text:
Liquid

I woke up this morning on an unfamiliar couch clutching a peppergrinder in one  hand and a Red Bull in the other.  An angry, turgid sensation inside my mouth reminded me that I had been drinking last night; I sat up to get my bearings both my head and my gut rebelled in memory of just how much.  I eased back  into the couch, which I now noticed to be in a state that only added fuel to  my stomach's disobedience.

I woke up a second time this morning with my face pressed to the musty upholstery of a vaguely familiar couch.  From my awkward vantage point, I gazed over a  landscape of matted greens, ranging from apple to zucchini.  The thought of food reminded me of the burgeoning revolution in my stomach, which, having  caught my attention once again, chose that particular moment to mount its  final offensive and break free of the injustices that I had so thoughtlessly imposed upon my body the previous night.  As I lay incapacitated by the uncontrollable heaving in my diaphragm, I recalled the objects that I clutched in either hand, and the more pressing matter of where the fuck I was.

Laboriously, I raised my head for a second time this morning, and, for a second time this morning, I regretted it deeply.  However, spurred on by the powerful demons of shame and despair, I stood up unsteadily and plodded off in search of cleaning facilities.  The first thing I found was a coffee table.  Rather, my left foot found it.  I found a carpet whose must made a fresh meadow of my green friend. After some half-hearted struggling, I stood up again.  This time, accounting for  the noticeable spin of the world, I made my way to the nearest door, pausing only to pocket the peppergrinder in order to free the requisite appendages to open said door.

In retrospect, I might have gleaned some clues as to the identity of my unfortunate  host by the clothes strewn across the floor, or the pictures on the wall,  or even by approaching the snoring occupant of the bed in the far corner of the room.  However, I had already relieved one of three plumbing urges in an inappropriate place and I was determined that the other two would be dealt with in a more orderly fashion in a more suitable location.

As I stumbled through the crass early afternoon sun, I regretted every decision that I had made last night on the simple principle of the matter.  Marks on the back of my hand told me that I had frequented not one, but five fine, upstanding establishments of varying degrees of debauchery and a distinct lightness in my backpocket informed me that I was most likely in all sorts of financial trouble.  The optimist in me commanded that I look on the bright side of things, but my eyes screamed in  protest at every flash and glare they met with so I compromised and continued on without looking at all.

To passers-by I must have been a sight.  The stride of my left leg was by far outpaced by that of my right, resulting in a stagger fit for a peg-legged pirate.  My lips were ashen with dehydration, but a suspiciously chunky smudge on chin and black tshirt informed any observer plainly that I must have expelled some precious fluid recently. Fortunately, my hairstyle was pristine, but that was only the intentional byproduct of a carefully maintained lack thereof.  I easily feigned a tired and vacant expression on my face and studiously avoided eyecontact with my silent judges by staring at my untied shoelaces until I reached my front door.

There are few pleasures in life that outweigh that of a cold glass of water when your mouth is so dry you cannot move your tongue.  However, the pleasure is soon diluted when you reflect upon the series of events that have led to this eventuality.  Particularly, when the events are at best mere logical conclusions rather than an firm memory.  I take another deep draught of water and realize that instead of feeling more refreshed, I feel  the momentum of the liquid in my stomach with every motion of my body, accompanied by  splashing sounds which herald yet another act of excess.  My body is bloated by rash decisions which I suspect outline some form of avoidance behaviour, but I can't for the life of me pinpoint the exact cause thereof.  I put my moka on the stove and begin to  brew a strong cup of coffee and retire to the shower to wash away any remnants of the  night and my shameful start to the day.

I fumble with the dial and am immediately punished with a barrage of ice cold needles which bite my skin, but that lasts for only a moment before the needles turn to fiery arrows  that melt my already soft flesh.  The rapid turn of events disorients me further and I  struggle to stand up straight.  The half dozen half empty bottles of formulaicly scented  body wash are not so fortunate and raucously tumble about in the halfpipe of my bathtub. After a few more adjustments of the dial, I return my attention to the disarray at my feet and slowly return them to their places, opening only the last bottle to squeeze out a few  drops of civilization to rub onto my body so that I can convince myself that I am presentable. I stand, face down, letting the water flow down my back contemplating an image of myself deep in pithy contemplation, conjuring a fantasy of reaching some yet unrevealed philosophical realization.  Finally, I realize that my coffee is burning.

The sickly sweet smell of burnt coffee will penetrate every conceivable corner of my apartment, so I open few windows, grab a cigarette and step outside.  My clothes are decent but unremarkable, fashionable, but not avant garde, and spotless but not clean.  Between my formulaic bodywash and run of the mill deodorant, there is no evidence that I haven't done the laundry in weeks, but the ever so slight dullness in my clothes establishes an aura of mediocrity and shabbiness to my appearance.  Not so far as to imitate the trainwreck that I was this morning, far enough for me to feel as unimpressive as my shirt.  A few dark smudges on the backs of my hands are all the evidence I have left of the previous night.  Those, and my missing wallet and two souvenirs.  I crack open the Red Bull, even though my obnoxiously strong coffee has already  made me mildly giddy and apprehensive.  It is in this unremarkable state that I begin another dull Wednesday at 4PM.

You see, being above average intelligence is a curse in this world.  I wish so dearly I could be as fullfilled as the average plebe by the wonders of popculture and consumer products.  That  Hollywood movies could both emulate blowing my mind and opening my eyes and that I could  aspire to a 9 to 5 at the local grocery store, settle for a bitchy wife with no particular function in society, and dream about women whose conversational abilities would overwhelm only the most naive of teacups.  Unfortunate me, I see the world through a finer lens at a higher resolution than most.  I am capable of great feats in the realms of art and science.  Should I  put my mind to it, I can understand the currents of politics or the fundamental shifts in societal values at a level worthy of my education.  My motivation is absent due to a lack of circumstance, not by any fault of my own.  There are those who are blessed with this obscene drive to do things. I am, unfortunately, not one of those people.  I something or someone to come by and start my engine and keep it running, but when that happens, I will achieve something great.  I get  flashes of inspiration that others dream of, you see.   I see that life is not worth living, but I'm not quite ready to disappear just yet, so I simply exist, floating.

This is what I tell myself as I reach my office.  This what I tell myself to make everything seem ok. The hollow caffiene rush from the coffee and Red Bull makes it impossible to sleep at my desk, but the lack of energy and food makes it impossible for me to work, so instead, I surf the internet searching for that elusive flash of inspiration that will motivate me to achieve my potential. After a few hours, I prepare to leave.  It didn't happen today, but I only need that one in my lifetime, after all.

Tomorrow, I will wake up in my bed at 1pm with a splitting headache, nauseated by the smell of burning coffee, throat parched and unable to hold a thought in my head until 4pm.  Tomorrow, I will wonder about what will have happened tonight and finally give up.  Tomorrow, I will come to the philosophical realization that nearly washes over me every day in the shower.  Tomorrow, I will have a flash of inspiration that will motivate me to get myself moving to the ultimate achievement which will justify the life I live. Tomorrow, today will no longer matter and I will no longer have to feel unremarkable in the mirror.  Tomorrow, I will no longer forget the precise point of my actions midway.  Tonight, I need another drink.

title: my first short story in 8 years

question: What is the name(s) given to the state of mind exhibited by the narrator?

answer: It is called despair and, or hopelessness.

question: Does the narrator like his job?

answer: There are no indications that he hated it, but he does not love it either.

question: What is one of the narrator's greatest wishes?

answer: He wishes to have a below-average intelligence so he will not notice how messed up things really are.


split: train

text:
Home » News » Manitoba Closing Pineland Forest Nursery, Putting 67 Greenhouses on the Market

May 3, 2018 5:36 PM | News

_By Sarah Klein_

[Plants]

The Manitoba government is closing down the Pineland Forest Nursery near Hadashville at the end of the year as part of a cost-cutting review.

The province says the operation is no longer viable and will cease doing business on December 31.

The nursery employs eight full-time and 17 part-time/seasonal staff, as well as casual staff hired for about eight weeks a year during peak times.

Pineland Forest Nursery was originally established to produce seedlings for the province but grew to produce seedlings for customers outside the province as well. Over a number of years, the nursery has recorded substantial operating losses and is no longer sustainable under the provincial model.

The province is also putting its 67 greenhouses, which cover approximately seven acres, on the market through a request for proposal. The property also houses eco-friendly equipment, including an 8.5-million BTU biomass boiler.

“Pineland is an incredible asset with a strong local workforce that is ready to continue the great work they’ve been doing for many years,” said Growth, Enterprise and Trade Minister BLAINE PEDERSEN.

“Manitoba is an excellent place for business to invest, build and grow. There are many options and opportunities at Pineland, and we look forward to receiving detailed proposals from interested groups.”

The day's top stories delivered right to your inbox.

question: Is the Manitoba Pineland Forest Nursery a good investment like the Trade Minister claims?

answer: While there are no financial details mentioned in the article, a simple assessment would be that it might not be profitable since it was reporting losses for years on end. However, private businesses would have more opportunities for profit, and the pre-existing experienced workforce is a bonus. Finally, the nursery has established customers, which would help immensely for an investor.

question: How would the potential closing affect the workers at the nursery compared to an investor acquiring the business?

answer: Simply put, they'd be out of their jobs if the nursery closed. However, at least some of them could continue their work if an investor acquires the nursery to operate it.

question: How did the business end up in the tough situation it's in?

answer: There's no answer for that in the article.


text:
Stockbyte/Stockbyte/Getty Images

[writer bio picture]

By: Chelsea Oliver Updated April 12, 2017

Lye is a controversial ingredient in soap that, while required to convert fats and oils to soap, is not necessary for those making natural soap at home. If you want to make homemade soap without having to use lye as an ingredient, it is as simple as purchasing soap bases such as glycerin from specialty and craft stores. These soap bases can be easily transformed into homemade soaps with your choice of fragrance and color.

Add a small amount of water to a double boiler, and bring it to a boil.

Add your desired amount of soap base to the top section of the double boiler. It takes several chunks of soap base to make one bar of natural, homemade soap.

Cover the double boiler, and melt the soap base over low heat. Stir it gently and infrequently, so as not to introduce air into the mixture.

