text:
So this is the first time I've ever written any fiction. The story, well it isn't really a story, it's kind of an opening or just me playing around. Have a look and tell me if my style of writing is ok or any tips for just starting out? Cheers :)
__________________________

It was a grey and miserable Saturday afternoon. It had been raining all morning and the sun had yet to make a real appearance. In Trafalgar square there were thousands gathered, crowding around the monuments and spilling out into nearby streets. Although this was the largest protest currently going on in the UK similar scenes could be seen in more than thirty cities nationwide. Near the front of the loud, chanting and aggravated crowd was a girl displaying all three of these with what seemed like as much vigour as the rest of the crowd combined. The rain ran off her hair, down her face and dripped from her chin; she had been outside since dawn and was freezing. Lucinda, as her mother called her, or Lucy as her friends called her, was wearing a long white coat with fur around the hood. It was zipped up against the strong winds and went to just above her knees, below that were skinny jeans and then bright red Converse trainers. Her face was made-up but only subtly focusing mainly on her eyes and she wore only one piece of jewellery: a thin chain with a pendant representing a double-thumbed fist clenching a Peyote button, a symbol popularised by her favourite author at the time.
Lucy stood with her placard held high, a hand written message on a large white board glued to an old table leg she had found in her garage and held with both hands. On the board was a potent slogan which could have been seen for the past year or so on bus stops, on billboards or broadcast on television, certain YouTube channels and blogs. The slogan was simply: ‘Talent is earned, not bought’. This was a protest against a relatively recent trend which saw people pay for a procedure which altered their genes and improved them in almost any area they wished.

*

In the year 2022 a company which developed from a subsidiary of a large pharmaceutical company focused on gene therapy to prevent and cure a range of genetic diseases stumbled upon a method to replace the current DNA in a person with other DNA. And separately, a different part of the company worked with a method to alter and splice current genes together. These methods combined allowed Aspire Inc. to improve the physical characteristics of a person to that of the current best person whose genes they were able to get access to. Of course they would only have the potential of that person and would still have to train to improve whatever skill they required. These abilities ranged from becoming physically stronger or being able to run more quickly to having a better memory or being exceptional at mathematics. The methods used remain the property of Aspire Inc. entirely.
By 2030 this process had been all but perfected and the company had hundreds of thousands of genes available to choose from to improve whomever they wished in whatever way they wished. Testing had proven safe and it was a matter of months before the process, known colloquially as ‘bettering yourself’, was commercially available. Initially the idea was praised and lauded by the population as one which would be the next great leap in human advancement since the internet. By the year 2032 there were two clinics in the world, one in London and one in New York, where a person could book an appointment, pay £100,000 per trait, and be seen and finished within 24 weeks. Depending on popularity, Aspire Inc. were planning to build more clinics worldwide. Their treatment was very popular, for those who could afford it.

__________________________

title: Never written fiction before. How's my style? (600 words)

question: Summarize the themes of this story.

answer: This isn't really a story, but rather, an opening for a story. As there is a woman protesting followed by a blurb about a US genetics company who allows people to pay for their genes, essentially, it seems the theme might shape out to be authenticity. It also seems like the story plans on becoming a tale of moral ambiguity when it comes to playing "god" with one's genes.

question: Summarize how Lucy specifically comes into play in this story.

question: Summarize the source of tension in the story.

answer: A genetics company called Aspire Inc. has developed and marketed a way for people to pay to select which genes they want to have. Since it takes money to get access to this service-which is privilege-people are concerned about how fair that is. There's also the issue of how morally sound it is to play with genetics on that level. The common people are protesting this process, seemingly more on the grounds of its granting further privilege to those who already have privilege.


split: train

text:
4.53pm EST 16:53

And finally, here’s our news story about today’s drama:

And that’s all for tonight. Back tomorrow. GW

4.08pm EST 16:08

Dow closes down 245 points in day of drama

Phew! Today’s stock market rout is over, with Wall Street posting chunky losses - but not as bad as it looked earlier.

The Dow Jones closed 245 points, or 1.5%, in the red - bad, but better than the 500+ slump that had Davos attendees gasping earlier today.

  [] CNBC Now (@CNBCnow)

  BREAKING: Dow rebounds from 565 pt loss to close down 245; S&P down 1.1%, Nasdaq off 0.1% https://t.co/SxK2mTyCr2 pic.twitter.com/tkp1t2e25d

  January 20, 2016

4.04pm EST 16:04

As if today wasn’t dramatic enough - Deutsche Bank has issued a profit warning:

  Jill Treanor (@jilltreanor)

  Deutsche bank boss John Cryan after warns of full year loss: "This will be the Bank’s first full-year loss since 2008, and it is sobering"

  January 20, 2016

1.39pm EST 13:39

IN ANOTHER SIGNIFICANT MOVE, JOE BIDEN HAS USED HIS TRIP TO DAVOS TO URGE EXECUTIVES TO FIGHT FOR THE RIGHT OF LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL AND TRANSGENDER PEOPLE.

Reuters has got the story:

  The issue is on the official agenda for the first time at the World Economic Forum, where political leaders from countries that discriminate against gay people, such as Nigeria and Russia, schmooze business leaders and billionaire investors.

  Biden told U.S. executives including Nathan Blecharczyk, co-founder of apartment-sharing firm Airbnb, Muhtar Kent, chairman and CEO of The Coca Cola Company, and Anthony Scaramucci, founder of hedge fund SkyBridge Capital, to push for change.

  “You can change the terms of debate,” he said. “You actually put governments on notice.”

  He said he and President Barack Obama privately raise the issue of repression of the LGBT community when they meet political leaders.

  “I have had some run-ins with at least four heads of state already on this,” said Biden

More here: Biden urges U.S. business in Davos to lean on anti-gay states

1.32pm EST 13:32

Biden warns business leaders to protect their staff

JOE BIDEN IS GIVING QUITE A PROGRESSIVE SPEECH TONIGHT AT DAVOS.

He’s telling the heads of the world’s biggest businesses that they need to ensure basic protection for workers are the world economy embraces the 4th industrial revolution.

  World Economic Forum (@Davos)

  Embrace the obligation to your #workers as much as your shareholders: Joe Biden https://t.co/V2kFG96Iot #wef #biden

  January 20, 2016

  World Economic Forum (@Davos)

  2) We need to continue to ensure basic protection for workers as these changes take place: Joe Biden https://t.co/KvG4PHL1Mo #wef #biden

  January 20, 2016

Updated at 1.56pm EST

1.27pm EST 13:27

Joe Biden also cited one of the statistics of the week - the continued concentration of wealth among the very richest.

  World Economic Forum (@Davos)

  According to @Oxfam, the 62 richest people in the world have as much wealth as the bottom 3.6 billion people: Joe Biden #wef #biden

  January 20, 2016

1.21pm EST 13:21

JOE BIDEN, THE VICE-PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, HAS GIVEN THE FINAL KEYNOTE SPEECH OF THE DAY.

He started by joking with Christine Lagarde in the audience, saying that he might need some money. Not for a bailout deal (things aren’t that bad today!), but for his own purposes:

  Whenever I see you, Christine, you say “I know, Greece. I know, Ukraine”. But this time I need a personal loan.

But then he turns to the issue of the 4th industrial revolution. It is creating new jobs, and even creating new industries.

BUT WILL IT ACTUALLY TRANSFORM THE GLOBAL ECONOMY? AND WILL IT BE FOR BETTER, OR WORSE?

Those who think we must get used to the new normal of slower growth are mistaken, Biden says. Technology is improving productivity, and it can create employment - he cites ride-sharing companies are taking on more staff. And “astounding” breakthroughs in science will save lives.

But there are dangers, and we must be pro-active.

Biden says:

  How will the warehouse worker who used to ship your order, or the salesman who used to take it, make a living when they are no longer needed?

And he goes on to warn that the old relationship between work and wages has been broken, and employees aren’t getting a fair deal:

  World Economic Forum (@Davos)

  1/2 There used to be a basic bargain; if you contributed to an enterprise’s success, you...: Joe Biden https://t.co/oHMnYCuGNm #wef #biden

  January 20, 2016

  World Economic Forum (@Davos)

  2/2 ...got to share in its benefits. That bargain has been broken: Joe Biden https://t.co/7rVzSoHh6r #wef #biden

  January 20, 2016

  World Economic Forum (@Davos)

  The fundamental change of the last 4 decades is the divergence between productivity & wages: Joe Biden https://t.co/UehScGv90c #wef #biden

  January 20, 2016

12.38pm EST 12:38

“THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE IS DOWN OVER 500 POINTS”, WHISPERS ONE DAVOS ATTENDEE.

And they’re right. The Dow has shed 536 points, or 3.3%, right now to leave it at 15,475 points.

12.27pm EST 12:27

ALEXIS TSIPRAS, THE GREEK PRIME MINISTER, JUST WHISKED THROUGH THE DAVOS CONFERENCE ROOM WITH A HALL ENTOURAGE.

He wasn’t taking press questions, alas, but did share a quick, friendly handshake with Finland’s finance minister, Alex Stubb.

I guess relations are warmer than last year, during the months of debt negotiations.

Tsipras is meeting with several top officials during his visit, including Christine Lagarde of the IMF. He’s hoping to make persuade them that Athens is making progress, and should be given some leeway on austerity and debt relief.

But there is concern that the IMF will take a tough line on pension reform, threatening to reignite the debt crisis again....

Updated at 1.24pm EST

11.47am EST 11:47

London market closes deep in the red

US oil prices crashed below $27 for the first time since 2003 after the International Energy Agency warned on Tuesday that the oil market could “drown in oversupply”. Venezuela requested an emergency Opec meeting to discuss steps to shore up oil prices, but other delegates dismissed the idea.

New York light crude tumbled 5.5% to $26.89 a barrel on Wednesday, while Brent crude, the global benchmark, lost 4.2% to $27.56.

Plunging oil prices piled further pressure on global stock markets. London’s leading index, the FTSE 100, slid 203.22 points, or 3.5%, to 5673.58. Germany’s Dax tumbled 272.57 points, or 2.8%, to 9391.64 and France’s CAC lost 147.31 points, or 3.5%, to 4124.95.

On Wall Street, the Dow Jones has plunged more than 400 points to 15,62.42, a 2.6% drop. The Nasdaq shed 115 points to 4361.53, also a 2.6% fall.

