text:
[]

The security forces are just strong enough to contain the Taliban

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

THE roar of artillery goes on and on: every few minutes cannons fire illumination rounds into the air, lighting up the night sky beyond the checkpoints of the fledgling Afghan army. Only a few kilometres from the main highway, it is still Taliban territory.

Ghazni is a crucial province, south-west of Kabul, that carries the highway from the capital to Kandahar, Afghanistan’s second city. Ghazni is mired in the insurgency. Here, as almost everywhere in Afghanistan, NATO forces have largely stopped fighting the Taliban, having handed over security to the Afghan army and police. How the Afghan forces perform without America and its allies will largely determine the future of the country once international combat forces withdraw in 2014.

Much still seems grim in Ghazni, years after NATO sensed that the war was being lost and sent extra troops to Afghanistan. A “secure zone” extends at most a few kilometres from the Kabul-Kandahar highway. The insurgents seem often to act with impunity, hitting convoys on the highway two or three times a day and even maintaining checkpoints on it in broad daylight. They have unimpeded access to sanctuaries and supplies in Pakistan. NATO bases come under frequent, if mostly ineffective, fire. In many areas the Taliban rule openly. The government’s writ is patchy outside the provincial capital.

Since NATO ceased combat operations early this year, violence in Ghazni has fallen. “Many people see us as occupiers, and now it’s harder for the Taliban to say they’re fighting infidels,” says Colonel Stephen Michael, the American commander. On the other hand, casualties among Afghan security forces are up by half compared with a year earlier, reflecting their increased role. They still receive some coalition help, including artillery support, but most of the assistance comes in the form of advice.

The Americans insist that the Afghans are ready, pointing out the lead locals have taken for half a year. It has helped that Afghans have received much-needed heavy weaponry and better vehicles. But they struggle to supply fuel and ammunition, maintain equipment, provide air support, evacuate the injured, and detect and deal with improvised explosive devices. Co-ordination among various arms and services is in its infancy. Afghan security forces are also hobbled by ethnic tensions. The local police will not employ Hazaras, although they make up nearly half the province’s population. Elite police units have no Pushtuns, the majority group (and the ethnic base of the Taliban).

It would be a mistake to write off the Afghan security forces. They are keen to fight, and if they have little time for training, it is because they are always out on operations. In the past few months, they have actually widened Ghazni’s secure zone. They are undermanned, however. As a result they rely increasingly on local police units to man checkpoints and gather intelligence. Some of these fighters are former insurgents who have switched sides. Some are commanded by petty warlords with as little love for the government as for the insurgents. The so-called Muqur movement, in the south-west of the province, is at its core a thuggish group, involved in the opium trade, who happen to share an enemy with the government. But many in Ghazni just want a better life. Last year an uprising in Andar, in the east of the province, dislodged insurgents from villages after leaders got fed up with the Taliban closing schools and killing people.

The insurgents are hardly strong—probably no more than a few hundred fighters altogether in Ghazni province—and more a nuisance than a mortal threat to the central government—mostly attacking checkpoints and rarely inflicting serious damage. They appear to have little genuine support among the population. And if anything, NATO’s withdrawal next year seems likely to sharpen the Afghan security forces’ game.

Provided, then, that the West keeps paying for Afghanistan’s army, the government’s survival is not really at stake. Still, the insurgents are resilient, and they are unlikely to disappear. It may never be possible to end the insurgency without a political deal.

This article appeared in the Asia section of the print edition under the headline "Holding their ground"

question: When is the NATO withdrawal from Afghanistan?

answer: 2014.

question: Which military has taken on a greater role?

answer: The Afghan security forces.

question: Is the governments survival at stake?

answer: No, provided the West keeps paying for the Afghan military.

question: How many insurgents are left?

answer: Probably no more than a few hundred fighters.

question: Write a ~2 sentence summary.

answer: NATO is preparing for a withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2014. The war against the Taliban has been largely successful, and the Afghan Security forces are prepared to take over provided governments of the West continue supporting them.


split: train

text:
[Goa Konkani Akademi]The GOA KONKANI AKADEMI (Goa Academy of Letters for Konkani) is an organization set up by the Government of Goa in 1986 to promote the Konkani in Goa. Its stated aim is to accelerate the pace of development of Konkani by encouraging writers, researchers, etc. and to bring Konkanis from all areas together.[1]

Nature

The Goa Konkani Akademi was founded on 4 March 1986.[2] It is an autonomous body and has jurisdiction over the state of Goa.[3] It undertakes activities for the development and promotion of Konkani. GKA receives grants from the Government of Goa.[4]

The current Akademi President is Pundalik Naik (2002–present). Past presidents were Purushottam Kakodkar (1984-1996) and Uday Bhembre (1996-2002) respectively.[5]

Aims and Objectives

[Goa Konkani Akademi - writer Ramesh Veluskar (late) at the book outlet]The Akademi was built with the purpose of promoting the growth of Konkani. Some of the major goals stated on its website are:

1.  To initiate, assist or undertake implementation of projects or schemes of research in the field of Konkani language, literature and culture.
2.  To initiate, assist or undertake publication in Konkani language, the results of such research.
3.  To initiate, assist or undertake publication in Konkani language of original and erudite papers, monographs, books, journal, as also of any other works in any other branch of knowledge.

The GKA carries out its activities under directions issued to it by the Government of Goa. It also assists the state Government in formulating various policies in regard to Konkani.[6]

Activities

The GKA conducts various activities

1.  Providing financial assistance(75% of cost) to the first book by a new author.
2.  Provides 50% financial assistance to publishers and purchases 100 copies of each book.
3.  Section on folklore
4.  Has undertaken a project to publish a dictionary-cum-encyclopedia in Konkani.
5.  Conducts a “Knowledge of Konkani” certificate test which is necessary for Government Jobs in Goa. Also has other certificate exams.
6.  Has organized a five-day annual cultural event since 1993.[7]

Organization Structure

The Organization has various sections

1.  EDUCATION SECTION: Post-graduate and certificate courses; teacher training
2.  LEXICON SECTION: Creation of Konkani encyclopedia and dictionaries
3.  FOLKLORE SECTION: collection of various media related to folklore
4.  LITERATURE SECTION: Oversees various publication schemes
5.  CULTURAL SECTION: Drama, _tiatr_(theatre) and documentaries.[8]

Leadership

Following have been the Presidents[9] of the GKA, since its inception.

  President                                    Date
  -------------------------------------------- ------------------
  Purushottam Kakodkar                         1984-1993
  Purushottam Kakodkar                         1993-1996
  Purushottam Kakodkar                         1996, Jan to Oct
  Adv. Uday L. Bhembre                         1996-1999
  Adv. Uday L. Bhembre                         1999-2002
  Pundalik N. Naik                             2002-2005
  Pundalik N. Naik                             2005-2008
  N. Shivdas                                   2009-2011
  Dilip Borkar                                 2012 Jan-Apr
  Pundalik N. Naik                             2012-2015
  Madhav Borkar                                2015-2017
  Director, Directorate of Official Language   2017-2019
  Suresh Gundu Amonkar                         2019

  : Caption

Criticism

The GKA has been accused of being biased against Konkani publications in the Roman script in the past. Another demand has been that the GKA should be headed by persons of both the major communities in Goa (Hindus and Christians) by rotation.[10]

In March 2017, three prominent members of the GKA committee -- Chairman Madhav Borkar, Vice Chairman Jose Lourenco and member Kamlakar Mhalshi -- quit their posts “citing issues in receiving funds from the government to conduct various Konkani language promotion programmes.”[11]

There have been controversies over the some books that the GKA has turned down or declined to support.[12]

The GKA has a book publishing programme, but visibility of the books produced is seen as probably insufficient to what could be possible. One reason could be the “low-price, no-distributor-margins policy” as being responsible for the lack of interest by distributors, and hence low readership of its books.[13]

Location

The Goa Konkani Akademi's office is situated at Patto Colony, Panaji, Goa.[14]

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]  Konkani Academy|url=https://konkaniakademi.goa.gov.in/?page_id=55%7Caccess-date=2020-11-11%7Cwebsite=konkaniakademi.goa.gov.in}}

[10]

[11]

[12]

[13]

[14]

title: Goa Konkani Akademi

question: Why would the GKA be biased against the Roman script?

answer: The GKA has been established to protect the literature written in the Konkani language in Goa. Its goal is to promote the development of Konkani by encouraging writers in their own language. As such, it is understandable that the GKA might prefer the native Konkani script to the foreign Roman script. However, controversy has emerged because some people write Konkani in the Roman script. Part of the controversy hinges around whether Christians or Hindus should have more power in the GKA, so it can be inferred that Konkani written in the Roman alphabet might be Christian (in keeping with many other Christian scriptures written in that alphabet) whereas Hindus may use the traditional script. The issue is complex and multi-layered, cutting across religion and culture.

question: What are the different sections of the GKA, and what are their functions?

answer: The GKA is divided into five sections: Education, Lexicon, Folklore, Literature, and Cultural. Education deals with post-graduate courses and teacher training, including the "Knowledge of Konkani" certificate test which is necessary for Government jobs in Goa. The lexicon section is dedicated to producing the lexicon-cum-encyclopedia written in Konkani. The folklore department publishes media related to folklore. The literature section supports authors by providing financial assistance of 75% of the cost for each new author, and provides 50% assistance to publishers and purchases 100 copies of each book. The cultural section produces drama, tiatr (theatre) and documentaries, and it can be inferred that some of these may be put on stage at the five day annual cultural event that has been held since 1993.

question: What happened in March 2017 with regard to GKA?

answer: In March 2017 three members of the GKA committee, Chairman Madhav Borkar, Vice Chairman Jose Lourenco and member Kamlaka Mhalshi quit their posts citing issues in receiving funds from the government to conduct various Konkani language promotion programs. One can infer that even though the GKA is funded by the government of Goa, its autonomous nature may mean that funding issues are sometimes complicated.

question: What is one possible reason mentioned in the article as to why the visibility of books produced by the GKA is low?

answer: The reason mentioned is called the "low-price, no-distributor-margins policy" which refers to the fact that the books are not as in demand as other books and thus distributors do not make as high a margin when selling them. This makes their interest in selling them less, and so there are fewer books which are distributed. One might call this a "chicken-and-egg" problem whereby GKA is especially challenged. They subsidize books in order to increase readership of books in their language, but subsidies may make the books ironically less desirable to distributors. Or perhaps there could be other reasons.


