text:
The latest headlines in your inbox twice a day Monday - Friday plus breaking news updates

A protest against Government plans to ban legal highs saw dozens of people stage a "mass inhalation" of laughing gas outside Parliament today.

The demonstration in Parliament Square saw protesters fill balloons with nitrous oxide - often called laughing gas or "hippy crack" - before inhaling from them all at the same time at 3pm.

The organisers were hoping hundreds would attend - after more than 1,500 signed up to a Facebook event - but only about 60 or 70 people took part.

The event was organised by The Psychedelic Society, which is campaigning against the government's proposed Psychoactive Substances Bill.

Laughing gas is one of a number of so-called legal highs which would be outlawed.

  WATCH: Protestors in Parlt Sq inhale laughing gas en masse, against govt plans to ban sale of legal highs. @LBC pic.twitter.com/MCF2ZInfA6

  — Simon Conway (@SimonConway) August 1, 2015

Writing on the Facebook page, the society said: "Only a few substances would be exempt: alcohol, nicotine and caffeine.

"This is ridiculous. We should be free to buy, sell and use whatever substances we want, so long as we do so responsibly and without harming others.

"These are our bodies, our minds, and it should be up to us what we do with them."

The laughing gas protest at Parliament Square (Picture: LBC)

The society has adopted a twitter hashtag of #mymindmychoice to promote its views.

The Government's proposed law would ban any mood-altering drugs that are not specifically exempt under current legislation.

Stephen Reid, founder of The Psychedelic Society, said: "The Government 's rationale for prohibiting trade in psychoactive substances is that their use can be risky.

"Yes, the use of psychoactive substances can be risky, but it should be for individuals to decide whether or not to take the risk.

"People should be able to buy, sell and use whatever substances they want, so long as there's no harm to others."

question: Who has organized the demonstrations of protests outside Parliament Square?

answer: The Psychedelic Society

question: What were the protestors staging?

answer: A "mass inhalation" of laughing gas or "hippie crack" to protest the proposed ban on the substance.

question: What is the Psychoactive Substances Bill proposing?

answer: To outlaw legal highs such as laughing gas.

question: How many people signed up to the Facebook event?

answer: 1,500 signed up

question: Write a ~3 sentence summary.

answer:
Demonstrations in Parliament Square saw protests against Government plans to ban legal high such as with laughing gas.
The event is organized by The Psychedelic Society in which dozens of people staged a "mass inhalation" of laughing gas.
Under the proposed Psychoactive Substances Bill, laughing gas would be outlawed.


split: train

text:
The TWIN PINES LODGE AND CABIN CAMP, also known as the TWIN PINES MOTEL and FRONTIER COURT, is a tourist camp in Dubois, Wyoming on the way to Yellowstone National Park on U.S. Route 287. The camp was established in 1929 by Dubois businessman Oliver Ernest Stringer who designed the camp and assisted in its construction. Stringer had previously been involved in the construction of the Brooks Lake Lodge, where he built furniture.[1]

Stringer came to Dubois in 1901 with his mother, sister and three older brothers. He was born in 1888 in Ohio. Establishing a homestead near Dubois, the family quickly became prominent in the area. Brothers Albert and Oscar built the Stringer Hotel in 1913, with Ernest assisting, and Ernest worked on the local episcopal church and family homes.[2]

Stringer bought the camp site in 1929, calling it Frontier Court. In 1934, he built five log cabins and a central camp building. The main lodge was started in 1939 and was completed in 1941, when the name was changed to Twin Pines, named for two blue spruces that Stringer planted at the entrance. By 1950 Stringer had sold the property.[3]

Description

The main lodge is directly on the street. It is a 1-1/2 story log structure with a steeply-sloping hipped center section flanked by gable extensions. The “twin pines” were directly in front. To the rear is a carport with a catslide roof next to a double-gabled extension. The interior features extensive exposed log construction. The cabins are one-story log structures with shallow gabled roofs. Many have graduated saddle-notched log corner details and craftsman style trim and accessories.[4]

The Twin Pines was placed on the National Register of Historic Places on December 10, 1993.[5] It continues to operate as a cabin camp.[6]

[1]  with

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

title: Twin Pines Lodge and Cabin Camp

question: What other name is the Twin Pines Lodge and Cabin Camp known by?

answer: It is also known as Twin Pines Motel and Frontier Court.

question: What is the name of the businessman who established the camp?

answer: Oliver Ernest Stringer.

question: Why is the Twin Pines Lodge and Cabin Camp named as such?

answer: Probably because there are two pines in front of the main lodge.

question: When was the Twin Pines placed in the National Register of Historic Places?

answer: It was placed in the register on 10 December 1993.

question: Write a ~2 sentence summary.

answer:
The Twin Pines Lodge and Cabin Camp, also known as the Twin Pines Motel and Frontier Court were established by Oliver Ernest Stringer, an Ohio-born businessman.

The Twin Pines was placed on the National Register of Historic Places on December 10, 1993.


text:
[gene]
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

(Medical Xpress)—A large team of researchers from several institutions in the U.S. and one each from Australia and the U.K. has found two gene variants that appear to be more prevalent in gay men than straight men, adding further evidence of sexual orientation having a biological component. In their paper published in _Scientific Reports_, the group describes their study, which consisted of comparing the genomes of multiple gay men against multiple straight men.

The results by the group represent the first identification of specific genes as perhaps influencing sexual orientation in males. The finding was made as part of a study of DNA samples from 1231 straight men and 1077 gay men. The team reports that they did not focus exclusively on any one part of the genome, instead scanning the entire genome looking for differences in single letters rather than whole chromosomes, as has been done in the past. Doing so, the team further reports, allowed them to identity two gene variants that seemed to be linked to sexual orientation.

One of the genes is located on chromosome 13, which prior research has shown has an impact on the diencephalon, a part of the hypothalamus —a part of the brain shown to be differently sized between gay and straight men. The other gene was found on chromosome 14, which prior research has shown is mainly involved with the thyroid, though it does also have an impact on the brain via a protein involved in stimulating the thyroid. Some prior studies have led to findings that suggest the thyroid might also be involved in sexual orientation.

The findings by the team do not settle the argument of whether homosexuality in people is biology-based, but instead offers more evidence that suggests it is likely the case. Prior studies that looked at family histories have also offered some evidence of biology playing a role while other studies have found some differences in chromosomes. In this study, the number of samples tested was too small to offer conclusive evidence—larger studies will have to be undertaken to solidify the evidence.

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

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

MORE INFORMATION: Genome-Wide Association Study of Male Sexual Orientation, _Scientific Reports_ (2017). DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-15736-4

ABSTRACT
Family and twin studies suggest that genes play a role in male sexual orientation. We conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) of male sexual orientation on a primarily European ancestry sample of 1,077 homosexual men and 1,231 heterosexual men using Affymetrix single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) arrays. We identified several SNPs with p < 10−5, including regions of multiple supporting SNPs on chromosomes 13 (minimum p = 7.5 × 10−7) and 14 (p = 4.7 × 10−7). The genes nearest to these peaks have functions plausibly relevant to the development of sexual orientation. On chromosome 13, SLITRK6 is a neurodevelopmental gene mostly expressed in the diencephalon, which contains a region previously reported as differing in size in men by sexual orientation. On chromosome 14, TSHR genetic variants in intron 1 could conceivably help explain past findings relating familial atypical thyroid function and male homosexuality. Furthermore, skewed X chromosome inactivation has been found in the thyroid condition, Graves' disease, as well as in mothers of homosexual men. On pericentromeric chromosome 8 within our previously reported linkage peak, we found support (p = 4.1 × 10−3) for a SNP association previously reported (rs77013977, p = 7.1 × 10−8), with the combined analysis yielding p = 6.7 × 10−9, i.e., a genome-wide significant association.

© 2017 Medical Xpress

CITATION: Gene variants identified that may influence sexual orientation in men and boys (2017, December 8) retrieved 1 December 2020 from https://medicalxpress.com/news/2017-12-gene-variants-sexual-men-boys.html

This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.

question: What was the study trying to prove?

answer: That there are genetic differences between gay men and straight men.

question: How many people were studied?

answer: In total 2308, 1231 straight men and 1077 gay men.

question: Was there any conclusion?

answer: Due to the small size of the study there was no conclusive result, a larger study would have to take place in order to prove the theory. The evidence did, however, correlate with other similar studies.

question: Write a ~2 sentence summary.

answer: An academic article about a study seeking to show the chromosomal differences in gay men compared to straight men. The study adds evidence to the idea that homosexuality is a biological effect of both the hypothalamus and thyroid.


text: Along these red brick walls of Strangeways I stand facing my own mortality. Inside these walls that swallow up the pieces which society deems unworthy I stare into the abyss knowing, not believing my bereavement. Beside me stand two other inmates that have decided my fate. In a just world these men would become law abiding doctors or lawyers but instead they had to fight and kill in order to survive. These men will never know of a normal life outside these walls. Inside this black hole that swallows you up never to be seen again, this is a normal life in all its glory. This is not justice or a solution but a quick fix so normal people can sleep at night knowing their ethical crimes go unpunished. They say that when you die your life flashes before your eyes. This is your brain looking through all your memories trying to find a way out of the current situation. No memories flashed before my eyes. I knew there was no way out of this when I lost that court case all those years ago. As I looked into the eyes of the men next to me I saw nothing. No morals and no regrets for their wrong doings. Yet even though I was facing down certain death it was looking into those cold empty eyes that truly and utterly scared me.

title: Black Hole

question: Why was the narrator jailed in Strangeways?

answer: He had done something unethical but he believes this punishment is unjust.

question: Why do his fellow inmates get to decide his fate?

answer: Within the walls, the inmates try their best to fight and kill to survive. This may be just a means to an end.


text:
[First print 1872] _THE BIRTH OF TRAGEDY FROM THE SPIRIT OF MUSIC_ () is an 1872 work of dramatic theory by the German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche. It was reissued in 1886 as _The Birth of Tragedy, Or: Hellenism and Pessimism_ (). The later edition contained a prefatory essay, “An Attempt at Self-Criticism”, wherein Nietzsche commented on this earliest book.