Updated at 1.12pm EST

11.46am EST 11:46

Pope urges Davos not to neglect world's poor

BACK TO DAVOS, AND THE POPE HAS SENT A MESSAGE TO POLITICIANS AND BUSINESS LEADERS ATTENDING WEF - DON’T FORGET THE POOREST IN SOCIETY.

Pope Francis warned that “soulless machines” should not be allowed to muscle humans out of work, saying:

“To all of you I appeal once more: ‘Do not forget the poor!’

He continued:

  Weeping for other people’s pain does not only mean sharing in their sufferings, but also and above all realising that our own actions are a cause of injustice and inequality.

  Once we realise this, we become more fully human, since responsibility for our brothers and sisters is an essential part of our common humanity. Do not be afraid to open your minds and hearts to the poor. In this way, you will give free rein to your economic and technical talents, and discover the happiness of a full life, which consumerism of itself cannot provide.”

11.21am EST 11:21

Chris Beauchamp, senior market analyst at IG, has summed up the action on financial markets:

  FTSE bears have been enjoying themselves today, as the index touches levels not seen since late 2012. The UK market has not been alone, as Europe and now the US join in with the panic of January 2016.

  Bond yields are heading lower too as investors shun risky assets and stash their money in any safe place going. The main driver of the falls continues to be oil, which has pushed onwards to fresh lows, taking oil stocks with it. A fresh downgrade to IMF growth forecasts underlines what stock markets are telling investors – that things are looking gloomy across the board.”

11.19am EST 11:19

While we were quizzing KEN ROGOFF, ADAM POSEN, et al, Iranian officials have been taking a pop at Saudi Arabia.

Foreign minister Javad Zarif argued that the Saudi’s are to blame for the crisis in the Middle East.

The Telegraph has the details. Zarif claimed that:

  “Saudi Arabia has tried to keep the old staus quo in our region because they don’t think change is in their interest. They unnecessarily panicked and created a lot of mess in our region.

And MOHAMMAD AGHA NAHAVANDIAN, the chief of staff to Iranian prime minister Rouhani, has apparently said Iran will ‘certainly’ raise oil exports to the levels before sanctions were imposed (they were lifted last week, of course).

That’s likely to further inflame tensions within Opec, and keep pressure on the oil price.

11.14am EST 11:14

The sell-off in global market is gathering pace. The Dow Jones is now down more than 400 points, or 2.6%, at 15,593.72.

The FTSE 100 index in London has tumbled nearly 230 points, or 3.9%, to 5649.55. Germany’s Dax has lost 335 points, or 3.5%, falling to 9329.09, while France’s CAC is down nearly 180 points to 4087.42, a 4.2% fall.

Spot US crude oil futures have dropped below $27 a barrel, the lowest since September 2003, following a warning from the world’s energy watchdog that the oil market could “drown in oversupply”.

Updated at 11.19am EST

10.51am EST 10:51

[Adam Posen external member of the Monetary Policy Committee at the Bank of England. Photograph: Graham Turner.]

ADAM POSEN, the Peterson Institute director who used to set UK interest rates, has also discussed the crisis with us.

He’s not desperately alarmed:

  “I don’t think we are on the edge of another financial crisis. I don’t even think we are on the edge of another crash. The idea that things are as over-valued as they were last time is false.”

Posen said governments should be taking advantage of low interest rates to improve public infrastructure, called on China to boost the economy by creating a social safety net and said central banks should avoid making mistakes.

  “At the margin I am not sure the Federal Reserve did the right thing by raising rates last month but I am not sure it was a big mistake. But if the Bank of England or the ECB raised rates, that would be a big mistake.”

10.45am EST 10:45

Rogoff: Precarious situation in emerging markets

[File photo of Harvard Professor and Economist Rogoff speaking during the Sohn Investment Conference in New York<br>Harvard Professor and Economist Kenneth Rogoff speaks during the Sohn Investment Conference in New York in this May 16, 2012 file photo.]

WE’VE NOW GRABBED SOME TIME WITH KEN ROGOFF, FORMER IMF CHIEF ECONOMIST AND NOW ECONOMICS PROFESSOR AT HARVARD, TO DISCUSS THE MARKET TURMOIL, AND THE GLOBAL ECONOMY.

Rogoff reckons the problems were concentrated in emerging markets.

Asked whether the world was on the edge of another crisis, Rogoff said:

  “It feels to me that there is a panic in the markets that doesn’t necessarily translate into the real economy.”

Rogoff said that emerging markets would suffer in 2016, but that the US and Europe were “solid”. He added:

  “If China goes from 7% growth to minus 2% growth then everybody will be in recession. If it goes to 3-4% growth it will probably not be enough to cause a recession in the developed world. But it is definitely a very precarious situation for emerging markets.”

Rogoff said it would help if Chinese policy makers won back the credibility they had lost by their “foolish” attempts trying to control the stock market and the exchange rate.

  “It’s like trying to control the weather. They should let the exchange rate and the stock market find their own level.

  This is the third leg of the debt super-cycle. First is was the US, then it was Europe, now it is China.”

question: How does Biden fight for the rights of the LGBT community?

answer: In the World Economic Forum in 2016 in Davos, Biden asked old U.S. executives to push for change to improve their rights. He and President Barack Obama privately raise the issue of repression of the LGBT community when they meet political leaders.

question: What does Biden say about the 4th industrial revolution?

answer: Biden says that technology is improving productivity, and it can create employment, but there are dangers. He is not sure how the 4th industrial revolution will transform the global economy - will it be for better or worse.

question: What does Pope tell to the conference participants?

answer: Pope urges them not to neglect the poor.

question: What do statistics say about the continued concentration of wealth among the very richest?

answer: The 62 richest people in the world have as much wealth as the bottom 3.6 billion people.

question: Write a ~6 sentence summary.

answer: Joe Biden uses his trip to Davos to urge executives of the World Economic Forum (2016) to fight for the right of LGBT people. He says that he and President Barack Obama privately raise the issue of repression of the LGBT community when they meet political leaders. Joe Biden gives a progressive speech in Davos. He cites statistics about the concentration of wealth among the very richest - the 62 richest people in the world have as much wealth as the bottom 3.6 billion people. Biden also talks about the 4th industrial revolution and says he is not sure how it will transform the global economy - will it be for better or worse. Pope urges Davos not to neglect the poor.


text:
_PS, THE PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE MONTHLY_ is series of United States Army technical bulletins published since June 1951 as a monthly magazine with comic book-style art to illustrate proper preventive maintenance methods. The magazine's title derives from its being a “postscript” to technical manuals and other published maintenance guidance.[1]

Origin – _Army Motors_ magazine

The Army had experienced some degree of acceptance and success during the Second World War with the instructional publication _Army Motors_, for which Corporal Will Eisner, an established comic-book writer-artist-editor, had been appropriated to draw such characters as Beetle Bailey-like Private Joe Dope,[2] Lauren Bacall look-alike and “by the book” Corporal Connie Rodd, and Master Sergeant Half-Mast McCanick. Eisner left the Army as a chief warrant officer to start American Visuals Corporation, a contract graphic art company. In response to a sudden need for maintenance instruction at the start of the Korean War, the Army contracted American Visuals Corporation to create instructional material, similar to Eisner's work on _Army Motors_ for the Army Ordnance Corps's new publication, _PS, The Preventive Maintenance Monthly_, that replaced _Army Motors_ in 1951.[3] [In 1968 and 1969, Eisner illustrated _The M16A1 Rifle_ (DA PAM 750-30) as a standalone issue of _PS_ specifically to address issues related to the then-new M16 rifle as it was fielded in Vietnam.[4][5]]

Production of PS

[A typical _PS_ illustration publicizing new information: M1 tank crewmen may now mount a roadwheel atop their anthropomorphic tank's turret, due to the availability of a new type of mounting assembly.] Eisner was the publication's artistic director from its inception through the end of 1971. The magazine's artists have included Eisner, Murphy Anderson, Joe Kubert, Dan Spiegle, Scott Madsen, Malane Newman, Alfredo Alcala, and Mike Ploog.[6] The magazine from its inception has been, written, researched and edited by Department of the Army civilians.

The magazine is published in digest size with 2-color spots and a four-color cover and continuity. The continuity consists of a short story told through the use of a series of panels like any comic book, often with a theme borrowed from popular fiction. The home office of _PS_ was located at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, from April 1951 until January 1955, when it was moved to Raritan Arsenal, New Jersey. It was moved again in October 1962 to Fort Knox, Kentucky. It remained there until July 1973, when it moved to the Lexington-Blue Grass Army Depot in Kentucky. In June 1993, it moved to Redstone Arsenal, Alabama. Paper production ended with the June 2017 issue; it is now in APP format only.

Department of the Army pamphlets 750-30 (about the M16 rifle) and 750-31 (about the Gama Goat) as well as numerous posters including 750-78 (about the role of enlisted leadership in preventative maintenance) were also produced in the style of _PS_, in some cases utilizing the same characters. [Character Connie Rodd on cover of PS issue 115, 1962]

Characters

Master Sergeant Half-Mast and Connie Rodd (now a civilian) as well as Privates Dope and Fosgnoff were brought by Eisner from _Army Motors_. Dope and Fosgnoff served as cautionary tales while Half-Mast provided direct technical guidance. Following Army complaints about screw-ups Dope and Fosgnoff, both characters were permanently removed in 1955. As other combat support and combat service support elements joined the magazine, new characters were added to represent branch-specific issues: Bull Dozer for the engineers in 1954, Percy the Skunk for the Chemical Corps in 1960, Windy Windsock (and later Benjamin “Rotor” Blade) for aviation in 1962, and Macon Sparks for the signal corps in 1977. To better serve a diversifying demographic in the military audience, in 1970 an African-American civilian woman, Bonnie, was added.[7] A Hispanic quartermaster sergeant, Pablo Hablo, was introduced in 1993 but was removed only five years later after being perceived as a racial stereotype. In 2001, On-Line Warrior was added to the P.S. line-up to communicate information about online resources.[8]

From the 1950s to the 1970s, Connie and Bonnie were played up as “cheesecake” targeted at the mostly male GIs to help interest them in using _PS_. Following an increased presence of females in the Army and at the urging of Congresswoman Bella Abzug as well as Senators William Proxmire and Orrin Hatch, the magazine updated Connie and Bonnie in March 1980 to a more modest and professional form.

