text:
 REACH OUT AND CAPTURE THE BEAUTY

PARTNER UP WITH THIS COMPACT, LIGHTWEIGHT, USER-FRIENDLY TELEPHOTO ZOOM. EXPAND YOUR WORLD WITH EACH SHOT

SEIZE THE MOMENT IN ITS TRUE COLORS
TRAVEL LIGHT, STAY FOCUSED

With the culmination of years of expertise in telephoto zoom lens development, the versatile TAMRON 70-210MM F/4 DI VC USD (MODEL A034) provides superb optical performance throughout the entire zoom range. Applying three LD (Low Dispersion) lens elements enables the Model A034 to correct chromatic aberrations effectively while shooting for clear, crisp images to the edges of the frame. Model A034 features a constant maximum aperture of F/4, providing superior control over depth-of-field. Also, by achieving a maximum magnification ratio of 1:3.1, the highest in its class and the shortest-in-class MOD of 37.4", you will enjoy ultra-soft excellent bokeh when shooting up close. The shorter working distance enables photographers to capture close-up images of small objects like flowers while using a telephoto zoom. Compared to large aperture telephoto zoom lenses, the new A034 is lighter (just 30.3 oz.) and is more compact (only 6.8 in.) making it easier to carry and instantly spring into action.

PRODUCT DETAILS

-   Constant F/4 maximum aperture
-   Best-in-class 1:3.1 maximum magnification ratio and 37.4" MOD
-   High-speed Dual MPU (Micro-Processing Unit)
-   Outstanding 4-stop VC Image Stabilization
-   USD AF system provides excellent responsiveness and fast, precise focusing
-   Fluorine Coating and Moisture-Resistant Construction
-   Compatible with Tamron teleconverters
-   Compatible with TAMRON TAP-in Console
-   Optional tripod mount compatible with Arca-Swiss style quick release plates
-   Designed for Canon mount full frame and APS-C DSLRs

DISCOVER THE BEAUTY OF CLOSE UP SHOOTING
Focal length: 182mm Exposure: F/4 1/200sec ISO: 100
With a category-leading magnification ratio of x0.32, this telephoto zoom lens achieves a MOD of just 0.95m. Get closer to your subjects and feel the freedom of shooting.

INTERNAL ZOOM COMBINES RELIABILITY WITH STABILITY
An internal zoom provides stability by minimizing changes to the center of gravity while shooting. Combined with Moisture-Resistant Construction, the internal zoom creates an easier all-around shooting experience. Also, since the total length of the barrel never changes while zooming, you can easily shoot through obstructions such as wire fencing.

KEEP IT STEADY-AND SHARP
Reliable autofocus tracking and vibration compensation are essential in a telephoto zoom lens. Tamron's Dual MPU (Micro-Processing Unit) system on this lens strikes a balance between both. It includes two dedicated MPUs: one for lens system control including AF, and the other for vibration compensation processing. Each MPU is equipped with a DSP (Digital Signal Processing) block with high signal processing for exceptional AF performance and vibration compensation effects.

CAPTURE THE MOMENT WITH LIGHTNING-QUICK AF
Tamron's evolved AF is lightning quick to help you capture each precious moment. The USD (Ultrasonic Silent Drive) ring-type motor in the drive unit ensures fast, highly accurate focusing, allowing you to shoot with confidence.

KEEP IT STABLE WITH 4-STOP VC (VIBRATION COMPENSATION)
Tamron's proprietary VC system features 4-stop performance to control the vibrations that can easily occur in low-light conditions. Now you can enjoy sharper images and shake-free handheld shooting-even when shooting in the evening or indoors.

OPTIONAL TRIPOD MOUNT WITH ARCA SWISS-COMPATIBLE QUICK-RELEASE PLATE
An optional tripod mount compatible with Arca-Swiss style quick release plates is available for the A034. Arca-Swiss style mounts can be easily attached and detached and are renowned for their excellent stability. In keeping with the lightweight nature of this zoom lens, the tripod mount is made of a light yet robust magnesium alloy to support you in a wide range of photographic conditions-like shooting at a slow shutter speed. Using a tripod makes the lens more stable, as opposed to attaching a tripod to a camera body to prevent blurred images. And since this tripod mount allows the camera body to rotate freely without moving its axis, adjusting composition is easy. Broaden your shooting style with a tripod mount that lets you shoot what you want, how you want, even at slow shutter speeds.

FLUORINE COATING FOR PROTECTION AND SAFE CLEANING
The front surface of the lens element is coated with a protective fluorine compound that is water- and oil-repellant. The lens surface is easier to wipe clean and is less vulnerable to the damaging effects of dirt, dust, moisture and fingerprints.

MOISTURE-RESISTANT CONSTRUCTION PROTECTS YOUR LENS
For greater protection when shooting outdoors, leak-proof seals throughout the lens barrel help protect your equipment.

COMPATIBLE WITH THE TAMRON TAP-IN CONSOLE
The optional TAP-in Console provides a USB connection to your personal computer, enabling you to easily update your lens's firmware as well as customize features including fine adjustments to the AF and VC.

TWO EXCLUSIVE NEW OPTIONAL TELECONVERTERS
Two exclusive teleconverters (available separately), which match the optics of the new 70-210mm F/4, offer 1.4x and 2.0x magnification, and provide a maximum zoom range up to 420mm. These teleconverters extend the focal length of the master lens, making it possible to take pictures in farther ultra-telephoto ranges.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

-   MODEL A034
-   FOCAL LENGTH 70-210mm
-   MAXIMUM APERTURE F/4
-   ANGLE OF VIEW (DIAGONAL) 34 deg 21' -11 deg 46' (for full-frame format) | 23 deg 01'-7 de 46' (for APS-C format)
-   LENS CONSTRUCTION 20 elements in 14 groups
-   MINIMUM FOCUS DISTANCE 0.95m (37.4 in)
-   MAXIMUM. MAGNIFICATION RATIO 1:3.1
-   FILTER SIZE 67mm
-   MAXIMUM DIAMETER 76mm (3 in)
-   LENGTH 176.5mm (6.9 in)
-   WEIGHT 860g (30.3 oz)
-   DIAPHRAGM BLADE NUMBER 9 (circular diaphragm)
-   MINIMUM APERTURE F/4-F/32
-   IMAGE STABILIZATION PERFORMANCE 4 Stops (CIPA Standards Compliant) Canon EOS-5D MKIII is used
-   MOUNT Canon

Tamron 70-210mm F/4 Di VC USD Telephoto Zoom Lens - Canon - AFA034C-700
Front Cap (CF67 II)
Lens Hood (HA034)
Tamron USA Warranty

question: What are the advantages of Tamron 70-210MM (Model A034) over other lightweight travel cameras?

answer: Tamron 70-210mm is a light travel camera that promises crisp and clear pictures. It has three low dispersion lens elements that help correct any chromatic aberrations in the frame. With 182mm Exposure: F/4 1/200sec, it is superb in handling close-range photoshoots as well as mid-range shoots - especially as the length of its barrel never changes while zooming, making it possible to shoot through obstructions like wire fences. It is also quick to capture images and good for people with shaky hands as Tamron's proprietary vibration compensation system helps keep images sharp, even in low-light conditions.


split: train

text:
BY PALLAB GHOSH
Science correspondent, BBC News

image copyrightHufton+Crow

image captionHenry VIII's flagship contained 1,200 cannonballs

RESEARCHERS ARE USING POWERFUL X-RAYS TO LOOK INSIDE CANNONBALLS FOUND ON THE FAMOUS TUDOR SHIP, THE MARY ROSE.

They are trying to find a way of preserving the shot, which will corrode if it is put on display.

There are 1,200 of the cannonballs, found on Henry VIII's flagship, currently stored in low humidity containers away from public gaze.

The aim, according to Dr Eleanor Schofield, is to preserve them for generations to come.

"We have a lot of cannonballs in storage. If we could understand the process better we could develop new treatments and they could potentially have a longer life."

image copyrightThe Mary Rose Trust

image captionThe cannonballs crack and corrode when exposed to air

The Mary Rose sank in 1545 and was raised from the sea in 1982. The cannonballs on board are difficult to conserve because chlorine has got into them from being in the sea. The chemical has got in all the way to its core. This means that they start to corrode if they are exposed to the air.

Dr Schofield's team has tried to remove the chlorine by soaking some cannonballs in solution. But the researchers found that although they had extracted some they hadn't removed it all. They discovered this when the cannonballs began to disintegrate when they were put on display.

image copyrightThe Mary Rose Trust

image captionThe cannonballs have to be stored in low humidity containers

It was at this point that Dr Schofield set up a research project to understand what was going on inside the cannonballs.

She examined them using a powerful X-ray facility, called the Diamond Light Source in Didcot in Oxfordshire. Dr Schofield is using it to see how much iron is still left inside the cannonballs, how much chlorine is in them and where they have begun to corrode.

But in order to examine them, these precious objects had to be cut into small pieces.

After consulting with Mary Rose curators, the decision was made in 2016 to cut segments from six of the cannonballs, some of which were showing signs of damage, in order to save the rest.

In a newly-published paper, the results of the bright X-rays have revealed detailed maps of the elements involved in the corrosive process. This allows an unprecedented insight into conservation on a molecular scale.

Hayley Simon from University College and Diamond Light Source said that the results are a first step towards the development of new protective techniques.

"We are launching next a long duration experiment, which will observe changes in the corrosion product during long-term immersion in various conservation treatments to monitor their effects."

-

question: What about chlorine makes the iron cannonballs erode?

answer: The chlorine replaces the iron breaking down its internal structure.


text:
“What’s up?” She questioned me.

“Oh, you know, the usual,” I said without looking.

I felt a cold presence in her stare.

“Feeling happy?”

“Not yet, get over here.”

“No…you let go.”

Over the past fifteen years she gained a whole lot of weight. I was more attracted to her sister. I decided to call her sister that night. When we first met she was seeing this guy name Phil. I think they got married. Her name was Angela.

”Angela,” I said into the phone.

”Uh, who is this?”

“It’s Joe.” She was trying me.

“Oh, how are you?”

“Good. Listen, I need a good nut.”

