text:
[Steen Steensen Blicher] STEEN STEENSEN BLICHER (11 October 1782, Vium – 26 March 1848 in Spentrup) was an author and poet born in Vium near Viborg, Denmark.

Biography

Blicher was the son of a literarily inclined Jutlandic parson whose family was distantly related to Martin Luther.

He grew up in close contact with nature and peasant life in the moor areas of central Jutland. After trying his hand as a teacher and a tenant farmer, he at last became a parson like his father and from 1825-1847 served in the parish of Spentrup.

As a clergyman, Blicher is said to have been less than inspired. His main interests were hunting and writing. In 1842, he was accused of alcoholism and abandoned from a Cooperation of Danish writers.[1] Many struggles with his superiors the following years led to his dismissal shortly before his death.[2]

He had ten children, seven sons and three daughters, with his wife Ernestine Juliane Berg, whom he married on 11 June 1810.

Significance as a writer

[Bronze statue of Steen Steensen Blicher in Aarhus]

Prose

Blicher is known as the pioneer of the novella in Danish. From the 1820s until his death he wrote several tales that were published in local periodicals (mostly dealing with his home region), as well as historical and amateur scientific sketches. Much of this work is entertainment but as many as twenty or thirty pieces have been called literary masterpieces.

In his prose, Blicher describes human fate in his home region in Jutland. Blicher is often called a tragic and melancholic writer, but he is not without wit and humour.

Blicher is one of the first novelists to make significant use of the unreliable narrator theme in literature. Four notable examples are:

-   _The Diary of a Parish Clerk_, his break-through story, tells of a poor peasant boy’s troubled life with unhappy love, war and exile. Years after the main plot occurred, he discovers that the woman he was in love with for years, ended up as a poor, pathetic alcoholic. He spent his old age in resignation and distrust.
-   His sombre story _The Hosier and his Daughter_ (twice filmed) that describes the mental breakdown of a girl because of unhappy love is a classic prose tragedy.
-   _The Parson of Veilbye_, written in the first person, is the first Danish crime novel.[3] The narrator makes fatal wrong conclusions resulting in a wrongful conviction. It too has been filmed.
-   _Tardy Awakening_, a tragedy of adultery and suicide, is perhaps influenced by the fact, that he in 1828 found out that his wife had a love affair.[4]

He had additional talents, too: _E Bindstouw_ is a mixture of tales and poetry on the model of the Decameron, written in the Jutlandic dialect. Here he turns loose his humorous side.

Earlier reviews noted that Blicher’s literary skill lies in his descriptions of scenery, especially the Jutlandic moor landscape and its inhabitants: the long-suffering peasantry and “free” moor gypsies.[5] Later some biographies pointed out his skills in describing tragedy and psychology.[6]

Stylistically, Blicher alternates between his own detailed intellectual narrative style and the colloquial speech of peasants, squires and robbers.

Poetry

Blicher wrote poetry from the years of the Napoleonic Wars until his death. Among his most important poems are the melancholic _Til Glæden_ (“To Joy”) from 1814, his interesting local patriotic song _“Kærest du Fødeland”_ (Dearest You Birthland) that shows his love for his home region, and his impressive winter poem _“Det er hvidt herude”_ (It is white out here), published in his notable poetry collection _“Trækfuglene”_ (Birds of Passage) in 1838.

The whole collection _“Trækfuglene”_ was inspired by a serious extended illness. In this uncharacteristic poetry work, he let a range of symbolic birds express his own personal situation.

The bluff and cheerful dialect poem _Jyden han æ stærk å sej_ (“The Jutlander he is strong and tough”) is from 1841.

Many of Blichers poems have been accompanied by melodies later on. Notable examples includes _“Det er hvidt herude”_ often sung to a melody composed by Thomas Laub in 1914 and _“Sig nærmer tiden, da jeg må væk”_ (The time approaches when I must go) sung to a melody composed by Oluf Ring in 1922, both from _“Trækfuglene”_.

Political and social themes

[Steen Steensen Blicher speaking at a national feast at Himmelbjerget] Blicher was a man of far-ranging interests. Beginning as a conservative he developed into an eager critic of society, uniting the role of the enlightened citizen of the 18th century with modern liberalism. He tried to arrange national feasts in Jutland and proposed numerous laws and reforms, but he was never really accepted by the established liberal politicians.

Also something of an Anglophile, he translated British poetry, including Macpherson’s Ossian and novels such as Goldsmith’s _The Vicar of Wakefield_ – once he even tried to write poetry in English.

Though being a member of the first Romanticist generation of Danish writers, Blicher is in many ways unique. He is more of a realist, dealing with broken dreams and with Time as man’s superior opponent.[7] His religion is the old rationalist one.

He is a belated Danish pupil of the 18th century English epistolary style while, in his interest for dialect and peasants, he anticipates the regional writers who emerged around 1900, such as Johannes Vilhelm Jensen.

Present-day appreciation

Today Blicher is regarded as the pioneer of the Danish short story and regional writing. Many of his verses have been set to music and his best novels have been reprinted many times.

Steen Steensen Blicher never enjoyed international interest on the scale of Hans Christian Andersen or Karen Blixen, but in Denmark he is almost as well-known. In 2006, his novel _Præsten i Vejlbye_ was adopted in the Danish Culture Canon, which means, officially one of the 10 Order of Merit novels in Danish literature of all time.

In Denmark, Blicher enjoyed fame and recognition in his own lifetime, and has been praised for his contributions to Danish culture ever since. In 1951, literary scholars initiated the Danish Blicher Society to “further and deepen the interest for Blichers life and writings”, through various activities. They have awarded Blicherprisen (The Blicher Prize) annually since 1955 and the society is still active as of 2018.

Works

-   _Brudstykker af en Landsbydegns Dagbog_ (1824, novella, “Diary of a Parish Clerk”)
-   _Sneklokken_ (1825, poetry, “The Snow Bell”)
-   _Røverstuen_ (1827, novella, “The Robber’s Den”)
-   _Ak! hvor forandret_ (1828, novella, “Alas how changed”)
-   _Sildig Opvaagnen_ (1828, novella, “Tardy Awakening”)
-   _Præsten i Vejlby_ (1829, novella, _The Rector of Veilbye_)
-   _Kjeltringliv_ (1829, novella, “Gypsy Life”)
-   _Telse_ (1829, novella)
-   _Hosekræmmeren_ (1829, novella, “The Hosier and his Daughter”)
-   _Trækfuglene_ (1838, poetry, “Birds of Passage”)
-   _De tre Helligaftener_ (1841 and 1846, novella, “Three Holliday Eves”)
-   _E Bindstouw, Fortællinger og Digte i jydske Mundarter_ (1842, novella-poetry, dialect)

Blicher's works in English

-   _The Diary of a Parish Clerk and Other Stories_. Pref. by Erik Harbo, introd. by Margaret Drabble, transl. by Paula Hostrup-Jessen. Athlone Press (1996)
-   _Tardy Awakening and Other Stories_, ed. with afterword and comment. by Niels Ingwersen, transl. by Paula Brugge & Faith Ingwersen. University of Wisconsin (WITS II vol.#7, 1996).

[1]

[2]

[3] and, written a decade before Edgar Allan Poe's break-through, maybe the first crime novel in literature

[4] Aakjær (1904) suggests, that the novel was an attempt to avoid “tearing his soul apart”

[5] Aakjær (1904)

[6] Baggesen (1965)

[7] Baggesen (1965)

title: Steen Steensen Blicher

question: What would have happened if Steen Steensen Blicher did not become a writer?

answer: He likely would not have written novels such as "The Diary of a Parish Clerk" and "Tardy Awakening."

question: How may Blicher's earlier writings changed if he didn't grow up in close contact with nature?

answer: They would not have been known for their descriptions of scenery.

question: How did Blicher's alcoholism affect his life?

answer: He was abandoned and dismissed from a Cooperation of Danish writers.

question: What would have likely happened if Blicher was accepted by the established liberal politicians of his time?

answer: He likely would have delved further into the realm of politics.


split: train

text:
The following short story is from a fight my friends and I had, where one of my friends took over the fight and kicked some serious ass. Some things were added for entertainment purposes but the story is pretty much all there.

**Fight at the taco truck, as I remember it.**

It was the beginning of winter. Testosterone ran high, beards were long. Common folk refer to this phenomenon as 'no shave November' I call it a regular Wednesday. It was a large group of us this particular night. Mauri, Mikey, Eric, 'Other' Mikey, voluptuous Rosie, and of course yours truly. We started the night on the slums of Sunset. A dirty one block radius crawling with the worst type of people besides hipsters, more hipsters. If it wasn't for the Wednesday's specials and surplus of sluts, this place would be nothing less than an arcade fire concert screening Wes Anderson films. We loaded up on the cheap booze, and stuck around for the slutty ambiance.

As our uneventful night came to an end we decided to meet at Gus' infamous taco truck. We rode in two separate cars, or as the urban kids say 'we was rolling deep' Mauri, Eric and Mikey took the quick route and stopped at our local liquor for a twelve pack of our favorite brand. I ended up driving 'other Mike's' car because to be honest the kid couldn't handle his liquor. This also gave me a chance to gauge the possibility of sex with Rosie. Sex seemed pretty probable, but then again it always does. I would catch her staring at me while I drove. I couldn't tell if she was admiring my ability to drink out of my flask while keeping an eye on the road or my disregard for danger, all I knew is that she was amazed and probably aroused. I decided to take the scenic route.

Call it a hunch, or perhaps supernatural abilities, but as soon as I pulled into the parking lot I could sense trouble. I quickly and skillfuly parked the small jalopy and leaped out. "Where are you going!" Rosie yelled. I didn't have time to answer, shit was going down and I was going to help it. I ran towards the kerfuffle around Mikey's car and made it there just in time to see a tall, skinny, awkward looking man taking a swing at my good friend Mauri. I didn't need an explanation or reason to start handing out cans, that was plenty. I dove into the group of people fist first until I reached that tall awkward face. His acne infested skin felt soft against my rugged knuckles. It was a little too late to realize 'Awkward Skinny' had friends. Things went dark for a bit after this.

