text:
_' Báetán mac Muirchertaig_' (died 572),[1] also BAETÁN BRÍGE, was an Irish king who is included in some lists as a High King of Ireland. He was the son of Muirchertach mac Muiredaig (died 534), also considered a high king.[2] He was a member of the Cenél nEógain branch of the northern Uí Néill. He ruled in Ailech from 566 to 572.[3]

The high kingship of Ireland rotated between the Cenél nEógain and Cenél Conaill branches in the late 6th century.[4] Báetán ruled jointly with his nephew Eochaid mac Domnaill (died 572) from 569.[5] The middle Irish king lists have misplaced their reign putting it earlier than the annalistic tradition but other king lists have them in the correct order.[6] They are also omitted from the earliest list of Kings of Tara, the _Baile Chuind_ (The Ecstasy of Conn), a late 7th-century Irish poem. It is possible that the Ulaid king, Báetán mac Cairill (died 579), was the actual high king at this time.[7]

In 572 the two kings were defeated and slain by Crónán mac Tigernaig, king of the Cianachta Glenn Geimin in modern County Londonderry.[8]

Báetán's son Colmán Rímid also appears as high king of Ireland in some lists. He had four other sons, Máel Umai, Forannán, Fergus and Ailill. His sons are given in _The Laud Genealogies and Tribal Histories_ (ZCP Vol 8, P.294 Kuno Meyer) as follows: “Coic maic Baetáin maic Muirc[h]ertaig .i. Forgus, otáit Cenél Forgusa; Forannán, a quo Hui Forannáin; Ailill .i. athair Cindfaelad; Maelhumai .i. in rígfénid; Colman Rimid athair Fína máthar Flainn.” The Annals of the Four Masters at 615.2 state, “Ailill, son of Baedan; Maelduin, son of Fearghus, son of Baedan; and Diucolla, were slain in Magh Slecht, in the province of Connaught. They were of the race of Baedan, son of Muircheartach.”

  ----------- ---------------------------
              Documented relationships
              Speculative relationships
  _italics_   Family name
  ----------- ---------------------------

Notes

[1] all dates per _The Chronology of the Irish Annals_, Daniel P. McCarthy

[2] T.M. Charles-Edwards, _Early Christian Ireland_, Appendix V

[3] he is given a reign of 6 years in the _Laud Synchronisms_

[4] Charles-Edwards, pg.494-495

[5] they are given a reign of three years in the _Book of Leinster_ and one year in the _Laud Synchronisms_.

[6] Charles-Edwards, pg.484-487

[7] Francis J.Byrne, _Irish Kings and High-Kings_, pg.114

[8] _Annals of Ulster_ AU 572.1; _Annals of Tigernach_ AT 571.1

title: Báetán mac Muirchertaig

question: What does the story say about Báetán mac Muirchertaig?

answer: Báetán mac Muirchertaig was an Irish king. He ruled jointly with his nephew Eochaid mac Domnaill from 569. They were slain by Crónán mac Tigernaig, king of the Cianachta Glenn Geimin in 572. Báetán's son Colmán Rímid also was an Irish king.

question: What does the article say about Báetán's wife?


split: train

text:
In probability theory and statistics, a STANDARDIZED MOMENT of a probability distribution is a moment (normally a higher degree central moment) that is normalized. The normalization is typically a division by an expression of the standard deviation which renders the moment scale invariant. This has the advantage that such normalized moments differ only in other properties than variability, facilitating e.g. comparison of shape of different probability distributions.[1]

Standard normalization

Let _X_ be a random variable with a probability distribution _P_ and mean value μ = E[X] (i.e. the first raw moment or moment about zero), the operator E denoting the expected value of _X_. Then the STANDARDIZED MOMENT of degree _k_ is $\frac{\mu_k}{\sigma^k},$[2] that is, the ratio of the _k_th moment about the mean

_μ__k_ = E [(_X_−_μ_)_k_] = ∫−∞∞(_x_ − _μ_)_k__P_(_x_) _d__x_,

to the _k_th power of the standard deviation,

$$\sigma^k = \left(\sqrt{\mathrm{E}[(X - \mu)^2]}\right)^k.$$

The power of _k_ is because moments scale as xk, meaning that μk(λX)=λkμk(X): they are homogeneous functions of degree _k_, thus the standardized moment is scale invariant. This can also be understood as being because moments have dimension; in the above ratio defining standardized moments, the dimensions cancel, so they are dimensionless numbers.

The first four standardized moments can be written as:

  Degree _k_                                                                                Comment
  ------------ --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  1            $\tilde{\mu}_1 = \frac{\mu_1}{\sigma^1} = \frac{\operatorname{E} \left[ ( X - \mu )^1 \right]}{( \operatorname{E} \left[ ( X - \mu )^2 \right])^{1/2}} = \frac{\mu - \mu}{\sqrt{ \operatorname{E} \left[ ( X - \mu )^2 \right]}} = 0$   The first standardized moment is zero, because the first moment about the mean is always zero.
  2            $\tilde{\mu}_2 = \frac{\mu_2}{\sigma^2} = \frac{\operatorname{E} \left[ ( X - \mu )^2 \right]}{( \operatorname{E} \left[ ( X - \mu )^2 \right])^{2/2}} = 1$                                                                             The second standardized moment is one, because the second moment about the mean is equal to the variance σ².
  3            $\tilde{\mu}_3 = \frac{\mu_3}{\sigma^3} = \frac{\operatorname{E} \left[ ( X - \mu )^3 \right]}{( \operatorname{E} \left[ ( X - \mu )^2 \right])^{3/2}}$                                                                                The third standardized moment is a measure of skewness.
  4            $\tilde{\mu}_4 = \frac{\mu_4}{\sigma^4} = \frac{\operatorname{E} \left[ ( X - \mu )^4 \right]}{( \operatorname{E} \left[ ( X - \mu )^2 \right])^{4/2}}$                                                                                The fourth standardized moment refers to the kurtosis.

For skewness and kurtosis, alternative definitions exist, which are based on the third and fourth cumulant respectively.

Other normalizations

Another scale invariant, dimensionless measure for characteristics of a distribution is the coefficient of variation, $\frac{\sigma}{\mu}$. However, this is not a standardized moment, firstly because it is a reciprocal, and secondly because μ is the first moment about zero (the mean), not the first moment about the mean (which is zero).

See Normalization (statistics) for further normalizing ratios.

[1]

[2]

title: Standardized moment

question: What is the defining characteristic of normalization in probability theory and statistics?

answer: The characteristic is that there is not much variability in its properties.


text:
OORUTTAMBALAM is a suburban area in Trivandrum .situated in Kattakkada Taluk of Thiruvananthapuram district, Kerala, India.[1]

Location

It is 16 km from Kerala State Road Transport Corporation's Central Bus Depot, Thampanoor and City Depot East Fort,There are regular bus services to other parts of city also.[2] It is only 4 kilometres from National Highway 66. Nearest towns are Balaramapuram, Kattakkada and Neyyattinkara.

Railway station is 3 km away. The railway line connects Kanyakumari and Thiruvananthapuram Central.

History of Ooruttambalam

AD 1915: Ooruttambalam Revolt (Nineteenth Century Revolt) under the leadership of Ayyankali. In the same year, Kallumala Agitation occurred under the leadership of Ayyankali in Perinad of Kollam. An attempt by Ayyankali to enrol a Pulayar girl in a government school led to violent acts perpetrated by upper castes against the community and eventually to the burningdown of the school building in the village of Ooruttambalam. It is known as ‘Ooruttambalam Lahala This was followed by the first-ever agricultural strike in the history of the nation, fought not for wages but for school admission.

Ooruttambalam Parankimamvila Durga Bhagavathi Temple

[Ooruttambalam Parankimamvila Durgabhagavathi Temple]

Ooruttambalam is also awell known for temples. The Ooruttambalam Parankimamvila Sree Durga Bhagavathy Temple is located near Ooruttambalam Market. Many devotees from different parts of the state visits the temple. The _Durga Pooja_ and _Bhagavathy Pooja_ of the temple are very famous. Atham mahothavam has been celebrating during the Malayalam month “Medam” on the day of the Malayalam nakshthra “Attam” every year. The People from all walks of the society participating in the festival especially Hindus, Christians and Muslims. The major attraction of the festival is the “Thalappoli Ghoshayathra” (cultural procession)which has been conducted during the last day of the festival. Procession starts from the temple and moves through velicode, pallithara and reaches Govindamangal Mahavishnu temple. From there it moves to Govindamangalam Junction, Ooruttambalam Junction, Neeranamkuzhy Junction and comes back to temple. The procession was also accompanied by many cultural programmes like Panchavadyam (orchestra of five instruments), Chnda Melam (orchestra of cylindrical percussion instrument, Nadaswaram (It is a wind instrument used to produce classical music and is considered as world's loudest non-brass acoustic instrument), Nettipattam Kettiya Gajaveen (elephant wearing the golden elephant caparison). The elephants carry Thidambu. It is taken out of the temple as Ezhunnallathu by the temple priest. This occasion is the only time where the goddess comes out of the temple in full alankaras in Ulthasava Thidambu. Many people from different region of kerala visits here and occupy their position at early in the morning to see the same and get worship from the goddess Durga.

[Ooruttambalam Parankimamvila durga temple]

Neyyar dam, a tourist destination, is 16 km away. Its canal passes through the town and the water is used for agriculture.

Institutions

Post Office, banks and village office are near the Ooruttambalam junction. There are two schools as well. Earlier, this place was the main hub.

Local government office (Panchayat office), a local outpost of main police station are 1 km away from Ooruttambalam. Valiyarthala Thampuran Temple an ancient temple in Oorutambalam OORTTU Festival is very popular in this temple

Krishnapuram is also a good agricultural place in ooruttambalam farmers are full-time in banana plant and in coconut plants more pupils are well educated in krishnapuram.A high school and LP Scholls are here ooruttambalam near good shepherd Church velikkodu built by Portuguese missioners in 1917 August 17.

Sree Saraswathy Vidyalayam [3], CBSE is a subsidiary of Bharatheeya Vidya Nikethan, having classes from pre-KG to plus two.

Ooruttambalam Service co-operative Bank, is situated near the post office.

