text:
Libyan tea is a strong beverage, prepared with traditional set of stainless utensils and served in a small glass cups. It is similar to Moroccan tea in prepared by boiling loose tea leaves but differ in presentation. Libyan tea is usually served in three courses with the last round including boiled skinless peanuts or almonds. Mint or basil are sometimes added as a flavor. Initially sugarless beverage is prepared to allow for a foam formation. Each cup when finally presented would have a layer of yellowish foam on top of the tea.[1] [Libyan green tea] [Libyan Tea with Peanuts]

[1] https://www.temehu.com/Libyan-food.htm

title: Libyan tea

question: What is Libyan tea?

answer: It is a strong beverage that is prepared with a traditional set of stainless utensils and served in small glass cups.

question: How is Libyan tea similar to Moroccan tea?

answer: Both are prepared by boiling loose tea leaves.

question: Describe the look of the tea.

answer: Each cup of tea should have a layer of yellowish foam on top of the tea.

question: What is the foam formation?

answer: It is a yellowish foam on top of the tea.

question: Write a ~2 sentence summary.

answer: This article describes Libyan tea, a strong beverage that is prepared with a traditional set of stainless utensils and served in small glass cups. Its presented with a layer of yellowish foam on top of the tea.


split: train

text:
[170521-hassan-rouhani-ap-1160.jpg]

AP Photo

Hassan Rouhani, the newly re-elected president of Iran, is a creature of the Islamic Republic’s establishment, an apparatchik with much guile and little imagination. And yet Rouhani’s subversive political campaign may do lasting damage to the Islamic Republic. In the process of reclaiming his office, he shed light on the regime’s dark past and made fantastic promises that he has neither the ability nor the intention of keeping. Rouhani’s campaign alienated the regime’s power brokers and his tenure will inevitably disillusion his constituents. The Rouhani presidency will once more remind the Iranian people that the theocratic state cannot reform itself.

In one of his rallies, Rouhani assailed his conservative rival Ibrahim Raisi by stressing that “the people will say no to those who over the course of 38 years only executed and jailed.” Here Rouhani was obliquely referring to one of the regime’s most contentious acts. In the summer of 1988, the aging founding leader of the Islamic Republic, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, in one last act of vengeance against his secular detractors, ordered the mass execution of political prisoners. The judiciary was to discharge its obligations and established a panel of judges soon known as the “Death Commission” to carry out the killings. Raisi first came to national attention as a member of that commission, which put to death thousands of prisoners in short order. Most of the executed were denied a proper burial and had their bodies dumped in mass and undisclosed graves. In the Islamic Republic’s cruel lexicon, these were called “cemeteries for the dammed.”

This was Raisi’s justice, but the burden was not his alone. The prison genocide was overseen by two officials—the then-president of Iran, Ali Khamenei, and the speaker of the parliament, the late Hashemi Rafsanjani. As a member of parliament at that time, Rouhani was well aware of what was taking place in the prisons. He chose silence. For the past three decades, the regime has sought to whitewash its past by making it taboo to publicly discuss this episode. Still, rumors abound, and that demented summer is enshrined in the collective memory. By invoking that episode, Rouhani challenged the core legitimacy of a theocratic state that insists on its religious pedigree and its concern for dispensing justice. Khamenei and the ruling elite who are implicated in that massacre are unlikely to easily forgive their newly reelected president for his opportunism. Not only must Rouhani have been aware of that episode, but his political ally and current minister of justice, Mostafa Pourmohammadi, was one of the more aggressive judges on the Death Commission.

Throughout his campaign, Rouhani cleverly played to the crowds by criticizing the regime’s security organs and warning “those of you who cut out tongues and sewed mouths shut. Those of you who over the past years only issued the word bane, banned the pen and banned the pictures. Please don’t even breathe the word freedom for it shames freedom.” The president on occasion also warned the Revolutionary Guards not to interfere with the election process. This was an act of political genius—as an insider of more than 30 years, Rouhani suddenly appropriated the language of dissent and seemingly presented himself as a critic of the system. And now the system is ready to strike back. Khamenei still controls all the relevant institutions and the Guards hold sway over much of Iran’s economy. It is hard to see how even Rouhani’s most modest policy ambitions can be implemented.

Still, Rouhani holds some advantages for the regime. As a politician who spent decades as the secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, he has been intimately involved with the regime’s terror apparatus. He built up much credit with the guardians of the state by remaining quiet in summer of 2009 as the Green Movement leaders were dispatched to prison on fantastic charges. And his presidency was devoted not to human rights and economic reform but beguiling the United States into an arms control agreement that put Iran on a steady and legal path to the bomb. These are not inconsiderable achievements, but in the vengeful politics of the Islamic Republic, they may not be sufficient to redeem him.

And then there are Rouhani’s pledges to the public. The president’s rallies, as indeed with most commemorative occasions in Iran, were transformed into protests against the state with the chanting of Green Movement slogans. Rouhani cleverly encouraged this, offered vague promises of restoring freedom and even hinted at the rehabilitation of those languishing in prison and exile. He was to stand against the forces of repression, despite the fact that he has a history of indifference to human rights. Rouhani was never part of the reform movement that exhilarated the Iranians in the 1990s with its claim to harmonize religion and pluralism, and he stood with the regime when the Green Movement shook the foundations of the state. The Islamic Republic cannot use its own constitutional provisions to broaden its parameters. Aggrieved Iranians will learn once more that they can gain no political relief from another Islamist president.

So it would be inaccurate to call Rouhani a reformist. He has always been part of a pragmatic cohort of Iranian leaders attracted to the so-called China model of offering citizens economic rewards in exchange for political passivity. During his campaign, he hinted at better times to come by claiming that he would succeed in lifting all the remaining sanctions on Iran. This is impossible, given Iran’s penchant toward terrorism, its human rights abuses and its imperial ravaging of the Middle East. The fact is that Iran has never been able to emulate China’s economic trajectory. A state drowning in corruption, with a history of mismanagement, Iran has always been plagued by the twin forces of inflation and unemployment. It is hard to see how the regime can meet the basic financial demands of its people as it insists on spending vast sums sustaining the Assad dynasty in Syria and menacing Sunni monarchy.

Rouhani has reclaimed the presidency with his usual mixture of cunning and cynicism. He will now confront Khamenei and other hard-liners disturbed at his indictments of their regime and its history. All of Iran’s re-elected presidents have limited room for maneuver given the imbalance of power between elected and nonelected institutions. But Rouhani even less so. Perhaps more problematic for the president and his republic is a disillusioned citizenry that will gain neither political freedom nor financial relief.

Iran is today what it has been since the outbreak of the Green Revolution in 2009, a regime marching steadily toward its demise. The bonds between state and society have long been severed and cannot be healed by another Rouhani presidency. Iran today resembles the Soviet Union of the 1970s, where appearances of strength concealed the reality of institutional decay and popular disenchantment. In one of the ironies of Iran, a president widely celebrated in the West has only further divided the elite and is bound to disappoint the public.

During his speech in Saudi Arabia, President Donald Trump spoke of the need to confront and “isolate” Iran. But the Iran challenge confronting Trump is more intricate and perplexing than the one faced by his predecessors. This is no longer about imposing interim restraints on Iran’s stockpile of enriched uranium, but how to erode the unsteady foundations of the Islamic Republic. This will require disciplined application of both American power and rhetoric. The task at hand is to shrink Iran’s imperial frontiers while stressing its economy. The Trump team must reconstitute the shattered sanctions architecture while making human rights and the plight of dissidents one of its foremost priorities. In Riyadh, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson offered the first salvo in what needs to be a systematic campaign of delegitimizing the theocratic regime. America’s declarations have always mattered, none more so than in Iran, a country whose history has demonstrated an unusual degree of sensitivity to our words.

The Islamic Republic was an ideological experiment born in a century that witnessed so many attempts to bend human will to whims of vanguards of history. The revolution has now exhausted itself and cannot meet either the material needs or the political aspirations of its constituents. The theocratic regime insists on marching toward the dustbin of history and the only question remains whether America can hasten that march.

question: Who is Hassan Rouhani?

answer: The newly re-elected president of Iran.

question: What were the cemeteries where the executed were dumped called?

answer: Cemeteries for the dammed.

question: Who was the prison-genocide overseen by?

answer: Ali Khamenei, and Hasemi Rafsanjani.

question: What has Iran been since the outbreak of the Green Revolution in 2009?

answer: A regime heading towards its demise, according to the article.

question: Write a ~2 sentence summary.

answer: The article discusses the re-election of Hassan Rouhani in Iran in light of his moderate views and the state of the regime. It discusses the actions of the US President and the future of whether Iran will be able to continue as an Islamist State.


text:
“ Cap’n Wolfe?”

I reply with a simple “ yes”, snapping out of my daze.

“ You were thinkin’ Of ‘er again weren’t ye?”

“ Who?” I asked, although I knew damn well who.

“ Gracia, of course,” He says in a know it all tone.

“ No, I had something else on my mind,” I lie.

“ Well what’d ya expect? ‘Er bein’ a spanish whore an’ all. She-”

“ She wasn’t a whore!” I sna.

	If it were anyone else, I’d have had them maroooned at the moment, but I’ve known Northey for years. He’s quite crude, doesn’t know when to control his tongue, or for that matter, his mouth in general. The liquor and pork that man consumes could last at least six full winters. Still, I’d trust him more than the finest soldier in the kings bloody navy.

	“ Lawrence, I didn’t mean ta jab ya, I’m just sayin’ it’s over. She’sright dead ‘n’ gone. Nutin’ you could do ta save ‘er.”

	 Northey spoke in his deep, grisly voice. His voice was rough, and he always sounded slightly intoxicated, yet I could always find comfort in his drunken words.

“ It’s my fault she’s dead!” I said solemnly. I lowered my head, and concentrated on my boots.

“ Nothin’ ya could do! The prostitute wife of th infamous Captain Laurence “ the hound” Wolfe? It’s a mircle she made it out of the bloody port to begin with!” Northey argued.

	I didn’t respond. He was right. I may as well have dressed her in a bright red target, and hung her up myself. That just makes me feel worse about the whole situation.

	“ anyways, let’s not tread on the past, eh? I wanted to let you know, James, up in the crows nest spotted a brig a few clicks away,” Northey changed the subject.

	“ And? Our cargo bay’s full. remember that french merchant ship we raided a few weeks back?” I replied, not fully understanding why he’d want me to change the course to gather more loot, which we couldn’t carry.

	“ Ay, I remember. Although, this particular ship happens ta be a royal ship of the Kings navy... Looks quite similar to the one Admiral Harris is in command of.” Northey replies in a somewhat taunting way, luring me to his plan.