“Don’t we all?”

“Does Phil give it to your hard? Does he fuck you good?”

“Not like he used to. How’s your marriage?”

“Your sister has seen better times.”

“So is that what you do? You just move on when you don’t feel like it anymore? When it’s not there?”

“Life is a constant game of Recycling.”

“Recycled condoms and used-up memories,” she said.

“My brain has enough of those.”

She sighed heavily into the phone.

“Can I come over at 8?” I asked.

“Ok well I just have to do the dishes first.”

“Ok, I’ll come at 8. See you later.” I hung up.

My wife was standing in the kitchen staring at the empty jar of jelly.

”Did you ever wonder how much power goes into making a glass jar?” She asked.

“I never thought about it.” I said. I went to the fridge and grabbed the carton of orange juice. I finished it, drinking from the spout. “I’ll be back later, I need to get a few things from the store.”

She walked into the bathroom and locked the door.

Angela was waiting at 7:55pm. I was there five minutes early. She was wearing a nightgown. The sidewalk in front of her building had no crab grass growing out of it. The door-knob was tarnished. I saw her standing in the window looking down but I knocked anyway.
She opened the door.

“Hello Angela.”

“Hey Joe.”
I leaned in to kiss her. She wrapped her arms around me. I did her right there on the floor. We moved to the couch when she complained of back pain.
She lit a cigarette. She lit mine for me.
There was a painting on the wall.

“I don’t get that painting on the wall. What is that supposed to be?” I asked.

“It’s Schubert,” she said, “it’s about a girl who lost her shoes.”

“Lost her shoes that’s a hell of a thing to paint about,” I replied honestly.

“Well, you should get going. Phil will be home soon.”

”You were a great fuck, you know that?” I told her.

“I know.”

“Well, I’ll call you soon”

“Yes, Joe.”

I walked back home. It was a short walk. When I got home my wife was asleep. I watched TV on the couch until I passed out.

title: [RO] Recycled Goods

question: What does the story say about the narrator's relationship with his wife?

answer: The narrator is not attracted to his wife anymore and has affair with his sister-in-law, Angela. He lies to his wife that he needs to get something from the store and goes to see Angela. When he gets back home, his wife is already sleeping.

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


text:
_TEN ON ONE (THE SINGLES)_ is the first greatest hits album by German singer Sandra, released in 1987 by Virgin Records. It was a commercial success and spawned one of Sandra's biggest hits, the cover of “Everlasting Love”.

Overview

The compilation consists of three songs from Sandra's debut studio album _The Long Play_ (1985), five from her second studio album _Mirrors_ (1986), and two new recordings: a cover version of “Everlasting Love” and “Stop for a Minute”. Despite the title, the album includes the non-single track “Don't Cry (The Breakup of the World)” from _Mirrors_. The material was produced by Michael Cretu and Armand Volker. The album's booklet included short reminiscences for every track. A video version of the album was released on VHS, including nine music videos and a behind-the-scenes material.[1]

“Everlasting Love” was released as the lead single from the album and became on of Sandra's biggest hits, reaching the top 5 in Germany, Greece and Switzerland. “Stop for a Minute” followed as the second and final single in early 1988, and was a considerable hit in Germany, Switzerland and Denmark. The album itself was a top 20 chart hit in Germany and Switzerland.

Track listing

1.  “Everlasting Love” (James “Buzz” Cason, Mac Gayden) — 3:51
2.  “Hi! Hi! Hi!” (Michael Cretu, Hubert Kemmler, Klaus Hirschburger) — 4:08
3.  “Stop for a Minute” (Michael Cretu, Klaus Hirschburger) — 4:05
4.  “Innocent Love” (Hubert Kemmler, Ulrich Herter, Susanne Müller, Klaus Hirschburger) — 5:23
5.  “Little Girl” (Hubert Kemmler, Marcus Löhr, Michael Cretu) — 3:11
6.  “Maria Magdalena” (Hubert Kemmler, Markus Löhr, Michael Cretu, Richard Palmer-James) — 3:58
7.  “In the Heat of the Night” (Michael Cretu, Hubert Kemmler, Marcus Löhr, Klaus Hirschburger) — 5:20
8.  “Midnight Man” (Hubert Kemmler, Michael Cretu, Klaus Hirschburger) — 3:03
9.  “Don't Cry (The Breakup of the World)” (Hubert Kemmler, Michael Cretu, Klaus Hirschburger) — 4:51
10. “Loreen” (Frank Peterson, Michael Cretu, Klaus Hirschburger) — 4:17

Charts

+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Chart (1987)                      | Peak                              |
|                                   | position                          |
+===================================+:=================================:+
| Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[2]    | 28                                |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Europe (European Hot 100          | 29                                |
| Albums)[3]                        |                                   |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Germany (Media Control)[4]        | 19                                |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Switzerland (Swiss Hitparade)[5]  | 14                                |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
|  |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+

Certifications

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

title: Ten on One (The Singles)

question: Who is the performing artist of Ten on One (The Singles)?

answer: Sandra

question: List the ten tracks included on Ten on One (The Singles).

answer: Everlasting Love, Hi! Hi! Hi!, Stop for a Minute, Innocent Love, Little Girl, Maria Magdalena, In the Heat of the Night, Midnight Man, Don't Cry, and Loreen

question: Which songs on the album were new recordings?

answer: Everlasting Love and Stop for a Minute

question: What label released Ten on One (The Singles)?

answer: Virgin Records

question: Describe Ten on One (The Singles)'s chart performance.

answer: The album made it onto the top 20 chart in Germany and Switzerland.

question: Write a ~2 sentence summary.

answer: Ten on One (The Singles) is a greatest hits album released in 1987 by German singer Sandra. One of the two new songs recorded for the album was her cover of Everlasting Love, which became one of Sandra's biggest hits.


text:
ESPN names Toronto the worst sports city in North America. That’s right—even worse than Cleveland

By Dave Zarum |  06/21/2011

[]
We’re with you, Dion. It stings (Image: Bridget Samuels)
Any remotely rational sports fan living in Toronto knows that we don’t have a particularly good professional sports landscape. But is it atrociously bad? Well, apparently, the answer is yes, yes it is. In its annual Ultimate Standings report, _ESPN The Magazine_ rated Toronto as the single worst sports city in North America. Yikes. The standings only account for teams in the “Big Four” pro sports (basketball, baseball, football—the NFL kind—and hockey), so teams like the Rock, the Argos and Toronto FC don’t count. Still, we can’t help being at least a little shocked that on a continent that includes sports towns like this with teams like these, Toronto sits dead last. But ESPN is ESPN (in other words, it knows all). To understand how Toronto received such a dubious distinction, we break down the sports juggernaut’s ranking schema—which includes gems like “bang for the buck,” “stadium experience” and “title track” (paging the MAPLE LEAFS and RAPTORS)—after the jump.

1. TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS
FRANCHISE RANK: 120 (out of 122)
LAST YEAR’S RANK: 121 (only the sad-sack LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS ranked lower)
AVERAGE ATTENDANCE: 19,354 (league rank: 5th)
WHAT ESPN SAYS: It’s the fans’ fault for continually paying exorbitantly high ticket prices to see a team of perpetual losers with a shaky owner situation.
WHAT WE SAY: So what? Leaf fans are a passionate, loyal, parade-planning bunch. Plus, the future looks bright (or at least slightly less dim): July 1st is the first day of free agency, a.k.a. the first day the Leafs can sign BRAD RICHARDS.

2. TORONTO RAPTORS
FRANCHISE RANK: 116
LAST YEAR’S RANK: 113
AVERAGE ATTENDANCE: 16,566 (19th)
WHAT ESPN SAYS: The Raps lost the most points on “title track” (understandable) and “coaching,” but that’s about to change.
WHAT WE SAY: Two years ago, the Raptors finished 18th (40-42) in the NBA standings. This season, they finished 27th (22-60), but only dropped three spots in ESPN’s rankings. Sure, it’s a minor victory, but we’ll take it.

3. TORONTO BLUE JAYS
FRANCHISE RANK: 63
LAST YEAR’S RANK: 92
AVERAGE ATTENDANCE: 20,907 (23rd)
WHAT ESPN SAYS: Stable ownership, flexible ticket pricing and a dynamo GM almost make up for the concrete jungle known as Rogers Centre—the 14th-worst stadium experience in all of sports.
WHAT WE SAY: With a young nucleus that includes ADAM LIND, RICKY ROMERO, J.P. ARENCIBIA and some dude named JOEY BATS, we’re willing to be patient. But more of these in the future, please.

• The Mag: Ultimate Standings 2011 [ESPN SportsNation]

question: What is the author referring to when they say "it stings".

answer: It's not clear, but it seems implied that it is because Toronto is the worst sport city in North America.

question: What makes Toronto the worst pro sports city in North America?

answer: Their "Big Four" teams have been ranked low by ESPN. ESPN lists high ticket prices, lost points on "title track" and coaching", and the 14th-worst stadium experience as some of the issues with these teams.

question: Describe the Toronto Blue Jays.

answer: At the time of this document, the current franchise rank was 63, the year prior it was 92, and ESPN has labeled it as the 14th worst stadium experience in all of sports. The writer of the document says that there are people on the team that they are willing to be patient for.

question: What does ESPN say about the Raptors?

answer: They say that the Raptors lost the most points on "title track" and "coaching", but at the time of the document, that is about to change.

question: What teams are mentioned?

answer: The Toronto Blue Jays, Toronto Raptors, Toronto Maple Leafs are those mentioned in the "Big Four". The Rock, the Argos, and Toronto FC are mentioned as well.

question: Write a ~2 sentence summary.

answer: At the time of the document, ESPN rated Toronto as the worst sports city in North America due to their "Big Four" teams. The author of the document did a breakdown of ESPN's ranking schema in response.


text:
THOMAS JOSEPH DUNPHY (born December 12, 1937) is a Canadian politician, teacher and realtor. He represented 3rd Queens in the Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island from 1986 to 1996 as a Liberal.[1]