The book

Nietzsche found in classical Athenian tragedy an art form that transcended the pessimism and nihilism of a fundamentally meaningless world. The Greek spectators, by looking into the abyss of human suffering and affirming it, passionately and joyously affirmed the meaning of their own existence. They knew themselves to be infinitely more than petty individuals, finding self-affirmation not in another life, not in a world to come, but in the terror and ecstasy alike celebrated in the performance of tragedies.

Originally educated as a philologist, Nietzsche discusses the history of the tragic form and introduces an intellectual dichotomy between the Dionysian and the Apollonian (very loosely: reality as disordered and undifferentiated by forms versus reality as ordered and differentiated by forms). Nietzsche claims life always involves a struggle between these two elements, each battling for control over the existence of humanity. In Nietzsche's words, “Wherever the Dionysian prevailed, the Apollonian was checked and destroyed.... wherever the first Dionysian onslaught was successfully withstood, the authority and majesty of the Delphic god Apollo exhibited itself as more rigid and menacing than ever.” And yet neither side ever prevails due to each containing the other in an eternal, natural check or balance.

Nietzsche argues that the tragedy of Ancient Greece was the highest form of art due to its mixture of both Apollonian and Dionysian elements into one seamless whole, allowing the spectator to experience the full spectrum of the human condition. The Dionysian element was to be found in the music of the chorus, while the Apollonian element was found in the dialogue which gave a concrete symbolism that balanced the Dionysian revelry. Basically, the Apollonian spirit was able to give form to the abstract Dionysian.

Before the tragedy, there was an era of static, idealized plastic art in the form of sculpture that represented the Apollonian view of the world. The Dionysian element was to be found in the wild revelry of festivals and drunkenness, but, most importantly, in music. The combination of these elements in one art form gave birth to tragedy. He theorizes that the chorus was originally always satyrs, goat-men. (This is speculative, although the word “tragedy” τραγωδία is contracted from trag(o)-aoidiā = “goat song” from _tragos_ = “goat” and _aeidein_ = “to sing”.) Thus, he argues, “the illusion of culture was wiped away by the primordial image of man” for the audience; they participated with and as the chorus empathetically, “so that they imagined themselves as restored natural geniuses, as satyrs.” But in this state, they have an Apollonian dream vision of themselves, of the energy they're embodying. It's a vision of the god, of Dionysus, who appears before the chorus on the stage. And the actors and the plot are the development of that dream vision, the essence of which is the ecstatic dismembering of the god and of the Bacchantes' rituals, of the inseparable ecstasy and suffering of human existence.

After the time of Aeschylus and Sophocles, there was an age where tragedy died. Nietzsche ties this to the influence of writers like Euripides and the coming of rationality, represented by Socrates. Euripides reduced the use of the chorus and was more naturalistic in his representation of human drama, making it more reflective of the realities of daily life. Socrates emphasized reason to such a degree that he diffused the value of myth and suffering to human knowledge. For Nietzsche, these two intellectuals helped drain the ability of the individual to participate in forms of art, because they saw things too soberly and rationally. The _participation mystique_ aspect of art and myth was lost, and along with it, much of man's ability to live creatively in optimistic harmony with the sufferings of life. Nietzsche concludes that it may be possible to reattain the balance of Dionysian and Apollonian in modern art through the operas of Richard Wagner, in a _rebirth_ of tragedy.

In contrast to the typical Enlightenment view of ancient Greek culture as noble, simple, elegant and grandiose, Nietzsche believed the Greeks were grappling with pessimism. The universe in which we live is the product of great interacting forces; but we neither observe nor know these as such. What we put together as our conceptions of the world, Nietzsche thought, never actually addresses the underlying realities. It is human destiny to be controlled by the darkest universal realities and, at the same time, to live life in a human-dreamt world of illusions.

The issue, then, or so Nietzsche thought, is how to experience and understand the Dionysian side of life without destroying the obvious values of the Apollonian side. It is not healthy for an individual, or for a whole society, to become entirely absorbed in the rule of one or the other. The soundest (healthiest) foothold is in both. Nietzsche's theory of Athenian tragic drama suggests exactly how, before Euripides and Socrates, the Dionysian and Apollonian elements of life were artistically woven together. The Greek spectator became healthy through direct experience of the Dionysian within the protective spirit-of-tragedy on the Apollonian stage.

History

In January and February 1870, Nietzsche delivered two lectures about ancient Greek drama. After receiving copies of the lectures, his friends Richard and Cosima Wagner suggested that he write a book about the subject.[1] In April 1871, he submitted a manuscript to publisher Wilhelm Engelmann. When Englemann was unresponsive, Nietzsche asked for the return of the manuscript in June. He had a portion of the book privately printed under the title _Socrates and Greek Tragedy_ () and sent to friends. Richard Wagner received the first copy on 18 June.[2]

In October 1871, Nietzsche submitted a revised manuscript to E. W. Fritzsch, who had published works by Wagner. Fritzsch accepted the book in November.[3] Printing was completed at the end of December, and the book, now titled _The Birth of Tragedy from the Spirit of Music_ (), reached bookstores on 2 January 1872.[4] A second edition was printed by Fritzsch in 1874, but due to the publisher's financial problems, it was not bound until 1875 and had little circulation. In 1878, the remaining copies and publication rights for the first two editions were acquired by Nietzsche's new publisher, Ernst Schmeitzner.[5]

By 1886, Nietzsche had fallen out with Schmeitzner, and Fritzsch had recovered from his financial difficulties. Fritzsch published a new edition in October 1886, retitled _The Birth of Tragedy, Or: Hellenism and Pessimism_ (), with an added prefatory essay by Nietzsche called “An Attempt at Self-Criticism”, commenting on the earlier editions.[6]

Influences

_The Birth of Tragedy_ is a young man's work, and shows the influence of many of the philosophers Nietzsche had been studying. His interest in classical Greece as in some respects a rational society can be attributed in some measure to the influence of Johann Joachim Winckelmann, although Nietzsche departed from Winckelmann in many ways. In addition, Nietzsche uses the term “naïve” in exactly the sense used by Friedrich Schiller. Of great importance are the works of Arthur Schopenhauer, especially _The World as Will and Representation_. The Apollonian experience bears great similarity to the experience of the world as “representation” in Schopenhauer's sense, and the experience of the Dionysian bears similarities to the identification with the world as “will.” Nietzsche opposed Schopenhauer's Buddhistic negation of the will. He argued that life is worth living despite the enormous amount of cruelty and suffering that exists.[7]

One year before the publication of _The Birth of Tragedy_, Nietzsche wrote a fragment titled On Music and Words. In it he asserted the Schopenhauerian judgment that music is a primary expression of the essence of everything. Secondarily derivative are lyrical poetry and drama, which represent mere phenomenal appearances of objects. In this way, tragedy is born from music.

Reception

_The Birth of Tragedy_ was angrily criticized by many respected professional scholars of Greek literature. Particularly vehement was philologist Ulrich von Wilamowitz-Moellendorff, who denounced Nietzsche's work as slipshod and misleading. Prompted by Nietzsche, Erwin Rohde—a friend who had written a favorable review that sparked the first derogatory debate over the book—responded by exposing Wilamowitz-Moellendorf's inaccurate citations of Nietzsche's work. Richard Wagner also issued a response to Wilamowitz-Moellendorf's critique, but his action only served to characterize Nietzsche as the composer's lackey.

In his denunciation of _The Birth of Tragedy_, Wilamowitz says:

    Herr N. ... is also a professor of classical philology; he treats a series of very important questions of Greek literary history. ... This is what I want to illuminate, and it is easy to prove that here also imaginary genius and impudence in the presentation of his claims stands in direct relation to his ignorance and lack of love of the truth. ... His solution is to belittle the historical-critical method, to scold any aesthetic insight which deviates from his own, and to ascribe a “complete misunderstanding of the study of antiquity” to the age in which philology in Germany, especially through the work of Gottfried Hermann and Karl Lachmann, was raised to an unprecedented height.

In suggesting the Greeks might have had problems, Nietzsche was departing from the scholarly traditions of his age, which viewed the Greeks as a happy, perhaps even naive, and simple people. The work is a web of professional philology, philosophical insight, and admiration of musical art. As a work in philology, it was almost immediately rejected, virtually destroying Nietzsche's academic aspirations. The music theme was so closely associated with Richard Wagner that it became an embarrassment to Nietzsche once he himself had achieved some distance and independence from Wagner. It stands, then, as Nietzsche's first complete, published philosophical work, one in which a battery of questions are asked, sketchily identified, and questionably answered.

Marianne Cowan, in her introduction to Nietzsche's _Philosophy in the Tragic Age of the Greeks_, describes the situation in these words:

    _The Birth of Tragedy_ presented a view of the Greeks so alien to the spirit of the time and to the ideals of its scholarship that it blighted Nietzsche's entire academic career. It provoked pamphlets and counter-pamphlets attacking him on the grounds of common sense, scholarship and sanity. For a time, Nietzsche, then a professor of classical philology at the University of Basel, had no students in his field. His lectures were sabotaged by German philosophy professors who advised their students not to show up for Nietzsche's courses.

By 1886, Nietzsche himself had reservations about the work, and he published a preface in the 1886 edition where he re-evaluated some of his main concerns and ideas in the text. In this post-script, Nietzsche referred to _The Birth of Tragedy_ as “an impossible book... badly written, ponderous, embarrassing, image-mad and image-confused, sentimental, saccharine to the point of effeminacy, uneven in tempo, [and] without the will to logical cleanliness.”[8] Still, he defended the “arrogant and rhapsodic book” for inspiring “fellow-rhapsodizers” and for luring them on to “new secret paths and dancing places.”

