text:
The ELECTORAL INTEGRITY PROJECT is an academic project based at Harvard University and the University of Sydney which seeks to quantify the integrity of elections worldwide. The project freely publishes its Perceptions of Electoral Integrity dataset for scholarly use. The most recent data release (PEI 6.0) covers 285 elections in 164 countries from mid 2012 to the end of 2017. The founding Director is Pippa Norris.[1]

The project received media attention in 2016 when it ranked the United States last among western nations.[2] One of the project's International Advisory Board, Andrew Reynolds, a political science professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, noted in the Raleigh-based _News and Observer_ that his home state's election integrity score was similar to Cuba, Indonesia and Sierra Leone.[3] The study ranked integrity of the state's congressional districts lowest in the nation just below similar outlier Wisconsin.[4][5] An editorial in the _Wall Street Journal_ ridiculed the study, noting that “Democracy in New York (which scored a 61) and Virginia (60) is supposedly more imperiled than in Rwanda (64), though Rwanda is controlled by an autocrat. The worst-performing state, Arizona (53), is outranked by Kuwait (55), Ivory Coast (59) and Kyrgyzstan (54).”[6] Dylan Matthews writing in _Vox_ agreed that “it seems foolish to infer from that that the US is less of a democracy than Rwanda” but felt that the EIP had highlighted important issues such as gerrymandering and voter registration laws.[7]

Statistician Andrew Gelman had a negative view of the PEI Index, commenting that “[it] all seems like an unstable combination of political ideology, academic self-promotion, credulous journalism, and plain old incompetence”, noting among other things that the EIP's 2014 data release has previously given the North Korean parliamentary election an 'electoral integrity' score of 65.3 and Cuba 65.6, higher than elections in EU members Romania and Bulgaria.[8][9][10] Norris addressed the controversy in two long replies to Gelman, noting that her team had subsequently dropped the North Korean election from the dataset. Gelman, however, questioned her justification for this removal and continued to question the EIP's methodology more generally.[11][12]

[1]

[2]

[3] https://huffingtonpost.com/entry/north-carolina-no-longer-democracy_us_585db3e7e4b0de3a08f5699f

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

[11]

[12]

title: Electoral Integrity Project

question: Who came up with the Electoral Integrity Project?

answer: It was based at Harvard University and the University of Sydney.

question: Define the Electoral Integrity Project.

answer: It is an academic project that seeks to quantify the integrity of elections worldwide.

question: Why did Gelman have a negative view of the PEI Index?

answer: He said that it seems like an unstable combination of political ideology, academic self-promotion, credulous journalism, and incompetence.

question: What does PEI stand for?

answer: It stands for Perceptions of Electoral Integrity.

question: What countries are mentioned in this article?

answer: United States, Cuba, Indonesia, Sierra Leone, Kuwait, Rwanda, Ivory Coast, Kyrgyzstan, North Korea, Romania, and Bulgaria

question: Write a ~3 sentence summary.

answer: This article discusses the Electoral Integrity Project, an academic project that seeks to quantify the integrity of elections worldwide. It's based at Harvard University and the University of Sydney. Its most recent data release  covers from mid-2012 to the end of 2017.


split: train

text:
Personal Health

[]

Credit...Paul Rogers

-   Oct. 30, 2017
-

After two hourlong sessions focused first on body awareness and then on movement retraining at the Feldenkrais Institute of New York, I understood what it meant to experience an incredible lightness of being. Having, temporarily at least, released the muscle tension that aggravates my back and hip pain, I felt like I was walking on air.

I had long refrained from writing about this method of countering pain because I thought it was some sort of New Age gobbledygook with no scientific basis. Boy, was I wrong!

The Feldenkrais method is one of several increasingly popular movement techniques, similar to the Alexander technique, that attempt to better integrate the connections between mind and body. By becoming aware of how one’s body interacts with its surroundings and learning how to behave in less stressful ways, it becomes possible to relinquish habitual movement patterns that cause or contribute to chronic pain.

The method was developed by Moshe Feldenkrais, an Israeli physicist, mechanical engineer and expert in martial arts, after a knee injury threatened to leave him unable to walk. Relying on his expert knowledge of gravity and the mechanics of motion, he developed exercises to help teach the body easier, more efficient ways to move.

I went to the institute at the urging of Cathryn Jakobson Ramin, author of the recently published book “Crooked” that details the nature and results of virtually every current approach to treating back pain, a problem that has plagued me on and off (now mostly on) for decades. Having benefited from Feldenkrais lessons herself, Ms. Ramin had good reason to believe they would help me.

In her book, she recounts the experience of Courtney King, who first experienced crippling back spasms in her late 20s. Ms. King was taking several dance classes a week and practicing yoga, and she thought the stress of these activities might be causing the pain in her tight, inflexible back. But after a number of Feldenkrais sessions, she told Ms. Ramin, “I realized that the pain had more to do with the way I carried myself every day.”

Even after just one session, I understood what she meant. When I make a point of walking upright and fluid, sitting straight, even cooking relaxed and unhurried, I have no pain. The slow, gentle, repetitive movements I practiced in a Feldenkrais group class helped foster an awareness of how I use my body in relation to my environment, and awareness is the first step to changing one’s behavior.

One common problem of which I’m often guilty is using small muscles to accomplish tasks meant for large, heavy-duty ones, resulting in undue fatigue and pain.

The group class, called Awareness Through Movement, was followed by an individual session called Functional Integration with a therapist that helped to free tight muscles and joints that were limiting my motion and increasing my discomfort. Using gentle manipulation and passive movements, the therapist individualized his approach to my particular needs.

The ultimate goal of both sessions is, in effect, to retrain the brain – to establish new neural pathways that result in easy, simple movements that are physiologically effective and comfortable. Although the Feldenkrais method was developed in the mid-20th century, neurophysiologists have since demonstrated the plasticity of the brain, its ability to form new cells, reorganize itself and, in effect, learn new ways to do things.

The beauty of Feldenkrais lessons is that they are both relatively low-cost (group classes average $15 to $25, individual sessions $100 to $200) and potentially accessible to nearly everyone. There are more than 7,000 teachers and practitioners working in 18 countries, including large numbers in the United States. You can be any age, strength, fitness level and state of well-being to participate. The exercises are slow, gentle and adjustable to whatever might ail you. Their calming effect counters the stress that results in contracted muscles, tightness and pain.

Many Feldenkrais practitioners, like Marek Wyszynski, director of the New York center, start professional life as physical therapists, although many other practitioners begin with no medical background. They then undergo three and a half years of training to become certified in the Feldenkrais method.

Mr. Wyszynski explained that he starts by observing how patients are using their skeletons – how they sit, stand and walk in ways that may cause or contribute to their pathology, be it spinal disc disease, arthritis, shoulder pain or damaged knee joints. In accordance with Dr. Feldenkrais’s astute observation, “If you don’t know what you are doing, you can’t do what you want,” patients are then given a clear sensory experience of how their posture and behavior contribute to their pain and physical limitations.

For example, some people may use excessive force, clench their teeth, hold their breath or rush, causing undue muscle tension and skeletal stress. Years ago, I realized that my frequent headaches resulted from an unconscious habit of clenching my jaw when I concentrated intently on a task like sewing or cooking. Feldenkrais teachers do not give formulas for a proper way of behaving; rather, they rely on their patients’ ability to self-discover and self-correct.

Once aware of their counterproductive habits, students are given the opportunity to experience alternative movements, postures and behaviors and, through practice, create new habits that are less likely to cause pain.

Mr. Wyszynski told me that there are more than 1,000 distinct Feldenkrais lessons currently available, most of which involve everyday actions like reaching, getting up from a chair, turning, bending and walking.

As a mechanical engineer and physicist, Dr. Feldenkrais understood that the job of the human skeleton was to accommodate the effects of gravity in order to remain upright. And he wanted people to achieve this in the most efficient way possible.

Using two tall foam cylinders, one perched on top of the other, Mr. Wyszynski demonstrated a guiding principle of the Feldenkrais method. When the top cylinder was centered on the bottom one, it stood in place without assistance. But when it was off center, perched near the edge of the bottom cylinder, it tipped over. If instead of cylinders these were someone’s skeletal parts that were askew, tightened muscles would have to keep the patient from falling over.

As Mr. Wyszynski explained, “Good posture allows the skeleton to hold up and support the body without expending unnecessary energy despite the pull of gravity. However, with poor posture, the muscles are doing part of the job of the bones, and with poor skeletal support, the muscles have to remain contracted to prevent the body from falling.”

question: What do the sessions focus on?

answer: On body awareness and movement retraining.

question: What is the ultimate goal of the sessions?

answer: To retrain the brain to establish new neural pathways resulting in easy, simple movements that are physiologically effective and comfortable.

question: Where are the sessions taking place?

answer: Feldenkrais Institute of New York

question: Who is the method developed by?

answer: Moshe Feldenkrais

question: Write a ~3 sentence summary.

answer:
The author writes about personal health, specifically on the Feldenkrais method, after two hourlong sessions at the Feldenkrais Institute of New York. The sessions focused on body awareness and movement retraining.
The author focuses on countering pain after suffering from muscle tension aggravating back and hip pain.


text:
He walked like a man who had conquered every challenge he had ever faced. His large shiny forehead, a bulwark against those foolish enough to oppose him, glistened in the sun. His sat down at the table across from me. This guy certainly didn’t dress like I imagined most men of his trade would dress. His red leather jacket was hardly inconspicuous and his flashy black sunglasses looked expensive. This is a man that is so good at what he does he doesn’t have to blend in.

