text:
I am getting married next year and I had this nightmare I wrote down.  It made me cry in a way I rarely experience.  I apologize for its inevitable typos and poor quality.  I just had to share.

Jaclyn,
We were together for 8 magical years.  Three blessed years of marriage.  Every moment was amazing.  It had its ups and downs but no one in the world could doubt our love.    Nothing in the world matter besides you, then came that day.  August 12th  the day the world turned upside down.   A rainy day, warm and gentle on my face as I wheeled you in the hospital, the doctor took you from me and told me to wait in the lobby.  Four hours of pacing, four hours of never knowing what was coming next, no notice of progress or status.  Then the nurse came out and said, “Mr. MacRory, please come with me.”  I was brought to a hallway and shown a little girl in a pink cap and socks.  My daughter, Melody, smiling back at me, I had never felt such joy.  Then it all came crashing back.  I was told there were complications with the birth and that my wife, my wife who was my rock, had not survived the violent birth.  I was given a few minutes to say my good byes.  How could I express my loss or say what I wanted to.  How could I possibly say good bye to the woman who made very day brighter.  I cried and said how much I loved you, or how I could never go on living without you.  Two or three minutes I was given with her before I had to be removed from the room.   Two minutes and that was the last time I ever saw that soft delicate face.  I asked the nurse if you had seen your daughter before you left us.  She said you had and that your face beamed with pleasure at seeing your little girl cry, before your heart gave out.  I had to place you in the ground the same week that I had to care for our new and lovely daughter.   It was the ultimate perversion.  The joy in seeing my daughter, every moment with her is special, yet every time I saw her smile or see her eyes light up, I saw you, my wife who was not here to enjoy these moments.  I went to your grave every night for 3 months and stared at that piece of rock that was all I had left of you.  I struggled to keep a grip on my life for a bit, but I pulled through knowing you would have had I left you.  After all, I had a wonderful new daughter, who would need to grow up knowing what a magnificent woman her mother was.  Being a single dad was no picnic but I pulled through knowing there were others that counted on me.    I also knew what I saw your face again that you, always joking, would have something witty to say had I failed.   I wasn’t going to give you the satisfaction of being able to say you would have done better.  I was going to raise Melody to be as amazing and special as you were.  I had a picture of you by my bed and I would look at it every night and softly cry in bed missing you lying next to me.  I know you would always have something comforting to say to me.  I would grade my student’s papers and come across something amusing and I would stand up to go show you and forget that the house was quiet and that I had no one to show this to.  I started to get better day by day, time heals all wounds as they say.  It never takes away the scars.  I took Melody to figure skating classes knowing that you would have loved to see her doing her jumps and winning those trophies.  Not only did she have your smile and eyes, she had your brain thank god.  She succeeded in almost everything she tried.  I raised her with not only my ideals but I would always considered what you would say when an issue aroused.  I would always tell her stories about you and what an amazing person you were.  It is something I can never forget.  I miss you still after all these years, always stopping to look at a cat or a hummingbird knowing how much you would have smiled at those sights.  Melody got into high school with incredible grades, not only finding success at figure skating but also taking up my skills at bowling.  She won 3 gold medals in figure skating and made the varsity bowling team.  I even, against my better judgment, gave her my blessing when she started dating her dancing partner Kurt, knowing you would have.   She went to college and earned her doctorate in Pharmacology, something I know would have filled you with endless joy.  She got a job testing new medication for cancers.  Soon after she married her high school sweetheart like I did.  Our granddaughter was born July 16th, your birthday.  Melody named her after you.  I held baby Jaclyn in my arms and my eyes filled with tears instantly, joy at having a beautiful healthy granddaughter, and immense sadness knowing you weren’t there to share this moment with me.

I lost you 33 years ago.  I never once took off my wedding band.  I lay here in my hospital bed knowing I will finally get to see you soon.  Melody is working around the clock trying to find something to slow the cancer eating at my body, but I know nothing can help.  I feel dread knowing how she will feel losing her father, or knowing I will never get to attend my granddaughter’s graduation.  I told her not to worry, but she has your stubbornness built deep inside her.  I looked at that picture of you every night before I went to bed and talked to you, told you about my day and what was troubling me, knowing you would have known the right thing to say every time.  I wish I had that picture with me now.  Looking at your beautiful face would always ease my fears.   Childish as it seems, I fear the end.  I always feared the unknown.  Tomorrow though I will be back in your arms a place that seems so far off and yet so familiar it seems like I last kissed you a few minutes ago.  I have, since our first moment together, loved you.  After losing you all those years ago, that love never ceased, and I will continue loving you into whatever awaits me.  "After all, to the well-organized mind, death is but the next great adventure"  I will see you soon my love, we have so much to catch up on..

Your loving and dedicated husband,

Eddie

title: A wrote this after a dream, it truly made me cry.

question: What is the worst part of the narrator's nightmare.

answer: Jaclyn dies after giving birth.

question: What came crashing back to the narrator?

answer: After seeing his newborn daughter, Eddie remembers that his wife had complications with the birth and had not survived.

question: Why was the narrator pacing for 4 hours?

answer: He was waiting to hear about the state of his wife's birth.

question: Summarize everything relating to Melody.

answer: Melody is Eddie and Jaclyn's daughter. She is raised by Eddie, who raises her with Jaclyn in mind. Eddie describes her as witty, smart, and having the same smile and eyes as Jaclyn. In her youth, Melody is involved in lots of activities and is successful. Melody ends up getting a doctorate in Pharmacology. After marrying her high school sweetheart, she gives birth to a daughter named Jaclyn.

question: How many years does the narrator's nightmare span?

answer: It spans 33 years.

question: How did Jaclyn die?

answer: Her heart stopped after a violent birth.

question: Write a ~5 sentence summary.

answer: Eddie details, in the form of a letter, a nightmare he had that spanned 33 years. His wife Jaclyn dies due to complications with childbirth, and Eddie is stuck raising their daughter Melody as a single father. He describes Melody's successful life over 33 years, which includes the birth of Melody's daughter Jaclyn, and his continued dedication to his late wife. Eddie writes this letter from his hospital bed as he dies from cancer. He's hopeful to be reunited with Jaclyn when he dies.


split: train

text:
    It was a Saturday morning, I slowly felt around my bed, reaching over and down the sides a little bit. I was looking for my pillow that happened to have fallen off during my previous night’s rest. I could hear the gentle pattering of rain behind the house I spent a majority of my childhood in; the simple rain tapping at the tin roofed shed where my dad kept the lawn mower and spent more time in than I would expect, and did not understand why until later in my life. I moved my hand a little around feeling the silk coverings hanging from my bed brush my arm as I walked my fingers across the deserted floor of my childhood bedroom. It was still very early, nobody was awake yet. The only reason I woke was because of an unremembered dream which led me to seek my lost pillow for comfort. The only memory of this foggy dream was the sound of an ocean’s water sucking far away only to return in a crash. I needed something to hold onto but found nothing on my empty bed. Eventually I felt the old pillow I have used for so many years, holding memories of sneaking girls over to share this bed, and tears brought to me by my father’s cancer that taught me life isn’t fair. I pulled the pillow back onto my bed and laid my head on it, pulled up the sleeping bag i used as a blanket and closed my eyes to let my mind take me to a place without reality.
	I couldn’t fall back asleep. It may have been the rain’s increasing tempo outside or the morning sun peeking into my bedside window. After lying there for about an hour, I decided to get up and find something to eat. the hallway from my bedroom to the kitchen felt much longer than I thought it was, with the shag carpet growing under my feet and grabbing my feet, as if my house knew there was something ahead I should not come to. The carpet was pulling me down now, it wouldn’t allow me to walk any farther through my house, I needed to turn back; but when I did, my room was gone and I found myself in a place unfamiliar to anything I had seen before. The walls looked as if they evolved into something better, a fancy type of wood rich people talk about when discussing wood and whatnot. The carpet let go of my feet and I cautiously walked to the only visible door down this field of carpet which was slowly turning into grass with each additional step I took. I felt a sting on the bottom of my foot, a pain strong than that of any I’ve felt in years. I fell down and viciously grabbed my foot to find what appeared to be a wasp stinger in my foot which I tore from my throbbing foot, now dripping blood from this minor wound which exerted such powerful pain. The stinger was oozing a clear liquid from it, implementing fear that my walking would have to end here and force me to crawl to the still distant door.
	My foot was beginning to swell making walking more difficult with each step. I got to the door and opened it, finding myself blowing out birthday candles in my kitchen from years ago. My father was there, smoking a Marlboro. I was looking through this window I have opened  and stumbled across a memory I tried to repress because it was the first time I noticed my father’s cough. I stepped back from the window and fell onto the hard floor that replaced the grass I was walking on. I felt my body shake internally from this fall.
	I opened my eyes and realized everything up to that point was a dream. I could still hear the slow rain playing dissonant music in my backyard. I sat on the edge of my bed and rubbed my useless eyes.  I had no desire to get out of bed and make use of this Saturday; I already had gone through a week of hell in school and planned on using this day for resting and possibly reading a little Vonnegut. realizing sitting on the edge was as useless as sitting on the edge of the grand canyon, I got up and started feeling around for a wall to guide me to the hall where my dream took me to a place I wish I could have forgotten. This time walking was much easier. No colors to blind me, and no door to seduce my curiosity. I was looking for my stick to feel around my path and not fall as I very often did. I walked very awkwardly, always hunched over a little and slowly moving my arms around anticipating a wall to punch me in the face. I found what I was looking for and sat at a chair in my kitchen waiting for something to happen. Nothing happened.
	My kitchen always had a strange odor to it, almost like a mixture of eggs and humus with a hint of cinnamon. I was always unsure of the birth of this smell as my mom never used any of these ingredients in her cooking. I felt the cold metal from the legs pressed against mine which soothed my heated body from the dream that was still flooding my thoughts. I needed some food to clear my mind, and started to stumble across the floor until I felt a cupboard that would contain cereal. The only cereal we had was these sugary rings that my mom bought to ensure I would not be confused by new things. I was alright with this because I did enjoy this for breakfast when Mom was not awake to make something fresh.
	I decided to eat my cereal dry because I figured finding the milk would be too much hassle for such a little reward. I found my chair again, sat in it, and began eating the cereal. I could taste the extensive amounts of sugar felting in my mouth as I slowly chewed up these rings that I was so accustomed to eating. I finished what I had in my hand and began lying my head on the table. I listening to the rain as it soothed my mind and dozed off back into a place that reality could not even comprehend.

