text:
The COSUMNES RIVER PRESERVE is a nature preserve of located 20 miles (30 km) south of Sacramento, in the US state of California. The preserve protects a Central Valley remnant that once contained one of the largest expanses of oak tree savanna, riparian oak forest and wetland habitat in North America.[1] Agricultural development has changed the landscape from groves of oaks and tule marshes to productive farmlands.[2]

The Cosumnes River is the last remaining free-flowing river in California's Central Valley, with the preserve located on the river's lower reach where it joins the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta tidelands. The area supports a diverse range of plant and animal life, including three species of oak as well as rare plants like the endemic northern California black walnut (_Juglans californica_ var. _hindsii_).[3] Notable features include the sandhill crane fall migration and the Tall Forest in Wood Duck Slough. More than 250 bird species, more than 40 fish species, and some 230 plant species have been identified here.

Located on the bird migration route, the Pacific Flyway, the preserve is designated an Important Bird Area by the American Bird Conservancy and National Audubon Society. Several rare birds, such as the Tri-colored Blackbird and the Greater Sandhill Crane, have been identified. Many bird species that have been extirpated from most of the Central Valley are returning to the area.[4]

The preserve is between two growing urban centers, Sacramento in the north, and Stockton to the south, which threaten to constrict the protected areas to a narrow corridor extending from the Sierra foothills to the Sacramento River Delta.

The National Park Service has been protecting the area since 1976 when the agency added the Cosumnes River environment to the National Natural Landmark Program as the Cosumnes River Riparian Woodlands. This program conserves examples of the country's natural history and is the only natural areas program of national scope that identifies and recognizes the best representations of biological and geological features in both public and private ownership.[5]

In total, there are 46,000 acres that are owned by the preserve with almost 40,000 acres of that being used for agricultural production. Of those 46,000 acres, approximately 12,500 acres are easement lands and 16,500 acres are fee-owned lands. Currently the Cosumnes River Preserve uses both public and private lands as a location for migratory birds throughout the year as well preserving natural riparian oak woodlands, vernal pools, wetlands, and grasslands.[6] The Elderberry longhorn beetle, California giant garter snake, and the Swainson's hawk are three threatened or endangered species that have been found living on the preserve.

History

The Miwok Native American tribe settled the area around the Cosumnes River Preserve many centuries ago. They survived up through the 1900s with a 1910 census counting 670 Miwok Native Americans left. According to a 1770 estimate, there were approximately 9000 Miwok present.[7] Population density for the Miwok tribe was about 10 persons per square mile which may have been the most out of any California tribe.[8] The entire Miwok tribe consisted of 28 small groups which could range from 300 to 475 people. The Miwok people ate a diet consisting of acorns, various types of other seeds, deer, and fish. The local Miwok people practiced burning and other management practices to shape the land to create more opportunity for food. Through these methods of enhancing floodplains in the area, fish species may have had lower mortality rates and increased growth.[9] After the mid 1700s, the Miwok way of life started to change with the arrival of the Spanish.

Around 1770, a small group consisting of Spanish explorers decided that the Cosumnes River Preserve and other places within the Central Valley was a perfect pasture for grazing animals. Trappers came into the area around the preserve in the early 1800s but found that there was no place to settle and the fur trapping was not worth it. The Mexican government started issuing land grants in 1844 and John Sutter who was a European immigrant was one of the first to colonize the Cosumnes River area. John Sutter founded the colony New Helvetia and soon some of his assistants moved out to the Cosumnes River Preserve area. Once the California gold rush started in 1848, many miners settled in along the Cosumnes River hoping to find gold and get rich. Once realizing that there wasn't very much gold in the region, they dammed the river and changed the landscape to grow hay, wheat, and various types of fruit. The Miwok people lost sources of food that they relied on and soon after villages and burial grounds were destroyed. Shortly after, the Miwok moved out of the region where the Cosumnes River Preserve is and in 1999, the last person to spoke Plains Miwuk died.

The fast-disappearing valley oak (_Quercus lobata_) tree of California's Central Valley prompted The Nature Conservancy, a nonprofit conservation organization, to find and protect these trees from the rapid urban growth in the 1980s. After surveying the entire valley, the best stands were found on the lower Cosumnes River and a preserve of was established in 1987. With further study, scientists better understood the river-oak forest relationship; the “swamp oak” is another name for the valley oak because it thrives on deep, alluvial soils (which also makes good farmland) that the river deposits with seasonal flooding. The Conservancy realized that it needed a larger, broader view that included the river, floodplains, the whole watershed. As a result, in 1993, the conservancy moved beyond its hallmark of outright land purchases and into cooperative agreements with farmers, water-and flood control agencies, and shared in management responsibility with federal, state and local land agencies toward the goal of protecting a watershed of in size.
Some partners in the cooperative agreement include: US Bureau of Land Management, California Department of Water Resources, California State Lands Commission, Sacramento County Department of Regional Parks, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Wildlife Conservation Board, Ducks Unlimited, Inc. and private landowners.
In 1998, the Howard Ranch, located within the watershed area, was put up for sale. The ranch contains important wetlands, including vernal pools, and the conservancy purchased the property of property using a combination of grants and loans. The loans included funds from the federal Clean Water Act's State Revolving Fund. This was the first time these funds had been used to purchase and protect wetlands.[6] [Cosumnes River riparian woodland] Currently, the preserve is more than with educational and scientific studies being conducted in one of the largest conservation efforts begun on a watershed-sized scale. Collectively known as the Cosumnes River Project, it is a broad-based work to restore and protect the integrity of the river and associated landscapes including Central Valley habitats and wildlife.

River and forest relationship

The Cosumnes River has no major dams on its course of and floods after heavy rains bringing in sediments that provide nutrients for the vegetation, as well as recharging groundwater levels. In addition, removal of the man-made levees allows more innudation of floodwaters and is what ecologist Rich Reiner terms " natural process restoration".[7]

Notable trees in the preserve include valley oak and blue oak. The valley oak was once common in central California, forming large groves along rivers and streams. In grasslands, they form open savannas along with blue oaks.[8] The valley oak is the largest of the native California oak trees and can live to be 600 years old.[9] With a vertical root system as deep as 80 feet, it can reach groundwater levels.[10] The blue oak tolerates dry soil and can have a root system 30 feet deep. It has a distinctive blue tint in the green leaf color that can best be seen when compared to another nearby oak of a different type. The blue oak can live to be 400 years old[11] and provides critical winter range for deer and other wildlife.[12] The oaks provide several hundred pounds of nuts yearly, and at least 35 mammals and around 100 birds include oak acorns in their diet. Especially mule deer and western gray squirrel, who rely so much on the acorn crop that a poorly producing year can limit their populations.[13]

Threats to the trees include land-clearing, rodents and exotic grasses. The non-native grasses are more aggressive and produce more seed than the native perennials, which attracts seed-eaters like Botta's Pocket Gopher that also feed on acorns and oak seedlings.[14] Restoration includes breaching the levees, allowing floodwaters to scour out the non-native grasses, reduce rodent populations and deposit sediment. With the buildup of sand and sediments in the flooded areas, studies have shown an increase growth of cottonwoods and willows, which in turn trap more sediments during the next flood cycles.[15]

The vegetation of oak, willow, alder, elderberry, cattails, and many other plants provide food, shelter and nesting sites for a wide range of wildlife, including migrating birds on the Pacific Flyway. The river is part of a dynamic balance of natural processes that sustain the plant and animal life that depend upon it.

“Every time a levee is repaired, the river is prevented from establishing a healthy floodplain, and every time river water is stored in a reservoir, the flow pulses essential for ecologic processes are eliminated.”
-Philip B. Williams, Ph.D., Reno, NV. August, 2001 (from his speech _River Engineering Versus River Restoration_ given at an ASCE conference)[16]

Hydrology

The Cosumnes River Preserve is a wetland habitat that experiences annual flooding. This area is a perennial stream that experiences late summer runoff that used to provide up welling groundwater to the preserve. With increased agricultural production however, much of the groundwater underneath the Cosumnes River Preserve has been depleted so it cannot recharge the wetland habitat during the early summer.[10] During the wet season, which occurs between late fall and early spring, much of the Cosumnes Preserve floods which provides a perfect wetland habitat for many riparian species of flora and fauna. During the late summer and early fall, the Cosumnes River Preserve has no water flow which could potentially impact local aquatic plant species as well as fish.

Flora and fauna

There are many species of plants that reside within the preserve besides the iconic Valley Oak(Quercus lobata). Some of the species that are located close to the water are Cottonwood (Populus fremontii), cattail (Typhaceae Typha), Broadleaf Arrowhead (Sagittaria latifolia), and Pampas Grass (Cortaderia selloana). Other plants that you can find on the preserve include Wild California Grape (Vitis californica), California Rose (Rosa californica), and the Elderberry tree (Adoxaceae Sambucus). Two greatly invasive plant species that occur around the Cosumnes River Preserve are the Perennial Pepperweed (Lepidium latifolium) and Common water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes).

The Cosumnes River Preserve is also a habitat for many mammals, birds, fish, reptiles, and amphibians. Some of the larger mammals that live on the preserve include beavers(Castor canadensis), otters(Lontra canadensis), mountain lions(Puma concolor), and black-tailed deer(Odocoileus hemionus). Many smaller mammal species also exist within the preserve such as muskrats(Ondatra zibethicus), black-tailed jackrabbits(Lepus californicus), and raccoons(Procyon lotor). Many people traveling to the preserve will witness local bird species such as the red-tailed hawks(Buteo jamaicensis), swainson's hawks(Buteo swainsoni), Nuttall's woodpeckers(Picoides nuttallii). Many migratory bird species including the greater and lesser sandhill cranes(Grus canadensis), tundra swan(Cygnus columbianus), and various species of ducks also call the preserve home. Two of the native fish species that have been recorded within the preserve are Chinook salmon(Oncorhynchus tshawytscha), and Tule perch(Hysterocarpus traskii). A few amphibians and reptiles that have been spotted on the preserve include the California Tiger Salamander(Ambystoma californiense), the Giant Garter Snake(Thamnophis gigas), the Western Fence Lizard(Sceloporus occidentalis), and the Western Pond Turtle(Actinemys marmorata).[11]

Public access and education

The Cosumnes River Preserve Visitor Center is the hub for all activities concerning the preserve. Educational workshops, field trips and activity packets for teachers and students are provided through the visitor center.