Dunphy was born in 1937 in Peakes Station, Prince Edward Island.[2] Dunphy graduated from the Nova Scotia Agricultural College with a two-year degree in agricultural studies in 1958, and from Macdonald College at McGill University with a Bachelor of Science in agriculture in 1960.[3] He was married to Rita Kenny, and then Marion MacRae-Gillis in 1978. Tom has 4 children Peter, Maggie, Kimberley, and Tracy. As well as 4 grandchildren, Sebastian, Sarah, Liam and Patrick.[4] Prior to entering politics, Tom was a teacher in Prince Edward Island and Quebec. He also worked with Dr Leo Killorn in the PEI addiction treatment center.[5]

Dunphy entered provincial politics in 1986, when he was elected a councillor for the electoral district of 3rd Queens.[6] He was re-elected in the 1989 election.[7] In November 1991, Dunphy was appointed to the Executive Council of Prince Edward Island as Minister of Transportation and Public Works.[8] Dunphy was re-elected in 1993,[9] but was dropped from cabinet following the election.[10] He did not re-offer in the 1996 election.[11] Following his political career, Dunphy worked as a realtor.[12]

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

[11]

[12]

title: Tom Dunphy

question: Who is Thomas Joseph Dunphy?

answer: A Canadian politician, teacher, and realtor.

question: Where was Dunphy born?

answer: December 12, 1937.

question: Provide an overview of Dunphy's career.

answer: He worked as a teacher in Prince Edward Island and Quebec, and also worked at the PEI addiction treatment center. In 1986, he was elected councillor for the electoral district of 3rd Queens. He was re-elected in 1989. In 1991, he was appointed Minister of Transportation and Public Works for PEI. After being dropped from the cabinet, he worked as a realtor.

question: Who are the members of Dunphy's family?

answer: Marion MacRae-Gillis (his wife). Peter, Maggie, Kimberly, and Tracy (his children). Sebastan, Sarah, Liam, and Patrick (his grandchildren).

question: Write a ~5 sentence summary.

answer: This article concerns Tom Dunphy, a Canadian politician, teacher, and realtor. The article lists his educational background and highlights his career in politics. Prior to politics, he worked as a teacher. After his political career he became a realtor. The article also lists his spouses, children, and grandchildren.


text:
[[image:Gaston-Paul Effa par Claude Truong-Ngoc octobre 2015.jpg|thumb|

Gaston-Paul Effa in 2015

]]

GASTON-PAUL EFFA (born 1965, Yaoundé) is a writer from Lorraine of Cameroonian origin, also a professor of philosophy.

He came to France to attend secondary school at the in Strasbourg, then studied theology and philosophy at the university. He is professor of philosophy at Lycée Mangin of Sarrebourg.

Works

-   1996: _Tout ce bleu_, Éditions Grasset
-   1998: _Mâ_, Grasset
-   2000: _Le cri que tu pousses ne réveillera personne_, Éditions Gallimard
-   2000: _Icône, sanctuaire de la présence_
-   2001: _Cheval-roi_, Éditions du Rocher
-   2003: _Le Juif et l'Africain : double offrande_ (in collaboration with Gabriel Attias), éditions du Rocher
-   2003: _Le livre de l'alliance_ (in collaboration with André Chouraqui), Sofédis
-   2303: _Yaoundé instantanés_, Éditions du Laquet
-   2004: _La salle des professeurs_, Éd. du Rocher
-   2004: _Cette langue est bien ce feu_, Éd. du Laquet
-   2005: _Voici le dernier jour du monde_, Éd. du Rocher
-   2006: _À la vitesse d'un baiser sur la peau_, A. Carrière
-   2008: _Nous, enfants de la tradition_, A. Carrière
-   2012: _Je la voulais lointaine_, Actes Sud
-   2015: _Rendez-vous avec l'heure qui blesse_, Gallimard
-   2015: _Le dieu perdu dans l'herbe,_ Presses du Châtelet
-   2015: _Sous l'apaisante clarté_, poems. in collaboration with Jean-Philippe Goetz; photographs by Nelly Playa, Tertium éditions

Distinctions

-   Prix Erckmann-Chatrian (le « Goncourt lorrain »), 1998
-   Grand prix littéraire d'Afrique noire, 1998.[1]
-   Prix de Littérature de l'Académie rhénane, 2012 in Strasbourg

[1]

title: Gaston-Paul Effa

question: Where and what does Effa teach?

answer: Effa teaches philosophy at Lycée Mangin of Sarrebourg.

question: How many works has Effa released?

answer: Effa has released 17 works.

question: What is Effa's birthday?

answer: Not answered, he was born in 1965.

question: How many awards has Effa won?

answer: Effa has won 3 awards.

question: Write a ~3 sentence summary.

answer: This article is about Gaston-Paul Effa, a writer and professor of philosophy. He has published 17 works and won 3 awards. He currently teaches at Lycée Mangin of Sarrebourg.


text:
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question: What does the text say about the company's air duct cleaning service?

answer: What people inhale every day can very well be detrimental to their health. Air duct cleaning is necessary because it helps remove harmful allergens from the HVAC system to improve people's air quality. That's why the company's exceptional air duct cleaning service comes highly recommended, especially for those on a budget. They offer a hundred dollars off the price of their service and ensure their customers breathe clean air.


text:
The GENTRIFICATION OF CHICAGO is a process that has altered the demographic composition of some neighborhoods in Chicago usually by decreasing the percentage of low-income minority residents and increasing the percentage of typically white, higher-income residents.[1] Gentrification has been an issue between the residents of minority neighborhoods in Chicago who believe the influx of new residents destabilizes their communities, and the gentrifiers who see it as a process that economically improves a neighborhood.[2] Researchers have debated the significance of its effects on the neighborhoods and whether or not it leads to the displacement of residents.[3] There are some researchers who claim that the loss of affordable housing mainly impacts the poorer minority residents and causes them to have to move out of their neighborhoods which destabilizes their cultural communities.[4] However, critics say that since gentrification often excludes highly black neighborhoods, those residents are prevented from benefiting from any of the positive effects such as redevelopment and neighborhood investment.[5] Factors associated with and used to measure gentrification in Chicago are changes in the number of residents with bachelor's degrees, median household income, racial composition, visual observations, and the presence of coffee shops.[6][7][8] Historically, the emergence of urban black and Latino neighborhoods in Chicago during the 1950s through the 1970s were made possible because of the waves of white residents moving out into more suburban neighborhoods.[9] There have been phases of gentrification in Chicago of various neighborhoods, some of which were in 1990s and in 2007-2009.[10][11] Gentrification debates in Chicago have been mostly focused around the gentrification of Chicago's historically Latino or black neighborhoods.[12][13] Generally, these neighborhoods are located near the central urban downtown areas and along the east side of the city.[14][15][16]

Gentrification debate

Generally, the two views held by researchers on gentrification are that it is a process which either negatively affects local residents and their community or that it is a process that positively affects the local economy and revitalizes a neighborhood.[17] Some researchers claim that the negative effect of gentrification is that it leads to displacement of poorer residents by wealthier residents.[18] They argue that the increase in property values and rents forces poor residents out of the neighborhood.[19][20] On the other hand, other researchers claim that the revitalization and increased economic growth of a neighborhood outweigh the adverse effects.[21] Proponents of gentrification also claim that the displacement is actually a sign that people are moving because they freely choose to.[22] However, Boyd (2008) and Perez (2002) state in their studies that current residents of the gentrified neighborhood feel threatened by the arrival of white gentrifiers.[23][24]

In 2015 Governing published an article on their website in which they calculated Chicago's gentrification rate at 16.8%.[25] The article also counted gentrification happening in 51 tracks within Chicago.[26] Another study calculated Chicago's probability of gentrification at 26.2% by taking into account immigration rates into the city.[27] Overall, the data suggests that gentrification of Chicago is happening in relatively few neighborhoods.[28] Some critics of anti-gentrification propose that gentrification is not major issue for low-income communities because it is a localized process that is rare and typically does not affect displacement rates.[29] There is evidence in the research to support these critics claims that gentrification does harm nearby neighborhoods that were not gentrified because they miss out on investment opportunities.[30] Hwang and Sampson's (2014) claimed in their study that positive effects of gentrification associated with urban renewal did not come to benefit poorer black minority neighborhoods because it led to more disinvestment.[31] Because of the ethnographic trends associated with gentrification, for example one study found that communities that are 90% black are less likely to be gentrified, and these neighborhoods are unable to benefit from urban renewal or investment.[32][33] Those in favor of gentrification view it as a process that can help increase proportion of middle class residents in a neighborhood.[34]

Types of gentrification

Sociologist and other researchers at times specify the specific type of gentrification by using terms such as: white gentrification, black gentrification, or Latino gentrification.[35][36] The agents of gentrification can be wealthier white residents moving in as well as wealthier black and Hispanic residents. Researchers have noted that different gentrifiers affect the ways in which local communities react to gentrification and how they see the invasion of space.[37]

Factors that impact gentrification

Factors that are positively associated with gentrification

Researchers study census records, surveys, and information derived from other public records like building permits filed with the city to understand the factors associated with gentrification.[38][39] These factors will vary from city to city as well as their effects on gentrification.[40] In Chicago, researchers have found several characteristics that were common among gentrified tracks such as the proximity to the city center, central business district, the ethnographic and racial composition, and the availability of older housing stock.[41][42] In the past, wealthier residents of a city have resided outside the city center, but in the past two decades there has been an influx of higher income residents to urban neighborhoods, which some researchers claim are agents of gentrification.[43][44] Many gentrifiers are attracted to neighborhoods that a have relatively high minority composition, and researchers say that it is because the idea of living in a diverse neighborhood is appealing to gentrifiers.[45][46] One study used GIS, addresses, and statistical analysis to determine that gentrifiers were also attracted to access to public transportation since there was an association between proximity to Chicago's “L” stations and neighborhoods that were gentrified.[47]

Deterrents to gentrification

Researchers have noted that neighborhoods with higher concentrations of black residents and lower public perceptions have not been gentrified.[48][49][50] One study concluded that if a neighborhood has a concentration of black residents higher than 40% then it was less likely to be gentrified, which was associated with less investment and resources for black residents.[51] This “neighborhood selection” was connected by researchers as being a contributing factor increased inequality for urban blacks in Chicago.[52] Proximity to interstates or highways was associated with a decreased likelihood that the neighborhood would gentrify because they are not heavily used by most typical gentrifiers.[53]