Mix in your desired additives once the soap base has melted. Add fragrance to your soap with several drops of your favorite essential oil. TeachSoap.com advises stirring the essential oil into the mixture until it is no longer cloudy. Add several drops of food coloring to your soap if desired, as well as any moisturizers or vitamins. Stir gently and thoroughly.

Spray some soap molds with cooking spray to prevent the soap from sticking. If desired, add dried flowers or herbs into the empty molds to decorate the soaps.

Pour the soap base mixture into the soap molds. Allow the soap to cool and harden completely, which takes approximately three hours.

Remove the soap from the molds once it has hardened.

-   Double boiler
-   Glycerin soap base
-   Essential oil
-   Wooden spoon
-   Soap molds
-   Additives (food coloring, moisturizers, vitamins - optional)
-   Cooking spray
-   Dried herbs or flowers (optional)

-   It is helpful to melt solid additives, such as cocoa butter, prior to adding them into your soap mixture.

-   Exercise caution when working with a hot double boiler.

References

Tips

-   It is helpful to melt solid additives, such as cocoa butter, prior to adding them into your soap mixture.

Warnings

-   Exercise caution when working with a hot double boiler.

Related Articles

question: What does the article posit about lye and homemade soap making?

answer: The author suggests lye isn't needed for making natural soap at home.

question: What can an at-home soap maker use instead of lye?

answer: An at-home soap maker can use a soap base such as glycerin instead of using lye.

question: Who is the target audience for this article?

answer: The target audience for this article is someone looking to make soap at home.

question: Which website does the author reference in her directions?

answer: TeachSoap.com

question: Write a ~1 sentence summary.

answer: This is directions and ingredients needed to make soap at home.


text:
…”The truth was, none of them would ever quite make it home, and the rest of us would feel just the prudent amount of badly about that for the rest of our self-obsessed little lives.
In fact, in the rare cases in which their bodies might make it home, a certain highly disputed other little piece almost certainly would not.
It can be a fragile thing…
We justified this, I think, by giving ourselves the usual excuses, I don’t know how or if we didn’t know that we were sneaky, lying little rotters who weren’t fit to polish Boggins’ bootlaces.
Or maybe we knew but we just didn’t care less.
Maybe we were thinking of our wives and children.
Right.
Did you know that if there was something wrong with a certain part of your brain, I forget what it’s called, but if you show somebody who’s missing that certain little part, let’s say, a picture of an elephant, he’ll know what it is, but he isn’t able to explain it?
Prize for the worst sentence I’ve ever said, but that was just how Boggins always was, ever since I’d known him.
I’d like to say we were best buddies since kindergarten, you know, but the real thing was, we first saw each other at the haircutters’. I was applying for a job there; he owned the place.
Loeb and Masters were all palsy-walsy, and they came there for a trim occasionally. Together, which we thought was weird, but it’s understandable now. Binstead might have been a friend of a friend, in fact there might have even been another a friend into the bargain, but it didn’t seem to matter, because once he was there, he pretended to fit right in. And we? We faked it ‘til we felt it, like our mama bears told us, the annoying little grub.
So we were there, we had the idea of friendship in mind, and the philosophy; we had our notes, but we still had to sit the practical exam.
And the first two, they were the worst months of my life.
But not for Boggins, he liked things like that. Maybe because he actually had a soul.
He was always vocal about his purpose, though, and he didn’t try to hide from himself or anyone else what he thought he needed to do.
“I’m going to dunk my head in this fountain now, Troy,” said college-Boggins.
Of course the fellow did, and he didn’t even regret the pneumonia that came of it.
But anyway, Boggins, he would always stop what he was doing to tell us that he didn’t know why he was doing it, he just was.
He made us feel like worms; what we didn’t realize was that at the time we didn’t need to, and we swallowed our feelings when they came true. We were young, if twenty five was young; the thirty I am now is mostly considered young, but I am old now.
What follows could be considered the reason why, although if I were told so, I might try to deny it.
I guess when we were all younger, we all thought we had a purpose.
Boggins knew he didn’t, but he thought he did, and we thought he was noble or something for that.
In fact, I remember distinctly wishing I were him, because I was an idiot. Still am, would be the last to deny it. But unfortunately now I’m something worse as well, well, we all are.
We’re craven cowards, you know. And one time we thought we’d take something, that wasn’t ours, you know. You do, right? You know, it’s great to have someone like you, someone who can listen.
And of course Boggins didn’t believe in anyone but himself and his purpose, and he shook his head and said, “You know what? That’s brilliant,” and he came with us to an alleyway in Garden Street…
And there was an apartment there.
Thank you, this is great. Do you brew it yourselves?
So we convinced Binstead, the unlucky gangling child, to climb the windows, and bring out something. We thought we were so original, and I can’t understand it now. But Binstead, he was ever the child of the Bible and all that.
What was curious was Boggins’ moral code; he was fine with stealing something, but not with letting someone else to do it.
He thought maybe he was going to hell anyways, but that was us…

▲                      ▲                       ▲

We waited a long time for the decrepit old young middle aged man to wake up, but he never did.
We weren’t watching what the hell he was drinking, but about an hour after closing time, we shook him and shook him and no deal, you know…
He just wasn’t alive anymore.
It’s a fragile thing…
We buried him in the field back.

title: Again, inspiration strikes when you least expect it..

question: Who was Boggins?

answer: Someone the narrator knew since they were children

question: Who is the narrator?

answer: The narrator is named Troy

question: How did the narrator feel about Boggins?

answer: He used to not like him, then he admired him, now he doesn't

question: What did the narrator's group steal?

answer: Not enough information is given to answer the question.

question: How did Boggins die?

answer: He drank too much

question: Write a ~3 sentence summary.

answer: After Boggins dies, the narrator reflects on their relationship over the years. He recalls how they met, what they did in college, and how they felt about one another. He describes how Boggins drank too much and died, and how they buried him in the field.


text:
Birth

Atop a lush green hill sat a medium sized home. It had no servant’s quarters, but it did have a guest house. It had no storage building, but it did have a root cellar. It was no mansion, like those found in the city, but it was definitely a home. In the front door, and into the first door on the left, a slender elf was sleeping in his bed. His long hair pulled into a ponytail to prevent tangles he lay there snoring ever so lightly. His right arm was draped over the body of a pregnant half-elf. Her black hair splayed out everywhere, not unkempt, but not tamed either. Her soft face was half pressed into her pillow. Suddenly, her eyes sprung open. She bolted upright grabbing her belly.

“It’s time.” She rasped quietly, her voice still waking up. The elf next to her jittered a bit and went back to snoring. She shook him, and with her voice returning shouted “IT’S TIME!” The male elf bolted out of the bed, grabbing the dagger under his pillow. He looked around and noticed the woman clutching at her stomach and breathing heavily. He dropped the dagger to the floor and ran out of the room. She slid her feet off of the bed, and sat there for a moment. Gathering her strength she rose out of the bed and over to a place that had been prepared on the floor. A soft mattress and clean clothes were everywhere to be found; a rune glowed on a stone next to the mattress. She touched the rune.

Her husband came running back to the room carrying two basins of water, one was steaming. He set them down next to her. An older elven gentleman walked through the door. His eyes looked a mirror to the eyes of his son standing next to him. A rain drop dripped off the tip of his hooked nose. His silver hair glistened with the sheen of a fresh rain. He turned to his son.

“It’s about time we meet that child of yours.” He said light-heartedly “I’ve never been so excited save the time your mother decided to head to the elven shore.” He nudged his son with his elbow and chuckled. He left the room and returned carrying a hand harp and began to play a soothing melody. The woman on the floor started to look more relaxed.

“I’ve always said Morina, if you relax you feel less pain,” The older gentleman spoke to the woman and then turned to his son, “and if Isolian had paid more attention to his music lessons and less attention to his swordmaster he would be able to help with that.” He winked at his son. He knew that although Isolian was intelligent and capable he never had much talent for music. Isolian just looked at him.

A tall man in dark green robes walked in carrying a bag. He set the bag down next to the woman. He opened the bag and aromatics filled the room. The soft smell of pine and sage only helped the woman relax even more. He spoke softly, while feeling her belly. “It appears that the baby has not turned around, so we should be fine.” He spoke some soft words, holding a mistletoe switch to her stomach. She instantly relaxed and looked pain free. He spoke audibly again to the two other gentlemen.

“I have made her comfortable for the moment, however this baby will be here soon and I will need one of you to help me keep her mind off the pain and on task.” Isolian stepped forward, the older gentleman gestured to him.

“I already helped his mother birth him and his siblings. I have no desire to do that again, but have fun; you’ll be miserable” the old man said jokingly. It was obvious that he was excited about the birth, but a spark of strange reminiscent fear marked his last words.

“Good then, Tilanious,” The unnamed Druid said, “I will need someone to remove the afterbirth to the fields after we are complete.” He shot the old man a playfully serious look. Tilanious’ face dropped until he noticed the joking expression the Druid had.

“Very funny.” He said, as he continued playing the harp.

Morina grunted loudly in pain. The Druid felt her belly again and got everyone into position. He began coaching Morina, telling her when to push and when to breathe. Isolian stood next to her, holding her hand and telling her how well she was doing. Morina screamed and grunted with agony and apprehension. Her face would change from a deep red when she pushed to a ghostly pale between bursts. A few minutes later she screamed like a warrior on the attack. The Druid sat back and smiled. The soft cries of a baby filled the room. He raised the baby to the mother.

“Here he is.” The Druid said. “Your beautiful baby.”

Morina took the child in her arms. His swaddling cloth still covered in fresh blood. Isolian leaned down and looked at the baby’s face.

“He has your eyes.” Isolian said softly, putting a light kiss on Morina’s cheek.

“What should we call him?” She asked him back, smiling at her newborn son.