Recreation uses include wildlife-viewing, paddling, photography, nature study and limited fishing. The launch site for paddling is near the visitor center and a self-guided trip brochure with map is available. Tidal influence from the ocean is evident here with water levels changing several feet each day, exposing mudflats and sandbars. There are several named sloughs both east and west of the visitor center. Wood Duck Slough is the easternmost slough and has views of the Tall Forest, with large valley oaks overhanging the water and providing deep shade. “The scene is reminiscent of Bogart and Hepburn on the _African Queen_”, writes author Charlie Pike in his book, _Paddling Northern California_.[17]

Hiking trails include short “walks” that showcase wetland plants and animals, to longer trails, such as the roundtrip Howard Ranch trail that has vernal pools, riparian habitat and views of oak woodland and the Sierra Nevada Mountains.

There is also a driving tour which allows visitors to see the scope of the conservation project, showing properties that are closed to the public.[Picture of Cosumnes River Preserve sign]

Volunteer Opportunities

The Cosumnes River Preserve relies on volunteers to inform the public about plants and animals found within the preserve as well as helping the staff with restoration, conservation, and preservation. After becoming trained as a volunteer naturalist, many different volunteering options are available. Volunteer Naturalist training at the Cosumnes River Preserve takes two training days in which you learn about plant and animal species present, various volunteer opportunities, and information about the organizations that work with the preserve to help maintain the area.

Many of the volunteers work in the visitor center helping to answer questions brought up by visitors. Restoration projects in the form of the removal of invasive plants or creating wood duck boxes for wood ducks is also an option. Bird and raptor surveys are also done at least once a year to get a population estimate on birds of prey and waterfowl that migrate or live within the Cosumnes River Preserve. Other volunteer options are available such as working with the paddle team, leading guided nature walks, or helping with the mountain lion research team. The paddle team takes visitors on tours of the Cosumnes River throughout the year. Some of the paddle tours include the bat paddle which allows visitors to witness tens of thousands of Mexican Free Tail bats feed during sunset right over the heads of the visitors. The mountain lion research team gets to access closed parts of the preserve and places or checks game cameras to observe mountain lions that reside around the preserve. There are many other volunteer opportunities available at the Cosumnes River Preserve. [Cosumnes River Preserve Visitor Center2]

[1] Cosumnes River Preserve history.

[2]

[3] Calflora taxon report

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8] Johnston, Verna _California Forests and Woodlands_, Univ. of Calif. Press 1994 p. 79

[9] Stuart, John D. _Trees and Shrubs of California_ Univ. of Calif, Press 2001 p.328

[10]

[11]

[12] Stuart, John D. _Trees and Shrubs of California_ Univ. of Calif. Press 2001 pp. 320-321

[13] Johnston, Verna _California Forests and Woodlands_, Univ. of Calif. Press 1994 p. 87

[14] Johnston, Verna _California Forests and Woodlands_, Univ. of Calif. Press 1994 p. 88

[15] '' The Structure, Function and Management Implications of Fluvial Sedimentary Systems'' Fiona J. Dyer, Martin C. Thoms, Jon M. Olley, International Hydrological Programme, International Commission on Continental Erosion. Published by International Association of Hydrological Sciences, 2002 p. 90-Google Book Search results. accessed 04-03-2009

[16] -Philip B. Williams,Ph.D., quoted from a keynote speech titled _River Engineering Versus River Restoration_ p. 25

[17]

title: Cosumnes River Preserve

question: What is unique about the Cosumnes River?

answer: It is the last free-flowing river remaining in the Central Valley of California, and it supports a diverse ecosystem of plants and animals. For instance, there are three different species of oak trees and the very rare northern California black walnut.

question: What about it's location is special?

answer: The Cosumnes River is located on the bird migration route "The Pacific Flyway" and has been deemed an Important Bird Area by the American Bird Conservancy and National Audubon Society. This is due in part to the passage of several rare birds through this area, specifically the Tri-colored Blackbird and Greater Sandhill Crane.

question: What about the National Natural Landmark Prorgram, of which the Cosumnes River is apart of, is so crucial to the preservation of the river?

answer: It is the only such program of national scope that recognizes what state of biological and geological features in such a place are best representative of said place.

question: What are the most significant things in the Cosumnes River that are being protected?

answer: The Cosumnes River Preserve allows both public and private land to be dedicated space for bird migration year round, and part of this effort goes along with preserving natural oak, woodlands, vernal pools, wetlands, and grasslands.

question: Write a ~4 sentence summary.

answer: The Cosumnes River is located in the Central Valley of California and is recognized as the last free-flowing river in the valley. Due to it's location on a major bird migration route, it a significant area for different birds and has been deemed a Important Bird Area by the American Bird Conservancy and National Audubon Society. It is protected by the National Natural Landmark Program, which does a good job of recognizing and identifying the best natural state of biological and geological features. Though there is both private and public land, all land around the Cosumnes has been deemed a dedicated space for bird migration year round.


split: train

text:
He slides around the corner, presses his back tightly against the wall, and they rush past him without noticing.  Resting hands on knees, panting and sweaty, he takes a moment to catch his breath. They are after him. He has been running through this building for hours.

Finding him has become a competition. We all want to be the one that traps the rabbit. He knows me from a time when I was on his side. I'm not sure if he will still trust me, but what's the worst that can happen?

I gesture towards my door offering sanctuary, mouthing, "Come on! They are right behind you!" He scurries over, and darts under my arm just as a team of officers turns the corner. I shut the door behind him, and brace myself as he tries to force it open.

"Hey, I found him! He's in here!"

He is trapped and knows it. His executioners walk in behind me. He sulks over to one of my desks. We shoot each other sideways glances as we take our positions. We nod silently saying, "Good game."

His case manager storms in followed by a suit. She immediately begins to deliver the lecture she has been waiting all day to give. I sit closest to him. He won't hit me... but her... none of us are too sure about her. The suit sits closest to the door, looking uncomfortable and annoyed.

He tries to explain why he ran, but she had hours of chasing to prepare this speech. There were no planned pauses for his input. He is fidgeting and looking around the room. He knows I won't hesitate to tackle him if he makes a play for the door. He and I have been down that road together at "the other place." He locks eyes with me and I see big tears welling up. I can hear him telepathically asking for help. I want to scream at her to,

 "SHUT THE FUCK UP!"

but he must have been reading my mind too because he bolts up and yells it. The suit says in his best authoritative voice, "Kevin, stop."

I think to myself, "What's that bitch gonna do."

He and I lock eyes again and I ask, "So, are you taking any art classes this year?" He looks stunned. He wants another reason to yell but there isn't one. It dawns on him that I am throwing him an out and he grabs it with both hands.

"Not yet, but I want to."

In the background the lecture from Mr. & Mrs. Bitch continues, but we have entered into our own conversation bubble. In our bubble it is calm and quiet and the topic is art.

"You know there are a lot of great courses offered here."

We maintain intense eye contact because this reprieve is fragile.

"Is there a sculpture class? Remember when I made you...

POP!

I had heard it in the background too. The Bitch crossed the line. She is already at the phone and looking up the number for his mom.

He begins to shake. "You gonna call her so you can tell her more lies? Just like with that email you sent her." He is getting angry again and his eyes are darting around the room. He is starting to panic. "You know FUCK YOU BITCH! I've put up with fifteen years of abuse and you know that."

"I didn't lie in that email. It's not my fault if your mom didn't undesta..."

"It is your fault! I am back in that house now and I hate it. What happened over that email is YOUR FAULT."

She moves uncomfortably in her chair and looks away. She does feel the guilt. She changes her tone and softly says, "I am so sorry if you got in trouble because your mom didn't understand my email."

He senses her weakness and lobs into his verbal assault. He goes on about how she lies and how much she hates him.  He begins to make fun of her for the tears in her eyes when I turn my gaze back towards him.

"I know you don't like her, but do you know your brother hates ME?"  This phrase strikes him speechless. I have known him for years. I protected him from the bigger kids when we were at "the other place." He has cried in my arms more than once.

"It's true. I am the one that has to boss him around and he hates me for it. I was just trying to figure out what to do with him before we found out you were missing. He is worried sick about you right now."

He studies my face to for a tell. I hold his gaze and continue. "Did you hear her? What she said? She said she's sorry and that you're right. Do you think you can forgive her?"

His face twists with rage and tears stream down his cheeks. He looks at her and begins screaming again. I reach out and hold his hand.

"You know, all of the problems with your mom were there before her. You can't blame her for what your mom did."

And just like when he was small he sobs in my arms. On cue, his brother walks in. Kevin runs up and hugs him.

I would like to say he hugged Mrs. Bitch as well, but truth be told, as soon as she got him into the hall he took off running.

title: The Runner

question: What did the narrator mean by "the other place?"

answer: That information is not known.

question: Why did Kevin have a case manager?

answer: It appears Kevin suffered from domestic violence.

question: What was the relationship between the case manager and Kevin?

answer: The case manager tried to offer a solution to Kevin's domestic issues, but Kevin thought the worst of her and blamed her for getting him in trouble with his mother.

question: Why did Kevin despise his case manager?

answer: She sent an email to his mother, which got him into trouble.

question: What was Kevin running away from?

answer: It might be implied that he was running away from home.

question: Did Kevin have anger management issues?

answer: That information is not known.

question: What's the relationship between the narrator and Kevin?

answer: It is not certain. He might be his therapist or counselor.

question: Was Kevin's mother abusive, and how was their relationship like?

answer: It appears Kevin had a strained relationship with his mother, and she might be the one abusing him.

question: Write a ~6 sentence summary.

answer: The narrator found Kevin, who presumably escaped from home, and took him to his case manager, a woman. While in a room with the caseworker, Kevin displayed multiple fits of rage and hurled abuses at his case manager. Because of this, the narrator tried to calm Kevin down by talking about art. The tranquility between them was short-lived when Kevin caught the woman trying to telephone his mother, which then threw him into another fit. He blamed her for putting him in trouble with his mother because of an email she sent her, which could be why he ran away in the first place. Eventually, the narrator succeeded in pacifying Kevin and reunited him with his brother.


text:
It was a point of pride for Jeremiah not to leave before his assigned time. He sat in stasis, shoulders hunched towards a whirring machine, listening not to the clock but the rhythmic sound of his over-pronounced exhalations. It was during these periods that his mind was most productive, something that, not unreasonably, didn’t always translate into physical momentum. He often sensed the promise of an oncoming epiphany that was always overtaken by the arrival of the assigned time and, once again, Jeremiah’s wait would be reset.

The time was often filled physically with some light personal grooming. Jeremiah maintained a state of personal appearance that would meet any reputable societal demands but suffered with a dryness of the ear. Frequently, the skin would dry up forming a crisp husk around the outer lobe which Jeremiah felt compelled - primarily by habit - to remove, scooping his index finger around the bowed curvature of the concha. Not for the first time, the dryness had also crept into his inner-ear wax, causing it to solidify across his ear drum and rendering him hearing-impaired.