[1] http://www.indiastudychannel.com/india/pincodes/39329-Ooruttambalam-S-O.aspx Details of Ooruttambalam

[2] http://www.expressbuzz.com/edition/story.aspx?title=KSRTC%20launching%2050%20new%20city%20services&artid=D7aQxtFG8HI=&type= KSRTC bus services to Ooruttambalam

[3] Sree Saraswathy Vidyalayam

title: Ooruttambalam

question: Summarize the information about the temples of Ooruttambalam.

answer: The Ooruttambalam Parankimamvila Sree Durga Bhagavathy Temple is close to the market, and devotees from all over congregate there to worship. There are two different pooja: the Durga and the Bhagavathy. Celebrations are observed and enjoy the participation from people of all walks of life and all religions-including but not limited to Hindus, Christians, and Muslims.

question: Summarize the commerce of Ooruttambalam.

answer: The city is a site for agricultural markets, as farmers cultivate mostly banana and coconut. There are also post offices and banks. A few schools exist in the area.

question: Describe the commuting situation in Ooruttambalam.


text:
Senate Republicans made their secretive health care bill public this morning, and according to many pundits, the legislation to repeal and replace Obamacare is already receiving stiff opposition from members of their own party.

Four Republican Senators – Rand Paul of Kentucky, Ted Cruz of Texas, Ron Johnson of Wisconsin and Mike Lee of Utah – released a joint statement saying they cannot support their party's health care plan in its current form

"Currently, for a variety of reasons, we are not ready to vote for this bill, but we are open to negotiation and obtaining more information before it is brought to the floor," the four said in a statement. "There are provisions in this draft that represent an improvement to our current healthcare system but it does not appear this draft as written will accomplish the most important promise that we made to Americans: to repeal Obamacare and lower their healthcare costs."

"If the bill is good for Nevada, I'll vote for it and if it's not, I won't," said Heller, who faces re-election next year in a state where over 200,000 people receive health care thanks to the Medicaid expansion under Obama's law.

The Hill currently counts 12 Republican Senators whose support of the bill is either undecided or unclear. In addition to Paul, Cruz, Johnson, Lee and Heller, the list includes Susan Collins of Maine, Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Rob Portman of Ohio and Mike Rounds of South Dakota.

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Their list also includes Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy, a gastroenterologist who has said he wants the Republican health care plan to pass "the Jimmy Kimmel test" and not prevent children with pre-existing conditions from getting coverage. He also wants Republican's to follow through on President Trump's promises to protest preexisting condition coverage, lower premiums, and not cut Medicaid spending.

The number of Republican senators opposed to the bill is important, because Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R., Ky.) can only afford to lose support from two members if he hopes to pass the bill next week. Democrats were kept out of the process in creating the bill, and none are expected to vote in favor of repealing President Obama's signature legislative achievement.

The health care bill, Republican's latest attempt to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, known as Obamacare, would significantly cut Medicaid for low-income Americans and remove taxes on high-earners that helped fund subsidies to help make private coverage affordable.

According to the Associated Press, the bill would provide less-generous tax credits to help people buy insurance and let states get waivers to ignore some coverage standards that "Obamacare" requires of insurers. And it would end the tax penalties under Obama's law on people who don't buy insurance — the so-called individual mandate — and on larger companies that don't offer coverage to their employees.

"We live in the wealthiest country on earth. Surely we can do better than what the Republican health care bill promises," said Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D., N.Y.).

_This is a developing story. Check back for updates._

question: Which senators did not support the new Republican health care bill?

answer: Rand Paul of Kentucky, Ted Cruz of Texas, Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, and Mike Lee of Utah

question: What does Bill Cassidy want the bill to do?

answer: He wants the bill to pass "the Jimmy Kimmel test" and not prevent children with pre-existing conditions from getting coverage.

question: What will the Republican health care do?

answer: It would significantly cut Medicaid for low-income Americans and remove taxes on high-earners that helped fund subsidies to help make private coverage affordable

question: What are the tax penalties under Obama's health care?

answer: Obamacare applies tax penalties on people and companies that don't buy health insurance.

question: Write a ~1 sentence summary.

answer: This article is discussing how the Republican senators are receiving the new health care bill, who is supporting it, and who is not.


text:
[Narashino City Hall]

is a city located in Chiba Prefecture, Japan.[1][2] As of December 1, 2015, the city had an estimated population of 170,331, and a population density of 8,120 persons per km². The total area is .

Geography

Narashino is located in far northwestern Chiba Prefecture, bordered by Tokyo Bay to the southwest.[3] The city is located on the Shimōsa Plateau and reclaimed land fill on Tokyo Bay.[4]

Surrounding municipalities

Chiba Prefecture

-   Chiba
-   Funabashi
-   Yachiyo

History

The area around Narashino has been inhabited since prehistoric times. Archaeologists have found shell middens and numerous other remains from Jōmon period, as well as burial tumuli from the Kofun period. However, for most of its history, the area was a sparsely populated wetland and swamp along the northern shore of Edo Bay.

After the Meiji Restoration, was founded within Chiba District on April 1, 1889 on the merger of five small hamlets with a total population of 4500 people. The area only began to develop with the coming of the railway, and Tsudanuma was raised to town status on March 3, 1903, with a population of 6,000.

The Narashino area of Tsudanuma was used for cavalry maneuvers by the Imperial Guard and the early Imperial Japanese Army, and was visited by the Meiji Emperor early in the Meiji period (1868 – 1912).[5][6] A prisoner of war camp was built in 1904 to house POWs from the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905 and World War I. The Imperial Japanese Army Narashino School was the main training school for cavalry, and later for tank warfare.[7]

On August 1, 1954, Tsudanuma merged with a portion of the neighboring city of Chiba (the former town of Makuhari) to form the new city of Narashino.[8]

Places

-   Akanehama
-   Akitsu
-   Fujisaki
-   Hanasaki
-   Higashi-Narashino
-   Izumicho
-   Kanadenomori
-   Kasumi
-   Mimomi
-   Moto-Okubo
-   Okubo
-   Saginuma
-   Saginumadai
-   Shibazono
-   Shin-ei
-   Sodegaura
-   Tsudanuma
-   Yashiki
-   Yatsu
-   Yatsumachi

Economy

Narashino is a regional commercial center and a bedroom community for nearby Chiba and Tokyo. The coastal area, mostly on reclaimed land is part of the Keiyō Industrial Zone and is home to much heavy industry, especially related to chemical processing.

Transportation

Railways

-   East Japan Railway Company - Sōbu Main Line

    -   -

-   Keiyō Line

    -   -

-   Keisei Electric Railway - Main Line

    -   -  -  -

-   Keisei Electric Railway - Chiba Line

    -   Keisei Tsudanuma

-   Shin-Keisei Electric Railway - Shin-Keisei Line

    -   Keisei Tsudanuma -

Highways

-   Keiyō Expresway
-   Higashi-Kantō Expressway
-   Japan National Route 126
-   Japan National Route 357

Education

-   Chiba Institute of Technology
-   Narashino has 16 elementary schools, eight middle schools and four high schools

Local attractions

-   Akitsu Baseball Stadium
-   Frontier Soccer Field (naming rights from April 1, 2015 to March 31, 2018), formerly known as Akitsu Soccer Stadium.
-   Chiba International General Swimming Center
-   Ōnomatsu stable

Notable places

-   Yatsu-higata (谷津干潟), a Ramsar Site and protected wetlands for migratory birds. The spring and summer months see an increase of jellyfish and small crabs to the wetlands.[9]
-   Yatsu Bara-en (谷津バラ園), a rose garden which displays over 6,000 individual blossoms in May and October. The garden was founded with Yatsu Yūen (谷津遊園), an amusement park which was managed by Keisei Electric Railway and closed in 1982. When the park was closed, the city bought the garden, and has managed it since that time.

Sister city relations

-   Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States[10]

Noted people from Narashino

-   Daiki Arioka – Hey! Say! JUMP
-   Kazuya Fukuura – professional baseball player for the Chiba Lotte Marines (1994–present)
-   Kota Hattori – professional soccer player
-   Hideaki Kitajima – professional soccer player for Kashiwa Reysol (1997-2002, 2006-2012)
-   Makoto Sunakawa – professional soccer player
-   Daichi Suzuki – swimmer, Olympic gold medalist in 100m backstroke at 1988 Summer Olympics
-   Masaaki Takada – professional soccer player

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

title: Narashino

question: Since when has the area around Narashino been inhabited?

answer: This information can't be found.

question: What was the reason behind Tsudanuma merging with the neighboring city?

answer: This information can't be found.

question: Explain what a 'bedroom community' means?

answer: It may be implied that a bedroom community is a community that is largely inhabited by people who commute to nearby cities for work.

question: Why are many heavy industries a part of the Keiyo Industrial Zone?

answer: The Keiyo Industrial Zone is a part of the Narashino region which happens to be a regional commercial center, hence the zone has many industries.

question: Why does the region only have one college?

answer: This information can't be found.

question: Which migratory birds fly to Yatsu-higata?

answer: This information can't be found.


text:
-BY GARY KRASNER

Is Rubio a conservative? “Compared to what?” as Henny Youngman would ask. And he’s right. Everything is relative.

Which is why I was jolted when Rush Limbaugh seemed to say during his Feb. 2 show that Rubio is a conservative no different than Ted Cruz. Rush visited the topic the next day, too.

But then Rush is a pushover. He knows his fellow Floridian personally and I suspect he feels it would be a betrayal to cast him out. Rush was a good soldier for President G.W. Bush, if you recall. Because Rush is a nice guy. Loyal to friends. He’s not like Michael Medved, for example, who calls Ted Cruz a self-interested political opportunist, and lauds people like John McCain, Lindsay Graham, Mitch McConnell, John Boehner, Oren Hatch, and had actually supported Mitt Romney as his first choice.

Given the folks Medved has loved for years, it’s no surprise to me that Marco Rubio is his preferred candidate. But Rush considers Rubio sufficiently conservative, and distinct from John Kasich or Jeb Bush?! The man from Realville? It doesn’t compute.
WHERE IS THE DIVIDE?

It took big spending G.W. Bush, and Obama as POTUS, for the Conservative grass roots to realize that the Republican leadership were not conservative. The Tea Party knew it. Rush knew it. When Republican leadership never battled Obama on the debt; on immigration; on Islamic Supremacism; on replacing Obamacare, the lines were drawn between faux establishment conservatives, and the anti-establishment insurgents.

And we see the wrath of the insurgents now in the presidential campaign. It looks like Ted Cruz is rightly the anti-establishment’s guy. And Trump is the guy favored by the low-information, non-voters, whom Trump hopes will vote this year.

Trump is their man because they like his defiant demeanor, and his gutter language. And many of them share Trump’s most obvious attribute: Trump is ignorant about government, politics, and the law. The best evidence on how he arrived at political positions on immigration was by sticking his finger in the wind. There’s no evidence that he sincerely became a conservative, suddenly, in 2015 when he announced his candidacy. You’re more likely to see John McCain, Mitch McConnell, or John Boehner hold a press conference tomorrow to explain supply-side economics than see a President Trump exhibit any understanding of it–and economics is supposedly his strong point.

