text:
Welcome to Personalabs

Your Health In Your Hands

We offer more than 400 BLOOD TESTS and telemedicine services. Get the blood tests with the DOCTOR’S ORDER INCLUDED, prescription medications for specific ailments and conditions, and the answers you seek, when you want them.

With OVER 2,300 LOCATIONS NATIONWIDE, you can empower yourself and take control of your health. _HEALTH INSURANCE IS NOT REQUIRED._ At Personalabs, we strive to empower American consumers to take GREATER CONTROL of their own healthcare decisions and make it easier to be proactive in managing their personal health.

Popular Blood Test Packages

Get Comprehensive Blood Test Packages and Save Money

Popular Blood Test Packages

[Healthy Male Checkup]

$229.00

[Healthy Female Checkup Blood Test]

$231.00

[Comprehensive STD Panel]

$251.00

[Wellness Checkup]

$119.00

Popular Blood Test Categories

We Offer Specific Tests For All Of Your Health Concerns

Popular Blood Test Categories

A contemporary way for medical service providers to deliver healthcare from the comfort of your home or office.

  Personalabs has been awesome. I have ordered a few labs from them and the process is a breeze. I definitely recommend Personalabs for lab needs without going to the doctor.

  You have a lot of variety to choose from and it’s great if you need to know immediately rather then making and appointment and waiting to see a doctor.

Our simple 4 step process allows you to order the lab tests and blood work you need online and get tested locally without visiting the doctor!

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    []

    STEP 1 - Order Your Test

    Create your account, select your tests and pay online.

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    []

    STEP 2 - Print Your Doctor's Orders

    We have doctors registered in 50 states that will provide you with a doctor’s order included as part of our service.

-
    []

    STEP 3 - Visit A Lab

    Find a Patient Service Center near you. Print and present your Doctor’s order at the lab.

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    []

    STEP 4 - View The Results

    In as little as 24 hours, you can view your results in your confidential Personalabs account.

question: How many blood tests does Personalabs offer?

answer: Over 400.

question: How much is a "healthy male checkup"?

answer: $229.00

question: How much is a "healthy female checkup blood test"?

answer: $251.00

question: Why does the female checkup cost more?

answer: This question isn't answered-perhaps variations in hormones?

question: Write a ~2 sentence summary.

answer: A company called Personalabs offers several different types of blood tests having to do with varying wellness interests and potential concerns at a range of prices. There's a four-step process: order the test, print your doctor's orders, visit a lab, and view your results.


split: train

text:
It is a bright sunny day. The school children are outside playing for recess. The kids are swinging, sliding, running and jumping. All the little ones are playing except for one child, his name is Jason and he is an adventurer, he is an explorer. Jason is off by himself searching. He is tracking down a chirping sound that he is familiar with. He sees the grasshopper sitting on a blade of grass. He carefully inspects the insect trying not to disturb it. The grasshopper is motionless trying to blend in but Jason is not fooled. Jason picks up a stick and touches the bug, the grasshopper jumps high into the air startling Jason, he falls back laughing.

This catches the attention of his teacher Mrs. Ratchet. “JASON! Leave that bug alone” she screeches. This catches the adventurer off guard; he stands up and faces her with his head bowed and his hands behind his back. “Wouldn’t you rather play with the other students?” she asks inquisitively. Jason looks over at the other kids playing and then bows his head again. Mrs. Ratchet peers at Jason then glances at her watch. “Play time is over children, line up we are going back to class.”

Mrs. Ratchet sits at her desk reading aloud to the children about photosynthesis in a monotone voice. Jason is staring out of the window wondering where the grasshopper went and what it was doing now. “Jason!” Mrs. Ratchet yells, “Pay attention.” The students laugh. Jason turns red with embarrassment and bows his head. Mrs. Ratchet continues reading aloud. Jason picks up his pencil and draws a crude picture of the grasshopper. One of the students sitting behind Jason announces to the teacher and the class “Jason is drawing!” “Jason! Come here. Bring your notebook” Ratchet says furiously. The classroom collectively moans “OH!” Jason bows his head slowly stands up, and walks steadily holding the picture close to his chest so that no one can see it. Mrs. Ratchet grabs the notebook and holds it up so the kids can see his crude drawing, the children giggle.

She takes the notebook and slams it on the desk, “Jason, come with me.” Ratchet grabs Jason’s hand and drags him out of the room and down the hall. Jason is silent with tears streaming down his face. Jason is surprised to see Mrs. Ratchet pass the principal’s office; he begins to wonder where they were going.

He is confused as she drags him into the nurse’s room. The nurse sitting at her desk looks up with her plump face and with her paper thin lips forms what looks like a smile. “What is the matter with this one?” the nurse says while sizing up Jason. “He is having problems paying attention. I think he has ADD” Ratchet says while cocking her head to the side and folding her arms. “What is wrong with me?” Jason ponders. “Jason, Jason, JASON!” Ratchet shouts. Jason snaps back to consciousness. “See it is the worst case I have ever seen” Ratchet remarks. “I suppose you are right” accesses the nurse, “I will call his mother.” Mrs. Ratchet glances at Jason and leaves the office. The nurse picks up her phone and call Jason’s mother. “Yes Ma’am he has a mental disorder that makes him unable to pay attention” the nurse explains, “you will need to follow up with his doctor; they have medication to fix this kind of thing.” Jason nervously fidgets, the nurse looks up at him, “Jason, your mother is on her way.”

Jason sits worrying “what is wrong with me?”

His mother arrives and the nurse meets her at the door, they talk in the hall. Jason strains to hear what is being said but cannot decipher the mumblings. Jason’s mother walks into the room eyeballs him and says “come on, let’s go.” Jason stands up and follows his mother to the car, nothing is said. He gets into the car “buckle up” his mother say; she drives him to the doctor in silence. When they arrive Jason finds the courage to ask “Mom is there something wrong with me?” “I don’t know honey, but if there is we will get it fixed.”

As they sit in the waiting room Jason is restless. He ponders to himself what was wrong with him. His mom has a pamphlet in her face with the words ADD labeled on the cover. Jason sits fidgeting nervously. His mom peers over her pamphlet at him. “Jason” the receptionist calls out. Jason’s mom takes his hand and leads him into the back where they are taken to a smaller room. Inside of this room is a plastic uncomfortable bed with paper sheet on top. Jason curious as to why anyone would put paper sheets on a bed starts to pick the sheet apart. Jason’s mother cuts her eyes over and moans then grabs the back of her neck as she looks away. Jason pauses and tries to figure out what he had done wrong.

The doctor bursts into the room, she stops at the door and looks down at her clip board and looks up and smiles “Hi Jason!” “Hi” he responds shyly. “Hey mom what seems to be the problem with Jason?” “Well I got a call today from the school nurse, she said he is having a hard time paying attention in class, and while sitting in the waiting room he was showing these signs” Jason’s mom points inside the pamphlet. “Ah, restlessness, can’t sit still, not paying attention, these are all classic signs of ADD” the doctor says as she holds her clip board close to her chest, “Well we have a lot of options here, but I prefer to treat ADD with Ritalin.”

Now a few weeks have passed and Jason has been cured; he doesn’t play with bugs or wander in the fields. He no longer fidgets or daydreams. He silently stares at his schoolbook as his teacher reads aloud.

While sitting in class Jason sees a grasshopper sitting on the classroom window, he yawns and continues reading.

title: the last adventure

question: Why does the teacher assume that Jason's curiosity is a result of ADD?

answer: She wants children all to behave like cut-outs.

question: How can the nurse just accept what the teacher has said without question?

answer: All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others. The teacher's opinion has more bearing than any answer that Jason might offer.

question: Why does Jason's mother accept what the nurse and teacher say?

answer: She may be bowing to what she sees as professional competence. In doing so she sacrifices her child's personality and character.

question: What is the moral of the story?

answer: Society presses us into performing according to certain norms and standards and in so doing they take away the very character and personality that makes people interesting. Society creates cages into which we must fit.

question: Write a ~15 sentence summary.

answer:
Jason is an adventurer, an explorer. While the other children are playing Jason is exploring, inspecting a grasshopper. The teacher, Mrs Ratchet doesn’t understand why Jason wants to explore when he could be playing.

They all go back to class. As she reads to the children, Jason’s attention goes back to the grasshopper. He draws it. One of the children tells the teacher, who calls him up to show her. She then drags him to the nurse's office, reporting that he has ADD and needs treatment.

The nurse calls Jason’s mother and explains their problem. The mother is convinced and takes him to the doctor for a cure. She puts him on Ritalin.
Now a few weeks have passed and Jason has been cured; he doesn’t play with bugs or wanders in the fields. He no longer fidgets or daydreams. He silently stares at his schoolbook as his teacher reads aloud.

While sitting in class Jason sees a grasshopper sitting on the classroom window, he yawns and continues reading.


text:
A logo or wordmark is a standardized graphic representation associated with an institution, organization, or business. When used consistently, it helps create a clear and memorable identity and becomes a symbol that provides audiences with immediate and powerful recognition and association with the institution.

Michigan State University has four official marks—the Michigan State University wordmark, Spartan helmet graphic mark, university seal, and block S—all of which are registered trademarks, as are the words “Michigan State University.”

-   The wordmark and helmet may be used widely by the MSU community, while the university seal and block S are available for more selective use.
-   A wordmark/helmet combination mark also is available.

In addition, a STANDARDIZED SIGNATURE SYSTEM provides options for university colleges and other units to combine a unit name with the wordmark or with the wordmark and helmet.

See details and specifications, below. For an overview of appropriate use of marks and signatures in various types of communications, see the logo usage chart. (980k PDF)

Identity Standards for all trademarks

To provide immediate brand recognition and to connect university units with the Michigan State brand, print and online publications and websites for all MSU units should reflect consistent graphic identity standards.

-   Display all trademarks only in MSU green (Pantone Matching System ink color 567 or hex code 18453B for web), black, or white, or, when specified, a combination of black and MSU green.
-   Place the Michigan State University wordmark (or approved wordmark/helmet combination or unit signatures) on either the front or back cover of all publications.
-   Include the Michigan State University wordmark on every university website in the footer as specified in the MSU Web Standards.
-   Use only approved, unaltered trademarks and combination marks and signatures designed to approved specs. Do not recreate trademarks.
-   Use Michigan State University’s trademarks only on official communications, partnerships, and sponsorships. MSU does not allow use of its marks for projects not affiliated with the university, other than licensed products with approval from University Licensing Programs.
-   Use the wordmark/helmet combination mark in approved instances when a logo is to be included with a group of other logos or must appear very small.

Guidelines for use of individual marks

MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY WORDMARK

The Michigan State University wordmark is the standardized graphic representation of the Michigan State University name. It is a custom-designed mark that emphasizes the words “Michigan State” to provide immediate identity recognition and to enhance readability.