“Itharious.” He said. It took him no time at all to come up with the name. In his heart, he just knew it was the right choice for his son.

title: Itharious: Birth

question: Describe the story's setting.

answer: The story likely occurs in a world where Druids, Elves, and other mythical creatures exist. There is the humble home situated atop a lush, green hill, where Isolian, an Elf, and his wife, Morina, a half-Elf, live. The home has a guest house and root cellar.

question: Why doesn't Isolian's home have a servant's quarters or a separate storage building?

answer: Presumably, because Isolian and Morina are simple country Elves who don't have or need servants and they own little material things, making a storage building impractical.

question: Why can't Isolian play the harp like his father?

answer: Because Isolian never had musical talent and paid more attention to his swordmaster than his music lessons.


text:
The MSCI EAFE Index is a stock market index that is designed to measure the equity market performance of developed markets outside of the U.S. & Canada. It is maintained by MSCI Inc.,[1] a provider of investment decision support tools; the EAFE acronym stands for EUROPE, AUSTRALASIA AND FAR EAST.

The index is market-capitalization weighted (meaning that the weight of securities is based on their respective market capitalizations). It first ranks each stock in the investable universe from largest to smallest by market capitalization. The largest 70% will compose the MSCI EAFE Large Cap (new index), the largest 85% will compose the MSCI EAFE Standard, and the largest 99% will compose the MSCI Investable Market index (“IMI”). The 71st to 85th percentiles represent the MSCI EAFE Mid Cap, and the 85th to 99th percentiles represent the MSCI EAFE Small Cap.

The index includes a selection of stocks from 21 developed markets, but excludes those from the U.S. and Canada. The index has been calculated since 31 December 1969, making it the oldest truly international stock index. It is probably the most common benchmark for foreign stock funds in the U.S.

Countries

The index includes stocks of companies from these countries and regions [2]:

-   -   -   -   -   -   -

-   -   -   -   -   -   -

-   -   -   -   -   -   -

These are the same countries and regions as for MSCI World except without the U.S. and Canada.

Investing

Many managers of North American international stock funds use the EAFE as a performance benchmark. For example, Thrift Savings Plan's international fund (I Fund) tracks the net version of this index.

The iShares MSCI EAFE Index fund is based on the standard index.[3] EFA is the fourth-largest ETF in the world. They also have iShares MSCI EAFE Small-Cap which has just the small caps. iShares Core MSCI EAFE fund uses the “IMI” version of the index. This fund is similar to EFA but its portfolio represents nearly all of each country's investable market capitalization, while EFA only covers the top 85%, which excludes most small-cap stocks. The TIAA International Equity Index Fund is also based on the EAFE index. Vanguard has the mutual fund Vanguard Developed Markets Index Inv and the Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets ETF; these funds previously used the MSCI EAFE, but now use the FTSE Developed All Cap ex US Index, which is very similar but includes South Korea and Canada, and includes exposure to small-cap stocks.

[1] MSCI Barra; About

[2] MSCI EAFE index market allocation

[3] iShares page for iShares MSCI EAFE

title: MSCI EAFE


text:
The BANK OF HAWAII CORPORATION (BOH) is a regional commercial bank headquartered in Honolulu, Hawaii. It is Hawaii's second oldest bank and its largest locally owned bank in that the majority of the voting stockholders reside within the state. Bank of Hawaii has the most accounts, customers, branches, and ATMs of any financial institution in the state (although BancWest's First Hawaiian Bank holds a greater number of dollars in deposits). The bank consists of four business segments: retail banking, commercial banking, investment services, and treasury.[1] The bank is currently headed by chairman, president and chief executive officer, Peter S. Ho.[2]

Beginnings

In 1893, Charles Montague Cooke (1849–1909) with his brother-in-law Joseph Ballard Atherton and business partner Peter Cushman Jones founded Bank of Hawaii. In 1897, it was chartered in the Republic of Hawaii by Interior Minister James A. King.[3] A decade after its founding, in 1903, the bank opened its first branch in Kauai. In 1922, the bank acquired First Bank of Hilo, which had four branches. In 1930, it amalgamated Bank of Maui.

Bank of Maui

Charles Dexter Lufkin organized First National Bank of Wailuku in 1901.[4] Five years later, he had organized Lahaina National Bank. Then he organized the First National Bank of Paia in 1913.[5] Lastly, in 1917, First National Bank of Paia merged with Lahaina National Bank and First National Bank of Wailuku to form Bank of Maui.[6]

Activities in Hawaii since 1971

In 1971, BOH formed a bank holding company called Hawaii Bancorporation.[7]

In 1979, Hawaii Bancorporation changed its name to Bancorp Hawaii.[8] In 1985, BOH as Bancorp Hawaii acquired the Hawaiian Trust Company for $19 million.[9][10]

In 1990, BOH as Bancorp Hawaii acquired FirstFed America Inc. with its First Federal Savings and Loan Association in Hawaii and First Savings of Guam subsidiaries for $141 million in cash.[11] First Federal Savings was maintained as a separate entity until 1998 when it was merged into the Bank of Hawaii.[12]

Bancorp Hawaii changed its name to Pacific Century Financial Corporation (PCFC) in 1997.[13][14]

Large drop in the firm's stock in early 2000 caused by bad loans and quick expansion outside of the firm's core business of Hawaii, Guam, and American Samoa[15][16] led to a change in management.[17]

BOH as Pacific Century Financial Corporation sold off its credit card division to American Express for an undisclosed amount in 2001.[18][19][20]

In 2002, Pacific Century Financial Corporation was renamed Bank of Hawaii Corporation.[21]

Activities on the U.S. Mainland

In its first expansion onto the continental United States, BOH as Bancorp Hawaii acquired the Phoenix, Arizona-based First National Bancorp of Arizona with its five-office First National Bank of Arizona subsidiary for an undisclosed amount in 1987.[22] Ten years later, through its First National Bank of Arizona subsidiary, BOH acquired all four Arizona branch offices from Home Savings of America for an undisclosed amount in 1997 and merged those offices into First National while at nearly the same time changed the name of First National to Pacific Century Bank NA.[23]

The following year, BOH as Pacific Century Financial Corporation acquired the Encino, California-based CU Bancorp with its California United Bank subsidiary for $183 million in stock and cash.[24][25][26] Just shortly after the acquisition was finalized in 1998, California United and its 22 offices in Southern California was merged into Phoenix-based Pacific Century Bank and the headquarters for the newly combined Pacific Century Bank was moved to Encino.

After 14 years on the Mainland, BOH decided to abandon their activities on the Mainland in 2001 by selling all 9 Arizona branch offices of the Pacific Century Bank to Zions Bancorporation for an undisclosed amount[27][28] and all 20 California branch offices of the Pacific Century Bank to U.S. Bancorp for an undisclosed amount.[29][30][31] Zion merged their purchase into their National Bank of Arizona subsidiary.[32]

International activities

It was not until 1959 that BOH made another novel move when it opened its first Pacific Islands branch on Kwajalein. Two years later, it opened a branch in both Palau and Guam. Ten years later, BOH continued its international expansion by absorbing Bank of American Samoa, which the Navy had established in 1914. That same year, it created _Banque de Tahiti_ as a joint venture between itself and Crédit Lyonnais. The next year, BOH established a branch in Yap. Branches in Ponape and Kosrae followed in the subsequent years.

It also continued its expansion outside Hawaii with the establishment of a branch in Saipan. Three years later, BOH and Crédit Lyonnais established another joint-venture, _Banque de Nouvelle Calédonie_ in Nouméa.

In 1980, BOH opened a branch in Tokyo.

BOH acquired Wells Fargo Bank's Seoul, Korea, and Singapore operations in 1991.[33][34] Two years later, it acquired Banque Indosuez's operations in Vanuatu, which became Banque d’Hawaii (Vanuatu). That same year, BOH also opened its first branch in Suva, Fiji in 1993. Branches in Nadi and Lautoka followed. In 1994, BOH acquired Commonwealth Bank of Australia's 51% ownership in the National Bank of Solomon Islands.[35] BOH also acquired Crédit Lyonnais' holdings in Banque de Nouvelle Calédonie, giving BOH 91 percent ownership.[36]

Banque de Nouvelle Calédonie changed its name to Bank of Hawaii—Nouvelle Calédonie.[37] BOH also purchased Banque Indosuez Nuigini in Papua New Guinea from Banque Indosuez for $5.6 million[38] and renamed it Bank of Hawaii (PNG) Ltd. In addition to its main office in Port Moresby, Bank of Hawaii (PNG) also had an office in Lae, PNG's second port city on the Northeast Coast. Indosuez Nuigini was established in 1983 with 49 percent Indosuez participation, 41.5 percent Bank of Papua New Guinea, and the remainder public.

International acquisitions

In 1998, BOH bought 5.4mn convertible notes of Bank of Queensland for $22 million as part of a strategic alliance giving rise to a true reflecting of the convertible note value into 49% ownership at that time.[39][40] It also acquired 100 percent of _Banque Paribas Pacifique_ (est. 1972; 3 branches) and 70 percent of _Banque Paribas Polynésie_ (est. 1984; 1 branch).[41] BOH integrated the operations with Bank of Hawaii-Nouvelle Calédonie and Banque de Tahiti, respectively. In 1999, BOH bought 5.8mn shares (approx. 10 percent) in Bank of Queensland.[42]

Withdraw from international financial services markets

In 2001, BOH sold its 6.2mn shares and 5.4mn convertible notes in Bank of Queensland for $20 million and $16 million respectively.[43] The decision reflected PCFC's new strategic plan, which mandated a focus on the bank's core markets in Hawaii, American Samoa, and Guam. BOH sold its shareholding in the _Bank of Tonga_ and _Pacific Commercial Bank of Samoa_ to Westpac. BOH and Westpac both had 30 percent interests in Bank of Tonga and 42 percent interests in Pacific Commercial Bank.[44][45] BOH sold its operations in Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, and Fiji to ANZ for AU$100 million.[46] BOH sold its approximately 95 percent share interest in its French Polynesia and New Caledonia operations to France-based _Caisse Nationale des Caisses d'Epargne_ (CNCE). Its operations in French Polynesia included 17 branches of its subsidiary, Banque de Tahiti, and about 265 employees. Its operations in New Caledonia included eight branches of subsidiary Bank of Hawaii-Nouvelle Caledonie and about 190 employees.[47][48] Lastly, BOH closed its offices in Hong Kong, Seoul, Singapore, and Taipei.

In 2002, BOH was unable to find a buyer for its bank properties in the Central Pacific when it was trying to withdraw from those markets. As a result, BOH closed its Majuro branch in the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) and its three branches in Pohnpei, Yap, and Kosrae in the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM).[49] BOH turned over its 51 percent interest in National Bank of Solomon Islands to the government of the Solomon Islands.