In 1888, in _Ecce Homo_, Nietzsche was back on the attack. He defends _The Birth of Tragedy_ by stating: “...It is indifferent toward politics,—'un-German,' to use the language of the present time—it smells offensively Hegelian, and the cadaverous perfume of Schopenhauer sticks only to a few formulas. An 'idea'—the antithesis of the Dionysian and the Apollinian—translated into the metaphysical; history itself as the development of this 'idea'; in tragedy this antithesis is sublimated into a unity; under this perspective things that had never before faced each other are suddenly juxtaposed, used to illuminate each other, and comprehended... Opera, for example, and the revolution.— The two decisive innovations of the book are, first, its understanding of the Dionysian phenomenon among the Greeks: for the first time, a psychological analysis of this phenomenon is offered, and it is considered as one root of the whole of Greek art. The other is the understanding of Socratism: Socrates is recognized for the first time as an instrument of Greek disintegration, as a typical décadent. 'Rationality' against instinct. 'Rationality' at any price as a dangerous force that undermines life!— Profound, hostile silence about Christianity throughout the book. That is neither Apollinian nor Dionysian; it negates all aesthetic values—the only values that the 'Birth of Tragedy' recognizes: it is nihilistic in the most profound sense, while in the Dionysian symbol the ultimate limit of affirmation is attained. There is one allusion [The Birth of Tragedy, 24] to Christian priests as a 'vicious kind of dwarfs' who are 'subterranean' ...”

In the title of his novel _The Magic Mountain_, Thomas Mann alludes to a passage from _The Birth of Tragedy_, and the influence of Nietzsche's work can be seen in the novel's character Mynheer Peepercorn, who embodies the “Dionysian principle”.[9]

Within the context of a critical study of Nietzsche's “atheist humanism”, the influential Catholic theologian Henri de Lubac considered it “a work of genius”, and dedicated several pages of his study to explicate the relationship between Nietzsche's early thought and Christianity.[10]

Notes

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7] Kaufmann, 11.

[8] Kaufmann, 18.

[9] Nietzsche, Friedrich, _The Birth of Tragedy_ (Trans. Douglas Smith), Oxford University Press, 2008: pp. xxxii, 28, 109, 140.

[10] De Lubac, Henri, _The Drama of Atheist Humanism_, Ignatius Press (San Francisco), 2008: pp. 74, 82. For De Lubac's full discussion of this early work of Nietzsche, see _id_., pp. 73–95.

title: The Birth of Tragedy

question: What did Nietzche find in classical Athenian tragedy?

answer: He found an art form that transcended the pessimism and nihilism of a fundamentally meaningless world, and that Greek spectators found self-affirmation not in life, but in the performance of tragedies.

question: Why was the Apollonian checked and destroyed wherever the Dionysian prevailed?

answer: Neither side could prevail at the same time because the two always contained the other in a permanent, natural check or balance.

question: What may have happened without the age of "coming of rationality"?

answer: The age of tragedy might not have died.

question: What is the "coming of rationality"?

answer: It is the emphasis of reasoning which saw the value of myth and suffering as representative of human knowledge.

question: Why did people take issue with this book?

answer: The general critique, including from Nietzche himself later on, is that the book was misleading and sloppy.

question: What were the scholarly traditions of Nietzche's age?

answer: There was a view of Greeks as happy and simple people.

question: Summarize Marianne Cowan's views on Nietzche's book.

answer: She believed that the book was so alien to the scholarly traditions and spirit of the time, that it injured Nietzche's academic career.


text:
[openlysecular]I’m a big tent atheist. I support almost any effort to promote atheism and to spread the message that ancient superstitions are dangerous for society. This is why I still support the new Openly Secular campaign even though I am about to criticize it.

My criticism stems from my friend Carl’s big pet peeve. He hates it when the greater non-theist community use the term “secular” interchangeably with atheism. Sometimes I think he goes a bit too far, but in this case I think it is actually a pretty big issue.

There are a lot of atheist organizations that use the term “secular” in their titles and sometimes that is okay. For example, the Secular Coalition for America is all about promoting a secular values in government. It isn’t about promoting atheists in government necessarily. They fight for the separation of church and state. That is a secular issue and one that even many religious believers can get behind. If you support a separation of church and state, then you support secularism. You don’t have to be an atheist for that.

Secular simply means, “not pertaining to religion.” The Red Cross is a secular organization. Public schools are secular institutions. But it would be a mistake to claim that the Red Cross is an atheist organization or that public schools “push atheism” as many religious conservatives might assert. They simply don’t pertain to religion. They are neutral; neither supportive nor hostile toward religion.

So what does it mean to be “Openly Secular?” What does this campaign seek to do? Is it to let politicians know that there are people who support the separation of church and state or does it ask for atheists to be open about their atheism? I think the purpose is the latter more than the former and that is the essence of my criticism.

According to their website, their mission is “to eliminate discrimination and increase acceptance by getting secular people – including atheists, freethinkers, agnostics, humanists and nonreligious people – to be open about their beliefs.”

No mention of religious believers who are also secular but in fairness, they aren’t necessarily excluding them either. Still, I don’t think religious believers who support the separation of church and state face much if any discrimination solely because of that particular stance nor do I think they lack any acceptance in our mostly Christian society.

When I see a campaign like this, I can almost hear religious fundamentalists pointing their fingers and saying, “See, see, I told you secular schools were preaching atheism and we should be able to preach our worldview too.”

My objection here is that I don’t think it is productive to use the term “secular” as a softer way of saying “atheist.” Doing so is inherently problematic for the reason shown above. If they want people to come out as atheists, then they should say so. I am openly secular because I openly support the separation of church and state, but more importantly I am openly atheist and openly godless. Whatever word you want to use is fine as long as that term means what you want it to mean. “Secular” does not mean what they want it to mean and in this case it is an important distinction.

Still, with that all said I am a big tent atheist and so I still support their efforts. I just wish their efforts were more thought out. This is why I support the old Blasphemy Challenge and the more recent We Are Atheism campaigns much more. Check out my videos on both:

question: What is the opinion of the author the post focuses on?

answer: The author dislikes when the greater non-theist community uses the term "secular" interchangeably with atheism.

question: What is the "Openly Secular" campaign?

answer: The author thinks that the purpose of the "Openly Secular" campaign is to ask for atheists to be open about their atheism.

question: What is the difference between secular and atheist?

answer: Secular means "not pertaining to religion". Atheist means a lack of a belief in gods.

question: What campaigns does the author support more than "Openly Secular"?

answer: The author supports "Blasphemy Challenge" and "We Are Atheism"

question: Write a ~3 sentence summary.

answer: The author dislikes when the greater non-theist community uses the term "secular" interchangeably with atheism. Secular means "not pertaining to religion". Atheist means a lack of a belief in gods.


text:
July may already soon be over, but summer certainly isn’t! I find myself enjoying (and appreciating!) more and more the beautiful summer sun during clear afternoons, whilst relaxing on the patio with a glass of wine (or two!) in hand. Being able to soak up the sun without worrying about being surrounded by inches of snow is quite the cathartic Canadian feeling, as is enjoying the beautiful weather in a cool pool, a hot tub, or at the beach! Don’t be fooled, however; warmer weather can also bring an incredibly unnerving “itch” no woman enjoys talking about. And oh, I wish I could be talking about those pesky bug bites, but we all know which “itch” I’m referring to — that’s right, yeast infections.

It’s more common than you might think. Did you know that about 5% of women in Canada suffer from recurrent yeast infections? This makes up for more than four infections per year! One of the most common causes behind yeast infections are heat and humidity. If moisture remains trapped, particularly in warm, dark areas, these conditions are perfect for yeast to reproduce, causing an irritating itch, burning, and discomfort. You know _exactly _what I’m talking about if you’ve ever had to endure one for a few days.

Thankfully, the good news is that with a few simple tips, you’ll be in a better position to avoid that pesky itch this summer season!

FIVE TIPS!

[Women's Health: Five Tips to Keep a Healthy "down there" this Summer]
A pair of sunglasses on top of sand at the beach.
1.  REMEMBER TO DRY OFF: Relaxing in a hot tub is the perfect way to enjoy a warm, summer evening. However, yeast grows best in a moist environment, making hot tubs a breeding ground for unwanted infections. This means it’s important to dry off well afterwards and change into dry clothes right away. Use this same approach when spending the day at the beach or pool. Additionally, remember not to spend long hours in a hot tub, either!
2.  KNOW YOUR PH: Many vaginal health issues, including odour, itchiness and yeast infections stem from an unbalanced pH. RepHresh™ Gel is a gynecologist recommended product and clinically proven to be pH balanced which can help to eliminate feminine odour and relieve feminine discomfort.
    [Women's Health: Five Tips to Keep a Healthy "down there" this Summer]
    RepHresh™ Gel Odour Eliminating Gel packaging box
3.  WEAR COTTON UNDIES: Unfortunately, your tight skinny jeans may not be the best option this summer. Warm, tight clothing allows for little oxygen movement making the perfect breeding ground for yeast. If you must rock the skinnies, wear cotton underwear.
4.  TAKE HEALTHY MEASURES: RepHresh™ Pro-Breduces the number of urogenital pathogenic bacteria and yeast on vaginal surfaces. It’s clinically tested and works by balancing the yeast and bacteria that are naturally present in a woman’s body to help restore and maintain proper vaginal flora. Try adding one capsule to your daily routine to keep your body on track and ensure nothing slows you down this summer!
    [Women's Health: Five Tips to Keep a Healthy "down there" this Summer]
    RepHresh™ Pro-B 30 oral capsules packaging.
5.  WIPE THE RIGHT WAY: While on the royal throne, be sure to wipe from the front-to-back with toilet paper and to never reuse the same sheets twice. Wiping from the back-to-front will spread unwanted bacteria and raise the risks of getting a UTI (urinary tract infection) or yeast infections.

[Women's Health Five Tips to Keep a Healthy down there this Summer]
A pair of sunglasses on top of sand at the beach and RepHresh™ Pro-B 30 oral capsules packaging.
Are you ready to beat the summer heat and conquer the “itch” this summer?