“Hello Mr. Smith. How are you?” I posited.
“I don’t have time for that shit.” he puffed back.
“I’m sorry I don’t do this kind of a thing very often, you are the first guy we have had to hire”
“The target is Martin Pierce Lepnick, is that correct?”
 “Yes.”
I have seen this exact scene play out in movies a million times and in the movies it looks cool, but I can’t help but feel like a complete dipshit. This whole thing is dumb.
…

Six days ago my boss the fucking president of the United States of America called me into his oval shaped office.
He said, “William I need you take have someone taken care of for me”.
I tell him “I’m sorry Mr. President I don’t understand. Like you want me to make sure they are taken care of? Do I need to have Sandra check the Lincoln Bedroom’s availability this month because I think you already have it booked till next Spring”.
“Fuck Lincoln and his shill of a bedroom! I need someone whacked!”
“This sounds like something you might want to talk to Director Schiller about. I can get him on the line…”
“Fuck that fat fuck Schiller! I want you to handle this.”
“Sir, that’s really not my specialty. I don’t think it’s even appropriate for me to hear about matters of national security”
The President gets up from his sofa and walks right up to me. I can smell the whiskey emanating from the large flapping orifice that resides above his presidential chin.
“This has nothing to do with national security” He pulls out one of his flasks from his suit pocket and dumps the contents into his mouth.
“William do I need to have something happen to you to? That would be a shame.”
“Sorry Mr. President”
“I’m sure you’d like to bang that blonde girlfriend of yours a few more times, wouldn’t you William? I know I would”
“What would you like me to do Mr. President?”
“I need you to set up a meeting with my guy. Sean Smith”
…
Sean let out an annoyed sigh.  He repeated “Martin Piece Lepnick?” “I just want to confirm that I am being set up by the president of the United States before I stage my coup and hang our beloved commander and chief in the streets”
“Wait WHAT?”
“Shut your fucking cock mouth up for a moment and listen” “Lepnick is the guy who books whores for Republican Congressman.” “When a newly elected guy arrives in D.C. they send their finest whore to fuck him. Sure she will pretend to be some unwitting intern or a slutty secretary but they paid to ensure they fuck the new guy” “Then they have blackmail to call in when they need it.” “It’s an effective system to control your lackies and the President has a lot of lackies to control, that’s where Martin comes in” “Mr. Lepnick finds the right girl for each job. He also makes sure to dispose of the girl once they are done to keep things quiet. He is the only other guy that knows about this whole shitshow.”
“Well that sounds awful, but I don’t understand. How exactly is he setting you up?”
“Because last week they found one of Lepnicks botched disposal jobs floating in the Patomic. They have called him in for questioning and the jig is up. He probably wants to cut a deal.”
“That makes a kind of perverted sense though. How is he betraying you?”

title: Eagle Vs Potus

question: Why does the president want someone killed?

answer: Unclear.

question: Write a ~3 sentence summary.

answer: William can't believe that his boss, the United States President, is blackmailing William into killing someone for him. He tells William to see his guy Sean Smith. When William goes to Sean he learns about a blackmailing operation that may be about to be revealed.


text:
[Eli Manning reviews plays on a Microsoft Tablet]

Paul Sancya/AP

Eli Manning reviews a play on an iPad-like device.

Prior to the season, Microsoft and the NFL struck a 5-year, $400 million deal with one of the major components being that the Microsoft Surface would become "the official tablet of the NFL" with coaches and players using the Surface on the sidelines during games.

But Microsoft and the league ran into a problem during week one of the season when at least two television announcers mistakenly referred to the tablets as iPads giving a huge rival some unexpected exposure.

The biggest blunder for the league came during the nationally televised Monday Night Football game when ESPN's Trent Dilfer joked about how long it took Cardinals assistant head coach Tom Moore to "learn how to use the iPad to scroll through the pictures."

In a separate incident, Drew Brees of the New Orleans Saints was spotted by Fox commentator John Lynch using a Surface on the sideline. Lynch remarked that Brees was "not watching movies on his iPad."

Lynch did seem to realize his mistake when he later noted that players now have "iPad-like tools" at their disposal. However, at no time during the discussion was Microsoft or the Surface mentioned by name.

Advertisement

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

[Drew Brees]

Fox

Drew Brees hard at work with his iPad-like tool.

Luckily for Microsoft there are other forms of exposure for their new deal. In addition to the tablets, the Microsoft Surface logo is also on the replay monitors used by the officials.

[NFL referee]

AP

There is probably not a Surface tablet under that hood.

As for future games, the NFL and Microsoft will likely work to inform - or more likely remind - the networks that those blue tablets are in fact _not_ iPads.

Otherwise, this campaign is off to a rocky start and the novelty of the devices for the networks will no longer be there and they will stop being mentioned at all.

[Microsoft Surface ad]

Microsoft

Microsoft declined an opportunity to comment on the partnership and whether any changes would be made moving forward. The NFL has not responded to requests for comment at the time of this publication.

question: What is the official tablet of the NFL?

answer: The Microsoft Surface is the official tablet of the NFL.

question: Who were referring to the tablets as iPads?

answer: Trent Difer and John Lynch both referred to the tablets as iPads.

question: Was the Microsoft Surface referenced by name?

answer: No, neither Microsoft nor the Surface were mentioned by name.

question: How much money went into the Microsoft and NFL deal?

answer: $400 million went into the Microsoft and NFL deal.

question: Write a ~3 sentence summary.

answer: Microsoft and the NFL made a deal making the Microsoft Surface the official tablet of the NFL. Despite this, several sports commentators have been referring to the tablets as iPads. The campaign is off to a rocky start, and it is uncertain if any changes will be made going forward.


text:
There is no doubt that social media has become a major part of modern life. And I can’t see that changing much in the near future.

Facebook usage continues to climb with the _average_ user now spending upwards of 50 minutes per day on the site, yet more studies show that the more time we spend on Facebook, the less happy we are. So what exactly is going on here?

Are we just using social media wrong, or is it something that we should actively avoid?

Social Media Can Have An Immensely Negative Affect

Social media definitely has had a negative impact on my own life. We all know the impulsive addiction to checking social media feeds when you really have no reason to do so.

That’s the Twitch, and a large part of where Break the Twitch came from. It was the days I had the least energy and felt the worst overall were the ones I spent scrolling through social media feeds. Facebook provided a constant distraction from what I should be focusing on instead.

Social media can be just like a digital form of sugar. Sure it may feel good and it’s fun to eat, but you can’t live on it. Just like sugar, social media is made up of empty calories and isn’t intended to keep us healthy and well in the long-term.

But It Isn’t All Bad, Is It?

Even so, I’d find it difficult to argue that these online social tools are inherently a _bad thing_.

A few years ago, I attended my friend Patrick’s (lovely) wedding. Before we met in person, we had exchanged some tweets back and forth and started following each other because of our shared love of biking. While we had been friends for quite a while at that point, there wasn’t a ton of social overlap in our circles. When Amy and I arrived at the event, we only found one other person we’d ever met before in person.

While I do believe in the power of a friendly introduction and simply getting to know new people from scratch, something incredible happened. It turned out that I knew about 30% of the people in attendance–from our conversations and exchanged quips on Twitter.

Sure, we didn’t _know_ each other yet, but it was seriously magical to have already connected with a few of the people sitting around our banquet table. Our online exchanges had created a powerful catalyst to deepen our connection and kick off our conversation once we met in person.

Another case in point, you may be reading this article right now because you found it on Facebook, Pinterest, or perhaps Twitter. You and I are connected right now in a way that we might not be otherwise. If you leave a comment, send me an email, or connect on social media, perhaps we’ll one day be at the same event together and we’ll get to talk about intentional living and how your life changed after decluttering your home. For me, that’s the entire point of social media–creating real connections through digital ones.

SOCIAL MEDIA ISN’T GOOD OR BAD, IT’S JUST A TOOL

It turns out, social media really is a powerful tool to create meaningful connections, we just have to use it properly. Just like a hammer, you can use it to build something beautiful or whack someone over the head with it. It isn’t inherently good or evil, it just is.

I’d consider social media to be something like a protein supplement. Sure, it feels good to take and might help you recover from your workout faster, but it was never designed to replace working out in the first place. One without the other is wasting money and time on what I’d consider a false first step–looking for a solution without doing the actual work.

So that means that it’s up to us to determine how we want to use that tool in our lives to make it better and not worse.

Click here to subscribe to Break the Twitch on YouTube

HERE’S WHAT YOU CAN DO TO MAKE A CHANGE

The best part about this is that you have the power to decide how you want this to be a part of your life. But no one is going to make that decision for you–you get to choose whether it’s personally a good thing or a bad thing for you.

Break the Twitch by taking a literal break.

The most effective way to un-addict yourself is to take at least a seven-day sabbatical from social media. It may feel uncomfortable at first, but if you push through the first few days you’ll see how incredibly freeing it is. Sure, things will be happening online but do you wake up every morning to make sure the sun comes up? Would it not if you weren’t there to ensure it? No. It’ll still do its thing and you can still do yours.

This study (PDF download) from the Happiness Research Institute found that after one week without Facebook, _the participants reported a significantly higher level of life satisfaction_. At that point, you will have less addiction and more clarity in how you want social media to be a part of your life going forward.

Prioritize 1-on-1, two-way communication.

If the extent of your dialogue is double-tapping a photo to leave a like on it, it’s a nice thing to do, but it simply does not build or strengthen relationships on its own. Pick up the phone and call, meet up with a friend for coffee, or reach out to someone online and engage in dialogue. Even if it’s over Skype, it still means so much more than a quick thumbs up alone.

While it can feel validating to be on the receiving end of likes, it simply doesn’t provide the dialogue we need in our lives. It’s still just a quick sugary dopamine burst, when we need some hearty steamed veggies.

When you’re actually with people, put away your phone.

I don’t mean set it on the table, either. I mean visibly, audibly, away. If you’re spending your time on social media at home then still cracked-out on your phone when you’re with a group of good friends, you’re undercutting the real relationship-building that’s happening there.

Life is short and you never know when you’re going to see those people again. One of the most meaningful things you can give someone is your full attention–it’s such a rarity in today’s culture. Imagine what it might be like to have the same from the people you care about as well.

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

If you found this post helpful, you’d probably find 60 Days Without Social Media and Observations from Tracking Smartphone Use interesting as well. Perhaps you’d like to receive my monthly newsletter, yes? Well, in that case, enjoy!

✕

Free 7-Day Digital Detox

Reduce distractions and create some much needed space in your digital life with this free 7-day email course from Break the Twitch.

[With social media addiction on the rise, is it actually a bad thing? Really, we're just using it wrong, and here's how to change that.]

question: What does the author say about their online connections?

answer: The author met their friend Patrick through their shared interest in biking on Twitter. At Patrick's wedding, the author already knew about 30% of the guests from exchanges online, and got to meet them in-person that day. The author also uses the reader as an example of a connection formed through the social internet; if the reader were to comment or email, for example, that could potentially lead to a face-to-face conversation down the road, having already been introduced through a common interest (this decluttering blog) online.

question: What does the passage say about the Twitch?

answer: The Twitch is the compulsion to check social media feeds without a real reason to do so. From this comes 'Break the Twitch', which is a phrase used by the author and a YouTube channel that provides a 7-day email course on digital detoxing. The author claims that such a sabbatical is the most effective way to break a cycle of social media addiction.

question: What does the text say about SEO?

question: Summarize what the text says about computer games.


text:
I just wrote this after randomly remembering that camp song about squishing bumblebees and my proud mother.  Its my very first short story and I just wanted to put it out there, see what everything thinks.  Thanks for reading and letting me know what you think!

