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-   July 23, 1990
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George Steinbrenner will be largely powerless to appeal whatever sanctions may be meted to him by the baseball commissioner, Fay Vincent, unless, authorities on sports law say, he can prove that Vincent acted either capriciously or maliciously.

In weighing his legal options, the principal owner of the Yankees will quickly encounter the lengthy shadow of the first baseball commissioner, the redoubtable Kenesaw Mountain Landis. The dictatorial powers Judge Landis demanded upon taking the post, following the Black Sox scandal of 1919, remain on the books, giving broad powers to his successors to protect the sport's ''best interests.''

The interests in this case revolve around the commissioner's investigation into Steinbrenner's dealings with Howard Spira, a self-described gambler, and Dave Winfield, the former Yankee outfielder now with the California Angels, who had been feuding with Steinbrenner for the better part of a decade.

Powers Listed in Contract

The commissioner has been at his summer home on Cape Cod, Mass., considering what, if anything, he will do to Steinbrenner, ranging from exoneration to forcing him out of baseball. A decision is not expected until next week.

Vincent's powers are enumerated in the contract all owners, including Steinbrenner, signed when they entered the baseball business. With the courts historically reluctant to second-guess what baseball commissioners do, Vincent can effectively act as prosecutor, judge, jury and court of appeals in the Steinbrenner case.

Steinbrenner has signed enough high-priced lawyers to field a starting lineup, including a designated hitter and some utility players. But precisely how much good they can do him in the largely autonomous legal system of major league baseball is unclear.

''Steinbrenner can always file a lawsuit, arguing that in some way he's been denied due process, but I think that's pretty flimsy,'' said Gary R. Roberts, a professor at Tulane Law School in New Orleans and an authority on sports law. ''The courts are generally very hesitant to interfere with the internal governance of private associations, be it baseball, the P.T.A. or the local Masonic lodge.''

Contrast With Players' Rights

Baseball's Major League Agreement empowers the commissioner to investigate ''any act, transaction or practice'' that is ''not in the best interests of baseball.'' It also authorizes the commissioner to determine ''what preventive, remedial or punitive action is appropriate,'' be it reprimand, suspension, fine or outright removal from the sport.

Oddly, Steinbrenner has fewer rights in this situation than do his players, who through their labor agreement are entitled to file grievances and submit their cases to arbitration.

Some sports-law authorities say that Vincent's mandate is so broad that if he wished, he could force Steinbrenner to sell the Yankees simply for the way he has run what was once baseball's grandest franchise, let alone for his ties to Spira.

''He could kick Steinbrenner out of baseball for his atrocious mismanagement,'' said Stephen Ross, a professor at the University of Illinois Law School.

This Vincent has explicitly declined to do.

''I will pay no attention to the issues of the popularity of the Yankees, the fact that they are performing less well, or to all that drumbeat that you are reading about,'' Vincent said earlier this month at a hearing on the Steinbrenner matter.

A Judge Among Advisers

The sports-law authorities expect Vincent, a 1963 graduate of Yale Law School, to act with similar lawyerly restraint in deciding Steinbrenner's fate, particularly since his advisers include Harold R. Tyler Jr., a highly respected former Federal judge. Whatever the commissioner decides, they say, should survive an appeal by Steinbrenner's principal lawyers, Paul J. Curran and Stephen E. Kaufman, as long as Vincent explains himself sufficiently.

Over the last 70 years, Landis and his successors, from A. B. (Happy) Chandler to Vincent, have had some 70 chances to construe the term ''best interests of baseball.'' A. Bartlett Giamatti used it last Aug. 24 to ban Pete Rose, then the Cincinnati Reds' manager, from baseball for life, after investigating allegations that Rose bet on games. Bowie Kuhn invoked it to bar Mickey Mantle and Willie Mays, even though they were retired, from any connection to the game as long as they retained ties to a casino.

At the hearing, Steinbrenner himself kept repeating the ''best interests'' phrase, suggesting at one point that protecting himself and his family from what he called Spira's threats was in baseball's ''best interests.''

Steinbrenner testified at the hearing to having spent a largely sleepless night considering how the term applied to his case, and said that because the standard had ''little or no definition,'' it was subject to abuse.

Sees a 'Dangerous State'

''It's been there in an undefined, and in my opinion, kind of a dangerous state,'' Steinbrenner said. ''It can be viewed as an omnipotent tool. This rule kind of takes the Office of the Commissioner and baseball itself above the law of the land.''

As a lawyer, Vincent was aware that seemingly simple phrases could be ambiguous, and he did not dispute Steinbrenner's point. He noted that the ''best interests'' standard, like such constitutional ideas as ''due process'' and ''equal protection of the law,'' was not self-defining.

''We as lawyers know that we have to make the best we can with not much guidance,'' Vincent said. ''There isn't a very well defined 'common law,' if you will, of baseball.''

But however Vincent defines that law, the courts will be slow to review his decision. Rose found that out last summer when he challenged the commissioner's authority in court.

While not ruling on the matter directly, the Federal judge hearing the Rose case acknowledged the ''extraordinary powers'' vested in the baseball commissioner. He cited a case involving Charles Finley, former owner of the Oakland Athletics, by all accounts the most important precedent on the subject.

Decision Upheld on Appeal

Finley went to court in 1976 after Kuhn, who was then the baseball commissioner, acting under the ''best interests'' rubric, barred Finley from selling Joe Rudi and Rollie Fingers to the Boston Red Sox and Vida Blue to the Yankees. Finley held that. Kuhn's decision was ''irrational, unreasonable, unfair, arbitrary, capricious, unreasonable, discriminatory, and directly contrary to historical precedent, baseball tradition, and prior rulings.''

But a Federal appeals court held that Finley was out of luck. Baseball, it held, had to keep its own house in order.

''While it is true that professional baseball selected as its first commissioner a Federal judge,'' the appeals court held, referring to Landis, ''it intended only him and not the judiciary as a whole to be its umpire and governor. Any other conclusion would involve the courts in not only interpreting often complex rules of baseball to determine if they were violated, but also the intent of the baseball code, an even more complicated and subjective task.''

If Steinbrenner is to have any chance at all, it could come, ironically, as a result of Vincent's lawyerlike approach. Though baseball's rules of procedure authorize the commissioner to ''proceed informally whenever he deems it desirable,'' they also state that, in general, hearings before him should be conducted ''like judicial proceedings, with due regard for all the principles of natural justice and fair play.''

Courtlike Setting

The hearing earlier this month had all the trappings of a full-blown legal proceeding, complete with stenographers, notaries, and, most of all, lawyers - 14 in all, including 6 representing Steinbrenner.

In a session that looked and sounded so much like a judicial proceeding, Steinbrenner's lawyers could argue, they were entitled to the full array of rights they would normally enjoy in court.

Instead, they were denied a request to have the hearing reopened so they could call additional witnesses, including Peter Ueberroth, a former baseball commissioner, and Winfield. (They had the right to call witnesses during the initial hearing, but called only one: Steinbrenner.) Steinbrenner's lawyers were also denied a request to take depositions from John Dowd, the special counsel who investigated the Spira matter, and from Vincent himself.

But the denial of those requests, in and of itself, would probably not be enough to prompt a court to intervene.

''I think George Steinbrenner will have a very tough time persuading a court to reverse Vincent's decision, whatever it might be, as long as Vincent creates a careful and thorough record, and Vincent is a very careful corporate lawyer,'' Professor Roberts of Tulane said.

''Of course,'' Roberts added, ''I always tell people, 'You can find some screwball judge to do just about anything in this country.' Some judges might like Steinbrenner. They might think he has the kind of personality they identify with.''

question: Who is George Steinbrenner?

answer: George Steinbrenner is an owner of the New York Yankees.

question: Who is Fay Vincent?

answer: Fay Vincent is the baseball commissioner.

question: What is going on between George Steinbrenner and Fay Vincent?

answer: Vincent seems as though he is going to take some sort of corrective or punitive action against Steinbrenner.

question: Where did Fay Vincent go to school?

answer: Vincent went to Yale Law School and graduated in 1963

question: Write a ~1 sentence summary.

answer: This article details the situation between George Steinbrenner, owner of the New York Yankees, and Fay Vincent, the baseball commissioner, as well as commentary from people involved in the legal and baseball sphere.


split: train

text:
     “America was founded under the Constitution in 1787. 219 years later, America abandoned the Constitution as its governing document. 1 year after that, militants seized the White House and executed most of the executive branch of government. For another 5 or 10 years, the remainder of the old Government clashed with the rebels, but eventually failed. Their only fighters were members of the U.S. Military. These men and women no longer wished to fight, and gradually they left for their families. 3 years ago, the old government surrendered. With no governing body in place, former Americans formed their own communities, generally known as principalities with the exception of the Empire of California. I used to worry about them, but once they realized that most of the US military used to lay east of the Mississippi they decided to stop there. Now, I run the Principality of York. We would have been overrun years ago if we had not chosen an old naval weapons station as our seat of power. Much to our joy upon settling, the men inside the Arleigh Burke Class destroyer Winston S. Churchill didn’t much like constantly living on a boat and agreed to merge with our community under my lead. Nobody wants to fuck with a destroyer, especially one with most of its original crew.”

     “After 3 years of strife things are starting to look up. The farms in Gloucester recognized our authority and power and provided us with food. Our recent acquisition of the Anheiser Busch plant just up the peninsula provided us with valuable beer to trade for essential goods from other principalities. Our citizens are happy for the first time in God knows how long, and you want WHAT?!”