Impact on crime rates, schools, and housing

Crime rates and schools

Papachristos et al. (2011) related the number of coffee shops, a marker of gentrification, to the decrease in crime rates in neighborhoods in Chicago between 1991 and 2005.[54] However, the study found that gentrification was associated with increased crime rates in black neighborhoods.[55] Chaskin and Joseph's (2013) research provided another perspective on how residents perceive crime in that part of their perception is colored by behavior that is technically noncriminal, but deviates from their preferred social norms.[56] With regard to schools, the current research does not indicate that schools are being negatively impacted.[57]

Housing

Research has associated demolition of public housing and low income housing options with gentrification, and it has affected black residents in cities like Chicago.[58] Some research specify that the problem occurs when developers and policy makers neglect to create affordable housing and focus their efforts on increasing property values and on building housing for new more affluent residents.[59] There are efforts being made to integrate the local community in the gentrification process to minimize adverse effects for low-income minority residents, “positive gentrification”.[60] Still, others say that gentrification's lasting effects on communities lead to instability within neighborhoods, particularly Latino and black neighborhoods.[61] While the city does offer Housing Choice Vouchers, Holloway's (2015) research provides evidence that suggests that these voucher programs have contributed to increased segregation of low-income black residents and not helped black residents move to redeveloped housing.[62]

History of gentrification of Chicago

Gentrification in Chicago can be traced back to at least the 1920s, when artists and other creatives moved into an area that became known as Old Town, part of the Near North Side and Lincoln Park neighborhoods.[63] After World War II, the gentrification of Lincoln Park had begun in earnest.[64] A community organization, the Lincoln Park Conservation Organization, took the lead by attracting homeowners rather than renters and pushing to decrease residential density.[65] The neighborhood's gentrification was encouraged in part by a city designation of Lincoln Park as a conservation district, spurring private investment and paving the way for urban renewal operations.[66] Lincoln Park's gentrification, beginning near the lakefront in the 1950s and 1960s and later expanding into the rest of the neighborhood, was a catalyst for gentrification across the North Side of Chicago.[67]

Each community area and neighborhood have a unique story regarding their current demographic composition and cultural narrative.[68][69][70] Some neighborhoods began growing as Eastern European immigrant communities, which then evolved to consist of a different minority immigrant population.[71] After whites left Chicago's urban neighborhoods in the 1950s, a process known as white flight, Latinos, blacks, and other minorities moved into urban neighborhoods and established their own communities.[72] Their communities have faced challenges by the process of urban renewal and redevelopment.[73][74] Developers built new homes in Lincoln Park and Old Town in the 1980s and by the 1990s other neighborhoods were also gentrified, such as Wicker Park and Humboldt Park.[75] Helms (2003) described whites' relocation to neighborhoods closer to downtown as part of a “back-to-the-city” phenomenon as one of the driving forces behind the gentrification of urban neighborhoods in Chicago that has been happening throughout the 20th century and into the 21st century.[76] Then because of Chicago's history of being a “hyper segregated” city (Massey and Denton 1993), many of its black neighborhoods are wary of outside interventions as they have in the past face policies that perpetuate housing segregation and the disinvestment associated with it.[77][78][79][80] Researchers characterize the gentrification in Chicago to have racial order undertones because of historic segregation practices against black, Hispanic, and other minority groups.[81][82][83] The city government has begun to take an active role in creating neighborhood stability by preserving bungalow neighborhoods to help minimize the negative effects of gentrification beginning in 2000.[84]

Analysis by neighborhood

[Map depicting Chicago's neighborhoods. Humboldt Park is located in the center of the city and Bronzeville within Douglas.] [Chicago community areas map: Pilsen is located in Lower West Side, Bronzeville is located in South Side]

Humboldt Park

Humboldt Park, Chicago has one the largest Puerto Rican-American communities in the United States.[85] Reinvestment and upgrade in homes in the 1990s has led to gentrification.[86] Researchers, Wilson and Grammenos (2005) described how proponents of redeveloping real estate in Humboldt Park saw it as “benevolent gentrification” as it would help increase property values, and some used the image of a stereotyped version of the neighborhoods Puerto Rican youth to portray Humboldt Park as a dangerous ghetto like space in need of redevelopment.[87] Another strategy that gentrifiers employ is to not use the name Humboldt Park and instead use the name West Bucktown in describing the location of housing in advertisements.[88] The Puerto Rican residents of Humboldt Park view redevelopment and gentrification efforts as an incursion on their cultural identity because of the history of radicalized policies and rhetoric that have been used by gentrifiers.[89]

Resistance to gentrification in Humboldt Park

Puerto Rican residents within the community have felt threatened by the changes in their neighborhood because they fear gentrification will destabilize their community and voiced their concerns.[90] Individual Puetro Rican residents have led the effort to resist gentrification and promote strategies that in their eyes will protect their Puerto Rican community.[91] For anti-gentrification activists change in their neighborhood is especially personal because they see it as detrimental to their cultural identity.[92]

Bronzeville

Chicago's Bronzeville neighborhood is located in the South Side community area and celebrates its recognition as a historically black neighborhood.[93][94] It is predominantly composed of lower-income black and African-American residents and is an example site of black gentrification.[95] Goetz (2010) published a study that supported the claim that gentrification led to the scarcity of public housing, which disproportionately affected residents that rely on the availability of public housing.[96] According to Boyd (2008) gentrification has occurred due to city officials, incoming wealthier white residents, and black elites who have not made it their primary concern to maintain the availability of affordable housing and instead focused on upgrading the neighborhood.[97]

Resistance to gentrification in Bronzeville

Boyd's (2008) ethnographic study used the term defense development to describe how South Sides black elites were attempting to maintain a sense of control within their community through public and economic policy as a result of feeling that gentrifiers were encroaching on their space and disrupting their community network.[98] However, Boyd (2008) states that their efforts to limit the influence of outside gentrifiers has had the undesired effects of increasing the rate of gentrification overall and disproportionally affecting lower income residents.[99]

Pilsen

The demographics Pilsen, Chicago changed from being composed primarily of residents of European ancestry to those of Latino ancestry in the 1960s.[100] According to a study published in 2016 between the years of 2000-2013 Pilsen has been experiencing gentrification as coffee shops, artisan bakeries, and upscale restaurants open up on or near 18th Street.[101] In 2000, Pilsen was 89% Hispanic, and by 2013 the neighborhood was 81.6% Hispanic.[102] During that time, white residents increased from around 8% to around 12% of the total population.[103] The increase of traffic from tourist and changes in the demographic composition has worried some local residents, while recognizing that the neighborhood has benefited from the economic growth.[104]

Resistance to gentrification in Pilsen

Thalia Hall was purchased and renovated in 2013 for public use as a community and business center.[105][106] Mexican-American residents were concerned with the new redevelopment and the influx of higher income residents into the neighborhood that would negatively impact their Hispanic cultural community.[107]

Uptown

Originally settled as an exclusive commuter suburb turned resort area, Uptown emerged as the leading retail and entertainment destination outside of The Loop in the 1920's and 1930's. During this time, a number of luxury apartment hotels, movie palaces, and other entertainment venues were built, such as the Aragon Ballroom, the Riviera Theater, and the Uptown Theatre. In the later half of the 20th century, it became a destination for immigrant communities. During the 1960's, Native American and southern Appalachian populations migrated to the area. An early example of urban renewal, Harry S. Truman college, was built in the 1970's, displacing a significant number of primarily southern migrants. Later in the 1980's, Uptown became a destination for southeast Asian migrants, centering primarily around Argyle Street. Today, Argyle Street is still home to Chicago's 'Little Vietnam' district, though the southeast Asian population has been steadily decreasing over the past decade. As neighborhoods further south along the lakefront have become pricier, more and more higher income populations are starting to look to Uptown, with a number of SRO buildings and at least one hospital and an elementary school being converted into luxury apartments. Recently, the Broadway Bank Building was bought by developers and a number of the non-profits housed there chose to relocate rather than stay in the neighborhood, citing the changing demographics of the neighborhood. The area has largely been re-branded as an entertainment district, anchored by many of the same venues that made it a destination a century ago. The largest, the Uptown Theatre, is currently in the early stages of being renovated. The impact the renovation will have on the neighborhood is unknown, but it is likely to speed up the investment in the surrounding area as low income individuals continue to be displaced.

Resistance to gentrification in Uptown

Housing advocates have been extremely vocal about the loss of affordable housing in Uptown, staging demonstrations and protests outside remaining SROs, demanding the city take action and pushing for developers to add affordable units to the neighborhood, rather than paying for it elsewhere in the city.

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[103] Pilsen Gets Whiter As 10,000 Hispanics, Families Move Out, Study Finds Stephanie Lulay, DNAinfo, April 13, 2016

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[107]  IT IS FUN TO BE BOHEMIAN - A video-documentary project about the Pilsen quarter in Chicago|last=(http://7interactive.cz/)|first=7interactive s.r.o.|website=divus.cc|access-date=2017-11-27}}

title: Gentrification of Chicago

question: How many phases of gentrification occurred in Chicago in the 90s and 2000s?

answer: It is not stated.

question: Can it be said that gentrification did not favour black communities, and why?

answer: Yes. If a community had a high population of black residents, it's less likely to be gentrified. Black residents would therefore lose out on investments and resources, which was also a contributing factor of increased inequality for the urban blacks in Chicago.

question: Why did gentrifiers prefer to reside in urban neighbourhoods?

answer: Because many gentrifiers were attracted to neighbourhoods with relatively high minority composition, researchers say that it was the idea of living in a diverse neighbourhood was appealing to gentrifiers.

question: What is the significance of gentrification in a neighbourhood?

answer: To revitalise a neighbourhood and increase its economic growth.

question: What were the negative effects of excluding black neighbourhoods in gentrification?

answer: It led to disinvestment and a lack of urban renewal of their neighbourhood.

question: When did gentrification first emerge in Chicago?

answer: In the 1920s.

question: Why was it considered important to increase the proportion of middle-class residents in a neighbourhood?

answer: That information is not known.

question: Write a ~4 sentence summary.

answer: Emerging in Chicago early in the 1920s, studies showed that gentrification had its advantages and disadvantages on local communities and their residents. In those days, gentrification helped increase the economic growth and the modernisation of the neighbourhoods. Still, it affected the poorer residents, causing them to move out of the area because of an increased standard of living. Also, other studies showed that highly populated black residents were ungentrified and excluded from investment opportunities because the gentrifiers prefered living in diverse neighbourhoods.


text:
SIGNED POKEMON CARDS GUIDE

This article is intended to help serve and educate anyone who is interested in collecting signed pokemon cards.

