split: train

text:
[Between now and the end of the year, Justin Trudeau's capacity to forge a consensus in Parliament, on the federal-provincial front and, possibly, within his own caucus will be tested as the rubber meets the road on some key campaign commitments, writes Chantal Hébert.]

[Chantal Hébert]

Chantal HébertNational Affairs Columnist

__Sat., Nov. 19, 20163 min. read

Article was updated Nov. 18, 2016

If you have been enjoying Canada’s comparatively cool political climate since Justin Trudeau became prime minister, make the most of what may be the last days of the season.

By all indications, the political temperature is about to rise as deadlines looms on three potentially troublesome fronts for the Liberal government.

Between now and the end of the year, the prime minister’s capacity to forge a consensus in Parliament, on the federal-provincial front and, possibly, within his own caucus will be tested as the rubber meets the road on some key campaign commitments.

On or before Dec. 1, the special committee that has been exploring a reform of Canada’s voting system will report its findings to the government. If the Liberals have a principled position on this issue, they have been doing a great job of keeping it under wraps.

The committee report should signal the beginning of the end of the Liberal game of hide-and-seek.

The opposition parties hold the majority at the electoral reform table and, in any event, no government is bound to implement the prescription of a committee. If such an obligation existed, Canada’s new law on medically assisted suicide would be a lot less restrictive. But if Trudeau is presented with an opposition consensus as to the way forward on the voting system he will, at a minimum, have to come up with the kind of coherent response that has been sorely lacking to date.

This week, democratic reform minister Maryam Monsef reported, on the basis of her own consultations, that there was no consensus within the public as to a preferred voting system. The representations made to the committee on the other hand have tended to favour a more proportional system. Consensus, in this instance, is very much in the opportunistic eye of the beholder. But more on that later in this column.

The odds of a majority committee report increased this week when the NDP signalled that it could support the Conservative call for any new voting system to be put to a national referendum. If there is solid majority within the electorate to be found for anything pertaining to electoral reform, it revolves around the notion that a change should be approved through a national plebiscite.

One way or another, it does seem that at least one part of Trudeau’s promise will not be fulfilled. In the still unlikely scenario that the Liberals sign off on a national plebiscite, the debate would shift to the rewriting of the federal referendum law and then to the actual holding of a national vote. Getting all that done within the time frame Elections Canada says it needs to put a different voting system in place for 2019 would be extremely difficult. And that is, of course, assuming a reform proposal wins the day.

On Dec. 9, Trudeau is tentatively scheduled to meet with the premiers to put the finishing touches on the country’s climate change strategy. The first ministers have not gathered since the prime minister signalled his intention to set a floor price on carbon. In the interval, Donald Trump’s victory and the expectation that his administration will not follow up on the Paris climate accord have added grist to the mill of opponents of a Canadian carbon tax.

Trudeau does not lack for provincial allies on carbon pricing but the same is not true of his plan to cut the annual increase of the health transfer to 3 per cent. The prime minister wants to avoid a linkage between the two files. Absent some conciliatory federal move on health-care funding, that linkage may be hard to avoid next month and not just on carbon pricing.

Dec. 19 is the deadline for the federal cabinet to decide the fate of Kinder Morgan’s plan to increase the capacity of the TransMountain pipeline. It links Alberta to the coast off Vancouver. In the wake of the American election, Energy Minister Jim Carr has argued that Trump’s victory and the prospect of a revival of the Keystone XL project did not diminish the need for more pipeline capacity in Canada.

Trudeau has long said he would not proceed with a pipeline absent a so-called social licence for the project. If his government applied to the quest of a pro-pipeline consensus in British Columbia the same loose criteria it is using to declare that there is no consensus in sight on electoral reform, the TransMountain pipeline would be dead on arrival.

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question: What does the text say about National Affairs Columnist, Chantal Hébert?

question: What does the text say about Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau?

answer: The prime minister's capacity to forge a consensus in Parliament, on the federal-provincial front and his own caucus will be tested as some key campaign commitments face their deadlines. There are three potentially troublesome fronts for Trudeau's Liberal government. He must come up with a coherent response to the voting system.

question: Summarize everything that happened between December 1 to December 9.

answer: On or before December 1, the special committee exploring reform of Canada's voting system will report its findings to the government. Democratic reform minister Maryam Monsef made her own consultations and found that there was no consensus within the public as to a preferred voting system. On December 9, Trudeau is tentatively scheduled to meet with the premiers to put the finishing touches on the country's climate change strategy.

question: What does the text say about December 19th?

answer: December 19 is the deadline for the federal cabinet to decide the fate of Kinder Morgan's plan to increase the capacity of the TransMountain pipeline. The pipeline links Alberta to the coast of Vancouver. However, Trudeau has long said that he would not proceed with a pipeline absent a social license for the project.


text:
The hikers had left a map of the area which gave us a vast layout of the land. It wasn't good. There were woods, woods, and  more woods. No place was safe, the dead had already begun to infest the forest as we knew, and hunting became harder and harder. The animals were nearly all gone and we were dangerously low on food, but no one wanted to get that conversation started. Our only option was to look for shelter in one of the surrounding towns. That's when I first heard Ryan's voice. I don't think he'd used it in about a month. He had to give it a couple of tries before the words came out smooth.
“My high-school's in the next town over, it's right at the edge of forest. There's a broken lock on a second story window, the chemistry lab. The cafeteria's full of cans and stuff.”
“There's probably people there already.” I said.
“Gotta try.” Spencer replied, “Ain't nuttin' else to do.”
	And again, he was right. The forest wasn't an option anymore and our food supply would only last another day or two. Soon, we would barely have the energy to stay awake much less trek through the woods hunting for squirrels. I'll skip the journey. It wasn't easy and it wasn't pretty.
	We got there two days after we started walking and had the last bit of rations about ten minutes before we saw the school. The possibility of food almost hurt- and I realized that the point I had made earlier was moot, even if there were people here, we were going to take whatever was inside, anything else would mean our deaths. Spencer and Ryan reached the clearing first. Emily and I fell behind when she had to stop to use the bathroom. I stood guard while the others walked on, I would have told Spencer he should stay with his girlfriend but I would rather have him as far from her as possible. When she came out she thanked me for staying with her, “...You took off your bow tie?” She asked. I had almost forgotten I was wearing a tuxedo. The white shirt had turned yellow and I’d long since ripped off the cummerbund. I took the tie out of my pocket, “I was going to throw it away but thought it might be useful some day. Don't know why I thought that.”
“You should keep it.”
“Why?”
“No reason, I just like it.” She said with a weak smile and walked ahead of me. I had never seen her smile before. It was nicest thing to happen in weeks.
	The school sat quiet. We stayed by the treeline for a few minutes before Spencer passed out the weapons. “Ryan'll go in through the broken window and open the back door for us, Emily, you can be the look out in case any wal-” Spencer stopped himself when he saw her. A girl of no more than sixteen, behind her another girl a couple of years younger. They were both in dirty white dresses, their eyes had sunk and they walked on slow frail legs. It took a minute of watching to see that they were not walkers but starving. The eldest girl bent down and picked up two pale yellow flowers from the ground. She put one behind her ear and the other in her sister's hair. They started to walk back, hand in hand but the youngest stopped- they stood for a moment and looked up a the sky. I looked at Spencer, at Emily, no one seemed quite sure of themselves anymore. The girls disappeared into the school.
	I gave Ryan a boost- he climbed the rest of the way up himself, he was gone a minute before the door clicked open. “See anything?” I asked him. He shook his head. We went in slow and quiet. We had learned the silent walk technique in the woods. Dry twigs were death traps. We were almost to the cafeteria when we heard the shots.
	All weapons went up- the gunfire came from the gymnasium Ryan told us. Five shots, four in quick succession and a space of about ten seconds until the last one. We had to move fast now, walkers would have heard the shots, we kept the doors unlocked behind us in case we had to run. And if there were walkers in the building- either way we had to know what happened. Ryan had to show Spencer the way and Emily was outside on watch. So I went to the gym alone, I was given five minutes before they would be out of there with or without me. I see it now like I saw it then.
	Walking into that gym, that was when I knew. The hope I had for a military rescue, that spark in the middle of your heart that tells you things will be okay eventually- that things are bad now but a day would come when everything would be like it was before, that was the moment my light went out. Five sisters had come to this school for safety. They'd made it as long as they could, they'd eaten all the food but the world outside hadn't changed. They had no one to take care of them. No parents, no policemen. All they had was a gun with five shots left inside. The younger ones had lines up, that ten seconds before the last shot- that was the oldest looking at her family and turning the gun on herself. I've thought about that day every day since. I've thought about running from the clearing and telling that sixteen year old that things would be okay- that she could come with us. And I've had dreams when she did, and Spencer was excepting and Emily was like a mother to the littlest of them. In my dreams we were all alive, we all belonged to the each other and when one of us was sick or hungry the others would take care of them. And those girls would play the games that children play.
	As I stood there and watched their blood spread out and pool together- I prayed for something to happen, anything that could change what I was feeling. I didn't care if it was a bomb going off or a military parade outside, I just needed to feel something other than that hopelessness. And then something did happen. The youngest of the girls stood up. Her sister had aimed for the heart. We thought only a bite could turn someone, but now I saw that that wasn't true. This wasn't an infection, this wasn't a disease. This was Hell, and it was coming for me in a white cotton dress and flowers in its hair.

title:
The Walking Dead: Winter Chronicles
Chapter Four: Five Sisters

question: Does the narrator have feelings for Emily?

answer: Unclear.

question: Write a ~13 sentence summary.

answer: The narrator and a group of survivors know they must leave the forest as they have all but run out of food and supplies. Ryan suggests his old high school and the others agree since they don't have any other options. When they see a 16 year old girl and a younger girl outside. They weren't walkers, just starving. The group doesn't approach them. The oldest girl picks up flowers to put in her and the younger girl's hair. When they go back inside the school the group begins their mission to get inside. As Ryan gets inside they all hear gunfire, 5 shots. The narrator makes his way to the gym where the shots were heard. Inside he is devastated to see five girls dead, the two they had seen outside included. The girls had finished all the supplies and death seemed like to only viable option. The narrator has immense regret over not calling out to the girls they'd seen pick flowers. As he stands there praying that something changes the young girl they'd seen outside starts to get up- she's now a walker and heads straight for the narrator.


text:
CHARLESTON EXECUTIVE AIRPORT is in Charleston in Charleston County, South Carolina, seven miles southwest of the city. It is owned by the Charleston County Aviation Authority.[1] The airport serves the general aviation community, with no airline service.

