text:
The sound of a door creaking open tore through the calm summer air as a tall man strode stiffly out of the house on the corner of Stallion Drive. Stiff grass crunched under his feet and as he reached the car parked underneath the streetlight at the end of the drive his face was thrown into relief.

The man’s beard was overgrown and his hair fell messily in his pale face. He wore a dirty flannel shirt under a military jacket and his slim fit jeans were tucked into his scuffed leather boots. This man was rather dull looking other than his eyes, which flashed deep blue from beneath his thick-framed glasses, and although his eyes were definitely his most defining feature his underfed and pallid appearance were a close second.

The man reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out the key to his beat up red convertible.  He unlocked and opened the passenger side and reached for a pill bottle that rested on the seats torn upholstery. Suddenly the man dropped the pill bottle and jumped as though he had heard something and quickly turned around.

“Who’s there?” He murmured quietly into the darkness, but there was no answer.  The man turned back to his car and began searching for the bottle he had dropped. Just as he located the bottle, which had fallen underneath the glove box, he heard a soft voice come from directly behind him. Startled the man sat bolt upright, hitting his head on the glove box as he came up.

“Hi Jamie.” The voice, which belonged to a beautiful young woman, whispered. Her dark hair fell around her shoulders highlighting her thin pretty face and her prominent collarbones. She wore a flowing white dress with a black polka dot print and boots similar to that of the man she was addressing.

“Hello Lana” he muttered venomously “don’t call me that.”

“Then what do you want me to call you?” Lana said impatiently.

“James, my name is James Lana.” James tucked the pill bottle he had clutched in his hand into the pocket of his jacket. “Why are you here” he asked as he slammed the passenger door closed, although it was clear that he didn’t care to know the answer.

“Jamie… James, I’m so sorry for everything.” Lana’s voice trembled as she spoke and her knees shook in unison. James said nothing to this apology. “I never meant to hurt you” she continued awkwardly “I really did love you.”

“Bullshit” James spat. “You never loved me” his voice was raising in volume now “you’re a heartless bitch, and you’re not sorry.” Lana stood shaking a single tear fell from the corner of her eye unnoticed by James. “Now,” James said with a regained composure, “why are you here?”

“I… I’m worried about you Jamie…” she whispered sadly.

“Don’t. Fucking. Call me that!” James roared at her, and Lana flinched. James scratched at his beard and rubbed his eyes wearily. When he finally looked back up at Lana his blue eyes were even more vivid as they stood out against bloodshot red.

“Everyone’s been worried about you James… Dallon and Tyler said that they haven’t seen you in weeks, they’re worried about you and…” Lana paused as though she was worried about what she needed to say next.

“They said you’ve been abusing your prescriptions.” As she said this she walked closer to James’ car as if she was trying to peek inside, but James held out his arm to stop her.

“I’m not abusing the pills Lana.” James said firmly. “I need these, if I didn’t take them then I wouldn’t be able to functi-”

“What about the alcohol?” Lana interjected hysterically. “You’re mixing the pills with alcohol…” Lana’s eyes were now flooded with tears. “From the smell of it, I can only assume that you’re drinking a lot!”

“I drink what I need to feel good, and I can’t give up the medicine unless I want to be in unbearable pain.” James muttered remorsefully.

“Don’t worry about me Lana.” James’ voice was now steady and any hint of remorse was now gone. “I’ll be absolutely fine.”
Without another word James walked around to the other side of his car, got into the drivers seat, started up the engine and sped away. Lana stood silently shaking in James’ front lawn and just as James turned the corner she let out a furious scream.

“I HATE YOU!” Lana yelled through her uncontrollable sobbing. Lana collapsed onto the lawn sobbing even harder than before. She lay there for almost half an hour before she finally got up and walked slowly back to her house. Her white dress was covered in dust from the dry ground and her makeup was smeared across her still beautiful face, her hair was tangled in the back and as she walked she would succumb to violent shaking fits.

Back at her home Lana collapsed on the couch sobbing quietly into a pillow as the television flickered before her. A clock began to ring and Lana looked over to the mantle to see that it was 2 o’clock, it had been one hour since James had driven away and Lana still shook with unease.

Before she knew it Lana was sitting bolt upright on the couch a phone on the table next to her was blaring next to her ear, she glanced at the clock and saw that it was 4 AM. Lana quickly grabbed the phone off the hook.

“James?” she said urgently.

“Hello, am I speaking to a miss… Lana Studebaker?” the voice on the other side of the phone was cold and uncaring.

“Yes, who is this?” A sinking feeling was setting into the pit of Lana’s stomach.

“This is the Eastburn County Police department,” tears began to stream down Lana’s face “We’re calling to inform you about a fatal car crash that occurred this morning at 2:45 Am.”

“Yes?” Lana whispered as tears slowly rolled down her cheek.

title: *67

question: Summarize the scene where Lana confronts James.

answer: James is searching for pills in his car when Lana confronts him about his abuse of his medications. She apologizes for hurting him and says that she is not the only person that is worried about him. James is angry at Lana for using a diminutive of his name, he defends his use of pills and alcohol to manage his pain and mental state. James said not to worry about him and drives off. Lana is angry.

question: Explain everything that happens to Lana.

answer: Lana approaches James at his house and apologizes for what happened between them. She tells him that she is worried about him, especially about him misusing his prescriptions. James does not respond kindly and drives off. Lana falls down in anger. When she recovered she walks home and watches television until she falls asleep on the couch. Then she receives a call from the police department.

question: Why does Lana scream "I hate you"?

answer: Their relationship ended on bad terms and James is being unreasonable about his behavior.

question: Summarize all the information relating to James' mental state.

answer: James uses medicine to manage his pain, but Lana has heard the he abuses his prescriptions. He also mixes his pills with alcohol to regulate his mood. This is very dangerous. Dallon and Tyler remarked that they haven't seen him in their usual hangout spot. This means he is isolating himself. Lana recognizes this self-destructive behavior. James responds in anger.

question: Why does the police call Lana?

answer: James is dead, probably in a car crash.

question: Write a ~4 sentence summary.

answer: James is looking for pills in his car when Lana approaches him and confronts him about his behavior. She is worried about the self-destructive path he is on. James responds in anger and drives off. Later Lana receives a phone call from the police.


split: train

text:
ANNA MARIA BLIGH (born 14 July 1960) is a lobbyist and former Australian politician who served as the 37th Premier of Queensland, in office from 2007 to 2012 as leader of the Labor Party. She was the first woman to hold either position. In 2017, she was appointed CEO of the Australian Banking Association.

Bligh was born in Warwick, Queensland, and studied at the University of Queensland. Before entering politics she worked for various community organisations. Bligh entered the Queensland Legislative Assembly at the 1995 state election, winning the seat of South Brisbane. She was promoted to the ministry in 1998, under Peter Beattie, and became deputy premier in 2005 and state treasurer in 2006. Bligh succeeded Beattie as premier in 2007 – Queensland's first female premier and Australia's third. She led Labor to victory at the 2009 state election, but at the 2012 election suffered a landslide defeat and announced her retirement from politics. From 2010 to 2011, Bligh was National President of the Australian Labor Party.