	I try my best, but I can’t hold back  a massive grin, stretching across my face. I’d felt a burst of rage rush through my veins like the spark of a flintlock, propelling the small rounf of ammunition hurling through the air at devestating speeds. I also felt an odd, faint, yet slightly offsetting feeling of happiness. I’m no stranger to the harsh terms of death. I’ve seen men caught in cannon fire, brains shot right out of their skulls, from the powerful burst of a musket, and multiple times, seen the cold, hard blade of a cutlass run straight through a mans still beating heart, stopping him before he could realise what he’s experienced. Hell, seen children taken, shot, infront of their own mothers eyes, because their drunken excuse of a father couldn’t pay off his gambling debt. Might as well admit, I’ve done quite a bit of it myself. I’ve managed to completely shake the feeling of seeing a mans eyes widen in shock, his mouth gasping, trying to make out one last thing to say, as theiir skin fades to the color of snow. Death doesn’t fase me. Taking a life means nothing to me anymore. Yet, when Northey informed me who that there is a chance Admiral Harris, the one who publicly hanged my wife was on that ship...
I wanted more than anything to kill him. I knew the pleasure I’d gain from taking his head. I wanted it.

	“ So.. What’s yer plan, Cap’n?” Northey asked. impatiently.

“ We charge his ship.. get on board, and I find Harris... And I mount that bastards head on the mast of this bloody ship,” I said, never taking my eyes off the beautiful red trim of the brig sailing towards us, Either way this ended, it would be for her, Gracia.

title: Cap'n Wolfe.

question: What is the main conflict in the story?

answer: The narrator is a pirate whose wife, Gracia, was hanged by Admiral Harris. The narrator blames himself for her death despite his friends' attempts to console him. His friend tells him that they spotted Admiral Harris' ship, which the narrator immediately decides to attack so that he can kill Harris to avenge his wife.

question: What does the story say about the pirate life?

question: What does the story say about Northey?

answer: He's Captain Wolfe's best friend for more than 20 years. He's a drunk and has a crude demeanor, but he's also dependable. He seems to be a decent friend to the narrator.


text:
_Big Data—the new thing that sees some companies leapfrog to success is a revolutionary technological trend that always manages to find its case.._

Until now, the massive torrent of data flooding the virtual space probably excited just a few data geeks. However, now we find ourselves at an inflection point. In the competitive scenario, the DELUGE OF BIG DATA that is stored and mined for insights is fast making a positive impact (and becoming economically relevant) on government operations, businesses and consumers alike.

_BIG DATA AND ITS ROLE IN TODAY’S ECONOMY_

In the ever-expanding global economy that we are a part of today, data is being woven into every function and sector. Like human capital, hard assets, and all other crucial factors of production, a greater percentage of modern economic activity fails to take place without the same.

When it comes to real time usage, BIG DATA—HUGE DATA POOLS that are capable of being brought together for analysis, discerning patterns, and making better decisions—is all set to become the basis of growth and competition for individual firms. It enhances productivity and creates significant value for the overall economy by INCREASING THE QUALITY OF SERVICES AND PRODUCTS, along with bringing about reductions in waste (also consider checking out this perfect parcel of information for data science degree).

The current trends of IT innovation and investment, along with their impact on profitability and competitiveness with regards to the adoption of Big Data technology, are leading to complementary management innovations and advanced analytic capabilities for large and small sized businesses. In the present scenario, all companies have to understand the worth of BIG DATA’S POTENTIAL and create serious value, especially if they wish to compete. For instance, certain retailers using Big Data are looking forward to increasing their operating margins by over 60 per cent!

_BIG DATA: CREATOR OF COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE_

Big Data is fast becoming a crucial means for all leading companies desirous of outperforming their peers. In most industry verticals, new entrants and established COMPETITORS ARE LEVERAGING DATA-DRIVEN STRATEGIES for innovating, competing and capturing value. While early adopters are using data for placing them ahead in the race, others are concentrating on the design of their future products and new service offerings.

Big Data is fueling better growth opportunities and aiding those companies that are aggregating and analyzing varied industry data. Many of these companies are now sitting on large information flows where datasets about suppliers, products, intent and consumer preferences are being easily captured and analyzed. This is the reason why forward-thinking leaders in all sectors should look towards building their BIG DATA CAPABILITIES, and in aggressive ways.

Along with leveraging the sheer volumes of Big Data, businesses need to consider its real-time, high-frequency nature too. Given below are some broadly applicable means of exploiting Big Data for gaining that much needed competitive advantage.

_BIG DATA UNLOCKS ESSENTIAL VALUE VIA TRANSPARENT INFORMATION_

In spite of the heavy influx of digitization, there remains a significant amount of reliable information that remains to be captured; for instance, data present on paper, in non-accessible physical places, and that which is incapable of being searched through networks. As per findings, knowledge workgroups involved in such data search and transfer are losing out on 25 percent of their efforts due to significant sources of inefficiency.

_ALLOWS FOR MORE DETAILED AND ACCURATE INFORMATION_

With organizations creating and storing their DATA IN RELIABLE DIGITIZED FORMS, more accurate and comprehensive performance information, on just about everything, is now exposing variability options and boosting overall performance levels. In fact, certain leading companies are collecting and analyzing Big Data for conducting controlled experiments and making better management decisions too.

_SOPHISTICATED ANALYTICS FOR IMPROVED DECISION MAKING_

Big Data allows valuable customers with direct access to more precisely tailored services or products. This in turn paves the ground for sophisticated analytics that substantially improves upon the process of decision-making, minimizes risks, and helps in unearthing valuable insights which would otherwise remain concealed.

_BIG DATA IS USEFUL FOR DEVELOPING NEXT-GENERATION PRODUCTS AND SERVICES_

All in all, the value generated by Big Data application cannot be debated (also consider checking out this career guide for data science jobs). For instance, manufacturers are adding value to the data obtained from the embedded sensors in products, especially for creating innovative after-sales services such as essential and proactive maintenance features for avoiding failures in their new products. Likewise, along with boosting the collection of their tax revenues, government authorities are relying on advanced analytic tools for reducing fraud and compliance errors.

_BIG DATA: SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE_

It’s not only companies and organizations that are LEVERAGING THE VALUE CREATED BY BIG DATA. Consumers are capable of reaping significantly high benefits too. For example, users of services provided by personal-location data are capturing over $600 Billion in the form of consumer surplus!

As long as governments and companies understand the potential of Big Data with regards to delivering higher productivity and better value for consumers, they can participate in this next growth wave linked to global economy. By taking some firmer steps towards successful Big Data implementation, they will be able to unleash higher efficiency levels for enabling better services, improvised management of constrained fiscal times, incorporation of  a higher productivity quotient, and of course, brand new levels of competitiveness.

Go for it!

Click Here for Big Data Course

question: What is the positive development in data flooding?

answer: It is making a positive impact and having economic relevance on government, business, and consumer operations.

question: How is big data becoming more relevant?

answer: It is being woven into every functioning sector of our economy.

question: What practical developments do IT innovation bring?

answer: They have an impact on profitability and competitiveness and lead to complementary management innovations and analytic capabilities for big and small companies.

question: What is the competitive advantage for big data users?

answer: Data-driven strategies are used as critical leverage for varying competitors.

question: Write a ~2 sentence summary.

answer: There was a time that the influx of large amounts of data was only exciting to a few, but now it has practical and economic impact on almost every sector of modern life. The use of big data has allowed businesses big and small to work out varying leverages for themselves in a competitive marketplace, and IT developments are leading to management and analytic innovation which expands the capabilities of all companies large and small.


text:
The 1997 BIG TEN CONFERENCE FOOTBALL SEASON was the 102nd season of college football played by the member schools of the Big Ten Conference and was a part of the 1997 NCAA Division I-A football season.

The 1997 Big Ten champion was Michigan. Led by head coach Lloyd Carr, Michigan compiled a perfect 12–0 record, defeated Washington State in the 1998 Rose Bowl, and was declared the national champion in the AP Poll. Michigan cornerback Charles Woodson became the first primarily defensive player to win the Heisman Trophy.

Ohio State finished in a tie for second place with a 10–3 record and lost to Florida State in the 1998 Sugar Bowl. Ohio State's defense was led by consensus All-American linebacker Andy Katzenmoyer.

Penn State also tied for second place and was led by Curtis Enis who rushed for 1,363 yards and led the conference with 120 points scored. The Nittany Lions began the 1997 season ranked No. 1 in the AP Poll and ended it with a loss to Florida in the 1998 Florida Citrus Bowl.

Purdue also tied for second place under first-year head coach Joe Tiller who was named Big Ten Coach of the Year. Purdue quarterback Billy Dicken led the conference with 3,136 passing yards, and wide receiver Brian Alford led the conference with 1,228 receiving yards.

Iowa was ranked as high as No. 4 in the AP Poll during the season and fielded the conference's most potent offensive with an average of 34.3 points scored per game. Iowa running back Tavian Banks led the conference with 1,639 rushing yards.

Season overview

Results and team statistics

  Conf. Rank   Team   Head coach   AP final   AP high   Overall record   Conf. record   PPG   PAG |- align=“left” bgcolor=""   1   Michigan   Lloyd Carr   #1   #1   12–0   8–0   26.8   9.5 |- align=“left” bgcolor=""   2 (tie)   Ohio State   John Cooper   #12   #4   10–3   6–2   30.3   13.1 |- align=“left” bgcolor=""   2 (tie)   Penn State   Joe Paterno   #16   #1   9–3   6–2   30.5   21.2 |- align=“left” bgcolor=""   2 (tie)   Purdue   Joe Tiller   #15   #15   9–3   6–2   33.0   22.3 |- align=“left” bgcolor=""   5   Wisconsin   Barry Alvarez   NR   #23   8–5   5–3   22.4   23.5 |- align=“left” bgcolor=""   6 (tie)   Iowa   Hayden Fry   #14   #4   7–5   4–4   34.3   13.3 |- align=“left” bgcolor=""   6 (tie)   Michigan State   Nick Saban   NR   #11   7–5   4–4   28.5   19.8 |- align=“left” bgcolor=""   8   Northwestern   Gary Barnett   NR   #21   5–7   3–5   20.3   24.0 |- align=“left” bgcolor=""   9 (tie)   Minnesota   Glen Mason   NR   NR   3–9   1–7   19.8   27.8 |- align=“left” bgcolor=""   9 (tie)   Indiana   Cam Cameron   NR   NR   2–9   1–7   10.9   32.6 |- align=“left” bgcolor=""   11   Illinois   Ron Turner   NR   NR   0–11   0–8   10.8   33.5
  ------------ ------ ------------ ---------- --------- ---------------- -------------- ----- -------------------------------- --- ---------- ------------ ---- ---- ------ ----- ------ -------------------------------- --------- ------------ ------------- ----- ---- ------ ----- ------ --------------------------------- --------- ------------ ------------- ----- ---- ----- ----- ------ --------------------------------- --------- -------- ------------ ----- ----- ----- ----- ------ --------------------------------- --- ----------- --------------- ---- ----- ----- ----- ------ --------------------------------- --------- ------ ------------ ----- ---- ----- ----- ------ --------------------------------- --------- ---------------- ------------ ---- ----- ----- ----- ------ --------------------------------- --- -------------- -------------- ---- ----- ----- ----- ------ --------------------------------- --------- ----------- ------------ ---- ---- ----- ----- ------ --------------------------------- --------- --------- ------------- ---- ---- ----- ----- ------ --------------------------------- ---- ---------- ------------ ---- ---- ------ ----- ------ ------