History

The airport opened in April 1943 named JOHNS ISLAND ARMY AIRFIELD. Initially it was an auxiliary to Columbia Army Air Base as an unmanned emergency landing airfield. On 31 March 1944, jurisdiction was transferred to Charleston Army Airfield when Charleston was reassigned to Air Transport Command. It served as an emergency landing base with no permanent structures being used for transatlantic flights. On 25 August 1945 the airfield was turned over to local authorities which converted it into a civil airport.[2][3] The occasional military aircraft still uses the airport.

Facilities

The airport covers at an elevation of 19 feet (5.8 m). It has two concrete runways: 9/27 is 5,350 by 150 feet (1,631 x 46 m) and 4/22 is 4,313 by 150 feet (1,315 x 46 m).[4]

In the year ending December 11, 2019 the airport had 31,000 aircraft operations, an average of 85 per day. The operations breakdown was: 84% general aviation, 9.5% military, and 6.5% air taxi. 39 aircraft were then based at this airport: 90% single-engine, 5% multi-engine, and 5% jet.[5]

[1]

[2]

[3] Manning, Thomas A. (2005), History of Air Education and Training Command, 1942-2002. Office of History and Research, Headquarters, AETC, Randolph AFB, Texas ASIN: B000NYX3PC

[4]

[5]

title: Charleston Executive Airport

question: What does the Charleston Executive Airport serve?

answer: It serves the general aviation community, with no airline service.

question: When did the Charleston Executive Airport open?

answer: It opened in April 1943.

question: How many aircraft operations did the airport have at the end of the year in 2019?

answer: By the end of 2019, the airport had 31,000 aircraft operations.

question: Who owns the Charleston Executive Airport?

answer: The Charleston Executive Airport is owned by the Charleston County Aviation Authority.

question: Write a ~1 sentence summary.

answer: This article describes the Charleston Executive Airport along with its facilities.


text: I reach into my pocket to pull out some money for the man standing on the corner. He has a sign that says he is hungry and he has to feed his kids. I think about how much money I have compared to him. I have never worried about how I am going to eat. I fiddle with the money paper in my pocket, wondering to myself how much I should give him. 100 dollars? 200 dollars? It doesn't matter to me. I want to do a nice thing for someone else. It's not like I have anything more important to do. The money is already in my hand and I am rolling down the window when something catches my eye. The light just turned green. I had more important things to do. How much is 200 dollars going to help him anyways? He'll probably be standing on the corner again by next week. The money went back in my pocket and I drove off.

title: Man on the Corner

question: What did the narrator see from their car?

answer: A panhandler.

question: What does the narrator want to give the man?

answer: Money, one or two hundred dollars.

question: Does the narrator give the panhandler the money?

answer: No

question: Why doesn't the narrator give the panhandler money?

answer: The light turned green, and something else caught his eye.

question: Write a ~3 sentence summary.

answer: The narrator describes the impulse to help someone else out. There is a panhandler with a sign saying that he's hungry. At first, the narrator wants to help this man, but his attention is quickly and easily diverted, and when the light changes in the same moment, he figures his help wasn't that important, and drives off.


text: Whatever had wiped out all life on earth seemed to have forgotten about Chris. On the morning of January, 7, 2010 it had taken Chris about twenty minutes to figure out what had happened overnight. He had woken up to find that his wife was not beside him in bed, strange he thought then got out of bed. “Honey?” no answer, “Honey!?” he said louder, no answer, strange he thought again. It was only when he stepped outside did he begin to get scared. The silence smacked him in the face like a sledgehammer. He looked around beginning to get nervous, and saw the true nightmare that had occurred on the planet overnight. All the grass, trees and foliage were gone. Not a single remnant remained of them, no dust, no stumps, no decaying leaves, nothing. The next few hours went by in a blur. Going to all the nearby cities to look for any life what so ever and finding nothing. Looking in nuclear bunkers to try to find anyone who might have survived and finding no one. Days went by. He found that fruits no longer rotted and realised not even the bacteria survived. Weeks went by. He started to talk to himself to pass the time, and sometimes he would think he saw another person and try to run to them but they would fade away into nothing as they always did. Months went by. Suicide became a popular topic among the many talks he had with himself. One day something in Chris just snapped, he could not take this world any longer. He could have found a gun in an hour or so and it probably would have made for an easier suicide but he needed to leave this world now. Not in an hour, not even in a minute if he could help it, now. He found a length of rope long enough in a hunting store by a small river and in ten minutes he was on a chair with a noose around his neck looking through a window at the river. With three wobbles of the chair it fell over. The last living thing on earth hung dead.

title: Eradication

question: What happens to Chris in the story?

answer: He wakes up to a world where he is the only surviving organism.

question: How much time passes in the story?

answer: Weeks pass between the beginning and conclusion of the story.

question: When does the story take place?

answer: The story takes place in 2010.

question: What does Chris buy?

answer: Chris takes a rope from a hunting store.

question: Are other things alive besides Daniel?

answer: No, not even bacteria are alive anymore

question: Write a ~5 sentence summary.

answer: Chris wakes up in January 2010 to realize he is the last thing alive on Earth. He is alone - not even bacteria can be found. He feels alone and begins to contemplate suicide. As he investigates, he fails to find any explanation for what happened. He decides to hang himself.


text:
The MID-AMERICAN CONFERENCE MEN'S SOCCER TOURNAMENT was the conference championship tournament in soccer for the Mid-American Conference. The tournament was held every year from 1994 until 2019. It was a single-elimination tournament and seeding was based on regular season records. The winner, declared conference champion, received the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Men's Division I Soccer Championship.

Starting in 2020, the tournament was canceled, and the regular season champion was declared the conference champion, which is in effect until at least 2024. This was in part due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[1]

Winners

The following is a list of MAC Tournament winners:[2]

Key

  ------ ------------------------------------------------------
  (2)    Title number
  -      Match went to extra time
  †      Match decided by a penalty shootout after extra time
  BOLD   Winning team won REGULAR SEASON
  ^      Winning team reached College Cup
         Winning team lost National Championship
         Winning team won National Championship
  ------ ------------------------------------------------------