Early life

Bligh was born in Warwick, Queensland. She is a descendant of William Bligh, who is famous for the Mutiny on the _Bounty_ and being the 4th Governor of New South Wales.[1] Bligh grew up on the Gold Coast. Her parents separated when she was 13. She attended Catholic schools until Year 9 and considered becoming a nun. One of her aunts became a nun and another had entered a convent. However, the church's attitude towards divorced people (her mother was no longer permitted to take Communion) reportedly estranged her and her mother from the church.[2]

Studying at the University of Queensland from 1978, Bligh gained a Bachelor of Arts. Bligh traces her politicisation to her first year at University, observing a right-to-march rally in King George Square where people were being hit over the head by the police. Bligh's first involvement in activism was student protests against the Vice-Chancellor Brian Wilson's controversial administrative restructuring within the university. She then went on to be involved in the Women's Rights Collective which campaigned for legalised abortion against the anti-abortion policies of the Bjelke-Petersen government. Bligh's next role was as Women's Vice-President of the Student Union. She then ran an election ticket called EAT (Education Action Team) in an unsuccessful bid to oust the faction in charge, headed by the future Goss government identity David Barbagallo. Law student Paul Lucas, Bligh's future deputy premier, was a part of Barbagallo's team. Her 1982 team included the former Minister for Education, Training and the Arts Rod Welford. Anne Warner, who was a future Minister in the Goss Government, was an office holder at the time in the Union. Warner soon become one of Bligh's key political mentors.[3]

She subsequently worked in a number of community organisations, including child care services, neighbourhood centres, women's refuges and trade unions as well as in the Queensland Public Service.

Bligh was the secretary of the Labor Party's Fairfield branch in 1987.[4]

Parliament

Bligh was first elected to parliament at the 1995 election to the safe Labor seat of South Brisbane, succeeding Anne Warner. A member of the Socialist Left faction of the Labor Party, she was promoted to the ministry following the election of the Beattie government in 1998 as Minister for Families, Youth and Community Care and Disability Services. In 2001, Bligh became Queensland's first female Education Minister. She assumed additional responsibility for the Arts portfolio in 2004.

Deputy Premier

[Anna Bligh, Nicholas Rudd, then federal Labor leader Kevin Rudd, and Grace Grace (state Labor MP for Brisbane Central) at Labour Day 2007] In July 2005, the retirement of the Deputy Premier and Treasurer Terry Mackenroth forced a cabinet reshuffle, which saw Bligh promoted to the office of Deputy Premier and Minister for Finance, State Development, Trade and Innovation. Bligh's appointment as Deputy Premier coincided with her election to parliament ten years earlier. In early February 2006, Bligh also gained the Treasury portfolio after Beattie relinquished the responsibility to focus on attempting to fix the state's troubled health system.

Premier

Bligh had long been touted as a likely successor to the long-running Premier Peter Beattie, and he publicly endorsed her as his replacement when he announced his retirement from politics on 10 September 2007.[5]

She was subsequently nominated unopposed by the Labor caucus in a deal that saw Paul Lucas from the Right faction succeed her as Deputy Premier. She became the leader of the Labor Party on 12 September. After Beattie formally resigned on 13 September 2007, Bligh was sworn in by the then Governor Quentin Bryce. Bligh led Labor to victory in the 2009 state election. Bligh lost eight seats from the large majority she'd inherited from Beattie, and also suffered an eight-percent swing on the two-party vote. Nonetheless, due largely to taking 34 out of 40 seats in Brisbane, Labor still won 51 seats out of 89, enough for a comfortable majority. The election marked the Queensland ALP's eighth consecutive election win; the party has been in government for all but two years since 1989.

In winning the election, Bligh became Australia's first popularly elected female premier.[6] The two previous female premiers, Carmen Lawrence (Western Australia 1990–93) and Joan Kirner (Victoria 1990–92), became premiers following the resignation of male premiers (as Bligh did), but both were defeated at the following respective state elections. However, Bligh is not Australia's first popularly elected female head of government. Rosemary Follett and Kate Carnell were both popularly elected as Chief Minister of the Australian Capital Territory, and Clare Martin was elected as Chief Minister of the Northern Territory.[7]

In 2009, Bligh was elected to the three person presidential team of the Australian Labor Party, to serve until July 2012. She served as National President of the Australian Labor Party for the 2010–11 financial year.[8]

Privatisation

Bligh announced the privatisation of five government owned corporations:

-   Queensland Motorways Limited (Operating the Gateway Bridge and Logan Motorway tolling systems)
-   The Port of Brisbane Authority
-   Forestry Plantations Queensland
-   Abbot Point Coal Terminal
-   Coal-carrying rail lines, currently owned by Queensland Rail (QR Passenger services will remain nationalised).

More than 3,000 workers were to be offered voluntary redundancies, just three months after the privatisation of QR National.

Queensland Motorways Limited and Forestry Plantations Queensland were not being sold, but rather being leased for an estimated 50-year lease. Since this announcement, the Queensland Government announced plans to sell Queensland Rail to the public.

Revenues from privatisation were estimated at approximately $15 billion, to go towards balancing Queensland's state budget.[9]

The sale of these assets aimed at removing significant overheads from the Queensland government's debt portfolio, allowing further growth of the government's capital assets, as well as aiding the government to return to its AAA credit rating. Bligh has faced resistance from both within her party and the trade union movement, but has defended her privatisation plan as 'not negotiable'.[10]

The 2009 annual state conference of the Australian Labor Party – Queensland Branch, passed a motion, moved by Treasurer Andrew Fraser MP, seconded by Parliamentary Secretary for Healthy Living Murray Watt MP, supporting the sale of the assets, recognising that the sale will allow the Queensland Government to grow its asset portfolio, as well as retire debt.

Daylight saving

In October 2006, then Queensland Premier Peter Beattie, commissioned research to see if daylight saving should be re-introduced into Queensland on a trial basis.[11] On 1 October 2007 Bligh ruled out holding a new referendum, despite this government-commissioned report indicating that 59% of Queensland residents and 69% of South East Queenslanders support daylight saving.[12]

On 14 April 2010, the independent member for Nicklin, Peter Wellington, introduced the Daylight Saving for South East Queensland Referendum Bill 2010 into Queensland Parliament, calling for a referendum to be held at the next state election on the introduction of daylight saving for South East Queensland only, with the remainder of the state maintaining standard time.[13] In response to the bill, Bligh announced a community consultation process, which resulted in over 74,000 respondents participating, 64 percent of whom voted in favour of a trial and 63% were in favour of holding a referendum.[14] On 7 June, after reviewing the favourable consultation results, Bligh announced that her government would not support the bill, because regional Queenslanders were overwhelmingly opposed to daylight saving.[15] The bill was defeated in Queensland Parliament on 15 June 2011.[16]

Queensland floods

[Bligh with Kevin Rudd and British Foreign Secretary William Hague at a 2011 barbecue to raise funds for Queensland flood victims.] Bligh's management of and performance during the 2010–11 Queensland floods was widely approved. Labor had been well behind the LNP, led by John-Paul Langbroek, for most of the time since the fall of 2010. However, the following Newspoll saw a record turnaround in Bligh and Labor's fortunes. Labor rose from a two-party deficit of 41–59 to a lead of 52–48, with Bligh's personal satisfaction-dissatisfaction standing going from a negative 24–67 to a positive 49–43.[17] Bligh's recovery in the polls was a factor behind Langbroek being forced to stand down in favour of Brisbane Lord Mayor Campbell Newman.[18] Newman had become a national figure during the floods, and polling showed he was the only non-Labor politician who even came close to matching Bligh's popularity during that time.[19]