KEY
AP final = Team's rank in the final AP Poll of the 1997 season[1]
AP high = Team's highest rank in the AP Poll throughout the 1997 season[2]
PPG = Average of points scored per game[3]
PAG = Average of points allowed per game[4]

Pre-season

Regular season

Bowl games

Seven Big Ten teams played in bowl games as follows:

-   Michigan defeated Washington State, 21-16, in the 1998 Rose Bowl
-   Penn State lost to Florida, 21-6, in the 1998 Florida Citrus Bowl
-   Ohio State lost to Florida State, 31-14, in the 1998 Sugar Bowl
-   Purdue defeated Oklahoma State, 33-20, in the 1997 Alamo Bowl
-   Wisconsin lost to Georgia, 33-6, in the 1998 Outback Bowl
-   Iowa lost to Arizona State, 17-7, in the 1997 Sun Bowl
-   Michigan State lost to Washington, 51-23, in the 1997 Aloha Bowl

Statistical leaders

The Big Ten's individual statistical leaders include the following:[5]

Passing yards

1. Billy Dicken, Purdue (3,136)
2. Mike McQueary, Penn State (2,211)
3. Jay Rodgers, Indiana (2,156)
4. Brian Griese, Michigan 2042
5. Todd Schultz, Michigan State (2,003)

Pass efficiency rating

1. Joe Germaine, Ohio State (151.9)
2. Mike McQueary, Penn State (145.0)
3. Brian Griese, Michigan (138.2)
4. Billy Dicken, Purdue (128.9)
5. Todd Schultz, Michigan State (124.0)

Rushing yards

1. Tavian Banks, Iowa (1,639)
2. Ron Dayne, Wisconsin (1,457)
3. Curtis Enis, Penn State (1,363)
4. Sedrick Irvin, Michigan State (1,270)
5. Robert Holcombe, Illinois (1,253)

Rushing yards per attempt

1. Kendall Matthews, Purdue (7.1)
2. Tavian Banks, Iowa (6.7)
3. Curtis Enis, Penn State (6.0)
4. Michael Wiley, Ohio State (5.6)
5. Ron Dayne, Wisconsin (5.5)

Receiving yards

1. Brian Alford, Purdue (1,228)
2. Dee Miller, Ohio State (981)
3. David Boston, Ohio State (970)
4. Tutu Atwell, Minnesota (924)
5. Brian Musso, Northwestern (865)

Receiving yards per reception

1. Damon Gibson, Iowa (22.4)
2. Joe Jurevicius, Penn State (20.9)
3. Tony Simmons, Wisconsin (19.8)
4. Brian Alford, Purdue (19.5)
5. O. J. Conner, Indiana (18.6)

Total yards

1. Billy Dicken, Purdue (3,487)
2. Mike McQueary, Penn State (2,184)
3. Mike Samuel, Wisconsin (2,138)
4. Brian Griese, Michigan (2,049)
5. Jay Rodgers, Indiana (2,035)

Scoring

1. Curtis Enis, Penn State (120)
2. Tavian Banks, Iowa (114)
3. Dan Stultz, Ohio State (92)
4. Ron Dayne, Wisconsin (90)
5. David Boston, Ohio State (84)
5. Sedrick Irvin, Michigan State (84)

All-conference players

Seventeen players were selected as first-team All-Big Ten players by both the coaches and the media:

-   Tavian Banks, running back, Iowa (Coaches-1; Media-1)
-   Curtis Enis, running back, Penn State (Coaches-1; Media-1)
-   Zach Adami, center, Michigan (Coaches-1; Media-1)
-   Phil Ostrowski, offensive guard, Penn State (Coaches-1; Media-1)
-   Flozell Adams, offensive tackle, Michigan State (Coaches-1; Media-1)
-   Jerame Tuman, tight end, Michigan (Coaches-1; Media-1)
-   Brian Alford, wide receiver, Purdue (Coaches-1; Media-1)
-   David Boston, wide receiver, Ohio State (Coaches-1; Media-1)
-   Casey Dailey, defensive lineman, Northwestern (Coaches-1; Media-1)
-   Jared DeVries, defensive lineman, Iowa (Coaches-1; Media-1)
-   Glen Steele, defensive lineman, Michigan (Coaches-1; Media-1)
-   Lamanzer Williams, defensive lineman, Minnesota (Coaches-1; Media-1)
-   Barry Gardner, linebacker, Northwestern (Coaches-1; Media-1)
-   Andy Katzenmoyer, linebacker, Ohio State (Coaches-1; Media-1)
-   Marcus Ray, defensive back, Michigan (Coaches-1; Media-1)
-   Antoine Winfield, defensive back, Ohio State (Coaches-1; Media-1)
-   Charles Woodson, defensive back, Michigan (Coaches-1; Media-1)

All-Americans

Four Big Ten players were selected as consensus All-Americans:

-   Curtis Enis, running back, Penn State (Associated Press [AP], Football Writers Association of America [FWAA], Walter Camp Football Foundation [WC])
-   Andy Katzenmoyer, linebacker, Ohio State (AP, American Football Coaches Association [AFCA], FWAA, WC, Football News [FN])
-   Charles Woodson, Michigan (AP, AFCA, FWAA, WC, The Sporting News [TSN], FN)
-   Tim Dwight, all-purpose player, Iowa (AP, AFCA, FWAA, TSN)

Other Big Ten players receiving first-team honors were:

-   Ron Dayne, running back, Wisconsin (FN)
-   Brian Alford, wide receiver, Purdue (FN)
-   Jerame Tuman, tight end, Michigan (FN)
-   Flozell Adams, offensive linemen, Michigan State (WC)
-   Rob Murphy, offensive lineman, Ohio State (FN)
-   Glen Steele, defensive lineman, Michigan (AFCA)
-   Lamanzer Williams, Minnesota (FWAA)
-   Antoine Winfield, defensive back, Ohio State (AFCA, FWAA)

1998 NFL Draft

The 1998 NFL Draft was held in April 1998. The following Big Ten players were selected in the first four rounds of the draft:[6]
{| class=“sortable wikitable” |- !width=“100”|Name !width=“100”|Position !width=“100”|Team !width=“25”|Round !width=“25”|Overall pick |- align=“left” bgcolor=“" |Charles Woodson||Defensive back||Michigan||1||4 |- align=”left" bgcolor=“" |Curtis Enis||Running back||Penn State||1||5 |- align=”left" bgcolor=“" |Robert Holcombe||Fullback||Illinois||2||37 |- align=”left" bgcolor=“" |Flozell Adams||Offensive tackle||Michigan State||2||38 |- align=”left" bgcolor=“" |Tony Simmons||Wide receiver||Wisconsin||2||52 |- align=”left" bgcolor=“" |Joe Jurevicius||Wide receiver||Penn State||2||55 |- align=”left" bgcolor=“" |Brian Alford||Wide receiver||Purdue||3||70 |- align=”left" bgcolor=“" |Mike Goff||Offensive tackle||Iowa||3||78 |- align=”left" bgcolor=“" |Chris Floyd||Fullback||Michigan||3||81 |- align=”left" bgcolor=“" |Brian Griese||Quarterback||Michigan||3||91 |- align=”left" bgcolor=“" |Tavian Banks||Running back||Iowa||4||101 |- align=”left" bgcolor=“" |Glen Steele||Defensive tackle||Michigan||4||105 |- align=”left" bgcolor=“" |Donald Hayes||Wide receiver||Wisconsin||4||106 |- align=”left" bgcolor=“" |Tim Dwight||Wide receiver||Iowa||4||114 |- align=”left" bgcolor="" |- |}

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[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

title: 1997 Big Ten Conference football season

question: When was the 102nd season of college football played by the Big Ten Conference?

answer: 1997.

question: Who was the 1997 Big Ten Champion?

answer: Michigan.

question: Who was the head coach of Michigan at that time?

answer: Lloyd Carr.

question: What was the record of Michigan's wins?

answer: 12-0.

question: Write a ~1 sentence summary.

answer: This article is about the 1997 Big Ten Tournament, which Michigan won with a perfect season, being 12-0.


text:
My eyes strained to take in my surroundings, the view was one I have seen millions of times, one bright light forever burning my face and complete darkness surrounding that ever scorching light. I cant escape it and yet I have tried so many times. Where I am has no sound, only faint groans which come and go. It is complete solitude and I crave company, “too much thinking” “I’m so lonely” “please help me” these are the thought’s I’ve uttered to myself over and over again and even though I decided years ago that I couldn’t go on I am still here. “why is that?” I hear you ask, Well the reason is because my self inflicted exile has allowed life to flourish and create absolutely beautiful things beyond my wildest dreams. There where great times, when I was in harmony with my body as well as my mind, but gradually those times have disappeared.

I have tried multiple times to end my life, and my body carries the scars. I can feel them every day and they mock me, why? Because I have never done it right, they mock my immense failure. I am being so selfish but I don’t care anymore, I have spent what seems like centuries creating a cancer to kill myself, one that will slowly strip me of my flesh from the inside out and drain me of my very life force. It is beautiful, almost perfect, it will spread quicker than plagues of locust and consume everything healthy in my body until it has taken all my life, once it has finished it’s task it will fade without a trace or a memory, a scream or a sigh.

The cancer has begun to spread, I feel myself growing ever weaker, It is now almost absolute. Quite poetic in a way, As I get weaker it gets stronger yet when I die it die’s too. As I have grown older my sadism has grown more wicked. I’ve often laughed to myself thinking about my cancer consuming me, Growing more and more confident with every space it takes over, probing into new unknown territories with great satisfaction at the ripe pastures it see’s. Little does it know that this will end, It’s conquest will be over before it has time to rejoice over it’s spoils, The stupid thing. It can be clever at times I must say, It targets and desecrates my organs with pinpoint accuracy and lets no good go to waste, I feel it everyday. What a beautiful creation.

“A name, That’s it! I need a name for this magnificent disease….“ Ok I’ve got one, One that is as twisted as my mind But allow me to introduce myself first, I have been so rude. My name is Mother Earth and I shall call my disease Mankind.

title: Thoughts/opinions appreciated! 1st time poster :) - "My Creation"

question: What is the cancer?

answer: Mankind.

question: Who is the narrator?

answer: Mother Earth.

question: Why has the narrator given themselves cancer?

answer: They do not want to live anymore.

question: Write a ~1 sentence summary.

answer: The narrator, Mother Earth, is lonely in her exile and decides to end her life by creating a cancer called mankind.


text:
NORRIS JONES, better known as SIRONE (September 28, 1940[1] – October 21, 2009)[2] was an American jazz bassist and composer.