He became aware of his breathing, controlling it to accord with his heartbeat under the notion that this was the natural order of things. He rationalised that the intake of oxygen should mirror the speed with which it was pumped around the body and didn’t want to exert himself physically beyond this motion, having expended so much energy on the decorum of his ear.

Jessica's stare bounced off him with indifference but Jeremiah nevertheless furrowed his brow, the skin lapping over itself into a state of apparent concentration. His eyes quickly traced across the pixellated demarcations across his screen left to right, at what he judged to be a normalised reading pace. Occasionally, Jeremiah would allow his focus to drift slightly beyond the screen and the refocus just to see if Jessica was paying attention.

Jessica's voice took on a background otherness, a separated entity in the room being controlled indirectly by Jessica but somehow being disconnected from her. It occupied an unhealthy and increasingly voluminous space in the room before being dispelled byJeremiah.

"..Give me.. one minute," and he motioned towards her with a finger which he took care not to point directly at her.

The space previously occupied by her voice became filled with the ricochet of her glare as it bounced around inside the room, trailing behind it.

As Jeremiah finished the slow and forced tracing down the screen, taking twice as long as he normally dedicated to this ritual, he reached for his phone which lay silent in his pocket.

"Sorry, I have to take this," he said as he made his way from the room.

title: JEREMIAH

question: Explain what Jeremiah's assigned time is for.

answer: From the text it can be assigned computer time or assigned reading time.

question: Where is Jeremiah?

answer: He is in a room with a computer with a person named Jessica watching him with indifference and tracking his time.

question: Why was it necessary for Jeremiah to maintain a reputable state of appearance?

answer: It is a habit that he is reinforcing.

question: What is the whirring machine?

answer: It is the computer Jeremiah is reading from.

question: What were Jeremiah's epiphanies about?

answer: He was never able to get to the full realization, his time would be reset and the waiting would begin again.

question: Write a ~4 sentence summary.

answer: Jeremiah is reading slowly from a computer screen while his assigned time runs out. Jessica keeps a close eye on him, her indifference bouncing off him. He asks for an extra minute and as he finishes his slow and forceful tracing of the screen, he reaches for his phone in his pocket. He apologizes and leaves the room to take a call.


text:
Support Us

We need YOUR help to increase the amount of nutritious food we grow and gardeners that we support in the Bay Area. The need for more affordable produce, gardens and green space is growing more each day and we want to expand our impact in 2021. Donate now and support low-income community members in meeting the immediate and basic need for fresh, healthy food for themselves and their families.

Support Food Justice

Black Lives Matter

City Slicker Farms stands in solidarity with the millions who are taking to the streets in protest against the state sanctioned murder and systemic oppression of Black people. We condemn police brutality, and we grieve for the lives lost to racial inequality.

Read more about our commitment

Covid-19

The Farm Park is open daily from 11-5, but bathrooms, water fountains, playground and farm area remain closed to the public. Staff are focusing energy on expanding food production on the farm; increasing supplies and support for backyard and partner gardeners, including increasing greenhouse starts and online and phone mentoring; and providing safe, socially distant outdoor experiences for the community

Learn More

-   I think being a leader is understanding when it’s
    time to lead and when it’s time to step back and let other people lead, because you have to let people grow.

-   In a crowded city full of cars and
    concrete, it’s so cool when someone can have a piece of nature in their backyard
    and some self-sufficiency when it comes to their food. I like being a part of that.

14,936

Seedlings Planted This Year

3,109 lbs

Produce Donated This Year

question: Approximately when was the article written?

answer: Probably late 2020

question: Where does City Slicker Farms support?

answer: The Bay Area (presumably of San Francisco)

question: How much produce has City Slicker Farms donated in the past year?

answer: 3109 pounds

question: What does the article request from the reader?

answer: Monetary donations

question: Write a ~1 sentence summary.

answer: The author requests donations from the reader to support City Slicker Farms, which grows food to support low-income community members in the Bay Area.


text:
Do you ever feel uncomfortable talking about your period? British jewelry designer Lili Murphy-Johnson doesn't want you to. On a mission to shut down the notion that periods are offensive and taboo, she created a whole line of jewelry inspired by menstruation.

Murphy-Johnson created this collection with hopes of encouraging women to wear their periods proudly; after all, they're a completely normal process of womanhood. Her sparkly red collection of bejeweled necklaces, bracelets, pins, and rings celebrate the beauty of menstruation.

[]

Lili Murphy-Johnson

Her line of crystal-encrusted handmade pieces (priced from $38 to $1,265) is broken up into three different stages of periods: Her necklaces represent the hormonal pain and mood swings that come along with PMS; other accessories look like period products (pads, tampons, etc.), like her rings that are shaped like panty liners; her pins and brooches represent the blood itself.

[]

Lili Murphy-Johnson

The 23-year-old received her bachelor's degree in jewelry design at Central Saint Martins in London and shared all the reasons she created this chic AF collection around periods with Cosmopolitan.com.

MENSTRUATION IS REALLY HAVING A MOMENT RIGHT NOW AND WOMEN ARE FEELING LESS ASHAMED ABOUT THE FACT THAT THEY HAVE PERIODS. WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO CREATE THIS COLLECTION?

I'm just really interested in the way periods are seen as so taboo. When you look at the reality of it, it's quite a strange thing to be ashamed of. With my collection, I was interested in how I could continue to develop and explore menstruation. It's something that I've always found quite inspiring and full of opportunities to design around.

[]

Lilli Murphy-Johnson

DO YOU HAVE PERSONAL EXPERIENCES WITH YOUR PERIOD THAT REALLY PUSHED YOU TO CREATE A MOVEMENT AROUND THIS?

I get premenstrual stress quite badly a few days before my period. I'll find it really hard to even concentrate or think without feeling depressed and anxious all the time. When I was designing before my period, I'd find it so difficult to have any ideas because of the way I was feeling. Designing this collection made dealing with my actual feelings easier to work through. I find it quite therapeutic and a nice way to replicate how I was feeling into creating designs.

[]

Lili Murphy-Johnson

[]

Lilli Murphy-Johnson

ETSY BANNED YOUR LINE FROM THEIR WEBSITE BECAUSE THEY VIEWED YOUR IMAGES AS INAPPROPRIATE. SIMILAR THINGS HAVE HAPPENED WITH OTHER CREATIVE PROJECTS SURROUNDING PERIODS AS WELL, LIKE WHEN RUPI KAUR CREATED A PERIOD PHOTO SERIES THAT WAS BANNED FROM INSTAGRAM. WERE YOU SURPRISED WHEN ETSY BANNED YOUR LINE?

I was surprised because I didn't think my work was at all offensive. Even if you didn't like it, I didn't think it was something that should be banned. I felt like I was being told that I was doing something wrong or that I'd done something disgusting, forcing people to look at something they shouldn't have to, which annoyed me. I know that wasn't true. I was mostly surprised they reacted like that and that they didn't let me sell my jewelry.

[]

Lili Murphy-Johnson

WHAT DO YOU THINK IT IS ABOUT PERIODS IN GENERAL THAT OFFENDS PEOPLE STILL?

I don't know! I think if you have a conversation with people, they usually end up agreeing that periods aren't a big deal. But I think that if people haven't been having those kinds of conversations, they automatically think it's bad, wrong, and gross. It's just what most people are brought up to think and what society generally makes you feel like about periods unless you question it.

[]

Lili Murphy-Johnson

HOW DO YOU WANT WOMEN TO FEEL WHEN WEARING YOUR JEWELRY?

I want them to feel like they have more control on what people know about periods. They aren't something that happens on accident. I want this to be something that they actually choose to show, reclaim, and say, "Yeah, I have periods. Everyone does and this is my jewelry." People are constantly making comments about women's bodies as being beautiful but things like body hair and periods aren't classically seen as such. For some reason, it's seen as so gross, which is the complete opposite, and it's very strange.

[]

Lilli Murphy-Johnson

[]

Lilli Murphy-Johnson

WHAT'S NEXT FOR YOU?

At the moment, I'm trying to make more wearable versions of some of my pieces. I'm trying to make pieces that are more affordable. I'm also wanting to make another collection, with a different topic. I'm still in the research process, but I'm very interested in human bodies, and the awkward parts of it that aren't always appreciated or noticed.

[]

Lilli Murphy-Johnson

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO SAY TO ALL THOSE PEOPLE WHO THINK YOUR JEWELRY IS GROSS AND TABOO?

Don't judge it too quickly. They should think about what menstruation actually is and what my jewelry is saying. Is it really that wrong? Does it really need to be something that you're offended by? It's simply the reflection of my experiences with periods.

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question: What does the text say about how to be a good jewelry designer?

question: What does the text say about Lily Murphy-Johnson's motivations for her menstruation-inspired line of jewelry?

answer: Lily Murphy-Johnson is motivated by the fact that women should not be ashamed about their periods. Her mission is to shut down the notion that periods are taboo and offensive. By creating a jewelry line inspired by menstruation, she hopes to encourage women to wear their periods proudly because they are a completely normal process of womanhood. Murphy-Johnson wants women to feel like they have more control on what people know about periods.

question: What does the text say about Murphy-Johnson's new jewelry collection?

answer: Murphy-Johnson designed a new jewelry collection inspired by what women go through during menstruation. She created an entire sparkly red line of bejeweled necklaces, bracelets, pins, and rings to celebrate the beauty of menstruation. The collection of crystal-encrusted handmade pieces are priced from $38 to $1,265 and is broken up into three different stages of periods. Her necklaces represent the hormonal pain and mood swings that come with PMS. Other accessories look like period products (pads, tampons), rings are shaped like panty liners, and her pins and brooches represent the blood itself.

question: What does the text say about Murphy-Johnson's issues with Etsy?

answer: Etsy banned Murphy-Johnson's menstruation-inspired jewelry collection from their website because they viewed the images as inappropriate. She was surprised because she didn't think her work was offensive at all and that it should not have been banned. Murphy-Johnson feels like Etsy is telling her she did something wrong and disgusting, forcing people to look at something they shouldn't have to, which annoyed her.


text:
[]

Officials cut off water to San Quentin State Prison in California to squelch an outbreak of Legionnaires' disease. ROBERT GALBRAITH/REUTERS/LANDOV HIDE CAPTION

TOGGLE CAPTION

 Robert Galbraith/Reuters/Landov

[]

Officials cut off water to San Quentin State Prison in California to squelch an outbreak of Legionnaires' disease.

 Robert Galbraith/Reuters/Landov

The number of confirmed cases of Legionnaires' disease at California's San Quentin prison is holding steady at six, one of three outbreaks of Legionnaires' around the country that have sickened dozens and killed 20.