"I'm picking up my baby bumblebee.  Won't my mommy be so proud of me!"

I frantically bombard the walls that have become my prison.  Panic sets in as tiny fragments of light stream in.  Is it just me or are these walls sweating?  It’s as if the walls are alive, breathing, perspiring, anticipating.

Moments ago my antennae was deep inside a particularly fragrant and productive pollen mine.  Pink with streaks of white, this mine smelled sweet like home.  Home.  Will I ever see home again?  The perfect geometrical patterns of the combs, sticky with the luscious elixir of life.

There is a high pitched noise that I have suddenly become aware of.  An indecipherable amalgamation of sounds, I have a suspicion that the sound is a voice, communicating to me.  I have heard stories of this phenomenon.  Singing, they call it.

I must escape!  Using the only tool available to me I unleash my weapon stabbing the walls in a desperate attempt to break through the impenetrable fortress.  Once.  Twice.  This is fruitless.

“Owww!  He stung me!”

I’m free!  I’ve been released!  With that combination of sounds my captor has been persuaded to set me free!  Free to feel the open air, free to mine for the queen, free to fulfill my duty to society!

 “I’m squishing up my baby bumblebee, won’t my mommy be so proud of me!”

The impact comes before I can register the danger I am in.  A rush of air denies me my initial path out the front of my cell while I feel the shadows of my walls enclosing me again.  This time the walls do not stop at cell like proportions; they suffocate me with their closeness.
Now the walls are moving, gyrating against themselves.  I realize now that I am the reason.  The songs, the cell, the temporary release.  All of it was done as a lead up to this moment.  I can hear the voice repeating those fateful words.

“Won’t my mommy be so proud of me”.

I feel myself expanding, flattening into a paste.  As the walls continue their deliberate torture I am struck by the suddenness of it all.  You never truly embrace things until they’re gone.  My queen, the sweet elixir of life, the fresh air.  All of it, lost to the whims of this creature.  Will your mommy be so proud of you?  She better be.

title: Baby Bumblebee

question: Explain why the bee feels it may never see home again.

answer: It has become trapped within walls that have become its prison.

question: Explain the high pitched noise that the bee has suddenly become aware of.

answer: A phenomenon, the bee describes as signing.

question: What kind of danger does the bee realize it's in?

answer: The bee is in danger of getting squished.

question: Explain what becomes of the bee.

answer: It is flattened into a paste

question: Write a ~2 sentence summary.

answer: The bee has become imprisoned as it's trapped within walls, causing it to panic. All of a sudden the bee senses it has been freed by its captor before being trapped again, squished and flattened into a paste.


text:
I firmly believe in the existence of Santa Claus.

Mock me if you will, most non-believers do.  But I know, in my heart of hearts, that He is real and that He visits all the good children of the world and gives them toys on Christmas Eve while they sleep.  And try as I might to be a good person, I know that He does not consider me to be one. I know this because He hasn't given me a single present since I was eight years old.

My parents supplemented the absence of Santa's gifts with ones that they bought themselves, and they did their best to try and convince me that there really is no Santa Claus and that there never was. They did this to spare my feelings but I know the truth. That He lives on the North Pole with his helper elves and magical flying reindeer.  That He sees us when we're sleeping and knows when we're awake.  That He knows when we've been bad or good.  And that He finds me lacking despite my best efforts.  I'm naughty in his eyes.

I don't know what I did between the ages of seven and eight that was so heinous as to deserve such a fate.  I search my soul everyday for answers yet it is always for naught.  But I have faith that one day He will let me know what my transgressions were so that I may make amends.  Until then I will just keep praying that maybe this year my tree won't be empty on Christmas morning.

title: Empty Tree

question: Why does the narrator believe in Santa Claus?

answer: The narrator does not give a reason as to why they believe.

question: What is the "fate" the narrator has suffered?

answer: They have not received any presents from Santa since they were eight years old.

question: Why does Santa not consider the narrator a good person?

answer: The narrator doesn't know why they are not considered a good person.

question: What does the narrator hope for?

answer: They hope that one year their Christmas tree won't be empty on Christmas morning.

question: How old is the narrator?

answer: The narrator's current age is unknown.

question: Write a ~3 sentence summary.

answer: Ever since they were eight years old, the narrator has not received any presents from Santa Claus. They continue to believe in Santa and wonder what it is that they did to deserve this fate. They hold out hope that one year they will wake up on Christmas morning and their Christmas tree won't be empty.


text:
The VARSITY BELL (also called the DENNY BELL) is a large bell that, as of 2016, is installed in the cupola of Denny Hall at the University of Washington in Seattle, Washington.

The bell was cast in Troy, New York in 1861 and purchased by the Territorial University of Washington for $368. It was shipped to Seattle, around the Cape Horn, to be installed in the original building of the university in 1862. After installation, its first ringing was conducted by Clarence Bagley on March 19, 1862.[1][2]

During its service at the Territorial University, the bell was rang to announce the start of classes and also used to sound citywide alert at other critical moments: it solemnly tolled to mark the announcement of Abraham Lincoln's assassination; during the riot of 1886 it was used to call-out the militia; three years later it was rung to sound the alarm at the start of the Great Seattle Fire.[3][4][5]

When the University relocated from its original downtown site to its current location in the 1890s, the bell was moved and installed in the new campus' first building, Denny Hall. From 1996 to 2005, the bell was removed from Denny Hall for restoration work.[6][7]

In the 20th and 21st centuries, the bell has typically been rung only once annually, during Homecoming. From 1961, until his death in 2013, Brewster Denny was responsible for the annual ringing of the bell. Since then, the bell has been rang by Denny's daughter.[8]

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

title: Varsity Bell

question: Where is the Varsity Bell installed?

answer: The Varsity Bell is installed in the cupola of Denny Hall at the University of Washington in Seattle, Washington.

question: Why was the Varsity Bell rang?

answer: The Varsity Bell was rang to announce the start of classes and also used to sound citywide alert at other critical moments.

question: Where was the Varsity Bell previously installed?

answer: The Varsity Bell was previously installed in the Territorial University of Washington.

question: Why was the Varsity Bell relocated?

answer: Because the University relocated in the 1890s.

question: Write a ~5 sentence summary.

answer: The Varsity Bell is a large bell that is installed in the cupola of Denny Hall at the University of Washington in Seattle, Washington. The bell was cast in Troy, New York in 1861, and shipped to Seattle to be installed in the original building of the university in 1862. It was rang to announce the start of classes and also used to sound citywide alert at other critical moments. When the University relocated from its original downtown site to its current location in the 1890s, the bell was moved and installed in the new campus' first building, Denny Hall. In the 20th and 21st centuries, the bell has typically been rung only once annually, during Homecoming.


text:
What is CRPS?

Help For a Hurting Community

What is CRPS?

Causes

[]

CRPS can happen after any injury, trauma, or surgery. Most commonly the disease develops after sprains, surgeries, and fractures to joints such as knees and elbows, or can occur following immobilization surgeries, tumors, spinal fusions, or spinal cord injuries. Victims of heart attacks, strokes, gunshot wounds, and those involved in car accidents are also affected by this disease. Simply stubbing your toe, getting blood drawn, or even a paper cut can trigger this catastrophic condition.

Risks

[]

CRPS does not discriminate.  It can happen to anyone (including children) and affects all races; but is more commonly found in women as opposed to men, 4:1. Women experiencing menopause, migraine sufferers, people over  40, current and past smokers, and those who have had a heart attack or stroke are most susceptible to the disease. Victims of other diseases of the central nervous system, brain and spinal cord injuries, and patients who have had back surgeries are also more likely to contract CRPS.

Symptoms

[]

The International Association of the Study of Pain (IASP) has categorized CRPS into three types: CRPS-Type1, CRPS-Type2, and CPRS-Type-NOS (new as of Feb 2018) and symptoms include pain that is disproportionate to the inciting event; asymmetries to skin color, hair and nail growth, skin temperature;  along with muscle pain due to weakness, atrophy, stiffness, tremors, cramps; nerve pain such as burning, electrical, sharp, zapping pain; and bone crushing pain.

Diagnosis

[]

The International Association of the Study of Pain (IASP) has defined explicit criteria that must be met in order to be diagnosed with CRPS. This includes _one_ sign of CRPS at the time of evaluation, and physician identification of at least _two_ of the symptoms listed in the following categories: disproportionate pain to inciting event, sensory (sensitivity to touch or pain), vasomotor (color or temperature asymmetry), sudomotor edema, or motor-trophic changes.

The Most Painful Disease in the World

[CRPS Pain McGill Index ]

How is This Disease Different?

This is How a Healthy Brain Responds to an Injury

You hurt your thumb. Your Pain Receptors report the pain to your brain to provide the injury with the protection that it needs to heal. Your brain DOES IT'S JOB and sends down the natural Inflammatory Response.

[]

This is How a CRPS Brain Responds to an Injury

[]

Central Sensitization

*Credits: The above was an excerpt for Diagnosis from Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) Diagnosis and Management created by Pradeep Chopra, MD written in Nashville, TN. 2017. A full copy can be downloaded here. Pradee-Chopra-CRPS

Suicide Disease

Diagnosed vs. Undiagnosed

The Two-Fold Problem

Undiagnosed

If you ask someone who suffers the pains of CRPS, they will tell you that without a diagnosis, they have no hope. Without a diagnosis, they have NO HOPE for a better future. Many say that by not having a diagnosis, they feel that they have been given a "death sentence". They have no chance at treatments which would lead them to remission, or a cure. Many are told to go home, take some medicine (if their doctors will even prescribe any), and learn how to meditate. They are either treated like drug seekers, or are sent for test after test. Others are given treatments for diseases that they do not have.

Diagnosed

For those that have been diagnosed, IT IS MUCH EASIER TO GET TREATMENT, especially if the person is diagnosed prior to their 12 month 'permanent' or 'cold' stage. But, that is RARE. Most people don't get diagnosed for at _LEAST _three years, as most doctors today are still unaware of CRPS. For those that are diagnosed, they are most likely past the one year mark, where there was a chance for reversal, and now their chances of remission are slim. For those who are diagnosed too late, they too, are hopeless and doubtful that they will ever go into remission or find a cure.