Sherry Steward has opined that the anthropomorphism of military equipment in the magazine helps the military audience “build serious relationships with technology... personified equipment often reflects emotions of anger, sadness, fear, and happiness to appeal to the reader's sense of responsibility.” Through facial expressions, body language and dialogue, the anthropomorphized equipment reacts soldiers' activity, establishing empathy among those charged with maintenance of the Army's equipment.

Citations

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

title: PS, The Preventive Maintenance Monthly

question: What does the text say about the main characters in the bulletins?

answer: The characters Master Sergeant Half-Mast, Connie Rodd, and Privates Dope and Fosgnoff were brought to the magazine by Eisner from Army Motors. Dope and Fosgnoff served as cautionary tales while Half-Mast provided technical guidance. However, following Army complaints, Dope and Fosgnoff were removed in 1955. New characters were later added to represent specific branches: Bull Dozer for the engineers, Percy the Skunk for the Chemical Corps, Windy Windsock (and later Benjamin "Rotor" Blade") for aviation, and Macon Sparks for the signal corps. An African-American civilian woman, Bonnie, was added in 1970 to better reflect a diversifying demographic in the military. In 1980, Connie and Bonnie were updated with a more modest and professional form. In 1993, a Hispanic quartermaster sergeant, Pablo Hablo, was added, but he was perceived as a stereotype and removed five years later. In 2001, On-Line Warrior was added to communicate information about online resources.

question: What does the text say about Army Motors magazine?

answer: Army Motors was an instructional publication created during World War II by Corporal Will Eisner, an established comic-book writer-artist-editor. It featured the characters Private Joe Dope, Corporal Connie Rodd, and Master Sergeant Half-Mast McCanick. PS, The Preventative Maintenance Monthly replaced Army Motors in 1951.

question: What does the text say about changes to the magazine since the 1990s?

answer: In 1993, the magazine's home office moved to Redstone Arsenal, Alabama. In the same year, they added the character Pablo Hablo, a Hispanic quartermaster sergeant, but he was removed five years later because he was perceived as a racial stereotype. In 2001, the character On-Line Warrior was added to communicate information about online resources. In 2017, paper production of the magazine ended and it is now available in APP format only.


text:
The CRYPTIC TREEHUNTER (_Cichlocolaptes mazarbarnetti_) is an extinct species of bird in the family Furnariidae. It was endemic to Brazil.

Description

The species was described from a specimen that formerly had been identified as an Alagoas foliage-gleaner. Its taxonomic status is still controversial.[1][2]

Distribution and habitat

The species has only been recorded from two sites with humid forest habitat in northeast Brazil, Murici in Alagoas and Frei Caneca in Pernambuco.[3]

Conservation

Although formally described in 2014, the cryptic treehunter was last seen in the wild in 2007. The species was provisionally classified by the IUCN as Critically Endangered in 2018, but may already be extinct.[4] A 2018 study citing bird extinction patterns and the lack of any confirmed sightings since 2007 but suggests it went extinct earlier.[5] In 2019, the IUCN classified this bird as extinct.

[1]  Biology {{!}} Sci-News.com|work=Breaking Science News {{!}} Sci-News.com|access-date=2017-02-28|language=en-US}}

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

title: Cryptic treehunter

question: Why is the taxonomic status controversial?

answer: Not enough information is given to answer.

question: What continent was the bird endemic to?

answer: South America

question: Is the Cryptic Treehunter a bird or a reptile?

answer: Bird

question: When was the last sighting of the Cryptic Treehunter?

answer: 2007

question: Write a ~2 sentence summary.

answer: This article introduces an extinct species of bird, the Cryptic treehunter. It lived in Brazil, though its taxonomic and conservation statuses are controversial.


text:
The KURDISH NATIONAL ALLIANCE IN SYRIA (, HNKS; ) is a Syrian Kurdish coalition formed by five Syrian Kurdish parties in the city of Amuda in the al-Hasakah Governorate of northeastern Syria in 13 February 2016. Four of the five parties in the coalition were originally members of the Kurdish National Council, but were expelled due to their cooperation with the Democratic Union Party (PYD).[1]

Constituent parties[2]

  Name                                                Leader
  --------------------------------------------------- -------------------
  KURDISH DEMOCRATIC UNITY PARTY IN SYRIA             Sheikh Ali
  _' Kurdish Democratic Party in Syria (el-Partî)_'   Nasruddin Ibrahim
  SYRIAN KURDISH DEMOCRATIC RECONCILIATION
  KURDISTAN LEFT PARTY IN SYRIA                       Salih Gedo
  KURDISH REFORM MOVEMENT IN SYRIA                    Amjad Othman

History

[An office of the Kurdish Democratic Unity Party in Syria (PYDKS), a member of alliance, in the town of Afrin.] The Kurdish National Alliance in Syria was founded on 14 February 2016 after 2 days of negotiations between the constituent groups. It stated its goal as to “get rid of Kurdish fragmentation”. 39 representatives were elected during the conference.[3]

In June 2016, the group condemned the Kurdish National Council's foreign relations office in Ankara's accusation of the People's Protection Units being a terrorist organization.[4]

In January 2017, the HNKS stated that it will support proposals of unity talks between the Movement for a Democratic Society and the KNC.[5]

The HNKS also took part in the Northern Syria regional elections in December 2017, during which it was one of the two main electoral lists, opposing the PYD-led Democratic Nation List. It ran with 99 candidates for the Jazira Region, with 124 candidates for the Euphrates Region, and with 197 candidates in the Afrin Region. The HNKS consequently won 40 seats in Jazira Region, 40 seats in Euphrates Region, and 72 seats in Afrin Region.[6]

In early March 2018, during the Turkish military operation against the Afrin Region, Turkish-backed Sunni Islamist fighters captured the village of Sharran and burned a flag of the HNKS's Kurdish Democratic Unity Party in Syria (PYDKS) in its vacant office.[7]

Ideology

The Kurdish National Alliance supports Rojava and considers federalism in Syria as the most effective solution to the Syrian Civil War. It claims that its objective is to “stress the necessity of unifying the Kurdish ranks in the face of the current challenges”.[8] In addition, it listed 4 recommendations during its formation:[9]

-   Approving the national identity of the Kurdish people in Syria
-   Listing the Kurdish language as an official language in the constitution of Syria
-   Granting full women's rights in the process of the “development of society”
-   Activating the role of intellectuals and independent social and national figures

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

title: Kurdish National Alliance in Syria

question: When was the Kurdish National Alliance in Syria formed?

answer: The Kurdish National Alliance was formed on February 13, 2016.

question: What is the Kurdish National Alliance's ideological stance?

answer: The group supports Rojava and considers federalism as the most effective solution to the Syrian Civil War?

question: How many candidates did the Kurdish National Alliance run in the Euphrates region?

answer: The Kurdish National Alliance ran 124 candidates in the Euphrates region and won 40 seats.

question: How long has the Syrian Civil War been going on?

answer: Not answered.

question: Write a ~2 sentence summary.

answer: This article details the activity and ideological stance of the Kuridish National Alliance in Syria, a Syrian Kurdish coalition formed by five Syrian Kurdish parties in February of 2016. Its objective is to “stress the necessity of unifying the Kurdish ranks in the face of the current challenges”.


text:
Knocking myself for my bout of self-indulgence I ran on. Now was not the time to think of such things. Now I just needed to return to my troop and figure out a plan to deal with those bios.
"Alright you mental little shits." We were gathering around Erwin, heads pushed together, limiting the power of our transmissions not to extend beyond the furthest of us.

"I hadn't seen an psychs over there Erwin."

"I still feel better not taking any chances - Hey Rocket, how many cells we have left?" Rocket, as he was known to our group, got his name from those legs of his. I had never seen a human outrun a car till I met him. He was one of the first after the crisis. One of the first to undergo extremely experimental surgery to become superhuman. When LeRoy had underwent the knife he was just your average military field surgeon - but when he came out half machine...well his legs weren't the only thing he lost in that surgery.

Three fingers. We only had three cells left. Three cells between 20 men, deep in enemy territory. Separated from the main force in what was supposed to be a simple scouting mission.
"Alright. We've been in worse straits." That was true enough, last week we had been surrounded 6 psychs...but never had we been separated by miles of, now enemy, urban sprawl. "All we have to do is keeping pushing north."

"We'll skirt this camp to the west," with that statement a map was transmitted to all of us with a rough arrow showing where he was talking about, "then we'll just continue our little stroll back to main force." I couldn't help but smile at his delivery of that last statement. That's why our force trusted him. He had a way of making light of every situation and keeping the rest of the them in good spirits. "All right then. Let's roll out."

With that we fell in behind our commander. Trusting the path that he blazed for us we actively hid our vital signs and those of us with EM suppression abilities tried to hide the telltale human mind from any psychs that may have been wandering about. As we jogged forward, avoiding areas that seemed 'jiggy' to Erwin, I let my mind wander back to before.

Before this shit storm. Back when I was just a researcher in a human enhancement team. A pang of guilt struck me as I looked at Rocket. What have we become. I quickly pushed that aside and firmly reminded myself that we are survivors. We will do what we must. We will fight to survive.

"Vitals." Erwin pulled up and glanced at me. "What do you see there Mr. Spook?" That was apparently his favorite name for me, it was a play on that fact I could essentially disappear and my scientist background.

"I'm not a Vulcan - but I see two heat signatures in that red brick house there."

"Are they others?" Erwin shot back at me. "No sir. Humans by the look of it. Their signature is not hot enough to be others" Erwin looked back at the fragged out brick house. "Alright. Let's see what we can do for them."

A quick jog and our 20 man recon team pulled up to the remnants of the ancient building. Erwin looked at me and shoved his head in the direction of the entrance and I grudgingly cloaked and went inside. As I found my way around old furniture and new destruction I wondered how anyone could be surviving out here, until I finally found the heat sources.

I looked at them. Lost for words.

"Whatcha seein in there Davis?" Erwin's voice came through clear but still somehow muddled by my thoughts. There was no way this was possible.

"Davis! Report."

"Sir. I found..." I paused finding the words not wanting to leave my tongue from simple incredulity. "What did you find boy?" "A live woman and a little girl sir."