As someone who collects both pokemon and sports memorabilia, signed pokemon cards are an excellent happy medium. Signed cards add a bit more uniqueness to a favorite artwork, or perhaps provide a personal connection to one of your favorite illustrators. After all, the illustrations are what we ultimately collect.

However, since Pokemon is becoming more popular, and there is more opportunity to make money, cards are now being listed with fake signatures. The signature I will be focusing on is Ken Sugimori. It goes without saying that Ken Sugimori is the most notable illustrator in the hobby. He brought pokemon to life. Since the inception of pokemon, his illustrations are what defined pokemon; they are the standard.

Sugimori is the the most prolific illustrator, thus his signature is most likely going to be forged. Since signed cards are relatively new to pokemon, third party companies do not authentic any pokemon signed items. Currently, there are two ways to verify a signed card for sale: one is to purchase from someone reputable who can trace the origin, or the best overall solution, get an expert opinion. Here is a guide that will hopefully fulfill the later option:

Here are three authentic examples of Ken Sugimori signed cards:

[]

[]

[]

It is necessary to compare multiple signed pieces as a signature is not always 100% the same. The space to sign, surface, or other circumstantial variables can slightly variate a signature. Learning how to properly assess a signature regardless of the hobby takes patience, and experience.

Looking at the three photos above, notice how the last card (jumbo electabuzz) has the smoothest signature of all three. The card is much larger and the pen used was finer than the other two examples. Generally speaking, the easiest and most basic way to judge a signature is its "smoothness". You don't want to see pauses in the signature.

Here is an example from ebay where there are constant pauses throughout:

[]

Notice the constant pauses on almost every letter of "Sugimori". If you take a sharpie right now and sign your name, the signature will flow and little to no black dots will be visible. The black dots display a pause and added pressure. Moreover, Sugimori does not typically dot the "i" in his name.

Also, if you are on the market for a Sugimori signed piece, I would not bother with anything that does not include the japanese text. This detail is not a 100% guarantee, but it is a relevant conservative approach as the japanese text is more difficult to forge.

Here is by far the worst example of a sugimori forgery I have ever seen:

[]

Nothing about this signature is correct. There is no Japanese text, the pressure, letter pattern, and writing style is completely off, and pikachu's expression says, "kill me"! Everything about this signature is wrong. You could say the signature is (•_•) / ( •_•)>⌐■-■ / (⌐■_■) far-fetched. This card is by far the worst forgery I have witnessed, but the next example is the most difficult to judge:

[]

This signature appears quite frequently. At first glance, the signature combined with pikachu looks promising. It is overall a smooth signature. However, there is no japanese text. The absence of the kanji does not automatically mean the signature is a forgery. Sugimori signed pieces without kanji, which makes authentication for items such as this much more difficult.

--

When comparing the three authentic examples above, the variation is minimal. There will always be a subtle variation, but if there are multiple points that do not add up, that is concerning.

If there is something that objectively does not match an authentic example, do not bother. When purchasing any signed memorabilia, especially when a third party does not provide authentication service, the best general advice is: "when in doubt, don't".

question: What is the goal of this document?

answer: The goal is to help serve and educated those who are interested in collecting signed Pokémon cards.

question: Why does the author collect signed Pokémon cards?

answer: The author doesn't say why they personally collect these cards. However, they say signed cards can add a bit more uniqueness to a favorite artwork, and can provide a personal connection to a favorite artist.

question: Who is Ken Sugimori?

answer: He is the most prolific illustrator of Pokémon cards. The author says he brought Pokémon to life, and that his illustrations are what defined Pokémon.

question: What is not correct about the signature in the author's worst example of Sugimori forgery?

answer: There is no Japanese text and the pressure, letter pattern, and writing style is completely off. The author says that everything is wrong about the signature.

question: Explain "when in doubt, don't".

answer: IF there is something that objectively does not match an authentic example of a signed Pokémon card, do not buy it. This goes for any signed memorabilia.

question: Write a ~1 sentence summary.

answer: The author of this document gives advice to those who are interested in collecting signed Pokémon cards.


text:
    “I would totally have sex with you right now if I didn’t have a boyfriend.”
    She’s pulled me into a fluorescent restroom on the second floor of a faux-hip alt bar called “green”.
    Some form of house reggae pulses through the floor.
    “You can’t say shit like that. That’s not fair to me.”
    I attempt to sound calm but firm, though my body language betrays the fact that I’m far from at ease
    standing in the women’s room while she fixes her makeup in the mirror.
    “Why not?”
    She’s actually perplexed.
    “Because.. because people who have significant others don’t say things like that.” Because I really want to
    fuck you. Because all night I’ve been relishing the way your pants hug your curves. “Because it’s
    confusing to me. You know what I mean?”
    She drops her lip gloss into her makeup bag and looks at me like I have horns.
    “You need to chill out, man! Make no mistakes; I’m taken.”
    This annoys me.
    “Hey, you’re the one who brought up sex in a public bathroom. I don’t even know what I’m doing in here.”
    It’s true. I have no idea what I’m doing. There has been no analogous precursory situation to
    inform my actions here. I’m also out of practice. I’m also drunk.
    She zips her bag and enters a stall while I stand by the entrance. Her fragrance is everywhere now
    and I’m thinking of how she would look naked, sitting on the bathroom counter with my head
    between her thighs. Her voice calls out from behind the stall.
    “…can.. can you turn on the faucet while I pee?”

    *Edited for formatting*

title: A sexy bit of self-deprecation that happened to me the other day... (AKA: The Fauceteer)

question: What was the awkward twist in this story?

answer: The girl had to go pee and the guy thought she was calling him towards the stall to have sex.

question: How does the narrator feel when the girl says "I would totally have sex with you right now if I didn't have a boyfriend?"

answer: The narrator is uneasy and confused when she says that statement.

question: How would you describe the narrator's thoughts?

answer: The narrator is horny and sexually perplexed.

question: How would you describe the narrator's behavior when the girl tells him to chill out and that she is taken.

answer: The narrator gets annoyed.

question: Write a ~2 sentence summary.

answer: The narrator recounts a memory when he was sexually confused with the actions of a girl. He thought in his drunken manner he would be getting some action but instead the girl just wanted him to turn the faucet on while she peed.


text:
In late February, Venezuela’s government began accepting presidential candidate registrations and announced a snap legislative election for April. The country’s opposition denounces the process as a sham and Maduro as a dictator, both of which may be true.

Oddly, a third voice – the US government – also weighed in. Per US state media outlet _Voice of America_, “the United States, which under President Donald Trump has been deeply critical of Maduro’s leadership in crisis-torn and economically suffering Venezuela, on Saturday rejected the call for an early legislative vote.”

Given the perpetual public pearl-clutching over alleged Russian meddling in the 2016 US presidential election, that’s some major league chutzpah.

The US State Department wants “‘a free and fair election’ involving full participation of all political leaders, the immediate release of all political prisoners, credible international observation and an independent electoral authority.”

Let’s take that one at a time.

Participation of all political leaders? In some US states, it’s harder for a third party to get on a ballot than in, say, Iran.

The immediate release of all political prisoners? Last I heard, US president Donald Trump hadn’t pardoned (among others) Leonard Peltier.

Credible international observation? The US proper committed to admitting international election observers in the Organization for Security and Co-Operation in Europe’s 1990 Copenhagen Document, but many US states forbid international observers or, for that matter, local observers who aren’t affiliated with one of the two ruling parties.

Electoral authorities? The two ruling parties control them all and routinely use them to suppress threatened competition, as do pseudo-private entities like the Commission on Presidential Debates, which makes giant illegal (but government approved) in-kind contributions to the Republican and Democratic candidates in the form of televised candidate beauty pageants which exclude the opposition parties.

Writing in _The Atlantic_, veteran election meddler Thomas O. Mela – formerly of the US State Department, the US Agency for International Development, the National Democratic Institute and Freedom House – argues that election meddling is different when the US does it, because … well, “democracy.”

Mela asserts a “difference between programs to strengthen democratic processes in another country (without regard to specific electoral outcomes), versus efforts to manipulate another country’s election in order to sow chaos, undermine public confidence in the political system, and diminish a country’s social stability.”

The US government spends a lot of time and money (USAID’s budget alone is about one-tenth the budget of the entire Russian government) on foreign election meddling, and somehow “democracy” always gets interpreted as “whatever outcome the US government prefers at the moment.”

Perhaps we should get our own democratic house in order instead of, or at least before, presuming to tell the rest of the world how democracy does or should work.

_Thomas L. Knapp is director and senior news analyst at the William Lloyd Garrison Center for Libertarian Advocacy Journalism. He lives and works in north central Florida._ _This article is reprinted with permission from William Lloyd Garrison Center for Libertarian Advocacy Journalism._

Thomas L. Knapp is senior news analyst at the Center for a Stateless Society, letters editor at Antiwar.Com, and publisher of Rational Review News Digest. View all posts by Thomas Knapp

[show comments]

question: When is the Venezuelan election taking place?

answer: April

question: What federal agency did Thomas O. Mela work for?

answer: US State Department

question: How is public opinion against Maduro depicted here?

answer: Unfavorably

question: WHich has the larger budget: USAID or the Russian government?

answer: USAID

question: Write a ~3 sentence summary.

answer: This article comments on the controversial procedure of the Venezuelan election process. The author is very critical of the US government's comments and involvement in the controversy. The author also lists some election policies in the US that reveal a degree of hypocrisy in the official comments of the US State Department.


text:
The following lists events that happened during 2008 IN NAMIBIA.

