text:
I’m pretty sure today is Sunday. The light of morning tried desperately to fill my room but was falling short… one of those days where God seemingly stubbed his toe on his desk and yelled, “Fuck it! You all get sleet today!” I laid in bed and tried to piece together what was going on. Somehow I had woken up about 10 years older. Try as I might, the last thing that I remember was being in my twenties raising hell and trying to get laid. I decide to roll out of bed.

Jesus Christ the terrazzo is freezing. I shuffle my way into the kitchen and look for something edible. No cereal. No eggs. No bread. In desperation, I check the freezer. One meager slice of pizza – probably as old as I was. It’ll do, I guess. I vaguely recall buying pizza at some point. Did I have a party or something? As the pizza warms up in the microwave, I start making coffee. 33 years old and I still can’t figure out this fucking thing. I think about hitting the coffee machine until it starts working.

My phone is blinking on the kitchen table. The little blue light is silently screaming at me at regular intervals. Reminds me of Jess. A fuzzy figure begins to take shape in my head. My phone just wanted to tell me that my credit card bill was due. Fuck you phone, you told me that last month.

Jess was a dark-eyed brunette but she always dyed her hair black so she wouldn't look like her mother. I met her at a gas station I think. Or maybe a bank. She was one of those girls that knew a little bit about a lot of things, but not a whole lot about one thing in particular. Maybe that’s why I loved her – she never gave a damn about any one thing too much.

I put on the same pair of jeans I’ve been wearing all weekend. There’s some unidentifiable stain on the left knee but otherwise they appear clean enough. I went to IHOP for breakfast yesterday with Andre. Maybe it’s a jam stain.

I pour back the rest of the lukewarm dirty brown water in my mug and stand at the threshold of my door deciding whether or not to get the paper. I sigh and pull the handle toward me with every ounce of enthusiasm I could muster which turned out to be not that much. Fuck it’s cold outside. Really should have grabbed my shoes. I hop down the driveway and grab the piece of shit and run back inside and swear a lot and close the door. The things I do for the Sunday funnies.

Marmaduke was Jess’s favorite. “It’s funny because he’s a very large dog and he gets into trouble!” she would say. I never got it. In today’s strip, he prevents a little girl from riding her sled down a hill. Oh Marm, you crazy fucking animal, you. On the front cover there’s an article about someone famous who was murdered or something. Lucky bastard.

The gears slowly click into motion and I start to feel like a human again. The weather was a lot nicer that day. It was a warm Tuesday in April the last time I saw her. It’s hard to believe it’s almost been a year. Jess never wanted kids which I guess worked out for the best, but Februaries seems a lot colder living here alone.

 I stare at her picture for a moment and have to resist the urge to cry or yell or do something un-macho. Instead I just burp. My phone vibrates on the table and the little blue light on it once again reminds me that it’s there and it desperately deserves my attention. Andre wants to know if I want to grab dinner at that awful Mexican restaurant over on the North side of town. “Their food always gives me the worst shits”, I text him. Jess absolutely hated the place for precisely that reason. “Of course I’ll go.”

title: A Cold Morning in February [688 Words]

question: Who is Jess in relation to the narrator?

answer: Presumably, the narrator's former partner

question: Who was murdered?

answer: someone famous murdered and is on the newspaper front cover

question: When was the last time the narrator saw Jess?

answer: 10 months since they last saw each other.

question: What is Andre telling the narrator?

answer: Andre is telling the narrator to join him for dinner at a bad Mexican restaurant

question: Write a ~3 sentence summary.

answer: It's a cold Sunday morning in February and the narrator can't stop thinking of his past relationship with Jess. He is 33 years old, lives alone and has no food at home. He ignores the reminders on his phone but replies to his friend, Andre.


split: train

text:
ROMILLY SQUIRE OF RUBISLAW OstJ, DA, FSA Scot, FRSA, FSA (3 May 1953 – 7 December 2016) was an heraldic artist and designer and expert on Scottish heraldry. He acquired the feudal superiority of Rubislaw in Aberdeen and thus acquired the suffix “of Rubislaw”.[1][2][3][4][5][6] The hatchment of his personal arms carried at his funeral procession was painted by the Ormond Pursuivant.[7] His ashes were placed near the grave of his 4th great grandfather William Squire at Whitechapel Church, Cleckheaton, and his hatchment within the church.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

title: Romilly Squire of Rubislaw

question: Who was Romilly Squire of Rubislaw?

answer: an heraldic artist and designer and expert on Scottish heraldry

question: when was Romilly Squire of Rubislaw born?

answer: 3 May 1953

question: when did Romilly Squire of Rubislaw die?

answer: 7 December 2016

question: What is heraldry?

answer: the article does not answer this question

question: Write a ~1 sentence summary.

answer: Romilly Squire of Rubislaw was an heraldic artist and designer and expert on Scottish heraldry.


text:
ALEKSANDAR DRAGOVIĆ (, ; born 6 March 1991) is an Austrian professional footballer who plays as a defender for German club Bayer Leverkusen and Austria national team. He is well known for his performances as a tough-tackling centre-back.

Club career

Basel

Dragović started his career by playing in the youth teams of Austrian giants Austria Wien and started playing for their B-squad in 2007. As of 1 February 2011 Dragović transferred to FC Basel in the Swiss Super League.[1] He made his team debut in the 3:0 home win over FC St. Gallen. At the end of the 2010–11 Swiss Super League season Dragović won the Swiss Championship title with FC Basel. In July 2011 he played with his new club in the Uhrencup and won the tournament. He scored his first Super League goal in the 3–0 home win against Servette FC on 1 October 2011.[2] At the end of the 2011–12 season Dragović won the Double, the League Championship title[3] and the Swiss Cup[4] with Basel.

During Basel's 2012–13 season the team missed their Champions League aim. But in the 2012–13 UEFA Europa League Basel advanced as far as the semifinals,[5] meaning that they played a total of 20 European matches. Dragović missed solely the second leg of the semi-final at Stamford Bridge due to a yellow card suspension, but had played in all the other European ties.

In the domestic championship he played in 32 of the 36 games. He scored three goals in the domestic league this season, all three being against Servette. At the end of the Swiss Super League season 2012–13 Dragovic won the Championship title[6] and was Swiss Cup runner up with Basel.[7]

Dynamo Kyiv

On 26 July 2013, Dragović had signed a five-year contract with Ukrainian club FC Dynamo Kyiv. On 17 May 2015, Dragović helped Dynamo beat Dnipro 1–0 which was the game that won Dynamo their first Ukrainian Premier League title in six years.

On 4 November 2015, Dragović scored his first ever UEFA Champions League goal in the group stage against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on the 78th minute, as well as scoring an own goal on the 34th. Dynamo ended up losing that match 2–1. In that season he helped Dynamo reach the last sixteen of the UEFA Champions League for the first time in 16 years, getting knocked out by Manchester City 1–3 on aggregate.

Bayer 04 Leverkusen

On 22 August 2016, Dragović signed a five-year contract with German club Bayer 04 Leverkusen.[8]

Leicester City (loan)

On 31 August 2017, Dragović joined Premier League club Leicester City on a season-long loan from Bayer Leverkusen.[9]

International career

[Dragović in action against Iceland in 2014] Dragović also used to be part of the national under-17 and under-19 Austrian teams. He was called up for the national team of Austria for their 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification match against Romania, but due to an injury he was unable to play. He was called up again by the Austrian head coach Dietmar Constantini for the match against Serbia. He made his international debut in this match on 6 June 2009. Dragović scored his first goal on 18 November 2014 in a 1–2 home defeat to Brazil. He made the final squad for Euro 2016, where he was sent-off in the first game against Hungary,[10] and missed a penalty in the decisive match against Iceland, which ended in a 2–1 defeat.[11]

Personal life

Dragović was born in Vienna to parents from Belgrade.[12] His favourite team is Red Star Belgrade.[13] Dragović attracted serious public criticism when he playfully slapped the Swiss politician Ueli Maurer several times on his head during the celebrations subsequent to the Cup Final in May 2012.[14] After he made further condescending comments stating that he was very reluctant to apologize and said that “on the inside everybody knows, so I believe, that it was very, very much fun doing it”, he had to travel to the Bundeshaus in Berne and apologize personally to Ueli Maurer.[15]

Career statistics

Club

[16]

  Club                    Season                     League                     Cup    League Cup   Europe   Other   Total
  ----------------------- -------------------------- -------------------------- ------ ------------ -------- ------- -------- ------- ------- ------- ------ -------
  Division                Apps                       Goals                      Apps   Goals        Apps     Goals   Apps
  Austria Wien II         2008–09                    Austrian First League      8      2            —        —       —
  Austria Wien            2008–09                    Austrian Bundesliga        16     0            0        0       —
  2009–10                 Austrian Bundesliga        32                         0      1            0        —       9[18]
  2010–11                 Austrian Bundesliga        18                         1      2            0        —       6[19]
  Total                   66                         1                          3      0            —        16      0
  FC Basel                2010–11                    Swiss Super League         16     0            1        0       —
  2011–12                 Swiss Super League         28                         1      3            0        —       8[20]
  2012–13                 Swiss Super League         32                         3      3            0        —       19[21]
  2013–14                 Swiss Super League         1                          0      0            0        —       0
  Total                   77                         4                          7      0            —        27      0
  Dynamo Kyiv             2013–14                    Ukrainian Premier League   21     0            5        0       —
  2014–15                 Ukrainian Premier League   24                         0      6            1        —       10[23]
  2015–16                 Ukrainian Premier League   17                         0      4            0        —       8[25]
  2016–17                 Ukrainian Premier League   4                          0      0            0        —       —
  Total                   66                         0                          15     1            —        27      1
  Bayer Leverkusen        2016–17                    Bundesliga                 19     0            1        0       —
  2017–18                 Bundesliga                 1                          0      0            0        —       0
  2018–19                 Bundesliga                 18                         2      2            0        —       8[29]
  2019–20                 Bundesliga                 15                         0      4            0        —       6[30]
  Total                   53                         2                          7      0            —        17      0
  Leicester City (loan)   2017–18                    Premier League             11     0            2        0       3
  Career total            281                        9                          34     1            3        0       87

  : Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

International

[31]

  National team   Year   Apps   Goals
  --------------- ------ ------ -------
  Austria         2009   7      0
  2010            2      0
  2011            5      0
  2012            4      0
  2013            9      0
  2014            8      0
  2015            8      1
  2016            11     0
  2017            7      0
  2018            9      0
  2019            10     0
  2020            2      0
  Total           82     1

International goals

[32]

  #   Date               Venue                                   Opponent   Score   Result   Competition
  --- ------------------ --------------------------------------- ---------- ------- -------- -------------
  1   18 November 2014   Ernst Happel Stadion, Vienna, Austria              1–1     1–2      Friendly

Honours

Club

Austria Wien

-   Austrian Cup: 2008–09[33]

Basel

-   Swiss Super League: 2010–11,[34] 2011–12,[35] 2012–13[36]
-   Swiss Cup: 2012[37]

Dynamo Kyiv

-   Ukrainian Premier League: 2014–15, 2015–16
-   Ukrainian Cup: 2013–14,[38] 2014–15
-   Ukrainian Super Cup: 2016

Individual

-   Swiss Golden Player Award: _“Best Defender”_ 2012[39]
-   Europa League team of the group stage: 2012[40]

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

[11]

[12]

[13]

[14]

[15]

[16]

[17] Appearance(s) in the UEFA Europa League

[18]

[19]

[20] Appearance(s) in the UEFA Champions League

[21] Six appearances in the UEFA Champions League and thirteen in the UEFA Europa League

[22]

[23]

[24] Appearance in the Ukrainian Super Cup

[25]

[26]

[27]

[28]

[29]

[30] Three appearances in the UEFA Champions League and three appearances in the UEFA Europa League

[31]

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[33]

[34]

[35]

[36]

[37]

[38]

[39]

[40]

title: Aleksandar Dragović

question: What team does Aleksandar Dragović play for?

answer: Bayer Leverkusen and Austria national team

question: When did Aleksandar Dragović make his professional debut?

answer: He joined FC Basel on February 1, 2011 and made his debut during their homw win over FC St. Gallen.

question: What position does Aleksandar Dragović play?

answer: He is a defender, and is well-known as a tough-tackling centre-back.

question: What awards did Aleksandar Dragović receive as a single player?

answer:
Swiss Golden Player Award: “Best Defender” (2012)
Europa League team of the group stage: 2012

question: Write a ~2 sentence summary.

answer: Aleksandar Dragović is an Austrian professional footballer. He made his debut with FC Basel in 2011 and currently plays as a defender for German club Bayer Leverkusen and Austria national team.


text:
There was once a little boy who lived with his grandpa because his mom and dad had gone away for a very long time. They did a very bad thing to the boy. The little boy loved his grandpa very much but he didn't know it. Grandpa knew the little boy loved him very much and he loved him back, even more than he loved himself. The little boy's favorite food was macaroni and cheese. His grandpa was very good at making macaroni and cheese and he made it every night and the boy was happy. He went to school and learned about big animals that live very far away and he loved to read. He read mystery books and funny books and comic books. He loved Superman.

It was his birthday and grandpa was making him macaroni and cheese with tuna and peas, that was his favorite dinner. He put a pan of water onto the stove and the peas in the microwave. Grandpa bought the boy a new issue of Superman that the boy wanted very badly. The boy would always take the bus home because his grandpa didn't have a car. So the grandpa put the boys favorite movie into the DVD player and waited for the boy.

The water started to bubble and boil over so grandpa turned the oven down and poured the macaroni in. The microwave beeped so grandpa turned it off and let the peas cool down. He drained the macaroni and stirred the cheese and mixed in the tuna and peas. The bowl was very hot so grandpa put a paper towel underneath it. He didn't want the boy to burn himself. The TV asked grandpa if he wanted to play the movie but he didn't want to because the boy was not home.

Grandpa waited and waited for the little boy and the macaroni and cheese with tuna and peas wasn't hot anymore. He started to watch the movie and became very sad. Grandpa was very worried about the boy and so he got his cane and coat and walked out into the cold. He walked until he got to the boy's bus stop and it was very dark now. He did not see the boy at the bus stop and there were no cars on the road. He sat down on the bench and started to shiver and breathe faster than he should have. More snow started to fall and now grandpa almost couldn't see anything at all. The boy was not around. Grandpa couldn't cry because it was too cold. But he wanted to and he sobbed for a very long time.

The boy's head hurt and he was very cold but he finally got home after a long walk. He had to take a different way because the other mean boys told him he couldn't take the bus anymore. The boy picked up the front door key and opened the door. The house was very dark like it was outside and so he turned on the light. He saw his favorite food on the table, macaroni and cheese with tuna and peas. There was a comic book on the table and his favorite was on the TV and the funny animals were there talking to each other and the boy sat and watched and called for grandpa. But grandpa was not there and the boy could not find him. He looked in the bathroom and the kitchen and his room and grandpas room but he was not there.

He was hungry so he ate the macaroni and cheese with tuna and peas. He looked at the comic book and it was the new issue of Superman that the boy wanted so badly and so he read it. Grandpa wrote on the inside of how much he loved the boy and he hoped he enjoyed the comic book. The macaroni and cheese with tuna and peas was cold but it was still very good. Grandpa loved cooking for the little boy and the little loved grandpa's cooking because it made him feel comfortable and warm and he loved grandpa very much but he didn't know it.

Grandpa had dropped his cane and he was feeling very cold and tired so he fell asleep. He thought about the boy and how he loved the boy very much, even more than he loved himself. And he fell asleep. A man came by and asked grandpa if he was okay but grandpa didn't answer.

The boy waited and waited for grandpa and he fell asleep on the table and he heard the funny animals talking to each other and it made him feel good. Grandpa tucked him into bed and covered him up in warm blankets and he told the boy he loved him very much and he would make him macaroni and cheese tomorrow.

title: I'd be grateful if anyone took a look at my short story The Little Boy and His Grandpa

question: What did the boy's parents do to the boy?

answer: Any number of bad things, it doesn't say.


text:
One evening in bed, the philosopher turned to his wife and said: “I cannot intuitively, subjectively, or objectively acknowledge your existence,” He sighed as if this was a thought that he’d been laboring with for some time, and went on; ‘at best you are the product of my past experiences and my personality construct, but essentially you are an outcome of my brain’s chemistry, and current physiological state (if they exist).

“The “you” that I believe is you, is an interpretation of a perceived reality. If there is a “real” you, you must be nothing like what I believe you to be, but something entirely unknowable to me. If there is a “you”, you exist at a point in time and space that I will never reach; nor will I ever be able to objectively observe what exists there. It is impossible for me to prove your existence beyond the framework of my own mind. Therefore it is irrational for me to believe in you” He said, his voice rising. “ I cannot believe in you! I do not believe in you!”

With that, the philosophers wife disappeared instantly, leaving behind only the faint “pop” of air rushing in to fill the vacuum where she had once been. “Aha!” said the philosopher, so you were an illusion all along! Logic and reason have triumphed over the untrustworthy human senses!” The philosopher turned on his side, and slept comfortably.

The next evening, the philosopher turned to the empty space on the other side of his bed and said “I miss you.”

title: The Philosopher's Wife.

question: Why does the philospher believe he can't "intuitively, subjectively, or objectively acknowledge" his wife's existence?

answer: He believes her to be an outcome of his brain’s chemistry and current physiological state.

question: Describe what the philosopher believes as the "real" wife.

answer: He believes that if there was a "real" version of her, she would be nothing like he believes her to be, but something entirely unknowable to him.

question: Why did the philosopher's wife disappear?

answer: He decided it was irrational to believe in his wife, so he announces that he does not believe in her.

question: What did the philosopher say to the empty space?

answer: He said, "I miss you."

question: Write a ~4 sentence summary.

answer: A philosopher announces to his wife that he cannot "intuitively, subjectively, or objectively acknowledge" her existence. He believes her to be an outcome of his brain’s chemistry and current physiological state. When he declares he cannot and does not believe in her, she disappears. He is at first pleased with himself, but the next day he realizes he misses his wife.


text:
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Technical garments, designed for specific activities have features that aren’t always adaptable to general use. For example, cycling clothing is longer in the back and arms. Activity aside, the fit of MEC clothing falls into these categories:

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question: What is one of the defining or unique traits of MEC store?

answer: You can keep products bought from their store for more than 30 days before returning them.


text:
Navigation for News Categories

The organisers of the New Zealander of the Year award say they are going to honour Helen Kelly at their gala early next year.

[no caption]

Photo: RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King

The 52-year-old died of lung cancer a fortnight ago and her memorial in Wellington yesterday drew more than 1000 mourners.

Ms Kelly had received the most nominations for the 2017 award.

However, the award's national manager Glyn Taylor said Ms Kelly was ineligible because it cannot be given posthumously.

[Helen Kelly is farewelled at a public memorial at the Michael Fowler Centre in Wellington]

Helen Kelly is farewelled at a public memorial at the Michael Fowler Centre in Wellington Photo: RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King

"We want to recognise her at the gala, and we'll do that in a very appropriate way," he said.

"We want to make sure due reverence is made to her contribution."

Mr Taylor said Ms Kelly would still receive her Local Hero Medal because the judging for that finished before she died.

Ms Kelly was the president of the Council of Trade Unions (CTU) from 2007 until 2015.

Before her death she also campaigned for cannabis reform, which she was using to ease her pain as the cancer took a toll on her body.

