text:
[Ivanka Trump played role in campaign manager's firing: report]

© Getty Images

Donald Trump[]Donald John TrumpTrump rages against '60 Minutes' for interview with Krebs Cornyn spox: Neera Tanden has 'no chance' of being confirmed as Biden's OMB pick Pa. lawmaker was informed of positive coronavirus test while meeting with Trump: report MORE's daughter may have played a major role in the ouster of his campaign manager, according to several reports.

CNN reported hours after Corey Lewandowski's dismissal as Trump's campaign manager that Ivanka Trump had come to her father to argue for his firing.

Ivanka Trump was angry, CNN said, that Lewandowski had sought to plant negative stories about her husband, Jared Kushner, who is working on Donald Trump's transition team.

She told her father he had to choose between letting Lewandowski go or moving forward with the campaign without her, CNN said.

Lewandowski had been a lightning rod of controversy both from inside and outside the campaign. Most notably, he was charged with battery after he grabbed the arm of a former Breitbart News reporter as she was trying to ask Trump a question after a press conference in Florida.

Those charges were eventually dropped, but NBC reports that the incident prompted Ivanka to press her father to make a change, though it took until Monday to convince him.

Lewandowski didn't just spar with members of the Trump family; he also warred with campaign chairman Paul Manafort, who had been trying to push Trump toward running a more conventional campaign. News of internal disagreement between the two sides of the Trump camp has trickled out for months, but Trump has said he'd stand by Lewandowski until Monday.

The decision by Trump to drop his campaign manager just weeks before the Republican National Convention shocked the political world and comes amid serious concerns from Republicans about Trump's poll numbers and fundraising success.

[TheHill.com]

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question: Who is Corey Lewandowski?

answer: Trump's former campaign manager.

question: Who allegedly wanted Trump to fire Lewandowski?

answer: Trump's daughter, Ivanka.

question: What was Lewandowski charged with?

answer: Battery.

question: Why was he charged?

answer: He grabbed the arm of reporter who was trying to ask Trump a question at a press conference in Florida.

question: Write a ~2 sentence summary.

answer: Donald Trump has fired his campaign manager, Corey Lewandowski, and some sources report Trump's daughter, Ivanka, had a hand in this decision. Lewandowski is not without scandal, as more recently he has been charged with battery following his grabbing a reporter's arm at a press conference in Florida.


split: train

text:
[Furloughed government workers, who were sent home by the shutdown, protested on Tuesday in front of Independence Hall in Philadelphia.]

Credit...Mark Makela for The New York Times

-   Oct. 2, 2013
-

PHILADELPHIA — Lyn Kirshenbaum understands why President Obama and Congressional Republicans keep exchanging roundhouse swings over health care and federal spending. Politics is a brutal business.

What she does not understand is why she is the one who is black and blue.

Ms. Kirshenbaum, a 61-year-old policy specialist at the Department of Housing and Urban Development here, is among more than 800,000 workers furloughed from federal payrolls since a governmentwide shutdown began Tuesday. Assuming it continues, her next paycheck will include only six days of earnings instead of the usual 10.

That is not all, however. Ms. Kirshenbaum says she has lost a week of pay since intractable disputes over federal spending triggered the so-called sequester last March, forcing agencies to furlough some workers. Nor has she had a raise in three years; Mr. Obama, under fierce pressure from Republicans, suspended raises for executive-branch employees in 2010.

She and other federal workers say they feel like collateral damage in the continuing fiscal and ideological wars between the White House and its political rivals, swept up in a conflict fought by rules they cannot fathom, in places that frequently have nothing to do with the issues at stake.

Throngs of civil servants have been sent home without pay, forbidden even to check their government e-mail accounts. Still other throngs have been ordered to work through the shutdown without pay. Still others, including 400,000 civilian Pentagon workers and 1.4 million more active-duty military personnel, continue to draw a paycheck almost as if nothing were amiss at all.

At the Mine Safety and Health Administration, half of mine inspectors remain on the job. At the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the Labor Department office that oversees job safety everywhere else, 90 percent of the staff has been furloughed, leaving a skeleton crew to respond to emergencies. At the Railroad Retirement Board office here, employees working without pay are permitted to process new unemployment claims, but cannot touch applications for retirement or survivors’ benefits.

After the last major government shutdown ended, in 1995, Congress reimbursed furloughed workers for their lost pay. Although legislation to that effect has been filed in Congress, many furloughed workers say they have been told that this time, all bets are off.

Image[Lyn Kirshenbaum, a HUD policy specialist, has not had a raise in three years.]

Credit...Mark Makela for The New York Times

“I can’t afford to be without a paycheck — ever,” said Tamika Cole, 42, a claims processor who is working without pay at the regional offices here of the Social Security Administration. “I have a child that I pay tuition for, who goes to a Catholic school. I’ve got a mortgage to pay every month. The fact that I’m coming to work every day and don’t know if I am going to get paid — that’s a lot of pressure.”

Ms. Cole, the main wage earner in a family of five, is in federal parlance a GS-11 — that is, someone who in Philadelphia makes roughly $61,000 to $79,000 a year, depending on experience. Tuition alone, she said, costs the family $725 a month.

Ms. Kirshenbaum, a single parent to two adopted Guatemalan daughters and two cats, lives in a 13-by-30-foot row house near downtown Philadelphia.

Now, she said, her take-home pay has been eaten away by furloughs, inflation and rising health care costs to the point that her home-equity line and her credit cards are all but maxed out.

Such tales would seem to belie one popular notion, that of a bloated, overpaid and underworked federal bureaucracy badly in need of a round of layoffs. Academics and political research groups debate the accuracy of that stereotype.

Most government jobs do include generous benefits, and the rates at which workers leave, voluntarily or not, have traditionally been below those in the private sector.

But the executive-branch civilian work force had been more or less stable for more than 15 years, and generally smaller than in the decade before that. A study by the Society for Human Resource Management concluded that the voluntary turnover rate for federal jobs reached 17 percent in 2011, higher than in many other industries.

And while pay for senior civil servants can be generous, other salaries can be equally miserly. Wages can vary depending on the location, but in Philadelphia, jobs at salary level GS-2  — a post that typically goes to someone with a high school diploma and no experience — pay as little as $24,379 annually.

Image

Credit...Mark Makela for The New York Times
[]

On Tuesday, the first day of furloughs, a cross-section of the 186 National Park Service employees who were sent home here staged a picket outside shuttered Independence Hall, a mélange of tour guides, rangers and workers who maintain the dozens of historic buildings in the area. Dennis Fitzpatrick, the president of the American Federation of Government Employees local that represents the workers, said their average salary probably did not top $40,000.

The president of a second local representing Social Security Administration employees, Beverly Wilmer, estimated that an average furloughed employee there earned $45,000 to $50,000, slightly more than the average personal income for a full-time Philadelphia worker over age 25.

“We’re the working guys in this government,” said Mr. Fitzpatrick, who is an air-conditioning mechanic. “These guys, we aren’t fat cats.” He maintained that he and others could do the same work for more pay in the private sector — “there’s no parity,” he said — but that “we’re here because we love our jobs.”

Mr. Fitzpatrick was not the only furloughed worker who said that. More often than not, however, the declaration seemed that of a lover spurned by a public and self-serving politicians they believe are besotted with antigovernment language.

“We process disability claims,” said Ms. Wilmer, of the Social Security workers’ local. “We process retirement claims for ordinary people. We’re not the enemy. These people are coming to work for free because they have a job to do. They could have stayed home, but they didn’t.”

Judith Axler, 54, who works for the Department of Housing and Urban Development, described a depressing brew of inadequate public-housing funds, complaints about government programs and overstretched paychecks and concluded, “We’ve become the punching bag for the federal government.”

Ms. Kirshenbaum said it was depressing enough to have her work with the homeless and other public-assistance programs derided without losing a paycheck as well.

“It’s part of the whole idea that we’re not essential — that the world can function fine without government,” she said. She added: “It’s a kick in the face.”

question: Is Lyn Kirshenbaum literally "black and blue"?

answer: No, not literally black and blue. She feels beaten down because of the furlough.

question: What is the main topic of this article?

answer: The main article is about the government shutdown in 2013 causing government employees to be furloughed.

question: Why did the government shutdown occur?

answer: The shutdown occurred because of the dispute over federal spending [when the congress can't agree on a budget, the government runs out of money for operation].

question: What does furloughed mean?

answer: Furlough is a temporary layoff of work without pay.

question: Write a ~2 sentence summary.

answer: The main article is about the government shutdown in 2013 causing government employees to be furloughed. The shutdown occurred because of the dispute over federal spending [when the congress can't agree on a budget, the government runs out of money for operation].


text:
WASHINGTON — Thousands of U.S. troops to stop an “invasion” of migrants. Tent cities for asylum seekers. An end to the Constitution’s guarantee of birthright citizenship.

With his eyes squarely on next Tuesday’s elections, President Donald Trump is rushing out hardline immigration declarations, promises and actions as he tries to mobilize supporters to retain Republican control of Congress. His own campaign in 2016 concentrated on border fears, and that’s his final-week focus in the midterm fight.

“This has nothing to do with elections,” the president insists. But his timing is striking.

Trump says he will send more than 5,000 military troops to the Mexican border to help defend against caravans of Central American migrants who are on foot and still hundreds of miles away. Tent cities would not resolve the massive U.S. backlog of asylum seekers. And most legal scholars say it would take a new constitutional amendment to alter the current one granting citizenship to anyone born in America.

Still, Trump plunges ahead with daily alarms and proclamations about immigration in tweets, interviews and policy announcements in the days leading up to elections that Democrats hope will give them at least partial control of Congress.

Trump and many top aides have long seen the immigration issue as the most effective rallying cry for his base of supporters. The president had been expected to make an announcement about new actions at the border on Tuesday, but that was scrapped so he could travel instead to Pittsburgh, where 11 people were massacred in a synagogue during Sabbath services.

Between the shootings, the deadliest attack on Jews in U.S. history, and the mail bomb scare targeting Democrats and a media organization, the caravan of migrants slowly trudging north had faded from front pages and cable TV.

But with well-timed interviews on Fox and “Axios on HBO,” Trump revived some of his hardest-line immigration ideas:

-   An executive order to revoke the right to citizenship for babies born to non-U.S. citizens on American soil.
-   And the prolonged detention of anyone coming across the U.S.-Mexico border, including those seeking asylum, in “tent cities” erected “all over the place.”

