text:
The LANGE MEILE (“Long Mile”) is a plateau (hence the name _Auf der Langen Meile_ - “On the Long Mile” - is often used) in the Franconian Jura in south Germany which is up to about .[1] It lies within the region of Franconian Switzerland in the Upper Franconian county of Forchheim in the state of Bavaria.

Location

The Lange Meile is located on the western fringes of the Franconian Jura in the Franconian Switzerland-Veldenstein Forest Nature Park. Its plateau lies between the four towns of Heiligenstadt (Bamberg county) to the north-northeast, Ebermannstadt to the east, Forchheim to the south-southeast and Eggolsheim to the west. Nearby villages include Eschlipp to the north-northeast, Niedermirsberg, Breitenbach, Neuses-Poxstall, Reifenberg and Weilersbach to the east, Ehrlersheim and Rettern to the south, Kauernhofen, Weigelshofen, Drosendorf, Götzendorf to the west and Drügendorf to the north-northwest.

On the northern edge of the Lange Meile, on its boundary with the main plateau of the Franconia Jura between Eschlipp and Drügendorf are limestone quarries. Here the _Staatsstraße_ 2260 from Ebermannstadt runs past Eschlipp between the quarries to Drügendorf. To the east the plateau descends into the valley of the Wiesent, a tributary of the Regnitz and, to the west, into that of the Eggerbach, a short tributary of the Main-Danube Canal.

High points

Among the high points on the Lange Meile, which are only gentle hill summits or eminences, are the following (with heights in metres (m) above sea level (NHN):[2]

-   Schützenberg (517 m), northeast of Rettern
-   Wachknock (517 m), between Niedermirsberg and Breitenbach
-   Mirsberger Höhe (514.5 m), northwest of Niedermirsberg
-   Rotenberg (510 m), east-northeast of Kauernhofen
-   Retterner Kanzel (506.3 m), east of Rettern
-   Steinberg (506 m), north of Reifenberg
-   Högelstein (497.9 m), between Kauernhofen and Rettern
-   Schloßberg (493.1 m), northeast of Drosendorf

Geology

The rocks of the _Lange Meile_ were formed by the Jurassic Sea and consist of clay, sandstone and limestone. Sediments of the Malm characterise the plateau. Its source waters are used to supply drinking water to several nearby villages. It has a high lime content.

Reserves

On the eastern flanks of the _Lange Meile_ is one of the western areas of the Special Area of Conservation called Wiesent Valley and Side Valleys (_Wiesent-Tal mit Seitentälern_, FFH No. 6233-371), the western flank of this table-like hill is part of the southern area of the SAC known as the Albtrauf from the Frisener Warte to the Lange Meile (_Albtrauf von der Friesener Warte zur Langen Meile_, FFH No. 6132-371). Large parts of the _Lange Meile_ lie in the western part of the Franconian Switzerland-Veldenstein Forest protected area, established in 2001 founded and covering an area of 1,021.64 square kilometres (LSG No. 322697).[3]

Landscape and sights

The steep sides of the _Lange Meile_ are forested, the plateau itself is bare in many areas and is used for agriculture.

On the Lange Meile are Feuerstein Castle Airfield south of the Mirsberg Heights (_Mirsberger Höhe_) and, south of that, the Feuerstein Observatory. On the _Wachknock_, to the east, is the youth hostel of Feuerstein Castle.

[1] map services of the BfN

[2]

[3]

title: Lange Meile

question: What is the highest point included here?

answer: Shützenberg and Wachknock are tied at 517 meters.

question: Explain everything about the northern ridge?

answer: There are limestone quarries along the border between  Eschlipp and Drügendorf. The eastern part of the plateau descends into the valley of the Wiesent. The western descends into the valley of the Eggerbach.

question: What is the Staatsstraße 2260?

answer: It might be inferred that it is a road or street

question: What types of stone are common in the Lange Meile?

answer: Sandstone and Limestone

question: Wha does "Lange Meile" translate to?

answer: The Long Mile

question: Write a ~2 sentence summary.

answer: This article discusses a geological formation known as the Lange Meile. It discusses some of the geological and topological features of the plateau, including what river valleys it connects with and what types of stone compose it.


split: train

text:
Coffee is increasingly earning scientists’ approval. Studies continue to suggest that the beverage may have some beneficial effects on health.

In the latest analysis, published in the _BMJ_, researchers scanned nearly 220 studies on coffee and found that overall, coffee drinkers may enjoy more health benefits than people who don’t drink the brew.

The scientists, led by Robin Poole from the University of Southampton in the UK, learned that people who drank coffee were 17% less likely to die early during the study period from any cause, 19% less likely to die of heart disease and 18% less likely to develop cancer, compared to people who did not drink coffee.

Other recent studies have linked coffee drinking to lower rates of heart disease, early death and diseases like liver cirrhosis, type 2 diabetes and even neurological conditions like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease. Poole’s group found that the strongest benefit occurred among people who drank around three cups of coffee a day.

“I think now we can be reasonably reassured that overall, coffee drinking is a safe habit,” says Dr. Eliseo Guallar, professor of epidemiology and medicine at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, who wrote an editorial accompanying the study.

MORE: Here’s Another Reason to Feel Good About Drinking Coffee

Other studies have tried to tease apart which ingredients in coffee contribute to its health benefits. Those might include its antioxidants, which can combat cancer, and anti-inflammatory compounds, which can reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as heart conditions and even neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer’s, as well as the risk of liver diseases like cirrhosis and cancer.

While they say that the results support moderate coffee drinking as a relatively healthy habit, both Poole and Guallar say the findings don’t go far enough to prompt anyone to change their coffee-drinking habits in the hopes of improving their health. The study did not confirm, for example, that people who do not currently drink coffee should start adding a cup or two a day in order to lower their risk of getting heart disease or any of the other chronic conditions studied. The data also do not support the idea that current coffee drinkers should drink even more coffee to enhance whatever benefits they might be receiving. Too much coffee, the data suggest, starts to bend the benefit curve back down.

The only negative health effects the review found were among women, who were at slightly higher risk of developing fractures if they drank more coffee, and pregnant women. Pregnant women who drank more coffee tended to have higher rates of miscarriage, more premature births and more babies born with low birthweight than women who drank less coffee, the study found.

MORE: Can Coffee Make Your Workout Easier?

Poole notes that the analysis included a number of different studies, each with different designs, and not all of them may have adjusted for potential confounding effects that could skew the connection between coffee and health outcomes. Coffee drinkers, for example, also tend to smoke more than non-drinkers, and smoking has an effect on early death, heart disease and certain cancers.

The findings should be reassuring for coffee drinkers, as long as they drink in moderation, Poole says. Further studies will hopefully look deeper into the type and amount of coffee that confers the most health benefit.