[no]

Ms Kelly gives a speech following a march to Parliament to mark Workers' Memorial Day on 28 April 2014. Photo: CTU

Copyright © 2016, Radio New Zealand

question: Whose memorial was held in Wellington?

answer: Helen Kelly.

question: Who attended the funeral?

answer: Information can't be found.

question: What did she do to win an award?

answer: She was the president of the Council of Trade Unions.

question: What did she die of?

answer: Cancer.

question: Write a ~1 sentence summary.

answer: The author writes about Helen Kelly's memorial service, and how she still received the Local Hero Medal for her contributions as the president of the Council of Trade Unions.


text:
PAT MCLAUGHLIN is a singer/songwriter based in Nashville, Tennessee.

He was raised in Waterloo, Iowa, but moved to San Francisco, California in the early 1970s. There McLaughlin began to write songs, playing alone at open mic nights and in the streets near the bay. After a brief stint in Boston, he moved to Nashville where he formed a band and released his first album in 1980. Two consecutive projects for Capitol Records followed. His first major label album _Pat McLaughlin_ made its debut in 1988.[1]

In the late 1980s, McLaughlin experienced his first mainstream country music success when Steve Wariner recorded McLaughlin's song “Lynda”. Wariner's version climbed to the top of the charts, winning McLaughlin his first BMI Country Award in 1988.[2] In 1992, Tanya Tucker and Delbert McClinton had a hit with McLaughlin's “Tell Me About It” — another BMI award resulted from this song.[3] During his years in New Orleans, McLaughlin also released records produced by Jim Rooney (Hal Ketchum) and Ben Keith (Neil Young).

In 1997 along with former Subdudes members Tommy Malone and Johnny Ray Allen plus drummer Kenneth Blevins, McLaughlin formed Tiny Town. The quartet recorded one self-titled album, produced by Bernie Leadon in 1998.[4] McLaughlin's compositions have been recorded by artists including Bonnie Raitt, Alan Jackson, Taj Mahal, Trisha Yearwood, Al Kooper, Nanci Griffith, Josh Turner, Gary Allan, Shawn Camp and Don Williams.

Gary Allan recorded McLaughlin's “Songs About Rain” in 2003, securing yet another BMI Country Award for McLaughlin. Allan's 2010 release, _Get off the Pain_, includes two McLaughlin co-writes: “I Think I've Had Enough” and “When You Give Yourself Away.”

As a studio musician he has contributed guitar to projects by Jamie Hartford, Rosanne Cash, Julie Roberts, Don Williams, Al Cooper, Shawn Camp, Cowboy Jack Clement, Neil Diamond, Johnny Cash and many more.[5]

2010 has found McLaughlin continuing his monthly gigs at Douglas Corner Cafe in Nashville. In spring 2010 he was featured on “Jammin' at Hippie Jacks,” which airs on select public television stations across the U.S. He has also been performing with songwriters Shawn Camp and Al Anderson (formerly of NRBQ) in a band called The World Famous Headliners. There has been some speculation that a World Famous Headliners CD will be released while McLaughlin's website also makes note that a solo CD and DVD are forthcoming.

In November 2010 Pat McLaughlin appeared as an opening act for John Prine. “Summer's End,”[6] a song McLaughlin wrote with Prine, was The Americana Music Association 2019 Song of the Year.[7]

Discography

Albums

  Year   Album                       Label
  ------ --------------------------- ------------
  1988   _Pat McLaughlin_            Capitol
  1992   _Party at Pat’s_            Appaloosa
  1994   _Unglued_                   Dos
  1995   _Get Out and Stay Out_      Dos
  1996   _Wind It On Up_             Appaloosa
  2000   _Uncle Pat_                 Evangeline
  2003   _Next Five Miles_           Creamstyle
  2006   _Horsefly_                  Creamstyle
  2011   _Live in 09_                Creamstyle
  2011   _Live at the Coupe_ (DVD)   Creamstyle

[1] Pat McLaughlin :: Official Website

[2] [ allmusic ((( Pat McLaughlin > Credits ))) ]

[3] BMI.com

[4]

[5]

[6] Summer's End video

[7] Official Website of The Americana Music Association

title: Pat McLaughlin

question: Summarize Pat McLaughlin's experiences playing with other musicians.

answer: He first formed a band in Nashville. In 1977, he formed Tiny Town with Tommy Malone, Johnny Ray Allen, and Kenneth Blevins. He contributed to projects by various musicians including Jamie Hartford, Julie Roberts, and Neil Diamond. He also performs with Shawn Camp and Al Anderson in a band called The World Famous Headliners.

question: Summarize McLaughlin's career during the 1980s.

answer: He released his first album in 1980. He released Pat McLaughlin, his major label debut, in 1988. He got a taste of mainstream success when Steve Wariner recorded his song "Lynda" in the late 1980s. This resulted in McLaughlin winning the BMI Country Award in 1988.

question: What does the article say about McLaughlin's musical inspirations?

question: Summarize the different venues McLaughlin has played at.

answer: He started out playing at open mic nights and in the streets in San Francisco. He played monthly gigs at Douglas Corner Cafe in Nashville during 2010. He was also featured on the show Jammin' at Hippie Jacks that same year.


text:
_Vibrant health depends on balanced emotions and strong stress-management skills just as much as it does on smoothies and salmon. For some of us, it’s a healthy diet that’s the struggle – for others, its stress and finding ways to relieve anxiety naturally.  _

_We’ve been talking about some of the most popular pharmaceuticals out there and how we can help readers find non-drug related solutions to their wellness woes. Learning to manage anxiety and reduce stress takes more than just the list below, but it’s a good start. Don’t underestimate the power of these simple suggestions from functional medicine pro, Dr. Josh Axe –be honest with yourself and take a good look at how you’re doing on each point.. _

Sometimes inching through rush-hour traffic, studying for an important exam or preparing for a big presentation is all it takes to trigger a full-blown anxiety attack, setting off a slew of symptoms like restlessness, muscle pain, fatigue and headaches.

Aside from these short-term symptoms, anxiety can also take a real toll on other components of health. It can impair immune function, wreck libido, zap energy levels and may even be linked to the development of heart problems, respiratory issues and digestive disorders.

Conditions like panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder or PTSD can certainly play a role in the development of anxiety symptoms, but even external factors like work, school, personal relationships and financial issues can skyrocket stress levels and trigger anxiety.

Fortunately, by using a couple of natural treatments and adopting a few new healthy habits, you may be able to help relieve symptoms and keep your anxiety under control — no pharmaceuticals required.

Here are a few simple remedies that can cut back on stress and ease your anxiety:

Clean Up Your Diet | What you put on your plate can have a big effect on just about every aspect of health — including your anxiety. Skipping the sugary junk and getting in a few servings of anti-inflammatory whole foods, like fruits, veggies, nuts and seeds, can maximize neurotransmitter synthesis to boost brain health, balance your mood and minimize anxiety. Learn how to clean up your diet here.

Cut Back on Caffeine | While the occasional cup of morning joe is totally fine, throwing back a few cups a day can cause a caffeine overdose, contributing to symptoms like restlessness, jitters, heart palpitations and, of course, anxiety. Keep your caffeine intake in check by limiting your intake of energy drinks, soda and coffee. Alternatively, opt for decaf or swap the coffee for a soothing cup of black or green tea every once in a while instead.

Try Aromatherapy | Just a few drops of essential oils applied directly to the skin, sprinkled into a warm bath or added to a diffuser can provide powerful, natural relief from anxiety. If you’re just getting started, give lavender oil and Roman chamomile a try. Both are commonly used to calm nerves, promote relaxation and ease symptoms of anxiety, quickly and effectively.

Hit the Gym | The benefits of regular exercise extend way beyond your waistline; in fact, studies show that physical activity can help combat stress and anxiety and even alter levels of important neurotransmitters in your brain. Practicing exercises that promote deep breathing like yoga and tai chi may be especially effective, but other types of activity like walking, running and dancing can have anxiety-busting benefits as well.

Set a Sleep Schedule | Between balancing work, school, family and friends, most of our schedules are jam-packed to the point that getting enough sleep every night can quickly take a backseat. However, a lack of sleep has been shown to directly impact regions of the brain involved in emotional processing and may contribute to anxiety. Setting a strict sleep schedule to ensure you’re getting in at least seven to nine hours per night can help reduce stress, decrease anxiety and stabilize your mood.

Meditate | If you’re feeling super stressed and anxious, one of the best things you can do for your health is to simply take a moment to meditate. Meditation helps reduce levels of stress hormones and can even boost productivity, enhance sleep quality, and decrease symptoms of anxiety. Start with just five to ten minutes per day and slowly work your way up; guided meditation is a great option if you’re a beginner.

_Dive deep and explore all our contenton stress + anxiety. This supplement is much discussed. _

_The Chalkboard Mag and its materials are not intended to treat, diagnose, cure or prevent any disease.
All material on The Chalkboard Mag is provided for educational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified healthcare provider for any questions you have regarding a medical condition, and before undertaking any diet, exercise or other health related program. _

question: Summarize what the text states about cleaning up your diet.

answer: The text states that what foods one puts on their plate can impact their health, including anxiety. Skipping sugary junk and replacing it with a few servings of anti-inflammatory whole foods can be a major game changer. Nutritious foods can boost brain health, balance moods, and help minimize anxiety.

question: Summarize what the text states about setting a sleep schedule.

answer: The text emphasizes the importance of having a good sleeping schedule. Having a strict sleeping schedule can help reduce stress, decrease anxiety, and stabilize moods. Getting seven to nine hours of sleep is crucial. A lack of sleep has shown to directly impact regions of the brain and contribute to anxiety.

question: How valuable would a person who has anxiety find the tips given in this article?

question: What is the article's view on using pharmaceuticals for relieving anxiety?

answer: The article emphasizes how using a couple of natural treatments and adopting a few new healthy habits can help one relieve symptoms of anxiety without needing pharmaceuticals. The article focuses on helping those who have anxiety learn to manage it with non-drug related solutions. Anxiety impacts life a great deal and has symptoms like muscle pain, fatigue, and headaches and being able to ease these symptoms without using drugs is important.


text:
Last week, I had the strange experience of debating Christina Hoff Sommers on the topic of single-sex schooling just a few miles from where the 50th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.'s historic march for civil rights was being celebrated. If you were not aware, single-sex classrooms have experienced a revival in the last few years due to a 2006 reinterpretation of Title IX that was implemented in spite of considerable opposition from civil rights groups.