Finals

+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+
| Year      | Champion  | Score[3]  | Runner-up | Site[4]   | Most      |
|           |           |           |           |           | Valuable  |
|           |           |           |           |           | Player[5] |
+===========+===========+===========+===========+===========+===========+
| 1994      | '''Miami  | 3–1*      | Bowling   | Cub Cadet | Dan       |
|           | (OH) '''  |           | Green     | Field •   | Creech    |
|           |           |           |           | Akron,    | (Miami)   |
|           |           |           |           | Ohio      |           |
+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+
| 1995      | Bowling   | 2–0       | AKRON     | WMU       | Steve     |
|           | Green     |           |           | Soccer    | Klein     |
|           |           |           |           | Complex • | (Bowling  |
|           |           |           |           | Kalamazoo | Green)    |
|           |           |           |           | ,         |           |
|           |           |           |           | Michigan  |           |
+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+
| 1996      | BOWLING   | 4–0       | Kentucky  | Cochrane  |           |
|           | GREEN     |           |           | Stadium • |           |
|           |           |           |           | Bowling   |           |
|           |           |           |           | Green,    |           |
|           |           |           |           | Ohio      |           |
+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+
| 1997      | Bowling   | 1–0       | AKRON     | Miami     |           |
|           | Green     |           |           | Soccer    |           |
|           |           |           |           | Field •   |           |
|           |           |           |           | Oxford,   |           |
|           |           |           |           | Ohio      |           |
+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+
| 1998      | '''Akron  | 4–1       | Bowling   | Cub Cadet | Michael   |
|           | '''       |           | Green     | Field •   | Apple     |
|           |           |           |           | Akron,    | (Akron)   |
|           |           |           |           | Ohio      |           |
+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+
| 1999      | Kentucky  | 2–1       | Northern  | UK Soccer | Lee Baker |
|           |           |           | Illinois  | Complex • | (Kentucky |
|           |           |           |           | Lexington | )         |
|           |           |           |           | ,         |           |
|           |           |           |           | Kentucky  |           |
+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+
| 2000      | Kentucky  | 1–0       | Bowling   | Cochrane  | Ilkka     |
|           |           |           | Green     | Stadium • | Jäntti    |
|           |           |           |           | Bowling   | (Kentucky |
|           |           |           |           | Green,    | )         |
|           |           |           |           | Ohio      |           |
+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+
| 2001      | KENTUCKY  | 1–0*      | Akron     | UK Soccer | John      |
|           |           |           |           | Complex • | Monebrake |
|           |           |           |           | Lexington | (Kentucky |
|           |           |           |           | ,         | )         |
|           |           |           |           | Kentucky  |           |
+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+
| 2002      | AKRON     | 4–1       | Bowling   | Cochrane  | Kirk      |
|           |           |           | Green     | Stadium • | Harwat    |
|           |           |           |           | Bowling   | (Akron)   |
|           |           |           |           | Green,    |           |
|           |           |           |           | Ohio      |           |
+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+
| 2003      | Western   | 5–0       | Bowling   | WMU       | Scott     |
|           | Michigan  |           | Green     | Soccer    | Duhl      |
|           |           |           |           | Complex • | (Western  |
|           |           |           |           | Kalamazoo | Michigan) |
|           |           |           |           | ,         |           |
|           |           |           |           | Michigan  |           |
+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+
| 2004      | Akron     | 6–1       | Western   | Cub Cadet | Alex      |
|           |           |           | Michigan  | Field •   | Odwell    |
|           |           |           |           | Akron,    | (Akron)   |
|           |           |           |           | Ohio      |           |
+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+
| 2005      | AKRON     | 0–0†      | Buffalo   | Cub Cadet | Ross      |
|           |           |           |           | Field •   | McKenzie  |
|           |           |           |           | Akron,    | (Akron)   |
|           |           |           |           | Ohio      |           |
+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+
| 2006      | Northern  | 1–0       | AKRON     | NIU       | Joe Zimka |
|           | Illinois  |           |           | Soccer    | (Northern |
|           |           |           |           | Complex • | Illinois) |
|           |           |           |           | DeKalb,   |           |
|           |           |           |           | Illinois  |           |
+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+
| 2007      | AKRON     | 1–0*      | Buffalo   | Cub Cadet | Cory      |
|           |           |           |           | Field •   | Sipos     |
|           |           |           |           | Akron,    | (Akron)   |
|           |           |           |           | Ohio      |           |
+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+
| 2008      | AKRON     | 1–0*      | Northern  | Cub Cadet | Steve     |
|           |           |           | Illinois  | Field •   | Zakuani   |
|           |           |           |           | Akron,    | (Akron)   |
|           |           |           |           | Ohio      |           |
+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+
| 2009      | AKRON     | 2–1       | Hartwick  | Cub Cadet | Teal      |
|           |           |           |           | Field •   | Bunbury   |
|           |           |           |           | Akron,    | (Akron)   |
|           |           |           |           | Ohio      |           |
+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+
| 2010      | AKRON     | 4–0       | Western   | Cub Cadet | Darren    |
|           |           |           | Michigan  | Field •   | Mattocks  |
|           |           |           |           | Akron,    | (Akron)   |
|           |           |           |           | Ohio      |           |
+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+
| 2011      | Northern  | 1–0       | Western   | Cub Cadet | Sean      |
|           | Illinois  |           | Michigan  | Field •   | Totsch    |
|           |           |           |           | Akron,    | (Northern |
|           |           |           |           | Ohio      | Illinois) |
+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+
| 2012      | AKRON     | 2–0       | Northern  | Cub Cadet | Scott     |
|           |           |           | Illinois  | Field •   | Caldwell  |
|           |           |           |           | Akron,    | (Akron)   |
|           |           |           |           | Ohio      |           |
+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+
| 2013      | AKRON     | 2–1       | West      | Cub Cadet | Aodhan    |
|           |           |           | Virginia  | Field •   | Quinn     |
|           |           |           |           | Akron,    | (Akron)   |
|           |           |           |           | Ohio      |           |
+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+
| 2014      | AKRON     | 2–1       | Bowling   | Cub Cadet | Adam      |
|           |           |           | Green     | Field •   | Najem     |
|           |           |           |           | Akron,    | (Akron)   |
|           |           |           |           | Ohio      |           |
+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+
| 2015      | AKRON^    | 1–0       | Buffalo   | Cub Cadet | Adam      |
|           |           |           |           | Field •   | Najem     |
|           |           |           |           | Akron,    | (Akron)   |
|           |           |           |           | Ohio      |           |
+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+
| 2016      | AKRON     | 2–1       | Buffalo   | Cub Cadet | Nick      |
|           |           |           |           | Field     | Hinds     |
|           |           |           |           | Akron,    | (Akron)   |
|           |           |           |           | Ohio      |           |
+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+
| 2017      | Akron^    | 3–1       | WESTERN   | WMU       | Stuart    |
|           |           |           | MICHIGAN  | Soccer    | Holthusen |
|           |           |           |           | Complex • | (Akron)   |
|           |           |           |           | Kalamazoo |           |
|           |           |           |           | ,         |           |
|           |           |           |           | MI        |           |
+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+
| 2018      | Akron     | 3–0       | Western   | Dlesk     | Marcel    |
|           |           |           | Michigan  | Stadium • | Zajac     |
|           |           |           |           | Morgantow | (Akron)   |
|           |           |           |           | n,        |           |
|           |           |           |           | West      |           |
|           |           |           |           | Virginia  |           |
+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+
| 2019      | WEST      | 1–0       | Bowling   | Cub Cadet | Steven    |
|           | VIRGINIA  |           | Green     | Field     | Tekesky   |
|           |           |           |           | Akron,    | (West     |
|           |           |           |           | Ohio      | Virginia) |
+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+

Performance by school

  School             Championships[6]   Winning years[7]
  ------------------ ------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Akron              15                 1998, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018
  Bowling Green      3                  1995, 1996, 1997
  _Kentucky_         3                  1999, 2000, 2001
  NIU                2                  2006, 2011
  Miami†             1                  1994
  Western Michigan   1                  2003
  West Virginia      1                  2019
  TOTAL              25

_Italics_ indicate a school that is no longer a conference member

† No longer sponsor men's soccer

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

question: What years was the Mid-American Conference Men's Soccer Tournament held?

answer: From 1994 until 2019.

question: Why was the tournament canceled in 2020?

answer: The COVID-19 pandemic.

question: What was declared in 2020?

answer: That the regular season champion would be the conference champion.

question: How long is the conference championship in effect?

answer: Until at least 2024.

question: Write a ~1 sentence summary.

answer: The article is about the Mid-American Conference Men's Soccer Tournament, it's history and the reason why it was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.


text:
KITTY CHEN COUTURE INC.

Kitty Chen Couture collections feature stunning bridal gowns that offer sexy low cut backs, long sleeve ball gowns, fully beaded mermaids, and boho lace gowns. We are an all inclusive wedding dress designer where all of our gowns can be made for petite brides and our beautiful plus size brides. With all that there is to offer, we are certain you will find your perfect gown.

question: What does Kitty Chen Couture Inc. design?

answer: A variety of wedding gowns for all shapes and sizes.

question: What is the purpose of this text?

answer: To advertise Kitty Chen Couture.

question: Write a ~1 sentence summary.

answer: A small advertisement for Kitty Chen Couture, describing the products they make (wedding dresses).


text:
There was once a town by the name of Jarte. Jarte was set in the middle ages. It was self sufficent and didn't hold any ties or trades with any other place. When the town was created, people understood that you couldn't fuck about and do whatever the hell you pleased, you had to listen and take orders if you wanted to survive, otherwise a bear would eat your face.

The town was settled near a forest with a huge lake in the middle. The townspeople would often go to swim in the lake, since they were basically peasants and their lives were terrible and hard, they needed entertainment. That's why they had sex and went swimming during their free time. There was also a theater, but no one went there since that goat died in there. That's a different story though, so I won't get into it.

Eventually, as the town grew and houses were built and people were made by process of sexual intercourse and crops were grown, hierarchy developed. Certain people did the work and took orders, certain people both gave and took orders, and certain people simply gave orders. There was a royal family who was considered higher than the others because they were more handsome. And because of their handsomeness and charm, people listened to them. And the ugly people with dirt on their faces who didn't bathe or wear make up, did the work and took orders. The Royal family was spoilt as fuck and got everything handed to them, everyone respected them because they were authority and you had to.  The folks in the middle got angry at being looked down upon by the ones at the top so they took their frustrations on the lower working class. And after a hard day of work, the peasants would go home and take their frustrations out on their kids. And the kids couldn't wait until they were old enough to fuck with others. Such was the way of the town of Jarte.

Things continued after the town had been settled and it stayed like that for a few decades. Not much change happened, people went on with their lives. But one day, something went wrong. Something that shocked the town. It was a saturday, and after a week of working everyone went to the lake. Some people stayed home of course, but most went to the lake to relax and have some fun before starting work again. It was nighttime and people were laughing and eating and swimming. The kids splashed at each other and played in the water.

Suddenly swords were drawn. The soldiers told everyone to get the fuck home. They all screamed and ran home like "what the hell is going on??" The soldiers told everyone to stay at home and strict rules were put on the town. Rumors quickly spread about how the royal family had drowned at the lake, and they were suspicious that someone had rebelled against them, destroying the order and hierarchy that was necessary for society to function.

A funeral was held for four members of the family. The king and queen and their two daughters. The only one who survived was their fat son, who was too fat to swim and had decided to stay home. He was shocked to hear his family died, but was happy as fuck that he was now king.

Now, one of the peasant familys, a family of four, had a teenage boy who was suspected of drowning the family. He was 17 and worked with his father in the mines. The soldiers for the king had broke into their cottage and dragged the boy, kicking and screaming, outside. The family was shocked, but the soldiers announced that he was the one who murdered the family, and he should be punished.

He was executed in front of the entire town, his head chopped off with a motherfucking sword. They soldiers warned the townspeople that order was important, and anyone who disobeys or is violent against someone in a higher position of power shall be executed in the same way. The mother and father and brother of the boy went home crying.