     Emily picked her head up. “We want you to join us” she said once more. She clearly didn’t like my speech. “The York and The Potomac, if they joined together, could dominate the entire eastern seaboard!” her voice raised. I needed a drink.

     “Need a drink?” I asked her, already pouring myself one.

     “Ill pass, I will never understand your obsession with rum”

     “Just a bad habit I picked up in my college years. Listen, Emily, I have the utmost respect for you and the Principality of the Potomac, but the entire reason for the Anarchy was to get rid of tyrants” I pointed to the picture above my desk. A picture that ignited the old country, a picture of the Old President, slain, with the words “Sic Semper Tyrannis” in bright read across the middle.

     “Will you have to see the benefits here. The Churchill will only last so long until it needs to be maintained at a larger shipyard.

     “We’ll go to Nor—“

     “The Norfolk Naval base is a hellhole and you know it. The Naval Academy has been retrofitted to accommodate larger ships, we can help the Churchill.

     I swished the rum around in the glass. “It’s not going to happen” I thought for a minute. “What about a compromise: a trade agreement. You and every other leader after the Anarchy understands the importance of alcohol. Back before the Anarchy whenever there was a hurricane my dad wouldn’t stock up on anything but beer, you know why?” Emily’s eyes had glazed over, she said nothing. “Because when a tree falls on your house your neighbors will be happy to help as long as there’s beer.”

     Emily rolled her eyes, “Get to the point”

     “We get use of the Naval Academy docks once a year, in exchange you will get 10% of the Busch Brewery production”

     Emily said nothing and walked out in a huff.

     “I need some Coke to go with this” I downed the rest of the rum.

title: [RF] The Principality of York

question: What does the story say about what happened to Boston?

question: What does the story say about what happened to America?

answer: In 2006, America abandoned the Constitution as its governing document and the President became a tyrant. A year later, militants seeking Anarchy seized the White House and executed most of the executive branch of government. For another 5 - 10 years, what remained of the old Government clashed with the rebels, but eventually failed because their fighters, members of the U.S. Military, no longer wanted to fight. The old government surrendered three years later, and with no governing body in place, former Americans formed their own communities known as "principalities" with the exception of the Empire of California. The Empire presumably took all the other states under its unified wing up to Mississippi, because most of the U.S. Military lay east from there. What remained were the states east of the Mississippi.

question: What does the story say about the Principality of York?

answer: The narrator, Will, runs the Principality of York. They chose an old naval weapons station for their seat of power, which saved York from being overrun. The principality was protected by the Arleigh Burke Class Destroyer Winston S. Churchill moored at the naval station. The destroyer's crew was tired of living in a ship and decided to merge with the York community under the narrator's lead. After three years, York's power and authority were recognized by the farms in Gloucester, which provided food. The Principality of York also acquired the Anheuser Busch plant that allowed them to trade beer for essential goods with other principalities.

question: Who is Emily and what does she want?

answer: Emily is the leader of the Principality of the Potomac. She wants the Principality of York to merge with her principality so they could dominate the entire eastern seaboard. Emily insists that York's only destroyer, the Churchill, will only last so long until it needs to be maintained at a larger shipyard. She says that her principality houses the Naval Academy which was retrofitted to accommodate larger ships and can help fix the Churchill. Emily doesn't seem to like Will's proposal of York using the Naval Shipyard once a year in exchange for 10% of the Brewery's production and walks out.


text:
In the EDC Community, knives and practical tools play a huge role. I would by no means call myself a knife enthusiast, albeit a knife expert. Although I am not a huge knife junkie, I can relate with the need for one to perform some everyday tasks, and perhaps for the self-defense or peace-of-mind aspects.

[]
My “knife of choice” happens to be a Multitool- The Leatherman Wingman. I found my Wingman in the back of a Lowe’s for a fair 30$.

The Wingman features a ~3 Inch Utility Blade, a pair of minimalist-yet-usable scissors, a variety of common tools, and, ofcourse, a pair of sturdy spring-assisted pliers.

The Wingman feels very well-made and durable when used. Constructed entirely from stainless steel, it lacks any cheap plastic or flimsy materials that could lead to problems.

The knife on the Wingman does its job well. As I stated earlier, I have a fairly limited knowledge on knives, but I feel that this one is sufficient for its function as well as its price.

[]

The pliers on the Wingman serve their purpose to a satisfactory degree as well. Large, spring-loaded, and equipped with wire-cutting capabilities, they feel sturdy and well constructed. The handles feel about as good as they can for a Multitool.

The rest of the various tools and instruments on the Wingman share the same sturdy and well-made qualities with the pliers and knife, although the scissors can be a bit annoying to deploy.

In terms of concerns and issues, the wingman does a have a few. The main nuisance is the rough notches that are used to deploy the scissors and knife. If used a lot, these notches can really do a number on the tips of your thumbs. Other than that, the screwdrivers and files and such can slowly loses over time, causing them to slide out randomly when opening the handles.

The Leatherman Wingman is overall a great product. If your looking for a fairly simple, sensibly prices Multitool to help with everyday tasks, then the Wingman may be the Multitool for you.

Until next time,
John

Note: I received no compensation from anyone for this review. I purchased this product with my own funds.

Photo Credits- Blade, Multitool

question: What is the narrator's knife of choice?

answer: A Multitool Leatherman Wingman.

question: Where did the narrator find their Wingman?

answer: At the back of a Lowe's for $30.

question: How long is the Wingman's Utility Blade?

answer: 3 inches.

question: What is the main nuisance of the Wingman?

answer: The rough notches used to deploy the device can hurt your thumbs.

question: Write a ~1 sentence summary.

answer: The author gives a review of their favorite knife, the Multitool Leatherman Wingman, describing its features.


text:
I took yesterday off as sort of a respite – a day just for me to take some time to take a step back and purposefully do absolutely nothing. I’ve been talking to a lot of people about how I feel like I’m wasting my time when I’m sitting around at home not doing anything. It’s a form of anxiety that I’ve had for a while now, since I’m usually going to work, doing errands, seeing friends, or going on a date with the girlfriend, I’m used to the constant movement, and time alone to myself in the apartment is hard to come by. When I think about that subtle anxiety, and taking the time to step back and look and consider things – it sounds like the perfect opportunity to listen to some Radiohead – specifically two of my favorites, 1997’s _Ok Computer_ and 2007’s _In Rainbows_.

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_Ok Computer_

[Image result for ok computer]

What more can be said about _Ok Computer_? Thom Yorke’s disillusion with the constant travel during extensive touring for _The Bends_, the increasing prevalence of technology, and feeling almost disenchanted with the world around him gave birth to an incredibly disturbing vision. Songs like the multi-part “Paranoid Android,” the robotic “Fitter Happier” and the political “Electioneering” all give the listener an intense sense of dread, almost a feeling that there’s something lurking behind you, or rather, _around you_. Yet a fair amount of _Ok Computer _is peaceful (personal favorite: “Let Down”), or even cathartic (“No Surprises,” “Lucky,” “Subterranean Homesick Alien”), and almost always beautiful. These are songs which almost seem to somehow _transcend above everything_. The kicker to all of these conflicting emotions and overarching themes is that _Ok Computer_ really doesn’t stray too far from the path of conventional song structures and instrumentation. But, nearly every moment on this album feels calculated, intense, and important. It’s one of a very few albums that I can say gives off such strong feelings without coming off as too intense for casual listening. Every time I listen to _Ok Computer_, all I can really say is “yikes” because it’s undoubtedly one of the best records in terms of sheer tone and atmosphere.

[37769241_4559204058410_8768259057149542400_n]

The version of _Ok Computer _that I have on vinyl is the standard re-release of the album from 2016. The timing of my purchase was actually rather unfortunate given the fact that the _OKNOTOK _20th Anniversary re-release of the album came out only about a year later, and perhaps eventually, I’ll splurge to get that edition because it looks pretty sexy. But, my 2 LP edition of the album will do for now. It’s pretty hefty for a standard reissue, with both records being pressed on 180 gram black vinyl in a gatefold sleeve. The best thing about the package itself is its iconic art. Even just looking at the fractured lyrics, the washed out doodles, the drawings and the little quips add so much to the general feeling of the music than your average artwork would. Even the subtleties of showing you which record to play first (the four sides are marked as “eeny/meeny/miny/mo”) give the album a little more of an aura. No extras were included with this package, but when the music is this engulfing, it doesn’t really matter.

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

_In Rainbows_

[Image result for in rainbows]

_In Rainbows_ was released ten years after _Ok Computer_, and by that time, Radiohead had been one of the world’s most popular rock bands for nearly a decade. As a result of the critical and commercial success of _Ok Computer,_ Thom Yorke suffered a mental breakdown and began creating songs that purposefully strayed away from conventional rock themes and more towards electronica and ambient sounds that littered both _Kid A_ and _Amnesiac._ Following a return to simple recording and more straightforward sounds on _Hail to the Thief_, Radiohead returned in 2007 with _In Rainbows,_ a true return to form for the band.

