text:
1.  politics

The Department for Health and Human Services plans to announce a new division Thursday to protect health workers with moral or religious objections to some procedures, including abortions and sex reassignment surgery.

Posted on January 17, 2018, at 7:40 p.m. ET

The Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Civil Rights is creating a new division to protect health workers with moral or religious objections to performing certain procedures, including things like abortions or sex reassignment surgery for transgender patients.

The new division is called the Conscience and Religious Freedom Division, and will be officially announced Thursday morning at an event at HHS.

According to an invitation to the event provided to BuzzFeed News, the division will specialize “in enforcement of and compliance with laws that protect conscience and free exercise of religion, and that prohibit coercion and discrimination.” HHS did not immediately respond to BuzzFeed News’ request for comment.

The announcement comes as conservative groups have urged the Trump administration to provide protections for medical workers who have been fired or believe they have been professionally discriminated against for refusing to perform procedures they oppose for religious or moral reasons.

The event will feature several anti–abortion rights speakers, including House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, Missouri Rep. Vicky Hartzler, and Sara Hellwege, a nurse midwife who was turned down for a job because “she is a member of a pro-life medical association and has a faith-based objection to abortion,” according to the announcement.

HHS is also announcing the move on the first day of the March for Life, an annual anti–abortion rights event in Washington, at which President Trump is scheduled to speak via satellite on Friday.

Issuing “conscience protections” is not new for the Trump administration, which issued two rules in October allowing employers with religious or moral objections to drop coverage for contraception. But those rules were blocked by a federal judge in mid-December. President George W. Bush’s HHS issued very similar “conscience protection” rules during his time in office, but the Trump White House seems to go further in creating a new division.

The head of OCR, Roger Severino, said in June that issuing these protections was a “priority” for his office. His former employer, the Heritage Foundation, released a report in December urging the administration to provide these kinds of protections for medical workers.

Establishing the Conscience and Religious Freedom Division represents a dramatic policy reversal for HHS’s civil rights office. Under former president Obama, OCR implemented the Obamacare requirement that employers provide cost-free contraception to all female employees on their health insurance. And in 2016, it reinterpreted the law barring health care discrimination as applying to transgender individuals.

Abortion rights advocates called the new division “incredibly dangerous.” Planned Parenthood’s Vice President of Public Policy Dana Singiser said that the activity of the division could “prevent women and transgender people from getting the care they need” by enabling medical professionals to refuse to perform requested procedures.

Anti-abortion groups, however, see the establishment of a new division as a step in the right direction. Mallory Quigley of the anti-abortion group SBA List said in a statement to BuzzFeed News that the move makes it clear “the Trump administration has made it a serious priority to protect the freedom of conscience.”

-   [Picture of Ema O'Connor]

question: What is the purpose of the Department for Health and Human Services' new devision?

answer: To protect health workers with moral or religious objections to procedures including abortions and sex reassignment surgery

question: Who will be speaking at the announcement event?

answer: House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, Vicky Hartzler, Sara Hellwege

question: Explain what "conscience protections" are.

answer: Policies that protect workers who have moral or religious objections

question: Why do abortion rights advocates think the new division is dangerous?

answer: Enabling medical professionals to refuse to perform requested procedures can prevent women and transgender people from getting the care they need.

question: What other event does the announcement coincide with?

answer: The first day of the March for Life (an anti-abortion rights event in Washington).

question: Write a ~3 sentence summary.

answer: The Department for Health and Human Services plans to introduce a new division to protect health workers with moral and religious objections to procudes (such as abortions and sex reassignment surgeries). An event will be held by HHS to announce the new division and will feature speakers like Kevin McCarthy, Vicky Hartzler, and Sara Hellwege. Abortion rights advocates view this new division as incredibly dangerous, as it can prevent women and transgender people from getting the care they need.


split: test

text:
DISCLAIMER: I am not a very good writer, neither are my ideas novel. This story may creep some out, and that is the intended effect. Unfortunately, I don't think I developed the main character well enough for the effect to really take hold. Comments and criticisms are welcome.

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He stood silently over the fresh corpse of the bodacious, blonde adolescent. There was a backpack strap roped around the woman’s neck, signaling that the obvious cause of death was strangulation. The observer bent down and placed the tips of his right index and middle fingers on the adolescent’s wrist to check for a pulse. There was none.

“I really do apologize for all this,” bemoaned the man as he stood back up and soaked in the surroundings. He found himself locked in his victim’s room – in her family’s house – and quite enjoyed the thrill of knowing that any moment the victim’s family could arrive back home, check on their daughter, and put an end to the man’s ruse. “You won’t mind if I dress you up, will you?” There was no response. There could be no response. The man was having a conversation with his deceased victim.

The murderer rummaged through the victim’s closet, running his fingers through the variety of silk and cotton fabrics that delicately hung within. A blue, silk dress caught the man’s eye. It was a dress that he had seen the victim wearing a few weeks prior. Had he not seen the victim wearing the dress, she might not be dead today. “I remember it vividly,” whispered the feminine voice as he removed the dress from its hanger and compressed it against himself. He proceeded to tuck his head into his chest and take a whiff of the dress’s odor. He could smell her victim’s flowery perfume. It took him back, reminding him of why he was there – why he had strangled his love.

The courtyard of Williamson High School left was not very pleasant, as the poorly maintained foliage obstructed the walkways and graffiti from previous graduating classes decorated many of the buildings and other structures. Still, it was the best place to people watch in all of the school. There were approximately seven or so standalone buildings in the courtyard, one for core each subject, plus electives, a cafeteria, a gymnasium, and an administrative building. Students had to walk through the courtyard to get to their next class. Students also had the option of sitting down at one of the picnic tables under a covered gondola that were scattered throughout the high school’s courtyard. One such gondola was in the center of the courtyard.

“Look at him,” remarked a prepubescent, male voice as he pointed at a classmate of his. “The kid is such a tool,” he added. “He’s in my geometry class and, he’s always offering to help the girls understand slope. I can’t stand him.” The angry teenager was pointing at his male classmate that was joking around with a cute brunette and one of her blonde friends. “Probably thinks they’ll sleep with him if he acts smart and generous. Does he ever offer to help me or someone else if we need help? Nope, because I don’t have a pair of tits! Fucking jackass.”

“What is he, your boyfriend?”

“No! I’m not gay; the kid’s just a dick!”

“It sounds like you have a crush on him,” replied one of the teenage boys sitting under the gondola. “Why don’t you ask him out? Maybe he’ll say yes, and you two can live happily ever after.”

“I’m not gay! I just don’t like that kid! He’s fake! He’s a big, fat phony!”

As the two teenage boys continued their banter with one another, a third boy – about sixteen, the oldest of the trio – kept his gaze fixated on the tool that his friend had pointed out to him. He interrupted his friends banter for a second to ask a question. “Who’s the blonde? She’s cute,” he commented.

“That’s Alyssa,” replied the original boy. “Why? Do you want to fuck her?”

The third boy blushed, unsure whether he should respond or keep to himself. He decided with the latter, gathered his stuff, and then took off for his next class. He kept his eyes fixated on the beautiful blonde teen, wearing the stunning blue dress that exhibited her petite figure.  She had set the trap, and he had taken the bait. He was obsessed with Alyssa.

Rather than go to his next class, boy number three followed Alyssa to hers. She was taking calculus, which meant that she was decently smart as well. “She’s amazing,” boy number three thought to himself as he made his way back towards his English class. He could not thinking about Alyssa. She, just from a glance, had made him feel things he had never felt before. The rest of the school day continued without incident. It was not until the end of the day that he saw Alyssa again. She was walking home. He could follow her. He could find out where he lives. So he did.

Alyssa lived in an upper middle class subdivision, containing about ten or so homes. Small residential developments were typical of the area. Each lot was about on an acre or so, which meant that the houses were spaced just well enough apart to give everyone privacy and space from one another. Alyssa’s home sat in the front of the development. Trees and bushes covered her home’s lot. They gave her stalker the cover he needed to watch her house, to watch Alyssa, without arising any suspicion. He spent many afternoons and nights concealed in the bushes near her bedroom, stealing a glimpse of her whenever he could. He learned a lot about Alyssa during these days and nights. He learned that she volunteered at the Humane Society, was obsessed with pop music celebrities like Justin Bieber, and was otherwise a generic high school girl prepping for college.

Armed with this knowledge, the boy decided to approach Alyssa one afternoon while she was walking home from school. “Hello,” commented the boy. “I’m Charles.”

“I’m Alyssa.”

“That’s a nice name. Anyways, I’m in Ms. Sanzone’s class, and I saw you walking out of her classroom the other day – god that sounds creepy – and I forgot what the calculus homework is for tonight, do you happen to know what it is?”

“Uhm, I wrote it down. I think it’s some derivatives problem set.”

“Yeah, but which one?”

Charles must have alarmed Alyssa in some way. The girl immediately closed up and ceased talking to Charles. “I don’t know, sorry,” she hastily replied as she upped her pace in an attempt to get away from the creepy sixteen year old. Had she spotted him stalking her?

“Did I do something wrong,” cried out Charles as he began running to keep up with Alyssa. She started running, too. She was almost home. She would be safe inside her house. “Which problem set is it? Are you going to tell me?”

“Just leave me alone! Go away! I know it was you the other night!”

Charles stopped dead in his tracks. Alyssa was rejecting him. She was scared of him, and he did not understand why. He had felt that he and she had bonded during those stalking sessions. She undressed with him around. She had intimate conversations with him around. They had become close, even if they had not spoken with one another. Charles was devastated. There was only one way for him to fix this. He had to talk with Alyssa. After a few moments of collecting his thoughts, he proceeded to walk towards her home.

“Alyssa, I’m sorry,” stammered Charles as he banged on her door.

“Go away! Or I’ll call the cops!”

Charles backed away from the door, and proceeded around the house to Alyssa’s window. It was open, just as it was on most sunny days. She had forgot to close it. Charles carved a hole out of the window screen with a pen, and then climbed through it. He heard a few footsteps coming from the hallway and figured that it was Alyssa coming in to her room. In a panic, he hid behind where the door would open.