_Disclaimer: This post was sponsored by Church and Dwight. To make sure these products are right for you, always read and follow the label._

[]

Christelle

Christelle, but please call me Chrisi. Cinnamon hot chocolate connoisseur. Honorary Princess. Registered Nurse and aspiring writer to be.

question: Summarize everything relating to the advertised products.

answer: RepHresh Gel is a gynecologist recommended product that is clinically proven to be pH balanced. It is an odour eliminating gel. RepHresh Pro-B reduces the number of urogenital pathogenic bacteria and yeast on vaginal surfaces.

question: Summarize everything the article says about factors that can contribute to a yeast infection.

answer: One of the most common causes is heat and humidity. If moisture remains trapped in warm, dark areas, yeast can reproduce. Yeast grows best in a moist environment, making hot tubs a breeding ground for unwanted infections. Yeast infections can also stem from an unbalanced pH. Warm, tight clothing allows for little oxygen movement, which contributes to a perfect breeding ground for yeast. Wiping from back to front can also spread unwanted bacteria and raise the risks of an infection.

question: What does the article say about treating a yeast infection?


text:
*"Any man who can drive safely while kissing a pretty girl is simply not giving the kiss the attention it deserves."
-Albert Einstein*

I had this dream.
It must’ve been the 1950’s, or some time earlier.
I wasn't sure how I got there, but I knew that I wasn’t in my body, and that I wasn’t driving my car.
We had the top down and were speeding down an old country two-lane road.

The prettiest girl in the world was sitting in my passenger seat.
She was sitting cross-legged, facing me, with the wind blowing her gorgeous golden-brown hair all over the place.
She was laughing. I could never forget that perfect smile.
The orange light from the setting sun caused a glisten in her eyes. I loved the way that I couldn’t keep my focus whenever I was around her.

What was peculiar about this was that I felt as if it happened all in one instant, but at the same time it felt like hours. I guess this is how love is supposed to feel.

She screamed with delight. She loved feeling free.
I didn’t know where I was driving, but she didn’t care.
It doesn’t matter where you are when you’re with the most beautiful girl on Earth.

I managed to break the allure of her hazel-green eyes to check the road.
Nothing.
Just the open road, a warm sunset, and the girl of my dreams sitting next to me.

Or so I thought.

I don’t know what happened but the car suddenly flipped over.
Everything was silent.
I can’t clearly recall what happened but I remembered that her once-gorgeous golden-brown hair was soiled with blood and that her hazel-green eyes were filled with tears at one point.
But, she never cried.

The worst part was that I couldn’t save her.
I reached for her but could never touch her. I called for her but she never answered.
The last thing I saw was that glisten fade from her eyes.

I don’t know if I ended up surviving, but it didn’t matter.
All I knew was that I had robbed the world of the prettiest girl that it had ever seen.
I could never forgive myself.

What’s the value of one life if it robs humanity of its greatest treasure?

title: The Prettiest Girl in the World

question: Who is the narrator describing?

answer: The prettiest girl he had ever seen.

question: Why was she screaming?

answer: She was excited to be in his car. She loved feeling free.

question: Why is the narrator feeling guilty?

answer: Because the car flipped over and killed his beautiful passenger.

question: What is the narrator referring to when he says he "robbed humanity of its greatest treasure"?

answer: He is referring to the girl in his passenger seat who died after the car accident.

question: Write a ~3 sentence summary.

answer: The narrator speeds down an old country two-lane road with a beautiful woman in his passenger seat. She screams in delight until suddenly, the car flips over and the narrator is unable to save her. He feels he has robbed the world of its greatest treasure: The prettiest girl he had ever seen.


text:
The night is wrought with tension, the wind is whispering through the trees, telling stories of bloodshed from long ago. One can almost hear the words within the moaning of the wind,

	  Children laughing. Children laughing long ago.
	  Until They came to take and claim,
	  Until the night was painted red,
	  That’s when the laughing stopped.

The full moon shines upon the moor, illuminating a black castle standing tall upon a rock. The empty halls are quiet; all is still except for wind outside that warns of coming storms. The dungeons groan with haunted memories, walls stained an old red-brown.
A little girl wanders in, the castle’s weary doors creak open. She’s lost, the little one, looking for “Big Brother.” The shadows on the walls are whispering, whispering about a little girl whose come from far to visit these forsaken halls. Candles doust and shadows fall, forming claws and hands and the bodies of laughing children in the dark. Faces gleaming, teeth and tongue and eyes and all until a horrid shriek resounds and all is still once more.

The little girl is stood stock still, until she’s sure she sees no more and calls for “Brother Dear.” She walks through ghastly halls of crumbling walls and does not think or care to know of memories so far and dear to places such as here. Broken windows bring in mist that speaks of feasts from long ago and celebrations and cakes and laughter all around, with children in the midst of it. Two children, boy and girl, were once kept here with laughter ringing true to ears and futures were to be admired and hoped for, blissfully unaware about this tired world.

The wretched wind of mourning follows this wandering soul and cries in every corner,

	  Children laughing. Children laughing long ago.
	  Until They came to take and claim,
	  That’s when the laughing stopped,
	  And the traitors were to blame.

Shrieking, howling, wretched wind that whispers when it comes to ruined pictures on the walls and images from long ago… and slips away in silence when the dungeons come to play, where shadows whisper of a boy and girl that turn to scarlet butterflies of beauty, but scar and mark and burn as though hell’s blood is flowing through those wings of molten scarlet thread.
The silence rings and “Brother Dear” is called again, with anxious voice and eyes that speak of reckless choice when this little girl takes one step, two, and ends within the dungeons deep where shadows pounce and butterflies that should bring joy surround and never fail to deploy the plans to take and claim until the laughter sounds again.

The girl stares wide and open-mouthed at butterflies of fiery hue that seem to whisper with their bloodied wings silent words of RUN and FLEE, a repetition of a broken record playing among the dungeon’s dew and shadows full of glee.
Until a beat, another one or two, the cloud of bloodied scarlet wings holds back no more and attacks a little girl whose lost her way within the night, searching for “Big Brother Dear” and wondering at his plight.

When cries of anguish now resound, an older boy steps through and shouts and fights with hardened fists until the cloud of red dissipates and his sister is on the ground, scrambling for stronger hands and arms until she’s safe and sound.

title: Whispers of the Past (short story in creepy/mystery genre but not full-on horror)

question: Who are the main characters?

answer: An unnamed little girl who is looking for her big brother

question: Where is the story set?

answer: An old, apparently-abandoned castle

question: Who/what is the antagonist?

answer: The wind whispers menacingly, and a flock of butterflies attacks the little girl

question: What is the name of the castle?

answer: That information can't be found

question: Write a ~2 sentence summary.

answer: A little girl looks for her missing big brother in an abandoned castle as the wind whispers menacingly. She is attacked by a flock of butterflies and her brother rescues her.


text:
 [rg3.jpg] Washington Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III watches the end of the game from the bench during overtime in an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens in Landover, Md., Sunday, Dec. 9, 2012. The Redskins defeated the Raven 31-28. AP Photo/Nick Wass

DETROIT, MI - Former Detroit News columnist Rob Parker made inappropriate commentsabout Washington Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III, ESPN said Thursday.

Parker, who lives in Detroit, questioned how authentically black Griffin is on ESPN's "First Take" TV show.

"He's black, he does his thing, but he's not really down with the cause," Parker said. He's not one of us. He's kind of black, but he's not really like the kind of guy you really want to hang out with."

Parker went on to say he wanted to find out more about Griffin. "I don't know because I keep hearing these things. We all know he has a white fiancee. Then there was all this talk about he's a Republican, which there's no information at all. I'm just trying to dig deeper into why he has an issue."

Here's Parker on First Take:

Parker's comments drew strong rebuke on Twitter, many saying the sports commentator is an embarrassment to the city of Detroit. While dozens, even hundreds, of people called out Parker, a relatively few people defended the remarks.

Houston Texans' star running back Arian Foster and Sports Illustrated scribe Peter King are among those criticizing Parker.

For his part, Parker took to Twitter to defend his comments and assure followers he'll be back on First Take. ESPN didn't seem quite so sure. A spokesman said they were reviewing next steps.

Parker resigned from the Detroit News in 2008 after asking then head coach Rod Marinelli about his daughter's marriage to then defensive coordinator Joe Barry. The paper pulled him as a columnist and Parker quit.

Along with contributions to ESPN, Parker also appears on Detroit's WDIV Local 4 Sports Final Edition.

Note to readers: if you purchase something through one of our affiliate links we may earn a commission.

question: Who were Rob Parker's inappropriate comments about?

answer: about Washington Redskin's quarterback, Robert Griffin III

question: Where were the comments made?

answer: On ESPN's "First Take" TV show.

question: How did the community respond to Parker's comments?

answer: Many said the commentator is an embarrassment to the city of Detroit.

question: What were Parker's inappropriate comments?

answer: He called Griffin black "but not really one of us" and mentions his white fiancee and called him a republican.

question: Write a ~3 sentence summary.

answer:
Former Detroit News columnist, Rob Parker, made inappropriate comments about Redskins quarterback, Robert Griffin III.
Many went to Twitter in response and called Parker an embarrassment to the city of Detroit.
Parker made the comments on ESPN's "First Take" show and the network then was not sure if to have him back on the show.


text:
I saw her again last night. Her visits have gotten more and more infrequent as time passes. Before this past night it had been 6 days, 13 hours, and 42 minutes since our last encounter.

I was drunk. I spend most of my time in an alcohol-induced stupor these days. A fist smashed my door several times, yanking me from my whiskey nirvana. After a brief but brutal fight with gravity and the floor, I managed to navigate my way to the knocking sound. But I was cautious. It could have been another one of my "friends" claiming they were there to help me. I'm too smart for them. All they want to do is strip away my life-preserving elixir, the one thing getting me through every morning and every night. My mud brown orbs peep through the eye-hole and meet a pair of Caribbean blue eyes. Her eyes.

It's hard for me to recollect what happened next but I remember flinging open the door with such force it's a mystery the hinges didn't come undone. Then she's in my arms, bringing me warmth greater than Hell but everything in this moment is so perfect that I know we must be in a place even higher than Heaven.

Strawberries. That's what her hair smells like. I had almost forgotten. Immediately I curse my memory and fight back tears of frustration. But before I have the chance to cry, she leans in and whispers, "I miss you, darling" and I melt into a sweet, steaming pile of yearning. Our eyes meld into a navy black mess. I hate my own eyes for dirtying the beauty of this union.

