text:
“Hands”
	It began almost as soon as I woke up. In fact, it was what caused my awakening. It sounded like there was something crawling within the walls of my bedroom. Mice, I thought. I rubbed my eyes and got out of bed.
	I shower silently. I never understood people who listened to music or sang in the shower. Silence is what I liked. Even the sound of the running water made me cringe. The warm water pounded at my back. I felt something soft on my shoulder. I turned around quickly, a chill running up my spine. I turned down the cold water.
	I tried to relax again, but the chill never went away. I stepped out of the shower and over to the sink. I pulled a razor and shaving cream out of the medicine cabinet. As I closed the cabinet, I saw the towel that was hanging up drop to the floor in the mirror. I turned around quizzically. Shaking my head and sighing, I bent down to pick up the towel and put it back on the rack just as I saw something scurry across the tiled floor to the sliver of space between the opened bathroom door and the wall. Fuck, it has to be rats. I quickly finished shaving and went downstairs to the kitchen.
Starting a fresh pot of coffee, I tried to remember if I had any rat traps left somewhere. Maybe that would warm me up. I opened the door to the pantry and stood on my toes so I could see the contents of the top shelf. I saw the outline of something and reached my hand in. I felt around until my fingers ran into something soft. It moved just as I went to grab it. I jumped and stepped back. Instinctively, I put my hand over my chest to calm myself. I heard the last few drops dripping into the coffee pot. I poured myself a cup. As I sat, sipping at my coffee, I convinced myself that it was only my imagination. Imagination? Wow, I haven’t used that in years. It was hard for me to even remember the last time my mind wandered elsewhere. Well, there were those times when I- no, I won’t go into that.
	I heard a child outside, screaming with joy. I stood up and walked to the kitchen window. Pushing back the curtain, I could see the young boy running through a sprinkler. He screamed again, causing my fist to clench and jaws to lock. There was a sudden, loud crash behind me. I whipped around to find the coffee pot lying in hundreds of pieces on the floor. How had it fallen? Did the rat knock it over? I sighed and went to the hallway closet for rags and a broom.
	I threw away the broken glass, and washed the mug I had used. I decided to check the garage for something to kill this rat that kept ruining my morning. I moved past the plastic containers, which were now starting to fill up the garage, to the tools. I really needed to clean them off from the last time I used them. I rustled through a box until I found an old poison rat trap. I opened it and saw it had already been used.
	I heard the clicking of heels on the driveway outside the garage door. I sighed to myself and threw the trap away. I heard the doorbell ring and started making my way to the front door. As I was closing the garage door, I felt a tug at the bottom of my pant leg. I looked down, hoping to catch the rat red-handed, but the doorbell rang again. I huffed and stomped to the front of the house. I opened the door halfway.
	“Hi,” a young blonde woman was standing on the old welcome mat, smiling at me.
	I opened the door fully, “Hello.”
	“I just wanted to introduce myself. I just moved in next door,” she smiled and held her hand out.
	I looked down at her hand for a moment, then back up to meet her eyes. I shook her hand slowly.
	When she pulled away, I noticed her fidgeting with her bracelets, “Well, it was nice meeting you. If you ever need anything, don’t be afraid to ask.”
	I flicked my tongue across my lips, still staring at her hands. I smiled at her, “I’ll be sure to do that.”
	I closed the door silently and wiped my face with my hand. I turned around and saw grey everywhere. Rats weren’t the cause of my shake up this morning. All around me were severed hands. Shit, I left the garage door open. They began to climb up my pant legs. I tried shaking them off, but they held tight. I began swatting at them. They covered my eyes and mouth. There were just too many.

title: "Hands" a short story I wrote for my English class

question: What feeling is the narrator experiencing?

answer: The narrator experiences a chill, and odd things are happening in the house.

question: What does the narrator think in making noise in the wall?

answer: The narrator thinks mice or rats are in the wall and causing the chaos in the house.

question: What is actually in the wall?

answer: Severed hands are the things making noises in the house.

question: Are there other important characters?

answer: No other important characters.

question: Write a ~6 sentence summary.

answer: The narrator wakes to noise in the walls; they think mice or rats must be making the noise. They begin experiencing odd things in the house: towels dropping to the ground, the coffee pot falling off the counter, and seeing things move. The narrator goes to the garage to get a rat trap; they leave the garage in a hurry, forgetting to close the door. A new neighbor is at the front door there to introduce herself. After saying goodbye, the narrator closes the door and is surrounded by severed hands. They realize they forgot to close the garage door.


split: train

text:
Galahad ran through the hall to tell the professor of the scene in the market. He crashed through the doors of the classroom as professor Cosimo was deep into the first study of the season with his new pupils.

“Cosimo, come at once for your son Felix is proclaiming to denounce his worldly possessions and set the live stock of your estate free. He says all the animals on the sycamore cart he has brought to the marketplace are slaves!”

The professor slowly looked from the manuscripts of arithmetic and peered scornfully above his spectacles made of lead wire and uneven glass. He replied, “These matters I cannot tend to, Galahad.”

“Sir, he is giving away the family rabbits, cows and your prized chicken! This will be a hardship for your wife and daughter.” Galahad said as he tried to catch his breath.

“Teacher, shall we perhaps resume our study tomorrow so that you may tend to this matter?” a voice from the group of pupils asked.

“You shall address me as ‘professor’, this is not optional, for I profess unto you all.” Cosimo said through the small opening between his mustache and beard.

The pupils responded in unison with flabbergasted tones.

And with that the professor sent Galahad away with a net made of old flag fabric, wool rope and worn burlap sacks.

Cosimo explained to Galahad that he is to capture Felix and keep him bound until the evening when Cosimo could return home to correct his son.

As Galahad arrived in the market he saw no cart full of rabbits or the professors prized chicken. The two cows that were pulling the cart were nowhere in sight and the cart was being pulled away from the marketplace by a lazy donkey tethered to an old man.

“You, with the sycamore cart. WAIT!” Galahad announced as he hurried up the hill that the old man and his donkey had just conquered.

“Old man, where is the gentleman that you have acquired this cart from?”

The old man licked his dry lips with his dry tongue and cleared his voice in preparation to speak, “The boy said he was going south to the Mediterranean to find kinder women folk to marry. The young one was telling of a dream in which Diotima of Mantinea spoke to him of gentle women in that region.”

The old man then walked off and the donkey followed but was not lead as there was plenty of slack in the tether.

title: Felix away! [Fiction]

question: Why would Felix denounce the worldly possessions of his father?

answer: His father has rather a strange way of dealing with problems, giving Galahad a net to capture Felix until he can get home doesn't seem like the action of a loving parent.

question: Where are the wife and daughter, and why haven't they tried to stop Felix from giving away the animals?

answer: Perhaps the wife asked Galahad to alert Cosimo to the problem.

question: Why are the pupils flabbergasted when the professor insists that they call him professor and not "teacher"?

answer: They may be surprised that he doesn't want to adjourn the class and sort out the problem or perhaps it's his strange turn of phrase when he says that they must call him professor because he professes to them.

question: Why does Felix think that he will find kinder women folk to marry further south?

answer: Because he dreamt that Diotima of Mantinea spoke to him of gentle women in that region.

question: Write a ~10 sentence summary.

answer:
Galahad crashes into the classroom where Professor Cosimo is deep into his first lesson of the season. He says that the professor’s son, Felix, is setting his livestock free. He has brought his animals to the market and is giving them away, saying that they are slaves.

The professor gives Galahad a net to capture Felix. Galahad returns to the market. The cows that were pulling the cart have gone, replaced by a donkey. The animals that were in the cart are also gone.

Galahad stops the old man who stands by the donkey and asks after Felix. The old man says that Felix has gone south to find kinder women to marry. The old man walks off and the donkey follows.


text:
It was strange how the animals acted no differently than they had before it happened.

Squirrels climbed over the piles of rubble, either completely oblivious or simply unconcerned with what that rubble could have been just a couple years back. Blue birds flew in the same patterns they did before, paying no attention to the fact that their shit was landing on history itself: on cobblestones and marble columns that could have been testaments to the collective knowledge of those who were here just a bit ago, yet so long ago as well.

It’s been said that the Earth is resilient and that, when left to run its course, nature fixes all. Perhaps someone would even say that that is exactly what happened, and that although the course can seem amoral and even outright wicked at times, it is nature’s course nonetheless and that it exists in a plane above all questioning. But of course, no one said that.

No one, especially not the only sign of this past world that remained, the sulking frame of muscle and bones and dried-out hair that was currently bathing at the bottom of a nearby waterfall. No, he, (and he is certainly an accurate term to describe this embodiment of animalistic masculinity) was more concerned with removing the foreign, black, sticky thing that seemed to have a death-grip on his foot. The deer were likely to cross the same path they do at this time every day, and he had to be rid of all distractions, poised and ready to pounce. Sadly for our primal protagonist, he was indeed too late and was forced to come to terms with the reality that he would be entering another growling match with his stomach tonight.

But this realization would go on to be as unfulfilled as the aforementioned one, for this night was not like the other nights. The squirrels still climbed and the birds still shit, but a disturbance had come to enter this formerly peaceful land. He was unable to sleep, and found himself staring at the sky, waiting for his fat, yellow friend to come back and tell him that the world was safe again.

Indeed the sun did return, as it always promised it would, even after the End. He did as he always did too, and followed his instincts to the tallest rocks he could see. There, as he approached the peak of the stony mountain before him, did a figure enter his view. It was like him, with meat and bone and hair, but different too. This figure had strange bulges at the chest and in its eyes was a longing that he would have said felt like coming home, if he could remember how to say that or knew what a home was.