However, Newman was not a member of parliament, and a by-election could not be arranged to allow him to get a seat in the chamber. For this reason, Jeff Seeney was elected as interim parliamentary leader of the LNP while Newman led the LNP's election team and simultaneously contested the Labor-held seat of Ashgrove.[20] Bligh harshly criticised Newman's move, saying it was irresponsible for Newman to “cut and run” from his post as Lord Mayor while Queensland was still rebuilding.[21] She also hinted that she might call an election a year before it was due. She had previously promised not to call an election for 2011 to focus on recovery, but was concerned that the unorthodox leadership arrangement on the opposition side could make the co-operation necessary for the recovery effort impossible.[22]

2012 election

On 25 January, Bligh announced an election for 24 March. It was the first time in Queensland history that the voters knew the election date in advance of the parliament being dissolved. Bligh made this decision after learning that the Commission of Inquiry into the 2010–11 Queensland floods would not release its final report until 16 March, rather than the middle of February as originally planned. She wanted Queenslanders to see the report before they went to the polls.[23]

Bligh asked Governor Penny Wensley to dissolve parliament on 19 February, formally beginning the 35-day campaign.[24] She began the race as an underdog; the LNP had regained a substantial lead in polling since Newman took the leadership.

Bligh was dogged throughout the campaign by the perception that she'd misled voters about the asset sales. With Labor sinking in the polls, Bligh conceded in a 13 March interview with the _Brisbane Times_ that in all likelihood, Labor would not be re-elected.[25] The final Newspoll of the campaign appeared to confirm this, showing Labor's support had sunk to only 39.2 percent.[26]

At 24 March election, Labor suffered one of the largest electoral wipeouts in Australian history, and the worst defeat that a sitting government in Queensland has ever suffered, double the previous record-holder of the 1989 election. Labor was reduced from 51 seats to seven, suffering a swing of more than 15 points. This was largely because of a near-total meltdown in Brisbane, which had been Labor's power base for over two decades. The party lost all but three of its seats in the capital, in some cases suffering swings of over 10 percent. Bligh herself suffered a 9-point swing in South Brisbane, and she only overcame her LNP challenger on Green preferences. Ten members of her cabinet were defeated. It was only the sixth time since 1915 that Queenslanders have thrown a government from office in an election.

The next day, with Labor's defeat beyond doubt, Bligh announced she was retiring from politics. She had intended to stay in parliament, but said that the severity of Labor's defeat made her realise the party could not “develop an effective opposition” with her even as a backbencher. She resigned as both premier and state Labor leader that day, and handed her resignation to Wensley the same afternoon, to take effect from 30 March 2012.[27][28] Bligh had intended that the timing of her resignation would allow a by-election to be held on 28 April 2012, the same day as local government elections.[29] She was ultimately succeeded as state Labor leader by her Transport Minister, Annastacia Palaszczuk.

Later reports suggested that Bligh would not be able to formally resign from Parliament until the writ of election for South Brisbane was returned, meaning that a by-election would be too late to coincide with the Brisbane City Council election.[30] But on 2 April, she was declared the winner,[31] and a writ was subsequently issued for the by-election.[32]

After politics

In 2014, Bligh was appointed CEO of YWCA New South Wales.[33] In 2017, she was made CEO of the Australian Banking Association.[34]

Personal

Bligh is married to Greg Withers, a senior public servant, with whom she has two sons, Joe and Oliver, both of whom attended Brisbane State High School.[35]

Bligh appeared as a contestant on _Celebrity MasterChef Australia_ in 2009.[36] She was eliminated in her first heat, losing to the eventual winner of the series, swimmer Eamon Sullivan.[37]

On 8 June 2013, Bligh announced that she had been diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma.[38]

Bligh's memoir, “_Through The Wall_”, was published in April 2015.[39]

In 2017 Bligh was appointed a Companion of the Order of Australia for eminent service to the Parliament of Queensland, particularly as Premier, to infrastructure development and education reform, as an advocate for the role of women in public life, and to the not-for-profit sector.[40]

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8] Australian Labor Party: Welcome to New ALP National President

[9]

[10]

[11]

[12]

[13]

[14]

[15]

[16]

[17] [http://newspoll.com.au/cgi-bin/polling/display_poll_data.pl?url_caller=&mode=trend&page=show_polls&question_set_id=13 Queensland opinion polling] conducted by Newspoll and published in The Australian

[18] Campbell Newman's Queensland coup . 6PM with George Negus (Ten News), 22 March 2011.

[19] Newman's bid for leadership . 7.30 (ABC News), 22 March 2011.

[20] Green, Antony. Queensland election preview . Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 25 January 2012.

[21]

[22] Barrett, Roseanne; Walker, Jamie. Anna Bligh ramps up early Queensland election speculation. The Australian, 26 March 2011.

[23]

[24]

[25]

[26]

[27]

[28]

[29]

[30]

[31]

[32]

[33] YWCA NSW . Retrieved 29 March 2014

[34]

[35]

[36]

[37]

[38]

[39]

[40]

title: Anna Bligh

question: If the church were more accepting towards divorced people, how might Anna Bligh's life have played out differently?

answer: She and her mother might not have become estranged from the church and she might have wound up becoming a nun.

question: Summarize everything relating to Peter Beattie.

answer: Peter Beattie, the premier, promoted Bligh to the ministry in 1998. In 2006, he relinquished the responsibility over the Treasury portfolio in order to focus on the state's health system. When he retired from politics on September 10, 2007, he endorsed Bligh as his successor.

question: How old was Bligh when she served as secretary of the Labor Party's Fairfield branch?

answer: Around 27 years old.


text:
FRIEDRICH OSKAR RUGE (24 December 1894 – 3 July 1985) was an officer in the German Navy and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross of Nazi Germany. He served as the first commander (Inspector of the Navy) of the post-war German Navy.

Early life and military career

Friedrich Ruge was the son and grandson of German educators. Joining the Imperial German Navy as a cadet in March 1914, he was soon a participant in the 1914, 1915, and 1916 Baltic Sea operations. In 1917 and 1918, he sailed with the destroyer raids in the North Sea and English Channel.

After the armistice, Ruge was an officer aboard the destroyer , interned at Scapa Flow and in June 1919, he played a role in the scuttling of the German Fleet.

Returning to Germany to continue his naval career in the service of the new Weimar Republic, for the next two decades he concentrated on mines and mine warfare. From 1921 to 1923, he commanded a minesweeper. In the UK during the 1930s he met an ex British sailor at a regatta, Lt Aubrey Grey, whose ship, , was sunk in 1917 by the , the ship that Ruge had been serving on. The _V100_ was the ship that rescued Grey from the water after the sinking and the pair became friends after meeting, their friendship only interrupted by World War II.[1] After studies at Berlin Institute of Technology, he was the senior officer of a flotilla of minesweepers, and, in 1937, achieved the top post in that division.

World War II

In World War II, he was a part of the Polish Campaign in 1939 and the North Sea-English Channel operations during 1940. From 1940 to 1943, he was stationed in France, rising through the upper ranks to become Vice Admiral in 1943. Sent to Italy in 1943, he served as Senior German Naval Officer until mid-summer. He was appointed as Naval Advisor to Field Marshal Erwin Rommel in November 1943 to supervise the defense of northern France from the predicted Allied invasion. He had no faith in land mines and artillery shells struck underwater, but the marine mines he wanted weren't available. In August 1944, he became the Kriegsmarine's Director of Ship Construction, a position in which he served till the end of World War II.