title: Sugared rings (first try at short stories

question: Summarize the tension in this story.

answer: The story builds up slowly, as the atmosphere is calm but ominous in that it's raining and the narrator is alone, feeling pulled back and forth from sleep. Finally, they rise, and as they pad toward the kitchen in search of sustenance, the narrator notes how the walls sort of change and assume the form of a house that is almost an imposter-it looks nicer than the reality of the walls encasing the narrator. The narrator then is stung on the foot by a wasp-or, rather, they step on it. The pain is immense, and there is blood.

question: Summarize the narrator's feelings about being in this house.

answer: The narrator is heavily ruminating throughout this piece, and their visual perception of the house changes as they move through its physical structure on this morning. It's almost as if their sight is influenced by the memories that flood them; they have been dreaming of different events that took place here, and as usual, dreams are not a perfect replica of reality, so the lens is tempered with nostalgia and almost a guilt. The air seems heavy-the house itself lends a host of emotions to what would be an inane morning, and as such, the narrator's simplistic routine of grabbing cereal becomes a whole ornate ordeal.

question: Summarize the plot twist following the wasp sting.

answer: The author has had several fake wakes-that is to say, they keep believing they have departed the dreamworld and are now partaking in active, real surroundings, but finding they have been asleep. Directly following the wasp sting, the author opens their eyes once more, to the same soundtrack of rain outside. It is still the same Saturday for which they disclose they have no use.

question: Summarize why the narrator is all alone on this weekend morning.


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

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

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

title: Catsy Ghosts

question: What town does this take place in?

answer: Cobham

question: Where is the man heading?

answer: Toward the cemetery

question: Who is the man?

answer: It is not certain who he is.

question: Who did the man visit?

answer: He visited the grave of Catsy Whitehouse.

question: Write a ~5 sentence summary.

answer: A man walks to a cemetery in Cobham. Nobody seems to know who he is. The cemetery holds the founders of Cobham. The man stops at the grave of Catsy Whitehouse, who dies about sixty years before. He clutches a letter in his pocket.


text:
[San Diego Chargers A little explanation: An attempt at making a bolt look like an S, intertwined with a D, to create an SD monogram.]

San Diego Chargers

A little explanation:

An attempt at making a bolt look like an S, intertwined with a D, to create an SD monogram.

#

[Detroit Lions A LOT of Explanation: Since the Fast Co article was written about this blog, I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about team logos. I’ve gotten a lot of feedback. Mostly hateful, but some positive… It’s a reminder of a few things: 1....]

Detroit Lions

A LOT of Explanation:

Since the Fast Co article was written about this blog,  I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about team logos. I’ve gotten a lot of feedback. Mostly hateful, but some positive… It’s a reminder of a few things:

1. Anonymous internet comments often make for thoughless comments, but a few moments of clarity may prevail.

2. People are very attached to team logos.

3. The framing of an issue is important.

4. There are many ways to appreciate a team logo.

Number one is what it is. Ignore the bullshit, and learn what you can.

Number two is very interesting to me, but it means that change is difficult.

Number three has a lot to do with the negative feedback, I think. I want to be upfront that this project is not a proposal to change every NFL team logo (or any), it’s just a personal excercise in looking at team logos. I only do it because it’s something I’m very interested in and I think about often. There are very few examples of visual communication that people hold nearly as dear. It would be hard not to want to look into that and play with it a bit.

Number four brings me to this logo.

In looking for inspiration for this mark, I looked at marks that fans hold dear, like the Penn State logo, and marks that combine both city and mascot, like the old Denver Broncos logo.

The single color used in the Penn State logo makes it look timeless, classic, and it also reproduces well on hats, hoodies, jerseys, etc…. The merch fans should be able to wear with dignity. Basically the opposite of seeing an adult man in a Jaguars hat…

The combination of city and mascot in the old Broncos logo takes it beyond the generic. While it has it’s quarks and failings, there is something to be said for trying to make a team mark unique to the city it represents.

In the creation of this fake Lions mark, I’ve tried to keep to one color, use the outline of a D for Detroit, and use the negative space for a simple, iconic, and recognizable mascot.

#

[Buffalo Bills A little background: The Buffalo Bills were named after Buffalo Bill Cody. Bill Cody earned his nickname by killing 4,280 buffalo in 8 months. Knowing that, I always thought it was funny that the Bills used a live buffalo as their logo...]

Buffalo Bills

A little background:
The Buffalo Bills were named after Buffalo Bill Cody. Bill Cody earned his nickname by killing 4,280 buffalo in 8 months. Knowing that, I always thought it was funny that the Bills used a live buffalo as their logo and mascot. Wouldn’t a buffalo skull make a bit more sense?

#

[St. Louis Rams A little explanation: A merger of the great helmet design with the mascot logo, with a design based on perfect circles.]

St. Louis Rams

A little explanation:

A merger of the great helmet design with the mascot logo, with a design based on perfect circles.

#

[Seattle Seahawks A little explanation: Hawk + Waves in team colors.]

Seattle Seahawks

A little explanation:

Hawk + Waves in team colors.

#

[Philadelphia Eagles A little explanation: E + Wing in team colors. Pretty simple. Cheers to a new season of football!]

Philadelphia Eagles

A little explanation:

E + Wing in team colors. Pretty simple. Cheers to a new season of football!

#

[Houston Texans - Alternate Version A little explanation: Instead of a referencing a long horn, this version uses an H + T to create field goal posts, with a Lone Star shooting through the uprights to cross the H.]

Houston Texans - Alternate Version

A little explanation:
Instead of a referencing a long horn, this version uses an H + T to create field goal posts, with a Lone Star shooting through the uprights to cross the H.

#

[San Francisco 49ers Pretty simple: Gold Miners Pickaxe + Football]

San Francisco 49ers

Pretty simple:
Gold Miners Pickaxe + Football

#

[Green Bay Packers A little explanation: This interlocking G & B, set in chamfered type, is a nod to one of the early Green Bay Packers logos.]

Green Bay Packers

A little explanation:
This interlocking G & B, set in chamfered type, is a nod to one of the early Green Bay Packers logos.

#

question: Why does the author see a need to redesign team logos?

answer: It's just a personal exercise in reimagining team logos.

question: What kind of feedback did the author received regarding their reimagined logos?

answer: A lot of hateful comments, some positive and productive.

question: What's one way the author thinks they can improve a logo?

answer: By tying in some unique symbolism for the city it represents.

question: Why does the author think a buffalo skull would be better than a live buffalo for the Buffalo Bills logo?

answer: Because the Buffalo Bills were named for Buffalo Bill Cody who killed 4,280 buffalo in 8 months.

question: Write a ~6 sentence summary.

answer: The author reimagines NFL team logos as an exercise. They receive mostly hateful responses, but some positive feedback as well. They particularly see an opportunity to include changes that are unique to a team's city. Or, like in the case of the Buffalo Bills, changes that are more historically accurate and relevant. They feel using a buffalo skull is more appropriate than a living buffalo because the person the team is named after got their nickname killing thousands of buffalo. They propose several other team logo changes.


text:
A man gets into a cab at the airport.  It was the closest source of shelter as he ran out of the building in a frenzy.  A hitman had confused him with someone who had a very similar name.  The man, John Doe, had been confused with a man whose name was John D’Oh.  As he got into the cab, he tried to tell the driver to get going in a calm voice, but all he could do was somewhat quietly shout, “Let’s move — I’m late!”

“Where are you headed, sir?” asked the cab driver, politely.  This was a good question, John realized.  John’s killer surely knew the name of the hotel where he was scheduled by his employer to stay during his business trip.  He needed to go somewhere he could hide, and ideally avoid giving false information to anyone, such as a hotel clerk.  He also needed to contact the local police, but he wanted to wait until he was no longer within earshot of the cab driver.  After all, he did not know where his killer was, and if he was waiting at the airport for the cab driver to return, it could mean bad news for both of them.  He decided his first priority was to get out of the cab and contact police as soon as they had gotten far enough away from the airport, assuming the hitman was not in close pursuit.

“The Eagle Ridge Camping Ground,” John replied.

“You know, that is more than ten miles. Any trips over ten miles are mileage and a half.”

“That’s fine,” John said, “Just keep moving fast, please — I’m late for my function.”

Half an hour later, the two arrived at the campgrounds.  Since it was not camping season, there was absolutely nobody there.  Not a soul.  Sensing an opportunity, the driver, getting out of the car, pulled a knife on John, demanding his jewelry, phone, wallet, and even his eyeglasses, which after getting, he smashed into the ground with a swift heel stomp.  He then drove off.  Since John had barely seen the cab driver’s face in his panic, he was sure he would not be able to provide a good description of him to the police.  Furthermore, he had no phone, no ID, and no money.  There was no one around for miles, and with the luck he had been having, he was weary of trying to enlist a random passerby on the freeway for help.