The Crux

Invisible Symptoms

[]

If someone's symptoms are not manifesting in a visible manner, they may be hearing that there is nothing physically wrong with them; that it's in their head, that they are a drug seeker, or that they have one of the illnesses that CRPS is often misdiagnosed for - like fibromyalgia.  The person is probably undergoing a myriad of tests and is being pushed around from doctor to doctor. If that's the case, there is hope. There is a blood test available which shows if the patient has an autoimmune disease, and can get them on the path to help.

Doctor is Unaware

[]

The other, and more likely reason, is because the DOCTOR HAS MOST LIKELY NEVER HEARD OF CRPS - Complex Regional Pain Syndrome - because there is not enough disease awareness.  This is where _you_ come in, and this is WHY WE NEED YOUR HELP. If your neighbor, T-Ball coach, friend, child's parent, cousin, wife's friends, or sister's husband, is a doctor, surgeon, physical therapist, or health care professional, and you share this website, _WE CAN SPREAD AWARENESS!_ And maybe it won't take three years for the next person to get a diagnosis and receive the help they need.

How Can You Help?

question: Describe the causes of CRPS.

answer: CRPS can develop after sprains, surgeries, and fractures to joints, such as the knees and elbows, and can occur after immobilization surgeries, tumors, spinal fusions, and spinal cord injuries. This condition can also be triggered by simply getting your blood drawn or stubbing your toe.

question: What are some of the symptoms of CRPS?

answer: Some of the symptoms of CRPS are pain that is disproportionate to what is causing the pain. Other symptoms include asymmetries in skin color, hair, and nail growth. Other symptoms include nerve pain, muscle pain due to weakness, atrophy, tremors, and cramps.

question: Describe what the article states about the two-fold problem of diagnosed vs undiagnosed people with CRPS.

answer: The problem here is that when people who suffer from the pains of CRPS that without getting a proper diagnosis, there is no hope for them. Without a diagnosis, these people feel as though they have been given a death sentence. For people who have been diagnosed with CRPS, it is much easier for them to get treatment. Most people will not be diagnosed with this for three years, since doctors are still unaware of this condition.

question: What can the American Medical Association do to teach more doctors and medical students about Complex Regional Pain Syndrome?


text:
[1950 ballet performance of Antill's best-known work, _Corroboree_] JOHN HENRY ANTILL, CMG, OBE (8 April 190429 December 1986) was an Australian composer best known for his ballet _Corroboree_.[1]

Biography

Antill was born in Sydney in 1904, and was educated and trained in music at Trinity Grammar School, Sydney[2] and St Andrew's Cathedral School.[3] Upon leaving school in 1920, he was apprenticed to the New South Wales Government Railways. He left the railways five years later to study full-time at the New South Wales Conservatorium of Music under Alfred Hill. After graduation, he played in both the NSW State Orchestra and the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, and, from 1932 to 1934, he toured with the J. C. Williamson Imperial Opera Company as a tenor and a rehearsal conductor.[4]

In 1936, he became assistant Music Editor with the Australian Broadcasting Commission (ABC). He remained with the ABC until his retirement in 1968, having taken up the position of ABC Federal Music Editor in the meantime.

His most famous work, _Corroboree_, was first performed as a concert suite in 1946, conducted by Eugene Goossens. He based his composition on a real corroboree, which he witnessed in 1913 at La Perouse in Sydney.[5] He had intended the work as a ballet, but it was not performed as such until 1950.

The 1950 ballet premiere, choreographed by Rex Reid, of this work was hailed as a “coming-of-age” milestone in Australian cultural life,[6] although to modern eyes it appears a quaint and disconcerting period piece reflecting dated views of indigenous Australia. A new version of the ballet, performed in 1954, was choreographed by American-born dancer, choreographer and writer Beth Dean who, with her Australian husband Victor Carell, spent eight months in parts of central and northern Australia to capture a more authentic understanding.[7] The National Museum of Australia holds a large collection of costumes, props and ephemera from the Dean production. Dean and Carell also wrote a biography of John Antill titled _Gentle Genius_, published in 1987.[8]

In 1971, Antill was appointed an Officer (OBE) of the Order of the British Empire for services to Australian music.[9] In 1981, he was made a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG).[10] In 1985, the year before his death, he received an Honorary Doctorate in Creative Arts from the University of Wollongong.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4] https://www.australianmusiccentre.com.au/artist/antill-john

[5] https://www.australianmusiccentre.com.au/artist/antill-john

[6] Potter, M. (2004) “Corroboree”. _NATIONAL Library of Australia News_, March 2004 Volume XIV No. 6, pp.11-14

[7]

[8] Dean, B. and Carell, V. (1987) _Gentle genius, a life of John Antill_. Sydney: Akron Press

[9] It's an Honour: OBE

[10] It's an Honour: CMG

title: John Antill

question: What is Antill's best-known work?

answer: Corroboree

question: What year was Corroboree first performed?

answer: 1946.

question: In what format was Corroboree performed for its first time?

answer: A concert suite.

question: Who wrote "Gentle Genius, a Life of John Antill"?

answer: B. Dean and V. Carell.


text:
STEPHEN BIESTY (born 27 January 1961) is a British illustrator. Biesty is considered a master of cross section. He frequently collaborates with Richard Platt, who writes the text for the majority of his books, which have covered a wide range of informative cross sections aimed at adults and children, all published by Dorling Kindersley.

Biesty's work has found great success, notably his _Incredible Cross Sections_ (1992) is an international bestseller with over one million copies in print worldwide.[1] Other Biesty books written by Platt include _Man-of-War_ (1993), _Castle_ (1994), _Incredible Pop-Up Cross-Sections_ (1995), _Incredible Explosions_ (1996), _Incredible Everything_ (1997), _Incredible Body_ (1998) and _Absolutely Best Cross-Sections Book Ever_ (1999). Since 1999 he has also illustrated the _Millennium Dome Pop-up Book_ (1999), _Gold: A Treasure Hunt through Time_ (Meredith Hooper) (2002), and _Rome_ (Andrew Solway, Stephen Biesty) (2003). _Castle_ was later made into the educational video game _Castle Explorer_, as was _Man-of-War_ which was made into _Stowaway! A tour of an 18th century Man-of-War_. Some have compared Biesty's _Incredible Cross Sections_ to fellow British illustrator Martin Handford's _Where's Wally?_ series; for instance in _Man-of-War_ there is the challenge of spotting the stowaway.

Biesty uses paper, pen, ink and water colour paints. He never uses a ruler, drawing everything freehand.[2]

Biesty describes his work as follows:[3]

  There's really no end to the amount of detail you can include. I don't use a computer and I don't think I ever will. I draw with a pencil initially and then I work on top of that with ink, usually a Rotring needle-point pen, but sometimes I use a fine brush which gives the line a little variety, a little texture. Then of course I add colour and atmosphere with watercolour washes.

  I always put figures in. As an illustrator you quickly catch on to the fact that nobody's going to look at it if there's no human interest. When you start including figures, you can begin to create a sense of atmosphere. You can show how people relate to a space and you can explore the realities and practicalities of the place, how people lived, how they adapted to their surroundings, how they slept, how they ate.

Personal life

He was born in Coventry[4] and grew up in Leicestershire.

In 1979 he joined Loughborough College of Art and Design where he did an arts foundation course. In 1980 he moved to Brighton Polytechnic to gain a BA Hons in Graphic Design specialising in illustration, focusing on historical and architectural drawings.[5] After graduating from Brighton with a first class degree, Biesty went on to gain an MA in Graphic Design at the City of Birmingham Polytechnic, working further in historical reconstruction.

Biesty now lives in Somerset with his wife and son.[6]

Bibliography

1991: _Explore the World of Man-made Wonders_ (Simon Adams)

1992: _Exploring the Past: Ancient Egypt_ (George Hart)

1992: _Incredible Cross-Sections_ (Richard Platt)

1993: _Man-of-War_ (Richard Platt)

1994: _Castle_ (Richard Platt)

1996: _Incredible Explosions_ (Richard Platt)

1998: _Incredible Body_ (Richard Platt)

1999: _Absolutely Best Cross-Sections Book Ever_ (Richard Platt)

1999: _Millennium Dome Pop-up Book_

2001: _The Coolest Cross-Sections Ever!_ (Richard Platt)

2002: _Gold: A Treasure Hunt through Time_ (Meredith Hooper)

2003: _Rome_ (Andrew Solway)

2005: _Egypt_ (Stewart Ross)

2006: _Greece_ (Stewart Ross)

2008: _Ancient World: Egypt, Rome, and Greece_

2014: _The Story of Buildings_, Walker Books.

2014: _Castles_ (Meredith Hooper)

2014: _Giant Vehicles_ (Rod Green)

2014: _Into the Unknown: How Great Explorers Found Their Way by Land, Sea, and Air_ (Stewart Ross)

2015: _To the Rescue_ (Rod Green)

2015: _Emergency Vehicles_ (Rod Green)

2017: _Trains_ (Ian Graham)

2017: _Exploring Space: From Galileo to the Mars Rover and Beyond_ (Martin Jenkins)

2018: _Flying Machines_ (Ian Graham)

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

title: Stephen Biesty

question: Who is Stephen Biesty?

answer: Stephen Biesty is a British illustrator who is considered a master of cross section.

question: Which of Biesty's work is an international bestseller?

answer: Incredible Cross Sections(1992) .

question: How does Biesty work?

answer: He never uses the computer. He draws everything freehand and doesn't even use a ruler.

question: Where did Biesty study?

answer: Biesty joined Loughborough College of Art and Design where he did art foundation course before he moved to Brighton Polytechnic where he gained a BA Hons in Graphic Design.

question: Write a ~5 sentence summary.

answer:
Stephen Biesty is a British illustrator who is considered a master of cross section. He frequently collaborates with Richard Platt, who does lettering for his work.

Biesty's work has found success with one of his books, Incredible Cross Sections (1992), becoming an international bestseller with over a million copies sold.

Beisty always draws freehand. He doesn't use a ruler or computers.


text:
_MESA PARA TRES_ (“Table for Three”) is a 2004 Colombian telenovela produced and broadcast by Caracol TV.