Of course, that poor boy hadn't been the one who drowned the royal family. They had died because of their own stupidity. But the soldiers had to make sure order was maintained, so they made an example out of one of the workers.

When the family went home, the father beat the younger kid. He was twelve, and his father beat the living shit out of him, making him bleed and breaking a few of his teeth, screaming "WHY COULDN'T HAVE IT BEEN YOU? YOU'RE USELESS, YOU DON'T WORK! WHY WASN'T IT YOU?"

A fortnight after that, sick of his father and mother's cruelness and sick of being unwanted, the boy ran away from home. He snuck into the forest and went back to the lake, even though it was banned after they royal family had drowned. He went into the lake, hoping to drown himself and put himself out of his misery. He had no one to talk down to, no one to take his frustrations on. He was the youngest of a peasant family. He swam to the bottom and was prepared to die, when he saw something shiny. It was a stone, and it was shiny as fuck. Didn't even look like a rock. He swam to it, and came back up, just to get a look at it.

He held the stone in his hand. It was bright silver and glimmered under the light of the rising sun. He had forgotten all about his suicide now. He was just angry. He wasn't sad, he was angry. Angry at the royal family and the soldiers who were obviously ruining this town. They did nothing. They didn't work, the peasants did, yet they got all the food and big houses and THEY rules US to preserve "order."

If this was order, the boy thought, then he didn't want it. And, since he was prepared to die anyway, he might as well go out with style.

The boy ran back into town and the soldiers and townspeople saw him.

"Oh god, that boy! What the fuck!"

"Doesn't he know that he shouldn't have been in the forest? Holy fuck!"

One of the soldiers, who was escorting the fat boy as he went around, dressed in his bullshit royal clothes, looking smug as fuck, saw the boy. "Hey you! What do you think you're doing?"

The boy looked at the fat boy who was now king of the town. They both looked at each other. Both were twelve, both lived in the same town, yet they had come from entirely different worlds.

"FUCK YOU!" The peasant boy shouted, and threw the rock at the king, who bled from his forehead and died instantly, right there on the ground.

The soldiers took the peasant boy and executed him and his parents in front of the entire town. And then...

Everyone stood there, looking at each other. What were they to do now? The king was dead. Whose orders would the soldiers follow? What would happen? They stood there like robots, not knowing what to do without a master to follow orders from. They stared at each other, confused as fuck.

The silver rock that had been used to kill the king started moving. It cracked open, and from inside came a unicorn.

It wasn't a rock at all, it was an egg.

The unicorn flew out of the egg, leaving a trail of shiny glitter behind. It hovered in the sky over the townspeople.

*You fools!* the unicorn boomed, *Order and hierarchy aren't necessary in society! That's bullshit! It's about love and happiness!*

The unicorn threw up a rainbow and suddenly the town changed. The great castle for the royal family turned into a cottage like the peasants', because equality. And all the townspeople and soldiers became naked, because love and nature. The mines collapsed because useless labor is dumb, and the crops turned into marijuana.

Everyone danced naked and swam in the lake and fucked and smoked weed. Everyone was happy and love spread through the air.

*A fortnight later...*

A bald eagle comes down and stands on the ruins of the city. It has burned down and there is nothing but rubble left. Everyone died because the crops were replaced with weed and order and hierarchy was gone, so there was no motivation to work.

The bald eagle shed a single tear.

title: I wrote this story today. It's about a rock.

question: Why is it surprising that a unicorn hatches from the egg?

answer: Typically, a chicken or other small animal that hatches from eggs, would.

question: What is meant by "otherwise a bear would eat your face"?

answer: There are too many things to be concerned about to have time for malarkey and/or leisurely idle activities.

question: Why would everyone die if the crops were replaced by marijuana?

answer: Apparently, these people did not know about, or did not have the means to trade.

question: How did the king's son survive?

answer: He was too fat too swim.

question: Write a ~6 sentence summary.

answer: There was a small medieval town that had forbidden anyone from having frivolous fun because it was necessary to stay on task for survival. One day the king, his wife, and their two daughters drown in the lake, and their son survives because he is too fat to swim so he stayed home. The town is on  witch hunt and finds a local boy, blames him, and executes him. Another boy misbehaves, and he is being harassed when he sees the fat boy and hurls a rock at the now-king. That boy is executed, but the rock turns into a unicorn, who turns all the crops into weed. The town ultimately perishes because everyone gets high and has fun.


text:
[MITT ROMNEY NET WORTH]

HOW MUCH IS MITT ROMNEY WORTH:

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

-   FULL NAME: Willard Mitt Romney
-   NET WORTH: $250 MILLION
-   OCCUPATION: Politician
-   MARITAL STATUS: Married
-   ETHNICITY: White

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

MITT ROMNEY NET WORTH – THE LIFE OF A RICH FORMER GOVERNOR

ROMNEY’S CHILDHOOD

Romney was born on March 12th, 1947 in Detroit, Michigan. Even though he wasn’t really athletic or very good academically, he showed quite an interest in politics. He took part in his father’s Michigan gubernatorial campaign and interned in the Governor’s office.

BUSINESS CAREER OF ROMNEY

Romney began his business career by working at Boston Consulting Group. He later moved on to join Bain & Company.  Since he had a legal and business education, he excelled at his job at both the consulting firms. He gained huge popularity for his work at Bain & Company.  Romney was also involved in some political trouble when he took his boat out for a family outing without license and also went on a twelve hour family trip with his dog in a wind shield equipped carrier.  Unfortunately, his critics still use these incidents against him. His total net worth today is $250 Million.

[Mitt Romney Pictures ]

POLITICAL CAREER OF ROMNEY

Having participated in his father’s gubernatorial campaign, he became a candidate in the Massachusetts gubernatorial campaign in 2002. He proved himself to be a moderate with progressive views and won the people’s confidence. That resulted in Romney becoming the 70th governor of Massachusetts. Willard Mitt Romney worked hard at removing corporate tax loopholes, improving health insurance including the Massachusetts health reform law and also started issuing same-sex marriage licenses. He also had opinions on abortions wherein he called himself a “pro-life.” According to him, “he believed that abortion is the wrong choice except in cases of incest, rape, and to save the life of the mother.”

Willard Mitt Romney participated in Presidential campaigns in 2008, 2012 and will continue to participate in the 2016 one as well. During the 2008 elections, Willard Mitt Romney was perceived as “phony” by people due to lack of personal warmth in his campaign. For the 2012 campaign, in 2011, he was competing with RICK PERRY. While many politicians were against him – accusing him of “vulture capitalism”, several conservatives rallied in support of him. However, due to a poor week Romney lost the race. When everyone thought the politician had now faded away, he jumped right back on the political scene in the midterm elections that happened in 2014. He decided he was not going to run and hence gave his one of the best quotes – “The unavailable is always the most attractive, right? That goes in dating as well.”

[Mitt Romney Photos ]

Apart from Presidential campaigns, Romney worked on military investments and replacing Obama care with something that gave more control over the Medicaid. From economic growth, taxes to health care – all of it was being looked after by him. He also focused on a sustainable environment by imposing control over gases that damaged the environment and eventually led to global warming. Another field he focused on was the nuclear power that Iran had which America should consider a threat.

ROMNEY’S PERSONAL LIFE

Romney married ANN DAVIES in 1969, which he started dating in his senior year of high school. The two got engaged in 1965, right around when he joined Stanford University. They have five kids together. It is reported that both, Romney and Ann have a net worth of around $190 to $250 million dollars.

[Mitt Romney Photos ]

question: Who is Willard Mitt Romney?

answer: Willard Mitt Romney was the former Governor of Massachusetts who participated in Presidential campaigns 2008 and 2012, losing both.

question: How much is Mitt Romney's net worth?

answer: He has an estimated net worth of $250 million.

question: What was Mitt Romney's first foray into the world of politics?

answer: He took part in his father's Michigan gubernatorial campaign and interned in the Governor's office.

question: What is Mitt Romney's stance on abortion?

answer: He calls himself "pro-life" and believes abortion is the wrong choice except in cases of incest, rape, and to save the life of the mother.

question: Write a ~5 sentence summary.

answer: Willard Mitt Romney was born on March 12th, 1947 in Detroit, Michigan. He showed an early interest in politics when he took part in his father's Michigan campaign for Governor and even interned in the Governor's office. He married Ann Davies in 1969 and they have five kids. Romney became the 70th Governor of Massachusetts in 2002 as a moderate with progressive views and participated in the Presidential elections 2008 and 2012, where he lost both times. He has an estimated net worth of $250 million.


text:
_FILM STARS DON'T DIE IN LIVERPOOL_ is a 2017 biographical romantic drama film directed by Paul McGuigan and starring Annette Bening and Jamie Bell, with a cast that includes Vanessa Redgrave and Julie Walters. It is based on the memoir of the same name by Peter Turner, which tells of his relationship with Academy Award-winning American actress Gloria Grahame in 1970s Liverpool and, some years later, her death from stomach cancer.

The film premiered at the Telluride Film Festival on 1 September 2017. It was released in the United Kingdom on 16 November by Lionsgate and in the United States on 29 December by Sony Pictures Classics. At the 71st British Academy Film Awards, it received three nominations: Best Actress (Bening), Best Actor (Bell) and Best Adapted Screenplay.[1] The film was a box office flop, grossing $4 million against a production budget of $10 million, but received generally positive reviews.

Synopsis

In October 1981, Gloria Grahame is playing the role of Amanda in _The Glass Menagerie_ in Lancaster and takes ill. She calls upon a former lover, Peter Turner, who reluctantly takes her to his parents’ home in Liverpool to recuperate.