If you are also wondering why a neuroscientist (me) would be debating such a topic, I should mention that among the hundreds of American schools that now routinely segregate boys and girls for some or all of their academic classes, a large number base their new pedagogy on erroneous claims about gender differences in children's brains. Elsewhere, I and other scientists have debunkedthese claims, which derive from a few pop psychologists who do a lot of teacher training in our public and private schools. And I'm happy to say that when single-sex classes in one such school -- Van Devender Middle School in West Virginia -- were successfully challenged a year ago, federal judge Joseph Goodwin concurred that brain-based rationales for sex segregation are nothing more than "pseudoscience."

In our debatelast week, which was sponsored by the American Enterprise Institute, I also presented two other lines of researchthat fail to support single-gender education. First, I summarized the voluminous educational research which demonstrates -- contrary to many people's belief -- that single-sex classrooms do not produce better academic outcomes than coeducational classrooms. Of course, there are some excellent single-sex schools out there, but as careful research has demonstrated, the advantage at such schools derives not from their gender isolation, but from the better students, richer resources, and many other benefits they are able to provide. When comparable students are enrolled in comparably-advantaged coeducational schools, the academic outcome is equally impressive. What's more, current researchfinds that boys, in particular, learn better in classrooms with greater numbers of girls. Since boys today are generally faring more poorly in school than girls, as Sommers and many others have noted, the move toward single-sex instruction seems especially misguided.

The other line of research that argues against single-sex schooling derives from social psychology, and brings us back to civil rights. In the 50 years since the Brown vs. the Board of Education ruling that "separate educational facilities are inherently unequal," researchers have thoroughly validatedthe deep wisdom in the Supreme Court's unanimous decision. Whether we divide groups by race, religion, age, or -- yes -- gender, segregation inevitably promotes stereotyping and prejudice. And children, who learn which attributes society values from the way adults divide groups of people, are especially vulnerableto this kind of prejudice.

You don't have to look far to find evidence of stereotyping and sexism in single-sex schools, such as the failed Californiaexperiment to implement all-girls' and all-boys' academies in six different districts in the late 1990s. Once their students were divided, teachers defaulted to traditional stereotypes to direct their classrooms, such as the idea that boys need strict discipline and girls need gentle nurturing. Within just three years, nearly all the schools had returned to coeducation. Another recent studyfound that middle school students gave increasingly stereotyped answers to "Who is better at math?" and "Who is better at language arts" as a function of the number of single-gender classes each child was enrolled in during the course of each day. Yet other researchhas looked within single-gender schools themselves and found evidence of strong sexist attitudes in all-boys' schools and a kind of "pernicious" sexism, like dumbing down of math and science courses, in all-girls' schools.

Single-sex school advocates often argue just the opposite -- that gender isolation frees boys and girls from comparison with each other and therefore reduces sexism and discrimination. By the same logic, African-American students could escape daily incidents of racism by attending all-black schools. But of course, we now know that integration, not segregation, is the best way to reduce prejudice and stereotyping in the society at large. Coeducational schools are certainly not free from sexism and discrimination (against both girls and boys), but they provide far greater opportunity to address the issues, and most importantly, create a space for girls and boys to interact in purposeful collaboration -- as they will need to do in adult workplaces.

Sommers and other advocates also like to argue that because single-sex schooling is voluntary, it is not harmful like the mandatory racial segregation of old. But single-sex schooling has a similar historical origin: girls were long denied an education equal to boys, and women, like people of color, remain subject to implicit bias in both workplace and civic spheres. The fact is, gender-segregated classrooms, even when freely-chosen, create an institutional sexism that reinforces beliefs about men and women's intellectual inequality in the larger society.

If he were alive today, I wonder what Martin Luther King Jr. would make of gender segregated classrooms. To liberally adapt his most famous line in his most famous speech on that momentous day a half-century ago: "I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by their X or Y chromosomes, but by the content of their character."

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question: What is this article about?

answer: Gender segregated classrooms.

question: Do single-sex classrooms produce better academic outcomes?

answer: No, according to the author.

question: What research has the author presented at the debate she participated in?

answer: The first line of research shows that single-sex classrooms do not produce better academic outcomes than coeducational classrooms, and the second line argues that single-sex schools are inherently unequal.

question: What happened with the California experiment to implement single-sex classrooms?

answer: It failed, and the school reverted to coeducation in three years.

question: Write a ~1 sentence summary.

answer: The text is an argument against gender-segregated classrooms.


text:
He walked down the street, head held high. His plastic laser sword hung loosely on the belt around the end of his tan tunic, its artificial hilt hiding pure, imaginary death. He owned the world. His home made boots carried him in a confident stride. His broad steps, left then right then left again, ever forward, never lingering. He nodded at his comrades that passed by, sealing their knowledge of a world few could recount.
Black vests with blood striped trousers, long flowing robes of brown, giant, long haired creatures, and men as white as ghosts with faces of death. But here he knew no fear, here there was only love.
Many corpulent fellows had their slaves in bondage as they laughed, their green, almost slug like bodies undulated, while the few fierce warriors donned the armor of their ancestors. Their t-shaped visors, imbedded in their helmets, glistened an eerie black, as if it glimpsed into their souls, and found nothing.
As he strode past his fellow disciples, he looked down his nose at the the few dressed in blue, with impish ears and cold demeanors, and the ridge headed ones with armors of brown and black leather. But he need not quarrel here for he knew his superiority.
He saw partitions where the mightiest of the Heroes sat, reduced to mere mortals, whose only charge in life was to inscribe their own names on likenesses of themselves. As for the fallen Heroes, their cardboard visages stood as a stark reminder the few who dared to depart from the path of light.
So, dark and full of evil, he saw a man who was no longer a man, but an amalgam of fiberglass and malevolence. He knew deep down the true relationship between him and this wicked being. He knew of the prophecies and what they foretold, bt he also knew this was neither the time or the place for such actions.
The sounds and smells were almost overpowering. Everywhere he looked, there were beings from far off lands in the garbs of the bygone era. Suits and uniforms not worn for decades, brought into the light once again in all their splendor. Here he was at peace, for he knew, these were his people, his companions, his alliance.
He sat, with eyes closed, listening to the murmur of a thousand different tongues, each one different and interesting in its own right. as soon as he picked up on one conversation, he was immediately engrossed in another. Listening to the guttoral grunts od the ridge headed ones, he smiled and chuckled to himself. Their sheer audacity humored him so. To think, they thought they had the right and privilege to be in his presence. But someday they would learn. He turned his attention to the small ones in their brown cloaks and with their blackened faces and amber eyes, dealing in trade and salvage with the local merchants.
 	As the sun slowly set in the far off clouds, he knew his time here was coming to a close. He watched as the spice miners slowly left in their vessels. He witnessed his fellow masters leave, never to be seen by him again, and the Heroes, hurried off by their guards, went back to their palaces of wealth and despair. Even though he was over filled with joy, he could still not help felling a bit of despair and sadness, for he knew it would be a full solar cycle before he could return again. And with him would come even more masters and Heroes, eager and excited for a new journey.
As he walked out into the early dusk, he stopped to gaze upon an approaching vessel. It was a Ford. As the window rolled down, a man held his head out and screamed "NERD!" as he pelted the unsuspecting master with what appeared to be a Mountain Dew.
"Oh well," he though, sticky and drenched with something that definitely was not soda, "there's always next year."
And with that he walked towards the parking lot and his Pinto with the saran wrap windshield and the busted tail light.

title: Short Story I wrote in 08'

question: Who is the protagonist?

answer: The protagonist is an unnamed man.

question: Where does this take place?

answer: It is not stated where this is. It is likely some kind of annual event.

question: How does the protagonist feel?

answer: He feels powerful and in his element. He is joyful but also upset knowing that he will have to wait another year for this.

question: How does the protagonist feel by the end of the passage?

answer: He feels resigned, accepting that he must wait again.

question: Write a ~5 sentence summary.

answer: The protagonist goes to an annual themed event dressed as a character. He is in his element, taking on the mindset of the character he is dressed as. He sees his sworn "enemy" but doesn't try to fight him. He is is happy until he realizes he won't be able to do this again for a year. He leaves and gets a drink thrown on him and called a nerd by some passing driver.


text: There was a tall man with a short hat sitting on top of a lamp post. A breeze blew by and the hat fell off, but the man continued to sit still, afraid that he would fall. He finally braced himself to look down at the landing place of his hat. The hat had pierced through the horn of a boar that snored below him. Furious about his now ruined hat, the man kicked his shoe towards the boar in an attempt to wake him. The shoe caught the breeze, landed in the boar’s yawning mouth and was quickly digested. A rumbling crept from the boar’s stomach (boars don’t react well to a specific type of rubber sole) and the beast kicked back his hoof in frustration, rattling the lamp post side to side. The tall man rattled about until his equilibrium was compromised, sending him towards the ugly pig. The man reached his lanky arms outward and grasped onto the boar’s wisp of a tail. Without a proper brace for his fall, he crushed down onto his right knee yelping with pain, but the boar continued to sleep. Curious, thought the man, but he took his hat and wobbled down the walk towards a local drug store. *I’ll take my usual* he demanded to the ethnic shop keep. Before the boy could grab the man a pack of Winstons and a stick of beef jerky the door hammered open. In walked the boar with sleep in his eyes. *Nice day* he snorted, grabbing a tin of antacids with three teeth and placing them on the counter. *Yes. Nice day*. Said the man, counting the floor tiles. *Why were you resting on top of that lamp post?* Asked the boar. *I’m a very tall man and benches rest too low to the ground*. He continued, rocking onto his socked foot, *Why didn’t you wake up when I dropped my hat, when you swallowed my shoe or when I pulled your tail*? The boar took a moment to wiggle his snout, *I take a lot of vicodin*.

title: A Tall Man in A Short Hat

question: Where did the boar get vicodin?

answer: Unclear.

question: Write a ~6 sentence summary.

answer: A man loses his hat when it lands on the horn of a sleeping boar. Angrily the man tries many things to wake the boar up but struggles. Eventually he gives up and goes to a near by drug store. Just as he's finished ordering in walks the boar. The man asks the boar why he didn't wakeup when earlier. The boar tells him he took a lot of vicodin.


text:
[Auguste de Caffarelli] MARIE-FRANÇOIS AUGUSTE DE CAFFARELLI DU FALGA (October 7, 1766, Haute-Garonne, France - January 23, 1849, Leschelles, near Guise, Aisne) was a French général de division of Italian descent. Two of his brothers were also generals. His name is inscribed on the south side of the Arc de Triomphe.