Right as John was about to break down in tears, he took a deep breath, sat down, and meditated, turning his ears to the grace of God for answers.  He breathed quietly and steadily, listening with his heart.  Finally, it struck him.  All the wealth in the world was surrounding him.  God was surrounding him.  He was in the rich, clean air, filled with the intoxicating and purifying aroma of pine trees.  He was in the grass, softly cushioning his ass.  All of the shelter he could ask for was laid out in front of him, in the canopy of the lush forestry, providing for all of its inhabitants.  And he was with Him in a state of anonymity that was, for now, his. No identification card, no identity.  Just as these thoughts of liberation ran through him, percolating the depths of his being, his eyes caught the glimpse of an eagle soaring above.  With a fierce and benevolent call, the eagle majestically welcomed the newest resident of the forest into their world.

title: [RF] John Doe

question: What does the story say about John Doe's hiding?

answer: John enters a cab and asks the driver to drives him to the campgrounds. He does not want to stay in the hotel where he was scheduled by his employer to stay because his killer would find him. The cab arrives at the campgrounds, and the driver pulls a knife on John, demanding his money, phone, and wallet. There was nobody there, but John feels liberated as he feels God is surrounding him.

question: What does the story say about what John does for a living?


text:
The 1968–69 NCAA UNIVERSITY DIVISION MEN'S ICE HOCKEY SEASON began in November 1968 and concluded with the 1969 NCAA University Division Men's Ice Hockey Tournament's championship game on March 15, 1969 at the Broadmoor World Arena in Colorado Springs, Colorado. This was the 22nd season in which an NCAA ice hockey championship was held and is the 74th year overall where an NCAA school fielded a team.

Wisconsin was admitted into the WCHA beginning with this season. Because they now played each of the other three Big Ten teams they were included into the informal conference standings.

Air Force and Notre Dame both begin to sponsor their ice hockey programs. Both teams start as independents.

Regular season

Season tournaments

  Tournament                          Dates            Teams   Champion
  ----------------------------------- ---------------- ------- -------------------
  ECAC Holiday Hockey Festival        December 20–21   4       Clarkson
  Great Lakes Invitational            December 20–21   4       Michigan Tech
  St. Paul Hockey Classic             December 20–21   4       North Dakota
  Big Ten Holiday Tournament          December 26–28   4       Michigan
  Boston Arena Christmas Tournament   December 27–28   4       Boston University
  Syracuse Invitational               December 27–28   4       Cornell
  Yankee Conference Tournament        December 27–28   4       New Hampshire
  Broadmoor World Tournament          December 27–29   3       Denver
  Rensselaer Holiday Tournament       December 27–29   4       Waterloo
  Centennial Tournament               January 3–4      4       Loyola
  Beanpot                             February 3, 10   4       Harvard

Standings

[1][2]

1969 NCAA Tournament

Note: * denotes overtime period(s)

[3]

Player stats

Scoring leaders

The following players led the league in points at the conclusion of the season.

_GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes_

  Player   Class       Team             GP   G    A    Pts   PIM
  -------- ----------- ---------------- ---- ---- ---- ----- -----
           Senior      Army             28   57   50   107   -
           Senior      Army             -    25   55   80    -
           Senior      Cornell          29   22   52   74    26
           Sophomore   Harvard          28   24   38   62    -
           Junior      Wisconsin        34   36   25   61    50
           Senior      Cornell          29   20   40   60    2
           Junior      Boston College   26   19   41   60    36
           Sophomore   Denver           32   40   18   58    12
           Junior      Colgate          -    37   20   57    -
           Junior      Colgate          -    -    -    56    -

[4]

Leading goaltenders

The following goaltenders led the league in goals against average at the end of the regular season while playing at least 33% of their team's total minutes.

_GP = Games played; Min = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; OT = Overtime/shootout losses; GA = Goals against; SO = Shutouts; SV% = Save percentage; GAA = Goals against average_

  Player   Class       Team             GP   Min    W    L   OT   GA   SO   SV%    GAA
  -------- ----------- ---------------- ---- ------ ---- --- ---- ---- ---- ------ ------
           Senior      Cornell          27   1578   25   2   0    47   3    .936   1.79
           Sophomore   Notre Dame       –    -      -    -   -    -    -    -      2.00
           Sophomore   Providence       19   -      -    -   -    -    -    -      2.10
           Senior      Denver           32   -      26   6   0    -    5    .915   2.23
           Junior      Michigan State   16   -      -    -   -    42   -    .916   2.74
           Sophomore   Wisconsin        17   943    9    6   1    44   2    .901   2.80
           Junior      Brown            -    -      -    -   -    -    1    .919   2.83
           Senior      New Hampshire    -    -      -    -   -    -    -    .896   2.84
           Junior      Michigan Tech    28   1680   -    -   -    84   1    .897   3.00
           Junior      Wisconsin        18   948    13   4   1    49   3    .884   3.10

[5]

Awards

NCAA

  Award[6]                                     Recipient
  -------------------------------------------- -----------------------------
  Spencer Penrose Award (Coach of the Year)    Charlie Holt, New Hampshire
  Most Outstanding Player in NCAA Tournament   Keith Magnuson, Denver

  AHCA All-American Teams[7]
  ------------------------------------- -------------- --------------------------------
  East Team
  Ken Dryden, Cornell
  Paul Hurley, Boston College
  Bruce Pattison, Cornell
  Joe Cavanagh, Harvard
  Brian Cornell, Cornell
  Tim Sheehy, Boston College
  Peter Tufford, Cornell
  Herb Wakabayashi, Boston University

ECAC

  Award[8]                                Recipient
  --------------------------------------- -----------------------
  Player of the Year                      Ken Dryden, Cornell
  Rookie of the Year                      Joe Cavanagh, Cornell
  Most Outstanding Player in Tournament   Ken Dryden, Cornell

  All-ECAC Hockey Teams[9]
  ------------------------------------- -------------- ---------------------------------
  First Team
  Ken Dryden, Cornell
  Paul Hurley, Boston College
  Bruce Pattison, Cornell
  Brian Cornell, Cornell
  Joe Cavanagh, Harvard
  Herb Wakabayashi, Boston University

WCHA

  Award[10]               Recipient
  ----------------------- ----------------------------------
  Most Valuable Player    Murray McLachlan, Minnesota
  Sophomore of the Year   George Morrison, Denver
  Coach of the Year       John Matchefts, Colorado College

  All-WCHA Teams[11]
  ----------------------------- -------------- --------------------------------
  First Team
  Murray McLachlan, Minnesota
  Keith Magnuson, Denver
  Terry Abram, North Dakota
  George Morrison, Denver
  Bob Munro, North Dakota
  Al Karlander, Michigan Tech

See Also

-   1968–69 NCAA College Division men's ice hockey season

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

[11]

title: 1968–69 NCAA University Division men's ice hockey season

question: What is the NCAA?

answer: the article does not answer this question

question: When was Wisconsin admitted into the WCHA?

answer: the 1968-69 NCAA University Division men's ice hockey season

question: What is an independent, as regards a sports league?

answer: the article does not answer this question

question: What is a goaltender?

answer: the article does not answer this question

question: Write a ~1 sentence summary.

answer: The 1968-69 NCAA University Division men's ice hockey season began in November 1968 and concluded on March 15, 1969.


text:
	He stared at the drawing board. It was empty of course, save for the endless things that he would inevitably draw once the moment was right. Growing up, he had learned to fend for himself. In this way, he learned how to ignore what other people said about him, as well as learned how to condition himself to the pain of rejection and ignorance.

	But that didn’t mean that the ignorance hurt. Being in a situation where people were supposed to understand him (and didn’t) put him in the worse mood possible. It was almost as if everything that you had been focusing your life towards disintegrated in front of your own eyes. Your heart sank, and your entire body felt as if you were drowning in a sea of self-pity.

	The key phrase of course, was “self-pity”. This was different from the types of failure that you could potentially face in your life, because all of the failure was yours alone. Everything that you didn’t accomplish happened as a result of your ineptitude to reach out and take a chance.
	Tonight, for example, was particularly bad. He had gotten thoroughly fucked up with his friends in an effort to avoid his own nagging feelings of doubt. He found that his confidence was at an all time low when doing things not under the influence, and so getting thoroughly fücked was on the agenda.

	He smoked cigarettes. After all, it felt good, and it cast an aura of suspicion and intrigue that he thought might help people notice him. The feeling of a thin cigarette between his fingers was majestic, and exhaling and inhaling toxic fumes, filled with carbon monoxide I might add, was particularly fun this night. But of course, because this is not Europe, he was given the “glare eyes” from every passerby. Awesome.

	He sat in his bed pondering the decisions of the night. What decisions were made well, and what decisions were absolutely ridiculous. The latter outweighed the former, and this was a common circumstance. She was pretty awesome, but the chances of him achieving happiness through those means were minimal at best. In fact, they were almost non-existent. Such things were meant for massive works of fiction or for movies that ended up happily. Things typically do not work out that way.

	He, of course, was minor to the major of the people he admired, yet despised. They were able to channel a certain je ne sais pas that he knew that he would never be able to. This annoyed him to all hell, but as with many things in this world (global warming, poverty, etc.) it couldn’t be helped without doing something drastic. Doing something drastic, I might add, was not within this young man’s capabilities.