Silence.

~~~~Let's see where this goes. I'm really enjoying this story and finding it as I write it. :)

title: [Sci-Fi] Rebirth of a Race [Part 2]

question: Who is the team's leader?

answer: Erwin

question: Who is the narrator?

answer: Davis, but Erwin calls him Mr. Spook

question: What special ability does the narrator have?

answer: He can make himself invisible

question: What does the narrator find?

answer: A woman and a little girl

question: Write a ~3 sentence summary.

answer: Erwin plots a path for the recon team to rejoin the main force. As they follow it, the narrator, Davis, detects two life signs and uses his ability to become invisible to investigate. He finds a woman and a little girl.


text:
January 18, 1952

It was the dead of winter on the hollowed grounds of the Turner family’s vacation estate in northern Colorado. All was calm and quiet across the endless array of rolling hills, which so plainly swept through the ancient valley.
Mr. and Mrs. Turner were in a hurry, as they rushed to slide their coats on. Maurine Daniels, a seventeen-year-old New Yorker, new to Colorado helped them out the door.
“Alrite Maurine, emergency contacts on the fridge, there’s some games and food in the kitchen, no sweets for either of them, and off to bed at nine thirty, no exceptions.” “You two just have fun, we’ll be fine here.” Mrs. Turner chimed in; honestly Roger, trust the girl”, she said with a chuckle. “Maurine dear, if there’s anything at all you need don’t hesitate to give us a ring. Mr. Turners been a bit grouchy. Tonight the American Psychiatric Association is recognizing him for his contributions to the field.  “I swear, it’s year after year with these people.”  “Oh come on you old grouch. Bye kids!”
 The Turners dashed out the door. The skies opened up as heavy rain began to plummet down. Maurine shut the door as she heard the revving of an engine. The lights flashed on as the car zipped down the driveway.
	A few hours passed as Cindy and John played board game after board game with their baby sitter who forced a smile and pictured money. The clock struck nine thirty as Maurine lit up with anticipation. “Okay kids. Time for bed.” “Ten more minutes?” “John your father said no exceptions.” The children ran upstairs and hurried off to bed.
	Maurine dropped to the couch as if she had been shot. She rolled over, got up and turned on the television. “Thank God these kids don’t argue that much”, she thought to herself.  Suddenly the phone rang.
	Maurine walked over to pick it up. “Hello?” She could hear nothing more than a slight crinkling sound. “Hello?” After hanging up the phone she fell fast asleep. A few minutes later Cindy came downstairs.
	“What are you doing up?” asked Maurine playfully with a yawn. “I can’t sleep.” “Why, what’s wrong?” “The statue in my room is scary.” “Come on, we’ll take care of it. Let’s go see.” The two walked up the endless staircase to Cindy and John’s room.
	Maurine paced the vast room. She saw three statues. There was a knight, a clown, and a half-sized sculpture of a horse. She covered all three admittedly frightening figures. “All better. Now off to bed you”, said Maurine with a warm smile. Cindy smiled back and hopped into bed. “Good night.”
	Maurine went back downstairs and the phone rang as soon as she hit the couch. She rushed to the phone this time. “Hello?” “Maurine dear, its Mrs. Turner. I just wanted to check in. How are the kids?” “They’ve been perfect angels. I just put Cindy back to bed.” “Oh is she making a fuss?” “No she couldn’t sleep because of the clown statue in her room.” There was a long pause.
“Darling, there’s no clown statue.” “The one across from her bed?” Mrs. Turner went hysterical on the other end of the phone.
“Get the children out of the house! I’ll phone the police!” Mrs. Turner hung up.
	Maurine was confused. She walked up the stairs and slowly began to realize the horrific reality of her situation. At the same time, it hit her all at once. She panicked and exploded up the stairs, anxiously swung the door open, saw two of three statues, and the kids were gone. “Shit!”
There was an open window, which so calmly introduced the howling of winds that blew the white curtains of the children’s bedroom. They looked like ghosts dancing, taunting her.
 	She sprinted to the opening and gazed out into the endless flash of white that appeared to be the beginnings of a blizzard. Maurine hopped out the window onto the massive ledge, which canopied over the second floor porch on the massive three-story estate. She looked around, there was nothing in sight, and nowhere they could have gone.
 As she gazed into the far distance, she could make out what seemed to be a colossal barn. “Its too far away”, she thought to herself in a panicky disposition. She noticed a tiny window on the great wooden barn. It illuminated the pitch white of the furious storm.
Maurine’s eyes entranced, a chill ran down her spine, not from the five-degree monster that gave her frostbite, but from the nightmare that was her reality.
She rushed across the glowing white desert and bombarded the monstrous wooden door to find both Cindy and John asleep on the ground. Maurine rushed over and picked them up. She cried at the thought of her certainty that there was a clown lurking somewhere in the barn.
 She realized her intuition to be fact when the door slammed shut before she could set foot to freedom.
The clown “statue” glared at her and slowly paced her way, plank-by-plank, creak-by-creak.
She could feel herself stepping backward. “Who are you? Why are you doing this?” The clown, who stood in a narrow doorway, began to cackle wildly. He had a crackly thunderous voice. The kind of voice one gets from smoking three packs a day for over thirty years.
 “Why don’t you know my name?” “Oh my God, who are you?” she begged. “Oh I’m just -.”
Out of nowhere, the clown had a face of shock, he froze as his eyes widened and his expression went stoic. He fell to the ground. Maurine looked at the children and slowly made her way to the clown. There was a huge stab wound in his back. The monster laid face first in a pool of its own blood.
Maurine ran back to see who had saved her. “Oh thank . . . you.” Maurine stood there disappointed, her rescuer was nowhere in sight. She took the kids back to the house. Twenty minutes passed, and another hour before the Turners arrived. “Mommy, daddy!” yelled the children as they leapt into their parent’s arms. Mrs. Turner was in tears; “I’m just glad you’re all unharmed.” Mr. Turner walked up to a detective. “Who was this man and what did he want with my children?”
 The detective looked around and pulled Mr. Turner aside. He slowly leaned in and whispered; “He wasn’t after you or you’re kids. He knew Maurine would be here tonight. His name’s Douglas Daniels, no relation. He followed her from New York. He’s an old neighbor.”
“Who killed him?” “We aren’t sure.” Maurine was grateful to be alive. A detective came downstairs. “Ms. Daniels, you said there were three statues.” “There were.” “We only found a small horse statue.” “No there was that, the clown, and a . . . there was a knight.”
Another detective came down; “we found a sword with blood on the ridge.” Maurine felt that same chill she had when the window lit up, only this time a smile crossed her face.

title: Silent Ridge

question: What is Mr Turner's profession?

answer: Probably a mental health professional, as he's being honored by the American Psychiatric Association.

question: Why does the babysitter "force a smile and picture money"?

answer: They are not having a great time, and are reminding themselves that they are just doing this for the cash at the end of the night.

question: What is a "five-degree monster"?

answer: The text does not clarify, but perhaps it has to do with the coldness of the temperature outside.

question: Who ultimately saved Maurine?

answer: It is implied that the knight statue did.

question: Write a ~9 sentence summary.

answer: Maurine is babysitting two kids. She noticed three statue figurines in their bedroom: a knight, a clown, and a horse. Upon putting the kids to bed, their mother calls, and Maurine mentions the creepiness of the figurines. The kids' mother pauses and tells her to get out of the house-there's no clown figurine. While the mom calls the police from her date, Maurine finds the children are missing, as are the statues, and runs outside. The kids are knocked out on the ground and the now life-sized clown menaces her. However, something stabs and kills the clown. The police arrive and are unable to determine who did it, but they reveal it was a man named Douglas Daniels who had followed Maurine to town. The police had not located the knight statue, but they had found a sword with blood on it.


text:
There is really nothing left to do anymore but die.
	Wandering the island looking for food has proven to be a fruitless endeavor. No ships on the horizon, no way to make a fire. The days are spent boiling in the sun and the nights are spent shivering upon the rocks. Stomach pains are coming more frequently, often climaxing in a bout of blinding torment that feels like a sword in the gut.
	The sun has become an enemy. Terrible blisters have formed and sometimes they open and bleed, dripping down to form red puddles on the rocks. Brightness, to the eyes, is akin to a thousand needles and the insatiable thirst is enough to drive any man mad. Shouting hopeless curses at the sky has only weakened me further.
	Pieces of the vessel and its cargo can be found strewn along the shoreline. The once proud Champion is now nothing but scraps. Any hope once had for absolution is lost along with the captain and his crew. Only this weary sailor remains.
	Every morning, bodies beyond recognition wash up on the beach and must be moved into the shade before they begin to cook on the hot sand. Though still, the stench is appalling. So much so, that any thought of eating them brings on horrible fits of gagging. The very idea is repulsive. Seagulls squawk and squabble over the veritable feast of bloated, grey flesh and all attempts to catch one of the birds have failed.
	Hunger and weakness are all that remain. Walking has grown increasingly more difficult, causing severe headaches and dizziness. Found a pole amongst the wreckage to lean upon and clutch with swollen fingers. It is large and ineffective when trying to catch fish. Out if this debilitated state, hands alone may be enough to snag these fish for they show no fear and swim up into shallow waters to mock a dead man. For there is nothing left to do anymore but die.
	The wind rises, bringing with it a weakness in the knees. Before falling to the ground, the last of the strength left inside comes out as a shout.
	“God, why have you done this! Why have you left this poor soul alone to suffer and perish? To watch his brothers rot and to lose all chances of redemption!” The wind takes the words away as soon as they are spoken.
	There is nothing left and a tumble to the ground sends a shock of agonizing pain from knee to throat. The world spins and becomes a blur of incomprehensible colors. From every direction the screams of gulls resonate and for a moment it feels like trying to breath in a hurricane. An abhorrent taste of blood and salt mingle to become one fiery, red sensation. Wether this fit lasts for minutes or hours can not be said.
	Then finally, the world pulsates and slows. Breathing becomes easier and all pain is replaced by numbness. Even memories seem less painful now. Looking out across the ocean, the water sparkles sending pixies dancing along the waves. Strange patterns drift in front of the scene and tears run down sunburnt cheeks. All that seems to matter in the entire world is a cool drink of water. Sea water means death, but there is really nothing left to do but die.
	The reflection in the water gazing back at me looks like a stranger. He is a stranger.