_In media res_, in 1979, in the twilight of her once-prolific and Academy Award-winning career, Gloria is playing a role of Sadie in W. Somerset Maugham’s _Rain_ in London and asks another tenant at her boarding house—Peter—to practice dancing disco with her. Gloria is flirtatious with Peter, who is also an actor. They see _Alien_ together, have a drink together afterward, and strike up a friendship. After an argument, their relationship become intimate, despite their noticeable age difference.

In October 1981, Peter’s parents’ are still expressing support for Peter and Gloria's friendship. Peter and his parents acknowledge that Gloria needs more attentive medical attention for whatever is ailing her. However, Gloria insists that her illness isn't serious.

In 1979, Peter visits Gloria in Los Angeles and their romance continues at Gloria's modest Malibu trailer park home. Gloria's mother, Jeanne, demonstrates support for Peter and Gloria's romance, but Gloria's older sister, Joy, is hostile. Both encourage Peter not to marry Gloria, given Gloria's earlier and scandalous marriage to her former stepson Anthony Ray who was also significantly her junior. Peter and Gloria reveal to each other that they've both experimented with same-sex attraction.

In October 1981, once contacting Gloria's doctor in Lancaster, Peter learns that Gloria's breast cancer has returned after initial remission in 1975. Gloria has refused any further treatment. Peter eventually confronts Gloria with what he knows, but Gloria insists she'll get better. Peter reluctantly shares the prognosis with his family, Gloria's hosts. Peter tells his friend Eileen that he still loves Gloria.

From 1979, Gloria and Peter's romance continues until the spring of 1981, and Peter spends time with Gloria in New York City, including a visit from Eileen. Gloria invites Peter to live with her in America full-time. However, shortly thereafter, Gloria suddenly cools to the relationship without explanation, distancing herself from Peter. Gloria kicks him out of her New York City apartment, and he returns to Liverpool for an acting job in an Alan Bleasdale play.

It is revealed that Gloria's sudden change of heart in New York City was driven by her learning that her cancer had returned. Her earlier refusal of chemotherapy in 1975 has contributed to the cancer's return. Her distance from Peter and keeping of secrets was because of ongoing tests and doctor appointments. She doesn't share this with Peter and instead hopes to drive him away as the cancer is diagnosed as terminal.

In October 1981, Peter struggles with his family on how to approach care of Gloria. As she becomes increasingly weak, Gloria decides to allow Peter to inform her family of her illness. Peter surprises Gloria by taking her to a theatre to read from _Romeo and Juliet_. They reconcile. Gloria's oldest son Timothy arrives from the US to assist Gloria in returning home. Peter gently packs her belongings as Gloria sleeps. Gloria says goodbye to Peter and his family and departs for the U.S. They share a final kiss.

The film concludes with footage of Gloria winning the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her portrayal of Rosemary Barlow in _The Bad and the Beautiful_ at the 25th Academy Awards.

Cast

-   Annette Bening as Gloria Grahame
-   Jamie Bell as Peter Turner
-   Julie Walters as Bella Turner
-   Kenneth Cranham as Joe Turner
-   Stephen Graham as Joe Turner Jr.
-   Vanessa Redgrave as Jeanne McDougall
-   Frances Barber as Joy Hallward
-   Leanne Best as Eileen
-   Suzanne Bertish as Fifi Oscard
-   Tom Brittney as Tim

Production

On 6 May 2016, it was reported that Annette Bening, Jamie Bell, and Julie Walters would star in an adaptation of _Film Stars Don't Die in Liverpool_ by Peter Turner, a memoir about Turner's relationship with actress Gloria Grahame in the last years of her life. Paul McGuigan would direct from a script written by Matt Greenhalgh, and Barbara Broccoli and Colin Vaines would produce.[2] On 27 June 2016, Vanessa Redgrave joined the cast.[3]

On 27 June 2016, the film began filming in Liverpool and London.[4] It then moved to Pinewood Studios, where it wrapped on 8 August 2016.[5] To fill in for scenes set in New York City and Malibu, California, the crew used rear-screen projections.[6] On 11 November 2017, Elvis Costello released an original song entitled “You Shouldn't Look at Me That Way”, composed specifically for the film.[7]

Production company Eon Productions is best known for producing the James Bond film franchise; _Film Stars Don't Die in Liverpool_ was the first non-Bond film to be released under the Eon banner since the comedy _Call Me Bwana_ in 1963.

Release

In August 2017, Sony Pictures Classics acquired U.S. distribution rights to the film.[8] The film had its world premiere at the Telluride Film Festival on 1 September 2017.[9] It also screened at the Toronto International Film Festival on 9 September 2017.[10][11]

The film was released in the United Kingdom on 16 November 2017 by Lionsgate[12] and in the United States on 29 December 2017.[13]

Reception

Box office

_Film Stars Don{{'}}t Die in Liverpool_ grossed $1 million in North America[14] and $2.9 million in other territories, for a total worldwide of $4 million,[15] against a million budget of $10 million.[16]

Critical response

On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 80% based on 166 reviews, with an average rating of 6.69/10. The website's critical consensus reads, “_Film Stars Don{{'}}t Die in Liverpool_ showcases brilliant work from Annette Bening, whose performance is more than enough to outweigh this biopic's basic narrative.”[17] On Metacritic, which assigns a weighted average rating to reviews, the film has a normalised score of 65 out of 100, based on 34 critics, indicating “generally favorable reviews”.[18]

Accolades

  Award                                  Date of ceremony                      Category                                                             Recipients                            Result
  -------------------------------------- ------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------- -------- ----------
  Hollywood Film Awards                  6 November 2017                       New Hollywood Award                                                  Jamie Bell                                     [19]
  British Independent Film Awards        10 December 2017                      Best Actor                                                           Jamie Bell                                     [20]
  Best Casting                           Debbie McWilliams
  Best Production Design                 Eve Stewart
  Best Supporting Actress                Julie Walters
  San Francisco Film Critics Circle      10 December 2017                      Best Actress                                                         Annette Bening                                 [21]
  London Film Critics Circle             28 January 2018                       Actress of the Year                                                  Annette Bening                                 [22]
  AARP's Movies for Grownups Awards      5 February 2018                       Best Actress                                                         Annette Bening                                 [23][24]
  Best Grownup Love Story                _Film Stars Don't Die in Liverpool_
  Women's Image Network Awards           6 February 2018                       Best Feature Film                                                    _Film Stars Don't Die in Liverpool_            [25]
  Best Actress in a Feature Film         Annette Bening
  Evening Standard British Film Awards   8 February 2018                       Best Actor                                                           Jamie Bell                                     [26]
  Technical Achievement                  Eve Stewart
  Guild of Music Supervisors Awards      8 February 2018                       Best Music Supervision for Film: Budgeted Under 10 Million Dollars   Ian Neil                                       [27]
  British Academy Film Awards            18 February 2018                      Best Actor in a Leading Role                                         Jamie Bell                                     [28]
  Best Actress in a Leading Role         Annette Bening
  Best Adapted Screenplay                Matt Greenhalgh

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[14] t Die in Liverpool'' |website=Box Office Mojo |publisher=IMDb |accessdate=23 October 2019}}

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[17] t Die in Liverpool (2017) |work=Rotten Tomatoes |publisher=Fandango Media|accessdate=23 October 2019}}

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title: Film Stars Don't Die in Liverpool

question: When did Film Stars Don't Die in Liverpool come out?

answer: 2017.

question: What film festival did the movie premiere at?

answer: Telluride.

question: Was the film succesful?

answer: It was a box office flop, but got decent reviews.

question: Who is the film about?

answer: American actress Gloria Grahame.

question: Write a ~2 sentence summary.

answer: The article is about a biopic which was released in 2017 about an actress in the 1970s. The article summarizes the film and discusses how it was received by critics.


text:
_CHASMOCEPHALON_ is a genus of Australian araneomorph spiders in the family Anapidae, first described by O. Pickard-Cambridge in 1889.[1]

Species

it contains eight species:[2]

-   _Chasmocephalon acheron_ Platnick & Forster, 1989 – Australia (Victoria)
-   _Chasmocephalon alfred_ Platnick & Forster, 1989 – Australia (Victoria)
-   _Chasmocephalon eungella_ Platnick & Forster, 1989 – Australia (Queensland)
-   _Chasmocephalon flinders_ Platnick & Forster, 1989 – Australia (Western Australia)
-   _Chasmocephalon iluka_ Platnick & Forster, 1989 – Eastern Australia
-   _Chasmocephalon neglectum_ O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1889 – Australia (Western Australia)
-   _Chasmocephalon pemberton_ Platnick & Forster, 1989 – Australia (Western Australia)
-   _Chasmocephalon tingle_ Platnick & Forster, 1989 – Australia (Western Australia)

[1]

[2]

title: Chasmocephalon

question: What is chasmocephalon?

answer: A genus of araneomorph spiders.

question: What does "araneomorph" mean?

answer: A type of spider.

question: Where are they found?

answer: Australia.

question: Of which family are they a part?

answer: Anapidae.

question: Write a ~1 sentence summary.

answer: Chasmocephalon is a genus of Australian araneomorph spiders in the family Anapidae, first described by O. Pickard-Cambridge in 1889.


text:
I woke up too quickly. I’m convinced that humans are not meant to wake up like this. We are meant to wake up with the sun, not by an insufferable artificial beep. Although I don’t think cavemen spent their first twenty minutes in bed reading through social media, and being annoyed at themselves for being interested in the happenings all of the people that they hate. I don’t care about Jessica’s feelings about cyclists on the road, but her ignorance interests me. I don’t care about how Colleen’s barista misheard her name and wrote Holly on the cup instead. How did cavemen have frenemies?