	And so he was resolved to smoking a pack of Camel Menthols by himself, on the bench outside of his dormitory, pondering the careless decisions that he had made. But the funny thing is, this pondering, and this decision making, won’t make a difference at all. Because the same thing will happen tomorrow, next weekend, and next year.

title: Effortless Triumph

question: Why did he have to fend for himself growing up?

answer: He may not have had caring parents or siblings and had to face the harsh realities on his own.

question: Why has he had to face rejection and ignorance?

answer: It sounds as though his problems may not all be of his making but a response to rejection. Perhaps he has some physical or mental disorder that has made others reject him.

question: Why does he despise the people that he admires?

answer: He is envious of their success, wealth and happiness. He wishes that he had their ability to reach out and take what they wanted with confidence and self-assurance.

question: Where does he get all the money for the regular drinking, partying and smoking?

answer: He can't be a total failure. He must make some income to support his lifestyle

question: Write a ~8 sentence summary.

answer:
The narrator sits thinking about his failures, sinking into a sea of self-pity. His failure is his own fault. Tonight, was just another example of how he’s been messing up. He got thoroughly fucked up with his friends in an effort to escape his self-doubt.

He thought of the decisions of the night, which were good and which ridiculous. The latter far outweighed the former which was pretty common. He was not about to change anything soon so he sits outside his dorm smoking and pondering his decision making. In the end, it won’t make any difference because he will do the same thing tomorrow, next week and next year.


text:
Part of the Council for International Schools (CIS) accreditation process asks schools to “demonstrate a commitment to internationalism/interculturalism in education” and that this should be “reflected throughout the life of the institution.” In this article, I will be presenting the case that schools of a religious tradition are best placed to fulfil this aspect of education given their deeply rooted sense of history, tradition and culture.

In her book “International Mindedness” Lesley Stagg concludes by paraphrasing Dan Young “Internationalism advocates the quality of ‘being’ international within the overall climate and character evident when you enter the school. It includes the one for all organizational principles that reflect a global community concern (known to its community to exist inside and outside its walls), as well as an overall positive attitude between diverse cultures (and countries). It is evidenced where students and faculty celebrate this quality as they come together for learning and teaching… when common global interests and collaboration are recognized as imperative.”

To my mind, in order to successfully meet this goal, it is essential that the school have at least one unifying feature. There must be something tangible that unites all in the midst of diversity. CIS exhorts the guiding statements of a school as this focal point and these guiding statements must be embedded in the curriculum and in the culture of learning. This is not particularly controversial and is something commonly accepted in the domain of international schools. However, I would like to suggest that in reality, many international schools across the world do not have this one unifying feature and that, in fact in many cases, their guiding statements are contrived, jargonistic and essentially meaningless. The exception to this fact being those schools, which have a deep-rooted sense of history, enshrined in tradition and have a culture that is known and embraced by the wider community. I would argue that this is the case in schools underpinned by a religious tradition.

Moreover, in order to create an “overall positive attitude between diverse cultures (and countries)” it is necessary to celebrate what unites families from diverse cultures and countries and in many cases, this is their religious experience. Children from a multitude of countries, different races, speaking different languages and having a range of cultural norms, inevitably populate an International School. Finding something to unite such a diverse community is a challenge CIS recognizes, but within a school embracing a religious tradition, there is no challenge because, despite the obvious diversity, children and their families are united by their religious beliefs. This is more obviously the case when they all hark from the same religious tradition, but I contend that it can also be the case when children of different religions, or denominations within a particular religion, are educated together as their belief in God (or in some cases a Supreme Being) transcends any of their apparent differences. Many dismiss too often religion as a cause of conflict but I would argue the contrary and suggest that in reality religion unites people due to the fact that they have a common sense of purpose and of human dignity. Nothing is more unifying than a common set of beliefs. This permeates deeper than any contrived ideology.

Central to religious identity is a call to community, to social justice, to a respect for human dignity, to peace and reconciliation and to celebrating unity in diversity. These are the features of international mindedness that CIS wants schools to embrace. Whilst many schools barely touch the tip of the iceberg with respect to international mindedness, schools with a religious identity and faith commitment are deeply rooted in their sense of mission, of their ethos, of their values. International Schools of a non-religious nature could learn a lot by looking at schools of a religious nature. They would observe that in the vast majority of cases (some schools with a religious identity are clearly better than others) that the guiding statements of the school are embedded throughout the institution. In the best schools, the mission and ethos of the school are deeply embedded in the curriculum. Such schools do not have a narrow view of curriculum as merely the teaching of a syllabus or academic program but moreover that it is inclusive of all aspects of a child’s learning experience and development as a human person. Subsequently, children will learn explicitly about issues of prejudice and discrimination, different belief systems (other than that of the denomination of the institution), ethical systems, cultural norms, the dignity of the human person, social enterprise and the like. Furthermore, schools with a religious tradition have always valued prayer and meditation as an essential part of human development. Recognizing this the secular world now promotes “mindfulness” as a non-religious alternative to meditation. Separating meditation from faith, where Buddhist, Christian or another, is somewhat morally bankrupt and a very dubious business in itself.

Many international schools have adopted mission statements but sometimes these are a uniformity of bland clichés with no deep sense of an underlying philosophy. Perhaps even more worrying is the trend for schools to adopt the language of “No child left behind” and focus on college and workplace preparedness as the raison d’etre of education rather than focusing on the development of the whole child with the human dignity. It is immoral to see a child as no more than economic fodder for the future workplace. Schools should reject any policy or system that diminishes the dignity of the human person and refutes the idea that anyone can be reduced to the status of an economic unit or passive-dependent.

Recognizing the distinct nature that schools underpinned by a religious tradition have, and by learning from their best practice, International Schools across the world can learn to emulate the “one for all” educational principles that underpin faith schools. The shared “worldview” that unites people of faiths underpins the values and mission of such schools and enables them to be truly international.

question: What aspects of a religious school make them internationally-minded?

answer: The sense of connection provided by faith unites the school. Furthermore, their history and culture are embraced by a large community. This means a diverse set of backgrounds are united at religious schools. Faith is the aspect that overcomes the differences of various religions. That's because religious identity promotes community, social justice, and dignity.

question: What does the article say about secular spiritualism?


text:
JOANNES KINNAMOS or JOHN CINNAMUS ( or ΚΊΝΑΜΟΣ; born shortly after 1143, died after 1185) was a Greek historian. He was imperial secretary (Greek “grammatikos”, most likely a post connected with the military administration) to Emperor Manuel I (1143–1180), whom he accompanied on his campaigns in Europe and Asia Minor. It appears that Kinnamos outlived Andronikos I, who died in 1185.[1]

Kinnamos was the author of a history[2] that covered the years 1118–1176, thereby continuing the _Alexiad_ of Anna Komnene, and covering the reigns of John II and Manuel I, until Manuel's unsuccessful campaign against the Turks, which ended with the disastrous Battle of Myriokephalon.[3]

Kinnamos's work breaks off abruptly, though it is highly likely that the original continued to the death of Manuel. There are also indications that the present work is an abridgment of a significantly larger work. The hero of the history is Manuel, and throughout the history Kinnamos attempts to highlight what he sees as the superiority of the Byzantine Empire to the Western and other powers. Similarly, he is a determined opponent of what he perceives as the pretensions of the papacy. Nevertheless, he writes with the straightforwardness of a soldier, and occasionally admits his ignorance of certain events.[4] The work is well organized, and its style, modeled on Xenophon, is simple, especially when compared with the florid writing of other Greek authors of the period. William Plate considers him the best of the European historians of this period.[5]

John Kinnamos is also credited for writing a book on one of the Angeli emperors, however this book is believed to be lost (perhaps together with the rest of his much larger work).

[1]

[2] __, or _Summary of the feats of the late emperor and purple-born lord John Komnenos and narration of the deeds of his celebrated son the emperor and purple-born lord Manuel I Komnenos done by John Kinnamos his imperial secretary_. Editio princeps by Cornelius Tollius (Utrecht 1652). Also available in later editions with more modern types at the Internet Archive.

[3]

[4]

[5] Smith, editor. _Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology_, 1867.

title: John Kinnamos

question: Why is John Kinnamos an important person?

answer: Thanks to him, people at present have an idea of what transpired during his time.

question: Why are some of Kinnamos's writings lost?

answer: It's been a long time since they were written, so perhaps some of them were destroyed, never found, or not preserved properly.

question: What makes Kinnamos a credible history writer of Emperor Manuel?

answer: Since Kinnamos was born during the time of Emperor Manuel, serving as his imperial secretary, he would have known a lot of things about the emperor and his ruling.

question: What might have led Kinnamos to think that the Byzantine Empire was more superior to the Western and other powers?

answer: This was his own personal opinion, according to his observations during that time. Perhaps he saw how flourishing the Byzantine Empire, compared to the other civilizations.


text:
The women of The View have largely spoken out vouching for former Vice President Joe Biden, amid allegations of inappropriate contact lodged by multiple women during his time in office.

Whoopi Goldberg, Meghan McCain and Joy Behar defended Biden on Monday's airing of the daytime talk show, while Abby Huntsman questioned the motives of women speaking out across the #MeToo movement, in general.

Sunny Hostin was the only woman to bring up the power dynamic at play with a political figure such as Biden, but called his responses to allegations 'appropriate,' adding, 'I don’t know if we’ll see any more smelling of hair and kisses.'

That bothered Goldberg, who then said, 'That p****s me off. I’m telling you… I don’t want Joe to stop doing that.'

From Biden's perspective, he spoke of 'countless handshakes, hugs, expressions of affection, support and comfort' that he's provided as a friend and public servant over the years, in a statement on Sunday.

'Not once - never - did I believe I acted inappropriately,' he said. 'If it is suggested I did so, I will listen respectfully. But it was never my intention.'

Whoopi Goldberg (pictured), Meghan McCain and Joy Behar of The View have spoken out vouching for former Vice President Joe Biden, amid allegations of inappropriate contact lodged by multiple women during his time in office

A former Nevada politician first raised the issue of Biden's intimate gestures toward women when he was in the White House.