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CONTACT US at letters@time.com.

question: Summarize the socioeconomic context around this coffee study.

question: Summarize the ways in which coffee drinking can be beneficial.

answer: Coffee drinkers tend to have a slightly lower chance of dying prematurely, according to one study in the UK. The separate risks of heart disease and cancer are also lower for people who drink a moderate amount of coffee than for those who do not partake at all. Some other studies also claim that drinking coffee is linked to lower diabetes and liver cirrhosis rates as well. The ideal amount seems to be about three cups per day.

question: Summarize the types of ingredients in coffee that are thought to have beneficial properties.

answer: Coffee has naturally-occurring antioxidants, which can help fight against cancer, and anti-inflammatory compounds, which reduce the risk of heart disease. They have been known to help with lowering the risk of dementia and Alzheimer's as well. There have been some links between anti-inflammatory compounds and cirrhosis of the liver. However, coffee drinkers have a greater tendency toward smoking, so the takeaway is that co-factors can detract from the positive input of any singular substance.

question: What does this entire text ultimately say about drinking coffee?

answer: In sum, it says that while there is evidence that moderate coffee drinking can help bolster the body's more natural defenses against a few major diseases, it is not a preventative measure. The article also acknowledges that sometimes avid coffee drinkers are likelier to have other habits such as smoking cigarettes, which, while it doesn't cancel out the benefits of coffee, works to the detriment of the smoker. Too much coffee, however, is not a good thing, as the optimistic statistics start to go the opposite way. Pregnant women who are avid coffee drinkers may be statistically likelier to have a miscarriage. It is also important to note that this is the product of myriad studies conducted in different areas, so the findings are not uniform and cannot predict the health of any coffee drinker or non-drinker.


text:
Jack stood underneath the dripping wet, plastic roof that covered the bench at the bus station on the corner of Jackson Ave and Wilmont Street.  It had been nine years since he had last seen Rachel, and he didn’t know what he was supposed to be thinking.  This was a girl whom he had engaged to, a girl whom he had lived with, and the first real love of his life.  Nine years ago, he would’ve traded anything in the world to have a better life with her, but now, she was just a distant memory.

Jack waited in the rainy weather for 15 minutes before his bus finally arrived.  To him, those 15 minutes felt like 3 hours.  He had been thinking about her for a few days now, and now he was fighting that one tiny part of him that still had feelings to her.  It took him nearly a year to move on with his life when she had left him, and the last eight years had filled with very little thought of her.  He had moved on, he was certain of that, but now that she was brought back into his mind, he began to reminisce on the six great years that he had spent with her.  It didn’t end like he had hoped, and things were never fixed between the two of them, but that was okay.  He accepted the fact that she wasn’t the one, and he had moved on years ago, but it all came flooding back now.

At the bus stop, Jack had been thinking about the fabulous college years that he and Rachel had spent together.  There trip to France after junior year, the promise they made to each other to spend eternity together one night when they were studying of their Biology midterm, even the times they would sneak away behind Rachel’s dorm to umm, “talk”.  But the arrival of the bus broke his daze, and when he sat down and the bus began moving again, he remembered why he and Rachel ended the way they did.  They fought, they yelled, they disagreed, they lied, they snuck around behind each other’s backs, they cheated.  The cheating wasn’t very prominent though, Jack once met a beautiful girl at a party during his first year in college, and Rachel decided to let loose the summer after her senior year in high school.  The same high school the two had met at, and had begun dating in right before graduation.  Jack had always thought that the happiness that they felt when they were alone, the constant want to be with each other, and the seemingly quick makeups and the similar life goals would be enough to keep them together forever, but it wasn’t.  Rachel got so mad once, that she decided to skip out on the trip to Jack’s home for Thanksgiving, and she flew across the country to her other friends instead.

The final breaking point came a little more than a year after the two had graduated from college.  Jack went on a trip to Prague with some of his pals from Law School, and Rachel wanted to forget about him for the week.  Rachel went to some clubs with some of her friends, the same friends that Jack never liked, and Jack found out.  Jack didn’t mention it for quite some time, but when Rachel yelled at Jack for not letting her go out on a Friday night, Jack brought up the clubbing.  Rachel, frustrated, stormed out of their apartment, and never moved back.  A week later, Rachel called up Jack, and asked him to bring her her clothes.  A week after that, the two sat down for a real talk.  Jack tries to blur the talk out of his mind, because everything seemed so simple and happy then, and when he looks back on it, it makes him miserable.  Jack only remembers the end, in which Rachel claimed that she in no way wanted to end their relationship, and that Jack meant the world to her.  Rachel just needed some time alone, and Jack knew that he had to give her that much.

As time passed, Jack slowly started to realize that Rachel wasn’t coming back to him.  All the little inconsistencies in their relationship added up, and it just wasn’t fun for her anymore.  Jack was miserable for these couple of months.  About three months after their “break” had commenced, Rachel called Jack.  She was two months pregnant, and she was keeping the baby.  Rachel told him that she was sorry, but it was something she had to do at the time.  The father was just some random guy Rachel met at a party, and the fact that Rachel, the girl who Jack stole the virginity of, and whom did the same to him, would just go out and sleep with another guy almost right away.  Jack had an anger inside of him that was raging so badly that he told Rachel to never talk to him again.  Rachel didn’t beg for forgiveness, but she asked for it.  She told him she knew she was wrong, but she knew that everything was over.  That was the last time Jack talked to Rachel, and the words that he last said still haunted his mind “I gave you everything, but all you wanted was a bottle of vodka and some unprotected sex.  Goodbye Rachel.”

This was nine years ago, almost to the day, and the intense memory of Jack’s life as he had known for six years ending so quickly and heartbreakingly ate at him do this day; that’s why Jack didn’t like to think about her, or how it ended. But he couldn’t avoid it anymore, and he had to face the things that had scared him.  Jack never met the baby, but he had learned his name.  Jonathan.  He always found it funny that she named it something similar to his name, but his name was Jack, so he never felt like it was really named after him.  Jack ran into one of Rachel’s friends a few years back and learned that she never married, she never even told anyone, except her parents, who the father was.  Jack felt urged to ask about the alleged party that Rachel had met this guy at, but decided against it.  Rachel’s friend mentioned how Rachel only went out with them twice after their breakup, she was either crying, or pregnant the rest of the time, and refused to go out.  Oddly enough, Jack was disappointed that the things Rachel left him for she was never able to have.  It made it all seem pointless to him.

Jack never contacted Rachel after that night where she told him he was pregnant.  He once received a Christmas card from Rachel and Jonathan, but that was only once, and he never sent one to them.  Jack was honestly quite nervous knowing that in a less than an hour, he would be meeting the kid.  For some reason, he wanted Jonathan to like him, he didn’t know why, but he did.

Before Jack knew it, his twenty minutes bus ride was over, and he needed to get off the bus.  Jack walked a few blocks, and then reached the building that he was supposed to enter.  He double checked the address one more time, he had it right.  Jack tightened his silk, black tie, put his phone in his jacket pocket, and entered.  The minute he entered, his heart sank.  Jack began to cry, and he began to cry harder than he had ever cried in his life.  The breakup, the pregnancy, not even the call he had gotten the previous week to come had made him as emotional as he was right then and there.  Jack gathered up all the strength in him, and walked forwards.  He saw the sweet, innocent face of the first girl he had ever loved from across the room.  Those soft, tender, rose like lips that had gently pressed upon his more times than he could ever imagine now sat still, perfectly dressed with a light layer of pink lipstick.  Jack bit his lip, clenched his fist, and did everything he could to keep himself composed.

Jack walked with a slow pace, and went over to where Rachel was.  He took the single red rose out of his jacket, and prepared to give it to her.  When he was finally within a foot of her, he stopped walking.  He didn’t say a word.  Jack stared at Rachel for a few seconds, and then gently kissed her on the forehead.  Immediately afterwards, while still feeling the tickle in his throat that made him want to cry, he placed the rose down softly inside the casket.  “Goodbye Rachel, I will always remember you” were the only words he muttered before walking away.

Jack couldn’t bear to stay longer to talk to Rachel’s family, but was stopped by her mother before he could sneak out.  “Jack” she said, “wouldn’t you like to meet your son?”  And slowly from behind Rachel’s mom’s leg, a slim, blonde haired, nine year old boy walked out.  “This is Jonathan” Rachel’s mom said slowly, “he’s been waiting to meet you”.

title: This is my first ever shot at a short story. It's called "The Missed Chance".

question: How long has it been since Jack has seen Rachel?

answer: Nine years.

question: What's the weather like?

answer: Rainy.

question: During which trip did the former couple vow to spend eternity together?

answer: A trip to France after their junior year of college.

question: Who did Rachel say was the father of her baby?

answer: Some guy she'd met at a party.

question: Write a ~9 sentence summary.

answer: Jake is waiting for Rachel at the bus stop on a rainy day. The two had enjoyed a delightful and serious romance throughout college, but had broken up a couple years after Jake graduated. At first, they'd been on break, but Rachel had grown distant, making it clear she was leaning more toward a breakup. Then she'd called Jake to inform him she was pregnant and keeping the child, which was the result of a hookup with a random guy from a party. Jack had been livid, and had told her off. That was nine years ago. Now he takes the bus 20 minutes to the place to the funeral home, where he gives Rachel one final rose in her casket. He sobs. Rachel's mom asks Jack if he would like to meet his son.


