text:
PRICING: $22.95 per month

Positives

-   Research-backed, proven method
-   Effective spaced repetition system
-   Affordable with new subscription model

Negatives

-   Audio only
-   Dated social scenarios
-   Unsuitable for higher levels

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Summary

Pimsleur is a timeless classic that, after many decades, remains a viable and highly effective tool for language learning. One of the few methods with solid research behind it and proven results.

  _“Practically everybody believes that learning must build up gradually from the simple to the complex… My principle is this: Learn the hardest thing first and the rest will then seem easy.”_

  – PAUL PIMSLEUR

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_UPDATE: FOR A MUCH MORE COMPREHENSIVE AUDIO COURSE ALTERNATIVE TO THE PIMSLEUR SERIES (AND MORE AFFORDABLE), I RECOMMEND THE ROCKET LANGUAGE SERIES._ _The dialogues and pronunciation are higher quality, a wider range of content and topics are covered in detail and all the audio is 100% downloadable (see my review_ _here)._

_SELECT THE LANGUAGE YOU’RE LEARNING TO SEE WHAT IT’S ALL ABOUT:_

_I’VE ALSO LISTED SOME EXCELLENT ALTERNATIVE RESOURCES ON MY ESSENTIAL LANGUAGE LEARNING TOOLS PAGE TO HELP YOU._

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PIMSLEUR is one of the longest and most well-established household names in language learning – right up there with other commercial giants like Rosetta Stone and Michel Thomas.

Questions about whether or not Pimsleur works do tend to pop up all over the place and a simple online search yields a lot of review and opinion pieces on it.

As I said in my Rosetta Stone review, nearly all of the search results that you’ll find online for Pimsleur are totally suspect because they’re either motivated solely by commission rates for selling it or trying to deceive you into buying something else by dismissing it.

Very few reviews actually go into real depth to cover its content and effectiveness with fairness.

This review will do that.

For the purpose of making a comprehensive analysis of the Pimsleur Method™, I’ve sampled two editions of languages that I know extremely well (Egyptian and “Eastern” Arabic), three that I know quite well (Korean, Russian and Irish), and one language that I know absolutely nothing about (Thai) to put myself in the position of a new learner.

I’ve also studied the book How To Learn A Foreign Language by Paul Pimsleur himself which gives a lot more insight into his method.

There are some new software packages available on the Simon and Schuster site but it seems to be the original Pimsleur Method™ + flash card and game apps.

This post will deal the core product and method of Pimsleur only.

WARNING: Pimsleur.com is the real site – Pimsleurapproach.com is a scam. It’s called the ‘Pimsleur Method™’, not ‘Pimsleur Approach’.

Before we go any further, pay careful attention to this.

There are countless complaints online from people who signed up to a bogus site (that looks incredibly professional and real) which hooks people into a recurring billing cycle.

Simon and Schuster (who own and distribute Pimsleur) use a trademark name calling it the PIMSLEUR METHOD™ (hence the trademark symbol).

Anything calling itself the ‘Pimsleur Approach’ is fake and run by sneaky affiliates.

Only ever use the main Simon and Schuster website.

You’ll find other bogus domains that are just as bad, run by affiliate spammers (e.g. pimsleuraudio, pimsleurunlimited and so on).

Be smart 🙂

NOW ON TO THE REVIEW…

Pimsleur is not just a learning tool – it’s a method

Let’s deal with the most important thing first.

One of the terms that gets thrown around a lot in language learning discussions is ‘Spaced Repetition System’ (or SRS). I feel it’s one of those terms which everybody knows is a good thing but most don’t actually understand what it means.

So I’ll explain it to you in the simplest way possible by way of example:

  YOU’RE LEARNING A FOREIGN LANGUAGE.

  YOU COME ACROSS A BRAND NEW WORD THAT YOU’VE NEVER SEEN BEFORE.

  YOU FORGET IT ALMOST IMMEDIATELY.

  ONE HOUR LATER, YOU SEE IT AGAIN.

  IT’S FAMILIAR TO YOU BUT YOU CAN’T REMEMBER IT UNTIL THE ANSWER’S SHOWN.

  A FEW HOURS GO BY AND YOU FORGET IT AGAIN.

  THE NEXT DAY, YOU SEE IT AGAIN.

  THIS TIME IT’S VERY FAMILIAR BUT YOU STILL CAN’T REMEMBER IT UNTIL IT’S SHOWN.

  THREE DAYS LATER YOU’RE SHOWN THE WORD AGAIN.

  FINALLY YOU REMEMBER THE WORD.

Now that’s a really simplified way of demonstrating how SRS works but let’s look at what’s happening here.

Each time the word is shown, there’s a larger gap between the time it’s shown and the previous time you saw it. At first you forget the word almost immediately but gradually it becomes more and more familiar until you remember it with ease.

Sometimes this happens early, sometimes it takes a lot more exposure for it to really stick.

_Getting back to Pimsleur…_

Paul Pimsleur developed his own version of SRS based on his research into intervals (the periods between each time a word or phrase is recalled) so the Pimsleur Method™ adheres to a fairly rigid timeline starting with high frequency recall (in seconds and minutes) and gradually moving up to days, weeks and months.

So if you listen to a Pimsleur product, you’ll hear a word or sentence introduced for the first time and then seconds later you’ll be asked to recall it.

Then it will be minutes later, hours and so on.

NOW HERE’S WHERE THE PIMSLEUR METHOD™ IS UNIQUE AND IN MY OPINION EXCELLENT:

Paul Pimsleur knew how important _participation_ is in the process of language learning. Usually, when people learn with SRS they do it for _memorization_.

In other words, just listening or reading at spaced intervals.

Pimsleur products PRESSURE YOU to _recall_ and _participate_ in an actual exchange.

So instead of playing a word to get you to remember it, the audio series asks you how to say something or to respond to a native speaker.

The beautiful thing about this is that it never allows you to become a passive listener.

You’re actively involved in what you’re listening to and the presenter of the series keeps you on your toes because you need to respond at various intervals. This active recollection is powerful at getting you to recall and use the language just as you would often have to do in real life situations.

 [Pimsleur Method]

If you’re interested in how this works and knowing more about it, the best explanation I’ve come across is actually by the man himself in his own book.

I’m finding Paul Pimsleur’s insights into foreign language acquisition that are in the book quite helpful.

It’s a purely audio-based method

So what does that mean for VISUAL-SPATIAL LEARNERS like myself?

What about people who remember things better by _seeing_ them?

As a visual spatial learner (see my detailed post about that here), I’ve always learned better by being able to visualize what I’m learning (although I’m a huge fan of Earworms MBT which is also a similar kind of audio-based approach to language learning that uses music).

Since Pimsleur is entirely audio-based (except for a reading booklet which accounts for a small part of it), this poses the question of whether or not it’s suitable for someone who learns visually.

IT ACTUALLY IS (AT LEAST FOR ME PERSONALLY) AND I’LL EXPLAIN WHY.

For a program that’s entirely auditory, Pimsleur is surprisingly visual in its own kind of way.

_How?_

First of all, the presenter gets you to IMAGINE scenarios:

  _“Imagine an American man meeting an Irish woman in an area where Irish is spoken. He wants to begin a conversation…”_

I didn’t realize this at first but this kind of mental imagery can actually be more stimulating for me as a visual-spatial learner than reading text on a page.

If I were to read those same lines – _“Imagine an American man meeting an Irish woman…”_ – as words on paper or on screen, it might even DISTRACT ME from visualizing it because I’d be focused more on the actual text I’m reading.

The other thing is the way the pronunciation of words is presented.

THE NATIVE SPEAKERS SPEAK THE WORDS BACKWARDS, ONE SYLLABLE AT A TIME.

This actually gets you to picture and focus on each individual syllable.

We associate sounds with mental images constantly and it’s those mental images that serve in helping us to remember what we hear.

One thing I would recommend if you do use Pimsleur is to make sure you’re not preoccupied with anything while you’re listening to it (e.g. commuting) since concentration is so important.

Very polite language

I’ve found the same issue with Rosetta Stone and other products.

Just listening to Pimsleur Korean, Russian, Egyptian and Eastern Arabic, I noticed the excessively formal and polite language used in the dialogues (for example polite verb forms in Korean and plural вы pronoun in Russian).

Although it’s good practice to learn and use these forms where appropriate, IN REALITY NATIVE SPEAKERS AREN’T ALWAYS THIS FORMAL – especially when talking to family or strangers who are the same age or younger.

The difference between Rosetta Stone and Pimsleur though is that Rosetta Stone makes the _absurd_ mistake of having older people address younger people and people who are friends and family addressing each other using polite forms (which is almost always not the case in reality speaking from experience living in these places).

In Pimsleur’s defense most of the dialogues are stangers addressing each other so their use of polite forms is quite justifiable.

Vocabulary is limited

One common criticism of the Pimsleur Method™ is that it doesn’t teach enough vocabulary.

Each language series only introduces a few hundred new words in total. The exact amount depends on how many levels there are since some languages have only one level and others have three, four or five.

HERE’S WHAT THE SIMON AND SCHUSTER WEBSITE HAS TO SAY ABOUT THIS:

  _“Effective communication in any language depends on mastery of a relatively limited number of words and structures. Trying to learn too much at once substantially slows the process, and many people quickly become discouraged._

  _Pimsleur courses deliberately limit the amount you learn at any one time, giving your brain a chance to internalize each new item before moving on. Once this foundation is built, adding new words and phrases becomes easy and natural because there’s a clear framework to attach them to.”_

Keywords here are ‘structures‘ and ‘clear framework‘.

Language products like Pimsleur aren’t meant to be exhaustive sources of vocabulary. They exist to teach you the ‘framework’ of a language so that you can do the rest on your own.

No language product or course is going to teach you every bit of vocab that you want/need.

IT’S UP TO YOU TO DO THAT.

Some (but not all) language editions sound very unnatural

I can’t judge the recordings of the Thai version that I sampled but I can say some of the language versions do sound dreadfully artificial.

Both Arabic versions that I listened to made me skeptical that I was even listening to native speakers – at least a few of the voices sound very non-native.

I had my Egyptian friends listen to the Egyptian Arabic recordings and they had a bit of a giggle at how silly the voice actors sound – not just the accents but the _manner_ in which they’re speaking.

This is unfortunately a common problem with a lot of language product dialogues in that they sound like somebody hired D grade voice actors to read the script.