As I came to my senses, I glimpsed around to assess the situation. Things weren't looking good, but they weren't looking bad either. Eric landed some quick jabs that sounded like double bass pedals from a metal band, he had chosen his guy and he was going to take him out. Phony Mike was being gay in the car comforting Rosie. Mauri stood quietly studying the scene and Mikey was walking over to assist me when some random Joe appeared out of nowhere with a handful of fists for both of us. Now this 'Random Joe' did not know Mauri. He did not know that Mauri had been pretty peaceful this whole time, watching these events unfold. He did not know the rage that hid behind him. He did not know that Mauri is a cool guy, a regular mother fucking Teresa but if you fuck with his friends... well then he will fuck you up.

Mauri's shirt came off and his drunken stance became firm. With his fist up in the air he went around taking names and handing out prizes. 'Random Joe' and 'Awkward Skinny' turned their attention to the one taking out their friends and surrounded him. Rosie and 'Imposter Mike' came out to try to instill some peaceful sense into us. I watched helplessly as Mauri was surrounded by seven guys and a midget. (You know gangs mean bussiness when the 'gang midget' is called out for a fight.) To my surprise, Mauri's confidence looked to be intact, he looked over at me and gave me his 'ok' wink. I nodded back. I understood.

'Random Joe' jumped on top of 'Gang Midget' and began swinging his arms. Gang midget struggled to keep his balance but managed to charge towards Mauri. As Mauri mouthed out "What the fuck?!' he took a quick dive to dodge this 'one and a half man turbine'. The midget couldn't control his direction and ran right into a wall. 'Awkward skinny' bursted out in a maniacal laugh and pointed at Mauri, his five remaning henchmen rushed Mauri on the floor. They covered him entirely with punches and grunts, if I didn't know any better, it looked like a japanese gangbang without pixels. I looked at Eric and Mikey and we all nodded in agreement, we had to get in. But just as we decided to join the fun, Mauri burst from within sending all five of them to the floor. Shirtless Mauri stood up and pointed at 'Awkward skinny'

"You!" He began,

"You wanted a fucking beer, we gave you a fucking beer!"

The fab five quickly recovered and tried their luck again. Awkward skinny kept laughing. Something was clearly wrong with him.

The five fucks took their swings and kicks, but these were no match for Mauri's quick turns and ducks. He was salsa dancing around the punches, it was a beautiful sight. Eventually, they stopped their futile attempts to touch Mauri.

"Is that all you got?!" Mauri teased.

The winded five farts had nothing. It was Mauri's turn. To say he knocked them out fast is an understatement. He walked through them making them taste his friendship fury. He made his way towards that tall awkward skinny fuckhead that had started it all.

It was pretty clear this was Mauri's fight, but before he started unloading, Awkward skinny crumbled down to his knees and begged for mercy. Not even Ghandi would have listened to that prick, but Mauri swallowed what was left of his pride and turned away. The crowd that had gathered cheered and chanted his name. He walked taller than before and began making his way back to the car. Just then, 'Awkward skinny' pulled out a full bottle of newcastle and pitched it towards an unaware Mauri. We all looked in shock,and questioned "How the fuck does someone hide a full bottle through an entire fight?!" but we quickly realized he hadn't participated for most of it. We tried to yell out to mauri but our expressions warned him faster and he majestically turned around to quickly catch the bottle. He promptly opened it up and chugged it like a legend in the making. Alex, who had not been part of this whole night, just happened to be getting himself some tacos, he witnessed this last unjustice and ran towards awkward skinny to launch his frail ass towards a car. "No one throws out a full Newcastle" Alex sighed.

Mauri and Alex joined us back by the car to finish our brew. I could tell Rosie had lost all interest in me and was going to spend the night with Mauri but I wasn't even mad, because after that fight, he deserved a good fucking.

question: Who is the hero of the fight at the taco truck?

answer: Mauri

question: What happened to the protagonist after initially striking "Awkward Skinny?"

answer: Unclear, "things [go] dark."

question: What makes Mauri so appealing to Rosie?

answer: His dominant and stylish performance in the fight.

question: How many friends did "Awkward Skinny" have that joined the fight?

answer: More than five

question: Write a ~6 sentence summary.

answer: Upon arriving at the taco truck, the protagonist is instantly aware that a fight is brewing and throws himself directly into it. He lands a fist on the primary antagonist who apparently had many friends to defend him. The protagonist's friend Mauri steps up and fights them all off. He beats down five men. When a bottle is thrown at him, Mauri catches it, opens it, and drinks it. His impressive performance wins him the adoration of Rosie, their companion.


text:
LYNWOOD MACPHERSON (born September 21, 1947) is a Canadian politician, farmer and businessman. He represented 4th Queens in the Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island from 1986 to 1996 as a Liberal.[1]

MacPherson was born in 1947 in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island.[2] A graduate of Montague Regional High School, he married Mary Patricia Evans in 1973.[3] Prior to entering politics, MacPherson was a tobacco farmer, and a shareholder and plant manager for Belfast Tobacco Growers Limited.[4]

MacPherson entered provincial politics in 1986, when he was elected a councillor for the electoral district of 4th Queens.[5] He was re-elected in the 1989[6] and 1993 elections.[7] On May 21, 1996, MacPherson was appointed to the Executive Council of Prince Edward Island as Minister of Provincial Affairs and Attorney General.[8] In the 1996 election, MacPherson was defeated by former Progressive Conservative MLA Wilbur MacDonald in the new Belfast-Pownal Bay riding.[9]

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title: Lynwood MacPherson

question: Who is Lynwood MacPherson?

answer: A Canadian politician

question: When and where was MacPherson born?

answer: In Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island in 1947

question: When did MacPherson go into politics?

answer: 1986

question: Who defeated him?

answer: Progressive Conservative MLA Wilbur MacDonald

question: Write a ~3 sentence summary.

answer: Lynwood MacPherson was a Liberal Canadian Politician representing 4th Queens in the Legislative Assembly of  Prince Edward Island. Prior to entering politics, he was a tobacco farmer and shareholder and plant manager for Belfast Tobacco Growers Limited. First entering politics in 1986 he served until 1996.


text:
PEACHY HARRISON (1777–1848) was a nineteenth-century physician and American politician who served in both houses of the Virginia General Assembly, and was a delegate to the Virginia Constitutional Convention. He also served as Rockingham County Sheriff.

Early life

Harrison was born in Rockingham County, the son of Colonel Benjamin Harrison of Augusta County, his father's plantation was at present Dayton, Virginia, and Peachy attended Fisher's Spring School. He completed his education graduating from the medical school conducted by Dr. Benjamin Rush in Philadelphia.[1]

Career

[The Virginia Capitol at Richmond VA
where 19th century Conventions met]

As an adult, Harrison lived and practiced medicine in Harrisonburg. He was elected Sheriff of Rockingham County 1824–1826, and then served in the Virginia House of Delegates.[2] By the time he was elected as a Virginia State Senator, he had become his party's leader in the Rockingham County region of the Valley.[3]

Harrison was elected as a delegate to the Virginia Constitutional Convention of 1829-1830. There he was elected by the Convention to serve on the Judicial Committee. He was one of four delegates elected from the senatorial district made up of Shenandoah and Rockingham Counties.[4]

Death

Peachy Harrison died in the spring of 1848 at Harrisonburg, Virginia.[5]

Harrison's children included the classicist and University of Virginia professor Gessner Harrison.[6]

[1] Harrison 1935, p. 396

[2] Harrison 1935, p. 396

[3] Pulliam 1901, p. 77

[4] Pulliam 1901, p. 68, 70

[5] Harrison 1935, p. 397

[6]  An extensive bibliography (pp. 619–627) has been noted.

title: Peachy Harrison

question: Is Peachy Harrison male or female?

answer: Peachy Harrison is male.

question: What occupations did Peachy have in his life?

answer: Peachy Harrison practiced medicine, was elected as sheriff, served in the Virginia House of Delegates, become his party's leader, and was elected as Virginia State Senator. He would also be a delegate to the Virginia Constitutional Convention of 1829-1830.

question: How old was Harrison when he died?

answer: He was approximately 71 years old when he died in Harrisonburg, Virginia.

question: What is important about Peachy Harrison?

answer: More than being a physician, it is his political career that was notable. It saw him being able to serve in both houses of the Virginia General Assembly and he was also a delegate to the Virginia Constitutional Convention.

question: Write a ~3 sentence summary.

answer: Peachy Harrison was a trained physician who, after being elected sheriff, would go on to serve in the Virginia House of Delegates. After he became his party's leader, he was elected as Virginia State Senator. He would also be a delegate to the Virginia Constitutional Convention of 1829-1830.


text:
I wrote this about one of my good friends, and he finds it to be humorous too.
I didn't use his real name in the story for obvious reasons.
This is also located on r/Writing
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
It's been apart of me since... Well, ever since I was old enough to understand what masturbation was, and now it was gone. I first understood what masturbation was and how to do it by the time I was seven. Then by the time I was eight I had already managed to obtain at least five Brazzers accounts along with a subscription to Playboy. That is when it really took off – my addiction to porn. Masturbation was almost synonymous with pornography for me.

At first I only masturbated  at night time when no one could hear me. However, by the time I was ten years old I was already watching porn and masturbating twice a day – once in the morning, and once at night. Pornography had consumed my life, driving away the few friends I had. I had never even told anyone; we were ten years old they would have shunned me. Maybe it was the way I looked at my female teachers and fellow classmates, or how it always look as if I had a tiny pencil sticking out of my pants? By the time I was fifteen I masturbated between 5 and 10 times a day. My penis was purple by the time I got out of school, but I still went on to masturbate two more times before I went to bed.

Once I got to high-school, I couldn't control my self. There was so much ass everywhere I had to masturbate during school. It was simple how I pulled it off; we had eight minutes in between classes, and it took  two minutes to go to my locker then make it to my next class in time. That meant I had an extra six minutes to rub one off before I went to my next class. No one still ever wanted to talk to me – probably because I was constantly sweating, and my hands were sticky.