That old, tangled knot in my chest returns. It slowly expands and I know it's going to explode soon so I go for the only cure I know. My lips seek the warmth of her lips. Instead they meet a finger, stiff and icy. She shakes her head, wearing the same kind of smile a mother does when her three year old son asks for the meaning behind "you'll be a big brother soon".

The rest of the night was a blur of love. Hours dripped into hours. At some point the alcohol and strawberries took their toll. She didn't visit my dreams that night and when I awoke to the light of the morning she was gone. The knot in my chest unwound and sunk back into its bottomless void. I poured myself a glass of whiskey and stared out at the blindingly bright sun. Though it stung, it helped bring back a bit of glowing comfort.

I finished my drink and grabbed my car keys. For once I actually had a destination in mind. The drive was uneventful. The sun hid behind a shield of clouds and did not return for the rest of the day. On the way there I stopped at a farmer's market and picked up a bouquet of forget-me-nots. They had been her favorite flowers.

I placed the forget-me-nots on the cold stone and stared at nothing for three hours in somber silence. Then I drove home, opened a new bottle of Jack Daniels, and drank myself into another coma. As I drifted into death I promised to spend tomorrow the same way. And the day after that. And the day after that. And that was how my life would be spent from now. I don't need anything or anyone other than my alcohol and the occasional visit from her. Maybe if I take one more shot than I did the night before I can see her again. And maybe next time she won't leave once the sun rises. And maybe we'll be together forever, like those two stupidly innocent children promised each other underneath the thousand year old oak tree in that field of gold forever ago. Maybe.

title: Good Night, World.

question: Where is the woman the narrator is obsessed with?

answer: dead

question: What is Jack Daniel's?

answer: a brand of whiskey

question: When did the narrator and their now-departed lover meet?

answer: as children

question: Why is the narrator suspicious of knocks on the door?

answer: The narrator is an alcoholic worried that their friends might attempt to stage an intervention.

question: Write a ~1 sentence summary.

answer: The narrator is an alcoholic whose most anticipated moments are hallucinations and dreams about a now-dead lover.


text:
The sun rose over the red and white tents of the annual Blockley fair. Arthur had successfully lost his sisters back at the Hall of Mirrors and finally had his chance to be alone. He rolled his sleeves up and strode through the green; he could remember many visits to this fair when he was a child. For a brief second Arthur allowed himself to smile, that time was soon over and he continued his trek. He knew exactly where he wanted to go. It was always the furthest attraction from the entrance, six hundred and four paces from the helter skelter when the Bucking Bronco was not erected. Every year of his childhood he had walked this path and now it was time to walk it again. The caravan was small and stained with years of neglect and carelessness. Arthur fixed the remainder of his hair in the window and knocked on the door. As if he had been expected the door opened before he could finish his third knock and the man hurried inside. A match hissed as it was struck and soon the room was filled with crimson light. The scent of cinnamon and roses hit him harder than he remembered and he was instantly brought back to when he was a boy. Arthur felt a tang of disappointment. The old, gnarly woman from his memories had been replaced by a younger woman. A different woman.
‘Pick one of my cards.’ The woman spoke softly, her voice overshadowed by the clinking of the charms on her shawl. Arthur placed his finger on the back of one of several cards placed before him. He knew this would be the one. The woman stopped him from turning it over, she felt the cool of his palms.
‘Why are you here?’ she asked.
‘To be honest I was expecting someone else.’ Arthur did not want to look her in the eyes. Her stare pierced the veil covering her face and searched every inch of Arthur’s skin. His fist clenched involuntarily, startling himself.
The woman handed him the card. ‘I see now what is going on inside your heart. You have a daughter and are sad about her. Is it boys? No. You had a daughter.’
Arthur turned the card over; he so desperately needed to know what it read yet he already knew. He placed the card upright on the shining, mahogany table. He winced as he saw the card, an ink road drawn over lined hills, connecting the bleached sun with the strong words ‘The Path’.
‘I see what happened. Tell me. What are you going to do about it?’ The woman’s voice hurt him more and more with every syllable.
‘I… I don’t know.’ Arthur spoke with a touch of defeat.
The sun crawled into his eyes as he left the caravan, a welcome distraction. The wind must have displaced his hair so he corrected it before starting the long walk back. He did not know what he was going to do; he did not know he was even supposed to do a thing. The aroma of peanut brittle quickly reminded him where he was, nothing here was real. He meticulously followed his string to the start of the labyrinth, there was no Minotaur stalking him, not one that anyone could see. After six hundred and four paces he was back to the heart of the fair. He was promptly spotted by his sisters, carrying oversized bears and small bags of nuts.
‘Where have you been, Arthur? You went to see that fortune teller didn’t you? Don’t get too hung up on it. It’s not real; we saw her grabbing a hot dog earlier. There’s not much hair left for you to lose anyway!’
Arthur nodded as he followed the girls around the green. Every step was getting harder to take. He wondered what had happened since he was a child, why life was so different to live. Arthur thought to himself as he wandered down the path, he did not know.

title: [RF] The Path

question: What is the attraction at the fair that has drawn Arthur since his childhood?

answer: Arthur had made many visits to the fair since he was little. He always made a beeline to the caravan, the furthest attraction from the entrance. Every year since his childhood he walked the path now he was going to see the fortune teller once again.

question: What happens in the caravan?

answer: The woman asks Arthur to pick a card. He touches the back of one of them. The fortune teller tells him that she sees that Arthur had a daughter and she know what happened. Arthur turns over the card and sees the path that runs across hill and dale. The fortune-teller asks what he will do about his daughter. He says he doesn't know.

question: What happened to Arthur's daughter?


text:
When I was 13, I tied up this girl that was 12 with a jumprope, then beat the fuck out of her. By the time I was done, her lip was split, her wrists were bleeding from the rope cuttin into them, one of her eyes was swollen shut, she was missing two teeth, her small tits will entirely black and blue, her pussy was bleeding, and I’m fairly sure that several bones in her feet were broken.

When I let her down, she crumpled on the floor and went into a fetal position and just hugged her legs to her chest and sobbed quietly. I suddenly got very aroused seeing that, so I pulled out my dick (I has actally hit puberty 12, and was hairy, balls dropped and everything functioning) and started jerking off quietly. Eventually, I started to breathe harder, and she noticed what I was doing, and she just looked at me with this look of absolute horror on her face.

It was at that moment that I climaxed and sprayed probably my biggest load of cum ever all over face and chest. Then, I picked up her torn shirt from the ground, wiped off my dick and tossed it to her. I told her to clean herself up and that if she ever told anyone, I would go to her house and kill her while she slept, and that if anyone asked who hurt her, she should say a bunch of high school kids did it. When I think back on it, I think she was the first girl I ever loved. ...god I’m fucked up.

title: Crazy First Love

question: Why would the girl not tell someone?

answer: She has no caring family or friends

question: How many more women and girls has the narrator assaulted?

answer: It surely wasn't his last.

question: Isn't the girl beyond horror given the extent of her injuries?

answer: Perhaps the narrator exaggerates. he seems rather proud of himself

question: What happened to the narrator? Is he in jail?

answer: A person this deranged is surely in jail by now

question: Write a ~6 sentence summary.

answer:
When the narrator was 13, he tied up a 12-year-old girl with a jump rope. He beat her so badly that she was black and blue, missing two teeth and may have had broken bones. He was so aroused by the sight of her broken body that he then proceeded to masturbate over her.
He told her to clean herself up and said she was to blame some high school kids for her injuries. Then he walked away. That was the first girl he ever loved.


text:
The sign spells "Oleander's". A fitting name, perhaps, for oleander can be either a deadly poison or a potent medicine depending on which parts and how much you choose to process. Much like alcohol. Since I'm already here, I might as well sit down and treat myself to an evening glass of something, and so I ask for a glass of mojito.

 For a tavern, it's strangely quiet and vacant, unlike all those depictions of the establishment in stories everywhere. There's no barfight, no quarrel, nothing above a whisper. Maybe the rain has driven the customers away, maybe it's a local tradition to not drink on this day, or maybe the bar is inadequate for the folks' tastes.

There's a homely feeling to this place, as I notice. I suppose it's the quietness that's rarely associated with any place that allows alcohol consumption. I'm not a crowd person. If I had to choose to live between rotting in a chair alone and associating with others incessantly, I would pick the former of the two. It's never until you've talked to so many people that you started to cherish the precious silence with a book, or a hot cup of chocolate by your side.

On my left sits an old, rusty, scarlet-colored Hecker radio. Heckers, having been out of production since 1985, are undoubtedly rare now. Carla Bruni's *Quelqu'un M'a Dit* is playing, fully accompanied by crackles and static and everything you'd expect from such an old model. The song sounds better this way, as do most French songs, I recognize.

"Mister? Here's your mojito. Please enjoy!"

I look up and catch the waitress' gaze. She has clear, hazel eyes. The type of eyes that would never give away what they are hiding behind. Just like yours.

I thank her and take a sip. For a moment, I see you also looking back at me through the fogged glass.

April 12

title: Taverns and mojitos

question: Which of the following two settings would the narrator likely prefer: a library or a nightclub?

answer: A library

question: Why could the bar be considered atypical?

answer: Because it is quiet and has very few people.

question: Who is the "you" the narrator refers to at the end of the story?

answer: Possibly a former lover of theirs.


text:
by:

Posted: Aug 19, 2017 / 06:37 PM EDT / Updated: Aug 19, 2017 / 06:37 PM EDT

[phillip miles 2_462628]

CONWAY, SC (WBTW) – A Christ Community Church pastor from Conway has issued a statement after being arrested Thursday.

According to the Horry County Detention Center, pastor Phillip Miles was arrested on weapons, carrying in restricted places charges. He was booked into J. Reuben Long on Thursday, and bonded out a few hours later.

Miles was arrested after a pistol was found in his bag by TSA agents at the Myrtle Beach International Airport, according to the statement released by attorney David Aylor.

Miles and his wife were trying to fly to Kentucky for a religious conference, according to the statement.