As Alyssa walked through the doorframe, she could sense that someone was watching her. She figured that Charles was outside her bedroom window, but she feared to look. She kept her head down, careful not to look at the window. She made her way to it, planning to close it. Meanwhile, Charles had other plans for her. He emerged from behind her bedroom door, and removed his backpack from his back. Charles had one of those one-strapped backpacks, which he immediately roped around Alyssa’s neck and pulled towards him. The attack caught Alyssa by surprise, and she was unable to do much other than let out a few muffled screams that nobody was able to hear. Her neighbors were still at work. Her parents were not yet home. She was at the mercy of Charles, her stalker.

Charles wiped a tear away from his eye. “If you hadn’t run away from me, you would still be alive,” cried Charles as he compressed the blue dress against his chest. He looked down at Alyssa’s cold body, dressed in a ratty t-shirt and denim jeans. “You look better in this,” said Charles, obviously referring to the dress. He removed Alyssa’s t-shirt and jeans, then dressed her in the dress and placed her on her bed. He folded the cover the comforter over the top of her body, and then slipped into the bed right next to her corpse.

“This is all I wanted,” commented Charles as a smile developed on his face. His arm wrapped around Alyssa, and then he pulled his own body closer to hers. He cuddled with his victim, his love – pondering hard why she had rejected him.

title: Written in two hours, horror genre. I think it has potential, but needs more development and background. Thoughts?

question: What does the text say about how Alyssa died?

answer: Alyssa is killed by Charles, her stalker who's become obsessed with her. Because she rejects him when he attempts to make friends, he creeps into her room and strangles her to death with his backpack strap.

question: What does the text say about Charles's personality?

answer: Charles is a stalker and a sociopath. He has no remorse when he kills Alyssa, a girl at school he's obsessed with. He even enjoys the thrill of the possibility of being caught by her parents inside her room, and he cuddles with the girl's corpse in bed after dressing her up. He blames her for why she's dead. It is evident that he has a mental disorder.

question: What does the text say about Charles's other victims before Alyssa?

question: What does the text say about Allysa as a student?

answer: Allysa goes to Williamson High School. She is a smart student and studies calculus. She even goes the extra mile and does group studies with friends at school. She cares about school, her homework, and going to college.


text:
[Coat of arms of Lionel Cranfield Sackville, 1st Duke of Dorset, KG, PC] LIONEL CRANFIELD SACKVILLE, 1ST DUKE OF DORSET (18 January 168810 October 1765) was an English political leader and Lord Lieutenant of Ireland.

Life

He was the son of the 6th Earl of Dorset and 1st Earl of Middlesex, and the former Lady Mary Compton, younger daughter of the 3rd Earl of Northampton. Styled LORD BUCKHURST from birth, he succeeded his father as 7TH EARL OF DORSET and 2ND EARL OF MIDDLESEX in 1706, and was created DUKE OF DORSET in 1720.

Perhaps because he had been on a previous diplomatic mission to Hanover, he was chosen to inform George I of his accession to the Crown in August 1714. George I initially favoured him and numerous offices and honours were given to him: Privy Councillor, Knight of the Garter, Groom of the Stole, Lord Steward, Governor of Dover Castle and Warden of the Cinque Ports. At George I's coronation he carried the sceptre: at the coronation of George II he was Lord High Steward and carried St Edward's Crown. He quarreled with the King in 1717 and was told his services were no longer required, but he was made a Duke three years later.

Lord Lieutenant of Ireland

Dorset served twice as Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, from 1731 to 1737 and again from 1751 to 1755. In 1739, at the foundation of the Foundling Hospital, he was one of that charity's original governors. His first term as Lord Lieutenant was uneventful. His second took place at a time of acute political tension between the two main factions in the Irish Government, one led by Henry Boyle, the Speaker of the Irish House of Commons, the other by George Stone, the Anglican Archbishop of Armagh. Dorset, now heavily influenced by his son George Sackville, made the mistake of openly backing the Archbishop. He was unable to oust Boyle from power, and was accused of being the Archbishop's tool. He became extremely unpopular, leading to his eventual recall.

Last Years

His last years were uneventful, apart from a riot in 1757 caused by the passage of the Militia Act to raise an army for the Seven Years' War, in which he narrowly escaped injury. He died at Knole on 9 October 1765 and was buried at Withyham in Sussex.

Character

Horace Walpole gave this sketch of his character : “with the greatest dignity in his appearance, he was in private the greatest lover of buffoonery and low company.. he was never thought to have wanted a tendency to power, in whosever hands it was”. Jonathan Swift thought him one of the most agreeable and well- informed men, and best conversationalists, he had ever met. Even harsh critics admitted his dignity and perfect decorum, a last legacy of the manners of the Court of Queen Anne.

Family

He married Elizabeth Colyear, the daughter of Lieutenant-General Walter Colyear (brother of the David Colyear, 1st Earl of Portmore), in January 1709. She later became a Lady of the Bedchamber (1714–1737) and Mistress of the Robes (1723–1731) to Caroline of Ansbach, wife of George II.

Lionel and Elizabeth's sons were:

-   Charles, Earl of Middlesex (later 2nd Duke of Dorset)
-   Lord John Sackville (father of John Sackville, 3rd Duke of Dorset)
-   Lord George Sackville (later Lord George Germain and 1st Viscount Sackville)

They also had two daughters:

-   Elizabeth, who married Thomas Thynne, 2nd Viscount Weymouth
-   Carolline, who married Joseph Damer, 1st Earl of Dorchester.

title: Lionel Sackville, 1st Duke of Dorset

question: What does the article say about who was Lionel Sackville?

answer: Lionel Sackville was Duke of Dorset. He served twice as Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, from 1731 to 1737 and again from 1751 to 1755. He was one of the foundation of the Foundling Hospital's original governors.

question: What does the article say about Lionel Sackville's wife?

answer: His wife was Elizabeth Colyear, the daughter of Lieutenant-General Walter Colyear. She was a Lady of the Bedchamber and Mistress of the Robes to Caroline of Ansbach, wife of George II. She had five children with Lionel Sackville, three sons and two daughters.

question: What does the article say about Lionel Sackville's education?


text:
Harper’s hands were shaking.

She gripped the edge of the bed tightly, willing herself to steady her breathing and slow her racing heart. It almost worked.

[]

“What the hell happened?” Katie’s voice sounded so far away. “Is she okay?” Harper felt her mattress sink slightly as her roommate took a seat by her side.

Ivy shrugged, and muttered a reply that was too quiet for Harper to make out. But she was sure she could already guess what she was telling Katie.

How she’d found Harper, sobbing and inconsolable as one of the guards led her down the hallway.

[]

How she’d offered to escort her the rest of the way to her room.

[]

And how Harper had stayed silent, seemingly ignoring all of the other girl’s worried questions.

[]

Harper appreciated Ivy’s gesture. Whether it was out of genuine kindness or simply repayment for the way she had been looking out for her the past few weeks, Harper was grateful. But it was so difficult to find her voice. She wasn’t even able to manage a simple “thank you”.

“I can take it from here.” Katie spoke again. She placed a hand tentatively on Harper’s shoulder, glancing up at Ivy as she did so. “Thanks for helping her.”

Harper sensed a second, softer touch against her other shoulder then. It felt nice. Warm.

[]

“You know where to find me if you need anything.” This time, she was able to make out Ivy’s soft, musical voice.

[]

“Thanks.” She finally managed in a whisper. Had it even been loud enough for the other girl to hear? Harper couldn’t be certain. But the next thing she knew, the warm touch on her shoulder was gone, and so was Ivy. Everything suddenly felt even emptier than it had before.

“Harper. You’re freaking me out.” Katie’s voice broke the silence. It was rare to hear her sound so serious. She didn’t even call her ‘deaf girl’. “It’s… It’s not the baby, is it? Phoenix… He’s okay?”

[]

She nodded slowly, willing herself to finally speak. “He’s fine. It’s… It’s my Oma. Th-they told me sh-she fell this morning… She h-hit her head…”

“Oh shit.” Katie leaned closer to her, placing a small hand against Harper’s back. “Is she…?”

“They don’t know. Sh-she’s in surgery. Th-they said she m-ight not… _Fuck._” Harper buried her face in her hands, unable to go on.

[]

Katie let her cry for a few more minutes before finally speaking again. “I’m so sorry. That really sucks.”

Harper felt a sudden warmth rushing from her chest up to her cheeks. “It ‘sucks’? Seriously?” She narrowed her eyes at the other girl. “This more than just ‘sucks’, Katie! She’s dying! And I never got to tell her I was sorry… I was such a fucking bitch. I didn’t wanna admit I was wrong… And now it’s too late. She’ll never know how much I wish I…” Harper shook her head.

[]

“It’s not too late.” Katie replied seriously. “Talk to the director. He’s not a _total_ ass, you know. You might need a guard to come babysit you… But I bet he’ll let you go see her.”

She shook her head. “I can’t do that.” Harper’s voice was soft.

“What? Why not?”

“I just _can’t_, okay?!”

[]

“What the hell? I thought you said you want a chance to apologize!”

“I do!” Harper cried. “It’s not her that’s the problem.” She hesitated before continuing. _There’s no way she’ll understand…_ “It’s my Papa.” She said at last. “I just… I can’t see him right now.”

Katie stared at her for a few moments, the confusion apparent in her eyes. “His _Mama is dying._ You _need_ to see him.”

[]

Harper sighed heavily. “Okay, first off, she’s not his real Mama. She’s his Tante. His real parents already died way back when he was a little kid.”

“So what? From everything you’ve told me, it sounds like she’s his Mama in all the ways that matter.” She shrugged. “You wouldn’t call her your Oma if she wasn’t, would you?”

Harper ignored her. “And secondly, you don’t know my Papa, okay?! You don’t know what he’s like. All he’s gonna do is make me feel even more guilty than I already do. He’s just gonna make it worse. And I can’t deal with that right now!”

[]

Katie’s eyes widened. “You’re joking, right? You can’t be serious, deaf girl.” She shook her head in disbelief. “You’re refusing to be there for your own Papa… Whose Mama is _dying… _All because he _might_ say something to make _you_ feel bad? Are you seriously that fucking selfish?!”