Biography

Born in Atlanta, Georgia,[3] Sirone worked in Atlanta late in the 1950s and early in the 1960s with “The Group” alongside George Adams; he also recorded with R&B musicians such as Sam Cooke and Smokey Robinson.[4] In 1966, in response to a call from Marion Brown, he moved to New York City,[5] where he co-founded the “Untraditional Jazz Improvisational Team” with Dave Burrell.[6] He also worked with Brown, Gato Barbieri, Pharoah Sanders, Noah Howard, Sonny Sharrock, Sunny Murray, Albert Ayler, Archie Shepp, and Sun Ra,[7] as well as with John Coltrane when he was near the end of his career.[8]

He co-founded the Revolutionary Ensemble with Leroy Jenkins and Frank Clayton in 1971; Jerome Cooper later replaced Clayton in the ensemble, which was active for much of the decade.[9] In the 1970s and early 1980s Sirone recorded with Clifford Thornton, Roswell Rudd, Dewey Redman, Cecil Taylor, and Walt Dickerson.[10]

In the 1980s, he was member of Phalanx, a group with guitarist James “Blood” Ulmer, drummer Rashied Ali, and tenor saxophonist George Adams.

From 1989 he lived in Berlin, Germany where he was active with his group 'Concord' (with Ben Abarbanel-Wolff and Ulli Bartel.) He was involved in theater, film, and was a practicing Buddhist.

He died on October 21, 2009.[11]

Discography

As leader or co-leader

-   1978: _Artistry_ (Of The Cosmos) with James Newton, Don Moye, Muneer Bernard Fennell[12]
-   1982: _Life Rays_ (Soul Note) with Walt Dickerson/Andrew Cyrille'''
-   2003: _Sirone's Concord_ (Not Two Records)
-   2005: _Live_ (Atavistic Records)
-   2005: _Configuration_ (Silkheart Records) with Billy Bang

WITH THE REVOLUTIONARY ENSEMBLE

-   1972: _Vietnam_ (ESP-Disk)
-   1972: _Manhattan Cycles_ (India Navigation)
-   1975: _The Psyche_ (Mutable Music)
-   1976: _The Peoples Republic_ (A&M/Horizon)
-   1977: _Revolutionary Ensemble_ (Enja)
-   2004: _And Now..._ (Pi Recordings)
-   2008: _Beyond the Boundary of Time_ (Mutable)
-   2013: _Counterparts_ (Mutable)

WITH SABIR MATEEN AND ANDREW BARKER

-   2013: _Infinite Flowers_ (Sagittarius A-Star)

WITH OLUYEMI THOMAS AND MICHAEL WIMBERLY

-   2010: _Beneath Tones Floor_ (NoBusiness Records)

As sideman

WITH GEORGE ADAMS

-   1989: _Nightingale_ (Blue Note)

WITH THE ALL EAR TRIO (JOHN TCHICAI, THOMAS AGERGAARD, AND PETER OLE JORGENSEN)

-   2008: _Boiler_ (Ninth World Music)

WITH ALBERT AYLER

-   2004: _Holy Ghost: Rare & Unissued Recordings (1962–70)_ (Revenant)

WITH BILLY BANG

-   1988: _Valve No. 10_ (Soul Note)

WITH GATO BARBIERI

-   1967: _In Search of the Mystery_ (ESP-Disk)

WITH DANE BELANY

-   1975: _Motivations_ (Sahara Records)

WITH MARION BROWN

-   1966: _Why Not?_ (ESP-Disk)
-   1966: _Three for Shepp_ (Impulse!)

WITH DAVE BURRELL

-   1968: _High Won-High Two_ (Black Lion)

WITH WALT DICKERSON

-   1982: _Life Rays_ (Soul Note)

WITH ZUSAAN KALI FASTEAU

-   2004: _Making Waves_ (Flying Note)

WITH CHARLES GAYLE

-   1988: _Always Born_ (Silkheart)
-   1988: _Homeless_ (Silkheart)
-   1988: _Spirits Before_ (Silkheart)
-   2003: _Shout!_ (Cleanfeed)

WITH NOAH HOWARD

-   1966: _At Judson Hall_ (ESP-Disk)
-   1969: _The Black Ark_ (Freedom)

WITH THE JAZZ COMPOSER'S ORCHESTRA

-   1973: _Numatik Swing Band_ (JCOA)
-   1975: _For Players Only_ with Leroy Jenkins (JCOA)

WITH WILLIAM PARKER

-   2006: _Requiem_ (Splasc(H)) – with Charles Gayle

WITH PHALANX

-   1987: _Original Phalanx_ (DIW Records)
-   1988: _In Touch_ (DIW Records)

WITH DEWEY REDMAN

-   1973: _The Ear of the Behearer_ (Impulse!)
-   1974: _Coincide_ (Impulse!)

WITH PHAROAH SANDERS

-   1969: _Izipho Zam (My Gifts)_ (Strata-East)

WITH SONNY SHARROCK

-   1969: _Black Woman_ (Vortex)

WITH CECIL TAYLOR

-   1974: _Spring of Two Blue J's_ (Unit Core)
-   1978: _One Too Many Salty Swift and Not Goodbye_ (hat Hut)
-   1978: _Live in the Black Forest_ (MPS)
-   1978: _3 Phasis_ (New World)
-   1978: _Cecil Taylor Unit_ (New World)
-   1993: _Always a Pleasure_ (FMP)

WITH CLIFFORD THORNTON

-   1972: _Communications Network_ (Third World)

Filmography

-   2008: _Teak Leaves at The Temple_ by Garin Nugroho

[1] [ Sirone Allmusic]

[2]

[3] John Fordham Obituary, _The Guardian_, 9 November 2009

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

[11]

[12]

title: Sirone (musician)

question: Summarize Sirone's career during the 1960s.

answer: In the early 1960s Sirone worked with "The Group" alongside George Adams and recorded with R&B musicians like Sam Cooke and Smokey Robinson. In 1966, he moved to New York City, where he co-founded the "Untraditional Jazz Improvisational Team". His releases during the 1960s include In Search of the Mystery with Gato Barbieri, Why Not? and Three for Shepp with Marion Brown, and High Won-High Two with Dave Burrell.

question: What does the article say about Sirone's personal life?


text: We were standing in a frozen field of grain. The snow was falling down on her raven black hair. Plump freckled cheeks rose red from the cold and her piercing turquoise eyes staring at me. There she with a slight grin on her face. “Hey there you.” she said subtly. “Hey” I say back a little flustered. She reached her hands out and gave me a gigantic hug, the warmth from her breasts made me feel snug out there in the cold. “Want to go on that carriage ride you promised me?” she asked. “Sure Ash” I said and she chuckles. It took us 5 minutes to arrive to side of the road, Ash’s hair rippled in the wind like a sea of black. I call over a carriage, “5 pence sir.” the carriage man said, “Alright” I said as I handed him the gold pieces. We climbed in the back, “Where are you off to?” he asked “Doesn’t matter” I stated. The man nodded and we were off. Ash grabbed my hand and kissed my cheek. With haste I gave her a kiss on the nose, she chuckled. She then slowly put her lips to mine. Her soft lips gently pressed against mine. I noticed her hair smells of strawberries. I realize something, sigh, then stop her. "What's the matter Will?" She asked perplexed. "What if this is just a dream?" I ask. She looked at me for a second then opened her mouth "It doesn't matter, the dream may not be real, but our love is." she says with a tear in her eye. A faint smile spread across her face, “Come and find me.”

title: Title: Ash I would love tips and feed back and tell if you can guess the theme

question: What is the narrator's name?

answer: Will

question: What are the main events of the story?

answer: Ash and Will go on a carriage ride, and when Will wonders if it's a dream, Ash says if it is he has to come and find her.

question: Where do the characters go?

answer: Nowhere in particular; they only want to be together in the carriage, the destination is irrelevant.

question: Who are the main characters?

answer: Ash and Will

question: Write a ~2 sentence summary.

answer: Lovers Ash and Will meet in a field and go on a carriage ride that Will has promised her. Will wonders if it's a dream, and Ash says that even if it is, their love is real and he has to come and find her.


text:
A glowing description of President Donald Trump's Florida estate, Mar-a-Lago — calling it the "winter White House" — was posted on State Department websites, bringing criticism from ethics watchdogs and Democrats.

The item, published ahead of an early April meeting with China's president at the Palm Beach club, recounted the club's history and Trump's purchase and gilded redecoration of the property where he's spent half his weekends since taking office.

We apologize, this video has expired.

[]

Under the heading "A Dream Deferred" — drawing on a famous line from the Langston Hughes poem "Harlem" — it said the original socialite owner wanted Mar-a-Lago to be a retreat for American presidents but notes it didn't happen until Trump won the election.

The text appeared on the website for Share America, a State Department platform intended to "spark discussion and debate on important topics;" the website for the U.S. Embassy in the United Kingdom and the Facebook page for the U.S. Embassy in Albania.

Democratic House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi was among those taking to Twitter to question whether the posts violated government ethics rules.

The State Department initially declined to comment on the posts, but later unpublished them and said, "The intention of the article was to inform the public about where the President has been hosting world leaders. We regret any misperception and have removed the post.”

Three ethics watchdogs who reviewed the posts before they were taken down told NBC News they were troubling.

"They represent violations of a federal ethics regulation which prohibits the use of public office to endorse a product or enterprise," said Kathleen Clark, a professor at Washington University Law.

"Calling it the 'winter White House' appears to suggest that Mar-a-Lago has an official governmental role, which would appear to provide a governmental endorsement."

Jordan Libowitz of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington said the post "reads almost like an ad for Mar-a-Lago."

"If they weren’t trying to drive business there, you have to wonder what they were doing," said Libowitz, who has previously sued Trump over other alleged ethics violations.

Chinese President Xi Jinping shakes hands with President Trump (R) as he is accompanied by China's first lady Peng Liyuan during a dinner at the start of a summit between President Trump and President Xi at Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate on April 6, 2017 in West Palm Beach, Florida. FileCarlos Barria / Reuters
John Wonderlich of the Sunlight Foundation said it didn't matter that the context for the posts was Trump's meeting with China's Xi Jinping.

"Publishing promotional materials for the President's private business is clearly inappropriate, whether he is using it for official business or not," he said. "There is only one White House. If you're telling the story of Mar-a-Lago, it's the president's private business."

Mar-a-Lago has been a lightning rod for those accusing the Trump administration of conflicts of interest.

