text:
( So, this has been an idea I've been running with for a while now. I've been interested in continuing it, but I'd like to know what Reddit thinks. Please just give me some constructive criticism here. I just want to know if it'd be worth investing my time in this idea. Aaaand...enjoy the read! )

      Smoke billowed from the window of a broken-down truck that always sat at the edge of Potts farm. Nobody knew how or when the dusty behemoth of a vehicle ended up where it was. All that was known was that it had been there for years on end, never claimed and never moved. Incapable of any motion, the vehicle was often the place that delinquents and vagabonds aplenty decided to make their little niche in the world. Sitting in the front seat, Matthew Delaney smoked the Marlboro in his lips slowly.  A down-to-earth country boy, Matthew fit the part with a pair of dusty overalls and a tank top worn underneath. Scrawny to the letter and hiding his eyes behind a tangled mess of sweat-laced hair, he wasn't exactly the most attractive or noteworthy of people in the small farming colony of Plethora. A glance over brought attention to the old rifle he had stolen from his father's case. A Winchester by make, the rifle was known for its solid performance, even as old as it was. Today, it seemed, was the day that Matthew had decided to die. Another gentle puff of the cigarette brought his mind back, spiraling through the mesh of memories and thoughts he had locked away for the day. What had brought him to this point? The breakup. That's right. Amber McGraw, a girl he had been with for nearly two years had decided that they were looking at different ends of a circle. They would arrive at the same points, but regardless of how much they moved their plans around, there was never a solid corner to settle into. A shake of his head brought Matthew back to the present, a blemish of a day in his perfect plan of life. Everything he had known in the world had come to a close and there was no new chapter to this book. No sequels, no trilogy or saga to keep him wondering what came next.

      Sighing, Matthew flicked the cigarette from the door and grabbed the rifle from the passenger's seat. Kicking the door as he pulled the handle, the old metal swung open with a contesting creak and squealed to rest once open halfway. Squeezing out of the narrow opening, Matthew walked to the front of the truck and leaned back. The cold metal of the grill met his back with a smack and Matthew soon found himself sliding to sit with his knees propped up. Dropping his head back, he let it rest on the truck's grill as he gazed into the night sky. Earth had been a sight back whenever he had first lived there. The large white moon above with stars littering the sky had kept him rather enraptured as a young boy. At the age of twenty-seven, however, Matthew found the night sky of Plethora to be a bit lackluster. There was no moon, only stars. The sky wasn't even that dark here. A darker shade of red, perhaps, but the early sun's rotation did little to give a working man a real moment's sleep. Shaking his head, Matthew looked down once more at the rifle he held. At least he'd be found soon. People would be out and about in an hour at the latest. Since the old “Pott's Truck” was a landmark into and out of the primary farming community that the colony was known for, someone was bound to find the poor man's body where it would undoubtedly be lying. No coyotes or decay for him. He'd at least have the dignity of a decent burial. Firming his resolve, Matthew shifted the rifle until it was placed squarely in his mouth and moved his hand towards the trigger.

      Before he had even so much as touched the trigger guard, however, an explosion rocked the world around him. Wind, dust, and rocks flew towards Matthew, who was quick to drop to the side, evading a rather large rock that had been kicked up and sent his way. Forgotten was the rifle and his previous resolution, the old weapon hitting the ground with a dull clang compared to the sudden rush of noise and action around the man. Whenever his vision cleared up, Matthew went wide-eyed with disbelief. There before him, battling what Matthew had once considered friends and coworkers, was the lapdog of the Unified Colony Directorate. Aiden Desparius, a gene-soldier, was an impressive figure to find on any battlefield. Standing at just under 6 feet flat and sporting a goatee that looked as if it belonged on some cartoon villain's face, he was impressive enough without the gear he had strapped to his body armor. White flesh shifted as he dived to the side, evading a stray rifle's bullet. Muscles tightened and flexed as he punched one farmer, who dared to get close with his knife, in the nose. To see him battling a bunch of farmers and laborers was more than enough shock and confusion for Matthew, who could only watch in wonder before the desire to save his fellows overwhelmed the man's mind. Stumbling for the abandoned Winchester, Matthew raised it shakily to his shoulder and aimed at the soldier fighting his people. Unseen, he fired off the round and managed a hit. A small cheer lifted from his mouth whenever he saw Aiden crumple, one immediately copied by the farmer's around him. It died, however, whenever Aiden rose slowly from the ground. Spitting to the side, he glanced at the hole in his shoulder and turned to where the shot came from. “Mother fucker.”

      They were to be the last two words Matthew heard in his current life. Seeing Aiden vanish before his eyes, Matthew gave a startled yelp and attempted to flee from where he was hunched. He had intended to kill himself that day, but now felt the very real desire to remain alive now that he had an enemy who cared enough about him to want him dead. He knew Aiden's gift, as most did, and did his best to run before the soldier reappeared. He wasn't quick enough. Aiden reappeared explosively, his body forming in midair in the space that Matthew inhabited. Vitae and organs spread like a rain, Matthew's body unable to contain the sudden stress of someone else occupying the exact space it did. The poor man's master plan for dying peacefully and with a proper funeral were shattered in the same instant that Matthew simply ceased to exist. It didn't take long for Aiden to finish his compatriots after their morale shattered, seeing such gruesome brutality.

title: Plethora (First Post)

question: Who are the major characters in the story?

answer: Matthew Delaney (a 27-year-old, down-to-earth country boy), Aiden Desparius (a gene-soldier)

question: Why does Matthew grab the rifle?

answer: He intends to use the rifle to kill himself.

question: What happens to Matthew at the end of the story?

answer: Aiden teleports so that he's occupying the same space as Matthew, which causes Matthew to explode and die.

question: Explain what Plethora is.

answer: Plethora is a small farming colony.

question: Describe the relationship between Matthew and Amber McGraw.

answer: Matthew and Amber were dating for two years until Amber decided to end things.

question: Write a ~7 sentence summary.

answer: After being broken up with by his girlfriend, Amber, Matthew decides to kill himself. He grabs the rifle from his broken-down truck. Before he can pull the trigger, there's an explosion. Aiden, a gene-soldier, appears and starts attacking the local farmers. Matthew shoots Aiden, but Aiden survives. Aiden then teleports over to occupy the exact same space as Matthew, causing Matthew to explode and die. Aiden then kills the rest of the farmers.


split: train

text:
The only difference between a hurricane and a typhoon is the location where the storm occurs.

[A close-up satellite image of Hurricane Isabel taken on Sept. 15, 2003. ]
A close-up satellite image of Hurricane Isabel taken on Sept. 15, 2003. The National Ocean Service helps coastal communities prepare for and recover from major coastal storms such as hurricanes.

Hurricanes and typhoons are the same weather phenomenon: tropical cyclones.  A tropical cyclone is a generic term used by meteorologists to describe a rotating, organized system of clouds and thunderstorms that originates over tropical or subtropical waters and has closed, low-level circulation.

The weakest tropical cyclones are called _tropical depressions_. If a depression intensifies such that its maximum sustained winds reach 39 miles per hour, the tropical cyclone becomes a _tropical storm._  Once a tropical cyclone reaches maximum sustained winds of 74 miles per hour or higher, it is then classified as a hurricane, typhoon, or tropical cyclone, depending upon where the storm originates in the world.  In the North Atlantic, central North Pacific, and eastern North Pacific, the term _hurricane_ is used. The same type of disturbance in the Northwest Pacific is called a _typhoon_. Meanwhile, in the South Pacific and Indian Ocean, the generic term _tropical cyclone_ is used, regardless of the strength of the wind associated with the weather system.

The ingredients for tropical cyclones include a pre-existing weather disturbance, warm tropical oceans, moisture, and relatively light winds. If the right conditions persist long enough, they can combine to produce the violent winds, large waves, torrential rains, and floods we associate with this phenomenon.  At times, when a weather system does not meet all of these conditions, but is forecast to bring tropical storm or hurricane force winds to land in the next day or two, it is called a _potential tropical cyclone_ in the Atlantic basin and the central and eastern North Pacific basins.

In the Atlantic, hurricane season officially runs from June 1 to November 30. Ninety-seven percent of tropical cyclone activity occurs during this time period. However, there is nothing magical about these dates. Hurricanes can and do occur outside of this six month period.

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The main parts of a tropical cyclone are the rainbands, the eye, and the eyewall. Air spirals in toward the center in a counter-clockwise pattern in the northern hemisphere (clockwise in the southern hemisphere), and out the top in the opposite direction. In the very center of the storm, air sinks, forming an "eye" that is mostly cloud-free.

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LAST UPDATED: 01/07/20
AUTHOR: NOAA
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question: What is the difference between a hurricane and a typhoon?

answer: Their location.

question: What are hurricanes and typhoons?

answer: They are tropical cyclones.

question: What is a tropical cyclone?

answer: A rotating, organized system of clouds and thunderstorms that originates over tropical or subtropical waters and has closed, low-level circulation.

question: What are the main parts of a tropical cyclone?

answer: The rainbands, the eye, and the eyewall

question: Write a ~1 sentence summary.

answer: This article is about what are tropical cyclones and the difference between hurricanes and typhoons.


text:
The 1956 CANADA CUP took place 24–26 June on the West Course at the Wentworth Club in Virginia Water, Surrey, England. It was the fourth Canada Cup event, which became the World Cup in 1967. The tournament was a 72-hole stroke play team event with 29 teams. The Scandinavian team that had competed in 1954 and 1955 was replaced by teams from Denmark and Sweden, while there were new teams from Chinese Taipei, Portugal and South Korea. Each team consisted of two players from a country. The combined score of each team determined the team results.[1][2] 18 holes were played on the first two days with 36 holes played on the final day. Because of the time taken to play each round, a cut was introduced after the second day, with only the leading 20 teams competing on the final day.[3] An 18-hole consolation event was held for the remaining 9 teams. There was provision for an individual in one of these 9 teams to complete the 72 holes if they were well-placed after the second day.[4]

The American team of Ben Hogan and Sam Snead won by 14 strokes over the South African team of Bobby Locke and Gary Player.[5] The individual competition was won by Hogan, five shots ahead of Roberto De Vicenzo.[6]

Teams

  Country   Players
  --------- ---------------------------------------------
            Enrique Bertolino and Martin Pose
            Peter Thomson and Norman Von Nida
            Arthur Devulder and Flory Van Donck
            Mário Gonzalez and Luis Rapisarda
            Al Balding and Stan Leonard
            Manuel Morales and Alberto Salas
            Chen Ching-Po and Lu Liang-Huan
            Julio Polania and Raúl Posse
            H Aafeldt and Carl Paulsen
            Cherif El-Sayed Cherif and Hassan Hassanein
            Ken Bousfield and Harry Weetman
            Roger Cotton and François Saubaber
            Harry Bradshaw and Christy O'Connor Snr
            Alfonso Angelini and Ugo Grappasonni
            Yoshiro Hayashi and Michio Ishii
            Percy Clifford and Roberto De Vicenzo
            Gerard de Wit and Piet Witte
            Frank Buckler and Ernie Southerden
            Ben Arda and Celestino Tugot
            M Lourenco and J Feliciano Da Silva
            Eric Brown and John Panton
            Bobby Locke and Gary Player
            Park Myeong-chul and Yun Duk-choon
            Ángel Miguel and Sebastián Miguel
            Harry Karlsson and Arne Werkell
            Jacky Bonvin and Otto Schoepfer
            Ben Hogan and Sam Snead
            Dai Rees and Dennis Smalldon
            Friedrich Becker and Georg Bessner

Source[7]

De Vicenzo was representing Mexico, having played for Argentina in the three previous Canada Cup events.