Life

First serving with the army on Sardinia from 1783, he returned to France in 1791, enrolling as a private dragoon in the 15e régiment and becoming aide-de-camp to General Dagobert. He was then made adjutant general to the Armée de Sambre-et-Meuse and commanded the light-infantry Demi-brigade, which was nicknamed _l'incomparable_.

Also serving on the French invasion of Egypt, he became aide-de-camp to Napoléon Bonaparte in 1800, général de brigade after the Battle of Marengo, and finally commander of the Légion d'honneur in 1804. Sent as an ambassador to Pope Pius VII, he organised the Pope's trip to France for Napoleon's coronation as emperor.

He was sent to interrogate Toussaint Louverture in his French prison cell at Fort de Joux and met with Toussaint several times, the first time on September 15, 1802. One of his duties was to find out about treasures, that French authorities believed Toussaint had hidden in Saint-Domingue. Toussaint, in his memoir disputes that he ever took any treasures and indeed it seems as if Napoléon and his aide were absolutely wrong to assume that Toussaint had ever diverted any money. John Relly Beard writes that “It has been suggested that torture [of Toussaint Louverture] was employed by Bonaparte's aid, Caffarelli” although he states that he can find no evidence to support this claim. (Beard p. 342)

He became général de division and governor of the Tuileries, and grand aigle (Grand croix) of the Légion d'honneur, all on 8 February 1806, for his contribution to the victory at Austerlitz, and the following month was summoned to the Kingdom of Italy's ministry of war and the fleet (remaining at its head until 1810).

He was made a knight of the Order of the Iron Crown (_ordre de la Couronne de fer_) in 1807, comte de l'Empire (with a “dotation” of 23,000 francs on the “domaines” of Hanover), and was then employed in Spain. There he defeated an attempted English landing at Laredo, seized Bilbao, was named governor of Biscay in 1811, completely routed Mina's band of guerrillas and contributed to the raising of the siege of Burgos.

In 1813 he once again became Napoleon's aide-de-camp, and when the Emperor left his army he entrusted Caffarelli with commanding the remaining troops in Paris, the government of the imperial palace and organising the guard for empress Marie Louise. In 1814, he accompanied Marie-Louise and her son as far as Vienna. On his return to France, he begged to be allowed to retire, but Louis XVIII replied to his requests by sending him the insignia of the Order of Saint Louis and naming him military governor of the 13e division militaire.

In January 1815, the duc de Bourbon sent him to Rennes to do all the good and prevent all the evil that he could. On 22 April he resumed his role as aide-de-camp, and on 2 June took command of the 1e division militaire.

He followed the army behind the Loire and was dismissed. Made a Pair de France in 1831, in 1840 he headed the legal commission looking into having Napoleon's mortal remains transferred back to France. Out of place in this era of grand political debates, General Caffarelli died in 1849 after a long illness, leaving a widow (daughter of comte Louis Charles d'Hervilly), two daughters and a son (who the French government summoned to join the conseil d'État for the prefecture of Ille-et-Vilaine).

Sources

-   “Marie François Auguste de Caffarelli du Falga”, in Marie-Nicolas Bouillet et Alexis Chassang (dir.), Dictionnaire universel d'histoire et de géographie, 1878
-   “Marie François Auguste de Caffarelli du Falga”, in Charles Mullié, Biographie des célébrités militaires des armées de terre et de mer de 1789 à 1850, 1852

title: Marie-François Auguste de Caffarelli du Falga

question: Summarize the different ranks Falga reached in his lifetime.

answer: Starting out, Falga served the army in Sardinia as a provate dragoon in the 15e regiment. He was the aide-de camp to General Dagobert. Soon after, he was made adjutant general to the Armee de Sambre-et-Meuse. Then, in 1800, Falga was the aide-de-camp to Napoleon Bonaparte, then the brigade general, and then the commander of the Lgion d'honneur in 1804. Throughout his lifetime, Falga reached many more ranks, such as being a knight of the Order of the Iron Crown before he was dismissed from the army.

question: What is the text trying to emphasize?

answer: This text is trying to emphasize the career of Marie-Francois Auguste De Caffaralelli Du Falga. Falga was a prominent French general and was of Italian descent. His career with Napoleon Bonaparte also added to his importance and how he contributing to changing French history. His importance is so great that his name is inscribed on the south side of the Arc de Triomphe.

question: What can be considered the peak, or the highlight, of Falga's career?

answer: The peak of Falga's career can be said to be when he was made a knight of the Order of the Iron Crown. Falga had made many important contributions to the French army, but being employed in Spain, and defeating an attempted English landing at Laredo showed his power and his great skill. Falga was also named the governor of Biscay in 1811.

question: How much did Falga learn from being Napoleon's aide-de camp?


text:
Home / India News / India at 70 | ‘I’m not afraid’: Husband murdered, Kausalya fights honour killings

_India is days away from celebrating its 70th Independence Day: A remarkable journey for a large and diverse nation with a flourishing democracy that accords its citizens powerful social and economic freedoms._

_Independence has helped people and communities to smash barriers of caste, class, gender, ability and faith and achieve their dreams. But structures of oppression persist, and many people languish in islands of darkness where freedoms are few and choices absent._

_HT brings you stories from across our nation, of hope, courage and perseverance in “free India” that reflect the actual promise of independence, and of isolation, hate and despair that stalk the “unfree India” among our midst._

_In Part 3, read about the inspiring story of an RTI activist story and about a woman who is fighting free India’s bane: Caste. Read Kausalya’s story here:_

“I am not afraid,” are Kausalya’s favourite words.

At 20, she looks battle ready, her hair cropped short as she roars into office on a motorcycle. Dressed in simple cottons, her smile is effusive and her voice soft – the only indication of the steely resolve that has propelled her to the centre of a movement against honour killings are those four words: I am not afraid.

At 18, Kausalya dared to marry a Dalit man in college, transgressing the inviolate bounds of caste that regulate the lives and loves of millions of Indians. Her family lashed out, first threatening her, then abducting her and finally in a feral attack last year that shocked India, hacking her husband to death in broad daylight.

Today, she breathlessly travels across Tamil Nadu for public meetings and lectures against honour killings, her new colleagues encasing her in a warm, protective ring. To her family, Kausalya is a villain who besmirched their caste honour but for the hundreds of young women who crowd her events, she is a freedom fighter.

“I have to motivate the next generation against caste so that what happened to me doesn’t happen to anyone… (Bhim Rao) Ambedkar and (EV Ramaswamy) Periyar inspire me,” she tells HT.

[Kausalya now travels across Tamil Nadu for public meetings and lectures against honour killings]

Kausalya now travels across Tamil Nadu for public meetings and lectures against honour killings ( Dhrubo Jyoti/HT Photo )

Her father and uncle are behind bars, owing to a police complaint she made from the hospital bed after the attack, but she has plenty of enemies back in her home town of Palani in southern Tamil Nadu. But ask her about the danger, and she firmly shakes her head. “Shankar is no more, what do I have to lose? I know they are looking for me but I am not afraid.”

In 2014, Kausalya met Shankar at an engineering college in Pollachi; he came up to her on the second day in a bus and proposed. She turned him down but a friendship kindled over the next six months. “Shankar was respectful, he told me I looked like his mother who had passed away.” When he asked her a second time, she embraced his love.

But trouble was already brewing. Kausalya’s parents were influential Thevars, an intermediate caste with significant political and economic clout, and relatives had seen the couple together after college. After a particularly nasty fight at home, Kausalya decided to drop out, marry Shankar and support him through college. They wed in the presence of his friends but despite growing threats, decided to not flee the state. That decision would later come to haunt them.

On March 12, 2016 the couple travelled in Udumalaipettai town to buy Shankar a new shirt. As they walked to the bus stand, a gang of men armed with hatchets and sickles on motorcycles waylaid the couple and hacked 22-year-old Shankar – the grisly murder caught live in a traffic camera to be later beamed to the world. Kausalya barely survived.

The tragedy blindsided her. In May that year, she allegedly tried to kill herself amid the crushing loneliness and disappointment at the apathy of mainstream parties, who stayed away to placate the powerful Thevar vote. Closure came slowly. She cut her hair, shunned make-up and even her favourite bindi, prepared for a tough job exam and is today a successful officer. “I don’t want to depend on anyone…I want to build a new life. So I changed myself.”

[]

At 18, Kausalya married a Dalit man, transgressing the inviolate bounds of caste that regulate the lives and loves of millions of Indians.