[Wordmark]

Use

-   As the primary graphic symbol that identifies Michigan State University, the wordmark (or approved wordmark/helmet combination or unit signature) must appear on all publications, websites, and other visual communications developed for MSU external audiences by any administrative or academic unit of the university except Intercollegiate Athletics.
-   Display the wordmark only in MSU green (Pantone Matching System ink color 567 or hex code 18453B for web), black, or white, or, when specified, a combination of black and MSU green.
-   Use only approved, unaltered versions of the wordmark.
-   Do not recreate the mark
-   Do not use the Michigan State University wordmark within text.
-   Do not combine with any other marks, graphic elements, or words except as specified. Exception: The wordmark may be combined with the helmet in the WORDMARK/HELMET COMBINATION MARK and with a unit name as part of a UNIT SIGNATURE.
-   Do not alter the Michigan State University wordmark except to enlarge or reduce proportionally.
-   The wordmark may be used on give-away promotional items such as T-shirts, mugs, key chains, etc., with prior written approval from University Licensing Programs ( See Use of Trademarks on Promotional Items).

Spartan Helmet

The Spartan helmet graphic is a simple, strong, and iconic mark that symbolizes Michigan State University. MSU students, faculty, staff, and alumni around the world refer to themselves as Spartans. All MSU administrative and academic units may use the Spartan helmet.

[Spartan Helmet]

Use

-   Display the helmet only in MSU green (Pantone Matching System ink color 567 or hex code 18453B for web), black, or white, or, when specified, a combination of black and MSU green.
-   Use only approved, unaltered versions of the Spartan helmet.
-   Do not recreate the Spartan helmet.
-   Display the Spartan helmet in the right facing position; do not reverse the direction.
-   Do not alter the Spartan helmet except to enlarge or reduce proportionally.
-   Do not substitute the Spartan helmet for the Michigan State University wordmark, which should appear on all external MSU publications, websites, and other visual communications.
-   Do not combine the Spartan helmet with or place within any other marks, graphic elements, or words except as specified. Exceptions: The helmet may be combined with the wordmark in the WORDMARK/HELMET COMBINATION MARK and with a unit name as part of a UNIT SIGNATURE.
-   The Spartan helmet may be used as a graphic element on any communication, in addition to the MSU wordmark.
-   The Spartan helmet may be used on give-away promotional items such as T-shirts, mugs, key chains, etc., with prior written approval from University Licensing Programs ( See Use of Trademarks on Promotional Items).

University Seal

The official seal of Michigan State University represents the university’s founding in 1855 as the nation’s pioneer land-grant university and its legacy of democratizing higher education. College Hall—Michigan State University’s first academic building—is at the center of the seal. Above it, rays of the rising sun represent the new era in education that dawned in the mid-19th century with the bold experiment of teaching the mechanical and agricultural arts alongside the liberal arts. The sweeping walkway leading to the steps calls to mind the egalitarian welcome extended to ordinary citizens to reap the benefits of higher learning.

[block S]

Use

-   The seal appears on official academic documents and on all official university stationery (letterhead and business cards) except for those of Intercollegiate Athletics, which bear the Spartan helmet.
-   Display the seal only in MSU green (Pantone Matching System ink color 567 or hex code 18453B for web), black, or white, or, when specified, a combination of black and MSU green.
-   Do not substitute the seal for the Michigan State University wordmark, which should appear on all external MSU publications, websites, and other visual communications.
-   The seal may be used on certain high-end items approved by University Licensing Programs ( See Use of Trademarks on Promotional Items); do not use the seal on general give-away promotional items such as T-shirts, mugs, key chains, etc.
-   Use only approved, unaltered versions of the seal.

BLOCK S

Michigan State University’s block S is a custom graphic treatment. It is vertical in stature and contains subtle graphic styling, making it unique among similar letterforms.

[block-s]

Use

The block S is a university heritage mark available for use by all Michigan State University units, however it is not recommended for use on communications intended for external audiences.

-   Display the block S only in MSU green (Pantone Matching System ink color 567 or hex code 18453B for web), black, or white, or, when specified, a combination of black and MSU green.
-   Do not substitute the block S for the Michigan State University wordmark, which should appear on all external MSU publications, websites, and other visual communications.
-   The block S is not a substitute for the Spartan helmet.
-   Use only approved, unaltered versions of the block S.
-   Do not recreate the block S.
-   Do not use the block S to replace a letterform in any name or word.
-   Do not combine the block S with or place within any other marks, graphic elements, or words.
-   Do not alter the block S except to enlarge or reduce proportionally.
-   The block S may be used on give-away promotional items such as T-shirts, mugs, key chains, etc., with prior written approval from University Licensing Programs ( See Use of Trademarks on Promotional Items).

MSU WORDMARK/HELMET COMBINATION

The wordmark/helmet combination incorporates the university’s primary graphic symbol with the high-visibility Spartan helmet graphic for increased recognition and readability.

[]

Use

-   The combination mark may be used on all external communications, unless otherwise specified, including print and online publications, advertising, and licensed merchandise.
-   The combination should be used for outdoor signage identifying MSU locations off campus. (Contact University Communications for more information.)
-   The combination is the preferred choice when a Michigan State University mark must appear within a list or group of visual marks from other entities. Using this combined format provides greater visual impact.

COLLEGE AND UNIT SIGNATURES

The MSU signature system enables each college and unit to connect its name with the MSU wordmark, or with the helmet and wordmark, to provide a consistent form of unit identification that is immediately recognizable as Michigan State University. The signature allows units to leverage the equity of the university’s primary marks while strengthening the overall MSU brand.

To create a unit signature, refer to the specs below or use the official MSU signature generator. You will be asked to log in with your net ID and password.

As a form of identification, all units should use the unit name set in Gotham type combined with either the Michigan State University wordmark (wordmark signature) or the combined helmet and wordmark (helmet signature).

Existing unit logos may not be used and new unit logos may not be developed.

Wordmark signature

[wordmark] [wordmark]

Use

-   The wordmark signature may be used on all external communications, including print and online publications and advertising.
-   The horizontal format is preferred, but the vertical option may be used when space does not allow for the horizontal version.
-   The college or name may be accompanied by a secondary unit name, as indicated.

Helmet signature

[wordmark]

To create this signature you will need the helmet graphic (see Spartan Helmet section above) and the MSU type graphic:

-   MSU type graphic EPS
-   MSU type graphic JPEG
-   MSU type graphic PNG

Use

-   The helmet signature, which combines a unit name with the MSU helmet mark with the MSU type graphic, may be used on all external communications, including print and online publications and advertising.
-   The addition of the helmet enhances visibility, making the helmet signature particularly effective for advertising and promotional purposes.

WEB AND DIGITAL COMMUNICATIONS

MSU websites must display the approved standard masthead and footer. For details, see the MSU Web Standards.

BUILDING SIGNAGE

Contact University Communications for all building signage matters.

USE OF TRADEMARKS ON PROMOTIONAL ITEMS

Use of any university trademark on a promotional/premium item of any type requires prior written approval from University Licensing Programs and production by a licensed vendor. This applies to all products, including those designed by students or student groups. For more information, visit licensing.msu.edu. To request approval, contact University Licensing Programs at licensing@union.msu.edu or 517-355-3434.

COMMERCIAL USE OF UNIVERSITY TRADEMARKS

Commercial use of any university trademark, including the manufacture and distribution of all products for sale, typically will require a license from University Licensing Programs. For more information, visit licensing.msu.edu or contact University Licensing Programs at licensing@union.msu.edu or 517-355-3434.

UNIVERSITY IDENTIFICATION IN ADVERTISING

Michigan State University must be identified prominently in all university-generated advertising that promotes any unit of the institution. Preferably, the Michigan State University wordmark and helmet will be used. (See approved use of marks and unit signatures, above.) On occasion, very prominent type identifying Michigan State University may be used. This applies to all online ads, magazine and newspaper advertising, posters, banners, and billboards.

When advertising is used to promote an event, university identification must appear prominently, but sizing should reflect the relative roles of the event, the sponsoring unit, and the university.

question: What is a wordmark?

answer: A wordmark is the standardized graphic representation of the name of a company or institution.

question: How many official marks does Michigan State University have?

answer: Michigan has a four official marks.

question: Why should all print and online publications for MSU units reflect consistent graphic identity standards?

answer: All publications for MSU units should reflect consistent graphic identity standards in order to provide immediate brand recognition and to connect all university units with the Michigan State brand.

question: What is the Pantone Matching System Ink color of the MSU green?

answer: The ink color number is 567.

question: Write a ~1 sentence summary.

answer: This article is a detailed brand and identity guideline for Michigan State University.


text:
[[File:Plan de Mérian.jpg|thumb|

Merian map of Paris (1615)

]]

_DICTIONNAIRE HISTORIQUE DES RUES DE PARIS_ (_Historical Dictionary of the Streets of Paris_) is a book by Jacques Hillairet, a historian specializing in the history of Paris. It includes 5344 streets in two volumes and 2343 illustrations.[1] It was first published in 1960 by éditions de Minuit and was regularly re-published and updated from 1963 onwards. His sources included _Dictionnaire administratif et historique des rues de Paris et de ses monuments_ by Louis and Félix Lazare (first edition, 1844) and _Histoire de Paris rue par rue, maison par maison_ by Charles Lefeuve (issued from 1863).[2]

Hillairet died in 1984 and the work is now written and edited by Pascal Payen-Appenzeller, who wrote the eleventh edition in 2004.[3] The dictionary has received the Grand Prix Histoire from the Académie française.

[1] Article on the _Dictionnaire historique des rues de Paris_ by Jacques Hillairet on the official site of éditions de Minuit

[2] Notice de la BNF

[3] _Dictionnaire historique des rues de Paris_ in the BNF

question: Who was Jacques Hillairet?

answer: A historian specializing in the history of Paris

question: When was Dictionnaire historique des rues de Paris published?

answer: It was first published in 1960

question: Who was the publisher for Dictionnaire historique des rues de Paris?

answer: éditions de Minuit

question: What awards has Dictionnaire historique des rues de Paris won?

answer: The Grand Prix Histoire from the Académie française

question: Describe the contents of Dictionnaire historique des rues de Paris.

answer: Across two volumes, it includes 5344 streets and 2343 illustrations.

question: Write a ~4 sentence summary.

answer: The Dictionnaire historique des rues de Paris is a book by Jacques Hillairet first published in 1960. It spans two volumes and contains over 5344 streets and 2343 illustrations. The book has been regularly published and re-updated from 1963 onwards. After Hillairet's death, Pascal Payen-Appenzeller took over as the book's writer and editor.


text:
The 2016 NORTH CAROLINA STATE SENATE ELECTIONS selected members to serve in the North Carolina Senate for a two-year term commencing in January 2017. Going into the election, the Senate had 34 Republican and 16 Democratic members, which constituted a two-thirds super-majority for the Republican Party. Following the election, the Senate had 35 Republican and 15 Democratic members.[1][2]

Results

District 1

Incumbent Republican Bill Cook has represented the 1st district since 2013.