The administration on Monday also announced plans to deploy 5,200 active duty troops — more than double the 2,000 who are in Syria fighting the Islamic State group — to the border to help stave off the caravans.

The main caravan, still in southern Mexico, was continuing to melt away — from the original 7,000 to about 4,000 — as a smaller group apparently hoped to join it.

READ MORE: What the data says about birthright citizenship

Trump insists his immigration moves have nothing to do with politics, even as he rails against the caravans at campaign rallies.

“I’ve been saying this long before the election. I’ve been saying this before I ever thought of running for office. We have to have strong borders,” Trump told Fox News host Laura Ingraham in an interview Monday.

Critics weren’t buying it.

“They’re playing all of us,” said David W. Leopold, an immigration attorney and counsel to the immigration advocacy group America’s Voice. “This is not about locking people up. This is not about birthright citizenship. This is about winning an election next week.”

Trump’s citizenship proposal would inevitably spark a long-shot legal battle over whether the president can alter the long-accepted understanding that the 14th Amendment grants citizenship to any child born on U.S. soil, regardless of his parents’ immigration status.

Omar Jadwat, director of the Immigrants’ Rights Project at the American Civil Liberties Union in New York, said the Constitution is very clear.

“If you are born in the United States, you’re a citizen,” he said. He called it “outrageous that the president can think he can override constitutional guarantees by issuing an executive order.

_A week before the midterms, President Trump is trying to keep immigration issues front and center. Nick Schifrin reports._

James Ho, a conservative Trump-appointed federal appeals court judge, wrote in 2006, before his appointment, that birthright citizenship “is protected no less for children of undocumented persons than for descendants of Mayflower passengers.”

Even House Speaker Paul Ryan, typically a supporter of Trump proposals, said on WVLK radio in Kentucky: “Well you obviously cannot do that. You cannot end birthright citizenship with an executive order.”

But Trump says his lawyers have assured him that the change could be made with “just with an executive order” — an argument he has been making since his early days as a candidate, when he dubbed birthright citizenship a “magnet for illegal immigration” and pledged to end it.

“We’re the only country in the world where a person comes in and has a baby, and the baby is essentially a citizen of the United States,” he said in an Axios interview excerpt released Tuesday.

Not so, according to a 2010 study from the Center for Immigration Studies, a group that supports immigration restrictions, which said at least 30 countries offer birthright citizenship.

Vice President Mike Pence said the administration was “looking at action that would reconsider birthright citizenship.”

“We all know what the 14th Amendment says. We all cherish the language of the 14th Amendment. But the Supreme Court of the United States has never ruled on whether or not — whether the language of the 14th Amendment, ‘subject to the jurisdiction thereof,’ applies specifically to the people who are in the country illegally,” he said at a Politico event.

The nonpartisan Migration Policy Institute estimates that more than 4 million U.S.-born children under the age of 18 have an unauthorized immigrant parent.

A person familiar with the internal White House debate said the topic of birthright citizenship has come up inside the West Wing at various times — and not without some detractors. However, White House lawyers expect to work with the Justice Department to develop a legal justification for the action. The person was not authorized to discuss the policy debate so spoke on condition of anonymity.

In Trump’s Monday interview with Fox, he said the U.S. also plans to build tent cities to house migrants seeking asylum, who would be detained until their cases were completed. Right now, some asylum seekers, particularly families, are being released as their cases progress because there isn’t enough detention space to house them.

“We’re going to put tents up all over the place,” Trump said. “They’re going to be very nice, and they’re going to wait, and if they don’t get asylum they get out.”

The country is facing a massive backlog of immigration cases — some 700,000 — and there are more and more families coming across the border from Central America — groups who cannot be simply returned over the border. But experts question the legality and practicality of what would amount to indefinite detention.

The options are just two of many possibilities currently under discussion, including asylum law changes and simply barring members of the migrant caravans from entering the country using the same mechanism as the president’s much-publicized travel ban for people from certain Muslim countries.

Administration officials say decisions are unlikely until after the midterm elections, in part because of the synagogue shooting and pipe-bomb scare.

But some supporters in Congress are rushing to cheer Trump on.

GOP Rep. Steve King of Iowa, who has introduced legislation to end birthright citizenship, said Trump was deftly seizing on an issue that was sure to help in the midterms.

“That ability to move on instinct without hesitation, that’s why he’s president,” King said.

_Associated Press writers Elliot Spagat in San Diego, Amy Taxin in Santa Ana, California, and Deb Riechmann, Lisa Mascaro, Zeke Miller, Mark Sherman and Eileen Putman in Washington contributed to this report._

question: Why were the troops being sent to the border?

answer: The troops were being sent to the borders to defend against caravans of Central American migrants.

question: What are Trump's immigration ideas?

answer:
- An executive order to revoke birthright citizenship.
- Prolonged detention of anyone coming across the U.S.-Mexico border, including those seeking asylum.

question: Do Trump's moves have anything to do with the election?

answer: Trump has denied this claim although many people believe his moves are only for the sake of winning the election.

question: Can birthright citizenship be amended?

answer: Birthright citizenship cannot be amended with an executive order.

question: Write a ~7 sentence summary.

answer:
Trump announces deploying 5,200 duty troops to the U.S.-Mexico border to stave off the caravans. The President's immigration actions hardline with the elections coming close. He also confirms that his actions have nothing to do with the upcoming elections, which is quite hard to believe for many.

One of the main ideas of Trump is to revoke the birthright citizenship of babies born to non-U.S. citizens on American soil. Trump says his lawyers assured him it could be done with "just an executive order." House Speaker Paul Ryan believes otherwise.

During an interview with Fox, Trump says they are planning to build tent cities to house migrants seeking asylum, who would be detained until their cases were complete.


text:
I know I had come across true love once, and I know it because the feeling still burns in my bones. I met him at the age of 4, his name was Elijah. Never in a million years would I have thought that I would see him fade into colorless dust, brushing away to coat the earth and never be found, leaving his family like a shipwreck in a never-ending tide. Elijah, oh how much I could have done for you, how much I could have done to save you. But in my seven year old shoes, I stood paralyzed as menacing arms gripped mine, with a scolding voice that replayed over and over in my head. One day, we were going to stare deep into each-others eyes, telling ourselves it was where we wanted to be for the rest of our lives. We were going to run in our adult shoes, playing tag, until our legs didn't work anymore. That was our true fate, not this. Nothing would have burnt us to the ground. But now I live with a demon always sitting on my shoulder. He likes to laugh at me for what I've done, reminding me of the horrors over again, just as soon as I try to move on. He binds me with chains of silence, he binds me with a closed mind. He draws the man who burnt my clothes, the man who burnt your life. Elijah, I could have saved you.
 Elijah... One day, I hope you will forgive me.

But do you remember our last day together, Elijah? The one where we walked home from school through fields of gold, spinning the earth beneath our feet? Do you remember the sun and how it melted the clouds beneath it, revealing the freckles on our faces? Our hands intertwined unconsciously, as our tiny hearts beat like racing drums. We ran until our laughter knocked us down, and stayed until the sky was coated with marmalade. If only we could have frozen the moment and never moved on. If only we could have both stayed in our seven year old bodies. If only I had never been given the opportunity to grow up alone.

 I wish our hands stayed intertwined the whole way through. I wish we closed our eyes, and imagined the sun was melting us into the fields of gold. I wish my little legs didn't learn to escape. I wish it was me instead of you, so that you could have run home to your family, letting them know everything was okay.
 And in this moment, I wish the fires that covered you could dry my tears.

I searched for you in the eyes of the sun, in the dancing wheat that feathered my eyes, in the butterfly wings that flapped my hair gently behind my ears. I searched for you in the cotton tails of the milk weeds, parting from their buds, to say hello as soon as they said goodbye, soon brushing through familiar cornstalks, to reveal your marble face. Oh Elijah, how I wait for the day your smile will bring the field back to life, but all I see are charcoal dusted, broken stalks, with a demon dancing on top of a mountain of ember lit ashes, acting as if nothing were wrong, as if this place were a sanctuary of good dreams, where kids like us could play all day and all night long and never be taken away.  Elijah, I can't look at those milk weeds anymore, because they always say hello, and I never got to say good-bye.

The heat of Summer always reminded me of the comfort of my mother, but now, it greets me like the trees of Winter. Somehow I still stay horrendously captivated in Summer's reign, climbing through Peter as you once did, with trembling soles that found it hard to grip his bark, hoping to keep balance long enough to pick a peach that matched the colors of the run down sky. Remember when you would take a big bite, back cradled against Peter's torso, trying to caress the crescent moon into the empty space? I guess the real question is, how could you ever forget it? You were my summer, Elijah, and now it's nothing but a bittersweet memory with an ending that left me with a dark, hollow core that can't be sealed with even the purest words of sympathy or remorse. … It's a nightmare that makes it hard to live. A nightmare that I can't seem to forget.

title: [Elijah]...Continued. Criticism welcomed.

question: What happened to Elijah?

answer: It is unclear but it seems there was a fire and he was killed in the fire. Though there is mention that he was never found.

question: Why does the girl think that she could have saved him?

answer: She witnessed the fire and she tried to run in and save him but she was held back.

question: Why has the narrator's summer turned to winter?

answer: Her sorrow about what happened in the Summer that Elijah died has left her sad and despondent.

question: Why does she wish that she had never been given an opportunity to grow up alone?

answer: Her life is empty without Elijah and she is filled with sadness and remorse.

question: Write a ~9 sentence summary.

answer:
The narrator met her true love at the age of four. His name was Elijah. Something terrible happened to Elijah when they were seven. She couldn’t save him. Menacing hands gripped her arms. Now a demon sits upon her shoulder and taunts her about the man that burnt her clothes and burnt Elijah’s life.

On their last day, they walked home from school through fields of gold. They laughed until they fell upon the grass and watched as the sun turned red. Now her life is filled with bitter memories and she wishes that she could have changed places with him.


text:
The waiting room is full now. 360 degrees, squalid smoke-colored walls. Fat rivulets of grease dripping down the walls, from the crusty ceiling to the floor. People cramped in a tiny room like slippery sardines. Scaly creatures breathing each other's air, greedily gulping it down; I want it all for me no you beast you can't have any get back in line!