But it isn’t easy to leave the spectre of caste in a state that has seen a string of riots and atrocities from the 50s. Next week, Kausalya is travelling to Tiruvannamalai, where a group of dominant caste Vanniyar youth allegedly ransacked a Dalit village and killed a man, all for the crime of an inter-caste romance – an almost blow-by-blow repeat of the Dharmapuri massacre of 2013.

C Lakshmanan at the Madras Institute of Development Studies estimates around 150 such cases happen every year – a curious occurrence in the land of social reformist Periyar where both major parties claim his anti-caste legacy.

“No, actually. Anti-Brahmin politics isn’t anti-caste politics, it just replaces hegemony. Non-brahmins never thought of annihilating caste but held on to the rhetoric,” he says.

He points to the murder of Dalit man Gokulraj in 2015 – almost identical to Shankar’s – and how his alleged killer triumphantly surrendered to the police with an adoring crowd of 2,000-odd men. “There are no Dalits in decision making positions in police and politics. No judicial commission set up for these cases has had a Dalit judge.”

Kausalya knows this, and is prepared for an uphill battle. But she says the nights are the toughest to pass, when she is alone and thinks of Shankar. “You know, he used to call me “papa” (little girl), he would do the dishes, wouldn’t let me work.”

The young girl who spent her days listening to love songs is now surrounded by anti-caste books, and says she sometimes feels like a prisoner. “Our country got independence but we don’t even have the freedom to love.” But her fight against caste steadies her – I remember Periyar’s saying “Religion makes animals out of humans, caste makes garbage” and I find the strength to fight for our freedom.

question: What is HT?

answer: It is not stated.

question: How old is Kausalya?

answer: 20.

question: What was her husband's name?

answer: Shankar.

question: Which caste does Kausalya belong to?

answer: Thevar.

question: What is Kausalya's political opinion?

answer: She wants to end the caste system and the honor killings.

question: Write a ~3 sentence summary.

answer: The text is an article about India and its unfinished battle for democracy. It details a story of a young woman whose husband was murdered because he belonged to a different caste. She is now an activist fighting the caste system and the honor killings.


text:
MORITZ JAHN (27 March 1884 in Lilienthal, Lower Saxony – 19 January 1979 in Göttingen) was a Lower German novelist and an educator. He was also a poet, best known for writing poetry as well such as ballad, lyric, and narratives. Jahn was born in Lilienthal, a suburb in Lower Saxony to a Low German family. He was the member for Nazi Party. He has written notable books with narration such as _Frangula_ and _Lucifer_. He was active from the 1920s to 1950s.

Life

Moritz Jahn, the first Volksschule teacher, was studying from 1921 to 1925 in German studies and Art history. During the World War II in 1943, where he was working at the school services and he made his last active as a principal in Geismar and has been pensioned in 1944, free as a writer. Between 1933 and 1935, he was twice as a member of the Nazi Party and was in 1941, he became a subscriber of the Joseph Goebbels organisation Weimarer Dichtertreffen, by the National Socialist of the European Writers Union which has been founded. Jahn held on the meeting an network, in the he was one of the literature emigrants sharp attack. In the time of the National Socialism in Nazi Germany which he has been appointed as a doctorate of the University of Göttingen in 1944. In the quarter of Göttinger where has the place named after him called_Moritz-Jahn-Haus_ On 27 March 2014, the state of Göttingen celebrated his 130th birthday with a ceremony. In 1959, he was awarded for the Fritz Reuter Prize and Klaus Groth Prize.

Career

His notable work was originally written in Lower German language, which he was written including lyric poetry, ballads, narratives and historical accounts, some of them in brief form and describes his poems with the impulse as an ambitious writer to devote himself to the Low German. His parts of work which it was also mainly located in the Lower German region, could be characterized as meditative or tragic, while other types like full of satirical elements. Jahn's favourite theme is the life of nerds and their failure society, such as in gasketed and ballads collection featuring _Ulenspegel un Jan Dood (1933)_. His other well-known works are featured with narrative novels including _Frangula_ (1933), the novella _De Moorfro_ (1950) and _Lucifer_ (1956). He published an important poetry collection _Unkepunz_, _Ein deutsches Gesicht_ (1931) and _Im weiten Land_ (1938). He died on 19 January 1979, at the age of 94.

Further reading

in German

-   Stellmacher, Dieter (Hrsg.): _Studien zu Moritz Jahn_, Verlag C. Bösendahl Rinteln 1986 (= Name und Wort. Göttinger Arbeiten zur niederdeutschen Philologie, Bd. 8) -
-   Friedrich Ernst Peters: '' “Ulenspegel un Jan Dood” : die Gestalt eines Dichters aus Niederdeutschland '', in: ders., _Im Dienst der Form. Gesammelte Aufsätze,_ Göttingen: Deuerlichsche Verlagsbuchhandlung, 1947, S. 49-59.UB Potsdam
-   Blome, Hermann: _Moritz Jahn._ In: D[eter] P. Meier-Lenz und Kurt Morawiecz (Hrsg.): _niedersachsen literarisch. Bio-bibliographische Daten, Fotos und Texte von 65 Autoren aus Niedersachsen._ Bremerhaven: Wirtschaftsverlag NW GmbH 1978, S. 161-167
-   Böger, Joachim: _Moritz Jahn - “poeta doctus” des Niederdeutschen._ In: Niedersachsen. Zeitschrift für Heimat und Kultur 98/3 (1998). S. 138-139
-   Eberhard Rohse: '' “Und dat in de Chasmersche Kantorije!” - Moritz Jahn als Dichter in Geismar. Umrisse eines literarischen Porträts.'' In: Vera Lenz und Karl Semmelroggen (Hrsg.): _1055-2005. 950 Jahre Geismar. Geschichte und Geschichten._ Duderstadt: Mecke Druck und Verlag 2005, S. 205-236 -
-   Rohse, Eberhard: _Moritz Jahn in seinen literarischen Werken._ In: Eberhard Rohse, Dieter Stellmacher, Dirk Hinrichs, Karl Semmelroggen (Hrsg.): _August Hinrichs und Moritz Jahn. Ein literaturwissenschaftlicher Vergleich. 1870-1970._ Frankfurt a.M., Berlin, Bern, Bruxelles, New York, Oxford, Wien: Peter Lang. Internationaler Verlag der Wissenschaften 2011 (= Literatur - Sprache - Region, Bd. 8), S. 91-131 -
-   Rohse, Eberhard: _Jenseits von Weltliteratur? Moritz Jahns niederdeutsche Erzählung “Luzifer”._ In: _Soltauer Schriften / Binneboom. Schriftenreihe der Freudenthal-Gesellschaft und des Heimatbundes Soltau._ Bd. 22 (2016), S. 10-40 -
-   Schrader, Hans-Jürgen: _Moritz Jahns unkepunzialisches Denk- und Poesiemodell._ In: Rohse/Stellmacher [...]: _August Hinrichs und Moritz Jahn. [...]._ Frankfurt a.M. [...] 2011, S. 133-164
-   Stellmacher, Dieter: _August Hinrichs und Moritz Jahn in der niederdeutschen Literatur._ In: Rohse/Stellmacher [...] _August Hinrichs und Moritz Jahn. [...]._ Frankfurt a.M. [...] 2011, S. 165-175
-   Heise, Klaus: _Kennen Sie diesen Moritz Jahn? Ein Ausflug in das persönliche Umfeld des Dichters._ In: Rohse/Stellmacher [...]: _August Hinrichs und Moritz Jahn. [...]._ Frankfurt a.M. [...] 2011, S. 19-38
-   Strathmann, Peter: _Zur Figur des Ulenspiegel in Moritz Jahns Gedichtzyklus “Ulenspegel un Jan Dood”. Mit einer Nachschrift zur Aktualität der Rezeption._ In: Eulenspiegel-Jahrbuch 48/49 (2008/2009), S. 103-120 -

Works

-   Die Geschichte von den Leuten an der Außenföhrde. Junge Generation Verlag, Berlin 1930
-   Boleke Roleffs. Eine niederdeutsche Erzählung. Spielmeyer, Göttingen 1930
-   Unkepunz. Ein deutsches Gesicht. Spielmeyer, Göttingen 1931
-   Frangula oder Die himmlischen Weiber im Wald. Reclam, Leipzig 1933
-   Ulenspegel un Jan Dood - niederdeutsche Gedichte Verlag Westphal, Lübeck 1933
-   Im weiten Land. Erzählungen, Langen Müller, München 1938
-   Die Gleichen. Langen Müller, München 1939
-   Das Denkmal des Junggesellen. Eine harmlose Geschichte. Langen Müller, München 1942
-   Moritz. Das Denkmal des Junggesellen. Eine harmlose Geschichte. Bertelsmann, Gütersloh 1948
-   De Moorfro. Verlag der Fehrs-Gilde, Hamburg 1950
-   Luzifer. Verlag der Fehrs-Gilde, Hamburg 1955

Category:1884 births Category:1979 deaths Category:People from Osterholz Category:20th-century German novelists Category:People from Göttingen Category:German poets Category:German male novelists Category:German male poets Category:Nazi Party members Category:Commanders Crosses of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany Category:20th-century German male writers Category:Writers from Lower Saxony

title: Moritz Jahn

question: Who is Moritz Jahn?

answer: He was a Lower German novelist and educator from the 1930s, who was also the first Volksschule teacher.

question: Write a short summary of his early life.

answer: Moritz Jahn studied Art history from 1921 to 1925. Around 1943, he was working as a principal in Geismar during World War II. He was also a member of the Nazi Party from 1933 to 1935.

question: What was Moritz best known for?

answer: He was best known for writing poetry as well as ballad, lyric, and narratives.

question: List some of his works.

answer:
- Die Geschichte von den Leuten an der Außenföhrde. Junge Generation Verlag, Berlin 1930
- Boleke Roleffs. Eine niederdeutsche Erzählung. Spielmeyer, Göttingen 1930
- Unkepunz. Ein deutsches Gesicht. Spielmeyer, Göttingen 1931
- Frangula oder Die himmlischen Weiber im Wald. Reclam, Leipzig 1933
- Ulenspegel un Jan Dood - niederdeutsche Gedichte Verlag Westphal, Lübeck 1933
- Im weiten Land. Erzählungen, Langen Müller, München 1938
- Die Gleichen. Langen Müller, München 1939
- Das Denkmal des Junggesellen. Eine harmlose Geschichte. Langen Müller, München 1942
- Moritz. Das Denkmal des Junggesellen. Eine harmlose Geschichte. Bertelsmann, Gütersloh 1948
- De Moorfro. Verlag der Fehrs-Gilde, Hamburg 1950
- Luzifer. Verlag der Fehrs-Gilde, Hamburg 1955

question: Write a ~2 sentence summary.

answer: Moritz Jahn was a Lower German novelist and educator from the 1930s, who was also the first Volksschule teacher and a former Nazi party member. He was best known for writing German poetry, ballads, lyrics, and narratives.


text:
FANTASY PUBLISHING COMPANY, INC., or FPCI, was an American science fiction and fantasy small press specialty publishing company established in 1946. It was the fourth small press company founded by William L. Crawford.