On the other hand I was quite impressed by the Russian, Irish and Korean recordings which sound much better than the Arabic.

Lessons are intentionally very short

 [Pimsleur Method]

I must say that I think the way this is marketed is a bit disingenuous.

One of the biggest selling points of Pimsleur is that you only need 30 minutes a day to become proficient in a language. As someone who has learned many languages (and failed some), I can attest that this definitely not true.

30 minutes of language time doesn’t cut it.

To learn a language well in a reasonable amount of time requires hours a day consistently.

PIMSLEUR MARKETING NEEDS TO BE MORE CLEAR ABOUT WHAT THEY MEAN. _Are they saying that you only need 30 minutes of language time overall or 30 minutes of lesson time?_

I’d like to see a link to a study that backs that claim up personally.

I _am_ all for short study periods though.

Studying for hours on end is detrimental and you can actually retain _more_ by focusing on a smaller amount in a short time.

As I’ve said before, it’s harder to learn 10% of 50 words than it is to learn 100% of 5 words.

But Simon and Schuster shouldn’t imply that simply putting on headphones for 30 minutes a day is all that’s required on your part as a learner.

IT SHOULD BE 30 MINUTES OF PIMSLEUR + MANY HOURS OF LANGUAGE USE.

Its priorities are right

As I’ve already said, Pimleur is purely audio-based.

There’s no book or program to look at. You just put on your headphones, listen and repeat. So the emphasis is entirely on _speaking_ and _listening_.

THIS IS HOW LANGUAGES _SHOULD_ BE LEARNED.

Languages are not written. They’re spoken (or in the case of the hearing impaired, signed).

We invented writing systems as a way of _representing_ spoken sounds on paper – not the other way round.

I think part of the problem with language education is that we’ve reduced foreign languages down to a list of rules on paper. We focus too much on the _representation_ of what we hear when we should focus on what we hear first and worry about the representation later.

Doing so is not only a more natural way to learn but also helps with your pronunciation.

YOU CAN’T REALLY LEARN TO PRONOUNCE SOMETHING PROPERLY BY READING IT. You need lots of listening and repeating.

Does its age give it authority?

I feel that this question has to be asked of all the big name products like RS, Michel Thomas and Assimil as well.

Does the fact that something’s been around for half a century add weight to its value?

YOU HAVE TO KEEP IN MIND THAT PRODUCTS LIKE PIMSLEUR CAME OUT WHEN _CASSETTES_ WERE ALL THE RAGE AND THERE WAS NO INTERNET OR EASY WAY TO FIND NATIVE SPEAKERS FOR PRACTICE.

So it makes sense that something like Pimsleur would have been groundbreaking at the time – not just because it was an effective methodology but because it was something new that utilized the technology of the day.

And it’s true that when any brand is around long enough it gains _familiarity_ and _trust_.

That being said I do actually think PIMSLEUR IS AN OUTSTANDING, TIMELESS PRODUCT.

Age aside, it’s great for what it is and even after decades remains a very unique product in a saturated market full of imitators.

Fantastic tool but it’s WAY overpriced

Pimsleur is ludicrously expensive.

It’s a fantastic product of which I have mostly good things to say about but the price is frankly extreme and completely unaffordable by ordinary people.

For example, French 1 – 5 (CD version) is currently selling for $1,190 (!!!) on the Simon and Schuster site or $550 if you take the MP3 version which is still very expensive.

They do provide a lot of different options for customers (e.g. only buying some levels or individual lessons) and you can occasionally find it cheaper on Amazon.

_MAJOR UPDATE: PIMSLEUR HAVE SINCE CREATED A SUBSCRIPTION OPTION THAT IS INCREDIBLY AFFORDABLE BY COMPARISON. SEE HERE FOR MORE INFO._

I’ll never condone piracy on this site (especially having created my own language product and knowing how much work and love goes into making something that other people steal) but by putting price tags like that on Pimsleur, I think they’re encouraging people to do the wrong thing.

As I said in my Rosetta Stone review there is so much you can buy with that kind of money.

For example, instead of the $550 for levels 1 – 5 of Pimsleur’s French MP3’s, you could:

  GET APPROXIMATELY 50 PERSONALIZED, ONE-ON-ONE LESSONS WITH NATIVE SPEAKERS ON ITALKI.

  BUY A CHEAPER, SIMILAR AUDIO-BASED PRODUCT SUCH AS EARWORMS MBT OR GLOSSIKA (REVIEW) AND SAVE THE REST OF YOUR MONEY.

  BUY A MORE MIDDLE-RANGED, QUALITY PRODUCT LIKE ROCKET LANGUAGES.

  IF YOU’RE IN THE US OR AUSTRALIA YOU COULD PUT THE MONEY TOWARD AN ACTUAL TRIP TO PLACES LIKE LATIN AMERICA, QUEBEC, SOUTH-EAST ASIA AND SO ON (IN THE CASE OF THE $1,190 CD VERSION YOU COULD PROBABLY BUY A WHOLE OVERSEAS TRIP).

  IF YOU LIVE IN EUROPE THAT KIND OF MONEY WOULD EASILY PAY FOR A LOW-BUDGET AIRLINE TRIP + HOSTEL + FOOD FOR COUPLE OF WEEKS TO ANOTHER EUROPEAN DESTINATION.

  THAT MONEY COULD FEED YOU AND PAY YOUR ACCOMMODATION FOR MONTHS IN THE MID EAST AND MANY PARTS OF ASIA TO LEARN THE LOCAL LANGUAGE.

You should always consider what you could achieve with that kind of money before going out and spending it on a very expensive product.

But hey, if you’ve got the cash and you’re cool with spending it then Pimsleur is an excellent product.

It’s a tool that I would definitely recommend, especially for new learners.

DID YOU FIND THIS INTERESTING, USEFUL OR ENCOURAGING? A quick SHARE on Facebook or Twitter will make my day! Thanks. ! 😄

_COMMENTS:_ _If you’ve got something you’d like to add to this or some constructive criticism you can do that at the bottom of this page. Just please be respectful. Any abusive or nonsensical comments will be deleted._

question: What does SRS stand for?

answer: SRS stands for Spaced Repetition System.

question: Why might the Pimsleur Method not work for a visual learner?

answer: The Pimsleur Method might not work for a visual learner since it is almost entirely audio based.

question: Does the author recommend the Pimsleur Method?

answer: Yes, the author recommends the system but thinks that it is vastly overpriced.

question: How long does the system claim to take per day?

answer: The system claims to only take 30 minutes a day.

question: Write a ~3 sentence summary.

answer: The author is reviewing the Pimsleur Method language learning system. The system is entirely audio based, and the author says the product works despite a few things. Actually learning the language takes longer than advertised and the method is extremely overpriced for what it is.


split: train

text:
They won’t stand for the anthem or for a moment of silence.

_Daniel Greenfield, a Shillman Journalism Fellow at the Freedom Center, is an investigative journalist and writer focusing on the radical left and Islamic terrorism._

Congressman Seth Moulton will be boycotting the moment of silence for the victims of the Las Vegas mass shooting. It’s not just NFL football players who take a knee during the anthem. It’s also Harvard grads who like to announce that they were “approached” to run for President of the United States.

The NFL’s millionaire racists are taking a knee to protest America. But why protest a moment of silence for the victims of the worst mass shooting in this country’s history even if you, like some lefties, think  they’re a bunch of country-music listening, Trump-voting Republicans who don’t deserve any sympathy?

If you can’t stand for the anthem, can’t you at least stand for the innocent victims of a monstrous killer?

But, Moulton, like many Democrats, will instead take a knee over the bodies of the Las Vegas dead.

According to Moulton, he’s protesting in support of gun control and demanding, what he calls a, “universal background check”.

“There’s a lot of evidence that shows it would reduce the chances of crimes like these,” Moulton insisted. While all the facts aren’t in (and that hasn’t stopped Moulton or Hillary Clinton), but the evidence does show that the killer’s only previous brush with the law was a traffic citation.

How was a background check supposed to stop a guy with nothing in his background? Ask Moulton or Congressman Chris Murphy, who right on cue, is bringing a background check bill back.

Moulton and Murphy don’t know. And don’t care.

Congressman Moulton is however obscenely eager to upstage a moment of silence for the victims of the Las Vegas shootings to get 30 seconds of attention from CNN. And then maybe a gun control donor with deep pockets will ask him to run for the White House. Walking out on the victims of a brutal massacre is a small price to pay for winning the heart of a big billionaire donor like Michael Bloomberg.

His disgusting behavior isn’t an aberration. A number of Democrats, including Moulton, have boycotted previous moments of silence by staging publicity stunts for gun control. After an Islamic terrorist carried out the Pulse massacre in Orlando, Democrats boycotted it and then disrupted the aftermath.

When Paul Ryan asked that, “the House now observe a moment of silence in memory of the victims of the terrorist attack in Orlando”, Democrats began walking out.

It was a shocking and disgusting scene that, unlike the anthem protests, most Americans never saw because professional politics has far fewer viewers than professional football.

And deservedly so.

“As you bow your head and think of what you say to your God when you are asked what you did to slow the slaughter of innocents, there will be silence,” Congressman Himes, another Democrat, had ranted.

What the United States did was bomb ISIS targets. Omar Mateen, the Orlando terrorist, had been acting for the Islamic terror group. What Jim Himes did was fight the Muslim travel ban because slowing “the slaughter of innocents” by those who speak to Allah instead of God was never on his agenda.

As did Congresswoman Robin Kelly, who boycotted the moment of silence after the San Bernardino Massacre by Muslim terrorists, with one of her signature tantrums. “I can’t stand anymore,” Kelly had protested. Joining her in this refusal was Congresswoman Jackie Speier. “I’m not going to stand up for a moment of silence again,” the left-wing politician had insisted.

There were no shortage of Colin Kaepernicks in Congress.

Congresswoman Katherine Clark, who had boycotted the Orlando moment of silence, accused Republicans of having “blood on their hands” for not advancing gun control proposals that “could” prevent tragedies like this one. Instead of participating in the moment of silence, Clark had posed holding up a piece of paper reading “NoMoreSilence”. But sometimes silence is a good thing.

Accusing your fellow legislators of having bloody hands because they didn’t pass bills that you aren’t even sure would do any good, is despicable. Silence “could” be better. It would be far better.