text:
THE BRUNSWICK FOUR were four lesbians involved in an historic incident in Toronto, Ontario in 1974. The four were evicted from the Brunswick House, a working-class beer hall on Bloor Street, and subsequently arrested, and three were later tried in Ontario Court for obstruction of justice.[1] Two of those three women were acquitted in May 1974, but one, Adrienne Potts, served three months probation.[2]

Importance of the incident

Gay historian Tom Warner believes that the arrest and its consequences was a key incident ushering in a more militant gay and lesbian liberation movement in Canada, much as the Stonewall Inn riot politicized gays and lesbians in the United States. Warner also notes that this was one of the first occasions that a gay or lesbian topic received extensive press coverage in Canada.[3]

In the tavern

On January 5, 1974, Adrienne Potts (now Adrienne Rosen), Pat Murphy, Sue Wells and Heather (Beyer) Elizabeth performed a song at amateur night at the Brunswick Tavern. Their chosen song, “I Enjoy Being A Dyke” (a parody of “I Enjoy Being a Girl”, a song by Rodgers and Hammerstein from the musical play _Flower Drum Song_) drew the attention of the bar's owner.[4] Their version of the song challenged the unwanted male attention they were receiving at the bar that night, exemplified in this verse: “When I see a man who’s sexist and does something that I don’t like, I just tell him that he can Fuck Off, I enjoy being a Dyke!”[5]

The four were asked by the owner to leave the premises. They refused to leave, and were arrested by 8 uniformed police officers. The lesbians alleged verbal and physical police harassment as a result of the incident.[6][7][8][9][10][11]

Arrest and trial

Although they were not charged with a crime, to protest their arrest they refused to leave the police station. The police forcibly ejected the Four from the police station, punching Potts in the back of the head and throwing her to the ground. [12] According to historian Kelly Phipps, "They returned to the Brunswick House hoping to find witnesses, but were met by two uniformed police officers, two bouncers, and two plainclothes detectives. Again, they were tossed in an unmarked car and taken back to the station. During the five hours of processing their paperwork, police officers amused themselves with remarks such as, “I bet you drive a tug boat” and “Did you ever put your finger in a Dyke?”[13] The arrest and subsequent trial received coverage in _The Globe and Mail_, the _Toronto Star_, and a number of smaller community papers and magazines.[14] The three women, Pat Murphy, Adrienne Potts (now Rosen) and Heather Elizabeth were represented by lawyer Judy LaMarsh, who was a former Liberal cabinet minister.[15] LaMarsh represented them _pro bono_ because she was outraged by the treatment they endured at the hands of the police.

Community response

Warner describes the “anger and concern” of the Toronto gay community, and notes that a public meeting was called at which the “Brunswick Four minus One Defense Fund” (named so because only three people were arrested; Susan Wells was not) was launched.[16]

Three of the Brunswick Four were charged, and two of the women were acquitted in May 1974. One of the four; Adrienne Potts, served three months probation.[17]

Toronto Police Officers Charged with Assault

After the trial, Potts, Murphy and Elizabeth charged the arresting officers with assault. The charges were laid by the Crown after the three women produced evidence in the form of doctor's notes and photographs of extensive bruising. Unbeknownst to the women, the police officers had exchanged their hats and the badge numbers that established their identities were confused. At trial, because of this trick, the women couldn't accurately identify the officers. Murphy, Potts and Elizabeth refused to participate in the trial, calling it a scam and miscarriage of justice. When the court clerk ordered everyone to rise for a recess the women refused to rise. The clerk ordered the court to rise a second time. They refused. They were then charged with criminal contempt of court and led to the cells at Old City Hall. Potts and Elizabeth returned to court hours later to apologize but Murphy refused earning 30 days in jail. The officers were acquitted. Later, The Royal Commission on Toronto Police Practices ordered the three to appear and Murphy and Elizabeth gave testimony. Potts (now Rosen) moved to Vancouver and refused to participate. Pat Murphy died in 2003. Heather Elizabeth (Lamar Van Dyke) lives in Seattle and Adrienne Potts (Rosen) lives with her family in Toronto.

[1] Warner, Tom. _Never Going Back: A History of Queer Activism in Canada_, 2002, University of Toronto Press, .

[2] _Brunswick Tavern Dykes_, _Long Time Coming_, May/June 1974

[3]

[4]

[5] Gay Almanac, “Today in 1974: The Brunswick Four Arrested in Toronto,” last modified January 5, 2018, http://www.thegayalmanac.com/2018/01/today-in-1974-brunswick-four-arrested.html.>

[6] Fania Schwabel, “Our shocking past: Queer youth offer four quickie histories” , _Xtra!_, September 23, 1999.

[7] “Three claim that police abused them in garage”, _Toronto Star_, May 28, 1975.

[8] “Woman Guilty, Two cleared in disturbance”, _The Globe and Mail_, June 1, 1974.

[9] Rachel Giese, “Friends & Allies: Two generations make history together” . _Xtra!_, August 26, 1999.

[10] “Brunswick Tavern Dykes”, _Long Time Coming_, May/June 1974, p6,

[11] “The Other Woman”, April 1974, p17, “Uppity Women”, _Body Politic (magazine)_, March/April 1974, p1

[12] “Uppity Women,” The Body Politic, no. 12 (March/April 1974): 1

[13] Kelly Phipps, “Look over here, look over there, lesbians are everywhere”: Locating Activist Lesbians in Queer Liberation History, PhD Thesis, Concordia University, 2019, pg.98.

[14]

[15] “Lawyer former cabinet member”. _The Advocate_, March 13, 1974.

[16]

[17] _Brunswick Tavern Dykes_, _Long Time Coming_, May/June 1974

title: Brunswick Four

question: How were the four women arrested?

answer: They were evicted from a bar. They were not charged with a crime. However, they refused to exit the station to protest the event. Then they were forcibly evicted. They returned to the bar to gather witnesses, but there met more officers, who took them back to the station, and booked them.

question: Why were the four women arrested?

answer: They sang a song they had composed called "I Enjoy Being A Dyke." This scandalized the bar's owner. They were asked to leave the premises. They refused to leave. They were arrested by eight uniformed police officers.

question: What happened when the police officers were charged?

answer: When the women produced doctor's notes of how they had been beaten, the Crown charged the police. However, the police had exchanged hats and badge numbers so the women were unable to identify them. In protest, the women refused to rise when the judge ordered, and were charged with contempt of court, being led back to prison again.

question: Who represented the women?

answer: Judy LaMarsh. LaMarsh was a former Liberal cabinet minister. She represented them free of charge because she was outraged by how the police had treated them.


text:
__Share this event

Date and Time

Sat, November 14, 2015

12:00 PM – 9:00 PM CST

Add to Calendar

__Location

Location

Wurstfest

178 Landa Park Drive

New Braunfels, TX 78130

View Map View Map

__Event description

Description

It's that time of year again! Our favorite German-ish town to the south throws their annual sausage-and-lederhosen-and-beer event Wurstfest. The 80+ people we took on last year's trip has such a blast we're doing it again. This year, though, we're breaking the trip into two weekends so we can A) accommodate more people total, since demand outstripped logistics last year, and B) not have too large of a group which degrades all guests' experience.

This year's trip will feature a couple of small tweaks to the itinerary based on the fact that we got audited (and fined!) by the TABC a few months ago for providing free beer on bus trips. Without boring you with the audit details, just know that this year's bus rides will be strictly BYOB, and guests are required to pay the breweries directly for all tasting fees. We wish this weren't the case but it is what it is as they say.

Here's the itinerary, visiting Guadalupe & New Braunfels Brewing Companies:

-   12 noon leave WhichCraft. Park here if you must, but we definitely encourage you to plan public transportation, Uber/Lyft, cab rides, etc.
-   Arrive 1pm Guadalupe Brewing Company in New Braunfels
-   Leave 2:30pm
-   Arrive 2:45pm New Braunfels Brewing Company ($10 for 4 tickets. 1 ticket = 1 half-pint)
-   Leave 4:15pm
-   Arrive at Wurstfest 4:30pm
-   Leave Wurstfest 8:00pm
-   Arrive back at WhichCraft 9:00pm

As stated above, each individual will be responsible for their own tasting fees at the breweries as well as Wurstfest tickets. WhichCraft will be providing snacks and water on the bus (included in the cost of your ticket), but unfortunately we will not be providing any beers. The bus is BYOB if you decide you want to drink on the bus, and WhichCraft just happens to open at 11am the day of the event.

We encourage you to purchase your Wurstfest tickets in advance to help speed you through the line upon arrival. We also encourage you to bring cash for the brewery tasting fees! With 53 people on the bus it will speed things along if everyone has cash.

Date and Time

Sat, November 14, 2015

12:00 PM – 9:00 PM CST

Add to Calendar

Location

Wurstfest

178 Landa Park Drive

New Braunfels, TX 78130

View Map View Map

question: What is the name of the event?

answer: Wurstfest

question: Where does the event take place?

answer: 178 Landa Park Drive, New Braunfels, TX

question: What is the Wurstfest event all about?

answer: The town of New Braunfels throws an annual sausage-and-lederhosen-and-beer event.

question: Who arranged the trip to the Wurstfest event?

answer: WhichCraft

question: Write a ~5 sentence summary.

answer: After the success of last year's trip to Wurstfest that saw 80+ people attend, WhichCraft has arranged this year's trip back to everyone's favorite German-ish town, New Braunfels, in the great state of Texas. Wurstfest is New Braunfels' annual sausage-and-lederhosen-and-beer event. The trip includes visiting Guadalupe & New Braunfels Brewing Companies. The bus rides will be strictly BYOB and guests need to pay for the breweries directly for tasting fees and tickets to Wurstfest. WhichCraft will provide water and snacks on the bus.


text:
Your horse veers left only narrowly avoiding the rather large rosewood shrub.  Just in time it sees the scaredly defensive rattlesnake arching back and preparing to strike the horses legs.  Instinctively, and with no signal from you, the white mare jumps over the coil of snake.  Bang.  Bang.  Bang.  You free several rounds from their casings in the direction of the rustlers.

With look of stern grimace, you drive your spurs into the sides of your beast.  Harder.  Faster.  You push the horse, racing after the cattle thieves.  The warm air rushes past you.  It catches your broad brimmed hat and whisks it away onto the ground.  Never mind the hat, it’s gone.  You can’t see them for the palpable cloud of dust thrown into the air by their beasts but you know they number six.