Scores

TEAM

  #     Country               Score                 To par
  ----- --------------------- --------------------- --------
  1                           144-142-145-136=567   −1
  2                           145-145-145-146=581   +13
  3                           144-139-145-155=583   +15
  T4                          152-141-152-141=586   +18
        152-151-147-136=586
  6                           143-145-156-143=587   +19
  7                           148-148-149-144=589   +21
  8                           145-145-154-151=595   +27
  9                           143-151-150-154=598   +30
  T10                         142-152-162-145=601   +33
        150-153-147-151=601
        151-147-155-148=601
  13                          151-148-151-152=602   +34
  14                          151-148-156-150=605   +37
  15                          150-149-151-159=609   +41
  16                          152-146-155-157=610   +42
  17                          151-155-153-153=612   +44
  18                          151-150-156-157=614   +46
  19                          155-147-151-168=621   +53
  20                          151-154-161-163=629   +61
  21                          151-159=310
  T22                         152-165=317
        160-157=317
  24                          160-160=320
  25                          161-160=321
  26                          166-156=322
  27                          163-163=326
  28                          163-166=329
  29                          166-167=333

Source[8]

INTERNATIONAL TROPHY

  #    Player               Country   Score             To par
  ---- -------------------- --------- ----------------- --------
  1    Ben Hogan                      68-69-72-68=277   −7
  2    Roberto De Vicenzo             69-72-67-74=282   −2
  3    Flory Van Donck                71-67-73-72=283   −1
  4    Dai Rees                       74-71-72-67=284   E
  5    Bobby Locke                    71-72-72-70=285   +1
  6    Stan Leonard                   69-67-71-79=286   +2
  7    Michio Ishii                   71-76-74-68=289   +5
  8    Sam Snead                      76-73-73-68=290   +6
  9    Ken Bousfield                  76-71-76-68=291   +7
  10   Eric Brown                     76-73-75-69=293   +9

Source[9]

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

title: 1956 Canada Cup

question: What sport does the Canada Cup involve?

answer: It's not said directly, but it probably involves golf.

question: What countries were involved in the Cup?

answer: There were 29 teams, but the only countries the article mentions that may have played in the Canada Cup are America, England, Chinese Taipei, Portugal, South Korea, South Africa, Denmark, Sweden, Mexico, and Argentina.

question: How did the American team in the Cup?

answer: They won by 14 strokes over the South African team.

question: Who made up the American team?

answer: Ben Hogan and Sam Snead

question: Where did the 1956 Canada Cup take place?

answer: It took place on the West Course at the Wentworth Club in Virginia Water, Surrey, England.

question: Write a ~2 sentence summary.

answer: This article describes the 1956 World Cup that took place on the West Course at the Wentworth Club in Virginia Water, Surrey, England. The tournament was a 72-hole stroke play team event with 29 teams.


text:
HOME-STAKE PRODUCTION COMPANY was a company involved in a fraudulent oil and gas tax-shelter scheme. It was one of the largest Ponzi schemes uncovered in the 1970s with over $100 million lost. Its victims included a large number of prominent names in the entertainment, business and political worlds.

The company was founded by Robert S. Trippet, an attorney, in 1955 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The company was initially started to develop oil and gas properties, but little was actually developed. In later years, employees would paint farmers' water irrigation pipes and show them to potential investors as oil pipelines from their oil wells. The company sent out fraudulent financial statements to investors and the Securities and Exchange Commission. “Profit” participations to older investors were paid from funds coming from new investors.

Over 2,000 people invested in the tax-shelter plans. Notable names from the entertainment industry included: Andy Williams (the largest investor with $538,000), Liza Minnelli, Walter Matthau, Bob Dylan, Jack Benny (famous for his tightwad public persona), Buddy Hackett, Phyllis Diller, Barbra Streisand, Barbara Walters, and Candice Bergen. Politicians who invested included United States Senators Jacob Javits of New York and Ernest Hollings of South Carolina. Other investors included financial writer George Goodman (writing as “Adam Smith”) and high level executives from Citibank, General Electric, Western Union and American Express.

The company filed bankruptcy in September 1973.[1] In December 1974, 13 officers and associates of the company were charged with conspiracy, mail fraud and stock fraud.[2][3] In 1976, Trippet and two other top officials of the company pleaded no contest, spent one night in jail and received probation. In addition, Trippet was fined $19,000.

Initial lawsuits by investors were filed against the company in 1973 and they was certified as a class action lawsuit in 1976. However, the litigation involving the company dragged on for decades. It was finally settled in 1996.[4][5]

[1] SEC News Digest May 15, 1974 1

[2] Indictment Names 13 at Home‐Stake _New York Times_ December 13, 1974 2

[3] 13 Indicted in Oil Swindle _The Prescott Courier_ December 12, 1974 3

[4] Home-Stake Sides Settle // Oil Fraud Case Dates to '73 _Tulsa World_ October 29, 1996 4

[5] Home-Stake Lawyers Awarded $5.8 Million _Tulsa World_ July 26, 1997 5

title: Home-Stake Production Company

question: Who founded the company?

answer: Robert S. Trippet, an attorney

question: Where was the company based?

answer: Tulsa, Oklahoma

question: When was the class-action lawsuit against the company finally settled?

answer: 1996

question: Who was the largest investor in the company?

answer: Andy Williams

question: Write a ~5 sentence summary.

answer: Home-Stake Production Company was a company involved in a fradulent oil and gas tax-shelter scheme. It was one of the largest Ponzi schemes uncovered in the 1970s with over $100 million lost. It was founded in 1955 in Tulsa, Oklahoma by Robert S. Trippet, an attorney. The company deceived investors about their profits and filed for bankruptcy in 1973. A class-action lawsuit was filed in 1976, but it wasn't settled until 1996.


text:
MARK NEWMAN is an English-American physicist and Anatol Rapoport Distinguished University Professor of Physics at the University of Michigan, as well as an external faculty member of the Santa Fe Institute. He is known for his fundamental contributions to the fields of complex networks and complex systems, for which he was awarded the 2014 Lagrange Prize.

Career

Mark Newman grew up in Bristol, England, where he was a pupil at Bristol Cathedral School, and earned both an undergraduate degree and a PhD in physics from the University of Oxford, before moving to the United States to conduct research first at Cornell University and later at the Santa Fe Institute, a private research institute in northern New Mexico devoted to the study of complex systems. In 2002 Newman moved to the University of Michigan, where he is currently the Anatol Rapoport Distinguished University Professor of Physics and a professor in the university's Center for the Study of Complex Systems.

Research

Newman is known for his research on complex networks, and in particular for work on collaboration patterns of scientists, random graph theory, assortative mixing, community structure, percolation theory, and network epidemiology.[1] He was also co-inventor, with Michael Gastner, of a method for generating density-equalizing maps or cartograms, which forms the foundation for the Worldmapper web site. Their work gained attention following the 2004 US presidential election when it was used as the basis for a widely circulated map of the election results, which adjusted the size of states based on their population to give a more accurate sense of how many voters voted for each party.[2][3]

Newman's network-based methods have been applied to a variety of fields, including psychology, sociology, economics and biology. The same basic methods have accurately predicted a wide variety of results, from relationships between organisms in an ecosystem to associations between terrorist organizations.[4] Newman has also studied the risk of forest fires[5] and the social behavior of dolphins in New Zealand,[6] as well as the structure of the scientific community itself.[7]

Newman has worked on power-law distributions in complex systems, including in the distribution of wealth, the sizes of cities, and the frequency of words in languages (see Zipf's Law).[8] With collaborators Aaron Clauset and Cosma Shalizi, Newman developed statistical methods for analyzing power-law distributions and applied them to the study of a wide range of systems, in various cases either confirming or denying the existence of previously claimed power-law behaviors.[9]

Newman's paper “The structure and function of complex networks”[10] received the most citations of any paper in mathematics between 2001 and 2011.[11]

Awards and honors

In 2007, Newman was elected as a Fellow of the American Physical Society (APS).[12] In 2011 and 2012, he received a Faculty Recognition Award and an Excellence in Education Award, both from the University of Michigan. In 2014, he was elected as a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), received the 2014 Lagrange Prize from the ISI Foundation, and was the fifth recipient of the Zachary Karate Club CLUB prize.[13] In 2016, he was elected as a Simons Fellow in Theoretical Physics and received a Guggenheim Fellowship.[14]

[1] Mark Newman's home page

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

[11]

[12] Curriculum vitae, retrieved 2016-07-01.

[13] Zachary Karate Club CLUB prize, retrieved 2016-07-01.