While Trump has turned over control of his businesses to his sons, critics have pointed out that initiation feeswere doubled to $200,000 after his election and that the president's frequent appearances there could provide unique access to him for those who can pay.

An encounter between Trump and two former Colombian presidents, who were invited by a Mar-a-Lago member, also raised questions — with the White House denying there was a secret meeting to discuss opposition to a Colombian peace deal with revolutionaries.

As NBC News has reported, since his January inauguration, Trump has spent seven of 14 weekends at Mar-a-Lago and at least 28 percent of his term traveling to or staying at the estate.

[]Tracy Connor

Tracy Connor is a senior writer for NBC News. She started this role in December, 2012. Connor is responsible for reporting and writing breaking news, features and enterprise stories for NBCNews.com. Connor joined NBC News from the New York Daily News, where she was a senior writer covering a broad range of news and supervising the health and immigration beats. Prior to that she was an assistant city editor who oversaw breaking news and the courts and entertainment beats.

Earlier, Connor was a staff writer at the New York Post, United Press International and Brooklyn Paper Publications.

Connor has won numerous awards from journalism organizations including the Deadline Club and the New York Press Club.

She lives in Brooklyn, N.Y.

question: What is the main topic of the article?

answer: It reports on the potential ethics violations concerning the promotion of Mar-a-Lago, a private business belonging to then-President Donald Trump, on a State Department platform.

question: Why is the promotion of a private business on a State Department platform considered in a negative light?

answer: Kathleen Clark, a professor at Washington University Law, says "They represent violations of a federal ethics regulation which prohibits the use of public office to endorse a product or enterprise".

question: What actions are taken following the critiques?

answer: The State Department unpublished the posts about Mar-a-Lago, apologizing for any misperception. They say their only aim was to inform the public about where the President was hosting world leaders.

question: What other concerns about Mar-a-Lago are presented in the article?

answer: The article mentions doubling of its entry fees to $200,000 after Trump's election, and that those who can pay could have a unique way to access the President. Two Columbian former presidents, who were invited by a Mar-a-Lago member, encounter Trump there, which sparks rumors about a secret meeting to discuss opposition to a Colombian peace deal with revolutionaries.

question: Write a ~3 sentence summary.

answer: The article talks about the promotional-sounding posts on a State Department website about Mar-a-Lago, then-president Donald Trump's private business. The article talks about the ethical violations and quotes a law professor about federal regulations prohibiting the use of public office for promoting a product or enterprise. Other concerns include potentially unique access to the President at Mar-a-Lago for those who can afford to pay and an encounter between two former Colombian presidents and Trump.


text:
[Vyshkovo Central Park] VYSHKOVO (; ) is an urban-type settlement in Khust Raion (district) of Zakarpattia Oblast (province) in western Ukraine.[1], firstly mentioned in the year 1281[2]. The town's population was 8,142 as of the 2001 Ukrainian Census.[3] Current population: . In 2001 45% of the population was of ethnic Hungarian origin.

Vyshkovo is located in the historic region of Northern Maramuresh, along the banks of the Tysa River near modern-day Romania. In the past, its location was suited for a castle, although almost nothing remains of it today except for some fortification remnants.[4]

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

title: Vyshkovo

question: Why is 45% of Vyshkovo's population Hungarian?

answer: Doesn't say, possibly strong immigration ties to the region.


text:
ALEX OGBONGBEMIGA (born March 2, 1993) is a Canadian football linebacker for the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played college football at Calgary.

College career

Ogbongbemiga red shirted at the University of Houston during the 2010 season before spending three seasons at the University of Calgary (2011–13). In 17 games, he recorded 26.5 defensive tackles and three tackles for a loss. The team won back-to-back-to-back Hardy Cups as Canada West champions in 2011, 2012 and 2013.

Junior career

Spent the 2015 season with the Calgary Colts of the Canadian Junior Football League. He recorded 20 defensive tackles and one quarterback sack in four games.

Professional career

On the Eskimos practice roster. Activated in Week 10 and played in nine games (one start), recording two special teams tackles. He also had one kickoff return. Ogbongbemiga was on the active roster for both the Eastern Semi-Final and Final. (Saskatchewan) Made his CFL debut on July 16. Traded to Edmonton from Saskatchewan on Aug. 8, 2016 in exchange for national defensive tackle Gregory Alexandre.

He signed a free agent contract with the BC Lions in June 2017.[1]

[1]

title: Alex Ogbongbemiga

question: Who is Alex Ogbongbemiga?

answer: A Canadian football linebacker.

question: What teams has he played on?

answer: The Calgary Colts, the Eskimos, Saskatchewan, and the BC Lions.

question: Are the Eskimos the Edmonton or Saskatchewan team?

answer: Unclear, doesn't say.

question: What's his current team?

answer: The BC Lions since June, 2017.

question: Write a ~6 sentence summary.

answer: Alex Ogbongbemiga is a Canadian football linebacker for the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League. He played college football at Calgary. Ogbongbemiga red shirted for the University of Houston before transferring to Calgary. He spent the 2015 season playing in the Canadian Junior Football League with the Calgary Colts. He made his CFL debut with Saskatchewan, later traded to the Edmonton Eskimos. He signed a free agent contract with the BC Lions in June, 2017.


text:
A chill runs down my spine as I walk across the dew-covered lawn towards the place I hate most. Weaving through the gravestones, I reach my destination. I come here once a week; in all the years since Mother died, not a single Thursday has gone by in which I have not visited her grave. The thing is, I hate doing it. But now, I have more reason than ever to come here. It brings back painful memories; growing up during the Big War without a father was tough, but Mother and I always managed. We were happy, the two of us. The year Mother got sick was one of the worst of my life. I was only twelve. She spent most of her last days in the hospital; the times she was allowed to be at home, she spent in bed. While she was sick, I thought it must be impossible for me to feel more alone than I did. The day she died proved me wrong.
I slowly kneel down in front of Mother’s tombstone. Clouds shift in the sky and the sun is brought out from its confines, rays of its warm light shining through the fog that covers the cemetery. I bow my head in a silent prayer, thinking about this place that brings me so much pain. Behind me, I hear the soft crunch of leaves. I don’t turn around, or even open my eyes; I know who it is, the one who interrupts my time with Mother. “You shouldn’t keep coming here,” She says softly. “It hurts you so much. Why do you keep returning?” I don’t answer immediately. I don’t want to face her. I know that that time will come, but I don’t want it to be now. “I have to come here,” I murmur, barely able to get the words out. “I miss her so much. I feel like she’s here with me when I spend time here. Like she knows I’m visiting her.” Jane sighs. My lovely Jane; I can tell she’s frustrated. “Peter, come home with me. You can’t stay here. You’ll go mad with grief.” Jane’s voice is weak; she sounds close to tears. The emotion in her voice nearly breaks me. The love I feel for Jane is insurmountable; it far exceeds that which I had felt for my mother. To hear such pain in her voice kills me a little inside. But I don’t turn to face her. “Leave me alone, Jane.” I say tersely. I hate speaking harshly to her, but this is becoming unbearable. “You shouldn’t even be here. You can’t be here.” Complete silence suffocates the gravesite. I am certain that Jane is crying by now, even though I cannot hear it.
“Peter,” She whispers, her voice racked with sobs. “Please come home. I miss you so much.” Tears start to leak out of my eyes, despite me shutting them as tightly as I could. I try to control my heart rate, but it’s becoming more and more sporadic with every breath. “Jane,” I whisper. “I’m not going home. That house is empty. There’s no longer anything for me to live for.” “No,” She gasps, now sobbing more loudly. “Why on Earth would you say that, Peter?” “Mother is gone.” I say, finally turning to face my wife. “And now, my love… you are too.” Staring in the direction of Jane’s voice, I see only a withered gravestone. My wrinkled hands shake as they come up to pull at my shock of white hair; I fall to my knees and weep.

title: Gravely

question: What is the "place the [narrator] hates the most"?

answer: The cemetery.

question: Who in the narrator's life has died?

answer: The narrator's mother.

question: Why did the narrator have a tough upbringing?

answer: Their childhood coincided with the "Big War".

question: Why does the narrator think that Jane is crying right now?

answer: He hears her voice, though it's not clear if this is supposed to be a ghost or in his head.

question: What is the narrator's name?

answer: Peter.

question: Write a ~3 sentence summary.

answer: Peter, a war survivor, visits his mother's grave. While there, he thinks about the lonely, empty house, and hears his deceased wife's crying. He grieves openly at her grave as well.


text:
LUCY GOODALE THURSTON (October 29, 1795October 13, 1876) was a Protestant missionary and author. She was the wife of Asa Thurston and was one of the first American Christian missionaries to Hawaii. She is noted for her letters documenting her life and missionary works in the islands.

Background

Lucy was born to a prosperous family[1] on October 29, 1795, on the Goodale Homestead in Marlborough, Massachusetts, in what would later become Hudson, Massachusetts. Her parents were Abner Goodale, a deacon and American Revolutionary War veteran, and Mary Howe.[2] She graduated from Bradford Academy and became a school teacher.[3]

In 1819, she applied to a newspaper advertisement seeking volunteers to missionize in Hawaii through the invitation of King Kamehameha II.[4] To be accepted, however, the applicants were required to be married beforehand. On October 12, 1819, she married Thurston, a scythe maker and minister from Fitchburg.[5] He was one of the theological graduates from Yale University who posted the mission announcement.[6] Lucy and Asa were complete strangers prior to their wedding. Several days later, she accompanied her husband on a five-month voyage on board the ship _Thaddeus._[7] They reached Kawaihae, Hawaii, on March 30, 1820.[8]

The couple helped build churches and schools after securing permission for their ministry at Kailua-Kona from King Kamehameha and Queen Ka'ahumanu.[9] The Thurstons, unlike most missionary couples, spent most of the rest of their lives in the islands.[10]

In 1855, Lucy was diagnosed with breast cancer. As treatment for her illness, Lucy had a mastectomy to remove her left breast in the same year. The procedure was conducted by Seth Porter Ford without anaesthetic, which had not been developed at that time.[11] The operation was successful and she lived for another twenty years.[12] She died on October 13, 1876 in Honolulu.[13]

One of the Thurstons' grandchildren, Lorrin Andrews Thurston, would later play an important part in King Kalakua's decision to sign the Bayonet Constitution, which paved the way for the abolition of the Kingdom of Hawaii and for its annexation to the United States.[14]

Memoir

After her husband's death on March 11, 1868, Lucy started writing a memoir. She compiled her letters and other writings (completed by her daughter Persis Goodale Taylor and Walter Freer, and published under the title of _Life and Times of Mrs. Lucy G. Thurston_ in Ann Arbor in 1876).[15] It is one of the most vivid accounts of the early mission days.