Glancing back, you turn your head to see the two men on their mounts beside you.   That’s strange.  A look of combined adrenaline induced enthusiasm and fear is readily strewn across their faces.  Normally inexpressive masks, to make any poker player jealous, were characteristic of these old ranchers.  The fear, you decide, is likely the result of them thinking about the near off confrontation with the rustlers.  They are probably considering their wives and children back at their respective homes.
Not you though.  You’ve never had much time to take a wife.  Most of your time is spent lonesome as you wander the dirty, dusty plains of Texas.  It’s not that you’ve never thought about it, though.  There’s that one pretty young girl who works in town at the drug store beside the farriers workshop.  You often buy your tobacco from that drug store; even though it costs slightly more than if you were to purchase it from the saloon or the general store.  But you do it anyway because it’s not often a vagabond finds a reason to speak to such a pretty girl.  You can see her now.  With that long raven hair and those hazel eyes perched above her daintily freckled cheeks.  She flashes that shy smile every time you enter the store, the embodiment of perfection.

Bang.  Old John fires his pistol unnervingly close to your ear as he urges his beast past yours, and at a pace any sane man would consider too much for the sharp decline in the approaching ground.  But John doesn’t care.  Faster he pushes his horse, with reckless indifference to its or his own safety.  He was always crazier than a nesting pit viper in the middle of June, ole John.  You are going to put an end to the stealing and dealing of this gang once and for all.  Whether blood need be shed or not, this will end today.

The cattle bandits have yielded.  Side by side, the three of you take up arms and begin to exchange blasts as you blaze a wide circle around the six.  Knees locking the side of your horse, you fire shots from both of your double actions simultaneously.  One of the bandits falls from his still horse.  That makes five over three now.  But soon after John takes a shot to the shoulder, falls to the side of his mount and jerks the reigns pulling the tan beast around into a sharp stop.  Then falls the third rancher along with his horse, both of them riddled with lead.

Click.  Click.  Click.  You have expelled the final bullet from your pistols.  The bandits realize this and cease firing.  There's no rush.  The larger oafish one says something under his breath and two of them laugh as he awkwardly dismounts his beast.  You bring your horse to a stop, as you place the sixth bullet into your second revolver, about a hundred yards from the thieves.   You give the cylinder a small spin.  Click click click click click, and with an effortless flick of your wrist it snaps back into position.  Tick, one hammer is drawn.  Tick, the second hammer is extended.  You stare at your pistols.  Absolutely beautiful.  Those pearl white handles are something else.  Cost you a God damn fortune from that little shop way up in Utah, but that’s alright.  The magnificent craftsmanship was certainly worth it.

One hundred yards from the five remaining bandits.  An easy shot for a semi skilled rifle.  And young Billy was more than a semi skilled rifle.  Much more.  A God damn hawkeye the kid was.   Known throughout much of Texas and even up into most parts of Utah for his sharpshooting.  With a reputation stretches as far as that you know a man is good at what he does.  This punk kid, no older than twenty and riding with a no name gang of common cattle thieves lead by Sticky Pete.

He tilted the hat back, lifting the brim up out of his way.  You could just see Billy’s thumb rise, ever so slightly adjusting the vertical height of the rear sight of his Sharpe rifle.  His cheek rested timidly beside the thumb on the wooden stock.  Never before have you felt like this.  A completely indelible feeling of a sheer and utter lack of hope and power.

Bang.

title: Cattle Rustlers

question: Why does Old John fire his pistol?

answer: He is firing at the cattle bandits.

question: Who is Sticky Pete?

answer: He is the leader of the gang of cattle thieves.

question: Why has the protagonist never take a wife?

answer: Because most of their time is spent alone wandering the dusty plains of Texas, so they've never had the time for it.

question: Explain the ending of the story.

answer: Billy, who is riding with Sticky Pete's cattle bandit gang, shoots the protagonist.

question: Write a ~3 sentence summary.

answer: The narrator rides with Old John and another rancher, fighting a gang of cattle bandits led by Sticky Pete. Old John and the other rancher go down, leaving the narrator against five remaining bandits. One of the bandits, Billy, shoots the narrator from afar.


text:
It's incredible what you may find on the Kola Peninsula beyond the Arctic Circle in Russia! A great outdoors with tundra, Arctic deserts and fjords is just one of the examples. You can certainly have some unique experiences here - like doing a tour on a nuclear ice-breaker or visiting a reindeer and husky farm!

THE KHIBINY MOUNTAINS This mountain range behind the Arctic Circle is at the top of the bucket list of all experienced Russian trekkers. And not without a reason: The beauty of this place is out of this world.

[Khibiny]
Akademicheskoye plateau resembles a moon landscape - it is an Arctic desert. While hiking there, you often find yourself in a cloud where you can´t see your own hand if you stretched out your arm, which makes it even more surrealistic - and dangerous.

Close to the plateau, there is a cleft with pink snow that tastes like watermelon. Both the taste and colour are due to the minerals in the snow.

While hiking, you may find a stone with a golden star in middle - an astrophyllite. Khibiny is home to a number of precious minerals and stones, some of them are endemic.

The fir-trees often look weird in Khibiny: up to a height of 1m, the branches are missing. This strange appearance is due to the harsh winter conditions. Snow a meter high covers the lower branches and an ice-cold wind blows above the snow, killing the unprotected branches.

There is another interesting fact about the climate of Khibiny: in the principal valley surrounded by the mountains, it actually gets slightly warmer with elevation. The cold air settles down while the warmer air rises up.

WHEN TO GO? The best time to go there is at the End of July - the beginning of August when the temperature rises to plus 12-15°/ 55-60°F C. You might also want to see the tundra in September when the moss turns red and yellow. Or go to Khibiny in winter to see the northern lights and ride snowmobiles.

HOW TO GET THERE? take a train heading from Moscow or St Petersburg to Murmansk, exit in Kirov. Kirov also has an airport. Driving is another option. The road leading from Kirov to the mountains is suitable only for 4x4, but you might either walk there or find a ride in the town.

WHERE TO STAY? Usually, travellers of Khibiny pinch their tents. You may also sleep in a basic hotel with really friendly staff near the lifeguard station (tel. +7 921 510-12-53)

[Tracked Cargo Carrier parked by the lifeguard station]
Tracked Cargo Carrier parked by the lifeguard station
LOVOZERYE Lovozerye region is less famous than the neighbouring Khibiny and there is a lesser chance to encounter other backpackers. However, there are still several tourist attractions you may visit: e.g. husky and reindeer farms close to the village of Lovozero.

Lovozerye has another range of mountains to the north-east of Khibiny. Even though the mountain peaks of Lovozerje are less tall, they are no less beautiful. One of the most beautiful things in this world I have witnessed in Lovozerje: the lilac-colored mountains reflecting in the water during the never-ending summer evenings.

HOW TO GET THERE AND WHERE TO STAY? You may drive there, or go by plane to Murmansk and by train to Olenegorsk (train Moscow - Murmansk) There are some hotels and hostels in the region, they usually offer a transfer from the train station or from the airport (1,5h - 2,5 h respectively). Advanced trekkers may also hike to Lovozerje from Khibiny!

NUCLEAR ICEBREAKER On the Kola Peninsula, you may actually go on an old Soviet ice-breaker - in Murmansk. The old ship was built between 1953 and 1959 and in the 1990th turned into a museum. As part of an organized tour - beware, the tours are only in Russian - you may find out about expeditions of the ice-breaker, the life on board and see how the nuclear energy was produced and how the ice-breaker was operated. The weight is crucial for its function - the ship glides onto the ice and crushes it by virtue of its own weight.

[Nuclear Ice-breaker Lenin]
In the summer of 2016, we were staying at the Hilton - arguably the best hotel in Murmansk. During the breakfast, we spotted a man in a suit, he was constantly talking on his phone. Sometimes he was talking louder and I caught some fragments of his conversation: "OK, I will buy an ice-breaker. ...I am in Murmansk now to buy an ice-breaker" While I was eating my breakfast, the guy had apparently made a billion $ deal. I was quite impressed. Then I tried to imagine what it might be like, to buy an ice-breaker. Do you receive an e-mail from the seller: "Your ice-breaker is already shipped, the trekking number is 123"? And then you get another email from the delivery service: "As you were not home, your ice-breaker was delivered to your neighbour."

Except for visiting and shopping ice-breakers, the sights of Murmansk are rather scarce. If you want to see the Barents Sea coast, better head further from the town - to Teriberka.

[Teriberka on the Barents Sea]
Barents Sea coast by Teriberka
TERIBERKA As a matter of fact, the settlement of Teriberka, lying 130 km East on the broken road from Murmansk, is the only place on the coast of the Barents Sea on the Kola Peninsula, opened for non-Russian citizens. All the others are closed because of the Russian fleet. So Teriberka is really the only choice. But it is also an amazing place to go to. To have an impression of this out of this world place, watch the prize-winning movie "Leviathan" by Andrey Zvyagintsev. The scenes on the coast were shot here!

Even though the movie definitely increased the number of visitors of the village, Teriberka really feels like the last frontier, behind which there is only cold, snow and the icy waters of the Arctic ocean. Here is the place, where you may make acquaintances with the most reckless vagabonds!

[Teriberka on the Barents Sea]
HOW TO GET THERE? There are day tours with 4x4's from Murmansk. Also, there is a daily bus connection between Murmansk and Teriberka.

WHERE TO STAY? If you prefer to stay longer, there are several hotels and a hostel you may find. Price varies between 3000 RUB - 1000 RUB per night. It is also possible to rent a room from the locals.

WHEN TO GO? In July-August, the temperature may reach 20° C/ 68° F - that's also the most popular time. Another part of travellers heads to Teriberka in winter, to see the winter lights.

question: When is the best time to go to Khibiny?

answer: At the end of July.

question: Where is the Kola Peninsula?

answer: Beyond the arctic circle in Russia.

question: Where is an old Soviet icebreaker located?

answer: At a museum in Murmansk.

question: What is an astrophyllite?

answer: A stone with a gold star in the middle [a precious stone endemic to Khibiny?].

question: Write a ~1 sentence summary.

answer: The article is a summary of interesting destinations in the far North of Russia near the Kola Peninsula, with recommendations on how to get there for travelers.


text:
Forty-eight scientists from 50 institutions in the U.S. have formed the Unified Microbiome Initiative Consortium (UMIC). The scientists envision a coordinated effort spanning national cross-institutional and cross-governmental agency support with the goal of driving forward cutting-edge microbiome research, enabling breakthrough advances in medicine, ecosystem management, sustainable energy, and production of commodities. Their proposal was published online in the journal Science on Oct. 28.