Miles apologized in his statement, saying “I want to apologize to the TSA, any passengers who may have been inconvenienced, the staff at the Myrtle Beach airport and to my community for a terrible mistake on my part when I accidentally brought an unloaded pistol to the airport.”

Miles continues, saying he was in a rush and did not check his luggage for anything that could not be brought on a plane.

According to Aylor and the statement, Miles did cooperate with TSA and the arresting officers.

question: Where was Phillip Miles a pastor?

answer: Christ Community Church

question: Where was Miles arrested?

answer: Myrtle Beach

question: Why was he arrested?

answer: He had a gun in his bag at the airport that was found by TSA agents.

question: Why did he bring it?

answer: He had packed it by accident.

question: Write a ~3 sentence summary.

answer: A pastor in Myrtle Beach has made the news due to an unfortunate oversight on his part. Phillip Miles, en route to Kentucky with his wife, was detained and arrested at the airport when TSA agents found a gun in his baggage. Phillip, who has been charged with carrying a weapon in a restricted place, has apologized, stating that he had hastily and accidentally packed the gun.


text:
# The Run -- By MagicalDaveGuy

They had long escaped the far reaching echos of shouting guards through the streets and outpaced the speeder teams through the derelict and cratered slums at the edges of San Francisco, but they still ran, armour thudding on the cracked and abandoned tarmac with every long stride. It began to rain, mud began to fill the cracks in the road and every step was accompanied by a splash until at long last the pair had reached their destination. It was once a grand hotel, dozens of stories tall, but the war had seen an end to it, with most of the windows blown out and boarded up, the place was abandoned, a dying steel and stone skyscraper. The two entered the wounded behemoth with a careful tread. They clomped up the stairwell, boots grinding against the concrete until they reached a large door labeled, "Floor Twenty Nine". The taller of the two raised a gauntleted fist to the door and it clicked open. They stepped through the doorway and the door clicked behind them. The room was black from the overcast sky, and the shadows of the building, and the black marble of the ceiling and the floor. Faint lights flickered from a bank of computers in the corner, and their boots clinked on the ground as they turned to face each other. Their armour was matte black, both illuminated by sets of colored streaks. One red, one blue.

*****

   The armoured figure illuminated in blue dropped to their knee, head bowed before their partner. The taller shadowrunner in red gently grasped the helmet of their partner and disengaged the EV seals with a faint pop-hiss. They tugged the helm off and placed it on the ground, letting their partner breathe unfiltered air once more. She looked up at him, impassive face lit blue in the darkness, eyes smiling up at the faceless visor. She didn't look like an assassin, a mercenary or a wanted criminal, but more like an artist, or a singer. That didn't change the facts. Blonde hair skittering over her armour, she grabbed her partners hand and lifted herself up as the other knelt down. Gauntlets enclosed the helmet and the seals cracked open, and she slid the helmet off carefully. He looked up at her with dark eyes and a look of calm on his face before lifting himself off the ground to meet her. He had the look of a man saddened by tragedy, harrowed and heavy, looking like a surgeon instead of a murderer, a spy and a shadowrunner. He turned around, arms out from his sides and she slipped his and her gauntlets off, revealing the pale skin underneath. She worked on his armour, working past clips and velcro straps, fingers dancing over his muscles through his skinsuit before finally loosening the plating on his arms enough to slide off. She tapped his shoulder and turned around, letting him reciprocate her efforts. He went about the task almost reverently, leaving no room for force or frustration, like it was a practised art.

*****

   As he set the plates on the ground she turned around, beginning to drop to her knees. She unstrapped his boots and pulled them off, turning her attention to the black plates covering his legs. Each lace was tied in a delicate but strong knot, and her hands traced over the familiar ground undoing each string with a rapid precision, tearing off velcro and gingerly setting each piece on the marble floor. She finished her work on the other leg and stood up.

*****

   "Take off my chestplate." He said, voice quiet but strong, reverberating through the wide open chamber.
She looked at him, but said nothing as her fingers clicked over the studs securing the armour together. It popped and the rigid plates went slack, slipping off over the shadowrunner's head. His companion looked at him confused for a moment, then realized why he had done it. As he went to work on finishing removing her plating she stood in honour and wonder. He had made himself vulnerable, made himself lesser than another, and willingly. He trusted her with his life.

*****

As the last plate clinked on the ground, he walked off to the computer to finish their work. She stood at the edge of the building, thinking about him and what they had accomplished that day, thinking about the dozens they had killed and the dozens they were to kill.
She looked out at the ocean, towards the storm that was coming in.

title: The Run

question: List the main characters.

answer: An unnamed man and woman

question: Where is the story set?

answer: San Francisco, mainly on the 29th floor of a hotel

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

answer: Sometime in the future

question: Where are/is the protagonist(s) going?

answer: They go to the 29th floor of an abandoned hotel

question: Write a ~3 sentence summary.

answer: Having escaped the people pursuing them, a man and woman go to the 29th floor of an abandoned hotel, where they have computers set up. They meticulously remove each other's armor, and the man asks the woman to remove his chestplate first, showing that he trusts her with his life. They think about the dozens they have killed and will kill.


text:
The boy ain't had no face,
he ain't have no legs neither
he had no spine to speak of
though he always says he done fine.

I dunno
sometime by the river shore
I start thinkin' maybe this boy'd be better
off sayin' a few words
to the god that made his broken heart

Lee's always playin' in the woods,
Lee's always throwin' sticks 'round
always from the ground right up to the air
like someday he gonna touch the sky

what a sight
what a sight

So one day, I call him 'round
I says, "Lee, come to the river"
and he came like a dog to a bone

And I said now, you take a swim
and he was no stranger to this
so he said, "please, Bill,
I ain't ready to meet the god that made me."

I says, you need a go for a swim
before I throw you in

He take off his jeans
and slowly walk in
and I swear it was like Jesus bein' baptized again

I ain't never seen no boy or man hold his breath like that
not even a hand to hold him an' he never did come back up
I consider him lucky,
he's probably gotta face on his soul now

I start screamin' so as ain't nobody 'spect nuthin'
Lee's drowin'!
Lee's walked into the river said he wanted meet the god that made him
and he never come back up!

Now, his mamma cried for days
but she know he in a better place
I know I did the right thing
now there ain't no boy gonna be right growin' up without a face.

title: Meet The God Who Made You (Hyper-Fiction)

question: Why does the boy have no face?

answer: He was born without one.

question: Is Lee going to die in the river?

answer: Yes.

question: Why did Bill force him to go in the river?

answer: Because he thought he would be better off alive and dead.

question: Write a ~5 sentence summary.

answer: Lee is born without a face, legs or a spine. Bill tells him to go swimming in the river, and Lee says he is not ready to die. Bill says to go in before he throws him in. Lee drowns in the river, and his mother cries. Bill says he is better off than he would have been growing up without a face.


text:
[The church housing Our Lady of Ludźmierz] The SANCTUARY OF OUR LADY OF LUDŹMIERZ in Ludźmierz, Poland is home to Our Lady of Ludźmierz, known as the Shepherdess of Podhale or in Polish _Gaździna Podhala_. The cult of Our Lady of Ludźmierz is strongly identified with the Góral people who live in the surrounding Tatra Mountains.

History

[The interior of the church] Ludźmierz is the oldest Catholic parish in Podhale. Its history stretches back to the 13th century. In 1234 Teodor Gryfita began raising a simple wooden church with a shingled roof and three altars in Ludźmierz, after obtaining permission from the bishop of Kraków. To encourage settlement in the uninhabited area, Gryfita brought in Cistercian Monks from France, Italy and nearby Jędrzejów.

A simple wooden monastery was erected soon after, along with a number of other buildings used in agriculture. These buildings which burnt down in 1796, had been practically abandoned since 1245 due to the high frequency of raids by bands of Tatars and thieves and the monks moved to nearby Szczyrzyc. However the Cistercians ministered to the parish in Ludźmierz until 1824, when it came under the care of Diocesan priests.

In 1869-77 the old wooden church was dismantled, and in its place the current Neo-Gothic edifice was raised, and the Rococo altar with the figurine of Our Lady of Ludźmierz was moved into the new church. Pope John Paul II visited the sanctuary in 1997. In 2001 the church was declared a Minor Basilica.

Papal Prophecy

Perhaps the most well-known story regarding the shrine is an incident during the Canonical Coronation of the statue by Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński on 15 August 1963, attended by the future Pope John Paul II as Bishop of the Archdiocese of Kraków. The statue accidentally slipped during the ceremony and the future pontiff caught the scepter which had fallen out of the statue's grasp, a scene that was later interpreted as a prophecy of the young Bishop's future selection as Pope. [“Miraculous Spring”]

Statue of Our Lady of Ludźmierz

The figurine of Our Lady of Ludźmierz, which has drawn throngs of pilgrims since the Middle Ages was originally placed in one of the church's side altars, and it wasn't until 1776 that the statue made its way into the main altar. The statue of Our Lady of Ludźmierz is thought to be about 600 years old. The wooden statue itself is about 125 cm in height, and a replica is situated next to the “miraculous spring” next to the sanctuary.

Multiple copies of the figure have spread all over the world, from the Pfarrkirche of St. Johannes Baptist in Baindt to the church of St. Mary of Częstochowa in Cicero. Most of the spread in devotion to Our Lady of Ludźmierz can be traced back to the outmigration of the Góral community out of their native Carpathian homeland.