Another 95 San Quentin inmates are under observation because of respiratory illness, state officials said, but they have not been diagnosed with Legionnaires' disease. The inmates are being treated at San Quentin's medical unit.

"We've got transmission control," Dr. Steven Tharratt, director of health care operations for the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, said on KQED _Forum_ Tuesday.

Administrators at the Marin County prison are restoring some services that had been suspended, including preparation of hot meals. Inmates had been receiving boxed meals for the past several days. Last Friday, officials confirmed the first case of Legionnaires' disease at the prison. The number of cases had grown to six by Sunday.

In New York City, health officials announced Wednesday that they had detected Legionnaires' bacteria in the water in one building in the Melroses Houses complex in the South Bronx, where four people have fallen ill. Other buildings there are being tested. Since July there have been 124 cases of Legionnaires' disease at various locations the South Bronx; 12 people have died.

And in Quincy, Ill., the death toll from a Legionnaires' outbreak has risen to eight, health state officials reportedWednesday. Forty-one people have been diagnosed. Earlier cases were associated with a state veterans home there, but four new cases, including one death, are not, authorities said.

Here's what you need to know about the disease:

WHAT IS LEGIONNAIRES' DISEASE?

Legionnaires' disease is a type of pneumonia caused by the Legionella bacteria. It is not spread person-to-person. Instead, it is present in water, especially warm water, and is carried by steam and mist. San Quentin officials had shut down many plumbing systems, and suspended cooking — because steam from cooking could carry the bacteria and infect people.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, the bacteria are "one of the most frequent causes of waterborne disease among humans in the United States."

WHO IS AT RISK?

The CDC says that 8,000 to 18,000 people are hospitalized in the U.S. every year with Legionnaires' disease. (By comparison, far more people are sickened every year by the more-common pneumococcal pneumonia; it affects 900,000 people.)

Those most at risk of becoming seriously ill are:

-   People over age 50
-   Smokers
-   Those with chronic lung disease
-   People with weakened immune systems

HOW IS IT TREATED?

While Legionnaires' can be fatal, it is generally successfully treated with commonly available antibiotics.

CAN IT BE PREVENTED?

Since the Legionella bacteria are waterborne, everything from water storage towers to plumbing to hot tubs needs to be properly disinfected. Samples have been collected at San Quentin, officials say, but the source of the contamination has not yet been identified. Lab tests on those samples take about two weeks to process. In the meantime, officials are hopeful that cutting off water supplies at San Quentin stopped the outbreak.

"We believe the transmission of the organism was stopped last week," Tharratt said.

WHY IS IT CALLED LEGIONNAIRES'?

In 1976, 2,000 members of the American Legion were gathered for a big conference in Philadelphia. Many became sick with a mysterious respiratory illness. The outbreak launched a massive public health investigation, whichresulted in identificationof a new family of bacteria.

(On a historical note, in the early 1980s, those fighting for a similar public health response to another mysterious disease — one that was striking gay men — were sorely disappointed. As early as 1982, there were already significantly more deaths from what came to be called AIDS than had died in the 1976 Legionnaires' outbreak.)

WHERE ELSE HAVE LEGIONNAIRES' OUTBREAKS HAPPENED RECENTLY?

As noted, Legionnaires' disease is a fairly common illness. The Associated Press noted these outbreaks around the country this summer, in addition to the Illinois and New York outbreaks:

-   Two isolated illnesses occurred — one at Illinois' Stateville prison last month, the other in July at West Chester University in Pennsylvania.
-   High levels of Legionella bacteria were found last week in the water system at a substance abuse treatment unit in Arizona at the Phoenix Veterans Affairs Health Care System, leading authorities to relocate 20 patients. The bacteria were discovered during routine testing and no illnesses have been reported, spokeswoman Jean Schaefer said.
-   A building at a GlaxoSmithKline drug manufacturing plant in Zebulon, N.C., was closed temporarily in August after Legionella bacteria were found in the external cooling towers there; no one was sickened.

question: When was the article written?

answer: That information can't be found

question: Who published the article?

answer: Reuters

question: How many cases of Legionnaires' disease have been confirmed at San Quentin

answer: Six

question: How does Legionnaires' disease spread?

answer: Through contaminated water

question: Write a ~2 sentence summary.

answer: An outbreak of Legionnaires' disease in San Quentin Prison in California prompted officials to cut off the water supply. The inmates are receiving treatment and officials believe that transmission is now under control.


text:
CUHK MEDICAL CENTRE () is a private hospital under construction in Ma Liu Shui, Hong Kong. The 500-bed hospital will be managed and with clinical services provided by Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong.[1] The hospital is expected to start operating in 2020.[2]

Construction

The project was jointly designed by Australian-based BVN Architecture and AD+RG,[3] and constructed by China State Construction.

[1]

[2]

[3] 1

title: CUHK Medical Centre

question: What is the CUHK Medical Centre?

answer: a private hospital under construction.

question: Where is CUHK Medical Centre located?

answer: In Ma Liu Shui, Hong Kong.

question: How large is CUHK Medical Centre?

answer: A 500-bed hospital

question: When is the hospital expected to open?

answer: in 2020

question: Write a ~2 sentence summary.

answer: The CUHK Medical Centre is a private hospital under construction in Hong Kong. Its capacity will be 500 beds and was scheduled to open in 2020.


text:
[YokoDana Kimono - www.yokodana.com]

[YOKODANA KIMONO LOGO- VINTAGE JAPANESE KIMONOS & FABRICS]

YOKODANA KIMONO
WWW.YOKODANA.COM

SHIPPING FROM DELAWARE USA
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Vintage Japanese Wholesale Kimono Bundles by-Pound
 US$6.00 to US$11.50 per pound, 10lbs & Up

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NEW TO VINTAGE JAPANESE KIMONOS? IF SO, BEFORE PROCEEDING, PLEASE  READ  OVERVIEW OF BULK KIMONO PACKAGES HERE:

 HTTP://BIT.LY/BULK-KIMONO-YOKODANA

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[divider image -- please scroll down for more content]Who is YokoDana Kimono?

Yoko Lewis, doing business as YokoDana Kimono (and Yoko Trading), has been in business since 1989 and online since 1998 as a wholesale Japanese kimono and vintage Japanese fabrics dealer. With offices in Japan and Delaware, USA -- but shipping from our Delaware USA location -- we have customers all over the world and in all 50 US states. We do not have a brick and mortar physical store. We do sell things in person at select venues each spring in the Northeast Corridor USA where we sell our best vintage Japanese fabrics by piece, as well as individual vintage kimono, haori, michiyuki, yukata, hakama and our own handmade accessories (tsumami kanzashi type hair sticks & pins, scarves, purses etc.).

We sell authentic traditional vintage Japanese kimono bundles wholesale by-pound as well as traditional vintage Japanese kimono fabrics (fabric pieces & bundles of kimono scraps ) for artists and artisans, DIY crafters, designers, decorators,  theater troupes, kimono cosplay and kitsuke enthusiasts, quilters and other small businesses worldwide.

Our main product since 1998 is our bulk vintage Japanese kimono sold wholesale, packages by-pound (Used, Recycled kimono bundles,10 lbs and up) sold on this website. We also carry antique & vintage Japanese kimono fabrics by the yard and lot, country Japanese antique textiles (tsutsugaki) and handmade kimono accessories. Please see our VENUES PAGE for calendar and information.

LOCATIONS:
We have an office in Japan as well as our main office in Delaware USA; we ship from the USA office. See our _ABOUT US _page (tab) for our full story. We are happy to share the special beauty of traditional Japanese kimono, Japanese fabrics and country textiles of Japan with people all over the world via this website. _ Irrashaimase_ -- Welcome and Enjoy!

Please scroll down to see our product collections or search by keywords HERE

[divider image -- please scroll down for more content] OTHER HANDY LINKS:

-   VINTAGE JAPANESE KIMONOS PRE-PURCHASE GUIDELINES
-   NEW TO VINTAGE JAPANESE KIMONOS? CLICK-PUSH HERE
-   CLICK-PUSH HERE FOR LIST / LINKS OF ALL BULK KIMONO PACKAGES
-   VIEW OUR FACEBOOK PAGE
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question: Summarise the most interesting facts about the YokoDana Kimono business.

answer: YokoDana Kimono has been in business since 1989 and established its online wholesale store in 1998. Every spring, they sell their best vintage Japanese fabrics by piece, such as kimonos, Haori, Michiyuki, Yukata, etc., and other handmade accessories such as the tsunami kanzashi type hair sticks and pins at different venues in the Northeast Corridor U.S. To add to this, artists, artisans, decorators, designers, theatre troupes, and the like can also purchase some of their authentic traditional vintage kimono bundles wholesale at affordable rates. You can also find a bunch of used and recycled kimono bundles sold wholesale on their website.


text:
MARY KATHERINE LINAKER (July 19, 1913 – April 18, 2008) was an American actress and screenwriter who appeared in many B movies during the 1930s and 1940s, most notably _Kitty Foyle_ (1940) starring Ginger Rogers. Linaker used her married name, KATE PHILLIPS,[1] as a screenwriter, notably for the cult movie hit _The Blob_ (1958). She is credited with coining the name “The Blob” for the movie, which was originally titled “The Molten Meteor”.[2]

Biography

Linaker was born in Pine Bluff, Arkansas and graduated from a private school in Connecticut and from New York University. She went on to attend the American Academy of Dramatic Arts.[3]

Linaker acted in supporting roles on Broadway before signing a film contract with Warner Bros.[4] She was signed by the studio after a talent scout saw her in _Jackson White_ at the Providencetown Theater.[5] Her Broadway credits included _Every Man for Himself_ (1940), and _Yesterday's Orchids_ (1934).[6] She briefly changed her name to LYNN ACKER “for screen purposes”,[7] but she soon dropped that name.[8] Most of her film work had her in limited roles, with her one leading role coming in _The Girl from Mandalay_ (1936).[9] Her screen debut was in _From this Dark Stairway_ (1935).[10]

Linaker wrote for the Voice of America during World War II in addition to working for the Red Cross.[11]

She later taught in the film studies department at Keene State College in New Hampshire from 1980 to 2006.[12]

From the 1960s to her death, Linaker dedicated much of her time supporting the children at Hampshire Country School in Rindge, New Hampshire. Linaker volunteered countless hours over the many years as English teacher and drama coach at the very small private school for twice exceptional children whose alumni include Temple Grandin.