[]

“Ugh! I knew you wouldn’t understand!” Harper practically spat at her. What right did this bitch have to question her? “Let me spell it out for you, huh? He and I… we don’t get along. At all. I hate my Papa. I _hate _him!”

To her horror, the other girl _laughed. _“Are you seriously listening to yourself right now? You’re giving me flashbacks to when we were a couple of whiny brats back at school.”

“What the fuck is your problem, Katie?!” Harper was suddenly on her feet. “Why can’t you stay out of my business?! We’re not friends. You don’t know my Papa, and you don’t know _me_ either! So stop pretending you know better than I do! Don’t give me this stupid lecture about shit you don’t understand!”

[]

“Oh, you’re one to talk!” Katie sneered. “_You’re_ the one who doesn’t understand. I’m sure your parents have done _plenty_ to piss you off. But at least they _tried._ At least they gave a damn about you!”

For a moment, Harper was almost at a loss for words. _What is she talking about?_

[]

“My parents never wanted a kid.” Katie continued. “They’ll never say it, but I always knew it was true. They never gave a shit about me. They just kept throwing money at me my whole friggin’ life, thinking that would be enough. But it wasn’t.” Her eyes narrowed. “And year after year, even back when we were little kids, I had to listen to you whine and complain about how ‘annoying’ your parents were, or how much they ‘smothered’ you. I couldn’t believe you were so ungrateful!” Katie’s voice had suddenly grown so much louder. “And yeah, I was a bitch to you for a long time. I was a stupid kid, and I took a lot out on you. I went way too far. And I feel bad for it, okay? I’ve been trying to make it up to you now.”

[]

_Woah._ Harper had spent so many years wondering what she’d done to make Katie hate her so much. What had she ever done to earn that constant bullying? Now, it seemed she finally had an answer. It wasn’t an answer she fully understood, and definitely not one she was expecting. But it was something.

“Look… I appreciate the explanation.” At last, Harper spoke as she dropped back down onto the bed beside Katie. She actually found herself feeling bad for her. Harper knew all too well what it was like to have difficult parents. “And I’m sorry you had problems with your parents. But… so did I. And I know it’s probably not fair to compare my problems to yours. I get it. They’re just too different. But that doesn’t mean my problems don’t matter too.”

“Yeah, I know. And. I know things aren’t perfect with you and your parents. I’m sure you’ve got plenty of problems… I just wish you understood how friggin’ lucky you are.” Katie continued. ” I’ve been in here for nine months, and in all that time, my parents have come to see me _twice._.. Once on my birthday, and the day after Christmas.”  She paused for a moment, shaking her head. “They stayed for less than half an hour both times. I knew they only came because they felt like they had to. They don’t care about me, Harper… I don’t have anybody.”

[]

Harper was silent for several moments, lost in thought. Was it true? Did she really have no one? Now that she thought of it, she could never recall actually seeing Katie’s parents show up for anything… Not now, at the prison, and not when they were children either. But she did remember a kind-looking older woman Katie would always run up to and hug after every concert or game back when they were at school together.

“Well, what about your Oma?” She asked at last. “I remember seeing her around a lot when we were kids.”

“My nanny.” Katie corrected her. “Alice.” For a moment, she smiled. “Yeah, she was the best. My parents were always away on business, or taking all these stupid trips together without me. But I always had Alice. She used to take care of me, until I was like fourteen or fifteen. That was when my parents decided I could take care of myself… I never saw much of her after that.”

Katie paused for a moment before finally speaking again. “Hey… Remember the story of how I got in here?”

[]

Harper nodded slowly. “You stole a car, at that party…”

“It was a stupid ‘gala’ my Papa’s work was putting on.” Katie explained. “He practically forced me to go… Papa basically ignores me like, ninety percent of the time. But he always loves parading me in front of everybody any chance he gets. Pretending he’s parent of the year or something.” She rolled her eyes. “Anyway, I was bored out of my friggin’ mind, and a pretty tipsy too… My mind was kinda wandering, and I realized I’d missed Alice’s birthday. It was like a week ago, but it totally slipped my mind til then.

I never called her enough anymore, and I felt pretty guilty about it. So I decided why not give it a try? Better late than never, right?” She paused for a moment, almost laughing. “It was the most awkward time to make a phone call, but I was too drunk to care. I just wanted to talk to Alice…”

Harper felt her stomach sink. She didn’t like where this was going.

“Alice’s daughter was the one who answered.” Her voice was serious once more. “Told me she’d had a heart attack two months ago. Died before they even got her to the hospital…”

[]

Katie’s voice was suddenly thick. “But you know what the worst part was? I went to go tell my parents… And they already knew. They’d known for _two fucking months_ that the woman who raised me was DEAD. And they never even cared enough to tell me. ‘It must’ve slipped our minds,’ they said.”

“Holy shit…” Harper’s voice was a whisper. “That’s… terrible.”

[]

“The only person who ever really gave a shit about me was gone. And I just didn’t care anymore… All I knew was I wanted to get back at my parents.” Katie continued. “So I decided to make a big fucking scene. Embarrass them as much as I could. I screamed at my Papa in front of everybody, then went and totaled one of his investor’s cars. It was so stupid. And all I can think of now is how ashamed Alice would have been if she could’ve seen it…” She shook her head slowly.

It was a few moments before Harper was able to find her voice again. _Jesus Christ. And I thought MY parents were bad. _“Wow… I’m so sorry.” She said lamely. She wasn’t sure what else she could say.

Beside her, Katie almost smiled. “I’m not looking for pity, don’t worry. I just… I want you to understand how lucky you are to have the family that you do. I’m sure they’re not perfect, but I guarantee they’re a hell of a lot better than mine are… And they _need_ you, Harper. I just don’t think you should turn your back on them. Not now.”

[]

Harper took a slow, deep breath as her mind tried to wrap itself around everything that was going on — and everything Katie had told her too. “Look, I just… I dunno right now. Everything’s so fucked up. It’s… a lot to take.” She replied. “I don’t really know what I’m gonna do.”

“I get it.” Katie assured her. “And I’m really sorry I dumped all my shit on you like that. I probably took it too far…” The girl smiled slightly for a moment. “After all these months in here, I think Dr. S is finally starting to get in my head…” Katie’s expression was suddenly serious once more. “Anyway, the point is, I’m really sorry about your Oma. And I really hope you can put all the shit with your Papa aside long enough to go see her. That’s all.”

_God, she makes it sound so easy… _“I’m not sure if I can…” Harper admitted softly, feeling yet another round of tears beginning to fall. “But thanks.”

[]

——————————————-

_Before you all hurt me for doing this to Joce (I’M SORRY, OKAY?! *sobbing*) I do come bearing some good news? A peace offering?_

_We will be returning to THREE UPDATES A WEEK, starting NOW! 🙂 I’m not sure how long I can keep it up, but for the time being, we’ll do three. I’ll go back to two if it gets too much (and let you all know, as always!) The schedule will be the same as when I did three a week before — WEEKENDS AND WEDNESDAYS. See you with a new chapter tomorrow! 🙂_

question: Why did Katie bully Harper before?

answer: Because she was venting the turmoil she felt from knowing that her parents didn't love or want her.

question: Why does Harper say her Oma isn't really her grandmother?

answer: Because her grandparents died when her father was very young, her "Oma" is just her grandmother "in all the ways that matter."


text:
"Her wattles turned bright red."

Falling from a truck was probably the best thing that could have happened for Ivan the turkey.

Ivan was recently packed onto a truck bound for the slaughterhouse when he somehow came loose and went flying onto the pavement of Interstate 83 in Maryland.

He sat there, on the side of the highway, for probably 24 hours before he was spotted by someone who knew just whom to contact: Poplar Spring Animal Sanctuary. And it's a good thing they did — Ivan was seriously injured and would have certainly died if no one had stepped in to help.

[Turkey who lost his wing finds true love at sanctuary]
Poplar Spring Animal Sanctuary

The people at Poplar Spring quickly coordinated a rush vet appointment for Ivan at Best Friends' Animal Hospital in Gaithersburg, where it was discovered just how much he loves it when people pet him and stroke his little head.

It was also discovered, though, that his jaw was broken and his wing was mangled beyond repair. He was treated for his injuries by Dr. Victoria Hollifield, who very carefully cleaned up his wounds, wired his jaw and amputated his wing.

"Ivan’s personality is really coming out now that he is beginning to feel better," Terry Cummings, founder of Poplar Spring, told The Dodo. "He likes to follow people, and loves to have his feathers preened where he can’t reach. He is very mischievous and likes to steal paper towels and run off with them. He enjoys getting petted and having his head massaged, he closes his eyes."

[Ivan the turkey who fell from slaughterhouse truck]
Poplar Spring Animal Sanctuary

Ivan is currently healing at Poplar Spring's infirmary, where he's getting to enjoy the sights around him. "He seems to like his new accommodations in the infirmary," the sanctuary wrote in an update. "He is fascinated watching the deer and cows go by in the woods. He will need to stay inside while his wing and jaw are healing, but he seems to be enjoying his room with a view!"

Recently, Ivan had a brief opportunity to meet Coco the hen, who got a little sick. He came over to her enclosure and showed off his new shirt, which has a practical purpose — keeping his post-surgery wing wound safe from his curious little beak — but also suits him quite well, aesthetically.

[Ivan the turkey who fell from a slaughterhouse truck in Maryland]
Poplar Spring Animal Sanctuary

When Coco was feeling better, though, she went back with her little group of hen friends, and Ivan was on his own again — until sanctuary staff decided to introduce him to Madison.

"Ivan the turkey was very lonely in the infirmary," the sanctuary wrote. "We brought Madison, one of our lovely girl turkeys, to visit him through the door. He was interested, but I think she was more excited to see him — her wattles turned bright red. She’s never seen a big white turkey boy before!"

[Ivan the turkey who fell from a slaughterhouse truck in Maryland]
Poplar Spring Animal Sanctuary

Ivan continued making big strides toward recovery — to the point that he was even healthy enough to take his first steps outside, onto the lush grass of the sanctuary, his new home.

He perked up immediately at the sights and sounds around him and happily soaked in some sunshine.

