys 7 – 12 years old to fill David's slot. In the second leg of the _KIDS ON Q SUNDAY FUNDAY YEAR 2_ in SM Sucat, the newest Q Reporter was introduced to the staff, crew and those who were luckily present during the said event. It was none other than EUGENE HERRERA who passed the auditions. Despite EUGENE'S prior public appearance on the second (SM Sucat) and fourth (Eastwood)_SUNDAY FUNDAY_, his debut appearance on the show was set on the relaunch episode of _KOQ!_.

With a new reporter and a lot of changes during its first year, _KIDS ON Q_ needed a new look and Opening Billboard (OBB) for its scheduled relaunch and upcoming second year. The OBB shoot was set on June 4, 2008 in the theme park Enchanted Kingdom . All ten _Q REPORTERS_ were present during the shoot. _KOQ!_ team leader KUYA TONIPET also directed the new OBB. It first aired on _KIDS ON Q'S_ Relaunch on June 21, 2008.

In January 2009, the show trimmed its segments from six (6) to only four (4), with additional shorties or bumpers to complete an episode.

On the February 28, 2009 episode of _KIDS ON Q_, the show’s _Resident Fashionista_, ROMINA graduated as a _Q REPORTER_. This left the show with only nine (9) _Q REPORTERS_.

Meanwhile, on March 28 the same year, the show had its 2nd relaunch, reintroducing the remaining _Q REPORTERS_ as the _KIDS ON Q SUPER SQUAD_. The _SQUAD MEMBERS_ are now assigned with different characters, moniker and costume which are related to the missions assigned to them (although this is not always the case, they can still do other stories not related to their characters). No less than KUYA TONIPET serves as the _SQUAD LEADER_ and gives out the missions to the _SQUAD MEMBERS_. As part of the reformat, they also introduced a new character, WEBBIE, the resident cyber guide. The character is voiced by _SQUAD MEMBER_ EUGENE and has his own bumper segment called _WEBBIE’S WORLD_.

_KIDS ON Q_ bid farewell last January 30, 2010 with a special feature on Quezon province and a farewell segment at the end of the episode, which featured the _KIDS ON Q SUPER SQUAD_'s experiences and memories on the show. The show ran for 2 years and 9 months.

Accolades

Anak TV Seal Award

-   2008 Awardee
-   2009 Awarde

PMPC Star Awards for Television

-   2007-2009 Nominated, Best Children's Show & Hosts

Taiwan International Children's Film Festival

-   2008 Nominated, Best TV Program

US International Film and Video Festival

-   2008 Winner, Certificate

Catholic Mass Media Awards

-   2008 Winner, Best Children's Program
-   2009 Winner, Best Children's Program

MTRCB TV Awards

-   2009 Nominated, Best Children's Show

Category:2007 Philippine television series debuts Category:2010 Philippine television series endings Category:Filipino-language television shows Category:GMA News and Public Affairs shows Category:Philippine children's television series Category:Q (TV network) original programming

title: Kids on Q

question: What does the article say about departures?

answer: In summer of 2008, David bid farewell to the show. Romina, the show's resident Fashionista, graduated in 2009.

question: What does the article say about the 1990s?


text:
[imac-assembled-usa]_iFixit_

From iFixit’s ritual iMac dismemberment yesterday, we learn that the particular 21.5-inch iMac they bought says it was “Assembled in USA”. The moniker isn’t new—we’ve seen it since at least a few iMac models back _on the packaging_. But as far as we can tell, “Assembled in USA” wasn’t etched in the actual machine’s aluminum, leading people to believe that the iMacs that were shipped were “refurbished in the USA”. However, this forum shows that some were actually assembled and sold new with the “Assembled in USA” label (below—27-inch iMac, previous gen).

[iMac_label]

Regardless of previous endeavors, Apple is shipping new iMacs “Assembled in USA”.  PED at Fortune found one. Jay Yarrow at BI found one, too. This isn’t an isolated incident. We also heard that other new iMacs say “Assembled in China”, as you’d expect.

Still, it makes for an interesting question:  Is Apple building some of its iMacs in the United States? Is that percentage growing since it seems much of the first line of iMacs are coming with USA labels?

The “Assembled in USA” label doesn’t just mean that foreign parts screwed together in the U.S. either. The U.S. Federal Trade Commission assumes that a “substantial transformation” must happen in the U.S. for the label to be used.

Specifically, the FTC states that the label “Assembled in the USA” should be the following:

  A product that includes foreign components may be called “Assembled in USA” without qualification when its principal assembly takes place in the U.S. and the assembly is substantial. For the “assembly” claim to be valid, the product’s last “substantial transformation” also should have occurred in the U.S. That’s why a “screwdriver” assembly in the U.S. of foreign components into a final product at the end of the manufacturing process doesn’t usually qualify for the “Assembled in USA” claim.

  EXAMPLE: A lawn mower, composed of all domestic parts except for the cable sheathing, flywheel, wheel rims and air filter (15 to 20 percent foreign content) is assembled in the U.S. An “Assembled in USA” claim is appropriate.

Here’s where it gets more interesting. The FTC gives the specific example of a computer manufacture:

  EXAMPLE: ALL THE MAJOR COMPONENTS OF A COMPUTER, INCLUDING THE MOTHERBOARD AND HARD DRIVE, ARE IMPORTED. THE COMPUTER’S COMPONENTS THEN ARE PUT TOGETHER IN A SIMPLE “SCREWDRIVER” OPERATION IN THE U.S., ARE NOT SUBSTANTIALLY TRANSFORMED UNDER THE CUSTOMS STANDARD, AND MUST BE MARKED WITH A FOREIGN COUNTRY OF ORIGIN. AN “ASSEMBLED IN U.S.” CLAIM WITHOUT FURTHER QUALIFICATION IS DECEPTIVE.

That means one of two things: Either Apple or its contractors have some sort of significant manufacturing operations in the U.S., or it is being deceptive in its marketing (something that sadly, isn’t out of character)…

Apple, up until 2004, manufactured some of its Macs in its Elk Grove plant, and then current CEO Tim Cook moved all operations to China (with some in-house work being done in Cork, Ireland). Interestingly, Elk Grove has seen a hiring spike over the last year, with its headcount increasing by over 50 percent. However, none of the job positions we found were in manufacturing—at least those officially listed as being for Apple, Inc.

[Screen Shot 2012-12-02 at 10.37.09 AM].

Apple alsoramped up its Austin campus, near where Samsung manufactures its A5/6/X processors, but it is unlikely that it has begun manufacturing there.

Apple’s latest 10K filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission reads:

  As of September 29, 2012, the Company owned a manufacturing facility in Cork, Ireland that also housed a customer support call center and facilities in Elk Grove, California that included warehousing and distribution operations and a customer support call center. The Company also owned land in Austin, Texas where it will build office space and a customer support call center. In addition, the Company owned facilities for research and development and corporate functions in Cupertino, California, including land for the future development of the Company’s second corporate campus. The Company also owned data centers in Newark, California; Maiden, North Carolina; and Prineville, Oregon. Outside the U.S., the Company owned additional facilities for various purposes.

Perhaps Apple is still outsourcing the manufacture to Foxconn and others, but it is actually assembling the products in a U.S. plant? To the surprise of some, Foxconn has a few locations in the U.S., but it isn’t known if they are actually making anything here.

[tweet https://twitter.com/llsethj/status/266875878364024832]

Another theory: Perhaps Apple makes a limited run of iMacs in the U.S. (maybe even in Cupertino) to get the manufacturing kinks worked out before it ramps up full production in China? If that were the case, it would be surprising to see those products go into the retail sales channel and labeled as ‘new’.

We hit up Apple and the FTC for a comment, but we’d love to hear your take in the comments below.

Updated: A French reader sent us his iMac that is labeled “Assembled in Ireland”.

[Ireland]

[]

_FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links._ More.

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

Check out 9to5Mac on YouTube for more Apple news:

question: What does the FTC say regarding the label "Assembled in the USA"?

answer: According to the FTC, "assembled in the USA" means that a product's principal assembly takes place in the U.S. and the assembly is substantial. For the "assembly" claim to be valid, the product's last "substantial transformation" should have occurred in the U.S.

question: What happened on September 29, 2012?

answer: On September 29, 2012, Apple stated that it Cork, Ireland that also housed a customer support call center and facilities in Elk Grove, California that included warehousing and distribution operations and a customer support call center. They owned land in Austin, Texas where it will build office and a customers support call center. In addition, they owned facilities for research and development and corporate functions in Cupertino, California, including land for the future development of the Company's second corporate campus.


text:
The West Coast Armory Indoor Range/Bellevue Gun Club has a large aresenal of modern firearms for members to rent and try out on the range. The list below does not guarnatee that every specified firearm will be avialable for rent, as firearms do go out for routine cleaning and maintenance.  Only ammunition purchased at West Coast Armory or Bellevue Gun Club may be shot through our rentals.

Bronze members may only rent pistol caliber firearms and must have another person or their own firearm with them.