The antidote to waking up like a reanimated corpse is caffeine, which annoys me. I need the caffeine to escape a 1pm headache, but I don’t get the stimulant effects anymore. I drink it because I have to. It’s hard to explain the juxtaposition of disliking our capitalist society, and relying on it. After my coffee, I wrestle my chef jacket on, pull on my boots, and go to work. I don’t understand the hospitality industry, and I feel sorry for the people who enjoy it. The managers at work seem to love what they do, pleasing the customers and all that, but then they are in charge of young people who just need the $20 an hour to supplement their student lifestyle. I autopilot my shift and then go to the park bench on top of the hill behind my house. I love it. I love the view. I can see the whole city and the surrounding mountain ranges. After about a minute I’ve had enough of the view so I take a photo (might share it later, for my frenemies) and head home to play some Playstation. I spend a lot of time on my Playstation, but I have carefully omitted that fact from my social networking persona. To my frenemies, I enjoy reading literary classics, I watch television, but only “good” stuff, like stuff on HBO that has good reviews online, and I love being outside, just inhaling the nature and all that. They don’t know that I actually spend my time on the Playstation, watching plenty of non-HBO TV, and I recently read Fifty Shades of Grey (which I hated). Hey Anastasia, you didn’t even like this guy at the start, then he gives you some weirdo contract and you’re considering flipping everything you’ve ever known? Why? Where did that come from? You can’t look him in the eyes unless he gives permission AND YOU’RE CONSIDERING IT!? It’s time for me to head to a new café somewhere in the city. I reach for a Penguin Classic and find Of Mice and Men. Awesome. A real classic.

I pay $4.20 for my long black and take a photo of it with Of Mice and Men. Great shot, I should thank the guy for making a coffee with a perfect crema. I drink my coffee (which is not worth $4.20) and read through the social networks. I’m not the only person to upload a coffee photo today, but mine is the only long black (I win, frenemies). How do digital ‘likes’ translate to sexual attraction? Because Pamela ‘liked’ my coffee! God damn it I’m attracted to her. Some girls just really interest me, and I fantasize about somehow befriending them for ages before I finally talk to them. Pamela used to work with me, and I didn’t talk to her until we became digital friends. She’s the person always in the back of my mind when I’m posting my stuff online. She likes reading literary classics, watching HBO TV shows, and nature. She has given me a few ‘likes’ in the last few days. It’s time to make the move. I send her a message, asking if she wants to try this new vegan café that I have heard about (neither of us are vegan, but it seems like a cool café). Facebook is telling me that she has ‘seen’ the message. It’s been 5 minutes. Now it’s been 7. She replies after 15. Torture. It’s on! We are going tomorrow. I regret saying “lock it in, Eddie” in regards to our date though. Damn.

Today is the day. I’m wearing a polo shirt (classy, but not too formal) and some jeans (safe). I get to the café early and awkwardly look around for her. She’s not here yet, so I sit down and check the social networks. I don’t want to be on Facebook when she gets here, so I open a news article and get ready to switch apps when I see her. I see her walk in. She’s wearing a summery dress and her hair is out. She looks amazing. She sits down opposite me and I get a whiff of some delicious perfume.
“Hey, how are you? Have you been here long?” Pamela asks me. She’s wearing red lipstick.
“Good! No, I literally just sat down.” I lie. Don’t want to seem desperate.
“Shall we order?”
I order a long black, and she orders a latte. We both pay for our own drinks, because it’s 2014. I burn my tongue, but I pretend that I didn’t. She puts 2 sugars in her coffee, and that’s the first thing that I have disliked about her. Just order hot milk and sugar, because you can’t taste the coffee anymore. We talk about Game of Thrones, but she hasn’t read the books. I hate when that happens. You can’t talk about the best bits because they haven’t been televised yet. I also realise that she doesn’t understand the plot. I guess it’s pretty complicated, but I feel like she has been playing Candy Crush while she was watching it or something. We also talk about Catcher in the Rye, but I don’t think she has read that either. I think she just called the main character Halder. She asks me if I watch Big Brother. I ask myself if anyone still watches Big Brother. Finally, we talk about Twilight. I read the books a few years ago, and I sort of see them as a joke. She seems to really be into them. Fair enough, they were easy to read and interesting in a pulp fiction sort of way, but I think saying, “I wish Edward was real” is taking it a bit too far. After stumbling through some more topics, we leave the café. I give her a hug when we say goodbye, but I feel a bit disappointed. She was not as interesting as I thought. Her whole online persona seems like a façade. It’s a bit dishonest really. If I had known that she liked Twilight with zero irony, and that she hasn’t really read or watched what she said she has, I probably wouldn’t have come.

title: [HM][UR] The Social Networks

question: What does the story say about what the narrator is disillusioned by?

answer: The narrator carefully builds his social networking persona, omitting embarrassing facts about his life. In an attempt to connect digital likes to sexual attraction, the narrator messages Pamela and invites her on a date. After getting to know her, he realizes her online persona is a façade and is not actually as interested in her as he thought.


text:
Interesting facts about us

While considerably small in size, Latvia is surprisingly rich in places to see, feel and save in mind forever!

Check out these amazing but true facts about surreal Latvia!

question: Write a ~1 sentence summary.

answer: A very short piece on Latvia.


text:
(Burnt-Sienna)
I awake to the view of my alarm clock. It reads 9 o’clock AM. I put more effort forward than I’d like to admit was needed to remember if it was a weekend or not, and whether I needed to get my hung-over ass out of bed and prepare for work. After a considerable time of searching through the foggy wasteland that is my mind I remember that last night was Friday, making this morning Saturday. I make the promise to myself that I make, and break, every time I wake up like this. “I will stop drinking this week.” A small sigh of relief escapes my lips, as I realize I get to just relax and ease my way into the morning. I look out across the white rolling ocean of silk that is my sheets, and past that through the window to the expanse of the city, the AM sun creeping over the cloud-brushing skyscrapers lighting my white studio apartment that early morning yellow color that brings a warming sensation to the room.
I look around at the messy sprawl of clothes and other assorted items on my apartment floor and something catches my eye. Is that, a dress? My eyes roll across the room inspecting for separate evidence of a body to accompany the mysterious dress. My eyes gloss over the bedroom, and past the kitchen to rest upon the bathroom door. The light is present under the door signifying occupancy. The door opens, and out comes a pair of eyes. I describe this person as such because there is no other way to first take in this woman. Her eyes are a gentle green, the kind that makes your heart beat just a little faster, the kind that’ll make your sole melt, the kind that make you want to just trust. Curly burnt-sienna colored locks roll down across the cascade of pale, flawless skin that is her neck and shoulders. She notices me right away, and just looks at me, her mouth curls up into a smile, and I vaguely recall her asking to take a sweatshirt and some sweats to depart in, and I vaguely remember mumbling a “Yes” as my eyes are unable to be separate from her. She slowly dresses, gracefully pulling sweats over the length of her legs. They loosely hang off her hips, and as I continue to marvel at her grace I remind myself I should say something, but it’s as though I’m trapped within the confines of my own mind. I can’t say anything, I can’t do anything but just admire. I continue to fight my brain, to escape this prison, to express that she should stay for breakfast, or that we could go somewhere together; but all I can do is mindlessly gaze at her as I watch her pull my sweatshirt overhead. The morning sun is reflecting off her flowing burnt-sienna locks, constituting a magnificent luster to the color. I look on, fighting to unlock my brain, as easily the most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen, looks me in the eyes with those gentle green eyes, the ones that locked me in this state originally, smiles, thanks me for a good night, and exits my apartment.
I lay here; pondering my paralysis, and feelings of regret and failure wash over me. I steam about my incompetence, “How could I let her go?” I keep asking myself bitterly. I brew coffee, and cannot take my mind off this woman. She captured my heart, in less than five seconds, makeup-less, and half naked. I can’t help but think that I’ll never get that opportunity again, and swear to myself that if I ever find a girl, who does this to me again I will not  lock up. I will not let my anxious brain destroy my hopes of the life I want to live. I live an easy life, where my only goals are to live stress free, and find someone to make me happy, and I just know I missed an opportunity today. I don’t know where I met this woman, and I don’t know how I possibly managed to get her to stay a night with me, but I will remember her, and I tell myself that I will not forget her.
A few days pass, but she is still emblazoned deep into the confines of my mind, as I try to continue and live my life working at the local diner. I take break around 10 AM, and just sit there in one of the many booths. It’s been days and I haven’t taken my mind off her for more than an hour. I can’t escape the gripping feeling that I let something amazing slip through my fingers. I’m sitting here brooding, but also happy that while preoccupied with her I’d maintained alcohol free for the past few days, when someone slides into the booth across the table from me. I look up and lock eyes with those same, warm, gentle green eyes from before. The same burnt-sienna colored curls spilling down to her shoulders, only this time it was fastened up into a lazy ponytail.  She’d brought my sweats and sweatshirt and set them down at the table. She looks across at me, purses her lips as though she’s going to say something, but seems hesitant, and closes them. She looks at me for a second and I’m locked up again, I’m again fighting my brain just to take my eyes off of her and say something. There is nothing else like her and I cannot blow this opportunity again. She starts to get up to leave, and I know I have to say something now. As she’s about to exit the booth I finally break the chains of my mind that were holding me back, and say to her “Hey wait! Would you like to join me for breakfast?” She sits back down, directly across from me. She looks at me for a split second, and appears to be thinking. The second seems to pass at an infinitely slow measure. She looks at me, smiles, and says “I’d love to.”