[Ivan the turkey who fell from a slaughterhouse truck in Maryland]
Poplar Spring Animal Sanctuary

His new girlfriend Madison was also there for the milestone. And it's clear their bond is growing stronger by the moment.

"He was especially interested in Madison, another rescued white turkey, who he had previously seen through the windows of the infirmary," Cummings said. "They did some 'turkey talk' and puffed up at each other."

Once Ivan is fully healed, he'll be able to even meet a whole crew of feathered friends with rescue stories similar to his own.

[Ivan the turkey who fell from a slaughterhouse truck meets new girlfriend]
Poplar Spring Animal Sanctuary

"We are so happy that this handsome turkey boy escaped a terrible fate and can now live a wonderful long life where he can scratch and peck in the grass and dust-bathe under the trees with his new turkey and chicken friends," Cummings said. "It’s a life that all turkeys deserve, but so few get to live. He is truly one of the very lucky ones."

You can congratulate Ivan on his new home at Poplar Spring by making a donation to his care.

question: What does the article say about what happened to Ivan the turkey?

answer: Ivan the turkey fell from the slaughterhouse truck and hurt his wings and jaw. A man founded and brought him to Poplar Spring Animal Sanctuary. It turn out that his wing had to be amputated. He is currently healing at Poplar Spring's infirmary. He enjoys getting petted there.

question: What does the article say about Coco?

answer: Coco was taken to Poplar Spring Animal Sanctuary because she got sick. She met Ivan there and when she was feeling better, she was taken back to the other hens.

question: What does the article say about the chicken industry?


text:
PAUL MURRAY FLEISS (September 8, 1933 – July 19, 2014) was an American pediatrician and author known for his unconventional medical views.[1] Fleiss was a popular and sought-after pediatrician in the Greater Los Angeles area, both among poor and middle-class patients living near his Los Feliz office and among Southern California celebrities.[2] Fleiss was a breastfeeding and anti-circumcision advocate. He recommended but did not insist upon childhood vaccinations, and stated he could be “convinced either way” as to whether HIV causes AIDS.[3] In 1994, he pleaded guilty to conspiracy and bank fraud in relation to his daughter Heidi's prostitution ring.[4]

History

Fleiss initially trained as a pharmacist and osteopath.[5] He relocated from Detroit to California to take advantage of 1962 legislation allowing an osteopath to convert his degree to an MD.[6] He earned his B.S. in pharmacy from Wayne State University, his D.O. from the University of California, Irvine, and his M.P.H. from UCLA.

Fleiss was the father of “Hollywood madam” Heidi Fleiss. In 1995, he pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy and bank fraud. He helped Heidi launder hundreds of thousands of dollars by lying on her loan application and falsely claiming that she was an employee of his medical practice. He was sentenced to one day in prison, three years' probation, 625 hours of community service and a $50,000 fine.[7] Following the felony convictions, the Medical Board of California placed him on probation for 1 year and publicly reprimanded him for “unprofessional conduct” and “dishonesty”.[8]

Fleiss was the subject of a 1996 made-for-TV movie entitled _The Good Doctor: The Paul Fleiss Story_, in which Fleiss (played by Michael Gross) was portrayed sympathetically, as the victim of his daughter Heidi's machinations. _The New York Times_ noted that “the sweeping inaccuracies in 'The Good Doctor: The Paul Fleiss Story' evidently didn't hurt its ratings”, and the film was subsequently retitled _The Making of a Hollywood Madam_, and shown on cable television.[9]

Personal life

Fleiss was married to Elissa Ash until their divorce.[10] He had four daughters, Heidi, Amy, Shana, and Kim, and two sons, Jesse and Jason, the latter of whom predeceased his father.[11]

Paul Fleiss died July 19, 2014, aged 80, in Los Angeles, from undisclosed causes.[12]

Medical views and opinions

Fleiss was known for his unconventional medical views.[13] He was a proponent of the “family bed”.[14] While he recommended that his patients receive vaccines, he did not insist upon it.[15] He was quoted by the _Los Angeles Times_ as stating that he 'could be “convinced either way” on whether HIV causes AIDS'.[16] Fleiss was a breastfeeding advocate and anti-circumcision activist, or intactivist.[17][18] He was the author or co-author of three books: _Sweet Dreams_ (2001), _Your Premature Baby Comes Home_ with Juliette M. Alsobrooks (2006), and _What Your Doctor May Not Tell You about Circumcision_ with Frederick M. Hodges (2003).

Pediatric practice

Fleiss was described in the _Los Angeles Times_ as “everyone's favorite baby doctor” and having been “one of Southern California's most sought-after physicians” for thirty years.[19] Sometimes described in the media as a “pediatrician to the stars”,[20] he counted numerous celebrities or their children among his patients.

In 2005, Fleiss was investigated for his role in the death, from untreated AIDS, of Eliza Jane Scovill, the daughter of AIDS denialist Christine Maggiore, who was HIV-positive.[21] Against standard medical practice, Scovill was never tested for HIV, and Fleiss was investigated by the Medical Board of California for gross negligence in her care as well as in the care of a second child who was also HIV-positive.[22][23]

After receiving over 100 letters of support for Fleiss from patients and parents, the medical board reached a settlement in which Fleiss conceded a failure to maintain adequate medical records and agreed to regular review by an outside physician acting as a monitor.[24][25][26]

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title: Paul M. Fleiss

question: What were Fleis's unconventional medical views?

answer: Fleiss was a breastfeeding and anti-circumcision advocate. He recommended but did not insist upon childhood vaccinations, and stated he could be “convinced either way” as to whether HIV causes AIDS.

question: What crimes did Fleiss commit?

answer: In 1995, Fleiss pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy and bank fraud. He helped his daughter, Heidi, to launder hundreds of thousands of dollars by lying on her loan application and falsely claiming that she was an employee of his medical practice.

question: How did Paul Fleiss meet Elissa Ash?


text:
*apologese for spelling and formatting errors my nook is glitchy*

Snow fell softly outside their window, gently blanketing the lawn and sending a calm wave over Amber, something about fresh snow always relaxed her. The fire place spit and crackled as the burning wood began to break apart and fall to ash on the fireplace floor, the light glowing warming and romanticizing the living room. Amber stretched out on the leather couch, took another sip of wine, White Zinfandel, her favorite, and looked at the baby monitor on the mantle place. All was quiet and right in her little world, she sighed contently and buried her face back into the harlequin romance novel shed been meaning to read for months.  A few pages in she saw the familiar head lights of her husband Robert’s car pulling into the drive; she glanced at the clock and smiled, 8 o’clock, right on time. She placed the book on the coffee table, pulled herself from the couches comfortable grip and went to meet him at the door.

    Barely with a key in the lock Robert was not surprised when the door slid open and his eyes met the loving gaze of his wife’s. Married six years, together since high school and she still looked at him the same way she did the first time she told him she loved him. Robert wrapped his arms around her and leaned his head against hers, he’d been gone on business for a week and missed the way her strawberry scented shampoo tickled his nose. He kissed her cheek and then looked around, the house a bit more serene than normal, the kids asleep and what chaos they left in their waking hours cleaned up. The mouthwatering smell of the night’s dinner, a succulent roast beef, still wafted in the air, and as he suspected Amber had saved him the largest plate for his return. Robert kissed her again; it was good to be home.

    They began to recant the week’s events to one another as Amber reheated the plate stacked with enough food to feed an army. The details of Roberts business trip, which while Amber really had no interest in the ins and outs of corporate America, she hung to every word the came from his mouth, glad to have him home with her again and unwilling to take anytime spent talking with him for granted. The daily adventures of wrangling two children, managing a household, and attempting to find time to sit down to work on her next book, Robert was always amazed at Ambers ability to handle being a work at home mother, especially when he was gone.  It was difficult enough on her to deal with a rambunctious four year old, and colicky two month old on top of her work load when he was home. They did their best to help ease each other through the days. Robert would take three days off a week to manage the house work and kids while she locked herself in her den and spent hours typing away. Amber in turn would spend the rest of the week distracting the children so Robert wouldn’t be interrupted. Much to his surprise Amber never seemed flustered, though he credited that being a freelance author and one’s own boss while still stressful, had a much more lenient schedule.

   Robert finished his meal, cleaned the dishes and poured them both a glass of wine. They retreated to the living room and let to warm glow of the now dying fire bring them to a peaceful rest. He pulled amber close to him and held her against his chest, she sank into arms as if to say this is where she belonged. Robert gazed at the photos on the mantle place of his beautiful family, his bright eyed blond little girl Kelly with her crocked smile shined out from the most recent picture of her holding her new little brother, Dillian. He couldn’t help but feel as if he alone where the luckiest man on earth.  They continued talking for a few more hours till the fire was reduced to a few glowing embers at the bottom. Amber blotted them out with the fire poker and sauntered to the stair case beckoning him to follow with a deviously seductive look in her eyes. As if to read her mind Robert followed briskly to their bedroom.

  Outside the world was quiet, snow still fell and the woods that surrounded their house filled the air with soft cracking and the sound of wind gently whispering through the trees.  The sky was dark and the cloud cover made sure no traces of the stars shone through. Down the road about mile from their home a car crept up the dirt road, shutting its lights off when it came within sight of the house.  The driver parked a short distance from the drive way of the secluded house he’d been staking out for about two weeks. He cut the engine and sat, watching till the lights in the upstairs bedroom finally went out.

  He stepped out of his car and heavy black boots sank silently into the snow, he knew what he was going to do, had gone over this plan for weeks and had just been waiting for the man of the house to come home, one big happy family.  Dressed in black he stalked towards the house, a bag of tools slung over his right shoulder. Making his way to the back door he surveyed the layout of the houses exterior planning his exist strategy as he went.  Without so much as a noise he reached into his bag pulled out a pick and unlocked the door, it swung open slowly and effortlessly. Too easy.

  Examining the kitchen, the man in black looked for any sign of a security system, there on the wall was the security pin pad, blinking “unarmed” he smirked. He made his way up the stairs, trying to make sure they didn’t creak under his weight, and down the hall past the bedroom of the two sleeping adults and into the shared bedroom of two unsuspecting children.