Post-war

At the end World War II, Ruge became a POW. In 1946, he started a new life as a translator, writer and educator in Cuxhaven. He was one of four Flag Officers who made up the Naval Historical Team at Bremerhaven, sponsored by the United States Navy. He entered politics as a political independent to the Cuxhaven Town Council.

In 1950, Ruge was part of a select group of former Wehrmacht high-ranking officers invited by Chancellor Konrad Adenauer to take part in the conference to discuss West Germany's rearmament. The conference resulted in the Himmerod memorandum that contributed to the creation of the myth of the “clean Wehrmacht”.

During the early 1950s, he advised as to how the navy could be restructured in the new Bundesmarine, as detailed in Searle's _Wehrmacht Generals_. Called out of retirement when Germany became a part of NATO, Ruge was appointed Inspector of the Navy (a position similar to the U.S. Chief of Naval Operations), a post he occupied until 1961.

Afterward, he became a member of the faculty at the University of Tübingen, eventually becoming an Associate Professor on 21 July 1967 there. He was a guest lecturer at many universities, including the U.S. Naval War College at Newport.

Admiral Ruge was one of the umpires for the 1974 Sandhurst wargame on Operation Sea Lion.

He died in 1985.

Literary works

Ruge was the author of several books, including _The Soviets as Naval Opponents, 1941-1945_, written for Annapolis Naval Institute in 1979, and _Rommel in Normandy_, written in 1959.

Quoted at Normandy: _Utilization of the Anglo-American air forces is the modern type of warfare, turning the flank not from the side but from above._

In the movie _The Longest Day_ (1962), he played himself, and was a consultant to the film.

Decorations

-   Iron Cross (1914)
    -   2nd Class (26 August 1917)[2]
    -   1st Class (2 March 1918)[3]
-   Honour Cross of the World War 1914/1918
-   Long Service Award 2nd to 4th class (2 October 1936)
-   German Olympic Games Decoration 2nd class (21 December 1936)[4]
-   Sudetenland Medal
-   Clasp to the Iron Cross
    -   2nd Class (17 September 1939)[5]
    -   1st Class (2 October 1939)[6]
-   Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 21 October 1940 as _Kapitän zur See_ and commodore leader of the Minensuchboote West[7][8]
-   Minesweeper War Badge (15 February 1940)[9]
-   Order of Merit of the Italian Republic
-   Legion of Merit, Commanders Cross (1961)[10]
-   Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany (28 September 1961)[11]

[1]

[2] Dörr 1996, p. 191.

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7] Fellgiebel 2000, p. 367.

[8] Scherzer 2007, p. 645.

[9]

[10]

[11]

title: Friedrich Ruge

question: What might have happened if instead the Nazis had won the war?

answer: In World War II, he was part of the Polish Campaign in 1939 and the North Sea English Channel operations in 1940. He rose to the upper ranks as Vice Admiral in 1943, when he served as Senior German Naval Officer. He was appointed as Naval Adviser to Field Marshal Rommel in 1943 to supervise defense of norther France from allied invasion. Had the Nazis won, he would have continued rising through the ranks of the German Navy and likely continued his career in a similar fashion. He would have served the German Navy long, and ultimately settled into the private sector at a university just as he actually did.


text:
I miss the wind. Its gentle caress upon your skin, the way it billows through your hair like a silken comb, encompassing and soft like a lover's embrace. It is a calming breeze, one that allows you to put things in perspective, and return to an objective point of view.

Goddamned civilization.

The wind is gone now, the pure wind at least, replaced by the stale pollution of the city's leavings, the only breeze generated by the sheer amount of movement that happens on a regular basis. Humanity is too ignorant to see the forest for the trees, aware only of their own little bubble of reality, many refusing to accept the possibility of the unknown, as it would shatter their perceptions and rattle their "perfect" world.

Alas, I find myself on a tangent yet again. This happens quite a bit. It is a good thing I am not talking to myself.

Yes, that's right. I've known you were here.

About the last ten minutes.

Because had I simply wished to stop your espionage, you would have been quite dead by now.

Even immortals can die, Mr. Randolph.

Put down the gun, it will do you absolutely no good at this range. That calibur is only effective if you put enough distance between us to allow for a clean shot. Fired point blank, it would be fairly ineffective at causing any lethal damage.

I grow tired of this conversation. Allow me to get back on track.

You are here because of your master. He wants to know about Project K16M9.

Oh, you were not included in that conversation, were you? Please, exit those pointless shadows, come sit down.

Sit.

SIT.

Very good. Now, your master and I have-

You prefer employer. How quaint. You like to believe you have a choice in your dealings with him. I shall leave you to your delusions for now.

Calm yourself, it is irrelevant at this point. Listen carefully. Your...employer...and I have been in a partnership for...well, longer than you have been here, I assure you. You see, I remember when his organization was but a fledgling group, being staked out for destruction by those who would not benefit from it. Their stock plummeted each time your employer's team grew.

Yes, I am using vague terms. Subtlety is important when you are on candid camera.

Sit down, you are too paranoid. I own this building, and the camera in my office feeds to a recorder only I know the location of. Besides, there are far worse things to worry about with me than being seen by others. I just like using metaphors.

May I continue my tale, or would you like to inject something into the story?

I thought so.

The business grew, and as it did, so shrank those too weak or too stupid to escape the power of corporate earnings. Have you ever heard of natural selection, Mr. Randolph? It states that only the strong survive, the weak and incompetent are left to die and be eaten by those stronger and smarter than they are. Interesting theory. One that worked for quite some time.

Unfortunately, there came a time when stupidity rose up in large numbers and overthrew the balance.

Soon, the weak and the ignorant had banded together within organizations, led by overzealous leaders who took advantage of their herd mentality in order to manipulate them into doing their bidding. Brilliant in its simplicity. Relate to the flock on their level, make them feel important, make them feel drawn and led by something, and their sheer numbers will blot out the sun.

Then the takeover began.

Your employer's numbers dwindled as these groups took the hatchet - quite literally - to each of his employees, one by one. They then began to burn his profits, usually at the stake. Before long, other companies were targeted who were considered salacious, or evil. Stocks plummeted as the product was recalled. Before long, they almost went out of business.

Here, you look tense by this tale. Have some warm milk, it will ease your nerves.

Ah, I see. You prefer other things. No matter, you shouldn't feel hunger for at least another hour, long enough to relay the information.

This is where I came in. Your employer turned to me, knowing my battle strategy for good business and my track record for accomplishing the impossible through my vast networking skills, requesting my expertise in the matter. His payment was to be tendered in full once I had finished the deal.

I set to work, sending several contacts into the rival companies, the flocks of ignorance, slowly using them as splinter cell agents to topple their hierarchy. At the same time, i've kept several of my own men and women within your employer's company, measuring your market trends, keeping an eye on fiscal results, and responsible for procurement and acquisition of goods. This allowed-

Interrupt me one more time, and I shall have an excuse to put up a beautiful cremation urn that would just look tacky had it not a purpose. If anyone asks, you will have been a very close cousin. May I finish now?

Stop shaking, it doesn't befit an assassin.