Lucy Flores said he made her feel uncomfortable when he kissed her on the head and put his hands on her shoulder before she went on stage at a campaign event.

'I felt two hands on my shoulders. I froze. Why is the vice-president of the United States touching me?' Flores wrote. 'I felt him get closer to me from behind. He leaned further in and inhaled my hair. I was mortified. I thought to myself, "I didn't wash my hair today and the vice-president of the United States is smelling it. And also, what in the actual f**k?"

She said, 'He proceeded to plant a big slow kiss on the back of my head. My brain couldn't process what was happening. I was embarrassed. I was shocked. I was confused.'

Former Nevada politician Lucy Flores (left) first raised the issue of Joe Biden's (right) intimate gestures toward women when he was in the White House

Biden is now also accused of touching another woman, in 2009, without her consent in a way that made her feel uncomfortable.

A Greenwich, Connecticut woman said the alleged incident occurred at a fundraiser for Democratic Congressman Jim Himes.

'It wasn't sexual, but he did grab me by the head,' Amy Lappos, 43, told The Hartford Courant. 'He put his hand around my neck and pulled me in to rub noses with me. When he was pulling me in, I thought he was going to kiss me on the mouth.'

Amy Lappos, 43, of Greenwich, Connecticut said Biden made her uncomfortable at a fundraiser for Democratic Congressman Jim Himes

On The View, McCain agreed with Goldberg that she didn't want Biden to stop his 'smelling of hair and kisses.'

McCain likened what Behar called Biden's 'affectionate' way of being to that of her father, the late Senator John McCain.

'There’s a certain kind of retail politician that loves people,' the lawmaker's daughter said.

'I would put Bill Clinton in that category and my father in that category, and certainly, I would put Joe Biden in that category. He’s the only politician other my father to go into the crowd and shake everyone’s hands. That means something when you are in Iowa.'

McCain went on to differentiate what Flores alleged occurred with the kind of sexual misconduct Roger Ailes has been accused of.

'I agree women should be heard,' McCain said. 'I worked at Fox News during the Roger Ailes time. There is a very big difference between things like that and things like this.'

On The View, Meghan McCain (pictured) said that she didn't want Biden to stop acting in such a way

Joy Behar (left) echoed those sentiments, saying, 'It’s a long way from smelling your hair to grabbing your hoo-ha. Let’s tell the truth. But she felt annoyed or uncomfortable, and we have to accept that. I don’t think it rises to the point we’ve been listening to like Harvey Weinstein and the rest of these people. It just doesn’t look like that'

Behar echoed those sentiments, saying, 'It’s a long way from smelling your hair to grabbing your hoo-ha. Let’s tell the truth. But she felt annoyed or uncomfortable, and we have to accept that. I don’t think it rises to the point we’ve been listening to like Harvey Weinstein and the rest of these people. It just doesn’t look like that.'

Behar then described her own interactions with Biden.

'We all know Joe Biden. He’s been here. When I met him in Florida before he was vice president, he’s so friendly. He’s a close talker. He comes right up into your face, and you’re thinking, "I hope my breath is good." Or more important, "I hope his is,"' she said.

'He talks close, he touches. That’s what he’s like. I feel it would be unfortunate if we got rid of everybody who’s an affectionate kind of person. Those are nice people too.'

Goldberg said that she'd like to see women speaking up in the moment when something is amiss.

'Listen, in the old days we would call Joe—some folks of a certain age would say he’s overly familiar,' Goldberg said.

'Most politicians when they’re doing this with you, they are—Joe is a hands-on kind of guy. I’ve never heard anyone—she [Flores] says she felt violated. I have to take her at her word. But it would have been nice if she turned to him and say, "You know what, I don’t really like this. Please don’t do this, Mr. Vice President. I’m not comfortable with this." Something, because he’s standing right there.'

Goldberg drove that point home again a moment later, saying, 'I want women to get to the place where they can say, "Hey, you just made me uncomfortable,"'

She added: 'This idea that you have to tiptoe away from this, or you have to carry it. You do not have to carry it. If someone makes you uncomfortable, tell them.'

In reference to Flores' allegations against Biden, Goldberg directed her comments at the former Nevada Lt. Governor candidate, saying, 'He came down to do you a favor. He was at your fundraiser. You had every right to say "Don’t do that Joe."'

Flores does not allege that Biden sexually assaulted her. She told CNN that she merely wants to bring attention to what she sees as a whitewashing of Biden's contact with women.

She said: 'Part of the reason why I finally decided to say something was those behaviors were not being taken very seriously. They were not being considered from the perspective of the woman on the other side of that power dynamic, on the receiving end.'

Sunny Hostin (pictured) was the only woman on The View to bring up the power dynamic at play with a political figure such as Biden, but called his responses to allegations 'appropriate,' adding, 'I don’t know if we’ll see anymore smelling of hair and kisses'

Hostin made this point on The View on Monday, saying: 'I’m sort of in the middle on this in the sense, I do believe with this particular situation there was a power dynamic. You’re talking about the vice president of the United States. She [Flores] was running for lieutenant governor. She may not have wanted to offend him.

'A lot of women get put in that kind of situation where they’re offended, and they’re uncomfortable, but they may not say anything. That’s one thing.'

In response to Flores' allegations, Biden said he may not 'recall these moments the same way' that the women do.

'But we have arrived at an important time when women feel they can and should relate their experiences, and men should pay attention. And I will. I will also remain the strongest advocate I can be for the rights of women,' he said. 'I will fight to build on the work I've done in my career to end violence against women and ensure women are treated with the equality they deserve.'

On the View, Hostin gave Biden credit for the way he reacted to the claim, after spokespeople first denied any inkling that Flores may have been bothered by Biden's actions.

'I think that is the appropriate response,' Hostin said. 'Perhaps he didn’t intend to make her uncomfortable, but she’s saying, "You did make me uncomfortable."'

Flores says she had no prior relationship with Biden, who campaigned for her in 2014, that would make it appropriate for him to kiss her head and touch her shoulders the way he did.

'You don't expect that kind of intimate behavior from someone so powerful and someone who you just have no relationship whatsoever to, to touch you and feel you and be so close to you in that way,' she said.

Biden said he offered 'countless handshakes, hugs, expressions of affection, support and comfort' that may have been photographed — all of them innocent in nature.

On Monday's airing of The View, Abby Huntsman (right) said, 'I always wonder when these things come out, what is the motive for this person? Is it simply to let people know, I was uncomfortable, which you could have done in private? Or is it because you want someone else to win and you want him to have doubts about announcing or the presidency?' Huntsman didn't confined her comments to Biden and his potential bid for the 2020 president

On Monday's airing of The View, Huntsman said, 'I always wonder when these things come out, what is the motive for this person? Is it simply to let people know, I was uncomfortable, which you could have done in private? Or is it because you want someone else to win and you want him to have doubts about announcing or the presidency?'

Huntsman didn't confined her comments to Biden and his potential bid for the 2020 president.

'I’ve had concerns about the #MeToo movement from the beginning about getting to this place where you can’t have normal interactions with each other,' she added, before turning her comments back to allegations brought by Flores against Biden.

'This was uncomfortable, and that’s her place. Are we going to get to a place where we can’t shake hands or hug each other? I worry about that.'

Before the conversation was over, Goldberg, McCain and Behar had vouched for Biden.

'Joe Biden is a good and decent man,' McCain said. 'I vouch for his character and in my personal experience.'

Goldberg agreed, saying, 'I’m doing the same.'

'Me too,' Behar added.

Goldberg left), McCain (right) and Behar (center) had vouched for Biden from their personal experience. Huntsman (left) questioned the motives of all women who speak out, and Hostin (second from right) gave Biden credit for his response to Flores' accusations

question: What are the allegations against Joe Biden?

answer: There have been allegations of inappropriate contact lodged by multiple women.

question: Who came to defend Biden?

answer: Whoopi Goldberg, Meghan McCain, and Joy Behar.

question: What made the three women defend Biden?

answer: According to them, whatever Biden did was an 'affectionate' way of being like a father.

question: What does Biden say about this?

answer: Biden believes that he never acted inappropriately and if it is suggested that he did, he would listen respectfully. But it was never his intention.

question: Write a ~6 sentence summary.

answer:
The women of The View defend Joe Biden on the allegations of inappropriate contact lodged by multiple women. According to Whoopi Goldberg, Meghan McCain, and Joy Behar the 'smelling of hair and kisses' was Biden's way to affection like a father.

The former Nevada politician Lucy Flores speaks of her experience. She did not allege that Biden sexually assaulted her but only wanted to bring to attention what she saw as whitewashing of Biden's contact with women.

Biden himself defends saying he believes he never acted inappropriately but if it is suggested that he did, then he would listen respectfully. But it was never his intention to act that way.


text:
March 2021-

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

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

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

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

The audience followed suit. "To John!"

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

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

I tapped his shoulder.