[14] Guggenhiem Fellowship, retrieved 2016-07-01.

title: Mark Newman

question: Summarize the research that Newman is known for.

answer: The research Newman is most known for is his research on complex networks, specifically work on collaboration patterns of scientists, random graph theory, assortative mixing, community structure, percolation theory, and network epidemiology. Newman also worked with Michael Gastner and their work gained attention in the 2004 US presidential election as density-equalizing maps. Newman also studied other areas such as the risk of forest fires, social behavior of dolphins in New Zealand, and the structure of the scientific community. Newman has also worked on power-law distributions in complex systems and developed statistical methods for these power-law behaviors.

question: Summarize the awards and honors Newman received.

answer: The awards and honors Newman received were numerous. Newman was elected as a Fellow of the American Physical Society (2007), received a Faculty Recognition Award and an Excellence in Education Award (2011 and 2012), and received the 2014 Lagrange Prize from the ISI Foundation. The Lagrange Prize was the most renowned prize that Newman got in his career.

question: Summarize Newman's personal/family life.


text:
            My scalpel sliced neatly through, completing the first incision. As I gently lifted the flap of skin back, I admired the fragility and solidity of the skull. How could something so dull possibly reveal the beautiful secrets of the organ it housed? I stood aside as the secondary surgeon drilled through the skull. “Which hemisphere did you say I was supposed to remove?” I joked. One of the interns laughed too hard. Ass kisser.
            “The hemispherectomy went well enough,” I told the parents. “If all goes well, little Tyler should be able to walk and talk a little in about a week.” The look of joy on the parents’ faces should have warmed my heart. Any other surgeon would have succumbed and allowed themselves a grin. I know how I’m supposed to act, and so I feigned a smile, then turned and returned to my office.
            I reviewed the logs and tape from the surgery, before packing it up and handing it to an intern to give to the dean.
            As I drove home, I wondered if Noah had received the body. I thought back to when I first met Noah. The psycho had been at a bar, where I had only gone to have one drink before going home. He had started ranting about how he was going to burn the entire world down one day. The bartender then made the biggest mistake a bartender can make, and cut the poor bastard off. Noah then had started to bawl his eyes out, and started apologizing to thin air. Something about “why’d I help ‘em?”
            The bartender said he was going to call a taxi, but Noah had mumbled something about not having any cash. Before the bartender said anything else, I volunteered to take him home. That sentence seemed to aggravate Noah even more. “Fuck homes!” he had yelled. I asked him whether he had a place to stay. “Yeah, but that shithole’ll never be a fucking home” he growled. “Does this shithole have an address?” I remember saying.
            Over the course of the following week, Noah and I became closer. “So Doc,” he would say, “I got this fucking twinge in my neck, ya think ya could check it out?” I would gently remind his that I was a neurosurgeon.
            I discovered Noah’s “little secret” two weeks after the night in the bar. Noah had come to the hospital with a broken arm, and it was my day for clinic rounds. I remember sitting awkwardly in the room with Noah for a minute before Noah chuckled and said, “That file probably has it all in there right?” Seeing the confused look on my face, he said, “Why don’t I just tell ya, I’d rather ya hear it from me.”
            He then proceeded to tell me everything. About how he posed as a lawyer to seem normal, but how he was actually a murderer and an arsonist And about how he spent all his money on booze and accelerant. “Well actually, Bellua’s the murderer, I just burn shit,” he clarified. I had no idea who this “Bellua” was, but I didn’t care anymore. This was just too messed up.
            Yes, technically I’m a murderer, but not to this psycho’s extent. I’ve only ever killed for other people’s benefit. There was the time I prescribed a double dosage of Luvox to a patient who I knew had been skimming money from the school district, and that other time when I had tampered with the drill before surgery to kill a corrupt judge on the table; but these had all been for the good of society.
            I didn’t tell Noah any of this, I simply pretended he was joking, although I knew he wasn’t, and proceeded to call a nurse in to set his arm.
            Later, I called Noah and told him how I was a murderer too. I realized Noah had provided a golden opportunity to kill and not risk being caught at work. I proposed that I kill, and Noah dispose of the body’s. Noah agreed, and said that whenever I kill something, I should bring it to his house, and leave it somewhere no one else would see it, he would find it.
            This had been my first kill I was going to share with Noah. I had sliced a corrupt policeman across the throat, and let him bleed out on Noah lawn. Then, I covered the body with a hot tub cover, and left.

title: Bellua (Original Short Story By Me) p.2 Metal

question: What does the main character use Noah for?

answer: A way to dispose of bodies.

question: Why does the narrator have to feign a smile when he tells the parents the boy will live?

answer: The main character is incapable of feeling human emotion.

question: How does the main character kill people?

answer: By deliberate medical malpractice.

question: Why does Noah blame "Bellua" for the murders?

answer: Noah has a psychotic break with reality of some kind.

question: Write a ~2 sentence summary.

answer: The story is about a neurosurgeon who kills people on the side. The story tells how he met Noah, a serial arsonist, who he collaborates with to hide the bodies.


text:
He looked at the TV screen without focusing his eyes and then closed them.  His brain melted.  He pictured himself working towards something he cared about in a place where he was happy.  The vision evaporated as his current surroundings interrupted.  He was lying on the couch in his mother's house watching Law & Order at 4am.  The sound was muted (he wanted to smash the TV once he realized he'd been watching commercials without thinking) and his mother was asleep in the next room.  For a brief moment, sleep tugged at his eyelids.  Shrugging it off he did some quick math and calculated he'd only been awake for eleven hours.  Executive producer: Dick Wolf.  He wondered how old this Dick Wolf guy was by now.  He wondered how they got the early 90's episodes into high-definition.  Did they keep the original cuts on film?  Another commercial.  Another few minutes of thought.  He stared at his feet.  Suddenly the silence was broken by all the sounds he'd been tuning out.  The fan running in his mom's room, crickets, the external hard drive by the TV clicking away.  He found himself appreciating the free time, though not without a peppering of guilt.  For the last five years he'd been complaining how little time he had to do what he wanted.  Moving back to his hometown was supposed to be a distraction-free zone for him to get some serious work done.  It was, in fact, so distraction-free that he found himself creating distractions to break up the monotony.  An online dating site.  His old purple Gameboy.  He was on the verge of deleting his dating profile—after one lukewarm date and no replies from the few girls he thought pretty, his curiosity and excitement had faded and a slight feeling of embarrassment and rejection started creeping.  He knew he was no Warren Beatty-circa-1967 but no Warren Beatty-circa-now either.  He knew if he could talk to a girl in person he could be charming and funny.  In the world of online dating your face is really your password.  Get it wrong, and the game's over before it starts.  To hell with that.  As far as the Gameboy, he'd gotten halfway through Pokemon Silver and couldn't justify putting in another 40 hours.  Not right now.

The show was back on.  Another episode was starting.  He unmuted it.  CHUNG CHUNG.

Sometime well after sunrise, he was lying in bed with every intention of going to sleep.  The light coming in between the slats in the blinds was dealt with by putting a pillow vertically against them.  It was always in these moments that his brain would shift into overdrive, compelling him to reach for his smartphone every few minutes to check a fact or satisfy a new curiosity or unanswered question.  Tonight he was wondering how glue worked.  He was surprised he'd never thought about it before.  He came up with a theory on his own, and was then pleased as it lined up fairly well with what Cecil Adams had to say.  He pictured the surfaces of everything as being as jagged as a craggy mountain range at a molecular level, no matter how smooth they appeared.  And that the glue must somehow, while it's still liquid, find its way into the crevices and then harden.  It would be the same principle as sticking your hand into a pile of hay and grabbing a fistful.  It was too late to try analogizing Van der Waal's forces.  He fell asleep.

title: Vignette I wrote when I moved back home.  I bet some can relate. Have at me.

question: What seems to be the state of mind of the main character?

answer: He seems depressed.

question: What is the main character's gripe against online dating?

answer: Personal wit and charm don't come across very well. You just need to look good.

question: Why did the man move back into his parents' place?

answer: To escape from distractions and get some real work done.

question: What does the text "CHUNG. CHUNG." mean?

answer: It's likely to be the drinking sound as the guy downs alcohol.

question: Write a ~5 sentence summary.

answer: The narrator watches TV in his mother's house, appreciating the free time, though not without guilt. He had moved back there to escape distractions and get some real work done. It was so distraction-free that he was creating distractions nowadays. Online dating, which he was on the verge of giving up, and Pokemon Silver on his old Gameboy, which demanded too much time. He goes to sleep well after sunrise, busy searching whatever kindled his curiosity - that night, how glue works.


text:
The SEARS-KAY RUIN are the remains of what once was a fortification of the Hohokam culture. The ruins are located in the area of the Tonto National Forest just outside of the town of Carefree, Arizona. On November 24, 1995, it was listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

Brief history

The desert foothills in the area surrounding the town of Carefree, Arizona, were home to the Hohokam culture. The Hohokam may have been the ancestors of the modern Akimel O'odham and Tohono O'odham peoples in Southern Arizona.[1]

The prehistoric Hohokam built villages and defensive fortifications. The Sears-Kay Ruin is one of the many forts built by the Hohokam. The ruins of this fort is located atop a desert foothill in the Tonto National Forest on the outskirts of the town of Carefree. The fort was built around 1050 AD and abandoned around 1200 AD. The reason for which the Hohokam abandoned the area is unknown. Eventually, members of the Tonto Apache tribe claimed the land.