Incumbents

-   President: Hifikepunye Pohamba
-   Prime Minister: Nahas Angula
-   Chief Justice: Peter Shivute

Environment

Serious flooding took place in northern Namibia in February and March 2008, with at least 42 dead and 65,000 displaced.

Politics

The ruling party, SWAPO, and the new opposition party, Rally for Democracy and Progress (RDP) contested the first town council election in Omuthiya in the Oshikoto Region.[1] On 24 April, a rally of 200 took place in Windhoek against the porting of the Chinese ship the _An Yue Jiang_ at Walvis Bay.[2]

In May 2008, Ignatius Shixwameni, a former SWAPO and Congress of Democrats (CoD) member, who split from CoD in December 2007, forms the All People's Party.[3]

In June 2008, the Democratic Party of Namibia was formed in ǁKaras Region. Though the CoD's Ben Ulenga criticized the party and others as “tribal”, the DPN rejected the sentiment.[4]

Economics

Labour

The 2008 SKORPION ZINC STRIKE was a worker's strike against the ownership of the Skorpion Zinc mine near the southern town of Rosh Pinah in ǁKaras Region. Lasting 19 days (10–29 May), the workers ended their strike when management agreed to a 12% raise in wages plus overtime and travel expenses.[5] The workers had originally demanded a 14% raise in wages.[6] The strike was supported by the National Union of Mineworkers, who accused Skorpion Zinc of practising racial discrimination and of negotiating in bad faith.[7][8]

Entertainment

Marelize Robberts (born 1987), was crowned Miss Namibia 2008.

Sport

Football (soccer)

The national men's football team began 2008 in the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations. After losing 1-5 to Morocco in their opening match, Namibia lost 0-1 to host Ghana and tied 1-1 with Guinea, finishing in last place in their group. Following the Africa Cup of Nations, Namibia lost 1-3 to Malawi in Windhoek on 26 March. In July, Namibia dropped 15 spots in the FIFA rankings to 146th.[9]

World Cup qualifying

Namibia was drawn into group 2 of the CAF First Group Round, alongside Kenya, Guinea and Zimbabwe. On 31 May, Namibia kicked off qualifiers at home against Kenya, defeating them on an 89th-minute goal by Costa Khaiseb.[10] The Brave Warriors then traveled to Harare on 8 June, losing 0-2.[11] Travelling back to Windhoek to face Guinea on 14 June, the Brave Warriors lost 1-2 on a 45th minute go-ahead goal by Pascal Feindouno. Playin in Conakry on 22 June, Namibia lost again, this time 0-4. After a two-month break, The Brave Warriors went to Nairobi on 5 September. The squad lost on a 44th-minute penalty kick by Kenyan Jamal Mohammed.[12] The last match in the first round was back in Windhoek at Sam Nujoma Stadium against neighbor Zimbabwe on 11 October. The squad jumped to a 4-0 lead before holding onto a 4-2 win, which included two goals by Wilko Risser. However, the match was meaningless for the Brave Warriors, as they had been eliminated from World Cup competition and finished in last place in the group of 4.

COSAFA Cup

The 2008 Cosafa Cup was held in South Africa. The Namibian side won their group, group B, with a record of 2-0-1. In the quarterfinals, Namibia lost 0-1 to the South Africa Development XI team.

Boxing

The University of Namibia hosted the 2nd AIBA African 2008 Olympic Qualifying Tournament from 20–30 March. At that tournament, the final round of qualifiers for boxing at the 2008 Summer Olympics for Africa were determined.

Olympics

Deaths

-   16 January, Munjuku Nguvauva II, 85, traditional paramount chief and leader of the Ovambanderu and Ovambanderu communities.[13]
-   13 March, Kalla Gertze, 48, Congress of Democrats parliamentarian (13 March)[14]
-   14 March, John Pandeni, 57, government minister
-   25 March, Nico Bessinger, former government minister
-   27 June, Chris Hatutale Hawala, 24, vice-president of the Namibian National Student Organization
-   13 July, John Mabuku, former DTA National Councillor and secession leader in the Caprivi conflict[15]
-   14 July, Gabes Shihepo, 53, former deputy minister
-   5 August, Hannes Smith, 75, former reporter

[1] RDP wants to go to court over Omuthiya by Christopher Maletsky, The Namibian, 24 April 2008

[2] Namibians say NO to arms by Tanja Bause, The Namibian, 25 April 2008

[3] APP postpones congress The Namibian, 12 February 2008

[4] Ulenga’s Statement Defamatory – New Parties New Era, 24 March 2009

[5] Strike ends at Namibia's Skorpion Zinc mine in Reuters, 30 May 2008.

[6] Namibia govt seeks to resolve Skorpion Zinc strike in Mining Weekly, 27 May 2008

[7]

[8] Strike ends at Namibia's Skorpion Zinc mine in Reuters, 30 May 2008

[9] Warriors slide down Fifa ranks The Namibian, 3 July 2008

[10] Namibia 2-1 Kenya BBC Sport, 31 May 2008

[11] Match Report fifa.com

[12] Match Results - Kenya vs. Namibia, 6 September 2008

[13] Those Who Sadly Left Us New Era, 19 December 2008

[14] CoD's Gertze Dies New Era 14 March 2008

[15] Mabuku dies in exile _The Namibian_, 16 July 2008

title: 2008 in Namibia

question: Summarize everything that happened in March 2008.

answer: In March 2008, the flooding of northern Namibia continued from February, killi9ng 42 and displacing 65,000. On March 26, Namibia's football team lost to Malawi. From the 20th until the 30th of March, the University of Namibia hosted the 2nd AIBA African 2008 Olympic Qualifying Tournament. Congress of Democrats parliamentarian Kalla Gerze, government minister John Pandeni, and former government minister Nico Bessinger all died in March 2008.

question: Summarize everything that happened in May.

answer: There were several events in Namibia in May 2008. Ignatius Shixwameni formed the All People's Party. There was also the 2008 Skorpion Zinc Strike, which lasted from the 10th until the 29th of May. They ended their strike when management agreed to a 12% raise in wages plus overtime and travel expenses. On May 31, Namibia kicked off qualifiers in the CAF First Group Round by winning against Kenya.

question: What does the text say about the failures of the national men's football team?

answer: The national men's football team lost to Morocco and Ghana, and finished last in their group. After their loss to Malawi, they dropped 15 spots in the FIFA rankings to 146th. During the World Cup qualifications, they lost to Guinea, lost again in Conakry, and lost to Nairobi. This all resulted in their being eliminated from the World Cup competition and finishing in last place in their group of 4.

question: What does the text say about the recession?


text:
[Taylor Swift performs in Germany on June 19.]
Taylor Swift performs in Germany on June 19.
Image: Rolf Vennenbernd/picture-alliance/dpa/AP Images/Associated Press

Taylor Swift has got bad blood with a British photographer.

Freelance photographer Jason Sheldon wrote a response to Swift's much-lauded letter to Apple, accusing her of artistic double standards.

While Swift lambasted Apple Music for not paying artists during a free three-month trial — a policy Apple quickly changed — Sheldon says the singer is guilty of doing something similar to concert photographers.

In his response, Sheldon shares a contract he had to sign when photographing Swift's March 2011 show at the LG Arena in Birmingham, England, which said, "Photographs may be used on a one-time only basis for news or information purposes," and that Swift's management company will have "perpetual, worldwide right to use" of the photos.

"I can't use it in my portfolio, feature it on my website and even the original newspaper couldn't reuse it," Sheldon told the BBC.

[Taylor Swift in concert at the Birmingham LG Arena in the UK in 2011.]

Taylor Swift in concert at the Birmingham LG Arena in the UK in 2011.

Image: Dave Hogan/Getty Images

Not being able to repurpose the photos in any way means Sheldon has "incurred expenses to work, which I can’t recover," according to his response. "Therefore preventing me from licensing my photos to more than one publication, or even (as later versions of this contract stipulate) preventing me from using the images ... while they can use them without licensing the usage is highly unfair and unjustified."

Swift's demands are not unusual of a performer, especially one at her level of fame. After the 2013 Super Bowl, photos that were deemed "unflattering" of Beyoncé were allegedly removed from Getty. It's part of the artist's way to establish control over the use of some of their images.

A spokesperson for Swift responded to Sheldon in a statement.

"The standard photography agreement has been misrepresented in that it clearly states that any photographer shooting The 1989 World Tour has the opportunity for further use of said photographs with management's approval," the spokesperson said. "Another distinct misrepresentation is the claim that the copyright of the photographs will be with anyone other than the photographer — this agreement does not transfer copyright away from the photographer."