District 2

Incumbent Republican Norman W. Sanderson has represented the 2nd district since 2013.

District 3

Incumbent Democrat Erica D. Smith has represented the 3rd district since 2015.

District 4

Incumbent Democrat Angela Bryant has represented the 4th district since 2013.

District 5

Incumbent Democrat Donald G. Davis has represented the 5th district since 2013 and previously from 2009 to 2011.

District 6

Incumbent Republican Majority Leader Harry Brown has represented the 6th district since 2004.

District 7

Incumbent Republican Louis Pate has represented the 7th district and its predecessors since 2011.

District 8

Incumbent Republican Bill Rabon has represented the 8th district since 2011.

District 9

Incumbent Republican Michael Lee has represented the 9th district since 2014.

District 10

Incumbent Republican Brent Jackson has represented the 10th district since 2011.

District 11

Incumbent Republican Buck Newton has represented the 11th district since 2011.
Newton unsuccessfully sought election to become NC Attorney General.

District 12

Incumbent Republican Ronald J. Rabin has represented the 12th district since 2013.

District 13

Incumbent Democrat Jane W. Smith has represented the 13th district since 2015.
Smith lost re-election to Republican Danny Earl Britt, Jr..

District 14

Incumbent Democrat Dan Blue has represented the 14th district since 2009.

District 15

Incumbent Republican John Alexander has represented the 15th district since 2015.

District 16

Incumbent Democrat Jay Chaudhuri has represented the 16th district since 2016.
Chaudhuri is seeking his first full term.

District 17

Incumbent Republican Tamara Barringer has represented the 17th district since 2013.

District 18

Incumbent Republican Chad Barefoot has represented 18th district since 2013.

District 19

Incumbent Republican Wesley Meredith has represented the 19th district since 2011.

District 20

Incumbent Democrat Floyd McKissick Jr. has represented the 20th district since 2007.

District 21

Incumbent Democrat Ben Clark has represented the 21st district since 2013.

District 22

Incumbent Democrat Mike Woodard has represented the 22nd district since 2013.

District 23

Incumbent Democrat Valerie Foushee has represented the 23rd district since 2013.

District 24

Incumbent Republican Rick Gunn has represented the 24th district since 2011.

District 25

Incumbent Republican Tom McInnis has represented the 25th district since 2015.

District 26

Incumbent Republican President Pro Tempore Phil Berger has represented the 26th district since and its predecessors since 2001.

District 27

Incumbent Republican Trudy Wade has represented the 27th district since 2013.

District 28

Incumbent Democrat Gladys Robinson has represented the 28th district since 2011.

District 29

Incumbent Republican Jerry Tillman has represented the 29th district since

District 30

Incumbent Republican Shirley B. Randleman has represented the 30th district since 2012.

District 31

Incumbent Republican Joyce Krawiec has represented the 31st district since 2014.

District 32

Incumbent Democrat Paul Lowe, Jr. has represented the 32nd district since 2015.

District 33

Incumbent Republican Stan Bingham has represented the 33rd district and its predecessors since 2001.
Bingham didn't seek re-election.

District 34

Incumbent Republican Andrew Brock has represented the 34th district since 2003.

District 35

Incumbent Republican Tommy Tucker has represented the 35th district since 2011.

District 36

Incumbent Republican Fletcher L. Hartsell Jr. has represented the 36th district and its predecessors since 1991.
Hartsell didn't seek re-election. Republican Paul Newton won the open seat.

District 37

Incumbent Democrat Jeff Jackson has represented the 37th district since 2014.

District 38

Incumbent Democrat Joel D. M. Ford has represented the 38th district since 2013.

District 39

Incumbent Republican Bob Rucho has represented the 39th district since 2008.
Rucho didn't seek re-election. Representative Dan Bishop won the open seat.

District 40

Incumbent Democrat Joyce Waddell has represented the 40th district since 2015.

District 41

Incumbent Republican Jeff Tarte has represented the 41st district since 2013.

District 42

Incumbent Republican Andy Wells has represented the 42nd district since 2015.

District 43

Incumbent Republican Kathy Harrington has represented the 43rd district since 2011.

District 44

Incumbent Republican David L. Curtis has represented the 44th district since 2013.

District 45

Incumbent Republican Deanna Ballard has represented the 45th district since 2016.

District 46

Incumbent Republican Warren Daniel has represented the 46th district and its predecessors since 2011.

District 47

Incumbent Republican Ralph Hise has represented the 47th district since 2011.

District 48

Incumbent Republican Chuck Edwards has represented the 48th district since 2016.

District 49

Incumbent Democrat Terry Van Duyn has represented the 49th district since 2014.

District 50

Incumbent Republican Jim Davis has represented the 50th district since 2011.

[1] North Carolina State Board of Elections

[2] NY Times

title: 2016 North Carolina Senate election

question: How long is the serving term for the 2016 North Caroline senate election candidates?

answer: Two years.

question: How many districts are there in North Carolina?

answer: 50 districts.

question: How many senators did the Republican party have going into the 2017 elections?

answer: They had 34 senators.

question: Which district is the incumbent Republican, Louis Pate, represented at the 2016 elections?

answer: The 7th district.

question: Write a ~4 sentence summary.

answer:
The 2016 North Carolina state elections see members of Congress elected to serve for two years. Going into that election, Republicans had 34 members and Democrats had 16 members.

All in all the North Carolina state has 50 districts. Incumbent republican, Louis Pate, represents the 7th district and its predecessors since 2011.


text:
The sixth floor of the library was a graveyard. That is not to say that it was lifeless. It was just the place where students tried to save their already dead academic careers. The occupants were so buried by the books on the desks of their cubicles that they seemed to hardly twitch, blink, or even breathe. My own breath was a veritable death rattle. Dead eyes scanned lines in thick textbook at breakneck speed, flicking left to right, left to right, over and over. Not even the graffiti screaming “Alpha Nu sucks ass”, or the endless rebuttals could pull their eyes from the page. I was wearing headphones without any music playing, just to keep out the clicking of keyboards and the scratch of pages turning. It was 2 a.m., and smack in the middle of finals week. My eyes burned as if I had I had thrown salt into them, and were watering so badly that I couldn’t read the formulas on the page without first wiping them dry. I had said at the beginning of the semester that calculus would be the death of me, and the balcony was calling my name.

My phone buzzed at 2:17, and I didn’t hear it. It wasn’t until 2:23, when I slammed my pencil down in disgust at getting another problem wrong, and the tears really started to flow, that I picked up and unlocked my phone that I read the text from Anna. “Ugh, fuck calc, am I right?”, she had typed. I typed back, “Yeah, Im probably gonna have to pull an all nighter”. She responded quickly, “yeah me too. if you wanna come over and help me that’d be great :)”. Now, I knew that Anna was a nice enough girl, but she was notoriously promiscuous (I’d like to give myself credit for that, she used to be a shy girl), and I was fairly sure that she had only gotten to the point that she had only survived that far into the semester by sleeping with the professor. I was fairly sure that I would end up briefly inserting various parts of my body into various holes in her body, followed by sleeping through the exam. As appealing as that sounded, I knew that I had to pass this test, and I knew that in order to do that I had to stay up all night preparing for it. So I texted her back “maybe later” and silenced my phone.

I jerked awake at 5:31, splashing myself with the puddle of drool that had accumulated on page 347 of my textbook. I began to swear violently, getting out three quarters of a word before I remembered my surroundings. I took a second to gather myself, and then delved doggedly back into calculus. Another ninety minutes of eye-burning frustration and twenty textbook pages passed before I let myself check my phone. Surprisingly, I had a missed call and a voicemail from Anna. As I was still in the library, I resolved to listen to it later. Another half hour of studying passed before I gave up and headed back to my dorm for a nap before my test. I was so worn out that the voicemail slipped my mind.

My alarm blared at eight. I was shower, dressed, groomed, and eating cheerios in the cafeteria by 8:40. I brought my textbook and did some last minute cramming with the final twenty minutes before my exam. With my heart racing to about 130 beats per minute, I walked from the cafeteria to my exam room, sat in my preferred seat, and spent the next two hours dominating a calculus exam. My confidence grew as I found each problem easier and easier. By the last page of the test I was almost laughing. My studying appeared to have paid off, and I waited outside the exam room to brag to Anna. She didn’t show up, which I found odd. There was no way she could have finished before me. Then I remembered her voicemail, and I fished my phone out of pocket to listen to it.

Campus security had to break her door down. They didn’t let me see the body, but I saw some of the pills on the ground after they had finished. Xanax. Powder blue pills pockmarked the linoleum.  Based on her voicemail, I don’t think she was taking them to relax.

My parents had to come get me four days later. I hadn’t left my room or my bed in that time, alternating between sleeping and waking up sobbing from the horrible nightmares I was having. The doctors would later diagnose it as some variant of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, but I knew better than that. It was guilt. I could have saved Anna from calculus if I hadn’t cared so much about myself. That haunts me to this day.

title: [RF] Anna and I: A Calculus Story

question: Summarize the setting of this story.

answer: The story's initial setting is a library. The narrator is studying relatively high up on the sixth floor where it is dead quiet. They've fallen asleep studying for a calculus test. They shake themselves awake and proceed to study throughout the night.

question: Summarize the relationship between the narrator and Anna.

answer: The narrator and Anna have hooked up before. They interpret her late night text as a desire to repeat the act. Then she leaves a voicemail, which is a little odd, but the narrator is too sleep-deprived and busy to give it any more thought.

question: Summarize why Anna had been calling the narrator.

answer: Anna had been feeling depressed, or like she was losing control. She committed suicide by taking pills, primarily Xanax, which is intended for use with anxiety issues and panic attacks. The narrator gives the reader an indication that maybe Anna had been reaching out because she wanted to be stopped, or to have her fears allayed.

question: Summarize the type of mental health support the campus offered their students and employees.


text:
A man was sitting at the kitchen table, while his wife was cooking lunch. She was wearing a plain white long dress with no sleeves.The smell of fried chicken filled the kitchen air. The man's hands were shaking, and the bags under his eyes were clearly visible. His breathing was heavy and erratic, as if he desperately needed oxygen.

"I can't take it anymore!" he said while pulling his hair. "I'm tired of this stupid anxiety! Make it go away!" He made sure his wife wasn't looking. She was busy cooking and not paying attention. He quickly searched the inside of his trench coat. He pulled out a pistol and set it on the table. "Oh I don't know if I should. I can't leave my wife alone..." He sighed as he put his elbow on the table and rested his chin on his hand.