And then, something magical happened. For the first time in a very long time, his mouth managed to form a very old word. Finally, he forced his throat to let it out.

	“Adam,” he said.

	She smiled coyly. “Eve.”

And so it Began.

title: A Very Old Story

question: What is the main point of the third paragraph?

answer: The main point is introducing the protagonist, Adam.

question: Why does Adam have to come to terms that he would be hungry again that night?

answer: He missed his opportunity to hunt the deer that usually cross his path.

question: What might have Adam's day been like if Eve hadn't come along?

answer: He probably would have looked for food and carried on with his normal routine. He probably would have been lonelier, if he knew he was lonely.

question: What is meant by "and so it began"?

answer: The two main characters are named Adam and Eve. In the bible, Adam and Eve begin civilization. It seems that Adam is all alone after the world seemingly ended, so finding her means they can begin again.

question: How does Adam survive by himself?

answer: He seemingly hunts deer, and probably also forages. Regardless, it seems he finds a way.


text:
M.E.T.S. CHARTER SCHOOL (formally known MATHEMATICS, ENGINEERING, TECHNOLOGY, & SCIENCE CHARTER SCHOOL) is a seven-year comprehensive public charter middle school / high school that serves students in sixth through twelfth grades in Hudson County and Essex County of New Jersey, United States. The M.E.T.S. Charter School has two campuses, one in Jersey City and one in Newark. The school operates under the terms of a charter granted by the New Jersey Department of Education. M.E.T.S. Charter School is an Early College Preparatory School that utilizes research-based instructional practices to achieve student proficiency in mathematics, engineering, technology, and science. M.E.T.S. Charter School encourages all students to take college level courses and graduate from high school within four years with up to 60 college credits and/or an associate degree. Postsecondary success is promoted by prioritizing admission to a four-year college or university for each member of the graduating class.

As of the 2017–18 school year, the school had an enrollment of 752 students and 52.0 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 14.5:1. There were 484 students (64.4% of enrollment) eligible for free lunch and 73 (9.7% of students) eligible for reduced-cost lunch.[1]

Athletics

The M.E.T.S. Charter School Mustangs compete independently of any league or conference for soccer, volleyball, and softball. Both boys and girls' basketball teams are part of the N.J. Charter School Athletic League. All athletics operate under the auspices of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association [2] With 236 students in grades 10-12, the school was classified by the NJSIAA for the 2015-16 school year as North II, Group I for most athletic competition purposes[3]

[1] School data for M.E.T.S. Charter School, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed November 1, 2019.

[2] M.E.T.S. Charter School, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. League Memberships – 2016-2017 , New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed January 10, 2017.

[3] General Public School Classifications 2015-2016, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association, as of December 15, 2015. Accessed December 12, 2016.

title: M.E.T.S. Charter School

question: What is FTE?

answer: It is not stated.

question: Write a ~2 sentence summary.

answer: M.E.T.S Charter is a comprehensive, seven-year early, college-preparatory public middle/high school located in Newark, New Jersey, that uses research-based instructional practices to achieve student proficiency in mathematics, engineering, technology, and science (M.E.T.S). They also encourage all students to take college-level courses and graduate from high school within four years with up to 60 college credits and/or an associate degree.


text:
ST. ALOYSIUS HIGH SCHOOL is a high school in Nalasopara, Maharashtra, India. It is one of the oldest schools in Mumbai Suburbs. It was started from a small campus in the Majithia area of Nallasopara East in the year 1992. In 1995 it was shifted to its new campus where it is currently located.

St Aloysius High School offers education from Kindergarten to HSC or 12th grade in streams of Arts and Science. It is affiliated to Maharashtra Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education. It is one of the oldest schools founded under the Xavier Group Of Schools. It is one of the best schools in Nallasopara. It is one of the main centre of SSC Board Exams in Nallasopara. The School has a very big playground and many students take part in sports like Athletics ,Cricket ,Football.

St Aloysius High School is not only famous for sports coaching but also for precious education provided by highly qualified teachers. St ALoysius High School teaches 4500 students per year. There Average 70 students in a class. 9 lectures are conducted for morning and afternoon batches including half an hour break for class 1 to 10.

title: St. Aloysius High School, Nallasopara

question: When was St. Aloysius High School founded?

answer: St. Aloysius High School was founded in 1992.

question: What school board is St. Aloysius High School affiliated with?

answer: St. Aloysius High School is affiliated with Maharashtra Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education.

question: What sports are available in St. Aloysius High School?

answer: St. Aloysius High School offers sports such as Athletics, Cricket, and Football.

question: What group of schools is St. Aloysius High School a part of?

answer: St. Aloysius High School is a part of the Xavier Group of Schools.

question: How many students does St. Aloysius High School teach per year?

answer: St. Aloysius High School teaches 4,500 students per year.

question: How many lectured are conducted for morning and afternoon batches?

answer: Nine lectures are conducted for morning and afternoon batches.

question: Write a ~3 sentence summary.

answer: St. Aloysius High School is a school in Nalasopara, Maharashtra, India. It is one of the oldest prestigious schools in the Mumbai Suburbs. It teaches about 4,500 students a year in the grades from kindergarten to 12th grade.


text:
Year: early 1944.          Location: Nazi occupied France

The allies have just received intelligence from the french resistance that Hitler has obtained the materials to build an A bomb. Top army brass know that if Hitler builds an atomic bomb he will definitely use it agains the US or Britain, so they come up with a plan to stop him. Since the Normandy invasion hasn't happened yet, the best option is to drop OSS agents behind German lines to sabotage Hitler's atomic plans.
Me and three other OSS colleagues parachute into German occupied France in the dead of night. Loaded with weapons and high explosives we meet up with the french resistance in a farm. They take us to a safe house in the village. We learn from their sources that a german train carrying enriched uranium is scheduled to leave for Berlin at 2200 hours the next night. In the safe house we put together a plan to blow up the railroad and derail the train thus ending Hitler's A bomb program. Just as we're planing the raid with the french resistance the Gestapo kick in the door and arrest everyone inside. One member of the french resistance betrayed us.
We're all taken outside to be shot immediately. Blindfolded, we're stood against the wall. It looks like this is the end. We've failed.

A gestapo officer gives the order and a hand full of german soldiers line up facing us, weapons at the ready. I can feel the sweat running down my back. It's over.

"Bereit!"

"Feuer!"

I fall.

As i lay on the ground i realize i can still hear their voices. Something is wrong here. As i lay there it all becomes clear. They've missed. When they fired i fell to the ground and the bodies of my colleagues fell on top of me shielding me from the german bullets.
A few minutes pass. I can hear their footsteps as they walk away. I lay there for a few more minutes just to make sure the coast is clear. I spot my opportunity and make a break for it. Using my escape and evasion skills i escape into the woods and make it back to the farm. The resistance leader tells me he can not carry out the raid as the Gestapo have executed his best men. I tell him the raid must be carried out. I owe it to my dead colleagues. He understands what must be done, hands me some C4 explosives and wishes me godspeed.
I wait in the hedgerows until nightfall. I sneak back into the village and make it to the station just as the train is about to leave but i'm not alone. German sentries are standing guard to stop any attacks from the resistance. Observing the scene I bide my time. The soldier guarding the back entrance walks away to relieve himself. It's now or never. I sneak into the station and make it to the train. As i'm placing the explosives the soldier comes back and sees me.

"Stoppen!" he shouts.

Aiming his weapon, he shoots. I'm hit in the torso. The impact spins me around and i drop the C4. He shoots again, this time hitting me in the stomach. I fall to the ground but alive. The german soldier raises the alarm. With my last ounce of strength i reach for the C4, light the fuse and place it on the train. I collapse. My life drains out of me.

"BOOOOM!"

The train explodes. The force of the explosion sends burning metal and debris flying into a fuel train nearby. It catches fire. The whole station goes up in flames. Hitler's atomic bomb ambition is reduced to ashes.
The end.

title: Hitler's A bomb.

question: In what time period does the story take place?

answer: Early 1944, World War II

question: What will happen if Hitler succeeds in building an A-bomb?

answer: It is believed that Hitler will certainly use the atomic bomb on the U.S. or Britain.

question: What material is needed to build an atomic bomb?

answer: Enriched uranium.

question: What is the issue with the story using C-4 to blow up the train?

answer: C-4 was invented in 1956, well after the war. It also doesn't need a fuse like dynamite because it uses a detonator.


text:
Dear Julius ,

After many months of research and exploration, I have found the flower of your request. The purple Xavier is a difficult beast to conquer, and its indigenous name is forbidden to be written on paper. I feel it necessary to respect the tribe that has hosted me these long three months, when we meet again I will delightfully tell you it's beautiful name. The tribe leader Caucunau allowed me to enter their sacred nest of the flower. they had raised the flower for 5 years and the shaman had estimated that its potency was at a near lethal dose. When the flower dies the shaman consumes it and speaks to the elders of times passed. Believe me Julius , if I was the type of man to steal the flower and run off into the night , my journey would have ended soon after my arrival. So I had to spend all these months looking for one in the wild.