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

"Yes" He replied.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

title: The Guilt of Alternative Service

question: What does the story say about Matthew's job?

answer: Matthew is the MI liaison for the CIA, providing information to SF and Infantry units. After he was got medically declined his third year of ROTC in college, he got a job at the CIA. He is serving and working close to the army as a mission spook.

question: What does the story say about Matt's relationship with John?

answer: Matt and John were best friends through Junior high and high school years and they meet 15 years later. John was commissioned top of his class at West Point, class of 2019, and Mett got a job at the CIA, serving and working close to the army as a mission spook. Mett finds out that John lost his hand in the last mission. Mett feels guilty because he did not make to inform the army about the mines.

question: What does the story say about what was John's mission?


text:
And there she was, a woman in black. Shedding tears of dark ink that sorrow the mind and confuse the memories and recaps of her past, just to slap her back to the future. In doubt of life and in a neverending loop of pain. What did the woman in black want? Love.
All she ever wanted was love and all she ever got was the illusions and dreams of what her life would be next to him; and now those dreams are shards of glass on the ground and the illusions have turned into nightmares. The poison that ran through her veins was going to be her dead as it was his, but that bloody fiend she loved was her curse and all that matters now is the grains of salt vanishing through a thin crystal. What have i done wrong to deserve this? She could ask herself; but there was no simple answer. It was love the syringe and passion the lure to her doom. The woman in black saw his face one last time in the coffin and all the good memories vanished. High school prom. The weekend at the river. Uncle Marcy's wedding. All gone. For the woman in black's life was perfect until she found out of the affairs of her husband. Fifteen years of a happy marriage now in doubt, sorrow and deception. What was true and what was false? She could not help to think of herself as a lie. "I am a lie. My life is a lie."
That was the important of honesty. That reminded her of her vows at their wedding. His smile. The happiest day of her life and the day the grim reaper set her up with a demon. "Can I just blame it on him? did i not try hard enough?" Who cares. she certainly didnt because she was a young woman poisoned by the allure of his life and death.
The woman in black was young, charming and inteligent at one point; But now all she was mad her sick. A walking infection, a timing bomb, a dirty whore. She did not belong in this world anymore and she knew it, people treated her different and she needed pills everyday. a pale white women in a black dress. Her tiny limbs and her thin hair depressed her and made her hate the mirrors. The Happy family pictures break her heart. "I could've had that. I did, even if it was false and sick." She was a joke and she knew it. Scum. She found out she was going to be a mother; and got maternity absence from the Law office she worked at. But it just took her a couple of weeks to start feeling more nauseous than usual. her husband have had high fevers so they went to the doctor, scared for the baby's health.
After losing her child, she was hospitalized for a couple of days, but her husband was as well. The doctor told them that they were HIV positive and that their immune systems are not functioning as well as a healthy person. " Healthy person". she kept saying to herself for months after given release from the medical center. She despised this healthy people she saw on the streets now, she alienated herself from them and was disgusted by how they live their healthy and plentiful lifes. "I was one of them, I was healthy. I had it all." She slid a black rose in between the man who cursed her's arms and kissed his forehead one last time. Honeymoon at Hawaii. The night at the roof with the wine. Playing Scrabble and making up silly words. The last of her memories vanished with the rose on his hands, and the woman in black shed one last tear for that 'what could've been' and the deceit she had for a life.

title: The Woman in Black

question: Who is the woman in black?

answer: Not answered explicitly

question: Why is the woman in black's life a lie?

answer: She found out about her husband's affair.

question: Why does the woman in black not belong on this world anymore?

answer: She is diagnosed with HIV and her health is failing significantly.

question: What happened to the woman's husband?

answer: Not answered specifically.

question: Write a ~2 sentence summary.

answer: The woman in black laments her lost life. She discovered her husband was having an affair, and was diagnosed with HIV.


text:
BEAR CREEK is a stream in Ste. Genevieve County in the U.S. state of Missouri.[1] It is a tributary of Terre Bleue Creek.

Bear Creek most likely was so named on account of bears near its course.[2]

[1]

[2]

title: Bear Creek (Terre Bleue Creek tributary)

question: Where does Bear Creek get its name from?

answer: It was named for bears near its course.

question: Where is Ste. Genevieve County located?

answer: It is located in Missouri, U.S.A.

question: Where does Bear Creek run to?

answer: It is a tributary of Terre Bleue Creek.

question: What is the difference between a stream and a creek?

answer: They are similar.

question: Write a ~2 sentence summary.

answer: Bear Creek is a tributary of Terre Bleue Creek in Ste. Genevieve County, Missouri.


text:
Giant Frog

	The cottage was our favorite place as kids. When my grandpa was building it, he actually blew holes in the rock and surrounding area to be able to make a new cottage. That was his thing; he was always making things around the cottage better, cooler, more ridiculous. He did always say it was his true passion, in fact our family cottage was always more grand and better built and more expensive than any of our houses. He just wanted the cottage to be a paradise, and it really was to us kids.
	The actually cottage was at the very end of the very last road. It was on a five-acre square property in the corner of the lake. Inside is just a massive living room and a high ceiling with a moonlight cluttered with comfy couches, games, TVs, candles, games and instruments.  The kitchen is too small and bright for such a big family, and the rest of the rooms are simple bedrooms and bathrooms. The patio with the giant barbeque overlooks the entire lake and is in front of the orange and purple sunset in the summer. The boat is raised on the dock and the dock goes 30 feet into the water, with a diving board on the end. To the right is a white-sanded beach with a trampoline and a homemade jungle gym with its own slide, monkey bars and jump platform, and a whole section of beach is roped off for volleyball. Where we parked doubled, as a field for bacci, soccer and Frisbee, and everywhere you look are old trees, staring back.
The swamp part of the lake is in front of the beach and it was shallow for 200 feet out, with trails of rock which leave you knee high in water  shaded by flimsy plans to walk through the swamp and catch the critters, endlessly detailed with nooks of rock and natural crevices of raised dirt and fallen trees, it’s weird how that’s the warmest part of the lake.

title: Does this start catch your attention?

question: Answer the author's question in the title.

answer: The start describes a nice little place, but there are no events or a plotline to speak of. It's not exactly badly written, but it needs more content.


text:
Foreword: This was originally posted to /r/leagueoflegends, and makes more sense in the context of the game. You could call it fan-fiction.

-----

"The meta's changed, Singed," Darius smiled. "You don't have any real gap-closers, you just can't keep up." Singed furrowed his brow and took another drink. He'd come to the Rabble Rouser Inn for a nice tonic, not to defend himself.
"I've got speed to make up for it," he mumbled, "and there's my slow..."
"Every champ and their support has a slow, Singed," Zyra mused, "and without items you're no faster than the rest of us. Frankly, your dependence is a liability, especially with less movement items available." No matter how angrily he glared at it, Singed's glass was still in one piece.
"Gap-closers aren't everything," Singed protested. "I can get more health than anyone else with my passive, and with Madred's Bloodrazor gone, I--"
"Hah! Madred's might be gone," Darius interrupted, "but you know as well as I do the Blade of the Ruined King more than makes up for it."
"Never mind a Liandry's Torment," Zyra interjected. Singed was beginning to snarl beneath his bandages. He'd throw them into the counter, if he could find it.
"My poison can push like nothing else," Singed growled, his voice lifting slowly, "and it's very effective at directing, particularly with a Liandry's." Singed shot a look at Zyra as he mentioned it, receiving a glare in return. Darius looked noticeably irritated at the ease with which Singed shrugged off his harassment.
"Magic resist might be less common than before," he snapped "but with a crystalline flask, I'm not that bothered."
Slight foam forming in his mouth, Singed bared his teeth and stormed towards the exit. Darius stomped after him, but as he reached out for Singed's shoulder, he began to feel weak. Singed stopped, and Darius bounced off him, slumping against the wall.
His vision becoming blurry, Darius looked up to see someone crouching down to him. He felt their breath on his cheek, and listened as they whispered into his ear.
"Don't Chase Singed."

title: Singed walks into a bar

question: How does Darius feel about Singed?

answer: According to the passage, it might be implied that Darius cares for Singed and makes comments about the likely ineffectiveness of Singed's gap-closers which Singed doesn't take very well.

question: Describe what gap-closers are based on the context of the story.

answer: It appears gap-closers are a form of steroids that boosts speed and helps the user have an advantage over the enemy.

question: Did Singed deliberately try to hurt Darius when he attempted to touch him?

answer: It is not certain.

question: Did Singed anticipate that Darius will chase after him?

answer: It's likely he did because it didn't take long for the poison to affect Darius when he attempted to touch him. Also, this could be as a result of the argument he had in the bar with Darius and Zyra regarding his powers.


text:
_FUSCONAIA MITCHELLI_, the FALSE SPIKE, is a species of freshwater mussel, an aquatic bivalve mollusc in the family Unionidae, the river mussels.

This species is native to Mexico, where its historical range is in the states of Coahuila, Nuevo Leon, and Tamaulipas, and the United States, where it was found in the states of New Mexico and Texas.

Conservation

This species has experienced an extreme population decline due to habitat deterioration. Until recently, no live individuals had been observed since the late 1970s, leading many researchers to believe it was close to (if not already) extinct. However, interest in this species was revived in 2011 when a fresh-dead shell was discovered. A 2011 a survey of the Guadalupe River near Gonzales, Texas revealed a small surviving population, with seven live mature individuals counted.[1]

Taxonomy

In 2016, this species underwent its first genetic study due to its recent rediscovery. The results showed that this species was better placed in _Fusconaia_ rather than _Quadrula_, which it was previous included in.[2] Historically, it also was formerly included in the now-obsolete genus _Quincuncina_.

File:Fusconaia mitchelli2.jpg|Live _Fusconaia mitchelli_ from the Guadalupe River, Gonzales County, Texas, in 2011.