Then it happened – I got caught watching porn. It was a relatively normal day; I had just got home and I had just turned on my computer so I could fap once more. Once powered on, I opened up Google Chrome in Incognito mode any proceeded to navigate to Brazzers and login. Normally I would have just clicked a video and started going to town, but there was something wrong. There was a strange feeling in the air, so, I just waited a little while before starting. Growing impatient, I just went ahead and clicked a video and starting going to town. Then right as soon as I started to climax, my muscles starting to spasm, and my starting to moan the actress' name of whom I was watching. When suddenly my mom walked in. In that instant it hit me, I forgot to lock my door, but I had done it so many time how could I just 'forget'? In the heat of the moment, I asked my mother if “She wanted to join”. I was instantly disgusted; how could I ask my mom that? “Turn that fucking shit off and put your pants back on! Your father will speak with you when he gets home!” she replied, as she closed the door with a disheartening look on her face.

I knew what was going to happen – I was going to get grounded. Dad was going to come home and yell at me then take my computer and Playboys. My whole world would collapse without pornography. After coming to this heart breaking realization I rubbed one off one last time; then walked into my bathroom grabbed a bottle of Clorox chugged it, then hung myself.

title: [Cross-Post] The Nathan Moore Chronicles - Problem with Pornography (Humor)

question: Why does the narrator think suicide is preferable to being grounded?

answer: Because the shame he feels is overwhelming. Also, the narrator believes he cannot do without masturbation.

question: Is seven-year-old pretty early to be masturbating?

answer: It's probably because the narrator hit puberty early and was exposed to bad influences.


text:
The bus rode along through the worst part of town, and we sat there pretending like nothing had happened. Arnie looked detached. Sometimes he would get in a mood like that, and just shut off. This time it made a lot of sense, other times it seemed out of place. Again, other times it would seem like he couldn't contain the thoughts in his head, and he'd tap his foot wildly as he talked.

"You know, it wasn't as bad as I thought it would have looked."

"Yeah, I know."

"I wish we could have helped her though. I mean before. I wish to hell we could have helped her."

"I know. Me too."

The bus driver called out the stop, and several people exited out the back door. Drops of rain water had begun collecting on the bus window, and I leaned in, squeezed one eye shut, and squinted through one of the drops. Through it, I saw an upside-down gas station, and I don't know why, but it depressed the hell out of me.

"Hand me the flask."

"Sure thing." Arnie said.

It seemed like the right thing to do, and I swigged hard, and the drink burned in my throat and chest. I didn't feel much of anything for her anymore, but I couldn't stop seeing the girl, lying there, broken on the rain covered concrete. Everyone, especially the medics, moved slowly around her, as if the whole thing had been rehearsed. A few people were taking pictures on their cell phones, and fewer people were crying. The girl couldn't have been older than twenty-five.

The bus made a hard right, hitting the curb as it turned, and Arnie looked over at me. He didn't look so detached anymore, and I was glad he was there with me.

title: A Rainy Afternoon

question: Who are the main characters?

answer: Arnie and the narrator.

question: They "sat there pretending like nothing had happened." What does this quote refer to?

answer: They had just seen a young woman lying on the rain-covered concrete broken [seemingly dead].

question: Why did Arnie look detached?

answer: He would sometimes get in a mood like that, this time there seemed to be a reason.

question: Is there resolution to a problem?

answer: no

question: Write a ~2 sentence summary.

answer: The narrator and Arnie are on a bus, pretending like nothing had happened. They had just seen a young woman lying on the rain-covered concrete; it seems she was dead.


text:
JAMES ALEXANDER LARKIN (born September 13, 1946) is a Canadian politician and businessman. He represented 6th Queens in the Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island from 1979 to 1982 as a Progressive Conservative.[1]

Larkin was born in 1946 in St. Peters Bay, Prince Edward Island.[2] He married Helen Elizabeth MacDonald in 1971.[3] Larkin graduated from the University of Prince Edward Island with a Bachelor of Science degree.[4] Prior to entering politics, Larkin was the coordinator of the Prince Edward Island Federation of Municipalities. He also worked as the general manager of the Tourism Industry Association of Prince Edward Island and served on the executive of the Tourism Industry Association of Canada.[5]

Larkin first attempted to enter provincial politics in the 1978 election, but was defeated by Liberal incumbent John H. Maloney.[6] He ran again in 1979, and was elected councillor for the electoral district of 6th Queens.[7] Larkin was defeated when he ran for re-election in 1982, losing to Liberal Paul Connolly by 28 votes.[8]

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title: Jim Larkin (politician)

question: Who is James Larkin?

answer: A Canadian politician and businessman.

question: What is his middle name?

answer: Alexander.

question: When was he born?

answer: September 13, 1946.

question: When did he first attempt to enter provincial politics?

answer: 1978.

question: Write a ~8 sentence summary.

answer: James Alexander Larkin, born on September 13, 1946, is a anadian politician and businessman. He represented 6th Queens in the Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island from 1979 to 1982 as a Progressive Conservative. He is from St Peters Bay, Prince Edward Island. Larkin attended college there and married Helen Elizabeth MacDonald. Before entering politics, Larkin was the coordinator of the Prince Edward Island Federation of Municipalities, and worked as the coordinator for the Tourism Industry Association of Prince Edward Island. In 1978, Larkin entered politics, losing, but won in 1979, when he was elected councillor for the electoral district of 6th Queens. He was defeated once more in 1982. Both times he lost, he lost to a Liberal candidate.


text:
Biz & IT —

Bogus credentials may be enough to ensnare some smartphone apps, researchers say.

[One of the many fraudulent SSL certificates, this one impersonating Facebook. Facebook apps won't be fooled by it, but other programs might.]
Enlarge / One of the many fraudulent SSL certificates, this one impersonating Facebook. Facebook apps won't be fooled by it, but other programs might.

Netcraft

Researchers have found dozens of fake certificates impersonating the secure sections of online banks, e-commerce sites, and social networks. Google, Facebook, iTunes, and even a POP e-mail server belonging to GoDaddy are a small sample of the services affected by the fraudulent credentials, which in some cases can allow attackers to read and modify encrypted traffic passing between end users and protected servers.

The secure sockets layer (SSL) certificates don't pose much of a threat to people using a popular Web browser to visit spoofed websites, because the credentials aren't digitally signed by a trusted certificate authority, researchers from Netcraft wrote in a blog post published Wednesday. They went on to say that people accessing sensitive websites with smartphone apps or other non-browser software may not be so lucky.

They cited several reports published in the past few years that detailed fatal weaknesses in popular software that made it possible for attackers to decrypt encrypted traffic and in some cases impersonate a cryptographically authenticated server. An October 2012 academic study, for instance, uncovered critical defects in a wide-range of applications running on computers and smartphones—some from banks such as Chase and services such as AOL—that failed to check the validity of SSL certificates. A separate study found that Android apps installed on as many as 185 million devices exposed end users' online banking and social networking credentials as well as e-mail and instant-messaging content because the programs used inadequate encryption protections. A more recent report from security firm IOActive uncovered similar weaknesses in apps written for Apple's iOS platform.

"Online banking apps for mobile devices are tempting targets for man-in-the-middle attacks, as SSL certificate validation is far from trivial, and mobile applications often fall short of the standard of validation performed by web browsers," the Netcraft researchers wrote in Wednesday's report. "40 percent of iOS-based banking apps tested by IO Active are vulnerable to such attacks because they fail to validate the authenticity of SSL certificates presented by the server. 41 percent of selected Android apps were found to be vulnerable in manual tests by Leibniz University of Hannover and Philipps University of Marburg in Germany."

Many of the fake SSL certificates discovered by Netcraft were created with malicious intentions. A wildcard certificate for *.google.com suggests an attempt to spoof a variety of Google services. The fake certificate was served by a machine in Romania hosting other sites with .ro and .com domains. The phony credential claims to have been issued by America Online Root Certification Authority 42. The name closely mimics a legitimate trusted root certificate that is installed in all browsers, although it's not enough to trick them. Other fraudulent credentials masqueraded as certificates for Facebook, iTunes, and a payment service and bank located in Russia.

Yet another bogus certificate covered pop.where.secureserver.net, a server address belonging to GoDaddy's POP e-mail service.

"In this case, the opportunities could be criminal (capturing mail credentials, issuing password resets, stealing sensitive data) or even state spying, although it is unexpected to see such a certificate being offered via a website," the Netcraft report stated. "Although the actual intentions are unknown, it is worth noting that many mail clients allow certificate errors to be ignored either temporarily or permanently, and some users may be accustomed to dismissing such warnings."

Fortunately, many of the most popular apps—such as those for Twitter, Facebook, Google, and others—use a technique known as certificate pinning that automatically rejects connections from sites that offer bogus SSL certificates. And as already stated, major browsers will offer scary warnings when encountering unsigned credentials. But given the large number of e-mail clients, smartphone apps, and other non-browser programs available, it's not a stretch to think the certificates discovered by Netcraft are fooling some people right now. You should carefully consider the source of any app that connects to an SSL-protected server before installing it, and you should never click through pop-up windows that warn of self-signed certificates.

question: What does the article say about antivirus software?

question: How dangerous is it to use apps compared to a browser?

answer: While major apps are usually secure, most others aren't. There are a few very popular browsers compared to the hundreds or thousands of apps used by lots of people. This means that browsers are easier to secure, and apps that aren't extremely popular can sometimes skimp on the necessary security features.

question: How can users defend themselves against SSL-spoofing attacks?

answer: Using a major browser, in general, is the easiest way to do so. If users want to use apps, more popular apps tend to be more secure than lesser-known apps. However, an important habit to shed is dismissing warnings about unsecured connections.

question: What is the most dangerous aspect of SSL-spoofing attacks for the general population?

answer: Banking apps, if spoofed, can cause lots of monetary loss. Spoofing access to email can cause a cascade of security problems for everything linked to that email account, which may be both monetary and identity-stealing kind of dangers.


text:
*November 21, 2077 02:33 AM*

*Allen William Brier, 1st Class Mechanical Technician aboard the Belle Celeste.*

               Wormholes, it turns out, are real. They don’t have shape or structure like a worm, but more of a layer on another layer. Coming in or out of one? I’m not sure how that feels, possibly similar to being forced hard against a wall, turning it sideways and being thrown into an unknown oblivion. There may be paths wormholes take, but all I experienced was the ship coming out, or ‘layering’ on top of us; and the damage was extraordinary.