_In Rainbows_ was independently released by the band on a “pay what you want” model, that is, you could go to Radiohead’s website, type in whatever monetary amount you felt was fair for the album (including zero) and download your copy of the album. It was a revolutionary idea at the time, because up until then, you either had to buy the physical CD or pay sticker price for it on a digital music store like iTunes. But _In Rainbows_ flipped the switch on all of that, and, quite honestly, it may not have had the effect on the market that it ended up having if the album were it not as good as it turned out to be. _In Rainbows_ put the classic Radiohead formula back in place – accessible (yet not exactly straightforward) sounds combined with ambient atmospheres, but this time, with a new resolved focus on rhythm (“15 Step,” “Videotape”) instead of focusing on melody like _Ok Computer_ does. It remains the warmest and most intimate album that Radiohead has recorded throughout their long career, and despite a number of stand out songs, it’s best played through in full to really get the whole picture. The devastatingly beautiful “House of Cards” stands out as a personal favorite of mine, with the quivering opening line of “I don’t want to be your friend/I just want to be your lover” drawing me in every time. It longs and aches for some resolution, and it feels like Yorke and the rest are the band are right there next to you – talking to you, and only you.

_In Rainbows_ relative warmth and personal nature translate unbelievably well to vinyl, a format known for sounding “warmer” than its digital counterparts. The version I have is simple yet effective, again, the album is pressed on heavy 180g vinyl, and there are no extras outside of a digital download card, but, like _Ok Computer_, it’s effective artwork stands out as a great representation of the music inside. Unlike _OK Computer_, however, _In Rainbows _artwork is all about color. The contrast of the black matte with the exploding molten wax is simple, yet iconic, and instantly recognizable. I’m a little disappointed that there wasn’t a 10th anniversary release of the album on vinyl that included the album’s stellar b-sides, but maybe one day.

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

Thanks for reading! Comments and feedback are always appreciated. Listen to _Ok Computer_ and _In Rainbows _on Spotify below, or, if you’re feeling a little adventurous, try out the 0110 playlist which links the two records together with shocking consistency.

question: What two songs by Radiohead are mentioned?

answer: Ok Computer and In Rainbows

question: What does the narrator think when listening to the song Ok Computer?

answer: The narrator thinks "yikes" because they think it is one of the best records in terms of sheer tone and atmosphere.

question: When was the song In Rainbows released?

answer: It was released in 2007, ten years after the song Ok Computer

question: What is the narrator listening to the songs on?

answer: The narrator is listening to the songs on a Vinyl.

question: Write a ~3 sentence summary.

answer: The narrator is filled with anxiety being alone and decides to listen to their two favorite songs, Ok Computer and In Rainbows. The narrator continues on with describing the two songs and the history and emotion behind them. The songs are being played on a vinyl.


text:
What is the American Dream?  How does one define it today and what is the path to earn it?  This is an active conversation at the dinner table, and amongst friends, business leaders and entrepreneurs.   We have certainly heard this question numerous times during the Presidential campaign and both candidates have yet to help America understand what this nebulous term really means.

People are hurting and as the pain grows, sharing it with others becomes more common.  As such, leaders across the private and public sectors must come together and play a larger role to help define the new American Dream.   When today’s leaders are forced to touch the business just as much as they lead it, they begin to understand the struggles that people face and the reality of how difficult it is to create and sustain momentum.  Leaders are now getting their hands dirty and are much more aware of how difficult it is to achieve anything that is purposeful and that matters.

On the other hand, these same leaders know that the rules of business and societal engagement are evolving rapidly.  As such, this requires 1) a new approach to build trust, 2) relevancy to create meaningful relationships, and 3) an almost flawless track-record to be considered for a loan or an investment to be made in a particular opportunity.  This is why we speak of the new American Dream.  Unlike the past, when all you needed was a college degree to increase your chances of achieving the dream – today much more is required for you to even be considered to earn the right to pursue the dream.

Leaders must remind themselves and advise others that to achieve the new American Dream requires one thing that is certain:  _YOU MUST BALANCE KNOWLEDGE (THE HEAD) WITH WISDOM (THE HEART)_.   It’s no longer just about what you know, but what you do with what you know.  In the new American economy, it’s about transparency, trust, opening up your heart and leading with kindness.  Why do you think that so many American’s reacted most favorably to Ann Romney’s speech at the Republican convention?

The new American Dream is no longer about pursuing opportunity – but learning how to earn the right to both see it and seize it.    Today, the real opportunities are hidden.   They hide behind doors that only a combination of knowledge and wisdom can earn.  Opportunity is the true mother of success and for too many years, access to it has been made too easy and thus abused by greed and distrust.   The new American Dream requires you to earn opportunity.  This doesn’t mean that you will be able to seize it – it takes time to have a seat at the table – but you must get the conversation started.

This is what most people don’t understand about the new ground rules and what leaders must learn and then be more deliberate about teaching others.   Opportunity in the past was available for those who could see it.  Today, it you must be able to successfully navigate yourself “through a filter” that earns you the right to be considered for the opportunity.  This filter evaluates how effectively you manage your knowledge and wisdom equally.

_WHY DO YOU THINK IT’S SO HARD TO GET IN THE DOOR THESE DAYS?  PEOPLE NEED TO TRUST YOUR INTENTIONS, MEASURE YOUR CREDIBILITY AND BELIEVE THAT YOU ARE INTERESTED IN PURSUING A RELATIONSHIP FOR THE RIGHT REASONS (IN A MOMENT’S NOTICE)._

Unfortunately, many people in America still believe that government will solve their problems or that big business will fuel the economy in a way that gets us back to normal.   What used to be defined as normal – those days are gone.  Long gone. And I am deeply concerned for those that still believe they can exist.  Today, history is being written and we are all learning from the modern-day innovators who have redefined how to pursue the new American Dream rightly (e.g., Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, Jeff Bezos, Mark Zuckerberg, Howard Schultz and Richard Branson).

In the past, government and big business could serve as both providers and enablers for opportunity.  Today, we are fortunate if either of these groups can consistently provide any real opportunities – and if they can, they certainly are no longer capable of enabling it for you.   That’s no longer their responsibility (and the truth is – it never was).  When the economy was strong, it appeared as if that both of these groups were enabling opportunity when in reality they were just providing more resources than usual to make it easier for people to reach some level of success. Were we living in an artificial reality?  This is why there is much more discussion these days around why people need to have a much more entrepreneurial attitude in order to create their own success.

The American Dream of the past inspired hope and optimism.  When you could believe that anything was possible, it became easier to dream.  While I wholeheartedly encourage people to continue dreaming (and dream big), you must be aware that the infrastructure and resources of the past are either gone, much more difficult to access, or in the process of being recreated to support the new ground-rules previously mentioned.   As such, earning the right to pursue an opportunity has now become not only a responsibility, but requires a set of skills that must be learned in order to properly seize opportunity and keep momentum alive.

In 2009, I launched my first book, _Earning Serendipity – 4 Skills for Creating and Sustaining Good Fortune in Your Work_.  At the time of the book’s release, I thought it was a message that America’s corporations and its leaders were not ready to accept, but should be considering. In fact, the title was changed a few times until I realized that _earning serendipity_ was the best representation of what America and the workplace had forgotten to do over the course of the past decade. When our economic bubble inflated and lines of credit were easy to obtain, people became self-satisfied, grew lazy and lost their hunger to compete.

Earning serendipity was a term I coined to represent opportunity mastery, innovation, humanity; what diversity could do for business, personal reinvention, your legacy, the spirit of giving and the urgency of now!   It was the introduction to the immigrant mentality advantage.

It’s now 2012, and the need for everyone to earn serendipity is greater than ever.  It’s a time when the pursuit for opportunity is no longer a commodity, but a precious and valuable jewel that is only available for those who rightly earn it.

Condoleezza Rice eloquently said just as much during her keynote address at the Republican National Convention:

_“It does not matter where you came from. It matters where you are going. We have never been envious of each other’s successes. Ours has been a belief in opportunity. No country can do more harm to us than we can do to ourselves. Greatness is built on mobilizing opportunity. You can control your response to your circumstances.”_

What is your plan of action? Whatever it is, balance the head and the heart.  Earn serendipity.

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question: What does the author argue has happened to the American Dream?

answer: He claims it has changed due to less economic opportunity.

question: What does he argue must be balanced to create opportunity?

answer: The head (knowledge) and the heart (wisdom).

question: What does he hold up to be the new American Dream?

answer: A more entrepreneurial spirit.

question: What was the author's first book called?

answer: Earning Serendipity.

question: Write a ~2 sentence summary.

answer: The author reflects on the changing economic reality of American life and how it has affected the American Dream and the previous expectations of economic opportunity. He advises that opportunity will be harder to find in the future and will require a more outgoing attitude.


text:
It started way back in third grade, when Vander moved one final time. His last name, Blue, was just a few letters from hers, Blackburn, so he sat near her year after year. His teachers would have them grade each other’s papers in class, usually passing them to the person behind them. She, Nichole, missed so few questions.

Her presence made Vander nervous even then. As grades passed, hormones flowed, and adolescence built up, the idea of speaking to her didn’t become easier.

In high school they didn’t share many classes, maybe one or two a semester. Vander was just a shadow, while Nichole was a star. She sat in the front, while he lurked in the back.

Vander didn’t seek her out, but he noticed her. He didn’t know where she sat at lunch, or her circle of friends. But she was his first crush, the first person that his young body had found appealing. She would forever hold a special place in his heart. Neither of them really had a choice in the matter, it was merely a fluke of fate.