In 1867, the fort was discovered by soldiers, of the 5th Cavalry Regiment from nearby Fort McDowell, who were on patrol. The Hohokam fort was named Sears-Kay Ruin because it was discovered on the lands where the Sears-Kay Ranch, founded by J.M. Sears in 1887, was located.[2]

The fort had 40 rooms which housed about 100 people. One of the rooms is known as the “Mystery Room” because it is the only room among the 40 which does not have square corners. The corners of the “Mystery Room” are rounded and therefore archaeologists have speculated that this particular room was built in an earlier period.[3] The site was listed in the National Register of Historic Places on November 24, 1995, reference #95001310.[4]

Hiking

[In September 2020, a wildfire destroyed most of the vegetation at and around the site, making it less attractive for hiking.] Hiking on the foothill where the fort is located is allowed. At the base of the hill there is a sign titled: “Walk in the Path of Ancient Hohokam at Sears-Kay Ruin” which details the path of the ancient Hohokam at Sears-Kay Ruin. There are various signs along the trail which describe each ruin. The area, including the artifacts located on the site, are protected under the Antiquities Act of 1906. The act is a bill (16 USC 431–433) passed by the United States Congress and signed into law by President Theodore Roosevelt on June 8, 1906 which strictly forbids the removal of artifacts from Indian Mesa.[5][6]

According to the law “Any person who shall appropriate, excavate, injure, or destroy any historic or prehistoric ruin or monument, or any object of antiquity, situated on lands owned or controlled by the Government of the United States, without the permission of the Secretary of the Department of the Government having jurisdiction over the lands on which said antiquities are situated, shall, upon conviction, be fined or be imprisoned for a period of not more than ninety days, or shall suffer both fine and imprisonment, in the discretion of the court.”[7][8]

In September 2020, a wildfire destroyed most of the vegetation at and around the site, making it less attractive for hiking.[9][10]

Images of Sears-Kay Ruin

[1] Encyclopædia Britannica: “Hohokam Culture”

[2] Sears Kay Indian Ruins

[3] CAMP CREEK & SEARS KAY RUIN

[4] Carefree-Cave Creek Chamber of Commerce

[5] National Monument Proclamations under the Antiquities Act

[6] ANTIQUITIES ACT of 1906

[7]

[8]

[9] Observed during site visit on November 21, 2020

[10] https://www.12news.com/video/news/local/arizona/fire-rips-through-sears-kay-ruin-site-buildings-northeast-of-carefree/75-3a726416-5a6b-411a-8fda-df1626eaf30d

title: Sears-Kay Ruin

question: Where is the Sears-Kay Ruin?

answer: The Sears-Kay Ruin is located in the area of the Tonto National Forest just outside of Carefree, Arizona.

question: Why did the Hohokam abandon the region?

answer: It is unknown why they abandoned the region.

question: When were the ruins discovered?

answer: 1867

question: When did the wildfire happen?

answer: In September 2020.

question: Write a ~5 sentence summary.

answer:
The Sears-Kay Ruin is a fort located in the Tonto National Forest Area. The place was home to the Hohokam culture.

The fort was discovered in 1867 by soldiers of the 5th Cavalry Regiment. It has 40 rooms out of which one is a "mystery room" because of its rounded corners.

The vegetation around the site was destroyed in a wildfire in 2020 making the site less attractive for hiking.


text:
SISYRIDAE, commonly known as SPONGEFLIES or SPONGILLAFLIES, are a family of winged insects in the order Neuroptera. There are approximately 60 living species described, and several extinct species identified from the fossil record.

Description

[Forewing venation of _Sisyra nigra_] In general appearance, the adults resemble some brown lacewings (Hemerobiidae). The forewings of spongillaflies have a span of 4–10 millimetres. The greyish or brownish wings have few cross veins except in the costal field, and most of these are not forked. The subcostal (Sc) and radial (R1) veins are fused near the wingtip.

The larvae of spongillaflies look rather bizarre. Similar to those of some osmylids (Osmylidae) at first glance, they have spindly legs on a bulky thorax, long antennae, and flexible, threadlike mouthparts. However, the second and third instars carry seven pairs of jointed, movable tracheal gills beneath their plump abdomen. These gills are possessed by no other extant insect family, and readily distinguish them from osmylid larvae.

Ecology and life cycle

[Cocoon and pupa.] Adult spongillaflies are crepuscular or nocturnal. They are omnivores, sometimes hunting small invertebrates, but mainly scavenging on such animals' carcasses, as well as on pollen and honeydew.

The females deposit their eggs singly or as small clutches on plants that droop over freshwater lakes or slow-moving rivers. A protective web is spun to cover the eggs. When the larvae hatch, they drop down into the water where they develop until pupation. They use their mouthparts to parasitize Spongillidae freshwater sponges (e.g. of the genus _Spongilla_, hence the name “spongillaflies”) and Phylactolaemata freshwater bryozoans by stinging into the host animals' body and sucking out cell contents. The antennae are stouter than they look and are used to aid in locomotion. Development to pupation takes between several weeks and one year.

[_Sisyra_ sp. larva] Spongillafly larvae leave the water and go to hidden places nearby to pupate, choosing locations like beneath rocks or behind tree bark. They spin a cocoon for pupation, but in temperate climates they overwinter in the cocoon as larvae, pupating only the following spring.

Systematics and taxonomy

Spongillaflies were formerly placed in the Osmyloidea, as their closest relatives were held to be the osmylids (Osmylidae) and the Nevrorthidae. This was due to the similar adaptations of the larvae of spongillaflies and osmylids. But this is apparently due to convergent evolution; actually, the spongillaflies seem to be closer to the brown lacewings (Hemerobiidae) than to the osmylids, but even more closely related to the dusty wings (Coniopterygidae). And even though they are not often placed in the superfamily Coniopterygoidea yet, they most likely form a clade with the Coniopterygidae and thus it would seem that the Coniopterygoidea, rather than being an unnecessarily monotypic taxon, is expanded to signify that the spongillaflies and the dusty wings are each other's closest relatives.

A few fossil genera are known, mainly from the Eocene like _“Sisyra” amissa_ which may or may not be the first record of the living genus.[1] The genus _Cratosisyrops_, from the Aptian Crato Formation, was suggested to be a spongillafly member, but later authors Perkovsky and Makarkin in 2015 noted the fossil lacks details to confidently place it in the family. The oldest members of the family are species in the subfamily Paradoxosisyrinae [2] from Cenomanian Burmese amber and _Prosisyrina_ from Santonian Taimyr amber.[3][4]

The family is currently divided into two subfamilies with the four extant genera and two of the extinct genera placed into Sisyrinae, while five extinct genera are placed into the subfamily Paradoxosisyrinae.[5]

SISYRIDAE

-   †Paradoxosisyrinae
    -   †_Buratina_[6]
    -   †_Khobotun_[7]
    -   †_Paradoxosisyra_
    -   †_Protosiphoniella_[8]
    -   †_Sidorchukatia_[9]
-   Sisyrinae
    -   _Climacia_
    -   †_Paleosisyra_
    -   †_Prosisyrina_
    -   _Sisyborina_
    -   _Sisyra_
    -   _Sisyrina_

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

title: Sisyridae

question: Summarize the most interesting facts about the sisyridae.

answer: The Sisryidae look bizarre in their larva state; they have a massive barrel-like thorax specked with hair-thin legs, threadlike mouthparts, and unique gill tracts beneath their abdomens-which no other insect family has. Eggs hatch and the larvae parasitize Spongillidae freshwater sponges. They are nocturnal creatures, and a few fossils that might predate the contemporarily-known creature remain.


text:
ULRICH HOMMEL is an associate director of quality services at the European Foundation for Management Development(EFMD) and, as one of the EPAS directors, is responsible for the EFMD Programme Accreditation System (EPAS). He is also a professor of finance and the director of the Strategic Finance Institute at the EBS Business School (EBS) based in Wiesbaden, Germany.

Academic qualifications

Hommel earned a Ph.D. in economics from The University of Michigan (Ann Arbor) in 1994 and successfully completed his habilitation in business administration at the WHU-Otto Beisheim School of Management in 2002.

Professional career

After completing his doctoral studies, Hommel joined the faculty of the WHU as an assistant professor of finance in 1994. He joined the faculty of the EBS Business School (formerly called European Business School International University Schloss Reichartshausen) in 2000 and was appointed full professor of finance in 2002.

Hommel served as academic dean of the EBS from 2000 to 2002 and was subsequently the rector of the EBS as well as the managing director of the EBS gGmbH between 2003 and 2006.

He was appointed associate director of quality services at EFMD in 2007 and, as one of the EPAS Directors, has assumed joint responsibility for EPAS, the EFMD Programme Accreditation System.

Hommel has published widely in the areas of real options analysis, corporate risk management, corporate restructuring, family business financing as well as venture capital financing. In the past, he has held visiting appointments at Bordeaux École de Management, Krannert School of Management of Purdue University and the Stephen M. Ross School of Business of The University of Michigan.

Accreditation-related publications

-   “Blurring the Edges (On the Mixing of Non-Degree and For-Degree Education in Business Schools)”, Global Focus, Vol. 3, No. 3, 2009, pp. 28–31.
-   “EPAS after Scale-Up”, in: _Global Focus_, Vol. 3, No. 1 (Supplement), 2009, pp. 3–4.
-   “No Quality without Rigour”, in: _Global Focus_, Vol. 2, No. 2, 2008, pp. 40–42.
-   “Reaching Out Globally – How One Association Reaped the Benefits of a Multi-Faceted Accreditation Programme”, in: _ESAE Headquarters Magazine_, November, 2008, pp. 24–25.
-   “Reaching Out Globally”, in: _Global Focus_, Vol. 1, No. 3, 2007, pp. 28–31.

Selected other publications

-   “Family Ownership and International Investment Decisions: Influence of Country Risk and Experience”, in: _Journal of Business Economics_, Supplementary Issue No. 2, 2009, pp. 31–61 (co-author).
-   “Human Capital and the Internationalisation of Venture Capital Firms”, in: _The International Entrepreneurship & Management Journal_, Vol. 3, No. 1, 2007, pp. 109–125 (co-author).
-   “Venture Capitalists' Decision to Syndicate?”, in: _Entrepreneurship Theory & Practice_, Vol. 30, No. 2, 2006, pp. 131–153 (co-author).
-   “_Risk Management: Challenge and Opportunity_”, 2nd edition, Berlin et al.: Springer, 2005 (co-editor).
-   “Contracting, Monitoring and Exiting Venture Investments in Transitioning Economies: A Comparative Analysis of Eastern European and German Markets”, in: _Venture Capital: An International Journal of Entrepreneurial Finance_, Vol. 6, No. 4, 2004, pp. 257–282 (co-author).
-   “Venture Capital Investors, Capital Markets, Valuation and Information: US, Europe and Asia”, in: _Journal of International Entrepreneurship_, Vol. 2, No. 4, 2004, pp. 305–326 (co-author).
-   “25 Years Real Options Approach to Investment Valuation: Review and Assessment”, in: _Journal of Business Economics_, Supplementary Issue No. 3, 2004, pp. 1–53 (co-author).
-   “Financing the German Mittelstand”, in: _EIB Papers_, Vol. 8, No. 2, 2003, pp. 52–90 (co-author).
-   “Financial and Operative Hedging of Currency Risk”, in: _Global Finance Journal_, Vol. 14, No. 1, 2003, pp. 1–14.

title: Ulrich Hommel

question: Who is Ulrich Hommel?

answer: Ulrich Hommel is n associate director of quality services at the European Foundation for Management Development(EFMD).

question: Where is he based?

answer: Wiesbaden.

question: Where is Wiesbaden?

answer: Germany.

question: Where did Hommel earn his Ph.D.?

answer: The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.

question: Write a ~3 sentence summary.

answer: n associate director of quality services at the European Foundation for Management Development(EFMD) and one of the EPAS directors. He is also a professor of finance and the director of the Strategic Finance Institute at the EBS Business School in Wiesbaden, Germany. He earned his Ph.D. from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.


text:
A man came in to the office today, in a real huff.