A mass of heads, shoulders, knees and toes, but this isn't a little boy's birthday party. This isn't your daughter's stupid-song-of-the-day-time in kindergarten. This room is a single organism, a frenzy of limbs, an *orgy* of body parts. It's hard to distinguish an "individual" within the mass of flesh. Some faces stand out every now and then, only to be englobed by the collective. The hive-mind. The sheepish mass of sheep, docile and obedient sheep sheepishly following orders. Fingers wrapped around the rusty chain of command. The chain of blind obedience.

Some of them sheared their fluff, donated it to charity, sent it to some remote country in OuagaBongo, or maybe they made cozy bonfires with it, sat around it, playing an acoustic guitar while screaming beautiful songs. That made everything absolutely fine. They were against the system, they had cleansed their soul, and were ready for the prize. The final big prize sitting somewhere above this waiting room, on the higher floors, where the ever-so-close beams of light, blinding pillars descending from the heavens, were nowhere to be found. Oh, on the higher floors, rooms are *not* cramped.
The walls breathe.
The *rooms* breathe.
They inhale fresh clean air which only gold can buy, holding it in, passionately savoring it, like a sacred elixir that grants eternal life.
Then... they calmly exhale.
Breathing radioactive clouds into the scraper's skeleton, into the core of the steel frame supporting this decaying structure. This decadent world.

Stratospheres below, in the squalid, greasy room, the mass of flesh keeps on moving and morphing. The faces that stood out, they popped out like mushrooms in autumn, devouring the stagnant air, stealing it from other starving mouths. All of them, waiting. (Relatively) eternally waiting. Waiting for what? Waiting for something magical to happen. Waiting for Nora Helmer's "miracle" to happen. Waiting for a great plateau. The peak of their meagre existence. Once they reached the summit, their personal Mount Everest, with all the unholy crosses and sacred duties weighted on their shoulders, then they plummeted down the other side. With the blink of an eye, they simply plunged into a black abyss. *The* black abyss. The one and only! The one we *aaaaall* stumble into eventually. Maybe tomorrow, maybe in a month, or maybe in 10 years. In the end, we all turn grey, like old family pictures in an old family book. In the end, we all fade away. But not *them*.

They're here to stay. They're so far away, their fingers can touch the sky; they can grab the stars with their bare hands and extinguish them with their toxic breath.
They don't occupy the rooms, they *are* the rooms.
They're omniscient beings, their eyes open, blood-red cracks in the smoked walls. The devilish eyes pulse in the darkness.
If you listen, you can hear a soft whisper.
Many whispers.
Coming from every side.
Every corner.
Gentle murmurs fill up the room like little bugs, *tick ticking* across the room with their vast assortment of tiny prickly legs.
If you close your eyes, their secret buzzing starts crawling along your spine, lifting every little hair along the way.
If you're lucky, you can feel the whispers writhing under your skin.
Little bumps filled with unutterable secrets appear and disappear on your body.
The bugs cannot be deciphered, their whispers just linger in the room, floating in the damp air. With every pulse, the cracks in the wall seem to charge with energy. With every pulse, low tones make the walls vibrate. Dust particles are shaken off. A thick bass lets blood seep through the cracks in the wall, through the all-seeing eyes of this room. This *entity*.

The Big Big Brothers and Big Sisters of the monolithic structure. They're always watching. Through kilometers and kilometers of invisible cobwebs, they can see all. They can *feel* all.
They crawl around like sneaky tarantulas or mighty goliath bird-eaters. They find a nice spot, and then they simply wait.
And wait.
Waiting for the best moment to strike. To sink their poison-filled fangs into their prey. To devour. To consume. To feed on the sorrow of the weak, of the lesser beings. Of those who are (relatively) patiently waiting below. Faaaaar far below. In the catacombs of this *depravingly* gigantic structure.

title: The Waiting Room [Feedback Please, Thanks][Copyrighted Inc.]

question: Who is the "they," "the Big Brothers and Big Sisters of the monolithic structure?"

answer: Not clear, the narrator rambles in a convoluted way.

question: Where does the story take place?

answer: The waiting room of some byzantine, labyrinth of a place.

question: Who is the narrator talking to?

answer: The reader.

question: Write a ~1 sentence summary.

answer: What are some major events of the story?


text:
Wild Things
[]

If _megalodon_ were still alive, you would know about it from a source more reliable than the Discovery Channel.
Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images

_Carcharocles megalodon_ sharks were amazing animals. They were capable of growing up to 50 feet long and are commonly regarded as the largest predatory sharks that ever lived. Savvy readers will notice I used the past tense to describe _megalodon_, because there is absolutely no doubt whatsoever that these sharks are extinct and have been for millions of years. If a 50-foot-long predator that fed on surface animals and lived in coastal environments were still around, someone would have found evidence of this by now.

You wouldn’t know that _megalodon_ is extinct from watching the Discovery Channel’s “Shark Week” documentaries, though. In 2013, Shark Week aired _Megalodon: The Monster Shark Lives_, the latest in a series of totally made-up nonsense from Discovery Channel and Animal Planet, also known as “the rotting carcass of science on TV.”

_The Monster Shark Lives_ featured actors playing scientists, photoshopped pictures, and fake digital video. At no point in the documentary did it mention that it was fictional, causing many viewers to believe that these animals are still alive—and Discovery even bragged that 73 percent of viewers now thought that _megalodon_ isn’t really extinct. Conservation activists have been upset at Shark Week’s focus on fear-mongering “shark attack” specials rather than the conservation of a group of animals of which 25 percent are threatened with extinction. But this film’s blatantly lying to viewers was the last straw for many. It was strongly condemned by many scientists, including myself.

Misinformation on this large a scale matters. Shark Week documentaries are watched by tens of millions of people, and they generate almost twice as much Twitter conversation as the infamous “Red Wedding” episode of _Game of Thrones_. As a marine biologist interested in outreach, I speak to hundreds of high school students each year, even earning an award as “Florida’s marine science educator of the year.” Not once since _The Monster Shark Lives_ aired have I spoken to a group of children and _not_ been asked about _megalodon_.

After all the controversy and negative publicity the Discovery Channel received for its dishonesty last year, I was shocked and angered to see that Shark Week 2014 will feature _Megalodon: The New Evidence_, airing tonight after a repeat of the original _Megalodon_ film. The message people at the Discovery Channel are sending is that “they don’t care what their audience thinks, they don’t care about educating their viewers, and they don’t care about accuracy,” says marine biology grad student and blogger Christie Wilcox. “All they care about is ratings, and they’ll deceive if not outright lie to their audience to get them.”

The information in the press release about this documentary reveals the Discovery Channel’s relationship with the truth:

  In April 2013, a fishing vessel off the coast of South Africa was attacked, killing all on board. A TV crew documented marine biologist Collin Drake as he worked to determine the predator responsible. _Megalodon: The New Evidence_ presents SHARK WEEK viewers with shocking new evidence and interview footage.

The supposed fishing vessel incident did not occur; it was entirely made up for the purpose of storytelling. Collin Drake is not a marine biologist; he is a fictional character played by an actor. I haven’t yet seen the 2014 version, but if it’s anything like the last time, the “shocking new evidence” will be completely and totally fake. Most of the rest of Shark Week 2014’s programming also appears troubling: Titles such as _Shark of Darkness_, _Zombie Sharks_, and _Lair of the Mega Shark_ are unlikely to contain a great deal of science and conservation content.

Shark Week runs through this weekend. If you want to learn about some of the most amazing and misunderstood animals in the world, read a book instead.

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

question: What is Shark Week?

answer: It can be inferred that it is an event that airs on the Discovery Channel, but it is not explicitly defined.

question: Descibe the carcharocles megalodon.

answer: They were capable of growing up to 50 feet long, commonly regarded as the largest predatory sharks to ever live.

question: What misinformation is peddled during Shark Week?

answer: They aired a documentary that used actors, photoshopped images, and faked video to make it seem like megalodons are still alive without having any disclaimer that the film was fictional.

question: Explain the controversy concerning the Discovery Channel.

answer: There was backlash to the airing of Megalodon: The Monster Shark Lives, a fictional documentary that suggested megalodons weren't extinct. They were seen as being dishonest, since they did not mention that the film was fictional.

question: Who is the author of this article?

answer: That information can't be found.

question: What advice does the author give?

answer: They suggest reading a book instead of watching Shark Week for those interested in learning about sharks.

question: Write a ~4 sentence summary.

answer: The author of the article is critical about Discovery Channel's Shark Week, in particular about a documentary they aired in 2013 concerning megalodons. The Monster Shark Lives documentary featured actors, photoshopped images, and fake footage, misleading viewers to believe that the megalodon wasn't extinct and failing to include any sort of disclaimer. Despite the backlash Discovery Channel received, they were set to air a follow-up entitled Megalodon: The New Evidence the following year. The author suggests reading a book rather than tuning in to Shark Week for those interested in learning about sharks.


text:
Difficult to say what anybody in Cobham thought of the man advancing towards the cemetary gates. A slight tremor to his his chest and an almost beaten cadence, a solitary procession where he bared the roles of the mournful. A keen observer, a much more practiced observer, might have recognized those steps, that striking appearance, that leathery coat worn smooth with age. Trodding forward treading his own shadow dreading that feeling of familiarity, nostalgia aged and fermented in oak barrels, no one took him for anything out of the ordinary. He was more or less ignored.

The site held some historic value. Until recently it had become somewhat decrepit, a derelict spot where teenagers would sneak off to and tempt the spirits of a bygone time. The village council recognized the importance of keeping up appearances and the head of that council claimed it as their collective heritage. A simple sign ‘here among others lie the founders of Cobham’ propped up with two wooden posts.

As the man drew past the gate he eyed a familiar plot belonging to a ‘Catsy Whitehouse, 1920-1947 beloved daughter’. He paused for a moment and sat on the cold grass still damp from the previous mornings rains. In his pocket he clutched a letter, his respects drawn out some sixty years late.

title: Catsy Ghosts

question: What decade does the story take place in?

answer: Most likely in the 2000s.

question: Why does the man visit the cemetary?

answer: To pay his respects to the late Catsy Whitehouse.

question: What is the man's relation to Catsy Whitehouse?

answer: It is unclear, but it is possible he is her father.


text:
I never could get my hyper drive to put me just where I wanted to be. It wasn't too bad, mind you. Relative to the dozen-lightyear jumps I usually made, the 10^-10% discrepancy only ever added up to a few hundred KM off target. I usually just made sure to punch in coordinates far enough outside of any major gravity well, and never had much of a problem. In fact sometimes I'd even make a game out of it. Calculate the center point between a planet and it's moon, or a sun an it's planet (relative to mass), and guess which side of the first Lagrangian I'd end up on.