Governance

Poor performance by the bank in early 2000, contributed to chairman and CEO Lawrence M. Johnson's resignation in 2000[50] and bank president Richard Dahl being passed over as Johnson's replacement. Dahl left the company in 2002.[51]

In November 2000, Michael E. O'Neill was hired from outside the company to serve as chairman and CEO to correct mistakes made by the previous management.[52] O'Neill did not take a salary or any bonuses during his three years at the helm, but in 2004 he controlled about 2.73 million — about 5 percent — of the bank's total shares directly or under option.[53] O'Neill reversed the company's decline by selling off properties outside the company's core business area of Hawaii, Guam, and American Samoa. O'Neill stepped down as chairman and CEO in 2004.[54]

In December 2003, Allan R. Landon was promoted from chief financial officer to president[55][56] and later to chairman and CEO upon O'Neill leaving in September 2004.[57] Under Landon's leadership, the Bank of Hawaii “survived the financial crisis without federal assistance and prospered in its aftermath”.

In 2008, Landon handed his position of president to Peter S. Ho while Landon retained his chairman and CEO posts.[58] Two years later Ho was given the additional titles of chairman and chief executive officer in addition to president upon the retirement of Allan R. Landon in 2010.[59]

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[7]  Alternate Link via ProQuest.

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[9]  Alternate Link via ProQuest.

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[22]  Alternate Link via ProQuest.

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[39]  Alternate Link via ProQuest.

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title: Bank of Hawaii

question: Despite a roller coaster ride of mergers, acquisitions, sell-offs, and poor performance in 2000, how did the Bank of Hawaii Corporation (BOH) do in the end?

answer: Yes, despite several crises, BOH survived and prospered in the end.

question: How did Chairman and CEO Michael E. O'Neill reverse BOH's decline when he was at the helm?

answer: O'Neill corrected the mistakes of previous management by selling off the company's properties outside of its core business in Hawaii, Guam, and American Samoa. He also didn't take a salary or bonuses for three years.


text:
[Self-portrait; from the _Neue Illustrirte Zeitung_ (1889)] ALEXANDER DEMETRIUS GOLTZ (25 January 1857, Püspökladány – 14 May 1944, Vienna) was a Hungarian-born Austrian painter, illustrator and scenic designer.

Biography

He was the son of a railway engineer and, after the age of two, grew up in Vienna. From 1874 to 1875, he studied with Otto Seitz at the Academy of Fine Arts, Munich. Then, for the next two years, he was a student of Anselm Feuerbach at the Academy of Fine Arts, Vienna.[1] His first exhibition was in 1876 and he became a member of the Vienna Künstlerhaus.

This was followed by several study trips, a stay in Munich from 1884 to 1888, and studies with Pierre Puvis de Chavannes in Paris. He finally returned to Vienna in 1892.[2] Beginning as a history painter, he later turned to landscapes and portraits. From 1904 to 1907, he was in charge of the scenic equipment at the Burgtheater, then held the same position at the Vienna State Opera from 1909 to 1910.[3] During this time, he painted the portraits of numerous performers; notably Josef Kainz.

He was a member of the Hagenbund from 1900 to 1911 and served as its President for the year 1906/07. During the First World War, he served as a battle painter for the Imperial and worked at the fronts in Belgium, Russia, Italy, Serbia and Turkey. Most of these paintings are now on display at the Museum of Military History.

From 1925 to 1929, he was President of the Artists' Cooperative at the Künstlerhaus. He was married twice. His second wife (whom he married in 1909) was the actress Mary Mell (1885-1954), sister of the writer, Max Mell. In 1927, he became a citizen of Vienna and is buried at the Zentralfriedhof.[4]

Selected paintings

File:Alexander Demetrius Goltz - Die Besucherin 1919.jpg|The Visitor File:Goltz-Spring.jpg%7CSpring File:Alexander Demetrius Goltz Kainz als Torquato Tasso 1910.jpg|Josef Kainz as Torquato Tasso Alexander Demetrius Goltz - Mädchen mit Puppe.jpg|Girl with a Puppet

[1]

[2] Reinhard Müller: _Alexander Demetrius Goltz_. In: _Die Arbeitslosen von Marienthal_, Juni 2008; retrieved, 18 September 2011.

[3]

[4]

title: Alexander Demetrius Goltz

question: Where did Goltz study?

answer: Goltz first studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Munich and then at the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna.

question: When was his first exhibition?

answer: His first exhibition was in 1876.

question: For how long was he a member of Hagenbund?

answer: 11 years.

question: Where are his paintings of the First World War displayed now?

answer: His paintings are displayed at the Museum of Military History.

question: Write a ~6 sentence summary.

answer:
Alexander Demetrius Goltz was an Austrian painter, born in Hungary. Goltz had studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Munich and Vienna. His first exhibition took place in 1876 and soon after, he became a member of the Vienna Künstlerhaus.

He went on several study trips and painted portraits of numerous performers. During the First World War, he served as a battle painter.

He was the President of the Artists' Cooperative at the Künstlerhaus for four years.


text:
By the time you read this, the Texas Legislature probably will be close to passing a bill banning abortions after the 20th week of pregnancy and including provisions that will cause most women’s health clinics that provide abortions to close their doors.

An aside: Due to deadlines, the Independence Day holiday and the legislative process, this editorial went to “ether” prior to adoption of the bill. But this issue still matters because (a) lawmakers are all but certain to pass the abortion bill and (b) these proposals should become policy and/or practice, even if the “old” abortion laws still apply.

[knox new]Editor Marv KnoxWith new abortion laws in place, Texans can expect a significant increase in the number of babies born every year. That’s the whole point—to turn more pregnancies into live births.

We can expect the mothers of a multitude of these “extra” babies to be teens, unwed and/or poor. Those are the demographics of a significant proportion of women who choose abortions.

Since the moral impetus for reducing, if not eliminating, abortions is advocacy for life, then Texans should demonstrate our support for these babies. When you examine many of our current practices and policies, you understand why outsiders claim Texans are more concerned about fetuses than babies, children and teenagers.

Texas is among the nation’s leaders in child poverty, teen pregnancy, dropout rates and illiteracy. We’re also among the nation’s lowest-spending states on child poverty, teen pregnancy, dropout rates and illiteracy. Some people attribute these maladies to dependence on government, the product of a so-called welfare state. If that were true, then their incidence would be higher in states that spend the most on child welfare, anti-poverty programs and education, not the least-spending small-government states, like Texas.

A STRANGE DISPARITY

Ironically, conservative states composed of higher percentages of Bible-believing Christians—from Texas across the South—suffer the blights of child poverty, teen pregnancy, dropout rates and illiteracy much more promiscuously than their more secular counterparts. Those are the states many Texans and Southerners call “pagan” and “dark.”

This disparity is an affront to the name of Jesus. Small wonder unbelieving outsiders doubt the compassion of Christ and the credibility of Christians. We often treat people Jesus called “the least” worse than unbelievers do.

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If Texans’ conservative moral values prompt our state to implement one of the nation’s most stringent abortion codes, then we should accept the responsibility for all those babies we will bring into the world. We need to do right by them.

CHURCHES LAGGING BEHIND

That means both enacting better laws and public programs that protect women and children, make certain no child goes hungry and ensure our young people receive quality education. And don’t dare claim that’s the job of the church, and the state should butt out. The church has demonstrated its unwillingness to rise to the occasion, and the enormity of the task is about to multiply. Maybe less than 10 congregations in the entire state come anywhere near caring for all the poor people in their community. Others lag far behind. Most don’t try. Moreover, a central task of Christian citizenship is public advocacy for the weakest and most vulnerable and championing the common good.

If we’re going to take care of babies spared from abortions, here’s where we start:

• ADOPTION. Streamline laws and practices to make Texas adoptions simple and inexpensive. A mother who carries her baby to term should know without a doubt that child can be placed in a loving “forever” family who will treasure and nurture it as their own.

Churches can support this by creating a culture of adoption—adoption as ministry—that provides a ready and willing supply of families who receive children.

• PARENTING. At-risk families of these children need the help of a variety of steps. They include …

More classes and other learning opportunities to provide basic-parenting skills. Churches particularly can provide these.

Changes in tax laws to benefit intact two-parent families.

Stronger incentives, as well as financial requirements, for fathers to remain in homes with mothers and their children.

Changes in the penal codes so nonviolent offenders of numerous crimes make appropriate restitution but are not locked up and removed from their homes. Research shows the No. 1 factor related to promiscuity of girls and violence of boys is absence of a father from their home.

• NUTRITION. Secure and strengthen public- and private-sector programs that ensure no child in Texas goes hungry. These changes need to accommodate programs for infants and preschoolers, as well as school-age children, not only during school sessions, but also holidays and summer.

• EDUCATION. Multiple changes will be required, including …

Expanded Head Start programs, to give young children in at-risk families greater opportunity to learn early and prepare for school.

Parental training, so moms and dads understand the educational system, the requirements of schools and how they can help their children learn. For some, expanded adult literacy and remedial adult education is needed. Churches can play a huge role.

Tutoring for children at all levels. Churches must provide the people-power to make this possible.

Modification of middle school and high school curriculum to expand vocational training and broaden vocational options. Our state economy increasingly will depend upon well-trained workers who did not attend college.

These are just a few ideas. If we all turn our hearts and minds toward unconditional compassion and care for the all the baby Texans, we will develop more and better responses.