Plot

Luis and Alejandro Toro arrive with their mother to Bogotá, after escaping their home town, where they owned a restaurant. In Bogotá they get a job at _Zavatti_, a high-class restaurant. Both Luis and Alejandro meet and fall in love with Andrea Zavatti, who is the daughter of Harold Zavatti, the owner of the restaurant. George Brown, who is Andrea's boyfriend, tries to get rid from the Toro brothers, as he is only interested in Mr Zavatti's fortune. Luis is kidnapped and thought dead, Andrea and Alejandro get together and, when Luis appears again, feels betrayed by Alejandro.

Cast

-   Héctor Arredondo as Luis Toro
-   Diego Cadavid as Alejandro _Alejo_ Toro
-   Catalina Aristizábal as Andrea Zavatti
-   Daniel Ochoa as George Brown
-   Myriam de Lourdes as Rita
-   Álvaro Rodríguez as Francisco _Paco_
-   Daniel Ochoa as George Brown
-   Stephania Borge as Kathy Noguera
-   Germán Quintero as Harold Zavatti
-   Orlando Valenzuela as Ramón Tavernero
-   Valentina Rendón as Claudia
-   Felipe Noguera as Daniel

Theme song

The song used as theme song was the 1981 hit _Te quiero para mí_, by Spanish group Trigo Limpio.

International broadcasting

The series was sold to several networks in Latin America, including Venezuela's RCTV. In 2007, ClubIT Arena bought the rights to offer a subtitled version of _Mesa para tres_ on its website in Japan, under the title _Andrea, ai to ryakudatsu no honoo (アンドレア〜愛と略奪の炎)_.[1] It was divided in 4 “seasons” (3 of 30 episodes each, and one of 28 episodes).

MyNetworkTV telenovelas

_Mesa para tres_ was the basis for the 2006 MyNetworkTV telenovela _Desire_. Changes were made in the location and the plot to make them more palatable to Americans. The serial was known as _Table for Three_ and _Three's a Crowd_ before its debut. The show was filmed at Stu Segall Productions in San Diego, using 25 principal actors, 250 supporting actors and about 2,000 extras.1 Ratings for _Desire_ fell below expectations. The debut scored a 2.0 rating and the first week averaged an 0.8 rating and 1 share. It averaged a 0.4 rating in the adult 18-49 demographic.,[2] falling to a 0.3 in its second week. However, the show was sold to several international markets.

[1]  “Mesa para Tres” en Japón , Embassy of Colombia in Tokyo, 31 May 2007

[2] Ben Grossman, MNT Gets Off to Modest Start, _Broadcasting & Cable_, 14 September 2006

title: Mesa para tres

question: What is Mesa para tres?

answer: Mesa para tres ("Table for Three") is a 2004 Colombian telenovela produced and broadcast by Caracol TV.

question: Who are the main characters of the show?

answer:
- Luis Toro (played by Héctor Arredondo)
- Alejandro Alejo Toro (played by Diego Cadavid)
- Andrea Zavatti (played by Catalina Aristizábal)
- George Brown (played by Daniel Ochoa)

question: What was the song used as the show's theme song?

answer: The 1981 hit "Te quiero para mí," by Spanish group Trigo Limpio.

question: Explain the show's plot.

answer: The Toros - Luis, Alejandro, and their mother - flee their hometown and arrive in Bogotá. They owned a restaurant before, so the brothers got jobs at Zavatti, a high-class restaurant, where they both meet and fall in love with the owner's daughter, Andrea Zavatti. Andrea's boyfriend, George Brown, tries to get rid of the Toro brothers because he's only interested in Mr. Zavatti's fortune. Luis is kidnapped and presumed dead. Andrea and Alejandro get together. Luis reappears and feels betrayed by Alejandro.

question: Write a ~7 sentence summary.

answer: Mesa para tres ("Table for Three") is a 2004 Colombian telenovela produced and broadcast by Caracol TV starring Héctor Arredondo as Luis Toro, Diego Cadavid as Alejandro Toro, Catalina Aristizábal as Andrea Zavatti, and Daniel Ochoa as George Brown. The series was sold to several networks in Latin America and a subtitled version was shown in Japan. The show was also the basis for the 2006 MyNetworkTV telenovela Desire, an Americanized version filmed in San Diego. The story is a love triangle of sorts. The Toro brothers fall in love with the same girl (Andrea) but she has an evil boyfriend (George) who's only after her dad's fortune (they own a restaurant). When Luis gets kidnapped and though dead, Andrea and Alejandro get together. Luis reappears and feels betrayed by his brother.


text:
by: koinlaceyevans

Posted: Jun 27, 2015 / 03:51 PM PDT / Updated: Jun 27, 2015 / 03:51 PM PDT

[Grand Theft Auto the cat_174036]

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — DoveLewis Emergency Hospital treated two cats for stab wounds they received on Thursday night.

DoveLewis officials said their owner, Sarah Shapiro, picked up her adult male cat, named Grand Theft Auto, and found her hands covered in blood. She rushed the cat to DoveLewis and then inspected her other cat, a female named Alibi, and discovered she was also bleeding.

Veterinarian Jessica Casey said the severity of their wounds wasn’t clear from the outside. It was only during surgery she discovered the cats had been stabbed with something long and sharp, like a knife. Both cats were stabbed in the abdomen.

Alibi is recovering more quickly and is already resting at home. Grand Theft Auto is still at the hospital.

Multnomah County Animal Services is investigating this incident, which happened in Northeast Portland’s Woodlawn neighborhood. If you have any tips or if you have pets with similar injuries, you’re asked to call 503.988.7387.

question: What happened?

answer: A cat owner found one of her cats bleeding, checked her other cat, and found it was bleeding too. She took both to the vets. The vet says the cats were stabbed.

question: Why or how were the cats stabbed?

answer: According to the vet, the wounds were caused by something long and sharp. No suspects (and thus, no motives) were given.

question: What is being done about the situation?

answer: The cats are receiving medical care at the vets while animal services are investigating the incident and have announced that other owners of pets with similar injuries or anyone with information about the situation call a hotline?

question: Where did this incident happen?

answer: This happened in Portland, Oregon. And the cats were brought into the DoveLewis Emergency Hospital.

question: Write a ~4 sentence summary.

answer: Sarah Shapiro, owner of cats Grand Theft Auto and Alibi, brings both into the DoveLewis Emergency Hospital for treatment after she discovers that they are bleeding. The veterinarians state that the cats have been stabbed. Alibi has already recovered while Grand Theft auto is still at the hospital. Multnomah County Animal Services is investigating the incident.


text:
You don't have to believe everything you are about to read.

And I'm sorry.

I'm sorry I'm the one writing this and not your applied technologies teacher, or your physics professor, or your psychologist. Not someone who should be writing this. Someone in some position of authority who has had years of study and practice and research implementing the concepts we are about to discuss.

Someone with some kind of authority, making you aware of the dangers around you so you can be better equipped to stride boldly into your future with your peers. Well educated and aware.

No. Who is scribbling this guide frantically on scrap pieces of paper and random blogs and comments on the internet is the guinea pig. The test subject. The result.

And I assure you my friends, I did not volunteer.

You do not have to believe everything you are about to read, that is true.

This isn't a Guide for Beginners either, that is also true.

But you don't get to practice before this happens. You are pulled off the street and thrown into the big leagues. Metaphorically speaking, one day you are on your way to work at the local coffee shop and when you get there find yourself engaged in a boxing match with Mike Tyson.

You are unprepared and even the reading of this guide will not assist you more then reading a book on exercise makes you stronger.

But now, when you SEE exercise, you will know what it is.

I hope for you the best.

title: This is Not a Guide for Beginners (introduction)

question: Why is the narrator writing this?

answer: They do not explain.

question: Are they a volunteer?

answer: No.

question: What is the objective of this text?

answer: It is not clear.

question: Why would it matter that a person writing this is not a professional?

answer: Apparently this text will go on to contain more instructions and/or advice.

question: Write a ~1 sentence summary.

answer: The author pens a note warning their instructions won't matter.


text:
A CHARTER is a grant of authority or rights issued by the New York State Education Department (NYSED). The organization grants provisional and absolute charters to legally establish educational corporations including schools, libraries, historical societies, and museums.[1]

While organizations originate in different ways, usually there is a small group of people who lay down the foundation for the formal organization of the society. Such things as statement of purpose, the organizational meeting, the constitution and bylaws, incorporation, corporate title, requirements, reviewing, recommendations, and petitioning are all elements of the highly involved creation of charting a historical society.[2]

New York, unlike all of the other US states who view cultural agencies as nonprofit businesses, has unique ways with the creation process and sees organizations such as libraries and historical societies as educational organizations. The cultural agencies in New York are a significant part of the educational system and incorporate under the Education Law rather than corporation law. These educational organizations are also created by and are subject to the Board of Regents of the University of the State of New York.

An issuance of a charter (by petitioning the Board of Regents) is necessary for any educational organization who intends on organizing as a nonprofit education corporation. In order to satisfying Regents standards of quality, they must develop and go through the provisional to absolute chartering process. The period of development starts with a provisional charter, which is a form of incorporation granted for a probationary three to five years to historical societies that have expectations of meeting Regents standards. This encourages the society to progress, and at the end of the provisional period, there is a choice to petition for extension or have the charter made absolute. An absolute charter is given to societies that meet the organizational and educational standards which leads to what is called, registration. When the organization has a record of financial stability, programmatic accomplishment, and a reputation for excellence, it is often successful in meeting the registration requirements. With this successful review and recommendation that the Regents allow an absolute charter, the historical society is then registered and gains this absolute charter. From this point on, the organization must submit annual reports in order to provide current information and accomplishments to the Regents.[3]

[1]

[2]

[3]

title: Charter (New York)

question: What does the charter allow one to do?

answer: A charter allows for the legal establishment of educational corporations including schools, libraries, historical societies, and museums.

question: What is necessary for any educational organization who intends on organizing as a nonprofit education corporation?

answer: A charter is required.

question: What is an absolute charter?

answer: When an organization has a record of financial stability, programmatic accomplishment, and a reputation for excellence, it can be granted an absolute charter.

question: What is the Board of Regents?

answer: Not answered, but it seems to be some sort of bureaucratic group that is part of the New York State Education Department.

question: Write a ~1 sentence summary.

answer: This article details how one can legally establish educational corporations, including schools, libraries, historical societies, and museums, in the state of New York through the obtaining of a charter.


text:
I could feel the powerful throbbing of my racing heart against the wet stone floor. As I laid there I could sense every motion within my body from the blood rushing from my fingers to my toes and the expansion of my lungs as I inhaled, the following emptiness as I exhaled and every single hair standing up on my back from the cold.