Those school years were nightmarish to Vander. Friends were distant, few and far between. The idea of graduating meant nothing to him or his family. When he was offered a job, which had hours that interfered with school, he readily accepted it. No one seemed to notice his disappearance, no ceremony marked the day he left school for the real world. Where Vander grew up a paycheck was more valuable than a report card.

One of his few places of solace was the gym. Vander could spend hours, alone, building up and releasing fire from his veins. In that giant room of mirrors Vander was just like everyone else.

That was where Nicole came back into his life.

It had been years, he was in his twenties. She had put on a few pounds and looked lost. A gym wasn’t school; this wasn’t a place where popularity or social ability achieved anything. It was a place where Vander understood the hard rules, that work was the only way to get results. Vander did as he had always done, sat far away and watched, aware of her.

Day after day Nicole returned, fruitlessly struggling with pulleys, balls, and barbells. Vander was nearby, watching her out of the corner of his eye, when she looked so frustrated with a machine that he feared she may begin crying.

“Here, let me show you a trick…” was how it began. He never mentioned grade school or high school. He never told her about his crush. He was just a guy at the gym who was nice enough to help her out.

Day after day they met up informally. He kept expecting her to disappear, to find something more amusing, but she kept coming back. They talked about random things, laughed about amusing stories. Nicole confessed the insecurities she felt with her flesh. Vander assured her that how a person looked wasn’t what mattered, but who they were.

Vander walked out of the gym one night to find her standing there, “My car won’t start... do you think… maybe… you could give me a ride?”

Of course he would.

This was a vivid dream from years past. Many of Vander’s less pure thoughts began with this exact scenario, a scenario that he didn’t even have to ask for.

In the car she immediately began chattering, a skill that she was remarkably blessed with. He stopped paying attention to the specific words, they didn’t matter. The simple sound of her voice soothed him, her hum was a constant reminder that she was beside him.

At a stoplight Vander reached under his seat. His hands found the cold piece of metal where he always kept it. Vander set the gun on his lap. When he started driving forward again the streetlights reflected its polish, making it easily noticeable.

Nicole went silent, flaunting her perception. Vander looked at her to make sure that she was still there, that she hadn’t simply been a long term fantasy that had disappeared.

Her eyes met his. “What’s that for?” Those eyes that he was becoming familiar with were wide with a mixture of curiosity and terror, begging for an acceptable explanation.

Vander measured her body, making her feel naked in the spandex that clung tightly to her every curve. When his eyes returned to her face he mumbled quietly.

“What?” she faintly asked.

“If they don’t come for me…” Vander’s eyes lost focus, looked through Nicole. “It’s all over.”

Nicole spoke again, the exact words didn’t matter to him. Her voice still soothed him though.

 Vander looked back at the road that was in front of them, focusing on the turns that they were taking. He continued to drive further and further from civilization.

When she began searching through her purse Vander took notice of what she was pulling out. Things piled onto her lap, papers, pouches, bottles, compact mirrors. Finally a small square was in her hand, a cellphone that she pressed buttons on before holding to her ear.

Vander heard that buzz of words spilling from her, a higher pitched buzz, full of panic.

Confidence had filled him where once social awkwardness had made its home. “If they don’t come for me, we’re gonna die…” Vander said as he raised the gun at her, silencing her voice.

He wasn’t in favor of the police getting involved in his love life. The weapon lowered to where Nicole’s feet were and he squeezed the trigger.

The discharge had a cleansing effect. The world was silent as their ears reverberated with the sound and everything was blurry as their eyes coped with the after image of the blast.

Nicole had jumped into her seat at the shock of the gun firing, curling her knees to her chest. The phone had fallen and slid to an unknown place.

“If they don’t stop this sickness inside of me, at least I’ve got you by my side.” Vander set the gun back into his lap and continued to drive.

title: If They Don't Come For Me (1020 Words)

question: What is Vander's relation to Nichole?

answer: A classmate and first crush that sat near each other because of their last names and their alphabetical seating arrangement.

question: How does Nichole come back into Vander's life?

answer: Years later, in their twenties, Nichole walks into the same gym Vander goes.

question: Who pulls the gun's trigger?

answer: Vander shoots at Nichole's feet on the passenger side of the car.

question: Why was Nichole in Vander's car?

answer: Nichole's car broke down and asked Vander for a ride.

question: Write a ~7 sentence summary.

answer:
Vander and his first crush, Nichole, usually sat near each other because of the alphabetical seating arrangement. He always noticed her but never confessed his feelings.
Years later, in their twenties, she came back into his life, at the gym.
There was no mention of grade school, high school nor his old crush on Nichole.
Nichole asks Vander for a ride home when her car doesn't start. On the drive, Vander pulls out a gun and shoots at her feet on the passenger side. Vander mentions a sickness inside him and keeps driving.


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The PARIVRAJAKA (IAST: Parivrājaka) dynasty ruled parts of central India during 5th and 6th centuries. The kings of this dynasty bore the title Maharaja, and probably ruled as feudatories of the Gupta Empire. The dynasty is known from inscriptions of two of its kings: Hastin and Samkshobha.

Political status

The Parivrajaka inscriptions refer to the imperial Gupta dynasty, but do not mention any Gupta overlord. However, the use of title “Maharaja” (generally used by feudatory kings) suggests that they were vassals of the Guptas. In addition, the Parivrajaka inscriptions state that the dynasty ruled the forest kingdoms; the Allahabad pillar inscription of the Gupta emperor Samudragupta states that he subjugated all the forest kingdoms.

When the Gupta empire started declining, they acknowledged nominal Gupta suzerainty.

Multiple inscriptions of the dynasty mention a year of an uncertain calendar era, with the term “Gupta-nṛipa-rājya bhuktau”, which has been translated variously by different scholars:

-   According to Moirangthem Pramod, the Parivrajakas were reduced to the governors of a _bhukti_ (province) after the Gupta conquest.
-   According to P. L. Gupta, the Parivrajakas were originally vassals of the Gupta, but became independent by the time of Hastin. Even after becoming independent, they continued to use the Gupta era, which is what the term refers to.
-   According to H. H. Wilson, the term refers to the occupation of the Parivrajaka kingdom by the Guptas, and the calendar era starts from this date of occupation.
-   According to Dr. Hall, the term refers to end of the Gupta sovereignty, and the calendar era starts from beginning of the post-Gupta period.

History

The term “Parivrajaka” literally means a wandering ascetic. The family came from a lineage of Brahmins of Bharadvaja gotra, who may have been wandering ascetics some time in the past. Another possibility is that the term “Parivrajaka” is a reference to the practice of kings abdicating their thrones in old age and becoming wandering ascetics, in accordance with the ashrama system.

Early rulers

The earliest known member of the dynasty is Susharman, who is known only from the Khoh inscription of Samkshobha. The inscription describes Susharman as a learned ascetic from Bharadvaja gotra, and compares him to the legendary sage Kapila. It states that he knew “the whole truth” and fourteen branches of science.

Maharaja Devadhya was a descendant of Susharman, and was succeeded by his son Maharaja Prabhanjana. Prabhanjana was succeeded by his son Maharaja Damodara.

Maharaja Hastin

[Khoh plates of the Maharaja Hastin, 482 CE.[1]] [Majhgawan plates of Maharaja Hastin, 510 CE.[2]] Maharaja Hastin, the son of Damodara, is credited with several military victories, although the inscriptions do not mention any of his adversaries. According to K. C. Jain, these claims probably refer to his participation in Guptas' war against the Hunas. He was a charitable king, and donated cows, horses, elephants, gold and land to Brahmins.

According to the Khoh inscription of his son Samkshobha, Hastin ruled the kingdom of ābhala (or āhala; later Dahala) and the 18 _aavi-rājya_ (“forest kingdoms”). The identity of these 18 forest kingdoms is not certain, but they were most probably in the Vindhyan region.

Hastin ruled for at least 42 years, as his earliest extant inscription is dated to the year 156, and his last inscription is dated to the year 198. Assuming these years to be in the Gupta era, Hastin would have been a contemporary of the Gupta kings Budhagupta, Vainyagupta, Bhanugupta and possibly Narasimhagupta. Budhagupta was a relatively strong ruler among these, and Hastin appears to have been his vassal. This theory is corroborated by the discovery of a copper-plate inscription issued during Budhagupta's reign from Sankarapur in Sidhi district.

Hastin was a Shaivite, as suggested by his Bhumara inscription, which describes him as meditating at the feet of Mahadeva (Shiva).

Some ancient silver coins bearing the legend “Raa Hastin” have been discovered. Historians such as E. J. Rapson, R. D. Banerji and B. P. Sinha identified him with Hastin on palaeographic basis. However, Dasharatha Sharma and P. L. Gupta identify him with the Pratihara king Vatsaraja who held the title “Rana Hastin” according to the _Kuvalayamāla_ of Udyyotana Suri. According to Gupta, these coins cannot be dated before the 8th century CE. This theory is corroborated by the fact that no Gupta vassals issued coins in their own names.

Maharaja Samkshobha

Maharaja Samkshobha (or Sakshobha) succeeded his father Hastin, and inherited the entire ancestral territory, including the 18 kingdoms. Like his father, he also made land grants for religious merit. He maintained the orthodox varna and ashrama systems.

Unlike his father who invoked Shiva, Samkshobha's Khoh inscription opens with an invocation to the god Vasudeva. He is the last known of the dynasty, which probably ended with him. The end of the Parivrajaka rule probably coincided with the end of the Gupta rule, which was followed by the Aulikara rule in central India.