               I am a survivor, being outside of the ship at the time, doing repairs to an external fuel tank. I do not consider myself lucky, but how I survived the explosions and splintering metal collisions...I’ll never know. A word washes over me as I move silently through space…*walking*.

               *Walking*…that word, it makes me nauseous. I think how an amputated arm might feel; reminiscent it existed, but still no tangible way to reflect its memories. *Walking*…that word meant nothing now…swimming with a sick twist knotting my stomach and complete freedom washing over my body. The non-structure heats an intrinsic need to pull my body into a fetal position. I don’t want my limbs dangling out there, and I need to feel close to myself. I was all I had left to grasp. Arms pressed, knitted tightly across my chest, the suit wouldn’t allow them to get closer than six inches to my body, but I try to pull them close, holding them tightly; until my muscles scream at me. I refuse to let go. I try to bring my legs up to my chest and grip the slippery suit with my arms, which is no good, the suit is too bulky...so all I can muster is my knees bent and legs crossed.

               Memories leak out, of a dark tunnel in a water park, the water gushing past and my body sliding up the walls, being in a fetal position, trying to catch my breath. The feeling of nostalgia is overwhelming and I weep.

               Terrible dreams, my mind in denial…I fall asleep after my muscles give out and my arms fall apart and legs uncross. I’m dreaming I am sitting up in a bed and looking through the window, the blurriness of sleep coating my eyes. I coughed into my hand and black mucus slaps into my palm. With a grunt of disgust I rub it onto the bed sheets and stare as the blackness spreads slowly across the cotton, sinking in and then expanding and pulsing. The substance begins to pour out of the spot where I initially rubbed, and as though reaching for me, it touches my leg, very wet and very cold. All at once the bed was soaked in black, and my face twisted into horror as I sunk into it. I prop my hands on the bed and made for a small jump onto the floor…

               This is where I wake up, disoriented and my feet flailing. Sudden terror hits me, and my heart begins to spasm and race, my limbs search out for something to hold onto. There was nothing; nothing to grab or step on, kick or rest against. I was floating, and there was nothing to stop me, and nowhere to go. I was obliviously lost to myself, and swallowed up by darkness; murky, cold, oily darkness.

               My stomach bows, and I am going to be sick. My legs kick out and hyper extend, causing a burning sensation in the back of my knees, and I try twisting my body, but it doesn’t work. Maybe I am upside down…but that concept doesn’t apply anymore. I am whichever way, down or up. All at once, I contract my body into a fetal position, slam my eyes shut and breathe heavily, my heart pounding in the back of my ears. My sickness subsides, and I start to cry again. After some time, a rage sinks in and I tear my vocal cords screaming and howling. I would pass out if I didn’t hyperventilate first with infinite insecurity. Endorphins bubble out of my brain. I black out; my body goes limp.

               Drifting in and out of consciousness, I realize my oxygen is running low, having only approached the work outside the ship with enough in my tank for a few hours.

               My body begins to take in the air with long hard breaths, my fears subsiding for the moment. As I stare out into the darkness, small shapes of dimly lit suns and galaxies glow softly as if a painting in the distance. I begin to cough, causing flares of pain in my torn throat tissue. Blood spat out into the inside of my helmet, causing my view to be through a red Rorschach image, complete with mental interpretation. Blood slowly drips down, leaving opaque streaks of red, drying there, permanently hazing my only view.

               I can feel blood drying on my neck and lips, itching me, and the inside of my helmet is beginning to smell of old copper and sweat, my tears mixing with the blood, invigorating my sense of being alive. This was not what I wanted. I know the eventuality…but wish for my mind to stop analyzing. I told myself to just stop…I wouldn’t listen, and darkness takes me over.

               Some time has passed; everything is calmer now, my oxygen is running out. Drifting in and out of consciousness, my body feels limp and drained.

               I open my eyes for the last few seconds and stare into the distance, the painting in the background is beautiful. So beautiful, it is only fate to be enjoyed for the last few seconds of my life. Dying alone, to the only sound, my faint shallow breathing; the blackness swallows me, and everything is gone.

title: [SF][HR] Float

question: What does the story say about Allen William Brier's fellow technicians?

question: What does the story say about the cold?

answer: Coldness in the story seems to have a negative connotation, as in making a scene or circumstance uncomfortable and contributing to its starkness. There is a black, cold substance that touches the narrator's leg. Later, the narrator refers to the darkness that surrounds him as cold darkness.

question: What does the story say about darkness?

answer: Darkness is not explicitly defined in the story but seems to speak strictly of the absence of light only once. Darkness is something that swallows up and takes over the narrator. Darkness is murky, cold, and oily. There is a dark tunnel in a water park that shows up in the narrator's memory.

question: What does the story say about legs?

answer: The narrator crosses his legs and brings them up toward his chest to feel close to himself. Then he uncrosses them after his muscles give out. He coughs up a dark, cold substance which he wipes on his bed but then it begins to spread and touches the narrator's leg. At one point, the narrator kicks his legs to hyperextension and at another point, he spreads them out to try to find something to hold on to.


text:
How does AMPs, disclosure guidelines, and 4 packs impact or affect you and your company?

[3 Recent Google Updates: What You Should Know]
Unless you’ve been hiding in a cubicle without internet, you’ve noticed a few big things happening over the last few weeks with Google.

1.  Comparison ads are being pulled in some competitive niches (we covered the launch here)
2.  You’ll no longer see ads on the right-hand side of the SERPs
3.  Google is providing 4 paid ads above the top SERP
4.  AMPs began rolling out
5.  A lack of disclosures could mean penalties for bloggers

How does this impact or affect you and your company? Multiple ways. One example is if you’ve seen traffic dropping from organic search, but you have the same ranking positions.

If this scenario sounds familiar, you may be scratching your head. Many people instantly assume it’s a switch over to mobile devices, which is semi-accurate, but that is only a small part of it. This could also be from the design changes on Google’s SERPs with the four ads above the organic results.

As more ads appear before the organic rankings, you have to scroll further to find an organic listing. If you add in local packs, flight information/scores/political counts/snippets, and other items that take up space, your organic rankings require more scrolling to find.  This, in turn, means less traffic for you, especially if you’re not in the top two. People using Google now have multiple options to find their desired solutions before they hit your organic listing. This could also have increased your average CPC since it’s more competitive, more ad inventory and no sidebar ads.

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So what can you do?

1. Get Started with AMPs

There are a ton of posts coming out right now for how to initiate and get your site prepared for AMPs. I found this post from Bill Hartzerwhich gives a plugin for WordPress sites. I installed it on three of my personal blogs (under 30 seconds a piece) and my blog posts (not pages) are now showing perfect AMP versions. I need to find a solution for main pages, but you can’t ask for anything simpler than a quick plugin (that works) for WordPress.

2.  An Alternative to the Comparison Ads & Expensive PPC

It’s time to look at other PPC and display options if your costs have increased. When you’re selecting keywords for PPC, your goal is to find a way to intercept someone in their decision-making process. By doing this, you can get your product or service in front of a potential customer while they’re looking for it, and hopefully increase conversions or lower your cost per acquisition. Think about how you can apply this to other forms of display (including the content network in AdWords).

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Amazon offers advertisers an ad network with external linking options on their pages. If you go to websites for stores like Macy’s, you’ll see they run PPC ads across product and category pages in the bottom. Targeting upset customers via social media and building a two-step campaign is another great way to attract new eyeballs.

The first step is to get them to follow you. The next is to advertise why your product or service is better and offer an incentive to try or buy it. Now you’ve built a funnel of your competitors’ customers and a targeted sales funnel to turn them into your own.

By using stores where people are shopping (retailers like Macy’s or Amazon), you can take advantage of their traffic and PPC spend driving people to their site. By targeting upset customers from competitors on social media, you can provide a great experience and try to get their customers to become yours. There are many ways to do this; you just need to be creative, stay within the boundaries of the law, and try not to be too aggressive.

[macy's ads example]

3. Using Proper Advertising Disclosures

I am not a lawyer so I cannot give legal advice on what makes a legally compliant disclosure. However, when Google releases a direct warning like their second bullet point in the link above, that can cause problems for websites that do reviews or are compensated for mentioning brands. Before you brush this warning off, keep in mind it is probably a bigger problem than you think.

Many large sites have contributors who may be being compensated to talk about brands or products. You have people who are compensated to share reviews on social media (including large websites) that may not be disclosing the relationship. Other sites try hiding disclosures in footers or places that are not visible.

We also have blog of all sizes. Many site owners, especially ones with contributors, probably aren’t even aware that some of their “trusted writers” could be adding them to a list of sites that don’t disclose the relationship. But how does Google know?

Google maps the web looking for patterns. That’s the foundation of their algorithms. They can pull these relationships based on the following (and more):

-   Similar content at the same time periods
-   Disclosure banners and placements
-   Codes or scripts used to monetize links
-   Tracking parameters used by PR and marketing firms
-   The placement of the disclosure based on where it is in the code of your site (assuming you’re hiding it or if it isn’t clearly visible)

Remember, Google uses automated and manual crawling. The automated crawls can read code for positions and quality, while manual reviewers look at the appearance and overall UX of the site. This leaves a ton of room for error. If it turns out that they are going to penalize sites for not disclosing, we may see some large and small sites take a hit. If it does turn out to be a large penalty, we may see a new algorithm come out called blogger or disclosure.