This flower is a peculiar one, its stubborn,resourceful and quite random with its grow rates and habitation. My crew and I cut through 6 miles of jungle before we found it in the moon light, it had attached itself to the bottom of a fallen tree, and if it was not for its purple glow we would not have found it in that black void . We could not take its seeds and the shaman cut the flower in such a way that it could possibly survive while leaving me a lot to send to you. The tribe members assisting us confiscated our maps and blindfolded me and my two Mexican assistants and led us back to the village. This flower is so sacred to them that I believe they would burn the forrest down to protect it.

Julius this flower is my hearts gift to you. If I wasn't sure of its qualities I would not have trekked so far for so long. I know losing you brother took a toll on you unbearable to most men. How you are able to function is beyond me. I know the nights haunt you, I believe that things correlate with each other and it is only fitting that in order to cure your terror of the night is to trek far into the blackest depths of the Amazonian night. Your brother felt the same way about things, that's how we connected at first. It was my favorite quality of his, although later in life I came to love him for his sophisticated passion for life and knowledge, as well as his never ending sense of hope and kindness.

I spoke with the shaman many nights, and we discussed your brother and his untimely death that caused your unrelenting depression. He wrote you a guide for when the flower consumes you and become one. It is ensribed in this letter below the indigestion instructions.

The last night I was in the village , I was offered to smoke a small portion of the flower, but I went with my better judgement to avoid its mystic powers. Below is the shamans guide for consumption.

 1 Take the flower and let it soak in cold water for 3 hours, save the water the flower was sitting in

 2  mash and chop the flower into a finely cut mush.

 3 let it sun dry till complete dry

 4 Soak and redry for about 4 times

 5 Once dried , separate into 3 even sections.

 6 On a full stomach consume the water

 7 Over the periode of one hour smoke all three piles.

 8 Expect results within the second hour.

The shaman said to expect extreme colors and visions for an indefinite periode of time , he said to expect to see the elders, Gaint beings of light that speak like the rumblings of mountains. He said to expect to be transported into another dimension and to be carried throughout the universe and to be taught great and powerful things. They will teach you how to overcome the loss of your brother and to help others in life. The most important thing he told me was to stay strong, the visions will sense your fears and you could spend a life time in the land of the dead. Then wake up a few hours later.

As you are reading this letter I am already on my way back to the states. I expect to hear all about your cosmic voyage once I return.

Your true friend, Till.

title: Dear Julius.

question: Who are the major characters in the story?

answer: Julius, the shaman, Till

question: Describe the purple Xavier.

answer: It is stubborn, resourceful, and random with its grow rates. It has a purple glow.

question: Explain what must be done to prepare the flower for consumption.

answer: It must be soaked in cold water for three hours, masked and chopped, dried out in the sun, soaked and redried abour four times, and separated into three even sections. Then the water should be consumed on a full stomach and the piles should be smoked over a period of three hours.

question: What effects will the flower have after it is consumed?

answer: The person who consumes the flower will experience extreme colours and visions of elders and giant beings of light. They will be transported to another dimension and taught great and powerful things.

question: Who is writing the letter?

answer: Till, a friend of Julius.

question: What is the true name of the flower Till is writing about?

answer: Till does not reveal the flower's true name out of respect for the tribe that he stayed with.

question: Write a ~3 sentence summary.

answer: Till write to Julius to tell him about the purple Xavier, which he has gotten for him as a gift. Till explains how he and his crew searched the jungle for the flower and provides the shaman's instructions for consuming it. The flower is meant to elicit visions of elders and giant beings of light, and Till hopes it will help Julies overcome the loss of his brother.


text:
SHOLA-E JAVID (; meaning “Eternal Flame”) was a Maoist political party founded around 1964 in the Kingdom of Afghanistan. Its strategy was populist, gaining support from university students, professionals, the majority Pashtuns and the Shi'a Hazaras.[1] It grew significantly in popularity throughout the late 1960s and into the 1970s, possibly eclipsing that of the Parcham and Khalq factions of the pro-Soviet People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan (PDPA) up until the factions' reconciliation in 1977. The Shola-e Javid party was made illegal in 1969 after criticizing King Zahir Shah of Afghanistan.

After the exile of King Zahir Shah to Italy and President Mohammed Daoud Khan's takeover of Afghanistan in 1973, Shola-e Javid continued to be condemned as a Pakistani-backed movement hostile to the ruling regime. The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan and the Sino-Albanian Split caused splits within the Shola-e Javid party, with one section denouncing the pro-Chinese stance in favor of a pro-Albanian one in 1978, condemning Mao's Three Worlds Theory as revisionist.[2]

[1] Arnold, Anthony. _Afghanistan's Two-Party Communism: Parcham and Khalq_. 1st ed. Stanford: Hoover Institution Press, 1983.

[2] Alexander, Robert. _International Maoism in the Developing World_. 1st ed. London: Greenwood Publishing Group, 1999.

title: Shola-e Javid

question: Describe the platform of the Shola-e Javid party.

answer: They had a populist strategy. Specifics about their platform are not given.

question: When was the party founded?

answer: Around 1964

question: Name a key figure associated with the party.

answer: No key figures are named.

question: Summarize everything relating to King Zahir.

answer: In 1969, the Shola-e Javid party criticized King Zahir and were made illegal as a result. King Zahir was later exiled to Italy.

question: Write a ~2 sentence summary.

answer: Shola-e Javid was a Maoist populist political party founded sometime around 1964. The were made illegal after criticizing King Zahir Shah.


text:
HALAWAH (حلاوة) is a village in Ajloun Governorate, Jordan. Along with Al Hashimiyya and Al Wahadinah, it makes up the Ash Shefa Municipality.

History

In 1596, during the Ottoman Empire, Halawah was noted in the census as being located in the _nahiya_ of _Ajloun_ in the _liwa_ of Ajloun. It had a population of 14 Muslim households and 1 Muslim bachelor. They paid a fixed tax-rate of 25% on various agricultural products, including wheat, barley, olive trees, goats and beehives, in addition to occasional revenues; a total of 2,760 akçe.[1]

In 1838 Halawah's inhabitants were predominantly Sunni Muslims.[2]

The Jordanian census of 1961 found 972 inhabitants in Halawa.[3]

Demographics

As of the census of 2010, there were 8,647 people, and 14 families residing in the village.

Climate

Halawah's climate is typified by warm, dry summers followed by cold, rainy winters with short transitional seasons in between.

Transportation

Halawah is served by Bus services to Ajloun and Irbid. A driving service for many residents to Amman passes through Ajloun.

[1] Hütteroth and Abdulfattah, 1977, p. 162

[2] Smith, in Robinson and Smith, 1841, vol 3, 2nd appendix, p. 166

[3] Government of Jordan, Department of Statistics, 1964, p. 18

title: Halawah

question: Where is Halawah located?

answer: Halawah is a village in Ajloun Governate, Jordan.

question: How many people live in Halawah?

answer: According to the 2010 census, 8647 families resided in the village.

question: What is the demographic composition of Halawah?

answer: Not answered.

question: What is the climate in Halawah?

answer: The climate is warm and dry in the summer with cold and rainy winters.

question: Write a ~2 sentence summary.

answer: Halawah is a village in the Ajloun Governate, Jordan. As of 2010, it has a population of 8647.


text:
_THE CABAL OF HYPPOCRITES_ () is a four-act play by Mikhail Bulgakov also known as _MOLIÈRE_.[1]

Written in 1929 for the Moscow Art Theatre, it was read by Bulgakov for Stanislavski and his team at the 19 January 1930 meeting. The play, accepted by the theatre for production, was promptly banned by the state Repertoire Committee (Glavrepertkom). A year and a half later, after personal interference by Maxim Gorky, the ban was lifted. In March 1932 the rehearsals started, under the guidance of the director Nikolai Gorchakov. They lasted for four years and became the major cause for the rift between Bulgakov and Stanislavski who in 1935 decided he did not want to do anything with the play and asked Vladimir Nemirovich-Danchenko to deal with it from then on.[2]

The play premiered on 16 February 1936 and enjoyed huge success. But on 9 March the article “Glamorous on the Surface, False Beneath” appeared in _Pravda_ and _Molière_ was banned, after just seven sold out performances. In October that year Bulgakov left the Moscow Art Theatre calling it in his diary “the graveyard of my plays” and referring to it as “the theatre where _Molière_ had been destroyed” in a letter to his friend Vikenty Veresayev.

_The Cabal of Hypocrites_ was published for the first time in 1962 by the Iskusstvo Publishers. It enjoyed great revival in the Soviet Theatre during the 1960s and is considered now part of the legacy of classic Russian drama.[3]

[1]

[2]

[3] Кабала святош / The Cabal of Hypocrites. The play's history at the Bulgakov site

title: The Cabal of Hypocrites

question: Why was The Cabal of Hyppocrites banned?

answer: It is not directly explained, but it is known that it was banned by the state Repertoire Committee.

question: How many years passed between the time of writing and the first performance of the play?

answer: Almost seven years.

question: Was the play popular once it premiered?

answer: Yes.

question: Why was the play banned for the second time?

answer: Again, it is not directly explained, but it was banned after a negative article in Pravda.

question: Write a ~4 sentence summary.

answer: The text is about The Cabal of Hyppocrites, also known as Moliere, a play written by Mikhail Bulgakov. It took a very long time to reach the stage, especially since it was banned for a period of time. Bulgakov and Stanislavski's relationship ended over the play, and even when it was finally successfully premiered, the play was soon banned again. However, it was revived in the 1960s and is now considered a classic.


text:
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text:
[Roasted Red Pepper Enchilada Sauce]

When I posted my Spaghetti Squash Enchilada recipe, I had someone ask me (hi Savanah!) if I had a good recipe for enchilada sauce.  To be completely honest with you, before that I had never even thought about making my own.  Enchilada sauce was just something that I bought in a can, from the store, when it was time to make enchiladas.