    A child’s scream and babies cries broke the silence of the night, Robert woke with a jump, but suspected Kelly had woken scared from a nightmare and woken Dillan. Not wanting to wake Amber who appeared more worn out then normal he slid from their bed and walked down the hall. Turning the corner into his children’s room his heart stopped beating, the window was wide open and his babies were gone. Robert ran to the window and saw a man dressed in black running from his house his daughter slung over his shoulder and the baby in his arms. Panic struck him and he screamed down the hall as he ran past a now awake Amber and down the stairs.  He swung the door open and ran barefoot into the snow, ignoring the icy feeling sinking into his toes he ran in the direction of his daughters muffled cries. Blinded by the amount of snow falling but refusing to stop he kept running, chasing after the man who’d stolen his children.

   Amber had run into the kids room and upon realizing what had happened grabbed the phone to dial the police. Her voice shaking she gave the operator her address and was assured help was on the way. She ran outside to see if she could see Robert and the kids but all she could see was the multiple foot prints that ran into the woods. Amber realized that someone should be there when the police arrived so she dressed and tried to wait patiently for anyone to come to her home.

  The man in black had trouble keeping his pace, the weight of the children slowing him down, he hadn’t prepared to be chased, that wasn’t the plan. He kept going through the thick woods dodging trees and fallen limbs until he came to what looked like a snow covered clearing. He trudged through the snow, the baby in his arms wailing and the girl on his shoulder struggling fruitlessly. This was supposed to be easy. Behind him he could hear someone catching up to him, he looked behind himself to see Robert, breaking through the woods and coming for him. He ran again but couldn’t get his footing, the ground under the snow was hard and iced over. Turning to face Robert he walked backwards away from him.

Roberts gait had slowed, he could see the man in black and his children just thirty yards away, he thought if he could sprint quick and suddenly he wouldn’t have a chance to get away. Robert set his bare feet deeper into the snow, just as he sprang forward the man in black jumped back and loud cracking noise sounded through the air. Horror filled both men’s eyes, the clearing was the snow lake that had frozen over and the ice under the man in black had cracked. Robert didn’t have to time to think, or breath before the man and his children disappeared before his eyes, swallowed by the icy waters below. He didn’t think just reacted and dove into the cold water to try to save his children.

The dark waters of the lake gave no clue how deep it was, or how far down his children had already fallen. Robert continued to swim down the ice cold water biting at his bare flesh, chilling him to the core but he would not give up, would not come up without them in is arms. He swam down.

The man in black had lost the grip on the children when he fell in and in the panic of the ice water filling his lungs and not tried to get them back. He struggled to swim up and out but couldn’t find the hole he’d fallen through he was trapped under the ice and could feel the grip of death and it squeezed around his lungs. The only thought that crossed his mind as he slipped away, this was supposed to be easy.

Back at the house Ambers hands were shaking as she spoke to police, telling them what shed woken up to, and the direction he husband had ran. It was hours before the police that ventured into the woods following the trail of foot prints came back. They told her of the hole in the ice, that it looked like her husband and dived in after the suspect had fallen in, but they couldn’t be sure until the drained the lake at sun rise still an hour away. The color drained from her face when she realized the implication that her children and husband were gone forever.  Memories of how they first met, their engagement, wedding day and the birth of their children flashed through her mind and she began to sob uncontrollably.

  It took days to drain the lake, when they finally finished they found four bodies, the man in black who would later be named as Walter Mitchel, a man who worked for Ambers publishing company, had been involved in a plot to ransom the children back to Amber, notes in his car and a detailed plot in a note book lead police to believe he’d been planning it for weeks. Roberts body was found clinging to Kelly and Dillan, it was believed that he had reached them but the cold water and stolen all the energy he had in him and he was not able to make it back to the surface.  Newspaper headlines in surrounding cities and towns painted the tragedy as a heartbreaking incident of an evil man plot, a fathers undying love and a mother left to mourn the loss of her family. Reporters badgered Ambers home day and night, trying to get an interview that she so vehemently refused to give.  It took a few weeks for the vultures to disperse, and the funerals to come and go before Amber even attempted to return to her daily routines.

   Sitting in her den typing away at the key board, Amber stopped and grabbed  the picture of her family, sighing sadly she thought to herself; it was supposed to be easy,  this wasn’t how it was supposed to go. “although” she said allowed smirking” this certainly makes a better story then just a kidnapping”

title: [RF] Icy Waters

question: What does the story say about Robert's parents?

question: What does the story say about Amber and her family?

answer: Amber is a work-from-home freelance author who is working on her new book. Her favorite wine is White Zinfandel and she loves the relaxing feeling she gets when it's snowing. She's married to Robert and they have two children, four-year-old Kelly, and two-month-old Dillan. Amber stays at home taking care of the kids while Robert works, but he finds time to help her out. Amber is also a psychopath. She plotted the kidnapping of her own children and didn't feel an ounce of remorse when they died along with Robert, who tried to save them.

question: Summarize the relationship between Amber and Robert.

answer: Amber and Robert are high school sweethearts. They have been married six years and seem to be still head over heels in love with each other. She always greets him when he arrives home from work and they talk about the day's events over dinner.  Amber still looked at Robert the same way she did the first time she told him she loved him. He still missed the way her strawberry-scented shampoo tickled his nose. Amber seems to be okay with Robert going on week-long business trips while she stays home and takes care of the kids.

question: Summarize the plot twist.

answer: When Amber's whole family dies after falling into a frozen lake after the botched kidnapping of her two young children, everyone thought she was mourning the loss. What the people didn't know was that Amber plotted the kidnapping of her own children by enlisting the help of Walter Mitchel, a man who works at her publishing company. She tasked him to kidnap her kids and ransom them back to her because it would make a good story for the book she was writing. It was supposed to be easy. Amber even disabled the security system for Mitchel. However, things went south because her husband, Robert, was determined to save his children from the kidnapper. He never gave up and jumped into the frozen lake when the kids fell under with the kidnapper. They all died. In the end, Amber didn't feel empathy or remorse and was even pleased with the outcome because death is always better than kidnapping.

question: Summarize the plot of the story.

answer: When Robert comes home from a week-long business trip, he finds everything is peaceful at home. His loving wife, Amber, cooked him dinner and the kids were fast asleep. While they were sleeping, Walter Mitchel sneaks in and kidnaps the children (Kelly and Dillan), escaping through the window. Robert wakes up to Kelly screaming and rushes to their room, only to find the window open and the kids are gone. He sees Mitchel with the two kids and chases after them despite the snow freezing his bare feet. Amber calls the police and stays home to wait for help. Robert catches up to Mitchel, but they're standing on a frozen lake. It cracks and Mitchel and the kids fall under. Robert dives for his kids and manages to get to them, but the cold saps his energy and he couldn't resurface. They all die. The tragedy was all over the news and Amber was thought to be mourning. All evidence points to Mitchel who planned to put the kids up for ransom. He worked at Amber's publishing company. In a sick twist, however, it is revealed that Amber was the brains behind everything. She planned the kidnapping because she wanted to include it in the new book she was writing. Amber was delighted that everyone died in the end because it would make for a better story.


text:
Jason walked quickly down a hallway through the airport to get to his gate. The escalator was ascending just in front of him. To his right, a shopping area and food court bustled with other passengers all waiting for their respective planes. He had always hated escalators. He had fallen down one as a kid and he disliked them ever since, but he was been in a hurry and the stairs were tiring, considering how far he still had to go. Plus this would give him some time to think and get some space from Karen, before they met to get on their plane.

Annie was trying to take her time. She really needed some space to herself. She had been arguing with her boyfriend for the last twenty minutes at the gate and had just walked away to get a break. The exit to the food court and overpriced stores had just joined up with a hallway and at the far end of the junction was an escalator.

Jason was deep in thought. He couldn't believe he had been coaxed into this trip. His girlfriend had bugged him relentlessly until he had agreed. God he disliked her parents. They had such a different view of the world then him. Also why did they have to live in Minnesota, it was quite a long flight from Sky Harbor Airport. In the middle of winter too. He hated this.

Annie hated the cold but her boyfriend Chad had to go to the Rockies. He “needed” to snowboard. Why couldn't they ever do anything she wanted. Annie was about to step onto the escalator when she bumped into someone. “Oh, I'm sorry,” she said as she turned. A tall well built man who looked to be in his late twenties was standing there just as stunned as she was. “Oh, no problem,” he said back looking at the floor.

Jason looked down. He had been so lost in thought. This cute girl just bumped into him, and now he was all flustered. He had been so lost in thought he hadn't noticed her and now they were standing face to face. He could tell he was blushing but looked up and took a step back. He gestured with his hand and smiled. “After you.”

“Wow,” Annie thought. He's so chivalrous. He seemed very sincere in the gesture so, she stepped onto the escalator before him. The man nodded and smiled but hesitated before stepping on after her.

Jason had been with Karen for almost a year. He didn't really know why he still was, but he figured it was the best he could get, so why lose it. He noticed he'd stopped laughing as much and tended to do nothing but fight with her. Plus their tastes were so vastly different. He loved warm places with a beach. Hawaii. California. He needed the water. Karen on the other hand was all about the mountains and land locked states. She would never travel to the ocean. She was too afraid of it. Though she had never been but Jason had always guessed it was just a fear of the unknown. He loved spicy food. Karen hated it. He loved to read. She hated books. To be honest, Jason felt more and more like polar opposites with her, but he didn't have the courage to tell her that and break her heart. Plus she was his first real girl friend. He had been with a couple of girls before but they were short relationships so he never really counted it. Which made everything that much more complicated.

Annie had been with Chad for years. They had been high school sweethearts. Now that she was twenty-four though, she had realized how they weren’t the same. Not even remotely. She was into art and books and anything that had to do with warm sunny beaches. She loved the ocean and felt like it helped her write and read and just be more herself. Chad on the other hand, had really turned into a bum. He barely worked anymore and had been relying on Annie more and more for his income. He would sit around most days either watching T.V. or playing video games. He had planned this trip by dipping into their savings, for it was for his own “well being.” Annie was getting more and more disgusted with him but was too sweet and polite to tell him they weren't working.