Engineered E. Coli: Diagnostic & Therapeutic Tools

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In this animation, see an example of how genetically engineered microbes being developed by researchers at the Wyss Institute could detect and treat a wide range of gastrointestinal illnesses and conditions. Credit: Wyss Institute at Harvard University

Microbial life forms — including viruses, bacteria, and fungi — are the most diverse and abundant organisms on earth. They have shaped our evolutionary origins for billions of years and continue to have widespread impact. The UMIC foresees the microbiomes being leveraged through genetic engineering for applications within 10 years.

“Microbes are everywhere. Therefore understanding microbiomes, whether they be the ones that live in and on our bodies or the ones in the environment, is essential to understanding life,” said Pamela Silver, a core faculty member at the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University.

Silver is also one of the faculty leaders on the Wyss Institute’s Synthetic Biology platform, the Elliot T. and Onie H. Adams Professor of Biochemistry and Systems Biology at Harvard Medical School (HMS), and a founding member of the Department of Systems Biology at HMS.

“Understanding how [microbiomes] work might hold the key to advances as diverse as fighting antibiotic resistance and autoimmune diseases, reclaiming ravaged farmland, reducing fertilizer and pesticide use, and converting sunlight into useful chemicals,” said Jeff F. Miller, director of the California NanoSystems Institute and corresponding author of the Science paper.

By metabolic processes, microbes synthesize countless different molecules, which through genetic engineering could lead to colonies of microbial “workers” being used for the sustainable synthesis of pharmaceuticals, materials, and chemical commodities. Genetically engineered microbes could also produce biofuels through metabolic processes and be used in the conversion of solar energy into liquid fuel, according to work already underway by Silver at the Wyss Institute and HMS.

Microbes also play a vital role in balancing biogeochemical processes, such as removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. The interactions between soil, plant roots, and microbes play an important role in plant health and crop yield.

[]
Credit: Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University
Furthermore, the microbiomes in our gastrointestinal tracts regulate wide-ranging physiological, metabolic, immunologic, cognitive, behavioral, and psychiatric traits. Understanding and manipulating human microbiomes could be key to managing physical and mental health. Silver and her team have already begun developing several potential avenues for leveraging gut microbes to improve health. In collaboration with Wyss core faculty member James Collins, Silver has engineered genetically programmed bacterial “reporters” that can detect and record conditions in the gastrointestinal tract. And, working with Donald Ingber, the Wyss Institute’s founding director, and its senior staff scientist Jeffrey Way, Silver is developing a consortia of synthetic microbes that could be used to treat gastrointestinal illness.

Her expertise and experience in these emerging areas of synthetic biology have enabled Silver to contribute her thought leadership as a member of the UMIC to how the proposed Unified Microbiome Initiative could integrate focus areas to accelerate microbiome research.

“I’m interested in engineering microbes as a way to interrogate their behavior,” said Silver. “The purpose of this unified initiative is to determine what are the big questions we have about the microbiome and what are the specific technologies we need in order to investigate those questions.”

Some of the big questions the group hopes to address through the organized coalition include understanding how microbes assemble into communities and what makes them resilient or resistant to perturbation, how genes in the microbiome interact with one another, which genes in the microbiome are associated with which organisms, as well as how we can beneficially harness the microbiomes of humans, animals, plants, and environments.

To find the answers to these questions, scientists must first be supported in the development of breakthrough technologies for investigating microbiomes. Specifically, the group recommends development of improved computational methods for analyzing and predicting the vast number of unknown genes and their functions comprising microbiomes; a transition from gene-specific to whole-genome-based analysis through improved genome reference libraries and sequencing methods; development of high-powered imaging methods for visually interrogating communities of microbes down to the individual level; new adaptive modeling systems and data reporting tools; improved genetic engineering techniques for perturbing microbial communities; and novel methods to mimic natural environments for supporting microbiome growth in the laboratory, among others.

“Discovery of the existence and importance of the microbiome has provided a new frame of reference for our understanding of health and our environment,” said Ingber, the Judah Folkman Professor of Vascular Biology at HMS and Boston Children’s Hospital. “A nationwide coordinated effort to invest in understanding and leveraging microbiomes could open entirely new frontiers in biotechnology and medicine, and lead to solutions that would not be possible in any other way.”

The paper calling for a Unified Microbiome Initiative can be found in the Oct. 30 issue of Science or through an online portal made available by the American Society for Microbiology.

question: What is the purpose of the Unified Microbiome Initiative Consortium (UMIC)?

answer: Their goal is to "drive forward cutting-edge microbiome research, enable breakthrough advances in medicine, ecosystem management, sustainable energy, and production of commodities."

question: According to Pamela Silver, why is understanding microbes important?

answer: She says that understanding microbiomes are essential to understanding life.

question: Discuss other reasons why microbiomes are important.

answer: They might hold the answer to fighting antibiotic resistance and autoimmune diseases, converting sunlight into useful chemicals, they could be used to produce biofuels, convert solar energy into liquid fuel, they play a vital role in balancing biogeochemical processes.

question: Where can one read the paper calling for a Unified Microbiome Initiative?

answer: The paper can be found in the October 30 issue of Science.

question: Write a ~1 sentence summary.

answer: The goal of the Unified Microbiome Initiative Consortium is to "drive forward cutting-edge microbiome research, enable breakthrough advances in medicine, ecosystem management, sustainable energy, and production of commodities."


text:
WERNER SCHEFF (1888–1947) was a German novelist and screenwriter. He is particularly noted as a prolific writer of sports fiction.[1] Following the Nazi Party's rise to power, he emigrated and died in London in 1947.

Selected filmography

-   _Die Arche_ (1919)
-   _The Man in the Saddle_ (1925)
-   _Dagfin_ (1926)
-   _The Girl on a Swing_ (1926)
-   _The Champion of the World_ (1927)
-   _Attorney for the Heart_ (1927)
-   _The Prisoners of Shanghai_ (1927)
-   _Never Trust a Woman_ (1930)
-   _Johnny Steals Europe_ (1932)
-   _Ship Without a Harbour_ (1932)
-   _The Marathon Runner_ (1933)
-   _Jumping Into the Abyss_ (1933)

[1] Jensen p. 98

title: Werner Scheff

question: Who was Werner Scheff?

answer: Werner was a German novelist and screenwriter.

question: What was he well-known for?

answer: He was noted as a prolific writer of sports fiction.

question: When did he emigrate to London?

answer: Scheff emigrated to London following the Nazi Party's rise.

question: List a few of his works.

answer:
- Jumping into the Abyss
- Johnny Steals Europe
- Never Trust a Woman

question: Write a ~4 sentence summary.

answer:
Werner Scheff was a German novelist and screenwriter. He was particularly known for his writings on sports fiction. He emigrated to London soon after the rise of the Nazi Party.

Some of his works are - the Man in the Saddle, The Champion of the World, and The Girl on a Swing.


text:
\    	In the backroom we're arranged in a sort of triangle, Meagan and I are parallel, equidistant from  Samantha, our manager. We're discussing a very delicate situation. Roughly twelve minutes ago, two twenty something girls ran out of the store's bathroom screaming that there was blood all over the walls. I was   confused, because this is a coffee shop and we don't serve blood of any kind but I wasn't surprised, because this is Philadelphia and that shit just happens. Meagan, Samantha and I brainstorm how the blood got there until we decide on the most logical solution: someone was shooting up something, probably smack, and didn't quite get it right.
	Samantha says, “Someone has to clean it up and I'm on my lunch break.” then she laughs.
	Megan says, “Well, I'm not doing it. No way, nope.” Meagan folds her arms across her chest, shaking her ponytail left and right and touches her hat, like she's on the mound signaling a pitch.
	“I'll do it.” I offer quickly, almost immediately. Then, maybe too melodramatically, sigh in an attempt to shade my excitement because I'm thinking, This will kill at least a half hour.
	Samantha looks up from her free range, cage free chicken salad and the glow of the computer screen gives her face a serious look. “Okay Jake, go clean up the junkie blood.”
	I follow Samantha's careful instructions to double glove my hands and stick them to my wrists with rubber bands all for the sake of avoiding infectious diseases.
	My excitement fades just a little when I enter the bathroom, I wasn't really expecting this much blood. It's pretty much everywhere, covering a good portion of a wall and the low ceiling.
	I put down the bleach bucket and the rag, and sit down on the toilet. I imagine shooting up, I even mime the motions. I tighten my imaginary belt, slap for the vein. Things I've only seen in movies. I build a motion picture in my mind of the blood spraying out and this violent display of desperation moves nothing inside of me. Though i'm young and idealistic I've long ago grown cold to the collective suffering of the city. My own cup runneth over with despair and I can't relate at this nameless, faceless projection of the city's downtrodden. I can only scrub at the bum's stubborn blood, dried and crusted black on the off white walls of the bathroom.  /

title: Junkie Blood - Flash Fiction

question: What situation are they discussing?

answer: There is blood all over the shop's washroom walls and they are discussing who will clean it up.

question: What store is the narrator working at?

answer: The narrator is working at a coffee shop.

question: Was someone shot in the washroom?

answer: This information can't be found.

question: Who is the narrator?

answer: The narrator is named Jake, who works at a coffee house.

question: Write a ~5 sentence summary.

answer:
A coffee shop's washroom walls are stained with blood.

Jake and his two colleagues discuss who's going to clean it up. Jake volunteers to clean it up himself.