Most canned enchilada sauces that I tried were OK tasting, but they usually lacked a lot of flavor.  But, I figured I would just add in extra flavoring to the enchilada filling to make up for the lackluster canned enchilada sauce.  Ever since I was asked if I had a good enchilada sauce recipe I’ve been thinking about coming up with the perfect one.  I, honestly, didn’t even know where to begin, so I looked up a few homemade enchilada sauce recipes and that gave me an idea of the different flavors I wanted include in mine.  Most red enchilada sauces are tomato based, so I was planning on using tomatoes, but then the sale isle at the grocery store intervened.  If you have read my blog before, you might be realizing that I have a slight obsession with the grocery store.  I’ll try not to talk about it again 🙂

[Roasted-Red-Pepper-Enchilada-Sauce-8421-766x1024]

Red peppers were on sale for 3 for $1.00!!!  Sorry to get so excited, but I don’t think I have ever seen red peppers that cheap, and I’m not talking about small, puny red peppers, I’m talking about huge, glorious red peppers.

[Roasted Red Pepper Enchilada Sauce-8428]

  So, naturally I bought 9 of them.  I mean, who in their right mind would not stock up on cheap red peppers?!  Ok, maybe I’m the only crazy person that would buy 9 of them, but it all worked out perfectly.   When I originally spotted them, I had no plans to make an enchilada sauce out of them, but when I got home with my bounty of red peppers, I sat around for a while thinking of a tasty dish I could put them in.  Then it came to me, roasted red pepper enchilada sauce!

[Roasted Red Pepper Enchilada Sauce-8431]

I grilled my red peppers instead of roasting them in the oven, but the oven would work just as well.  Then, I put them in  large bowl and covered them with plastic wrap for a few minutes.  This made it much easier to peel all the skins off of them.

[Roasted Red Pepper Enchilada Sauce-8440]

[Roasted Red Pepper Enchilada Sauce-8442]

Compared to other peppers, red peppers are pretty sweet, but I had seen sugar added to a lot of the other enchilada sauces I looked up, so I felt like if I left out the sugar, the sweetness from the red pepper would make up for it, and sure enough, I didn’t need to add any extra sugar to the sauce.  I pureed the roasted red peppers in a blender and then heated them with a bunch of other tasty spices.  If you are not a red pepper fan, I’m sure that you could use crushed or stewed tomatoes in place of the red pepper.

[Roasted Red Pepper Enchilada Sauce-8444]

I used the first three red peppers to make the test batch of sauce with, the second three to perfect the sauce, and now I have three ginormous red peppers left, so don’t be surprised if you see another red pepper recipe soon 🙂

WHAT RECIPES HAVE YOU BEEN INTIMIDATED TO TACKLE, BUT THEN YOU FOUND TO BE REALLY EASY?

Print

Ingredients

-   3 Large red peppers, or about 2 1/2 cup chopped roasted red peppers*
-   2 tablespoons chili powder
-   1 tablespoon cumin
-   2 teaspoons onion powder
-   2 teaspoons garlic powder
-   2 teaspoon dried oregano
-   crushed red pepper flakes, to taste
-   1/4 cup vegetable oil
-   3/4 cup water, or more depending on desired consistency
-   1/4 cup flour, gluten free or regular**
-   2 tablespoons of juice from a can of green chilies, optional, I like to put green chilies in my enchiladas so I had some on hand.
-   salt, to taste

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

Instructions

1.

    If you are using raw red peppers you will need to roast them first. You can do this in the oven or on a grill.
2.

    In the oven: heat the oven to 500 degrees F and place the red peppers on a sheet pan and roast for about 30 – 40 minutes, until peppers are charred and black on the outside.
3.

    On the grill: turn the grill on medium-high heat and place the peppers on. Grill for about 20-30 minutes, depending on how hot the grill is, until peppers are charred and black.
4.

    Once finished roasting the peppers, place them in a heat resistant bowl and cover with plastic wrap until peppers are cool enough to handle.
5.

    Once peppers are cooled, remove the stem and seeds and then cut them into large chunks.
6.

    Place chunks of red pepper into a food processor or blender and blend until it becomes a sauce.
7.

    In a medium sized sauce pan, heat 1/4 cup of oil and then add 1/4 cup of flour to it. Stir until combined.
8.

    Add the pepper mixture along with all the rest of the spices. Stir and then add the water. Cook over medium heat for about 20 minutes until all the flavors have developed and the sauce has reached your desired thickness. Feel free to add more water if you would like a thinner sauce.

Notes

Makes about 2 cups of sauce, just enough for a large pan of enchiladas.
*I have not done it myself, but if you prefer, you can use an equal amount of canned tomatoes instead of red peppers for a tomato based enchilada sauce.
**If using gluten free flour, the sauce may seem a little grainy once you finish cooking it, but that texture should disappear once you cook it in the oven with the enchiladas.

 STAY TUNED FOR MY QUINOA, BLACK BEAN, AND GREEN CHILI ENCHILADAS WITH ROASTED RED PEPPER ENCHILADA SAUCE COMING SOON!

[Roasted-Red-Pepper-Enchilada-Sauce-8578-682x1024]

[Roasted-Red-Pepper-Enchilada-Sauce-8583-1024x900]

One day Eric put his tool bag down on this couch and Cheeto really loved sitting behind it, I think he felt hidden and safe.  Three months later, we still haven’t moved it.  I just read this article called, “6 signs your cat owns you” and if you couldn’t already tell, Cheeto definitely owns me!

[IMG_8767]

question: How many red peppers did the narrator buy?

answer: 9.

question: What was the price of the red peppers at the store?

answer: They were on sale 3 for $1.00.

question: How much onion powder is in the recipe?

answer: 2 teaspoons.

question: How much garlic powder is in the recipe?

answer: Two teaspoons.

question: Write a ~2 sentence summary.

answer: The narrator lists a recipe for Roasted Red Pepper enchilada sauce and tells some personal stories associated with their recipe. They give instructions for how to prepare the sauce.


text:
ONE SHANGRI-LA PLACE is a residential development with twin residential towers situated in Mandaluyong, Metro Manila, Philippines. Both of its towers are 64-storeys high with a height of , making them the tallest twin towers in the Philippines. The building's podium also hosts a wing of the Shangri-La Plaza mall, which opened in 2014.[1]

Architecture and design

Casas + Architects was the architecture firm behind One Shangri-La Place along with Hong Kong-based Palmer & Turner which served as architecture consultants. Hong Kong firms BTR Workshop Ltd. and Adrian L. Norman Ltd. were also involved with the former responsible for the retail and interior design and the latter for the Landscaping. Sy^2 + Associates were behind the buildings' superstructure while Aecom were behind their substructure. Meinhardt Phils was behind the MEPF (mechanical, electrical, plumbing and fire protection) of the buildings. Worktect worked with the lighting and Graphia for the signage designs.[2]

The towers, the North and South Towers are 64-storeys above ground. A total of 14 high-speed passenger and service elevators are installed in the tower complex.[3]

[1]

[2]

[3]

title: One Shangri-La Place

question: Where is One Shangri-La Place located?

answer: Mandaluyong, Metro Manila, Philippines.

question: How tall are the towers of One Shangri-La Place?

answer: 64 storeys.

question: How many towers does One Shangri-La Place have?

answer: Two.

question: What does the One Shangri-La Place podium host?

answer: The Shangri-La Plaza mall.

question: Write a ~1 sentence summary.

answer: This article is about One Shangri-La Place, a skyscraper in Manila with two towers.


text:
Phys Ed

[]

Credit...Kirsten Luce for The New York Times

-   May 3, 2017

If all of the children who currently are sedentary started exercising every day, societies could save enormous amounts of money in the coming decades and have healthier citizens as a whole, according to a remarkable new study. In the United States alone, we could expect to save more than $120 billion every year in health care and associated expenses.

The study is the first to use sophisticated computer simulations to arrive at a literal and sobering societal price tag for allowing our children to be sedentary.

Inactivity is, of course, widespread among young people today. Recent research shows that in the United States and Europe, physical activity tends to peak at about age 7 for both boys and girls and tail off continually throughout adolescence. More than two-thirds of children in the United States rarely exercise at all.

The immediate health consequences for inactive children and their families are worrisome. Childhood obesity, which is linked to lack of exercise, is common, as is the incidence of Type 2 diabetes and other health problems related to being overweight among children as young as 6.

But the long-term financial costs of inactivity in the young, both for them and society as a whole, have never been quantified.

So for the new study, which was published this week in Health Affairs, researchers with the Global Obesity Prevention Center at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore and other institutions decided to create a bogglingly complex computer model of what the future could look like if we do or do not get more of our children moving.

The researchers began by gathering as much public data as is currently available about the health, weight and physical activity patterns of all 31.7 million American children now aged 8 to 11, using large-scale databases from the Census Bureau, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and other groups.

The researchers fed this information into a computerized modeling program that created an electronic avatar for every American child today. In line with reality, two-thirds of these children were programmed to rarely exercise and many were overweight or obese.

The scientists then had the simulated children grow up. Using estimations about how calorie intake and activity patterns affect body weight, the program changed each virtual child’s body day-by-day and year-by-year into adulthood. Most became increasingly overweight.