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

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

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

Your loving and dedicated husband,

Eddie

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

question: What mood is the author trying to evoke?

answer: Sad, melancholy


text:
The last two days had been very strange for me. I killed a man on a psycho’s lawn, and the next day, the psycho came into my office and asked if I would like to eat lunch with him. He seemed to be acting perfectly normal. I noticed his speech pattern had changed as well. He wasn’t saying “ya” or swearing anymore. Something was off. Or maybe Noah had just realized how messed what we had done was.
I put it out of my mind, and started to enjoy myself. Noah was actually very intelligent and funny. He must have been intelligent from the start, I concluded, he is a lawyer after all. He was probably just drunk for the last week. I chuckled at the thought.
We finished up our lunch, and headed out to my car. Noah said he had left his phone at my office, so I offered to take him there before I took him home. He thanked me in an uncharacteristically gratuitous way. However, I didn’t sense anything was amiss, and we got in.
Big mistake. The minute I got in the car, Noah pulled out what looked like an ingot, and bashed me across the head with it.
I woke up in a small, cramped room that I recognized as the interior of Noah’s shed.
“Took you long enough,” said Noah in a cold voice. “What the fuck?” I demanded.
“I can’t have another murderer taking advantage of Noah, now can I,” he said in that cold voice, “No, I’m going to have to kill you I suppose.”
“What? No! Noah, you don’t have to do this. I’m not going to tell anybody, you can let me go.” I knew he wasn’t going to.
“Noah’s not here right now. If you’d like to leave a message, please don’t. I screen his calls.”
Noah had finally snapped. The bastard was crazy.
I tried to reason with him, “C’mon Noah. You know you don’t have to do this!”
“I TOLD YOU I’M NOT NOAH!”
“If you’re not Noah, who are you then?”
“BELLUA.”
No. It couldn’t be. Noah had talked about Bellua so much, but always acted as Bellua was a friend or something. I finally put the pieces together.
“Yes, I can see the truth has finally dawned on you,” Noah/Bellua drawled, “Frankly, I don’t see how an idiot like you became a neurosurgeon. Let me explain it to you. I’m the original Noah. The Noah you know is simply a second personality of mine. Noah was born after I was caught in an explosion. That’s why he is so fixated on fire. I’ve been this way for as long as I can remember, but now that I have the Other Noah, it is so much easier for me to cleanse this disgusting society. The Other Noah agrees. He doesn’t have my capacity, so he uses fire as his tool. It’s crude but it works. Why, just recently he managed to rid society of a bartender who was a serial rapist. I’m much more dedicated however. I take out the real sickos. Like you. And Other Noah will dispose of your body. You pretend to kill only bad people, but what about the little girl who you kidnapped and did unspeakable things to? What about the man you decapitated for fun? ANSWER ME? Why’d did you do it? Did you have any reason? NO! I may be a monster, but I know that! People like you, who pretend to be infallible, make me sick!”
My cheeks were so cold. I couldn’t believe it. How did he know all this?
I knew I was going to die. I began to say an Our Father.
“YES. This reaction. I love it!” Noah/Bellua bellowed, “The ‘prayer,’ as if pretending to repent to an entity you’ve never believed in will make it all better. Using religion as a fair-weather friendship with God, I love it! But why bother praying to God now? I control your life now: I am your God. Pray to me!”
I said nothing. Noah/Bellua began to pace, muttering something under his breath.
“What?” I said.
“Squares!” He murmured a little louder,
I realized what he was doing: getting ready to kill me. Finally, I closed my eyes, went limp,  and gave up.
But he wouldn’t let me do that. He yanked up into a sitting position forcefully, and suddenly I felt metal being pressed down, then a sharp pain in the back of my neck. He wouldn’t stop. It felt like he was cutting something out. When he finished, he showed me what he had done. The square piece of my skin he had cut out was dripping with my blood.
“And now, I must bid you adieu,” Noah/Bellua whispered into my ear. And all was dark.

title: Bellua (Original Short Story by Me) p.3 Rust (Final Part)

question: What is the mental state of Noah?

answer: He seems to have a multiple personality disorder.

question: Why is Noah/Bellua angry at the narrator?

answer: He considers himself a killer with a worthy goal, whereas the narrator also does evil acts. Noah is specifically angry at the narrator for the little girl he hurt and the man he decapitated.

question: Why is Noah's speech pattern different?

answer: It seems that his demeanor changes depending on which personality is active at the time.

question: How did Noah's condition start?

answer: He was caught in an explosion and the subsequent fire, which somehow produced a second personality in the same body.

question: Write a ~8 sentence summary.

answer: Having killed a man two days prior on Noah's lawn, the narrator and Noah start to form a friendship. Noah's demeanor is entirely different, but the narrator dismisses the disparity. At an opportune moment, Noah hits the narrator with a brick and takes him to the lawn. Noah claims not to be Noah, saying his name is Bellua. He then explains that Noah is the second personality of his, born at an explosion. Noah/Bellua is angry at the narrator because he considers himself a killer with a worthy goal, whereas the narrator also does evil acts. Noah is specifically angry at the narrator for the little girl he hurt and the man he decapitated. For that, Noah kills the narrator.


text:
[Ren Zhiqiang during an appearance in September at Wuhan University in Hubei Province.]

Credit...ChinaFotoPress, via Getty Images

-   Feb. 28, 2016

BEIJING — The microblog account of an outspoken property tycoon and critic of President Xi Jinping, which had nearly 38 million followers, was deleted by China’s Internet control bureau on Sunday.

An official statement said that the tycoon, Ren Zhiqiang, had exerted a “vile” influence on the country by spreading illegal information on the website, which was on the Sina Weibo platform.

Mr. Ren, a member of the Communist Party, had recently posted statements questioning a new policy on news media control announced by Mr. Xi on Feb. 19. The president visited the three main party and state media organizations that day and said that all Chinese news media had to serve the party. No Chinese leader since Mao Zedong had suggested so explicitly that spreading official propaganda should be the media’s top priority.

Mr. Ren said in his posts that the news media should serve the people, not the party. Those posts were quickly deleted, and a website managed by the propaganda unit of the Beijing municipal party committee then attacked Mr. Ren on Feb. 22, saying he was acting against the party.

Mr. Ren has long had a reputation for posting controversial messages online. That earned him the nickname the Cannon. In 2011, he stepped down as president of Beijing Huayuan Group, a property company, but he remained president of a publicly listed subsidiary until 2014. One official news report estimated his net worth in 2009 at around $22 million.

The Internet control bureau, the Cyberspace Administration of China, took the rare step on Sunday of publishing a long statement explaining why it had deleted Mr. Ren’s account. The bureau is led by Lu Wei, a party and government official who traveled with Mr. Xi to the United States in September to meet with top executives of American technology companies. He is in charge of ensuring that foreign technology companies in China abide by strict rules laid down by the party and the state.

The statement on Sunday, attributed to Jiang Jun, a spokesman for the bureau, said, “Internet users have reported that Ren Zhiqiang’s account had been continuously publishing illegal information, and the impact was vile.” It added that “Internet celebrities” and influential microblog personalities, known as Big Vs, “must correctly use their influence, exemplify obedience to laws and regulations, shoulder social responsibility and actively spread positive energy.”