Genealogy

The following members of the dynasty are known (IAST names in brackets):

-   Susharman (Suśarman)
-   Devadhya (Devāḍhya)
-   Prabhanjana (Prabhañjana)
-   Damodara (Dāmodara)
-   Hastin, r. c. 475–517 CE
-   Samkshobha or Sakshobha (Saṃkṣobha), r. c. 518–528 CE

Inscriptions

The following inscriptions from the Parivrajaka reign have been discovered. All are copper-plate inscriptions, except the Bhumara stone pillar inscription:

  Find spot              Issued by                                               Year (CE year, assuming Gupta era)   Objective                                                                                Source
  ---------------------- ------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------
  Khoh                   Maharaja Hastin                                         156 (475 CE)                         Grant of the Vasuntarashaika village by Maharaja Hastin to Gopasvamin and other Brahmins
  Khoh                   Maharaja Hastin                                         163 (482 CE)                         Grant of the Korparika agrahara by Maharaja Hastin to Brahmins
  Jabalpur               Maharaja Hastin                                         163 (482 CE)                         Grant of a village by Maharaja Hastin to Brahmins, in Gupta year 170
  Majhgawan              Maharaja Hastin                                         191 (510 CE)                         Grant by Maharaja Hastin at the request of Mahadevi-deva
  Navagrama              Maharaja Hastin and Uchchhakalpa Maharaja Sharvanatha   198 (517 CE)                         Grant of a village by Maharaja Hastin to Brahmins of Parashara gotra and Madhyandina Shakha
  Bhumara (or Bhummra)   Maharaja Hastin                                                                              D. C. Sircar suggests that this is a family stone. The inscription mentions Ambalode village, which according to John Faithfull Fleet, was located at the Parivrajaka–Uchchhakalpa border
  Betul                  Maharaja Sakshobha (Samkshobha)                         199 (518 CE)                         Grant of the Prastaravataka village and Dvāravāika quarter in Tripuri province, by Maharaja Hastin to Bhanusvamin (a Brahmin of Bharadvaja gotra)
  Khoh                   Maharaja Samkshobha                                     209 (528 CE)                         Grant of the Opani village by Maharaja Hastin to a temple of goddess Pishapuri, at the request of Chhodugomin. Pishapuri was probably a local form of Lakshmi.

[1] Corpus Inscriptionum Indicarum Vol 3 p.102ff

[2] Corpus Inscriptionum Indicarum Vol 3 p.108ff

title: Parivrajaka dynasty

question: When did the Parivrajaka dynasty rule?

answer: During 5th and 6th centuries.

question: Which area did they rule?

answer: Parts of central India.

question: List the known members of the dynasty.

answer: Susharman, Devadhya, Prabhanjana, Damodara, Hastin, Samkshobha or Sakshobha.

question: What was the dynasty's relationship to the imperial Gupta dynasty?

answer: There is some dispute about their precise role, but they seem to have been the vassals of the Guptas.

question: Write a ~1 sentence summary.

answer: The text is about the Parivrajaka dynasty, who ruled parts of central India during 5th and 6th centuries.


text:
MITCHAM was an electoral district of the House of Assembly in the Australian state of South Australia from 1938 to 1993. The district was based in the south-eastern suburbs of Adelaide.

Mitcham was one of just three metropolitan seats (with Burnside and Torrens) won by the Liberal and Country League in 1965 and 1968.

Mitcham is the only single-member lower house seat in any Parliament in Australia to be won by the Australian Democrats.

Mitcham was superseded by Waite at the 1993 state election.

Location

At the 1938 election, the polling places for the district of Mitcham were: Belair, Blackwood, Colonel Light Gardens, Cottonville, Eden Hills, Hawthorn, the Home for Incurables at Fullarton, Mitcham, Rosefield, Unley Park, Upper Sturt, Westbourne Park and West Mitcham.[1]

Members for Mitcham

  Member   Party               Term
  -------- ------------------- --------------------- -----------
  |        Henry Dunks         Liberal and Country
  |        Robin Millhouse     Liberal and Country
  |        Liberal Movement    1973–1976
  |        New LM              1976–1977
  |        Democrats           1977–1982
  |        Heather Southcott   Democrats
  |        Stephen Baker       Liberal

[1]

title: Electoral district of Mitcham (South Australia)

question: Where was Mitcham located?

answer: It was located in the south-eastern suburbs of Adelaide.

question: What were the other two metropolitan seats won by the Liberal and Country League?

answer: Burnside and Torrens, alongside Mitcham, was won by the Liberal and Country League in 1965 and 1968.

question: How big is Mitcham?

answer: Not answered.

question: When was Mitcham dissolved?

answer: Mitcham was superseded by Waite at the 1993 state election.

question: Write a ~1 sentence summary.

answer: Mitcham is an electoral district of the House Assembly in the Australian state of South Australia from 1938 to 1993.


text:
The eruption of community protests that followed the killings of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile last week placed the spotlight once again on racial disparities in American society. But one aspect that again received less attention than it deserved is economic disparity. That’s important because it’s pervasive in the U.S. and arguably lies at the core of our racial conflicts.

Progressive economist Jared Bernstein put his finger on the issue, observing that “the systemic racial injustice embedded in the economy” is among the “institutional prejudices” America needs to consider deeply.

I examined this issue after the Ferguson outrage of 2014, noting the persistent economic harassment that afflicted the residents of that city — racial profiling leading to a proliferation of nuisance fines and court fees that would grow exponentially. As a local legal-aid organization documented, clients were “jailed for the inability to pay fines, losing jobs and housing as a result of the incarceration, being refused access to the Courts if they were with their children or other family members.”

  If public policy successfully eliminated racial disparities in homeownership rates...the wealth gap between Black and White households would shrink 31 percent.

Thomas Shapiro et al, Brandeis University

But there’s more to it than that. Black unemployment is consistently higher than the white rate, black homeownership rates consistently lower. In virtually every economic metric, black households are mired behind white households. The further behind they fall, the harder it becomes to get a leg on the income ladder and to keep climbing.

[Black and white unemployment rates move in lockstep, but the black rate is consistently double the white rate, keeping the ratio steady.]
Black and white unemployment rates move in lockstep, but the black rate is consistently double the white rate, keeping the ratio steady.

(BLS, via Jared Bernstein )

As Bernstein and Valerie Wilson of the Economic Policy Institute also observed, black unemployment is more volatile than that of whites — it rises faster in slack times and falls faster as the economy moves toward full employment: “Between 1979 and 2014, the average annual black unemployment rate changed by 1.7 percentage points for every 1-percentage-point change in the national unemployment rate,” Wilson wrote. Real wage growth for black households will also grow faster than in white households, albeit marginally.

One disquieting finding is that black unemployment exceeds white unemployment across all levels of educational achievement. The disparity shrinks as educational attainment rises — it’s largest for those without a high school diploma and smallest for those with college degrees — but it never goes away. The average unemployment rate in 2015 for blacks with a college degree (4.1%), was higher than the rate for whites who had not completed college (4.0%).

[Black unemployment exceeds that of whites across all educational levels.]
Black unemployment exceeds that of whites across all educational levels.

(Valerie Wilson, EPI )

Indeed, college graduates are the only black workers with lower unemployment than the national average; whites with no high school diploma are the only whites whose average unemployment rate exceeds the national average. “Persistent disparities in unemployment are constant reminders of how race continues to have an undue influence on life in this country,” Wilson has written.

These are arguments in favor of placing full employment at the forefront of policy goals, Wilson says. That means keeping interest rates low, despite pressure on the Federal Reserve “from monetary hawks to raise short-term interest rates as a guard against price and wage inflation.”

Income disparities are just the tip of the iceberg in racial economic injustice. The racial gap in wealth is even greater.

[Blacks and Latinos have fallen further behind white households in net worth since the recession]
Blacks and Latinos have fallen further behind white households in net worth since the recession

(Pew Research Center )

The Pew Research Center found in 2014 that the wealth of white households had reached 13 times the median wealth of black households, compared with eight times the wealth in 2010. That was the largest gap since 1989, when it was 17-to-1. The gap between white and Latino households was smaller, but still significant. Pew’s study showed that white household net worth had held steady after the recession, while that of black households continued a slide dating back to 2004. Latino family net worth peaked in 2007 and has declined since then.

Underlying this gap in wealth is a gap in homeownership, according to Thomas Shapiro and colleagues at Brandeis University’s Institute on Assets and Social Policy. They determined that the racial gap in median net worth tripled from 1984 to 2009, expanding to $236,000 from $85,000. Much of the difference was home equity, which gave home-owning families a leg up in helping relatives with down payments, lowering the cost of borrowing and improving access to credit, Shapiro found. And though some of these advantages were eroded by the housing crash, many long-term homeowners were still able to weather the storm better than renters.

The divergence in home ownership rates was stark, Shapiro’s team found using 2011 figures: About 73% of white households owned their homes, compared with only 45% among black households and 47% among Latinos.

[If black and Latino homeownership rates matched whites,' they would experience a huge increase in household net worth.]
If black and Latino homeownership rates matched whites,’ they would experience a huge increase in household net worth.

(Thomas Shapiro, Demos )

Had homeownership rates merely matched each other, black household net worth would be 450% higher and Latino wealth 350% higher. “If public policy successfully eliminated racial disparities in homeownership rates,” Shapiro and his colleagues observed, “median Black wealth would grow $32,113 and the wealth gap between Black and White households would shrink 31 percent.”