"Every artist has the right to, and should, protect the use of their name and likeness."

question: Who was the photographer Taylor Swift had problems with?

answer: Jason Sheldon.

question: Why was the photographer accusing her of artistic double standards?

answer: He claims he had to sign a contract not allowing him to repurpose his photographs of her concert to more than one publication.

question: Why was Taylor Swift demanding that the photos only be used once?

answer: Information can't be found.

question: How did she respond to the allegations?

answer: A spokesperson released a statement claiming that "The standard photography agreement has been misrepresented in that it clearly states that any photographer shooting The 1989 World Tour has the opportunity for further use of said photographs with management's approval," the spokesperson said. "Another distinct misrepresentation is the claim that the copyright of the photographs will be with anyone other than the photographer — this agreement does not transfer copyright away from the photographer."

question: Write a ~2 sentence summary.

answer: At the time of the article, Taylor Swift got into an altercation with a freelance photographer, Jason Sheldon, who accused her of artistic double standards. While photographing her concert in Birmingham, Jason Sheldon claims he was required to sign a contract that prevents him from licensing his photos to more than one publication.


text:
"Um...excuse me, but is something the matter?"
Her voice sounded intelligent enough.  She was probably a student, just leaving the library after a long night of studying.  Spring term often causes even those with relatively easy courses to spend until eleven o'clock at night in the library.  Doing a four month course in two months' time can do that to a person.
"Why do you ask?" he replied.
"You're lying on a concrete wall at eleven-thirty at night."
"I've seen people lying around here before."
"...in the daytime, maybe.  Never this late."
He paused for a second.  "Well, I suppose you're right."
She studied him before replying.  He was in his early or mid twenties, and fairly well dressed, so he probably wasn't homeless.  Then again, he wasn't really sleeping on the wall; he was just lying there with his eyes open in his shorts, a button-up shirt, and sandals, at eleven-thirty on Saturday night.
"So you understand, then, why I'm asking if something is the matter."
"I suppose so."
"...and?"
"Have you ever had the feeling that you're different than everyone else?"
"Well, obviously" she replied.  "Everyone's different."
"No, I'm not talking about normal, 'you listen to Mariah Carey and I listen to Sufjan Stevens' kind of different, I'm talking about really, completely different than everyone around you."  He spoke as if he were having a sort of revelation on the spot--as if nothing that he was saying had ever occurred to him before that moment.  "Like, as if your brain works differently in the way that it comes to conclusions, and your priorities are completely different than everyone else's."
She paused before replying "Is that why you're lying on a concrete wall under a tree at eleven-thirty at night?  Because you're different?"
"I suppose that's one reason," he finally admitted, "and I think that's the root problem.  But probably not the biggest problem I'm facing right now."
"Why's that?"
"Well, I don't necessarily think there's anything wrong with being different.  I mean, Da Vinci was probably different.  Not that I think I'm him.  Sometimes it can create problems, though."
"I meant for you to tell me what this supposed 'biggest problem' you're facing right now is."
"At this exact moment?" he inquired.
"At this exact moment" she replied.
"At this exact moment, my biggest problem is the fact that I'm trying to have an existential crisis, and there's this random girl talking to me."
"I'm sorry, I can leave, if you want."
"No, no.  I think it's better to talk about it than to lay here, thinking about it."
"Okay, so then talk."  She sat down about a foot away from his head, there on the wall.
"Well, for starters, I came to the realization today that I've never had a deep, meaningful relationship with anyone.  Ever."  He spoke in a fairly monotone voice, but somehow it seemed as though he was just barely maintaining his grip on the present.  As if just thinking about the subject caused him inexpressible horror.  She saw the way he lay across the concrete, with as much of his body touching it as possible, and it seemed that he was rooted to the earth in such a way to compensate for his mind's desire to flee.
"What do you mean by 'deep, meaningful relationship'?"
"I mean...well, something that matters.  It's like I have all of these friends, right? And I talk with all of them, and I hang out with some of them, but at the end of the day, I can't really depend on any one of them.  They'd like me to think that I can, but I really can't, and when I need them they all seem to disappear.  It's like...I don't know, like everything is plastic.  Fake.  The world is a set of social rules that I have to follow in order to be normal, and because of this I can't have a real, deep, meaningful relationship with anyone.  Because it's not normal. At least, not on the level I'm thinking of, it isn't."
"Well, can't those relationships be a gateway to what you really want?"
"You'd think so.  I did.  But I must always end up bending or breaking one of those social rules.  Or maybe I'm completely and unforgivably disobeying one that I don't even know about.  And because of that, these fake friendships tend to disintegrate, quickly.  Maybe 'plastic' wasn't a good word to use to describe it.  Plastic takes too long to disintegrate.  It's like they're made of paper, and the first time it rains everything gets soggy and unreadable, then just breaks apart, because there's no real substance to it."
"And that's why you're lying here?"
"Yes."
"On a concrete wall."
"Yes."
"At eleven-thirty at night."
"Yes."
"Because you feel like your friendships are all disintegrating and there's nothing you can do to stop it."
"Yes.  Well---no.  Not exactly.  It's like, I just realized that they all have the capacity to disintegrate, with little to no warning.  And that's what freaks me out.  Not knowing.  Well, that and the lack of a real, meaningful relationship with another human being."
She paused for a moment, presumably attempting to compare this man's problems with her own, and arrived at a conclusion.  Haltingly, she scooted down the concrete wall another foot and a half or two, then lay down so that their bodies made a line, separated by six inches of space between the point where his head ended and hers began.
"What are you doing?" he asked.
"I'm having an existential crisis."

title: Short story / dialogue that I wrote over the summer

question: Why is the man sitting on a concrete wall at eleven thirty at night?

answer: He is having an existential crisis.

question: Why is he having an existential crisis?

answer: He feels that none of his relationships have meaning.

question: Write a ~4 sentence summary.

answer: A young man sits out on a concrete wall at eleven thirty at night. A young woman with nothing better to do comes up to the young man and asks him why he is sitting there. He begins to discuss his state of inner turmoil and existential crisis and she listens with interest. At the end she lies down next to him and says she is also having an existential crisis.


text:
The ALGEICRAS-BOBADILLA RAILWAY was built by the Algeciras Gibraltar Railway Company, the first section of track was laid on 1 September 1888. The first train was purchased from Beyer, Peacock and Company in Manchester. A 1st class return ticket from Gibraltar to Ronda was set at 17.10 Pesetas.[1]

History

It was built for the benefit of British officers stationed in Gibraltar wanting to travel to Spain and the rest of Europe.[2] To avoid offending Spanish sensitivities, the line was built concluding in Algeciras, a town in Spain on the opposite side of the Bay of Gibraltar, rather than at the Gibraltar border. Despite it having no direct connection to the European railway network at the time, a chapter was devoted to Gibraltar in the 1913 guidebook.[3]

So impressed were the inhabitants of Algeciras that they named two streets after people related to the project: one after John Morrison a Scottish engineer (“Juan Morrison”), and one after Alexander Henderson, who had funded the project.[4]

Current situation

In 2019 Spanish government progressed plans to renovate the ageing infrastructure of the line at an estimated cost of €159 million.[5]

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

title: Algeciras-Bobadilla railway

question: Who built the Algeciras-Bobadilla Railway?

answer: The Algeciras-Bobadilla Railway was built by the Algeciras Gibraltar Railway Company.

question: Why was the Algeciras-Bobadilla Railway built?

answer: It was built for the benefit of British officers stationed in Gibraltar wanting to travel to Spain and the rest of Europe.

question: Who were the people that inhabitants of Algeciras named streets after?

answer: The people were John Morrison, a Scottish engineer, and Alexander Henderson, who funded the railway project

question: How much was a 1st class return ticket from Gibraltar to Ronda?

answer: A first class return ticker was 17.10 Pesetas.

question: When was the first section of the Algeciras-Bobadilla Railway track set?

answer: It was set on September 1, 1888.

question: Write a ~1 sentence summary.

answer: This article describes the creation and purpose of the Algeciras-Bobadilla Railway.


text:
When I was eleven years old, my mom took me to England and France on a journey that gave way to a longstanding passion for adventures abroad.

Fifteen years later, at the age of twenty-six, I can’t imagine a life not enriched by travel and the perspective it has given me. Since my first big trip, I’ve lived in three uniquely different countries, studying, working, and immersing myself in cultures completely unlike my own. These experiences became an indelible part of my being, coloring my personality and outlook in ways I never envisioned. I learned what I stand for, who my true friends are, and most importantly, where my home is.

Upon returning, I met a rather unexpected challenge. The poor economy and job market notwithstanding, it has been difficult to find an employer that sees value in my work abroad. The number of stints I’ve taken on in various countries and the jobs between these stints have left my résumé cluttered in the eyes of employers. To me it looks great, but to them, not so much. Perhaps I am naive for expecting employers to understand or share my values on travel. I did, after all, make a conscious decision to defer a traditional career path.

“How do we know you’re not going to leave after a year?” “Given your experience, why do you want to work here out of all places?” These are questions I’ve been prodded with frequently during job interviews. I’ve been called underqualified and overqualified, even for a single position.

Herein lies the conundrum: intellectual growth is not the same as career growth. Its value is not nearly as concrete or demonstrable as a set amount of time spent in one specific field. It’s this lack of concreteness that makes employers perhaps needlessly wary. They often look at only one piece of a very complex equation, much like how universities base their admission decisions mostly on grade point averages and SAT scores. Let’s try to be a little bit more personal.

Many friends of mine settled into more traditional careers after college and tell me they wish they could spend some time abroad. And sometimes I wish I had gone their route, but then I remind myself of all that I’ve gained on my own path. To be cliché, the grass really is greener on the other side.

Eventually, I found work that really draws from my experiences. Soon, I will begin yet another adventure in my life, this time a few miles closer to home.

title: Perspective: The value of travel

question: Why does the narrator believe they find it hard to get a job?

answer: They claim it is due to a sporadic resumé due to their travelling stints between jobs. The narrator believes it is due to this, that prospective bosses are uncertain they will stick around.

question: What sparked the narrator's love of travel?

answer: A trip to France and England with their mother when they were eleven.

question: Is the narrator happy?

answer: The narrator seems to be a person who is tied into the idea of travelling the world. Though they wish they could have a more settled career, they are glad they have had the opportunities to see the world.

question: Write a ~1 sentence summary.

answer: The narrator talks about their experience with travel and how it has impacted on their career or lack thereof.


text:
This was my first short story I had to write for my Creative Writing class back when I was a Junior in high school. I hope you like it!

    "Ooohhhh," Helen groaned. She hurt everywhere. Being in a hospital for six weeks is really something that she wasn't looking forward to. She was about to call for a nurse to change the channel on her tiny tv (golf was not her thing!) when all of a sudden there was a knock on the door. "Come in," she called weakly.

   "Hello, I'm Dr. Bandade, how are you feeling?" He smiled a toothy smile.

   She gave the burly man a sarcastic look. "How do you *think* I'm feeling? I fell out of a five-story window!"

    The doctor pulled up a chair next to her. "Yes about that, how exactly did it happen? On this statement is says that you were pushed?"

    Helen cringed at the very thought of it, not only because it was painful, but she wasn't sure if he would believe her. "Well, it started out as a normal day. I woke up, ate breakfast, completed the daily crossword puzzle in the paper.

    "It was then I noticed that my window was open. A cool breeze swept through, so I decided to close it. I got up and went over to the window.

    "Right as I reached out to grab the handle, Rufus, my cat, rubbed against my leg, causing me to lose my balance. Before I knew it, I was falling out the window!