	A fish in the shallows edges closer and gazes up with hollow eyes. Its mouth hangs open as if in disbelief.
	When asked, “What news from the sea?” the fish replies, “ Much there is to tell you, but my mouth is full of water.”

title: The Last Weary Sailor Amidst Unnatural Faces

question: Why is this ship wrecked?

answer: Possibly a storm.

question: How many people died?

answer: It seems like a whole crew perished.

question: Why isn't anyone looking for them?

answer: Maybe this was in the olden days, when ships did lose contact with civilization for long periods of time.Or maybe there were no civilizations.

question: Who is the narrator/protagonist who rears their head at the end?

answer: I am not sure.

question: Write a ~3 sentence summary.

answer: The sea vessel Champion has crashed, and the sailors have mostly died or not wander the island hopelessly.The survivors beseech God, demanding to know why he has done this-why he has left a poor soul to suffer and perish. Delirium has settled in and the world spins, becoming nonsensical. A fish seemingly approaches the narrator and converses with them.


text:
                                   Hamish the Alley Cat

	What the empirical fuck is that smell!?! It's as if someone jammed way too many roses up my nose when I was not at all prepared for even one fucking rose to be jammed that far up my nose. Why does she do this to herself? I just got here. I have no fucking idea. She is *so* fat. She sits on the couch all day staring at the television, constantly grabbing me and squashing me into her old, saggy tits. It's horribly depressing. For me. I don't give a shit about her. She's too far gone for pity or even any kind of consideration whatsoever. But she “saved me”. So I'm supposed to be grateful? Goddamnit.

	Two weeks ago I was pretty much at the peak of my whole entire alley cat life. There I was, juggling three sweet little pieces of tail, all chivalry followed by indifference or, more often, outright contempt. Everything had been going so smoothly but I was pretty sure they were going to figure things out and then... well, then it was going to turn into a huge fucking hassle.

	And so they did figure it out. The three of them cornered me behind the shitty Chinese seafood restaurant where I used to eat pretty much every day. They'd crept up on me and when I turned around they were staring at me through meaningfully narrowed, female cat-eyes. I'd just eaten a pile of probably rancid lobster claws and was not in the mood for this kind of a showdown. But then something unexpected happened. They all started mewing in like a *real* low register that I'd never heard before. It was terrifying but also I had just about the hugest cat boner pretty much of my whole entire life. I don't know what the fuck they'd sorted out between them but they turned themselves right around and I didn't hesitate for a second before... well, you're not a cat but figure it the fuck out for yourself.

	And then I ended up here. Maybe it was Karma. Don't you doubt for a second that I didn't sin extremely hard with those three alley girls. So yeah, maybe it was Karma. Except that it wasn't 'cause who the fuck actually takes that shit seriously anymore? It was capricious. Just like everything else. Just a goddamn unfortunate coincidence. There I was, sprawled out, spent and nearly unconscious on a pile of fishbones when who happens to stroll down my paradise of an alley but the scourge of alley cats worldwide: the SPCA girl. She scooped me up and took me to her little cat prison which was bad enough. But then I was swapped out of Rikers Island and sent into the goddamn final centre of all of the concentric circles of hell. Suburbia. Holy Hell! Perfumed exactly for what!?!

                                                ..........

	So I feel like you aren't taking me seriously. I'm too callous and I use too many cuss words? I'm not worthy of sympathy because I didn't hesitate before seriously rogering three poor victimy felines in a dirty Chinatown alleyway? Well fuck right off. That's the world I come from. That's where I was born and that's where, god-willing, I'll die if I ever get out of this perfume saturated townhouse. Which, it's looking like the chances are fairly fucking slim...

	But what am I supposed to do? Claw out her eyes and piss all over her Wal-Mart blouse? Well that's not going to open the door or window, is it? Besides, it's not like I have anything against this Titanic of a women. She is *shockingly* desperate. I don't know how she got this way. Probably some asshole treated her like a means to his own typically demented ends and then fucked off. Probably told her he loved her. She probably didn't believe him but was too far gone with nothing else to look forward to and nowhere else to go.

	Except to the SPCA and their collection of messianic felines.

	And so here we sit, watching Fox News, enshrouded in rose-tinged gasoline fumes, staring at Romney and his immaculate hair. It's a post-mortem piece. The election is over. The parrots are suggesting that Romney's failure has somehow managed to transform the Mormon faith into a state of respectability. Which means a state on non-cultishness. This is, of course, ridiculous. Mormonism was never a cult. Much like the rest of the human circus, it is, and always has been, simply an unmitigated shitshow. But no one at Fox cares. And no one seems up to investigating the actually interesting American Cult. The one that, as we speak, is spreading rhizomatically across the country just exactly as fast as Suburbia's slow crawl.

                                             ..........

	Listen. At this point you're probably wondering: how could a cat could come to be so insightful and mercilessly direct? Um, first of all, napping? No, we're not napping. We're observing. And plotting.  And because we're plotting so goddamn hard we have to keep our eyes closed for concentration purposes. And that blank stare? Well that blank stare ain't so blank after all, shitdicks. Next time you're role-playing with the cat in the room, maybe think twice before breaking out the ol' strap-on.

	Just sayin'.

	Anyway, I'm supposed to be telling a story. Which means a beginning, a middle, some sort of a climax, maybe a little *denouement* and than at least an ambiguous fade or maybe actually an end. But does this scenario seem amenable to that kind of a structure? Where are things supposed to go from here? She's going to keep buying me food. And so I'll eat it and won't die until I develop some inevitable cat disease or decide to crawl into the *in-progress* garburator. Which, yeah, is depressing enough but somehow infinitely less depressing than the fact that she'll simply continue to sit on the couch, stinking of that hysterically Brad Pitt-endorsed garbage she sprays all over herself, content to drive me over and over into the depths of her mammarian cavity.

        Until, she seems to hope, forever.

	And that's it. That's the whole story. The two of us: we are the very picture of doom! Here we sit, lit up like angels in the perpetual wash of cable nonsense and runaway newsiness, all comfort and cancer and just waiting for oblivion...

                                               ..........

	So if it's a story you're looking for, you'd best stop hangin' around here. Go downtown. Go take a walk down the darkest, dirtiest alleyway you can find. It won't be the same without me but make no mistake: the heirs to the throne are already there, clawin' the eyeballs out of each other's eyeball sockets, mouths stuffed full of fur and blood, fightin' 'til the very last breath just for the chance to take my place. And they'll keep comin' and comin' for no one knows how long.

There's no shortage of understudies in the Theatre of the Real.

                                               *

title: something I wrote a year ago or so... be warned, there are swears.

question: Who's the narrator?

answer: An alley cat captured and "adopted."

question: What's the name of the narrator's human?

answer: Unclear, he never names her, just berates her.

question: What's with the cat's talking style?

answer: He's lude, direct, uncensored.

question: What does the narrator think of Mormonism?

answer: That it's a culty shitshow.

question: Write a ~3 sentence summary.

answer: An alley cat is dining on rancid lobster claws behind a Chinese seafood restaurant in the city when he's captured by an SPCA lady. He gets adopted into a typical American suburban home where he spends his days complaining about his caregiver. The cat is lude, unfiltered, and uncensored.


text:
[Africa Proconsularis (125 AD)] [Only Church Building found in Thucca Terenbenthina.] THUCCA TERENBENTHINA, also known as THUGGA, was an ancient Roman-Berber town in the province of African Proconsularis. In late antiquity, it was made a municipium of the province of Byzacena. Thucca Terenbenthina is identified with ruins located in the modern town of Dougga, Tunisia.

The town of THUCCA TERENBENTHINA was also seat of the small but[1][2] ancient bishopric of Diocese of Thucca Terenbenthina which remains a titular see of the Roman Catholic Church to this day.

[1] Collectif, L’Afrique romaine.(Atlande, Neuilly-sur-Seine, 2006) p69-439, p.310.

[2] Mustapha Khanoussi, « L’évolution urbaine de Thugga (Dougga) en Afrique proconsulaire : de l’agglomération numide à la ville africo-romaine »,(CRAI (Comptes-rendus des séances de l’Académie des inscriptions et belles-lettres), 2003), pp. 131–155

title: Thucca Terenbenthina

question: Where is Thucca Terenbenthina located in modern days?

answer: It is located in Dougga, Tunisia.

question: How large was the town?

answer: Not answered.

question: What is a titular see?

answer: Not answered.

question: How many people inhabited Thucca Terenebenthina?

answer: Not answered.

question: Write a ~1 sentence summary.

answer: This article gives a brief overview of Thucca Terenbenthina, an ancient Roman-Berber town located in modern town of Dougga, Tunisia.


text:
I once dreamt of this moment: placing a foot onto a beaming electromagnetic pillar, launching towards a dark mass filled with more brightness than a human eye could handle. We were told the sun would dim slowly, like a fire with no more wood to feed the flame. It would expand and swallow the world, the same world which has housed everything we have ever known. But now, they trust me: Experiment 9K30. The last thing I witnessed before I stepped into that glistening wheat, aqua blue stream, were the eager eyes of the planet, wrapped with thoughts of return stories, and those who knew there wouldn't be one.

“9K30.”

His boots moving like hammers on the metal.

“*Commander*.”

He pauses in front of me, with scanning eyes. Deep down he's filled with complex intertwining thoughts, so convoluted that he remains silent.

“It's strange to think that this moment is finally here.”

Everything feels blank.

“Thousands of generations before us never thought that humanity would live long enough to actually witness this. ...They also didn't think it would happen this soon.”

We both just peer out into space, until the attention shifts.

“9K30 you know-”

“*I know, sir.*”

“Once we set foot-”

“*Sir.*”

He sighs.

“Out of all of them, I think we've made the best choice with you.”

“*Thank you, Commander*.”

“Don't you ever be the one thanking me, 9K.”

...With all of these metal plates and glass-like shields coating me, it's hard to remember that deep down inside I may actually be humane.

**EDIT**: I just thought I should mention that this is a smaller piece out of a larger work in progress.

title: Swimming With A Thousand Suns

question: What moment has finally arrived?

answer: The moment of finally reaching another planet has arrived.

question: What is the setting?

answer: The setting is some kind of spaceship stationed nearby a planet.