This allowed me to filter all data back into my hands, from which I could finally work my magic, if you'll excuse the term. Before long, my contacts held a prominent position of power in the corporation of ignorance and weakness. Product hemorrhaged out of the company, and into your employer's. The irony of that is simply delicious. Nonetheless, before long a trade network was set up, and the two had an unofficial partnership, one that is covered within the non-disclosure agreements, or pacts as we once called them.

Now, the companies are speaking of a merger, one that will allow the sheep to live normal lives and careers, and in return, sales for your employer will never take a downturn. Moreover, my contacts have also risen to power in your employer's company, as well.

The deal has been completed. Payment is now due in full.

No, not money, you fool. Why would you believe a person such as myself has any need for material things? No, the deal was a gain for information. You see, I am a very curious person. I research, gather data, keep informed on anything and everything. I am rather traveled, you understand. As such, I now have a new source of information, and a new network from which to gather said information. One that is much stealthier than a human contact, one which doesn't require sleep, and eats only when necessary. One who lives quite a bit longer.

Go back to your master. Tell him Project K16M9 is complete.

Tell him I shall now take my payment.

Congratulations, Mr. Randolph.

You both work for ME now.

title: Strictly A Business Matter

question: What is Project K16M9?

answer: Project K16M9 is complete by the speaker taking payment from Mr. Randolph's employer. The payment is that Mr. Randolph and his employer now work for the speaker.

question: Who is the speaker?

answer: The speaker's name is not given in the text. The speaker is curious. The speaker researches, gathers data, keeps informed on anything and everything and is also well traveled. He is knowledgeable about weapons. He was responsible for saving a company by being smarter than the people working for the company. The speaker is not materialistic, does not require payment in monetary terms. The speaker is more interested in information. He likes metaphors.

question: Summarize all the information relating to Mr. Randoplh.

answer: Mr. Randolph was sent to spy on the speaker. He is immortal. Mr. Randolph has a gun, but the wrong gun for the application. Mr. Randolph was hiding in the shadows, he is ordered to sit down by the speaker. His employer sent him to find out about Project K16M9.

question: What happened to the wind?

answer: Pure wind is gone, it was replaced by the stale pollution of the city's leavings. A breeze is generated by the amount of movement that happens on a regular basis.

question: Write a ~2 sentence summary.

answer: The speaker confronts/ educates his would-be assassin about Project K16M9. The speaker orchestrated various dealings the payment for which is the services of the assassin and of the assassin's employer.


text:
Harare (CNN)A big game hunter was crushed to death after an elephant, which his friends had fatally shot, collapsed on top of him.

Theunis Botha was out hunting with friends at the Good Luck Farm in Gwayi, Zimbabwe, when they came across a herd of breeding elephants.

"The unfortunate incident happened when the hunting party got in the middle of a breeding herd of elephants and were attacked by female elephants," Nyasha Simukai a spokesman for Zimbabwe National Parks, told CNN.

Simukai said Botha, 51, was killed when colleagues fatally shot an elephant that then fell on top of him. It happened Friday.

[Theunis Botha opened his business in 1983.]

Theunis Botha Big Game Safaris has been operating since 1983, according to its website.

Simukai said the hunt, which was set to be held from May 16 to May 27, was legal.

"Theunis embraced his hearts passion and engaged in full time big game hound safaris in and around South Africa, adding private ranches in Zimbabwe and Botswana as new destinations in 1991," read the website.

Journalist Columbus Mavhunga reported from Harare. CNN's James Masters wrote from London. Hillary McGann contributed to this report.

question: Where is this article published?

answer: CNN.

question: Why did the incident in the article occur?

answer: A big game hunter was out hunting with friends, got into the middle of a breeding herd of elephants, and was killed when colleagues shot an elephant that then fell on top of him

question: What is the purpose of this article?

answer: To report on the incident that occurred (possibly due to its unlikely nature)

question: Where did the incident occur?

answer: The Good Luck Farm in Gwayi, Zimbabwe

question: Write a ~3 sentence summary.

answer: A big game hunter, Theunis Botha, was out hunting in Zimbabwe with friends. During the hunt, which was reported to be legal, the group got in the middle of a breeding herd of elephants and was attacked by female elephants. When Botha's colleagues shot an elephant, it fell and crushed Botha to death.


text:
"Goodbye, Lucy," the secretary didn't look up from her computer screen as her fingers furiously plucked away at her well-worn computer.
Lucy didn't respond, as she had already worked an hour after her day had ended and was fed up with the tedious charade that office relationships had become. The secretary gave a look of disgust that smelled of future office gossip. She didn't need this.

She stepped out into the cool Boston air and was refreshed for half an instant before the stink and noise of hit her senses like a light slap from an old friend.
Lucy snatched a parking ticket off of her windshield and stuffed them in her pocket: they were cheaper than the parking under her building  She got into the car her grandmother had left her, a clunker that struggled to start and was shambling towards a quarter million miles on the odometer that could barely be read through the grime that had built up over the last three decades.
Lucy tried the car twice, three times before sitting back in the old beige seat. She didn't need this.

On the way home, Lucy ran into especially bad traffic. She sat for nearly an hour, glancing at her cracked wristwatch as the sun waned over the eastern horizon. This, she really didn't need.

Well after dark, she pulled into the parking designated for her apartment building. Her spot was taken, as it was about half the time. This time, there were no open spots for her to steal. She didn't need this.

With a festering ball of frustration and depravity in her gut, Lucy drove two blocks South to park at the 24-Hour Save-Mart, the one place in her neighborhood she knew she wouldn't get a ticket. She stepped out into the cool air and immediately her a loud snap and felt a twist in her ankle as she dropped to her hands and knees. She rolled over to sit down and inspect her foot. A broken ankle would send her hurtling significantly farther into debt than she already was, but she had only broken a heel. She switched into a battered pair of sneakers she had in the trunk only to discover a missing sole. She frowned and kept them on anyway. She didn't need this.

On her way home, there was no one to be seen. Only in her neighborhood could there be the threatening sound of car alarms, horns, and things breaking without the sight of the perpetrators. She was used to it. Hell, she slept through worse on a regular basis. As she was walking, she heard footsteps behind her. She sped up, not wanting human interaction for a second longer. The footsteps mirrored her acceleration, and then some. Now this was something she truly didn't need.

She whipped her pepper spray out of her purse and wheeled around to face her attacker. Nothing. With a sigh of relief she resumed her fast pace towards her building, now in sight, but continued to glance back over her shoulder towards the darkness that seemed to grow and reach out to her as she sped away.
Divorced out of an abusive relationship and living with her grandmother, Lucy had learned to care for and defend herself. Her grandmother had named and raised her as her father died overseas on tour and her mother had not survived the birth. She had cooked and taught Lucy for all 31 years of her life, and was the most important person in the world. Becoming senile, the old woman often thought Lucy was eight or nine, but Lucy allowed, even enjoyed a little, the old woman's bedtime stories and Lullaby's her favorite being, "Goodbye Lucy", a family story which Lucy's name was drawn.

The elevator attendant offered her a sweet and she turned it down with a weak smile as she always did. He was one of the few people she didn't mind conversing with. Lucy stepped off the elevator and was greeted with a bad feeling that immediately enveloped her like a warm cloak. She hurried over to the door and noticed that the lock had been smashed. Lucy's heart dropped as she though about her old and blind grandmother, her only family in the world. She had her phone and was dialing 911 as she stepped inside to try to find her grandmother. The apartment was dark and eerily quiet. There were no signs of robbery or her grandmother. Lucy was too afraid to call out, so she quietly crept into the kitchen, praying frantically that her grandmother was alright. She didn't need this, not today.