Mr. Jiang said the “cyberspace administration will increase the intensity of enforcing Internet content laws, and asks for all online platforms to refuse to provide channels for illegal speech.”

The authority did not specify why Mr. Ren’s posts were illegal or which of them had violated the law. Mr. Ren could not be reached for comment.

In recent years, the party has been cracking down on writings by Big Vs, people who, like Mr. Ren, are labeled “verified users” by Internet companies and have millions of online followers, to ensure that they toe the party line. A signal moment in that campaign came in 2013, when the police arrested Charles Xue, a Chinese-American businessman with 12 million microblog followers, and paraded him on state television, saying he had solicited prostitutes.

The authorities have clamped down on Internet speech in other ways. In 2013, the nation’s top legal authorities said the criminal charge of “picking quarrels and provoking trouble” could be applied to online writings.

Officials have also charged more Internet users with “spreading rumors,” including in cases where writers had been discussing the recent economic downturn and stock market turmoil.

question: What does the article say about microblogs?

answer: Microblogs are being deleted in China without consent. They are doing this to avoid misinformation being spread. China has been well known for censoring its media.

question: What does the text say about communism?

question: What does the text say about Mr. Ren?

answer: Mr. Ren, a member of the Communist Party, had recently posted statements questioning a new policy on news media control announced by Mr. Xi on Feb. 19. On Sunday, President Xi Jinping's account was deleted by China's internet control bureau.

question: What does the text say about misinformation?


text:
Justice (C) 2012-2013 Victor D. Lopez
_______________________________

Time: The all too near future
Place: A courtroom
Setting: Final sentencing for the last remaining capital offense on the books of an apparently kinder, gentler more just world where equality is no longer a mere aspiration.
_____________________________

Justice

The prisoner stared impassively into the camera. The bright lights causing beads of sweat to form above his eyes and forcing him to squint, his perspiration-soaked thinning hair flattened unflatteringly against his forehead. No sound could be heard other than the faint hum of the air conditioning whose airflow was directed from the high ceiling above the high seats of the three judge panel, towards the three judged, keeping their immediate area comfortably cool. The camera trained on them remained a respectful distance away, and no harsh lights illuminated their somber countenances.

All three judges stared at the camera showing no emotion, their hands folded in front of them on the surface of their capacious bench on top of three equal, neat stacks of paper piled before each judge. Everywhere on earth citizens watched the unfolding drama over the neural net that provided a fully immersive experience indistinguishable from reality, effectively placing every citizen of earth in the courtroom as the Chief Judge began to speak in a deep, resonant, clear voice.

“The evidence against you has been examined. This tribunal finds you guilty of the charges against you by a unanimous vote. Have you anything you would like to add before we pass sentence?”

The camera changed back to the prisoner. The lights brightens around him and the heat rises perceptibly, adding fresh fuel to the trickle of sweat flowing down his flushed face, causing a bead of sweat to form at the end of his nose that he cannot swat away because his wrists are restrained by metal bands at the armrests of his chair, outside the viewing range of the camera which has a tight zoom on his face. “I am guilty of no crime,” the prisoner spoke in a low voice full of palpable weariness and resignation.

“You are guilty of the most heinous of crimes,” the Chief Judge contradicted. "That is not open to debate. This is your final chance to make what amends you may to those whom you have harmed through your selfish, deviant act. It will have no effect on the sentencing by this Court.”

“But I have done nothing wrong,” the man emphatically repeated, the perspiration rolling down his neck deepening the growing ring of sweat absorbed by his bright orange jumper, staining a dark collar of moisture around his neck.

“Silence!” the Chief Judge hissed. “The record will show that the prisoner is unrepentant. This Court finds that the prisoner willfully, maliciously and without justification removed his neural connector with the purpose and effect of disconnecting himself from the Net. We further find that the motivating factor for this egregious, willful and repugnant crime was the attempt to abandon the Common Consciousness and establish his individuality separate and apart from the Communal Mind. We further find that the subject is in full possession of his legal faculties and capable of understanding the criminal nature of his acts, and, perhaps most tragically, that he fails to see the enormity of his crime.” The Chief Justice faltered slightly, delivering the final words of the Courts sentence with a slight tremor in his voice. After stopping a moment to compose himself as his learned colleagues looked on impassively, he continued. “It is, therefore, the judgment of this Court that you will forever remain disconnected from the nets from this day forward.”

Upon hearing the Judge’s words the prisoner’s eyes opened wider, attempting to digest their import. Could it be? Could he finally be allowed the freedom to regain his humanity? The unalienable right to be an individual for the first time in his life? The opportunity to live in a world in which he could have original thoughts, genuine emotions, and the opportunity to be different from everyone else? The joy in these words nearly made him faint with relief and unbridled joy, allowing him for the first time in his life the possibility of hope as tears welled in his eyes. He found he could not speak, could not express even the simple words “thank you” to the Court. It was as though he were emerging from a life-long nightmare, as if . . .

“The prisoner’s IP address, 999.999.999.999, shall be erased from the Nets,” the Judge continued as the prisoner’s tears flowed freely. His existence shall be forever stricken from the Collective Consciousness lest it germinate there and once again grow sedition in our midst.” The prisoner wept openly now while smiling broadly. “The death sentence for this most heinous of crimes is hereby commuted so that the prisoner may be allowed the individuality he craved for the rest of his natural life, devoid of the comfort of humanity or the distracting influences of life.”

The Chief Judge then paused and took a deep breath. “It is further ordered by this Court that the prisoner shall have his eyes, eardrums, tongue and olfactory organs surgically removed that he may not see, hear, taste, or speak with any other human being for the rest of his natural life. thereafter, he is to be remanded to a hospital where he shall be restrained to a bed and tended to by robotic life support aids. The sentence of this Court shall be carried out immediately and shall be witnessed by all Citizens of Earth as partial reparation for this most heinous of crimes against humanity.”

The prisoner’s screams lasted only a few moments as an anesthetic was administered and the cameras were re-arranged in preparation for justice to be carried out.

__________________________
Justice - from Book of Dreams 2e: Science Fiction and Speculative Fiction Short Stories (c) 2013 by Victor D. Lopez.

title: Justice

question: What is the crime committed by the accused?

answer: He removed his neural connector to disconnect himself from the Net.

question: Why does the prisoner seem to be relieved and happy with the Court's judgment?

answer: He could not believe that he will be removed from the disconnected from the Nets, which means he can establish his individuality apart from the Communal Mind.

question: What is the punishment for the crime committed?

answer: He will forever be disconnected from the Nets. However, his eyes, eardrums, tongue, and olfactory organs will be removed.

question: Why does the prisoner think he is not guilty?

answer: He thinks it is not a crime to want the freedom to regain his humanity.

question: Write a ~4 sentence summary.

answer: In the all too near future, a prisoner is found guilty of removing his neural connector to disconnect himself from the Net. The Court finds him guilty and sentences him to be disconnected forever from the Nets. For a while, the prisoner is happy with this, as it means he'll have the freedom to be an individual different from everyone else. However, the Court further orders that his eyes, eardrums, tough and olfactory organs are to be removed.


text:
This American Life recently had an episode featuring superheroes and superpowers. The first story debated the power of flight versus the power of invisibility. Which would you choose if you had the option and why? Between those two options, I choose the power to fly. Invisibility seems creepy to me and reminds me of that Clay Aiken song, Invisible. And yes, one of his lines in that song is, “If I was invisible, then I could just watch you in your room” (www.azlyrics.com). How was that song his one hit wonder? Pre-adolescent girls must fantasize about superhero stalkers using their powers for evil creeping . . .? Anyway, back to discussing the power of flight. I imagine that flying would be the ultimate freeing experience.