But the entire preemptive gun control push is despicable. Democrat hacks accuse Republicans and conservatives of murder without actually knowing any of the facts. Or caring about the facts.

Hillary Clinton suggested that a measure to streamline the approval process for silencers could have led to an even worse massacre. And blamed the NRA.  But a suppressor or silencer for the weapon used in the Las Vegas attack would have been anything but silent. And Hillary was digging into existing agenda items for opponents of the Second Amendment without caring about what had actually happened.

But that’s politics. And politics is often tacky and dishonest. Sometimes we rise above it.

The moment of silence is one of those times. Or at least it’s supposed to be. But like the anthem, the moments of decency and respect that once brought our nation together are being torn apart.

When Dallas County Sheriff Lupe Valdez asked attendees at the Democrat National Convention, “Please help me to honor all of America’s fallen officers with a moment of silence,” cries of Black Lives Matter and jeers filled the silence. The disgusting spectacle was a preview of the ugliness to come.

The Democrats don’t do moments of silence anymore. Respect for the fallen has become a foreign idea.

Especially if they’re the kind of fallen, police officers, soldiers or country music fans, whom you despise for political and cultural reasons. And whose humanity you choose not to recognize or respect.

Those politicians protesting the moment of silence claim that action is better than silence. But it’s in that moment of silence that we find the meaning and resolve to take action. The silence is not an absence. Instead it’s a moment of communion with a higher power, with our inner self and with the community of our fellow men and women. It’s the tradition of a religious people. And it’s alien and incomprehensible to the militantly secular leftist political movement that the Dems have become.

The anthem and the moment of silence were moments of communion that reminded us of who we are.

Democrats don’t just protest them, they don’t understand them. Patriotism and religion have no place in their lives. And silence is threatening because it forces them to be alone with people they don’t like.

Themselves.

When your idea of careerism is walking out on a moment of silence for the victims of a massacre, the last thing you want to do is look in a mirror or spend too much time alone with your thoughts.

If you do, you might realize that there is something wrong with the state of your soul.

As Democrats elbow each other to be the first out of the room for the moment of the silence, and then to be the first to yell about gun control once the moment has passed, as they accuse opponents of having “blood on the hands”, the ugliness inside them goes on pouring out like an endless stain.

When they have finished refusing to stand for the victims of the massacre, they will go back to refusing to stand for the anthem. And then they will find new moments of our common unity to disrupt.

What they hate most of all is the idea that there is a higher ideal than their politics in our national life and that what unites us isn’t party or politics, but our flag, our Constitution and our national community.

There’s always something that they can’t stand and won’t stand for. And that something is America.

question: What is Moulton calling for?

answer: Moulton is calling for a universal background check.

question: Who is the author of this piece?

answer: Daniel Greenfield wrote this piece.

question: What does the author claim has happened to the idea of respect for the fallen?

answer: The author claims that respect for the fallen has become a foreign idea.

question: Does the author think that Moulton's behavior is normal?

answer: Yes, the author thinks that Moulton's behavior is normal amongst Democrats.

question: Write a ~2 sentence summary.

answer: The author claims that many Democrats are being disrespectful by refusing to stand for the anthem. He goes on to claim that they do so because the cannot be alone with their thoughts, and claims they are against America.


text:
A jumbo-sized cruise ship the likes of which has never seen before in the world will be based in Miami, and a new terminal will be built for it.

MSC Cruises has notified Miami-Dade that they intend to base at least one of their four new World Class ships at PortMiami, according to county documents.

To accommodate the ship, the cruise line is in negotiations to build a new terminal at the port, known as Terminal AAA.

The ship will have a have a maximum occupancy of 6,850 passengers, in 2,760 staterooms – more than any other ship in existence.

Instead of oil, the World Class ships will be powered by a next generation Liquified Natural Gas system. It will also have a new generation wastewater treatment system.

Passenger comfort will also be improved, thanks to a new “G Bow,” positioned at a 90-degree angle for superior stability and hydrodynamics.

Delivery of the first ship is scheduled for 2022.

MSC Cruises wants the county to renovate Terminal F, and will guarantee a minimum of 650,000 annual passengers beginning in 2019/2020. Once Terminal AAA is completed on on the port’s Terminal Link property, the minimum annual passenger count for MSC will increase to 1.65 million passengers.

County commissioners are scheduled to vote on a the renovations and a Memorandum of Understanding on the new terminal at a meeting July 10.

Miami is already scheduled to get what is currently the largest cruise ship in the world later this year, in a brand-new $200m terminal called Crown of Miami. That terminal and cruise ship will be operated by Royal Caribbean, which forecasts annual passengers in Miami will more than double to 1.8 million.

[]

question: What is the main topic of this article?

answer: A jumbo-sized cruise ship based in Miami.

question: What is different about this cruise ship?

answer: The ship is one of four that will have a higher occupancy than any other ship in existence, will be powered by a Natural Gas system, and improved stability and hydrodynamics.

question: When is delivery of the new ship scheduled?

answer: 2022

question: What is "G Bow"?

answer: It is the new angle that provides superior stability and hydrodynamics.

question: Write a ~2 sentence summary.

answer: A new, jumbo-sized cruise ship based in Miami. The ship is one of four that will have a higher occupancy than any other ship in existence, will be powered by a Natural Gas system, and improved stability and hydrodynamics.


text:
[New Drone with 4 Varroa]

Infestation Alert – real and present Danger

Hi Everyone,

Well the title of this says it all. Part of our Summer program in the Apiary at kiwimana HQ is our continued efforts to ‘grow Bees’ we can’t grow Bees or have honey or enjoy our girls if our colonies die.

So with each season comes monitoring, inspections, record-keeping, apiary maintenance, gear checks, and so on….

Recent inspections have shown mixed results.

A: Our Apiary up at the organic farm has seen mite infestations – Gary has been treating these with the Kiwi Oxalic Acid Vaporizer.

B: Our Quarantine Apiary has seen thriving hives but varroa are starting to appear.

C: kiwimana HQ, as I progressed through the hive inspections 4 of the hives looking good but number 5 – not good~!

This hive is called, Swanson 10.

ABOUT SWANSON 10.

Swanson 10 is our main genetics from which we have ‘grown’ our apiary. The girls in these colonies are lovely to work, calm and productive Italians. Not huge honey production this year but we’ll talk about that shortly.

The queen of this hive is a new, 2013 season, queen. Which was ‘grown’ from a split we did earlier on in October (2013) and to help the split, we gave them a couple of 3/4 frames with Honey.

She is a great layer and the population is excellent for this time of year and they are working hard.

_However_ the 3/4 frames were not upgraded to full-depth so what this has led to is, comb being drawn-out on the bottom of the frame – so note – any space, the girls will fill it and fill-it they did, with Drone Comb.

Outside the hive were some tell-tale signs of ‘issues’. There were dead brood lying in the grass, on some frames I saw some Bees with _‘Deformed Wing Virus’_ – indicative of PMS (Parasitic Mite Syndrome) or Varroa mite infestation.

Risk

What this has done is caused us to create an opportunity for ‘varroa destructor’ to have a yummy and big drone store – easy access as it was in the lower level of the hive, also another pest has ‘wormed’ its way in to the hive, ‘wax moth’.

Result

This has resulted in an infestation, when I opened one cell – 4 varroa mites crawled out!

Look at this newly emerged Drone, initially you could see one mite on him but then, others emerged.

The wax moth has multiplied and started eating the wax-comb and creating a suffocating web.

FIX ?

So what I did was, cut-off the extended comb which was full of drone-comb – and not looking too healthy.
It looks like the girls had been checking cells and opening those with mites but there were too many for them to manage.

ACTION ?

Immediately went to the workshop and got some Api Life Var and took one wafer and cut it in 4, cleaned the top of the frames and placed the pieces in the center close to brood area. The treatment will stay in there for 7 days, then I will add another wafer. I’ll repeat this until the treatment has been present for 28 days.

The cut-off comb was placed in the freezer to kill off the pests, yes sadly we lost a few Bees as they were too infested to save.

The comb was then placed in our wax-melter. We’ll filter this and clean it for creating wax blocks.

What follow-up is required?

I will go back in and check mite levels using the sugar shake method, a bit more invasive than an inspection-board or ‘sticky-board’ check but I am going in to add the next wafer anyway and have to open the hive. Gary has made these handy ‘sugar shake jars’ which make it very easy.

I will re-check the frame, I aim to replace it with a full-depth if possible.

Could this have been Prevented?

Yes.

How?

By inspecting and knowing your hive and what they are up to.

There are always discussions about “how many times do you need to inspect your hive?” – ask one question and you’ll get lots of differing views.

A commercial beekeeper says hobbyists go in to the hive too much, “…_just leave them to it_…”

A hobbyist may not even know that inspections are important.

Some new Beeginners do go into their hives too much and have lost their girls because the colony has not felt safe.

Our View?

kiwimana’s view is that inspections are extremely important and must be conducted regularly, especially over the periods of increased or high population. You must know what state your hive is in. You must know if they have enough space, enough stores, are there drones? is you queen laying properly?

Our recommendation is that inspections should be carried-out at least once a month or maximum two-weekly over the high population periods. Population starts to increase in Spring and continues right through to Summer.

These are the times when Bees are out regularly and can pick-up mites, AFB, etc.

Note of Caution: Colonies are used to a dark, warm and dry hive – this means they feel safe. If you constantly open your hive, the colony feels threatened therefore, ‘unsafe’ – they may abscond to find a new location if you ‘over-work’ your hive. Not every inspection needs to be a ‘full’ inspection.

I have always recommended two-weekly inspections to our new Beekeepers – the aim is that they can learn about what is normal and get to know what is happening in their new hive. As they become more familiar they will learn what is normal and inspection schedules can be modified.

WARNING: to leave a hive unattended for long periods can mean DEATH.

Interesting….a new beginner called us in to look at their hive, they said “…there are lots of Bees coming and going…” so we started our inspection – turns-out the hive was being robbed-out, and inside AFB ~!

Don’t be _THAT_ beginner~!

Will this hive survive?

Due to this ‘infestation’ issue, it is very possible the hive may fail. I hope I have caught this in-time.

-   Have you checked your hives?
-   Do you have records of your mite-level trends?
-   Have you conducted a mite check?
-   Have you done a sugar-shake test?
-   When did you last treat?
-   What do your Bees look like?
-   What’s happening out front of your hive?
-   Do you have drone comb in your hive at the moment?