.22 LR

RUGER

Ruger SR-22

Ruger Mk. IV

Ruger Mk. IV 22/45 Lite

Ruger Mk. IV 22/45 (bull barrel)

Ruger Bearcat

Ruger SP101

Ruger LCR

Ruger Rimfire American

Ruger 10/22

SMITH & WESSON

S&W M&P22C

S&W Model 617 (4" barrel)

S&W Model 617 (6" barrel)

S&W Model 317

S&W M&P15-22

S&W Victory _ _

OTHER

Sig Sauer P938 with factory .22LR conversion

Browining Buckmark Camper

Walther P22

5.7X28 FN

FNH Five-Seven

FNH PS90

.380 ACP

Taurus TCP

S&W Bodyguard 380

Ruger LCP

Ruger LC380

Sig P238

Glock Model 42

Browning Black Label .380 1911

Springfield 911

.38 SPECIAL

S&W Model 442

S&W Model 642 - 1

S&W NIdek 637 - 2

S&W Bodyguard

Ruger LCRX 3"

.357 MAGNUM

Ruger LCR

Ruger GP100 (4" barrel)

Ruger GP100 Match Champion

Ruger SP-101

S&W 686-6 (6" barrel)

.45 COLT/.410-BORE SHOTSHELL

S&W Governor

Ruger Vaquero

.44 MAGNUM

Magnum Research Desert Eagle

S&W Model 629 (stainless, 7" barrel)

Taurus Raging Bull

9X19MM NATO

GLOCK

Glock 43

Glock 26 (Gen. 5)

Glock 26 (Gen. 4)

Glock 19 (Gen. 5)

Glock 19 (Gen. 4)

Glock 19X

Glock 17 (Gen. 5)

Glock 17 (Gen. 4)

Glock Model 34 (Gen. 5)

Glock Model 34 (Gen. 4)

SMITH & WESSON

S&W M&P9 M2.0 Shield

S&W M&P9 M2.0 Compact

S&W M&P9 Compact

S&W M&P9 Full-Size M2.0

S&W M&P9 C.O.R.E.

S&W M&P9 Pro Series (5" barrel)

S&W SD9 VE

SPRINGFIELD ARMORY

Springfield Armory XD-9 Mod 2 Grip Zone Sub-Compact (3" barrel)

Springfield Armory XD-9 Mod 2 Service (4" barrel)

Springfield Armory XD-9 Mod 2 Tactical (5" barrel)

Springfield Armory XDs-9 (3" barrel)

Springfield Armory XDm-9 Compact (3.8" barrel)

Springfield Armory XDm-9 Full-Size (3.8" barrel)

Springfield Armory XDm-9 Full-Size (4.5" barrel)

Springfield Armory XDm-9 Competition (5.25" barrel)

Springfield Armory Range Officer 5" 1911 (9mm)

Springfield Armory EMP

HECKLER AND KOCH

H&K P30

H&K P30S (w/manual safety)

H&K P30S V3

H&K P30SK

H&K VP9

WALTHER

Walther Creed

Walther PPS M2

Walther PPQ M2

SIG SAUER

Sig Sauer P239

Sig Sauer P229

Sig Sauer P226

Sig Sauer M11-A1

Sig Sauer P320 Full Size

Sig Sauer P320 RX full size with Romeo red dot sight

Sig Sauer P320 Carry

Sig Sauer MPX pistol with Trijicon reflex red dot sight

Sig Sauer P365

RUGER

Ruger LC9S

Ruger SR9c (blued)

Ruger SR9 (blued)

BERETTA

Beretta Px4 Storm Sub-Compact

Beretta Px4 Storm Compact

Beretta Px4 Storm Full-Size

Beretta Model 92FS

Beretta 92A1

Beretta Cx4 Storm carbine (92FS model)

FNH USA

FNH FNX-9

FNH FNS-9

FNH FNS-9C

KAHR ARMS

Kahr Arms PM9

Karh Arms P9

TAURUS

Taurus CT-9 G2 carbine

COLT

Colt AR-15 9mm Carbine

DIAMOND BACK

DB9R Carbine

MKE/ATI

AT-94 A2 (MP5 clone)

.357 SIG

Glock 31 (Gen. 4)

.40 S&W

GLOCK

Glock 27 (Gen. 4)

Glock 23 (Gen. 3)

Glock 23 (Gen. 4)

Glock 22 (Gen. 4)

Glock 35 (Gen. 4)

SMITH & WESSON

S&W M&P40 Shield Performance Center (ported)

S&W M&P40 Compact

S&W M&P40 Full-Size

S&W M&P40 Pro Series (5" barrel)

S&W M&P40 M2.0 Long Slide (5" barrel)

SPRINGFIELD ARMORY

Springfield Armory XD-40 MOD2 Sub-Compact (3" barrel)

Springfield Armory XD-40 MOD2 Service (4" barrel)

Springfield Armory XD-40 Tactical (5" barrel)

Springfield Armory XDm-40 Compact (3.8" barrel)

Springfield Armory XDm-40 Full-Size (4.5" barrel)

BERETTA

Beretta Px4 Storm Compact

Beretta Px4 Storm Full-Size

FNH USA

FNH FNX-40

FNH FNS-40

SIG SAUER

Sig Sauer P229

RUGER

Ruger SR40

Ruger SR40c

HECKLER AND KOCH

H&K P30S (w/manual safety)

KAHR ARMS

Kahr Arms P40

10MM AUTO

Glock 20 (Gen. 4)

.45 ACP

GLOCK

Glock 21 (Gen. 4)

Glock 21 SF

Glock 30 SF

Glock 30S

Glock 41 (Gen. 4)

SMITH & WESSON

S&W M&P45 M2.0 Full-Size

S&W M&P45 Compact

S&W M&P45 M2.0 Shield

SPRINGFIELD ARMORY

Springfield Armory XDs-45 (3.3" barrel)

Springfield Armory XD-45 MOD 2 Tactical Long Slide (5" barrel)

Springfield Armory XD-45 MOD 2 Service (4" barrel)

Springfield Armory XDm-45 Compact (3.8" barrel)

Springfield Armory XDm-45 Full-Size (4.5" barrel)

Springfield Armory Mil-Spec 1911

Springfield Armory Lightweight Operator 1911

Springfield Armory Range Officer 1911

Springfield Armory Champion Operator 1911

HECKLER & KOCH

H&K HK45

H&K HK45CT

FNH USA

FNH FNX-45

BERETTA

Beretta Px4 Storm Full-Size

SIG SAUER

Sig Sauer P220

Sig Sauer P227

RUGER

Ruger SR1911 Government Model (5" barrel)

Ruger SR1911 Commander (4"barrel)

WALTHER

PPQ M2

5.56X45MM

Sig Sauer 551-A1

FNH SCAR-16 with EoTech XPS-2 holographic sight

Daniel Defense DDM4v7

Daniel Defense DDM4v11 with Trijicon TA-11 3.5x ACOG magnified optic

Smith & Wesson M&P15 Sport

Springfield Armory Saint Carbine

7.62X39MM SOVIET

-Century Arms WASR-10 63

12-GUAGE

Remington Model 870 Tactical

Mossberg Model 590

* Some rentals may not be available upon your visit due to maintenance.

question: What does the text say about .22 LR?

answer: Members of the West Coast Armory Indoor Range/Bellevue Gun Club can choose from a variety of firearms for rent. The .22 LR is just one of the guns on the list.

question: What does the text say about the gun law in the United States?


text:
The 14TH STREET LINE, designated ROUTES 52, 54, is a daily bus route operated by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority between Takoma station of the Red Line of the Washington Metro and L'Enfant Plaza station (52) of the Blue, Yellow, Orange, Green, and Silver lines of the Washington Metro or Metro Center station (54) of the Red, Blue, Orange, and Silver Lines of the Washington Metro. The line operates every 12 minutes during weekday peak hours, 16 minutes during the weekday midday, and 20-30 minutes at all other times. Trips roughly take 40-60 minutes to complete. Select trips begin/end at 14th Street and Colorado Avenue NW as well.

Background

[Route 52 along 14th Street in 2019.] The 14th Street Line is one of the most heavily used routes in the Metrobus system with about 15,000 riders using these buses on a typical weekday.[1] Those routes connect Takoma station to Downtown DC via 14th Street. However, the routes suffer from crowding, delays, traffic, and ineffectiveness due to the routes having at least 26 stops and the frequency of buses is at least 20 minutes. This led to residents opting for the more efficient 16th Street buses (the S1, S2, S4, and S9) prior to 2017.[2]

Routes 52 and 54 operate daily 24 hours a day between Takoma station and L'Enfant Plaza station or Metro Center station, running along the 14th Street corridor and connecting many neighborhoods to various Metro stations. Route 52 only serves Takoma station during the early mornings and late nights daily, terminating at 14th Street and Colorado Avenue NW during most of the day. Route 54 operates at all times to Takoma station. Additionally, select route 54 trips are operated during school days from 14th & Aspen Streets NW or Reeves Center going northbound.