Annie turned slightly on the escalator and looked at the man behind her. He had a death grip on the rail but she could tell he kept peeking at her. She smiled to herself. He really was cute. He had such startlingly bright eyes. What she couldn't figure out was why he was holding the rail so hard. Maybe he knew something she didn't. Wait, what if the escalator was going to jerk or hitch or something? They sometimes did that when they got older, right? Come to think of it, this one did look kind of old. Okay, really old. She might fall and get hurt. She tightened her grip on the rail too, just in case.

Jason saw the corner of the lady's mouth twitch when he looked at her. He thought for a second she was smiling but figured it was his imagination. Then he saw her grip tighten on the railing. Oh god. Something was going to happen. He knew it. She was freaking out because she knew the escalator was going to jerk and he would fall down it and get hurt again.

Annie had been always looking for that “Knight in shining armor.” The one from fairy tales. The one to sweep her off her feet. She definitely didn't feel like that with Chad but she couldn't leave him. They had a huge history together. Heck they had been out of high school for five years now. Annie looked down at her feet, thinking again. She needed a change. Something new and exciting. Maybe going somewhere like Hawaii or California. She had always wanted to go and hoped that someday Chad would take her there.

Jason was the kind of guy who wanted to sweep a girl off her feet. Do everything old-school. Be the knight in shining armor. He would take her everywhere and anywhere she wanted to go. Be the man that she needed and make her his princess. He has always and will always love with all of his heart all  the time. That is part of the reason he couldn't leave Karen. He couldn't bare hurting her like that. Also, could he even get another girlfriend? He doubted it.

Jason looked forward as he neared the top of the escalator. He would treat that girl with the utmost respect and be there for her whenever she needed it.

Annie shuffled her feet a little. She was almost at the top. She needed someone who could take care of her. Someone to hold her and tell her everything will be alright. Someone that would respect her for who she is, not drag her off to the cold, mountainous... She took a deep breath, wanting leave the argument alone.

Annie stepped off the escalator at the top and took a few steps. She turned and looked at the man behind her. She smiled sweetly and said, “Have a nice day.”

“You too.” Jason said back. “Hope it's a great one.” Jason turned as he got off and started walking toward the A gates 1-23. Hands pushed in his pockets dreading seeing Karen again. Wishing he could find the right person. Wishing he could find his princess.

Annie turned and headed toward the A gates 23-45. She pushed her hands in her pockets wishing that some how when she got to her gate Chad wouldn't be there. God she needed her knight to save her now.
Jason found Karen sitting at their gate. She had her feet over her things so no one would take them. She looked up and smiled but it seemed fake to him. He smiled back and plopped himself next to her believing this is the best he would get.

Annie saw Chad sitting at the gate where she had left him. He looked up and smiled but it didn't touch his eyes. “I'm sorry, babe. I didn't mean to yell.” He stood up and kissed her on the cheek. She leaned into him and smiled believing this is the best she would get.

title: Sonder [RO]/[MF]

question: Why does Jason hate escalators?

answer: He fell down one as a kid.

question: Why had Annie been arguing with her boyfriend?

answer: He needed to go somewhere cold to ski, and can never compromise to do what she wants.

question: How long have Jason and Karen been together?

answer: Almost a year.

question: What about Jason intrigues Annie?

answer: His gripping the escalator rail and the fact that he was chivalrous in saying "after you".

question: Write a ~8 sentence summary.

answer: Annie and Jason-two stranger from one another-are both at the same airport. Both are experiencing rocky times in their respective relationships. Jason has been with Karen for nearly a year, and he doesn't like her parents or Minnesota. Annie and Chad are long-term high school sweethearts, but Chad is boorish and uncompromising. When Jason and Annie collide at the airport, both are intrigued by the other. Annie finds Jason chivalrous and handsome. Jason gazes at Annie, thinking he would treat her with the utmost respect if he were her man. They go their separate ways, and as Annie greets Chad at the gate, she kisses him, believing he's the best she'll ever get.


text:
I walk farther into the woods, seeking seclusion and safety. I can feel the wind on my bare back and the soft moss beneath my feet. Pausing on a hill, I curl my toes into the soft earth and look out at the sunset. For anyone else, it would be a beautiful sight. For me, it is terrifying. I have maybe two minutes left as I scramble quickly down the hillside. I reach a small clearing and begin making my markings. A circle in the dirt, an X on each tree, and, taking the brush out of my pack, I mark the center of the circle with an X of my blood. As I head to my pack for my clothes, I feel the small tingling sensation along the back of my neck that lets me know that I’ve run out of time. I hasten back to the center of the circle as the sun goes down. The moonlight filters through the trees, and my terrible night begins.

*Running, wind whipping past my face. There’s no one in sight, no one! Wait! There! There is a fire. There is meat, I smell it! Delicious, raw meat. Charging, leaping, biting, tearing. Screams, blood, scattered ashes of the fire. Roaring, scaring. Feasting.*

I wake up on the forest floor, in the center of the circle. I’m shivering, and I quickly go to my pack and get my clothes. Hearing a crack, I turn quickly, dropping my pants and falling into a low crouch. There is a man standing behind a tree with his phone out, seemingly taking a video of me. In the early stages after the metamorphosis, I still retain a good deal of my speed and strength. I charge forward, crossing the ten yards or so between us in slightly under one second. Before the man has time to react I am in front of him, lifting him into the air by his throat. I pitch my voice low and intimidating and I growl,
“What are you doing?” The man confuses me then. He doesn’t seem frightened. His eyes don’t grow wide with terror as this wild, naked stranger holds him inches above the ground by his throat. He doesn’t shake with fear or cry in terror. Instead, his eyes harden in anger, and he spits in my face.
“You killed my friend,” he says, “But now I know who you are, and I've sent your picture to some very powerful people.” I drop the man and back up. No, it wasn't possible! I had searched the forest, made sure there were no people! I sit down on a tree stump and bury my face in my hands.
“No,” I groan, “No! I came out here to make sure there was no one for me to hurt. I’m sorry! Oh, my God, I’m so sorry!” But when I look up, the man is gone. He has fled from the monster.

After gathering my pack and brush, I follow my own tracks from last night. It isn't hard. I left a path of destruction through the forest. Although my trail is easy to follow, it is long. I had awoken at around nine in the morning, and it is now nearing noon. Finally, I arrive at the campsite. There are still tents, and ashes and logs from a long-dead fire are scattered across the area. But the sight in the center of the camp makes me sick, and I turn aside and vomit into the shrubbery. I apparently had not finished my meal last night. Lying in the center of the camp, in a shiny pool of sticky crimson, is a human arm. I had come out to this forest so I wouldn't hurt anyone. Now I am a murderer.  I stagger sickly back the way I had come, towards the circle and markings I had made. I don’t understand why it works, but every time I start in an area that I marked that way, I return to that spot after the transformation. No one taught this to me, it was just something I knew. Like how I always know exactly what time it is or exactly what stage of the lunar cycle the moon is in. I reflect on my life so far as I walk. I've been living like this for three years now. Thirty six times I have transformed despite my continued attempts (short of suicide) to stop it. I never remember what happens, but from news reports I know that I have killed twelve people, and last night made thirteen. An unlucky number.

I return to my circle in the dirt and the markings I had made to attract the Monster. I’ve always preferred to treat that part of me as a different person altogether. In a way, it is. The Monster does things I would never consider doing; it is different from me in every possible way. It has no intelligent thoughts, no higher conscience. It hunts, that’s all it does. Its sole purpose in life is to hunt and to kill and to eat. Luckily, I can never remember what the Monster does. I am glad of this. I believe that if I knew what the Monster did…what I did…I would kill myself. Suddenly, I want to leave. I do not wish to remain here any longer. So, taking my pack, I head home.

It is a long walk home, and I haven’t a driver’s license. I used to have one. I had a really nice car, too. It was a beautiful black and red 2008 Shelby GT. It came time to renew my license two years ago but, given recent events, it did not rank high on my priorities. What did rank high was finding a job that would allow me to take at least five days a month for vacation time. I didn’t want to be anywhere near my small home town in the suburbs of Austin when it came time for the Change. I found a job as an author. As it turns out, I was able to use my experiences to write a fairly decent novel that sold a decent number of copies. It was called The Monster and it was essentially my autobiography. It was perfect for me. Successful enough that I could make a living off of it, but not so successful as to make me a celebrity and attract attention. I come out of the woods, walking across the open grass lands and heading towards the city I was taking my “vacation” in.

The walk has taken me about six hours, and it is now nearing 6:30. I’m quite hungry at this point, and so when I reach the city around 7:00 I head for a fast food place rather than going straight home. The kid behind the counter recognizes me and keeps me at the counter for about ten minutes while he babbles about my book. Finally, I take my “fast” food and sit down to eat around about a half hour after ordering. As I chew, I feel something in my mouth besides hamburger meat. Reaching in with my fingers, I pull it out from under my tongue. My teeth are still sharp, as they will be for a few days after the transformation, and I cut my finger on one. I look down and see what was in my mouth. It is a fingernail. A human fingernail. I grimace and look at my burger, knowing that the fingernail hadn't come from there. I have taken two bites. I throw it away and head home. I’m not very hungry anyway.

I open the door to my room and start to turn on the lights when something stops me. It’s what I've come to call my Beast Sense, another lingering effect after the transformation. For two weeks afterwards I have an animal-like instinct for danger. I scan the dark room, able to see better than most as a result of the lingering effects of the transformation. I can see signs of someone being in the house. A corner of the rug is turned over, and a couch cushion is on the floor. I see him then, or at least his fingers poking out from under the couch. It’s a usual, unimaginative hiding place. After each person I've killed, someone has seen it. Most of the time they do not know who I am, and all that happens is I quietly attend a funeral, pretending to be some old friend while I silently beg for forgiveness. Six times, however, I've been discovered. Six times I've had to fight for my life and kill as a human. After the third time, I enrolled in martial arts classes. For the fourth time now, I bless the day I made that decision.