Call us if you want to chat about your hive (09) 810 9965 – or if you want a second opinion, we have ‘Beekeeper Services’ available (check-out our on-line shop) and we can come to your site and look with you.

Thanks for reading and supporting kiwimana.

Regards
Margaret

Products Mentioned in this post

question: What animal is trying to be grown in this excerpt?

answer: Bees

question: What is the organic farm facing at Apiary?

answer: Mite infestations

question: What is the condition of the Quarantine Apiary?

answer: The hives are thriving here but varroa are starting to appear.

question: What is the name of the hive being discussed?

answer: Swanson 10

question: What were some tell-tale signs of issues with the hives?

answer: Some bees were dead and lying in the grass, some bees had deformed wing virus, and some had varroa mite infestation

question: Write a ~3 sentence summary.

answer: This article describes how bees are hard to grow due to an infestation alert. A specific hive, Swanson 10, is being experimented on as it is the main genetic component. The results of the experiment, along with the risks and future actions to avoid infestation are discussed.


text:
The Wizard

	Michael shared a low bed in his attic room with his black acoustic guitar. His friends sat in bean-bag chairs around a coffee table in front of him. They passed a smoking bowl among themselves. Light from the sun outside came through the closed window, hitting the smoke which lingered in the air. The entire room was covered in a light haze. An air conditioner at the other end of the room rattled, keeping the room from substantially over heating. A television set on mute sat in the room, but no one was focusing on it. He wore a dull red plaid shirt, cargo shorts, and plain brown sneakers. On his bed next to him lay the acoustic guitar, which he now only played when he was high. On the wall was an orange Chudley Cannons poster.]

	He held his own packed glass bowl in his left hand, and a yellow Bic lighter in his right. The inside of the bowl was covered in a thin amber layer of cooked residue; he needed to get around to cleaning it. He lit the lighter, staring at the yellow flame. He wasn’t in a rush to start smoking.

He absentmindedly moved the Bic, no longer lit, through the fingers on his right hand. He listened intently to the music playing, paying no attention to the others in the room. He lied back against the bed, staring straight up. Focusing intently on the pale glow-in-the-dark stars barely visible against the white-wash ceiling, he realised that he had yet to eat breakfast.

	He remembered waking up. He looked outside, and saw the sun, well past noon, linger in the sky. He estimated about 3:00, maybe 3:30. It was the first day of summer.

	Thinking about the final he took yesterday, he frowned. It wasn’t that he had bombed it, but rather that he had passed it without any deal of effort. He hadn’t even reviewed his notes. Hell, he hadn’t studied for that class all year. It wasn’t that he was a bad student, or even that he relished doing poorly in school, as he noted some kids his age did. He was simply not challenged.

	Certainly he wasn’t the most organized kid. He decided that this was the root of his problems. His disorganized mannerisms must have been perceived by his teachers as a lack of substantial intelligence. He had missed the cutoff for honors tracking, and even if he desired now to move up, he would be at a hopeless disadvantage, being far behind in the curriculum by the honors standard.

	He wished someone had pushed him. His parents must have bought into the teachers conclusions of mediocrity. They had accepted him as mediocre, and maybe were a little disappointed, but not surprised. They hadn’t been special either.

	He turned to look at his friends. The bowl lay on its side on the coffee table. A thin stream of smoke rose from it. His friends were discussing the latest Jersey Shore. He hated that show. He looked back up at the ceiling.

	Perhaps he really was mediocre, and this self-denial was just his coping mechanism with not being special, his only defense against his belief in not being worth anything. But this was a lie. He knew, deep down that he, at least at some point, had not been average, was not as worthless as he came across. He thought about his long lost love for reading. He had read and reread every Harry Potter book, had finished each of them for the first time within a week of their release. He turned to the bookshelf next to the TV. He could make out most of the series on the shelf, but it was hard to read the lettering through the smoke. That wasn’t savant level, but at least that was something. More important to him, however, was the emotion connected with his hours spent face down in a hard-cover. They represented his childhood, a reckless one inspired by Calvin and Hobbes comics and the Dangerous Book for Boys which had taught him almost everything he knew about anything important.

	But this childhood seemed long gone. In some ways, it had been pushed aside against his will, through homework and social obligations. But in other ways, his present reality was the result of his own decisions. He sustained to his friends that he didn’t cry at the end of the last Harry Potter movie.
His hand rested on the guitar which lay at his side. He plucked at the strings with no particular song in mind. He used to practice everyday. He would ride his bike to his lessons, and then come home and teach himself even more from the internet. He still played it every now and then, but only absentmindedly, not with the vigor of before. His teacher had told him that he was a talented musician. Now he was only average.

He told himself to relax, to pass these thoughts out of his mind. But he was always relaxed he thought to himself, high or not. This annoyed him. It wasn’t that he felt guilty about relaxing, but he felt bad that he had nothing to relax from.

	He picked up the bowl again, held it in his left hand, and sparked the lighter. But he didn’t bring the flame down to the bowl. He lifted his thumb and let the flame die.
	The word “average” interested him. He thought it odd that a word which by definition described the majority of people could have such a negative connotation.

	“We should do something today,” he suggested to his friends. His words were met with giggling.
	“I don’t think my brain has control over my toes, so I don’t think I’m walking anywhere.”

	“I was thinking about doing something today,” he said sincerely. “You know, like REALLY doing something.”

	“What, like driving to Taco Bell?” The speaker nudged the other friend, who was zoned out eyes glued to the TV. It was tuned to the cooking channel were Rachael Ray was preparing a cake.

	Michael rolled his eyes at his friends. “Nah man.  Something exciting, something you don’t get to do everyday.”

	“Like watching a movie!” His friend reached for the remote, turning the television off of mute. He flipped through the channels, stopping at ABC Family. The fourth Harry Potter movie was on. Michael watched as Harry dove around the quidditch pitch on his broomstick.

	Michael picked up the bowl again. He lit the lighter, held it to the bowl, and inhaled.

title: The Wizard

question: What are Michael and his friend doing in Michael's attic?

answer: It seems they are smoking a drug.

question: Are Michels' parents proud of him?

answer: Probably not. Michael feels they accepted him as mediocre.

question: Is Michael a virtuous person?

answer: It seems he is not. It is implied that he is lazy, disorganized, and unreliable.

question: Is Michael a good musician?

answer: It seems he is not. He had been told he was talented, but he is average now because he does not play the guitar regularly.

question: Write a ~8 sentence summary.

answer: Michael and his friends are smoking a drug in his attic. He is not paying attention to his friends but thinking about himself. He feels that his teachers and his parents accepted him as mediocre. Michael, however, believes deep down he is not average. He likes reading but does not read much because it is hard to read through the smoke. One of Michael's friends suggests doing something fun. They finally agree to watch a movie. Michael picks the smoking bowl again and inhales.


text:
I get all of these for FREE with coupons. Really!

Some of these deals come around more often than others, but when I can get something for free, I stock up to hold me over until the next time it’s free.

Wanna get this stuff free too? It’s easy to learn how to coupon, and you’ll enjoy the peace of mind a stockpile of food and necessities provides. There are a few ways to find current freebies. You could browse the KCL site for freebie deals. Or you could check out each of these items individually by tapping the link on each header.

Be sure to download the KCL app and we’ll notify you about freebies!

  TIP: Each of these has a “stock-up price” even though you can get them for free. Knowing each item’s stock-up price will help you recognize a good price when there’s not a coupon deal to get an item for free.

1. Body Wash

[]

You can find coupon deals for free body wash at Target, drugstores (Rite Aid, CVS, Walgreens) and Walmart.

Stock-up price: $0.50

2. Antacids

[]

There’s no reason to pay for antacid when you’re couponing.

Thanks to rebate apps, these are free at CVS, Rite Aid, Walgreens, Target, and Walmart.

Stock-up price: FREE

3. Bananas

[]

Did you know you can get single bananas for free at stores like Target and Walmart when you use rebate apps?! Yep, it’s true.

Stock-up price: $0.29/lb

4. Mustard

[]

You’ll find deals on mustard most often at grocery stores like Walmart, Safeway, Publix, and Kroger.

Stock-up price: $0.10

5. Toothpaste

[]

Do. Not. Pay. For. Toothpaste. EVER.

We can’t emphasize this enough. Drugstores love to give toothpaste away to couponers for free.

Stock-up price: FREE

6. Mascara

[]

Hit up drugstores for free mascara. CVS, in particular, is a gold mine.

Stock-up price: $1.50 each

  RELATED: 10 Beauty Items with the Highest Amazon Ratings Under $20

7. Disposable Razors

[]

For real. These are often free at Target or Walgreens.

Stock-up price: $1.99

8. Facial cleanser

[]

Target is your place for deals on face wash.

Stock-up price: $1.99

9. Floss

[]

Don’t ever pay for floss, either! You can find it free at drugstores like CVS, Rite Aid, and Walgreens.

Stock-up price: FREE

10. Shampoo

[]

Pantene, TRESemme, and Suave are the big players, but you can find other brands like Garnier for free too. Coupon at Target to get these deals.

Stock-up price: $0.50/bottle

11. Greeting Cards

[]

Coupon at CVS to get free greeting cards.

Stock-up price: 50% off

12. Shave Gel

[]

Coupon at Target for the most frequent freebie deals on shaving cream.

Stock-up price: $1.50/can

13. Toothbrush

[]

You can find free toothbrushes at Walgreens, CVS, and Rite Aid.

Stock-up price: FREE

  RELATED: How to Donate Stockpile Items to Refugees

14. String Cheese singles

[]

You’ll find free string cheese deals when you coupon at Walmart.

Stock-up price: $0.15 ea.

15. Deodorant

[]

The most frequent deodorant deals are at the three drugstores and Kroger. We see Sure and Brut and Ban deals most often.

Stock-up price: $1.00 ea.

16. Mouthwash

[]

Oral care again. With coupons, you’ll never need to pay for mouthwash. The most frequent mouthwash freebie deals are at Target and drugstores.

Stock-up price: $1.50/bottle

17. Candy

[]

You can find freebie candy bar and Trolli deals at drugstores. Sometimes Walmart.

Stock-up price: $0.25

18. Gum/Mints

[]

Hit up Kroger, Target or Walgreens for freebie deals on gum and mints.