During my walks I like to watch the ravens tease one another with small prey they capture in their talons. They flip, turn and free-fall along the cliff side, and it just seems in that moment that their worries fall away as they whole-heartedly play. Of course, the poor mouse that is repeatedly dropped in the sport is probably not describing the experience as playful or fun. But just think! Flying would save me money on gas, airfare and wasted time sitting in frustrating Bay Area traffic. It would provide me with the exhilarating sensation that I feel when running. That sensation that nothing is holding you back, and you can go it alone and be all right. Many of the interviewees on This American Life stated that they would not want to use their power of flight or invisibility to help others. I sheepishly admit that rescuing people was not the first idea that popped into my mind when I pictured myself capable of flying to Hawaii (for free) on a whim. However, I had a recent experience leave me with a different superpower that I would use for the aid of others.

First, I need to preface this story with a few important details. I have extremely limited knowledge about automobiles. My capabilities when it comes to fixing or addressing issues with my car include putting gas in the fuel tank and refilling the windshield washer fluid. Yes, it’s sad but true. I almost helped change a flat tire on my car, but then it turned out that my wheel lock key was missing. You pretty much get the idea that I'm a dunce when it comes to resolving automobile issues on my own. I drive a Honda Element for work, and one morning a light came on the dashboard. I went to the user manual to decipher the hieroglyphic looking symbol, and it turned out that this particular symbol indicates low tire pressure through the tire pressure monitoring system. Well, I addressed the problem like I do most of my automobile issues: I ignored it hoping that it would go away.

A few days passed by and the damn low tire pressure light was still lit on the dashboard. I made the executive decision to stop ignoring the problem and face it. I turned to my phone and looked up how to put air into a tire. I encourage you to laugh at me, because putting air in a tire is about as basic as refilling the windshield washer fluid. But I had never done it before, and I feared the tire exploding in my face. I did know through my law class that gas stations were ordered to provide air for free, so I knew that it wouldn't cost me anything. Well, I bought a tire pressure gauge and went around to all the tires trying to figure out which one was low. Before you judge me for not just using my eyes, I did look at the tires, and they all looked fine to me. So, I took my new tire pressure gauge and checked all the tires. Sure enough the driver’s side rear tire was low and you could not tell just by looking at it. Great! I successfully determined which tire was low, and now all I had to do was fill it up with some air. Sounds easy enough, but of course being a novice this task was daunting.

I pulled the hose for the air and squeezed the lever to emit the pressurized air. Nothing. I kept squeezing, because like the “door close” elevator button, the more you try the faster it will work . . . Still nothing. Then, I decided to read the directions. Clearly stated on the front of the machine it says that to use the air you just need to go inside to the front counter. I went inside and the nice gentleman turned the air on for me, and naturally when I returned outside it actually sounded like it was on. I squeezed the lever and a shot of air came out. After removing the cap, I held the end of the hose to the nozzle on the tire and squeezed air into the tire. I began panicking though, because I was worried that air wasn’t actually going into the tire, and I was just deflating the tire. I held the end on tighter and squeezed. Paranoid about exploding tires in my face, I stopped and decided to check the pressure with my gauge. Victory! I had successfully inflated the tire to the recommended tire pressure as per the user manual guidelines.

I felt invigorated! I stood a little taller and walked with my palms face out wearing my grease proudly. However, I knew that the real testament to my success depended on that little light on the dash. I turned the car on, the low tire pressure light came on and I started to drive away. Suddenly, the light turned off! At that moment, I was unstoppable. I couldn’t wipe the smile off my face. As I drove on, I noticed that I began obsessively focusing on every driver’s tires. Custom paint job, imported rims, 16 cylinder 1200 horsepower Bugatti Veyron Vitesse? Nah man, check out those properly inflated tires! Throughout the day I stared at every tire I walked past, and I began feeling the urge to check the tire’s pressure. I resisted the temptation, because I didn’t feel like being arrested. Then, I would have to explain to my arresting officer that I was not trying to steal the car’s wheels; “I swear officer I was only checking the tire pressure.” It did give me an idea though. In order to avoid conflicts with law enforcement I would have to choose the life of a vigilante. I could call myself the Psi Equalizer and rescue citizen’s cars from potential flat tires by warning them about the dangerous villain, low tire pressure. My other adversaries would include broken glass, latent nail and the always conniving, pothole. Flight might not instill a sense of humanitarianism, but my new, real super power has. Fear not humankind the Psi Equalizer is here to save the day!

title: The Psi Equalizer

question: To what does the title refer?

answer: 'The Psi Equalizer' is the vigilante superhero name the narrator has chosen for themselves.

question: What is the narrator's superpower?

answer: The ability to determine if the tires on a care have low pressure and therefore need to be refilled with air.

question: What are the benefits of invisibility?

answer: The only benefits mentioned here is the creepy ability to watch people without them knowing.

question: What are the benefits of being able to fly?

answer: The narrator immediately thinks of saving money on trips, meaning cheap holidays to places like Hawaii and easier commutes that avoid traffic.

question: Write a ~1 sentence summary.

answer: After weighing the pros and cons of human flight and invisibility, the narrator considers taking on the superhero mantle of 'The Psi Equalizer' upon discovering the ability to read low tire pressure with a pressure gauge.


text:
[Ben Pringle]

Rotherham's impressive start to the season continued as Ben Pringle's strike secured the visitors their second Championship win of the season.

Millwall dominated possession in the first half but Rotherham wasted the best chance of the period when Alex Revell missed from six yards.

Pringle spared his team-mate's blushes after the break, tapping home from close range from a Paul Taylor cross.

Ricardo Fuller could have levelled but headed Scott Malone's cross over.

With 10 minutes remaining, Lions substitute Magaye Gueye had a volley blocked as Rotherham held firm to inflict a first defeat of the season on Millwall.

The south Londoners were unbeaten in their last 12 games in all competitions, a run which stretched back to March.

Millwall slip from third to ninth after the defeat, while newly-promoted Rotherham leap to 14th.

Rotherham created plenty of chances, with Anthony Wordsworth and Taylor going close before Pringle struck for what was only his team's second goal in the league.

Midfielder Pringle almost grabbed his second of the game a minute later but Stuart Forde superbly saved the 20-yard drive.

MILLWALL MANAGER IAN HOLLOWAY SAID: "We didn't function like we have been and I felt I should have made some more changes, in hindsight.

"I felt my attackers looked tired and were not quite as effective as they have been. Fundamentally that game should have been goalless."

ROTHERHAM BOSS STEVE EVANS SAID: "Millwall started much brighter and when you have got that type of vocal support... I have never been here with a team before but they were terrific and spurred on their team.

"We switched the two wide players at half-time and when the goal comes from that, from a tactical point of view, it is great."