The autobiography was divided into several parts. The first was devoted to the mission's early work in Hawaii. Later parts covered her journey to New York, the death of her daughter Lucy in 1841, and her experience battling cancer.[16] The book also included accounts concerning Hawaiian chiefs.[17]

[1] Grimshaw, P. (1989). Christian Brides. In _Paths of Duty: American Missionary Wives in Nineteenth-Century Hawaii_ (pp. 14–36). Honolulu: University of Hawai'i Press. doi:10.2307/j.ctv9zcjqt.5

[2]

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title: Lucy Goodale Thurston

question: When was Lucy Goodale Thurston born?

answer: October 29 1795.

question: What did Lucy Goodale Thurston do?

answer: She was a Protestant missionary and author.

question: Who was Lucy Goodale Thurston's husband?

answer: Asa Thurston.

question: Where did Lucy Goodale Thurston travel to?

answer: Hawaii.

question: Write a ~1 sentence summary.

answer: This article is about Lucy Goodale Thurston, an American Christian missionary and one of the first to reach Hawaii.


text:
<< DRESS SHOELACES COLLECTIONS

If you want to do some exploring, here's all of our round dress shoelaces in one place! Any pair will add that special little something to your look. Metal tips are available in silver, brass, or black on most dress laces.

_If you can't find the length you want, check out our CUSTOM LACES section, and order exactly what you need!_

question: What kind of tips are available for dress shoelaces?

answer: Metal tips.

question: Which color metal tips are available?

answer: silver, brass and black

question: Which shape are the shoelaces?

answer: Round dress shoelaces

question: Where to find any length of shoelaces?

answer: In the Custom Laces section

question: Write a ~1 sentence summary.

answer: The author lists a dress shoelaces collection


text:
_LIVE FROM THE STREETS_ is a video series and compilation album by American producer Mr. Green and director Sam Lipman-Stern.[1]

Background

_Live from the Streets_ started as a video series created by producer Mr. Green and director Sam Lipman-Stern most known for airing on VICE's music channel Noisey[2] and Green Label.[3] The series, follows Green globally on a journey meeting interesting people and musicians on the streets. Green samples their music; interviews the street performer; and then turns the sounds into original beats. After the beat is created, he collaborates with one of his favorite rappers to add powerful lyrics to the musical backdrop he and the street musician constructed. Finally, at the end of each episode, Green revisits the people he sampled to play them the final track; oftentimes receiving emotional responses from people who have never heard themselves on recorded audio. The final episodes are a unique hybrid music/video experience. Mr. Green has compiled the songs from the series into an album, and released _'Live From The Streets_' on April 7, 2015 via Duck Down Music Inc.[4] and his own production company.

Track listing

All tracks produced by Mr. Green

Personnel

Adoated from Discogs[5] and Allmusic[6]

-   Apollo The Great - featured artist
-   Benefit - featured artist
-   Bodega Bamz - featured artist
-   Chill Moody - featured artist
-   Chris Conway - mixing (tracks: 3, 4, 5, 8)
-   Deniro Farrar - featured artist
-   Dru Ha - management
-   Freddie Gibbs - featured artist
-   Hakim Green - featured artist
-   James Niche - artwork, management
-   KG - featured artist
-   KRS-One - featured artist
-   Malik B. - featured artist
-   Matisyahu - featured artist
-   Mr. Green - primary artist, executive producer, mixing (tracks: 1, 2, 6, 7, 9-14, 16)
-   Noah Friedman - management
-   Ohla - mixing (track 15)
-   Pacewon - featured artist
-   Raz Fresco - featured artist
-   Rich Kidd - featured artist
-   Sam Lipman-Stern - executive producer
-   Slaughter Rico - featured artist
-   Tre Mission - featured artist
-   Vinnie Paz - featured artist
-   World's Fair - featured artist

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]  Credits {{!}} AllMusic|website=AllMusic|access-date=2016-12-22}}

title: Live from the Streets

question: What is the main topc of the video series?

answer: Interviews with people and musicians

question: What does Green do with musicians he meets?

answer: He samples their music during his interview and adds lyrics to them, showing them later.

question: How many featured artists are given credit in this article?

answer: 18

question: What label was the album released under?

answer: Duck Down Music Inc

question: Write a ~3 sentence summary.

answer: This article discusses an album and video series produced by Mr. Green. The majority of the work focuses on street musicians. The article describes the nature of the work and credits several individuals involved in the production.


text:
Mike started the worm selling business back before the fishing craze made anybody any money.

He made good money off lots of other things and you only needed a certain amount of money anyway. Most everything was grown around these parts and his job was really just facilitating trade.

Mike watched with delightful wonder as the boys argued at the counter. The younger, whining, while the older, hushed him.
“We'll just get one!” Bobby held his squiggly worm, shaped like a note and then twisting into an 'S' up at his little brother's nose.
“I want one too,” His little brother's nose twitched in disgust. He took a step back, holding his little worm up to his wide open eyes.

Mike, knew the conversation well and almost hated the kids who didn't have it. He thought of the times he was young and things were so much bigger, especially held up to the eyes like that.

“Shh, you get the milk.” Bobby was stern enough that his little brother went to the beverage cooler and reached way up for the glass bottle of milk, almost too high for him to reach. The milk bottle teetered, Bobby watched in horror, even Mike ran out from his position, behind the counter, but the little boy was just competent enough to catch it before it crashed.

Mike "phewed", as he grabbed the bottle from the little brother and brought it to the counter and got back in his place. He knew a family's spilt milk got more than a 'licking' in these parts.
The shop's door's bells rang as a man in a white corn hat appeared pinker than the sun around here allowed.
“Mr.Splatter! How are you today? Mike made to help him, started a jerking gait, but stayed behind the counter in a retrospect that took him too long to realize. He quickly got back into his position and smiled sincerely.

“Oh, knock it off Mike we've been to the fishing hole together enough. Call me Ralph or nothing at all.”

“Ha! Ralph how are ya? The bean counters up at the Leg got you too busy to fish?”

“Shh, I said just the one.” The men looked over at the boys. Boddy was mad. His little brother had grabbed another worm and was playing with it, on the floor. The boy watched it squirm to each of his fingering probes. Bobby walked closer to him.
Kids never were good at quiet talk and his voice sneaked through his whispers. “We'll split it later, and then you get one and I get one and we can still get milk.”

Mr. Wood or Mike, as he was known in these parts didn't make a fuss about it, after all they were just worms, he got such an awful lot of them next to free, there were no taxes on worms at that time. and these kids were no different then he was, poor, but with a little extra money for a worm, they could split in two, they could split it in four for all he cared.

Ralph, sweating pink as a pig, thought nothing of it. “Yeah those bean counters always need support. It's my job to get it for them.”  His well rehearsed voice didn't match his bodies reaction to the summer day.

And then the fishing craze hit.

title: "Quit All the Downloadin"

question: What did the narrator mean by ".... a family's spilt milk got more than a 'licking' in these parts."

answer: That information is not known.

question: What is the relationship between Mr. Ralph and Mike?

answer: They appeared to be familiar with each other.

question: What kind of business did Mike run?

answer: He sold worms in a store.

question: Why were the kids at Mike's store arguing?

answer: The older one wanted to buy just one worm while the younger brother wanted another.

question: Write a ~3 sentence summary.

answer: Otherwise known as Mr. Wood, Mike was a well-known businessman who owned a store selling worms before the fishing craze. One hot summer day while at work, he encountered two brothers trying to buy worms - the older wanted to buy one while the younger brother wanted more as it appeared he was fascinated by the creature. Later on, Mr. Ralph, an acquaintance of Mike, appeared at the shop, and they discussed bean counters.


text:
It’s a measure of the triumph of the pro-austerity argument in Britain that George Osborne presented his latest round of cuts in the Commons last week – a down payment on the £25bn he plans to make over the next three years – as a “culture of good housekeeping” in government. Austerity as common sense.

With a historic general election victory under their belts, and Labour still obsessed with repudiating their own general election manifesto – and even trashing spending decisions Gordon Brown made seven or eight years ago – the Tories have a wide open field. But the forthcoming onslaught on the public services cannot be left unopposed.

First, the spending squeeze the Tories now hope to implement, starting in the current financial year, is intense, as the spreadsheet wizards at the Institute for Fiscal Studies made clear last week. Shortly before Osborne’s statement, Carl Emmerson, the IFS’s deputy director, warned that achieving the Tories’ planned cuts would be “anything but easy”.

Rising cost pressures, not least an ageing society, and protections for cherished areas, including the NHS and overseas aid, mean the pain for other departments will be severe. By 2015, if Osborne proceeds as planned, the budgets of “unprotected” departments, including the Home Office and Department for Business, will be more than 30% lower in real terms than when the 2010 coalition came to power.

As the Institute for Government’s Julian McCrae spelled out at the same seminar, there are already warning signs that parts of the public services are creaking. He cited a sharp increase in waiting times at hospital accident and emergency departments, and rising violent assaults in prisons as staff numbers are cut, as examples.

So far, surveys suggest the public are only reporting modest deteriorations in services as a result of the past five years’ savings. But as the attrition continues, opinion is likely to shift. Certainly Nicola Sturgeon was able to win a significant hearing for her anti-austerity stance during the election campaign, albeit that the details of the SNP’s spending plans didn’t quite support her fiery rhetoric.

Second, the belt-tightening is likely to be profoundly unfair. Osborne has repeatedly said his cuts plan will involve a £12bn reduction in the welfare bill. Since pensioners are protected, and out-of-work benefits are a relatively small part of the £250bn social security budget, much of the burden is likely to fall on low-wage workers and their children – through reductions in tax credits or housing benefit, for example.

This comes as his party is pledged to cut inheritance tax for property owners (kids whose parents’ home is worth less than £650,000 already don’t pay it) and raise the threshold for paying the higher rate of income tax – two reforms aimed at middle and top earners.

Third, more austerity is risky at a time when recovery appears to be fragile against a background of the bubbling eurozone crisis.

The argument that sucking demand out of the economy through public spending cuts could jeopardise growth may have been trounced in pre-election debates – but that doesn’t mean it isn’t right. Amartya Sen, the Nobel-prizewinning economist, wrote an elegant essay in the _New Statesman_ last week damning what he called “the confused anxiety, not to mention the orchestrated fear, that seems to run down the spine of the terrorised British today, making austerity look like a fitting response”.

He argues forcefully that a nation’s debts are mainly owed to someone else within the same society – for example the pension-holders whose funds are stacked full of gilts.

Less than a quarter of the UK’s debts are owed to overseas investors and there is little evidence to suggest bondholders want fresh cuts. As Jonathan Portes of the National Institute for Economic and Social Research pointed out last week, there was almost no visible reaction in the gilt market to the Tories’ surprise election victory, which implied a considerably tighter future fiscal policy than most of the polls were predicting.