We must start now, before they are born.

question: What is the main topic of this article?

answer: Texas' abortion laws and the current policies and practices regarding babies, children, and teenagers. The author makes the point that because Texas is a conservative, Christian state, they're passing stricter abortion laws. Given the strict abortion laws, the state can expect more babies to be born to teens, unwed, and poor mothers. Based on a Christian belief, the policies and practices regarding child poverty, teen pregnancy, dropout rates, illiteracy, and overall anti-poverty programs should be more compassionate than they currently are.

question: Is this article based on fact or opinion?

answer: It is a mix of both fact and opinion.

question: What does the author claim about churches in Texas?

answer: The author makes the point that churches are unwilling to take the responsibility of taking care of hungry, poor, uneducated children. The responsibility should fall on the state.

question: What does the author of the article suggest needs to change in Texas laws and public programs?

answer: Make adoptions easier and less expensive; parenting classes for at-risk families; changes in the penal code for non-violent offenders; nutrition for children in need; and education.

question: Write a ~3 sentence summary.

answer: The author makes the point that because Texas is a conservative, Christian state, they're passing stricter abortion laws. Given the strict abortion laws, the state can expect more babies to be born to teens, unwed, and poor mothers. Based on a Christian belief, the policies and practices regarding child poverty, teen pregnancy, dropout rates, illiteracy, and overall anti-poverty programs should be more compassionate than they currently are.


text:
BHEKOKWAKHE “BHEKI” HAMILTON CELE (born 22 February 1952) is the South African Minister of the Police. He was appointed to this post on the 26th February 2018. He was previously the National Commissioner of the South African Police Service until October 2011, when he was suspended from duty, due to allegations of corruption.[1] He was appointed to this position in July 2009, replacing Jackie Selebi, who was suspended in January 2008 following charges of corruption. From 2004 to 2009 he held the post of _Member of the Executive Council (MEC)_ for Transport, Safety and Security in KwaZulu-Natal[2] after holding various other portfolios in the KwaZulu-Natal provincial government.[3] He is a member of the African National Congress.

General Bheki Cele was dismissed as national police chief in June, 2012. “I have decided to release General Cele from his duties,” Zuma told reporters in Pretoria.[4]

He referred to the board of inquiry mandated to establish whether Cele acted corruptly, dishonestly, or with an undeclared conflict of interest in relation to two police lease deals signed with business tycoon Roux Shabangu—one for a building in Pretoria, another for a building in Durban.

“The board has found General Cele to be unfit for office and has recommended his removal from office in terms of the provisions of section 8(6)(b)(v) of the South African Police Service Act No. 68 of 1995,” said Zuma.

Despite this, in November 2013, he was placed on the ANC's list of preferred candidates to go to parliament.[5]

In January 2014, he attempted to delay the South African Public Protector's report on wasteful expenditure at Nkandla - President Jacob Zuma's private homestead.[6]

Cele was appointed as the Police Minister by newly appointed President Cyril Ramaphosa, during his cabinet reshuffle at the end of February 2018.[7]

Corrupt administration of Taxpayer money

Bheki Cele is was under investigation following the discovery of evidence showing that R1.7 billion rand spent on building leases were unlawful, improper and constituted maladministration.[8] Though suspended, South African taxpayers continued to spend at least R1.3-million a year on his salary, until he was finally dismissed by President Jacob Zuma in June 2013.[9][10]

Conflict with Inkatha Freedom Party

In April 2009 he drew criticism for comments made at a rally in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, about the Inkatha Freedom Party, and its leader Mangosuthu Buthelezi. The remarks, insinuating IFP propagation of illicit weaponry, were made against a background of political tension and violence in the Natal province.[11]

2009 NEHAWU strike

Cele also played a role in the suspension of a three-day strike of the National Education, Health and Allied Workers' Union (Nehawu) over the failure to address their concerns regarding KwaZulu-Natal department of transport official Chris Hlabisa. According to Nehawu's Vusi Gama, they suspended the strike, which had been organised to call for Hlabisa's sacking, after asking for a meeting with Cele.[12]

Comments to SAPS

In September 2010, Cele made comments regarding the SAPS, telling them to “shape up or ship out”,[13] and saying “when you walk down the street, people must envy your body.” One of his comments, “Stomach in, chest out”,[14] has become viral in South Africa and has inspired several techno remixes using audio from his speech.[15]

Gun control

Bheki Cele has vowed his desire to disarm legally armed South African gun owners.[16]

[1]

[2]

[3] https://www.politicsweb.co.za/documents/why-i-chose-bheki-cele--jacob-zuma%7CAnnouncement by South African President Jacob Zuma of new National Police Commissioner, Pretoria, July 29, 2009

[4]

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[12]

[13] http://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2011-09-23-zuma-to-cele-tell-me-why-you-shouldnt-leave/#.Vua0e-mKDcs

[14]

[15] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e7bT1Gz2P30

[16] https://citizen.co.za/news/south-africa/crime/2120550/bheki-cele-expresses-wish-to-disarm-all-private-citizens-in-sa/amp//

title: Bheki Cele

question: When was Cele appointed as the Minister of Police?

answer: 26 February 2018.

question: What post was Cele previously working at?

answer: Cele was previously the National Commissioner of the South African Police Service in 2011. He was then suspended from his duty on allegations of corruption.

question: When was Cele dismissed as national police chief?

answer: In June 2012.

question: What was Cele criticized for in 2009?

answer: Cele was criticized for his comments at a rally in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, about the Inkatha Freedom Party and its leader.

question: Write a ~6 sentence summary.

answer:
Bheki Cele is the South African Minister of Police. He was appointed to the post in 2018. Cele was previously the National Commissioner of the South African Police Service until he was suspended from the post on corruption allegations.

Despite the board of inquiry finding him unfit for the office, he was placed on ANC's list of preferred candidates to go to parliament. He was appointed as the Police Minister during the newly appointed President's cabinet reshuffle.

Cele has been under a watch for his corrupt administration of Taxpayer money, conflict with Inkatha Freedom Party, NEHAWU strike, and his comments to SAPS.


text:
_LYGOPHIS_ is a genus of snakes in the subfamily Dipsadinae of the family Colubridae. The genus is endemic to Panama and South America.

Species

The genus _Lygophis_ contains the following eight species which are recognized as being valid.[1]

-   _Lygophis anomalus_
-   _Lygophis dilepis_
-   _Lygophis elegantissimus_
-   _Lygophis flavifrenatus_
-   _Lygophis lineatus_
-   _Lygophis meridionalis_
-   _Lygophis paucidens_
-   _Lygophis vanzolinii_

_Nota bene_: A binomial authority in parentheses indicates that the species was originally described in a genus other than _Lygophis_.

[1] . www.reptile-database.org.

title: Lygophis

question: What is Lygophis?

answer: Lygophis is a genus of snakes.

question: What subfamily does Lygophis belong to?

answer: It belongs to the subfamily, Dipsadinae of the family Colubridae.

question: How many species does the genus Lygophis have?

answer: It has 8 species

question: Where is the genus Lygophis endemic to?

answer: It is endemic to Panama and South America.

question: Write a ~1 sentence summary.

answer: This article talks about the genus Lygophis and describes more facts about it.


text:
To say that Freeman Dyson is a highly respected scientist is an understatement. Over his 91 years, he has made seminal discoveries in mathematics and physics;written evocatively (and provocatively) on what it means to be a scientist, the role of science in society, and the culture of science; shared the fruits of his imagination about possible future discoveries and their implications for humanity; and generally offered up one fresh and unexpected view after another on topics from space travel to genetic engineering and beyond.

By all accounts, he's a modest and funny man, a loving husband and father, and a continued source of inspiration to his colleagues at the Princeton Institute for Advanced Studies. However, since 2007, he's been purporting to be the voice of "moderation" on the topic of climate change. Casting himself in the role of objective, outside observer, he has declared that climate scientists are caught up in their own hype, in love with their own models, and distracting society from ills far more important than climate change.

I wish that he were right. It would be swell if climate change were really not a big deal. But he's not, and it is.

Dyson is on tour, promoting his new book _Dreams of Earth and Sky_ (2015). On May 2, 2015, he was interviewed by Scott Simon on NPR's Weekend Edition. If the interview is any indication, Dyson's book tour could sow an awful lot of confusion about the scientific consensus on climate change. Here's what Dyson said:

_"What I would like to emphasize is that human actions have very large effects on the ecology, which have nothing to do with the climate."_

True, but where are you going with this? Human activities -- farming, fishing, timber harvesting, urbanization, industrial waste -- all have dramatic and frequently compounding effects on "the ecology." Indeed, the fact that "the ecology" is under multiple non-climate stresses makes it all the more vulnerable to a changing climate.

  Carbon dioxide is what we're producing in big quantities and putting into the atmosphere. This happens to be a very good fertilizer for all kinds of vegetation, good for wildlife, good for agricultural production, so it has many benefits.

This is one of the most tired and thoroughly debunked climate change denier arguments -- the equivalent of the creationists' "But where are the transitional fossils?" argument. Really, how many times do we have to kill these zombies? For a thorough take-down of this persistent misconception, visit Skeptical Science. Or just think about it for more than three seconds. Dyson's paean to carbon dioxide would be appropriate only if CO₂ were everywhere and always the sole limiting factor on plant growth -- which really could only be the case if all plants were grown in controlled environments like greenhouses. Moreover, it would be appropriate only if drought, extreme temperature events, desertification, sea level rise, and all of the other consequences of climate change will have no negative effects on plant productivity. It isn't, and they won't.

_"And this is something you have together with the climate effects, which are much less certain, so it's a question of drawing a balance."_

The "climate effects," on which there is a vast body of scientific research literature, are a lot more certain than the wishful-thinking-at-best benefits of rising CO₂ to plants. Besides, would increased plant productivity due to rising CO₂ really balance out all the other consequences of climate change? After all, what profit a man if he shall gain a few tomatoes and lose a coastal metropolis?

  I'm just saying I don't understand it and neither does anybody else. I'm skeptical because I don't think the science is at all clear, and unfortunately a lot of the experts really believe they understand it, and maybe have the wrong answer.

Really, Professor Dyson? That's the best you can come up with? That's right up there with the "I'm not a scientist, but..." line that has become so popular of late with politicians. Actually, tens of thousands of scientists, from multiple disciplines, in a vast number of studies spanning decades, have combined all their data and come to the conclusion -- disturbing as it is -- that the climate is definitely warming, that CO₂ emissions from human activities are responsible, and that the consequences are likely to be both serious and increasingly difficult to prevent the longer action is delayed.

  Of course [the weather] concerns me, but of course, we don't know much about the causes of those things. We don't even know for sure whether it is more variable than it used to be.

A classic bait and switch. The question isn't whether weather is more variable (although there's growing evidence that climate change is contributing to stronger hurricanes and other severe weather events); the question is whether the planet is warming, the sea level rising, and the pH of the ocean falling. The answer is yes; these are all well-established results of the science. Talking about variations in the weather is just a distraction.