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If you all of the sudden see some sites with disclosures talking about a product or brand and then others that magically have similar or the same content, and at the same time but don’t disclose, you have a map. If you have a large network of reviewers that get products and use the same banner or place it in the footers, this can be mapped. If you’re using the same tracking parameters and they can see that there is aproduct being given (lots of videos and reviews showing up), this can be tracked. There are a ton of ways to do this, and these are just the basic ones.

With all of the large updates Google has been making, it’s important to stay calm and remember it is not the end of the world. Everything is still almost the same. Build quality content and links, follow their guidelines with disclosing relationships and make sure to keep your code up to date.

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If your traffic drops and you can’t afford the PPC positions, look for other places to get in front of people in their decision-making process. There’s no reason to run or panic — many of these problems have simple fixes.

_IMAGE CREDITS_

_Featured Image: studiostoks/Shutterstock.com
Screenshot by Adam Riemer. Taken February 2016._

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question: What does the text say about AMP's?

answer: Accelerated mobile pages are used to optimize web pages for mobile devices. When traffic drops from organic searches while your ranking position remains the same, one thing to look at is the way your site switches over to mobile devices. The author suggests looking at one of the ton of posts coming out on how to initiate and get your site prepared for AMP's. The author used a quick plugin for WordPress sites successfully on three of his personal blogs. It took only 30 seconds to install, the narrator is thankful for the simple solution.

question: Summarize the most interesting information relating to the changes to SERP's.

answer: Google changed SERP's so you will no longer see ads on the right hand side of the page and Google is providing 4 paid ads above the top organic search listing. This could result in a drop in traffic on your page. To avoid this the writer suggests finding a way to intercept someone in their decision-making process. He suggests finding followers on related sites and incentivizing your own product. Be creative, but don't be too aggressive.

question: Summarize the historical context surrounding disclosure guidelines.

answer: Google's direct warning to include disclosures of compensation and brand mentioned could mean penalties for bloggers. Many large sites are compensated to talk about brands or products. Some sites do not disclose their relationships, others hide their disclosure in the footer. But Google maps information based on similar content in similar time periods, disclosure banners and placements, codes or scripts used to monetize links and tracking parameters used by PR and marketing firms. The author suggests following Google's guidelines, building quality content and links and making sure to keep your code up to date.

question: What does the text say about the corporate structure of Google?


text:
It was the dark end of a bright time. The lights went out at the same time, everywhere. It was strange at first not having any light. Then we became better accustomed to the dark. Slowly, we changed.

In the beginning, many people were angry. Some of them went stumbling around blindly, sometimes dying as a result of it. Their screams seemed to become sharper in the blackness. Cold chills tickled my spine each time. Slowly we learned to avoid movement.

Time loses value in the blackness, as our perception is based on sight. With no light around, we learned to see through other senses. Some said their other senses grew stronger as a result of it. I just started to get pissed.

Living in the blackness caused mild insanity in all of us. We came to expect what could never occur, the light returning to us. I stopped opening my eyes entirely, what was the point? Still more people died.

Starvation, depression, violence, all set in. At least the violence was mostly self-inflicting, not that it was ever intended that way. It's hard to fight when you can't see. We learned how much we needed sight.

I too began suffering from these ailments. My mind created fantasy worlds to fill time. I would doze off and find myself back home again, before the incident. Often, I would wonder where you went that day, the day the light left. Since that day, absolute blackness is all that I've known.

title: Once darkness fell

question: Who is the person who left the day the lights went out?

answer: Someone that the narrator loved since he thinks often of her.

question: How does violence become self-inflicting when you can't see?

answer: Trying to punch someone in the dark might result in hitting a wall or falling over.

question: Why would you want to avoid movement in the dark?

answer: Perhaps to avoid stumbling and injuring yourself. Perhaps to conserve energy since there is no mention of food sources.

question: Where do these people get food from?

answer: They could not have been in the dark for very long without a food source.

question: Write a ~17 sentence summary.

answer:
It was the dark end of a bright time. The lights went out at the same time, everywhere. It was strange at first not having any light. Then we became accustomed to the dark.

At first many people were angry. Some stumbled around blindly, sometimes dying as a result. Slowly we learned to avoid movement. Time loses value in the blackness. With no light, we learned to see using other senses. Living in the blackness caused mild insanity.

Starvation, depression, violence, all set in. The violence was mostly self-inflicting. It's hard to fight when you can't see. We learned how much we needed sight.

My mind created fantasy worlds to fill time. I would doze off and find myself back home again, before the incident. Often, I would wonder where you went that day, the day the light left.


text:
The average worker receives 124 emails a day, but if you’re a leader, you may want to back away from your inbox. Keeping up with your messages can prevent you from achieving your goals and being a good leader, according to new research from Michigan State University published in the _Journal of Applied Psychology._

Managers spend at least 90 minutes a day recovering from email interruptions, and this distraction can be harmful, says Michigan State management professor Russ Johnson. “In some ways, managers are the nerve center of the organization,” he says. “All information comes through them and is disseminated to teams. On days when they’re overloaded by email, they scale back leadership behaviors, such as motivating and inspiring their team, talking optimistically about the future or explaining why work tasks are important.”

Stress narrows your attention, and managers who feel overwhelmed and unproductive because of email demands recover by focusing on smaller tactical duties like assigning tasks or setting goals, says Johnson.

“They focus on what’s happening right now, and there’s an evolutionary ring to it,” says Johnson. “If you were being chased by a lion, you wouldn’t be thinking about tomorrow or next week. Being overwhelmed causes managers to buckle down and focus on the most familiar, day-to-day stuff. They stay in their comfort zone, and future-oriented thoughts suffer.”

The manager’s team suffers from the lack of motivation and inspiration they need to thrive. As a result, employees’ performance, work satisfaction, organizational commitment, intrinsic motivation, and engagement decrease, while their stress and negative emotions increase, says Johnson.

Why email is a problem

Unlike other forms of communication, email causes stress because it’s more invasive, says Johnson. “When you’re face to face, it’s easier to say you don’t have time,” he says. “It’s easier to hit the send button than walk down the hallway or call someone.”

Email also seems harmless; seeing a message in your inbox provides the brain with a hit of dopamine, which is addictive. But most of us don’t realize the cognitive demands that happen when you switch between primary work activities, says Johnson. “It takes upwards of a minute or more after responding to an email to get back into whatever you’re doing,” he says. “You have to rediscover your train of thought before the interruption.”

And because email is quick and instant, many of us believe we have to respond immediately, says Johnson. Instead, reduce the amount of time you spend on email, and turn off notifications so you won’t be tempted or distracted, he suggests.

For example, use email settings to put your inbox on pause, says Aye Moah, chief of product and cofounder of the productivity software provider Boomerang. “Essentially you’ll have no email interruptions until you decide you’re ready,” she says. “You can set a schedule and pick two, three, five times a day to have email delivered—whatever works for you.”

Moah recommends pausing your inbox for at least 90 minutes. “This is the amount of time it takes to get into a state of flow, feeling creative, and making progress on something hard,” she says.

You also need to communicate your email patterns, because managers often feel chained to their email worrying that their staff might ask questions or need clarification.

“Their progress is blocked if you are not responding,” says Moah. “It’s great to pause interruptions, but set expectations. Let your staff know you are focusing on something and will get back to you in an hour or two. People will get to know your cadence, and when they can expect a response.”

question: Why do answering emails such a drain on a manager's time and resources?

answer: Because an average worker receives over 100 emails a day, it is easy to imagine leaders of organizations receiving much more. Answering such emails can be a drain on mental resources for managers as well as draw them away from other important tasks. This is because email is an invasive technology and easy to send (as well as receive). Emails notifications also distract, interrupt, and tempt us to check our inbox every hour, thus facilitating unproductivity.