-   Line-ups
-   Match Stats
-   Live Text

Line-ups

Millwall

-   1Forde
-   44Edwards
-   2Dunne_Booked at 69mins_
-   16Beevers
-   28Malone
-   11Woolford
-   4Wright
    Substituted forGueyeat 51'minutes
-   6Williams
-   7Martin
    Substituted forEasterat 72'minutes
-   27McDonald
-   19Fuller
    Substituted forGregoryat 84'minutes

Substitutes

-   8Easter
-   9Gregory
-   13Gerrar
-   14Briggs
-   17Webster
-   18Gueye
-   26Abdou

Rotherham

-   21Collin
-   5Broadfoot
-   20Morgan
-   4Arnason
-   3Skarz_Booked at 58mins_
    Substituted forWoodat 81'minutes
-   26Taylor_Booked at 90mins_
-   33Smallwood
-   8Frecklington
-   18Pringle
    Substituted forBrindleyat 90'minutes
-   28Wordsworth
-   9Revell
    Substituted forBoweryat 87'minutes

Substitutes

-   1Loach
-   2Brindley
-   6Wood
-   10Bowery
-   23Tidser
-   25Swift
-   27Derbyshire

Referee:
    Paul Tierney

Attendance:
    10,282

Live Text

1.  Match ends, Millwall 0, Rotherham United 1.

2.  Second Half ends, Millwall 0, Rotherham United 1.

3.  Scott McDonald (Millwall) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

4.  Foul by Paul Taylor (Rotherham United).

5.  Corner, Rotherham United. Conceded by Alan Dunne.

6.  Paul Taylor (Rotherham United) is shown the yellow card.

7.  Hand ball by Martyn Woolford (Millwall).

8.  Corner, Rotherham United. Conceded by Scott Malone.

9.  Substitution, Rotherham United. Richard Brindley replaces Ben Pringle.

10. Attempt blocked. Alan Dunne (Millwall) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.

11. Substitution, Rotherham United. Jordan Bowery replaces Alex Revell.

12. Jermaine Easter (Millwall) wins a free kick on the right wing.

13. Foul by Richard Smallwood (Rotherham United).

14. Substitution, Millwall. Lee Gregory replaces Ricardo Fuller.

15. Corner, Rotherham United. Conceded by Martyn Woolford.

16. Substitution, Rotherham United. Richard Wood replaces Joe Skarz.

17. Attempt blocked. Magaye Gueye (Millwall) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.

18. Delay over. They are ready to continue.

19. Delay in match Joe Skarz (Rotherham United) because of an injury.

20. Corner, Millwall. Conceded by Joe Skarz.

question: Who misses the shot from six yards?

answer: Alex Revell

question: Which football team does Pringle play for?

answer: Rotherham

question: Who won the match?

answer: Rotherham

question: What is Pringle's role in the team?

answer: Midfielder.

question: Write a ~4 sentence summary.

answer: Rotherham is playing with Millwall. Their midfielder, Ben Pringle, strikes and gives Rotherham the lead. They create many more chances, and Pringle misses one as well. However, Rotherham defeats Millwall and breaks their unbeaten streak of 12 games.


text:
SUPERBUG, or DUDU (pronounced [_doo doo_] as said in “Superbug Goes Wild” English version), is a West German children's comedy film series released between 1971 and 1978. It is based on a somewhat intelligent Volkswagen Beetle similar to Disney's Herbie, but unlike Herbie which uses magic, it uses modern technology to display signs of intelligence. Superbug appeared to be an attempt by director and main actor Rudolf Zehetgruber to bring the “Herbie” concept to Germany, where the Volkswagen Beetle originated, while giving it the flair of James Bond's gadget-equipped vehicles. The main human character is named _Jimmy Bondi_. In the first film, which is mainly set in Africa, Bondi inherits a yellow 1963 (1963 in the first film, 1970 in “Return Of Superbug” and 1968 in “Superbug, Super Agent”) VW Beetle, which he names “Dudu”, the Swahili word for insect or beetle.

The films were dubbed into English and shown on various American UHF TV channels in the 1980s and 1990s. They have since been released on VHS and DVD.

Movies

-   _Superbug Goes Wild_ (original title: __ [_“A Beetle Goes All Out”_], 1971)
-   _Superbug, Super Agent_ (original title: __ [_“A Beetle Goes Full Throttle”_], 1972)
-   _Superbug Rides Again_ (original title: __ [_“A Beetle Takes A Ride”_], 1973)
-   _The Maddest Car in the World_ (original title: __ [_“The Craziest Car in the World”_], 1975)
-   _Return of Superbug_ (original title: __ [_“Two Awesome Beetles Clean Up”_], 1978)

Background

The model for Superbug was _Herbie_ from the Disney movie franchise that started in 1968. The main difference between the two vehicles is that Herbie is portrayed as a magical Volkswagen in white racing livery, while in most of the Superbug movies, Superbug is a computerized plain yellow Beetle with some elements of artificial intelligence. Some of the titles of the Superbug films were related to Herbie film titles, such as “Superbug Rides Again” being inspired by “Herbie Rides Again”.

Superbug is portrayed as having countless gadgets and skills. The technological aspects of Superbug increase as the film series progresses. In the first film, _Superbug Goes Wild_, Superbug is still far from being a self-aware high-tech vehicle. In some scenes, it has animated eyes and can speak and cry, thus appealing to children. The popularity of the VW Beetle had plummeted in the mid-1970s and production was discontinued in Germany in 1978. In the final movie of the series made in the same year, the Beetle body shell was merely hiding a small 6-wheel amphibious All Terrain Vehicle that interacted with a small crab-like robot named _Picho_, both with big eye-like headlights.

Director Rudolf Zehetgruber was also the main actor, under various names, while his Poland-born wife appeared as _Kathrin Oginski_. However, the films do not use his own voice, but rather dubbed the voices of actors Fred Maire or Klaus Kindler.

The Superbug series was relatively low-budget. However, some well-known German and international actors took part, including Walter Giller, Heinz Reincke, and Joachim Fuchsberger, Kurt Jaggberg, and Walter Roderer.

In September 2006, all five “Superbug” films were released by Kinowelt on a five-set DVD "_Dudu Edition"_.

The idea of a computer-controlled super car inspired producer Glen A. Larson to create the 1980s TV series “Knight Rider” featuring KITT and David Hasselhoff.

Literature

-   Michael Wenk: '' Walter Roderer - A Life in Pictures ''. Huber & Co. AG, Women 's Field 2007

Category:Comedy film series Category:Children's film series Category:1970s children's comedy films Category:1970s road movies Category:German comedy films Category:German road movies Category:West German films Category:German-language films Category:Films directed by Rudolf Zehetgruber Category:Flying cars in fiction Category:Volkswagen Beetle

title: Superbug (film series)

question: What is Superbug or Dudu?

answer: Superbug (Dudu) is a West German children's comedy film series released between 1971 and 1978 featuring an intelligent Volkswagen Beetle similar to Disney's Herbie.

question: What are the differences between Superbug and Herbie?

answer: Herbie is portrayed in white racing livery and uses magic, while Superbug is a yellow VW bug that uses modern technology similar to James Bond's gadget-equipped vehicles.

question: List all Superbug movies, including when they came out.

answer:
- Superbug Goes Wild (original title: “A Beetle Goes All Out”, 1971)
- Superbug, Super Agent (original title: “A Beetle Goes Full Throttle”, 1972)
- Superbug Rides Again (original title: “A Beetle Takes A Ride”, 1973)
- The Maddest Car in the World (original title: “The Craziest Car in the World”, 1975)
- Return of Superbug (original title: “Two Awesome Beetles Clean Up”, 1978)

question: Who is Rudolf Zehetgruber?

answer: He is the director and main actor of the movie.

question: Write a ~3 sentence summary.

answer: Superbug (Dudu) is a West German children's comedy film series released between 1971 and 1978 featuring an intelligent Volkswagen Beetle similar to Disney's Herbie. Whereas Herbie uses magic, Superbug uses gadgets like a car in James Bond films. The movie was directed by Rudolf Zehetgruber, who was also the main actor and was set in Africa.


text:
We were gods, for a while; Immortal from both disease and age. But humans are flawed essentially, and not gods, as we had come to believe. Wars, famine, accidents, human nature, slowly ending the dream of utopia.  Great things were achieved, it is true- but we knew they were for us only. By the time some other alien civilization picked up our pieces, we’d be long gone. Moons, planets with fragments of civilization on them, scars of a doomed race.
So here we are, on the last city of New London, whiling away the last years of humanity. It’s a relaxed city- where is the urgency when you can live forever? - Where most just wish to die happily. It is most definitely a burden, being the last of humanity- to feel that all of humanity is watching you, that you must do something, to credit all of history and culture, to… leave something, something that is worthy, even though no one will remember it. So here we are, the lucky ones, in a city because we don’t want to die alone when it does happen, gored on a vehicle, fallen from a height or other accident. And that’s the worst when a friend for millennia just leaves forever – it’s what caused so many suicides over the decades, as when eternal life was meaningless, it became hell.