question: Who are the characters in the scene?

answer: The characters are Experiment 9K30 and the Commander.

question: How do the characters feel at this moment?

answer: They feel excited and prepared to head to the planet.

question: Write a ~4 sentence summary.

answer: Experiment 9K30 and the Commander have finally reached a planet that they have been looking for. They never expected to reach it so soon. The Commander says that they made the best choice with 9K30. They prepare to head to the planet.


text:
Official State Bird of Massachusetts

The black-capped chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) was designated the state bird of Massachusetts in 1941 The black-capped chickadee is also the state bird of Maine. Massachusetts also recognizes an official state game bird.  All State Birds

A minuscule, cheerfully sociable bird, the energetic black-capped chickadee does not migrate - so we can enjoy them all year long! The black-capped chickadee is a member of the titmouse family (also known as the titmouse, tomtit, and the dickybird).  The unique call of the chickadee is one of the most complex in the animal kingdom - very slight variations in the "chick-a-dee" can act as an alarm call, a contact call, or can be used to relay information when they recognize another flock.

A common backyard bird, black-capped chickadees inhabit the northern two-thirds of the United States and much of Canada. They are found deep in the forests as well as suburban areas. The black-capped chickadee is omnivorous (eats both plants and animals). Caterpillars, spiders and other insects make up about half of their diet, with seeds and berries filling in the rest. The chickadee is known for "caching" food. They hide seeds and berries in crevices of tree bark and under leaves, and can remember where they have hidden their stored foods for up to a month!

The black-capped chickadee is monogamous and when a pair bonds, they remain together for life. The female builds their nest in abandoned woodpecker cavities or nesting boxes. Sometimes, the female will fashion her own cavity in a rotten tree trunk, not an easy task for a bird with such a tiny bill. The male feeds the female during the nest building and during the time she is brooding her clutch of six to eight eggs. When the babies hatch, both parents share the job of feeding them.

question: What is this article about?

answer: Black-capped chickadees

question: The black-capped chickadee is the state bird of which states?

answer: Massachusetts and Maine

question: How much of the United States does the black-capped chickadee inhabit?

answer: Two-thirds of the United States.

question: Where do female black-capped build their nests?

answer: In abandoned woodpecker cavities, nesting boxes, and rotten tree trunks.

question: How many eggs does a black-capped chickadee lay?

answer: Six to eight.

question: Write a ~3 sentence summary.

answer: The black-capped chickadee is the official state bird of both Massachusetts and Maine. It is an energetic bird with a unique call, inhabiting a large area of the United States and Canada. They are omnivorous and live a monogamous lifestyle, sharing parenting opportunities.


text:
OREN ROSENFELD is an Israeli documentary filmmaker, photojournalist, and film producer.[1]

Career

Rosenfeld was born in Jerusalem on January 29, 1976. He started his career as a photojournalist covering the 2nd Palestinian Intifada. In October 2016, he Directed and co-wrote Israel's Arab Warriors for the BBC.[2] In the film, he and cowriter Jane Corbin followed the first unit of Israeli Arab soldiers to serve in the Israeli occupied West Bank.

Rosenfeld's award-winning film _Hummus The Movie_ stirred controversy when the Guinness Book of World records refused to send representatives to judge the world's largest plate of hummus due to alleged security concerns.[3]

In 2017 Rosenfeld joined Jane Corbin to write and Direct _The Real Fauda_, a BBC documentary about the real story behind the hit Netflix drama Fauda.

Rosenfeld discussed the nature of the documentary, and the uniqueness of the project for I24 News[4]

In early 2018, Rosenfeld returned to India to continue production of Mumbai Jews a film about the long established Jewish community in Mumbai, and the significance or their cultural, social and political contributions to India.[5]

Mumbai Jews touches the story of Moshe Holtzberg, one of the survivors of the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks. He was almost two years old when the attack orphaned him. Rosenfeld follows his return, 10 years later. The story focuses on Holtzberg's nanny Sandra Samuel[6] In 2010 Oren Founded his production company Holy-Land Productions.

Rosenfeld's latest work Lost in Paradise Goa won the LIAFF award for Best Short Documentary [7]

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

title: Oren Rosenfeld

question: When was Oren Rosenfeld born?

answer: Oren Rosenfeld was born on January 29, 1976.

question: When did Oren Rosenfeld write and direct The Real Fauda?

answer: Oren Rosenfeld wrote and directed The Real Fauda in 2017.

question: Why was Oren Rosenfeld's film Hummus The Movie controversial?

answer: Oren Rosenfeld's film Hummus The Movie was controversial due to Guinness Book of World Records refusal to judge the hummus due to security concerns.

question: What production company did Oren Rosenfeld found?

answer: Oren Rosenfeld founded the production company Holy-Land Productions.

question: What award did Oren Rosenfeld's Lost in Paradise Goa win?

answer: Oren Rosenfeld's Lost in Paradise Goa won the LIAFF Best Short Documentary award.

question: Write a ~3 sentence summary.

answer: Oren Rosenfeld is an Israeli documentary filmmaker and producer. He has written and produced numerous short films and documentaries in his career. His most recent work earned the LIAFF award for Best Short Documentary.


text: At seven in the morning, every morning, Jc was awaken from his slumber. If he hated any two words in the english dictionary, they were ‘Get up” and he heard those words every single morning. As he slowly came to his senses, The thought of having to go through another boring day of school sunk into his mind, with the only thing he had to look forward to was another night of  sleep, which was at that moment more than 15 hours away. It seemed ridiculous that someone was expected to go from asleep to learning mode in less than 30 minutes, but again he’d rather go through this than wake up earlier. Jc walked quickly into the living room, gathered the least terrible looking outfit he could find and change. He was always baffled by the fact as how people could take what seemed hours to get ready to go somewhere, while he could do it all in less than five minutes. “ Fucking Matt Lauer” he always thought, of the voice of one of the hosts of the today show, which were always on as he was getting ready. Once he put all the countless incomplete homework papers in his backpack, He was off to school, Into the blinding light of sun and the cold that was always to cold, no matter what the temperature was.

title: Getting ready (225 words)

question: When does Jc wake up in the morning?

answer: 7 AM.

question: What is the first thing Jc hears when he wakes up?

answer: "Get up".

question: Where is Jc going?

answer: To school, which he dreads.

question: How long does it take Jc to get ready in the morning?

answer: 5 minutes.

question: Write a ~3 sentence summary.

answer: Jc hates waking up for school every morning. He gets up at 7 am and scrambles himself together, stuffing papers in his backpack and throwing on an outfit. He hears the voice of Matt Lauer, a today show host, on his way out the door.


text: Elliott awoke in his bed. Not quite sober, not quite drunk. Being a 25 year old neanderthal is simple, in his own mind, but arduous in the worlds mind. Upon placing his feet halfway on the floor he pondered if he should start his day, or end his day. Both ended in the same outcome of misery. With his head full of half stars he started his day,thinking about his failures as well as grandiose ideas of the day to come. He slid on his shoes and clothed himself the way he did yesterday, or anyday prior as far as he was concerned. He peered into the vacant window of his failures as he sipped his Irish coffee, contemplating on if he should start his day. There was never really any choice, anyway. He humbly yet stressfully lulled his way into his job, wondering why. He took his old cutless to work, thinking along the way of his failures. The flask in his inned jacket pocket, beating louder than his heart, reassured him of his confusion. Whilst passing beautiful women along his comute, he couldn't help but think of what could've been, The luxury of no anxiety, the freedom of his mind, and why he couldn't get his damn oil changed. As he strolled into his mundane job, the flask beat loudly as he imagined it in his blood stream. But his anxiety helped him carry on into his cubicle. He could see the poeticness of it, but chose to ignore it as his glee-full co-workers passed him by. He confusingly had an innermonolouge, but to hell with it, at least I have my flask, as he thought as he took a swig, How can a sell this nonsense to others, he thought. As sad as he was, he was the most enlightened one in this prison, or so he thought. He took a heroic swig from his flask and stared blankly at his monitor. "I'm not better than this", he thought. He jumped heart first into his workday, his flask of a heart picking up pace. He certainly had a case of the Fridays. The Fridays filled with booze and sorrow. He fumbled through his logic and decided that it was time for sleep. He stood up, strolled out of his office hoping someone would pick up on his aura, but no one did other than the rotating door upon his exit. As he decended down the stairs, he couldn't help but feel this was a soliloquy for his life. Down, down, down. Step after step until he reached the exit, The relief, the agony, the purity hit him at once, At that moment he fantasized that everything was not going to be alright, even though it was. During his ride back "home", he contemplated not life, but the actions in it. And in that pure moment he felt happiness, The happiness that only happens in commercials. It was okay. Today was okay, Tomorrow was a mystery, and he took solace in that. Finally, a half smile showed on his face. He had found his love, The love for the unknown. Praise be to his gods.

title: Feedback would be nice.

question: Where does the setting of the story take place?

answer: Elliott's thoughts are from his office which feels like a prison to him.

question: Who is the main character of the story?

answer: Elliott

question: What does Elliott suffer from?

answer: He suffers from anxiety (and possibly depression and alcoholism).

question: How does Elliott try to cope with his issues?

answer: He carries a flask of booze.

question: Write a ~3 sentence summary.

answer:
Elliott wakes up in his bed without any motivation to get up or begin his day. He decides to begin his day as he thinks about both, great ideas and his failures.
Elliott feels anxiety as he gets to his cubicle and cannot feel a moment of happiness until he is on his way home.


text:
Alright. Today is the day. I feel inspired, I feel motivated. I can put pen to paper and finally hash out the first chapter to my next novel. A short thriller with a dash of dark humor, a comedic tragedy of sorts. Something that will leave the readers with a sense of ambiguity. Laptop is on, WordWriter 20xx is open, and now here comes...

*High atop the cityscape sat Jane. A reporter of sorts, Jane ran a blog -*

Hm... Maybe not Jane... I knew a Jane back in grade school. She was pretty and sweet, definitely smart, and we had an estranged friendship of sorts. Ah, who cares. That was so long ago and I hardly even knew her.