Reducing the homeownership and thereby the wealth gap can be done, but requires aggressive federal policies. Among those spotlighted by Shapiro are strict enforcement of housing anti-discrimination laws; segregation limits the value gains in homes in black neighborhoods, while black and Latino families still face obstacles to moving into predominantly white areas. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac should be encouraged to reduce principal and make other modifications to homeowners struggling with mortgage burdens in the wake of the housing crash; black and Latino families would be beneficiaries of such policies, which would help them preserve their home equity.

The most important step for Americans in coming to grips with the nation’s racial heritage is recognizing that its social aspects are intertwined with its economics. As long as we fail to recognize the profound obstacles confronting black and Latino Americans in finding jobs and accumulating wealth, the social disparities will never disappear.

MORE FROM MICHAEL HILTZIK:

REMEMBERING SI RAMO, AMERICA’S PIONEERING RENAISSANCE MAN

WHY THE BRITS DO POLITICAL SATIRE SO WELL — AND AMERICANS CAN BARELY DO IT AT ALL

THE ‘BREXIT’ CRISIS FROM THE GROUND UP: WILL BRITAIN REALLY LEAVE THE EU — AND SHOULD IT?

question: Summarize everything relating to the 1980s.

answer: The 2014 wealth gap between black and white households was the largest it had been since 1989, when it was 17-to-1. The racial gap in median net worth also tripled from 1984 to 2009. In 1989, the net worth gap was $85,000.

question: Summarize everything relating to Latinos.

answer: Both Blacks and Latinos have fallen further behind white households in net worth since the recession. The gap between white and Latino households is smaller than the gap between white and Black households. Latino family net worth has been on decline since peaking in 2007. Home ownership among Latinos was at 47% in 2011. If their homeownership rates matches that of white families, Latino wealth would be 350% higher. Latino families still face obstacles moving into predominantly white areas and finding jobs and accumulating wealth.

question: What does the article say about the gap between Black and white families in Canada?

question: What does the article say about addressing the root of racial conflicts?

answer: The article suggests economic disparity lies at the core of racial conflicts. If public policy eliminated racial disparities in homeownership rates, the wealth gap between Black and white households would shrink 31 percent. If Black and Latino homeownershp rates matches whites', their household networth would be 450% higher and 350% higher respectively. Without addressing economic obstacles facing Black and Latino Americans, social disparities will never disappear.


text:
WILLIAM JOHN WEST (December 20, 1892 – February 24, 1985) was a Canadian politician. He served in the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick as member of the Progressive Conservative party from 1952 to 1960. Active as a Lawyer, politician, and judge, he was the son of Amelia Prince Small and Wesley West, was born at Cole's Island, Queens County, New Brunswick on 20 December 1892. Educated at local schools in Coles Island, he attended Gagetown Grammar School and later Mount Allison (B.A.) and Harvard (LL.B.) universities. In addition to farm work, he spent five years as a clerk in a country store, time as a lumberjack and rafter, and a year running a large sawmill. Although politics interested him from a young age, he followed his father's and grandfather's affiliation to the Progressive Conservative Party, it was only through an uncle that the law suggested itself as an option. Called to the New Brunswick bar in 1923, he practised law, first at Woodstock (1923-1928) and then in Fredericton under the firm name Hanson, Dougherty & West. In 1933 he married Katherine E. MacMurray, and the couple raised two daughters, Mary (Pratt) and Barbara (Cross).

William West's education at Mount Allison was interrupted in 1915, when he enlisted as a gunner in the 1st C.G.A. He served overseas in England and France with the artillery, a signal corps, and Canadian engineers during the First World War, including duty at Vimy and Paschendale. He was demobilized from the army in April 1919 with the rank of lieutenant.

West was active in the business and political arenas. He served as director of the A. R. Loggie Company and the Maritime Trust Company. Two terms on Fredericton City Council were followed in 1952 by election on the Progressive Conservative ticket as an MLA for York County. He served as Attorney General in Hugh John Flemming's cabinet until 1958, when he was appointed to the Appeals Division of the New Brunswick Supreme Court. He stepped down from the court in 1967 and among his retirement achievements was the publication of The Wests of Coles Island, The Story of a Family, in 1982. Judge West died February 24, 1985.[1][2][3]

[1]

[2]

[3]

title: William J. West

question: What were West's political leanings?

answer: When he was serving in the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick as a member of the Progressive Conservative party. He had followed his father and grandfather's affiliation with the party.

question: Who are West's parents?

answer: He was the son of Amelia Prince Small and Wesley West.

question: Where was West educated?

answer: He attended Gagetown Grammar School, Mount Allison (B.A.), and Harvard (LL.B) universities.

question: what happened in 1958?

answer: West stopped serving as Attorney General in High John Flemming's cabinet.

question: How long did West serve in the military?

answer: He served from 1915 to 1919.

question: Write a ~3 sentence summary.

answer: This article discusses William J. West. He was a Canadian politician who served in the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick as member of the Progressive Conservative party from 1952 to 1960.


text:
MONTREAL – Transport Minister Marc Garneau said he would board “without hesitation” the type of aircraft that crashed in the Ethiopian Airlines tragedy on Sunday, stressing his confidence in the new plane.

Garneau’s remarks came minutes after a statement from the Air Canada Pilots Association that called on the minister “to take proactive action to ensure the safety of the Canadian travelling public.”

The crash, which killed all 157 aboard the Boeing 737 Max 8 — including 18 Canadians — has raised concerns over parallels to a Lion Air crash of the same model of aircraft in Indonesia last October, killing 189 people.

RELATED: CANADIAN AIRLINES TRY TO REASSURE FLYERS AFTER FATAL BOEING 737 PLANE CRASH

“I am confident that we are following up on this very, very carefully and with all of the priority that is necessary to ensure that we discover what the cause of the accident was. Then, I will not hesitate to take any action necessary, when we discover what that cause is,” Garneau said.

He says the cause “could be any one of dozens of different possibilities.”

“It was a sunny day, an experienced pilot, the plane was brand new. But we know little else,” he said, noting the black box has been recovered.

Garneau says flying is “extremely safe in this country”

“I understand that sometimes when something happens such as yesterday it draws a great deal of attention — and so it should — but flying is a very safe way to travel in this country. The statistics show that very, very clearly.”

A B.C. man and an Ontario family of six are among the 157 people — including 18 Canadians — who died.

RELATED: ONTARIO FAMILY OF SIX AMONG THOSE KILLED IN ETHIOPIAN AIRLINES PLANE CRASH

Garneau sent his condolences.

“I would like to extend my sympathies to all of the families and friends of those 157 — and of course, the 18 Canadians — who were part of the passenger list on that particular flight. I can assure you that we are deploying all of our efforts at the moment to discover the cause of this accident.”

Garneau said he has been in touch with U.S. Transportation Department Secretary Elaine Chao and is working with American aviation authorities to uncover the problem “and then take action.”

WESTJET, AIR CANADA QUESTIONED ABOUT SAFETY ON SOCIAL MEDIA

Canada’s major airlines have been inundated on social media with questions about the safety of their fleet in the wake of Sunday’s fatal crash, which occurred after takeoff from Addis Ababa Bole International Airport.

Angie Hung, scheduled to take a WestJet flight June 5 from Calgary to Halifax en route to Scotland for a Spice Girls concert, was one of scores of Canadians asking airlines if they planned to ground the Max 8, the plane listed on her flight.

“I am planning to tweet, ‘I love you Mom and Dad,”’ she said in an interview, “in case something bad happens.”

“If I could afford to cancel and change it, I would,” said Hung, 42.

Fernando Candido, an Edmonton-based elementary school teacher, said he flies up to 10 times per year.

“I’m kind of worried. I’m sure eventually I’ll have to use one of those planes,” said Candido, 58. “Maybe in Canada they should not fly those planes any more until they figure out those issues.”

The country’s two largest airlines said they are confident in the safety of the Boeing 737 Max 8 and will continue to fly them.

“These aircraft have performed excellently from a safety, reliability and customer satisfaction perspective,” Air Canada spokeswoman Isabelle Arthur said in an email. “We continue to operate our normal B737 schedule.”

Air Canada, which has fielded comments from more than 100 Twitter users in the past 24 hours, said it has 24 Max 8 aircraft on routes that include Vancouver to Montreal and Calgary to Vancouver.

WestJet Airlines Ltd. tweeted Monday that it is not grounding any of the 13 Max 8s in its fleet of 121 Boeing 737s.

  We are not grounding our planes at this time. We are monitoring the situation closely and working with Boeing to ensure the continued safe operation of our MAX fleet.

  — WestJet (@WestJet) March 11, 2019

“WestJet remains confident in the safety of our Boeing 737 fleet,” spokeswoman Morgan Bell said in an email. The airline is “working with Boeing to ensure the continued safe operation of our Max fleet,” she said.

The Calgary-based company has orders for 37 more Boeing 737s on the books.

Sunwing Airlines also has four 737 aircraft, according to civil aircraft registrations.

WestJet has flown five different models of the 737 since the airline was founded in 1996, and now operates about 450 daily departures of the plane series, according to the company.

The Boeing jetliner is relatively new, entering into service at both airlines in 2017.