Jake goes inside and finds blood almost everywhere. He tries to build a picture in his mind of the blood splashing out and cleans it all up.


text:
BERNICE RUBENS (26 July 1923 – 13 October 2004)[1] was a Booker Prize-winning Welsh novelist.[2]

Personal history

Bernice Ruth Reuben was born in Splott, Cardiff on 26 July 1923, the third of four children of Eli Reuben and his wife Dorothy, . [3] Her father was a Lithuanian Jew who, at the age of 16, left mainland Europe in 1900 in the hope of starting a new life in New York City. Due to being swindled by a ticket tout, he never reached America, his passage taking him no further than Cardiff.[4] He decided to stay in Wales, and there he met and married Dorothy Cohen, whose Polish family had also emigrated to Cardiff. Bernice was one of four children and came from a musical family, both her brothers, Harold and Cyril, becoming well-known classical musicians. Harold was forced to quit playing through illness, but Cyril became a violinist in the London Symphony Orchestra.[5] Bernice failed to follow in her family's musical tradition, though she would later learn the cello. She was educated at Cardiff High School for Girls and later read English at the University of Wales, Cardiff, where she was awarded her BA in 1947.[6]

She married Rudi Nassbauer, a wine merchant who also wrote poetry and fiction.[7] They had two daughters, Rebecca and Sharon. From 1950 to 1955, Rubens taught at a grammar school in Birmingham, before moving onto the film industry where she made documentaries. In the 1960s the poet Jon Silkin rented the attic storey of their London house and sublet rooms to David Mercer, later a prolific West End and TV playwright, and Malcolm Ross-Macdonald, later an equally prolific writer of historical novels.

Professional career as a writer

Rubens first novel, _Set On Edge_, was published in 1960. She became the first woman to win the Booker Prize in 1970, for _The Elected Member_.[8]

Adaptations

Her 1962 novel, _Madame Sousatzka_, was made into a film in 1988, with Shabana Azmi and Shirley MacLaine. This book was based on the experiences of her brother Harold Rubens, a child prodigy pianist, and his teacher Madame Maria Levinskaya, who inspired the character of Madame Sousatzka. Harold Rubens was born in Cardiff in 1918, and studied with Levinskaya from the age of seven.

Her 1975 novel, _I Sent a Letter To My Love_, was made into a film (_Chère inconnue_) in 1980 by Moshe Mizraki, starring Simone Signoret and Jean Rochefort.

Her 1985 novel, _Mr Wakefield's Crusade_, was adapted for television by the BBC in 1992, starring Peter Capaldi and Michael Maloney.

Works

-   _Set on Edge_ (1960)
-   _Madame Sousatzka_ (1962)
-   _Mate in Three_ (1966)
-   _Chosen People_ (1969)
-   _The Elected Member_ (1969) (Booker Prize for Fiction 1970)
-   _Sunday Best_ (1971)
-   _Go Tell the Lemming_ (1973)
-   _I Sent a Letter To My Love_ (1975)
-   _The Ponsonby Post_ (1977)
-   _A Five-Year Sentence_ (1978)
-   _Spring Sonata_ (1979)
-   _Birds of Passage_ (1981)
-   _Brothers_ (1983)
-   _Mr Wakefield's Crusade_ (1985)
-   _Our Father_ (1987)
-   _Kingdom Come_ (1990)
-   _A Solitary Grief_ (1991)
-   _Mother Russia_ (1992)
-   _Autobiopsy_ (1993)
-   _Hijack_ (1993)
-   _Yesterday in the Back Lane_ (1995)
-   _The Waiting Game_ (1997)
-   _I, Dreyfus_ (1999)
-   _Milwaukee_ (2001)
-   _Nine Lives_ (2002)
-   _The Sergeants' Tale_ (2003)
-   _When I Grow Up_ (2005)

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

title: Bernice Rubens

question: How long did Bernice Rubens live?

answer: 81 years.

question: How long did Rubens teach in the grammar school in Birmingham?

answer: For 5 years.

question: How many Rubens' books are mentioned in the passage?

answer: 27 books.

question: What is the title of Rubens' oldest mentioned book?

answer: Set on Edge.


text:
My life was never anything special. I wasn’t popular in school, I didn’t join in any extracurricular activities, I wasn’t good at anything. My parents were never home, so my youth was filled with tedious amounts of alone time; loneliness overflowed my conscious moments. I was practically dead inside by the age of 8. No one cared about me. Everyone has had those sad, depressing moments where they feel unloved and unwanted in a society. That was my childhood; an ocean of regret. By the age of 10, I was drowning in sorrow and there was no one to dive in and save me from the fog; no noose, knife or pill could ever save me from this abyss that was my life. One day when I was 12 years old, my father brought home a pet mouse. He told me it would keep me company for when I was lonely. After that, I was never truly alone. My mouse was the first thing that I had ever loved, he listened to my troubles, he wanted to get out of that hell-hole with me, he understood me. I loved that pet mouse more than anything, and the feeling was mutual. One afternoon, I noticed that my mouse was struggling to move as he normally would. He had suffered a broken leg while running around his cage. He looked like he was in pain, like he wanted to be free from that pain. I wanted to make him feel better.

Freedom.

Something I loved died that night.

What is death? An eternal rest? The end of the life of a person or an organism? No. Death is freedom. We live in a treacherous world filled with corrupt men and murderers who wander the streets at will with a blatant disregard for others. People are disgusting creatures. The people I love are carefully selected from this group of traitorous humans, a needle in a haystack, a lotus surrounded by murky water. All I’ve ever wanted is to see the people I love happy. That’s all everyone ever wants to see. When they’re thankful for what you’ve done, that you’ve made their life a happier place. I’m a person who doesn’t love easily, but I think I’ve found it. There’s a feeling inside me that I’ve only felt once before. That feeling of the pet that listened, the mouse who cared. Now, I’m certainly not comparing Marie to a mouse, I’m just saying that they’re the only things that I’ve loved in my 23 years on this planet. Marie is beautiful, caring and thoughtful. She’s also the only person to ever look beyond my chipped crust of insecurities. It seems as though pain or suffering has never graced the presence of my perfect Marie. Which is nice to know that she was cared for. That she had friends. That she had parents who were home. That she was loved.

Anger.
Pain.
Freedom.

Marie is always happy, I have never seen anything less than a smile on her face. Today was different. She ran into my arms bawling. I stood there astounded, as this is my debut as the role of a comforter. Choking down her tears, she tells me that her father is ill with a rare type of cancer. I stare off into the distance pondering this painful news. She says he’ll fight it the best he humanly can. Why? I think. Sickness is normal, no matter it being mild or severe. Why fight a deadly illness and not be around the ones you love when you can just accept it and live your life to the fullest with the designated amount of time you have left? Everyone has to die anyways. Young, old, male, female. Everyone and everything must die on this earth. So why attempt to prolong it for a few more tedious, painful years?

Just be free from it.

I invited Marie into my small apartment, tears continue to stream down her face. She sits on my white leather couch in the middle of the living room, head in her hands. She tells me she’s never gone through something like this before, the pain of a family member dying. She wishes her father was better, she wishes she wouldn’t be sad. The pain is too much for her.

She wants to be free.

I go into my kitchen, and I grab a sharp knife. It feels lighter than normal, as if I could do anything with it. Not just cut fruits or vegetables, but promote freedom, release pain. I walk out of the kitchen and into the living room, where I see my perfect, beautiful, loving Marie sitting with her eyes closed. Trying to shut the pain and fear away. I walk up behind her, my instrument of happiness clenched tight in my hand.

“It’s going to be okay, Marie.” My arm reaches around, she doesn’t notice the knife hovering over her neck.

"Marie, let me help you."

Freedom.

title: Freedom

question: How does the narrator feel about her childhood?

answer: She thinks her childhood was an ocean of regret.

question: Who are the two closest people to the narrator?

answer: Her best friend Marie and her pet mouse

question: How can you describe the narrator's relationship with Marie?

answer: The narrator loves Marie and cares so much for her.

question: What pain is Marie going through?

answer: The pain of losing a family member

question: Write a ~6 sentence summary.

answer: The narrator describes her childhood as very lonely and sad. She didn't have a family who cared for her. The narrator loved two people, her best friend Marie and her pet mouse. One day, Marie comes bawling to her saying her father was ill with a rare type of cancer. The narrator detaches and tries to end Marie's pain. She takes a knife and comes behind Marie and gives her the freedom from pain that she needs.


text:
As the saying goes “make do and mend!” I’m a firm believer in up-cycling tired & unwanted furniture, rather than buying new.  With a little bit of graft – probably a lot of sanding – you can customize your own unique piece of furniture.  As a guide here is a sideboard I recently up-cycled for a client.

[how to shabby chic - sideboard ready to be upcycled]

Once you have your chosen piece of furniture, you will need to prep the surfaces to be painted. First be sure to remove any handles, hinges or metalwork. You’re now ready to start stripping the paint or varnish, to do this I tend to use sandpaper or Nitromors. I find both methods are equally effective and take the same amount of time, but when working with heavy detail Nitromors is best. Nitromors is a chemical substance that removes paint, varnish and SKIN, so do be careful and wear protective clothing & work in a well ventilated area.

[shabby chic furniture painting]

Once the item has been stripped and sanded, get rid of any dust by wiping it down with warm water – allow to dry.  A little tip for you; in my photo you will see my dog Ted happily snoozing, make sure when painting that animals stay well away! Their hair will get into the paint and on to your furniture – not a good look!  I also avoid painting outside on a sunny day as bugs find the gleam of the fresh wet paint extremely inviting. Once they bugs have landed they don’t come off without a little help.. this will leave marks.

[how to shabby chic]

Primer.. I don’t always use primer but depending on the condition of the wood it is sometimes necessary.  This particular sideboard is in a good condition, so instead of a primer I will be apply two coats of white.  I like to use Farrow & Ball paints; for this sideboard I am using Matchstick White as an undercoat, and an Eggshell Pavilion Grey for the topcoat (oil-based eggshells or matt paints are best as a water-based paint won’t sand as well).  When applying the paint always go in the direction of the wood grain, keeping minimal paint on the paintbrush & with nice thin layer.  It’s quality, not quantity.

[how to shabby chic]

Allow each layer of paint to dry properly before adding the next.  This photo is after one layer of Matchstick White. Keep applying even layers.

[how to shabby chic]

This sideboard has now had two layers of Matchstick White and two layers of Pavilion grey. I added in some standard black paint to darken the Pavilion grey as it was paler than my client wanted. I tend to leave the piece to thoroughly dry for a minimum of 24 hours before distressing.  Some people do not like the distressed look, so you could always leave it as above and just add a varnish or wax to protect the paint.

[how to shabby chic]

When distressing the furniture, there are so many routes and degrees of “aging” that you can do.  As this piece is a commission I’ve been asked to not go too crazy, just highlight on areas where, wear and tear would occur. For instance this would be on raised areas, edges, around drawers, handles & the top of detailing. To distress I use 180 grit sandpaper, the trick is to sand in one direction repeatedly. If you want to create extra damage and bruise the furniture, use metal chain or the edge of metal tools to beat the furniture.  I don’t do this often as I feel it’s fairly sacrilege & most often the antiques I paint are well used and slightly battered.