Routes 52 and 54 currently operate out of Western division. It originally operated out of Northern division until 2019 when it was closed. At one point, routes 52 and 54 utilized articulated buses, but later stopped using them on a regular basis.

History

The line was originally operated under the Capital Traction Company which began service in 1895. Congress authorized the Rock Creek Railway to purchase and merge with any connecting company, and to change its name which was implemented on September 21, 1895.[3][4] This merger took place with the Washington and Georgetown on September 21, 1895.[5]

In 1896, the former Rock Creek line experimented with a new power system on U Street NW between 9th Street NW and 18th Street NW. The Love system transmitted electricity through a set of trolley wheels running on underground conduit rails instead of through the sliding shoe used elsewhere. While the system worked it was more expensive to install. In the spring of 1899 it was replaced with the sliding shoe and the line continued to the Calvert Street Loop.

Meanwhile the branch of the Pennsylvania Avenue Line from the east edge of the White House northeast on New York Avenue and north on 14th Street Northwest to Florida Avenue, part of the original charter, was opened November 15, 1862.[6] A law passed June 30, 1864 allowed it to continue the line north;[7] it was eventually extended to Park Road and later to Colorado Avenue, where it connected to the Washington and Maryland Line.

The line was originally run by cable cars but was electrified after the powerhouse along 14th street burnt down.[8] The line was later electrified on February 27, 1898. The Pennsylvania Avenue Line and 7th Street Line later followed in 1898.

By the 1920s, cars were turned at four northern terminals: Park Road, Decatur Street, Colorado Avenue, and Takoma (via the Washington and Maryland Line). Some Park Road cars turned west on Pennsylvania Avenue, while cars from all four terminals turned east. 14th Street was also used by Chevy Chase Line cars to Chevy Chase Lake, which turned off at the U Street Line.[9]

Consolidation

The North American Company, a transit and utilities holding company began to acquire stock in the Washington Railway in 1922, gaining a controlling interest by 1928. By December 31, 1933, it owned 50.016% of the voting stock. North American tried to purchase Capital Traction, but Capital Traction always remained widely owned by the residents of Washington, without a principal stock holder. North American never owned more than 2.5% of Capital Traction stock.[10]

Nonetheless the Great Depression proved difficult for the transit companies and so to survive, on December 1, 1933 Washington Railway, Capital Traction, and Washington Rapid Transit merged to form the Capital Transit Company. Washington Railway continued as a holding company, owning 50% of Capital Transit and 100% of PEPCO, but Capital Traction was later dissolved.[11] For the first time street railways in Washington were under the management of one company.

After the 1933 consolidation, the Fourteenth Street Line was combined with part of the ex-Washington Railway and Electric Company Fourth Street Line, which used Fourteenth Street from the White House south to the Bureau of Engraving, where a new underground terminal was built. It later formed routes 50, 52, and 54 which were used the old Fourteenth Street Line, running respectively to the Bureau of Engraving, the ex-WR&E Eleventh Street Line (via U Street), and the Pennsylvania Avenue Line to the Navy Yard. Route 52 was discontinued which ran to U street and 11th Street, but 50 and 54 remained until January 28, 1962.

Bus Lines

Routes 50 and 54 were later acquired to run by buses under DC Transit when streetcars began to phase out. Routes 50 and 54 operated from Takoma and Bureau of Engraving and Printing (50) and Navy Yard (54) primarily running along 14th Street. Route 52 would also be reincarnated to operate a similar pattern to route 52 but altered slightly running via Independence Avenue, 12th Street, and D street. Most trips would end at 14th and Colorado while some trips are extended to Takoma.[12] Routes 50, 52, and 54 eventually became Metrobus routes on February 4, 1973 when WMATA acquired DC Transit and three other transit agencies.[13]

Other routes that weren't formed under the Metrobus tag were the 56 and 58. Route 56 operated from Summit Hills Apartments to the Bureau of Engraving and route 58 operated to Takoma. Route 56 was later renamed routes 50, 52, and 54 when the merger happened in 1973 while route 58 was later renamed route K8.[14]

1978 Changes

On February 6, 1978, routes 50, 52, and 54 were rerouted to serve the newly opened Takoma station in order to connect riders to the Washington Metro.[15]

1990s

During the mid-1990s, route 50 was discontinued, route 52 was shortened to L'Enfant Plaza station, and route 54 was shortened to Federal Triangle. Route 54 was later extended to the L'Enfant Plaza station during the 1990s.

Route 53

Several years after route 50 was eliminated, a new route 53 was introduced to operate along the former route 50 routing between Takoma station and the Bureau of Engraving. It was then later shortened to Federal Triangle and then later shorten to Franklin Square/McPherson Square station.

2015 Proposed Changes

In 2015, WMATA proposed to cut back the 54 to McPherson Square station due to low ridership south of the station. Service to Archives station and L'Enfant Plaza station would be discontinued. But it was also proposed to improve the frequency of buses between Takoma station and 14th Street and Colorado due to high ridership volume.[16]

2016 Changes

On June 26, 2016, route 54 was shorten to Federal Triangle with alternative service provided by routes 52 and 53. However, the frequency of buses increased between Takoma station and 14th Street and Colorado.[17][18]

2017 Proposed Changes

In 2017, WMATA proposed many changes to the 52, 53, and 54.[19]

WMATA proposed to reroute Route 52 to serve the Wharf development via 12th Street, Maine Avenue, and 7th Street SW to and from L'Enfant Plaza station. WMATA also proposed to combine routes 53 and 54 into a new route 54 operating to and from Metro Center station (12th and F Streets NW) shortening route 54 even further. WMATA would also adjust the weekday schedule to coordinate local route 52 and 54 service with a proposed new MetroExtra limited-stop route 59, serve the Wharf, and decrease the time between buses to Takoma station.[20]

These proposed changes were in order to provide service to the new Wharf development, coordinate schedules with new route 59 limited-stop service, simplify 14th Street service and route designations, alleviate bus congestion at Franklin Square, and responds to requests by the District of Columbia and District Department of Transportation. Performance measures for routes 52, 53, and 54 goes as the following:[21]

  Performance Measure       Routes 52, 53, 54   WMATA Guideline   Pass/Fail
  ------------------------- ------------------- ----------------- -----------
  Average Weekday Riders    13,058              432               Pass
  Cost Recovery             33%                 16.6%             Pass
  Subsidy per Rider         $1.72               $4.81             Pass
  Riders per Trip           40                  10.7              Pass
  Riders per Revenue Mile   7.0                 1.3               Pass

If the changes are approved, the changes will be implemented as soon as December 2017.[22]

At the time of the proposals, route 52 and 54 would mainly operate up to 14th Street and Colorado and would only run to Takoma station during select times and Sundays (it would start at Takoma station however). Route 53 would operate between Monday and Saturday only its full route.[23]

On June 13, 2017, the DC Council and DC Mayor Muriel Bowser approved WMATA's FY2018 budget (a $1.2 million budget) which includes the new limited stop route and reconstructed service along 14th Street. Changes will be implemented as soon as December 2017.[24]

2017 Changes

On December 17, 2017, route 52 was extended along 12th Street and Maine Avenue SW in order to serve the Wharf development to and from L'Enfant Plaza station with most service along D Street being discontinued. Routes 53 and 54 were combined into one route operating between Takoma station and Metro Center station (F & 12th streets NW) with the 53 designation and service to Federal Triangle being discontinued.[25]

A new route 59 limited-stop route was also introduced to operate alongside routes 52 and 54 between Takoma station and Federal Triangle which replaced the 54 portion between Metro Center and Federal Triangle and fully replaced route 53. Service began on January 8, 2018.[26]

2019 Proposed Changes

In 2019 during WMATA's FY2021 year, WMATA proposed to replace route 54 and give route 59 daily service. Route 59 will operate every 8 minutes during peak hours and during the same span as route 54 during off peak hours and weekends. However, the route will become a local route between 14th and Colorado and Takoma station serving all stops in between the two points.[27] This was due to the following reasons:[28]

-   To streamline service and simplify the route structure making service easier for customers to understand.
-   To provide all-day, 7-day-a-week limited-stop service on 14th Street to complement DDOT's planned 14th Street bus priority projects in Columbia Heights.
-   To maintain frequent service on upper 14th Street north of Colorado Avenue, Aspen Street and Butternut Street, where there is one travel lane in each direction and it is difficult for MetroExtra buses to pass local buses.