Stock-up price: $0.50/pack

19. Contact Solution

[]

Sometimes you can get contact solution free with coupons! CVS is the place to find those deals.

Stock-up price: $2.00

20. Vitamins

[]

Shop drugstores like Walgreens and Rite Aid to find deals on freebie vitamins. We see these deals in the fall and early winter.

Stock-up price: $2.50

UP NEXT: 8 Couponing Trends That Show Couponing Is Not Dying

[]

question: How much does the narrator pay for her items?

answer: Nothing. She got them for free via coupons.

question: Which site did the narrator recommend for finding freebie deals?

answer: The KCL website.

question: Does KCL have an app?

answer: Yes, it does.

question: What is "stock-up" price?

answer: It is the price you can get items when you aren't able to get them for free through couponing.

question: Write a ~3 sentence summary.

answer: The narrator recommends couponing for getting items for free in stores. She also recommends KCL site for getting freebies. The narrator advised couponers to watch out for "stock-up" prices in order to get a good deal (just in case there isn't a coupon deal).


text:
HUMANITIES NEW YORK, formerly the NEW YORK COUNCIL FOR THE HUMANITIES,[1] is a 501(c)(3) organization based in New York City.[2] It is the New York State affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities.[3] It was founded in 1975.[4]

Between 2008 and 2012, the organization awarded institutions and individuals in New York $68.7 million for work on projects, including funding for the first significant television treatment of the history of the War of 1812.[5]

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

title: Humanities New York

question: When was Humanities New York founded?

answer: 1975

question: What is the purpose of Humanities New York?

answer: The organization awards funds to institutions and individuals for work on humanities projects.

question: Name a key figure involved with Humanities New York.

answer: That information can't be found.

question: Explain Humanities New York's actions concerning the War of 1812.

answer: They funded the first significant television treatment of the history of the War of 1812.

question: Write a ~1 sentence summary.

answer: Humanities New York is a New York City-based organization that funds humanities projects.


text:
_It’s interesting when commentators from both Left and Right advance a common description and diagnosis of what is wrong with society. It makes you think there may be something in it._

[]STEVE LATHAM

What I’ve noticed is the concept of ‘demoralization’. It’s used in two ways.

Firstly, it refers to the loss of morals and values, so people act increasingly in a self-interested way, without regard for moral constraints.

We could call this the psychopath tendency, perhaps increasingly prevalent in the West, which recent pop treatments, by for example Jon Ronson and Kevin Dutton, have highlighted.

Secondly it can mean an overall loss of confidence or courage in a culture. This usage would be similar to calling a military unit ‘demoralized’ after a crushing defeat.

The two meanings are linked. It is precisely when an army is defeated, and demoralised, that discipline collapses, and soldiers look to individual survival.

The phrase ‘devil take the hindmost’ describes the debacle, where the stragglers of a routed army, like Napoleon’s in Russia, are left to be picked off by the enemy.

Of course, the deployment of the concept by Left and Right is different. Gertrud Himmelfarb, for example, is an American historian, married to the founder of neo-conservatism, Irving Kristol.

[]She attributes demoralization to the decline of the religious and moral foundations of western civilization.

She calls for a restoration of Victorian values, a revival of the Judeo-Christian ethic, to reverse the rot in personal, family, and social, mores.

Ralph W. Fevre similarly analyses western culture, and sees the cause in the rise of scientific rationalism, technical reason, and an unreflective ‘common sense’.

This has replaced reliance on non-rational (not anti-rational) ‘aids to reflection’ (as identified by Samuel Taylor Coleridge), such as emotion and feeling, religion and morality.

It is ironic that Himelfarb, a Jew, and Fevre, an atheist, both identify the cause in the collapse of public adherence to Christianity, as an ethical underpinning for our society.

[]In contrast the ideologicians of the International Communist Current (ICC) use the idea of demoralization within the schema of their overall historical interpretation.

The ICC (one of my favourite Marxist mini-groupuscules) see individual psychopathy as the logical outworking of laissez faire economics, a return to primitive accumulation.

For them, demoralization foms a late stage in the long-term decadence of capitalism, a period of ‘decomposition’, within which crime, corruption, gangsterism and family breakdown are symptoms.

Although identifying the same social phenomenon, Right and Left therefore offer two alternative solutions. Conservatives desire a return to traditional values; such that that their discourse forms a section in wider discussions about ‘detraditionalisation’, as examined by, for example, by Paul Heelas.

The ICC, however, seeing the moral crisis as part of a wider general crisis of Capitalism, advocate a dialectical strategy.

[]We have to plough the morass, embrace the disintegration, until we reach an equitable socialism on the other side.

We have to ask whether either approach is realistic. Indeed, is such a two-faced, Janus-like, concept more a description than a diagnosis?

_(Photos: Pixabay)_

question: Why is the solution proffered by both Left and Right to modern demoralization so different?

answer:
The concept of demoralization can mean the loss of values and morals; this is when people ditch their normal values and standards, increasingly behaving in a selfish manner without thinking about moral implications. This concept has been happening often in the West and most critics from the Right and Left agree that one of the reasons for this is due to the collapse of Christianity in the social space.

The Right and Left-wingers, however, have different solutions to this problem. While the Left wants a dismantling of Capitalism to fix this problem, the Right wants a return to Judeo-Christian values. The reason for this might be due to what each ideology values as a whole (the Left valuing socialism and the Right being enamored with religion).


text:
	A gust kicked dust across his boots. The road seemed to be dissolving in the wind, as it picked up and whirled the dirt about. As it ascended, his trench coat fluttered against him. In the corner of his eyes, he could see his compadre on either side; steadfast in resolve, they stood like stone against the rising dust tide. For miles ahead and miles behind, for miles to the left and to the right; nothing but dirt, rocks and flat. The land between the roads was a wasteland of dead plants and loose soil, turned infertile by the folly of man. The sun was once beating down, but the storm that once loomed in the distance was now upon them.
	A tower of cloud, sucking the air from around them. He knew what was upon him, It has come. The sky darkened as the storm began to pick up. The winds stopped coming from behind and were coming from anywhere and everywhere. Swirls and eddies of dirt and dead grass flung about. Yet here they stood. Lighting struck through the clouds, but they still stood fast.
	He could feel his resolve as one with his allies; what they faced soon would test this resolve. The storm raged in large gusts, but there was naught for it to throw around except dust and pebbles. No rain came, only howling winds and terrible lightning. They felt locked into place, iron willed to not give an inch. Then It came. A tornado forming up the road in front of them, but as it touched down a great flame came from the ground, and the twister sucked the flame high into the sky, and lightning cracked and exploded  from the cloud to the flaming vortex.
	As it neared them, their resolve was never stronger. It is coming, but It will not hurt us. Whatever form It takes, no harm shall befall us if we stay our ground. He knew it, and so did the only two human beings he had for miles. The pillar of flame made its way closer, only a few hundred yards away, when it widened with great speed, like a slow moving explosion, only to stop growning just as suddenly, and it stopped its advance. The pillar ripped open in the middle to expose some terrible darkness, when out It stepped. And It’s form was not pleasant. A gargantuan demon from the earth to the cloud; he had a dark and smokey skin and was not easy to get a focus on, except his head. Large curved horns, and the face of a nose-less, eyebrow-less man except with fire coming out of cuts and scars. Their resolve was unshaken. It won’t hurt us, It is testing us. As he approached one large step at a time, It got smaller. A lot smaller. Until It was barely smoking and easy to see, and only a foot or two taller than a man. It was a man, at least so it seemed. His face had grown out of that mask of fire and scars, and He was a handsome man at that. Nothing hideous, but you could read the malice in His eyes. And so He approached ever so casually, while their hearts raced. The Prince of Darkness, Lucifer.
	“And so I am.” Said He with a voice eased and mid pitched. Terrifying, it would seem, was not his approach now. “And you are the band...”
	“Aye,” he answered, feeling confident in speaking. “He who is the bringer of arts and music, we beseech for Your Blessing, so that we may unlock the greatest potential of man through power greater than he.”
	“And so it shall be, but what do you offer that I, who is ever so generous in granting thee Power beyond man?”
	“We offer NOT our souls.”
	“What? That is the only wa-”
	“EAT LEAD MOTHERFUCKER!!!!!!” They pulled tommy guns out of their trenchcoats and unloaded on the motherfucker. Satan was dead before he could shit his pants, and they absorbed all of his powers. Now, The Man In The Badass Trenchcoat was Prince of Darkness, and could shred harder than any man alive. The band went on to be really big for a few years, then they all died of various drug and alcohol overdoses.
The end.

title: The Crossroads

question: Summarize the rock band's plan.

answer: Their plan consists of summoning the Prince of Darkness, Lucifer. They claim to want to make a deal with him in exchange for unlocking the greatest potential of man. But rather than offer their souls, they shoot Satan dead with tommy guns and absorb his powers.

question: Summarize the supernatural elements of the story.

answer: A tornado touches down and a great flame rises from the ground. A cloud explodes into a flaming vortex. The pillar of flame rips open, and a gargantuan demon steps out. The demon is the Prince of Darkness, Lucifer. He offers to grant them the greatest potential of man in exchange for their souls. When they kill him with tommy guns, they absorb his power.

question: What does the story say about the characters of the band members?

answer: The band members have strong resolve as they prepare to face down Lucifer. They believe no harm will befall them if they stay their ground. Rather than deal with the devil, they trick him into a trap and murder him. Despite their subsequent success, they all die from drug and alcohol overdoses.

question: What does the story say about the recording industry?


text:
How do I withdraw from alcohol safely?

If you have a drinking problem, people around you will probably be saying things like "you should stop drinking". Of course in practice, it is not so easy at all to just "stop drinking" - the main reason why is withdrawal.

Alcohol is classified as a depressant. It slows down the rate at which your brain functions. If you drink too much, too often, your brain and liver get used to having alcohol in the blood. This is called "tolerance". You have to drink more and more over the months and years to get the same effect. But the problems really start when you try to come off the alcohol. That's when you can get withdrawal, and the first symptoms can come on within just a few hours of your last drink.

Here is a list of commonly reported alcohol withdrawal symptoms. Do any of these sound familiar?