This time, though, the coin landed on its edge. Initial readings put me smack dab on the fulcrum, split even relative to the two competing gravity pulls of a dirty green gas giant and it's watery blue moon. While I wondered if leaning to the side of the cockpit would pull me to one side or another, the radio came to life ripping my out of my daydream.

"Quit farting around up there and burn into orbit, you're not getting paid to pick your nose," came a smokey, but feminine voice.

Charming.

"Roger. Punching full burn, initiating orbit," I replied, then thought a beat about the voice on the line, "Hey, who's this? Ain't Eric supposed to be running dispatch tonight?"

"Eric called out. This is Frex, I'm new," was the kurt answer, with the audible annoyance and scruffy accent that painted a full picture of the kind of lady that works for an interplanetary cargo company in the outer colonies.

I punched in a few keystrokes, then hit the button to initiate orbit. The ship calculated the thrust and direction needed for a near perfect orbit into a landing -- a problem that would have made a 21st century high school calc student stay up half the night -- in the time it took for the button to un-depress.

I smiled for a second in anticipation, and hit the intercom button.

"Hey Frex, do you like tacos?" I asked into the radio.

"What??" the voice half yelled, noticeably caught off guard.

Butterflies! I rolled with it...

"The ship's showin' 8 minutes 'til docking. What do you say you meet me then, and I'll show you this taco place I know in Lambda sector?" I messaged back, with a grin in my voice.

I quickly heard the distinctive click of the radio connection cutting off. I sat back with a laugh as the outer hull started glowing with reentry heat.

She didn't say no!

title: [SciFi] How I Met Frex.

question: Who is Frex?

answer: Frex is a woman running dispatch for an interplanetary cargo company

question: Where is the narrator?

answer: In the cockpit of a ship which is landing

question: What time period does this story take place in?

answer: Sometime after the 21st century

question: What is the narrator's job?

answer: The narrator pilots a ship, likely for an interplanetary cargo company

question: Write a ~4 sentence summary.

answer: The narrator's ship arrives between a gas giant and its watery blue moon. Frex, the woman running dispatch, instructs the narrator to enter orbit and land. The narrator is surprised Eric is not on duty, but he asks Frex to meet him for tacos when he lands. Frex cuts off her radio, but the narrator is excited that she didn't say no.


text:
_THE SIX O'CLOCK SHOW_ is an Irish evening-time television show on Virgin Media One (formerly known as “TV3”). It is a live show, and provides chat, live music, cooking, entertainment, showbiz and technology updates. It replaced _The 7 O'Clock Show_ as _Emmerdale_ and _Coronation Street_ returned to TV3.[1] [2]

Background

_The Six O'Clock Show_ first began as an early afternoon show live on TV3 then called _Late Lunch Live_. As part of the revamp of TV3's daytime schedule due to falling audience figures an extended version of _Ireland AM_ and _Late Lunch Live_ replaced _The Morning Show_.[3] _Late Lunch Live_ premiered on 30 September 2013, airing every Monday to Friday from 14:00.[4] By 2014 the show was moved to a new timeslot of 15:30 to 16:30. The programme featured in-studio guests, live performances, updates on showbiz, TV, technology, events around the country and general chat with its daily guests.

On 30 January 2015 the TV3 Group confirmed _Late Lunch Live_ would be replaced with _The Seven O'Clock Show_, which premiered on 16 February 2015.[5] Both presenters of _Late Lunch Live_ joined the new show.

With the refresh and rebrand to _The Seven O' Clock Show_, Lucy Kennedy and Martin King present the show four days a week with a rotation of presenters on Friday's edition. This includes Ray Foley and Mairead Farrell, or Lousie Duffy and Anton Savage.

Due to the return of Emmerdale and Coronation Street, the show was renamed _The 6 O'Clock Show_ and was pushed back to 18:00. Muireann O'Connell and Martin King are the main hosts.[6]

The Friday evening edition was replaced by Xposé on 8 March 2019, following Xpose's cancellation the show returned to its usually five nights a week from October 2019.

Presenters

-   Muireann O'Connell (Monday to Friday)
-   Martin King (Monday to Thursday)
-   Ray Foley (Friday/cover)
-   Emma Dabiri (cover)
-   Yvonne Connolly (cover)
-   Lucy Kennedy (formally Monday to Thursday)
-   Mairead Farrell (formerly on Friday's edition)
-   Louise Duffy (formerly on Friday's edition)
-   Anton Savage (formerly on Friday's edition)
-   Deirdre O'Kane (During Kennedy's Maternity Leave)
-   Samantha Mumba (During Kennedy's Maternity Leave)

Special contributors

-   Conor Pope - Budgeting and Consumer Affairs
-   David Atkinson - Online Reporter
-   Eoin Murphy - Showbiz
-   Anna Geary - Sport
-   Eoghan Doherty - Regional Reporter
-   Éanna Ní Lamhna - Nature
-   Ciara King - Events Reporter
-   Andy O’Donoghue - Tech Guru
-   Derry Clarke - Chef
-   Adrian Martin - Chef
-   Kevin Dundon - Chef
-   Stephen & David Flynn (The Happy Pear) - Chef
-   Yvonne Connolly - Chef
-   Russell Alford & Patrick Hanlon (GastroGays) - Chef
-   Aisling Larkin - Chef
-   Darina Coffey - Chef
-   Kwanghi Chan - Chef
-   Graham Herterich (The Cupcake Bloke) - Chef
-   Gary O’Hanlon - Chef
-   Gareth Mullins - Chef

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

title: The 6 O'Clock Show

question: What network was the The 6 O'Clock Show shown on?

answer: Virgin Media One.

question: What was Virgin Media One formerly known as?

answer: TV3.

question: What country did The 6 O'Clock Show air in?

answer: Ireland.

question: What was The 6 O'Clock Show originally known as?

answer: Late Lunch Live.

question: Write a ~1 sentence summary.

answer: This article is about an Irish evening-time television program for Virgin Media One called The 6 O'Clock Show.


text:
“LIDO SHUFFLE” is a song written by Boz Scaggs and David Paich and introduced on the 1976 Boz Scaggs album, _Silk Degrees_. It was subsequently released as a single in 1977.

Scaggs recalled: "“Lido Shuffle” was a song that I'd been banging around. I...took the idea of the shuffle [from] a song that Fats Domino did called “The Fat Man” that had a kind of driving shuffle beat that I used to play on the piano, and I just started kind of singing along with it. Then I showed it to Paich and he helped me fill it out. It ended up being “Lido Shuffle”."[1]

Song Structure

“Lido Shuffle”, written in the key of G major (as many of Scaggs' other memorable songs), uses the often used I-IV-V chord progression that is foundation of blues, pop, and rock. It starts off with an intro, followed by the first verse, the chorus, second verse, chorus again, a instrumental bridge, and chorus.

Members of the backup band on “Lido Shuffle” include David Paich, Jeff Porcaro and David Hungate who later formed Toto.[2]

Song Performance

Released as the album's fourth single, “Lido Shuffle” reached number 11 in the US and 13 on the UK Singles Chart.[3] In Australia the track spent three weeks at number 2 as a double A-side hit with “What Can I Say”.

Personnel

-   Boz Scaggs – lead vocals, guitar
-   Fred Tackett – guitar
-   Louis Shelton – guitar
-   David Hungate – bass
-   Jeff Porcaro — drums
-   David Paich — Hammond organ, piano, Minimoog, Moog synthesizer
-   Vincent DeRosa – horns
-   Jim Horn – horns
-   Paul Hubinon – horns
-   Dick Hyde – horns
-   Plas Johnson – horns
-   Tom Scott – horns
-   Bud Shank – horns

Chart performance

Weekly charts

+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Chart (1977)                      | Peak                              |
|                                   | position                          |
+:==================================+:==================================+
| Australia (Kent Music Report)[4]  | 2                                 |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Canada[5]                         | 5                                 |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| New Zealand (RIANZ)[6]            | 18                                |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| UK[7]                             | 13                                |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| US _Billboard_ Hot 100[8]         | 11                                |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| US _Cash Box_ Top 100[9]          | 6                                 |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+

Year-end charts

  Chart (1977)                 Rank
  ---------------------------- ------
  Australia                    12
  Canada[10]                   66
  US _Billboard_ Hot 100[11]   74
  US _Cash Box_ [12]           78

[1]

[2]

[3] Boz Scaggs Chart History

[4]

[5]

[6] Flavour of New Zealand, 19 June 1977

[7]

[8] _Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955-1990_ -

[9] _Cash Box_ magazine.

[10]

[11]

[12]

title: Lido Shuffle

question: When was "Lido Shuffle" released?

answer: It was on the 1976 Boz Scaggs album "Silk Degrees."

question: Who wrote the song?

answer: Boz Scaggs and David Paich wrote the song.

question: What key is the song in?

answer: The song is in the key of G major.

question: How did the song perform on the charts?

answer: The song reached number 11 on the US singles chart, and 13 on the UK singles chart. In Australia, the track spent three week in the number two position.

question: Write a ~1 sentence summary.

answer: "Lido Shuffle" is a song written by Boz Scaggs and David Paich that appeared on Boz Scaggs' 1976 album, "Silk Degrees".


text:
The seventh season of the television comedy _Portlandia_ premiered on IFC in the United States on January 5 and concluded on March 9, 2017 with a total of 10 episodes. The series stars Fred Armisen and Carrie Brownstein.

Cast

Main cast

-   Fred Armisen
-   Carrie Brownstein

Special guest cast

-   Kyle MacLachlan as Mr. Mayor

Guest stars

Production

IFC renewed _Portlandia_ for a sixth and seventh season on February 10, 2015.[1][2] The series was originally renewed until 2017 with this season intended to be the last, but Armisen and Brownstein hinted about the possibility of doing Season 8.[3] Season 8 would eventually be announced as the last in January 2017.[4]

Episodes

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

title: Portlandia (season 7)

question: How many episodes are there in the 7th season of Portlandia?

answer: There are 10 episodes.

question: How many actors are in the 7th season of Portlandia?

answer: According to this article, there are 2 main cast members and 1 special guest cast member.

question: Was the series renewed for an eighth season?

answer: Yes, it was eventually announced.

question: What genre is Portlandia?

answer: It is a television comedy.

question: Write a ~1 sentence summary.

answer: Portlandia is a television comedy with 10 episodes in its 7th season and renewed for an eighth.


text:
AWZAAN (foaled 8 February 2007) is a British Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. He showed his best form as a two-year-old in 2009 when he was unbeaten in four races including the Mill Reef Stakes and the Middle Park Stakes. He raced for two more seasons but never won again. In 2012 he was retired from racing to become a breeding stallion in Uruguay.