 I decide not to arouse suspicion until I am in a better position, and then let him make the first move. Flicking on the lights, I head into the living room and stand in front of the TV, directly in front of the couch, but I do not turn the TV on. Instead, I watch the reflection in the TV screen, pretending to be texting someone on my phone as the man rises up from behind the couch. He is wielding a knife. As he creeps closer, I tense my body in anticipation for action, and I run through several of the knife defense techniques I’ve learned. Finally, he gets close enough for me to act. I drop down and roll behind me, taking his legs out from under him. As he falls, I catch his knife arm and wrench it behind his back in a hammerlock. I kneel on top of him and take the knife, preparing to drive it into the back of his neck.
The sound of a gunshot echoes loudly in the small apartment. I look up and see a man in a suit standing in the open doorway. He is holding a gun. Looking down at the man beneath me, I see a drop of blood fall onto his neck. I realize this is the man from the forest earlier today. I look down at my white shirt and see a scarlet circle spreading slowly from my heart. My fingertips grow cold and numb, and the knife clatters to the ground as I’m unable to hold it any longer. “Detective Bradford,” says the man with the gun, introducing himself, “And you killed my partner last night, you goddamned animal.”  The coldness has now spread to my arms and my legs, and I topple sideways off the man from the forest. He gets up and spits on my face. “But you missed one, eh? You missed his brother, huh?” He taunts. “Stupid bastard.”
“Come on,” says Bradford, “Someone will have heard that.”

As they exit, the cold spreads to everywhere except my chest, and I am slowly losing my vision. I wonder if the bullet in my heart is silver. It doesn't need to be when I am in human form, but these men wouldn't know that. I can be killed by anything; it’s the Monster who is invincible. It’s the Monster who killed Bradford’s partner. I open my mouth to speak to these two men as they leave, but I cannot move, and I cannot feel my tongue in my mouth. But I want to say something. I so desperately want to speak to these men, these men who killed me assuming that I was just as cruel and heartless as the Monster that takes over. These men who assume that it is acceptable to kill me because, in their eyes, I am not human. To them I am not a fellow man with a wife, two kids, and a dog. To them I’m not a guy who’s concerned about the persistent cough he hears from his five year old son’s bedroom. To them I’m not the frightened son of a man beginning to show early signs of Alzheimer’s disease. No, to them, I am an animal. A dumb, mindless, murdering beast. I want so badly to talk to these self-righteous men who see fit to kill me without understanding who or what I am, without knowing the whole story. Without even making an effort to find out. But I don’t. Instead, I die. I die before I can say what I wanted to these two men. I die before I can say…

Thank you.

title: Thank You

question: Why does the main character hide in the forest?

answer: The main character is a man who transforms into a monster for five days a month. When he does, he is driven to kill humans and eat them. He hates himself because of the need and tries to avoid people. This is the reason that he has walked deep into a forest where he hopes he is far from any living creatures.

question: How does the man ensure that the monster can find his way back to the clearing each night?

answer: The man makes a circle with various markings. He doesn't know how it works but somehow it draws the monster back to the same place. In this way the man always how to get back to civilization.

question: Describe the man who becomes a monster

answer: The man is a gentle person with a conscience. He tries to get away from people when he knows that the change is about to take place. He lives in the suburbs of Austin. He has a wife, two children, and a dog. His father has Alzheimer's


text:
ANCHAL COLLEGE is an undergraduate college under Odisha Government in the Bargarh District.[1][2] This college was established in 1965. This university was earlier affiliated to Utkal University, after the establishment of Sambalpur University in 1966 it was later added to later one. This college provides education in Higher Secondary and Degree level in Arts, Science and Commerce.

History

The College is one of the oldest college in western Odisha being established in the year 1965. This College is a fully aided educational institution of the government of Odisha, having many UGC- scale teachers. The College was credited with a “B” grade by NAAC. This college was early afflicted with Utkal University, till when in 1969 Sambalpur University came into existence and afflicted with the new University. It is present in the revenue district of Bargarh.

Department

The college provides teaching in following courses: Botany, Chemistry, Commerce, Economics, Education, English, History, Mathematics, Oriya, Philosophy, Physics, Political science, Sankrit, Zoology, and Information Technology.

NAAC Grade 2016

The National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) is an independent autonomous body which works under University Grants Commission (UGC) which was established in the year 1994 with its headquarters in Bengaluru. The overall work of this autonomous body is to improve the quality of education, by visiting college and providing grades it decide the condition of the institution and provides fund. According to latest reports of Meeting of the Standing Committee, list of Institutions Recommended for Accreditation by NAAC 2nd cycle report, Anchal College had ranked Grade B with CGPA 2.21 C.G.P.A. The grade system of N.A.A.C usually lasts for 5 years and after the completion of 5 years the NAAC team again visits the respective college for grading.

N.A.A.C grades institute with 8 grade ladder:[3]

  -------- ----------------------------- -------------- ------------------------
  Sl. No   Range of institutional CGPA   Letter Grade   Performance Descriptor
  1.       3.51 – 4.00                   A++            Accredited
  2.       3.26 – 3.50                   A+             Accredited
  3.       3.01 – 3.25                   A              Accredited
  4.       2.76 – 3.00                   B++            Accredited
  5.       2.51 – 2.75                   B+             Accredited
  6.       2.01 – 2.50                   B              Accredited
  7.       1.51 – 2.00                   C              Accredited
  8.       ≤ 1.50                        D              Not Accredited
  -------- ----------------------------- -------------- ------------------------

[1]

[2]

[3]

title: Anchal College, Padampur

question: What kind of courses does the college offer?

answer: The college provides Higher Secondary and Degree level in Arts, Science and Commerce. It teaches courses in Botany, Chemistry, Commerce, Economics, Education, English, History, Mathematics, Oriya, Philosophy, Physics, Political science, Sankrit, Zoology, and Information Technology.

question: When was the college established?

answer: The college was established in 1965. Earlier it was affiliated with Utkal University, but it was later affiliated with Sambalpur University in 1966. It is one of the oldest colleges in western Odisha.


text:
-   KPU
-   Calendars
-   2016-17
-   School of Business
-   Information Technology
-   Information Technology: Bachelor of Technology

-   _Or View:_
-   Course Descriptions
-   Program Index

-   Download PDF

Description

The Bachelor of Technology in Information Technology (BTech in IT) program allows students to earn a bachelor degree that prepares them for employment in the IT industry in Canada or for graduate school. The BTech in IT degree can be completed as a general degree or students can specialize in Network Administration and Security or Mobile and Web Application Development.

Admission Requirements

The Faculty's Admission Requirements, which consist of KPU's undergraduate English Proficiency Requirement, apply to this program.

Declaration Requirements

Students intending to graduate with this School of Business degree must declare the credential. At the time of declaration, the student must satisfy all of the following requirements:

-   In good academic standing with the University
-   Completion of a minimum of 15 credits of undergraduate coursework.

Curricular Requirements

The degree program requires a minimum of 120 credits of required courses and electives. The degree program with Co-operative Education requires an additional 28 credits of Co-op Education credits.

Note: BC Math 11 Foundations with a minimum grade of C+ (or an equivalent course) is a prerequisite for several INFO courses in Year 1. Consult an Academic Advisor to plan your course selections accordingly.

Year 1

One of:

BUQU 1130
Business Mathematics
3 credits

MATH 1140
Calculus I (Business Applications)
3 credits
One of:

BUQU 1230
Business Statistics
3 credits

MATH 1115
Statistics 1
3 credits

MATH 2341
Introduction to Statistics for Business
4 credits
All of:

INFO 1111
Introduction to Computer Hardware and Software
3 credits

INFO 1112
Principles of Program Structure and Design I
3 credits

INFO 1113
Systems Analysis and Design
3 credits

INFO 1211
Operating Systems Principles And Applications
3 credits

INFO 1212
Networking Technologies I
3 credits

INFO 1213
Web Application Development
3 credits

INFO 1214
Discrete Mathematics for Information Technology
3 credits

PHIL 1150
Introduction to Formal Logic
3 credits
Year 2

All of:

BUSI 1110
Fundamentals of Business in Canada
3 credits

CMNS 1140
Introduction to Professional Communication
3 credits

ENGL 1100
Introduction to University Writing
3 credits

INFO 2311
Networking Technologies II
3 credits

INFO 2312
Database Management Systems
3 credits

INFO 2313
Object-Oriented Programming
3 credits

INFO 2315
Data Structure
3 credits

INFO 2411
Foundations of Computer Security
3 credits

INFO 2413
System Development Project
3 credits

INFO 2416
Server Operating Systems
3 credits
Year 3

All INFO Core Courses:

INFO 3110
Professional Communications in Information Technology
3 credits

INFO 3150
Object-Oriented Software Engineering
3 credits

INFO 3250
Content Management and Information Architecture
3 credits

INFO 3280
Information Technology Project Management
3 credits
Plus any four INFO electives:*

INFO 3135
Advanced Web Application Development
3 credits

INFO 3170
Security of Enterprise Networks
3 credits

INFO 3180
Wireless Networks
3 credits

INFO 3225
Web Multimedia
3 credits

INFO 3235
Software Quality Assurance
3 credits

INFO 3240
Enterprise Resource Planning Systems
3 credits

INFO 3245
Mobile Programming I
3 credits

INFO 3390
Networking Technologies III
3 credits
Plus one of:

CBSY 3100
Ethics in Information Technology
3 credits

PHIL 3033
Business Ethics
3 credits

PHIL 3109
Foundations in Ethics
3 credits
And one Breadth Elective:

Chosen from courses numbered 1100 or higher in any area of study other than CBSY, CPSC, or INFO.
3 credits
Year 4

All INFO Core Courses:

INFO 4190
Integration Project I
3 credits

INFO 4290
Integration Project II
3 credits

INFO 4310
Entrepreneurial Development in Information Technology
3 credits
Plus any five INFO electives:*

INFO 4105
Search Engine Principles
3 credits

INFO 4110
Cloud Computing
3 credits

INFO 4115
Website Design
3 credits

INFO 4120
Digital Forensics
3 credits

INFO 4125
Web Site Security
3 credits

INFO 4235
Special Topics in Web and Mobile Application Development
3 credits

INFO 4260
Network Technologies IV
3 credits

INFO 4330
Data Warehousing and Data Mining
3 credits

INFO 4370
Security of Wireless Systems
3 credits

INFO 4380
Wireless Sensor Networks
3 credits
And two Breadth Electives:

Chosen from courses numbered 1100 or higher in any area of study other than CBSY, CPSC, or INFO.
3 credits
NOTE: * Students may select INFO electives in Year 3 and Year 4 to satisfy the requirements for a degree specialization.