"Do what, Honey?" asked his wife.

He quickly lifted his head at the sound of her voice. "Did I say that one out loud?"

"You don't need to answer—it was an obvious question. I know what you're trying to do." His wife kept on cooking, and her voice was calm.

"R-really?"

"You're trying to put an end to your misery. But you don't need to shoot yourself! There are other ways to end your anxiety problem, you know."

"Wait, how did you kno-"

"You carelessly left your coat on the bed when you were taking a shower. I saw the gun in there. You should really be aware of what you are doing, if you're going to hide something from me."

"Yeah, you're right. I don't know what I was thinking! I just want to get rid of this problem right now. I'm sick and tired of not getting enough sleep at night. I only get about two hours, if i'm even lucky! I'm sick of having trouble breathing. It feels like i'm having a heart attack! I'm sick of it!" He repeatedly slammed his fists on the table.

His wife remained calm, not reacting to his outrageous behavior. "Do you trust me?" she asked abruptly.

The man stopped slamming the table, and tried to control his breathing. Once he managed to control it, he turned to face his wife. "That came out of nowhere. Why do you ask?"

"Well... you see.... I took out the bullets from your gun."

"Oh, lemme check then."

"That's not necessary, don't you think? This is a test to see if you trust me or not." His wife put her hands around her waist and she stomped her left foot on the floor. "Well what are you waiting for? Put the gun to the side of your head, and pull the trigger!"

The man almost fell out of his chair. He stared at his wife, perplexed. "Huh?"

"If you trust me, then you'll do it, right?"

The man stared at the gun. He reached for it, but then he quickly hesitated.

His wife laughed, surprised. "I can't believe this! We've been married for eight years, and you don't think you can trust me with this? Tell me one time where I haven't been trustworthy."

"I... I can't. I mean, I never found you cheating on me with another man. And... you've never lied to me. When you said you wouldn't be the type of wife to ask for things to buy, you kept your promise. I feel that your love for me is genuine. Yeah, how crazy! Why would you ever try to have me killed?" He put the gun to the side of his head, but then, he pointed the gun to his chest, where his heart was. "You know what? I'm going to pull the trigger here, to show that my love for you can't be ruined." The man pulled the trigger, but his ears rung after the sound of a gunshot. He knocked over the chair and then he fell to the ground.

His vision was fading, and his wife disappeared before his eyes. The smell of the chicken escaped from his nostrils. "W-What's going on?" he said with a faint voice. He put his hand on the gunshot wound and he clenched it.  He grimaced—the excruciating pain was something that he never felt before in his life. It felt like thousands of needles piercing through his heart.

The last thing he saw was his wife, but she wasn't wearing a white dress. She was wearing a pink t-shirt and skinny jeans. And she wasn't in the kitchen; she was in the living room, running towards him. She screamed when she saw blood pouring out of his mouth.

title: [RF] Trust

question: What does the text say about the man's anxiety?

answer: He's unable to sleep or breathe well. He seems to be having a hallucination about his wife. He wants to end his predicament, to shoot himself. In his delirious state, his wife knows his intentions and dares him to shoot himself by calling on his trust for her - saying she took out the bullets. However, when he's dying, we see his wife appearing in different clothing, revealing the hallucination for what it is.

question: What does the story say about the bravery of suicide?


text:
The 49TH GUARDS RIFLE DIVISION was an infantry division of the Red Army. The division was formed in October 1942 from the 2nd Guards Motor Rifle Division.

Formation

The 49th Guards Rifle Division was formed in the Western Front reserves near Moscow on 13 October 1942 from the remains of the 2nd Guards Motor Rifle Division. The unit was immediately assigned to the newly formed 13th Guards Rifle Corps in the 2nd Guards Army. They were sent south to the Stalingrad area in December 1942 and went into action south of Stalingrad. When formed, its order of battle was as follows:

-   144th Guards Rifle Regiment
-   147th Guards Rifle Regiment
-   149th Guards Rifle Regiment
-   100th Guards Artillery Regiment
-   56th Guards Separate Anti-tank Battalion
-   64th Guards Anti-Aircraft Battery (up to 25 April 1943)
-   1st Guards Machine Gun Battalion (up to 1 June 1943)
-   51st Guards Reconnaissance Company
-   57th Guards Separate Sapper Battalion
-   77th Guards Separate Signals Battalion
-   561st (53rd) Medical and Sanitation Battalion
-   52nd Guards Separate Chemical Defense Company
-   609th (53rd) Auto-Transport Company
-   638th (48th) Field Bakery
-   641st (50th) Divisional Veterinary Hospital
-   572nd Field Postal Station
-   44th Field Office of State Bank[Troops of the division on the march during the Second Jassy-Kishinev Offensive, late August 1944]

Later the division helped liberate Kherson (the name “Khersonskaya” was conferred on the division). It took part in the liberation of Romania and Hungary.

The division ended the war in Austria. By this time the division had the following honorifics: Khersonskaya, Order of the Red Banner, Order of Suvorov 2nd Class.

Postwar

After the end of the war the division became a part of the Southern Group of Forces, being reorganised as the 33rd Guards Mechanised Division.[1] In September 1949 the 33rd Guards Mechanized Division arrived in Timișoara from the Odessa Military District, becoming part of the Special Mechanized Army. The 33rd Guards Mechanized Division was detached to the Special Corps and fought in Operation Whirlwind, the suppression of the Hungarian Revolution of 1956. After the end of the operation, the division became part of the newly reformed Southern Group of Forces. On 4 June 1957, the division became the 33rd Guards Motor Rifle Division. The division was based at Győr with the 38th Army. In 1958 it moved to Kishinev and became part of the 14th Army. The division was disbanded there on 8 October 1960.

Commanders

69th Rifle Division

-   Colonel Athanasius Dmitrievich Shemenkov (June 1938 - December 1940)

107th Tank Division

-   Colonel Piotr Nikolaevich Domrachev (18 July 1941 - 30 August 1941)
-   Colonel Porfiry Chanchibadze (31 August 1941 - 15 September 1941)

107th Motorized Rifle Division

-   Colonel Porfiry Chanchibadze (16 September 1941 - 12 January 1942)

2nd Guards Motorized Rifle Division

-   Colonel Porfiry Chanchibadze (12 January 1942 - 24 October 1942)

49th Guards Rifle Division

-   Major General Porfiry Chanchibadze (25 October – 14 November 1942)
-   Colonel Denis Podshivailov - (15 November 1942 – 11 April 1943; promoted to major general 27 November 1942)
-   Colonel Georgy Kolesnikov - (12 April – 14 November 1943)
-   Lieutenant Colonel Lev Puzanov (1 December 1943 – 10 January 1944)
-   Colonel Vasily Margelov (11 January – 15 May 1944)
-   Colonel Stepan Salychev (16 May – 21 June 1944)
-   Colonel Vasily Margelov (22 June 1944 – 11 May 1945; promoted to major general 13 September 1944)

[1] Feskov et al 2013, p. 71

title: 49th Guards Rifle Division

question: Which army was the 49th Guards Rifle Division a part of?

answer: The Red Army.

question: When was the 49th Guards Rifle Division formed?

answer: October 1942

question: List a named member of the 49th Guards Rifle Division.

answer: Colonel Athanasius Dmitrievich Shemenkov

question: What war did the 49th Guards Rifle Division participate in?

answer: The name of the war is not mentioned in the article.

question: What country did the 49th Guards Rifle Division fight for?

answer: Presumably Russia, since they were formed near Moscow.

question: Write a ~5 sentence summary.

answer: The 49th Guards Rifle Division was an infantry division in the Red Army. It was formed in the Western Front near Moscow and then sent to Stalingrad. It helped liberate Kherson, Romania, and Hungary, and ended the war in Austria. After the war, they became part of the Southern Group forces. They disbanded in 1960.


text:
CHULALONGKORN, also known as KING RAMA V, reigning title PHRA CHULA CHOM KLAO CHAO YU HUA (Thai: จุฬาลงกรณ์; RTGS: CHUNLALONGKON; 20 September 1853 – 23 October 1910), was the fifth monarch of Siam under the House of Chakri. He was known to the Siamese of his time as _Phra Phuttha Chao Luang_ (พระพุทธเจ้าหลวง, the Royal Buddha). His reign was characterized by the modernisation of Siam, governmental and social reforms, and territorial concessions to the British and French. As Siam was threatened by Western expansionism, Chulalongkorn, through his policies and acts, managed to save Siam from colonization.[1] All his reforms were dedicated to ensuring Siam's survival in the face of Western colonialism, so that Chulalongkorn earned the epithet _Phra Piya Maharat_ (พระปิยมหาราช, the Great Beloved King).

Early life

[King Mongkut with Prince Chulalongkorn, both in western style court uniforms] [Young Prince Chulalongkorn] King Chulalongkorn was born on 20 September 1853 to King Mongkut and Queen Debsirindra and given the name Chulalongkorn. In 1861, he was designated _Krommamuen Pikhanesuan Surasangkat_. His father gave him a broad education, including instruction from European tutors such as Anna Leonowens. In 1866, he became a novice monk for six months at Wat Bawonniwet according to royal tradition.[2] Upon his return to his secular life in 1867, he was designated _Krommakhun Phinit Prachanat_ (.)

In 1867, King Mongkut led an expedition to the Malay Peninsula south of the city of Hua Hin,[3] to verify his calculations of the solar eclipse of 18 August 1868. Both father and son fell ill of malaria. Mongkut died on 1 October 1868. Assuming the 15 year-old Chulalongkorn to be dying as well, King Mongkut on his deathbed wrote, “My brother, my son, my grandson, whoever you all the senior officials think will be able to save our country will succeed my throne, choose at your own will.” Si Suriyawongse, the most powerful government official of the day, managed the succession of Chulalongkorn to the throne and his own appointment as regent. The first coronation was held on 11 November 1868. Chulalongkorn's health improved, and he was tutored in public affairs.

The young Chulalongkorn was an enthusiastic reformer. He visited Singapore and Java in 1870 and British India in 1872 to study the administration of British colonies. He toured the administrative centres of Calcutta, Delhi, Bombay, and back to Calcutta in early 1872. This journey was a source of his later ideas for the modernization of Siam. He was crowned king in his own right as Rama V on 16 November 1873.[4]

Si Suriyawongse then arranged for the Front Palace of King Pinklao (who was his uncle) to be bequeathed to King Pinklao's son, Prince Yingyot (who was Chulalongkorn's cousin).

As regent, Si Suriyawongse wielded great influence. Si Suriyawongse continued the works of King Mongkut. He supervised the digging of several important khlongs, such as Padung Krungkasem and Damneun Saduak, and the paving of roads such as Charoen Krung and Silom. He was also a patron of Thai literature and performing arts.