Sorry I'm bad with formatting.

title: [RO] Burnt-Sienna (Feedback Welcomed.)

question: Summarize the narrator's regrets.

answer: The narrator regrets just letting a woman they had slept with simply abscond their apartment without saying more to her or asking her to stay. The narrator does not seem to know much about her, but they wish they did. Then they regret the extenuation of the missed opportunity before they see her again, at work.

question: Summarize how the narrator knows this woman.

question: What does this story have to say about opportunities?

answer: The response to that is twofold: on one hand, the narrator experiences a vast well of regret after they realize they missed an opportunity to get to know a woman to whom they are immensely attracted, and it's not fun to go through that sort of regret. On the other hand, a missed opportunity is only that as long as one lets it be that-the narrator has another opportunity when she comes to the diner where they work. They seize it, so the message regarding opportunities seems to be to take them.

question: Summarize the plot twist.

answer: The narrator has been consumed by the what-ifs following their last magical encounter with a woman to whom they are very attracted, and who spent the night at their place. When she shows up at the narrator's place of work, the narrator seems to get the chance to remedy the situation, but the narrator freezes. It seems like the girl is just going to leave, but finally the narrator interrupts her departure to ask if she would like to have breakfast. She happily agrees to do so, and sits back down with the narrator.


text:
A cold wind rustled the barren trees and swept through the empty playground. “We’re going to freeze out here, lets head back”, said Jane. Too late. I was already frozen.

We returned to the house, and Jane asked if I wanted coffee. It was rhetorical; I didn’t drink coffee. A cold draft penetrated the house. She fetched her instant and sat beside me, “I’m glad we got to talk”. Silence. “This is tough for you. I can’t imagine the pain you’re going through.”  Her voice was breaking, tears welled in her eyes. “James is a good man, you’d like him”. Did that even dignify a response? “Paul, I’m so sorry-“, she started sobbing, “I never wanted for us to end, I will always love you”.

I wish my arms still worked so I could hold her again. If only I could speak, I would say I'll always love her back. But I could only observe, and not interact, as the woman I loved, set herself free.

title: Frozen

question: Who is the narrator?

answer: The narrator is Paul.

question: Where does this take place?

answer: It begins near a playground, and ends in somebody's house.

question: Who is the narrator talking to?

answer: He is talking to Jane.

question: What is the topic of their discussion?

answer: They are talking about their relationship.

question: Write a ~5 sentence summary.

answer: Jane suggest they go inside. In the house, she begins crying, and telling Paul that he would like James. She apologizes, saying that she never wanted them to end. She says she will always love him. Paul doesn't know how to react.


text:
A Fat Family
Once upon a time, in lands much similar to ours there lived a family who were extremely obese. They were actually so fat that with each step they created deep impressions in the soil beneath their feet. One hot, dry summer afternoon the family thought it would be a good idea to go to the nearby lake to cool off in the water. The walk was long though, so they decided to eat an extra big breakfast before they went so they would have enough energy to reach it. It included bacon and eggs, sausage slices, waffles and pancakes glazed over with copious amounts of sweet syrup, biscuits with jam and butter, eggs benedict covered with creamy homemade hollandaise sauce, and to wash it all down, a huge glass of fresh cold chocolate milk. After their feast they set out towards the refreshing lake to relax. It was quite a walk for them, maybe not for one who is fit, but as the sun relentlessly beat down on them from above it felt as though you were being hit by a thousand arrows of fire. The sweat started trickling from every pore, their skin screaming for anything that would quench the heat, and each step being heavier than the last caused the dry sandy ground to be stirred filling the air with grit. It was almost torturous but the desire for the lake had taken over their minds, almost as if they were hypnotized and there was nothing one could do to escape. Finally after coming over a hill the lake was visible; it had a crystal blue colour with the sun creating thousands of sparkles it seemed like a lake filled of diamonds than that of water. The moment they saw it they started waddling towards it as fast as their small feet could move them, the earth trembling beneath their weight making the trees shake. One by one they all flopped into the water, creating huge waves and they started swimming out as far as they could. Due to the amount of fat in their body swimming was actually quite easy due to their buoyancy. So out into the lake they swam, further and further away from shore until one of them looked back and noticed that he couldn’t see land anymore. In fact not only was land nowhere to be seen but they didn’t even need to swim, the water was carrying them at a pace faster and stronger than they could swim until they were tiny dots in the horizon. Supposedly the fat family was never to be seen again but some have claimed to see deep footprints leaving the shore, the lake however actually rose one inch the day the fat family went for a swim and it has never gone down since.

title: A Fat Family

question: Why did the fat family yearn for a swim in the lake?

answer: It was a hot and dry summer day.

question: What caused the increase in the water currents?

answer: It appears it was as a result of their large body mass.

question: Where did the water carry the fat family?

answer: That information is unknown.

question: How many people made up the fat family?

answer: It is not stated.

question: Is it safe to assume the fat family members died when the waters carried them away?

answer: It is uncertain.

question: Write a ~3 sentence summary.

answer: Members of a fat family went swimming at the lake due to the hot weather on one hot summer day. Unfortunately, they didn't make it back home because the strong waves of the water carried them far from shore. Hence, they were nowhere to be found.


text:
To Hatch From a Broken Egg

I was sitting in the living room with my arms crossed when Grandpa gathered the family around the dining room table. Grandpa was a giant of a man, with thighs like redwoods and hands like plains. I was the last to stand up when I began to walk over to the circle that had formed around the table. “I would like to see,” Grandpa began, with big pauses between each phrase, “someone attempt to balance this egg upright, without using any tools to hold it up.”

The whiteness of the egg stood out in Grandpa’s wrinkled and purple spotted hands. It seemed so small. I studied the egg while my family began to buzz. My older cousin smirked and whispered something in my Dad’s ears that made him laugh. Uncle Joe was doing one of his James Cagney impressions to my brother and cousin. Aunt Anna had walked in the room from cooking and chuckled when she saw my grandpa holding the egg.

I was the only one paying attention, focusing on how you could possibly make a small oval stand. No one else was going to complete this challenge but me. When my Mom put her arms around my chest, and gave me a kiss on the cheek I pushed her away and said, “I can do it!”

My grandpa’s heavy eyes shifted to me and his lips peeled into a grin, revealing yellow stained crooked teeth. His hands, like a giant compared to mine, handed me the egg. I began working right away.

I made quick glances to Grandpa as I tried to balance it, hoping his gray eyes would light up at a correct attempt or that his white eyebrows would raise at a sign of progress, but he remained unemotional and still. I tried to ignore the commentary of my family at first.  Dad said, “oh so close,” several times with a laugh while Uncle David commentated like a sports announcer, “Jake Lacey. Balancing the egg. Can he do it? Ah, keeps missing.”

After several minutes my older cousin said, “Come on, Jake. Give it back to Grandpa.” I ignored him but when my Mom stepped in saying, “Hun, you can try later, it’s fine,” the doubt became harder to ignore.

“Let me just try!” I said, trying not to sound upset.

Eventually my Uncle Joe stopped impersonating James Cagney. My father raised his eye brows and stood up from the table and my brother began to attack me. “Jake you can’t do it.”

“Don’t worry, Jakey. It’s impossible,” someone else said.

I wanted to shut my family up and make them see that I could do it. I wanted them to know that just I could complete a task that was impossible for most. And I did.

I finally stood the egg up right. It wasn’t balancing against anything; it was just standing up on its own. All because of me. I looked up in amazement, hoping to see my family enthusiastic with my accomplishment, but instead, half of them were gone and the other half had already moved on to new conversations. Only my cousin Rachel said, “Wow! Look guys! Jake did it!”

As Rachel began to get my family’s attention I looked to Grandpa who was not grinning but seemed thrown by the egg standing up. As I waited for a response from Grandpa, the whole family began to circle back around the table.

Before they could all see what I had done, Grandpa snagged the egg off the table, smashed it lightly against a plate, leaving the egg’s bottom flat surfaced with a crack, placed the it on the table, and forced a chuckle as everyone watched the egg stand up on its own. He said, “That is how you make an egg stand.”

I quickly looked at my Grandpa, who avoided eye contact with me and laughed deliberately with the older cousins. My head spun to my parents, who had acknowledged Grandpa’s quaint gag but not my success and then it spun back to my Grandpa who was still ignoring me.

I darted out of living room and up to my room. I dove into my bed, grabbed my Teddy and belted a long hard cry into my pillow. No one came up to check on me until after they had lit the candles.

title: Flash Fiction Piece, notes please?

question: Why does the narrator run away to his room, crying?

answer: All of his family ignored his accomplishment, and his grandfather directly hid his success from the rest of the family after goading him into working very hard.

question: Why does it take very long for Jake to balance the egg?

answer: Its shape is an oval; there's no stable standing orientation that can be set easily.

question: Summarize the family's reaction to Jake's efforts.

answer: Some of them make neutral commentary at first, proceeding to ignore his futile efforts after a while. His brother teases him, saying he can't do it. Eventually, his grandfather hides his accomplishment to show off with his trick.

question: How does Jake's grandfather put the egg upright?

answer: He lightly smashes its bottom so that it's flatter.

question: Write a ~6 sentence summary.

answer: Jake's Grandpa gathers the family around the dining room table and challenges a volunteer to balance an egg upright on the table without using any tools. Jake volunteers and some of his family members make neutral commentary at first, proceeding to ignore his futile efforts after a while. His brother teases him, saying he can't do it. Eventually, after Jake manages to make the egg stand upright with a lot of effort, he calls out to his family. His grandfather quickly snatches the egg, lightly smashes its bottom so it's flatter, and shows off with his trick. Dismayed, Jake runs off to his room, crying.


text:
A new set of figures reveals the extent to which hunts are illegally chasing, and in many cases, killing foxes, hares and deer and causing havoc in the British countryside.