Crawford's first company was Fantasy Publications which he started in 1935 in Everett, Pennsylvania, primarily to publish his magazines _Marvel Tales_ and _Unusual Stories_. However, three books were published under the imprint.

In 1936, Crawford initiated his second company, Visionary Publishing Company, with the intention of publishing books with this imprint. Visionary is notable for publishing the only hardcover book by H. P. Lovecraft that was published during his lifetime.[1]

Later in 1936, Crawford assumed management of publication of _Fantasy Magazine_ from Conrad H. Ruppert and ceased all book publications in order to concentrate on the magazine. After relocating to California, Crawford again published books as “A Crawford Publication”.

Finally, he incorporated as Fantasy Publishing Company, Inc. in December 1946. Forrest J. Ackerman served as a partner for the company and many of the books published by FPCI were from authors Ackerman represented as agent. Undercapitalisation was a major problem with FPCI and many of the books had a cheap look. FPCI reprinted a number of novels by John Taine, Ralph Milne Farley, Stanton Coblentz and L. Ron Hubbard. FPCI continued publishing books until 1972.

During this period, Crawford also used the Griffin Publishing Company to publish books which were not science fiction or fantasy. Two additional books were published by Crawford in 1978, but a publisher was not cited.

Books published by Fantasy Publications

-   _Men of Avalon / The White Sybil_, by David H. Keller and Clark Ashton Smith (1935)
-   _Mars Mountain_, by Eugene George Key (1935)

Books published by Visionary Publishing Company

-   _The Shadow Over Innsmouth_, by H. P. Lovecraft (1936)
-   _Behind the Evidence_, by Peter Reynolds, pseudonym of Amelia Reynolds Long and William L. Crawford (1936)

Books published as A Crawford Publication

-   _The Garden of Fear and Other Stories_, edited by William L. Crawford (1945)
-   _The Creator_, by Clifford D. Simak (1946)

Books published by FPCI

-   _The Night People_, by Francis Flagg (1947)
-   _Out of the Unknown_, by A. E. van Vogt and E. Mayne Hull (1948)
-   _The Sunken World_, by Stanton A. Coblentz (1948)
-   _Death's Deputy_, by L. Ron Hubbard (1948)
-   _The Radio Man_, by Ralph Milne Farley (1948)
-   _The Works of M. P. Shiel_, by A. Reynolds Morse (1948)
-   _The Cosmic Geoids and One Other_, by John Taine (1949)
-   _The Kingslayer_, by L. Ron Hubbard (1949)
-   _Planets of Adventure_, by Basil Wells (1949)
-   _Murder Madness_, by Murray Leinster (1949)
-   _The Radium Pool_, by Ed Earl Repp (1949)
-   _Triton_, by L. Ron Hubbard (1949)
-   _Worlds of Wonder_, by Olaf Stapledon (1949)
-   _The Stellar Missiles_, by Ed Earl Repp (1949)
-   _The Rat Race_, by Jay Franklin (1950)
-   _After 12,000 Years_, by Stanton A. Coblentz (1950)
-   _The Omnibus of Time_, by Ralph Milne Farley (1950)
-   _The Dark Other_, by Stanley G. Weinbaum (1950)
-   _The Hidden Universe_, by Ralph Milne Farley (1950)
-   _The Undesired Princess_, by L. Sprague de Camp (1951)
-   _The Toymaker_, by Raymond F. Jones (1951)
-   _Doorways to Space_, by Basil Wells (1951)
-   _The Iron Star_, by John Taine (1951)
-   _The Atom Clock_, by Cornel Lengyel (1951)
-   _Drome_, by John Martin Leahy (1952)
-   _Green Fire_, by John Taine (1952)
-   _The Planet of Youth_, by Stanton A. Coblentz (1952)
-   _Max Brand: The Man and His Work_, by Darrell C. Richardson (1952)
-   _Science-Fantasy Quintette_, by Ed Earl Repp and L. Ron Hubbard (1953)
-   _From Death to the Stars_, by L. Ron Hubbard (1953)
-   _Fantasy Twin_, by L. Sprague de Camp and Stanley G. Weinbaum (1953)
-   _Quadratic_, by Olaf Stapledon and Murray Leinster (1953)
-   _Strange Worlds_, by Ralph Milne Farley (1953)
-   _Science and Sorcery_, edited by Garret Ford (1953)
-   _Stardrift and Other Fantastic Flotsam_, by Emil Petaja (1971)
-   _Atlantean Chronicles_, by Henry M. Eichner (1971)
-   _Garan the Eternal_, by Andre Norton (1972)

Books published by Griffin Publishing Company

-   _Griffin Science-Fantasy Booklet Number One_, edited by William L. Crawford (1947)
-   _People of the Comet_, by Austin Hall (1948)
-   _The Machine God Laughs_, edited by William L. Crawford (1949)
-   _The Hypnotism Handbook_, by Charles Edward Cooke and A E Van Vogt (1956) (The second edition with the Wehman Bros. is the first Griffin edition.)

Books published by William L. Crawford without imprint

-   _The Moon Maiden_, by Garrett P. Serviss (1978)
-   _Index to Fantasy and Science Fiction in Munsey Publications_ (1978)

Notes

[1]

title: Fantasy Publishing Company, Inc.

question: What does the text say about FPCI?

answer: FPCI (Fantasy Publishing Company, Inc.) was an American science fiction and fantasy publishing company established in 1964. It was founded by William L. Crawford. It is also responsible for publishing books such as Men of Avalon / The White Sybil, by David H. Keller and Clark Ashton Smith (1935), Mars Mountain, by Eugene George Key (1935), etc.

question: What does the text say about Visionary?

answer: In 1936, Crawford started his second company, Visionary Publishing. It was notable for publishing the only hardcover book by H.P. Lovecraft. It was published during his lifetime.

question: What does the text say about publication procedures?

question: What does the text say about the books published by Fantasy Publications?

answer: Fantasy publications were responsible for the publishing of books such as Men of Avalon / The White Sybil, by David H. Keller and Clark Ashton Smith (1935) and Mars Mountain, by Eugene George Key (1935). It went on to publish more books from 1947 to 1972.


text:
Republic of Ireland women's footballer Stephanie Roche says the squad is considering going on strike because of unhappiness over treatment by the Football Association of Ireland.

Roche is a previous nominee for the Puskas Fifa world goal of the year award.

Another Republic player Aine O'Gorman said the team has been forced to get changed in public toilets before and after international matches.

question: Why is the Ireland women's football team considering going on strike?

answer: The team is considering going on strike due to unhappiness over treatment by the Football Association of Ireland.

question: Who is the captain of the team?

answer: This information can't be found.

question: How was the Football Association treating them?

answer: According to a player, Aine O'Gorman, the team had been forced to get changed in public toilets before and after international matches.

question: Who announced that the team was considering going on a strike?

answer: A footballer Stephanie Roche.

question: Write a ~2 sentence summary.

answer: Ireland women's football team is considering going on a strike due to unhappiness over treatment by the Football Association of Ireland. According to a footballer, Aine O'Gorman, The team had been forced to get changed in public toilets before and after international matches.


text:
It begins with a strange memory, even I wonder how it came to be. I can't remember it quite clearly, but I remember the flames. The burning, the pain, the raw seething hatred, I knew where I was, but I would never wish to admit it. I believe that I had fallen into the depths of hell. I remember struggling against the pull of millions of blood covered and death ridden arms and limbs of unknown kind grasping onto me, as if their very being depended on it. I remember as I awoke I felt as if I was being yanked out of that horrid wasteland. But it is time I chronicle my life since that point. I have been to such far away lands you could never imagine the horrid sites, and the impossible beauties I have seen along my way. I have seen everything from murderous creatures with strange tentacled maws, and wingspans befitting only the largest of mythical beings to sunsets in marvelous shades of blue with hints of red enough only to barely be seen. I have heard languages not of this earth, nay, not of this realm. I can only imagine what other finds lie out before me, in this magnificent of all worlds. Where I have come to know The Ximren Universe.

I am Professor Delphinius S. Tucker, the sole professor of Religious studies and history at a small university on an island off the coast of New England, well, I was the sole professor of Religious studies and history, but I doubt they have kept my position for me. I was taught at Cambridge and raised a citizen of Her Majesty Queen Victoria's Empire. When I was born, the world was nothing as it is today. As it was, technology was at a low point, the steam engine was being redesigned to hold more power, and exert more force. It was a sad time in human history, pollution was high, and technological development was almost at a stand still with the world focused on production of a better steam engine. On the year of my fourteenth birthday my father went off to war. It was with the news of his death that I devoted my life to creating technology for the whole world. Technology that could better man kind, and could lead to peaceful use only. I learned the hard way that any design could be used as a weapon. When I was fifteen I created my first large scale invention: an underwater ship. I called it a submarination steam æthership. I sold the patents to the Royal British Navy and was instantly funded and given a proper laboratory. I could not have been happier.