_"I mean the worst disasters were the Ice Ages, and nobody really understands for sure the causes of ice ages..._

Actually, scientists have a pretty good handle on what caused the Ice Ages. For a fascinating tour through the history of Ice Age science, I recommend an excellent essay posted on the website of the American Institute of Physics. To make a long story short, not only do scientists know a lot about the causes of Ice Ages, they know that we _should_ be entering one now, but human emissions of CO₂ are overriding the natural cycles.

_So I'm not saying the climate disasters aren't real, I'm merely saying we don't know how to prevent them._

By parity of reasoning, he might have concluded, "So I'm not saying that earthquakes aren't real, I'm merely saying we don't know how to prevent them." That isn't really relevant, is it? We prepare for earthquakes whether we can prevent them or not. In fact, _because_ we can't prevent them, we are even more obliged to prepare for them. We can -- and we should -- both take what actions are needed to slow the rate of climate change and prepare for the consequences we can't prevent.

Not that it will do any good, but I implore Professor Dyson to take a good hard look at the scientific evidence and think again -- especially because his deserved scientific eminence may lead the public to overindulge at his smorgasbord of misconceptions.

Calling all HuffPost superfans!

Sign up for membership to become a founding member and help shape HuffPost's next chapter

question: Who is Freeman Dyson?

answer: A highly respected scientist in the fields of mathematics and physics.

question: What is Dyson's stance on climate change?

answer: He is the voice of moderation on the topic of climate change, claiming that it is not such a big issue as climate scientists want us to believe.

question: Does the author of the text agree with Dyson when it comes to climate change?

answer: No, the author refutes Dyson's statements.

question: What is the name of Dyson's 2015 book?

answer: Dreams of Earth and Sky.

question: Write a ~2 sentence summary.

answer: The text is about a scientist named Freeman Dyson and his claims about climate change. Dyson believes climate change is not such a big issue, but the author of the text takes apart and refutes his claims.


text:
NÔNG ĐỨC MẠNH (; born 11 September 1940) is a Vietnamese politician who served as General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam, the most powerful position in the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, from 22 April 2001 to 19 January 2011.[1] His parents were Tày peasants.[2]Nông Đức Mạnh was born in Cường Lợi, Na Rì District, Bắc Kạn Province. His own son is Nông Quốc Tuấn, party secretary for Bắc Giang Province.

Background

It has long been rumoured that Nông Đức Mạnh is the illegitimate son of Hồ Chí Minh (1890–1969) and Nông Thị Trưng (1921–2003), Hồ's housekeeper from 1941–42. This story may have been a factor in his selection as party boss.[3] In a profile of Mạnh published in the official press immediately after he gained this position, Trưng was identified as his mother.[4]

Nông Đức Mạnh's official biography gives his date of birth as 11 September 1939,[5] when Hồ Chí Minh was still in China.[6] Ho returned to Vietnam in February 1941[7] and met Trưng in July. Hồ wrote a four-line poem for Trưng in 1944, and gave her a notebook as “a token of my love”.[8]

This poem was later taught to elementary school students. In April 2001, shortly after Nông Đức Mạnh was named as General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam , a reporter at a news conference asked him to confirm or deny the rumor. He responded, _“All Vietnamese people are the children of Uncle Hồ.”_ When asked again about the rumor in January 2002 by a _Time Asia_ reporter, he denied he was Hồ's son and stated that his father was named Nông Văn Lai and his mother Hoàng Thị Nhị.[9]

Early life and political career

In 1958–61, Nông Đức Mạnh attended the Hanoi Higher School. From 1962–63, he worked as a forestry supervisory technician in the Bắc Kạn Forestry Service. He joined the Communist Party on 5 July 1963 and received full membership on 10 July 1964. From 1963–65, Mạnh was the deputy chief of the Bạch Thông wood exploitation team; he later returned to his studies, learning Russian at the Hanoi Foreign Languages College (from 1965–66). He traveled to Leningrad, where he studied at the Forestry Institute until 1971. After returning to Vietnam, he became the deputy head of the Bắc Thái provincial forestry inspection board.[10]

From 1973–74, Nông Đức Mạnh served as director of the Phú Lương State Forestry Camp in Bắc Thái province. From 1974–76, Mạnh studied at the Nguyễn Ái Quốc High-Level Party School. From 1976–80, he served as the deputy director of the provincial forestry service and director of the construction company of the provincial forestry service. Rising through the party ranks, Mạnh was a member of the Bắc Thái Provincial Party Committee from 1976–83. In 1984, he was named deputy secretary of the committee, and in November 1986, the secretary of the committee. At the 6th National Congress he was elected as an alternate member of the Central Committee. At the sixth party plenum in March 1989, he was elevated to full central committee member. Since 1991, he has been in the politburo.[11]

Nông Đức Mạnh was selected General Secretary of the Communist Party in April 2001. His term was renewed in April 2006. He is the first Vietnamese party head with a university degree. He announced his plans for Vietnam's future as an industrialised country, to be completed by 2020.[12]

[Nông Đức Mạnh with George W. Bush]

[1] Vietnam: Foreign Policy and Government Guide International Business Publications, USA. – 2007 Page 8 "Vietnamese Government Communist state – General Secretary Nông Ðức Mạnh – President Nguyễn Minh Triết – Prime Minister Nguyễn Tấn Dũng "

[2] Biography of Nông Đức Mạnh, the General Secretary of the CPV, VNA, 22 April 2001

[3] Duiker, William J. (2000). _Ho Chi Minh_. New York: Hyperion. Kindle location 11915. eBook .

[4] A footnote reads, “Mrs. Nông Thị Trưng is the mother of Comrade Nông Đức Mạnh” (“Tổng Bí thư Nông Đức Mạnh trong ký ức của một người thầy” (“A teacher remembers General Secretary Nông Đức Mạnh”), _Thế Giới Mới_ (_New World_), Ministry of Education and Training, Vietnam, 30 April 2001, No. 434.)

[5] _Từ điển Bách khoa Việt Nam_ (The Encyclopedia of Vietnam), volume 3 (N-S), Hanoi, 2003. p. 302.

[6]

[7] Green, Richard E. Hồ Chí Minh biography

[8] _“This notebook I endear it to my beloved niece/As a token of my love/With the wish that you try to study/To build the nation later on...”_ (Hồ Chí Minh, “Tặng cháu Nông Thị Trưng” (“Present for Nông Thị Trưng”), 1944); in Vietnamese, see here and here.

[9] “We don't want to keep secrets anymore”, _Time Asia_, 22 January 2002.

[10]

[11] Communist Party of Vietnam. _9th National Congress: Documents_. Hanoi: Thế Giới Publishers, 2001. pp. 261–63.

[12] “Modernising leader for Vietnam”, BBC News, 22 April 2001.

title: Nông Đức Mạnh

question: Explain what was rumored about Nông Đức Mạnh.

answer: It was rumored that he's the illegitimate son of Hồ Chí Minh and his housekeeper, Nông Thị Trưng.


text:
[_“What a madman art thou, to make them new noses, which within a few days shall all lose their heads!”_ Illustration of “Prest's Wife and the Stonemason” by Kronheim from the 1887 edition of _Foxe's Book of Martyrs_] AGNES PREST (died 15 August 1557) was a Cornish Protestant martyr from the reign of the Catholic Queen Mary. She was burned at the stake at Southernhay in Exeter in 1557. According to _Foxe's Book of Martyrs_, and the story of Exeter Protestant Martyrs she lived near Launceston, Cornwall, and was married to a Catholic husband. She left her husband over his Catholicism, and went to be a spinner but she later on returned to him and was arrested and indicted at the Launceston Assizes. She was then put in Launceston jail and then transferred to Exeter jail. In Exeter jail, she was brought before the Bishop of Exeter, Bishop Turberville. When questioned, she denied the Catholic doctrine of transubstantiation. She was then released for a month. Whilst she was released, she is said to have met a Dutch stonemason in Exeter Cathedral who was repairing the statues of the saints beloved of the Catholics. According to Foxe, she said to him “What a madman art thou, to make them new noses, which within a few days shall all lose their heads”. After that point she was returned to jail where she had many visitors, including Walter Raleigh's mother, Catherine Raleigh who praised her for her 'Godly life'. She was then tried for heresy by the Mayor of Exeter, refused to recant her beliefs and was executed by being burnt to death on 15 August 1557.[1][2]

Denmark Road Protestant Martyrs' Memorial

In 1909 a monument in the form of an obelisk of Dartmoor granite was erected in Denmark Road, Exeter, to the memories of the Protestant Martyrs Agnes Prest (d. 1557) and Thomas Benet (d. 1531). This monument was designed by Harry Hems and was erected with money raised through public subscription. Two bronze sculpted relief panels by Harry Hems on the base of the obelisk depict Prest burning at the stake and Benet nailing his protest to the door of the Cathedral.[3] The following inscriptions are contained on two bronze plaques affixed on opposite sides of the base:[4]

  To the glory of God & in honour of his faithful witnesses who near this spot yielded their bodies to be burned for love to Christ and in vindication of the principles of the Protestant Reformation this monument was erected by public subscription AD 1909. They being dead yet speak.

And:

  In grateful remembrance of Thomas Benet, M.A. who suffered at Livery Dole A.D. 1531 for denying the supremacy of the Pope and of Agnes Prest who suffered on Southernhay A.D. 1557 for refusing to accept the doctrine of Transubstantiation. Faithful unto death.

File:BurningOfAgnesPrestExeterMartyrsMonument.jpg|“Agnes Prest burnt upon Southernhay AD 1557”. 1909 bronze relief sculpted panel by Harry Hems showing the burning at the stake of the Protestant martyr Agnes Prest in 1557, on the base of the Protestant Martyrs' Monument, Denmark Road, Exeter, Devon. File:ProtestantMartyrsMonumentExeter.jpg%7CThe Protestant Martyrs' Monument, Denmark Road, Exeter, Devon. Erected 1909 in memory of the martyrs Thomas Benet (d. 1531) and Agnes Prest (d. 1557). File:ThomasBenetProtestantMartyrExeter.jpg|“Thomas Benet nails his protest against the Cathedral Door AD 1531”. 1909 Bronze relief sculpted panel by Harry Hems showing protest by Protestant martyr Thomas Benet which earned him martyrdom in 1531 at Livery Dole, Exeter. Affixed to the base of the Protestant Martyrs' Monument, Denmark Road, Exeter, Devon.