As the simulated children became adults, the scientists then modeled each one’s health, based on obesity-associated risks for heart disease, diabetes, stroke and cancer, and also the probable financial price of dealing with those diseases (adjusted for future inflation), both in terms of direct expenses for hospitalizations, drugs and so on, and lost productivity because of someone’s being ill.

The results were staggering. According to the computer model, the costs of today’s 8- to 11-year-olds being inactive and consequently overweight would be almost $3 trillion in medical expenses and lost productivity every year once the children reached adulthood and for decades until their deaths.

But when the researchers tweaked children’s activity levels within their model, the numbers began to look quite different. If they presumed that, in an imaginary America, half of all children exercised vigorously for about 25 minutes three times a week, such as during active recess or sports or, more ambitiously, ran around and moved for at least an hour every day, which is the amount of youth exercise recommended by the C.D.C., their virtual lives were transformed.

Most obviously, the incidence of childhood obesity fell by more than 4 percent, a change that resonated throughout the simulated children’s lives and society. There were about half a million fewer cases of adult-onset heart disease, diabetes, cancer and strokes in this simulation, and the society-wide costs associated with these illnesses dropped by about $32 billion every year if the children romped about for 25 minutes three times per week and by almost $37 billion if they moved for an hour every day.

The impacts were even more substantial when the researchers assumed that 100 percent of the children who are now sedentary got regular exercise.

In this scenario, the annual total costs during adulthood from obesity-associated medical expenses and lost productivity plummeted by about $62 billion when children were active three times a week and by more than $120 billion every year when all of the virtual children played and moved for at least an hour each day.

The implication of these numbers is that all of us, including people who are not parents, have selfish reasons to be concerned about childhood inactivity, says Bruce Lee, the director of the Global Obesity Prevention Program at Johns Hopkins and lead author of the study.

“We all will share the costs” of future medical treatments and lost work time among children who move too little now, he says.

Of course, this was a computer model and not a time machine, he says. It can provide predictions but not certainties. The simulations also relied on broad generalizations about how physical activity affects body weight and health, with the presumption being that more movement leads to less weight, which might not be true for all young people.

Still, this peek into our possible future strongly suggests that we should find ways now to encourage more children to move, Dr. Lee says. Show this study to school administrators who are mulling curtailing recess and physical education classes, he suggests. Talk to local planning authorities about more playing fields and parks. And if you are a parent, take your child for a bike ride, swim or jog.

question: Describe the selfish reasons why American adults should find ways to encourage activity in children.

answer: Researchers did a futuristic simulation of inactive children and the costs of this inactivity to society. Most of the children became increasingly overweight as they grew older. The costs of poor health and lost productivity were enormous. When the researcher tweaked activity levels the was a significant drop in obesity-related illnesses. The cost of inactive children today will be borne by society in the future.

question: Can the research be relied upon as absolutely accurate?

answer: The research depends on predictions so it can never be accurate. It also makes some stated assumptions that may apply to some people but not to others. So, while the research may point us in the right direction and maybe largely correct, it can never be absolutely accurate.

question: Why should parents encourage their children to take a regular bike ride?

answer: Children in the US have become increasingly sedentary. The result is a growing number of children who are overweight and suffering from chronic ailments such as Type 2 diabetes. according to a study, unless the children start exercising regularly, they will become increasingly overweight and the cost of healthcare and lost productivity will be enormous.

question: Why have children become sedentary?


text:
LESLIE RAGON CALDWELL (born 1957) is an American attorney, and was until January 13, 2017 the Assistant Attorney General for the Criminal Division of the United States Department of Justice. She has spent the majority of her professional career handling federal criminal cases, as both a prosecutor and as defense attorney.[1] Since September 2017, she has been a partner at the law firm of Latham & Watkins, resident in San Francisco and Silicon Valley, CA.

Caldwell served as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Eastern District of New York from 1987 to 1998, after which she was recruited by then US Attorney Robert Mueller to serve as Chief of the Criminal Division and Chief of the Securities Fraud Section of the United States Attorney's office for the Northern District of California; she served from 1999 to 2002.

Background

In 2002, Caldwell was selected to lead a team of investigators and prosecutors in the Department of Justice's Enron Task Force.[2] In that role, she recruited a team of federal prosecutors and agents from around the country to investigate the collapse of the former Fortune No. 7 company. Under Caldwell's leadership, more than 30 individuals were successfully prosecuted for their roles in fraud at Enron, as well as several corporations including Merrill Lynch and the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce.

[Caldwell in 2015]

She received a B. A. in Economics summa cum Lauren from Pennsylvania State University, and a J. D. from the George Washington University Law School.[3]

She started her career in private practice in New York, then moved to the US Attorney's Office in Brooklyn, in the Eastern District of New York. Proving to be a highlight of her time with the Eastern District was Caldwell's successful conviction of New York City drug lord Howard “Pappy” Mason for the murder of Officer Edward Bryne.[4]

She then was recruited by then-San Francisco US Attorney Robert S. Mueller III to head his efforts against white collar crime in Silicon Valley. After being named the Chief of that Office's Criminal Division, Caldwell was recruited by DOJ to head up the Enron Task Force, created to spearhead the investigation of that company's 2001 collapse. Caldwell built a team of superbly talented lawyers and FBI agents, and successfully investigated one of the largest corporate collapses in history. She led the successful prosecutions of more than 30 former Enron executives and others, including Kenneth Lay and Jeffrey Skilling.[5][6]

In the wake of the Enron convictions, Caldwell turned to private practice as a partner at Morgan, Lewis & Bockius where she worked until early 2014. On May 15, 2014 Leslie R. Caldwell was confirmed as the United States Assistant Attorney General for the Criminal Division.[7]

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

title: Leslie R. Caldwell

question: What is Caldwell known for?

answer: She is an American attorney and was the Assistant Attorney General for the Criminal Division of the United States Department of Justice until early 2017.

question: Describe Caldwell's education.

answer: She received a B.A. in Economics from Pennsylvania State University and a J.D. from the George Washington University Law School.

question: What happened in 2002?

answer: Caldwell was selected to lead a team of investigators and prosecutors in the Department of Justice's Enron Task Force.

question: What is the relationship between Edward Byrne and Caldwell?

answer: They did not have a personal relationship, but Caldwell was the one to successfully convict his murderer, Howard "Pappy" Mason.

question: Who is Kenneth Lay?

answer: He was prosecuted by Caldwell for the 2001 collapse of Enron.

question: Summarize what happened in the wake of the Enron convictions.

answer: Caldwell turned to private practice as a partner at Morgan, Lewis & Bockius.

question: What was Caldwell recruited by the DOJ for?

answer: She was recruited to head up the Enron Task Force, created to spearhead the investigation of the company's 2001 collapse.

question: Write a ~2 sentence summary.

answer: This article details the background and career of Leslie R. Caldwell, an American attorney. She was also the Assistant Attorney General for the Criminal Division of the United States Department of Justice until 2017.


text:
They told me I was going to die this weekend. So that’s new.

I wondered what life would be like if I could just sit quietly on a lawnchair in the grass, and watch the trees sway in the wind. That sounds like a nice life. I would be surrounded by the laughs and cries of children as they played around me, and my family would be inside making diner. My mom would call out from the window for me to come inside, but I wouldn’t listen. I never listen. Eventually it would start getting cold so I would gather up all the children and take them inside. We would make a nice fire and sit down and be together.

That would be nice.

It’s cold in this bed and so lonely.

That would be nice.

title: That Would Be Nice

question: Who is speaking?

answer: That information can't be found

question: Why is the speaker imagining other lives?

answer: The speaker has been told they will die soon

question: Where is the speaker?

answer: The speaker is in a cold bed

question: How old is the speaker?

answer: That information can't be found

question: Write a ~3 sentence summary.

answer: The narrator is told they will die this weekend. They imagine another life in which they sit in a chair in the grass as children play around them. They feel cold and lonely in their bed.


text:
HARRY NELSON JONAH (March 19, 1896 – October 31, 1985) was a Canadian politician. He served in the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick as member of the Progressive Conservative party from 1952 to 1962.[1]

[1]

title: Harry N. Jonah

question: Who was Harry Nelson Jonah?

answer: Harry Nelson Jonah was a Canadian politician.

question: When was Harry Nelson Jonah born?

answer: March 19, 1896

question: When did Harry Nelson Jonah die?

answer: October 31, 1985

question: What is the Progressive Conservative party?

answer: this article does not answer the question

question: Write a ~1 sentence summary.

answer: Harry Nelson Jonah was a Canadian politician who served in the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick as member of the Progressive Conservative party from 1952 to 1962.