Background

Awzaan was a brown horse with no white markings[1] bred in England by his owner Hamdan Al Maktoums Shadwell Estate. He was sent into training with Mark Johnston at his stable at Middleham in North Yorkshire.

He was from the ninth crop of foals sired by the Cartier Champion Two-year-old Colt Alhaarth, whose other progeny have included Mourayan (Sydney Cup), Phoenix Reach and Haafhd.[2] Awzaan's dam Nufoos was a successful racemare in the Shadwell colours, winning three races including the 2005 edition of the Listed Eternal Stakes at Warwick Racecourse.[3] Apart from Awzaan she also produced the Sandringham Handicap winner Muteela. She was descended from the British broodmare Pelting (foaled 1958) who was the female-line ancestor of several other major winners including Moon Ballad, Bassenthwaite, Telescope, Braashee (Prix Royal-Oak) and Central Park (Derby Italiano, runner-up in the Melbourne Cup).[4]

Racing career

2009: two-year-old season

Awzaan made his racecourse debut in a six furlong maiden race at Hamilton Racecourse on 17 June and started at odds of 11/4 in a six -runner field. Ridden by Greg Fairley he took the lead soon after the start and kept on well to win by a length from the favourite Paradise Spectre.[5] Richard Hills then took over the ride and partnered Awzaan in all but two of his subsequent races. At Newmarket Racecourse on 9 July the colt started at odds of 9/1 in a field of ten runners for a minor race over six furlongs. After being restrained by Hills in the early stages he took the lead a furlong out and drew away in the closing stages to win by five lengths from the Clive Brittain-trained Amary.[6]

After a break of over two months Awzaan was stepped up in class to contest the Group Two Mill Reef Stakes over six furlongs at Newbury Racecourse on 19 September. He was made the 11/4 second favourite behind Radiohead, a colt who had won the Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot before finishing third against older sprinters in the Nunthorpe Stakes. The best of the other five runners appeared to be Stargaze (third in the Richmond Stakes) and the undefeated Quarrel. Awzaan raced at the rear of the field as Quarrel set the pace, before making progress approaching the last quarter mile. He went to the front a furlong out and won by one and a quarter lengths from the Richard Hannon, Sr-trained Angel's Pursuit despite hanging to the left in the closing stages.[7] After the race Richard Hills said “He really is a lovely horse to ride and has a lovely turn of foot... He's quite a mature horse”.[8] Hamdan Al Maktoum's racing manages Angus Gold said “Sheikh Hamdan wanted him to have a break after Newmarket and the only worry was how much weight he had put on. But we're thrilled with that and I should think he'll go for the Middle Park now.”[9]

On 2 October Awzaan, as Gold had predicted, was moved up to Group One level for the Middle Park Stakes over six furlongs on good to firm ground. The Godolphin colt Poet's Voice (winner of the Champagne Stakes) started favourite ahead of the John Gosden-trained Showcasing (Gimcrack Stakes) with Awzaan third in the betting on 4/1. The only other runners were Radiohead and the unbeaten Irish challenger Arctic (Round Tower Stakes). Hills settled the colt in a close fourth place as Poet's Voice set the pace from Showcasing and Arctic. Awzaan took the lead approaching the final furlong despite again hanging left and held off the fast-finishing Radiohead by three-quarters of a length with Showcasing a neck away in third.[10] Hills, who received a one-day ban for “careless riding” from the racecourse stewards commented “He tended to go slightly left at the end, but it didn't really matter. His ears were pricked and he was enjoying himself”.[11] Bookmakers responded to the race by cutting Awzaan's odds for the following year's 2000 Guineas to as low as 8/1.[12]

2010: three-year-old season

Awzaan made his first appearance of 2010 in the classic 2000 Guineas over the Rowley Mile at Newmarket on 1 May and started 8/1 third favourite in a nineteen-runner field. After racing in mid-division he began to struggle three furlongs out and faded to finish in fifteenth place behind Makfi. Mark Johnston was at a loss to explain the colt's performance, saying “I haven't got a clue why he ran so poorly. It is too bad to be true.”[13]

After a five-month break, Awzaan returned in the Listed Superior Mile at Haydock Park on 4 September and finished third of the eight runners behind the four-year-old Cityscape. Two weeks later he was again matched against older opposition in the Dubai Duty Free Cup over seven furlongs at Newbury and produced his best effort of the season. After racing towards the rear of the fourteen-runner field in the early running he stayed on well in second half of the race and finished third, beaten a neck and a short head by Delegator and Sir Gerry.[14] On his final appearance of the year in the Joel Stakes in October he appeared to be travelling well until the final quarter mile but then dropped away abruptly and finished tailed off last of the nine runners behind Cityscape.

2011: four-year-old season

Awzaan remained in training as a four-year-old but failed to recover his best form. He finished third in a minor weight-for-age race over seven furlongs at York Racecourse on 21 May and then ran sixth in the Diomed Stakes at Epsom two weeks later. Later in June he finished fifth to Libranno in Criterion Stakes at Newmarket. On his final appearance he was dropped back in class for the Listed City Plate at Chester on 9 July and finished ninth of the eleven runners behind Majestic Myles.[15]

Assessment

In the 2009 European Thoroughbred Rankings, Awzaan was given a rating of 117, making him the eighth-best juvenile of the year, seven pounds behind the top-rated St Nicholas Abbey.[16]

Stud record

In January 2012 it was announced that Awzaan had been retired from racing and would begin his career as a breeding stallion at the Haras Cuatro Piedras in Progreso, Uruguay[17] where he was later joined by Invasor.[18]

Pedigree

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

[11]

[12]

[13]

[14]

[15]

[16]

[17]

[18]

title: Awzaan

question: Who is Awzaan?

answer: A British thoroughbred racehorse.

question: When was he at his peak?

answer: 2009 as a two year old when he was unbeaten in four races

question: How many seasons did he race?

answer: Three

question: How many seasons was he a winner?

answer: One

question: Write a ~4 sentence summary.

answer: Awzaan is a thoroughbred brown racehorse with no white markings bred in England. He was at his peak as a two year old when he was unbeaten in four races including the Mill Reef Stakes and Middle Park Stakes. He raced two more seasons but never won again. He was retired from racing to become a breeding stallion in Uruguay.


text:
Leaving

Florin packs her clothes into a bag. Her other things were already in boxes at the bottom of the closet, everyday asking her when she would move them to her trunk and find them a new home again.

Gavin lay there on the bed. He didn’t help her pack. He didn’t push her to stay. His strength and his weakness, he let her do what she wanted.

Neither of them shed a tear.

Part of her wished he would get mad and yell at her, force her to stay.

“I’m sorry, I’m not in love.” Her voice was smooth, it didn’t choke up, she didn’t lie.

title: Leaving (100 Words)

question: What is Gavin's mood?

answer: He seems indifferent.

question: What is Florin doing?

answer: She is gathering her things to move out of Gavin's home.

question: How is Florin feeling?

answer: She seems indifferent.

question: Why did Gavin and Florin breakup?

answer: It could be due to each other's indifference towards each other, but it's not really clear.

question: Write a ~3 sentence summary.

answer: Florin is moving out of Gavin's home. Despite what would usually be an emotional experience, both parties seem indifferent. Before she leaves, Florin calmly apologizes for not being in love.


text:
MARGARET SMITH (born 18 February 1961) is a Scottish Liberal Democrat politician. She is the former Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for the Edinburgh West constituency, a seat she held from 1999 Scottish Parliament election until 2011 Scottish Parliament election. She was the Scottish Liberal Democrats Spokesperson for Education. She was the first openly lesbian MSP.[1]

At the 2011 election, she lost her seat to the Scottish National Party's Colin Keir who won with a majority of 2,689.[2] As the Liberal Democrats failed to win any seats on the Lothian regional list, Smith was not returned as an MSP. Her constituency seat was however won back in 2016 by the Liberal Democrats' Alex Cole-Hamilton.[3]

[1] HighBeam

[2] BBC News Election Result for Edinburgh Western

[3]

title: Margaret Smith (Scottish politician)

question: What is unique about Margaret Smith's entry into politics?

answer: She was the first openly lesbian MSP.

question: How was her constituency seat resumed in 2016?

answer: Another Liberal Democrat, Alex Cole-Hamilton, won it.

question: How many years did she hold her constituency seat before she had to step down?

answer: 12 years.


text:
If our present scientific achievements pale in comparison to the grand gestures of putting a man on the moon and building nuclear weapons, it may be that our capacity to tell imaginative narratives is suffering. In other words, better science fiction may be needed to achieve more impressive real world results. At the University of Arizona, a new department has been built to tackle this very issue.

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

Called the Center for Science and Imagination, partnerships between the university and companies like IBM and the World Bank aim to build visionary stories that could encourage scientists and engineers to think bigger. The idea is not without historical precedent:

  "In 1945 Arthur C. Clarke published the idea of a geosynchronous communications satellite, 20 years before the first one was launched. In 1982, William Gibson envisioned a world dominated by a computer network, which he named 'cyberspace.'"

Of course achieving scientific breakthroughs means taking big risks, and taking risks means failing from time to time, and failing can be expensive--very expensive. In his Big Think interview, Neil deGrasse Tyson discusses how future breakthroughs may come about:

Read more at Pacific Standard

Photo credit: Shutterstock

question: What is the main issue being presented in this article?

answer: The main issue being presented in this article is how there needs to be better science fiction to achieve more impressive real world results.

question: What are some obstacles to overcome in achieving scientific breakthroughs?

answer: Some obstacles to overcome achieving scientific breakthroughs are taking big risks and preparing for expensive financial risks as well.


text:
CHAPMAN JOHNSON (March 12, 1777 – July 12, 1849) was a nineteenth-century American politician from Virginia.