Trump is also an unsophisticated thug to boot. When Ben Carson was closing in on his lead in Iowa in November, Trump put out ads suggesting Carson was a homicidal psychopath. After Trump came in second in the Iowa caucuses, he accused Cruz of election fraud–without specifics, let alone evidence–and stealing votes from Carson. Yes, the same Carson Trump had slandered in November.

But while Trump isn’t a conservative, he’s attracting support from people who call themselves conservatives, making Trump a populist anti-establishment candidate.

And what about Rubio, the man who came in third in Iowa, closely behind Trump? What is he? Rubio is clearly a national security hawk, in league with the Republican RINOs running the party. That would be, for the most part, the aforementioned accommodationist (with Democrats) figures, who didn’t fight Democrats on the debt, on immigration; on Islamic Supremacism (civilizational jihad), and on replacing Obamacare.

RUBIO’S SECOND TEST

We all know that Rubio was a member of the gang of 8 and has always been a “demographic transformation” politician. That was his first test as an anti-establishment Republican. But does anyone recall that Rubio attacked the gang of 5 in July 2012?

That’s right. Immigration was not the sole bellwether for the anti-establishment Republicans, where Rubio chose the wrong side. The 5 brave Republican Congress members were Michelle Bachmann, Trent Franks, Louie Gohmert, Thomas Rooney, and Lynn Westmoreland. Their letter to State, Homeland Security, Defense and Justice Departments had requested an investigation into potential “policies and activities that appear to be the result of influence operations conducted by individuals and organizations associated with the Muslim Brotherhood.” They noted that State Department recently has taken actions that benefit the Brotherhood.

Additional correspondence by the 5 had questioned how Huma Abedin–Secretary Clinton’s long-time aid and deputy chief of staff at State–had obtained a security clearance despite her late father’s, mother’s and brother’s ties to the Muslim Brotherhood. Abedin’s father, Syed Z. Abedin, founded the Institute for Muslim Minority Affairs, an organization supported by the Muslim World League, a Brotherhood organization. Her mother, Saleha Mahmoud Abedin, is a member of the Muslim Sisterhood.

Huma was not suspect by familial associations alone–although that’s been enough to deny one national security clearance. She herself was the assistant editor of the Journal of Muslim Minority Affairs in the late 90s. The Egyptian newspaper was pro shariah law and favored stealth jihad–the very concerns expressed by the gang of 5.

Well, the establishment Republicans rallied in support of Abedin. People like John Boehner, John McCain, and Lindsey Graham denounced the gang of 5 for just asking those reasonable questions, as part of their oversight responsibilities, let’s not forget. And freshman senator Marco Rubio joined the establishment voices.

He told National Public Radio that he believes Abedin is a patriotic American. “I don’t share the feelings that are in that letter from anything I’ve seen or heard. In fact, I’m very, very careful and cautious about ever making accusations like that about anybody.”

Except no accusations were made. Just reasonable observations and questions. Unlike Ted Cruz’s acts of courage and independence against the “get along, go along” Republican leaders, Freshman Senator Rubio had an opportunity to distinguish himself, and he utterly failed.

RUBIO’S THIRD TEST

Rubio was elected to the US Senate in 2010. He was therefore the beneficiary of 20-20 hindsight with respect to the folly of democracy building in Muslim majority nations where democratic institutions–and more importantly, freedom of conscience–are are not just alien concepts, but are antithetical to Sharia Law, which is the legal framework integral to Islam.

In 2011, Obama and Hillary wanted to remove Muammar Gaddafi from power in Libya. This, despite Libya acting as our ally and Gaddafi’s valuable assistance in helping the US fight al Qaeda. The usual neocons in the Republican leadership–like dumdum McCain and Graham–supported Obama’s illegal war, which had no Congressional support. Obama’s “Responsibility to Protect” Doctrine was no less shortsighted than the Bush Doctrine: The former eschewed nation-building and any effort to ensure the takeover by Islamists, while the latter allowed the replacement regime to retain governance of Sharia law in their Constitutions. Both proved folly.

Yet it was an undertaking Marco Rubio joined McCain in supporting. Rubio just wanted the foolish policy to be Constitutional. Rubio said that any Senate resolution backing the use of force in Libya must stipulate that “removing Muammar Gaddafi from power is in our national interest and … authorize the President to accomplish that goal.”

In total ignorance of knowing whether or not the rebels in Libya were jihadists, making Obama’s military operation against our national interests, Rubio laid out his support for the coup to the National Review on February 24, 2011:

  Unfortunately, the administration’s initial response has been inadequate. Instead of taking the initiative, the administration is relying on other countries and international bodies to lead. For example, it makes no sense to rely on the United Nations Human Rights Council, a body that has long been comprised of and even led by some of the world’s worst human-rights abusers, including Libya…

  [Measures the U.S. can take with partners] could include (but are not limited to) pressing bordering nations to stop the flow of mercenaries into Libya, finding ways to restore severed communications, imposing a no-fly zone to protect civilians against aircraft attacks, and mobilizing a humanitarian relief effort.

And Rubio didn’t learn from _his own_ folly of opposing dictators and enabling the far worse jihadists taking power. Rubio and McCain were big supporters of arming “rebels” to topple Bashar al-Assad. Who exactly were the “rebels”? Who cares? Neocons don’t care about the national security consequences of military intervention.

The Tea Party–insurgents against the establishment Republicans–got Rubio elected senator. He has not reciprocated. He became a John McCain Republican as soon as he arrived in DC. Rush Limbaugh, please take notice.

question: Did Rush Limbaugh claim that Marco Rubio is a conservative?

answer: Yes, Rush Limbaugh said that Marco Rubio is a conservative.

question: According to the author, who supports Ted Cruz?

answer: According to the author, Ted Cruz is supported by the anti-establishment.

question: According to the author, who supports Trump?

answer: According to the author, Trump is supported by low information non voters.

question: What does the author claim happened to Rubio as soon as he was elected?

answer: The author claims Rubio became a John McCain Republican as soon as he was elected senator.

question: Write a ~2 sentence summary.

answer: The author claims that Marco Rubio is not as conservative as Ted Cruz. They support this claim by giving the state of the GOP primaries as they stand, and list several examples in detail where Rubio has become a "John McCain Republican."


text:
On May 27-30, the Libertarian Party held its national presidential nominating convention in Orlando, Fla. Over a thousand delegates from all 50 states attended the convention, along with dozens of guest speakers. Much of this was well and good, though some leftist degeneracy has infiltrated most corners of the libertarian community, and the guest seminars and panels were no exception. But none of this matters much to those who are not libertarians and/or have no interest in the inside baseball of the Libertarian Party. Those people were paying attention to the presidential and vice presidential debates, as well as the election processes for the party’s presidential ticket and national party offices. What they saw, at least from the standpoint of this philosophical libertarian, was a raging dumpster fire.

At the vice presidential debate on Friday, the audio quality was unbecoming of an organization seeking to put people into the White House. William Weld was generally lacking in passion and boldness, supported using the United Nations as a check against corrupt governments in third-world countries, and frequently diverged from straight answers in order to attack presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump. Larry Sharpe seemed to believe that all punishment should be abolished and misidentified several historical figures as libertarians who were not. Will Coley was a mostly consistent libertarian, but managed to confuse non-aggression with pacifism. Alicia Dearn was more on point, but otherwise unremarkable. All four candidates were soft on the topic of violent revolution.

If the vice presidential debate was bad, then the presidential debate on Saturday was worse. The audio problems continued. Gary Johnson repeated the tired falsehood that libertarianism is social liberalism combined with economic conservatism, supported fixing Social Security rather than phasing it out, claimed that market forces had bankrupted coal companies (and was promptly corrected by Austin Petersen), supported a consumption tax (which drew a round of boos from the audience), advocated regional banks rather than a free market in currency, declined to condemn the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, had no answer as to whether American involvement in the World Wars was justified, supported government involvement in marriage, favored the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (which drew a round of boos from the audience due to parts which violate private property rights and freedom of association), and supported government-issued driver’s licenses (which drew several rounds of boos from the audience). John McAfee defended keeping entitlement programs for older people. Petersen voiced support for a flat tax to fund Social Security, claimed that roads will be unnecessary because we will have jetpacks, and voiced support for the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Darryl Perry was wrong on some historical facts, but was generally a strong libertarian. Marc Allan Feldman mistakenly asserted that one cannot fight for one right without fighting for others, claimed that the Islamic religion cannot be blamed for terrorism, failed to realize that political leaders will want to engage in warfare if they perceive it to be in their interest, and was equivocal on the Civil Rights Act concerning private sector discrimination. All five candidates engaged in various degrees of open–borders cuckery and said that there is no lesser evil between Republicans and Democrats.

The nominees were chosen on Sunday, and to the surprise of few, Johnson and Weld won, though neither earned a majority of delegate support on the first ballot. In this decision, the delegates decided to choose nominees with the most name recognition in hopes of reaching out to more voters at the cost of presenting a false message of what libertarianism is. This decision says that the Libertarian Party has forgotten its purpose as an educational tool and is instead trying to play the establishment’s game, thinking that the establishment is sufficiently divided against itself to allow an upstart challenger to the duopoly to have a chance. As such, they chose the most moderate, safe, mainstream, establishment candidates they could find to run with the banner of what is supposed to be an extreme, bold, anti-establishment party. But if history has taught us anything about third parties in America, it is that the two major parties always agree that no other party should be allowed to compete.

It would be bad enough if the heresies of Johnson and Weld were limited to their debate responses listed above, but there is much more. Johnson has a history of supporting military intervention against Joseph Kony, saying that Jews should be forced to do business with Nazis, wanting to ban Muslim women from wearing burqas, and growing state government spending as governor. Weld has a history of supporting affirmative action, eminent domain, environmental regulations, gun control, the Iraq War, the Patriot Act, the presidential candidacy of Barack Obama, and most recently, the presidential candidacy of John Kasich.

It is hard to view this as anything other than a culmination of the hostile takeover of the Libertarian Party by cuckservatives and cuckertarians that has been underway for a long time. To quote myself from an earlier article,

  “The cuckertarian denounces anarchist libertarians as utopian idealists, preaching instead a form of limited statism that contains obvious contradictions. Cuckertarians prefer to moderate the message of liberty to reach a wider audience, but in the process they corrupt it into something that a consistently principled libertarian would barely recognize. In the Libertarian Party, this results in moderate or even fake libertarians gaining the presidential nomination.”

Some libertarians may say that this election is a test to see whether libertarians can work within the system, but has this experiment not been run repeatedly for the past 40 years, with essentially the same result each time? This many attempts should be enough to convince even the most stalwart party operative that, in the words of Christopher Cantwell,

  “Any libertarian who tells you he is trying to win an election is either lying to you about trying to win the election, lying to us about being a libertarian, or terribly misinformed. As far as we are concerned, elections are a bad thing. We are trying to end them, not win them. …Libertarians are anarchists, whether they realize it or not. Even the ones who are delusional enough to think that they are going to get elected and restore the bloody republic, are little more than useful idiots who are repeating anarchist propaganda for us through channels normally reserved for government. The goal is not to win your elections, the goal is to turn a large enough minority against the legitimacy of the State as to make its continued function impossible.”