A total of 550 reports of illegal hunting activity and hunt havoc have been received by the League Against Cruel Sports since the beginning of the hunting season last autumn. The figures indicate that hunts are routinely breaking the law and their packs of hounds still literally tearing to pieces British wildlife.

CHRIS LUFFINGHAM, LEAGUE AGAINST CRUEL SPORTS DIRECTOR OF CAMPAIGNS, SAID:
_“Despite hunting being banned 13 years ago, it seems very little has changed, with hunts targeting and killing animals and deceiving the British public about their activities with excuses like ‘trail’ hunting._

_“Sadly these reports are just the tip of the iceberg – with more than 300 hunts on the British mainland still in existence and actively targeting wildlife, we estimate that thousands of animals are still being killed every year.”_

THE SCALE OF ILLEGAL HUNTING REPORTS AND HUNT HAVOC

405 reports of illegal hunting activity were received by the League over the course of the hunting season which began at the start of November and is currently drawing to a close. A further 145 reports came in of ‘hunt havoc’, which consists of incidents such as packs of hounds killing domestic pets, trespassing through people’s gardens and allotments and running onto busy roads and railway lines. The majority of reports covered the four and a half months between November 2017 and the middle of March 2018. Reports of the hunting of young fox cubs which take place in early autumn were also included.

In total, the League received 550 reports, which came in from concerned members of the British public who contacted the League’s Animal Crimewatch team, League investigators who monitor the activities of the hunts, and independent hunt monitor and saboteur groups.

CHRIS LUFFINGHAM ADDED:
_“A new term entered the English language after the hunting ban of 2004 – ‘trail’ hunting. This was touted by the hunts as a new pastime which involved following an animal-based scent rather than live quarry, but which mimicked traditional hunting as much as possible. In fact, it so closely mimics hunting; it has become clear it is a deception and cover-up for illegal hunting activity._

_“Hunts rarely lay a trail and even when they do it is a sham to mask their illegal hunting. Why are hunts routinely seen crossing railway lines, on busy roads or in people’s gardens if they are laying a trail? Why are they regularly being seen chasing wildlife? Why are there so many reports of animal deaths at the hands of the hunts?_

_“The public, over 85 per cent of which opposes hunting, would be horrified if they knew what was really going on in the British countryside and the cruelty and dreadful death toll the hunts are inflicting on wildlife._

_“We are calling on landowners to ban hunts from their land and we need to strengthen the Hunting Act and bring in tougher sentencing to act as a deterrent.”_

EXAMPLES OF ILLEGAL HUNTING ACTIVITY AND HUNT HAVOC

-   On January 9, 2018, the East Sussex and Romney Marsh hunt chased a deer and a fox into the Celia Hammond Greenacres cat sanctuary near Hastings. The hounds rampaged across the 80 acre sanctuary and initially 60 cats fled. Sadly five never returned and are feared dead.
-   The figures include 42 cases of cub hunting when the hunts blood their hounds in early autumn by surrounding known fox habitats in small woods. The practice involves driving the hounds through the woods so that they learn to kill.
-   There have been 12 cases this year alone of the notorious Warwickshire Hunt chasing foxes and causing hunt havoc, including the hunt being witnessed hunting on busy A roads and next to the M40, which presents a very real risk to the public and the hunt’s hounds, and points towards illegal hunting rather than following a genuine trail.
-   Many hunts have been seen with terrier men, who accompany hunts and encourage their dogs to find, fight and flush out foxes that have gone underground, often in badger setts. The involvement of terrier men with ‘trail’ hunts raises a serious question about their activities. The answer can only be that the hunts are still targeting and killing animals despite the fox hunting ban of 2004 and that trail hunting is a lie being used to cover their activities.

ANIMAL CRIMEWATCH

To report illegal hunting activity, the public can contact the League’s Animal Crimewatch Team via www.league.org.uk. Alternatively phone in confidence on 01483 361 108 or email on [email protected]

CHRIS LUFFINGHAM ADDED:
_“The good news is the world is changing – advances in smart phone video cameras, new monitoring groups on Facebook, and the development of our Animal Crimewatch team, mean the public can report the hunts’ activities and we can go about bringing them to task. It’s time to get the hunts, not animals, on the run. The hunts are living on borrowed time.”_

The League is encouraging members of the public to sign their petition titled ‘stop the killing of animals by hunts in the UK’. Full details can be found here.

- ENDS -

NOTES TO EDITORS

For more information or interview requests please contact the League Against Cruel Sports Press Office on 01483 524250 (24hrs) or email [email protected]

The League Against Cruel Sports is Britain's leading charity that works to stop animals being persecuted, abused and killed for sport. The League was instrumental in helping bring about the landmark Hunting Act. We carry out investigations to expose law-breaking and cruelty to animals and campaign for stronger animal protection laws and penalties. We work to change attitudes and behaviour through education and manage sanctuaries to protect wildlife. Find out more about our work at www.league.org.uk. Registered charity in England and Wales (no.1095234) and Scotland (no.SC045533).

question: How are illegal wildlife hunts causing havoc in the British countryside?

answer: These hunts actively target wildlife, trespass through other people's gardens, run onto busy roads and railway lines, and pack hounds kill thousands of animals each year, even domestic pets. Fox cubs are most vulnerable.

question: When was hunting banned in the UK?

answer: 2004

question: How much of the public oppose hunting?

answer: Over 85% of the public oppose hunting.

question: What does The League Against Cruel Sports do?

answer: The League works to stop animals from being persecuted, abused, and killed for sport. The League investigates and exposes law-breaking cruelty to animals while changing people's attitudes via education

question: Write a ~4 sentence summary.

answer: Illegal hunts are causing havoc in the British countryside, actively targeting wildlife, trespassing through other people's gardens, running onto busy roads and railway lines, and pack hounds killing thousands of animals each year, even domestic pets. The Director of Campaigns for The League Against Cruel Sports, Chris Luffingham, says that they have recorded 550 reports of illegal hunting activity since the start of hunting season. He adds that even though hunting was banned in 2004, little has changed and hunters are using "trail hunting" as a front for their illegal activities. Over 85% of the British public opposes hunting and will be horrified if they learn what is happening.


text:
[Image]

E.A. McIlhenny Oak

[Image]

Bill and McIlhenny historian Shane Bernard at E.A. McIlhenny Oak

When Dr. Edwin Lewis Stephens founded the Live Oak Society in 1934, he included 43 live oaks as the Society’s original members. These were familiar trees to Stephens, oaks that he had visited frequently and had personally measured to determine the 17 ft. girth minimum he set for Society membership—a size that he estimated would make the age of the tree greater than 100 years.

Of those original 43 inductee oaks, three were located at Avery Island, which for Dr. Stephens was a short day trip from his home in Lafayette. There were several sites within a short distance of Lafayette where Stephens and his wife Beverly would take friends and visiting dignitaries to introduce them to his favorite century-old oaks. These sites were part of what he called his “live oak tours.”

Through his friendship with Tabasco company president Edward Avery (“Ned”) McIlhenny, Dr. Stephens made Avery Island one of the stops on his oak tours. The Cleveland Oak (named after U.S. President Grover Cleveland) and the E.A. McIlhenny Oak were two of the original inductee trees for the Live Oak Society.

[Cleveland oak AV 1_sm]

Grover Cleveland Oak, Jungle Gardens

[Image]

Grover Cleveland Oak, view 2, showing scale with Cyndi

Ned McIlhenny was born on Avery Island in 1872 and traveled extensively during his life. He was an arctic explorer, a naturalist and conservationist. Growing up, he studied the plants and animals on Avery Island and in the surrounding salt marshes. In 1895 he founded Bird City, a private bird sanctuary for the once-endangered snowy egret.

In the 1920s, Ned found time from his business role as president of the McIlhenny Tabasco Company to transform his private Avery Island estate into Jungle Gardens. He converted the natural marshy landscape into lush gardens planted with exotic botanical specimens from around the world including more than four hundred varieties of camellias, over a hundred varieties of azaleas, fifty plus varieties of juniper, more than one thousand varieties of iris, and several species of Asian bamboo—all are plants that thrive in south Louisiana’s semitropical summers and mild winters.

Gradually Ned expanded the gardens until it reached its present size of more than 170 acres. In 1935, he opened Jungle Gardens to the public. Since then it has been a favorite tourist destination along with the Tabasco bottling factory on Avery Island.

Jungle Gardens today is home to several Live Oak Society member trees as well as one of the largest and most beautiful stands of mature live oaks in Louisiana. A few of the oaks that Dr. Stephens brought guests to see can still be found today at Avery Island’s Jungle Gardens.

question: Who founded the Live Oak Society?

answer: Dr Edwin Lewis Stephens.

question: How many oaks were originally inducted by Dr Stephens?

answer: 43 oaks.

question: What is the minimum measurement required (as determined by Dr Stephens) to reliably declare an oak as over 100 years?

answer: The oak has to have 17ft girth (minimum).

question: Where are the 43 original oaks located?

answer: They are located on Avery Island.

question: Write a ~5 sentence summary.

answer:
Dr Edwin Lewis Stephens is passionate about oak trees. He is an artic explorer and a naturalist. Dr Stephens founded the Live Oak Society where he inducted 43 oaks as founding members.

Dr Stephen has come up with a method of determining an oak's age. He believes that any oak with a minimum of 17ft girth is over 100 years.