”Oh, man, it's 8:10 already? Damn train was late, protesters everywhere. I'm telling you, this whole thing is a mess.”

”Yeah, don't worry about it,” said the boss. ”I mean it's not the end of the world, right? Hah!”

”But I am sorry, though. Totally.”

”It's okay.”

”And, uh... I hate to ask, especially with this, you know. Being late and all...”

”What? Cough it out. Anything for you, considering...”

”I mean, if it's not too much trouble... Could I leave a bit earlier? If it's not too much trouble. Gosh, I already said that. Listen, I'll work overtime, I was late, I'm being out of line for even asking this, I'm -”

”Hey, hey! Slow down, man. You did... you did get my email today, right?”

”What email? You know I read my company email here.”

”It's just that, well... No easy way of putting this...”

”Just get it out. What email you talkin' about?”

”Umm... You're being terminated.”

”Terminated?! Since when?”

”Since the meeting yesterday. I mean, hey, you're a terrific guy and all, but you know those corporate cunts? Came here, suits and all, and started talking about downsizing our office. Can you believe it?”

”Frankly no. I can't. I mean I'm being fucking terminated? On what grounds?!”

”Don't take it personally. It's just not you, your whole unit is being brought down. Yeah, turns out your team is just not profitable enough.”

”We're the customer survey team, what did they expect? Us to pay them? Man, what a bummer.”

”Yeah, I know... Listen, swing by my office and we'll terminate you quick and painless, today. We'll sort out severance and what not.”

”Guess I don't have a choice. Man, what a dull fucking day. First those riots, and I'm late, and now this? Ugh, whaddya gonna do. Corporate says, us dogs do. I'll go clear my desk.”

”There's no need for that. We'll just incinerate it.”

”Incin- Yeah, really funny, Jerry. That's my stuff. You know, picture of Deb, and the kids. I'm taking it with me. I don't even think we have an incinerator around here, do we?”

”We do actually.”

”Wow... That was unexpected.”

”Why so? Gabe, did you... Did you even read your contract?”

”Of course I did! I read it fine print and all.”

”ALL of the 30 pages?”

”Whaddya want me to say, Jerry? Did you read your '30 shades of crap' when you sold your soul to this joint?”

”Of course I did. But you didn't. Oh man, this is gonna be so hard to explain...”

”What, did it have some hidden footnote about stealing my stuff after they humiliate me and take away my job? 'Cause I'm calling the Union right now to put those suits at Corporate back in line if that's the case!”

”Calm down, Gabe, it's nothing like that.”

”Well what is it?”

”Uh... How do I explain this? Yeah, hey, remember Francis? From human resources?”

”Uh, sure. He was a nice guy. Left for retirement, right?”

”Actually no. He was terminated, too. Company policy, you know.”

”Company policy is to terminate people! How silly is that? Now they have to pay severance.”

”Let me continue. When we say terminated, well... I really mean terminated.”

”I know what terminated means. It means I gotta update my resume and send it out like other chumps from the survey team.”

”I mean terminated like shot in the head and burned along with all their possession.”

”W-wait? You're serious?! Corporate wants to kill me?! How is this legal!”

”Company policy, man. I'm right there with you. This company, nay, the whole world is going down the shitter.”

”They want to kill me? I can't believe it.”

”Better believe it. I think I still have some Francis stuck to my carpet. And don't even remind me about Helen, her brain left a permanent stain in the drapes.”

”Gnarly.”

”Right? So what do you say, swing by my office at, say, noon?”

”Do I... Do I have a choice in this?”

”Not really. Sorry, Gabe.”

”Can... Can I atleast call my family and tell them good bye?”

”Of course, Gabe. Of course. That's company enforced behaviour.”

”Company policy?”

”Yeah.”

”... Yeah well, if I don't have a choice... See you at noon, I guess...”

”That's the spirit!”

title: Company policy

question: Summarize how the main character feels about being terminated.

answer: When the main character was initially told that he was going to be terminated, he was shocked and asked since when he was going to be terminated. He stated that this news was such a bummer and that today was not a good day. Towards the end of the text, when the main character found out what it really meant to be "terminated", he was shook to the core and could not believe that the company would want to kill him. The main character understood he did not have a choice and asked to say bye to his family in the end.

question: Summarize how the main character started their day, coming into the office.

answer: The main character came into the office in quite a flustered mood. He was late to work due to the train and protestors being everywhere. The main character apologizes to his boss and asks if he can leave a bit earlier, despite having come in late.

question: Why does the main character finally relent to what his termination means?


text:
Feb 27, 2014 by MARCO TORRES
The Myth of Safe Bio-Identical Hormones and 9 Reasons To Avoid This Toxic Therapy

Promoters of bio-identical hormones claim that they are anti-aging, increase sex drive, prevent cancer and have little to no risks or side effects. After all, when a person doesn't have enough hormones, the solution is to give them more hormones right? It's a short-sighted objective based on the far too frequent model of treating symptoms rather than the root causes of illness. Only clever marketing has duped millions of women into thinking that bio-identical hormones are any safer than the toxic FDA-approved hormone replacement products. They are not safe, not natural, and bluntly stated, are disease promoting drugs.

[]

Many women assume that “natural” hormones would be better or safer -- but the term “natural” is open to interpretation. Any product whose principal ingredient has an animal, plant, or mineral source is technically natural. It doesn’t matter whether the substance is ground, put into capsules, and sold over the counter -- or extracted in a laboratory, manufactured by a pharmaceutical company, and made available only by prescription.

9 REASONS TO AVOID BIO-IDENTICAL HORMONES

1. BIO-IDENTICAL HORMONE THERAPY CAUSES CANCER
 The increasing risks of some types of hormone-dependent cancers is probably the biggest danger of the use of artificial and natural or so-called bio-identical hormone therapies. This is possibly the biggest reason to AVOID ALL HORMONE THERAPY that is introduced from outside of your body. Perhaps the only exception if life-saving insulin for severe and acute diabetes, but since both type I and type II diabetes can be reveresed, even this suggestion should be in the acute phase only. A nutritional balancing and exercise program and take care of 99% of diabetes in time, but insulin might be needed until health can be rebuilt.

"To say it's bio-identical doesn't mean it's safe," Dr. Richard Boroditsky, a professor at the University of Manitoba's department of obstetrics, gynecology and reproductive sciences.

To avoid the risk of uterine cancer most women taking estrogen also need to take progesterone, he says. While most bio-identical therapies use progesterone creams, Dr. Boroditsky says women can't be sure of the levels of hormones they're absorbing.

"We've known this for years - that if woman takes un-opposed estrogen, she increases her risk eight to 10 times over the normal chances of developing cancer of the uterus," he says.

2. BIO-IDENTICAL HORMONES ARE NOT BIO-IDENTICAL AT ALL
The interest in a more natural approach to hormone therapy has focused attention on bioidentical hormones -- hormones that are identical in molecular structure to the hormones women make in their bodies. They’re not found in this form in nature but are made, or synthesized, from a plant chemical extracted from yams and soy. Bioidentical estrogens are 17 beta-estradiol, estrone, and estriol. (Estradiol is the form of estrogen that decreases at menopause.) Bioidentical progesterone is simply progesterone. It’s micronized (finely ground) in the laboratory for better absorption in the body.

3. SO-CALLED BIO-IDENTICAL HORMONES ARE DELIVERED IN WAYS THAT ARE TOTALLY UNNATURAL.
Our bodies produce hormones as they are needed, using a complex feedback system that involves the pituitary gland, hypothalamus, and other structures that carefully regulate their production, secretion and ultimate destruction.

Hormone replacement therapies attempt to sidestep this delicate balancing system. While this therapy can relieve some symptoms, it is not natural or bio-identical. It is a drug therapy or allopathic, symptomatic approach to healing.

4. BIO-IDENTICAL HORMONE REPLACEMENT SERIOUSLY UPSETS THE DELICATE HORMONE FEEDBACK SYSTEMS IN THE BODY.
This is especially true of the steroid hormones (DHEA, pregnenolone, estrogen, progesterone, cortisone, androsterone and testosterone). However, it is true of taking thyroid hormone replacement, insulin replacement and others as well. Testosterone therapy is one of the least harmful in this respect.

In other words, hormone replacement, including bio-identical hormone replacement therapy, may do more harm than good by upsetting the delicate feedback mechanisms of the body that are designed to regulate hormone production.

Giving one hormone always affects others, and may affect many areas of physical functioning. The feedback system is quite complex and not well understood. It is difficult, if not impossible, to adequately monitor the system to know how much one needs on a daily or hourly basis.

5. HORMONE THERAPY RARELY ADDRESSES THE ROOT CAUSES OF ILLNESS.
Instead, it mainly treats symptoms. Causes of hormone imbalances include nutrient deficiencies, toxic metal excesses, toxic chemicals and the effects of radiation, emotional imbalances and stress from other causes. The only time hormone replacement addresses a root cause is when the gland that produces the hormone has been surgically removed or is so damaged so that it cannot function.

MENOPAUSE. In the case of menopause, it is true that the ovaries stop or drastically reduce their hormone secretion. However, in most cases, the body handles this change of life very well. In other words, menopause should not be a disease that requires treatment. This applies to surgically-caused menopause (removal of the ovaries) as well as that which occurs with age.

Millions of women do fine without hormone replacement at menopause. If symptoms arise such as hot flashes, vaginal dryness or others, in all cases her adrenal glands and perhaps thyroid are not functioning well. As health improves on a nutritional balancing program, the symptoms usually vanish without the need for hormone replacement.

6. BIO-IDENTICAL HORMONE REPLACEMENT THERAPY OFTEN MASKS UNDERLYING PROBLEMS.
As with all symptomatic therapies, natural hormone replacement may give relief from some symptoms. However, underlying problems such as heavy metal toxicity, nutrient deficiencies or chemical toxicity continue unrecognized and unaddressed. This often leads to more serious illness in the future.