Medieval Legend

There is a medieval legend from about 1400 that refers to the Shepherdess of Podhale or the _Gaździna Podhala_ which refers to a Hungarian merchant on his way to Nowy Targ who after having lost his way in the nearby swamps, was miraculously led out by a mysterious lady to the church. When he understood that this mysterious figure had been Mary, the mother of Jesus, he attempted to kneel to give thanks in prayer when a miraculous spring burst forth. He pledged to commission a statue that would depict Mary as he'd seen her and bring it back to the church

Category:Gorals Category:Shrines to the Virgin Mary Category:Catholic Church in Poland Category:Polish folklore Category:Marian apparitions Category:The Most Holy Virgin Mary, Queen of Poland Category:Basilica churches in Poland Category:Nowy Targ County Category:Churches in Lesser Poland Voivodeship

title: Sanctuary of Our Lady of Ludźmierz

question: Summarize the history of the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Ludzmierz.

answer: The church is an old Catholic parish dating back to the 13th century. It was, at first, a single-room house of worship with three altars. Once the founder, Teodor Gryfita, secured support from the Church, he brought monks from France and Italy. The increase in people led to augmenting the building and constructing several buildings for housing livestock and produce. It was burned down by raiders, but some remained and were nursed by the monks, until the Diocesan priests took over the structure. Parts of the church were dismantled in the 1800s, but the Gothic edifice was raised.

question: Summarize the papal prophecy.

answer: On August 15, 1963, there was a statue that was to be part of the Canonical Coronation by Cardinal Wyszynski. The future Pope John Paul II was in attendance. The statue slipped and the future pontiff caught the scepter. This was interpreted as a prophecy that he had been selected by God to be Pope.

question: Summarize the most interesting relic ever found in the church.


text:
The ETTEDGUI SYNAGOGUE is a synagogue in the medina of Casablanca, Morocco.[1][2] It was rededicated by King Mohammed VI of Morocco on December 20, 2016 after it was restored.[3]

Next to it, there is a museum dedicated to the _Mellah_, or Jewish quarter, of Casablanca.[4]

History

It was one of the most important Jewish sites in the city, next to another synagogue called the Synagogue of the People of Essaouira.[5] The Ettedgui Synagogue was destroyed in the Allied bombardment in the Naval Battle of Casablanca November 1942.[6] Reconstruction began in 2011, over a half century after its destruction.[7]

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title: Ettedgui Synagogue

question: Where is the Ettedgui Synagogue located?

answer: Casablanca, Morocco

question: What is King Mohammed VI of Morocco's relationship with the Ettedgui Synagogue?

answer: The king rededicated the synagogue on December 20, 2016, after it was restored.

question: What happened to the Ettedgui Synagogue that it needed to be restored?

answer: The synagogue was destroyed in the Allied bombardment in the Naval Battle of Casablanca during WWII in November 1942.

question: What is the historical significance of the Ettedgui Synagogue?

answer: It was one of the most important Jewish sites in the city, next to another synagogue called the Synagogue of the People of Essaouira.

question: Write a ~2 sentence summary.

answer: Restoration of the Ettedgui Synagogue began in 2011, over half a century after its destruction in the Allied bombardment of Casablanca in November 1942. King Mohammed VI of Morocco rededicated the synagogue on December 20, 2016, after it was restored.


text:
KINGSDON is a village and parish in the South Somerset district of Somerset, England, situated south east of Somerton. The village has a population of 303[1] but this is set to rise to around 350 once the Kingsdon Manor development is complete. The majority of the houses in the village are clustered on the side of the hill from which there are scenic views across the Somerset countryside.

Many of the old buildings and houses in the village are protected with Grade 2 listed building status and the centre is also a conservation area. Recently built houses have been faced with Blue Lias stone to ensure that they blend in suitably to the village. Some buildings are thatched, including the Kingsdon Inn.

Kingsdon village shop is situated in the former primary school and is a volunteer-run enterprise set up in 2014 as an Industrial and Provident Society for the Benefit of the Community (IPS Bencom). Outside of the shop the old telephone box has been restored to provide a library. Other amenities include a village hall, allotments and adventure play equipment on the recreation field. Kingsdon has its own cricket ground in the grounds of the former Manor. The Kingsdon Chronicle is produced monthly as an independent journal and delivered free of charge to all residents.

The village is in the low fly zone for RNAS Yeovilton. Within the wider Kingsdon parish is World Horse Welfare's Glenda Spooner Farm Rescue and Re-homing Centre, named after Glenda Spooner founder, Chairman and Organising Secretary of the Ponies of Britain Club and which cares for around 65 horses at a time.

History

The village is situated near the Fosse Way Roman road and two Roman villas were excavated in the village in the 19th century, but nothing remains of them today.[2]

The village name is derived from Kingsdon Hill which is in the north west of the parish and reflects its history as part of the royal estate of Somerton at the time of the Norman Conquest. The manor was granted to the Gouvis family by 1194, and in 1528, bought by Thomas Arundell of Wardour Castle, whose descendants held it until it was sold to Aaron Moody in 1801.[3] [The Kingsdon Inn on the evening after the fire.] On 4 March 2010 the thatched roof of the Kingsdon Inn, the village pub, caught fire and the roof was destroyed.[4][5] £250,000 was subsequently[6] spent repairing the building which was built in the early 19th century.[7]

Governance

The parish council has responsibility for local issues, including setting an annual precept (local rate) to cover the council’s operating costs and producing annual accounts for public scrutiny. The parish council evaluates local planning applications and works with the local police, district council officers, and neighbourhood watch groups on matters of crime, security, and traffic. The parish council's role also includes initiating projects for the maintenance and repair of parish facilities, as well as consulting with the district council on the maintenance, repair, and improvement of highways, drainage, footpaths, public transport, and street cleaning. Conservation matters (including trees and listed buildings) and environmental issues are also the responsibility of the council.

The village falls within the Non-metropolitan district of South Somerset, which was formed on 1 April 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972, having previously been part of Langport Rural District.[8] The district council is responsible for local planning and building control, local roads, council housing, environmental health, markets and fairs, refuse collection and recycling, cemeteries and crematoria, leisure services, parks, and tourism.

Somerset County Council is responsible for running the largest and most expensive local services such as education, social services, libraries, main roads, public transport, policing and fire services, trading standards, waste disposal and strategic planning.

It is also part of the Somerton and Frome county constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system of election.

Geography

To the east of the village lies the River Cary and Lytes Cary a manor house with associated chapel and gardens. The property, owned by the National Trust, has parts dating to the 14th century, with other sections dating to the 15th, 16th, 18th, and 20th centuries. “Yet all parts blend to perfection with one another and with the gentle sunny landscape that surrounds them,” comments Nikolaus Pevsner.[9] The House is listed as Grade I by English Heritage.[10]

South of the village is the A372 road which runs to Bridgwater from the Podimore roundabout on the A303.

Education

There was a small Church of England Primary School, founded 1872,[11] with about 10 pupils aged 4–11 years. It closed in August 2011 due to pupil numbers.[12] In 2014 the former school was opened as a community village shop.

The village was, up until the end of the summer term 2008, home to Kingsdon Manor School, which served Bristol and other local areas as a residential Special School, for up to 40 boys aged 10–16 years with emotional or behavioural difficulties. It was housed in a large manor house built in 1830.[13] The manor house is presently being converted for residential use with additional housing to be built in the grounds.

Religious sites

The ancient church, dedicated to All Saints, has a four-stage tower which was built in the 15th century replacing a previous one over the north transept.[14] It has six bells and a clock which has no face, but has recently been restored to chime the hours. There is a hamstone effigy of a cross-legged knight under the north window. The parish is one of five in the benefice of 'Somerton with Compton Dundon, The Charltons and Kingsdon'.

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title: Kingsdon, Somerset

question: Why were Kingsdon's buildings listed under the Grade 2 building status?

answer: Perhaps the fact that they are old and may hold some historical significance.


text:
_JUKEBOXER IN THE FOOD CHAIN_ is an album released in 2004 by Jukeboxer. The songs were constructed digitally using music editing programs. It was recorded at Noah Wall's home in Brooklyn.

Track listing

1.  Pilgrim – 6:35 {Wall}
2.  Missing Link – 3:08 {Wall}
3.  Chance Openings – 3:24 {Wall}
4.  Banj – 2:29 {Wall}
5.  Thursday – 3:25 {Wall}
6.  Terrestrial – 3:07 {Wall}
7.  Opportunist – 4:05 {Wall}
8.  My Eyes Are Only – 2:30 {Wall}
9.  Dooey – 0:58 [Wall}
10. Russian Doll – 2:07 {Wall}
11. House Burning Down – 7:03 {Wall}

Personnel

-   Noah Wall – All instruments
-   Amy Jones – Vocals
-   Tim Barnes – Tabla on “Banj”
-   Gillian Chadwick – Vocals on “Opportunist”
-   Aaron Mullan – Acoustic guitar on “Russian Doll”
-   Lyrics by Noah Wall, Amy Jones, Gillian Chadwick, David Chadwick, Matt Elkind, Paul Erb
-   Mastering by John Golden
-   Cover photo by Jaap Buitendijk

Category:2004 albums Category:Jukeboxer albums

title: Jukeboxer in the Food Chain

question: What is the album's total runtime?

answer: 38 minutes and 51 seconds

question: Who is the group's primary songwriter?

answer: Noah Wall


text:
I never got lucky before. Never won anything. Used to buy the lotto tickets, every paycheck. Just $20 in scratchers. Anna in Accounting won a cool thousand my first week there. I played for 5 years and never once won.

Course, Anna in Accounting is dead now. Same as everyone else.

I spent the last month of the world in a cell. Oh, they didn’t call it a cell, they called it a research wing. The Red Death had already killed half the globe by that point. Asia was pretty much gone, North America was right behind them, and Europe was down to only 1 in 4 alive. 100% mortality rate, they said. No one could survive it, they said.

Then there was me.

I put on the mask as I prepare to leave. Gotta wear the mask. Maybe it’d be better if I left the city, but can’t leave the city, so gotta wear the mask. Sure, I was the Last Hope for Humanity, the One that Lived, or so the papers said, but doesn’t mean I can’t get sick. Just not the Plague. One in ten billion chance, apparently.

I grab my shovel.

The irony is, the Red Death started because some nutjob in Japan thought he had found the key to immorality. A retrovirus that would completely halt the natural aging process. And this nutjob? He decided that this was a gift to humanity, he didn’t want money or accolades, so he made the goddamn cure to age into a contagion, stuck himself with it, and took a flight. Tokyo to LAX. LAX to O’hare. O’hare to JFK. JFK to Heathrow. Heathrow to Charles DuGalle. Charles DuGalle to Moscow. Moscow to Dubai. He died in the terminal in Dubai, after having spent six hours walking around each of those airports, contagious as all hell, and all on the weekend before Christmas.