Early life

Johnson was born in Louisa County. He earned a Bachelor of Arts from the College of William and Mary in 1802.[1]

Career

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

As an adult, Johnson lived in Staunton, Augusta County, Virginia. He was elected Mayor of Staunton in 1808, and then served in the Virginia state Senate beginning in 1811 through 1831 from a district made up of Augusta, Rockbridge and Pendleton Counties.[2]

In the War of 1812, Johnson was the elected captain of a volunteer company and was appointed aide to General James Breckinridge.[3] He was governor of the University of Virginia from 1819-1845, and rector 1836-1845.[4]

Johnson was elected as a delegate to the Virginia Constitutional Convention of 1829-1830. There he was elected by the Convention to serve on the Legislative Committee. He was one of four delegates elected from the senatorial district made up his home district.[5]

During the debates, he was a floor leader for the White Basis Party in the Convention, seeking reapportionment of the state legislature to represent citizens only, without weighting the legislature by counting slaves held as property. The existing regime made the eastern slave-holding counties a permanent majority in the General Assembly opposing direct election of the Governor and internal improvements to connect the western and eastern regions of the state.[6]

Death

Chapman Johnson died July 12, 1849 at Richmond, Virginia.[7]

political graveyard

[1] Pulliam 1901, p. 77

[2] Pulliam 1901, p. 70, 77

[3] Pulliam 1901, p. 77

[4] Swem Library Index, “Chapman Johnson”

[5] Pulliam 1901, p. 68, 70

[6] Pulliam 1901, p.78

[7] Pulliam 1901, p. 78

title: Chapman Johnson

question: When was Johnson born?

answer: March 12, 1777

question: Where did Johnson get his Bachelor of Arts from?

answer: The College of William and Mary

question: What was the first political office Johnson held?

answer: Mayor of Staunton

question: What university was Johnson the governor of?

answer: The University of Virginia

question: Write a ~3 sentence summary.

answer: Chapman Johnson was a politician from Virginia. He was born in 1777, received his bachelor's degree from the College of William and Mary, served in the Virginia state Senate, and was a delegate to the Virginia Constitutional Convention of 1829-1830. He died in 1849.


text:
NAILSEA COURT in Nailsea, Somerset, England, is an English manor house dating from the 15th century. Pevsner describes the house as “historically highly instructive and interesting” and it is a Grade I listed building.[1]

In 1574 the house was owned by George Perceval, the father of Richard Percivale who was born in the house and later deciphered Spanish documents for Queen Elizabeth about the Spanish Armada. Later owners in the 16th and 17th centuries included the local member of parliament Richard Cole and Nathaniel Wade who was condemned to death for his part in the Monmouth Rebellion. After 1795 a series of owners, who never lived in the house, leased it for use as a farmhouse and it fell into disrepair. In 1906 it was bought by Charles Edward Evans who undertook a major restoration project including bringing in materials from surrounding Tudor manors. After World War II it was converted into flats and in the 1990s into five private dwellings.

The building has been changed and expanded over the centuries. It now consists of a main 3 storey block with two wings. The interior includes fine wooden panelling and plaster ceilings. Some of the original fireplaces survive and many of the rooms include decorative stained glass. It is surrounded by landscaped grounds including a sunken garden and a knot garden. There is a 17th-century barn adjacent to the house.

History

[Richard Percivale] The exact date of construction is not known, but is believed to have started in the 15th century and was definitely before 1574, when the initials of the owner George Perceval, the father of Richard Percivale, were added to the chimney piece in the library.[2] One of his descendants Richard Percivale (or Perceval) contributed to the English response to the plans for invasion by the Spanish Armada by deciphering Spanish documents for Queen Elizabeth.[3] Perceval sold the estate to the Bristol merchant and member of parliament Richard Cole in 1582 and it was passed down to his descendants.[4]

In 1693, the house was purchased by Nathaniel Wade and around this time the roof was raised and a floor added into the original hall house.[5] In 1685, during the Monmouth Rebellion Wade supported James Scott, 1st Duke of Monmouth. After the defeat of the rebels at the Battle of Sedgemoor Wade was captured. Judge Jefferys condemned him to death at Taunton King James, interviewed him and granted a pardon after which Wade returned home to Nailsea. On Wade's death in 1718 the house was bought by a London Barrister Christopher Appleby for £2,000. It was then sold to the Dowager Lady Coleraine and passed to her son-in-law a Dr Rogers. On the death of his wife the house became the property of her son in law Sir Robert Knight. From 1795 it had various owners including: Henry Cam Seymour, John Hugh Smyth Pigott in 1834, Reginald Rodbard in 1846, Thomas Todd Walters in 1865 and Henry John Mirehouse in 1874. However none of them lived in the house and the building was used as a farmhouse and fell into disrepair.[6]

Charles Edward Evans purchased Nailsea Court in 1906. He then started a restoration programme which took seven years.[7] He employed Arthur James Stratton, an expert on Tudor architecture to reconstruct the west wing.[8] The restoration included the use of materials from Over Langford Manor.[9] The panelling was installed in his new withdrawing room. Consequently, this room was called the Langford Parlour but is now known as the Langford Room. The Latch porch from Langford was at Nailsea Court for nearly twenty years,[10] before being returned by Charles Evans to Upper Langford in 1923.[11] The rebuilding included the erection of a tower. The first version looked similar to a lighthouse and was changed to one of Tudor appearance which was incorporated into the south wing.[12] During World War I, in an effort to conserve coal, brick insets were built into the fireplaces to reduce their size.[13]

The Whitefield family bought the house after Evans death in 1944. They converted part of it into flats. The next sale was to a Mr McGrath in the 1970s. A private development company purchased the house and grounds in the 1990s, after which it was converted into five private homes.[14]

Architecture

The building consists of a main three storey block with two wings with gabled roofs in a _Z_-plan. The porch has a 4-centred arched door opening and a frieze with Greek fret carving.[15] The construction of the building encompasses four phases; the fifteenth century, the Elizabethan era, the seventeenth century and a restoration by Arthur Stratton in the early twentieth century.

The interior of the building has been changed many times since its construction. The decorative features include several brought in from other buildings. Panelling was brought from Judge Jeffreys' house at No 18, Fore Street, Taunton. An over-mantel was imported from Field Marshal Sir Lintorn Simmons' house Over Langford Manor. In addition sections of wooden panelling were brought from Over Langford Manor. The result of these additions lead to the room being called The Langford Room.[16] a fine plaster ceiling and carved frieze were brought to Nailsea Court from Ashley Manor in Bristol. The dining room door, which dates from around 1590, is also known as the “Nailsea door”. It is decorated with a large arcaded and elaborately carved upper panel. In the hall there is a framed ceiling, this is formed into six bays each of which has chamfered and stopped beams. There is also a stone fireplace in the hall.[17]

There is a variety of stained glass within the building including coats of arms, a sundial and depictions of various birds. A window to the west of main range has medieval stained glass including a picture of a swan ringing a bell, as at the Bishop's Palace, Wells,[18] with others including a peacock, a heron, an owl, a crane and a bird with a bell attached to one leg.[19]

Gardens

The House is surrounded by of gardens and approached by a tree-lined drive of mature sweet chestnut, walnut and cherry trees. There is a walled sunken garden and kitchen garden has raised vegetable beds, a glass-house and box knot garden. Many of the walls, gatepiers and the balustrade are from the 16th century but have been revised in the subsequent centuries.[20] The old tennis court has been converted to a formal lawn with herbaceous borders. There is also a stone summerhouse which is early Jacobean.[21]

A remodelled 17th century barn stands about east of the house.[22]

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10] Tipping, H. Avray (1912). Country Homes – Gardens Old & New. In: _Country Life_, XXXII (833), London, IPC Media, pp. 890–898.

[11] Knight, Frances A. (1971). _The Heart of Mendip_. 1st Ed. Bristol: Charford House Press, pp. 195–198.

[12]

[13]

[14]

[15]

[16] Langford Historical Society book “More Historic Houses of Langford” 2009.

[17]

[18]

[19]

[20]

[21]

[22]

title: Nailsea Court

question: What sort of structure is Nailsea Court?

answer: A manor house.

question: Where is it located?

answer: England.

question: When was its construction believed to have started?

answer: The 15th century.

question: How many wings does the house have at present?

answer: Two.

question: Write a ~6 sentence summary.

answer: The Nailsea Court is an English manor dating back to the 15th century. The Percivale Family is known to have occupied it during the mid-1500s. It has been changed and expanded over the centuries. It now consists of a main 3 storey block with two wings. It is surrounded by landscaped grounds including a sunken garden and a knot garden. There is a 17th-century barn adjacent to the house.


text:
Johns Hopkins Diabetes Prevention Program

Prediabetes affects 1 out of 3 U.S. adults; of those, 90% don’t even know they have it. The _act2_ program is designed to prevent or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes.

PREDIABETES FACTS

Prediabetes is your body’s distress signal

15% to 30% of individuals diagnosed with prediabetes will develop type 2 diabetes.

LEARN MORE

About act2

Designed to prevent or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes, _act2_ is an interactive, year-long support and engagement program empowering you to take charge of your health and wellbeing as you work with a personal coach.

LEARN MORE

The Johns Hopkins Advantage

For 130 years, Johns Hopkins Hospital has led the way in both biomedical discovery and health care, establishing the standard by which others follow and build upon. This is one of many faculty-developed programs, protocols and services provided by Johns Hopkins HealthCare Solutions to improve health outcomes and reduce the cost of care.  Our faculty experts developed this program for maximum impact, based on years of research and clinical success.

MEET THE FACULTY

question: Summarize everything relating to the act2 program.

answer:
It is a Johns Hopkins Diabetes Prevention Program designed to present or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes.
act2 is an interactive, year-long support and engagement program empowering people to take charge of their health and wellbeing.

question: What is Prediabetes?

answer: Prediabetes is the body's distress signal. 15% to 30% of individuals diagnosed with prediabetes develop type 2 diabetes.

question: What are the current statistics of prediabetes in the US?

answer: Prediabetes affects 1 out of 3 U.S. adults, 90% of whom don't even know they have it.

question: What is the Johns Hopkins Advantage?

answer: Johns Hopkins Hospital has led the way in biomedical discovery and healthcare for 130 years, setting the standard that others follow and build upon. Johns Hopkins Hospital provides HealthCare Solutions developed by their faculty to improve the health outcomes and reduce the cost of care.

question: Write a ~4 sentence summary.

answer: Johns Hopkins Hospital has developed a diabetes prevention program called act2, designed to present or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes. act2 is an interactive program that empowers people to take charge of their health and wellbeing. Prediabetes affects 1 out of 3 U.S. adults, 90% of whom don't know they have it. 15% to 30% of people with prediabetes develop type 2 diabetes.


text:
SATHYABHAMA DAS BIJU (born May, 1963) is an Indian amphibian biologist, wildlife conservationist and heads the Systematics Lab at the University of Delhi, Department of Environmental Studies. He is dubbed as the " Frogman of India " by media for his passion for frogs[1] and for bringing fresh fascination for Indian amphibians.[2] In a recent interview with Sanctuary Asia, he was introduced as “one of the world's foremost amphibian experts”.[3] In 2010, Biju in collaboration with national and international institutions launched the nationwide Lost! Amphibians of India[4] campaign to rediscover species thought to be extinct. In 2011, Biju was the recipient of the Sanctuary Wildlife Service Award[5] for his “extraordinary passion which led to the discovery of several new species”. In 2008, the IUCN recognized his “extreme dedication to discover and conserve the vanishing amphibian fauna” by conferring him the Sabin Award.[6] In 2006, he established the Systematics Lab at the University of Delhi to bring together and train young researchers in the field of herpetology.