7. EVEN SO-CALLED BIO-IDENTICAL HORMONES ARE TOXIC.
This is most evident with insulin. Every physician is familiar with the care that must be used in administering insulin, even though modern insulin is technically a bio-identical hormone. Too much or too little can cause a fatal reaction. Estrogens, cortisol, cortisone, progesterone, DHEA, pregnenelone and the others are all powerful substances that all have toxic effects when not produced inside the body in just the right quantity at just the right time.

8. ONE CANNOT PROVIDE THE CORRECT DOSAGE OF REPLACEMENT HORMONES.
The body’s natural hormone secretion varies every minute of every day and night. It depends on hundreds of factors such as lifestyle, diet, mental attitude, stressors, illnesses and many others. This is impossible to duplicate with hormone replacement therapy of any kind.

Replacement therapy substitutes a rigid and strict routine for the delicate balancing act the body performs all day with its hormone secretion. This will eventually upset the body severely.

9. A HORMONE'S METABOLIC EFFECT IS WHAT IS MOST IMPORTANT, NOT ITS SERUM, URINE OR SALIVA LEVEL. HOWEVER, SERUM, URINE OR SALIVA ARE HOW HORMONE LEVELS ARE USUALLY MEASURED.
This is particularly a problem with thyroid and adrenal hormone monitoring. The metabolic effects of hormones are extremely complex and hard to measure. They often depends less upon the level of circulating hormone and more on how much enters the cells and is metabolized properly within the cells. For this reason, cellular tests such as hair mineral testing often reveal a very different picture than blood, urine and saliva tests that measure circulating hormone levels.
7 MYTHS OF BIO-IDENTICAL HORMOME THERAPY

1. BIO-IDENTICAL HORMONE THERAPY IS A NATURAL OR NATUROPATHIC THERAPY.
No! It is an allopathic and symptomatic approach. Just because some naturopaths offer hormone replacement therapy does not make it a natural therapy. No hormone replacement therapy is ever natural because hormones are supposed to be produced within the body.

The only natural approach to hormone correction is to rebuild the organ or gland that produces the hormones. This can be done in over 90% of the cases using nutritional balancing and exercise science.

2. HORMONE REPLACEMENT IS JUST LIKE TAKING VITAMINS, MINERALS OR OTHER SUBSTANCES NEEDED BY THE BODY.
Absolutely not! Hormones are supposed to be produced inside the body, in complex combinations, and in quantities that vary every minute of the day and night.

In contrast, vitamins, minerals and other phytochemicals are supposed to be obtained from outside of the body from our food, water or other supplements. Most can be stored, and they can be ingested in rough quantities at mealtimes, with no harm at all to the body. The body has complex buffering systems that protect one from ingesting too much calcium at a meal, for example. This is not true of hormones and it makes hormone therapy intrinsically far more toxic and dangerous.

This is an extremely important difference between supplements of vitamins and mineral therapy versus hormone therapy.

3. ONCE A PERSON’S HORMONE LEVELS HAVE BECOME LOW DUE TO AGE, TOXICITY, DISEASE OR FOR OTHER REASONS, ONE MUST TAKE REPLACEMENT HORMONES TO RESTORE NORMAL BODY FUNCTIONING.
This is not true. A well-versed naturopathic physician in natural hormone restoration should be able to assist you in this process.

4. BIO-IDENTICAL HORMONES ARE THE SAME AS THOSE PRODUCED WITHIN THE BODY.
This is not true, and the reasons are explained in the section of this article above.

5. BIO-IDENTICAL HORMONES ARE NON-TOXIC.
This has been discussed above. All hormones are toxic substances to a degree.

6. HORMONE REPLACEMENT SCHEDULES CAN MIMIC THE BODY’S OWN PRODUCTION OF HORMONES.
This is never true because the body changes the level of its hormones minute by minute, and this can never be duplicated with pills, patches or shots or any other manmade delivery system.

7. BLOOD, URINE AND SALIVA TESTS ARE ACCURATE TO ASSESS HOW MUCH REPLACEMENT HORMONE IS NEEDED AT ANY TIME.
Simply not true. What matters is the effect of the hormones, rather than the level of circulating hormones.

For example, many patients have normal serum thyroid tests. However, they suffer all the symptoms of hypothyroidism and benefit greatly from a program to improve thyroid activity such as the use of kelp and other products, along with diet and lifestyle correction. This is the most common example of the failure of blood and other tests to assess hormone activity. However, many others could be cited.

There are some situations when hormone replacement therapy is needed to prevent death. For example, as mentioned above, type I and II diabetics in the acute phase will require insulin until health is restored. But relying on insulin in sub-acute and chronic phases of the condition is only further suppressing healing and prolonging illness. Other conditions includes treatment for surgically or removed glands and organs.

Not withstanding these very few exceptions, bio-identical hormone therapy or hormone therapy in general is a very dangerous treatment for the human body to endure and should be avoided whenever possible. Nutritional balancing and the appropriate exercise regimen can restore an extremely high percentage of hormone imbalances and a patient need only do their own research and speak to multiple experts in natural medicine to confirm this assertion.

SOURCES:
harvard.edu
cbc.ca
drlwilson.com
mayoclinic.org

_MARCO TORRES is a research specialist, writer and consumer advocate for healthy lifestyles. He holds degrees in Public Health and Environmental Science and is a professional speaker on topics such as disease prevention, environmental toxins and health policy._

-   Get Off Your Thyroid Medication And Start Consuming Coconut Oil

question: Who wrote this article? When?

answer: Marco Torres wrote the article on February 27, 2014.

question: What is the article about?

answer: The article is about bio-identical hormones and 9 reasons to avoid them.

question: What sources does Torres cite?

answer:
harvard.edu
cbc.ca
drlwilson.com
mayoclinic.org

question: What reasons does Torres give for not taking bio-identical hormones?

answer: He says that they're not safe, not natural, and are disease promoting drugs.

question: Write a ~2 sentence summary.

answer: Marco Torres, research specialist, writer and consumer advocate for healthy lifestyles, wrote the article about bio-identical hormones and gives 9 reasons to avoid them. He says that they're not safe, not natural, and are disease promoting drugs.


text:
I realize I'm looking out a car window. I'm looking at the occasional driver in the right lane as we pass by, but their forms are obscured by the rain. I'm staring off into the woods bordering the highway, ignoring the conversation between the people in the front seats. I watch a single drop streak down the glass and try not to wonder why I have this feeling of shame gnawing at my stomach.

"Hey you alright bud?"

My head bounces gently on the window. It's not nearly as uncomfortable as the overwhelming sense of contempt that's boiling in my blood. Not for any one thing in particular, save perhaps myself and whatever misdeeds I committed tonight, but for all things.

The other passengers are silent now. I listen to the wipers scrape across the windshield. My mouth is dry and stale from cheap beer. I'm not nauseous, but I want to vomit up every last thing I have, to spew out everything toxic inside of me on side of the road.

"He's passed the fuck out," whispers the driver.

"Yeah, he'll be fine," whispers the passenger.

EDIT: formatting

title: Not really quite a story, but I wrote something

question: Where is the narrator?

answer: The narrator is in the back seat of a car that's driving along the highway.

question: How many people are in the car?

answer: There are at least three people (including the narrator) in the car.

question: Describe what the narrator is feeling.

answer: The narrator feels ashamed of what they've done, and their mouth is dry and tastes of cheap beer.

question: Describe the narrator.

answer: That information can't be found.

question: Write a ~4 sentence summary.

answer: The narrator is riding in the backseat of a car. There are two other people in the front seats. The narrator's mouth tastes of cheap beer and they are ashamed of what they've done. The driver remarks that the narrator is passed out, and the other passenger says he'll be fine.


text:
Blunt has $5 million in campaign coffers, Kander $2 million

[U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt and Jason Kander]

U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt (left), R-Mo., and Missouri Secretary of State Jason Kander, a Democrat

WASHINGTON • Sen. Roy Blunt entered 2016 with a more than 2-1 advantage in campaign cash over his Democratic rival Jason Kander, according to year-end financial statements released Wednesday by the two campaigns.

Blunt, R-Mo.  raised just under $1.25 million in the last three months of 2015 and ended the year with just over $5 million in his campaign accounts, a statement from Blunt's re-election committee said.

Kander, Missouri's secretary of state, raised about $870,000 in the last three months of 2015 and he started 2016 with more than $2 million, his campaign announced.

Most-read stories in this section

The Democrat Kander's final three-month total was his highest of his campaign, and outpaced his third-quarter fund-raising by about $45,000, a spokesman for the campaign said.

The Kander-Blunt matchup has drawn national attention as a sleeper to watch in 2016. Other Senate races are seen as higher profile, including in neighboring Illinois, where incumbent Sen. Mark Kirk, R-Ill., is seeking re-election and is expected to face tough Democratic opposition after a March 15 primary. But Missouri Democrats have touted Kander's fund-raising as evidence that Democratic donors believe he has a chance to win.

Kander has raised about $3.2 million since announcing he would run last February.

Blunt has raised about $9 million since first being elected to the Senate in 2010. He served for 14 years in the U.S. House of Representatives before that.

Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter.

question: Who has a higher chance of winning the election, Blunt or Kander?

answer: Blunt may have a higher chance of winning because his campaign has more money.

question: What is one possible outcome of Kander raising more money?

answer: If Kander raised more money, he would have a higher chance of winning the election.


text:
''' Turalei ''' is a town in Twic county of Warrap state, South Sudan.

Location

Turalei is the capital city of Twic State and the largest city in the state. Its location is in TURALEI COUNTY,the current government headquarters of Twic State,[1] in the North of South Sudan, near the borders with the Republic of Sudan and with the Abyei Region. This location lies about by road, northwest of Juba, the capital and largest city in the country.[2]

Overview

Turalei is renowned as the birthplace of several exceptionally tall basketball players, including the late NBA star Manute Bol, who was and Ring Ayuel, who is . Bol's remains were buried in Turalei.[3]

Due to its proximity to the border with Sudan, Turalei suffered extensive destruction during the Second Sudanese Civil War of 1983 to 2005. Efforts are underway to assist in the rehabilitation of the settlement. The late Manute Bol was involved in some of those efforts. As a result, a hospital was built in the area.