She rounded the corner into the dining room and saw her Grandmother sitting at the counter. She felt relief wash over her as she noticed that the old woman was crudely bound with a belt and gagged with a handkerchief. She tried warning Lucy with a muffled cry, but as Lucy turned to face the living room her vision went dark as something hefty smashed her in the face, knocking her to the ground and sending her pepper spray and phone skittering across the floor. She didn't need this.

 Her mouth, wet with blood from her broken nose, tried to plea as her vision was restored, though blurry and riddled with little dashing stars. The plea stopped short when she saw Lucy's ex-husband standing over her, stinking of rum with a horrible grin below terrible dead eyes that told Lucy her pleas would only cause him to become more violent. He tossed the small six-shooter he had pistol whipped her with onto the counter. He kicked her in the stomach and dropped down on top of her, running his hand up her leg. He was going to take her, right in front of her grandmother. He leaned in, pinning her against the floor and whispered with a drunken slur,
"Goodbye Lucy".

She needed that.

 The anger that those words gave her revitalized her body, which had been petrified from pain and fear. She waited for him to begin undoing his pants to take the keys still in her hand and shove them into his eye with surprising force. He grasped at her throat, but his screaming and struggle to get away from her only gave her more strength. She gave them a final push before rising to he feet and kicking him in the stomach has he screamed and cursed and struggled to pull the now bloody keys from his eye socket. He began to rise with a newborn fury is his wide eyes and red face as the seeping whole that was his eye pumped blood through his dirty sausage fingers. She picked up the gun he had set down and turned to face him, but he was faster than she expected. He grabbed her hair and through her to the ground again. His pants fell to the ground, as he reached down to grab her again. She pulled then gun up to his chest. He froze, stood up, and began to laugh. He looked at her with a bloody grin that quickly vanished when she cocked the gun and sat up. He opened his mouth to speak, but was cut short by six gunshots, all in a row. He fell backwards onto the coffee table, shattering it, dead.

She needed that.

She slowly came to her feet, and unbound her old caretaker, who was just as scared as Lucy was. She dropped the gun on the ground and sat down at the table. She was covered in blood and shaking like tree in the wind but she allowed a smile to creep across her face as her grandma grasped her hand in her own and began to sing Goodbye Lucy.

That was all she would need.

Feedback appreciated

title: [RF] GoodBye Lucy

question: What does the text say about the qualities that make a good secretary?

question: What does the story say about Lucy and her grandmother?

answer: Lucy's father was a soldier who died overseas while on tour, while her mother died giving birth to her. Since Lucy had no one, her kind grandmother took care of her, cooking for her and teaching her everything she knows for all 31 years of her life. Lucy still lives with her grandmother, who is the most important person in her life, in an apartment in a dangerous neighborhood. However, her grandmother has become senile and thought Lucy was still eight or nine years old. Lucy's grandma would read her bedtime stories and sing her favorite lullaby, "Goodbye Lucy" which Lucy allowed (to avoid hurting her grandma's feelings) and enjoyed.

question: Summarize how Lucy changes over the story.

answer: The story started with Lucy playing the weak victim, always telling herself that she didn't need a particularly bad rap one after the other - from an abusive marriage to office politics to someone taking her parking slot. Lucy was afraid and paranoid walking home from where she parked because she thought someone was following her, bringing the same fear back home when she became paralyzed with terror as her ex-husband attacked her and planned on raping her in front of her grandma. When Lucy hear her ex say "Goodbye Lucy", anger revitalized her body and broke the fear that took hold of her body. Lucy finally found the strength to fight back against her abusive ex-husband, stabbing his eye with a key and kicking him. She was able to pull the trigger and shot him six times, showing that she wasn't the weak victim anymore.

question: Summarize the terrible day Lucy was having.

answer: Lucy had a bad day at the office and she was getting fed up with the politics. Her old car wouldn't start, she got stuck in traffic for an hour, and when she got home, someone took her designated parking slot. Lucy had to park two blocks away, where she then broke a heel and nearly sprained her ankle. She became paranoid and afraid that someone was following her from the parking lot. When Lucy got home, the door was smashed, she found her grandma tied to a chair and gagged, and she got attacked and almost raped by her abusive ex-husband in front of her grandmother.


text:
Escaping the Dream
The boy is trapped by nightmares and darkness. He can't escape.

At sunset, he climbs into his bed and dreams of lies, pain and death...

The putrid stench of dying, rotting flesh. Why? Why is life so pitiful? The ground is littered with death. The skies weep, tossing down puddles of endless misery. The red lake grows larger.

I toss and turn, but I stay still, possessed by a living nightmare. Beads of sweat accumulate on my forehead. I'm drowning. The water... It never stops. Make it stop. Stop!

Quiet. In the distance. Are those people? ...Demons. Run.

I'm one of them. How could this be? How could this happen?

The screams, the blood, the terror, pulsing through the veins of a thousand sleeping warriors all armored and ready for war. They watch, frozen like statues as clouds of dark mist cascade on their helpless bodies.

A lake of blood.

Did it end? Is it over? The covers. They strangle me. I'm choking. Get it off! Stop it! Get away!

The dark mist. It won't leave.

I fly over the blood stained hills, the water reflecting the gruesome battle. I'm flying? What am I? What have I become?

Listen. The sounds of wounded men.
Somebody help them!
But there's no time to waste.

The door opens. A cloaked figure silently glides to the bedside of a troubled boy and whispers in the dead of night.

No audible words.

The ritual begins.

No... The end is near. The ritual...  is already over.

What happened?

The boy awakens. He sees a man in a robe on his bedside. The man is talking.

The boy asks the man, "What happened? I'm scared."

"Well, son, Satan tried to scare my little warrior tonight, but he won't win."

"How do you know that?"
The boy had no comprehension of Satan, but he was troubled by the name regardless.

"Because I happen to be your father. I'm here to protect you, son."

The boy, comforted by the robed man, slowly glided back underneath the covers as the robed man tucked him in.

The boy, once asleep, dreamt about a wonderful place. Beautiful, winged creatures soared effortlessly through silky skies, emitting light on their journeys. Magnificent buildings flooded the golden streets, and joyous praises could be heard throughout.

The boy, guided by instinct, found and opened the door to his house.

The robed man, waiting for him through the door, took the boy's hand and guided him through marble stairways, high arches, and intricately detailed furnished rooms.

The boy, curious by the unworldly beauty of the place, outstretched his hands and delicately glided his small fingers across the walls in awe of the mysterious texture.

When the boy had satisfied his curiosity, the robed man took the boy's hand once again and led him outside.

They walked through the streets, observing the peculiar yet beautiful creatures that endlessly fluttered around the robed man.

As they approached closer to one of the creatures, the boy could hear an angelic voice resonating loudly from its mouth.

The creature spoke of a wonderful king who conquered death and defeated sin, but the boy had never heard those words before. He had no ability to comprehend the story that was being told, but he enjoyed listening to the voice nonetheless.

His eyes teared up, and his vision blurred. He wasn't scared, however. His mind rattled with love, hope, peace, and joy, emotions he had never experienced before.

The emotions, beautiful creatures, the golden streets and the perfect climate. Paradise. How could one long for anything else?

The boy peacefully awoke at sunrise. He hopped enthusiastically to the window and opened the blinds. His eyes caught the first glimpse of the sunrise in the distance, and he felt happy.