Personal life

Linaker was married to Howard Phillips, who initially was a singer and writer but later worked as an executive with NBC television.[13]

Death

On April 18, 2008, Linaker died in Keene, New Hampshire.[14]

Partial filmography

-   _The Murder of Dr. Harrigan_ (1936) - Sally Keating
-   _Road Gang_ (1936) - Barbara Winston
-   _The Girl from Mandalay_ (1936) - Jeanie Barton
-   _Easy Money_ (1936) - Carol Carter
-   _Crack-Up_ (1936) - Mrs. Fleming
-   _The Outer Gate_ (1937) - Lois Borden
-   _Black Aces_ (1937) - Sandy McKenzie
-   _Charlie Chan at Monte Carlo_ (1937) - Joan Karnoff
-   _Personal Secretary_ (1938) - Flo Sampson
-   _The Last Warning_ (1938) - Carla Rodriguez
-   _I Am a Criminal_ (1938) - Linda La Rue
-   _Trade Winds_ (1938) - Grace (uncredited)
-   _Young Mr. Lincoln_ (1939) - Mrs. Edwards (uncredited)
-   _Charlie Chan in Reno_ (1939) - Mrs. Russell
-   _Man About Town_ (1939) - Receptionist (uncredited)
-   _Hotel for Women_ (1939) - Jane (uncredited)
-   _Girl from Rio_ (1939) - Vicki
-   _Charlie Chan at Treasure Island_ (1939) - Egyptian Princess Ectoplasm (uncredited)
-   _Drums Along the Mohawk_ (1939) - Mrs. Demooth
-   _Heaven with a Barbed Wire Fence_ (1939) - Nurse
-   _Hidden Enemy_ (1940) - Sonia Manning
-   _Green Hell_ (1940) - Woman in Cafe (uncredited)
-   _Free, Blonde and 21_ (1940) - Mrs. John Crane
-   _Buck Benny Rides Again_ (1940) - Brenda Tracy
-   _Charlie Chan's Murder Cruise_ (1940) - Mrs. Pendleton
-   _Sandy Is a Lady_ (1940) - Mrs. Porter, Writer's Wife
-   _Mystery Sea Raider_ (1940) - Flossie La Mare
-   _Kitty Foyle_ (1940) - Veronica Strafford
-   _The Invisible Woman_ (1940) - Showroom Buyer (uncredited)
-   _They Dare Not Love_ (1941) - Barbara Murdock
-   _Blood and Sand_ (1941) - Guest of Doña Sol (uncredited)
-   _Charlie Chan in Rio_ (1941) - Helen Ashby
-   _Private Nurse_ (1941) - Helene
-   _Married Bachelor_ (1941) - Minor Role (uncredited)
-   _Moon Over Her Shoulder_ (1941) - Radio Hostess (uncredited)
-   _Cadet Girl_ (1941) - Minor Role (scenes deleted)
-   _Glamour Boy_ (1941) - Mrs. Emily Colder
-   _Remember the Day_ (1941) - Society Reporter (uncredited)
-   _A Close Call for Ellery Queen_ (1942) - Margo Rogers
-   _The Night Before the Divorce_ (1942) - Hedda Smythe
-   _Men of Texas_ (1942) - Mrs. Sarah Olsen
-   _Orchestra Wives_ (1942) - Margie (uncredited)
-   _War Dogs_ (1942) - Joan Allen
-   _Pittsburgh_ (1942) - Secretary (uncredited)
-   _Happy Go Lucky_ (1943) - Suzanne (uncredited)
-   _Cinderella Swings It_ (1943) - Madame Dolores
-   _Two Weeks to Live_ (1943) - Mrs. Madge Carmen
-   _The More the Merrier_ (1943) - Miss Allen (uncredited)
-   _Let's Face It_ (1943) - Canteen Hostess (uncredited)
-   _Wintertime_ (1943) - Wife (uncredited)
-   _Lady in the Dark_ (1944) - Liza's Mother
-   _Men on Her Mind_ (1944) - Eloise Palmer
-   _It Happened Tomorrow_ (1944) - Anniversary Party Attendee (uncredited)
-   _Laura_ (1944) - Woman (uncredited)
-   _Here Come the Waves_ (1944) - Pretty Woman (uncredited)
-   _Bring On the Girls_ (1945) - Commander's Wife (uncredited) (final film role)

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

[11]

[12]

[13]

[14]

title: Kay Linaker

question: Summarize Linaker's career outside of the film industry.

answer: Linaker wrote for the Voice of America during World War II and also worked for the Red Cross. She taught in the film studies department at Keene State College in New Hampshire. She also volunteered as an English teacher and drama coach at Hampshire Country School in Rindge, New Hampshrie.

question: Summarize Linaker's career during the 1930s.

answer: She appeared in many B movies during the 1930s. Her Broadway credits include Yesterday's Orchids (1934). Her screen debut was in From this Dark Stairway in 1935. Throughout the 1930s she appeared in films such as Road Gang, Black Aces, and Girl from Rio.

question: Summarize Linaker's film career during the 1960s.


text:
The 1908 IAAUS BASEBALL SEASON, play of college baseball in the United States organized by the Intercollegiate Athletic Association of the United States (IAAUS), a forerunner of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), began in the spring of 1908. Play largely consisted of regional matchups, some organized by conferences, and ended in June. No national championship event was held until 1947.[1]

Conference Changes

-   The Missouri Valley Conference played its first season of baseball. Members included Drake, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, and Washington University. No champion was recorded for the 1908 season.[2]

Conference winners

This is a partial list of conference champions from the 1908 season.

  Conference   Regular Season Winner
  ------------ -----------------------
  Big Nine
  SIAA         Georgia

Award winners

All-Southern team

[1]

[2]

title: 1908 IAAUS baseball season

question: In what season did the 1908 IAAUS Baseball Season begin?

answer: Spring.

question: What does IAAUS stand for?

answer: Intercollegiate Athletic Association of the United States.

question: What institution replaced IAAUS?

answer: NCAA.

question: What does NCAA stand for?

answer: The National Collegiate Athletic Association.

question: Write a ~1 sentence summary.

answer: This article is about the IAAUS Baseball season of 1908.


text:
BRUCE BENDERSON (born August 6, 1946) is an American author, born to parents of Russian Jewish descent, who lives in New York. He attended William Nottingham High School (1964) in Syracuse, New York and then Binghamton University (1969). He is today a novelist, essayist, journalist and translator, widely published in France, less so in the United States.

In 2004, Benderson's lengthy erotic memoir _Autobiographie érotique_, about a nine-month sojourn in Romania, won the prestigious French literary prize, the Prix de Flore.[1] The book was published in the United States (Tarcher/Penguin) and the United Kingdom (Snow Books) in 2006 under the title _The Romanian: Story of an Obsession_.

Benderson's book-length essay, _Toward the New Degeneracy_ (1997), looks at New York’s Times Square, where rich and poor once mixed in a lively atmosphere of drugs, sex, and commerce. Benderson argues that this kind of mingling of classes has been the source of many modern avant-garde movements, and he laments the disappearance of that particular milieu.[2] His novel _User_ (1994) is a lyrical descent into the world of junkies and male hustlers.[3] He is also the author of _James Bidgood_ (Taschen, 1999), about the maker of the cult film _Pink Narcissus_.

A book-length essay by Benderson, _Sexe et Solitude,_ about the extinction of urban space and the rise of the Internet, was published in French in 1999. A collection of his essays, published under the title _Attitudes,_ appeared in French in 2006. These essays, along with 'Sexe et Solitude' and 'Toward the New Degeneracy,' were printed in America in a nonfiction anthology of Benderson's writings entitled _Sex and Isolation_ (University of Wisconsin Press, 2007), which was cited as one of the 10 best university press books of the year by the magazine _Foreword._ The year 2007 also saw the publication in French (Editions Payot & Rivages) of a new novel by Benderson called “Pacific Agony,” a caustic satire of life in America's Pacific Northwest, as well as Benderson's personal illustrated encyclopedia of the 60s and 70s, _Concentré de contreculture_ (Editions Scali), published in French only. The novel _Pacific Agony_ was published in English by Semiotext(e)/MIT Press in fall 2009. In 2014, Semiotext(e))/MIT Press also published Benderson's controversial 60-page essay, _Against Marriage,_ as part of a collection exhibited at the 2014 Whitney Museum Biennial.[4] A French edition of the book has been planned.

Benderson's shorter literary efforts have been published in _Between C & D_, _3:AM Magazine_, _American Letters and Commentary_, _Men on Men_ and _Flesh and the Word_.[5]

As a journalist, he has written on squatters for the _New York Times Magazine_,[6] boxing for the _Village Voice_, unusual shelters for _nest_, the art of translation for The Wall Street Journal, and film, books, and culture for various other publications, including “Paris Vogue,” “Vogue Hommes,” French “GQ,” “Libération,” _Out_, _The Stranger_, _New York Press_, _BlackBook_ magazine, and _Paper_. He has translated numerous books of French origin, including Virginie Despentes' novel _Baise Moi_[7] (which was later adapted into a controversial film); the writers Robbe-Grillet, Pierre Guyotat, Sollers, Benoît Duteurtre, Grégoire Bouillier, Philippe Djian, Martin Page and Nelly Arcan; and, though it is quite far away from his usual subject matter, the autobiography of Céline Dion. In 2007, his translation of Tony Duvert's _Le bon sexe illustré_ (_Good Sex Illustrated_) was published by Semiotext(e)/MIT Press. A second book by Duvert he has translated, entitled _Diary of An Innocent,_ was released by the same publisher in 2009. His translation of David Foenkinos's novel, _Delicacy,_ was released in December 2011 by Harper Perennial. In 2014, Benderson began working on the translation of a 1,000-page biography of the filmmaker Jean Renoir by Pascal Mérigeau.

Benderson is the literary executor of the deceased novelist, Ursule Molinaro. He is mentioned in Frédéric Beigbeder's most recent book, _Windows on the World_. In 2006, he became a publishing associate at Virgin Books USA and later worked developing projects and editing proposals for the literary agent David Vigliano. He has taught at the maverick ranch college, Deep Springs, on three separate occasions. From 2008 to 2013, he wrote a monthly column, in French, for the magazine, _Têtu._ For his French publisher he completed a book about the future interfacing of biology and technology and the notion of The Singularity, as developed by Ray Kurzweil. The book is called _Transhumain_ and was published by Editions Payot & Rivages in late October 2010.