About 4,800 riders board Route 52 or 54 local service at stops south of 14th Street & Colorado Avenue that are not served by route 59, which would see a 50% reduction in frequency of local service. This is approximately 38% of the total 12,800 riders that board all 52, 54 buses on an average weekday according to WMATA. Approximate frequency at stops south of Colorado Avenue would be as follows:[29]

                             52 Local Only Stops   52 and 59 Local and Limited Service Stops
  -------------------------- --------------------- -------------------------------------------
  Weekday Peak Periods       10 minutes            5 minutes
  Weekday Off-Peak Periods   16 minutes            8 minutes
  Saturday                   20 minutes            10 minutes
  Sunday                     30 minutes            15 minutes

If the proposals were to gone through, routes 52 and 59 would be the only two routes running along the 14th Street Corridor. However, WMATA later backed out the proposals due to customer pushback on April 2, 2020.[30][31][32][33]

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6] Report of the president ond directors of the Washington and Georgetown Railroad to the stockholders, July 1863, printed in The Miscellaneous Documents of the Senate of the United States for the First Session Thirty-Eighth Congress, Government Printing Office, 1864, document 11

[7] Laws Relating to Street-Railway Franchises in the District of Columbia, published by the Government Printing Office, 1896, pp. 11-15, 47-66

[8] https://web.archive.org/web/20070927200629/http://www.davesrailpix.com/odds/dc/htm/ctc33.htm

[9] Greeters of America, Greeters' Guide to Washington, 1922, pp. 61-63

[10]

[11]

[12]

[13]

[14]

[15]

[16]

[17]  WMATA |url=https://www.wmata.com/about/news/Metrobus-service-changes-effective-June-26-to-simplify-routes-improve-reliability.cfm |website=www.wmata.com |accessdate=24 May 2020}}

[18]  WMATA |url=https://www.wmata.com/service/status/details/metrobus-changes-june-2016.cfm |website=www.wmata.com |accessdate=24 May 2020}}

[19]

[20]

[21]

[22]

[23]

[24]

[25]  WMATA |url=https://www.wmata.com/service/status/details/metrobus-service-changes-december17.cfm |website=www.wmata.com |accessdate=24 May 2020}}

[26]

[27]  WMATA |url=https://www.wmata.com/initiatives/budget/ |website=www.wmata.com |accessdate=22 April 2020}}

[28]

[29]

[30]

[31]

[32]

[33]

title: 14th Street Line (Washington, D.C.)

question: What does the article say about negative events or situations?

answer: The routes on the 14th Street Line suffer from crowding, delays, traffic, and ineffectiveness. The powerhouse along 14th street burned down. The Great Depression made is difficult for transit companies to survive.

question: What does the article say about subways?


text:
Watching the imbroglio unfold about the new Michael Wolff book, “Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House," the most interesting question is whether Robert Mueller[]Robert (Bob) MuellerBarr taps attorney investigating Russia probe origins as special counsel CNN's Toobin warns McCabe is in 'perilous condition' with emboldened Trump CNN anchor rips Trump over Stone while evoking Clinton-Lynch tarmac meeting MORE and his special counsel team have been working behind the scenes with a Deep Throat-like witness from within Trump circles who has provided evidence to their investigation about Russia.

Give Michael Wolff credit or blame for one thing: He sure bamboozled President Trump[]Donald TrumpBiden and Harris named Time's 2020 'Person of the Year' US to sanction Turkey over Russian defense system: report Federal government executes Brandon Bernard despite last-minute appeals MORE when he led him to believe his book would be friendly.

Imagine if Wolff had told Trump, before gaining months of access to the inner workings of the White House, that he planned to write a book quoting the president's key friend and advisor accusing Trump's son-in-law and son of treason.

Imagine Wolff telling Trump that a list of the president’s closest advisors will speak of him in terms more appropriate for an emotional child than a commander in chief.

Stephen Bannon reportedly told Wolff that once the meeting regarding dirt on Clinton from Russian sources was suggested, those who knew of the meeting should have immediately informed the FBI.

Bannon is absolutely right about this. When there was a Russian operation to support Trump over Clinton using material surreptitiously obtained by Russia, anyone on Team Trump who knew about this should have reported it to the FBI immediately.

The big question today is whether anyone in Trump circles who knew about this covert Russian operation did, in fact, go to the FBI and expose it. If anyone did, it would have been an act of high patriotism, and that person would be a Deep Throat witness for the FBI and Mueller.

I do not subscribe here to the use of the word “treason." But if Bannon knew about acts he considered treasonous, it is fair to ask whether he went to the FBI himself the minute he learned about them. It is crucial to ask Bannon and Wolff whether the Deep Throat question was discussed in preparation of the book.

Similarly, of the various people in Trump circles who learned of the Russian operation to destroy Clinton and elect Trump, did any of them go to the FBI with that information?

It is certainly possible that one or more of them did, in which case, that person or persons would be our modern Deep Throat, providing the FBI and Mueller with bombshell information at a much earlier stage in the investigation than is currently known.

Because I am not a fan of the professional technique used by Wolff to ingratiate himself to Trump to gain insider access for his book, I would recommend great caution before drawing conclusions about the allegations within its pages.

Let's give some time for those he named to publicly react to the manner in which they are quoted before assessing the accuracy of the material presented.

We do know, from multiple sources reported by multiple new organizations, that there are a number of individuals close to Trump who have grave misgivings about important aspects of the Trump presidency. The Wolff book does perform one service of bringing this subject to the center of national discussion.

Is there a Deep Throat source hovering in the background of the investigation that we will learn about later? As a patriotic American, I sure hope so.

One of the great truths about politics and media is that some things are more important than others. One of the most important matters in modern American and world history is the concerted attack against democracy and democratic institutions in the United States and Europe by Russian operators.

This is why I harshly criticized Trump when he compared the CIA to Nazi Germany, strongly criticized President Obama for not responding strongly enough when he was president, and today, I strongly criticize those who launch aggressive attacks against Mueller, the FBI and the integrity of the Department of Justice.

Whether there is a Deep Throat from inside Trump circles is one of the most intriguing and consequential questions in the great drama that is now unfolding.

_Brent Budowsky was an aide to former Sen. Lloyd Bentsen (D-Texas) and former Rep. Bill Alexander (D-Ark.), who was chief deputy majority whip of the U.S. House of Representatives. He holds an LLM in international financial law from the London School of Economics._

question: What is the big question that the author of this piece asks and why?

answer: The big question is whether anyone in Trump circles who knew about this covert Russian operation went to the FBI to expose it. If anyone did, it would have been an act of high patriotism, and that person would be a Deep Throat witness for the FBI and Mueller.

question: Which book is the author discussing and what is his advice to readers of that book.

answer: The new Michael Wolff book, “Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House. Because I am not a fan of the professional technique used by Wolff to ingratiate himself to Trump to gain insider access for his book, I would recommend great caution before drawing conclusions about the allegations within its pages.


text:
RUSSIA DAY (, ) called DAY OF ADOPTION OF THE DECLARATION OF STATE SOVEREIGNTY OF RSFSR (, ) before 2002, is the national holiday of the Russian Federation. It has been celebrated annually on 12 June since 1992.[1] The day commemorates the adoption of the Declaration of State Sovereignty of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic (RSFSR) on 12 June 1990. The passage of this Declaration by the First Congress of People's Deputies marked the beginning of constitutional reform in the Russian Soviet state.

History

With the creation of the post of the President of the Russian Federation and the adoption of the new Russian Constitution to reflect the new political reality, the national flag, anthem, and emblem of the Russian Federation were major landmarks in the consolidation of Russian statehood. The country's new name, the Russian Federation, was adopted on December 25, 1991. In 1992, the Supreme Soviet of Russia proclaimed June 12 as a national holiday.[2] By presidential decree on June 2, 1994, the date was again proclaimed Russia's national holiday. Under a subsequent presidential decree on June 16, 1998, the holiday was officially named “Russia Day”. In 2002, the new Labour Code gave its official seal to this title.

[Russia Day celebrations in Saint Petersburg, 2007.] Russian attitudes towards this holiday are ambivalent.[3] According to the Fund “Public Opinion”, June 12 is considered a holiday by 45% of Russians. It is noteworthy that the number of citizens who perceive this day as a holiday increased substantially over time. For example, in 2005 only 15% of Russians called it a holiday, and 29% did in 2014. At the same time, the number of people who receive the day off from work has declined: In 2005 the figure was 73%, in 2014 it was 60%, and by 2015 it had fallen to 42%.[4][5]

In 2019 the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic proclaimed Russia Day a “state holiday”.[6].

For the 2020 celebrations in the city of Kirov, from June 1, 2020 a flash mob #WeRussia () was launched, in which people can also take part. It is necessary to sing the anthem of the Russian Federation, having recorded this performance on video, and put it on social networks. From the first day of summer, you can participate in the Challenge #RussianRhymes: read video poems of Russian classics and publish on social networks. From June 5 to 12 the action “Windows of Russia” was taking place: decoration of windows, balconies and facades of residential buildings with symbols of our country. From June 8 to June 12, Kirov residents could join the “Welcome to Russia” and “Russia in the lens” promotions on the official pages of clubs in the community and centers of local activity. Challenges were held on the same dates: # Russian word - reading poems and excerpts from works of domestic writers and “I love you, Russia, I love you, Kirov”, reading poems dedicated to the country and the city. On the same dates one could participate in the # Chitricolor Challenge.[7]

Customs

People may attend concerts and fireworks that take place in many cities throughout the country. Prominent Russian writers, scientists and humanitarian workers receive State Awards from the President of Russia on this day. Most public offices and schools are closed on June 12. If the day falls on a weekend, the public holiday shifts to the following Monday.