text:
	Here I sit, the late september breeze holding back my hair while
 the ancient tree bark scratches my back as I bite into my last apple of
 the day. Through the tired branches full of leaves ready to hibernate, I
 can see the sun is getting ready for its daily rest. It’s time to go
home, time to leave this sanctuary where I can clear my mind and
hum and whistle for only the mosquitos and bugs to hear. No one to
watch, no one to listen. Sometimes it’s nice to just explore the woods,
 to just get away from life for a few hours and walk under low branches
 where a cold wind can whisper its secrets into your ear. I’ve been in
 these woods since I was little, my family used to live across the
 street; we used to come here as a family and explore this land
 together. This one time it was just my dad, two brothers and me, we
 were walking around a field of tall weeds on a warm summer evening,
 the air was fresh and the sun was gentle. We felt the earth moving
 under us and looked down, only to see hundreds of worm-sized
 snakes crawling over and around our now needle wide feet. It didn’t
 take long to realize we just so happened to intrude on the birth of the
 forest’s snake family. That day is one that I will remember for my life,
 unlike the snakes who would not remember that event even a single
 day after their journey around the moving trees.
	Growing older, I appreciated the nature brought by this forest
 more; I began to understand how everything in it is a family. The
 trees hold the ground which holds the trees. The animals and bugs
 help the roses and other painted petals explore the world and are
 given their grandparents’ fruits in exchange. Everything works
 together, and everything is happy. In the forest, everything is one;
 being in the forest, you are part of this family. Once I realized that, I
 finally could open my mind and see myself as more than just myself. I
 would spend hours and days exploring the rooted ground, using fallen
 uncles as bridges over rivers of mud to find a peaceful spot to sit and
 breath. After enough exploration, I never had much trouble finding a
 natural throne for me to sit and breath my thoughts into the wind. I
 learned how to give thoughts to leaves and pain to earthed limbs. The
 sun would look at me as I look into its ocean and understand its
 concern for me exploring its child.
	After many lives came and went in this forest, I found another
 person that I could open up to, a person that I knew I could bring into
 my sanctuary to see what I have seen and feel what I have felt. I
 found a friend that would walk these bridges and sit on the retired
 soldiers that rest in the forest. The forest became my home away
 from home. It became a place to open my mind and to smile without
 bounds. It became a place to bring my other half and tell them how I
 feel about them and about the world. Then one day, the forest
 became my knee as I asked my other half for permission to kiss them
 without regret and to hold them until the sun interrupts. The forest
 grew with us, we grew with the forest. We would come back to it
 occasionally; however, we realized that time was changing, time falls
 faster and life begins to get in the way of exploration. In order to
 remind this sanctuary that it is forever in our hearts, we left our love
 scar in the oldest and tallest root that was holding everyone’s hand in
 the forest.
	One day, we will return to this home to show we have not
 forgotten it. We will come to it and be one with the world, be one with
 each other. Be one with everything until we realize that by being one
 with everything, you are everything. Realizing that everything is
 connected in a way. Whispering, “I love you” into the wind and telling
 it your secrets so that one day another soul can venture into the
 forest and be chilled by the breeze that whispers secrets into their ear
 too.

title: The Forest

question: What state of mind is the writer trying to convey to their readers?

answer: The way that the narrator talks, going from conversational, to figurative, to almost surreal, then finally concluding with a sense of greater enlightenment -it seems that the writer wants the reader to be more accepting of the world around them; a common template for becoming one with nature, getting in touch with one's inner feelings, and feeling that one is part of a much greater whole.


text:
A towering performance in an upstanding role ... a scene from Guccione's Caligula. Photograph: Kobal

In an attempt to rid America of its phallophobia, Judd Apatow once vowed to include a penis in every one of his movies. As is particularly evident in the producer's recent offerings - Forgetting Sarah Marshall and Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story - Apatow has in no way reneged on his promise. But was he right about his country's fear of the penis?

There is certainly evidence to suggest the contrary, and for a period it would have seemed that male nudity was linked in some way to the seriousness with which an actor approached their role: Robert De Niro exposed himself in the name of art in Bernardo Bertolucci 1976 Novecento, while his Mean Streets co-star Harvey Keitel also stripped bare for Jane Campion's 1993 film, The Piano. The nakedness of both actors drew parallels with their daring performances, literally laying themselves bare in both their acting and their presentation. Having said that, both films were produced far away from Hollywood mainstream, and European cinema has long taken an easier line on the presentation of male genitalia.

Nevertheless, changing attitudes to the ratings system can be seen to mirror changing attitudes to the way that the penis has been included in mainstream cinema. Since 1966, when the amended Motion Picture Production Code permitted nudity in mainstream American cinema, most pictures featuring full-frontal nudity would receive the notorious X certificate or NC-17. In 1982, however, the teen sex comedy, Porky's, which featured both male and female full frontal nudity, only received an R rating instead of the usual X or NC-17. Nowadays, while you'd expect an NC-17 rating (or 18 in the UK) on films with images of full frontal male nudity, more and more are being rated R in the US (even 15 here in the UK), Apatow's recent offerings obviously among them. Even Bart Simpson exposed himself in the name of comedy in last year's The Simpson's Movie, which interestingly enough only received a PG-13 rating in the US. It would seem that nudity in animation is more acceptable than in live action features.

So why the sudden change of heart? It seems to me that comedy is responsible. In reducing the penis - rather literally - to a figure of fun, desexualising it, and thereby robbing it of its once dreadful power, the penis has only become acceptable through coming to symbolise not so much male sexuality as the fragility of masculinity. There is, after all, no denying the comedic value of what Billy Connolly once referred to as "the last chicken in Sainsbury's".

So whether it is for the sake of art or for pure comedic pleasure it would seem that the penis is penetrating its way more and more into contemporary Hollywood cinema. But in making the male member more and more into a figure of fun, are we not robbing cinema of one of its most potent symbols. Perhaps it is Judd Apatow who really fears the penis and it is he, rather than his public, who are too afraid to confront it head on, so to speak.

question: How is Judd Apatow combating phallophobia in America?

answer: He once vowed to include a penis in every one of his movies.

question: Is Judd Apatow right, does America have a case of phallophobia?

answer: There is evidence to suggest the contrary, with actors like Robert De Niro and Harvey Keitel stripping naked for different films. However the films were not in the mainstream of Hollywood whatsoever, and their European direction makes it come as no surprise, as European cinema has never been strict about male genitalia.

question: Is there a change in America regarding the attitude towards male nudity in films?

answer: There was the introduction of the NC-17 rating for films in 1966 meant to classify full frontal nudity, and since several films have depicted full frontal with lesser ratings. Animated movies push that boundary even further.

question: What is the cause for the shift in America's frame of mind when it comes to male nudity in films?

answer: The narrator believes comedy is the reason. That by reducing male genitalia to something comedic and desexualizing it, it has less power over the minds of the poeple.

question: Write a ~4 sentence summary.

answer: America has had a strange case of phallophobia, fear of the penis, in film for some time. While there have been examples of prominent actors baring it all on screen, these films are usually well away from the mainstream and have European direction. The Motion Picture Production Code introduced the rating of NC-17 in 1966 to encompass full frontal nudity, but there have been several films since then that have depicted such scenes and still received lesser ratings. One such reason for the general change in heart for Americans has been the introduction of comedy, by reducing the penis to something funny and desexualizing it, it has lost some of the power it used to have in earlier time.


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JOSEPH SALVATORE TOFFLEMIRE (July 7, 1965 – September 27, 2011) was a Center in the National Football League who played for the Seattle Seahawks. He was selected in the second round of the 1989 NFL Draft and played college football at the University of Arizona.[1][2]

College

Tofflemire was a 1989 graduate of the University of Arizona in Tucson, starting all four years at the position of Center becoming the best in Wildcat history. Originally recruited as a linebacker, he was quickly converted back to center, which is what he played in high school. Tofflemire was a first team Playboy All-American and first team College Football News (CFN) All-American in 1988,[3][4][5] and was second team All-American selection for CFN in 1986 and 1987. The 1988 Playboy team along with Tofflemire featured Barry Sanders, Troy Aikman, Deion Sanders, and Derrick Thomas, all in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Tofflemire is one of the most decorated lineman in Arizona football history, and one of the most decorated in Pac-10 history. He was inducted into the University of Arizona Hall of Fame in 1994, named to the Wildcat Stadium Ring of Honor in 1997, and is ranked as the #7 all time player in Arizona football history.[6] Tofflemire was a Morris Trophy[7] winner in 1988, and a three time All-Pac-10 first team selection his sophomore thru senior seasons, and selected as second team his freshman season.

NFL

Tofflemire was selected in the second round of the 1989 NFL Draft (44th overall) by the Seattle Seahawks.[8][9] He started all 16 games for the Seahawks in 1992 after taking over at center for Grant Feasel. Tofflemire was hurt the following year and was ultimately replaced by Ray Donaldson as the starter and the rest of his NFL career was plagued by injuries. He retired after the 1994 season, not wanting to take a salary cut, putting an end to what many had thought would be a great NFL career coming out of college.

High school

Tofflemire was a 1984 graduate of Post Falls High School in northern Idaho,[10] where he was a four-year letterman in both track and football, and was inducted into the inaugural PFHS Hall of Fame, along with his best friend Rollin Putzier, who also was a lineman in the NFL.[11] Joe set school records in both the shot-put and discus medaling at the Idaho state championships as well as being part of the sprint relay teams. Tofflemire was a standout in football in which he was named to multiple all-state and all-star teams as a lineman and during his senior year he was honored as the Idaho Offensive Lineman of the year. Highly recruited by many Division I teams, Tofflemire accepted a full-ride scholarship to the University of Arizona in Tucson.

In addition to being a standout lineman, he was also an All Intermountain League First Team kicker his junior and senior seasons. He kicked a 44-yard field goal his junior year in a state A-2 playoff game versus Bishop Kelly which at that time was an Idaho high school state record. He wore a size 15, black SpotBilt square toe kicking shoe and was given the name “Joe the Toe” by assistant coach Steve Long during a practice session. The nickname stuck, and throughout his life he was referred to by former high school, college, and pro teammates simply as “Toe.”[12] With a powerful leg, he could regularly kick the football through the uprights on kickoffs. Joe started off being a chubby place kicker and was moved up to the varsity team his freshman year as a kicker. After his sophomore season,[13] he became dedicated to weight training.