Early reign

[King Chulalongkorn after his second coronation ceremony on 16 November 1873.] At the end of his regency, Si Suriyawonse was raised to Somdet Chao Phraya, the highest title a noble could attain. Si Suriyawongse was the most powerful noble of the 19th century. His family, Bunnag, was a powerful one, of Persian descent. It dominated Siamese politics since the reign of Rama I.[5] Chulalongkorn then married four of his half-sisters, all daughters of Mongkut: Savang Vadhana, Saovabha, and Sunandha (Mongkut with concubine Piam), and Sukumalmarsri (Monkut with concubine Samli).

Chulalongkorn's first reform was to establish the “Auditory Office” (Th: หอรัษฎากรพิพัฒน์), solely responsible for tax collection, to replace corrupt tax collectors. As tax collectors had been under the aegis of various nobles and thus a source of their wealth, this reform caused great consternation among the nobility, especially the Front Palace. From the time of King Mongkut, the Front Palace had been the equivalent of a “second king”, with one-third of national revenue allocated to it. Prince Yingyot of the Front Palace was known to be on friendly terms with many Britons, at a time when the British Empire was considered the enemy of Siam.

In 1874, Chulalongkorn established the Council of State as a legislative body and a privy council as his personal advisory board based on the British privy council. Council members were appointed by the monarch.

Front Palace crisis

On the night of 28 December 1874, a fire broke out near the gunpowder storehouse and gasworks in the main palace. Front Palace troops quickly arrived, fully armed, “to assist in putting out the fire”. They were denied entrance and the fire was extinguished.[6] The incident demonstrated the considerable power wielded by aristocrats and royal relatives, leaving the king little power. Reducing the power held by the nobility became one of his main motives in reforming Siam's feudal politics.

When Prince Yingyot died in 1885, Chulalongkorn took the opportunity to abolish the titular Front Palace and created the title of “Crown Prince of Siam” in line with Western custom. Chulalongkorn's son, Prince Vajirunhis, was appointed the first Crown Prince of Siam, though he never reigned. In 1895, when the prince died of typhoid at age 16, he was succeeded by his half-brother Vajiravudh, who was then at boarding school in England.

Haw insurgency

[The young king in western dress] In the northern Laotian lands bordering China, the insurgents of the Taiping Rebellion had taken refuge since the reign of King Mongkut. These Chinese were called _Haw_ and became bandits, pillaging the villages. In 1875, Chulalongkorn sent troops from Bangkok to crush the Haw who had ravaged as far as Vientiane. However, they met strong Chinese resistance and retreated to Isan in 1885. New, modernized forces were sent again and were divided into two groups approaching the Haw from Chiang Kam and Pichai. The Haw scattered and some fled to Vietnam. The Siamese armies proceeded to eliminate the remaining Haw. The city of Nong Khai maintains memorials for the Siamese dead.

Third Anglo-Burmese War

In Burma, while the British Army fought the Burmese Konbaung Dynasty, Siam remained neutral. Britain had agreements with the Bangkok government, which stated that if the British were in conflict with Burma, Siam would send food supplies to the British Army. Chulalongkorn honored the agreement. The British thought that he would send an army to help defeat the Burmese, but he did not do so.

Military and political reforms

[Prince Devawongse Varopakarn (Foreign Minister), King Chulalongkorn and Prince Damrong Rajanubhab (Interior Minister). During his reign the king employed his brothers and sons in the government, ensuring royal monopoly on power and administration.] Freed of the Front Palace and Chinese rebellions, Chulalongkorn initiated modernization and centralization reforms.[7] He established the Royal Military Academy in 1887 to train officers in Western fashion. His upgraded forces provided the king much more power to centralize the country.

The government of Siam had remained largely unchanged since the 15th century. The central government was headed by the _Samuha Nayok_ (i.e., prime minister), who controlled the northern parts of Siam, and the _Samuha Kalahom_ (i.e., grand commander), who controlled southern Siam in both civil and military affairs. The Samuha Nayok presided over the _Chatu Sadombh_ (i.e., Four Pillars). The responsibilities of each pillar overlapped and were ambiguous. In 1888, Chulalongkorn moved to institute a government of ministries. Ministers were, at the outset, members of the royal family. Ministries were established in 1892, with all ministries having equal status.

The Council of State proved unable to veto legal drafts or to give Chulalongkorn advice because the members regarded Chulalongkorn as an absolute monarch, far above their station. Chulalongkorn dissolved the council altogether and transferred advisory duties to the cabinet in 1894.

Chulalongkorn abolished the traditional Nakorn Bala methods of torture in the judiciary process, which were seen as inhumane and barbaric to Western eyes, and introduced a Western judicial code. His Belgian advisor, Rolin-Jaequemyns, played a great role in the development of modern Siamese law and its judicial system.

Call for democracy

[King Chulalongkorn with a few of his sons at Eton College in the United Kingdom in 1907] Chulalongkorn was the first Siamese king to send royal princes to Europe to be educated. In 19th century Europe, nationalism flourished and there were calls for more liberty. The princes were influenced by the liberal notions of democracy and elections they encountered in republics like France and constitutional monarchies like the United Kingdom.

In 1884 (year 103 of the Rattakosin Era), Siamese officials in London and Paris warned Chulalongkorn of threats from European colonialism. They advised that Siam should be reformed like Meiji Japan and that Siam should become a constitutional monarchy. Chulalongkorn demurred, stating that the time was not ripe and that he himself was making reforms.

Throughout Chulalongkorn's reign, writers with radical ideas had their works published for the first time. The most notable ones included Thianwan Wannapho, who had been imprisoned for 17 years and from prison produced many works criticizing traditional Siamese society.

Conflict with French Indochina

[King Chulalongkorn in 1872] In 1863, King Norodom of Cambodia was forced to put his country under French protection. The cession of Cambodia was officially formulated in 1867. However, Inner Cambodia (as called in Siam) consisting of Battambang, Siem Reap, and Srisopon, remained a Siamese possession. This was the first of many territorial cessions.

In 1887, French Indochina was formed from Vietnam and Cambodia. In 1888, French troops invaded northern Laos to subjugate the Heo insurgents. However, the French troops never left, and the French demanded more Laotian lands. In 1893 Auguste Pavie, the French vice-consul of Luang Prabang, requested the cession of all Laotian lands east of the Mekong River. Siam resented the demand, leading to the Franco–Siamese War of 1893.

The French gunboat _Le Lutin_ entered the Chao Phraya and anchored near the French consulate ready to attack. Fighting was observed in Laos. _Inconstant_ and _Comete_ were attacked in Chao Phraya, and the French sent an ultimatum: an indemnity of three million francs, as well as the cession of and withdrawal from Laos. Siam did not accept the ultimatum. French troops then blockaded the Gulf of Siam and occupied Chantaburi and Trat. Chulalongkorn sent Rolin-Jacquemyns to negotiate. The issue was eventually settled with the cession of Laos in 1893, but the French troops in Chantaburi and Trat refused to leave.

The cession of vast Laotian lands had a major impact on Chulalongkorn's spirit. Prince Vajirunhis died in 1894. Prince Vajiravudh was created crown prince to replace him. Chulalongkorn realised the importance of maintaining the navy and established the Royal Thai Naval Academy in 1898.

Despite Siamese concessions, French armies continued the occupation of Chantaburi and Trat for another 10 years. An agreement was reached in 1903 that French troops would leave Chantaburi but hold the coast land from Trat to Koh Kong. In 1906, the final agreement was reached. Trat was returned to Siam but the French kept Koh Kong and received Inner Cambodia.

Seeing the seriousness of foreign affairs, Chulalongkorn visited Europe in 1897. He was the first Siamese monarch to do so, and he desired European recognition of Siam as a fully independent power. He appointed his queen, Saovabha, as regent in Siam during his travel to Europe.

Reforms

[Postcard from 1908, depicting King Chulalongkorn (above left) with contemporary monarchs] Siam had been composed of a network of cities according to the Mandala system codified by King Trailokanat in 1454, with local rulers owing tribute to Bangkok. Each city retained a substantial degree of autonomy, as Siam was not a “state” but a “network” of city-states. With the rise of European colonialism, the Western concept of state and territorial division was introduced. It had to define explicitly which lands were “Siamese” and which lands were “foreign”. The conflict with the French in 1893 was an example.

Sukhaphiban districts

Sukhaphiban () sanitary districts were the first sub-autonomous entities established in Thailand. The first such was created in Bangkok, by royal decree of King Chulalongkorn in 1897. During his European tour earlier that year, he had learned about the sanitary districts of England, and wanted to try out this local administrative unit in his capital.

Monthon system

With his experiences during the travel to British colonies and the suggestion of Prince Damrong, Chulalongkorn established the hierarchical system of monthons in 1897, composed of province, city, _amphoe_, _tambon_, and _muban_ (village) in descending order. (Though an entire monthon, the Eastern Province, Inner Cambodia, was ceded to the French in 1906). Each monthon was overseen by an intendant of the Ministry of Interior. This had a major impact, as it ended the power of all local dynasties. Central authority now spread all over the country through the administration of intendants. For example, the Lanna states in the north (including the Kingdom of Chiangmai, Principalities of Lampang, Lamphun, Nan, and Prae, tributaries to Bangkok) were made into two monthons, neglecting the existence of the Lanna kings.

Local rulers did not cede power willingly. Three rebellions sprang up in 1901: the Ngeaw rebellion in Phrae, the 1901–1902 Holy Man's Rebellion[8] in Isan, and the Rebellion of Seven Sultans in the south. All these rebellions were crushed in 1902 with the city rulers stripped of their power and imprisoned.[9]

Abolition of corvée and slavery

[King Chulalongkorn with Tsar Nicholas II in Saint Petersburg, during his first Grand Tour in 1897] Ayutthaya King Ramathibodi II established a system of corvée in 1518 after which the lives of Siamese commoners and slaves were closely regulated by the government. All Siamese common men ( ไพร่) were subject to the Siamese corvée system. Each man at the time of his majority had to register with a government bureau, department, or leading member of the royalty called () as a () or under a nobleman's dominion ( or ) as a (). owed service to sovereign or master for three months of the year. () were those who could make payment in kind (cattle) in lieu of service. Those conscripted into military service were called ().

Chulalongkorn was best known for his abolition of Siamese slavery (ทาส.) He associated the abolition of slavery in the United States with the bloodshed of the American Civil War. Chulalongkorn, to prevent such a bloodbath in Siam, provided several steps towards the abolition of slavery, not an extreme turning point from servitude to total freedom. Those who found themselves unable to live on their own sold themselves into slavery by rich noblemen. Likewise, when a debt was defaulted, the borrower would become a slave of the lender. If the debt was redeemed, the slave regained freedom.

However, those whose parents were household slaves (ทาสในเรือนเบี้ย) were bound to be slaves forever because their redemption price was extremely high.