“Fucker,” I mutter to no one as I shoe away some crows.

They’re big bastards now. I’ve started calling them Crovus Rex. They don’t seem to mind me much, but they watch me. Read an article once, before the plague, about how damned smart crows were. Seems with us gone, they’ve been getting smarter. I hear them cawing at each other all the time. I think it might be language. Sometimes I think I can understand it. That one sound, a Caw with a harsh start and a slight lag at the end? Sort of a Kchraaaaw? I think that’s me. I wonder what they think of me.

I grab my newest find and shove it into the wheelbarrow.

Funny side effect of the Red Death? You don’t decay, bacteria don’t eat you anymore. You just bleed out and then sit there. Mummified. That bastard mummified the whole world. Except me, although he still kinda did. Everyone else died. Unless something kills me, I never will. No one could figure out why. Just a fluke of genetics that kept me ticking.

The wheelbarrow’s heavy now.

Time seems funny these days. Goes by so fast. Maybe it’s just because I’ve had so many days they blur together even while I’m living them. Either way, time to head out. I’m in New York, right now. Obviously. Well, maybe not. Dunno who I’m talking to these days. But I get out of the city, and then I walk a ways more. Been in New York for…for awhile. Couple hundred, maybe? Just about done here, though.

Ahead of me stretch the Stones.

I try to include a name when I can. Find it in wallets. Well, what’s left of them.  It’s getting harder and harder as things decompose or get lost. If not, I put some details. Anything I can make out. “Wearing Red.” “Woman With Four Rings.” Anything, though it gets harder and harder to make it out each time. Still, I think I’ve got maybe a week or so left.

Then I’ve buried the entire state of New York.

Oh, I’m sure I missed some, and I’m sure the animals have eaten some. Some of the graves are no more than a fingerbone. But I keep digging. There isn’t anything else to do. Humanity may be dead, but it’s gotta be buried too.

And I’ll be the Gravedigger.

title: Response to a Flash Fiction Prompt that went way over the limit - "You are the last person on Earth..."

question: Give a summary of what caused the Red Death.

answer: A deadly pandemic called the Red Death came about when an overzealous, overambitious individual in Japan decided to create a retrovirus that would stop the natural aging process in man. He figured he was contributing to humanity and providing a solution to people's aging problems. However, he didn't realize his creation would bring more harm than good to humanity when it developed into a contagious disease he spread worldwide.

question: What does the story say was the negative impact of the Red Death on the world, and what was the possible solution?

answer: The creation of the Red Death, which the creator intended to be an aging antidote, ended up becoming the worst pandemic the world had seen. With a 100% mortality rate, no one was expected to survive it since there was no cure. The only individual without the sickness was the protagonist, who, according to research, was the last hope they had. Somehow, the plague didn't affect the protagonist because they barely caught the disease like everyone else. Possibly, scientists had hopes of using the protagonist's blood to create an antidote for the virus.


text:
The Magic Wonder of a Pause

…is the ingredient of _Self Intimacy:_  the exploration of the world Inside and how we relate to the world around us from that space.
I’m inviting you to connect to the inside through my stardust sprinkles of REST, _VILANDE YIN YOGA_ and GUIDED RELAXTION (Y_oga Nidra)_

You will create a closer relationship with your body, breath and the stillness within you through my classes and workshops. Welcome ✨

[Screenshot 2020-05-04 at 14.35.00]

question: What is this ad for?

answer: A yoga class in the Vilande Yin yoga style

question: What is the aim of the class?

answer: To create a closer relationship with your body.

question: Write a ~1 sentence summary.

answer: It appears to be an ad for a Yoga class exploring self-intimacy.


text:
SONYA SMITH ( born April 23, 1972) is a Venezuelan actress and nurse best known for her roles in telenovelas.

Biography

Sonya was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, she is the daughter of German-born Venezuelan actress Ileana Jacquet and Frederick Smith, who is American. Her maternal great-grandfather was French and her maternal great-grandmother was Finnish.[1][2] After her parents divorced, her actress mother along with Smith went back to Venezuela; Smith grew up in Venezuela and identifies herself with the Venezuelan culture.[3] She speaks fluent Spanish, English, and German; the last learned from her mother, a German who grew up in Venezuela. She studied psychology at the Universidad Central de Venezuela.

She also has a nursing degree.

Career

Her breakthrough came in the early 1990s when she played Estrellita Montenegro, the main character in _Cara Sucia_, her most successful telenovela as the lead actress. Smith remains a popular actress not only in Venezuela, also in other countries where her telenovelas have shown. In 2006, she returned to telenovelas with Olvidarte Jamás, her biggest hit as the lead actress since _Cara Sucia_, which was shot in Miami; this is the time where Smith returned to her birth country, but this time in Miami. Later, in 2007, she reappeared in _Acorralada_, in which she was one of the main stars and which has been a huge success. There, she was Fedora Gaviota.

During 2005, Smith made her Hollywood debut, playing Angela La Salle in _Cyxork 7_, where she acted alongside Ray Wise; although Smith currently lives in the United States and appeared in a Hollywood film, she still wants to remain more in the Spanish media of the country because the Spanish media opened opportunities for her to fame.[4] In 2007, she participated in another Hollywood film, _Ladrón que roba a Ladrón_, where she shared credits with actors, Fernando Colunga, Gabriel Soto, Miguel Varoni, and Saúl Lisazo among others.

Filmography

Film

  Year   Title                        Role              Notes
  ------ ---------------------------- ----------------- ------------
  2006   _Cyxork 7_                   Angela LaSalle
  2007   _La misma luna_              Sra. Snyder
  2007   _Ladrón que roba a ladrón_   Veronica Valdez
  2008   _I Didn't Know Who I Was_    Michelle          Short film
  2010   _Hunted by Night_            Tania
  2012   _Unknowns_                   DA Riley
  2017   _Case Unknown_               Claudia Smith     Short film

Television roles

  Year           Title                   Role                                             Notes
  -------------- ----------------------- ------------------------------------------------ -----------------------------------------
  1991           _El desprecio_          Violeta Velandró                                 Supporting role
  1992           _Cara sucia_            Esterella Montenegro                             Protagonist
  1993           _Rosangélica_           Rosangélica González Hernández / Elisa Montero   Protagonist
  1994           _María Celeste_         María Celeste Paniagua                           Protagonist
  1996           _Guajira_               Sonia Arbeláez                                   Protagonist
  1997           _Destino de mujer_      Mariana Oropeza                                  Protagonist
  2000           _Milagros_              Milagros De La Torre Vargas / Chachita Vargas    Protagonist
  2000           _Mariú_                 Coralia Lozada de Gálvez                         Co-Protagonist
  2006           _Olvidarte jamás_       Luisa Domínguez / Victoria Salinas               Protagonist
  2007           _Acorralada_            Fedora “La Gaviota” Garcés Soriano               Supporting role
  2007–08        _Pecados ajenos_        Elena Sandoval                                   Antagonist
  2009           _Vuélveme a querer_     Liliana Acosta                                   Supporting role
  2010           _¿Dónde está Elisa?_    Dana Riggs                                       Protagonist
  2010–11        _Aurora_                Ángela Amenábar                                  Protagonist
  2012           _Corazón valiente_      Isabel Uriarte de Arroyo                         Special Participation
  2013–14        _Marido en alquiler_    Griselda Carrasco                                Protagonist
  2014–15        _Tierra de reyes_       Cayetana Belmonte Vda. de Del Junco              Antagonist / Co-Protagonist
  2017           _Milagros de Navidad_   Soledad                                          Episode: “Adiós soledad”[5] Protagonist
  2018[6]        _Mi familia perfecta_   Dakota Johnson[7]                                Antagonist
  2018–present   _Falsa identidad_       Fernanda Virrueta López                          Co-Protagonist

Awards

-   Latin Pride National Awards (for Outstanding Woman Achievement, 2008)
-   Miami Life Award[8] (2011)

[1] Entrevista a Sonya Smith programa Área Restringida Parte 1 (in Spanish)

[2] Sonya Smith “yo también estoy enojada” (in Spanish)

[3] “Sonya Smith's Biography at Biografia DVD”

[4] Cyxork7 “Interview with Sonya Smith”

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title: Sonya Smith

question: How long did Sonya Smith spend away from her birth country?

answer: She returned to the U.S.A in 2006. She had left as a child, which would put it around the 1980s. She must've been away for around 15-25 years.

question: Can Sonya Smith be considered a Hollywood sensation?

answer: No. While she seems to be a successful actress, her acting career isn't illustrious enough to be a superstar.


text:
Along with soccer, the sport of FUTSAL IN THE UNITED STATES is a rapidly-growing phenomenon.[1][2][3]

The Major League Futsal (MLF)[4][5][6][7][8][9] is an amateur futsal league. The Professional Futsal League (PFL) was supposed to become the first professional futsal league in the United States in 2018, however it never began play. There is currently no professional futsal league in the United States, although there is increasing support for one and many regions have their own leagues.[10][11][12]

US Soccer is the sport's governing body in the United States. Futsal Across America and New York Futsal have become leaders in Futsal. Leslie Hamer, who represented Falcao in PFL negotiations, has taken the lead in representing coaches and players. Futsal Across America has created developmental Futsal programs for schools, clubs and communities.[13]

The national team has placed runner-up in 1992 and third place in 1989 at the FIFA Futsal World Cup.

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title: Futsal in the United States

question: Which league is an amateur futsal league?

answer: The Major League Futsal is an amateur futsal league.

question: What sport is a rapidly-growing phenomenon?

answer: Futsal is a sport that is a rapdily-growing phenomenon in the United States.

question: Are there professional futsal leagues in the United States?

answer: There are no professional futsal leagues in the United States.

question: What is stated as the sport's governing body in the United States?

answer: US Soccer is stated as the sport's governing body in the United States.

question: Write a ~1 sentence summary.

answer: This article describes the sport, futsal, and how it is a rapidly growing sport in the United States, coming close to US soccer.