I was naked and I felt cold. There was naught but a light breeze breaking the thundering silence. I opened my eyes only to close them again. They felt so very dry. After I rubbed my eyes I once again opened them to find myself lying down in the dark. I stood up and noticed my lack of clothing. The cool breeze had stopped. The following silence was so unbearable that I started tapping my bare feet against the stone floor. Not a sound. I tapped harder. Not a sound. I crouched down and started smacking the floor with the palm of my hand. Not a sound. I stomped on the stone floor trying to create the smallest inkling of a noise as my desperation grew more intense. Not a sound. I jumped up and down but not a sound wave was produced.

That's when the roar that can only be described as infinite started. The mind numbingly powerful roar the likes of which I have never heard. It was a sound that had no source and had no end. A sound that traveled indefinitely and that could not be escaped. I turned around cowering while covering my ears, screaming, trying to overpower the sound, to no avail. That is when I noticed the sliver of light in the dark. I made my way towards it and it turned out to be the crack of a door. On the other side of the door was a desert and the warmth of the sands heated the air through the doorway and I felt beckoned to lie down in it.

I thrust myself through the doorway to be engulfed by the warm sands but I could not feel it. I knew the sand was warm but I could not feel it against my skin. I dug deeper trying to get the sand in closer against my skin but I could not feel the heat. I could feel the weight of the sand pressing against me as I made my way down in the sand but could not feel the heat. I kept digging until I could no longer breathe. The pressure against my chest was immense and yet I did not feel the need to breathe, so I continued digging.

Light. I was instantly blinded as it hit my eyes. I felt shaken and the weight was unloaded but there was still an overbearing pressure and there was the cold, the now much more extreme cold cold. As I looked towards the horizon of the desert I could see the outlines of another person. A person wearing something that was being carried by the wind. A dress perhaps? Charging through the sand with not a care for anything but to reach this dress wearing someone I thought, what is this place? What am I doing here? Why am I here?

As I reached the figure in the dress I grabbed it's arm and swung it around only to see a young woman bloodied on one side of her face with a cut splitting her head on the left side. On the right side there was but the remnants of a what was once a face, now charred beyond recognition. I could recognize her. I closed my eyes and as I opened them again I came to.

I was in a car. In the driver's seat. There was smoke everywhere, as well as shards of glass. I looked up and there she was just opposite to me, in a car crumpled up in to the hood of mine, engulfed in flames. My sight got blurry and I heard sirens in the distance. What is this?

title: A desolate inside

question: Why is the narrator experiencing these intense feeling and missing senses?

answer: She has been in an accident and is unconscious.

question: Why does she find it hard to breathe when dreaming of digging herself into the sand?

answer: The smoke may be making it difficult to breathe and her body may be constrained in the wreckage.

question: Why is the narrator so cold?

answer: The windscreen is broken and the cold night air is streaming into the vehicle.

question: Write a ~18 sentence summary.

answer:
The narrator is naked and cold. The silence unbearable. She tries tapping her foot but hears nothing. She smacks the floor with her hand – nothing. She jumps up and down - still no sound. Then a mind-blowing roar, with no source and no end. The narrator covers her ears, screaming trying to avoid the noise.

Then she notices a crack of light. It is a door leading to warm desert sands. The narrator is surrounded by warm sands but cannot feel them. She digs her way into the sand. She can’t feel the heat but the pressure makes it hard to breathe.

The narrator sees an outline of a person in the desert. She grabs its arm and as she swings around the narrator sees that the right side of her face is cut and the left side s burnt beyond recognition. She recognises the woman before she regains consciousness.

The narrator is in the driver’s seat. The woman is in the car crumpled up to hers. It’s engulfed in flames.


text:
[Future Tense]
[]

Apple is removing apps that help people access censored news and information from its Chinese App Store.
Nicolas Asfouri/AFP/Getty Images

Over the weekend, Apple took a small step to help shore up the Great Firewall of China: It deleted more than 60 apps used to route around internet filters from its App Store in China.

The removed apps are virtual private networks, or VPNs, which are used to tunnel web traffic through another computer, often hosted in other countries. VPNs allow Chinese users to circumvent government censorship by essentially letting people use the internet as if they weren’t in China.

The move came after the Chinese government began enforcing a cybersecurity law that prohibits the use of unregistered VPN apps, Apple CEO Tim Cook said on a call with investors on Tuesday.

The government goes to extreme lengths to censor the internet in China. People living in China are blocked from social media sites, like Facebook or Twitter, as well as Google search and some foreign news websites, like the _New York Times_. When China’s prominent political prisoner and Nobel Peace Prize winning democracy activist Liu Xiaobo died in July, the Chinese government censorship machine went into high gear, blocking posts and messages about Liu from being shared across the web. In Freedom House’s 2016 rankings on digital rights, it called China “the year’s worst abuser of internet freedom.”

Apple’s move to disable access to VPN services in its Chinese App Store signals the tech giant is complicit, at least at some level, in Chinese censorship. “We would obviously rather not remove the apps,” Cook said on Tuesday. “But  … we follow the law wherever we do business.” Mainland China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan, together, make up Apple’s largest market after the United States.

Human rights advocates aren’t happy with Apple’s shrugged-shoulders approach. “Businesses have a responsibility to respect international human rights law, independent of a state’s own compliance with their human rights obligations,” Josh Franco of Amnesty International wrote in a blog post. “By withdrawing access to VPNs from its Chinese customers, Apple is betraying these responsibilities.”

The people behind VPNs were, predictably, also critical of Apple’s decision. When Express VPN’s app was removed from the iOS store, the company tweeted that it was “dismayed” that “Apple sided with censorship.”

Apple isn’t the only firm bending to Chinese censorship requests. On Tuesday, the Chinese firm that runs Amazon’s Web Services in the country told its customers that if they don’t stop using tools that can be used to circumvent the country’s censorship machine, their websites may be shut down, reported the _New York Times_.

Facebook has also reportedly developed software that could appease Chinese censors. The social network has created tools that would allow a third party to block posts from people’s news feeds in certain geographic areas. It’s part of a larger, ongoing effort to cajole China into letting Facebook to operate in the country.

Meanwhile, on Sunday, Russia—which as Emily Parker has written in Future Tense, increasingly looks up to China as an internet censorship role model—passed a law prohibiting the use of VPNs to anonymously view sites censored by the government.

But Apple’s compliance with Chinese censors is particularly curious, given the company’s very public 2016 battle with the FBI over protecting users’ information rights. Apple fought a court order compelling it to break the encryption on an iPhone in the course of a terrorist investigation. At the time, Apple was celebrated as a champion of civil liberties.

But if Apple and Amazon are willing to bend to the will of governments that censor the internet, it’s fair to ask whether Apple’s fight with to protect the privacy of its users in the U.S. was primarily a public relations stunt. If Apple really cared about protecting the rights of its users, the company would probably not cower to the requests of Chinese censors.

Anyone concerned with the role American tech companies will play in future of protecting basic rights both in the U.S. and abroad should take a hint: These companies are ultimately out to make money. Making the world a better place will always come second.

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

question: What is the main focus of this article?

answer: Apple deleted over 60 VPN apps from the App Store in China.

question: Who is Tim Cook?

answer: The CEO of Apple

question: Summarize everything that is stated about the situation involving Liu Xiaobo.

answer: Liu Xiaobo was a prominent political prisoner and a Nobel Peace Prize winning democracy advocate in China. When he died in July, the Chinese government blocked posts and messages about him from being shared online.

question: Describe the response to China's decision.

answer: Humans rights advocates aren't happy with the decision. The companies behind the VPNs were also upset, claiming that Apple was siding with censorship.

question: List some of the Apps that were removed from the App Store.

answer: Express VPN is the only one of the apps named in the article

question: Write a ~2 sentence summary.

answer: After the Chinese government started enforcing a cybersecurity law preventing the use of unregistered VPNs apps, Apple removed over 60 VPN apps from the App Store. Critics of this move claim Apple is siding with censorship.


text:
Description

The tranquility of the bubbling clouds was suddenly shaken when an unseen force began to tunnel through the endless mass of vapor. Two F-15s were dispatched to intercept the unidentified flying object, but despite how hard the pilots tried, they could not identify exactly what was barreling through the sky. The two aircraft began to fire on the object when it wouldn't respond to their signals, but something strange occurred. The pilots suddenly heard singing, and in the chaos that followed, contact was lost with both of the jets.

Thirteen days later, the unidentified object landed near a cottage in Karuizawa. It brought with it two tiny fairies called the Shobijin. They were there to submit an ultimatum, and they chose Shin'ichi Chujo to deliver the following message to the rest of humankind: if the original Godzilla's bones, which were built inside the cyborg Kiryu, were not returned to the sea, the monster Mothra would declare war on civilization. If, however, the bones were returned to the sea and Godzilla still attacked, Mothra would protect the people. Outside the cottage, Shin'ichi witnessed the flight of the once unidentifiable object that had carried the fairies. The UFO was Mothra, the same creature that had attacked Tokyo 43 years earlier.

Shin'ichi Chujo traveled to Tokyo, where he warned Prime Minister Hayato Igarashi that the Kiryu project had to be abandoned. The Prime Minister, skeptical of Chujo's story and fearful of Godzilla's ever-present threat to the nation, believed that such a move would be suicide. Unfortunately, Godzilla was already beginning to make his presence known again. He killed a monstrous sea turtle named Kamoebas and destroyed a US nuclear submarine off the coast of Guam. The burly behemoth suddenly emerged at sea, and battle cruisers began to fire on the monstrosity as he continued along his predetermined path to Tokyo! The bustling metropolis was evacuated, and Godzilla began to push his way into the heart of the city. He was heading straight for the bones of his predecessor, locked within the mechanical dragon Kiryu!