Separately, a report from the International Monetary Fund, rarely considered a hotbed of fiscal recklessness, warned about the risks of trying to tackle a country’s debt burden too quickly. It’s not that the IMF believes hefty debts don’t have bad consequences for economies – but for countries in what it calls the “green zone” (in which it includes the UK), which can borrow cheaply with little danger of being shut out of capital markets, it suggests the best option might be to live with their debts. Paying them down rapidly distorts the economy too much to be worth the risk.

Debts should be “reduced organically through growth, or opportunistically when less distortionary sources of revenue are available”, the IMF’s researchers argue. Meanwhile, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, previously a cheerleader for Osborne’s cuts, has urged him to smooth the path of public spending to make it less economically damaging.

So the cuts are larger than Osborne and his colleagues let on; they may threaten the quality of cherished public services, place an unfair burden on those who can least bear it, exacerbating inequality – and jeopardise the very economic growth which is ultimately the best way of tackling the deficit.

Labour’s proto-leaders are right to try to learn the lessons of the campaign and seize back the language of “aspiration”. But they must not abandon the central insight that austerity is not a necessity, but a political choice.

question: What are the consequences (or potential consequences) of George Osborne's latest round of cuts in the Commons?

answer: There are already warning signs that parts of the public services are creaking. There has been a sharp increase in waiting times at hospital emergency departments and violent assaults in prisons as staff members are cut. Much of the burden is likely to fall on low-income workers and their kids via reductions in tax credits or housing benefits. Paying off the country's debt too quickly may also be damaging to economic growth.

question: Why is George Osborne pushing for cuts in government spending?

answer: Because Osborne and the Conservative Party think austerity is common sense and shows a "culture of good housekeeping" in government.


text:
The Dart Center is offering a two-day workshop for journalists on covering guns and gun violence, May 29-30, in Phoenix, Arizona.

[]
Lighted angels hang from a tree in Monroe, Connecticut January 14, 2013, on the one-month anniversary of the shooting at Sandy Hook elementary School in Newtown that killed 20 children and six staff members.

Reporting on gun violence – on individual incidents, policy shifts and polarized political debate – is a major challenge for journalists and news organizations. Every day, 86 Americans die of firearm related injuries, including nearly 12,000 murdered with guns each year – a rate 20 times higher than that of other developed countries. Nearly 100 school shootings have occurred since the massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary only two years ago.

When it comes to reporting on guns, local and regional reporters bear the primary burden. They are often trapped into narrow deadline-driven beats with little time to develop expert sources, investigative angles or broader perspectives. And newsrooms and news managers are unprepared for the overwhelming, spasmodic tragedy of mass shootings. As a consequence, incidents of gun violence are too often viewed in isolation as random, inevitable tragedy rather than part of a wider phenomenon with complex causes but amenable to prevention efforts.

To help journalists and news organizations in the Southwest improve their reporting on guns and gun violence, the Dart Center for Journalism and Trauma at Columbia Journalism School is organizing a two-day regional workshop May 29 and 30, 2015 for reporters, editors, news directors, photographers, producers, and bloggers. The workshop, funded by Everytown for Gun Safety, will offer independent expert briefings and specialized reporting skills training to enhance the practical ability of journalists to report on guns and gun violence knowledgeably, ethically and effectively. The workshop will cover such topics as state and federal gun laws; patterns of gun sales and gun trafficking; national trends and polling; education and prevention initiatives; social, economic and public health impacts; and special populations (e.g. children and youth, women and returning veterans.)

Speakers include national public health and policy experts; researchers and clinicians; award-winning journalists, and prevention advocates and survivors.

The workshop will:

-   Serve as a forum for improving journalists’ knowledge of guns and gun violence, and the implications of public policies like background check requirements
-   Explore new research, reporting ideas and best practices with leading public health and policy experts
-   Confront challenges — and identify opportunities — that exist for local journalists pursuing these stories with limited resources
-   Provide practical tools to enable journalists to successfully produce meaningful stories on guns and gun violence.

Participation is open to reporters, editors, news directors, photographers and producers for print, broadcast and online media. Staff, contract and freelance journalists are eligible to apply. Thirty individuals will be selected for the workshop. Travel stipends of up to $350 for airfare or trainfare, and two nights of lodging, will be provided to 15 selected participants.

Application Information

THE DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS HAS PASSED. ALL APPLICANTS WHO APPLIED BY THE APRIL 13 DEADLINE WILL BE NOTIFIED WITH A DECISION BY APRIL 20, 2015. If you have any questions, please email [email protected].

This workshop is being made possible by a grant from Everytown for Gun Safety.

-   Homicide & Mass Shooting
-   Featured Articles
-   gun violence
-   Mass shootings
-   Announcement

question: When is the workshop being held?

answer: The workshop is being held on May 29-30.

question: How many Americans die per day due to firearm injuries?

answer: 86 Americans die per day from firearm injuries.

question: How much is the travel stipend?

answer: The travel stipend is up to $350.

question: How many individuals will be selected for the workshop?

answer: Thirty individuals will be selected for the workshop.

question: Write a ~2 sentence summary.

answer: The Dart Center is offering a workshop to members of the media on how to deal with reporting on gun violence. The workshop is available to thirty people, and deals with giving media members the tools necessary to accurately report on these incidents.


text:
Well, here it is:

First I take a deli-sliced piece of turkey breast and run around my house  naked while slapping it against my bare ass. When I feel the turkey is ready for consumption, I make a sandwich (whole wheat bread only) and frisbee it off my back porch.  I then cover myself in vegetable oil, and roll around my front yard while reciting Bible verses.  I proceed to rip out chunks of grass and dirt from the Earth and preach to my bewildered neighbors about our collective minds.

I go inside, and drink to forget all of this.

I wake up from a nice nap on the floor, and check on my chimpanzees. The chimps are my end-all consultants on what I should post on facebook  (I even trust them with my life.) I keep them in a cage made out of reinforced glass, with little slits I can drop stories through, and mozzarella cheese.  If the chimps fling their shit at me and flail wildly, then I know the story is really good. If they just throw their feces, the story is merely satisfactory. If the chimps are dead from malnourishment, I masturbate through the slits and my semen breathes life into them.

Then I go and drink to forget all of this.

I wake up from a nice nap on the floor, and go see my probation officer. I tell her continuously that I “CAN’T STOP THE FUCKING VOICES”. She thinks I’m doing well in my self-rehabilitation, and sends me off to detox.  At detox, I have a mild epileptic fit and call everyone “sloppy twats” when they try to help me. Six months later, I get out of rehab.

Then I go and drink to forget all of this.

I wake up from a nice nap on the floor and wonder where exactly the fuck I am. I try to get home, but I accidentally consult a hooker for directions and she misleads me (seriously, never trust hookers in New Orleans). I wrestle an alligator until it succumbs and wills itself to me. I have the alligator trod off with me on its back, and we head straight to Fairfax.

When we arrive, I let the alligator roam free near my neighbor’s adopted children. I go inside and make a glass of chocolate milk. I throw the chocolate milk off the back porch and scream about the inevitability of death, the lack of a truly fulfilling point to life, and Jim Carrey.

Then I go and drink to forget all of this.

I wake up from a nice nap on the floor and start ferociously pissing blood and kidney stones. Someone calls to tell me I am a manic-depressive and an alcoholic (I drink to forget this too.) I proceed to middleman some crack, and assassinate the ambassador from Sweden. Then I go inside and write whatever bullshit comes out of my head.

And that is how the magic is made.

title: Flowery Prose

question: Who is the narrator?

answer: He is a man who is clearly insane.

question: What is happening to the narrator?

answer: He can't stop hearing voices in his head that make him do all kinds of weird stuff.

question: Why does the narrator drink all the time?

answer: He drinks to forget whatever insanity he did the previous night.

question: Where does the story take place?

answer: Fairfax, New Orleans

question: Write a ~6 sentence summary.

answer: The narrator slaps a turkey breast against his bare ass and makes a sandwich, only to throw it like a frisbee off his back porch. He then runs around naked and covered in vegetable oil. rolling around his front yard ripping out grass while reciting Bible verses. These are just some of the crazy things the narrator does which causes him to drink until he forgets. The narrator always wakes up on the floor and does the shenanigans all over again. After someone tells him he's a manic-depressive alcoholic, he goes inside and writes whatever comes out of his head.


text:
There has been some back and forth between Republicans and Democrats over funding for security in Libya in the wake of Ambassador Chris Stevens’s death. Republicans have questioned whether the State Department had adequate security to protect the ambassador, and Democrats have countered that Republicans tried to cut funding for embassy security. What does the budget record show?

According to the fiscal year (FY) 2013 Congressional Budget Justification Department of State Operations (p. 11), overall funding for those programs has increased sharply over the past decade. Indeed, Worldwide Security Protection is more than double what it was a decade ago. Despite reductions from budget peaks in FY 2009 and FY 2010, both budget lines are higher than in FY 2008. (_continues below chart_)

[]

Comparing FY 2011 actual funding versus the FY 2012 estimate, there appears to be a reduction in Worldwide Security Protection and Embassy Security, Construction and Maintenance. But that reduction does not account for additional funding in FY 2012 from Overseas Contingency Operations funds amounting to $236 million for Worldwide Security Protection (p. 63) and $33 million for Embassy Security, Construction and Maintenance (p. 467). As a result, total funds for Worldwide Security Protection for FY 2012 are estimated to be $94 million higher than in FY 2011, while Embassy Security, Construction and Maintenance is estimated to be $61 million less than FY 2011. Together, there is a net increase.

In terms of people, the budget justification reported that Worldwide Security Protection had slightly fewer positions budgeted (1,777 in FY 2011 versus 1,707 in FY 2012) and Embassy Security, Construction and Maintenance had the same number of positions budgeted (1,014 for both years).

In its budget request for FY 2013, the Administration requested significantly more funding for embassy security—mostly through the Overseas Contingency Operations budget—but retained the same number of positions, apparently on the assumption that security staffing was adequate. Regardless, that budget, even if approved in its entirety, would have entered into effect after the events in Libya.