Night falls over the grey city of New London. Lights can be seen in parts of the city, but most of the inhabitants try their best to sleep away the time. Half the city is gone; abandoned like the rest of the universe, with derelict buildings and park rotting away. Birds trapped in the oxygen-sphere of the city cry and call, still after all these years persisting in life. When even they fall asleep, the city falls silent. No sound can be heard… except a whirring noise. An inhabitant of the city awakens to a bright light that fills his room. He rouses his neighbors, and soon the whole city, 1000 people, come to the outskirts of the bubble to see a flying machine, some kind of ancient rotor-wing drop a similarly old-fashioned man onto the ground. “Helicopter” A historian in the crowd whispers, while the man gets out. He gets to the top of a hill stops, turns around, and surveys the crowd gathered. He whispers “Come”, beckons with a finger, and starts running away from the city.
The single man, with an old-fashioned backpack, keeps on running, gathering followers who run also, curious and filled with this strange sense of a purpose – something that makes them run faster because they need to see what this man does. He reaches the edge of the bubble, slows, and stops. The crowd draws its breath, he reaches into his backpack, for a survival suit, and…. Leaves. People cry out for him to stop, come back, but they have neither the will nor the way to go out and drag him back. He disappears over a hill of barren, grey rock and leaves something behind- not anything physical, but a feeling, a need, something foreign to these despairing people.
Night comes, the man is not returned, but the purpose still haunts the people, follows them around like a ghost, eating away at these people. A man, if left in complete comfort and told not to open a box in the other end of the room, which would expel him from the room forever, may be satisfied for a few days. But curiosity will drive him to open it and he will open it, knowing full well what might happen. The city, full of old dreams and hopeless people, was no different.

title: The Last Few - First post constructive criticism please!

question: What does the story say about the last of humanity?

answer: The end of humanity comes after wars, famine, accidents and human nature. The last city on Earth is New London where the last years are wasting away. Being the last of humanity, there is a burden of pressure to do something or leave something behind. The last inhabitants just sleep away their time while half of the city is already gone and abandoned.


text:
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Suddora started in 2008 making custom sweatbands for schools, businesses, bands and other organizations for advertising / merchandise purposes.

Over the years we have expanded from sweatbands to various types of headbands and cotton wristbands.

What sets us apart is our focus on quality. We have worked with organizations of all sizes throughout the years - from helping a small business develop custom headbands for their new brand to working on with fortune 100 company’s on a product launch event.

We use various methods of logo application depending on your product – embroidered, woven label, printed and more. Each method is very high quality and really takes into account the personalization of the specific product you are buying to represent your brand.

question: What methods does Suddora use in applying logos to sweatbands?

answer: They can use embroidery, weaving, printing, and more.

question: When was Suddora founded?

answer: They started making sweatbands in 2008.

question: What business does Suddora transact?

answer: They make custom-designed headbands and wristbands.

question: What is their differentiating aspect?

answer: They have experience working with organizations of all sizes, from small businesses to Fortune 100. They claim to focus on quality.

question: Write a ~3 sentence summary.

answer: Suddora makes custom sweatbands since 2008. We focus on quality, be it to help small businesses or working with fortune 100 companies. We use various methods to apply your logo - embroidered, woven label, printed, and more.


text:
*It goes without saying that this is obviously a work of complete fiction and nothing written here is based on fact of any kind. Any resemblance to persons real or imagined is entirely in your own head.*

Greetings gentle Ingress citizens of Parth. It is I, **clubcris**, your generous and benevolent dictator. I care not whether you have chosen the dedicated and proud force for all that is right (*enlightened*) or the petty and whiny mob of ungrateful peasantry (*resistance*). All I care is that you know who I am, and respect the awesome might that is reflected by my rank. You might already know my impressively determined sidekick, **pubic**, a man for whom time, fuel and mobile battery life knows no bounds.

I speak to you all today, not to tell you how to play your part in the great scheme I have envisioned for you all, but to simply limit your options to just a few and chortle as you flail about like ants below me. As you probably know, my darling wife **ToothGap** is an insider in the petty brigade that is the resistance, so I am truly omniscient in this great life and death struggle that is Ingress.

I feel I should explain my recent actions, as I don't believe many of you, of either faction, have any real idea as to how brilliant and inspired my plans and schemes are. It's not that I believe that I'm better or smarter or more impressive in the bedroom than you, it's just that I don't feel like you're paying enough attention to me. Clearly, I deserve it. Have you seen my rank lately?

Excuse me for a moment, won't you, while I take a quick quaff to clear my throat. I do enjoy a good dram of brandy. I'd tell you what it is and where it was lovingly crafted, but I'm sure you'd rather swill your common beers and box wines instead. Ahhh, that's better. Now, pay attention. My latest scheme is to help make the landscape of this "game" of ours a better place for everyone, by leveraging my incredible stature within the game environment to enforce my own genius ideas and infallible values. Please, before the whinging and whining starts, don't feel as though this is a way to simply limit *your* growth within the game to preserve my *own* advantages. I'm just a simple player like you. I'm just trying to keep the filthy unorganised rabble that is the resistance at bay and provide a happy and joyous space under my control for all to grow equally ~~slowly~~ and carefully in. This isn't just about you, it's about the big picture.

Think of it my way of helping you by learning from my experience. If not for my unimaginable mental strength and fortitude I could have leveled up far too quickly and hurt myself! Luckily for me, I'm fully capable of managing the challenges of levelling up early and mostly unimpeded and I was fine, but I can see the pitfalls waiting for all of you lesser mortals! Think of this lovingly crafted play area of my own brilliant design and devious doing as an nurturing environment where I can look over all of you to keep you safe and well. Like any petulant child, you might despise me now, but in the coming years, you'll come to realise that I was only looking out for you and your best interests. I certainly wasn't trying to bore you into leaving the game before you came close to the giddy heights that I have risen to!

Now, as sad as it may be, I have other *very* important things to attend to and I have to wrap this important address up. Don't forget to leave all of your personal details in the chat for me to check and record. It's for your own good that I know everything about you and keep an eye on you. Also, feel free to comment on your daily activities and plans so that I can have my faithful sidekick **pubic** assist you in growing as a player. And again, this isn't so much about limiting your growth, but helping you level up in a safe and progressive manner. We certainly don't want to maximise our own growth at your expense!

Play well and play safe; play exactly how I tell you to play!

Yours graciously,
**clubcris**

P.S. I almost forgot. My lovely wife **ToothGap** requests that you all be nicer to each other, and try to remember the statistics. Numbers are fun everyone!

title: Ingressive Dicktator

question: How should the reader feel about the narrator?

answer: The reader should feel as though the narrator is a generous and well-respected leader.

question: Who is the narrator speaking to?

answer: The narrator is addressing his citizens.

question: Summarize everything related to **ToothGap**.

answer: **ToothGap** is the narrator's wife. She wants the citizens to be nicer to each other.


text:
CARACAS/LIMA (Reuters) - After months of attacking Venezuela’s unpopular President Nicolas Maduro, Latin America came out strongly against U.S. threats of military action against the crisis-hit nation.

U.S. President Donald Trump’s surprise comments on Friday may bring the beleaguered Maduro some respite in the region, just as Venezuela was on verge of becoming a pariah over its recent installation of a legislative superbody, widely condemned as a power grab by the ruling Socialists.

Following Trump’s assertion that military intervention in Venezuela was an option, Maduro’s critics are caught between backing the idea of a foreign invasion of Venezuela or supporting a president they call a dictator.