Unfortunately, the troubles did not end with the presidential nominating process. At a time when the Libertarian Party most needs itself to be taken seriously by the American people, one candidate for party chair decided to perform a striptease on the convention stage during the process to fill that office. But perhaps worst of all, failed presidential candidate John McAfee thought it wise to attack the core demographic of libertarianism. During his concession speech, McAfee said,

  “When I first joined the Libertarian Party, two things stood out very starkly. One, 75 percent of you are men. Number two, 99.8 percent of you are white. Shame on you. Shame on you, and shame on me for never having mentioned it before.”

If anything, white men deserve praise for being the demographic group that is intelligent enough to become libertarians to such a disproportionate extent. What McAfee is suggesting is that there is a white man’s burden, that it is the responsibility of white males to make sure that females and non-whites are educated and behaving properly. But rather than denouncing him as a racist and sexist, as would have been proper, the audience applauded him. Even if his intended point was that more outreach should be done to females and non-whites, there are evolutionary reasons to believe that this will be less than fruitful.

The long-term result of the 2016 Libertarian Party National Convention is hard to predict, but it did nothing to help the image of libertarianism while doing much to pollute its message. As such, the best result in the general election may be one of total failure so that libertarians can reject the approach taken by the party. As always, the path to liberty is anti-political.

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[]

question: What is the topic of this post?

answer: This post covers the Libertarian Party national presidential nominating convention held in Orlando, FL.

question: Give examples of a statement of opinion.

answer:
"What they saw, at least from the standpoint of this philosophical libertarian, was a raging dumpster fire."
"If the vice presidential debate was bad, then the presidential debate on Saturday was worse."

question: Which candidates won the party's nominations?

answer: Gary Johnson for president and William Weld for vice president.

question: What is the author's opinion on the selection of the candidates?

answer: He writes that the candidates chosen were "the most moderate, safe, mainstream, establishment candidates they could find to run with the banner of what is supposed to be an extreme, bold, anti-establishment party."

question: Write a ~3 sentence summary.

answer: This post covers the Libertarian Party national presidential nominating convention held in Orlando, FL. Gary Johnson was nominated for president and William Weld for vice president. It is the author's opinion that "the most moderate, safe, mainstream, establishment candidates they could find to run."


text:
((Note: This story is written by me and I have to say it's not grammar and sp checked. It is merely a rough draft that I thought you guys might like. I'm not very good at reddit spacing so i'm sorry for the block of text feel this has. If anyone has the solution please inform me! This is mainly to see if the plot and twists are interesting. Thanks for reading!))

Within the light of day I saw the greatest site. Small butterfly floating to my right. My eyes followed the dreamy creature through it fantasy glide through the cool summer breeze. Not a care in it’s mind aside from that of pollen. The trees around us encased secrets of these woods. No man outside had know of the well of eternity just below my feet.

Immortality hides away here. Having found sanctuary within the realm of magic. Hidden away for eons from the sight and mind of man except to only flourish in tales of myth and false legend. From the well a tree drew it’s source of life. Growing proud and tall around the many dead oaks of the forest. The leafs shone as if silver and gold while the branches seemed to a mere man to be as strong as steel. The tresure lay not in the strength, nor the twirling green, but in the golden fruit i bear only once a few hundred years or so. Some remained held high above while some lay at the bottom of the hill where I stand.

I look to my feet to see a slightly bruised fruit stuck in time. I reach down and scoop up the magic juicy ball and slice in half eating one and offering the other to my new found friend the butterfly. We sit there enjoying the sweet dreamy cream inside while a rustling in the trees begins. To my right I look to see a new path to have formed in the wood. Being adventurous I take up the challenge presented and trot off to the south.

Once I arrive to the opening in the dense thicket I notice a gate made of dark metals slightly ajar as if inviting me to take a stroll beyond into what it guards. I become wary for the trees around have died long ago it seems, the light of the eternity tree seemed dim from where I stood. Temptation grew louder than my guts.

I pushed the gate open to hear a soul wrenching creak that put me even more on edge.

Once I was through the passageway it seemed the sun its self fear this place. Darkness of pitch swallowed me whole as I pushed onward through the thicket of hate. Soon I felt my feet dig into what I believed could only be sand. Toes pushing through and wiggling I wondered if somehow a beach lay in the darkness ahead. With increased caution I carried on.

In the far distance I saw a light. Purple in color it seemed. I could tell it was very far away due to it being merely a spec on the invisible horizon ahead of me. I remained on the path though something inside of me most likely my soul urged me to run the other way. I surprised myself by doing the opposite. My pace quickened and my vision tunneled down to that only of the light. Nothing else seemed to matter. Only to reach that dark goal. To meet whatever fate lay ahead, head on.

As I ran I could feel something was different around me. My vision may be a slave to the light ahead my other senses noticed a change in the night. A rustling and tearing of branches followed on either side of the sandy path. Someone or something was keeping pace with me. Maybe there were other paths? More people like me racing towards the distant beacon like a swarm of moths to a flame? I didn’t know, but at this point my addiction and need to feel the false light had grown pitiful. I drooled, panted, and growled like a dog. My mind began to lose grip of reality. It seemed like all that mattered and will matter is the flame. The purple shining gem now closer, but somehow the same distance all the same.

The noises around me grew louder. Deafening and rabid to what I realized was just like my own. All of a sudden I reached the light. Much unexpected to me considering it was not a lamppost or a fire as I expected but merely a small light-bug floating softly in the air in front of me. I could have sworn as long as I had looked it the little beast smiled an evil grin. To what end I could not come to as to why it seemed so deadly yet my salvation all in one.

Soon I realized the bug grew in altitude. Floating higher yet somehow remaining still. The demon looked down at me and I could have sworn I heard a laughing voice speaking to my corrupted soul, “Should have stayed near the ocean of eternity for now you sink in the shores of false divinity.” With those words of burning truth finished I felt my lungs fill with sand as I slowly lowered beneath the broken path.

title: Sinking From Eternity (x/post from /r/Stories)

question: What does the story say about the name of the main character?

question: What does the story say about the well of eternity?

answer: The well of eternity is a secret that no man outside knows about. It has found a sanctuary within the realm of magic, surrounded by trees. The well has been hidden away for eons from the sight of man. Man only knows about the well of eternity through false legends and tales of myth. A tall, strong, and proud tree that bears golden fruit drew its source of life from the well and is known as the eternity tree.

question: What does the story say about the woods beyond the sanctuary of trees that hide the well of eternity?

answer: The trees in the woods beyond the sanctuary have died long ago. The light from the eternity tree seems dimmer in the woods. The sun doesn't shine past the passageway and seems to fear the place. The woods are pitch dark and full of hate. The ground is made of sand, and there could be other creatures or people on other paths rushing towards the same goal. The main draw of the dark woods is the purple speck of light that tempts people to delve further in, like an addiction. The purple speck of light is a demon disguised as a firefly.

question: What does the story say about the protagonist?

answer: The protagonist was one of the few people who knew about the well and tree of eternity. They were basking in the light of the tree and enjoying its golden fruit when they let themselves get tempted by the dark woods. The protagonist's curiosity got the better of them and they threw away eternity for a path towards darkness and false divinity.


text:
[Ahobila Mutt Nameboard]

SRI AHOBILA MUTT (also called Sri Ahobila Matam) is a Vadakalai Sri Vaishnava monastery established around 1400 CE at Ahobilam in Andhra Pradesh, India following the Vadakalai tradition of Vedanta Desika.[1] It is attributed to Sri Adivan Satakopa Swami (originally known as Srinivasacharya).[2][3][4]

Sri Adhivan Satakopa, a Vadakalai saint,[5] who was a great grand disciple of _Vedanta Desika_[6][7] and a sishya of _Ghatikasatham Ammal_, the scholarly successor of the celebrated Sri Vaishnava stalwart Nadadoor Ammal,[8] founded and established the Matha, based on the Pancharatra tradition.[9][10][11][12]

The Matha

As per legend, one of the nine Narasimhas of Ahobilam called Lord Malolan jumped into the hands of Srinivasacharya and ordered him to travel the length and breadth of the country.

Current Pontiff

[The 46th Jeeyar Srimathe Srivan Satakopa Sri Ranganatha Yateendra Mahadesikan] The current pontiff is the 46th Jeeyar _Srimathe Srivan Satakopa Sri Ranganatha Yateendra Mahadesikan_. He succeeded the previous pontiff 45th Jeeyar _Srimathe Sri Lakshmi Nrsimha Divya Paduka Sevaka Srivan Satakopa Sri Narayana Yateendra Mahadesikan_ who attained Acharyan Thiruvadi on 19 May 2013 following a prolonged illness.

Temples under purview

Several temples such as the Nine (Nava) Narasimha temples of Ahobilam, Veeraraghava temple in Tiruvallur and Valvil Rama temple, Aandalakkum ayyan temple in the outskirts of Kumbakonam (Pullaboothankudi), are administered by Ahobila Matha.

The Matha also has several branches across India.

Sri Ahobila Matha Lakshmi Narasimha Lakshmi Narayana Temple, Ahobila Matha Marg, Chembur in Mumbai. The Ahobila Matha temple in Chembur, Established in 1968, is a preeminent religious center in this northern suburb of Mumbai.

Institutions administered

[Narasimha temple, Ahobilam (Photo taken in 1875).] The Ahobila Matha has several religious and educational institutions in India which are:[13]

1.  Sri Ahobila Matha Sanskrit College (Est. 1942)
2.  Sri Ahobila Matha Veda Patashala (Est. 1942)
3.  Sri Ahobila Matha Oriental High School (Est. 1952)
4.  Sri Ahobila Matha Center for Human Resource Development (Est. 2002)
5.  Sri Malolan College of Arts and Science, Madurantakam, (Est. 2009)

[1]

[2] Pg.557 The History and Culture of the Indian People: The Delhi sultanate; Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Bhāratīya Itihāsa Samiti

[3] Pg.211 Report on the inscriptions of the Devasthanam collection, with illustrations, Sadhu Subrahmanya Sastry, Kallidaikurichi Aiyah Nilakanta Sastri, K.P. Bagchi & Co., 1998

[4] Pg.105 The Temple of Lord Varadaraja, Kanchi: a critical survey of Dr. K. V. Raman's Sri Varadarajaswami Temple, Kanchi

[5] Pg.36 Hindu and Muslim religious institutions, Andhra Desa, 1300-1600; New Era, 1984

[6] Pg.18 Śrī Vedānta Deśika - By Mudumby Narasimhachary, Sāhitya Akādemī

[7] Pg.57 The history of the Vijayanagar Empire, Volume 1; M. H. Rāma Sharma, Popular Prakashan, 1978.