Early life

Sathyabhama Das Biju was born on May 1963 and was raised in rural Kerala in the town of Kadakkal, Kollam. Biju did not receive a proper formal school education.[7][8] He completed his master's degree in Botany from Kerala University in 1987 and obtained his first PhD in Plant Systematics in 1999 from Calicut University. During 1992 to 2003 he was a Scientist at the Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical Botanical Garden and Research Institute (formerly Tropical Botanical Garden and Research Institute) (TBGRI) and during his brief stint as a plant systematist published seven new plant species, resolved long-standing taxonomic and systematic problems of plants belonging to the families Convolvulaceae and Rubiaceae, besides publishing several research articles and books on plants.[9] He is currently working as Head of the Department of Environmental Studies and Dean, the Faculty of Science at University of Delhi.

Amphibian research

Biju became increasingly fascinated with frogs that he encountered during the several field expeditions he conducted in the Western Ghats in search for plants. To be able to fully explore the world of amphibians Biju eventually quit his research in plant science in 2000 and joined with at the Amphibian Evolution Lab, Vrije Universiteit Brussel and obtained his second PhD, this time in Amphibian Systematics.[10][11][12] In less than a decade of his professional career as amphibian systematist, Biju's efforts have already thrown up over 100 new species and formally described 96 new species, eight new genera and two new families of amphibians.[13] Remarkable among his discoveries are the entirely new and famed purple frog family Nasikabatrachidae from the Western Ghats of India, published in the journal _Nature_[14] This discovery was heralded as once-in-a-century find[15] because the last time a new family of amphibians was described was almost 100 years back. His second discovery of a new amphibian family was in 2012, the Chikilidae, popularly called tailless burrowing caecilians or chikilids, published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society, Series B.[16] This discovery was called the 'discovery of the year' and as 'another giant scientific discovery'.[17] Both these discoveries of ancient lineages (both the families about 140 million years old) shed significant light on biogeographic history of the Earth, particularly that of the Gondwana, and in understanding the present-day continental distribution patterns of organisms–while the closest relatives of the purple frog lives 3,000 km across the Indian Ocean in the Seychelles,[18] that of the chikilids is found 7,000 km in Africa.[19] Notable among his new species discoveries are India's first canopy frog _Raorchestes nerostgona_;[20] India's smallest tetrapod _Nyctibatrachus minimus_,[21] a frog whose adults do not grow more than 10 mm; and _Nasikabatrachus sahyadrensis_,[22] the famed purple frog.

A critical aspect of Biju's work has been the combination of molecular techniques with traditional approaches[23] bringing on par with the international practice in amphibian research. His efforts have resolved long-standing taxonomic and systematic problems and confusions in difficult amphibian groups: the bush frogs _Philautus_[24] and night frogs _Nyctibatrachus_.[25] In recognition of his outstanding contribution to India's modern amphibian systematics scientists named a frog after him _Polypedates bijui_.[26] Biju's tireless endeavor brought the Indian amphibians into the global limelight. The world was taken by surprise to see a frog featured on the cover of a largely macro-economics and a business magazine, _The Economist_, London.[27]

Conservation career

Biju's conservation concern for the rapidly vanishing amphibians, incidentally the world's most threatened vertebrate group[28] led to the creation of two important conservation initiatives in India. The Western Ghats Network of Protected Areas of Threatened Amphibians (WNPATA),[29] a network for individuals and institutions working on amphibians in the Western Ghats. In collaboration with national an international institutions and individuals Biju launched a unique nationwide campaign called the Lost Amphibians of India (LAI) to rediscover 'lost' species that have not been sighted in life for as long two centuries since they were originally discovered and described. The unique feature of LAI is the involvement of civil society including students, members of NGOs, and other non-amphibian specialists in conservation initiatives and has huge implications in conservation of amphibians. LAI has over 600 team members and has conducted about 42 field expeditions.[30]

Publications

Biju has extensively published in high impact factor and prestigious journals such as _Nature_, _Science_, _Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society_, _Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences_, _Proceedings of the Royal Society_, and has written books on both plants and amphibians.[31]

Awards

1.  Sanctuary Wildlife Service Award (2011)[32]
2.  IUCN Sabin Award (2008)[33]

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5] Sanctuary Asia “Wildlife Service Award” 2011 |http://www.theearthheroes.com/the-awards/2011-awards/191-sathyabhama-das-biju

[6] IUCN/ASG Sabin Award 2008

[7]

[8]

[9] Publication's Page, Systematics Lab, University of Delhi, _Official website_

[10] Saumya Tewari, Indian Education Review, 23 March 2012

[11] People's Page, Systematics Lab, University of Delhi, _Official website_

[12] Amphibian Evolution Lab, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, _Official Website_

[13] Species Page, Systematics Lab, University of Delhi, _Official website_

[14]

[15]

[16]

[17] Darrel Frost in _The Times of India_, 22 Feb 2012

[18]

[19]

[20]

[21]

[22]

[23]

[24]

[25] Zootaxa, 2011

[26] Biosystematica, August 2011

[27]

[28]

[29] WNPATA, _Official Website_

[30] Lost! Amphibians of India Campaign (launched November 2010), _Official Website_

[31]

[32]

[33]

title: Sathyabhama Das Biju

question: Summarize Sathyabhama Das Biju's botanical research.

answer: Sathyabhama Das Biju has a master's degree in Botany and a PhD in Plant Systematics. He used these degrees to find seven new plant species and resolved some problems in the families Convolvulaceae and Rubiaceae. It was during his expeditions in the Western Ghats finding plants that he became fascinated with frogs.

question: Summarize the awards Sathyabhama Das Biju has won and what he did to earn them.

answer: Sathyabhama Das Biju has won two major awards and has been in several prestigious publications. He won the Sanctuary Wildlife Service award in 2011 for discovering several new species. In 2008 the IUCN recognized his "extreme dedication to discover and conserve the vanishing amphibian fauna," and awarded him the IUCN Sabin Award.

question: Summarize Sathyabhama Das Biju's work in conservation.

answer: Sathyabhama Das Biju has created two major conservation initiatives in India. The first is the Western Ghats Network of Protected Areas of Threatened Amphibians, or WNPATA. This network is primarily focused on conservation of amphibians in the Western Ghats and involves numerous individuals and institutions. The second initiative is a campaign called Lost Amphibians of India, or LAI. This campaign is trying to rediscover 'lost' species thought to be extinct.

question: Summarize Sathyabhama Das Biju's amphibian research.

answer: Sathyabhama Das Biju earned his second PhD in Amphibian Systematics in 2000 and joined the Amphibian Evolution Lab. Since then he has discovered over 100 new species, 96 of which are formally described, eight new genera and two new families of amphibians. He discovered the family Nasikabatrachidae which include the famed purple frog. The other family he discovered is the Chikilidae in 2012, which include tailless burrowing caecilians. Other notable discoveries include India's first canopy frog, India's smallest tetrapod, and the famed purple frog.


text:
Marco Rubio can now add another line to his resume – two term United States Senator.

The West Miami native was re-elected Tuesday, defeating U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy. Rubio led the race following August primary elections, with Murphy gaining points toward the end of the race but not being able to overtake the incumbent.

"Florida is America and it's such an honor to be able to represent this extraordinary state," Rubio said at a victory rally Tuesday night.

Local

[]

[]

The two Senate candidates differed starkly on a number of issues — including guns, health care, foreign policy, economic issues and abortion. Each sought to leverage voter discontent with both the GOP and Democratic nominees.

"We were expecting and hoping for a different result this evening," Murphy told a crowd of supporters Tuesday night.

Murphy said he spoke to Rubio and wished him luck.

"Sen. Rubio and I obviously have our differences, you all saw the debates, but at this point it's important that we come together and do what's best for Florida," Murphy said.

-   NBC 6 DECISION 2016 COMPLETE COVERAGE

Rubio initially said he would not seek re-election, but decided to run after dropping out of the race for President following his loss in the Florida primary.

-   COMPLETE DECISION 2016 RESULTS

Copyright AP - Associated Press

question: What state does Marco Rubio represent?

answer: Marco Rubio represents Florida.

question: What were the results of the Florida primary in 2016?

answer: Rubio seeked re-election for Senator, only after dropping out of the race for President following his loss in the Florida primary.

question: What is Patrick Murphy's relationship to Marco Rubio?

answer: Patrick Murphy's relationship to Marco Rubio is being his opponent in the election of Senator.


text:
COMMERCE CITY, COLO.  – The Colorado Rapids announced on Wednesday that the club has signed Kamani Hill, a striker who has played in the German Bundesliga and with the U.S. National Team. The 26-year-old forward has been training with the Rapids for two weeks and is eligible to play for the club pending receipt of his International Transfer Certificate (ITC).

“Kamani is a dynamic striker who adds depth to our attack,” said Rapids Technical Director Paul Bravo. “Oscar Pareja and the coaching staff have had the chance over the last couple weeks to see Kamani in action, and we’re happy to have him join the squad.”

Hill, originally from Berkeley, Calif., played two seasons at UCLA from 2004-05, scoring nine goals and adding 13 assists in 40 games (32 starts). He then joined VfL Wolfsburg of the German Bundesliga, making his debut with the club in January of 2007. He made a total of nine appearances with the first team, as well as several with the club’s second team. He joined Vitória S.C. of Portugal in 2009, and was also loaned to Aves of the Portuguese second division in 2010.

The striker made a pair of substitute appearances with the U.S. National Team in 2007, first in a 4-1 win over China on June 2, 2007, and then in a 1-0 loss at Sweden on August 22, 2007. Hill also made several appearances with the U.S. Under-20 National Team in 2005.