His hands touched the cold window, and he made a shape of a cross with his finger out of the condensation on the glass. It was a symbol he had never seen before, yet he felt so attached to it.

He felt like he was dreaming...

But he had escaped.

title:
Escaping the Dream
- A short story/free-verse poem I created. Constructive criticism is appreciated! Just please don't go overboard on swearing.

question: How do the narrator's surrounding change throughout the story?

answer: At the beginning, he's dreaming of a terrifying place, with the stench of rotting flesh all around, the ground was littered with death, the skies weeping, a lake of blood, and a thousand sleeping soldiers. After that, the narrator gets strangled, flies over these bloodstained hills, and wakes up in bed, with a man in a robe next to him. When he goes back to sleep, he finds himself in a beautiful place, with beautiful flying creatures, marble stairways, high arches, furnished rooms, and a wonderful king. Then he woke up again in the same bed.

question: What is the boys relationship with the robed figure?

answer: The man in the robe claims to be the boys father, and seems to be an incredibly comforting presence for him. After his terrible nightmare, the robed figure is able to get the boy relaxed, and put him to sleep, inducing a beautiful dream for him. The robed man also seems to be sent to protect the boy from Satan.

question: Why was there a cross on the window when the boy woke up?

answer: While it's not explicitly stated, the implication is that the boys dream is of heaven (though the boy doesn't have any concept of this), so when he wakes up, he sees a cross on his window. This shows us as readers that his dreams are having real life implications and effects.

question: Why was the boy having such intense dreams?


text:
WILLIAM (BILL) R. DUNLAP is an American artist, writer, and arts commentator on Washington, DC's flagship PBS station, WETA-TV. With a career that has spanned more than four decades, his large scale narrative paintings and constructions concern themselves with history, allegory and the art making process. “Hypothetical Realism” is a term Dunlap coined to describe his work in both the visual arts and fiction - “the places and things I paint and describe are not real, but they could be.” Dunlap is an avid and accomplished printmaker as well as painter, sculptor and photographer. His work is included in collections such as the New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art, The National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC, Mississippi Museum of Art Turchin Center for the Visual Arts, Lauren Rogers Museum of Art, Ogden Museum of Southern Art , Riggs Bank, IBM Corporation, Federal Express, The Equitable Collection, Arkansas Art Center, the United States State Department, and United States Embassies throughout the world.[1] Dunlap is also the author of _Short Mean Fiction_ (), published April 1, 2016 by Nautilus Press, a collection of 15 stories with excerpts from sketchbooks which read “like tales from the Old Testament rampant with sex violence and death.”

Life

William Dunlap was born in Houston, Mississippi on January 21, 1944. He has a degree from the University of Mississippi, and taught at Appalachian State University in North Carolina from 1970 to 1979 and Memphis State University from 1979 to 1980. He has lectured on art related subjects at colleges, universities, institutions and professional conferences. He serves as arts commentator on WETA-TV's cultural round table show, “Around Town.” He currently maintains studios in McLean, Virginia, Mathiston, Mississippi and Coral Gables, Florida.[2]

Art

Dunlap classifies his artistic style as hypothetical realism. He has co-curated several exhibitions at the Meridian International Center in Washington, D.C. including A Winding River: Contemporary Painting from Vietnam and Outward Bound: American Art on the Brink of the 21st Century. Currently, he is working on a third exhibition to open at the Meridian International Center that focuses on contemporary Cuban paintings.[3]

Solo exhibitions

-   Corcoran Gallery of Art
-   National Academy of Science
-   Aspen Museum of Art
-   Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art
-   Museum of Western Virginia
-   Albany Museum of Art
-   Cheekwood Fine Arts Center
-   Mint Museum of Art
-   Mississippi Museum of Art
-   Contemporary Arts Center-New Orleans, LA

Current Representation

-   Art Cellar Gallery, Banner Elk, NC
-   Southside Gallery, Oxford, MS
-   Soren Christensen Gallery, New Orleans, LA
-   Catherine Kelleghan Gallery
-   Greg Thompson Fine Art, North Little Rock, Arkansas

Awards and Fellowships

-   Rockefeller Foundation
-   Lila Wallace Foundation for study and travel in Southeast Asia
-   Warhol Foundation, Virginia Commission for the Arts
-   Mississippi Institute of Arts and Letters
-   Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art/RJR Nabisco Visual Artists Award
-   The Mississippi Governor's Award for Excellence in the Arts.[4]

Panorama of the American Landscape, his fourteen panel, 112 feet long cyclorama painting depicting a contemporary view of the Shenandoah Valley in summer and the Antietam battlefield in winter, was commissioned for the Rotunda Gallery at the Corcoran Gallery of Art in 1985, but since its debut has been shown in nearly a dozen American museums and art centers, its most recent venue being the Chrysler Museum in Norfolk, VA. In addition, Reconstructed Recollections and In the Spirit of the Land are also exhibitions of Mr. Dunlap's work that continue major tours.[5]

A Winding River: Contemporary Painting from Vietnam, an exhibition he co-curated, opened at the Meridian International Center in Washington, DC during the 1997-98 season and traveled to several American museums. He also co-curated a counterpoint to that project: Outward Bound: American Art on the Brink of the 21st Century which opened at the Meridian International Center as well and is traveling throughout Southeast Asia. Currently, he is working on another exhibition to open at the Meridian International Center, that of contemporary Cuban painting.[6]

Notes

[1] DUNLAP, the comprehensive monograph on the artist's 40 plus year career, published by the University Press of Mississippi, 2006 with foreword by Julia Reed, essay by J. Richard Gruber and statement by the artist. .

[2]

[3]

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[6]

title: William R. Dunlap

question: Apart from the concept of "Hypothetical Realism", what makes Dunlap's work unique?

answer: William R. Dunlap is an American artist who specializes in large-scale paintings with history and allegory underpinnings. Dunlap called his art process "Hypothetic Realism", describing it as painting what is not real but could be. Apart from this philosophy, Dunlap loves featuring art exhibitions inspired by other cultures. For example, he co-curated an exhibition titled A Winding River: Contemporary Painting from Vietnam in 1997-98. He is presently working on an exhibition featuring Cuban paintings.


text:
JAYMAR JOHNSON (born July 10, 1984) is a former American football wide receiver. He was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the sixth round of the 2008 NFL Draft. He played college football at Jackson State.

Johnson has also played for the Arizona Cardinals.

Early years

Johnson was born on July 10, 1984, in Gary, Indiana. As a kid, he won seven Pop Warner trophies and his nickname was “Double-J”.[1]

As a senior in high school he was named All-State, All-Area and All-Conference.[2]

Shootings

As a teenager, Johnson left his aunt's home in Gary with his nephew (William M. Fields Jr.) and was caught in the crossfire of a gun battle about 100 yards from his location.[3][4]

A few years later during a pickup basketball game, Johnson fled with his cousins and later discovered his t-shirt had been grazed by a bullet.[5][6]

College career

Johnson attended Jackson State University and debuted for the Tigers against Alabama State and future teammate Tarvaris Jackson.[7] As a junior, he had a career-high 199 receiving yards against Southern.[8] During his last three seasons at Jackson State, Johnson started in every game.[9] He majored in health education at Jackson State.[10]

Professional career

Minnesota Vikings

Johnson was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the sixth round of the 2008 NFL Draft, through a pick acquired from trading Troy Williamson to the Jacksonville Jaguars. He became the first Jackson State player to be drafted since Sylvester Morris in the 2000 NFL Draft.[11] He was cut late during training camp but was re-signed to the practice squad on September 1, 2008. He spent most of the year on the practice squad.[12] According to Vikings head coach Brad Childress, during the 2009 offseason, Johnson put on 17 pounds getting up to 187 and is currently the hardest worker on the team.[13]

During the 2010 preseason, Johnson was placed on the Injured Reserve list, having broken his left thumb in the Week 1 preseason game against the St. Louis Rams. The injury allowed the Vikings to re-register returning quarterback Brett Favre to their 53-man roster.[14]

On September 2, 2011, he was waived by Minnesota.