[1] http://www.litpark.com/2006/10/04/bruce-benderson/

[2] http://uwpress.wisc.edu/books/4398.htm

[3] http://www.asjournal.org/50-2007/the-landscapes-of-gay-outlaw-writingiting/

[4]

[5] http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/213094.Bruce_Benderson

[6] https://www.nytimes.com/1996/03/24/magazine/l-squatter-chic-023990.html

[7] http://www.groveatlantic.com/?title=Baise-Moi+(Rape+Me)

title: Bruce Benderson

question: What are the many occupations of Bruce Benderson?

answer: The many occupations of Bruce Benderson are novelist, essayist, journalist, and translator.

question: Why did Bruce Benderson win the prestigious French literary prize?

answer: Bruce Benderson won the prestigious French literary prize for his lenghty erotic memoir he wrote.

question: Has Bruce Benderson translated books?

answer: Yes, Bruce Benderson has translated numerous books of French origin.


text:
It is the summer of 1999 and I am young and I am alive. My sister and I are racing outside now, our bare and naked feet fly across the hardwood floor and onto our tired deck. My prescient mother, resting in a green plastic chair, is already waiting for the two of us to dart into the nightly confines of our very Philadelphian backyard. She’s looking at the pair of us, her smile the starting pistol to an evening of adventure.

I’m grabbing a glass jar and tossing one to my younger sister now. Her and I now dash down the few steps of our porch and step onto our playing field. I can see them all, now. The lightning bugs. They dot our lawn like incandescent snowflakes, occasionally lifting off to find a new temporary resting place. I can almost hear the beat of a thousand tiny wings right now. There must be hundreds here. They paint our yard now, never satisfied with their place on the canvas.

But this wonder is nothing new to my sister and I. We have done this as far as my memory will stretch. We’re dashing off in different directions now, as to cover the most ground. There isn’t a second to waste, not a moment to spare—I’m not sure how much longer the fireflies will glow for us. Now that I’m over by the big tree at the edge of the lawn, I can begin my work.

A particularly gleaming bug is drifting past my eyes right now. I’m going to turn my jar to the side, very carefully now, and… *got him*. Quickly I’m screwing the lid back on my jar. I eye my twinkling prize. It’s crawling on the side of my jar now, exploring his new home, I’m sure. I can’t think of a name for him quite yet, but there will be time for formalities later. Right now I need to continue the hunt.

Bending down now I scoop up a bug at my feet. I’m feeling the minuscule legs of the thing tickle my palm now. I’m assessing my catch. This one is too small. It simply will not do. It needs to grow and mature before I could even consider capturing this luminous soul. I’m going to let it go. I open my palm and it flits away from me, surely rejoining his glowing brethren but this time with a story to tell.

My baby sister and I are darting across our lawn, back and forth now, for what has seemed like only a few moments. We’re laughing, enthralled in the beauty and wonderment of the scene.

“Hey, Dea, I found a really big one right here!” I’m exclaiming to my sister now.

“Fabio, Fabio, I see a really bright one! Come here!” She’s yelling back.

It hasn’t been long but our game is over now. We’re saying good night to the fireflies now and sprinting back up to our wood deck, exhausted from the chase but running on an adrenaline high. I briefly and proudly show my mom the night’s catch and before she can say ‘Oh, wow,’ I’ve already begun staring at my jar, full of little lightning bugs. It’s glowing bright, my suburban lantern.

My usual request to bring the jar inside has been denied again, per usual. Now it’s time for me to make this glass jar for my lightning bugs a home. I’m poking tiny holes in the top of the jar using a pen now so they can breath. I’m going to place some grass in too so they have food. What a nice home I’ve made for Steven, Ross, Fireman, Lightdude, Ember, Doug, Nick, and Eric. *I’m going to say good night to you now, little guys. I’ll see you in the morning!*

Morning is here now and I’m running outside to check on my prized jar. Only one of my fireflies is alive now. He’s slowly crawling across the bottom of the glass, navigating through the bodies of his mothers, brothers, sisters, aunts. His belly is smoldering ever so dimly now, barely casting a light in this hot morning sun. I don’t think they liked the grass I gave them, either.

“Mom, why do my bugs always die in the morning? I even gave them grass this time.” I’m asking my poor mother now.

“Because…” She begins. “Because their light only burns for a night. They burn bright and hot, some more bright than others. Their bellies are big and glow at night but it will only last for so long. In the morning their lightbulb burns out and they die. Their lightbulb burns out, that’s all.”

Shaking my now lifeless and lightless jar out into the yard now, I’m wondering how bright my lightbulb will burn.

title: Bottling up lightning

question: What is the overriding theme of this passage?

answer: Death and the impermanence of life.


text:
[A Slip Gate pier with its rebated grooves at the Greenbank Garden, Glasgow.] SLIP GATES,[1] also known as STANG STOOPS,[2][3] YATSTEADS [4] or STANG POLE GATEWAYS[5] are a form of simple gate that once commonly in Europe controlled access to fields, lanes, etc. using removable cross-bars and two fixed posts, often of stone. The usually wood spars or stangs[6] were slotted into grooves cut into the stone piers[7] and held firmly in place at one end with wedges[8] and on the other end by being placed in a deep square or circular socket. Most other gates are formed of a fuller frame; many instead have hinges.

History

The 'Slip Gate' etc. is a refinement of the 'Slap' gate that simply used spars that were slotted into hedgerow trees or dry stone dykes without purpose made piers[9] and as these were still in use in the mid 20th century[10] it is difficult to date when 'Slip Gates' were first used, however all field enclosures required gates and therefore they could date back as far as the Iron Age, however many might be only medieval, whilst others could date from the 19th century Enclosure Acts.[11] The name 'Slip Gate' probably derives from the spars being 'slipped' into place.

Structure and function

[Slip gate pier with unusual groove shapes.] [Slip gate pier with notches for gate spars.] Quite apart from the farmers own needs for movement of stock, machines and people between fields and access from roads, lanes etc. it was also a requirement for those using rights of way that gates and stiles whilst being stock proof do not “_..present troublesome hindrances to passage._”[12] The width of the opening was usually enough to allow a pedestrian, a packhorse or a horse and cart through.[13]

Gate piers or stoops

The stone used for the piers or stoups[14] ranges from heavy granite, slate or limestone through to lighter more easily worked red sandstone with varying degrees of dressing or finish and decorative embellishment. A typical pier or stoop might be seven foot long in total, sometimes tapering to the top and the grooved side may have a wider face than the sides. The gate pier shape may also be a square sided column.

These piers have to be solidly constructed and set into the ground by at least 2 ft 6in. as well as sometimes being packed with stones.[15]

Slip gate piers at the National Museum of Rural Life's Wester Kittochside Farm were two sided with 'L' shaped grooves on one side and square sockets on the other.

Grooves

[Detail of 'L' shaped grooves.] [Detail of square sockets.] The rebated grooves where the wedge was inserted were either 'L' shaped, rarely like a 'Y' with one branch missing or even 'U' shaped.[16] Usually the grooves faced the same direction although some examples (see photograph) have the centre groove facing the other direction that were used between fields so that the centre spar would resist being dislodged from the other side.[17] The grooves were cut quite deeply to reduce the chance of the spar becoming dislodged. The grooves were sometimes neatly cut with the skill of a stonemason or rather roughly formed by farm workers, etc.

The 'L' shaped groove entrances would face the field so that the stock could not push the spars out of the slots.[18] A second type of rebated slot was sometimes used and this was ‘U’ shaped, with the depth of the rebate getting gradually deeper with one of the gate piers leaning backwards to create a ‘wedge’ shape that allowed the poles to sit securely.[19]

Spars

[Hinge and 'L' groove gate, Hoddom Mains.] The spars, bars or stangs[20] were usually made of wood and were first inserted into the socket before being slipped into the groove and then held firmly in place by a wedge.[21]

One advantage of slip gates was that a couple of the lower spars could be removed to permit the free movement of sheep whilst still restricting the passage of larger stock such as cattle and cattle.[22]

Variants

In Cumberland at Borrowdale a variant on the more common design is found made from slate with five or holes in each gate pier through which the wood spars were placed.[23] Some examples had a circular hole in one pier and a square hole in the other so that the spars could not rotate and work loose.[24][25] An example at Hoddom Mains Farm in Dumfriesshire had a hinge on one side and 'L' shaped grove for horizontal extensions of the gate.

Abandonment

[Gate pier with square notches.] [Gate pier with 'L' shaped rebated slots.] The drawback with 'Slip Gates' was the wear and tear at the ends of the wood spars leading to failure of one or more when placed under stress, a problem not encountered with hinged frame-style gates. Some slip gate piers were adapted for use as standard field gates with holes cut through for a pair of hinges and a latch.[26]

Slaps

These were the forerunner of both hinged gates and 'Slip Gates' and were merely wood spars or branches placed across a gap in a hedge or dyke with the spars held in place by the hedge or by the stones. Great care was required when replacing the spars to ensure that they were stock proof.[27] especially as in times past footfall in the countryside was much greater with many more farm workers and also locals foraging for foods such as mushrooms, watercress, brambles, etc.[28] 'Slaps' were still in use up until the mid 20th century.[29]

They are mentioned by Robert Burns in his poem “Tam o Shanter”:

+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| We think na on the lang Scots miles,                                  |
| The mosses, waters, slaps, and styles,                                |
| That lie between us and our hame,                                     |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+

[1] Clifford

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9] Brown, p.43

[10]

[11]

[12] Grigson, p.158

[13]

[14]

[15]

[16]

[17]

[18]

[19]

[20]

[21] Dacre Walks

[22]

[23]

[24]

[25]

[26]

[27]

[28]

[29]

title: Slip gate

question: Define Slip Gates.

answer: Also known as stang stoops, yasteads, or stang pole gateways, are a form of simple gate that was common in Europe used to control access to fields, lanes, etc. using removable wooden cross-bars (spars or stangs) and two fixed posts or piers, which were often made of stone. The wood spars were slotted into grooves cut into the stone piers and held firmly in place at one end by wedges and on the other end by deep square or circular sockets.

question: What materials were used for the piers or stoups?

answer: Heavy granite, slate, limestone, red sandstone

question: How deep in the ground did the piers need to be for better stability?

answer: At least 2'6" into the ground

question: When was Slip Gates first used?

answer: The author speculates that slip gates have been around since the Iron Age because all field enclosures required gates.

question: Write a ~4 sentence summary.

answer: Slip gates, also known as Stang stoops, yasteads, or stang pole gateways, were an ancient and simple form of gates commonly used in Europe as far back as the Iron Age. Slip gates were used to control access to fields, lanes, etc. using removable wooden cross-bars known as "spars" or "stangs" and two fixed posts or "piers", which were often made of stone, commonly heavy granite, slate, limestone, or red sandstone. The wood spars were slotted into grooves cut into the stone piers and clamped in place at one end by wedges and on the other end by deep square or circular sockets.


text:
March 2021-

The MC just finished summarizing the operation,
calling it "The most successful infantry op of the 21st century"

     I'm the only man in the ballroom not wearing the Army Service Uniform.
It's a small gathering, just a platoon, a small platoon of thrity men or so.
The only reason why I was here is because of my job. I'm the MI liason for
the CIA, providing key information to SF and Infantry units. I provided the
information on this op, and I know now that I'll live to forget it.