The sudden escalation of Washington’s response to Venezuela’s crisis preceded U.S. Vice President Mike Pence’s trip to the region beginning Sunday. He is set to visit Colombia, Argentina, Chile, and Panama.

Trump did not specify what type of options he had in mind.

Venezuela’s Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino on Friday disparaged Trump’s warning as “craziness” and Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza said on Saturday Venezuela rejected “hostile” threats, calling on Latin America to unite against Washington.

“We want to express gratitude for all the expressions of solidarity and rejection of the use of force from governments around the world, including Latin America,” said Arreaza, in a short speech on Saturday. “Some of these countries have recently taken positions absolutely contrary to our sovereignty and independence but still have rejected the declarations of the U.S. president.” It was one of Maduro’s fiercest critics, Peru, that led the charge in criticizing Trump’s threat, saying it was against United Nations principles. Mexico and Colombia joined in with statements of their own.

Regional alliance Mercosur added that it rejected the use of force against Venezuela, despite having indefinitely suspended the country last week amid international condemnation of Maduro’s new, all-powerful “constituent Assembly”.

After four months of deadly protests against his government, Maduro says the assembly is Venezuela’s only hope of obtaining peace by locking in the socialist policies of his mentor and predecessor, the late Hugo Chavez. Critics say the assembly is a bald manoeuvre by Maduro to cling to power as his popularity slumps under the weight of the country’s economic crisis.

Peru expelled Venezuela’s ambassador in Lima on Friday, but that did not stop it from criticizing Trump’s threat.

“All foreign or domestic threats to resort to force undermine the goal of reinstating democratic governance in Venezuela, as well as the principles enshrined in the U.N. charter,” said Peru’s Foreign Minister Ricardo Luna.

Peru under President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski had taken the toughest stance yet towards Venezuela’s socialist government, and has openly called Maduro a “dictator”.

RESCHEDULED ELECTION

The new legislative superbody, which made waves last weekend by firing a dissident chief prosecutor, took new action on Saturday on the country’s election timetable. It unanimously passed a resolution to move the country’s Dec. 10 governors’ election up to October.

Assembly members said the decision was made in part because the election had been delayed due to “opposition-led violence.” More than 120 people have died in unrest and anti-government protests since April.

The National Electoral Council (CNE) was asked by the assembly to set the exact date for the governors’ election.

Venezuela is undergoing a crisis in which millions are suffering from food and medicine shortages and high inflation.

The ruling Socialist Party has for years accused the United States of plotting an invasion as a way of controlling its oil reserves, the world’s largest, through a military intervention similar to the Iraq war.

Previous U.S. administrations had brushed this off as politicized rhetoric meant to distract from Venezuela’s domestic problems.

Under former President Barack Obama, the State Department in 2015 made quiet diplomatic overtures that led to several high-level meetings. The effort ultimately foundered as Maduro hardened his stance against opposition critics.

Venezuela’s Information Minister Vladimir Villegas on Saturday tweeted a picture of the Statue of Liberty holding a machine gun instead of a torch, and a link to an article describing, “A Chronology of U.S. ‘Military Options’ in Latam and the Caribbean.”

For a graphic on protests in Venezuela, click here

For a graphic on Venezuela's economic crisis, click here

Writing by Hugh Bronstein; Additional reporting by Eyanir Chinea in Caracas; Caroline Stauffer in Buenos Aires, Julia Love in Mexico City and Helen Murphy in Bogota; Writing by Girish Gupta; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama and Mary Milliken

for-phone-onlyfor-tablet-portrait-upfor-tablet-landscape-upfor-desktop-upfor-wide-desktop-up

question: What does Vladimir Padrino think of Trump's remarks?

answer: He says they are "hostile" and "crazy"

question: What day of the week is Pence traveling to Venezuela?

answer: Sunday

question: How long did Maduro lead protests against the government?

answer: Four Months

question: Does Arreaza support the use of force by governments?

answer: No

question: Write a ~3 sentence summary.

answer: This article overviews an ongoing conflict in Venezuela regarding the contested election results and a prolonged economic crisis. It also highlights tensions between the governments of the United States and Latin American countries, and illustrates differences between two different administrations of the US Government. It reveals that the date for the election has been changed to October 10th.


text:
On September 26, 1999, a stockpile of illegally stored fireworks and gunpowder EXPLODED IN THE MEXICAN CITY OF CELAYA, killing 63 people and wounding several hundred.

The disaster was caused by the detonation of four tons of fireworks and gunpowder[1] at about 10:30 local time,[2] which triggered several more explosions of either fireworks or nearby gas cylinders.[3] 52 people were initially killed in the explosions,[4] with eleven more later dying in hospitals.[5] 348 people were injured and hospitalized.[6]

Following the explosions, Mexican President Ernesto Zedillo announced that the government would conduct an investigation into the disaster.[7] Authorities later arrested five business inspectors accused of illegally issuing permits, an agent of the attorney general's office accused of abuse of authority by failing to report the illegal trade, and seven business owners accused of illegally possessing and selling fireworks.[8] Charges of being accessories to homicide were also brought against the inspectors and one of the business owners[9]

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title: Celaya fireworks disaster

question: Where and when did the disaster take place?

answer: Celaya City, Mexico, September 26, 1999

question: What caused the disaster?

answer: Four tons of illegally stored fireworks and gunpowder detonated, which triggered several more explosions of fireworks or gas cylinders.

question: How many people were hurt and killed in the explosion?

answer: 63 people died and 348 people were injured and hospitalized.

question: What was the result of the government investigation?

answer: Authorities arrested five business inspectors for illegally issuing permits, an agent of the attorney general's office for failing to report the illegal trade, and seven business owners for illegally possessing and selling fireworks. Charges of being accessories to homicide were also brought against the inspectors and one of the business owners.

question: Write a ~3 sentence summary.

answer: A deadly explosion killed 63 people and injured 348 others when a cache of illegally stored fireworks exploded in Celaya City, Mexico, on September 26, 1999. After an official investigation, authorities arrested five business inspectors for illegally issuing permits, an agent of the attorney general's office for not reporting the illegal trade, and several business owners for the illegal possession and sale of fireworks. The inspectors and one of the business owners were also charged with being accessories to homicide.


text:
EZYCOM (EzyBBS) is a shareware bulletin board system (BBS) application first introduced for MS-DOS by Peter Davies. It is still in active development and currently being developed by Stephen Gibbs and the Ezycom Development Team. The current version of Ezycom is v2.15g2, which was released on 21 April 2010. A minor update was released on 21 May 2010.

Features

Ezycom supports several features that make it “easy” to use (hence the name) including: multinode operation (up to 255 nodes depending on license type), network and multitasker support, Fidonet-compatible message base, built-in echomail and netmail tossers, built-in file transfer protocols and QWK/Blue Wave offline mail support (including offline netmail support). Ezycom is being used with the DOS, Windows, OS/2, eComStation and ArcaOS operating systems with success. It has also been proven to work under Linux using the Dosemu emulation software.

History

Peter Davies originally developed Ezycom BBS as part of his master's degree dissertation in 1990. Due to lack of time to devote to Ezycom's development, Peter handed over the development reins to Stephen Gibbs in 1997. The next official release of Ezycom was v2.00 in 2003, which included several Y2K bug fixes. Stephen has since done all Ezycom development. The latest release was v2.15g2,[1] in May 2010.

[1] EzyCom News

title: Ezycom

question: What makes Ezycom "easy" to use?

answer: Ezycom BBS has a multinode operation, built-in echomail and netmail tossers, and built-in file transfer protocols, all of this makes EzyBBS easy to use.

question: What gave Davies the idea to develop Ezycom BBS?

answer: This information can't be found.

question: What's new in the latest version (v2.15g2)?

answer: This information can't be found.