However, many Russians see Russia Day only as a day off. As it commemorates the Soviet Union's dissolution, it brings back bitter memories for some. This is because the dissolution led to severe unemployment, high crime and poverty within Russia and other former Soviet republics.[8]

In 2002, about 5000 representatives from across the country took part in the pageantry from Tverskaya Zastava to Manezh Square. The highlight of the Day of Russia-2003 was the air show, which included aerobatic teams “Russian Knights” and “Swifts”. Sukhoi and MiG planes left a trail forming the Russian flag. On June 12, 2004 at Red Square a historical military parade was held. Its members, soldiers of the Russian army and representatives of 89 regions, dressed in national costumes, presented the audience the most significant milestones of Russian history. In 2007 celebrations occurred in a hundreds of cities. For example, in Krasnoyarsk action thousands of people in white, blue and red robes formed more than a kilometer long tricolor.[9]

Russia Day in 2008 was celebrated for three days from 11 to 14 June. In Tomsk a “Wooden Carnival” displayed a huge wooden Russian ruble, one hundred times the size of the coin. In Samara enthusiasts reconstructed forces of Minin and Pozharsky in 1612 with Polish–Muscovite War.[10] In Moscow, the holiday included a three-hour concert and concluded a six-month contest over the “Seven Wonders of Russia”. In Red Square 20 lines of stage pyrotechnics, confetti cannon in the colors of the Russian flag and 100 guns.

In 2009 residents of Volgograd formed a map of the country covering 127 square meters. In Sevastopol, youths passed through the city center carrying a 30-meter flag of Russia. In Moscow, at Revolution Square that day a two-meter Khokhloma doll was painted. For the first time at the Ostankino Tower the state flag was displayed.[11]

Name

According to some surveys, many Russians think that this holiday is Russia's Independence Day, but the holiday has never had such a name in official documents. According to the survey of Levada Center in May 2003, 65 percent of the respondents named the holiday as the Independence Day of Russia.[12]

[1]

[2]

[3] School of Russian and Asian Studies article

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7] День города 12 июня 2020 года в Кирове: подробная программа праздничных мероприятий

[8]

[9]

[10]

[11]

[12]

title: Russia Day

question: What does the text say about Putin?

question: What does the text say about Russia Day?

answer: Russia Day, or Day of Adoption of the Declaration of State Sovereignty of RSFSR, is the national holiday of the Russian Federation. It has been celebrated annually on June 12 since 1992. The day commemorates the adoption of the Declaration of State Sovereignty of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic (RSFSR) on June 12, 1990. The passage of this Declaration by the First Congress of People's Deputies marked the beginning of constitutional reform in the Russian Soviet state.

question: What does the text say about the history of Russia Day?

answer: There were major landmarks in the consolidation of Russian statehood, including the adoption of the new Russian Constitution to reflect the new political reality, the national flag, the national anthem, the emblem, and the creation of the post of the President of the Russian Federation. On December 25, 1991, the country adopted a new name, The Russian Federation. In 1992, the Supreme Soviet of Russia proclaimed June 12 as a national holiday and again via a presidential decree on June 2, 1994. Another presidential decree on June 16, 1994, made "Russia Day" the official name of the holiday. The new Labor Code gave its official seal to the title in 2002.

question: What does the text say about Russian attitudes towards Russia Day?

answer: Russians have mixed feelings about Russia Day as only 45% of them consider June 12 a holiday, according to the Fund "Public Opinion". While the number of citizens who perceive this day as a holiday increased substantially over time (15% in 2005 versus 29% in 2014), the number of people who receive the day off from work has declined, from 73% in 2005 to 42% in 2015. Many Russians also only see Russia Day as a day off. Commemorating the Soviet Union's dissolution brings back bitter memories for some because the dissolution led to severe unemployment, high crime, and poverty within Russia and other former Soviet republics.


text:
BROWN COUNTY is a county in the U.S. state of Nebraska. As of the 2010 United States Census, the population was 3,145.[1] Its county seat is Ainsworth.[2] The county was established in 1883[3] and named for two members of the legislature who reported the bill for the county's organization.[4]

In the Nebraska license plate system, Brown County is represented by the prefix 75 (it had the 75th-largest number of vehicles registered in the county when the license plate system was established in 1922).

Geography

According to the US Census Bureau, the county has an area of , of which is land and (0.3%) is water.[5]

Brown County is located in Nebraska's Outback region.[6]

Major highways

-   [] U.S. Highway 20
-   [] U.S. Highway 183
-   [] Nebraska Highway 7

Adjacent counties

-   Keya Paha County - north
-   Rock County - east
-   Loup County - southeast
-   Blaine County - south
-   Cherry County - west

National protected area

-   Niobrara National Scenic River (part)

Demographics

As of the 2000 United States Census,[7] there were 3,525 people, 1,530 households, and 996 families in the county. The population density was 3 people per square mile (1/km²). There were 1,916 housing units at an average density of 2 per square mile (1/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 98.64% White, 0.03% Black or African American, 0.20% Native American, 0.26% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.23% from other races, and 0.62% from two or more races. 0.82% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 43.0% were of German, 11.7% American, 11.6% English and 8.2% Irish ancestry according to Census 2000.

There were 1,530 households, out of which 26.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.00% were married couples living together, 5.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.90% were non-families. 31.60% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 2.86.

The county population contained 24.80% under the age of 18, 5.20% from 18 to 24, 22.80% from 25 to 44, 24.70% from 45 to 64, and 22.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 96.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.30 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $28,356, and the median income for a family was $35,029. Males had a median income of $23,986 versus $17,135 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,924. About 8.50% of families and 11.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.70% of those under age 18 and 6.80% of those age 65 or over.

Politics

The voters of Brown County have been strongly Republican since its founding. In only one national election since 1916 has the county selected the Democratic Party candidate (as of 2016).

  Year                               Republican                                  Democratic                                  Third Parties
  ---------------------------------- ------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------- ----------------------------
  style=“text-align:center;” |2016   style=“text-align:center;” |86.7% _1,385_   style=“text-align:center;” |9.6% _153_      3.7% _59_
  style=“text-align:center;” |2012   style=“text-align:center;” |83.7% _1,302_   style=“text-align:center;” |14.4% _224_     1.9% _29_
  style=“text-align:center;” |2008   style=“text-align:center;” |77.1% _1,208_   style=“text-align:center;” |19.9% _311_     3.1% _48_
  style=“text-align:center;” |2004   style=“text-align:center;” |82.3% _1,426_   style=“text-align:center;” |15.5% _268_     2.3% _39_
  style=“text-align:center;” |2000   style=“text-align:center;” |81.7% _1,375_   style=“text-align:center;” |14.9% _250_     3.5% _59_
  style=“text-align:center;” |1996   style=“text-align:center;” |62.6% _1,105_   style=“text-align:center;” |20.3% _359_     17.1% _302_
  style=“text-align:center;” |1992   style=“text-align:center;” |54.1% _999_     style=“text-align:center;” |16.9% _311_     29.0% _536_
  style=“text-align:center;” |1988   style=“text-align:center;” |74.9% _1,336_   style=“text-align:center;” |24.4% _435_     0.7% _12_
  style=“text-align:center;” |1984   style=“text-align:center;” |82.6% _1,514_   style=“text-align:center;” |17.0% _312_     0.4% _7_
  style=“text-align:center;” |1980   style=“text-align:center;” |77.4% _1,615_   style=“text-align:center;” |16.3% _341_     6.3% _131_
  style=“text-align:center;” |1976   style=“text-align:center;” |67.6% _1,241_   style=“text-align:center;” |30.3% _557_     2.1% _38_
  style=“text-align:center;” |1972   style=“text-align:center;” |81.6% _1,462_   style=“text-align:center;” |18.4% _330_     style="text-align:center;|
  style=“text-align:center;” |1968   style=“text-align:center;” |71.6% _1,340_   style=“text-align:center;” |19.7% _369_     8.7% _162_
  style=“text-align:center;” |1964   style=“text-align:center;” |59.0% _1,272_   style=“text-align:center;” |41.0% _885_     style="text-align:center;|
  style=“text-align:center;” |1960   style=“text-align:center;” |77.2% _1,735_   style=“text-align:center;” |22.9% _514_     style="text-align:center;|
  style=“text-align:center;” |1956   style=“text-align:center;” |74.1% _1,566_   style=“text-align:center;” |25.9% _548_     style="text-align:center;|
  style=“text-align:center;” |1952   style=“text-align:center;” |78.2% _1,950_   style=“text-align:center;” |21.8% _543_     style="text-align:center;|
  style=“text-align:center;” |1948   style=“text-align:center;” |62.7% _1,174_   style=“text-align:center;” |37.4% _700_     style="text-align:center;|
  style=“text-align:center;” |1944   style=“text-align:center;” |67.5% _1,549_   style=“text-align:center;” |32.5% _745_     style="text-align:center;|
  style=“text-align:center;” |1940   style=“text-align:center;” |64.7% _1,783_   style=“text-align:center;” |35.4% _975_     style="text-align:center;|
  style=“text-align:center;” |1936   style=“text-align:center;” |53.8% _1,419_   style=“text-align:center;” |45.0% _1,188_   1.2% _31_
  style=“text-align:center;” |1932   style=“text-align:center;” |42.7% _1,174_   style=“text-align:center;” |56.9% _1,565_   0.4% _11_
  style=“text-align:center;” |1928   style=“text-align:center;” |74.1% _1,907_   style=“text-align:center;” |24.7% _636_     1.2% _32_
  style=“text-align:center;” |1924   style=“text-align:center;” |45.0% _1,104_   style=“text-align:center;” |29.1% _714_     25.9% _634_
  style=“text-align:center;” |1920   style=“text-align:center;” |68.6% _1,417_   style=“text-align:center;” |27.0% _558_     4.4% _90_
  style=“text-align:center;” |1916   style=“text-align:center;” |35.1% _528_     style=“text-align:center;” |59.9% _901_     5.0% _75_
  style=“text-align:center;” |1912   style=“text-align:center;” |22.6% _295_     style=“text-align:center;” |37.1% _483_     40.3% _525_[9]
  style=“text-align:center;” |1908   style=“text-align:center;” |50.2% _588_     style=“text-align:center;” |44.9% _526_     4.9% _57_
  style=“text-align:center;” |1904   style=“text-align:center;” |70.8% _587_     style=“text-align:center;” |16.2% _134_     13.0% _108_
  style=“text-align:center;” |1900   style=“text-align:center;” |57.4% _470_     style=“text-align:center;” |39.9% _327_     2.7% _22_

  : PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION RESULTS[8]

Communities

-   Ainsworth (county seat)
-   Johnstown
-   Long Pine

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6] “About” , North Central RC&D.

[7]

[8] Election Results - Brown County NE

[9] The leading “other” candidate, Progressive Theodore Roosevelt, received 413 votes, while Socialist candidate Eugene Debs received 91 votes and Prohibition Eugene Chafin received 21 votes.

title: Brown County, Nebraska

question: Summarize the population makeup of Brown County, Nebraska, according to the 2000 census.

answer: Brown County is made up of 3525 people with 530 households and 996 families. Most of the people in the county are White (98.64%) with 0.03% Black, 0.26% Asia, and the rest making up to 1%. 26.6% of the household had children under the age of 18 and 57% are married couples living together. Twenty-four percent of the population is under the age of 18 while 22.5% are age 65 and over.


text:
THE SIX BASIC GUN SAFETY RULES

There are six basic gun safety rules for gun owners to understand and practice at all times:

1.  Treat all guns as if they are loaded. Always assume that a gun is loaded even if you think it is unloaded. Every time a gun is handled for any reason, check to see that it is unloaded. If you are unable to check a gun to see if it is unloaded, leave it alone and seek help from someone more knowledgeable about guns.
2.  Keep the gun pointed in the safest possible direction. Always be aware of where a gun is pointing. A "safe direction" is one where an accidental discharge of the gun will not cause injury or damage. Only point a gun at an object you intend to shoot. Never point a gun toward yourself or another person.
3.  Keep your finger off the trigger until you are ready to shoot. Always keep your finger off the trigger and outside the trigger guard until you are ready to shoot. Even though it may be comfortable to rest your finger on the trigger, it also is unsafe. If you are moving around with your finger on the trigger and stumble or fall, you could inadvertently pull the trigger. Sudden loud noises or movements can result in an accidental discharge because there is a natural tendency to tighten the muscles when startled. The trigger is for firing and the handle is for handling.
4.  Know your target, its surroundings and beyond. Check that the areas in front of and behind your target are safe before shooting. Be aware that if the bullet misses or completely passes through the target, it could strike a person or object. Identify the target and make sure it is what you intend to shoot. If you are in doubt, DON'T SHOOT! Never fire at a target that is only a movement, color, sound or unidentifiable shape. Be aware of all the people around you before you shoot.
5.  Know how to properly operate your gun. It is important to become thoroughly familiar with your gun. You should know its mechanical characteristics including how to properly load, unload and clear a malfunction from your gun. Obviously, not all guns are mechanically the same. Never assume that what applies to one make or model is exactly applicable to another. You should direct questions regarding the operation of your gun to your firearms dealer, or contact the manufacturer directly.
6.  Store your gun safely and securely to prevent unauthorized use. Guns and ammunition should be stored separately. When the gun is not in your hands, you must still think of safety. Use a California-approved firearms safety device on the gun, such as a trigger lock or cable lock, so it cannot be fired. Store it unloaded in a locked container, such as a California-approved lock box or a gun safe. Store your gun in a different location than the ammunition. For maximum safety you should use both a locking device and a storage container.

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ADDITIONAL SAFETY POINTS

The six basic safety rules are the foundational rules for gun safety. However, there are additional safety points that must not be overlooked.

-   Never handle a gun when you are in an emotional state such as anger or depression. Your judgment may be impaired.
-   Never shoot a gun in celebration (the Fourth of July or New Year's Eve, for example). Not only is this unsafe, but it is generally illegal. A bullet fired into the air will return to the ground with enough speed to cause injury or death.
-   Do not shoot at water, flat or hard surfaces. The bullet can ricochet and hit someone or something other than the target.
-   Hand your gun to someone only after you verify that it is unloaded and the cylinder or action is open. Take a gun from someone only after you verify that it is unloaded and the cylinder or action is open.
-   Guns, alcohol and drugs don't mix. Alcohol and drugs can negatively affect judgment as well as physical coordination. Alcohol and any other substance likely to impair normal mental or physical functions should not be used before or while handling guns. Avoid handling and using your gun when you are taking medications that cause drowsiness or include a warning to not operate machinery while taking this drug.
-   The loud noise from a fired gun can cause hearing damage, and the debris and hot gas that is often emitted can result in eye injury. Always wear ear and eye protection when shooting a gun.

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GUNS AND CHILDREN--FIREARM OWNER RESPONSIBILITIES

Summary of Safe Storage Laws Regarding Children

You may be guilty of a misdemeanor or a felony if you keep a loaded firearm within any premises that are under your custody or control and a child under 18 years of age obtains and uses it, resulting in injury or death, or carries it to a public place, unless you stored the firearm in a locked container or locked the firearm with a locking device to temporarily keep it from functioning.

You Cannot Be Too Careful with Children and Guns

There is no such thing as being too careful with children and guns. Never assume that simply because a toddler may lack finger strength, they can't pull the trigger. A child's thumb has twice the strength of the other fingers. When a toddler's thumb "pushes" against a trigger, invariably the barrel of the gun is pointing directly at the child's face. NEVER leave a firearm lying around the house.

Child safety precautions still apply even if you have no children or if your children have grown to adulthood and left home. A nephew, niece, neighbor's child or a grandchild may come to visit. Practice gun safety at all times.

To prevent injury or death caused by improper storage of guns in a home where children are likely to be present, you should store all guns unloaded, lock them with a firearms safety device and store them in a locked container. Ammunition should be stored in a location separate from the gun.

Talking to Children About Guns

Children are naturally curious about things they don't know about or think are "forbidden." When a child asks questions or begins to act out "gun play," you may want to address his or her curiosity by answering the questions as honestly and openly as possible. This will remove the mystery and reduce the natural curiosity. Also, it is important to remember to talk to children in a manner they can relate to and understand. This is very important, especially when teaching children about the difference between "real" and "make-believe." Let children know that, even though they may look the same, real guns are very different than toy guns. A real gun will hurt or kill someone who is shot.

Instill a Mind Set of Safety and Responsibility

The American Academy of Pediatrics reports that adolescence is a highly vulnerable stage in life for teenagers struggling to develop traits of identity, independence and autonomy. Children, of course, are both naturally curious and innocently unaware of many dangers around them. Thus, adolescents as well as children may not be sufficiently safeguarded by cautionary words, however frequent. Contrary actions can completely undermine good advice. A "Do as I say and not as I do" approach to gun safety is both irresponsible and dangerous.

Remember that actions speak louder than words. Children learn most by observing the adults around them. By practicing safe conduct you will also be teaching safe conduct.

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Safety and Storage Devices

If you decide to keep a firearm in your home you must consider the issue of how to store the firearm in a safe and secure manner. California recognizes the importance of safe storage by requiring that all firearms sold in California be accompanied by a DOJ-approved firearms safety device or proof that the purchaser owns a gun safe that meets regulatory standards established by the Department. The current list of DOJ-approved firearms safety devices and the gun safe standards can be viewed by visiting http://oag.ca.gov/firearms/fsdcertlist.

There are a variety of safety and storage devices currently available to the public in a wide range of prices. Some devices are locking mechanisms designed to keep the firearm from being loaded or fired, but don't prevent the firearm from being handled or stolen. There are also locking storage containers that hold the firearm out of sight. For maximum safety you should use both a firearm safety device and a locking storage container to store your unloaded firearm.