[1]

[2]

title: Fusconaia mitchelli

question: What is Fusconaia mitchelli?

answer: Fusconaia mitchelli (the false spike), is a species of freshwater mussel, an aquatic bivalve mollusk in the family Unionidae, the river mussels.

question: Where is this species native to?

answer: It is native to Mexico, where its historical range is in the states of Coahuila, Nuevo Leon, and Tamaulipas, and the United States, where it was found in the states of New Mexico and Texas.

question: What caused this species to experience extreme population decline?

answer: Habitat deterioration.

question: What did the results of the first genetic study of this species show?

answer: It showed that this species was better placed in Fusconaia, not Quadrula, which it was previously included in.

question: Write a ~5 sentence summary.

answer: Fusconaia mitchelli (the false spike), is a species of freshwater mussel, an aquatic bivalve mollusk in the family Unionidae, the river mussels. This species is native to the Mexican states of Coahuila, Nuevo Leon, and Tamaulipas. In the United States, it was found in New Mexico and Texas. Habitat deterioration caused the population of this species to rapidly decline and was even thought to be extinct until a fresh-dead shell was discovered in 2011. A small surviving population was found in the Guadalupe River near Gonzales, Texas.


text:
HARRISON CHARLES MONTEITH (May 8, 1913 – 1997) was a Canadian politician. He served in the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick as member of the Progressive Conservative party from 1952 to 1960.[1]

[1]

title: Harrison Monteith

question: How old was Monteith when he died?

answer: 84

question: What was Monteith's profession?

answer: Politician

question: For how many years did he serve as a member of the Progressive Conservative Party?

answer: Eight

question: Where did Moneith live?

answer: Canada

question: Write a ~2 sentence summary.

answer: This article introduces Canadian politician Harrison Charles MOnteith. It lists his years of service and his party affiliations.


text:
**Background:** Started writing this a couple of years ago when I was at a loose end. Got to about 30,000 words, but I stopped because I was having trouble making any headway. Anyway, I looked back at it recently and honestly couldn't work out if I liked it, or if I just subconciously don't want to condemn something I spent a while on. If you could let me know what you all think, I'd be really grateful.
Excerpt from the beginning follows:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Pinnacle of engineering! The great shelter! The new paradigm for a new world!
The enthusiastic slogans painted seemingly across the whole skyline do little to detract from the persistent mediocrity of the average office building. Of course, perhaps this is an abnormality in itself; as my tutors were always quick to remind me, The City is exceptional in its routine. Somehow, the clear propaganda fails to ring true when the wondrous marvel of modern social science becomes nothing more than a background, only remarkable in its consistency. As always, I reflect upon this as I step toward the shining doors and enter my office; stopping only briefly for a retinal scan, I soon find myself in the lift gliding towards the thirty-seventh floor, building #217. Looking across the skyline from the clear lift tube, I can see across the supposed metropolis, the white towers standing proud against the intensity of the blue sky. Beneath me, a vast grid of streets and tracks stretches out, connecting every building. I can still make out the snaky forms of the giant metro transport carriages, shooting from place to place. The lift stops; my floor. The quiet air of careful concentration makes a noticeable contrast from the bustle of activity and life outside. I have a good ten minutes until the official address; time enough to log in. My office retains a comforting familiarity despite, or maybe because of, the spartan surroundings. Like the fevered imaginings of a 60s futurologist, a clear white desk and bare walls offer no distraction from the blinking tablet screen suspended on a gunmetal arm above. The far wall of my office consists entirely of a huge, crystal clear window, offering pleasant views of The City. On a clear day, the view extends almost as far as the edge of the business district. After the customary security check, a burst of mediocre music from the speakers announces the start of the morning address. Sighing, I leave, bound for the conference hall.

Another bloody film. Every day it’s the same thing, a stern reminder of what we have, and how supposedly lucky we are to have it. The City, the announcer explains, is the one true way of existing! The Future! All those who protest against, it is stated, are not only wrong, but endanger the very future of our existence! As always, I nod at the appropriate moments, and give the standard few seconds’ applause at the end. As a single entity, we stand to acknowledge the efforts of those who took part in its construction, and to hear a blaringly rousing composition. We are dismissed; I wander back towards my office. The blinking terminal invites me back to the monotony of the day.

**EDIT:** altered some stuff based on kybarnet's feedback. Thanks!

title: Model Citizen

question: Who is the narrator?

answer: They are an unnamed worker.

question: Where does the narrator work?

answer: In an office on the thirty-seventh floor of building #217, in an unnamed metropolis.

question: How does the narrator feel about the slogans and films about The City?

answer: They feel tired of the propaganda.

question: How does the narrator describe their days at work?

answer: They describe it as monotonous.

question: Write a ~5 sentence summary.

answer: The narrator heads to their office for work, annoyed with the propaganda slogans they see everywhere. They notice the scenery of the city bustle. Their office is dull, and when music begins playing, the narrator goes to the conference room where another film is played. The film is a reminder to be grateful for The City, and shuts down any criticism of it. The narrator returns to the monotony of their work.


text:
LOS ANGELES — The nation’s homeless population increased this year for the first time since 2010, driven by a surge in the number of people living on the streets in Los Angeles and other West Coast cities.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development released its annual Point in Time count Wednesday, a report that showed nearly 554,000 homeless people across the country during local tallies conducted in January. That figure is up nearly 1 percent from 2016.

Of that total, 193,000 people had no access to nightly shelter and instead were staying in vehicles, tents, the streets and other places considered uninhabitable. The unsheltered figure is up by more than 9 percent compared to two years ago.

Increases are higher in several West Coast cities, where the explosion in homelessness has prompted at least 10 city and county governments to declare states of emergency since 2015.

City officials, homeless advocates and those living on the streets point to a main culprit: the region’s booming economy.

Rents have soared beyond affordability for many lower-wage workers who until just a just few years ago could typically find a place to stay. Now, even a temporary setback can be enough to leave them out on the streets.

“A lot of people in America don’t realize they might be two checks, three checks, four checks away from being homeless,” said Thomas Butler Jr., who stays in a carefully organized tent near a freeway ramp in downtown Los Angeles.

Butler said he was in transitional housing — a type of program that prepares people for permanent homes — for a while but mostly has lived on the streets for the past couple of years.

The numbers in the report back up what many people in California, Oregon and Washington have been experiencing in their communities: encampments sprouting along freeways and rivers; local governments struggling to come up with money for long-term solutions; conflicts over whether to crack down on street camping and even feeding the homeless.

The most alarming consequence of the West Coast homeless explosion is a deadly hepatitis A outbreak that has affected Los Angeles, Santa Cruz and San Diego, the popular tourist destination in a county where more than 5,600 people now live on the streets or in their cars. The disease is spread through a liver-damaging virus that lives in feces.

The outbreak prompted California officials to declare a state of emergency in October.

The HUD report underscores the severity of the problem along the West Coast.

While the overall homeless population in California, Oregon and Washington grew by 14 percent over the past two years, the part of that population considered unsheltered climbed 23 percent to 108,000. That is in part due a shortage of affordable housing.

In booming Seattle, for example, the HUD report shows the unsheltered population grew by 44 percent over two years to nearly 5,500.

The homeless service area that includes most of Los Angeles County, the epicenter of the crisis, saw its total homeless count top 55,000 people, up by more than 13,000 from 2016. Four out of every five homeless individuals there are considered unsheltered, leaving tens of thousands of people with no place to sleep other than the streets or parks.

By comparison, while New York City’s homeless population grew to more than 76,000, only about 5 percent are considered unsheltered thanks to a system that can get people a cot under a roof immediately.

In the West Coast states, the surge in homelessness has become part of the fabric of daily life.

The Monty, a bar in the Westlake neighborhood near downtown Los Angeles, usually doesn’t open until 8 p.m. Partner and general manager Corey Allen said that’s because a nearby shelter requires people staying there to be in the building by 7. Waiting until after that to open means the streets outside are calmer.

Allen said the homeless have come into his bar to bathe in the restroom wash basins, and employees have developed a strategy for stopping people from coming in to panhandle among customers.

Seventy-eight-year-old Theodore Neubauer sees the other side of it. Neubauer says he served in Vietnam but now lives in a tent in downtown Los Angeles. He is surrounded by thriving business and entertainment districts, and new apartments that are attracting scores of young people to the heart of the nation’s second most populous city.

“Well, there’s a million-dollar view,” he said.

Helping those like Neubauer is a top policy priority and political issue in Los Angeles.

Since last year, voters in the city and Los Angeles County have passed a pair of tax-boosting ballot initiatives to raise an expected $4.7 billion over the next decade for affordable housing and services for the homeless. HUD Secretary Ben Carson praised the region for dealing with the issue and not relying solely on the federal government.

“We need to move a little bit away from the concept that only the government can solve the problem,” he said.

But Mayor Eric Garcetti said that insufficient federal funding for affordable housing and anti-homelessness programs are part of the reason for the city’s current crisis.

“Los Angeles’ homelessness crisis was not created in a vacuum, and it cannot be solved by L.A. alone,” Garcetti said in a statement.

Excluding the Los Angeles region, total homelessness nationwide would have been down by about 1.5 percent compared with 2016.

The California counties of Sacramento, which includes the state capital, and Alameda, which is home to Oakland, also had one-year increases of more than 1,000 homeless people.

In contrast, the HUD report showed a long-running decline in homelessness continuing in most other regions. Nationally, the overall homeless number was down by 13 percent since 2010 and the unsheltered number has dropped by 17 percent over that seven-year span, although some changes in methodology and definitions over the years can affect comparisons.

Places where the numbers went down included Atlanta, Philadelphia, Miami, the Denver area and Hawaii, which declared a statewide homelessness emergency in 2015.

The homeless point-in-time survey is based on counts at shelters and on the streets. While imperfect, it attempts to represent how many people are homeless at a given time. Those who work regularly with the homeless say it is certainly an undercount, although many advocates and officials believe it correctly identifies trend lines.

The report is submitted to Congress and used by government agencies as a factor in distributing money for programs designed to help the homeless.