[1] John Foxe (1887 republication), _Book of Martyrs_, London & New York: Frederick Warne and Co., pp. 242-44

[2]

[3]

[4]

title: Agnes Prest

question: How did Agnes Priest die?

answer: She was burned at the stake.

question: What was Agnes Priest?

answer: A Cornish Protestant martyr.

question: Where was she burned at the stake?

answer: Southernay near Exeter.

question: Why did Agnes Priest leave her husband?

answer: He was a Catholic.

question: Write a ~1 sentence summary.

answer: This article is about Agnes Priest, a Cornish Protestant martyr who was burned at the stake in 1557.


text:
It was a small boring house in Los Angeles, California that surprisingly no one ever noticed, and has been

 abandon for probably thirty years now, which is pretty strange why that house hasn't been taken down yet. It

 was.... how do I put this...... it was creepy, in a really interesting, nostalgic, and somber way, maybe because it
 reminded of my simple, small appeal childhood in Moscow, Pennsylvania. I recently discovered the last family

 that moved into that house either disappeared or died. Fifth-teen feet away from that house, I saw a boy that

was probably about thirteen, all alone sitting on a tree stump and looked down at the grass

 I then realized, that kid looked exactly like me when i was his thirteen. I then said to him, "Why

 are you sitting alone depressed?" the boy looked at me like I had nine arms and said "Could you see me? I was

the soul of the kid that lived in that house!" At first I thought he was just being an asshole to get me away,

 then he yelled, "I'm serious! PLEASE, just maybe I could prove it!"The way he yelled made me shocked no one

noticed that. It was so loud, but I didn't let it get to me. I said to him "Okay, try to 'prove' it then." "FINE!"

Suddenly the boy walked through me, "Do you believe me now!?" I was astonished "How did you do

that?!" I said "I've been deceased for five years now..." "Whats your name?" I asked him. "My name is Mills"

Words cannot describe how much that astounded me. My name is also Mills. I soon realized he had the same

cloths I wore when I was his age. he had sagging jeans and my old gym t-shirt that said Trojans on it. I also

realized the house he was sitting by looked exactly like my old house in Moscow, Pennsylvania. The only

difference between me and that kid was that lived in Pennsylvania my whole childhood.

title: The House Part 1

question: Where does the story take place?

answer: Los Angeles, California

question: Who are the main characters of the story?

answer: The narrator, Mills, and the boy, also named Mills.

question: How long has the kid been dead?

answer: Five years.

question: What does the kid want?

answer: The kid is asking for help.

question: Write a ~4 sentence summary.

answer: Mills sees a small, abandoned house in Los Angeles, California that looks exactly like his old childhood home. The last family who lived in the house he is looking at either disappeared or died. Mills sees a 13-year-old ghost that looks exactly like him, claiming he lived in the house and has been dead for five years. The boy is wearing the same clothes he was wearing at that age and they both have the same name.


text:
James Comey admits to taking official government documents home and then giving them to the NY Times; he directly contradicts his 3 May 2017, under-oath testimony; he publicly conspires with that stooge of a Special Counsel Robert Mueller to stage-manage his testimony; he refused to tell Americans that their president was not colluding with the Russians; he coordinated his public language with Attorney General Lynch to please Clinton, protect that criminal, and fix the 2016 election; and, just after the hearing, is reported to have been offered a $10 million advance/payoff from a New York publisher for a book on Trump.

The Senate committee, almost to a man and woman, tried to aid Comey’s lie-filled, anti-republic testimony against Trump. Only Senators Risch, Cornyn, and Rubio did the enormously easy job of demonstrating that Comey is nothing but a lying, two-bit Clinton-whore. A good high-school debater would have had no problem doing the same.

Mr. Trump, God love you for what have done and are trying to do to resuscitate the republic. We need more jobs, a better stock market, no unnecessary wars, the end of government-mandated multiculturalism and diversity, rebuilt infrastructure, elimination of illegal aliens and street gangs, a border wall, lower taxes, the repeal of hate-speech laws, fairer trade, a lengthy ban on all immigration, an end to abortion, and minimal federal regulations. All of these things are indispensable.

_BUY SILVER AT DISCOUNTED PRICES_

But more urgently important than all of these needs, Mr. Trump, is for Americans to see you and Attorney General Sessions vigorously use the now unenforced law to, figuratively, draw a vast effusion of blood from the utterly lawless American elite. Both of you already have in your possessions the basis for indictments of:

  –James Comey for perjury, and he and all FBI officials who conspired with him to support the Clinton campaign

  –All three Clintons, both Obamas, and Loretta Lynch

  –The Clinton Foundation, its leadership team, some of its contributors, and all of the State Department and other national government officials who willing aided the Foundation while Clinton was Secretary of State

  –John Podesta and his DNC leadership team,

  –Eric Holder and all those DoJ officials involved in Fast&Furious

  –Lois Learner and the IRS officials who persecuted conservatives

  –All leakers of classified information, most especially serving and former senior U.S. Intelligence Community officials

  –George Soros and all U.S.-citizen, billionaire big shots who fund the violence of Democratic demonstrators

  –All the Democratic operatives who have rigged voter lists and otherwise assisted the dead and illegal aliens to vote

  –All of the mayors, governors, judges, police chiefs, ministers, priests, NGOs, and university leaders who establish and maintain “sanctuary” domains

  –The people who killed DNC employee Seth Rich, as well those responsible for the long list of murders of people who crossed the Clintons

You must, President Trump and Judge Sessions, move quickly on the issue of enforcing the law against the bipartisan U.S. political elite and incarcerating those who are convicted — no pardons, no plea bargains, no probation, no omissions.

All the other improvements for the republic aspired to by the Trump administration are important, even essential. But none is as important than beginning to enforce the law against the gangster-dominated American elite. Legally draw their blood, gentlemen, or they will reverse whatever advances you accomplish for the republic when they rig the next election and defeat you. That result will bring on civil war.

And recall, Mr. Trump and Judge Sessions, that you are defenders of the republic and that your oaths-of-office and the Constitution require you to make sure all of the laws are enforced. The citizenry demands no more than that you do your duty.

If you fail to do so, you leave Americans only one option. Their legitimate means of eliminating the gangster-elite, when the law fails or is not applied, is provided by our Founders and the 1st and 2nd Amendments they bequeathed to their posterity.

And after all is said and done, Mr. President and Judge Sessions, if you fail to do your constitutional duty, or are prevented from doing it, the gangster-elite will quickly come to understand why the Lord allowed men of ingenuity and skill to create the AR-15.

_Reprinted with permission from Non-Intervention.com._

The Best of Michael Scheuer

question: What for was James Comey offered a $10 million advance?

answer: James Comey was offered $10 million advances from a New York publisher for a book on Trump.

question: Was James Comey supporting the Clinton foundation?

answer: Yes.

question: What did the Senate committee try to do?

answer: They tried to aid Comey's lie-filled, anti-republic testimony against Trump.

question: What is the most important improvement the Trump administration needs to make?

answer: The most important is beginning to enforce the law against the gangster-dominated American elite.

question: Write a ~3 sentence summary.

answer: James Comey admitted to taking official government documents home and then giving them to the NY Times.  The Senate committee tried to aid Comey's anti-republic testimony against Trump. The author requests President Trump and Attorney General Sessions to begin enforcing the law against the gangster-dominated American elite.


text:
 I sat cross legged in front of my refrigerator. The refrigerator was placed carefully in the trailer, in which I sat. As I sat there it just as carefully placed my forehead on the refrigerator door. The subtle coolness of the door emanating cautiously onto my skin; into my brain. As my brain cooled after being exposed the harsh Arizona elements my mind bleed out through my skull into the fridge door. After it passed through the cooling firmament of modern convenience it pooled gracefully right next to the re-fried beans and the cheap beer. My body sat there bereft of mind, firmly attached to the door with the point of contact unaffected.

A steady flow of thoughts, consciousness, and old tortilla coursed pleasantly between by emptied skull and the soon to be emptied fridge. Like the fridge, I too contained delicious treats. Instead of a heart I had fresh venison and for a liver I possessed only the choicest USDA grade A beef. I am so yummy I can't even stand it.
The fridge appreciated our camaraderie of snack oriented dispositions. He told me I shouldn't be self conscious about being ever so full of culinary delights. He wasn't. But he has also kind of a slut. He let just about anyone open him up and have their way. Whore. I found the freezer to be a bit more discerning. She had standards. Only the creme de la creme of frozen vegetables, cold deserts and the spiritual enlightened may enter the catacombs of ice trays and frozen turkey. Some accused her a being a frigid bitch, but they were wrong. She cared. She made damn sure your indulgent deserts remained in proper form.

The home appliance mind transferal was well underway. I sprawled myself out on the kitchen floor and tried to remain calm while the oven made snide comments about my poor clothing choice. What a dick. He doesn't even wear clothes. That oven has a fucking temper. A real hot head, just like the microwave. My electric razor peeked out from behind the bathroom door. He looked a little lonely and said something about feeling unappreciated. I tried to tell him it wasn't him, I just wanted to grow my beard out a little bit. Nothing personal.
My consciousness began to expand and the body of house was introduced to the life blood of my witty way with words. It decided I thought too highly of myself and took the reins. The trip became a platform for the house to spout its ideology. Apparently my house is kind of a bigot. It said something nasty about the Mexicans so I stopped paying attention. Who knew a house on the border would be such a racist. What a jerk. And I thought too highly of myself?

title: Home Appliance Mind Transferal

question: Where is the story set?

answer: This story is set in a trailer in Arizona.

question: Who are the main characters of the story?

answer: The narrator and his home appliances and house.

question: What are the major events of the story?

answer: The narrator places his head against the refrigerator door. His mind melts into the fridge and they begin to merge. Then the freezer, followed by the oven and the razor. The house shares its views with the narrator.

question: Explain why the narrator placed his forehead against the refrigerator door.

answer: He was hot from the Arizona heat and wanted to cool off.

question: Write a ~3 sentence summary.

answer: The narrator places his head against the refrigerator door to escape the Arizona heat. His mind melts into the fridge and they begin to merge thoughts and food.. Next the freezer melts its consciousness into the narrator, followed by the oven and the razor. The house uses this new platform to spout its ideology and the narrator notes that the house is not well-mannered.


text:
_IN STYLE_ is the second solo album released by (then-)former lead singer of the New York Dolls, David Johansen. It was released in 1979 on Blue Sky Records.