[8] Pg.129 Studies in social history:modern India, O. P. Bhatnagar, India. University Grants Commission, University of Allahabad. Dept. of Modern Indian History; St. Paul's Press Training School, 1964.

[9] Tirupati Balaji was a Buddhist shrine, Sanjivan Publications, 1991

[10]

[11] Ahobila Matha's Balaji Mandir Pune, Calendar - The calendar mentions Ahobila Matha disciples celebrating Krishna Jayanti as “Pancharatra Sri Jayanti”.

[12]

[13] Pg.306 Report of the Sanskrit Commission, 1956-1957; India. Saṃskr̥ta Āyoga- Manager of Publications, 1958

title: Ahobila Matha

question: What does the text say about Matha's branch in Delhi?

question: What does the text say about Ahobila Matha?

answer: Sri Ahobila Mutt, also called Sri Ahobila Matam, is a Vadakalai Sri Vaishnava monastery established around 1400 CE at Ahobilam in Andhra Pradesh, India. It follows the Vadakalai tradition of Vedanta Desika. It is attributed to Sri Adivan Satakopa Swami.

question: What does the text say about the Matha?

answer: The Matha is a legend of the nine Narasmhas of Ahobilam. One of the nine called Lord Malolan, jumped into the hands of Srinivasacharya. Lord Malolan ordered him to travel the length and breadth of the country.


text:
_GALVEODON_ is an extinct mammal of the Lower Cretaceous. It was a relatively early representative of the also extinct order of Multituberculata. It lived during 'the age of the dinosaurs'. It's within the suborder “Plagiaulacida” and family Paulchoffatiidae.

Genus: _Galveodon_ (Hahn G & Hahn R, 1992)

Species: _Galveodon nannothus_ (Hahn G & Hahn R, 1992) from the Barremian (Lower Cretaceous) Camarillas Formation of Galve, Spain. This species is represented by a tooth in the collection of the museum in Galve.

title: Galveodon

question: Why is there only a Galveodon tooth left in existence in remembrance of the species?

answer: Because it lived so long ago (in the age of the dinosaurs) and there is no other fossil sample in existence.


text:
ST. MICHAEL'S MISSION is an Episcopal church mission established about 1887 in Fremont County, Wyoming to minister to the Arapaho and Shoshone of the Wind River Indian Reservation. It was founded by Reverend John Roberts with the permission of Shoshone Chief Washakie. The community of Ethete grew around the mission, given its name by Washakie's assent in the Shoshone language, _ethete_ (“good” or “OK”). In 1900 a small log church was built about from the present location. In 1910 the mission received an endowment from Mrs. Baird Cooper and the new site was developed over the next seven years. In 1920 the original church was moved to the mission, enlarged, and named "The Church of Our Father's House.[1]

The buildings are arranged around an oval at the center of Ethete. The log church is accompanied by several frame buildings including a former schoolhouse, residences and a cultural center.[2] The mission was placed on the National Register of Historic Places on June 21, 1971.[3]

[1]  with

[2]

[3]

title: St. Michael's Mission (Ethete, Wyoming)

question: What is St. Michaels Mission?

answer: an Episcopal church mission established about 1887 in Fremont County, Wyoming

question: Who founded St. Michael's Mission?

answer: Reverend John Roberts

question: Why was St. Michael's Mission founded?

answer: to minister to the Arapaho and Shoshone of the Wind River Indian Reservation

question: What is the National Register of Historical Places?

answer: the article does not answer the question

question: Write a ~2 sentence summary.

answer: St. Michael's Mission is an Episcopal church mission established about 1887 in Fremont County, Wyoming by Reverend John Roberts so that he may minister to the Arapaho and Shoshone of the Wind River Indian Reservation. The mission was placed on the National Register of Historic Places on June 21, 1971.


text: ...and she tried, to move them around before every bite she took, but it was no use for it kept rearranging the letters in her alphabet soup to spell out strange words and dark and horrible thoughts. Some of the words she did not even fully recognize and she found herself stupidly sounding them out like the teachers had taught them to in reading class in her school far off in the city near the sea. All before suddenly realizing what she was doing and hurriedly swirling with her spoon and taking another bite. Until the bowl of slowly, yet persistently, self-rearranging letters was eaten. Now consumed, she no longer considered them and excused herself to go outside to play in evening sunlight of a lingeringly warm late august afternoon. She could be seen from the window of the kitchen plying in the grass and near the trees and in her imagination as is the way of young children when the magic of the world and the magic of their minds coalesce and anything can still be anything at all. And she ran and played as the setting sun cast long finger shadows through the turning autumn leaves and branches of the tress. Shadows that reached out gently, and yet persistently as the yellow sun receded into orange and red as it crept inevitably towards the horizon. And she played, and laughed and pretended and forgot all about the strangeness of the letters that moved so unusually. she even forgot most of the words, so big and strange to her that they were virtually meaningless. And then the sun, at its final glimmer, stretched the shadows out just long enough. and the slow and yet persistent self-rearranging letters inside her stomach that had not forgotten her, had completed their message. And in a moment, the shadows and the sunlight and the girl were gone.

title: Alphabet Soup

question: Who is the narrator?

answer: It is uncertain who the narrator is.

question: Who is the subject of the story?

answer: A young girl

question: What is the girl in the story eating?

answer: Alphabet soup

question: What happened to the girl in the story>

answer: It is unclear what happened to her.

question: Write a ~5 sentence summary.

answer: A young girl is eating alphabet soup. She tries to sound out the words that she sees. She finishes and goes outside to play. She forgets about the words in the alphabet soup. Then, the sunlight and girl are gone.


text:
It’s pretty widely accepted that the New Orleans Saints are enjoying big returns on their 2016 NFL Draft class. First round draft pick Sheldon Rankins combined for 10.5-sacks with newly re-signed free agent Nick Fairley at defensive tackle. Second round picks and Ohio State Buckeyes Michael Thomas (NFL-leading 92-catches, 1,137-yards, and 9 touchdowns among rookies) and Vonn Bell, a steady presence at safety, look great so far. Other rookies like David Onyemata and Daniel Lasco found their way into prominent roles.

But enough has been written about each of those guys. I’m putting the microscope over some Saints who have been working hard under the radar, patiently waiting for their shot in training camp. This is the same tier of talent that Willie Snead, Delvin Breaux, and Tim Hightower came out of. The odds are stacked against them, but don’t tell them that.

[SEATTLE, WA - Washington Huskies linebacker Travis Feeney (41) forces a fumble out of Arizona Wildcats quarterback Anu Solomon (12) at Husky Stadium.]
SEATTLE, WA - Washington Huskies linebacker Travis Feeney (41) forces a fumble out of Arizona Wildcats quarterback Anu Solomon (12) at Husky Stadium.
Jennifer Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports
Drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the sixth round last year, Travis Feeney (6-foot-4, 226-pounds, 24-years old) initially tried to crack the roster as a backup and special teams contributor but couldn’t displace more experienced players like Vince Williams, Anthony Chickillo, Jarvis Jones, and James Harrison. Feeney was a college teammate of Saints fan-favorite Hau’oli Kikaha on the Washington Huskies and a leader of their defense, though multiple shoulder injuries shortened Feeney’s career and hurt his draft stock. A preseason concussion shut the door on Feeney’s chance of suiting up for the Steelers during the regular season.

The Saints must have liked what they saw in a predraft visit, because they signed him off of the Steelers’ practice squad and onto their active roster late in the season. Feeney is a sleeper to see action at outside linebacker for the Saints thanks to his combined athleticism, football I.Q., and versatility (he played every linebacker spot and safety for the Huskies). Even with A.J. Klein and Manti Te’o signed as free agents and Craig Robertson and Dannell Ellerbe looking to return to starting jobs, keep an eye out for Feeney as someone to work their way into the rotation.

question: Who is Sheldon Rankins?

answer: Sheldon Rankins was a first round draft pick for the New Orleans Saints in the 2016 NFL draft class.

question: What sport is being discussed?

answer: The sport being discussed in this article is American football.

question: What team was Travis Feeney drafted by?

answer: Travis Feeney was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers.

question: Why is Feeney out for the regular season?

answer: Feeney got a concussion in preseason.

question: Write a ~1 sentence summary.

answer: This article contains updates from various NFL teams about their players.


text:
thumb|upright=1.3|Choralschola

A CHORALSCHOLA, known simply as _schola_, is a choir for singing Gregorian chant or plainsong. It consists traditionally of only men, but more recent groups sometimes also include female voices. A schola often performs in uniform. The group may perform in the liturgy of church services, but some specialized ensembles also perform concerts and recordings, such as the and the Schola Gregoriana Pragensis.

Chant singing is usually responsorial, responses being sung by cantor. the congregation or by groups within the schola. Parts of the liturgy sung by the schola include the ordinary, and the changing parts Introit, Psalms, Sequence, Tract, calls to the gospel and the offertory, and Gradual.

Traditionally the schola performs without accompaniment. After the Second Vatican Council, the frequency of Latin liturgy was reduced and is less known. Therefore organ accompaniment has been used to support the singing.

A Choralschola is one of singing groups in the oratorio _Laudato si'_, composed in 2016 by Peter Reulein on a libretto by Helmut Schlegel and aimed at showing the diversity of church music, the others being soloists, a children's choir and a mixed choir.[1]

[1]

title: Choralschola

question: What other name is a Choralschola known as?

answer: It is sometimes called Schola.

question: What kind of group can sing in a schola?

answer: Both men and women can sing in a schola, but it has always been traditionally men.

question: What kind of chant singing is done in a schola?

answer: A responsorial liturgy.

question: Have scholas always performed without accompaniment?

answer: Just the traditional ones.

question: Write a ~3 sentence summary.

answer: A choralschola is a choir that sings Gregorian chants. It is traditionally a men-only choir, but modern times have presented a more diverse front. A choralschola is known for a responsorial liturgy and traditionally without accompaniment (this has changed somewhat as more schola are now known for organ accompaniment).


text:
The NTA FILM NETWORK was an early American television network founded by Ely Landau in 1956. The network was not a full-time television network like CBS, NBC, or ABC. Rather, it operated on a part-time basis, broadcasting films and several first-run television programs from major Hollywood studios. Despite attracting over 100 affiliate stations and the financial support of Twentieth Century-Fox (which purchased a 50% share of NTA in November 1956), the network proved unprofitable and was discontinued by 1961. The NTA Film Network's flagship station, WNTA-TV, is now WNET, one of the flagship stations of the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS).