More recently in 2011, as hostilities have flared up in neighboring Abyei, Turalei has received an influx of refugees, who have overwhelmed local resources.[4] In June 2011, Turalei itself was attacked by militiamen believed to be affiliated with the Khartoum government. Several fatalities were recorded.[5]

Population

The population of Turalei is estimated to be over one hundred thousand. Its population was gathered from the previous bomas which were later made into payams when country emerge from Ten States into 28 states before four others were added that year. these include, AYEN AMUOL, ANYIEL Kuac''', NYIEL ABIEL, PANDIT AMUOL, MANGOK AMUOL, MAJAK AHER, TONGLIET, KACBEEK, ABAYOK & the current new payams of Madow and Amuol

[1] Turalei Is Located In Twic State

[2]

[3] NBA Star Manute Bol Buried In Turalei

[4] Influx of Displaced People Overwhelm Turalei's Resources

[5] Turalei Attacked, At Least Eleven Killed

title: Turalei

question: Where is Turalei?

answer: Twic county, Warrap state, South Sudan

question: Which NBA star was born in Turalei?

answer: Manute Bol

question: When was the Second Sudanese Civil War?

answer: From 1983 to 2005

question: What is Turalei the capital city of?

answer: Twic State

question: Write a ~4 sentence summary.

answer: Turalei is a town in Twic county, Warrap state, South Sudan. It is also the capital and largest city of Twic state. It suffered extensive damage in the Second Sudanese Civil War, and in 2011 it received an influx of refugees from hostilities in neighboring Abyei. The town has an estimated population of over one hundred thousand.


text:
HOROWHENUA was a New Zealand parliamentary electorate, from 1978 to 1996.

Population centres

The 1977 electoral redistribution was the most overtly political since the Representation Commission had been established through an amendment to the _Representation Act_ in 1886, initiated by Muldoon's National Government. As part of the 1976 census, a large number of people failed to fill out an electoral re-registration card, and census staff had not been given the authority to insist on the card being completed. This had little practical effect for people on the general roll, but it transferred Māori to the general roll if the card was not handed in. Together with a northward shift of New Zealand's population, this resulted in five new electorates having to be created in the upper part of the North Island. The electoral redistribution was very disruptive, and 22 electorates were abolished, while 27 electorates were newly created (including Horowhenua) or re-established. These changes came into effect for the .

In the 1977 electoral redistribution, the electorate moved south and the electorate moved north. The Horowhenua electorate was established in between those electorates, covering the Horowhenua District, with the main towns Waikanae, Otaki, Shannon, and Foxton. In the 1983 electoral redistribution, Horowhenua's boundaries contracted and Shannon was lost to the Manawatu electorate. In the 1987 electoral redistribution, the Horowhenua electorate moved slightly north, and Waikanae was lost to Kapiti, whilst Shannon was regained.

The Horowhenua electorate was abolished for the 1996 election, the first mixed-member proportional (MMP) representation election. It was largely replaced by the Ōtaki electorate.

History

The electorate was established for the 1978 election. The first member was Geoff Thompson of the National Party, who was the representative for two parliamentary terms. Thompson was defeated by Labour's Annette King at the . King represented the Horowhenua electorate for two parliamentary terms before she was defeated by National's Hamish Hancock in the .[1][2] Hancock in turn was succeeded by Labour's Judy Keall after one parliamentary term in the . When the Horowhenua electorate was abolished in 1996, Keall stood in the Otaki electorate, where she had a majority of under 1,000 votes.[3]

Members of Parliament

Unless otherwise stated, all MPs terms began and ended at general elections.

KEY

  Election                               Winner
  -------------------------------------- ----------------------------- ----------------
                                         rowspan=2 width=5 bgcolor=|
                                         rowspan=2 bgcolor=|
                                         bgcolor=|
                                         bgcolor=|
  (Electorate abolished in 1996; see )

Election results

1993 election

1990 election

1987 election

1984 election

1981 election

1978 election

Notes

[1]

[2]

[3]

title: Horowhenua (New Zealand electorate)

question: Why was the 1977 electoral distribution one of the most political ones since the Representation Act of 1886?

answer: One of the reasons was that many people fail to fill out an electoral registration card in 1976 and most of those are Maoris. This means if you did not fill out a registration card as a Maori, your name is transferred to the general electoral roll. The implication of this is that more political power was taken out of the Maoris' hands to parts of the country that already has too much power.


text:
The KLW SE10B is a low-emissions diesel switcher locomotive built by Knoxville Locomotive Works. It is powered by a single MTU Series 2000 engine which develops a total power output of . There have been three SE10B locomotives produced for New York New Jersey Rail, and an unknown number is being produced for Chevron to be used in the refineries of Houston and Beaumont-Port Arthur, Texas.

Original buyers

  Railroad                              Quantity   Road numbers   Notes
  ------------------------------------- ---------- -------------- -------
  New York New Jersey Rail (NYNJR)[1]   3          5101 - 5103
  Chevron (Texas)[2]                    1+         1101 -
  Total                                 4+

[1]

[2]

title: KLW SE10B

question: What is KLW SE10B?

answer: A low-emissions diesel switcher locomotive.

question: Who built KLW SE10B?

answer: Knoxville Locomotive Works.

question: What is the engine used in KLW SE10B?

answer: An MTU Series 2000 engine.

question: What are the uses of the KLW SE10B?

answer: It has been used by the New York New Jersey Rail and in Texas refineries.

question: What do the letters in the name 'KLW SE10B' refer to?

answer: This information is not in the article.

question: Write a ~1 sentence summary.

answer: Knoxville Locomotive Works built the KLW SE10B, a low-emissions diesel switcher locomotive that has been used on railways and in refineries.


text:
There is nothing so exciting in Nicholas II's December 31 1916 diary. What he actually wrote is

  31-го декабря. Суббота.

  Принял доклады: Шуваева, Кульчицкого и Фредерикса. До завтрака зашёл наверх к Алексею; его рука совсем поправляется. Завтракал и обедал Н. П. (деж.). Погулял с детьми. В 4 часа принял ген. Беляева и затем кн. Голицына. В 6 ч. поехали ко всенощной. Вечером занимался. Без 10 м. полночь пошли к молебну. Горячо помолились, чтобы Господь умилостивился над Россией!

This can be accessed here and translates as:

  December 31st. Saturday.

  Received reports: Shuvaev, Kulchitsky and Fredericks. Before breakfast I went upstairs to Alexei; his hand is completely better. Breakfast and dinner N.P. (dezh.). Walked with the children. At 4 o'clock received General Belyaev and then Prince Golitsyn. At 6 o’clock we went to the all-night service. Kept busy in the evening. At 10 minutes before midnight went to a prayer service. We prayed fervently that the Lord would have mercy on Russia!

TL;DR: rather dubious claim, probably a reference to recent Putin's speech.

After a little googling the original quote is:

  Вот и заканчивается проклятый 1916 год. Надеюсь, что в 1917 будет полегче.

  So the cursed year of 1916 comes to an end. I hope things will be easier in 1917.

The oldest (Dec 31 2016) occurence I could find is from user arye_11 in the comment feed of opposition-leaning Ekho Moskvy radio station. It's been removed from the original site since then, but you can still find it in Google cache. The commenter left no further hints to trace the source (such as date to look inside the diary). It is quoted as a conclusion of an anecdote from Tsar's life (original spelling):

  Современники пишут, у Государя Николая Александровича было хобби, которому он предавался с упоением всей своей души.
  Любил Император Российский стрелять ворон в дворцовых парках.
  Стрелял хорошо, попадал часто, вел скрупулезный учет подстреленным птицам, коих общее число доходило до восьми тысяч.
  Мастером был.
  Стрелял бы и дальше, да обломали удовольствие.
  Вот такой "святой человек". У него государство рушилось, земля из под ног уходила, а он находил радость в отстреле птиц.
  Сохранилась запись из личного дневника Николая 2-го.
  "ВОТ И ЗАКАНЧИВАЕТСЯ ПРОКЛЯТЫЙ 1916 ГОД. НАДЕЮСЬ, ЧТО В 1917 БУДЕТ ПОЛЕГЧЕ".
  Ну-ну...
  Сказка ложь, да в ней намек.

  Contemproraries wrote that Lord Nikolay Aleksandrovich had a hobby that dedicated him with his whole soul.
  The Russian Emperor loved to shoot ravens in his palace's parks.
  He shot well, hit his targets often, precisely kept track of shot birds and their number hardly reached eight thousand.
  He was a master.
  He would shoot even more, yet his enthusiasm has broken down.
  That kind of a "holy man" he was. His country was falling apart, the land was leaving from under his feet yet he was rejoicing by shooting at birds.
  A note from his personal diary survived:
  "SO THE CURSED YEAR OF 1916 COMES TO AN END. I HOPE THINGS WILL BE EASIER IN 1917."
  Well, well...
  The story is a lie, yet allusion is there.

So it's possible that the quote was intended as a dramatization tool from it's very beginning.

Most of the times I found the quote, it's related to last New Year address by President of Russia Vladimir Putin which started with words:

  The year 2016 is coming to a close. It was a challenging year, but the difficulties we faced have brought us together and allowed us to reveal enormous resources for our movement forward.

Hence, alleged Nicolas's quote is used to suggest that also Putin's era is nigh. That was definitely intention behind Kasparov's tweet. Considering quote's timing and lack of evidence proving otherwise, I find it very likely that it's fake.

question: What is the article about?

answer: The author posts excerpts from Nicholas II's diary, offers translations, and opines about it.

question: What date from the diary is specifically mentioned in the post?

answer: December 31, 1916

question: What does Nicholas say about 1916?

answer: "So the cursed year of 1916 comes to an end. I hope things will be easier in 1917."

question: What does the author claim?

answer: The author claims that something quote is a fake. It's not entirely clear which part the author is claiming is fake.

question: Write a ~1 sentence summary.

answer: The author posts excerpts from Nicholas II's diary, offers translations, and opines about it.


text:
"Clear left!" I ran to the next corner to the sounds of the rest of my squad following. I flipped the barrel of my omni-rifle around the corner gauging what was to be seen from the small camera mounted on the barrel.

"I don't like that house entrance there." My commanders voice rang through my head as if he were standing next to me. "Davis, grab a spare cell and scout it out."

I looked back to him and nodded my affirmative and grabbed one of our last power cells from the field medic and cloaked. Sprinting forward to the entrance in question the only thing to be seen of my progress was the footprints that I left in the war-scarred earth. What was left of a city road lie in troughs the shape of squads of tank tracks around my sprinting form. By the time I had approached the old English style home my core supplement system had started to pump extra oxygen into my blood stream keeping my breathing steady and nearly silent despite a half mile sprint.