Ethiopian Airlines as well as all Chinese and Indonesian airlines have grounded their Boeing 737 Max 8 planes indefinitely in the wake of the crash.

The unions for Air Canada and WestJet flight crews declined to comment on the crash of Ethiopian Airlines flight 302.

Priya Pandit said her mom and sister are “nervous” about their scheduled return to Vancouver from Honolulu on a Max 8 operated by Air Canada. The family has been trying to reschedule to avoid the airplane model, she said.

“This is no joke…You can’t play with passenger safety,” said Pandit, 38.

“Our passengers’ safety is important to us,” Air Canada tweeted to Pandit on Monday. “We continue to monitor the situation, and based on current information and recommendations by government safety regulators, including Transport Canada, and the manufacturer, we continue to operate our normal B737 schedule.”

  Our passengers' safety is important to us. We continue to monitor the situation, and based on current information and recommendations by government safety regulators, including Transport Canada, and the manufacturer, we continue to operate our normal B737 schedule. /Chris

  — Air Canada (@AirCanada) March 11, 2019

question: Summarize the corporate and political response to the Boeing 737 Max 8 crashes.

answer: The Canadian Transport Minister Marc Garneau and various airlines in Canada, as well as Boeing itself, are all in support of keeping the planes in circulation. However, the Chinese, Ethiopian Airlines, and Indonesian airlines all grounded their Boeing 737 Max 8s indefinitely.

question: Summarize the public reaction to the Boeing 737 Max 8 crashes.

answer: The Canadian public is unhappy that the plane is allowed to fly. Man people express their worries, several of them noting that they would change their flights if they could afford it. The unions for Air Canada and WestJet flight crews refused to respond officially. However, the Air Canada Pilots Association called on the Transport Minister "to take proactive action".

question: What does the article say about the various airlines mentioned?

answer: The Ethiopian Airlines and Lion Air had one Boeing 737 Max 8 each that crashed, killing 157 and 189 people, respectively. Air Canada and WestJet both responded with reassuring statements about the safety of the plane. Sunwing Airlines is mentioned to have four Boeing 737 Max 8s. The Chinese and Indonesian airlines are noted to have grounded their Boeing 737 Max 8s.

question: What does the article say about the Air Asia's response?


text:
The VERMELHO RIVER (), also known as the Poguba River, is a river in the state of Mato Grosso, Brazil. In its lower reaches it is called the São Lourenço River.

The Vermelho River runs through the south of the city of Rondonópolis, Mato Grosso, and past the Dom Osório Stoffel State Park on its south (left) bank.[1] It continues in a generally southwest direction to become the São Lourenço around the municipality of Barão de Melgaço.

[1]

title: Vermelho River (São Lourenço River tributary)

question: What is the Vermelho River?

answer: a river in the state of Mato Grosso, Brazil

question: What is the Vermelho River sometimes called?

answer: Poguba River; São Lourenço River in the lower reaches

question: What city lies along the Vermelho River?

answer: Rondonópolis

question: Where is Brazil?

answer: the article does not answer this question

question: Write a ~1 sentence summary.

answer: The Vermelho River is a river in the state of Mato Grosso, Brazil.


text:
In front of him, was a cave, not a cavern or a tunnel, it was a cave.
Inside this cave there wasn't much to see, some rocks, slimy walls and a little puddle in the middle.
He could make do with this...
He shouldered his tools and his assortment of wares and carried them inside, where he laid down a bear skin, to cover some of the ground before he got to work.
										***
Now I should explain who HE is, the fellow I am writing about is a dwarf, not very tall, heavily bearded and incredibly proficient with an axe and I don't mean a dainty little wood cutting axe either..
His name was Nort, Son of none, He was found left in the middle of an Orc stronghold where they took pity on the child and raised him as best they could.
Now you might think Orcs to be horrible creatures of death and violence, but that is only true to a certain extent, yes they love a good sword fight or bare knuckle brawl, but they are also musicians, great smiths and steadfast workers and the young Dwarven child grew up with all these influences.
										***
Nort had no father so to speak, the Orc Chief was as close as he got and that wasn't bad; but there were no shortage of maternal figures in the stronghold.
There was Grishna who taught the boy to cook and how to hold down his ale, and Bari who showed him how to smith great weapons or dainty trinkets and his "Mother" was the chief's wife, V'ara
she taught him how to conquer his fears, how to write, read and speak, and how to make his way in the world.

Now this stronghold wasn't exactly reachable by many traders, so the boy had little knowledge of the outside, sometimes a traveler would come and seek lodging for a night
and the boy would be treated to stories of excitement and danger, these are Nort's favorite stories..
										***
Nort knew he wasn't an Orc, he was many things but he wasn't an idiot, And he didn't care about who he was; it was all about who he was going to be.
He was going to become a master smith in a great city, creating weapons and masterpieces everyday, and Bari knew he could do so...
On his 18th finding day, that's what they called his birthday considering they didn't know when it actually was, He asked the Chief if he could leave the stronghold to set out on his own, many other orcs had done the same and he didn't expect to stay there forever and the chief knew it too, "My son" boomed the Chief. "You have proven skilled in your craft and I am proud of you, I know that your wish is to leave, and I shall grant that wish, just know that you are always welcome here and you will forever be kin to the Orcs".
To which the Chief pulled out a box from his table and passed it to him, "Inside is two things, First a bag of gold and silver for your travels and second is an amulet smithed by my Grandfather many moons ago, He gave it to my father when he fell in love with a Human girl, my mother, so that she would be accepted by the Orcs wherever she went and would always have protection from them.
Now I give it to you, so that you may always find family with Orc kind". And with those words spoken, the great gates were hauled open and Nort was on his way into the world, with a small pony and a pack full of supplies.
										***
Nort heaved his pack and pulled his pony into the cave; out of the snow and wind outside before settling down to make a fire inside a circle of stones he had collected.
He got his tinder and he found a good piece of flint which he struck with his knife to make a spark and suddenly there was flame, good, warm flame!
He'd had enough of travelling through that piercing wind and freezing snow, he needed his feet warmed and his belly full.
The only thing now was the belly filling, what did he have left? Some nuts and berries, vegetation he'd scrounged from the wilderness and a small piece of beaver meat that he'd caught by the water's edge
"Stew it is" Mumbled Nort as he hung a pot above the fire and filled it with snow to make water, before throwing in the greens and the nuts, he decided the pony could have the berries so he held his hand put towards the mare, "here you go girl, eat up".
Next he chopped the beaver into chunks and tossed it into the pot, before adding a little salt from a pouch around his neck, and it was done, he had a meal for tonight, but he'd need more tomorrow...
The wind was picking up, but the vines he'd pulled down across the entrance were doing a good job of keeping the snow out so he scraped the fire to the back of the cave and gave it more fuel before curling up in his cloak and going to sleep.

What do you think? I got bored and decided to write a little...

title: A story I've started writing, any thoughts?

question: Who are the main characters of the story?

answer: Nort (dwarf), the Orc Chief, V'ara, Bari, Grishna

question: Who found the cave?

answer: Nort.

question: What happened when Nort turned 18?

answer: Nort asked his father, the Orc Chief if he could leave the Orc Stronghold to set out on his own, as many orcs have done. The Chief agreed.

question: What is Nort's relationship with the Orc Chief?

answer: They are like father and son despite Nort being a dwarf.

question: Write a ~7 sentence summary.

answer: Orcs find Nort, a dwarven child, abandoned in the middle of their stronghold and take pity on him. The Orc Chief and his wife, V'ara, raise Nort as their own child. Other orcs also help raise and teach Nort, and he grows up to become fearless and good with an ax. He is also a blacksmith and cook. On his 18th finding day (also his birthday), Nort asks his father, the Orc Chief, if he could leave the Orc Stronghold to set out on his own, as many orcs have done. The Chief agrees and sends him on his way with a bag of gold and silver, and an amulet so other orcs would know that he is kin. During his journey, Nort finds a cave and rests for the night.


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

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

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

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

******

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

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

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

******

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

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

******

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

I trudged on.

*****

title: Haze

question: Who is the narrator?

answer: There's not enough information to answer the question.

question: What does the narrator buy?

answer: They buy some cigarettes when they turn 18.

question: When does the story take place?

answer: It takes place after the narrator turns 18, but it also includes memories from their childhood

question: Why is the narrator's mother mad?

answer: Because the narrator's father had been smoking cigarettes

question: What does the narrator throw away?

answer: They throw away their cigarettes.

question: Write a ~5 sentence summary.

answer: The narrator recalls a scene from their childhood where the father got caught smoking by the mother. Many of the narrator's family have smoked. When they turn 18, the narrator buys a pack and tries smoking. They like it, but they decide not to continue so as not to get addicted. They throw away the pack of cigarettes and walk away.


text:
[Early 80s vintages of Sassicaia] TENUTA SAN GUIDO is an Italian wine producer in the DOC Bolgheri in Toscana, known as a producer of “Super Tuscan” wine. It produces Sassicaia, a Bordeaux-style red wine.[1][2][3] The estate also produces a second wine, Guidalberto, and a third wine, Le Difese. Tenuta San Guido is member of the Primum Familiae Vini.