Origins

Parent company National Telefilm Associates was founded by producers Ely Landau and Oliver A. Unger[1] in 1954 when Landau's film and television production company, Ely Landau, Inc., was reorganized in partnership with Unger and screenwriter and producer Harold Goldman.[2] NTA was the successor company to U.M. & M. TV Corporation, having purchased U.M. & M. in 1956.[3]

In October 1956, NTA launched the NTA Film Network, a syndication service which distributed both films and television programs to independent television stations and stations affiliated with NBC, CBS, or ABC (DuMont had recently gone out of the network business). The ad-hoc network's flagship station was WNTA-TV, channel 13 in New York.[4] The NTA Network was launched as a “fourth TV network”, and trade papers of the time referred to it as a new television network.[5]

Unlike the Big Three television networks, the local stations in the NTA Film Network were not connected via coaxial cable or microwave relay. Instead, NTA Film Network programs were filmed and then mailed to each station in the network, a method used by television syndicators in the 1950s and 1960s. However, many local stations agreed to broadcast NTA Film Network programs in pattern (simultaneously). Landau's claim to network status was based on the simultaneous airing of the programs.[6]

The NTA Film Network launched on October 15, 1956, with over 100 affiliate stations.[7] In November 1956, it was announced that 50% of the network had been purchased by Twentieth Century-Fox, which would also produce original content for the network.[8] The film network grew to 128 stations.[9] In September 1957, the network purchased KMGM-TV (now Fox O&O KMSP-TV) in Minneapolis.[10]

Affiliates

The following is a list of NTA Film Network affiliate stations in November 1956.[11]

  ------------------------------- --------------------------------------- --------------------------------
  Ada, OK: KTEN                   Green Bay-Marinette, WI: WBAY-TV        Peoria: WTVH
  Allentown-Bethlehem, PA: WGLV   Harrisburg: WCMB-TV                     Phoenix: KPHO-TV
  Anchorage: KTVA                 Hattiesburg: WDAM-TV                    Portland, ME: WCSH
  Amarillo, TX: KGNC-TV
  Asheville, NC: WLOS             Henderson-Las Vegas: KLRJ-TV            Portland, OR: KPTV
  Atlanta: WAGA                   Houston: KTRK-TV                        Providence: WJAR
  Austin, MN: KMMT                Indianapolis: WFBM-TV                   Raleigh-Durham: WTVD
  Bakersfield: KERO-TV            Jackson, MS: WLBT                       Richmond: WTVR-TV
  Bangor, ME: WABI-TV             Jefferson City, MO: KRCG                Roanoke, VA: WDBJ
  Birmingham, AL: WBRC            Johnstown, PA: WARD-TV                  Rock Island: WHBF-TV
  Bismarck ND: KBMB-TV            Juneau: KINY-TV                         Rockford, IL: WREX-TV
  Carlsbad NM: KAVE-TV            Kansas City: KMBC-TV                    Salt Lake City: KSL-TV
  Cedar Rapids-Waterloo: KWWL     Kearney, NE: KHOL-TV                    San Angelo, TX: KTXL-TV
  Charleston, WV: WCHS-TV         Knoxville: WBIR-TV                      San Antonio: KENS-TV
  Charleston, SC: WUSN-TV         West Lafayette, IN: WFAM-TV             San Diego: XETV
  Chattanooga: WDEF-TV            Lafayette, LA: KLFY-TV                  Savannah: WSAV-TV
  Chicago: WGN-TV                 Lincoln: KOLN                           Seattle-Tacoma: KTNT-TV
  Cincinnati: WKRC-TV             Little Rock-Pine Bluff: KATV            Sioux City: KTIV
  Cleveland: WJW-TV               Los Angeles: KTTV                       South Bend-Elkhart, IN: WSJV
  Columbus, GA: WDAK-TV           Lubbock: KDUB                           Spokane: KREM-TV
  Columbus, OH: WTVN-TV           Madison: WISC-TV                        Springfield, MA: WHYN-TV
  Columbus, MS: WCBI-TV           Memphis: WMCT                           St. Joseph, MO: KFEQ-TV
  Dallas-Ft Worth: KFJZ-TV        Miami: WGBS-TV                          Sweetwater, TX: KPAR-TV
  Decatur, IL: WTVP-TV            Milwaukee: WITI                         Tampa: WSUN-TV
  Decatur, AL: WMSL-TV            Minneapolis: WTCN-TV                    Tucson: KVOA
  Denver: KTVR                    Minot: KCJB-TV                          Tulsa-Muskogee: KOTV
  Des Moines-Ames: WOI-TV         Mobile: WALA-TV                         Twin Falls, ID: KLIX-TV
  Dickinson, ND: KDIX-TV          Monroe, LA: KNOE-TV                     Washington: WMAL-TV
  Dothan, AL: WTVY                Montgomery: WCOV-TV                     Waterloo-Ft Wayne, IN: WINT
  Duluth-Superior: KDAL-TV        Muncie: WLBC                            Watertown, NY: WCNY-TV
  Eau Claire: WEAU-TV             Nashville: WSIX-TV                      Wichita Falls, TX: KSYD-TV
  El Paso: KROD-TV                New Jersey-New York: WATV, later WNTA   Wichita-Hutchinson: KTVH
  Fairbanks: KTVF                 Norfolk: WVEC-TV                        Wilkes Barre-Scranton: WILK-TV
  Fargo-Valley City: KXJB-TV      Oak Hill, WV: WOAY-TV                   York, PA: WNOW-TV
  Grand Junction: KREX-TV         Oklahoma City: KGEO
  ------------------------------- --------------------------------------- --------------------------------

Later affiliates included KOOK-TV in Billings, Montana (c. 1958-1959),[12] KONO-TV in San Antonio (c. 1958–1959),[13][14] WISH-TV in Indianapolis (c. 1958–1959),[15] and KTVU in San Francisco (c. 1959–1960). [16] The network purchased KMGM-TV in Minneapolis, in September 1957.[17]

Programs

[The NTA Film Network broadcast both films and television programs. NTA publicized its feature films as “Spectaculars”. Seen here is the 1957 advertisement for the first TV airing of _Suez_, starring Tyrone Power and Loretta Young.] The NTA Film Network aired both films and television series. Among its 1956–1957 offerings were 52 Twentieth Century-Fox films.[18] _Premiere Performance_, a prime time block of Twentieth Century-Fox films, aired from 1957–1959. Other film blocks included _TV Hour of Stars_[19] and _The Big Night_ (both 1958–1959).[20]

The network's television programs included:

_How to Marry a Millionaire_, which aired from 1957 to 1959, was based on the popular 1953 film of the same name. The series starred Barbara Eden, Merry Anders, Lori Nelson (1957–1958), and Lisa Gaye (1958–1959).[21] The final episode aired in August 1959.

_Man Without a Gun_, a western series starring Rex Reason and Mort Mills, aired from 1957 to 1959. The series portrayed Reason as a newspaper editor who brought criminals to justice without the use of guns.[22]

_This is Alice_, which aired from 1958 to 1959, starred nine-year-old Patty Ann Gerrity as Alice Holliday, a girl who lived in the fictional town of River Glen, Georgia. The series was directed and produced by Sidney Salkow for NTA and Desilu Productions.

_The Play of the Week_, which aired from 1959 to 1961, was a series of 67 televised plays. The program was well received by critics, and received a Peabody Award.[23] The series ended its run on May 1, 1961.

Other, lesser-known NTA series included _The Bill Corum Sports Show_, _Man's Heritage_, and _The Passerby_ (all c. 1957),[24] _Official Detective_ (1957–1958), _Open End_ (1958–1961), _William Tell_ (1958–1959), _Assignment: Underwater_ (1959–1960), _Q. T. Hush_ (1960–1961), _Sheriff of Cochise_/_U.S. Marshall_ (1956–1958),[25] _Alex in Wonderland_ (1959),[26] _Newsbeat_ (1959–1961),[27] _Juke Box Jury_ (1958–1959), _The Best of Bishop Sheen_ (1958–1963), _Danger Is My Business_ (1958), _Divorce Court_ (1958–1961), _Glencannon_ (1959), _Grand Jury_ (1959), _Mantovani_ (1959), _Henry Morgan and Company_ (1959), _George Jessel's Show Business_ (1959), _The Mike Wallace Interview_ (1959–1961), _The Third Man_ (1960–1961), _The Oscar Levant Show_ (1960),[28] _Confidential Portrait_, _Crime Reporter_,[29] and _Probe_ (1962).[30]

In October 1956, the NTA Film Network also announced provisional plans to telecast live sporting and special events (using network relays) by the 1959–1960 television season.[31]

Timeline of programs

Below is a timeline showing the airdates of the NTA Film Network's programs and later NTA offerings. The number of episodes that each series aired is given in parentheses. Some dates are tentative, as accurate records for filmed television series were not always kept.

Schedule

FRIDAY 1958–1959

+-------+--------+-------+--------+-------+--------+-------+--------+
| 7:00  | 7:30   | 8:00  | 8:30   | 9:00  | 9:30   | 10:00 | 10:30  |
+=======+========+=======+========+=======+========+=======+========+
| Local | Man    | This  | How to | Premi |
|       | Withou | is    | Marry  | ere   |
|       | t      | Alice | a      | Perfo |
|       | a Gun  |       | Millio | rmanc |
|       |        |       | naire  | e     |
|       |        |       |        | (20th |
|       |        |       |        | Centu |
|       |        |       |        | ry    |
|       |        |       |        | Fox   |
|       |        |       |        | movie |
|       |        |       |        | s)    |
+-------+--------+-------+--------+-------+--------+-------+--------+

Note: This schedule was announced in May 1958; according to the announcement, 17 television stations would follow this schedule for the 1958–1959 television season; other NTA Film Network affiliates aired the programs out of pattern.[32]

End of network

In January 1959, Ely Landau was succeeded by Charles C. Barry, who took over as president of network operations. Landau continued to chair National Telefilm Associates.[33] Despite the 50% ownership of Twentieth Century-Fox, the film network never developed into a major commercial television network on a par with the “Big Three” television networks; several modern TV historians regard the NTA Film Network as a syndication service rather than a major television network.[34][35]

By 1961, WNTA-TV was losing money, and the network's flagship station was sold to the Educational Broadcasting Corporation that November. WNTA-TV became WNDT (later WNET), flagship station of the National Educational Television network, a forerunner of PBS.[36] NTA network operations did not continue without a flagship station, although parent company National Telefilm Associates continued syndication services; four television series (_Probe_, _Tintin_, _The Fair Adventure_, and _A Day With Doodles_) were syndicated by NTA between 1962 and 1966.[37]

The Los Angeles NTA Film Network station, KTTV, went on to become a founding owned and operated station of the Fox television network, which is co-owned with Twentieth Century-Fox and a part of 21st Century Fox.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

[11]

[12]

[13]

[14]

[15]

[16]

[17]

[18]

[19]

[20]

[21]

[22]

[23] Ely Landau, Producer, 73, Dies; Filmed Plays for TV and Theaters

[24] Production Radio and Television, pg 942

[25]

[26]

[27]

[28]

[29]

[30]

[31]

[32]

[33]

[34] McNeil, Alex (1980). _Total Television_ (4th ed.). New York: Penguin Books. .