Two of the most common locking mechanisms are trigger locks and cable locks. Trigger locks are typically two-piece devices that fit around the trigger and trigger guard to prevent access to the trigger. One side has a post that fits into a hole in the other side. They are locked by a key or combination locking mechanism. Cable locks typically work by looping a strong steel cable through the action of the firearm to block the firearm's operation and prevent accidental firing. However, neither trigger locks nor cable locks are designed to prevent access to the firearm.

Smaller lock boxes and larger gun safes are two of the most common types of locking storage containers. One advantage of lock boxes and gun safes is that they are designed to completely prevent unintended handling and removal of a firearm. Lock boxes are generally constructed of sturdy, high-grade metal opened by either a key or combination lock. Gun safes are quite heavy, usually weighing at least 50 pounds. While gun safes are typically the most expensive firearm storage devices, they are generally more reliable and secure.

REMEMBER: SAFETY AND STORAGE DEVICES ARE ONLY AS SECURE AS THE PRECAUTIONS YOU TAKE TO PROTECT THE KEY OR COMBINATION TO THE LOCK.

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RULES FOR KIDS

Adults should be aware that a child could discover a gun when a parent or another adult is not present. This could happen in the child's own home; the home of a neighbor, friend or relative; or in a public place such as a school or park. If this should happen, a child should know the following rules and be taught to practice them.

1.  STOP
    The first rule for a child to follow if he/she finds or sees a gun is to stop what he/she is doing.
2.  DON'T TOUCH!
    The second rule is for a child not to touch a gun he/she finds or sees. A child may think the best thing to do if he/she finds a gun is to pick it up and take it to an adult. A child needs to know he/she should NEVER touch a gun he/she may find or see.
3.  LEAVE THE AREA
    The third rule is to immediately leave the area. This would include never taking a gun away from another child or trying to stop someone from using gun.
4.  TELL AN ADULT
    The last rule is for a child to tell an adult about the gun he/she has seen. This includes times when other kids are playing with or shooting a gun. Please note that, while there is no better advice at this time for children or adolescents who encounter a gun by happenstance, the California Chapter of the American College of Emergency Physicians reports that such warnings alone may be insufficient accident prevention measures with children and adolescents.

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METHODS OF CHILDPROOFING YOUR FIREARM

As a responsible handgun owner, you must recognize the need and be aware of the methods of childproofing your handgun, whether or not you have children.

Whenever children could be around, whether your own, or a friend's, relative's or neighbor's, additional safety steps should be taken when storing firearms and ammunition in your home.

-   Always store your firearm unloaded.
-   Use a firearms safety device AND store the firearm in a locked container.
-   Store the ammunition separately in a locked container.

Always storing your firearm securely is the best method of childproofing your firearm; however, your choice of a storage place can add another element of safety. Carefully choose the storage place in your home especially if children may be around.

-   Do not store your firearm where it is visible.
-   Do not store your firearm in a bedside table, under your mattress or pillow, or on a closet shelf.
-   Do not store your firearm among your valuables (such as jewelry or cameras) unless it is locked in a secure container.
-   Consider storing firearms not possessed for self-defense in a safe and secure manner away from the home.

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question: How should one store a firearm in one's home?

answer: There are a variety of safety and storage devices that are available to the public in a wide range of prices. Some devices are locking mechanisms designed to keep the firearm from being loaded or fired. There are also locking storage containers that hold the firearm out of sight. The article recommends for maximum safety, one should use both a firearm safety device and a locking storage container to store one's firearm.

question: What are the rules for children around firearms?

answer: Children should not handle or touch guns. If they find a firearm, they should leave the area immediately and tell an adult about what they have seen.

question: How should one childproof a firearm?

answer: One should always store one's firearm unloaded, with a firearms safety device and stored in a locked container. Ammunition should be store separately in a locked container.

question: What are the six basic gun safety rules for gun owners?

answer: Treat all guns as if they are loaded. Keep the gun pointed in the safest possible direction. Keep your finger off the trigger until you are ready to shoot. Make sure you are aware of your surroundings. Know how to properly operate your gun. Store your gun safely.


text:
In the viral video, the accused was seen beating the girl inside a BPO violently while one of his friends recorded the incident. The accused has been identified as the son of a Delhi Police officer and is on a run.

[Watch: Delhi Police cop's son thrashes girl in Tilak Nagar] __

The 21-year-old accused was violently beating up the victim inside a BPO in Tilak Nagar. (Photo: Twitter/aaprajeshrishi)

HIGHLIGHTS

-   A video of a man beating a girl in Tilak Nagar went viral
-   The accused was identified as the son of a Delhi Police cop
-   The accused has been arrested by the police after girl said he raped her

Delhi Police has arrested accused Rohit Tomar after the victim said he raped her. Rohit Tomar, who was seen in a video that went viral, is the son of a Delhi Police officer, Ashok Singh Tomar. Rohit was seen beating up a girl in the video while one of his friends recorded the incident.

The video was recorded on September 2 around 3 pm inside a BPO located in Uttam Nagar area of Delhi. The BPO is owned by Rohit's friend Ali Hasan. According to sources, the 21-year-old accused was unemployed and had recently started working at the BPO.

Rohit's father, Ashok Singh Tomar is posted as an assistant sub-inspector ASI in the narcotics department of Delhi Police (Central Delhi).

The victim, in her latest statement, alleged that Rohit Tomar called her to his friend's office located in Uttam Nagar, Delhi. She alleged that Rohit raped her. And when she spoke about filing a complaint, Rohit beat her up. A second FIR has been filed against Rohit Tomar for alleged rape in Uttam Nagar police station as well.

HERE'S THE VIDEO:

_WARNING: THE FOLLOWING VIDEO IS VIOLENT/GRAPHIC. VIEWER DISCRETION IS ADVISED._

Earlier, the police filed a case against the accused under Sections 506 and 354 of IPC (punishment for criminal intimidation and assault, and criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty) after the victim lodged a complaint against him.

  @DelhiPolice has taken stern action, a case under section 354/506 IPC has already been registered against Rohit Tomar. Further action is being taken to arrest him.

  DCP West Delhi (@DCPWestDelhi) September 13, 2018

The police are trying to contact Ashok Tomar but the officer's phone has been switched off. Meanwhile, Minister of Home Affairs, Rajnath Singh tweeted that stern action will be taken against the accused.

[]

Rohit was seen beating up a girl in the video.

  @DelhiPolice

  (@rajnathsingh) September 14, 2018

ALSO READ: 19-YEAR-OLD, WHO GOT PRESIDENT AWARD, ALLEGEDLYGANGRAPEDIN HARYANA

question: Where did the beating take place?

answer: Inside a BPO in Tilak Nagar

question: Who is the accused?

answer: Rohit Tomar, son of a Delhi police cop

question: What does the victim accuse Rohit of?

answer: Accuses him of rape.

question: What does the viral video show?

answer: Shows the accused violently beating the victim.

question: Write a ~3 sentence summary.

answer:
The son of a Delhi Police officer, Rohit Tomar, is accused of beating and raping a girl. He is now on the run.
In a viral video, the accused is seen violently beating the victim.


text:
Hello reddit. My first terrifying step into this sub.
Let me have it with both barrels.
_________________________________

I caught up with Jukes and the guys at Dweeb’s place right after dinner on the hottest Halloween Night on record. We were all there; me, Jukes, Bag o’Donuts, DV, Miller and Dweeb, and we had the place to ourselves, Dweeb’s dad was out with some new skank, but we weren’t planning on staying long.

Halloween Night!

Me and DV were ninjas, some sweet gear bought from the we’re-not-worthy, 86-page glossy color catalogue from Asian World of Martial Arts. We had no-shit, for-real tabi and climbing crampons (hand-and-foot!), as well as smoke bombs and our everyday-nunchakus. DV swiped his Dad’s katana and wakizashi and looked bad-ass.

Jukes was a zombie, poorly done. He had some old clothes on and smeared his eyes with black.

Bag o’Donuts was a clown straight off the shelf. Plastic poncho printed with 4 color clown-suit graphics and plastic mask with the most tripped-out clown face the Taiwanese could think of. He looked like he was 5 and we jagged him off about it for a while until he almost started crying.

Miller was a football player, and since he was a football player, it wasn’t much of a costume, but his parents were poor so we didn’t give him much shit about it. He didn’t have a ball, though, and Dweeb gave him his for the night but Miller said he didn’t want it and Dweeb got pissed off, like he always does, until Miller said “why I want the fuckin ball man? I cant carry it and my candy bag, Dweeb!” and Jukes goes “Yeah Dweeb, shut the fuck up!” and Bag laughs.

Me and DV strike assault poses and look indifferent.

Dweeb gets surly and throws the ball away and Jukes laughs again and says “Fuckin Dweeb, why you such a surly motherfucker? Man can’t run for 20 and get the sweet now can he? Why you always gotta be such a fuckin dweeb, Dweeb?”

Bag piped up, “Where’s your costume, Mike?” (Bag always called Dweeb by his real name)

Jukes cuts in “Yeah Dweeb, what are you going as? Lame-ass pirate like last year? Man that was so lame!”