      There was a silence, then a young corporal stood up and spoke.

"To Lieutenant Morton! For his leadership got the job done, and kept us alive!
To John!"

The audience followed suit. "To John!"

I raised my glass half-heartedly, knowing that I have ruined that man's life forever.
The festivities began, and I stood up. I walked towards the officer's table. He was
surrounded by his family, and the family of his late Platoon Sergeant. It's been almost fifteen
years since I've seen John. He was my best friend through Junior high and high school years.
I haven't spoken with him since we left for college.

I got medically declined  my third year of ROTC in college. He was commissioned top of his
class at West Point, class of 2019.  So I got a job at the CIA, serving and working as close
to the army as I could, working as a mission spook. In a way, we were doing the same job,
except I made two hundred thousand dollars a year versus his fifty-three.

I tapped his shoulder.

"John? John Morton?" I asked in confirmation of his name.

"Yes" He replied.

John didn't look like he was in his twenties at all. He had a long, jagged scar across his face,
and mutliple pale patches of skin on his right hand, making the skin grafts noticable. His left
hand, there was no left hand. A metal plastic prosthetic replaced his missing flesh.

"Who are you?"  He asked, looking at my face intently, like I looked familiar.

"I'm Matthew Magee, the spook." Smiling afterwards.

John excused himself from the table and walked with me to an empty table.

"Matt! Damn! It's been years since we've talked. What's going on?"

The man who had once been my best friend in school at been shot at, blasted at,
and gave his right hand for his country, yet he was still lively and friendly as he
was in school. My eyes watered as we talked about our lives. The family, the army life,
spook life, and eventually the mission that we had just taken part of.  There was a
brief pause in the conversation. He then spoke.

"Thanks for the info you gave us. You got most of us out of there alive--"

A tear rolled down my eye.
He stopped talking and asked me what was wrong.
I pointed to his prosthetic. I blinked back my tears and cleared my throat.
"John, the mines...." I paused. "I knew about them. I tried to tell your Platoon
Sergeant, but I was cut off by radio security procedures. Then the mines went off."

He put his left hand on my shoulder. He and shared tears that only combat veterans
can share. Serving the country, the guilt of alternative service.

title: The Guilt of Alternative Service

question: What is the central theme of the story?

answer: It's about being compatriots with a common cause, bonding over the sacrifices made, and the guilt of inadvertently causing harm.

question: Explain the protagonist's regret.

answer: He knew about the mines in the operation he partook but couldn't deliver the information to his long-lost high school friend due to equipment failure. His friend lost a hand because of that.

question: What's the protagonist's job?

answer: He's a spy for the CIA, working closely with the US Army.

question: What is the relation between the protagonist and Lieutenant Morton?

answer: They were best friends in high school but lost contact afterward. The protagonist supplied critical information in an infantry operation Lt. Morton lost a hand.

question: Write a ~4 sentence summary.

answer: At a small gathering of a platoon, the protagonist is the only one without a uniform. He's a spy for the CIA and supplies mission information to infantry. In his last job, security protocols required him to withhold information about the mines which caused his best friend from high school who was deployed there to lose a hand. He apologizes to him, and the two share tears as combat veterans.


text:
RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY is a stop on the Region of Waterloo's Ion rapid transit system.[1] It is located on the Waterloo Spur rail line in Waterloo, between Bearinger Road and Columbia Street, near a prominent bend in Wes Graham Way. It opened in 2019.

It serves its namesake, the David Johnston Research and Technology Park, to the west, and the industrial lands along Philip Street to the east (via a pedestrian pathway).

Access to the platform from the south is only from the Wes Graham Way side; to the north, the only exit is the pathway to Philip Street.

The southbound track is also used by freight trains on the Waterloo Spur line, which serves industrial locations in Elmira. These trains only run in the overnight hours after LRT service has halted. To protect the station structure (and the trains themselves), a gauntlet track is in place alongside this station that offsets the freight track a small distance.

The station's feature wall consists of ceramic tiles in a solid red.

In the summer of 2020, the land between the platform and Wes Graham Way was converted into a park-like community space with landscaping, paths and benches.[2]

The station was to feature two artworks: _Network_ by Ken Hall, a sculpture about connections supporting technological development, and _The Passenger_ by Brandon Vickerd, a bronze figure to invite thoughtful reflection on the human relationship to nature.[3] _Network_ was cancelled when the artist was unable to complete the work due to other commitments;[4] _The Passenger_ was installed in October 2020.[5]

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

title: Research and Technology station

question: What year did the research and technology station open?

answer: 2019.

question: What park is on the west side of the station?

answer: The David Johnston Research and Technology Park.

question: Explain the feature wall.

answer: The station's feature wall consists of solid red ceramic tiles.

question: List the art features installed in the station.

answer: The Passenger by Brandon Vickerd.

question: In what country is this station located?

answer: The text doesn't say.

question: Write a ~1 sentence summary.

answer: This text briefly introduces the Research and Technology rail station, completed in 2019, which is a part of Waterloo Region's ion rapid transit system.


text:
A shrill tone filled the room, jolting Jim awake. A sense of mild panic gripped him as he thrashed around the bed looking for the source of the noise that sounded as if it could peel paint off walls if applied in the correct manner. His hand searched the spot on his nightstand where he usually kept his phone, but his fingers only grasped at empty space. His foggy brain finally determined that the sound was not coming from the usual spot on the nightstand, but rather it was directly next to his left ear.

At this point he opened his eyes, which felt like they were glued together with the remants of sleep goo. He jabbed at the phone screen until he finally made the correct gesture and the room was blanketed in silence. He wondered if the alarm had woken up his roomate Jed, who was in the next room over. Jed was a nice guy and rarely complained, but he didn’t get home from his shift at a distribution warehouse until about 4:30am most days, and then 3 days a week he had to be up by 8:00am in order to be on time for class at the local community college.

Jim couldn’t help but feel bad for the guy, he had next to no free time, yet he was almost always upbeat and cheery, both of which were things Jim could rarely manage. As he was pondering the complexities of living with roomates, his brain connected on where he had found his phone. Suddenly fully awake, he sat bolt upright and looked at the screen and saw the battery status was a red 8%.
“Shit.”
He must have fallen asleep browsing Reddit again. He plugged in the charger, knowing it wasn’t going to do much good since he had to be out the door in a little over 10 minutes in order to catch the bus to work. The phone reported that it was 6:34am, meaning his morning routine was already behind schedule by about 1 minute. Jed’s routine was scripted down to the minute, there was very little time for deviation.

He plugged int the water boiler for his breakfast, but noticed he had forgot to fill it up with water the night before.
“Shit.” This time a little louder.

The floor creaked as he brought the boiler with him to the bathroom and set it under the faucet while he relieved himself of the liquid built up from the night. Instead of walking back down the hall risking waking up his room mates, he plugged it in in the bathroom so it could start warming up while he went through the motions of shaving, brushing, washing his face, and applying various scented products. This part of the routine usually took about 5 minutes if everything went smoothly, which thankfully seemed to be the case today.

The "ready" light wasn't on yet, but he unplugged the water boiler and walked as quietly as possible down the hall back to his
bedroom. Plugging it back in would probably not accomplish much, so he crunched up a package of ramen noodles and emptied it into a large ceramic mug, and then poured the lukewarm liquid into the mug over the noodles.

He glanced at battery indicator on his phone, which now showed 7%.
“Shit!” He wasn’t expecting it to charge much, but he sure as well wasn’t expecting it to drain more! He looked at the charger and noticed he could see exposed metal wire at the point where the wire portion of the cable connected to the hard plastic connector. As he touched the connection, the phone made a “boo-beep” noise about 3 times and he watched as the charging icon on the phone flickered on and off.
“Fucking shit!” He had been putting off getting a new charging cable, and was obviously paying for that decision this morning. “Well, can’t do anything about it now.” He mumbled to himself.
He kicked at a pile of clothes in the corner of the room and found a shirt and pants he had only worn a few times and put them on. “Nothing a quick spray of cologne can’t fix” he thought to himself. He grabbed the warm mug of noodles, wallet, and nearly dead phone and headed out the door. Despite a few setbacks, he walked out the front door of house at exactly 6:45, and couldn’t help but feel good about that.

The walk to the bus stop took about 10 minutes. It was only 3 blocks down and if he hurried he could probably cut the time down to 2-3 minutes, but this was just about the only part of the day he had to himself where he could think in peace, so he took his time.

He walked up to the bus stop right at 6:58. He was early but he could already tell he might as well have taken 10 more minutes to have a real breakfast judging by the snarl of cars, busses, and pedestrians clogging up the street. Finding a seat under the bustop shelter was beyond useless at this time of the day, so he stood by with his back against the wall of the closest building. He noticed a familiar face staring out into nowhere about 6 feet away. He didn’t know the guy, but he saw him falmost every morning. Jim made nodded at his nameless traveling companion, who then returned the gesture.

Traffic was insane, he hadn’t seen it quite this bad before. It was always bad, but there must have been some kind of accident somewhere, which caused a chain reaction that rippled throughout the city, causing the mood of anyone caught in its path to sour.

As he contemplated the mathmatics of traffic, he heard a bus whisper up to the stop. He didn’t bother to look, he could tell by the sound it was one of the private busses that used the busstop. One of the people standing in the crowd stepped forward and boarded. The bus whisked off with surprising speed, only to have another bus that looked almost identical take it’s place.

This time about 4 people slowly made their way towards the bus. They were all wearing what Jim had started to think of as the Tech Uniform, which usually consisted of jeans, a t-shirt that had some retro brand or defunct video game system plastered on it, and of course some sort of shiny gadget either in their hand, ear, face, or even both hands. He watched as they ambled towards the bus and boarded, the tinted windows blocking his view of the interior, but not before he could see the first row of empty reclining seats. He couldn’t help but feel a pang of jealousy, but his thoughts quickly turned back to intricacies of the cracks in the sidewalk.

He turned his gaze down the street, and could see 3 other private busses lined up in the traffic that he knew would be stopping here. He let his thoughts wander as the cycle of a buses pulled up and left. Only one more person was able to take advantage of the private busses, despite 2 more stopping.

Finally he heard the signature sound of the citiy public bus. It roared up to the bus stop and stopped abruptly with brakes squealing and spewing a cloud of diesel exhaust that lingered over the busstop. The remaining 15 or so people waiting crowded around the door, jostling to get a good position. The doors opened with a whoosh and passengers started climbing on, their electronic bus passes beeping as they entered and tried to find a place to stand among the already crowded interior.