*A reporter of sorts, Jane ran a blog reporting on the video game industry. Her stall was in the middle of the aisle -*

I wonder what became of Jane? I think we went to different middle schools, that or we just never saw each other again. Oh, there's also the Jane Park I met in high school. Mildly overweight, dumb, and bossy. Being stuck with her in the Physics lab was probably what stifled my dreams of becoming the next Bill Nye. Heh, imagine me as a "Science Guy" of all things. Maybe I should change the name, this is getting too distracting.

*High atop the cityscape sat Sarah. A reporter of sorts, Sarah ran a blog reporting on the video game industry. Her stall was in the middle of the aisle, her body cramped between an overweight and visibly uncomfortable salesman and tomboyish young woman. Her laptop was -*

Sarah. I can't use Sarah. My memories of Sarah Bellevue are still too fresh despite the decade that has passed. There were other girls before her, there have been a few women since, but I never wronged any of them the way I did Sarah. That was the first heart I ever broke and it wasn't until years had gone by that I realized what I had done. I have no remorse toward what happened, nor do I pity her for what transpired after, but I am haunted by the idea of my naivety at the time. I admit, that is cold, but... Okay. Not Sarah.

*High atop the cityscape sat -*

Rachel? No, I knew a Rachel in College.

Michelle? Nope. My assistant is named Michelle.

Ashley? Cousin's daughter.

Carmen... Liana... Eleni? Amber. Jasmine. Aisha... Jenny? No too close to Jennifer. Christine... is my mother's name.

Mandy. Marilyn. Brittany? Tiffany. Candace. Nope, nope, nope, dated a Tiffany, nope.

BrandyHeatherChanningBriannaAmberSerenaMelodyDakotaSierraBambiCrystalSamanthaAutumRubyTaylorTaraTammyLaurenCharleneChantelleCourtneyMistyJennyKristaMindyNoelShelbyTrinaRebaCassandraNikkiKelseyShawnaJoleneUrleenClaudiaSavannahCaseyDollyKendraKylieChloeDevonEmmalou... Becky?

*High atop the cityscape sat Becky -*

Okay clearly not Becky. Becky is the name of my neighbor's overly rebellious daughter. Maybe I should just switch up the sex to move things along.

*High atop the cityscape sat John. A reporter of sorts, John ran a blog reporting on the video game -*

Oh... I forgot... John killed himself a few years ago. Of all the times to think about him... When was the last time I even saw him? His sister's wedding? Amber had been dropping hints to me to try to reconnect with him but things had just become to strained after his divorce with Amy. I guess he shouldn't have been too surprised to have caught her cheating on him given the way they had first met. I can't even remember the last thing I said to him... Twenty years of growing up together. Five years growing apart. Three years without him at all. I never sought closure after his death. I never asked the reason. I never guessed the reason. I accepted the news and carried on with my life. It was like when my mother mentioned to me that my elementary school had been torn down and the property was now empty. A part of me pined for the memories but not enough to become concerned about it. Maybe I should give Amber a call. But, for now, let's try another name.

*High atop the cityscape sat Phillip. A reporter of sorts, Phillip ran a blog reporting on the video game industry. His stall was in the middle of the aisle, his body cramped between an overweight and visibly uncomfortable salesman and tomboyish young woman. His laptop was dimly illuminated to maintain the unrealistic ideal of privacy as he skimmed over the notes he had prepared for the convention. Phillip had become popular enough to draw the attention of several notable industry leaders and was given an all-expense paid trip to report on behalf of the convention runners, GamenCorp -*

Phillip used to play football in high school. I can't remember if he kept playing in college or not, I think maybe he was injured? I'm pretty sure he and Amber were still friends in college, maybe I should ask her when I... No... I probably shouldn't call her at all. There is undoubtedly a reason why we lost touch after John left us. I don't know the reason, but I accept that there has to be one. Thirty minutes and I've hardly touched the keyboard now. Maybe I should just take a break.

*High atop the cityscape sat PLACEHOLDER. A reporter of sorts, PLACEHOLDER ran a blog reporting on the video game industry. PLACEHOLDER stall was in the middle of the aisle, PLACEHOLDER body cramped between an overweight and visibly uncomfortable salesman and tomboyish young woman. PLACEHOLDER laptop was dimly illuminated to maintain the unrealistic ideal of privacy as PLACEHOLDER skimmed over the notes PLACEHOLDER had prepared for the convention. PLACEHOLDER had become popular enough to draw the attention of several notable industry leaders and was given an all-expense paid trip to report on behalf of the convention runners, GamenCorp, to local media outlets and an exclusive video series.*

^(^(that feel when trying to pick a name for a character))

title: [RF] Any other name

question: What is the feeling that the writer is trying to convey to the reader?

answer: The writer is expressing that even a seemingly simple process such as deciding on the name of a character, is actually a deceptively difficult process with a lot of thought behind it.


text:
[]

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIF. - AUGUST 22, 2018 - Ellation, the transformative media company home to industry-leading brands Crunchyroll and VRV, announced today the launch of Ellation Studios and the first Crunchyroll Originals series _High Guardian Spice_. Ellation’s original content efforts will include production facilities in Burbank and Tokyo devoted to creating and developing new original shows for the Crunchyroll and VRV communities. Margaret Dean, former GM of Stoopid Buddy Stoodios and current president of Women in Animation, has been named head of studio for the new division.

[]

As head of studio, Dean is charged with developing originals for both brands, including overseeing production for _High Guardian Spice_, the first-ever Crunchyroll Original Series, slated to premiere in 2019. Raye Rodriguez, a lifelong anime fan, is the creator of _High Guardian Spice_ and his production team features an all-female writing room, along with a diverse and passionate group of artists and creatives. Audu Paden, director of the _Animaniacs_ and other beloved animated series, joins Rodriguez as mentor.

[]

In _High Guardian Spice_, the lives of four fierce girls, Rosemary, Sage, Thyme and Parsley, converge at High Guardian Academy, the one place where they can stumble towards adulthood while becoming the heroes they've always admired. As they master the ways of battle and sorcery, our foursome form allegiances and comical kinships, uncover legacies and betrayals, and discover their true identities while preparing to protect the world from an ominous unknown threat.

“Crunchyroll Originals aims to elevate animation as a medium for storytelling, as most animated series in western culture is geared towards kids or comedy. Our fans grew up watching anime, and today anime inspires creators from around the world and influences so much of broader pop culture. We look to tell distinct, impactful stories best executed in the medium of animation from a global creative community who is inspired by anime.” said Kun Gao, founder and General Manager of Crunchyroll. “With this in mind, we are excited to introduce more shows and announce the rest of our slate in the coming weeks.”

[]

“With Crunchyroll Originals, we’re looking to showcase animation as an art form, delivering meaningful original content that draws from our strengths as a truly international service dedicated to super-serving anime fans,” said Margaret Dean, head of studio, Ellation. “The art style of _High Guardian Spice_ combines anime influence with an untold story and unique perspective. Raye’s team has been inspiring to work with, and we’re can’t wait for fans to see what we have in store for them.”

[]

The _High Guardian Spice_ creative team will appear at this year’s Crunchyroll Expo, a Crunchyroll convention celebrating the best of Japanese animation and pop culture. The panel, taking place on Saturday in San Jose, will feature Margaret Dean, series creator Raye Rodriguez, Supervising Director Audu Paden, and Story Editor Amalia Levari as they discuss new series.

Ellation’s original programming efforts build upon the existing content strategy of licensing and co-producing premium content for both Crunchyroll and VRV. Currently, Crunchyroll has co-produced over 50 series, including _KIZNAIVER_, _Classroom of the Elite_, _SPACE PATROL LULUCO_ and _Laid-Back Camp_.

So, what do you think, folks? Are you excited for _High Guardian Spice_? It looks like we’ll be hearing more about _High Guardian Spice_ and other Crunchyroll Originals in 2019 and beyond. Look forward to it!

question: Name a brand under Elation.

answer: Crunchyroll.

question: What do Crunchyroll Originals aim to do?

answer: Elevate animation as a medium for storytelling.

question: What's the Crunchyroll expo called?

answer: The Crunchyroll Expo.

question: Who founded Crunchyroll?

answer: Ken Gao.


text:
The MATRA-SIMCA MS630 was a Group 5 prototype race car introduced in 1967 for the World Championship for Makes. The MS630 replaced the previous Matra MS620.[1] The car was initially designated as the MATRA MS630, but when Simca sponsored Matra in 1969, it was renamed as the Matra-Simca MS630.

Racing History

1967

For 1967, Matra decided to use a 1.9-litre version of the BRM Formula One V8 engine. (capable of producing at 9,000 RPM.) Matra planned to have Johnny Servoz-Gavin/Jean-Pierre Jaussaud to drive the MS630 at both the 1967 1000 km of Spa and 1967 1000km of Nürburgring but the entries for both races were withdrawn. The MS630 only made one appearance in 1967, the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Matra entered two cars for Servoz-Gavin/Jean-Pierre Beltoise and Jaussaud/Henri Pescarolo. Servoz-Gavin/Beltoise retired with a broken oil pipe and Jaussaud/Pescarolo also retired with broken suspension.

In the World Championship for Makes, Matra scored no points during the year.

1968

For 1968, Matra decided to use their 3.0 60º V12. The MS630 only made one appearance in 1968, the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Matra entered one car for Servoz-Gavin/Pescarolo but it retired with an accident caused by a puncture.

In the World Championship for Makes, Matra scored no points during the year for the second consecutive season.

1969

The first race of the season was the 1969 24 Hours of Daytona with Servoz-Gavin/Pescarolo but the car did not start the race due to a practice accident. The team skipped the 12 Hours of Sebring and BOAC 500. Matra entered the 1000 km of Monza with Servoz-Gavin/Jean Guichet but retired from the race with a fuel feed issue. The team skipped the 1969 Targa Florio. Matra planned to have Servoz-Gavin/Beltoise and Guichet ( who was scheduled to drive single handed) at the 1969 1000 km of Spa but the entry for the race was withdrawn and skipped the 1969 1000 km of Nürburgring. Matra entered four cars for the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Jean-Pierre Beltoise/Piers Courage in the new Matra-Simca MS650, Jean Guichet/Nino Vaccarella in the MS630, Nanni Galli/Robin Widdows and Johnny Servoz-Gavin/Herbert Müller were both in the updated MATRA-SIMCA MS630/650 (A MS630 car with the parts from the MS650). Beltoise/Courage finished fourth followed by Guichet/Vaccarella in fifth, Galli/Widdows seventh and Servoz-Gavin/Müller retired when an electrical short circuit failed. For the Watkins Glen 6 Hours, Matra entered two cars for Servoz-Gavin/Pedro Rodriguez in the MS650 and Guichet/Widdows in the MS630/650. Servoz-Gavin/Rodriguez finished fourth and Guichet/Widdows retired with a broken clutch. The MS630 was retired before the 1000km of Zeltweg.