Because of economic conditions, people sold themselves into slavery in great numbers and in turn they produced a large number of household slaves. In 1867 they accounted for one-third of Siamese population. In 1874, Chulalongkorn enacted a law that lowered the redemption price of household slaves born in 1867 (his ascension year) and freed all of them when they had reached 21.

The newly freed slaves would have time to settle themselves as farmers or merchants so they would not become unemployed. In 1905, the _Slave Abolition Act_ ended Siamese slavery in all forms. The reverse of 100 baht banknotes in circulation since the 2005 centennial depict Chulalongkorn in navy uniform abolishing the slave tradition.

The traditional corvée system declined after the Bowring Treaty, which gave rise to a new class of employed labourers not regulated by the government, while many noblemen continued to hold sway over large numbers of . Chulalongkorn needed more effective control of manpower to undo the power of nobility. After the establishment of the monthon system, Chulalongkorn instituted a census to count all men available to the government. The _Employment Act_ of 1900 required that all workers be paid, not forced to work.

Establishment of a modern army and modern land ownership

[The Chakri Maha Prasat Throne Hall in the Grand Palace was completed in 1882.] [The king built the Vimanmek Palace, 1900. He began the construction of the Dusit Palace at the same time.] [The Ananda Samakhom Throne Hall was built in 1908 as a reception hall.] Chulalongkorn had established a defence ministry in 1887. The ending of the corvée system necessitated the beginning of military conscription, thus the _Conscription Act_ of 1905 in Siam. This was followed in 1907 by the first act providing for invoking martial law, which seven years later was changed to its modern form by his son and successor, King Vajiravudh.[10]

The Royal Thai Survey Department, a Special Services Group of the Royal Thai Armed Forces, engaged in cadastral survey, which is the survey of specific land parcels to define ownership for land registration, and for equitable taxation. Land title deeds are issued using the Torrens title system, though it was not until the year 1901 that the first–fruits of this survey were obtained.[11]

Abolition of prostration

In 1873, the _Royal Siamese Government Gazette_ published an announcement on the abolition of prostration. In it, King Chulalongkorn declared, “The practice of prostration in Siam is severely oppressive. The subordinates have been forced to prostrate in order to elevate the dignity of the _phu yai_. I do not see how the practice of prostration will render any benefit to Siam. The subordinates find the performance of prostration a harsh physical practice. They have to go down on their knees for a long time until their business with the _phu yai_ ends. They will then be allowed to stand up and retreat. This kind of practice is the source of oppression. Therefore, I want to abolish it.” The _Gazette_ directed that, “From now on, Siamese are permitted to stand up before the dignitaries. To display an act of respect, the Siamese may take a bow instead. Taking a bow will be regarded as a new form of paying respect.”[12]

Civic works

The construction of railways in Siam had a political motivation: to connect all of the country so as to better maintain control of it.

In 1901, the first railway was opened from Bangkok to Korat. In the same year, the first power plant of Siam produced electricity and electric lights first illuminated roadways.

In 1906 King Chulalongkorn adopted a Semang orphan boy named Khanung.[13]

Relations with the British Empire

Siamese authorities had exercised substantial control over Malay sultanates since Ayutthaya times. The sultans sought British support as a counterweight to Siamese influence. In 1909, the Anglo-Siamese Treaty of 1909 was agreed. Four sultanates (Kedah, Kelantan, Terengganu and Perlis) were brought under British influence in exchange for Siamese legal rights and a loan to construct railways in southern Siam.

Family

King Chulalongkorn was a prolific producer of children. He had 92 consorts during his lifetime who produced 77 surviving children.[14]

Death and legacy

[Equestrian statue of King Chulalongkorn at Royal Plaza] [Royal funeral ceremony of King Chulalongkorn in 1911 at Sanam Luang, Bangkok.] The royal Equestrian statue of King Chulalongkorn was finished in 1908 to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the king's reign. It was cast in bronze by a Parisian metallurgist.

Chulalongkorn had visited Europe twice, in 1897 and 1907. In 1897 he travelled widely through Europe, learning all he could on many subjects to benefit the Siamese people. He travelled and visited many European royal families. He spent much time in Britain and was inspired, among other things, to improve the health of his people by creating public health, or sanitary districts. In Sweden he studied the Forestry system. The 1907 visit was to his son's at school in Britain and to consult with European doctors in pursuit of a cure for his kidney disease.

King Chulalongkorn died on 23 October 1910 of kidney disease at the Amphorn Sathan Residential Hall in the Dusit Palace, and was succeeded by his son Vajiravudh (King Rama VI).

Chulalongkorn University, founded in 1917 as the first university in Thailand, was named in his honour. On the campus stand the statues of Rama V and his son, Rama VI.

In 1997 a memorial pavilion was raised in honour of King Chulalongkorn in Ragunda, Sweden. This was done to commemorate King Chulalongkorn's visit to Sweden in 1897 when he also visited the World's Fair in Brussels.[15] During the time when Swedish–Norwegian king Oscar II travelled to Norway for a council, Chulalongkorn went up north to study forestry. Beginning in Härnösand and travelling via Sollefteå and Ragunda he mounted a boat in the small village of Utanede in order to take him back through Sundsvall to Stockholm.[16] His passage through Utanede left a mark on the village as one street was named after the king. The pavilion is erected next to that road.

The old 100 baht banknote of Series 14, circulated from 1994 to 2004, bears the statues of Rama V and Rama VI on its reverse. In 2005, the 100 baht banknote was revised to depict King Chulalongkorn in naval uniform and, in the background, abolishing slavery.[17] The 1,000 baht banknote of Series 16, issued in 2015, depicts the King Chulalongkorn monument, Ananda Samakhom Throne Hall, and the abolition of slavery.[18]

Honours

[Royal coat of arms of the Kingdom of Siam, introduced by King Chulalongkorn, the arms was the Emblem of Siam from 1878 to 1910.]

Military ranks

-   Field Marshal of the Royal Siamese Army[19]
-   Admiral of the Fleet of the Royal Siamese Navy[20]

National honours

-   [] Grand Cross of the White Elephant, with Collar
-   [] Knight of the Nine Gems, with Collar
-   [] Founder and Sovereign of the Most Noble Order of the Crown of Siam, _1869_
-   [] Founder and Sovereign of the Most Illustrious Order of Chula Chom Klao, _16 November 1873_
-   [] Founder and Sovereign of the Most Illustrious Order of the Royal House of Chakri, _1882_
-   [] Dushdi Mala Medal
-   [] Chakra Mala Medal
-   [] King Mongkut's Royal Cypher Medal
-   [] King Chulalongkorn's Royal Cypher Medal
-   [] King Chulalongkorn's Rajaruchi Medal

Foreign honours

-   [] Grand Cross of St. Stephen, _1868_ (Austria-Hungary)[21]
-   [] Grand Cross of the Order of Charles III, _5 August 1871_;[22] with Collar, _16 October 1897_ (Spain)[23]
-   [] Honorary Grand Cross of St Michael and St George, _3 August 1878_ (United Kingdom)[24]
-   [] Grand Cross of the Order of Kamehameha I, _1881_ (Kingdom of Hawaii)[25]
-   [] Grand Cross of St. Olav, _23 November 1884_ (Sweden-Norway)[26]
-   [] Knight of the Seraphim, _11 July 1887_ (Sweden-Norway)[27]
-   [] Grand Cordon of the Order of the Chrysanthemum, _6 October 1887_ (Empire of Japan)[28]
-   [] Knight of the Elephant, _8 January 1892_ (Denmark)[29]
-   [] Grand Cross of Saints Maurice and Lazarus, _1887_ (Kingdom of Italy)[30]
-   [] Knight of St. Andrew, _1891_ (Russian Empire)[31]
-   [] Knight of the Annunciation, _24 December 1891_ (Kingdom of Italy)[32]
-   [] Grand Cross of the Sash of the Three Orders, _1897_ (Kingdom of Portugal)[33]
-   [] Knight of the Black Eagle, _1897_ (German Empire)
-   [] Knight of the House Order of Fidelity, _1897_ (Grand Duchy of Baden)[34]
-   [] Knight of St. Hubert, _1906_ (Kingdom of Bavaria)[35]
-   [] Grand Cross of Henry the Lion, _1907_ (Duchy of Brunswick)[36]

Ancestry

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

[11]

[12]

[13]

[14]

[15]

[16] Nilsson Sören, Nilsson Ingvar.: Kung Chulalongkorns Norrlandsresa 1897. 34 pages in Swedish. Fors hembygdsförening 1985

[17]

[18]

[19] http://www.ratchakitcha.soc.go.th/DATA/PDF/2446/035/603.PDF

[20] https://www.navy.mi.th/index.php/history/detail/history_id/14

[21] “A Szent István Rend tagjai”

[22]

[23]

[24] Shaw, Wm. A. (1906) _The Knights of England_, I, London, p. 338

[25] Kalakaua to his sister, 12 May 1881, quoted in Greer, Richard A. (editor, 1967) “The Royal Tourist—Kalakaua's Letters Home from Tokio to London”, _Hawaiian Journal of History_, vol. 5, p. 83

[26]

[27]

[28]

[29]

[30]

[31]

[32]

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[34] _Hof- und Staats-Handbuch des Großherzogtum Baden_ (1902), “Großherzogliche Orden” p. 67

[35] _Hof- und Staats-Handbuch des Königreich Bayern_ (1908), “Königliche Orden” p. 8

[36] _Hof- und Staatshandbuch des Herzogtums Braunschweig für das Jahr 1908_. Braunschweig 1908. Meyer. p. 9

title: Chulalongkorn

question: What makes Chulalongkorn different from the previous kings of Siam?

answer: He learned politics and economics from different countries, refining some of these principles to fit in with what he wanted to achieve in his country.


text:
SHACKLEFORD is an unincorporated community in Saline County, in the U.S. state of Missouri.[1]

History

Shackleford was laid out in 1879 when the railroad was extended to that point.[2] A post office called Shackleford was established in 1879, and remained in operation until 1959.[3] The community has the name of Thomas Shackleford, a railroad official.[4]

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

title: Shackleford, Missouri

question: What led to the foundation of Shackleford?

answer: The extension of the railroad

question: Who is the eponym for Shackleford?

answer: Thomas Shackleford

question: How long was the post office in operation?

answer: 80 years

question: What state is Shackleford in?

answer: Missouri

question: Write a ~2 sentence summary.

answer: This article discusses Shackleford Missouri. It also mentions the history of the town.


text:
Jason Hunnicutt is the owner of 1904 Music Hall in Jacksonville, FL. The venue was founded in 20011 with the goal to bring live music to Downtown Jacksonville. The bar itself was first built in 1904, from which they got their name. 1904 Music Hall is a 300 capacity venue that books national touring artists in all genres. Prior to opening 1904 Music Hall, Jason was a touring musician himself, and has always been entrepreneurial spirited.