_Mulvihill reported from Cherry Hill, New Jersey. AP videographer Krysta Fauria and photographer Jae Hong in Los Angeles contributed to this article._

question: How many people are homeless according to the Point in Time count?

answer: Nearly 554 000 homeless people across the country. It is up 1 percent from 2016.

question: How many do not have access to nightly shelter?

answer: Of the 554 000 homeless people, 193 000 people live in vehicles, tents, the streets and other places uninhabitable.

question: Is the Point in Time count accurate?

answer: The Point in Time count is based on counts at shelters and on the streets. The number is said to be much too low, although it correctly identifies trends.

question: What is the Point in Time count used for?

answer: The count is submitted to Congress and is used by government agencies as a factor when distributing money aimed at helping the homeless.

question: Where are the increase in homeless people higher?

answer: In several cities on the West Coast.

question: To what is the explosion in homelessness attributed?

answer: It is attributed to a boom in the economy.

question: Write a ~2 sentence summary.

answer: The Point in Time count of homelessness was released. It showed an increase in homelessness on the West Coast.


text:
This is just the first bit of a story I wrote for an intro to electrical engineering class.  Huzzah!

I wake up at the crack of 4pm every day for a vigorous workout regimen of trying to vomit the shame out of my body and watching Teletubbies reruns.  Then, I remember that cyborgs can’t vomit, and I haven’t paid the cable bill in three months, so the only form of entertainment I get is looking for rats in my apartment and throwing them out of the window.  On a normal day, I might crawl back into bed and shut off my audio/visual receptors for another couple of hours, but my in-eye interface opens up my calendar for today.  Looks like I’ve got a client in half an hour.  Better find a clean shirt.
	As soon as I finish putting on my Hawaiian button up with hardly any stains on it, there’s a knock at the door.  Not the standard three-knock shindig, but a more aggressive than usual intro to “Shave and a Haircut.”  Leaving off those last two knocks is supposed to make me rush to the door to usher them in, but it only serves in making every micrometer of my cybernetic thought processors overheat and lower in efficiency, something humans call “hate.”  It happens all too often with me.  I’m going to not have a good time with this job.  I get the door anyway.
	“Come in.  Don’t touch any of the furniture; I’m pretty sure it’s growing some type of fungus.”  It’s not actually growing anything, but I tell every client this because it’s my apartment and I’ll be damned if I’m having strangers come in and touch all of my stuff.
	“Uh, okay.  Should I just stand then?”  The dame walks in with a look on her face like she’s better than me, but with the posture and grace like she has polio.  I shouldn’t have answered the door.
	“I don’t care if you sit on the floor, do a handstand, or just leave.  Although frankly, it would be pretty impressive to see you get that fat center of gravity over your fat stupid face.  What do you want?”  The dame wasn’t even overweight, but just like in high school, if you put them down enough, they’ll put out more.  Or in the case, pay more.
	“I hear you’re Jake Bullet.  I hear you’re the meanest private dick this side of the pond, and you have what it takes to get the job done.”  The dame was easily six feet tall and the voice coming out of her sounded like a grizzled ex-con.  I could almost see her five o’clock shadow.
	“Lady, when you moonlight like I do, you don’t use words like “private” and “dick” so close together unless you got the green to throw down.  Now tell me what the job is, Golden Girls is on soon.”
	“It’s my husband, Jake.  Every night he goes out, and I don’t see him again until morning, right before he leaves for work at the energy plant!  I think he’s cheating on me, with prostitutes no less!  I checked our bank statement from last month, and, well. . .”  Her optical moisture ports starts spouting like the zits on an eighth grader.  Humans can just be so illogical.  That moisture could be used for a lot of other things, like spitting on the homeless (one of my favorite Sunday past times), or sweating for thirty minutes on the treadmill.  Her story was boring me, so I started checking her out with my peripheral scanners, and she could definitely stand to drop a few.
	“All right, quit your blabbering.  I charge fifty bucks a day, not including meals, snacks, expenditures imperative to the job, expenditures not imperative to the job, movie tickets, pony rides, salsa lessons, etcetera.  I’ll call you when I have something.”
	After getting her nasty human-eye-watering face out of my apartment, I write down in my schedule that I should probably go check this creepy guy out.  Just then, I notice I have an appointment today.  The appointment is written in blue ink.  Looks like I’m missing Golden Girls today.

title: Cyborg Detective Prostitute.

question: Where is the story set?

answer: Jake Bullet's apartment

question: Who is the protagonist speaking to?

answer: An unnamed "dame"

question: Does the protagonist end up watching the Golden Girls?

answer: No, another appointment prevents him from watching it

question: What does the dame want to hire the protagonist for?

answer: She believes her husband is cheating on her

question: Write a ~4 sentence summary.

answer: Jake Bullet wakes up at 4pm and gets ready for a client. The client arrives at Jake's apartment and tells him she believes her husband is cheating on her. She starts to cry, and Jake says he will accept the case and quickly ushers her out of his apartment. Jake notices he has another appointment today, which means he will miss the Golden Girls.


text:
I met an old man dying on a train.

When you hear something like that, you prepare yourself for the inevitable moral conclusion that will come at the end of the story.  You settle in to your comfortable chair, and you begin to wait patiently for the praiseworthy denouement.

Well, let’s hear some truth.

I met an old man dying on a train. He didn’t say much of anything when I sat down across from him. Maybe he made an odd noise that old people are prone to make, I honestly wasn’t paying much attention.

The room was hot and stuffy - and normally I’m alright with a little bit of heat and humidity - but for once - I noticed.

I noticed the way his breathing was labored, shallow on the inhale and weezy on the exhale.  I noticed the way sweat collected around the sides of his neck, tracing beady lines down his deathly pale, wrinkly, blotched skin.

I noticed when he closed his eyes, he dreamed of being young again.  How when he closed his eyes, our roles were reversed and he was staring at me in my debilitated condition, silently judging my existence as a matter of my condition.

The train came to a screeching halt.  I would say I smelled burning rubber - but that’s impossible because trains don’t work like that.  I smelled my own mortality, right then, I think.

When I walked away, I didn't look behind me, not for *one* second.

title: I want this to offend you.

question: What makes this story offensive?

answer: The fact that the narrator chooses to ignore the dying old man rather than to help him out.

question: Why is the old man dying?

answer: That information can't be found.

question: What happens to the old man at the end of the story?

answer: He is abandoned by the narrator and left to die.

question: Where does the story take place?

answer: On a train.

question: Write a ~3 sentence summary.

answer: The narrator encounters a dying old man on a train. In the old man, they see their own mortality. Rather than help the man, the narrator chooses to walk away, leaving the old man to die.


text:
STARING AT THE NORTHERN GLADES

I see in the vast snowfields ahead of me, a looming presence.
One of a morbid curiosity, one that wishes to ensnare me in the deep valleys and trap me atop the vast mountains.
I can't tell if this presence is sentient, if it is even real.
I look to the village at my back, a burned shadow. The wood-framed huts are charred, the ashes of civilization set to fertilize the dead souls that they bear.
The North, spoken in the villages adorning the Edge, was originally far away, a mere speck on the maps of the world.
I look down at my fur boots and see the evidence that the rumors are true; the frost slowly grows over a blade of glass until the weight pulls that blade down into submission.
The presence is one of morbid curiosity, for it wishes to cover everything in it's embrace. As I step onto the ice, I know I am next.

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

THE FIREMAN

Officially, the end of the world does not exist. Officially, where I am standing experiences mild winters and brisk summers annually, and is a thriving production center for the logging industry. Officially, I am designated as the chief fireman of this official hamlet.
The men who hired me, many kilometers south of this official place, asked of me to officially guard the surrounding band of land, stretching 100 kilometers across.

That was ten days ago. I arrived yesterday to perform my job, which officially is to patrol and protect this 100 kilometer band of land, interspersed with slight hamlets and towns, from fires.

My real job is to use my talents to burn everything in this frozen hellhole to the ground.
Because, just north of where I am standing, is a huge glacier, stretching thousands of kilometers across, and growing. It's heading south at speeds that would allow it to reach the capital in two years.

They've tried catapults filled with flaming boulders. They've pleaded with the gods. They've even embezzled enough money from the Royal Treasury to send all of them to the gallows,.
The fat king doesn't know, the Archbishop is clueless, and the aristocrats that hired me are too scared to think straight; so they hired me.

They know my price to end this glacier. They know that for every person I burn down, the glacier will be slowed, just slightly.
They think that the people I've been sent to slaughter will slow the beast down enough for them to rest easy.
I look at the remains of the official hamlet surrounding me, the embers floating in the slight wind. I look at my hands made of pure fire, slightly worried at how they shake at the sight of the glacier and it's frozen embrace.

But, I have accepted my fate, and I will enjoy the mad and fiery descent into it.

------

I don't know why, but I had the urge to write about situations of apocalyptic and encroaching cold. I guess the two stories could fit in a single 'world', what with the narrator in SATNG looking at the ruins of a village burned by the Fireman.
Maybe I looked too much into it, but this is some of the first writing I've done since my last truly dedicated short story. Advice and criticism are more than welcome!

title: Two stories with similar, cold and deadly, themes [Staring At The Northern Glades] and [The Fireman]

question: What are the two stories about?

answer: A glacier that is consuming the world.

question: Why has the main character in "The Fireman" been tasked to patrol the area?

answer: They have special abilities involving fire and are meant to beat back a giant glacier.

question: What is the place close to where the cold comes from called?

answer: The Edge.

question: What does the author's note say about the stories?

answer: That they could be in the same world.

question: Write a ~1 sentence summary.

answer: These two stories are about a land being taken over by a glacier, and the man with superpowers whose job it is to summon fire to hold it back.