SHAKES
SWEATING
HANGOVERS
HEADACHES
NAUSEA AND VOMITING
STOMACH PAINS AND CRAMPS
SEX PROBLEMS
POOR APPETITE
POOR SLEEP
ANXIETY
FEELING "DOWN"
SUDDEN MOOD CHANGES

In a few people the withdrawal symptoms can be very serious indeed. The most frequently occurring of these are:

HALLUCINATIONS *
PARANOID IDEAS *
DISORIENTATION *
PSYCHOSIS *
SEVERE MEMORY PROBLEMS
CLINICAL DEPRESSION
EPILEPTIC FITS

* Possible sign of "DT's" or Delirium Tremens

In fact, the withdrawal symptoms associated with alcohol are often more severe than with drugs such as "Heroin" and they can persist for up to ten days. So, if you carry on drinking it is dangerous, but if you stop that can be dangerous too. What should you do?

The answer is to withdraw from alcohol in a safe way. TO DO THIS YOU REALLY NEED "ONE TO ONE" EXPERT ADVICE AND A FULL MEDICAL EXAMINATION. But here are some guidelines to let you know what options are available in principle.

There are three main ways of withdrawing from alcohol. These are to stop drinking all at once, ("cold turkey"), to stop drinking gradually by reducing your consumption over a number of days, or to change over onto medication which replaces the alcohol for a few days ("Detoxification"). Each of these has its own advantages and disadvantages.

Stopping At Once

If you stop drinking all at once you are greatly at risk from withdrawal symptoms. It is not a good idea to do this. However, millions of people go through this sort of withdrawal every year. For example, if they are arrested and end up in a prison where the staff are unaware of the symptoms of alcohol withdrawal, if they find themselves on an international flight which does not allow drinking, or even if they wake up without alcohol and money in the house.

Unless you are very well motivated and have the support of people around you it is all too easy to start drinking again before the symptoms subside. But if you do get through it you have a golden opportunity to get your life back on the rails.

If you choose to use this method of withdrawal you must let the people around you know what you are doing!

Alcohol Based Withdrawal

If you reduce your drinking gradually over a few days, it is usually possible to avoid the worst withdrawal symptoms. This is because your body has the chance to adapt gradually to the reducing level of alcohol in your blood.

It is best to begin by cutting your alcohol consumption in half; if for example you drink a full bottle of spirits each day, you should limit yourself to half a bottle for a start. Keep it at this level for four days. Then halve it again for four days, and then stop altogether. By doing this you can be off the drink within eight days. Many people withdraw from alcohol in this way. This method is widely used in Britain under professional community supervision.

Some people who drink spirits choose to change over to wine or beer first and then reduce.

The main thing is to gradually reduce your alcohol intake over a number of days. To do this you must be aware of the concentration of alcohol in your drinks - read the labels to judge the percentage alcohol content.

As you can imagine it is not easy to use this method. You need to be a very strong and well motivated person to set your own limits and keep to them. Get support from people around you.

Medication Based Withdrawal

This method is called "Detoxification" by health care professionals and "Drying out" in common language. You have to have professional supervision with this method because you need to use drugs that are only available on prescription. With this method the person stops drinking alcohol and goes over instead onto prescribed medication which has a similar effect on the nervous system as alcohol. The prescribed dose is then reduced over a number of days and then stopped altogether. At this point you are off both the alcohol and the medication.

Very heavy drinkers will need to start on a high dose which will be reduced over a maximum of 10 days. People who have been drinking less heavily can start on a lower dose and take the medicines for a shorter period of time.

There are several drugs which can be prescribed for detoxification and they are all reasonably safe if you take them as prescribed, though they all tend to make you feel drowsy as a side effect. They are not very expensive. Which sort of medication may be appropriate for you can only be decided in consultation with a health care professional according to your own personal needs. Family doctors in many parts of the world are able to describe drugs for detoxification. However, it is more usual for this method of withdrawal to be available only following admission to a hospital or clinic.

If you are allowed to stay at home during your detoxification you must have sufficient professional support. In Britain it is usual for a community nurse or social worker to keep in touch with you during your withdrawal if you are able to stay at home. They should give you emergency phone numbers in case you have problems outside of office hours. Home based detoxification is much less common in other parts of the world.

If you choose this method to come off alcohol you must never try and take the medication together with alcohol. You have to make a clear choice to change over onto the medicines as prescribed. If you do mix these medications with alcohol you can suffer very severe and unpleasant side effects. There is also a risk that you may become addicted to both alcohol and prescribed medication, with all the additional problems that involves.

For more information on prescribed medications, go to the Prescribed Medications section of this website.

Additional points:

IF YOU KNOW FROM YOUR OWN EXPERIENCE THAT YOU TEND TO SUFFER FROM SEVERE WITHDRAWAL SYMPTOMS, YOU SHOULD ONLY WITHDRAW FROM ALCOHOL IN A SUPERVISED SETTING SUCH AS A HOSPITAL OR CLINIC.

Whichever method of withdrawal you use, the first three days are usually the worst.

Don't be on your own if you can possibly avoid it, particularly for the first few days. Keep in regular touch with your health care professionals.

Make sure that you do not drive a vehicle or operate any machinery while you are withdrawing. If you get sudden complications you could cause a serious accident. Be careful if you are working in the kitchen too; even simple things like boiling a kettle of water can be dangerous if you have "the shakes" or feel faint.

When you go to the bathroom, do not lock the door behind you. If you were to be taken ill, valuable time would be lost in breaking down the door! If you are embarrassed that someone might walk in, pin a note to the door.

If you feel nauseous try to eat a light diet. Many people find toast is the only thing they can face for the first couple of days. If you feel really sick, try to carry on drinking water until your stomach settles down - this will avoid dehydration. After the first three days you should be able to eat a more normal diet. Get on to a good balanced diet as soon as you can.

Consider taking vitamin supplements, particularly ones that contain vitamin B 12 and Folic Acid. This will help you replenish the vitamins you may have missed in the past.

Get plenty of rest, but try to sleep only for short periods during the day. That way you are more likely to sleep better at night. If you sleep badly or can't get to sleep at all, don't worry, it normally passes after the first few days.

Keep blankets handy in case you get "the shivers".

It is not normal during withdrawal to have a fever (raised temperature). If this happens you may have an infection. Get medical advice.

If you wake up in a dark room you are much more likely to "see things", so keep a light on in your bedroom if you can.

Whichever form of withdrawal you choose, it is a good idea to reduce the amount of caffeine that you use. Caffeine will only make you feel more irritable and may well interfere with your sleep. The things to avoid or go easy on are coffee, cola drinks and chocolate. Try decaffeinated coffee or tea. Tea contains far less caffeine than coffee and most people can drink it without problems.

REMEMBER, ONCE YOU HAVE STOPPED DRINKING YOU HAVE ONLY GOT OVER THE FIRST HURDLE. You then still have to decide whether you are ever going to try and drink again, or whether you should aim to abstain. Make sure that you have enough support from your family, friends, work colleagues and health care professionals so that you make the right decision. If you are really serious that you want to abstain, think about contacting your local AA group.

It is not "normal" to have withdrawal symptoms. People who drink moderately can always stop drinking without any problems at all. If you experience withdrawal symptoms it is a sign that you have a drinking problem and that your body is physically dependent on alcohol.

If you have hallucinations it is best to keep the lights on full in the room you are in until help arrives; bright light stimulates your brain. Keep talking to the people with you, it will help you to stay in contact with reality. Many people find that leaving the radio on also helps. Remember, hallucinations or DT's do not mean that you are "going mad", only that your brain is suffering from severe withdrawal symptoms. You can make a full recovery with the correct treatment. It is extremely rare to continue having hallucinations once the withdrawal period is over.

Epileptic fits can occur in people withdrawing from alcohol - and during the first three weeks following withdrawal. Epileptic fits are relatively unusual, but if you have one fit, you are at risk of having another during your present and subsequent withdrawals If you are at risk you must not drive or operate machinery until your specialist tells you that it is safe to do so.

If you experience hallucinations, fits or other serious symptoms during or after your withdrawal - you must seek local expert advice at once.

[]

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question: How does alcohol affect the body and brain?

answer: Alcohol slows down the rate of brain functions so it is classified as a depressant.

question: What are the symptoms of alcohol withdrawal?

answer: Some of the symptoms are shakes, headaches, mood changes, sweating; some more serious are psychosis, memory problems, and epileptic fits.

question: What is a safe way to stop drinking alcohol?

answer: To ask an expert for advice about how to withdraw from alcohol in a safe way.

question: Does everyone who quit drinking alcohol has withdrawal symptoms?

answer: People who drink moderately usually do not have withdrawal symptoms.

question: Write a ~4 sentence summary.

answer: Some of the symptoms of alcohol withdrawal might be: shakes, headaches, mood changes, sweating... and some of them are very serious, like hallucinations, psychosis, memory problems, epileptic fits. The withdrawal symptoms associated with alcohol are often more severe than with heroin. That is why you need expert advice about how to withdraw from alcohol in a safe way. There are three ways of withdrawing from alcohol: stopping at once, reducing drinking gradually, and detoxication (medical-based withdrawal).


text:
[]

In these times of COVID-19, climate chaos and elections, independent news is more important than ever. You turn to Democracy Now! because you trust that when we're reporting on the pandemic or the uprisings against police brutality—or the climate crisis—our coverage is not brought to you by the fossil fuel, insurance or weapons industries or Big Pharma. We count on YOU to make our work possible. If everyone who visits our website gave just $8, we could cover our operating costs for 2021. Really—that’s all it would take. AND TODAY, A GENEROUS SUPPORTER WILL DOUBLE YOUR DONATION TO DEMOCRACY NOW!, MEANING YOUR GIFT WILL GO TWICE AS FAR. This is a challenging time for us all, but if you're able to make a donation, please do so today. Stay safe, wear a mask and thank you so much.
_-Amy Goodman_

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HeadlineMay 12, 2017

A new report by the International Institute for Strategic Studies says that Mexico endured the second most conflict deaths of any country last year, with a staggering 23,000 people killed amid the country’s so-called war on drugs. Mexico was second only to Syria, where 50,000 people were killed in 2016 by the ongoing war. The third, fourth and fifth most dangerous countries were Iraq, Afghanistan and Yemen.