text:
The River
Since I was young I had always found closure in the river next to my home.  I would always go and camp by the riverside whenever I had the chance.  The feeling was like no other to get away from the business of life and relax in the stillness that nature had to offer.
I recall one time I went camping.  The day started off like every other day, I woke up in my one man tent to the comfort of my Colman sleeping bag.  The crisp, morning air scorched my nostrils as I slowly rose from my slumber.  I exited my tent and stood still in my camp listening to the slow, rhythmic splashes of the river.  The sound put my mind into a trance as I tried to shake the sleepiness that the morning brings.  While standing still I heard the giggling of a group of girls.  An early morning tubing brigade was in the making.  One could tell just by looking at this group that this was not their first time around the bend.  There were about four of them, each with their individual coolers that were probably not filled with pop and bottled water.
Knowing the history of the Crow Wing River I assumed that these girls were going to slowly float down to the bridge trying to catch an early morning buzz.  With each empty beer they would gossip about boys and try to one up each other with their “personal” experiences.  I had to chuckle softly to myself, thinking of what those girls were going to talk about, and knowing that I was going to join them on the river in the hours to come.
I turned my back to the river and headed for my cooler, trying to find something to cure my morning hunger.  I opened the lid and found six beers, a loaf of wheat bread, some venison steaks, and a freezer bag of premade pancakes.  I pulled out the pancakes and opened the bag. A brief smell of stale bread brushed my nose, but I was too hungry to care.  I sat in my folding chair as I ate my breakfast.  While I sat and ate, I listened to the music of the woods.  The birds were singing their good morning song, the trees creaking to the light wind that wisped over the land.  I ate half of the bag of pancakes and threw the rest into the woods so the birds could have breakfast as well.
I started to clean up my camp a bit and get ready for the day’s activities.  I had planned on tubing the river that day, and that is what I was going to do.  I retrieved my tube from the back of my car and took out the cold Bud Light’s that were in my cooler.  Being only sixteen at the time I was at risk of getting caught, but the area was so remote that there was only a slight chance.  I made my way down to the river, slowly wading in to check the water.  The water was cold, but not shockingly cold.  I was only knee deep in the water and I threw my tube in.  With beer in hand I submerged my body underneath the water.  There was a momentary pain in my trunks, but it went away fast as my whole body was chilled.  I came up next to my tube and climbed in.  The sun was beaming down on my body and it felt good on my freshly chilled skin.  I started rowing with my hands trying to find the right spot in the river where I could just sit and let the current do all the work.
 I made my way down the river, sipping on my beer and lost in my thoughts.  My mind started running with all of my life’s stresses, school, grades, football and girls.  I, not knowingly, entered the first of many bends in the river and became stuck on the edge.  On one side there was a forest filled with brush and on the other was a small meadow where deer were known to bed.  I was brought back from my thoughts as I was stuck for a short while.  When I looked up I was presented with a picturesque scene.  A faun was jumping around in the meadow, happy to be alive.  I could tell it was young from the spots it still had.  The faun seemed to have not a care in the world, rolling in the grass that grew thick in the meadow.  I slowly pushed off from the shore, still looking at this being full of life.  I quietly passed by the faun, yet midway through I had to cough.  The noise shook the little deer and its ears perked up.  The faun found my position in the river and I froze solid, trying not to make it run away. We stared at each other for what seemed like an eternity.  As I slowly moved with the river I lost contact with the faun, but heard it resume frolicking in its meadow.
I started to think of the faun, how it didn’t scare when it saw me, how it found me nonthreatening and how its will to play was greater than its will to run.  I pondered our meeting while the river swept me away.  The faun was stricken with fear when it saw me, yet it overcame that fear so it could play and be happy.  I was transfixed by this topic until the river brought me to a group of five children; all of them not older then thirteen.  They were swinging from a rope tied onto a tree that grew over the river.  They were taking turns grabbing onto the rope and swinging into the water.  Nothing could break their happiness.  They were laughing as each one hit the water and came up with a huge grin.  As I watched I thought how lucky they were, to be young and not care about the stresses that I had to endure.  All they knew was that swinging off the rope into the river was fun and that is all they needed to know.
I made my way farther down the river still thinking about the faun and the children when I came across a tree that had fallen into the river.  I put my hands in the water and maneuvered around the fallen tree.  As I passed I started wondering how that could be, how the tree was so tall and scraping the sky one day and the next it was dead in the water.  The idea hit me that all trees do is stay stationary in one spot all of their life, waiting for death to fall upon them.  They wait and watch as the world around them bustles with life, not able to do anything about it.  They wait for their roots to give out and just the right amount of wind to push them over.  All they can do is sit and wait for their demise.
The current then took me farther down the river and I could see my destination.  My destination was Mary Brown Bridge.  The bridge was covered in graffiti from each graduating class of the surrounding schools.  As I came closer I could hear the slurred yelling from the group of girls that left before me.  They were standing on the side of the bridge jumping into the river like it was their job.  After each one would jump they would whoop and holler, while they took another chug of beer.  I made it to the bank of the bridge and slowly rose from my tube, I didn’t realize how much I had actually drunk on the river, and I stumbled my way up onto the bridge.  The girls noticed my presence and beckoned me to join them in their end of float fun.  As I walked to the side of the bridge fear overcame my body.  The risk of drowning subdued me from jumping as I placed my hands on the wall and looked down at the water.  The river was high this year so the current was really strong, especially under the bridge.
My legs started to buckle in fear as the girls provoked me to jump.  I started thinking about the children that didn’t care if they got hurt jumping into the river; they were having too much fun.  I thought of the faun and how it overcame its fear so it could frolic around, not caring who was watching.  I thought about how the tree stood still its whole life, and then died without any accomplishments, how it was alive one day and gone the next.  The risk of drowning started to die down and courage arose within me.  Life is too short to not take risks, to not have fun.  I then got up on the edge of the bridge, the girls started to cheer, and I jumped.

title: I wrote this awhile back, hope you guys like it.

question: What kind of person does the narrator appear to be?

answer: The narrator seems to be a nature-oriented and reflective person.

question: What's the main event of the story?

answer: The narrator overcomes their fear and jumps off a bridge into the river.

question: Does the narrator go camping often?

answer: The narrator would always go camping near their home when they were young.

question: What is the narrator's relationship with the river?

answer: The narrator grew up on the river.

question: What's the best thing that happens to the narrator in the story?

answer: The narrator realizes that life is too short to not take risks.

question: Write a ~3 sentence summary.

answer: The narrator camps on a river outside of their home. While floating down the river, they are inspired by many of the natural sights, including a dead tree and a faun overcoming it's fear. They overcomes their own fear when they jump off a bridge into the river, realizing life is too short not to take risks.


text:
KUJE SCIENCE PRIMARY SCHOOL is a primary school in Kuje, Nigeria. After reconstruction funded largely by British Airways' charity program “Change for Good”, it was re-opened in 2002 in a ceremony attended by President Olusegun Obasanjo. This event took place two days before the anniversary of the introduction of the most widely accepted human rights treaty in history; The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. It has over 3,500 students.

_“Kuje school is an excellent example of what a committed and generous public and private sector partnership can achieve,”_ said Dr Christian Voumard, UNICEF Representative in Nigeria. _“It is the largest project funded by Change for Good in Africa and is yet another example of how private sector funds can be put to very good use within the public domain,”_ he added. Basic amenities which are not available to many schools in the country include an electricity generator, a supply of clean water, and separate toilets for boys and girls. The school also has a library and a computer and science laboratory; offering a stark contrast to those facilities offered by the majority of schools in the country.

UNICEF and British Airways hope that Kuje school will lead the way in influencing and spurring much needed changes to Nigeria's education system.

_“We were very happy and eager to work with UNICEF on this initiative,”_ said Steven Harrison, British Airways' manager in Nigeria. _“We are delighted that through the highly successful Change for Good program, we have rebuilt this school, which is certain to make a positive contribution to the education of thousands of Nigerian children.”_

title: Kuje Science Primary School

question: Why would a president attend the reopening ceremony of the Kuje Science Primary School?

answer:
It is possible that the size of the school population is highly significant at 3,500 students (it has to be noted, however, that no other statistics has been given for comparison).

It is also possible that due to the fact that the school is backed by a private company, its facilities make it better than other schools in the country.


text:
Boiling water in a paper bag sounds like an impossible task. The paper bag should burn up, leaving the water to put out the fire. Actually, this campfire trick is a standard way for veteran campers to show off and is based on scientific principles. The water cools the bag enough so that it can't catch on fire, and the heat from the fire dries the bag enough so that the water won't soak through. Try it on your next campout for truly impressive results.

Items you will need

-   Campfire

-   Paper grocery bag

-   Water

Step 1

Build your campfire and light it. Make sure that the area around the fire is level and that there is room to set the bag directly next to the fire. Allow the fire to burn until it is established and won't go out.

Step 2

Fold the upper edge of the bag down one inch towards the outside. Make two more folds in the same manner, creating a cuff around the top edge of the bag.

Step 3

Place the bag on the ground as close to the fire as possible, and immediately pour in water, filling the bag about three quarters full.

Step 4

Allow the water to boil in the bag. Use a cup to scoop it out if you want to make tea, coffee or cocoa. Add more water to the bag to replenish the supply as you use it.

Step 5

When you're ready to put out your campfire, lift up the bag. The bottom of the bag will come undone, as the heat has loosened the glue. The water will help put out the fire.

-   The top of the bag will probably burn away, but the fire won't burn anything below the waterline.

References

Warnings

-   The top of the bag will probably burn away, but the fire won't burn anything below the waterline.

Writer Bio

Working in sunny Florida, Anne Baley has been writing professionally since 2009. Her home and lifestyle articles have been seen on Coldwell Banker and Gardening Know How. Baley has published a series of books teaching how to live a frugal life with style and panache.

question: What would the outcome be if the steps given were not followed in proper order?

answer: If the steps were not followed in order, then boiling water in the paper bag would not be possible.

question: What are some of the hazards associated with boiling water in a paper bag?

answer: Some hazards associated with boiling water in a paper bag could be possibly burning yourself, having more smoke to pollute the air, and also burning yourself with hot water if not handled with proper caution.


text:
FORCHHEIM FORTRESS () was laid out after the occupation of the town of Forchheim during the Second Margrave War (1552) by the Bishopric of Bamberg. Today about one third of the fortification works have survived and have been incorporated into the municipal parks.

History

[Forchheim Fortress from the west (Matthäus Merian: Topographia Franconiae, 1648)] [St. Veit's Bastion from the north...] [...and from the south] [The Saltor Tower] [Bastion by the Saltor Tower] [Curtain wall between the bastion by the Saltor Tower and St. Valentine's Outwork] [St. Valentine's Outwork from the west] [St. Peter's Outwork, west flank] [The Nuremberg Gate (1698)]

In 1552, during the Second Margrave War, troops of the Margrave of Culmbach, Albrecht Alcibiades, occupied Forchheim for three months. After its recapture by Claus of Egloffstein, the Bishopric of Bamberg decided to expand the town to the southern border fortification in line with the latest Italian fortification practice. Building work began in 1553 with St. Veit's Bastion south of Forchheim Castle, the so-called _Pfalz_. In 1561/62, the bastion by the Saltor Tower was added. The northeast corner of the town's fortress was protected by a round artillery tower. New entrances were created: the Bamberg Gate in 1557, the Reuth Gate in 1567, the Old Nuremberg Gate in 1570, and the Sattler Gate in 1578/79. The inflows and outflows of the Wiesent were guarded by two moated castles, of which the northern one has been preserved.

At the beginning of the 17th century, work on the fortifications stalled. At the beginning of the Thirty Years' War, the medieval town wall still existed to a large extent. The fortifications were supplemented by new defensive works. During the war there was no major [siege], although Forchheim was important strategically and as an assembly area for troops and as a refuge. The fortress proved itself for the first time.