Approaching the corner of the whitewashed two story I fell into the natural cover its hedges offered me and turned off my cloaking system. Engineer by study I was drafted into the military at the age of 22 and had been fighting this damned war for another 2 years. Before the atrocity that had begun this I was studying cybernetics. I was working with a top firm when they came and tore our world asunder. Recognizing the human ability to adapt they targeted the brightest minds with subterfuge before the main invasion force arrived and were able to wipe out all the leading weapon and enhancement engineers with a derisive attack.

"Movement!" The shout broke through my train of thought and pushed me into instant action and straight into what had become routine. Cloak - vision - sight. I mentally enabled my cloaking and vision enhancement and pulled my rifle to shoulder to find a target. I noticed that my cell indicator was showing 75% depletion already and made a mental note to keep my fire to a minimum. There! The warmth of a biological body shone from the background noise of the rubble across the street - and another and another. There was a whole group of bios just around the corner commander Erwin had his funny feeling about.

It was more funny how often his feelings were correct and how much our little troop had come to trust them. Most of us were pretty sure he was a latent physic but he was unwilling to get tested saying something along the lines of, "Cocked up bullshit. Ain't nothin but a feeling."

I transmitted what I saw back to the troop with an encrypted radio link and Erwin rather eloquently told me to 'get my skinny white mech ass back here.' Such a way with words. It's a wonder that he's single, but I followed his orders. His orders have saved my skinny mech ass more than once so I got the hell away from twenty plus, by the looks of it, heavily armed enemy bios. Even though they were well armed they didn't have any psychs with them. Those were the ones to watch out for. Even with a fully powered cloak you can't hide your thoughts and the synapse activity it takes to create them.

Looking back over my shoulder at the corner the enemy was around I wondered to myself, not for the first time, why. Why would creatures who look so similar to us and behaviorism so similar to our own be out for us? How could we have made a race, not of our solar system, angry when we had only began mining other planets and barely begun research on faster than light systems? What had we done for them to create a virus that targets half the human population?

To be continued? Written with no proof-reading but I think I would like to see this one out if there is some interest. I have an interesting story in mind with my own take on humanities beginnings - and its fall.

Edited for format

title: [Sci-Fi] Rebirth of a Race

question: What genre is this story?

answer: Science fiction

question: What is the central conflict of this story?

answer: The war with the invading alien race, which comes from a different solar system.

question: Describe the enemies.

answer: They are very similar in appearans to humans.

question: What sort of equipment does the protagonist have?

answer: An omni-rifle, a cloaking system, and a core supplement system

question: Describe the protagonist's life prior to joining the military.

answer: Prior to joining the military, Davis studied cybernetics. He worked with a top firm.

question: Write a ~3 sentence summary.

answer: Davis and his squad approach a two story house as they battle against an invading alien species. The aliens are similar in appearance to humans but come from a different solar system. Davis's commander warns them of enemy movement, and Davis is ordered to retreat.


text:
I felt the metal shift as I turned my key in the lock, swinging open the wooden door to a hallway and a stairwell. Her scarf still adorned the bannister and the pair of black heels were still by the door, the ones she wore when we went to that run-down club and drowned our post-exam sorrows in multiple glasses of whiskey. The lights in the hallway and kitchen were still on, lighting the various ornamental pieces littered across the walls, the small stain of red wine from our house-warming party seemed eerily bright, but everything did through my hazy eyes.

The kitchen itself was littered with last night's half eaten meal for one and an empty mug. Flies were feasting on it now. I disposed of the insect's buffet and poured myself a glass of scotch, the ice clanging against the sides of the glass as I strolled out into the cold night air of the garden. Her lighter was on the bench beside the empty ashtray. The light from the flame burned my eyes and the smoke from the cigarette made them water. I played with the lighter, flicking it from hand to hand and rolling it along my fingers, before placing back beside the ashtray where I would leave it until I deemed it time to dispose of it. There were still marks in the lawn where we had set up a small tent a few weeks earlier for a spontaneous 'camping trip' as neither of us had a car.

I had to wash the bedsheets. The ginger hairs that littered them turned my stomach, each sip of whiskey turning it even further. I vomited. As the cold water from the tap splashed my face I felt no more awake and no less sick, the rings of black around my bloodshot eyes made me look ugly. She wouldn't have thought so. I traced my finger over one of the pictures of us with our old university house-mates, nostalgia is a powerful emotion and it felt like so much longer than a year since we had all gone our separate ways. I took the photo from its frame and kissed her image. Nothing but a memoir now. I felt the bile rise once more, the vile mass of acid devoid of any substance scorched my throat and I gagged slightly before forcing it back into the bubbling depths. Her blue eyes still pierced my soul, even through a photograph. I'd never see them again.

Back to my reflection, this time the icy cold was on my wrists and was soon replaced with a comforting warmth, my mouth curved into something resembling a smile as my eyes grew heavy and I slumped back onto the cool tiles of the floor. I was weak. She'd be so disappointed. I dreamed of her. Being forced oxygen through a mask, her freckles darker against the growing paleness of her skin, the muffled sobs of her mother, and the heat fading from her fingers entwined with mine. I dreamed of the world-shattering shriek of the machine and awoke to a dull ringing that seemed to echo around my skull. Three AM. Who rings at three AM?

“Hello?” Is what I meant to say by my throat was far to dry.

“Hello, Mr Harper, we have assessed your application and a technician shall be with you shortly” The voice was strangely calming.

“Who is this?”
“This is Claire from BLS, you contacted us an hour ago.”

“BLS?”

“Better life solutions, sir. Thank you for your custom.”

The dial tone rang, and sleep took me almost instantly. My eyes crept open at seven AM, although, the previous day's fatigue had yet to release its grip on me. My hand slipped on something sticky, blood marked the once white tiles, on my wrist lay a single white scar. Trudging to the bedroom I noticed the faint reflections of my bewildered face on each clear glass surface of the now empty frames, almost as if they were mocking me. That was the first time I cried. I couldn't tell you why, I could get more photos, most of them were from Facebook anyway, but something about the emptiness of what once brought me such joy hit me hard. As I knelt on the once cream carpet, now stained with my blood, the phone rang once more.

“We are sorry you aren't satisfied with our work, we will send out another technician shortly.” Dial tone.

The day consisted of condolences from co-workers I didn't recognise, hugs from people who I'd never given as much as a handshake and a boss that would sooner fire you than have you turn up late telling me I can take time off if I need it. False pity sickens me.The ticking of the clock seemed to grow louder with each passing second, the teeth inside my mouth found each other and clung tightly to their counterparts and my hands vibrated as I pounded the keys, confined to the blinding white walls of my minimum-wage hell. My now tepid coffee tasted almost metallic in my mouth. The voices of co-workers now drowned out the incessant clamouring of the clock. Closing time.

 I felt the metal shift as I turned my key in the lock, swinging open the wooden door to a hallway and a stairwell. Her scarf no longer adorned the banister and the pair of black heels had been moved. I was lost in oceans as I looked into her eyes, filled with love and compassion, filled with memories and history, filled with life.
“Had a nice day at work sweetheart?”
I vomited again.

title: [SF/HR] Better Life Solutions.

question: Summarize the narrator's memories of the woman.

answer: The narrator seemed to be living with a woman who had been his girlfriend and passed away. They recall they had gone to a run-down club and drowned their post-exam sorrows in whiskey. A stain on the wall reminds them of a housewarming party they have, and marks in the lawn remind them of an at-home camping trip they'd had weeks previously. Pictures of her makes them think of her eyes, memories, and her love and compassion. Beyond those positive memories, they also dream of her last moments where she was being fed oxygen through a mask while her mother sobbed.

question: Summarize the things that make the narrator vomit.

answer: As the narrator is reminded of their late girlfriend, they vomit in response. The ginger hairs of her on their bedsheets make them sick, with the sips of whiskey only making it worse. A picture of her and their old university house-mates and the memories it carries makes them feel like they'll be sick again. When they return home from work another time, they imagine her asking about their day. This once again makes him sick.

question: Summarize what the narrator seems to do to cope with their loss.

answer: In the wake of what seems to be the loss of their girlfriend, the narrator drinks scotch to cope. As they think of her, they decide to light a cigarette as well. Later on, they seem to cut their wrists to cope with the pain. They smile and become weak when the blood is released.

question: What does the text say about forgiveness?


text:
Well it is a long story but because you asked with a smile I will share. My father got wrapped up in some seriously bad shit with the unicorn mafia. They killed him in front of my 8.5 month pregnant mother.

Soon after I was born into a life filled with hatred for their kind and those that associate with them. I went on like that for years.I even got involved in some unicorn poaching. It was on a gig in Malaysia that I saw her. She was just different than all the other unicorn that I had even known.

Her mane was a color that I didn't knew existed, and had an iridescent glow. I knew then that my whole life was a lie. If unicorns could be like this than they couldn't be the diabolical destructive force that I was indoctrinated into believing in. Her name was Emma and against all odds I loved her.

We abandoned our station with the clans that refused to accept our love. We were married to the fine music of the Appalachians. Our fairy-tale life went on for years. She baked the finest confections in the land and I worked with the local miller doing more or less manual labor. People were non too friendly to our type but we had each other. This was not to last however.

It turned out that I was wrong. Emma was a filthy unicorn whore. At the first sign of something shinier than I she left me. She left me for some smelly hippy Douche bag named Brad. I try not to think about those days anymore as that sends me to the bottom of a bottle.

TL:DR- Not a very big fan of unicorns.

title: Always chasing one.

question: Why did some clans refuse to accept their love?

answer: That is unclear, although it may have to do with the fact that the narrator is not a unicorn but Emma is.

question: What does the narrator mean by "our type"?

answer: That information can't be found.

question: Explain the significance of the title.

answer: The significance of the title is unclear.

question: What is the name of the narrator's spouse?

answer: The narrator's spouse was a unicorn named Emma.

question: Describe the narrator.

answer: The narrator hates unicorns, but beyond that, we know very little about them.

question: Write a ~3 sentence summary.

answer: The narrator grows to hate unicorns after their parents are killed by the unicorn mafia. While working as a unicorn poacher, the narrator meets a unicorn named Emma and falls in love with her. They have a happy life until Emma leaves the narrator for a hippy named Brad.