[how to shabby chic - the finished result]

Once you’re content with the finish, you can either leave as is, or add a coat of beeswax or varnish. This will help protect the wood, but don’t be too overzealous as an overly shiny varnish will not look authentic and shabby chic! If you have any questions or want further tips, please do not hesitate to email me.

CHECK OUT MY SHOP FOR MY FAVOURITE SHABBY CHIC PIECES

question: What does the text say about customizing used furniture?

answer: After sanding down a piece of furniture, you can begin to customize a unique piece. The surface will need to be prepped to be painted. After the paint, depending on the condition of the wood, it might be necessary to use a primer. Each layer of paint will need to be dried in between coats. Finally, one can add a coat of beeswax or varnish to help protect the wood.


text:
_NOMAD_ is the second full-length studio album by American metalcore band Chasing Safety.[1] The album was released through Outerloop Records on January 6, 2017.[2] This album is the first album to feature guitar player Patrick Hall after former lead and rhythm guitarist Steve Novoa and Derek Williams left the band in 2016. Scheduled to be released summer 2016, the release got delayed because of the line-up change.

Release and promotion

The band premiered the first single “Brand New Prison” on October 20, 2016.[3] On November 17, 2016, Chasing Safety released the title track and second single to their new album, “This Is Hell,”, accompanied with a music video.[4] The band later compromised “Erase Me” on December 8[5] and then “Long for More” on December 20, 2016.[6]

Track listing

Personnel

Chasing Safety

-   Johnny Galivan – lead vocals
-   Kenny Davis – bass guitar, clean vocals
-   Patrick Hall – rhythm guitar, lead guitar
-   Luke Genocide – drums

Additional

-   Kile Odell - producer, engineer
-   Curtis Martin (Producer) - producer, engineer, writer

[1] Chasing Safety Releases Webisode For Upcoming Album — THE HOOK

[2] CHASING SAFETY RELEASE FIRST STUDIO WEBISODE FOR UPCOMING ALBUM NOMAD

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

title: Nomad (Chasing Safety album)

question: Who are the members of Chasing Safety?

answer: Johnny Galivan is the lead vocalist, Kenny Davis is the bassist and clean vocals, Patrick Hall plays lead and rhythm guitars, and Luke Genocide is their drummer. This is their lineup following the departure of Steve Novoa and Derek Williams from the band in 2016.

question: What is Chasing Safety?

answer: Chasing Safety is an American metalcore band who released their first single in October 2016 and their second full length album on January 2017.

question: Who else worked with Chasing Safety?

answer: Curtis Martin is their writer, who works with Kile Odell as their producers and engineers.

question: Whats is the name of Chasing Safety's second album?

answer: NOMAD

question: Write a ~2 sentence summary.

answer: Chasing Safety releases their second album, NOMAD, on January 2017. This is the first album to feature their new lineup with Patrick Hall on lead and rhythm guitars.


text:
When it comes to real political change, the people almost always are light years ahead of the politicians, most of whom are so worried about re-election that they take only carefully crafted positions that appeal to their core constituencies.

If anything, the general election reaffirmed the big-government status quo, but there was one good sign from the national results, as voters in Washington and Colorado passed, with strong majorities, measures legalizing the recreational use of marijuana. Voters ignored the hysteria of Republican and Democratic politicians and did the right thing.

This is a serious issue that involves law-enforcement priorities, basic freedoms, criminal justice reform, and basic economic issues involving black markets and taxation, not that you'd know it from the silly pot jokes one hears whenever discussing this matter. (As an example, Colorado's Democratic governor, an opponent of the state's measure, warned supporters,"Federal law still says marijuana is an illegal drug, so don't break out the Cheetos or gold fish too quickly.")

Some conservatives have chalked up the pot-decriminalization victories in two Western states as the indication of the leftward nature of the election results, but that would be a misreading that will harm conservatives' viability.

"What transpired in Colorado and Washington were disciplined efforts that forged alliances between liberals and tea party conservatives, often using public health arguments to advance their cause," according to a recent _New York Times_ analysis. "Tuesday's vote on the measure in Colorado amounted to a popular revolt against the establishment."

It shouldn't surprise anyone that the grassroots left and right would be united in favor of a "leave us alone" policy any more than it should surprise us that the supposedly liberal Obama administration has been even more zealous in prosecuting medical-marijuana dispensaries in California and Colorado than the supposedly conservative Bush administration. Political authorities like to flex their muscle, and it's up to the people to band together to preserve their freedoms.

Attitudes toward marijuana are changing dramatically, and if the GOP is serious about rebranding itself in the wake of its losses, this is a good place to start. No one is suggesting that conservatives suddenly act hip by embracing pot smoking. But Republicans should try to live up to their own stated principles of limited government and states' rights by advocating a credible policy on this and other social issues.

During the election, vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan made sensible points about medical marijuana. "My personal position on these issues has been let the states decide what they want to do with these things," he said in a TV interview. That was before the Romney campaign caused him to do some back-tracking.

From a basic consistency standpoint, it's bizarre that Republicans would advocate returning abortion to the states, which would be the effect of overturning Roe v. Wade, yet insist that the federal government wantonly overturn the will of the people in those states that allow either medical marijuana or the recreational use of a substance that is demonstrably less harmful than the alcoholic beverages one can buy in any grocery store.

It's not about weed, but about consistency. States' rights means states' rights, not states' rights when we agree with the policies independent states embrace. The GOP's rigidity only reinforces the cartoonish Democratic narrative that the party is beholden to religious moralists of the type who want to re-impose slavery and Prohibition. It also lets the Democrats get away with their stupidity on the drug war.

I was chatting recently with a couple in their mid-80s—staunch conservatives who told me how much they believe in ending the drug war and especially the war on marijuana users. These types of attitudes are becoming more common, yet the national parties are advancing attitudes from the "reefer madness" era.

There are so many public policy matters involved in this issue. Supporters argued that legalizing marijuana would allow law enforcement to focus resources on genuine crime issues rather than on this minor issue. It would provide tax revenue to revenue-hungry governments, although that's an argument that leaves me cold given my desire to cut back government spending.

In its letter to Attorney General Eric Holder, a group of prominent law-enforcement officials argued:  "August Vollmer, father of professional policing and primary author of the Wickersham Commission report that served to bring an end to the prohibition of alcohol, opposed the enforcement of drug laws, saying that they 'engender disrespect both for law and for the agents of law enforcement.' … After 40 years of the drug war, people no longer look upon law enforcement as heroes but as people to be feared. This is particularly true in poor neighborhoods and in those of people of color, and it impacts our ability to fight real crime."

Some conservatives, including former U.S. Rep. Tom Tancredo of Colorado, endorsed legalization. Serious liberals have bucked the Democratic Party's equally insane prosecution of the drug war, thus planting the seeds of a left-right pro-freedom coalition outside the confines of the two outdated national parties.

Critics of legalizing small amounts of marijuana are using scare tactics to encourage a heavy-handed federal response. We don't know what the feds will do, given that they have been silent about the measures. Expect the worst. But Seattle police, for instance, have been coming up with reasonable guidelines for enforcement. Is it too much to ask authorities treat us like self-governing adults rather than subjects?

The market will work things out. In California, one can visit quiet pharmacies that are less ominous-looking than liquor stores and choose their medicine without harassment, provided they show a card. Some similarly regulated system will emerge for the sale of recreational marijuana.

The best news isn't that pot will be legal in two states, but that the legalization victories could point the way to a broader, pro-freedom movement.

question: What did voters in Washington and Colorado pass?

answer: Voters in Washington and Colorado passed measures legalizing the recreational use of marijuana.

question: What is Colorado's Democratic governor's views on its state measure with legalizing the recreational use of marijuana?

answer: The governor is an opponent of the state's measure and warns supporters that Federal law still says marijuana is an illegal drug.

question: What is Paul Ryan's personal position on medical marijuana?

answer: He states that his personal position on these issues are to let the states decide what they want to do with the laws.

question: What are critics of legalizing marijuana doing?

answer: They are using scare tactics to encourage a heavy-handed federal response.

question: Write a ~3 sentence summary.

answer: This article discusses the political views on legalizing recreational marijuana and how states have different autonomy on these laws. Colorado and Washington were states that created a movement on legalizing recreational marijuana. There are some opponents to this movement and their perspectives are also described.


text:
The 1965 GATOR BOWL (DECEMBER) was a college football postseason bowl game that featured the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets and the Texas Tech Red Raiders.

Background

The Red Raiders finished 2nd in the Southwest Conference, with their only losses being to #3 Texas and #2 Arkansas. This was the second bowl appearance of the Red Raiders in the decade, along with their first Gator Bowl appearance since 1954. Georgia Tech tied Vanderbilt, lost to Texas Tech, Tennessee and Georgia in their 2nd season as an independent. This was Georgia Tech's fourth bowl game of the decade along with their four Gator Bowl in nine years.

Game summary

-   Georgia Tech - Giles Smith, 2 yard touchdown run (Bunky Henry kick)
-   Georgia Tech - Safety
-   Georgia Tech - Lenny Snow, 1 yard touchdown run (Henry kick)
-   Texas Tech - Donny Anderson, 1 yard touchdown run (Gill kick)
-   Texas Tech - Jerry Shipley, 15 yard touchdown pass from Wilson (Gill kick)
-   Georgia Tech - Jerry Priestly, 1 yard touchdown run (Priestly run)
-   Georgia Tech - Ed Varner, 13 yard touchdown run (Henry kick)

Lenny Snow rushed for 136 yards on 35 carries for Georgia Tech. Donny Anderson rushed for 85 yards on 13 carries, while catching 9 passes for 138 yards. Georgia Tech had 10 more first downs than Tech (27 to 17), 364 rushing yards to the Red Raiders' 113, while being outpassed 283 to 77. Tech turned the ball over five times; Georgia Tech turned it over just twice. [1][2]

Statistics

  Statistics        Texas Tech   Georgia Tech
  ----------------- ------------ --------------
  First Downs       17           27
  Rushing Yards     112          368
  Passing Yards     283          77
  Total Offense     395          445
  Passing           22-40-2      5-10-1
  Fumbles-Lost      3-3          2-1
  Penalties-Yards   3-25         4-57
  Punts-Average     5-32.0       3-41.0

Aftermath

Texas Tech did not make another bowl game until 1970, nor reach the Gator Bowl until 1973. Dodd would coach one more bowl game before his retirement in 1967. They did not reach the Gator bowl again until 1999.