Degree Specializations

Network Administration and Security

To complete the Bachelor of Technology with a specialization in Network Administration and Security, students must successfully complete all of:

  --- ----------- -------------------------------------- -----------
      INFO 3170   Security of Enterprise Networks        3 credits
      INFO 3180   Wireless Networks                      3 credits
      INFO 3240   Enterprise Resource Planning Systems   3 credits
      INFO 3390   Networking Technologies III            3 credits
      INFO 4110   Cloud Computing                        3 credits
      INFO 4120   Digital Forensics                      3 credits
      INFO 4260   Network Technologies IV                3 credits
      INFO 4370   Security of Wireless Systems           3 credits
      INFO 4380   Wireless Sensor Networks               3 credits
  --- ----------- -------------------------------------- -----------

Mobile and Web Application Development

To complete the Bachelor of Technology with a specialization in Mobile and Web Application Development, students must successfully complete all of:

  --- ----------- ---------------------------------------------------------- -----------
      INFO 3135   Advanced Web Application Development                       3 credits
      INFO 3225   Web Multimedia                                             3 credits
      INFO 3235   Software Quality Assurance                                 3 credits
      INFO 3245   Mobile Programming I                                       3 credits
      INFO 4105   Search Engine Principles                                   3 credits
      INFO 4115   Website Design                                             3 credits
      INFO 4125   Web Site Security                                          3 credits
      INFO 4235   Special Topics in Web and Mobile Application Development   3 credits
      INFO 4330   Data Warehousing and Data Mining                           3 credits
  --- ----------- ---------------------------------------------------------- -----------

Co-operative Education

The Bachelor of Technology – Information Technology degree is offered with a Co-operative Education option.  Co-operative Education gives a student the opportunity to apply the skills gained during academic study in paid, practical work experience semesters. Degree students can complete a minimum of three work terms while completing their degree.   Work terms generally occur full-time in separate 4 month work semesters but may also be available part-time over an 8 month continuous (parallel) placement. Work semesters alternate with academic study.

Students wishing to enter and participate in the Co-op Option must meet the following requirements:

Declaration and Entrance Requirements:

-   Declaration of Co-op specialization in the Bachelor of Technology in Information Technology program.
-   Minimum GPA of 2.5
-   Maximum of 75 credits completed

Work Term and Program Continuance Requirements:

Procedures for enrolment in Co-operative Education work terms are outlined in the COOP course descriptions. Conditions for continuance in the program are:

-   Successful completion of COOP 1101 prior to completing 75 credits
-   Minimum GPA of 2.5
-   Instructor Permission

Co-op Course Requirements

The Co-operative Education designation requires successful completion of the following courses:

COOP 1101
Job Search Techniques
1 credit

COOP 1150
Co-op Work Semester 1
9 credits

COOP 2150
Co-op Work Semester 2
9 credits

COOP 3150
Co-op Work Semester 3
9 credits
Optional:

COOP 4150
Co-op Work Semester 4
9 credits

Note: These COOP courses must be completed sequentially. COOP 1150, 2150, 3150, or 4150 may be taken part-time over two consecutive semesters as COOP 1150A/1150B, COOP 2150A/2150B, COOP 3150A/3150B or COOP 4150A/4150B. Co-op courses may be used only to satisfy the Co-op designation and cannot be used to satisfy other curricular requirements of the program.

Additional Requirements

In addition to the requirements stated above, all Co-op students must satisfy the General Co-operative Education Requirements.

Other Information

Students enrolled in this program are expected to have their own laptop computers.

Credential Awarded

Upon successful completion of this program, students are eligible to receive a BACHELOR OF TECHNOLOGY IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY.

Upon successful completion of this program with co-operative education, students are eligible

question: What does the article say about The Bachelor of Technology in Information Technology program?

answer: The Bachelor of Technology in Information Technology (BTech in IT) program allows students to earn a bachelor degree that prepares them for employment in the IT industry in Canada or for graduate school. The degree program requires a minimum of 120 credits. Upon successful completion of this program, students receive a Bachelor of Technology in Information Technology.

question: What does the article say about the cost of the program?

question: what does the article say about the degree specializations?

answer: The article mentions two several degree specializations: Network Administration and Security and Mobile and Web Application Development and lists the required courses that the specializations require.


text:
He stared at the floor. He had nothing better to do. He could have picked up a magazine or disappeared into his cell phone, but he didn’t want to risk making eye contact with anyone. He wasn’t feeling up for idle chit\-chat.

The carpet was depressing and he was having trouble labeling its color. It was unmistakably gray, but not entirely. There was a subtle tinge of brown laid overtop, like some sort of gloomy overcoat. Embedded in the mysterious shade were thin, tan stripes that raced horizontally across the floor.

The carpet now has his attention. He continued to stare at it intently, determined to brand the gray with brownish hue.

As he moved his head closer he noticed the fibers were woven from a variety of colors like, red, blue, and yellow. But as he pulled his head back he no longer saw the colorful strands. Instead, the colors blended together into the murky, grayish\-brown he was having trouble classifying.

To pass the time he experimented with this nearsighted phenomenon by calculating how far he had to dip his head until the colored fibers became visible. After a few dips and withdraws, he determined he had to lower his head to about chest height before he could see anything but gray with a sad smear of brown.

It was at that moment he also realized how foolish he must have looked to the others in the room. Normal people were occupied with their Instagram feed or a 6\-month old issue of Consumer Digest.

Why couldn’t I just be normal, he thought. Why couldn’t I be anywhere, but here, he thought. He picked his head up and rearranged his shoulders.

Now he stared at the administrator who was seated behind a sliding glass window. The glass window was closed and the administrator had his head down. Thank God, he thought, no eye contact.

Behind the administrator was a large, Master Edwards clock. It sat high enough that even if the administer were to sit upright, the entire clock face would still be visible to anyone on the other side of the sliding glass. Whoever mounted the clock must have considered the possibility that the administrator could obstruct the view of the clock face while sitting upright and therefore placed it at the appropriate height. These were his thoughts while he waited.

“Mr. Blocker?”

He heard his name, but didn’t move. He maybe thought he’d only imagined someone calling his name and didn’t want to appear anxious, so he sat still.

“Mr. Blocker? Are you Mr. Blocker?” the attendant called out. She was standing in an open doorway in the far righthand corner of the room. She was looking directly at him. Finally, he made eye contact with someone.

“This way please.”

He rose to his feet and stuffed his hands in his trouser pockets. He took his first steps toward the door, feeling a bit defeated by the carpet. He was still unclear on its color.

The attendant lead him down a white corridor. The walls were white. The ceiling was white. The floor was white, linoleum tile. The lighting was soft, fluorescent white. He decided to stop focusing on the color white and let his mind drift to something more pleasant, the lining of his trouser pockets.

He’d always been quite satisfied with the navy suit he was wearing. The shoulders fit him perfectly. The taper of the legs was trimming and made him look taller. But the lining of the trouser pockets is what pleased him most. The lining was a soft silky material that felt fine and glossy when he rubbed it between his thumb and forefinger.

“Right in here please”, the attendant directed. Her arm was outstretched, half of it inside of another room. This room was his room. This room was where he was supposed to go. He was sure of it. Not because the attendant declared it so, but because it felt right. He pulled his hands out of his pockets and entered.

In the middle of the room was a large desk. It appeared to be very old and extremely heavy. Probably oak, he thought. Behind the desk sat a man with wire\-frame glasses. The man was staring at a computer screen. The man was at least twice his age. He could see the glare of the screen almost entirely in the man’s glasses.

“Please Mr. Blocker. Have a seat.”

He did as he was told and took a seat in a chair on the opposite side of the desk.

“Mr. Blocker, we are going to have to make a very difficult decision today.”

He sat in his seat and listened.

“It’s my opinion that further treatments are not going improve your health.”

He extended his chin and began to nod his head. Not to appear as if he was listening, but to communicate that he understood the weight of the declaration the man in glasses had just made.

“You’ve been fighting this…we’ve been fighting this for almost ten years. After five surgeries and countless rounds of chemotherapy there has been only very little progress. Of course, we could continue treatment, but your quality of life would rapidly deteriorate and the burden of cost would fall entirely on your next of kin. I sincerely believe it would be best to begin getting your affairs in order. As of today, I would estimate that you may have only a few months left.”

He sat silently with his chin still pointed toward the man with glasses. He thought about his wife. He thought about his daughters and their children. He thought about his parents who had passed many, many years ago. He thought about the white corridor with the white ceiling, the white, linoleum tiles and the white, fluorescent lights. He thought about the lining of his trouser pockets. He thought about the carpet.

“Taupe!”

“I’m sorry Mr. Blocker. I don’t understand,” said the man with glasses.

“Gray mixed with a tinge of brown. Taupe.” he replied.

He couldn’t think of anything else to say. Instead he furrowed his brow, dipped his head, and regarded the taupe carpet with a newfound sense of familiarity and confidence.

He felt more comfortable now, having identified the mysterious color that had been eluding him. So, he lifted his hands to his face, covered his eyes with his sweat palms, and began to cry.

title: [RF] Taupe

question: Summarize the main sources of tension in the story.

answer: The main character is frustrated that he cannot figure out the name for the color of the carpet. He is frustrated by the fact that he isn't normal. Once he hears from the doctor, he is sad about the fact that he only has months left to live.

question: Summarize the reveal at the end of the story.

answer: It turns out that the person Mr. Blocker was waiting to see was a doctor who was going to speak to him about his cancer treatment. The doctor's opinion is that continuing treatment would not be the best course of action, and Mr. Blocker only has a few months left to live.

question: What are the ways the story depicts Mr. Blocker as not normal?

answer: He doesn't read a magazine or busy himself with his cell phone like the other patients. He also doesn't want to make eye contact, and chooses to stare at the floor instead. He obsesses over the color of the carpet, to the point of looking foolish. He is also not "normal" in the sense that he is dying from cancer.

question: What does the story say about Mr. Blocker's relationship with his wife?