Meanwhile, Shin'ichi's grandson, Shun Chujo, had rushed to his now abandoned school. Using an amulet that the Shobijin had left behind as a guide, he arranged a group of desks in the courtyard in a way that resembled a symbol significant to Mothra. When Shin'ichi finally found his grandson at the school, the young boy was just finishing his rendition of the symbol. A shadow darkened the courtyard momentarily, and in the sky, Mothra swam through the air like a majestic bird. She flew around Tokyo and her silhouette cast against the beautiful sunset. The guardian moth scraped Godzilla with her wing, and she began to create hurricane winds. Amidst the confusion of the swirling dust, Mothra grabbed Godzilla and built momentum as she dragged the nuclear menace through the city. She released her grip, and Godzilla was sent crashing into the ground. When Godzilla arose, Mothra again latched onto his head, but her ferocious foe chewed off one her legs with his razor-sharp teeth. The desperate moth began to release the scales from her wings, and she reflected Godzilla's thermonuclear ray back to its source. Unfortunately, Mothra's loss of scales would eventually cause the deterioration of her wings, and ultimately she would not be able to sustain lift. Godzilla again fired his breath as Mothra dodged, and the highly destructive beam left Tokyo Tower in ruins. Another thermonuclear ray suddenly damaged Mothra's right wing, and she fell to the ground, struggling to regain lift. As Godzilla approached the helpless creature to finish her off, Kiryu suddenly arrived. The massive monster and his cybernetic clone fought savagely, but after a long exchange of attacks, Kiryu found itself lying relatively helpless on the ground. When the machine was about to endure the force of Godzilla's ray, Mothra used some of her last ounces of strength to intercept the beam. With her left wing now injured, it appeared as though she could no longer regain lift. As she fell to the streets yet again, Kiryu managed to regain its composure and reenter the fray.

Finally, cavalry arrived in the form of Mothra's offspring. The larvae had very recently hatched from a mammoth egg, which Mothra had laid in the Bonin Islands weeks earlier. While one larva distracted Godzilla with its silk spray, the other began to communicate with Mothra. The larva that had faced Godzilla was grazed by the monster's breath, and its sibling rushed to assist. Both creatures returned to further communicate with their mother. Godzilla, however, was charging a nuclear ray in order to destroy Mothra and her offspring. The selfless, heroic guardian rose into the air and endured the full fury of the beam. Mothra erupted in flames and burst into a massive explosion. The now crimson eyes of the Mothra larvae were glowing with hatred for their enemy, for they craved retribution for this injustice...

question: What genre would this story classify under?

answer: This story could classify under science fiction or historical fiction.

question: In what light is Godzilla painted in this story?

answer: Godzilla is painted as a monster and a hero in this story.

question: What does Godzilla's character inspire?

answer: Godzilla's character inspires hopes for many people who know his story and brings about the image that someone will always be there to protect you at your darkest moments.


text:
ESTABLISHMENT CREEK is a stream in Ste. Genevieve County in the U.S. state of Missouri.[1] It is a tributary of the Mississippi River.

The stream headwaters are at [2] between the communities of Sprott and Millers and the stream crosses under U.S. Route 55 and U.S. Route 61 southeast of Bloomsdale.[3] The confluence with the Mississippi is at .[4] The stream is impounded as Lake Wanda Lee just south of Rocky Ridge.[5]

Establishment Creek was so named on account of pioneer settlement along its course, _establishment_ meaning “settlement” in French.[6]

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5] _Missouri Atlas & Gazetteer,_ DeLorme, 1998, First edition, p. 49

[6]

title: Establishment Creek

question: What is Establishment Creek?

answer: Establishment Creek is a stream in Ste. Genevieve County in the U.S. state of Missouri.

question: How long is Establishment Creek?

answer: It is not stated.

question: Where does Establishment Creek end?

answer: Establishment Creek spills into the Mississippi River.

question: What is the etymology of the name Establishment Creek?

answer: 'Establishment' means 'settlement' in French. Establishment Creek was so named on account of pioneer settlement along its course.

question: Write a ~4 sentence summary.

answer: Establishment Creek is a stream in Ste. Genevieve County in the U.S. state of Missouri. It spills into the Mississippi River. It was named Establishment Creek ('Establishment' means 'settlement' in French) on account of pioneer settlement along its course.


text:
The Northern Blues recorded their fourth win in a row with a dominant victory against the Casey Demons at Preston City Oval today.

The Blues led from start to finish in a brilliant four-quarter display, running away with a 14. 14. (98) to 5. 7. (37) win.

The home team asserted their authority on the contest very early, with a Kristian Jaksch goal in the opening minute setting the tone for what was to come.

The Blues’ forward pressure was a highlight, locking the play exclusively in the forward half for the large majority of the opening term.

Captain Tom Wilson rallied his teammates on the siren with a set shot on the siren to give the Blues a well-deserved 21-point lead into the break.

Casey briefly rallied in the opening stages of the second term, before the Blues — to the delight of senior coach Josh Fraser — were able to wrestle back momentum at a crucial time.

Northern finished the first half with four consecutive goals, including a debut goal for returning Carlton rookie, Kym Lebois.

Leading by 39 points at the main break, the Blues didn’t relent in the third term, once again putting the Demons to the sword to open up a 10-goal buffer.

Ultimately, Northern finished with a 55-point victory, as Casey kicked four of their six goals in the last quarter with the game all but over.

Jaksch was the key contributor on the scoreboard for the Blues with five goals, while he was well-supported by the busy Liam Sumner (14 disposals, three goals).

It was largely a team performance from the Blues, finishing with 88 more disposals and with nine players collecting 20 disposals or more.

Sam Kerridge was again the major ball-winner with 28 disposals and 12 marks, while the Blues’ defensive core once again stood up.

[]
_Jarrod Pickett in action for the Northern Blues against Casey. (Photo: Tim Murdoch)_

For the second straight week, Northern’s defensive unit conceded just two goals in the opening three quarters of the contest.

It was in stark contrast to the last Mother’s Day contest between the two sides, where the Blues finished with no players on the bench in a 100-point loss.

This occasion continued to mark a changing guard at the Northern Blues, who have now won four straight games for the first time since 2010.

The Blues will be looking to continue their winning ways when they go again at Preston in six days time, hosting Sandringham on Saturday afternoon.

NORTHERN BLUES     3.4       7.9       12.12       14. 14. (98)
CASEY DEMONS     0.1       1.6       2.7       6. 7. (43)

GOALS
NORTHERN BLUES: Jaksch 5, Sumner 3, Polson 2, Armfield, Cuningham, Lebois, Wilson

question: How many wins in a row have the Northern Blues had?

answer: Four.

question: Whom did they beat?

answer: The Casey Demons.

question: Who is their captain?

answer: Tom Wilson.

question: Who is their coach?

answer: Josh Fraser.

question: Write a ~1 sentence summary.

answer: The Northern Blues beat the Casey Demons for the fourth time in a row at Preston Oval on the day this article was released.


text:
1.
2.  Food & Drink
3.  Special Diets
4.  Glycemic Index Diet
5.  How to Measure Your Metabolic Rate

Everything you eat and do affects your metabolism, or the rate at which your body burns calories. A glycemic index diet helps you increase your metabolic rate for faster weight loss. Your _basal metabolic rate,_ abbreviated as BMR and commonly referred to simply as _metabolic rate,_ is the amount of calories your body burns at rest for basic functioning.

Obtaining an accurate metabolic rate is extremely difficult because numerous factors (including eating, movement, and temperature) can affect the results. Many methods exist for calculating your metabolic rate, but one of the best ways to get an accurate measurement of it is to use equipment that measures your resting metabolic rate (similar to your BMR) by examining your oxygen input and carbon dioxide output. Several hand-held devices are available today for the public, but these can be cost prohibitive and not completely accurate.

To determine your personal metabolic rate for much less, ask a health professional for a one-time test. Contact your local fitness center or registered dietician for recommendations.

If you’re measuring your metabolism (or calorie needs) with a calculation, make sure the calculation you’re working with takes the following into account for a more accurate estimate:

-   Your age

-   Your gender

-   Your activity level

A classic calculation for determining one’s metabolic rate is the _Harris Benedict Equation._ It may seem like quite a bit of math, but it’s really rather simple to complete:

-   BMR CALCULATION FOR WOMEN: 655 + (4.35 × weight in pounds) + (4.7 × height in inches) – (4.7 × age in years)

-   BMR CALCULATION FOR MEN: 66 + (6.23 × weight in pounds) + (12.7 × height in inches) – (6.76 × age in years)

To really determine your body’s energy needs, you should also account for how often you exercise. Use this table to adjust the Harris Benedict Equation to account for your physical activity level:

  Amount of Exercise                                     Daily Calories Needed
  ------------------------------------------------------ -----------------------
  Little to no exercise                                  BMR x 1.2
  Light exercise (1 to 3 days per week)                  BMR x1.375
  Moderate exercise (3 to 5 days per week)               BMR x 1.55
  Heavy exercise (6 to 7 days per week)                  BMR x 1.725
  Very heavy exercise (intense workouts twice per day)   BMR x 1.9

  :  Factoring Exercise into the BMR Equation

The number you calculate is the amount of calories it’d take to maintain your current weight based on your age, height, weight, gender, and physical activity level. So if weight loss is your goal, try to cut out anywhere from 200 to 500 calories per day to achieve a .5- to 1-pound weight loss per week.

question: What is one important takeaway from this article?

answer: One important takeaway from this article is how everything you eat affects your metabolism.

question: What factors affect getting an accurate metabolic rate?

answer: Factors that affect getting an accurate metabolic rate are eating, movement, and temperature.

question: What factors are taken into account when measuring your metabolism with a calculation?

answer: The factors taken into account when measuring your metabolism with a calculation are one's age, gender, and activity level.

question: To which target audience would this article be useful to?

answer: This article would be useful to those who want to lose weight, or simply know about their metabolism. It would be useful to anyone making healthy conscious changes and want to be able to figure out what is best for their bodies.


text:
[The Silver War Badge, also known as the Services Rendered Badge, from which the movement took its name] The SILVER BADGE PARTY was an unofficial political movement which existed in the United Kingdom during and immediately after World War I. The Party consisted of several groups representing the political interests of former service personnel. It took its name from the Silver War Badge (SWB) that was issued to servicemen who had been invalided out of the forces.

History

First to be formed was the National Association of Discharged Sailors and Soldiers (NADSS), established following a meeting in Blackburn in September 1916 and initially linked to the labour and trade union movement. In April 1917, the Asquith Liberal MP James Myles Hogge sponsored a meeting at the National Liberal Club over the Military Service (Review of Exceptions) Bill, which proposed to reclassify those invalided out of the army to identify those who might be recalled to service. This meeting led to the formation of the National Federation of Discharged and Demobilised Sailors and Soldiers (NFDSS).

The NFDSS decided to fight by-elections to put its message across. In the Liverpool Abercromby byelection in June 1917, the NFDSS candidate polled a quarter of the vote. In the 1918 general election its National Executive approved five candidates, and local branches sponsored 25 more, considered Independent NFDSS candidates. In three Leeds constituencies, the candidates were nominated jointly by the NFDSS, the NADSS and the Comrades of the Great War. None of the candidates were elected although many polled substantial votes. In addition, the NADSS sponsored a candidate, Robert Hewitt Barker, in Sowerby in unusual circumstances, in which he inherited the position of unofficial Conservative Party candidate and won.