    "I screamed. I heard people screaming below me. I felt breathless. Panic swept over me.

    "It was only too soon when I came into contact with the ground. I heard bones shattering and I cried out in pain. In the distance, sirens wailed. The ambulance charged down the street.

    "After they put me on the stretcher, they hauled me away to the hospital, where they told me I was lucky to even be alive. They said I broke every bone in my body. I'll be here about six weeks, if not more." Her face fell when she told the doctor this. "And that's all that happened."

    Dr. Bandade looked over at her. "So you fell out accidentally then."

    "No! I was *pushed* out!" she yelled.

    "But you even said that you lost your balance, and no one was with you."

    "Yes there was... Rufus! *He* pushed me out!"

    The doctor rationalized, "But he's a *cat.* He probably didn't realize that rubbing against you to show affection would-"

    But Helen cut him off. "He *deliberately* rubbed too hard and made me lost my balance."

    "What would be the purpose for Rufus to push you?" The doctor raised an eyebrow.

    "He's just evil," she simply said.

    "Oh." He wrote some things down on his clipboard.

    Helen stared at him suspiciously. "What kind of doctor are you anyway, asking me all these questions?"

    "I'm a psychiatrist." He wrote some more things down.

    "What? You think I'm crazy don't you?! I'm telling you, my cat is trying to *kill me!"*

    Before Dr. Bandade could say anything, there was a knock at the door.

    "Excuse me, doctor," the nurse said, "but there's someone here to see her."

    Helen perked up a bit. A visitor to see her!

    The visitor walked into the room.

    "Rufus!" Helen shrieked.

    Standing there was the tabby cat. He was staring at her with glossy green eyes, slanted into slits. His tail twitched as if to say, "I'm *back."*

title: Paranoid?... Or Just Plain Evil?

question: Who is more rational, Helen or Dr. Bandade?

answer: Dr. Bandade appears to be the more rational character, as he is a psychiatrist and Helen is claiming her cat intentionally tried to kill her. However, people are used to recognizing authority figures as stable, and the cat does somehow make his way to Helen's hospital room, so ultimately it is up to the reader to decide whether Helen's interpretation of the situation or the doctor's skepticism is more rational.

question: How is the reader supposed to feel about Rufus?

answer: Vague suspicion, but also potentially pity, if Rufus is innocent.

question: Summarize everything relating to the nurse.

answer: The nurse is almost called to change the tv channel, but isn't, and enters the scene with a knock on Helen's hospital room door to announce that Helen has a visitor. Presumably, (off-page) the nurse let the cat in.

question: Why might Dr. Bandade think Helen is crazy?

answer: While it is unlikely a psychiatrist would approve of using a term like "crazy" when referring to a patient, his lack of belief in Helen's story could mean he believes she is suffering from delusions or something similar.


text:
LUIS CARLOS VILLEGAS ECHEVERRI (Pereira, Risaralda, June 16, 1957) is Colombian politician, lawyer and economist. He was the Governor of Risaralda, and previously served as the Colombian Ambassador to the United States. He served as the Minister of Defence from June 2015 to August 2018.[1]

[1] http://es.presidencia.gov.co/presidencia/Paginas/MinDefensa.aspx

title: Luis Carlos Villegas Echeverri

question: Who is Luis Carlos Villegas Echeverri?

answer: Luis Carlos Villegas Echeverri is a Colombian politician, lawyer, and economist.

question: Summarize everything relating to Luis Carlos Villegas Echeverri's education.

answer: Luis Carlos Villegas Echeverri's education is not mentioned. It is only said that he is a lawyer and an economist.

question: When did Luis Carlos Villegas Echeverri serve as the Minister of Defence?

answer: Luis Carlos Villegas Echeverri served serve as the Minister of Defence from June 2015 to August 2018.

question: When was Echeverri born?

answer: Echeverri was born in 1957.

question: Write a ~2 sentence summary.

answer: Luis Carlos Villegas Echeverri is a Colombian politician, lawyer, and economist. He was the Governor of Risaralda, the Colombian Ambassador to the United States, and the Minister of Defence.


text:
The director’s face was the first I saw upon returning. I had hoped it would be my mothers. His bifocals were constantly sliding down that pointy nose, and I could tell he was nervous from the constant smoothing of the stringy hair around his ears. Several emotions flickered across his face at once: fear, joy, excitement, jealousy. The last made me uncomfortable, and I shifted under the large man’s eager stare.

“Well… what did you see?” he asked, rubbing his forehead with a handkerchief. His voice was higher than normal; normal being already slightly feminine. The others in the room stared expectantly, pen and paper ready in each pair of hands. Reporters, news camera crews, journalists, and anyone else who wanted exclusive information was jammed into the already cramped room. If I had more of an ego, I may have enjoyed the attention. Perhaps even more so if I had anything to tell them.

They thought I was the perfect candidate, considering my experience. Every trip to the past had included me, either on my own or accompanying a person or group. They thought that I was good luck. I knew better, knew that I was the opposite. The first time, I had caught cholera, and had nearly died in Nottingham. The second, a stray Mongol arrow had all but pierced my heart. The rest are a jumble of disease, famine, natural disasters, and war casualties. Each time, as I was about to die, I was brought back to the present and the ailment cured. They told me it was worth it, for science and history. None of them ever volunteered to join me.

If it hadn't been news of the meteor, I may have continued my disastrous missions into history. It had been kept quiet at first, but news leaked out, as it always does. People began to panic, rioters hit the streets, and religious extremists gained billions of followers. Of course, nobody knew if the meteor would actually hit; it all depended on the timing. Either a direct collision, pulled by our gravity, or else it will pass extremely close and shoot towards the sun. Impossible to tell.
Then the director had his brilliant plan; if we could see the past, why not the future?  In the state of panic, everybody jumped on board. The director became a sort of celebrity, and funding was raised quickly. And who better, he asked, to lead this mission, but the one who had been a part of all previous missions. I tried to oppose, of course, but they wouldn't hear it. I was going.

I knew all along there was nothing to be seen. Even as they were inputting the coordinates, I was trying to decide what to say. You cannot predict the future; you cannot know it, because it does not yet exist. There are many possibilities, many different ways it could run. Astrologists and prophets appear successful, because they predict the most likely outcome, and brag intelligence or giftedness when it comes about. But there was no likely outcome, no easily discernible pattern to follow. It was one or the other, left or right, death or life. Heads or tails.

I glanced down, as the face of George Washington stared mockingly up at me. With a practiced smile and show of relief, I proclaimed that we would survive; the meteor will pass close enough that offshoots will create much damage, but Earth will remain intact.

Celebratory whoops and hollers filled the room, and the director did something of a dance. I smiled, shaking hands and giving hugs as everyone came to congratulate me. There was no happiness, no excitement, as I wait until the day the meteor would arrive. If I were to be honest with myself, I hope it hits us.

Nobody will judge you when you are dead.

title: Our Future, or Lack-Thereof

question: Identify the loophole in the story.

answer: The resolution of the climax revolves around the main character's declaration that travelling to the future is impossible since it does not exist. This would only be true if their "present" is the very end of time, but it is not. Their present is their future's past, just as travelling to the era of the Mongols is them coming from the future of the Mongols' present. So each time that the main character is brought to the "present" before a fatal incident, they are essentially travelling to the future. Thus, the director's plan should have worked.


text:
[Peasants at Sunset] PIERRE GRIVOLAS (2 September 1823, Avignon - 5 February 1906, Avignon) was a French painter; known for landscapes, portraits and genre scenes.

Biography

After displaying an early talent for drawing, his parents enrolled him in art classes. In 1843, he won first prize in the Biennial Design Contest at the Fondation Calvet, which came with a cash award that enabled him to continue his studies in Paris.[1] There, he was a student at the École des Beaux-Arts, where he met and was influenced by Dominique Ingres, Eugène Delacroix and Hippolyte Flandrin. In 1848, at the outbreak of the February Revolution, he returned to Avignon. He became one of the first members of the Félibrige in 1854. [Mont Ventoux] In 1877 the Soucieta Felibrenco dé Paris was founded by Baptiste Bonnet, Jean Barnabé Amy, Joseph Banquier, Antoine Duc (Duc-Quercy), , Louis Gleize and Pierre Grivolas. The society created the journal _Lou Viro-Souléu_.[2] From 1878 until his death, Grivolas was the Director of the École des Beaux-Arts d'Avignon;[3] steering his students away from Academicism by taking them on plein aire excursions to Les Angles and along the Rhône. He is credited with creating the art movement now known as the “Nouvelle école d'Avignon”.

In 1894, Grivolas invited his youngest brother, , a still-life painter, to leave his home on the Côte d'Azur and join him at his home near Mont Ventoux,[4] where they lived like shepherds while making sketches. The following year, they moved to Monieux, a small village at the entrance to the . They spent the next season at Ventouret, near Aurel, attempting to capture the colors of the mountain landscape. A street in Avignon has been named after him.

[1] *“Pierre Grivolas, la Nouvelle école d'Avignon” @ the Fondation Calvet website.

[2]

[3]

[4]

title: Pierre Grivolas

question: Who was Pierre Grivolas?

answer: Pierre Grivolas was a French painter who loves to paint landscapes, portraits, and genre scenes.

question: What was the first prize won by Grivolas?

answer: He won the Biennial Design Contest in 1843.

question: What art movement was Grivolas credited with creating?

answer: He was credited with creating the art movement known as the "Nouvelle école d'Avignon".

question: Who were the people who influenced Grivolas in his art career?

answer: Grivolas was influenced by Dominique Ingres, Eugène Delacroix and Hippolyte Flandrin while still a students at the École des Beaux-Arts.

question: Write a ~4 sentence summary.

answer:
Pierre Grivolas was a French painter who loves painting landscapes, portraits, and genre scenes. While still a student, he won Biennial Design Contest at the Foundation Calvet, the award which helped him further his studies.

Grivolas' art style was influenced by Dominique Ingres, Eugène Delacroix and Hippolyte Flandrin. Grivolas is credited with creating the art movement known as “Nouvelle école d'Avignon”.