After the end of the fighting, the expansion of the fortifications continued. In 1655, St. Cunigund's Outwork was built in the east and, one year later, St. Philip's Outwork. St. Valentine's Outwork (a _zwinger_-bastion, 1657) and St. Henry's Outwork (Dreikirchen Work) have been fully or partially preserved. In 1675,St. Peter's Outwork (the Dernbach Bastion) was added in the north-east and, in 1683, the large St. Martin's Outwork (New Work), which has since disappeared. Prince Bishop Lothair Francis of Schönborn sent military architect, Maximilian von Welsch, in 1706 to upgrade the works.[1]

In addition to the fortifications, numerous administrative and representative buildings were built in the town centre. The most skilled architects in the Archbishopric were involved in the planning. For example, Balthasar Neumann designed the barracks of the prince-bishops dragoons (1730-33). The garrison headquarters (_Kommandantur_) on Parade Square (_Paradeplatz_) was designed by Johann Jakob Michael Küchel.

In the wake of the secularization of the Bishopric of Bamberg, the fortress was transferred to the Electorate of Bavaria, which was elevated to a kingdom in 1806. Its role as a fortress was ended in 1838 by the army as the defences had become unnecessary. In 1875, the town acquired a large part of the fortifications and undertook to demolish them. Even after the First World War, parts of the ensemble disappeared. The demolition material was used to build the municipal secondary school and the church in Hallerndorf. However, the moats of the fortifications in the north and north-east were transformed into a large park, which is now used by the townfolk as a recreation area.

[1]

title: Forchheim Fortress

question: Where is the fortress?

answer: The remains are somewhere in modern Bavaria, but the fortress has mostly been demolished

question: Who were the combatants in the Second Margrave War?

answer: Albrecht Alcibiades, the Margrave of Culmbach, and Claus of Egloffstein, the Bishopric of Bamberg

question: When was construction of the fortress completed?

answer: The construction work began in 1553, and the work stalled at the start of the 17th century, but construction continued after the Thirty Years' War, and it was steadily expanded until around 1733

question: How are the former fortress's moats used today?

answer: They have been transformed into a public park

question: Write a ~3 sentence summary.

answer: Construction began on Forchheim Fortress just after its occupation during the Second Margrave War, and it was steadily expanded until the early-mid 18th century. By the mid 19th century, it was considered unnecessary for defense and mostly demolished. The remains of the fortress have been converted into a public park.


text:
The air conditioning barely worked. The few wisps of cool air that seeped out from the tour bus’ ancient vents had to be trapped inside, lest its twenty or so passengers melt in the summer heat. The windows were shut tight; no breeze could get in or out.

About fifteen of them were chain smokers. Tobacco was the new opium in 21st century China. After the first hour, the air became dense and thick.

When the three hour ride finally came to an end, I could no longer see a yard in front of me. Mother picked me up and rushed to the front; I was still small enough for her to lift back then. The crisp air of the rural countryside hit me like a refreshing blast.

Before I knew it, the contents of my lunch were being emptied on the dirt in front of me.

******

Our apartment smelled different when I came home from elementary school that day. It was an old, familiar smell. A faint, musky scent. I took long, panting breaths. My mind felt at peace. I sat on the floor, unmoving, soaking in the beautiful aroma.

An hour or so passed, and I heard shouting down the hallway. My mother was angry. My father was on the defense. “Only two” He exclaimed “I found a pack in my old pocket. They were old. It won’t happen again”.

A half hour later, the yelling ceased. All the windows were open. My mother walked back and forth, beating the air with a feather fan.

******

The day after my eighteenth birthday, I bought a pack of Marlboro’s, and a blue plastic lighter. Curiosity, and just because I could. My gaze stayed glued to the ground as I handed the clerk my I.D. It had a simple design. A red top with an egg white base, with “filter cigarettes” written neatly across the center. I liked the aesthetic. It looked nice in my pocket.

It was never opened. I hid it in a secret compartment in my suitcase, and brought it to college. I’ll save it for a special occasion. Nicotine is supposed to be a relaxant, right? Maybe the night before a stressful test. Or as a cure for a bout of depression.

******

Every drive away from my town feels as miserable as the first. The peculiar feeling of leaving the place I call home to sleep somewhere else never quite fades. Maybe I should consider myself lucky for having a place to sleep at all. Look at all these homeless people, wouldn’t they love to trade places with you? I take a walk down the nighttime Seattle streets, for once hoping to see a few of the less fortunate.

I come across a group, huddled under a storefront porch. But seeing their suffering does nothing to curb my own. Homelessness, not in a financial sense, but an emotional sense, could be used to describe my state of mind. Did I come back to visit, or to say goodbye one final time? Some things are harder to let go of than others.

Slowly, reluctantly, I take the pack out of my pocket. Its red gleam remains unfaded, and its crisp packaging beckons to be opened. The plastic wrap comes off easily; It was designed to be torn apart by eager fingers.

Lighting the cig was confusing at first, but I got it going after a minute. The aroma brought back an incredible flood of memories. My grandparents. All of my aunts and uncles. My dad. No one in my family had escaped its alluring scent.

I was lost. My mind was intoxicated. They say some people have genes that make them more susceptible to addiction. That exposure to second-hand smoke isn’t much different than first hand smoke. These were fleeting thoughts, which came and went without me paying them much heed.

The world began to calm down. My walk became steadier, slower. Any worries I had were dissipating. I closed my eyes with each drag, holding the wonderful smoke in my lungs.

Before I knew it, I was on my second. And my third. And my fourth. My breaths were too long; I was inexperienced. I got ashes all over my face and hands, and I coughed extensively. It didn’t matter; it was all bliss.

I was standing still, no longer even walking. There was a familiar haze in front of me; my mind drifted back to the bus ride. “This is mine, and mine alone” I thought triumphantly. No one else could force me to breathe their smoke. I made my own, with my lungs, my money, my life.

I opened the pack, and took out another. As I flicked the lighter, a thought occurred to me. I didn’t have to do it. At this moment, there was no overwhelming force compelling to smoke another cigarette.

But that might not be true a year, or a month, or even a week down the line. When my father found the lingering pack in his pocket, was his choice as clear as mine is now?

Was I expressing my newfound independence, or giving it up?

I threw whole case into a nearby trashcan. The walk away felt heavy, weighted by a mix of desire and pride. To turn around and pick it up again would be so easy. The white and red casing was calling to me, carrying innards that were still fresh and awaiting consumption.

I trudged on.

*****

title: Haze

question: Summarize the theme of this piece of writing.

answer: The theme is escaping, or growing out of, family. The narrator mentions their first escape-when the house was perhaps consumed by the smoke or fire that is a result of tobacco smoking. They then talking about the habit-the addiction-their family members have been consumed by, and have passed down. This one is smoking; the author bought a back on their 19th birthday out of curiosity, perhaps as a rite of passage in becoming an adult in their family. Now the author discusses smoking and walking until their thoughts gain some clarity-their newfound independence is symbolized in the moment they decline to light up another cigarette.

question: Summarize what the cigarettes symbolize.

answer: The cigarettes are something that you grow to need, and they actually make you feel better in some ways. When people are addicted, cigarettes often provide moments of release and peace when they are stressed. The author has grown dependent, but when they reflect on the ways the collective dependence on these cyclical habits has affected the author's family, the author no longer wants to take part-thereby breaking the generational cycle.

question: Summarize what other factors have motivated the narrator to grow "out of the nest".


text:
Even in this most recent market rut, Bittrex, a well-established Seattle-based cryptocurrency exchange, is dead set on bolstering its sphere of influence over the cryptocurrency and blockchain industries.

Bittrex Eyes Expansion With Affiliate Company

On Monday morning, Bittrex unexpectedly took to Twitter to announce that it had launched Bittrex International, an affiliate firm that will be responsible for managing a “global collection of innovative blockchain technology-focused businesses operating outside of the United States.”

  Bittrex is powering the blockchain revolution in the U.S. and around the world. Today, we’re announcing Bittrex International, an affiliate of Bittrex, which will own & manage Bittrex’s international businesses. Details: https://t.co/JwJkD7gbVz pic.twitter.com/KPvQYa2UBD

  — Bittrex (@BittrexExchange) September 10, 2018

In an official statement, the exchange outlined its aspirations for this new firm, revealing that the multinational startup’s mission is to become a “driving force in the blockchain revolution,” by increasing the adoption rates and development of this technology and its applications. Bittrex International intends to accomplish this by providing oversight, advice, and management for technology-focused businesses under the firm’s control.

Despite its infancy, the newly-established Bittrex International will also be responsible for founding a subsidiary based in crypto-friendly Malta. Seemingly taking advantage of the European island nation’s lax regulatory climate, this subsidiary will be creating a “secure, reliable, and advanced digital asset platform operating in Malta and built on Bittrex’s cutting-edge trading technology.”

More specifically, Bittrex Malta aims to allow projects to not only see their in-house crypto assets listed on a platform but to see their brainchildren flourish via the establishment of higher levels of consumer trust and a “larger global footprint.”

The company intends to create this global footprint through partnerships with an international collection of exchanges, which will reportedly see the assets listed on Bittrex’s Malta platform reach a worldwide audience via the aforementioned partners.  As Malta has openly endorsed crypto assets and welcomed cryptocurrency firms, this new platform has been designed with Maltese and European rules and regulations in mind. CEO Bill Shihara expressed his excitement for this global expansion, noting:

  “At Bittrex, we’re using our secure, reliable and innovative platform technology to power the blockchain revolution. Through our U.S-based trading platform, and our growing network of partner exchanges around the world, Bittrex is making blockchain technology and digital asset trading more accessible to the global community. Bittrex International and its subsidiaries will further advance our work to increase adoption of this revolutionary technology by streamlining the process of identifying and listing some of the world’s most innovative blockchain projects.”

Partnerships & USD Trading Pairs

As reported by NewsBTC, the exchange has recently enlisted a series of measures to rope itself back in the public limelight, with the creation of Bittrex’s international and Maltese subsidiaries being no exception.

Bittrex recently joined hands with Rialto, an alternative trading system, to make a foray into the crypto asset securities subindustry. According to a press release that pertains to the matter, the two firms are in talks with regulators to hopefully gain approval. If successfully, the partnership will reportedly parent a next-generation platform that will allow investors to purchase digital assets that are deemed securities by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commision.

Pending regulatory approval, the prospective security token exchange, which remains unnamed at this time, will only facilitate institutional investors, legacy firms, U.S. registered broker-dealers and accredited investors due to restrictions.