The groups were politically diverse. Hogge was a left-wing Liberal, and most of the NFDSS were similarly left wing: among the NFDSS candidates was Ernest Thurtle, who later became a Labour Party MP. Henry Hamilton Beamish was a member of both the Vigilante Society and the NFDSS. In the 1918 general election he was one of the candidates sponsored by the NFDSS branches but not approved by the NFDSS National Executive, again in Clapham.

Following the election, none of the groups continued in active party politics. Hogge resigned as President of the NFDSS in January 1919. Following pressure from Douglas Haig, the NFDSS lifted its ban on officers being members in June 1919 and the three groups together with the Officers' Association began merger talks. At a Unity conference on 14–15 May 1921, they merged to form The Royal British Legion.

title: Silver Badge Party

question: What would the outcome be if the groups in NFDSS were not politically diverse?

answer: The outcome would be very boring to say, with not much to discuss or argue over. A politically diverse group provides many different perspectives and solutions to problems being brought up.

question: Why do you think after the election, none of the groups continued to be in active party politics?

answer: Presumably, the election and the politics associated with the elections could have drained the group members, making them want a reprieve from any active politics.


text:
- Ethereum founder Vitalik Buterin called self-proclaimed bitcoin creator Craig Wright a fraud during a conference in South Korea

- While Wright's response during the conference is unclear, on Twitter he implied BCH will render ETH useless

[]

[]

At the Deconomy 2018 conference in Seoul, South Korea, Ethereum founder Vitalik Buterin called out Craig Wright, who claims to be bitcoin creator Satoshi Nakamoto, for allegedly being a “fraud,” and questioned why he was allowed to speak at the conference.

A video of the event has been circulating social media, and has already garnered over 25,000 views at press time. Most of what Buterin says during the 19-second long clip is unintelligible, but at the end it’s clear he questions why Wright is allowed to speak at the conference, after calling him a “fraud.”

  Props to @VitalikButerin for calling out that complete fraud Craig Wright. #faketoshi #bitcoin thanks @the_hopemeister for the video. pic.twitter.com/NlqusmgVMH

  — Xiongniu (@taidi_ji) April 3, 2018

Buterin’s words came during Wright’s presentation at the conference. How the self-proclaimed bitcoin creator reacted is unclear, as the crowd quickly started cheering the Ethereum founder’s words.

On Twitter, most users who agree Craig Wright isn’t who claims to be cheered Vitalik’s move. Wright himself reacted to the situation on Twitter, by implying Bitocin Cash (BCH) – the cryptocurrency he supports as the ‘real bitcoin’  – will render Ethereum useless.

  Vitalik has one issue…

  When we demonstrate what BCH can do, he knows that ETH will wither and die.

  — Dr Craig S Wright (@ProfFaustus) April 3, 2018

Vitalik Buterin had in the past claimed he doesn’t believe Craight Wright is Satoshi Nakamoto, as he could’ve easily proven his identity by making a signature from the very first bitcoin block and putting it out in public. Instead, Vitalik argues, he made a complex blog post, and showed said signature to a few people.

Buterin argues that signaling theory shows those who don’t go with the simply way of doing things and instead take the hard path, like Wright did, probably couldn’t go with the simply way to begin with.

Controversy Surrounding Craig Wright

In early 2016, after various media outlets published articles pointing to Craig Wright being Satoshi Nakamoto, the chief scientist at nChain posted a blog post claiming it was him. That same day, journalists from the BBC and The Economist claimed to have seen Wright sign a message with a private key associated with the very first bitcoin transaction.

Later on, in an interview with the BBC, he stated:

  “Some people will believe, some people won't, and to tell you the truth, I don't really care.”

After analyzing Wright’s blog post supposedly containing proof he was Satoshi Nakamoto, bitcoin developer Peter Todd clarified there was no proof there. Bitcoin Core later on released a tweet informing the community:

  There is currently no publicly available cryptographic proof that anyone in particular is Bitcoin's creator.

  — Bitcoin Core Project (@bitcoincoreorg) May 2, 2016

Whether Wright is indeed Satoshi Nakamoto is so far unclear, although some in the community believe he isn’t.

Featured image by TechCrunch| Flickr | CC by 2.0

Vitalik Buterin Calls Bitcoin Creator Craig Wright A ‘Fraud

/latest/2018/04/vitalik-buterin-calls-bitcoin-creator-craig-wright-fraud/

/latest/2020/11/gemini-exchange-ceo-cash-is-trash-bitcoin-will-be-at-least-500000-by-2030/

question: What are BCH and ETH?

answer: BCH is Bitcoin Cash. The article doesn't explicitly state, but it seems ETH is Ethereum, a competitor to BCH.

question: What did Vitalik Buterin do at the Deconomy 2018 conference?

answer: He called out Craig Wright as a fraud, and questioned why he was allowed to speak at the conference.

question: What does Craig Wright claim?

answer: He claims to be Satoshi Nakamoto, the creator of bitcoin.

question: What is the main topic of this article?

answer: The article discusses if Craig Wright is the original creator of bitcoin.

question: Write a ~4 sentence summary.

answer: The article discusses if Craig Wright is the original creator of bitcoin. BCH is Bitcoin Cash. The article doesn't explicitly state, but it seems ETH is Ethereum, a competitor to BCH. Vitalik Buterin of Ethereum, called out Craig Wright as a fraud who claims to be Satoshi Nakamoto, the creator of bitcoin.


text:
[] Antonioguillem/Adobe Stock
Imagine your typical CFO and CPO as a couple on Facebook. What do you think would their relationship status be?

In my role at Sievo, I get to meet many leadership teams, and I find surprising similarities in boardroom dynamics. In Facebook terms, I would describe the typical relationship between a CFO and a CPO as “it’s complicated,” although I’ve come across some true “hate-hate” relationships, too.

To put a positive spin on things, an emotionally charged relationship comes with some powerful energy to work with. No CFO-CPO relationship is completely unrepairable. It can take considerable time and effort, but it is all worth it.

Spring is here. Love is in the air. A bit of relationship counseling can go a long way to turn hate into love, and transform a complicated relationship into an effective partnership.

HOW DO YOU KNOW IF YOUR CFO HATES YOU?

An awkward silence, not being invited to a key meeting, a frustrated comment about using too much procurement lingo — these are all subtle signs that your CFO could hate you.

Hate may be a strong word to use, but it is a much better starting point than being dismissed. After all, a strong dislike is most of the time rooted from an unexpressed disappointment toward something of utter significance. That’s right: It is because they find you important.

But why does being important lead to hate?

Well, at least in this relationship, it’s about the money. You promise savings, but your CFO only sees costs. You talk about adding value and your CFO finds the P&L showing increased spending.

But more than money, in a more profound sense, the dysfunction about lack of trust and bad communication. In the end, you are both on the same team with the organization’s best interest in mind, but for some reason you don’t understand each other. This is when things get complicated.

Typical causes for CFO-CPO hate:

-   Lack of common language and terminology when discussing savings
-   Measuring contracted rather than realized savings
-   Focusing on proactive savings projects without considering external factors

In any relationship, it is easy to find the blame in your partner. You should believe that your partner shares your best interests, and that both of you share the common goal. If you really want to be the procurement hero you dream to be, it’s time to take the initiative and win over your CFO’s heart.

TURN YOUR CFO’S HATE TO LOVE

1.  Base your actions on hard facts and reliable data. The true way to a CFO’s heart is through the numbers. Make sure your spend data is clean, accurate and trusted.
2.  Share your data transparently. Give your CFO access to your spend and savings reports, and better yet, build an executive dashboard he or she can use.
3.  Shift your perspective to the big picture. Don’t present savings programs from the view of procurement but show how they impact the bottom line.
4.  Translate procurement lingo into finance. Use the same terminology finance uses in P&L accounts and make sure your timelines match financial planning cycles.
5.  Communicate often and do it in person. Be open. Share your plans, dreams and voice out your worries honestly. Don’t build your relationships on PowerPoint — do it in person.

These are some ways you can build common ground, create a shared perspective and start building trust in your relationship. But this is not always an easy journey and should not be taken on unprepared. Having a good heads-up is the best weapon on hand.

INTRODUCING PROCUREMENT LOVES FINANCE

At Sievo, we think a lot about the relationship between finance and procurement.

So, with that in mind, we recently wrote a book on the subject. We’d like to help by sharing what we know to achieve new levels of success in your organization.

Procurement Loves Finance is a book based on decades of experience consulting leading global businesses and developing software to help these key business functions collaborate.

This week, we’re offering exclusive early access to Procurement Loves Finance to all Spend Matters readers.

Share the book with your CFO. Start your journey to a more loving relationship. It might be complicated at first, but it doesn’t have to end that way.

_Matti Sillanpää is the CEO and co-founder of Sievo._

Related Articles

-   Unlocking Deeper Value in the Procurement and Finance Relationship (Part 3): The Top 10 Impact Areas for Procurement’s Involvement in FP&A
-   Unlocking Deeper Value in the Procurement and Finance Relationship (Part 2): Spend Planning and Analysis
-   Unlocking Deeper Value in the Procurement and Finance Relationship (Part 1)
-   Sievo: Vendor Analysis (Part 3) — Competitive and Summary Analysis
-   Sievo: Vendor Analysis (Part 2) — Product Strengths & Weaknesses
-   Sievo: Vendor Analysis (Part 1) — Background & Solution Overview

question: What are CFO and CPO?

answer: The article doesn't specifically explain the acronyms, but they clearly are tied to the business world. [Chief Financial Officer and Chief Procurement Officer]

question: How does the author describe a typical relationship between CFOs and CPOs?

answer: The author describes the relationship as complicated, and sometimes a "hate-hate" relationship.

question: What typically causes the hatred between the CFO and CPO?

answer: Lack of common language when discussing savings, measuring contracted rather than realized savings, and focusing on proactive saving projects without considering external factors

question: Who is the target audience for the article?

answer: The article seems to be written for CPOs.

question: Write a ~3 sentence summary.

answer: The target audience for the article is CPOs. The author describes the relationship between CPOs and CFOs as complicated, and sometimes a "hate-hate" relationship. Seivo recently wrote a book titled, Procurement Loves Finance; the goal of the book is to improve relationships between CFOs and CPOs.