[1]

[2] http://www.texastech.com/sports/2016/6/9/auto-pdf-p-hotos-s-chools-text-sports-m-footbl-auto-pdf-05mediaguide-bowlhistory.aspx

title: 1965 Gator Bowl (December)

question: Was the 1965 Gator Bowl a preseason or postseason game?

answer: Postseason.

question: Explain Vanderbilt's role in this article.

answer: Vanderbilt's football team is referenced as tying Georgia Tech in the 1965 season.

question: What is the name of the Texas Tech football team?

answer: The Red Raiders.

question: Does the Gator Bowl still take place?

answer: The text doesn't say. The most recent Gator Bowl mentioned in the text was in 1999.

question: Write a ~1 sentence summary.

answer: This text summarizes the 1965 Gator Bowl in which the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets and the Texas Tech Red Raiders faced off and includes stats from the game.


text:
LOS ANGELES | vriNDUSTRIES COMPLEX | SUBJECT: THADDEUS JAMES | 2127

For the first time in as long as he could remember, Thaddeus James could walk.

He could smell the scent of rain-soaked dirt, feel the smooth and oily backs of the amphibians crawling on the ground next to him. The luscious green of the forest filled his retinas, and the chirps and chatters of the animals created a sonic landscape for Thaddeus to admire.

And though his body sat still, his mind, his senses, told him that he was walking. So he walked. His legs needed no rehabilitation, there was no soreness and fatigue, and as James sat in Room 0 of the complex – wires snaking out of his cranium and into a machine - he walked through the jungle.

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

LOS ANGELES | vriNDUSTRIES COMPLEX | SUBJECT: REDACTED | 2129

**2 YEARS HAVE PASSED**

Thaddeus ran about in a corn field on this day. Whatever his mind willed was granted, his greatest pleasantries becoming his reality. Next to him – not in the jungle, but in Room 0 – stood George Connors. A man of 24, he looked into the still, yet glowing eyes of his father Thaddeus. He noticed a woman passing by in the open door behind him.

“Lydia, how much longer does he have?”

She walked into the room, analyzing the data on the screens lining the far wall.

“Somewhere between 5 and 6 days, it looks like. I do sincerely hope you find this cure, George.”

George ignored that last, empty remark. Lydia only knew his name because he was her boss, and he figured she only cared about his circumstances for the same reason. For all he knew, she wouldn’t give a damn about him and his father any other way.

George walked over to Room 127 to attend another matter.

It was a luxurious room indeed. Like Room 0, this area was fully lit, with a warm incandescent glow contrasting with the metal sheen of the floors and walls.

In the middle of it sat a woman - her eyes still yet painfully vibrant – internally writhing and screaming in pain, but externally resting calmly.

Within her head, the woman was being tortured. Her deepest, darkest fear – that of snakes – tormented her, the creatures slithering on her skin, biting unrestrainedly, she was scared, so scared that the snakes would kill her and *oh god why are they doing this to me please GOD PLEASE MAKE IT STO-*

“Pause it,” commanded George.

The scientist in front of the machine typed a command, and the woman’s eyes began to move. She looked up to George - out of a terrible internal reality - in a desperate plea.

“DON’T YOU PUT ME BACK! PLEASE, GOD, DON’T PUT ME BACK!” she pleaded.

“YOU WILL ADDRESS ME BY MY NAME, YOU APATHETIC SHIT!” George screamed.

He addressed the scientist standing by the machine.

“Hadley, give her a mental shock.”

Hadley turned a dial, and the woman became blank. In her mind, she writhed, screamed, shouted, and begged for mercy at the intense pain beginning to spread through her body, but this pain was shown only on a screen. Her physical body was unaffected. Internally crying, she regained her senses to see Hadley dialing a switch back down.

“Now,” whispered George with a shaky voice, “you are going to tell me how I can save my father.”

When George’s father was injured in the Great War of 2125, it was George who stood by his side. George was the one to provide financial support, and to rally in anger when MedCorp denied Thaddeus leg prosthetics in pursuit of political neutrality. And in 2127, when Thaddeus became ill, it was George who vacated Room 0 of his virtual reality complex. He knew that if his father could live without the needs of a physical life to drag him down, Thaddeus could enjoy an extended life in the co-reality of the machine and his mind.  But the mind, even, needs the power of a heart and blood, and the energy produced by the human lung. This body was beginning to fail its mind, and Thaddeus would die if George couldn’t find a way to save him.

Somebody had to know how.

Thus, George modified the code in vriNCORPORATED’s machines. Its business uses, sexual diversions, entertainment industry, became inexistent, replaced – without the consent of those in the machines - with a docile simulation that asked its users to solve Thaddeus’s sickness. But when that didn’t work, George knew that extracting this answer would be harder. He devised a torture simulation to feed off of his subjects’ fears. Maybe, they would offer sympathies to a dying man in light of an experience worse than death. His beloved scientists maybe even have had the answers. But someone had to run the show, and the threat of being placed in the machine was reason enough for confidentiality.

Meanwhile, *the woman refused to speak.*

She stammered, yes, but no words came out. Her mentally tortured soul cried out for help in Room 127, but her mind blocked the useless words from ever reaching her mouth.

“This one’s useless, Hadley. Kill her off.”

Hadley entered a command, and the eyelids of the woman in the middle of the room closed.

George closed his eyes for a second as well, to think.

*“Someone in this damned building will give me the answers I need, Dad. I promise you your life.”*

George Conners walked out of the room, stepped down the hallway, and entered Room 128.

title: [SF] The Complex

question: What are George's motivations for wanting to save Thaddeus at all costs?

answer:
Thaddeus could feel himself walking. He could smell and feel the ground. The landscape before him looked beautiful though he had no physical body to speak of - his brain lying in a laboratory, hooked to a machine. George, his son, was trying to find a cure to bring him to life with a functioning body. He had tried everything, including torturing and killing the scientist of vriNDUSTRIES, who are struggling to resist as George hook them up to machines and tortured them with their worst nightmares.

According to the passage, it seems George is acting out of anger against the government who refused his father aid after the war.


text:
All the King’s Men

The scalpel made a large incision, the hand moving fast yet delicately. The doctor made a perfect cut, or as perfect as he could expect in the current situation. The patient moaned while the plastic he was lying on clung to his skin. The doctor reached behind him, adjusting the construction lamp to get a better view. He inserted the makeshift retractor. Next, using the electrocautery knife, the doctor removed the organs. 	“Don’t worry Timothy. Everything will be just fine; I’m going to take care of you.” The hour went by in a blur, but finally the doctor finished his work. He placed both kidneys in a bowl of ice to preserve them, discarding the remaining organs into plastic bags.

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

Good morning, Timothy. How are you feeling today?' the doctor said, making his way downstairs to the makeshift operating room in his house. “Timothy, are you awake?” the doctor asked, after not hearing a response. Upon reaching the bottom of the steps, the doctor could see his son was lying on the table, his body jerking spontaneously. He knew this was coming; he was working too fast. Putting so many foreign organs into his son, his body was rejecting them. If he worked any slower, his son would have died sooner. It was a race against the clock. Hyperactive Organ Deterioration was killing his son from the inside and he was determined on saving Timothy.

"It’s okay Timothy, I’m here. Everything will be okay now." He held his son for so long that he wasn’t even aware of the passing hours.
The sadness slowly started to dissipate. In its place, a rage started to build. The doctor placed his son on the table and went to grab his things.
Carefully but quickly, he opened up his sons chest and removed all of the organs except for the heart. Timothy loved the pharaohs of ancient Egypt so the doctor wanted to honor his son’s interests by placing the four main organs in canopic jars. Stomach, intestines, lung and livers; all removed and placed in their own jar. The doctor took the kidneys from the bowl of ice that was lying on the table next to him and proceeded to shove the organs into his sons’ body. Looking at his work, he smiled for a brief moment before the rage returned.

------------------------------------
“No, no, no! This will never do!” The doctor threw the black tar-stained lungs in frustration. “How could I be so careless? I should have waited, ensuring he wasn’t a smoker.”

A sense of failure washed over the doctor. Turning to look at his son, staring into the cold, lifeless eyes. “I’m sorry Timothy. I promise never to do something so reckless again.” As the doctor kept his gaze locked on his son’s eyes the rage and sense of failure vanished. “I’m starving, let me get us some food, and I’ll tell you about the news for today.”

------------------------------------
Nights continued in this fashion until people started to worry. “They’re scared of all the missing people. They don’t know for certain that it’s murder, but seven people don’t just go missing. I may need to slow down. Nevertheless, it’s okay. Don’t worry Timothy. Everything will be just fine. I’m going to take care of you for the rest of my life.” The doctor said, smiling at his son. Slowly standing up, the doctor realized that he needed to get some fresh air. Walking outside, he took a quick stretch and checked his mail. The neighbor’s kid passed by and greeted the doctor. Smiling, the doctor thought to himself that just one more couldn’t hurt.

title: [MF] All the King's Men

question: What does the text say about the narrator's goals and actions?

answer: He's motivated to keep his son alive despite a disease called hyperactive organ deterioration. He tries to replace the organs as quickly as he can to accomplish this. The organs seemingly come from the narrator's neighbors. He plans to do his gruesome work for the foreseeable future. However, his son seems dead already.

question: What does the text say about Timothy's thoughts about his father's conduct?


text:
BOAT QUAY is a historical quay in Singapore which is situated upstream from the mouth of the Singapore River on its southern bank. It spans from the shophouses near UOB Centre, stretching along one bank of the Singapore River, all the way till Elgin Bridge.

It was the busiest part of the old Port of Singapore, handling three-quarters of all shipping business during the 1860s. Because the south of the river here resembles the belly of a carp, which according to Chinese belief is where wealth and prosperity lay, many shophouses were built, crowded into the area.

Though serving aquatic trade is no longer Boat Quay's primary role, the shophouses on it have been carefully conserved and now house various bars, pubs and restaurants. Therefore, Boat Quay's social-economic role in the city has shifted away from that of trade and maritime commerce, and now leans towards more of a role accommodated for tourism and aesthetics for the commercial zone of which encloses the Singapore River. It is the soft front to the cosmopolitan banking and financial sectors lying immediately behind it.