I first had the opportunity to work with Jason Hunnicutt in March of 2016, when I brought Bonerama from New Orleans, LA to Jacksonville. From the first day, working with Jason wasbreath of fresh air. Unfortunately it’s always a toss up when working with venue owners. You never know what you’re going to get. Some owners are open minded and easy to work with, and are open to outside promoters, some have absolutely no clue what they’re doing, others are extremely disorganized, you have your control freaks, and also some with bigger egos than the artists themselves. It’s really nice when you have the opportunity to work with a venue owner that’s open minded, easy to work with, and someone that has a really great attitude. I saw that from day one with Jason, and since we’ve worked together on New Kingston, The Steppin Stones, and Zach Deputy. And I’m sure there will be many more names to add to that list down the road.

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THIS EPISODE
What made Jason want to open the venue in Jacksonville (06:18)
How Jacksonville is branded (08:50)
The bands who inspired Jason (12:35)
Cool venues Jason experienced while touring (18:20)
What lit Jason’s entrepreneurial spark (20:40)
Risks involved in opening Venue 1904 (25:00)
How Jason and partners found their venue location (27:00)
The work put into remodeling 1904 (29:30)
Big surprises and learning experiences (35:37)
Aspiring venue owner advice. (37:39)
How Jason knew Venue 1904 was in a good place. (40:10)
Making it to Jason Hunnicutt (42:15)

QUOTES FROM JASON HUNNICUTT
“The band is your own business.”
“Once you get one going, the second one is easier.”
“Three is a good number for partners.”
“Keeping the consistency, it’s hard starting a business and the first few months are always the hardest. “
“Say ‘yes’, man!”
“Commit to it.”
“Say yes and be open, kind of to everything.”
“As much as you think your musical is taste great, and as much as you think you know what people want to hear and experience, it’s really up to community that is supporting you.”
“Seeing the positive reviews from the community and the bands too. I think when that started happening I was like ‘Cool!’ “

LINKS TO PEOPLE, PLACES, AND THINGS MENTIONED
PEOPLE
Kevin Stone
Allman Brothers Band
Lynyrd Skynyrd

PLACES & THINGS
Jacksonville
Florida Theatre
1904 Music Hall
One Spark Festival
The Elbow
Limp Bizkit
Korn
Pink Floyd
Led Zeppelin
Floozies
Main Squeeze
Lettuce
The Imperial
Jack Rabbits
Suwanee Fest
The Engine Room
Urban Organics
Underbelly

JASON HUNNICUTT’S DEFINITION OF MAKING IT:
“The key to a business: Doing a hustle and then training someone to do that hustle; Being able to pay them to do that hustle and also being able to pay yourself. -Ian Ranne” – Jason Hunnicutt

question: What are the positive qualities of a venue owner, and which ones does Jason Hunnicutt possess?

answer: Being open-minded and easy to work with is key. Openness to outside promoters is a bonus, and a great attitude helps a lot. Jason possesses all of these qualities.

question: What does the article say about how to book a venue for a concert?


text:
_MR. INCREDIBLE AND PALS_ is a 2005 American animated short film produced by Pixar which was included as a bonus feature on the DVD release of its 2004 feature film _The Incredibles_.[1] It features the characters of Mr. Incredible and Frozone from the feature, plus a “cute animal” rabbit sidekick named Mister Skipperdoo, chasing and capturing the supervillain Lady Lightbug.

The film is animated in the style of limited animation that intentionally parodies the low budget and low-quality television Saturday-morning cartoons that aired regularly during the 1950s and 1960s.

During this time, television animation studios were contracted to turn out high quantities of product on low budgets, which resulted in many television cartoons that have been derided and mocked by television critics, film and animation historians, and audiences in general. _Mr. Incredible and Pals_ uses a number of the cost-saving techniques and tropes found in these shows, such as:

-   Still shots of drawn scenes, rather than actual frame by frame animation.
-   Actual footage of live actors' mouths moving instead of animated lips on the characters, a technique known as Synchro-Vox. The most well-known example of this form of “animation” was the _Clutch Cargo_ series.
-   A Cold War era plot pitting true, freedom-loving American superheroes against a stereotypical “Communist” supervillain.
-   The sidekick being ensnared by the supervillain so that complete emphasis can be placed on the main hero, who nevertheless thanks the sidekick for his involvement in stopping the villain.
-   Frozone speaking in forced “beatnik” slang, showing the out of touch depiction of minority characters in animated works at the time.
-   A “cute animal” sidekick only added for “children's appeal.” In this film, a glasses-wearing rabbit named Mister Skipperdoo does nothing but hop up and down, yet his actions are seen as crucial to solving the “mystery” that comprises the plot of the episode.

_Mr. Incredible and Pals_ is the first of three short films produced by Pixar Animation Studios, which were animated in traditional 2D hand-drawn animation rather than computer animation. The second film, _Your Friend the Rat,_ was produced in 2007, and included as part of the DVD release of _Ratatouille._ The third, _Day & Night_, produced in 2010, was theatrically released with _Toy Story 3_.

The latter two films feature a combination of hand-drawn and CGI animation.

Plot

The episode begins with Mr. Incredible, Frozone and Mr. Skipperdoo filling the viewers in on previous events. An evil villainess named Lady Lightbug (described by Mr. Incredible as “sinister, yet lovely”) has stolen the West River Bridge, leaving cars stuck on both sides of the river. Resolving to amend the situation, Frozone builds a temporary bridge of ice and the three skate away to find their nemesis.

Arriving at an abandoned funfair, Mr. Incredible searches for Lady Lightbug by lifting up various objects while stating that she is not under any of them. Mr. Skipperdoo hops to point out that the missing bridge is above him. Suddenly, Lady Lightbug flies out and informs them all of her evil plan to steal the free world's bridges, creating massive traffic jams and thus destroying their economies.

She then proceeds to shoot a line of radioactive silk out of her abdomen, ensnaring Frozone and leaving all as lost. Mr. Incredible throws a Ferris wheel at her, to which she dodges. He then hops in a roller coaster, which takes off flying toward Lady Lightbug. Mr Incredible then knocks her out of the air, defeating her.

The missing bridge is restored and everything returns to normal thanks to Mr. Incredible, Frozone and Mr. Skipperdoo; Mr. Incredible adds, “and democracy.” The end of the episode features a brief teaser of the next episode which features a gigantic anthropomorphic ear of corn yelling, “I’ll crush you, Mr. Incredible!” before laughing evilly as the two prepare to fight.

Cast

-   Roger Jackson as The Narrator/Evil Cornhead
-   Pete Docter as Mr. Incredible
-   Michael Asberry as Frozone
-   Celia Shuman as Lady Lightbug

Commentary

In addition to the many in jokes and animation references included in this film, Craig T. Nelson and Samuel L. Jackson provided a DVD commentary for the fictional show, acting in character as Mr. Incredible and Frozone as if sitting down and watching this for the first time in years.

The in-universe background behind _Mr. Incredible and Pals_ stated that many years before the Supers were banned, Mr. Incredible and Frozone licensed their names and images to a television animation company, and this was the pilot episode for an animated television series that never aired due to the Super ban. The two supers are watching this pilot for the first time several years after it was produced.

The commentary of the two characters provides additional entertainment for the DVD's viewers, as they react with shock and disbelief to the poor quality of the film.

While Mr. Incredible appears to display only apathy for the show, Frozone is aghast and disgusted at its campiness and supposed racism (the show's version of himself appears to be white, or “tan” as Mr. Incredible puts it). He is also annoyed by Mr. Skipperdoo. By the end of the short, Frozone is so annoyed that he walks out of the commentary at the end, demanding the episode never be aired.

References in other media

The novel _Incredibles 2: A Real Stretch: An Elastigirl Prequel Story_ mentions the film several times, referring to it as _Mr. Incredible and Friends_. In the novel, the film is something Mr. Incredible and Frozone are initially excited for. But after getting to watch it, Frozone immediately lambasts it for how it portrays him and the fact that the film makes them fight alongside a bunny. Mr. Incredible then speaks to Rick Dicker, the agent for the NSA Government, who agrees to shelve the film.

[1]

title: Mr. Incredible and Pals

question: Summarize the plot of Mr. Incredible and Pals.

answer: In the short film Mr. Incredible and Pals, Mr. Incredible, Frozone, and Mr. Skipperdoo fight a villainess named Lady Lightbug. She has stolen the West River Bridge, planning to steal all the free world's bridges. She traps Frozone, but is defeated by Mr. Incredible.

question: Summarize the in-universe explanation of Mr. Incredible and Pals.

answer: In-universe, Mr. Incredible and Pals was made possible because Mr. Incredible and Frozone licensed their names and images to a television company. The episode made was the pilot episode for an animated series that never aired. This information was gained from in-universe commentary of the short film performed by Craig T. Nelson and Samuel L. Jackson,

question: Summarize the tropes and cost-cutting techniques used in Mr. Incredible and Pals.

answer: Mr. Incredible and Pals was animated in a style that parodied low-budget Saturday morning cartoons from the 1950s and 1960s. Mr. Incredible and Pals used still shots of drawn scenes and actual footage of actor's mouths instead of animating lips to cut down on costs. Additionally, Mr. Incredible and Pals includes many tropes of the time, including a Cold War plot, a useless sidekick, problematic minority characters, and a cute animal sidekick.


text:
This Saturday is finally it; I get to complete my long con. This will be the best Valentine’s Day of my life!

It all started nearly 20 years ago in middle school. I was a little awkward, had no close friends. All the other boys played football or basketball together. I didn’t see the point. I was happy when I got home after school and could continue my game of Dungeons & Dragons. There was nothing more soothing than creating and controlling this world, especially when I played all the characters.
Everything changed when Stacy moved to town. She was absolutely gorgeous when she showed up at school the first time. She wore a purple dress with brown stockings, pink shoes, and a yellow bow tie in her long, straight black hair. I loved the way her glasses magnified her stunning brown eyes like she was always watching your every move. At recess the boys were playing a big game of football and the girls were gossiping about the cutest boy of the week. I sat in my usual corner between the brick walls of the building thinking about my next D&D adventure when Stacy came up.

“Whatcha doin’? She asked. I put on all my charm.

“Thinking about my 26th level elf. Last night he single-handedly took out the evil Orc to save the princess.” I said proudly. I never understood why everyone laughed when I told them about my adventures.

“Ooooh.” She genuinely replied. “Maybe he could take my 15th level druid along next time.”