[35] Brooks, Tim & Marsh, Earle (1964). _The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network TV Shows_ (3rd ed.). New York: Ballantine. .

[36]

[37]

title: NTA Film Network

question: How many affiliate stations did NTA have?

answer: NTA had 128 affiliate stations.

question: When was NTA discontinued?

answer: NTA was discontinued in 1961.

question: Which flagship station of NTA is now one of PBS's flagship stations?

answer: NTA's flagship station, WNTA-TV, now WNET, is now one of PBS's flagship stations.

question: When did NTA launch the NTA Film Network?

answer: NTA launched the NTA Film Network in October 1956.

question: How did the NTA Film Network differ from the Bug Three networks at the time?

answer: Unlike the Big Three at the time, the NTA Film Network mailed out television programs instead of connections via microwave relay or coaxial cable.

question: When did the show How to Marry a Millionaire air?

answer: The show How to Marry a Millionaire aired from 1957-59.

question: How many shares of NTA did Twentieth Century Fox purchase in 1956?

answer: Twentieth Century Fox purchased a 50% share of NTA in 1956.

question: Write a ~3 sentence summary.

answer: The NTA Film Network was an American television network from 1956-61. Despite significant backing from Twentieth Century Fox, the network never developed to be on par with the Big Three at the time. NTA sold off several of its stations towards the end of its lifetime, and some of those stations are still flagships today.


text:
The League of Lions

Chapter 1: A strange meeting

Five sea lions gathered on a rock after their daily routine of basking in the sun, getting their tan on and their swim for them tasty-tasty fishes.

This was no ordinary meaning, though.  As we may imagine our president pacing the halls of the White House banging his head on the  walls making scummy decisions with his senior officials, we see these 5 rulers of the sea.

"Well, what have we done wit dem damn walruses?!!!!" screamed Jeff.

"They're gone, sir," peeped a seagull as it hastily made way to the scrumptious crusties laying on Jeff's tail-fin. "This is true symbiosis, you sea lions have conquered all of the seas, and that's basically 80% of Earth anyway. I think we also haves chance at Jupiters moon too, I heard they got some water too. SASHA SQUAAAAK, you know that I'm right."

Sasha cleared his throat with the piece of salmon tail he got caught in his windpipe, he thanked god for finally releasing him of that pesky tail  as he spoke, "Mountain Goat Max has confirmed with me that the puny seagull has spoken truth, for once, we have won. At the only cost of those walruses, those damn idiots should have been dead anyway though, it's their own fault for getting lost in Bermuda."

 "They probably just got lost with one of those hookers down there, you know how playing with fire goes..." Gabe (Lion #3) butted in.

"Indeed so," Jeff said. "I heard that one of those little school fish touched the butt and that poor little sucker got taken on some damn journey. Moral of the story: you want to play hookey, you're going to get hooked."

Unnamed lions #4 & 5 had been waiting patiently, but it was time, time to move on. They both began, "Onto the serious business guys, we better talk the talk, we do have an issue here...."

To be continued....

Chapter 2: The serious business

title: First chapter of my short story about sea lions

question: Who is Sasha?

answer: Sasha is one of the five sea lions.

question: What is the meeting about?

answer: Besides the walruses, the meeting is also about a serious issue that unnamed lions 4 and 5 address.

question: Summarize the minutes of their meeting.

answer: The meeting started with Jeff addressing the walruses while the seagull assures them they are gone. He then tells the sea lions how now that they had conquered the seas they had conquered 80% of the Earth. Sasha then confirms that what the seagull had said was in fact the truth. After this, unnamed lions #4 and #5 wait to move on to the more serious topic of the meeting.

question: Who is attending the meeting besides the sea lions?

answer: The meeting is being attended by 5 sea lions and a seagull.

question: Write a ~4 sentence summary.

answer:
FIve sea lions and a seagull gather for a meeting. Jeff, the sea lion, questions where the walruses were, to which the seagull responds saying they were definitely gone and now the sea lions had conquered the seas.

Mountain Goat Max confirms that the seagull is not lying. After this sea lions #4 and #5 try to draw the meeting's attention to a more serious topic.


text:
BEȘGHIOZ () is a commune and village in the Gagauz Autonomous Territorial Unit of the Republic of Moldova. The 2004 census listed the commune as having a population of 3,391 people.[1] 93% of its population are Gagauz. Minorities included 76 Russians, 66 Bulgarians, and 46 Moldovans.

Its geographical coordinates are 46° 7' 18" North, 28° 52' 20" East.

The former governor (or bașcan) of Gagauzia (2006-2015), Mihail Formuzal, was born in Beșghioz in 1959.

[1] _Statistica Moldovei_. “1”. Accessed March 8, 2009.

title: Beșghioz

question: Where is Besghioz?

answer: The Gagauz Autonomous Territorial Unit.

question: Where is the Gagauz Autonomous Territorial Unit?

answer: Moldova.

question: Where is Moldova?

answer: Europe.

question: What is Besghioz?

answer: A commune and village.

question: Write a ~4 sentence summary.

answer: Beșghioz is a commune and village in the Gagauz Autonomous Territorial Unit of the Republic of Moldova. As of 2004, the commune had a population of 3,391 people. Ninety-three percent of its population are Gagauz. Minorities included 76 Russians, 66 Bulgarians, and 46 Moldovans.


text:
"I'm sorry, Gary."

The last words I remember saying.  We were sitting at a table outside a cafe, just having a good conversation, but a part of me just felt like some just wasn't right.  I couldn't do this anymore.  I remember seeing his displeasure as I turned away to leave.  He looked so heartbroken, so vulnerable.  His face tensed at the shock of it all.  It was killing me inside.  Gary's a great guy, but this was for the best.  That's the last thing I remember before everything got dark.

My head hurts.  I'm getting a stabbing pain in my head.

"Wake up."

A voice.  A foggy, drowned out voice.

"Wake up.  We're going to be late."

It's cold.  I feel... weak.

"C'mon wake up already.  Boss'll be pissed if we're late again."

My eyes were openned.  It was Gary.  He's smiling.  He's looking down at me with a gentle stare and a relaxed grin.  He looks... happy.  But where am I?  A single bulb hanging from the stain covered ceiling, dimly lights the bleak room.  The walls decorated with wallpaper with little ducks on them.  Parts of it are peeling though, and some of the molding seems to be falling apart.  I don't remember being here before.

*"Where are we?"* I said.

"Ah there you go.  About time you woke up.  Now we need to get you dressed and well fed or you're going to be cranky all day and complain about how Greg won't shut up about his stupid four year old daughter."

Did Gary not hear me?

*"Gary, what are we doing here?"* I tried again.

Something's wrong.  Nothing came out.

"I know Greg's an ass, but you can't say that about his daughter.  And I'm pretty sure that's illegal in some states."

Gary opens a drawer from a nearby dresser.  He picks out a blue and white plaid dress shirt.  It's got a stain on the sleeve.  Possibly from spilt coffee.  He should clean that.

"Here we go.  Your favorite shirt."

I lost that shirt weeks ago.  Why does Gary have it?

*"Why do you have my shirt?"* I can't move.  Why can't I move?  Something is definitely wrong.

"Now put this on and let's get going."

I CAN'T MOVE!

Gary sighs...

"Do I have to help you again?  Geez, what would you do without me?"

He sits me up.  There's cardboard under me.  My feet look pale.  My body feels... heavy.

"Oh please.  You didn't have to say that."  He lifts up my arm and slides it through the sleeve of the dirty shirt.  "I know you appreciate me."

This isn't right.  I don't understand any of this.  I can't move.  My head hurts.  WHERE AM I?

"There.  Now you look good as new."  Gary says as he's finished buttoning up the shirt.  "See for yourself."

Gary turns my head towards a mirror on the other side of the dingy room.

I'm dead.

There's a hole in my head.  Blood wiped off my pale, blue face, but some of it still there.  I'm decrepid.  My head falls over as Gary positions me over his shoulder.

"Oh no, don't feel bad.  You look great!"  He lifts my head up again.  "Why thank you.  I really do think we make a great pair.  Now let's get going."

He's been playing with me.  Was it all an act?  How long has he been "playing" with me?

title: "I'm sorry, Gary."

question: Why isn't Gary responsive?

answer: It can be implied that he is pretending that everything is normal.

question: Is Gary going out?

answer: He is going to work.

question: How does Gary have the shirt?

answer: This information cannot be found.

question: What relation does Gary share with Greg?

answer: It can be implied that Greg is a coworker of Gary or the Narrator.

question: Write a ~6 sentence summary.

answer: The narrator wakes up with a stabbing pain in her head. She asks Gary what is happening and he isn't responsive. Gary tried to hurry her to get dressed for work. He helps her get dressed and turns her around to look in the mirror. She notices a hole in her head and blood wiped off her face. Gary tells her they make a great pair while she wonders if Gary has been playing with her.


text:
Life.  What the Hell is it all about?  Why didn’t I feel welcome?  What about authenticity? What if Christians were honest?  (Gurgle)  I’m hungry.  I wonder if they have my chicken on sale.

…

Hmm.  Frozen aisle.  Nope, nope, no.   Look at that old guy working.  If I were in charge he wouldn’t have to work so hard.  Next aisle.  “Excuse me.  Can I help you find something?”  “Uh, no.  I’m just looking, thanks.”  I knew I got a good vibe from him.  Intuition.  They don’t have it.  I should go to the store around the corner.

…

What if I were really rich?  No one would know.  I’d still buy cheap food.  Well I’ve got ramen at home.

…

I love the night.  I hate seeing homeless people.  I’m a binge drinker.  I love it.  Do people know?  Shit, that’s why I’m stopping for awhile.  Those girls are kind of cute.  She’s really tall.  Oh, he’s saying goodbye.  What accent is that?

“Hi.”  “Oh, hi.”  “Are you a writer?”  “Me?  No, that would make me a more interesting person though.”  “Why do you have a pen and notepad then?”  "Oh, I wish I were a writer, but I never do.  Those online tests always tell me I should be a writer.  All the ideas come to me at night.  I love taking nightwalks.”

That encounter never happened.  What am I doing?  I passed those girls a while back.  Girls are so immature.  I need to find a woman.  I don’t know why I’m attracted to older women.