Miller says “What’s wrong with pirates? Pirates are cool. Why don’t you lay off Dweeb, man, you just looking to fight tonight.”

Jukes says, “Shut up Miller” and asks Dweeb again what costume he’s wearing.

Dweeb says “I’ve got it upstairs, lemme go change. Ok?”

Me and DV begin the slow-mock, a slow motion, soft-touch battle with fist and leg.

Miller plops on the couch and says “Man I’m so hungry, I can’t wait to get that candy. How much you think we’re gonna get? 2 bags? 3?”

Jukes and Bag both start yammering about the likelihood of bodacious amounts of candy given that they are so much bigger and stronger than last year and can thusly cover more distance and obtain more loot. Halloween always ran from 6 pm to 10 pm. We were planning on being out until 11 pm at least, figuring people wouldn’t risk the tricks from such a scary bunch of kids and would have to give us candy no matter what time it was.

They were planning the route, a slash-and-burn affair, skipping all the old people houses and the dead-ends, and places like the top of Foxboro Drive, where you couldn’t cut across to another street, when Dweeb appears in the doorway. He is costumed.

Jukes and Bag immediately stop arguing and stare, open-mouthed.

Dweeb is clad, head-to-foot, in genuine Stormtrooper armor, straight outta Star Wars. He even had the rifle.

Bag just whistles, a long rolling tweet of amazement, and Jukes, well for the first time in all the years I had known him, Jukes was speechless.

Dweeb looked amazing. We all jumped up and were crowded around him, flinging questions and touching his costume. Jukes ripped the rifle out of Dweeb’s hands and was running around going “Pyoo, pyoo!” at imaginary enemies.

We all chased him, grabbing and yelling and Dweeb was shouting “Gimmebackmygun!”, and Jukes finally took a header over the corner of the coffee table and there was a crash and Jukes starts bawling like he did that time we all took a tumble down Doc Leeson’s back hill and Jukes tore his knee up on a real jagged boulder, and the room stops.

Dweeb is on Jukes in a second, grabbing for his gun, while Bag and Miller run to Jukes and start peppering him with questions and jagging him off for being such an asshole. DV and I say nothing, staring open-mouthed at Dweeb, who is holding the now-broken genuine Stormtrooper rifle, the look on his face, strangely, of acceptance as if he knew, all-along, that this would happen.

Jukes is still bawling about his shin, which is scraped pretty bad, Miller’s got Jukes’ pantleg raked up and he’s poking the bloody slash to piss off Jukes, who howls and tries to hit Miller but misses like he always does.

Bag is still hollering at Jukes, “Why you such a dumbass Jukes, why you such a stupid jagoff? Why you always gotta mess everything up, you stupid jackass? You broke Mike's gun man.”

Dweeb shuffles off towards the garage, his head down like always.

Jukes finally gets Miller off him and he pulls himself into the lounge chair that Dweeb’s dad had saturated with one million stinky farts over the years, and we knew it as the Shit Chair. Jukes was now sitting in the Shit Chair. The rank-out began anew. Bag dropped to the ground clutching his sides, consumed with laughter, screaming “Jukes you’re in the Shit Chair, Shit Chair boy! Jukes is the King of Farts!”

Miller and I started making fart noises as loud and as fast as we can, and DV is bent over, waving his ninja-clad butt at Jukes. Jukes gets out of the chair, fast. He plops onto the floor and then has to scramble away when he realizes he’s still leaning against the orange-brown Shit Chair.

After a few minutes of ragging on Jukes, the group goes quiet again. Dweeb still isn’t back from the garage, and none of us want to go and find him, thinking he’s probably sitting in the dark, crying like a girl, and no one wants to deal with that.

Miller finally gets to his feet, we all knew that if anyone was gonna go check on Dweeb, it would be Miller, but as he’s heading for the garage, Dweeb reappears. His gun is whole and he’s got a strange look on his face, like a smile that couldn’t quite make it all the way to the other side of his face.

Bag said “What gives, Mike? You had two guns or what?”, and Dweeb shakes his head and says “Nah. Duct tape and white spray paint. Its still a little wobbly,” and he flexes the gun a little, showing where he taped it, “but it should still be ok, I guess.”

DV lets out a whoop and we scramble into action. The night is young, the candy bowls unplundered and we had hours ahead of us. Up the stairs and out into the sweltering night. This was a rogue night, a summer runaway that had no business lurking in October. The sun had only been down for maybe 20 minutes but it was still almost 80 degrees.

We planned on hitting the rich neighborhood first, the candy was bigger, better, and sometimes you could get more than once piece if the person liked your costume or you were friendly enough. This year, though, we came across a place where they weren't home and they had left a heaping pile of candy on a silver platter with a sign that said, “Take one”!

Yeah, we took it all. We did leave the platter though. Jukes said we should take it, pawn it at the store, get twenty bucks for it, but Miller told him to shut up, said “We ain't thieves, man, I ain't no thief and why the hell you wanna steal stuff for, Jukes? You just gonna spend the money on firecrackers and titty mags anyway! Then you're broke again, dumbass Jukes! Seriously, man, you need to ...” Miller didn't get to finish his sentence because Jukes had, during this public shaming, been turning a bright shade of red and breathing like a mad bull and when Miller called him a dumbass he bellowed just like one and charged him, head down, exactly like they teach you not to do in football.

They crashed together, Miller was caught off guard and staggered a few steps, but he was built like a brick house, small but solid and Jukes bounced off him and fell to his knees right in the middle of the street. Jukes came up yelling, fists windmilling, head down; the classic angry child's assault. Miller looked stunned. His eyes were wide and his mouth was open and the rest of the guys were yelling at Jukes to stop and what the hell and what are you doing man, and I just gawked with the rest of them. We never fought. Never. Maybe some guys did on a regular basis, but we never did. There was nothing to prove. We all knew our places and we didn't rail against them.

Jukes was breaking the rules. Sure, Miller had jagged him about stealing the plate, but that was nothing worse than what Miller usually gave Jukes crap about, and he called him a dumbass twenty times a day, sometimes.

Jukes had snapped. His eyes were glassy with tears, his mouth was a fanged shred in his face, a roaring babble of cursing and angry glossolalia boomed from it, and he look like he had seen something so terrible, so outer-space-gods-covered-in-space-god-tentacles insanity-inducing that his tiny brain had popped like a water balloon.

Jukes launched himself again  Miller, crazed animal full of rage and Miller did what only Miller could do, and the way Miller did everything was by not thinking, but by just reacting and making his own luck, his own magic. Miller did a shuffling stutter-step, it looked like a step and a head-bob with a little dance attached to it; any boxer would have recognized it. A fist like a crusty rock appeared out of nowhere, a graceful arc to it, a perfect parabola that ended at Jukes' head. Not his face or his jaw. Nowhere he could get really hurt, maybe hurt real bad for a long time, not even near his ear. Miller clubbed him on the side of the skull, near the back where it starts to slope down to the neck.

It was like a cartoon almost. The angry, charging bull bearing down on the seemingly innocent man and at the last second the man pulls out a huge sledgehammer and wallops the stars out of the bull, who lays unconscious at his feet.

Jukes was out cold.

We all stood there, no one said anything. Jukes was lying on the ground, and he wasn't moving.
Miller bent down and checked that he was still breathing. His face had drained of color and his eyes were wide and showing white from the shock of the last 20 seconds.
He goggled at us. He said “I just wanted him to stop. Crazy bastard!”

No one said anything.

That was the end of the our Last Halloween.

We drifted apart after that, to our own lives, to new friends, to new experiences.

Jukes was fine. He never retaliated or anything. We all just pretended like it never happened and we all decided, unspoken, that whatever bonds we had were now dissolved.

1981.

title: [RF] Last Halloween

question: What happens to Dweeb's storm trooper rifle?

answer: When Dweeb appears in his authentic storm trooper costume, complete with rifle, everyone loses their minds. Jukes ripped the rifle out of Dweeb's hands and starts running around going "Pyoo, pyoo!" at imaginary enemies. They all run around chasing him, grabbing and yelling while Dweeb shouts for his gun back. Juke falls over the corner of the coffee table crying. Dweeb takes back his now-broken stormtrooper rifle. He then repairs the gun with duct tape and white spray paint.

question: Is the group not greedy when it comes to Halloween candy?

answer: They come across a home with a heaping pile of candy on a silver platter with a sign that says "take one!" and they take it all. They are even tempted to steal the silver platter and pawn it, but the majority of the boys are against it.

question: How does their Halloween night end?

answer: Miller had given Jukes a hard time about wanting to steal the silver platter and Jukes was having none of it. Jukes had snapped. His eyes were glassy with tears, his mouth a fanged shred in his face. Jukes launched himself again against Miller. As Juke flew toward Miller, Miller did a stutter-step and flung a fist at the side of his skull. It was cartoonish. It was like a charging bull bearing down on a seemingly innocent man and at the last second the man pulling out a huge sledgehammer that lays the bull out. Jukes was out cold. No one said anything. That was the end of their last Halloween.

question: How many times did the boys go out on Halloween together?