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question: What is the political stance of 'Democracy Now!' and why is this relevant to the fundraising attempt in this text?

answer: 'Democracy Now!' is a left-wing news site, and emphasises the need for independent news in its fundraising in 2020 likely because of an increase in 'fake news' and the perception that mainstream media caters to the political elite.


text:
Picture rain making the dirt into mud under the grass. Feel the cold puddles seep into your shoes and squish with your socks. Hear the thunder. The cool drops of rain hit your skin. It’s making your skin raise up with goosebumps. Watch the lightning light up the dark world like a strobe light at a rave. You know it’s bright, and it might even blind you for a quick moment. Suddenly, everything seems suspended in the air. The world feels like it’s stopped, like a giant pause button has been pressed so everything’s still. The rain hangs there. Thunder is silent. Even the lightning isn’t as bright. Everything has become dull, and there you are in the middle of it.

This is where it starts. This is where everything begins: at the pausing of time. Life as you know it has changed, and there’s nothing you can do about it. You’re stuck in between the void of this world and the next. It’s all gone downhill, and you’re caught like a rat by a cat. What can you do? Absolutely nothing. In fact, do you even know what just happened?

You’ve died.

Yes. That’s right. You’ve died. You are dead, and there’s nothing to do but stand there, looking at this page. This page of words is telling you that you are no longer living, and you don’t believe it. It’s obvious that you don’t. Nobody would. Nobody ever does until they finish reading this.

What happened, you ask. How did I die, you ask. Actually, there are a lot of things you ask and a lot of things that you scream and a lot of things you just yell. There’s no need for that. What you need to do is remain calm. It will all be okay. After all, you are dead. It won’t get any worse.

Roaming this world isn’t so bad. You just have to find the end. That’s all. Find the end and you’re out, home free. Getting there won’t be easy, but you have to if you want to get out of this frozen world. This isn’t a purgatory. This isn’t a punishment. This is your challenge. You have to escape this place. You won’t find anyone else in this vast, frozen world. You’ll only find yourself. Alone.

Go ahead. Find your exit.

title: Frozen

question: What voice is this passage written in?

answer: The second person, with "you" being the one experiencing the events.

question: Since you are dead, what's the only thing you can do?

answer: Stand there and stare.

question: What do you have to do in order to get free?

answer: Find the end.

question: What is meant by the end?

answer: It is when you are left with just yourself.


text:
The UNIVERSITY OF NORTHERN BRITISH COLUMBIA (UNBC) is a small, research-intensive public university in British Columbia, Canada. The main campus is located in Prince George, British Columbia. UNBC also has regional campuses in northern British Columbia in Prince Rupert, Terrace, Quesnel, and Fort St. John. The enabling legislation is the _University of Northern British Columbia Act 1996_.[1] In the 2019-20 academic year, 3,570 students were enrolled at UNBC.

In 2015 and, 2016 UNBC was ranked as the number one university of its size in Canada in the Primarily Undergraduate category by Maclean's Magazine.[2] As of 2019, UNBC was ranked in the top three in its category for 12 straight years.

In 2007, the university obtained the trademark for “Canada's Green University”.[3] Because of its northern latitude, UNBC is a member of the University of the Arctic.

History

The British Columbia legislature passed Bill 40 (the UNBC Act), which formally established the university, on June 22, 1990.[4] The university was established in response to a grass-roots movement spearheaded by the Interior University Society. UNBC offered a limited number of courses in rented office space in 1992 and 1993 but was opened officially by Queen Elizabeth II,[5] with 1,500 students in 1994 upon the completion of the main Prince George campus after two years of construction.[6]

The university gained attention with the introduction of the Northern Medical Program (NMP), a collaboration between UBC and UNBC.[7] Through this collaboration, several academic physicians have been attracted to the city, which has led to an emerging academic medical community. For example, the introduction of the BC Cancer Agency Centre for the North has attracted academic oncologists, such as Dr. Robert Olson.[8][9][10][11][12][13]

Organization and administration

The governance was modeled on the provincial _University of Toronto Act 1906_, which established a bicameral system of university government comprising a Senate (composed of members of the faculty), responsible for academic policy, and a Board of Governors (composed of members of the community), which exercises exclusive control over financial policy and having formal authority in all other matters. The President, appointed by the board, was to provide a link between the two bodies and to perform institutional leadership.[14]

Campus

The Prince George campus is located on Cranbrook Hill, overlooking the city of Prince George from the west, and is widely renowned for its innovative architecture. The award-winning Wood Innovation and Design Centre, designed by Michael Green Architecture, was the world’s tallest modern all-timber structure upon completion and serves as a facility for the research and education on the uses of wood.[15]

The separate buildings are linked by an agora that is partially below ground level. It is the efficient heating system connected to all the core campus buildings that permits UNBC to pursue its goal of heating the university by the gasification of clean-burning, renewable wood pellets collected from the waste of pine trees killed by the mountain pine beetle epidemic.

The buildings at UNBC are designed to represent the northern landscape. The Canfor Winter Garden area has a flowing blue staircase below a ceiling of wooden lattices, representing the west coast rain forests. The cafeteria has a lighthouse design that represents the rugged coastline of northern British Columbia. Another structural feature, a pair of triangular glass peaks, represents mountains and functions as skylights above the UNBC Bookstore.

On October 13, 2010, UNBC was co-awarded the Campus Sustainability Leadership Award by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) for its bio-energy project, which targets a reduction in fossil fuel use by supplying 85% of the heating needs at UNBC.[16]

University Hospital of Northern British Columbia

The University Hospital of Northern British Columbia is a Level III trauma centre in Northern BC.

Culture

Motto

The UNBC motto,'' 'En cha huná,'' directly translates as “He/she also lives” in the Nak'azdli (Fort St. James) dialect of the Indigenous language Dakelh (Carrier). It is interpreted in English as “respecting all forms of life.”[17]

Student life

The Northern Undergraduate Student Society, known colloquially as NUGSS, represents the undergraduate student body at the University of Northern British Columbia. A non-profit organization, NUGSS serves and represents all undergraduate students at all UNBC campuses. The Society governs student-led organizations on campus, provides the health and dental plan, advocates for student needs in local transit, and hosts various events. Annual NUGSS events include Backyard BBQ, Jump Back to NYE, and Final Affair.

The Northern British Columbia Graduate Student Society (NBCGSS), represents about 750 full-time and part-time graduate students. It was founded in the year of 1997, less than a decade after UNBC was founded. Every year NBCGSS holds events like winter/semi formals, a ski trip and a summer trip. NBCGSS is a member of the British Columbia Federation of Students (BCFS).[18]

The UNBC First Nations Centre provides support services for indigenous students, including bringing in elders, counselling, and events such as talking circles and sweat lodges. The Northern Pride Centre Society or (also known as the “PC”) offers a safe space, support, and resources to the LGBT and ally community, including a new Positive Space Campaign designed by UNBC students.

Student media

-   Over the Edge_,_ a bi-weekly student newspaper. Established in 1994.
-   CFURadio 88.7 FM, the independent campus community radio station.

Athletics

The Timberwolves compete in the Canada West Universities Athletic Association. UNBC fields men's and women's teams in soccer and basketball.

Notable alumni

-   James Moore (Member of Parliament and Conservative Cabinet Member)

Additional images

Image:UNBC icicles.JPG|UNBC's Student Services Street Image:Artificial wave (1748861277).jpg|UNBC Health Sciences Building Image:Neyoh.jpg|Neyoh UNBC residence Image:UNBC Research Laboratory.JPG|UNBC's Research Laboratory Building Image:UNBC Library.jpg|UNBC's Geoffrey R. Weller Library

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

[11]

[12]

[13]

[14]

[15]

[16] UNBC Wins AASHE Award. Opinion250.com (2010-10-12). Retrieved on 2013-08-12.

[17]

[18]

title: University of Northern British Columbia

question: How old is the University of Northern British Columbia?

answer: The University of Northern British Columbia was formally established on June 22, 1990 and is still up and running, so it is approximately 31 years old.

question: How is the university government set up?

answer: The university government follows the model of University of Toronto Act, where a bicameral system is set.

question: UNBC received an award from who and for what?

answer: UNBC received an award from the Campus Sustainability Leadership Award by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education for its bio-energy project.

question: What is the English interpretation of the UNBC motto?

answer: The English interpretation of the UNBC motto is "respecting all forms of life."


text:
It's been a blue day, leave some feedback

our story begins with a crescendo of its own but don't worry there is still one more waiting. so there i am, still as a photograph. frozen in time, i sit strapped down to this thousand ton machine they say will take me to the moon and beyond. the count down begins from ten to one as my heart beats to the rhythm. then blast off, a rush of speed and force the likes of which i have never experienced in all my years. i shoot through the sky like a bat out of hell, past clouds and all the air they float through. soon out of the clutches of this world i head off to the embrace of another. lets take a second to describe the utter bliss that is weightlessness. the feeling of your actions in their most pure form is beauty in motion, like a symphony of the body reaching out to your fingertips. as i float about this metal monster in space navigating the bright switches and numerous panels before me i set course for the great beyond. my destination, the far out lands of my favorite marble in the solar system,  mars. my course plotted and my head left to wander i climb into my vertical bed to rest. ive kept a picture of you folded crisply across my heart in hopes that the drum within me will reach you no matter the distance between us. its been a long time in this capsule destine for the extravagant but the thought of you has yet to escape me. passing terrestrial bodies strew about the cosmos i count the days to my arrival on the fat red planet. in these floating spheres i spot an oddly shaped ball spinning wildly. too late do i realize that this wild dancing asteroid is here to claim me a victim. i begin pulling my body about the labyrinthine of my soon to be metal coffin in space, desperately climbing toward the control center. and just as it had been seen the wild dancer came tearing into my ship. ripped apart in a fantastic show of splintering metal and flailing tubing, the metal beast i called home becomes nothing more than sand strew across the beach of space. i float lifeless about the shards, my hand frozen over my heart just above the now-worn picture of you to keep my body company. so dies the internal drum connecting my soul to yours, here i bid you farewell.

title: Spatial Reflection

question: Where is the narrator going?

answer: To the planet Mars, which has presumably been colonized by humans.

question: What happens on the narrator's journey?

answer: An asteroid strikes the space craft, killing the narrator.

question: What is the narrator's final destination?

answer: The atmosphere strewn with other human bodies that were destroyed on their journeys.

question: What is the mode of transportation used?

answer: An individual space craft/rocket of some kind.

question: Write a ~2 sentence summary.

answer: The narrator is traveling to Mars in an individual space craft, holding close a photograph of a person they feel tied to. After they leave the atmosphere, they pass through an atmosphere strewn with corpses, and an asteroid hits, destroying the craft and leaving the narrator to the same fate as the other bodies.


text:
Front Street is thrilled to announce Earth Fare, World Market and Youfit are all coming to University Towne Center! Additional space is available for lease at UTC as well!