Boat Quay is also the name of the road along the quay, which has since been converted into a pedestrian mall.

History

[The quay and the Singapore skyline at night] Since the founding of modern Singapore in 1819, the Singapore River was the artery for much of the island's trade and economic activities. The south bank of the river, where most of the commerce took place, is known as Boat Quay.[1]

In the 1820s, the area was swampy and built over with raft houses occupied by local traders. It was reclaimed with earth taken from a small hill where Commercial Square, now Raffles Place, stands.

As early as 1822, Sir Stamford Raffles had already designated the area south of the river to be developed as a Chinese settlement. Boat Quay was completed in 1842 and the Chinese, mostly traders and labourers, settled there in large numbers. Conditions were squalid but Boat Quay flourished, rapidly exceeding in volume the trade on the north bank where the Europeans had their offices, houses and government buildings.

In the midst of Boat Quay were the trading offices of some of Singapore's leading towkay (Hokkien for business owners) and philanthropists, such as Tan Tock Seng and Tan Kim Seng. The level of activity on the river was an indicator of the island's economic status. In prosperous times, hundreds of bumboats would fight for limited berthing space. Goods were carried from ships anchored in the river, to the road by lighters and coolies. Traders bought and sold many items, from raw materials such as rubber, tin, and steel, to perishables such as rice and coffee, and many other manufactured goods.

Boat Quay was very resilient to change. Its role did not diminish even when a new harbour was built at Tanjong Pagar in 1852. On the contrary, it continued to grow, spurred on by the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869, when steamships started calling at the port of Singapore. In fact, during that period, three-quarters of Singapore's overall trading business was transacted from Boat Quay.

Its decline really began in the 1960s, as mechanisation and computerisation gradually usurped the bumboat's role in the shipping industry. In September 1983, the government opened a modern, high-tech cargo centre in Pasir Panjang. This led to the rapid demise of Boat Quay's river trade, as the highly mechanised container port replaced the laborious and hazardous lighter system. Therefore, during the mid-1980s, after all the trading companies had moved out and the lighters removed, Boat Quay was devoid of activity, with the river deserted.

Boat Quay is now a business, dining, nightlife, and entertainment district for a mixture of locals, Western expats, and Western, Asian, and global tourists.

Adaptive re-use of the historic buildings

[Since the 1990s, Boat Quay has been transformed into a pedestrian mall with restaurants, pubs, cafes and clubs.] The Singapore government cleaned-up the river in 1983 and moved the remaining shipping industry's lighters were moved to a new quay near Pasir Panjang. Therefore, the Boat Quay was deserted and unused from 1983 to 1989.[2]

In 1986, the Urban Redevelopment Authority announced plans to preserve Boat Quay as part of a master plan for conserving the whole of the Singapore River and its environs.

On 7 July 1989, an area encompassing South Bridge Road, Circular Road, Lorong Telok and North Canal Road was gazetted. The two- and three-storey shophouses in that area, with their characteristic five-foot way beneath projecting upper floors, were preserved and transformed into new businesses. The shophouses and godowns along the river bank were restored in the 1990s and are now bustling shops, restaurants and bars.

When the area became a conservation area in 1989, redevelopment began and by 1993 all historic shophouses were under reconstruction. The Singapore Urban Redevelopment Authority issued stringent guidelines for the restoration but did not provide cash grants or tax relief for conservation projects but waived some of the development charges, car parking requirements and car park deficiency charges.[3]

The historic shophouses could now easily be re-used for modern businesses, such as restaurants, cafes, bars and small shops. The interior of the buildings could be modified with the new use in mind, in some cases using new non-traditional interior ornamentation, materials, and colours. For instance, the interior of the Opera Cafe at No. 40 Boat Quay was modified to create an ambiance similar to an opera stage-set. The ground floor of the Lim Family Shophouse at No. 58 Boat Quay was converted into a Japanese restaurant. The upper floor is used as a weekend flat for the Lim family, who lived in the building since 1908. The architect Mok Wei Wei created more open space by demolishing some of the original partition walls, but kept and restored the original teak floors, paint colour on the window frames, wooden balcony doors, and tile roofs. The historic blackwood furniture and art pieces were also restored and re-used.[4]

Multiple startup companies also rent offices around the Boat Quay and nearby Circular Road area.

Historical names

[Boat Quay during its heyday around 1865, when as many as 150 boats moored on the river, trading everything from rubber, tin and iron, to silk, porcelain, rice, opium, spices and coffee.[5]] Boat Quay is one of the early roads established when the Singapore River was the main port area of the colonial city. In the 19th century, the Chinese had several names for this road, referring to different sections of it:

-   _tiam pang lo thau_ or “the place to go for sampans”;
-   _chap sa hang_ (十三行) or “the thirteen shops” (the part near Canton Street);
-   _chap peh keng_ (十八间) or “the eighteen houses” (the part near Circular Road);
-   _chui chu boi_ or “bathing house end”;[6]
-   _khoi ki_ or “steam bank”;
-   _bu ye tian_ (不夜天) or “place of ceaseless activity”; and
-   _tiam pang lo thau_ (place to go for sampans)[7] or “sampan ghaut or landing-place” (referring to the lower part of Boat Quay near Purvis Creek).
-   _cha chun tau_ (柴船头), meaning “jetty for boats carrying firewood” (the part around Read Bridge)
-   _chap poet heng_, meaning the eighteen houses[8]

Some of the quay's colloquial English names included:

-   Suspension bridge Quay (after Cavenagh Bridge); and
-   “The Belly of the Carp” because of the shape of the river at this point.

[centre|600px|The Parliament House (left) and Empress Place Building (centre) along North Boat Quay Promenade, and The Fullerton Hotel (right) at Boat Quay at night]

Gallery

File:Circular Road, Dec 05.JPG|Conserved shophouses line both sides of Circular Road at Boat Quay File:boat quay night closeup.JPG|Night view of the restaurants and pubs that line the Singapore River File:The River Merchants (2003) by Aw Tee Hong, Cavenagh Bridge, Singapore - 20051203.jpg|Sculptures at Boat Quay depict activities carried out on the banks of Singapore River in the 19th century and early 20th century File:Boat-Quay-night-2017-Luka-Peternel.jpg%7CNight view of Boat Quay

[1] Elaine Ee: _Singapore's 100 Historic Places._ .

[2] Eunice M. Lin Adaptive Re-use of the Historic Boat Quay Singapore River, Singapore.

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

title: Boat Quay

question: What can you determine about the socio-economic role that the Boat Quay has in Singapore?

answer: The socio-economic role that the Boat Quay plays in Singapore is one of great tourist attraction, as there are many shophouses in that area, which will gather in a lot of revenue from tourists.

question: What do the historical names of Boat Quay tell the audience?

answer: The historical names of Boat Quay tell the audience how many changes the Boat Quay has gone through and the different titles it has been called during different eras. Different trading hotspots contributed to naming Boat Quay different names, and different sections of the quay had different names.


text:
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan vowed Monday to expand Ankara's military operations against more Kurdish strongholds in Syria, after ousting Kurds from their enclave in Afrin.

Erdogan said Turkish forces would target the Syrian city of Manbij, along with Ayn al-Arab, also known as Kobani, and other towns along the Turkish-Syrian border to the east of the Euphrates River.

The expanded fight could lead to conflict with the United States, a NATO ally. The border region is controlled by U.S.-backed Syrian Kurdish forces, with U.S. troops stationed in Manbij as part of the effort to eradicate the Islamic State terrorist group.

  “We've made it very clear that they're there," Pentagon spokesman Col. Rob Manning told reporters Monday, adding the U.S. defense officials remain in close contact with their Turkish counterparts.

U.S. officials are also concerned about a possible worsening of the humanitarian situation in Afrin, where reports have emerged that civilians no longer have access to clean, drinkable water.

  "It appears the majority of the population of the city, which is predominantly Kurdish, evacuated under threat of attack from Turkish military forces and Turkish-backed opposition forces,” said State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert. "This adds to the already concerning humanitarian situation in the area"

Turkish President Erdogan also threatened to expand the military operations into Iraq in an attempt to drive out Kurdish militants from the Sinjar region if the Iraqi government proves unwilling to engage them. Turkey claims the region is a staging area for outlawed Kurdish rebels who have been waging a fight for more than three decades to control southeastern Turkey.

"One night, we could suddenly enter Sinjar," Erdogan said.

[Turkey-backed Free Syrian Army soldiers celebrate around a statue of Kawa, a mythology figure in Kurdish culture, after destroying it in the city center of Afrin, northwestern Syria, March 18, 2018. ]

Turkey-backed Free Syrian Army soldiers celebrate
Turkey-backed Free Syrian Army soldiers celebrate around a statue of Kawa, a mythology figure in Kurdish culture, after destroying it in the city center of Afrin, northwestern Syria, March 18, 2018.

Despite the operations inside Syria, Erdogan said Turkey has no intention of "invading" Syria, claiming his country is just clearing the region of those he considers terrorists.

Turkey's state-run news agency said a booby-trapped bomb reportedly left by Syrian Kurdish fighters in a four-story building in Afrin killed 11 people late Sunday, including seven civilians and four Turkish-backed fighters. Turkish forces and Syrian opposition fighters allied with Ankara had advanced Sunday into Afrin after a nearly two-month-long campaign.

Federica Mogherini, the European Union's top diplomat, criticized Turkey's expanded operations along the Syrian border.

"I am worried about this," Mogherini said in Brussels. She said international efforts in the seven-year conflict in Syria are "aiming at de-escalating the military activities and not escalating them."

U.S. defense officials have likewise expressed concern, saying the conflict between Turkey and Kurdish forces could give IS a chance to re-emerge.

question: When was the article written?

answer: Probably sometime in 2018

question: Who is the Pentagon's spokesman?

answer: Col. Rob Manning

question: Why might Turkey come into conflict with the U.S.?

answer: The U.S. supports Syrian Kurdish forces in the area where Turkish President Erdogan is vowing to target

question: Where is Manbij?

answer: In Syria, east of the Euphrates River

question: Write a ~2 sentence summary.

answer: Turkish President Erdogan has vowed to expand military operations and target towns along the Turkish-Syrian border. This has prompted concern from both the EU and the US.