It is tempting to look for a scapegoat for the tragic events in Libya. However, if one exists, the overall budget for embassy security is not it. Funding for that purpose has risen sharply over the past decade. Moreover, the State Department has considerable latitude in allocating security funds based on current events and intelligence on possible threats. Why that latitude was not applied in Libya deserves further scrutiny.

question: What was the budget request about?

answer: Republicans wish to cut the funding for embassy security.

question: Why did the Republicans want to cut funding for embassy security?

answer: Information can't be found.

question: Write a short breakdown of where the funding is being spent.

answer: There was additional funding in FY 2012 from Overseas Contingency Operations funds amounting to $236 million for Worldwide Security Protection and $33 million for Embassy Security, and Construction and Maintenance.

question: Why are people blaming the embassy security budget for how things panned out in Libya?

answer: People are coming up with speculations about the lack of security in the embassy and are blaming it on the lack of security budget funds.

question: Write a ~4 sentence summary.

answer: There has been some back and forth between Republicans and Democrats over funding for security in Libya in the wake of Ambassador Chris Stevens’s death. Republicans seem to be questioning whether there is enough funding for embassy security. There was additional funding in FY 2012 from Overseas Contingency Operations funds amounting to $236 million for Worldwide Security Protection and $33 million for Embassy Security, and Construction and Maintenance. Overall, the lack of budget funds for embassy security is not why security was lax on the day of Chris Stevens' death.


text:
STEVEN FEIN is a professor of psychology in the Department of Psychology at Williams College in Williamstown, Massachusetts. Fein has two daughters named Alina and Hannah.[1]

He attended Princeton and the University of Michigan, where he received his Ph.D. in social psychology. His primary research interests are stereotypes and prejudice, suspicion and attribution theory, and how the media affects both men and women’s views of women.[2]

Experiments

One of Fein’s experiments, Hype and suspicion, examined the effects of pretrial publicity (PTP) on prejudice in jurors. In the context of the OJ Simpson trial, mock jurors were exposed to PTP, after which they tended to vote “guilty.” However, when the PTP indicated that the defendant was African American, the jurors became suspicious of a racist motive within the publicity.[3]

Another study by Fein and Spencer argued that self-image affects stereotypes and prejudice. They found that participants whose self-image was reinforced were less likely to view a member of a stereotyped group as negative. On the other hand, when self-image was threatened, those participants tended to degrade the stereotyped member, which bolstered their self-image.[4] Also, he has studied culture/ethnicity, media influences, interpersonal processes, self/identity, self-affirmation theory and social cognition.[5][6]

Fein also conducted a series of experiments that demonstrated how people's perceptions of political candidates can be influenced dramatically by the reactions of others around them. For example, in one experiment, subjects watched a tape of a Presidential debate between Ronald Reagan and Walter Mondale. In one condition, there was no manipulation of the tape. In another condition, two brief, amusing “soundbites” by Reagan that got a very positive audience reaction were edited out. In a third condition, the soundbites were left in, but the audience reaction was edited out. In the unedited condition, the large majority of subjects thought Reagan's debate performance was superior to Mondale's. In the condition in which the soundbites were cut out, the preference for Reagan was completely eliminated, showing how strong an effect a couple of jokes were to influence overall perceptions of a 90-minute-long debate. But the results were even more dramatic for the third condition. Here, with the soundbites left in, but the audience reaction cut out, the subjects overwhelmingly thought Mondale's overall debate performance was superior to Reagan's. This demonstrated that it wasn't what Reagan actually said that made the difference, but rather the perceptions of the audience's reaction to what he said that had the biggest impact. Without the validation of the audience's laughter and applause, Reagan's one-liners flopped rather than soared, and viewers were affected significantly by that.[7] This work was cited during the 2008 presidential debates between Barack Obama and John McCain when CNN showed a graph reflecting the reactions of a group of undecided voters live during the debates; Fein was quoted in numerous stories criticizing CNN for potentially influencing numerous voters in this way.[8]

Publications

Other publications by Fein include research on the role of arousal in stereotype threat,[9] suspicion and the fundamental attribution error,[10] and a study testing whether measuring the personalities of new medical students could predict what area of medicine they would specialize in several years later.[11] His two most cited papers are Steven Fein and Steven J. Spencer “Prejudice as Self-image Maintenance: Affirming the Self Through Derogating Others” in _Journal of Personality and Social Psychology_ 1997 Vol. 73, No. 1,31-44 (cited 932 times according to Google Scholar) and SJ Spencer, S Fein, CT Wolfe, C Fong “Automatic activation of stereotypes: The role of self-image threat” in _Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin_ November 1998 vol. 24 no. 11 1139-1152 (cited 308 times) [12]

In addition to the text _Social Psychology_, Fein co wrote other books including _Readings in social psychology: The art and science of research_ with Saul Kassin and _Motivated social perception: The Ontario symposium_, with S. J. Spencer, M. Zanna, and J. M. Olsen. He has also represented the American Psychological Association as well as the committee of the Society of Personality and Social Psychology.[13]

Fein also has co-hosted “Live From E Street Nation” with Dave Marsh on Sirius-XM's “E Street Radio” station on several occasions. One two of these occasions he has had the LA-based rock band, The Airborne Toxic Event, come on to the show for extensive interviews and live performances.

[1] Kassin, S. M., Fein, S., & Markus, H. R. (2008). Social psychology (7th ed.). Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin.

[2] Steven Fein

[3] Fein, S., Morgan, S. J., Norton, M. I., & Sommers, S. R. (1997). Hype and suspicion: Effects of pretrial publicity, race, and suspicion on jurors' verdicts. Journal of Social Issues, 53, 487-502.

[4] Fein, S., & Spencer, S. J. (1997). Prejudice as self-image maintenance: Affirming the self through derogating others. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 73, 31-44.

[5] Associated Press (August 13, 1988). Pitchers throw more beanballs in hot weather, study suggests."

[6] De La Mater, B. W. (2006, March 8). MTV: For better or worse. The Berkshire Eagle

[7] Fein, S., Goethals, G. R., & Kugler, M. B. (2007). Social influence on political judgments: The case of presidential debates. Political Psychology, 28, 165-192.

[8] Schechner, S. (2008, October 10). When your political opinion isn't yours alone; Broadcasts of political debates that include live audience feedback can influence what you're thinking--hecklers can too. Wall Street Journal, A14.

[9] Ben-Zeev, T., Fein, S., & Inzlicht, M. (2005). Arousal and stereotype threat. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 41, 174-181.

[10] Fein, S. (1996). Effects of suspicion on attributional thinking and the correspondence bias. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 70, 1164-1184.

[11] Maron, B. A., Fein, S., Maron, B. J., Hillel, A. T., El Baghdadi, M. M., & Rodenhauser, P. (2007). Ability of prospective assessment of personality profiles to predict the practice specialty of medical students. Proceedings, Baylor University Medical Center, 20, 22-26.

[12] Google Scjolar results

[13] fein.socialpsychology.org

title: Steven Fein

question: Summarize the findings of Fein's research into perceptions of political candidates.

answer: The experiments showed that the reactions of others are key to influencing how individuals perceive politicians. In one experiment, editing out positive audience reactions to a politician's jokes led to subjects overwhelmingly feeling that the politician's performance was inferior. By contrast, changes to the content of the politician's speech did not have such a dramatic effect.

question: Summarize Fein's key experiments mentioned in the passage.

answer: One experiment looks at the effects of pretrial publicity on jurors and whether they would be more or less likely to vote guilt. Another experiment looks at how personal self-image influences how an individual might see a member of stereotyped group positively or negatively. A third experiment mentioned concerns how perceptions of political candidates are influenced by audience reactions.

question: Summarize Fein's work and activities outside of his research.

answer: He has co-written books on social psychology and social perception. He is additionally part of the Society of Personality and Social Psychology and represented the American Psychological Association. He also co-hosted a radio show, 'Live From E Street Nation', which seems to be musically-themed.

question: Summarize what the article says about Fein's political opinions.


text:
Another wet night after another cold day. He had been driving now for hours, aimlessly navigating the same small streets in the same small town. The same streets he had driven down every night for what seemed an eternity. He had always been in this filthy town, always scurried down it's streets in the night like one of its many rats. He drove at a crawl, the dirty yellow streetlights intermittently illuminating his cracked windshield. A lit cigarette hung between his dark lips, lost amidst his unkempt beard. The only source of heat on this cold, dark night.
He looked neither left nor right; he would not see anything he hasn't seen a thousand times before, no pedestrians out for a midnight stroll, no dogs crossing the littered streets, no newspaper, even, fluttering in the wind. He was alone on these streets, alone in this town. He turned a corner, once again ignoring the stop sign, like he had countless times before. There had never been anyone to stop for, never been anyone to stop for him.

A flash of light sliced through the darkness of the street, a deafening horn tore through the stillness of the night. The cigarette dropped from his lips, he didn't notice. Another car, another driver, another person. He wasn't alone on these streets tonight.
He swerved, the other car carried on its way, he jumped the curb, the other car carried on, he clipped a street light, still the other car carried on. The only other person that existed was quickly fading away into the night. He came to a stop and whipped his head around to see the car turn sharply onto another street in the distance.
He quickly jerked his old truck around, bouncing slowly as he dismounted the curb. He had to follow.  He drove as fast as his rusty pickup would allow and approached the street he had seen the other driver turn down. Looking both ways this time, he turned.
In the distance he could make out the other car. Small, white,  with one tire that was too small, and a taillight that had stopped working.
Who was this other person? The little car drove on and on down the street, past stores no one shopped in, past diners no one ate at, past houses in which it seemed no one lived in. He followed. And just as easily as it passed these houses, diners, and stores, it passed out of the town. And he followed.
He hadn't left the town since he had arrived, those long months ago, it seemed that he had always been there. He realized tonight how easy it was to just leave. He didn't give the town a glance in his mirror, it didn't deserve it.
His eyes remained fixed on the one taillight floating in the distance.
They drove and drove down dark country ways, turning onto ever widening roads. Slowly the roads began to be lit with the all familiar dirty yellow light. Dark and mysterious brush and forest gave way to dark and familiar buildings. Another town. The same empty diners, the same seemingly empty houses. He followed, unphased by the new and all too familiar surroundings.
The little white car was different. It was new. It was mysterious. He knew what he would find down the small side streets they passed, he did not know where this little white car would lead him.
It led him to a strip bar. It turned into a well lit parking lot in a well lite part of the town. Bar, the dirty sign said with "girls" flashing in neon red underneath.
The little car pulled into a parking spot not far from a back door. A rusty white door thrown in amongst the rough gray cinder block. He parked his truck facing away from the building, towards the street. Other cars were scattered throughout the parking lot. A few men wandered among these cars.
He looked out of his trucks window, expecting to see the little white car through his side view mirror. He instead saw only the stub of the mirror attached to the side of his truck. Barely a remnant of the mirror ever having existed. He must have lost when he clipped that streetlight. He looked through his rear view mirror, adjusting it to see the little white car. The driver had turned off the ignition, extinguishing the flame that was its one working taillight.
The door opened. Feet, legs, a torso appeared from inside the car. A woman. A head. Flowing jet black hair. No face. She had her back to him, walking briskly, as if running late toward the white door in the gray wall. The door opened, the door shut. She was gone.

title: Looking for any feedback [MF]

question: What does the story say about the woman the narrator sees?

answer: The narrator doesn't see anyone in town ever. All the stores and streets are empty. Another car appears one night, and the narrator follows it to another town. The car stops in front of a strip bar, and a woman with black hair comes out. The narrator can't see her face. Then, she goes inside.

question: What does the story say about the quality of food in small-town diners?