…

Why is that cop staring at me?  I don’t want pizza.  Oh, chicken’s on sale.  I hate these things.  Did I scan my club card?  Noch nicht!  I hope no one asks me for change.  Ahh, the chicken is smudging my notebook.  I bet someone is going to ask if they can have some of my chicken.  You have to put it in the microwave.  Who knows what fucking weirdos are out tonight.  Sorry God, I shouldn’t swear…

~ Daniel Powers

title: Nightwalk

question: Who is the speaker?

answer: Daniel Powers, a man who seems to have a lot of disconnected thoughts. He likes older women, wishes he was a writer, believes he would still be thrifty with food even if he were rich, and he has a specific type or kind of chicken that he likes to buy.

question: What is Daniel doing?

answer: He went out for a night walk hoping to buy some chicken while doing so. He manages to buy the chicken and heads home to cook and eat it.

question: How does Daniel plan to prepare the chicken?

answer: He puts it in the microwave to cook it.

question: What is the point of the article?

answer: It appears to be the ramblings of a person with no specific narrative to tell, so there is no point or deeper message other than to amuse the reader.

question: Write a ~4 sentence summary.

answer: Daniel is thinking about a lot of random things while he goes out for a night walk to buy some chicken. He heads to the store in the corner after he sees that the first store he went to did not have the chicken he is looking for. He passes by some girls on the way and he thinks about how he likes older women. He gets to the corner store, buys some chicken, and heads home hoping no one will ask for some of his chicken.


text:
[Betty McCarthy Connolly said that Cardinal Edward M. Egan apparently does not like to be criticized.]

Credit...Patrick Andrade for The New York Times

-   Oct. 23, 2006
-

An anonymous Internet letter, purportedly from a group of priests, that attacked Cardinal Edward M. Egan as arrogant, ruthless, vindictive and dishonest toward subordinate clergymen was itself denounced over the weekend by worshipers at a half-dozen Catholic churches in the New York Archdiocese.

Parishioners interviewed at random outside churches in Manhattan, the Bronx and Westchester and Rockland Counties after Masses yesterday and Saturday afternoon generally voiced support for the Roman Catholic cardinal, calling him compassionate and likable, although some said he seemed distant or aloof.

Many worshipers said they knew nothing about the letter. But among those who did, nearly all emphatically disapproved of it, calling the authors’ anonymity cowardly, the letter’s posting on the Web irresponsible and its use of harsh terms to describe the cardinal offensive.

Outside St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Manhattan, Robert T. Vignatieri, 54, said he was “disgusted” by the posting of the letter, which appeared Oct. 11 on a Catholic news blog, Whispers in the Loggia. It was signed by A Committee of Concerned Clergy for the Archdiocese of New York. “We don’t know if it was a priest or if it was a prankster who wrote it,” Mr. Vignatieri said. “But either way it’s appalling.”

Rosemarie McGowan, 66, of Staten Island, who also attended Mass at St. Patrick’s, said priests with complaints should go directly to the cardinal. “Sadly, whoever wrote this is too cowardly to make the criticism in person, which makes you wonder what their motivations really are,” she said.

At the Church of St. Aedan in Pearl River, N.Y., in Rockland County, Brian Paradine, 38, also called the use of anonymity cowardly and said that the cardinal’s broad responsibilities — overseeing a 10-county realm of 2.5 million Catholics, 560 priests, 410 parishes and hundreds of schools and other institutions — made conflicts all but inevitable. “There’s going to be some people who don’t like his style,” he said.

Mike Kelly, 68, a member of the Church of St. Margaret in Pearl River, objected particularly to the letter’s harsh tone, said its anonymity discredited it, and denied that morale within the church was low.

After Mass at St. John’s Church in the Kingsbridge section of the Bronx, Irma Samper, 69, said that priests had a right to express grievances, but not anonymously in public. “They could have dealt with this in another way,” she said, speaking in Spanish.

At the Church of the Good Shepherd in the Inwood section of Manhattan, Betty McCarthy Connolly said Cardinal Egan, who succeeded a popular Cardinal John J. O’Connor in 2000, did not appear to welcome criticism. “I’m sure he’s a good man at heart,” she said, but he seems “distant, sort of aloof.”

Msgr. Howard W. Calkins, pastor of the Church of the Sacred Heart in Mount Vernon, N.Y., said at a Mass on Saturday that he had offered to resign as one of the cardinal’s Westchester vicars, but not as pastor, after being quoted by The New York Times last week as saying that he did not approve of the letter’s tone and anonymity but that there was some truth in its content. He said that he expected to learn this week whether Cardinal Egan would accept his resignation — a course his parishioners appeared to oppose adamantly.

The 950-word anonymous letter charged that the cardinal had ignored the advice and spiritual needs of priests and fostered the lowest morale in memory. It said his relations with priests had been defined by “dishonesty, deception, disinterest and disregard.”

Calling for a vote of no confidence in the cardinal by archdiocesean priests — and appending a ballot — the letter said that Cardinal Egan would be 75 next April, the age when bishops must submit resignations to the pope, and suggested that a no-confidence vote might prompt the Vatican to accept his withdrawal and begin a search soon for a successor.

question: Who has been accused?

answer: Cardinal Edward M. Egan.

question: What does the anonymous letter call for?

answer: A vote of no-confidence.

question: How do parishioners feel about the letter?

answer: In general they seem to find it cowardly.

question: What did the cardinal do wrong?

answer: He was, according to the allegations, neglecting the spiritual needs of priests and creating the lowest morale in memory.

question: Write a ~2 sentence summary.

answer: The article discusses an anonymous letter posted online criticizing an eminent cardinal in the Catholic diocese of New York. There have been mixed responses to this public letter, with not everyone condemning the cardinal and many standing with him.


text:
Cancer, an unwelcome house guest.

 When you are at your happiest moment, everything in life is where it should be. After years of work and struggle, your ducks are finally in a row. You've been preparing a meal the entire day. It actually started the day before with a trip to the butcher to get the perfect cut of meat. Next, you let it marinate over night to make sure it is just right. Today was spent cleaning and tidying making sure the house was in order, creating an atmosphere to allow you to truly enjoy your meal. It is essential that nothing is out of place just to ensure that there are no distractions. When things feel right, the perfect playlist fills the airwaves as you begin to prep the rest of the meal, everything needs to be done ahead of time to make sure all cooking times are precise and all components of the meal are ready to plate at the same time.

The vegetables are cut and ready to be put on the barbecue, the salad awaits its dressing, and the barbecue is warming. This is when things start to change for the worse, the doorbell rings. You don't have time to visit with guests, nor do you have enough food to invite them to stay, the only option is forcing them to go. The mistake has already been made though, the moment you put down the tongs and move toward the door, you have gone too far, past the point of no return so to speak. The door opens and before waiting to hear if they are welcome, your new guest steps into the house. They don't bother with formal greetings, they simply sit down and start introducing themselves. No concern for what you were previously doing, or what plans you may have for the balance of the evening. They make themselves at home and spread out, not realizing that their comfort directly diminishes your own.
You entertain your guest, let them feel welcome for a moment but knowing they can't stay. You decide the best option is to start serving cocktails, hoping maybe their stomach will become upset and they will leave on their own. When this doesn't work, the radio gets turned up a little louder in an effort to to make their stay less enjoyable, you want to disrupt their stay. In order to be effective. You must turn up the radio so that it becomes uncomfortable, even for yourself. Your entire body aches, nothing seems better than your bed. But, your memory and thoughts of the food you have waiting keep you on track, keep you fighting and pushing, pushing your guest out the door. Then, just when you think you could not possibly survive another minute of the throbbing, your guest realizes you're a hard sell. They pack up their belongings, gather their coat and their shoes and they are off, they're gone.
As quickly as the guest arrived, they have departed. Leaving nothing but a sour taste from the cocktails and a throbbing headache from the radio. You're ready though, the food has been waiting, it hasn't spoiled the wait has made the flavours stronger.
The food goes onto the barbecue and it cooks. While it does, you laugh and share stories of your odd guest with your loved ones. Your resilience has made you stronger, the experience has brought you closer, you are ready for an even more intimate evening  with your family after the intrusion of the unwanted guest.
The timer goes off, the propane is shut down. The meat is cut, the veggies are spread, and the food is ready to be plated. The family has sat down and they are ready for the meal and what lies ahead.
The first bite is glorious, everything you expected it to be and more. The long wait makes you appreciate everything more. You learn to savour every bite.
It's time for dessert, as you get up to retrieve it, the doorbell rings, you walk to the door, open it with a smile, basking in the light of the time you have spent with your loved ones. As the door opens, you see the familiar shadow. The guest has returned, they forgot something. It doesn't matter what, they are already in your home. The smells that fill the house have intrigued them, they want a taste of what you have. Demand that you share your spoils with them. You give, and you give, and you give, but nothing seems to appease your guest's appetite. They will take everything you have. Exhausted, you take a nap, you promise yourself it won't be long but you know when you wake the guest will be gone and all will be right. As you sleep, your loved ones thank you for trying your best to oust that unwelcome guest. They tuck you in, tell you they love you. Promise they will see you in the morning.
Your morning doesn't come though. But their's does, the morning comes, it is darker than usual, there is a mess to clean up. But it's ok, the meal was worth it, they are happy to wash every dish, clean up every crumb. They will spend the following days talking about that ungrateful guest, talk about the struggle of getting the guest to leave. But, those conversations will end. As the days fade into weeks, and weeks into months, then into years, the conversation will change. It will no longer be about the guest, but rather the meal, the meal they were so happy to eat, they will talk about its preparation and what it meant. They will remember the chef, the time, the care, and the patience that went into that evening and many more before it. They will be thankful for that night, they know they were part of something special and lucky to know such a chef, who even at their worst, was a gracious host.

title: Cancer, an unwelcome houseguest.

question: Who were the guests who came over?

answer: This information is not mentioned.

question: Do the guests stay over for the meal?

answer: They leave at first but then come back thinking they forgot something only to stay and eat the sumptuous meal.

question: Does the narrator die?

answer: Yes.

question: What was being cooked?

answer: Meat, barbecued vegetables, and salad.

question: Write a ~11 sentence summary.

answer:
You are spending a beautiful morning at home with your family, preparing a sumptuous meal with no distractions around. Just then the doorbell rings, it's the unwelcomed guests.

The guests make themselves comfortable at home while you contemplate ways of getting rid of them. After much of your efforts, they finally leave giving you your precious family time back. You head back to the barbecue, the meal is ready. Just as you take in a few bites, the doorbell rings again. It's the guests. They smell the meal and are tempted to taste it. You make them feel welcome and serve them everything one after another.

You finally go to bed but don't wake up. Your family and the guests cherish the time they got to spend with you.