By the time I was 18 my life was one of luxury and enjoyment. I had finished my underschooling in the metropolis of London, and was on my way to Cambridge. Although I had mostly only learned of mechanics, chemistry, and the other sciences, my mind took a different focus for my upperschooling: Religion, philosophy and history. Something had always interested me in the past, and I was intrigued when studying Da Vinci that I decided to learn of what marvels and technologies had been hidden out of human eye for many years. It was during these years that I brought forth my most famous inventions. I invented underwater ships so massive that scores of men could live for years underneath the sea to study the marvels of the depths. I invented ships of similar design that could even exist outside the atmosphere of the earth, studying the stars in the very sky above our heads. With each invention my aspirations grew and grew. It was only a matter of time before I began to undertake the invention that would bring me to the place I am now: The Transdimensional Ætherportal.

However, I was only 22 at the time I ended my final schooling. In learning Religion and History, with a touch of philosophy, you learn a lot about many languages other than English. I am still thankful for that, as those studies have made it easier to communicate with the strange species I have come to meet. Alas, I am getting sidetracked. I was only 22 at the time I ended my schooling, and I was not quite ready to risk the world to see other dimensions. I had finished my Transdimensional Ætherportal only a year earlier and still was running stability tests on the portal itself. I began to look for one who would become my bride. It was three months later that I found her, Abigail Williams. She and I fit together perfectly. For weeks I was madly in love with her. We had dinner and had gone to the theater on many occasions. We spent every waking moment together. Three months after the day we met, to the day, I asked her to be my bride.

She accepted through teary eyes. A month later she went on holiday to visit her mother and prepare for our wedding day. It was a week after she left that I received a letter in the post. It was from the coroner in Pensburry. My dearest Abigail had been killed by an unknown man. There had been no witnesses and the Constibul was attempting to do everything he could to find the killer. I knew enough at the time to realise there would be no hope in finding the killer. It was then that I gathered my things and made passage across the Atlantic. I was going to start a new life in America. I booked an airship from London that would be sufficient to carry my belongings. The Royal Navy expressed it's disapproval of my leaving, however as I was a civilian they could not hold me back. One of my previous Professors arranged for me to have the entire airship.

As I watched London, and then Mother England, and then the continent of Europe float away, I knew that my life was taking a turn for the better as I felt sure that I would be able to start an entirely new life where I was going. I began preparing my opening lecture for my new class. I had been guaranteed a spot as the Professor of Religious Studies and History at a small university called Wesleyan. I decided to open my Religious studies class with a lecture on the concept of God. I was going to open them up to the idea that different cultures had different Gods, and these belief contradictions were the cause of many conflicts over the ages. Little did I know that I would never get to deliver this lecture. It was then, on that airship, that I decided to run one final test on my Transdimensional Ætherportal.

I moved to the cargo area of the ship and removed the portal’s canvas cover. The large brass apparatus towered over me. The overall spherical shape at first had unnerved me during its creation, but I grew to appreciate its beauty. I moved to the knob riddled control panel and began to activate the portal. A light began to emanate from the four arms that contoured to the outer shape of the sphere. They began to spin rapidly. As the arms spun the light covered the large brass and copper mesh sphere. The whole portal began to glow with a deep purple light. I pushed the button on the control panel that directed a series of arms with focusing-glasses on the end between me and the sphere. It was as if I was moving from the subconscious. As though my body was acting on a force greater than myself, but I was strangely comfortable with it all. As the light began to engulf my body, I realised what I had done. I had activated the portal.

I can't remember it quite clearly, but I remember the flames. The burning, the pain, the raw seething hatred, I knew where I was, but I would never wish to admit it. I believe that I had fallen into the depths of hell. I remember struggling against the pull of millions of blood covered and death ridden arms and limbs of unknown kind grasping onto me, as if their very being depended on it. I remember as I awoke I felt as if I was being yanked out of that horrid wasteland. I stood and rubbed my head. I looked around, I was still on the airship, but there was something different about it. The light had changed to being a white hue, as normal light is, to being a strange off white color. As if the properties of infrared light had somehow entered into my view. I could see my pilot looking around frantically through the thin skin of the aircraft. I could not, however explain how I saw him. His image was as though he were a silhouette on a screen. But I knew it was indeed him. I went to him, and saw him with the same look that I imagined was on my face, one of both intrigue and fear.

I told him to land the ship in a field of the most marvelously red grass. I told him that a strange adventure was soon to begin, and I would need to explain a few things to him before we continued. He landed the ship, stood up and turned to face me.

title: The Ximren Chronicles: Introduction

question: What happens to the narrator's beloved?

answer: She is killed before he can marry her.

question: How does the narrator reach the Ximren Universe?

answer: By inventing a transdimensional portal.

question: Where is the narrator traveling to?

answer: From England to America.

question: How old was the narrator when they finished college?

answer: 22

question: Write a ~4 sentence summary.

answer: The narrator is an inventor who creates transdimensional portals and submarines. They go to school to study religion and fall in love. The woman whom they want to be their wife is killed, and they decide to go work at a college in New England. On the trip across the Atlantic, they open their transdimensional portal and enter the Ximren World.


text:
For the last three years, I’ve been the restaurant critic for the New York Observer, a weekly paper in the upper minor leagues of metropolitan newspapers. Generally speaking, being a critic is a good deal and being a restaurant critic is even better. You get paid to eat, eat well (usually) and then write about it. What’s not to love?

Last week, after the paper endorsed Donald Trump for president of the United States in a bizarro editorial, I resigned. It’s not quite falling on my sword, more like leaning gently on a butter knife. I had long known, of course, that the paper teetered toward Trumpism. It is owned, after all, by Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, the boyish real estate scion married to the Donald’s daughter, Ivanka Trump.

But the editor, Ken Kurson, had assured its readers – and writers – that the paper would remain neutral. “I decided as editor that there wasn’t a great way for the Observer to cover him,” he wrote in July. “The appearance of conflict was unavoidable.”

And then, last week, the veil came off. It had, in truth, been slipping. Earlier this month, a story broke that the editor had helped Trump with his speech to Aipac. Even before, the Observer had run a bizarre takedown of a Trump political nemesis, the New York attorney general, Eric Schneiderman. There was even some business wherein the paper ran Putin propaganda. Putin is, according to Trump, his BFF.

But I wrote about crudités and deconstructed borscht. So I kept my head in my plate and tried to ignore the ugly politics around me. In my own indirect way, I tried to push back. Shortly after Trump delivered a toxic attack on Mexicans calling them rapists and murderers, I parroted his syntax for afavorable review of two tremendous Mexican restaurants, Cosme and Rosie’s. “When Mexico sends its people …” I wrote, “ They’re sending people that have lots of poblanos and they’re bringing those poblanos with them. They’re bringing tclayudo. They’re bringing tlacuyo, their arepas. And some, I assume, are good people, too.”

Subtle, it wasn’t. And for a while I contented myself as working for gradual change from within the system. I tried to convince myself that if I lauded love and light in my writing it could somehow redeem the dark toxicity of the paper’s ownership. Perhaps that I served the reader or shone the spotlight on chefs could absolve me. But in the end, there became less and less room to manoeuvre. But what’s the difference between a court jester and a genuine voice of dissent? One the court keeps; the other has too much integrity to keep the court entertained.

Such is, perhaps, the hidden blessing of extremity: it forces one to make hard choices. I could – and did – wriggle my way out of many morally tight spots and I know myself well enough to understand I’m an ethical octopus. Give me even the smallest aperture and I’ll squeeze out of it. Trump foreclosed that out. Taking money from and making money for a shill for Trump, Destroyer of Worlds, implicated me no matter how many self-justifying asanas I assumed.

Had it been Kasich, meh. I like restaurants more than I dislike him. Had it been Cruz, a man with remarkably sensual eyelashes and terrible, terrible policy, I could have eked out a few more reviews until the general election came. (Both Cruz and Trump are projected to lose in head-to-head match-ups no matter who the Democratic challenger is.)

Trump, however, is sui generis. His danger lies not just in his policies – which, hitherto, had been rather moderate – but in his demagogic summoning of our worst angels. His rallies are like seances from a much darker time and an even darker future. So it is besides the point entirely that he will certainly become a scary blip come November. To stand with Trump is to stand with hate; what I ate, and what I thought about it, is small beer compared with that.

If there is one positive lesson to be found in this election cycle, with all its rhetoric and all its hyperventilation, it is this: there can always be compromise and there always should be. That’s how our system works best. But to compromise oneself, whether by delivering paid speeches or hateful pandering or even reviewing restaurants, is unforgivable.

-   This piece was amended on 19 April 2016 to clarify that Ken Kurson assured readers about New York Observer’s neutrality in July, not December. It was further amended on 21 April 2016 to correct a previous assertion that Jared Kushner is Donald Trump’s “prospective son-in-law”, “betrothed” to Ivanka Trump; they married in 2009.

question: What is the main topic of this article?

answer: The piece is an editorial from the former restaurant critic of the New York Observer about why they resigned.

question: Who is the author?

answer: The article doesn't give their name.

question: Why did the author resigned as restaurant critic for the New York Observer?

answer: They resigned when the paper, who had previously assured readers and writers that it would remain neutral, endorsed Trump for president. The author couldn't justify taking a paycheck for a Trump-supporting paper.

question: Who is the owner of the New York Observer?

answer: Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law

question: Write a ~3 sentence summary.

answer: The piece is an editorial from the former restaurant critic of the New York Observer, owned by Jared Kushner, about why they resigned. They resigned when the paper, who had previously assured readers and writers that it would remain neutral, endorsed Trump for president. The author couldn't justify taking a paycheck for a Trump-supporting paper.