Personal life

Born in Los Angeles, Tofflemire grew up in Post Falls, Idaho, as one of eight siblings born to John and Anna Tofflemire. He had two sons: Michael, who played football at Weber State, and Johnny.[14]

Death

Tofflemire died in 2011 at age 46 in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, after being found unconscious and unresponsive in his Post Falls home.[15] According to his brother Paul, the cause of death was heart failure.[16] Also according to Paul, Joe was never healthy again after being in the NFL after having many surgeries and complications from his injuries sustained while playing.

Tofflemire injured a shoulder at Arizona that suffered further pounding in the pros. There would be nine surgeries for that, over time, including a replacement. Four screws were implanted to keep his spine in place. Concussions, not remotely the red flag they are now, were sustained and likely unreported. These things impacted the rest of his life," Paul Tofflemire said. "He was always in pain. He couldn't be active and his weight was up to plus. The sad thing was watching him get out of bed. I felt so bad – this guy was so active and agile when he was younger and he was like a crippled

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title: Joe Tofflemire

question: Where did Joe Tofflemire play?

answer: Joe started his career at Post Falls High School, graduating in 1984. He was a four-year letterman in both track and football, and was inducted into the PFHS Hall of Fame. He then went to University of Arizona at Tucson, starting all four years at the position of center. After graduating in 1989, he was selected by the Seattle Seahawks. He played for the Seahawks until 1994.

question: How did Joe Tofflemire die?

answer: Tofflemire died in 2011 at age 46 of heart failure after being found unconscious in his Post Falls home. According to his brother Paul, he was never healthy again after being in the NFL and all the surgeries and complications which resulted from his injuries. It is speculated he may have had concussions as well, because they were not as tracked in the era he played in as they are now.


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And why shouldn’t we invest as much in books that could change our lives as we do in the promise of even the most fleeting romantic connection? In an age where customers increasingly treat bookstores like showrooms for items they plan to buy online, it’s time to reintroduce some mystery and romance into the tried and true routine.

Bookshop Santa Cruz got their Blind Date idea from a customer who had seen a similar promotion at a library. The bookshop’s challenge to judge a book by something other than its cover, amused writer, Michael Marshall, who tweeted a picture of the display on January 18th.

  VERY cool idea from @bookshopSC pic.twitter.com/2POcsHKHfQ

  — MichaelMarshallSmith (@ememess) January 18, 2014

[Michael Marshall Blind Date]

With over 1,500 retweets and nearly 800 favorites at the time of writing, this kind of approach may be just what local bookstores need to entice would-be readers, even if book cover illustrators may be less than amused.

After months of reading Robert Graysmith’s Black Fire and borrowing Kathleen Dean Moore’s Wild Comfort, it occurred to me that my romantic relationship was developing alongside my relationship to these books. We took our books to the beach, sat comfortably with them by the fire: metaphorically wining and dining them.

[Blind Date Unwrapped]

This kind of focused attention is a huge commitment for modern readers, and even the most avid reader can see well-meaning book recommendations as drudgery. But if you’ve been out of the reading game for a while, it’s never too late to jump back in. There are plenty of fish in the sea, as they say.

To find a local bookstore near you visit Indie Bound, where you can find local bookstores and search for specific titles.

question: Explain Bookshop Santa Cruz's Blind Date idea.

answer: The books are wrapped, and perhaps written clues are given on what they are about.

question: What is the aim of the Blind Date promotion?

answer: To entice would-be readers to buy books based on their content and not their covers.

question: What is Indie Bound?

answer: It is where you can find local bookstores and search for specific books.

question: Who is Michael Marshall?

answer: He is a writer who tweeted a picture of Bookshop Santa Cruz's Blind Date promotion display.

question: Write a ~2 sentence summary.

answer: Bookshop Santa Cruz launched the Blind Date promotion to entice would-be readers to buy books not based on their covers. It gained buzz on Twitter when writer Michael Marshall tweeted a picture of the display.


text:
Defense

Establishment Republican defense officials may try to push back against a Sessions nomination as Pentagon chief, sources close to the transition say.

[Sen. Jeff Session is pictured. | John Shinkle/POLITICO]

Alabama Sen. Jeff Sessions chairs the subcommittee on the Armed Services Committee overseeing nuclear weapons policy. | Getty

Continue to article content

Sen. Jeff Sessions of Alabama is the leading contender for Donald Trump's secretary of defense, sources close to the transition say — a choice that would reward the president-elect’s most outspoken congressional loyalist but offer few olive branches to a Trump-wary Republican national security establishment.

The two men haven’t seen eye to eye on everything: Sessions is a budget hawk who favors caps on defense spending, while Trump has called for an arms and troops buildup that could cost $55 billion or more per year. But sources say the three-term Alabama Republican senator has still emerged as the top candidate for Pentagon leader, perhaps the most important post in the upcoming Trump Cabinet.

Sessions hasn’t said publicly whether he wants the job, but sources say they expect him to have his pick of Cabinet posts — which also could include attorney general or Homeland Security secretary — and that he's leaning toward running the Defense Department.

Establishment Republican defense officials may still try to push back against a Sessions nomination as Pentagon chief, sources close to the transition say. The main alternative is Stephen Hadley, one of George W. Bush's former national security advisers, who unlike many other Bush alums shrewdly refrained from criticizing Trump during the campaign. Other possibilities include Bill Clinton's hawkish CIA director, Jim Woolsey, who endorsed Trump in September, as well as former Sen. Jim Talent of Missouri and outgoing Sen. Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire.

Some Republican national security figures were quick to express misgivings about Sessions, after days of media speculation that Trump would pick Hadley in an attempt to build relations with mainstream defense Republicans.

“Sessions can’t attract anybody, especially never-Trumpers, to come off the fence,” said one Republican defense official, who like several others requested anonymity to offer their candid assessment of Trump’s team. “He’s going to need at least a fraction of them.”

Said another GOP defense official: “Everyone I am talking to is saying they will consider [joining the administration] but only if it's a serious SecDef. … We need to work for someone we trust and would be proud of.”

Sessions said in a brief interview at the Capitol on Monday that he would be “pleased to consider” a Cabinet post. But when asked about any particular positions, Sessions demurred: "I'm just not talking about that."

Later Monday evening, Sessions was spotted at Trump Tower in New York. "I'm looking forward to going upstairs and chatting with folks and sharing some information. It's an exciting time," Sessions said, according to the pool report.

The Trump transition office did not respond to a request for comment.

Trump's ultimate choice "has implications for who would take the second, third levels of jobs," said Richard Fontaine, a former aide to Sen. John McCain and president of the Center for a new American Security. He said that Hadley, unlike Sessions, "has a whole pantheon of people who worked for him on the National Security Council staff and previously at the Pentagon.”

Many consider the Defense secretary post the most crucial job Trump will fill as he picks his Cabinet, and not just because it will affect who else decides to join his national security brain trust. The Pentagon is still running a war in Afghanistan and stepping up its military campaign against ISIL. The U.S. military is also confronting a far more belligerent Russia and a Chinese military buildup.

The Defense secretary is the only person aside from the president with the legal authority to order the military into action, and is the official who must confirm any decision by the commander-in-chief to launch nuclear weapons.

"This choice is crucial," said Jim Jeffrey, a member of the Pentagon's Defense Policy Board who served as deputy national security adviser under Bush. "The secretary of defense is in the chain of command, which the chairman of the Joint Chiefs is not."

"You have to have somebody who knows the military, who knows hardware, and could make good judgments," added Jeffrey, a former ambassador to Iraq and Turkey. "And in terms of foreign policy, frankly a lot of the substance is hard power. The secretary of defense has a huge say in how we organize ourselves and in strengthening allies."

Sessions chairs the subcommittee on the Armed Services Committee overseeing nuclear weapons policy — experience that would come in handy as the Defense chief. He's also much closer to Trump than any of the other options, and the president-elect may be wary about inserting someone into the key Cabinet post whom he’s not comfortable with.

Last week, Trump named Sessions a vice-chair of his transition’s executive committee. Sessions' chief of staff, Rick Dearborn, joined the transition team as executive director, while former Sessions aide Stephen Miller served on Trump's campaign and is now national policy director for the transition.

Sessions, a former prosecutor, is best known in the Senate for his work on the Judiciary Committee and his tough stance on illegal immigration — a key Trump campaign plank. He’s also a budget hawk more than a defense hawk, and has praised spending limits that that Trump wants to bust through to finance a major military buildup.

Sessions "is opposed to the president elect’s own plan for defense,” said the first GOP official. “He’s a Judiciary guy, that’s where his heart is. That’s his baby, not defense. If he goes to Defense, it’s a disaster.”

The debate between defense hawks and budget hawks has been a major dividing line in the Republican Party in recent years, and Trump has fallen solidly on the defense-hawk side. He has called for adding more than 50,000 new soldiers to the Army and 20,000 more Marines, boosting the Navy to 350 ships up from about 280, and adding more fighter jets to the Air Force’s arsenal.

Defense budget analysts have predicted his plans would conservatively add $55 billion or more annually to the Pentagon's budget. While Trump has vowed to find offsets through cutting waste — a notion that Sessions would support — the analysts say that’s an unlikely if not impossible prospect at such a high price tag.

In the lead-up to the election, Sessions said in an interview with Defense News that he would — reluctantly — support an increase in defense spending to put Trump’s plans in place.