Except for one.There is always one person that doesn't have a an electronic pass, and starts digging in their pockets, looking for the $1.50 for the fare. Today the driver was in no mood for slow passengers. As the hapless person stood there counting change, without about 5 people still waiting to get on, the drive finally just said in exasperated manner, “Just get on the damn bus man! I ain’t got time for this shit.” The sound of coins could be heard falling and rolling around the floor, but no one made a move to pick them up. The startled passenger looked up with a wounded expression, and then quickly scurried towards the back of the bus. The remaining passengers filtered in, the beep sounding for each one.

title: The Bus

question: Summarize Jim's negative interactions with people.

question: What does the text say about traffic?

answer: Jim notes that he should have just eaten breakfast due to the unusual traffic that was clogging the street with cars, busses, and pedestrians. He tries to calculate how this happened, and figures an accident could have caused the traffic. He waits for his bus, but sees 3 other busses lining the street. When he's on the bus the bus driver is in no mood for slow passengers, presumably due to the traffic.

question: Summarize Jim's routine before he goes to the bus.

answer: Jim starts his scripted routine by looking at and charging his phone at around 6:30AM. He boils water for ramen while he relieves himself, brushes his teeth, shaves, and washes his face. He then gets dressed. Before walking to the bus stop, he grabs his ramen, wallet, and phone. He's able to do all of this in just 10 minutes.

question: Summarize Jim's thoughts on Jed.

answer: Jed is Jim's roommate. Jim finds Jed to be a nice guy who doesn't complain much despite the exhausting schedule he has. Jim feels bad for him due to this, as he has no free time. He's impressed by Jed's ability to stay upbeat and positive regardless.


text:
DANYLO (ANDRIY) OSTROZKY (, , died after 1366) was probably Prince of Turaŭ, first Prince of Ostroh, and founder of the Ostrozky House.

Biography

It is not clear whether he was descendant of Pinsk–Turaŭ or Galicia–Volhynia branch of the Rurikid Dynasty. Some scholars claim that his grandfather was Vasilko Romanovich, Prince of Slonim and direct descendant of Roman of Galicia, others however claim his origin in line of Sviatopolk II of Kiev and suppose that his father was Danylo Dmytrovych.[1] Kasper Niesiecki, an 18th-century writer, reported that “_Daniel Vasilievich, son of Daniel of Galicia`s brother, first started to call himself Prince of Ostrog_”.[2] He could be also direct grandson of Daniel of Galicia and son of Mstislav Danilovich.[3]

Adam Naruszewicz wrote that Danylo Ostrozky was starost of Przemyśl, officer of Casimir III the Great when he inherited Galicia after the death of Boleslaw-Yuri II of Galicia.[4] Daniel was probably only temporary supporting King Casimir, because in 1344 he called the Tatars to fight for Galicia in the Galicia–Volhynia Wars,[5] like Dmytro Dedko who died in the same year. Finally Prince Danylo allied to Liubartas who also rivaled for Galicia with Tatars, Poles and Hungarians. He received Ostroh from Liubartas, King of Galicia–Volhynia,[6] where he rebuilt the castle destroyed by the Tatars.

Was married to Wassilisa (?), father of Feodor Ostrozky and probably Wasyl.[7]

[1] Ostrozky in the Encyclopedia of Ukraine, vol. 3 (1993)

[2]  [http://www.google.pl/books?id=A_YKAAAAIAAJ&pg=RA3-PA52&dq=daniel+Ostrogski&lr=&hl=en Opis starożytnéy Polski by Tomasz Święcki]

[3]  [http://www.google.pl/books?id=ATQEAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA307&dq=Daniel+Ostrogski&lr=&hl=en#PPA307,M1 Wołyń pod względem statystycznym, historycznym i archeologicznym]

[4] [http://www.google.pl/books?id=aPYKAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA272&dq=daniel+Ostrogski&lr=&hl=en#PPA81,M1 Historya narodu polskiego By Adam Naruszewicz]

[5] [http://www.google.pl/books?id=5qsqAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA90&dq=Daniel+Ostrogski&lr=&hl=en Biblioteka Ossolińskich]

[6]

[7] [http://www.google.pl/books?id=qw4SAAAAIAAJ&q=Daniel+Ostrogski&dq=Daniel+Ostrogski&lr=&hl=en&pgis=1 Miesie̜cznik heraldyczny 1931y]

title: Danylo Ostrozky

question: Summarize the relationship between Danylo and Galicia.

answer: Danylo seems to have been possibly related to several important people from Galicia. Danylo also inherited Galicia after the death of Boleslaw-Yuri of Galicia. In 1344, he called the Tatars to fight for Galicia in the Galicia-Volhynia Wars.

question: What does the text say about Danylo's family?

answer: Danylo may have been a descendent of Pinsk-Turau or the Galicia-Volhynia branch of the Rurikad Dynasty. One grandfather may have been Daniel of Galicia, and the other grandfather may have been Vasilko Romanovich, a direct descendent of Roman of Galicia, but others claim his origin was in the line of Sviatopolk II of Kiev. His father may have been Danylo Dmytrovych, or he was son to Mstislav Danilovich. Danylo was married to Wassilisa, father of Feodor Ostrozky, and maybe Wasyl.

question: What does the text say about Danylo's duties?

answer: Danylo was possible the Prince of Turau, first Prince of Ostroh, and the founded of the Ostrozky House. He was starost of Przemysl, officer of Casimir III the Great. He inherited Galicia, and tried to ally to Liubartas. From them he received Ostroh, where he rebuilt the castle destroyed by the Tatars.

question: What does the text say about Danylo's childhood?


text:
The complete soundtrack to Treasure’s acclaimed run-and-gun shooter, newly remastered and available on vinyl for the very first time. Originally released in 1993 for the SEGA Mega Drive, Gunstar Heroes remains a cult favourite for its fast-paced and inventive play style, underpinned by an unforgettably frenetic, bass-heavy soundtrack composed by Norio “NON” Hanzawa.

Gunstar Heroes is presented as a double LP, sourced from original hardware and cut at 45RPM. The packaging comprises a heavy single-pocket sleeve and two printed inner sleeves, showcasing an array of colourful illustrations and rare concept art drawn from the archives in Japan. Also included is a double-sided foldout poster, featuring the original cover art from both the Western and Japanese versions of the game. Available on 180g opaque red and blue vinyl or 180g black.

Expected to ship in 3-5 business days. Please note that items will be shipped together once all items in the order are in-hand and ready to ship, including pre-order products. Have questions? Please review our FAQs.

question: What is Gunstar Heroes?

answer: A double LP originally released in 1993 for the Sega Mega Drive

question: What does the LP include?

answer: a double-sided foldout poster

question: In how many versions is the LP available?

answer: 180g opaque red and blue vinyl or 180g black

question: Who is the soundtrack composed by?

answer: Norio "NON" Hanzawa

question: Write a ~1 sentence summary.

answer: A product listing for the original Gunstar Heroes soundtrack which was released in 1993 for the Sega Mega Drive.


text:
“Jason, there’s no reason you should be out here this late,” called Ashley from beside the car. It was midnight on a Saturday night in Amherst, Massachusetts. All that could be heard was the hum of the electricity post, but besides that, it was dead silence. There was the occasional creature or two lurking around in the wilderness besides the tracks with some dross thrown here or there. But Jason was there to intake all the beauty of the outside world that night. He couldn’t be happier. He had a great job at the local sports shop. His father’s company had really taken off, they were wealthier than ever with no liabilities left, thanks to the family getting remunerated from prior events, and his brother had finally found true love and was engaged to the girl of his dreams. He felt the same sensation when talking to Ashley. He truly believed he had everything, but there was always that one thing missing.

“Ash, didn’t think you’d find me here!” replied Jason getting up running to greet Ashley with a short hug.

“Where else would you be? Whenever you don’t answer your phone after a ton of texts this late at night, there’s only one place you go,” Ashley stated, walking over to the grass field Jason had been lying on. It was beautiful. Away from the city, the lights, the noise. Nothing but silence, except the creek down the hill and the occasional fluster of the wind… then suddenly the tremble started, the lights shone upon them, and the sound of a train horn rung in the air. It flew passed them as they sat there in silence. The sound of the train had dwindled by now, but the memories came back to Jason as they have like every other night.
The sounds. The shouting. The nightmare that happened that day. Jason was eleven, but still remembers it like it was yesterday. He had been in school, but had a feeling something was wrong the whole day. His mother had been in an asylum under intense mental care. Things had been fine until Jason’s brother passed. He was six years old at the time and had gotten cancer. Jason had asked if he was immune to it or not, and was told it wasn’t a disease you could catch. It was a slow decline and it tore their mother apart. The plan was to get her rejuvenated by bringing her to this institution after she was deemed an unfit mother post loss after being pugnacious, hard to live with, and not bringing her kids up “right”. That one fateful day in school changed everything though. The office had gotten an emergency call saying that his mother had escaped from the asylum and they were afraid she was going to the school to get Jason in some warped vision the woman had. Jason was called down to the office for “personal matters” and instantly knew it was regarding his mother. He decided to venture out to find his mother, being eleven it was the only thing he knew. He was walking home on the sidewalk path, when he heard the yells. He broke into a sprint and just got there to see a train whoosh by, people staring in horror, Jason breaking into rabid tears, as the woman that was once standing on the tracks was no more.

Though the moment was sparse before Ashley interrupted, he still lay quiet on the grass reliving that dreaded moment. He wished he could go into a different realm, where his family was still together. The money didn’t matter, the little things didn’t matter. It made him appreciate life and others on a whole different level. It was preposterous how some people could care so little for the ones they love. Thinking about his mother, he started to get sad. All he had left was his older brother who was leaving soon and his father. “It’s okay, Jason. I’m not going anywhere,” assured Ashley, consoling him in her arms. After a few minutes of sitting there, Jason stood up and changed the subject not to dilate the current one more than he had.

“Ashley, I don’t think I can ever repay for what you’ve given me,” Jason started, “I would never have been able to get through all this without someone like you. I want you to know that.” Ashley’s sterling eyes staring directly back into his without the least bit of flippant in her voice.

“Always.”

title: The Moment

question: Why is Ashley scolding Jason for being out late?

answer: She was worried when he hadn't answered her texts.

question: What happened to Jason's mother?

answer: Jason's mother was sent to the asylum under intense mental care.

question: What was Jason thanking Ashley for?

answer: For being there for him.

question: Why does Jason seem so sad?

answer: Because he feels like he's losing his brother.

question: Write a ~5 sentence summary.

answer: Ashley finds Jason out in the field past midnight. Jason's brother is getting married, and he felt the need to get some fresh air and reminisce about a time when his mother was still with them. After she got sent to the asylum, his brother and his father were all he had left. Now he feels he is losing his brother. He then thanks Ashley for being there for him.