That was the start of something amazing. Every day we would plan our adventures, then once the bell rang would run home to play it out. We were inseparable. Not a care in the world about what the other kids thought. That is until high school started. She started to mature and care about more “adult” social interactions while I still enjoyed getting lost with her in our world together. Our daily games turned into weekly games and I was getting lonely. But it wasn’t until lunch half way through freshman year that I realized that I had lost her. She was talking with a group of her friends. I came right up to her and told her about my adventure ideas for the night. Obviously embarrassed, she pretended like she had no clue what I was talking about and that I should get a life and “go away you weirdo.”

I was devastated. I had lost my best friend. And even worse, I couldn’t play D&D anymore. It just wasn’t the same without her. She ruined my life. Nothing was fun, food didn’t taste good, and I could barely drag myself out of bed in the morning.

I had a miserable time finishing high school, but made it into college and became a computer programmer. I was doing pretty well by myself. Stacy was no longer in my thoughts, I was making good money, and being a bachelor, I owed a pretty nice house. That is when Stacy entered my life again. Twelve years ago she became the new secretary at my company. Out of all the people, it had to be her. All the rage came back, I started missing work trying to avoid her, and I became more recluse. That’s when the idea came to me. I can get her back for what she did to me. That bitch will pay!

I came back to work pretending like nothing was amiss.

“Where have you been?” She asked.

“Oh, there’s this new project idea I have. Was just trying to sort through the details.”

“Really?” She said intrigued. “What’s the idea?”

“How about over dinner tonight?” I asked.

“Sure!” She giggled, excited about going out.

We had a nice dinner and I told her all about a new game the company had been working on, my “great idea.” After a few drinks we went back to my place. It was much easier than I though. I guess having a nice house and extra spending cash was more attractive than I had imagined. She quickly fell for me. Before long we were going out or I would cook for her every night, and she moved in within the year. It didn’t take much convincing once I planted the seed that she wouldn’t have to pay rent anymore.

Then the day came. I proposed to her. We had traveled to the Caribbean for one of our long weekend getaways. After a romantic dinner, we walked up to the top of a hill for a nice view of the beach where I had hundreds of candles laid out to say, “Marry me, Stacy.” She was aghast, and crying said, “Yes! Of course, I love you so much!” I had her. She was in my pocket. She won’t know what hit her.

We planned our wedding for Valentine’s Day of 2005. How romantic. We were married in the French Riviera with all her friends and family out for the ceremony. She was so happy. Little did she know. We had three kids together and had many wonderful family vacations. Every Valentine’s Day we would leave for a weeklong romantic getaway to celebrate our anniversary. I treated her like a goddess and she ate up every bit of it.

But now, finally, our ten-year wedding anniversary is this Saturday, Valentine’s Day 2015. We are renewing our vows with all our friends and family invited back to our wedding venue. I finally get to tell her the truth in front of all these people, that this whole life of hers has been a lie. I have never loved her or those god-awful kids that came out of her. It's going to be amazing. I can’t wait to see those tears pouring out of her eyes when she understands. Let that be a lesson to you, Stacy. You don’t mess with a D&D master!

title: [RF] The Long Con

question: Summarize the theme of revenge in the story?

answer: When they were in middle school, the narrator met his wife, Stacey, and got acquainted through their mutual love for Dungeons and Dragons. However, as they got older and entered high school, they saw less of each other and played less frequently than before. When he tried to express a new adventure idea with her in school, she was embarrassed by his request and dismissed him in the presence of her friends because she had lost interest in playing Dungeons and Dragons with him. As a result, the narrator was hurt and never got over the embarrassment of being shunned by her. When he had the opportunity of meeting Stacey again at his company, instead of revealing his grievances to her, he chose to get romantically involved with her and have children with her, hoping to indicate on their tenth wedding anniversary that their relationship was all a lie to spite her.

question: What does the story say about why the narrator chose to wait ten years into his marriage with Stacey before revealing her offence to him?


text:
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s sudden proposition to President Trump[]Donald John TrumpTrump rages against '60 Minutes' for interview with Krebs Cornyn spox: Neera Tanden has 'no chance' of being confirmed as Biden's OMB pick Pa. lawmaker was informed of positive coronavirus test while meeting with Trump: report MORE for a date is premeditated and potentially deadly. While the proposed meeting between the heads of the longtime antagonistic states — were it actually to happen — would be unprecedented, Pyongyang’s outreach was entirely predictable. It certainly is not unprecedented.

Kim is simply taking a page out of his father’s 2000 playbook. That year, Kim Jong Il, the father of the current youthful despot and second hereditary ruler of the dystopian dynasty that is the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, set a new standard in international shakedown. After firing a missile over Japan (for the first time) in 1998 and following it up with a naval skirmish against South Korea in 1999, Kim the Second wound down his crisis-crescendo dial and turned up the charm-o-meter.

In June, Kim Jong Il hosted the first-ever inter-Korean summit meeting and pocketed $500 million from the Southern pilgrim. Next stop: Washington. In October, Kim Jong Il’s senior-most military man personally conveyed to President Clinton his boss’s invitation for a Pyongyang pilgrimage. Clinton, who was keen on traversing the traps-strewn path to Pyongyang, was saved by the George W. Bush-Al Gore[]Albert (Al) Arnold GoreKey McConnell ally: Biden should get access to transition resources CNN acquires Joe Biden documentary 'President in Waiting' Former GSA chief: 'Clear' that Biden should be recognized as president-elect MORE election recount fiasco that dragged on until mid-December.

But his secretary of State, hastily dispatched to Pyongyang before the November election, was less fortunate, leaving some embarrassing, lasting images (for example, improperly holding her Champagne flute while the North Korean dictator, well-versed in the sybaritic lifestyle, holds it correctly by its stem). During those heady years of the Clinton-Bush continuum, the United States, hoodwinked by the Pyongyang Ponzi scheme, gave North Korea in excess of $1.3 billion.

In the coming weeks, Kim Jong Un may send Kim Yo Jong, his dear sister and Royal Censor, to Washington to further soften up Trump and seal the deal. The imperious smiles-flashing Kim Yo Jung is an unprecedented, bias-busting weapon for the Kim regime. Hers is a softer, kinder, quasi-glamorous human face on the inhumane and eminently mockable regime that is the North Korean state. Were the Pyongyang princess, who reportedly is pregnant, make the trans-Pacific trip visibly appearing so, well-wishers the world over would swoon and mutter under their breath how oafish it would be of Trump not to heed the hard-working, self-sacrificing, peace-seeking envoy’s sincere entreaty to meet her hard-playing, fellow citizens-sacrificing, war-threatening brother.

Trump should see Kim’s "offer" to refrain from further weapons tests for now as what it is — a lazy recycling of the old ruse he used on the Obama administration in 2012. Nuclear and ballistic missile tests are prohibited by more than 10 United Nations Security Council resolutions. Hence, the mere utterance of abstinence from forbidden activities does not a change of heart make. Moreover, Kim Jong Un’s sudden “commitment” to holding "denuclearization" talks — a quarter-century-old canard — in North Korean parlance means the end of the U.S. extended nuclear deterrence to South Korea (and Japan) and the abrogation of the U.S.-South Korea defense treaty.

In short, Kim not only has not made any concession but has managed to hypnotize many into believing that last-minute banquets and bonhomie will trump the reality of Pyongyang’s half-century-old pursuit of nukes and Washington’s quarter-century-old record of failed nuclear diplomacy.

So, how should Trump proceed?

First, think hard on basic logic: At what point between Vice President Pence’s invalidation of Kim Jong Un’s Pyeongchang Olympics outreach as a “charade” in early February and Kim’s courting of President Trump in early March did the Dear Leader’s intentions become not fake?

Second, the United States should make some basic demands — action beyond words. Start with small steps such as calling on Kim to release detained U.S. and South Korean citizens and allow separated Korean families across the Demilitarized Zone the basic freedom of telephone calls and exchange of letters. All the while, enforce U.S. sanctions laws resolutely, as tempting as it may be to compromise for the sake of diplomatic progress.

Trump must realize that the terms of the gradual suspension and ultimate termination of U.S. sanctions against the Kim regime are codified into law. Unless Pyongyang takes meaningful steps toward the complete dismantlement of its nuclear plants and centrifuges; stops illicit activities such as counterfeiting U.S. currency, money laundering and proliferation; releases all political prisoners and stops censoring the North Korean people in extremis; abides by international norms as an aid-recipient nation; and complies with monitoring and, ultimately, reforms its horrific prison camps, the U.S. is legally bound to continue to enforce sanctions.

Third, inconvenient as it may be, Trump must speak the truth to Kim Jong Un. If the president is able to muster up the strength to look Kim in the eye and tell him, “Mr. Kim: Tear down the walls of your inhumane gulags,” his meeting with the tyrant, even if denuclearization fails in the near-term, may mark a powerful symbolic moment. But if Trump falls for Kim’s trap and, after indulging in the bonhomous moment of the summitry, prematurely relaxes sanctions — thus, legitimating and rewarding the world’s most tyrannical leader — then his meeting with Kim will be yet another bleak moment in the inglorious annals of U.S. diplomacy vis-à-vis Pyongyang.

More likely, it will be worse. North Korea today stands on the verge of nuclear breakout and becoming a continual credible nuclear threat to the continental United States. A summit meeting short on substance will only allow Kim to buy more time and money with which to pre-empt U.S. pre-emption and perfect his own nuclear posture, to be implemented at a time of his own choosing. For Trump to succumb to Pyongyang’s transparent ploy and prematurely deprive himself of the one effective nonlethal policy he has — sanctions enforcement — would be to affirm Karl Marx’s maxim, “History repeats itself, the first as tragedy, then as farce.”

Worse still, in the strange, atavistic case of the North Korean nuclear saga, the first summit gambit in 2000 was farcical aplenty. A replay of history in 2018 may invite not just a conventional tragedy, but nuclear calamity. Trump must at all cost circumvent Pyongyang’s traps and ensure that the joke, for once, is on Kim.

_Sung-Yoon Lee is Kim Koo-Korea Foundation professor of Korean studies and assistant professor at The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University._

question: What does the text say about a Pyongyang pilgrimage?

answer: Through a senior military man, Kim Jong Il conveyed to President Clinton an invitation to Pyongyang. Although President Clinton did not make the trip, his secretary of State was dispatched. The invitation came after Kim Jong Il hosted the first inter-Korean summit with the Southern leader.

question: What does the text say about nuclear missiles?

answer: Missile tests have been prohibited by over 10 UN Security Council resolutions. However this has not stopped North Korea from the forbidden activities. Kim Jong Un has committed to holding denuclearization talks for decades but to no fruition. Until the complete dismantlement happens, U.S. sanctions against the Kim regime will not be lifted.

question: Summarize what the U.S. should be demanding from the Kim regime.

answer: The U.S. should start with demanding the release of U.S. and South Korean citizens. They should start granting separated Korean families phone calls and the sending of letters. These basic demands should be the starting point before any negotiations to lift sanctions.

question: What does the text say about the pilgrimage to Beijing?