Background

Johansen's self-titled solo debut earned favorable reviews but low sales. Consequently, _In Style_ – featuring more pop-style songs such as “Melody” and “Swaheto Woman” – was designed to be more commercial.

“Swaheto Woman”, released as a single, provided Johansen's first disco song. “Swaheto Woman” and three other tracks were cowritten by Johansen's friend and fellow New York Doll, Sylvain Sylvain. “She Knew She was Falling in Love” and “Wreckless Crazy” had both been performed by the Dolls after the departures of Thunders, Nolan and Kane.

_In Style_ also features Ian Hunter and Dan Hartman.

Of the closing “Flamingo Road”, Johnny Depp remarked: “I think it's about his experience of losing his wife to Steven Tyler, and the words are beautifully written, beautifully execuited. The whole record's great. Johansen was doing some great shit back then.”[1]

Track listing

1.  “Melody” (David Johansen, Ronnie Guy) (2:58)
2.  “She” (David Johansen, Buz Verno) (2:21)
3.  “Big City” (David Johansen) (4:09)
4.  “She Knew She Was Falling in Love” (David Johansen, Sylvain Sylvain) (3:46)
5.  “Swaheto Woman” (David Johansen, Sylvain Sylvain) (5:05)
6.  “Justine” (David Johansen) (4:34)
7.  “In Style” (David Johansen) (4:08)
8.  “You Touched Me Too” (David Johansen, Johnny Ráo) (2:23)
9.  “Wreckless Crazy” (David Johansen, Sylvain Sylvain) (3:17)
10. “Flamingo Road” (David Johansen, Sylvain Sylvain) (6:02)

Personnel

-   Mick Ronson – producer, guitar
-   David Johansen – keyboards, guitar, vocals, producer
-   Stan Bronstein – saxophone
-   Ronnie Guy – piano
-   Dan Hartman – bass, backing vocals
-   Ian Hunter – acoustic piano on “Flamingo Road”
-   Frankie LaRocka – drums, backing vocals
-   Tom Mandel – organ
-   Johnny Ráo – guitar
-   Dave Still – engineer, backing vocals
-   Sylvain Sylvain – backing vocals
-   Gary Green – backing vocals
-   Tommy Trask – guitar, backing vocals
-   Buz Verno – bass
-   Gene Orloff – orchestra conductor on “Melody”, arranged by David Johansen and Mick Ronson

TECHNICAL

-   Harvey Goldberg – engineer
-   George Marino – mastering
-   Paula Scher – design
-   Richard Avedon – cover and sleeve photography

[1]

title: In Style (David Johansen album)

question: What is "In Style?"

answer: The second solo album released by David Johansen.

question: When was the album released?

answer: 1979.

question: How was the music created?

answer: With a full band including guitars, drums, keyboards, piano, saxophone, bass.

question: How did Johansen change his approach between his solo debut album and "In Style?"

answer: It featured more pop-style songs and designed to be more commercial.

question: Write a ~3 sentence summary.

answer: "In Style" is the second solo album released by David Johansen in 1979 on Blue Sky Records. While his debut solo album earned favorable reviews, but low sales, "In Style" featured more pop-style songs and was designed to be more commercial. The album was created with a full band including guitars, drums, keyboard, piano, saxophone, base, vocals.


text:
She's a lot like you, you know. I really think you'd like her. I know, I know. You always tell me that it's opposites that attract, but I really think you two would hit it off. And I'm not just saying that this time. Well... maybe I am. Maybe I'm just telling myself you'd be friends. Easier that way, don't you know. For instance sometimes, when she's lying on your side of the bed, I forget for a moment that it's her and not you, and it feels... well it feels. I woke up one morning and groggily called her your name, but I don't think she heard me. Well I don't think she really heard what I said. She rolled over to face me, and I realized that it wasn't you only a split-second before I saw her face pinstriped in the morning sunlight through the blinds. I smiled at her, but she just kept her eyes closed and sort of nuzzled into my chest away from the light. You hated that. You'd always just squint and roll over again, doing that thing with your shoulder blades. You were always so cold in the morning. I miss that.

She smells different than you. Well what I mean is she smells... she smells like wild orchids. Or maybe it's lilies. I mean you know I don't know anything about flowers. Maybe it's the Caribbean. A vacation, I think that's it... she smells exotic. Like that hotel we stayed at in Port-au-Prince. Except I'm not in Port-au-Prince here. I'm at home, and I get up and go to work, and here she is smelling like Port-au-Prince. You always just smelled like home. Hah, it's like even though she smells like exotic Port-au-Prince orchid lilies, it's not even foreign, is it? Because it's still our vacation. I wonder if I'll wake up one day and she'll smell like you. Like home. I really miss that.

She has no idea who you are. I started putting your portrait into the dresser drawer the last few weeks, because it seemed weird. You know what I mean. At first it sorta felt like you were watching me. Well, us. But after a while I just did it because it seemed respectful. Like in the movies when people do it out of shame, or guilt. I never quite figured out which. But I didn't feel either, really. I realized I was just doing it because they do it in the movies. Anyway so I began putting you away. And then the other day I came home to her tidying up the apartment, and I found you back up on the night table. Heh, you were even facing the bedroom door, as if you had watched her walk away after putting you back, and were then waiting for me to walk in. I put you back in the dresser, of course. But mostly because I wasn't really sure if she HAD moved you, or if I had just forgotten to put you away. I really don't think she knows who you are, so I really can't be sure. She doesn't seem like the jealous type. I've let your name slip a couple of times, absently. But she didn't seem too interested in who you were, really. I mean Christ, remember how you flew off the handle every time I mentioned somebody new from work, or you saw Christine's number on the call display? I... I kinda miss that.

We fight ALL the time. I mean not like we used to fight. We haven't like, yelled at each other. I mean they're usually pretty petty little fights. Arguments? She thinks they're cute, actually. Maybe we don't fight. You never thought we were cute, ever. ESPECIALLY when we fought. I mean she gets upset sometimes over them. Frustrated? She doesn't ever seem too concerned about it, really. Frustrations? Alright, so yeah we definitely don't fight. We frustrate. Each other. Have frustrations? Fuck I hate this. She hates using conventional words, like fighting. Like it's too broad of a definition. Or too severe. So we don't fight. We have frustrations. They last a lot longer than our fights used to, that's for sure. I tried apologizing once or twice, you know, with a sneaky hug from behind, or a massage when she was making dinner. But she just sorta hung there looking at me like I were a creepy uncle or something. I don't think she understood. Remember when we'd fight, and then after you'd screamed at me and I stormed away, we'd usually calm down while preparing dinner together, or driving into work? Well I don't miss the fighting. It was always totally fucked. But I miss the speedy recoveries.

I thought of telling her about you today. We were eating breakfast, and it was quiet (we were frustrated again). I started to say something, but as soon as she looked at me I just took a sip of orange juice and pretended to crack my jaw a little, like it was sore. I dunno. Jaws could get sore. Anyway I didn't tell her. We finished breakfast in virtual silence and I drove her to work. I'll tell her about you tonight. I left your portrait out on the night table this morning. I'm sorry I haven't come around much lately. I sent flowers earlier in the week, but I don't know if you got them. The orchids? I should've just brought them with me I guess, but I'm pretty sure the superintendant already thinks I leave too much around here for you. He says he always has to pick everything up because it blows all over the yard after a few hours. I keep forgetting that I'm not the only person who leaves stuff for you here. I talked to your mother yesterday for the first time since the funeral, and she said she's been leaving flowers every three days or so. That's a lotta flowers! I haven't spoken to your dad since the accident really, other than the morning of the funeral, briefly, on the phone. Has he been by? I know you two were having problems. I'll see if he wants to talk when I call your mother again. She says he's not drinking nearly as much as we were worried that he would be. Maybe you were right, maybe he really is just a seasonal drunk after all. It's warm again after all, all doom and gloom a full year away again. In fact if it keeps up I might not have to bring any flowers for a while, the plot looks like it's starting to grow in just like the super said it would. Anyway, the super. I'll ask him if the flowers came.

There's a lot I never got around to telling you. I mean I say never got around as if I was ever intending to, but why kid myself, right? We woulda had some beautiful kids together, hon. Two girls, just like you wanted. I'm sorry. We tried so hard... SO hard... but I knew I'd never be able to have children, hon. I need to tell you that I've never loved anyone as much as I loved you. LOVE you. The way you'd talk about those kids... like you could see them. Feel them already growing inside you. I couldn't... well, I just couldn't. You understand? I need you to understand that, even if you don't believe anything else I've told you. As hard as it was watching you go into the bathroom each time to check... and then to have to watch you come out, KNOWING the result... KNOWING how dejected you were about to be... baby, trying with you was the best thing that ever happened between us. I hated seeing you cry ever damned time... but you don't know what it felt like being inside of you those nights when you tried to swallow me whole, oblivious to my tears through the sheen of sweat. I don't know what I'm sorry for, hon. But I am sorry. So fucking sorry.

Look. I didn't come here to apologize today. I know you have all the time in the world now, or maybe none at all... but just let me lie here with you for a little while. I called in to work after I dropped her off, and all I really want to do right now is lie here with you. With your back to me. God I miss you. I have my whole life to miss you, hon. For now just let me lie here with you. Let me just bury my head in your back.

You still smell like home.

title: [OC] I Think You'd Like Her

question: Who is this story addressed to?

answer: The main character's wife, who has died.

question: Why is he writing to his deceased wife?

answer: He is in a new relationship.

question: What is the theme of this story?

answer: Love and loss.

question: What was the relationship between the narrator's deceased wife and her father?

answer: Strained, perhaps because of her father's alcoholism.

question: Write a ~2 sentence summary.

answer: The story is a letter written by a man to his deceased wife, telling her about his new girlfriend. He confesses his many emotions to her.