Front Street is thrilled to announce three of University Towne Center's newest tenants! World Market, Earth Fare and Youfit will all soon be joining Carrabba's, Peach Valley Cafe, Tropical Smoothie, Midnight Cookies and Wharf Express. Additional space is also available for lease. For more information on UTC or for availability, click here...

[]

View Listing

Archer Road & SW 34th Street
Gainesville, FL 32608

[]

question: What does UTC stand for?

answer: University Towne Center.

question: How many new tenants are announced?

answer: Three.

question: How many tenants were there before this announcement?

answer: Five.

question: Is there more space available for lease.

answer: Yes.

question: Write a ~1 sentence summary.

answer: The text announces that three new tenants (World Market, Earth Fare, and Youfit) are joining University Towne Center, and that there is still more space available for lease.


text:
_ANACITHARA BICONICA_ is a species of sea snails, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Horaiclavidae.[1]

Description

Distribution

This marine species occurs in the Atlantic Ocean off Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil.

[1] Bouchet, P. (2015). Anacithara biconica Barros, Santana & Lima, 2015. In: MolluscaBase (2015). Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=852900 on 2016-12-20

title: Anacithara biconica

question: What are Anacithara Biconica?

answer: They are a species of sea snails.

question: What family do these species of sea snails belong to?

answer: The belong to the family of Horaiclavidae.

question: Where do these snails occur?

answer: These snails occur in the Atlantic Ocean off Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil.

question: How are these species of sea snails described?

answer: They are described as a marine gastropod mollusc.

question: Write a ~1 sentence summary.

answer: A species of snails, Anacithara Biconica, is described in this article.


text:
NICOLETTE (full name NICOLETTE LOVE SUWOTON, born 1964) is a Scottish singer-songwriter of Nigerian parentage, residing in London for most of her life, and has also lived in Nigeria, Switzerland, France, and Belgium. Her music, although falling broadly into the field of electronica, is characterised by many influences, including, jazz, classical, blues, folk and African. She has been described as “Billie Holiday on acid”.

Career

She has released three solo albums, as well as a DJ mix album for the DJ-Kicks series, and featured on “Three” and “Sly”, two songs on Massive Attack's 1994 _Protection_ album. She has worked with many other collaborators in the electronic music field, including Plaid, Alec Empire, and 4hero. She signed to the Talkin' Loud label in 1996.[1] In 1999 she set up her own record label, Early Records, upon leaving Talkin’ Loud to release quirky pop anthems. According to Nicolette, Early Records' music policy is: “innovative pop music.”[2] Nicolette's 2005 album, _Life Loves Us_, was released through the label. One single and a 6-track EP were released from the album in the following year.

In 2007, Nicolette's “No Government” was re-released and remixed by DJ Tocadisco and Makossa & Megablast. In 2008, Nicolette contributed vocals to John Tejada's album _Where_, she sings and co-wrote the track “Desire”. She released a single called “Love” with DJ Cam in March 2010.

Discography

Albums

-   _Now Is Early_ (1992)
-   _Let No-One Live Rent Free in Your Head_ (1996)
-   _DJ-Kicks_ (1997)
-   '' Life Loves Us'' (2005)
-   '' Modern Stories EP'' (2012)
-   _The Infinitive_ (no release date since 2017)

Non album tracks

-   “I'm Raving” (with L.A. Style) 1993
-   “Sly” (with Massive Attack) 1994
-   “Three” (with Massive Attack) 1994
-   “Extork” (with Plaid) 1997
-   “Contradictions” (with Bang Gang) 2003
-   “So Loud” (with Phui) 2007
-   “Communication” (with Filewile) 2007
-   “Desire” (with John Tejada) 2008
-   “Love” (with DJ Cam) 2010
-   “Birthday” (with TJ Kong and Nuno dos Santos) 2010
-   “Something Happened” (with TJ Kong and Nuno dos Santos) 2010
-   “I Am the Black Gold of the Sun” (with Samuel Yirga) 2012
-   “African Diaspora” (with Samuel Yirga) 2012

[1]

[2]

title: Nicolette (musician)

question: How old is Nicolette in 2021?

answer: 57 years old

question: Why is Nicolette being described as Billie Holiday on acid?

answer: It's because of her wide range of musical influences, including jazz, blues, classical, folk, and African music - despite the fact that her music is categorized as electronica.

question: Why did Nicolette leave the Talkin' Loud label?

answer: She wanted to release quirky pop anthems.


text:
UNDERTALE AND ANY OTHER INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY THIS MAY CONTAIN DO NOT BELONG TO ME.

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

The cathedral was strangely silent, light streaming through the stained glass windows. A small, scared child walked through it, and a skeleton their height awaited them.

"heya," It said. "you've been busy, huh?"

"so, i've got a question for ya. do you think even the worse person can change…? that everybody can be a good person, if they just try?" the skeleton chuckled at something before continuing.

"well, here's a better question. do you wanna have a bad time? 'cause if you take another step forward…. you are _really_ not going to like what happens next."

The child took a step forwards.

"welp. sorry, old lady. this is why i never make promises."

FIGHT lines appeared, and Sans tried to continue, but Frisk interrupted them.

"Why?"

"why what?"

"Why do you keep attacking me?"

Sans was taken back by their words, by their tone. That wasn't a genocidal murderer speaking, it was a lost, terrified child.

"I just wanna go home, but you keep trying to… to kill me! Almost everyone I meet is trying to kill me, and I just wanna go home!"

Suddenly, Sans' wrath halted. The human who had killed his brother, who had killed Papyrus and Undyne and so many monsters, had been acting in self-defense. They had been afraid to die, and almost every monster they came across tried to kill them, to steal their SOUL. They weren't a monster, just a scared, lost child.

They weren't the monster, here.

Sans could only slump in defeat, knowing that, for all they had done to him and his people, Frisk had acted in self-defense. They were right; almost every monster they met tried to kill them, even him and Papyrus.

"Please… please don't make me kill you, too. I don't wanna, but if I don't, you'll just keep coming back!"

"you killed papyrus."

"He killed me _five_ _times!_ That electrical trap, the puzzles, his special attacks, they all killed me! And every time I die, I just come back, and I have to do it all over again!"

There was nothing more to say. Sans could only meekly hang his head and run, taking one of his shortcuts, trying to escape the guilt.

Frisk wasn't a monster.

But they were.

question: Where does this take place?

answer: In a cathedral

question: What is the child's deilemma?

answer: They are scared and trying to go home.

question: Who killed Sans' brother?

answer: The child.

question: What is the child's name?

answer: Frisk.

question: Write a ~4 sentence summary.

answer: Frisk enters a cathedral and is greeted by a skeleton, Sans. Sans is ready to kill Frisk, but realizes that Frisk is only a child. Sans realizes that Frisk only killed his loved ones out of self defense. Sans feels guilty and runs away.


text:
There was an complete stillness to the air. There was no wind; it was calm, tranquil and cool. I laughed, one short quick exhalation and the vapor cloud  hung in front of my face for a while before dissipating to a realm beyond sight and mind.

I looked down at you. It had been about four years now, but you were exactly where I left you. The blades of grass had started to brown, marking the end of summer and soon the onslaught of winter would be upon us, bringing with it the cold devastation.

It was had been four years now, and judging by the condition of this place, you had already been forgotten.

I thought back to it all. The violence. The beauty. Your panicked breath washing over the skin on my neck, just below my ear. Normally I take no pleasure—well, that is a slight lie, but I deny myself from giving in completely to the fury of it all. The dance, while still skillfully executed, typically contains no emotion. I could make rivers and lakes with what I have done, so what is just one more bucket?

Sure the first time engulfed me. It fueled my desires. Eviscerated with every last second of the moment. It happened all so fast, but time distorts in my mind. It is slowed to the point of seeing a hummingbird's wings flap with a slow and steady pulse. I heard the echos of a heart beat, loud and thunderous, irregular and desperate...

And with you it wasn't any different—though thousands of times this ritual plotted, schemed, and preformed, I heard the echo of your heartbeat. Time was not in control, I was. You had surrendered completely, accepting your role entirely. You had your part to play, though you tried to rob me of it. Foolish, but still what more could have been expected of you? So fiery, so stubborn, and so sad. But oh so beautiful. Your cries still ring in my ears. I can still taste your sweat on my tongue, and the acrid scent in my nostrils. I don't have to imagine it, no. No no no; not you, my dear. And that is what makes you special. That is what mark you have left. That, and the scar from the bite mark on my shoulder.

I watched as your eyes glassed. I stayed to watch you paint the floor. Each and every last brush stroke, divine—sacrosanct. Plotted so precise by the hand of fate. And when it licked my boot, I watched it change—as beautiful as the leaves in autumn.

Ah yes. Autumn.

It had been four years now. And you were exactly where I left you.

The cold air made every sound within a mile crystal clear—clear as the sky on this day. The sun was starting so set now, and the once cool and tranquil calm—the eery stillness was replaced by a gentle breeze. The rustle of dead leaves interrupted the pin-drop-silence I so enjoyed. But as the leaves blew between the gravestones, they were caught and coalesced among the trinkets of those left behind...

There were no flowers.
There were no candles.
There were no wreaths or bells.

You were exactly where I left you. And it had only been four years, but the world has already forgotten you.

You had no mourners.
You had no survivors.
You have only me.

Me...

And it is only a matter of time before I move on. Till my life is once again chained to the ritual, the dance. Your screams will be replaced from my dreams. The blood on my hands will belong to someone else. And then what will become of you? How long till your name fades from the garnet? Your life was a short and pointless echo, muted at my hand. Erased, as if you never existed.

There were no flowers at your grave.
There were no candles.
There were no wreaths or bells.
There were no letters from loved ones.
There were no tears that frosted the browning grass.
You had no mourners.
You had no survivors.
You had only me.

I reached into the pocket of my long coat.
This was my paint brush. This was my pen. This was the baton I used to conduct your requiem.

I set the silver plated, serrated and barbed dagger at the foot of your headstone. A single red velvet ribbon tied into a perfect bow embraced the blade to the hilt.

I blew a kiss and walked away.

title: Prey

question: What mood is the author trying to evoke?

answer: Ominous, unsettling.