In the World Championship for Makes, Matra scored six points, earning it seventh in the championship. All points were scored by the MS650.

Complete World Championship for Makes results

  Year                   Entrant               Class     Drivers   1     2     3     4     5     6     7     8     9     10    Points
  ---------------------- --------------------- --------- --------- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- -------- -----
  1967                   Equipe Matra Sports   Group 5             DAY   SEB   MNZ   SPA   TFO   NÜR   LMS   BHC               0        -
  Johnny Servoz-Gavin                                                                29
  Jean-Pierre Beltoise                                                               29
  Jean-Pierre Jaussaud                                                               43
  Henri Pescarolo                                                                    43
  1968                   Equipe Matra Sports   Group 5             DAY   SEB   BHC   MNZ   TFO   SPA   NÜR   WGN   ZEL   LMS   0        -
  Johnny Servoz-Gavin                                                                                19
  Henri Pescarolo                                                                                19
  1969                   Equipe Matra - Elf    Group 5             DAY   SEB   BHC   MNZ   TFO   SPA   NÜR   LMS   WGN   ORC   6        5TH
  Johnny Servoz-Gavin    DNS                                       26                      25
  Henri Pescarolo        DNS
  Herbert Müller                                                                           25
  Jean Guichet                                                     26                      5     16
  Jean-Pierre Beltoise
  Nino Vaccarella                                                                          5
  Nanni Galli                                                                              7
  Robin Widdows                                                                            7     16

All points scored by the Matra-Simca MS650.

[1]

title: Matra-Simca MS630

question: What is the Matra-Simca MS630?

answer: A Group 5 prototype race car

question: Who designed the Matra-Simca MS630?

answer: That information can't be found.

question: When was the Matra-Simca MS630 first introduced?

answer: 1967 during the World Championship for Makes

question: Describe the Matra-Simca MS630's racing history for the year 1968.

answer: Matra-Simca MS630 only made a single appearance in 1968, during the 24 Hours of le Mans.

question: Write a ~2 sentence summary.

answer: The Matra-Simca MS630 was a Group 5 prototype race car. It was introduced in 1967 by Matra for the World Championship Makes.


text:
There was an complete stillness to the air. There was no wind; it was calm, tranquil and cool. I laughed, one short quick exhalation and the vapor cloud  hung in front of my face for a while before dissipating to a realm beyond sight and mind.

I looked down at you. It had been about four years now, but you were exactly where I left you. The blades of grass had started to brown, marking the end of summer and soon the onslaught of winter would be upon us, bringing with it the cold devastation.

It was had been four years now, and judging by the condition of this place, you had already been forgotten.

I thought back to it all. The violence. The beauty. Your panicked breath washing over the skin on my neck, just below my ear. Normally I take no pleasure—well, that is a slight lie, but I deny myself from giving in completely to the fury of it all. The dance, while still skillfully executed, typically contains no emotion. I could make rivers and lakes with what I have done, so what is just one more bucket?

Sure the first time engulfed me. It fueled my desires. Eviscerated with every last second of the moment. It happened all so fast, but time distorts in my mind. It is slowed to the point of seeing a hummingbird's wings flap with a slow and steady pulse. I heard the echos of a heart beat, loud and thunderous, irregular and desperate...

And with you it wasn't any different—though thousands of times this ritual plotted, schemed, and preformed, I heard the echo of your heartbeat. Time was not in control, I was. You had surrendered completely, accepting your role entirely. You had your part to play, though you tried to rob me of it. Foolish, but still what more could have been expected of you? So fiery, so stubborn, and so sad. But oh so beautiful. Your cries still ring in my ears. I can still taste your sweat on my tongue, and the acrid scent in my nostrils. I don't have to imagine it, no. No no no; not you, my dear. And that is what makes you special. That is what mark you have left. That, and the scar from the bite mark on my shoulder.

I watched as your eyes glassed. I stayed to watch you paint the floor. Each and every last brush stroke, divine—sacrosanct. Plotted so precise by the hand of fate. And when it licked my boot, I watched it change—as beautiful as the leaves in autumn.

Ah yes. Autumn.

It had been four years now. And you were exactly where I left you.

The cold air made every sound within a mile crystal clear—clear as the sky on this day. The sun was starting so set now, and the once cool and tranquil calm—the eery stillness was replaced by a gentle breeze. The rustle of dead leaves interrupted the pin-drop-silence I so enjoyed. But as the leaves blew between the gravestones, they were caught and coalesced among the trinkets of those left behind...

There were no flowers.
There were no candles.
There were no wreaths or bells.

You were exactly where I left you. And it had only been four years, but the world has already forgotten you.

You had no mourners.
You had no survivors.
You have only me.

Me...

And it is only a matter of time before I move on. Till my life is once again chained to the ritual, the dance. Your screams will be replaced from my dreams. The blood on my hands will belong to someone else. And then what will become of you? How long till your name fades from the garnet? Your life was a short and pointless echo, muted at my hand. Erased, as if you never existed.

There were no flowers at your grave.
There were no candles.
There were no wreaths or bells.
There were no letters from loved ones.
There were no tears that frosted the browning grass.
You had no mourners.
You had no survivors.
You had only me.

I reached into the pocket of my long coat.
This was my paint brush. This was my pen. This was the baton I used to conduct your requiem.

I set the silver plated, serrated and barbed dagger at the foot of your headstone. A single red velvet ribbon tied into a perfect bow embraced the blade to the hilt.

I blew a kiss and walked away.

title: Prey

question: What signified was the end of summer and soon winter?

answer: The grass had started to brown

question: How was time distorted in the narrator's mind?

answer: Time slowed to the point of seeing a hummingbird's wings flap with a slow and steady pulse.

question: What did the narrator's life feel chained to?

answer: To the ritual of dance until he moved on from it.

question: Who was the narrator visiting?

answer: His former dance partner's grave.

question: Write a ~2 sentence summary.

answer: The narrator reminisces on his former dance partner after she's been gone for four years. He feels chained to the ritual of dance but knows that one day he will move on.


text:
It is important to remember that the four-letter type code is more than the sum of four letters.

It results from how we answer questions along four dichotomies, Extraversion-Introversion, Sensing-iNtuiting, Thinking-Feeling, and Judging-Perceiving.

While on the surface each of these dichotomies can be described generally, they are not separate parts or traits. In the development of the MBTI, it was assumed that reporting preferences for one over the other of each dichotomy would give us an idea of the pattern of cognitive processes of the personality and thus reveal Jung's psychological type patterns.

Use the following diagram to remind you of the kinds of processes and what the letters mean.

One can "crack the code" in a mechanical fashion and for some people this is necessary for them to understand how the processes are in a hierarchy.

What follows is a step-by-step process for converting the MBTI code to the pattern of processes represented by that code.

1) Look at the last letter of the code. It tells you which one of the two middle letters is extraverted

--If it is J, then that tells you that the T or F in the code is used in the external world. TJ in the code indicates extraverted Thinking is the preferred process of judgment for that type pattern.

--FJ in the code indicates extraverted Feeling is the preferred process of judgment for that type pattern.

__

_Some people say that J "points to" the letter just next to it._

If it is P, then that tells you that the S or N in the code is used in the external world.

--S_P in the code indicates extraverted Sensing is the preferred process of perception for that type pattern.

--N_P in the code indicates extraverted iNtuiting is the preferred process of perception for that type pattern.

_Some people say that P "points to" the previous letter._

2) NOW THAT YOU HAVE DETERMINED WHICH PROCESS IS EXTRAVERTED, KNOW THAT THE REMAINING MIDDLE LETTER IN THE CODE IS INTROVERTED.

3) NOW LOOK AT THE FIRST LETTER IN THE CODE.

--If it is an E, then the extraverted process identified in step one is the leading role process (dominant).

--If it is an I, then the introverted process identified in step two is the leading role process (dominant).

4) THE OTHER MIDDLE LETTER IS THE SUPPORTING ROLE PROCESS (AUXILIARY).

5) THE DICHOTOMOUS OPPOSITE OF THE SUPPORTING ROLE PROCESS WILL BE THE RELIEF ROLE PROCESS (TERTIARY).

6) THE DICHOTOMOUS OPPOSITE OF THE LEADING ROLE PROCESS WILL BE THE ASPIRATIONAL ROLE PROCESS (INFERIOR).

7) TO GET THE SHADOW PROCESSES, JUST TAKE THE HIERARCHICAL SEQUENCE OF THE PRIMARY PROCESSES AND REVERSE THE ATTITUDE (EXTRAVERTED OR INTROVERTED) OF THE PROCESS.

_E/I_

S/N

T/F

_J/P_

PERCEPTION
Ways of accessing information

JUDGMENT
Ways of evaluating

TWO KINDS OF PERCEPTION

TWO KINDS OF JUDGMENT

SENSING
Perceptions of
the tangible
experiences of life

INTUITING
Perceptions of
the conceptual
aspects of life

THINKING
Judgments based
on criteria
and principles

FEELING
Judgments based
on appropriateness
and values

TWO KINDS OF
SENSING

TWO KINDS OF
INTUITING

TWO KINDS OF
THINKING

TWO KINDS OF
FEELING

Extraverted
Sensing
(Se)

Introverted
Sensing
(Si)

Extraverted
iNtuiting
(Ne)

Introverted
iNtuiting
(Ni)

Extraverted
Thinking
(Te)

Introverted
Thinking
(Ti)

Extraverted
Feeling
(Fe)

Introverted
Feeling
(Fi)

Personality Type Books By Linda Berens

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

®Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, Myers-Briggs, MBTI, are registered trademarks of the MBTI Trust, Inc.

question: What kind of "code" is discussed here?

answer: Interpreting letters of Myers-Briggs personality types

question: How many dichotomies are mentioned?

answer: Four

question: How do you determine the Aspirational Role Process?

answer: Look at the dichotomous opposite of the leading role process

question: What is a Shadow Process?

answer: Not enough information is provided to answer.

question: Write a ~2 sentence summary.

answer: This sample from a manual details some technical terms for the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator system. It shows how some of the dichotomies relate to one another and how to interpret particular classifications.