The Rapids host the Chicago Fire this Sunday, April 1 at 5:00 p.m. MT at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park.

KAMANI HILL

Full Name: Kamani Helekunihi Hill

Number: TBD

Position: Forward

Born: December 28, 1985, Berkeley, California

Hometown: Berkeley, California

Citizenship: United States

Height: 6’0”

Weight: 175 lbs
Last Team: Vitória S.C. (Portugal)

Acquired: Signed by the Colorado Rapids on Wednesday, March 28, 2012.

question: How many appearances did Kamani hill make at the U.S under-20 national team in 2005

answer: Several.

question: Where is Kamani Hill originally from

answer: Berkeley California.

question: Why was Kamani Hill selected to play for the Colorado Rapids

answer: The technical director for Rapids believed he was a dynamic striker.

question: What position did Hill play in the German Bundesliga

answer: Striker.

question: Write a ~3 sentence summary.

answer: The article talks about Colorado Rapids signing Kamani Hill to their team. He was expected to play once his International Transfer Certificate (ITC) was issued and received. Kamani Hill originates from Berkeley, California and the Colorado Rapids technical director deemed him a dynamic striker.


text:
  Vince Gray, the councilmember for Ward 7 and former Mayor of DC, said he expects the council vote to be unanimous in favor of installing the statue. "It's the right thing to do," Gray said.

What a glorious reflection of heroism on our fair capital city.  Coming at the time when statues and plaques of Robert E. Lee are being taken down, erecting a new statue to the crack-smoking, whore-mongering, tax-cheating mayor certainly is the embodiment of "progressives" and their values.  Presumably, the plaque will memorialize Barry's most famous quotable line: "B---- set me up!"

[]
_Barry smoking crack in a police surveillance photo in 1990 (Washington Post)._

Frankly, it defies belief.  Barry was the emblem of the crime-plagued shambles the capital city became as the Democratic mayor beginning in the late 1970s and extending through the 1990s.  He started out as the first emblem of the civil rights movement to be elected to the city's highest office and was given quite a pass for his failings as mayor because of it.  The city turned into a one-party state, and from there, the blight followed.  Barry himself was caught smoking crack cocaine with a woman not his wife, and when he was caught, he became forever famous for his candid-camera hollering: "B---- set me up!"  Then he went to the can.

After that, he got elected mayor again, showing that no bad deed goes punished.  The shambles continued, and now Barry is getting his own monument.

It shows that the crimes normal people stay away from like the plague, such as crack-smoking, don't bother the left, nor do they merit any consequences.

It also shows that the left has a soft spot for its own history, and a civil rights past supersedes anything one has done in the afterward.

Couple it with the left's zeal for destroying statues of Washington, Lincoln, and Robert E. Lee, and it shows that the left is ahistorical in orientation and is unable to appreciate any history it cannot remember itself.  It also shows a contempt for real heroism, a desire to rewrite history in its own image, with only leftists as heroes, replacing real history with someone like Barry's version of heroism.

Spare us.  This is disgusting.

Having cast the clay model and shipped it off to the foundry for a casting mold, the Washington, D.C. city council is set to approve a new statue honoring...Marion Barry.

According to WMAL:

  Vince Gray, the councilmember for Ward 7 and former Mayor of DC, said he expects the council vote to be unanimous in favor of installing the statue. "It's the right thing to do," Gray said.

What a glorious reflection of heroism on our fair capital city.  Coming at the time when statues and plaques of Robert E. Lee are being taken down, erecting a new statue to the crack-smoking, whore-mongering, tax-cheating mayor certainly is the embodiment of "progressives" and their values.  Presumably, the plaque will memorialize Barry's most famous quotable line: "B---- set me up!"

[]
_Barry smoking crack in a police surveillance photo in 1990 (Washington Post)._

Frankly, it defies belief.  Barry was the emblem of the crime-plagued shambles the capital city became as the Democratic mayor beginning in the late 1970s and extending through the 1990s.  He started out as the first emblem of the civil rights movement to be elected to the city's highest office and was given quite a pass for his failings as mayor because of it.  The city turned into a one-party state, and from there, the blight followed.  Barry himself was caught smoking crack cocaine with a woman not his wife, and when he was caught, he became forever famous for his candid-camera hollering: "B---- set me up!"  Then he went to the can.

After that, he got elected mayor again, showing that no bad deed goes punished.  The shambles continued, and now Barry is getting his own monument.

It shows that the crimes normal people stay away from like the plague, such as crack-smoking, don't bother the left, nor do they merit any consequences.

It also shows that the left has a soft spot for its own history, and a civil rights past supersedes anything one has done in the afterward.

Couple it with the left's zeal for destroying statues of Washington, Lincoln, and Robert E. Lee, and it shows that the left is ahistorical in orientation and is unable to appreciate any history it cannot remember itself.  It also shows a contempt for real heroism, a desire to rewrite history in its own image, with only leftists as heroes, replacing real history with someone like Barry's version of heroism.

Spare us.  This is disgusting.

question: Whose statue is being installed in DC?

answer: The statue of Marion Barry, a former mayor of DC.

question: Why, does the author feel, should Marion Barry not be honored in this way?

answer: The author feels that Barry did not have the right values to be honored this way. He was arrested on multiple occasions, found to be unfaithful to his wife and using drugs.

question: Why, according to the author, has the decision been made to go ahead with the statue?

answer: The author states that the Democrats are ahistorical and unable to appreciate history they cannot themselves remember. Also, a contempt for real heroism, and a desire to rewrite history with only leftist heroes.

question: Who is the left being referred to here?

answer: Democrats.

question: Write a ~3 sentence summary.

answer: A statue of Marion Barry, former mayor of DC, has been commissioned by the city council. The author feels that this is disappointing because Barry was arrested multiple times. The author feels that the Democrats' lack of appreciation for history and for real heroism is disgusting.


text:
TANISHA LYNN EANES, known professionally as TANISHA LYNN (born September 14, 1978 in Houston, Texas) is an American actress.

Brief biography

Lynn is best known for her portrayal of Danielle Frye, the daughter of Derek Frye (formerly William Christian and currently Charles Parnell) and Mimi Reed (Shari Headley), a role which she played from March 2004 until January 2007 on the show _All My Children_. Although rumors about Lynn's status with the show were circulating for some time, due to her lack of storyline, it was reported at Pine Valley Bulletin: Ins and Outs in January 2007 that Lynn had taped her final scenes in December 2006, last to air in late January. She graduated from the Theatre Department at the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts in Houston and went on to the Tisch School of the Arts at NYU.

Her other appearances include:

-   _Robot Stories_
-   _Law & Order: Special Victims Unit_
-   _My Wife and Kids_
-   As Audrey in Shakespeare's _As You Like It_ at Worth Street Theater Company.

Filmography

Film

  Year   Title                        Role        Notes
  ------ ---------------------------- ----------- ------------
  2003   _Robot Stories_              Assistant
  2004   _The Code_                   Xenia Rex
  2008   _Skeletons in the Desert_    Jade Niel
  2010   _Perfect Combination_        Jazmine
  2010   _Speed Dating_               Kelly       Uncredited
  2012   _Murder on the 13th Floor_   Becca
  2013   _Cryptogram_                 Xenia Rex

Television

  Year      Title                                        Role             Notes
  --------- -------------------------------------------- ---------------- -----------------------------------
  2003      _Law & Order: Special Victims Unit_          Ricky            Season 4, Fallacy
  2003      _My Wife & Kids_                             Ricky            Season 4, While Out
  2004-07   _All My Children_                            Danielle Frye    32 Episodes
  2009      _Saving Grace_                               Ginger Metarie   Season 2, But There's Clay
  2009      _90210_                                      Sasha's Friend   2 Episodes
  2010      _How I Met Your Mother_                      Esme             Season 5, Say Cheese
  2010      _House of Payne_                             Tory             Season 6, Worth Fighting For
  2010      _Hollywood is Like High School With Money_   Michelle         Season 1, Embrace Your Inner Geek
  2010-11   _The Bay_                                    Vivian Johnson   9 Episodes
  2016      _Ray Donovan_                                Sugar            Season 4, Chinese Algebra

Personal life

Lynn parents are William Eanes and Brenda Davis. She has two siblings: Kenneth Davis and Brent Eanes, now she makes guest appearances in Tyler Perry's hit series on TBS called _Tyler Perry's House of Payne_, 2010 season.

title: Tanisha Lynn

question: Why were there rumors about Lynn's role in All My Children?

answer: It was due to the fact that her character is contributing nothing to the series. During to a lack of storyline, there are rumors that Lynn's time on the show is coming to an end.


text:
When I was eleven years old, my mom took me to England and France on a journey that gave way to a longstanding passion for adventures abroad.

Fifteen years later, at the age of twenty-six, I can’t imagine a life not enriched by travel and the perspective it has given me. Since my first big trip, I’ve lived in three uniquely different countries, studying, working, and immersing myself in cultures completely unlike my own. These experiences became an indelible part of my being, coloring my personality and outlook in ways I never envisioned. I learned what I stand for, who my true friends are, and most importantly, where my home is.

Upon returning, I met a rather unexpected challenge. The poor economy and job market notwithstanding, it has been difficult to find an employer that sees value in my work abroad. The number of stints I’ve taken on in various countries and the jobs between these stints have left my résumé cluttered in the eyes of employers. To me it looks great, but to them, not so much. Perhaps I am naive for expecting employers to understand or share my values on travel. I did, after all, make a conscious decision to defer a traditional career path.

“How do we know you’re not going to leave after a year?” “Given your experience, why do you want to work here out of all places?” These are questions I’ve been prodded with frequently during job interviews. I’ve been called underqualified and overqualified, even for a single position.

Herein lies the conundrum: intellectual growth is not the same as career growth. Its value is not nearly as concrete or demonstrable as a set amount of time spent in one specific field. It’s this lack of concreteness that makes employers perhaps needlessly wary. They often look at only one piece of a very complex equation, much like how universities base their admission decisions mostly on grade point averages and SAT scores. Let’s try to be a little bit more personal.

Many friends of mine settled into more traditional careers after college and tell me they wish they could spend some time abroad. And sometimes I wish I had gone their route, but then I remind myself of all that I’ve gained on my own path. To be cliché, the grass really is greener on the other side.

Eventually, I found work that really draws from my experiences. Soon, I will begin yet another adventure in my life, this time a few miles closer to home.

title: Perspective: The value of travel

question: Write a ~0 sentence summary.