It is unclear if the aforementioned moves will garner high levels of support from the get-go, but it has become apparent that Bittrex is trying to propel itself to new heights amid a bear market.

    Featured Image From Shutterstock

question: What is Bittrex?

answer: Bittrex is a well-established Seattle-based cryptocurrency exchange.

question: What is Bittrex International?

answer: Bittrex International is an affiliate firm that will be responsible for managing a "global collection of innovative blockchain technology-focused businesses operating outside of the United States."

question: What will Bittrex International be responsible for?

answer: It will be responsible for founding a subsidiary based in crypto-friendly Malta.

question: Who is the CEO of Bittrex?

answer: The CEO of Bittrex is Bill Shihara.

question: Who is Rialto?

answer: Rialto is an alternative trading system

question: Write a ~3 sentence summary.

answer: A discussion about Bittrex and Bittrex International is conducted. The goals and responsibilities of what Bittrex International is doing is layed out. Partnerships of Bittrex is described as well.


text:
Here's David Gregory taking a page straight out of Chris Cillizza's playbook and making excuses for the media just repeating the Republicans' talking points on the CBO report. Explaining stuff is hard work people!

  GREGORY: From the politics of 2016 to the politics of the moment here in Washington, a big one is health care. SO THE CBO, THE CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE ISSUES A REPORT THIS WEEK AND ALL OF A SUDDEN YOU GET THE DEBATE RIGHT BACK FRONT AND CENTER ABOUT WHETHER OBAMACARE IS A JOB KILLER. HERE ARE SOME OF THE HEADLINES AFTER THAT REPORT.
  From The Hill: Obamacare will cost 2.5 million workers by 2024. The Wall Street Journal: Health Care Law to Cut Into Labor Force. New York Times: Health Care Law Projected to Cut the Labor Force.

  THAT'S NOT EXACTLY WHAT THE CBO SAID, BUT STRIKE THE WORD CBO. These were Congressional researchers who issued this report E.J. and you wrote about it strongly this week.

After Dionne explains to Gregory what the CBO actually said, and that it did not say it was a job killer, but quite the opposite, here's how Gregory responded.

  GREGORY: BUT THIS IS A LOT TO EXPLAIN AND FOR A LOT OF THESE REPUBLICAN...

  DIONNE: I think people get the choice part.

  GREGORY: ALRIGHT, BUT THERE ARE STILL A LOT OF REPUBLICANS DAVID WHO ARE GOING TO SAY, LOOK, WE TOLD YOU THIS WAS GOING TO HAVE A HUGE IMPACT ON THE LABOR FORCE, SOME OF WHICH WE DON'T TRULY UNDERSTAND AND IT FEEDS THIS IF YOU DON'T LIKE OBAMACARE, YOU MAY HAVE A NEW REASON TO DISLIKE IT.

We already knew David Gregory doesn't think it's his job to fact check anything that's said on his show. He continues to prove every week that the problem is not just what the guests say that goes unchecked, but what comes out of his own mouth.

question: Who is David Gregory?

answer: It's not clear who he is specifically, but he has a show and is accused of making excuses for the media by repeating the Republicans' talking points on the CBO report.

question: What is the most important thing Gregory says?

answer: That isn't clear in this document.

question: What does Gregory mean when he says this is a lot to explain?

answer: He says this when it is explained to him that the CBO did not say it was a job killer.

question: What is the theme of this document?

answer: The theme of this document is political.

question: Write a ~2 sentence summary.

answer: This document accuses David Gregory of making excuses for the media and repeating the Republicans' talking points of the CBO report. The author says at the time of the document that Gregory proves that what comes out of his mouth goes unchecked.


text:
Before you read, I would just like to let it be known that this is a little short story I made for a homework assignment in my English class. Basically, the background of the story is my teacher played us a song in class, and we had to write down how it made us feel, etc. and we had to take the song and kind of make a story for said song to be used as a background. The mood and tone I got from listening to the song is shown in the story. I really enjoyed writing this and hope you enjoy reading this even more!

     It was quite the night on the 23rd of December in the year of 2006. The Christmas lights glimmered in the blankets of white December night snow. You could feel the tension in the air from kids in dire need of Christmas to be here already. Happiness was a smoke that filled the air and contaminated everyone. Laughing from the mouths of children could be heard all around the block, as Christmas trees began to be erected and decorated in the cozy, warm, homes of people. The Christmas lights of one particular small, white, house of a soon to be family of three were flickered on, as Jon had just arrived home from an amazing day at work. He shut the red door behind him and looked at the beautiful scenery outside. The smoke of happiness contaminated the tall, lean figure with short brown hair and green eyes, as he stroked his icy brown-haired beard, smiling at the thought of December 25th, because not only was it Christmas, a time of family and friends, but also the birth of his first son, with his wife of two years, Jane.
    "Jane? I'm home! Where are you?" Called Jon, in search of his wife. Oh where could she be, he thought. Wait, could it be...? Swiftly Jon moved through the house, in search of his wife. "Jane?" He called again, as he went into the kitchen. The answering machine was flashing red - someone had called and left a message. Jon realized. He realized it. His wife was in the hospital, in labor, with his soon to be baby son, and he wasn't even there. She had to be. Jon took a few deep breaths, as nervousness began to flow throughout his body. His finger had come into contact with the inbox button. The sound of his wife's voice was heard through the answering machine.
     "J-Jon, i-it's your wife, J-Jane. I'm at the hospital right now, I went into labor this afternoon. O-our f-family of three won't be here t-tonight. Please come h-here with me w-when you are h-home from w-work. I l-love you-u." Sobs and sobs were repeatedly heard through the answering machine, as the message ended, a beep buzzed through the answering machine, and the message had ended.
     The mind of Jon had become a numb mind. Numb to the message on the answering machine from his wife. Numb to his thoughts to himself. Numb to the laughs of children all around the block as Christmas trees had been erected and decorated, and the Star of the tree was being put up. Numb to the world. Jon walked around trying to figure out what just happened. His finger had come into contact with  the inbox button. The message replayed. Words spoken from his wife filled his mind once again, as his cheeks began to flush, and tears started to create a rainforest in his beard. Jon walked around his house, thinking about life, his wife, and the future. The family of three. The family of three. The family of three was not meant to be. Jon slumped out of the kitchen, head down, tears running down his face. Sob. Jon walked out to the living room, where stood their Christmas tree, and Christmas presents. Some of which were supposed to be for the additional third in that family of three. Jon stared at the presents. A good, long stare. A stare of despair. Jon picked up one of the Christmas presents meant for that additional third, as he wiped tears from his eyes and beard. It read: To Jimmy. From Santa. In it, the box contained a pair of baby shoes. Baby shoes that were never to be worn.

title: Christmas Time

question: Who lives in the small white house?

answer: A couple lived in the house. They were expecting a baby.

question: What was special about this Christmas?

answer: The couple was going to become parents soon.

question: Where is Jane?

answer: Jane was at the hospital. She had gone into labor in the afternoon and sadly, lost the baby.

question: Why was Jon feeling numb?

answer: Jon was numb after hearing Jane's message on the answering machine. They had lost their baby. Tears had started to roll down his cheeks.

question: Write a ~6 sentence summary.

answer:
It was the 23rd of December, Christmas trees all around were erected. It was a special Christmas for the residents of the tiny white house, for they were eagerly waiting for the arrival of their baby.

Jon comes home from work looking for Jane, but she's nowhere to be seen. He plays the message on the answering machine, it's Jane, they had lost their baby.

Time stood still for Jon, he felt numb. He roams around the house with tears rolling down his cheeks.


text:
The DIAMOND A RANCH, or Spring Ranch, is a ranch in the upper Wind River valley of Fremont County, Wyoming. The site was first settled by John Robert McDonald, a Scottish immigrant who had a homestead on the site in 1891. McDonald sold the property to John Williamson in 1907. Jack Williamson and his brother David were Scots as well, working as stonemasons. The Williamsons had worked in New York City, at Princeton University, at the Mormon Temple in Salt Lake City and on bridge work for the Union Pacific Railroad. In 1888 they came from Salt Lake City to Lander, where they worked on a number of projects, as well as in Rawlins and at Fort Washakie. They joined their sister Jean Williamson Sinclair at the Upper Circle Ranch near Dubois in the early 1890s. David Williamson married Annie McKenzie, a friend of his sister's who had come with her from Scotland. When Jack died of tick fever in 1916, David moved to the ranch with his family. After David's death in 1934, his wife Annie operated the ranch until she sold it in 1966. The ranch is notable as one of several ranches established by Scottish immigrants.[1]

The ranch includes 14 buildings of frame, log or stone construction. The main ranch house was built starting in 1903, initially in stone and later in log. Despite the professional abilities of the Williamsons, it was built by a local stonemason. Other buildings include poultry houses, an outhouse, a bunkhouse, a granary, a calf shed, a garage and the homestead cabin. There are also a number of barns and livestock sheds.[2]

The Diamond A Ranch was placed on the National Register of Historic Places on August 19, 1991.[3]

[1]

[2]

[3]

title: Diamond A Ranch (Dubois, Wyoming)

question: Where is Diamond A Ranch?

answer: The upper Wind River valley of Fremont County, Wyoming.

question: Who was the first settler to set up shop at Diamond A Ranch?

answer: A Scottish immigrant who had a homestead on the site in 1891, John Robert McDonald.

question: Who did the ranch pass to after McDonald?

answer: Jack Williamson and his brother David, two Scots as well who worked masonry across the US.

question: When was Diamond A Ranch placed on the National Register of Historic Places?

answer: August 19, 1991

question: Write a ~3 sentence summary.

answer: The Diamond A Ranch, or Spring Ranch, is a ranch in the upper Wind River valley of Fremont County, Wyoming that was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1991. First settled by a Scottish immigrant homesteader, John Robert McDonald in 1891, the ranch remained in the family of the second occupants until 1966. The ranch includes 14 buildings and a number of barns and livestock sheds.