History

Tenuta San Guido was established by marchese Mario Incisa della Rocchetta, who was also co-owner of the race horse Ribot. Considered the seminal “Super Tuscan”, the name Sassicaia (Italian _sasso_ meaning “stone”, indicating a stony field)[4] originated in 1948 when first produced by Incisa della Rocchetta using Cabernet Sauvignon vines and for years only used for family consumption.[5] A story about these vines being sourced from Château Lafite-Rothschild,[6] was dismissed by Mario's son, Nicolò Incisa della Rocchetta, as the vineyard was planted from “cuttings from 50-year-old vines from a friend’s estate near Pisa”.[7] Though for years Sassicaia remained the marchese’s personal wine, his son Nicolò and nephew Piero Antinori convinced him to release it commercially, starting with the 1968 vintage, which was unveiled in 1971.[8] Initially there were only a few thousand bottles available, but those created a demand for more. Mario Incisa della Rocchetta hired consulting enologist Giacomo Tachis to further refine the wine while increasing production.[9]

At a 1978 _Decanter_ tasting of “great clarets”, a panel including Hugh Johnson, Serena Sutcliffe and Clive Coates awarded the 1972 Sassicaia first place over a field of 33 wines from 11 countries.[10]

In 1994 Sassicaia was granted its own DOC (Bolgheri Sassicaia DOC), the only wine from a single estate in Italy to enjoy this privilege.[11] Before that, and in similarity to other wines made outside the traditional DOC/DOCG regulations, Sassicaia was classified as an Indicazione geografica tipica (IGT). Initially it was a Vino da tavola.

Production

Tenuta San Guido cultivates fruit from several plots around Bolgheri, extending , with a grape variety distribution of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Cabernet Franc.[12][13] The annual production is approximately 180,000 bottles.

The second wine, Guidalberto, was introduced in 2000. Its first vintage was composed of 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot and 20% Sangiovese.[14] Newer vintages do not contain any Sangiovese.[15] The wine has an annual production of 150,000 bottles.

The most recently added wine, Le Difese,[16] is composed of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Sangiovese, with an annual production of 120,000 bottles.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

[11]

[12]

[13]

[14] http://www.tenutasanguido.com/pdf/GUIDALBERTO%20ENG%20PDF/2000%20Guidalberto%20ENG.pdf

[15] http://www.tenutasanguido.com/pdf/Guidalberto%20ENG%20PDF/2016%20Guidalberto%20ENG.pdf

[16]

title: Tenuta San Guido

question: What does the text say about where the vines are sourced?

answer: The name Sassicaia originated in 1948 when the wine was first produced using Cabernet Sauvignon vines. There was a story about these vines being sourced from Chateau Lafite-Rothschild, but this was dismissed by Mario Incida della Rocchetta's son, Nicolo. This is because the vineyard was planted from "cutting from 50 year old vines from a friend's estate near Pisa".

question: Summarize everything that happened in the 20th century.

answer: In the 1900s, Tenuta San Guido was established by marchese Mario Incida della Rocchetta. The name Sassicaia originated in 1948 and the wine was only used for family consumption for years. Mario's son Nicolo and nephew Piero convinced him to release the wine commercially, starting with a 1969 vintage released in 1971. Only a few thousand bottles were released, but those created a demand for wine. This led to the the wine having further refinements, and eventually earning first place in a 1978 Decanter panel. In 1994, Sassicaia was granted its own DOC.

question: Summarize how the wine is produced.

answer: The wine was first produced in 1948 with cuttings from 50 year old vines from an estate near Pisa by Incisa della Rocchetta, and used for family consumption. Tenuta San Guido has a grape variety of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Cabernet Franc, with an annual production of about 180,000 bottles. The second wine, Guidalberto was composed of 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot and 20% Sangiovese (which is not contained in newer productions),  with an annual production of 150,000 bottles. The most recent wine, Le Difese, is composed of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Sangiovese, with an annual production of 120,000 bottles.

question: What does the text say about Tenuta San Guido's earnings?


text:
ÉVA ÖRKÉNYI (born August 27, 1932 in Törökszentmiklós) is a Hungarian actress. Her acting career began with the 1938 film _Az örök titok_ and ended in 2002. She has appeared on stage, in films, and on television.

Early life

Born in Törökszentmiklós in 1932, Örkényi was a year old when her family moved to Budapest. Her father worked in a bank but aspired to be an actor or writer. Örkényi had her first acting experience at age three in a children's theatre. By age five, she had her first contract with the Artúr Lakner children's theatre.[1]

Film and television credits

Film

-   _Az örök titok_ (1938)
-   _Pénz áll a házhoz_ (1939)
-   _Magyar feltámadás_ (1939)
-   _Isten rabjai_ (1941)
-   _Mágnás Miska_ (1949)
-   _Forró mezők_ (1949)
-   _Különös házasság_ (1951)
-   _Erkel_ (1952)
-   _Kölyök_ (1959)
-   _A szélhámosnő_ (1963)

Television

-   _És mégis mozog a föld_ 1-3 (1973)
-   _Irgalom_ (1973)
-   _Osztrigás Mici_ (1983)
-   _Zenés TV színház_ (1983)
-   _Már megint a 7.B!_ (1985)
-   _A nap lovagja_ (1987)
-   _Maigret_ (1992)
-   _Rizikó_ (1993)
-   _Szomszédok_ (1994)
-   _Barátok közt_ (2000)
-   _A Nagyasszony_ (2002)

Theatre

[1]

title: Éva Örkényi

question: When was Orkenyi born?

answer: August 27, 1932

question: What was the first film she appeared in?

answer: Az orok titok

question: What was the last film she appeared in?

answer: A szelhamosno

question: What was her last television appearance?

answer: A Nagyasszony

question: Write a ~2 sentence summary.

answer: Eva Orkenyi is a Hungarian actress. She was born in 1932, made her first film appearance in 1938 in Az Orok Titok, and made her final television appearance in 2002 in A Nagyasszony.


text:
10/23/12:
I have made the conscious decision to kill myself on November 1st, 2012. I know that most people who know me will not approve of this but there's no other way out of this. I live in a shitty home, have a shitty job and have a shitty life. I have no money whatsoever, my parents are dead, my brother lives in Wyoming, I have nothing to lose.

I've never been much afraid of dying or death, but learning you have an inoperable brain tumor the size of a small lemon is a pretty scary thing to hear. I guess it all just puts a new perspective on life to most people but not me. This was just my luck. Now I'm going to have to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars in medical bills. Well... they're not going to get it.

I went in to Facey Urgent Care about a week ago trying to solve why I've been having these massive migraines for the past month or so. I get at least four a week. They don't make me vomit or anything, It's just pressure and pain for hours on end.

My doctor referred me to a friend of his at Henry Mayo Hospital just around the corner for the next week to get an MRI to see what was going on. I went there and sat in the waiting room for almost an hour before my name was called.

They had me sit in a cold secondary waiting room when a man came in and sat next to me. He looked familiar to me but I couldn't exactly put my finger on it. He sat there silently looking at a pamphlet about cancer support groups. Now, I'm not one to talk to strangers but I had to know where I had seen this guy from. I asked him if I had met him before and he said no but he introduced himself to me. His name is John. He was really nice. He told me that he's been in Chemo Therapy for about a month now and has a brain tumor. I told him I've been having headaches and he told me it's probably nothing.

It actually felt comforting to hear him say that...
A nurse called me back and I got undressed and into a gown and sat on this table in front of this big machine. After wards I got dressed and was called into the doctors office where he told me the news. As soon as I heard it, "You have cancer.", everything went silent. The doctor continued to talk to me but I couldn't hear anything.

I went back out looking for John but couldn't find him. I asked the nurse where he went and she asked for which patient and I told her John. "We get many patients named John. Sorry hun." I was actually sad. I came home, sat on my computer and here I am now. I know what I'm going to do. I know what it's going to cause. But it's my choice and I'm happy with that.

I'll be updating either tomorrow or the next day for anyone who cares to read a dying mans last words.

EDIT: Just found out my first Chemo session is tomorrow.

title: 10/23/12: Headaches

question: Who is the narrator?

answer: The narrator is a young man diagnosed with a brain tumor. He does not have a good job, life or house and he is not close to his family.

question: Why did the narrator go to Urgent Care?

answer: He has been having four migraines as week for the past month.

question: What is the relationship between the narrator and John?

answer: The narrator meets John while waiting for an MRI. John is currently undergoing treatment for a brain tumor. He is in the same situation that the narrator will be in when he starts treatment.

question: Why did the narrator make the decision to kill himself?

answer: He does not have money for the brain tumor treatment. He has no family or responsibilities forcing him to make another decision.

question: Write a ~6 sentence summary.

answer: The narrator has made the decision to kill himself. He is diagnosed with a brain tumor after numerous migraines. He meets John currently undergoing chemo treatment for a brain tumor while waiting for his MRI. He does not have a good job, house or close contact with his family. He decides that it will be better to take his own life than to go through the chemo treatments. He just found out that his first chemo session is the following day.


text: I am studying the short story "The Glass Roses" by Alden Nowlan in English right now. Could somebody help me with the symbolism of the glass roses them-self and why there is not much room for them in the world?

title: The glass roses

question: Who needs help?

answer: Somebody writing an essay about "The Glass Roses"

question: What do they need help with?

answer: The symbolism of the glass roses

question: Is someone able to help?

answer: Unclear

question: Why do they need help?

answer: They don't understand the symbolism and why there is not much room for them in the world

question: Write a ~1 sentence summary.

answer: The narrator is studying "The Glass Roses by Alden Nowlan but needs help with the symbolism of the glass roses and why there is not much room for them in the world.