Arizona Cardinals

The Arizona Cardinals signed him to their practice squad on September 20. He was promoted to the active roster on November 29. Johnson was waived on December 23, 2011. Johnson was added to the practice squad on December 28, 2011. He was waived on August 25, 2012.

Winnipeg Blue Bombers

Johnson signed with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League in April 2014.[15] Johnson was released from the team on June 20, 2014.[16]

Personal

His brother James played college football at Arkansas-Pine Bluff.[17] He is the youngest of eight children[18] and enjoys playing the saxophone[19] and planned on joining the medical field following his college career.[20] His wife (Kassy Johnson) is a special needs teacher at Eden Prairie High School in Minneapolis, Minnesota.[21]

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

[11]

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[14]

[15] http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:n76r361nl_8J:www.cjob.com/2014/04/22/bombers-add-2subtract-1/+&cd=19&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us

[16] https://www.bluebombers.com/2014/06/20/bombers-announce-final-roster/

[17]

[18]

[19]

[20]

[21]

title: Jaymar Johnson

question: What does the article say about Johnson's career?

answer: He was a promising youngster. Minnesota Vikings drafted him in 2008. While he played a few games with them, he spent most of his time on the practice squad. He was signed to Arizona Cardinals and Winnipeg Blue Bombers, but he spent his time at both teams mostly on the practice squad as well.

question: What does the article say about Johnson's MVP performance?


text:
I take a deep breath, adjust my goggles and sprint to the end. My feet barely touch the mass beneath me and I approach the tip of the wing, the wind screaming beautifully past me, a rush like the flow of blood through an artery, like a wave of water crushing a swimmer for a moment before allowing her respite, the swell of breath as you feel a lover’s touch on your thigh, her eyes locking with yours before her lips do the same. My left foot touches the edge, heel to toe; my knee flexes, and for a moment I think I hesitate, but perhaps I don’t and just wish I had. Perhaps I am pushed.  I launch and turn backwards, flipping so I can see the plane behind me, the earth upside down and for a moment, the briefest moment, I’m suspended in the air. According to physics it’s at this moment where I’m not moving in any direction. There is nothing pushing me this way or that, no commitment to worry about, no forces act on me at all. Then I fall towards the earth speeding along towards the cities, commitment, life, reality. For the next several minutes I feel myself speeding up, crushing down at the solid ground. Finally it feels like I’m not falling. I feel suspended again, floating full of life and feeling and power here 10,000 feet above terra firma.

Pushing through the sky like a bottle opener into a cork, I spin and spin diving further and further towards a certainty I cannot escape. Clouds come into view, glorious and looming. I see them so often from the ground they have become meaningless; up here where it’s different I see them for what they are: constantly shifting bodies. Clouds don’t move, they come into being in a different space, while leaving other parts to wisp away into the wind. They pulse and breathe. They hold you for a moment and then release you. Inside the cloud there’s a magic, a concrete feeling of luscious glory that lasts momentarily before I exit. Clouds come and go as do I, entering and exiting them at a velocity best described as wonderful but dizzying.

The ground is closer and more real than ever, and it’s time to pull. Put a stop to this freedom and embrace safety, end the charade of a freewheeling care-free young man and settle down. The equivalent of a wife and minivan, the kids and the bills and the security of others. Someone who doesn’t just give you the thrill and leave you, something that doesn’t feel like a one night stand. Time to plant your feet on solid ground.

I fall, hand on the cord, eyes on the altimeter, and slowly rotate so I fall looking at the sky. Looking at where I was, seeing how far I’ve come and wishing I was one minute ago, three days ago, 6 months ago. Being dropped is terrible, falling is exhilarating, but finding ground again…

Finding ground again is frightening. The idea of walking around miles below where you were and having to work to get back up here to the sky: well honestly it’s goddam awful. I want to be up in the sky again already, looking down at everyone beneath me, I want to be high up again. But no, right now I’m falling; falling increasingly faster and faster. The ground is rushing at me, that which was so unimportant only a moment ago is now so very important.

I think of what it took to get here. The training, the practice, the years of waiting, the checking of gas, wheels, equipment, radio, wings, instruments, and all the work just to reach the air. Learning and practice and practice and trust and building something that could work. Only to find yourself up high above the world, above it all, nothing can touch you. Packing the chute…

Oh god the parachute. I touch the cord handle of the cord and recall this fall isn’t like the others. I’ve been here before, but I always landed softly, holding the plastic handle that was attached to my chute. There’s nothing safe about it this time. This time I will land hard. I’m passed the moment where I can actually deploy and safely land on the ground. I yank hard on the cord and my chute rips open; a chest with ribs broken and a heart looking at the surgeon beating softly with the thump of a speaker. Wind fills the parachute and I feel myself slow down incredibly fast. I look down and I see the ground only one hundred feet away. I brace myself and try to glide in along the ground, I pull my feet up and I pull the cords by me and I look and I scream, my mouth opens wide and it all comes flying out of me. I slide through high grass going far too fast; my body instinctively curls up and I roll along the ground cracking bones, bruising ribs, and generally fucking up my body. I inhale dirt and scrape a gash on my shin that deposits blood on the ground every few feet. The roll last 6 seconds, but I feel like I’ve been tumbling for months. Dust is everywhere and the cloud billows up around me as I finally come to rest on the ground.

Broken, bruised, beaten, busted up and generally destroyed on every level of existence. I cough and blood mixes into the bare grass around me and I contemplate laying here forever. The sun is fading in the west I look over at it, and I watch, laying down in a mixture of brown, red, green, and yellow and realize that there’s nothing that has to happen, there’s nothing that is more important than finding my own strength and standing up to say I’m ready. I slowly rise up to my knees, and then one foot at a time, I stand up. I watch the sun burn the remnants of the day away, a bright orange ball that everyday cooks the world to a crisp, only to show up the next morning to a fresh new set of ingredients; ready to burn again. The sun’s flames lick the ground and for a moment, a lifetime of a moment, the ground glows red along the entire horizon. I shrug off my parachute and look back up the sky.

I’ll be back up there again soon.

title: Falling in Love and Falling out of a Plane

question: What does the story say about the narrator?

answer: The narrator seems to be in the sky. He thinks of what it took to get to that moment. The narrator then realizes that he needs to open their parachute. As he is about to land, he tries his best to glide in along the ground but he ends up injuring himself.

question: What does the story say about its setting?

answer: The narrator appears to be skydiving. He enjoys being suspended in the air. However, he forgets to pull on his parachute. He pulls his parachute too late which causes him to injure himself as he lands.

question: Why does the narrator want to go skydiving again?

question: What does the story say about skydiving safety measures?