“Well it would be a need for a spending increase, there is just no doubt about it. And it is painful for me as a budget person to acknowledge that we can’t stay at a sequester-like level,” Sessions said. He added that the defense increase would not come with an equal increase for domestic spending, as the Obama White House has demanded.

Hadley made his own evident calculations during the campaign, refusing to join numerous other former Bush national security officials who criticized Trump or even endorsed Clinton. Hadley now heads the U.S. Institute of Peace and run a consulting firm with former Bush Cabinet officials Condoleezza Rice and Robert Gates.

"I don't think he was having it both ways," said Peter Feaver, another National Security Council official in the Bush administration who is close to Hadley. "It was a principled decision, and in hindsight it was very wise."

Feaver was among multiple GOP national security officials who publicly opposed Trump. "I signed those letters. It is like swallowing a position pill," Feaver said. "It is like splashing poison pill juice on your face. You take yourself out of being able to help the administration if they win. But if they win, you and everyone else in America want them to have the best team possible."

Asked at a POLITICO Playbook breakfast in August whom he was endorsing, Hadley declined to take a position one way or another. Though he said endorsing Clinton was a “legitimate approach” for national security Republicans, he said it also has drawbacks.

"The problem with that approach is that Republicans will then say, 'Well, you know, you really weren't a Republican anyway' and shelve them,” he said. “And you then deal yourself out of the debate within the Republican Party about what should the Republican Party stand for."

Trump’s decision Sunday to insert Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus as White House chief of staff could be a boost to Hadley, according to one source close to the transition team. “I think Priebus increases Hadley’s chances a great deal,” the source said.

Still, Hadley and Trump would have some awkwardness when it comes to the 2003 invasion of Iraq, which Trump has repeatedly called a disaster but which Hadley played a key role in while in the White House. In a 2013 op-ed, Hadley wrote that “ultimately, the United States achieved its national security objectives” in the Iraq War — an assertion that’s at odds with Trump’s assessment.

Hadley, who declined to comment for this story, is also highly regarded by members of both parties. "If the country is deeply divided, you want someone who is respected on both sides of that divide," Feaver said.

Another candidate who fits that category is Talent, who also did not criticize Trump. Talent is arguably the option closest to the Republican defense establishment, and was a leading contender for the secretary's job for 2012 Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney.

But that could also work against him. The week before the election, Talent penned an op-ed explaining why he was voting for Trump. It was hardly a ringing endorsement. “I have a conviction that it’s the right thing to do — not an easy thing, but the right thing,” he wrote.

But he did praise Trump’s defense plans. “Trump has announced a plan for rebuilding America’s armed forces that on its face, sounds excellent,” Talent wrote. “There is good reason to believe he will carry it out.”

Since leaving government, Talent has been active in the policy ranks. He’s a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and served on the 2014 National Defense Panel, a bipartisan advisory group that Trump has cited that called for increased defense spending, as well as a 2010 Quadrennial Defense Review that examined the Pentagon’s overall strategy.

Also in the mix is Woolsey, who endorsed Trump and advised the campaign.

Woolsey is more of a wild card, as he’s been out of government since serving as Clinton’s CIA director. He is close to former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, a major Trump advocate.

An adviser to McCain’s 2008 presidential campaign, Woolsey joined the Trump campaign as a national security adviser in September. He said that was because he favored Trump’s proposal to lift the caps on defense spending.

Woolsey did not respond to calls seeking comment, although he wrote an op-ed Friday in the South China Morning Post headlined: “Under Donald Trump, the U.S. will accept China’s rise — as long as it doesn’t challenge the status quo.” That article was not in coordination with the campaign, a source said.

Other dark horses are possible, too, especially after last week's transition shake-up could bring a fresh set of eyes to the potential candidates. Ayotte's name has come up for example, although she’s an unlikely selection given that she pulled her endorsement of Trump late in the campaign.

Another possibility, retired Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn, is probably more in line for national security adviser or a top intelligence post. He would require Congress to approve his service as Defense secretary since federal law requires military officers to wait seven years before becoming the Pentagon's civilian leader.

_Bryan Bender contributed to this report._

question: Who is the leading contender to become Donald Trump's secretary of defense?

answer: Senator Jeff Sessions of Alabama is the leading contender to become Donald Trump's secretary of defense.

question: Who else is in contention to become the secretary of defense?

answer: Stephen Hadley, Jim Woolsey, and Jim Talent are all in contention for the position.

question: Why are some Republicans opposed to Jeff Sessions?

answer: Some believe that Sessions can't attract moderates off the fence.

question: How much money does Donald Trump's defense plan add on to the current Pentagon budget?

answer: Trump's plans would increase the Pentagon budget by $55 billion annually.

question: Write a ~1 sentence summary.

answer: This article discusses Donald Trump's possible selection for the Secretary of Defense position, with the frontrunner being Senator Jeff Sessions from Alabama.


text:
As of September 16, 1776, the revolutionary struggle had only resulted in defeat for the Americans. The week before in Boston, September 12 was declared a “day of prayer… on account of the critical state of our military operations.”[1] British ships cruised the East River, General Howe had landed troops in Manhattan the day before, and it was becoming clear that the weakened Continental Army would not hold New York for much longer. Nearly the whole American force had withdrawn to Harlem Heights. However, a victory was finally on the horizon.

After the British landed in the south at Kip’s Bay on the 15th, Washington sent Smallwood’s Marylanders to cover the American retreat from New York City to the line at Harlem. The Maryland regiment remained under arms until nightfall, when they also returned to the American lines.

On the morning of the 16th, Rangers under Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Knowlton discovered the British pickets about a mile below the American line. Knowlton’s men skirmished with the British Light Infantry’s Second and Third Battalions, along with the Forty-second Highlanders, the “Black Watch.” The Americans were outnumbered, with about 120 men against about 400, and Knowlton ordered a retreat.

[harlemheightsmap]

Word of the engagement reached Washington as the Rangers were retreating back to their lines at Harlem. Washington and much of the American leadership watched the front that morning as Knowlton’s men returned. A number of the pursuing British could be seen from the American camp, and according to Adjutant-General Joseph Reed, the British buglers sounded a foxhunt call as they chased the retreating Rangers, halting at the Bloomingdale Heights. “I never felt such a sensation before, it seemed to crown our disgrace,” Reed wrote of the bugles.

The boldness of the British chase had separated them from the main army, giving the Americans a chance at their first victory. General Washington began setting a trap to take the isolated troops prisoner. He would first attack their front, while a flanking party would quietly assemble to their rear and prevent their escape.

The maneuver was executed nearly as planned. However, instead of attacking from the rear, the flanking party fired on the British side, which left open a route of escape. The British, realizing they had been nearly surrounded, began to run back up the slope of Bloomingdale Heights. The Americans gave chase “with splendid spirit and animation.”[2]

General Howe could hear the firing from his headquarters and sent reinforcements as well as two field pieces to aid the British. With the enemy on the run, Washington sent out three of the Maryland Independent companies and parts of the Maryland Flying Camp, who had recently arrived in New York. The Americans drove the British down from the Bloomingdale Heights to a field of buckwheat, where the smaller British contingent met with their reinforcements and took a stand. However, the Americans pressed on and pushed them further back.  After fighting the British back towards their encampment, Washington, whose men were not prepared to engage all of the troops situated in the British camp, sent out the order to withdraw.

The prisoners the Americans took that day would say that “they expected our Men would have run away as they did the day before, but they were never more surprised than to see us advancing to attack them.”[3]

 The Marylanders especially gained recognition for their participation in the battle of Harlem Heights. A letter from the camp to Annapolis recounted that “General Washington gave great applause to our Maryland troops, for their gallant behaviour.”[4]Lieutenant Tench Tilghman, a Marylander who was Washington’s aide-de-camp and Secretary, would write that the Maryland and Virginia troops “bear the Palm.”

The Continental Army had its first lesson in victory. The Americans cheered before leaving the battlefield to return to Harlem Heights. Lieutenant Tilghman wrote of the improved morale, “on the whole the enemy got completely defeated, which has given great spirits to our army, who are… in high spirits, wailing the attack of the enemy.”[5]

The experience galvanized the revolutionary troops, who had suffered relentless losses over the preceding weeks, and would have to bear more defeats in the coming months.

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

[1] Day of prayer appointed at Boston, _American Archives Online_, September 12, 1776, Series 5, Vol. 2, Pg. 307.
[2]Henry P. Johnston, _The Campaign of 1776 Around New York and Brooklyn,_ New York: Da Capo Press, 1971_, _256.
[3] Lieut. Tench Tilghman to his father, Philadelphia, September 19, 1776, in Johnston, _The Campaign of 1776_, 87.
[4]Extract of a letter from Head-Quarters to a gentleman in Annapolis: Shall give the enemy a genteel drubbing in case the Yankees will fight, September 17, 1776, American Archives Online, Series 5, Vol. 2, Pg. 370.
[5] Extract of a letter from a General Officer who was present at the action on the 16th of September, American Archives Online, September 23, 1776, Series 5, Vol. 2, Pg. 371.

-Emily

question: What does the story say about Marylanders' role in the Revolutionary war?

answer: The Marylanders are sent to cover the American retreat from New York City to the line at Harlem after the British landed in the south at Kip’s Bay on September 15th, 1776. American army nearly surrounded the British so the British began to run back up the slope of Bloomingdale Heights. Washington sent out three of the Maryland Independent companies and parts of the Maryland Flying Camp who pressed on and pushed the British further back. The Marylanders also gained recognition for their participation in the battle of Harlem Heights.

question: What does the story say about who won the war?